Hollywood
Beyonce slammed for sampling NASA shuttle audio clip
Dentsu wins at DMA Asia awards, Snapdeal appoints Amitava Ghosh, Askme launches TVC, SonySinger and actor Beyonce has been criticised for using an audio clip related to the space shuttle Challenger disaster in the love song “XO” from her fifth studio album “Beyonce,” which released earlier this month.
The song “XO,” which was written and produced by Ryan Tedder and Terius Nash, also known as “The Dream”, includes an audio segment involving NASA’s then public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt on Jan 28, 1986.
“Flight controllers here are looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction,” Nesbitt said at the time, when the Challenger shuttle exploded 73 seconds into its flight, over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members.
Former NASA employees and NASA families have slammed Beyonce for sampling audio from the space shuttle Challenger explosion on her new song “XO”.
Beyonce responded in a statement to ABC:
My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster. The song ‘XO’ was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you. The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten.financial – Indiantelevision.com AD Linx dated 10 August
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.
