Jury convicts 3 of murder in death of rapper XXXTentacion
March 20, 2023 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Three men were found guilty of first-degree murder on Monday in the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was shot outside a South Florida motorcycle shop while being robbed of $50,000.
Jeremy Scott leaves Moschino after 10 years at fashion house
March 20, 2023 GMTMILAN (AP) — Jeremy Scott is stepping down as creative director of Italian luxury house Moschino after 10 years of wild and wacky fashion shows and his elegant dressing of numerous celebrities.
Anthony Fauci documentary on PBS covers a career of crises
March 20, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — There's a moment in the new PBS documentary about Dr. Anthony Fauci when a protestor holds up a handmade sign reading, “Dr.
Bad Bunny’s ex-girlfriend files lawsuit seeking $40M
March 20, 2023 GMTSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Bad Bunny’s ex–girlfriend is suing the superstar for at least $40 million over a well-known voice recording she provided the singer before he became famous.
Carliz De La Cruz Hernández, whose breathy “Bad Bunny, baby” recording was included in two of the artist’s songs, claimed in a lawsuit filed this month in a Puerto Rico court that her voice and the phrase she came up with are being used without her permission.
Biden awarding 1st batch of arts, humanities medals Tuesday
March 20, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Bruce Springsteen has a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a coveted Kennedy Center Honor. He has won multiple Grammys and Golden Globes, plus an Academy Award and a special Tony Award.
‘Ted Lasso’ visits White House, promotes mental health care
March 20, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to "ask how they're doing, and listen, sincerely,”
Mae Muller wrote a song, now represents UK at Eurovision
March 20, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Mae Muller wrote a song. Only a few days later, Eurovision came calling.
“I Wrote a Song” is representing the U.K. at the Eurovision Song Contest, whose semifinals start in 50 days.
Review: Stunning new novel about a family and mental illness
March 20, 2023 GMT“Commitment,” by Mona Simpson (Alfred A. Knopf)
Mona Simpson’s latest novel “Commitment” is a minimalist masterpiece, exploring the large and small ways that a diagnosis of mental illness affects a family.
New this week: ‘Top Gun,’ Lana Del Rey and ‘Rabbit Hole’
March 20, 2023 GMTHere’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.
MOVIES
— The Oscar-nominated “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” was one of the high points in documentary in the past year.
Adam Sandler gets Mark Twain prize surrounded by celeb pals
March 20, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Sandler placed his hand on the bronze bust of Mark Twain and speculated that it “one day might be the weapon used to bludgeon me in my sleep."
A host of comedic and entertainment royalty gathered at Washington’s Kennedy Center as Sandler was presented with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content
March 20, 2023 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about LGBTQ issues in Iowa schools, arguing her only goal is ridding schools of sexually explicit material.
Sara Hayden Parris says that whatever you want to call it, it's wrong for some parents to think a book shouldn't be readily available to any child if it isn’t right for their own child.
Review: ‘American Mermaid’ offers satiric look at Hollywood
March 20, 2023 GMT“American Mermaid,” by Julia Langbein, (Penguin Random House)
This hilarious novel by comedian Julia Langbein is also about something serious: a young woman trying to have her voice heard and find her place in a world that seems bent on diminishing her.
Gloria Dea, 1st magician on Las Vegas Strip, dies at age 100
March 20, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Gloria Dea, touted as the first magician to perform on what would become the Las Vegas Strip in the early 1940s, has died. She was 100.
Dea died Saturday at her Las Vegas residence, said LaNae Jenkins, the director of clinical services for Valley Hospice, who was one of Dea’s caretakers.
Bidens to host ‘Ted Lasso’ cast to promote mental health
March 19, 2023 GMTWILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host the cast of the TV series “Ted Lasso” at the White House on Monday to promote mental health and well-being.
‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ stumbles with $30.5 million debut
March 19, 2023 GMT“ Shazam! Fury of the Gods ” felt the fury of the marketplace in its theatrical debut this weekend.
Taylor Swift kicks off US Eras Tour at Super Bowl stadium
March 19, 2023 GMTGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Taylor Swift opened her U.S. concert series with a three-hour tour of her career.
Swift kicked off the first concert of the 52-date Eras Tour with a six-song set from her album “Lover” on Friday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where the Super Bowl was played a month ago.
Tejano musician Fito Olivares dies in Houston at 75
March 18, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — Tejano musician Fito Olivares, known for songs that were wedding and quinceanera mainstays including the hit “Juana La Cubana,” died Friday. He was 75.
The noted saxophonist died in the morning at home in Houston, according to his wife, Griselda Olivares.
Lance Reddick, ‘The Wire’ and ‘John Wick’ star, dies at 60
March 18, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” "Fringe” and the "John Wick” franchise, has died.
Women’s March Madness finds foothold on national TV
March 18, 2023 GMTWith hopes of a separate television contract in upcoming negotiations, the women's NCAA Tournament keeps gaining momentum.
The national title game returns to network television for the first time since 1995, with an ABC broadcast on April 2 from Dallas and a one-hour pregame show.
Top 20 Global Concert Tours from Pollstar
March 17, 2023 GMTThe Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.
Q&A: K-pop star KANGDANIEL is on the pursuit of happiness
March 17, 2023 GMTNew York (AP) — KANGDANIEL is one of K-pop’s brightest stars, but at just 26 years old, he’s already learned there’s more to life than bright lights and fancy restaurants.
“I like to pursue happiness because in the end, time is not eternal … we have to maximize our happiness and it’s almost imprinted in my brain,” explained the “Paranoia” and “Nirvana” singer.
Mother: Irvo Otieno was ‘brilliant and creative and bright’
March 17, 2023 GMTIrvo Otieno had realized his passion: making hip-hop. He could write a song in less than five minutes. And he was streaming his music under the moniker “Young Vo,” while working toward starting his own record label.
Bob Odenkirk returns to comedy roots with AMC’s ‘Lucky Hank’
March 17, 2023 GMTBob Odenkirk loves Saul Goodman, but he's also ready to leave the character behind. He played the underhanded, calculating lawyer on “Breaking Bad” and then for six seasons on “ Better Call Saul. "
Washington State’s March Madness soundtrack? Shania Twain
March 17, 2023 GMTVILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Man, the Washington State women's basketball team has felt like big winners since they adopted Shania Twain's monster 1997 hit “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” as the their theme song on their run into March Madness.
Q&A: Code Kunst on new album and his love for Mac Miller
March 17, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Producer Code Kunst arguably one of the most well-known artists in South Korea’s thriving music scene, a rarity in a country where singers get most of the attention.
His fame comes from his nearly decadelong career churning out hit songs with some of the country’s biggest names.
Jim Gordon, rock drummer who killed mother, dies at 77
March 17, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Jim Gordon, the rock ‘n’ roll session drummer who played on classic records by Eric Clapton, George Harrison and The Beach Boys but suffered from growing mental health problems and spent the second half of his life in prison for killing his mother, has died at 77.
Prince Harry sues tabloid for defamation over security story
March 17, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Lawyers for Prince Harry asked a judge Friday to rule that a tabloid newspaper libeled the British royal with an article about his quest for police protection when he and his family visit the U.K.
Posthumous album set from ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper Coolio
March 17, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The estate of rapper Coolio plans to release a studio album later this year that the Grammy-winning hitmaker had been working on in the days before he died.
Mozambicans march to honor protest rapper after his death
March 17, 2023 GMTMAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Mozambicans are planning marches across the country to honor Azagaia, a popular protest rapper and fierce government critic, who died last week.
Memorial marches are planned in every major city on Saturday for the musician who died after an epileptic seizure at the age of 38.
In Israel, TV’s dystopian ‘Handmaids’ is protest fixture
March 17, 2023 GMTTEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — It's become an ominous fixture of the mass anti-government protests roiling Israel: a coil of women in crimson robes and white caps, walking heads bowed and hands clasped. They are dressed as characters from Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, “The Handmaid's Tale,” and the eponymous TV series.
Hong Kong’s Mirror launches English song, revives Cantopop
March 17, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s most popular boy band Mirror, a major driving force behind the revival of the local pop music scene, launched its first English song on Friday, hoping to bring the city’s tunes to music lovers globally.
Exhibit: ‘Invisible’ Monet, Leon, was key to impressionism
March 17, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Behind some great men, there is a bigger brother.
Claude Monet’s older sibling is the focus of a landmark Paris exhibit illuminating the hitherto unknown role Leon Monet played in the French impressionist painter’s life and art.
Vatican unveils new ethnographic display of Rwanda screens
March 16, 2023 GMTVATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican Museums officially reopened its African and American ethnographic collections Thursday by showcasing intricately restored Rwandan raffia screens that were sent by Catholic missionaries to the Vatican for a 1925 exhibit.
Jury deliberations to resume Monday in XXXTentacion killing
March 16, 2023 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jury deliberations for the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion during a 2018 robbery will resume Monday after the panel finished a seventh day of deliberations Thursday without reaching a verdict.
Paris Hilton is ready to reclaim her story, share ups, downs
March 16, 2023 GMTParis Hilton is adding her voice to the chorus of women speaking out to reclaim their narrative from the media and the public.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson elevates diversity of culinary world
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Marcus Samuelsson is keen on leading with intention. That focus is seared into the delectable dishes prepared at his popular restaurants, but it is also expressed with his staffing.
FBI: Newspaper editor interfered with police at Capitol riot
March 16, 2023 GMTA former top editor of an Orthodox Jewish newspaper in New York City was arrested Thursday on charges that he interfered with police officers who were trying to protect the U.S.
Adam Brody talks ‘Shazam,’ playing Leighton Meester’s enemy
March 16, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — For Adam Brody, donning the padded superhero suit in “Shazam!” and its sequel is a dream come true.
“I always wanted to play a superhero. I grew up reading comics,” the actor recalled in a recent interview.
Dafoe’s ‘Inside’ asks how art helps us escape isolation
March 16, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Willem Dafoe has said that, for him, the process of making a movie always eclipses the finished product.
But after more than 130 film credits, the 67-year-old actor has finally found a project whose final form is on par with the experience of creating it.
Stephen Sondheim’s last musical finds a New York City stage
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The late Stephen Sondheim's last stage musical — an adaptation of two films by Spanish surrealist director Luis Buñuel — will be given an off-Broadway stage this year, offering theatergoers a chance to see a new work by musical theater’s most venerated composer.
Comedian Trevor Noah wins prestigious Dutch Erasmus Prize
March 16, 2023 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Comedian Trevor Noah, the former host of “The Daily Show,” has won the prestigious Dutch Erasmus Prize, becoming the first humorist awarded the honor since Charlie Chaplin in 1965, the foundation that selects the winner announced Thursday.
Ringgold, Unterberg, Vendler to be honored by arts academy
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Author-visual artist Faith Ringgold, poetry critic Helen Hennessy Vendler and photographer Susan Unterberg will be honored this spring at the American Academy of Arts and Letters ' annual awards and induction ceremony.
Jen Psaki enters TV’s weekend fray with show starting Sunday
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Seven months into her new television career, it's clear that Jen Psaki didn't sign with MSNBC to just dabble in the media.
‘Star Trek’, swear words and TV characters’ changing mores
March 16, 2023 GMTFor nearly four decades, Jean-Luc Picard of “Star Trek” has largely been presented as genteel, erudite and — at times — quite buttoned up. Yes, he loses his temper. Yes, he was reckless as a callow cadet many years ago.
Does ‘Ted Lasso’ end with season 3? What to ... believe
March 16, 2023 GMT“ Ted Lasso” returns Wednesday for its third season and while there are certainly questions about whether AFC Richmond will finally go all the way — or if Nate will receive his comeuppance — there's one big question: Is this actually the last season?
Ling Ma’s ‘Bliss Montage’ wins $20,000 Story Prize
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Ling Ma's “Bliss Montage,” a collection which blends the real and the surreal, has won the Story Prize for best short fiction.
Ma will receive $20,000 for “Bliss Montage,” her first book since her acclaimed debut novel “Severance.”
‘What You Won’t Do for Love’ singer Bobby Caldwell dies
March 15, 2023 GMTBobby Caldwell, a soulful R&B singer and songwriter who had a major hit in 1978 with “What You Won't Do for Love” and a voice and musical style adored by generations of his fellow artists, has died, his wife said Wednesday.
Kevin Hart signs new deal with SiriusXM, rebranded show airs
March 15, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Hart will keep his comedic candor going with SiriusXM. But this time he’ll bring along more recognizable figures from outside the comedy realm.
The satellite radio company announced Wednesday that it has signed Hart and his entertainment company, Hartbeat, to a multi-year deal.
Jury for men accused in XXXTentacion killing moving slowly
March 15, 2023 GMTThe jury in the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion during a 2018 robbery finished a sixth day of deliberations Wednesday without reaching a verdict, asking the judge questions that indicate they are methodically going through the evidence.
James Gunn to direct ‘Superman: Legacy,’ aiming for 2025
March 15, 2023 GMTJames Gunn is directing a Superman film.
“Superman: Legacy,” which Gunn also wrote, is also set for a July 11, 2025, he and his co-chair and fellow CEO of DC Studios Peter Safran announced Wednesday.
Italian novelist: Leonardo’s da Vinci’s mother was a slave
March 15, 2023 GMTMILAN (AP) — An Italian scholar and novelist has provided fresh fodder for an old debate over the identity of Leonardo da Vinci’s mother, proffering a recently unearthed document as evidence that she arrived on the Italian peninsula as a slave from the Caucasus region of Central Asia.
Reality star Todd Chrisley’s son Kyle charged with assault
March 15, 2023 GMTSMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) — Kyle Chrisley, the son of reality TV star Todd Chrisley of the show “Chrisley Knows Best,” has been charged with aggravated assault in Tennessee, authorities said.
‘Quantum Leap’ star Caitlin Bassett jumps from Army to TV
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Bassett plays a woman who jumps through time and space on NBC's “Quantum Leap,” a fitting job for an actor who has lived many lives already.
Wizardry, warfare, Wii on ballot for World Video Game HOF
March 15, 2023 GMTROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Wizardry, warfare and Wii are on the ballot as the World Video Game Hall of Fame narrows down its contenders for the class of 2023.
The Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced 12 finalists that are being considered for induction in May.
Special prosecutor steps down in case against Alec Baldwin
March 15, 2023 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A special prosecutor who doubles as a state legislator is stepping down from her role in the manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.
Fox’s Hall talks survival after nearly dying in Ukraine
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A year after nearly being killed by Russian bombs while covering the war in Ukraine, Fox News’ Benjamin Hall credits a relentless optimism -- and what he describes as an unexplained miracle -- for getting him through.
Award-winning South African jazz singer Gloria Bosman dies
March 15, 2023 GMTJOHANNESBURG (AP) — Smooth-voiced South African jazz musician Gloria Bosman has been lauded for her contribution to the country’s music industry in a career spanning more than two decades.
Bosman died on Tuesday following a short illness, her family announced.
Publishers, sellers, authors form Creative Economy Coalition
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Organizations representing book publishers, booksellers and authors have formed a coalition to protect copyrights and oppose legislation across the country that it fears could drive down e-book prices and damage writers’ ability to support themselves
Cat Stevens to return this summer with a new album
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Legendary British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens will release a new album of original songs this summer that took the “Peace Train” hitmaker over a decade to make and revisits familiar themes of togetherness.
AP PHOTOS: Behind the runway glamour, a fashion army at work
March 15, 2023 GMTMUMBAI, India (AP) — From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly.
Oprah Winfrey reflects on book club, announces 100th pick
March 15, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — For her 100th book club pick, Oprah Winfrey relied on the same instincts she has drawn upon from the start: Does the story move her?
No Harvey Weinstein retrial on rape, sex assault charges
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles prosecutors told a judge Tuesday that they will not retry Harvey Weinstein, who was convicted of the rape and sexual assault of one woman, on counts involving two others that left jurors deadlocked.
Miami goes country with new music festival
March 14, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Already considered a hub for Latin, hip hop and electronic music, now Miami is going country.
Tickets for the Country Bay Music Festival went on sale Tuesday.
Jury still undecided in trial XXXTentacion’s accused killers
March 14, 2023 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion outside a Florida motorcycle dealership nearly five years ago again failed to reach a verdict Tuesday, their fifth day of deliberations.
Review: Paris Hilton’s path from party girl to style icon
March 14, 2023 GMT“Paris: The Memoir” by Paris Hilton (Dey St. Books)
Dubbed the “OG Influencer,” club kid-turned-mogul Paris Hilton pioneered becoming “famous for being famous,” in the early 2000s, a playbook since adopted by everyone from the Kardashians to Housewives and countless social media influencers.
Judge: Netflix’s ‘Making a Murderer’ didn’t defame detective
March 14, 2023 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A retired Wisconsin detective has lost a defamation lawsuit against streaming giant Netflix over his portrayal in the 2015 documentary series “Making a Murderer.”
Lindsay Lohan announces pregnancy in Instagram post
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Lindsay Lohan is expecting her first child.
The “Mean Girls” star announced her pregnancy in an Instagram post on Tuesday, sharing an image of a baby onesie with “Coming soon...” written on it.
Andrey Kurkov, Maryse Condé on International Booker list
March 14, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov and acclaimed Guadeloupe-born writer Maryse Condé are among 13 contenders announced Tuesday for the International Booker Prize for translated fiction.
In unusual step, U2 reinterprets 40 of its best-known songs
March 14, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — In reimagining 40 of their best-known songs, U2 recognized that many fans would experience them through earphones connected to a device in their pockets — rather than being belted out onstage.
2 ‘The Voice of Holland’ ex-stars face sex offense charges
March 14, 2023 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Two former stars of "The Voice of Holland" will be charged with sex offenses linked to the once-popular Dutch talent show, prosecutors said Tuesday. A case was dropped against a third man for lack of evidence.
Microsoft inks Xbox game deal with Boosteroid cloud service
March 14, 2023 GMTMicrosoft said Tuesday that it has struck a deal to make Xbox PC video games available on the Boosteroid cloud gaming platform, its latest move to appease antitrust regulators scrutinizing its purchase of game maker Activision Blizzard.
HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ season finale draws in a series high
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Last of Us” fans set another rating record for the season one finale of the apocalyptic, mushroom-infected zombie video game adaptation. Despite airing against the Oscars Sunday night, HBO said the season finale drew in 8.2 million viewers.
Michelle Yeoh’s mom tearful, proud of ‘little princess’
March 14, 2023 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Michelle Yeoh’s mother cried for joy for her “little princess” when the Malaysian performer became the first Asian to win the best actress Oscar.
Yeoh’s family and two Cabinet ministers were among the supporters roaring with joy at Yeoh's win during a special Academy Awards viewing party in Malaysia on Monday morning.
India enthuses over Oscars for ‘Naatu Naatu,’ elephant doc
March 14, 2023 GMTHYDERABAD, India (AP) — India celebrated its two historic Academy Awards with enthusiasm befitting the high-energy best original song “Naatu Naatu.”
The dance anthem from the blockbuster Telugu-language action epic “RRR” is the first from an Indian film to earn a nomination and win and has dazzled audiences everywhere with its energetic tempo and choreography.
For Asian Americans, Yeoh, Quan’s Oscar wins are theirs too
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Edward Dion Fariñas watches the Academy Awards every year but the Filipino American didn't expect to have such a visceral reaction when hearing Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh's awards announced.
Audience for 95th Oscars rebounds slightly to 18.7 million
March 14, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Whether it was the lingering drama of The Slap or the prominence of blockbusters in the best picture race, a bigger audience was lured back to the Oscars this year.
The 95th Academy Awards, which aired Sunday night on ABC, was viewed by an estimated 18.7 million, according to preliminary Fast National Live+Same Day numbers released Monday by ABC.
Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe, writer of poetic fiction, dies
March 14, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Nobel literature laureate Kenzaburo Oe, whose darkly poetic novels were built from his childhood memories during Japan’s postwar occupation and from being the parent of a disabled son, has died.
Jurors see cellphone data of XXXTentacion’s accused killers
March 13, 2023 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion concluded their fourth day of deliberations Monday by reviewing almost 1,200 text messages and several videos and photos seized from two of their cellphones.