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29 Sep 2024

Bowen Yang Transforms Into Charli XCX for Political-Themed Talk Show on ‘SNL’ Season Premiere: Watch

Brat summer isn’t over just yet.

During the season 50 premiere of Saturday Night Live on Sept. 28, cast member Bowen Yang hilariously portrayed British pop star Charli XCX in a political-themed talk show featuring her current tourmate Troye Sivan (played by SNL‘s Sarah Sherman) as the DJ.

The nearly five-minute sketch opened with Yang’s Charli introducing her Talk Talk Show, a nod to one of the singer’s song titles, and moving into a segment called “brat or nat,” in which she ran through a handful of recent news topics, including Hunter Biden’s laptop (deemed “brat”) and Mark Robinson’s search history (“nat”).

Yang’s Charli — who sported a black wig, dark sunglasses and stylish dress — then welcomed her guests: club legend Susanne Bartsch (played by SNL host Jean Smart), CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins (Chloe Fineman) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Ego Nwodim).

“Have you ever done ketamine?” Yang’s Charli asked to Fineman’s Collins, who responded with frustration over not being asked current political events.

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The talk show’s background was appropriately colored the same lime green as the cover of Charli XCX’s latest album, Brat, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart in late June. The singer is currently on the road with her Sweat Tour, which visits U.S. arenas through the end of October.

Saturday’s SNL season premiere also featured musical guest Jelly Roll, making his debut on the long-running NBC sketch comedy show. The country star performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak,” which will appear on his upcoming album, Beautifully Broken, set for release on Oct. 11.

The next SNL on Oct. 5 will see comedian Nate Bargatze returning as host for a second straight season with Coldplay back as musical guest for an eighth time on the long-running show. The Chris Martin-fronted band first performed on the show in 2001, and their most recent appearance was in 2023.

Watch SNL‘s “Charli XCX Talk Show” sketch below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

29 Sep 2024

Boosie Badazz’s Daughter Slams Him Following Recent Homophobic Outburst At Revolt World Conference

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Revolt World 2024

Source: Julia Beverly / Getty / Boosie Badazz

Boosie Badazz continues to let the world know he’s a homophobic moron and his daughter had time for her father.

Making an appearance during a live taping of Yung Miami’s podcast Caresha Please! on day three of the Revolt World Conference, Boosie Badazz put his homophobia front and center when speaking about his daughter, Iviona Hatch, an up-and-coming rapper who goes by the name Poison Ivi.

The conversation between the two Hip-Hop acts shifted about Boosie’s daughter, who is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and him not allowing her to bring her girlfriend into his home out of fear she will “contaminate” her siblings.

Per XXL:

“It was nothing; I mean, she still can’t bring her situation to our house; my daughter’s grown,” Boosie says in the clip below. “Because I don’t want it to contaminate her other… It’s a generation we raising. I don’t want her to contaminate her other six, seven sisters who look up to her. I want them to bring me grandchildren the right way. If I want grandchildren the right way, that’s what I’m a stand on. If I don’t want my other little girl to look at daddy and say, ‘What’s that daddy?’ to somebody she looks up to? It’s not gonna come around. My grandfather didn’t let it, my daddy didn’t let it, and I didn’t let it.”

Ivi Had Time For Boosie Badazz

In the clip, which has since gone viral, audience members who honestly had time to waste by listening to him can be heard gasping loudly, with one person saying, “Boosie crazy.”

Ivi saw the comments and sounded off on her dad in an emotional Instagram Live session, where she can be seen fighting back tears as she pleaded for her father to stop talking about her sexuality with strangers.

“Emotionally, mentally, you suck,” she says in the live. “You suck, bruh. And I know you suck with that cause you’d rather go to the internet and have a conversation with the internet about your kids before you come to us and have that conversation.”

She also praised Boosie for being “a good provider,” said he was not “a bad father,” and said she would not “disrespect” the “Wipe Me Down” crafter.

“I’m not finna get on here and go against the grain and go against my daddy,” she said. “Nobody finna make me do that. But it’s like, you makin’ me do that, they not even makin’ me do that. You makin’ me do that,” she continues emotionally.

“You steady speakin’ on me. I would respect if you just say, just one time, just say, ‘My daughter know how I feel about that can we move on to the next question?’”

Boosie’s Long History of Homophobia & Being Problematic

This latest incident with Boosie is not the first time he said some ridiculous sh*t. The rapper once proudly boasted he paid an adult woman to perform sexual acts on his underage son and nephews.

“I’m training these boys right, I’m training these boys right,” Boosie said. “Ask any of my nephews, ask any of them, ask my son. Yeah, when they was 12, 13 they got head. Yeah, that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“Hell yeah I got my f***in’ son dick sucked,” he continued. “You f***in’ right. Yes, a grown woman, grown, super grown … checked his ass out. Checked all my nephews out, super grown. Is she grown? She check me out. I know what the f**k she did to them, she checked me out, that bitch. I’m getting them prepared, man.”

He also claimed he walked out of a viewing of The Color Purple because it “seemed gay.”

Social media is lighting Boosie up in defense of his daughter. You can see those reactions in the gallery below.

1. No lies detected here.

2. Well damn

3. Exactly

4. Crazy when you think about it

29 Sep 2024

Doja Cat Speaks Out About Injustice at Global Citizen Festival 2024: ‘Keep Using Your Voice’

Doja Cat delivered a powerful message at this year’s Global Citizen Festival.

During her headlining set on Saturday (Sept. 28), the superstar rapper paused to speak out against injustices happening around the world.

“Right now, millions of men, women and children in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Congo and all across the world, are suffering. In times like this, it is important to remember that we have the power to bring change, love light and hope to those who need it most,” Doja told the crow gathered on the Great Lawn in New York’s Central Park.

“I join forces with Global Citizen to help people in areas of conflict and crisis, and I know so many of you join me in taking action to earn your tickets to be here tonight. But we can’t stop now,” she continued. “Please keep using your voice to help those fleeing violence get the food, shelter and education they need and very, very much deserve. There is a beauty in strength in all of you who are watching this, and who choose to be here tonight. This is our time to put it into what matters most, and that is life.”

During her Global Citizen Fest set, Doja also subtly addressed rumors that she got engaged to actor Joseph Quinn. While performing her Billboard Hot 100 chart hit “Agora Hills,” she is seeing saying, “I’m not married,” as the microphone is lowered. Last week, the “Paint the Town Red” rapper flashed a ring on her left hand while performing at Las Vegas’ iHeartRadio Music Festival, leaving many fans wondering if she got engaged to the Stranger Things actor. “no, im not engaged its a David Yurman ring with no rocks in it,” she later wrote and deleted on X (formerly Twitter).

The festival, hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman, also featured performances by co-headliners Post Malone, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro. Global Citizen is the world’s leading organization seeking to end extreme poverty. Similar to past years, the fest once again offered fans free tickets, which were earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app or on the organization’s site here in an effort to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity. 

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In addition to live performances, Saturday’s concert also included appearances from UN Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall Institute founder and legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, and Coldplay singer Chris Martin, who served as the event’s curator.

29 Sep 2024

‘Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6’ Preps Fully Loaded Ad Campaign With “The Return of the Replacer”

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The Return of the Replacer

Source: Activision / Activision

Call Of Duty: Black Op 6 is almost here. So that means the beloved first-person shooter’s publisher Activision is launching a hefty advertising campaign, just in case you need a reminder.

The first spot in the live-action campaign features a familiar character—The Replacer, portrayed by actor Peter Stormare (Fargo, John Wick Chapter 2). First seen back in 2013 (damn, it has been that long?!), The Replacer helps players focus on their gaming while he handles their business. And in this case, that includes serving tacos, “saving” cats from trees, blessing his followers and holding down family dinner time, to comedic effect.

“The Return of the Replacer” is only the start of a series of launch commercials that will drop prior to the title’s release in late October. Plans are for a total of over 30 unique spots across media, intent on targeting various audiences. Gamers do lurk everywhere, after all. Expect some famous games to get “replaced.”

Watch “The Return of the Replacer” below (its broadcast debut was during Sunday Football on September 29th). Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is out October 25.

29 Sep 2024

Jelly Roll Lifts Audience With ‘Liar’ & ‘Winning Streak’ Performances on ‘SNL’ Season 50 Premiere: Watch

Jelly Roll brought a pair of new tracks during his musical guest debut on the season 50 premiere of Saturday Night Live.

The 39-year-old country singer and rapper brought positive energy to Studio 8H on Sept. 28, performing new songs “Liar” and “Winning Streak,” both of which will appear on his upcoming album, Beautifully Broken, set for release on Oct. 11.

Jelly’s first performance featured an introduction from host Jean Smart, who brought out her Hacks co-star Hannah Einbender to assist. Donning a gray denim jacket with a black shirt and dark pants, the country star showed off his impressive vocals with “Liar,” a bold song about confronting addiction and the emptiness of materialism. He previously debuted the single at the ACM Awards in May.

For his second SNL performance, Jelly — whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord — lifted the audience with a powerfully delivery of “Winning Streak,” which he’s previously described as a track about attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. Similar to his first performance, the artist surrounded himself with his band and singers on each side of him.

The next SNL on Oct. 5 will see comedian Nate Bargatze returning as host for a second straight season with Coldplay back as musical guest for an eighth time on the long-running show. The Chris Martin-fronted band first performed on the show in 2001, and their most recent appearance was in 2023.

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Watch Jelly Roll’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

29 Sep 2024

Bowen Yang’s Moo Deng Channels Chappell Roan on ‘SNL’ Premiere: ‘I’m Your Favorite Hippo’s Favorite Hippo’

While Chappell Roan has been very serious about her pleas to fans to respect her personal space, Saturday Night Live found a way to make light of the situation on this weekend’s season 50 premiere by likening the red-hot pop star to Moo Deng, the 2-month-old pygmy hippo living at a zoo in Thailand.

On Saturday night’s Weekend Update, Bowen Yang portrayed the viral hippo, who confided in Colin Jost about how hard it was to have the world’s attention on her and have zoogoers throwing bananas and shellfish at her.

“The response has been overwhelming, but it has come to the point that I have to set some boundaries,” Yang said, going on to paraphrase Roan’s words. “Reminder: Women owe you nothing. When I’m in my enclosure, tripping over stuff, biting my trainer’s knee, I am at work. That is the project. Do not yell my name or expect a photo just because I’m your parasocial bestie or because you appreciate my talent.”

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In August, the “Good Luck, Babe!” singer made headlines for speaking out against toxic fan behavior, detailing experiences with stalking and crossed boundaries that she’s faced over the past few months. “I’ve been in too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions and I just need to lay it out and remind you, women don’t owe you sh–,” she wrote at the time in an Instagram post. “I chose this career path because because I love music and art and honoring my inner child, I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”

Yang as Moo Deng went on to joke: “Before me, the only hippos in media were either Hungry, Hungry or Jada Pinkett in Madagascar. But now, I’m your favorite hippo’s favorite hippo.”

When Jost suggested that Yang’s Moo Deng sounded a lot like Chappell Roan, the Weekend Update host asked if she even knew who Roan was. “I’m 10 weeks old, Colin. Of course I know Chappell Roan,” Yang said. “And by the way, leave her alone! Let her take as much time as she needs for her mental health.”

On Friday, Roan dropped out of her scheduled performances at the All Things Go festival in both New York and Maryland, writing in a message on her Instagram Story, “I apologize to people who have been waiting to see me in NYC & DC this weekend at All Things Go, but I am unable to perform. Things have gotten overwhelming over the past few weeks and I am really feeling it. I feel pressures to prioritize a lot of things right now and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible.”

On SNL, Moo Deng also mirrored Roan’s comments about why she wouldn’t endorse a presidential candidate. “I know I’m only 10 weeks old, but this is very important to me so please listen: I will not be making an endorsement in this year’s election.” Roan recently said she would not be endorsing anyone in the U.S. presidential election, but then later clarified that she would be voting for Kamala Harris after fan backlash.

The Weekend Update segment wasn’t Yang’s only reference to Roan in Saturday’s episode: In a sketch later in the night, Yang referred to the classic show I Love Lucy as a “femininomenon,” borrowing the name of a Chappell Roan song.

Watch Yang as Moo Deng below:

28 Sep 2024

LISA of BLACKPINK Debuts New Song ‘Moonlit Floor’ at Global Citizen Fest 2024

LISA got on the floor to premiere a song called “Moonlit Floor” at Global Citizen Festival 2024 in New York City’s Central Park on Saturday night (Sept. 28).

The BLACKPINK singer debuted her latest solo track ahead of its official release, set for Oct. 3, and clips from Global Citizen Fest’s livestream soon popped up on social media (as seen in the video below). As it turns out, “Moonlit Floor” is the song she’s been teasing on TikTok.

If you feel as though you’ve heard its heavenly hook somewhere before, let us name that song for you: Sixpence None the Richer‘s hit “Kiss Me,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998. The single was on the group’s self-titled album, released in 1997.

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“Green-eyed, French boy got me trippin’/ How your skin is always soft/ How your kisses always hit/ How you know just where to/ Green-eyed, French boy got me trippin’/ On that accent off your lips/ How your tongue do all those tricks?/ How you know just where to,” LISA sings, leading into the “Kiss Me”-interpolated chorus: “Kiss me under the Paris twilight/ Kiss me out on the moonlit floor” replaces Sixpence None the Richer’s original lyric, “Kiss me beneath the milky twilight/ Lead me out on the moonlit floor.”

“Moonlit Floor” follows the K-pop star’s recent rollout of solo singles that’s included “Rockstar” in June and “New Woman” with Rosalía in August.

This year has Sixpence None the Richer reuniting for new music — their Rosemary Hill EP, featuring “We Are Love” and “Julia,” arrives on Oct. 4 — and a 25th anniversary tour. The live show kicks off on Oct. 10 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and runs through December in the U.S. See the band’s current tour dates on their official website.

Watch a video clip of LISA’s “Moonlit Floor” from Global Citizen Fest below, then look back at Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” music video.

28 Sep 2024

MUNA Covers Chappell Roan, Leads ‘Free Palestine’ Chant at All Things Go Fest

One day after Chappell Roan announced she was pulling out of 2024’s All Things Go Festival to “prioritize [her] health,” MUNA paid tribute to the Midwest princess during their set at the music fest on Saturday (Sept. 28) night.

“We acknowledge that somebody very special is missing tonight,” said Katie Gavin, the band’s singer, from the stage at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. “We just want to say that we love Chappell so much. We started as a queer band in 2014, and we’ve really been given the time and the grace that we needed to be nourished as artists. We wish nothing but that times a million for her.”

Roan, who had been scheduled to play All Things Go NYC on Saturday and All Things Go D.C. on Sunday, explained she was feeling “overwhelmed” in a statement on Friday (Sept. 27) and would be canceling her All Things Go appearances to focus on her health. Prior to the cancelation, Roan had received flak from some fans and pundits for refusing to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president, though Roan explained she would be voting for Harris in the 2024 election.

The rock band – made up of Gavin, Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson – went one step further than just talking about Roan, too, performing a “tribute” to the pop supernova that they pulled together at the last minute. Guitars in hand, the trio delivered a gorgeous, stripped-down cover of Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, which currently sits at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to MUNA’s set, a coterie of drag performers (including RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Yvie Oddly and NYC queen Beaujangless) led the crowd through a joyous Chappell Roan dance party during what would have been her time slot.

Roan wasn’t the only one MUNA dedicated a song to. Prior to “Kind of Girl” from their self-titled 2022 album, Gavin said, “We’re gonna dedicate this song to all the trans cuties that are here with us tonight.” Nor was it their only cover, with MUNA leading the Forest Hills Stadium in a sing-along to Vanessa Carlton’s 2002 smash “A Thousand Miles.”

Near the end of their set, MUNA got explicitly political, with Gavin reading a pre-written statement.

“We are staunchly against the American far-right, and we’re terrified of the way that an anti-queer and anti-trans attitude has manifested itself in our current political climate,” Gavin said. “On top of this, we want abolition. We want the wellbeing of people and animals and land to be prioritized over the wellbeing of the global market. And we want total disarmament and world peace now. And there should be nothing f–king controversial about saying that.”

As her bandmates nodded and the crowd cheered, Gavin continued. “We want to say ‘f—k fascism’ and very importantly we continue to say, ‘Free free Palestine.’” Gavin then started a brief “free free Palestine” chant that some of the crowd participated in.

Gavin’s comments dovetail with what Roan said in a TikTok video that posted on Wednesday (Sept. 25). “Obviously, f–k the policies of the right — but also, f–k some of the policies on the left. That’s why I can’t endorse. There is no way I can stand behind some of the left’s completely transphobic and completely genocidal views,” Roan said. “F–k Trump, for f–king real, but f–k some of the s–t that has gone down in the Democratic Party that has failed people like me and you, and more so Palestine, and more so every marginalized community in the world.”

MUNA’s comments arrive almost a year after a terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, including around 360 people killed at the Nova Music Festival, according to officials. During the attack, more than 250 people were taken hostage by Hamas, with around 117 of them being returned and eight freed by Israeli troops since then. The bodies of 37 hostages have been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by Israeli troops. Israel’s retaliatory military strikes in Gaza have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, including more than 10,000 children, according to health officials in the territory. More than one million people have been displaced, leading to widespread famine and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Elsewhere in New York City on Saturday night, Doja Cat also addressed the ongoing wars from the stage at Global Citizen Festival in Manhattan’s Central Park. “Right now, millions of men, women and children in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Congo and all across the world are suffering. In times like this, it is important to remember that together we have the power to bring change, love, light and hope to those that need it most,” the rapper said. “Please keep using your voice to help those fleeing violence get the food, shelter and education they need and deserve.”

28 Sep 2024

Dionne Warwick Can’t Relate to This Sabrina Carpenter Lyric — Or This Kendrick Lamar Drake Diss Track

Dionne Warwick‘s put decades of hard work into building her career in music. It’s no surprise she doesn’t put up with any nonsense.

The singer rated several popular songs in a segment with NPR titled “Nobody Asked for This (But I’m Gonna Tell You Anyhow),” which she shared on Twitter Friday (Sept. 27).

Giving each track a score between one and five Dionnes, Warwick weighed in on songs from Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter.

Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” — which Warwick pointed out has “almost an ABBA feeling” — got four-and-a-half Dionnes. “She’s got her own thing going on. That’s a wonderful thing,” she said of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess breakout star.

Charli’s “Guess” got a respectable rating of four, and although Warwick was unfamiliar with Brat Summer, she decided she might be brat herself. “I possibly am,” she said.

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Then the next track played, Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” with Warwick showing some kind of exasperated expression.

“This is the look of ‘why’?” Warwick said of the Drake diss track, and probably their feud in general. “I don’t think that this should be a public thing.”

“So as far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to rate this one,” she added.

Next up, “Please, Please, Please” got another four-and-a-half out of five rating from Warwick — but Carpenter’s summer smash “Espresso” didn’t quite hit the spot. When asked if the lyric “I’m working late ’cause I’m a singer” resonates with her, she looked away and shook her head.

“That does not resonate with me,” Warwick, a veteran in the industry, quipped.

Make a mental note to plan for an early cutoff time if you’re booking an actual icon to sing in your presence at a super-late-night event.

Watch “Nobody Asked for This” with Dionne Warwick below.

28 Sep 2024

Prince ‘Purple Rain’ House Rental Reservations on Airbnb Start This Week

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For a short time, up to 100 Prince fans visiting the music superstar’s hometown will have a place to stay when the party’s over that will let them go crazy over his cultural legacy, a home featured in the film Purple Rain.

Although the white, two-story home with brown trim in Minneapolis looks unassuming from the outside, there’s plenty inside to make the late icon’s devotees delirious over this new, limited-time Airbnb rental. Upstairs, a big closet with paisley wallpaper and leopard-spotted floor displays iconic outfits worn by Prince behind glass and has other outfits available to make renters the beautiful ones.

“And then what guests will be able to do themselves is actually play around with a selection of really iconic ‘80s outfits and looks and styles that they can kind of engage their inner rock star themselves,” said Ali Killam, an Airbnb spokesperson.

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The rentals are within reach for fans who don’t own diamonds and pearls — just $7 a night per person for up to four guests. The price is based on Prince’s favorite number and there will be a total of 25 nightly stays available over seven weeks from Oct. 26 to Dec. 14.

The Airbnb rentals are a sign o’ the times — the 40th anniversary of the movie. It starred Prince as The Kid, a musician and band leader with a rocky life in the home featured on screen.

The film, along with the hit album of the same name, made Prince a superstar through songs like the title track, “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry.” Those followed other hits, such as “1999” and “Little Red Corvette,” and he sold more than 100 million records with a gender- and genre-defying blend of rock, funk and soul. He died April 21, 2016, of an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 57 at his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

The rentals are hosted by Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin, two lifelong friends and musical collaborators of Prince’s, on behalf of Airbnb, the late musician’s estate and global media company Warner Bros. Discovery.

In the home’s basement, guests can sleep in a replica of The Kid’s bedroom from the film, down to the lavender pillows on the bed and even a 1980s-style cassette player. There’s also a lounge where guests can play guitar, drums or an upright piano. QR codes throughout the house link visitors to commentary from the hosts.

“It really is meant to immerse you in The Kid’s world,” Killam said.

And, of course, as a tribute to Prince, his career and influence, there’s plenty of his signature color, purple. There’s a large piece of wall art depicting purple bananas, which Killam said was a reference to “Let’s Go Crazy.”

If U would die 4 Prince, you can request a booking online on Airbnb here, starting at 6 a.m. PT on Oct. 2 and through 11:59 p.m. PT on Oct. 6. Airbnb says a pool of potential guests will be chosen at random, and the final invitations to rent will be based on fans’ answers for why they want to stay there.