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BTS‘ Suga issued another apology to ARMY over his recent drunk scootering incident in a handwritten note posted to Weverse on Sunday (August 25). According to a translation of the post, Suga, 31, said, “I would like to apologize again to you with shame. I deeply apologize for the disappointment and hurt of my misbehavior to my fans and everyone who loves me.I’ve made a big mistake, forgetting the responsibility to repay you with actions worthy of the love I’ve received.”
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He continued by describing the night in question (August 6), saying he made the mistake of driving on an electric scooter after drinking and apologizing for the “confusion” caused by his first, “hastily posted” apology on the day after the incident. “I should have thought more deeply and been careful, but I couldn’t,” he wrote.
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“It’s all my fault. My carelessness is giving everyone who cares about me a hard time. I will try not to do anything wrong again and live with repentance,” he added. “Due to this incident, I have greatly damaged the precious memories I made with the members and fans and put a lot of pressure on the name of the BTS. I feel so sorry and painful that it’s hard to express because it’s causing damage to the members and the team. I’m sorry that the members who always trusted me have a hard time because of me. And I know the disappointment that the fans who supported and supported me must have felt.”
The rapper had his license suspended after police said he operated the seated electric scooter while impaired in the Yongsan District in central Seoul, with a blood alcohol content above the 0.08 level that triggers license revocation. At the time, Suga said he didn’t realize he couldn’t drive the scooter while intoxicated, explaining that he felt comfortable making the trip because he was close to his apartment. According to Suga’s original account, he fell over while trying to ride the electric kickboard, which police observed, leading to a breathalyzer test.
BTS’ label BigHit also shared a pair of statements on Weverse at the time, noting that Suga was wearing a helmet and had only traveled about 500 meters before falling down while parking the scooter.
In the new statement, Suga also asked ARMY for forgiveness for letting them down. “I just feel sorry for the fans who have always given me too much love… I know that it is difficult to heal the wounds and disappointments that my fans have received with any words, so I regret it deeply and reflect on it with a heavy heart every day,” he said. “Once again, I sincerely apologize to the fans who were hurt by me. We will receive criticism and reprimand as well as future dispositions. Finally, once again, I sincerely apologize for causing a social stir and disappointing many people.”
At press time it did not appear that South Korean police had issued an official sanction yet to the BTS member over the incident, though Korean media reported that he “admitted” to the alleged DUI during three hours of police questioning last week.
Suga has less than a year left on his alternative mandatory South Korean military service; he was deemed unfit for regular combat duty due to a 2020 shoulder injury.
What was meant to be a triumphant weekend for Reneé Rapp at two of England’s most legendary festivals instead turned into a waterlogged nightmare for the “Not My Fault” singer when torrential downpours and technical difficulties washed out her anticipated Reading and Leeds debuts. As often happens during the English summer festival season, the skies […]
A few of the songs on Eminem‘s The Death of Slim Shady: (Coup de Grâce) album hit a bit too close to home for the rapper’s daughter, Hailie Jade Scott. On this week’s episode of her Just a Little Shady podcast, Hailie tackled her emotional reaction to a pair of songs on Em’s Billboard 200 chart-topping twelfth LP that have a very personal message.
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“Speaking of things I watched this past week, which I guess I’ll say watched, but I refused to watch again — the ‘Somebody Save Me’ music video is out and I did watch the thing,” Hailie, 28, said of the emotional clip featuring footage of her as a child underneath lyrics from her dad lamenting the countless hours and days he missed due to his struggle with drugs and alcohol; Em celebrated 16 years of sobriety in April.
“I watched it in its entirety. I don’t think I can do it again. I definitely cry every time I hear it at all,” Hailie said of the song featuring Em lashing himself for his shortcomings as a father. “Another pill as I start to spiral/ Message to my daughters/ I don’t even deserve the father title/ Hailie, I’m so sorry/ I know I wasn’t there for your first guitar recital,” Eminem raps on the tune featuring a mournful chorus from Jelly Roll about seeking salvation. “Didn’t walk you down the aisle/ Missed the birth of your first child/ Your first podcast, lookin’ down, sweetie.”
The clip features home video footage of Hailie playing the guitar at a recital, walking across the stage for graduation and celebrating her birthday as well as video of Em’s other children, Alaina Marie Scott, 31, Stevie Laine Scott, 22 and his younger brother Nate in scenes that bring Em to his knees as he seeks forgiveness.
Hailie said in addition to getting emotional over the heartbreaking lyrics and video for “Somebody Save Me,” she also can’t quite bring herself to listen to another one of her dad’s new songs, the Skylar Grey collab “Temporary.” That song features audio of Hailie as a baby and Marshall rapping, “A lot of people ask me, am I afraid of death?/ The truth is, I think what scares me the most/ Is not being able to say all the things I wanna say to you/ When I’m no longer here/ So this song is for Hailie for when that day comes/ Where’s Hailie? Where’s she at?”
Co-host and BFF Brittany Ednie said she wasn’t sure when she’d be able to watch “Save Me” either. “I’m gonna have to brace myself for that one.” Ednie had listened to “Temporary,” however, and she said the song “broke me.”
For now it’s to too much for Hailie. “I audibly sobbed… I think for both songs, but especially ‘Temporary.’” However, after watching the video and listening to the songs, Hailie praised her parents for “doing such a good job” when she was growing up to shield her from the reality of “how bad things were. But now as an adult in hindsight it’s so scary to think about and I think that’s why I get emotional… I will say if you’ve ever lost an addict or loved one, I feel for you,” she added on the verge of tears.
Eminem shares Hailie with ex-wife Kim Scott and as any Slim Shady fan knows, the rapper and his ex have had a tumultuous history over the years. Hailie said she really enjoyed the video and watching clips of her and her siblings when thy were younger, though she noted that another very personal Eminem track, “Mockingbird,” is yet another one she can’t listen to anymore without getting very emotional. “The older I get the less I can listen to any of the songs,” she said.
Watch Hailie discuss her reaction to “Somebody Save Me” below.
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Queens of the Stone Age have made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining 2024 tour dates as frontman Josh Homme continues to focus on his health.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the band wrote: “QOTSA regret to announce the cancellation and/or postponement of all remaining 2024 shows. Josh has been given no choice but to prioritize his health and to receive essential medical care through the remainder of the year.”
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The announcement comes just weeks after the band had to cancel several European dates to allow Homme to undergo emergency surgery.
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Festival ticket holders are advised to visit specific event sites for updated information. Ticket holders for QOTSA shows will be contacted by point of purchase with further information about the new dates. pic.twitter.com/jcUHtfPv5q— QOTSA (@qotsa) August 23, 2024
Homme, who has been open about his health struggles in the past, revealed last year that he had undergone surgery for cancer after being diagnosed in 2022. The nature of his recent surgery has not been disclosed, but it has become clear that his recovery will require additional time and care.
The cancelled performances include several U.S. shows scheduled from September through November, with standalone shows in Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, and Madison postponed. Additionally, festival appearances in Memphis, Bridgeport, and Mexico City have been called off.
In July, the band explained the urgency of Homme’s situation, stating that he had to “return to the United States immediately for emergency surgery.” Despite their best efforts to continue the tour, Homme’s condition ultimately made it impossible to go on.
“Homme must return to the United States immediately for emergency surgery,” they said at the time. “Every effort was made to push through and play for you, but it is no longer an option to continue.”
Queens of the Stone Age had been touring in support of their eighth studio album, In Times New Roman…, which was released in July. The record marked the band’s first release in six years, following extensive tours across North America, Australia, and Asia earlier in the year.
The band has not yet announced any plans to reschedule the cancelled dates but has expressed gratitude for the understanding and support from their fans during this challenging time.
Bruce Springsteen has no plans to hang up his guitar anytime soon.
The legendary rocker, who has been a cornerstone of rock music for over five decades, made it clear during his Aug. 23 performance at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia that rumors of his impending retirement are far from the truth.
In front of a passionate crowd, Springsteen dismissed any talk of a farewell tour with his signature sass. “We’ve been around for 50 f***ing years, and we ain’t quitting!” he declared. “We ain’t doing no farewell tour bullsh*t! Jesus Christ! No farewell tour for the E Street Band!”
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He added, “Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out. I ain’t going anywhere!”
The statement came in response to ongoing speculation about the longevity of Springsteen and the E Street Band’s current tour.
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The show was part of the North American leg of their ongoing tour, which has seen them play across the U.S. and Europe despite setbacks, including Springsteen’s battle with peptic ulcer disease last year.
While rumors of a possible farewell tour have swirled of late, guitarist Steven Van Zandt also dispelled any notion of an imminent end, saying recently, “I don’t see the end anywhere in sight, to be honest, especially in Europe, where we’re bigger than we’ve ever been. I think we can play every summer for evermore, man.”
In a review of Springsteen’s Pittsburgh show earlier this month, Billboard noted Springsteen’s “earth-quaking exuberance” and the band’s ability to deliver “magic moments” night after night. The same energy was palpable in Philadelphia, where the band delivered a set that spanned decades of hits.
However, the tour has not been without its challenges. Last September, Springsteen was forced to postpone several dates due to health issues, rescheduling them for 2024.
The current leg of the tour will continue with performances in Toronto and Vancouver before wrapping up on Nov. 22.
Fans can also look forward to the upcoming documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, set to be released on Disney+ and Hulu this October.
TLC has been forced to cancel two highly anticipated concerts due to a medical emergency involving Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins.
The news came just hours before the group was set to perform at the New York State Fair on Aug. 23.
In a statement shared on Instagram Stories, TLC’s Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas revealed the details of T-Boz’s sudden health crisis following a performance in Toledo, Ohio, on Aug. 22.
“Shortly after arriving in Syracuse, Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins experienced sudden and severe nausea, vomiting, and intense abdominal cramps,” the statement explained.
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“She was immediately seen by a doctor and subsequently taken to the hospital for further evaluation. The doctor verified that this was not food poisoning, but an abdominal blockage. Tionne deeply regrets having to cancel these shows and extends her sincere apologies to all her fans and the event promoters.”
It continued, “The decision to cancel was made under the advisement of her physician, who required her to stay in the hospital overnight to undergo a CT scan to assess the severity of her condition.”
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As a result of the diagnosis, TLC was forced to cancel both their Aug. 23 performance at the New York State Fair in Syracuse and their Aug. 24 show at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, where they were scheduled to perform alongside Shaggy.
The statement also mentioned that T-Boz is expected to be released from the hospital on Sunday, Aug. 25.
The latest cancellation marks another challenging moment for TLC, who have had to navigate several health-related setbacks this year.
Just three months ago, the group postponed four Canadian tour dates after T-Boz and several crew members contracted the flu.
Despite this, T-Boz assured fans in a message posted to Instagram that she’s “on the mend” and expressed deep regret over the cancellations. “This was just one of those unexpected things that I had no control over,” she shared. “I look forward to making it up to you all.”
The group has promised to reschedule the cancelled shows, stating: “TLC is committed to rescheduling the cancelled shows and apologizes to all the fans, particularly those who traveled long distances to attend. The group appreciates the understanding and support.”
TLC’s legacy in the music industry remains unmatched. With four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits—”Creep,” “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” and “Unpretty”—the group has solidified their place as one of the most influential girl groups of all time. Their 1994 album CrazySexyCool is also certified Diamond by the RIAA. Earlier this year, TLC celebrated the 25th anniversary of their album Fanmail, which featured the chart-topping hit “No Scrubs.”
Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to the group’s official channels for updates on when the cancelled shows will be rescheduled.
Post Malone has once again claimed the top spot on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, securing his third U.K. No. 1 album with F-1 Trillion.
The New York-born, Texas-raised star artist’s sixth studio album follows in the footsteps of his previous chart-toppers, beerbongs & bentleys (2018) and Hollywood’s Bleeding (2019).
The standard edition of the F-1 Trillion album was released on Aug. 16 and has 18 songs, 15 of which are collaborations with country stars ranging from Dolly Parton and Hank Williams Jr., to Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton, to HARDY and Morgan Wallen.
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Later on Aug. 16, F-1 Trillion garnered a deluxe reissue, dubbed the “Long Bed” edition, with nine additional solo Post Malone tracks.
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F-1 Trillion not only leads the U.K. Official Albums Chart but also tops the Official Vinyl Albums Chart, making it the most purchased album on vinyl in the U.K. this week.
Meanwhile, The Script celebrates another milestone as their latest album Satellites debuts at No. 2 on the chart. This marks the Irish band’s eighth Top 5 album and their first release since the passing of their lead guitarist, Mark Sheehan, last year. Satellites also claims the top spot on the Official Record Store Chart, the best-selling physical album in independent record shops across the U.K.
Taylor Swift continues to dominate the charts, with The Tortured Poets Department rising to No. 3 this week. Additionally, Swift has six other albums occupying spots within the Top 40, including Lover (No. 10), folklore (No. 11), reputation (No. 12), 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (No. 13), Midnights (No. 14), and Red (Taylor’s Version) (No. 37), amid her return to London’s Wembley Stadium for her Eras Tour.
Further down the chart, Welsh rock band Scarlet Rebels secured their second Top 40 album with Where the Colours Meet debuting at No. 15.
Royal Blood’s self-titled debut album re-enters the Top 40 at No. 21, thanks to a special 10th Anniversary Edition release. Edinburgh’s Hamish Hawk achieves his first-ever Top 40 placement with A Firmer Hand landing at No. 22, while Nevada’s Falling In Reverse scores their first U.K. Top 40 album with Popular Monster at No. 29.
Finally, The Stranglers reached a significant milestone with their live album Fifty Years in Black – The Anniversary Tour 2024, debuting at No. 36, marking their 20th Top 40 album in the U.K.
Further down the chart, Welsh rock band Scarlet Rebels secure their second Top 40 album with Where the Colours Meet debuting at No. 15.
Royal Blood’s self-titled debut album re-enters the Top 40 at No. 21, thanks to a special 10th Anniversary Edition release. Hamish Hawk achieves his first-ever Top 40 placement with A Firmer Hand landing at No. 22, while Nevada’s Falling In Reverse scores their first U.K. Top 40 album with Popular Monster at No. 29.
Finally, The Stranglers reached a significant milestone with their live album Fifty Years in Black – The Anniversary Tour 2024, debuting at No. 36, marking their 20th Top 40 album in the U.K.
You can stream Post Malone’s latest album F-1 Trillion below.
Chase & Status and Stormzy continue their reign atop the U.K. Official Singles Chart for a second consecutive week with their collaboration “BACKBONE.”
The track, which pairs Chase & Status’s high-energy drum and bass production with Stormzy’s commanding lyrical delivery, remains the most-streamed song in the U.K. this week, boasting an impressive 5.5 million streams.
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Following the single’s debut at No. 1 in the U.K. last week, Chase & Status, comprised of Saul Milton and Will Kennard, said of the collaboration with Stormzy, “We knew that connecting with Stormzy was going to create something special, but we didn’t expect a KO reaction like this.”
“To see him running out at our show at The Milton Keynes Bowl in his best man’s suit, straight from a wedding and in front of 45,000 people, was insane!” they added. “One of the greatest British MCs to ever do it, spitting over DnB. And for it to go straight in at Number 1? It couldn’t get any better for us.”
This week’s highest new entry belongs to the powerhouse duo of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Their track “Die with a Smile” debuts at No. 7, marking Gaga’s 15th and Mars’s 11th Top 10 singles in the U.K. The track fuses Gaga’s distinctive flair for dramatic pop with Mars’s smooth, R&B-infused vocals, creating a unique blend that has quickly propelled the track into the Top 10.
Meanwhile, BL3SS, CamrinWatsin, and bbyclose celebrate their first-ever Top 5 single as their summer dance hit “Kisses” climbs to a new peak at No. 5.
Belfast’s rising star Jordan Adetunji also continues his ascent, with his catchy track “KEHLANI” moving up to No. 8, marking another career milestone.
Elsewhere on the chart, Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” breaks into the Top 10, reaching No. 10 after 14 weeks on the chart, thanks in part to a surprise performance with Olivia Rodrigo in Los Angeles. Indian rapper Hanumankind and producer Kalmi make their mark on the U.K. charts as well, with their track “Big Dawgs” jumping six spots to land at No. 15.
In other notable movements, Sonny Fodera, Jazzy, and D.O.D’s “Somedays” continues to climb, now at No. 16, while Taylor Swift’s “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” rises to No. 21 following the release of its Eras Tour-filmed music video.
Finally, Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” makes its first appearance in the Top 40, climbing to No. 35, and Gracie Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry” gains a new peak at No. 37.
Listen to “BACKBONE” by Chase & Status and Stormzy below.
Lizzo is in Bali, and she might stay there for a while.
“I’m taking a gap year & protecting my peace,” the singer announced in an Instagram update posted on Sunday (Aug. 25).
Over the weekend, Lizzo started giving fans a glimpse at her visit to Indonesia. In one post she teased, “Unfortunately I’ll be posting way too many bikini pics,” showing off her figure to the camera (no doubt feeling “Good as Hell”).
In an Instagram Story, Lizzo shared some fitness footage from Bali: a clip of herself getting some jump-rope time in on the balcony, which looked particularly impressive with the video sped up.
Just before summertime, the star gave an update on her mental health, a topic she’s been candid about over the past year amid harassment allegations and public scrutiny. (In August 2023, three former tour dancers filed a lawsuit against her, alleging sexual misconduct and hostile work conditions. Lizzo claimed the accusations to be false and deemed them “sensationalized stories”; the lawsuit was put on hold in March pending appeals.)
“I’m the happiest I’ve been in 10 months,” Lizzo wrote on Instagram in a May update. “The strange thing about depression is you don’t know you’re in it until you’re out of it. I’m definitely not all the way as carefree as I used to be. But the dark cloud that followed me every day is finally clearing up. My smile reaches my eyes again and that’s a win.”
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Two months prior, in March, she’d expressed frustration over heightened public criticism. “I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the Internet,” said Lizzo. “All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.”
At the time, the star said, “I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views… being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look… my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name. I didn’t sign up for this s— — I QUIT.”
Lizzo explained in a follow-up message that she was not resigning from her career in music. “I just need to clarify — when I say I quit, I mean, I quit giving any negative energy attention,” she said. “What I’m not gonna quit is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting with people. I know I’m not alone. In no way, shape or form am I the only person who is experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive … I’m going to keep moving forward, I’m going to keep being me.”
Now Lizzo — who last released an album in 2022, Special, a set that debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and featured the Hot 100 No. 1 “About Damn Time” — appears to be getting a wellness reset by way of nature, exercise and relaxation in Bali.
Get inspired to take some time for yourself with Lizzo’s latest Instagram post below.
Macklemore said he canceled an upcoming October concert in Dubai over the United Arab Emirates’ role “in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis” in Sudan through its reported support of the paramilitary force that’s been fighting government troops there.
The announcement by Macklemore reignited attention to the UAE’s role in the war gripping the African nation. While the UAE repeatedly has denied arming the Rapid Support Forces and supporting its leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, United Nations experts reported “credible” evidence in January that the Emirates sent weapons to the RSF several times a week from northern Chad.
Sudan plunged into chaos in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other regions including Darfur. Estimates suggest over 18,800 people have been killed in the fighting, while over 10 million have fled their homes. Hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.
At a contentious U.N. Security Council meeting in June, Sudan’s embattled government directly accused the UAE of arming the RSF, and an Emirati diplomat angrily told his counterpart to stop “grandstanding.” The UAE has been a part in ongoing peace talks to end the fighting.
The Emirati Foreign Ministry offered no immediate comment on Macklemore’s public statement Sunday, nor did the city-state’s Dubai Media Office. Organizers last week announced the show had been canceled and refunds would be issued, without offering an explanation for the cancelation.
In a post Saturday on Instagram, Grammy winner Macklemore said he had a series of people “asking me to cancel the show in solidarity with the people of Sudan and to boycott doing business in the UAE for the role they are playing in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis.”
Macklemore said he reconsidered the show in part over his recent, public support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip. He recently has begun performing a song called “Hind’s Hall,” in honor of a young girl named Hind Rajab killed in Gaza in a shooting Palestinians have blamed on Israeli forces opening fire on a civilian car.
“I know that this will probably jeopardize my future shows in the area, and I truly hate letting any of my fans down,” he wrote. “I was really excited too. But until the UAE stops arming and funding the RSF I will not perform there.”
He added: “I have no judgment against other artists performing in the UAE. But I do ask the question to my peers scheduled to play in Dubai: If we used our platforms to mobilize collective liberation, what could we accomplish?”
The RSF formed out of the Janjaweed fighters under then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for three decades before being overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide and other crimes during the conflict in Darfur in the 2000s.
Dubai, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and other tourist destinations, long has tried to draw A-list performers in the city-state at a brand-new arena and other venues. However, performers in the past have acknowledged the difficulties in performing in the UAE, a hereditarily ruled federation of seven sheikhdoms in which speech is tightly controlled.
That includes comedian Dave Chappelle, who drew attention in May in Abu Dhabi when he referred to the Israel-Hamas war as a “genocide” while also joking about the UAE’s vast surveillance apparatus.
Macklemore, a 41-year-old rapper born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty in Kent, Washington, won Grammy awards in 2014 for his breakout song, “Thrift Shop.”