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Robin Roberts to host celebrity 'In Memoriam' special for ABC
Veteran broadcast journalist Robin Roberts is scheduled to host the special The Year In Memoriam 2017.

Conceived and produced by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, the program is to air on ABC on Dec. 18.

"Roberts and Kimmel join forces for a unique tribute and learn more about these beloved stars through stories shared by those closest to them, including Valerie Harper, Ed Asner, Bernadette Peters and Dick Van Dyke remembering co-star Mary Tyler Moore; Tracy Morgan, Bob Newhart, John Stamos and Bob Saget remembering fellow comedian Don Rickles; Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker honoring the legendary Glen Campbell; Hunter Hayes and Alice Cooper celebrating music stars Tom Petty and Chuck Berry, as well as Dane Cook, Jeff Ross and Sean Hayes memorializing the multi-talented Jerry Lewis," the network said in a press release.

"The 'In Memoriam' segments are always the most moving parts of a major awards show. Robin and I thought it would be fitting to pay longer-form and more personal tribute to these American icons with great stories from their friends, colleagues and peers," Kimmel said in a statement.

Roberts will also anchor a second special Dec. 19 called The Year: 2017, which will focus on the year's "politics, top trends, pop culture and more."

"What I appreciate about the special is that you get an entire year of news and pop culture in just two hours. The show is appropriately serious when it needs to be, and it's also filled with many fun, lighter moments," Roberts added.


Jennifer Lawrence says 'mother!' caused strain with Darren Aronofsky
Jennifer Lawrence says poor reception of her movie mother! caused strain with ex-boyfriend Darren Aronofsky, who directed the film.

The 27-year-old actress explained in a Variety "Actors on Actors" interview with Adam Sandler how negative reviews of mother! led to an unhealthy place in her relationship with the 48-year-old director.

"Dating the director was different," Lawrence confessed. "We'd be on the tour together, I'd come back to the hotel and the last thing I want to talk about or think about is the movie. He comes back from the tour and that's all he wants to talk about."

"I was doing double duty of trying to be a supportive partner while also being like, 'Can I please, for the love of God, not think about mother! for one second?' He would start reading me reviews and I finally was like, 'It's not healthy! Neither of us are doing it!'" she recalled.

E! News reported this month that Lawrence and Aronofsky split in October after a year of dating. The pair's busy schedules and 22-year age difference contributed to the breakup, according to People.

"Once they are onto new projects and interests, it's harder to keep up relationships of any kind," a source said. "They were never destined for marriage. They had fun, shared many beliefs and enjoyed what they could learn from each other."

"There is a huge age difference, and they are different people," another insider added. "Each has to look practically to the future. Jen has yet to figure out her life and how it will evolve. He has responsibilities in life that she has yet to experience."

Lawrence will next star in Red Sparrow, while Aronofsky will release the documentary One Strange Rock in 2018.


LOOSE LIPS:
"William and I are absolutely thrilled."
--Kate Middleton, on her and husband Prince William's reaction to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement news, to reporters at the Foundling Museum



??? Guess Who ???
Who has been cast to star in Disney's live-action version of 'Mulan'?


Ratajkowski accused of stealing designs for new swimwear line
Emily Ratajkowski is busy promoting her new swimwear line, but a fashion designer is accusing her of stealing the designs.

Lisa Marie Fernandez claims Ratajkowski's "Cardiff" swimsuit and "Vulcan" top are too similar to her "Poppy" and "Leandra" designs to be just a coincidence.

"These are key silhouettes that represent the brand DNA that is Lisa Marie Fernandez and are immediately recognized by consumers as her original designs," Fernandez said in a statement, according to the New York Post.

The styles Fernandez says are copied came out three years ago and Ratajkowski's swimwear line was launched on Nov. 16.

But even if Ratajkowski did copy Fernandez's designs, it's not clear Fernandez has a case, at least in the United States.

Emily Ratajkowski launched her swim line, Inamorata on November 16 and one day later, designer Lisa Marie Fernandez sent her cease-and-desist letter in regards to two styles. Fernandez stated that she has two European Union Community Design Registration certificates dated 2015. pic.twitter.com/1yHWgqCBCP- FashionLawInstitute (@FashionLaw_Inst) November 27, 2017

That's because there is no copyright protection under U.S. law for physically functional items, including clothing, according to the Business of Fashion. But both Fernandez and Ratajkowski's products ship internationally and Fernandez invoked two European Union Community Design Registration certificates to make her case.

"While it's advisable for non-European designers to take advantage of registered design rights in Europe, the scope of those rights is limited," Susan Scafidi, professor of fashion law at Fordham Law School and founder of the Fashion Law Institute, told BOF. "In other words, unfortunately for designers seeking to shore up the minimal intellectual property protections available for fashion in jurisdictions like the US, both protection and enforcement are country by country."


Q-Tip slams Grammys for not nominating A Tribe Called Quest
Q-Tip criticized the Recording Academy Tuesday on Instagram after his group A Tribe Called Quest didn't receive any Grammy nominations.

Q-Tip attacked the organization and awards show across a series of videos where he defends the group's latest and final album, We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service.

The album is notable for being released after the death of A Tribe Called Quest member Phife Dawg.

"Y'all [expletive] busted y'all ass to try and get us out there and perform. You think a [expletive] wanted to [expletive] go out there and perform after I lost my man? We closed y'all show and we don't get no [expletive] nominations?" Q-Tip said, referencing to how the group also closed out the 59th Grammy Awards following the death of Phife Dawg.

"The last Tribe album? My man is gone! We been doing this [expletive] for [expletive] years!" he continued.

Q-Tip also brought up the Grammy Awards' lack of diversity in its winners and nominees throughout the program's history -- despite the diverse nominee lineup announced on Tuesday.

"Y'all think it's some sort of caveat because this is the first time that no white man was nominated in no major categories and [expletive]? We were the most black cultured group out. That's all we stood on. That's what we represented. This [expletive] album we just dropped. This the last Tribe album. It stands with everyone else's [expletive] that's up there," Q-Tip said.


??? Guess Who ???
Who has been cast to star in Disney's live-action version of 'Mulan'?

Disney's live-action Mulan will star Liu Yifei.

The 30-year-old Chinese actress and singer, aka Crystal Liu, will play the title character in the forthcoming reboot, according to Variety.

The Hollywood Reporter said Liu landed the role of Hua Mulan after a lengthy search for an ethnically Chinese actress. The casting team saw nearly 1,000 candidates for the part, which requires martial arts skills and the ability to speak English.

Liu, nicknamed "Fairy Sister" for her sweet and delicate looks, is a huge star in China who started her career in TV. She is also known for the movies The Forbidden Kingdom, The Assassins and Once Upon a Time.

Disney previously adapted the story of Mulan, a legendary woman warrior, as a 1998 animated film featuring the voice of Ming-Na. Niki Caro will direct the new movie, which is eyeing a release in 2019.