All posts tagged: Barack

Barack Obama Does Not Want to be Jon Stewart

Barack Obama Does Not Want to be Jon Stewart

Published by Daniella Wilson

In a new profile for The New Yorker, former President Barack Obama digs into the “difficult” media environment that the world faces today, making it clear that he does not want to be a frequent commentator on hot-button issues, while revealing that he spends less time than people might think on projects at Higher Ground Productions, his film and TV studio. The New Yorker estimates that the Obamas’ net worth “certainly reaches nine figures” thanks to their deals with Netflix, Spotify, Audible, as well as their book sales and speeches. Obama told The New Yorker’s Peter Slevin that if he responded to every outrageous thing that President Trump says or does, it would dilute the influence and impact that he has as a former President. “For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off, just ripping what was happening — which, by the way, I’m glad Jon’s doing it — then I’m not a political leader, I’m a commentator,” Obama told Slevin. “The media environment is so difficult that people …

Steven Spielberg says Barack Obama’s alien comments are ‘so great for ‘Disclosure Day”

Steven Spielberg says Barack Obama’s alien comments are ‘so great for ‘Disclosure Day”

Published by skeptic

During a jam-packed SXSW panel about his career, director Steven Spielberg talked everything from Disclosure Day to aliens to President Barack Obama. And yes, all these topics are related. Disclosure Day follows a cybersecurity administrator (Josh O’Connor) who decides to expose a massive secret: that humans aren’t alone in the universe. It marks Spielberg’s return to UFOs and aliens, subject matter he’s already well-versed in thanks to films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. SEE ALSO: ‘Disclosure Day’ trailer: Steven Spielberg and aliens remain a match made in heaven The film’s story of a government cover-up of alien activity comes at a pertinent time, as President Obama recently discussed his own belief in aliens on Brian Tyler Cohen’s No Lie podcast. “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them,” Obama said in a speed round portion of the interview, before clarifying the aliens are “not being kept in Area 51.” As Spielberg told panel host Sean Fennessey, “When President Obama made that comment, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is so …

Barack and Michelle Obama announce joint career move as Broadway producers

Barack and Michelle Obama announce joint career move as Broadway producers

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Barack and Michelle Obama are co-producing their first Broadway play. The former U.S. president and first lady announced that their media company Higher Ground will bring the Broadway revival of Proof, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Auburn that centers on the daughter of a math professor who finds a notebook containing revelatory evidence after his death. Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri are set to make their Broadway debuts in the production, which will also feature Pachinko’s Jin Ha and Orange Is the New Black star Samira Wiley. The 16-week run, which opens in April, will be directed by Tony-winner Thomas Kail, who will also produce alongside Mike Bosner and the Obamas. “To bring this landmark play back to Broadway with Ayo, Don, Tommy, and Mike at the helm is an extraordinary privilege, and we couldn’t be more proud to be …

When Barack and Michelle Obama Partied Like Antony and Cleopatra

When Barack and Michelle Obama Partied Like Antony and Cleopatra

Published by Sam Flores

For some, surrender is worse than death. Two thousand years earlier, in 30 BC, the queen of Egypt barricaded herself inside a tomb as her archnemesis, the first future emperor of Rome, closed ranks with his mighty army. But Cleopatra wasn’t alone. In her arms, she held her lover, Mark Antony. Soon, they’d both be dead from self-inflicted wounds. Antony and Cleopatra’s love story began more than a decade earlier, as if the gods themselves conspired to bring them together. He was a broad-shouldered, strapping soldier, said to be descended from Hercules—the Greek hero and son of Zeus, famed for his superhuman strength. She was the radiant, alluring, reputed daughter of Ra—the Egyptian sun god—and richer than most everyone in the Mediterranean. Before Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, Cleopatra had been his (much younger) mistress, giving him a son, Caesarion. Antony, though a distant cousin of Caesar’s, was one of his closest allies. After Caesar’s murder, Cleopatra returned to Ptolemy XIV, her husband, coruler, and brother, in Egypt while Rome plunged into civil …

Barack Obama breaks silence on Donald Trump’s controversial post

Barack Obama breaks silence on Donald Trump’s controversial post

Published by Daniella Wilson

Barack Obama has broken his silence after President Trump shared a racist video of the former president and his wife Michelle Obama depicted as monkeys.  During an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, the 64-year-old addressed the controversial post.  “It’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” he said.  © WireImageBarack Obama (R) and Michelle Obama “It is true that it gets attention, that it’s a distraction, but as I’m traveling around the country … you meet people [and] they still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness. And there’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television.” “And what is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and the sense of propriety and respect for the office. That’s been lost,” he continued.  © InstagramSasha, Malia, Michelle and Barack Obama pose for a family photo, shared on Instagram Trump sparked outrage when he posted the …

Barack Obama dances with Michelle in Valentine’s Day post after condemning Trump’s racist ‘ape’ video

Barack Obama dances with Michelle in Valentine’s Day post after condemning Trump’s racist ‘ape’ video

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Barack Obama has shared a romantic gesture to his wife Michelle after pushing back on a racist video about the couple that was platformed by President Donald Trump. Less than a day after breaking his silence on the since-deleted video depicting the couple as apes, Barack brought the attention back to his 33-year marriage to his “forever dance partner” with a new Instagram post. “Celebrated Valentine’s Day with my forever dance partner. Love you, Miche!” the former president, 64, wrote Sunday on Instagram. The picture showed the former first couple dancing cheek-to-cheek in front of a heart-shaped bouquet of roses, with Michelle wearing a strapless black leather dress. Michelle, 62, shared the same picture Sunday with the caption: “My forever Valentine. Love you, always, …

Barack Obama confirms that aliens are real as he sheds light on truth of Area 51 | World | News

Barack Obama confirms that aliens are real as he sheds light on truth of Area 51 | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

Barack Obama has confirmed that aliens exist, but has firmly denied that the top-secret US military base Area 51 houses extraterrestrials. Speaking in a podcast interview, the former president became the first US leader to openly affirm his belief in life beyond Earth, while simultaneously dispelling longstanding conspiracy theories about the Nevada facility. Mr Obama replied: “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them – and they’re not being kept in Area 51. There’s no underground facility, unless there’s some enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.” His comments mark a rare moment of candour on a topic that has fascinated the public for decades and stirred countless online debates. Area 51, officially an air force base established in southern Nevada during the Cold War, has long been at the centre of rumours claiming it conceals alien technology and UFOs. Despite the speculation, the CIA only publicly acknowledged the base’s existence in 2013, nearly six decades after it first opened. The site has also been the subject of bizarre viral …

Barack and Michelle Obama make bold political statement over Alex Pretti shooting

Barack and Michelle Obama make bold political statement over Alex Pretti shooting

Published by Daniella Wilson

Barack and Michelle Obama have made a bold political statement over the fatal Alex Pretti shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis saying American values are ‘under attack’, calling the incident a ‘heartbreaking tragedy’.  On Sunday the former president and first lady issued a rare political statement. “This has to stop. The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy.  “It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”  © Anadolu via Getty ImagesFormer President of the United States Barack made a rare political statement The 37-year-old ICU nurse was shot on Saturday morning and his killing has sparked mass protests and clashes with law enforcement in Minneapolis after the city suffered another fatal shooting weeks earlier.  The Obamas added: “Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety.  “That’s …