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Right-wing media personality Megyn Kelly is facing backlash after her defense of the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claiming that he was possibly “not a pedophile.”
“I do know somebody very, very close to this case who is in a position to know virtually everything,” Kelly said on the most recent episode of her podcast. “And this person has told me from the start, years and years ago, that Jeffrey Epstein, in this person’s view, was not a pedophile.”
She went on to add, “”This is this person’s view, who was there for a lot of this, but that he was into the barely legal type. Like, he liked 15-year-old girls. Like, he liked 15-year-old girls. I’m just giving you facts that he wasn’t into, like, 8-year-olds. But he liked the very young teen types that could pass for even younger than they were, but would look legal to a passerby.”
Epstein was found guilty of soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008, and was awaiting trial after being charged with trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex in New York in 2019 before dying of an apparent suicide in his cell.
Kelly would double down, proclaiming that she had difficulty believing Attorney General Pam Bondi. “For the first time, I thought, oh, no, he was an actual pedophile,” Kelly said. “I don’t know whether it’s true. I have to be honest, I don’t really trust Pam Bondi’s word on the Epstein matters anymore.”
The comments drew sharp criticism, with observers noting that Kelly might’ve seriously damaged her career. “This is career-ending for Megyn Kelly,” Democratic strategist Ally Sammarco said to The Daily Beast. “Fifteen-year-olds are CHILDREN. They can’t drive. They can’t see rated R movies. But disgusting 50-year-old men should be allowed to rape them? Goodbye. Forever.”
Others called it another sign that supporters of President Donald Trump (who has become more prominent in recent releases from the Epstein files) are willing to even defend child sex abuse. Journalist Sarah Spain wrote in a post on BlueSky: These people will literally go on tv essentially defending a grown man sleeping with 15 year-olds (rape, FYI!) in service of a political allegiance. At this point how can anyone say this isn’t a cult?”
Trending on Billboard Ice Spice is gearing up for a trip to Bikini Bottom. Before making her voice-acting debut in the upcoming The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants movie, the MC dropped an original song for the soundtrack titled “Big Buy” on Thursday (Nov. 13). Explore See latest videos, charts and news The Bronx native […]
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At this point, it’s no secret that ICE’s main objective is to purge the United States of brown-skinned men, women and children. Regardless of citizen status, many green card-holding migrants have gotten swept up in Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s ethnic alleged cleansing of America.
Now with the Supreme Court giving ICE agents the green light to racially profile citizens in said operation, even Native Americans are seemingly fair game to be deported. ICE nearly deported a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona for looking like a Latina.
According to Newsweek, 24-year-old Leticia Jacobo became the latest Native American to find themselves under the scrutiny of ICE agents for appearing to be a Latina, but in this particular case, she was detained and almost deported after being arrested in Polk County Jail in Des Moines, Iowa, where she currently lives. It wasn’t until her mother provided her birth certificate proving that she was born in Arizona that Jacobo was ultimately released by “authorities.”
Newsweek reports:
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Polk County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mark Chance told the Arizona Mirror that the ICE detainer was issued in error, explaining that it had been intended for a different person booked at the jail at the same time but was incorrectly assigned to Jacobo’s records, the Arizona Mirror reported.
Polk County Jail participates in the 287(g) program with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which allows certain local police officers and sheriff’s deputies to carry out specific immigration enforcement tasks in coordination with ICE. Deputies trained under the program can verify citizenship status, compare biographic information against federal databases, and prepare immigration-related paperwork. They can also issue ICE detainers, which permit a person in custody to be held for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release so ICE can take custody. The program is intended to support federal immigration enforcement by providing additional local resources.
Jacobo’s aunt told the Arizona Mirror that her niece had been subjected to discrimination, at least to some degree, noting that Jacobo had previously been booked at the same facility and that her tribal membership was clearly documented.
And MAGA supporters still insist that the ICE raids aren’t about race.
“I do want to say that it’s racial profiling because she’s been there before, they have a rap sheet on her—why would they make a mistake with someone that’s constantly coming in?” Maria Nunez, Burns’ sister, told the outlet.
Naturally, Jacobo’s family is weighing legal action, but with the way that this current Trump administration defends the illegal actions that ICE takes to carry out what many feel is a fascist agenda, justice for the hundreds of American citizens and migrants who have a bone to pick with ICE may take a long while.
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Kanye West has been put on notice by the Brazilian government. Officials have warned him not to promote Nazism at his upcoming show in São Paulo.
As per TMZ, Kanye West has been threatened with arrest if he brings any antisemitism onstage. The São Paulo State Public Prosecutor’s Office stated he will be detained if he performs his unreleased track “Heil Hitler.” São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes also made it clear that the city will not tolerate hate speech from anyone, regardless of celebrity. “No one who promotes Nazism will play or sing any words on public equipment belonging to City Hall,” he said in a statement.
The mayor added that local authorities will be fully prepared to enforce the order if Kanye crosses the line. “We do not accept it, and we will do everything necessary to ensure that no one who promotes Nazism has any kind of activity here in the city of São Paulo,” he explained. According to Metropoles, event organizers Guilherme Cavalcante and Jean Fabrício Ramos were separately warned that they, too, could face arrest if Kanye violates the restrictions.
This isn’t the first time Kanye’s plans in Brazil have hit turbulence. His original venue, Interlagos Racetrack, pulled out earlier this year specifically over concerns stemming from his antisemitic behavior.
Trending on Billboard The Television Academy announced on Friday (Nov. 14) that Cris Abrego has been re-elected to a second two-year term as chair, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Abrego’s first term marked a period of institutional progress and strategic gains for the organization. Under his leadership, the Academy achieved record membership and retention. It now […]
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Laufey, Gwen Stefani and more stars are ready to rock around the Rockefeller Christmas tree, with NBC announcing the lineup for its annual tree-lighting celebration — hosted this year by Reba McEntire — on Friday (Nov. 14).
As Billboard can exclusively share, the network is set to air its 2025 Christmas in Rockefeller Center special at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 3, with viewers getting the choice of tuning live on NBC or watching a simulcast on Peacock. With the country icon and Voice judge making her debut as host of the yearly program, Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, New Edition, Brad Paisley and Carly Pearce will also perform.
Plus, the Radio City Rockettes — who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year — will once again be present to dazzle viewers with a festive showcase and, most likely, a kick line or two. “The lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center is one of the great traditions that New York has to offer, and we couldn’t be more proud to once again share that excitement with audiences all over the country,” said Jen Neal, executive vp of live events and specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment, in a statement.
She added, “We’re so looking forward to seeing Reba bring her infectious energy to the telecast and create an unforgettable holiday moment.”
The 2025 iteration of the holiday extravaganza will build on more than 90 years of tradition. The first Rockefeller tree lighting took place in 1933, giving New Yorkers a meaningful bit of Christmas cheer amid the Great Depression; in 1936, the famous ice-skating rink at Rockefeller Center opened, giving the ceremony its now-iconic backdrop.
This year, the tree — a Norway Spruce imported from East Greenbush, N.Y. — will measure at 75 feet tall and 45 feet wide, weighing approximately 11 tons. Topped with a three-dimensional Swarovski star, it’ll take more than 50,000 colorful LED lights to illuminate.
In 2024, the special was hosted by Kelly Clarkson and featured performances from the Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Little Big Town, RAYE and more.
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New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Laura Pausini & Yami Safdie, “Eso y Más” (Warner Music Italy)
Italian superstar Laura Pausini reimagines Joan Sebastian’s ballad “Eso y Más,” and recruits rising Argentine artist Yami Safdie for her version. Pausini and Safdie inject pathos in their delivery to match Sebastian’s emotionally-charged rendition of this classic, which was featured on his album Más Allá del Sol and peaked at No. 6 on Hot Latin Songs in 2007. Pausini and Safdie’s vocals soar as they sing this Mexican music anthem that captures unconditional love and a deep sense of devotion for a significant other. Pausini expressed admiration for Sebastian at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week, and said this version of “Eso y Más” will be part of her upcoming album, Yo Canto 2. — GRISELDA FLORES
DannyLux, Leyenda Deluxe (VPS Music / Warner Music Latina)
While DannyLux stays true to his signature sadboy-loverboy sierreño style, Leyenda Deluxe dares to venture into exciting new terrain. The four new tracks build on the fantastical energy of Leyenda (released in May) that blends poetic lyricism with inventive arrangements. “Yo Mismo Soy Culpable” pairs steely acoustic guitars with a flicker of an electric one. “preguntalealaluna” brims with melancholic allure, unfolding as a vulnerable conversation with the moon, while the breezy “¿Qué Sucedió?” reflects the artist’s realization that love isn’t always enough to make someone stay. But it’s the magnetic focus track “Quizás” that steals the spotlight, channeling ’90s alt-pop elements as the SoCal artist trades heartbreak for flirtation. By stitching these new sonic textures into the richly emotional sierreño soundscape, the star further solidifies his place as a boundary-pushing storyteller. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho & Juanes, “Una Noche Contigo” (Fono)
This is a collaboration that we never imagined could happen, and that makes it even more powerful. The soft sounds of the trumpets from the opening bars anticipate a love song in the style of one of the greatest bands in the Sinaloa genre. The voice of Julio Haro from La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho blends perfectly with that of Juanes, who, without abandoning his style, adds the intensity that characterizes a regional Mexican performance. While an unorthodox collaboration, the purpose is clear: to convey a romantic story, albeit from a different perspective. Music has no borders, and this is an example of that. You can have the best of both worlds without forcing anything. — TERE AGUILERA
HUMBE, “Morfina” (PARASIEMPRE.wav Records)
If you discovered HUMBE thanks to “Fantasmas,” a beautiful mariachi song that went viral on social media, you will truly appreciate the Mexican star’s new track, titled “Morfina.” While the former embraces a more roots style that gives it that ranchera sensibility, this new one thrives on a more subtle nu-pop sound but equally effective in lyricism inspired by spirituality, healing and eternity. “Morfina,” that ends with a gorgeous classical arrangement, previews HUMBE’S upcoming new project, due in weeks. — G.F.
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
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Warner Music Group announced on Friday that it has promoted Leho Nigul to chief technology officer, effective Dec. 1, as part of a series of executive changes this week.
Nigul, previously senior vice president of engineering, will oversee WMG’s technology strategy, team, and product roadmap, reporting directly to CEO Robert Kyncl. He succeeds Ariel Bardin, who will step aside as president of technology after three years but remain through 2025 to ensure a smooth transition.
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Nigul joined WMG in 2023 and has led engineering teams across key initiatives, including global licensing, royalty management, fan engagement, and AI projects. His background includes senior roles at Instacart and more than 17 years at IBM, where he specialized in eCommerce and SaaS development.
“Leho’s deep knowledge and wide-ranging experience as a leader, engineer, and innovator make him ideally suited to take our team into the future and leverage AI for the benefit of our artists, songwriters and employees,” said WMG CEO Robert Kyncl.
Bardin’s tenure saw significant upgrades to WMG’s tech infrastructure, including new tools for artists and songwriters, streamlined global supply chains, and enhanced data systems. Kyncl praised Bardin for helping to “transform our company systems”and for “setting the foundation to rapidly scale WMG going forward.”
Nigul added that WMG’s approach to innovation creates “powerful, new opportunities for our artists, songwriters and teams.”
The leadership shift on the tech side comes amid a busy week for WMG, which also announced several high-profile appointments: Gregg Nadel was named president of A&R at Warner Records Group; Cris Lacy became chair and president of the rebranded Warner Records Nashville, continuing her role as one of the highest-ranking women in Nashville’s label ecosystem; and Atlantic Music Group tapped A&R veteran Jeremy Vuernick as executive vice president.
Matt Gaetz saw his bid to become Attorney General fizzle after the House Ethics Committee heard testimony from a woman who alleged that they had sex when she was a homeless teen. Matt Gaetz, a former Florida Republican Party congressman, had denied any dealings with the woman.
The New York Times detailed the life and struggles of the 17-year-old woman, who worked in a fast food restaurant and lived in a shelter with a parent. The woman said that she turned to prostitution and was made to have sex with powerful men to save up for braces. The woman said she pretended to be 18 and posted images of herself on a website for men looking to find “companionship.”
The Justice Department investigated Gaetz on child sex trafficking allegations, but nothing ever materialized. President Donald Trump went all in with choosing Gaetz to be his Attorney General. However, the rumors and chatter around the allegations of sex with minors grew to be too much, prompting Gaetz to resign from Congress and withdraw his name from the consideration floated by Trump.
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Last year, the House Ethics Committee report found significant connections that Gaetz allegedly paid women to have sex with him, having sex with a minor, illegal drug use, and for accepting gifts outside the confines of legal boundaries.
Gaetz responded to the Times‘ report regarding the woman, stating that her account is all made up.
“I never had sex with this person. This person threatened me with a lawsuit if I didn’t pay her $2.3 million dollars. She never sued me because her story is fiction,” Gaetz said to the Times.
The developments come as the House Ethics Committee just unleashed several thousand documents connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, whose connection to the underground sex rings has dogged the Trump administration for the past year.
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Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley’s posthumous biography, This Angry Pen: The Lost Journals of Layne Staley, is finally here.
The 176-page volume was officially released on Nov. 11 via publisher Weldon Owen and contains Staley’s never-before-seen journals, handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, and artwork, giving fans an up-close and personal look at Staley’s life off stage. You can shop the hardcover version of the posthumous work on Amazon for $37.20 or a Kindle version for $16.99. The book is also available at Barnes & Noble for $37. “I hope this book gives you a glimpse of the son I knew, the one beyond the headlines, the one with a beautiful, creative, happy soul,” Nancy McCallum, Layne’s mother, writes in the foreword to the book.
In one excerpt, we see a poem written by Staley, painting a picture of his complicated relationship with fame. It reads, “Wear the crown of fame, and I still feel like I’m pretending. Wonder when I’ll stop myself from rules I’m still bending.” The scribblings are deeply personal, offering a more intimate perspective, coloring Staley’s life with more depth, giving fans a better understanding of his day to day. Alongside the poems and journals, candid photos capture both the highs and lows of his journey.
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This Angry Pen of Mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley
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A Layne Staley biography.
The book also includes contributions from fellow musicians, including drummer Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season), Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Robert Trujillo (Metallica) and Sully Erna (Godsmack), among others. If you or a loved one is interested in getting a fuller picture of Staley — who at just 34-years-old — this book is for you. It would make a great gift to snag ahead of the holiday season for that special someone in your life.
Staley began his musical journey in the ‘80s, performing in glam bands in the Seattle area such as Sleze, which changed its name in 1986 to Alice N’ Chains. In 1987, Staley – along with guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Starr and drummer Sean Kinney – formed a new band and renamed it Alice in Chains. The group would soon become one of the most influential grunge rock outfits of the ‘90s, with their 1995 self-titled album peaking atop the Billboard 200.
Staley became largely reclusive in the latter half of the ‘90s, battling depression and drug addiction during those years. On April 17, 2002, Staley’s body was found in his Seattle apartment, with an autopsy ruling his death as an accidental overdose of cocaine and heroin from two weeks prior.
