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NPR, the longstanding public broadcasting network, is standing up to President Donald Trump’s war on the media after filing a lawsuit this week. On Tuesday (May 27), NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a lawsuit stating that President Trump’s executive order to cut funding for the network and PBS is unconstitutional.
In a report from the network, NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT filed a suit in a District of Columbia court alleging that Trump’s sweeping executive order to end funding to the entities is a violation of their constitutional right to free speech.
“It is not always obvious when the government has acted with a retaliatory purpose in violation of the First Amendment. ‘But this wolf comes as a wolf,’” reads a portion of the lawsuit filing. “The Order targets NPR and PBS expressly because, in the President’s view, their news and other content is not ‘fair, accurate, or unbiased.’”
President Trump, White House budget director Russell Vought, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Maria Rosario Jackson, the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, are all named as defendants.
“The Executive Order is a clear violation of the Constitution and the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech and association, and freedom of the press,” NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher added in a statement.
U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss is overseeing the matter. The same judge is also overseeing a similar case with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) also suing President Trump.
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Photo: Brooks Kraft / Getty
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Months after photos of Victoria Monét getting cozy with Stormzy went viral, the “On My Mama” singer is reflecting on her romance with the rapper.
While hosting Monét on her Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast posted Tuesday (May 27), Keke Palmer first brought up the topic of Stormzy by recalling how the English-Ghanaian hip-hop star had been gushing hard about the singer-songwriter at the Met Gala earlier in May. “I said, ‘You know my girl, Victoria,’” Palmer said as Monét blushed. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, you know, she’s amazing.’”
“Yeah, he’s a really special guy,” replied Monét. “I have so much respect for him, and I got to learn more about him by dating him.”
The Grammy winner went on to say that she “fell deeply, so deeply,” for Stormzy before recalling how photos of the pair — which surfaced in October, less than a month after Monét announced her split from John Gaines — went viral before she and the rapper were even official. “We didn’t even get together yet,” Monét reflected.
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“The first time that you saw us in that viral picture, that was the first time of us really hanging out hard in his city, so I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s everywhere before we’re even starting,’” she continued. “So that was interesting to navigate … We would have wanted to announce on our own time, when everything was official. But that was just the beginning.”
“We had a blast together, we had such a great time,” added Monét, before seeming to hint that she and the “Vossi Bop” artist have since called it quits. “I think there’s mutual respect there and support, no bad blood. Always love.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for Monét and Stormzy for comment.
Monét and Stormzy’s romance followed the former’s September statement confirming her separation from Gaines, with whom she shares 4-year-old daughter Hazel. Noting that they’d actually split 10 months prior to the announcement, the vocalist wrote at the time, “Though we still completely adore and respect each other, we are not a couple anymore.”
Stormzy also announced a breakup shortly before his relationship with Monét, revealing that he and TV host Maya Jama had split in July.
The interview comes about seven months after Monét dropped the deluxe edition of her breakthrough album Jaguar II, featuring collaborations with Usher and Thundercat. The LP originally reached No. 60 on the Billboard 200 in 2023 and won best R&B album at the 66th Grammy Awards.
In April, Monét teamed up with Davido for new track “Offa Me.” She is also gearing up to publish a children’s book titled Everywhere You Are, which arrives June 25.
Watch Monét discuss her relationship with Stormzy on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer above.
Source: Jason Koerner / Getty
Fivio Foreign’s 2025 has been anything but smooth, as the Brooklyn drill rapper has spent the entire year behind bars following a weapons-related arrest on New Year’s Day.
However, there may finally be a glimmer of hope for the “Big Drip” artist. According to the New Jersey Public Information Office, Fivio pled guilty to one count of making terroristic threats, specifically, a third-degree charge involving a threat to commit a violent crime. Originally, Fivio was facing a far more serious legal battle with four additional charges looming over him, including unlawful possession of a weapon and aggravated assault.
However, his attorney, Adam Lustberg, shared with TMZ that those charges are likely to be dropped in light of the plea deal. The incident that landed him in jail reportedly began when a woman asked Fivio for a jump-start for her car. She told police that instead of helping, Fivio pulled a gun on her, leading to his arrest by Edgewater Police. Since then, the rapper has remained in custody, awaiting legal resolution.
Lustberg says the hope now is that Fivio will receive probation at his sentencing hearing scheduled for August. Given the time he’s already served — nearly eight months behind bars — there’s a strong chance the court will consider it sufficient punishment, opening the door for a possible release. For a rapper who’s spent much of his career building momentum, this could be a crucial step toward getting his life and music career back on track.
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Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani both performed at Monday night’s 2025 American Music Awards. Shelton made his AMAs debut with a run through his patriotic anthem “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” and then returned later to introduce a medley from his wife Stefani. The No Doubt singer and solo star opened with her recent country-tinged […]
Ab-Soul was largely seen as a neutral player in the ongoing Joey BadA$$ versus the entire West Coast beef that’s going down, but it appeared that the back-and-forths were done with. Ab-Soul emerged with a new track addressing the war of the coasts while also throwing a shot towards DJ Akademiks that sparked an expected response from the media figure.
Ab-Soul recently joined Big Sean and JoeyBad$$ two weeks ago in a Red Bull Spiral Freestyle, where the Black Lip Pastor spoke directly to Badmon’s salvo against the West Coast. However, Soul also showed his alignment and respect for BadA$$’s Pro Era team and kept things strictly rap.
Since that time, a barrage of songs from Soul’s TDE labelmate Ray Vaughn, Hitta J3, Az Chike, Daylyt, and more. Joey got backup from the likes of his Pro Era colleagues Nyck Caution and CJ Fly, along with jabs from Generation Now’s Kai Ca$h among others.
The new drop from Ab-Soul was produced by Low The Great, who has a project with the aforementioned Az Chike, and Python P, whom Soul has worked with on previous tracks. The first half of the new joint finds Soul rapping in an aggressive double-time flow at a lower register than we normally hear him, conversational in tone as he dissected Daylyt and Vaughn’s battle bars and their assumed flaws.
In the second half of the song, Soulo ramps up the energy and lets it be known that while he has love for Pro Era, it’s still very much Carson and TDE for life for the lyricist. In this half, Soul raps that he’ll smack Akademiks when he sees him, setting off an entirely new thread to this coastal conflict.
Ak, talking to his fans on stream, fired back with the threat of death towards Soul, saying, “If you ever raise a hand on me, it’ll be your last day on Earth, n*gga. You’ll join Nipsey, King Von, and Pac. All of y’all gonna be having a good time.”
Fans on X caught wind of DJ Akademiks issuing the grim warning towards Ab-Soul and dropped off some choice words. We’ll share the reactions from all sides, along with the track in question, below.
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Photo: Gilbert Flores / Getty
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K Music has signed a worldwide admin deal with Kobalt, the company announced on Wednesday (May 28). The agreement was done via the indie label’s K Music Publishing; Kobalt will administer future output and select tracks in the company’s repertoire.
The strategic partnership with Kobalt aims to provide K Music Publishing with the global reach and resources to “further elevate its artists, expand their presence worldwide, and drive continued success in the evolving music industry,” according to a press release. Founded in 2019 by Alfredo Becerra, Leonardo Soto and Carlos Santos, K Music is home to música mexicana star Luis R Conriquez.
“Freddy, Leo, and their team have built in K Music a modern music company infused with a passionate entrepreneurial spirit embodied by the music of its artists,” Nestor Casonu, president of Latin America for Kobalt, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome K Music Publishing into the Kobalt global family.”
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“We are excited to join the Kobalt Family,” added Alfredo Becerra, CEO of K Music. “This partnership is a significant milestone for K Music and K Music Publishing. We look forward to the incredible possibilities that lie ahead. This deal is not just about securing the intellectual property of our songwriters but about offering new pathways to the talented creators we represent, helping them break through new markets, and achieving even greater success.”
The deal includes Conriquez’s runway hit “Si No Quieres No” with Netón Vega, which scored the Sonora-born singer-songwriter his first Hot 100 entry. K Music — previously Kartel Music — also includes acts such as Joel De La P, Tony Aguirre, Dinamicos Jrs, Novillos De La Sierra and Said Norzagaray on its roster.
“Kobalt partners with companies that are reshaping the future of music,” said Tere Romo, Kobalt’s senior creative director for Latin America. “K Music has consistently demonstrated its ability to discover and develop groundbreaking talent in the música mexicana community. This partnership marks an exciting new phase for both of our companies and we’re thrilled to support K Music Publishing as they continue to push the boundaries of the genre and bring their incredible artists to a global audience.”
K Music Publishing was represented in the deal by Christopher Navarro, partner at Singh, Singh & Trauben LLP.
Sueños Music Festival in Chicago was full of the hottest latin stars, including Shakira, Peso Pluma and El Alfa! We take you inside the two-day festival and run through everything you might have missed. What was your favorite part of Sueños Music Festival? Let us know in the comments! Narrator:Sueños Music Festival in Chicago took […]
SEVENTEEN is headed for some big changes, as most of the boy band’s 13 members are currently serving or gearing up to enlist in the South Korean military to fulfill their mandatory service to their country.
But that doesn’t mean the group mates have any plans of putting their musical evolution on pause. In a Hollywood Reporter profile published Wednesday (May 28), the members of the K-pop phenomenon revealed their game plan for the next couple of years as Jeonghan, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino complete their civic duties, from dropping solo music to reuniting stronger than ever at the end of their service. (Joshua, a U.S. citizen; The 8 and Jun, who are Chinese citizens; and S.Coups, who is exempt due to an ACL injury, are the only members who are not required to serve.)
“This is something that has been inevitable for us all along,” Hoshi told the publication of enlisting. “We have been prepared. We have a lot of projects that we have discussed with [Hybe] very thoroughly up until now.”
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First thing’s first: On Monday (May 26), SEVENTEEN dropped new album Happy Burstday, featuring a solo song performed by each member, in addition to three full-group tracks. The move to showcase their individual capabilities before enlisting was intentional, priming each bandmate for more opportunities to explore music even as everyone else in the group is pulled in different directions. It’s a strategy not unlike the one used by BTS over the past couple of years, with all seven of the “Dynamite” singers dropping solo music at different points during their own enlistments ahead of their upcoming post-military reunion this year.
“Up until now, we’ve mostly focused on our group promotions,” Hoshi continued. “We would like to show more of our individualities, each of the members’ personalities and capabilities, so that when the time comes and we get back together again as a group, we‘ll be able to showcase ourselves as a better SEVENTEEN.”
And while nine of the members carry out their service, group leader S.Coups said that he and the other three bandmates plan to “stick together and make something great to showcase to the fans” in the meantime.
“We understand that the fans are very sad that some of us are going to be away, but among ourselves, [we] don’t consider this to be a really huge deal because we know that we are going to stay together,” added Woozi. “We should consider this as quite a long preparation phase for the next album that’s going to be even better and greater.”
According to THR, the nine eligible bandmates must enlist in South Korea before they turn 30. Jeonghan and Wonwoo, who are 29 and 28, respectively, are already serving.
SEVENTEEN is also similar to BTS in that the former’s military shift will come right at the height of the group’s popularity. As announced by Billboard on Wednesday, the “Super” band is the top K-pop group and No. 3 overall on the midyear Boxscore charts, grossing $120.9 million and 842,000 tickets sold on tour in 2025.
The interview also follows a three-year run of six top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. But according to S.Coups, SEVENTEEN — even in spite of its upcoming challenges — is just getting started.
“We are ready to reinvent ourselves,” he told THR. “We are standing at a new starting line, preparing for a new path ahead and ready to blaze a new trail.”
Kings of Leon have pulled all of the band’s U.K. and European shows for the summer following Caleb Followill being involved in a “freak accident.”
The frontman announced the news on Wednesday (May 28) via an update posted across social media. Taking to Instagram, he shared that he underwent emergency surgery recently after breaking his foot.
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“Hello to everyone out there, especially our European fans who are coming to see us this summer,” the singer and guitarist began in his video message. “Unfortunately I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day. I broke my foot pretty bad playing with my kids.
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“It’s pretty gnarly and I’ll spare all the details. But we’re fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery. I’m on the mend, but they told me that I can’t be on my feet, travelling, or anything for the next eight weeks or so. That’s a big bummer.”
Moreover, he added that the band was planning on previewing some unreleased material during the now-canceled gigs. Followill also reassured fans that he and his bandmates will continue trying to work on new music over the coming months.
“We were so excited, we’ve been preparing for this tour for a long time… We’ve been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run,” Followill said. “We had a lot of exciting things planned and now we’re going to have to pivot and find a new way to continue the work that we’ve started.”He concluded: “I’m very excited for when we do get to show you the stuff we’re doing, and in the meantime we’re going to do whatever work we can while I have these limitations. Exciting stuff is coming, I know this isn’t the message anyone wants to hear. It’s certainly not the message I want to be sending, but it’s going to be all right. Hopefully, we will see you all soon.”
The Tennessee-formed four-piece were set to perform in Cardiff, Wales, and Lytham, England, this summer beginning on June 29. The former was a slot at the Blackweir Live series, and the latter was part of Lytham Festival, where acts including Justin Timberlake and Alanis Morissette are also set to appear.Other affected gigs included Southsea’s Victorious Festival, Mad Cool Festival in Madrid and Belgium’s Rock Werchter. Rescheduled dates are yet to be announced.In an official statement, the band also shared, “Kings of Leon are updating fans that Caleb Followill has recently sustained a serious injury, shattering his heel and requiring a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from traveling and performing.”
“The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopaedic specialists,” it continued. “The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming U.K. and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year. Caleb took to social media today to detail his injury in a heartfelt apology to all the fans.”The sibling act’s last full-length effort arrived in the form of 2023 LP Can We Please Have Fun. The record reached No. 35 on the Billboard 200 upon release, and hit No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. The band is set to resume touring on July 18 when they support Zach Bryan at his show at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.
Watch Followill’s announcement about his injury below:
Becky G and her mother Alejandra are helping fans get their homes ready for summer with the launch of their home decor line Mainstays.
Featuring everything from candles to lighting and carpets, Mainstays includes a range of home decor items inspired by the duo’s family history and their shared values of style, affordability and social empowerment. Both Becky and her mother wanted to dream up a collection of home goods that instantly transformed your home into a warm and welcoming place, and it looks like they did just that.
Playful and colorful, each piece screams summer, centered around citrus motifs and hues like blue, green and orange. Florals and stripes also appear heavily throughout the collection. The genius of this collection can be seen in its mixing and matching ability. No matter what you choose to snag, each item compliments the other, given the color scheme and motifs used are all similar. Pricing ranges from $3 to $16, meaning you can make your home look beautiful on a budget. Ready to transform your space? We’ve made shopping the collaborative Walmart collection a breezy by narrowing down 10 pieces we think you’ll adore.
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Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra Acrylic Mini Margarita Coupe Shot Glasses
A set of green and blue margarita coupe glasses.
It’s officially margarita season, which means you’ll want to grab great glassware to serve your cocktails in. This set from Mainstays certainly fits the bill, and it’s affordable to boot. At just $2.88, this two-piece coupe glass set is celebration-worthy, featuring one green and one blue glass made of shatter-resistant lightweight glass. Each piece measures 2.75″ in diameter by 2.16, meaning they’re deep and wide enough that you can safely serve up your latest cocktail or dessert creation without fear of spilling. Simply put, these glasses are perfect for your next party, family gathering or everyday enjoyment.
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Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra Lemon Serve Platter
A lemon-shaped serving platter with a blue leaf.
What’s better than a serving plate? That’s right. A lemon-shaped serving plate. This one from Mainstays is made from BPA-free bamboo melamine, otherwise known as bamboo fibers and resin. The charming yellow and blue lemon shape evokes hot summer days by the pool sipping on a glass of ice-cold lemonade.
You’ll be serving up style with this piece. The Mainstays piece measures 14.37″ x 10.5″ x 1.95″, making it big enough to dish up a bunch of things at once. From yummy appetizers to mains and desserts, the serving plate easily adds a pop of color to your dishware game, perfect for your next summer hosting event.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra Bamboo Melamine Triple Condiment Server
A tree bowl serving platter with green and white stripes.
Any good party needs condiments. Condiments are basically the cornerstone of any good get-together. From ranch to ketchup and barbecue sauce, we can’t imagine a summer cookout without those titular condiments all in one place. Mainstays triple condiment bowl allows you to serve three condiments at a time so partygoers won’t have to choose between their fave dips any longer.
Equipped with a green and white striped design, the serving bowls are made of sturdy BPA-free bamboo melamine and can hold up to 15 oz. The serving bowl also comes in a blue and white striped colorway. What’s more? This serving dish is also dishwasher safe, making clean-up post-party a breeze. From nuts to crackers and dips, you can also serve snacks in each dish if you’d rather.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra Acrylic Cocktail Shaker with Mixing Swizzle Sticks Set
A clear cocktail shaker with fruit-inspired swizzle sticks in yellow, green and orange.
While we aren’t mixologists, this cocktail shaker and swizzler set certainly makes us feel like it. Retailing for $5.46, this five-piece set includes a clear shaker and four colorful swizzle sticks in shades of yellow, green and orange fixed with citrus motifs that offer each drink creation you make a tropical flair. The shaker and swizzler sticks are lightweight and shatter-resistant, making the set perfect for both indoor and outdoor entertaining. With this cocktail shaker set, you’re bound to make this summer a boozy one.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra 8.5″ Rechargeable Green Lily Ribbed Glass Uplight
A pink ribbed glass light with a gold base.
Mainstays Green Lily light is one of our faves, and for good reason. Beyond being absolutely stunning, this piece is functional too. Key features include a pink ribbed glass shade, touch controls, dimmable integrated LEDs and a classy gold base. The lighting source measures 4.75″ x 4.75″ x 8.5″ and comes with a nifty charging cord so this ambient light will never go out.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra Polyester Scallop Layering Rug
A green and white striped rug with a scalloped edge.
Rug shopping is just as painful as jeans shopping. Both are very particular and you really won’t know how they’ll fit until you have them in hand. Mainstays scalloped layering rug is the answer to this issue, given it’s meant to be used as a layering piece, so sizing isn’t really an issue. Meant to lay beneath bathmats, runners and doormats, this rug comes in a green and white with unique striping and eye-catching scalloped edges that offer any space a touch of whimsy. The rug measures 24″ x 36″ and is made of durable polyester that is made to withstand both outdoor and indoor use.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra 8.5″ Blue Stripe Ceramic Pitcher
A blue and white striped ceramic pitcher.
Hosting season is almost upon us. Whether you’re throwing a backyard barbeque or birthday bash, this pitcher makes a great addition to any table setting. Whimsical and vibrant, this pitcher is made of sturdy ceramic and measures 7.5″L x 5.2″ W x 8.5″H.
The slightly imperfect blue striping is a nice touch, giving it a handmade vibe. Whether you’re utilizing it to pour up mimosas or showcasing a blooming bouquet of flowers, faux or otherwise, the pitcher will look good in just about every setting from the dining table to the kitchen. To clean, all you need to do is wipe it down with a wet towel and hand dry. It’s as simple as that.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra 14.5″ Artificial Lemon Tree in White Ceramic Vase
A white ceramic vase filled with faux leaves and lemons.
Looking to liven up your space? Look no further than Mainstays artificial lemon tree neatly nestled into a white ceramic vase. Retailing for $9.98, this decor item stands at 14.5″ and features three realistic lemons affixed to green leaves and stems.
This piece is great for those without a green thumb who want to keep something alive-ish in their home. For those of us with pets or butterfingers, the base of the ceramic vase is equipped with a cement bed that offers the piece weight, meaning your lemons won’t topple over anytime soon. Perfect for bringing vibrancy to the office, kitchen or bedroom, the styling options are endless.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra 3-Wick Raspberry Peach Frose Candle
A raspberry and peach Frose-inspired candle in orange and brown packaging.
Scent is a big part of what makes a space comforting. It’s important to get your place smelling good before hosting unless you want your guests running out the door screaming. This Raspberry Peach Frose candle from Mainstays is everything you want in a scent because it’s fruity and floral and Frose-inspired.
Picture it. Lighting up this candle after a long day, unwinding with the scents of raspberry sorbet, lemon sugar and coconut water floating through the air. I don’t know about you but that kind of sounds like heaven. Plus the candle’s 3 wick design offers a steady and even burn so you can have your home smelling nice for hours on end.
Mainstays by Becky G. & Alejandra Tapestry Knit Throw Blanket
A tapestry knit throw blanket in white and blue with a botanical print and frayed trim.
Throw blankets are often overlooked for some reason. The home decor piece is the key to staying cozy, plus it makes your space look instantly more put together. This Mainstays Tapestry knit blanket features oodles of character, including a whimsical botanical print and frayed trim that gives the piece a vintage quality. Styled over the back of a sofa or laid neatly on top of a bedspread, this piece will instantly transform a space from drab to colorful. If the blue hue isn’t your thing, this blanket also comes in green.
