The newly-opened Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. will finally be officially dedicated on October 16th. The original dedication was set for August 28th, the 48th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but had to be postponed due to Hurricane Irene. President Barack Obama had been scheduled to speak and up to 250,000 people were expected to attend the event on the National Mall. Executive Architect Ed Jackson Jr. told The Associated Press that Obama is scheduled to speak at the dedication on its new date. Oct. 16 will be the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March on the National Mall in 1995. RELATED: Visitors Moved By First Look At MLK Jr. Memorial [VIDEO] RELATED: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Man Of Peace In A Time Of War” [VIDEO]
On tonight’s ‘MTV First: Sean Kingston,’ Beiber talks about his ‘Eenie Meenie’ collaborator’s accident recovery. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage Over Memorial Day weekend, Sean Kingston was seriously injured in a headline-making jet-ski accident. In the months since the crash, the “Beautiful Girls” singer has been recovering in Miami, where he lives and where the accident took place. He’s been getting help from pals like “Eenie Meenie” collaborator Justin Bieber, who said the recovering singer is doing much better. “His spirits are a lot higher,” Bieber explained to MTV News in an interview that will air tonight (August 2) on “MTV First: Sean Kingston.” “He still has to have people around him to make sure he’s doing alright, but his spirits are high, and he’s doing well.” Bieber also talked about his recent visit to Kingston’s home in Miami. “I was just down in Miami,” he said. “We were just hanging out at his house, kicking it, driving around Miami and whatnot. It was a lot of fun. I got to relax and take time off.” During “MTV First: Sean Kingston,” the chart-topping artist will talk about his recovery from the near-fatal accident and his plans to get back in the recording studio. The special is set to air tonight (August 2) at 7:57 p.m. ET on MTV, then continue for 30 minutes on MTV.com. Fans can submit questions for Sean through MTV.com or via Twitter (using @ MTVNews / hashtag #AskSean). Sean will open up to host Sway Calloway about the cause of the Memorial Day accident and go into detail about the various medical procedures he underwent to treat his injuries. The singer will also speak candidly about how the accident helped him to focus on living a healthier lifestyle, and, of course, we’ll find out what’s up next for the star in his music career. Share your questions for Sean Kingston in the comments section below or tweet us @ MTVNews using the hashtag #AskSean. Related Videos Sean Kingston Breaks His Silence Live On ‘MTV First’ Related Artists Justin Bieber Sean Kingston
Bieber’s interview will air Tuesday on ‘MTV First: Sean Kingston.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Justin Bieber Photo: MTV News Justin Bieber was spotted in Miami over the weekend hanging out with his pal, former tourmate and “Eenie Meenie” collaborator Sean Kingston . MTV News caught up with the teen star Sunday when he landed back in Los Angeles to see what he and his pal were up to. “I was just down in Miami,” he told us for an interview set to air during “MTV First: Sean Kingston” on Tuesday night. “We were just hanging out at his house, kicking it, driving around Miami and whatnot. “It was a lot of fun,” he added about hanging out with Kingston, who is recovering from a headline-making jet-ski accident . “I got to relax and take time off.” During “MTV First: Sean Kingston,” the chart-topping artist will talk about his recovery from the near-fatal accident , which occurred near his home in Miami, and his plans to get back in the recording studio. The special is set to air Tuesday at 7:57 p.m. ET on MTV, then continue for 30 minutes on MTV.com. Beginning today (August 1), fans can submit questions for Sean through MTV.com or via Twitter (using @ MTVNews / hashtag #AskSean). Sean will open up to host Sway Calloway about the cause of the Memorial Day accident and go into detail about the various medical procedures he underwent to treat his injuries. The singer will also speak candidly about how the accident helped him to focus on living a healthier lifestyle, and, of course, we’ll find out what’s up next for the star in his music career. Share your questions for Sean Kingston in the comments section below or tweet us @ MTVNews using the hashtag #AskSean. Related Videos Sean Kingston Breaks His Silence Live On ‘MTV First’ Related Artists Justin Bieber Sean Kingston
Knoxville and ‘Jackass’ director Jeff Tremaine blog about Dunn and Zach Hartwell who were killed in last week’s car crash. By Gil Kaufman Johnny Knoxville attends the memorial service for Ryan Dunn on June 22 Photo: Amy Dragoo/ AP Images The memorial service for Ryan Dunn last Wednesday was such an emotional event that his “Jackass” co-star Johnny Knoxville could barely get out the words to pay tribute to his friend and fellow daredevil, who died in a high-speed car crash last Monday. “I walked to the podium and tried to share memories of my dear friend, but the words were just spinning in my head,” wrote Knoxville in an emotional, touching blog post on the website of “Jackass” production company Dickhouse. “What came out were the mumblings of a man trying his best not to cry, and I wasn’t even successful at that. I didn’t break down, because I knew [Dunn’s girlfriend] Angie or his family didn’t need to see that, but I also didn’t get to properly convey what Ryan meant to me. I won’t be able to do that here either, but I will try. Here is what I wished I could have told everyone then.” What follows in the blog entry is a moving tribute to Dunn, who officials said had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit when he drove his Porsche off the road at 140 mph, killing himself and his friend Zachary Hartwell . “I felt 34 percent funnier when I was with Ryan, but I guess everyone did,” Knoxville wrote. “He had such a hair trigger laugh reflex. He lived his life wanting to laugh and wanting you to laugh with him. He would cackle really f—ing loud, too, and it wasn’t uncommon that he would fall over from it. Sometimes I would fall with him because his spirit was very contagious. He wasn’t incapable of seriousness, though. Ryan was a great listener. If you were having troubles, he was always someone you could go sit down and talk to. Granted, most of our sitting down was actually standing up playing pool together, but he was always there if you were sad about something. That’s why all this is even harder, because right now I really need to talk to him but I can’t.” Knoxville wrote of Dunn’s “enormous” capacity to love, which he shared with his friends and beloved Angie, whom Dunn was constantly talking up, wondering how he managed to land such a catch despite what Johnny joked were his iffy hygiene habits. “It sure wasn’t because of the way he smelled that’s for sure,” Knoxville said of Dunn, who he revealed “despised” water and rarely bathed. “It was because he had a pure, open heart, and many other qualities of which I am writing about now.” He praised Dunn’s capacity for loyalty, a prized quality among a crew that often lived to undermine each other with surprise stunts. “Whether it was a bit for ‘Jackass,’ a friend in need, or his beloved Angie, Dunn was as loyal as they come,” he wrote. “Ryan, I had to go wake up [my daughter] Madison and tell her you were gone. Do you know how hard that was?!! She loved you so much and I know you loved her, so why, buddy? [My son] Rocko will never get to know you like she did, nor will my daughter that is coming in October. I cry a lot about that.” He said that one of his favorite songwriters, Roger Alan Wade, penned a song for Dunn, lamenting that his pal would never get to hear it. “I’m starting to ramble now, just like I did at the memorial, so I’ll stop,” he concluded. “You’ll have to excuse me, I’m just very sad because I lost my brother and my world got about 134 percent less funny. I don’t know what else to say right now, so I will close with I love you, Ryan. I have a lot of emotions swirling, but I want you to know I love you so very much.” “Jackass” director Jeff Tremaine wrote a blog in honor of Hartwell, whose memory he wanted to make sure was honored alongside his famous friend Dunn. “Ryan first introduced us to Zach in 2006 when we went to West Chester to shoot ‘Jackass Number Two.’ We ended up hiring him as a production assistant for the two weeks we were there filming,” Tremaine wrote. “Zach and Ryan hung out all the time and they had similar mannerisms and senses of humor; therefore, I got along with him right away.” Tremaine then shared a few stories about Hartwell’s antics, which he warned were always pretty gross. He recalled some scatological revenge Iraq war veteran Hartwell took on one of the “Jackass” producers, Trip Taylor, which included making sure Taylor never used his pillow again. “We hung out every night after filming, and right away it felt like we had been friends for a long time,” Tremaine said. “One of these nights, we were out shooting pool, and I had an impossible shot. I bet Zach that if I made it he would have to drink a glass of pee — mine. I hit the shot and he honored the bet. I know it sounds disgusting, but my pee isn’t that bad. In fact, Knoxville hardly ever notices whenever I pee in his drinks. Aside from all these pranks, Zach took his job for us seriously and worked really hard. I appreciated him very much and will always consider him my friend. Rest in peace, brother.” Related Videos Remembering Ryan Dunn Related Photos Ryan Dunn: A Career In Photos
What are you doing two years from now? For Universal’s sake, hopefully pre-ordering tickets to see Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds in R.I.P.D. , from director Robert Schwentke (Schwentke!). The supernatural comic adaptation will arrive in theaters on June 28, 2013 . Also slotted for 2013: the sixth film in the Fast & Furious franchise, which will hit theaters over Memorial Day weekend of that year. Shaquille O’N eal , get your “movie agents” back on the phone! [ Deadline ]
L.A. rapper made the honor roll while on the road, his mom and teacher share. By Steven Roberts, with additional reporting by Matt Elias Casey Veggies and his mother, Cynthia Jones Photo: MTV News The last year has been a breakout one for Los Angeles MC Casey Veggies , who released his third mixtape, Sleeping in Class, in December and toured with fellow up-and-comer Mac Miller in January. What’s more amazing is that while this was going on, he was still in school. And on June 16, Veggies (or, as his diploma says, Casey Jones) graduated from Inglewood High School on the honor roll. “On the first week of school, he gave me a link to a video of one of the songs that he has [on Sleeping in Class ], so my first impression of him was good, but I was a little concerned, because of the lyrics to the song,” Casey’s senior-year English teacher Shannon Kirk told MTV News. “It’s actually kind of ironic because [sleeping in class is] the last thing he would do in class. “Casey balances his work life and his school life better than I probably would have at his age,” Kirk added of her student, who did independent study while he was on the road. “He’s pretty mature for his age, and he was able to do pretty well. [He] was one of the top students in my class.” Veggies realized that he could have quit school to pursue his dreams, but he never felt the need to. He knew he could handle it, so why not get school done? As for college, though his mother says he was accepted to four schools, he’s postponing those plans while he sees where his rap career goes. “At the end of the day, I’m just dreaming right now,” Casey said. “I’m going to stay in my dream and don’t plan on waking up. If I do, maybe I’ll grab a college degree, but right now, I’m in my own world.” Kirk wouldn’t tell us Casey’s grades, but his mother, Cynthia Jones, was thrilled that her son made the honor roll. She said that education meant everything to her and her husband, and their goal was always for Casey and his older brother, Corey, to graduate high school and attend college as they had. Corey is currently a freshman at UC Riverside, but Casey had to convince her that he could take another route. “I had no idea that his music thing was going to come about the way it has,” Jones said. “This is different to accept, but he’s doing really well, so you have to let a person follow [their dreams]. You’re only young once. “I’m excited, I’m happy for him,” she continued, “and then I’m happy he doesn’t have to juggle these two lives, because it has been a juggle for him, so now he can concentrate on one thing.”
Three weeks after jet-ski accident, pop singer was discharged on Tuesday, rep confirms to MTV News. By Alvin Blanco Sean Kingston Photo: Getty Sean Kingston is well on his way to recovery. The pop singer has been released from Jackson Memorial Hospital, three weeks after he was admitted for injuries stemming from a jet-ski accident in Miami Beach over the Memorial Day weekend. A rep for Kingston confirmed to MTV News on Wednesday (June 22) that the 21-year old singer was released from the hospital on Tuesday. The “Beautiful Girls” was initially hospitalized in critical condition after the Sea-Doo jet-ski he was piloting along with friend/ passenger Cassandra Sanchez, crashed into the Palm Island Bridge, which connects Palm Island to the MacArthur Causeway. According to Sanchez, 23, Kingston lost control of the jet-ski (one he reportedly purchased just days prior to the accident) because he was going too fast. A passerby in a boat, who happened to be an off-duty Coast Guard employee, helped the two out of the water and to safety. Kingston (born Kisean Anderson) was admitted to the hospital on May 29, and moved to the ICU , a few days later, when his condition was downgraded to stable. (Sanchez was also admitted to the hospital but was discharged shortly thereafter with minimal injuries.) Although the singer is expected to make a full recovery, sources say he suffered a broken jaw, fractured wrist and water in his lungs. But the Miami native looked healthy, even slimmer, a few days ago when he tweeted a picture of himself , in the hospital, along with the message, “Feeling alot better! GOD IS GREAT! Thanks for all the prayers and support! Love you ALL!” The note to his well-wishers was his first tweet since the day of the accident. Share your get-well wishes for Sean Kingston in the comments. Related Artists Sean Kingston
Social activist Anna Hazare adjusts his cap as he sits on a day-long fast outside Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, June 8, 2011. TV yoga celebrity Baba Ramdev and Gandhian social activist Hazare staged twin hunger strikes Wednesday to demand the government take immediate steps to fight an entrenched culture of corruption that has plagued India for decades. Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday began a day-long fast against corruption and the go
Ms Sushma Swaraj asked tonight if the criticism levelled against her has the consent of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. She also promised, “We will sing, swing and dance on patriotic songs till our last breath.” Sushma Swaraj made it clear today that despite the Congress tirade against her, she has no regrets about dancing during her party#39;s recent protest against the crackdown on Baba Ramdev#39;s yoga camp over the weekend. The internet, she added, is full of videos of Congress leaders
This Glee show that Julie likes is out of control. It’s unfunny, witlessly tone-shifty, and a pox on this Golden Age of Television that keeps happening. Also, the “music” is scathing! Case in point: In the musical preview for next week’s episode, we hear the show’s clear-best character Brittany lead Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok.” Compare that rendition to the Kidz Bop Kids version and tell me if there’s really any difference (besides the awesomely kid-friendly lyrics).
