Hollywood top news: Russell Brand’s trial begins, Netflix announces layoffs, Paul Bettany on AI
Russell Brand faced trial for rape and sexual assault in the UK, with prosecutors alleging he was a "ruthless" predator who assaulted six women between 1999 and 2009 in various locations. Brand pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. The prosecutor detailed the alleged incidents, including Brand raping a woman in a hotel room and attempting to drag another into a men's bathroom.
The trial, expected to last up to 10 weeks, will hear from the six women who accuse Brand. Meanwhile, streaming giant Netflix announced it would be laying off approximately 6% of its workforce, affecting around 1,000 employees, as part of organizational changes. The company's co-CEOs, Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos, outlined the decision in a memo to employees, stating that product, tech, legal, and human resources teams would be most impacted.
Despite the layoffs, the company maintains strong business performance and emphasizes the need for discipline in prioritizing people and resources as it invests in growth and high-impact areas.
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