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Russell Simmons has launched a lawsuit against HBO for $20 million over the release of the 2020 documentary, On The Record, which detailed a number of he mogul’s sexual assault allegations. Simmons also named the filmmakers behind the production of the documentary.
Russell Simmons, 67, filed the lawsuit in a Manhattan court on Tuesday (June 3), naming HBO and On The Record direcctors, Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick as reported by Deadline. In the summons that was filed in court, Simmons’ lawyer Imran Ansari laid out their offensive move.
“Despite voluminous support for Mr Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,” Ansari and co-counsel Carla DiMare shared in a statement.
Although the statute of limitations for defamation has long since expired, Simmons and his team are hoping to move things in their favor because the documentary was shown in the global market, thus resetting the timeline.
HBO sidestepped the lawsuit, calling it unfounded according to Deadline‘s report.
“We dispute Mr. Simmons’ allegations, stand by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations,” a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery shared with the outlet.
Russell Simmons’ team claims that evidence could potentially alter the timeline of events and give new weight to the Def Jam Records co-founder’s stance that the dozens of women who allege that he assaulted them are selling a falsehood.
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For Bono, music has always been an immersive art form. “When I was a teenager and stereo came, it was everything,” the rock legend tells Billboard. “U2 immersed ourselves in our audience — I jumped into the audience, and then our shows were always immersive in their instincts.”
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So when he got an early look at the Apple Vision Pro, the mixed-reality headset that the company launched in the U.S. last year, Bono says that he “was honored to be a lab rat in in their unusual mix of art and science.” On Friday (May 30), Bono: Stories of Surrender, a new documentary that captures and expands upon his recent one-man stage show, will be released on Apple TV+ as both a standard 2D film and as an immersive experience on the Vision Pro — the first feature-length project to be released in the format.
U2 has a long history of partnering with Apple, and Bono says that he was happy to be the one to break new ground for the company. “A lot of companies, when they get to that scale, they stop innovating,” he says. “And here they are again, ready to do it.
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“And for the first time, I got to see myself onstage, and realized, ‘What a big arse!’” Bono adds with a laugh. “That has gotta go! And by the way, are those nose hairs? I’m like, ‘Wow!’”
Indeed, Stories of Surrender offers plenty of extreme close-ups of the rock star, as the documentary (directed by Andrew Dominik) adds new dimension to a 2023 performance of Stories of Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music and Some Mischief… The stage show itself was an extension of Bono’s 2022 memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, and mixed monologues detailing his upbringing, sparse visual props and stripped-down arrangements of some of U2’s biggest hits, all in a theater setting (the doc was filmed at the Beacon Theatre in New York City).
“I ended up in the stage play because I didn’t want to do a promotion tour for the book,” Bono notes, “and I thought I’d do something a bit more challenging and a bit more fun — for me, selfishly speaking, and perhaps for the audience.”
The 86-minute documentary flies by with heartfelt anecdotes about Bono’s relationship with his father, the earliest days of U2, run-ins with global celebrities and his legacy as an artist. Although the tasteful presentations of U2 songs like “Beautiful Day,” “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “Vertigo” — by a trio of backing musicians, led by veteran producer Jacknife Lee — earn deservedly rousing reactions from the audience in the doc, Bono’s stories also received a reaction that startled him when the stage show launched.
“I went out onstage, and something happened to me that had never happened to me before onstage with U2, at least not in more than 30-seconds intervals: People started laughing!” Bono says. “And I started to [think], ‘Oh, is this funny? Wow, I like the sound of this.’
“And so I had the songs, and I’d found a different way of getting inside the songs to tell the story, and now I could be as silly and as serious as I wanted to be, and indeed, as I am,” he continues. “There’s a reason tragic comedy was a favorite of Shakespeare’s. People’s tears mean more after they’ve been laughing, or the other way around. And all our lives are these absurdities, aren’t they?”
Now that this extended look back — first with the memoir, then with the stage show, and now with the documentary — is wrapping up, Bono says that each project has made him feel closer to his father, Bob, who passed away in 2001. In the doc, Bono re-creates multiple conversations with his dad across time — playing both roles by turning his head from side to side, finding humor and heartache as the camera cuts between the sides of the discussion.
“It is a little opera that I was making, about … my father, and how his son had to go through various different stages before he’d fully appreciate his father,” says Bono. “And one of those stages was playing him onstage, with the turn of my head every night, and realizing that my father was funny. And not just that I loved him, but I started to like him, just by playing him.”
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A new documentary has been announced by the BBC titled P Diddy: The Rise and Fall, which will examine the life and current circumstances of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Yinka Bokinni will serve as the lead journalist investigating the finer points of Combs’ status, from being a mogul to where he currently stands, as he faces a legal battle for the ages.
The BBC announced that the upcoming documentary will undoubtedly bring into focus the fame, power, and influence that Combs gained over the years as the head of Bad Boy Records and producing several hit songs for artists under his guidance. The documentary will also peer behind the veil and reveal how Combs allegedly used his stature to control others, dole out violent threats, along with countless reports of sexual assault and abuse.
Combs will face trial next month over charges related to racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, among other heinous claims. Combs and his legal team have claimed that their side is innocent despite mounting complaints filed by accusers.
In a statement, Bokinni said, “My job is to tell stories—but never did I imagine I’d be telling this one. Investigating the alleged actions of Diddy has forced a spotlight onto the darker side of an industry so many of us dream of belonging to. We sang his songs, bought into the lifestyle, watched the shows and wanted more. This has been an emotional, sometimes difficult experience. And with a trial on the horizon, what happens next will no doubt be gripping—in the most sobering way.”
P Diddy: The Rise and Fall airs this coming Monday (April 28) on BBC Three and Player. Learn more here.
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The impressive career of Colombian reggaeton superstar Karol G is the focus of new documentary Tomorrow Was Beautiful, which has unveiled its trailer today.
Set for release on May 8 and produced by This Machine, Interscope Films and Bichota Films, Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful takes an in-depth look at Karol G’s impressive rise to fame as one of the biggest Latin musical artists of all time, and how she defied the odds along the way.
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The documentary is directed by Cristina Costantini, who serves as a producer alongside R.J. Cutler, Elise Pearlstein, Trevor Smith, Kristofer Ríos, Alex Simmons, and Mariem Pérez. Mark Blatty, Margaret Yen, John Janick, and Nir Seroussi also join as Executive Producers.
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“Karol G was told her dream was too big, that she was the wrong gender, and from the wrong place, to ever be a global star,” a synopsis of the documentary notes. “But only fools bet against a Bichota.”
The film traces Karol G’s beginnings in Medellín, Colombia along her journey to international stardom, including the release of chart-topping albums such as 2023’s Mañana Será Bonito (the first all-Spanish-language album by a woman to top the Billboard 200) and its accompanying record-breaking tour.
“I told the team, ‘I have this idea. Let’s do a stadium tour,’” she remembers in the trailer. “The first stadium tour by a Latin artist in history. And everyone started like, ‘Caro, no.’” Karol G’s instinct ultimately paid off, with her 65-date trek grossing $313.3 million and selling 2.3 million tickets to become the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time by a female artist.
“Since I was a child, people told me: ‘Karol, this dream is not for you,’” she adds in the trailer. Paired with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and in-depth interviews with Karol G and those close to her, Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful traces an entire career spent defying the odds to reach dizzying new heights.
“It’s a rare look at the unique determination, raw talent, and relentless work ethic that has launched Karol G to superstardom and paved a path for future generations of Latinas,” the synopsis concludes.
Director Dan Reed is planning a third chapter in his ongoing Leaving Neverland series about allegations of sexual abuse against late pop icon Michael Jackson by dancer/choreographer Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
According to Variety, the second sequel will focus on the upcoming trial pitting Robson and Safechuck against Jackson’s companies over their allegations that the organizations neglected to protect them from the alleged abuse detailed in the bombshell 2019 two-part doc. In the original film, the men described in graphic detail how the late King of Pop allegedly molested them at his Neverland Ranch in California when they were both minors; Jackson’s estate has continuously and emphatically denied the allegations.
The reported third film will serve as the follow-up to the upcoming Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, which will premiere on Channel 4 in the U.K. on March 18 and on YouTube in the United States. The 50-minute movie will primarily focus on Robson and Safechuck fighting to have their lawsuit against Jackson’s estate go forward; the case is slated to go to trial next year.
“It’s taken an awful long time just to get to a trial date that looks as though it could actually happen,” Reed told Variety about his plan to have cameras in the courtroom, despite his belief that the Jackson estate will “find a way to try and sideswipe this whole thing and make sure it never goes to court… But who knows. Maybe justice will prevail and there’ll be a trial. And if there is a trial, I want to be there.”
While we will have to wait to see what will happen when the men have their day in court, Reed is aware that it’s possible that the judge in the case might not let cameras in their courtroom. “It’s really the judge’s discretion,” he said. Reed was allowed to film inside the Santa Monica Courthouse for several hearings depicted in Leaving Neverland 2, which mainly focuses on the legal back-and-forth leading up to Robson and Safechuck being granted a trial.
“It’s a bridge film in between what was a pretty high-profile start and what I hope will be a very dramatic ending,” Reed said. “We could have kept it to include all this material and the trial. But I think the trial will be so dramatic, and you won’t have time for all the stuff in between.”
The original Leaving Neverland won an Emmy for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, even as it drew fire from Jackson’s family and estate and, in 2019, resulted in a $100 million lawsuit by the estate against HBO over claims that the documentary violated a 27-year-old non-disparagement clause the network signed to air a 1992 concert film for Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour; the case was sent to private arbitration that year and is still pending.
Jackson’s estate has consistently denied a series of allegations of sexual abuse against the singer who died in 2009, often noting that Jackson was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial and has never been convicted or held liable for any such claims. The estate has also claimed that accusers are looking for a payday from an artist who cannot defend himself because defamation laws do not cover dead people.
As for why he’s planning the third chapter, Reed said that he hopes to keep telling Robson and Safechuck’s story because he thinks it will help viewers “realize that these are real people, with a real story, with real families who are doing this… They’re not just a couple of people who popped up because they saw a pot of gold. These are people who have really dedicated a decade, at least, of their lives to getting justice.”
Tom Waits has added his talents to the final episode of Italian documentary series, Il Fattore Umano (The Human Factor), with his work accompanying stories of homelessness in America. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The eight-part series, created by the Italian public television channel RAI3, offers […]
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More evidence about Diddy’s wild ways are being uncovered. The disgraced mogul’s former assistant has shared voice notes of the Bad Boy Records founder requesting drugs, allegedly.
As spotted on Newsweek, the newest episode of The Fall of Diddy has been released and it further examines his infamous “freak off” parties. In the fifth installment his former employee Phillip Pines speaks publicly for the first time ever and details his role in how he would help coordinate the raunchy meet-ups. During the segment he made sure to clarify all the misconceptions behind these invite only events.
“I think there’s a difference in the disparity between what people think they were, meaning that there were hundreds of people engaging in these activities. That wasn’t my experience” he explained. Pines went went on to detail his role saying it was his job to stock the “Wild King Nights,” which only included “a very intimate group of people.” Some of the requested items included lighting, booze, marijuana, ketamine, molly and mushrooms.
“Those requests started to become more frequent. It started to occur on a daily basis” he added. Pines also was tasked to ensure these rooms were cleaned up afterwards and even erasing video footage of the sex acts from Diddy’s devices. The former personal assistant also played voice notes from the rapper requesting “Cialis,” “20 Xanax,” a Plan B pill,” “10 Adderall” and “mushroom capsules.”
The Fall of Diddy is available on Investigation Discovery and can be streamed on platforms such as DirectTV, Hulu + Live TV, Philo and Sling.
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Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots is one of the foremost minds in music knowledge and history today, using his platforms and connections to the industry to great effect. Questlove, an Academy Award-winning director, is set to hit the chair once more to helm the 50 Years of SNL Music documentary.
Questlove, 53, was tapped to direct the 50 Years of SNL Music documentary, looking back at the sketch comedy series’ special segment for its musical guests over the past five decades.
Joining in on the directing duties will be SNL director Oz Rodriguez and will feature more than 50 interviews from some of the past guests such as Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC fame, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon, and more. The doc will also feature former and current SNL writers and crew members including onscreen albums Maya Rudolph and Bill Hader, and former writer Conan O’Brien.
“Everyone knows the most famous SNL appearances, whether it’s Elvis Costello, Prince or the Beastie Boys, but they’re the tip of a huge iceberg,” Questlove shared in a statement. “The process of going back through the incredible archival footage was like being in a time machine, DeLorean or other. I’m so happy I went on the trip and now get to share it with everyone.”
Questlove’s Summer of Soul documentary, which examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2022.
Eddie Murphy, Al Franken, Justin Timberlake, Kenan Thompson, and a host of other significant SNL contributors and guests will also appear in 50 Years of SNL Music.
The documentary airs on Monday, January 27, on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT, streaming next day on Peacock.
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Lance Bass is one of the many boyband members and associates featured in the upcoming Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands documentary, which dives deep into the genre’s history and influence. In a new clip shared exclusively with Billboard on Monday (Nov. 11), the *NSYNC star shares a glimpse of how often a young […]
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A mysterious documentary about Ye aka Kanye West is in the works, and the first image has been revealed to the public.
A new documentary that’s been years in the making about Ye aka Kanye West is now revealing the first image from the film. The film, entitled In Whose Name?, includes never-before-seen footage of West and “promises to offer a unique and cinematic perspective on Ye’s public transformation.” In Whose Name?, which has been in production for six years, will have an exclusive promotional reel screening at the American Film Market on Nov. 7 after a completed deal with Goodfellas and Utopia.
The synopsis of the film reads:
“With a billion-dollar budget and a commitment to truth, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, invites 18-year-old Nicolas Ballesteros armed with an iPhone on a six-year journey revealing unfiltered aspects of celebrity life which confront the provocative opinions, grand visions and bold contrarianism that defined him as the world’s most controversial artist. The film follows Ye’s ascent to becoming the richest Black man in American history while uncovering why the superstar risked everything he had built in the name of freedom. Examining the culture that birthed the star, ‘In Whose Name?’ explores the overlapping influences of corporate exploitation, racial complexities and psychological struggles inherent in the American dream.”
Outside of the synopsis, observers note that Ye’s recent issues with adidas as well as his spiral into anti-Semitism may very well be discussed in the movie. Ballesteros serves as a producer on the documentary along with Shy Ranje. The executive producer is Justin Staple, and David Bullock is on board as a producer. The movie is currently in post-production at the time of this article’s publication.
“We’re thrilled to present ‘In Whose Name?’ at AFM,” said Marie Zeniter, vice president of sales at Utopia, and Eva Diederix, head of sales at Goodfellas in a statement about the documentary. “This powerful documentary offers an unfiltered view without narration, it invites audiences to draw their own conclusions on themes of fame, religion, and power. We believe audiences globally deserve the chance to witness how one of the world’s most influential figures navigates the complexities and contradictions of celebrity.”
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