Met Gala Fashion: Looking back at some of the most iconic looks from the annual soiree
On the first Monday of May, A-list celebrities gather at the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala, a fundraiser for the iconic museum that has turned into one of the most exclusive and talked about fashion runways in the world.
Rihanna, Martin Scorsese hype Paramount movies at CinemaCon
Paramount Pictures, still riding high on the success of โTop Gun: Maverickโsโ nearly $1.5 billion in worldwide ticket sales, brought a slew of stars from Rihanna to Martin Scorsese to CinemaCon for its presentation to theater owners Thursday.
New this week: Shania, 'Princess Power' and Pamela Anderson
This weekโs new entertainment releases include a fresh album from Shania Twain, the megahit film โBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverโ lands on Disney+ and a new PBS โFrontlineโ documentary delves into Russian President Vladimir Putinโs interaction with the last five U.S. presidents.
Major funders call for increased support of Black feminists
The need to increase funding for Black feminist organizations is urgent, according to an open letter from some of philanthropyโs most influential organizations โ including Melinda Gatesโ Pivotal Ventures, Rihannaโs Clara Lionel Foundation, as well as the Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation โ released Thursday.
Scores protest in India against arrest of climate activist
Members of Aam Aadmi Party shout slogans demanding the release of Indian climate activist Disha Ravi, during a protest in Mumbai, India, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The 22 years old activist was arrested Saturday for circulating a document on social media that allegedly incited protesting farmers to turn violent last month. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)NEW DELHI โ Scores of people demonstrated in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Mumbai on Monday after a climate activist was arrested for circulating a document on social media supporting months of massive protests by farmers. โThe call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India,โ police tweeted on Sunday. The protests attracted international attention earlier this month when pop star Rihanna, Thunberg and Meena Harris tweeted their support.
India's top court tackles social media in free speech case
Critics say the government has used the massive demonstrations to escalate a crackdown on free speech, detaining journalists and freezing Twitter accounts. Hundreds of Indian Twitter accounts, including those of news websites, activists and a farmers union, were suspended on Monday. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)NEW DELHI โ Indiaโs top court on Friday asked for the government and Twitterโs response to a petition seeking greater regulation of content on social media platforms amid a debate over free speech. Critics have accused the Modi government of using the massive demonstrations to escalate a crackdown on free speech and silence opponents. โWe are exploring options under Indian law โ both for Twitter and for the accounts that have been impacted.
LVMH to put Fenty fashion collection on pause
FILE - Rihanna poses as she unveils her first fashion designs for Fenty at a pop-up store in Paris, France, on May 22, 2019. LVMH Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the worlds largest luxury group, has put Rihannas Fenty fashion collection on hold. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)NEW YORK โ LVMH Moรซt Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the worldโs largest luxury group, has put Rihanna's Fenty fashion collection on hold. AdWWD first reported the news on LVMH's pause of Fenty fashion collection. ______Follow Anne DโInnocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio______This story has been corrected to show that WWD, not Business of Fashion, first reported the news.
Twitter suspends more India accounts amid free speech debate
Critics say the government has used the massive demonstrations to escalate a crackdown on free speech, detaining journalists and freezing Twitter accounts. Hundreds of Indian Twitter accounts, including those of news websites, activists and a farmers union, were suspended on Monday. The social media company said in a blog post that the accounts will continue to be accessible outside India. None of the suspended accounts belonged to journalists, news organizations, activists or politicians, as doing so โwould violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law,โ it said. This gives the government a legal position to use other information technology laws to regulate social media and initiate criminal action against those who violate its orders,โ Duggal said.
India clamps down on free speech to fight farmer protests
A vendor reaches out for a copy of The Caravan, Indias leading investigating magazine, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. At the heart of the allegations is the magazineโs coverage of the ongoing farmersโ protests that have gripped India for more than two months. Critics say it has used the massive demonstrations to escalate a crackdown on free speech, detaining journalists and freezing Twitter accounts. Hundreds of Indian Twitter accounts, including those of news websites, activists and a farmersโ union, were suspended on Monday. But similarly, Twitterโs reaction of suspending accounts has also โset a terrible precedentโ for free speech and press, said Jose.
1 tweet from Rihanna on farmer protests gets India incensed
A person reads tweets by Indian celebrities, one of the many backing the Indian government, on his mobile in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. It took just one tweet from pop star Rihanna to anger the Indian government and supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, after she tweeted about the farmer protests that have gripped India. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)NEW DELHI โ It took just one tweet from Rihanna to anger the Indian government and supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. The pop star linked a news article in a tweet drawing attention to the massive farmer protests that have gripped India for more than two months. AdTharoor in a tweet said Indian government getting โIndian celebrities to react to Western ones is embarrassing."
Lil Wayne, Kodak Black get clemency; Joe Exotic does not
President Donald Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 140 people in a last-minute clemency flurry after midnight on Wednesday, a list that included rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. โ Rapper Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was given a full pardon. In the pardon, Lil Wayne was praised for his โcommitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks.โ Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders backed the pardon. Lil Wayne is one of the seminal figures in rap in the last two decades, selling more than 20 million albums in the U.S. since releasing his debut in 1999. Supporters included Gucci Mane, Lil Pump, Lil Yachty, and athletes Lamar Jackson and Jack Brewer.
Chunky bootmaker Dr. Martens to sell shares to public
FILE - In this Wednesday, April 23, 2003 file photo, a pair of Dr. Martens 1460 workboots, as interpreted by designers Michael & Hushi, are part of an exhibition of Dr. Martens boots in New York. Dr. Martens Ltd. said Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 that current investors plan to sell at least 25% of their stake in an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. Dr. Martens Ltd. said Monday that current investors plan to sell at least 25% of their stake in an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. Permira Funds, a London-based private equity investor, bought Dr. Martens for 300 million pounds (currently worth $400 million) in 2014. Dr. Martens Chief Executive Kenny Wilson said the IPO underscored the brandโs โglobal growth potentialโ after revenue increased by 39% over the past two financial years to an annual 672.2 million pounds ($900 million).
Despite bleak 2020, celebrities make effort to brighten year
(AP Photo)LOS ANGELES โ Yes, 2020 may seem like a complete fail with all the constant bad news and tragic moments. Itโs been filled with gloom and doom(scrolling), but some celebrities and those inspired by them have tried to brighten a bleak year. He reassigned his 10 seamstresses in New York to produce thousands daily for health care workers on the frontlines. The singer and husband Emilio Estefan's restaurant Estefan Kitchen served up homemade meals for health care workers in Miami. The challenge coordinated offers by celebrities and athletes to raise funds to feed those in need during the pandemic.
Hijab-wearing Somali-US model takes step back from industry
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, Somali-American model Halima Aden wears a creation part of the Max Mara women's Fall-Winter 2017-18 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy. Somali-American model Halima Aden has announced that she is taking a step back from the fashion industry, saying that the pandemic slowdown has given her time to see instances when her desire to maintain a hijab was not properly respected. MILAN โ Somali-American model Halima Aden has announced that she is taking a step back from the fashion industry, saying the pandemic slowdown has allowed her to see instances when her desire to maintain a hijab was not properly respected. I wish I wasnโt so defensive,โโ the 23-year-old model wrote. โWhat I blame the industry for is the lack of MUSLIM stylists,'' she wrote.
Drake bests Aretha Franklin, Wonder to set Billboard record
1 hit on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, Drake has bested a record previously held by icons Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Drake's โLaugh Now Cry Later," featuring rapper Lil Durk, reached the No. Wonder and Franklin, who died in 2018, each have had 20 songs top the chart. 1 hits on the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, 12 include him in the leading role, including โGodโs Plan,โ โIn My Feelings,โ โHotline Bling,โ โHold On, Weโre Going Homeโ and โBest I Ever Had,โ his first major hit released in 2009. Earlier this year, 34-year-old Drake made Billboard chart history when he set a new record for most songs on the Hot 100 chart โ Billboard's main songs chart that includes all music genres.
A look at artists who've objected to Trump using their songs
FILE - Pharrell Williams attends the world premiere of "The Black Godfather," in Los Angeles on June 3, 2019. Dozens of artists have objected to Donald Trump using their music in his two presidential campaigns. Williams sent a cease-and-desist letter after his song Happy" was played at a Trump rally in 2018. He was especially angered that the event was hours after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File)
A look at artists who've objected to Trump using their songs
Dozens of artists have objected to Donald Trump using their music in his two presidential campaigns. Williams sent a cease-and-desist letter after his song Happy" was played at a Trump rally in 2018. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File)From classic American rockers to British artists to the estates of late legends, here's a look at some of the musicians who have objected to Donald Trump using their songs at campaign events. JOHN FOGERTY, PHIL COLLINS, BRUCE SPRINGSTEENSome classic rockers say not only do they oppose Trump using their music, the choice of songs is ironic or downright wrong. Eddy Grant sued Trump in September over the use of his 1980s hit โElectric Avenueโ in a Trump campaign animated video that mocked his opponent Joe Biden.
Families seek new investigations into old police killings
But the protests against racial injustice since George Floyd was killed during a police encounter in Minnesota have the three men's families urging authorities to reopen the investigations. Because criminal laws and juries often give great deference to police and the split-second decisions they have to make, families sometimes turn to civil courts to seek justice. The footage begins trained on Peters' car. The officer, who is also Black, deployed the stun gun, which appeared to have no effect, then shot Peters with his service weapon. โMarcus needed help, not death,โ Blanding said.
Rihanna on new album: 'I just want to have fun with music'
FILE - Singer and fashion designer Rihanna attends the "Rihanna" book launch event in New York on Oct. 11, 2019. It's been four years since Rihanna released an album but the singer is working hard on recording new music. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK โ It's been four years since Rihanna released an album but the singer is working hard on recording new music. And with the music, Iโm using that as my outlet." But I love challenges so, you know, Iโm gonna get it done.โ______AP Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu contributed to this report.
Rihanna wants to cheer up a troubled world with fashion show
This image released by Savage X Fenty shows designer Rihanna on the set of The Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Presented by Amazon Prime Video in Los Angeles. The lingerie fashion show, with musical performances, dancers and models, will drop Friday exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. Its the lines second turn on the streaming platform. (Dennis Leupold/Savage X Fenty via AP)