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Cardi B, Missy Elliott and more rally behind Lizzo following racist attacks

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lizzo opened up in a tearful video Sunday about the abuse she’s received following the release of “Rumors,” her latest single that features Cardi B.

Talking to fans via a 13-minute Instagram Live, which is now on YouTube, the Grammy winner battled tears as she detailed the racist and sexist attacks that made her “hurt so hard.”

The “Juice” singer said, while she does her best to spread love and positivity, “Sometimes, I feel like the world just don’t love me back.”

“People saying s*** about me that just doesn’t even make sense,” said Lizzo. “It’s fat-phobic, and it’s racist and it’s hurtful. If you don’t like my music, cool. If you don’t like ‘Rumors’ the song, cool.”

Lizzo said she is “overwhelmed” and has “been in shock since the song came out” because of the abuse hurled at her. She vowed to prioritize her mental health, which means she will only “focus on positive comments from here on out.”

Following her post, celebrities like Cardi B, Missy Elliott and Jameela Jamil have rallied to her defense.

In support of her “Rumors” collaborator, Cardi tweeted Sunday, “When you stand up for yourself they claim your [sic] problematic & sensitive. When you don’t they tear you apart until you crying like this. Whether you skinny, big, plastic, they going to always try to put their insecurities on you. Remember these are nerds looking at the popular table.”

Jamil called the attacks on Lizzo “deranged” in a lengthy Instagram post and declared, “Only sick people spend time going after innocent artists and not actual oppressors/abusers/criminals online.”

As for Missy, she sent several bouquets of flowers to Lizzo and urged her to “continue to shine and be blessed through your next journey,” which Lizzo shared via Instagram story.

The Cure’s Simon Gallup announces departure from band

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The Cure bassist Simon Gallup has left the band.

In a Facebook post over the weekend, Gallup wrote, “With a slightly heavy heart I am no longer a member of the Cure! Good luck to them all.”

Responding to a comment on the post, Gallup shared that he is “OK,” but adds he “just go fed up of betrayal.”

Gallup played with The Cure from 1979 to 1982, and then again from 1984 all the way to his departure this year. He’s been the band’s longest-tenured non-Robert Smith member.

Smith previously called Gallup his “best friend” in a 2019 NME interview, adding that the bassist has been the “heart” of The Cure’s live band. He was one of 10 Cure members to be inducted along with the band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Neither The Cure nor Smith has publicly commented on Gallup’s post as of late Monday morning.

Meanwhile, The Cure has long been working on one or several new albums. The group’s most recent studio effort is 2008’s 4:13 Dream.

Jennifer Hudson explains why playing Aretha Franklin is “the scariest thing” she’s done as an actress

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.

Jennifer Hudson is still feeling the emotional effects of playing the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, in the new biographical drama Respect.

Hudson tells ABC Audio that even though the film has long since wrapped, she still feels the gravity of getting to portray one of the most renowned vocalists of our time.

“It’s like, ‘Oh, my God. It’s super exciting. I can’t believe this — the biggest honor, dream.’ It’s what I wanted to do and everything,” the singer shares. “But then at the same time, it’s the scariest thing. And it still is. It’s like, ‘Oh, my God, what did I do?'”

Thankfully for Hudson, who was personally picked by Franklin to portray her, she had the perfect cheerleader to motivate her along the way.

“[I]t was [Aretha’s] encouragement that got me through it,” Hudson reveals. “Like, who gon’ wake up and say they’re going to be the Queen of Soul — or even try? Nobody. Not even me…even with her singing. But, it was her encouragement to say, ‘You can do this,’ that made me say, ‘Okay, if she said I can do this, then I’m gonna give it a try. And I’m gonna do my best.’ And that’s how I was able to get through it.

“And my faith as well,” Jennifer adds.

Respect, also starring Forest Whitaker and Marlon Wayans, is in theaters now.

“I thought it was the wrong idea”: Barbra Streisand appears to criticize Lady Gaga’s ‘A Star Is Born’

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

When Lady Gaga‘s version of A Star Is Born came out in 2018, Barbra Streisand, who starred in the 1976 version of the film, praised it, and Gaga, as “wonderful,” and said she “loved it.” She also visited the set and gave the film “a blessing,” according to director Bradley Cooper. Only now, she appears to be singing a slightly different tune.

Appearing on the Australian TV show The Sunday Project, Streisand explained that when the remake of A Star Is Born was first announced, it was going to star Will Smith and Beyoncé, and she thought it was really “interesting” and “different,” and was a “great idea.”

“So I was surprised when I saw how alike [Gaga’s version] was to the version I did in 1976,” Streisand continued. When the interviewer suggested that perhaps she should take that as a compliment, Streisand responded, “I don’t know. I thought it was the wrong idea. Hey, look…I can’t argue with success, but I don’t care so much about success as I do originality.”

Cooper and Gaga’s A Star Is Born scored eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress. It won for Best Original Song, “Shallow.” Streisand’s version got four nods, and won for Best Original Song, for “Evergreen.”

(Streisand talks about “A Star Is Born” at about 4:53 into the video.)

Ryan Reynolds confirms ‘Free Guy’ will get a sequel, and director Shawn Levy already has the perfect title

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

20th Century Studios/Walt Disney Studios

In one of a series of tweets thanking fans for supporting this weekend’s box office champ, Free Guy, star and producer Ryan Reynolds says it’s getting a sequel.

He mentioned of the pandemic-delayed film: “Aaaannnnd after 3 years messaging #FreeGuy as an original IP [intellectual property] movie, Disney confirmed today they officially want a sequel. Woo hoo!! #irony”

The decision from Disney came on Saturday, even before the film’s weekend box office performance was tallied.

Ryan included a gif of co-star Taika Waititi repeatedly mouthing “Albuquerque Boiled Turkey” — part of a riff his character, Antwan, had about the superiority of sequels over original ideas.

Director Shawn Levy explained during a recent press event that he and Reynolds had been “floating” ideas for what a second movie could do, if they were given the chance to make it, and touched on the “irony” Reynolds mentioned.

“We have bandied about and flirted with some ideas,” Levy explained. “But my favorite thing in Free Guy is that we have Taika’s character in an original new movie, literally mock the possibility and value of releasing something new. Right? Like it’s so rare that a studio lets you make a big budget new movie.”

He added, “But I will say that for anyone who’s seen the movie, if we make Free Guy 2…[I]t is a hundred percent Free Guy 2: Albuquerque Boiled Turkey based on one of seven million improv lines by Taika Waititi.

Reynolds apparently agreed, tweeting that “If it isn’t called, ‘Albuquerque Boiled Turkey’ we’ve failed.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Foo Fighters require audience to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID test prior to Alaska concert entry

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Foo Fighters are mandating that anyone set to attend their shows in Alaska must prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have tested negative for the virus prior to the event.

Anchorage Daily News reports that the band, set to perform three shows in the state between August 17 and August 21, will not be requiring masks at their events, but masks are encouraged. However, the band is requiring that fans show proof of vaccination at the door or a negative COVID-19 test that was taken within 48 hours of the concert. Audience members must also show an ID that matches the information on the vaccination card or negative COVID-19 test document.

Prior to their Alaska shows, the Foos performed before a fully vaccinated audience in June at New York City’s Madison Square Garden — the venue’s first arena show since COVID-19 shut it down in March 2020.

‘Good Things’: Dan + Shay set streaming record with new album

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Dan + Shay are going for gold with Good Things.

Following its release on Friday, the duo’s new album has set a record by becoming the first country album in the streaming era to be RIAA-certified Gold upon its release, defined as 500,000 units sold.

The duo celebrated the album’s release with a concert at Centennial Park in Nashville that drew 10,000 fans.

Additionally, the Grammy-winners’ current single, “Glad You Exist,” sits at #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, the latest in a streak of six consecutive #1 hits that includes “Tequila,” “Speechless,” “All to Myself,” the crossover smash “10,000 Hours,” featuring Justin Bieber, and “I Should Probably Go to Bed.” The duo has also scored three other chart-topping singles, starting with “Nothin’ Like You,” “From the Ground Up” and “How Not To.”

Dan + Shay have also announced that “Steal My Love” is their new single, with the video dropping tonight at 6 p.m. ET. They’re set to perform on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night.

Report: Travis Barker boards first flight since near-fatal 2008 plane crash

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Travis Barker has reportedly refused to get on a plane since surviving a crash in 2008 that killed nearly everyone aboard. That changed on Sunday when he was photographed climbing aboard a jet — supposedly for the first time in 13 years — with girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian.

TMZ snapped photos of the Blink-182 drummer on a flight to Cabo on Kylie Jenner‘s private plane. He and Kourtney were joined Corey Gamble and Kris Jenner. TMZ reports that the flight landed safely at its destination.

In a May interview with Men’s Health, Barker shared his struggle with survivors guilt stemming from the 2008 crash, which claimed the lives of the two pilots, assistant Chris Baker and security guard Charles Stil, — and left much of his body covered in third-degree burns. Barker and Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein were the only two survivors, but Goldstein died of an overdose a year later.

The drummer, who was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder stemming from the incident, says he committed himself to flying on a plane again because “I want to make the choice to try and overcome [my fear.]”

“Why should I still be afraid of airplanes?” he declared.

Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever’ tops ‘Billboard’ 200 for second week

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Billie Eilish‘s sophomore album, Happier Than Ever, held on to its crown as the number-one album in the country for a second week in a row.

The album, released July 30, topped the Billboard 200 after moving an additional 85,000 units in its second week of release.

Eilish’s fans streamed Happier Than Ever 66.1 million times in the past week and purchased 36,000 physical copies.

This is only the second time this year an album has stayed at number one in its first two weeks of release. Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album accomplished that feat at the start of the year.

Another teenager has jumped to the number-two spot on this week’s chart, with Olivia Rodrigo‘s SOUR rising to second place, moving an additional 61,000 units. The album is boosted by two of Rodrigo’s singles, “good 4 u” and “Deja Vu,” taking spots two and nine, respectively, in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10.

As for Eilish’s Happier Than Ever, the effort produced six Billboard Hot 100 top-40 singles: “Therefore I Am,” “My Future,” “Your Power,” “Lost Cause,” “NDA” and, as of this week, the album’s title track, which bowed in 11th.

Ludacris releases new song, “Butter.Atl,” and video in partnership with Jif

August 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

If you thought peanut butter and jelly is the perfect pair, think again — it’s peanut butter and Ludacris.

The rapper has teamed up with Jif to launch the That Jif’ing Good ad campaign. Luda tells ABC Audio that while brainstorming ideas for their partnership, “it sparked the inspiration of going in the studio and making a song.” And, so he did just that.

Luda linked up with Bubba Shakespeare to produce the song “Butter.Atl,” which was released on Friday. For the visuals, he tapped Emmy-winning music video and film director, Dave Meyers.

Together, with some help from Atlanta’s finest new school hip-hop artist, Gunna, the components tell the humorous story of how Ludacris’ legendary flow evolved — all thanks to Jif peanut butter.

“It’s like a dream collaboration,” he shares.

Also joining Luda on the project is his daughter, Karma Bridges, who makes a brief cameo in the advert, expressing her love for the song, saying, “Dad, this slaps!” The opportunity to have his daughter participate is one that Luda says was only natural.

“Once you get [to] a certain time in hip-hop, it’s like you’re children are telling you what’s cool,” he explains. “She’s telling me about the track and the commercial and that’s why it was organic to put her in.”

The collaboration with Jif was also organic for Luda, who shares that he’s loved the brand since he was a kid and that, after 20 years in the entertainment industry, he only does partnerships that are “organic to my lifestyle.”

“It truly is my favorite peanut butter,” he expresses, adding that “everyone around me knows the one thing that I do and never get tired of every day is eat peanut butter.”

“Butter.Atl” is now available on all streaming platforms.

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