The US home-improvement store Lowe's faces a growing angry backlash over cancelling advertising from a new reality show about the lives of a group of Muslim families in Dearborn, Michigan.
The company has stood by its decision about running commercials during All-American Muslim, made after a conservative group called the Florida Family Association lobbied all the show's advertisers via email to do so. On Monday, the Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison, who is Muslim, released a statement condemning Lowe's for choosing "to uphold the beliefs of a fringe hate group and not the creed of The First Amendment", the part of the Constitution that protects freedom of religion.
He followed the southern California senator Ted Lieu, who, according to the San Francisco Chronicle is considering backing a boycott of Lowe's, calling their action "un-American" and "naked religious bigotry". The House and Harold and Kumar actor Kal Penn, who has also worked for President Barack Obama as the associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement, took to Twitter on the issue. He used the social media site to direct people to a petition on signon.org in support of the TLC cable network show. There were more than 18,800 signatures by yesterday morning.
TLC's spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg said the show, which ends its first season on January 8, has attracted more than a million viewers per week - and aside from Lowe's, has "strong advertising support".
* With files from AP
Metallica's Abu Dhabi footage appears online
Sick of trolling on YouTube for mobile phone footage of Metallica's thunderous show at Yas Island? Well, now you can visit Metallica's website and watch the band's official video, which features clips of their Abu Dhabi concert on October 25, along with backstage glimpses.
The slick, 20-minute production shows the band greeting diehard fans backstage, where they took photographs and signed tickets.
For one wide-eyed Bahraini fan, the chance to see Metallica's front-man James Hetfield was almost too much to comprehend.
"It's my inspiration to one day play with you guys," he sputters in the video. "It's a dream meeting you!" To see the footage go to www.metallica.com.
Bachchan clarifies jackpot winner's claim
The Bollywood star and host of the quiz-based Indian reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati, Amitabh Bachchan, says the jackpot winner Sushil Kumar has delayed accepting his cheque, although the channel was ready to hand it over.
Batting for Sony Entertainment Television, which just broadcast season five of the show, Bachchan was trying to clarify reports quoting Kumar that he had not been paid the winning amount yet.
"People asking why Sushil Kumar not paid his KBC win .. cheque ready, but he wants it at CNN IBN Award ceremony in Delhi on (Dec) 16th..." Bachchan tweeted late on Monday night. CNN IBN is an Indian news channel that has nominated Kumar for a viewers' choice award for the "Indian of the Year", scheduled to be announced later this week.
The actor pointed out that according to a Sony TV contractual arrangement, the channel was obliged to pay the award money within a period of 90 days.
"Also as per terms and conditions of Sony, they have to pay within 60 days of on air broadcast .. so still time for expiry!" he wrote.
KBC, which wrapped last month, was watched by a record 120 million people worldwide.
Jackson's daughter becomes a movie star
Michael Jackson's 13-year-old daughter Paris has nabbed her first movie role, and is due to talk about it on an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show due to screen in the US today.
Paris, who was 11 when her father died in 2009, will star in a live action/animated film called Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys, based on a famous book series for teenagers.
"Paris Jackson will talk to Ellen about what life has been like for her and her family in the past few months. She's also starring in the new film ... The theme of the movie, saving the planet, is a cause close to both Paris's and her father's heart," a press release said.
* AFP
Gloria Estefan might join Glee
Good news for Latin music fans: Gloria Estefan is in talks to join the TV series Glee.
Entertainment Weekly reported this week that the queen of Latin pop is currently in negotiations to play the mother of the Glee character Santana (played by Naya Rivera).
The pop star Ricky Martin had earlier confirmed his appearance in the Fox hit show as McKinley High's Spanish teacher.
If Estefan agrees, she and Martin will appear in the same episode.
Set for broadcast in January, the episode will also feature Estefan's music catalogue. The two will be the first celebrity guest stars in the show's third season.
