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SZA’s Unleashes Brutal ‘Kill Bill’ Music Video: Watch

It’s fair to say SZA’s “Kill Bill” has been killing it.

Lifted from the R&B star’s long-awaited sophomore album SOS, “Kill Bill” this week soars to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

The fictitious murder-confession song marks her first leader on the list, and completes a rare chart double; SOS has lorded over the Billboard 200 for the past four weeks.

On the other side of the Atlantic, “Kill Bill” is a top 5 hit.

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As “Kill Bill” takes out the opposition on sales charts, a bloody new music video should give it extra firepower.

Directed by Christian Breslauer, the cinematic clip pays homage to Quentin Tarantino’s revenge film of the same name, and features a cameo from Vivica A. Fox, who played the kick-ass character Vernita Green opposite Uma Thurman’s Bride.

The result is a high-octane, high-caliber action fest — with splashes of anime, fantasy and flesh.

The New Jersey–born singer-songwriter is fan of Tarantino and his blood-and-guts work.

“I love Vivica A. Fox’s character. I love Lucy Liu’s character. I even love Bill because he’s super complex,” she tells EW of the original 2000s films.

“I feel like he doesn’t understand why he did what he did. He’s void of emotion, but he loved The Bride so much that he couldn’t stand her to be with anyone else. That was really complex and cool to me. It’s a love story. I just watched it again for inspiration for the music video that we’re gonna shoot for ‘Kill Bill.’”

Watch the music video below.

Austin Butler, Steven Spielberg, Justin Hurwitz & More Record-Setters at 2023 Golden Globes

The Oscar music races remain very much in flux following the 2023 Golden Globes, which were presented at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Tuesday (Jan. 10).

“Naatu Naatu” from RRR won best original song, beating songs by three of the hottest female music stars on the planet – Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, as well as a song from Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio.

“Naatu Naatu,” an Indian Telugu-language song, is the second song not performed in English to win the Globe for best original song. Remarkably, both of these songs have won in the last three years. The first was “Io sì (Seen)” an Italian-language song co-written by Diane Warren, Laura Pausini and Niccolò Agliardi for the soundtrack of the 2020 film The Life Ahead. M. M. Keeravani composed “Naatu Naatu,” with lyrics by Chandrabose. Keeravani is the cousin of S.S. Rajamouli, who directed RRR.  

Justin Hurwitz won best original score – motion picture for Babylon – beating such highly touted scores as Alexandre Desplat’s Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio and John Williams’ The Fabelmans.

It’s Hurwitz’s third win in the category, following La La Land (2017) and First Man (2019). Hurwitz is one of only six composers to win three or more scoring awards in Golden Globes history. John Williams, Dimitri Tiomkin and Maurice Jarre lead with four wins each. Hurwitz is tied with Alan Menken and Hans Zimmer with three wins each.

Remarkably, all three of the films for which Hurwitz has won Globes were directed by Damien Chazelle. It’s the first time in Globes history that a composer has won three scoring awards for films helmed by one director.

Austin Butler won best performance by an actor in a motion picture – drama for playing Elvis Presley in Elvis. This marks the fourth time in the past five years that an actor or actress has won a lead acting award in a drama (rather than musical or comedy) for playing a music icon. Rami Malek won four years ago for playing Queen’s Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody; Renee Zellweger won three years ago for portraying Judy Garland in Judy; and Andra Day won two years ago for playing Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Butler gave a charming acceptance speech. He thanked the Presley family, singling out Lisa Marie Presley and Priscilla Presley, for their belief. “I love you forever,” he said. When they started playing him off, he mock-complained “you could at least play ‘Suspicious Minds’ or something.” He concluded his remarks by thanking Elvis Presley. “You were an icon and a rebel and I love you so much.”

The Fabelmans won best motion picture, drama. It’s the fourth film directed by Steven Spielberg to win in that category, following E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg is the first director to have helmed four winners in this category. He pulls ahead of two directors who each helmed three winners in the category – Elia Kazan (Gentleman’s Agreement, On the Waterfront and East of Eden) and David Lean (The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago).

Last year, Spielberg’s West Side Story won for best motion picture, musical or comedy. Spielberg thus has directed a record five films that won the top prize in one or the other of the Globes’ two film categories. He pulls ahead of Billy Wilder, who has directed four Globe winners – two dramas (The Lost Weekend and Sunset Boulevard) and two musicals or comedies (Some Like It Hot and The Apartment).

In addition, Spielberg won best director, motion picture, for The Fabelmans. It’s Spielberg’s third win in the category, following wins for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg is the seventh director to win three or more awards in this category. Elia Kazan won four awards, more than anyone else. Spielberg is tied with Clint Eastwood, Miloš Forman, David Lean, Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone with three wins each.

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin won best motion picture – musical or comedy, five years after his film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri took best motion picture – drama. The Banshees of Inisherin was the night’s top film, with three awards, followed by Everything, Everywhere All at Once and The Fabelmans, with two awards each.

Abbott Elementary was the night’s top TV show, with three awards, followed by The White Lotus with two.

Angela Bassett won best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It’s her second Golden Globe. She won her first 29 years ago for portraying Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It.

Zendaya won best performance by an actress in a television series, drama for her role in Euphoria. Zendaya has won two Primetime Emmys for her performance in the show. She wasn’t present to accept her first Golden Globe.

Amanda Seyfried won best performance by an actress in a limited series, anthology series or a motion picture made for television for The Dropout. She won a Primetime Emmy as lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for this project. She received an Oscar nomination last year for best supporting actress for her role in Mank. Like Zendaya, she wasn’t present to accept her first Golden Globe.

Jerrod Carmichael hosted the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The show was produced by dick clark productions and Jesse Collins Entertainment in association with the HFPA. Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, executive produced the show with Dionne Harmon, a top executive in his company.

Jerrod Carmichael Jokes That Spielberg’s Movie ‘Changed Kanye West’s Mind’ During Golden Globes

After jesting about Rihanna’s long-awaited album and the controversy that kept the Golden Globes off broadcast TV last year, 2023 Globes host Jerrod Carmichael took a moment to make a swipe at Kanye West.

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Quieting the crowd after a commercial break, the comedian spoke directly to legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. “I want to take out a second to shout out Steven Spielberg, who is here,” he said. “It’s an honor sir. Congrats on The Fabelmans. I actually saw it with Kanye and it changed everything for him,” he continued as the audience exploded with laughter. “That’s how good you are. You changed Kanye West’s mind.”

Spielberg, for his part, laughed and raised his hands in prayer and looked up to the sky, as if to say, “if only.” The Fabelmans is the director’s semi-autobiographical 2022 film about a young boy born to Jewish parents in New Jersey who falls in love with cinema (Spielberg himself is Jewish). West, as nearly everyone is aware at this point, has been on a months-long diatribe* spouting antisemitic tropes and hate speech.

*Editor’s Note: After an Oct. 8, 2022 tweet in which he announced he was going “death con [sic] 3 on Jewish people,” Kanye West (Ye) has repeatedly doubled down on antisemitic hate speech, even going so far as to praise Hitler, a man responsible for the systematic murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust. This arrives at a troubling time when antisemitism is on the rise, with the Anti-Defamation League noting a 34% year-over-year increase in antisemitic incidents (assault, harassment and vandalism) in America in 2021. Many companies have cut business ties with the rapper/fashion designer, while numerous musicians, friends and politicians have condemned his comments.

Austin Butler Requests an Elvis Tune for His Play-Off Music as He Accepts His Golden Globe

If he can dream it, he can win it. Austin Butler took home the 2023 Golden Globe in the best actor in a drama category on Tuesday (Jan. 10) for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.

“Oh man, all my words are leaving me! I’m just so grateful right now,” the 31-year-old actor exclaimed as he accepted the trophy. “I owe this to a bold, visionary filmmaker who allowed me to experience, to take risks, and I always knew I would be supported — Baz Luhrmann, I love you.”

The actor also thanked Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley, who were in the audience. “Thank you, guys, thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me. Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever,” he told the pair as piano music played louder and louder to urge him to wrap up his speech.

And that’s when Butler offered up a suggestion for the person behind the ceremony’s play-off music. “You could at least play ‘Suspicious Minds’ or something!” he joked, referencing The King’s 1969 Billboard Hot 100 hit.

The actor wrapped up his speech by giving the late artist a shout-out. “You were an icon and a rebel, and I love you so much,” he said of the three-time Grammy winner.

Austin beat out Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Hugh Jackman (The Son), Billy Nighy (Living) and Jeremy Pope (The Inspection) for the best drama actor trophy.

The 80th annual Golden Globes were hosted by comedian Jerrod Carmichael, and held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. The ceremony aired on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

Rihanna’s Presence at the Golden Globes Was Too Tempting for Niecy Nash & Jerrod Carmichael to Not Joke About

Rihanna graced the 2023 Golden Globes with her sparkling presence during the Tuesday (Jan. 10) awards show. And while she didn’t walk away with a Globe, she did give three high-profile fans a chance to shoot their shot at having a moment with the superstar.

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While presenting at the 80th annual Golden Globes, Niecy Nash took a moment to let Rihanna know she was her muse for spooky season. And it just happened to be the exact moment she had all eyes and ears in the room laser-focused on her.

As the presenter for the award for actress in a television series – musical or comedy, Nash waited until all the nominees – which included Selena Gomez for her starring role in Only Murders in the Building – were listed off to make a joke, keeping the nominees on edge as she basked in the glow of Bad Gal RiRi.

“Rihanna, I love you and I dressed up as you for Halloween. I just had to say that,” Nash said before revealing that Quinta Brunson was the winner for Abbott Elementary. “Had to take my moment.”

Later in the show, presenter Billy Porter piggybacked off Nash’s moment, saying, “If I believed in Halloween, I would have dressed up as Rihanna as well.”

Following a commercial break, Carmichael followed Nash’s lead too, not letting his chance for a moment with Rihanna go to waste. “Only because I see Rihanna is here, I’m going to say something very controversial I will actually get in trouble for,” the Globes host stated. “Rihanna – you take all the time you want on that album, girl. Don’t let these fools on the internet pressure you into nothing.”

As fans of the nine-time Grammy winner joke about relentlessly online, Rihanna has not released a studio set since the Billboard 200-topping ANTI in January 2016. More recently, however, she released the single “Lift Me Up” as part of her involvement in the soundtrack to 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. “Lift Me Up” was nominated for best original song, motion picture, but lost to “Naatu Naatu” from the action film RRR.

For her part, Rihanna laughed good-naturedly at the jests.

And she’s hardly been idle. Rihanna will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 12, less than a year after giving birth to her first child with A$AP Rocky in May 2022.