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04 Aug 2023

Rita Ora & Taika Waititi Reveal What Everyone Got Wrong About Their Wedding

On the one-year anniversary of their wedding, Rita Ora and Taika Waititi have finally revealed details about their romantic, private ceremony — including what everyone got wrong about it.

Sharing photos and memories of the big day to Vogue, the couple confessed to being amused by all the false reports speculating on when and where they got hitched. “It wasn’t in London or in France like everyone reported,” Waititi told the publication. “It was in L.A. with a small group of friends.”

“At our home!” added Ora. “It’s actually been quite entertaining for us to see the different stories people made up and all the while getting to keep it to ourselves,” Ora said. “And, I love that we now get to share what really happened — and to do it on our one-year anniversary, no less.”

And by “small group of friends,” Waititi really meant a small group of friends. There were only about eight people in the room, total; the couple’s parents joined in via Zoom.

The Thor: Love and Thunder director and the “Praising You” singer got hitched Aug. 4, 2022, after striking up a romance the year prior. Waititi also gushed about the moment Ora proposed while the two were on vacation in Palm Springs, Calif., just a few weeks before the wedding.

“She proposed to me, and I said yes instantly,” he recalled to Vogue.

It wasn’t until this year that Ora officially confirmed that she and the 47-year-old filmmaker had secretly tied the knot. “Yes. I am officially off the market, people,” she reportedly said in a radio interview in January. “I chose to keep it more private and keep it to myself… It was exactly, exactly how I wanted. It is nice to keep some things just to myself sometimes. It was nice and sweet. Sorry it’s not that interesting. One day I will throw a big party.”

See photos from Rita Ora and Taika Waititi’s intimate wedding here.

04 Aug 2023

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music from Kali Uchis, Demi Lovato, Towa Bird & More

As we move toward the end of summer, there’s still time for you to find your song of the summer from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Kali Uchis’ team-up with El Alfa and JT to Demi Lovato’s collaboration with LE SSERAFIM, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Kali Uchis feat. El Alfa & JT, “Muñekita”

Get ready for your new sexy summer anthem. Kali Uchis invited Dominican dembow superstar El Alfa and City Girls member JT for her flirty new single “Muñekita,” where the trio strut their way down a delicious Latin beat, spitting Spanish bars about how truly fabulous they all are. On her own, Uchis could have made an excellent Spanish-language anthem — but with Alfa and JT in tow, it’s a party you’ll never want to leave.

LE SSERAFIM feat. Demi Lovato, “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife”

How should a K-pop act like LE SSERAFIM capitalize on a viral banger like “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife?” Their answer is to invite pop-rock icon Demi Lovato onboard for a verse. The bones of what made “Eve” such a great song remain fully intact — from the house-inspired production to the delicious vocals from each member. But with the addition of Lovato, jumping back into her dark-pop era for a bossed-up verse, “Eve” ascends to even greater heights.

Towa Bird, “This Isn’t Me”

Just three singles into her career with Interscope, Towa Bird is already proving to be one of the most exciting new artists on the scene. “This Isn’t Me” only adds to her already prestigious discography with a tender but gritty indie rock anthem about finding yourself stuck in a social quagmire where you simply do not belong. Fuzzy guitars, chunky drums and an expertly restrained vocal all make “This Isn’t Me” a perfectly-crafted ode to social anxiety.

Teddy Geiger, “Never Enough”

With her latest single “Never Enough,” Teddy Geiger just can’t stop thinking about consumption. Over a delirious and often hypnotic melody, the singer-songwriter examines our insatiable craving for more and more of just about everything. “Once you have a little bit of something, it’s never quite enough; when the show has been binged, you want more of it,” she told Billboard of the new song. “You’re always left feeling like there’s something lacking, unless you can come to peace with the feeling itself.”

Durand Bernarr, “Kiss from a Rose” (Seal Cover)

We didn’t know that we needed to hear one of the most uniquely talented voices in music covering a ’90s soul staple — yet here we are! Durand Bernarr took on Seal’s iconic “Kiss from a Rose,” opting to keep what works about the soft-rock-meets-soul anthem, and letting his unbelievable voice do the work. Throughout this marvelous cover, Bernarr proves again why he is perfectly situated to become the next big star in R&B — all you have to do is press play to find out why.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Weeks playlist below:

04 Aug 2023

Here Are All the Ways to Stream the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Fight Online

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.

Jake Paul and Nate Diaz will face off in a boxing match at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday (Aug. 5). Diaz, a UFC fighter, will make his professional boxing debut in the match against Paul.

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Want to catch the fight in person? Tickets are available for as low as $55, although most are available for around $80 on sites like StubHub, Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats.

Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Tickets

$80

If you’d rather watch from home, read of details on when and where to stream the fight online.

Where Can You Watch the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz Fight?

There are a few different ways to watch the Paul vs. Diaz fight. For starters, the main card will take place on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Dazn for $59.99. Fight coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

You can watch the fight on your TV, laptop, smart phone and other compatible streaming devices via the Dazn app or online at DAZN.com.

Nate Diaz vs. Jake Paul on DAZN

$59.99

What is Dazn? The subscription service offers crossover boxing, women’s soccer and more including PPV fights like Paul vs. Diaz. For non-subscribers, the fight will cost $59.99 on DAZN, plus a discounted membership rate of 99 cents (reg. $19.99). The membership, which gives you access to over 50 fights a year, will renew at $19.99 after the first month. Dazn requires a 30-day notice to cancel your membership.

Where else will the fight be available? The Paul vs. Diaz fight will broadcast live on ESPN+ PPV. The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT (preliminaries are scheduled for 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 PT). If you’re an ESPN+ subscriber, you can order the fight for $59.99.

Not subscribed? ESPN+ subscriptions start at $9.99/month to stream all your favorite sports including boxing, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, UFC and more.

Nate Daiz vs. Jake Paul on ESPN+

$59.99

The Paul vs. Diaz fight will also be available on PPV.com for $59.99. No membership required.  

Who else is on the fight card? Besides Paul and Diaz, the fight card includes Amanda Serrano vs. Heather Hardy, Shadasia Green vs. Olivia Curry, Ashton Sylve vs. William Silva, Chris Avila vs. Jeremy Stephens, Olivia Curry vs. Shadasia Green, Alan Sanchez vs. Angel Beltran Villa and Luciano Ramos vs. CJ Hamilton.  

04 Aug 2023

‘Rap Sh!t’ Season 2 Premiere Date Delayed Due to Hollywood Strikes

Season two of Rap Sh!t has been delayed by three months due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Originally slated for an Aug. 10 premiere date, the first two episodes of Rap Sh!t‘s season two will now debut on Max on Nov. 9, followed by new weekly episodes leading up to the season finale on Dec. 21.

Despite the show already being ready to go, actors cannot participate in the following promotional activities as part of the SAG-AFTRA strike that began on July 14: press tours, personal appearances, interviews, ComiCon/conventions/fan expos, for your consideration events, awards shows, junkets, podcasts, social media, panels or premieres/screenings.

This new season follows Shawna (played by Aida Osman) and Mia (KaMillion) and their rise to fame as Miami’s hottest new rap duo, but the two “find themselves at a pivotal moment in their rap career as they are forced to decide if they will stay true to themselves or conform to the demands of the music industry,” according to a press release.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=tqR76mqILkU&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Jonica Booth, RJ Cyler and Daniel Augustin are also part of the season two cast.

Rap Sh!t is executive produced by Issa Rae and showrunner Syreeta Singleton, as well as Montrel McKay for Hoorae, Jonathan Berry, and Dave Becky for 3 Arts Entertainment, and Jim Kleverweis. City Girls‘ Yung Miami and JT, Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas for Quality Control Films and Sara Rastogi and Jax Clark for Hoorae also serve as co-executive producers. Rae’s audio content company Raedio handles music supervision for the series.

04 Aug 2023

Will Travis Scott Make the Billboard 200 His Own ‘Utopia’? 

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week (for the upcoming charts dated August 5), Travis Scott could score the biggest debut for a rap album in 2023 so far with his first album in five years.  

Travis Scott, Utopia (Cactus Jack/Epic): There must have been a little anxiety in the Travis Scott camp as he geared up for July’s Utopia release. Not only was it Scott’s first album since the blockbuster Astroworld five years earlier, but it was his first following the catastrophic stage rush at his 2021 Astroworld Fest, which left 10 dead and cast a huge shadow over Scott’s career. Subsequent releases (like the 2022 Pharrell collab “Down in Atlanta”) failed to make much chart impact, and there seemed to at least be a chance that a similar fate would befall Utopia. 

From its early returns on streaming, however, it seems like Scott & co. needn’t have worried. Billboard reported yesterday that the album posted a massive 266.21 million official on-demand U.S. streams in its first five days of release. That puts it just a few million short of the full-first-week total for Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (269.33 million), which currently stands as the second-biggest streaming week of 2023 so far, and about 83 million short of Astroworld’s first-week tally (349.43 million) with two days still unaccounted for.  

In addition to its robust streaming debut, the album should also sell well in its physical release, thanks largely to a wide variety of options. There are 15 deluxe boxed sets for the album, each containing a different piece of clothing with either a copy of the CD or vinyl LP – and a different cover with each box for the CD or vinyl LP contained inside. There are also two Fan Pack offers — where the customer could buy a piece of branded clothing and a copy of the physical album together for a discounted price, or choose to buy the items separately if they wanted. And of course, there’s the stand–alone physical album – available in five different CDs or five different vinyl LPs (the same physical albums contained in the boxed sets noted above) — and a digital edition, discounted to $4.99 in Scott’s webstore. (Physical copies of the album were only for sale through the webstore, as the set is currently unavailable at any other retailers.)

It should all add up to one of the biggest debuts for any album in 2023 – and almost certainly the highest first-week number for an R&B/hip-hop album this year. (The current top tally is held by Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape, which debuted with 167,000 equivalent album units, including 210.39 million in streaming.)  

Post Malone, Austin (Mercury/Republic): Three or four years ago, a first-week race between Travis Scott and Post Malone on the Billboard 200 would have been among the most exciting (and likely the closest) that pop music could’ve offered, as two of the most consistently successful recording artists of the late ‘10s. But while the intervening years may not have dampened Scott’s first-week album numbers much, they’ve had a bigger impact on Post Malone’s performance – his dour 2022 album Twelve Carat Toothache only posted about a quarter of the first-week units as 2019’s Hollywood’s Bleeding, and was relegated to a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200. 

That chart position may again be the best-case scenario for 2023’s Austin, Post Malone’s return to more upbeat pop music, albeit more guitar-based than the trap beats he made his stardom rapping over. From the early returns, the set is streaming well, but nowhere near as well as Utopia – on the Spotify Daily Top Songs USA chart for the Friday when both albums debuted (July 28), every track from Austin appeared on the top 200, but the album’s highest-finishing song still placed lower than the worst-performing Utopia cut.  

Nonetheless, the album should still stream and sell well – significantly better than any non-Scott new release this week. The latter portion will be helped by two Fan Pack offers (similar to the ones Scott offers for Utopia), as well as a range of additional physical releases that includes three vinyl variants and a cassette option. (The set was also reissued mid-week in a deluxe edition, including the new bonus track “Joy.”)  

04 Aug 2023

Here’s Why 50 Cent Thinks This 78-Year-Old Oscar Winner Will Be ‘Sexy Forever’

50 Cent‘s crush on Dame Helen Mirren is still going strong — in fact, he says he’ll probably never get over her. Speaking to Men’s Health for his new cover story, the rapper opened up about his love for the 78-year-old Oscar winner, sharing that he thinks Mirren will be “sexy forever.”

“She’s sexy,” he told the publication. “She’ll look at you, and you go, ‘Oh s–t!’ I don’t care how old she get, I don’t give a f–k what nobody says, she’s sexy.”

Recalling the time he met the 1923 star in Monaco at the 2017 Monte Carlo TV Festival, Fiddy added, “Her husband was just right there with her, he’s going ‘Oh, that’s just what she does.’ He notices what you notice, that she’s sexy. It’s confidence. It’s everything she is for all of these years. She’s going to be sexy forever.”

This is far from the first time since their fateful first encounter that “Candy Shop” musician has proclaimed his love for Mirren. Just a couple days after their red carpet meeting at the Monte Carlo TV Festival, he took to Instagram to write: “I think I love her man, I’m trying not to stare at her. She know she turns me on. She just has that thing, you know I can’t describe it. LOL.”

The next year, he once again opened up about his crush when he visited Conan. “She looked at me and this interesting thing was going on in her eyes,” he told the late-night host. “She knows she’s sexy!”

Watch 50 Cent gush about Helen Mirren to Men’s Health above.

04 Aug 2023

Sinead O’Connor’s Streams Surged by 2,885% Following Her Death

Streams and sales of Sinead O’Connor’s catalog vaulted following the Irish singer’s death on July 26, with many of her songs returning to the Billboard charts dated Aug. 5.

O’Connor’s catalog earned 7.9 million official on-demand U.S. streams in the July 21-27 tracking week, up 774% from 901,000 July 14-20, according to Luminate.

As for July 26-27 vs. July 24-25, O’Connor’s official on-demand U.S. song streams grew from 243,000 to 7.3 million, up 2,885%.

Additionally, downloads of her songs totaled 17,000 July 21-27, a 5,348% surge from a negligible amount July 14-20.

In terms of albums, O’Connor’s music earned 11,000 equivalent album units July 21-27, up 1,346% from 1,000 the week before. Of those 11,000 units, 4,000 were via album sales.

With consumption gains come multiple appearances on the Billboard charts for O’Connor, paced by her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which returns to the Rock Digital Song Sales and Alternative Digital Song Sales surveys at No. 1 with 10,000 downloads sold.

The song also accrued 3.2 million streams, which, combined with its sales, drive it onto the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally at No. 10 (where older songs are eligible to appear if in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their resurgences).

It’s the song’s second time on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (which began in 2009); it ranked at No. 16 on the May 14, 2016, chart with streaming and sales gains following Prince’s death.

“Nothing Compares 2 U” was O’Connor’s lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, reigning for four weeks in 1990.

O’Connor’s songs “Mandinka” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes” also reach Alternative Digital Song Sales, at Nos. 16 and 17, respectively, and Rock Digital Song Sales (Nos. 24 and 25), with approximately 1,000 downloads sold apiece. “The Emperor’s New Clothes” was O’Connor’s lone other entry on the Hot 100, as the follow-up to “Nothing Compares 2 U” reached No. 60 in 1990.

Further placements for O’Connor’s music are possible on the Aug. 12-dated Billboard charts following a full week of sales, streaming and airplay tracking (July 28-Aug. 3).

O’Connor died in London at age 56. A cause of death has not been announced.

04 Aug 2023

A$AP Rocky Stars in Mercer + Prince Whiskey Campaign: Where to Shop

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.

A$AP Rocky has adventured outside of rap by starring in the first ever campaign for Mercer + Prince whiskey. This marks the rapper’s first step in venturing into the world of musician-owned alcohol brands as the founder and owner of the alcohol brand.

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The whiskey was originally introduced in 2022, but is now growing with the introduction of the campaign, “Carefully Crafted,” which looks to showcase the “D.M.B” rapper’s style, taste and inspiration with each bottle. Throughout the campaign video, you get a peek inside the process of sculpting the spirit into a finely made whiskey to be enjoyed with friends.

To celebrate it’s one-year anniversary, Rocky took to Instagram Thursday (Aug. 3) to commemorate the moment with a video of the campaign alongside stills of the whiskey.

It was a desire to mix culture and art paired with Rocky’s fascination and appreciation with distillery that lead him to start create his own whiskey, according to the brand’s website. Since then, the whiskey brand has since expanded where you can snag a bottle including to online retailers ReserveBar, Total Wine and Drizly.

This isn’t the first campaign the star has been in either as the rapper can also be seen showing off the latest Beats Studio Pros.

Want to test the whiskey out for yourself? Keep reading to shop the rapper’s whiskey.

glass rectangular bottle of whiskey with two square cups

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Mercer + Prince by A$AP Rocky – Blended Canadian Whisky

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Each sip of the Mercer + Prince whiskey comes from a twice distilled and aged for at least four years recipe, which all takes place in American white oak (ex-bourbon) barrels. The Canadian whiskey has influences from Japanese Mizunara Oak to help achieve a smooth texture paired with a rich taste.

The bottle is also one to put on display as it features a statue-like structure and two rock glasses that’ll make pouring a drink for you and your friend simple and quick.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best musician-owned wines, tequila brands and the best porthole drink infuser.

04 Aug 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Grupo Frontera, Kali Uchis, & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Grupo Frontera, El Comienzo (Grupo Frontera)

After gaining virality with their Morat cover of “No Se Va” and taking advantage of the momentum to release original music — which has earned them seven titles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 10 on Hot Latin Songs (including a No. 1 hit) — Grupo Frontera has officially launched their debut studio album, El Comienzo (the beginning). Home to 11 tracks, the McAllen-based group delivers a traditional norteño-cumbia set with some very heartfelt and relatable lyrics — mostly about love and heartbreak.

Most notable are the star-studded collaborations. For “Alta Voz,” Frontera brings back Junior H in his sad boy era, singing about missing someone and calling them despite the hour; in “Las Flores,” Frontera and Yahritza y Su Esencia’s second collaborative effort, we find an upbeat, ‘90s-inspired grupero melody backing a vocal about regretting falling in love; and on focus single “El Amor de Su Vida,” with Grupo Firme, a man makes his peace that the love of his life is with another person. El Comienzo also includes previously released collabs “Que Vuelvas” with Carin León, “Ojitos Rojos” with Ke Personajes, and the Bad Bunny-assisted “Un X100to,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year. Stream and listen to the album above.  — JESSICA ROIZ

Kali Uchis, El Alfa & JT from City Girls, “Muñequita” (Geffen Records)

Kali Uchis brings her enigmatic allure to the main room on the sultry single, “Muñequita.” This time, the Colombian-American femme fatale enlists an eclectic cast, Dominican dembow purveyor El Alfa and JT of City Girls, who each bring their dynamic energy to kick off a new summer anthem. “I love bringing artists together that you’d least expect,” said the Grammy winner in a press release. “El Alfa is a Latino legend and JT is someone I’ve admired forever. Both of them are known for their summer hits and high energy, so I’m incredibly excited to bring them together for a fun, sexy song like this.” Produced by Mazzarri and FABV, “Muñequita” is the first single that will lead to Kali Uchis’ upcoming Spanish-language album. The singer recently wrapped up the first leg of her sold-out Red Moon In Venus national tour. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Timø, “Quédate” (Universal Music Latino)

Between a deluge of urban songs and regional Mexican music that is so hot these days, it’s also refreshing to hear a good Latin pop song. Emerging boy band TIMØ brings us one this week with their single “Quédate” (Stay). With strong synth lines, an infectious kick drum that drives the song and crescendoing acoustic guitars, the Colombian trio takes turns singing about an unexpected reunion with love. “I only know that you and I met again, stay,” they conclude in their lyrics. In the video, you can see the members in different shots enjoying a party at sunset and at the beach. The talented group, which mixes pop music with hints of funk and tropical, made in Colombia, turns out to be a pleasant discovery. — LUISA CALLE

Camila Fernández, “Una Vida” (Universal Music Mexico)

In true Fernández dynasty form, Camila Fernández’s delivery of a mariachi or norteño song is just as evocative as her grandfather’s (Vicente Fernández) and her father’s (Alejandro Fernández). The accordion-led “Una Vida,” Camila’s latest single, is a gorgeous mariachi ballad about finding and preserving genuine love — one that centers on each other’s spiritual growth. With her striking, mature and deep vocals, Camila sings, “today I place all bets on you even if there’s no guarantee … if I had to repeat every step that led me to you, I would do it with pleasure.” The song follows previously released singles “Fue Tan Poco Tu Cariño” and “Todo Todo” from earlier this year, as well as her 2022 debut album, Vulnerable. The music video for “Una Vida” features Camila’s maternal grandparents, who portray a beautiful love story. — GRISELDA FLORES

Damian, “Sabrosura” (WOW! Entertainment)

Colombian singer-songwriter Damian — one of Billboard’s On the Radar Latin artists — continues spreading the joy of the Caribbean with his new single “Sabrosura.” The song, which follows his romantic vallenato “El Amor No Es Amor,” is a refreshing urban cumbia that invites you to dance and put your sorrows aside, with rap verses like “Forget your problems, there is a solution for everything/ Let this rhythm enter your heart,” and a contagious chorus that repeats, “Sabrosura, traigo sabrosura,” which could be translated to “Flavor, I bring flavor.” The colorful music video, filmed in Barranquilla, Colombia and directed by Harlyn Camargo, is sure to put a smile on your face. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Lagos, “Soltando a Pedazos” (Warner Music Mexico)

Luis Jiménez and Mr. A on the Beat (real name: Agustín Zubillaga), the up-and-coming Venezuelan pop duo LAGOS, present their latest single “Soltando A Pedazos.” The single kicks off the start of a new creative phase, leading up to their forthcoming sophomore album. Powered by the melodies of an electric piano with ’80s-reminiscent melodies, and laced with their soothing voices, this song talks about the complex emotions that arise when it’s time to let go of someone knowing that it’s not an easy decision. “And although I’m letting you go, it’s by pieces/ I’m leaving confident, but I’m going slowly, step by step,” they sing. — INGRID FAJARDO

Check out more editor’s picks in the weekly playlist below!

04 Aug 2023

Black Northwestern Football Players Claim Racial Hazing

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Former Black football players at Northwestern University have alleged racial hazing, including being forced into watermelon-eating contests in lawsuits.

According to reports, the two former players filed lawsuits against the university in Cook County Circuit Court, adding to the growing hazing scandal that has engulfed the Chicago-area college over the past few weeks. The lawsuits claim that Black players on the team were forced to compete in racist watermelon-eating contests. “‘This is a clear promotion of the indisputably racist watermelon stereotype and anti-black racist trope,’ the litigation documents state.

The two players, who remain anonymous, were on the team during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Their lawsuits note that at that time, former head coach Pat Fitzgerald was the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator and “knew and encouraged this behavior to happen to these very young and impressionable men.”

Further details from the lawsuits echo allegations from previously filed lawsuits, claiming that players were singled out for hazing. “Underclassmen, specifically freshmen on the football team, were forced to engage in horrific, despicable, and sexually explicit forms of hazing,” the documents state. There are more allegations of physical and sexual abuse and claims that the coaches not only knew about it but did nothing to stop it.

Fitzgerald, who maintains that he was unaware of the abuses, was fired by Northwestern last month after independent reporting from The Daily Northwestern exposed further details of the allegations. The university announced on Tuesday that former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will be leading an independent review of the athletic department. “Hazing has absolutely no place at Northwestern. Period,” Northwestern president Michael Schill said in a statement announcing the move. “I am determined that with the help of Attorney General Lynch, we will become a leader in combating the practice of hazing in intercollegiate athletics and a model for other universities.”

Attorney Ben Crump has also been retained by some of the players who have come forward alleging abuse. “This is the opportunity to eradicate hazing and abuse in college athletic programs from coast to coast,” he said in a statement. “That’s exactly what we intend to do, as this will undoubtedly be the MeToo movement of college athletics.”

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