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Met Gala taps dandy fashion: Photos of stars who've embraced the styleCelebrities

Met Gala taps dandy fashion: Photos of stars who’ve embraced the styleCelebrities

May 2, 2025
Russell Brand sexual assault charges update: Comedian appears in court

Russell Brand made his first U.K. court appearance ahead of what may be a lengthy trial over charges that he raped and sexually assaulted multiple women.

In the brief appearance May 2, Brand listened as the charges were laid out and then was granted conditional bail, according to CNN and The New York Times.

In gold-rimmed aviator shades and a shirt unbuttoned to expose a large swath of his chest, Brand was escorted by police into the courtroom, through throngs of photographers.

When the hearing was done, he exited into a black Mercedes Benz. Brand has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Russell Brand charges include rape

The comedian and actor was charged by London’s Metropolitan Police last month with with rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.

Detectives in the U.K. began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, a release from authorities revealed at the time. The tips followed a growing body of reporting in the British press that accused Brand of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Brand later took to Instagram to respond to the charges.

“We’re very fortunate in a way to live in a time where there’s so little trust in the British government,” he told followers in a video statement. “We’re very fortunate, I suppose, that this is happening at a time where we know that the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people.”

The charges stem from a series of alleged incidents in the late 1990s and early 2000s: a rape in 1999, an incidental assault in 2001, an oral rape and sexual assault in 2004 and another sexual assault between 2004 and 2005, according to Metropolitan Police.

“The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” Andy Furphy, a detective superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, said in a release at the time of the charges. “The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police,” Furphy said.

Long a controversial figure, Brand has fallen out of public grace amid reports of alleged rape and assaults. In the years since he has taken a religious turn, announcing plans last year to be baptized and using his social media to dip into conspiracy circles, spreading unfounded theories on topics ranging from 9/11 to the COVID vaccine.

“I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had my wife and family … I was a fool, man,” Brand continued in his Instagram statement, saying he was a drug and sex addict and even an “imbecile,” but never a rapist.

“I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity, I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes,” the actor continued, saying he felt “grateful” he would have the opportunity to defend himself in court.

Russell Brand rape, assault charges follow BBC apology

The charges against Brand follow a formal apology given by the BBC to employees in January over its handling of harassment complaints against the comedian during his tenure at the network.

The British news organization published the results of a review into Brand’s conduct, revealing that power dynamics at play created a breeding ground for Brand’s “unacceptable” behavior.

Brand, who served as a presenter on BBC’s 6 Music and Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008, first fell under scrutiny in 2023 after a spate of women accused the actor of emotional and sexual abuse.

The accusations of wrongdoing at the BBC included Brand exposing his genitals to a woman in a bathroom shortly before recording a segment for his radio show in which he joked about the encounter. The woman was not a BBC employee but worked in the same building as the company’s Los Angeles bureau.

Another claim, made by a woman who said she had a three-month relationship with Brand when he was a presenter for Radio 6, alleges he used to have a car pick her up at school or her grandmother’s house and bring her to his home. She was 16 at the time while Brand would have been in his 30s.

“What is clear is that many BBC staff and freelancers, especially in more junior roles, found Russell Brand demanding and difficult to work with and his behavior extreme, but all felt that there was no point in complaining as they believed they would not be listened to and, rightly or wrongly, that Russell Brand as a high-profile presenter had the support of the station management,” wrote Peter Johnston, the BBC Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

May 2, 2025
‘Thunderbolts*,’ stream ‘The Four Seasons’

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Every big movie franchise should have their own Bad News Bears squad, with misfits, castoffs and underdogs. And in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that’s the Thunderbolts.

The new adventure “Thunderbolts*” – and yes, there’s a reason for the asterisk – brings together a bunch of scrappy antiheroes and some of the best actors, like Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan and 11-time Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It’s a dark action comedy that appeals beyond the usual Marvel fandom, so you’ll want to catch that. Also, the new Netflix marriage comedy “The Four Seasons” is another starry affair (with Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Colman Domingo) while the controversial Western film “Rust” finally is released after years of legal wrangling and tragedy.

Now on to the good stuff:

See Florence Pugh lead Marvel’s latest supergroup in ‘Thunderbolts*’

The Marvel movies have been a bit of a roller coaster since 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” Some really good stuff, others that leaned a little mediocre for the considerable high bar set. Thankfully, “Thunderbolts*” reminds of the early, go-for-broke days of the MCU with a crew of lovable characters – David Harbour is the gift that keeps on giving as ex-Soviet super-soldier Red Guardian – and a meaningful narrative that leans on the superpowers of friendship and empathy. (Peep my ★★★ review. and also my parent’s guide.)

I talked with some cast members about navigating their characters’ emotional turmoil in “Thunderbolts*” as well as their return in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” movie. Sebastian Stan, a MCU elder statesman, appeared in the last two “Avengers” movies, “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” and those “felt so out of this world in terms of achievement and being able to get all those people together and everything,” he says. “So how do you build from there to this?”

“Thunderbolts*” also kicks off a big summer movie season, so be sure to check out our preview with exclusive peeks at 15 upcoming films such as “Lilo & Stitch” and “Superman.”

Stream Tina Fey’s new Netflix dramedy, a remake of ‘The Four Seasons’

Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Will Forte and Colman Domingo? All in the same show? On paper, the Netflix remake (streaming now) of the cozy 1981 Alan Alda marriage dramedy sounds like a binge-able hit. But TV critic Kelly Lawler is mixed on the story of three couples dealing with relationship issues over one year and four seasonal vacations. In her ★★ review, Kelly writes the show is “as clueless as its characters.”

The original “Four Seasons” was formative for Fey in her preteen years. “It was basically my version of ‘Twilight’ fan fiction,” she quips to my pal Patrick Ryan in an interview. Making the show, which also features her friend and frequent collaborator Erika Henningsen, proved cathartic for Fey following her mom’s death and daughter’s departure to college. “It definitely kept me in the world,” she says, “because I could have easily kept more and more in my house.”

Watch Alec Baldwin’s haunted, controversial Western drama ‘Rust’

My colleague Marco della Cava poses an interesting question in his must-read story about “Rust”: Is it OK to see Alec Baldwin’s Western movie, given that a woman died during filming? In 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set when a prop gun being held by Baldwin discharged a live bullet. After years of lawsuits and courtroom drama, director Joel Souza (who was also injured in the incident) finished the movie (now in theaters and on demand). According to the director, Hutchins’ family wanted her last work to be seen. “They did not want it to simply vanish,” Souza says via email. “Halyna was on my mind every single day. You could feel that with everyone there.”

And “Rust” does succeed at being a tribute to Hutchins. It’s a pretty straightforward Western story that has eerie echoes with real life, but also a gorgeously shot film that showcases the talents of both Hutchins and Bianca Cline, who finished the movie after her death. (Peep my ★★½ review.)

Even more goodness to check out!

Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email [email protected] and follow me on the socials: I’m @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.

May 2, 2025
Watch Jesus in 'The Chosen: Last Supper' trailer: When does it stream?TV

Watch Jesus in ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ trailer: When does it stream?TV

May 2, 2025
Jesus throws tables for Season 5 ‘Last Supper’

Rejoice: “The Chosen: Last Supper” has an official streaming date.

The eight-part fifth season resumes where the previous one left off, capturing a crowd celebrating the arrival in Jerusalem of Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) at the start of the week (known as Palm Sunday) and ending before Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Season 5 is our most intense yet,” says Dallas Jenkins, creator of the first multi-season historical drama about Jesus. “There are a million people all in one city, the enemies, the followers, the friends, the believers, the antagonists. They’re all together, and they’re all plotting either for or against Jesus.”

“This is the season where some of the most iconic moments in history are taking place,” Jenkins says. “You’ve got the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. You’ve got the turning over of the tables in the temple. You got the Last Supper. You got Judas’ betrayal.”

Yet even the small moments are impactful, Jenkins says, like when Jesus is by himself, shouldering the agony to come.

“What he’s thinking about happening in the future, what he’s thinking about happening in the past and what he knows is going to happen this week, it’s got such dramatic weight to it that it feels big, even though it’s just one person,” Jenkins says.

When will ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ stream on Amazon?

Season 5 of “The Chosen” will be available for streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video on June 15

Watch ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ Season 5 trailer

‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ trailer: Amazon Prime Video streaming date

‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ Season 5 goes to Amazon Prime Video on June 15. Watch the trailer featuring Jesus (Jonathan Roumie).

The Season 5 trailer features somber Jesus amid the palm-waving jubilation over his arrival. Yet Jesus becomes angered by the desecration of the temple and begins tipping over the merchants’ tables in the holy place while wielding a righteous whip. “You serpents!” Jesus yells. “How will you escape being condemned to hell?”

Jesus remains calm at the Last Supper, but the tension persists. There are glimpses of the betrayal by Judas (Luke Dimyan), who asks Jesus amid the temple wreckage, “What have you done?”

Season 6 covers a 24-hour period during which Jesus was nailed to the cross. The series is slated to end with Season 7, the resurrection.

May 2, 2025
Michelle Obama again addresses Barack Obama divorce rumors

In Michelle Obama’s opinion, “everyone would know” if she was divorcing her husband.

The former first lady said it wouldn’t be a secret if she was splitting from former President Barack Obama, during a May 1 episode of “The Diary of a CEO” podcast with host Steven Bartlett.

“If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,” she said, telling Bartlett that her brother and “IMO” podcast co-host Craig Robinson “would know it,” too. The “Becoming” author also said that “I would be problem solving in public,” adding, “I’m not a martyr.”

The former collegiate head basketball coach Robinson said if the pair were having marriage problems, “I’d be doing a podcast with (Barack Obama).”

Michelle Obama breaks silence on skipping Trump’s second inauguration

This is not the first time the “Becoming” on Netflix star has addressed viral rumors that her marriage with president No. 44 was ending, which first surfaced after she skipped President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.

Marriage and more: Sign up for USA TODAY’s Keeping It Together newsletter.

Michelle Obama said differences with Barack Obama make them more compatible

On the April 23 episode of “IMO” featuring Robinson and Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, Obama revealed why she decided to skip Trump’s second inaugural ceremony.

“My decision to skip the inauguration – or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me – were met with such ridicule and criticism,” Obama explained during the episode. “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.

“I’m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me, and it took everything in my power to not do the thing that ‘was right,’ or was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me,” she added on “IMO.”

Michelle Obama hits back at divorce rumors that start when she makes ‘a choice for myself’

This year, amid Trump’s second stint in office, the former first lady has emerged as outspoken as ever – about her own marriage and own opinions – since leaving the White House in 2017. The Obamas married in Chicago in October 1992 and share two adult daughters, filmmaker Malia, 26, and 23-year-old University of Southern California alum Sasha.

Obama echoed her earlier comments about why she skipped the event to Bartlett in the “Diary of a CEO” episode.

“You know, as a box-checking person who has been checking her whole life, doing the right thing, trying to always be an example, always going high … I think I just told myself, ‘I think I’ve done enough of that,’ and if I haven’t, then I never will. It’ll never be enough. So let me start now,” Obama said.

But the Higher Ground co-founder said the differences in her and the former president’s respective personalities actually make them more compatible.

When “I met Barack Obama, he showed up in my life as the opposite of a box checker, but somebody that I describe in my book as an ‘ultimate swerver.’ He did nothing by the book,” she said. “He was brilliant and interesting.”

May 2, 2025
Blake Lively’s ‘Another Simple Favor’ twist explained (spoilers!)

Spoiler alert! We’re discussing plot details from “Another Simple Favor” (streaming now on Prime Video). Beware if you haven’t seen it, because we don’t want ruin the viewing experience.

AUSTIN, Texas – Those who have gulped down “Another Simple Favor” like a meticulously made gin martini finally know what “curveball idea” Blake Lively alluded to at the sequel’s South by Southwest premiere.

The actress told the festival audience that just prior to filming, director Paul Feig approached her with a new concept: Emily being a romantic interest of her obsessive sister Charity, also played by Lively.

“It was very uncomfortable to watch in this theater with you all fine folks,” Lively joked of a scene in which Charity makes advances on a sedated Emily. “That was my own personal torture!”

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When returning to his characters ‒ true crime-consumed mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and con-in-Christian Louboutin Emily Nelson (Lively) − Feig longed “to preserve the twists and turns and the unexpected” of the 2018 original “and try to take it to the next level.”

As Stephanie investigates the disappearance of the enigmatic Emily in “A Simple Favor,” she discovers her new bestie (born Hope McLanden) faked her own death. Emily killed her identical triplet sister Faith to use her body in the supposed drowning. Charity, the third sister, supposedly died at birth, but it is revealed in “Another Simple Favor” that Aunt Linda (Allison Janney) kidnapped Charity and raised her as an accomplice to her grifts.

“The criticism that came out of certain critics for the first movie was that, ‘The third act goes off the rails! It gets so crazy,’ ” Feig says. “But that’s the purpose of these movies. These movies and these characters are supposed to get crazy. That’s the world I want to create within because I love entertainment that is maximalist, that really goes for it.”

Charity feels strongly that she and Emily should be together, so she poses as the bride in her wedding to Mafioso Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), who is murdered on his wedding night. Charity longs to be her sister’s everything, including her, well, lover.

“That,” Feig says with a nervous chuckle, “was inspired by − I was an only child growing up, and I was super-awkward with girls and was terrified to ask them out. And I would always have this fantasy of like, if I could clone myself, I could just date myself.” To clarify, Feig dreamed of being with a clone, “a carbon copy of myself that would know exactly what I wanted,” not a sibling.

For “Another Simple Favor,” he thought, “ ‘Well, Charity’s such a mess, this character who’s been raised by herself, and so lonely and put in these weird situations that she would probably be wanting that, too.’ That’s why she keeps saying, ‘We are one. There’s not you and me. We are just one.’ ”

When Lively heard his idea, she was on board, Feig says. “She was like, ‘Let’s do it. I’m going to trust you.’ ”

‘Another Simple Favor’: Why director Paul Feig ‘tried to kill’ the sequel

And like the sisters, Feig also feels this franchise is fit to be a trilogy.

“The evolution of Stephanie, I’m really fascinated by,” he says. “Because I think where Stephanie ends up at the end of ‘Another Simple Favor’ is a good jumping-off point to a new life situation for her that I’ve got in my head.”

It won’t be a happily ever after with Emily’s ex-husband, Sean Townsend (Henry Golding), murdered in the shower.

“I think Stephanie maybe needs to move on to somebody a little more stable than Sean,” Feig says with a laugh.

May 2, 2025
Fashion designer accused of sexual assault

Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, according to a new lawsuit that claims he drugged and assaulted a man in 2024.

The complaint, filed on behalf of a man named Patrick Cooper in New York Supreme Court on April 29, alleges that Tisci, 50, spiked Cooper’s drink before taking him back to his residence and sexually assaulting him.

“These allegations are categorically untrue. Riccardo looks forward to clearing his name of these false and malicious accusations,” a spokesperson for Tisci wrote in an email to USA TODAY May 2. “He will obtain vindication through due process.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Cooper’s lawyers for comment.

Tisci, the former creative director of Givenchy, is accused in the complaint of “predatory, nonconsensual sexual acts,” and deliberately drugging Cooper’s drink so he would be “disoriented, confused, impaired, intoxicated, unaware of his actions and surroundings, and unable to comprehend what was going on for the duration of the drug’s effect.”

The assault is alleged to have taken place in June at 2 Sisters 4 Brothers Restaurant and Lounge, a casual eatery and dance venue in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood.

Alleging he has, in the wake of the assault, suffered “serious and severe psychological and emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, and economic damages,” lawyers for Cooper are demanding compensatory damages.

Tisci is accused of violating New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, battery, assault and false imprisonment.

Key to that final allegation is an argument that after drugging him, Tisci prevented Cooper from leaving his apartment, which Cooper knew at the time but to which he was unable to object, given the effect of the drugs.

A notable name in the industry since the early aughts, Tisci spent over a decade at Givenchy before nabbing a spot as Burberry’s chief creative officer, a position he held for four years until 2022.

Carving out a niche in haute couture, particularly, Tisci’s designs have been worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.

May 2, 2025
David Beckham gets birthday tribute from Victoria Beckham

David Beckham is 50!

The legendary pro footballer’s wife Victoria Beckham posted a sweet video of the pair dancing to “Islands In the Stream” by Dolly Parton and the late Kenny Rodgers, the duo’s 1983 hit song.

“Happy birthday eve @davidbeckham… my everything ❤️ My best friend, soul mate and dance partner for life🕺 💃 ✨ Like the song says 🎶We start and end as one, In love forever, We can ride it together, ah ha🎵I love you xxxxxxxxxx,” the fashion designer captioned the video on the eve of Beckham’s May 2 birthday.

The duo ~~famously~~ danced to the same song in the buzzy 2023 Netflix documentary “Beckham.” ~~on Netflix.~~

Another video posted to Instagram by the Spice Girl of her husband throughout the years was captioned, “When I look at this video, I think, ‘Wow… how lucky am I!!’ 😂 You’re everything I could have dreamed of and more. Happy 50th @davidbeckham!!! I love you and our beautiful family endlessly.” She added that “you complete me.”

The A-list couple tied the knot in July 1999 and are parents to four children: 26-year-old Brooklyn; Romeo, 22; Cruz, who is 20; and their only daughter, Harper, 13. In a May 2 post on Instagram, the former soccer star reflected on his 50th birthday.

In his carousel, which features throwback photos of him as a child, Beckham wrote, “As I reflect on this Birthday I’m very grateful for many things in my life the teams I’ve played for , my team mates , managers , the fans , MY COUNTRY and being England captain , the children I have met over different charities I work with , my team in my business & the friends I have around me I feel truly blessed.”

David Beckham calls family ‘biggest accomplishment’ in birthday post

Beckham added that his “biggest accomplishment is and will always be my family, my mum and dad who sacrificed so much for me to live my dream of becoming a footballer, my sisters who had to put up with following there brother around in the freezing cold watching me play football and my amazing nan and grandad.”

Most importantly, Beckham said that his “wife and best friend of 28 years” Victoria and “beautiful children” Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper “are the reason I get out of bed each day thank you for making me smile and thank you for making me a better man,” adding that “I love you all so much and thank you for making today special for me.”

When is David Beckham’s birthday?

Victoria Beckham turned 50 last April. Beckham, ahead of his May 2 birthday, highlighted his work with humanitarian aid organization UNICEF to help raise awareness earlier this year.

May 2, 2025
Beyoncé ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour fashion: designers, messages, more

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter performed the second night of her “Cowboy Carter” tour in Los Angeles, and once again, fashion took center stage.

At SoFi Stadium on May 1, the 35-time Grammy winning singer brought high-fashion and cowboy couture to the stage. There was lots of western-glam with sparkly chaps, cowboy hats, boots and a piles of fringe. The megastar also used her wardrobe to send powerful messages.

And while the entire show consisted of noteworthy looks, there were some standout outfits worth highlighting.

Notable new looks during Night 2

In true Bey fashion, she brought even more looks to the stage for her second show. Most notably, Beyoncé wore a new outfit at the start of her song “Alliigator Tears.” It featured a sparkly top, a black cowboy hat and knee-high cowboy boots.

Toward the end of the show, fans also noted a new outfit as she sang her single “16 Carriages” and other songs. The new look was an all-Black get up with massive American flag cuffs at the bottom of each pant leg.

‘America Has a Problem’ outfit

Outside of the new looks, Beyoncé continued to make a statement with her wardrobe. During one interlude, Beyoncé plays a news snippet where news commenter Megyn Kelly says, “Country music’s been around for a long, long time. It goes right to the heart of America, and most Americans in red states have been loving and enjoying it long before ‘Queen Bey’ decided to stick her big toe into the lane.”

She intercuts this sound bite with various news clips along with videos of Black musicians from the past before a message that reads “despite noise, we sing.” The interlude then goes into her 2022 song “America Has a Problem” and during this performance, Beyoncé, her 13-year old daughter Blue Ivy and the rest of the dancers wear white jumpsuits that have “America Has a Problem” written on them. Their outfits also appear to feature newspapers and lyrics to her other songs like “I’m that girl.”

The fashion choice emphasizes a powerful message about America.

‘Bncntry’ cap

Another memorable look featured Beyoncé in denim shorts, thigh-high white boots, and a sparkly top. She paired the look that with a cap that read “bncntry.” In other words, she’s letting spectators and fans know she’s “been country” rather than infiltrating a new space she hasn’t already been a part of.

Beyoncé’s LED gown featuring 35,000 lights

Beyoncé’ lit up the stage with a LED gown as she sang “Daughter” both nights, and the dress has been one of the most striking looks yet. Created by designer Kunihiko Morinaga, who is behind the Japanese brand Anrealage, the standout gown features around 35,000 LED lights that change in sync with the song’s progression.

For the dress, Morinaga worked with Mplusplus, a Japanese design firm led by Minoru Fujimoto known for integrating LEDs into textiles. The firm developed a wireless control system to change the lights as Beyoncé performed.

Beyoncé first kicked off her “Cowboy Carter” tour on April 28 in Los Angeles, the first of of 32 stadium shows. Fans from all over the world traveled to witness Beyoncé’s first two Los Angeles shows, which were filled with family, politics, soaring vocals, incredible costumes and masterful dancing.

The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26. She’s set to make history with her scheduled tour dates, including by playing the most dates at SoFi Stadium of any artist.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

May 2, 2025