Reuters Entertainment News Summary
Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.
'Men in Black: International' leads box office with muted $28 million
Hollywood seems to be coming down with a contagious case of franchise fatigue this summer, as "Men in Black: International" and "Shaft" become the latest sequels largely dismissed by moviegoers in North America. Sony's "Men in Black: International" led ticket sales at the box office this weekend with $28.5 million, but still fell short of expectations. Those receipts represent roughly half of what the previous installments in the sci-fi series earned during their first weekend in theaters.
CNN's Anderson Cooper remembers mom Gloria Vanderbilt as visitor from 'distant star'
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper remembered his mother, designer and society grand dame Gloria Vanderbilt, as a woman who endured a string of heartbreaks but still remained deeply in love with love. "I always felt it was my job to protect her. She was the strongest person I ever met but she wasn't tough," Cooper said in a seven-minute video https://youtu.be/cfbRneB9wcA obituary on CNN.
Taylor Swift releases song and petition calling for LGBTQ equality
Pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift on Monday released a star-studded music video that scolded social media trolls and urged fans to sign a petition demanding U.S. legal protections for gays, lesbians and transgender people. The video for Swift's new single "You Need to Calm Down" featured a surprise cameo by former rival Katy Perry plus a host of other celebrities. Perry's appearance signaled an end to a spat between the two musicians which began in 2013 over backup singers in their shows.
U.S. fashion icon, socialite Gloria Vanderbilt dead at 95
Gloria Vanderbilt, the "poor little rich girl" who lived a life at the highest levels of fashion, society and wealth as an heir to one of the greatest family fortunes in U.S. history, died on Monday at the age of 95, her son, CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper, said. The network said Vanderbilt died at home among family and friends. Cooper said she had learned this month that she had stomach cancer.
Bill Cosby's post as 'America's Dad' on Father's Day sparks anger online
Convicted sex offender Bill Cosby's Instagram post identifying himself as "America's Dad" in a Father's Day message touched off online reaction from admiration to outrage. "Hey, Hey, Hey...It's America's Dad... I know it's late, but to all of the Dads... It's an honor to be called a Father, so let's make today a renewed oath to fulfilling our purpose - strengthening our families and communities," Cosby posted on Instagram late Sunday night.