Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in the upcoming film ‘Michael.’ (Lionsgate)
Jaafar Jackson stars in the upcoming biopic Michael as Michael Jackson alongside Colman Domingo as his father, Joseph Jackson. Reflecting on their first meeting, Jaafar described what it was like to connect on set.
“I remember seeing Colman for the first time when I was at the Sony stages,” he told Miles Teller in a chat for InterviewMagazine. “[H]e came and visited while I was on stage rehearsing. He was just standing on the side of the stage looking at me, but I didn’t know.”
Afterward, “He walked up to me and we just hugged,” Jaafar recalled. “I really felt that love and protection from Colman throughout the entire shoot.”
“It was crazy for me to see him bring Joseph [Jackson] to life. He was so locked in, and we weren’t even rolling,” he added, noting that memories of his grandfather came to mind during filming.
He also described it as “very emotional” watching Nia Long portray his grandmother Katherine Jackson, and displaying “that love and that passion and those little subtleties that really make her who she is.”
Jaafar revealed it took him a year to tell his family about landing the role. While his mother was blown away, his father, Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson, has yet to watch the film.
As for his own thoughts on his performance, Jaafar admitted he questioned some scenes but ultimately felt proud and continues to “find new things to appreciate.”
With the film coming out April 24, he said he’s most excited for audiences to see a more human side of Michael.
“A lot of people are familiar with the iconic moments, but there’s a whole emotional layer that hasn’t ever really been seen,” Jaafar said. “I feel like people will understand him a lot more.”
Kersten Francilus is seen in a photo released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
(MARTIN COUNTY, Fla.) — The suspect in the deadly, apparently random stabbing of an elderly woman who was walking her dog in Florida allegedly told authorities that he “went around” the neighborhood and “found a lady and then I killed her,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
The shocking, “extremely violent” attack occurred Thursday afternoon in Stuart, in the “quiet” community of Southwood, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Several people had called 911 to report a “suspicious” man who was going door-to-door asking “where the new bank was,” Budensiek said at a press briefing Thursday, noting that there isn’t a bank in the area. The suspect — later identified as 25-year-old Kersten Francilus — reportedly appeared “out of it,” according to the affidavit.
At one house, the suspect asked for the bank and allegedly “attempted to step inside,” at which point the resident shut the door, according to the affidavit.
Shortly after those calls, people called 911 to report the stabbing, according to Budensiek. The victim was walking a small dog when she was “brutally attacked,” he said.
A good Samaritan tried to intervene but couldn’t get the assailant off the woman, the sheriff said.
A deputy who was already en route for the suspicious person arrived at the scene and saw the victim on the ground, according to Budensiek.
“Our suspect was on top of her, actually actively stabbing her,” Budensiek said.
The deputy got out of his vehicle and pulled out his gun, at which time the suspect threw the knife down, “giving up,” the sheriff said.
The deputy immediately took Francilus into custody, the sheriff said.
An off-duty deputy who had also responded rendered aid to the victim, Budensiek said. She was transported to an area hospital, where she died from “significant injuries,” the sheriff said. She had been stabbed multiple times in her upper torso, he said, calling it a “violent, violent homicide.”
The victim appeared to have 16 or 17 stab wounds, according to the affidavit, which identified her as Joyce Ellen Thompson Adams.
Francilus has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder. He refused a public defender and is being held on no bond, online court records show. ABC News’ attempts to reach members of his family for comment were unsuccessful.
After being read his Miranda Rights, Francilus allegedly admitted to the stabbing, according to the affidavit.
“He initially stated he left his residence and ‘did what I did,'” the affidavit stated. “He stated he ‘went around’ the neighborhood, and he said ‘I found a lady and then I killed her.'”
The suspect is believed to live in a nearby neighborhood with his mother, wife and child, Budensiek said. A steak knife used in the attack came from their home, according to the sheriff.
The suspect’s mother reportedly told detectives that Francilus “has not taken his medications since February,” according to the affidavit, which did not go into further detail. His mother also said she “usually stored the knives above the microwave, essentially hiding them from the suspect,” the affidavit stated.
A motive remains under investigation, according to the sheriff.
Francilus has no known criminal history or connection to the victim, Budensiek said. There was previously one call for service at his home, during which he was reported to have been “acting strange,” the sheriff said.
“We don’t know of any motive at this point. We don’t know of any nexus between the victim and the suspect,” Budensiek said. “We just simply know that we’ve had a horrendous crime that’s taken place in this neighborhood.”
David Schwimmer as Ross Geller and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay in a scene from ‘Friends.’ (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Lisa Kudrow is opening up about playing Phoebe Buffay on the beloved sitcom Friends.
In an interview with The Independent published Saturday, Kudrow discussed her experience in the early days of the show, recalling how she was referred to by some as the “sixth Friend.”
“Nobody cared about me [early on],” Kudrow said with a laugh, according to the outlet.
She added, “There were certain parts of [my talent agency] that just referred to me as ‘the sixth Friend.'”
Kudrow said she sensed uncertainty regarding her future beyond the show.
“There was no vision for me, and no expectations about the kind of career I could have. There was just, like, ‘Boy is she lucky she got on that show,'” she said.
Kudrow starred as Phoebe for the entirety of the series’ 10-season run, from 1994 to 2004.
The show has continued to skyrocket in popularity through the years, as viewers across the world take interest in the friend group, which also included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and the late Matthew Perry.
Kudrow won an Emmy for her role in 1998.
The actress also spoke to TheIndependent about her own early skepticism around the show becoming popular, saying most of her castmates seemed optimistic.
“I was the odd one out. I thought… ‘Maybe? I mean, it’s a good show, but I don’t know about that,'” she said. “But I’m just that kind of person.”
Justin Bieber performs on the 68th GRAMMY Awards, Feb. 1, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Frazier Harrison/Getty Images)
Justin Bieber’s keeping himself busy before he headlines Coachella this weekend.
Justin invited fans to an intimate show at West Hollywood’s legendary club The Troubadour on Saturday, similar to the one he did at LA’s Roxy Theatre on March 29. As with that show, the one at the Troubadour featured Justin only performing songs from his albums SWAG and SWAG II, including “Daisies,” “Yukon,” “Go Baby” and “Devotion.”
Justin’s sets at Coachella — or as fans have dubbed it, “Bieberchella” — will take place April 11 and 18. While fans seemed to be thrilled with the Troubadour show, one wrote in the comments, “please play some old hits at bieberchella. we adoooore swag but we love all of them too.”
Meanwhile, Justin has teamed up with his wife, Hailey Bieber, to design a new product for her beauty brand, Rhode: a line of pimple patches. Each pack of 36 patches costs $16 and they’re available in five shapes — daisy, shroom, jelly bean, bubble and curve — starting April 13 at 9 a.m. PT at rhodeskin.com.
President Donald Trump speaks as U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (C) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine look on. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump on Monday called a proposal to end the war with Iran a “significant step” but “not good enough” to persuade him to end his military campaign.
“They are negotiating now, and they have made a very significant step,” Trump said to reporters as he attended the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. “We’ll see what happens.”
It was not immediately clear which proposal Trump was referring to. The president had touted ongoing negotiations with more “moderate” parties but tensions ramped up over the weekend after the downing of a U.S. fighter plane.
According to a U.S. official and another person close to the ongoing talks, mediators are attempting broker a 45-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran ahead of Trump’s latest deadline, which calls for Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday or face attacks on bridges and energy infrastructure.
Iran signaled it would not accept the mediators’ proposal on Monday, responding instead with its own 10-point plan, which a U.S. official described as maximalist.
In the past, Iran has said it wants a permanent commitment from the U.S. to end the attacks rather than a shorter-term ceasefire.
Trump has moved the deadline several times citing progress in ongoing negotiations only to renew the threat of military destruction once again.
Both sources downplayed expectations that a deal could be reached in time, saying that so far Iran has refused to cede what it views as its main leverage in the negotiations: control over the Strait of Hormuz and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
“We are obliterating their country. And I hate to do it, but we’re obliterating and they just don’t want to say ‘uncle.’ They don’t want to cry, as the expression goes, ‘uncle.’ But they will,” Trump said. “And if they don’t, they’ll have no bridges, they’ll have no power plants, they’ll have no anything.”
But the president also seemed to acknowledge that the conflict was unpopular domestically.
“Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, a White House official said the proposal was just “one of many ideas” and indicated that the president had not signed off on it.
Mediators are floating confidence-building measures aimed at bringing both sides closer to an agreement, sources say, and stressing to the Iranian regime that even though Trump has previously moved back deadlines he has set, Tehran would likely need to signal a willingness to make major concessions in order to buy more time for negotiations to play out.
In their public messaging, Iranian leaders have signaled little room for compromise, issuing demands the U.S. views as maximalist.
Mediators have floated the idea that perhaps access to the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of Iran’s uranium stockpile could be fully resolved after a ceasefire is reached. However, a U.S. official said it appeared highly unlikely the Trump administration could be convinced to accept those terms–particularly on the Strait of Hormuz.
Megan Moroney is the newest face of Revlon’s “Be Unforgettable” campaign, the esteemed cosmetics brand announced on Monday.
“This campaign represents a truth I believe in,” Megan says in a news release. “Beauty is only one part of what makes someone unforgettable.”
“There’s power in reminding women they can take up space and lead with confidence, authenticity and strength,” she continues. “Being part of that message means a lot to me.”
The “Beautiful Things” hitmaker will be in a number of Revlon ads, including ones for the PhotoReady Collection and the Glimmer franchise.
Drummer Clem Burke of Blondie performs onstage at 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 21, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
Blondie is remembering their late drummer Clem Burke on the one-year anniversary of his death at age 70.
“It is difficult to believe a year has passed… there is a hole in our hearts. Yet his energy lives on—vibrant, resonating in ways we can’t fully understand,” the band wrote on social media alongside a picture of Burke. “You are deeply missed, @clem.burke.”
Blondie announced Burke’s death on April 7, 2025, revealing that he passed away “following a private battle with cancer.”
“Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable,” read the announcement from Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. “Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Burke, born Clement Anthony Bozewski, joined Blondie in 1975, shortly after they formed in New York City. He appeared on all of their records, the last one being 2017’s Pollinator. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Blondie in 2006.
Blondie is expected to release a new album, High Noon, in 2026. Stein has said that Burke played on the album.
Tom Page-Turner as Bill, Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice, Lox Pratt as Jack, Thomas Connor as Roger, Winston Sawyers as Ralph and David McKenna as Piggy in ‘Lord of the Flies.’ (J Redza/Eleven/Sony Pictures Television)
The official trailer for Lord of the Flies has arrived.
Netflix has released the official trailer for its upcoming limited series adaptation of William Golding’s classic dystopian novel.
Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne adapted the novel for television, while Marc Munden serves as the show’s director. According to its logline, the show follows how “innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways.” This series marks the first time this classic story has been adapted for TV.
Winston Sawyers stars as Ralph, Lox Pratt stars as Jack, David McKenna stars as Piggy and Ike Talbut stars as Simon in a show that includes an ensemble of more than 30 boys “playing the desert island camp’s ‘biguns’ and ‘littluns,'” according to a description from Netflix.
The trailer starts with the initial plane crash that causes the young students to become castaways on a desert island. We then see quick glimpses at their means of survival.
Children chant, “Kill the beast!” and “Cut his throat!” as they run amok and hunt on the island.
“We all have to kill the beast,” one boy says at the end of the trailer.
The show features music from Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve and Cristobal Tapia de Veer.
All four episodes of Lord of the Flies will be available to stream on May 4.
Jay Electronica backstage at Sony Hall on January 10, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Jay Electronica was booed at his concert in Los Angeles Saturday, and he took issue with the crowd’s response.
His a cappella version of “Exhibit C” at The Compound was met with jeers, prompting him to stop his set and directly confront his hecklers.
“If you f*** with me, shut the f*** up and listen to the bars!” he said. “Whoever boos, we know you the enemy, n****, and you a coward! … ‘Cause you won’t boo in my face.”
He then walked into the audience in search of the people reacting negatively to his performance. “See how they shut the f*** up! They p****!” he said.
“My fans know I ain’t talking to them. We on the same team,” Jay continued. “I came to swing my sword at the enemy. If you want to boo, that’s fine; I’ve been booed at concerts before. But grow some nuts and boo in my face.”
Jay Electronica is currently on his Nineteen Day Reconnaissance Tour, which promotes his 2025 projects A Written Testimony: Leaflets, A Written Testimony: Power at the Rate of My Dreams and A Written Testimony: Mars, the Inhabited Planet.
He recently announced an all-star benefit concert, presented by Women Working Together Globally. Set for June 21 at New York’s Town Hall Theater, it will see Jay perform with some of his friends while supporting “youth focused initiatives in STEM, healthy living, mental health, anti bullying, tech access, and sports” and “building a safe, supportive village for kids, teens, and families,” according to the venue’s website.
Darius Rucker’s Riverfront Revival (Courtesy Darius Rucker/SRE Entertainment)
Darius Rucker’s gearing up to lead his fifth annual Riverfront Revival Oct. 9 and 10 in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.
Old Dominion, Gavin Adcock, BigXthaPlug and Chase Matthew are booked to play the shows at Riverfront Park, along with Nelly, Charles Wesley Godwin, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Austin Williams, Atlus, Dani Rucker, Gullah Collective, Karley Scott Collins, Saluda Shoals, Mel Washington, Whiskey Run and AC Scar.
“Riverfront Revival has always been about bringing great music and great people together in a place that means everything to me,” Darius says. “Getting to build this in Charleston year after year has been incredible, and this lineup shows how much it’s grown while still staying true to what the festival is all about.”
Presales are underway now, with tickets becoming available to the general public Wednesday.
Part of the proceeds from Riverfront Revival help the Charleston community through the Carolyn G. Rucker Nursing Scholarship and Rock ‘N Roll Rescue, which works with music education.
