After over eight hours, images of the thick smoke, bursting flames and firefighters battling the blaze and rescuing afflicted people show the reach of the fire, which Los Angeles fire officials have warned will only worsen late Tuesday night and early Wednesday evening.

Several structures have been burned, including the Palisades High School, Theatre Palisades, Bel Air Club and the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum. 

BREAKING: Palisades High School is getting completely burned to the ground.pic.twitter.com/1W7EOwi1YK

— aka (@akafacehots) January 8, 2025

The fires have left many Palisades’ residents vulnerable and potentially away from their homes for several days. Notable Hollywood residents of the Palisades include Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Ben Affleck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kate Hudson.

Over 30,000 residents have safely evacuated the area, heeding fire officials warnings. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide state of emergency this afternoon following a Los Angeles state of emergency call earlier Tuesday afternoon. And Tuesday evening, mandatory evacuations were ordered for Santa Monica residents living in the northern part of that city, bordering Pacific Palisades. Read more here.

President Joe Biden even had to shelter in place in Los Angeles, after canceling an appearance that would announce two new national monuments, honoring Native American tribes.

Fires also broke out elsewhere in the region, most notably just north of Altadena in Eaton Canyon. As of this writing more than 200 acres were affected and evacuations are under way in residential areas close to the fire. The number of affected residents isn’t known, but the hillside fire is visible 2 miles west in nearby Pasadena.

Keep reading for a harrowing look at Tuesday’s devastating Palisades Fire. 

A firefighter puts out fire in the Pacific Palisades.

Firefighters run as fire rages in Palisades neighborhood.

The grounds of the Getty Villa Museum burned, but its art collection “remained safe.”

A helicopter surveys the fire from above.

Fire and smoke engulfs mountains, pictured from Palisades backyard.

A helicopter drops flame suppressant as a firefighter stands watch.

The inferno spews ash and cinders into the air as a hour and nearby trees burn

Lifeguard stations on fire as the fire inches closer to the shore.

Fire rages in the hills.

Fire fighters assess the damage while attempting to maintain the flames.

A line of firefighters crosses the road with helmets, goggles and gear on.

Residents evacuate on foot from a Palisades neighborhood.

Abandoned vehicles sit piled up along Sunset Boulevard.

Other residents packed bags with belongings and sought shelter with pets.

A smoldering husk is left after house burned down.

A hillside house engulfed in flames.

A cul de sac in the Pacific Palisades, darkened by flames and thick smoke.

The post Scenes of Devastation and Heroism as the Palisades Fire Rages | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

Berner observed that Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is “so hot right now,” before adding, “Who knew besides Travis Kelce that you could become so popular with women by shooting loads into a billionaire?”

The joke, which was told in front of a live audience in the video, was met with groans as well as laughs and some cheers.

On social media, the joke was less well received. One X user who shared the clip wrote, “Not to be too woke but that was wildly inappropriate.”

Another person replied, “I really liked her, but this is just disappointing and not funny at all.”

A third person quipped, “The joke fails simply because the CEO was not close to being a billionaire,” while @Frausun wrote, “It’s a roast. What did you expect? G-rated feel good comedy?”

Berner was under fire earlier for calling “It Ends With Us” star Blake Lively a “c—t” amidst the drama between her and costar Justin Baldoni. Berner later apologized, writing on Instagram, “To be 100 percent clear, I support Blake xoxo.” She also explained that the special was taped before Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment.

During her set, the comedian also joked about former “Full House” star John Stamos, noting that he was also present for the taping when she said, “He’s the only uncle that I wanted to touch me.”

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to Hannah Berner as Hannah Brenner.

The post Hannah Berner Slammed for ‘Wildly Inappropriate’ Joke About Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“When did the word woman become synonymous with scapegoat? As I see the news each day, I realize this is the world we seem to live in. In light of recent events regarding the attempt to destroy the career and livelihood of a fellow actress and woman, I have felt compelled to write this, as I have unfortunately been subject to the same toxic masculinity throughout my life,” Breslin wrote.

“In my recent career, I’ve brought forward concerns about a male colleague and was deemed ‘hysterical. I was told my fears were figments of my imagination. Now, as I’m seeing this pattern pop up more, I realize this is the norm.”

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A post shared by Abigail Breslin-Kunyansky/SOPHOMORE (@abbienormal9)

Breslin said she, “like a lot of women, had hope in change,” particularly after the #MeToo movement erupted in 2017. But that movement, she said, was more like “a firework. It can wake you up out of a sound sleep, it burns so bright and shocks the s— out of you but then, it burns out — just like that.”

After that happened with #MeToo, Breslin said, as far as Hollywood was concerned, “behind closed doors, — to them — we are still just noisy women.”

“It was a pat on the head, a consolation prize,” Breslin declared before revisiting the 2023 lawsuit filed by the producers of the film “Classified” after she had complained about Eckhart’s behavior.

Without naming the film or Eckhart in her statement, Breslin said that after filing “a confidential complaint against a coworker for unprofessional behavior, I had the silly and naive impression they would believe me.” Instead, she said, “a suit was filed against me for having the audacity to speak up.”

“I was made to seem like someone who just goes after men, rather than being seen as someone who has been dealing as a professional in this world, since I was a child, standing up for herself. This was after I had taken all of the recommended, reasonable and appropriate measures of reporting confidentially to my union. The experience left me with a lot of questions, of the professionals in my industry, of the public, and of men,” Breslin continued.

“I often wonder why we are always excited to see the takedown of a woman? Why are we always so quick to defend a man after he is accused of bad behavior, but if a woman speaks out … she’s clearly a liar?”

“I find most people believe the approval of a man is far more significant than the burden of supporting a woman. For men, it is always innocent until proven guilty. For women it is the opposite. ‘Prove your fear.’ ‘Prove your discomfort.’ ‘Prove your pain.’ This MUST change.”

“Here we find ourselves again, in a vicious cycle of crucifying another woman for speaking out against a man. Watching as the world splits in two over who is telling the truth, no matter how much evidence is presented. Because how could a woman do anything but lie or exaggerate,” she continued.

Ultimately, Breslin said, “to change the narrative, we do not need more women to scream. We just need a lot more men to shut up and listen.”

Breslin was sued in Nov., 2023 by the producers of the action film “Classified” for filing her complaint, which they said had damaged the film’s future success. At the time, Breslin’s representatives said that she “categorically denies all contended allegations and unequivocally stands by her statement which she provided confidentially to SAG.”

The post Abigail Breslin Says ‘Toxic Masculinity’ Is the Norm in Hollywood Amid Blake Lively Scandal appeared first on TheWrap.

In the ruling, handed down on Thursday, New York Judge Analisa Torres also criticized the rapper’s legal team for what she called “relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks” against the attorneys representing the accuser.

Judge Torres ruled that the woman, identified only as a Jane Doe, can remain anonymous during the early stages of the lawsuit, but may be required to make her identity public if the case goes to trial.

The lawsuit, filed in October, initially accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape and sexual assault at an afterparty in New York City following the 2000 Video Music Awards, when the accuser was 13. On Dec. 8, she amended the complaint to also accuse Jay-Z of drugging and raping her during this event.

The rapper, aka Shawn Carter, has vociferously denied the accusations, and after the accuser admitted in an interview with NBC News that her story has multiple inconsistencies, his legal team moved to have the suit dismissed.

Among those inconsistencies, her father has said he doesn’t remember picking her up that night, as stated in the lawsuit, at least one of the celebrities mentioned in the lawsuit say they weren’t in New York on the night in question, and photos from that night show both Jay-Z and Combs in a different location. NBC noted during the broadcast that “inconsistencies in her account of the incident do not necessarily mean the allegations are false.”

At the time of the interview, Jay-Z said in a statement provided to TheWrap that “today’s investigative report proves” the woman’s lawyer “filed a false complaint against me in the pursuit of money and fame. This incident didn’t happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press. True Justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but, soon.”

The post Jay-Z’s Accuser Can Remain Anonymous for Now, Judge Rules appeared first on TheWrap.

In the first lawsuit, filed by an anonymous Jane Doe who lives in Louisiana, Combs is accused of drugging and then raping the woman just moments before the Dec. 28, 1991 City College stampede.

According to the woman, she had traveled to New York to visit friends over the Christmas holiday. While there another friend, described only “a rapper who was
prominent in the industry at the time,” invited her to attend the charity basketball game at City College in New York City, organized by late rap legend Heavy D to raise money for AIDS research.

The woman says when she was unable to locate her friend at the event, she was introduced to Combs, at the time an up-and-coming executive at Uptown Records and a co-sponsor of the event. She says Combs took her to a private room where he eventually provided her with a drink he claimed was Coca-Cola. after which she “began to feel woozy.” She attempted to leave but Combs blocked the door, she says, and began to assault her, culminating in her rape.

Around this time, events at the game had spiraled out of control. More than 5,000 people had attempted to enter the building, which could only accommodate around 2300, and they crowded a stairwell in which doors opened inward instead of outward, trapping people at the bottom of the stairs. 9 people were killed and more than 20 were hospitalized.

According to the lawsuit, Combs was subsequently interrupted by a bodyguard who informed him of the situation and he left to deal with it. She says that she waited for a few minutes to make sure Combs wouldn’t return, at which point she left. Alongside Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment and its studio Daddy’s House Recordings, 10 organizational Does and 10 John or Jane Does are also named as defendants. The lawsuit demands a jury trial and seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, coverage of all legal fees, seizure of assets and any further relief the court may determine.

In a statement provided to TMZ, Comb’s attorney said, “As we’ve said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are facially ridiculous or demonstrably false. Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”

The Second lawsuit was filed by LaTroya Grayson, an Oklahoma woman who says she won a contest on area radio station KJAMZ 105.6 to travel to New York City and attend Comb’s Oct. 16, 2006 “White Party.”

Grayson says after drinking a beverage handed out by wait staff, she woke up in Saint Vincent Hospital hours later with a torn shirt and no underwear and all her money missing, with “no memory or no recollection on how she ended up at the hospital.”

She returned home on Oct. 17, the lawsuit says, and a few days later was contacted by “an anonymous female caller” from a New York area code who “threatened Plaintiff telling her that any attempts to pursue anything about an assault would be futile because [Combs] was a celebrity and that Plaintiff
would “just be wasting her time.”

Alongside Combs, the lawsuit names KJAMZ, Delta Airlines, Bad Boy Entertainment, Atlantic Records, the hotel where she stayed and multiple John and Jane Does. Grayson is demanding a jury trial and seeks whatever relief the court may deem appropriate.

In a statement provided to TMZ, Combs’ attorney said, “Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone or engaged in sex trafficking. Ms. Grayson admits she has no memory of the events alleged in her complaint, does not know who was supposedly involved, and has never spoken to Mr. Combs. Her allegations against him are pure fiction. As we’ve said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every baseless lawsuit and lawyer-driven money grab. He has faith in the judicial process, in which fact will be separated from opportunistic fabrications like these.”

Combs is currently in federal jail awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, sexual assault and rape and has been hit with more than 24 other lawsuits. He has denied all accusations.

The post Diddy Hit With 2 New Sexual Assault Lawsuits appeared first on TheWrap.

Giovanni began her undergraduate studies at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, as an “early entrant,” a designation that allowed her to begin college without having finished high school. She left the school for several years due to a dispute with the then-Dean but returned in 1964.

Giovanni published three books of poetry after graduating in 1967: “Black Feeling, Black Talk,” “Black Judgement,” and “Re: Creation.” She would go on to publish over two dozen volumes of poetry, essays, and anthologies as well as 11 children’s books.

Giovanni’s work from the 1960s and 1970s is often described as more radical than her later offerings. A fierce advocate for both racial and gender equality, Giovanni was described as one of the most important voices from the Civil Rights and Black Arts Movements.

She began to write children’s poetry and literature in the 1970s after giving birth to her son, Thomas Watson Giovanni. Giovanni picked up teaching jobs at Queens College and Rutgers University before she cofounded the publishing company NikTom Ltd. She also began to record her spoken word poetry and won the 1972 National Association of Radio and Television Announcers award for Best Spoken Word Album. Giovanni continued to publish books of poetry throughout the decades that followed.

Giovanni joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in 1987 and stayed on through 2022. While at the school she served as a University Distinguished Professor in the English department and received several NAACP Image Awards.

She was asked to deliver a convocation speech at a memorial for the 32 people who were killed at Virginia Tech by mass shooter Seung-Hui Cho in April 2007. Giovanni, who had requested to have Cho removed from one of her classes due to his behavior, closed out her speech with a chant poem.”

“We know we did nothing to deserve it. But neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS. Neither do the invisible children walking the night awake to avoid being captured by a rogue army,” she said. “Neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory. Neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water….We are Virginia Tech…. We will prevail.”

This was her third bout with cancer. She was first diagnosed with lung cancer in the 1990s, and her book “Blues: For All the Changes: New Poems” documented her battle against the disease.

The poet was not without a sense of humor. In a wide-ranging interview with NPR in July, Giovanni admitted to being “cautious around ostriches.” When pressed further, she explained, “Have you ever been on a safari? They are mean. And that kick will kill you. Ask a lion. If you had to put a lion against an ostrich, the lion is gone.”

“I’m not afraid of lions because lions are an intelligent being that, unless you’re threatening them, they’re not going to bother you. You have to be careful around ostriches. People need to know that,” she added.

In the same interview, Giovanni said she didn’t spend time thinking about what kind of legacy she might leave behind after her death, “Because it gets you caught up in your life, and your life is not about your life, your life is about your duty. And so, no, I don’t think about it.”

After NPR’s Rachel Martin rephrased the question to ask about what moments from her life Giovanni was proud of, she softened. “Oh, there are moments that I feel proud because I’ve worked hard. And when I went to the opening of the African American Museum in D.C, I had forgotten we gave permission to use my poetry. And when I turned a corner, there was a photograph of me,” she said.

“And it brought tears to my eyes. And I turned over my shoulder and said, ‘Look, grandmother, I did my duty.’ And that still amazes me. It’s like she was there. I did my duty and that’s what matters to me.”

Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, the renowned poet said in a 2021 New York Times interview that she was “a space freak” since childhood.

“As a little girl, I shared a bedroom with my sister. And I got to sleep on the side of the bed facing the outside wall, so there was a window, and I would look out at the stars. I thought if I ran into a Martian and the Martian said, ‘Who are you?’ what would my answer be? The only answer could be ‘I am an Earthling,'” she said.

“And if I could start Earth all over again, I would always make sure that if you had to answer the question, ‘Who are you?’ then you’d have to say, ‘I’m an Earthling.’ That way you don’t get trapped in what somebody thinks is your gender and your race. If Earth survives — there’s a good chance we’ll blow ourselves up — gender and race are going to go.”

Giovanni also admitted that while her earlier work did not argue race is a negative construct, in her later years she believed it was. “It was a different world. You’re talking to me almost 60 years later, and there are things that I have learned and things that Earth has learned,” she explained.

Giovanni’s family moved to Ohio when she was a child and she remained there until 1958, when she moved back to Knoxville to live with her grandparents and attend high school. She enrolled at Fisk University, her grandmother’s alma mater, before graduating high school.

In the same Times interview, Giovanni said “My job was to be as truthful as I knew how. I am also a storyteller. We’re the dreamers. I still dream … I try my best to get people to think. That’s what I do.”

Nikki Giovanni is survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler, her son Thomas Giovanni, her granddaughter, Kai Giovanni, two cousins, Haynes Ford and Allison (Pat) Ragan, and a nephew Christopher Black.

The post Nikki Giovanni, Lauded Poet and Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 81 appeared first on TheWrap.

Fox spoke to the outlet at his annual A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s fundraiser Saturday. He also said that his brand of humor helps him break through barriers with others when conversations get difficult. “That’s true. And it’s okay,” he explained. “Let’s embrace that and make a difference.”

This year’s gala event was hosted by Denis Leary and featured a performance by Stevie Nicks. Fox made it clear how much he appreciated their work for the event. “I can’t believe — a lot of these people I’ve known for years and years — they’re so kind to me,” he said. “I think because they see an opportunity for a win, for a big advancement, and that’s what we’re working toward.”

The event helps fund the work of the Michael J. Fox Foundation throughout the year. The organization has raised $2 billion toward Parkinson’s research since it was founded in 2000.

Fox went public with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 1998.

In 2023 the actor participated in the nonfiction movie “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.” Editor Michael Harte told TheWrap that Fox “has such a specific way of moving when you watch his movies, he leans into his movement,” something that he and his team wanted to incorporate into their own movie.

“I was worried there would be a lot of shots in our movie with the back of an actor’s head, walking you through scenes. And after a while that can be distancing if you use too much. I sometimes describe it as being in a movie theater with somebody very tall in front of you,” he explained.

In the end, they used a combination of stand-ins shot from behind and interviews with Fox in which the actor spoke candidly about how Parkinson’s has impacted his day-to-day life. “Normally when you interview a person over and over again, you get the sound bites that you want, but the energy of the interview starts to deteriorate over the course of time. But with Michael, it got better every time. And it got funnier,” Harte also said.

The post Michael J. Fox Says ‘It’s Hard’ to Maintain His Dark Sense of Humor, but ‘I Gotta Keep It Intact’ appeared first on TheWrap.

“The film industry is undergoing rapid changes, affecting the cinematic image, its content and aesthetics,” Żydowicz wrote in his piece “Time for Solidarity,” which was published last week in the latest edition of Cinematography World magazine. “One of the most significant changes is the growing recognition of female cinematographers and directors. This evolution is crucial as it rectifies the obvious injustice present in societal development.”

He continued, “However, it also raises a question: Can the pursuit of change exclude what is good? Can we sacrifice works and artists with outstanding artistic achievements solely to make room for mediocre film production?”

On Tuesday, British director Steve McQueen, who was scheduled to lead the beginning of the festival with his latest feature “Blitz,” dropped out of attending the event over Żydowicz’s remarks (The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news).

“Having read Marek Zydowicz’s op-ed concerning female cinematographers, I have decided not to attend the opening night presentation of my film ‘Blitz’ this weekend,” McQueen said in a statement. “Although he has issued an apology, I cannot get past what I consider deeply offensive words. I have enormous respect for cinematographers of all genders including women, and believe we have to do and demand better to make room for everyone at the table.”

Żydowicz’s words came as a response to a petition Women in Cinematography (WIC) put together in an effort to push Camerimage to better support and include female cinematographers.

After his controversial statement, it didn’t take long for folks to condemn the festival boss. The fallout notably occurs just days before the festival’s 32nd edition, which kicks off on Saturday in Toruń, Poland.

Members of the British Society of Cinematographer (BSC) came together in an open letter to reprimand Żydowicz. Backing BSC were several other film organizations, including The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and the Society of Camera Operators and Women Cinematographers Network.

“The BSC wishes to express its disapproval of your recent article in Cinematography World,” their message, “An Open Letter to Żydowicz of the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival,” read. “We are disheartened and angered by your profoundly misogynistic comments and aggressive tone, which we view as symptomatic of a deep-rooted prejudice.”

Over the weekend, Żydowicz responded in a direct message to the BSC.

“EnergaCAMERIMAGE has always supported, continues to support, and will keep supporting marginalized filmmakers. This won’t change. With that commitment in mind I created this festival in the ’90s, dedicating my entire professional life to it,” he said.

Żydowicz continued, “I truly believe that the accusations made against me in the statement published on BSC website are entirely misplaced and quite offensive. If these accusations were indeed true, this festival would simply no longer exist. Respect for others has always been my priority, and it remains one for our festival as well.”

He went on to say he’s been part of efforts with Women in Cinematography to help diversify the event. “Together, we have crafted a Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which we were planning to publish shortly,” Żydowicz added.

In a second letter from WIC, the group stated that its very existence is a product that was created as a response to Camerimage’s lack of woman representation.

“Camerimage’s historical exclusion of all but a few women is the very reason that Women in Cinematography – a collective of filmmakers from across the globe – was formed earlier this year,” the letter read, mentioning that the event’s programming is an example of how “female cinematographers have been sidelined by the festival.”

The post ‘Blitz’ Director Steve McQueen Drops Out of Camerimage Due to Founder’s Take on Women in Cinematography appeared first on TheWrap.

On Thursday, the singer reacted to an Instagram post by Russell Brand that promoted a red, MAGA-esque baseball cap that read “Make Jesus First Again” with the since-deleted comment, “Where do I get this hat?”

People quickly interpreted that as an endorsement of Trump, who ran on the slogan “Make America Great Again.” Brand, who was in the news this week for additional historic sexual assault allegations, has become a vocal Trump supporter.

In a statement posted to her Instagram story on Friday, Scherzinger wrote, “I deeply apologize for the hurt caused by my recent engagement with some social media posts. When I commented on these posts, I made the mistake of not realizing that they could be easily interpreted as being politically related and I apologize to anyone who understandably reached that conclusion.”

She continued, “Many presumptions are being drawn, which do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for. Many of the marginalized communities feeling hurt and concerned by the results of the presidential election are people I care about most. I stand with them, as I always have, throughout my life and career.”

The Pussycat Dolls singer went on to say, “Like so many others, in times of adversity and uncertainty, I turn to my faith. I believed that the posts I engaged with were about encouraging people to choose love and faith — ‘Putting Jesus first.’ For me, Christ embodies peace, compassion, hope and above all — unconditional love, especially for those who may feel it the least right now.”

Scherzinger concluded, “I come from a place of love, and I will always support values that bring us closer together. It’s so important we come together with compassion, and love one another more now than ever.”

The actress and singer is now appearing as Norma Desmond in a well-reviewed Broadway production of “Sunset Boulevard,” with speculation that she may land her first Tony nomination. More than one X user wrote on Thursday that the apparent revelation that she was a Trump fan dimmed their desire to catch her on Broadway.

“Finding out Nicole Scherzinger is a Trumper today doesn’t upset me as I don’t really care about her. But oddly, just like that, I no longer have any desire to see ‘Sunset Boulevard,'” one person tweeted.

For his part, Brand has denied the allegations of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse made by several women since last September.

However, when the extensive accusations were made as part of a Channel 4 investigation, the “Get Him to the Greek” star was quickly dropped by his agent and management company and the BBC removed all TV episodes in which he appeared from their platforms.

The post Nicole Scherzinger ‘Deeply’ Apologizes for Mistaken MAGA Endorsement, Says She Just Really Loves Jesus appeared first on TheWrap.

A new research brief from Dr. Stacy L. Smith, who founded the Institute, looked at the 100 most popular movies of 2023 for portrayals related to pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, contraception, abortion, menstruation, and overall reproductive health. 

“For years we have provided data on how Hollywood marginalizes girls and women on screen,” said Dr. Smith in a statement shared with TheWrap. “This latest report offers further evidence that it is not only the presence of women themselves that is missing on screen, but of critical depictions related to their health and well-being.”

The results show that only 42% of films contained any depiction of reproductive health in 2023. There were 8 depictions of menstruation, most of them in 
Kelly Fremon Craig’s “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret,” which was based on the classic book by Judy Blume.

“Abortion and access to reproductive care are some of the most significant issues in the upcoming election,” said Smith. “Yet Hollywood devoted only 3 minutes and 12 seconds to the topic in the nearly 200 hours of film content last year. The film industry has squandered its opportunities to depict abortion in authentic, informative, and multidimensional ways.”

Half of films with women directors included a reproductive health portrayal compared to 40.7% of films directed by men. “It’s no surprise that women in leadership roles are responsible for depictions related to reproductive health,” said Smith. “The refusal to hire women in critical positions behind the camera has ripple effects far beyond employment.”

Pregnancy was featured or mentioned in 36 out of the 100 films with 53 pregnant characters, two of whom were never shown on-screen. The majority of these characters, 60.8%, were from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group and 39.2% were white , the study found.

Broken out by genre, the study found that dramas (66.7%) and comedies (50%) were most likely to show reproductive health portrayals, while horror films — at least in 2023 —  were least likely with only 21.4%.

The 2024 study should see a spike in the horror category given the the plethora of “nun giving birth to the antichrist” films, including “Immaculate” and “The First Omen.”

As for the issue of abortion: Only 4 out of the 100 films mentioned it, including what the study calls a philosophical discussion of abortion” and “a joke about Roe v. Wade.”

There was also the scene in “The Exorcist: Believer” when Ann Dowd’s character is being tormented by a demon who refers to the past procedure as being “scraped out… like a rotten pumpkin.”

Pregnant characters tended to be in the background, with only 4 leading or co-leading characters out of 100 shown as expecting and only five films featured discussions of reproductive damage or visits to doctors. There were two portrayals of infertility in the top 100 films of 2023: Both occurred in historical settings. 

“At a time when 21 states have abortion bans or restrictions in effect, this lack of depiction of sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, means that the stories and experiences of millions of people are erased from our screens,” said Caren Spurch, national director for arts and entertainment engagement at Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

She urged the entertainment community to use “their immense power” to “normalize abortion and the whole range of reproductive health care.”Spurch added, “We have to change the culture to help change policies that would help advance reproductive freedom,” noting that the Planned Parenthood Action Fund is available to assist directors, producers and writers.

The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative also announced four recipients — Eve Chadbourn, Naa Adei Mante, Jenniffer González Martinez, and Hanna Gray Organschi — of its Reproductive Rights Accelerator, a program that offered $25,000 to filmmakers to tell a story related to reproductive rights.

The post Few Films Tackle Reproductive Health, USC Annenberg Study Finds — ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ Leads the Handful That Do appeared first on TheWrap.