Hollywood
Carly Ray Jepsen steps in Cinderellas shoes
The pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, who rose to fame in 2012 with her pop single “Call Me Maybe,” will go from the concert stage to the theatre stage early next year when Jepsen will also make her Broadway debut in the title role of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
Jepsen will step into the glass slippers from 4 Feb onwards for a 12-week run. She will be joining Fran Drescher, who is also making her debut on the same date and has been cast as the cruel stepmother. Jepsen is replacing Laura Osnes, who will complete her yearlong run in January.
Rae Jepsen, 28, grew up with dreams of acting on Broadway and performed in high school productions like Annie, Grease and The Wiz in British Columbia before turning her focus to creating her own music. She also attended the Canadian College of Performing Arts after high school.
Jepsen is also working on a new album planned for release next year. Call Me Maybe sold over 10 million copies in 2012, when it was the best-selling digital single worldwide.
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.
