Cannes, Controversies, and Celebrations: This Week in Entertainment

This week's entertainment news covers a broad spectrum: from Iranian director Rasoulof's Cannes film inspired by his justice system struggles, to Bruce Springsteen's accolade at the Ivors, lawsuits against Live Nation, a star-studded Cannes AIDS fundraiser, and Scarlett Johansson's AI feud. Notably, the first consumer antitrust lawsuit emerged post the U.S. Justice Department's legal action against Live Nation.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Iranian director Rasoulof's Cannes film born of tussles with justice system

Exiled Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof said on Friday that his Cannes Film Festival competition entry, about a court official's family during his country's 2022 protests, was born out of his own experiences with the justice system. Rasoulof was in the French Riviera town to premier "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" almost two weeks after announcing he had fled Iran in the wake of his sentencing to eight years in jail and flogging.

Bruce Springsteen, Lana Del Rey, Raye honoured at Ivor songwriting awards

Bruce Springsteen, Lana Del Rey and Raye were among the music stars honoured at the Ivors in London on Thursday, the annual awards for songwriters and screen composers. U.S. rocker Springsteen became the first international songwriter to receive an Ivors Academy Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the UK-based association.

Live Nation ticket buyers sue in wake of US Justice Department case

Live Nation and its Ticketmaster unit have been hit with the first in a likely wave of new consumer antitrust lawsuits after the U.S. government and states sued to break up the two companies on Thursday. The first consumer class action to piggyback on the government cases was filed later on Thursday in Manhattan federal court, seeking $5 billion in damages on behalf of potentially millions of ticket purchasers.

Cher, Demi Moore entertain guests at glamorous Cannes fundraiser for AIDS

From Cher to Demi Moore and Magic Johnson, the fashion and entertainment industry's biggest names decamped to Antibes on Thursday night to raise money for AIDS research in one of the most luxurious, and secluded, settings on the French Riviera. This year's gala, where a seat at dinner costs at least $25,000, marked the 30th edition of the glitzy charity gala organized by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, that is held annually alongside the nearby Cannes Film Festival.

Kodi, star of 'Dog on Trial,' takes home Cannes' top dog prize

There was lots of tail-wagging and face-licking as Kodi, this year's winner of the Palm Dog, the canine equivalent of the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, went up to receive his red collar for the French comedy "Dog on Trial" on Friday. The Griffon mix was praised for his "breathtaking" performance as Cosmos, a guide dog for a visually impaired man, who goes on trial over an attack, in a case whose outcome could mean death.

'Black Dog' wins Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes

"Black Dog," about a man released from prison who returns home to his remote town in China to rid it of stray dogs before the Olympics, only to befriend one of them, won the Cannes Film Festival's "Un Certain Regard" competition on Friday. Eddie Peng, who stars as Lang in the film by director Guan Hu, attended the ceremony at Cannes along with greyhound Xin.

Scarlett Johansson's OpenAI feud rekindles Hollywood fear of artificial intelligence

OpenAI's apparent homage to the movie "Her" featuring the voice likeness of Scarlett Johansson is fueling a backlash against artificial intelligence across Hollywood, executives told Reuters. Johansson's accusation that the ChatGPT-maker copied her performance in the Spike Jonze-directed feature film, after failing to strike an agreement, rekindled the creative class’s anxiety about the existential threat posed by AI, even as Hollywood studios test new tools and mull alliances with OpenAI.

Tennessee AG investigating company that tried to auction Graceland

Tennessee's attorney general said on Thursday that his office was investigating a company's effort to auction off Graceland, singer Elvis Presley's famed mansion in Memphis. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that his office was investigating if any fraud was carried out by Naussany Investments & Private Lending, which on Wednesday abandoned its plan to auction Graceland.

US Justice Department, states file lawsuit against Live Nation

The U.S. Department of Justice and a group of states have filed a lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, according a court docket on Thursday.

Cassie Ventura thanks people who supported her over Diddy assault video

Singer Cassie Ventura, ex-girlfriend of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, on Thursday publicly thanked the people who supported her after the release of a 2016 surveillance video that appeared to show him assaulting her at a Los Angeles hotel.

“Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet,” the “Me & U” vocalist wrote in a post on Instagram.