News | Entertainment
2 Jul 2025 14:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Barack Obama has "significantly scaled back" his 60th birthday party due to COVID-19 concerns

    The former US President and his wife Michelle were planning to celebrate his big day next weekend with a huge guestlist - including friends, family and former staff - set for the bash at the family's estate in Martha's Vineyard, but this has now been reduced


    The family's spokeswoman Hannah Hankins told PEOPLE magazine: "This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and with COVID safeguards in place.

    "Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the [former] President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends.

    "He's appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon."

    Even before the event was cut back, Barack had not asked for any gifts, as he would prefer donations to the Obama Foundation's philanthropic projects.

    The outdoor gathering will be held next weekend, and guests were told that they must undergo coronavirus testing and that the event will be overseen by a medical professional to ensure pandemic protocols are followed.

    An insider recently said: "In lieu of gifts, guests are being asked to consider giving to programmes that work to support boys and young men of colour and their families here at home in the United States, empower adolescent girls around the world, and equip the next generation of emerging community leaders including the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, the Girls Opportunity Alliance, or the Obama Foundation's Global Leadership programmes."

    Meanwhile, Obama recently claimed that there are things he "can't tell"

    people about aliens.

    The politician, who was in the White House between 2009 and 2017, told talk show host James Corden: "When it comes to aliens, there's some things I just can't tell you on air."

    But he did reveal that he asked if there was a secret lab he needed to know about that was hiding alien information when he first became President.

    He explained: "When I came into office, I asked, is there the lab somewhere where we're keeping the alien specimens and spaceship?

    "They did a little bit of research and the answer is no, but what is true and I'm actually being serious here, is there are, there's footage and records of objects in the skies that we don't know exactly what they are."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     02 Jul: Taylor Swift has spent $13,000 on a giant friendship bracelet
     02 Jul: Kate Winslet has become an ambassador for The King's Foundation
     02 Jul: Bob Geldof has praised his late ex-wife Paula Yates for being instrumental in Live Aid
     02 Jul: Sir Brian May doesn't believe that his Queen bandmate Freddie Mercury has a secret daughter
     02 Jul: Scarlett Johansson has revealed that her twin brother Hunter was her most enthusiastic supporter at the premiere of Jurassic World Rebirth
     02 Jul: James Norton is "crazily grateful" for the "pain" of his split from Imogen Poots
     02 Jul: Rihanna's father died of cancer and other serious illnesses
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The spectre of a second-string opponent is just something the All Blacks have to deal with More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Woolworths is recalling potentially plastic-infused mince, sold in its North Island stores More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Swift has spent $13,000 on a giant friendship bracelet 14:36

    Soccer:
    The Wellington Phoenix have confirmed the departure of three men's players 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Kate Winslet has become an ambassador for The King's Foundation 14:06

    Accident and Emergency:
    A 34-year-old woman's died, after a two-vehicle crash last Thursday on State Highway Two in Tauranga 13:47

    Entertainment:
    Bob Geldof has praised his late ex-wife Paula Yates for being instrumental in Live Aid 13:36

    Business:
    Woolworths is recalling potentially plastic-infused mince, sold in its North Island stores 13:27

    Rugby League:
    The odds are shortening on Des Hasler being the first NRL head coach to be punted this season 13:07

    Entertainment:
    Sir Brian May doesn't believe that his Queen bandmate Freddie Mercury has a secret daughter 13:06

    Entertainment:
    Scarlett Johansson has revealed that her twin brother Hunter was her most enthusiastic supporter at the premiere of Jurassic World Rebirth 12:36

    Law and Order:
    Police are preparing to investigate a Gore toddler's death - for a third time 12:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd