Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey, Brie Larson, Awkwafina and Chaka Khan are being celebrated for their charitable endeavors and contributions to the entertainment industry at a women's event in Beverly Hills.

Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey honored at women's event

Ellen DeGeneres' mother, Betty DeGeneres, has opened up about her daughter's claims that she was<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ellen-degeneres-reveals-shocking-details-of-sexual-abuse-by-stepfather-on-david-letterman-show-222424"> sexually abused by her stepfather.</a>

The American comedian and talk show host spoke about being sexually assaulted on David Letterman's Netflix talk show `My Next Guest Needs No Introduction`, by her mother's then-husband when she was a teen,&nbsp;

Believing the claims of Ellen, the 89-year-old said she loves her daughter, according to Fox News.

"I know now that one of the hardest things to do is speak up after being sexually abused," Betty said to NBC News.

"I love my daughter, and I wish I had the capacity to listen to her when she told me what happened."

"I live with that regret, and I wouldn't want that for any other parent. If someone in your life has the courage to speak out, please believe them," she added.

During her interview with Letterman, Ellen admitted the man reportedly touched her breasts.

"He told me when she (my mom)&nbsp;was out of town that he`d felt a lump in (my mother`s)&nbsp;breast and needed to feel my breasts because he didn`t want to upset her, but he needed to feel mine," she recalled.

"I`m angry at myself because, you know, I didn't - I was too weak to stand up to - I was 15 or 16. It's a really horrible, horrible story and the only reason I'm actually going to go into detail about it is because I want other girls to not ever let someone do that."

She continued, "We (women)&nbsp;just don't feel like we`re worthy, or we're scared to have a voice, and we`re scared to say no. That's the only reason I think it`s important to talk about it because there are so many young girls and it doesn`t matter how old you are. When I see people speaking out, especially now, it angers me when victims aren`t believed, because we just don`t make stuff up. And I like men, but there are so many men that get away with so much."

"It is just time for us to have a voice. It`s time for us to have power," the Emmy-winner added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Ellen DeGeneres' mother, Betty DeGeneres, has opened up about her daughter's claims that she was sexually abused by her stepfather. The American comedian and talk show host spoke about being sexually assaulted on David Letterman's Netflix talk show `My Next Guest Needs No Introduction`, by her mother's then-husband when she was a teen, Believing the claims of Ellen, the 89-year-old said she loves her daughter, according to Fox News.

Ellen DeGeneres' mother, Betty DeGeneres, has opened up about her daughter's claims that she was sexually abused by her stepfather. The American comedian and talk show host spoke about being sexually assaulted on David Letterman's Netflix talk show `My Next Guest Needs No Introduction`, by her mother's then-husband when she was a teen, Believing the claims of Ellen, the 89-year-old said she loves her daughter, according to Fox News. "I know now that one of the hardest things to do is speak up after being sexually abused," Betty said to NBC News. "I love my daughter, and I wish I had the capacity to listen to her when she told me what happened." "I live with that regret, and I wouldn't want that for any other parent. If someone in your life has the courage to speak out, please believe them," she added. During her interview with Letterman, Ellen admitted the man reportedly touched her breasts. "He told me when she (my mom) was out of town that he`d felt a lump in (my mother`s) breast and needed to feel my breasts because he didn`t want to upset her, but he needed to feel mine," she recalled. "I`m angry at myself because, you know, I didn't - I was too weak to stand up to - I was 15 or 16. It's a really horrible, horrible story and the only reason I'm actually going to go into detail about it is because I want other girls to not ever let someone do that." She continued, "We (women) just don't feel like we`re worthy, or we're scared to have a voice, and we`re scared to say no. That's the only reason I think it`s important to talk about it because there are so many young girls and it doesn`t matter how old you are. When I see people speaking out, especially now, it angers me when victims aren`t believed, because we just don`t make stuff up. And I like men, but there are so many men that get away with so much." "It is just time for us to have a voice. It`s time for us to have power," the Emmy-winner added.

Ellen DeGeneres' mother opens up about daughter's sexual assault claims

Popular US TV show host Ellen DeGeneres sat on the other side of couch recently as she got interviewed by David Letterman on Netflix’s talk show, ‘My Guest Needs No Introduction’.&nbsp;

In a rather shocking revelation, Ellen opened up about her sexual abuse incident to David. She told David that as her mother underwent mastectomy after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis when she was a teen, her stepfather exploited the situation and sexually abused her.&nbsp;

In teaser video published by the streaming channel, Ellen can be heard telling David: “He told me when she was out of town that he’d felt a lump in her breast and needed to feel my breasts because he didn’t want to upset her, but he needed to feel mine.”

She further told him, “Again, ’cause I didn’t know about bodies, I don’t know that breasts are all different and … anyway, he convinced me that he needs to feel my breasts and then he tries to do it again another time, and then another time.”

At one time, she narrated that he tried to break a door to open it as she escaped by kicking out a window. She said, “It’s a really horrible, horrible story, and the only reason I’m actually going to go into detail about it is because I want other girls to not ever let someone do that.”

Ellen had previously, last October, in her own show had said that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. She had then said, “I was 15 and I had something happen to me. When I watched Dr Ford — anyone who has had something happen to them, you just get so angry when someone doesn’t believe you or says, ‘Why did you wait so long?’”

The episode is yet to be aired.&nbsp;

In another news,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shah-rukh-khan-to-appear-on-david-lettermans-chat-show-on-netflix-218679">Shah Rukh Khan is also set to appear </a>on David Letterman's chat show this year.&nbsp;

Popular US TV show host Ellen DeGeneres sat on the other side of couch recently as she got interviewed by David Letterman on Netflix’s talk show, ‘My Guest Needs No Introduction’.

Popular US TV show host Ellen DeGeneres sat on the other side of couch recently as she got interviewed by David Letterman on Netflix’s talk show, ‘My Guest Needs No Introduction’. In a rather shocking revelation, Ellen opened up about her sexual abuse incident to David. She told David that as her mother underwent mastectomy after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis when she was a teen, her stepfather exploited the situation and sexually abused her. In teaser video published by the streaming channel, Ellen can be heard telling David: “He told me when she was out of town that he’d felt a lump in her breast and needed to feel my breasts because he didn’t want to upset her, but he needed to feel mine.” She further told him, “Again, ’cause I didn’t know about bodies, I don’t know that breasts are all different and … anyway, he convinced me that he needs to feel my breasts and then he tries to do it again another time, and then another time.” At one time, she narrated that he tried to break a door to open it as she escaped by kicking out a window. She said, “It’s a really horrible, horrible story, and the only reason I’m actually going to go into detail about it is because I want other girls to not ever let someone do that.” Ellen had previously, last October, in her own show had said that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. She had then said, “I was 15 and I had something happen to me. When I watched Dr Ford — anyone who has had something happen to them, you just get so angry when someone doesn’t believe you or says, ‘Why did you wait so long?’” The episode is yet to be aired. In another news, Shah Rukh Khan is also set to appear on David Letterman's chat show this year.

Ellen DeGeneres reveals shocking details of sexual abuse by stepfather on David Letterman show

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/this-is-nonsense-says-supreme-court-dismissing-pil-seeking-100-vvpat-verification-220408">'This is nonsense,' says Supreme Court dismissing PIL seeking 100% VVPAT verification</a> 
 
A vacation bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra refused to entertain the plea, saying that a larger bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had already dealt with the matter and passed an order.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/theres-no-bigger-motivation-than-indian-army-virat-kohli-ahead-of-cricket-world-cup-2019-220427">'There's no bigger motivation than Indian Army,' says Virat Kohli ahead of Cricket World Cup 2019</a> 
 
'If we go in with that motivation that we can do something for the Army, you will see a different level of passion coming out of us,' said Kohli

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-accuses-us-of-bullying-says-working-with-google-to-counter-ban-220421">Huawei accuses US of bullying, says working with Google to counter ban</a> 
 
The US government said it imposed the restrictions because of Huawei's involvement in activities contrary to national security or foreign policy interests.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/reports-of-alleged-evm-tampering-are-absolutely-false-election-commission-220417">Reports of alleged EVM tampering are 'absolutely false': Election Commission</a> 
 
The top poll body also stated that any lapse in the handling of reserve EVMs will be investigated and action will be taken against those responsible.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-amit-shah-meet-union-ministers-thank-them-for-service-to-nation-220445">PM Modi, Amit Shah meet Union ministers, thank them for 'service to nation'</a> 
 
Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, JP Nadda and Prakash Javadekar were among the key leaders from the BJP at the meeting.

'This is nonsense,' says Supreme Court dismissing PIL seeking 100% VVPAT verification A vacation bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra refused to entertain the plea, saying that a larger bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had already dealt with the matter and passed an order.

'This is nonsense,' says Supreme Court dismissing PIL seeking 100% VVPAT verification A vacation bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra refused to entertain the plea, saying that a larger bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had already dealt with the matter and passed an order. 'There's no bigger motivation than Indian Army,' says Virat Kohli ahead of Cricket World Cup 2019 'If we go in with that motivation that we can do something for the Army, you will see a different level of passion coming out of us,' said Kohli Huawei accuses US of bullying, says working with Google to counter ban The US government said it imposed the restrictions because of Huawei's involvement in activities contrary to national security or foreign policy interests. Reports of alleged EVM tampering are 'absolutely false': Election Commission The top poll body also stated that any lapse in the handling of reserve EVMs will be investigated and action will be taken against those responsible. PM Modi, Amit Shah meet Union ministers, thank them for 'service to nation' Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, JP Nadda and Prakash Javadekar were among the key leaders from the BJP at the meeting.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Sprinter Dutee Chand's coming out interview has been hailed as pathbreaking in India. Chand has also gained admirers outside of India. American chat-show host Ellen DeGeneres has also tweeted in support of Chand stating she is 'proud' of the athlete.

DeGeneres, who herself came out as a homosexual over two decades ago on national TV and is an LGBTQ activist, said in her tweet that Chand is a champion. DeGeneres has been a supporter of the LGBTQ community and used her show 'The Ellen Show' as a platform to voice issues concerning the community in the past.&nbsp;

Quoting a news piece on Chand's coming out of the closet, DeGeneres tweeted, "She’s the 100m record holder and the first openly gay sportsperson in India. I guess she knows a thing or two about being first. I’m so proud of her. (sic)"

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She’s the 100m record holder and the first openly gay sportsperson in India. I guess she knows a thing or two about being first. I’m so proud of her. <a href="https://t.co/auoyWY8yvk">https://t.co/auoyWY8yvk</a>
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1130684315543658496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In an interview to a newspaper, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dutee-chand-my-own-sister-is-blackmailing-me-she-asked-me-for-rs-25-lakh-220416">Chand revealed that she was in a same-sex relationship with a woman</a> in her village in Odhisa. Chand stated that she got the courage to come out of the closet after India's top court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex last year.&nbsp;

"I have found someone who is my soulmate. I believe everyone should have the freedom to be with whoever they decide they want to be with," Chand said in the interview.&nbsp;

Sprinter Dutee Chand's coming out interview has been hailed as pathbreaking in India. Chand has also gained admirers outside of India. American chat-show host Ellen DeGeneres has also tweeted in support of Chand stating she is 'proud' of the athlete.

Sprinter Dutee Chand's coming out interview has been hailed as pathbreaking in India. Chand has also gained admirers outside of India. American chat-show host Ellen DeGeneres has also tweeted in support of Chand stating she is 'proud' of the athlete. DeGeneres, who herself came out as a homosexual over two decades ago on national TV and is an LGBTQ activist, said in her tweet that Chand is a champion. DeGeneres has been a supporter of the LGBTQ community and used her show 'The Ellen Show' as a platform to voice issues concerning the community in the past. Quoting a news piece on Chand's coming out of the closet, DeGeneres tweeted, "She’s the 100m record holder and the first openly gay sportsperson in India. I guess she knows a thing or two about being first. I’m so proud of her. (sic)" She’s the 100m record holder and the first openly gay sportsperson in India. I guess she knows a thing or two about being first. I’m so proud of her. https://t.co/auoyWY8yvk — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) May 21, 2019 × In an interview to a newspaper, Chand revealed that she was in a same-sex relationship with a woman in her village in Odhisa. Chand stated that she got the courage to come out of the closet after India's top court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex last year. "I have found someone who is my soulmate. I believe everyone should have the freedom to be with whoever they decide they want to be with," Chand said in the interview.

Ellen DeGeneres hails Dutee Chand's courage, says she's 'proud' of the athlete

No matter how old one gets, one can never get enough of TV series 'Friends' or its actors. The iconic show may have ended nearly a decade back but its references are given till date. So naturally when the show's cast members, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow shared the small screen recently, fans of the stars got very excited.&nbsp;

Courteney was on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show recently to promote her new show 'Nine Months with Courteney Cox,' and the actress then revealed that she was planning to join Instagram.&nbsp;

To her surprise the host had got the set of Central Perk, the fictitious coffeehouse made famous on the long-running sitcom, recreated.&nbsp; 
 
The host-comic also arranged to get the very orange couch on which the beloved characters - Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler - used to laze upon.

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While posing for fake candid photos on the couch, Ellen said 'I wish Lisa Kudrow was here' and almost on cue, Kudrow came to join her friend on the couch- much to the delight of the audience.&nbsp;

"I wanted to be there for you,” Kudrow told Cox, quoting the show’s famous theme song’s lyrics which was originally sung by The Rembrandts.&nbsp;

Cox did keep her promise and has officially joined Instagram and share three posts, two of which are with Kudrow on the sets of Ellen's show.&nbsp; 
She is following 61 people and has amassed over 533k followers.&nbsp;

No matter how old one gets, one can never get enough of TV series 'Friends' or its actors. The iconic show may have ended nearly a decade back but its references are given till date.

No matter how old one gets, one can never get enough of TV series 'Friends' or its actors. The iconic show may have ended nearly a decade back but its references are given till date. So naturally when the show's cast members, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow shared the small screen recently, fans of the stars got very excited. Courteney was on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show recently to promote her new show 'Nine Months with Courteney Cox,' and the actress then revealed that she was planning to join Instagram. To her surprise the host had got the set of Central Perk, the fictitious coffeehouse made famous on the long-running sitcom, recreated. The host-comic also arranged to get the very orange couch on which the beloved characters - Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler - used to laze upon. While posing for fake candid photos on the couch, Ellen said 'I wish Lisa Kudrow was here' and almost on cue, Kudrow came to join her friend on the couch- much to the delight of the audience. "I wanted to be there for you,” Kudrow told Cox, quoting the show’s famous theme song’s lyrics which was originally sung by The Rembrandts. Cox did keep her promise and has officially joined Instagram and share three posts, two of which are with Kudrow on the sets of Ellen's show. She is following 61 people and has amassed over 533k followers.

Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow had a mini-'Friends' reunion on Ellen DeGeneres' show

It has just been a month since Priyanka Chopra tied the knot with American singer Nick Jonas in a lavish ceremony in Jodhpur but the world is yet to get over the lavish ceremony that was held in an intimate ceremony with limited guests.&nbsp;

In her first TV appearance in America post her wedding, Priyanka Chopra revealed that how her mother was upset with her throughout the wedding. Priyanka spoke at length about her wedding and how she warmed up to Nick Jonas during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.&nbsp;

Priyanka said it was unusual for an Indian wedding to have such a short guest-list and her mother found it hard not to invite the people she knew. 
DeGeneres said it seemed the wedding went on forever. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"It was just three days! One Indian ceremony and one western Christian ceremony, and one day of pre-rituals...which we have in the Hindu wedding. But it was not, like usually, Indian weddings are a thousand people, at least. We only had 200, which was mostly family because both of us have giant families," Chopra told DeGeneres.

"For an Indian family and an Indian wedding, [it was small] for sure. My mother was so upset with me the whole time. She was like, 'I need to have another wedding for the other 150,000 people that I know! How can I not invite my jeweler? How can I not invite my hairdresser?' So it was a whole conversation," the 36-year-old actor joked.

DeGeneres, 61, teased the actor for not inviting her for her December wedding even though she was once Nick's landlord.

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Chopra shot back, saying, "We were so offended that you didn't even respond to our invite. It's so true! I was like, 'We're not good enough for Ellen? She wouldn't come to India? She doesn't even respond anymore? Nick, you've had such a good relationship with her' I was very offended for him, honestly. But I'm just the wife. I don't know anything."

The actor said she and Jonas, 26, did not know much about each other's careers when they started dating.

"We showed each other our work from when we were younger, the embarrassing stuff, like, the horrible stuff. It was great. That's how we got to know each other's careers," she said.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/priyanka-chopra-to-star-and-produce-a-film-based-on-ma-anand-sheela-193937">Also read:&nbsp;Priyanka Chopra to star and produce a film based on Ma Anand Sheela</a>

Gushing about her husband, Chopra said she is surprised that he is so family-driven.

"It shocks me how he's not been corrupted. We know when you're entertainment for such a long time...He's so family-driven, he's all about his parents. And he's just nice and sweet," she added.&nbsp;

Priyanka was on the show to promote her upcoming romantic-comedy 'Isn't it romantic?' which stars Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth along with Priyanka.&nbsp;

It has just been a month since Priyanka Chopra tied the knot with American singer Nick Jonas in a lavish ceremony in Jodhpur but the world is yet to get over the lavish ceremony that was held in an intimate ceremony with limited guests.

It has just been a month since Priyanka Chopra tied the knot with American singer Nick Jonas in a lavish ceremony in Jodhpur but the world is yet to get over the lavish ceremony that was held in an intimate ceremony with limited guests. In her first TV appearance in America post her wedding, Priyanka Chopra revealed that how her mother was upset with her throughout the wedding. Priyanka spoke at length about her wedding and how she warmed up to Nick Jonas during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Priyanka said it was unusual for an Indian wedding to have such a short guest-list and her mother found it hard not to invite the people she knew. DeGeneres said it seemed the wedding went on forever. "It was just three days! One Indian ceremony and one western Christian ceremony, and one day of pre-rituals...which we have in the Hindu wedding. But it was not, like usually, Indian weddings are a thousand people, at least. We only had 200, which was mostly family because both of us have giant families," Chopra told DeGeneres. "For an Indian family and an Indian wedding, [it was small] for sure. My mother was so upset with me the whole time. She was like, 'I need to have another wedding for the other 150,000 people that I know! How can I not invite my jeweler? How can I not invite my hairdresser?' So it was a whole conversation," the 36-year-old actor joked. DeGeneres, 61, teased the actor for not inviting her for her December wedding even though she was once Nick's landlord. Chopra shot back, saying, "We were so offended that you didn't even respond to our invite. It's so true! I was like, 'We're not good enough for Ellen? She wouldn't come to India? She doesn't even respond anymore? Nick, you've had such a good relationship with her' I was very offended for him, honestly. But I'm just the wife. I don't know anything." The actor said she and Jonas, 26, did not know much about each other's careers when they started dating. "We showed each other our work from when we were younger, the embarrassing stuff, like, the horrible stuff. It was great. That's how we got to know each other's careers," she said. Also read: Priyanka Chopra to star and produce a film based on Ma Anand Sheela Gushing about her husband, Chopra said she is surprised that he is so family-driven. "It shocks me how he's not been corrupted. We know when you're entertainment for such a long time...He's so family-driven, he's all about his parents. And he's just nice and sweet," she added. Priyanka was on the show to promote her upcoming romantic-comedy 'Isn't it romantic?' which stars Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth along with Priyanka.

Priyanka Chopra talks about her wedding on Ellen DeGeneres' show: My mom was so upset the whole time

The actor Kevin Hart ruled out hosting this year's Oscars because he no longer had enough time to prepare for the show, days after saying he was evaluating his December decision to step down over criticism of past homophobic comments.

 
He told ABC that he was no longer willing to discuss the anti-gay comments he had made on Twitter in 2010 and 2011, which caused the uproar that led him to step down as host, saying his previous explanations and apology were sufficient.&nbsp;

 
"I'm over it," he said repeatedly to almost every question on the topic during a sometimes testy interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America.'

&nbsp; 
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences named Hart as Oscars host in December, but he stepped down soon after amid criticism of his past tweets.

 
Last week, Hart had said he was re-evaluating that decision after the openly-gay comedian Ellen DeGeneres, a past Oscars host, said she had called the Academy to advocate for Hart. By Wednesday, the evaluation appeared to be over.

"No, I'm not hosting the Oscars this year," he said in an ABC interview. "It's not in God's plan right now." He said he could not rule out hosting in future years.

 
Hart, known for his stand-up comedy and roles in films including 'Ride Along,' said he would not have enough time ahead of the Feb. 24 ceremony in Los Angeles to prepare to do a professional job: "If I do something I want to give it my all."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The actor Kevin Hart ruled out hosting this year's Oscars because he no longer had enough time to prepare for the show, days after saying he was evaluating his December decision to step down over criticism of past homophobic comments.

The actor Kevin Hart ruled out hosting this year's Oscars because he no longer had enough time to prepare for the show, days after saying he was evaluating his December decision to step down over criticism of past homophobic comments. He told ABC that he was no longer willing to discuss the anti-gay comments he had made on Twitter in 2010 and 2011, which caused the uproar that led him to step down as host, saying his previous explanations and apology were sufficient. "I'm over it," he said repeatedly to almost every question on the topic during a sometimes testy interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America.' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences named Hart as Oscars host in December, but he stepped down soon after amid criticism of his past tweets. Last week, Hart had said he was re-evaluating that decision after the openly-gay comedian Ellen DeGeneres, a past Oscars host, said she had called the Academy to advocate for Hart. By Wednesday, the evaluation appeared to be over. "No, I'm not hosting the Oscars this year," he said in an ABC interview. "It's not in God's plan right now." He said he could not rule out hosting in future years. Hart, known for his stand-up comedy and roles in films including 'Ride Along,' said he would not have enough time ahead of the Feb. 24 ceremony in Los Angeles to prepare to do a professional job: "If I do something I want to give it my all."

Comedian Kevin Hart rules out hosting the Oscars, says 'I am over it'

American TV host Ellen DeGeneres wants Kevin Hart to host Oscars 2019.

This happened after Ellen got Kevin on her chat show and made him address the controversial homophobic remarks he has made over the years, that resurfaced following his appointment by the Academy.&nbsp;

Ellen is now calling for the comedian to be reinstated after interviewing him. She also said that the Academy Awards organisers “admitted to possibly mishandling Hart's departure” and would be “emphatic” to see him return.

She added: “We want him to host. Whatever we can do, we want him to host.”

Ellen looks too keen on having him as the host as she also took to her Twitter and wrote about the interview: “I believe in forgiveness. I believe in second chances. And I believe in Kevin Hart.” She added that the conversation was “authentic” and “honest”.

Kevin Hart was announced as host of the 91st Academy Awards in December. He <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kevin-hart-steps-down-as-oscars-2019-host-following-outcry-over-his-controversial-past-tweets-182112">stepped down</a> after he was asked to apologise for his racist remarks that were posted between 2009 and 2011. He refused to apologise add backed out saying that he didn’t want the attention on himself, for nothing!

He said: “I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists” and apologised to the LGBT+ community “for insensitive words from my past”.

Meanwhile, Oscars still does not have a host. There were talks earlier that this year, they might just go without a host for the night.&nbsp;

American TV host Ellen DeGeneres wants Kevin Hart to host Oscars 2019. This happened after Ellen got Kevin on her chat show and made him address the controversial homophobic remarks he has made over the years, that resurfaced following his appointment by the Academy.

American TV host Ellen DeGeneres wants Kevin Hart to host Oscars 2019. This happened after Ellen got Kevin on her chat show and made him address the controversial homophobic remarks he has made over the years, that resurfaced following his appointment by the Academy. Ellen is now calling for the comedian to be reinstated after interviewing him. She also said that the Academy Awards organisers “admitted to possibly mishandling Hart's departure” and would be “emphatic” to see him return. She added: “We want him to host. Whatever we can do, we want him to host.” Ellen looks too keen on having him as the host as she also took to her Twitter and wrote about the interview: “I believe in forgiveness. I believe in second chances. And I believe in Kevin Hart.” She added that the conversation was “authentic” and “honest”. Kevin Hart was announced as host of the 91st Academy Awards in December. He stepped down after he was asked to apologise for his racist remarks that were posted between 2009 and 2011. He refused to apologise add backed out saying that he didn’t want the attention on himself, for nothing! He said: “I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists” and apologised to the LGBT+ community “for insensitive words from my past”. Meanwhile, Oscars still does not have a host. There were talks earlier that this year, they might just go without a host for the night.

Ellen DeGeneres wants Kevin Hart as Oscars 2019 host, says 'I believe in second chances'

We might wake to a new world where there is no Ellen DeGeneres show. Yes, that same TV show that gets the spunkiest of the celebrities to speak out on issues they avoid generally.&nbsp;

In a recent interview, the comedian opened up on the possibility of walking away from her long-running series, ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’.&nbsp;

As per a report in The Hollywood Reporter, the TV host took the option to extend her contract in a deal that keeps the show on the air until the summer of 2020. The 60-year-old comedian was, however, close to declining at the time.

In the said interview, as she spoke of her future plans, she said that her brother, Vance DeGeneres, wants her to continue on with the show after 2020 because he believes she serves as a hopeful figure in today's divisive political climate.&nbsp;

Ellen’s wife, Portia de Rossi, however, is encouraging her to explore new opportunities. Ellen said, "[De Rossi] gets mad when my brother tells me I can’t stop," DeGeneres told the Times. She said that De Rossi thinks that her spouse has "other things she could tackle."&nbsp;

De Rossi also said: "I don’t see the end of her show as her career ending."

Meanwhile, Ellen will return to stand-up in her upcoming Netflix special, ‘Relatable’ -- &nbsp;her first comedy special since HBO's ‘Here and Now’ in 2003.

We might wake to a new world where there is no Ellen DeGeneres show. Yes, that same TV show that gets the spunkiest of the celebrities to speak out on issues they avoid generally.

We might wake to a new world where there is no Ellen DeGeneres show. Yes, that same TV show that gets the spunkiest of the celebrities to speak out on issues they avoid generally. In a recent interview, the comedian opened up on the possibility of walking away from her long-running series, ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’. As per a report in The Hollywood Reporter, the TV host took the option to extend her contract in a deal that keeps the show on the air until the summer of 2020. The 60-year-old comedian was, however, close to declining at the time. In the said interview, as she spoke of her future plans, she said that her brother, Vance DeGeneres, wants her to continue on with the show after 2020 because he believes she serves as a hopeful figure in today's divisive political climate. Ellen’s wife, Portia de Rossi, however, is encouraging her to explore new opportunities. Ellen said, "[De Rossi] gets mad when my brother tells me I can’t stop," DeGeneres told the Times. She said that De Rossi thinks that her spouse has "other things she could tackle." De Rossi also said: "I don’t see the end of her show as her career ending." Meanwhile, Ellen will return to stand-up in her upcoming Netflix special, ‘Relatable’ -- her first comedy special since HBO's ‘Here and Now’ in 2003.

Ellen DeGeneres is considering ending her popular TV show

This is the kind of news that brightens up a Monday. During her recent outing at the Ellen Degeneres show, actress Jennifer Aniston hinted at a reunion of her famous show Friends with other cast members.&nbsp; 
 
The actress who is set to return to TV this year, was on the show to talk about it which has her collaborating with actress Reese Witherspoon. But the conversation didn`t stick to her new show -- it focused on an old one - Friends.

After performing the clap from the Friends&nbsp;theme song &quot;I`ll be there for you&quot;, DeGeneres asked Aniston what everyone has always been wondering about a reunion: &quot;Is it even in the realm of possibility?&quot;&nbsp;

The Emmy award-winning actress said, &quot;Anything is a possibility, Ellen. Anything! Right? I mean, George Clooney got married? That`s like an anything can happen.&quot;

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If it does happen, the six cast members of Friends would be reuniting after 15 long years. They had&nbsp;in the middle reunited for James Burrows&rsquo; birthday&nbsp;but the reunion did not have Mathew Perry joining them. The rest five actors&mdash;Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc were clicked together at the event.&nbsp;

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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">&nbsp;</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BA832eVP4eG/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">And then this happened. #TBBT #friends</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sanctionedjohnnygalecki/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Johnny Galecki</a> (@sanctionedjohnnygalecki) on <time datetime="2016-01-25T05:58:43+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jan 24, 2016 at 9:58pm PST</time>
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Friends had a successful run on TV from 1994 to 2004. Spread over 10 seasons, the sitcom revolves around six friends living in Manhattan.

This is the kind of news that brightens up a Monday. During her recent outing at the Ellen Degeneres show, actress Jennifer Aniston hinted at a reunion of her famous show Friends with other cast members. The actress who is set to return to TV this year, was on the show to talk about it which has her collaborating with actress Reese Witherspoon. But the conversation didn`t stick to her new show -- it focused on an old one - Friends. After performing the clap from the Friends theme song "I`ll be there for you", DeGeneres asked Aniston what everyone has always been wondering about a reunion: "Is it even in the realm of possibility?" The Emmy award-winning actress said, "Anything is a possibility, Ellen. Anything! Right? I mean, George Clooney got married? That`s like an anything can happen." × If it does happen, the six cast members of Friends would be reuniting after 15 long years. They had in the middle reunited for James Burrows’ birthday but the reunion did not have Mathew Perry joining them. The rest five actors—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc were clicked together at the event. And then this happened. #TBBT #friends A post shared by Johnny Galecki (@sanctionedjohnnygalecki) on Jan 24, 2016 at 9:58pm PST × Friends had a successful run on TV from 1994 to 2004. Spread over 10 seasons, the sitcom revolves around six friends living in Manhattan.

Watch: Did Jennifer Aniston just hint at a 'Friends' reunion?

As a result of the #MeToo campaign, US sexual assault hotlines are receiving a record number of calls from victims trying to reach out for help.

According to reports, the spike in calls was seen ever since the movement began in October 2017.

Reuters reported that the hotline operated by the &#39;Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network&#39;&nbsp;received a total of 209,480 calls, highest ever since the network was set-up in the year 1993.

People waited for up to three hours to talk at the National Sexual Assault Hotline, stated reports.

According to the DC Rape Crisis Center&#39;s Executive Director, Indira Henard, close to 70 people seek legal, physical or psychological help in a week. The number was around 30 to 40 a week before the campaign started.

The center also saw a spike in its donations.

The MeToo campaign became viral October 2017 onward as a hashtag started from Twitter.

The campaign started with an aim to spread awareness about the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment.

Many celebrities revealed shocking instances of sexual misconduct faced by them.

Allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against eminent Hollywood personalities like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.

Dozens of women accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, however, Weinstein denied the reports.

Some of the most notable personalities who shared stories of sexual violence included Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, Uma Thurman, Ellen DeGeneres and Ashley Judd among others.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The hotline operated by the 'Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network' received 209,480 calls in total

As a result of the #MeToo campaign, US sexual assault hotlines are receiving a record number of calls from victims trying to reach out for help. According to reports, the spike in calls was seen ever since the movement began in October 2017. Reuters reported that the hotline operated by the 'Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network' received a total of 209,480 calls, highest ever since the network was set-up in the year 1993. People waited for up to three hours to talk at the National Sexual Assault Hotline, stated reports. According to the DC Rape Crisis Center's Executive Director, Indira Henard, close to 70 people seek legal, physical or psychological help in a week. The number was around 30 to 40 a week before the campaign started. The center also saw a spike in its donations. The MeToo campaign became viral October 2017 onward as a hashtag started from Twitter. The campaign started with an aim to spread awareness about the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment. Many celebrities revealed shocking instances of sexual misconduct faced by them. Allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against eminent Hollywood personalities like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. Dozens of women accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, however, Weinstein denied the reports. Some of the most notable personalities who shared stories of sexual violence included Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, Uma Thurman, Ellen DeGeneres and Ashley Judd among others. (With inputs from Reuters)

US Sexual assault hotlines flooded after #MeToo campaign

Australians have voted overwhelmingly for same-sex marriage, paving the way for legislation by the end of 2017 and sparking rainbow celebrations on Wednesday, with people wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits and declaring &ldquo;our love is real&rdquo;.

Australia will become the 26th nation to formalise the unions if the legislation is passed by parliament, which is expected despite some vocal opposition within the government&rsquo;s conservative right wing.

Thousands of people in a central Sydney park broke into a loud cheer, hugged and cried as Australia&rsquo;s chief statistician revealed live over a big screen that 61.6 percent of voters surveyed favoured marriage equality, with 38.4 percent against.

Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, who came out as gay three years ago, said the result was a huge relief.

&ldquo;It means that the way you feel for another person, whoever that may be, is equal,&rdquo; Thorpe told reporters at the Sydney celebrations.

The voluntary poll is non-binding but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull immediately said he would fulfill a pledge to raise a bill in parliament with the aim of passing laws by Christmas.

Turnbull played down concerns of a split in his coalition government over the policy as the conservative faction presses for amendments to protect religious freedoms that discriminate against same-sex couples.

&ldquo;It is unequivocal, it is overwhelming. They have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,&rdquo; Turnbull told reporters in Canberra after the survey results were announced. &ldquo;They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love.&rdquo;

The result marks a watershed moment for gay rights in Australia, where it was illegal in some states to engage in homosexual activity until 1997.

&nbsp;

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It&rsquo;s a g&rsquo;day. Way to go Australia. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarriageEquality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarriageEquality</a> <a href="https://t.co/0tdnBHPAW1">pic.twitter.com/0tdnBHPAW1</a>
&mdash; Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/930573863955472391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a g&lsquo;day. Way to go Australia &rdquo; tweeted U.S. TV host Ellen DeGeneres, who is married to Australian actress Portia de Rossi in the United States.

Almost 80 percent of the country&rsquo;s eligible voters took part in the survey - a higher voter turnout than Britain&rsquo;s Brexit vote and Ireland&rsquo;s same-sex marriage referendum.

Mark Barry, 59, wiped away tears as he took the result with his partner of 35 years, Gerrard Boller.

&ldquo;I know a celebrant who is going to be very happy about this,&rdquo; Barry told Reuters.

TURNBULL TROUBLES

Irish-born Qantas Airways Chief Executive Alan Joyce, one of the few openly gay business leaders in Australia, told the Sydney crowd, many of whom sheltered from the hot sun under rainbow umbrellas, that the result was &ldquo;an amazing outcome&rdquo; and urged Turnbull to move quickly on legislation.

Turnbull, under pressure amid a citizenship crisis that has cost him his deputy and the government&rsquo;s majority in parliament, finds his leadership tested again as the marriage equality bill enters parliament, possibly as early as later on Wednesday.

The conservatives&rsquo; planned amendments to the bill would allow private businesses to refuse services like wedding cakes for same-sex weddings by objecting on religious grounds.

The overwhelming votes have been paving the way for legislation by the end of 2017 and sparking rainbow celebrations on Wednesday, with people wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits and declaring ?our love is real?

Australians have voted overwhelmingly for same-sex marriage, paving the way for legislation by the end of 2017 and sparking rainbow celebrations on Wednesday, with people wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits and declaring “our love is real”. Australia will become the 26th nation to formalise the unions if the legislation is passed by parliament, which is expected despite some vocal opposition within the government’s conservative right wing. Thousands of people in a central Sydney park broke into a loud cheer, hugged and cried as Australia’s chief statistician revealed live over a big screen that 61.6 percent of voters surveyed favoured marriage equality, with 38.4 percent against. Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, who came out as gay three years ago, said the result was a huge relief. “It means that the way you feel for another person, whoever that may be, is equal,” Thorpe told reporters at the Sydney celebrations. The voluntary poll is non-binding but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull immediately said he would fulfill a pledge to raise a bill in parliament with the aim of passing laws by Christmas. Turnbull played down concerns of a split in his coalition government over the policy as the conservative faction presses for amendments to protect religious freedoms that discriminate against same-sex couples. “It is unequivocal, it is overwhelming. They have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,” Turnbull told reporters in Canberra after the survey results were announced. “They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love.” The result marks a watershed moment for gay rights in Australia, where it was illegal in some states to engage in homosexual activity until 1997. It’s a g’day. Way to go Australia. #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/0tdnBHPAW1 — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 14, 2017 × “It’s a g‘day. Way to go Australia ” tweeted U.S. TV host Ellen DeGeneres, who is married to Australian actress Portia de Rossi in the United States. Almost 80 percent of the country’s eligible voters took part in the survey - a higher voter turnout than Britain’s Brexit vote and Ireland’s same-sex marriage referendum. Mark Barry, 59, wiped away tears as he took the result with his partner of 35 years, Gerrard Boller. “I know a celebrant who is going to be very happy about this,” Barry told Reuters. TURNBULL TROUBLES Irish-born Qantas Airways Chief Executive Alan Joyce, one of the few openly gay business leaders in Australia, told the Sydney crowd, many of whom sheltered from the hot sun under rainbow umbrellas, that the result was “an amazing outcome” and urged Turnbull to move quickly on legislation. Turnbull, under pressure amid a citizenship crisis that has cost him his deputy and the government’s majority in parliament, finds his leadership tested again as the marriage equality bill enters parliament, possibly as early as later on Wednesday. The conservatives’ planned amendments to the bill would allow private businesses to refuse services like wedding cakes for same-sex weddings by objecting on religious grounds.

Rainbow celebrations galore as Australians vote for same-sex marriage

Ellen DeGenneres pulled off a star-studded Mannequin Challenge video at the White House on on Tuesday (November 22).

The chat show host and media mogul was among 21 people at the iconic residence being awarded the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Others taking part in the ceremony at the East Room of the White House were rock star Bruce Springsteen, Motown soul singer Diana Ross, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former basketball champions Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Robert Redford.

The medal is given annually to people who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

DeGeneres saw the event as the ideal opportunity to immortalize the moment and embrace the internet video trend at the same time.

&nbsp;

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Ellen DeGeneres creates an epic Mannequin Challenge at The White House with the likes of Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Gates and others. (WION)
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&nbsp;

This is not the first time she has used a social media trend to capture an iconic moment. Her Oscars selfie in 2014 which featured the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper broke records and became the most retweeted Tweet ever. 
 
(Reuters)

This is not the first time she has used a social media trend to capture an iconic moment

Ellen DeGenneres pulled off a star-studded Mannequin Challenge video at the White House on on Tuesday (November 22). The chat show host and media mogul was among 21 people at the iconic residence being awarded the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest civilian honor in the United States. Others taking part in the ceremony at the East Room of the White House were rock star Bruce Springsteen, Motown soul singer Diana Ross, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former basketball champions Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Robert Redford. The medal is given annually to people who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. DeGeneres saw the event as the ideal opportunity to immortalize the moment and embrace the internet video trend at the same time. Ellen DeGeneres creates an epic Mannequin Challenge at The White House with the likes of Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Gates and others. (WION) × This is not the first time she has used a social media trend to capture an iconic moment. Her Oscars selfie in 2014 which featured the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper broke records and became the most retweeted Tweet ever. (Reuters)

Ellen DeGeneres pulls off Mannequin Challenge at the White House

US President Barack Obama awarded the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest civilian honour in the United States -- to 21 key figures at a star-studded ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.

Obama presented the prestigious medal to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda for philanthropic work, former basketball players Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Robert Redford.

&quot;It&#39;s useful when you think about this incredible collection of people to realize that this is what makes us the greatest nation on earth,&quot; Obama said.

The medal is given annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to the national interests of the United States, to security, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.

Other recipients this year were rock star Bruce Springsteen, soul singer Diana Ross, Native American community leader Elouise Cobell and NASA moon landing computer scientist Margaret H. Hamilton.

TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who was also awarded the medal, conducted a &quot;mannequin challenge&quot;, a video that features people frozen in place, with the recipients.

Obama leaves office in January after eight years, with Republican businessman Donald Trump taking charge. 
 
(Reuters)

The medal is given annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to the national interests of the US

US President Barack Obama awarded the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest civilian honour in the United States -- to 21 key figures at a star-studded ceremony at the White House on Tuesday. Obama presented the prestigious medal to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda for philanthropic work, former basketball players Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Robert Redford. "It's useful when you think about this incredible collection of people to realize that this is what makes us the greatest nation on earth," Obama said. The medal is given annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to the national interests of the United States, to security, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours. Other recipients this year were rock star Bruce Springsteen, soul singer Diana Ross, Native American community leader Elouise Cobell and NASA moon landing computer scientist Margaret H. Hamilton. TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who was also awarded the medal, conducted a "mannequin challenge", a video that features people frozen in place, with the recipients. Obama leaves office in January after eight years, with Republican businessman Donald Trump taking charge. (Reuters)

Tom Hanks, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan among Obama's Medal of Freedom recipients

Music legend Bruce Springsteen, basketball star Michael Jordan and actor Robert De Niro are among 21 people who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House said Wednesday.

The nation&#39;s highest civilian honor is &quot;a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better,&quot; said US President Barack Obama in an announcement.

&quot;From scientists, philanthropists and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way,&quot; Obama said.

The list loaded with entertainers and celebrities also includes comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, actors Tom Hanks and Robert Redford, stage performer Cicely Tyson and cultural icon Diana Ross, known for her more than half-a-century career in music, film, television, theater and fashion.&nbsp;

Lorne Michaels, a screenwriter and producer best known for creating the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live is also a recipient.

Broadcaster Vin Scully, who was the voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball teams for 67 years, will receive the top award, along with basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the National Basketball Association&#39;s all-time leading scorer and an ardent social justice advocate.

Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates will be recognised for their work with the Gates Foundation, which focuses on fighting extreme poverty and improving global health.&nbsp;

Other honorees include leading architect Frank Gehry and artist Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

Lawyer and former Federal Communications Committee chief Newt Minow will be honored, along with Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padron, a champion of access to education and inclusion.

Obama will also recognise physicist Richard Garwin and mathematician Margaret Hamilton, who led the team that created on-board flight software for NASA&#39;s Apollo missions.

The late Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet Tribal community leader and &quot;advocate for Native American self-determination and financial independence,&quot; will receive the award posthumously, as will Grace Hopper, known as &quot;the first lady of software&quot; for her coding innovations.

The award ceremony will take place at the White House on November 22.

(AFP)

The list also includes comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks

Music legend Bruce Springsteen, basketball star Michael Jordan and actor Robert De Niro are among 21 people who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House said Wednesday. The nation's highest civilian honor is "a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better," said US President Barack Obama in an announcement. "From scientists, philanthropists and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way," Obama said. The list loaded with entertainers and celebrities also includes comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, actors Tom Hanks and Robert Redford, stage performer Cicely Tyson and cultural icon Diana Ross, known for her more than half-a-century career in music, film, television, theater and fashion. Lorne Michaels, a screenwriter and producer best known for creating the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live is also a recipient. Broadcaster Vin Scully, who was the voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball teams for 67 years, will receive the top award, along with basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the National Basketball Association's all-time leading scorer and an ardent social justice advocate. Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates will be recognised for their work with the Gates Foundation, which focuses on fighting extreme poverty and improving global health. Other honorees include leading architect Frank Gehry and artist Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Lawyer and former Federal Communications Committee chief Newt Minow will be honored, along with Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padron, a champion of access to education and inclusion. Obama will also recognise physicist Richard Garwin and mathematician Margaret Hamilton, who led the team that created on-board flight software for NASA's Apollo missions. The late Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet Tribal community leader and "advocate for Native American self-determination and financial independence," will receive the award posthumously, as will Grace Hopper, known as "the first lady of software" for her coding innovations. The award ceremony will take place at the White House on November 22. (AFP)

Springsteen, De Niro, Michael Jordan to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

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