News

Jason Momoa Is Caught Without His Pants in ‘Saturday Night Live’ Teaser: Watch

Jason Momoa can’t contain his excitement about hosting Saturday Night Live for a second time — so much so that he forgot his pants in the Thursday (Nov. 16) teaser for this week’s episode.

The cheeky teaser kicks off with a montage of skits from his last time hosting, before he walks through the doors of the soundstage and sheds his jacket and top hat in excitement, and proceeds to rigorously thrust his hips toward the stage. As it turns out, the Aquaman star is not alone.

After finishing his dance, Momoa turns around and sees cast member Ego Nwodim behind him with a puzzled look on her face. “Ego, I’m so happy to be back!” he exclaims, to which she replies, “Yeah, hey, we love you — you just can’t be wearing your underwear.”

The camera then pans out to the actor’s bare legs and pixelated bottom half, as she correctly notes, “This is a workplace.”

“I’m sorry. When I get excited, I forget my pants,” Momoa explains. But when Nwodim suggested they find someone to help Momoa get a pair of pants, he defies her and runs up to Marcello Hernandez — who holds a script in his hands — for a dramatic twirling hug onstage.

Momoa first hosted SNL back in December 2018 for the show’s 44th season. Mumford & Sons performed and Robert De Niro made a surprise guest appearance.

This week’s SNL will feature Billboard‘s current cover star Tate McRae as the musical guest, and on Sunday (Nov. 19), she will also perform at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.

Watch the new SNL teaser in the video above.

Harry Styles’ New Buzz Cut, Tate McRae’s Billboard Cover & More | Billboard News

Rising pop star Tate McRae is Billboard’s newest cover star. The singer is set to take the stage at this year’s Billboard Music Awards. Harry Styles’ beauty and apparel line, Pleasing, shared a photo of the singer sporting a new buzz cut hairstyle on Wednesday, November 15th. Billboard takes a look back at when musical legend Elvis Presley and longtime friend and collaborator Otis Blackwell penned the 1957 musical hit “All Shook Up” inspired by shaking a can of Pepsi. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Tate McRae is our brand-new cover star and she’s performing at the BBMAs. We’re running down the biggest songs on TikTok. Harry Styles is hairless. And we take a look back at Elvis.

This is Billboard News for November 16th and I’m Tetris Kelly. One of our favorite new stars is on the cover of Billboard. We get “Greedy” with Tate McRae in our new profile.

Tate McRae:
I remember the day, I was on a walk with my mom and I remember I was like, oh my God, I’m No. 1 in like the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart. And I was like, this is the biggest day of my life.

When “you broke me first” hit No. 17, it’s pretty wild because I feel like I’ve just been watching my favorite artists of all time on that chart. And I think at first, I didn’t realize the capacity of what “you broke me first” had done until I actually like got to LA and realized that it had, you know, gotten to a specific spot and gotten that big.

When I wrote “you broke me first,” I was 16. I was like, I have to put this song out. I really want to. The first time I like filmed my first ever like legit music video was with my friend back in Calgary on Video Star on my phone. It’s only two passes of the entire music video. It’s so crazy. It has like so many views now and it’s so strange to just look back and see that it was literally made on an iPhone.

Watch the full video above!

Shakira Is Golden With Moving Performance of ‘Acróstico’ at 2023 Latin Grammys

Dressed in a gorgeous golden dress by Dolce & Gabbana and singing with a gold-covered microphone, Shakira took center stage to perform “Acróstico” at the 2023 Latin Grammys. An emotional, open letter to her two children, Milan and Sasha, the heartfelt ballad is up for song of the year at Thursday’s (Nov. 16) awards show in Seville, Spain.

The Colombian superstar started her performance in an enclosed stage surrounded by mirrors and heavenly lighting. She then walked toward the stage where a piano accompanied her and then, a video played of her two sons singing lyrics from the song. Both Milan and Sasha were in attendance and proudly cheered on their mom from their seats.

The stripped-down performance of “Acróstico” followed Shakira’s first win of the night for best pop song, thanks to her Bizarrap collab “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

“I want to share this Grammy with my colleagues with whom I have had the pleasure of working and learning,” Shakira said in her acceptance speech. “With my Latin audience in Spain, in Colombia, in the United States, in Latin America. The Latin public that has taken me to the highest heights, those places I dreamed of since I was a child and to whom I owe everything. I also want to share this with my Spanish public who has been with me through thick and thin … who have never stopped giving me love and support for a single day. I will never forget that. This is for you.”

The 2023 Latin Grammys feature performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bizarrap, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, Christian Nodal, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Eslabón Armado, Feid, GALE, Iza, Joaquina, Juanes, Kany García, Laura Pausini, Leon Leiden, Maluma, Manuel Carrasco, Maria Becerra, Milo J, Natascha Falcão, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Paola Guanche, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía and Sebastián Yatra.

The 24th annual awards show is taking place Thursday at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville. It airs on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S. and is broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain. Check back to Billboard.com throughout the night for the latest news on performances, special awards and more.

Mitski Tops TikTok Billboard Top 50, Lil Mabu & Chrisean Rock Land at No. 2 | Billboard News

Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine” returns to the TikTok Billboard Top 50 for the fourth week, while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is Your” breaks the top 10 as we usher in the holiday season. Lil Mabu and Chrisean Rock’s “Mr. Take Your B*tch” drops to No. 2, while Aliyah’s Interlude “It Girl – Sped Up Version” rises to the No. 3 spot on the list.

Tetris Kelly:
Mitski returns to No. 1 and Mariah Carey breaks into the top 10. Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine” returns to No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 posted November 16th. It’s the song’s fourth week atop the chart and users are clearly resonating with the track.

Lil Mabu and Chrisean Rock “Mr. Take Your B*tch” drops to No. 2, while Aliyah’s Interlude, “It Girl – Sped Up Version” rises to the No. 3 spot. Ice Spice and Bad Bunny are reaching new heights with “Deli” at No. 4 and “Monaco” sitting at No. 5. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”  jumps from No. 11 to No. 6 after debuting on last week’s chart as users get into the holiday experience.

Every Thursday, Billboard will bring you the verified list of the hottest songs on TikTok by monitoring music discovery and engagement on the platform in the United States. To find the TikTok Billboard Top 50 each week, users can simply go to any sound detail page and tap the top right button to access the charts page.

Watch the full interview above!

Cassie Accuses Sean “Diddy” Combs Of Rape, Years Of Abuse In Lawsuit

Singer Cassie has accused her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape and abuse, amongst other acts, in a lawsuit. In the suit, Cassie, born Casandra Ventura, alleges that Combs began abusing her shortly after they met when she was just 19 years old, in 2005.

The New York Times reports that Ventura filed the lawsuit Thursday (Nov. 16), in Federal District Court in New York City. The suit alleges that in 2018, shortly before their romantic relationship came to an end, Diddy raped her in her home.

“After years in silence and darkness,” said Ventura in a statement, “I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”

Diddy, via his lawyer, is denying all the allegations.

“Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations,” said Diddy’s attorney, Ben Brafman, in a statement. “For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s reputation and seeking a payday.”

According to Ventura’s lawyer, she rejected an “eight-figure” payoff to stop her from filing the lawsuit. Ventura is seeking unspecified damages.

The alleged details in the suit are heinous.

Reports the New York Times:

A few years into Ms. Ventura’s relationship with Mr. Combs, the suit says, he began coercing her “to engage in a fantasy of his called ‘voyeurism,’” in which she was directed to have sex with a succession of male prostitutes, while Mr. Combs watched, masturbated, took pictures and shot video.

According to the suit, Mr. Combs called these encounters “freak offs,” which involved costumes, like masquerade masks and lingerie. They continued for years, taking place at high-end hotels across the United States and in Mr. Combs’ homes. The suit says that he instructed Ms. Ventura to search the websites of escort services to procure male sex workers.

Drugs were supplied at these events, which Ms. Ventura’s suit says she took because they “allowed her to disassociate during these horrific encounters.”

One person supporting Ventura’s claims, in a roundabout way, is Kid Cudi.

Says the Times:

In one incident described in the court papers, Ms. Ventura says that in early 2012, Mr. Combs grew so angry about her dating the rapper Kid Cudi that he said he would blow up the rapper’s car. “Around that time,” the suit says, “Kid Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway.”

Through a spokeswoman, Kid Cudi confirmed Ms. Ventura’s account. “This is all true,” he said.

Many will remember how Cassie left Diddy, and moved on with her life in 2018, having a child with personal trainer Alex Fine in 2019—and soon after they were wedded. If the timing holds, she left Diddy after he allegedly raped her.

The court filing says that in 2018, after Mr. Combs and Ms. Ventura met for dinner, he forced himself into her apartment and raped her while she “repeatedly said ‘no’ and tried to push him away.” After that, the suit says, she left him for good. Ms. Ventura married Alex Fine, a personal trainer, the following year and now has two young children. According to the complaint, her association with Bad Boy ended in 2019.

This is going to get ugly. Social media is already littered with hot takes. We’ve compiled some of the more compelling reactions and conspiracy theories, in the gallery.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Rape, Assault By Former Partner Cassie

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sued Thursday by R&B singer and longtime romantic partner Cassie over allegations that he repeatedly physically abused her over the course of a decade, including one instance of rape.

In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, attorneys for Cassie (full name Casandra Ventura) claimed she “endured over a decade of his violent behavior and disturbed demands,” including repeated physical beatings and forcing her to “engage in sex acts with male sex workers” while he masturbated.

According to the lawsuit, after she attempted to separate herself from him in 2018, Combs “forced her into her home and raped her while she repeatedly said ‘no’ and tried to push him away.”

“Ms. Ventura has now fully escaped Mr. Combs, but the harm that the assaults and sexual abuse he caused her to experience for nearly a decade will forever haunt her,” wrote Cassie’s attorney Douglas Wigdor, who has filed a number of high-profile sexual abuse cases. “She cannot, however, continue to live in silence about what she endured. Mr. Combs remains immensely powerful, and immensely dangerous.”

In a statement, Combs’ attorney – well-known celebrity defense lawyer Ben Brafman – said his client “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.”

“For the past 6 months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail,” Brafman said. “Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and seeking a pay day.”

In his own statement, Wigdor disputed Brafman’s accusations about the settlement negotiations: “Mr. Comb’s offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all women who suffer in silence. Ms. Ventura should be applauded for her bravery.”

Ventura, who had an on-and-off public relationship with Combs for 11 years until they split in 2018, says that she met the hip-hop mogul in 2005, when she was just 19 and he was 37. After he signed her to his Bad Boy Records label, she says Combs “lured” her into a romantic relationship – albeit one in which he “asserted complete control over Ms. Ventura’s personal and professional life.”

“He provided unprecedented avenues for success for the aspiring artist, but in return, demanded obedience, loyalty, and silence,” her lawyers write in her complaint.

During the relationship, Ventura says she suffered “episodes of horrific abuse,” including times when he would fly into an “uncontrollable rage” and “beat Ms. Ventura savagely.” She says he would remind her of his ability to harm her, including by requiring her to carry his gun in her purse.

After years of “again and again” attempting to “escape his tight hold over her life,” Ventura says that in September 2018, she and Combs went to dinner at an Italian restaurant in Malibu “for what she believed would be a discussion about concluding their relationship for good.” Instead, he “forced himself into her apartment and tried to kiss Ms. Ventura” as she “told him to stop and attempted to push him away.”

“Mr. Combs then forcibly pulled off Ms. Ventura’s clothing and unbuckled his belt,” she says. “He proceeded to rape Ms. Ventura while she repeatedly said ‘no’ and tried to push him away.”

Combs is the latest high-profile music executive to face disturbing accusations of sexual wrongdoing over the past month. Former Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow was sued over allegations of sexual assault last week; the the same day, label exec Antonio “L.A.” Reid was hit with similar accusations. Last month, longtime publishing exec Kenny MacPherson was sued for sexual harassment, accused of subjecting a woman to an “onslaught of unwanted sexual advances.”

All three of those cases, like the new case against Combs, were filed under newly enacted laws in New York and California that revised the time limits for bringing abuse lawsuits, creating limited windows for alleged survivors to take legal action over years-old accusations that would typically be barred under the statute of limitations. In New York, the look-back window closes later this month.

In her complaint against Combs, Ventura specifically thanked lawmakers for passing those new laws, saying they would allow her to seek “justice” after she had been “unable to speak up against the years of abuse she endured.”

“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” Ventura said in a statement. “With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life.” 

Kid Rock Says He & Donald Trump Confronted Anheuser-Busch CEO at UFC Fight

“Only God Knows Why” Kid Rock is still talking about his feud with Bud Light, but the inflammatory rap-rocker added more fuel to the fire on Wednesday night.

In an interview with Sean Hannity on his Fox News show, Rock claimed that during his appearance alongside Donald Trump at UFC 295 on Saturday night (Nov. 11), he and the former president confronted Anheuser-Busch’s CEO Brendan Ball Whitworth regarding the company’s flagship brand Bud Light sending a commemorative beer can to trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

“So [Trump and I] go over, and we actually had a great conversation [with Whitworth],” Rock said, before relaying a series of anti-trans talking points. “I told him, ‘You signaled to a lot of people like myself … by sending that can to the trans kid, you kind of signaled to us that you support that lifestyle, and more importantly, men being in women’s sports or in my granddaughter’s locker room. Most of us draw a hard line right there.’”

Back in April, Rock made headlines when he posted a video of himself shooting a case of Bud Light after seeing a promotional video posted by Mulvaney showing off a commemorative can of Bud Light bearing her image. “F— Bud Light and f— Anheuser-Busch,” he said in the video.

During his interview with Hannity, Rock said he never called on fans to “boycott or cancel” the brand in the wake of their work with Mulvaney. “I said eff you. What are you doing, injecting yourself into this conversation, these polarizing social issues?” he asked. “You could be doing so much more positive stuff just making us laugh and drink beer.”

The “Devil Without a Cause” singer also claimed that he could “co-exist in public spaces” with transgender and gay people, before sharing a message directly to both communities. “Be yourself. If you’re cool with me, I’m cool with you — that’s how most people are,” he said. “But as soon as you bring our kids into this, that’s where you’re gonna bring hatred into it. Leave our freaking kids out of it. That’s the bottom line.”

The rap-rocker’s comments come amid a nationwide surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, largely targeting transgender youth’s access to best-practice gender-affirming care, their ability to participate in school sports aligning with their gender identity, and the open discussion of sexuality and gender in public schools. In tandem with the rise of these bills is a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, according to the FBI’s recently released annual crime report.

Despite Rock’s claim that the LGBTQ+ community is “bringing our kids into this,” research from The Trevor Project shows that this wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation contributes to higher rates of suicidality among LGBTQ+ youth.

Watch Kid Rock’s interview with Sean Hannity below:



2023 Latin Grammy Awards Red Carpet: See the Photos

There was a whole lot of glamour on the red carpet at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday (Nov. 16). In their first staging outside the United States, the 24th annual Latin Grammys went to Seville, and the Spanish city’s vibrant atmosphere was reflected in the bright colors worn by the artists present.

Karol G was stunning in a sparkling pink mini with matching pink-hued hair, while Nathy Peluso, Elena Rose and Nicki Nicole went for Sevilla red. As for the men: Who knew the traditional black tux and black suit could have this many variations? From Rauw Alejandro’s almost-bare chest to Ozuna’s shiny jacket, the evening’s styles showed that traditional elegance can coexist with edginess.

Other stars who walked the red carpet included Camilo and wife Evaluna, Juanes and wife Karen Martínez, Peso Pluma, Carlos Vives and Maria Becerra.

The Latin Grammys are taking place in FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, and will be broadcast Stateside on the Univision network, UniMás and Galavision and throughout Latin America at 8:30 p.m. ET. Early winners include songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera, who won three awards at the pre-telecast ceremony.

Barrera is the leading nominee in this year’s awards. Other big contenders of the evening include Colombian stars CamiloKarol GShakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations. Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap has six. Pablo AlboránBad BunnyMaria BecerraFeid, Dave Cutch and Natalia Lafourcade, have five nominations each; and Santiago Alvarado, Paula ArenasJuanes and Ovy on the Drums have four each.

Click here to see the updating list of winners.

Rosalía Opens 2023 Latin Grammys With Gorgeous, Spanish Rendition of ‘Se Nos Rompió El Amor’

The 2023 Latin Grammys opened on a high note, and a culturally resonant choice, with the beautiful Rosalía.

With the awards show held in Seville, Spain, at Fibes on Thursday (Nov. 16), the Latin Grammy-winning singer performed the somber 1985 ballad “Se Nos Rompió El Amor,” originally sung by Rocío Jurado, written by La Magdalena and Manuel Alejandro — a great tribute to her native Spain.

“Se nos rompió el amor/ de tan grandioso/ jamas pudo existir/ tanta belleza” (or “Our love broke/ so great/ it could never have existed/ so much beauty”), she crooned with an enchanting vibrato, filled with gut-wrenching emotion. She wore a slinky-yet-elegant black gown, with her long hair down and golden earrings. Meanwhile, 21 flamenco guitarists backed her up. Her performance was received with a standing ovation.

November 16 is also the International Day of Flamenco, a centuries old genre that was born in Andalucía, making the the night even more special.

Notably, this marked the first instance of the Latin Grammys being hosted internationally, outside the confines of the U.S., adding an extra layer of significance to Rosalía’s performance in her homeland.

Last year, her third full-length Motomami earned her album of the year and best alternative music album at the awards show. This victory marked Rosalía as the first female artist to clinch the album of the year award twice as a lead artist.

The 2023 Latin Grammys feature performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bizarrap, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, Christian Nodal, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Eslabón Armado, Feid, GALE, Iza, Joaquina, Juanes, Kany García, Laura Pausini, Leon Leiden, Maluma, Manuel Carrasco, Maria Becerra, Milo J, Natascha Falcão, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Paola Guanche, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Sebastián Yatra and Shakira.

Check back to Billboard.com throughout the night for the latest news on performances, special awards and more.

Pop Culture Rewind: Elvis’ Unforgettable Pepsi-Inspired Track ‘All Shook Up’ | Billboard News

Billboard takes a look back at when musical legend Elvis Presley and longtime friend and collaborator Otis Blackwell penned the 1957 musical hit “All Shook Up” inspired by shaking a can of Pepsi.

Evan Burke:
Elvis Presley, one of the biggest names in music history. But did you know that one of the King of Rock’s biggest hits might have been inspired by a can of Pepsi? We take you to that moment in this week’s Pop Culture Rewind.

Elvis remains one of the greatest cultural icons. His 1950s hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog” were a call to a generation of guitar slingers.

He racked up seven No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, but one of his most recognizable tunes may have been inspired by one of our favorite beverages. The 1957 hit “All Shook Up” was written by Elvis and longtime collaborator Otis Blackwell. Sourced from the Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Blackwell’s friend Al Stanson shook a bottle of Pepsi, which inspired Blackwell to pen the track.

We’re gonna crack open a cold one and listen to some Elvis with that story to tell. We’ll have another huge moment for you next week in our Pop Culture Rewind.

Watch the full video above!