The next 48 hours will apparently be a staring contest between Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets, played out via various reports and leaks coming from both camps.
On Monday morning, we got word that Kyrie had requested, and been granted, permission to find sign-and-trade offers from other teams as he seeks a new deal before Wednesday’s deadline to exercise his player option. However, that is easier said than done, as Irving hasn’t exactly made himself the most desirable trade target in recent years, with perception around the league that his on-court value isn’t worth the off-court headaches that come with him being on the roster. With Irving seeking a new home, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that there is only one team with real interest in a sign-and-trade, the Los Angeles Lakers, but they don’t have a package that interests the Nets.
ESPN Sources: Outside of the Lakers, there are currently no known teams planning pursuit of sign-and-trades for Nets G Kyrie Irving. No sign-and-trades can be formally discussed until after 6 PM on Thursday. Brooklyn isn’t believed to have interest in available Lakers packages.
That, of course, is a problem in acquiring Irving if he opts in to his contract — which is the only way the Lakers could land him due to the hard cap — but there is one alternative that was initially floated as almost laughable but now seems like an actual possibility: Kyrie opting out and signing a $6.3 million taxpayer midlevel in L.A.
Doing so would be giving up $30 million next year, but Irving has made it clear that money isn’t everything to him in recent years — most notably losing paychecks all of this past year in his refusal to get vaccinated — and if there were ever a star-caliber player to make such a move, Irving would be at the top of the list. There will surely be more leaks from both sides over the next two days — and possibly, all the way into free agency — as the leverage game is afoot. It certainly seems like this one is coming from the Brooklyn side to indicate they aren’t willing to trade him to the Lakers and making clear that Kyrie’s options are limited.
Christian Bale is in full promotional mode for his villainous turn in Thor: Love and Thunder, but despite the film marking his official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you know a couple of Batman questions are going to pop up. Surprisingly, Bale was not only game, but he also dropped a big bombshell by revealing that he’s totally game for coming back as the Dark Knight if Christopher Nolan is onboard.
During the Love and Thunder press junket, Bale said that despite online reports to the contrary, he’s never been asked to reprise his role as Batman. But if Nolan ever came to him with a fourth movie, that’d be a whole other ball game. Via Screen Rant:
I had a pact with Chris Nolan. We said, “Hey, look. Let’s make three films, if we’re lucky enough to get to do that. And then let’s walk away. Let’s not linger too long.” In my mind, it would be something if Chris Nolan ever said to himself, “You know what, I’ve got another story to tell.” And if he wished to tell that story with me, I’d be in.
Before everyone gets their hopes up, Nolan and Warner Bros. reportedly had a contentious split during the pandemic when the studio’s then-parent company, AT&T, made the controversial decision to stream its entire 2021 film slate on HBO Max. The famed director took his next film, Oppenheimer, to Universal Pictures, which may or may not confirm those continued feelings.
That said, the studio has since merged with Discovery resulting in a change of leadership. With the execs who caused the bad blood with Nolan out the door, that could pave the way for him to return to the house of Batman for a fourth film in the Dark Knight series. “Could” being the keyword here.
“She is 18 years old now and living with her mother,” the Two and a Half Men actor told Us Weekly about 18-year-old Sami. “I do not condone this but since I’m unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative, and not sacrifice her integrity.” Sheen’s ex-wife and Sami’s mother, actress Denise Richards, had a more reasonable response, saying, “All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgment, but she makes her own choices.” (The Wild Things star trusted her so much that she also joined OnlyFans.)
Since his initial comments, Sheen has apparently calmed down.
“Denise has illuminated a variety of salient points, that in my haste, I overlooked and dismissed,” he said in a statement to Us Weekly. “Now more than ever, it’s essential that Sami have a united parental front to rely upon, as she embarks on this new adventure. From this moment forward, she’ll have it abundantly.”
Sami Sheen is charging $19.99/month for a subscription to her OnlyFans, while access to Richards’ adult-friendly content will set you back $25/month. Or better yet, subscribe to someone who isn’t a millionaire and/or related to a millionaire.
America’s Sweetheart and Hollywood legend Carol Burnett doesn’t do interviews very often, but when she was approached by a 17-year-old to chat, it seems like she was delighted at the prospect! In a new interview with the iconic actress, Vanity Fair asked what she had been up to lately, Burnett casually announced she would be a guest on season six of the hit Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul.
While describing her lockdown experience (it appears the interview was conducted last year), the prolific comedian nonchalantly added that she would be starring in the final season of AMC’s Better Call Saul. “I’m also going to be working in August. I’m going to do a guest shot on Better Call Saul. It’s their final season. I’m in the last few episodes.” Burnett said.
Burnett will be portraying Marion for the final few episodes, which begin airing next month. Her character details haven’t been announced, though Burnett is seemingly ecstatic. “I’m thrilled to be a part of my favorite show,” Burnett said in a statement to MovieMaker. With Burnett’s comedic history and Bob Odenkirk’s out-there sense of humor, it’s surprising it took this long to make it happen!
The second half of the final season will begin airing on July 11th, with more familiar faces slated to appear: earlier this month, the dynamic two from Breaking Bad were confirmed to have a guest appearance in season six, where hopefully nobody will die before the conclusion but with this universe…you really never know.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Conan Gray was preternaturally ready for life on the internet. Despite the kind of chaotic and abusive upbringing that so many children in America unfortunately experience, Conan found resilience in creativity, and sharing his many artistic projects with a community online. After video diaries and a visual art series began to blow up on YouTube, Conan released his first song, “Idle Town,” back in 2017, and became a pop star almost immediately after that. It only took a few months for Republic Records — home of his idol, Taylor Swift, no less — to scoop him up, and a debut EP, Sunset Season, came shortly after in 2018. Spending the next two years touring, releasing singles, and carefully readying a debut album, Gray was one of so many artists whose 2020 turned out much differently than expected.
Dropping Kid Krow about a week after the initial lockdowns began, and putting plans to perform at his first Coachella on ice, Conan still earned a top five spot on the Billboard charts and had the track “Heather” go viral on TikTok. The bulk of Kid Krow is about relationships with frustrating ends — or, with frustrating beginnings and middles, too, a bloodletting of high school cliques, fake friends, and toxic crushes. It’s both a continuation and refinement of the sound that Gray established on his early YouTube singles and initial EP, and likely would’ve been a much bigger album if the rollout hadn’t been eclipsed by a global crisis. But, maybe all things turn out how they’re supposed to, because as great as Kid Krow was, Conan’s follow-up album is even better. Superache is aptly named, an album full of songs about wanting and hoping, a more grown up approach to the relationship frustrations that defined Kid Krow.
Kicking off with “Movies” and “People Watching,” two songs about wanting to feel a love that seems omnipresent but is still somehow inaccessible, there’s a lighter touch on Superache than Gray’s songwriting had in the past. Even when he gets closer to the scorched earth feel, like on “Disaster” and “Jigsaw,” there’s a sense of lived experience in these songs that adds a layer of depth. Much of Kid Krow was obsessed with what-if’s and potential relationships that never quite jelled — Superache is about the aftermath. And, there’s plenty of songs on this record that expand Gray’s palette past the subjects of unrequited love or breakup drama. Even “Memories,” one of the album’s standout tracks, offers a new angle on the age-old situation of seeing an ex for the first time after a breakup.
When he gets even farther off topic though, Gray’s storytelling skill really shines, like on the trauma-exploring “Family Line,” which examines Gray’s troubled upbringing once more, interrogating just how close he is to the mistakes his parents have made. Another left-field song, “Best Friend,” dips a toe into the world of trap beats, praising a ride-or-die (platonic?) friend with the same fervor generally reserved for loathing an ex. It’s the kind of song that the eternally single will relate to, the rare track devoted to a platonic relationship instead of a romantic one, and a celebration of the way completely accepting someone, flaws and all, breeds a sense of safety and comfort.
For the second time, Gray worked closely with producer Dan Nigro on the record, and though Nigro is now synonymous with the success of Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, his working relationship with Gray predates Olivia’s debut. Still, close listeners will hear some similarities in vocal style between Gray and Rodrigo, like clusters of close harmonies, emotional delivery, and slowly enunciated words, and the two also happen to be fast friends outside of music as well. Unlike Sour, though, Superache isn’t afraid to go long and slow, with plenty of ballads that hold up just as well as the bangers — “Astronomy,” “Summer Child,” and “Footnote” all lean more heavily into the acoustic side of things.
At just twelve songs, Superache is relatively short in terms of a modern pop record, but each song is a thoughtful expansion and nothing ever drags. The only truly puzzling decision was the choice to relegate “Overdrive,” a joyous, chaotic single from early 2021, to bonus track status. That one, along with “Telepath,” represents a couple of the more upbeat singles Gray put out last year, but the pair were bumped for some of the slower singles included instead. And if the only thing wrong with Superache is that there are so many great songs that a couple of early singles needed to appear as bonus tracks, well, that’s a good problem to have. Gray’s second album makes the riskier choice to go much deeper into the vulnerable side of things, and the fact that these downtempo tracks can still be hits is a testament to his staying power.
Superache is out now via Republic Records. Get it here.
Fans of Muni Long‘s breakout single “Hrs And Hrs” have helped make the songwriting star one of R&B’s biggest success stories of the past year, and today, she’s announced her impending follow-up to her debut EP, Public Displays Of Affection. Fittingly, it’s titled Public Displays Of Affection Too and it’s due July 1 via Supergiant/Def Jam Recordings. Clocking in at five tracks, it contains one guest feature from Saweetie and will contain Muni Long’s new singles “Another” and “Pain.”
The former aspiring country star — she released a twangy project under her real name, Priscilla Renea, in 2018 — made the switch to R&B for her 2021 EP after writing songs for the likes of Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Selena Gomez, and more, a move that paid off big time. “Hrs And Hrs” became a huge smash thanks to a viral trend on TikTok and since then, Muni Long has gone on to work with pop R&B juggernauts like John Legend, appearing on his new single “Honey.” Muni Long’s coronation came at last night’s BET Awards, where she performed her breakout hit on stage amid performances by Latto, Chance The Rapper, Doechii, and more. You can watch her performance below.
Public Displays Of Affection Too is due 7/1 via Supergiant/Def Jam Recordings. You can see the tracklist below.
As Wednesday’s deadline for players to exercise or decline their options for next season approaches, all eyes are on Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets, as his departure could also pave the way for Kevin Durant to ask out — which would lead to one of the all-time bidding wars in NBA history.
On Monday morning, there appeared to be little in the way of positive momentum between the Nets and Irving, with Zach Lowe reporting on ESPN’s Get Up! that a max offer was not going to be on the table from Brooklyn and they seemed willing to draw a line in the sand to not be “held hostage” by Kyrie and KD.
“The max deal, everything I’ve heard, is not coming [for Kyrie Irving]. The Nets are not going to be held hostage by the threat of Kyrie & then Kevin Durant following them out the door.”
Later in the morning, a bombshell report from Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News indicated that not only was there not any positivity in contract talks between Irving and the Nets, but that Kyrie had requested and been granted permission to seek out sign-and-trade offers from other teams.
In fact, things are trending the opposite direction: While Nets GM Sean Marks and superstar forward Kevin Durant have yet to speak this offseason, Irving’s camp has requested and received permission from the Nets to speak with other teams about sign-and-trade packages, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. The belief among both league and player circles is that Irving is gone and the Seven-Eleven Era is over before it ever began.
That is the most significant report yet that Irving’s tenure in Brooklyn is over and that things are truly moving towards his departure in the next few weeks — and follows Shams Charania saying it was “expected” that Kyrie would seek a trade on Draft day. The group of teams on Irving’s preferred list (Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavs and 76ers) are all capped out teams, meaning a sign-and-trade is the only option — although some, like the Lakers and Clippers, would need him to opt in and trade for him on his current $36+ million salary to get it done.
We will now see what happens in the next couple of days, because if Irving picks up his player option it would indicate what teams will be able to get involved, while if he hits free agency it shifts who would be favored to land him — and now the clock is ticking on what KD will try to do.
Lauren Boebert has been dragged into an election fraud scandal. Tina Peters, an indicted Colorado election clerk who’s also running to be Colorado’s secretary of state, has reportedly accused Boebert of encouraging her to copy “sensitive” election software data. Peters is looking at seven felony charges including identity theft and criminal impersonation. However, despite reportedly admitting that she copied the data, which has endeared her to election conspiracy theory pusher Mike Lindell, Peters has pleaded not guilty and claims “there was no rule or regulation against it.” The Colorado secretary of state office has argued otherwise.
In public appearances since, Ms. Peters has said she made the copies because she worried the voting machine company was going to delete computer systems that recorded the 2020 election and wanted to preserve records. She has been less forthcoming about how the material ended up online.
“The people want to know HOW our elections have been turned over to machines with no oversight, transparency or real security in any meaningful way,” Ms. Peters said in the statement.
As for Boebert’s involvement, Peters told the Times on Friday that the congresswoman “encouraged me to go forward with the imaging.” When reached for comment, a representative for Boebert told the Times that Peters’ claim is “false.”
However, as Raw Story reports, Boebert had previously issued a statement of support in 2021 when Peters was indicted. “Many of the constituents I represent have expressed concern about the ongoing investigation into Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters,” Boebert said. “As many of you know, I have been a vocal opponent of the overreach and targeted nature of the FBI’s activities on a national level.”
Around this time last month, Drake and Haim met up in Toronto, with Drake sharing a smile-heavy photo of the encounter and writing, “Just met the Beatles.” While it made sense that the two would meet in Drake’s hometown, what hadn’t been made clear is how Drake and Haim actually crossed paths. Now, though, the Haim sisters have shared how it happened: pure coincidence.
Alana: “We literally landed in Toronto, and went to the first restaurant we saw… it’s like something out of a movie. We were at this random restaurant and Drake showed up.”
Danielle: “It sounds like folklore, like a mythic story.”
Alana: “But that’s what happened!”
Este: “We were straight-up wearing our clothes from the plane, to see Drake.”
Alana: “Well, we didn’t know! It’s pretty crazy.”
Este: “But that’s what I’m saying, we didn’t know and he showed up and I was wearing pajamas and Uggs and no make-up and acne medication, to meet Drake.”
Alana: “It was great.”
As for what the band’s up to now, Alana said, “We’re always writing, it never stops. I think the biggest thing is being away from touring for two years was the most heartbreaking for us, we’ve always considered ourselves a touring band. We love playing live, and we just did our tour in the states and in a couple of weeks we get to do our UK tour, and we’re just so excited. We’re playing The O2 arena!”
Some members of the GOP (including Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders) continue to stumble over logic following the Supreme Court’s devastating Roe v. Wade ruling while many non-GOP U.S. citizens (like John Oliver) have voiced their concern. Still others have taken to the streets. That would include Full House (and Fuller House) alum Jodie Sweetin, who joined a pro-choice protest on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday.
Sweetin was met with a confrontational stance from a member of the LAPD while marching (as noted by The Hollywood Reporter) near a freeway. Photojournalist Mike Ade posted a video that showed Sweetin then being hurled to the ground “as she was trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freeway.” The video’s rather shocking to watch, and fellow protesters helped Sweetin up from the ground, where she continued to stand for the cause. According Sweetin’s rep via THR, she’s physically alright and issued this statement:
“I’m extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court. Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free.”
In response to an inquiry from THR, the LAPD stated that they were “aware” of the video footage shot by Ade, and “[t]he force used will be evaluated against the LAPD’s policy and procedure.” The department also indicated that officers were intent about not letting any protesters block the freeway.
The weekend saw protests across the country following the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in favor of overturning Roe. Prior to that happening, several red states, including Texas and Oklahoma placed a bounty on anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion, and GOP lawmakers in Missouri responded to the SCOTUS ruling by introducing a law that would halt women from traveling out of state to have abortions. In other words, lines will continue to appear in the sand as the U.S. continues to react to the ruling.
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