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Janet Jackson disclaims ‘manager,’ Erik Menendez slams Ryan Murphy’s Monsters

Janet Jackson denied issuing an apology through her reps over her recent statement questioning the racial identity of Democrat presidential bet Kamala Harris. The apology was published by Mo Elmasri, who identified himself as her manager and now asserts that he was "fired" for making the statement: “I no longer work for her. I was fired by Janet and Randy, after attempts to improve her image in front of public opinion and her fans, and this is something I do not deserve,” Elmasri explained.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s representatives denied ever having a connection with Elmasri. In fact, the singer has been managed by her brother Randy Jackson for years.

Erik Menendez, one of the brothers who were convicted for the murder of their parents, calls out Netflix and Ryan Murphy for their “inaccurate” and “dishonest portrayal” of their family in its true crime series Monsters. 

READ: https://x.com/TammiMenendez1/status/1836967482013229168

In a post on X, his wife Tammi Menendez shared a statement from Erik, which reads: “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward—back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”

— Beatriz Joyce

Sabrina Carpenter kicks off Short n’ Sweet tour in Columbus, Charli xcx and Troye take on MSG

Following the meteoric rise of her latest album, Short n' Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter hit the road to bring her music to fans worldwide. Carpenter launched the tour in Columbus, Ohio on Monday night filled with excitement and anticipation. As the tour continues through the United States this fall, fans can expect an unforgettable live experience from her first headlining arena tour. The European leg is slated to kick off in Dublin on March 3rd, 2025.

The Short n' Sweet tour features a dynamic setlist of 23 songs, including a surprise cover chosen through a playful on-stage game of "Spin the Bottle." While the entire Short n' Sweet album is performed in full, the set also includes beloved songs like Feather and Because I Liked A Boy.

One unexpected twist of this tour has been the absence of Carpenter's signature impromptu outros. Fans were surprised to find that Nonsense was performed without her usual witty ad-libs. Instead, Carpenter ingeniously recreated the moment by feigning shock as her microphone was cut off and she was lowered from the stage. A message on the arena's main screen then appeared, humorously claiming "technical difficulties."

The Sweat Tour, co-headlined by Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, continued its electrifying run with a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on September 23rd. This marked Charli's triumphant return to the Big Apple following her highly acclaimed Brat release show at the Brooklyn Paramount in June.

The dynamic duo delivered an unforgettable performance, sharing the stage and seamlessly transitioning between their sets — then bringing out Addison Rae for a performance of her viral track Diet Pepsi and Lorde for a surprise debut performance of the Girl, so confusing remix. Shygirl also made her appearance during Charli’s set for the remix of 365.

— Katie MacBeth

Joker: Folie à Deux premieres in London, Gaga releases companion album Harlequin

Ahead of its highly-anticipated October 4th release, the stars of Joker: Folie à Deux descended upon London's Leicester Square for a dazzling premiere. Lady Gaga, the film's enigmatic Harley Quinn, made a show-stopping entrance in a jaw-dropping floor-length red gown. At the premiere, Gaga talked a bit about her next album LG7 and her newly-released companion album for the film, Harlequin. The project, also known as LG6.5, dropped last night and consists of 13 tracks — including original songs Happy Mistake and Folie à Deux.

Chappell Roan addresses fake narratives on her political stance, Bella Hadid returns to the runway after two years

Chappell Roan shared a TikTok video this week where she revealed her decision to vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. However, she clarified that she wouldn't officially endorse the Democratic presidential candidate due to what she described as 'questionable policies from both parties -- including those that affect transgender & Palestinian people.'

@chappellroan

Im done talking about it. If you dont get what im saying from this, its a lost cause. And im not forcing you to agree with me. This is my ... See more

After a two-year hiatus, supermodel Bella Hadid made a stunning comeback to the Paris Fashion Week runway at the Saint Laurent show. Known for her captivating presence and collaborations with renowned designers like Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham, and Versace, Hadid's absence from the catwalks had been keenly felt by fans and industry insiders alike. The model had previously paused her fashion career to prioritize her health, openly discussing her ongoing battle with Lyme disease.

Hadid's return to the runway was nothing short of triumphant. She graced Anthony Vaccarello's burnished bronze set in a sleek black suit and tie, her hair pulled back in a chic ponytail and accessorized with vintage-inspired tinted glasses. The ensemble, reminiscent of the '70s wardrobe of Yves Saint Laurent himself, perfectly embodied the spirit of Vaccarello's collection. As Saint Laurent described, the modern woman's "artful sophistication coexists with instinctual desire," a sentiment that resonated deeply with Hadid's powerful presence on the runway.

— Katie MacBeth

Maggie Smith dies at 89

Legendary actress Dame Maggie Smith passed away early Friday morning at the age of 89. Her most famous roles included Downtown Abbey and, of course, the beloved Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter throughout the entire 8-movie series. Tributes from her co-stars began pouring in for the actress throughout the day, including Daniel Radcliffe who issued a statement saying: “She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny. I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie.”

Dame Maggie Smith’s passing comes exactly one year later (to the day) after the passing of her former Harry Potter co-star, Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore for six of the eight Harry Potter films.

Lana Del Rey gets married to alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrene

Lana Del Rey is a married woman! The singer tied the knot with alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrene on Thursday at a private ceremony in Louisiana. In photos obtained by Daily Mail late Thursday evening, the singer can be seen holding a bouquet of flowers and walking down the aisle with her father. PEOPLE Magazine later confirmed the marriage, reporting that they had obtained the marriage license three days earlier.

Best New Track

It’s a folie à deux. Lady Gaga released Harlequin, the companion album for the upcoming Joker: Folie à Deux in which she plays the notorious character Harley Quinn. The album is mainly covered songs of classic musical numbers with two new original songs by Gaga. (Happy Mistake and Folie à Deux) The orchestration is pretty spectacular all throughout the album, and the singer’s voice is, of course, upmost endearing bringing these songs to their new and wild life. For our favorite release this week, we’ll have to give it to her cover of Nat King Cole’s Smile. The original conveys such heartening sorrow, and Gaga successfully wraps this same valiance so well in the most wonderfully knotted suit tie. — Dawson There

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In other news…

• BABYMONSTER is set to release a full-length debut album this year.

• ILLIT reveals the title of their upcoming album: I’LL LIKE YOU. It will be out on October 21st.

• aespa also unveiled the release date for their highly-anticipated fifth mini album Whiplash. It will be available on all streaming platforms on October 21st. 

• In a post on X, Doja Cat debunked the engagement rumors sparked by fans who saw a ring on her finger at iHeartRadio Music Festival: “no, im not engaged its a David Yurman ring with no rocks in it.” 

• During Paramore’s set at iHeartRadio Music Festival, Hayley Williams took the time to urge their fans to vote and win the fight against Donald Trump: “Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color & the LGBTQ+ community. […] Do you want to live in a dictatorship? Well show up and vote!”

• Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are to star in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Robbie is set to star as Catherine Earnshaw, with Elordi as Heathcliff - the film is currently in pre-production and will shoot in the UK in 2025. 

• Chappell Roan has revealed that her new single will probably be a Country song, stating, ‘It’s like Shania Twain country, very camp’. 

• Performers have been announced for the 50th-anniversary special of the AMAs. Mariah Carey is set to perform a medley from her album, The Emancipation of Mimi, Stray Kids are set to honor the legacy of boy bands, and Jennifer Hudson is to pay tribute to Whitney Houston. RAYE and Green Day are amongst other performers.

• A Diddy docuseries executive produced by 50 Cent is in the works at Netflix, focusing on Diddy’s charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and violent abuse allegations.

• Billie Eilish is partnering with Google Maps for her upcoming tour to help fans travel sustainably to her shows. The feature is set to provide the most fuel-efficient routes to her venues and include plant-based restaurants.

• Dua Lipa is set to perform at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this October.