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By Steve Gorman and Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – A high-profile defense lawyer representing the son of slain Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner against charges that he murdered his parents abruptly withdrew from the case on Wednesday and was replaced, for the time being, by public defenders. The surprise change in defense attorneys, which was not immediately explained, unfolded at a court hearing where Nick Reiner, 32, had been expected to enter a not-guilty plea in one of the most shocking celebrity homicide cases in Los Angeles history. Instead, the arraignment was postponed for the second time in three weeks. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Theresa McGonigle rescheduled the proceeding for February 23 and ordered the defendant to remain held without bail. The development marked the latest twist to the disquieting demise of Rob Reiner, a beloved Hollywood figure who gained fame by co-starring in the 1970s hit television comedy "All in the Family" and later directed a spate of popular films. He was also a prominent Democratic Party activist and donor. Alan Jackson, a former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney whose clients have included a number of onetime show-business luminaries, including disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Kevin Spacey, announced in court on Wednesday that he was quitting the case but gave no immediate reason. "We feel we have no choice but to withdraw as counsel," Jackson told the judge, adding that the public defender's office was ready to step in to replace him, a move that the judge immediately approved. 'PRINT THAT' Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing, Jackson did not elaborate on his withdrawal, but said of his former client, "pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that." District Attorney Nathan Hochman, appearing separately, countered: "We are fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murders of his parents." Public defender Kimberly Greene shed little additional light on the switch in defense teams, telling reporters that such changes were not uncommon. She added that she had spoken with Nick Reiner for about 30 seconds on Wednesday morning and that "he was understanding that there would be a change in counsel." A spokesperson for the Reiner family told Reuters by telephone: "They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings." Nick Reiner, dressed in brown jail garb, spoke only when the judge asked if he agreed to waive his right to proceed with the arraignment on Wednesday and have it postponed for nearly seven weeks. "Yeah, I agree with that," he answered. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the fatal knife attack on his parents – actor-director Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer-producer Michele Reiner, 70. Their bodies were found on the afternoon of December 14 inside their West Los Angeles mansion. Prosecutors have said the pair were killed early that morning. Authorities have disclosed few details about the circumstances of the crime and offered no explanation for what may have precipitated the killings. Autopsies found both victims died from "multiple sharp force injuries." If convicted as charged, Nick Reiner would face life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. The son was widely reported to have quarreled with his parents while the three were attending a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien the night before the couple were found slain. Nick Reiner, who has publicly acknowledged a years-long struggle with drug addiction and periods of homelessness, had lived in a guest house on his parents' property. He was arrested near a downtown Los Angeles park several hours after their bodies were discovered. The killings stirred an outpouring of dismay from Hollywood figures who Rob Reiner had worked with for decades as an actor, director and screenwriter, as well as within Democratic Party circles, where he was active in various political causes. He and his wife, married in 1989, were found slain hours before a planned evening gathering with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, according to the former first lady. 'MEATHEAD' TO DIRECTOR OF BELOVED FILMS Nick Reiner's battles with substance abuse and recurring stints in and out of rehabilitation programs since the age of 15 were the inspiration for the 2015 movie drama "Being Charlie," in which the father and son collaborated as director and co-writer. He is the younger of two sons and the second of three children by his parents. As an actor, Rob Reiner was best remembered for his role on "All in the Family" as Mike "Meathead" Stivic, the son-in-law and liberal foil of the lead character, working-class bigot Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O'Connor. Reiner went on to a prolific Hollywood career as a filmmaker, directing such popular movies as "This Is Spinal Tap," "When Harry Met Sally …," "The Princess Bride," "Stand by Me," "A Few Good Men," "Misery" and "The American President."   His final film, a sequel to the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap," was released in September, 41 years after the original. His wife, Michele, was at one time a photographer who captured the image of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book "Trump: The Art of the Deal." She and Rob Reiner met while he was directing "When Harry Met Sally…"  (Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Scott Malone and Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Steve Gorman and Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – A high-profile defense lawyer representing the son of slain Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner against charges that he murdered his parents abruptly withdrew from the case on Wednesday and was replaced, for the time being, by public defenders. The surprise change in defense attorneys unfolded at a court hearing where Nick Reiner, 32, had been expected to enter a not-guilty plea in one of the most shocking celebrity homicide cases in Los Angeles history. Instead, the arraignment was postponed for the second time in three weeks. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Theresa McGonigle rescheduled the proceeding for February 23 and ordered the defendant to remain held without bail.  Alan Jackson, a former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney whose clients have included a number of onetime show-business luminaries, including disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, announced in court on Wednesday that he was quitting the case but gave no immediate reason. "We feel we have no choice but to withdraw as counsel," Jackson told the judge, adding that the public defender's office was ready to step in to replace him, a move that the judge immediately approved. Jackson was expected to speak to reporters outside the courthouse following the hearing. Nick Reiner, dressed in brown jail garb, spoke only when the judge asked if he agreed to waive his right to proceed with the arraignment on Wednesday and have it postponed for nearly seven weeks. "Yeah, I agree with that," he answered. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the fatal knife attack on his parents – actor-director Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer-producer Michele Reiner, 70. Their bodies were found on the afternoon of December 14 inside their west Los Angeles mansion. Prosecutors have said the pair were killed early that morning. Rob Reiner was known for a prolific show-business career that ranged from co-starring in the 1970s hit television comedy "All in the Family" to directing the beloved 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally…" and was also a prominent Democratic Party activist and donor. Authorities have disclosed few details about the circumstances of the crime and offered no explanation for what may have precipitated the killings. Autopsies found both victims died from "multiple sharp force injuries." If convicted as charged, Nick Reiner would face life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. The son was widely reported to have quarreled with his parents while the three were attending a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien the night before the couple were found slain. Nick Reiner, who has publicly acknowledged a years-long struggle with drug addiction and periods of homelessness, had lived in a guest house on his parents' property. He was arrested near a downtown Los Angeles park several hours after their bodies were discovered. The killings stirred an outpouring of dismay from Hollywood figures who Rob Reiner had worked with for decades as an actor, director and screenwriter, as well as within Democratic Party circles, where he was active in various political causes. He and his wife, married in 1989, were found slain hours before a planned evening gathering with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, according to the former first lady. 'MEATHEAD' TO DIRECTOR OF BELOVED FILMS Nick Reiner's battles with substance abuse and recurring stints in and out of rehabilitation programs since the age of 15 were the inspiration for the 2015 movie drama "Being Charlie," in which the father and son collaborated as director and co-writer. He is the younger of two sons and the second of three children by his parents. As an actor, Rob Reiner was best remembered for his role on "All in the Family" as Mike "Meathead" Stivic, the son-in-law and liberal foil of the lead character, working-class bigot Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O'Connor. Reiner went on to a prolific Hollywood career as a filmmaker, directing such popular movies as "This Is Spinal Tap," "The Princess Bride," "Stand by Me," "A Few Good Men," "Misery" and "The American President."   His final film, a sequel to the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap," was released in September, 41 years after the original. His wife, Michele, was at one time a photographer who captured the image of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book "Trump: The Art of the Deal." She and Rob Reiner met while he was directing "When Harry Met Sally…"  (Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Scott Malone and Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Steve Gorman and Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – A high-profile defense lawyer representing the son of slain Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner against charges that he murdered his parents abruptly withdrew from the case on Wednesday and was replaced, for the time being, by public defenders. The surprise change in defense attorneys, which was not immediately explained, unfolded at a court hearing where Nick Reiner, 32, had been expected to enter a not-guilty plea in one of the most shocking celebrity homicide cases in Los Angeles history. Instead, the arraignment was postponed for the second time in three weeks. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Theresa McGonigle rescheduled the proceeding for February 23 and ordered the defendant to remain held without bail. The development marked the latest twist to the disquieting demise of Rob Reiner, a beloved Hollywood figure who gained fame by co-starring in the 1970s hit television comedy "All in the Family" and later directed a spate of popular films. He was also a prominent Democratic Party activist and donor. Alan Jackson, a former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney whose clients have included a number of onetime show-business luminaries, including disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Kevin Spacey, announced in court on Wednesday that he was quitting the case but gave no immediate reason. "We feel we have no choice but to withdraw as counsel," Jackson told the judge, adding that the public defender's office was ready to step in to replace him, a move that the judge immediately approved. 'PRINT THAT' Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing, Jackson did not elaborate on his withdrawal, but said of his former client, "pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that." District Attorney Nathan Hochman, appearing separately, countered: "We are fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murders of his parents." Public defender Kimberly Greene shed little additional light on the switch in defense teams, telling reporters that such changes were not uncommon. She added that she had spoken with Nick Reiner for about 30 seconds on Wednesday morning and that "he was understanding that there would be a change in counsel." A spokesperson for the Reiner family told Reuters by telephone: "They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings." Nick Reiner, dressed in brown jail garb, spoke only when the judge asked if he agreed to waive his right to proceed with the arraignment on Wednesday and have it postponed for nearly seven weeks. "Yeah, I agree with that," he answered. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the fatal knife attack on his parents – actor-director Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer-producer Michele Reiner, 70. Their bodies were found on the afternoon of December 14 inside their West Los Angeles mansion. Prosecutors have said the pair were killed early that morning. Authorities have disclosed few details about the circumstances of the crime and offered no explanation for what may have precipitated the killings. Autopsies found both victims died from "multiple sharp force injuries." If convicted as charged, Nick Reiner would face life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. The son was widely reported to have quarreled with his parents while the three were attending a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien the night before the couple were found slain. Nick Reiner, who has publicly acknowledged a years-long struggle with drug addiction and periods of homelessness, had lived in a guest house on his parents' property. He was arrested near a downtown Los Angeles park several hours after their bodies were discovered. The killings stirred an outpouring of dismay from Hollywood figures who Rob Reiner had worked with for decades as an actor, director and screenwriter, as well as within Democratic Party circles, where he was active in various political causes. He and his wife, married in 1989, were found slain hours before a planned evening gathering with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, according to the former first lady. 'MEATHEAD' TO DIRECTOR OF BELOVED FILMS Nick Reiner's battles with substance abuse and recurring stints in and out of rehabilitation programs since the age of 15 were the inspiration for the 2015 movie drama "Being Charlie," in which the father and son collaborated as director and co-writer. He is the younger of two sons and the second of three children by his parents. As an actor, Rob Reiner was best remembered for his role on "All in the Family" as Mike "Meathead" Stivic, the son-in-law and liberal foil of the lead character, working-class bigot Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O'Connor. Reiner went on to a prolific Hollywood career as a filmmaker, directing such popular movies as "This Is Spinal Tap," "When Harry Met Sally …," "The Princess Bride," "Stand by Me," "A Few Good Men," "Misery" and "The American President."   His final film, a sequel to the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap," was released in September, 41 years after the original. His wife, Michele, was at one time a photographer who captured the image of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book "Trump: The Art of the Deal." She and Rob Reiner met while he was directing "When Harry Met Sally…"  (Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Scott Malone and Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The action-packed political satire "One Battle After Another" and the vampire tale brimming with blues music "Sinners," topped the list of nominees unveiled on Wednesday for Hollywood's Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, a key foreshadowing of films likely heading to the Academy Awards. Both films will compete for the SAG honor of best movie cast. Their competitors are the Shakespeare-inspired drama "Hamnet," the ping-pong picture "Marty Supreme" and the Gothic science fiction film "Frankenstein." The Actor Awards are closely watched because winners are chosen by SAG-AFTRA actor union members, the largest voting bloc for the Oscars, which will be awarded in March. Nominated SAG actors include Leonardo DiCaprio for his role as Bob in "One Battle After Another," Michael B. Jordan for his dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore in "Sinners," and Jessie Buckley for her role as Agnes Hathaway in "Hamnet." In SAG's TV categories, dark comedy series "The White Lotus" will compete with medical drama "The Pitt" and psychological thriller "Severance." Meanwhile, culinary comedy "The Bear" will compete with "The Studio," "Abbott Elementary" and "Hacks." The Emmy-winning limited series "Adolescence" also received several nods. The awards ceremony was renamed in January 2025. Winners of the Actor awards will be announced on March 1 at a ceremony that will stream live on Netflix. In 2025, organizers of the SAG awards canceled a planned live announcement of the SAG nominees because of wildfires in Los Angeles. Nominations were announced online instead. President of SAG-AFTRA, Sean Astin, recognized the impact of the fires before Wednesday's nominations began. "I want to acknowledge that this is the one year anniversary of devastating Los Angeles wildfires," he said. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Editing by Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The action-packed political satire "One Battle After Another" and the vampire tale brimming with blues music "Sinners," topped the list of nominees unveiled on Wednesday for Hollywood's Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, a key foreshadowing of films likely heading to the Academy Awards. Both films will compete for the SAG honor of best movie cast. Their competitors are the Shakespeare-inspired drama "Hamnet," the ping-pong picture "Marty Supreme" and the Gothic science fiction film "Frankenstein." The Actor Awards are closely watched because winners are chosen by SAG-AFTRA actor union members, the largest voting bloc for the Oscars, which will be awarded in March. Nominated SAG actors include Leonardo DiCaprio for his role as Bob in "One Battle After Another," Michael B. Jordan for his dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore in "Sinners," and Jessie Buckley for her role as Agnes Hathaway in "Hamnet." In SAG's TV categories, dark comedy series "The White Lotus" will compete with medical drama "The Pitt" and psychological thriller "Severance." Meanwhile, culinary comedy "The Bear" will compete with "The Studio," "Abbott Elementary" and "Hacks." The Emmy-winning limited series "Adolescence" also received several nods. The awards ceremony was renamed in January 2025. Winners of the Actor awards will be announced on March 1 at a ceremony that will stream live on Netflix. In 2025, organizers of the SAG awards canceled a planned live announcement of the SAG nominees because of wildfires in Los Angeles. Nominations were announced online instead. President of SAG-AFTRA, Sean Astin, recognized the impact of the fires before Wednesday's nominations began. "I want to acknowledge that this is the one year anniversary of devastating Los Angeles wildfires," he said. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Editing by Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The action-packed political satire "One Battle After Another" and the vampire tale brimming with blues music "Sinners," topped the list of nominees unveiled on Wednesday for Hollywood's Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, a key foreshadowing of films likely heading to the Academy Awards. Both films will compete for the SAG honor of best movie cast. Their competitors are the Shakespeare-inspired drama "Hamnet," the ping-pong picture "Marty Supreme" and the Gothic science fiction film "Frankenstein." The Actor Awards are closely watched because winners are chosen by SAG-AFTRA actor union members, the largest voting bloc for the Oscars, which will be awarded in March. Nominated SAG actors include Leonardo DiCaprio for his role as Bob in "One Battle After Another," Michael B. Jordan for his dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore in "Sinners," and Jessie Buckley for her role as Agnes Hathaway in "Hamnet." In SAG's TV categories, dark comedy series "The White Lotus" will compete with medical drama "The Pitt" and psychological thriller "Severance." Meanwhile, culinary comedy "The Bear" will compete with "The Studio," "Abbott Elementary" and "Hacks." The Emmy-winning limited series "Adolescence" also received several nods. The awards ceremony was renamed in January 2025. Winners of the Actor awards will be announced on March 1 at a ceremony that will stream live on Netflix. In 2025, organizers of the SAG awards canceled a planned live announcement of the SAG nominees because of wildfires in Los Angeles. Nominations were announced online instead. President of SAG-AFTRA, Sean Astin, recognized the impact of the fires before Wednesday's nominations began. "I want to acknowledge that this is the one year anniversary of devastating Los Angeles wildfires," he said. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Editing by Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski, Kritika Lamba and Dawn Kopecki LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery's board unanimously turned down Paramount Skydance's latest attempt to acquire the studio, saying its revised $108.4 billion hostile bid amounted to a risky leveraged buyout that investors should reject. In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, Warner Bros' board said Paramount's offer hinges on "an extraordinary amount of debt financing" that heightens the risk of closing. It reaffirmed its commitment to streaming giant Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for the film and television studio and other assets. Paramount and Netflix have been in a heated battle for Warner Bros, its prized film and television studios, and its extensive content library. Its lucrative entertainment franchises include "Harry Potter," "Game of Thrones," "Friends" and the DC Comics universe, as well as coveted classic films such as "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane." The Warner Bros board voted against the $30-per-share cash offer on Tuesday, telling shareholders that Paramount's financing plan would saddle the smaller Hollywood studio with $87 billion in debt once the acquisition closed, making it the largest leveraged buyout in history. The letter accompanied a 67-page amended merger filing where it laid out its case for rejecting Paramount's offer. NETFLIX DEAL ON TRACK The revised Paramount offer "remains inadequate particularly given the insufficient value it would provide, the lack of certainty in PSKY’s ability to complete the offer, and the risks and costs borne by WBD shareholders should PSKY fail to complete the offer," the Warner Bros board wrote.   Their assessment comes even after Paramount, which has a market value of around $14 billion, proposed to use $40 billion in equity personally guaranteed by Oracle billionaire co-founder Larry Ellison – father of Paramount CEO David Ellison – and $54 billion in debt to finance the deal.  The decision keeps Warner Bros on track for its deal with Netflix, even after Paramount amended its bid on December 22 to address the earlier concerns about the lack of a personal guarantee from Larry Ellison.  Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters welcomed Warner Bros' decision on Wednesday, saying it recognizes the streaming giant's deal "as the superior proposal that will deliver the greatest value to its stockholders, as well as consumers, creators and the broader entertainment industry." Paramount's financing plan would further weaken its credit rating, which S&P Global already rates at junk levels, and strain its cash flow – heightening the risk that the deal will not close, the Warner Bros board said. Netflix, which has offered $27.75 a share in cash and stock, has a $400 billion market value and investment-grade credit rating.     Paramount did not respond to a request for comment.  Both Warner Bros and Netflix shares rose 0.6% while Paramount dipped 0.6%. TILTING THE POWER BALANCE IN HOLLYWOOD The bidding war has become Hollywood's most closely watched takeover battle, as studios confront a landscape increasingly dominated by streaming platforms and as theatrical revenues remain volatile. While Netflix's offer has a lower headline value, some analysts have said it presents a clearer financing structure and fewer execution risks than Paramount's bid for the entire company, including its cable TV business. "WBD does not want to sell to Paramount, so it will keep rejecting Paramount as long as it is able to," Ross Benes, analyst at Emarketer, said. Harris Oakmark, Warner Bros' fifth-largest investor, previously told Reuters that Paramount's revised offer was not "sufficient," noting it was not enough to cover the breakup fee.  However, Mario Gabelli, whose Gabelli Funds holds about 5.7 million shares of Warner Bros Discovery, according to LSEG data, said he is “likely” to tender his shares to Paramount, saying its all-cash offer is more straightforward and thus would have a faster path to regulatory approval. “At the moment, Paramount has a superior bid,” said Gabelli. “Netflix has to simplify their bid.” Pentwater Capital, the 7th-largest shareholder, argued in favor of Paramount, as well, according to a letter the firm sent to Warner Bros, saying the board was making a mistake not engaging with Paramount. DISCOVERY A STICKING POINT The valuation of Warner Bros' planned Discovery Global spin-off, which includes cable television networks CNN, TNT Sports and the Discovery+ streaming service, is seen as a major sticking point. Analysts peg the cable channels' value at up to $4 per share, while Paramount has suggested just $1. Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about further consolidation in the media industry, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said he plans to weigh in on the landmark acquisition. Warner Bros Chairman Samuel Di Piazza told CNBC that the company was not currently in talks with Paramount but remains open to a transaction, saying both deals have a path to regulatory approval.   "They've got to put something on the table that is compelling," he said, referring to Paramount.  Warner Bros' board met on December 23 to review Paramount's amended offer. The filing noted some improvements, including Ellison's personal guarantee and a higher reverse termination fee of $5.8 billion, but found "significant costs" associated with Paramount's bid compared with Netflix. Warner Bros would be obligated to pay the streaming service a $2.8 billion termination fee for abandoning its agreement with Netflix, part of $4.7 billion in additional costs to end the deal. The board repeated other concerns previously laid out, such as that Paramount would impose operating restrictions on the studio that would harm its business and competitive position, including barring the planned spin-out of the company's cable television networks into a separate public company, Discovery Global.  (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles and Dawn Kopecki in New York, Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Akash Sriram and Arnav Mishra. Editing by Sayantani Ghosh, Jamie Freed and Nick Zieminski)

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By Marco Trujillo and Lucien Libert SAINT-TROPEZ, France, Jan 7 (Reuters) – People lined the streets of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday, applauding as the coffin of French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot, who died last month aged 91, was driven through the Riviera resort after her funeral. Bardot shot to international fame in her early 20s in the film "And God Created Woman", her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism which captivated 1950s France. Known affectionately as B.B. by many in France, Bardot's roles made her not just a sex symbol, but a pop culture icon and a touchstone for changing social attitudes. She became the first celebrity to model for a bust of Marianne, the traditional symbol of the French Republic that adorns French town halls. "For me, Brigitte Bardot is France," said singer Mireille Mathieu, 79, who sang at the funeral. "She was the most beautiful woman in the world," Mathieu told reporters, praising "that freedom she (Bardot) had, that boldness to say what she thought." At the funeral, in the town's Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church, a black-and-white picture of Bardot hugging a baby seal was on display, with the words "Merci Brigitte" (Thank you Brigitte), near her coffin, covered in mostly orange and yellow flowers. Outside, one man held a placard that read: "The animals thank Brigitte Bardot". "It was really magnificent," Bardot fan Fanny Wisselmann said of the ceremony. "I found that it reflected Brigitte Bardot, it was simple, it was very respectful," she said. Displaying a tattoo of Bardot on her leg, Wisselmann, who lives in Frejus, about an hour's drive away, said she is such a fan it was unthinkable she wouldn't be there to pay tribute. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, FAR-RIGHT SYMPATHIES Bardot made the last of her 42 films in 1973. Disenchanted with the industry, she declared the world of cinema "rotten". She became a tireless crusader for animal rights while her political sympathies shifted to the far-right National Front. Incendiary remarks on immigration, Islam and homosexuality saw her convicted multiple times for inciting racial hatred. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen was among those attending Wednesday's funeral. Bardot had publicly endorsed the National Front's successive leaders, Jean-Marie Le Pen and his daughter Marine, whom she once referred to as "the Joan of Arc of the 21st century". Aurore Berge, Macron's minister for equality and a defender of animal rights, was there to represent the government. Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was also among the guests at the funeral. PRIVATE BURIAL After the funeral, Bardot was buried in strict privacy in a cemetery in the glitzy town where she lived for much of her later life behind high walls, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses. A tribute open to locals and fans will take place later in the day at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village. Bardot told Le Monde in 2018 that she wished to be buried in a quiet corner of her garden. But the Var Prefecture said it never received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden. (Writing by Ingrid Melander and Richard Lough; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Philippa Fletcher)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Marco Trujillo and Lucien Libert SAINT-TROPEZ, France, Jan 7 (Reuters) – People lined the streets of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday, applauding as the coffin of French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot, who died last month aged 91, was driven through the Riviera resort after her funeral. Bardot shot to international fame in her early 20s in the film "And God Created Woman", her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism which captivated 1950s France. Known affectionately as B.B. by many in France, Bardot's roles made her not just a sex symbol, but a pop culture icon and a touchstone for changing social attitudes. She became the first celebrity to model for a bust of Marianne, the traditional symbol of the French Republic that adorns French town halls. "For me, Brigitte Bardot is France," said singer Mireille Mathieu, 79, who sang at the funeral. "She was the most beautiful woman in the world," Mathieu told reporters, praising "that freedom she (Bardot) had, that boldness to say what she thought." At the funeral, in the town's Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church, a black-and-white picture of Bardot hugging a baby seal was on display, with the words "Merci Brigitte" (Thank you Brigitte), near her coffin, covered in mostly orange and yellow flowers. Outside, one man held a placard that read: "The animals thank Brigitte Bardot". "It was really magnificent," Bardot fan Fanny Wisselmann said of the ceremony. "I found that it reflected Brigitte Bardot, it was simple, it was very respectful," she said. Displaying a tattoo of Bardot on her leg, Wisselmann, who lives in Frejus, about an hour's drive away, said she is such a fan it was unthinkable she wouldn't be there to pay tribute. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, FAR-RIGHT SYMPATHIES Bardot made the last of her 42 films in 1973. Disenchanted with the industry, she declared the world of cinema "rotten". She became a tireless crusader for animal rights while her political sympathies shifted to the far-right National Front. Incendiary remarks on immigration, Islam and homosexuality saw her convicted multiple times for inciting racial hatred. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen was among those attending Wednesday's funeral. Bardot had publicly endorsed the National Front's successive leaders, Jean-Marie Le Pen and his daughter Marine, whom she once referred to as "the Joan of Arc of the 21st century". Aurore Berge, Macron's minister for equality and a defender of animal rights, was there to represent the government. Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was also among the guests at the funeral. PRIVATE BURIAL After the funeral, Bardot was buried in strict privacy in a cemetery in the glitzy town where she lived for much of her later life behind high walls, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses. A tribute open to locals and fans will take place later in the day at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village. Bardot told Le Monde in 2018 that she wished to be buried in a quiet corner of her garden. But the Var Prefecture said it never received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden. (Writing by Ingrid Melander and Richard Lough; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Philippa Fletcher)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski, Kritika Lamba and Dawn Kopecki LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery's board has unanimously turned down Paramount Skydance's latest attempt to acquire the studio, saying its revised $108.4 billion hostile bid amounted to a risky leveraged buyout that investors should reject. In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, Warner Bros' board said Paramount's offer hinges on "an extraordinary amount of debt financing" that heightens the risk of closing. It reaffirmed its commitment to streaming giant Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for the film and television studio and other assets. Paramount and Netflix have been vying to win control of Warner Bros, and with it, its prized film and television studios and its extensive content library. Its lucrative entertainment franchises include "Harry Potter", "Game of Thrones", "Friends" and the DC Comics universe, as well as coveted classic films such as "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane." Paramount's financing plan would saddle the smaller Hollywood studio with $87 billion in debt once the acquisition closed, making it the largest leveraged buyout in history, the Warner Bros board told shareholders after voting against the $30-per-share cash offer on Tuesday. The letter accompanied a 67-page amended merger filing where it laid out its case for rejecting Paramount's offer. The revised Paramount offer "remains inadequate particularly given the insufficient value it would provide, the lack of certainty in PSKY’s ability to complete the offer, and the risks and costs borne by WBD shareholders should PSKY fail to complete the offer," the Warner Bros board wrote.   Paramount, which has a market value of about around $14 billion, proposed to use $40 billion in equity personally guaranteed by Oracle's billionaire co-founder Larry Ellison and $54 billion in debt to finance the deal.  Its financing plan would further weaken its credit rating, which S&P Global already rates at junk levels, and strain its cash flow – heightening the risk that the deal will not close, the Warner Bros board said. Netflix, which has offered $27.75 a share in cash and stock, has a $400 billion market value and investment-grade credit rating. The decision keeps Warner Bros on track to pursue the deal with Netflix, even after Paramount amended its bid on December 22 to address the earlier concerns about the lack of a personal guarantee from Ellison, who is Paramount's controlling shareholder and the father of its CEO David Ellison. Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters welcomed Warner Bros' decision on Wednesday, saying it recognizes the streaming giant's deal "as the superior proposal that will deliver the greatest value to its stockholders, as well as consumers, creators and the broader entertainment industry." Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Warner Bros shares slipped 0.5% to $28.3 in premarket trading, while Netflix edged up slightly and Paramount was little changed. HIGH BREAK-UP FEES Warner Bros Chairman Samuel Di Piazza told CNBC that the company was not currently in talks with Paramount but remains open to a transaction with the Ellison-led firm and both the deals have a path to regulatory approval.   "From our perspective, they've got to put something on the table that is compelling," he said, referring to the Paramount offer.  Wednesday's filing said Warner Bros' board met on December 23 to review Paramount's amended offer and noted some improvements, including Ellison's personal guarantee and a higher reverse termination fee of $5.8 billion, but found "significant costs" associated with Paramount's bid compared with a Netflix deal. Warner Bros would be obligated to pay the streaming service a $2.8 billion termination fee for abandoning its merger agreement with Netflix, $1.5 billion in fees to its lenders and about $350 million in additional financing costs. Altogether, Warner Bros said it would incur about $4.7 billion in additional costs to terminate its deal with Netflix, or $1.79 per share. The board repeated some concerns it had laid out on December 17, such as that Paramount would impose operating restrictions on the studio that would harm its business and competitive position, including barring the planned spin-out of the company's cable television networks into a separate public company, Discovery Global.  Paramount offered "insufficient compensation" for the damage done to the studio's business, if the Paramount deal failed to close, Warner Bros said.  Paramount "repeatedly failed to submit the best proposal" to Warner Bros shareholders, the board wrote, "despite clear direction" on the deficiencies in its bid and potential solutions. TILTING THE POWER BALANCE IN HOLLYWOOD The jockeying for Warner Bros has become Hollywood's most closely watched takeover battle, as studios race to scale up amid intensifying competition from streaming platforms and volatile theatrical revenues. While Netflix's offer has a lower headline value, analysts have said it presents a clearer financing structure and fewer execution risks than Paramount's bid for the entire company, including its cable TV business. "WBD does not want to sell to Paramount, so it will keep rejecting Paramount as long as it is able to," Ross Benes, analyst at Emarketer said. "But this process is not over … Paramount will have opportunity to make further attempts." Harris Oakmark, Warner Bros' fifth-largest investor, previously told Reuters that Paramount's revised offer was not "sufficient," noting it was not enough to cover the breakup fee.  Paramount has argued its bid would face fewer regulatory obstacles, but a combined Paramount-Warner Bros entity would create a formidable competitor to industry leader Disney and merge two major television operators and two streaming services. The valuation of Warner Bros' planned Discovery Global spin-off, which includes cable television networks CNN, TNT Sports and the Discovery+ streaming service, is seen as a major sticking point. Analysts peg the cable channels' value at up to $4 per share, while Paramount has suggested just $1. Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about further consolidation in the media industry, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said he plans to weigh in on the landmark acquisition. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles and Dawn Kopecki in New York, Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Akash Sriram and Arnav Mishra. Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Jamie Freed)

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