UPDATED WITH POLICE STATEMENT: Chicago police are pushing back on media reports that said the alleged attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was a hoax and say the reports are “unconfirmed by case detectives.” Two Chicago media outlets reported Thursday that multiple sources told them that investigators believe the attack was staged. Police spent much of
Music
The F.B.I. is “looking into” whether singer-songwriter Ryan Adams’ sexually explicit communications with an underage fan were criminal behavior, according to a law enforcement official cited by The New York Times. The fan, identified only as “Ava,” was between the ages of 14 and 16 when the interactions, which included nudity, took place. She was
A new documentary film centered on the life of Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell is in the works, Variety has learned. The film will be produced by Cornell’s widow, Vicky, along with Brad Pitt and Peter Berg’s Film 45 production company, which focuses on non-scripted entertainment and branded content. Berg (“Lone Survivor,” “Deepwater Horizon”)
[UPDATED: Aerosmith’s star unveiling ceremony, scheduled for today, has been postponed “due to severe weather conditions,” according to an announcement from the Hollywood Walk of Fame committee. “We are currently working on another date to reschedule this special event.”] “First of all, aren’t those things supposed to be saved for movie stars?” asks Steven Tyler. “But
February 14, 2019 5:57AM PT Katy Perry and Zedd have teamed up for a new single released today called “365,” which has a video that shows the singer as a “Stepford Wife”-type robot who falls in love (with Zedd). Directed by Warren Fu (The Weeknd, Daft Punk) and conceptualized by Perry, according to the announcement,
February 14, 2019 5:03AM PT Simon Cowell and his team are plotting the biggest changes to “X Factor” on ITV in the show’s history in an attempt to boost ratings and secure a new deal for the talent competition on British television. Amid reports of wholesale format changes, there were rumors that the show was
In the wake of the bombshell New York Times article in which multiple women accuse Ryan Adams of sexual misconduct, the question arises of how much legal trouble the singer might be in. While the claims fall short of sexual assault — seven women and more than a dozen associates “described a pattern of manipulative behavior
February 13, 2019 5:50PM PT After more than 2.5 years on and off the market with an original asking price that pushed up on $8.5 million, British pop music phenom Harry Styles now has his modern villa above L.A’s Sunset Strip listed at $6.995 million. Once carrying costs, improvement expenses and real estate fees are
February 13, 2019 4:27PM PT A New York Times expose rocked the music industry on Wednesday, containing stories from several women claiming that singer/songwriter Ryan Adams exhibited “a pattern of manipulative behavior in which [he] dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex.” Even Adams’ ex-wife, Mandy Moore, spoke out in the report,
February 13, 2019 3:57PM PT Rocker Ryan Adams’ immediate response to the New York Times reporting on his allegedly abusive relationships with multiple women was to say he was “f—ing taking you down” with a lawsuit — which he quickly deleted and replaced with a more temperate series of tweets. “Happy Vanentines (sic) day @nytimes,”
February 13, 2019 3:45PM PT Swedish House Mafia has signed with Columbia Records, home to Adele, Bruce Springsteen and Calvin Harris. The Sony Music label was able to land the EDM group after a tense bidding war with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records, and for “significantly less” money, according to sources. The group —
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams has been accused of sexual misconduct and manipulative behavior, according to a New York Times article published Wednesday. Seven women and more than a dozen associates “described a pattern of manipulative behavior in which Adams dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex,” the article claims. “In some cases, they said,
February 13, 2019 1:44PM PT Former “American Idol” contestant Antonella Barba is facing federal charges after allegedly working as a courier for a drug ring last year, according to court documents. Barba was arrested in October 2018 in Norfolk, Va., for “unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally” possessing 100 grams of heroin with the intent to sell it.
In his first interview since he was attacked on Jan. 29, Jussie Smollett sat with ABC News’ Robin Roberts to share his feelings about the incident and address the rumors that he might not be telling the truth about the attack, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime. The full segment will air
21 Savage boarded a plane today that is carrying him and his mother from the ICE detention center in Georgia, where he was held for the past 10 days due to a visa violation. He and his mother, Heather Joseph, are seen about to board a private plane back to Atlanta, where he will be
Grandmaster Flash, classical violinist AnneSophie Mutter, and the Playing for Change music charity have been named the 2019 laureates for Sweden’s Polar Music Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious music awards. Along with the honor, each Laureate receives prize money of one million Swedish Kronor (approx. $110,000). The Awards will be presented at a
Dave Grohl, who’s no stranger to stages of all sizes seemed a little overwhelmed as he sat for a one-on-one conversation with Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino at the Pollstar Live conference earlier today (Feb. 12). The three-day confab held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel brings together professionals working in the live entertainment industries for
February 12, 2019 7:27PM PT An attack involving rapper Rich the Kid and his entourage took place outside of the Westlake Recording Studio in West Hollywood, Calif., Tuesday afternoon, Variety has confirmed. Usher was also inside the studio at the time of the incident, but was not involved. A man who was seen running away
February 12, 2019 11:58AM PT Rapper 21 Savage, who was arrested earlier this month and incarcerated by ICE due to a visa violation, was released on bond today pending a deportation hearing. “For the past 9 long days, we, on behalf of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known to the world as 21 Savage, have been speaking
February 12, 2019 11:15AM PT Universal Music Group on Tuesday announced an agreement to acquire the independent music distribution and marketing company Ingrooves Music Group. UMG has been a minority investor in the company since 2006, and under the agreement, will acquire the shares of Ingrooves that it doesn’t already own. After the transaction closes,
It’s official: Khalid no longer can even pretend to be “Young, Dumb & Broke”: On Monday, the “American Teen” finally turned the legal age to drink, celebrating his 21st birthday in A-list fashion at a glorious mansion in Beverly Hills with his “Love Lies” duet partner Normani, Kane Brown and many friends, family members, label
Hulu has set six series regulars for its upcoming scripted series on the origins of The Wu-Tang Clan, Variety has learned. Ashton Sanders, Shameik Moore, Siddiq Saunderson, Marcus Callender, Zolee Griggs, and Erika Alexander have all been cast in the 10-episode series, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.” Full character descriptions can be read below. In addition, Chris Robinson–who previously directed multiple episodes
The Beastie Boys, Brandi Carlile, Elisabeth Moss, T Bone Burnett and former House Speaker John Boehner have been added as speakers at the SXSW Conference during March 8–17 in Austin, Texas. Keynotes announced Tuesday include Adam Horovitz and Michael Diamond of the Beastie Boys with Amazon’s Nathan Brackett; investor and author Roger McNamee with Wired
February 12, 2019 6:01AM PT Singer/songwriters Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have already been announced as set to perform their Oscar-nominated song from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” on the Academy Awards telecast Feb. 24. But no one will have to wait till then to hear the writers’ take on the tune. They’ve released their
Cardi B has quit Instagram following apparent abuse she’s received after her album “Invasion of Privacy” won the best rap album Grammy at Sunday’s awards show. The “Money” rapper posted an expletive-laden video shortly before deleting the account, in which she ripped into commentators who’ve said she didn’t deserve the award. “It’s not my style
What beats winning some awards on a show? Winning an awards show. There’s no trophy given out for what Brandi Carlile did on the Grammys Sunday, bringing down the house and raising the social media roof with “The Joke.” But she should leave an empty space on her mantle in honor of this moment anyway.
A former VP of MusiCares sued the Recording Academy on Monday, alleging she was fired after blowing the whistle on financial impropriety. Dana Tomarken, 75, also alleges that she was terminated because of her age and gender, and accuses Academy chairman and president Neil Portnow of running a “boys’ club.” After she was fired in
Several hours before Aerosmith took the stage for the second annual Steven Tyler Grammy viewing party — which benefits Janie’s Fund, an organization created by Tyler to help underage victims of human trafficking — an energized and animated Tyler spoke to Variety about what it’s like when the band gets together these days. “Let’s just
Nicki Minaj is speaking out against Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich just days after Ariana Grande called him out for statements regarding her not performing at this year’s Grammy Awards. “I pissed off the same man Ariana just called out for lying. Grammy producer KEN,” Minaj wrote on Twitter. “I was bullied into staying quiet for 7
Sitting in the Interscope Records studio where he recorded his first two albums, Anton Zaslavski, better known as Zedd, revealed an inside look at what it’s like to be one of the music industry’s most powerful hitmakers Thursday at a masterclass hosted by Universal Music Group and Marriott Bonvoy in partnership with Interscope Records. Surrounded