State Champ Radio genre pop
Page: 41
Smokey Robinson claims in a new court filing that the former housekeepers suing him for rape are trying to slow-walk the lawsuit to gain maximum leverage for an extortionate settlement payout, including by dealing a financial blow to the Motown legend’s ongoing tour.
Lawyers for the 85-year-old singer made this argument in a Thursday (June 12) motion to require the deposition of one of the four anonymous former housekeepers who allege he forced them to have sex at his Los Angeles-area home dozens of times over nearly two decades. Robinson adamantly denies the claims and has countersued the women for extortion, defamation and elder abuse.
Robinson’s attorney, Christopher Frost, says in the new court filing that the housekeepers are refusing to participate in evidence collection. He claims that the women’s lawyer, John Harris, allegedly informed him that he wants to delay all discovery until they’ve litigated a motion to strike Robinson’s counterclaims, a lengthy process that could take months.
Frost claims the housekeepers, who he says demanded $100 million from Robinson and his wife Frances before suing them both in May, are doing so as a tactic to maximize settlement leverage. According to the motion, this strategy is aimed at cutting into profits from Robinson’s ongoing international tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of his album A Quiet Storm.
“Plaintiffs have effectively conceded that their intention was to file a salacious lawsuit, do nothing to prosecute it, neuter the Robinsons’ ability to defend themselves, and let the lawsuit linger publicly while the Robinsons have to live every day under the unfair specter of public opinion and while Mr. Robinson’s tour is negatively affected,” Frost writes.
“This plays into plaintiffs and cross-defendants’ strategy to exact leverage on Mr. and Ms. Robinson,” Frost adds. “The longer Mr. Robinson’s livelihood is harmed, the more pressure there is for the Robinsons to give in to plaintiffs’ and cross-defendants’ extortionate demands.”
Frost is asking for a court order requiring one of the four housekeepers, identified in court filings as “Jane Doe 2,” to sit for a deposition at his Los Angeles law office within two weeks of the motion being heard. Frost says the women should also foot the bill for nearly $5,000 in legal fees the Robinsons have run up bringing this motion.
“If plaintiffs and cross-defendants are not sanctioned for their abusive behavior, they will expect that they can continue this behavior during the pendency of this case, which will only create more delays and more motion practice,” writes Frost. “The utilization of this strategy must be nipped in the bud.”
The housekeepers’ lawyers did not immediately return a request for comment on the motion on Friday (June 13).
In addition to the civil lawsuit, the former Robinson housekeepers have also filed a police report against the singer. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the women’s sexual assault claims.
The Billboard video staff is reacting to Miley Cyrus’ joke about JoJo Siwa’s sexuality seemingly changing with her new relationship with her fellow Big Brother contestant, Chris Hughes and the conversation on social media that goes on regarding sexuality and celebrities especially during Pride month.
Tetris Kelly
All right, so guys, I don’t know if you saw it. At World Pride, Miley Cyrus posted a little video in which she said, “I’m gonna go back into the closet where maybe I can find JoJo Siwa.”
Well, as we all know, JoJo Siwa is now publicly dating a man, Chris, and so people are saying like, Hey, did she go back in the closet? Was she fake gay? There’s a whole thing.
Judy Sanchez
I’m kind of shocked that Miley would say that.
Stefanie Tanaka
I mean, I think people have been kind of accusing a lot of stars of doing that. They were talking about Fletcher also, like, dating a man after she said that she was a lesbian or something.
Tetris Kelly
I mean, we all know that sexuality is on the spectrum for pretty much everybody, so you should be able to kind of do what you want to do. I don’t think it changes anything for JoJo. But what is interesting to me is that JoJo has always, in multiple interviews, multiple times, gave a lot of credit to Miley Cyrus. So what’s to be said when somebody that you look up to is commenting on your personal life? Because now JoJo is speaking out about it.
Jerah Milligan
Wait. So my question is, is Miley gay?
Stefanie Tanaka
She said she’s pansexual, which means that her sexuality is fluid. So, I mean, that’s not necessarily saying that she doesn’t, she can’t date a man, right? You know, just she said before that she doesn’t really care about, like, you know gender.
Judy Sanchez
She’s so hung up on the label. Yeah, she herself. Well, I think Miley’s brand is so, like, free and, fluid.
Stefanie Tanaka
Well, I feel like people are more hung up on labels, like, if you say that you’re gay, they’re like, you have to be gay. Well, she’s like, I don’t know if it works that way.
Jerah Milligan
She can’t be bi? I guess my thing is like, look, I guess I’m confused on what’s wrong. And like, she dates women, now she’s dating a dude. She could date a woman after this dude.
Watch the full video above!
No, don’t get stressed, it’s gon’ get figured out! Jonas Brothers sent a note to fans on Friday (June 13) explaining a major update involving venues in six different cities on their upcoming JONAS20 anniversary tour. “To the fans, we’re so excited to get out and be with you for our 20th Anniversary Tour! Every […]
The Billboard video staff reacts to Taylor Swift buying back her masters, including our thoughts on ‘Reputation (Taylor’s Version)’ not being re-recorded, how we feel about ‘Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)’ coming out, what this means next for Taylor’s career and more.
Jerah Milligan
You know, good for her. All right? She’s not giving you a remix. She’s not giving you a reboot. She’s like, it’s perfect. Enjoy it. People need to do that. Movies need to do that. TV shows need to do that. It’s perfect. Let it cook.
Tetris Kelly
All right team, so they are all Taylor’s Versions now. Taylor Swift has bought her masters back, you know, after all, the re-records. Billboard, we’re the people that reported she spent around $360 million to get it all back. How we feeling?
Evan Burke
I mean, that’s pocket change for her.
Tetris Kelly
I mean, as a billionaire, you know…
Stefanie Tanaka
Pocket change, but I think it’s like, you know, it’s substantial, because not all artists hold their masters, and now she does, and this has been something that she’s been trying to do, and she has set out. She said, when she started her ‘Taylor’s Verison,’ this is something she set out to do, and if she had the opportunity to buy them, she would.
Judy Sanchez
I think it’s a total boss move, you know, and it really grabs, like, here she is taking control of her art and her music.
Tetris Kelly
Like a group project, though, right?
Jerah Milligan
Yeah, wait. So she got the ones she re-recorded, but then she got the originals.
Tetris Kelly
Now she owns the original.
Jerah Milligan
So now she got two sets of the same records.
Stefanie Tanaka
So under her new record deal with Republic, she owns her albums. So ‘Lover,’ ‘Folklore,’ ‘Evermore,’ ‘Midnights’ and ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ and all the Taylor’s Versions. She owns the rights to those, but her old, her old ones with her old label Big Machine Records, when they were bought out by UMG, she didn’t own those. So now she owns them all. She owns all the music videos, all the movies, everything she’s spent her whole life creating.
Watch the full video above!
WWE Women’s Money In the Bank and current Women’s champ, Tiffany Stratton talks about her love for Sabrina Carpenter and how she inspires her ring outfits, wanting to see Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion in the ring, what song best describes her rivalry with Nia, who from ‘Love Island’ would do best in the ring and more!
Noah Reardon: I’m Noah with Billboard, and we have Tiffany Stratton, our Women’s Champion. She is. It’s over 150 days now.
Tiffany Stratton: Yes, it’s crazy. It just flew by.
Yeah, and also Ms. Money in the Bank 2024 — how does it feel being back today?
Honestly, I feel like things should be more chaotic for me. I feel like I just got here and I’m already the champion, and I’m just sitting back and and watching these girls fight for my title. So it’s, it’s super it’s super cool to watch. And just kind of sit back and enjoy the show.
I love that. So, last night, we saw what happened — is Strapley no more? Are you gonna be able to make Rhea wear pink?
To me, Strapley is never over. She has a special place in my heart, and I’m gonna try and make Rhea Ripley wear pink. It’s gonna happen one day. I guarantee it.
I would love to hear, I know you’re a big Sabrina Carpenter fan, the new song “Manchild” just came out. Have you heard it?
I have heard it, and I love it. It’s the summer anthem.
On that note, what songs of the summer are you ramping up right now?
Obviously, “Manchild,” I feel like anything country right now. I’m really loving Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen, obviously I’m loving all the Post Malone and the Morgan Wallen collaborations and stuff like that.
Watch the full video above!
Shortly after attending the Stanley Cup Finals in Florida with Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift surprised patients at a children’s hospital in the Sunshine State on Friday (June 13). In photos and videos that have been surfacing on social media, the pop star — wearing a chic sage green dress — walks through the halls and […]
Reneé Rapp became a movie star in 2024 by starring as Regina George in the film version of Broadway’s Mean Girls — but according to the pop star, there’s another blonde character she’d never want to portray in a live action film.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
In an interview with Ziwe posted Thursday (June 12), Rapp was frank when asked whether she’d play Elsa in a live-action version of Disney’s animated film Frozen. “No,” the singer-actress replied. “I don’t like the braid and the blue dress.”
“Also, she’s kind of annoying to me,” Rapp added of the ice queen, laughing. “It’s OK, girl, just relax.”
Trending on Billboard
Frozen premiered in theaters in 2013, with stage legend Idina Menzel providing the original voice of Elsa — and earning a Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Let It Go” reaching No. 5 on the chart. The film was later adapted into a Broadway musical that debuted in 2017.
Mean Girls, Tina Fey’s 2004 comedy, became a hit Broadway show in 2018. Six years later, Rapp — who starred as Regina George on Broadway — adapted her role for the screen.
For the Mean Girls film, Rapp also released an original song titled “Not My Fault” featuring her now-friend Megan Thee Stallion. The singer has been vocal in her love for the rapper, including when it comes to Meg’s legal battle with Tory Lanez, who in 2023 was convicted of shooting her in the foot in 2020 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. “I love Megan Thee Stallion,” Rapp told Extra last year. “I love her. If anybody tries her when it comes to that sorry a– man, it’s a do or die fight for me.”
When Ziwe asked for Rapp’s opinion on recent reports that Lanez was stabbed in prison, the singer echoed her past sentiment. “I feel like a lot of people get stabbed, and that’s OK,” Rapp said. “Maybe we should be doing it more. Maybe we should be stabbing more.”
Rapp’s interview with Ziwe comes as the pop star is gearing up to release new album Bite Me on Aug. 1. The LP was preceded by edgy single “Leave Me Alone,” which she performed at the 2025 American Music Awards after it dropped in May.
The Sex Lives of College Girls alum last released an album in 2023, unveiling Snow Angel and reaching No. 44 on the Billboard 200.
Watch Rapp on Ziwe above.
The latest London show on the Cowboy Carter Tour was an extra special one for Beyoncé, who had not one but two very important people to celebrate on stage Thursday night (June 12). Midway through the performance, the pop superstar quickly paused to wish her twins, Rumi — who joined her mother on stage — […]
While Justin Bieber stays busy recording the long-awaited follow-up to his 2021 Justice album, his backing gorup, We the Band, dropped their debut single on Friday morning (June 13). The Earth, Wind & Fire-esque slow-burn R&B jam “One & Only” showcases the group’s smooth, soulful vocals and retro ’70s funk style. The slick accompanying performance […]
While Jonas Brothers fans await the release of the sibling band’s Greetings From Your Hometown studio album on Aug. 8, they can keep their summer cool with a live LP that dropped on Friday (June 13). Live From the O2 London is a 24-track collection recorded at the iconic London venue last year, featuring such […]
