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Judge Refuses to Gag Lawyers in Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni’s Legal Battle

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Judge Declines Gag Order in Blake Lively & Baldoni Case
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The fight in court between “It Finishes With Us” co-stars Blake Enthusiastic and Justin Baldoni keeps on escalating, with an appointed authority declining to force limitations on the legal counselors required notwithstanding developing pressures. At a pretrial hearing in New York City on Monday, U.S. Area Judge Lewis J. That’s what liman cautioned assuming the continuous trade of public proclamations and allegations between the two gatherings’ legitimate groups endured, he should seriously mull over climbing the preliminary date, which is right now set for Walk 2026.

Neither Energetic nor Baldoni were available at the meeting, yet their legitimate agents conflicted in the court. Judge Liman recognized that there was at that point significant public interest for the situation, expressing, “You have a great deal before the court that gives, I think, the public a lot to eat upon.”

Vivacious has blamed Baldoni for lewd behavior on the arrangement of “It Closures With Us” and claims that he thusly coordinated a slanderous attack against her in the media. Baldoni has countered with a claim against Enthusiastic and her better half, entertainer Ryan Reynolds, blaming them for maligning. Accordingly, Enthusiastic’s legitimate group mentioned a gag request against Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, contending that he and his group had been pursuing a “irritating and retaliatory media crusade” against Exuberant through continuous public proclamations.

Enthusiastic’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, depicted the continuous media fight as an “weapons contest” without clear limits. He ventured to such an extreme as to look at the raising struggle among himself and Freedman to “two 4-year-olds in a jungle gym.” The conference, which was expected to zero in on case the executives, immediately reverted into warmed trades over spills, charges of badgering, and allegations of counter.

As the case continues, the two sides have focused on pushing ahead with the revelation cycle. Baldoni’s group has communicated enthusiasm to remove Vivacious, a move that her lawyers unyieldingly go against. Judge Liman decided that Freedman wouldn’t be allowed to address Exuberant actually yet forewarned that she “doesn’t get to pick her investigator.”

Baldoni, who co-featured in, coordinated, and adjusted “It Finishes With Us,” has adopted a forceful strategy to protecting himself. His legitimate group as of late sent off a site connecting to his claim and delivered 168 pages of individual messages, reports, and instant messages traded among him and Energetic, as well as their marketing experts and emergency chiefs. A significant number of the messages give off an impression of being cordial, remembering one for which Vivacious expressed, “In the event that you knew me (face to face) longer, you’d know how coquettish and yummy the ball busting will play. It’s my main avenue for affection. Zesty and energetically striking, never with teeth.” Notwithstanding, it is muddled what she was explicitly alluding to in that text.

Gottlieb brought worries up in court about who was behind the creation and financing of the site, proposing it was important for an organized work to shape general assessment in support of Baldoni.

Baldoni is looking for $400 million in punitive fees in his slander claim against Vivacious and Reynolds, blaming them for blackmail also. Accordingly, Enthusiastic’s group has claimed that Baldoni’s lawful system follows the DARVO design — a strategy frequently connected with culprits of misuse, which represents Deny, Assault, and Opposite Casualty and Wrongdoer.

Muddling matters further, Baldoni and his marketing experts have likewise recorded a different maligning claim against The New York Times. The claim charges that the paper teamed up with Exuberant to discolor Baldoni’s standing through a harming article distributed in December. The article nitty gritty Energetic’s allegations of a slanderous attack and introduced a scope of supposed proof against Baldoni.Judge Declines Gag Order in Blake Lively & Baldoni Case

Accordingly, The New York Times gave an assertion protecting its detailing: “The job of a free news association is to follow the realities where they lead. Our story was fastidiously and capably revealed. It depended on a survey of thousands of pages of unique records, including the instant messages and messages that we quote precisely and finally in the article.”

Freedman contended that Baldoni has experienced extreme monetary misfortunes since the article’s distribution, guaranteeing that “individuals respond before legal assurance with regards to who is correct and who is off-base.”

The contention among Energetic and Baldoni started in December when Vivacious recorded a social equality protest in Los Angeles, blaming Baldoni for lewd behavior on the film set. She further guaranteed that he employed an emergency the executives firm to control public discernment and harm her standing while they were advancing the film. The question heightened when she recorded a government claim in New York, provoking Baldoni’s lawful group to excuse the allegations as “totally bogus.”

Baldoni’s inclusion with “It Closures With Us” traces all the way back to 2019 when he tied down the privileges to adjust Colleen Hoover’s smash hit novel through his organization, Voyager Studios. The film, which has been profoundly expected by devotees of the book, created huge buzz even before creation started, with much consideration zeroed in on Energetic’s projecting.

Be that as it may, during the film’s limited time crusade, tales surfaced about in the background pressures between the two stars. As hypothesis spread on the web, Energetic ended up at the focal point of a story depicting her as obtuse, controlling, and taking part in “mean young lady” conduct. Enthusiastic’s legitimate group fights that these stories were energized by Baldoni’s group as a component of a more extensive work to ruin her, a case that his lawyers emphatically deny.

With the preliminary even over a year away, the fight in court among Exuberant and Baldoni gives no indications of chilling off. As the two sides proceed with their public and court conflicts, the case is turning out to be one of the most high-profile Hollywood legitimate debates in late memory.

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Timberwolves’ championship odds improve after three Game 1 upsets

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Timberwolves’ Title Odds Rise After NBA Game 1 Surprises
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The second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs has zagged, and the championship odds of the Minnesota Timberwolves came into sharp focus. This weekend, three of the most powerful and talented squads in the form of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers were all stunned early as they each dropped their first games of their respective series. All three were heavy favorites — all of them eight-point favorites or more — and all failed to win on their own courts. Those early upsets have further staggering the playoffs and drastically moving betting markets.

The Timberwolves are among the biggest beneficiaries of these results. Their odds to win the championship have certainly improved. Heading into May 2, their odds were, +1700 but after the string of Game 1 upset victories, those odds had improved to +1100. In implied probability terms, that leap means rising from a 5.56 percent likelihood of winning the championship to 8.3 percent, a significant jump in a crowded postseason.

Here are the latest odds for your favorite golfers, with all updated numbers courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. The Thunder were +155 and the Celtics were +185 to win the conference prior to the game. The Cavaliers’ odds, meanwhile, held at +500, which means that while they lost, the market isn’t selling them just yet. On the flip side, the Timberwolves, Nuggets and Knicks and Pacers all got a big break. And no team had a swing quite like Denver, which went from +5000 to +1500, the move indicative of more and more of you believing in their ability to cash in the postseason.

This shift in momentum couldn’t be playing out at a worse time for the Timberwolves, who open Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series by hosting the Golden State Warriors. Minnesota is favored to win by 6.5 points, and a win would only further solidify their place in the hearts of betting lines and analysts everywhere. The Timberwolves arrived in the playoffs with only the ninth-best championship odds, but their continued presence and the foibles of higher-ranked squads are starting to draw more interest.

Visiting teams winning Game 1 have been a rarity in N.B.A. history, but so far in this round, the victorious Game 1 teams all have been the road teams. The Timberwolves hope to buck it Tuesday night by taking care of their home court. If they can win this series against the Warriors, not only will their series chances appear better, but their long-term championship forecast will get even brighter.

Factor in that part of the drama is the Spurs still not knowing who, if anyone, of All-Star guard Steph Curry would play for the Warriors because of his ailing hamstring. This could even further tilt the scales in Minnesota’s favor for Game 1. And there have been humorous scenes, such as when Warriors forward Buddy Hield arrived at a media session wearing the wrong shorts for Game 1, or when Draymond Green had to walk back his promise not to get suspended, referencing a scuffle he had with the Jazz’s Rudy Gobert.

Though some fans are (understandably) pessimistic regarding the possibility of Minnesota going all the way to the NBA Finals, betting trends and recent performances indicate that they’re becoming a serious force. The team is resilient, recovering from difficult times, and in a better place than most probably thought it would be at this point. Their odds are based on a combination of their strong play and the flaws exhibited by the teams trying to catch them.

Betting odds can and will change and nothing is definitive in the unpredictable world of playoff basketball, but it’s actually evident that as much as they’re not a favorite just yet, Minnesota is no longer viewed as a long shot. They have gone from under-the-radar contenders to legitimate threats, and if they can keep up this level of play, a deep postseason campaign, or even a title shot, no longer sounds like just a pipe dream.

And as the playoffs move forward, it will be interesting to see, regarding both fans and bettors, just how closely people are watching the Timberwolves, who are suddenly a team generating a lot of interest. Their story just keeps getting better and better every game, and the numbers are finally starting to reflect what could be an earth-shattering moment for the franchise.

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Kohl’s just fired its brand new CEO for unethical behavior

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Kohl’s Fires New CEO Over Unethical Business Practices
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Kohl’s Kohl’s has had headline-grabbing shareholder activism that included the abrupt ousting of its C.E.O., Ashley Buchanan, only months into the job. He is leaving as the company reels from accusations of unethical behavior that have jolted the business and prompted larger questions about how accountable leadership is and about corporate oversight. Buchanan, who was hired as its chief executive in January 2025, had been meant to help right the ailing department store chain. Instead, he is departing under a cloud of scandal after an internal investigation found that he broke serious rules of the company during his time in charge.

The company said it had fired Buchanan “for cause,” an unusual and major decision in the corporate realm. An outside investigation determined he had ordered the company to engage in transactions with vendors that presented undisclosed conflicts of interest. In simpler language, he was using his role to help conduct business that could have profited him or close associates, without informing the company. The company said that these actions did not involve Kohl’s financial reporting or other employees, but a decision to fire a chief executive just months into the job is also one with outsize implications.

Previously, Buchanan was the CEO of arts and crafts retail chain Michaels. His appointment had been hailed as a bold move to help turn around Kohl’s, which is struggling amid weakening sales and mounting competition in a challenging retail landscape. Yet his stint in office was also followed by further reversals. According to a review of preliminary financial results from Kohl’s, the company’s sales declined by 4.3 percent during his brief time on the job — far short of the turnaround that shareholders were looking for.Kohl’s Fires New CEO Over Unethical Business Practices

The company’s board of directors has named Michael Bender, the current chairman, interim CEO as they search for a new permanent CEO. But the market actually applauded the departure of Buchanan, it surprisingly rose. Shares in Kohl’s jumped as much as 8 percent after the announcement, indicating that investors may have already lost faith in his leadership or are hopeful that new leadership can turn the company around.

Retail analysts are less sanguine. The firing comes as a distraction for the company at a particularly bad moment, said Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail. “While the dismissal may have nothing to do with overall company performance, it does add to the perception outside the company that things are a bit shaky. Saunders said it was a “blow upon a bruise,” meaning the move exacerbates already existing problems instead of addressing them.

Like many traditional department stores, Kohl’s has been under extreme pressure in recent years. Shifting consumer tastes, the rise of online shopping and persistent inflation have made it difficult for brick-and-mortar companies to stay profitable. On top of Western leadership woes, the company also is facing the reality of declining foot traffic and ever-more price-sensitive shoppers.Kohl’s Fires New CEO Over Unethical Business Practices

Earlier this year, Kohl’s also shared plans to shutter 27 locations in the U.S. These closures have brought the company’s total store count to about 1,100, representing a significant reduction in the retailer’s store footprint. The move is part of a broader shift in the industry, in which many legacy retailers are rethinking their physical footprints as they try to adjust to a more digital economy.

The repercussions of Buchanan’s firing could be widespread. For Kohl’s, they raise questions of how closely executives are scrutinized and what kinds of internal controls should exist to keep similar problems from happening in the future. For shareholders, it casts further doubt on the direction of the company and questions about who is leading. For the general business public, the case should stand as a reminder that not even top brass is immune from examination and answerability.Kohl’s Fires New CEO Over Unethical Business Practices

The road that lies ahead for Kohl’s is unclear. With interim leadership now secured and a search for a CEO underway, the company needs to move fast to win back the trust of investors and navigate a new course. The scandal is an unnecessary wrinkle to an already difficult environment and who knows, maybe the company does come out stronger. Or maybe this is just another chapter in its struggles.

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Dwayne Johnson, is that you? See his dramatic new look as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in ‘The Smashing Machine’ trailer

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Dwayne Johnson Transforms as Mark Kerr in New UFC Biopic
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Dwayne Johnson is stepping into what may be the most transformative role of his acting career, taking on the part of legendary UFC and MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the upcoming film “The Smashing Machine.” This gritty biographical drama, set to release on October 3 and directed by Benny Safdie, offers a deep dive into the life of Kerr—an athlete whose raw physical power in the ring was matched only by the personal demons he battled outside of it. Known widely for his blockbuster action roles, Johnson’s portrayal here marks a significant and deliberate shift toward more dramatic, character-driven storytelling.

In the newly released trailer, Johnson is almost unrecognizable. Though he hasn’t publicly addressed his physical transformation in great detail, it’s apparent that facial prosthetics and careful styling have helped him bear a striking resemblance to Kerr. The fighter’s story, originally featured in the 2002 HBO documentary also titled “The Smashing Machine,” captured the brutal realities of early MMA competition and revealed Kerr’s struggles with substance abuse and emotional turmoil. Johnson appears to embrace every layer of this complexity, channeling the vulnerability and intensity that defined Kerr’s life both inside and outside the ring.

The trailer provides glimpses of the brutal, adrenaline-charged world of professional fighting—raw and visceral in its execution—but it also reveals a far more intimate narrative. Central to this is Kerr’s relationship with his girlfriend, played by Emily Blunt. Reuniting with Johnson after their time together in Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” Blunt brings a grounded emotional presence to the film. The tension between their characters, caught between love, ambition, and addiction, adds an essential human depth to the story.

In one poignant moment in the trailer, Johnson’s Kerr reflects on the intoxication of success, saying, “Winning is the best feeling in the world. It’s 40,000 people in there cheering you on. There’s no other high like it in the world.” This line encapsulates the highs and lows Kerr experiences as he navigates fame, pain, and a relentless pursuit of victory. Johnson’s delivery is full of gravitas, suggesting a layered performance that digs much deeper than anything he’s previously taken on.

For Johnson, this role is not just a creative departure but a personal challenge. In an interview with GQ last year, he shared that the opportunity to portray Kerr felt like a chance to break new ground in his career. “It was also an opportunity for me, I realized, to stretch myself in ways that I hadn’t been stretched yet,” he explained. “And also challenge myself in ways that I hadn’t been challenged.” That drive to evolve, both as an actor and a storyteller, is evident in every frame of the trailer.

While Johnson has been busy in other areas—voicing Maui once again in “Moana 2,” returning to the WWE ring, and joining the board of TKO Group Holdings following the WWE-UFC merger—“The Smashing Machine” stands apart as a pivotal moment in his career. It’s not about larger-than-life action heroes or comedic charm. It’s about stepping into someone else’s pain and perseverance, and doing so with authenticity.

Director Benny Safdie, making his solo debut after co-directing acclaimed films like “Uncut Gems” with his brother Josh, brings a raw, almost documentary-style realism to the project. His past work has been praised for its tense, emotionally charged storytelling, and “The Smashing Machine” appears to follow in that tradition. The film is likely to appeal not only to fans of MMA and biopics but also to those interested in the psychological complexities that come with public glory and private battles.

As anticipation builds for the release, “The Smashing Machine” seems poised to redefine what audiences expect from Dwayne Johnson. Known affectionately as “The Rock” by his wrestling fans, Johnson is now forging a new path—one that embraces nuance, hardship, and a kind of storytelling that doesn’t rely on spectacle alone. If the trailer is any indication, his turn as Mark Kerr could be one of the most powerful performances of the year.

With a compelling cast, a gripping true story, and a fearless lead performance, “The Smashing Machine” might not just be a film about fighting—it could be a knockout moment in Johnson’s cinematic journey.

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