#MAGFAB: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri For VARIETY Magazine:
In a new cover story for VARIETY, Julia Roberts joins fellow stars of AFTER THE HUNT Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Chloë Sevigny, Michael Stuhlbarg, and director Luca Guadagnino to sit down with Co-Editor-in-Chief Ramin Setoodeh about the film’s message and how the cast was thrilled to work with Roberts—and nervous to meet Sevigny. They also discuss a potential sequel to MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, Guadagnino’s adaptation of AMERICAN PSYCHO, Roberts wearing a sweater with Guadagnino’s face on it, and more.
Roberts on how she approaches her character in “After the Hunt”:
In the film, Roberts plays Yale philosophy professor Alma Olsson, who finds herself in the middle of a scandal when her favorite student, Maggie (Edebiri) accuses another professor, Hank (Garfield), of sexual assault.
“The hardest part for me was not being sympathetic and empathetic. For me as a person, it’s like, ‘Oh, how can I hold her?’ And she was not to be held. This was not the time. I have a very hen-like personality; I want to gather, and I want to feed and care. And she’s just the opposite of every instinct I’ve ever had in my life. And I think there were times where I just found it really exhausting; the mental gymnastics of the way she lives her life is very unfamiliar to me. So having Luca keep me on the right rails at all times. And then, it’s a playground. I don’t mean to single you out, Michael, but I go into these scenes with Michael, and I just turn to Luca and I’m like, ‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ What he’s doing is so unexpected and original, and I’m just watching him. I’m not even in the scene anymore, because it’s so fucking unreal what you’re doing right now.”
Sevigny and Guadagnino on working with Roberts:
Sevigny: “Can I say when we left, I needed more Julia. On the plane ride home, I watched, like, three of your movies. I just wanted more!…‘Notting Hill,’ ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ and I can’t remember the third. But I was like, ‘I just want more Julia!’…I was like, ‘I’m not ready to say goodbye.’ Luckily there’s a whole canon I can go home and keep watching…I felt close to her the first time I met her. But she invited us to her home for rehearsals, and we stayed in her beach house. And she was just very giving and generous.”
Guadagnino: “You have to know something about Julia. She’s an incredible cook. She does an amazing salmon, but she also does an incredible banana bread…The point being that Julia is, like, amazing. She’s a friend, she’s a mother, she cares for people. Spending time with her in their private life is amazing. Being in the house is amazing. Doing things with Julia is amazing, and then she shows up on set. And the day after, she knows every single person in the crew’s name, and it’s not an affectation. She’s actually curious. She wants to know. You knew every single person before I did…And I have a last, lovely thing. We went to promote ‘Queer,’ and we went to San Francisco, and Julia hosted a screening for me and Daniel [Craig]. And then she brought me banana bread. We were staying at your house, me and the production designer Stefano Baisi…And we were sharing their bathroom. And then we left for Italy. And in the morning, there was a banana bread. Two loafs. So I ate one with Stefano, and the second one we took, and we were at the lounge waiting, and the staff of the lounge came to me: ‘Oh, it looks very beautiful.’ I said, ‘Try it.’ They came back, ‘Who did this? This is the most beautiful banana bread.’ They don’t know it was Julia’s banana bread, but people were starstruck by the banana bread.”
Roberts on being both excited and intimidated when meeting Sevigny with her daughter, Hazel:
“But I was so excited and intimidated about meeting Chloë. And when we were at my house, we’re all sitting around the kitchen table, and Hazel was making herself some lunch, and we’re talking about the material and rehearsing. Allan [Mandelbaum], our producer, he came in, and he goes, ‘Chloë should just be here in a couple minutes.’ And I look up, and Ayo looks up, and we match eyes. Luca goes, ‘What?’ And I go, ‘I’m scared.’ And Ayo goes, ‘Me too.’ And Hazel goes, ‘I’m leaving.’ And then, like a minute later, the doorbell rang, and Hazel goes, ‘I’m leaving through the garage.’ And truly we were so excited and intimidated.”
Guadagnino and Sevigny on whether she’ll be in his new adaptation of “American Psycho”:
Guadagnino: “I don’t talk about ‘American Psycho.’”
Sevigny: “I pitched that I should play the same part.”
Guadagnino: “The answer is if the movie happens, for sure.”
Roberts, Edebiri, and Guadagnino on a journalist interpreting “After the Hunt” as “anti-feminist”:
Roberts: “I made a meal of it.”
Edebiri: “I thought you answered it very well.”
Roberts: “I mean, everybody’s going to have their own opinion. That’s what’s so great about it.”
Guadagnino: “Can I say something? Two things: One, a movie with these sublimely powerful female characters, how can that be described as anti-feminist? The second thing I want to say: Historically, feminism, as we know, has gone from places in the world and affirmed amazing forward thinking through history, but also created many different waves of feminism. But what I’m trying to say is the idea that something is anti-feminist is a bit generic, and also is so devoid of the pleasure of watching the movie, because look at the fucking movie and enjoy the story of these people. Don’t think about a generic thing that doesn’t exist, historically, socially, philosophically. So it’s a lazy question.”
Roberts: “No, Luca … [She laughs.]”
Edebiri: “But I do think the women who are portraying these women are deeply intelligent and deeply empowered. When I sit at this table and I look at Chloë and I look at Julia, these are not just girls who are like, ‘Yeah, do whatever you want.’ That framing takes away our agency as well, and it takes away nuance, and I don’t think that that’s fair to any of us.”
Guadagnino and Edebiri on whether they think calling “After the Hunt” a movie about #MeToo is fair:
Guadagnino: “I think it’s a bit of a lazy way to describe it. It’s a passé way of thinking.”
Edebiri: “I think it’s also like saying, ‘“The Godfather”’ is a movie about an Italian wedding.’ There’s so much richness happening in the lives of these characters, genuinely, and that boggles my mind.”
Guadagnino on whether Amazon MGM was concerned about the message of the film:
“This was my fourth movie with Amazon. They released ‘Suspiria’” then ‘Bones and All,’ then ‘Challengers.’ We are never in a place where there is a prescription from the studio: ‘Do this, and we’re going to be happy.’ I can promise you that the creation of the movie, and then the campaign to release the movie, has been made with passion.”
Roberts and Guadagnino on Roberts’ sweater with his face on it:
When Roberts arrived at the Venice Film Festival, she wore a sweater with Guadagnino’s face all over it. However, Guadagnino had no idea.
Roberts: “I made that happen. I might have a few more surprises as the tour goes on. I’m currently wearing Chloë Sevigny’s underpants. You know, Luca was so excited about coming to Venice, so that was my way of arriving, literally, with Luca on my sleeves.”
Guadagnino: “She sent me a picture in the morning in the boat. I thought, ‘How sweet. A beautiful picture.’ And then I go, ‘What’s that?’…I was on set because I’m shooting a movie. I started to laugh. And then an hour later, I started to be bombed by messages.”
Roberts on how she approaches her character in “After the Hunt”:
In the film, Roberts plays Yale philosophy professor Alma Olsson, who finds herself in the middle of a scandal when her favorite student, Maggie (Edebiri) accuses another professor, Hank (Garfield), of sexual assault.
“The hardest part for me was not being sympathetic and empathetic. For me as a person, it’s like, ‘Oh, how can I hold her?’ And she was not to be held. This was not the time. I have a very hen-like personality; I want to gather, and I want to feed and care. And she’s just the opposite of every instinct I’ve ever had in my life. And I think there were times where I just found it really exhausting; the mental gymnastics of the way she lives her life is very unfamiliar to me. So having Luca keep me on the right rails at all times. And then, it’s a playground. I don’t mean to single you out, Michael, but I go into these scenes with Michael, and I just turn to Luca and I’m like, ‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ What he’s doing is so unexpected and original, and I’m just watching him. I’m not even in the scene anymore, because it’s so fucking unreal what you’re doing right now.”
Sevigny and Guadagnino on working with Roberts:
Sevigny: “Can I say when we left, I needed more Julia. On the plane ride home, I watched, like, three of your movies. I just wanted more!…‘Notting Hill,’ ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ and I can’t remember the third. But I was like, ‘I just want more Julia!’…I was like, ‘I’m not ready to say goodbye.’ Luckily there’s a whole canon I can go home and keep watching…I felt close to her the first time I met her. But she invited us to her home for rehearsals, and we stayed in her beach house. And she was just very giving and generous.”
Guadagnino: “You have to know something about Julia. She’s an incredible cook. She does an amazing salmon, but she also does an incredible banana bread…The point being that Julia is, like, amazing. She’s a friend, she’s a mother, she cares for people. Spending time with her in their private life is amazing. Being in the house is amazing. Doing things with Julia is amazing, and then she shows up on set. And the day after, she knows every single person in the crew’s name, and it’s not an affectation. She’s actually curious. She wants to know. You knew every single person before I did…And I have a last, lovely thing. We went to promote ‘Queer,’ and we went to San Francisco, and Julia hosted a screening for me and Daniel [Craig]. And then she brought me banana bread. We were staying at your house, me and the production designer Stefano Baisi…And we were sharing their bathroom. And then we left for Italy. And in the morning, there was a banana bread. Two loafs. So I ate one with Stefano, and the second one we took, and we were at the lounge waiting, and the staff of the lounge came to me: ‘Oh, it looks very beautiful.’ I said, ‘Try it.’ They came back, ‘Who did this? This is the most beautiful banana bread.’ They don’t know it was Julia’s banana bread, but people were starstruck by the banana bread.”
Roberts on being both excited and intimidated when meeting Sevigny with her daughter, Hazel:
“But I was so excited and intimidated about meeting Chloë. And when we were at my house, we’re all sitting around the kitchen table, and Hazel was making herself some lunch, and we’re talking about the material and rehearsing. Allan [Mandelbaum], our producer, he came in, and he goes, ‘Chloë should just be here in a couple minutes.’ And I look up, and Ayo looks up, and we match eyes. Luca goes, ‘What?’ And I go, ‘I’m scared.’ And Ayo goes, ‘Me too.’ And Hazel goes, ‘I’m leaving.’ And then, like a minute later, the doorbell rang, and Hazel goes, ‘I’m leaving through the garage.’ And truly we were so excited and intimidated.”
Guadagnino and Sevigny on whether she’ll be in his new adaptation of “American Psycho”:
Sevigny: “I pitched that I should play the same part.”
Guadagnino: “The answer is if the movie happens, for sure.”
Roberts, Edebiri, and Guadagnino on a journalist interpreting “After the Hunt” as “anti-feminist”:
Roberts: “I made a meal of it.”
Edebiri: “I thought you answered it very well.”
Roberts: “I mean, everybody’s going to have their own opinion. That’s what’s so great about it.”
Guadagnino: “Can I say something? Two things: One, a movie with these sublimely powerful female characters, how can that be described as anti-feminist? The second thing I want to say: Historically, feminism, as we know, has gone from places in the world and affirmed amazing forward thinking through history, but also created many different waves of feminism. But what I’m trying to say is the idea that something is anti-feminist is a bit generic, and also is so devoid of the pleasure of watching the movie, because look at the fucking movie and enjoy the story of these people. Don’t think about a generic thing that doesn’t exist, historically, socially, philosophically. So it’s a lazy question.”
Roberts: “No, Luca … [She laughs.]”
Edebiri: “But I do think the women who are portraying these women are deeply intelligent and deeply empowered. When I sit at this table and I look at Chloë and I look at Julia, these are not just girls who are like, ‘Yeah, do whatever you want.’ That framing takes away our agency as well, and it takes away nuance, and I don’t think that that’s fair to any of us.”
Guadagnino and Edebiri on whether they think calling “After the Hunt” a movie about #MeToo is fair:
Guadagnino: “I think it’s a bit of a lazy way to describe it. It’s a passé way of thinking.”
Edebiri: “I think it’s also like saying, ‘“The Godfather”’ is a movie about an Italian wedding.’ There’s so much richness happening in the lives of these characters, genuinely, and that boggles my mind.”
Guadagnino on whether Amazon MGM was concerned about the message of the film:
“This was my fourth movie with Amazon. They released ‘Suspiria’” then ‘Bones and All,’ then ‘Challengers.’ We are never in a place where there is a prescription from the studio: ‘Do this, and we’re going to be happy.’ I can promise you that the creation of the movie, and then the campaign to release the movie, has been made with passion.”
Roberts and Guadagnino on Roberts’ sweater with his face on it:
When Roberts arrived at the Venice Film Festival, she wore a sweater with Guadagnino’s face all over it. However, Guadagnino had no idea.
Roberts: “I made that happen. I might have a few more surprises as the tour goes on. I’m currently wearing Chloë Sevigny’s underpants. You know, Luca was so excited about coming to Venice, so that was my way of arriving, literally, with Luca on my sleeves.”
Guadagnino: “She sent me a picture in the morning in the boat. I thought, ‘How sweet. A beautiful picture.’ And then I go, ‘What’s that?’…I was on set because I’m shooting a movie. I started to laugh. And then an hour later, I started to be bombed by messages.”
On newsstands now.
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Makes Brilliant Minds Debut in Season 2's Premiere
Brilliant Minds is already off to a glamorous start, with the all-new season continuing its tradition of luring standout guest stars. And in honor of the Season 2 premiere on September 22, the Brilliant Minds crew crossed paths with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams.
With a rotating door of guest stars heading to Bronx General Hospital in Brilliant Minds Season 2, including 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski and Chicago Med alum Molly Bernard in upcoming episodes, this season is a certified must-watch. And based on Season 1's guest appearances from stars like Mandy Patinkin and Steve Howey, audiences can expect some dynamite performances as Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) and his crew tackle whatever mind-boggling case heads their way next.
In Williams' Brilliant Minds debut, she plays Bitsy, an affluent Upper West Side housewife who sees the suspended Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry) at her private practice. Bitsy is impressively well-connected, knowing all the juicy gossip about everyone on every medical board in New York City.
The Season 2 premiere picks up with Pierce still suspended after it was discovered that she treated her ex-husband's mistress despite knowing the nature of their entanglement. Now accepting clients outside of her typical purview, Pierce struggled with her suspension from Bronx General Hospital as Bitsy finished up her "very important" session.
"This is literally one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through," Bitsy tells her. "My neighbors leave their shoes in the hallway every day, rain or shine. And Dr. Pierce, we did not pay a fortune to live in a penthouse apartment just to look at orthopedic sneakers whenever we walk out the door."
Remember when Pierce was working with clients with action-packed, high-stakes medical diagnoses? So could Pierce as she struggled to respond to Bitsy's lament. "Let's dig a little deeper," Pierce said half-heartedly. "How does this behavior make you feel?"
"Like there's no sense of justice in the world," Bitsy sighed, signaling to a dreadfully bored Pierce that their time was up. But before Bitsy left for the day, she brought up something she heard from one of her many friends on the medical board.
"Is it true you were fired from Bronx General?" the nosey Bitsy asked.
"That is inaccurate," Pierce said. "I'm simply on leave and currently weighing my options."
"Yeah, for the record, if my husband cheated on me, I would have done the same thing," Bitsy shrugged with a smile before leaving Pierce's office. While Bitsy's neighborly concerns were humorously superficial, her visit left Pierce contemplative of her murky status at Bronx General.
Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry) and Bitsy (Porsha Williams) appear on Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 1 "The Phantom Hook".
In the final moments of the Brilliant Minds premiere, Bitsy visited Pierce's office, droning on yet again about her HOA woes. "I have talked to the cleaning staff, the doormen, the HOA, and still the shoes are there," Bitsy groaned. "I mean, you're the professional here, what do you think?"
Within moments, we see Pierce visiting Bronx General Hospital Chief Dr. Muriel Landon (Donna Murphy), emboldened to do everything she could to get back to the clients that fulfilled her. Gone are the days of HOA laments and offensively-placed orthopedic shoes — Pierce is fighting for her job.
"I want my job back," Pierce told Muriel. "Get a date on the books with the hospital board. I'm ready to tell my side of the story."
Porsha Williams appears on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Season 22 Episode 69.
Before stepping into Bitsy's perfectly-placed shoes in Brilliant Minds Season 2, Episode 1 ("The Phantom Hook"), Williams built a diverse career across reality TV, scripted series, and hosting gigs. She rose to fame on Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta, where her charisma and sharp humor won over audiences.
In addition to RHOA and her mini-series Porsha Family Matters, Williams has appeared on Dish Nation and brought her humorous gumption to Bravo's Chat Room. Williams' other acting credits include guest appearances in series like Insecure and Star, as well as the feature films Zootopia and Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.
New one-hour episodes of Brilliant Minds Season 2 air on Monday nights at 10/9c on NBC and are available to stream on Peacock the day after they air on TV.
With a rotating door of guest stars heading to Bronx General Hospital in Brilliant Minds Season 2, including 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski and Chicago Med alum Molly Bernard in upcoming episodes, this season is a certified must-watch. And based on Season 1's guest appearances from stars like Mandy Patinkin and Steve Howey, audiences can expect some dynamite performances as Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto) and his crew tackle whatever mind-boggling case heads their way next.
In Williams' Brilliant Minds debut, she plays Bitsy, an affluent Upper West Side housewife who sees the suspended Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry) at her private practice. Bitsy is impressively well-connected, knowing all the juicy gossip about everyone on every medical board in New York City.
The Season 2 premiere picks up with Pierce still suspended after it was discovered that she treated her ex-husband's mistress despite knowing the nature of their entanglement. Now accepting clients outside of her typical purview, Pierce struggled with her suspension from Bronx General Hospital as Bitsy finished up her "very important" session.
"This is literally one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through," Bitsy tells her. "My neighbors leave their shoes in the hallway every day, rain or shine. And Dr. Pierce, we did not pay a fortune to live in a penthouse apartment just to look at orthopedic sneakers whenever we walk out the door."
Remember when Pierce was working with clients with action-packed, high-stakes medical diagnoses? So could Pierce as she struggled to respond to Bitsy's lament. "Let's dig a little deeper," Pierce said half-heartedly. "How does this behavior make you feel?"
"Like there's no sense of justice in the world," Bitsy sighed, signaling to a dreadfully bored Pierce that their time was up. But before Bitsy left for the day, she brought up something she heard from one of her many friends on the medical board.
"Is it true you were fired from Bronx General?" the nosey Bitsy asked.
"That is inaccurate," Pierce said. "I'm simply on leave and currently weighing my options."
"Yeah, for the record, if my husband cheated on me, I would have done the same thing," Bitsy shrugged with a smile before leaving Pierce's office. While Bitsy's neighborly concerns were humorously superficial, her visit left Pierce contemplative of her murky status at Bronx General.
Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry) and Bitsy (Porsha Williams) appear on Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 1 "The Phantom Hook".
In the final moments of the Brilliant Minds premiere, Bitsy visited Pierce's office, droning on yet again about her HOA woes. "I have talked to the cleaning staff, the doormen, the HOA, and still the shoes are there," Bitsy groaned. "I mean, you're the professional here, what do you think?"
Within moments, we see Pierce visiting Bronx General Hospital Chief Dr. Muriel Landon (Donna Murphy), emboldened to do everything she could to get back to the clients that fulfilled her. Gone are the days of HOA laments and offensively-placed orthopedic shoes — Pierce is fighting for her job.
"I want my job back," Pierce told Muriel. "Get a date on the books with the hospital board. I'm ready to tell my side of the story."
Porsha Williams appears on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Season 22 Episode 69.
Before stepping into Bitsy's perfectly-placed shoes in Brilliant Minds Season 2, Episode 1 ("The Phantom Hook"), Williams built a diverse career across reality TV, scripted series, and hosting gigs. She rose to fame on Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta, where her charisma and sharp humor won over audiences.
In addition to RHOA and her mini-series Porsha Family Matters, Williams has appeared on Dish Nation and brought her humorous gumption to Bravo's Chat Room. Williams' other acting credits include guest appearances in series like Insecure and Star, as well as the feature films Zootopia and Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.
New one-hour episodes of Brilliant Minds Season 2 air on Monday nights at 10/9c on NBC and are available to stream on Peacock the day after they air on TV.
#NewMusic from Miguel Shares New Song ‘El Pleito’
Miguel has released his new single “El Pleito” in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).
Produced by Ely Rise and Dahi, “El Pleito” — which means “the dispute” in English — “is me making peace with what change through chaos costs and saluting anyone who bets on possibility lejos de casa,” explains Miguel.
“El Pleito” is the latest offering from Miguel’s long-awaited album, CAOS, which arrives Oct. 23.
The album will also include the previously shared “Always Time” and “New Martyrs (Ride 4 U),” as well as “Angel’s Song,” which he previewed in a social media post that also unveiled he has a one-year-old son with Margaret Zhang, former editor-in-chief of Vogue China.
“Our baby turned 1 today !!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELITO !!! We love you so much ! So proud and honored that you chose us to be your parents. Papá wrote you a song – hope it always reminds you of how loved you are,” they wrote in a collaborative Instagram post.
Regarding CAOS, Miguel shared, “To rebuild, I had to destroy myself. That is the core confrontation of CAOS. Through my personal evolution, I learned that transformation is violent. CAOS is the sonic iteration of me bending that violence into something universally felt.”
CAOS is the follow-up to Miguel’s War & Leisure, released in 2017.
Stream Miguel’s new song “El Pleito” BELOW
Miguel has released his new single “El Pleito” in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).
Produced by Ely Rise and Dahi, “El Pleito” — which means “the dispute” in English — “is me making peace with what change through chaos costs and saluting anyone who bets on possibility lejos de casa,” explains Miguel.
“El Pleito” is the latest offering from Miguel’s long-awaited album, CAOS, which arrives Oct. 23.
The album will also include the previously shared “Always Time” and “New Martyrs (Ride 4 U),” as well as “Angel’s Song,” which he previewed in a social media post that also unveiled he has a one-year-old son with Margaret Zhang, former editor-in-chief of Vogue China.
“Our baby turned 1 today !!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELITO !!! We love you so much ! So proud and honored that you chose us to be your parents. Papá wrote you a song – hope it always reminds you of how loved you are,” they wrote in a collaborative Instagram post.
Regarding CAOS, Miguel shared, “To rebuild, I had to destroy myself. That is the core confrontation of CAOS. Through my personal evolution, I learned that transformation is violent. CAOS is the sonic iteration of me bending that violence into something universally felt.”
CAOS is the follow-up to Miguel’s War & Leisure, released in 2017.
Stream Miguel’s new song “El Pleito” BELOW
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Steps In To Headline 2025 Global Citizen Festival After The Weeknd Exits
Cardi B is set to perform at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York City, stepping in after The Weeknd’s withdrawal.
The Bronx rapper previously performed at the festival in 2018 and is returning just after dropping her latest album, AM I THE DRAMA?.
Fans can stream the event live on YouTube, Apple Music, iHeartRadio and more.
Cardi B’s already celebrated album rollout for her new album, AM I THE DRAMA?, just got an unexpected boost. The Hip Hop superstar is now headlining the Global Citizen Festival in New York City on Saturday (Sept. 27).
The Bronx rapper will be replacing The Weeknd, who, on Monday (Sept. 22), announced he will not be appearing as previously scheduled. “I regret to share that, due to personal reasons, I am unable to perform at Global Citizen,” the singer wrote on his Instagram Stories. “Thank you to my fans for taking action with them, as I believe in their mission deeply.”
The Global Citizen Festival is held annually at the Great Lawn in Central Park. Fans can choose to purchase tickets or take action via the Global Citizen app to win free tickets.
“We are incredibly grateful to Cardi B, who has joined the Global Citizen Festival lineup,” Hugh Evans, Global Citizen CEO and co-founder, said in a press statement. “She’s an outstanding performer, who will light up Central Park in spectacular fashion. We wish The Weeknd support and want to thank him and his fans for all taking action with us to help end extreme poverty.”
Cardi B is certainly familiar with the festival — she was on stage at the event in September 2018, performing hits from her then-new debut album Invasion of Privacy. Despite her hectic schedule, she is excited about her unexpected return.
“This one’s not like other music festivals — this one is about coming together to help children around the world, and I’m so proud to support such an important cause,” she said in a statement. “New York City — see you Saturday. Let’s get it!”
If you can’t make it to New York City, you can stream the 2025 Global Citizen Festival on YouTube, Apple Music, the Apple TV app, iHeartRadio and other outlets. The concert is being hosted by actor Hugh Jackman and other headlining acts include Shakira, Tyla, Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist.
The Bronx rapper previously performed at the festival in 2018 and is returning just after dropping her latest album, AM I THE DRAMA?.
Fans can stream the event live on YouTube, Apple Music, iHeartRadio and more.
Cardi B’s already celebrated album rollout for her new album, AM I THE DRAMA?, just got an unexpected boost. The Hip Hop superstar is now headlining the Global Citizen Festival in New York City on Saturday (Sept. 27).
The Bronx rapper will be replacing The Weeknd, who, on Monday (Sept. 22), announced he will not be appearing as previously scheduled. “I regret to share that, due to personal reasons, I am unable to perform at Global Citizen,” the singer wrote on his Instagram Stories. “Thank you to my fans for taking action with them, as I believe in their mission deeply.”
The Global Citizen Festival is held annually at the Great Lawn in Central Park. Fans can choose to purchase tickets or take action via the Global Citizen app to win free tickets.
“We are incredibly grateful to Cardi B, who has joined the Global Citizen Festival lineup,” Hugh Evans, Global Citizen CEO and co-founder, said in a press statement. “She’s an outstanding performer, who will light up Central Park in spectacular fashion. We wish The Weeknd support and want to thank him and his fans for all taking action with us to help end extreme poverty.”
Cardi B is certainly familiar with the festival — she was on stage at the event in September 2018, performing hits from her then-new debut album Invasion of Privacy. Despite her hectic schedule, she is excited about her unexpected return.
“This one’s not like other music festivals — this one is about coming together to help children around the world, and I’m so proud to support such an important cause,” she said in a statement. “New York City — see you Saturday. Let’s get it!”
If you can’t make it to New York City, you can stream the 2025 Global Citizen Festival on YouTube, Apple Music, the Apple TV app, iHeartRadio and other outlets. The concert is being hosted by actor Hugh Jackman and other headlining acts include Shakira, Tyla, Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist.
Sylvia Rhone Steps Down At Epic Leaving Major Label System With No Women CEOs
Sylvia Rhone closed out her legendary six-year stretch as chair and CEO of Epic Records on Sunday, stepping down from the top job at Sony Music’s label after a career that repeatedly reshaped the music business and shattered industry ceilings.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey: eleven years since my promotion to President of Epic Records and six years since my appointment as Chairwoman and CEO,” Rhone wrote in a farewell memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “And today, I am moving on from this historic role at Epic and I’m very excited about the future.”
Her departure leaves Epic without its longtime leader and the major label system without a single woman CEO.
Rhone, 72, exits with a résumé that includes firsts no one else has matched: the first woman and first Black executive to run multiple major record companies under Fortune 500 ownership.
During her time at Epic, Rhone helped shape the sound of modern Hip-Hop and pop, guiding the careers of Travis Scott, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, Future, Meghan Trainor, Madison Beer, and Camila Cabello. Her influence helped Epic maintain relevance in a rapidly changing landscape.
Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer, who tapped Rhone for the CEO role in 2019, praised her leadership.
“It’s been our honor to work with a true icon,” he said. “In an industry defined by its constant evolution, Sylvia has adapted and embraced change, time and time again.”
Before her Epic chapter, Rhone led a series of major labels, beginning in 1990 when she became CEO of Atlantic’s EastWest Records. Four years later, she was appointed chair and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group, where she built a genre-spanning roster that included artists such as Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, AC/DC, Metallica, and Björk.
She called the Elektra era “a cultural renaissance” and her impact continued at Motown, where she worked with Stevie Wonder on his final studio album and helped push Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake into global superstardom through Cash Money’s distribution deal.
Rhone’s path began at Buddha Records as a secretary after graduating from The Wharton School. She rose through the ranks, eventually becoming senior vice president of Black Music at Atlantic Records.
Her decades in the business earned her numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
“I have worked in our industry since vinyl ruled, and women were rarely, if ever, in line for C-level or even vice-presidential roles,” she wrote in her memo. “I am proud of my achievements, and of my commitment to those who take inspiration from them.”
No successor has been named.
Sylvia Rhone closed out her legendary six-year stretch as chair and CEO of Epic Records on Sunday, stepping down from the top job at Sony Music’s label after a career that repeatedly reshaped the music business and shattered industry ceilings.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey: eleven years since my promotion to President of Epic Records and six years since my appointment as Chairwoman and CEO,” Rhone wrote in a farewell memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “And today, I am moving on from this historic role at Epic and I’m very excited about the future.”
Her departure leaves Epic without its longtime leader and the major label system without a single woman CEO.
Rhone, 72, exits with a résumé that includes firsts no one else has matched: the first woman and first Black executive to run multiple major record companies under Fortune 500 ownership.
During her time at Epic, Rhone helped shape the sound of modern Hip-Hop and pop, guiding the careers of Travis Scott, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, Future, Meghan Trainor, Madison Beer, and Camila Cabello. Her influence helped Epic maintain relevance in a rapidly changing landscape.
Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer, who tapped Rhone for the CEO role in 2019, praised her leadership.
“It’s been our honor to work with a true icon,” he said. “In an industry defined by its constant evolution, Sylvia has adapted and embraced change, time and time again.”
Before her Epic chapter, Rhone led a series of major labels, beginning in 1990 when she became CEO of Atlantic’s EastWest Records. Four years later, she was appointed chair and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group, where she built a genre-spanning roster that included artists such as Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, AC/DC, Metallica, and Björk.
She called the Elektra era “a cultural renaissance” and her impact continued at Motown, where she worked with Stevie Wonder on his final studio album and helped push Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake into global superstardom through Cash Money’s distribution deal.
Rhone’s path began at Buddha Records as a secretary after graduating from The Wharton School. She rose through the ranks, eventually becoming senior vice president of Black Music at Atlantic Records.
Her decades in the business earned her numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
“I have worked in our industry since vinyl ruled, and women were rarely, if ever, in line for C-level or even vice-presidential roles,” she wrote in her memo. “I am proud of my achievements, and of my commitment to those who take inspiration from them.”
No successor has been named.
D4vd Hits Career-High Streams Amid Probe Into Human Remains Found in His Car
D4vd’s music continues to rise on the charts as an investigation behind the murder of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas continues.
Despite the controversy, the 20-year-old singer’s 2023 album Petals to Thorns has reentered the Billboard 200 chart, driven by interest in his track “Romantic Homicide.”
According to microblog Chart Data, the artist (born David Anthony Burke) had his biggest day ever on Spotify on Monday (Sept. 22) with over 12 million streams more than three years after the song’s original release. TMZ reports that his streams have spiked by over 60%.
The singer recently canceled his remaining U.S., UK, and European tour dates amid the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation. Authorities are still awaiting toxicology and forensic results after Rivas’ remains were found in a Tesla owned by D4vd.
A representative from the LAPD confirmed to Complex that investigators were “following up on several leads.” However, police have not identified anyone as a suspect or person of interest. As of this writing, D4vd has not been charged with any crimes.
On Sunday (Sept. 21), a candlelight vigil was held for Rivas in her hometown of Lake Elsinore, California.
Last week, the LAPD searched a rental home allegedly tied to the singer and reportedly seized items such as a computer and several evidence bags.
The investigation began earlier this month when a “severely decomposed,” dismembered body was discovered in the front trunk of D4vd’s Tesla, which had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills and eventually towed to an impound lot.
The remains were later identified as Rivas, whose mother said she had a boyfriend named David and had been missing for over a year. TMZ previously reported that both Rivas and D4vd have the same “Shhh….” tattoo on their right index finger.
Authorities were also said to be investigating who last drove the car and seeking surveillance footage of the main road where it was parked.
Despite the controversy, the 20-year-old singer’s 2023 album Petals to Thorns has reentered the Billboard 200 chart, driven by interest in his track “Romantic Homicide.”
According to microblog Chart Data, the artist (born David Anthony Burke) had his biggest day ever on Spotify on Monday (Sept. 22) with over 12 million streams more than three years after the song’s original release. TMZ reports that his streams have spiked by over 60%.
The singer recently canceled his remaining U.S., UK, and European tour dates amid the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation. Authorities are still awaiting toxicology and forensic results after Rivas’ remains were found in a Tesla owned by D4vd.
A representative from the LAPD confirmed to Complex that investigators were “following up on several leads.” However, police have not identified anyone as a suspect or person of interest. As of this writing, D4vd has not been charged with any crimes.
On Sunday (Sept. 21), a candlelight vigil was held for Rivas in her hometown of Lake Elsinore, California.
Last week, the LAPD searched a rental home allegedly tied to the singer and reportedly seized items such as a computer and several evidence bags.
The investigation began earlier this month when a “severely decomposed,” dismembered body was discovered in the front trunk of D4vd’s Tesla, which had been abandoned in the Hollywood Hills and eventually towed to an impound lot.
The remains were later identified as Rivas, whose mother said she had a boyfriend named David and had been missing for over a year. TMZ previously reported that both Rivas and D4vd have the same “Shhh….” tattoo on their right index finger.
Authorities were also said to be investigating who last drove the car and seeking surveillance footage of the main road where it was parked.
A’ja Wilson Becomes First Four-Time WNBA MVP Award Winner
American basketball player, A’ja Wilson poses for a photo during the 15th Annual Miami Heat Charitable Gala at Kaseya Center on February 08, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces made history Sunday by being named the WNBA Most Valuable Player for a record fourth time. The 29-year-old surpassed former three-time MVPs Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.
Wilson claimed 657 total points in the MVP voting and received 51 of 72 first-place votes. She finished ahead of Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx (534 points) and Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury (391 points). Her season featured averages of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She also co-won Defensive Player of the Year, leading in blocks per game and ranking high in steals.
The Aces endured a rough midseason stretch, sitting at 11-11 at one point. But they closed the regular season with a 16-game win streak — the turnaround that many believe sealed Wilson’s candidacy. After receiving the award, Wilson addressed her teammates emotionally: “They counted us out and wrote us all off, but we showed up every single day. It has my name on it… but this is for all of us.”
This 2025 MVP is Wilson’s second consecutive award, adding to her wins in 2020 and 2022. By earning a fourth MVP, Wilson sets a new standard in WNBA history.
Her coach, Becky Hammon, praised her impact: “By the time it’s all said and done, she will be the greatest to ever do it… Four [MVPs] already says she is.” Wilson now leads the Aces into the playoffs — aiming to add a championship to this celebrated season.
Wilson set a new single-season record for number of games with 30 or more points. She also became the fastest WNBA player to reach 5,000 career points. Defensively she stood out, leading the league in blocks per game and ranking highly in steals.
American basketball player, A’ja Wilson poses for a photo during the 15th Annual Miami Heat Charitable Gala at Kaseya Center on February 08, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces made history Sunday by being named the WNBA Most Valuable Player for a record fourth time. The 29-year-old surpassed former three-time MVPs Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.
Wilson claimed 657 total points in the MVP voting and received 51 of 72 first-place votes. She finished ahead of Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx (534 points) and Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury (391 points). Her season featured averages of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She also co-won Defensive Player of the Year, leading in blocks per game and ranking high in steals.
The Aces endured a rough midseason stretch, sitting at 11-11 at one point. But they closed the regular season with a 16-game win streak — the turnaround that many believe sealed Wilson’s candidacy. After receiving the award, Wilson addressed her teammates emotionally: “They counted us out and wrote us all off, but we showed up every single day. It has my name on it… but this is for all of us.”
This 2025 MVP is Wilson’s second consecutive award, adding to her wins in 2020 and 2022. By earning a fourth MVP, Wilson sets a new standard in WNBA history.
Her coach, Becky Hammon, praised her impact: “By the time it’s all said and done, she will be the greatest to ever do it… Four [MVPs] already says she is.” Wilson now leads the Aces into the playoffs — aiming to add a championship to this celebrated season.
Wilson set a new single-season record for number of games with 30 or more points. She also became the fastest WNBA player to reach 5,000 career points. Defensively she stood out, leading the league in blocks per game and ranking highly in steals.
Kimora Lee’s Son, Kenzo Hounsou, Launches Modeling Career
Kenzo Hounsou, just landed his first modeling campaign right on the heels of New York Fashion Week.
The 16-year-old, who is the son of Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou, is starring in a campaign for the EVE clothing brand.
According to the brand’s website, Kenzo was selected for this campaign because, “He wears the clothes the way they’re meant to be worn: with movement, with purpose, without overthinking it. On or off the court, the style just sits right on him—easy, grounded, ready for whatever’s next. “
Launched on Sept 16, in the modeling campaign, Kenzo can be seen playing basketball on a court outside and later getting into a car. The basketball player and now model stands at 6’7″.
Simmons shared Kenzo’s campaign photos on her own Instagram and expressed how proud she is of her son.
“So proud of my baby @kenzoklh for his first modeling campaign for @weareeve_ !!! Congratulations! Mama loves you! ,” she wrote.
In the interview with the brand, Kenzo credited his mama as one of his style icons. “Some fashion influences of mine would definitely be my mom, who helps me and talks to me about those types of things,” says Kenzo of Simmons. “And Alton Mason, who I really look up to.”
The busy mom of five is set to return to television with her new reality series, Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane, premiering in December 2025 on E!. The show follows Kimora as she navigates life as a single mom while leading her fashion empire, Baby Phat.
Simmons shares son Kenzo with ex Djimon Hounsou and son Wolfe, 10, with Tim Leissner. She is also mother to daughters Aoki, 21, and Ming, 25, whom she shares with ex Russell Simmons. She welcomed Gary by adoption when he was 10 years old.
The 16-year-old, who is the son of Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou, is starring in a campaign for the EVE clothing brand.
According to the brand’s website, Kenzo was selected for this campaign because, “He wears the clothes the way they’re meant to be worn: with movement, with purpose, without overthinking it. On or off the court, the style just sits right on him—easy, grounded, ready for whatever’s next. “
Launched on Sept 16, in the modeling campaign, Kenzo can be seen playing basketball on a court outside and later getting into a car. The basketball player and now model stands at 6’7″.
Simmons shared Kenzo’s campaign photos on her own Instagram and expressed how proud she is of her son.
“So proud of my baby @kenzoklh for his first modeling campaign for @weareeve_ !!! Congratulations! Mama loves you! ,” she wrote.
In the interview with the brand, Kenzo credited his mama as one of his style icons. “Some fashion influences of mine would definitely be my mom, who helps me and talks to me about those types of things,” says Kenzo of Simmons. “And Alton Mason, who I really look up to.”
The busy mom of five is set to return to television with her new reality series, Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane, premiering in December 2025 on E!. The show follows Kimora as she navigates life as a single mom while leading her fashion empire, Baby Phat.
Simmons shares son Kenzo with ex Djimon Hounsou and son Wolfe, 10, with Tim Leissner. She is also mother to daughters Aoki, 21, and Ming, 25, whom she shares with ex Russell Simmons. She welcomed Gary by adoption when he was 10 years old.
Six LGBTQ+ Democrats vote to honor anti-queer MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk
Six out LGBTQ+ House members voted in favor of a Republican resolution entitled, “Honoring the life and legacy of Charles ‘Charlie’ James Kirk,” a recently murdered MAGA influencer, made numerous anti-LGBTQ+ statements.
The six aforementioned House members who voted for the resolution — Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT),
Angie Craig (D-MN), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Sarah McBride (D-DE), and Mark Takano (D-CA) — were among the 95 House Democrats who supported the resolution, which passed in a 310 to 58 vote. Only Rep. Craig and Rep. McBride responded to LGBTQ Nation‘s request for a comment explaining their support.
“I have always condemned political violence in the strongest possible terms – just as I did last week, following the killing of Charlie Kirk. And in June, after the murders of my friends [Minnesota state Rep. Melissa [Hortman] and [her husband] Mark Hortman. Political violence is a grave threat to our democracy,” Craig told LGBTQ Nation.
“As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to lead our country through this incredibly difficult time and that means working to unite, not further divide us. While I strongly disagree with Charlie Kirk’s views and wholeheartedly reject his hateful and divisive rhetoric – including toward people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ families like my own – free speech is a fundamental right in our nation,” Craig added.
“I firmly believe that now more than ever, we must unite to denounce political violence in all its forms. It is going to take all of us coming together to restore civility to our politics, and that starts here in the United States Congress,” Craig concluded.
Rep. McBride said, “I disagree vehemently with so much of what Charlie Kirk said in his life. And I disapprove of parts of the resolution that I believe misrepresent his work and his words. But I chose to vote yes because I believe there must be no mistake that I condemn violence in this moment, and that is what the heart of this resolution is about. We could debate language, but at its core, it was a statement about political violence.”
The resolution said Kirk “was a devoted Christian, who boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion,” praised him for “engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses … always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic,” and “stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum.”
The only LGBTQ+ House member to vote against the resolution was Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA). The four following LGBTQ+ House members only voted as present or didn’t vote at all: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA).
Kirk had a long history of animus toward the LGBTQ+ community in his Christian nationalist vision for the country, particularly with transgender people. He characterized being gay as an “error,” compared homosexuality to alcoholism and drug addiction, notoriously called stoning gay people to death “God’s perfect law,” called trans people “pure evil,” a “social contagion,” and an “abomination to God,” and compared gender-affirming medical professionals to child-mutilating Nazis.
Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union last weekend, LGBTQ+ ally Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) said, “For the most part, the only people that voted ‘no’ were people of color, because the rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there was rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color.” She said that, by her count, only two white Democrats voted against the resolution to honor Kirk.
“It is unfortunate that more of my colleagues, even on my side of the aisle, could not see the amount of harm that this man was attempting to inflict upon our communities,” she added.
She noted that Kirk cited her by name in a segment pushing the “Great white replacement” conspiracy theory that Jews, Marxists, and people of color are trying to replace white Americans in a bid to radically alter Western culture. Kirk also made comments saying that several Black female political figures “do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously,” adding, “You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.”
Nonetheless, Crockett condemned the violence that took Kirk’s life, saying that he should not have been killed.
Six out LGBTQ+ House members voted in favor of a Republican resolution entitled, “Honoring the life and legacy of Charles ‘Charlie’ James Kirk,” a recently murdered MAGA influencer, made numerous anti-LGBTQ+ statements.
The six aforementioned House members who voted for the resolution — Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT),
Angie Craig (D-MN), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Sarah McBride (D-DE), and Mark Takano (D-CA) — were among the 95 House Democrats who supported the resolution, which passed in a 310 to 58 vote. Only Rep. Craig and Rep. McBride responded to LGBTQ Nation‘s request for a comment explaining their support.
“I have always condemned political violence in the strongest possible terms – just as I did last week, following the killing of Charlie Kirk. And in June, after the murders of my friends [Minnesota state Rep. Melissa [Hortman] and [her husband] Mark Hortman. Political violence is a grave threat to our democracy,” Craig told LGBTQ Nation.
“As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to lead our country through this incredibly difficult time and that means working to unite, not further divide us. While I strongly disagree with Charlie Kirk’s views and wholeheartedly reject his hateful and divisive rhetoric – including toward people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ families like my own – free speech is a fundamental right in our nation,” Craig added.
“I firmly believe that now more than ever, we must unite to denounce political violence in all its forms. It is going to take all of us coming together to restore civility to our politics, and that starts here in the United States Congress,” Craig concluded.
Rep. McBride said, “I disagree vehemently with so much of what Charlie Kirk said in his life. And I disapprove of parts of the resolution that I believe misrepresent his work and his words. But I chose to vote yes because I believe there must be no mistake that I condemn violence in this moment, and that is what the heart of this resolution is about. We could debate language, but at its core, it was a statement about political violence.”
The resolution said Kirk “was a devoted Christian, who boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion,” praised him for “engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses … always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic,” and “stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum.”
The only LGBTQ+ House member to vote against the resolution was Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA). The four following LGBTQ+ House members only voted as present or didn’t vote at all: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA).
Kirk had a long history of animus toward the LGBTQ+ community in his Christian nationalist vision for the country, particularly with transgender people. He characterized being gay as an “error,” compared homosexuality to alcoholism and drug addiction, notoriously called stoning gay people to death “God’s perfect law,” called trans people “pure evil,” a “social contagion,” and an “abomination to God,” and compared gender-affirming medical professionals to child-mutilating Nazis.
Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union last weekend, LGBTQ+ ally Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) said, “For the most part, the only people that voted ‘no’ were people of color, because the rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there was rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color.” She said that, by her count, only two white Democrats voted against the resolution to honor Kirk.
“It is unfortunate that more of my colleagues, even on my side of the aisle, could not see the amount of harm that this man was attempting to inflict upon our communities,” she added.
She noted that Kirk cited her by name in a segment pushing the “Great white replacement” conspiracy theory that Jews, Marxists, and people of color are trying to replace white Americans in a bid to radically alter Western culture. Kirk also made comments saying that several Black female political figures “do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously,” adding, “You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.”
Nonetheless, Crockett condemned the violence that took Kirk’s life, saying that he should not have been killed.
Marlon Wayans Speaks Out After ‘Him’ Movie Gets Bad Reviews
After harsh criticism greeted his new film Him, Marlon Wayans has broken his silence. He urged audiences to judge for themselves, not rely solely on critics. The film opened Sept. 19 to mixed and mostly negative reviews.
Criticism, Then a Response On review aggregators, Him carries a low critic approval rating. Some reviewers faulted its pacing, stylization, and overused tropes. Others praised Wayans’ performance and the film’s ambitious themes.
Wayans took to Instagram to challenge the notion that critical scores equal truth. He wrote: “Just to be clear … I respect critics. Their job is to critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion.”
He continued: “Some movies are ahead of the curve.” He also posted screenshots of critic scores for earlier films like White Chicks and Scary Movie, pointing out they, too, were poorly received at first.
Wayans did not deny imperfections in Him. He said the film “wasn’t bad but not great.” Still, he defended the film’s risks. He called innovation subjective and said art demands interpretation. “It wasn’t a clap … It was a perspective,” Wayans added, dismissing suggestions he was attacking critics.
Co-star Tyriq Withers also received praise from Wayans, who said he was “proud” of the performance. Julia Fox, another cast member, showed support. She commented on Wayans’ post, “What’s the opposite of a savior? A CRITIC!!!”
Criticism, Then a Response On review aggregators, Him carries a low critic approval rating. Some reviewers faulted its pacing, stylization, and overused tropes. Others praised Wayans’ performance and the film’s ambitious themes.
Wayans took to Instagram to challenge the notion that critical scores equal truth. He wrote: “Just to be clear … I respect critics. Their job is to critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion.”
He continued: “Some movies are ahead of the curve.” He also posted screenshots of critic scores for earlier films like White Chicks and Scary Movie, pointing out they, too, were poorly received at first.
Wayans did not deny imperfections in Him. He said the film “wasn’t bad but not great.” Still, he defended the film’s risks. He called innovation subjective and said art demands interpretation. “It wasn’t a clap … It was a perspective,” Wayans added, dismissing suggestions he was attacking critics.
Co-star Tyriq Withers also received praise from Wayans, who said he was “proud” of the performance. Julia Fox, another cast member, showed support. She commented on Wayans’ post, “What’s the opposite of a savior? A CRITIC!!!”
Megan Thee Stallion Files Motion To Make DJ Akademiks Testify At Defamation Trial
Thee Stallion continues to go on the offensive in the aftermath of her 2020 shooting incident.
Megan Thee Stallion is taking legal action to compel DJ Akademiks to disclose the identity of the anonymous source who provided him with sealed legal documents tied to the 2020 shooting incident involving rapper Tory Lanez.
The move comes as part of her ongoing civil case against Texas-based YouTuber Milagro Gramz, whom Megan accuses of working alongside Lanez in a coordinated effort to publicly discredit her.
In 2022, Akademiks—who has repeatedly expressed doubt about Lanez’s involvement in the shooting—shared unauthorized legal information about DNA evidence found on the weapon used in the incident.
The documents in question were sealed at the time. Lanez was later convicted and sentenced to 10 years in California state prison for shooting Megan in the foot following a dispute in July 2020.
Megan’s legal team has now filed a motion requesting that a judge order DJ Akademiks to testify and reveal who gave him access to the sealed documents.
During a sit-down with her legal counsel in August, Akademiks stood firm, stating that he would “never reveal” his source unless legally forced to do so “under a court order.”
The civil case against Milagro Gramz—real name Milagro Cooper—accuses the content creator of launching “a years-long campaign to smear and intimidate.”
Megan. The lawsuit further alleges Gramz has been “compensated thousands of dollars to post fallacious information about Megan” and has “consciously coordinated” with Lanez to damage Megan’s public image.
As the court battle unfolds, Megan’s legal strategy appears focused on exposing the alleged network of individuals she believes worked to undermine her credibility throughout the high-profile case. Whether a judge will ultimately compel Akademiks to testify remains to be seen.
Thee Stallion continues to go on the offensive in the aftermath of her 2020 shooting incident.
Megan Thee Stallion is taking legal action to compel DJ Akademiks to disclose the identity of the anonymous source who provided him with sealed legal documents tied to the 2020 shooting incident involving rapper Tory Lanez.
The move comes as part of her ongoing civil case against Texas-based YouTuber Milagro Gramz, whom Megan accuses of working alongside Lanez in a coordinated effort to publicly discredit her.
In 2022, Akademiks—who has repeatedly expressed doubt about Lanez’s involvement in the shooting—shared unauthorized legal information about DNA evidence found on the weapon used in the incident.
The documents in question were sealed at the time. Lanez was later convicted and sentenced to 10 years in California state prison for shooting Megan in the foot following a dispute in July 2020.
Megan’s legal team has now filed a motion requesting that a judge order DJ Akademiks to testify and reveal who gave him access to the sealed documents.
During a sit-down with her legal counsel in August, Akademiks stood firm, stating that he would “never reveal” his source unless legally forced to do so “under a court order.”
The civil case against Milagro Gramz—real name Milagro Cooper—accuses the content creator of launching “a years-long campaign to smear and intimidate.”
Megan. The lawsuit further alleges Gramz has been “compensated thousands of dollars to post fallacious information about Megan” and has “consciously coordinated” with Lanez to damage Megan’s public image.
As the court battle unfolds, Megan’s legal strategy appears focused on exposing the alleged network of individuals she believes worked to undermine her credibility throughout the high-profile case. Whether a judge will ultimately compel Akademiks to testify remains to be seen.
Sha’Carri Richardson models for new Skims Nike collab
Sha’Carri Richardson has become one of the prominent faces of Kim Kardashian’s new Skims collaboration with Nike, despite her recent legal troubles involving a domestic violence arrest at Seattle airport in July.
The business mogul’s brand revealed its latest athletic collection on Monday, featuring Richardson alongside elite athletes including Serena Williams, Chloe Kim, Nelly Korda, and Jordan Chiles. The Team USA sprinter appears prominently throughout the fitness wear campaign despite the controversy surrounding her summer arrest.
Kardashian described the collaboration as a natural fit when the partnership was announced in February. She emphasized the brand’s commitment to combining performance innovation with stylish design for women who refuse to compromise on either function or fashion.
The reality television star and entrepreneur explained that their mission centers on redefining women’s activewear standards. She highlighted the goal of creating products that allow women to look and feel confident while maintaining peak performance during workouts.
The Skims founder expressed confidence that every woman deserves athletic wear that meets both performance and aesthetic demands. This philosophy drove the decision to partner with Nike, combining the sportswear giant’s technical expertise with Skims’ fashion-forward approach.
The business mogul’s brand revealed its latest athletic collection on Monday, featuring Richardson alongside elite athletes including Serena Williams, Chloe Kim, Nelly Korda, and Jordan Chiles. The Team USA sprinter appears prominently throughout the fitness wear campaign despite the controversy surrounding her summer arrest.
Kardashian described the collaboration as a natural fit when the partnership was announced in February. She emphasized the brand’s commitment to combining performance innovation with stylish design for women who refuse to compromise on either function or fashion.
The reality television star and entrepreneur explained that their mission centers on redefining women’s activewear standards. She highlighted the goal of creating products that allow women to look and feel confident while maintaining peak performance during workouts.
The Skims founder expressed confidence that every woman deserves athletic wear that meets both performance and aesthetic demands. This philosophy drove the decision to partner with Nike, combining the sportswear giant’s technical expertise with Skims’ fashion-forward approach.
Richardson’s prominent role in the marketing campaign comes just months after her arrest for allegedly getting physical with fellow sprinter Christian Coleman at Seattle airport. The incident raised questions about her public image and brand partnerships.
The track star has since publicly apologized for her actions during the airport altercation. She took accountability for the situation and expressed regret about the incident that led to her arrest on domestic violence charges.
Nike continued promoting Richardson’s imagery on its website in the weeks following the arrest, suggesting the company maintained confidence in their partnership despite the legal issues. This decision indicated both brands were prepared to weather the controversy.
The timing of Richardson’s involvement in the Skims campaign raises questions about when her participation was finalized. It remains unclear whether her role was secured before the arrest or if both companies decided to proceed despite the incident.
Kardashian’s decision to feature Richardson prominently suggests confidence in the athlete’s marketability and potential for redemption. The campaign positions Richardson alongside respected athletes, indicating belief in her ability to overcome recent setbacks.
The collaboration represents significant exposure for Richardson as she works to rebuild her public image following the legal troubles. Major brand partnerships often serve as indicators of an athlete’s commercial viability and public standing.
The campaign features an impressive lineup of accomplished female athletes across multiple sports. Williams brings tennis legacy and global recognition, while Kim represents Olympic snowboarding excellence and Korda showcases professional golf success.
Chiles adds Olympic gymnastics credentials to the roster, creating a diverse representation of athletic achievement. This strategic selection demonstrates Skims’ commitment to partnering with athletes who embody both performance excellence and cultural influence.
The athlete selection reflects broader trends in athletic endorsements, where brands seek partnerships that transcend traditional sports boundaries. These collaborations aim to reach diverse audiences while maintaining credibility within athletic communities.
The Skims Nike partnership represents the growing intersection between high fashion and athletic performance wear. This collaboration targets consumers who demand both technical functionality and style consciousness in their workout clothing.
Kardashian’s influence in fashion and lifestyle markets combined with Nike’s sports performance reputation creates a powerful marketing combination. The partnership leverages both brands’ strengths to capture market segments that prioritize both aesthetics and athletics.
The activewear market has evolved significantly as lifestyle and performance boundaries continue blurring. Consumers increasingly expect athletic wear that transitions seamlessly from gym environments to casual social settings.
Despite recent controversies, Richardson’s inclusion in major brand campaigns suggests industry confidence in her long-term marketability. Her track performances and personality have maintained significant fan interest despite legal challenges.
The sprinter’s ability to secure high-profile partnerships while navigating personal difficulties demonstrates the complex relationship between athletic performance and commercial appeal. Brands often weigh talent and marketability against potential reputation risks.
Richardson’s situation illustrates how modern athletes must manage both competitive performance and public image simultaneously. Success in either area can influence opportunities in the other, creating interconnected pressures for professional athletes.
The campaign launch will likely serve as a test of public reaction to Richardson’s continued prominence in major marketing efforts despite recent legal troubles.
Russell Wilson Benched By New York Giants, Rookie Jaxson Dart to Start at Quarterback
The NFL is heading into week four, and the New York Giants are benching their starting quarterback Russell Wilson.
Despite his lengthy record as a starter over his career as a signal caller, the 36-year-old athlete has apparently not played well enough for the G-Men. They are now 0-3.
Instead, week four will be the first week for first round draft pick Jaxson Dart to start at quarterback. He’s considered the Giants’ quarterback of the future.
This was thought to be coming soon, with head coach Brian Daboll saying he was “evaluating everything” at the position. Now, ESPN is reporting that the change will take place in their week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
So far, Russell has not reacted to the news. Stay tuned as we learn more.
The NFL is heading into week four, and the New York Giants are benching their starting quarterback Russell Wilson.
Despite his lengthy record as a starter over his career as a signal caller, the 36-year-old athlete has apparently not played well enough for the G-Men. They are now 0-3.
Instead, week four will be the first week for first round draft pick Jaxson Dart to start at quarterback. He’s considered the Giants’ quarterback of the future.
This was thought to be coming soon, with head coach Brian Daboll saying he was “evaluating everything” at the position. Now, ESPN is reporting that the change will take place in their week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
So far, Russell has not reacted to the news. Stay tuned as we learn more.
Yung Miami Calls Diddy a 'Good Man' in Character Letter to Judge: Read Her Words
Yung Miami is supporting Sean “Diddy” Combs. The 31-year-old City Girls rapper and solo star penned a letter in support of the 55-year-old music mogul, who is currently waiting to be sentenced after being found guilty on two federal counts of transport for the purpose of prostitution.
If you didn’t know, the two had been romantically linked in what was described as an open relationship since 2021.
Court documents entered on Monday (September 22) reveal that Yung Miami penned a letter of character for Diddy for submission to the judge in the case.
“My name is Caresha Brownlee. I’m a mother, daughter, sister, and a hip-hop artist who has spent many years in the public eye. I want to be clear that I cannot speak on or defend anything that may have happened before I met Sean Combs. I do not condone any wrongdoing. I can only speak from my personal experience and the man I’ve come to know over the past four years,” she wrote in the letter, as obtained by TMZ.
“In my personal experience, Sean is not a danger or a threat to the community. He is a man of God, someone who uplifts, supports, and inspires those around him to be better mentally, physically and spiritually. But more than anything, he’s a father and his kids are the ones who look up to him the most. They need him. His presence, love, and guidance matter deeply in their lives.”
“Judge…that’s a good man,” she concluded.
Diddy faces an October 3 sentencing. Each charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Read the full letter inside…
Dear Your Honor,
My name is Caresha Brownlee. I’m a mother, daughter, sister, and a hip-hop artist who has spent many years in the public eye. I want to be clear that I cannot speak on or defend anything that may have happened before I met Sean Combs. I do not condone any wrongdoing. I can only speak from my personal experience and the man I’ve come to know over the past four years.
For three of those years, I was in a public relationship with Sean, and during that time, I witnessed—and came to know-a different person than the one often portrayed. Behind the scenes, he was loving, genuine, supportive, and always encouraging. He motivated me, believed in me, and helped me grow both personally and professionally.
I’m writing this letter because I believe it’s important for the court to know the side of Sean that isn’t always seen or spoken about-the man who poured into others, who gave opportunities, who led by example, and who loved deeply.
He helped shape me both professionally and personally. He believed in me, pushed me to grow, and taught me how to be a better businesswoman. He helped me find balance between chasing my dreams and being present for my family, because that’s what he did—no matter how busy he was, he never missed holidays or special moments with his family.
One of my most meaningful memories was when he took me to my first Met Gala. It wasn’t just about the event-it was about what it represented. Sean has always made it a priority to open doors for Black people, to make sure we are seen, heard, and valued in spaces where we’ve historically been excluded. That night reminded me that we belong in every room, at every table, and in every conversation. He’s constantly encouraged me and so many others—to dream bigger, walk in confidence, and never shrink who we are to make others comfortable.
He also gave me a voice, by providing me a platform on his network to speak for the culture and connect with people in a way that was real and authentic. That opportunity changed the direction of my career and showed me the impact one person can have when they choose to uplift others.
Beyond all of that, I’ve seen him give back to his community over and over again. In 2022, we fed the homeless together on Thanksgiving, but that was just one example. There were so many moments where he gave-quietly, privately, without cameras, because his heart genuinely wanted to help.
I’ve also witnessed him doing real inner work. He made the choice to check himself into anger management, start therapy, and commit to physical healing through therapy. That takes strength, humility, and self-awareness. He didn’t do it for show-he did it because he wanted to grow and to become a better person.
In my personal experience, Sean is not a danger or a threat to the community. He is a man of God, someone who uplifts, supports, and inspires those around him to be better mentally, physically and spiritually. But more than anything, he’s a father and his kids are the ones who look up to him the most. They need him. His presence, love, and guidance matter deeply in their lives.
I truly believe that he belongs at home, with his family, the people who mean the most to him and who continue to be his greatest source of purpose and strength.
Judge..That’s a good man.
Thank you,
Caresha Brownlee
If you didn’t know, the two had been romantically linked in what was described as an open relationship since 2021.
Court documents entered on Monday (September 22) reveal that Yung Miami penned a letter of character for Diddy for submission to the judge in the case.
“My name is Caresha Brownlee. I’m a mother, daughter, sister, and a hip-hop artist who has spent many years in the public eye. I want to be clear that I cannot speak on or defend anything that may have happened before I met Sean Combs. I do not condone any wrongdoing. I can only speak from my personal experience and the man I’ve come to know over the past four years,” she wrote in the letter, as obtained by TMZ.
“In my personal experience, Sean is not a danger or a threat to the community. He is a man of God, someone who uplifts, supports, and inspires those around him to be better mentally, physically and spiritually. But more than anything, he’s a father and his kids are the ones who look up to him the most. They need him. His presence, love, and guidance matter deeply in their lives.”
“Judge…that’s a good man,” she concluded.
Diddy faces an October 3 sentencing. Each charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Read the full letter inside…
Dear Your Honor,
My name is Caresha Brownlee. I’m a mother, daughter, sister, and a hip-hop artist who has spent many years in the public eye. I want to be clear that I cannot speak on or defend anything that may have happened before I met Sean Combs. I do not condone any wrongdoing. I can only speak from my personal experience and the man I’ve come to know over the past four years.
For three of those years, I was in a public relationship with Sean, and during that time, I witnessed—and came to know-a different person than the one often portrayed. Behind the scenes, he was loving, genuine, supportive, and always encouraging. He motivated me, believed in me, and helped me grow both personally and professionally.
I’m writing this letter because I believe it’s important for the court to know the side of Sean that isn’t always seen or spoken about-the man who poured into others, who gave opportunities, who led by example, and who loved deeply.
He helped shape me both professionally and personally. He believed in me, pushed me to grow, and taught me how to be a better businesswoman. He helped me find balance between chasing my dreams and being present for my family, because that’s what he did—no matter how busy he was, he never missed holidays or special moments with his family.
One of my most meaningful memories was when he took me to my first Met Gala. It wasn’t just about the event-it was about what it represented. Sean has always made it a priority to open doors for Black people, to make sure we are seen, heard, and valued in spaces where we’ve historically been excluded. That night reminded me that we belong in every room, at every table, and in every conversation. He’s constantly encouraged me and so many others—to dream bigger, walk in confidence, and never shrink who we are to make others comfortable.
He also gave me a voice, by providing me a platform on his network to speak for the culture and connect with people in a way that was real and authentic. That opportunity changed the direction of my career and showed me the impact one person can have when they choose to uplift others.
Beyond all of that, I’ve seen him give back to his community over and over again. In 2022, we fed the homeless together on Thanksgiving, but that was just one example. There were so many moments where he gave-quietly, privately, without cameras, because his heart genuinely wanted to help.
I’ve also witnessed him doing real inner work. He made the choice to check himself into anger management, start therapy, and commit to physical healing through therapy. That takes strength, humility, and self-awareness. He didn’t do it for show-he did it because he wanted to grow and to become a better person.
In my personal experience, Sean is not a danger or a threat to the community. He is a man of God, someone who uplifts, supports, and inspires those around him to be better mentally, physically and spiritually. But more than anything, he’s a father and his kids are the ones who look up to him the most. They need him. His presence, love, and guidance matter deeply in their lives.
I truly believe that he belongs at home, with his family, the people who mean the most to him and who continue to be his greatest source of purpose and strength.
Judge..That’s a good man.
Thank you,
Caresha Brownlee
Thoughts?
Mariah Carey Rocks Stylish Jacket & Patent Leather Boots While Promoting 'Here For It All'
Mariah Carey looks incredibly stylish in sheer tights and a pair of patent leather boots.
The 56-year-old singer, who is busy promoting her upcoming album Here For It All, stopped by the Live with Kelly and Mark studio on Monday (September 22) in Hudson Square, New York City, followed by a visit to Central Park for another interview.
For her Live with Kelly and Mark appearance (the episode airs this Thursday, September 25!), Mariah paired her fabulous boots with a leopard-print skirt and sheer tights, along with a professional black blazer. She kept her oversized sunglasses on all day.
Later, she traded her jacket for a sturdier-looking black jacket with a hood to go to the park. An overcast day in the city, Mariah likely wanted to be prepared in case of rain.
The Grammy winner was all smiles for the cameras, waving at photographers and happily holding a microphone for her second outdoor interview.
Mariah Carey looks incredibly stylish in sheer tights and a pair of patent leather boots.
The 56-year-old singer, who is busy promoting her upcoming album Here For It All, stopped by the Live with Kelly and Mark studio on Monday (September 22) in Hudson Square, New York City, followed by a visit to Central Park for another interview.
For her Live with Kelly and Mark appearance (the episode airs this Thursday, September 25!), Mariah paired her fabulous boots with a leopard-print skirt and sheer tights, along with a professional black blazer. She kept her oversized sunglasses on all day.
Later, she traded her jacket for a sturdier-looking black jacket with a hood to go to the park. An overcast day in the city, Mariah likely wanted to be prepared in case of rain.
The Grammy winner was all smiles for the cameras, waving at photographers and happily holding a microphone for her second outdoor interview.
Jimmy Kimmel Is Back, But Sinclair and Nextstar Refuses To Air His Return — How To Boycott Sinclair
Jimmy Kimmel is back. After a week of suspension following his controversial comments about Charlie Kirk, Disney and ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return this week. But in nearly 40 markets across the U.S., viewers won’t see it, because Sinclair Broadcast Group is refusing to air the show.
Sinclair, one of the nation’s largest broadcasters, owns dozens of ABC affiliates. The company announced it will not carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! until Kimmel issues a formal apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and makes a “meaningful personal donation” both to the family and to Kirk’s political organization, Turning Point USA.
According to Sinclair executives, Kimmel’s suspension wasn’t enough. They’ve set their own terms for bringing him back:
Public Apology: Sinclair wants Kimmel to issue a direct, formal statement to Kirk’s family, addressing his comments during the monologue.
Donation to Family & Turning Point USA: They want him to write a check to both Kirk’s family and to the conservative group Kirk founded.
“Accountability” Agreement: Sinclair has hinted that ABC must also show a broader commitment to professionalism in its programming going forward.
Until those conditions are met, Sinclair says their ABC affiliates will replace Kimmel’s timeslot with local news or other programming.
If you live in a city where your ABC affiliate is owned by Sinclair, you won’t see Jimmy Kimmel when he returns. Viewers in those markets will either see extra local news coverage or alternate late-night shows instead.
But this blackout only affects Sinclair markets. If your ABC station is owned by another company like Nexstar, Hearst, or Gray, the show will air normally.
Even if Sinclair blocks the show in your area, there are still several ways to watch:
Hulu: Every episode is available the next day, but your Hulu should be canceled.
ABC App & Website: Stream episodes if you have a TV provider login.
Non-Sinclair ABC Affiliates: If your local station isn’t Sinclair-owned, you’ll see Kimmel on TV as usual.
Streaming Live TV Services: Platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream typically carry ABC in markets where Sinclair doesn’t control the feed.
How Viewers Can Push Back Against Sinclair
Many viewers see Sinclair’s move as an overreach, using its power as an affiliate to influence national programming. For those who want to push back, here are strategies that can make an impact:
Identify Your Station
Look up your local ABC affiliate and see if Sinclair owns it. If it does, consider switching to a streaming option.
Cut The Cord
Services like YouTube TV, or DirecTV Stream let you bypass Sinclair altogether while still getting ABC programming.
Don’t Support Sinclair Newscasts
Sinclair relies heavily on local news ratings. If you don’t tune in, their influence weakens.
Contact Advertisers
Let advertisers know how you feel about Sinclair’s decision. Brands don’t like controversy tied to their airtime.
Support Independent Media
Investing your time and viewership in outlets outside Sinclair keeps your support aligned with networks and broadcasters that don’t impose political conditions on programming.
This isn’t just about Jimmy Kimmel. Affiliate stations typically air network shows without interference. Sinclair’s demands: requiring a late-night host to apologize and pay money before airing, are unusual and raise questions about how much control local broadcasters should have over national content.
Jimmy Kimmel is back. After a week of suspension following his controversial comments about Charlie Kirk, Disney and ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return this week. But in nearly 40 markets across the U.S., viewers won’t see it, because Sinclair Broadcast Group is refusing to air the show.
Sinclair, one of the nation’s largest broadcasters, owns dozens of ABC affiliates. The company announced it will not carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! until Kimmel issues a formal apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and makes a “meaningful personal donation” both to the family and to Kirk’s political organization, Turning Point USA.
According to Sinclair executives, Kimmel’s suspension wasn’t enough. They’ve set their own terms for bringing him back:
Public Apology: Sinclair wants Kimmel to issue a direct, formal statement to Kirk’s family, addressing his comments during the monologue.
Donation to Family & Turning Point USA: They want him to write a check to both Kirk’s family and to the conservative group Kirk founded.
“Accountability” Agreement: Sinclair has hinted that ABC must also show a broader commitment to professionalism in its programming going forward.
Until those conditions are met, Sinclair says their ABC affiliates will replace Kimmel’s timeslot with local news or other programming.
If you live in a city where your ABC affiliate is owned by Sinclair, you won’t see Jimmy Kimmel when he returns. Viewers in those markets will either see extra local news coverage or alternate late-night shows instead.
But this blackout only affects Sinclair markets. If your ABC station is owned by another company like Nexstar, Hearst, or Gray, the show will air normally.
Even if Sinclair blocks the show in your area, there are still several ways to watch:
Hulu: Every episode is available the next day, but your Hulu should be canceled.
ABC App & Website: Stream episodes if you have a TV provider login.
Non-Sinclair ABC Affiliates: If your local station isn’t Sinclair-owned, you’ll see Kimmel on TV as usual.
Streaming Live TV Services: Platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream typically carry ABC in markets where Sinclair doesn’t control the feed.
How Viewers Can Push Back Against Sinclair
Many viewers see Sinclair’s move as an overreach, using its power as an affiliate to influence national programming. For those who want to push back, here are strategies that can make an impact:
Identify Your Station
Look up your local ABC affiliate and see if Sinclair owns it. If it does, consider switching to a streaming option.
Cut The Cord
Services like YouTube TV, or DirecTV Stream let you bypass Sinclair altogether while still getting ABC programming.
Don’t Support Sinclair Newscasts
Sinclair relies heavily on local news ratings. If you don’t tune in, their influence weakens.
Contact Advertisers
Let advertisers know how you feel about Sinclair’s decision. Brands don’t like controversy tied to their airtime.
Support Independent Media
Investing your time and viewership in outlets outside Sinclair keeps your support aligned with networks and broadcasters that don’t impose political conditions on programming.
This isn’t just about Jimmy Kimmel. Affiliate stations typically air network shows without interference. Sinclair’s demands: requiring a late-night host to apologize and pay money before airing, are unusual and raise questions about how much control local broadcasters should have over national content.
Mattel Launches First-Ever “Brave Ken,” a Bald Doll Aimed at Empowering Kids Facing Hair Loss
For the first time in the history of the Brave Barbie program, Ken will appear as a bald doll designed to support children experiencing hair loss.
Mattel announced the expansion as part of its ongoing effort to provide encouragement and representation for children living with cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The program’s newest release includes two versions of Brave Barbie, along with the debut of Brave Ken. Each doll comes with a wig and additional accessories such as a hat, headphones, a headband, and a sticker pack. The dolls are not sold at retail but instead are distributed directly to children through nonprofit partners.
Since its creation in 2013, the Brave Barbie initiative has focused on children who lose their hair during treatment. Over the past decade, more than 120,000 dolls have been given away worldwide through the program. Mattel confirmed that an additional 10,000 dolls will be distributed this fall as part of the latest rollout.
According to Mattel, the new line coincides with September’s observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The dolls will be delivered through organizations such as CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, as well as treatment facilities that partner with the company.
Families may also request a doll directly by contacting mattelchildrensfoundation@mattel.com.
By adding Brave Ken to the lineup, Mattel has expanded the program’s reach and reinforced its mission to provide comfort during difficult times.
Mattel announced the expansion as part of its ongoing effort to provide encouragement and representation for children living with cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The program’s newest release includes two versions of Brave Barbie, along with the debut of Brave Ken. Each doll comes with a wig and additional accessories such as a hat, headphones, a headband, and a sticker pack. The dolls are not sold at retail but instead are distributed directly to children through nonprofit partners.
Since its creation in 2013, the Brave Barbie initiative has focused on children who lose their hair during treatment. Over the past decade, more than 120,000 dolls have been given away worldwide through the program. Mattel confirmed that an additional 10,000 dolls will be distributed this fall as part of the latest rollout.
According to Mattel, the new line coincides with September’s observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The dolls will be delivered through organizations such as CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, as well as treatment facilities that partner with the company.
Families may also request a doll directly by contacting mattelchildrensfoundation@mattel.com.
By adding Brave Ken to the lineup, Mattel has expanded the program’s reach and reinforced its mission to provide comfort during difficult times.
Trump’s announcement linking Tylenol and autism is already doing major damage
On Monday, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. finally made their long-anticipated announcement advising pregnant women not to take Tylenol. They made this announcement even though the evidence of a link between autism and acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is thin and the biggest study about the two showed that “use during pregnancy was not associated with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analyses.” Even his own FDA’s statement Monday that acetaminophen “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism” carried significant caveats, including that “a causal relationship has not been established.”
On top of making this sweeping claim without proof, Trump —alongside Kennedy, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Mehmet Oz — added lie after lie. He said that autism doesn’t exist in Cuba (it does and it has at least nine autism schools, and one study showed that Cuban teachers know as much about autism as their peers in other countries). And he repeated the debunked claim that vaccines lead to autism.
For much of the past century, autism suffered from profound misunderstanding.
Beyond the blatant misinformation and willful ignorance, perhaps the biggest danger is how, within just one news conference, Trump and his administration have virtually erased 30 years of work to promote autism acceptance. For much of the past century, autism suffered from profound misunderstanding. People blamed autism diagnoses on everything from unloving “refrigerator mothers” to vaccines. Only in the past few decades, largely thanks to the rise of autistic self-advocates and their loved ones, has society moved much more toward acceptance.
But Trump’s words erased this progress. He spoke, for example, about how one of his employees “lost" her son when she gave him a vaccine, developed a fever and then became autistic. These words treat autism as a sort of a loss in a certain way. They treat autism as a sentence worse than death and that mourning prevents their parents and loved ones from showing their children the love they need.
“When you describe persons having been destroyed, it means you’re breaking them off, they’re gone,” Colin Killick, the executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, told me in an interview before the news conference. “We have full, meaningful lives that are worth living, and we need to be listened to.”
But the fact of the matter is that parents have an autistic kid and they need to be focused on the kid they have in front of them rather than the kid they wished they had.
The words of those around Trump were little better. “If you’ve seen a kid with autism, with severe autism, it’s hard to watch,” Makary said. “Kids get frustrated, they get angry, they can be crying because they want to speak and they can’t speak. It’s hard to watch. And it may be entirely preventable.”
Nobody denies that autistic people who need substantial help with daily activities, especially those who do not speak or who have intellectual disabilities, face major risks. One study showed that autistic people with intellectual disabilities have about 2.8 times the mortality rate compared to people without those diagnoses. But by saying that autistic people’s worst episodes are “hard to watch,” the Trump administration is inherently devaluing autistic people.
Trump, Makary and Kennedy are giving loved ones of autistic people false hope.
Makary’s claim that autism might be “easily preventable” is especially risible when there is limited scientific evidence that leucovorin, the drug the Trump administration is touting, helps a small subset of autistic children. Just as the FDA caveated its press release about acetaminophen, Kennedy’s HHS cautioned that leucovorin is “not a cure” and “may only lead to improvements in speech-related deficits for a subset of children with ASD.”
In peddling this as a potential treatment, Trump, Makary and Kennedy are giving loved ones of autistic people false hope. It also will essentially write off assistance for autistic people for whom leucovorin will not work.
“I worry about what happens when these miracle cures fail to materialize, right? And families are left with these autistic children who they’ve been told are damaged goods?” Killick asks. “Because we’ve seen the result of these kinds of rhetoric around autistic people’s lives not being worth living. It’s filicide.”
I wish that I could say that Killick is exaggerating. But stories abound of parents who kill their autistic children because they are “overwhelmed.”
Already, the language from the White House is striking fear in autistic people. Liliya Wheatcraft, an autistic psychiatrist who lives in the United Kingdom, has two autistic children who are American citizens. But her eldest son said that he would never go back to the United States.
“My 16 year old said, ‘Well, I don’t know, but I certainly don’t wish to go there anytime soon,’” she told me over the phone. “There is some really dangerous rhetoric in the speech that made me honestly concerned about ever returning to the U.S. because I might be concerned for my friends.”
When I wrote my book “We’re Not Broken” in 2021, I mentioned Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonsense only in passing and mentioned Trump’s past references because I figured it was in the rearview and his successful Operation Warp Speed of the Covid-19 vaccine must have changed his mind.
I was naive. Trump, Kennedy and his entire administration are rolling back decades of progress and hard work by autistic people to shift the narrative from fear to acceptance. And whereas in the past, anti-vaccine sentiment was a venture only for cranks, it now has a bigger megaphone in the form of the presidency. We will need decades to repair the damage.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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