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EA Cancels ‘Black Panther’ Game, Shutters Cliffhanger Games Studio, Gamers React

Black Panther

Source: EA/ Cliffhanger Games / Black Panther

That Black Panther standalone we were all excited for is no longer happening.

IGN broke the news that EA has taken away Cliffhanger Games’ heart-shaped herb and has cancelled one of the games Marvel fans have been eagerly anticipating since it was first announced back in July 2023. 

According to the website, EA Entertainment President Laura Miele stated in an email that the recent changes, cancellations, and other moves were aimed at “sharpening our focus and putting our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.”

The bad news for the gaming industry doesn’t stop there, EA is also laying off an unspecified number of workers on both mobile and central teams. IGN reports that EA declined to comment on the specific number but believes, while not confirming that the number is less than the roughly 300 employees let go last month across Respawn and EA’s Fan Care teams.

“These decisions are hard,” said Miele. “They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them — including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles.”

Gamers Are Sad About Black Panther’s Cancellation & Layoffs At EA

As you can imagine, the gaming community isn’t taking this news very well.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. First Wonder Woman (a female led game) gets cancelled and now Black Panther (a poc led game) gets cancelled, and neither of them ever had a video game before. This really is Trvmp’s America…” one post on X, formerly Twitter, read.

more layoffs as the Black Panther game cancelled and the studio closed it keeps getting worse :(,” Kinda Funny and GamerTag Radio’s Parris Lilly said. 

While we are not getting the Black Panther game, EA says it is still committed to bringing us that Iron Man game currently being developed by Motive, and will focus on Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends.

What a sad time to be a gamer and Marvel fan, just saying.

The video game streets are still talking; you can see those reactions below.

1. These people are straight up losers

4. We strongly disagree

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Bad Bunny Claims Third No. 1 From ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ on Latin Airplay Chart

After leading Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart since last January, Bad Bunny’s “DTMF” cracks the No. 1 slot on the Latin Airplay chart (dated May 31). It’s the third song from Debí Tirar Más Fotos, his sixth solo album, to hit the top of the overall Latin radio ranking.

“DTMF” advances 2-1 in its 13th week on the Latin Airplay chart, after a 31% gain in audience impressions, to 8.8 million, earned in United States during the May 16-22 tracking week, according to Luminate.

Trending on Billboard

“DTMF” marks the third track from the album Debí Tirar Más Fotos to hit No. 1 on the tally, after “El Clúb” and “Baile Inolvidable” each charted at the summit for two weeks between February and March.

As Benito claims the Latin Airplay crown, he adds a 28th chart-topping hit –a run that started in 2018– and enters a tie with Daddy Yankee for the fourth-most since the ranking began in 1994. Here’s a recap of those artists with the most wins, with Shakira standing out as the sole female representation among those acts with at least 24 No. 1s:

No. 1s, Artist
37, J Balvin
35, Ozuna
32, Enrique Iglesias
28, Bad Bunny
28, Daddy Yankee
24, Maluma
24, Shakira

Rauw Alejandro & Luis Angel ‘El Flaco’ Score Big Wins: Elsewhere on the Latin charts, Rauw Alejandro and Luis Angel ‘El Flaco’ score additional gains.

Rauw Alejandro returns to the summit on the Latin Pop Airplay chart almost a year after “Touching The Sky” ruled for one week (August 2024). His recent single, “Carita Linda” jumps 3-1 in its sixth week with 4.15 million in audience impressions, up 19%, earned during the same period. The song becomes the Puerto Rican’s seventh ruler, and third unaccompanied by any other act.

Meanwhile, Luis Angel ‘El Flaco’ scores a second champ on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart with “Vuelve a Mi.” The song, which climbs 5-1, becomes the airplay Greatest Gainer of the week after a 44% boost in impressions, to 6.7 million.

“Vuelve a Mi” also takes Luis Angel to his third top on the overall Latin Airplay chart, where it rallies 14-4 in its 11th recap.

Rezz Relocates Her Upcoming Show From Brooklyn Mirage Amid Club’s Ongoing Closure

Rezz is the latest artist to relocate a show from the Brooklyn Mirage, the New York venue that was meant to reopen earlier this month but remains closed amid ongoing permitting issues.

On Wednesday (May 28), the producer announced on social media that her May 30 performance will now take place at SummerStage in Central Park.

In this announcement she writes that “due to [the Mirage’s] ongoing internal issues my show can’t happen there as planned this Friday, but my team was busting a– looking for a dif venue for this Friday and 1 that is available is SummerStage at Central Park!! If u bought your tickets to Mirage u can use your tickets here! It’s the best we could do given these last minute circumstances. Also if you want to refund your Mirage ticket ofc that’s an option too. Doing this for the fans.”

Trending on Billboard

After a substantial remodel, Brooklyn Mirage was scheduled to open on May 1 with a pair of shows from Sara Landry. Those shows were both canceled by the club hours before they were set to begin, after building inspectors declined to grant the recently renovated facility a permit to open.

All subsequent shows at the venue have been canceled or postponed. Last week, Billboard reported that following the extended delay, Josh Wyatt will no longer serve as CEO of the club’s parent company, Avant Gardner. Gary Richards, Avant Gardner’s non-executive chairman of the board, is now managing day-to-day operations for Avant Gardner in the interim.

In its own announcement today on social media, Brooklyn Mirage announced that a May 31 show by Artbat has been moved to November, a June 1 event from party series Everyday People will now happen in September and a June 6 performance from A.G. Cook will now happen in August. The club also announced that “all ticket holders for impacted shows will also receive an email and text with relevant show information and ticket options.”

June 7 and June 8 shows from bass producer Tape B and the party series All Day I Dream remain on the club’s online calendar, indicating the possibility of Brooklyn Mirage opening next weekend.

These Best-Selling Beauty Products Are 30% Off Thanks to Lancome’s Friends & Family Sale

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Lancome just launched its friends and family sale, and it’s a major deal.

Now’s your chance to snag some of the brand’s best-selling products at 30% off. From cleansers to mascara and foundation, we’re talking big sales on Lancome’s most highly sought-after creations, like the famed Monsieur Big Volume mascara or the beloved high-coverage Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation. Just take it from Lancome Global Ambassador Olivia Rodrigo: You’ll want to jump on this sale fast.

It’s bound to garner attention from makeup fanatics far and wide. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your makeup stash or up your skincare game, this sale is a great excuse to shop some of the best of the best in beauty and skincare that Lancome has to offer. Take it from us: We’ll definitely be shopping till we drop.

Monsieur Big Volume Mascara

$21

$30

30% off

A volumizing mascara in a deep black hue.

This best-selling mascara is true to its name, offering big volume with big impact. This product offers a “false lash effect” with 12x more volume and up to 24 hours of wear, looking so long and lush that you might trick people into thinking you got lash extensions.

Trending on Billboard

The volumizing effect is partnered with an ultra-black hue that doesn’t flake, smudge or clump on the lashes, avoiding that spider effect. We recommend starting at the root and working outwards, moving the brush through your lashes as you go. Monsieur Big’s thick-bristled wand is tailor-made to disperse the lashes, coating them evenly in the mascara for a cohesive look. If you’re looking for curl, volume and staying power, you’re looking in the right place.

Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation

$37

$53

30% off

A long-wearing foundation in a slew of shades.

The raved-about Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation is on sale. Everyone rejoice. If you haven’t been able to get your hands on this product, here’s the sitch. The foundation boasts a natural matte finish that delivers up to a whopping 24 hours of wear. It’s waterproof, transfer, sweat and humidity-resistant too. This formula also works on pretty much all skin types from mature to oily. Not just a foundation, this product also works to heal your skin with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, moringa and prebiotics that boost hydration and protect against acne. Teint Idole Ultra Wear is truly the best of both worlds.

Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum

$105

$150

30% off

A best-selling anti-ageing serum in a chrome and purple package.

If you’re looking to get in on the anti-aging game early, or you have mature skin, Lancome’s Rénergie H.C.F. Triple serum is definitely something you should have in your skincare arsenal. True to its name, this serum features three-star ingredients, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C+ niacinamide and ferulic acid. The hyaluronic acid helps with absorption while the vitamin C and niacinamide brighten up dark spots for a more even complexion.

Finally, ferulic acid reduces signs of anti-aging while boosting the effectiveness and potency of other antioxidants in the formula. We recommend layering this serum with a heavy-duty moisturizer that will lock the serum’s ingredients in place, allowing your skin to absorb all of the rich vitamins and antioxidants. No matter your age, you’ll be glowing in no time.

Color Design Eyeshadow

$18.20

$26

30% off

A single eyeshadow in a rosy gold hue in black packaging.

While Lancome is pretty well known for its eye shadow singles. These singles take me way back to the early 2000s when you could swatch these at fancy department stores. While some things haven’t changed about the packaging, the formula of Lancome’s single shadows has received major upgrades to offer makeup lovers impactful color payoff and shine.

These singles are now more long-lasting than ever. Crease-resistant, densely packed and packed with rich pigments, the Color Design line features over 11 unique shades on Lancome’s website with satin, matte and shimmer finishes. These shadows are perfect for all skin tones and types. While all the singles are great, our favorite shade is “Kitten Heel” because of its gold-to-rose gold reflect.

Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover

$36.40

$52

30% off

A best-selling eye-makeup remover in a decorative blue and white bottle.

This buttery smooth eye-makeup remover can tackle the most stubborn waterproof formulas, and it’s only $36.40. Bi-Facil Double Action eye makeup remover is a best-seller for Lancome, and for good reason. Boasting 4.9 stars on the brand’s website, the formula cuts through even the most dramatic makeup looks thanks to its patented two-phase formula.

The first phase is oily, utilizing a unique lipid concentrate to loosen and lift eye makeup. The second phase features water emollients that leave the skin feeling squeaky clean. Before using, shake up the bottle to marry that Bi-Facil formula and saturate a cotton pad with the product. Press gently on the eyes to break down eyeshadow, mascara and liner, and wipe clean. Easy as pie.

Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

$19.60

$28

30% off

A waterproof eye pencil with a smudge-proof formula in blue.

Stylo waterproof eyeliner pencil can get you there guaranteed. This liner is a pencil style with a creamy, waterproof formula that won’t budge on your lash and waterline. The creamy formula works well if you want a more dramatic smudged-out look.

Smudging and blending is easy peasy with this product because a nifty little built-in smudger is attached to the end. No brushes neccessary. The Le Stylo is available in nine different shades in both matte and metallic finishes. We like the “Minuit Illusion” shade, a deep bluish purple that would look pretty gorgeous on the waterline of green or brown eyes.

Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer

$21.70

$31

30% off

A long-wearing best-selling concealer featuring skincare ingredients.

Accompanying its foundation counterpart, the Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over concealer is just as full coverage. This product brightens and evens out the skin in 24 shades. Creamy yet weightless, the formula is hydrating and jam-packed with pigment so you can cover up dark circles and spots with ease. Additionally, the Teint Idole Ultra Wear is crease-resistant and easily blendable, making it very beginner-friendly for those makeup newbies. The concealer can also be used as a cream contour to sculpt and add dimension. Worn with the Teint Idole foundation or a more natural skin tint, this concealer is a winner.

La Vie Est Belle Iris Absolu Eau De Parfum

An eau de parfum with floral iris notes in a texture glass package.

Equipped with heavy notes iris and fruity accords, this perfume makes for the perfect gift for someone special in your life. Currently retailing for $92.40, this might be the perfect time to snag it. This fragrance also includes jasmine sambac and patchouli essence all facetted by an ambery signature containing fruity accents of fig and blackcurrant. In lamens terms, the scent is sweet thanks to the fruit but warm with the addition of amber. Green, or fresh and natural, notes come in clutch with the fig and iris. It makes us picture lush gardens after the rain all shaded by the sun. It’s practically summer in a bottle.

Ludwig Göransson Not Sure He Can ‘Wrap His Head Around’ Donald Glover Retiring Childish Gambino

Ludwig Göransson is still getting used to Donald Glover retiring his Childish Gambino moniker.

The movie score composer and music producer stopped by Apple Music to have a chat with Zane Lowe recently and talked about his work with Childish Gambino.

“It’s been a huge part of my life — Donald and Childish Gambino — and being on that journey, and touring and playing,” he said when asked how he felt about Glover deciding to stop making music under the Childish Gambino name. “We have so many family friends. I mean, we are a family. … I’m not sure actually I still can wrap my head around it. I wasn’t sad because I know that it’s not like he’s gonna stop making music.”

Trending on Billboard

He added that he still goes back to listen to the music that they’ve made and expressed that he was “very proud of it.”

Elsewhere in the interview, he talked about the difference in working on movie scores versus producing songs for music artists. “I do love making songs,” he said. “I do like working with artists, and for me that’s always been really important for my own musical journey, for my own growth to sit with another — no disrespect to directors, they’re artists — to sit with another musician, work with them, get their vision out and sit and create something is amazing.”

In 2024, while promoting Childish Gambino’s final album Bando Stone & The New World, the actor and musician told The New York Times that he decided to let that part of his life go because it wasn’t as “fulfilling” as it used to be.

The two started Childish Gambino when they met on the set of Community, when Göransson was a composer on the NBC sitcom and Glover played the character Troy Barnes.

You can watch the full interview below.

2025 American Music Awards Attract Largest Audience Since 2019

You never know what will happen when you throw a lot of changes at a long-running awards show — but for the 2025 American Music Awards, it appears that change is a good thing. The show, which was hosted by Jennifer Lopez and held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Monday for the first time, posted its largest audience since 2019 (when the show was hosted by Ciara).

The AMAs were the No. 1 broadcast of the night on Monday. The show attracted 4.86 million viewers, according to Nielsen, up 38% from its last live broadcast in 2022 (airing Nov. 20, 2022, and hosted by Wayne Brady on ABC).

Trending on Billboard

There were many changes with this year’s show — it was the first regular AMAs broadcast on CBS, the first to air on Memorial Day (or in the spring, in general), the first not to take place in the Los Angeles area and first since a time reduction from three to two hours.

The 2025 American Music Awards ratings measures Live+SD Fast National Data including Out-of-Home Viewing and live streaming on Paramount+.

The 2025 American Music Awards outpaced several other recent primetime specials, including ABC’s CMA Country Christmas hosted by Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood on Dec. 3, 2024; NBC’s Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music on Jan. 27, 2025; and ABC’s CMA Fest on June 25, 2024.

The 2025 American Music Awards on CBS drove 9.2 billion potential impressions and 816,600 mentions on social media, while also posting growth across all key demographics versus the 2022 broadcast: up 91% among adults 18-34, up 23% among adults 18-49 and up 16% among adults 25-54.

The 2025 American Music Awards social accounts garnered over 100M video views within the first 24 hours across Instagram, Tiktok, X and Facebook, according to Listenfirst.

The ceremony’s Twitch live broadcast peaked at 205.5 thousand during YouTube star Kai Cenat’s onstage appearance, according to TwitchTracker.

Jennifer Lopez, Ama

Jennifer Lopez

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

Donald Trump Commutes Life Sentence of Former Chicago Gang Leader Larry Hoover

President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover, as the former Chicago gang leader was set to spend the rest of his years behind bars in Colorado.

Trump has dished out quite a few pardons in recent weeks while in the Oval Office, and he commuted the multiple life sentences of the Gangster Disciples’ founder on Wednesday (May 28), according to the Chicago SunTimes.

However, CBS News reports that the 74-year-old will still have to serve the remainder of his 200-year sentence for the murder of drug dealer William “Pooky” Young in 1973.

Trending on Billboard

Federal prosecutors accused the drug kingpin of running a “criminal enterprise” from behind bars, which helped him still oversee gang activities while imprisoned. Hoover was hit with 40 additional charges and found guilty in 1997.

Ye (formerly Kanye West), who is a Chicago native, has long advocated for Hoover’s freedom. He spoke about Hoover during a White House visit with Trump in 2018 and then headlined the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert with Drake in December 2021 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.

West was overjoyed to learn that Trump commuted Hoover’s sentences. “WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER,” he wrote to X on Wednesday.

Ye even showed love to Drake for joining him onstage in 2021. “Thank you to Drake for helping to bring Larry Hoover home,” Yeezy added.

West gave Larry Hoover’s son, Larry Hoover Jr., a guest appearance on his 2021 Donda album and shouted out Hoover on “Jesus Lord” as well as Vultures 2‘s “River.” Hoover Jr. also joined Ye during his Drink Champs interview in 2021.

Hoover has continued to petition for a criminal sentence, and U.S. District Judge John Blakey heard a mercy bid from the former gang leader in 2024. “We did what so many said was impossible,” Hoover’s attorney, Justin Moore, told the Sun-Times. “We got Larry Hoover out of federal prison.”

Dove Cameron Remembers Late Cameron Boyce on His Birthday: ‘Catch You in the Next Life’

Dove Cameron is remembering Cameron Boyce on what would’ve been his 26th birthday, posting an emotional tribute to her late Descendants co-star Wednesday (May 28).

Six years since the Jessie actor died suddenly after suffering an epileptic seizure in his sleep, the “Boyfriend” singer shared a carousel of photos with her friend and wrote on Instagram, “i still feel you all the time.”

“catch you in the next life,” she continued. “happy birthday. i love you.”

Trending on Billboard

In one of the photos, a smiling Boyce wraps his arms around the Liv & Maddie alum while smiling wide; in another, they sit on the floor and pose with two other Descendants stars, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart. Cameron also shared a snap of the gun and rose tattoo on her wrist that she got in the late actor’s honor.

Carson also paid tribute to Boyce on Wednesday, sharing a black-and-white photo and writing on Instagram, “Keep dancing in heaven, my Cam. Earth could never be the same without you.”

Boyce was just 20 years old when he died in 2019, leaving the Disney community — and countless fans who watched him on projects such as Jessie and Bunk’d — in shock. At the time, a spokesperson confirmed that his seizure had been the “result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated.”

Cameron and Boyce starred together in three Descendants movies between 2015 and 2019. The soundtrack for the first film debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

The Schmigadoon! actress has since pursued a solo music career, dropping her debut single “Bloodshot” in 2019. Her viral hit “Boyfriend” peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, and she is now fresh off the release of new singles “Too Much” and “French Girls,” the latter of which dropped earlier in May.

“There’s a huge intersection between pain, heartbreak, joy and camp and levity. And that’s where we found ourselves in ‘French Girls,’” Cameron recently told Billboard of the newer song. “The melodrama of being a muse for a sculptor or a painter. There’s something so painfully romantic and also constricting about that. In ‘French Girls,’ the thing that I was really obsessed with was this self-sacrificing mania about being a muse that is not healthy.”

Giveon Announces Release Date for His Sophomore Album ‘Beloved’

Giveon has announced his sophomore album Beloved will be dropping later this summer. On Wednesday (May 28), Giveon hopped on Instagram to finally announce his new album Beloved will drop on July 11.

“BELOVED, the sophomore album, july 11th,” he wrote on Instagram. “i spent over a thousand days crafting this for you and for myself. excited for you to see my growth not only as an artist but also as a man. i’ll never take your patience for granted. see you soon.”

The new album comes after the Grammy-nominated artist dropped off the project’s lead single “Twenties” in March. The song reached No. 6 on Hot R&B Songs and coincided with the five-year anniversary of his debut Take Time EP.

Trending on Billboard

The EP was nominated for best R&B album at the 2021 Grammy Awards, and was followed by the top 10 R&B album When It’s All Said and Done in October 2020. He also appeared on Justin Bieber’s summertime smash “Peaches” in 2021, but other than that has been laying low to work on Beloved.

“I get that question a lot,” he told Billboard back in March when asked what he’s been up to this whole time. “I always tell people that I’ve just been absorbing bodies of work that inspire me. Not just music but multiple mediums like paintings, films, life itself. Because there’s a lot of inspiration that comes from life and all of my music is autobiographical. So I don’t have a choice but to experience life and then write it out while working on my craft.”

He was fairly tight lipped on his sophomore effort, but said: “I’m excited for people to hear it. With my first album, I was just making music and having. Now I’m still having [fun]. But I’m also like, ‘Oh, I have a responsibility with this music because I see how it touches and helps people.’”

Check out the Instagram post announcing Beloved below.

Skilla Baby Performs In Detroit Just 48 Hours After Surviving Drive-By Shooting

BETX Main Stage: Where Black Music Lives - Day 1
Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty

Just 48 hours after surviving a harrowing drive-by shooting, Detroit rapper Skilla Baby stunned fans by returning to the stage with an unforgettable performance.

On May 24, during 42 Dugg’s Memorial Day Weekend concert at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Skilla Baby emerged as a surprise guest. The rapper, visibly injured with his arm in a sling and wrapped in bandages, performed with unwavering energy, proving his resilience and dedication to his craft. Skilla delivered a passionate performance of his 2022 hit “Duck Yo Taco,” igniting the crowd despite his physical condition. 

Fans erupted as he took the stage, many in awe of his determination after being shot just two days prior on May 22 in a violent drive-by near Redford Township, Michigan. Over 20 bullets were fired at his SUV while he drove near 8 Mile Road and Centralia. The barrage left Skilla Baby with gunshot wounds to his head, back, and hand. His vehicle crashed into a building during the attack, further emphasizing the severity of the incident.

Despite the gravity of his injuries, Skilla Baby’s appearance on stage demonstrated not only his toughness but also a message of perseverance. His quick return to performing reflects a fearless spirit that resonates with fans and underscores the harsh realities faced by many artists navigating fame and danger. Skilla’s ability to channel pain into performance has only deepened his connection with his audience—and cemented his status as one of Detroit’s most compelling voices in rap.

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