Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs. Actor Smollett's character cut from 'Empire' episodes after arrest

Actor Jussie Smollett's character is being removed from the final two episodes of the hip-hop drama "Empire" after he was arrested and charged with staging a hoax hate crime attack on himself, show officials said on Friday. "We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of 'Jamal' from the final two episodes of the season," 20th Century Fox Television said in a statement. At the Oscars or in the cinema, the sound that puts movie lovers in the picture

You may be a guest at the Oscars or simply watching one of the season's hit movies in a hi-tech multiplex, but chances are that, in either case, the soundtrack will make you feel like you're right at the heart of the action. Five of the eight movies that will vie for the best picture Academy Award on Sunday use Atmos, the latest sound technology developed by Dolby. The 1975, DJ Harris triumph at UK BRIT music Awards; Pink honored

Pop rock band The 1975 and DJ Calvin Harris were the main winners at the BRIT Awards on Wednesday, each scooping two prizes at Britain's annual pop music honors. The 1975 were named British Group and won the biggest prize of the night, Mastercard British Album of the Year, for "A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships." Topsy-turvy season gives Oscars a best picture cliffhanger

Hollywood's awards season reaches a climax at Sunday's Oscars with a cliffhanger over the top prize after a topsy-turvy best picture race marked by the fading of early favorites and the tantalizing question of whether Netflix can trump traditional movie studios. While Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron's sentimental Netflix movie "Roma" and historical romp "The Favourite" from Fox Searchlight go into the ceremony with a leading 10 nominations each, there's no guarantee they will come out on top. R&B crooner R. Kelly charged with sexually assaulting teenage girls

Grammy-winning R&B singer R. Kelly was charged in Chicago on Friday with the aggravated sexual assault of four people, including three teenage girls, following years of accusations against the performer. Kelly, 52, was charged in a 10-count Cook County Circuit Court indictment handed down two months after the debut of a six-hour documentary series on the Lifetime television network in which multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse. 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett charged with faking racist attack

Actor Jussie Smollett was charged on Wednesday with lying to police when he claimed he was attacked and beaten on the streets of Chicago by two masked men shouting racist and homophobic slurs, police said on Wednesday as they sought his arrest. Smollett, a 36-year-old black, openly gay actor on the hip-hop TV drama "Empire," ignited a firestorm on social media by telling police on Jan. 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. Jackson estate says HBO film violates non-disparagement contract: lawsuit

The estate of Michael Jackson filed a lawsuit on Thursday against HBO saying that its documentary about allegations of child sex abuse by the late singer breached a previous agreement by the cable channel not to disparage him. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, said HBO could owe more than $100 million in damages for what the estate called the network's "reprehensible disparagement" of the "Thriller" singer in the documentary. Movies with a message make impact beyond Oscars glitz

The movie "Green Book" explores racial inequality, "Roma" reveals the emotional toll placed on domestic workers, and "RBG" chronicles the fight for women's rights. The messages in the three Academy Awards contenders are no accident. All were produced and financed by Participant Media, a pioneer among a group of companies aiming to advance social missions through movies. Ciao Karl: Fendi says goodbye to Lagerfeld at Milan show

Fendi said farewell to Karl Lagerfeld on Thursday, presenting the last line the veteran fashion designer created for the Italian luxury label before his death. With a replica of his "Love KL" signature displayed behind them, models strutted down the catwalk in a neutral palette of beige, brown, terracotta and dark gray outfits with dabs of green, orange and yellow popping out in the Autumn/Winter 2019 line.