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Viral Lesbian Bar Article From Boston Globe Is Piquing Hollywood’s Interest
A Boston Globe article published on 22 September about a Western Massachusetts lesbian bar that dropped its KN-95 mask requirement, triggering fierce backlash from former patrons, has gone viral and become one of the most-read stories in the publication’s history. The unexpected success has attracted Hollywood’s interest, with UTA (the talent agency representing the Globe)…
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Sharon Stone tells Sydney Sweeney to ‘take responsibility’ for provocative sports ad
Sydney Sweeney has faced criticism from Sharon Stone and several female athletes for a provocative advertisement for sports prediction platform Novig. Stone, appearing at a Variety event, stated that Sweeney must “take responsibility” for the ad, arguing that the campaign denigrates women’s sport to attract male attention for gambling purposes. The backlash highlights ongoing tensions…
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YouTube and Meta Reverse Course, Will Accept ‘Musk’ Trailer Ad
YouTube and Meta have reversed decisions to reject a paid trailer advert for Alex Gibney’s documentary Musk, following criticism that the platforms were suppressing material about Elon Musk. YouTube said its restriction was temporary and cleared the advert after review, while Meta described its rejection as an error and said the adverts would be restored.…
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England begin Nations League campaign against unbeaten Spain
England face Spain in the Nations League in a highly charged fixture, 73 days after their painful World Cup final defeat by Argentina. Although the match begins their preparation for Euro 2028, England manager Thomas Tuchel must also rebuild public confidence, making victory over the unbeaten world champions especially significant. England’s Nations League schedule includes…
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Texas’ Steve Sarkisan’s first interview with Holly Rowe goes off without a hitch after viral postgame incident
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s pre-match interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe passed without incident before the team’s game against Tennessee. The calm exchange contrasted with a viral post-match moment after Texas’s previous victory, when Sarkisian ran away as Rowe attempted to interview him, prompting widespread online attention. Rowe asked Sarkisian about preparing Arch Manning…
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TikTok agrees $100m Alabama settlement over alleged youth addiction
TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama at least $100 million and introduce new safeguards to settle allegations that it deliberately designed its platform to addict children and teenagers. The agreement avoids a trial and is TikTok’s first settlement with a US state over social-media addiction claims. The measures include a two-hour daily limit for underage…
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Rory Stewart reveals family’s reaction to viral Newsnight stare moment
Rory Stewart has described his family’s reaction to a viral moment during his appearance on BBC Newsnight. He spun in his chair and stared at fellow panellist Ailbhe Rea, prompting widespread attention online, although presenter Matt Chorley suggested Stewart was simply listening intently. Stewart said his family advised him to disable social media on his…
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‘Obsession,’ ‘Backrooms’ Ushering in Shift Similar to ‘Easy Rider’ in 1970s, Sony Pictures Classics Co-Chief Says
The success of Kane Parsons’ “Backrooms” and Curry Barker’s “Obsession”, made by young YouTube creators, is drawing Gen Z audiences back to cinemas and prompting Hollywood to reassess theatrical filmmaking. Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker compared their impact with the industry shift associated with “Easy Rider” in the 1970s, while Academy CEO Bill Kramer…
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Kane Parsons Recalls ‘Backrooms’ Trailer “Activated a Desire to See: How Did Hollywood Mess This Up?”
Kane Parsons said the success of A24’s Backrooms shows that young audiences remain eager to visit cinemas when offered fresh ideas rooted in online culture. Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival Summit, he argued that the film should not be confined to the horror label and that its appeal came partly from an established but…
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Academy CEO Bill Kramer Doubles Down on YouTube Move: “You’ll See a Very Different-Looking Oscars”
Academy CEO Bill Kramer has reaffirmed plans to move the Academy Awards to YouTube from 2029, describing the decision as forward-thinking rather than risky. The Oscars, which have been broadcast on ABC in the United States since 1976, will shift to YouTube’s platform starting with the 101st Academy Awards ceremony. Kramer emphasised that this move…