Milo Manheim Says It Makes ‘Such Sense’ That Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande Are Friends: ‘Theater Girlies’ (Exclusive)

Milo Manheim Says It Makes 'Such Sense' That Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande Are Friends: 'Theater Girlies' (Exclusive)

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Gotham/WireImage; VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Milo Manheim, 24, who stars in the off-Broadway showLittle Shop of Horrorswith Ariana Grande's friend Liz Gillies, told PEOPLE it makes "such sense" that the pair are friends Manheim, who spoke to PEOPLE exclusively at a recent Disney event, calls the duo "such kind souls" and "such theater girlies" The actor met Grande when she came to see the production on April 26 and hung out with the cast backstage Milo Manheimsays it makes so much "sense" thatAriana GrandeandLiz Gilliesare such good friends after recently getting to know both performers. Manheim, who stars alongside Gillies in the off-Broadway production ofLittle Shop of Horrors, spoke to PEOPLE exclusively at the Disney 2025 Upfronts in New York City. During the conversation, the actor explained that he met Grande when she came to the show in order to support Gillies, whom she's been close to for years. "They're both such sweeties," Manheim, 24, said. "I mean, I've spent so much time with Liz and she's like family now at this point. We've been through so much together. I've learned so much from her, and the more I get to know her, the more incredible I think she is." "Ariana came to see the show," he added, noting, "It makes such sense that they are friends. They're both such kind souls, both such theater girlies. Like it was, it was really nice to see Ariana there supporting Liz, and I could see them just being like little girls again enjoying being in the theater." Gillies, 31, posted photos from Grande's April 26 visit to the show, jokingly captioning the post, "THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE SHOP, MY DINGUS!! 😭♥️🪴." Grande, 31, attendedLittle Shop of Horrorswith boyfriendEthan Slater, anda source told PEOPLEthat they arrived about an hour early "and hung out backstage with the cast." The source went on to describe the visit as "adorable," adding, "They were both so friendly and warm with the cast, and so supportive of the production. Ariana gave everyone hugs and brought Liz a potted plant for the women's dressing room." Grande and Gillie met as children starring in the Broadway production of13. The pair were later cast on the popular Nickelodeon seriesVictorious, which ran from 2010 to 2013. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! The show, which followed a group of teens who attend a high school for the performing arts, was Grande's first television role and served as the launching pad for her music career. Nickleodeon Production/Schneider'S Bakery/Sony Music/Kobal/Shutterstock The pair continued to remain close over the years, with Grande tapping theSex&Drugs&Rock&Rollalum to appear in her"Thank U, Next" videoin 2019. "We're totally close. She's like blood to me, she's like my sister," Gillies previously toldPEOPLEof the in 2015. "So unless we have a massive falling out, nothing will be happening there. We lived together, I've known her since what feels like the beginning of time." Grande shared aheartfelt birthday tributeto Gillies on her Instagram Stories for her 30th birthday in 2023, writing, "Happy birthday to the most beautiful, brilliant, talented, funniest person I've ever met in my life @lizgillz," over a candid selfie of the pair. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories."You have made my heart so unfathomably happy and whole these past 16 years!" she continued. "Absolutely everything and also, absolutely nothing has changed. I love you more than words can possibly express and I hope we can be best friends in every life." Little Shop of Horrorsis playing at the Westside Theatre in N.Y.C. Read the original article onPeople

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 17, 2025

Milo Manheim Says It Makes ‘Such Sense’ That Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande Are Friends: ‘Theater Girlies’ (Exclusive)

Milo Manheim Says It Makes 'Such Sense' That Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande Are Friends: 'Theater Girlies' (Exclusive) Taylor...

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Ben Stiller, 59, Acting Like 'Proud Dad' at Knicks vs. Celtics Game Has Fans Rolling

Ben Stiller, 59, Acting Like 'Proud Dad' at Knicks vs. Celtics Game Has Fans Rolling

Ben Stillerhas nothing but love for the New York Knicks. The actor and director, who is also one of the primary producers behindSeverance, stood up from his prime courtside seats on Friday night to take some video of the lively scene at Madison Square Garden as the Knicks took on the Boston Celtics in Game 6. With fellow fansLenny Kravitz,Tracy Morgan, andBusta Rhymesalso sitting courtside, Stiller exuded "Proud Dad" energy as he surveyed the scene. "Ben Stiller looking like a proud dad," theTikTokread. "How every Knicks fan is feeling," ESPN captioned the TikTok. The 119-81 win was a significant one for Knicks fans, who haven't seen their beloved team make the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. They'll tackle the Indiana Pacers next. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Nobody would ever question Stiller's dedication to his team. During the Academy Awards back in March, Stiller may have been on stage in Los Angeles sporting a suit, participating in a lively sketch that received tons of laughs from the audience as he presented an award for production design. However, he was elsewhere mentally, because he was tweeting in support of his squad. "KNICKS WIN! GO KNICKS!" he tweeted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ESPN (@espn) It's safe to say nobody can question his dedication! Related: Ben Stiller Makes Bold Declaration to Travis Kelce About Meeting Taylor Swift

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 17, 2025

Ben Stiller, 59, Acting Like 'Proud Dad' at Knicks vs. Celtics Game Has Fans Rolling

Ben Stiller, 59, Acting Like 'Proud Dad' at Knicks vs. Celtics Game Has Fans Rolling Ben Stillerhas nothing but love for the New Yor...

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Who Will Win 'American Idol' 2025? After Watching Every Episode, Here Are Our Predictions

Who Will Win 'American Idol' 2025? After Watching Every Episode, Here Are Our Predictions

Last season onAmerican Idol,whenAbi Carterwalked away the winner, it was a nice confluence of who the judges thought should win – Abi was a Platinum Ticket holder – and who America wanted. But that's not happening in 2025. This season, all three Platinum Ticket artists –Kolbi Jordan,Canaan James HillandFilo– were eliminated early. In fact, none of them even made the Top 5. Filo didn't even make the Top 10, and Kolbi and Canaan were eliminated in the Top 10. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Despite the Platinum Ticket holders getting eliminated, there is a great singer in the Top 3 who will be performing in next week's finale:Jamal Roberts. The 27-year-old PE teacher and father of three daughters from Meridian, MS, has it all: A fabulous voice, a great personality, and stage presence. JudgeCarrie Underwoodsaid, "With everything we throw at you, with every song you tackle, you put yourself in it. You make it look easy." AndLionel Richieadded that Jamal knows how to "Jamalarize" every song in the book. The only thing that Jamal has going against him is that he isn't a country singer, but leans into R&B, and so manyAmerican Idolwinners are country... Related:American Idol's Jamal Roberts Reveals What Song He Wants to 'Bring Out of the Hat' This Season (Exclusive) ...Which means thatJohn Fosterwill probably win and follow in the footsteps ofChayce Beckham,Noah Thompson,andLaine Hardy. The noteworthy thing is that the 18-year-old from Addis, LA, almost didn't even get a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. Carrie had to convince LionelandLuke Bryanto give him a chance, which she reminded everyone during the Top 5 performances. John does well when you research the online polls as to who will win. And that matters if those people vote. But if you look at the number of views that Jamal and John get on their YouTube videos, Jamal comes out on top. Of course, Jamal has several years' experience on John because of the difference in their ages, and maybe with seasoning, John will rise to the level of Jamal as an entertainer, butAmerican Idolis supposed to pick the next singing sensation, and right now, that isn't John in my opinion. Related:Who Is The Late Friend To Whom John Foster Dedicated His EmotionalAmerican IdolTop 20 Song? There, of course, is a third candidate for theAmerican Idoltitle:Breanna Nix.  Breanna auditioned for the singing competition on a whim. She didn't expect to win a Golden Ticket and now she's in the Top 3. The 25-year-old stay-at-home mom from Denton, TX, is a lovely woman that I have become fond of, and she has come a long way in confidence since her audition. But she isn't slated to win. Her poll numbers and her YouTube views don't support it. That said, the third member of the Top 3 should have beenGabby Samone, but America got it wrong and sent her home during the Top 7 results. Maybe that will work in her favor. Look what it did forJennifer Hudsongoing home in seventh place. Related:American IdolStay-at-Home Mom Breanna Nix Talks Her Star-Making Turn: 'I Feel Like I Belong Now' (Exclusive) The bottom line is that any of the three could win. My prediction is John, although I do believe it should be Jamal. Tune in toAmerican Idolon Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC when the winner of Season 8 on ABC (Season 23 overall) will be revealed. Next,Make Your Vote Count! How to Vote Online or By Text onAmerican Idol2025

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 17, 2025

Who Will Win 'American Idol' 2025? After Watching Every Episode, Here Are Our Predictions

Who Will Win 'American Idol' 2025? After Watching Every Episode, Here Are Our Predictions Last season onAmerican Idol,whenAbi Carter...

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Duterte scores landslide win in local elections. But can he be mayor from The Hague?

Duterte scores landslide win in local elections. But can he be mayor from The Hague?

In the gripping game of thrones of Philippine politics, voters have delivered former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte a sweeping mayoral victory in his hometown stronghold of Davao – predictable for a family that has held the job for more than 20 years. But this latest landslide win creates a predicament for the Philippines, as the mayor-elect is thousands of miles away behind bars awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity. Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hagueaccusethe 80-year-old political patriarch of carrying out a brutal war on drugs that killed possibly thousands of people, including many innocents and bystanders. Though he openly boasted about the crackdown, Duterte has long denied accusations of human rights abuses and has repeatedly said he will not kowtow to a foreign court. His next hearing is in September, but before then experts say he faces a new, complicated legal battle between the ICC and Philippine jurisdiction over whether he will be allowed to take the oath of office. Duterte can potentially be sworn in by proxy or in absentia – possibly by a video call, but only if The Hague-based court allows it, experts say. If he's allowed to assume the role, questions will be asked about how he could administer the southern city from a detention center in another time zone, where he has access to a computer and phone calls to family, but no internet. Under Philippine law, day-to-day duties could fall to his youngest son, Sebastian Duterte, who was elected as vice mayor of Davao City. If the senior Duterte isn't allowed to take the oath, experts say the role of mayor could fall to election runner-up Karlo Nograles, of the Nograles political dynasty, longtime Duterte rivals in Davao, where both families tussle for influence. Ramon Beleno, a political analyst and former professor from Ateneo de Davao University, said handing the job to Nograles could trigger a separate legal challenge from the Dutertes. Duterte remains a powerful yet divisive figure in the Philippines. In Davao City, where he served as mayor for over two decades before becoming president in 2016, fervent supporters credit his iron grip over the city with bolstering law and order. Duterte's lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, wasquoted by Philippine news outlet ABS-CBNas saying the "overwhelming" support for Duterte in the 2025 midterm elections showed the public's "total rejection" of the national government's "attempt to stamp out" the former president's legacy. In a reply to CNN, Kaufman said "any swearing in ceremony would be dictated by and conform to the law of the Republic of the Philippines. Accordingly, a decision on this issue will be taken in the very near future after all options have been discussed with the former President's Filipino lawyers." Beleno said voters saw this election as Duterte's "last hurrah" and cast their ballot as a final tribute to the aging former strongman leader. Duterte's arrest had only galvanized voters, he said. Support for Duterte extended to his family, who re-emerged in the vote with sweeping control of their political stronghold. All five Duterte family members who ran in this election won by a landslide. Duterte's son Paolo was re-elected to congress and two of Paolo's sons also won public office: Omar won as congressman for Davao City's second district and Rodrigo II, who goes by the nickname "Rigo," was elected as first district councilor. Sebastian Duterte, the vice mayor-elect – who could be mayor in his father's absence – is not as outspoken as the elder Duterte and a lot of political responsibilities are already weighing against him at home, Beleno said. The main legal hurdle Duterte faces, despite his landslide mayoral win, is whether he would be allowed to swear the oath during his enforced absence. All elected public officials are supposed to take their oath within 30 days of their supposed assumption of office on July 1, according to Joel Butuyan, an ICC-accredited lawyer and president of human rights NGO CenterLaw. Unable to be sworn in at home, Duterte would need to take the oath in the presence of a Philippine ambassador or consul in The Hague, which seems unlikely, Butuyan said. "I don't think he's going to be allowed to get out just to take office because it's not in the enumerated rights of an accused (person) in the ICC," he said. If the ICC grants Duterte permission, the oath will be recognized in the Philippines, but he "will not be able to perform his functions because he's out of the country and he's in detention," Butuyan said. "It's not ideal at all," Butuyan added, of the election result. "It does not serve the interests of the people of Davao that they voted for someone who will not be able to perform his functions as a city mayor." The mayor is the face of the city, with administrative tasks such as attending meetings and functions, signing documents and authorizing payrolls – all difficult to do effectively if Duterte is sitting halfway across the world, said Beleno, the political analyst. Even before the final votes were cast, Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, said that her father's ICC lawyer and Philippine legal team were discussing how he can take the oath. "The ICC lawyer said that once we get proclamation papers, we'll discuss again how former President Rodrigo Duterte can take the oath," she said. CNN has reached out to the ICC and Kaufman, Duterte's legal counsel. In acourt filingto the ICC earlier this month, Kaufman said there is no legal basis for the case against Duterte because the Philippines is no longer a member of the Rome Statute. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, but under the court's withdrawal mechanism, it keeps jurisdiction over crimes committed during the membership period of a state – in this case, between 2016 and 2019, when the country's pullout became official. The closely watched midterm election was considered a proxy battle between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Duterte-Carpio as ties disintegrate between the former allies turned enemies. The vice president is facingimpeachment complaintsin the House of Representatives amid allegations of corruption, which she denies. A two-thirds vote in the Senate is required to convict her, remove her from public office, and ban her from seeking any public post. To stay in office, Duterte-Carpio needs nine of 24 senators to vote for her acquittal. And neither the Marcoses nor the Dutertes dominate the Senate after the May 2025 vote. The race yielded a three-way stalemate between Marcos-endorsed candidates, Duterte-allied politicians, and liberal-leaning figures, said Maria Ela Atienza, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines. "The vice president has more breathing room now … but she should also be careful with how the public perceives her," Atienza said. "Her popularity ratings have recovered a bit … but we have seen she can make mistakes that can affect the sentiments of the people." In reality, the Filipino public is also becoming impatient with the drama in high places, Atienza said. "They're getting tired of having the Dutertes always fighting with the Marcoses," she said. For now, political bickering is in gridlock. But Rodrigo Duterte's stronghold still stands and his supporters long for the day he is officially declared mayor and comes back to serve his home country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 17, 2025

Duterte scores landslide win in local elections. But can he be mayor from The Hague?

Duterte scores landslide win in local elections. But can he be mayor from The Hague? In the gripping game of thrones of Philippine politics,...

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Families of 737 MAX crash victims to object to deal allowing Boeing to avoid prosecution

Families of 737 MAX crash victims to object to deal allowing Boeing to avoid prosecution

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Families of some of the 346 people killed in two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes plan to object to a tentative nonprosecution agreement between the planemaker and the U.S. Justice Department, a lawyer said on Saturday. The Justice Department outlined the tentative deal in a more than two-hour meeting with families on Friday and said in a court filing on Saturday that they would have until Thursday to file written objections. Paul Cassell, a lawyer for the families, said they would object "to any deal along the lines described by DOJ yesterday, because it fails to hold Boeing accountable for the 'deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history,'" citing the prior comments of U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor. The Justice Department said in its filing "it has not decided whether to enter into the agreement or to proceed to trial, and would not make the decision until after finishing conferring with the families." The agreement would forestall a June 23 trial the planemaker faces on a fraud charge it misled U.S. regulators about a crucial flight control system on the 737 MAX, its best-selling jet. The agreement would allow Boeing to avoid being branded a convicted felon and would be a blow to families who lost relatives in the crashes and had pressed prosecutors to take the U.S. planemaker to trial. "The new deal is a step backward from last summer, when Boeing was going to plead guilty," Cassell added. "Under the new arrangement, they don't plead guilty." Boeing declined to comment. Boeing agreed in July to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge after the two fatal 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, spanning 2018 and 2019, and to pay a fine of up to $487.2 million. Boeing and DOJ officials have not yet exchanged papers to negotiate final details of any nonprosecution agreement, the department said Saturday. The Justice Department told families on Friday that Boeing would be asked to pay an additional $444.5 million into a crash victims' fund that would be divided evenly per crash victim, lawyers for the families said, on top of $500 million Boeing paid in 2021. Boeing has faced enhanced scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration since January 2024, when a new MAX 9 missing four key bolts suffered a mid-air emergency losing a door plug. The FAA has capped production at 38 planes per month. (Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Rod Nickel)

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 17, 2025

Families of 737 MAX crash victims to object to deal allowing Boeing to avoid prosecution

Families of 737 MAX crash victims to object to deal allowing Boeing to avoid prosecution By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Families ...

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