There’s a lengthy list of musicians who have taken issue with Donald Trump over his presidential campaigns using their songs — and it only continues to grow. Dozens of artists and bands, from ABBA and Elton John to Rihanna and Paul McCartney, have publicly condemned Donald Trump since 2015 for playing their songs at his events and rallies…
Benjamin Leatherman
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It was a rapture and a revelation all at the same time.
En masse, celebrity stan accounts posted tearful farewells over the weekend as X was suspended in Brazil amid a showdown between Elon Musk and a Supreme Court justice. Many of their hundreds of thousands of followers learned only then that their favorite celebrity’s most dedicated English-language fan accounts had actually been run by Brazilians.
It shouldn’t have necessarily been a surprise — “Come to Brazil” is a stalwart meme. Brazil’s CCXP bills itself as the Americas’ largest comic-con, drawing A-list Hollywood talent. The stars of the long-ended show “Everybody Hates Chris” are beloved. Brazil does fandom like no other, the avalanche of goodbyes unearthing a wide array of accounts for Taylor Swift, C-list celebrities and the long-dead alike.
“I came to realize how strong our digital power is in this last minute, because we tweet in English so people don’t know that we are Brazilians. But we are a lot, we are everywhere,” said Aianne Amado, a University of Sao Paulo doctoral candidate who studies Brazilian fandoms. “I think that we will be missed and it’s not going to be the same network.”
Paola Strabelli didn’t care much for reading. A few years ago, though, she saw “Vita and Virginia” and became entranced — not with its lead actors, but with Virginia Woolf herself.
She started to read Woolf voraciously, and created @botvirginia to share Woolf’s quotes, amassing 115,000 followers.
Strabelli, 26, told The Associated Press that, growing up, she didn’t have many friends. In some ways, she said, her life began with online fandom — first, through Katy Perry and the show “Once Upon A Time,” and then Woolf. Online friendships translated into real life, and, for a year, she dated a girl she met through their shared passion.
The law student behind @agron_updates, dedicated to “Glee” actor Dianna Agron, never reckoned on disclosing her nationality. The 32-year-old from Brazil’s center-west region requested anonymity for privacy, as she pursues government jobs. She was drawn to Agron because she thought the actor seemed “so kind.” By 2016, annoyed with how Agron’s fan accounts operated — cropping out boyfriends, for example — she co-founded an X account that grew to more than 7,600 followers.
All along, she’s been careful to maintain a separation between her own feelings and the account’s.
“Sometimes I will watch a movie and I think it’s terrible, but I’ll go on the account and say, ‘Guys, it’s amazing,’” she said. “I wasn’t hoping to have to come out as a Brazilian.”
Then there’s @21metgala, run by two 18-year-old college students, Maria and Tamara. In three years, it’s gained more than 175,000 followers and, unlike many stan accounts, covers general celebrity news (though they have a soft spot for Rihanna). Maria, who cited privacy in not wanting to publish her surname, said via WhatsApp that she was taken aback by the response to their departure.
“Most of our followers didn’t know we were Brazilian, so it was a huge shock when we announced it,” she wrote. Even Cardi B responded with distraught emojis.
Amado attributed Brazil’s fervor for foreign entertainment to both its colonial history and the country’s sheer diversity, noting its high consumption of Japanese otaku culture and its large population of Japanese descent.
Fandom can often be derided with a condescension that belies the sheer amount of work that goes into maintaining these accounts.
“At first, I thought that fans were crazy. And, like, psychologically, I don’t know, sick? … And now, I’ve come to see that it’s all about passion and effect and it’s a very human behavior. Everybody’s interested in something,” be it cooking or canines, Amado said. “But for some reason, when you’re interested in something in pop culture, people tend to think that is less than.”
An academic from Belo Horizonte, Samira Spolidorio has studied fansubbing — where devoted viewers come together to subtitle. She has a simple theory for why Brazilians are such engines of fandom, using a word that came up in interview after interview: Brazilians are just “passionate.” They’re also looking for a sense of belonging, she said.
Despite being grassroots efforts that drew no profit, fansubbing groups had “very strict rules” requiring volunteers to work overnight, Spolidorio said. A 40-minute episode required at least four people to subtitle and two to review — there were style guides, too.
That commitment can exact a price. Before X’s suspension, @agron_updates had an expiration date of Dec. 31. Running it was affecting its administrator’s entire life, even leading to a breakup.
“One of the reasons was I was always on the phone, always checking for content,” she told the AP. “It’s kind of like a drug, it seizes something in your brain. You want to be first to post it.”
“I’ve been unemployed for the past two years, and I have to study, I have to do something with my life,” she added. “There’s no way I can keep my life revolving around keeping a Twitter account for someone who — I love Dianna, but she doesn’t work.”
In the past week, X alternative Bluesky has boosted its base by one-third, adding 2 million users, CEO Jay Graber told the AP. Around 90% are Brazilian and most activity is in Portuguese, she said Monday.
Brazilians using virtual private networks to bypass the suspension face steep fines, but @21metgala has been able to continue posting sporadically.
“Some Wi-Fi providers haven’t fully blocked access yet, but it’s very unstable,” Maria wrote Monday. While they are on other platforms, @21metgala will certainly be back if X is unsuspended.
“Twitter was faster for posting photos, and Bluesky doesn’t allow video posts yet, which is a bit of a challenge. We’re not huge fans of Instagram because accounts can be easily taken down due to copyright issues,” she wrote. (Video is coming to Bluesky, Graber says, “definitely sooner than months.”)
For CCXP, the suspension doesn’t pose much of a threat to the convention’s success. In a statement, vice president for content Beto Fabri said they’d already “focused on valuing and building relationships with the geek community” on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and their own platforms.
Not everyone plans to pivot. Despite having nearly 16,000 followers at @GALITZINEFOX, 23-year-old Alana Souza is relatively new to stanning actor Nicholas Galitzine. The advertising student from Recife became devoted after watching “Red, White & Royal Blue” last year. Given the amount of time she’s spent on X, she’s doesn’t want to start over.
“If X doesn’t get unsuspended in Brazil then that’s gonna be the end of it,” she wrote in an email, later adding that her absence “gives me the feeling of being disconnected from what’s going on in the world.”
Since Musk bought X, Strabelli has found it less fun. But it still had a cachet that, for her, can’t be replicated. While she appreciates Instagram for letting her start over — she can reuse quotes instead of scouring the internet for lesser-known scraps of Woolf’s writing — she finds it impersonal. There are many things she will miss about X, including her “gringo friends that are tweeting.”
“I felt famous and wanted,” she said. “And when I saw the replies, I don’t know, I’m not going to lie, this ego bump was really nice.”
Sen reported from New York. Associated Press journalist David Biller contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro.
Detroit will soon welcome Michigan’s first Savage X Fenty store, the globally renowned lingerie and apparel brand by singer and businesswoman Rihanna known for “championing inclusivity, fearlessness, and confidence.”
The new store will be located at 1442 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, a space owned by Bedrock, near other downtown shopping spots like H&M, Nike, and Lululemon.
First announced in 2022, the store was originally planned to open in 2023. While late, it’s now finally time. Savage X Fenty is hosting a grand opening celebration on Friday, Aug. 30, starting at 10 a.m., featuring special giveaways, a live DJ, and light refreshments.
The store will offer a range of styles made for all, including lingerie, lounge, sleepwear, and sport, with sizes ranging from XS-4X.
“Through accessibility and convenience, we want to ensure that Savage X Fenty’s customers can shop and explore the brand on their own terms,” Vanessa Wallace, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, said in a press release. “With our new store, we hope to reach all of Detroit and provide more opportunities to engage with our products firsthand.”
The Detroit location will be the third Savage X Fenty store to feature the brand’s new rebrand design concept. By the end of 2024, Savage X Fenty will have a total of 14 stores across the U.S.
“The addition of Savage X Fenty to the Bedrock portfolio is an important step in our ongoing mission to cultivate a vibrant downtown for Detroit residents and visitors, full of destination shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences,” Bedrock COO Ivy Greaner said. “Detroit is a city known for its culture, experience, and art, so it makes perfect sense why a cutting-edge brand such as Savage X Fenty chose downtown Detroit for its first Michigan storefront; both the globally recognized brand and our city are known for bold fashion, ingenuity, and creativity.”
Layla McMurtrie
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawyers for The-Dream, a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, are seeking the dismissal of a woman’s lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault and other abuse.
The producer, whose legal name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, was a writer and producer on huge hits including Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” He has denied allegations of sexual assault, rape and other abuse made in a June lawsuit by singer Chanaaz Mangroe.
Gesteelde-Diamant’s lawyers want the suit to be thrown out entirely, writing in their motion filed Friday in a Los Angeles federal court that Mangroe’s lawyers are “using the judicial system to propagate a false and defamatory narrative about Diamant, a highly respected Black musician in the arts industry, for their own financial gain and to his extreme detriment.”
Mangroe, who performed under the stage name Channii Monroe, alleged in the June lawsuit that Gesteelde-Diamant lured her into “an abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship filled with physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation” after she left her native Netherlands for the U.S. with hopes of making it big as a singer.
The motion also aims to dismiss or, alternatively, strike the lawsuit’s rape claim, on technical grounds.
In a statement Friday, Desirée F. Moore, who is representing Gesteelde-Diamant and his company, argued the lawsuit is a “shotgun pleading,” which she says is grounds for dismissal because it doesn’t specify specific factual allegations against each defendant.
Meredith Firetog, one of the lawyers representing Mangroe, said in an email to The Associated Press Friday that the arguments made in the motion to dismiss are “wholly unpersuasive.”
“We look forward to opposing the motions” and proceeding with the case, Firetog said.
If the case isn’t dismissed, Gesteelde-Diamant’s lawyers want a judge to strike portions of the complaint they deemed “impermissibly immaterial, impertinent, and scandalous material.” They also want the company he co-owns, Contra Paris, LLC, dismissed because it primarily does business in Atlanta and is registered in Delaware.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Mangroe has.
With the wrap up of the 2024 Paris Olympics, no more
Love Island USA, and last year’s Writers’ Strike finally catching up to us, there’s quite literally nothing left to watch on television these days. I’ve rewatched all the reality TV shows we know and love, I’m caught up on everything, and I’m fresh out of fresh content.
Which means I still have my eye on
the Olympics…because it hasn’t been that long, right? With the closing ceremonies on Sunday, August 11, it’s only been a few, endless days without a meme-able moment from our favorite world-class athletes.
And at the forefront of Olympic stardom is Team USA Gymnastics. Headed by one-of-one Simone Biles, the gymnastics team is generationally talented. They’re always a favorite to watch, especially when GOAT Biles is performing.
But it’s not just Biles who has stolen the world’s hearts…Olympic athletes like Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey are all beloved names. Let’s not forget Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade who rose into view as she killed her routines.
The women gymnasts are a marvel who have overcome countless hurdles (literally) to get here…so it’s no wonder why we’re thrilled by them. But there’s something else I noticed: their makeup is always flawless.
Being an athletic performer, you need a makeup routine that will keep your face in place regardless of what you’re doing…even if it’s excelling on the balance beam or during a vault routine.
And forget about Simone Biles’ iconic floor routine…I want to talk about her makeup routine. It looks like something that Patrick Ta crafted. And, thanks to the live coverage of the Olympics, we now have an idea of what magical potions Simone Biles uses to keep her makeup firmly in place…no matter what.
@mangomoniica Simone Biles touching up her olympic makeup ✨❤️ @Fenty Beauty @Rihanna #fentybeauty #fentybeautyinvisimatte #transluscentpowder ♬ original sound – Monica
What tipped me off immediately was a photo of Simone standing on the sideline before her routine using the Fenty Invisi-Matte powder. And while it most likely wasn’t a sponsored ad, the product placement couldn’t have been more efficacious.
Fenty Invisi-Matte powder went viral during
Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance, where she quickly flashed the product and went right on singing. It was an effortless ad, but effective nonetheless.
But beyond the celeb endorsements, the Invisi-Matte powder is terrific for on-the-go sweat control and keeping your makeup in place. One of my favorites for summer and vacation, the Fenty powder is compact and packs a punch.
@westmanatelier Hello cheekbones! Undetectable contour 101 starring Face Trace with @maryphillips 💖 #westmanatelier #contour #maryphillips ♬ original sound – Westman-Atelier
Westman Atelier is worth the price, even if it is a titch pricier. It’s a beloved brand by makeup artists and professionals everywhere. With celeb MUA’s like Mary Phillips often using their stunning sticks.
Simone Biles is no different. Although she uses a lot of
Fenty products — including their foundation and mascara — she leans towards Westman when it comes to blush.
While Simone combines two of the shades for a customizable shade, every hue is packed with pigment and a light shimmer.
In her video with
Vogue, Biles gravitates towards this Pat McGrath palette riddled with bronzy shades that complement any eye color. I’ve tried hundreds of eyeshadow palettes over the span of my lifetime and I have to give Pat McGrath her flowers.
The formula is luxurious, the palette is pigmented, and there’s a good mix of matte and shimmer shades for customizable eyes. It’s everything you need in one palette, with shades that make for both daytime and nighttime looks.
I prefer Pat McGrath over most makeup brands despite the extra cost…we all know how frustrating it can be to spend money on an eyeshadow palette and then it barely shows — or stays — on your lid. Investing in a rich palette that’s backed by rave reviews is worth it.
You
had to know that Simone Biles-Owens makeup was set in stone. After intense demand celebrity makeup artist Alayza Casey revealed Biles’ makeup routine…and to no one’s surprise, there’s a lot of setting spray involved.
Casey used three sprays on Biles’ face: the emblematic
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Spray, Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray, and Kryolan Fixing Spray.
Biles is doing a lot of movement and definitely breaking a sweat, so the makeup simply must stay in place…and instead of championing the setting powder, Casey opts for multiple long-lasting setting sprays that hold your makeup in place all day (no matter what.)
@cleangirlhacks Flawless skin 101. #skincare101 #skintok#beautysecrets #selfcareroutine #cleangirl #cleangirlmakeup #haileybieber #clearskin #clearskincheck #clearskinroutine #clearskinhacks #antiaging #antiagingskincare ♬ original sound – Clean Girl Hacks
This is a fan favorite. Everyone who has used this concealer —
moi aussi — has fallen in love with it. I adore how creamy the formula is while still remaining dewy and hydrating.
It gives your under eyes the recharge and lift you need without catching up on all that sleep you’re missing out on. It’s high coverage and easily blendable, with minimal creasing throughout the application.
Seriously, one of the best concealers on the market. Hourglass gets it right every time.
Huda Beauty is known for their lip products, and Casey loves to use the “Rich Brown” shade on Biles. These lip liners are no joke — locking in your lips all day long and never budging.
Yes, these liners withstand sit-down dinners, nights out grabbing drinks with your friends — even dabbing your lips with a napkin won’t budge your liner. It may sound too good to be true, but I’m not being paid to say this — promise.
The Huda Beauty lip products have been tested by millions of people who absolutely love it just the same…But if it’s good enough for Simone, it’s good enough for us.
Jai Phillips
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MUMBAI – The youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend early Saturday in what many dubbed the wedding of the year, attended by global celebrities, business tycoons and politicians, highlighting the billionaire’s staggering wealth and rising clout.
The wedding rituals, including exchanging garlands by the couple and walking around the sacred fire, began Friday and were completed past midnight.
The celebrations of Anant Ambani marrying Radhika Merchant took place at the Ambani-owned Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai and the family home. The marriage culminated months of wedding events that featured performances by pop stars including Rihanna and Justin Bieber.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a reception organized by the Ambanis on Saturday evening.
The Ambanis hosted a “blessing ceremony’’ for friends and family members to meet the couple and wish them a happy married life.
India Today television news channel reported that the newlyweds touched Modi’s feet as a show of respect and sought his blessings.
The four-day wedding celebrations began Friday with the traditional Hindu wedding ceremony and will be followed by a grand reception to run through the weekend. The guest list includes former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson; John Kerry, the former U.S. special envoy for climate, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser; and Adele, Lana Del Rey, Drake and David Beckham, according to local media. The Ambani family did not confirm the guest list.
Television news channels showed the arrivals of celebrities like Kim Kardashian, who was dressed in red, and professional wrestler and Hollywood actor John Cena.
Kardashian sisters Kim and Khloé took a ride in a motorized rickshaw through bustling Mumbai streets Friday before joining the wedding ceremonies, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
International guests wore traditional clothes by major Indian fashion designers. They put on embroidered sherwanis — long-sleeved outer coats worn by men in South Asia. Cena came in a sky-blue sherwani and white pants. Nick Jonas wore a pink sherwani and white pants.
Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor attended the wedding and danced to popular Hindi movie songs. Indian cricketers, including icons Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, were among the invitees.
Police imposed traffic diversions around the wedding venue from Friday to Monday to handle the influx of guests who flew to Mumbai, where heavy monsoon rains have caused flooding and flight disruptions for the past week.
The extravaganza and the display of opulence that comes with the wedding have led many to raise questions about rising inequality in India, where the gap between rich and poor is growing. The event has also sparked anger among some Mumbai residents, who say they are struggling with snarled traffic.
“It affects our earnings. I don’t care much about the wedding,” said Vikram, a taxi driver who uses only one name.
The father of the groom, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s ninth-richest man, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is the richest person in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate reporting over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests that include petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail.
The Ambani family owns, among other assets, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building contains three helipads, a 160-car garage and a private movie theater.
The groom, 29-year-old Anant, oversees the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a 3,000-acre (about 1,200-hectare) animal rescue center in Gujarat state’s Jamnagar, the family’s hometown.
The bride, Radhika Merchant, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue.
Ambani’s critics say his company has relied on political connections during Congress Party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule after 2014.
The Ambani family’s pre-wedding celebrations have been lavish and star-studded from the start.
In March, they threw a three-day prenuptial bash for Anant that had 1,200 guests, including former world leaders, tech tycoons and Bollywood megastars, and performances by Rihanna, Akon and Diljit Dosanjh, a Punjabi singer who shot to international fame when he performed at Coachella. The event was also attended by tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
It was the start of lavish, months-long pre-wedding celebrations that grabbed headlines and set off a social media frenzy.
In May, the family took guests on a three-day cruise from Italy to France, which included Katy Perry singing her hit song “Firework” and a performance by Pitbull, according to media reports.
The family also organized a mass wedding for more than 50 underprivileged couples on July 2 as part of the celebrations.
Last week, Justin Bieber performed for hundreds of guests at a pre-wedding concert that included performances by Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh and Salman Khan.
Ambani also made headlines in 2018, when Beyoncé performed at pre-wedding festivities for his daughter. Former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry were among those who rubbed shoulders with Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars in the western Indian city of Udaipur.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Rafiq Maqbool And Rajanish Kakade, Associated Press
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We’ve all seen the video by now — Rihanna’s dancing in a hotel room, singing along with GloRilla’s “TGIF” to a confused-looking A$AP Rocky. “Where my drink at?” is Rocky’s response (his comedic timing is everything — Can he do it all?) “I’m too old for this sh*t.” We probably all resonate with the comments like: “This the closest we going to get to an album,” or “good enough. Put this on Spotify.”
Well, in that video, you might have missed one detail: they’re both wearing American Sabotage. Rihanna’s t-shirt, the camo jacket she’s carrying, the deconstructed suit A$AP’s wearing — they’re all designed by Rocky. The video has been watched over 165 Million times and has over 10.3 Million likes. Talk about free advertising for your brand on the back of its headline-grabbing runway debut.
So while I’m not holding out much hope that Rihanna will in fact make this her return to music, I’m still intrigued by the next cultural contribution from America’s first fashion family. Here’s everything you need to know about American Sabotage and why it’s more than just another celebrity brand. It’s a reflection of Rocky’s own fashion roots and Black culture in general, playing out on the world fashion stage.
In 2013, A$AP Rocky released the song “
Fashion Killa” as a single for the album Long.Live.A$AP. The song is certified Platinum and its sentiment is certified true: A$AP Rocky really is a fashion killer. From headline-grabbing street style to luxury partnerships and his signature braids — cornrows are to Pretty Flacko what that bob is to Anna Wintour — A$AP Rocky has what all the greats have: a distinctive personal style and astonishing taste. He’s not a trend-follower, he’s a trendsetter. And he’s Pretty Flacko, he knows he’ll look good in whatever he wears. While that could be an excuse to do the bare minimum, he takes pride in his appearance and takes as many risks in his fashion as he does as a producer. Clearly, it works out. People have been calling him the male Rihanna for years — no wonder he landed Rihanna herself. When it comes to fashion, they match each other’s freak.
So it’s no surprise that A$AP Rocky — just like Rihanna — has launched a luxury fashion brand. It feels so overdue that I can’t help but wonder if Rihanna is the one who told him to lock in. It’s been years since we got a full Rocky album — he and RiRi also match each other’s freak in keeping fans waiting. He’s been working on ventures like his alcohol label and brand partnerships. But he’s a father and the cost of childcare is high! Rihanna may be a billionaire but these prices aren’t a joke. My bet it that Ms. Fenty told her man to clock into the locked-in factory and even gave him advice on how to start a brand.
After all, she launched her own luxury brand alongside LVMH and her marketing for Savage Fenty is responsible for its reign over Victoria’s Secret. And don’t even get me started on Fenty Beauty and Fentry Skin. When it comes to D2C e-commerce, Rihanna has done
more than enough. She’s changed the game for inclusivity, diversity, and creativity. Now, with American Sabotage, it looks like A$AP Rocky aims to do the same.
Rocky’s been teasing American Sabotage for a while. An extension of his creative agency,
AWGE (if you’ve listened to his music, you’ve heard the intro “it’s AWGE sh*t” blast through your speakers). American Sabotage seemed, at first, like it might just be a merch collection. Some also speculated, or hoped, that it might even have something to do with his forthcoming album. But it seems it’s so much more.
Flacko first teased the collection on stage at Rolling Loud last year. He wore a bulletproof vest — a la BROCKHAMPTON — that read: “Don’t Be Dumb” — something I personally need to hear more often than I like to admit. Turns out, the phrase is more than a reminder to me, specifically. It’s one of the rumored titles of his forthcoming album.
To complete the look, he wore strategically sagged jeans, showing off a stack of layered plaid boxer shorts, a styling hack the LES fashion girlies have already picked up. And if you’re afraid of outfit-repeating, don’t be. Our very own Pretty Flacko wore the same outfit formula at Coachella 2024. The only difference: this time, his bulletproof vest was replaced with an American Saborage logo tees.
This stylish, slow reveal culminated in the brand’s first drop. What we first assumed to be merch turned out to be a preview of a brand way bigger than the “Don’t Be Dumb” tees — although those sold out immediately. Despite the price tag, the boxer-stacked jeans also sold out instantaneously, even though they run buyers $600.
But this wasn’t just a fashion statement, it was a political one. The collection was titled: “Stop the sag,” referencing respectability politics often weaponized against Black people. This is a notable difference from the resurgence of the “old money” style, which glorifies an exclusive aesthetic worn by an exclusive group. Instead, he’s celebrating the parts of Black culture that are often denigrated, while subverting fashion expectations. And despite the pervasiveness of so-called stealth wealth, people are responding.
Call it proof of concept, but the instant frenzy around the quiet drop set the stage for American Sabotage’s blazing debut. A$AP had proved that the people had an appetite for American sabotage — even before they understood its complexity. And now that we have the full picture, we can safely say that he’s coming to change the fashion game and bring back substance in style.
In 1973, American and French designers held a benefit show “battle” at the
Palace of Versailles for the crown of best designer. Over 50 years later, A$AP Rocky brought the best and worst of American culture back to Paris with the American Savage x AWGE Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection.
With design support from Joshua Jamal, Bede Marchand and Coucou Bebe, American Sabotage is partly Rocky’s own style blended with the collection’s ethos of “ghetto expressionism.” When it came to production, the elaborate set-up was a feast of multimedia details. Guests were treated to the sound of the upcoming A$AP album through the DJ booth, and posters plastered around the wall read “Every US citizen has agreed to be more than happy to be pissed off,” and “Pull up your pants, no one wants to see your underwear.”
The collection featured similar messages of what Rocky describes as “political satire” — one of the phrases emblazoned on his pieces. From NYPD shirts to camo and American Flag prints, the pieces played with American iconography in a way that was both playful and politically biting.
This political commentary isn’t to no end. As with so much of A$AP’s aesthetics — a rapper who has always blended high fashion with echoes of his origins like his cornrows and grills — the show is a message to the fashion elite: Black culture, which is American culture, is more influential, and more complicated than they like to admit.
American Sabotage is notably an expression of rap culture, which is an extension of Black culture. Just look at the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef. It proved once and for all that being a rapper is about being embedded in the culture. And as a rapper raised in New York City, A$AP understands the culture.
We take the intersection of rap and fashion for granted these days. And, indeed, rappers and hip-hop culture have always been at the forefront of fashion. They popularized trends that Gen Z are obsessed with today: oversized clothing, oversized jewelry, sneaker culture, sweat suits, and jerseys — just to name a few. But until the early 2010s, rap music was still outside the mainstream.
Rocky was one of the rappers who made a career traversing genres, appearing on songs with Lana Del Rey (if you were on Tumblr in 2012, you remember) and making a name for himself in the mainstream — mostly using fashion.
These days, rappers grace the covers of
Vogue and are front row of the most fabulous fashion shows. For example, London-based rapper (and contender for song of the summer) Central Cee took the spot on the cover of British Vogue’s Music issue this month. For her debut issue, Editor-In-Chief Chioma Nnadi highlighted the connection between fashion and music, and the influence Black culture has on both art forms.
With American Sabotage, A$AP Rocky is making that connection tactile. Some of the most thrilling brands over the past decades have taken cues from hip-hop culture. Virgil Abloh’s Off-White brought hypebeast and streetwear fashion to the world stage, before embedding those influences into Louis Vuitton. Now, rapper Pharell is at the helm of Vuitton as its creative director. Rihanna herself has a fashion line with the biggest luxury fashion company in the world. Young rappers like Tyler, The Creator and Lil Nas X are known for their red-carpet looks. And even though Kanye West has since lost his deal with Adidas (and his mind), his impact on converging fashion and hip-hop cannot be overstated.
Even the best, most ferocious rappers are embedded in the fashion game. Kendrick Lamar is on a tear this summer — not just coming for Drake’s neck, but serving Pinterest-worthy looks while he does it. After rapping “I hate the way that you dress,” on his red-hot “Euphoria” track, he went on to prove that fashion is another way that he’s superior to the Canadian pop star. He wore a cropped The Row hoodie to his Pop Out show in LA, and wore Martine Rose and other fashion favorite brands in his “Not Like Us” video. Every rapper is a fashion girl at heart, it seems.
In a time where rap and fashion are so intertwined, it’s easy to take A$AP Rocky’s fashionista status for granted. But he’s not new to the fashion game, he’s
true to it. “I’m the godfather of what we now call art and fashion,” he told GQ. “Taking streetwear, taking luxury, blending them, mending them, matching them together. Taking skatewear, taking hoodwear brands and urban clothes and infusing them all together, that wasn’t really done.”
Because Rocky is so native to the fashion world, his designs for American Sabotage don’t feel derivative. They’re refreshing, they’re true to his personal style, and they’re reflective of his roots.
I used to live in Harlem, right next to where A$AP Rocky grew up. I know this because in our local flower shop, bodega, and other neighborhood establishments, you can find framed photos of him shaking hands with the owners. I once stepped out and saw him filming his music video for “Praise The Lord” in my neighborhood (true story). This is to say, he reps the block and hasn’t forgotten where he came from. And that Harlem has influenced everything from his sound to his style.
Harlem is home to Dapper Dan, the progenitor of logomania. It was the site of the largest Black Cultural movements, the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement. And it’s an endless source of inspiration for Rocky.
When
GQ asked about his collection before of the Paris show, he linked it directly to the American social climate. “It’s just me trying to encapsulate just all of my experiences, everything that I’ve learned, everything I’ve experienced about the social issues and the social climate of America,” he said. “I think fashion is an expression. It’s to express how you feel. This is no different. I think each great creative director, designer, artists, they always have that fine balance between conceptualization and manifestation.”
By blending together his experience with high fashion and his original inspirations, he’s created something vibrant, political, and unique to the Fashion Killa himself.
Needless to say, Flacko is clocked in. Part of me thinks Rihanna must have told him to lock in — like I said, those childcare bills ain’t cheap. That’s why he seemed so stressed in that Paris hotel room video. He’s been putting in long days at the office. But the hard work paid off with the critically acclaimed and culturally significant debut.
But the successful launch of his brand doesn’t mean Rocky is swearing off other brands completely. He recently teamed up with iconic Black artist Carrie Mae Weems for Bottega Veneta’s Father’s Day campaign.
He also unveiled a recent campaign with Puma.
These days, Rocky’s like Ryan Reynolds with the income streams. We can only hope that the rest of us get to hear his album soon, even if we never hear Rihanna’s.
Langa Chinyoka
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Popstars have been the backbone of the music industry for decades upon decades. There were OG divas like Whitney Houston and Britney Spears. There were Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Rihanna. But it felt like we were in need of a fresh sound.
Most of our original pop girls are onto ventures like starting beauty lines, starring in films, writing books, and starting families. There wasn’t an immediate need to release albums or tour anymore. So the takeover of male artists on Billboard charts ensued.
Of course, the shine to Taylor Swift will blaze on. But the world grows tired of hearing the same few artists over and over. As always, there’s a bright new, shiny Next Big Thing on the horizon.
The summer of 2024 proves that you don’t necessarily need to be a “new” artist to rise to superstardom. Ever since Coachella, it has become clear that there are two Next Big Things in the realm of pop music:
Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.
Both Carpenter and Roan signed to labels when they were young. You may know Carpenter from opening for Swift on
The Eras Tour or her stint as a Disney star. And you may know Chappell as the opener for Olivia Rodrigo on The Guts Tour.
@1824official @chappell roan is taking coachella by storm with these insane vocals 👏🏼👏🏼 #chappellroan #coachella #chappell #goodluckbabe #coachella2024 ♬ original sound – 1824
Chappell has been signed to Atlantic Records since she was 17 – back when she uploaded an original song called “Die Young” to YouTube. Under Atlantic, Chappell released an EP and eventually, in 2020, released “Pink Pony Club.” Not long after, she was dropped.
Everything shifted in September 2023. After being dropped from the label, she remained independent until releasing her debut album,
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, through Island Records.
Come 2024, Chappell toured the album in two parts, captivating fans’ hearts with her wit, her live vocal ability, and her homemade tour outfits that were equally as camp as her music.
In the meantime, she remained in control of her social media accounts. Regularly posting funny TikTok anecdotes, capturing more fans in her web along the way. Although Chappell’s album was receiving rave reviews, we were still a little ways away from the world finding her.
Once she joined friend Olivia Rodrigo on
The Guts Tour (previously appearing as The SOUR Tour opener), Roan’s streams saw a 32% increase. But this was only the beginning.
April 2024 marks the complete juggernaut of Chappell Roan’s career. She’s no longer a best-kept secret. Chappell Roan – who sings candidly about sexuality and celebrates being gay in her drag-inspired makeup, her wild red hair, and her Lady Gaga-esque dedication to dramatics – was about to become the next mega-popstar.
In early April, Chappell released “Good Luck Babe” as the next single from
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It felt like the start of the rest of her career. Her way of telling the world: here I am to give you the latest, refreshing pop music. And while I’m at it, shine light on the LGBTQ+ community.
The song received 7 million streams in the first week, “Good Luck Babe” became her fastest song to reach 100 million streams in no time. And then came the Coachella performance.
Chappell was set to perform in the Gobi tent. If you’re clued in to Coachella lore, the tents are generally smaller venues compared to the stages. It’s not typically reserved for bigger artists because they draw larger crowds.
However, during Chappell Roan’s Weekend I set, the Gobi tent overflowed with fans and new listeners alike. The world was watching on the Coachella livestream. And thanks to social media, thousands of TikToks and Instagram Reels were sourced and shared to
millions of viewers.
@chappellroan It’s me, Karma @coachella ♬ original sound – chappell roan
Chappell Roan caught the world’s attention by being true to herself. Her humility and humor make her relatable – she often displays emotions on stage no matter what they are. Her avant-garde makeup and outfits pay homage to fabulous drag queens and are reminiscent of Lady Gaga in 2010.
And of course, her music brings back a sense of fun to the world. Each song is catchy, daring, and reveals Roan’s true colors. After Coachella, her monthly listener count on Spotify saw a 500% increase to 7 million.
Since then, the world’s attention is on Chappell Roan. Her monthly listener count sits at over 24 million. She’s dined with new friend Elton John, who shared her album with Ed Sheeran, who also adores it.
@chappellroan @Elton John this was such an honor to talk to you. I look up to you so much and what you’ve done for our community. Thank you #rockethour podcast for having me ♡‧₊˚ full interview in my bios #queertok #artistsoftiktok #eltonjohn ♬ original sound – chappell roan
She took the stage at Gov Ball 2024 inside an apple, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, holding a massive joint…to a massive crowd – bigger than the headliners. She’s as in-demand as it gets right now…publicly declaring she turned down a visit to the White House until there’s liberty and justice for all.
In an audacious performance, Chappell Roan declares herself as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist.” And she’s not wrong anymore. It’s no longer simply an outrageous statement. Simply put. Chappell Roan is a sensation.
She receives acclaim from Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and so many more. And has been candid about struggling with her recent rapid rise to the top – breaking down onstage, sharing with viewers on TikTok that many pop girls are really just as nice as they seem.
@chappellroan♬ original sound – chappell roan
As she continues to grow and flourish in the public eye, Chappell Roan’s bearing up under the burden of pop princess. It’s something she has in common with another rising star, Sabrina Carpenter – who often goes viral for her off-the-cuff comments and sexual innuendos.
A new voice of our generation – Chappell Roan is a breath of fresh air. The people love honesty, they love personality, and they love fine music. Thank goodness Chappell Roan has all three.
Jai Phillips
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When R3HAB and Jason Derulo first stitched their music together on their first collab, they knew they had something special. Six years ago, two idols in their respective genres decided that not only could they make good music together with R3HAB’s remix of Derulo’s “Goodbye”…but they instantly understood this was the start of a lasting relationship where they’d create hit after hit for years.
Two years later in 2020,
R3HAB hopped on Derulo’s “Take You Dancing” for another official remix…and then again in 2024, he hopped on “Spicy Margarita.” Now, we have the first official original release from Jason Derulo and R3HAB with their sexy pop-dance record, “Animal.”
“Animal” is the perfect song to dance to with your friends this summer. When you pair Jason Derulo’s dreamy vocals with R3HAB’s proven ability to create a hit house track, you know you have a masterpiece on your hands. You can listen to the track here:
For the past 15 years, R3HAB has honed his craft and seemingly perfected the art of the remix. He’s breathed new life into songs by the biggest artists in the world: Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Sia, and many, many more. And it’s not because of luck, R3HAB has spent years perfecting his style of progressive house music.
He has a discography that most artists can only dream of…and as time goes on, he shocks listeners with new production styles that will always be replay-worthy. His innovation in production and creating music is what makes him special, a highly revered DJ in the industry who can twist any old track into a club-worthy dance bop.
R3HAB’s accolades go far beyond his official remix stamps- he’s a dynamic live performer who plays some of the biggest festivals in the world to crowds of tens of thousands, he garnered 1 billion streams on Spotify in 2023
alone, and deservedly is #14 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ List.
But the thing about R3HAB is that this isn’t the end of his career by any means. He
continues to wow his audience with every new release, every live performance, and every remix. There’s no sign of stopping R3HAB.
After his release of “Animal,” I got the chance to speak with R3HAB about his iconic career and the creation of the track. Check it out below!
PD: Congratulations on “Animal” with Jason Derulo! This is your fourth collaboration together…how did you two start working together?
Jason and I have had a great run with remixes over the last six years, starting with “Goodbye” with David Guetta and Nicki Minaj. Our musical styles complement each other well, so we followed up with my remix of “Take You Dancing.” Since then, we’ve been trying to find the right record.
PD: “Animal” is the first new record you two have done together. How did you two end up making the record?
We tossed ideas back and forth for a long time until we landed on “Animal.” We instantly felt this song would be a perfect match for Jason’s pop style and my dance production.
PD: You’ve performed at some major festivals like Coachella and Tomorrowland. What are your favorite tracks to perform live?
I love to play unreleased music, there’s a special feeling about bringing a record fresh off the press after a long studio session and seeing the crowd react to it. Contrasting the new energy, I always enjoy including some R3HAB classics like “Karate”, “Flashlight” or “Tiger”.
PD: You’ve been massively successful in your remixes…with official mixes for Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, and more. What’s your production process like when going into a remix?
Every song tells a different story and as a remixer my goal is to find a new way to tell it without ruining it (laughs). My production process relies on a selection of sounds from the original record and landing on the first idea, which is fundamental for the remix. I always make sure there’s a R3HAB electronic element attached to it.
PD: What’s one song you’d like to remix next or a collaboration you’d like to do?
I’ve been loving late 1990s / early 2000s records, and have a lot of fun incorporating them into current sonic ideas. Records like “All Around The World” and “Rock My Body” fit this concept. I love the way fans of the original song get to feel some nostalgia while making new memories.
PD: What’s next for you this year?
Festival season has just begun and I’m really hyped for the summer shows around the corner. I’ve been working on a lot of new music and can’t wait to share it in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Jai Phillips
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For sports fans, there’s the Super Bowl. For fashion fans, there’s the Met Gala.
Every year on the first Monday in May, Anna Wintour, reigning editor-in-chief and pinnacle of fashion at
Vogue, hosts the Met Gala. It’s technically a charity event to raise an egregious amount of money for The Costume Institute…but in reality, it’s an excuse for the biggest celebrities in the world to flaunt looks from the biggest fashion houses in the world.
All we ever get to see from the elusive Gala is the red carpet, but for about three hours the world circulates photos of outfits…judging like they have degrees in fashion and are the next Joan Rivers. But this year’s theme was especially exciting for me.
This year’s theme was
Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, with the focus being “Garden in Time.” A “sleeping beauty” in fashion refers to a piece that is only worn once before being stored away forever. These pieces are often tarnished after they’re worn once.
But as always, there’s a theme within the theme. “Garden in Time” implied nods to nature, which would explain the floral prints and natural elements like mother of pearl and wood. These themes also opened the door for sustainability: reworking and re-wearing pieces that have already existed. Not creating an entirely new costume from scratch.
Once these pieces go on display, they can’t be touched again or they’re considered ruined. While many celebrities weren’t wearing original “Sleeping Beauty” pieces, there were references to vintage collections from classic designers like Versace, Alexander McQueen, and, of course, Loewe.
Loewe happened to be the belle of the ball this year. The hottest brand of 2024 (by far) secured high-profile celebrities like Taylor Russell, Ariana Grande, Dan Levy, Omar Apollo, and more. And not only was
everyone wearing Loewe, the craftsmanship and detail was breathtaking in every way.
As I continued to watch notable figure after notable figure grace the famous Met staircase, I continued to wonder where every Met Gala icon was? Where was Rihanna and A$AP Rocky? Blake Lively? Hailey and Justin Bieber? Selena Gomez, perhaps?
THE Bella Hadid? Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? Harry Styles? Billie Eilish and FINNEAS?
Perhaps a few literally slept through the Met Gala this year…but nonetheless, the celebs showed up. And I’m here to critique them.
Lana Del Rey
Her first Met in six years and Lana Del Rey shines in custom-made Alexander McQueen. She’s on-theme, the embodiment of Mother Nature.
Mona Patel
Of course, this was a Law Roach style. But Mona Patel had, by far, the best dress of the night. The animated butterflies on her arms were magical.
Tyla
Nothing says “Sleeping Beauty” more than a gown made of sand specifically molded to Tyla’s body. She even had to get carried up the stairs in her custom Balmain.
Zendaya
Law Roach, the stylist you are. Zendaya treated the Met stairs as her runway with multiple show-stopping looks.
Kendall Jenner
I mean, the dress literally was only ever worn on a mannequin and fit Kendall Jenner – with no tailoring. That’s fate.
Mindy Kaling
The dress, titled “Melting Flower of Time”, was designed by Gaurav Gupta. It was walking art, stunned.
Harris Reed
Harris Reed is responsible for some of Harry Styles’ most iconic looks…but tonight, they were the moment.
Taylor Russell
Speaking of Harry Styles…Taylor Russell had one of my favorite Loewe pieces. The wood bodice corset contrasted with the gown.
Kylie Jenner
I just think she could’ve done more than a vintage bridal look…
For her first Met, I’m a bit disappointed despite the fact that her makeup is gorgeous.
Nicholas Galitzine
If I see one more black suit variant…
Chase Stokes
We call any attractive male with a suit and no shirt underneath “daring” and “fashion-forward.”
Dan Levy
Wishing this Loewe moment was white.
Josh O’Connor
The shoes?
The turnip?
Jai Phillips
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Bitch better have her money! As the founder of not one but two multi-billion-dollar companies, it’s understandable why fans want to know more about Rihanna’s net worth and how much she makes from her music career and businesses.
Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was born on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. She was discovered in 2003 after she formed a trio with two of her classmates and auditioned for music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife at the time. The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn’t exist,” Rogers told Entertainment Weekly in 2007.
”She carried herself like a star even when she was 15. But the killer was when she opened her mouth to sing [Destiny’s Child’s cover of ‘Emotion’]. She was a little rough around the edges, but she had this edge to her voice.” Rihanna auditioned for Rogers solo, performing Destiny’s Child’s “Emotion” and Mariah Carey’s “Hero.”
After the audition, Rogers met with Rihanna’s mother and recorded two demos with Rihanna, “Pon de Replay” and “The Last Time.” Less than a year later, Rihanna was signed to Rogers’ production company, Syndicated Rhythm Productions. “I was very shy at one point. I knew what I was about and what I stood for, but I was not very vocal. In the Barbadian culture, there’s this thing we say: ‘Speak when you’re spoken to.’ It’s polite not to blabber. It took me a couple of years to come out of my shell,” Rihanna told InStyle in a past interview about her humble beginnings.
Rihanna released her first single “Pon de Replay” from her debut album, Music of the Sun, in 2005. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to the release of seven more albums: 2006’s A Girl Like Me; 2007’s Good Girl Gone Bad; 2009’s Rated R; 2010’s Loud; 2011’s Talk That Talk; 2012’s Unapologetic; and 2016’s Anti. In 2017, Rihanna launched her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, which is now valued at $2.8 billion.
In 2019, she launched her lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, which is now valued at $1 billion. “I pray a lot. A lot. And I try to just look at every situation like there’s some reason behind it,” Rihanna told The Cut in 2017 about how she deals with career setbacks. “Even if I can’t feel it in that moment, I just thank God anyway, because I know that there’s something better coming, and he’s doing it for my good.”
With two multi-billion-dollar companies, there’s no doubt Rihanna is worth a lot. But what is Rihanna’s net worth? Read on for what we know about Rihanna’s net worth and how much she makes from Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty and other business ventures.
How much did Rihanna make from her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance? Rihanna was the Halftime Show performer at the Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Attracting more than 121 million viewers, it was one of the most-watched Super Bowl Half-Time shows ever.
So…how much did Rihanna make for her 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance? The answer is nothing. According to National Football League spokesperson Joanna Hunter, Super Bowl Halftime Show performers aren’t paid but the NFL does cover the expenses for their performance. “We do not pay the artists,” Hunter told Forbes in 2016. “We cover expenses and production costs.” However, there is a limit to how much the NFL will pay. The Weeknd’s manager Wassim “Sal” Slaiby told Billboard in 2021 that the “Starboy” singer contributed $7 million of his own money to “make this halftime show be what he envisioned” when he performed at the Super Bowl LV.
Forbes reported in 2013 that the total production cost for Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance was $600,000, though some reports claim that the number was $10 million. So why aren’t Super Bowl Halftime Show performers paid? With more than 100 million people who tune into the Super Bowl each year, the Halftime Show often serves as a free promotion for its performers.
According to Forbes, Bruno Mars’ 2012 album, Unorthodox Jukebox, soared from number seven to number three on the Billboard 200 after he performed at the Super Bowl in 2014. The magazine also reported that sales for Unorthodox Jukebox spiked by 92 percent to 81,000 after his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. Beyoncé’s 4 also saw a similar spike of 59 percent after she performed the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2013.
According to Spotify, Shakira’s streams spiked by 230 percent, while Jennifer Lopez’s streams went up by 335 percent after they performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2020. Justin Timberlake’s sales also rose by 534 percent after his performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2018, according to Billboard. Katy Perry’s manager, Steven Jensen, told Forbes in 2015 that her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance “took her from being a big star to the stratosphere.” Perry’s manager also told the magazine that, as a result of her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, Perry’s endorsement deals doubled.
Rihanna wore a red latex suit that conformed to every curve, leading fans to speculate that she’s pregnant with baby number two with partner ASAP Rocky. WHAT A REVEAL! Many had guessed Jay-Z would make an appearance, but even better than that, Rihanna rocked the largest stage in the world solo with her new baby bump.
How much does Rihanna make from Fenty Beauty? Rihanna launched her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, in 2017. The brand became an immediate success, especially for its Pro Filt’R foundation, which launched with 40 shades and has since expanded to 50 shades and into concealers.
Before the launch of Fenty Beauty, Women’s Wear Daily reported in 2016 that Rihanna signed a $10 million deal with Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey’s Kendo division—which also produces Marc Jacobs Beauty and Kat Von D Beauty—to create her own cosmetics brand and sell it at Sephora, another LVMH subsidiary. “Everything with her is off the charts,” an industry source told Women’s Wear Daily at the time.
In its first month, Fenty Beauty reported $72 million in earned media value—above companies like Nyx Professional Makeup, Benefit Cosmetics and Urban Decay—ranking third on Tribe Dynamics’ earned media value report at the time. Fenty Beauty’s earned media value came primarily from Instagram, where it reported $45.2 million, and YouTube, where it reported $10.6 million.
In 2018, Forbes reported that Fenty Beauty had made more than $570 million in revenue and was worth more than $2.8 billion, 50 percent of which belonged to Rihanna, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the brand. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Fenty Beauty generates more than $100 million in revenue each year. The Guardian reported in 2017 that Fenty Beauty was so successful in its launch year that its sales equated to selling one bottle of foundation every minute and one lip gloss every three minutes.
Rihanna told Vogue in 2017 about what the success of Fenty Beauty means to her. “We have this amazing emotional connection with customers who’ve never been able to find their shade of foundation before—women crying at the [makeup] counter—it’s crazy to even think about,” Rihanna said. “The first woman I saw put makeup on her face was a black woman—my mom—and when I think of my customers, I want everyone to feel like they can find their color, that they are represented as part of this new generation.”
In an interview with TIME that same year, she explained why it was important to launch with so many shades of foundation: “I’ve had my makeup done thousands of time, and when it comes to foundation, you just never know how it’s going to turn out. I think foundation should look like great skin, so it was important to me that the Pro Filt’r foundation had a soft matte finish because you want a dewy look, but never shiny! It was also important that every woman felt included in this brand. We are all so different, with our own unique skin tones, so we started with the 40 foundation shades out the gate.”
How much does Rihanna make from Savage X Fenty? Rihanna launched her lingerie brand Savage X Fenty, in 2018. Rihanna reported at the time that the brand sold out within a month of its launch. Along with lingerie, the brand has since expanded into bras, underwear, sleepwear, loungewear as well as offers an optional membership programed, Xtra VIP, which offers exclusive discounts and early access to product releases. In 2020, Fast Money named Fenty X Savage one of the “10 most innovative style companies” of that year. In 2021, Forbes reported that the brand was worth more than $1 billion, 30 percent of which is owned by Rihanna.
In an interview with InStyle in 2022, Rihanna explained that she wanted each item of Savage X Fenty to represent one word: sexy. “If we’re gonna start as a lingerie company and we want to expand, everything needs to come from that template,” Rihanna said. “And we wanted to apply some of our details to the sport silhouettes, to the tech fabrics, and have it snatch you in all the right places. I knew a snapback was on the way so I had to make sure the leggings were giving what they’re supposed to give.”
What is Rihanna’s net worth? Rihanna’s net worth is $1.4 billion according to Forbes, which reports that Rihanna is the wealthiest female musician in the world and she’s among the 11 richest self-made women under 40.
Along with what she makes from Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, Rihanna’s net worth also includes her earnings from her music career, which includes eight albums—2005’s Music of the Sun; 2006’s A Girl Like Me; 2007’s Good Girl Gone Bad; 2009’s Rated R; 2010’s Loud; 2011’s Talk That Talk; 2012’s Unapologetic; and 2016’s Anti—as well as six headlining tours: the Rihanna: Live in Concert Tour in 2016; the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour from 2007 to 2009; the Last Girl on Earth Tour from 2010 to 2011; the Loud Tour in 2011; the Diamonds World Tour in 2013; and the Anti World Tour in 2016. Rihanna also co-headlined The Monster Tour with Eminem in 2014.
In a 2016 interview with Vogue, Rihanna explained the story behind her song, “Bitch Better Have My Money.” “‘Bitch Better Have My Money’ just felt like something everybody can relate to, whether it’s in regards to money or not,” she said. “There’s something about that attitude or that confidence, that level of discarding something. Because it’s also just very final. It’s a very final statement. That song can be taken in so many ways. You know? And hardly ever is it actually money. I mean, money’s pretty much the obvious thing. The nonobvious thing is somebody who’s just jocking you. You’re not paying them any attention. You’re minding your own business. And everything that comes out of them is targeted toward you.”
She continued, “You feel like at the end of the day, you might as well get paid for this shit. You know what I’m saying? It’s just a way to describe a situation. It’s a way to be in charge, to let people know that you’re all about your business.”
She also told Vogue about how a lot of her income comes from music streaming. “Streaming is a really big market for me. We’ve been doing great in the streaming market, so it’s not something I want to alienate at all. Streaming counts now,” she said. “They’re treating artists the way we deserve to be treated. So it’s not blindly—it’s not invisible sales or invisible streams or invisible listens or downloads.” She continued, “Before it was just—it was robbing us. Before streaming, it was robbing artists. Robbing us of our sales. It’s free music. So now the free music counts. It is definitely going to make a big difference in the music industry. For a fact.”
Rihanna also explained to the magazine about why she doesn’t feel competitive to other artists and hates when fans and haters pit her against others. “They just get so excited to feast on something that’s negative. Something that’s competitive. Something that’s, you know, a rivalry. And that’s just not what I wake up to. Because I can only do me. And nobody else is going to be able to do that,” she said.
She continued, “Especially with Anti. I went through so many emotions and roller coasters of feeling good, loving it, hating it, doubting myself, hating myself. ‘This is awful.’ ‘I lost it.’ ‘Wait, but I do love it still.’ ‘But then—’ And it’s like, no. Eventually you just need to know who you are. You know when something is you. You know when you love it and that’s the only thing that matters. When it comes to everybody else’s thing and their lane and their timing, I’m never doing anything intentional to, like, come after somebody. That will always be my biggest mistake or anybody’s biggest mistake if that’s their intention. So I just focus on my little project. That’s all I can handle. That’s a lot to handle. I can barely handle all of that.”
For more about Rihanna, check out The Rihanna Book. The book, which Rihanna described as a visual autobiography, takes readers through Rihanna’s life and career, from her childhood in Barbados to her worldwide tours with more than 500 pages of never-before-published private images. “It’s a piece of art that I am really proud of,” Rihanna said, according to the publisher’s description. The book, which includes more than 1,000 color images as well as a removable poster and other bonuses, is Rihanna like fans have never seen her before. “A rare and intimate look into her journey, chronicled in family pictures, captivating tour shots, and even rare handwritten letters,” Billboard described the book.
Jason Pham
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Rachel Lindsay and Callie Curry begin today’s Morally Corrupt with a discussion about the Bravo news of the week (1:37) before giving their thoughts on Season 2, Episode 3 of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard (11:18), as well as Season 8, Episode 8 of Summer House (26:52). Then Rachel is joined by Jodi Walker to recap Season 1, Episode 4 of The Valley (43:49) and Season 11, Episode 11 of Vanderpump Rules (1:07:27).
Host: Rachel Lindsay
Guests: Callie Curry and Jodi Walker
Producer: Devon Baroldi
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
Subscribe: Spotify
Rachel Lindsay
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Forbes’s 2024 World’s Billionaires list is out, and it includes 13 newcomers who are from the media and entertainment industry. The most exciting name is likely Taylor Swift, who currently boasts a net worth of $1.1 billion. She is also the only person who has made the list through earnings in music and performance alone, according to Forbes. Most billionaire musicians and actors have achieved their financial status through other businesses. Rihanna, for example, became a billionaire primarily through her stakes in Fenty Cosmetics and Savage X Fenty.
If you find yourself reading the same last name over and over again on the Forbes list, it’s because five of the newly crowned billionaires are all children of the late former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. They were launched into billionaire status after inheriting their father’s $6.8 billion stake in the media company Fininvest after he passed away in 2023.
Here are the 13 media and entertainment figures who are featured on the Forbes billionaires list for the first time: (Age information about Ling Tang and Maria Frias is unavailable.)
Marina is the president of her late father’s company Fininvest, which she joined in 1996.
Pier Silvio is the CEO of private television group MediaForEurope, which was also started by his father Silvio. He and Marina inherited most of their father’s wealth when he died.
Punjabi comes from a prominent entertainment family in Indonesia, where he was the 32nd richest person in 2023. He co-founded the production house MD Media, later rebranded to MD Pictures, with his wife and parents in 2002.
Tang is an investor in the mobile game maker AppLovin, with an 8 percent stake. AppLovin boasts a market cap of $24.9 billion.
Barbara doesn’t currently work for any of her late father’s businesses. She was CEO of the Italian professional football club AC Milan for four years from 2013 to 2017 until her father sold the team.
Eleonora does not have a position in her father Silvio’s media company Fininvest. Until recently, she was the only sibling who didn’t have a seat on the company’s board. This changed in November 2023 when the company announced that she would join.
Luigi is the youngest Berlusconi sibling. He also does not work for any of his late father’s companies.
Frias owns a third of the Folha de S. Paulo, one of the most popular newspapers in Brazil. She inherited the paper from her late father Octávio Frias, who owned and operated it from 1962 until his passing in 2007. Her brother Luiz Frias is also a billionaire and owns the rest of the company.
Famous for creating the Law & Order franchise in the early 1990s, Wolf has benefited from the staying power of the original Law & Order series and its spinoffs, all produced through his company Wolf Entertainment.
The porn mogul founded the adulting camming website LiveJasmin in 2001, which is where he made most of his fortune.
Suherman is the co-founder of Cinema XXI, Indonesia’s first cinema chain. He’s the 43rd richest person in Indonesia.
It was the Eras tour and her music catalog that propelled Swift into billionaire status in 2023. According to Forbes, her wealth breakdown is $500 million from royalties, $500 million from her music catalog and $125 million from real estate.
Elias’ media company Red Ventures owns CNET and Best Colleges. He was already named a billionaire in 2021 by The New York Times, which reported that his company was worth $11 billion and he had a 20 percent stake. Elias pledged that same year to give half of his money away.
Nhari Djan
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A while ago, we ranked the hottest music videos of all time. But a lot has happened since this article was last published, and we need to recognize a few more steamy music videos that had our jaws on the floor. We’ve added five more MV’s to the ranking because they deserved recognition.
Iggy Azalea was the moment in 2013. This “Work” music video proves it.
She sees it, she likes it, she wants it, she got it. Ariana Grande is going for the money with this music video.
Cardi B and City Girls teach us how to twerk…need I say more?
One of Nicki’s wittiest songs, “Barbie Tingz” details all the relationships she’s had with different rappers throughout her career. Exposing men is one of Nicki’s finest moments, and this music video is about as steamy as it gets.
You had to know it was coming. One of the most hyper-sexual songs in recent history from two of the biggest female rappers in the world. The music video with a cameo from Kylie Jenner is our steamiest music video of all time.
While you may have a quick answer to the question of the hottest music video you’ve ever seen, we doubt you could rank the hottest of all time. From Beyonce to Prince, we’ve made a definitive ranking of the ten steamiest music videos ever made.
Beyoncé – Partition (Explicit Video)youtu.be
Beyonce is the queen of the sparkly leotard. Her iconic love seat pose has given life to countless memes, and for good reason. This video is undeniably one of her hottest.
Selena Gomez – Hands To Myself (Official Music Video)youtu.be
First of all, Selena Gomez+bangs is pretty fire. Second of all, Selena Gomez+bangs+lingerie+steamy bathtub shots= 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Usher – Trading Placeswww.youtube.com
Usher doing anything is undeniably hot. We would watch the man tie his shoe laces and give him a standing ovation afterwards. In this video, we not only get steamy bedroom shots and plenty of oiled muscle, but also weird indoor-human-fish-tank moments that we’re admittedly pretty into.
D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel)youtu.be
Honestly, it’s just D’angelo standing there shirtless singing his heart out. What more could you want?
Nicki Minaj – Anacondawww.youtube.com
This iconic video features Minaj in lycra pants and other various form fitting outfits twerking etc. She also makes smoothies. It’s hard to look away.
Rihanna – S&Mwww.youtube.com
This whole list could be Rihanna music videos and we’d stand by it. Out of all of Ri-Ri’s steamy videos, this is perhaps the most enticingly chaotic. Bonus: Rihanna has magnificent red hair in this clip.
Prince – Kiss (Official Music Video)www.youtube.com
Prince was the king of pushing boundaries, and this video was no exception. MTV loosened their standards specifically for this 1986 hit, and we’re so glad they did. Prince in a crop top? Yes please.
Beyoncé – Drunk in Love (Explicit) ft. JAY Zyoutu.be
Yes, Beyonce made the list twice, but we just couldn’t help ourselves. While Beyonce looks as amazing as always in this video, what really puts it over the top is the way she undresses Jay-Z with her eyes. *Melts*
Wicked Game – Single Edit – Official Music Videoyoutu.be
This video is decidedly NSFW. Widely agreed upon across the internet to be one of the hottest videos of all time, “Wicked Game” will leave you speechless.
Britney Spears – Toxic (Official Music Video)www.youtube.com
This video tops our list because it just doesn’t get more iconic than this. Say what you want about Britney, but she
always delivered in the music video department.
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Jai Phillips
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The Barbadian singer Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are seen with their sons boarding a private jet in Milan, Italy. The 36-year-old singer wore a light grey hoodie and matching sweatpants as she and the 35-year-old rapper exited a large van before their flight.
She looked effortlessly stylish in a green and white trucker cap and ombré aviator sunglasses.
Rihana was also seen carrying a quilted leather handbag and a baguette-style tote with gold chain straps.
ALSO READ: Rihanna’s UNSEEN pic from Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding bash proves she is a queen
The Diamonds singer Rihanna wore her long brunette hair down in a straight style and went makeup-free, highlighting her natural beauty. Her partner, Rocky, opted for casual attire, wearing a white graphic hoodie with a black vest design, khaki green pants, and black shoes.
Later, they were seen boarding the plane, with Rihanna carrying their oldest son, RZA Athelston, who is almost two years old.
The Grammy Award winner balanced dating with a busy career, recording eight platinum albums, winning various music awards, touring, being a style icon, designing clothes, and launching Fenty Beauty.
Despite past relationships, she now hopes for a lasting connection with A$AP Rocky.
The couple had their first son, RZA Athelston, on May 13, 2022. Less than six months later, they welcomed their second son, Riot Rose, after co-headlining the Super Bowl halftime show with Rihanna.
The celebrated pop-star told British Vogue before revealing her bump last year, “I’m open to anything. I’d like to have more kids, but I’ll accept whatever God has planned for me.”
The couple began dating over three years ago and made their relationship official in summer 2020. Their friendship blossomed into romance during Rocky’s time on Rihanna’s Diamond Tour in 2013.
Rihanna recently went to India to perform at the wedding of billionaire heir Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. This performance marked Rihanna’s first major live show since her Super Bowl performance last year and her first full concert in eight years.
MailOnline reported she was paid $6.33 million for a 90-minute set.
However, fans seem to criticise Rihanna on X (formerly known as Twitter) after footage of her on stage surfaced, saying she didn’t bring her best performance.
In one clip, she sang ‘We Found Love,’ her 2011 hit with Calvin Harris, but barely danced.
Still, Rihanna delivered an impressive 19-song setlist featuring her biggest hits like B**** Better Have My Money, Work, All of the Lights, and Diamonds.
She left Jamnagar early Saturday morning and told reporters she can’t wait to be back.
“I love India,” she said before boarding her plane. “The show was the best. I haven’t done a real show for eight years, so I want to come back.”
ALSO READ: Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant pre-wedding: 5 Times Rihanna stole our heart during her Jamnagar visit
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The ladies return this week with a plethora of celebrity topics and news to discuss, starting with Kate Middleton being spotted for the first time since her abdominal surgery (2:30). Later on in the pod, the ladies get into Rihanna’s $6 million performance in India (21:18), the Cyrus family drama (24:57), and Jay Shetty’s self-help book (29:23).
Hosts: Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jade Whaley
Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher
Juliet Litman
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Billionaire heir Anant Ambani isn’t tying the knot with fiancé Radhika Merchant until July, but the lavish festivities have already started — and the A-list attendees have attracted international attention.
Some of the world’s biggest entertainers, business tycoons and influential people have arrived this week in India’s Gujarat state to celebrate the three-day pre-wedding festivities. Already, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump and Hillary Clinton are among those on the guest list in the city of Jamnagar.
Anant, 28, is the son of Mukesh Ambani, chairman of the conglomerate Reliance Industries and Asia’s richest person. Mukesh, whose father Dhirubhai Ambani in 1966 founded Reliance (which has since grown to include massive refining, retail and financial operations) is the ninth-richest person in the world, with a net worth of US$116.8 billion, according to Forbes.
Mukesh is reportedly footing the bill for much of the wedding celebrations, and it’s clear no expense has been spared. Pop star and business mogul Rihanna is set to perform at the festivities. Illusionist David Blaine will also wow audiences at the party, as well as Indian music star Diljit Dosanjh, People magazine reported.
Rihanna arrived in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on Thursday, with boyfriend A$AP Rocky in tow. Her arrival brought even more excitement to those eagerly watching the pre-wedding festivities in India and beyond.
Much of the event will be held at the luxurious Ambani Estate in Jamnagar. There are 1,200 guests set to attend the pre-wedding gala, according to the BBC.
Among them are Disney CEO Bob Iger, Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla and members of Bhutan’s royal family.
From the Bollywood world, stars Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are also attending the celebrations.
Early wedding celebrations kicked off on Wednesday, when Anant and Radhika, 29, hosted a communal dinner for local villagers that served 51,000, Reuters reported.
The dinner, hosted near Reliance Township in Jamnagar, saw the bride, groom and their family members serve up traditional Gujrati food in the hopes of obtaining the community’s blessing for the couple’s union, according to The Hindu.
People magazine reported wedding guests received a detailed, nine-page dress code for the three-day festivities.
On the second day, wedding guests will be brought to the Ambani’s animal rescue, which features more than 2,000 animals and has one of the world’s largest elephant hospitals. Guests were told to wear an outfit in line with a “jungle fever” theme (animal prints or Hawaiian shirts encouraged), as well as “comfortable shoes.”
Then in the evening, the party will again adopt a more formal setting, for a “Mela Rouge” party. (“Mela” is the word for a fair or Hindu festival; “Rouge” signifies the colour red.)
And again, on the third day, wedding guests will attend a “tusker trails” event, where they will be surrounded by “the wonders of nature,” including animals like elephants, reptiles and big cats.
In the evening of the third day, festivities will round out with a formal party necessitating a “Heritage Indian” dress code.
Anant is the youngest of his three siblings. All of the Ambani children are on the board of Reliance. The siblings each head a different subsection of the business, with Anant spearheading Reliance’s energy business. (Reliance is currently pivoting toward a green energy initiative and has pledged to deploy US$80 billion over the next 10 to 15 years in investments in renewable energy and new refining facilities, Forbes reported.)
Anant graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
He is the last of his siblings to get married. His siblings also had very lavish ceremonies, with Beyoncé performing at sister Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding party in 2018. Anant’s older brother, Akash Ambani, had Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and The Chainsmokers perform at his winter wonderland-themed pre-wedding event in Switzerland in 2019.
Radhika also comes from a wealthy family, and is daughter to the wealthy business mogul Viren Merchant, CEO of the pharma company Encore Healthcare Private Ltd. Viren’s net worth, according to GQ India, is about C$126.76 million.
Radhika graduated from New York University and serves as a director at her father’s pharmaceutical company.
Anant and Radhika are set to marry on July 12 in Mumbai.
On top of the wedding festivities, some of the influential, international guests have used the visit to India as an opportunity to see the local sights.
Bill Gates shared a video of himself ordering chai tea from a street vendor. In his since-viral video, Gates, 68, said he is “excited to be back in India, the home to incredible innovators.”
“In India, you can find innovation everywhere you turn—even in the preparation of a simple cup of tea!” Gates wrote.
On Friday, Mark Zuckerberg shared two photos of he and wife, Priscilla Chan, in their formalwear. Zuckerberg, 39, wore a black suit with dragonfly decals, while Chan, 39, wore a floor-length, sleeveless black gown with two large, gold roses.
“Love an Indian wedding. Congrats to Anant and Radhika!” wrote Zuckerberg.
Sarah Do Couto
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For some celebs, January doesn’t just mark the beginning of award season. It’s also an opportunity to flex their fashion sensibilities both on and off the red carpet. In fact, we’ve already gathered enough outfit inspo to last us the rest of 2024, and it’s only been a few weeks! But the fun is just getting started.
From Khaite and Loewe to Tom Ford and The Row, perennial fashion favorites like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner are giving us plenty to talk about. We also have our eyes on rising style star Ayo Edebiri (who is having an incredible award season all around), continue to obsess over anything Rihanna wears, and, of course, dream of wearing head-to-toe Bottega Veneta like Jennifer Lawrence.
Keep scrolling to get inspired by the A+ outfits we’ve seen so far this year and shop a mix of the exact looks and similar price-friendly pieces. We can’t wait to see what February—aka fashion month—has in store.
Drew Elovitz
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Part of the music industry in today’s world involves promoting via social media – especially on platforms with mega-influence like TikTok. Artists will tease songs, new artists will be discovered on the platform, and if a sound goes viral tracks can resurge and soar into popularity. You saw it with songs like “Kill Bill” by SZA and “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus.
Well, bad news. As of February 1, Universal Music Group (UMG) has taken their artists’ music off TikTok after accusing the social media platform of offering unfair reimbursement to artists and allowing AI to generate recordings using an artist’s voice. In an open letter on its website, UMG states,
“TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans,”
And the drama doesn’t stop there. In a brief response, TikTok snaps back with,
“TikTok has been able to reach ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters, and fans.”
Screenshot from TikTok Jai Phillips
Among UMG’s lengthy list of artists are: Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Blackpink, The 1975, Beyonce, Rihanna, Lana Del Rey, and Lewis Capaldi. In the heated letter released by the music label, they mention how TikTok began to take the music down of their smaller artists, but kept their bigger names that generate revenue for the app in an effort to control them. As UMG’s response, they took every single artist away.
@noahkahanmusic thanks love you guys #newmusic #stickseason #noahkahan #noahkahanmusic #forever ♬ Angel – Sarah McLachlan
That means videos using popular songs like Harry Styles’ “As It Was” or Lana Del Rey’s “Say Yes To Heaven” are now met with “This Sound Is Not Available.” The only sounds under names like Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan are fan-made edits and manipulations of songs.
This means both TikTok and the music industry will change a bit. A lot of artists will have less of an interest in building platforms on TikTok, because it’s not like they can play their music there. TikTok itself will have to focus on edits behind a lot of their “Get Ready With Me” videos and “Target Haul” clips.
It’s a standoff between the largest record label in music industry history and the biggest social media platform in the world.
Jai Phillips
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Is 2024 the year of celebrity bob haircuts? Judging by the red carpets, awards shows, and fashion events we’ve seen thus far, it certainly seems so.
Bob haircuts dominated the Golden Globes and Emmys red carpets, and J.Lo and Rihanna debuted especially chic, and somehow wildly different, chops while in Paris for Haute Couture Week. And to think we’re not even a full month into the year!
This, of course, comes as no surprise. Because while many hair trends come and go, the bob haircut will truly never go out of style. Going chin length makes an immediate statement, grabbing attention and putting focus on your face. Shorter haircuts are also significantly less high-maintenance over all.
But best of all? Bobs are extremely versatile. From the undone bob to the lob, there is no one way, no “right” way, to wear a bob. Just take it from the handful of celebrities boarding the bob train this year.
No matter your bob preference, the best celebrity bob haircuts of 2024 are sure to inspire your next chop. Ahead, see all of our favourite bobs of the year, and get ready to screenshot for inspo.
A version of this article originally appeared on Glamour US.
Danielle Sinay
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