Rejoice, sci-fi fans — Apple TV, in an elegant little hat-trick maneuver, has simultaneously announced Silo Season 3’s summer premiere date, dropped an enigmatic trailer, and introduced multiple new faces to the show’s already impressive roster. The official press release confirms that Season 2’s last-minute additions, Jessica Henwick and Ashley Zukerman, have boarded Season 3 as series regulars, with Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey), Laura Innes (ER), Reed Birney (House of Cards), Matt Craven (A Few Good Men), Morven Christie (Grantchester), and Colin Hanks (FX’s Fargo) joining them in undisclosed roles.

Although the streamer doesn’t specify who the newcomers play, based off the context provided by the promotional images, it’s safe to assume they exist in the “Before Times” era that Henwick confirmed (in a Collider exclusive) will play out alongside Silo’s original, far-future timeline. If showrunner Graham Yost‘s dystopian drama continues to follow the overall shape of Hugh Howey‘s book trilogy, then these characters are either responsible for the silo’s creation or exist right on the outskirts — and still find themselves dragged into its harrowing, conspiratorial orbit.

‘Silo’s Second Book Explains How the Apocalypse Happened

Without venturing too deep into the spoiler waters, Howey’s second book, Shift, doubles as a sequel following Juliette Nichols’ (Rebecca Ferguson) next steps after returning to her silo and a prequel divulging the events behind Earth’s cataclysmic destruction. Daniel Keene (Zukerman), the Georgia congressional representative introduced alongside Henwick’s journalist Helen Drew in the final minutes of Season 2’s finale, becomes one of Shift‘s point-of-view characters. After he’s approached by the distinguished and powerful Senator Thurman, Daniel joins a classified project called the Containment and Disposal Facility, or CAD-FAC, a sophisticated subterranean repository for radioactive waste.

Believing he’s contributing to world safety, Daniel applies his architectural degree to the underground facility’s design. Aside from Daniel and Thurman, the initiative’s core leaders include Erskine and Victor, who hold their motivations close to their chests. When the nuclear bombs of mutually assured destruction fall, all four CAD-FAC creators shelter inside the silo. It’s only then, with Earth devastated beyond compare, that Daniel learns his partners’ ruthless intentions, why the attacks occurred, and the project’s actual name — World Operation Order Fifty (its acronym, W.O.O.L., sneakily calls back to book one’s title, Wool).

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Forget ‘Silo,’ One of the Most Bonkers Sci-Fi Thrillers Ever Made Is Free to Stream in May

‘Silo’ will return for Season 3.

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Are ‘Silo’s New Cast Members Tied to the Past?

Since Birney and Matt stand side-by-side in the images, it stands to reason they’re tackling Erskine and Victor, respectively. Innes, meanwhile, has every appearance of a competent, scheming politician holding the world in the palm of her hand. As for how Findlay, Christie, and Hanks relate to the books’ remaining vital characters, since Christie stands in a political office area, she might be Thurman’s daughter, Anna (who, for added drama, also happens to be Daniel’s ex-girlfriend).

The same logic applies to Findlay’s costume. Daniel’s sister, Charlotte, is a former naval officer, and Findlay’s jacket and baseball cap all but confirm she’s either active in or retired from that profession. Although Hanks stands near Henwick, his contribution is more ambiguous to the point of speculation; his role could subtly connect to the books or be invented for the show’s purposes. When it comes to Silo‘s slippery nature, there’s only one guarantee: book-reading fans and show-only viewers alike should brace themselves for the mind-melting scale that awaits.

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Silo

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May 5, 2023

Showrunner

Graham Yost

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Bridgerton Season 4 may have belonged to Benedict and Sophie on paper, but it still found room to leave the Ton in chaos on the way out. After Penelope finally stepped away from Lady Whistledown and appeared ready to start a new chapter as a novelist, the finale pulled the rug out from under everyone with the reveal that Whistledown had returned anyway — and not by her hand. It was exactly the kind of last-minute twist the show loves, and it instantly turned the conversation from one romance to the next looming mystery. Who is she?

While promoting Season 2 of Big Mood, Nicola Coughlan told Radio Times that she is more than ready for the series to keep evolving beyond Penelope’s time at the center of the Whistledown saga.

“I think in a way, it’s great because it’s a show that keeps reinventing itself. Same thing – you have to hold on tightly, let go lightly. Like I loved leading that show, it’s amazing but it’s exhausting – it was so much work. You don’t really have a life when you’re doing it, which I was sort of fine with. It’s about eight months filming and then it was like six months promotion around it. It was amazing but I’ve taken everything out of that that I could possibly want.”

What Can We Expect From ‘Bridgerton’ Season 5?

Coughlan added that it now feels “lovely to pass it on to someone else” as the series moves forward and noted that Season 5 is about to begin filming. That lines up neatly with how the creative team has framed the twist. In a previous interview with Radio Times, showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed that she, Shonda Rhimes, and the writers already know who the new Whistledown is and have been writing toward that reveal. Brownell explained that once Penelope’s identity was exposed, some of the old tension around Whistledown naturally disappeared, so handing the pen to someone new opens the door to fresh red herrings and a new mystery. She also said the move lets Penelope step into a different phase of her life with Colin, rather than keeping her trapped in the same secret forever.

“Shonda and I and all my writers know who Whistledown is and we’ve been writing to that. But that was what was really exciting to us was to A: let Penelope move onto a next chapter as a novelist, in her romance with Colin et cetera. But I think once we revealed that Penelope was Whistledown at the end of season 1 and especially now that she’s come out publicly at the end of season 3, the stakes of it – we lost a bit of them in season 4. It was really fun telling the story of her having to face some accountability with the people she’s written about, but it’s also so fun now to have red herrings and clues and have no one know because it’s not from the books at this point… Yeah we’re going a bit rogue.”

Bridgerton streams now on Netflix.

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December 22, 2020

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Netflix

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Directors

Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson

Writers

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Abby McDonald, Sarah L. Thompson, Daniel Robinson, Oliver Goldstick, Leila Cohan-Miccio, Azia Squire, Sarah Dollard, Eli Wilson Pelton, Janet Lin

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• 

  Luke Thompson

  Lady Violet Bridgerton

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  Ruth Gemmell

  Benedict Bridgerton

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Megan Thee Stallion’s Broadway debut has come to a sudden and emotional end, leaving fans stunned as the rapper steps away from “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” far earlier than planned. 

What began as a historic moment quickly turned complicated, with onstage tears, a serious health scare, and a very public breakup with Klay Thompson all unfolding at once. 

Now, the Grammy winner is pulling back, choosing to focus on her well-being after weeks of pressure both on and off the stage.

Megan Thee Stallion made headlines when she confirmed she would step away from her role as Zidler, becoming the first woman to take on the character before exiting just a month into her run.

Taking to her Instagram page, she shared the update directly with fans, writing, “Hotties, my last performance as Zidler in @moulinrougebway will be May 1,” despite originally being scheduled to perform through May 17 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. 

In her message, the rapper reflected on the experience with gratitude, describing it as an honor and praising the people she worked with. 

She highlighted their “dedication, the stamina, the work ethic, the time and the effort” that goes into every performance. 

“I’m so grateful for the cast and crew that made this experience so meaningful. And to all the hotties that showed up or planned to attend, thank you for supporting me during this incredible journey! I LOVE YALL. See you soon,” she finished.

Fans Share Mixed Reactions To Megan’s Announcement 

Shortly after making the announcement, some fans trooped to the comments section to show support to Megan Thee Stallion. 

“Meg, I hope you feel the genuine love from your supporters. Some of us go to war online when it comes to you because we genuinely love you,” one fan wrote.

Another user added, “Megannn the entire internet is riding for youuu baby girl we love you so much, love,” while a third commented, “We love you Megan! Please rest & take all the time you need.”

Some fans also blamed Klay Thompson for Megan’s decision, with one writing, “Yeah we’re going to have to drag Klay by his ankles ATP.” Another noted, “Tell him meet me on court I’ll settle this.”

A third fan also shared, “Meg give me his South Bay address I’ll make sure he never knows peace,” while a fourth commented, “I can’t wait for Megan to come out with a new song addressing Klay because that will be number one.”

Megan Thee Stallion Breaks Down Onstage As Pressure Mounts

Before announcing her exit, Megan gave fans a glimpse of the emotional toll she had been carrying.

During a curtain call, she broke down in tears, a moment captured in fan footage that quickly circulated online. 

As reported by The Blast, the rapper was met with a standing ovation from the audience after finishing the show, and as the applause continued, she turned away and appeared to wipe tears from her face.   

Despite her efforts to remain composed, the overwhelming response from the crowd seemed to trigger the tearful reaction, with fellow cast members offering visible support on stage.  

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Megan ultimately regained her composure and continued the curtain call, allowing the rest of the cast to take their bows. 

Megan Calls Out Thompson After Split

The timing was especially notable, as it came just one day after Megan Thee confirmed her breakup from Klay Thompson. 

As The Blast reported, she didn’t hold back when addressing the split, making it clear what led to the end of their nine-month relationship.

In a statement, she said, “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay. Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward.” 

She added, “I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”

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Before that, she shared a more emotional reaction online, calling out “cheating,” and his hesitation about being “monogamous.”

“Holding you down through all your horrible mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season, now you don’t know if you can be “monogamous?” the “Lover Girl” rapper shared via Instagram story, adding, “Bi*** I need a real break [from dating] after this one.”

Megan Thee Stallion Opens Up About A Health Scare

Weeks before her split with Thompson, Megan  had already been dealing with physical strain from performing. 

During a March 31 show, she experienced “extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction and low metabolic levels,” which led to her being taken to a hospital for treatment. 

Following her health scare, the 31-year-old opened up about how serious the moment felt and why she needed to slow down.

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She admitted on Instagram, “Last night was a real wake-up call for me. I’ve been pushing myself past my limits lately, running on empty, and my body finally said enough.” 

Megan revealed she thought she might faint on stage and could not continue, adding, “I just need one day to rest, reset, and take care of myself the way I should have been.”

Piers Morgan was seemingly not entirely comfortable during his recent interview with Russell Brand, which went viral due to the comedian struggling to find a Bible passage.

“Never had a guest be so inappropriately tactile during an interview, which surprised me given the allegations against him,” Morgan, 61, replied to a fan via X on Monday, April 27.

The fan initially pointed out that Brand’s “touching was extremely condescending” throughout the Piers Morgan Uncensored interview, to which Morgan himself admitted the experience was “a bit weird, yes.”

Us Weekly has reached out to Brand’s spokesperson for comment.

During the Friday, April 25, episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, the host asked Brand, 50, to recite a Bible passage that was meaningful to him.

Brand agreed to share a passage that he read before a recent court hearing in the U.K., where he is facing charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault based on allegations from four different women between 1999 and 2005. (Brand has denied any wrongdoing in the case. He did recently admit on The Megyn Kelly Show that he slept “with a 16-year-old when I was 30,” which was legal in the U.K. due to the age of consent being 16.)

Brand claimed to produce the same Bible he’d brought with him to court to read a passage from Isaiah but could not find it. Morgan watched in complete silence as Brand searched for around 90 seconds, unable to locate the verse.

“The verse that I was looking at that day was …. Not this … I can’t actually find the verse that I had that day,” Brand finally admitted. “But this is good enough. This is from Isiah 12.”

The clip quickly went viral, prompting Brand to try to explain himself to his fans via X on Sunday, April 26.

Related: Everything to Know About Russell Brand’s Sexual Assault Scandal

Russell Brand is facing sexual assault, rape and emotional abuse allegations by multiple women. The U.K. newspaper The Times published a bombshell article about the actor and comedian in September 2023, in which four women alleged being sexually assaulted by Brand between the years of 2006 and 2013. Ahead of the article’s publication — a […]

“I’m still looking for that passage actually from my dire… from Piers Morgan. Wait for it… wait for it. Look, it was marked all along,” Brand told his followers. “I was looking for it. I thought, ‘I should find the actual right passage — the exact one I was looking at when I was sat in the dark in the court.”

He then read a passage from Isaiah 43:18-19, saying, “‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.’ See, I am doing a new thing! ‘Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’”

Brand asked his followers whether they felt whatever they “personally face will align and combine with something universal.”

“That our whole culture is a bit like a wasteland?” he continued. “I mean, the political scene — both globally and domestically, wherever you are, but also, you know, globally. And sort of personally… this isn’t a great time in the world. It’s like the Roaring ‘20s but again the Roaring ‘20s was between the wars.”

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Related: Russell Brand Reflects on ‘Profound Experience’ of Getting Baptized

Russell Brand has taken a step in his Christian faith by experiencing a sacrament of initiation. “Yesterday, I got baptized and it was an incredible, profound experience,” Brand, 48, wrote via Instagram on Monday, April 29. “Many aspects of it were very intimate and personal. The truth is this. As a person that has in […]

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Brand added, “And maybe from a macro perspective or a holy perspective the world has always been caught in such tension and indeed that is exactly what this book and the prophecies of Isaiah posit — that it’s not some localized thing.”

Meanwhile, Morgan reacted to the viral nature of the clip by sharing an awkward photo of Brand seemingly saying a blessing over him before the interview — including putting his hand on the host’s shoulder.

“I knew my Russell Brand interview would be an interesting experience when he insisted on saying a prayer for both of us before we started,” he quipped via X on Friday, adding on Monday, “The pre-show prayer was almost as excruciating as the extended Bible-rustling…”

I’ve spent a lot of time during The Rookie‘s eighth season complaining about storylines being dragged on for too long. It’s nice for procedurals to have a few overarching plots to tie the season together, but it can also be tiresome when too many of these narratives overstay their welcome. Now, with the season almost over, the cop drama has finally wrapped up one of its ongoing plots, and it was done in a tasteful, poignant way.

‘The Rookie’ Concludes Monica’s Storyline for Good

Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan) has been a villain on The Rookie for several seasons now, but most of the scenes she was in have felt stale recently. In Episode 17, Monica shows up to the office of Liam Glasser’s (Seth Gabel) attorney, Malcolm (Sean Patrick Thomas). She knows that she’s running out of options, but is still seeking an exit package to get out of the game. But our cops are already onto her tricks. She tries negotiating with Wade Grey (Richard T. Jones) and Matthew Garza (Felix Solis), and says that she can bring in a big fish, a criminal named Cooper Johnson. Monica meets with the big baddie she worked with prior to this, named Aidan Warner (Tim Griffin), but he threatens Monica. Unless she can deliver Cooper in handcuffs or dead, she hasn’t fulfilled her end of the bargain. It seems that trying to be a double agent is definitely not working out for Monica.

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‘The Rookie’ Turned a Great Character Into a Cartoon Villain

She had so much potential and now she’s completely one-dimensional.

During this rendezvous with Aidan, the police listen in and immediately realize that Monica has violated the terms of her immunity agreement. They begin to track her down, with an exciting chase scene (some of which takes place in a spa where Monica has stashed a car in the parking lot). At first, it seems like Monica might actually get away since Aidan has promised her a plane waiting at the airport. But first, she makes a stop at Wesley Evers’ (Shawn Ashmore) house to say goodbye. This moment is incredibly sweet, and it shows that before she was hardened by life, Monica actually was a normal girl who fell in love with Wesley and showed great promise as a lawyer.

Monica hops into an Uber, ready to start her new life, but is filled with dread when she realizes the young woman driving has sped right past the LAX exit. The car stops, and Monica accepts her fate, calmly saying, “Please, not the face,” and we simply hear two shots ring out. In this last plea, Monica’s vanity is present until the very end. We get one brilliant shot, with the porcelain-looking Monica, with her bright red hair, lying in the dirt where she was dumped. The entire crew turns up there the next morning, and it’s a powerful conclusion to Monica’s storyline. She offered a lot to the series, and although Regan is an incredible actor, it was definitely time for her stint on the show to be over. Luckily, Monica received a heartwrenching and twisted ending that befit her character on the show.

‘The Rookie’ Season 8, Episode 17 Brings Back a Familiar Face

Even though Monica’s storyline is definitely the headline of the episode, it actually opens with a different returning character. Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino) is driving along in a very expensive car, when he’s ambushed. During the carjacking, the thieves also took his brand-new $800,000 watch. It’s fun to see Aaron back on our screen, especially because his storyline feels really organic to the episode. But his case isn’t solved quickly. Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) does her best to run down chop shops and other hotspots for criminals, but they can’t seem to find Aaron’s car or his pricey watch.

Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) meets with Aaron’s jeweler, Pierre (Michael Nouri, who recently wrapped up a stint on The Pitt). Pierre is the one who sold Aaron the watch, and he’s helping Tim pick out Lucy’s engagement ring. In a subsequent scene, the team eventually tracks down Aaron’s car, and of course, an action-packed chase ensues. It’s determined that a man named Winchell, who worked for Pierre, was the one who targeted Aaron since he knew he’d be wearing the watch. After a fight ensues, Aaron happily takes his watch off the criminal. This is a smart B-storyline that allows the crew to investigate a case and permits Aaron to rejoin the group, even if it’s just for one episode. Valentino offers a fun energy to the cast, and it’s always nice to see him pop up again.

Liam Glasser’s Case Is Over… for Now in ‘The Rookie’

Image via ABC

We ended Episode 16 with Miranda (Hannah Barefoot) running away with her children. John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) end up tracking her down at a friend’s house. They convince her to come out of hiding and attend her custody hearing, so that there’s less of a chance that serial killer Glasser will gain full custody. At the hearing, Nolan is called to the stand by the judge to offer his opinion on the case. Nolan details some of Glasser’s misdeeds, and Malcolm demands that he be allowed to cross-examine Nolan. But even when pressed, Nolan remains resolute that Glasser is an evil, dangerous man. The judge agrees — not only is Miranda awarded full custody, but the judge also institutes a restraining order so that Glasser can’t even see his children. After the hearing, Glasser is seething, but he says one last terrifying thing to Nolan. He cites horrific real-life serial killers like the Golden State Killer and BTK, and how they went dormant when they had small children. This is Glasser’s way of insinuating that without his children in his life, he’ll have much more free time to murder. He also threatens Nolan that whatever happens next will be Nolan’s fault.

I wish a little bit more time had been given to Tim’s storyline this week. He does give a very sweet description of the type of person Lucy is to Pierre when trying to select an engagement ring. But the episode gives way more airtime to Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) accidentally sending a voice note to Rodge (Zander Hawley), so that he thinks Celina is expecting him to propose. I get that this is supposed to be a silly narrative, but it feels out of place in the episode. In the end, Tim picks out the perfect ring for Lucy, and Rodge and Celina are back to a good place in their relationship. I just wish this otherwise stellar episode had focused solely on the other main storylines, instead of tossing this light-hearted plot in as well.

New episodes of The Rookie air on Monday nights on ABC, with episodes available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

While many are familiar with big-name filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve and James Cameron, talented and gifted minds that have brought some of the biggest franchises to life, like Villeneuve’s Dune and Cameron’s Avatar. There are others who, while they might not have quite as impressive a portfolio, are by no means walkovers in terms of the quality of the work they’ve delivered upon. British filmmaker and actor Stephen Fry falls into that category, and while Fry might be best remembered for his role as the Irish writer Oscar Wilde in Wilde (1997). The comedian has other noteworthy projects in his portfolio with one soon coming to FOX.

The legendary British icon of stage and screen is renowned for lending his voice to the entire Harry Potter book series audiobook franchise. Now, Fry’s next task is set, as he is set to rekindle his working relationship with FOX after a recurring role as psychiatrist Dr. Gordon Wyatt on the hit crime procedural Bones. In February of this year, it was announced that the network gave a straight-to-series order to a new spy drama, The Interrogator. Presumably fashioned in the image of Prime Video’s British spy drama, The Night Manager, Fry’s The Interrogator will be written by, executive produced, and even star the British icon.

Now, the pieces on the board for The Interrogator are finally beginning to take shape as the cast begins to emerge. Luke Kleintank, star of CBS’s now-cancelled, yet highly appreciated crime drama series, FBI: International, is set to join The Interrogator. The pilot script was written by Fry, and Kleintank will play Voss, a member of Conrad Henry’s small circle of analysts/advisors. He’s a former Special Forces officer and an Army whistleblower with a strong moral code. Voss is also a former Colorado farm boy, who’s quiet, outdoorsy, and prefers dogs to people… except for an unlikely clandestine romance with fellow team member Florence that can only stay secret for so long. Kleintank comes with a lot of experience, having headlined CBS’ FBI: International for its first three seasons as Special Agent Scott Forrester.

What Is ‘The Interrogator’ About?

Fox’s The Interrogator is produced in collaboration with Lionsgate Television and has a 12-episode straight-to-series order for the 2026-27 season. Fry’s script has revisions from Matt Pyken as well as William Harper, who also executive produces alongside Fry and Paul McGuigan. The upcoming series centers on former MI6 agent Conrad Henry (played by Fry) and his elite team. When conventional methods have failed, Henry’s quirky charm, superior intellect, and mind-bending behavioral maneuvers make him the only man able to lockpick the minds of the world’s most dangerous criminals.

The Interrogator does not have a release date yet. Stay tuned to Collider for updates.

Rihanna is drawing criticism online after being hosted for a private lunch by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s family during her visit to India, where she is expanding her Fenty Beauty footprint.

The singer and business mogul was also pictured taking part in a traditional cultural ritual, but it is her meeting with the Ambanis that has fueled accusations from some critics who labeled her a “sellout.”

The backlash comes just weeks after Rihanna made history as the first woman to surpass 200 million RIAA-certified singles, a milestone achieved without releasing a new album in nearly a decade.

Rihanna was recently in India for a special Fenty Beauty–linked visit. The singer is looking to expand the brand’s retail footprint in the country through Reliance Retail’s beauty platform, backed by the Ambani family.

During the trip, she was hosted by the Ambanis and is reported to have joined them for a private lunch, where she also took part in a traditional aarti ceremony.

In photos circulating online, the “Diamonds” hitmaker is seen holding a ceremonial tray with a lit wick, a central element of the ritual. In another moment, she bends down to feed a young cow, while separate images show her posing alongside guests and Anant Ambani.

Aarti is a significant ritual in Hinduism, in which light from a ghee- or camphor-lit wick is offered to a deity. The ceremony symbolizes gratitude, devotion, and the triumph of good over evil.

The Singer Faces ‘Sellout’ Claims Over Ambani Ties

Social media users were quick to weigh in, with much of the criticism centered on Rihanna’s association with the Ambani family.

“She’s a sellout. Any and every billionaire steps on innocent throats to get there, and now she’s making it even more apparent,” one Reddit user wrote.

“Billionaire joining in for local billionaire performative bs, more at 7,” another added, while a third commented, “I love you Rihanna, but there is no reason one person should be this rich.”

Others took issue with the broader spectacle surrounding the Ambani family, with one user noting, “I feel like every year there’s a headline about the Ambanis involving celebrities who have laid low and/or a new level of extravagance lol.”

Rihanna Made History As First Woman To Surpass 200 Million RIAA Singles Certifications

The moment comes just days after Rihanna made history as the first woman to surpass 200 million RIAA-certified singles, even as she remains on a decade-long album hiatus.

According to PEOPLE, the singer currently ranks third overall with 200.5 million units, trailing only Morgan Wallen (215 million) and Drake (277.5 million).

The singer reached the milestone without releasing a new album since her 2016 project “Anti.” In the years since, she has shifted focus toward growing her Fenty Beauty empire while building a family with A$AP Rocky.

The ‘Umbrella’ Star Teases Genre-Defying New Album

Meanwhile, Rihanna continues to hint at her long-awaited return to music, revealing in a 2025 interview with Harper’s Bazaar that she’s feeling “really good about” her next studio album.

“There’s no genre now. That’s why I waited,” she explained. “Every time, I was just like, ‘No, it’s not me. It’s not right. It’s not matching my growth. It’s not matching my evolution. I can’t do this. I can’t stand by this. I can’t perform this for a year on tour.’”

The musician emphasized that the extended gap between releases has raised the stakes for what comes next.

“It has to count. It has to matter,” she continued. “I have to show them the worth in the wait. I cannot put up anything mediocre.”

Rihanna Left Shaken After Gunfire Near Home

Back in March, Rihanna was left shaken after a woman allegedly opened fire outside her Beverly Hills home.

The suspect, identified as Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, was accused of discharging a firearm near the property. Although no one was injured, sources said the incident was deeply unsettling for the singer.

“Even with a great security team in place, it’s scary to realize that something like this can still happen,” an insider said, per PEOPLE. “Rihanna heard the shots but was initially confused about what happened. She doesn’t understand why someone would target her family.”

Taylor Swift is making a strategic move to protect her brand, filing trademarks that cover her voice and likeness. As AI tools continue to blur the line between real and fabricated content, her latest move adds a layer of protection against deepfakes that misrepresent her identity or damage her reputation.

Swift’s move comes after Matthew McConaughey filed trademark applications for his voice, likeness, and famous catchphrase, signaling a growing trend of high-profile figures taking steps to protect themselves against unauthorized AI use.

On April 24, Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, LLC, filed three trademark applications to protect her voice and image, as shared by trademark attorney Josh Gerben on his blog post dated April 27.

Gerben, who is not associated with the pop star, noted that this move is specifically intended to protect against artificial intelligence amid growing concerns about unauthorized AI-generated content spreading online. Swift has filed three applications: two for her voice and one for her image.

The first filing has the singer saying, “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” while the second says, “Hey, it’s Taylor.” The third trademark filing includes a photo taken at one of Swift’s performances during the “Eras Tour.” In it, the singer stands in front of a microphone, holding a pink guitar, wearing a sparkling bodysuit and knee-high boots.

The Trademarks Add A Layer Of Protection

As Gerben noted, high-profile individuals are already protected by “Right of Publicity” laws, but filing these trademarks offers “an additional layer of protection.” Singers also rely on copyright law to prevent unauthorized use of their music. However, that does not necessarily extend to AI-generated content, and the trademarks may help address that loophole.

Although the trademarks specify a specific phrase and image, Gerben notes that Swift could challenge deepfake content that is “confusingly similar” to her voice and image. “Theoretically, if a lawsuit were to be filed over an AI using Swift’s voice, she could claim that any use of her voice that sounds like the registered trademark violates her trademark rights,” he wrote, adding that the same goes for Swift’s image trademark.

Taylor Swift Follows Matthew McConaughey’s Lead

In 2025, eight of Matthew McConaughey’s trademark applications were approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including his voice, image, and even his famous catchphrase, “Alright, alright, alright,” as reported by The Wall Street Journal. “My team and I want to know that when my voice or likeness is ever used, it’s because I approved and signed off on it,” McConaughey explained, adding that he wants a clearer boundary for “ownership and consent” when it comes to AI technology.

Filing trademarks to fight against AI, such as what McCounaughey and Swift did, is new and hasn’t been tested in court. As the actor’s attorney said, “I don’t know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this.” A federal court would need an actual case to test the validity of the legal arguments behind the filings.

Taylor Swift Became A Target Of Deepfakes

In January 2024, Swift made headlines as sexually explicit deepfake images of her made rounds and went viral on social media platforms. The platforms and anti-abuse groups fought to have the images removed, but due to Swift’s immense popularity, they spread rapidly and were viewed by millions, per AP News.

The Swifties rallied behind the singer, using the hashtag #ProtectTaylorSwift and posting legitimate, positive photos to drown out the fake ones. Reality Defender, an AI-generated media detection platform, monitored the activity and discovered that about two dozen fake images were spread. “Unfortunately, they spread to millions and millions of users by the time that some of them were taken down,” Reality Defender’s head of growth stated.

The Pop Star Addressed AI Concerns

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, an AI-generated image of Swift as Uncle Sam circulated on social media, with the text “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.” Trump reposted the image on his Truth Social account, captioning it, “I accept!”

Swift was alerted to the AI image and took to Instagram to address the fake post, saying it brought up her fears about artificial intelligence and how it can be used to spread misinformation, per NBC News. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is the truth,” she said. Swift then urged her followers to vote and endorsed Kamala Harris.