Page 14 - aruba-today-20220602

a14 people & arts
Thursday 2 June 2022
Pinkett Smith talks hair-loss 'shame,' outcome of Oscar slap

By LYNN ELBER addressed the incident in
AP Television Writer a brief Instagram post that
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jada read ""This is a season for
Pinkett Smith turned her hus- healing and I'm here for it."
band's Oscar-night blowup The actor ("Girls Trip," "Ma-
into a teachable moment trix" films), who hosts the
about alopecia areata, Facebook Watch talk show
the hair-loss disorder affect- with her daughter, Willow,
ing her and millions of oth- and Adrienne Banfield Nor-
ers that, in some cases, can ris, her mother, said that
impact a person's sense of millions of people are living
identity. with alopecia and what
"Considering what I've she called the "shame"
been through with my that surrounds it. The con-
own health and what hap- dition, particularly for Black
pened at the Oscars, thou- women, can affect a per-
sands have reached out to son's perception of them-
me with their stories," Pinkett selves and force them to
Smith said on Wednesday's frequently confront others'
episode of "Red Table Talk." perceptions about beauty,
The actor said she chose hair and race and culture.
to use "this moment to give Rio's mother, Nicole Ball, re-
our alopecia family an counted the impact of the
opportunity to talk about Oscar incident, which took
what it's like to have this Jada Pinkett Smith appears on an episode of her online series "Red Table Talk." place less than two weeks
condition" and what it is. Associated Press after her daughter's death.
Her guests included the "What is the universe doing
mother of a 12-year-old girl, at Pinkett Smith's expense. to his seat and later ac- Talk" in an indirect refer- right now? This is crazy,'" Ball
Rio Allred, who was bullied "Jada, I love you. 'G.I. Jane cepted the Oscar for "King ence to Smith and Rock. recalled thinking. "People
over her hair loss and died 2,' can't wait to see it," Rock Richard," subsequently "The state of the world to- are going to be Googling,
by suicide, and a physician said. Pinkett Smith, who has apologized to Rock but day, we need them both, 'What is alopecia....What is
who explained the differ- spoken publicly about her was banned from the cer- and we all actually need this that we've never heard
ent types of the disorder. alopecia, had a closely emony for 10 years by the one another more than of?' It's not a joke."
Before tackling the subject, shaved head similar to that film academy. ever. According to the National
Pinkett Smith addressed of Demi Moore in the 1997 "Now, about Oscar night, "Until then, Will and I are Alopecia Areata Founda-
events at the March 27 movie. my deepest hope is that continuing to do what we tion, the disorder affects as
Academy Awards. She and Smith strode from his front- these two intelligent, ca- have done for the last 28 many as 6.8 million people
husband Will Smith, a best- row seat to the stage and pable men have an op- years, and that's keep fig- in the United States of any
actor nominee, were in slapped Rock, shocking the portunity to heal, talk this uring out this thing called age, sex and ethnic group,
the audience as presenter comedian and the audi- out, and reconcile," Pinkett life together," said Pinkett and the symptoms can
Chris Rock cracked a joke ence. Smith, who returned Smith said on "Red Table Smith, who previously had vary.q

Company to Las Vegas chapels: No more Elvis-themed weddings

pels, which are expected year, and officials say Elvis- lyn Monroe and boxer Mu-
to be compliant by now. themed weddings repre- hammad Ali and 50 con-
With Elvis so closely tied to sent a significant number of sumer brands.
Vegas' wedding industry, the ceremonies performed. In the cease-and-desist let-
some say the move could "It might destroy a por- ter, the company said it
decimate their businesses. tion of our wedding indus- will halt unauthorized use
"We are a family-run busi- try. A number of people of "Presley's name, likeness,
ness, and now we're hang- might lose their livelihood," voice image, and other
ing with the big dogs," said Goya said. One chapel last elements of Elvis Presley's
Kayla Collins, who oper- weekend had its Elvis im- persona in advertisements,
ates LasVegasElvisWed- personator change instead merchandise and other-
dingChapel.com and the into a leather jacket, jeans wise." The letter also said "El-
Little Chapel of Hearts with and a fedora for a "rock 'n' vis," "Elvis Presley," "and "The
her husband. "That's our roll" themed ceremony, the King of Rock and Roll" are
bread and butter. I don't Review-Journal reported. protected trademarks.
get it. We were just hitting Graceland Wedding Cha- The order should not trans-
Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul, right, walks down the aisle dur-
ing a wedding ceremony for Katie Salvatore, center, and Eric our stride again through pel, which performs 6,400 late into legal action
Wheeler at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. COVID, then this happens." Elvis-themed weddings per against Elvis-themed stage
Associated Press Clark County Clerk Lynn year, has not been served shows in Las Vegas such
Goya, who led a marketing a warning yet, according as "All Shook Up" because
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Ve- ordering Sin City chapel campaign promoting Las to manager Rod Musum. impersonating someone
gas chapels of love that operators to stop using Elvis Vegas as a wedding des- Authentic Brands Group did for live performances such
use Elvis Presley's likeness in themed ceremonies, the tination, said the order for not immediately respond as shows is considered an
could find themselves be- Las Vegas Review-Journal chapels to stop using Elvis Tuesday to an emailed re- exception under Nevada's
coming Heartbreak Hotels. reported on Monday. Au- couldn't have come at a quest for comment. right of publicity law, ac-
The licensing company thentic Brands Group sent worse time for the sector. The licensing company cording to Mark Tratos, a
that controls the name cease-and-desist letters in The city's wedding indus- oversees the estates of big local attorney who helped
and image of "The King" is early May to multiple cha- try generates $2 billion a names like movie star Mari- write the statute.q