#MAGFAB: Mahalia for GQ Hype
Mahalia gets vocal, The young British singer, whose devastating voice and easy R&B have earned millions of streams and guest features with the likes of Burna Boy and Stormzy, is back with a new album – and speaking out about how broken music has become
Let’s get something clear: Mahalia is low-key broke. “I've been waiting to get paid for like six months,” the singer explains when we meet over Zoom, having just landed from a trip to LA to promote her latest single, “Cheat.”
It seems impossible. Mahalia is one of the UK’s freshest R&B stars, a powerhouse vocalist combining the range of Erykah Badu (one of her biggest influences) with the dancey punch of noughties gems like Destiny’s Child. You’ll have heard her stretching her languid voice on songs like “What You Did”, or flexing over the Afrobeats rhythms of “Simmer,” her 2019 hit with Burna Boy. She’s opened for Ed Sheeran and Adele, performed at the Commonwealth Games, won MOBO awards. And yet.
“The last two months, I've been late on rent by like 10 days,” Mahalia says. The singer’s new album IRL is out this week, and she’s been in hustle mode trying to boost preorders for the record and sell tickets for an autumn tour. But even that is a struggle. “Most of the time when I tour, I finish in a deficit,” she says. “I rarely break even. It’s not a cost that gets paid, it's a cost that gets covered by me.”
Artists feeling shafted in the post-streaming music industry isn’t new (see: Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun’s all-out war of 2019 or Jay-Z’s 2017 exit from Spotify). But the move toward digital distribution has been exponentially harder on up-and-coming artists than it is on arena headliners like Swift. The economics of Spotify – which vary from artist to artist but can reportedly be as little as $0.003–$0.005 per stream – mean that if you’re not racking up listens in the billions like Justin Bieber or Olivia Rodrigo, it’s increasingly difficult to earn a living off your songs. “People have to really start to get an understanding of the fact that artists aren't making money like they used to,” says Mahalia.
Mahalia Burkmar, known simply by her first name, signed with Warner Music’s Asylum Records in 2011 at just 13, after a friend introduced her to Ed Sheeran and he tweeted about her “amazing talent” to his massive following. She had grown up surrounded by music-making: her Jamaican mother fronted the ’80s group Colourbox and her British-Irish father was a singer and guitarist with Erasure. Mahalia’s breakthrough moment came a bit later: in 2017, a video of her performing her track “Sober” for the music show Colors went big time on YouTube (it’s now up to 66 million views). In the recording, she wears a firetruck-red puffer jacket and vibes out to her laidback, sultry song about the hangover-esque feeling of romantic regret.
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Reacts To Speculation Kim Zolciak Fakes Kroy Biermann Divorce For TV Return
NeNe Leakes has weighed in on internet speculation that Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann were faking their divorce as a way to get her back on TV. Responding to the theory circulating online, the former "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star said she doubts that her former co-star would go to those lengths just to return to the show.
The 55-year-old shared her two cents on the speculation when met at LAX in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 15. "It makes great TV but I wouldn't personally want to act like I'm having some issue with my husband just to get back on TV. So hopefully that's not what it is," she told TMZ.
The former "Glee" star believes that Kim didn't have to do that because she always has a place on the Bravo series, explaining, "I'm sure she'll get back on the show whether she did that or not. I'm sure they will allow her to come back over and over again."
NeNe, who previously revealed she reached out to Kim amid her split from the retired NFL star, said she "hopes" that the couple can reconcile for good. "It's a marriage so you have a lot of highs and lows. Hopefully they're gonna work it out, they have a family," the former SWAGG Boutique owner said.
NeNe shared that Kim "wasn't happy" during her split from Kroy, but she wishes that the "Don't Be Tardy..." alum is in "better place" now. She went on comparing the couple's "messy" marital drama and their sudden reconciliation to her own tumultuous friendship with Kim through the years.
Kim filed for divorce from Kroy in May amid reports of their financial issues. Things got nasty as she accused him of using drugs, while he alleged that she had gambling issues.
In July, they pulled the plug on their divorce after they were spotted going to church together with their kids. Kim filed "a dismissal without prejudice of answer and counterclaim" in the Superior Court of Fulton County in Georgia. "They've been working on things," a source told Page Six. "They've been talking more lately and getting along, so she decided to call it off."
Kim confirmed her return to "RHOA" in June. She posted on Instagram pictures of her posing with her cast mates, Lisa Wu, Sheree Whitfield and Deshawn Snow. She will likely return as a friend of the housewives in the currently airing season 15.
#NewMusicVideo from Leela James Releases New Single “Right Back In It”
Check out the brand new single from Leela James called “Right Back In It”.
She’s also dropped a stirring visual to accompany the song, which you can watch above.
This is the follow up to her recently released single “Reach For It” produced by Mike City & Rex Rideout.
WATCH AND LISTEN HERE
These new singles represent the first new music from Leela James since she released her album “See Me” in 2021.
Leela James is currently working on her upcoming eight studio album.
#HipHopNews: Dr. Dre On Current Hip Hop: 'Most Of This Sh-T I Don't Like'
Dr. Dre has earned the right to have an opinion on Hip Hop’s current affairs, most would argue — but perhaps surprisingly, he doesn’t believe in trashing today’s rap music, like some of his contemporaries are wont to do.
During an interview with Kevin Hart on the comedian’s Peacock show Hart to Heart, the N.W.A founder seemed perplexed as to why people are so keen to hate on modern-day Hip Hop — even though he’s quick to admit he doesn’t listen to (or even like) most of it.
“Hip Hop is what it is,” he said. “Anybody that’s talking about the state of Hip Hop right now, when talking about it from a negative place, sounds like somebody’s fuckin’ grandfather. This is just what it is. Hip Hop is evolving. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it, you know what I’m saying?”
He continued: “I’m keepin’ it all the way 100 with you. Some of this shit, most of this shit, I don’t like. I don’t listen to a lot of that shit. But I’m not hatin’ on it. I’m never gonna hate on it.”
Dr. Dre isn’t the only “old head” that’s showing love to the new Hip Hop superstars.
During an interview with Houston’s 97.9 The Box last year, 50 Centshared his thoughts on the current era of rap music, claiming creating a track these days is as simple as copying what’s already being played in the clubs and in the radio.
“Look, I’ma be all the way a hunnid with you: part of Hip Hop is youth culture; I don’t think you’re supposed to have the hottest verse at 50 years old in Hip Hop,” he began. “I think the 16-year-old kid, the 15-year-old — that guy should be thinking and doing what is keeping the culture thriving, so it grows to a new energy with new vibes, with new music.
“I mean, some of it you look at and it’s easier! The cadences are the same, they’re rapping the same way on the records. If I gotta go make a record right now, I could do that record easy! You could actually take your favorite records and write your version of your favorite records with your words on that track, and then go get the next track because they’re using the same melody every time.”
He added: “If you know the words to the song — I don’t care whose record it is — just make your version of it. Change the lines and make your version of it. And then it’s gonna be easy to find a track that goes with it because the trap music is using the same tempo, the same cadences, so you gon’ find another track that it goes to perfect. And then you’re like, ‘Yo, this is my new joint!’”
Meanwhile, Dr. Dre is set to make his own mark on music this year with the release of Missionary, the new Snoop Dogg album he’s producing.
While details remain scarce, the eagerly-anticipated project was first announced by Tha Doggfather last year and will coincide with the 30th anniversary celebrations of his debut album Doggystyle, which arrived back in November 1993.
“I’ma tell you this, you’re the first one to hear this: me and Dr. Dre have been working on an album for the past two months,” Snoop told Stephen A. Smith on his Know Mercy podcast last October.
“And it’ll be done in November. It’s produced by Dr. Dre, it’s our 30th anniversary to Doggystyle. And the name of the album is Missionary.”
When Smith asked: “Why that name?” Snoop replied: “The first album was Doggystyle,” prompting a roar of laughter from the sports personality. “That is beautiful. I love it, man,” Smith commented.
Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt Walk Out Of The Oppenheimer Movie Event To Support Actors Union Strike
The Screen Actors Guild has decided to go on strike. The actors' union plans a strike across TV, theatrical, and streaming productions which will be effective July 14 at 12:01 A.M (Los Angeles time) and will mark the biggest shutdown in Hollywood for more than 60 years as the Writers Guild Strike enters its 73rd day on strike, meaning that the majority of entertainment projects in the US will cease production.
Concerns are raised over wages for actors and creators in the industry alike, AI technology, and how the profits of digital streaming on services such as Netflix and Disney+ can be divided.
Fran Drescher, the president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, said in a press conference, "At some point, you have to say no, 'We are not going to take this anymore!' You cannot change the business model as much as it has changed and not change the contract too. If we don't stand tall right now, we are all in trouble."
It is thought that the sudden shutdown will mean the cancellation of press junkets and premieres for movies over the summer and the upcoming Emmy Awards - which are set to take place on September 19 - will likely be postponed.
The group representing the studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP, were quick to note that they are "deeply disappointed" in the decision and insisted that the decision was not in their hands. In a statement, they said, "We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations."
"This is the Union's choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors' digital likenesses, and more. Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods."
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers came to an end on Wednesday, July 12 evening with no firm agreement in place and Drescher alleged that the AMPTP's responses were "insulting" and insisted that they could not "reach a deal" at present.
She said, "We negotiated in good faith and were eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP's responses to the union's most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry. The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal."
The strike was announced during the London premiere of Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" and he took to the stage shortly after the red carpet appearances to reveal that several stars had walked out of the glitzy event to "write the picket signs" in preparation for the shutdown.
Speaking on stage at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, he said, "I have to acknowledge the work of our incredible cast, led by Cillian Murphy. The list is enormous - Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and so many more."
"You've seen them here earlier on the red carpet. Unfortunately, they are off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of their union."
Meanwhile, other Hollywood stars have also spoken out of in favour of strikes. On Wednesday, Margot Robbie noted at the London premiere of her "Barbie" movie that she was "absolutely" in support of the strikes. She said, "I very much am in support of all the unions and I'm a part of SAG, so I would absolutely stand by them."
Jane Birkin, British actress, singer and French icon, dies at 76
Jane Birkin poses for photographers at the photo call for the film Jane By Charlotte at the 74th international film festival, in Cannes, France, in July 2021. The actress-singer died on Sunday.
Jane Birkin, the British actress, pop singer and namesake of the Hermès Birkin designer handbag, died on Sunday. She was 76.
Born in London, Birkin adopted France as her home country, where she became an international star after striking up a musical and romantic partnership with French singer Serge Gainsbourg. Known for her long, eye-skimming bangs and classic wardrobe, Birkin epitomized the effortless French-chic style.
The French Ministry of Culture, which confirmed her death, called her a "timeless Francophone icon."
"The most French of Britons is gone," culture minister Rima Abdul Malak said in a tweet. "Jane B was mischief, impertinent elegance, the never-outdated emblem of an entire era, a murmuring voice that remains our idol."
Her acting credits include a minor role in the 1966 crime rom-com Kaleidoscope and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.
Birkin was married to James Bond film score composer John Barry from 1965 to 1968, with whom she had a daughter, Kate Barry. Kate, a photographer, died in 2013 at age 46 after falling from the window of her fourth-floor flat in Paris.
In 1968, Birkin joined Gainsbourg for the breathy hit "Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus" ("I Love You... Me Neither"). The song was banned from radio play in several countries and condemned by the Vatican for its sexual innuendos and heavy breathing — which only made its popularity skyrocket.
Birkin and Gainsbourg, who died in 1991, were together for 12 years but remained friends and collaborators after their split.
The Birkin bag, a luxury "it" bag known for its lofty price tag, was first created in 1984 for the actress by Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. A few years prior, as NPR previously reported, Birkin found herself seated next to Dumas on a London-bound flight. The actress, who'd been known to tote around a straw basket to hold her essentials, relayed to Dumas her difficulty in finding the perfect-sized weekend bag — one bigger than the Hermès "Kelly" handbag, but smaller than a suitcase. She pulled out the plane's "vomit bag" and sketched out her idea to show Dumas, she said in a 2018 interview with CBS News. She joked that she had become so synonymous with the famed bag that it would one day be the highlight of her obituary.
Let’s get something clear: Mahalia is low-key broke. “I've been waiting to get paid for like six months,” the singer explains when we meet over Zoom, having just landed from a trip to LA to promote her latest single, “Cheat.”
It seems impossible. Mahalia is one of the UK’s freshest R&B stars, a powerhouse vocalist combining the range of Erykah Badu (one of her biggest influences) with the dancey punch of noughties gems like Destiny’s Child. You’ll have heard her stretching her languid voice on songs like “What You Did”, or flexing over the Afrobeats rhythms of “Simmer,” her 2019 hit with Burna Boy. She’s opened for Ed Sheeran and Adele, performed at the Commonwealth Games, won MOBO awards. And yet.
“The last two months, I've been late on rent by like 10 days,” Mahalia says. The singer’s new album IRL is out this week, and she’s been in hustle mode trying to boost preorders for the record and sell tickets for an autumn tour. But even that is a struggle. “Most of the time when I tour, I finish in a deficit,” she says. “I rarely break even. It’s not a cost that gets paid, it's a cost that gets covered by me.”
Artists feeling shafted in the post-streaming music industry isn’t new (see: Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun’s all-out war of 2019 or Jay-Z’s 2017 exit from Spotify). But the move toward digital distribution has been exponentially harder on up-and-coming artists than it is on arena headliners like Swift. The economics of Spotify – which vary from artist to artist but can reportedly be as little as $0.003–$0.005 per stream – mean that if you’re not racking up listens in the billions like Justin Bieber or Olivia Rodrigo, it’s increasingly difficult to earn a living off your songs. “People have to really start to get an understanding of the fact that artists aren't making money like they used to,” says Mahalia.
Mahalia Burkmar, known simply by her first name, signed with Warner Music’s Asylum Records in 2011 at just 13, after a friend introduced her to Ed Sheeran and he tweeted about her “amazing talent” to his massive following. She had grown up surrounded by music-making: her Jamaican mother fronted the ’80s group Colourbox and her British-Irish father was a singer and guitarist with Erasure. Mahalia’s breakthrough moment came a bit later: in 2017, a video of her performing her track “Sober” for the music show Colors went big time on YouTube (it’s now up to 66 million views). In the recording, she wears a firetruck-red puffer jacket and vibes out to her laidback, sultry song about the hangover-esque feeling of romantic regret.
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Reacts To Speculation Kim Zolciak Fakes Kroy Biermann Divorce For TV Return
The 55-year-old shared her two cents on the speculation when met at LAX in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 15. "It makes great TV but I wouldn't personally want to act like I'm having some issue with my husband just to get back on TV. So hopefully that's not what it is," she told TMZ.
The former "Glee" star believes that Kim didn't have to do that because she always has a place on the Bravo series, explaining, "I'm sure she'll get back on the show whether she did that or not. I'm sure they will allow her to come back over and over again."
NeNe, who previously revealed she reached out to Kim amid her split from the retired NFL star, said she "hopes" that the couple can reconcile for good. "It's a marriage so you have a lot of highs and lows. Hopefully they're gonna work it out, they have a family," the former SWAGG Boutique owner said.
NeNe shared that Kim "wasn't happy" during her split from Kroy, but she wishes that the "Don't Be Tardy..." alum is in "better place" now. She went on comparing the couple's "messy" marital drama and their sudden reconciliation to her own tumultuous friendship with Kim through the years.
Kim filed for divorce from Kroy in May amid reports of their financial issues. Things got nasty as she accused him of using drugs, while he alleged that she had gambling issues.
In July, they pulled the plug on their divorce after they were spotted going to church together with their kids. Kim filed "a dismissal without prejudice of answer and counterclaim" in the Superior Court of Fulton County in Georgia. "They've been working on things," a source told Page Six. "They've been talking more lately and getting along, so she decided to call it off."
Kim confirmed her return to "RHOA" in June. She posted on Instagram pictures of her posing with her cast mates, Lisa Wu, Sheree Whitfield and Deshawn Snow. She will likely return as a friend of the housewives in the currently airing season 15.
#NewMusicVideo from Leela James Releases New Single “Right Back In It”
Check out the brand new single from Leela James called “Right Back In It”.
She’s also dropped a stirring visual to accompany the song, which you can watch above.
This is the follow up to her recently released single “Reach For It” produced by Mike City & Rex Rideout.
WATCH AND LISTEN HERE
These new singles represent the first new music from Leela James since she released her album “See Me” in 2021.
Leela James is currently working on her upcoming eight studio album.
#HipHopNews: Dr. Dre On Current Hip Hop: 'Most Of This Sh-T I Don't Like'
Dr. Dre has earned the right to have an opinion on Hip Hop’s current affairs, most would argue — but perhaps surprisingly, he doesn’t believe in trashing today’s rap music, like some of his contemporaries are wont to do.
During an interview with Kevin Hart on the comedian’s Peacock show Hart to Heart, the N.W.A founder seemed perplexed as to why people are so keen to hate on modern-day Hip Hop — even though he’s quick to admit he doesn’t listen to (or even like) most of it.
“Hip Hop is what it is,” he said. “Anybody that’s talking about the state of Hip Hop right now, when talking about it from a negative place, sounds like somebody’s fuckin’ grandfather. This is just what it is. Hip Hop is evolving. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it, you know what I’m saying?”
He continued: “I’m keepin’ it all the way 100 with you. Some of this shit, most of this shit, I don’t like. I don’t listen to a lot of that shit. But I’m not hatin’ on it. I’m never gonna hate on it.”
Dr. Dre isn’t the only “old head” that’s showing love to the new Hip Hop superstars.
During an interview with Houston’s 97.9 The Box last year, 50 Centshared his thoughts on the current era of rap music, claiming creating a track these days is as simple as copying what’s already being played in the clubs and in the radio.
“Look, I’ma be all the way a hunnid with you: part of Hip Hop is youth culture; I don’t think you’re supposed to have the hottest verse at 50 years old in Hip Hop,” he began. “I think the 16-year-old kid, the 15-year-old — that guy should be thinking and doing what is keeping the culture thriving, so it grows to a new energy with new vibes, with new music.
“I mean, some of it you look at and it’s easier! The cadences are the same, they’re rapping the same way on the records. If I gotta go make a record right now, I could do that record easy! You could actually take your favorite records and write your version of your favorite records with your words on that track, and then go get the next track because they’re using the same melody every time.”
He added: “If you know the words to the song — I don’t care whose record it is — just make your version of it. Change the lines and make your version of it. And then it’s gonna be easy to find a track that goes with it because the trap music is using the same tempo, the same cadences, so you gon’ find another track that it goes to perfect. And then you’re like, ‘Yo, this is my new joint!’”
Meanwhile, Dr. Dre is set to make his own mark on music this year with the release of Missionary, the new Snoop Dogg album he’s producing.
While details remain scarce, the eagerly-anticipated project was first announced by Tha Doggfather last year and will coincide with the 30th anniversary celebrations of his debut album Doggystyle, which arrived back in November 1993.
“I’ma tell you this, you’re the first one to hear this: me and Dr. Dre have been working on an album for the past two months,” Snoop told Stephen A. Smith on his Know Mercy podcast last October.
“And it’ll be done in November. It’s produced by Dr. Dre, it’s our 30th anniversary to Doggystyle. And the name of the album is Missionary.”
When Smith asked: “Why that name?” Snoop replied: “The first album was Doggystyle,” prompting a roar of laughter from the sports personality. “That is beautiful. I love it, man,” Smith commented.
Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt Walk Out Of The Oppenheimer Movie Event To Support Actors Union Strike
The Screen Actors Guild has decided to go on strike. The actors' union plans a strike across TV, theatrical, and streaming productions which will be effective July 14 at 12:01 A.M (Los Angeles time) and will mark the biggest shutdown in Hollywood for more than 60 years as the Writers Guild Strike enters its 73rd day on strike, meaning that the majority of entertainment projects in the US will cease production.
Concerns are raised over wages for actors and creators in the industry alike, AI technology, and how the profits of digital streaming on services such as Netflix and Disney+ can be divided.
Fran Drescher, the president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, said in a press conference, "At some point, you have to say no, 'We are not going to take this anymore!' You cannot change the business model as much as it has changed and not change the contract too. If we don't stand tall right now, we are all in trouble."
It is thought that the sudden shutdown will mean the cancellation of press junkets and premieres for movies over the summer and the upcoming Emmy Awards - which are set to take place on September 19 - will likely be postponed.
The group representing the studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP, were quick to note that they are "deeply disappointed" in the decision and insisted that the decision was not in their hands. In a statement, they said, "We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations."
"This is the Union's choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors' digital likenesses, and more. Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods."
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers came to an end on Wednesday, July 12 evening with no firm agreement in place and Drescher alleged that the AMPTP's responses were "insulting" and insisted that they could not "reach a deal" at present.
She said, "We negotiated in good faith and were eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP's responses to the union's most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry. The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal."
The strike was announced during the London premiere of Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" and he took to the stage shortly after the red carpet appearances to reveal that several stars had walked out of the glitzy event to "write the picket signs" in preparation for the shutdown.
Speaking on stage at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, he said, "I have to acknowledge the work of our incredible cast, led by Cillian Murphy. The list is enormous - Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and so many more."
"You've seen them here earlier on the red carpet. Unfortunately, they are off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of their union."
Meanwhile, other Hollywood stars have also spoken out of in favour of strikes. On Wednesday, Margot Robbie noted at the London premiere of her "Barbie" movie that she was "absolutely" in support of the strikes. She said, "I very much am in support of all the unions and I'm a part of SAG, so I would absolutely stand by them."
Jane Birkin, British actress, singer and French icon, dies at 76
Jane Birkin, the British actress, pop singer and namesake of the Hermès Birkin designer handbag, died on Sunday. She was 76.
Born in London, Birkin adopted France as her home country, where she became an international star after striking up a musical and romantic partnership with French singer Serge Gainsbourg. Known for her long, eye-skimming bangs and classic wardrobe, Birkin epitomized the effortless French-chic style.
The French Ministry of Culture, which confirmed her death, called her a "timeless Francophone icon."
"The most French of Britons is gone," culture minister Rima Abdul Malak said in a tweet. "Jane B was mischief, impertinent elegance, the never-outdated emblem of an entire era, a murmuring voice that remains our idol."
Her acting credits include a minor role in the 1966 crime rom-com Kaleidoscope and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.
Birkin was married to James Bond film score composer John Barry from 1965 to 1968, with whom she had a daughter, Kate Barry. Kate, a photographer, died in 2013 at age 46 after falling from the window of her fourth-floor flat in Paris.
In 1968, Birkin joined Gainsbourg for the breathy hit "Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus" ("I Love You... Me Neither"). The song was banned from radio play in several countries and condemned by the Vatican for its sexual innuendos and heavy breathing — which only made its popularity skyrocket.
Birkin and Gainsbourg, who died in 1991, were together for 12 years but remained friends and collaborators after their split.
The Birkin bag, a luxury "it" bag known for its lofty price tag, was first created in 1984 for the actress by Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. A few years prior, as NPR previously reported, Birkin found herself seated next to Dumas on a London-bound flight. The actress, who'd been known to tote around a straw basket to hold her essentials, relayed to Dumas her difficulty in finding the perfect-sized weekend bag — one bigger than the Hermès "Kelly" handbag, but smaller than a suitcase. She pulled out the plane's "vomit bag" and sketched out her idea to show Dumas, she said in a 2018 interview with CBS News. She joked that she had become so synonymous with the famed bag that it would one day be the highlight of her obituary.
Birkin, also known for her activism, asked for her name to be pulled from association with the popular crocodile-skin version of the Birkin bag in 2015 over concerns of animal cruelty. Birkin has auctioned off her bags over the years for various causes including earthquake relief. She's also said she had an arrangement with the designer to donate a portion of Hermès bag sales directly to charity, even after her death.
The actress died at her home in Paris, according to French media reports. Birkin suffered a mild stroke in 2021, The New York Times reported, and had recently called off concerts due to health issues.
"Because she embodied freedom, because she sang the most beautiful words of our language, Jane Birkin was a French icon," wrote French President Emmanuel Macron. "A complete artist, her voice was as sweet as her engagements were fiery. She bequeaths us tunes and images that will never leave us."
"We will never forget her songs, her laughter or her incomparable accent that have always accompanied us," tweeted Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris.
She is survived by two daughters, one from her relationship with Gainsbourg and one from her relationship with French film director Jacques Doillon: Singer-actresses Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon.
Fat Joe addresses his drastic weight loss and why he won't be changing his name
Fat Joe is holding on to his stage name even after shedding a whopping 200 pounds. At his heaviest, the rapper tipped the scale at 470 pounds.
“Although I’ve gotten health conscious on another level, it wouldn’t make sense to change it,” he told Men’s Health about the prospects of him ditching the moniker. “Now it’s my brand. It’s what I built.”
The Terror Squad head honcho made larger guys feel confident when he rose to stardom in the mid-1990s alongside his best friend, Big Pun. Sadly, the 600-pound emcee passed away suddenly in February 2000 from a heart attack. Pun was 28 years old and left behind three children, his son Christopher and daughters Vanessa and Amanda. Losing his close friend and collaborator was a wake-up call for Joe.
Also a father of three, he said he knew he wanted to be around for his family, so he made lifestyle changes that positively impacted both his physical and mental wellbeing. The “Lean Back” artist admitted that he dealt with a long bout of depression after Pun and other loved ones passed away, yet he still managed to change his life for the better. While the weight loss has improved Fat Joe’s odds of a longer and more fulfilling life, he understands that some of his earlier fans may feel abandoned.
“They didn’t realize I was just thinking about, yo, I really wanna be here for a long time,” he explained. “I really want to work out. I really want to be healthy. I wanna be here.” These days, the proud New Yorker sees echoes of the body positivity ideals he once repped in the unabashed “Good As Hell” singer Lizzo. “She’s embracing her beauty, saying, ‘I’m a big girl, and I’m proud of it. All you big girls could rock out with me.’ I used to do that, too,” he said.
CBS Meteorologist Elise Finch Dead at 51, Network Pays Tribute
The news was announced on the network on Sunday night (July 16), hours after she died that day at a local hospital in New York.
A cause of death has not yet been determined.
Elise, whose full name was Elise Dione Finch Henriques, joined the WCBS team back in 2007 as a weekend meteorologist and she stayed with the network for 16 years. She was most recently on the morning news show and joined the 9am newscast last September.
CBS said, “Elise was a gifted and consummate professional who took great care with her work. She was also a wonderful ambassador in the community, including her hometown of Mount Vernon. Above all, Elise was a fiercely loving and devoted mother to her daughter Grace and wife to Graig Henriques, who is a photojournalist at WCBS.”
We’re sending our thoughts and condolences to Elise‘s loved ones during this difficult time.
'Mission: Impossible 7' Falls Short of Box Office Expectations, But Still Sets Franchise Record During Opening Weekend
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One came in at number one at the weekend box office, but the film fell short of expectations.
It was originally expected that the film would gross $60 million or more during its opening weekend, but the film grossed just $56.2 million, according to Variety.
Tom Cruise‘s new film cost nearly $300 million to make, and that doesn’t include marketing expenses, so the movie needs to earn a lot to break even.
Despite the slower-than-expected launch, the movie did break a franchise record.
Dead Reckoning Part One had the biggest five-day opening for any Mission: Impossible movie, with an estimated $80 million in the first five days. The previous record was set by 2018′s Fallout, which made $77.5 million for its five-day opening weekend.
Reviews for the movie have been incredible at a 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, so audiences will likely continue seeing the movie all summer long!
Ty Pennington intubated in ICU days after attending Barbie premiere: 'From the red carpet to the ICU'
The former host of Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition shared on Instagram that he is recovering from a throat abscess that blocked his airway and landed him in the ICU just two days after attending the premiere of Barbie in Los Angeles.
"From the red carpet, to the ICU… this last week has been interesting! I'm okay now, still recovering," he wrote. "To shed some light on why I was MIA… Sunday I hit the red carpet for @barbiethemovie; Monday I flew to Colorado to start filming in Breckinridge and Tuesday morning I woke up at 4 a.m. and could barely breathe. Turns out, that sore throat Ive had for the last month was actually an abscess which had grown so large it was closing off my airway."
"Next thing I know, I was intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver," he continued. "Wednesday I had surgery and yesterday afternoon I was released from the ICU. Thank you so much to all the amazing staff at St.Anthony's in Lakewood, CO & Summit Health in Frisco for taking such great care of me. A great reminder to LISTEN to your body when it's telling you something #justhappytobehere Also, even through heavy sedatives it's good to see I was still in the right frame of mind (pic 4)…"
The HGTV host shared photos of himself recovering in the ICU, as well as a picture of himself walking the red carpet at the Barbie premiere.
Pennington attended the Barbie premiere on Sunday to promote HGTV's four-part special Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, which he will compete on as a member of one of eight teams of HGTV stars transforming a Southern California home into a real-life version of Barbie's iconic pink abode.
The series premieres on July 16 at 8 p.m. and has already been shot, so it will not be disrupted by Pennington's medical emergency.
He is also currently the host of Rock the Block and Battle on the Beach on HGTV.
Normani And DK Metcalf Pack On PDAs As They Go Instagram Official
Normani Kordei and DK Metcalf finally confirmed that they are an item. The former Fifth Harmony member and the Seattle Seahawks player made their romance Instagram official by sharing a PDA-filled photo on their respective Stories.
The snap, which was posted on Saturday, July 15, showed the football wide receiver planting a soft kiss on the singer's cheek. The musician, for her part, brightly smiled as she embraced his arm.
Normani looked stunning in the photo as she wore a black sleeveless dress. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, looked dapper in a classic suit.
Romance rumors between Normani and DK first emerged in June 2022. At that time, the pair were photographed having a dinner date at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California. They reportedly arrived at the Los Angeles eatery separately but left together in the same car.
In pictures surfacing online, the twosome were seen walking close to each other, but they showed no PDA. The former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant appeared to be a bit shy as she held back her smile and tried to cover her face with her hand when paparazzi took their pictures.
Later in December, Normani and DK were caught having a flirty interaction on Instagram after the latter shared a photo dump on the platform. The pictures that the athlete posted on his page were full of selfies. However, one picture stood out among others as it saw him FaceTiming with the "Work From Home" singer.
He could be seen looking down at his camera after the singer rejected his call. Above his head, it was written, "Normani, FaceTime unavailable." While her contact picture is small, the singer could be seen resting in bed in the snap.
Normani, meanwhile, only fueled the romance speculations with her comment. "Now I know you don't have me up here in my head scarf," so she wrote.
Ariana Grande, Brad Pitt and More Spotted at Men's Wimbledon Final
A handful of A-listers were seen at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for the championship match including Ariana Grande, who made a rare public appearance alongside her Wicked co-star, Jonathan Bailey. The "Thank U, Next" singer was also seen chatting to Andrew Garfield, who was sitting beside her.
Grande took a break from her glamorous Glinda ballgowns and opted for something more casual for Sunday's event, wearing a short-sleeved, gray high-neck sweater, and a matching, flowy maxi-skirt. She paired the look with a tan trench coat, black pointed-toe pumps and a white cap sporting the Wimbledon logo. As for her jewelry, Grande sported small pearl and gold hoop earrings and green and silver sunglasses. She did, however, leave her rings at home with the singer-actress, who has been married to Dalton Gomez since 2021, noticeably not wearing her wedding ring on that finger.
In addition to Grande, Bailey and Garfield, Brad Pitt was also in attendance. The actor, who was been in the U.K. filming his upcoming F1 film, was sat beside filmmaker Guy Ritchie.
Pitt sported a set of aviator shades and a light blue polo. Emma Watson was also on hand for the event, as well as members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton, Prince William, and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who all sat in the royal box for the thrilling game.
They clearly enjoyed the match, with the entire family reacting to the intense back-and-forth between Alcaraz and Djokovic, which ended in a historic win for the 20-year-old Spaniard, who took home his first Wimbledon title Sunday.
The Princess of Wales also had the task of presenting the pair with their prizes, handing Alcaraz his winning trophy and Djokovic his second-place place award.
Brittney Griner Makes Triumphant Return in Her First WNBA All-Star Game Since being in Russia
Phoenix Mercury superstar Brittney Griner marked a successful return to the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, her first since being released from a Russian penal colony last December.
The nine-time WNBA All-Star Griner finished with 18 points, including scoring her team’s first six points and dunking twice, in Team Stewart’s 143-127 avenging victory over Team Wilson at the 2023 All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
“It meant everything to me,” Griner said in front of a sell-out crowd after the game. “I didn’t think that I would be here today, honestly but everybody sending letters, sending love, posting. I’m still seeing it to this day everything that everybody did. It really meant a lot to me, it gave me hope it made me not want to just give it up for anything, so it was this league that helped me out.”
Griner’s arrest last year in Russia sparked diplomatic drama between the US and the Kremlin that played out alongside Russia’s war in Ukraine. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in early August and was moved to a penal colony before being released in a prisoner swap in December.
“I just love being here, I love competing, I love just doing everything for the fans. They do everything for us. We wouldn’t be here without them,” Griner said. “I’m just honored to be on this court.”
Team Stewart was captained by New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, who finished with nine points and nine assists, while Team Wilson was led by reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces. Wilson finished with 20 points in the loss.
Wilson’s team defeated the Stewart-captained team at last year’s All-Star Game in Chicago.
The WNBA’s leading scorer this season, Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm, earned MVP honors after scoring an All-Star Game record 31 points and 10 three pointers for Team Stewart, while adding four rebounds and six assists in the victory.
The “Gold Mamba’s” 31 points broke the prior record of 30 points held by Maya Moore and last year’s All-Star Game MVP, Kelsey Plum.
“Threes are more than twos, I think I told Sabrina [Ionescu] that I’m going to put a lot of threes up,” Loyd said after the game on breaking the record. “It’s a special moment honestly, it’s beautiful for the league and I’m happy I was able to do it for my family.”
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced on Saturday that Phoenix will be the host city for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.
Jay-Z And Robert Kraft Launch ‘Books Unbanned’ Initiative
TMZ has learned that Jay-Z’s The Shawn Carter Foundation and Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism have donated $1 million to provide pro bono legal services for educators and librarians targeted by law enforcement over local policies governing book bands.
The outlet reports that the American Library Association documented nearly 1,300 requests to ban books. Most bans were aimed at reading material focused on Black and LGBTQIA+ communities and religious minorities.
Not only do they plan on reprinting and circulating previously banned books, but they also plan to offer scholarships and grants to underserved students. Recipients will hopefully have their works turned into plays, audiobooks, movies, and more.
The two launched their “Books Unbanned” initiative at the Brooklyn Public Library in Hov’s hometown alongside the “Book of HOV” exhibition.
On Friday, the Brooklyn library unveiled an exhibit described as a “personal shrine to Jay-Z” to the public. The exhibition showcases Hov’s legacy and impact.
Detroit teen charged in playground acid attack that left 11-year-old girl severely burned
A Detroit teen has been charged after she allegedly attacked another girl with acid at a Detroit Public Schools Community District playground. The unidentified juvenile, 12, is charged with one count each of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felonious assault in connection to the July 9 incident.
Deaira Summers, the victim, is on the mend after sustaining second and third-degree burns on her body, starting at her back and downward. She spent four days in the burn unit at Children’s Hospital. The 11-year-old told Fox 2 that her cousin and the girl were involved in a fight when the altercation escalated.
“Her mother met her in the park and gave her the chemical to throw on the kids, and she told the kids that’s what they get for messing with her daughter,” claimed Dominique Summers, the child’s mother. Deaira, her siblings, and her cousins managed to escape at first, but the tween returned to the playground after realizing she left her purse behind. That is when she was doused in the acid. Her clothes began to smoke as the liquid deteriorated the fabric and then her skin.
The 12-year-old appears in court on Saturday for a preliminary hearing, according to WKRC-TV. Her bond has been set at $10,000, and she is due back in court on Tuesday (July 18). “This is an extremely troubling set of allegations. Instant, horrible decision-making can have lifelong effects on others. There is no excuse for this,” said Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy in a statement released to the media. The district also issued a statement that read, “The incident did not involve our employees, [nor] was it connected to a district or school event. This is a community matter involving two families that do not both attend our school district or the school.”
As for Deaira, a GoFundMe has been launched to help cover medical and ongoing costs for her healing. To donate, click here.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
She Ain’t Happy
Colorful Dress, Dark Desires.
Colorful Dress, Dark Desires.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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