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Mariah Carey’s been on a press tour promoting her upcoming memoir The Meaning Of Mariah Carey and with every stop comes another new reveal, clearing up 20+ years of rumors and speculation about the superstar’s life and career. Talking to Tina Fey for Billboard, she showed off her knowledge of Mean Girls in a trivia quiz, while in an interview with Vulture, she finally admitted that her songs “My All” and “The Roof” were about her relationship with Major League Baseball star Derek Jeter.

Her latest stop also revealed more about her and Jeter’s relationship. Popping by Oprah’s Apple TV+ show The Oprah Conversation, Carey called Jeter the catalyst for her divorce from label executive Tommy Mottola. She once compared her marriage with Mottola to prison due to his strict control over her movements and she says Jeter offered her an alternative who presented as more of an equal. “I didn’t think I would ever meet anybody who wouldn’t … feel superior to me,” she noted. “Because of the fact that I’m not one way or another in most people’s minds, and they have preconceived notions.”

She also credited the similarity between their families as another link between them, saying, “It was the racial situation — that his mom is Irish, his dad is Black, but he was also very ambiguous looking to me,” and that meeting his family introduced her to “a functional family that basically looked like mine but didn’t feel like mine.”

Meanwhile, one of her rumored paramours is said to have much more anxiety about the contents of the book, as it is said to finally open up about her long feud (and supposed romance) with Eminem.

The Meaning Of Mariah Carey is out on September 29. Get it here.
Story via Vulture.

While Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has showed off the latest sneaker from Jordan Brand during the team’s Eastern Conference Finals tile in the NBA’s Orlando Bubble, the company officially unveiled its newest addition to its iconic Air Jordan line on Thursday morning. The news was announced with a short video on the official Jordan Twitter account, which shows the shoe in a vibrant colorway as it is suspended in the air.

The XXXV brings back a slightly modified version of one of the XXXIV’s most noticeable additions, the Eclipse Plate 2.0. According to Jordan, the tweaks made to that will “help unlock Zoom Air for a more responsive feeling in the heel and forefoot.” It also draws on a past pair of Js, as the tongue and the padding around its collar are inspired by the Jordan V.

“Integrating premium materials and textures was a priority for the Air Jordan XXXV,” Tate Kuerbis, a Jordan Brand footwear designer, said in a release. “The brand has a history of giving these materials an aspirational quality. When players see it, when they touch it, they feel like they have the power of the Jumpman behind them. Everything we do has to tie back to making the best basketball shoe on the planet.”

“The XXXV is comfortable, supportive and lightweight, to the point that I don’t even feel like I’m wearing it,” Tatum said in a statement. “I can play my style without even thinking about it. I was shocked that Jordan could take the Eclipse Plate in the XXXIV and upgrade it in the XXXV.”

The first pairs of the Jordan XXXV drop on Sept. 27 in the Center of Gravity colorway. The sneaker releases globally on Oct. 17, with a handful of colorways on the horizon: “Warrior,” which was inspired by Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura, comes out Oct. 21; “DNA” follows in the footsteps of the Fire Red colorway of the Jordan V on Nov. 11; Zion Williamson’s “Bayou Boys” colorway hits retailers on Nov. 30; and “Mopho” drops on Christmas Eve in China in celebration of Liaoning Flying Leopards guard Guo Ailun.

Cardi B couldn’t go to Rio to appear in Anitta’s colorful performance of her new single “Me Gusta” for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, so instead, she’s projected on one of the stage’s background panels as a hologram to rap her bilingual verse. Anitta appears in a leopard print ensemble flanked by dancers to show out on a rooftop overlooking the Brazilian city backed by transparent walls in vibrant red, yellow, blue, and green. Guest rapper Myke Towers also appears as a projection on the center panel, illustrating the creative ways in which artists can still issue live performances in the era of COVID.

Cardi’s appearance on the track continued a hot streak for the rapper, who took much of 2020 off to enjoy family time with her daughter Kulture and pursue political activism by interviewing Presidential candidate Joe Biden. When she made her return to the musical spotlight with the controversial single “WAP,” not only did she make up for lost time, but she also took over public discourse, dominating the Hot 100 chart and turning her impromptu acronym into the hottest new lingo being used by everyone from actors to conservative politicians.

Watch Anitta and Cardi B’s late-night performance of “Me Gusta” above.

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

In the summer of 2015, Sharon Van Etten released her five-track I Don’t Want To Let You Down EP. Ahead of that, she dropped the title track as a single, and that single featured a song called “All Over Again” as a B-side. The song is one that might not be familiar to casual Van Etten listeners, as it was only accessible on the 7-inch vinyl single. Now, though, Van Etten has made the track available digitally for the first time.

Making the announcement today, Van Etten wrote, “My 7″ ‘I Don’t Want To Let You Down’ had a b-side that was never digitally released – until today. ‘All Over Again’ is a deeply personal song written during the ‘Are We There’ sessions. Broken hearted years ago and driven to find true love, it’s hard to believe I was ever there when I look back now from such a fulfilled space. I’m humbled to share yet another vulnerable moment with you.”

Van Etten also recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of her second album, Epic, which came out on September 21, 2010. She wrote, “Today marks 10 years since ‘epic’ was released into the world. So much love went into the making of this record.”

Listen to “All Over Again,” as well as “I Don’t Want To Let You Down,” above.

Though Shamir is gearing up for the release of his self-titled record, make no mistake — the album is far from his debut, as self-titled efforts often are. With five records already in his catalog, Shamir aims to hone his sparking indie pop sound through recent songs like the vibrant “On My Own” or the ’90s pop-inspired “Running.” Now, Shamir offers another taste of the upcoming release with “Other Side.”

“Other Side” displays Shamir’s ability to lean on different musical styles as it opens with undulating guitar riffs, banjo, and steel pedal reminiscent of a dusty country western score. While the song’s style contrasts from other singles released ahead of Shamir, it’s not uncommon for the singer to draw from a wide array of influences. Oftentimes introspective, Shamir’s recent singles touch on topics like identity or toxic relationships and, even when his inspiration doesn’t come directly from his own experiences, Shamir is able to see the big picture. Shamir does just that on “Other Side,” pulling the song’s storyline not from his own life, but rather a particularly affecting episode of the true crime series Unsolved Mysteries:

“I watched an episode of Unsolved Mysteries about a woman whose husband was lost during the Vietnam War and how she never gave up trying to get answers about what happened to him. I wrote this song from her perspective. They’re both now deceased, so the song is also about how (I hope) they’ve reunited in the afterlife, or more accurately, the ‘Other Side.’”

Listen to “Other Side” above.

Shamir is out 10/2 via Shamir. Pre-order it here.

Wednesday brought the not entirely surprising news that Disney has delayed Black Widow yet again as the pandemic continues to make theatrical releases a risky venture for both public safety and box-office haul. With the Marvel movies being interconnected, Disney can’t just move Black Widow to May 2021 without shifting the MCU movies that follow, and that’s exactly what happened. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will now open in July 2021 followed by Eternals in November 2021.

At this point, the MCU has now seen two of its major blockbusters delayed an entire year, and most of its stars seem to be rolling with the punches. Here’s how Shang Chi star Simu Liu reacted to having his big MCU debut being delayed a second time:

As for David Harbour, who’s waiting to makes his MCU debut as Red Guardian in Black Widow, he lamented the fact that fans will now have to wait to drink soda out of his head.

“Sorry,” Harbour wrote on Instagram. “You’re gonna have to wait til May 2021 before you can pop a straw thru my helmeted head and sip your Diet Coke, and marvel (get it, get it) at how the RG packs his whole overly fleshy self into that super suit.”

While Harbor and Liu are having fun with the unprecedented circumstances that are out of their control, Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani took a more serious tact by praising Marvel for doing the right thing.

“Marvel made the right & responsible decision,” Nanjiani tweeted. “There’s a pandemic. Nothing is more important than health & lives. I can’t tell ppl to go to a movie theater until I feel safe going to one. Take care of yourselves. I promise it’ll be worth the wait!”

Nanjiani is also waiting for fans to see his MCU debut as Kingo in Eternals, where he’ll show off his new abs that nearly broke the internet.

Lili Reinhart feels “like a prisoner” for having to return to work during a pandemic, but she’s not the only Riverdale star who has to adjust to These Unprecedented Times.

KJ Apa, who plays Hot Archie on the CW series, shared a behind-the-scenes video of his preparation for a make-out scene with Camila Mendes (Veronica). It’s not as hot as it sounds. “Our new normal is washing our mouths before every take of a make-out scene,” Apa wrote, along with a video of himself and Mendes taking a shot of mouthwash and swishing it around their mouths for an awkwardly long amount of time. Be sure to stick around for the Ziplock bags full of minty spit (acting is so glamorous).

“That shit burns,” Reinhart commented on the post, while Bernadette Beck (Peaches ‘N Cream) added, “Can this become the new standard for make-out scenes?” (not a bad idea!) and Skeet Ulrich (Jughead’s dad) wrote, “Spit don’t swallow.” I’d expect better from a guy named Skeet.

Anyway, Riverdale is one of many in-production television shows and films with new on-set restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. “The producers estimated that safety measures cost as much as 10 percent of their production budget, and resulted in additional shooting days,” Variety wrote while visiting the set of the indie horror film The Knocking. “Talent and artisans are also increasingly isolated, they told me, as the busy life of the film set has been replaced by video conferences and solitary meals in cars.”

At least they don’t have to deal with Skeet Ulrich making oral sex jokes (probably?).

There are very few people who have had quite as memorable a life as Arnold Schwarzenegger. His adult life has played out in four acts, with each one arguably more consequential than the last.

And now Schwarzenegger wants to play a role in helping America, his adopted home, ensure that our 2020 election is safe, secure and available to everyone willing and able to vote.

Shortly after immigrating to America, Schwarzenegger rose up to become the most famous bodybuilder in history, turning what was largely a sideshow attraction into a legitimate sport. He then pivoted to an acting career, becoming Hollywood’s highest paid star in a run that spanned three decades.

In the early 2000s, Schwarzenegger’s life and career took a major u-turn when he decided to run for governor of California …. and won. Sure, Schwarzenegger had a mixed bag as governor, no matter what your political leanings are. And after his second term, he quietly returned to lesser roles in movies and navigated personal setbacks like the dissolution of his marriage. Everyone kind of expected Schwarzenegger to drift into the sunset as a curious footnote of the modern era.

But it’s how Schwarzenegger has returned as a public advocate for the greater good that has truly cemented his legacy as an important global citizen: taking on climate change, promoting plant based diets and squaring off against bullies ranging from your average Twitter troll all the way up (or down) to President Trump himself.

In a Twitter thread that quickly went viral on Wednesday, Schwarzenegger said he was willing to invest his personal fortune in helping to re-open polling centers around America that have been closed because of budget cuts and safety concerns tied to Covid-19.

He went on to challenge those who say it’s not voter suppression but simply a question of how we pay for it:

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I’m a fanatic about voting. Most people call closing polls voter suppression. Some say it is “budgetary.” What if I made it easy & solved the budgetary issue? How much would it cost to reopen polling places?”

“This is a serious question. Is closing polling stations about making it harder for minorities to vote, or is it because of budgets? If you say it’s because of your budget, let’s talk.”

And it’s not just talk. Schwarzenegger made it clear, playing off one of his favorite lines, that he’s already taken “action” to put real meaning behind his tweets:

“Today I sent a letter to nearly 6,000 elections officials and county commissioners in states formerly covered by Voting Rights Act Section 5 inviting them to apply for grants, funded by me, to reopen polling centers and improve voting access.”

But it was the next tweet that really showed the personal meaning this has to someone like Schwarzenegger, an immigrant who has truly lived and thrived inside the American dream, the manifestation of everything our country promises to be:

“This country gave me everything, and I truly believe this could be one of the best investments I have ever made. All of us can do our part to give back and fight for equality.”

And he promised to give the grants to any state that can demonstrate a need:

“The grants are completely non-partisan and will be offered to those who demonstrate the greatest need and ability to close gaps in voting access. The process will be run through @GovArnoldUSC.”

It’s still unclear if any states will take up Schwarzenegger’s offer or if it’s even technically legal in all 50 states. Regardless, this is the kind of action taken by someone who truly loves their country. Let people vote and let the votes be counted.

That’s what democracy is all about, empowering citizens to decide what kind of representation they want in their government. America can be a conservative place, a liberal place, or somewhere in between. Most of all, America is supposed to be a free place, where liberty is the guiding principle. Arnold Schwarzenegger gets that and we all owe him a thanks for putting his privilege and power behind those principles.

Ever since her rise to fame, Lizzo has spoken out about body positivity and related topics. While that core message is something she believes in, Lizzo has now said that body positivity could use some reconsideration.

In a new Vogue cover story, Lizzo explained her position that the term “body positive” has become commercialized and that it’s no longer accomplishing its initial goal:

“It’s commercialized. Now, you look at the hashtag ‘body positive,’ and you see smaller-framed girls, curvier girls. Lotta white girls. And I feel no ways about that, because inclusivity is what my message is always about. I’m glad that this conversation is being included in the mainstream narrative. What I don’t like is how the people that this term was created for are not benefiting from it. Girls with back fat, girls with bellies that hang, girls with thighs that aren’t separated, that overlap. Girls with stretch marks. You know, girls who are in the 18-plus club. They need to be benefiting from…the mainstream effect of body positivity now. But with everything that goes mainstream, it gets changed. It gets — you know, it gets made acceptable.”

She went on to say that she wants to move beyond body positivity, saying, “I think it’s lazy for me to just say I’m body positive at this point. It’s easy. I would like to be body-normative. I want to normalize my body. And not just be like, ‘Ooh, look at this cool movement. Being fat is body positive.’ No, being fat is normal. I think now, I owe it to the people who started this to not just stop here. We have to make people uncomfortable again, so that we can continue to change. Change is always uncomfortable, right?”

Lizzo was also asked about her next album, but she was tight-lipped beyond expressing confidence in the material: “Oh, girl, I don’t know. I gotta finish the songs. It’s gonna be good, though. I’ll tell you that. It’s gonna be motherf*cking good.”

Read the full feature here.

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

Gunna gets away from his “opps” and enjoys the good life on tour in his lively video for “Sun Came Out.” The Atlanta rapper hasn’t let up on releasing new videos from his May album Wunna yet, even though he’s already put out enough to constitute half the original album. Of course, 2020’s COVID-19 crisis continues to constrain the moves that video crews can make, so instead of shooting new footage, “Sun Came Out” makes use of archival film from Gunna’s last tour.

The video tracks Gunna from the airport, where he and he crew joke that they never see their enemies in Australia or at the bank, to backstage at various festivals, where he excites fans, meets up with Cordae, and basically has himself a ball. He even shows off his hoop skills at a sporting goods store, sinking a jumper while shopping for clothes.

Wunna and its deluxe edition have so far received a steady stream of videos, which most recently includes “Bird Box” with Lil Baby, “200 For Lunch” and “Dirty Diana” in a joint video, “Wunna Flo” with Yak Gotti, and “Dollaz On My Head” with Young Thug, the most high-concept of the videos yet.

Watch Gunna’s “Sun Came Out” video above.

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