entertainment blog
Beyoncé Updating Renaissance Track “Heated” After Criticism of Ableist Lyrics
Beyoncé is going to update the Renaissance song “Heated” after facing criticism over lyrics considered ableist. The line in question is “spazzin’ on that ass, spaz on that ass”—a word often used as a slur against those with spastic cerebral palsy. “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced,” Beyoncé’s representative clarified in a statement. A timeline for when the song will be updated was not given. Following the song’s release, Beyoncé faced criticism from disability advocates like Hannah Diviney. “I’m tired and frustrated that we’re having this conversation again so soon after we got such a meaningful and progressive response from Lizzo,” Diviney told BBC News. Lizzo recently faced criticism for using the same term on her new song “Grrrls.” She upda...
Mystikal Arrested on Rape, Domestic Abuse Charges
Mystikal was arrested Sunday, July 31, in Prairieville, Louisiana on charges of first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery (strangulation, false imprisonment), simple robbery, and simple criminal damage to property. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the news, saying deputies interviewed a survivor of sexual assault at a hospital late Saturday night. The person reportedly sustained minor injuries. The sheriff’s office is calling it an ongoing investigation, and the New Orleans rapper is currently being held without bond. Mystikal was previously indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in 2017. Those charges were eventually dropped. Before that, he spent six years in prison for sexual assault after being arrested in 2004. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual ass...
Atlanta’s Music Midtown Canceled After Georgia Court Ruling Threatens the Festival’s Gun Ban
Organizers of the Atlanta festival Music Midtown has canceled this year’s event. Sources who worked for the festival confirmed to Billboard and Rolling Stone that the event was called off because recent developments with Georgia’s gun laws presented an obstacle to the festival banning guns at an event on government property. Pitchfork has reached out to the festival’s representatives for comment. “Hey Midtown fans — due to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will no longer be taking place this year,” the festival’s statement reads. “We were looking forward to reuniting in September and hope we can all get back to enjoying the festival together again soon.” Automatic refunds are being issued. This year’s Music Midtown was set to take place from September 17-18 at Piedmont Park. ...
Travis Scott Announces Las Vegas Residency
Travis Scott is slated to make a return to the big stage as a headliner for a Las Vegas residency starting this September. After a long-awaited return to performing after Astroworld, the Houston rapper has announced plans for a seven show performance under the Road to Utopia experience banner. The shows will take place at the Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World in Vegas. In a statement, the nightclub’s CMO Ronn Nicolli said, “From his music and fashion to unprecedented brand collaborations, Travis Scott is a one-of-a-kind, multi-talented artist. His residency will bring a new level of energy to Resorts World Las Vegas and add to the property’s diverse list of entertainment and nightlife offerings.” Resorts World claims that this will be a “mind-bending, first-of-its-kind nightclub residency ex...
The Russo Brothers Revealed Jon Favreau Tried To Keep Iron Man From Dying In ‘Avengers: Endgame’
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Marvel / Avengers: Endgame MCU fans already know that Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man sacrificed his life to save the universe during the events of the comic book classic Avengers: Endgame. What they might not know is that Iron Man director Jon Favreau tried his darnedest to keep Tony Stark from death’s door. In a recent interview for Vanity Fair, Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo, a.k.a the Russo brothers, revealed that Jon Favreau called them after reading the script. Favreau had some thoughts about Iron Man kicking the bucket after the epic battle, with fans feeling all the emotions at the film’s end. Breaking down the scene in which Iron Man wields the Infinity Gauntlet, Anthony recalled that they did not want to “f*ck up” Iron Man’s last...
Lil Durk Injured During Onstage Incident At Lollapalooza, Kept Perfoming For The Fans
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Josh Brasted / Getty Over the weekend, Lollapalooza went down in the city of Chicago, and much to the delight of the people of the Windy City, Lil Durk rocked the stage for his hometown on Saturday night (July 30). Still, unfortunately, an on-stage incident left him bruised, battered, and out of the game for the foreseeable future. Variety reports that while he was performing “Back In Blood” on stage, Lil Durk accidentally walked directly into two on-stage pyrotechnic smoke flares and got a face full of smoke that left him reeling for a moment. Stumbling away and wiping his eyes, the audience knew that things went left for the Chiraq artist. Stage crew quickly ran to his aid as someone on the microphone was heard saying, “Woah, woah, you alright, bro? [Th...
Lollapalooza Sets Dates For 2023 Edition in Chicago
The sweat is just drying from this weekend’s blow-out 2022 edition of Lollapalooza on the lakefront in Chicago, which means that it’s already time to start gearing up for next summer. As fans were straggling home following this year’s blowout featuring Metallica, Lil Baby, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, J. Cole, Big Sean, Kygo, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Charlie XCX and the first solo show by BTS‘ J-Hope, organizers revealed on Monday morning (Aug. 1) that they will return for more around the same time next year, and for many years to come. Lollapalooza will be back in Chicago’s Grant Park from Aug. 3-6 in 2023 with hotel packages already available for early planners out there; the Chicago Tribune also reported that on Sunday that Mayor Lori Lightfoot confirmed that organizers had agreed to terms ...
Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning to Co-Host 2022 CMA Awards
Two-time CMA Awards entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan and NFL star Peyton Manning will host the 56th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9 on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. This will mark Bryan’s second year hosting the show, after first hosting the CMA Awards in 2021; it will be former Colts/Broncos superstar Manning’s first time serving as CMA Awards host. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Manning, who has made four Super Bowl appearances and won two Super Bowls during his 18-season career, is no stranger to the CMA Awards. In 2016, Manning was part of a comedic skit with then-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and also presented the CMA’s pinnacle award to Kenny Chesney. “Being a part of such a historical night that honors...
Atlanta’s Music Midtown Festival Canceled After Court Ruling Made It Illegal to Keep Guns Out of Event
The long-running Music Midtown festival at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, scheduled for Sept. 17-18 with headliners My Chemical Romance, Future, Jack White and Fallout Boy, has been called off, according to a statement issued by festival organizers. The likely cause, industry sources tell Billboard, are recent changes to Georgia gun laws that prevent the festival from banning guns on to the publicly owned festival grounds. “Hey Midtown fans — due to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will no longer be taking place this year,” a statement posted on Music Midtown’s website reads. “We were looking forward to reuniting in September and hope we can all get back to enjoying the festival together again soon.” While owner Live Nation didn’t provide any additional details for the ...
Travis Scott Bringing ‘Road to Utopia’ Residency to Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas
Travis Scott will return to the stage Sept. 17 with the first of seven appearances at Zouk Nightclub inside Resorts World Las Vegas. Described by representatives as a multi-year partnership, an additional date of Oct. 15 is also on sale. A statement from Resorts World describes “Road to Utopia” as a “mind-bending, first-of-its-kind nightclub residency experience,” taking advantage of the venue’s technological prowess. The lighting system, known as Mothership, produces a kaleidoscope of visuals as it moves to the music, floating above the dance floor. Advanced sound from an L-Acoustics-driven system powers the audio. The experience changes nightly to meet the headlining artist’s specifications. “Travis plans to utilize all of this to his advantage,” says Ronn Nicolli, chief marketing office...
Lollapalooza Announces 2023 Festival Dates in Chicago
This past weekend drew in locals and international travelers alike to Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza. Taking place in the lakeside Grant Park, attendees saw performances from Lil Baby, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, J. Cole, Big Sean, Charli XCX, Metallica and more. Highlights included the first-ever solo set from BTS member J-Hope, who performed 18 songs from his debut album Jack in the Box. Lil Durk, meanwhile, suffered an injury during his performance after he was hit in the eye by some pyrotechnics. The rapper said he will be taking a break to focus on his health. In the aftermath of the star-studded weekend, festival organizers have confirmed that the event will be returning around the same time next summer. Lollapalooza will take place in Chicago’s Grant Park once again from August 3 to...
Selena’s “Como Te Quiero Yo A Ti” Receives New Version, Posthumous Album Release Date Annonced
The family of Selena Quintanilla and Warner Music Laitna have shared a brand new version of “Como Te Quiero Yo A Ti” and have announced the release date of her posthumous album, Moonchild Mixes. This marks the third time a different version of her 1987 track “Como Te Quiero Yo A Ti” has been released, and it serves as the lead single off Moonchild Mixes. “It truly feels like she went into the studio again and recorded it,” Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, told ABC News. “It’s pretty incredible.” The siblings added that Moonchild Mixes, which drops August 26, is meant for the new generation to hear their talented sister’s music as they wanted “to breathe new life into this old music and have it created new for the newer generation.” Suzette continued, “The younger generation are discov...
