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BTS’ RM has experienced both ends of the fan reception spectrum in recent weeks. During an August Weverse livestream, RM confirmed that BTS will ends its hiatus and “be joining together again” in 2025. BTS Army were predictably thrilled. But, around the same time, RM faced backlash for posting Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange track “Bad Religion” to his Instagram Story because some felt it perpetuated Islamophobia.

On Wednesday, August 30, RM defended himself during yet another Weverse livestream (as captured by several fan accounts).

“OK, guys, I know what you’re talking about,” RM said. “You just keep telling me that I insulted a religion. But I didn’t. There was not any intention or purpose to insult a religion. I respect every beliefs and religions. That’s all I could say. So, please don’t — I know what’s going on in my Instagram. I can see, but I never — there was no such any purpose or, like, at least one percent of my heart or intention to insult a religion, OK?”

Per Billboard, RM continued, “Guys, it’s a song, OK? I’m not apologizing. I’m just saying. I have my own soul. I’m 30 years old. I can express my true thoughts. Please! The word is the word. It is what it is. Please believe my words from myself. Not just guessing, pretending and assuming, OK?”

In the chorus of “Bad Religion,” Ocean sings, “He said, ‘Allahu Akbar’ / I told him, ‘Don’t curse me’ / ‘But boy, you need prayer’ / I guess it couldn’t hurt me / If it brings me to my knees / It’s a bad religion.”

In 2017, CNN contextualized the meaning of “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is greater,” as “a powerful declaration used by Muslims on many occasions and in many prayers.”

With Donald Trump now facing four indictments, the former president will have plenty of opportunities to pepper judges and attorneys with wild, egotistical statements that only Trump can make. Such was the case in New York where Trump is facing his first indictment for business fraud stemming from the hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in an effort to cover up their alleged affair and protect Trump’s 2016 campaign.

According to a new transcript released this week, Trump reportedly told lawyers for Attorney General Letitia James that he was too busy saving the world to commit fraud. More specifically, Trump claimed he was stopping “nuclear war,” so he didn’t really have time for the Trump Organization. You know how it is.

Via Insider:

“Yeah, I think you can say it. It’s another way of saying it. I was very busy. I was — I considered this the most important job in the world, saving millions of lives,” Trump added.

“I think you would have nuclear holocaust if I didn’t deal with North Korea. I think you would have a nuclear war, if I weren’t elected,” Trump said of his four years in office.

“And I think you might have a nuclear war now if you want to know the truth,” he continued.

As for who was taking care of the company while Trump was saving the world, the former president was quick to offer up a sacrificial lamb.

“My son Eric is much more involved with it than I am,” Trump testified. Ever the dutiful son, Eric Trump confirmed in his own deposition that his father only involves himself with the company when it involves golf greens.

“Maybe he’s at one of the golf courses and he wants to redesign a green or something like that because he’s golf fanatic and loves it,” Eric testified. “But for all intents and purposes, no, he’s not sitting in that position and he largely relies on Don and I and other executives to run a nice business.”

(Via Insider)

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards have added a slew of new performers. After previously announcing Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin and Stray Kids, today, the show announced Anitta, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini, Lil Wayne, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER — all of whom are also nominated for awards, except for Ballerini, whose birthday is the night of the show. The show is scheduled to air live from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 12 at 8 pm ET/PT.

The nominees for this year’s awards include Blackpink, Diddy, Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Smith, Shakira, SZA, and Taylor Swift. Swift leads all nominees this year with eight selections for Video Of The Year, Artist Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Editing. SZA is right on her heels with six, for Video Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best R&B, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Editing.

Shakira will also be the sixth consecutive woman to be honored with a Video Vanguard Award. The most recent winners include Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, and Rihanna.

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

The Weeknd confused a lot of fans when he said he no longer goes by that name. Instead, he wants to use his real first name, Abel. It was especially jarring after his focus on television with the HBO series The Idol.

However, it doesn’t mean he’s retiring from music. In his interview with W Magazine in May, he explained it’s just time for something new.

“I’m going through a cathartic path right now,” he said. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

Luckily for listeners of his music, the second season of The Idol was canceled by HBO. “The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response,” a spokesperson for the network shared. “After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers, have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”

Gwyneth Paltrow hasn’t appeared in a Marvel movie since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which saw her character Pepper Potts married to Tony Stark and a mom to their daughter Morgan. Unfortunately, that film gave Robert Downey Jr. a hero’s exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to Iron Man making the ultimate sacrifice to defeat Thanos.

While Pepper notably received a personalized Iron Man suit in Endgame, Paltrow has not been seen in a Marvel movie since, and apparently, she gets a lot of questions about it. During a recent Q&A on Instagram, Paltrow finally addressed the burning question of why she stopped appearing in the MCU. She did not hold back.

Via Entertainment Weekly:

“We just stopped doing it because Iron Man died,” Paltrow responded, bluntly. “And, why do you need Pepper Potts without Iron Man? I don’t know. Call up Marvel and yell at them, not me. I’m just sitting here.”

Of course, Paltrow’s connection to Marvel was never very strong. The actress has a hilarious and well-documented history of not knowing a single thing about these movies. She famously didn’t know that she was in Spider-Man: Homecoming, she met Winter Soldier actor Sebastian Stan twice and still doesn’t recognize him, and Kevin Feige literally had to remind her that Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury even though Paltrow starred in movies with him.

Frankly, it’s a miracle she even knows who Iron Man is.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) told W Magazine in May, “I’m going through a cathartic path right now. It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

Shortly thereafter, he updated his display name across his social media accounts to “Abel Tesfaye,” but he’s kept @theweeknd as his handle. So, technically, the name-change has sort of already taken place.

But Tesfaye will have to keep The Weeknd alive at least until December, as The Weeknd’s ongoing (and seemingly never-ending) After Hours Til Dawn Tour still has to weave through Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Australia, and New Zealand. The grand finale, per his official website, will be on December 8 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

Still, there are signs that The Weeknd is starting to fade to black. On August 9 in Poland, he performed an unreleased song called “Another One Of Me” and billed it as “the last feature I ever do, ever in my career.” On Wednesday, August 30, Diddy confirmed that “Another One Of Me” will appear on his forthcoming The Love Album: Off The Grid and also stated it is “The Weeknd’s last collab of his career.”

Yet again, however, Tesfaye stopped short of totally killing The Weeknd because, when posting his performance to X (formerly known as Twitter, speaking of name-changes), he wrote, “the final feature… unless Daft Punk ever get back together.”

When will Tesfaye permanently retire The Weeknd in favor of his birth name? Will he do that at all? In short, we do not know because it seems he does not totally know. What we do know is that his The Idol character, Tedros, has been killed, so to speak, as HBO canceled the series earlier this week after one very controversial season.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. This week is a week for the sneakerheads that live classics! Premium offerings from Jordan, including a re-up of the Jordan 5 Burgundy and Jordan 1 Palomino, a new Air Force 88, a women’s size exclusive Air Max 1, and an SB Dunk collaboration with Supreme that uses the art of late graffiti artists Rammellzee make up the bulk of our top 8 — reinvigorating classic silhouettes with vivid colorways.

For the futurists, we have the debut of Sabrina Ionescu’s first signature Nike, aptly named the Sabrina I, and a new collaboration between New Balance and Japanese streetwear brand WTAPS. In its last weeks, the summer sneaker season is still burning bright. Let’s dive into this week’s best sneaker drops.

Nike Air Jordan 5 Burgundy

Price: $225

Fans of Nike’s legendary Burgundy Jordan 5 returns! The colorway, which was first introduced in 2006, features a premium leather upper in burgundy with contrasting graphite and silver accents over an icy translucent outsole.

In an effort to get everyone in on the fun, the sneaker has dropped in a full-size run. Make this the norm Nike!

The Nike Air Jordan 5 Burgundy is out now for a retail price of $225. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Women’s Air Max 1 Soft Vinyl

Price: $160

The latest Air Max 1 looks like something straight out of a comic book. Featuring a vinyl-like polished upper, this sneaker sports translucent details, a mix of airbrushed Siren Red and orange tones, translucent panels, and a translucent outsole with a metallic silver swoosh.

The sneaker was inspired by old-school vintage toys according to Nike and is available exclusively in women’s sizing, which is a shame for those with bigger feet who like this bright comic-book style design. It feels perfect for summer.

The Nike Women’s Air Max 1 Soft Vinyl is out now for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike SB Dunk Low x Yuto Wolf Grey

Price: $130

Made to the specifications of professional Japanese skating champion Yuto Horigome, this Wolf Grey Nike SB Dunk is constructed to take a serious beating and hold up against all the street skating abuse you throw at it. The design doesn’t look like your typical signature sneaker; instead, it’s very tasteful and reserved, featuring little more than Yuto’s family crest over the base SB Dunk design.

Our favorite feature is the pop of color and warmth at the heel. Instead of covering the sneaker entirely in white and Wolf Grey (which still would’ve been dope) there are some chocolate and pink hits on the heel and outsole.

The Nike SB Dunk Low x Yuto Wolf Grey is out now for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike Air Alpha Force 88 Light Bone and Coconut Milk

Price: $130

We love Nike, but let’s face it, the brand is more famous for its old sneakers from the ‘80s and ‘90s than anything that has come out in this century. Normally, that would be a huge problem for any brand, but Nike is so good at paying homage to the classics that the brand remains on top. Just look at this Air Alpha Force 88! With sneakers that look this good, Nike doesn’t need to change!

Featuring a monochromatic Light Bone and Coconut Milk all-over suede upper, the Air Alpha Force sports a forefoot strap, vintage Nike branding, and an old school look that feels like it’ll never go out of style.

The Nike Air Alpha Force 88 Light Bone and Coconut Milk is set to drop on August 31st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Rammellzee x Supreme x Nike SB Dunk

Price: TBA

Supreme has been relatively quiet this year when it comes to collaborations with Nike but the two brands are finally getting together for the summer and paying homage to late New York graffiti artist Rammellzee. Featuring both low-top and high-top versions, the latest Nike SB Dunk features a suede and canvas upper with a mesh tongue and collar, a rubber gum outsole with Zoom Air at the heel, and uppers with printed artwork by Rammellzee.

They’re colorful, swirling, and a bit psychedelic, a true tribute to a NYC icon.

The Rammellzee x Supreme x Nike SB Dunk is set to drop on August 31st at 11 AM PST. Pick up a pair exclusively at Supreme.

Nike Sabrina 1 Spark/ Ionic

Price: $130 (Spark / Ionic)

New York Liberty point guard Sabrina Ionescu is getting her very own signature Nike this month with a two-colorway debut. Dropping in both Spark and Ionic, the Sabrina 1 is built on a Zoom Air and Nike React foam midsole with enhanced traction and high mid-foot support for better grip and traction.

The design puts performance at the forefront but it still has some interesting features we haven’t seen yet, like its faux woven upper design and sideways large logo swoosh.

The Nike Sabrina 1 Spark and Ionic are set to drop on September 1st at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

New Balance x WTAPS 990v6 Made in USA

Price: $259.99

New Balance is reaching back to its all-grey-everything roots in this collaboration with legendary Japanese streetwear brand WTAPS. Utilizing the v6 990 silhouette, this MADE in USA New Balance features a FuelCell equipped ENCAP midsole with oversized USA branding, WTAPS logos, and a pig skin and mesh upper with synthetic overlays.

Lately this year New Balance has been dropping vibrant colorways, which is a new thing for the brand, so fans of the classic NB style are sure to love this more toned-down blast from the past.

The New Balance x WTAPS 990v6 Made in USA is set to drop on September 1st at 10:00 AM PST for a retail price of $259.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.

Air Jordan 1 Palomino

Price: $180

Closing out the week and this edition of SNX is this luxurious horse-inspired take on the Jordan 1, the Palomino. Featuring a high-top design, the Palomino features a premium leather upper with a brown base, Swoosh, and outsole with black paneling and gold foil branding at the tongue.

It’s easily one of the top five Jordans to drop all year.

The Air Jordan 1 Palomino is set to drop on September 2nd at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Daniel Caesar’s Superpowers Tour kicked off earlier this week to support his new album Never Enough, and now that we’ve had a couple of representative shows, we know what the setlist should look like for the duration (although, I suppose it is subject to change at the whims of the artist). Courtesy of setlist.fm, here is the setlist for Daniel Caesar’s Superpowers Tour.

The Toronto singer is being supported by a huge number of opening acts on the tour which includes BADBADNOTGOOD, Flying Lotus, Moses Sumney, and more. While the majority of the dates will feature either Philadelphia singer-songwriter Orion Sun or Pittsburgh crooner Montell Fish, all of the Canadian tour dates, except for Caesar’s hometown show, will feature Moses Sumney. The Toronto show will feature BADBADNOTGOOD and Charlotte Day Wilson, while shows in Los Angeles and New York will have guest stars Flying Lotus and Omar Apollo, respectively

You can see the setlist below and the remaining tour dates and tickets at Daniel Caesar’s official website.

1. “Ocho Rios”
2. “Let Me Go”
3. “Disillusioned”
4. “Toronto 2014”
5. “Cyanide”
6. “Violet”
7. “Do You Like Me?”
8. “Entropy”
9. “Open Up”
10. “Japanese Denim”
11. “Best Part”
12. “Please Do Not Lean”
13. “Pain Is Inevitable”
14. “Shot My Baby”
15. “Superpowers”
16. “Loose”
17. “Sparks”
18. “Are You OK?”
19. “Cool”
20. “Get You”
21. “Always”

Howie Mandel is a notorious germaphobe and has been ever since he was a kid. His germ paranoia origin story involves flies, liquid nitrogren, and “organisms trying to make their way under my skin,” in case that’s something you’re interested in learning about (maybe wait until after lunch). Mandel even wrote a book called Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me, but he’ll make an exception for touching Sofia Vergara‘s feet. Or at least her ankle.

“I’ll do anything to not shake hands,” Mandel wrote on Instagram, along with a photo where he’s grasping his America’s Got Talent co-judge. Remember how I recommended not reading the germ backstory during lunch? The same is true of the replies to Mandel’s post, except instead you should never read them.

Mandel has long been open about his germaphobia, which led him down a dark path during the coronavirus pandemic after he contracted COVID at the 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards. “I got locked away for 10 days. I’m vaxxed, and I’m boosted, so my symptoms weren’t terrible,” he told TMZ at the time. “But…. the mental pain of me being locked in a room for 10 days, not going near anybody…. I went insane.”

You can see the photo (and not read the comments) below.

(Via EW)

Janelle Monáe put herself all the way out there with The Age Of Pleasure, their June 9 (yes, 6/9) album that Uproxx reviewed as “a comforting space for Monáe and her beloved ‘Fandroids’ to live out loud.”

Uproxx’s Aaron Williams additionally contextualized why Monáe’s bold rollout was necessary, encapsulating “the story of America, of being Black, of being queer, of being non-binary, and always fighting to be seen, to be heard, and to not just survive in a hostile world but thrive.”

Monáe is giving their people several opportunities for indulgence with The Age Of Pleasure Tour. The North American trek started in Seattle, Washington on Wednesday, August 30. According to setlist.fm, Monáe kicked it all off with “Float.”

Monáe and their openers will next visit Vancouver, BC on Thursday, August 31, and Portland, Oregon on Saturday, September 2. The leg’s finale is scheduled for October 18 at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California.

See all of the remaining dates here, and prepare ahead of time by reviewing the purported setlist below.

1. “Float”
2. “Champagne Sh*t”
3. “Phenomenal”
4. “Haute”
5. “Oooh La La”
6. “Django Jane”
7. “Q.U.E.E.N.”
8. “Electric Lady”
9. “Lipstick Lover”
10. “Water Slide”
11. “Know Better”
12. “Paid In Pleasure”
13. “Pynk”
14. “Yoga”
15. “I Like That”
16. “Only Have Eyes 42”
17. “Make Me Feel” (encore)
18. “Tightrope” (encore)

Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.