Entertainment

Robin Williams’ Kids Revive Instagram to Combat ‘AI Abuse’ of His Image

Published

8 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

Robin Williams‘ children revived the late actor’s Instagram account on Monday, sharing their intention to turn it into a “safe, trusted place” where his work can be shared in order to combat the ongoing “rampant AI abuse” of his image.

Zak, Zelda and Cody Williams shared a joint statement on their father’s Instagram account, writing, “As we recognize what would be our Dad’s 75th year, we’re grateful to see new generations discovering his work while longtime fans continue to celebrate the joy he brought into their lives.”

“As technology evolves, we want this to be a safe, trusted place where the stories, photos, videos, and memories shared reflect his legacy with authenticity, warmth, and care,” the statement continued. “This is our way of sharing his unique talent and humor with the world, including the moments that made us and so many of you laugh, as we remember our Dad’s extraordinary life and work. He continues to inspire us and delight people all over the world.”

The account has been inactive since Williams’ death in 2014. However, in a separate Instagram story shared on her personal account, Zelda Williams offered further insight into her and her siblings’ decision to bring their dad’s social media profile back.

“I’m sorry if anyone found Dad’s old page posting again to be triggering. Believe me, I know it’s a little strange,” she wrote. “Making that space into one where people can find authentic clips and photos of him is one of the best ways we’ve now found to fight back against rampant AI abuse of his voice and likeness on here.”

“Might be a drop in the bucket, but we’re trying,” Zelda concluded. “Sending you all a big hug on this random Monday.”

The Internet has been flooded in recent years with AI-generated videos of deceased celebrities, often referred to as “slop,” and Williams has been the star of countless. With that in mind, it is worth noting that her statement Monday is not the first time Zelda has spoken out about AI videos of her father’s image.

In October 2025, she took to Instagram to ask her followers to stop sending her AI videos of her father.

“Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t and I won’t,” Zelda wrote at the time. “If you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want.”

Entertainment

Disney’s Next ‘Descendants’ Story Taps Sherry Cola, Darren Criss

Published

1 minute ago

August 18, 2026

qasimgillani

Disney’s “Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story” is rounding out its cast, tapping some familiar names for some iconic characters, including Yzma, the Genie and more.

Sherry Cola, best known for “Good Trouble” and “Nobody Wants This,” will play the villainous Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Most recently, Cola starred as Lark in “Camp Rock 3,” which is now streaming on Disney+.

Darren Criss will play Jiminy Cricket from “Pinocchio,” while Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart will be the Genie from “Aladdin.” Iglehart originated the same role in the Broadway production of “Aladdin.”

Hugo Ateo will play Yzma’s sidekick Kronk, Sean Yves Lessard will play Lumiere from “Beauty and the Beast” and Dan Bakkedahl will star as Yen Sid from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” in “Fantasia.”

“Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story” centers on the children of the Genie, Yzma, Kronk and Lumiere, as well as Merryweather from “Sleeping Beauty.” It’s unclear if or how the story will tie into the first five “Descendants” films, but we do know that it’ll be a “music-and-dance-fueled” story, like its predecessors.

“Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes,” the synopsis reads. “When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together — without heroes, without parents — using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.”

So, while hero and villain kids go to Auradon Prep, the children of sidekicks have their own school.

“Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story” is now in production.

movies

ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies At 93

Published

3 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

qasimgillani

Bill Rasmussen, a sports visionary who founded ESPN in 1979 with his son Scott as the world’s first 24-hour sports television network, died Tuesday at 93 of Parkinson’s disease at his home in Florida.

Shrugging off skeptics, the pioneering Rasmussen – after being fired as communications director of the New England Whalers — acquired space on a communications satellite using a personal credit card. He went door to door to all the major sports leagues, cable operators and potential investors, garnering enough support to launch the Entertainment and Sports Programming network on Sept. 7, 1979. He was the network’s first CEO.

“Bill was a remarkable man — a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s — key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”

Rasmussen revealed in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a degenerative disease, in 2014.

More to come

movies

Elevation Pictures: Laurie May Exits As Co-President

Published

10 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

qasimgillani

Laurie May is stepping down as co-President of Canadian indie distribution company, Elevation Pictures.

Founded in 2013 during the Toronto International Film Festival by Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman, Elevation Pictures has handled the Canadian release of such movies as Oscar winning The Imitation Game, Room, Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All at Once and the recent A24 successes Backrooms and Marty Supreme. Elevation Pictures recently released the Canadian Spin Master co-production with Paramount, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie which has grossed north of $70M worldwide.

Elevation Pictures has 14 films at the 51st TIFF including Neon’s Cannes Palme D’or winner Fjord, All of a Sudden, and A24’s The Debut and Club Kid.

May says “From founding Elevation and working with our team to building it to the top distribution company in Canada, I am excited to now move forward and pursue my other passions”.

Schwarzman, a representative of Elevation’s Board of Directors and the CEO of Elevation’s investor, Black Bear, stated, “The entire Elevation team recognizes and appreciates Laurie’s substantial contributions to Elevation’s creation, growth and success. Her vision, commitment and entrepreneurial leadership have been instrumental in building the company to what it is today, and we cannot thank her enough for the past thirteen years.”

May received the Women in Film and Television (WIFT) Outstanding Achievement Award in 2010 and acted as a mentor for WIFT.