In this June 23, 2014 file photo, Steve Martin poses during "The Un-Private Collection: Eric Fischl and Steve Martin," an art talk presented by The Broad museum in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) --
Steve Martin is being saluted with this year's Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.
The AFI announced Friday that Martin would be getting its highest honor for a career in film.
The award will be given at a tribute in Los Angeles next June. The gala ceremony will be aired for a third year on the TNT network and by its sister channel, Turner Classic Movies.
The 69-year-old Martin followed initial stardom as a standup and TV performer with his debut feature film, "The Jerk," in 1979.
His many other films include "Pennies from Heaven," ''Three Amigos!," ''Little Shop of Horrors," ''All of Me," ''Roxanne" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."
Previous award recipients include Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, Mel Brooks and Jane Fonda.
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 โฆ 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
