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Several artists and public figures have taken to social media to express their sadness over the loss of Harry Belafonte. Yesterday (April 25), the singer died of congestive heart failure at 96 years old, while in his Manhattan home.

Belafonte was known for popularizing calypso music with songs like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” “Jump In The Line (Shake, Señora),” and “Jamaican Farewell.” He was also an outspoken advocate for racial equality and worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr., and was an open critic of George W. Bush’s policies as well.

Yesterday, beloved former President Barack Obama took to Twitter to honor Belafonte and share condolences to his loved ones.

“Harry Belafonte was a barrier-breaking legend who used his platform to lift others up,” said Obama. “He lived a good life — transforming the arts while also standing up for civil rights. And he did it all with his signature smile and style. Michelle and I send our love to his wife, kids, and fans.”

President Joe Biden also reflected on Belafonte’s legacy, saying, “Jill and I are saddened by the passing of a groundbreaking American who used his talent and voice to help redeem the soul of our nation. Harry Belafonte’s accomplishments are legendary and his legacy of outspoken advocacy, compassion, and respect for dignity will endure forever.”

Last week, when Weezer suddenly announced a one-off gig at Pomona’s Glass House on Monday night, the broader assumption was that it would serve as a warm-up for their upcoming Indie Rock Road Trip Summer Tour. To a degree, that was accurate, but with a special twist.

“We’re gonna try a bunch of songs we don’t normally play and see what y’all think,” said frontman Rivers Cuomo toward the beginning of the show. “If you like them, we’ll put them in the setlist.”

As the classic SoCal band tore through their 90-minute, 27-song set, it was clear that the experiment was surpassing merely dusting off scarcely played tunes from previous tours. The audience was treated to some remarkable rarities — several of them live premiers and some not unearthed in decades — resulting in a performance that might well become coveted by hardcore fans as one of the most thrilling in the modern era of Weezer’s career.

Notably, the band took a no-frills approach to this show. They omitted the glitz and glam of bigger shows, focused purely on shredding without any added antics, and there was no over-the-top production. It was just four guys illuminated by house lights playing loud rock and roll with the raw, egoless sensibility they started with in the early ’90s. Even mainstay hits like show opener “My Name is Jonas” and “Hash Pipe” were accented with noticeably more rough and rowdy edges.

But the most obvious nods to their roots surfaced with a riveting run through “Paperface” — a pre-“Blue Album,” decidedly punk rock demo that they hadn’t touched since 1992 — and during “Longtime Sunshine” and “Blast Off!,” a pair of cuts from 1995 rock opera concept album Songs From The Black Hole, which would eventually be scrapped and provide snippets of source material for ’96 core-fan favorite Pinkerton.

As special as it was to see them bust out such seldom- or never-before-played songs (they also debuted an acoustic version of “White Album” standout “Endless Bummer,” plus two of SZNZ’s most raucous tracks, “Blue Like Jazz” and “Thank You and Goodnight”) the show was likewise exceptional for its simplicity and vulnerability — these 800 fans were gifted the most unpolished and honest version of Weezer you’re ever likely to see.

A couple of cases-in-point: when Brian Bell’s talk box malfunctioned during his solo on “Beverly Hills,” Cuomo strode over to bolster the section with an accompanying improvised riff; and later on, the shaggy-haired frontman, perhaps a little too caught up in the moment, noticeably skipped over a whole block of lyrics during the climax of “El Scorcho.” Consistently deafening cheers and widespread slaphappy grins said it all: no one cared — the slight screw-ups only made the performance more humanizing, charming, and, ultimately, unforgettable. Certainly one for the books.

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

The road to The Flash movie has been filled with too many speed bumps to count. From its early stages when it seemed to constantly switch writers and directors every other day to Ezra Miller’s problematic behavior that racked up several scandals in 2022. There was justifiable concern that the film would never see the light of day.

However, sensing a hit on their hands, the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery continued to hold steady on the picture, which was reportedly killing it with audiences in test screenings. The studio desperately needs a theatrical hit, and The Flash could very well be that savior.

After dropping a well-received Super Bowl spot that wisely showcased Michael Keaton’s Batman, WB Discovery brought The Flash to CinemaCon where it bowled over theatrical distributors. Via Deadline:

Exclaimed Kentucky-based exhibitor Rick Roman, “The audience loved it. I thought it was very good — lots of humor. Emotional at the end with some people crying. I like how they brought in Batman to support the Flash. Smart move. The movie will have legs since people will see it more than once.”

One distributor even went so far to call it “probably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” and he was not alone in that thought. The critics who got to see an advanced screening of The Flash also heralded the film as one of the best in the genre thanks to a surprising amount of humor, heart, and of course, Keaton’s Batman, who one critic described as “chef kiss.”

You can see reactions from critics below:

The Flash races into theaters on June 16.

(Via Deadline)

After Latto was charged with carrying a loaded firearm at Los Angeles International Airport in 2021, it has now been dismissed following the rapper completing over 100 hours of community service and a course on gun safety.

“I am extremely pleased with the outcome and glad my client can move forward with her flourishing career,” Latto’s attorney Jamal Tooson told TMZ.

Yet, just last month, Latto had denied it when TMZ said she was finishing up her community service hours.

“Idk who put out that false ass information cause I’m not in no damn program,” she wrote. “Also the situation happened over a year ago & y’all never even knew until I mentioned it in the Boom pt 2 verse. Nun to ‘brag’ about. Leave me alone.”

She also held an Instagram Live, where she clarified that she was a “housewife” and getting “million dollar deals.”

“Like plural. Multiple million dollar deals on the table. The f*ck? I’m not trying to push no f*cking gangster image, the f*ck?” Latto said, according to Complex. “As a matter of fact, we kept that sh*t under wraps. This sh*t over a year ago. We kept this sh*t under wraps. I mentioned it in a song cause I was freestyling that verse, and it slipped out my mouth.”

Whatever happened, we’re just glad that she’s able to put the incident behind her.

Donald Trump is looking to scoop up a newly-single Kellyanne Conway … for his presidential campaign, that is. According to insiders, the former president has been courting Conway for months, trying to convince her to join his 2024 presidential campaign. Fresh off her divorce from her Trump-trolling husband of 22 years, George Conway, sources say now feels like the right time to welcome Conway back into the fold.

“Now that she’s divorced from Trump hater George Conway, Trump feels she has less baggage,” a source told Page Six. “She never crossed an uncrossable line in her book and TV appearances.”

Trump not only credits Conway with helping win the 2016 presidential election, but he also recognizes the threat she poses to his campaign if she aligned herself with an opponent like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Insiders claim Trump wants to “lock her up” before his political rival can. Unfortunately for him, Conway currently has a lucrative contract with Fox News, acting as a contributor for the network on top of her other media appearances and book deals.

“Kellyanne has an excellent relationship with President Trump and his team . . . but she would be crazy to commit to a single opportunity right now. She is busier than ever,” an insider told Page Six, hinting that her work with Fox could expand in the coming months.

So, if Trump just can’t quit his “alternative facts” guru, he’s going to have to bring more than roses and the promise of future insurrections she can spin as “just some MAGA-loving tourists in search of a public bathroom.”

(Via Page Six)

The Los Angeles Clippers saw their season come to an end on Tuesday night with a 136-130 loss to the Phoenix Suns. The game happened as Los Angeles’ two star wings, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, sat on the bench with knee injuries. George has a sprain in his knee that has held him out since mid-March, meaning he did not get the chance to play at all against Phoenix.

As for Leonard, he played in Games 1 and 2 of the series before getting held out with what the team called a knee sprain, one that he apparently suffered in the first game of the series and played through in the second game. But on Wednesday morning, we got a little more clarity on what happened to Leonard, and it turns out the injury is worse than originally reported. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Leonard suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Leonard’s last postseason run also ended early due to a right knee injury. Back in 2021, Leonard suffered a partial ACL tear that limited him to four games in the Clippers’ Western Conference Semifinal series against the Utah Jazz, which required surgery and held him out for the entirety of the 2021-22 NBA season. There is no word on whether or not Leonard will need to go under the knife to repair his meniscus.

Yesterday (April 25) saw a major loss for the worlds of music, acting, and activism: Harry Belafonte died at 96 years old. His passing sparked many fond remembrances, including an Instagram post from Questlove.

The Roots drummer’s message begins, “Shining example of how to use your platform to make change in the world. Hi$ activi$m was crucial for the civil rights movement. His activism was key in the anti apartheid movement.” It later concludes, “If there is one lesson we can learn from him it is ‘what can I do to help mankind?’ Thank You Harry Belafonte!”

Find Questlove’s full post below.

“Shining example of how to use your platform to make change in the world.

Hi$ activi$m was crucial for the civil rights movement. His activism was key in the anti apartheid movement.

I once read a touching story of @theweeknd explaining how learning how #WeAreTheWorld (organized by, you guessed it Belafonte) was not only key to his jacksonesque vocal delivery but his family being the key family that benefited from the funds that record raised to relocate his family to safety in Canada.

Before the pandemic the storyline to @summerofsoulmovie was Belafontecentric once @selema explained to us how his father personally uprooted his legendary father #HughMasekela from the 60s South African apartheid & brought him to live in New York City & planted the seeds of activism in him.

He represented many things to us: fun calypso music, iconic acting (I came to know him as #GeechieDan in the iconic #UptownSaturdayNight as a child)—but most importantly he taught me to think in terms of ‘WE’ not ‘I’.

That stuck with me.

If there is one lesson we can learn from him it is ‘what can I do to help mankind?’

Thank You Harry Belafonte!”

The legal battle between Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye’s team. Yesterday (April 25) in a New York courtroom, Sheeran defended his songwriting for his 2014 single, “Thinking Out Loud,” which Gaye’s team has alleged plagiarizes his song, “Let’s Get It On.”

In 2016, the heirs of Gaye’s co-writer on “Let’s Get It On,” Ed Townsend, filed a lawsuit against Sheeran, alleging that he and Amy Wadge, the co-writer of “Thinking Out Loud,” replicated an ascending four-chord sequence, as well as a rhythm.

Per The Guardian, Sheeran appeared in court and claimed that he and Wadge wrote the song taking inspiration from the love his grandparents shared.

Ben Crump, the plaintiff’s lawyer, then referred to a video of Sheeran performing a mashup of “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” during one of his shows, calling the moment “a confession” of plagiarism.

Sheeran then replied, saying, “Most pop songs can fit over most pop songs… You could go from [The Beatles’] ‘Let it Be’ to [Bob Marley’s] ‘No Woman, No Cry’ and switch back.”

He continued, “If I had done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”

Sheeran’s lawyer, Ilene S. Farkas, also argued, saying, “The two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters.”

However, Townsend’s daughter Kathryn Griffin Townsend, who appeared as a witness in the hearing, continued to fight. She lauded Sheeran’s craft, but noted that she intends to “protect [her] father’s legacy.”

The hearings are expected to continue throughout the week.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

After a brief hiatus from Robert McCall, Denzel Washington is back in action as the former government hitman in the upcoming crime thriller The Equalizer 3, though things look a bit different than the last time we checked in on him back in The Equalizer 2 in 2018. Now he’s “retired.” Allegedly!

The threequel will bring back Washington as he grapples with his past crimes and comes to terms with the fact that you can’t really ever leave your life of crime behind. This is proven time and time again. Not even the picturesque Italian countryside can help this live peacefully! Here is everything we know about the upcoming thriller.

Plot

Equalizer 3 will bring Denzel & Co. to the Almafi coast, where he’s been residing after giving up his life as an assassin. Though things clearly don’t ever go as planned. According to the official synopsis:

Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.

Cast

The movie will reunite Man On Fire co-stars Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning almost 20 years after the two first worked together. Fanning will star as a young CIA agent who assists Washington when there is a crime spike in the area.

Of the reunion, director Antoine Fuqua told Empire, “It was so beautiful to watch them together on the set, just talking, laughing. And they’re both so talented, they just get into it, they didn’t skip a beat. What was weird for me looking through the lens and seeing Dakota as a grown-up!” The movie also stars David Denman, Sonia Ammar, and Eugenio Mastrandrea.

Release Date

The movie will hit theaters on September 1st, just in time for Labor Day.

Trailer

In 2018, James Gunn was fired by the Marvel machine over “indefensible and inconsistent” tweets that he already apologized for years before. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 was without its director, its leader, so the cast stepped in.

Chris Pratt (who plays Star-Lord) organized an open letter to Disney, with guidance from his future mother-in-law Maria Shriver, asking for Gunn to be rehired. He also texted the director Bible verses, like this one: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Meanwhile, here’s how Dave Bautista (Drax) handled it:

“Dave and Chris are so different in their approaches,” Gunn told the Hollywood Reporter. “Chris is like, ‘How do we do this methodically and take it one step at a time?’ Dave is like, ‘F*ck you.’” Their combined good cop/bad cop methods worked: Gunn was hired back for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

It came down to a change of heart from [Alan] Horn, the Disney chairman, who had the growing sensation he’d made the wrong call. Gunn heard he was having trouble sleeping over the firing. “It’s a hundred percent because Alan Horn felt sick. He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do,” says Gunn.

“Everything he did subsequently was first class,” says Horn. “He was such a gentleman about it in the ensuing months that we just brought him back. It felt like the right thing to do. I hold him in absolute high regard.”

The Superman: Legacy director still gets emotional thinking about how the cast banded together for him. “I just got teary because it was like, f*ck, I loved all you guys so much and I just realized this journey we had been through together,” he said. Gunn can thank Bautista by casting him as Superman.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 comes out on May 5th.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)