By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 9 seconds ago

Ever since Starfleet Academy was canceled, the discourse around the show has grown more intense. Vicious battle lines have been drawn between two groups: the older fans who wanted the show to be more like Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the younger fans who praised the franchise for trying something new. Many of that second group have grown particularly shrill, blaming small-minded haters for why their favorite new sci-fi show got canceled. The first group, however, maintains that they just wanted a Star Trek show and not a teenage drama that just happens to be set in space.

What may surprise you, though, is that network executives warned Star Trek about creating a Starfleet Academy-style show over 60 years ago. When NBC was determining which episodes of The Original Series should air first, execs decided they didn’t like “Charlie X” because it focused on an adolescent boy with superpowers. As written in These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One, those executives thought this made the show seem like nothing more than a teenage melodrama set in space. They decided against showing “Charlie X” as the first episode, but thanks to its low postproduction costs (everything took place aboard the Enterprise), it ended up being the second episode ever.

Teen Drama In Space

In retrospect, “Charlie X” was a solid episode. Sure, it felt a bit more like The Twilight Zone instead of Star Trek, but Robert Walker did a great job as the titular Charlie. Plus, this episode was basically a one-off, and no other Original Series episode would channel those same “teen drama” vibes. However, 60 years later, Alex Kurtzman and the other architects of NuTrek ignored what those NBC executives said way back when and decided to give us the ultimate sci-fi teen drama show: Starfleet Academy.

Since Starfleet Academy’s cancellation, there has been endless discourse over why the show got canceled. Everyone knows it got the ax because it didn’t get enough viewers to justify its exorbitant production costs, but why did fans avoid this new show in a way they didn’t avoid, say, Picard or Strange New Worlds? For many fans of old-school Trek, the reason they hated SFA was that it looked like a teen drama in space. Ever since the first previews hit, that’s exactly what these fans dreaded the new show would be, and it justified those fears at every turn.

Star Trek Meets Dawson’s Creek

In-between delivering some life-and-death Star Trek misadventures, Starfleet Academy focused on wacky teen hijinks at every turn. This included prank wars with fellow students, silly love triangles (will the gay Klingon end up with the twink thug or the bisexual disaster?), bar fights, and multiple arcs (for Caleb, SAM, and Genesis) about everyone’s respective mommy and daddy issues. It was what all the skeptics feared: a CW-style teen melodrama that just happened to have the Star Trek name attached to it.

Given its sudden cancellation, it’s reasonable to assume that most fans rejected the new show (there are unconfirmed reports that it averaged only 40,000 viewers per episode). They rejected it because it didn’t feel like Star Trek in the way that Strange New Worlds (itself a direct prequel to The Original Series) or even Picard did. In this way, the fandom validated what those NBC executives tried warning Trek producers about 60 years ago: that this new sci-fi venture needed to be more than a reskinned version of a teenybopper soap opera.

Modern franchise producers like Alex Kurtzman have learned their lesson. Starfleet Academy is clearly not what the fandom wants. Paramount has seemingly learned this lesson as well, and they are preparing to effectively relaunch the entire franchise with a brand new Star Trek movie that ditches the Kelvinverse continuity. At this point, nobody knows exactly what the movie will be about. But based on the new Star Trek spinoff’s failure, it’s a surefire bet that it won’t focus on teen melodrama in space!

Ben McKenzie is incredibly proud of wife Morena Baccarin‘s hit CBS series Sheriff Country — but could he make an onscreen appearance?

During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly about his new documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, McKenzie, 47, revealed if he could see a scenario in which he would appear on the Fire Country spinoff, saying coyly, “I do.”

McKenzie has enjoyed tuning in every week to see Baccarin’s police procedural.

“She’s great. The kids love her show — or at least a couple of them do. We were watching the last two episodes last night,” the actor, who shares three kids with Baccarin, 46, shared. “It was a two-parter. It was a Sheriff Country and then a Fire Country [crossover]. And it’s just awesome.”

Related: Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin’s Relationship Timeline

Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin became real-life loves after meeting on the set of Gotham in 2014. Before she struck up a relationship with the O.C. alum, Baccarin married director Austin Chick in November 2011, welcoming son Julius two years later. Chick filed for divorce from the actress in June 2015. Thank You! You have successfully […]

He continued: “It’s interesting because in many ways, it’s a show that is similar to other shows, in the sense there’s a cop drama, but it’s really about the community of Edgewater and the relationships between all these people in this fictional small town.”

As a viewer, McKenzie has been thrilled by the show’s success just one season in.

“There’s something about the incredibly strong desire for those communities — and the absence of those — that is really quite charming. I also just love that there’s a female lead in a female sheriff,” he explained. “This is a part that would always have gone to a man — including myself — in the past. It’s fantastic to be able to see her do that. She’s crushing it.”

McKenzie admitted it has been “funny” to see how often people now “recognize” Baccarin over him, adding, “I have to try to remind my kids that at one point I was also famous! They’re not impressed by my crypto documentary.”

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which is out in theaters now, explores the cryptocurrency industry. The film was self-financed by McKenzie, who directed, wrote, produced and starred in the documentary as part of research for the 2023 book Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud.

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Related: ‘The O.C.’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Welcome to The O.C.! Ben McKenzie, Adam Brody, Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson were catapulted to fame while starring on the hit teen drama. The Fox series ran from August 2003 to February 2007 and focused on the lives of affluent teenagers in Newport Beach, California. McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Brody (Seth Cohen), Barton (Marissa Cooper), Bilson […]

“I hope people will be entertained. Everyone knows somebody who’s invested in cryptocurrency, but the point of the doc is not really to speak to [the] five to six percent of the population that’s really into it,” he detailed. “The point is to speak to the rest of us, the 80-plus percent of the country that’s never bought crypto. The vast majority of the public is very skeptical of it, because all they read about is the crime and the corruption and the people who lose their money.”

As a cryptocurrency skeptic and critic, McKenzie was hoping to start a conversation.

“I want to express to those people that it’s not you, it’s them. We’re in a bad place right now where crypto has worked its way into our system via the president’s newfound love of crypto and dismantling of regulation and all of that,” he continued. “That’s very dangerous, but we do have the power, if we hold our representatives to account, to change the tide of history and to put this thing back in its place where it belongs.”

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McKenzie was grateful for Baccarin’s help with the project. He also reflected on what he considered his own best investment.

“You’re gonna think this is cheesy, but it’s my relationship with my wife,” he gushed. “It is so hard in life to do it on your own. I’m just deeply grateful for meeting her and for her being brave enough, foolish enough, to marry me. Best investment by far.”

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money is out now.

Lucy Liu is taking a moment to look back on a lyrical shoutout that’s still standing the test of time. The actress joked she’s officially “a part of history” after Destiny’s Child name-dropped her in their 2000 anthem “Independent Women, Part 1,” which was famously part of the rollout for the blockbuster “Charlie’s Angels.”

Now, years removed from the film’s success, Liu is opening up about what it would actually take to reunite with co-stars Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz for another installment, while also teasing a mysterious new role in the upcoming “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Liu is reflecting on the experience of being name-dropped in a chart-topping anthem.

Speaking in a recent interview with PEOPLE Magazine, the actress reflected on hearing her name in Destiny’s Child’s 2000 smash hit, which opened with Beyoncé singing, “Lucy Liu / With my girl, Drew / Cameron D. and Destiny…”

“I guess it means you’re a part of history,” Liu said of the moment, adding that the recognition still carries weight because of its connection to the film. “I think it’s incredible to have that value that was connected to ‘Charlie’s Angels.’”

The track went on to dominate the charts, spending 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was later included on the group’s 2001 album “Survivor.”

Liu Reflects On Boosting Asian Representation

Liu says her breakout moment in “Charlie’s Angels” helped shift how Asian actors were seen in mainstream Hollywood.

Over the years, the actress has built a wide-ranging career, with roles in “Kill Bill,” “Elementary,” and other major productions. But she points to her portrayal of Alex Munday as a defining moment, one that expanded representation in action films and beyond.

“For me, my pride is knowing that my character was able to change the visual aspect of what Americana was, and to create that image that led the way for all other people,” Liu said.

Lucy Liu Still Hears Destiny’s Child Hit In Public

Liu says the legacy of Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women, Part 1” hasn’t faded, and she still hears it in the most unexpected places.

Reflecting on the song’s staying power, Liu shared that over the past two decades, it has continued to pop up in public settings.

“I’ve heard that song so many times in different places,” she said, though she admitted she’s never quite sure why it starts playing. “Was it already in the mix, or did someone just put that on because I happened to show up in the restaurant? I don’t know.”

Either way, the actress says the track still lands the same. “It’s such a wonderful song. And as soon as you hear the beat, you know what’s coming,” Liu added. “You get into the mode, and it kind of transports you. That’s the beauty of music.”

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Liu Teases Reunion With Diaz, Barrymore

Nobody cares about a young Willy Wonka Hollywood! What we want is the third installment of Charlie’s Angels with Lucy Liu, my girl Drew & Cameron D and Destiny’s Child on the soundtrack! pic.twitter.com/Fpmmn9h0CB

— 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼 Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavinoTNews) May 24, 2021

Liu says time hasn’t touched the bond she shares with her “Charlie’s Angels” co-stars Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz.

More than two decades after the film’s release, Liu revealed the trio is still very much in each other’s lives, recently catching up over lunch in New York. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the 2026 Time Women of the Year event in Los Angeles, she described the reunion as one of those rare, meaningful moments that pick up exactly where they left off.

As for whether that off-screen connection could translate into another on-screen outing, Liu isn’t shutting the door. “Let’s see,” she added. “There’s always an ellipsis.”

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Lucy Liu Hints At Surprise Role In ‘Prada 2’

Liu is keeping things under wraps when it comes to her role in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Speaking to PEOPLE, the actress teased that her appearance in the highly anticipated sequel could best be described as a “mystery role,” noting that her absence from most trailers has only added to the intrigue.

“I think that’s what’s special about it,” Liu said. “I think everyone’s looking forward to it.”

While details remain scarce, she hinted at what audiences can expect from the film overall.

“It’s going to be highly entertaining. It’s going to give you all the things, all the eye candy, and it’s going to show that these characters have grown and changed,” she added.

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Chris Brown is speaking out amid backlash over his upcoming tour with Usher.

“The funniest and the weirdest s*** ever to me is the fact that poeple [sic] have the option to come to my tour and the option not to,” the “With You” singer shared in an Instagram Story on Sunday, April 26. “I know everyone who is a fan of me and USHER will definitely be in the building and it will be PACKED just like last year.”

Brown, 36, continued, “But I’m scrolling through insta and tik tok and I come across rage bait pages and or these fake woke stand up for nothing pages bashing people for wanted to come have a good time. The dudes hating, I can understand that(thinking we gone steal ya girl and shit). BUT THE KARENS, and the self hating hoes be making me LAUGH.”

“I CANT WAIT TO RUB THIS S*** IN YALL FACE,” he added.

Related: Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty in U.K. Bottle-Throwing Incident

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Chris Brown‘s 2009 arrest for physically assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna was just the beginning of his ongoing legal issues. Brown rose to stardom after releasing his studio album in 2005. His second album, which was released two years later, featured his hit song “Kiss Kiss,” which put Brown on the path to being […]

Brown and Usher, 47, announced their Raymond & Brown Tour, abbreviated the R&B Tour, on April 10. The joint tour is set to launch on June 26 in Denver and wrap in December in Tampa, Florida.

However, the tour has faced criticism due to Brown’s various legal issues over the years, including allegations of abuse against women. The singer pleaded guilty to the felony assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. He served five years probation and agreed to community service and domestic violence counseling.

“I look back at that picture, and I’m like, ‘That’s not me, bro. That’s not me.’ I hate it to this day. That’s going to haunt me forever,” he said in his 2017 documentary, Chris Brown: Welcome to My Life.

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Brown and Usher’s coheadlining tour comes three years after the pair allegedly got into a physical altercation at Brown’s 34th birthday party in Las Vegas in May 2023. TMZ reported at the time that Usher appeared to have a bloody nose following the alleged skirmish. The pair later performed at Usher’s Lovers & Friends festival.

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Despite the incident, Usher and Brown have collaborated on songs including “New Flame.” During an April 2023 interview with BigBoyTV, Usher said he was open to further collaborations with the “Run It” singer.

“If that ever happens, it’ll be one of the biggest things that anybody has ever experienced in entertainment in celebration of two people who love each other,” Usher said at the time. “I love Chris. I don’t like his music — I love his music [and] I love him. He’s my little brother, and he’s always been there for me, and I’ve always been there with him. Through hard ups and down times, I’ve been there with him. And for us to be able to celebrate what we do together, man, that’ll be crazy.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 18 seconds ago

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show that has only gotten better with age. It was arguably the best genre series of the ‘90s, and the streaming era has brought new generations of fans into the fold. Most of those fans feel a very personal connection with Buffy because the show tells stories about teenage drama and trauma through the lens of urban fantasy. In this way, the show was never really about vampires, werewolves, and other demons. It was actually about the heartbreak and fear that young people have about feeling helpless, and the transcendent joy they feel when they finally discover their own power. 

Of course, the show changed one fan’s life in a much more direct way by giving her a walk-on cameo in one of the series’ best episodes. The drama-filled episode “Lovers Walk” had an over-the-top, comedic ad with a special sweepstakes where one lucky fan could get a cameo in the upcoming episode “The Prom.” The winner was Jessica Johnson, who became a small part of the show’s history thanks to the strangest advertisement in Buffy history.

Reach Out And Dust Someone

“Lovers Walk” was a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode that (you guessed it) was all about the messy romantic relationships of our favorite characters. Bad boy vampire Spike tries to coerce Willow into making a spell that will force his old girlfriend, Drusilla, into loving him again. Willow, however, has her own problem: she has been making out with Xander behind the back of Oz, her faithful werewolf boyfriend. Cordelia discovers their affair, causing her to break up with her boyfriend, Xander. Meanwhile, Angel reluctantly admits he cannot tell Buffy what she really needs to hear: he doesn’t love her.

While “Lovers Walk” is one of the better episodes of Season 3 (arguably Buffy’s best season), the sweepstakes attached to this episode is even more entertaining than the story. It’s part of a 1-800-COLLECT advertisement. Sarah Michelle Gellar pops up and tells fans they don’t have to be alone for the holidays. At this point, the announcer tells audiences that every call will enter fans into a Buffy contest where they can win a cameo in an upcoming episode. After the narrator hypes the upcoming “Lovers Walk” episode, David Boreanaz shows up, startling Gellar. She nearly stakes him with an icicle. The ad ends with her telling fans that their “Christmas wish might just come true.”

’90s Nostalgia Overload

There is something impossibly nostalgic about watching this vintage advertisement. For one thing, a commercial for a collect calling company seems downright quaint in an age of smartphones and video calls. Additionally, the ad seems hilariously tacky in retrospect. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most critically acclaimed genre shows in television history, but its two biggest stars were forced by the network to do a goofy commercial that seemed more suited for a Saturday morning children’s cartoon block than prime time TV.

The commercial also plays with ambiguity regarding whether these actors are actually playing their iconic Buffy characters. On one hand, it makes no real sense for our favorite Slayer to break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience about how great collect calls are. On the other hand, she nearly takes out Boreanaz with an icicle in the shape of a stake. If this is supposed to be Gellar and not a fierce vampire killer, it’s insane to think that this was the best self-defense tool rather than, say, some mace.

The Weirdest Contest In Buffy History

At any rate, all’s well that ends well with this bizarre advertisement. It did a great job promoting “Lovers Walk,” which ended up being one of the best episodes (currently sitting at an 8.8 out of 10 on IMDB) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Meanwhile, the sweepstakes was successful, and Jennifer Johnson of Maryland got a non-speaking cameo in the fan-favorite episode “The Prom.” Ironically enough, the only real loser here was 1-800-COLLECT, a company that, like a vampire, basically turned to dust shortly after its run-in with the Slayer.

Incidentally, it’s pretty funny to see Buffy shilling for a 1-800-COLLECT, a telecom giant whose parent company would go bankrupt before the show aired its final episode. But what else would you expect from a character whose earliest tagline was “if the apocalypse comes, beep me”?

Al Pacino marked his 86th birthday with an unexpected reunion, spending part of the day alongside his ex, Beverly D’Angelo. Though their romance ended more than two decades ago, the pair have remained close over the years, largely due to their shared role as parents to twins Anton and Olivia, now 25.

D’Angelo has previously spoken candidly about their relationship, including the IVF journey that led to the birth of their children.

Pacino and his ex, D’Angelo, looked effortlessly sharp as they reunited ahead of his 86th birthday.

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The Oscar winner has long made headlines for his relationships, but D’Angelo appears to hold a uniquely lasting place in his life. More than 20 years after their split, the pair chose to celebrate the milestone together, per the Daily Mail.

Pacino kept things understated in a dark ensemble, stepping out in an overcoat layered over loose trousers, with a fringed scarf wrapped around his neck. He finished the look with a beanie and sunglasses.

D’Angelo struck a brighter contrast, pairing dark trousers with a crisp white shirt and a yellow blazer, accessorized with a chic scarf. Both opted for sneakers, giving their coordinated looks a relaxed, effortless finish.

How Pacino First Met D’Angelo Mid-Flight

Pacino first crossed paths with D’Angelo in 1996 during a flight from Los Angeles to New York, and the connection was immediate.

Seated in front of her, Pacino was drawn to D’Angelo’s charm and eventually asked her to move up and sit beside him, she later recalled in a 2023  Instagram video. What started as a chance encounter quickly turned into something more, with the pair hitting it off before the plane had even landed.

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Their whirlwind romance moved just as quickly on the ground. By 1997, Pacino had already brought up the idea of having children. Though D’Angelo had long avoided that path, she admitted she was “100%” open to it at the time, driven by how deeply she had fallen for the “Godfather” actor.

Al Pacino And D’Angelo’s Split Got Complicated

The couple’s relationship took a turn for the worse after they welcomed their twins, Anton and Olivia.

Pacino and D’Angelo turned to in vitro fertilization to start their family, a process they began in 1997 before finally welcoming their children in 2001. While their arrival marked a joyful milestone, it also came during a period of growing strain in the relationship.

“Yikes, it got complicated, and our split was finalized in 2004,” D’Angelo later admitted, reflecting on the end of their romance.

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Despite going their separate ways, the two remained closely linked through their children. Co-parenting wasn’t always smooth, but D’Angelo said that their shared love for Anton and Olivia ultimately helped them navigate the tougher moments and find common ground.

Pacino’s Ex Opens Up On ‘Deeper Intimacy’

D’Angelo has since offered a rare glimpse into how her relationship with Pacino evolved after their split, describing a connection that runs deeper than their former romance.

Reflecting on their journey, she explained that what they built as co-parents ultimately reshaped their bond. “We lived together for seven years, had two children, broke up, but continued steadily on our journey as co-parents, and came to share our lives with a deeper kind of intimacy, honesty, and acceptance than a ‘traditional’ relationship would have allowed (for us at least),” she revealed.

Al Pacino Always Wanted A Large Family

Pacino’s path to fatherhood may have unfolded over time, but it was always part of a bigger vision he had for his life.

In addition to the twins he shares with D’Angelo, the actor has a daughter, Julia, with acting coach Jan Tarrant, and later welcomed a fourth child with former partner Noor Alfallah.

In a rare 2020 interview with El País, the actor reflected candidly on that journey, acknowledging both his regrets and growth as a parent. “I know it’s hard for a child to grow up without the attention of their parents,” he said, referencing his own upbringing after his parents’ early separation. “I myself was not a good father to Julia… and things improved with the twins.”

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A highly anticipated concert by Shakira has been overshadowed by tragedy after a fatal accident during stage preparations in Brazil.

What was meant to be a celebratory event has instead taken a somber turn, as details emerge about the incident and the industry reflects on the risks behind large-scale productions.

The devastating incident occurred while crews were assembling the stage for the upcoming show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Organizers later confirmed that a worker lost their life following the accident.

In a statement shared via the official Todo Mundo No Rio Instagram account, organizers said, “The event organizers confirm that an accident this Sunday afternoon (April 26th) tragically claimed the life of a professional who was working on assembling the structures for the show.”

They added, “First responders provided initial care at the scene, and the Fire Department was immediately called to transport the patient.”

Despite emergency efforts, the situation took a heartbreaking turn. “Unfortunately, the professional passed away at the hospital,” the statement continued.

Organizers also expressed their support for those affected, noting they are “providing all support, comfort, and solidarity to the responsible company, its team, and the victim’s family” during this difficult time.

Eyewitness Describes Chaotic Moments At Shakira Stage Site

As news of the tragedy spread, accounts from those present painted a picture of confusion and urgency in the moments after the accident.

An eyewitness told France24 they saw “people running” as the structure was being set up. They recalled, “When we looked, the structure was on the ground.”

The situation quickly escalated, with bystanders realizing the severity of what had happened.

“People were saying that a man had gotten trapped underneath,” the eyewitness explained. “People rushed over to pull him out.”

Shakira Event Safety Response Detailed By Officials

Emergency services were quick to respond, with local authorities providing further clarity on how the incident was handled.

The Rio de Janeiro Military Fire Brigade confirmed that the worker sustained severe injuries during the setup process.

In a statement to PEOPLE, officials explained, “A worker suffered crushing injuries to his lower limbs in a lifting system.”

They added that colleagues acted swiftly before emergency teams arrived, saying, “Before the arrival of emergency teams, the victim had already been removed from the equipment by other employees present.”

Medical teams then took over care. “Military personnel from the ambulance service of the 3rd Maritime Group (GMAR-Copacabana) immediately began pre-hospital care on the victim, who was then transported to the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital. Despite the efforts of the rescue teams, death was confirmed,” the statement concluded.

Shakira Show Still Planned As Questions Linger

The tragic event comes just days before Shakira is set to headline the free Todo Mundo No Rio concert on May 2.

The large-scale event, which began in 2024, transforms the iconic Copacabana Beach into a global stage celebrating international music.

Previous editions featured major artists like Madonna and Lady Gaga, and expectations for this year’s show have been high.

However, the recent incident has cast a shadow over the preparations, raising concerns about safety and the emotional toll on those involved.

Before the accident, the singer had been sharing her excitement about the upcoming performance with fans.

In a recent Instagram post, she wrote, “Almost there, Rio!!! Prepping so many surprises for you: guest artists, new wardrobe, songs you’ll love to hear.”

She added, “Can’t wait to be there … no altar do planeta!!”

Shakira Nominated For Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

The tragic incident also comes at a significant time in Shakira’s career, following her nomination for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class.

Speaking to AP News, she reflected on the honor, saying, “I feel really humbled and excited at the same time. It’s incredible to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a little bit surreal as well.”

She further explained her musical roots, noting, “That’s an intricate part of my artistic persona. And everything that I listen to is rock music.”

Reflecting on her current success, she said, “I don’t know what’s going on. But this year, like, all my wishes are coming true, and I think this nomination is one of those things that you probably fantasize about sometime in your career but try not to get too fixated on it.”

She also spoke about representation, adding, “I feel very proud as a Latina… I think it might be the first time for a Latino woman, someone born and raised in Latin America.”

“I’m happy to feel that I’m representing a part of my community there,” she continued.

As anticipation builds for the performance, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the unseen risks behind major live events, leaving both fans and industry insiders reflecting on what should have been a moment of celebration.