In this Jan. 23, 2016 file photo released by Producers Guild of America, PGA Chairs Jennifer Todd, left, and Michael De Luca arrive at the 27th annual Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles. The duo will produce the 89th Academy Awards on Feb. 26, 2017. (Jordan Strauss/Producers Guild of America via AP )
NEW YORK (AP) --
The Oscars finally have their producers: Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd will produce the 89th Academy Awards.
The announcement Friday by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences came much later than usual and after widespread conjecture over who would take the reins of next year's ceremony. Reginald Hudlin and David Hill, who produced this year's show, were jettisoned after the Chris Rock-hosted broadcast, marked by the "OscarsSoWhite" backlash, drew 34.4 million viewers, one of the show's smallest audiences.
De Luca is a veteran producer and three-time Oscar nominee. Todd is president of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Pearl Street Films. They're both first-time Oscars producers. Dawn Hudson, academy chief executive, pledged they would create an "entertaining, unexpected" show.
The Oscars will be held Feb. 26 in Hollywood, California.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
