Hollywood
Lady Gaga to perform at the Oscars
MUMBAI: Six-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Lady Gaga will make a special tribute performance at the 87th Oscars.
“Lady Gaga is a once in a lifetime artist who’s musical evolution keeps growing. We are proud to have her perform on the Oscars for the very first time,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
Since breaking in 2008, Lady Gaga has sold over 27 million albums, 130 million singles, and over 4 million tickets globally to her award-winning live performances. Lady Gaga has won a total of six Grammy Awards – her most recent this week for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Cheek To Cheek, her 2014 collaboration with Tony Bennett, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The 87th Oscars will be held on 22 February, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. It will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
