Celebrity

Jury Finds Ed Sheeran Didn’t Copy Marvin Gaye Classic

Published

12 months ago

2023-05-04

NEW YORK – A federal jury in New York determined Thursday that British singer Ed Sheeran did not steal key elements of Marvin Gaye’s classic 1970s song “Let’s Get It On” when he created his hit song “Thinking Out Loud,” prompting Sheeran to joke later that he won’t have to follow through on his threat to quit music.

The emotions of an epic copyright battle that spanned most of the last decade erupted as soon as the seven-person jury announced its verdict after more than two hours of discussion.

Sheeran sighed and buried his face in his hands before embracing his attorney, Ilene Farkas. Sheeran smiled as the jurors filed out of the courtroom and mouthed, “Thank you.”

He then spent nearly ten minutes speaking with plaintiff Kathryn Townsend Gryphon, the daughter of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the 1973 soul song with Gaye. They exchanged kisses and smiles.

Sheeran later spoke to media outside the courthouse, repeating his comment during the trial that if he lost the case, he would contemplate stopping songwriting.

“I am very pleased with the outcome of this case, and it appears that I will not have to retire from my day job after all.” But, at the same time, I am extremely frustrated that such baseless claims are even allowed to go to court,” the singer said, reading from a prepared statement.

He also stated that the trial caused him to miss his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland and that he “won’t get that time back.”

Gryphon waited in a hallway with her lawyers before leaving the courthouse, saying she was relieved the trial was over.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” she admitted. “We can become friends.”

She expressed delight that Sheeran approached her shortly after the judgment and had a lengthy conversation.

“It showed me who he was,” Gryphon explained.

She claimed that her copyright complaint was not personal.

“I did everything I could to protect my father’s intellectual property.” “I’m very proud of my father and his work, as well as of myself for doing what I must,” Gryphon concluded.

The verdict came after a two-week trial that included a courtroom performance by Sheeran, who claimed, sometimes furiously, that the trial posed a threat to all musicians who make their music.

Sheeran sat with his legal team throughout the trial, defending himself against Townsend’s heirs’ case. They claimed that “Thinking Out Loud” was too similar to “Let’s Get It On” and thus breached the song’s copyright protection.

At the start of the trial, attorney Ben Crump informed jurors on behalf of the Townsend heirs that Sheeran occasionally performed the two songs together. The jury witnessed a video of Sheeran performing in Switzerland, where he can be heard on stage transitioning between “Let’s Get It On” and “Thinking Out Loud.” Crump claimed it was “smoking gun” evidence he borrowed from the renowned song.

In her closing statement on Wednesday, Farkas stated that Crump’s “smoking gun was shooting blanks.”

She only claimed “basic to the tool kit of all songwriters” and “the scaffolding on which all songwriting is built.”

“They did not imitate it. Not on purpose. Not unintentionally. “Not at all,” Farkas replied.

During his two-day defense testimony, Sheeran repeatedly picked up a guitar resting behind him on the witness stand to demonstrate how he seamlessly creates “mashups” of songs during concerts to “spice it up a bit” for his large crowds.

Under cross-examination, the English pop star’s upbeat demeanor on display during his attorney’s questioning vanished.

“When you write songs, somebody comes after you,” Sheeran said, explaining that others closely followed the case in the industry.

He said he borrowed nothing from “Let’s Get It On” when composing his song.

In their lawsuit, Townsend’s heirs claimed that “Thinking Out Loud” had “striking similarities” and “overt common elements” that made it obvious that it was a knockoff of “Let’s Get It On,” a song that has been featured in numerous films and commercials and received hundreds of millions of streams, spins, and radio plays over the past half-century.

Sheeran’s song, released in 2014, was a smash, earning him a Grammy for Song of the Year.

The defendants in the “Thinking Out Loud” lawsuit included Sheeran’s label, Atlantic Records, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, but the trial focused on Sheeran.

Amy Wadge, his song’s co-writer who was not a defendant, testified on his behalf and hugged Sheeran after the verdict.

Gaye was 44 when he was assassinated by his father while attempting to interfere in a disagreement between his parents. He had been a Motown celebrity since the 1960s, but his songs published in the 1970s elevated him to the status of a generational musical giant.

Townsend, a singer, composer, and lawyer who wrote the 1958 R&B doo-wop classic “For Your Love,” died in 2003. Gryphon, his daughter, said at court that Sheeran was “a great artist with a great future.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Music

Police Say There Was No Foul Play in Mandisa’s Death

Published

19 hours ago

2024-04-26

Geoff Thomas

The Franklin police department in Tennessee has provided an update on the death of Christian singer and former “American Idol” contestant Mandisa, who died last week.

Mandisa, whose full name is Mandisa Hundley, was discovered dead in her Nashville home on April 18, according to a statement on the artist’s official Facebook page. She was 47.

According to a post on X, the program formerly known as Twitter, the Franklin police department stated that there is currently no evidence that Mandisa’s death was the result of suspicious or criminal conduct.

“The Franklin Police Department sends its condolences to Hundley’s family, friends, and fans,” the department said on X.

Mandisa rose to notoriety

K-Love, a Christian music station, was the first to announce the artist’s death. Mandisa rose to notoriety after standing firm in the face of criticism from “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell during season five, according to K-Love.

After finishing in the Top 10 on “American Idol,” she released her debut album, “True Beauty,” in 2007.

She began her singing career with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, an African American vocal group, while attending Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, according to K-Love. After her stint on “American Idol,” she collaborated with various musicians, including TobyMac, Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, and Kirk Franklin.

According to her website, She had published five full-length albums throughout the course of her two-decade career, including one Christmas album. Her hit album “Overcomer” won her a Grammy in 2014 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

K-Love said that she has great relationships with her fellow singers, including TobyMac.

“Since the first day I met Mandisa, she has been nothing but original and courageous,” Toby told K-Love in a statement. “My touring family benefits from her presence. She sincerely encourages each performer on stage and every crew member behind the scenes. In a single word, I would describe her as one of the most authentic persons I have ever met. Her passion desires to help others.”

Celebrity

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned By NY Appeals Court

Published

1 day ago

2024-04-25

Kiara Grace

New York – The highest court in New York overturned Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction in 2020. This decision reversed a significant ruling from the #MeToo era, as it found that the trial judge had made an error by allowing women to testify regarding charges against Weinstein that were not relevant to the case.

Weinstein, aged 72, will continue to be incarcerated as he was found guilty of a further rape in Los Angeles in 2022. However, the recent verdict in New York brings back a distressing period in America’s confrontation with sexual misbehavior committed by influential individuals. This era commenced in 2017 when numerous accusations against Weinstein emerged.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office indicated its determination to pursue a new trial for Weinstein, perhaps requiring his accusers to once again recount their experiences under oath.

In a 4-3 judgment, the California Court of Appeals reversed Weinstein’s 23-year sentence, stating that the trial court made a mistake by allowing testimony about uncharged, alleged previous sexual actions involving individuals other than the victims of the offenses in question. The majority of the court deemed this as a “misuse of judicial discretion.”

Judge Madeline Singas expressed strong disapproval in her dissent, stating that the Court of Appeals was persisting in a troubling pattern of reversing juries’ guilty verdicts in cases related to sexual violence.

Weinstein has been incarcerated in a New York correctional facility following his conviction for engaging in non-consensual oral sex with a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and for committing third-degree rape against an aspiring actress in 2013. In the Los Angeles case, he received a 16-year prison sentence.

Arthur Aidala, the lawyer representing Weinstein, described the verdict by the Court of Appeals as a significant triumph for all individuals accused of crimes in New York state.

The office of the Manhattan district attorney expressed its commitment to make every effort to retry this case.

AP – VOR News Image

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned By NY Appeals Court

Lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor, who has legally represented eight individuals accusing Harvey Weinstein, including two witnesses in the New York criminal prosecution, described the ruling as “a significant regression in ensuring that those responsible for acts of sexual violence are held accountable.”

“Courts frequently allow the introduction of evidence regarding additional acts that the defendant has not been charged with, if it helps the jury to comprehend matters related to the defendant’s intention, method of operation, or overall plan.” Wigdor stated that overturning the verdict would be unfortunate because it would necessitate the victims to go through another trial, after the jury was informed of the importance of this testimony.

Debra Katz, a well-known lawyer specializing in civil rights and #MeToo cases, who advocated for multiple accusations of Weinstein, expressed that her clients are deeply devastated by the decision. However, she firmly believed and assured them that their testimonies had a profound impact on society.

“Individuals persist in stepping forward, individuals persist in providing assistance to other victims who have reported instances of sexual assault and violence, and I firmly believe that there is no possibility of reverting from this progress,” Katz stated, foreseeing Weinstein’s conviction at a subsequent trial.

She stated that the women derive immense solace from the fact that Weinstein will continue to be incarcerated.

The overturning of Weinstein’s conviction is the second significant setback for the #MeToo movement in the past two years, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of an appeal to reinstate Bill Cosby’s conviction for sexual assault, as ruled by a Pennsylvania court.

Weinstein’s conviction endured for almost four years, celebrated by activists and advocates as a significant accomplishment, but promptly scrutinized by his lawyers and, subsequently, by the Court of Appeals during the February hearings.

The accusations against Weinstein, the formerly influential and intimidating studio executive responsible for acclaimed films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love,” marked the beginning of the #MeToo movement. A multitude of women, including renowned actresses like Ashley Judd and Uma Thurman, stepped forward to accuse Weinstein. The New York trial he was involved in garnered significant media attention, with demonstrators outside the courthouse vocally accusing him of being a rapist.

AP – VOR News Image

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned By NY Appeals Court

Weinstein is currently imprisoned at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in New York, which is located around 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany.

He asserts his innocence. He asserts that all sexual activity was consenting.

Aidala contended during the February appeals court hearing that Burke influenced the trial by permitting three women to provide testimony regarding charges that were not relevant to the case and by granting prosecutors the authority to question Weinstein, had he chosen to testify, about his extensive record of aggressive conduct.

Aidala contended that the additional testimony exceeded the usual permissible scope of providing information about purpose, opportunity, intent, or a common scheme or plan. Furthermore, it effectively subjected Weinstein to a trial for offenses for which he was not formally accused.

Weinstein expressed a desire to provide testimony but ultimately decided against it due to Burke’s judgment, which would have required him to answer inquiries regarding over twenty-four reported instances of misconduct spanning a period of forty years. His behavior encompassed engaging in physical altercations with his brother, forcefully overturning a table out of fury, berating waitstaff, and shouting at his subordinates.

An attorney representing the Manhattan district attorney’s office, responsible for prosecuting the case, contended that the judge’s decisions were appropriate and that the additional evidence and testimony he permitted were crucial in offering jurors a comprehensive understanding of Weinstein’s conduct and his interactions with women.

According to Appellate Chief Steven Wu, Weinstein’s acquittal on the charges of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape, specifically related to actor Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of rape in the mid-1990s, indicates that the jurors were attentive and not confused or overwhelmed by the additional testimony.Typically, the Associated Press does not reveal the identities of individuals who claim to be victims of sexual assault unless they give their permission to be named. However, Sciorra has chosen to discuss her allegations publicly.

AP – VOR News Image

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned By NY Appeals Court

Last year, the Court of Appeals agreed to review Weinstein’s case following a decision by an intermediate appeals court to uphold his conviction.

Before rendering their decision, judges on the lower appellate court had expressed skepticism regarding Burke’s behavior during oral arguments. It was noted that Burke allowed prosecutors to present “highly biased testimony” from extra witnesses.

Burke’s tenure concluded at the conclusion of 2022. He was not renewed in his position and has ceased to hold the role of a judge.

Weinstein’s lawyers filed an appeal specifically requesting a fresh trial just for the charge of criminal sexual act. They contended that the rape case could not be subjected to a new trial due to the alleged behavior falling beyond the legal time limit.

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Photographer Alleges He Was Forced To Watch Megan Thee Stallion Have Sex And Was Unfairly Fired

Published

2 days ago

2024-04-24

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

Los Angeles – In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, a photographer who Megan Thee Stallion employed alleges that he was compelled to witness her engaging in sexual activity, was unjustly terminated shortly after that, and experienced mistreatment as her employee.

People – VOR News Image

Photographer Alleges He Was Forced To Watch Megan Thee Stallion Have Sex And Was Unfairly Fired

Emilio Garcia, in his lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that on a night out in 2022 in Ibiza, Spain, he was present in an SUV with the hip-hop singer when she engaged in sexual activity with another lady near him. He was incapacitated from exiting the moving vehicle, and even if he could do so, he would have found himself stranded in an unfamiliar land. According to the lawsuit, Garcia experienced feelings of embarrassment, mortification, and offense during the entire incident.

Alex Spiro, Megan’s attorney, stated that she intends to contest the complaint through legal proceedings.

“This is a monetary employment claim, without any filed allegations of sexual harassment, but with scandalous accusations aimed at embarrassing her,” Spiro stated.

According to the lawsuit, Megan admonished Garcia the following day, instructing him not to disclose what he witnessed while also criticizing and body-shaming him. The complaint alleges that Garcia, who was experiencing excessive workload, low pay, and a hostile work environment due to Megan’s possessive and abusive behavior, was wrongly categorized as an independent contractor while being treated as an exclusive employee.

According to the lawsuit, Garcia discussed those concerns with Megan during their conversation and was terminated the next day after working for her for four years. Subsequently, he lodged a job discrimination lawsuit with the California Civil Rights Department.

Rolling Stone – VOR News Image

Photographer Alleges He Was Forced To Watch Megan Thee Stallion Have Sex And Was Unfairly Fired

The lawsuit, initially disclosed by NBC News, names Megan, legally known as Megan Pete, her enterprises Megan Thee Stallion Entertainment and Hot Girl Touring and her record label, Roc Nation, as the defendants. No defense answer has been submitted yet. A representative of Roc Nation should have responded more promptly to an email requesting comment.

Garcia is pursuing monetary compensation, which will be assessed during the trial. He claims to have had significant emotional and bodily harm as a result of his treatment at work, his termination, and seeing the incident in the SUV.

Megan, a 29-year-old woman, was previously embroiled in a significant legal controversy. She endured a deluge of online harassment after being shot by rapper Tory Lanez. A jury determined that Lanez had fired at her feet while they were on a street in the Hollywood Hills in 2020. She provided testimony throughout the trial, which led to the conviction of Lanez on three felony charges. Subsequently, a court imposed a 10-year prison sentence on him.

Town Square – VOR News Image

Photographer Alleges He Was Forced To Watch Megan Thee Stallion Have Sex And Was Unfairly Fired

Megan was already a prominent emerging artist at the time of the shooting and has achieved immense success as one of the most prominent figures in hip-hop. In 2021, she won a Grammy for the best new artist category. Additionally, she attained the top position on the music charts with her tracks “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, and as a featured artist on Cardi B’s “WAP.”

SOURCE – (AP)