Month: January 2023

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Entertainment Daypop

Penélope Cruz, Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel and Roger Federer to co-chair 2023 Met Gala

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Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa and Anna Wintour will co-chair the 2023 Met Gala, which benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Honorary chairs of the gala include Tom Ford and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri.

This year’s exhibition will celebrate the opening of “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” featuring about 150 pieces spanning Lagerfeld’s start in the business in the 1950s to his final collection in 2019.  According to an announcement, “guests will be invited to pay homage to Lagerfeld’s affinity for aesthetics and theory of art by embodying the ‘line of beauty’ through the appreciation and execution of the ‘straight line’ and the ‘serpentine line,’ which delineate, respectively, Lagerfeld’s modernist and historicist tendencies .. Along with the straight and serpentine lines, the exhibition will conclude with the ‘satirical line,’ in effort to highlight Lagerfeld’s ‘ironic, playful, and whimsical predilections expressed through visual puns that reflect the designer’s razor-sharp wit.’

The 2023 Met Gala will resume its annual tradition of taking place on the first Monday in May (this year on May 1, 2023). Date changes had been made for the last two years due to the pandemic.

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Entertainment Daypop

Take a look at Zachary Levi and Helen Mirren in new ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ trailer

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Warner Bros. Pictures has shared the trailer for the DC superhero film ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ featuring Zachary Levi, Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu. The film is a sequel to the 2019 film ‘Shazam!’ which follows Billy Batson (aka Shazam), a teenager who transforms into an adult superhero (Levi) after saying the name “Shazam.”

According to a film synopsis from Warner Bros. Discovery, ‘when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth, the kids are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives and the fate of their world.’  The trailer shows Shazam (Levi) taking on Hespera (Mirren) and Kalypso (Liu), daughters of Atlas. Adam Brody, Rachel Zegler, Ian Chen, Faithe Herman and Djimon Hounsou also star.

Shazm! Fury of the Gods, written by Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan and directed by David F. Sandberg, opens in theaters March 17. Take a look at the trailer – here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Rock Daypop

Foo Fighters replace Pantera at two German music festivals

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Foo Fighters will replace Pantera at Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park, two German festivals taking place simulatenously this summer. Foo Fighters will headline Rock Am Ring on Friday, June 2nd and Rock Im Park on Sunday, June 4th. The Foos wrote on Instagram: “Germany – we’ll see you Friday, June 2nd at @rockamringofficial and Sunday, June 4th at @rockimparkofficial! Tickets are on sale now!” 

The reformed Pantera features original members Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown joined by guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante paying homage to the late Abbott Brothers who founded the band in the 1980s.  Pantera was removed from both festivals earlier this week after controversy over singer Philip Anselmo making a Nazi-style salute and screaming “white power” during a Dimebash event in Hollywood back in 2016. The singer says he made an “off-color joke” about drinking white wine backstage and made the comment and gesture to audience members taunting him, but apologized later that month. The German Green Party for the Nuremberg City Council released a statement earlier this month asking that organizers to remove the band for “stirring up anti-racist and anti-fascist circles.”

The Foo Fighters have announced headlining appearances at Boston Calling, Sonic Temple and the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, their first performances since the passing of drummer Taylor Hawkin in March 2022.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Rock Daypop

Dave Matthews Band announce summer tour and new album

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Dave Matthews Band has announced their first studio album in five years, titled “Walk Around the Moon,” out May 19.  The band’s 10th studio album consists of 12 original songs, produced by Rob Evans, and longtime DMB collaborator John Alagia serves as executive producer on “Walk Around the Moon.”  According to a press release, the album “took shape” during the pandemic and “is as much a reflection on the current times as it is an urge to find common ground.:

The band also revealed dates for a 2023 North American summer tour, kicking off May 9 in Mexico City and ending on Sept. 3 in George, Wash, with the band’s traditional three-day Labor Day weekend celebration at Gorge Amphitheatre. Members of the DMB Warehouse Fan Association can now register for presale here, while Citi cardmembers will have access to presale starting Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. local time. General sale begins on Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. local time.

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Pop Daypop

The Kid Laroi shares first song from his new project ‘The First Time’

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The Kid Laroi is back with the song “I Can’t Go Back To The Way It Was (Intro),” the first single from his upcoming project, The First Time. The album is set to be released later this year via Columbia Records.

The 19-year-old rapper is following up with the release of “I Can’t Go Back To The Way It Was (Intro)” with the official video directed by Julian Klincewicz.  The video shows The Kid Laroi contemplating his own memories before surprising fans at the end of the “Intro” with the release date for the upcoming song “Love Again” coming on Friday, January 27th. You can take a look at the video for I Can’t Go Back To The Way It Was (Intro) – here.

The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber finished last year at No. 1 on the Top Songs of 2022 with their collaboration “Stay,” released in the summer of 2021.  “Stay” has not dropped out of the Daily Top 100 since its global release, and has reached No. 1 on the Daily Top 100 in 69 countries and regions worldwide.

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Pop Daypop

Miley Cyrus earns her first Billboard Hot 100 debut #1 with ‘Flowers’

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Miley Cyrus’s latest single, “Flowers,” has debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated January 28. Although Miley has another No. 1 hit with “Wrecking Ball” from her 2013 album Bangerz, ‘Flowers’ is the first time a single of hers has debuted at the top of the Hot 100. Flowers’ also made headlines recently for breaking the Spotify record for the most streamed song in a single week, achieving 96 million streams on the platform in its first week of streaming.

SZA‘s “Kill Bill” from her sophomore album, SOS claimed the No. 2 spot, while Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” – which had previously held the top spot for eight non-consecutive weeks – now sits at No. 3.

To pre-order physical vinyl and CDs of Miley’s upcoming album “Endless Summer Vacation” head here. To pre-save the album on streaming services, head here.   Endless Summer Vacation officially drops on March 10th.

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News Daypop

President Biden approves sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine

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President Biden announced Wednesday that the United States will send 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, which will provide a major boost to Ukrainian firepower over the coming months. Flanked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the President said at the White House: “Today, I’m announcing that the United States will be sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion.”  The Pentagon said the security package is worth roughly $400 million. The delivery of the Abrams tanks will take several months, given the time needed to procure them and train Ukrainian troops on their use.

The move comes after Germany said it is providing 14 of its own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow Western partners to re-export their own. Biden noted that France, the U.K., Finland, the Netherlands and other nations are also sending key security assistance, and said that the United States’ move is part of a concerted effort by Western allies: “Today’s announcement builds on the hard work and commitment from countries around the world, led by the United States of America, to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity. That’s what this is about, helping Ukraine protect and defend Ukrainian land. It is not an offensive threat to Russia. There is no offensive threat to Russia. If Russian troops return to Russia … where they belong, this war would be over today.”

Biden said the M1 Abrams is the U.S. military’s main tank system and “the most capable tanks in the world.”  The Abrams tanks and other armored vehicles are key to helping Ukraine fight the Russians on open terrain, like that found in the mostly flat Donbas region, which has seen intense fighting between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists since 2014.

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News Daypop

Meta says Trump suspension from Facebook and Instagram platforms will end

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Social media giant Meta announced Wednesday that former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts are being reinstated, over two years after he was suspended from the platforms over incendiary posts on the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.  Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) said Trump’s accounts will be reinstated “in the coming weeks … with new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses.” Clegg said on the company’s website that those guardrails will include “heightened penalties for repeat offenses — penalties which will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from suspensions related to civil unrest under our updated protocol. In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation.”

The move comes weeks after the timeframe Facebook gave itself to re-evaluate the 2021 decision. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy vowed to “rein in big tech power over our speech” after Facebook announced the duration of Trump’s suspension in 2021.  Additionally, Trump’s presidential campaign officially petitioned Meta to allow Trump back on to the platform earlier this month, writing in a letter dated Jan. 17th: “We believe that the ban on President Trump’s account on Facebook has dramatically distorted and inhibited the public discourse.”

Facebook announced in June 2021 that it was banning Trump from Facebook and Instagram until at least January 2023 for a “severe violation of our rules” stemming from his role in the Jan. 6 riot. The ban was initially slated to last 24 hours, but was extended until the end of his term by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who said the “risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great … therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.”  Trump was also permanently banned from Twitter at the time, but his account was reinstated on Nov. 19 by the platform’s new owner, Elon Musk.  About a year after leaving office, Trump launched his own social media site called ‘Truth Social.’  Trump’s reach on Truth Social is not nearly as large as it was on the other platforms. He has slightly more than 4.8 million followers on Truth Social, compared to nearly 88 million on Twitter and 34 million on Facebook.

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Categories
Sports Daypop

AP MVP finalists include Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and more

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Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson are the five finalists for this year’s AP MVP.

Mahomes, who is currently the frontrunner, was named PFT’s MVP earlier this month. Mahomes received 49 of the 50 first-place votes for the AP’s All-Pro team, and led the league with a career-high 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in his fifth season as a starter. He also completed a career-high 67.1 percent of his passes and finished with a 105.2 passer rating.

In his third season, Burrow has been outstanding — completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 4,475 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, earning a 100.8 passer rating.  Burrows led Cincinnati to consecutive division titles for the first time since 1981 and 1982.

The Eagles have gone 14-1 this season with with Hurts in the starting lineup. Hurts passed for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six picks while also rushing for 760 yards with 13 touchdowns.

While the Bills were just eliminated the post-season, Allen led Buffalo to win the AFC East with the league’s No. 2 offense. He threw for 4,283 yards with 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

In his third season, receiver Jefferson elevated the play of quarterback Kirk Cousins, finishing the regular season with the league lead in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809).

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the start of the playoffs. The AP MVP and other winners will be announced during NFL Honors on Feb. 9.

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Sports Daypop

Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr. to miss at least two weeks with knee and ankle injuries

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. will miss time due to a pair of injuries he suffered during Monday’s win against the Detroit Pistons — — a right knee MCL sprain and a right ankle sprain.  The Bucks tweeted: “Medical Update on Bobby Portis: Bobby Portis suffered a right knee MCL sprain and a right ankle sprain in Monday’s game at Detroit. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.”

The 27-year-old Portis exited Monday’s game against the Pistons early in the fourth quarter after registering 18 points and 10 rebounds, and was ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets. Portis has played in every game this season, averaging a near-career-high 14.4 points (49.9 percent shooting) and a career-high 10.1 rebounds in 26.8 minutes across 47 games this season (14 starts).

According to Milwaukee’s two-week timeline, Portis is expected to miss at least seven games. The Bucks are 30-17 and third in the Eastern Conference standings.

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