Hollywood Celebrities Clear Their Closets for Fire Aid

 Sharon Stone attends the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Sharon Stone attends the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
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Hollywood Celebrities Clear Their Closets for Fire Aid

 Sharon Stone attends the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
Sharon Stone attends the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 5, 2025. (Reuters)

When wildfires destroyed parts of Los Angeles this week, real estate agent Jenna Cooper started asking friends for clothing and other items to help people in need.

Her request spread quickly through a network of powerful women. Actors including Sharon Stone and Halle Berry responded, providing sweaters, shoes, clothing, handbags, belts, pajamas and more pulled from their own collections.

"I'm packing up my entire closet," Berry wrote on Instagram. "If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same. This is something we can do right now."

Cooper, who also runs a home goods store called +COOP, cleared half the space to create a pop-up shopping experience for displaced people to take what they need. Many Angelenos lost entire homes in the fires, which were still burning on Friday.

Stone circulated information about the donations on social media, which helped attract publicity. She and her sister, Kelly Stone, contributed clothing, bedding and more, and Kelly volunteered to assist shoppers.

"The first thing they need when they come in the store is a hug," Kelly Stone said. She then said to shoppers, "Show me pictures of yourself, how do you dress?" so she could direct them to sweaters or trench coats that reflected their style.

At the store on Friday, a therapy dog named Jackie Robinson greeted people at the door. Inside, they looked through racks of dresses and coats, stacks of denim, shelves of shoes and baskets of handbags.

Offerings ranged from packages of fresh underwear from Target to new or lightly used Zara dresses and some Gucci and Ferragamo shoes in the mix.

Cooper said she received donations and volunteer support from power players across Los Angeles, including actors, executives, lawyers, restaurant owners and moms. Her network of real estate agents in New York was sending gift cards, she said.

One Hollywood stylist came with two large bags of items from her closet and was enlisted to help organize the store for shoppers over the weekend.

"I know people who have lost everything, and even people I don't know I'm devastated for," said Lisa Cera, who has worked for celebrities including the Kardashians and Lenny Kravitz. "I decided I'm just going to bring whatever I can."

Ellen Bennett was choosing items for her 72-year-old mother, who lost her home in the Eaton fire on the east side of Los Angeles. Bennett said she selected "the basics," including socks, sweaters, pants, a jacket and a pair of running shoes.

"She left her house with her dog and a bag and just a few things. She thought she would come back," Bennett said of her mother, adding, "It's so special and beautiful that in this time of tragedy, people are rising up and helping each other."

Store owner Cooper said she helped a man find a pair of sneakers so he could run on the beach, something he had not done since the fires erupted. She said she was overwhelmed by the response to her idea to help.

"This is a city of love, and everybody wants to support each other," Cooper said.



Screenwriters Overwhelmingly Approve a 4-Year Contract with Hollywood Studios

Flags flutter in front of the Hollywood Sign after US President Donald Trump ordered a 100% tariff on foreign-made films in Los Angeles, California, US, September 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Flags flutter in front of the Hollywood Sign after US President Donald Trump ordered a 100% tariff on foreign-made films in Los Angeles, California, US, September 29, 2025. (Reuters)
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Screenwriters Overwhelmingly Approve a 4-Year Contract with Hollywood Studios

Flags flutter in front of the Hollywood Sign after US President Donald Trump ordered a 100% tariff on foreign-made films in Los Angeles, California, US, September 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Flags flutter in front of the Hollywood Sign after US President Donald Trump ordered a 100% tariff on foreign-made films in Los Angeles, California, US, September 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Members of the screenwriters union overwhelmingly ratified a four-year agreement with Hollywood studios and streamers on Friday, bringing an end to a surprisingly smooth and quick process that brought a prolonged strike the last time around.

Union leaders said 90% voted to approve the deal struck between the Writers Guild of America West, Writers Guild of America East and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Studios will now shift to negotiations with actors and directors.

Leaders of the unions emphasized gains in health coverage.

“In the face of industry contraction and runaway health care cost inflation, writers were able to secure a contract that returns our Health Fund to a sustainable path and builds on gains from the 2023 strike,” WGA West President Michele Mulroney said in a statement.

Guild leaders said the deal also includes minimum pay hikes, especially for comedy and variety writers, with more money in residuals for the re-airing of their work.

The AMPTP congratulated the union on the ratification.

“This deal reflects a collaborative approach that supports both writers and the industry’s long-term stability,” it said in its own statement.

An April 4 tentative agreement came about three weeks after negotiations began — a stark contrast to the contentious contract negotiation that along with an actors strike brought the industry to a standstill in 2023.

The Writers Guild has had its own labor struggles with its staff, whose strike brought the cancellation of their annual awards ceremony in March.

Actors, through their union SAG-AFTRA, are still negotiating their new contract. The groups have negotiated for about a month and are set to resume Monday after a break.

SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said in a February interview with The Associated Press that he has seen signs that the studios want “to work as partners again."

The Directors Guild begins its contract talks on May 11.


Concert Pays Tribute to Swiss Fire Disaster Victims

Italian and French singer and songwriter Riccardo Cocciante (C), also known as Richard Cocciante performs during a tribute concert entitled “Au cœur de Crans” for the victims of the New Year’s Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, at the Salle Métropole in Lausanne on April 22, 2026.  (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Italian and French singer and songwriter Riccardo Cocciante (C), also known as Richard Cocciante performs during a tribute concert entitled “Au cœur de Crans” for the victims of the New Year’s Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, at the Salle Métropole in Lausanne on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
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Concert Pays Tribute to Swiss Fire Disaster Victims

Italian and French singer and songwriter Riccardo Cocciante (C), also known as Richard Cocciante performs during a tribute concert entitled “Au cœur de Crans” for the victims of the New Year’s Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, at the Salle Métropole in Lausanne on April 22, 2026.  (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Italian and French singer and songwriter Riccardo Cocciante (C), also known as Richard Cocciante performs during a tribute concert entitled “Au cœur de Crans” for the victims of the New Year’s Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, at the Salle Métropole in Lausanne on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

A benefit concert was held Wednesday in tribute to the victims of a New Year's fire that killed 41 people at an upscale Swiss ski resort, nearly four months on from the tragedy.

The concert brought together the families of victims and some of those who survived the fire, which erupted at a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 1.

Most of those killed in disaster at Le Constellation bar were teenagers, while 115 people were injured.

At the concert, staged at the Salle Metropole theatre in Lausanne, the performing artists came onto the stage to a song written about the tragedy called "Etoile de nos coeurs" ("Star of our Hearts"), and lined up holding white roses.

Beforehand, the families of the victims gathered in the foyer. There were hugs, smiles and some tears.

"It's about solidarity. To all the victims, up there or here on Earth, it means one thing: we haven't forgotten you," Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur was among those killed, told AFP.

"We're in survival mode. Half of our hearts have been ripped away," she added.

"It keeps alive the memory of all those who were hurt, both physically and emotionally."

Tickets cost from 90 Swiss francs ($115), with the proceeds going towards Swisshearts -- an association founded by parents affected by the disaster.

The participating artists -- performing for free -- included Gjon's Tears, who finished third for Switzerland at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.

"There were a lot of young people, and even today, four months later, they find it hard to talk about it," the singer told AFP.

"These were young people who just wanted to party and have fun.

"Being close in age to the majority of the victims... I think we can relate to it," the 27-year-old said.

Also on the bill was the veteran Italian singer Richard Cocciante.

"We need to think about the people who are no longer here," the 80-year-old told AFP, adding that music "certainly helps; I don't know if it can heal, but it helps".

A total of 13 people are under criminal investigation in connection with the disaster, including the bar's owners and several current and former local officials.

The fire hit the Lausanne region hard.

Several of those killed were from the suburb of Lutry. Its football team lost seven players in the fire, with more injured in the disaster.

For many survivors badly burned in the fire, the journey towards resuming a normal life, where possible, is far from over, with lengthy hospital treatment followed by spells in rehabilitation and readaptation clinics.

Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Protection told AFP on Wednesday that 38 patients were still in hospitals and clinics, including 19 in neighboring countries.


Slash, Lennon and Mercury Memorabilia on Offer at Propstore Music Auction

John Lennon and Yoko Ono. (AFP)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono. (AFP)
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Slash, Lennon and Mercury Memorabilia on Offer at Propstore Music Auction

John Lennon and Yoko Ono. (AFP)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono. (AFP)

From Slash's guitar to ‌a poster John Lennon signed hours before he was killed, items from music history hit the auction block next week in a sale valued at 1.5 million pounds ($2 million).

More than 400 lots are being offered in Propstore's Music Memorabilia Live Auction on April 30, including costumes, instruments and photos among other items.

Leading the sale is Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash's stage-used and autographed Gibson Les Paul '59 Custom Shop guitar, which he played during the band's "Not In This Lifetime... Tour". It has ‌a price ‌estimate of 150,000 pounds to 300,000 pounds ($405,210).

A promotional ‌poster ⁠for John Lennon ⁠and Yoko Ono's final collaborative album "Double Fantasy", signed by the former Beatle on December 8, 1980 - the day he was shot dead - is priced at 60,000-120,000 pounds.

Sold with audio proof, Propstore said it was one of only four items Lennon signed that day, hours before being shot at the entrance of ⁠the Dakota, his apartment building in New ‌York.

"The poster itself is super ‌rare because it was only available with promotional copies of the ‌album... and he gave each of these to the crew ‌who were interviewing him, RKO Radio," Mark Hochman, head of the music department at Propstore, said at a press preview on Wednesday.

A Shure 565 SD award gold microphone presented to Queen and used ‌by frontman Freddie Mercury is also listed, with an estimate of 30,000-60,000 pounds.

It is being ⁠sold by ⁠former Queen roadie Peter Hince, who was gifted the microphone by Mercury. Hince is also selling other Queen items, including a tambourine used by Mercury and a limited-edition blue vinyl pressing of the band's hit song "Bohemian Rhapsody".

“These are things that I got during my time with the band. I don't collect but I know there are people who'll be over the moon to get these things," Hince said.

Other items offered in Propstore's auction include a leather jacket worn by late singer George Michael in the "Faith" music video and a jacket worn by late rapper The Notorious B.I.G.