Did you miss the news as they happened during last week? Not to worry, you can catch the biggest ones here. Hollywood icon Cicely Tyson’s death, Singer Halsey’s baby bump reveal and Chelsea sacking manager Frank Lampard are all covered below.
Cicely Tyson death
Hollywood icon and multiple awards winning actress Cicely Tyson was reported dead at the age of 96 on Thursday, 28 January 2021. Tributes poured in from notable personalities who have crossed paths with her and/or have been inspired by her films.
These included former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady and Michelle Obama. Tyler Perry, Viola Davis, Mariah Carey, Bill Clinton, Jada Pinkett were also among many others who paid glowing and moving tribute to the late iconic film star.
Cicely Tyson was active in the film industry for about 70 years and won three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Black Reel Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, one Tony Award, an honorary Academy Award, and a Peabody Award.
The actress garnered critical acclaim for her performance as Rebecca Morgan in the 1972 movie “Sounder”. She was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for the film.
In 2011, she played Constantine Jefferson in the award-winning film “The Help” and Ophelia Harkness in “How to Get Away with Murder.”
Another Hollywood death…
The Hollywood film industry also mourned the passing of 94-year-old Cloris Leachman, who died in her sleep of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California. Leachman had won a supporting actress Oscar for her role in 1971’s ‘The Last Picture’ Show.
Elliot Page Files for Divorce from Emma Portner
Newly available court records revealed that “Umbrella Academy” star actor Elliot Page has filed for divorce from his wife, Emma Portner. The 33-year-old actor who recently came out as transgender filed for a contested divorce on Tuesday, 26 January 2021 in a Manhattan Court.
The news is surprising as there were no rumours about a breakup. Just recently, Portner had publicly supported Page’s coming out in 2020, saying she was “so proud.”
Halsey is pregnant
Another surprising celebrity news from last week was from American singer Halsey, who announced that she is expecting her first child with screenwriter Alev Aydin. The 26-year-old superstar posted a series of photos of herself cradling her baby bump and she tagged her boyfriend Alev.
Halsey appeared to be excited at the prospect of welcoming a baby into the world.
Nollywood Actress Dakore Opens up on Postnatal Depression
Renowned brand ambassador and award-winning actress Dakore Egbuson-Akande opened up on her struggle with postnatal depression in a new episode of #WithChude – a special series of targeted multimedia conversations and investigations focused on narratives that reportedly enable and strengthen the mind, heart and spirit.
Dakore revealed she sought the assistance of a therapist who helped her to identify that her depression emanated from recent readjustments following childbirth. A slow but eventual return to acting and the entertainment industry helped her to pull through and regain control of her life and mental health.
Namaste Wahala out this Valentine
Inside sources from the Nigerian entertainment industry confirmed that the long-awaited blend between Nollywood and Bollywood, Namaste Wahala, is finally ready to grace the screens and it is to premiere on Netflix as an original.
The producers say that the film will be released on Valentines’ Day, 14 February 2021. Namaste Wahala stars the likes of Joke (pronounced Jo-Ke) Silva, Richard Mofe Damijo, Osas Ighodaro, Broda Shaggi and more.
Ernest Asuzu’s demise
Nollywood was thrown into mourning after the death of veteran actor Ernest Asuzu last week. Reports claimed that Asuzu had slumped before passing away on Tuesday evening. The president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, confirmed the death.
Asuzu rose to prominence after starring in the 1997 Nollywood classic film Rituals. After a successful run in the industry, he suffered a stroke in 2015 that affected his speech and left him bedridden for three years.
Zlatan and DJ Cuppy Drama
Earlier in January 2021, billionaire heiress DJ Cuppy had slammed Nigerian singer Zlatan for blocking her on WhatsApp and Instagram, claiming that she was shocked at his behaviour because they were friends and even have a hit song together titled ‘Gelato’.
In response, Zlatan left listeners shocked during an interview with Soundcity last week when he denied knowing who DJ Cuppy was.
Additionally, a member of Davido’s 30 Billion Gang Afeare Israel revealed that the feud between Zlatan and DJ Cuppy was because the billionaire’s daughter neither recompensed the singer for his contribution to the Gelato song nor pay him for his performance at her charity event in Abuja. Cuppy has not reacted to the latest development.
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Telecom and other companies licensed to register Nigerians for NIN
The latest news about the National Identification Number, NIN from last week was that telecoms and some other private and public companies have now been licensed to register Nigerians. Aliyu Aziz, the director-general of NIMC stated that this would reduce the large crowds at the commission’s various offices across the nation. Click here for additional details.
Fire guts Sunday Igboho
News sources from within Oyo State reported that a house belonging to Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, was burnt down by “unknown men”.
Igboho had reportedly issued a quit notice to herdsmen in Igangan, Ibarapa North local government area of Oyo state, after accusing them of being behind kidnappings and other criminal activities in the area. The threat has placed him under police radar and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ordered his immediate arrest as well.
Update on Hushpuppi’s case
In the most recent news about Ramon Abbas, an alleged Nigerian scammer who uses the moniker Hushpuppi, his US attorneys Gal Pissetzky and Vicki Podberesky were said to be pulling out of the case. According to them, Hushpuppi had stopped talking to them and has hired new attorneys.
Police arrests Trey Songz
American singer Tremaine Aldon Neverson, better known as Trey Songz also found himself in the police net after engaging in a physical altercation with a police officer. A law enforcement source stated that the singer was arrested on Monday, 25 January 2021 for trespassing, resisting arrest, and for assaulting a police officer.
Justin Beiber reflects on his troublesome past
At the beginning of last week, Justin Bieber posted a reminiscent message on his Instagram page. According to him, the arrest had come at a very rough period of his life but God has brought him a long way since then. He says he is happy with the progress he has made in his life and relationship with God.
Song Yoo-jung dies at 26
South Korean actress Song Yoo-jung, who cut her teeth as a model for Estée Lauder in a 2013 campaign, died at the age of 26 of yet unknown causes. She is most widely known for her role in the drama School 2017.
Trending Sports stories from last week
- Chelsea appointed former Borussia Dortmund and PSG coach Thomas Tuchel as their new head coach on Tuesday after sacking Frank Lampard. Lampard was shown the door following a host of poor performances from the team.
- Conor McGregor was stopped in the second round of his UFC 257 bout at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi by Dustin Poirier, causing a huge upset and ending any lingering hopes of luring Khabib into a rematch.
- Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly under investigation by police in the city of Aosta. The footballer had taken a ski trip to the Alpine town of Courmayeur with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could have broken Italy’s COVID-19 regulations.
- German World Cup winner Mesut Ozil has finally left Arsenal for Fenerbahce in Turkey after 8 years at the club. On the other hand, Real Madrid’s midfielder Martin Odegaard went in the opposite direction on loan to replace him.
- Three times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has become part-owner of a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, North Carolina Courage, as she looks to set up an opportunity for equality.
Coronavirus Updates
The Nigerian Federal service has asked all civil servants on grade level 12 and below to continue working from home following the increased number of Coronavirus cases recorded in the country. This statement, dated 26 January 2021, confirmed that the directive to work from home made on 22 December 2020 would continue to be in effect until the end of February 2021.
There were worries over the health of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was reported to be receiving treatment for mild symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. The 67-year-old Obrador was a heavy smoker until he suffered a serious heart attack in 2013. Reports also mention that he has a history of high blood pressure as well as heart issues, which could lead to hospitalisation.
Coronavirus updates in numbers
As of Friday 29 January 2021, the total number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Nigeria was 128,674. 1,577 deaths have been reported while 102,780 patients have recovered and been discharged from isolation facilities across the country. This means that the number of active cases was 24,317.
So happy for Halsey and so tired of the Cuppy gist!