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SZA is coming to Cynthia Erivo‘s defense amid a wave of recent online bullying aimed at the Wicked star.
In the replies of a recent Instagram video calling out the onslaught of posts mocking everything from Erivo’s physique to the way she protected Ariana Grande from a red-carpet crasher in Singapore, the R&B hitmaker shared her two cents about why it shouldn’t be considered “too woke” to speak up. “It’s CLASSIC Misogynoir!” SZA wrote of the content targeting Erivo. “NOTHING ELSE !!!”
“can’t believe it’s openly a thing in 2025,” the singer continued in her comment. “everyone’s gonna have cognitive dissonance 2 years later like ‘remember when everyone attacked Cynthia for being black bald and nurturing?… that was crazy’ ..it could jus stop now lol.”
Misogynoir refers to the intersectionality of racism and sexism experienced all too frequently by Black women. Merriam-Webster defines the term as a “hatred of, aversion to, or prejudice against Black women.”
And while both Grande and Erivo have faced ample amounts of criticism for their looks and mannerisms amid the rollout for Wicked: For Good this past fall, the hate geared toward the latter has been particularly upsetting, given the racist undertones lurking beneath much of it. Many online trolls have depicted Erivo’s body in an exaggerated, overly masculine light, a practice that ties into a long history of society treating Black women as less feminine.
It’s something Erivo has dealt with her entire career, with the star telling Billboard Pride editor Stephen Daw in her June cover story that she is rarely considered for sensual or sexual roles. “Honestly, you rarely get that opportunity as Black women anyway,” she said at the time. “So I was just like, ‘Well, if I don’t put it in my own music, I’ll never get to put it anywhere else.’”
Fortunately, Erivo has built a thick skin over the years, a protective measure that’s unfortunately necessary while existing as a Black, queer woman in the entertainment industry. “I can’t change a person’s opinion of me; if they want to feel some way, there is nothing I can do about that,” she added in her Billboard cover story. “But I was so excited about being able to at least be one more face where someone could say, ‘Oh, my God, she did it and can still do it. She’s still creating, she’s still making. So maybe I can also do the same.’”
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Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs have sent Netflix a cease-and-desist letter warning of litigation if the streaming giant follows through with plans to release the 50 Cent-produced docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning.
Set to drop on Tuesday (Dec. 2) on Netflix, the four-part documentary includes never-before-seen footage of Combs in the days leading up to his arrest last September. Combs’ attorney, Michael Tremonte, says in a Monday (Dec. 1) demand letter that the footage was recorded by the rap mogul’s employees and then “illicitly disclosed” to Netflix later on.
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According to Tremonte, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos first approached Combs about making a documentary back in 2023, but Combs rejected the idea when it became clear he wouldn’t have creative control. Netflix wanted to “punish Mr. Combs for refusing to play by its rules,” Tremonte says — so the company gave the producing gig and allegedly stolen footage to his longtime rival, 50 (Curtis Jackson).
“The evidence of Mr. Jackson’s vicious animus against Mr. Combs is overwhelming. He has been trolling Mr. Combs on the internet and social media for years and has made a career of attempting to defame, belittle and provoke Mr. Combs and turn the public against him,” reads the cease-and-desist letter. “Simply put, there is no one less able to view any aspect of Mr. Combs’s life and legacy through a fair and objective lens.”
Tremonte’s letter also complains about interview subjects being offered “problematic financial incentives” to speak negatively about Combs in the documentary. It warns that Combs may sue Netflix for copyright infringement or possession of stolen property if the series is released as planned.
“As you are undoubtedly aware, Mr. Combs has not hesitated to take legal action against media entities and others who violate his rights, and he will not hesitate to do so against Netflix,” writes Tremonte.
In a statement accompanying the letter, a spokesperson for Combs called the docuseries a “shameful hit piece” and slammed Netflix for “ripping private footage out of context — including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing.”
Reps for Netflix and 50 did not immediately return requests for comment on Monday.
Combs’ legacy has been overtaken in recent years by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. The onetime music mogul is currently serving a federal prison sentence for arranging drug-fueled sex marathons between his girlfriends and male escorts, though he was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex-trafficking charges at a blockbuster trial this summer.
Trending on Billboard All Time Low snags its third No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, rising to the top of the Dec. 6-dated list with “The Weather.” The ruler is the band’s first through Basement Noise/Photo Finish/Virgin, following previous appearances on the tally worked by Fueled by Ramen. Though All Time Low formed in […]
Trending on Billboard Portugal. The Man returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart as “Tanana” tops the survey dated Dec. 6. It’s the rock band’s fourth ruler and first since “What, Me Worry?” reigned for three weeks in 2022. In between the two leaders, the group reached the tally once, with the […]
After decades of supporting the fight against AIDS, Madonna is refusing to go backwards — no matter what Donald Trump‘s administration dictates. In a passionate post on Instagram on Monday (Dec. 1), the Queen of Pop slammed the president’s administration for shirking generations of precedent and refusing to observe World Aids Day, which has traditionally […]
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Toosii is trading platinum plaques for touchdowns. Following a slew of college visits, the 25-year-old rapper (real name Nau’jour Grainger) announced on Monday (Dec. 1) that he has committed to Syracuse University to play football next fall.
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“For every kid who ever had a dream, make it reality,” Toosii wrote on social media to accompany a photo shoot in his new Orange threads. “God’s will is the way and no one can stop it not even the devil. I wanna thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for even giving me the strength to chase what I believed when so many people told me I couldn’t. Thank you to the people who supported me as well, it never go unnoticed.”
He continued: “To be born in Syracuse and move to North Carolina at age 12 and haven’t been back since. When Coach Fran called, I knew it was a sign from God. So with that being said, Cuse I’m coming home.”
Toosii starred as a wide receiver at Rolesville High School in North Carolina and retained four years of eligibility as a college athlete after graduating from high school in 2018. The rapper was also born in Syracuse, which could’ve played a role in his decision.
He revealed over the summer that he had plans to put music on the back burner and fully commit to training for a potential football career. After recently wrapping up supporting YoungBoy Never Broke Again on his North American arena tour, Toosii announced his plans to play for coach Fran Brown Jr. at Cuse.
Toosii reportedly had multiple options as he received an offer to play at Sacramento State while also making visits to North Carolina State University and Duke University, but ultimately decided to stay close to his roots in Syracuse, where he grew up before moving to North Carolina as a teen.
Toosii, who notched a top-five Billboard Hot 100 hit with 2023’s “Favorite Song,” received plenty of love from his peers and fans for making the pivot from rap to sports, looking to fulfill a childhood dream. DDG, Wallo and Seddy Hendrix were among those cheering him on in his comment section on IG.
Listed at 5’8″, 165 pounds, Toosii will look to help restore Syracuse football following a lowly 3-9 season in 2025. A representative for Syracuse’s Athletics department declined to answer Billboard‘s request for comment, citing NCAA rules prohibiting comments on prospective student athletes.
Trending on Billboard Charlie Puth is standing strong in the face of online backlash to the announcement of his upcoming national anthem performance at next year’s Super Bowl LX (Feb. 8, 2026). “I’ll never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was,” the four-time Grammy nominee wrote on X on […]
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The second edition of Billboard Italia Women in Music took place on Nov. 25, 26 and 28 in Milan, at the new cultural hub called UFO, home to Billboard Italy’s headquarters, which for the occasion transformed into the Women in Music House.
Following the inaugural 2024 edition, which highlighted women’s contributions to Italian music and culture, the 2025 event offered an even richer and more comprehensive program, including exhibitions, workshops, panels, showcases and DJ sets, confirming its vocation as a space dedicated to creativity, plurality of artistic voices, and construction of new cultural perspectives.
Federico Durante and Silvia Danielli, editor-in-chief and co-editor-in-chief of Billboard Italy, said: “This edition, the main theme of which was “Intersections,” gave even more space to the honorees by connecting them with other personalities from other fields of contemporary culture. It put new talent in the spotlight, highlighting new ideas that increasingly emphasize the women who work behind the scenes of the music industry.”
The big star of Billboard Italia Women in Music 2025 was Giorgia, awarded as Woman of the Year, who met with TV host and writer Serena Dandini. With a career spanning several generations of fans with authenticity and depth, Giorgia was the symbolic centerpiece of the 2025 edition. The other awards were:
Global Icon – Laura Pausini
Powerhouse – Serena Brancale
DJ of the Year – Deborah De Luca
Rising Star – Sarah Toscano
Songwriter of the Year – Joan Thiele
Performer of the Year – Emma Nolde
Breakthrough – Ele A
Manager of the Year – Paola Zukar
Over the course of three days, the honorees participated in a series of conversations with leading figures in contemporary culture, from sports to social media, resulting in a series of events that will be published on YouTube and on Billboard Italy’s Instagram and TikTok profiles.
Aperol, Amazon Music and AW LAB were Official Partners of Billboard Italia Women in Music 2025. Ticketmaster was the Ticketing Partner, and SAE Institute was the Educational Partner. The event was supported by SIAE – Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori.
Here are some of the best photos from Billboard Italia Women in Music 2025.
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Aerosmith and Yungblud’s collaborative EP One More Time debuts at No. 1 across four Billboard album charts, all dated Dec. 6.
In the week ending Nov. 27, One More Time earned 39,000 equivalent album units in the U.S., of which 37,000 was via album sales, according to Luminate.
Among the many chart the album topped is the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, marking Yungblud’s first ruler in his career and Aerosmith’s first chart-topper in over a decade. Aerosmith previously topped the ranking, which began in 2006, in 2012 via the one-week rule of Music From Another Dimension!, which had been Aerosmith’s most recent collection of new music prior to One More Time. Yungblud’s previous best, meanwhile, had been the No. 8 debut and peak of his self-titled album in 2022.
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The set also rules Top Hard Rock Albums, Aerosmith’s third ruler (following Music From Another Dimension! and the band’s 2023 Greatest Hits package) and Yungblud’s first appearance on the survey. The album also bows at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums and Indie Store Album Sales.
As previously reported, One More Time also debuts at No. 9 on the all-genre Billboard 200, giving Aerosmith top 10s in each of the last six decades (1970s-2020s), something only Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor have also accomplished.
Concurrently, music from One More Time appears twice on the Dec. 6-dated Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, led by lead single “My Only Angel” at No. 11. The song, which bowed at No. 1 on the tally dated Oct. 4, earned 2.7 million radio audience impressions, 723,000 official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads in the week ending Nov. 27. It lifts 7-6 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, having previously become Aerosmith’s first top 10 on the ranking in 21 years.
One More Time is also represented on Hot Hard Rock Songs by “Wild Woman” (No. 14; 853,000 streams, 1,000 downloads), with the latter count good enough for a No. 6 debut on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales.
All Billboard charts dated Dec. 6 will update tomorrow, Dec. 2, on Billboard.com.
50 Cent has said Diddy‘s publicist is accusing the G-Unit leader of being an “adversary” against Puff because of his new Netflix documentary. 50 Cent and Diddy have been going back and forth all day in the wake of the former’s new four part Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which is set to hit […]
