Month: October 2022

After Marvel Studios seemingly confirmed that new music from Rihanna would appear in the upcoming film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the artist herself tweeted Wednesday that she will release the single “Lift Me Up” from the soundtrack on Friday, Oct. 28.   Rihanna’s tweet came with a corresponding video that shows the letter ‘R’ designed like the Black Panther uniform on a black background. A short snippet of humming plays in the background, with Rihanna’s name appearing on the left side and the name of the song on the right  (Marvel’s initial tweet had showed a clip of the movie’s title that also zeroed in on a ‘R’ and the same release date).

According to Variety, “Lift Me Up” was “written as a tribute to the life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman” by Tems, Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna and Ryan Coogler.  Boseman, who famously played T’Challa, died of colon cancer in 2020. The sequel film is set for release on November 11th.

The first Black Panther film was released in 2018 with Kendrick Lamar serving as the executive producer of that film’s soundtrack. The first film also featured music from Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz, The Weeknd, and Travis Scott.

“Lift Me Up” will mark Rihanna’s first solo material in nearly seven years, aside from a guest spot on PartyNextDoor’s 2020 single ‘Believe It’.  The singer last released the album ‘Anti’ in 2006, and she’ll return to the stage to headline the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show in February 2023.

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Dick Clark Productions and ABC announced on Monday that Wayne Brady is set to host the 2022 American Music Awards. Brady said in a press release: “I’m ecstatic and honored to host this year’s AMAs. As a musician and music lover, it’s amazing to be part of a night where music fans make their voices heard! It’s a big show, so I’m bringing it all… The funny, the music and the moves!”

The AMA ceremony’s executive producer and showrunner Jesse Collins said: “Wayne Brady is undoubtedly one of the most talented people on earth and we are thrilled to have him host this year’s AMAs. Viewers should expect an incredible night of music, comedy and fun!”

Bad Bunny leads the nominations for the 2022 American Music Awards with eight nods, including his first for artist of the year. Beyoncé, Drake and Taylor Swift are close behind with six nods each. That makes Bey and Swift the year’s top female nominees.

Fan voting is now open via VoteAMAs.com and Twitter in all award categories, except favorite K-pop artist, which will open on Nov. 1.  The AMAs will air from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

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On Tuesday, shoe company Adidas said it will be cutting ties with rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) after his recent antisemitic comments in interviews and on social media.

Adidas said in a statement that it was ending production of Yeezy-branded products and stopping all payments to Ye and his companies. The company statement read in part: “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”

The 45-year-old West was worth around $2 billion for his music and sneaker brand Yeezy, as well as his former partnership with Gap which ended recently. He has lost multiple sponsors after tweeting he wanted to go “death con 3” on Jewish people. Balenciaga stopped working with West, and JPMorgan Chase also severed ties with him.  Creative Artists Agency also dropped West as a client earlier this month.

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Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan, perhaps best known for his roles in “Will & Grace,” and “American Horror Story”, has died in a car accident at age 67.   Jordan was behind the wheel of his BMW in Hollywood on Monday morning when he crashed into the side of a building at Cahuenga Blvd. and Romaine St. It was suspected he suffered some sort of medical emergency.  Jordan’s agent David Shaul said in a statement: “The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.”

The diminutive Jordan (who stood 4-foot-11) was a veteran actor, writer and singer whose credits also included “Hearts Afire,” “The Help,” “The Cool Kids” and “Call Me Kat,” which is currently airing its third season on Fox. He won the Emmy Award for guest actor in a comedy series for his work on “Will & Grace” in 2006 where he played socialite Beverly Leslie, ‘frenemy’ of Karen Walker (Megan Mullally).  Jordan also played three different characters on three different seasons of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story,” recurring in the “Coven,” “Roanoke” and “1984” installments.

Jordan became hugely popular to an entire new generation of fans in 2020, gaining millions of Instagram followers due to his humorous videos posted throughout the pandemic. He released a gospel music album titled “Company’s Comin’” in 2021 and, later that year, appeared as a guest panelist on “The Masked Singer,” where he performed gospel standard “This Little Light of Mine.”

Jordan was also an LGBTQ icon: during the AIDS crisis, he was involved with the AIDS Project Los Angeles and Project Angel Food, and he received the GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ Timeless Star award in 2021.  Jordan also appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as a guest judge in 2013, and again in 2022 as a guest director.

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Monday’s episode of ABC’s The View was interrupted by protesters during an interview with Texas Sen. Tex Cruz.  The protesters emerged from the audience shouting over Cruz and the show’s co-hosts, calling out for action on climate change. After one group of protesters was removed from the studio audience, another took their place.

The protests started when Cruz avoided a question about reproductive rights and instead began talking about the economy, at which point shouts and chants of “government funding now!” built up in the audience. Co-host Sunny Hostin explained that the protesters were calling out about climate change, but the second round of protesters made it clear that this was about more than media representation. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg addressed the protestors, saying: “Ladies, let us do our job. We heard what you all have to say but you’ve got to go. You’ve got to let us do our job.”  

After some of the protesters were reportedly removed from the studio, Cruz and the panel got their discussion back on track before more shouts overtook them. Those protesters were muted and the broadcast cut abruptly to commercial break. After returning to the broadcast, order seemed to be restored in the studio, with co-host Anna Navarro telling Cruz: “I’ve been very vocal and critical of you, but I’m sorry that this has happened in our house.”

Following the broadcast, an ABC spokesperson said in a statement: “Three members of the audience interrupted The View today during Sen. Ted Cruz’s appearance protesting about climate. They were promptly escorted out by security.”

‘The View’ Interrupted By Climate Protesters During Ted Cruz Interview

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