Madonna posts video of newly adopted daughters
Madonna has shared a video of newly adopted twin daughters Esther and Stella singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The pop star adopted the four-year-old twins from Malawi earlier this month and was allowed to bring them with her to the United States while the adoption process is finalised. Madonna posted a video to Instagram showing the girls singing along as the song was played on the piano. Madonna is already mother to Lourdes, 19, Rocco, 15, and David Banda, 11, and Mercy, also 11, whom she also adopted. In October 2006, Madonna adopted David as she visited the country doing charity work. She adopted Mercy three years later. — IANS
Shia LaBeouf’s anti-Trump performance piece
Actor Shia LaBeouf has brought a performance-art piece against President Donald Trump to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Albuquerque Journal reports that LaBeouf, along with two other artists, brought a 24-hour live-streaming camera mounted to a wall with a message in block letters: "He will not divide us," referring to Trump. The artists want people to go up to the camera and repeat the phrase. LaBeouf told the Journal: "We are anti the normalisation of division. That's it. The rest of the info is right there, chief, I got nothing else to say to you." LaBeouf was arrested in New York City last month after he got into an altercation with another man during the performance art project. He faces an assault charge and is due in court on April 4. — Associated Press
Richa Chadha joins collaborating with all-female New York company
Actress and producer Richa Chadha is collaborating with her friend Sameena, who has a company that makes features, documentaries and entertainment content. The New York-based firm employs 60 women. Richa said: “My friend runs an absolutely fun all-women company which I think is fantastic. Literally, every staff member is a woman, even the interns are teenaged girls. It has some amazing energy. I have collaborated to co-produce content with them in India and I’m looking forward to make content for them here in India. More power to such initiatives.” The first few projects are expected to be shot in May in California and Delhi. The projects will be announced soon. -IANS
Singer Aaron Carter accused of racism during show
Singer Aaron Carter (pictured centre) was attacked by a fellow musician onstage over an allegedly racial comment during a performance in Bradley, Illinois. A member of Ill State, the group who preceded Carter’s set, allegedly attacked Carter onstage over a racial remark. Carter tweeted: “I didn’t get beat up. I got a hit and pushed when I wasn’t looking and they ran out the club and I stood on the speakers waiting for them. This dude sized me up after I said he had to go and said bye Felipe, like bye Felicia the male version.” Carter then defended himself against accusations of racism, tweeting: “News flash my band consists of three amazing black funk musicians and an Italian guitar player from Italy ... They raised me and have been playing with me doing shows for 16 years.” According to tmz.com, which obtained video footage of the incident, Carter requested a member of the band be removed from the venue after he “was goofing, grabbing people’s cell phones and shooting video as Aaron tried to perform”. As the individual was being escorted out, Carter yelled, Bye, Felipe, his own version of the slang term, Bye, Felicia. The member of Ill State then attacked Carter onstage, in the process allegedly damaging a computer and speaker. -IANS
Actress Zoe Saldana and husband welcome third son
Actress Zoe Saldana and husband Marco Perego have welcomed their third child. "Marco and I are elated to share the news of the birth of our son Zen," the actress announced on Instagram. "We couldn't feel more blessed with the new addition to our family. Three boys ... oh boy!" The couple are already the parents to twin boys Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio Perego-Saldana, whom they welcomed in November 2014. Saldana, of Avatar fame, and Perego married in June 2013. — IANS
Vir Das will document his world tour
Actor and comedian Vir Das, who is about to kick off his Boarding Das World Tour, plans to document it. It will be released in theatres next year. Das will capture behind the scenes footage, rehearsals, travel diaries, interviews and more. He said: “I’m pretty kicked about putting together this unique documentary movie on the tour. The world tour is spread over this entire year in 21 countries and I begin next weekend in the US. I want to capture the essence of what comedy can do. It can bring joy to people and can bring people together regardless of circumstances. We intend to release [the documentary] next year and will be an experiential film under 90 minutes that would be interspersed with performances, behind the scenes and the whole madness that goes behind making someone as gigantic as this into reality.” The Boarding Das World Tour will cover six continents and 21 countries. — IANS
