Google Search

Showing posts with label Fired. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fired. Show all posts

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Tracy Morgan Sparks Outrage; Will He Be Fired? (ContributorNetwork)

Recently there has been a whirlwind of high-profile celebrities delivering anti-gay slurs. Tracy Morgan has now apologized for "jokes" made during his stand up show in Nashville, Tenn.

After the show, an attending photographer lashed out on his Facebook page, revealing the insulting standup routine. The 30 Rock star said that he would "stab" his son if he acted gay and gays and lesbians are not "born this way."

"While I am an equal opportunity jokester, and my friends know what is in my heart, even in a comedy club this clearly went too far and was not funny in any context," Morgan said, reports TMZ.

Many Hollywood celebrities are responding to Morgan's tirade, including his 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey, who also worked with him on Saturday Night Live from 1997 until 2003. It is unfortunate that this behavior has been exhibited before from Tracy and other SNL stars like Will Farrell and Chris Parnell.

[Watch: Homo-cil Commercial]

Recent Celeb anti gay outbursts

When it comes to actors and sports players, some can easily drop the ball. Kobe Bryant was recently fined $100,000 for calling a referee a "f-----." NBA Commissioner David Stern described it as "offensive and inexcusable," according to ESPN.

Bryant said that his "emotional outburst" was made in response to referee Bennie Adams calling a technical foul. Kobe yelled "Bennie" while walking toward the bench. After sitting down, he said the gay slur.

Isaiah Washington found himself crushed by a firestorm of anger after he loosely repeated a gay slur after his show, "Grey's Anatomy," won the Golden Globe, according to People.

Washington had previously been involved in an on-set argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey over another actor being late. During the spat, it was alleged that Washington said the F-word; he in turned denied it. It was at the Golden Globes where he rudely denied the rumor. After eight months of controversy, Washington eventually lost his job.

Former NBA player John Amaechi came out to the world and disclosed that he is gay. This prompted a question to Tim Hardaway during an interview on "The Dan Le Batard Show" on how he would deal with a gay teammate.

Hardaway then flew into a homophobic rant on how he "hates gay people." The severely foul comments led to an immediate apology. Although retired at the time the comments were made, the outlandish remarks have tarnished Hardaway's reputation.

Consequences for some

It is not clear if Tracy Morgan should start sending out resumes looking for a new job. While Washington lost his job, Kobe Bryant was only fined. After Phil Jackson made an anti-gay joke after a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, there were few repercussions at all. He did apologize for making comments regarding "Brokeback Mountain," penetration and kickbacks.


View the original article here

Friday, June 10, 2011

Fired "Spider-Man" director Taymor claims royalties

Director Julie Taymor poses at the premiere of her film ''The Tempest'' in Hollywood December 6, 2010. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Director Julie Taymor poses at the premiere of her film ''The Tempest'' in Hollywood December 6, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Fred Prouser

By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK | Fri Jun 10, 2011 2:33am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Julie Taymor, the ousted director of Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man" musical, is seeking an estimated $300,000 in unpaid royalties from producers, the union representing her said on Thursday.

The union filed an arbitration claim on behalf of Taymor, who was replaced on the $70 million show -- the most expensive in Broadway history -- in March while it was still in previews.

Her ouster followed repeated delays to the official opening, scathing reviews, and several accidents involving the show's high-wire stunts.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark", with music by Bono and The Edge, closed for three weeks in April for a major revamp by a new director. Its official opening is now set for June 14.

Despite the bad publicity, the show is making more than $1 million at the box office every week and frequently places among the top three attractions on Broadway.

"Taymor has given nine years of her life to this project," Laura Penn, executive director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the union filing the claim, said in a statement.

"The producer has absolutely no right, legally and ethically, to withhold royalties that are due to her," the statement said.

Penn told Reuters that Taymor received only her original director's fee of $125,000 about five years ago, but has not received any of the royalties owed to her since preview tickets went on sale last November.

Taymor, the creative force behind the successful stage adaptation of Disney's "The Lion King," is still credited as the show's "original director," and should therefore continue to receive director royalties even after her exit from the production, the union said.

Producers declined comment on the claim.

The arbitration filing is restricted to Taymor's work as a director, Penn said. She also has a separate contract as an author of the show.

Taymor's spokeswoman, Mara Buxbaum, said Taymor was "certainly aware and cooperative with the claim,".

(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Jill Serjeant)


View the original article here