ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

People

Hammer under assault probe Lawyers to appeal ‘wife beater’ ruling LONDON, March 20, (AP): Lawyers for Johnny Depp told Britain’s Court of Appeal that the actor’s ex-wife, Amber Heard, did not donate all of her $7 million divorce settlement to charity as she claimed, part of arguments seeking to overturn a ruling that the actor assaulted Heard during the couple’s mar- riage. The Hollywood star is seeking permission to appeal a High Court ruling in November, when he lost his libel lawsuit against The Sun newspaper for labeling him a “wife beater” in an article. Depp lost the case - thought to be one of the biggest English libel trials in recent history - following a three-week trial in July. High Court Justice Andrew Nicol ruled that lawyers for Sun publisher News Group Newspapers proved during the trial that the allega- tions against Depp, made in a April 2018 article, were “sub- stantially true.” The judge ruled that Depp, 57, assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in fear for her life three times. On Thursday, Depp’s law- yers argued for an appeal based on what they said was fresh evidence that Heard did not donate the entire amount of her Depp $7-million divorce settlement to two charities. Lawyer Andrew Caldecott said the donation claims gave Heard a “considerable boost to her credibility as Grammy-winning songwriter Starrah poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif, on Sept 16, 2020. The hitmaker for the likes of Drake, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Camila a person” and that they had “tipped the scales against Cabello, Nicki Minaj, Halsey and Katy Perry released her debut full-length album ‘Longest Interlude’ last Wednesday. (AP) Mr. Depp from the very beginning.” Neither Depp nor Heard were present for Thurs- day’s hearing in London. The couple divorced in 2016. Caldecott alleged that the one of Heard’s supposed charitable benefi ciaries, Music Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, wrote to Depp’s business adviser in 2019 to say Heard had not made any donations. Caldecott called Heard’s claims a “cal- culated and manipulative lie” in written submissions to the judge. A mad scientist in the music studio “It’s a false plus to her and a false minus to him,” he said Thursday. Caldecott also argued that Nicol, the High Court judge, unfairly rejected evidence unfavorable to It’s now Starrah’s turn to shine Heard during last year’s trial. He said the judge should have placed more importance on recordings in which Heard appeared to admit to assaulting Depp when she By Mark Kennedy Love,” Halsey’s “Now or Never,” Cloud profi le. was heard saying “I can’t promise I won’t get physi- Maroon 5 and SZA’s “What Lovers “From the fi rst second I heard her, cal again.” reshly minted Grammy-winning Do” and Perry’s “Swish Swish” fea- chills went through my whole body Fsongwriter Starrah has long turing Nicki Minaj. and I couldn’t believe what I was Conduct helped others be stars. Now it’s her More of her songs include The hearing,” he says. “It is really aston- Her “promise about future conduct suggests that turn to shine. Weeknd’s “Starboy” album cut ishing to see how far she’s come, but this is not necessarily a one-off,” the lawyer said. The hitmaker for the likes of “True Colors,” Rihanna’s “Needed it’s no surprise because she had that During the trial, the judge - and the public - heard Drake, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Camila Me” and Beyoncé’s “Already” from drive inside her from the beginning.” lurid accounts from Depp and Heard in which each Cabello, Nicki Minaj, Halsey and “Black Is King.” She also worked on Her appetite for music is broad. accused the other of abuse. Katy Perry is releasing her debut multiple tracks for Madonna’s latest As a kid, she was raised on a sonic Nicol accepted Heard’s claim that she feared for full-length album this week, a natu- album, “Madame X.” diet of Britney Spears, Eve, Ruff her life on several occasions, including during what Kelly Marie Tran, a voice cast mem- ral extension for the self-taught stu- Starrah won a Grammy on Sunday Ryders and Lil’ Bow Wow. These Heard described as a “three-day hostage situation” in ber in the Disney animated film ‘Raya for working on Megan Thee Stal- days, she feeds her “eclectic palate” Australia in March 2015 while Depp was fi lming a dio prodigy. and the Last Dragon,’ runs out to “I just really love hearing new lion’s “Savage Remix” featuring Be- everything. “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. introduce the film to the audience, yoncé. She previously scored a 2018 “I don’t limit myself to what I The judge found that 12 of the 14 instances of do- March 19, in Los Angeles at El Capi- sounds and experimenting with mu- tan Theatre’s reopening day, follow- sic,” she says. “I just feel like a little ASCAP Pop Music Songwriter of listen to, honestly,” she says. “One mestic violence cited had occurred and said that was day I could be listening to NBA suffi cient to rule against Depp in his libel suit against ing its shuttering more than a year mad scientist in the lab when I put the Year award - becoming the fi rst the newspaper. ago due to the coronavirus pandemic. stuff together and just see what it woman in nearly two decades. She YoungBoy or Kodak Black. And Depp acknowledged wide-ranging drug problems Theater reopenings are part of the does.” also landed a spot in Forbes’ 30 Un- the next day I’m listening to Marvin but accused Heard of making up abuse allegations and entertainment industry’s gradual road The 13-track “Longest Interlude” der 30 in 2019. Gaye and Sam Cooke or Coltrane or to recovery as states begin loosening Skrillex.” insisted he was “not a violent person, especially with - out Wednesday - showcases her Experimented women.” restrictions. (AP) Trust and mutual respect are key command of R&B, hip-hop and pop Not bad for a Black and LGBTQ His lawyers argued that the allegations caused “se- skills, all delivered in an achingly whenever Starrah decides to help rious harm” to the actor’s reputation and “signifi cant woman in a male-dominated fi eld someone on their song, not the popu- personal collection she likens to who was working in public storage distress and embarrassment.” opening her diary. larity of the artist, and she hopes for ❑ ❑ ❑ when she fi rst got noticed. “To see just “good vibes.” She’s currently “I personally feel like the only her go from public storage to the working on Normani’s next album Actor Armie Hammer is under investigation for thing that’s missing from a lot of Forbes list is something nobody can and the upcoming animated musical sexual assault, Los Angeles police said Thursday. music right now is just the raw take away,” says her manager, Nick “Century Goddess.” Hammer’s attorney denied the allegation. emotion and honesty, like vulner- Jarjour. “When I’m writing for an artist, I Hammer is the main suspect in a sexual assault ability,” she says. “Everybody She grew up as Brittany Hazzard feel like it’s important for me to sit that was reported to police on Feb. 3, LAPD spokes- wants to be cool. Nobody wants to man Officer Drake Madison said. Police would in a small town in Delaware, the down and have a conversation with be vulnerable.” youngest of eight brothers and sis- them and see where they’re at in life give no further details on the incident or who made Starrah has tapped some musical the report. ters. Music was always a big part and just what kind of music do they royalty for producing help, includ- of her life. She used to fall asleep want to make,” she says. “I’m highly Earlier Thursday at a video news conference, a Peretti Dyson ing James Blake, Skrillex, Boi1da woman said that on April 24, 2017, in Los Angeles, to music and wake up to it the next empathetic so I can pretty much put Hammer raped her for four hours, slammed her head and Nile Rogers. She recorded some morning. “When I was a kid, I just myself in that person’s shoes and against a wall and committed other violent acts against of the songs at Abbey Road Studios, used to just play around with music write, if necessary for them, from her. Variety where the Beatles recorded. She says all day,” she says. their perspective.” The Associated Press does not generally identify al- it’s all a bit surreal. Starrah experimented with online Despite her impact, she usually leged victims of sexual assault. “The only time I heard about the music programs like FruityLoops shuns the limelight, even preferring ROCHESTER, NY: Voting is open for The woman appeared on camera but identifi ed her- Beatles was a music class so it’s and Audacity, watching YouTube to distort photo portraits or partially self only by her fi rst name, Effi e. the next inductees into the World Video crazy to think that I recorded my Game Hall of Fame, with Call of Duty, tutorials and learning how to loop cover her face. She says she values “During those four hours I tried to get away but he Guitar Hero and Animal Crossing among music in the studio that they worked, instrumentals. “Anything I could do her privacy and didn’t get into the wouldn’t let me,” she said through tears. “I thought the 12 fi nalists. with Rogers — a legend,” she says. to try to learn how to make beats or music business for fame. that he was going to kill me. He then left with no con- Also on the ballot announced are: “It’s hard to wrap my mind around learn how to make music,” she re- “If you think of anything other cern for my well-being.” FarmVille, FIFA International Soccer, it sometime, but it’s really cool. It’s calls. than the music, it’s a distraction to The woman’s attorney, Gloria Allred, said they Mattel Football, Microsoft Flight Simula- like a dream.” Jarjour remembers fi rst hearing me. If you’re focused on a personal- had given evidence to Los Angeles police, including tor, Pole Position, Portal, StarCraft, Tron She’s co-written songs that have Starrah while listening to a college ity attached to the music, it just takes photos of Effi e’s injuries. Allred declined to say when and Where in the World is Carmen San over 14 billions streams, among they made the report, and would not confi rm that it radio R&B show. Her song, “Drank away from the music,” she says. “I Diego. them Cabello’s “Havana,” Maroon Up” came on and he immediately just feel like that should be the focal was the one made in February that the LAPD is in- “These fi nalists embody what it means vestigating. to be a good game,” said Jon-Paul Dy- 5’s “Girls Like You,” Drake’s “Fake spent hours searching her Sound- point.” (AP) son, director of the International Center Relationship for the History of Electronic Games at Effi e was 20 when she and Hammer met on Face- The Strong museum, where the hall of designs and open-heart pendants are choice. conservative parents and educated in book and began a relationship in 2016, and they had fame is housed. among her most recognizable work. She “Elsa was not only a designer but a Rome and Switzerland, Peretti moved to their last contact last year, Allred said. To be inducted, games have to have lent her classical aesthetic to functional way of life,” Tiffany said in a statement Barcelona in her 20s and began working Hammer’s attorney said in a statement that from the longevity, geographical reach and leave a goods, too, including bowls, magnifying Friday. “Elsa explored nature with the as a model, where she tapped into a com- beginning he has maintained that all of his interactions mark on the industry and pop culture. glasses, razors and even a pizza cutter acumen of a scientist and the vision of a munity of artists that included Salvador with Effi e and every other sexual partner “have been The winners are chosen by an inter- done in sterling silver, a metal she fa- sculptor.” Dali, according to an August profi le in completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in national committee of journalists and vored and helped popularize as a luxury Born in Florence, Italy, to wealthy, The Wall Street Journal’s magazine. A advance, and mutually participatory.” scholars versed in video games and their short time later, she decamped for New The statement called her allegations “attention role in society. Fans can weigh in as part York and started modeling for Halston seeking and ill-advised” and said “her own corre- of an online “Player’s Choice” ballot and other top designers, jumping into the through March 25. art and fashion jet set. It’s then she began spondence with Mr. Hammer undermines and refutes to make jewelry, tapping the designers her outrageous allegations.” The three inductees will take their place in the hall of fame during a she worked for to incorporate her pieces. “With the truth on his side, Mr. Hammer welcomes virtual ceremony May 6, joining 28 past It was Halston, a close friend, who the opportunity to set the record straight,” Andrew honorees that include Minecraft, Grand introduced her to the highest echelons at Brettler said. Theft Auto III, John Madden Football, Tiffany, an exclusive collaboration that The statement included a screenshot that Brettler Pac-Man and Microsoft Solitaire. lasted throughout her career. said was a text message exchange in July of last year The hall inducted its fi rst class in 2015 The outspoken Peretti began designing between Hammer and Effi e, in which she expresses with the goal of recognizing electronic for Tiffany in 1974. In celebration of the a desire for rough, forceful sex with him, and he re- games of all types — arcade, console, 50th anniversary of her signature wrist- sponds by saying he no longer wants a relationship computer, handheld, and mobile. (AP) hugging Bone Cuff, Tiffany launched with her. ❑ ❑ ❑ fresh versions, including some with The 34-year-old actor was married at the time to stones of turquoise and jade. television personality Elizabeth Chambers. They di- NEW YORK: Elsa Peretti, who went Describing herself as “retired” to the vorced last year. from Halston model and Studio 54 regu- Wall Street Journal, she kept her hand in, Hammer fi rst gained fame through playing twins in lar in the 1960s and ’70s to one of the communicating with artisans around the 2010’s “The Social Network,” and is best known for world’s most famous jewelry designers world and checking on the work of her with timeless, fl uid Tiffany & Co collec- ateliers. his starring roles in 2017’s “Call Me By Your Name” “Her inspiration was often drawn from and 2013’s “The Lone Ranger.” tions often inspired by nature, has died. She was 80. everyday items — a bean, a bone, an ap- Most recently, Hammer starred in the Netfl ix re- She died Thursday night in her sleep ple could be transformed into cuffl inks, make of “Rebecca.” A sequel to “Call Me by Your at home in a small village outside Bar- bracelets, vases or lighters,” the family Name” with Timothée Chalamet has also been in celona, Spain, according to a statement statement said. “Scorpions and snakes development. Allegations of sexual violence in recent from her family offi ce in Zurich and the This image released by Disney Plus shows Anthony Mackie, (left), and Sebas- were turned into appealing necklaces and months have derailed Hammer’s career. Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation. tian Stan in a scene from ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ streaming from rings, often in silver, which was one of Peretti’s sculptural cuff bracelets, bean March 19. (AP) — Details on Page 12 her preferred materials. (AP)