News
Page: 246
Leanne Lucas, the instructor whose Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance and yoga class became the target of a deadly stabbing in Southport, England, last year, is speaking out about the attack for the first time.
In a sit-down interview with BBC posted Monday (Feb. 24), Lucas recalled from start to finish how then-17-year-old Axel Rudakubana — who in January pleaded guilty to the murders of three young girls and the attempted killings of 10 other people at the July 2024 class — burst into her studio with a knife. As he began attacking the children in the room, Lucas sprang into action calling the police and urging the rest of the class to run to safety.
That’s when she says Rudakubana turned on her, leaving her spine, head, ribs, lung and shoulder blade severely injured. “I just knew that if I didn’t get out, everyone was going to die,” Lucas told the broadcaster with tears in her eyes. “I thought that he wasn’t going to stop until he killed everyone. I thought that he wanted to kill us all.”
Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison, with Judge Julian Goose adding in his January ruling that the teenager would likely “never be released.” In addition to critically wounding multiple people, Rudakubana killed 9-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and 6-year-old Bebe King.
In the interview, Lucas recalled the agony of helping the rest of the children escape while enduring the pain of her injuries, for which she was later hospitalized. She noted that police have told her that the surviving children would not have made it out of the class alive if not for her and fellow organizer Heidi, who also assisted the fleeing children at the scene — but Lucas still feels guilt over the three girls she couldn’t save.
“That gives nothing for the children who did die … that doesn’t take that away,” Lucas told the BBC. “I just don’t know what else I could have done.”
The dance class was just one of countless Swift-themed events local organizers all over the globe put together during the “Anti-Hero” singer’s Eras Tour last year and in 2023. Before the attack started, Lucas remembers her students happily making friendship bracelets and chatting in a circle, with 9-year-old Aguiar apparently saying shortly before her death, ‘This is the best day of my life.’”
Swift personally spoke out about the killings one day afterward, writing in a statement, “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock …”
“The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders,” she added at the time. “These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
About a month later, Swift hosted some of the survivors and their families at her London Eras shows and personally greeted them backstage at Wembley Stadium.
Lucas told the BBC that she still has to take life “an hour at a time” amid her grief, but that Aguiar, Stancombe and King are the reasons she keeps going. “The only reason to survive is the fact that I did get out, and I am alive,” the instructor said. “The fact that the girls aren’t, I’ve got to stay alive for them. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Pool / Getty
Just when it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse for Diddy on a legal level, the “Bad Boy For Life” rapper was dealt a big setback when his own lawyer shockingly quit his defense team last Thursday (Feb. 20).
According to The New York Post, Anthony Ricco filed a motion in court to depart from his six-man defense squad for reasons unknown. Still, Ricco’s request to leave Diddy’s defense team will not be granted until the judge overseeing the case signs off on the motion after finding “sufficient reason” to let the lawyer walk away from the disgraced music mogul.
Per The New York Post:
“Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs,” Ricco wrote in the Manhattan federal court affidavit. “It is respectfully but regrettably requested that the court grant the relief requested.”
The lawyer didn’t elaborate on why he wanted to step down but noted the decision came after speaking with Combs’ lead counsel Marc Agnifilo.
The attorney suggested the cause for his affidavit’s “brevity” is because he didn’t want to divulge any information protected by attorney-client privilege.
But he told the judge “there are sufficient reasons” for asking to be let off the case.
This low-key reminds us of that scene when Keanu Reeves quit representing his pedophile client in the middle of a trial in The Devil’s Advocate. Just sayin’.
Ricco assured the judge that his request to leave the case would not delay the trial date of May 5, as Diddy will still have five other lawyers fighting on his behalf.
One can only wonder why Anthony Ricco had a sudden change of heart about representing Diddy in this high- profile case. Unfortunately, we may never find out.
What do y’all think about Anthony Ricco deciding to quit Diddy’s legal team? Let us know in the comments section below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Thaddaeus McAdams / Getty
At a recent concert, Lil Wayne straight-up cut Birdman off mid-speech, and it went viral. Birdman, doing what he does best—talking big about the Cash Money legacy—was in the middle of his usual talk-heavy moment when Wayne wasn’t having it.
Out of nowhere, Wayne hit the DJ with a quick “Alright, let’s go, let’s go,” and just like that, the DJ dropped the next song, completely cutting Birdman off.
You could see it all over Baby’s face—he was definitely caught off guard and a little embarrassed. For years, Birdman has been the one with the mic, dropping knowledge and flexing his influence, but in that moment, Wayne took control. It was almost like he was saying, “Alright, enough talk, let’s get to business.” The two have had their fair share of drama over the years, from the whole Cash Money situation to public disputes, but seeing them on stage together was still a powerful moment.
Yeah, it might’ve been a little awkward for Birdman, but it was a sign of where their relationship stands now. Even with all the past issues, Weezy isn’t letting anyone run the show when he’s in the building—whether it’s his father/mentor or not. It was a reminder that despite their history, there’s still respect, but Wayne’s running the show.
Lil Wayne just dropped the bomb that Tha Carter VI is finally coming on June 6th, and the internet’s going wild. Fans have been waiting for this moment ever since Tha Carter V dropped back in 2018. The Carter series has been a game-changer in hip-hop, and this next chapter is looking like it’s about to be fire. Wayne is back in full swing, we can expect nothing but heat—new flows, crazy bars, and that classic Weezy vibe. After years of waiting, the hype for Tha Carter VI is real, and June 6th can’t come soon enough.
Warner Music’s independent music distribution and artist services arm, ADA, has partnered with Three Six Zero Recordings to handle global distribution for all new releases from the label, the companies announced on Monday that (Feb. 24). Three Six Zero Recordings represents multi-platinum acts like WILLOW, Jaden and The Prodigy, as well as artists such as […]
Pantera announced the dates for an extensive 2025 U.S. summer amphitheater tour on Monday (Feb. 24), with plans to hit 29 cities from July through September. The self-proclaimed “Heaviest Tour of the Summer” from the band featuring the lineup of core members singer Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown with guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante is slated to kick off at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA on July 15, followed by shows in Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas and Raleigh, before winding down on Sept. 13 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The Live Nation-produced tour will feature support from Swedish metal icons Amon Amarth, with more opening acts to be announced later. Ticket and VIP pre-sales will kick-off on Tuesday (Feb. 25) at 10 a.m. local time, with a general on-sale launching on Friday (Feb. 28) at 10 a.m. local time here.
Trending on Billboard
After years apart, Brown and Anselmo reunited in 2023 for the band’s first major tour in more than two decades, with Wylde and Benante signing on to fill in for late band co-founders drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. They went on to tour Europe and open for Metallica on their 2023-2024 M72 world tour and will appear at what is being described as Black Sabbath’s final reunion show with Ozzy Osbourne on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, U.K. alongside Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Jason Momoa, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Gojira and others.
Check out the dates for Pantera’s 2025 U.S. summer tour below:
July 15 – Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star LakeJuly 17 – Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music TheatreJuly 19 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 AmphitheatreJuly 20 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music CenterJuly 22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music CenterJuly 25 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark StadiumJuly 26 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach TheaterJuly 28 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPACJuly 29 – Gilford, NH @ Bank NH PavilionJuly 31 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts CenterAug. 2 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity CenterAug. 3 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity TheatreAug. 6 – Milwaukee, WI -@ American Family Insurance AmphitheaterAug. 7 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target CenterAug. 20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union AmphitheatreAug. 22 – Auburn, WA @ White River AmphitheatreAug. 23 – Ridgefield, WA @ Cascades AmphitheaterAug. 26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort AmphitheatreAug. 27 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia ForumAug. 29 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile ArenaAug. 31 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta AmphitheaterSept. 2 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance AmphitheaterSept. 3 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis PavillionSept. 5 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music CenterSept. 6 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino AmphitheatreSept. 8 – Birmingham, AL @ Coca-Cola AmphitheaterSept. 10 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans AmphitheaterSept. 11 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Park at Walnut CreekSept. 13 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Roberta Flack, an award-winning R&B vocalist, and songwriter who topped the charts in her time, died on Monday (Feb. 24). Roberta Flack earned her first big break after actor and director Clint Eastwood used one of her songs in his films.
Roberta Flack was born on Feb. 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, N.C., and grew up in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Arlington, Va. As a child, Flack was inspired by the gospel singers of her local church and took an interest in learning the piano as an instrument. Flack’s skills as a pianist led to her earning a scholarship to attend Howard University at the age of 15. Upon graduating, the classically trained Flack worked as a student educator before returning to North Carolina to teach ahead of returning to the D.C. area to teach at several schools.
In 1968, at the urging of her vocal coach at the time, Flack became a professional singer and she became a regular performer at Mr. Henry’s restaurant, which still stands today in Washington’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. In the 1970s, jazz legend Les McCann discovered Flack singing at a D.C. nightclub leading to an audition and wrote inside the liner notes of her 1969 debut album, First Take for Atlantic Records.
Things took a turn for the better for Flack when the aforementioned Eastwood used the Grammy Award-winning song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” from First Take in his 1971 film, Play Misty For Me, helping the album soar to the top of the Billboard charts and cementing Flack’s status as a star.
Other hits for Flack include “Where Is The Love” alongside Donny Hathaway, “Feel Like Making Love,” and perhaps Flack’s biggest hit, “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” another Grammy winner, which was remixed by The Fugees in 1996 en route to becoming a global smash.
On X, formerly Twitter, music fans are remembering Roberta Flack. Keep scrolling for more.
[h/t: The Guardian]
—
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty
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. Crocs is celebrating the timeless magic of The Beatles with an exclusive collection of classic clogs and themed Jibbitz charms. Inspired […]
The 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) is set to air live from Las Vegas on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. The special will air live coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
It will be the first yearly AMAs show since the one that aired on ABC on Nov. 20, 2022, with Wayne Brady hosting.
The 2025 AMAs will broadcast globally across linear and digital platforms and will honor the most popular songs and artists of the year while paying tribute to our country’s troops. CBS’ intention is for the AMAs to air on Memorial Day going forward.
Trending on Billboard
The AMAs franchise moved to CBS on Oct. 6, 2024, with a star-studded retrospective special, American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special. As the most-streamed AMAs in the show’s history, the special surpassed 13 million in reach and averaged over 6.1 million viewers, an increase of +53% from the last show in 2022 on ABC, the largest year-over-year growth of a music special or award show.
The anniversary show featured an all-star lineup that included Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Green Day, Brad Paisley, Chaka Khan, Sheila E., Gladys Knight, Kane Brown, Nelly, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, RAYE, Stray Kids, AJ McLean, Jimmy Kimmel, Kate Hudson, Lance Bass, Reba McEntire, Samuel L. Jackson, and Smokey Robinson.
The American Music Awards bills itself as the world’s largest fan-voted award show. Nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected on the Billboard charts – including streaming, album sales, song sales and radio airplay.
Legendary producer Dick Clark created the AMAs in 1973 as a fan-based alternative to the Grammys. The first two Grammy live telecasts in March 1971 and March 1972 aired on ABC. When the Grammys shifted to CBS for the March 1973 telecast, ABC looked for a show to fill that void and went with Clark’s fan-based show.
The show on Memorial Day will be the 51st yearly AMAs broadcast. (There were two shows in 2003 and none at all in 2023 or 2024.)
That first show in 1974 ran just 90 minutes. The show in the first five years had a tight focus on three broad genres – pop/rock, soul/R&B and country. It now recognizes far more genres, including hip-hop, Latin, inspirational, gospel, Afrobeats and K-pop.
Clark, a master showman, was a legend in both music and television. He received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 1990 and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1992. He died in 2012 at age 82.
The 2025 American Music Awards will air concurrently on both coasts. The AMAs previously aired on the West Coast on tape delay. This welcome change was introduced on the anniversary show last October.
Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Corporation. PMC is also the parent company of Billboard.
Ed Sheeran wrapped his six-city tour of India on Feb. 15 with more than 120,000 tickets sold, according to Indian entertainment platform BookMyShow. Sheeran played seven nights across the country as part of his + – = ÷ x Tour that is continuing on to China, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and more. The India […]
The members of U2 are making sure the people of Ukraine know that they still have their backs three years after Russia’s invasion.
On Monday (Feb. 24) — the same date Russia launched its full-fledged military operation on Ukraine in 2022, effectively sending the countries into a war that is still ongoing — Bono shared an emotional piano-accompanied reading of Taras Shevchenko’s “My Friendly Epistle” on the Irish rock band’s Instagram. “Break then your chains, in love unite,
nor seek in foreign lands the sight
of things not even found above,” the poem dictates. “Then, in your own house, you will see
true justice, strength and liberty!”
“All who believe in freedom and sense the jeopardy we Europeans now find ourselves in are not sleeping easily on this, the third anniversary of the invasion,” Bono wrote in his caption, revealing that he and The Edge had originally sent the musical reading to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy days after Russia first invaded three years ago.
“More to say about this and other bewilderments later,” added the “Mysterious Ways” musician.
Bono and his U2 bandmates have been vocal in their support of Ukraine throughout the country’s war against Russia, which began in February 2022 when the latter country’s president, Vladimir Putin, ordering multiple attacks on Ukraine’s major cities as part of a “special military operation.” In April that year, Irish rockers performed on a bill with Celine Dion, Katy Perry and more stars as part of a Stand Up for Ukraine relief show, a month after which Bono and Edge traveled to Kyiv to perform Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me” in a metro station.
Last year, Bono also paid tribute to late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny — one of Putin’s most outspoken critics who died in Russian prison in February 2024 — during one of U2’s residency shows at Las Vegas’ The Sphere. “For these people, freedom is the most important word in the world,” the frontman told the crowd at the time. “So important that Ukrainians are fighting and dying for it, and so important that Alexey Navalny chose to give his up.”
As Ukraine enters a fourth year of fighting off Russia, its fate remains uncertain. Many Western leaders gathered in Kyiv Monday to observe the date and, in some cases, pledge more military aid to Zelenskyy’s efforts. However, President Donald Trump recently stirred up concern over the United States’ yearslong Biden-era alliance with Ukraine by calling Zelenskyy a “dictator,” while maintaining a cordial relationship with Putin amid Trump’s pushes for a peace settlement.
See U2’s tribute to Ukraine below.