Month: August 2023

Ed Sheeran has some of the biggest pop hits of the past decade, but don’t expect to see him on music’s biggest stage: In a recent interview with Andy Cohen, Sheeran said he doesn’t think he’s the best candidate to headline his own Super Bowl Halftime Show.

He said:

“There was a conversation a while ago, I think it was when Coldplay did it, of me going on to play ‘Thinking Out Loud,’ and I think that would be the only way I would do it, is if I were joining someone else. I think it’s an American thing. I think…I don’t have pizazz. You watch Prince, you watch Michael Jackson, you watch Katy Perry, you watch Lady Gaga, you watch Rihanna, you watch Beyoncé, all these amazing performers: I’m just not that. I’m not gonna have dancers on stage, I’m not gonna have fireworks and… The Weeknd’s one was all of that. I just can’t… that’s not me. I don’t think that anyone wants to see me do the Super Bowl, either. […] I would do it as a guest, and then I could say I did the Super Bowl with.”

Sheeran also told Cohen about the status of his and Taylor Swift’s rerecording of “End Game” for Reputation (Taylor’s Version).

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Elyse Lyons, a 28-year-old from Nebraska, is a money blogger and budgeting whiz who conquered a whopping $34,000 in debt over two years by having “no-spend months.” During no-spend months, the goal is to spend as little money as possible each day.

“When I was 22, I was in $34,000 worth of debt because I had student loans, car payments, and some credit cards,” she told Good Morning America. “And I knew that if I wanted to enjoy my life a little bit more, I had to pay it off.”

That’s when she devised her no-spend month strategy.

See on Instagram

If you’re looking to save money like Lyons, she recommends buying a calendar and jotting down the few days you might need to part with some cash, such as buying gas for your car or going food shopping. The calendar is also a way to track and celebrate your money-saving wins. It’s a fun, visual reminder of your journey to financial freedom.

She also recommends making a list of things you didn’t buy, and if you keep returning to that item, find a way to put it in the next month’s budget. The entire process is all about being intentional and conscious about your spending habits.

“The goal is not to create shame around spending. It’s to see who you are at your core and what your actual spending habits are about,” Lyons said. She also said the goal shouldn’t be to restrict yourself to spending $0 daily.

“Extreme deprivation is not going to work for your budget for long,” she added.

Being transgender in America isn’t easy, especially given the current political climate around trans rights. But it seems that people forget it’s not just policies that make it difficult to be trans, as the cost of transitioning can be astronomically out of reach for some individuals.

No matter how badly a person wants to do more than socially transition, medical transitions are not typically covered by insurance. So any medical procedures someone has to affirm their gender can cost thousands and thousands of dollars out of pocket. Even socially transitioning can come with a hefty price tag.

One trans woman, Jory, who goes by Alluring Skull on TikTok, is setting the record straight on the cost for trans people to “pass” in society. Jory recently saved enough money to get facial feminization surgery, which can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000. This surgery helps to soften the facial features of trans women who went through testosterone-driven puberty.

Jory explains in her video that before she had the facial surgery and extensions, people were chastising her for not trying harder to pass. The criticisms even came from fellow members of the trans community. But she found that after the surgery, people continued to criticize her.

“From the second day of coming out, I was told by other trans women that I don’t try enough to pass. Six months later, I would receive my facial feminization surgery, to receive hundreds of comments telling me that I looked disgusting and I messed up my face,” Jory says.

She goes on to say that she has been open about her transition online to show how difficult it is to be trans before listing some of the things she has to pay a lot of money for. These expenses include hundreds of dollars on her makeup, extensions and an entirely new wardrobe. This doesn’t include the cost of hormones or surgeries.

Being able to afford to pass as a trans person is a privilege that not every trans person has, so they make do with what’s available.

“I want people to know that being trans is extremely difficult. It’s not as simple as just waking up one day and deciding you’re going to pass, or you’re going to be seen as the gender you are inside,” Jory explains. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of money that most of us don’t have access to. The median income for trans people in America is $10,000. Most of us will never be able to present in a way that aligns with who we are.”

She ends the video by calling for people to be kinder to trans people by not leaving hateful comments on their videos. You can watch her heartfelt video below.

@alluringskull

#stitch with @Alluringskull #trans

Michaël Brun hit the collaboration jackpot last month when J Balvin added “a surprise verse” to “Jessica,” Brun’s standout track from his newly released FAMI Summer EP. He just hit the jackpot again. On Wednesday, August 16, Brun released his “Coming Your Way” single with Becky G and Anne-Marie. The FOMO-inducing video is set to premiere here on Thursday, August 17.

“I wanted to cap the summer off with one of my favorite songs I’ve ever produced,” Brun said in a statement. “‘Coming Your Way’ is a mix of so many genres that have influenced me across the years, from electronic music to Caribbean and Latin sounds. It’s also an honor to have global superstars Anne-Marie and Becky G present on this one. It feels like a global anthem.”

Brun also discussed the track on BBC Radio 1, which can be seen below:

Like Brun, Becky G is semi-fresh off a smash collaboration. She released “La Nena” with Mexican singer-songwriter Gabito Ballesteros on June 28. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie released her Unhealthy album on July 28 and even more recently announced tour dates.

Listen to “Coming Your Way” and check out Brun’s upcoming tour dates below.

10/19 — Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
10/20 — Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
10/21 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
10/28 — Miami, FL @ Little Haiti Cultural Center
11/04 — Paris, FRA @ La Boule Noire
11/07 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet
11/09 — London, UK @ Corsica Studios

Anne-Marie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Michaël Brun hit the collaboration jackpot last month when J Balvin added “a surprise verse” to “Jessica,” Brun’s standout track from his newly released FAMI Summer EP. He just hit the jackpot again. On Wednesday, August 16, Brun released his “Coming Your Way” single with Becky G and Anne-Marie. The FOMO-inducing video is set to premiere here on Thursday, August 17.

“I wanted to cap the summer off with one of my favorite songs I’ve ever produced,” Brun said in a statement. “‘Coming Your Way’ is a mix of so many genres that have influenced me across the years, from electronic music to Caribbean and Latin sounds. It’s also an honor to have global superstars Anne-Marie and Becky G present on this one. It feels like a global anthem.”

Brun also discussed the track on BBC Radio 1, which can be seen below:

Like Brun, Becky G is semi-fresh off a smash collaboration. She released “La Nena” with Mexican singer-songwriter Gabito Ballesteros on June 28. Meanwhile, Anne-Marie released her Unhealthy album on July 28 and even more recently announced tour dates.

Listen to “Coming Your Way” and check out Brun’s upcoming tour dates below.

10/19 — Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
10/20 — Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
10/21 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
10/28 — Miami, FL @ Little Haiti Cultural Center
11/04 — Paris, FRA @ La Boule Noire
11/07 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet
11/09 — London, UK @ Corsica Studios

Anne-Marie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

On Wednesday, August 16, TMZ broke the news that Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, her husband since last June, were headed toward divorce.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … about a week ago, Sam confronted Britney over rumors she stepped out on him. We do not know if the rumor has any basis in fact, but we’re told Sam believed it and the two had a huge fight,” TMZ reported. “Our sources say Sam has moved out of their house and is now living in a place of his own. As one source put it, ‘It’s only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce.’”

Hours later, TMZ shared photos of Spears driving her Mercedes, her wedding ring noticeably absent from her hand. To be fair, TMZ noted, “It’s not the first time we’ve seen her without a ring on, but this time is obviously more significant.”

Later Wednesday night, Entertainment Tonight, People, and TMZ reported that Asghari has filed for divorce. Per TMZ, Asghari cited “irreconcilable differences.”

TMZ also noted, “He is asking for spousal support and attorneys fees … but on the issue of finances, there’s something way more interesting. Sam’s lawyer, Neal Hersh, is making rumblings that Sam will contest the prenup.”

Meanwhile, Spears posted to her Instagram without acknowledging any of this is happening. The post features a photo showing her riding a horse on the beach, with a caption that reads, “Buying a horse soon [horse emoji] !!! So many options it’s kinda hard !!! A horse called Sophie and another called Roar [horse emoji] ??? I can’t make up my mind [see-no-evil monkey emoji] !!! Should I join the camaraderie and put a pink cowboy hat on [tongue-out emoji] ??? Either way I think I found my sweet spot with Roar [kissy face emoji] !!!”

However, her Instagram activity is not an accurate representation of how this is impacting Spears.

“She has been denying any cheating allegations and going through a lot of emotions,” an unnamed source told Entertainment Tonight. “She is hurt because the situation brings up old feelings for her. This is the last thing she needed, especially after her boys moved to Hawaii, being worried about the fires there, and so on. She has been trying to get back on her feet and be healthy emotionally, physically, and mentally. Britney has people by her side and her immediate circle is there for her. They are rallying around her.”

Variety reported that Spears “has retained top divorce lawyers to the stars, Laura Wasser, and will continue to work with her powerhouse attorney, Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor who famously got her out of her conservatorship and out of the hands of her father’s control.”

Asghari proposed to Spears in September 2021, and her controversial 13-year conservatorship was finally terminated by Los Angeles County Judge Brenda Penny on November 12, 2021.

On Wednesday, August 16, TMZ broke the news that Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, her husband since last June, were headed toward divorce.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … about a week ago, Sam confronted Britney over rumors she stepped out on him. We do not know if the rumor has any basis in fact, but we’re told Sam believed it and the two had a huge fight,” TMZ reported. “Our sources say Sam has moved out of their house and is now living in a place of his own. As one source put it, ‘It’s only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce.’”

Hours later, TMZ shared photos of Spears driving her Mercedes, her wedding ring noticeably absent from her hand. To be fair, TMZ noted, “It’s not the first time we’ve seen her without a ring on, but this time is obviously more significant.”

Later Wednesday night, Entertainment Tonight, People, and TMZ reported that Asghari has filed for divorce. Per TMZ, Asghari cited “irreconcilable differences.”

TMZ also noted, “He is asking for spousal support and attorneys fees … but on the issue of finances, there’s something way more interesting. Sam’s lawyer, Neal Hersh, is making rumblings that Sam will contest the prenup.”

Meanwhile, Spears posted to her Instagram without acknowledging any of this is happening. The post features a photo showing her riding a horse on the beach, with a caption that reads, “Buying a horse soon [horse emoji] !!! So many options it’s kinda hard !!! A horse called Sophie and another called Roar [horse emoji] ??? I can’t make up my mind [see-no-evil monkey emoji] !!! Should I join the camaraderie and put a pink cowboy hat on [tongue-out emoji] ??? Either way I think I found my sweet spot with Roar [kissy face emoji] !!!”

However, her Instagram activity is not an accurate representation of how this is impacting Spears.

“She has been denying any cheating allegations and going through a lot of emotions,” an unnamed source told Entertainment Tonight. “She is hurt because the situation brings up old feelings for her. This is the last thing she needed, especially after her boys moved to Hawaii, being worried about the fires there, and so on. She has been trying to get back on her feet and be healthy emotionally, physically, and mentally. Britney has people by her side and her immediate circle is there for her. They are rallying around her.”

Variety reported that Spears “has retained top divorce lawyers to the stars, Laura Wasser, and will continue to work with her powerhouse attorney, Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor who famously got her out of her conservatorship and out of the hands of her father’s control.”

Asghari proposed to Spears in September 2021, and her controversial 13-year conservatorship was finally terminated by Los Angeles County Judge Brenda Penny on November 12, 2021.

Chances are you’re probably doing better than Rudy Giuliani right now. The former “America’s Mayor” has fallen on hard, pathetic times. He’s so broke his lawyers are begging courts for leniency. He might go to the slammer, to the delight of all the mobsters he jailed (under the same laws, too). And it’s all because he came out of what could have been a happy retirement to help Donald Trump. Is the former president at least grateful enough to help the poor guy out of a sticky situation? Sort of, not really.

As per CNN, back in late April, a desperate Giuliani flew with his lawyer down to Mar-a-Lago to beg his pal — the same pal for whom he effectively torched his life — for money. He could use it, too: Giuliani’s bills are reportedly now in the seven figure range, and it’s not as though he can still practice law in New York City or D.C.

Alas, after two meetings and “several pitches,” Trump “didn’t seem very interested,” according to the report. He “verbally agreed” to offer some help, but “without committing to any specific amount or timeline.”

Trump reportedly did help out a little:

Another source told CNN that Trump only agreed to cover a small fee from a data vendor hosting Giuliani’s records. And months later, Trump’s Save America PAC paid $340,000 to that vendor, Trustpoint, federal campaign filings show. CNN has now confirmed the payment was intended to settle Giuliani’s outstanding bill with the company.

Trump hasn’t offered any other financial help since then. But he did offered him something else: He told him he would “stop by” not one but two Giuliani fundraisers. What a guy.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday a Giuliani lawyer team told a New York state judge that his client couldn’t pay additional costs to supply records pertaining to the hefty Smartmatic lawsuit against him.

Earlier this month it was reported that not only has Trump refused to offer Giuliani much financial assistance, but was also considering throwing him under the bus to save his hide. Giuliani, of course, has steadfastly refused to do the same to him. But one person close to the situation told CNN it’s “not a smart idea” for Trump not to help out Rudy, as Rudy could very well turn into his next Michael Cohen, only with arguably dirtier dirt on him.

(Via CNN)

Brent Faiyaz “thoroughly impressed” Uproxx‘s Wongo Okon at Broccoli City Festival 2023, which doubled as the beginning of his ongoing F*ck The World, It’s A Wasteland Tour. But Faiyaz has never been one to rest on laurels. Faiyaz dropped his album Wasteland in July 2022, and “Jackie Brown” finally received the video treatment on Wednesday, August 16.

“The clip channels the aesthetic and spirit of the 1997 Quentin Tarantino classic flick of the same name, as it opens with Brent on a plane,” a press release says of the striking Lonewolf- and Mark Peaced-directed visual. “After cruising through the clouds, he visits the salon, hits the high seas on a yacht, tries on tailored fits, and enjoys a dinner surrounded by friends. These vibrant vignettes melt into one another, matching his smooth cadence.”

The “Jackie Brown” video shows off Faiyaz’s never-ending imagination, which is fitting because he also launched his ISO Supremacy (In Search Of Supremacy) creative agency in partnership with UnitedMasters on Wednesday. A press release describes ISO Supremacy as having “the sole mission of executing visual and sonic art.”

In May, Billboard exclusively reported Faiyaz’s partnership with UnitedMasters with the intention “to form a new creative agency as a hub for his upcoming endeavors.” The publication relayed the deal’s valuation was “close to $50 million,” citing an unnamed source “close to the situation.”

Watch the “Jackie Brown” video above, and find Faiyaz’s remaining F*ck The World, It’s a Wasteland Tour dates here.

Back in March, during the first North American leg of their ongoing international tour, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band were forced to postpone a few dates. At the time, the reason given was an undisclosed illness. The second North American leg began on August 9 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, and history is repeating itself.

“Due to Bruce Springsteen having been taken ill, his concerts with The E Street Band at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on August 16 and 18 have been postponed,” reads a statement posted to Springsteen’s Instagram account on Wednesday, August 16. “We are working on rescheduling the dates, so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled shows.”

According to Springsteen’s official website, the next scheduled dates are at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on August 24 and August 26, followed by three home-state dates at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 30, September 1, and September 3.

Springsteen is worth seeing while you still can. Uproxx‘s Steven Hyden reviewed the three-hour spectacle in early March.

“It’s not only possible that I won’t see this kind of Springsteen show again, it’s also more likely than not,” Hyden wrote. “A live performance by Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band in 2023 is a precious resource. And that resource is dwindling faster than any of us want to believe.”