Alicia Keys holds protest for missing Nigerian schoolgirls
Alicia Keys held a protest in New York City on Tuesday to raise awareness about the 200-plus Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in April.
Tuesday marked six months since the girls were abducted. Keys kicked off a protest with 30 others at the consulate general of Nigeria, holding signs that read “We Are Here” and “Safe Schools Now!”
They chanted “Bring back our girls” and “When do we want them? Now! Now! Alive!” as New Yorkers walked up the street during lunch hour, while others stopped to capture photos and video.
Keys, who is pregnant, said in an interview that she felt touched to take action because she is a mother. Her son, Egypt, turned 4 on Tuesday.
“Today is my son’s birthday and it is also making me stand in solidarity with all the mothers of the Chibok girls who have been abducted for six months and are still missing.”
Kesha, producer file dueling lawsuits
Kesha and her mentor and producer filed dueling lawsuits Tuesday over the pop singer’s claims she was subjected to nearly a decade of sexual and emotional abuse.
Kesha’s lawsuit filed in Los Angeles accuses hit-making producer Dr. Luke of raping her and subjecting her to other sexual and emotional abuse for nearly a decade. The abuse led the “Tik Tok” singer to develop a severe eating disorder that required her to enter rehab earlier this year, according to the lawsuit.
Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, filed a lawsuit against Kesha in New York calling the claims defamatory and saying his protégé is making them in an attempt to extort him into giving her a better recording deal.
Her lawsuit seeks to invalidate recording agreements she signed with Dr. Luke and his recording company when she turned 18.
A publicist for Jack White said the rocker is canceling his remaining tour dates in Mexico after the death of his band’s keyboard player Isaiah “Ikey” Owens.
The statement said Owens, 38, died Tuesday morning in Mexico. The band was scheduled to perform in Guadalajara on Tuesday and Monterrey today. Owens also played in bands including Mars Volta and Free Moral Agents.
Actress Linda Lavin is 77. Actress-director Penny Marshall is 71. Singer Tito Jackson is 61. Chef Emeril Lagasse is 55. Actress Bailee Madison is 15.