Huge 50th birthday card

In modern South Korea, pop stars and politics don’t often mix. While some hip-hop acts (such as Epik High) address controversial topics, many idol groups stick to a slick, apolitical formula with a proven record of success. BTS, who just became the first K-pop act ever to top the Billboard 200 album sales chart, have become a record-setting success story in part because of their willingness to buck this convention. The seven young men who make up the group have been speaking their minds since their debut, openly discussing LGBTQ rights, mental health and the pressure to succeed – all taboo subjects in South Korea. Their stance is particularly bold given the Korean government’s history of keeping an eye on controversial themes in pop music. By straddling the line between maintaining a respectable image and writing critical lyrics, BTS have offered a refreshing change from what some critics and fans dislike about the K-Pop machine. The group’s history of open-mindedness … [Read more...] about How BTS Are Breaking K-Pop’s Biggest Taboos

One of the BBC ’s best-loved veteran presenters has died suddenly aged 71. Harry Gration ’s former colleague at BBC Yorkshire, Amy Garcia, broke down live on air as she announced his sudden death on Friday evening, telling viewers: “As we close the programme tonight, I have some very sad news to share with you all. Our much-loved friend and colleague Harry Gration very suddenly died today.” Gration had for the largest part of his career presented BBC Yorkshire’s Look North news programme but worked elsewhere in the country and on sports programme Grandstand during his 40-year career with the broadcaster. He joined the BBC in 1978 and Look North in 1982. He presented his last show in 2020, retiring the day before his 70 th birthday. He said at the time he had “always lived the story.” During his career, Gration won two Royal Television Society (RTS) awards for sports documentaries and he won the RTS Best Presenter award twice. He was made a Member of the … [Read more...] about Harry Gration Dies: BBC Colleague Breaks Down On Air Announcing Death Of Much-Loved Presenter

Actor Ranbir Kapoor on Friday said he is not an angry person in real life and that worked against him initially when he took up the role of a fearless warrior in his upcoming movie Shamshera . Kapoor has collaborated with filmmaker Karan Malhotra for the period action movie, which chronicles the story of a dacoit fighting for the cause of his tribe and independence from the British. At the film’s trailer launch event here, Kapoor said he lacks angst as an actor and Malhotra had to work extra hard in tapping that side of his personality. “It was very hard for me (to do this film). Karan held my hand. One thing I lack as an actor is angst. I am not an angry person. I am a fun-loving, happy and detached guy. Karan struggled with angst and we sat together a lot. He was like, 'how do I extract the emotion of anger from you for the character’. He started going deeper in my personal life, into my past, because he wanted to tap into that side of me,” the 39-year-old … [Read more...] about Ranbir Kapoor On Shamshera: I Lack Angst As An Actor; It Was Hard For Me To Do This Film

Stephanie Hwang was 15 when she left her native California for Seoul, South Korea, where she hoped to become a music star. Within two years, the teenager – now going by the stage name of Tiffany – made her debut with Girls’ Generation, which would become one of the most successful K-Pop groups ever. “It wasn’t easy in the beginning, because I was in Korea without my family and I couldn’t speak the language,” says the 28-year-old singer. “I had to learn Korean really fast so that I knew what was going on.” Last year, she opted not to renew her contract with SM Entertainment and moved back to Los Angeles to study acting and launch her solo career. Her first post-Girls’ Generation single is “Over My Skin,” a sensual, bold, English-language song she co-wrote, and is releasing under the new stage name Tiffany Young. Young spoke with RS about her new solo confidence, why she’d like to duet with Sam Smith, and more. Was your decision to use the name Tiffany Young – which … [Read more...] about Tiffany Young Steps Into the Solo Spotlight

Getty The U.S. Supreme Court has officially overturned Roe v. Wade ... reversing the 50-year-old precedent that legalized abortion nationwide. Abortion rights activists had been bracing for the decision ever since a draft opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was leaked back in May ... showing a majority of justices were ready to reverse a precedent that has been the law of the land for five decades. Getty Justice Samuel Alito -- the conservative justice who has sat on the Court since 2006 -- wrote the opinion and didn't mince words, writing, "We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any Constitutional provision ... It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives." Four justices signed on to Alito's opinion.  Chief Justice Roberts wrote a separate, … [Read more...] about Roe v. Wade Abortion Case Overturned by Supreme Court

Getty Prosecutors want Nicki Minaj ’s husband to do serious jail time -- not home confinement -- for failing to register as a sex offender in California ... TMZ Hip Hop has learned. According to new legal docs, federal prosecutors don't think 6 months behind bars followed by supervised release is sufficient punishment for Kenneth Petty , who pled guilty to the offense. They specifically note any home confinement ordered as part of his supervised release would be spent in a huge Calabasas home where he and Nicki live. The feds point out it's in a "gated affluent community" and includes a pool, Nicki’s music studio, and their beautifully landscaped backyard -- amenities not in line with their idea of crime and punishment. In fact, the U.S. Attorney's Office seems to think that lap of luxury is what led Petty down the wrong path. In the docs, prosecutors say Petty kept up with his sex offender registry paperwork for nearly 20 years ... until he met Nicki in … [Read more...] about Prosecutors Don’t Want Nicki Minaj’s Husband Serving Sentence in Mansion

TMZ Composite David Spade seems moved by the Burger King employee who got a mediocre goodie bag in recognition of 27 years without missing work ... giving him money and making him laugh. Kevin Ford , who went viral this week after showing off his company gifts , tells TMZ ... his daughter let him know someone named David Spade donated $5,000 to his GoFundMe , but he wasn't sure it was the comedian himself, until he checked his Instagram inbox. David slid in Kevin's direct messages ... telling him to keep it up after 27 years on the job without a break, and even cracking a joke about waiting a few more years before finally taking a day off. Kevin tells us he's a huge fan of David's, so to get a donation plus some fun back and forth with Spade is surreal. GoFundMe With David's $5k donation, Kevin's GoFundMe has now raised over $30,000 ... with the money going to help him visit his daughters and grandkids in Texas. … [Read more...] about David Spade Donates Thousands to Viral Burger King Employee

TMZ.com Todd and Julie Chrisley are asking for thoughts and prayers in the wake of their recent convictions for bank fraud and tax evasion. The "Chrisley Knows Best" stars asked fans to stop spending their hard-earned money on flower arrangements and gifts and instead keep the couple in their prayers. Chrisley Confessions Todd, who's on house arrest, made the request Wednesday in the latest episode of this "Chrisley Confessions" podcast ... telling folks the gifts being left at his door are overwhelming and appreciated, but the best gift is prayer. Julie agrees ... she's in the background saying "Amen" to Todd's wish. Backgrid As we reported ... Todd's hanging out in his huge Nashville mansion while he awaits sentencing after being found guilty of a laundry list of charges ... and he's facing up to 30 years in federal prison. The Chrisley family lawyer says Todd and Julie plan to appeal the verdict ... so it's no … [Read more...] about Todd Chrisley Ask Fans To Send Prayers After Bank Fraud, Tax Evasion Conviction

To this day, filmmaker Rory Kennedy won’t fly on a Boeing 737 Max aircraft. “Based on what I know,” she tells Deadline, “I would not get on the 737 Max and I would not let my family get on a 737 Max.” Her point of view is significant because Kennedy has learned a great deal about the aircraft in the course of making her Netflix documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing . The Emmy-contending film investigates fateful decisions by Boeing during design and launch of the 737 Max which led to two catastrophic crashes: a Lion Air flight leaving Jakarta, Indonesia in October 2018, and, in March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines flight departing Addis Ababa. Between the two disasters, almost 350 passengers and crew perished. “I knew about the first airplane crash and was really devastated by the loss of life,” Kennedy says. “And then when another airplane–same kind of aircraft, new to the market–crashed within five months, that really drew my attention. I was really just … [Read more...] about ‘Downfall’ Director Rory Kennedy On How She Deployed CGI To Show How Boeing’s 737 Max Aircraft Went Horribly Wrong

#Thalapathy67 , the much-awaited 67th film of Thalapathy Vijay is currently in its budding stage. Vijay is reuniting with the Vikram director Lokesh Kanagaraj after the massive success of Master , for the untitled venture. As per the latest reports, # Thalapathy67 has been slated to start rolling in October this year. Earlier, it was expected that Thalapathy Vijay and Lokesh Kanagaraj will announce the much-awaited project on the former's birthday, June 22. But, the team has reportedly decided to officially launch the project only after the pre-production works kickstart. Sources close to # Thalapathy67 suggest that director Lokesh and his team are planning to start the pre-production in July this year. It has been reported that Thalapathy Vijay's second collaboration with the Master director is going to be an out-and-out action film. In a recent interview, director Lokesh Kanagaraj mentioned that it is going to be 100 per cent his film, unlike … [Read more...] about Thalapathy 67: Thalapathy Vijay-Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Action Film To Start Rolling In October?