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  • Social media reacts as streamer Max changes back to HBO Max

    Social media reacts as streamer Max changes back to HBO Max


    “Everything we’ve ever done or will do, we’re gonna do over and over and over again.”

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    From HBO Max, to Max and back to HBO Max again. The “new-ish name” is causing social media and the streaming service itself to poke fun at the “plot twist.”

    Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO’s streaming service known for popular shows from “The Last of Us” to “Game of Thrones,” announced May 14 that it’s reverting the service’s moniker from “Max” back to its original name: HBO Max. The change is expected to occur this summer.

    “Max is becoming HBO Max!” the streaming service said.

    The company told advertisers in New York that the name change, which is set to officially take place this summer, aims to better meet consumers’ needs.

    ‘White smoke was seen coming from the Warner Bros. water tower’

    While the reason behind the name change may be business-driven, Max couldn’t help but joke about reverting to HBO Max in several X posts.

    “What do we think?” one of the streaming service’s social media posts, which included a meme from the HBO show “Veep,” said.

    In a separate X post, Max shared a GIF of another HBO show, “True Detective,” which includes actor Matthew McConaughey’s character (Detective Rustin “Rust” Cohle) saying, “Everything we’ve ever done or will do we’re gonna do over and over and over again.” The caption for the post reads: “Explaining to my friends I work at HBO Max again.”

    Another X post from Max referenced the recent papal conclave, with the streaming service writing: “BREAKING: White smoke was seen coming from the Warner Bros. water tower. A new brand has been chosen.”

    How many meetings?

    Some users joked about how much time was spent deliberating over the name change.

    ‘I never stopped calling it HBO Max’

    Max couldn’t have all the fun, as social media users commented on the name change, with some saying they didn’t even know the streaming service was changed from HBO Max to Max in April 2023.

    Contributing: Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY

  • See full version of the Cassie assault

    See full version of the Cassie assault

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    Editor’s note: This story contains graphic descriptions and video that some readers may find disturbing.

    Amid Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-crimes trial, prosecutors have released the full version of a 2016 surveillance video showing the mogul physically assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura Fine.

    The video was first made public by CNN in May 2024 after Ventura Fine detailed the incident in her November 2023 lawsuit against Combs, which was settled a day later. In the now-widely circulated clips, Diddy is seen kicking, hitting and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles luxury hotel on March 5, 2016. The video has not been seen in its entirety until now.

    The jury saw the full video at different times in court this week ahead of and during Cassie’s testimony about the violent incident, among others.

    See the full video, edited to include the five camera angles presented in court, below.

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    Prosecutors release 2016 hotel video of Sean Combs assaulting Cassie

    Prosecutors have released the hotel surveillance video from 2016 showing Sean Combs physically assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie. This is the full video, edited to include the five camera angles presented in court.

    Combs’ defense team has called into question the CNN version of the video, claiming the surveillance footage had been altered.

    In a joint letter to Judge Arun Subramanian from Combs’ defense team and prosecutors in March, Combs’ lawyers said they subpoenaed the news network, claiming “a forensic video analysis of the CNN footage” showed it was “substantially altered in significant respects,” including being sped up “to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are.”

    Diddy on Trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges. Subscribe to the newsletter.

    They alleged “CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video; and then destroyed the original footage.”

    The defense tried to have the video excluded from evidence, but to no avail.

    Combs’ inner circle gave one of the security guards a bag of $100,000 in cash for the video to prevent its release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said during opening statements for the trial.

    In response, the defense team argued that Combs was “not trying to obstruct justice” but rather to protect both him and Cassie from “bad publicity.”

    Diddy on Trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges

    Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Patrick Ryan and Aysha Bagchi

  • Tom Cruise goes full throttle

    Tom Cruise goes full throttle

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    If the new “Mission: Impossible” movie is Tom Cruise’s last, he’s going out on top.

    Of an airplane.

    From crawling all over a biplane to spelunking a sunken submarine, the A-lister’s daredevil secret agent Ethan Hunt is going above and beyond to save the world – as usual – in the eighth installment of the franchise, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (★★★½ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters May 23). That “Final” does seem apropos: This installment feels different in terms of its emotional stakes and like more of a closure than ever, weaving in aspects of past movies while putting Ethan through the direst of straits.

    The introduction of “The Entity,” a rogue artificial intelligence, as Ethan’s main enemy leaned sort of silly in the last movie, 2023’s “Dead Reckoning.” Maybe it’s because the real world caught up with the movies, where the AI in co-writer/director Christopher McQuarrie’s action thriller feels more believable as an apocalyptic chaos agent, but the Entity earns those supervillainous stripes this time around: It wants to enslave mankind.

    We’ve had to wait two years to see Cruise back in action but the new flick picks up only a couple of months after the “Dead” ending – enough for Ethan to grow out his hair a bit – and President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) wants the spy to come in from the cold. The Entity has divided people and countries to a staggering degree and Ethan is pretty much the only chance of staving off global nuclear annihilation. The original AI source code is on a Russian submarine at the bottom of the Bering Sea, and Ethan holds the key to unlock it.

    ‘Mission: Impossible 8’ mixes old cast with impressive rookies

    But the situation’s not that simple, logistically or morally, for Ethan and his allies: old friends Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg), pickpocket Grace (Hayley Atwell), ex-baddie Paris (Pom Klementieff) and helpful federal agent Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis). The Entity’s human helper Gabriel (Esai Morales) becomes more of a thorn in Ethan’s side and our heroes scatter to London, South Africa and the Arctic on a mission that would be rather impossible for anyone not named Tom Cruise.

    “Final Reckoning” offers some of the franchise’s tensest moments, to the point where you feel exhausted (mostly in a good way) after nearly three hard-charging hours. The momentum is especially fast-paced, almost overly so, at the beginning, but the film settles over time into the relatively pleasant feel of a runaway train. McQuarrie is so good at parsing out action sequences, dramatic scenes and character moments, and one key scene – where Ethan is quietly investigating a wrecked sub and being tossed and turned like a washing machine – is even oddly calming.

    Overall, there’s an “Avengers: Endgame” feel to “Final Reckoning,” throwing back to plot points and characters from previous films. Henry Czerny is back again as Ethan’s ex-boss Eugene Kittridge and is joined by another returning actor from 1996’s first “Mission,” Rolf Saxon, who played the CIA analyst affected by Ethan’s iconic vault heist. (This thing is such a throwback, even a VHS tape plays a significant role.) The new film also brings in a crop of impressive rookies, too: Nick Offerman is a worried general on Sloane’s Joint Chiefs of Staff; “Ted Lasso” standout Hannah Waddingham chews oceanic scenery as a no-nonsense battleship admiral; and “Severance” phenom Tramell Tillman rules as a steady sub captain.

    Is this the last ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie?

    Cruise, as always, is the main reason why this and every other “Mission” (except for that iffy second one) works. Yes, he’s the world’s most famous stuntman to put his body on the line for the theatrical experience. He also showcases dramatic heft amid a soulful narrative, which skillfully explains why Ethan and his cohorts make the choices they do – and it’s not just to accept a mission with a message that will self-destruct.

    That Cruise might be wrapping up this franchise may seem, well, impossible. Maybe Ethan comes back after a needed vacation and Cruise does this until he’s 90. Maybe there are spinoffs (green light a Tillman-led undersea adventure now, please). Although if “The Final Reckoning” is indeed at hand, you couldn’t ask for a better death-defying, free-falling, edge-of-your-dang-seat sendoff.

  • 'Mission: Impossible 8': Tom Cruise saves day at sea and in skiesMovies

    'Mission: Impossible 8': Tom Cruise saves day at sea and in skiesMovies

    ‘Mission: Impossible 8’: Tom Cruise saves day at sea and in skiesMovies

  • Ms. Rachel defends advocacy for Palestinian children amid backlash

    Ms. Rachel defends advocacy for Palestinian children amid backlash

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    Popular children’s content creator Ms. Rachel says that criticism for her continued advocacy for Palestinian children is unfair and that it “should be controversial to not say anything.”

    Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, addressed the backlash she has gotten in recent months for her advocacy during an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, on his independent publication Zeteo.

    “It’s sad that people try to make it controversial when you speak out for children that are facing immeasurable suffering,” Accurso said in the interview, posted May 12. “The idea that caring for a group of children in an emergency situation means you don’t care about other children is false.”

    Accurso said that her experience as a mother of two young children influenced her to raise awareness for the traumatic events being experienced by children in Gaza.

    Accurso is known online for her YouTube series “Song for Littles,” with a channel amassing just under 15 million subscribers. Her videos focus mainly on teaching children nursery rhymes, and basic concepts like colors, shapes and words.

    Accurso’s advocacy work

    Accurso has teamed up with Save the Children, a humanitarian nonprofit. 

    Last year, she posted a video on Instagram detailing the extensive online bullying she received after holding a fundraiser for Save the Children’s emergency fund for kids in conflict zones across the world.

    “Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the U.S. — Muslim, Jewish, Christian children — all children, in every country. Not one is excluded,” she said on Instagram.

    In recent months, Accurso used her platform to highlight the stories of various Palestinian children. In one post, she shared the story of a 3-year-old Palestinian child who lost both legs in an airstrike.

    “When I saw pictures of Rahaf in Gaza on the hospital floor, I saw the devastating consequences of endless bombing and continuous violations of children’s human rights,” Accurso said.

    Accurso has been deeply criticized

    Her continued work has seen Accurso being attacked by pro-Israeli groups. Last month, in a post on social media, the advocacy group StopAntisemitism asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate if Accurso was “being funded by a foreign party to push anti-Israel propaganda to skew public opinion.”

    The group accused the content creator of being an “amplifier of Hamas propaganda,” saying images that she shared of children in Gaza were manipulated. 

    During her interview with Hasan, Accurso said that her advocacy does not come from a place of antisemitism but rather a sense of empathy for children around the world.

    “I’ve been blessed to get this platform. And kids feel that I care about them all deeply, and that’s why I have the platform. Because they feel it through the screen, because it’s genuine,” Accurso said.

    Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

  • Singer says relationship angered Diddy

    Singer says relationship angered Diddy

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    Kid Cudi’s relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie took center stage during Combs’ ongoing criminal trial.

    Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine, who serves as one of the government’s key witnesses in Combs’ federal sex-crimes case, testified in Manhattan court on May 14 that her romance with Cudi (real name: Scott Mescudi) angered Combs and sparked a violent outburst.

    Cudi was first mentioned in Ventura Fine’s bombshell 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs, with Cassie citing an alleged incident in which Combs threatened to “blow up” the rapper’s vehicle, seemingly in retaliation for his relationship with Ventura Fine.

    Ventura Fine, who’d been dating the hip-mogul since she was 19, said in court that she began seeing Cudi in 2011 after their professional relationship turned romantic. She did not disclose the relationship to Combs at the time.

    During a “freak off” — a type of party featuring sexual performances that Combs has been accused of orchestrating — Combs discovered Ventura Fine’s relationship with Cudi after going through her phone and seeing emails between Cassie and Combs’ assistant, Capricorn Clark, that detailed plans to bring Ventura Fine’s toiletry bag to Cudi’s house the following day.

    Per Ventura Fine’s account, Combs became angry and lunged at Cassie with a wine bottle opener between his fingers, but she said she managed to escape and went to another hotel, where she contacted Cudi using a burner phone.

    During a conversation with Combs following the alleged incident, Ventura Fine testified she wanted to “resolve” the conflict, but the rapper was “irate, so angry.” She added that Combs threatened that he was “going to hurt Scott and I,” including releasing explicit “freak off” videos that featured her.

    While exiting Combs’ home, Ventura Fine said Combs kicked her in the back, causing her to fall to the floor. She claimed she sustained a “large bruise” as a result of Combs’ violence. Additionally, when she returned to her hotel room, Cassie said she found urine on the floor, knocked over furniture and a toilet full of excrement.

    The court was shown large photos of the bruises Ventura Fine had on her lower back and thigh, taken not long after the alleged incident.

    Diddy on Trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges. Subscribe to the newsletter

    Contributing: Patrick Ryan, KiMi Robinson and Jay Stahl, USA TODAY

  • Tory Lanez health update after prison stabbing

    Tory Lanez health update after prison stabbing

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    Tory Lanez’s father is giving fans a health update just days after the rapper was hospitalized after an alleged attack at a California prison.

    Advocates for releasing the 32-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, gathered May 14 to argue they have new evidence they allege will exonerate him. Lanez supporters from Unite The People, the rapper’s nonprofit legal team, gathered in downtown Los Angeles to present their arguments.

    Lanez is serving a 10-year prison sentence at the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi after he was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.

    Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, updated members of the press on his son’s health. He said that on May 13, medical professionals had already removed “the tubes that were draining the fluids from his lungs,” adding that “they took them out because they said he is recovering remarkably.”

    “All that is left is healing from the wounds,” Lanez’s father said.

    Tory Lanez attacked in prison

    Earlier this week, Lanez was allegedly attacked by fellow inmate Santino Casio on May 12 at approximately 7:20 a.m., a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed to USA TODAY.

    “Staff immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid,” according to the statement. “Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment.”

    It is currently unclear what motivated the attack.

    The Office of the Inspector General was notified of the incident, and an “investigation has been initiated by CCI’s Investigative Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.”

    USA TODAY reached out to Lanez’s representatives for comment.

    Tory Lanez’s dad has prayed for Megan Thee Stallion

    Lanez’s father also had a message for Megan Thee Stallion during May 14’s press conference. “We have prayed for her on many occasions,” he said to those in attendance.

    The rapper’s father also thanked the correctional officers his son has “around him” in prison.

    “These guys have been nothing but kind to him. The system is one thing, but guess what? These people still have hearts,” Peterson told members from different news outlets.

    In December 2022, Lanez’s father made headlines for his lively reaction after his son’s guilty verdict was read in the courtroom.

    After the jury left the courtroom, he leapt up and began shouting. “This wicked system stands judged before God almighty!” he shouted, as deputies closed in on him.

    He then pointed to the two prosecutors in the case and yelled, “You two are evil, wicked people. You know exactly what you did.”

    Tory Lanez’s father says Governor Gavin Newsom should pardon rapper

    During the hearing, Lanez’s father also said his famous son asked him to “dispel a few rumors,” including slamming the fact that some fans believe he has a “drinking problem.” The devout Christian also asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom to consider pardoning his son.

    “Gov. Newsom, you have the power to bring my son home,” he said, before adding that the potential Democratic presidential contender is a “family man.”

    “You also have children. Please take a moment and look at your child and ask yourself, ‘what would you be doing if the evidence was so overwhelming? Would you think that this man should be free because he’s innocent?” the rapper’s dad said. “I hope you do, and I hope you do what you need to do.”

    Tory Lanez stabbed 14 times, suffered from collapsed lungs

    Hours after reports of Lanez’s hospitalization came out, his official Instagram account released a statement on the attack.

    “Tory was stabbed 14 times – including seven wounds to his back, four to his torso, two to the back of his head, and one to the left side of his face. Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus,” the statement said.

    “He is now breathing on his own. Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued support.”

    USA TODAY has reached out to the California Corrections Department for comment.

    Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson

  • Law Roach on Zendaya, Anna Sawai Met Gala suits: ‘Both looked great’

    Law Roach on Zendaya, Anna Sawai Met Gala suits: ‘Both looked great’

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    Law Roach has cleared the air about Zendaya and Anna Sawai’s nearly identical custom outfits at the Met Gala, saying both actresses “looked great.”

    Roach touched on the red carpet faux pas during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. The longtime stylist to the 28-year-old “Euphoria” star and fashion it girl said there wasn’t “any disappointment” on their end.

    At the May 5 event, dubbed fashion’s biggest night, Zendaya stunned with a dapper, tailored Louis Vuitton white suit with a matching brimmed hat. Shortly after, Sawai, who starred in “Shōgun,” stepped out in a similar Dior ensemble while carrying white gloves for a stylish touch.

    “Her stylist, Karla Welch, and I are very friendly,” Roach said. “We’ve known each other for years, and Karla and I talked. Zendaya sent Anna flowers because it was her first Met.”

    Roach emphasized that both women were paying “homage to two different people,” with Zendaya referencing Diana Ross and Bianca Jagger while Sawai was channeling Yoko Ono.

    “It just happened. They both looked great, and they’re both beautiful women,” he continued, adding that he hates how critics put women and stylists against one another.

    ‘Great minds’

    The theme for the 2025 Met Gala was  “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and the dress code was “Tailored for You.”

    Roach was on the carpet speaking to Access Hollywood when he caught a glimpse of Sawai’s outfit: “Oop!” he said. “Who wore it better?”

    In another clip from Hello Beautiful, he said, “I am dying because she got on Zendaya’s look. I’m so glad we became early.” His reactions went viral on social media, creating conversation among fashion lovers.

    Sawai’s stylist also acknowledged the moment in an Instagram story, saying, “Great minds @luxurylaw.”

    Regardless of the mishap, Roach shut down the negativity, adding that they both embodied the highly anticipated theme.

    “The Met this year wasn’t about who had the biggest dress or the brightest color,” he added. “It was about representing and honoring tailoring, and I think both of those women did a good job showcasing what the theme was.”

    Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

    Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].

  • Tom Bergeron is back hosting for ‘Shark Week’

    Tom Bergeron is back hosting for ‘Shark Week’

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    Former “Dancing With the Stars” host Tom Bergeron is back to hosting dancing again. But now with sharks.

    The Emmy-winning Bergeron, 70, will host “Dancing With Sharks,” Warner Bros. Discovery networks announced May 14 during New York City upfront presentations for advertisers. The “DWS” special will feature prominently in the Discovery Channel’s upcoming annual summer TV shark-a-thon “Shark Week 2025.”

    Bergeron’s show will feature “the ultimate underwater thrill…an unprecedented dance competition between expert divers and their shark partners,” according to a company release. Just like “DWTS,” there will be professional choreography. But with “DWS,” that training will come from a “world-class underwater choreographer.”

    Tom Bergeron reacts to ‘Dancing With Sharks’ job

    Each diver and shark partner will attempt to outperform their competitors with moves including the Hammerhead Hoedown and Tiger Trot. They will have one shot to wow the judges and be crowned the first-ever “Dancing With Sharks” champion.

    There was a “DWTS” outcry of pain in 2020 when original host Bergeron was shown the exit from the TV ballroom after 28 seasons. But a sunglass-wearing Bergeron gave a toothy smile on an Instagram video when announcing his return (to the “Jaws” theme). “Yup, it’s happening,” Bergeron wrote. “See you this summer. It will be fintastic.”

  • Premiere date, time, cast, what to know

    Premiere date, time, cast, what to know

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    Cue the chaos and drama. “Big Brother” is returning this July with a new season that is its biggest ever in 25 years.

    The reality TV show “follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with 94 HD cameras and 113 microphones, recording their every move 24 hours a day,” according to CBS.

    Every week, someone is voted out of the house, with the last remaining houseguest receiving a grand prize of $750,000.

    In the upcoming season, an all-new group of houseguests will be welcomed into the “Big Brother” House and viewers can “expect the unexpected” in a “season full of twists and turns,” says CBS.

    Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY’s movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox.

    When does the new season of ‘Big Brother’ come out?

    The new season of “Big Brother” will kick off with a 90-minute premiere on Thursday, July 10 at 8 p.m. ET / PT on CBS.

    Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

    How to watch ‘Big Brother’ Season 27

    “Big Brother” will air on CBS. Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers and Pluto TV viewers can watch the episodes on the platforms’ “Big Brother” live feeds.

    ‘Big Brother’ Season 27 episode schedule

    Following the premiere on July 10, new episodes will air Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET / PT, followed by hourlong shows on Thursdays – featuring live evictions – and Sundays at 8:00 p.m., CBS said.

    ‘Big Brother’ Season 27 cast

    CBS has not yet released cast details for the upcoming season.

    ‘Big Brother’ Season 27 host

    Julie Chen Moonves will return as the host of “Big Brother” for Season 27.

    ‘Big Brother: Unlocked’

    This year’s “supersized” season will also feature a new segment titled “Big Brother: Unlocked,” which will include “never-before-seen broadcast footage from the house, exclusive interviews, surprise guest appearances and unprecedented behind-the-scenes access.”

    “Former houseguests will share firsthand insight and expertise as they analyze gameplay, assess the competition and give their insider’s perspective” during the “Unlocked” episodes, which will air every other Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS starting July 25.

    Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.