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NBA legend-turned-analyst and unquestionable American treasure Shaquille O’Neal was recently in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a DJing gig at The Republik. During his downtime, he relaxed at the pool, but that didn’t stop him from giving a group of kids a moment of a lifetime.

A video uploaded to TikTok by Daniel Chavez shows the giant horsing around with some kids at the hotel pool. Can you imagine being a 4-foot-tall kid and staring up at the 7’1”, 325-pound Lakers legend? It must have been like meeting a god from Mount Olympus.

But Shaq was humble with the kids and pretended to be having a heart attack in the pool and acted like he was drowning. A group of about seven kids came to the rescue and saved the four-time NBA champion.

@incatico

Shaq is such a cool guy tho #shaq #hawaii

@incatico

The kids brought back Shaq! 😂 #shaq #hawaii

In a follow-up video, Chavez said he was hesitant to film the wholesome scene. “Part of me was like, hmm, should I film this?” he said. “Or, number 2, should I just enjoy the moment? Number 3, I’m like, he’s relaxing, he’s on vacation, why am I gonna bother this guy’s privacy? But the journalist in me said, ‘No. No, this guy’s being real right now. He’s being such a cool guy. I’m sure people would love to see this side of him.’”

However, in the end, the outpouring of love and good vibes that the video received on TikTok made Chavez feel like he made the right decision.

“Shaq loves kids so much it’s so wholesome,” Celestial Sylvia wrote.

“Shaq is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs,” Kyle Caldwell added.

Few celebrity friendships are as wholesome as the one shared between Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. The icons would release two Grammy-winning, chart-topping albums together and perform two sold-out concerts at Radio City Music Hall, but they were much more than creative collaborators.

Bennett, who passed away on July 21 at age 96, previously told Parade that he first met Gaga, whom he lovingly called “Lady,” at a charity concert, where she performed the jazz standard “Orange Colored Sky”.

Struck by how she could captivate a crowd, Bennett immediately went backstage to meet her (a huge and pleasant surprise, Gaga would recall) and suggested they do an album together, which would later be titled, “Cheek to Cheek.”

This interaction had a profound effect on the pop idol, who at the time had been disillusioned with the music industry and “didn’t even want to sing” anymore. But recording together reignited her passion.

“All of a sudden, I’m singing in the studio with Tony and my childhood is flashing before me. All of those moments singing Ella Fitzgerald, being in the jazz band in high school and jazz being my first love. It’s been really exciting to revisit everything again and go back to my roots,” she told USA Today.

Because of that reaffirmation, Gaga credits the crooner for “saving her life.” According to People, she would even end up getting a tattoo of a trumpet, drawn by Bennett, “just so I would always remember this time together.”

The duo’s friendship would continue to deepen throughout the years. Gaga became an advocate for Alzheimer’s after Bennett’s diagnosis in 2016. In an interview with 60 Minutes in 2022, she shared how “beautiful” and “challenging” it was to watch someone she cared about change, but at the same time have his talent be unaffected.

Tony Bennett (battling with Alzheimer’s) said Lady Gaga’s name for the first time at their last concert together. this was a special moment for both of them. #RIPTonyBennett pic.twitter.com/62oXbXekB6

— ‏ً (@keaaaaley) July 21, 2023

“When that music comes on … something happens to him,” she said. “He knows exactly what he’s doing. I think he really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing things can change and you can still be magnificent.”

Though Gaga hasn’t commented on Bennett’s death, her sentiments are likely akin to what she said of “Love For Sale,” their last album made together: “The celebration of jazz, and us as musical companions, will live on with me forever.”

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Fueled by a deep love of music, Tony Bennett wholeheartedly shared the spotlight (and his infectious joy) with singers across virtually all genres, singing duets with everyone from Barbara Streisand to Paul McCartney to Amy Winehouse to John Legend. He even sang with country superstar Carrie Underwood.

Besides God-given talent, Bennett had a childlike spirit that brought out the best in others, and he will be missed.

Social media continues to be a gift and a curse for our favorite entertainers. While having the ability to communicate directly with fans (and vice versa) has boosted the careers of many artists, there are drawbacks — and some stars have begun to hit back. Doja Cat recently lashed out at over-invested fans, and now, Kid Cudi is calling out internet bullies. In a late-night Twitter session, he blasted trolls who questioned his sexuality all because he posted a pic of himself grinning online.

“U know whats crazy and really makes me question the world we live in?” he mourned. “Is when I post a picture of me smiling on ig and theres mad comments questioning my sexuality floodin my page w insults. I feel really bad for yall man. Its sad out here. Man cant even smile and be happy no more. Smh.” In a follow-up, he wrote, “Its like ‘oh he smiling TOO hard!! He DEF sucks a dick!’ Its like word?? Thats what we on now?? Homophobic and sad and will be miserable their whole lives.”

Of course, Cudi’s online experience hasn’t been all bad. In May, he was able to use fan feedback to determine which single to release from his upcoming album — something that wouldn’t have been possible 20 years ago. So, a little good, a little bad.

Harry Styles can fully exhale for the first time since September 2021. After 173 shows staged worldwide, Styles’ Love On Tour concluded at RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on Saturday, July 22.

Fan-shot videos captured Styles getting emotional while acknowledging the end on stage, and Styles continued his emotional farewell on social media.

On Monday morning (July 24), Styles posted an Instagram reel recapping Love On Tour through his fans’ eyes. “To the most inspiring people I know. Goodbye for now. Love On Tour forever,” he captioned it.

Around the same time, Styles shared a lengthy Instagram Story message. Read it in full and see Styles’ posts below.

“Love On Tour.

It’s been the greatest experience of my entire life. Thank you to my band, and all the crew who made the last few years so special. It’s been an absolute pleasure.

To everyone who came out to see us play, thank you. I feel so incredibly full and happy, it’s all because of you. You have given me memories that will last a lifetime, more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Thank you for your time, your energy, and your love. It’s been an honor to play for you, I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Look after each other, I’ll see you again when the time is right. Treat People With Kindness. I love you more than you’ll ever know.

– H”

The latest addition to Nas and Hit-Boy’s growing joint discography has arrived. Magic 2, the duo’s fifth collaborative project in just four years, dropped on Friday, July 21, earning praise from not just hip-hop heads but also one of the celebrities name-checked on the album. The song “Earvin Magic Johnson” is a reference to the NBA legend, but rather than praising his achievements on the court, it instead refers to his business acumen — something Nas can obviously relate to.

Magic himself acknowledged the reference on Twitter (I refuse to call it X, just like the Staples Center will never be called Crypto.com Arena by LA locals). “On Nas’s new album Magic 2 he dedicated track 7 to me called Earvin Magic Johnson!” he wrote. ““Thank you for the respect and honor of my business acumen. You’re a hell of a businessman in your own right!”

He’s not exaggerating. Last year, Nas teamed up with Google to invest in a video game company (just when video games are experiencing rapid growth), and he was one of the earliest of hip-hop’s icons to put his money into cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Magic Johnson continues to be a big-time investor in his own right; last year, he joined a group bidding on the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

The Blue Note Jazz Festival will overtake Silverado Resort in Napa, California this weekend (July 28-30), boasting Mary J. Blige, Nas, and Chance The Rapper as its headliners.

Robert Glasper is serving as the Artist In Residence, and he expressed to Uproxx the significance of the festival last summer.

“There are so many amazing artists and trailblazers, and to have them all in one festival represents so much and represents how free the music can be,” he said then, in part.

And that is especially poignant in relation to Blue Note Jazz Festival 2023, as it will continue the year-long celebration around hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. As Zoë Jones contextualized it for Uproxx, “Blue Note has the potential to be much more than a festival – the lineup alone can stand as music history: tracing the evolution of Black music at a time when it’s more present than ever in mainstream consciousness.”

The event will unfold across three stages: Black Radio Stage, Footprints Stage, and Blue Note Stage.

On Friday, July 28, the Black Radio Stage will host Big Freedia (1:45-2:45 p.m. local time), Ari Lennox (3:45-4:45 p.m.), and Glasper alongside De La Soul and Dave Chappelle (5:45-7:30 p.m.) ahead of Blige’s headlining set (8:30-9:45 p.m.).The Footprints Stage will host the likes of Madlib (2:45-3:45 p.m.) and Cordae (4:45-5:45 p.m.).

Come Saturday, July 29, Madlib will be joined by Talib Kweli on the Black Radio Stage from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., and Glasper will occupy the same slot (5:45-7:30 p.m.) but this time cohabitate the stage with Chappelle and Lalah Hathaway & Terrace Martin. Nas’ headlining set is also scheduled for 8:30-9:45 p.m.

Chance The Rapper will wrap the party with his 8:30-9:45 p.m. headlining set on Sunday, July 30.

Check out the full Blue Note schedule below, and find more information about the festival here.

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

I’m not sure where Stephen King finds the time for Twitter while continuing to regularly churn out novels, but find time, he does. On the ailing social media platform, the Cell author has shown himself to be king of the dad jokes, but King also knows when to reel it in and not waste fancy words while, say, responding to Ted Cruz. That’s not to say that he’s afraid to get political. On the contrary. And sometimes, the results are so WTF that one has to marvel.

Such was the case when King may have referred to Don Jr.’s remarks about the cocaine found in the White House over the Fourth of July weekend. Actually, scratch that because I’m not sure what King was referencing — it could be that he’s alluding to Don Jr.’s tendency to seem high-energy or even teary-eyed and twitchy during media appearances.

Whatever the inspiration, King tweeted a meme of a super-scraggly “dog” (not a dog) that looked as though it was a cartoon character that stuck its paw into an electric outlet. It’s very Wile E. Coyote stuff, and the meme’s caption refers to a “drug-sniffing dog” possibly visiting an ex-president’s son’s house.

I mean, it’s so absurd and so 2023. Sometimes, someone needs to take the phone away from all of us, collectively, but at least the U.S. isn’t currently (totally, at least) at the mercy of a dude whose Diet Coke button is the most universally approved-of thing that he’s ever done. If the GOP primary goes Trump’s way, however, that button (and more) could be back. In other words, the 2024 race should be another dubiously wild ride.

The Buffalo Bills come into the 2023 NFL season hoping to breakthrough and finally come out on top of the AFC. They have all the pieces in place, with a star quarterback and receiver combo in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, as well as a stout defense led by the now-healthy Von Miller.

However, so much of success in the NFL leans on the “others” and having enough depth to navigate the new 17-game regular season as well as the playoffs, and unfortunately the Bills saw their depth take a hit with the news that running back and kick returner Nyheim Hines will be out for the season after a freak accident on a jet ski. According to Tom Pelissero, Hines was seated on a jet ski that was stationary in the water when he was struck by another jet ski, causing non-life threatening injuries but requiring surgery that will end his season before it even begins.

Hopefully Hines can make a full recovery from a scary injury situation, but his absence will thin out the Bills running back room a bit coming into the season and will force them to find a new return man. Hines had a pair of kickoff return touchdowns a season ago, and figured to take on that role again next year. The return situation figures to be the most difficult to replace, as the Bills do still have three solid backs in Damien Harris, Latavius Murray, and James Cook. Still, given the wear and tear of the running back position during a season, having solid backups you can lean on if needed is important and Hines was a good option to have who also brought a lot of special teams value they’ll now miss.

Taylor Swift is in the homestretch of the North American leg of The Eras Tour, and she’s bringing Haim with her.

The Eras Tour hit Seattle’s Lumen Field on Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23. The back-to-back dates marked the beginning of Haim’s stint as Swift’s opener (alongside Gracie Abrams).

Haim posted a TikTok ahead of Saturday’s show with the funny-yet-totally-true message, “First time seeing the 8th wonder of the world (the eras tour).” Later in the night, Swifties in attendance had the distinct honor of witnessing Swift perform her Evermore track “No Body, No Crime” featuring Haim for the first time.

According to several fan accounts, including @TheSwiftSociety, Swift replaced “‘Tis The Damn Season” with “No Body, No Crime” in her setlist. The same account also relayed that Swift acknowledged Haim as “the best band who has ever lived and my best friends.”

Fan-captured videos show Swift beginning the Evermore era of her three-plus-hour show by arriving on stage with Haim by way of an elevating platform. “[I’ve] got something brand new for you,” Swift tells the crowd. “I hope that’s alright!”

“ERAS NIGHT ONE WAS A DREAM!!!! got to play no body no crime for the first time.. see you tonight for round 2 SEATTLE,” Haim posted to Instagram.

Swift and Haim performed “No Body, No Crime” again during Sunday’s concert, leading Swifties to wonder whether Swift will keep it for the remainder of the North American leg — just as she made “Long Live” a permanent addition following the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on July 7.

The Eras Tour will next visit Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (July 28-29) before wrapping with five nights at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California (August 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9). Haim will be one of several opening acts for the remaining North American dates.

After Ben Shapiro spent the weekend getting dragged by social media for his 43-minute long rant about the Barbie movie, MSNBC host Medhi Hasan called out Republicans for their “pathetic” freakout over the box office hit of the summer if not the entire year.

Before Shapiro entered the mix, Barbie had already been called out by Ted Cruz, Fox News, and others over predictable claims that the film is “anti-men” thanks to Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Ken, who Ginger Gaetz complained had “disappointingly low T.” Whatever the heck that means.

After walking through some of the more outlandish claims, Hasan roasted the supposedly “grown men” who can’t stop complaining about how Ken, a doll who was made for the express purpose of being an accessory to Barbie, is too “beta.”

Via Raw Story:

“These are grown men losing their minds over a movie about a doll,” Hasan continued. “What has happened to the conservative movement? There was a time when conservatives had substantive things to say about taxes, regulation, defense, and foreign policy. Now it’s Barbie, Dr. Seuss that, Bud Light, Mr. Potato Head. The skin color of the Little Mermaid. It’s ridiculous. It is childish. It is pretty pathetic, actually. Is it not?”

Unfortunately for conservatives, their freakout isn’t having any effect on Barbie‘s success. The film had a record-breaking $162 million opening weekend, one of the largest in cinema history. In fact, the pull of the movie was so strong that conservative commentator Mercedes Schlapp couldn’t even keep up the facade on Newsmax and threw right-wingers under the bus for having too many boycotts.

“I just think at this point I’m boycotting so many things, I’m running out of things to boycott,” Schlapp said after vowing to take her daughters to see Barbie because it looks “fun.”

(Via Raw Story)