The controversial legacy of Sean ‘Diddy’ CombsEntertainment
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Christopher Meloni addresses viral Knicks moment with Mariska Hargitay
‘Law & Order’: Christopher Meloni explains Mariska Hargitay friendship
“Law & Order: Organized Crime” star Christopher Meloni chats with USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa about the friendship he has with Mariska Hargitay.
NEW YORK – Christopher Meloni uses an interesting metaphor when he describes sharing a screen with longtime “Law & Order” co-star Mariska Hargitay.
“Like slipping into a warm bath; you know what you’re getting,” the actor, 64, tells USA TODAY. “There’s not going to be a problem. You get to focus on making the scene as honest and interesting as you possibly can. You don’t have to worry about personalities or having an offbeat difference of opinion.”
Hargitay’s Olivia Benson and Meloni’s Elliot Stabler reunite on “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” which moves from NBC to Peacock for its fifth season (new episodes Thursdays). Meloni, also an executive producer and writer on the show, says Benson’s return to “Organized Crime” is usually dictated by her “SVU” schedule. And yes, while the pairing is as comfortable as that warm bath for Meloni, they still practice their lines with each other before taping.
“It’s just nice to hear the music that they’re gonna play,” Meloni remarks. “Do they see this as a jazz piece, or is this a little more formal and not quite so improvisational? You always need to know what piece they’re thinking of playing, what quality they’re going to give to it.”
Fans enjoy seeing the pair’s off-camera friendship as well. The two sent “Law & Order” fans into a frenzy last week when they sat courtside at a New York Knicks game and were photographed on the NBA team’s X page holding hands.
“I’m with a close friend that is unique in my life because I don’t share the same journey with anybody else on this earth that I do with her,” he says of their night out. “We do the same nonsense when we’re alone, you know, (being) physical and connected and calling (expletive) on each other. It’s just two friends kicking it. I do recognize how public it is, but when we’re together it doesn’t feel that way because we just connect.”
Both stars are married: Meloni wed Doris Sherman Williams in 1995. Hargitay and “SVU” co-star Peter Hermann have been married since 2004.
Here’s what excites Meloni about ‘Organized Crime’
In “Organized Crime,” we don’t see Elliot Stabler only fighting crime. The series gives us a peak into his personal life as a father, son and brother.
“I am finding myself enjoying the family scenes a lot because that’s the least visited aspect of this character over the years that I’ve played him,” Meloni reveals. (“SVU” premiered in 1999; Meloni left the show in 2011 but returned to the franchise as Stabler with “Organized Crime” in 2021). “It’s only recently that we’ve gotten into what makes him tick behind the scenes. I’ve found that different and fresh and new to play.”
The “Organized Crime” cast also includes Ellen Burstyn, who plays Stabler’s mother Bernie, and Dean Norris, who plays his brother, Randall. Meloni calls working with Burstyn “a joy” and says Norris’ casting was “a no-brainer.”
Meloni adds that “to explore Stabler’s personal side with these players, that’s what helps make it even more exciting.”
Real-life law enforcement officers still approach Meloni
When Meloni and Hargitay are shown on the big screen at Madison Square Garden, they hear jubilation from the sold-out Knicks crowd. But for the actor, “the highest honor” is receiving a compliment from a real-life first responder who enjoys watching his character.
“I used to have a guy, he was security detail, and he was an ex-police officer for 30 years or something,” he recalls. “I said, ‘Tommy, did you like being a cop?’ And he goes, ‘I loved it.’
“That response rocked me back. He goes, ‘Chris, every day when I was on the job, I would wake up and I knew I had an opportunity to help someone.’ What an attitude. That’s an honorable life.”
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'Law & Order': Christopher Meloni on friendship with Mariska HargitayEntertain This!
‘Law & Order’: Christopher Meloni on friendship with Mariska HargitayEntertain This!
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Fyre Festival 2 hits another setback, looking for new location again
Lollapalooza 2025 lineup revealed: See who’s performing
Lollapalooza, one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, has announced its 2025 lineup.
Fox – 32 Chicago
The issues continue for Fyre Festival 2, the second attempt at the infamous and scandal-ridden 2017 Fyre Festival.
Event organizers are seeking yet another location to hold the festival, according to a note to ticketholders, obtained by USA TODAY on April 17. The change comes weeks before the festival’s first day, planned to begin May 30, and after an initial change of location in March from Isla Mujeres, Mexico to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
An entertainment lineup had yet to be seen, but organizers say the event is still happening.
“Fyre Festival 2 is still on,” the note to ticketholders states. “We are vetting new locations and will announce our host destination soon. Our priorities remain unchanged: delivering an unforgettable, safe and transparent experience.”
A festival spokesperson did not clarify when this letter was shared with ticketholders. It is unclear if the festival is still on track to begin May 30. USA TODAY has inquired for more information from organizers.
What is Fyre Festival?
Described as an “electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports and treasure hunting,” Fyre Festival 2 boasted tickets that ranged between $1,400 for one person to $1.1 million for a group of eight. As of Thursday, tickets are no longer available for purchase on the festival’s website.
In 2018, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for engaging in several fraudulent schemes related to the first Fyre Festival. After his arrest, the festival’s organizer acknowledged that he had defrauded investors out of $26 million and more than $100,000 in fraudulent ticket-selling schemes.
Why is Fyre Festival 2 changing locations again?
According to the note shared with ticketholders, the festival is being moved again because of complications with Playa del Carmen.
In late March, less than three months before kickoff, the festival announced it would be changing locations to Playa del Carmen, about 42 miles south of Cancún. Initially, the festival had been promoted to be held at Isla Mujeres, Mexico, a small island right off the coast of Cancún. But Isla Mujeres officials and a hotel that the festival claimed to work with, claimed they were unaware of the event.
After the festival announced it would be held in Playa del Carmen, again government officials there said they weren’t familiar with it.
“After a responsible review of the situation, it is confirmed that there are no records, plans or conditions that indicate the holding of such an event in the municipality,” Playa del Carmen’s city hall wrote in a social media post on April 2.
In response, Fyre Festival took to social media to share screenshots of emails and permits, but details were askew from what was being promoted. McFarland claimed 2,000 tickets were available for the festival, but shared permits indicated that only space for 250 people had been obtained.
The week before, during a Fyre Festival 2 press conference in Playa del Carmen on March 27, Martina Beach Club Founder Fernando Delgado told local journalists that the festival had secured the necessary permits in the city. Martina Beach Club is in Playa del Carmen.
“When a government takes your money, issues permits, promotes the event and then pretends it’s never heard of you, that’s not just dishonest − it’s theft. Due to this, we have decided to move Fyre Festival 2 elsewhere,” the note to ticketholders claims.
The note added that ticketholders could request a refund. “If you keep your ticket, it will be honored at the new location. No additional tickets will be released until we announce the new venue.”
What happened during the first Fyre Festival?
Intended to be held over two weeks in April and May 2017, the first Fyre Festival was promoted by social media influencers like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber, and ticketholders were promised acts like Blink-182 and Migos.
However, upon arrival, festival-goers learned that the artists had canceled. Due to poor Caribbean weather, the festival was essentially washed out, with the promised luxury accommodations and gourmet food nowhere to be found. In the end, attendees only stayed one night before they were evacuated.
The festival inspired two documentaries, Netflix’s “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” and Hulu’s “Fyre Fraud.”
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
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Tate McRae, Morgan Wallen collab draws backlash from fans
Morgan Wallen dodges ‘SNL’ cast post-show, sparking criticism
Morgan Wallen sparked controversy by abruptly walking off stage at the end of “Saturday Night Live” after serving as the musical guest.
unbranded – Entertainment
Tate McRae, the up-and-coming Canadian pop star, is drawing criticism for an upcoming song with Morgan Wallen.
After the controversial country superstar announced collaborations on his aptly titled album “I’m The Problem,” Wallen shared future songs with frequent collaborators: Post Malone, Hardy, Ernest and Eric Church. But one name stood out: McRae. The forthcoming McRae feature marks Wallen’s first major collaboration with a woman.
McRae first teased the news on April 15 after she posted a picture of a jersey with Wallen’s initials on her Instagram story.
Fans flooded McRae’s Instagram post from April 16, slamming the “Revolving Door” hitmaker for her upcoming Wallen collab: “I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you?” one commenter said while another added, “Girl we love you pls cancel that collab with Wallen pls.” One person wrote, “now why would you go and do that.”
But Wallen fans expressed excitement about the duet on his post, with one user’s comment “37 SONGS AND TATE MCRAE??? 🤯😍🤯😍” getting more than 8,000 likes. Fellow country singer Austin Snell wrote, “Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae will literally break the internet.”
In a Billboard feature published in 2023, Wallen opened up about his lack of collaborations with women in the music industry but declined to name names during his interview with the outlet.
“I’ve reached out to a couple of people, and they’ve turned me down,” Wallen told Billboard. “I just really want certain people, and I haven’t gotten the chance to do it yet. I’m going to keep trying to write songs for it or write with them.” He added that he “would love” to write with more women, as well.
Morgan Wallen is one of country music’s most controversial figures
Wallen, a country chart topper, has courted controversy for a half-decade in (and outside) Nashville, Tennessee.
Most recently, the “I’m the Problem” singer served as musical guest on the March 29 episode of “SNL,” hosted by Oscar-winning “Anora” actress Mikey Madison. When it came time for the signoff at the end of the show, the singer walked off the stage immediately after Madison said goodnight. Wallen briefly hugged the actress but seemed to ignore the rest of the cast and quickly walked past view of the camera.
“SNL” episodes typically end with the host, musical guest and cast remaining on stage for the entire credits to hug each other and chat. After the show, Wallen posted a photo of a plane on his Instagram story and wrote, “Get me to God’s country.”
He also made headlines last year after he was arrested and charged with throwing a chair off a balcony at Church’s rooftop bar in Nashville. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and was sentenced to seven days in a DUI education center and two years of supervised probation.
And in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May 2020 and a series of race-related incidents across America that year, Wallen became a focal point in Nashville’s controversial dealings with race in 2021.
In 2021, a video surfaced of him using a racist slur typically used to describe Black people in reference to another person he was with.
While his career briefly suffered from the incident, his music soared to the top of the charts.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, David Oliver; Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean
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Haley Joel Osment arrested for public intoxication at ski resort
Haley Joel Osment was arrested last week at a California ski resort, USA TODAY confirms.
The “Sixth Sense” and “Forrest Gump” actor was arrested April 8 for public intoxication and possession of an unidentified controlled substance at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area resort in Mammoth Lakes, California, according to reports this week from Entertainment Weekly and People. Sergeant Jason Heilman of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department told the outlets that Osment is no longer in custody.
Osment was described as an “unruly skier,” according to a Mammoth Lakes Police Department media bulletin. People magazine reports the incident is still under investigation, and the Mono County District Attorney’s Office has not announced whether the actor will face charges.
USA TODAY has reached out to Osment’s reps, as well as the Mammoth Lakes Police Department and Mono County Sheriff’s Office.
At the time of his arrest, Osment, a Los Angeles native, was days away from his 37th birthday.
The “Blink Twice” actor has had previous run-ins with law enforcement. In 2018, media outlets reported the actor was involved in an argument at a Las Vegas airport on Super Bowl Sunday, with police being called to respond to an “unruly passenger.”
There was also a 2006 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and misdemeanor drug possession, in an incident where he suffered a broken rib. The then-18-year-old Osment pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years of probation, 60 hours in an alcohol rehabilitation program, attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous and a $1,500 fine.
Osment, who previously lived in Altadena near Eaton Canyon, lost his home in the Los Angeles fires. He told Abe Streep, Meryl Streep’s nephew, in a larger feature for New York magazine that he lost “500 records and a piano his parents had given him when he turned 18.”
The former child actor has increasingly done voice work in recent years, including for “Family Guy” and other TV shows including the Star Wars animated series “Young Jedi Adventures” and the Peacock and Dreamworks series “Megamind Rules!”
This story was updated to add new information.
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Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer revealed in new ‘Fantastic Four’ trailer
Anthony Mackie says Harrison Ford went all in on his Marvel stunts
Anthony Mackie reveals how Harrison Ford refused stunt doubles and went all in for “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Surf’s up! Julia Garner has officially arrived to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The “Ozark” actress finally made her debut as the Silver Surfer in a new trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” released April 17. In the footage, her character is seen arriving on Earth to warn the Fantastic Four that their planet has been marked for death.
Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) then flies toward the Silver Surfer and grabs her board, only for her to knock him away and send him flying back toward Earth. A few more shots of the Silver Surfer are shown throughout, including one of her flying on her board through an explosion.
Laurence Fishburne previously voiced the Silver Surfer in 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” But in “First Steps,” Garner will be playing a female version of the character named Shalla-Bal, who is the herald of Galactus.
Galactus is also featured in “First Steps,” played by Ralph Ineson. The trailer shows the giant villain towering over the city and ends with his large foot stomping through the street.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, who go to space and return with superpowers. In the April 17 trailer, Sue Storm reveals to Johnny and Ben that she’s pregnant.
“You are going to be the best dad,” Johnny tells Reed Richards. “Just kidding, you are out of your depth.”
“First Steps,” which hits theaters in July, marks the Fantastic Four’s long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s also the characters’ first time on the big screen since 2015’s “Fantastic Four,” a notorious bomb widely considered one of the worst superhero films of all time. After Disney acquired Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios gained the rights to try its own rendition of the characters and bring them to its film universe for the first time.
And Marvel is betting big that audiences will dig the foursome. Pascal, Kirby, Quinn and Moss-Bachrach are all already confirmed to be reprising their roles in next year’s “Avengers: Doomsday.” The film will star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, a traditional Fantastic Four villain.
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Lil Wayne opens up about Super Bowl snub over Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar controversial halftime show features Serena Williams
Serena Williams joined Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl halftime show. Lamar performed his diss track “Not Like Us,” about Williams’ ex, Drake.
The NFL missed its chance for a Lil Wayne Super Bowl halftime show, he tells Rolling Stone.
The rapper, 42, ruled out ever playing the Super Bowl halftime show after he was passed over for this year’s event, which was held in his hometown of New Orleans.
“They stole that feeling,” he said in an interview with Rolling Stone published Thursday. “I don’t want to do it. It was perfect.”
Wayne revealed he did not even watch this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, which was headlined by Kendrick Lamar, and instead played pool with fellow rapper Lil Twist. “Every time I looked, it was nothing that made me want to go inside and see what was going on,” he said.
The rapper also confirmed he went out of his way to be “a part of things I’ve never been a part of” leading up to the Super Bowl with the specific goal of being selected as the halftime show performer.
“Like (Michael) Rubin’s all-white parties,” he said. “I’m doing (things) with Tom Brady. That was all for that. You ain’t never seen me in them types of venues. I ain’t Drake. I ain’t out there smiling like that everywhere. I’m in the (studio), smokin’ and recording.”
The Grammy winner has been open about being disappointed that he wasn’t selected for the Super Bowl gig given his connection to New Orleans. The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles was held at the Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9.
After Lamar was announced as the headliner in September, Wayne said in an Instagram Live video, “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for just automatically mentally putting myself in that position. I thought there was nothing better than that spot, that stage, that platform, in my city. So it hurt, it hurt a whole lot.” He also said at Lil Weezyana Fest in November that the Super Bowl “was ripped away from me.”
Lamar later referenced the controversy on his album “GNX,” rapping, “I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.” But on “The Skip Bayless Show” in December, Wayne said he had spoken to Lamar and wished him “all the best” with his halftime show performance.
In February, Wayne confirmed he would not attend the Super Bowl at all, writing on Instagram, “Y’all know I’m not going to be there this week.” But just one week later, he stepped onto a different high-profile stage by performing during the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live.”
Contributing: Taylor Ardrey
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Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy talks death with Jay Shetty
One Direction’s Liam Payne laid to rest at private funeral
One Direction bandmates Harry, Zayn, Niall and Louis attended the private funeral for Liam Payne.
Liam Payne’s girlfriend is sharing the details surrounding his death six months ago.
Kate Cassidy appeared on the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” wellness podcast in an episode Wednesday and detailed her grief, including how she was told about the One Direction alum’s October death.
“I was in the house alone with our dog Nala, and I remember just being on the couch,” Cassidy told Shetty, adding that one of Payne’s friends called and said, “Is Liam OK? I heard he fell from a balcony.”
The former server told Shetty that she “said, ‘What? That must be a rumor.’ I was like, ‘That’s not true at all.’” The British boy band alum, one-fifth of the beloved group, died after he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cassidy said she was surrounded by her mom, the couple’s housekeeper and childhood friends during the ordeal.
The influencer, who boasts 910,000 Instagram followers, and the “Strip That Down” singer went public with their relationship in 2022.
Cassidy posted a photo of the pair making their red carpet debut at the British Fashion Awards in December of that year, calling the night “amazing” in a caption as Payne looked her way with a smitten smile.
Liam Payne girlfriend Kate Cassidy recounts their final conversation
During her interview with Shetty, Cassidy said her last conversation with Payne brings her “a mixture of pain and peace.” On their final day together in Argentina, the last time she saw the singer, Cassidy said the duo “had an amazing breakfast” in the countryside and went horseback riding.
She recalled grabbing her suitcase and said the pair sat together on the couch before she left.
“I just kept going on and on and on about how much I love him and how much he means to me, and how much I’m gonna miss him, and that I can’t wait for him to already be back in Florida because we were starting this new chapter of our life,” she detailed.
“We just bought a new house. We just got a dog. We just moved to America as well. I was living in England with him for two years. We just moved to, you know, my country. It was just all these new beginnings, and it was in just such a positive light,” Cassidy continued. “I remember sitting there with him, and I was going on and on and on and saying to Liam how much I love him.”
Cassidy said Payne “laughed and he interrupted me, and he just said, ‘Kate, like, you’re gonna miss your flight. Your car’s in the driveway. You’re acting like this is the last time you’re ever gonna see me again.’”
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Marvin Sapp releases song stemming from viral ‘close the doors’ video
Grammy-nominated gospel artist Bishop Marvin Sapp announced the release of a new song in response to the widespread criticism sparked by a viral resurfaced video showing him asking for donations and instructing ushers to close the doors at an international church convention.
Titled “Close the Door,” the single will be released on digital streaming platforms on April 18. Sapp says it “isn’t just a song, it’s a soundtrack for survival.”
“I’m releasing it this Good Friday, the day we honor the crucifixion of Jesus Christ,” Sapp added in an Instagram post. “Just like He closed the door on death, Hell, and the grave, I’m closing the door on the noise, the pain, and everything that tried to break me.”
The controversy stems from a viral video in which Sapp speaks in front of the congregation at the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies for the World Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, in July. In the video, he called on churchgoers in the building −and those watching online − to help raise $40,000 by giving $20 each.
“Ushers close the doors,” the singer said repeatedly. “There’s 1,000 of you tonight, and … it’s 1,000 watching online. This is a small seed.”
After the clip went viral, social media exploded with memes, parodies, and backlash. Some people argued that Sapp was aggressive and held the congregation hostage. However, the singer known for gospel hits such as “Never Would’ve Made It” and “Praise Him In Advance”, has since reiterated that his request was taken out of context.
Sapp describes times as ‘tough’
In his Instagram post, Sapp admitted that the “last few weeks have been tough.”
“Misunderstood, misrepresented, misinterpreted, and even maligned,” he continued. “But I’ve learned that when life hands you lemons, you don’t just make lemonade… you build the lemonade company. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.”
During a recent interview on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show”, Sapp − the Senior Pastor of The Chosen Vessel Church based in Fort Worth, Texas − shared that he has received threats, which have led to safety concerns for his family. The bishop addressed his request for donations and apologized for his approach towards the ushers.
“I never said lock the doors. I said shut the doors,” Sapp emphasized. “Shutting doors mean that people still have the ability to go in and out. They’ve taken issue with my tone and I can honestly say looking at the video maybe I was a little more assertive than I should have been. I can apologize for that. “
On the radio program, Sapp clarified that he didn’t pocket any money and was solely fundraising for the non-profit church organization that had supported him for many years. The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. also issued a statement, saying it was “never our intent for our proceedings to be an offense or hindrance for anyone.”
Sapp said “Close the Door” could help others through a turbulent chapter.
“This song will bless you. I believe that with everything in me,” he said. “My assignment in this season through this song is to help you close the door too.”
USA TODAY reached out to The Chosen Vessel Church for comment.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].