Wednesday, July 8, 2015
NEWSMAKERS
Lawyers: Cosby’s admission could aid women’s cases
PHILADELPHIA
Lawyers for women pursuing criminal and civil cases against Bill Cosby say his admission that he obtained quaaludes to give young women before sex could bolster their claims.
Court documents unsealed Monday show that Cosby says he gave a 19-year-old woman the sedative before they had sex in the 1970s. She is one of three women suing him for defamation.
The defamation suit accuses Cosby of branding them liars when his representatives denied their accusations of being drugged and sexually assaulted.
Meanwhile, lawyer Gloria Allred is pressing to have criminal charges filed in California. Her client says Cosby sexually abused her at the Playboy Mansion when she was 15. Cosby’s lawyers are fighting the potential child-sex charges.
Lawyers for the 77-year-old actor have not returned messages.
Akron screening for LeBron James film
CLEVELAND
LeBron James is bringing a little Hollywood to his Ohio hometown.
The NBA superstar is hosting a private screening of “Trainwreck,” a new comedy in which he plays himself in a supporting role as the best friend of star Bill Hader.
James is showing the film to family and friends in Akron on Friday, a few days before the movie’s premiere in New York. The R-rated film will be released nationally July 17.
This is the first major acting role for James, who guided the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals this season. The four-time league MVP is a free agent but is expected to re-sign with the Cavs this month.
Hader, actress Amy Schumer and director Judd Apatow are expected to attend the invitation-only screening. James previously worked with Hader when he hosted “Saturday Night Live.”
Paula Deen distances herself from photo
LOS ANGELES
Paula Deen didn’t post a 2011 Halloween costume photo on her Twitter account showing her son Bobby in dark makeup as “I Love Lucy” character Ricky Ricardo, and the social media manager responsible for it was fired, Deen’s spokesman said.
The photo from a holiday episode of one of the celebrity cook’s former Food Network shows, with a tweet mimicking Arnaz’s accented English on the show, was quickly removed Tuesday from Twitter after it drew a flurry of comments about Bobby Deen’s dark-skinned depiction of the character played by Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball’s TV and real-life husband.
The late Arnaz was a Cuban-born Hispanic.
Associated Press