Tom Hanks Attacked, Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Destroyed

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Actor Tom Hanks is being attacked in response to video footage that has surfaced online, purporting to show the actor in less-than-appropriate behavior toward a child.

The internet has been abuzz in recent days with posts about Tom Hanks–one that shows his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame being defaced by vandals. In the video, Hanks’s name inside his star is blacked out by a vandal who then scribbles the word pedophile in place of it as a crowd gathers. The noise is such that cheers are virtually indistinguishable from the jeers of the crowd.

But naysayers point out that this isn’t the first time the two-time Academy Award-winning actor has been accused of such, and the clip of Hanks used in the Instagram is taken completely out of context.

Tom Hanks began his career in Hollywood in the 1980s. As an actor, he has portrayed a variety of characters in a variety of film genres, including comedy, drama, and even horror.

His first major film roles were in Splash (1984) and Big (1988), but perhaps his most memorable roles were in Philadelphia (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Cast Away (2000). More recently, Hanks played the role of Elvis Presley’s manager, Tom Parker, in the film Elvis (2022) and the role of a cranky old man who discovers an unlikely friendship with a new neighbor in A Man Called Otto (2022).

Hanks is also known for his long-standing relationship with The Walt Disney Company, and his most famous acting role with the company is also the one that began that relationship.

Hanks has lent his voice to Sheriff Woody in Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, beginning with the first film in the series, which debuted in 1995. Since then, he has given Woody his trademark voice in Toy Story 2, 3, and 4, as well as in numerous Toy Story shorts, including Toy Story of Terror and Toy Story That Time Forgot, among others.

toy story that time forgot

Hanks also portrayed Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks (2012) opposite actress Emma Thompson. The actor also lent a vocal cameo of himself to an episode of Big City Greens, and more recently, Hanks played the role of the woodcarver Geppetto in Robert Zemeckis’s live-action Pinocchio, which debuted on Disney+ in 2022.

One of Hanks’s parody performances, a clip of which was included in the aforementioned Instagram post, however, has been taken so far out of context that it makes no sense whatsoever, but it has left a deluge of rumors, accusations, and allegations in its wake.

The clip is from a skit Hanks performed during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! in 2011. In the sketch comedy bit, the actor and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel satirize the TLC reality television series Toddlers & Tiaras, which aired from 2009 to 2016.

The reality series was criticized for sexualizing children who compete in beauty pageants, as they are expected to wear costumes and participate in performances deemed overly adult in nature, and the parents of the children in various beauty pageants received criticism for allowing–and sometimes demanding–that their children participate in the pageants.

Hanks and Kimmel performed a satire sketch, mocking the show and its adult participants. The actor and host did not, however, endorse pedophilia in any way.

The clip, instead, shows Hanks acting as an overbearing parent obsessed with seeing his fictional daughter win a fictional child pageant called Miss Ultimate Sexy Baby Nevada.

But, as with many things online, the clip was taken from the Kimmel show and “doctored” to look as though it depicts Hanks himself obsessed with a child in a pageant. The misconstrued, out-of-context clip can be seen in the Instagram post below.

The post includes the caption, “Tom Hanks Not Trying to Hide It,” alleging that Hanks is, indeed, a pedophile when the post is clearly pieced together from clips of a more than 12-year-old episode of a sketch for Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!

Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks - YouTube

Sadly, this isn’t the first time social media has attacked Hanks, accusing him of such behavior. There are so many false and accusatory posts on the subject, in fact, that the top debunking website, Snopes.com, has an entire library of content about the topic, all of which has been fact-checked and proven false.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Debut Bahamian-Inspired Designer Outfits

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Mickey and Minnie Mouse will have new looks specially designed by acclaimed Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett whenever they visit Disney Cruise Line’s newest island destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera. The garments will have a distinct Bahamian flair, inspired by the bright, colorful spirit of Junkanoo, the country’s signature festival filled with joyous music and vibrant parades.

Inspired by the beauty of his homeland, Theodore’s creations reflect the culture and colorful hues of island life. His designs are seen on the likes of Miss Universe contestants, celebrities, brides, cover girls, and government officials just to name a few. Soon, Theodore’s latest work will adorn two of our favorite icons: Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

Theodore grew up in Nassau, The Bahamas, surrounded by art and fashion. His mother owned her own sewing factory, and he started making dresses at an early age. Theodore’s designs first hit the runway when he was just 13 years old, in 1998—the very year Disney Cruise Line set sail. He went on to design for Miss Bahamas contestants and Miss Bahamas Universe, and the rest is history.

When Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point opens in June of 2024, Theodore’s work will hit an exciting, new runway—a celebration of Bahamian culture straight from the eyes of the country’s artists. At Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Mickey and Minnie’s looks will be part of a collection of colorful works of art by local creators, which guests will experience throughout the new island destination.

“The beauty of Mickey and Minnie’s looks are that they are literally ‘Junkanoo Fun in the Sun,’” Theodore said. “When you talk about the print, pattern, color, texture of Junkanoo, they’ve got that.”

Raffia, a natural material made from the leaves of Raffia palm trees, is typically used in The Bahamas to decorate accessories and Eleuthera is known for its pineapples. These details can be found in both Mickey and Minnie’s looks! 

Theodore will also design special styles for Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip ‘n’ Dale to wear while enjoying the natural beauty of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point! Be sure to stay tuned for the final looks and to follow along with all the details of this exciting retreat debuting in summer 2024.

‘Home Alone’ Star Listed in Critical Condition in a New York Hospital Ahead of Criminal Trial

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

A member of the cast of the iconic Home Alone holiday film franchise is reportedly hospitalized in New York. He is listed in critical condition.

Before 1990, holiday-themed family films were fairly predictable, and most of them involved a mission of some kind for which the goal was always the same: to “save” Christmas. But in 1990, things forever changed, thanks to a comedic Christmas-themed film called Home Alone.

Helmed by veteran director Chris Columbus, the film stars actress Catherine O’Hara alongside John Heard, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Candy, and newcomer Macaulay Culkin and his younger brother Keiran Culkin and tells the story of the McCallister family at Christmastime–and their unfortunate habit of accidentally leaving their youngest child, Kevin, behind as they jet off to celebrate Christmas in another state.

In both films, a sinister duo, the “Wet Bandits,” are hot on Kevin’s trail, and Home Alone 2 (1992) proves they do not learn from their past mistakes.

home alone

Two years after the release of Home Alone, a sequel debuted. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York generally followed the same premise, except that in the second film, Kevin finds himself separated from his family–but in a ritzy New York hotel.

In both films, Macaulay Culkin plays the role of Kevin McCallister, a small-for-his-age and extremely strong-willed child who not only regularly sasses his mother but also goes head-to-head with his older brother Buzz, played by actor Devin Ratray, numerous times.

In the more than 30 years that have transpired since the films debuted, the actors and actresses from the film have gone their separate ways–some of them adding exponentially to their acting careers, some have been faced with challenging medical issues, and some of them finding themselves in trouble with the law.

home alone

For Devin Ratray (Buzz McCallister), the past few years have not been his best, and this week, the attorney representing him in his upcoming domestic assault and strangulation case revealed that the actor has been hospitalized in New York and is currently listed in critical condition.

Details about the hospitalization and what led to it remain unclear at this time.

Jury selection in the case against Ratray was scheduled to begin in Oklahoma County District Court on Monday, but the case has been delayed by District Judge Kathryn Savage following news of Ratray’s medical condition.

Ratray is currently scheduled to attend a pre-trial hearing on February 21.

In late 2021, Ratray was charged with a felony count of domestic violence and battery by strangulation, as well as a misdemeanor count of domestic assault and battery. The charges stem from an incident involving his girlfriend at the time.

devin ratray home alone mugshot

According to court documents, in December 2021, while Ratray was in Oklahoma City for an engagement at the city’s Christmas Con event, he and his then-girlfriend visited Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. While there, Ratray drank a “bottle of wine,” downed “several shots of alcohol,” and became “intoxicated.”

When the couple visited a second venue that evening, Ratray reportedly had ten additional shots of alcohol and was later approached by two female fans who asked for his autograph. The actor became enraged with his girlfriend when she didn’t charge the women for the autographs.

Per PopCulture, things escalated from there:

The pair continued to argue once they returned to their room at a nearby Hyatt hotel. The actor allegedly pushed his girlfriend onto a bed and used one hand to press it against her throat while he placed the other over her mouth. He also allegedly punched her in the face when she bit his hand. In the affidavit, an Oklahoma City police detective reported that “While strangling the victim, defendant stated the following: ‘This is how you die.’” The woman suffered bruising under her left eye, marks under her right eye, marks above the left side of her upper lip, a bruise on her chest, and a sore right arm, according to court records, per Oklahoma’s News 4.

Ratray’s attorney maintains the actor’s innocence.

No further details have been shared about the actor’s medical condition, and more information will be shared as it becomes available.

Oscar-Nominated ‘Toy Story’ Actor Joins the Cast of Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

An Oscar-nominated Toy Story actor has joined the cast of Pixar’s upcoming Inside Out 2 (2024).

News of a sequel to the 2015 Pixar film all about adolescent emotions has been swirling around for a while, but in September 2022, Pixar execs confirmed the second part of Riley’s story during the D23 Expo held in Anaheim, California.

inside out 2

It wasn’t long before fans learned that the five original emotions–Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger–will be part of the second film. Two of the original voice actors, however, will not return. Those include Mindy Kaling, the original voice of Disgust, and Bill Hader, the original voice of Fear.

Amy Poehler will return as the voice of Joy, Phyllis Smith will lend her trademark voice to Sadness, and Lewis Black will be back as Anger.

This week, news of another voice actor–this one from Pixar’s Toy Story 4–joining the cast is making the rounds.

According to Variety, June Squibb, whose voice brought life to the antique shop owner in Toy Story 4, will join the cast of Inside Out 2 in a role that is undisclosed at this time.

Toy Story 4's antique shop might have set a Pixar Easter egg record

Per CBR:

This marks the 94-year-old actor’s latest collaboration with Disney after voicing minor characters in 2018’s Ralph Breaks the Internet as Grandma Bertha and 2020’s Soul as Gerel. For her incredible performance in Alexander Payne’s 2013 comedy-drama Nebraska, Squibb earned multiple Best Supporting Actress nominations, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.

A new trailer for the film, which is set for a theatrical debut on June 14, 2024, dropped last week and gives fans slightly more insight into the movie–and even a glimpse at Riley as a teenager.

Fans can get wrapped up in all the emotions when Inside Out 2 hits theaters this summer.

Florida Receives Unique Weather Forecast

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Typically, Florida’s weather in January is known for its mild temperatures and sunny days. For many tourists, it’s a great time to escape the harsh cold of winter in other parts of the country and enjoy the pleasant climate that the Sunshine State has to offer.

However, for the past couple of weeks, Florida has seen unprecedented cold temperatures alongside aggressive wind and rain. Now, a new forecast has arrived, one that is even more shocking.

In a surprising turn of events, meteorologists in Florida have issued a rather unusual weather forecast – an Iguana Watch.

Florida hurricane specialist, Zack Covey, has alerted residents of South Florida to be prepared for temperatures dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period. While this might seem like a typical weather advisory for some, the intriguing aspect of this watch is the expected result – lethargic iguanas falling from trees and other elevated areas.

An Iguana Watch, as named by Covey, is a phenomenon unique to Florida. Due to the cold temperatures, iguanas, which are cold-blooded reptiles, experience a decrease in their body temperature, leading to a state of tranquility and lethargy. This causes them to lose their grip on tree branches, resulting in an unusual sight of falling iguanas throughout the region.

The reason behind this peculiar behavior lies in the biology of these cold-blooded creatures. As the temperatures drop, iguanas are incapable of generating enough body heat to function normally. Consequently, their muscles become stiff, rendering them unable to maintain a strong hold on their perches.

While this might sound alarming, it is important to note that the iguanas are not harmed by this involuntary “plunge” as long as where they land is safe.

If you are planning to visit the region for Walt Disney World Resort or any other activity, it is advisable that you look out for these creatures. The Iguana Watch is an essential precautionary measure by the National Weather Service, aiming to alert residents about this climate-induced phenomenon.

Not only does it help ensure public safety, but it also presents an opportunity for Floridians to witness a natural phenomenon that occurs relatively rarely in other parts of the United States.

For residents and visitors alike, the falling iguanas can create quite a spectacle. It is advisable to exercise caution during an Iguana Watch, particularly when walking or parking beneath trees commonly inhabited by these reptiles. It’s not uncommon for unsuspecting passersby to find themselves in close proximity to a sleepy iguana that has taken a tumble.

As Florida embraces this unique weather forecast, it serves as a reminder of the diverse weather patterns and remarkable wildlife that make the state so fascinating. Whether it’s hurricanes, intense heat, or unexpected drops in temperature, Florida weather never fails to captivate residents and pique the interest of meteorologists and nature enthusiasts across the nation.

Florida inspecting monorails

So, if you happen to be in Florida during an Iguana Watch, keep your eyes peeled for these curious creatures descending from above. It’s not every day that you get to witness such a whimsical event brought upon by the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of this beautiful state’s climate.