Category: News

Given that Justin Bieber has been one of the world’s biggest pop stars for decades, he has long been the subject of speculation about various things. Now, a representative is pushing back on new rumors that he is using drugs.

A rep spoke to TMZ, calling the rumors “exhausting and pitiful,” adding they show “that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive.” The rep also said Bieber’s past year has been “very transformative for him as he ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him.”

Speculation was initially sparked after Bieber was seen in New York earlier this month with dark circles around his red eyes, but sources told TMZ Bieber hadn’t slept that night because he stayed up late recording and taking care of his son.

He was also seen at a pop-up in Los Angeles last week and some thought he was under the influence, but per TMZ, he was “just having a nice, giggly interaction with a big fan while supporting his wife.”

Bieber has been open about his past drug use, telling GQ in 2021, “There was a sense of still yearning for more. It was like I had all this success and it was still like: ‘I’m still sad, and I’m still in pain. And I still have these unresolved issues.’ And I thought all the success was going to make everything good. And so for me, the drugs were a numbing agent to just continue to get through.”

The 2025 WNBA offseason has been a very active one so far, and that continued on Sunday with yet another All-Star player and top pick in the upcoming Draft being moved. The Chicago Sky continued their efforts to build a playoff contender for 2025 by trading for two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins from the Mystics, sending the No. 3 overall pick in this April’s Draft to Washington along with a pick swap and second rounder in 2027.

The trade further signals that the Mystics are fully embracing a rebuild after finishing ninth in the league last year and just missing out on the playoffs. Washington now owns the No. 3 and No. 4 picks in April’s Draft, and will look to add two young cornerstone pieces alongside last year’s No. 6 overall pick Aaliyah Edwards, who showed her immense talents recently by making the Finals in Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 Tournament.

The Sky, meanwhile, continue to make additions with an eye on this season having already brought in Courtney Vandersloot, Kia Nurse, and Rebecca Allen this summer around their young big combo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. They join the Sparks as teams to move top-3 picks in this year’s Draft for a win-now move (L.A. traded the No. 2 pick to Seattle to get Kelsey Plum in a three-team trade). It figures to be a fascinating battle for playoff position this season and the Sky, who finished 10th last year and two games out of the final playoff spot, are clearly looking to be in the mix. We’ll see if Atkins, who averaged 14.9 points per game last year in Washington, and their new additions to give them a new perimeter rotation around their young frontcourt can give them enough of a boost to make the top-8 in 2025.

On one of his famed songs, Jay-Z claims to have 99 problems. But recent filings show that ligation issues do not fit the bill.

Last week, a sexual assault lawsuit against the “Encore” rapper was voluntarily dropped. However, a viral rumor suggests Jay-Z and Beyoncé could be preparing to face off against Asap Rocky and Rihanna in a court of law.

Continue below for more information.

Are Jay-Z And Beyoncé Suing Rihanna And ASAP Rocky?

On February 23, a screenshot of two pending lawsuit in the Virgin Islands District Court quickly gained steam on X (formerly Twitter). The graphic outline (viewable here), suggests that Jay-Z is tied up in a case against Asap Rocky. While Beyoncé and Rihanna are duking it out in a separate matter. However, a new post from Jay-Z’s Roc Nation on X seems to dubbed the viral rumor.

“Don’t be dumb,” wrote the company.

Although Roc Nation did not overwrite deny the reports, their clever mention of Asap Rocky’s forthcoming album title suggests that the famous couples are still in good standings.

As of today (February 23), Rihanna remains on the Roc Nation’s management talent and musical distribution roster. Both Asap Rocky and Rihanna can be found on Roc Nation’s client page here.

Joel Embiid’s career to this point has been unfortunately defined by injuries. A knee injury has been his most recent issue, as after winning the 2022-23 MVP award he started the ’23-’24 campaign looking like he might go back-to-back only for a torn meniscus to end his season after 39 games. Despite being a year removed from surgery on that knee, Embiid has continued to be bothered by his left knee, playing in just 19 games this season and struggling to reclaim his MVP form, averaging just 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game when he has been able to play.

Earlier this month, Embiid said he probably needed another surgery on his knee but wanted to keep playing, which raised plenty of eyebrows, particularly given this season appears to be a lost one for the Sixers. After falling to 12th in the East at 20-36 amid a 7-game losing streak, the Sixers and Embiid have finally decided to re-evaluate his situation and, according Shams Charania, they are meeting with doctors and having further imaging done on his knee to determine if there are “alternative options”, including the possibility of surgery, that could get his knee back to full health. According to Charania’s report, Embiid has gotten numerous injections and treatments but he continues to deal with swelling and discomfort, and the team and doctors are going back to the drawing board to explore the best options to proceed.

The Sixers latest loss to the Brooklyn Nets came with Embiid playing 31 minutes, and he has struggled mightily in his two games since the All-Star break. It’s very clear he’s unable to move the way he’s accustomed to and while he’s insisted that he still can help by being out there even if he’s not at 100 percent, that has not been enough to get Philly on track in what has become a disastrous season. With Embiid owed nearly $250 million over the next four years, the Sixers have to take a long view with his health, and this feels like an incredibly important moment because picking the correct treatment option and getting Embiid’s knee to not be a constant problem is vital to his ability to return to the level he wants to be at as a player and for the Sixers to be the kind of contender they hope to be as a team.

A Valentine’s Day (February 14) release date proved to work the certified lover boy’s favor. Today (February 23), the official numbers from Drake and PartyNextDoor’s collaborative album Some Sexy Songs 4 U have been released.

According to Billboard, Some Sexy Songs 4 U has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This accolade marks a few significant career milestones for both Drake and PartyNextDoor.

For PartyNextDoor, Some Sexy Songs 4 U is now the “Loyal” singer’s first No. 1 album. Drake, on the other hand, is no stranger to chart-topping projects. However, Some Sexy Songs 4 U being Drake’s 14th No. 1 he has now tied with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift for the most No. 1s as a soloist. The Beatles hold crown for most No. 1 with a whooping 19. So, Drake’s “big as The Beatles” line is almost a reality.

Rounding out the top ten is: Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet at No. 2, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, at No. 3, SZA’s SOS, at No. 4, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, at No. 5, The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow, at No. 6, Chappell Roan’s The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, at No. 7, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft, at No. 8, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing At A Time, at No. 9 and at No. 10 is Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN.

In her multi-decade long career, Madonna has accomplishment feats many other pop stars could only dream of. Between impressive album sales to record-setting concert numbers, the “Like A Pray” singer does not have many things left on her “never have I” list. But Jimmy Kimmel knows one of those rather rare items.

Yesterday (February 22), the late show host told People, Madonna has not yet made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! However, Kimmel is working to change that.

When asked about his plans for future guests at Keep Memory Alive’s The Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas, Kimmel did not hold back. “I wouldn’t say I’m desperate to get anybody, but we’ve never had Madonna on the show, and I’d love to have her on,” he told the outlet.

Although Madonna made her way onto the program, Kimmel did joke about a beloved star on the show carving out space in her live show. “She had Guillermo on stage with her,” he revealed referring to his longtime friend and co-star Guillermo Rodriguez.

Kimmel then joked about not being a part of the magical moment. “Not me,” he said. “Nothing for me.”

With Madonna back in the studio alongside producer Stuart Price, maybe when it’s time to project the highly anticipated album she will sit down on Kimmel’s couch.

GloRilla is a go-getter in all aspects of her life–including romantic love. The “Let Her Cook” rapper does not mind putting bold feelers out there.

In her verse on Jorjiana’s “ILBB2 (Remix),” GloRilla expressed her interest in popular streamer Duke Dennis. Well, now he has responded back to her flirty shout out.

During a recent broadcast (viewable here), Duke hilariously addressed being called out with supporters. But he isn’t sure if GloRilla’s mention was a compliment or an insult. “Wait,” he said confused. “Those two [lines] are separate though, right? [GloRilla] wasn’t talking about me [being ugly]… I don’t know who she was talking about.”

Similarly, users online are trying to wrap their heads around GloRilla’s bars.

On the track, GloRilla raps: “I’m a big dog, I don’t argue over n****s / Leave that shit for the puppies / I can get dick anytime I want / Baby, that sh*t ain’t nothin’ / Topic of all these n****s discussions / But ain’t none of ’em f*cked me / Like my n****s tall and grimy / And mixed with a little bit of ugly / Uh, uh-huh, they say shooters shoot / Uh, uh-huh, Duke Dennis, what’s up with you?”

It looks like Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard has some competition in GloRilla’s heart for a new potential boo.

Last year, Power Book II: Ghost called it a wrap after four successful seasons. Before airing its last episode, the cast and its producers including 50 Cent slammed the industry for snubbing the series every awards season. Well, that changed yesterday (February 22), during the 2025 NAACP Image Awards.

Power Book II: Ghost actor Michael Rainey Jr. took home the win for Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series. Immediately after the category was called 50 Cent took to Instagram to praise Rainey’s performance and the NAACP for its years long support of the show.

“I’m so happy for [Michael],” he wrote. “He worked hard for this moment. The NAACP is really all we got. We do bigger numbers than a lot of shows, but we don’t get nominated because of diversity.”

Rainey returned the love in the post’s comment section, writing: “[I] wouldn’t be here if you didn’t believe in me [50]. Love u for life .”

Over the years other Power Book Universe stars have won big at the NAACP Image Awards. In both 2021 and 2022, Mary J. Blige and Method Man (real name Clifford Smith Jr) took home trophies for their performance (in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series categories). The show won for Outstanding Drama Series in 2021.

Although the show is officially done, Rainey’s win was a sweet treat for longtime viewers of the series.

The Los Angeles wildfires have successfully been detained. But the road to community restoration is just beginning.

Today (February 23) and 3 p.m. Pacific, Justin Bieber and Snoop Dogg are lending their nonmusical talents to the LA Kings’ fundraising efforts by way of Skate For LA Strong: A Celebration to Support the Fire Recovery Efforts in Los Angeles.

Over at the Crypto.com Arena, the entertainers alongside many others will hit the ice to bring in money for relief efforts. While Bieber, Steve Carell, and Ross Lynch will serve as players; Snoop, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Danny DeVito, and Cobie Smulders are the evening’s official coaches.

During the four-team single-elimination matches, the entertainers, impressively athletic first responders, and other sports pros will put their skills to the test against hockey royalty Jeremy Roenick, Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Manon Rheaume, and Dany Heatley.

Proceeds from Skate For LA Strong: A Celebration to Support the Fire Recovery Efforts in Los Angeles will be donated to the Red Cross, the LA Fire Foundation, Cal Fire Foundation and Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund. Firefighters, first responders, community group leaders, fire victims and their families, and Los Angeles Kings season tickets members are granted free admission. If you can not attend in-person, the event will air on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Find more information here.

In any given year, Blumhouse Productions is involved without 72 upcoming releases, give or take. M3GAN 2.0, Five Nights At Freddy’s 2, and Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist reboot are only a few of the higher profile projects in the works, but sooner than any of those options, the most hellish-sounding bounty hunter series ever made will be coming to Prime Video/Amazon.

That would be Blumhouse TV’s The Bondsman starring Kevin Bacon. Let’s get right down to brass tacks on what to expect.

Plot

In The Bondsman, Kevin Bacon isn’t bounty hunting fugitives from the law. Rather, he is hunting demons who escape from Hell with designs upon taking out errant humans (who would otherwise become casualties of horror movie-like rules). As Bacon told Vanity Fair, the Friday the 13th actor enjoyed turning convention on its head. He added of this show, “It is very violent and has a lot of blood and scares, but it also has some tongue-in-cheek aspects. It’s oftentimes funny, and it also has a lot of heart.”

His character, Hub Halloran, returns from the dead with regrets about his former marriage (to Maryanne, portrayed by Jennifer Nettles, the Sugarland singer who has lit up the stage on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones) and his lost musical dreams. In order to receive another shot at life, Hub agrees to carry out assignments from the Devil, who wants his demons back where they belong. Writer Erik Oleson explained how this mess will differ from the Devil that moviegoers usually know:

“We’ve all seen countless demons in various forms of one or another. I had never seen a show where the devil was treated like he was a warden of a prison, and that escaped prisoners would have to be caught and brought back to prison. Normally, you think, ‘Oh, the devil sends demons to earth to wreak havoc and cause trouble.’ This was the flip of it.”

Hub will receive assistance in the form of assignments from “Hell’s regional manager in this part of Appalachia,” portrayed by Jolene Purdy.

Notably, the series doesn’t intend to actually show the devil. Here’s more from the brief synopsis, which is a sight to behold:

Kevin Bacon stars as Hub Halloran, a murdered bounty hunter who’s back from the dead after being resurrected by the Devil to trap and send back demons that have escaped from the prison of Hell. By chasing down those demons with the help and hindrance of his estranged family, Hub learns how his own sins got his soul condemned — which pushes him to seek a second chance at life, love, and country music.

Cast

In addition to Bacon, The Bondsman cast includes Jennifer Nettles, Damon Herriman, Beth Grant, Maxwell Jenkins, and Jolene Purdy.

Release Date

The full eight-episode season will drop on April 3, 2025.

Trailer

Until Prime Video drops an actual trailer, the mere mention of Damon Herriman as a cast member is so distracting that it’s worth revisiting that Justified episode where Dewey Crowe wonders if he’s got four kidneys.