TikTok Hires Disney’s Former Comms Czar Zenia Mucha to Advise on Looming Ban

Social media was quick to champion Ben Affleck for his ability to speak Spanish after the actor went viral for his linguistic capabilities. While promoting his new film "AIR,"which explores the relationship between Nike and Michael Jordan, Affleck discussed how he got Jordan on-board with the project while speaking with Spanish radio network "Cadena Ser."  In the interview posted to TikTok, Affleck solely speaks Spanish, much to the Internet's disbelief. "He is very well-spoken [sic] in Spanish… who knew," one user commented.

Ben Affleck may be the new Benito. The actor and filmmaker is fluent in Spanish, and he showed off his impressive skills in an interview for a La Cadena SER, a radio network in Spain.

Multilingual king. Ben Affleck speaking Spanish has made the rounds again and people are definitely surprised. The Air director proved his skills in a new interview with La Cadena SER, a Spanish radio network.

From the Bachelor mansion to the driving range! Michelle Money and Mike Weir have been going strong since 2016.

It’s a sad day for the TikTok community.

Demi Lovato has fans saying, ‘Selena Quintanilla is that you?’ The singer is one of many playing with a “Selena Tribute” TikTok filter that adds similar makeup and facial features as the iconic Mexican-American singer. Lovato, who is making her directorial debut with Child Starshared the video on Tuesday, which quickly went viral. “ANYTHING FOR SELENASSSSSS,” she wrote in the caption, quoting the iconic line from the Selena movie, starring Jennifer Lopez as the late singer.

The Princess of Pop may have some new music on the way?? Be still, our heart!

his obituary, Gilks died on March 30 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Canada. In November 2020, Gilks was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in soft tissue. On March 21, just a week before his death, Gilks gave his final social media update to fans from a hospital bed.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Neon’s “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” is perhaps best described as part heist thriller, part climate change documentary. Helmed by Daniel Goldhaber, the film, in theaters April 6, follows a fictional crew of young environmental activists who execute a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline. Cast members include Ariela Barer, who also produced and co-wrote the film; “Euphoria’s” Lukas Gage, Kristine Froseth, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Marcus Scribner and Jake Weary. As soon as composer Gavin Brivik began working on the film, he flew out to the set and recorded music samples that included banging on oil drums in the desert.

The Motion Picture Association is expanding its team in Latin America, with the hiring of new executives in communications and advocacy.

Disney’s former head of communications Zenia Mucha is advising TikTok as the beleagued company fights calls to shut it down in the U.S. on security concerns, Deadline has confirmed. It’s already banned across the Federal government with President Biden recently ramping up demands that the global app’s Chinese parent sell the U.S. business to a company Stateside, or see it vanish.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Zenia Mucha, formerly Disney’s top spokesperson for almost two decades, was recruited to be part of the team that coached TikTok’s CEO for his congressional hearing earlier this month, according to a new report. In addition to Mucha, TikTok tapped former Obama advisers David Plouffe and Jim Messina to prep Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, for more than a month before Chew’s March 23 appearance before the House Energy and Commerce Committee — which observers said only reinforced anti-TikTok attitudes among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers concerned about the app’s Chinese ownership by parent company ByteDance. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mucha could not be reached for comment.

The White House has issued a statement condemning Russia’s detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich “in the strongest terms,” and is reiterating State Department warnings that U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia “should depart immediately.”

Thania Garcia Myke Towers, Anuel AA, Edén Muñoz, and Prince Royce are among the first round of confirmed performers for the 2023 Latin American Music Awards taking place on April 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Towers will be performing “Mi Droga,” the second track from his newly released “La Vida Es Una,” while Anuel will perform “Más Rica Que Ayer”; newlyweds Guaynaa and Lele Pons will treat audiences to a medley including “Abajito” from their upcoming album “Capitulations”; and Royce will be singing an unreleased song. Elsewhere, rising acts Bad Gyal and Muñoz will make their Latin AMAs on-stage debut. Bad Gyal will be singing her female-empowerment anthem “Chulo,” while the Mexican producer and singer-songwriter will perform his catchy hit single, “Chale.” Muñoz is also nominated in the new artist of the year category alongside Bizarrap, Blessd, Grupo Frontera, Los Lara, Luis Figueroa, Luis R Conriquez, Quevedo, Santa Fe Klan and Yahritza y Su Esencia.

Twice-impeached former president Donald Trump hasn’t been arrested yet, but Jimmy Fallon is pretty sure he’s starting to feel the heat. During Monday night’s episode of “The Tonight Show,” Fallon joked that the location of Trump’s first official 2024 campaign rally was the clearest sign of that.On Saturday, Trump stopped in Waco, Texas to make his first official campaign bid to the people and, as always, his speech was full of lies and gripes about how he’s being treated unfairly.

Manchester City have been told that their summer transfer priority is to replace Joao Cancelo, although Erling Haaland’s arrival means the Blues are still a more rounded team.

Shawn Mendes has an emotional response to the fan support he received at an event celebrating the launch of his Tommy Hilfiger collaboration.

A new season, a new love triangle (or two… or three… or...). Season 4 of kicked off on Friday and tensions were high both in the pods and in the couples' romantic getaway to Mexico.After contestant Micah connected with both Kwame and Paul in the pods, she ultimately cut Kwame loose in favor of the environmental scientist.Kwame went on to link up with Chelsea and both Kwame and Micah exited the pods engaged to separate people.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor In front of a panel of skeptical and often hostile U.S. representatives, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew tried to make the case for why the popular app is not a security threat to the country — and why a government ban of the app would be the wrong course of action. A U.S. ban of the app would hurt the country’s economy, reduce competition and “silence the voices of over 150 million Americans,” Chew said in testimony submitted to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The hearing, titled “TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms,” was held Thursday morning in Washington, D.C. The Biden administration recently demanded that ByteDance divest its ownership stake in TikTok or potentially be banned in the U.S. over national-security concerns given TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Under pending congressional legislation, which has bipartisan support, President Biden would have the authority to ban TikTok under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The Masked Singer is back for season nine!