Category: Worldwide

It’s tempting when making a quick stop at the ATM, to leave your car running. After all, you’ve got the heater adjusted just right, the engine’s already warmed-up, and your phone’s Bluetooth has already taken the extra 15 seconds to connect to the car’s stereo. But leaving your vehicle running when you’re not in it is a dangerous proposition no matter how quick your errand — something Ludacris has, unfortunately — and ironically, considering his role in the Fast & Furious films — learned the hard way.

Atlanta’s NBC affiliate reported the rapper was forced to flag down police late yesterday afternoon after someone jumped in his Mercedes-Benz while he was using an ATM and sped off, leaving the rapper stranded. He didn’t see the thief, but police were able to track the car electronically and eventually located it at an apartment complex in Midtown. The car was returned about five hours after it was stolen and some of Luda’s property from inside was retrieved at another location in northwest Atlanta.

Atlanta police said that of the 99 cars stolen this year so far, 76 had keys in the ignition or were running at the time, so keep that information in mind when you have errands to run. In any case, Luda is far from the only rapper to have to deal with brazen midday theft. In 2019, Young Dolph’s Benz was broken into at a Cracker Barrel, resulting in $500,000 worth of jewelry being stolen, and in 2018, someone stole a hard drive full of Quality Control music from an engineer’s car. So, lock those doors, take the keys with you, and never leave anything valuable in plain view.

Former senior counselor to the President of the United States Kellyanne Conway abruptly resigned from the White House last fall due to conflict at home, which involved her 16-year-old daughter, Claudia, announcing that she would be seeking emancipation from her parents (her father is George Conway, who co-founded The Lincoln Project). At the time, Claudia had tweeted that she wasn’t seeking emancipation because of Kellyanne’s job but, instead, “because of years of childhood trauma and abuse.” Late last week, the situation appeared to have intensified once more with TMZ reporting that law enforcement had carried out a welfare check on Claudia (who often posts on TikTok) after the teen had “secretly recorded and posted a video showing her mom screaming and swearing at her.”

Now, Variety is reporting that Twitter is investigating an incident in which Kellyanne has been accused of posting a topless photo of Claudia. The posting in question is said to have occurred on Twitter’s Fleets feature (in which posts evaporate after 24 hours), and Twitter users reportedly documented the Fleet before it was removed. Variety has more on Claudia’s TikTok confirmation that the photo was real and her appeal to fellow social media users:

On TikTok, Claudia Conway on Monday posted videos confirming that the picture was authentic; those have since been deleted from her TikTok account but Twitter users reposted copies of the videos. In the videos, a visibly upset Claudia Conway speculated that her mother may have accidentally posted the image. “I’m assuming my mom took a picture of it to use against me one day and then somebody hacked her or something,” she said. “I’m literally at a loss for words. If you see it, report it.”

In one of the TikTok videos, Claudia Conway said that “nobody would ever have any photo like that, ever. So, Kellyanne, you’re going to fucking jail.”

Claudia’s response surfaced on Twitter in this video, in which she confirms the photo’s authenticity and says it was on her phone, which she says has been taken away by Kellyanne on multiple occasions.

Social media users also documented Claudia’s TikTok posts, in which she continued to react and posted in Morse Code. Translations appear to point toward pleas of “Please get people to talk about this,” “Im okay but scared AF spread awareness pls,” and “Please spread awareness AB this because I cant.”

The New York Post contacted Kellyanne (by phone), who stated that she was “sitting here with Claudia,” before declaring, “We have no comment” and disconnecting the call.

(Via Variety, TMZ & New York Post)

Demi Lovato got her start as a child actor in the children’s series Barney & Friends, but her acting and singing career alike took flight with the success of the Disney Channel hit movie Camp Rock with the Jonas Brothers. Lovato’s most recent acting project was her role in the Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams-starring movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga. Now, Lovato is once again pivoting to television, as she’s been cast in the lead role in a new NBC sitcom.

A pilot has been secured for the series Hungry, which will star Lovato and a several of her friends who all belong to an eating disorder support group. Per a report from Variety, the sitcom will follow the tight-knit group on their adventures in dating, love, success, and healing.

Along with starring in the series, Lovato will be the show’s executive producer. She’ll work closely with writer and executive producer Suzanne Martin, who has won several Emmys for her time on Fraiser and the revival of NBC’s Will & Grace.

Lovato has been vocal about her personal struggles with an eating disorder and addiction. Last year, the musician opened up to Ellen about how a recent relapse was fueled by her over-controlling former management. “I lived a life for the past six years that I felt like wasn’t my own, because I struggled really hard with an eating disorder, yes, and that was my primary problem, and then it turned into other things,” she said. “My life, I felt, was so — and I hate to use this word — but I felt like it was controlled by so many people around me. If I was in my hotel room at night, they would take the phone out of the hotel room so I couldn’t call room service, or if there was fruit in my room, they took it out because it was extra sugar.”

Proportionately to all the artists who have ever seriously pursued music, very few of them ever get to perform on national television. So, Bartees Strange joined an exclusive club last night when he made his TV debut on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

For the show, he and his band performed Live Forever highlight “Boomer” in a pre-taped performance. He and his band took to a mint-colored room and confidently ran through the track in front of a wall adorned with things like a human rib cage, animal skulls, and other anatomical decorations.

Bartees has been rightfully excited about making his TV debut, as he was hyping it up on social media in the preceding days. He made the announcement a couple days ago, writing, “Yo this is crazy – but on Monday at 12:35am ET I’ll be making my TV Debut. S/o to @latenightseth for rocking w/ Live Forever, and for having us on to play Boomer. We went all out for this, so don’t miss it.” Last night, he added, “Excited to play Boomer w/ the boys tonight on @latenightseth. Steal your grandmothers Hulu live. Tell your ex you love them, so you can get their dad’s cable login. Do whatever you have to do to watch us play boomer. It’s gonna be a trip. thanks @sethmeyers for having us on.” Meyers gave Bartees some praise in response to a tweet as well, tweeting, “One of my favorite songs off one of the best albums of last year! Can’t wait, @Bartees_Strange!”

Watch Bartees Strange perform “Boomer” on Late Night above.

Following the passing of Larry King, tributes have been pouring in for the legendary talk show host. While the vast majority have been praising King for his signature style of interviewing, Conan O’Brien put together a touching (and hilarious) tribute that showcased an underrated side of the venerable TV man: his comedic chops. In a heartfelt intro, O’Brien revealed how King was an eager partner at the start of O’Brien’s late night career, and the CNN host was up for anything. Literally anything.

“When our show first went on the air, I think in ’93 or ’94, Larry came on and he loved to try jokes out and comedy out with us,” O’Brien said. “And that relationship started and then it just kept going. And I think for 27, 28 years, Larry would come on our show and we’d have a weird idea, and he’d say, ‘Love it! I wanna do it!’”

Following the intro, O’Brien played a series of clips that showed King mixing it up like an old pro. He’d banter back and forth, dress up as Wolverine for a sketch, interview guests on the fly, do stand-ups, break bricks, and even sit up in the rafters. And his timing was perfect. You can absolutely tell that King loved coming on the show and having a blast with whatever Andy and Conan cooked up that night. It takes skill to be that good of a comedy partner, and King clearly had it in spades.

You can watch Conan’s tribute to Larry King above.

One of Tomi Lahren’s favorite topics of conversation is Colin Kaepernick, the former-San Francisco 49ers quarterback who was essentially blacklisted from the NFL for kneeling during the National Anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. The conservative chatterbox made the huge mistake of coming after Beyonce and Kaepernick in a widely-ridiculed tweet, and she was mocked equally hard for this doctored photo. Lahren brought up Kaepernick again on Monday in response to a viral tweet that pointed out how it’s “funny [that] people can separate Tom Brady’s politics from his game, but struggle to do the same when it comes to Kaepernick.” (Brady had a “Make America Great Again” hat in his locker while he was on the New England Patriots; he’s since said that he grew “uncomfortable” with his friendship with Donald Trump.)

“So Kaepernick is trending because Tom Brady (a skilled quarterback) hasn’t been canceled due to his friendship with Donald Trump. Yep, makes sense,” Lahren tweeted, adding her preferred hashtag #LiberalismIsADisease. That was merely the appetizer to the main course, however. Thirty minutes later: “Here’s a wild guess, if Tom Brady suddenly started sucking at football and was benched for a better starting QB, chances are he wouldn’t cry racism, wouldn’t kneel for the flag and anthem and pass it off as a social justice moment.” Lahren’s had a lot of scorching hot takes over the years, but this one is top-five, maybe even the GOAT. It’s the Tom Brady of bad tweets.

In Kaepernick’s final season in the NFL, he threw for 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, and added 468 yards and two touchdowns as a runner (the 49ers were terrible that season, but it was not entirely Kaep’s fault; blame head coach Chip Kelly). He did not suddenly start “sucking at football.” He was a good quarterback who was a victim of collusion. But it’s much easier for Tomi to make a false equivalence.

She’s the Tom Brady of those, too.

“Whoopty” rapper CJ can safely say his 2021 is off to a great start. The Staten Island native’s breakout hit is tearing up the airwaves, climbed to No. 21 on the Hot 100 this month, and signed a deal with Warner Records off the strength of the song’s buzz. Now, he’s following up with another relentlessly catchy drill anthem, “Bop,” which arrived today complete with a flashy video that shows him sticking to his roots while enjoying his newfound success.

The video is a classic New York street anthem clip, complete with shots of CJ’s posse hanging out in lobbies and parking garages, with the star draped in a crimson fur coat to signify his breakout status. He also cruises Times Square in Rolls Royce, hanging out the window and flexing his chain for the world to see. Honestly, it’s just great to see the young group having fun, especially with the ominous air that surrounds drill artists outside their music.

According to the press release for “Bop,” CJ has a slate of singles on deck for the new year as he grows his fanbase, so stay tuned. His first two singles have shown he has all the makings of a potential star.

Watch CJ’s “Bop” video above.

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

Clairo has been more open than most musicians about mental health and the toll hers sometimes takes on her. She shared more about that on Instagram last night with a new song, “Just For Today.”

Posting the lo-fi acoustic track on Instagram, Clairo wrote, “not sure about you, but my mental health has taken a major dip since quarantine started- at times I feel like i’ve never felt worse. new medication, hotlines, and one scheduled appointment with a psychiatrist later and i’m feeling more like myself again. I wrote this last night and i feel there’s no real reason I should hold onto it. Hope you enjoy the song and Joanie’s squeaks. thank you.”

Alongside the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255), Clairo also shared the song’s lyrics. Clairo’s words are especially personal here, with lyrics like, “I blocked out the month of February for support / At least I have this year I won’t be worrying anyone on tour / As we speak, I’m here to meet devils for tea, peering ’round the corner of my life / I throw my drink in the face of my demise.”

Listen to “Just For Today” above.

This week in the best new pop music saw some electric releases from stars and up-and-coming artists alike. Billie Eilish and Rosalía teamed up for a slow-burning tune, Sabrina Carpenter shirked critics in a carefree single, and Ellie Goulding hopped on a song with Mark Ronson and Diplo.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop music. Listen up.

Billie Eilish — “Lo Vas A Olividar” Feat. Rosalía

After months of teasing, Billie Eilish and Rosalía‘s “Lo Vas A Olividar” collaboration is finally here and it’s earned Uproxx’s best new pop stamp of approval. The single is relatively stripped-down compared to both of the singers’ recent offerings, featuring atmospheric synths which craft a wide-open space for their somber musings.

Sabrina Carpenter — “Skin”

A few weeks ago, Olivia Rodrigo penned her debut single “Drivers License,” which was seemingly taking a dig at her ex and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star and his new muse Sabrina Carpenter. The song opened the flood gates for pop diss tracks, and Carpenter has finally responded with her own. It features a fluttering beat alongside lyrics about not letting others get under her skin.

Silk City — “New Love” Feat. Ellie Goulding

Silk City, the Grammy-winning duo of Diplo and Mark Ronson, returned with their first song since 2018. Tapping Ellie Goulding, the trio served up the catchy song “New Love.” “The song is about losing yourself on your own, not needing to be seen, knowing that the one that got away could be just as happy as this too,” Goulding said about the collaboration. “The main concept is dancing on your own not needing to be seen.”

Griff — “Black Hole”

Pop up-and-comer Griff penned the shuffling anthem “Black Hole” this week, underscored by moody synths and her far-reaching vocals. “I wrote this song as a bittersweet heartbreak track,” Griff said of the track. “I actually love how melodramatic it is, as there’s obviously not ‘a big black hole where my heart used to be,’ but the melodrama of the lyrics – over a really interesting beat – keeps the song fun, and not too serious.”

Elio — “Charger”

Electropop songwriter Elio released the 7-track EP Can You Feel Me Now? and on it arrived the irresistible tune “Charger.” Along with her stunning track “Charger,” the EP’s songs were penned at different stages in Elio’s life. “I feel like writing this EP has been such a journey for me,” she said of the project.

Kali — “Lucy”

At just 16-year-old, Kali already knows how to craft a bouyant earworm. “Lucy” officially announces Kali’s debut EP Circles, boasting cascading synths and Kali’s earnest-yet-upbeat delivery.

Wylde — “Castles”

LA-based singer Wylde released her debut EP Castles this week. Following the project’s release, Wylde spoke to Uproxx about her EP. “All of the songs were inspired by the realizations and discoveries that made me grow as a person,” she said. “The lyrics are very introspective and the theme behind most of these songs is self-transformation.”

Glaive — “Cloak N Dagger”

North Carolina-based artist Glaive first started making music during quarantine, expeditiously gaining a cult following with his SoundCloud uploads. After releasing the 2020 EP Cypress, Glaive shares his first new music of 2021 with the driving track “Cloak N Dagger.”

Slayyyter — “Troubled Paradise”

Slayyyter has garnered much attention with the maximalist pop tunes heard on her early aughts-inspired self titled mixtape. But now, the singer returns to tease her debut album with the saccharine title track “Troubled Paradise.” With a soaring beat, Slayyyter offers more vulnerable lyrics about losing someone close to her.

Tash Sultana — “Sweet & Dandy”

Sharing the fifth preview of her impending LP Terra Firma, Tash Sultana shared the swaying tune “Sweet & Dandy.” About the single, Sultana said: “I didn’t realize that I needed to create a space and home for myself to feel like a person again. I just went inward and found a really peaceful place and wrote an album, and I feel really happy with it.”

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

Thanks to hitching to himself to Donald Trump’s plummeting star by acting as the public, oozing face of the disgraced former president’s conspiracy theories about election fraud, Rudy Giuliani is now the subject of a $1.3 billion lawsuit from Dominion Voting Machines, and Seth Meyers had a field day with the latest in a long line of blunders from Rudy. During Monday night’s A Closer Look segment, Meyers ruthlessly dunked on Giuliani over the lawsuit.

“Good thing vampires are immortal because he’ll have to work for the rest of his life to pay that off,” Meyers quipped. “I mean, this poor man doesn’t have any money. Remember how he couldn’t even afford hair dye and just rubbed a typewriter ribbon on his head? Plus, he’s probably still paying alimony to his cousin.”

Of course, no joke will ever compare to the words that fly out of Giuliani’s mouth. While responding to questions about the aggressive action from Dominion, which has already forced bigger fish like Fox News and Newsmax to retract their election fraud claims, Giuliani doubled down. Via The Daily Beast:

“Really, $1.3 billion? What do you think I am, some kind of jackass?” Giuliani responded in a radio interview earlier in the day. “That’s intended to frighten me, you want to frighten me, you want to scare me, like you have some of these companies and stations that have gone ahead and kissed your you-know-what. Because they’re afraid of you. Well I tell you I’m a crazy guy, I really am, I’m just really crazy.”

That should end well. You can watch the full segment on Giuliani above.