Why Katy Perry Will Be Spending Daughter Daisy's Birthday in Court

Why Katy Perry Will Be Spending Daughter Daisy's Birthday in Court

Michael Loccisano/Getty Katy Perry will spend a portion of her daughter's 5th birthday testifying before a judge in an ongoing legal battle over a California residential property The singer shares Dove Bloom with her former fiancé, Orlando Bloom She and the movie star entered into a $15 million contract for a Montecito mansion in 2020 Katy Perrywill spend part of her daughter's 5th birthday testifying before a judge. PEOPLE can confirm that the 40-year-old "Hot N Cold" singer, whose real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, is scheduled to appear in court virtually on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 26, related to ayears-long legal battleover a Santa Barbara-area home. Robin Marchant/Getty The court date coincides with the 5th birthday of her daughter,Daisy Dove Bloom, whom she shares withOrlando Bloom. In June, the former coupleended their engagementafter nine years together. Perry was set to testify on Thursday, Aug. 21, however, her current global The Lifetimes Tour limits her availability. She will now testify virtually on Dove's birthday. "I don't like the strategy on Ms. Hudson's side. It shows her in a bad light," said Judge Joseph Lipner. Her team apologized, adding, "There was no strategy or tactic." PEOPLE did not immediately receive a response from Perry's reps. Perry and thePirates of the Caribbeanactor, 48, entered into a contract in 2020 to purchase the 1930s Montecito mansion from entrepreneur Carl Westcott for $15 million, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE. However, Westcott — who was diagnosed with a genetic brain disorder in 2015 — changed his mind just days later. Charley Gallay/Getty for Baby2Baby Percourt documents, the 1-800-Flowers founder claimed he had not been in the right mindset to sign any binding contracts and that he wanted to avoid the sale altogether. Perry is not named as a defendant in the case. Wescott directly sued her business manager, Bernie Gudvi. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic In May 2024,Perry gained ownershipof the Santa Barbara County property under the LLC DDoveB, theWall Street Journalreported, citing property records. During the legal battle, the "Dark Horse" singer sought more than $5 million for allegedly missing out on income she and her former fiancé could have profited from renting out the property, as well as the cost of maintaining another property they own. Perry is now asking for approximately $4 million in damages after an expert on lost rental value calculated the price to be $3.5 million. The cost for repairs and damages is calculated to be another $1.3 million, bringing the total to about $4,868,000. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The 9,285-square-foot property sits on roughly 2.5 acres and has an infinity pool, jacuzzi, outdoor fireplace, kitchen area and a three-bedroom guesthouse that overlooks the ocean. It features eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. Read the original article onPeople

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August 22, 2025

Why Katy Perry Will Be Spending Daughter Daisy's Birthday in Court

Why Katy Perry Will Be Spending Daughter Daisy's Birthday in Court Michael Loccisano/Getty Katy Perry will spend a portion of her daught...

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Kobe Bryant Movie in the Works at Warner Bros.: Studio Nabs Spec Script About Lakers Star’s Dramatic Draft Day

Kobe Bryant Movie in the Works at Warner Bros.: Studio Nabs Spec Script About Lakers Star's Dramatic Draft Day

Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired a spec script based on the dramatic true story of NBA legend Kobe Bryant joining the Los Angeles Lakers,Varietyhas confirmed. The project comes from screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen. Rumors of the project had piqued the interest of multiple studios and streamers. One source toldVarietythat Warner Bros. preempted an auction and took the script, tentatively titled "With the 8th Pick?", off the table early. More from Variety Vanessa Bryant Awarded $16 Million in Suit Over Photos of Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Netflix's 'Naomi Osaka' Docuseries Keeps Viewers at a Distance: TV Review Matt Mauser, Who Lost Wife in Kobe Bryant Crash, Gives Emotional Performance on 'America's Got Talent' Curiously, Bryant was taken by the Lakers with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft — not the eighth pick. The New Jersey Nets and its general manager, John Nash, had the eighth pick. Nash has previously said that he wanted to draft Bryant with the pick, but was overruled by Nets coach John Calipari. Other insiders familiar with the script described the film as "Moneyball" meets "Air," Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's recent feature detailing Nike's courtship of a rookie-year Michael Jordan. Warner Bros. had no comment when asked about the project. Sohn and Johannsen are repped by Verve Talent and Literary Agency. The former is managed by Lit Entertainment Group and the latter by Gotham Group. The InSneider first reported news of the Bryant script. That report also included possible production partners, though multiple sources said any third-party involvement was way premature. Best of Variety Oscar Predictions 2026: Venice and Telluride Will Spark the Start of Awards Season New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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August 22, 2025

Kobe Bryant Movie in the Works at Warner Bros.: Studio Nabs Spec Script About Lakers Star’s Dramatic Draft Day

Kobe Bryant Movie in the Works at Warner Bros.: Studio Nabs Spec Script About Lakers Star's Dramatic Draft Day Warner Bros. Pictures has...

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Pierce Brosnan Makes a Rare Appearance With Lookalike Son, 28, and Granddaughter, 26

Pierce Brosnan Makes a Rare Appearance With Lookalike Son, 28, and Granddaughter, 26

Getty Pierce Brosnan appeared on the red carpet at the U.K. premiere of 'The Thursday Murder Club' on August 22 in London. He was accompanied by his 28-year-old son, Dylan Brosnan, and his 26-year-old daughter, Isabella Smith. Dylan is a model, while Isabella's mother was Pierce's first wife's daughter. Pierce Brosnanmade a rare appearance with both his son,Dylan Brosnan, 28, and his granddaugther, Isabella Smith, 26. The family stepped out for the U.K. premiere ofThe Thursday Murder Clubon August 22 in London and posed together on the red carpet. He shares Dylan with his wife Keely Shaye Smith, while Isabella's mother was the daughter of Brosnan's first wife, Cassandra. Getty Brosnan looked dapper in a monochromatic golden brown suit with a matching shirt, tie, and sunglasses. Dylan wore a retro high-waisted light brown tweed suit with a burgundy and white polka dot tie. Meanwhile, Isabella wore a purple velvet gown with a halter-neck. She swept her hair into a sleek updo, leaving curtain bangs down to frame her face. The trio posed arm-in-arm on the red carpet and were pictured laughing together as they made their way into the premiere. Getty Dylan was born in 1997 to Pierce and his second wife Keely Shaye Smith. Pierce was previously married to Cassandra Harris, who died from ovarian cancer in 1991. "There is an incredible cruelty in it all, losing a person you shared everything with," he toldPeoplefour months after Cassandra's death. "This is the first time in my life I've ever experienced bereavement, and it's overwhelming." Pierce had previously adopted Cassandra's two children from a previous marriage, Charlotte and Christopher. Charlotte went on to welcome Isabella in 1998 with husband Alex Smith. Tragically, in 2013, Charlotte died of the same disease that had killed her mother 22 years earlier. "Charlotte fought her cancer with grace and humanity, courage and dignity," Brosnan said toPeople. "Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beautiful dear girl." In 2015, Pierce reflected on how the tragic losses gave him a new approach to his family. "I'm a proud grandfather now. There's still a lot of life in the old man and I'll keep going till I can go no more. Life is so precious," he said to theIrish Independent. "It can be snatched away without any prior warning so why waste it? That's why I enjoy my wonderful, beautiful family, my children and my grandchildren." Getty Read the original article onInStyle

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August 22, 2025

Pierce Brosnan Makes a Rare Appearance With Lookalike Son, 28, and Granddaughter, 26

Pierce Brosnan Makes a Rare Appearance With Lookalike Son, 28, and Granddaughter, 26 Getty Pierce Brosnan appeared on the red carpet at the ...

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Justice Department won't defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional

Justice Department won't defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday it will not defend a decades-old grant program forcolleges with large numbers of Hispanic studentsthat is being challenged in court, declaring the government believes the funding is unconstitutional. In a memo sent to Congress, the Justice Department said it agrees with a lawsuit attempting to strike down grants that are reserved for colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic. Congress created the program in 1998 after finding Latino students were attending college and graduating at far lower rates than white students. Justice Department officials argued the program provides an unconstitutional advantage based on race or ethnicity. The state of Tennessee and an anti-affirmative action organization sued the U.S. Education Department in June, asking a judge to halt the Hispanic-Serving Institution program. Tennessee argued all of its public universities serve Hispanic students, but none meet the "arbitrary ethnic threshold" to be eligible for the grants. Those schools miss out on tens of millions of dollars because of discriminatory requirements, the lawsuit said. On Friday, the Justice Department released a letter in which Solicitor General D. John Sauer notified Republican House SpeakerMike Johnsonthat the department "has decided not to defend" the program, saying certain aspects of it are unconstitutional. The letter, dated July 25, cited the 2023 Supreme Court decision outlawingaffirmative action, which said "outright racial balancing" is "patently unconstitutional." The Justice Department declined to comment. Tennessee is backed in the suit byStudents for Fair Admissions, a conservative legal group thatsuccessfully challengedaffirmative action in admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. That suit led to a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that forbids universities from considering students' race in admissions decisions. Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, said Friday the group would decline to comment. More than 500 colleges and universities are designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions, making them eligible for the grant program. Congress appropriated about $350 million for the program in 2024. Colleges compete for the grants, which can go toward a range of uses, from building improvements to science programs. Former President Joe Biden made Hispanic-serving universities a priority, signing anexecutive actionlast year that promised a new presidential advisory board and increased funding. PresidentDonald Trumprevoked the order his first day in office. Trump is taking steps todismantle the Education Departmentand has called for massive funding cuts, yet his 2026 budget request preserved grants for Hispanic-serving colleges and even asked Congress for a slight increase. Even so, there have been doubts about his administration's commitment to the funding. A national association of Hispanic-serving universities filed a motion last month to intervene as a defendant in the Tennessee lawsuit, voicing concern that the federal government would not adequately represent the group's members. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities said Trump's agenda is "entirely adverse" to the group's interests, citing the president's aim to close the Education Department entirely. The administration is "on record denouncing programs like HSIs, that take account of and seek to redress ethnic or racial disparity," the group wrote. Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions did not object to the group's request to lead the legal defense. Unlike historically Black or Native American tribal colleges and universities, which receive their designations based on their missions, any college can receive the HSI label and grants if its Latino enrollment makes up at least 25% of the undergraduate student body. The list of HSIs includes flagship campuses like the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona, along with many community colleges and smaller institutions. In its court filing, the national association argues the grants are constitutional and help put its members on an even playing field. The group's schools enroll 67% of the nation's Latino undergraduate students, yet studies find those schools receive far less in state and federal funding than other institutions. Hispanic-serving universities are open to students of all races — as an example, the association pointed to Southern Adventist University, a private school in Tennessee whose student body is 28% Hispanic and 40% white. The Justice Department generally has a duty to uphold the Constitution and federal legislation, but in rare cases it can refuse to defend laws it believes are unconstitutional. The Obama administration did so in 2011 when it refused to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act. During his first term, Trump did the same with the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration has fought to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies in government, education and business, arguing that they discriminate against white and Asian American people. ___ Gecker reported from San Francisco. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, alistof supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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August 22, 2025

Justice Department won't defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional

Justice Department won't defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administ...

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Where the Russia-Ukraine peace talks go from here: From the Politics Desk

Where the Russia-Ukraine peace talks go from here: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version ofFrom the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Kristen Welker breaks down her interviews today with Vice President JD Vance and key officials in Russia and Ukraine. Plus, I examine how Democrats face a structural disadvantage in the national redistricting fight in response to this week's reader question. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. — Adam Wollner On a Friday filled with major developments, I spoke exclusively with Vice President JD Vance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister. Through it all, one thing struck me: how very far away from each other Vance and Lavrov seemed on talks to end the war in Ukraine. During myearly-morning conversation with Lavrov, the top Russian diplomat repeatedly stressed that the conditions aren't yet right for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He suggested that it was Ukraine, not Russia, who was blocking progress on a peace deal, and repeatedly chided Zelenskyy for prioritizing theatrics over substance. "How can we meet with a person who is pretending to be a leader?" Lavrov said of Zelenskyy. Kyslytsyastruck a bit of a middle ground. He praised the Trump administration's work to get the two countries to the table and brushed aside some of Moscow's fiery rhetoric. But he accused Russia of trying to manipulate the U.S. and said he sees "no signs there is a readiness on Putin's side to have meaningful conversations." As far as a key question — the debate over territorial lines — Kyslytsya added that Ukraine's "public is categorically against trading our land for peace," and "when we spoke about territorial issues, I think President Zelenskyy made it very clear he's ready to sit down with President Putin and discuss it, and the beginning of the conversations on the territorial issue is the contact line that is currently there." Vance sported the most optimistic tone of the three leaders. Even as he conceded that negotiations can be a roller coaster, Vance praised both Russia and Ukraine for making significant concessions. He framed America's role as one of a mediator, not trying to force one side to take terms they can't stomach but one that tries to keep the door open to good-faith negotiating. And he framed the administration's negotiating posture as persistent, willing to press on even if they hit a brick wall. I hope you'll join me Sunday morning on "Meet the Press" to watch more from our interviews with Vance and Lavrov. More from the Vance interview:The VP confirmed the administration is "in the very early stages of an ongoing investigation" into former national security adviser John Bolton, whosehouse was searched this morningby the FBI. But Vance denied that the investigation was retribution for Bolton's criticism of Trump.Read more → Thanks to everyone who emailed us! This week's question is on the national redistricting battle: "My question is if all the red states and all the blue states follow the redistricting solution, which party comes out on top? Just how many seats would be up for grabs?" Republicans have a clear advantage in theredistricting arms racesimply because there are more states where they have full power. And in the vast majority of those states, lawmakers are in charge of drawing the maps, furthering the GOP's edge. In total, Republicans have a trifecta — meaning they control the governor's office and the Legislature — in 23 states, compared to 15 for Democrats,according to Ballotpedia. In 18 of the 23 GOP-led states, the state Legislature has at least some role, if not a leading one, in drafting congressional boundaries. And across those 18 states, there are 44 districts represented by Democrats for Republicans to theoretically go after. As for the other five states, Republicans already have full control of their congressional delegations. Three are small states with single at-large districts, and two have independent commissions that draw their lines. Included in the group of 18 are the states Republicans are currently targeting in their mid-decade redistricting effort:Texas(13 Democratic-held seats), Florida (8), Indiana (2), and Missouri (2). Also included is Ohio (5), where lawmakers are required by law to draw new maps since the last version was passed without bipartisan support. As for the Democrats, they have far fewer targets as they scramble to counter the GOP's push ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In the 15 Democratic-controlled states, the Legislature is involved in drawing congressional maps in nine of them. Five of them have independent or political commissions that handle the lines, while the sixth, Delaware, has just one district. Of the group of nine, Democrats have full control of the congressional delegation in five of them (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Rhode Island). And in two of them (Maryland and Oregon) Republicans hold just one seat in each. That leaves Illinois and New York. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has left the door open to redrawing the state's map, but Democrats already represent 14 of 17 districts. And in New York, where Republicans represent seven districts, the process comes with significant caveats. An independent commission initially draws the maps, which lawmakers can make changes to with supermajority support. Democratic legislatorsintroduced a billthat would allow them to get around the commission and the state constitutional requirement that the maps only be drawn every 10 years. But it would need to pass through two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by voters, meaning a new map wouldn't go into effect until the 2028 election at the earliest. This all explains why Democrats have turned their focus to California, where Republicans hold nine seats but an independent commission typically controls the redistricting process. Gov. Gavin Newsomsigned legislation Thursdaysetting up a special election this fall in which voters will be asked to approve a new congressional map that could net Democrats five more seats, potentially offsetting the GOP's moves in Texas. — Adam Wollner Latest from Texas: Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the longest-serving member of the Texas congressional delegation, announced that he will retire if the state's new map isn't rejected in court after Republicans carved up his district.Read more → 📝 Epstein saga:The Justice Department released a transcript of an interview between a senior administration official and Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell insisted she never witnessed Trump or former President Bill Clinton do anything inappropriate.Follow live updates → 📝 Epstein saga, cont.:The House Oversight Committee received the first tranche of documents from the Department of Justice related to the Epstein case.Read more → 🏦 Fed watch:Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared to open the door to the central bank's first rate cut of Trump's second term, indicating that current monetary policy may be restricting economic activity.Read more → 💼Down to business:The Trump administration said that it had taken a 10% stake in Intel, the president's latest extraordinary move to exert federal government control over private business.Read more → ⬅️ The purge:Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, making him another in a raft of senior officers who have been removed under Hegseth's watch.Read more → ➡️ Deportation agenda:Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from federal custody, months after he was wrongfully deported to an El Salvador prison and accused of being a gang member.Read more → ⚖️ In the courts:A federal judge ruled that "Alligator Alcatraz," the contested migrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades, can remain operational for now but that it cannot be expanded and no additional detainees can be brought in.Read more → ⚖️ In the courts, cont.:The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration's broad cuts to National Institutes of Health grants as part of the federal government's campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion policies.Read more → 📦 Trade wars:Canada removed many of its retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., marking a significant step forward in the two countries' relationship.Read more → 🗳️ 2026 watch:The crowded Republican race to be South Carolina's next governor has erupted into an early, all-out battle to secure Trump's support. As one person close to candidate Nancy Mace said: "This is first a race for an endorsement, and second, a race for governor."Read more → 🔴 Florida man:Joe Gruters, a Florida state senator and longtime Trump ally, was elected as chairman of the Republican National Committee. He succeeds Michael Whatley, who is running for Senate in North Carolina.Read more → That's all From the Politics Desk for now. Today's newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us atpoliticsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if you're a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign uphere.

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August 22, 2025

Where the Russia-Ukraine peace talks go from here: From the Politics Desk

Where the Russia-Ukraine peace talks go from here: From the Politics Desk Welcome to the online version ofFrom the Politics Desk, a newslett...

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Read the full transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell's DOJ interviews

Read the full transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell's DOJ interviews

Here's the full transcript of the Justice Department's interview withGhislaine Maxwell, who'd been convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell, who's serving a 20-year prison sentence on sex trafficking charges, over a two day period last month. The unusual interview came after the DOJ and FBI came under fire from President Donald Trump's supporters for saying ina memothat they had reviewed the Epstein files and no other people were expected to be charged and no further information would be released. Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial in 2019. His death was ruled a suicide, but that ruling sparked numerousconspiracy theories, some of which were fueled by Trump and his allies. The DOJ-FBI memo agreed his death was a suicide, while also rejecting conspiracies that he'd had an incriminating "client list" and had blackmailed prominent individuals.

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August 22, 2025

Read the full transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell's DOJ interviews

Read the full transcript of Ghislaine Maxwell's DOJ interviews Here's the full transcript of the Justice Department's interview ...

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