BTS spoke at the White House press briefing Tuesday ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
RM, the only member of the group to address reporters in English, said, “It is a great honor to be invited to the White House today to discuss the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity.”
After the rest of the group gave their remarks in Korean, which were subsequently translated, RM concluded, “We thank President Biden and the White House that we were given this important opportunity to speak about these important causes and remind ourselves of what we can do as artists.”
Jin said the group “stands with the AANHPI community,” while Jimin said BTS was “devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes, including Asian American hate crimes” and was at the White House to help “put a stop to this and support the cause.”
Referring to their worldwide fanbase, Jungkook said, in part, “We believe music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things.”
“It’s not wrong to be different,” said Suga. “Equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences.” And V added, “We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and everyone as a valuable person.”
As the group was ushered out of the briefing, one reporter got big laughs by shouting, “Which one of us is your favorite?”
In a closed meeting in the Oval Office, Biden and BTS planned to discuss Asian representation, inclusion and anti-Asian discrimination in the U.S.
Between March 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021, the Asian advocacy organization Stop AAPI Hate recorded more than 10,000 reports of hate incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islander persons across the U.S.
The fourth season of Stranger Things is finally streaming on Netflix and star Sadie Sink opened up about how music plays into her character Max’s terrifying story arc.
In the fourth season, Max is possessed by the demon Vecna, but the show’s cast soon learns music can help keep the monster at bay. The song that helps ground Max is Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” — which she blasts on her headphones 24/7. Sink revealed which song she’d pick if the same thing were to happen to her.
Speaking to Tudum, Sink said Taylor Swift’s “August” would be her go-to savior song. “That song honestly can revive me from anything,” the actress raved. And while that song from Taylor’s folklore album has her heart, there is another track off the 2020 record that beats it when it comes to overall plays.
“The 1” topped Sink’s Spotify Wrapped playlist, which catalogs a person’s most-listened-to songs of the past year.
Sink also opened up about how her character, Max, relates to the character she played in the 10-minute music video of Taylor’s “All Too Well.”
“I put a little bit of myself into both,” she revealed. “You’re always going to put a little bit of yourself into whatever character you’re playing.”
Looking at the characters’ similarities, the actress said, “At the heart of it, they’re both definitely independent.”
Stranger Things season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.
The Revivalists have announced a new EP called Made in Muscle Shoals Vol. 2.
As its title suggests, the set is a follow-up to 2020’s Made in Muscle Shoals and once again finds the “Wish I Knew You” outfit recording new versions of their songs at the legendary FAME Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Vol. 2 will be released on June 17. For a preview, you can listen to the Muscle Shoals version of the song “Otherside of Paradise” now via digital outlets.
“There’s a purity, depth and innocence to this song that could only be captured in a place like FAME,” says frontman David Shaw. “I really love how this one came out. It speaks to a special place in us all and this version only deepens that connection.”
The Revivalists’ most recent album is 2018’s Take Good Care. Shaw, meanwhile, released his debut, self-titled solo album in 2021.
(NEW YORK) — COVID-19 cases in New York City have plateaued, signaling that the latest surge is at least slowing, if not over.
An ABC News analysis of city data shows 4,204 confirmed and probable cases were recorded on May 24 — the latest date for which data is available — with a seven-day rolling average of 3,312.
This is the lowest average recorded in the last two weeks.
Other key metrics also indicate the latest wave may be subsiding.
The percent positivity rate — the percentage of tests that come back positive — is currently at 8.64%, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This is a drop from the average of 10.95% over the last 28 days.
Additionally, the seven-day average of hospitalizations has dropped 15.4% from 84 to 71.
“In all likelihood, we’re on the other side of this particular surge, but at the same time it’s not dropping dramatically because of…behavior,” said Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor. “We essentially have two opposing forces, one where we have a lot of immunity in the population from vaccination and infection.”
He continued, “On the other hand, people are starting to enjoy congregating and going to indoor concerts, festivals, sporting events. These will create opportunities for the virus to spread.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the unvaccinated population has made up the largest share of COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the city.
As of May 14, unvaccinated New York City residents were recording 1,826.25 cases per 100,000 people, data from the health department shows.
By comparison, those who are vaccinated but not boosted were recording 183.02 cases per 100,000 and those who are boosted were recording 310.69 cases per 100,000.
In addition, the unvaccinated were hospitalized with COVID-19 at a rate of 188.55 per 100,000 compared to 5.65 per 100,000 for those vaccinated but not yet boosted and 4.96 per 100,000 for those boosted.
“Of course, we know that there’s the probability of breakthrough infections with vaccination, but the outcomes of those breakthroughs are drastically different,” Brownstein said. “As we look at the severe outcomes, the hospitalizations and the deaths as a result of infection, those who are unvaccinated bear a far greater burden of that risk.”
He added, “Despite us being quite far into the vaccination campaign, the urgency to get people vaccinated and boosted is still there and will continue to be there, especially as we see surges in the coming months.”
Even as New York City and the Northeast appear to be plateauing, cases are rising in other parts of the country.
Hawaii is currently leading the U.S in cumulative cases per 100,000 over the last seven days at 623 per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additionally, over the last two weeks, the seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 infections has increased 78.7% in California and 33.2% in Washington state, CDC data shows.
“We’ve seen a pattern emerge where the Northeast has often been a leading indicator of surges that will take place in other parts of the country,” Brownstein said. “Surges are not uniform across the country. Surges happen at the local level and they’re not necessarily happening.at the exact same time.”
He continued, “What we experience in one part of the country, another part may experience weeks or months later.”
Brownstein also said testing totals could be undercounted because of the number of people who are testing at home and not reporting positive results to health authorities.
“It’s possible we could hit a surge and be well in the midst of it before we know it’s happening,” he said.
He encouraged people to exercise caution and, if case counts rise in their areas, to follow mitigation measures that reduce the risk of spread, such as wearing masks.
“We’re in a much better place and we have wide availability of therapeutics now, so we have better ways of managing this pandemic, but clearly people can still play a role in helping reduce any surges in communities in the coming months,” Brownstein said.
The Used has dropped off the lineup for England’s upcoming Slam Dunk Festival as frontman Bert McCracken addresses his mental health.
In a statement posted to the band’s social media Tuesday, McCracken writes, “I have always been open about my struggle with mental health and have recently found myself facing new and overwhelming challenges.”
“For this reason, I won’t be able to play the upcoming shows at Slam Dunk,” he continues. “I am so sorry but [I] needed to make this decision to focus on professional treatment and self-care.”
McCracken concludes, “Performing live for The Used fans is one my greatest joys, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. We have the best fans in the world, thank you for your undying support.”
The Slam Dunk Festival is set to take place June 3-4. Other artists on the lineup include Alexisonfire, Beartooth, Sum 41 and The Interrupters.
The Used is expected to return to the road in July for a U.S. tour alongside Rise Against.
Keith Urban had a special guest join him in Las Vegas this weekend.
The crowd at the final night of his 2022 residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace got the ultimate treat when Keith’s Academy Award-winning wife, Nicole Kidman, came out on stage.
Keith greeted his wife with a hug and a kiss as he jokingly asked, “What’s your name?” The actress sheepishly replied, “Nicole Urban,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy. “Oh cool!” the country star said excitedly.
But Nicole was also there on a specific mission. “I want to get your jacket, you put it on the floor,” she informed him as they walked across the stage hand-in-hand to retrieve the black jacket. “She literally said, ‘Don’t lose that jacket.’ I’m like, ‘How am I going to lose the jacket?’ And it’s gone,” Keith confirmed.
After retrieving it from his guitar player, Keith helped his wife put on the jacket. Nicole blew a kiss and flashed a heart symbol to the fans before walking off stage.
“Just a Saturday night in Las Vegas,” Keith said with a smile.
The hit singer added five more shows to his Vegas residency after Adele had to postpone her residency at Caesars Palace last minute. Keith will launch his Speed of Now World Tour on June 17 in Tampa, Florida.
Halsey caused quite a stir after claiming their label held up the release of a new single on the condition they fabricate a “fake viral moment on TikTok.” After a brief back and forth with their label, Astralwerks-Capitol, Halsey has emerged victorious.
“If you have the internet you have probably heard that I’ve been trying to put this song out for a long time,” the Grammy nominee announced Tuesday, while sharing the promotional artwork for the new song. “And I’m thrilled you’ll finally get to hear it. So Good, song on June 9th and video (directed by@zoneaydin) the next day.”
The promotional image shows Halsey and their partner, Alev Aydin, sharing a passionate kiss and is fashioned with retro ’70s vibe with a technicolor bullseye focused on their lips.
Aydin separately announced the single on his Instagram: “Ash wrote a song about me, and asked me to write and direct a music video for it. SO GOOD drops June 9th, video out day after!”
In addition to announcing “So Good,” Halsey also treated fans to several behind-the-scenes moments of their ongoing tour. One sweet photo showed them bonding with their and Aydin’s son, Ender, who they say “gave me my flowers.”
As previously reported, the “East Side” singer said they simply couldn’t release their new music on their own because the label “owns the master.” According to Halsey, the song and its music video were both ready to go for over a month, which only added to their mounting frustration.
Capitol Music has since issued a statement on the forthcoming single’s release, saying in a tweet, “We are an artist first company that encourages open dialogue. We have nothing but a desire to help each one of our artists succeed.”
Former Arcade Fire member Will Butler has released two new solo songs.
The tracks, which mark Butler’s first solo material since he left the “Wake Up” outfit, are titled “A Stranger’s House” and “Nearer to Thee,” and are available now via digital outlets. “A Stranger’s House” is also accompanied by a video, which you can watch now streaming on YouTube.
Along with the new tunes, Butler has announced a run of U.S. tour dates kicking off in August. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 3, at 10 a.m. ET.
Butler, the younger brother of Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler, announced his departure from the band last March.
“There was no acute reason beyond that I’ve changed — and the band has changed — over the last almost 20 years,” Will wrote at the time. “Time for new things.”
He added, “The band are still my friends and family.”
Will’s previously released three solo albums, the most recent of which being 2020’s Generations.
Arcade Fire, meanwhile, released their new album WE earlier this month. They’ll launch a U.S. tour in support of the record in October.
Kevin Nixon/Classic Rock Magazine/Future via Getty Images
Earlier this year, Jon Anderson teamed up with the students of the Paul Green Rock Academy for a five-date U.S. tour, and now the former Yes frontman is set to head out on the road with the talented young musicians for more shows this summer.
The new tour will feature Anderson and the students performing Yes’ 1972 album Close to the Edge in its entirety in honor of its 50th anniversary, plus other classic tunes and deep cuts by the prog-rock legends, as well as tunes from Anderson’s solo catalog, mashups and more.
The performances will showcase lush arrangements of the songs, including choral vocals, horns and other musical elements.
The trek currently features 13 dates and is mapped out from a July 7 concert in Plymouth, New Hampshire, through an August 6 show in Albany, New York.
Anderson says about performing with the Paul Green Rock Academy, “There are so many wonderful moments in my musical life, and being on stage with these young teenagers performing Classic Yes songs makes me so happy and proud … It’s a marvel and a tremendous pleasure for me.”
He adds, “They are a joy to be with and so much fun!!! I am grateful, thankful and feel very blessed to be able to sing along with them. [My wife] Janee and I love them all.”
Paul Green, meanwhile, explains that he was impressed with Anderson and the students’ performances of two songs from Close to the Edge — the title track and “And You and I” — at concerts last April. He adds, “Then when I heard it was the 50th anniversary of the album I just knew we had to do the whole thing. Jon agreed.”
Check out the full list of dates at Anderson’s Facebook page.
The official social media platforms for Star Wars posted a unified message of support for Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram, after she shared on Instagram racists comments people had directed at her.
“There are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don’t choose to be a racist,” the message reads.
“We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist.”
Moses’ video begins with a collection of nasty comments, including claims her character Reva was a “diversity hire” by Darth Vader. The actress then addresses her followers directly.
“Long story short, there are hundreds of these. Hundreds,” the actress begins, adding she also sees so many messages of support. “And that means the world to me,” Ingram says.
“I think the thing that bothers me … that that feeling inside of myself … that I just have to shut up and take it, grin and bear it … But I’m not built like that,” she says defiantly.
Moses then thanked fans who have stood by her. And to the trolls? “Y’all are weird,” she says.
According to an interview in the U.K. Independent, Ingram was warned by Lucasfilm about racist comments that were made about Star Wars sequel stars Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega. “It was something that Lucasfilm actually got in front of and said, ‘This is a thing that, unfortunately, likely will happen. But we are here to help you; you can let us know when it happens,'” Ingram says.
Lucasfilm is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.
