Astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz is suing the maker of American Girl dolls, saying the company stole her likeness to create their astronaut doll, “Luciana Vega.”Walkowicz is an astronomer and TED Senior Fellow at the Adler Planetarium and says she has spoken many times about Mars — including in a that was viewed over 2 million times — and about Vega, the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra and sits at Lyra’s center.In addition, Walkowicz says in her lawsuit she has adopted a “unique dress, look, and style,” which includes a purple streak in her hair and distinctive holographic shoes....…Astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz is suing the maker of American Girl dolls, saying the company stole her likeness to create their astronaut doll, “Luciana Vega.”Walkowicz is an astronomer and TED Senior Fellow at the Adler Planetarium and says she has spoken many times about Mars — including in a that was viewed over 2 million times — and about Vega, the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra and sits at Lyra’s center.In addition, Walkowicz says in her lawsuit she has adopted a “unique dress, look, and style,” which includes a purple streak in her hair and distinctive holographic shoes....WW…

Simon & Schuster’s president and CEO said Tuesday the publisher will be moving forward with its  despite a petition circulated by staff demanding that the deal be canceled.“As a publisher in this polarized era, we have experienced outrage from both sides of the political divide and from different constituencies and groups. But we come to work each day to publish, not cancel, which is the most extreme decision a publisher can make, and one that runs counter to the very core of our mission to publish a diversity of voices and perspectives,” Simon & Schuster president and CEO...…Simon & Schuster’s president and CEO said Tuesday the publisher will be moving forward with its  despite a petition circulated by staff demanding that the deal be canceled.“As a publisher in this polarized era, we have experienced outrage from both sides of the political divide and from different constituencies and groups. But we come to work each day to publish, not cancel, which is the most extreme decision a publisher can make, and one that runs counter to the very core of our mission to publish a diversity of voices and perspectives,” Simon & Schuster president and CEO...WW…

Company announced revenues shortfalls at LA flagship paper and San Diego Union-TribuneThe Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune lost “north of $50 million” in revenue in 2020, company leadership told staffers at an all-hands meeting on Thursday.Chris Argentieri, the president of the two papers’ California Times parent company, described the losses as a “catastrophic drop in revenue for the company north of $50 million on top of a business that was already using cash and not producing cash,” according to a recording of the meeting obtained by TheWrap.Join WrapPRO for Exclusive...…Company announced revenues shortfalls at LA flagship paper and San Diego Union-TribuneThe Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune lost “north of $50 million” in revenue in 2020, company leadership told staffers at an all-hands meeting on Thursday.Chris Argentieri, the president of the two papers’ California Times parent company, described the losses as a “catastrophic drop in revenue for the company north of $50 million on top of a business that was already using cash and not producing cash,” according to a recording of the meeting obtained by TheWrap.Join WrapPRO for Exclusive...WW…

The final episode of HBO’s “Allen v. Farrow” airs this Sunday, but some critics of the documentary series say the filmmakers have only put forward one side of the case, failing to include Woody Allen’s side of the story and omitting key facts that detract from a pro-Farrow conclusion.Critics like The Guardian’s Hadley Freeman have that the docuseries feels more like activism and public relations than it does journalism.Also Read:“The series is kind of extraordinary in that it’s this major, four-part, four-hour-plus series, and yet it only puts forward one side of the case,” Freeman said...…The final episode of HBO’s “Allen v. Farrow” airs this Sunday, but some critics of the documentary series say the filmmakers have only put forward one side of the case, failing to include Woody Allen’s side of the story and omitting key facts that detract from a pro-Farrow conclusion.Critics like The Guardian’s Hadley Freeman have that the docuseries feels more like activism and public relations than it does journalism.Also Read:“The series is kind of extraordinary in that it’s this major, four-part, four-hour-plus series, and yet it only puts forward one side of the case,” Freeman said...WW…

Teen Vogue removed an article sponsored by the Saudi Tourism Authority after it was posted to the site on Tuesday in “error,” an individual with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap.The sponsored piece — published on Condé Traveler with the title “” — was part of a travel category campaign and appeared on the homepage of Teen Vogue before being removed early on Tuesday morning, according to the individual.The piece in question encouraged readers to travel to Saudi Arabia and promised that “citizens and visitors alike can have peace of mind (free healthcare, too, for COVID-related matters)...…Teen Vogue removed an article sponsored by the Saudi Tourism Authority after it was posted to the site on Tuesday in “error,” an individual with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap.The sponsored piece — published on Condé Traveler with the title “” — was part of a travel category campaign and appeared on the homepage of Teen Vogue before being removed early on Tuesday morning, according to the individual.The piece in question encouraged readers to travel to Saudi Arabia and promised that “citizens and visitors alike can have peace of mind (free healthcare, too, for COVID-related matters)...WW…

In an ironic turn of events, the American Conservative Union uninvited an anti-Semitic speaker from its annual Conservative Political Action Conference, which was promoted this year with the theme “America Uncanceled.”“We have just learned that someone we invited to CPAC has expressed reprehensible views that have no home with our conference or our organization. The individual will not be participating at our conference,” CPAC on Monday.The speaker in question, the online commentator Young Pharaoh, has spewed a number of to his followers, including referring to Jewish people as...…In an ironic turn of events, the American Conservative Union uninvited an anti-Semitic speaker from its annual Conservative Political Action Conference, which was promoted this year with the theme “America Uncanceled.”“We have just learned that someone we invited to CPAC has expressed reprehensible views that have no home with our conference or our organization. The individual will not be participating at our conference,” CPAC on Monday.The speaker in question, the online commentator Young Pharaoh, has spewed a number of to his followers, including referring to Jewish people as...WW…

Larry Flynt, the founder and publisher of Hustler magazine, died on Wednesday from the “recent onset of a sudden illness,” a representative for Flynt Management Group told TheWrap. He was 78.“He passed quietly in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife Liz and daughter Theresa by his side,” the representative said.Flynt’s Hustler brand was known for its more explicit and crude content in the world of adult entertainment. Hustler magazine’s first issue published in July 1974 and Flynt later created his own publishing company to produce the Hustler magazine, another magazine...…Larry Flynt, the founder and publisher of Hustler magazine, died on Wednesday from the “recent onset of a sudden illness,” a representative for Flynt Management Group told TheWrap. He was 78.“He passed quietly in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife Liz and daughter Theresa by his side,” the representative said.Flynt’s Hustler brand was known for its more explicit and crude content in the world of adult entertainment. Hustler magazine’s first issue published in July 1974 and Flynt later created his own publishing company to produce the Hustler magazine, another magazine...WW…

Danny Masterson pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to three rape charges in Los Angeles.The plea was entered on Masterson’s behalf by his attorney, Tom Mesereau, following unsuccessful attempts to have the case thrown out.In June, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office charged Masterson with three counts of forcible rape stemming from accusations of three incidents in 2001 and 2003 with three different women. If convicted, Masterson faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison.Also Read:Masterson is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001, a...…Danny Masterson pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to three rape charges in Los Angeles.The plea was entered on Masterson’s behalf by his attorney, Tom Mesereau, following unsuccessful attempts to have the case thrown out.In June, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office charged Masterson with three counts of forcible rape stemming from accusations of three incidents in 2001 and 2003 with three different women. If convicted, Masterson faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison.Also Read:Masterson is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001, a...WW…

Twitter has banned over 70,000 accounts that “primarily” shared QAnon-associated conspiracy theories in the past three days. the company said on Monday.“We’ve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has the potential to lead to offline harm. Given the violent events in Washington, DC, and increased risk of harm, we began permanently suspending thousands of accounts that were primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content on Friday afternoon,” .In many instances, “numerous accounts” were being operated by a single individual, according to the company, and were...…Twitter has banned over 70,000 accounts that “primarily” shared QAnon-associated conspiracy theories in the past three days. the company said on Monday.“We’ve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has the potential to lead to offline harm. Given the violent events in Washington, DC, and increased risk of harm, we began permanently suspending thousands of accounts that were primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content on Friday afternoon,” .In many instances, “numerous accounts” were being operated by a single individual, according to the company, and were...WW…

Final-round voting for this year’s Grammy Awards ends on Monday, but the Best Children’s Music Album group still includes three nominees who requested they be removed from the ballot to protest the category’s all-white nominations.Last month, The Okee Dokee Brothers, Alastair Mock and Dog on Fleas sent a to the Recording Academy requesting that their names be removed from final-round ballots, calling the category’s lack of diversity an “embarrassment for the field of children’s music.”“We are deeply grateful to the Recording Academy and its voting members for the honor we’ve received, but...…Final-round voting for this year’s Grammy Awards ends on Monday, but the Best Children’s Music Album group still includes three nominees who requested they be removed from the ballot to protest the category’s all-white nominations.Last month, The Okee Dokee Brothers, Alastair Mock and Dog on Fleas sent a to the Recording Academy requesting that their names be removed from final-round ballots, calling the category’s lack of diversity an “embarrassment for the field of children’s music.”“We are deeply grateful to the Recording Academy and its voting members for the honor we’ve received, but...WW…