#MAGFAB: Wicked First Look: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Costume For Vanity Fair!
The stars talk for the first time about playing the unlikeliest of friends, Glinda and Elphaba. With the teaser dropping during the Super Bowl, Wicked is looking pretty…wonderful.
We’re certainly not in Kansas anymore. The first official teaser for Wicked, starring Grammy-, Tony-, and Emmy-winning actor Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-winning pop star Ariana Grande, has been unveiled, revealing director Jon M. Chu’s Oz for the very first time. Now, VF has an exclusive portrait of Erivo and Grande in character as Elphaba and Glinda, the witches whose friendship-turned-rivalry fuels the story, as well as the first interviews with the cast and filmmakers.
Grande and Erivo tell VF they’ve become inseparable friends while making the movie—matching Wicked tattoos and all—and sound thrilled to be together again so soon after the shoot wrapped in January. “I actually told my mom I was really relieved we don’t have to miss each other that long,” says Grande.
As for Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship, Grande says it’s defined by “a really selfless love and friendship. They’re both each other’s first real friend, a person who accepts them for everything that they are.” Erivo seconds that: “Once they figure out that they’re actually different sides of the same coin, they see each other clearly.” She hopes Wicked can teach an important lesson: “We are all different and the same, and the differences that we have actually make us really special. Hopefully we use those differences to introduce ourselves to one another. We aren’t pushing people away because they’re different, but we’re opening up because they’re special.”
For Chu, Wicked is more than a megahit Broadway musical. “This is the American fairy tale,” he tells Vanity Fair. “We are in a time where we are reassessing the story of life in America. What is truth? What is a happy ending? Is the yellow brick road the road to follow? Is someone really there on the other end who’s going to give you your heart’s desire?”
The first installment of Wicked seeks to answer those questions and more. Book writer Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz, who adapted the Broadway show from Gregory Maguire’s novel, collaborated with Chu and Wicked producer Marc Platt to adapt the stage production for the screen. The result was apparently so splendiferous that the team felt Wicked needed to be not one but two feature films. Part one takes flight on November 27 this year. The second hits theaters November 26, 2025.
“We didn’t want to end up making one four-hour movie and then cutting out songs. We want to satisfy the fans of the musical,” says Platt. “Film allows you to create a place and a time—a university like Shiz, an extraordinary Emerald City governor’s mansion. There’s so much more to explore.”
Finally, we now have a glimpse at those worlds, inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic novel and Joe Mantello’s stage version. Chu’s film realizes the hallowed halls of Shiz University and the viridescent streets of Emerald City in the most opulent way possible. “Wicked on the biggest screen had the opportunity to be the grandest, most spectacular, epic musical experience of all time,” Chu said. “It was just like, ‘Let’s put everything into this.’”
The glittering cast also includes Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Fellow Travelers star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Tony nominee Ethan Slater as Boq, newcomer Marissa Bode as Nessarose, and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
In this portrait, taken by Sophy Holland, Grande wears a bubblegum-pink gown and tiara reminiscent of the outfit Glinda the Good wears when she first encounters Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Erivo, meanwhile, sports Elphaba’s really, uh, sharp witch’s hat. The pair stare directly into the camera, two friends ready to face their destiny.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore on RHOA: ‘Can’t Have One, Single Job Forever’
The Real Housewives of Atlanta will begin production on Season 16 very soon, and some of the show’s stars, including Kenya Moore, are still wondering if they’ll be in the mix.
After a few drowsy seasons, Bravo is reportedly amping it up for their big return. Kandi Burruss, the franchise’s longest-running Housewife, has already announced her departure, explaining she will be working on new projects with and without the network
When Kenya first heard the news, she was disappointed to see her friend go. However, she respected the move. “I said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna stand by you,'” Kenya told Entertainment Tonight. “‘If that’s what you really want, and that’s where your heart takes you, I’m all for it.'”
Since Kandi’s announcement, Kenya has been teasing that the big cast reveal would arrive any day now. “If I get an offer — if I have an offer — you’ll know it when Bravo announces it,” she said
But, if Kenya did choose to leave, she wouldn’t be charting new territory. The former Miss USA left RHOA after Season 10 over supposed contract disputes and returned to full-time status in Season 12.
“I think your gut tells you [when it’s time to leave],” she said. “Everything has its season. You can’t have one single job forever, for the rest of your life; at least, most people don’t.”
The Kenya Moore Haircare owner continued, saying when she does depart, it’ll be because she listened to her heart.
“…I just feel liberated, you know? I finally have been granted a divorce, I finally got the most beautiful child I ever wanted — everything that’s on my vision board comes true, for the most part – and I feel like when it’s time for me to move on, I’ll just know, and it’ll be a happy moment. It won’t be sad. It will mean that I am taking a step in a different direction, and I would hope that everyone would support me in that.”
#MusicNews: 2024 Orlando Funk Fest Lineup Announced: Charlie Wilson, Ledisi, Faith Evans and More
The 2024 Orlando Funk Fest lineup has been revealed. The two-day festival will take place June 14 and June 15 at Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida.
Charlie Wilson is at the top of this year’s bill. He will be joined by fellow R&B acts Ledisi, Faith Evans, The-Dream, Jagged Edge, 112, and October London.
There will be several rap artists hitting the stage as well, including T.I., Jeezy, Juvenile, and Scarface.
Festivalgoers can purchase one-day or two-day tickets. The ticket types include General Admission, Preserved Reserved, Gold VIP, Platinum VIP, and Vibranium VIP.
Pricing for one-day tickets ranges from $60 to $425, while the two-day package ranges from $80 to $850.
Wilson’s headlining performance will come just months after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His setlist will undoubtedly include a mix of his solo hits and fan favorites, as well as gems from The Gap Band. He may also perform his latest single “Superman,” released in December 2023.
“This song is truly personal for me as it reflects on the love I have for my wife and the turning point that reshaped my entire life. After The Gap Band’s success, I struggled with homelessness and addiction. I entered rehab, meeting my future wife, a counselor at the facility,” Wilson explained.
He added, “She put the cape on my back and we’ve been rollin’ ever since (28 years). This song is also for all women, their strength, love and support is appreciated more than they know.
“Superman” is the follow-up to his No. 1 hit “No Stoppin’ Us” featuring Babyface, K-Ci Hailey and Johnny Gill.
Ledisi will be supporting her album, Good Life, which drops March 1. The album will include her singles “I Need to Know,” “Sell Me No Dreams” and “Perfect Strangers” featuring Kenny Lattimore.
Good Life will include an additional feature by Butcher Brown and production by Rex Rideout, Camper, Ray Keys, Cory Henry and more.
Before Ledisi’s appearance at Orlando Funk Fest, she will embark on her headlining Good Life Tour with special guests Raheem DeVaughn and BJ The Chicago Kid.
It’s been nearly four years since Faith Evans shared new music.
In 2021, she released “Right Now” featuring Big Knuck. Since then, she has appeared on songs with Gwen Bunn (“Between the Lines“), Slim (“Gotta Have Faith“) and Big Freedia (“B*tch You Want“).
The-Dream has been keeping busy writing and producing for artists like Beyoncé (Renaissance) and Usher (Coming Home). On the latter album, released Friday, The-Dream is featured on “Cold Blooded,” which he co-produced with Pharrell Williams.
The-Dream also wrote and produced Fantasia’s “SUPERPOWER (I),” which appears on The Color Purple soundtrack.
On Sept. 20, 2023, The-Dream shared an unreleased track “Stream (V7 Demo Archive 9.20)” to celebrate his 46th birthday.
#HipHopNews: Jack Harlow Partners With Meta For Virtual Reality Concert & Documentary
“Surrounded by family & childhood friends this has been one of the happiest years of my life. But now… a new era begins.”
Built on a sample of R&B singer Delbert “Dale” Greer’s 1995 track “Whatever,” the blockbuster joint features him spitting playful, confident rhymes — including shoutouts to Detroit rapper Skilla Baby, Rico Suave and Enrique Iglesias — over a bouncy, club-friendly beat.
The track’s upbeat vibe is reflected in its accompanying music video, which shows a mullet-sporting Harlow busting moves for the camera, flexing his biceps in a skimpy vest and holding a puppy alongside cameos from male friends and partygoing girls.
“Lovin On Me” isn’t the only new music from the “Tyler Herro” rapper. Just before 2023 came to an end, he joined forces with Grammy-nominated producer 2forwOyNE on a joint titled “Drive Safe.”
The Louisville-bred rhymer took to Instagram to share the release of the toxic love track chronicling a situationship, on which he raps: “And then it’s a forehead kiss on the doorstep/ The way she tryna stay is like she studied at Morehead/ But nah, she went to Western/ The body of Corvette, bellbottom jeans and a lil’ bitty corset/ Neelam ain’t a fan of her/ She tried to give me caution signs like the floor’s wet/ But the problem is somеthing else is too/ Steady pussy ain’t еver felt this new.”
K. Michelle On Beyoncé’s New Country Album: “I Will Be Supporting Her Like I Always Do”
People love to act as though two artists can’t peacefully co-exist without being pitted against one another, and K. Michelle proved to be a class act after experiencing this on Sunday night (Feb. 11).
After Beyoncé broke the internet with the news of act ii, which is a country album, one Twitter user wrote, “Has anyone checked on @kmichelle? Bey will bring pressure to Country music.”
The retired R&B singer, who now performs as her country alter ego, Puddin’, responded, “Why would anyone need to check on me? I’m one of the greatest African American country singers of all time with no album even out.”
Though this person wasn’t the only one expressing similar “concerns,” the Memphis native continued, “Yall been mentioning me ALL night. I’m just happy to be spoke about in my genre. I love Bey and will be supporting her like I always do.”
Beyoncé Is Going Full-On Country For 'Renaissance: ACT II,' Releases 2 New Singles
After she released her final R&B album, I’m The Problem, K. Michelle promptly returned as Puddin’ for the release of “Tennessee.” Of her country music pivot, she explained to VIBE, “Country is something that I think is a lifestyle and it’s something that I do. So that’s always in me and it’s something that’s going to be presented.”
Unfortunately, she has already experienced racist reactions in being a country artist along with Monica and Lil Nas X. The latter’s smash hit, “Old Town Road,” was removed from Billboard charts for “not being country enough,” but was reinstated when Billy Ray Cyrus was added to the remix. Even when Bey dropped “16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” the songs were initially listed under Pop before DSPs updated it to the proper metadata as country tracks.
Fans are predicting, though, that Bey’s three-act release is a reclamation that Black Music is American music as one tweeted, “Black people created house music. Black people created country music. Black people created rock music. BABY, THIS IS THE RENAISSANCE!”
act ii is slated for release on March 29.
Super Bowl LVIII Is Most-Watched Program Ever With 123.4 Million Viewers
An average of 123.4 million viewers watched the Kansas City Chiefs become the eighth team in NFL history to win back-to-back titles after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime on Sunday, as reported by Variety.
A reported 112 million tuned into the big game on CBS, the largest figure ever on a single network. The remaining sum was split between CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Univision, and NFL digital properties, such as the league's streaming service NFL+. Paramount Global said its streaming platform saw a record number of viewers, but exact numbers were not provided.
The previous record belonged to last year’s Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles with 115.1 million viewers.
Katy Perry Exits 'American Idol' After 7 Seasons
When "American Idol" returns for season 23, one familiar face will seemingly be gone. During her appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", Katy Perry announced that she's leaving the long-running singing competition show after serving as its judge for 7 seasons.
In the Monday, February 11 episode of the late-night talk show, the "Dark Horse" singer shocked fans when she revealed that season 22 of "American Idol" will be her last. "This fall, in September, I'm going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio... so I think this will probably be my last season for 'Idol'," she said.
The mom of one went on to say, "I mean, I love 'Idol' so much. It's connected me with the heart of America, but I need to feel that pulse of my own beat." When asked about how fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie reacted to her departure, Katy simply said, "Well, they'll find out tonight!"
Fans had mixed responses to Katy's surprising exit announcement. "Nooooooo I will support you queen in your decision your the reason I started watching idol i love Luke and Lionel but I don't think I could watch it without you it won't feel the same," one fan wrote in a comment underneath a video from the episode on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Instagram page.
"I don't want to see you leave @katyperry but do what your heart wants," one other said. Someone, meanwhile, hoped Paula Abdul "returns once [Katy] leaves Idol."
One other, on the other hand, said, "There's literally zero point to American Idol in 2024. Since the reboot of the show, not a single winner has gone on to become a star like [Kelly Clarkson], [Carrie Underwood], [Jennifer Hudson] or [Fantasia Barrino]. None of them have even been able to crank out a hit single, what's the point."
Katy first joined "American Idol" as the judge in season 16 back in March 2018. At the time, the show was revived on ABC after previously ending its years-long run on FOX.
DDG Defended After Accused Of Shading Halle Bailey's Parenting
DDG is no stranger to controversial posts and he has stirred the Internet yet again with his recent social media activity. The YouTuber has been accused of shading his girlfriend and baby mama Halle Bailey after liking a comment that criticizes women's parenting skills.
The original tweet in question read, "Men care about the upbringing of children more than women do." It appeared on the rapper's "likes," suggesting that he agreed with the statement.
After The Neighborhood Talk posted a screenshot of DDG's liked tweet, many weighed in on what his move meant. As he didn't give a clear context to his reaction, some people have accused him of throwing shade at Halle.
"Lmaoooo since tf when," someone, who disagreed with the tweet, wrote. Fuming, an apparent fan of Halle commented, "Wow see this why we was upset when we found out she was preg by him . He's embarrassing to her."
Another slammed the 26-year-old father of one, "He wants attention like always anything for clout." Someone else similarly accused him, "He do s**t for clout."
However, some others have defended DDG against the allegations, thinking that the liked tweet did not necessarily relate his personal life. "I don't think this is shady. Probably just a thought. The internet be reaching so much y'all elbows be dislocated," one of them weighed in.
Clapping back at the critics, another simply penned, "yall messy." One other enthused, "False alarm guys he's just upset Halle went to Super Bowl without him," after "The Little Mermaid (2023)" actress was spotted at the big game with her sister Chloe Bailey.
Seemingly not bothered by the tweet liked by DDG, Halle posted on Sunday her pictures from the Super Bowl LVIII. In the images, she showed off her postpartum body in a black crop top, high-waisted jeans and denim jacket with a fur-trimmed coat while posing with her sister Chloe at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. "my sister took me to the superbowl !" she simply captioned the snaps.
SiriusXM to Lay Off 160 Employees, About 3% of Workforce
SiriusXM is eliminating about 160 jobs, a move to cut expenses that represents a layoff affecting just under 3% of the satellite radio and audio streamer’s workforce.
Jennifer Witz, CEO of SiriusXM, announced the layoffs in a memo to staff Monday. The cutbacks come after SiriusXM in March 2023 announced it was laying off 475 staffers, about 8% of its headcount at the time.
“To continue on our path to future subscriber growth and sustain our company’s success as the competitive landscape evolves, it’s imperative that we become even more efficient, agile and flexible,” Witz wrote in the memo. “Therefore, today we are making several organizational changes, including the difficult decision to eliminate certain roles, which will allow us to move faster and collaborate more effectively in support of our long-term objectives.”
Witz continued, “From uniting teams and better aligning initiatives, to investing in new technologies that will power our transformation, we are focused on increasing efficiencies and redeploying resources to support the strategic priorities of our business.”
For the fourth quarter of 2023, SiriusXM reported revenue of $2.29 billion, flat year over year, with net income of $352 million (compared with net income of $365 million a year earlier). In the quarter, SiriusXM added approximately 131,000 new self-pay subscribers to end the year with about 34 million total. The company lost 445,000 self-pay subscribers for full-year 2023.
Last fall, in a bid to charge up its growth, SiriusXM unveiled a new logo, a brand-new app, a slate of new channels and shows, and the lower-priced Streaming All Access Plan ($9.99 per month, versus the company’s previous all-inclusive streaming-only at $10.99/month). With the launch of the new SiriusXM app, the company introduces new guest DJ channel takeovers from over 160-plus artists and bands, including Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Alice Cooper, Luke Combs and Maren Morris.
Chris Brown Praises Usher Over Super Bowl Halftime Show Despite Alleged Beef
Chris Brown has showered Usher with praise over his Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show. Shortly after his fellow artist performed at the 2024 sports event, the "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" singer gave his reaction to the "Love in This Club" singer's star-studded show.
The 34-year-old R&B singer made use of his social media account to share his take on Usher's highly-anticipated performance. On Instagram Stories, he simply let out a flame emoji and tagged Usher's Instagram account over a black screen.
Chris' social media post was later shared by a blog via Instagram, prompting Instagram users to voice their thoughts on him praising Usher. In the comments section, several users appeared to have said that they would love to see Chris perform for an upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show.
One in particular wrote, "I really feel if the media didn't bash CB he def be up there doing the halftime show." Another joined in, "CHRIS BROWN WOULD KILL THE SUPERBOWL!!! Tell me I'm lying!"
A third added, "I really really wanna see Chris brown do the Super Bowl halftime performance." Meanwhile, a fourth noted, "As long as HOV over the halftime shows we will never see CB perform let's be real would be nice but it's not happening," making a reference to Jay-Z who serves as the event's producer.
Usher delivered a number of his songs for his 13-minute performance during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Among the tracks were "My Boo", "Yeah!", "Bad Girl", "OMG", "Caught Up", "Love in this Club", "Confessions, Pt. II" and "Burn". He also had some special guests, including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, H.E.R. and will.i.am.
As for the beef, it was reported that Chris and Usher got into an altercation. The two allegedly had a fight during Chris' 34th birthday party in May 2023 at the Skate Rock City roller rink in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, they looked in good spirits when they performed at the Love & Friends festival in Las Vegas one day later.
Sam Smith & Boyfriend Christian Cowan Stroll Arm-in-Arm Around NYC Ahead of Fashion Show
Sam Smith and boyfriend Christian Cowan are enjoying a low-key afternoon. The 31-year-old “Stay With Me” singer and the 28-year-old fashion designer walked arm-in-arm around New York City together on Monday afternoon (February 12).
For their outing, Sam wore a long, black coat over a Balenciaga shirt and black pants while Christian sported a shearling-lined jacket over a white T-shirt paired with tan pants.
Later that evening, Sam changed into a black and white star-print shirt and black maxi-skirt as they supported Christian at his latest fashion show.
Channing Tatum Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance with Daughter Everly!
Channing Tatum and his daughter Everly made a rare red carpet appearance together over the weekend!
It looks like Everly is an anime fan as the father-daughter duo went to the premiere of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training on Saturday (February 10) at Regal Union Square in New York City.
Everly wore a themed outfit for the event, complete with purple hair, while Channing dressed comfortably in a sweatshirt. It looks like Channing was going for a Tanjiro cosplay look while Everly dressed as Shinobu Kocho.
The new Demon Slayer experience debuts in theaters on February 23, including IMAX and premium large format screens.
For those who don’t know, Everly is the 10-year-old daughter who Channing shares with his ex-wife Jenna Dewan.
Jon Stewart Says ‘Daily Show’ Return Was Prompted by Wanting to Have a “Place to Unload
Jon Stewart is opening up about his highly anticipated return as host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, nearly nine years after leaving the nightly gig.
Appearing on Monday’s CBS Mornings before returning as Daily Show host on Mondays through the 2024 election, Stewart said it was indeed the political environment that brought him back, while also sharing that the move was influenced by his departure from Apple TV+ over creative differences.
“I very much wanted to have some place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season,” Stewart said, then referring to The Problem With Jon Stewart not moving forward with a third season on the streamer. “I thought I was going to do it over at — they call it Apple TV+. It’s a television enclave, very small. It’s like living in Malibu. They decided, they felt that they didn’t want me to say things that might get me in trouble.”
Though he has thoughts, Stewart — joining hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson for an in-studio interview — was modest about the influence that his version of the show could have on real-world events.
“I don’t know about hoping to have an influence, but I’m hoping to have a catharsis and a way to comment on things and a way to express them that hopefully people will enjoy,” he said. “But as far as influence, and you guys know from doing this, just about everything I had wanted to happen over the 16 years that I was at The Daily Show did not happen, if you were hoping for influence. And I think I’ve learned that post-Daily Show … I don’t really view it as, ‘I really want to have an influence on this issue, this election,’ things like that.”
Just weeks after the 2016 presidential election, Stewart had a similar approach speaking at an event in New York, quickly rejecting arguments put forth online that his version of The Daily Show could have influenced the results.
“We were the destroyers of men and creators of empires,” Stewart joked at the time. “I think that generally is satire’s role and has always been: the rise and fall of civilization at our whim.”
Ahead of his Monday return, Stewart also spoke with The Daily Show’s Ears Edition podcast about why he wanted to come back now.
“If you want to be present in this world, you have to be present in this conversation and you have to be as relentless and as tenacious as the counter-narrative that’s being formed. So much of the information that we see now is weaponized … and it keeps taking exponential leaps,” he said. “It’s not just the election. It’s AI. It’s the way that we’ve militarized all our conflicts. It all ties together to one larger idea, which is the form of government we love so much is an analog — I don’t want to say dinosaur — but it is analog and the world now moves at an increasingly infinite digital pace, and reconciling those two things, I think, is the challenge of the moment for people.”
On CBS Mornings, Stewart also spoke about returning to the cable program as the media landscape has changed since he left The Daily Show in 2015, with Burleson arguing that many young people are getting their news from places like TikTok and other forms of social media.
“Generally, I will be doing it with choreographed dance moves,” Stewart joked of how that shift would affect his approach, before turning serious and arguing that quality content will find an audience. “Information is information, and if it’s good content people will find their way to it,” he said. “I think the worst thing you can do is pander to this idea that young people absorb knowledge and information in an entirely different way.”
It was announced last month that, through the 2024 election, Stewart would return as host of The Daily Show, on Monday nights only, starting Feb. 12. The rest of the week, the series will be hosted by a rotating team of the show’s correspondents, who include Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta and Dulcé Sloan.
However, Stewart will be an executive producer on the other nights as well, allowing the part-time host to be heavily involved in the show leading up to the election and even beyond, with Stewart’s deal keeping him in place as an executive producer through at least 2025.
Stewart’s return comes as The Daily Show continues to search for a permanent replacement for Stewart’s successor, Trevor Noah, who unexpectedly exited the hosting gig in 2022.
While Stewart was reluctant to talk more on CBS Mornings about why he was only returning on Mondays, that setup likely made his return more appealing as the host was openly exhausted by the end of his initial run. Kicking off the week also allows him to set the agenda for the next few days and comment on a weekend’s worth of news.
And the corporate synergy of an appearance on another network, like Comedy Central owned by Paramount Global, did not go unnoticed by Stewart.
After King issued a disclaimer about the networks’ mutual corporate parent, Stewart was quick to quip, “Who’s got the tote bag? Paramount Global tote bag.”
“I thought it was called Viacom,” he added of the conglomerate, before joking, “It’s just billionaires moving us around on a Stratego board.”
Elton John is auctioning off hundreds of items from his Atlanta home
Elton John is saying goodbye to his Peachtree Road pad and parting with more than 900 of his most prized possessions from the Atlanta home that he sold in October for more than $7 million.
“If you buy anything at the sale, just remember that it is going from one incredibly eager collector who had so much pleasure out of what you are going to buy, and I hope it finds a good home,” John said to would-be buyers.
The vast collection includes outlandish costumes from his concerts, artwork, jewelry, lots of watches, furniture, a pinball machine and, of course, his Yamaha Conservatory grand piano on which he known to tinker and play iconic songs — such as “Daniel,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Cold Heart” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” — for family and friends.
The apartment has a view of the city’s skyline, with a personal gym, massage room and a bathroom clad in onyx. He is now selling all the contents as he downsizes from the massive dwelling and the treasures it contained to spend more time with his sons at his other homes.
The previews started at Christie’s on Friday, and the auction will start on Feb. 21. The items are expected to bring in more than $10 million, with opening bids ranging from $100 to $1 million.
The artworks range from the risqué to the iconic, including a rare original Banksy, three Keith Haring works and Damien Hirst’s “Your Song,” which is signed and inscribed “xxx for Elton + David love Damien Thank You,” estimated to sell for $350,000 to $450,000. There is also an erotic print from Ryan McGinley titled “Two Heads,” which is a picture of a snake wrapped around male genitalia that the musician kept in his bathroom. John is parting with 350 of the 7,000 photos in his collection, including works from Irving Penn and Richard Avedon.
Christie’s Deputy Chairman Tash Perrin said: “What’s important about this is it gives you a glimpse in how Elton lived with the objects he created and gave him inspiration, it was a difficult and emotional decision, and it was a long process to decide what they were going to part with. They did not want to leave anything in storage.”
There is also an entire closet containing more than 100 vintage Gianni Versace shirts, with starting bids at $4,000 to $6,000. There is also Versace china, glassware, dining chairs and a porcelain Medusa red table service. He had a special lifelong relationship with Gianni Versace before the designer was assassinated in Miami in 1997.
His 1990 Bentley with a leather interior is also up for sale. John said he loved the smell of its leather as he drove the streets of Atlanta and the South of France.
Mercedes Heuer of South Carolina is a huge fan who follows him all over the world attending his concerts. “It’s impressive, a wonderful idea to take a piece of him, and have him at home,” she said.
Fans were lining up at the preview at Christie’s in New York City to get a glimpse of his eclectic taste in art, fashion and furniture, all kept in the sprawling, 13,500-square-foot home. The table where he sat and came up with the idea for his AIDS foundation is on sale as well.
Mike Pappert of Houston says, “It’s great to see it and see it in person. I’m sure it’s not a matter of needing money, but he is taking the opportunity to share his things with fans.”
The “Rocket Man” singer now lives primarily in England and had used the Atlanta home as his base of operations dating back to 1992. He called the home his man cave. It is where he got clean and sober, and now that his 330-concert farewell tour is over, he has decided to shed some of his personal possessions.
Director Antoine Fuqua Announces Documentary Feature About Nelson Mandela
*Antoine Fuqua will direct a documentary about Nelson Mandela titled “Troublemaker: The Story Behind the Mandela Tapes.”
Variety reports that “the doc will use newly discovered audio interviews with Mandela himself to deliver an “honest, accurate and definitive depiction” of the man who remains a global symbol of justice, hope and universal human dignity,” according to a press release, the outlet writes.
Fuqua teamed with Mandela’s close friend and former cellmate Mac Maharaj on the project, and Maharaj will serve as an executive producer.
“Using recently discovered audio interviews of Mandela intimately recounting his life experiences, as well as the personal reflections and insights of Maharaj, the film will reveal the forces that shaped the global icon that is Nelson Mandela,” reads the logline, per Variety. “Jailed for 27 years, this pioneering activist lawyer turned freedom fighter walked from prison into a country on the brink of a violent racial conflagration to become the first democratically elected president of South Africa.”
In a statement, Fuqua said, “It’s an honor to bring to the screen the untold story of Mandela, a man I’ve revered my entire life. For decades, Mandela and his comrades were put through the most inhumane conditions imaginable. Yet they came out of jail with love and forgiveness in their hearts, and rather than seeking vengeance, they sought to unite the country. His compassion and inner strength enabled Mandela to make meaningful change. This film will investigate how Mandela came through his ordeals with his humanity intact, and reveal the tough and shrewd politician behind his iconic ‘nice guy’ persona. I’m incredibly fortunate to be partnered on this project with Mac Maharaj, whose experiences, intelligence and encyclopedic memory of his years alongside Mandela are invaluable.”
Maharaj adds: “I have longed to see the story of Nelson Mandela, and his decades long fight and sacrifice for freedom, equality and justice told in an authentic, complex and revelatory way. It is a story that is more relevant to humanity today, than ever. I am thrilled that a director of Antoine Fuqua’s skill, creativity, and integrity has agreed to take on this challenging task.”
Producers Arthur Landon and Mark Bauch said: “During a time of political uncertainty and unrest around the world, this film aims to rekindle the influence of a truly great leader and show how a humble but determined lawyer became one of the greatest politicians in history. We are incredibly fortunate and excited to be partnered with Antoine, who has an incredible vision to show the world a side of Mandela we’ve never seen before, and Mac Maharaj, a true South African icon who fought the struggle alongside Mandela, and is a resource unlike any other.”
The project is reportedly in production in South Africa.
Dr. Dre And Snoop Dogg Launch Ready To Drink Gin & Juice
Musical and cultural icons Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg kicked off the rollout of Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, the first ready to drink product from their new premium spirits company, with a surprise performance at the Super Bowl afterparty last night in Las Vegas.
Three decades after “Gin & Juice” left an indelible mark on popular culture and helped establish Dre and Snoop as groundbreaking hip-hop superstars, the pair are now known as much for their wide-ranging entrepreneurial ventures as for their game-changing music. With their premium beverage Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, they’re taking over some new territory — the spirits industry.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Snoop’s classic debut album, Doggystyle, produced by Dr. Dre, the canned beverage is named, of course, for Snoop’s beloved, Grammy-nominated 1994 classic song “Gin & Juice,” and comes in four flavors: Citrus, Melon, Passionfruit, and Apricot. The canned cocktails are premium gin-based cocktails, crafted for an innovative experience with packaging designed by Ini Archibong. Product will be rolling out domestically throughout the US now through early spring. More offerings from the brand will be announced in the future.
“Together, we always try to create magic, we’re having fun being creative, and everything about this product is really us,” says Dr. Dre. “There’s passion behind it, and friendship and love and a culture. We’re shooting to make everything we do magnificent, and fortunately, most of the time we hit the target.” “Look where we’re at in our careers,” says Snoop Dogg. “Look at our age and look at what we’ve done, and we still love each other, so why not do something together? A lot of times people have been in a relationship for thirty years and can’t talk to each other, can’t hang out, so it’s just fun to be in a partnership with people that you actually love.”
Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop will be distributed nationally through Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, the largest beverage distributor in the U.S. The spirit company will be led by Patrick Halbert, Andrew Gill and Rocco Milano, the founders from On The Rocks Cocktails. In addition to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, investors include Jimmy Iovine, Main Street Advisors, Marc Rowan and Tom Werner.
We’re certainly not in Kansas anymore. The first official teaser for Wicked, starring Grammy-, Tony-, and Emmy-winning actor Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-winning pop star Ariana Grande, has been unveiled, revealing director Jon M. Chu’s Oz for the very first time. Now, VF has an exclusive portrait of Erivo and Grande in character as Elphaba and Glinda, the witches whose friendship-turned-rivalry fuels the story, as well as the first interviews with the cast and filmmakers.
Grande and Erivo tell VF they’ve become inseparable friends while making the movie—matching Wicked tattoos and all—and sound thrilled to be together again so soon after the shoot wrapped in January. “I actually told my mom I was really relieved we don’t have to miss each other that long,” says Grande.
As for Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship, Grande says it’s defined by “a really selfless love and friendship. They’re both each other’s first real friend, a person who accepts them for everything that they are.” Erivo seconds that: “Once they figure out that they’re actually different sides of the same coin, they see each other clearly.” She hopes Wicked can teach an important lesson: “We are all different and the same, and the differences that we have actually make us really special. Hopefully we use those differences to introduce ourselves to one another. We aren’t pushing people away because they’re different, but we’re opening up because they’re special.”
For Chu, Wicked is more than a megahit Broadway musical. “This is the American fairy tale,” he tells Vanity Fair. “We are in a time where we are reassessing the story of life in America. What is truth? What is a happy ending? Is the yellow brick road the road to follow? Is someone really there on the other end who’s going to give you your heart’s desire?”
The first installment of Wicked seeks to answer those questions and more. Book writer Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz, who adapted the Broadway show from Gregory Maguire’s novel, collaborated with Chu and Wicked producer Marc Platt to adapt the stage production for the screen. The result was apparently so splendiferous that the team felt Wicked needed to be not one but two feature films. Part one takes flight on November 27 this year. The second hits theaters November 26, 2025.
“We didn’t want to end up making one four-hour movie and then cutting out songs. We want to satisfy the fans of the musical,” says Platt. “Film allows you to create a place and a time—a university like Shiz, an extraordinary Emerald City governor’s mansion. There’s so much more to explore.”
Finally, we now have a glimpse at those worlds, inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic novel and Joe Mantello’s stage version. Chu’s film realizes the hallowed halls of Shiz University and the viridescent streets of Emerald City in the most opulent way possible. “Wicked on the biggest screen had the opportunity to be the grandest, most spectacular, epic musical experience of all time,” Chu said. “It was just like, ‘Let’s put everything into this.’”
The glittering cast also includes Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Fellow Travelers star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Tony nominee Ethan Slater as Boq, newcomer Marissa Bode as Nessarose, and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
In this portrait, taken by Sophy Holland, Grande wears a bubblegum-pink gown and tiara reminiscent of the outfit Glinda the Good wears when she first encounters Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Erivo, meanwhile, sports Elphaba’s really, uh, sharp witch’s hat. The pair stare directly into the camera, two friends ready to face their destiny.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore on RHOA: ‘Can’t Have One, Single Job Forever’
The Real Housewives of Atlanta will begin production on Season 16 very soon, and some of the show’s stars, including Kenya Moore, are still wondering if they’ll be in the mix.
After a few drowsy seasons, Bravo is reportedly amping it up for their big return. Kandi Burruss, the franchise’s longest-running Housewife, has already announced her departure, explaining she will be working on new projects with and without the network
When Kenya first heard the news, she was disappointed to see her friend go. However, she respected the move. “I said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna stand by you,'” Kenya told Entertainment Tonight. “‘If that’s what you really want, and that’s where your heart takes you, I’m all for it.'”
Since Kandi’s announcement, Kenya has been teasing that the big cast reveal would arrive any day now. “If I get an offer — if I have an offer — you’ll know it when Bravo announces it,” she said
But, if Kenya did choose to leave, she wouldn’t be charting new territory. The former Miss USA left RHOA after Season 10 over supposed contract disputes and returned to full-time status in Season 12.
“I think your gut tells you [when it’s time to leave],” she said. “Everything has its season. You can’t have one single job forever, for the rest of your life; at least, most people don’t.”
The Kenya Moore Haircare owner continued, saying when she does depart, it’ll be because she listened to her heart.
“…I just feel liberated, you know? I finally have been granted a divorce, I finally got the most beautiful child I ever wanted — everything that’s on my vision board comes true, for the most part – and I feel like when it’s time for me to move on, I’ll just know, and it’ll be a happy moment. It won’t be sad. It will mean that I am taking a step in a different direction, and I would hope that everyone would support me in that.”
#MusicNews: 2024 Orlando Funk Fest Lineup Announced: Charlie Wilson, Ledisi, Faith Evans and More
Charlie Wilson is at the top of this year’s bill. He will be joined by fellow R&B acts Ledisi, Faith Evans, The-Dream, Jagged Edge, 112, and October London.
There will be several rap artists hitting the stage as well, including T.I., Jeezy, Juvenile, and Scarface.
Festivalgoers can purchase one-day or two-day tickets. The ticket types include General Admission, Preserved Reserved, Gold VIP, Platinum VIP, and Vibranium VIP.
Pricing for one-day tickets ranges from $60 to $425, while the two-day package ranges from $80 to $850.
Wilson’s headlining performance will come just months after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His setlist will undoubtedly include a mix of his solo hits and fan favorites, as well as gems from The Gap Band. He may also perform his latest single “Superman,” released in December 2023.
“This song is truly personal for me as it reflects on the love I have for my wife and the turning point that reshaped my entire life. After The Gap Band’s success, I struggled with homelessness and addiction. I entered rehab, meeting my future wife, a counselor at the facility,” Wilson explained.
He added, “She put the cape on my back and we’ve been rollin’ ever since (28 years). This song is also for all women, their strength, love and support is appreciated more than they know.
“Superman” is the follow-up to his No. 1 hit “No Stoppin’ Us” featuring Babyface, K-Ci Hailey and Johnny Gill.
Ledisi will be supporting her album, Good Life, which drops March 1. The album will include her singles “I Need to Know,” “Sell Me No Dreams” and “Perfect Strangers” featuring Kenny Lattimore.
Good Life will include an additional feature by Butcher Brown and production by Rex Rideout, Camper, Ray Keys, Cory Henry and more.
Before Ledisi’s appearance at Orlando Funk Fest, she will embark on her headlining Good Life Tour with special guests Raheem DeVaughn and BJ The Chicago Kid.
It’s been nearly four years since Faith Evans shared new music.
In 2021, she released “Right Now” featuring Big Knuck. Since then, she has appeared on songs with Gwen Bunn (“Between the Lines“), Slim (“Gotta Have Faith“) and Big Freedia (“B*tch You Want“).
The-Dream has been keeping busy writing and producing for artists like Beyoncé (Renaissance) and Usher (Coming Home). On the latter album, released Friday, The-Dream is featured on “Cold Blooded,” which he co-produced with Pharrell Williams.
The-Dream also wrote and produced Fantasia’s “SUPERPOWER (I),” which appears on The Color Purple soundtrack.
On Sept. 20, 2023, The-Dream shared an unreleased track “Stream (V7 Demo Archive 9.20)” to celebrate his 46th birthday.
#HipHopNews: Jack Harlow Partners With Meta For Virtual Reality Concert & Documentary
Built on a sample of R&B singer Delbert “Dale” Greer’s 1995 track “Whatever,” the blockbuster joint features him spitting playful, confident rhymes — including shoutouts to Detroit rapper Skilla Baby, Rico Suave and Enrique Iglesias — over a bouncy, club-friendly beat.
The track’s upbeat vibe is reflected in its accompanying music video, which shows a mullet-sporting Harlow busting moves for the camera, flexing his biceps in a skimpy vest and holding a puppy alongside cameos from male friends and partygoing girls.
“Lovin On Me” isn’t the only new music from the “Tyler Herro” rapper. Just before 2023 came to an end, he joined forces with Grammy-nominated producer 2forwOyNE on a joint titled “Drive Safe.”
The Louisville-bred rhymer took to Instagram to share the release of the toxic love track chronicling a situationship, on which he raps: “And then it’s a forehead kiss on the doorstep/ The way she tryna stay is like she studied at Morehead/ But nah, she went to Western/ The body of Corvette, bellbottom jeans and a lil’ bitty corset/ Neelam ain’t a fan of her/ She tried to give me caution signs like the floor’s wet/ But the problem is somеthing else is too/ Steady pussy ain’t еver felt this new.”
K. Michelle On Beyoncé’s New Country Album: “I Will Be Supporting Her Like I Always Do”
People love to act as though two artists can’t peacefully co-exist without being pitted against one another, and K. Michelle proved to be a class act after experiencing this on Sunday night (Feb. 11).
After Beyoncé broke the internet with the news of act ii, which is a country album, one Twitter user wrote, “Has anyone checked on @kmichelle? Bey will bring pressure to Country music.”
The retired R&B singer, who now performs as her country alter ego, Puddin’, responded, “Why would anyone need to check on me? I’m one of the greatest African American country singers of all time with no album even out.”
Though this person wasn’t the only one expressing similar “concerns,” the Memphis native continued, “Yall been mentioning me ALL night. I’m just happy to be spoke about in my genre. I love Bey and will be supporting her like I always do.”
Beyoncé Is Going Full-On Country For 'Renaissance: ACT II,' Releases 2 New Singles
After she released her final R&B album, I’m The Problem, K. Michelle promptly returned as Puddin’ for the release of “Tennessee.” Of her country music pivot, she explained to VIBE, “Country is something that I think is a lifestyle and it’s something that I do. So that’s always in me and it’s something that’s going to be presented.”
Unfortunately, she has already experienced racist reactions in being a country artist along with Monica and Lil Nas X. The latter’s smash hit, “Old Town Road,” was removed from Billboard charts for “not being country enough,” but was reinstated when Billy Ray Cyrus was added to the remix. Even when Bey dropped “16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” the songs were initially listed under Pop before DSPs updated it to the proper metadata as country tracks.
Fans are predicting, though, that Bey’s three-act release is a reclamation that Black Music is American music as one tweeted, “Black people created house music. Black people created country music. Black people created rock music. BABY, THIS IS THE RENAISSANCE!”
act ii is slated for release on March 29.
Super Bowl LVIII Is Most-Watched Program Ever With 123.4 Million Viewers
A reported 112 million tuned into the big game on CBS, the largest figure ever on a single network. The remaining sum was split between CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Univision, and NFL digital properties, such as the league's streaming service NFL+. Paramount Global said its streaming platform saw a record number of viewers, but exact numbers were not provided.
The previous record belonged to last year’s Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles with 115.1 million viewers.
Katy Perry Exits 'American Idol' After 7 Seasons
When "American Idol" returns for season 23, one familiar face will seemingly be gone. During her appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", Katy Perry announced that she's leaving the long-running singing competition show after serving as its judge for 7 seasons.
In the Monday, February 11 episode of the late-night talk show, the "Dark Horse" singer shocked fans when she revealed that season 22 of "American Idol" will be her last. "This fall, in September, I'm going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio... so I think this will probably be my last season for 'Idol'," she said.
The mom of one went on to say, "I mean, I love 'Idol' so much. It's connected me with the heart of America, but I need to feel that pulse of my own beat." When asked about how fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie reacted to her departure, Katy simply said, "Well, they'll find out tonight!"
Fans had mixed responses to Katy's surprising exit announcement. "Nooooooo I will support you queen in your decision your the reason I started watching idol i love Luke and Lionel but I don't think I could watch it without you it won't feel the same," one fan wrote in a comment underneath a video from the episode on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Instagram page.
"I don't want to see you leave @katyperry but do what your heart wants," one other said. Someone, meanwhile, hoped Paula Abdul "returns once [Katy] leaves Idol."
One other, on the other hand, said, "There's literally zero point to American Idol in 2024. Since the reboot of the show, not a single winner has gone on to become a star like [Kelly Clarkson], [Carrie Underwood], [Jennifer Hudson] or [Fantasia Barrino]. None of them have even been able to crank out a hit single, what's the point."
Katy first joined "American Idol" as the judge in season 16 back in March 2018. At the time, the show was revived on ABC after previously ending its years-long run on FOX.
DDG Defended After Accused Of Shading Halle Bailey's Parenting
The original tweet in question read, "Men care about the upbringing of children more than women do." It appeared on the rapper's "likes," suggesting that he agreed with the statement.
After The Neighborhood Talk posted a screenshot of DDG's liked tweet, many weighed in on what his move meant. As he didn't give a clear context to his reaction, some people have accused him of throwing shade at Halle.
"Lmaoooo since tf when," someone, who disagreed with the tweet, wrote. Fuming, an apparent fan of Halle commented, "Wow see this why we was upset when we found out she was preg by him . He's embarrassing to her."
Another slammed the 26-year-old father of one, "He wants attention like always anything for clout." Someone else similarly accused him, "He do s**t for clout."
However, some others have defended DDG against the allegations, thinking that the liked tweet did not necessarily relate his personal life. "I don't think this is shady. Probably just a thought. The internet be reaching so much y'all elbows be dislocated," one of them weighed in.
Clapping back at the critics, another simply penned, "yall messy." One other enthused, "False alarm guys he's just upset Halle went to Super Bowl without him," after "The Little Mermaid (2023)" actress was spotted at the big game with her sister Chloe Bailey.
Seemingly not bothered by the tweet liked by DDG, Halle posted on Sunday her pictures from the Super Bowl LVIII. In the images, she showed off her postpartum body in a black crop top, high-waisted jeans and denim jacket with a fur-trimmed coat while posing with her sister Chloe at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. "my sister took me to the superbowl !" she simply captioned the snaps.
SiriusXM to Lay Off 160 Employees, About 3% of Workforce
SiriusXM is eliminating about 160 jobs, a move to cut expenses that represents a layoff affecting just under 3% of the satellite radio and audio streamer’s workforce.
Jennifer Witz, CEO of SiriusXM, announced the layoffs in a memo to staff Monday. The cutbacks come after SiriusXM in March 2023 announced it was laying off 475 staffers, about 8% of its headcount at the time.
“To continue on our path to future subscriber growth and sustain our company’s success as the competitive landscape evolves, it’s imperative that we become even more efficient, agile and flexible,” Witz wrote in the memo. “Therefore, today we are making several organizational changes, including the difficult decision to eliminate certain roles, which will allow us to move faster and collaborate more effectively in support of our long-term objectives.”
Witz continued, “From uniting teams and better aligning initiatives, to investing in new technologies that will power our transformation, we are focused on increasing efficiencies and redeploying resources to support the strategic priorities of our business.”
For the fourth quarter of 2023, SiriusXM reported revenue of $2.29 billion, flat year over year, with net income of $352 million (compared with net income of $365 million a year earlier). In the quarter, SiriusXM added approximately 131,000 new self-pay subscribers to end the year with about 34 million total. The company lost 445,000 self-pay subscribers for full-year 2023.
Last fall, in a bid to charge up its growth, SiriusXM unveiled a new logo, a brand-new app, a slate of new channels and shows, and the lower-priced Streaming All Access Plan ($9.99 per month, versus the company’s previous all-inclusive streaming-only at $10.99/month). With the launch of the new SiriusXM app, the company introduces new guest DJ channel takeovers from over 160-plus artists and bands, including Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Alice Cooper, Luke Combs and Maren Morris.
Chris Brown Praises Usher Over Super Bowl Halftime Show Despite Alleged Beef
The 34-year-old R&B singer made use of his social media account to share his take on Usher's highly-anticipated performance. On Instagram Stories, he simply let out a flame emoji and tagged Usher's Instagram account over a black screen.
Chris' social media post was later shared by a blog via Instagram, prompting Instagram users to voice their thoughts on him praising Usher. In the comments section, several users appeared to have said that they would love to see Chris perform for an upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show.
One in particular wrote, "I really feel if the media didn't bash CB he def be up there doing the halftime show." Another joined in, "CHRIS BROWN WOULD KILL THE SUPERBOWL!!! Tell me I'm lying!"
A third added, "I really really wanna see Chris brown do the Super Bowl halftime performance." Meanwhile, a fourth noted, "As long as HOV over the halftime shows we will never see CB perform let's be real would be nice but it's not happening," making a reference to Jay-Z who serves as the event's producer.
Usher delivered a number of his songs for his 13-minute performance during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Among the tracks were "My Boo", "Yeah!", "Bad Girl", "OMG", "Caught Up", "Love in this Club", "Confessions, Pt. II" and "Burn". He also had some special guests, including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, H.E.R. and will.i.am.
As for the beef, it was reported that Chris and Usher got into an altercation. The two allegedly had a fight during Chris' 34th birthday party in May 2023 at the Skate Rock City roller rink in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, they looked in good spirits when they performed at the Love & Friends festival in Las Vegas one day later.
Sam Smith & Boyfriend Christian Cowan Stroll Arm-in-Arm Around NYC Ahead of Fashion Show
Sam Smith and boyfriend Christian Cowan are enjoying a low-key afternoon. The 31-year-old “Stay With Me” singer and the 28-year-old fashion designer walked arm-in-arm around New York City together on Monday afternoon (February 12).
For their outing, Sam wore a long, black coat over a Balenciaga shirt and black pants while Christian sported a shearling-lined jacket over a white T-shirt paired with tan pants.
Later that evening, Sam changed into a black and white star-print shirt and black maxi-skirt as they supported Christian at his latest fashion show.
Channing Tatum Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance with Daughter Everly!
It looks like Everly is an anime fan as the father-daughter duo went to the premiere of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training on Saturday (February 10) at Regal Union Square in New York City.
Everly wore a themed outfit for the event, complete with purple hair, while Channing dressed comfortably in a sweatshirt. It looks like Channing was going for a Tanjiro cosplay look while Everly dressed as Shinobu Kocho.
The new Demon Slayer experience debuts in theaters on February 23, including IMAX and premium large format screens.
For those who don’t know, Everly is the 10-year-old daughter who Channing shares with his ex-wife Jenna Dewan.
Jon Stewart Says ‘Daily Show’ Return Was Prompted by Wanting to Have a “Place to Unload
Jon Stewart is opening up about his highly anticipated return as host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, nearly nine years after leaving the nightly gig.
Appearing on Monday’s CBS Mornings before returning as Daily Show host on Mondays through the 2024 election, Stewart said it was indeed the political environment that brought him back, while also sharing that the move was influenced by his departure from Apple TV+ over creative differences.
“I very much wanted to have some place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season,” Stewart said, then referring to The Problem With Jon Stewart not moving forward with a third season on the streamer. “I thought I was going to do it over at — they call it Apple TV+. It’s a television enclave, very small. It’s like living in Malibu. They decided, they felt that they didn’t want me to say things that might get me in trouble.”
Though he has thoughts, Stewart — joining hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson for an in-studio interview — was modest about the influence that his version of the show could have on real-world events.
“I don’t know about hoping to have an influence, but I’m hoping to have a catharsis and a way to comment on things and a way to express them that hopefully people will enjoy,” he said. “But as far as influence, and you guys know from doing this, just about everything I had wanted to happen over the 16 years that I was at The Daily Show did not happen, if you were hoping for influence. And I think I’ve learned that post-Daily Show … I don’t really view it as, ‘I really want to have an influence on this issue, this election,’ things like that.”
Just weeks after the 2016 presidential election, Stewart had a similar approach speaking at an event in New York, quickly rejecting arguments put forth online that his version of The Daily Show could have influenced the results.
“We were the destroyers of men and creators of empires,” Stewart joked at the time. “I think that generally is satire’s role and has always been: the rise and fall of civilization at our whim.”
Ahead of his Monday return, Stewart also spoke with The Daily Show’s Ears Edition podcast about why he wanted to come back now.
“If you want to be present in this world, you have to be present in this conversation and you have to be as relentless and as tenacious as the counter-narrative that’s being formed. So much of the information that we see now is weaponized … and it keeps taking exponential leaps,” he said. “It’s not just the election. It’s AI. It’s the way that we’ve militarized all our conflicts. It all ties together to one larger idea, which is the form of government we love so much is an analog — I don’t want to say dinosaur — but it is analog and the world now moves at an increasingly infinite digital pace, and reconciling those two things, I think, is the challenge of the moment for people.”
On CBS Mornings, Stewart also spoke about returning to the cable program as the media landscape has changed since he left The Daily Show in 2015, with Burleson arguing that many young people are getting their news from places like TikTok and other forms of social media.
“Generally, I will be doing it with choreographed dance moves,” Stewart joked of how that shift would affect his approach, before turning serious and arguing that quality content will find an audience. “Information is information, and if it’s good content people will find their way to it,” he said. “I think the worst thing you can do is pander to this idea that young people absorb knowledge and information in an entirely different way.”
It was announced last month that, through the 2024 election, Stewart would return as host of The Daily Show, on Monday nights only, starting Feb. 12. The rest of the week, the series will be hosted by a rotating team of the show’s correspondents, who include Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta and Dulcé Sloan.
However, Stewart will be an executive producer on the other nights as well, allowing the part-time host to be heavily involved in the show leading up to the election and even beyond, with Stewart’s deal keeping him in place as an executive producer through at least 2025.
Stewart’s return comes as The Daily Show continues to search for a permanent replacement for Stewart’s successor, Trevor Noah, who unexpectedly exited the hosting gig in 2022.
While Stewart was reluctant to talk more on CBS Mornings about why he was only returning on Mondays, that setup likely made his return more appealing as the host was openly exhausted by the end of his initial run. Kicking off the week also allows him to set the agenda for the next few days and comment on a weekend’s worth of news.
And the corporate synergy of an appearance on another network, like Comedy Central owned by Paramount Global, did not go unnoticed by Stewart.
After King issued a disclaimer about the networks’ mutual corporate parent, Stewart was quick to quip, “Who’s got the tote bag? Paramount Global tote bag.”
“I thought it was called Viacom,” he added of the conglomerate, before joking, “It’s just billionaires moving us around on a Stratego board.”
Elton John is auctioning off hundreds of items from his Atlanta home
“If you buy anything at the sale, just remember that it is going from one incredibly eager collector who had so much pleasure out of what you are going to buy, and I hope it finds a good home,” John said to would-be buyers.
The vast collection includes outlandish costumes from his concerts, artwork, jewelry, lots of watches, furniture, a pinball machine and, of course, his Yamaha Conservatory grand piano on which he known to tinker and play iconic songs — such as “Daniel,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Cold Heart” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” — for family and friends.
The apartment has a view of the city’s skyline, with a personal gym, massage room and a bathroom clad in onyx. He is now selling all the contents as he downsizes from the massive dwelling and the treasures it contained to spend more time with his sons at his other homes.
The previews started at Christie’s on Friday, and the auction will start on Feb. 21. The items are expected to bring in more than $10 million, with opening bids ranging from $100 to $1 million.
The artworks range from the risqué to the iconic, including a rare original Banksy, three Keith Haring works and Damien Hirst’s “Your Song,” which is signed and inscribed “xxx for Elton + David love Damien Thank You,” estimated to sell for $350,000 to $450,000. There is also an erotic print from Ryan McGinley titled “Two Heads,” which is a picture of a snake wrapped around male genitalia that the musician kept in his bathroom. John is parting with 350 of the 7,000 photos in his collection, including works from Irving Penn and Richard Avedon.
Christie’s Deputy Chairman Tash Perrin said: “What’s important about this is it gives you a glimpse in how Elton lived with the objects he created and gave him inspiration, it was a difficult and emotional decision, and it was a long process to decide what they were going to part with. They did not want to leave anything in storage.”
There is also an entire closet containing more than 100 vintage Gianni Versace shirts, with starting bids at $4,000 to $6,000. There is also Versace china, glassware, dining chairs and a porcelain Medusa red table service. He had a special lifelong relationship with Gianni Versace before the designer was assassinated in Miami in 1997.
His 1990 Bentley with a leather interior is also up for sale. John said he loved the smell of its leather as he drove the streets of Atlanta and the South of France.
Mercedes Heuer of South Carolina is a huge fan who follows him all over the world attending his concerts. “It’s impressive, a wonderful idea to take a piece of him, and have him at home,” she said.
Fans were lining up at the preview at Christie’s in New York City to get a glimpse of his eclectic taste in art, fashion and furniture, all kept in the sprawling, 13,500-square-foot home. The table where he sat and came up with the idea for his AIDS foundation is on sale as well.
Mike Pappert of Houston says, “It’s great to see it and see it in person. I’m sure it’s not a matter of needing money, but he is taking the opportunity to share his things with fans.”
The “Rocket Man” singer now lives primarily in England and had used the Atlanta home as his base of operations dating back to 1992. He called the home his man cave. It is where he got clean and sober, and now that his 330-concert farewell tour is over, he has decided to shed some of his personal possessions.
Director Antoine Fuqua Announces Documentary Feature About Nelson Mandela
*Antoine Fuqua will direct a documentary about Nelson Mandela titled “Troublemaker: The Story Behind the Mandela Tapes.”
Variety reports that “the doc will use newly discovered audio interviews with Mandela himself to deliver an “honest, accurate and definitive depiction” of the man who remains a global symbol of justice, hope and universal human dignity,” according to a press release, the outlet writes.
Fuqua teamed with Mandela’s close friend and former cellmate Mac Maharaj on the project, and Maharaj will serve as an executive producer.
“Using recently discovered audio interviews of Mandela intimately recounting his life experiences, as well as the personal reflections and insights of Maharaj, the film will reveal the forces that shaped the global icon that is Nelson Mandela,” reads the logline, per Variety. “Jailed for 27 years, this pioneering activist lawyer turned freedom fighter walked from prison into a country on the brink of a violent racial conflagration to become the first democratically elected president of South Africa.”
In a statement, Fuqua said, “It’s an honor to bring to the screen the untold story of Mandela, a man I’ve revered my entire life. For decades, Mandela and his comrades were put through the most inhumane conditions imaginable. Yet they came out of jail with love and forgiveness in their hearts, and rather than seeking vengeance, they sought to unite the country. His compassion and inner strength enabled Mandela to make meaningful change. This film will investigate how Mandela came through his ordeals with his humanity intact, and reveal the tough and shrewd politician behind his iconic ‘nice guy’ persona. I’m incredibly fortunate to be partnered on this project with Mac Maharaj, whose experiences, intelligence and encyclopedic memory of his years alongside Mandela are invaluable.”
Maharaj adds: “I have longed to see the story of Nelson Mandela, and his decades long fight and sacrifice for freedom, equality and justice told in an authentic, complex and revelatory way. It is a story that is more relevant to humanity today, than ever. I am thrilled that a director of Antoine Fuqua’s skill, creativity, and integrity has agreed to take on this challenging task.”
Producers Arthur Landon and Mark Bauch said: “During a time of political uncertainty and unrest around the world, this film aims to rekindle the influence of a truly great leader and show how a humble but determined lawyer became one of the greatest politicians in history. We are incredibly fortunate and excited to be partnered with Antoine, who has an incredible vision to show the world a side of Mandela we’ve never seen before, and Mac Maharaj, a true South African icon who fought the struggle alongside Mandela, and is a resource unlike any other.”
The project is reportedly in production in South Africa.
Dr. Dre And Snoop Dogg Launch Ready To Drink Gin & Juice
Musical and cultural icons Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg kicked off the rollout of Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, the first ready to drink product from their new premium spirits company, with a surprise performance at the Super Bowl afterparty last night in Las Vegas.
Three decades after “Gin & Juice” left an indelible mark on popular culture and helped establish Dre and Snoop as groundbreaking hip-hop superstars, the pair are now known as much for their wide-ranging entrepreneurial ventures as for their game-changing music. With their premium beverage Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, they’re taking over some new territory — the spirits industry.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Snoop’s classic debut album, Doggystyle, produced by Dr. Dre, the canned beverage is named, of course, for Snoop’s beloved, Grammy-nominated 1994 classic song “Gin & Juice,” and comes in four flavors: Citrus, Melon, Passionfruit, and Apricot. The canned cocktails are premium gin-based cocktails, crafted for an innovative experience with packaging designed by Ini Archibong. Product will be rolling out domestically throughout the US now through early spring. More offerings from the brand will be announced in the future.
“Together, we always try to create magic, we’re having fun being creative, and everything about this product is really us,” says Dr. Dre. “There’s passion behind it, and friendship and love and a culture. We’re shooting to make everything we do magnificent, and fortunately, most of the time we hit the target.” “Look where we’re at in our careers,” says Snoop Dogg. “Look at our age and look at what we’ve done, and we still love each other, so why not do something together? A lot of times people have been in a relationship for thirty years and can’t talk to each other, can’t hang out, so it’s just fun to be in a partnership with people that you actually love.”
Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop will be distributed nationally through Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, the largest beverage distributor in the U.S. The spirit company will be led by Patrick Halbert, Andrew Gill and Rocco Milano, the founders from On The Rocks Cocktails. In addition to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, investors include Jimmy Iovine, Main Street Advisors, Marc Rowan and Tom Werner.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
New Sexy?
They honestly think this is sexy?
They honestly think this is sexy?
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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