Music

Dave Chappelle‘s monologue may have courted criticism, but his appearance on Saturday Night Live scored the best ratings of the show’s 48th season.

According to Nielsen numbers cited by The Hollywood Reporter, Chappelle’s show last Saturday night attracted some 4.8 million people — this was a jump from the previous week, which was hosted by Amy Schumer; that installment scored 4.3 million.

Overall, ratings for this season — with its pared-down cast — are down 20% from last season, which was the final one for stars like Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant.

The trade notes that Chappelle’s last turn as SNL host, the post-2020 election episode that scored him an Emmy Award, attracted 9 million viewers, the highest rated show in three years at that point.

Dave’s monologue last week saw the comedian speaking on antisemitic comments that were recently made by Kanye West and Kyrie Irving. However, the segment — during which he said the “delusion that Jews run show business” is “not a crazy thing to think,” but “it’s a crazy thing to say out loud” — drew fire from Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Jewish civil rights organization the Anti-Defamation League.

Greenblatt accused Chappelle of “normalizing and popularizing antisemitism.” He noted, “Why are Jewish sensitivities denied or diminished at almost every turn? Why does our trauma trigger applause?”

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) The nominations for the 65th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday, prompting reactions from celebrities who either felt celebrated or snubbed. 

Among those in celebration mode were first-time nominees GloRilla and Latto. GloRilla’s hit single “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” received a nod in the category for Best Rap Performance, while Latto was nominated for both Best New Artist and Best Melodic Rap Performance.

“The same song they was clowning me & my friends about saying we was Ugly & Dusty just got nominated for a Grammy!!!!!!!!!” GloRilla wrote on Twitter. “WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE YOU CANNOT FAIL.” 

Latto also credited God in her reaction to the nominations. “I’m crying so bad right now!!!! Never give up on your dreams yall!!! S*** gone get rough… but DONT GIVE UP,” she tweeted. In a follow-up post, she wrote, “ONE THING ABOUT GOD!!!!!” 

The rappers exchanged congratulatory messages.

On the flip side, Summer Walker and Halle Bailey questioned why some artists failed to receive recognition from the Recording Academy.

“And for the grammys for a 2nd time, the math is literally not mathing,” Summer wrote on her Instagram Story. Neither she nor her album Still Over It, which was released in November 2021, were nominated for an award. “I was gone post some numbers but it’s ok,” she continued. “At least the streets f*** with me. y’all always pack out every show & support everytime I drop so thanks for the love I do receive.”

Halle congratulated all who were nominated, noting her sister should have been named a nominee. “my angel @ChloeBailey should’ve been nominated too but that’s ok because she will sweep next year!!!” she wrote, to which Chlöe responded, “it’s okay i don’t have a solo project out yet..yes next year for sure…and you too.”

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A London tattoo parlor understands some fans of Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — who got ink tributes of the rapper might be feeling some buyer’s remorse, so they’re offering to remove them free of charge.

London-based NAAMA Studios took to Twitter to advertise the free tattoo removal service with the caption, “Yeezy come, yeezy go.”

“Got a #kanyewest tattoo? Tag us,” the parlor continued, promising they’ll “remove your Kanye tattoos for free.”

NAAMA normally charges roughly $2,500 USD for a tattoo removal, Metro reports.

Briony Garbett, who works at the studio, told the outlet why they rolled out such an initiative. “People with Kanye tattoos were coming to us and you could hear how triggering it was for them, how embarrassing and shameful they felt, given he’s been making the headlines for the wrong reasons,” she said.

She continued that fans shouldn’t feel ashamed they got the tattoos in the first place. “They couldn’t have predicted what he was going to be saying or the things he would be standing for now,” said Garbett.

One of those removal appointments was made by a British fan named Alex Jones, who got a tattoo in 2016 honoring Ye’s 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. 

“It’s really kind of depressing to see someone that you like, who was your hero, start saying awful things about entire groups of people,” he said, adding that it’s been “quite a sad journey” watching Kanye’s fall from grace.

Multiple agencies and clothing brands severed ties with Ye over his antisemitic comments. He sparked international backlash after wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt during a Yeezy fashion show in Paris last month and tweeting, “I’m going death con 3 on Jewish people.”

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Maren Morris has been announced as a performer at the 2023 iteration of MerleFest, along with the Avett Brothers, Black Opry Revue and more. The North Carolina festival is set to take place April 27-30.

Elle King stars in the latest installment of CMT’s performance series “CMT Campfire Sessions.”

Morgan Evans just released the music video for his heartbreak ballad “Over for You.” He released the emotional song in the aftermath of his divorce from fellow country star Kelsea Ballerini.

After canceling a series of November shows — including his co-headlining Can’t Miss Tour with Chris Janson — Travis Tritt is updating fans about the injury that caused him to take a break. He has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will undergo surgery in mid-December to address the health issue.

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If you’re hoping to nab tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert, you might be out of luck. The presale opened Tuesday and fans are likening the purchasing process to that of The Hunger Games.

Fans have flocked to social media to complain about Ticketmaster’s site crashing during the Verified Fan presale for Taylor’s Eras Tour. Considering this is Taylor’s first North American trek in half a decade, it’s understandable fans are frenzied.

Taylor has already bumped up the number of stadium dates and will now perform a total of 52 shows. While the added dates will allow more fans to sing along with Taylor, it apparently did little to make a dent in demand.

Fan @abiwilk_ tweeted shortly after ticket sales went live, “The Taylor Swift ticket presale is proof that the hunger games could actually happen in real life.”

Another fan, @jawknee1989, tweeted out, “Taylor Swift wrote songs for the hunger games and got inspired to make her own in the Ticketmaster queue.” Fans even jokingly wished each other “Happy Hunger Games” before the presale launched.

Taylor wrote two songs for the first Hunger Games movie soundtrack, “Safe & Sound” and “Eyes Open.”

Ticketmaster later issued a statement on Twitter, writing, “There has been historically unprecedented demand with millions showing up to buy tickets for the TaylorSwiftTix Presale…If you are currently in a queue, please hang tight — queues are moving an we are working to get fans through as quickly as possible.”

Ticketmaster pushed back West Coast ticket sales from 10 a.m. PT to 3 p.m. PT to handle the high traffic. In addition, the fan response postponed the Capital One presale to Wednesday at 2 p.m. local venue time.

The Ticketmaster statement concluded, “Thank you for your patience as we continue managing this huge demand.”

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A massive Rolling Stones box set will be released next year in colored vinyl for the very first time. The Rolling Stones in Mono was originally released in 2016 in a variety of formats including black vinyl, CD and digital. Now, ABKCO Records will drop the new edition on January 20.

The Rolling Stones in Mono (Limited Color Edition) consists of 16, 180-gram LPs in 14 different colors, each matching the cover art of a classic album. It features the entirety of their ’60s catalog, including 1964’s The Rolling Stones in cobalt blue vinyl, 1968’s Beggars Banquet in maroon vinyl, 1969’s Let It Bleed in red vinyl and more.

It also includes the 24-track, two-LP Stray Cats compilation exclusive, which features 1960s tracks that don’t appear on the other 14 albums, including two versions of “Poison Ivy,” as well as such rarities as an Italian version of “As Tears Go By,” the 1965 outtake of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” this time without the fake applause, and more.

Meanwhile, Mick Jagger is up for a new award. The Rolling Stones frontman has earned a Royal Television Society Craft & Design Award nomination alongside Daniel Pemberton for the theme song they wrote for the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses. Winners will be announced December 5.

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Måneskin is among the nominees for Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys and, understandably, the Italian rockers are pretty pumped.

In a tweet reacting the the news, Måneskin writes, “OMG! We can’t believe our eyes and ears, but we just got nominated as Best New Artist at the #GRAMMYs!!”

“We really couldn’t be more THANKFUL and excited about it,” the “Supermodel” outfit adds. “Thanks to the Academy and all of you who have always supported us with love.”

A Best New Artist nom is a fitting cap on a big 2022 for Måneskin, who built on their 2021 breakout by launching their first-ever U.S. headlining tour this year.

The 2023 Grammys take place February 5 in Los Angeles.

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Offset reveals his “heart is shattered” following the death of his cousin and fellow Migos member Takeoff.

Taking to Instagram Tuesday, the rapper shared a heartfelt tribute in which he expressed his thoughts and feelings since learning the tragic news.

“The pain you have left me with is unbearable,” he wrote. “My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I can’t find the words.”

“I’ve been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream,” Offset continued, “but it’s reality, and reality feels like a nightmare.”

He wished for the opportunity to hug, laugh, smoke and perform with Takeoff “one last time.”

As previously reported, Takeoff was killed outside of 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston on November 1. Offset believes he’s since gone on to heaven, and hopes the late rapper sees “how much we love and miss you.”

“You have left a hole in my heart that will never be filled,” Offset continued, before asking Takeoff to give him, his brothers and his family some strength in his absence.

He also requested that the late rapper “throw me a lil sign or a beautiful dream” and signed off, “I love you forever, 4L and after.”

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Maren Morris is one of country’s most-nominated artists at the 2023 Grammys, and she celebrated in style after the nominees list came out Tuesday.

On social media, Maren shared video of herself in a bikini, drink in her hand, as she’s waltzed past the shoreline on a beach. “3 Grammy nominations?!” the video text reads.

In another post, she shared the Grammys graphic for her nominations, quoting fellow nominee Taylor Swift in the caption: “It’s me. Hi. I’m the nominee, it’s me.”

Her celebration clip is set to her single “Circles Around This Town,” and no wonder — two of Maren’s three nods are for that song, in the Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance categories. The singer also earned a Best Country Album mention for Humble Quest, whose track list features “Circles.”

Maren’s latest Grammy recognition brings her career nominations to a total of 17. Her history at the awards show dates back to 2017, when she won her first — and, to date, only — Grammy award for Best Country Solo Performance for “My Church.”

The 2023 Grammy Awards will take place on February 5 in Los Angeles. Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs and Willie Nelson also made a major impression on the country categories when the nominees were announced on Tuesday.

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