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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. Lego wants to put a spell on you in the form of its latest magical set — a buildable Sanderson Sisters’ […]
While George Michael may be remembered today as a queer icon in his own right, the “Freedom ’90” singer’s former bandmate recently revealed that his delayed coming out cost the superstar dearly.
According to Michael’s longtime Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, the “Faith” singer’s decision to keep his sexuality secret before eventually announcing it on live TV in 1998 ultimately hurt him more than it helped. “I think it is fairly unarguable,” Ridgeley told People in an interview published Wednesday (July 5). “He made the point that it had a personal cost, which I don’t think he ever quite reconciled.”
“George was thinking, ‘Yeah, I’ll just come out and say it,’ and I thought, ‘Well, how’s this gonna change anything for us?’” Ridgeley also told the publication. “The music’s still great and once the initial sort of hullabaloo is over, then it’ll probably be just that. But that was not the case, and George says that for him personally, that was the wrong decision.”
Michael’s decision to delay his coming out was based out of fear for “how his father would react, along with the press and the label,” Ridgeley said. “He was all ifs and buts, but the fact is the decision was taken not to make his sexuality public, and that personally cost him.”
Michael hid his sexuality from fans for years before he was arrested in 1998 for lewd conduct, an event that essentially outed him to the public and led him to confirm he was gay in a televised interview on CNN. Before his death in 2016, the English musician said himself that he regretted staying in the closet for so long, even though doing so likely helped his career in the long run.
“I’d been out to a lot of people since 19,” he said in a 2007 radio interview. “I wish to God it had happened then. I don’t think I would have the same career – my ego might not have been satisfied in some areas – but I think I would have been a happier man … Then AIDS changed everything. I was too immature to know I was sacrificing as much as I was.”
The difficulties Michael faced before and after coming out are covered in the new Wham! documentary, which arrived on Netflix Wednesday (July 5). But while the “Careless Whisper” musician faced judgment and scorn from some listeners afterward, Ridgeley shared with People that for him, his longtime friend’s revelation didn’t change a thing between them.
“Shirlie told me George was anxious about telling me, which I found a little surprising,” he reflected, referencing former girlfriend and singer Shirlie Kemp. “When he told me it was like, ‘Oh, well, yeah. That explains a few things,’ but it was unremarkable. It was unsensational.”
Bob Marley‘s story will come to life on the big screen with the forthcoming film Bob Marley: One Love. While fans of the late reggae legend will have to wait until 2024 for the movie to hit theaters, the first trailer — released on Thursday (July 6) — offers a first look at what to […]
When Kanye West embarked on a tirade of antisemitic comments last year, Kim Kardashian remained quietly stoic. Hesitant to speak out against her ex-husband and the father of her children, she refrained from addressing the rapper by name and instead posted in support of the Jewish community — all while Ye continued his hate-speech crusade in interviews and on social media, losing his partnerships with seemingly every brand under the sun in the process.
But now, Hulu’s The Kardashians has revealed how Kardashian truly felt about the situation, showing her breaking down in tears on the latest episode. “It’s really confusing for me that it’s so different than the person that I married because that’s who I loved and that’s who I remember,” the mogul shared in the Thursday (July 6) installment, filmed last year. “I’ll do anything to get that person back.”
“I feel so bad for him,” she continued, sobbing next to her sister Khloé. “I don’t even think he feels bad for himself because I don’t even know if he knows how. I just feel so bad.”
The reality star also revealed that she hadn’t spoken to Ye throughout the controversy, fearing that “he’ll probably go off on me.” “I feel guilty that I posted something in support of the Jewish community, then people dropped him today,” she added. “Is that my fault? That I posted that? And did that push them? And I should have just kept quiet? But I’m vocal about everything else … I never know what to do.”
The SKIMS founder was married to West from 2014 to 2022, and the pair welcomed four kids together: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm. While speaking on the “Donda” artist’s social downfall, Kim emphasized that her biggest concern was how Ye’s actions will affect their children.
“I’m so angry, but I’m also so sad,” she told the camera on the latest The Kardashians episode. “Your instinct wants to be like, ‘Wow, I can never talk to this person again,’ but then you think of your babies. I’m having a hard time figuring it out.”
“It’s such a helpless feeling because me watching Ye is like watching a car crash in slow motion,” Khloé added. “None of us share these antisemitic views. We think it’s gravely irresponsible. We’re all very aware of the following that Kanye has, and how his words can be used to rile people up.”
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Beach days are basically an essential during the summer, but before you can sprawl out and lounge on the sand, you need to make sure you pack some travel necessities beforehand.
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Spending the day by the water doesn’t just require just a crochet bikini with a towel, you may need some sunscreen, a bucket hat to keep your head cool, a portable speaker and some sips and treats to fill you up. Hand space is limited, though, and the best way to condense everything is through versatile accessories such as a beach cooler with speakers.
Keep your drinks and snacks cool and fresh, and play your favorite songs all at the same time — without having to make an extra trip to the car. Whether you’re throwing a backyard BBQ or just looking to lounge in front of the ocean, a portable cooler with speakers will decrease the amount of things you need to pack no matter where or what you’re doing.
To make sure you find a quality and trendy model to show off, we did the digging and found reviewer-loved styles you won’t want to leave home without.
Keep reading to shop highly reviewed options below.
Amazon
Igloo KoolTunes Boombox Cooler
$119.99 $149.99 20% OFF
Igloo is stepping things up with this vibrant cooler featuring two 5-watt built-in speakers that’s Bluetooth compatible and can play up to 10 hours of music on a single charge. Not only that, but it’s currently at the lowest price its been for the past 30 days.
Revolve
Sunnylife Beach Cooler Box Sounds
$160
Bring a touch of retro style to your beach setup with Sunnylife’s Beach Cooler. The design can connect with Bluetooth, FM radio, AUX and USB to play your favorite podcasts, audio books, radio shows, songs and more. The model can play up to six hours of audio on a single charge.
Amazon
Super Real Rechargeable Speaker Cooler
$89.00
Super Real’s speaker cooler is bringing all the insulation and audio with its colorful yet compact design. Besides speakers for blasting music, it also includes a power bank to charge your phone, allowing you to have your beach dance party and keep your phone fully charged.
Amazon
Margaritaville Cooler Bluetooth Speaker
$39.99
Consider this one with Margaritaville vibes. The cooler is packed with insulation to keep your sodas or musician-backed wine nice and chilled. The extra front pocket allows for added storage, while the speakers are built with a bass-pumping punch.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best swimsuit sales, comfortable sandals and the best travel tote bags.
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.
Kevin Hart‘s July takeover has begun! The actor-comedian is diving into summer with a new stand-up comedy special titled Kevin Hart: Reality Check. The program will be released on Thursday (July 6) through Peacock — and it also happens to be the Me Time star’s 44th birthday.
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If you weren’t able to make it to the actor’s national tour, the new comedy special is based on it, providing you the opportunity to view it from the comfort of your home. Along with the stand-up special, the star will also be releasing season three of his show Hart to Hart, which will also air on Peacock Thursday (July 6).
What can you expect to see during the stand-up show? One hour of an unfiltered and uncensored Hart who’s ready to share all his thoughts on his growing family, fame, relationship with Black Twitter and more.
The show was filmed in front of a sold-out crowd at Resort World in Las Vegas — and from the trailer, it’s clear that no one was off limits from his set.
“LeBron James, a real good friend of mine,” Hart says in the trailer for the stand-up show. “Well, he was. He hasn’t heard this joke yet, we’ll see what happens.”
That’s not all either. Hart just celebrated the release of his latest short story, It Will All Work Out: The Freedom of Letting Go. The Kindle edition dropped on Saturday (July 1) on Amazon, and is already rated a No. 1 bestseller. (Physical editions will be available Aug. 1.)
Keep reading to learn how to watch the comedy special.
How to Watch Kevin Hart: Reality Check
Kevin Hart: Reality Check and season three of Hart to Hart will both be released on Thursday (July 6) exclusively on Peacock, which current subscribers can watch for free.
Not subscribed? If you’re new to the streaming platform, monthly plans start at just $4.99/month for Peacock Premium and $9.99/month for the commercial-free, Premium Plus. If you subscribe to Peacock’s annual plans, you’ll be able to save around 17% off your streaming package.
Peacock
$From $4.99/month
Although Peacock ended its free trials, you may be eligible to score a free subscription through Spectrum.
Besides Kevin Hart: Reality Check, you can also catch a variety of Peacock Originals in addition to sports, NBC and Bravo shows such as Based on a True Story, Bupkis, Mrs. Davis, Poker Face, Bel-Air, Poker Face, Yellowstone, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, Vanderpump Rules, Queens Court, The Traitors, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Sick and more.
Watch the trailer for Kevin Hart: Reality Check below.
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. Summer is here and music fans will want to scoop up this Grateful Dead blanket, which is perfect for backyard hangs, […]
Grateful Dead but make it red, white and blue! Independence Day is here and Grateful Dead has teamed up with merchandise company Kollectico to launch an officially licensed patriotic bobblehead to rep the stars and stripes. Available on Amazon.com and Walmart.com, the collectible Grateful Dead 4th of July Dancing Bear Bobblehead features a blue bear rocking an […]
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.
Shawn Mendes had fans buzzing when he dropped his sultry Tommy Hilfiger campaign earlier this year, and now, Mendes fans and fashion fans alike can score a steep discount on pieces from the collection as part of Tommy Hilfiger’s Fourth of July sale.
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Hilfiger’s “Red, White and Tommy” event gets you 40% off everything on Tommy.com, including men’s and women’s T-shirts, jeans, polos, shoes and accessories. But we spotted pieces from Mendes’ Tommy collection with even bigger discounts, like the varsity jacket the singer sported in the campaign now on sale for 50% off.
Tommy Hilfiger x Shawn Mendes T-shirts, meantime, get a massive 65% discount, taking the price of Mendes’ favorite tees down to just $27 (regularly $80).
Tommy Hilfiger
Shawn x Tommy Varsity Jacket
$249.50 $499 50% off% OFF
Tommy Hilfiger is synonymous with All-American style and the collaboration with Mendes offers up some fresh takes on classic pieces. The varsity jacket is a unisex style that was seen on Mendes and also modeled by his sister, Aaliyah, in the campaign. Regularly $499, it’s on sale for 50% off, taking the price down to just $249.50 on Tommy.com (for reference, the varsity jacket is selling for $476 on Asos.com).
The Shawn x Tommy T-shirts, meantime, are available in three colors — navy, green and white — and on sale for just $27 (regularly $79.50). The shirts are available in sizes XS to XXXL and all sizes are still in stock online as of this writing.
Tommy Hilfiger
Shawn x Tommy Logo T-shirt
$27.82 $79.50 65% off% OFF
The classic crewneck tee features the words “Hilfiger” and “Shawn Mendes” embroidered on the front in bold, block lettering. Mendes has been an outspoken advocate for environmental issues and sustainability, and worked with the Tommy Hilfiger team to create these T-shirts from an organic cotton jersey blend. The tees are made with 48% Circulose, a material made from discarded textiles, like worn-out jeans and scrap fabric from the production floor.
The $27 price on Tommy.com is the best deal on these T-shirts — they’re $54.99 on Macys.com. Macy’s does have other Shawn x Tommy pieces on sale though, including the jeans and denim trucker jacket from the collection.
Tommy Hilfiger
Shawn x Tommy Logo T-Shirt
$27.82 $79.50 65% off% OFF
As for Tommy: while Tommy Hilfiger always has a sale section that you can shop here, the brand’s “Red, White and Tommy” sale only runs through the end of July 12. This is also the first time we’re seeing a discount on the Shawn Mendes collection so we recommend adding your favorite pieces to cart while they’re still in stock. Shop online at Tommy.com and see more Fourth of July sales here.
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.
CMA Fest made history as the longest-running country music festival when it marked its 50-year anniversary June 8–11. To commemorate this historic event, CMA and Hulu teamed up for a documentary titled CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair, which is airing Wednesday (July 5) on Hulu.
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The 75-minute documentary includes exclusive one-on-one interviews with iconic artists, including Bill Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Breland, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Shy Carter, Luke Combs, Valierie Ellis Hawkins, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Mark Miller, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce, Jeannie Seely, Blake Shelton, Frankie Staton, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young.
You’ll also go back in time to the festival’s historic start as Fan Fair in 1972, then its move to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982 and then, finally, to downtown Nashville in 2001.
Keep reading to learn how to watch the documentary.
How to Watch CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair
CMA Fest: 50 Years Oof Fan Fair will air exclusively via Hulu on Wednesday (July 5) at no additional charge for subscribers.
If you’re not already subscribed, Hulu offers a free 30-day trial, so you can stream the entire first and second seasons for free. Hulu’s most popular plan is $7.99 a month (or $79.99/year), allowing you to stream thousands of episodes of TV shows and movies like Flamin’ Hot, Love Island UK, ‘Til Death Do Us Part, Jagged Mind, Tiny Beautiful Things, Unprisoned, Only Murders in the Building, The Handmaid’s Tale, Life & Beth, The Dropout, How I Met Your Father and other Hulu exclusives, in addition to network TV and cable shows like Abbott Elementary and The Masked Singer.
Not a fan of ads? Hulu Premium provides commercial-free streaming for just $14.99/month and student plans for $2 a month.
Hulu $7.99/month after 30 days free
Looking for more streaming deals? Get Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ for $12.99/month.
Hulu subscribers can create up to six profiles under one account and stream from up to two different screens at once and from compatible devices including a smart TV, phone or computer.
If you’re looking for a streaming plan with live television, join Hulu + Live TV for access to 75+ live channels, plus everything on Hulu and Disney+, starting at less than $75/month.
Check the trailer for the documentary below.