controversy

Chris Allmeid/Wikimedia Commons. CBS Mornings.

'He's Always Picked Right': Producer Says Jay-Z Makes Final Decision on Super Bowl Halftime Show Performers

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Jay-Z has the final say on Super Bowl Halftime Show performers.
- This was revealed by Super Bowl Halftime Show producer Jesse Collins, who spoke to Variety.
- "It's a decision that Jay makes," he said. "Since we've been onboard with that show, he's made it every year, and it's been amazing. He's always picked right."
- The halftime event, planned by Jay-Z's Roc Nation, is set for Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9.
- Kendrick Lamar will headline the show, a decision that left Lil Wayne disappointed over not getting preference for the slot in his hometown.
- Fans are speculating the decision was influenced by historical tensions between Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.
- "We love Wayne," Collins added. "There's always Vegas odds on who's going to get to perform it. But I think we're going to do an amazing show with Kendrick, and I think everybody’s going to love the halftime show. I know Kendrick is going to work exceptionally hard to deliver an amazing show."

Trevor Cokley/Wikimedia Commons. taylorswift/Instagram.

Elon Musk Slammed for Bizarre Response to Taylor Swift's Endorsement of Kamala Harris

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Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race earlier this week alongside a photo with one of her cats.
- Elon Musk reacted to Swift's endorsement with a tweet offering to "give you a child and guard your cats with my life"
- Musk's tweet went viral, amassing 96 million views and 400 000 likes by Thursday.
- Musk's comment drew online backlash, with many labeling it as inappropriate and bizarre.
- Critics linked Musk's tweet to his history of controversial remarks and potential sexual harassment.
- In response to his tweet, one X user wrote: "Cats politely but firmly decline your offer. Now stop being weird and offering your children to people."
- Another quipped: "Will Taylor Swift fans ever buy a Tesla now?"

Nadiantara/Wikimedia Commons. serenawilliams/Instagram.

Serena Williams X Post Backfires After She's Denied Access at Paris Restaurant

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Serena Williams, along with her family, was denied entry to a rooftop restaurant at The Peninsula Paris Hotel in the French capital.
- Williams expressed her frustration on X, stating that she had never experienced such treatment, especially with her kids.
- "Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first," she wrote.
- The Peninsula Paris responded, apologizing for the situation and explaining that the rooftop bar was "indeed fully booked."
- A large number of social media commenters took the side of the hotel, with one X user saying, “I’m a celebrity, kick a regular person out so I can eat,” while another wrote, "Oh no they treated you like you were one of the common folk?! Did you tell them who you are?"
- Williams has been in Paris attending various sports events since the start of the Paris Olympics, and served as a torchbearer during the opening ceremony.
- She has two daughters with her husband, Alexis Ohanian: six-year-old Olympia and 11-month-old Adira.

Fans Aren't Buying Katy Perry's 'Woman's World' Satire Explanation

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Katy Perry has labeled her latest single 'Woman's World' as satirical after receiving a slew of criticism from her fans and the music press.
- The song, a feminist anthem accompanied by a video celebrating the power of women, was released on July 12 ahead of Perry's upcoming album '143'.
- Critics and online commenters have slammed the single for its superficiality, with one YouTube user calling it "a parody of feminism gone wrong."
- Perry herself has been lambasted for working with producer Dr. Luke, whom popstar Kesha accused of sexual assault in 2014.
- Sex and culture writer Ella Dawson wrote on X: "The new Katy Perry video is incomprehensible garbage, much like her choice to release a women's empowerment track produced by Dr. Luke, the man who drugged and raped Kesha."
- Amid the controversy, Perry has maintained silence on working with Dr. Luke, but defended the song and its creative approach.
- "You can do anything! Even satire!" she captioned a video message from the set of 'Woman's World'. "We’re kind of just having fun, being a bit sarcastic with it. It’s very slapstick, and very on the nose,” she says in the video.
- But many aren’t buying Perry's explanation that the release was satirical. One X user wrote, "One of the hallmarks of great satire is when you release a long followup video that explains in detail specifically how you are being satirical and why you chose to do it," while another said, "I think the satire just doesn’t work when you have to explain it this much."
- Perry's upcoming album '143' is set for a September release, promising 'the empowering, sexy, & provocative pop anthems you've come to love,' according to the singer's website.

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