Grupo 5 chatted with Billboard’s Griselda Flores & Jessica Roiz on the red carpet of 2025 Billboard’s Latin Music Awards.
In the first Wicked film, fans of the musical got to see Elphaba as a child — and, as revealed in a new teaser, they’ll now get to see little Glinda when Wicked: For Good hits theaters in November.
In a preview shared by Universal Pictures on Wednesday (Oct. 22), an elementary-school-age Glinda appears in a dress in her signature pink shade while telling someone off camera, “I want to be magical — for real.”
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The video then shows scenes of adult Glinda — played by Ariana Grande — embracing her new role as Glinda the Good, serving as a spokes-witch of sorts for The Wizard of Oz and his agenda. We see her ceremoniously putting on her tiara and testing out her flying bubble, which we learn is operated by a pedal.
The young actress playing Grande’s mini-me in the second Wicked film is Scarlett Spears, whom the pop star shouted out in a sweet post on Instagram after the casting reveal. “my tiny girl in the bubble, played by the wonderful and talented @miss.scarlett.brielle,” Grande wrote, sharing a black-and-white photo of herself and Spears hugging while decked out in their Glinda gowns.
“thank you for your beautiful work and for allowing the world to understand our Galinda more deeply than ever before,” she added. “i adore you so.”
The additions of little Glinda and little Elphaba — who was played in the first Wicked by Karis Musongole — exemplify the advantages of adapting musicals for the big screen, with director Jon M. Chu getting the chance to add to the beloved characters’ origin stories. The films will also see the additions of two brand new songs — “No Place Like Home” sung by Cynthia Erivo and “The Girl in the Bubble” performed by Grande — composed by Stephen Schwartz, who crafted the music for the Wicked Broadway musical.
See young Glinda in the new Wicked: For Good teaser below.
Summer Walker has addressed the infidelity accusations surrounding her ex-boyfriend Lil Meech.
In a new interview on 360 With Speedy, host Speedy Morman asks Summer to briefly elaborate on the infamous “grocery” video that led to Walker and Lil Meech’s breakup back in 2023. The video in question involved leaked Ring cam footage that showed Meech helping a random woman bring groceries into her home. After some blowback, Meech claimed the woman was his cousin, which Walker has consistently pushed back on.
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When Speedy asked if that whole incident was “infuriating,” Summer agreed.
“It was. That was really ignorant,” Walker said. “But, hey, I was like, ‘That’s trifling as f—.’ I literally don’t even have to say anything on that because his life is terrible now, so yeah.”
Lil Meech’s cousin claim inspired dozens of “groceries” memes on the Internet, which Walker referenced in a promotional clip for her forthcoming album, Finally Over It. The trailer saw the Grammy-nominated singer linked up to a lie detector test, answering a series of “yes” or “no” questions.
“Was it his cousin’s groceries?” the polygraph examiner asked. Summer laughed in response.
“Hell nah, it was not his cousin’s groceries,” she replied. The examiner determined her response to be “truthful.”
Elsewhere in the trailer, Walker confirmed that her new album would have more than 12 tracks and that Latto would be a featured guest. The album drops Nov. 14.
Check out her full interview with Speedy Morman below.
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Jelly Roll and HEYDUDE are back with a limited-edition Bradley boot. Teaming up for another collab, the shoe features black-suede, a signature branded skull-printed upper, elastic laces and a new “chain-breaking” logo. But just like their prior Wally sneaker release, the new Jelly Roll Bradley boot will most likely sell out fast.
Jelly and HEYDUDE initially teamed up last October to release a limited-edition Wally Slip Canvas, inspired by his most recent album, Beautifully Broken. The collab was an instant hit and sold out in under a minute. Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for the next release between the two, and it’s finally here. Thankfully, HEYDUDE restocked the collab on their website here, but it sold out again. Act quickly, because this new boot will go fast as well.
Described by HEYDUDE as “even more intricate” than the debut shoe, this time around, the collab includes a new tan colorway alongside the popular monochromatic black suede model. Instead of an ink-inspired design, the latest boot highlights an allover print skull design. The boot also features elastic laces, the brands signature easy-on system, a leather heel and toe tip and a water repellant resistance to protect the suede body. Shop both colorways below.
If the latest Jelly Roll x HEYDUDE collab sells out again, here are a few alternative shoes worth shopping on the HEYDUDE website and below.
Looking for a durable everyday shoe? The Wally Work Classic is a workhorse featuring a water repellent upper and slip-resistant tread. Add on its trendy faux leather body, and the shoe is ready for anything the day throws at you.
A go-with-everything classic is one purchase away. These Funk Mono shoes are made with a polyester knit fabric that’s stretchy, breathable and comfy for a full day of walking.
If you want your shoe to feel like a cloud, the stretch sox shoe is for you. These include the brand’s signature stretch mesh material, which will provide an easy slip-on feeling, comfort and lightness from top to bottom.
Spring wardrobe, meet the Wally Stretch Canvas. Show off your ankles this season with these low-top shoes featuring easy-on laces and a cushioned ankle collar.
HEYDUDE Wally Work CE Slip Resistant Wide Shoe
Do you have a wide foot? No worries, the Wally Work CE Xtra Wide shoe will keep those feet snug and cozy. These also include a water-repellent and slip-resistant getup for maximum durability.
Megan Thee Stallion is enjoying her WAG era. Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks kicked off the NBA season on Wednesday night (Oct. 22) against the San Antonio Spurs and Megan was courtside to cheer on her boo.
The Houston Hottie also had a gift for Thompson, who’s entering his 15th season in the NBA, as she designed Klay a nautical-themed chain with an icy boat steering wheel pendant.
Unfortunately for Klay, the Mavericks fell short in their season debut against the San Antonio Spurs. Thompson’s 10 points weren’t enough as they lost 125-92 in the home opener.
Following the contest, Megan was spotted in the arena tunnels holding hands and comforting Thompson as he fulfilled his post-game duties. The rapper even posted a handful of photos to her Instagram on Thursday (Oct. 23) with Thompson and recapping her night at the American Airlines Center.
After going public with their relationship in July, Meg’s bringing her lover era to the studio, as she’s set to release her “Lover Girl” single on Friday (Oct. 24). It’s Megan’s first track since “Whenever,” which arrived in April.
Don’t be surprised to see Megan Thee Stallion courtside a ton this season, and her next opportunity comes when the Washington Wizards visit Dallas on Friday night (Oct. 24), as the team looks to notch its first win of the season.
Megan will be celebrating with fans this spooky season with the return of her Hottieween party, which is set to take over Humble, Texas, on Halloween, where costumes will be mandatory and those attending must be at least 21 years old.
Gains from self-paying subscribers almost equally offset losses from partnerships as French music streaming company Deezer’s revenue fell 0.9% to 131.4 million euros ($154 million) in the third quarter, the company announced Thursday (Oct. 23).
“Subscriber growth in France has accelerated for a third consecutive quarter, confirming the positive impact of our differentiation initiatives in our home market,” CEO Alexis Lanternier said in a statement. “In the rest of the world, subscription numbers in the Direct segment are also picking up pace, reflecting the quality of our service and the appeal of our brand as we champion transparency and fairness in music streaming.
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Revenue from partnerships fell 12.6% to 35.6 million euros ($42 million) and subscribers from these partnerships dropped 24.5% from the prior-year quarter. Deezer powers music streaming platforms for numerous companies globally and counts these partnership subscribers separately from subscribers who pay directly. The company attributed the loss in its partnerships business to “the residual impact” of a business model shift by Mercado Libre, a Latin America e-commerce company that partnered with Deezer in 2023. A focus on higher average revenue per user (ARPU) also contributed to the decline in partnership subscribers, the company said.
Direct subscribers grew in number to 5.5 million, up nearly 10%, and direct subscription revenue increased 1.6% to 87.9 million euros ($103 million). France accounted for 3.7 million of those direct subscribers, an 11.7% increase from the prior-year period, which the company attributed to “good performance” of family plans. Direct subscribers from the rest of the world rose 6.1% to 1.8 million.
ARPU from direct subscribers fell nearly 5% to 5.4 euros ($6.31) per month. Partnership ARPU rose 6% to 3.1 euros ($3.62) per month.
Other revenue, which consists of advertising and ancillary revenue, rose 17.4% to 7.9 million euros ($9.2 million). Deezer said the improvement “mainly reflected the performance of the white labelling solutions for hardware / media partners.”
While relatively small compared to the likes of Spotify and Apple Music, Deezer has attempted to separate itself from its competitors by making combating AI music a business priority. In September, the company revealed that it detected the delivery of over 30,000 fully AI-generated tracks each day. That accounts for 28% of all daily track uploads, up from 18% in April and 10% in January. These fully AI-generated tracks are eliminated from Deezer’s algorithmic recommendations and excluded from editorial playlists.
Looking ahead, Deezer confirmed its full-year guidance in which it expects positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and positive free cash flow for the second consecutive year.
The legal battle between A$AP Relli and A$AP Rocky is continuing on despite Rocky’s acquittal on charges of shooting his former friend and associate this past February.
On Thursday (Oct. 23), a judge in Los Angeles refused to throw out the civil defamation lawsuit brought by Relli (Terrell Ephron) stemming from the alleged altercation with Rocky (Rakim Mayers) near a Hollywood hotel in 2021.
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Relli alleges that Rocky fired a handgun at him twice during their argument, while Rocky maintains that the “weapon” was a prop gun filled with blanks. Prosecutors charged Rocky with two felony assault counts in 2022, but he was acquitted of both criminal charges following a sensational trial this year.
Still, Relli is continuing to claim that Rocky shot him in a civil lawsuit that he brought around the same time as his former A$AP Mob collaborator’s arrest. That case, in which Relli seeks financial damages from Rocky for assault, battery and emotional distress, is scheduled to go to trial in January.
Relli separately brought a defamation lawsuit in 2023 against both Rocky and his criminal defense lawyer, Joe Tacopina. Relli says the duo smeared his name when Tacopina gave press interviews calling Relli’s shooting claims “extortion” and a “get-rich-quick-scheme.”
Rocky and Tacopina sought to get the defamation suit thrown out under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which guards against frivolous litigation that threatens free speech. But Judge Randolph M. Hammock ruled Thursday that Relli’s slander claims don’t meet this standard for dismissal.
Judge Hammock said Rocky and Tacopina cannot rely on a principle known as the litigation privilege, which provides a complete free speech shield for statements made in court proceedings, because the lawyer’s media interviews were given “to shape the public opinion” rather than advance any legal position. The judge also determined that Relli’s defamation claim is not “meritless” under the anti-SLAPP guardrails.
“For purposes of this motion, plaintiff has established all elements of his defamation claims,” wrote the judge. “Plaintiff submits evidence that Tacopina published statements to media outlets, in essence contending that plaintiff fabricated the incident with Mayers then filed the lawsuit to force a payout.”
“Plaintiff refutes this in his declaration, as he attests that Mayers fired a handgun and struck him in the hand,” continues Judge Hammock’s decision. “He establishes that Tacopina’s statements were defamatory, as they labeled Ephron a liar and extortionist. Finally, Ephron established that these statements caused him damages. For purposes of this motion, plaintiff has met his burden.”
Relli has not actually won on any defamation claims yet, but the lawsuit moved past a major obstacle in Thursday’s ruling. Now, the matter will continue forward through evidence discovery and toward a possible trial.
Relli’s lawyers declined to comment on Thursday. Reps for Rocky and Tacopina did not immediately return requests for comment.
A Washington, D.C., man who was detained after playing the Evil Empire music from Star Wars to protest National Guard troops is suing the government for violating his constitutional rights.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday (Oct. 23), Sam O’Hara claims that he was wrongfully handcuffed and detained for playing “The Imperial March” — John Williams’ iconic villain music from the sci-fi franchise — as he recorded videos of the troops that he later posted to TikTok.
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The case, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), claims the brief detention violated O’Hara’s right to peacefully protest under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.
“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” the ACLU wrote, playing on the famed opening text from Star Wars. “But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests.”
“The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme),” written by Williams, first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, the 1980 sequel to the original Star Wars. The famed composer’s score for the film reached the No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 in July 1980, eventually spending 28 weeks on the chart.
“In the Star Wars franchise, The Imperial March is the music that plays when Darth Vader or other dark forces enter a scene or succeed in their dastardly plans,” O’Hara’s lawyers write. “It is also the soundtrack of Sam O’Hara’s protest against the National Guard deployment in D.C.”
President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., in August and ordered the takeover of law enforcement in the city, with National Guard troops arriving in the capital shortly thereafter. The move, along with other military deployments to American cities, has been deeply controversial and led to widespread protests.
O’Hara, who was “deeply concerned about the normalization of troops patrolling D.C. neighborhoods,” began protesting their presence in his city by walking behind them as they marched through the streets — and by playing a score recognized globally as a theme for tyranny.
“Using his phone and sometimes a small speaker, he played The Imperial March as he walked, keeping the music at a volume that was audible but not blaring,” the ACLU’s lawyers write. “Mr. O’Hara recorded the encounters and posted the videos on his TikTok account, where millions of people have viewed them.”
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According to O’Hara, most National Guardsmen “ignored Mr. O’Hara, and a few smiled or laughed,” but one was “not amused by this satire.” The trooper, Sgt. Devon Beck, allegedly turned around and threatened to call in local police to “handle” him if he kept playing the song. When O’Hara kept going, he says Metropolitan Police Department officers quickly arrived and put him in cuffs, shutting down his protest.
O’Hara says the cuffs were placed so tightly that they left marks on his wrists, and were not loosened after he complained. He also says his detention was “needlessly” prolonged before he was eventually released 15 to 20 minutes later.
In technical terms, the lawsuit names Beck, four D.C. police officers, and the D.C. District Attorney as defendants. It accuses them of violating both the First Amendment and the Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Taylor Swift is keeping her giving streak going by donating a life-changing chunk of change to Lilah, a 2-year-old Swiftie who’s battling brain cancer.
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The pop star quietly contributed $100k to a GoFundMe page raising money for the toddler and her family as Lilah undergoes treatment for “a very rare aggressive form of brain cancer” with only “58 documented cases in the U.S. last year,” according to the fundraiser’s description. Shortly before she received the diagnosis, doctors had removed a mass that turned out to be a stage 4 tumor in her brain.
Along with her donation, Swift wrote, “Sending the biggest hug to my friend, Lilah! Love, Taylor.”
After noticing that the 14-time Grammy winner had donated, a wave of Swifties also joined the cause, leaving $13 contributions and adding supportive messages to Lilah inspired by Swift’s lyrics. “We protect the family,” one person wrote, quoting the singer’s The Life of a Showgirl track “Father Figure.”
“Lilah – Keep dancing through the lightning strikes until your sky is opalite!” another donor commented, referencing Showgirl‘s “Opalite.” “All of us Swifties are [rooting] for you.”
What makes the outpouring of love for Lilah even sweeter is how the little girl’s mom, Katelynn, has previously posted about how much her daughter loves Swift. “Lilah loves Taylor’s music and during her cancer treatment she always found joy in it,” Katelynn wrote on TikTok earlier in October, noting that Lilah thinks of Swift as her “friend.”
Swift is known for shelling out donations to people in need, and in June, she visited patients in a children’s hospital in Florida. Lilah’s treatment also isn’t the first cause the Eras Tour headliner has inspired fans to support. This past month, Swifties helped raise $2 million for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s otter conservation efforts after Swift sported one of the organization’s vintage T-shirts.
Iron Maiden have announced the dates for the North American leg of their Run For Your Lives World Tour, and they’re bringing Megadeth and Anthrax along for the ride.
Starting on Aug. 29, 2026, Iron Maiden will kick off their North American leg at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. For all of September the band will then head to a slew of massive arenas including Boston’s TD Garden, Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium and Louisville’s Louder Than Life Festival.
In a statement shared with Billboard, Iron Maiden’s bassist Steve Harris said: “We are greatly looking forward to bringing this Run For Your Lives World Tour to North America and hope the fans enjoy seeing the show and hearing the set list as much as we do playing it. It’s an added bonus to have a few of our good friends on the tour with us.”
He continued, “Megadeth are playing all the shows and it’s an honour to have them join us on their last ever tour. We also have Anthrax with us on the bigger shows, we had a great time with them when they came out with us on Ed Force One around the world in 2016. We’re delighted to have both bands with us for this tour and know our fans will enjoy seeing them.”
Bruce Dickinson added in his own statement: “This whole tour has been such great fun. I really enjoy belting out all these great old songs, and the whole band are loving playing them too! We’ve got all the big ones from that early period including Hallowed, Run To The Hills, Trooper, Number Of The Beast, Killers, Powerslave, 2 Minutes… and some of them we haven’t played in the US for over 20 years!! Plus there’s some real epics including my particular favourite ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and Seventh Son… We are doing them all and more. I mean, who wouldn’t for a 50th birthday party!”
The upcoming Run for Your Lives World Tour will be Iron Maiden’s first performances since wrapping their The Future Past Tour in São Paulo, Brazil last December. That tour was the last to feature drummer Nicko McBrain, who announced his “decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle.” This new tour will see the debut of drummer Simon Dawson.
Check out the full list of dates below.
