Sunday, October 27, 2013
NEWSMAKERS
Marcia Wallace dies, was voice of Krabappel on ‘Simpsons’
LOS ANGELES
Marcia Wallace, the voice of scoffing schoolteacher Edna Krabappel on “The Simpsons,” whose wise-cracking characters on “The Bob Newhart Show” and other prime-time hits endeared her to generations of TV viewers, has died. She was 70.
“Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean said Saturday that her death is a terrible loss. He says Wallace’s “irreplaceable character,” the fourth-grade teacher who has to deal with Bart Simpson’s constant antics, would be retired from the show. The statement did not provide a date for her death, or a cause.
The longtime TV actress’ credits ranged from playing a wise-cracking receptionist on “The Bob Newhart Show” to appearances on Candice Bergen’s “Murphy Brown.”
Malaysia bans Ke$ha concert because of ‘culture’ clash
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia
Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have banned a planned concert by U.S. pop singer Ke$ha after deciding it would hurt cultural and religious sensitivities.
Concert organizer Livescape said it received a letter about the decision on the eve of the show that was to take place Saturday at a Kuala Lumpur stadium.
The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia said separately that it was rejecting the application for Ke$ha to perform for reasons of religion and culture.
The ministry’s statement did not elaborate. Ke$ha, whose hits include “Tik Tok” and “Die Young,” has songs that make explicit references to sex and liquor.
Sharpton threatens store boycott over profile suit
NEW YORK
The Rev. Al Sharpton threatened Saturday to boycott luxury retailer Barneys if the department store doesn’t respond adequately to allegations by black shoppers that they were racially profiled there.
“We’ve gone from stop and frisk to shop and frisk, and we are not going to take it,” the black civil-rights leader said. “We are not going to live in a town where our money is considered suspect and everyone else’s money is respected.”
Two black Barneys New York customers, Trayon Christian and Kayla Phillips, said this week they were detained by police after making expensive purchases.
Christian sued Barneys, saying he was accused of fraud after using his debit card to buy a $349 Ferragamo belt in April.
Barneys said Thursday that it had retained a civil-rights expert to help review its procedures. The profiling claims also incited criticism on Twitter and an online petition asking rapper Jay-Z, who’s collaborating with the luxury retailer for a holiday collection, to disassociate from it.
Associated Press