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TikTok COO V. Pappas is stepping down to “move on and refocus on my entrepreneurial passions,” they announced on Thursday (June 22nd) in an email to the company they subsequently shared on Twitter.
“To our amazing community of creators, employees, and people who have made TikTok ‘the last sunny spot on the internet,’ it has been an absolute privilege to serve you all and to be a part of this once in a lifetime journey,” they tweeted.
TikTok’s chief of staff, Adam Presser, will take over operations, according to a staff email from CEO Shou Chew. “He will seek to further develop the voices of TikTok’s vibrant and diverse ecosystem and drive closer cross-divisional strategic planning and collaboration, in an effort to bring to life our mission of inspiring creativity and bringing joy to people by nurturing and supporting creators, users, and partners worldwide,” Chew wrote.
In addition, Zenia Mucha will join the company as chief brand and communications officer. Mucha previously served for two decades at Disney before departing the company in 2021. She “will focus on advancing the strategic vision of our brand and advising key businesses,” Chew explained. “It is essential that we widen the aperture of our marketing and communications functions to further fortify TikTok as a beloved brand and one of the most trusted entertainment platforms in the world,” he added. “With Zenia’s vast expertise and deep experience, we are well positioned to do so effectively.”
Pappas, a former YouTube executive — the company’s first audience development lead, the author of The YouTube Creator Playbook, and the developer of YouTube’s Creator Academy and channel certification program — initially joined TikTok in 2018.
“Five years ago when I was first approached by TikTok, I was incredibly inspired by the product vision to be a new mobile-first video experience that serves as a canvas, bridge and window for everyone,” they wrote in their goodbye letter. “The pitch was to take on a role to transform and grow the product and broaden its appeal through developing diverse communities and content… I took a gamble on what was then a completely unknown company and product.”
Pappas then stepped into the interim global CEO role after Kevin Mayer departed suddenly in 2020.
The days of TikTok being “unknown” are of course long gone; much of the music industry now focuses on the platform to market artists and find new ones to sign.
“Five years later, we have grown to a global team of thousands of people and I believe we have achieved our goal to innovate and define an entirely new experience for people to share, create, and be entertained,” Pappas noted. “Today I stand proud that we deliver a product that resonates with over 1 billion people around the world. TikTok is now a household name.”
According to Pappas’ letter, they will be “taking on an advisory role” during the transition period.
Time to say goodbye to East High. Disney Branded Television and Disney+ revealed the teaser trailer on Wednesday (June 21) for the fourth and final season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The fourth season will see a bunch […]
Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has been garnering box-office success and strong soundtrack streaming tallies alike, and the new version of the 1989 classic can now add another accolade. On Tuesday (June 13), Disney Branded Television announced that it greenlit a new animated series titled Disney Junior’s Ariel inspired by Halle Bailey‘s Ariel. […]
The soundtrack to the new live action The Little Mermaid film jumps 4-1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart (dated June 10), while also surging 103-21 on the overall Billboard 200 chart. On the latter tally, the new set swims past the peak of the original soundtrack to the 1989 animated The Little Mermaid, which topped out […]
To celebrate the release of Disney’s live-action film The Little Mermaid, the Billboard staff put together a list of the top 100 Disney songs. Here are the top five! TETRIS It’s safe to say that pretty much everyone has heard a Disney song in their lifetime … there are hundreds of them. To celebrate the release of Disneys’ […]
Auli’i Cravalho shared the news Friday (May 19) that she won’t return as the title character in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of 2016’s Moana. “I’m sure you’ve heard by now, live-action Moana is in the works and you all have been waiting very patiently for updates. So I’ve written a few things down,” she said […]
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. The release of the live-action Little Mermaid movie may be spawning a host of new merch, but it’s also helping fans […]
Walt Disney Records’ new Disney 100 album launches at No. 1 on both Billboard’s Compilation Albums and Kid Albums charts (dated May 13). The 29-track multi-artist set, boasting familiar Disney favorites from decades of film, TV and theme park attractions, is part of the ongoing celebration of 100 years of the Walt Disney Company.
Disney 100 was released on April 28 and exclusively available as a vinyl release (a two-LP set priced at $34.98). In the tracking week ending May 4, it sold a little over 2,000 copies in the United States, according to Luminate.
Disney 100 includes previously released songs from Disney’s films, TV programs and theme parks. Among the selections: “Whistle While You Work” (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), “When You Wish Upon a Star” (from Pinocchio), “Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” (from the Disney Parks attraction Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room), “It’s a Small World” (from the attraction of the same name), “Mickey Mouse March” (from The Mickey Mouse Club), “We’re All In This Together” (from High School Musical), “Under the Sea” (from The Little Mermaid), “Let It Go” (from Frozen) and the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (from Encanto).
Courtesy Photo
The Disney 100 celebration continues at No. 2 on both Kid Albums and Compilations, as a 23-song Walmart-exclusive alternative edition of the Disney 100 debuts (2,000 sold). The Walmart variant, also only on vinyl LP, has the same title but a different tracklist than the general market edition at No. 1, and thus it charts separately.
The wide-release Disney 100 and the Walmart-exclusive iteration also debut at Nos. 60 and 62 on the Top Album Sales chart, respectively, and at Nos. 31 and 33 on the Top Current Album Sales chart.
The Disney 100 albums are one part of Disney’s company-wide celebrations, which includes festivities in Disney Parks and Disney100: The Exhibition at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, among other activations.
Billboard’s Kid Albums and Compilation Albums charts ranks the week’s top-selling children’s albums and all-genre compilations, respectively. Top Album Sales rank the week’s overall top-selling albums, and Top Current Album Sales lists the week’s top-selling current albums (excluding any older, catalog titles – generally those that are at least 18 months old).
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.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid will splash its way onto movie screens later this month, nearly four years after Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of the ’90s animated film. Fans have been waiting year for Bailey to make her silver-screen debut, and with the movie finally hitting theaters May 26 — and a new clip, which premiered during Sunday night’s MTV Movie & TV Awards — there’s a whole plethora of Little Mermaid merch that needs to be “part of your world.”
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From Barbies and Legos to clothing and costumes, officially licensed merch can be found at shopDisney as well as retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart. Ebay has a decent selection of those harder-to-find items, like Disney Parks exclusives, and Etsy is great for finding lots of shirts in adult sizes, posters, mermaid costumes, wigs and more.
To make your search a little easier, we dove around the web to find the 16 best Little Mermaid merch items that you can buy for kids and adults.
Target
The Little Mermaid Sing-Along Boombox
$29.99
Starting in the toy department, this adorable boombox lets kids sing along to an extended version of “Part of Your World.” The boombox, designed for ages 3+, includes a wired microphone for hours of musical fun.
Target
The Little Mermaid Sing-Along Microphone
$12.99
For a scaled-down version of the musical boombox, pick up this sing-along microphone (for ages 3+).
Disney Store
The Little Mermaid Women’s Denim Jacket
$79.99
Get stylish with Ariel! This denim jacket boasts gorgeous screen art of Ariel and Flounder and a scenic ocean design complete with underwater plants, shells, bubbles, and the phrase “Ready to Stand” embroidered on the back. The jacket, which is part of shopDisney’s The Little Mermaid collection, is available in women’s sizes ranging from S-3X.
shopDisney
Ariel Spirit Jersey for Adults
$74.99
Part of your wardrobe! Get comfy in a stylish Ariel Spirit Jersey featuring an “undersea” dye effect with Ariel art and “Part of Your World” written in glittery text. The shirt is available in sizes XS-XXL.
Amazon
Loungefly Disney Little Mermaid Ariel Live Action Flap Wallet
$40.00
“Beautiful” and “absolutely darling,” according to customer reviews, Loungefly’s Ariel Flap Wallet shows our favorite mermaid sitting pretty “under the sea.” The wallet matches Loungefly’s Little Mermaid Double-Strap Shoulder Bag ($80).
Disney Store
Ariel Limited-Edition Doll 17″
$149.99
Not your average Ariel Barbie! The Little Mermaid Limited-Edition Barbie will be released on May 11 at shopDisney.com. The fully possible, 17-inch doll has flowing red hair, with a sequined tail, ruffled trims and iridescent organza fins. Disney is only releasing 5,200 of the collectible dolls, so you might want to pre-order yours before it sells out (limit two per guest).
Amazon
Funko Pop! Deluxe: Disney – The Little Mermaid, Ariel & Friends
$29.74
For Funko fans, this Little Mermaid Funko features a 3.9-inch Ariel Pop! vinyl flanked by Sebastian, Scuttle and Flounder. Funko also released a Pop! vinyl of Ariel in her signature blue dress, which is available at Walmart ($14.99), HSN and Funko.com.
Amazon
The Little Mermaid Non-Toxic Peel-Off Water-Based Safe Quick Dry Nail Polish| Gift Kit Set for Kids| Ages 3+
$11.99
Pick a shade! This gift set is packed with 15 glittery, shimmery and opaque non-toxic, peel-off nail polishes. The color lineup includes orange, purple, peach, blue, neon blue, glittery green, chunky pink glitter, pink shimmer, light blue shimmer, silver confetti, blue and silver confetti, yellow confetti, and teal confetti.
Target
The Little Mermaid 18 oz Water Bottle
$27.99
Quench your thirst with this 18 oz., stainless steel water bottle. The water bottle is equipped with a built-in straw and carrying loop.
Amazon
Franco Disney’s The Little Mermaid Ariel Live Action Movie Kids Bedding
$63.76 $69.99 9% OFF
Shopping for bedding? This Little Mermaid bedding set includes a reversible comforter with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillowcase, and pillow sham for kids’ beds.
Amazon
Northwest Disney’s Little Mermaid Silk Touch Throw Blanket, 50″ x 60″
$43.80
Also available in bedding, a decorative throw blanket perfectly designed for cozying up on the couch or in bed. The 50-inch x 60-inch blanket is available in six different designs of Ariel and her Mersisters.
Target
The Little Mermaid Storage Bin (15″ x 15″)
$22.99
Perfect for keeping things tidy in a kids’ bedroom or playroom, this 15-inch x 15-inch storage bin has rope handles with an seashell-themed interior.
Hanna Andersson
Disney’s Little Mermaid Short Juan Pajama Set for Kids
$44
From bedding to PJs! This kids’ pajama set includes shorts and a tee available in sizes 2-12.
Amazon
The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide
$14.24 $18.99 25% OFF
The Little Mermaid meets the New York Times bestsellers list! Against the Tide has been on the bestsellers list for three weeks and counting. Based on an original story, the novel follows Ariel and her sisters on a journey to rescue their sister, Mala, while uncovering family secrets.
Amazon
The Little Mermaid Live Action Novelization
$6.74 $8.99 25% OFF
If you’d rather dive into the story from the film, join Ariel as she explores the wonders of the human world in The Little Mermaid Live-Action Novelization. Want more books? The Little Mermaid: Make a Splash ($16.19) is picture book retelling of the live action adaptation, while The Little Mermaid: This is Ariel ($5.99) is great for younger readers.
Amazon
SwimWays The Little Mermaid Pool Float, Ages 5 & Up
$34.99
Kids can make a splash all summer long with this inflatable pool float featuring the Disney princess and her six sisters. Complete the collection with this inflatable boat ($26.99), glitter dive wands ($10.99), life vest ($26.99) and arm floaties ($22.99).
While Ed Sheeran has been in the public eye for more than a decade, his personal life has remained relatively private. For the first time ever, the 32-year-old superstar has opened the doors to his world and his mind in his new Disney+ docuseries, Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All.
The four-part series delves into topics of love, loss, focus and balance as viewers enjoy the highs and lows that have defined his global success, including his childhood, his unwavering work ethic, his marriage to Cherry Seaborn and her devastating cancer diagnosis, plus his friendship with the late music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards.
The Sum of It All arrives on Disney+ on May 3, just two days before Sheeran is set to reveal his highly anticipated new album, – (pronounced Subtract), on May 5 via Atlantic Records.
To celebrate the docuseries’ release, see below for its most captivating moments. Sign up for Disney+ here.
Every Aspect of His Career Was Planned
Quickly in the documentary, fans can see just how meticulous Sheeran is about his career. “I always knew that you just have to work harder than everyone else because there’s always going to be someone that wants it more than you,” he tells the camera, as flashback footage of a young Sheeran performing at small venues plays on the screen. “I looked at all my peers, and was like, ‘Well, you’re playing one show a week. I’m gonna do three shows a night.”
He even planned out his mathematical-themed albums. “When I first started out, I really wanted to make five albums,” he explains. “Plus (+) would be the addition onto all the EPs I had done up until that point. Multiply (x) would make it bigger. Divide (÷) would be a double album of acoustic and R&B and then equals would be the sum of all the parts. And then the fifth record is [Subtract].”
Jamal Edwards Is Honored Throughout the Series
Sheeran struggles with the loss of his best friend, Jamal Edwards, throughout The Sum of It All. The beloved entrepreneur died in February 2022 of cardiac arrest at age 31, and one of the most vulnerable parts of the documentary is when Sheeran attends his six-month memorial.
After feeling overwhelmed, the star takes a moment to breathe in the car, and breaks down in tears. “I know everyone should be having fun. That’s the whole point. I just feel so lost in there,” he says between sobs. “It’s still like very, very raw. I’ve never been to a burial […] Suddenly you’re putting dirt on your mate’s grave and it’s very, very real.”
Throughout the series, Sheeran honors his “best mate” through videos of the duo laughing together, and various tributes to Edwards, including the writing process of his recent single “Eyes Closed” and a performance of “Take Me Back to London” with Stormzy at London’s Wembley Stadium dedicated to his late friend.
Ed & Cherry’s First Date
One of the more lighthearted moment in The Sum of It All, was seeing how much Sheeran loves his wife. At one point in the series, the duo are seen in a Tuk Tuk vehicle, enjoying a beer and reminiscing on their chaotic first date boating in NYC’s Central Park.
““It was the busiest, busiest, hottest day of the year in New York,” Cherry recalls, before Ed takes over. “I was rowing and we got out to the middle of the lake and this boats just started surrounding us. All of these tourists, filming and taking pictures,” the singer says as the duo burst into laughter. “Chez goes, ‘Do you want me to row?’ And I was like, ‘Cherry, the last thing I need is a picture of you rowing me!’”
Cherry’s Cancer Diagnosis
Just before Edwards passed away, Sheeran was dealing with another tragic event. Six-month pregnant Cherry found a tumor in her arm, which turned out to be cancer. “The doctor was basically like, ‘This is really bad.’ And we were like, ‘Oh, OK,’” Sheeran recalled. “He was like, ‘But we’re not going to have results back for a month.’ So we just sort of wandered around London for the day.”
Cherry added that, thankfully, the “tumor came back a lot less severe than they originally thought,” and she was able to give birth to the couple’s daughter before receiving treatment.
Sheeran shared that after the cancer diagnosis, he wrote seven songs in four hours. He performed an acoustic version of one of the tracks, singing, “This week was heavy / I buckled under all the weight / What can you do but pray? / I count my blessings, it wasn’t any other way / Don’t leave it up to fate / Same problems, different options / Pain comes at a cost but we got this / Need respite, bleed time dry / She’ll be fine, she’ll be fine.”
Eminem Helped Sheeran’s Childhood Stutter
Before Sheeran took the stage with Eminem to perform “Stan” with him to celebrate the rapper’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the “Perfect” singer and his father reminisced on how being an Em fan helped Ed recover from his stutter as a child.
“Learning all the Eminem raps because they were all really fast, choppy. I’d learn the entire thing back to back and that pretty much sorted it,” Sheeran said of owning Em’s 1999 album, The Slim Shady LP.
He continued, “Being a pop star for a very long time, people will be like, ‘Oh, it’s normal for him to go up and sing with Eminem.’ But this is literally the dream of mine as a kid to do this, and it’s not normal.”