State Champ Radio Culture
Page: 4
Trending on Billboard
He has danced the Paso Doble, the Jive, the Foxtrot, and he’s an expert at handling deadly wildlife. When the votes were counted, and the results announced Tuesday night (Nov. 25), Robert Irwin added the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy to his growing list of accomplishments.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
At night’s end, Irwin and his dance partner Witney Carson were crowned champions of Dancing With The Stars, completing its 34th season.
Irwin has followed in the footsteps of his late father, the environmentalist and beloved TV star Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin. And with his DWTS win, the 21-year-old Australian follows the journey of his own sister Bindi, who won the competition back in 2015, for season 21.
For the finale, the final five of Alix Earle, Dylan Efron, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles and Robert Irwin squared off, as the eliminated contestants watched on and joined in on the excitement.
For the very first time, the remaining couples performed three separate new dances, including the judges’ choice, instant dance challenge and freestyle rounds.
In the end, the man from down under came out on top.
The livewire Aussie had looked the goods throughout the season, with his effortless routines which blended agility, strength, poise and a ready smile. However, Irwin sent a fright through his fanbase when, on the eve of the finale, it was revealed that he was struggling with injury, and was dealing with a rib complaint.
Following “11 weeks of crazy, vigorous, hard dancing,” Carson said in a TikTok, “my body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now. Just trying to keep it together for, like, two more days. Literally today and tomorrow, and then it’s over.”
Irwin’s “ribs have been killing him,” she revealed. He played through pain, and he’s now a DWTS champion, having closely watched, and learned from, his sister’s winning run a decade ago with Derek Hough.
Season 34 of DWTS aired and streamed simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ each Tuesday, with new episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
Final results:
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten (5th Place)
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach (4th Place)
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa (3rd Place)
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy (2nd Place)
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson (WINNER)
11/25/2025
The best tech and electronics deals include new savings on headphones, earbuds, TVs, turntables and more
Trending on Billboard Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s musical Wicked explainer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon went viral last year — and now, there’s a version for the munchkins in your life too. Premiering exclusively on Billboard Family below, Karis Musongole and Scarlett Spears — who play young Elphaba and Glinda in the […]
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.
Trending on Billboard
Black Friday is here at last, which means you can start checking off your gifting list without breaking the bank.
‘Tis the season to shop ’till you drop, and while there’s a bunch of savings opportunities for you to look through, the best deals, especially if you’re on a budget this year, are the under $25 items. Plenty of stores from Amazon to Nordstrom and even Ulta Beauty have a slew of under $25 options for shoppers to browse. While it’s certainly amazing to get an under $25 product, not all deals are created equal. With so many options, though, it’s hard to know what’s actually worth adding to cart.
Not to fret, ShopBillboard is here to save the day. To streamline your shopping, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite products across categories like beauty, tech, music, fragrance and fashion, giving you our honest opinions on it all. Every product has been hand-picked by our shopping experts here at Billboard, and reflects our love of all things music. Shop our under $25 picks below.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
Amazon Echo Pop
$21.99
$39.99
45% off
The latest Echo model.
The Amazon Echo Pop is the latest Echo model from Amazon, and it’s already 45% off. The new and improved tech is a more compact, directional speaker than its older model and it’s more affordable too. The Echo is great for playing music, answering questions, setting alarms and timers and controlling smart home devices, turning your home into a smart home.
JBL Go Essential 2 – Portable Waterproof Speaker – Blue
$19.94
$39.95
50% off
A mini JBL speaker in blue.
Don’t be fooled by this JBL Go Essential 2 speaker’s size. It packs a punch of sound for just $19.94. This portable speaker has surprisingly big audio and deep bass from this ultra-compact speaker and it’s waterproof. Its compact nature allows you to take your tunes on the go with you, stored neatly in backpacks, luggage, purses and more.
JBL Vibe Flex 2 – True Wireless Earbuds – White
$19.94
$74.95
73% off
White earbuds with a case.
JBL’s Vibe Flex 2 boasts a heavy-duty base and crisp sound quality, all for a $19.94 price tag during Black Friday at Walmart. This is the best deal we’ve seen on JBL tech, a whopping 73% off for a newer JBL model. The earbuds come with Smart Ambient technology, letting you filter out outside noise. They’re also waterproof and dust-resistant. Plus the carrying case is nice and small, easily fitting into your pocket.
Vivitar Popsnap Compact Digital Camera in Pink
$18
$30.83
42% off
A pink digital camera.
If you’re looking to start up a new hobby in the new year, why not start up photography with this Vivitar Popsnap Compact Digital Camera for $18 at Walmart? The camera is pink, our favorite, and has a high resolution, 44 megapixels and 1080p video capture. The camera is also tailor-made for TikTok content creation because the camera integrates features to support trending challenges and effects.
Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo
$19.99
$29.99
33% off
A mouse and keyboard duo from Logitech.
Logitech is a favorite of many PC gamers. The brand’s tech is responsive and visually pleasing, and the price point on their products isn’t bad either. Our favorite? The MK270 Wireless Keyboard & Mouse Combo, a set for just $19.99. Both pieces of the set boast a lengthy battery life, 36 months for the keyboard and 12 months for the mouse. Both also feature a durable spill-resistant design, while the keyboard has sturdy keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height for working on short surfaces at the office or out at a coffee shop.
Charmast Portable Charger with Built in Cables
$18.99
$29.99
37% off
A portable charger with cables.
There’s nothing worse than your phone dying out on you when you need it most, especially if you’re out and about. You’ll be able to keep your device charged up and ready to go whenever with this Charmast Portable Charger with Built in Cables for $18.99 on Amazon. The charger brick comes with four built-in cables compatible for a variety of devices if you don’t have one on you and it is slim enough to fit in your pocket or handbag. It’s also fast-charging, so you can get back to using your tech in no time at all.
Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
$24.99
$49.99
50% off
Amazon’s streaming media player and remote.
Enjoy the all new Amazon Fire TV Stick, but without the hefty price tag. Now you can watch all your favorite content in 4K definition as well as download apps and use voice controls to open apps and search for things such as a movie, more information on an actor and much more.
Tile Mate White
$19.99
$24.99
20% off
A small Bluetooth tracker.
Have trouble misplacing things? You won’t if you get this Tile Mate for $19.99 at Staples. The product is similar to Apple’s AirTag, but way less expensive. It’s essentially a small Bluetooth tracker that helps you find lost items like keys and bags. Simply place the tile into the desired item and you can track it via your phone. Simple as that.
Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs
$16.49
$20.95
21% off
Comfy earplugs from Loop.
Avid concert-goers can protect their ears in style with a pair of chic Loop Quiet earplugs for just $16.49 on Amazon. There are four ear attachment sizes to choose from and the inside comes with sound filtering technology that’ll protect eardrums without sacrificing sound quality. When they’re done using them, they can place them in the included carrying case that features a built-in loop they can attach to their backpacks or belt loops.
Crocs Adult Unisex Baya Clog
$24.99
$49.99
50% off
Crocs Baya clogs.
Everybody loves Crocs’ clogs, but sometimes they can lean on the pricier side. If you want all the comfort of a slipper with the breathability of a clog but for less, Crocs is running a sale on its Baya clog for just $24.99. That’s 50% off. The clog comes in a variety of styles and is waterproof, breathable and slip-on, all the makings of a beloved house shoe.
Pinch Provisions 18-Piece Polyester Travel Comfort Set
$13.25
$25.99
49% off
A travel set with 18 products inside.
This one’s for the jet-setters and globe-trotters in your life. Staples has a Pinch Provisions 18-Piece Polyester Travel Comfort Set available on sale for $13.25. The kit comes with everything users need to cut their packing list short, including a phone/tablet stand, eye mask, earplugs, folding brush/comb, breath drops, dental floss, hand cleansing towelette, hand lotion, nail clipper and so much more all nestled in a navy travel case.
Jessica Simpson Women’s Blanche Studded Crossbody Handbag
$14
$24
42% off
A crescent-shaped handbag by Jessica Simpson.
Jessica Simpson’s collection at Walmart is always a banger. It’s even more so right now because it’s on sale for Black Friday. Our pick from the collection is the singer’s Blanche Studded Crossbody Handbag for just $14, 42% off the OG price tag. The bag is a crescent shape and features edgy gold-studded detailing throughout. The bag is also already equipped with a cute little butterfly bag charm, a Simpson signature. The chain strap can be adjusted so you can wear this bag a million different ways.
Yitty Active Women’s Ultraluxe Kick Flare High Waist Legging
$19.99
$29.99
33% off
High-waisted leggings from Lizzo’s brand Yitty.
Lizzo’s athletic brainchild Yitty is currently on sale at Walmart for Black Friday. We personally love the brand’s Ultraluxe Kick Flare High Waist Leggings, currently on sale for $19.99. The style is ultra-stretchy and high-waisted, sucking the wearer in and keeping them secure. The legs of these leggings are flared, comperable to vintage-inspired styles we’ve seen from Lululemon.
Men’s Sonoma Goods For Life® RFID-Blocking Crunch Extra-Capacity Trifold Wallet
$16.99
$24.99
32% off
A tri-fold wallet.
Kohl’s is running a big sale on a ton of men’s accessories. If you’re struggling to get the man in your life, whether that be your Father, brother, boyfriend or cousin, a gift, a fancy wallet is always a safe bet. This one from Sonoma Goods retails for $16.99, 32% off, and is a tri-fold with plenty of space for all your cash and cards. Additionally, this wallet features built-in RFID-blocking (or Radio-Frequency Identification) technology that protects your personal information from identity theft.
Owala SmoothSip Slider Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Tumbler
$18.49
$24.99
26% off
A green Owala SmoothSip Tumbler.
Owala’s drinkware has been on top for the past few years, largely due to the brand’s innovative designs and color options. The only downside? Some of Owala’s products can be a bit pricey. Right now, you can get your hands on the trending brand’s SmoothSip Slider Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Tumbler for just $18.49, 26% off the original price tag. While there are many colors to choose from on Amazon, our favorite is the Sour Apple color because it reminds us of a certain Wicked Witch of the West. Beyond its color, the tumbler is also extremely durable and does a great job at insulating both hot and cold beverages.
Nautica Voyage Eau De Toilette Cologne
$20.38
$29.15
30% off
A Nautica 6.7Fl oz fragrance.
Nautica’s Voyage Eau De Toilette Cologne is the epitome of class all packaged in a 6.7FL oz bottle. A full-size bottle of the men’s cologne is currently on sale at Amazon for $20.38 and makes a great addition to your daily fragrance lineup. The Voyage scent is categorized as a green fragrance, meaning it’s fresh and earthy along with earthy and floral notes. It’s a fresh and juicy fragrance that we can see our male readers getting a lot of mileage out of.
Fenty Beauty Fenty Icon The Fill Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick
$10
$20
50% off
A bright red Fenty Beauty by Rihanna lip stick.
Looking for a red lip that really makes your look pop? Look no further than Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Fenty Icon The Fill Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick for just $10 at Sephora. That’s 50% off the OG price. This vibrant red in the shade Danger Danc’r is a semi-matte, creamy and hydrating formula that glides on and doesn’t budge, no matter how many eggnogs you sip.
JoyBright Beauty Box: Y2Cutie
$19.99
$29.99
33% off
A multi-piece beauty kit.
Ulta Beauty is making makeup more accessible than ever this holiday season with this deal on a JoBright Beauty Box for just $19.99. The makeup kit comes with everything users need to build a full face, from concealer and blush to brushes and lip gloss. As an added bonus, every kit comes nestled in an ultra-cute Y2K-esque case.
Plush Velvet Travel Size Customizable Jewelry Case
$14.44
$16.99
15% off
A custom mini jewelry case.
This custom mini jewelry case is just $14.44 and will solve all your “lost jewelry” dilemmas. You no longer have the excuse of chucking your accessories in the bottom of your bag because this organizer is pocket-sized, meaning you can store it in your everyday bag or backpack for safe keeping. You can further make the case yours by slapping your initial on the top. In short, this is a perfect personalized gift that you can actually use.
Open Edit Waterproof Bubble Initial Pendant Necklace
$12
$20
40% off
A waterproof initial necklace.
Initial necklaces were ultra-trendy this year. This style from Nordstrom is trendy, what with the bubble letters, and waterproof, all for just for $12. Nordstrom has a range of initials to choose from, all attached to a silver chain in a chic, thin style.
Peacock’s Bel-Air has taken the beloved ’90s sitcom starring Will Smith and reimagined it as something entirely new: a gritty, hour-long drama that dives deep into class disparity, institutionalized racism, the pressures of growing up and so much more. This version has just as much humor and heart as the original, but also dives deep into family, identity and mental health with a depth that the original half-hour format couldn’t allow.
Now entering its fourth and final season, Bel-Air follows Will as he navigates his senior year and his looming future, while Carlton faces decisions that could shape his entire life. Behind the drama, there’s another character that drives the story: music.
On Bel-Air, music isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a heartbeat. A mood. A mirror held up to every character trying to find their place in a world that demands reinvention. Across the cast’s conversations, one theme came up again and again: the soundtrack isn’t simply something you hear in Bel-Air, it’s something the characters feel, something the actors use, and something the audience remembers long after the screen fades to black.
Grammy-winner Coco Jones, who plays Hilary, uses the show to push her music career forward. “Acting has actually opened me up creatively,” she explains. “Stepping into Hilary gives me another emotional world to write from, it’s like I have access to someone else’s lived experience.”
As the reimagined drama heads into its biggest season yet, the cast agrees that music has quietly become the show’s emotional language. It’s how they unlock vulnerability, shape performances, and lean into the chaos, joy, and pressure that define growing up. “The Bel-Air playlist always goes crazy,” says Olly Sholotan who plays Carlton.
Ask anyone in the cast how they prepare for a scene, and music somehow enters the conversation. “I mean, in a lot of ways, maybe always, I am Will to a T,” says Jabari Banks, who plays the reboot’s lead. “The soul of Philly, the neo-soul roots, the hip-hop influence, it’s all baked into who I am.”
Whether it’s a playlist that grounds the mood or a single song that carries emotional weight, the actors say the show’s sonic world heavily influences their approach. “I make a playlist every season for Carlton,” says Olly Sholotan of his character. “In season one, [Kanye West’s] ‘Hold My Liquor’ became his battle cry, all that darkness and angst. Now his sound has more light in it.”
For many, the right track works like a compass. It helps center their characters, grounding them in the emotional truth of the moment before any cameras start rolling. Take Will for example, “Will was very Philly in season one — by season three, you hear more of that LA vibe, indie artists, Coast Contra, reflecting his journey from Philly to LA,” says Carla Banks Waddles, the series show-runner. When navigating scenes of conflict, heartbreak, ambition, or reinvention, music becomes both preparation and protection: a private space to understand the stakes before bringing them to life.
Bel-Air thrives because it understands something timeless: young people translate their world through sound. Whether it’s Will wrestling with identity, Carlton navigating pressure, or Hilary stepping into adulthood on her own terms, music underscores each journey before a single line is spoken.
“There was only one scene where the director told me, ‘Just so you know, this song is playing underneath when this moment happens.’ And I was like, ‘Ooh.’ She was playing it on set the whole time,” Cassandra recalls. “But music changes for an actor not just based on the scenes we’re doing, but on how our day starts. Me, Coco, and Akira all show up earlier than everyone else because of hair and makeup, so we might be there at 4:30 or 5:00 AM. The music we listen to in the morning is either to wake us up or emotionally center us for the day. So that’s a lot of gospel, sometimes a lot of R&B. And then as the day goes on, it gets eclectic, depending on our mood.”
The cast continues to talk about how certain songs became tied to specific turning points, not just for their characters, but for them personally. “The soundtrack is such an integral part of the series, it really feels like another character in so many scenes,” Sholotan explains. “Snoop Dogg pops up, and moments like that really add to the fabric of the show. It’s always amazing to see how fans connect with the music once they experience it in context.”
A track that plays under a breakup scene doesn’t just mark a plot moment; it marks a memory. A hype anthem used before a high-stakes storyline becomes a ritual. The showrunner’s use of music as emotional architecture gives the cast something rare: continuity through sound. Behind the scenes, Waddles treats music like another cast member, one that needs direction, intention, purpose and “starts at the script stage.” Tracks are placed not because they sound good, but because they shape the way a scene lands emotionally and the price of course.
“We prioritize what we call our tentpole songs,” she explains. “Each song has a rating — four dollar signs means it’s an expensive piece of music — and we decide which big moments in the script are worth spending on. Then we allocate three, two, or one-dollar-sign songs for the smaller moments. That’s how we decide where to spend the budget on music, whether it’s for emotional beats or fun moments, and then we work backward based on what’s left.”
From West Coast energy to nostalgic R&B to mood-heavy modern rap, every sound choice is doing narrative work. It’s telling the audience what words never say out loud. If earlier seasons introduced the world of Bel-Air, this season sounds like the one where everything gets louder, emotionally, musically, and narratively.
By the time credits roll this season, the audience won’t just walk away remembering scenes. They’ll remember how those scenes felt. They’ll remember the soundtrack of growing up, Bel-Air style. Below, the cast shares their respective character’s season four arc as a mini-playlist.
Jabari Banks (Will Smith)
Image Credit: Anne Marie Fox/PEACOCK
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.
If Thanksgiving is for the NFL, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is for the NBA. The top teams in the in-season tournament, including the Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and others, face off in group play.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
Read on for details, plus ways to livestream NBA Cup games live online.
When Does NBA Cup Group Play Start?
NBA Cup group play broadcasts live on Wednesday, Nov. 26 with a triple-header that kicks off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The pro basketball games air on ESPN. Check out a complete schedule for the NBA Cup here.
Who’s Playing During NBA Cup Group Play?
There are three NBA Cup games scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 on ESPN.
Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics: 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT
Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
DirecTV
A subscription to DirecTV — which comes with ESPN — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $49.99 per month (with the streamer’s current deals). The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as NBC, ABC, CBS and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including ESPN, FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.
Sling TV
With prices starting as low as $1 for the Sling Day Pass, a subscription to Sling Orange, which comes with ESPN, gets you access to live TV from popular cable channels. Additionally, you can watch cable networks, including ESPN2, ESPN3, Disney Channel, Freeform, MotorTrend, A&E, AMC, BBC America, BET, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, Fuse, HGTV, History Channel, IFC, Lifetime, Nick Jr., QVC, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, Vice and many others.
Please note: Prices and channel availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here.
Hulu + Live TV
NBA Cup group play is available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $89.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited for free.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, ESPN2, CBS, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
Fubo
To watch NBA Cup group play on ESPN, Fubo starts at $54.99 per month (the streamer’s current deal) with more than 200 channels — including local and cable — that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. And with a five-day free trial, you can watch for free, if you act fast and sign up now.
The service even gets you live access to local broadcast networks including ABC, Fox and CBS, while it also has dozens of cable networks, such as ESPN2, CMT, ID, TV Land, VH1, TLC, FS1, MTV, FX, Ion, OWN, Paramount Network and much more.
Which Celebrities Are Making Appearances During NBA Cup Group Play?
It’s likely there will be a number of celebrities and recording artists in attendance during NBA Cup group play games — such as Detroit Pistons fans Eminem, Sada Baby and Kid Rock; Boston Celtics fans Gucci Mane, Steven Tyler and Becky G; Minnesota Timberwolves fans Yung Gravy, Lil B and Craig Kilborn; Oklahoma City Thunder fans Kristin Chenoweth, Bill Hader and Billy Martin from Good Charlotte; Houston Rockets fans J. Cole, Travis Scott and Simone Biles; as well as Golden State Warriors fans E-40, Zendaya and Carlos Santana. Tune in to find out who’s sitting courtside.
Starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, NBA Cup group play tripleheader broadcasts on ESPN, while it’s also available to livestream with DirecTV on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Trending on Billboard
Pop superstar Sir Elton John is begging politicians around the world: Don’t let the sun go down on vital research for eradicating HIV/AIDS.
In a new cover story for Variety published Tuesday (Nov. 24), John called out a lack of political support for combatting the lethal epidemic, saying that politicians have the ability to help bring an end to the disease in our lifetimes. “I just am enraged by it,” John said. “It’s very frustrating when you’ve got the tools in your hand to end it, and then you find that countries in Africa, Russia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe won’t help.”
Turning his attention to the U.S. specifically, John praised the efforts of the current administration to bring an end to the war in Gaza, while simultaneously calling them out for fumbling an issue as vital as ending HIV and AIDS. “There’s another war with people who are suffering from HIV and AIDS that should be able to get their medicine but can’t, because governments won’t let them. It’s inhumane,” he said. “So my big beef at the moment is, yes, thank God, maybe there’s peace, after more things are sorted out. But there are crimes against millions of other people that are happening because of governments and stigma and hate.”
John has plenty of experience in the arena of combatting HIV/AIDS — his non-profit, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, is currently the fifth-largest funder for research into the disease globally. To date, the organization has helped raise more than $650 million for the cause.
When speaking about Donald Trump specifically, John made the argument that if the president dedicated his efforts to helping end the global epidemic, he could go down as “one of the greatest presidents in history” for doing so. “If he ended AIDS, that would really be a feather in his cap,” he added.
Despite John’s wishes, the Trump administration has turned the opposite direction, halting funds originally intended for global programs aimed at HIV prevention and openly threatening federal funding for domestic programs aimed at helping those afflicted with the disease.
“It’s so frustrating when you have the medicine, you have PrEP, you have the antiretrovirals,” John concluded. “We can stop the spread of AIDS, if people just got off their backsides and treated human beings in a Christian kind of way.”
Trending on Billboard
50 Cent teased a documentary surrounding Diddy’s fall and allegations against him of sexual abuse for well over a year, and Netflix announced on Tuesday (Nov. 25) that the four-part docuseries is coming to the streaming giant on Dec. 2.
“I’ve been committed to real storytelling for years through G-Unit Film and Television,” 50 said in a statement. “I’m grateful to everyone who came forward and trusted us with their stories, and proud to have Alexandria Stapleton as the director on the project to bring this important story to the screen.”
The G-Unit mogul is an executive producer on Sean Combs: The Reckoning, while Alexandria Stapleton sits in the director’s chair.
The Reckoning will explore the sexual assault and abuse allegations against Diddy, along with his federal conviction on prostitution charges. Former associates, friends, artists and employees have come forward to participate in the explosive docuseries, detailing the world that hid below the Bad Boy empire.
“Being a woman in the industry, and going through the #MeToo movement — watching giants in music and film go on trial, and to know what their outcomes were … When Cassie dropped her lawsuit, I just thought this could go a million different directions,” director Stapleton said in a statement. “I wondered how she had the confidence to go out there against a mogul like Sean Combs. As a filmmaker, I instantly knew it was a stress test of whether we’ve changed as a culture, as far as being able to process allegations like this in a fair way.”
Stapleton continued: “This isn’t just about the story of Sean Combs or the story of Cassie, or the story of any of the victims, or the allegations against him, or the trial. Ultimately, this story is a mirror [reflecting us] as the public, and what we are saying when we put our celebrities on such a high pedestal. I hope [this documentary] is a wake-up call for how we idolize people, and to understand that everybody is a human being.”
50 Cent and Diddy have a tumultuous relationship. The longstanding feud found 50 continuously antagonizing Combs on social media as Diddy’s empire began to crumble, starting with Cassie’s bombshell sexual abuse lawsuit filed against Diddy in 2023, which was quickly settled.
The trolling from 50 Cent didn’t stop when Diddy was arrested on sex trafficking allegations by federal agents in September 2024. The year-long prosecution came to a close in October when Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison for violating federal prostitution laws.
50 posted the first poster for The Reckoning docuseries on Tuesday, which sees a desolate Combs with his face in his palm. “They said I was capping, what happened?” he wrote.
50 Cent announced plans for a documentary surrounding Diddy last year and The Reckoning found a home at Netflix in September 2024.
Stream Sean Combs: The Reckoning on Netflix on Dec. 2.
The nights are getting longer, the days are getting colder, and the holidays draw near. Now, more than ever, you need the warming balm of laughter, and we’ve got you covered: two established voices this time out and two you may not know, presented in alphabetical order. Leslie Jones and Michelle Wolf, of course, are […]
Trending on Billboard
Fans of Law & Order: SVU had been wondering why Ice-T’s Sgt. Fin Tutuola character has been less involved in season 27, and the rapper-actor has explained the reasoning behind his screen time being cut.
Ice, who has been on Law & Order since 2000’s season two, essentially chalked the reduced role this season to a “business” decision, as SVU brought back Det. Amanda Rollins, who is played by Kelli Giddish.
“It’s just basically business,” Ice-T told TMZ in an interview published Monday (Nov. 24). “They brought Kelli back. At the end of the day, they couldn’t keep both of us on both times, as far as budget-wise. They said, ‘Ice, we’ll have you come in and out this year.’ Everybody wanted Kelli back. We have new cops. I am not leaving the show. I am more concerned with going to season 28.”
However, SVU die-hards and the Fin hive can breathe easy, as he isn’t expected to be phased out of the series. Show organizers told Ice that they “can’t imagine” NBC’s long-running procedural drama without him.
Ice-T continued: “This year, they said, ‘Ice, we’re going to work you a little less.’ Everything was cool with me. I understood. I said, ‘Are you getting rid of me?’ They said, ‘No way. We can’t imagine Law & Order without you.’ I’ve been on this show for 27 years. I am not going to say anything negative about this show. They have taken care of me for so long. I’m trying to get to season 28.”
The 67-year-old has appeared in four of the eight episodes thus far in season 27. Early in the season, Fin was jumped by two men and a woman after being set up by the crew, with the woman pretending she was being sexually assaulted. Fin was hospitalized from the beating and took a leave of absence to deal with the trauma from the altercation.
Ice-T also explained that the free time has allowed him to pursue other endeavors, such as focusing on music andmaking AI-generated photos. “Don’t worry about me. I am kind of glad the fans are upset,” he said. “What if I was missing and nobody cared? I will be sprinkled throughout this season.”
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs on NBC and streams on Peacock.
