Welcome to ICYMI, your weekly summary of the pop culture and entertainment highlights you may have overlooked.
Director Faces Fraud Charges Over Netflix Funds
Carl Erik Rinsch, recognized for directing the 2013 film 47 Ronin, was arrested this week on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege Rinsch orchestrated a fraudulent scheme after Netflix paid him millions for a show that never came to fruition. He received $44 million for a project titled White Horses and another $11 million to complete production.
However, prosecutors claim he misused these funds, diverting $11 million into a personal account and losing a significant portion on bad investments within a couple of months.
Although he attempted to recover some losses through cryptocurrencies, Rinsch ended up spending approximately $10 million on personal luxuries, including luxury cars, legal fees, and other expenses.
Rinsch had his initial court appearance in Los Angeles, where he did not enter a plea but agreed to a bond of $100,000. He is set to appear in court in New York at a future date.
White Lotus Actor Walks Back Comments on Male Nudity
Jason Isaacs, known for his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, is making waves in The White Lotus as a morally ambiguous character. The show has garnered attention for its humorous depiction of male nudity.
During interviews, Isaacs voiced concerns about a “double standard” related to male actors’ nudity compared to female counterparts. However, after receiving backlash, he later acknowledged that his comments were poorly phrased and regretted mentioning specific actresses.
Australian Author Inks Major Book Deal
Aaron Blabey, the Australian writer behind the successful The Bad Guys series, recently signed an eight-figure deal for new books directed at tweens.
Blabey will create seven new titles set to be published by Macmillan across multiple countries. His upcoming fantasy series, Game of Pets, is slated for publication in 2026.
The author, whose previous works have sold around 55 million copies, expressed excitement about returning to writing after momentarily considering retirement following his last Bad Guys title.
Protests Erupt at Gal Gadot’s Walk of Fame Event
The Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony for Israeli actress Gal Gadot experienced interruptions from protesters representing both sides of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Gadot, who has been outspoken in her support for Israel, faced protests but maintained her stance on the importance of speaking out in controversial times. Police were called in after a pro-Palestinian demonstrator took an Israeli flag, leading to delays in the event.
