Ed Sheeran opened a concert Saturday (Sept. 19) with comments about Gaza after controversy swirled around his tour. As previously reported, the supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with the opener, Macklemore. The rapper was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. Sheeran began the concert alone on stage with no opener, but was joined by other musicians later in the show.

RELATED: All Of Ed Sheeran’s Supporting Acts Quit His Tour After His Response To Macklemore Being Kicked Off (UPDATE)

What Happened With Macklemore & The Other Acts?

Sheeran spoke on Saturday in front a nearly full stadium after a hectic week that began with Macklemore, Sheeran’s original U.S. opener, being dropped from the tour. His removal was a response to him saying “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran last week said he was not responsible for the decision. Instead, it came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. His company owns a stadium where Sheeran’s tour was scheduled to play on Friday.

Still, within hours of Ed Sheeran’s statement last Tuesday, his supporting acts withdrew. Sheeran has performed many songs solo during his Loop Tour concerts. However, he was joined for several songs at each stop by the Irish folk band Beoga before they dropped out in support of Macklemore. Macklemore was replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe before they too backed out. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Ed Sheeran in South America later this year. However, he too dropped out last week.

Macklemore said last Wednesday that he is donating $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts. The rapper called on Kraft to match the gift. In response, a spokesperson for Kraft has said the billionaire and Ed Sheeran have each agreed to donate $2 million. However, the men have not specified where the money will be directed. Sheeran’s representatives have not responded to AP’s multiple requests for comment.

Ed Sheeran Addresses Tour Fallout & Gaza Situation During Show

The musician said he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics. But he said the attacks in Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, were horrific and what is happening in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable.”

“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” Sheeran said during his performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Ed Sheeran also told the crowd in Philadelphia that everyone is welcome at his concerts, and they can have opposing points of view while still singing his songs, which are about “love, hope and unity.” He also told fans he worries about venues pre-approving performances.

“This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world,” Sheeran said.

The Grammy winner’s statement was a stark difference from his energy earlier last week. At the time, he was adamant that he wouldn’t be drawn into a discussion of the war in Gaza, arguing that his fans don’t come to his shows to hear about these issues. Also, Sheeran said he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge” before Macklemore was dropped. He insisted he would never willingly let down his fans or abandon the touring crew and others who rely on him to make a living.

Protestors Pull Up To Ed Sheeran’s Philly Show 

Before Saturday’s show, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators congregated outside the stadium. Hillary Steinberg, 34, said she got concert tickets a year ago but wound up getting a refund and attended the demonstration instead. She was, per the Associated Press, disappointed that Sheeran did not take a stand.

“I was, until this week, a big Ed Sheeran fan,” Steinberg said. “I think all art is political, and all music is political, and so this choice — even though he was saying that he wasn’t complicit — is a political choice.”

Diane Savitz, a 53-year-old from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, got tickets months ago and attended. She said she is a big Sheeran fan, doesn’t think he did anything wrong and a concert is not the place for politics.

“A concert should be for people enjoying the music. Music should bring people together,” Savitz said. “Everyone has their right to freedom of speech, but not every platform is the place for it.”

Associated Press writers Tassanee Vejpongsa and Jessica Hill contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

While we love the coziness of fall and winter, their arrival also means that cold and flu season isn’t far behind. A manageable daily wellness routine is key if you want to try to fight the sniffles or the random virus your kids bring home from school every other week. One product to keep stocked in your pantry is From Great Origins Elderberry Tea, which not only tastes delicious, but also has a slew of health benefits.

Elderberry has stood the test of time as a natural and easy way to support the immune system. The deep-purple berry is naturally rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins and other polyphenols, which protect immune cells when your body is trying to fight off an infection. The From Great Origins Elderberry Tea is a soothing way to incorporate elderberry into your diet on a daily basis.

Get From Great Origins Elderberry Tea for $30 at Great Origins!

From Great Origins Elderberry Tea is made with only two organic ingredients: elderberries and elderflower, also known as Sambucus nigra. The ingredients are grown and harvested in Croatia, sourced only from trusted farmers in a region known for botanical and culinary traditions. This part matters, because when you buy this particular elderberry tea, you know you’re getting high-quality ingredients.

Everything is organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, and there are no artificial flavors, colors or dyes, preservatives, sweeteners or fillers. The tea bags are unbleached and heat-sealed, so there’s no glue, strings or staples to worry about.

You’re also getting a great tasting product. Elderberry has a tart, earthy flavor, and that’s balanced out by the addition of elderflower, which has a lighter, more delicate floral note for some sweetness. This tea blend is also naturally caffeine-free, so you can drink it morning or night without worrying about it affecting your sleep.

We also love that elderberry tea is so easy to add into your daily routine. It’s not another giant supplement pill you have to swallow down first thing in the morning, and it adds a nice, cozy ritual to your routine. You can wind down after a stressful day with a cup of elderberry tea and take comfort in knowing you’re supporting your immune system while doing so.

Shoppers are big fans as well. “I’ve never had elderberry anything but thought I’d give the tea a try. I was expecting something that you drink because it’s good for you, but the tea is very good,” one shopper wrote in a review. “It has a nice flavor to it and now has a permanent place among my teas. I keep a jar in the fridge ready to drink.”

“I am constantly brewing up some FGO Elderberry tea, especially in spring and winter when the allergies and immune system could use a boost,” another reviewer wrote. “I really enjoy the taste as well!”

From Great Origins Elderberry Tea costs only $29.99 and comes with 100 teabags, so it’s sure to last you for a while. Grab yours now and get started on your wellness routine before cold season officially starts.

Get From Great Origins Elderberry Tea for $30 at Great Origins!

Harry Bosch is still around, even if so many people have tried to bury him that he might as well have a permanent place at the graveyard. But everyone wants to see the original blend. Titus Welliver has continued to make appearances across the expanding franchise, including the Maggie Q-led Ballard, while MGM+ has been hard at work on a prequel series that focuses on Bosch’s early days as a beat cop in Los Angeles, during the 1990s. Even so, neither project quite replaces watching Welliver hunting down baddies.

Speaking to ScreenRant during the Italian Global Series festival, Welliver confirmed that he had no concrete news to share about another solo project, but stressed that “the intent is there” to bring his version of Bosch back as the lead. The preference for those involved is a movie, while Welliver also pointed to the success of Jack Ryan: Ghost War, Prime Video’s feature-length epilogue of the John Krasinski series, as proof that a major streaming show can successfully make the same jump.

Titus Welliver Wants a Standalone ‘Bosch’ Movie

“I think that would be what we would ultimately want to do, would be a standalone Bosch film,” Welliver said. “Not to get closure, because to quote Harry Bosch, ‘Closure is a myth,’ but people want more. They want Bosch, they want to see him again, and I think that Ballard doesn’t give them enough sustenance. They want to see the original thing. They want the integrity of what birthed that universe of those other shows. That’s the tried and true original product.”

Welliver was the heart and soul of Bosch for seven seasons, then returned for three more in Bosch: Legacy. Although the sequel series was successful, Prime Video ended it after Season 3, despite all creatives involved planning the fourth season. The actor has since returned in Ballard and is expected to appear in three episodes of Season 2.

At the same time, MGM+ has been filiming Bosch: Start of Watch, a prequel starring Cameron Monaghan (Gotham) as the detective during his first year with the LAPD as a 26-year-old. Now, while Ballard and Start of Watch are keeping Harry front and center, Welliver believes that’ll never be enough because the fans want to see the Harry Bosch they know, front and center. And with countless Bosch stories from Michael Connelly‘s novels still untouched by any form of adaptation, there’s plenty of room to give Harry the farewell he deserves.

A standalone Bosch movie has not yet been officially announced.

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Release Date

2015 – 2021-00-00

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Network

Prime Video

Showrunner

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Eric Ellis Overmyer

Directors

Alex Zakrzewski, Ernest R. Dickerson, Patrick Cady, Aaron Lipstadt, Adam Davidson, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Kevin Dowling, Neema Barnette, Tim Hunter, Zetna Fuentes, Christine Moore, Jim McKay, Laura Belsey, Matt Earl Beesley, Phil Abraham, Roxann Dawson, Sarah Pia Anderson, Stephen Gyllenhaal, Tara Nicole Weyr, Thomas Carter, Hagar Ben-Asher

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Writers

Jeffrey Alan Fiskin, Tom Bernardo, Elle Johnson, John Mankiewicz, Shaz Bennett, Alex Meenehan, Katie Pyne, Osokwe Vasquez, Lolis Eric Elie, Jessica Kivnik, Mitzi Roberts

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Getting down to business! Halle Berry, Alix Earle, Cardi B, and more stars stepped out for Create & Cultivate, the world’s largest festival for women in business, in Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 19 and 20.

The A-listers mixed business with pleasure while spotlighting their respective brands, with Berry representing Joylux, Earle showing off Reale Actives, and Cardi celebrating Grow Good.

Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson and CEO Marina Middleton were also on hand for the two-day affair, which brought together over 4,000 people for conversations spanning business, media, entertainment, technology, fashion, beauty, and sports.

Attendees bounced between exclusive panels, keynote conversations and workshops with founders, creators, executives, and innovators, while checking out immersive activations and stocking up on goodies from brand partners along the way.

And after a full day of talking shop on everything from entrepreneurship and investing to wellness and career growth, Cardi turned the conference into a concert, taking the stage to perform hits including “I Like It,” “Up,” “Please Me,” and more.

“This is a very special event over here because we are supporting women out here, owning their business, running their business. Shout to my ladies they get money, and making money, and making a difference. Thank you for inspiring me, and I hope I can inspire you,” Cardi said onstage.

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Lisa Leslie left her mark on the Los Angeles Sparks franchise as one of the top players in its history. Recently, the organization honored her with a bronze statue outside the Crypto.com Arena, immortalizing the WNBA great.

RELATED: Whew! Tina Turner Statue Unveiling In Tennessee Has Internet Users Raising Their Eyebrows (VIDEO)

A Lil’ History About THEE Lisa Leslie & Statue Details

On Sunday (Sept. 20), she became the 16th person honored with a statue at Star Plaza in a ceremony featuring Magic Johnson, Candace Parker, Michael Cooper, and others. However, she is reportedly the first WNBA player and first Los Angeles Sparks player to be honored with a statue. Leslie starred for the Sparks from 1997 to 2009. The 11-foot statue, with a 4 1/2-foot base, depicts Leslie’s signature dunk, the first in WNBA history. She helped the Sparks win consecutive titles in 2001 and 2002.

Lisa Reacts To The Look Of The Statue

While speaking at the event, the three-time MVP expressed how happy she is with the outcome of her statue and the attention to detail poured into it. She said, “I am beyond happy with how beautiful The First Lady looks because they listened to me.” Adding, “She has her lipstick on, she has on earrings, she has my family’s names on my bracelets, which probably people can’t see because she’s so big. It’s gorgeous, and I just love that she has her ponytail, and when little girls walk around and get a chance to see it, they see a woman, The First Lady statue out there. That just means so much to me.”

After the unveiling, she called the statue “cute” and admitted that she had some worried about the potential final look. Her look on the court was intentional throughout her career, she explained.

“First of all, she’s cute,” Leslie said of the statue. “I was so worried. I did not want to look like a linebacker up here. But she’s cute. I wanted to make sure that this statue was a perfect blend of fearlessness and the competitor that I was and I am and I’ll always be. But also … I wore my ribbons, I had my nails polished, which y’all can’t see, but the girl got her polish on because I never wanted the boys or the men to think that I was a boy.”

Social Media Gives The WNBA Star Her Flowers

The roommates quickly gathered in The Shade Room’s comment section following a post about Lisa Leslie’s bronze statue. Some reflected on the WNBA retiree’s record-breaking career, which ended in 2009 with her retirement. Others were stunned by her present-day looks, while majority gave their takes on how the statue of Leslie turned out. A couple of roomies even dropped jokey comparisons to Dwyane Wade’s statue at the same arena.

@krmethemc commented, “She been the goat, my first ever favorite player! The reason I picked up a basketball 🫂🔥”

“D Wade somewhere pissed,” @vibesofessence joked.

“Salute to a real one Inglewoods own 🔥 Lisa Leslie 🫡,” @russianrullet said.

“When I think of WNBA I think of her,” @quair_ramik commented.

“I don’t like it they could have done better congratulations 🎊 Ms Lisa,” @lakecoco28 weighed in.

“When I think of women’s basketball I think of Lisa Leslie!!! 🔥🔥🔥I love this for the history of women’s basketball,” @spunkybumper wrote.

“IMO the statues never look good, we just got overlook that and appreciate the honor lol,  @ux2_dion commented.

“Congratulations to Lisa, but my girl doesn’t need a stepping stool to dunk. 👏🏾🔥,” @hartramon7996 said.

“Best most accurate statue I’ve ever seen of any ball player, especially African-American❤️😍,” @_liltizzy commented.

“She got the best statue out of everybody,” @demitritaughtme added.

“She a legend 🔥 but they should’ve eased up on the skin tone 😂,” @_kingtay94 wrote.

@aluberanon said, “She deserves it lol a lot of people probably didn’t even know what the WNBA was before her.” 

“Whoever did hers needs to do everyone in the WNBA and NBA…and redo Dwyane Wade’s too 😂,” @som3bodysdaddy added.

RELATED: Okay, Mr. Actor! New York Knicks Player Jalen Brunson To Make An Appearance On ‘Law & Order: SVU’

Spider-Man often finds his way into the hearts of his fellow crime-fighters through his positive demeanor, courage, and sense of humor, no matter how different the other heroes may be. He’s formed a bond with the Avengers and made plenty of street-level allies in the comics, linking up with Matt Murdock and Luke Cage, in particular, on plenty of occasions. As recently seen in Tom Holland‘s return to the MCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he can even break through the hardened exterior of Marvel’s more ruthless anti-heroes, like the Punisher. He hasn’t just counted Frank Castle among his allies, but also formed a surprisingly tight bond with Wolverine, earning the mutant’s utmost trust and respect in many of the stories they’ve shared over the years.

Yet, they aren’t always on the exact same side. As a hero who doesn’t kill and certainly sees no value in it, Peter naturally butts heads at times with the much less merciful Frank and Logan, who have each left their fair share of bodies in their wake. The latest issue of Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day now brings the three together, with Wolverine reaching an understanding and choosing to lend the Punisher a hand in evading the web-head. So far, Dan Slott and Marcus To‘s series has revolved around Spidey trying to retrieve the Lexicon, a ledger from the Kingpin documenting the New York criminal underground, after losing the book to Mr. Negative and a mind-controlled Frank. With Frank now free, though, he wants that book for his own war on crime and needs some extra help to buy him time.

Marvel Comics has now released an official preview of Issue #5 picks up right where the previous installment left off — with the Punisher grabbing the Lexicon after Spider-Man helped him get back to his senses. Before Donnie Yu, one of Negative’s Inner Demons, can grab the book from him, Frank blasts him and bolts, leaving Peter to deal with the damage. Once he’s free to give chase, none of Spidey’s allies are available for backup, as Luke, Spider-Woman, and Iron Fist are busy rounding up the other villains at Negative’s coronation as Kingpin. It looks for a moment like his prayers are answered when Wolverine appears from the shadows in front of Frank. However, despite knowing the damage he could do, Logan just lets the Punisher through, on the condition that they never speak of their meeting. Wolverine then denies ever seeing Frank when Spidey shows up, giving the anti-hero a chance to put that book to good use mowing down “all the right people.”

‘Spectacular Spider-Man’ Unleashes the Punisher to Wrap Up ‘Brand New Day’

Wolverine seems perfectly content letting Frank wreak havoc on the criminals of New York as someone who has no moral qualms with what is about to happen. Spider-Man, however, is fully aware of how much of a problem leaving the Punisher alone in the city with the Lexicon is. Not only will he be raining death and destruction upon those listed in the book, but Mister Negative doesn’t appear to be fully out of the fight yet, and any misstep could lead to the book landing in even more dangerous hands yet again. The stage is set for an explosive ending that will pit Spidey against his anti-heroic pal and close Slott and To’s reimagining of their iconic Brand New Day storyline.

Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 goes on sale on September 23. Check out the preview in the gallery above.

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Release Date

July 29, 2026

Runtime

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145 minutes

Director

Destin Daniel Cretton

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Writers

Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

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Producers

Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Amy Pascal, David Cain

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When Jade Vow started making adult content around seven years ago, telling someone what she did could still provoke genuine shock. Sometimes people did not know what OF was. Others simply could not believe she was on it.

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Today, she jokes, the reaction is closer to a much more casual response. “Oh yeah, my aunt does OF,” Vow told The Blast, describing how dramatically attitudes toward the platform have changed.

For Vow, who has watched the adult creator industry transform since before the pandemic, that change has been a double-edged sword. Adult content has become more visible and less unusual, but she believes the rapid growth of creators, management agencies, and increasingly polished online personas has stripped away some of what made the space interesting in the first place. “I liked it being this kind of underground, taboo thing,” Vow told The Blast.

Her response has been to resist becoming more manufactured herself. After seven years, the Jade Vow brand remains unusually difficult to separate from the person behind it. Her relationship with long-term partner Josh, their move from England to Cyprus, her humor, insecurities, and deliberately ordinary life all feed into what her audience sees. “Our entire online persona, I mean, it’s not even a persona, it’s just us,” Vow told The Blast.

Jade Vow Has Watched OF Become An Industry

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Vow does not appear particularly worried about competition. She believes creators with a distinct identity can survive an increasingly crowded market because audiences have more to connect with than the content itself. “If you’ve got your own brand, your own niche and your own following, new people joining don’t really affect you,” Vow told The Blast.

What concerns her more is the rise of management agencies that can take over creators’ accounts, including conversations with subscribers. Vow told The Blast that some subscribers are now surprised when they discover she is actually the person responding to them. Others have shared stories with her about building a connection with creators before noticing the tone of their messages suddenly change after an agency became involved.

For Vow, that creates a trust problem in a business increasingly built around access and personality. “There’s a million men out there with willies, and there’s loads of boobies out there,” Vow told The Blast. “But there isn’t much personality, like real personality.”

Her own approach includes the parts of life that do not necessarily look like adult entertainment at all. Subscribers get the good, bad, funny, awkward, and embarrassing moments. She also writes handwritten diary entries about what has been happening in her life.

The Jade Vow Brand Is Really Jade And Josh

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That lack of separation becomes clearest when Vow talks about Josh. The pair have built their adult careers together, and despite Jade being the more visible name, neither sees the business as belonging to her alone. “The Jade Vow brand is us,” the couple told The Blast.

Their unconventional relationship has already generated headlines, particularly around sex with other people. Previous coverage has focused on Vow’s experiences with other men and the couple’s non-monogamous dynamic. What is more revealing in conversation is that they do not present themselves as having solved jealousy.

Physical intimacy can sometimes be easier to process than emotional intimacy. Josh told The Blast that another man cooking Vow an incredible meal or making her laugh could bother him more than sex. Vow, meanwhile, admitted her own feelings about seeing Josh with other women are still evolving. “I’m still learning,” Vow told The Blast.

It is another area where Vow seems more comfortable acknowledging contradiction than constructing a cleaner public story.

From Somerset To Cyprus Without Visiting First

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That instinct has shaped their life away from work too. After deciding they wanted to leave England, Vow and Josh researched somewhere with warmer weather, beaches and a realistic route to residency. They landed on Cyprus. There was one significant detail: neither had ever been there.

They signed a rental contract for a villa anyway, packed their belongings and moved. They have now been in Cyprus for almost three years, a relocation that has since become part of Vow’s public story. Despite the assumptions that come with her work, she describes their everyday life as remarkably quiet.

“People always expect, you know, when you say, ‘I do porn,’ they’re like, ‘My God, you must have a crazy life,’” Vow told The Blast. “And it’s like maybe a few days a year, yeah. But other than that, I’m just curled up with a book.”

Jade Vow Isn’t Interested In Creating A Fake Persona

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Even a conversation about their favorite sex club in Amsterdam quickly became a review of its satay chicken. “This is what we mean,” Vow joked to The Blast. “Life revolves around food. Sex on the side.”

As the creator industry around her becomes bigger, more mainstream, and more professionalized, Vow’s bet is increasingly distinctive. She is not trying to invent a more convincing Jade Vow. She is betting that the person already there is the part audiences cannot get anywhere else.

Dakota Johnson is apparently smitten with her “Verity” costar, Anne Hathaway, after joking in a recent sit-down that she’d kiss her “for the rest of my life.” Both actresses star in the upcoming sexy thriller alongside Josh Hartnett, who revealed that despite the dark, sultry storyline, they had a “fun working relationship” on set.

Johnson also opened up about her desire to settle down and start a family after an acting career that has kept her “gone for 20 years.”

Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway have shown off the playful camaraderie that existed between them on the set of “Verity.”

As part of the press tour for the highly anticipated psychological thriller, both actresses sat for an interview with ExtraTV alongside costar Josh Hartnett. Given that the movie features plenty of kissing scenes among the trio, the interviewer put them on the spot by asking who the best kisser was.

In a candid response, Hathaway said they all kissed each other, then added, “It’s a miracle nobody got sick.” However, Johnson went all in and unabashedly said she’d kiss Hathaway for the rest of her life if possible.

‘Verity’ Puts Dakota Johnson Inside A Dangerous Crawford Family Mystery

In the feature film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s runaway bestseller “Verity,” Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford, played by Hartnett.

Her job is to finish the remaining books in a hit series after its superstar author, Verity Crawford, played by Hathaway, is incapacitated in a mysterious accident.

As she uncovers unsettling autobiographical notes inside the Crawford estate, she is pulled into a dark web of obsession, deceit, and dangerous attraction.

“Upon arrival at the lavish Crawford estate, Lowen slowly learns that things are not exactly as they seem with the discovery of a secret, unfinished manuscript that may divulge chilling admissions about the family’s past,” the movie’s logline, obtained by Variety, reads. “As Lowen ingratiates herself with Jeremy and his young son Crew, she must discern if Verity’s writings are merely lurid works of fiction or an ominous warning by a deranged psychopath.”

Josh Hartnett Says ‘Verity’ Co-stars Couldn’t Stop Goofing Around

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While “Verity” promises intense on-screen tension, Hartnett revealed that the vibe behind the scenes was entirely affectionate and friendly.

“We had a fun working relationship the whole time on set,” he said. “For a film that is this intense and twisted and dark, it was just like, we just laughed. We had a really fun time.”

“So as much as there was like the love and the tension and the lustiness in the movie, on the outside, we were just goofing around,” the “Fight or Flight” actor added.

Hathaway also teased the “Trap” actor over his sexual appeal, saying, “You have every woman in the world lusting after you. I’m going to say nice things about you if you don’t quit it.” “Verity” hits theaters nationwide on October 2.

Dakota Johnson And MGK Reportedly ‘Hit It Off’ On First Date

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In recent weeks, Johnson has been the subject of intense speculation surrounding her rumored relationship with rapper Machine Gun Kelly after the pair reportedly met at Taylor Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce.

The pair were spotted roughly a week ago exiting a black SUV as they made their way into Swift’s Tribeca apartment, according to TMZ.

The apartment was reportedly empty, as the pop star was out of town, giving them enough privacy to enjoy each other’s company. “They hit it off and wanted some privacy,” a source told Us Weekly. “So, Dakota contacted Taylor, and Taylor said she wasn’t home, so they could use her place.”

The insider added, “Apparently, Taylor lets her close friends use her place when she’s away.”

Johnson Says She Wants To Settle Down And Start A Family

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The “Fifty Shades of Grey” actress has opened up about her desire to start a family after years of a demanding acting career kept her away for long stretches.

She made the revelation in a recent interview with Vogue, saying that she looks forward to settling down while admitting that it can sometimes be difficult to be around friends who have gotten married or had children.

“I really do. I do, but for whatever reason, that’s the plan of the universe,” she said about starting a family. “So, I would love that. I hope that that happens for me. I’ve always felt, especially over the last few years, that a soul wants to come through. And I hope that I’m lucky enough to be able to do that.”

“I’ve worked back-to-back for so long that now I have this deep calling to shift my perspective a bit and maybe have a bit more of a real life,” Johnson added. “I’ve been gone for, like, 20 years. The people in my life are so used to me leaving for months at a time.”

Ed Sheeran’s attempt to steady his troubled Loop Tour has only fueled a new wave of debate. After days of backlash tied to the removal of opening act Macklemore and the subsequent departure of several supporting performers, the British singer addressed the controversy directly from the stage in Philadelphia. 

Instead of calming tensions, however, his remarks sparked fresh criticism, with some supporters accusing him of giving in to pressure while others praised him for confronting a crisis that had begun overshadowing the music.

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Before critics dissected his remarks and social media turned his speech into a fresh battleground, Ed Sheeran revealed why he chose to keep moving forward with the tour.

Standing before thousands of fans in Philadelphia, the “Shape of You” singer admitted that calls to cancel had weighed heavily on him. 

The departures of several tour collaborators and the backlash surrounding the situation left him questioning whether continuing was the right decision.

Then he looked at the numbers. “In the back of my mind, I saw the ticket sales and I didn’t see the cancellations,” he told the crowd, per the Daily Mail.

The realization became a turning point. “Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me — and I look at the end of the week, and I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me,” Sheeran revealed.

Sheeran’s Attempt To Address The Crisis Sparked New Backlash

Ironically, the speech intended to calm tensions ended up creating another controversy of its own.

After acknowledging mistakes in how he handled the situation and commenting on the Israel-Gaza conflict, Ed Sheeran faced criticism from supporters who believed he should never have addressed the matter publicly.

Among the most prominent voices was Piers Morgan, who argued that the 35-year-old had been pressured into making a statement.

“I agree with Ed Sheeran’s overview of the Israel/Hamas war (Oct 7 terrible, Israel response disproportionate) but I wish he hadn’t bowed to the mob and felt forced to say it publicly, especially reading it off an autocue like some bullied puppet. He needs better advisors,” Morgan stated.

The criticism also quickly spread online. One supporter wrote, “His PR people need to be fired. No reason for him to have to speak to that outside of a very small mob of loudmouths.”

Another was even harsher, sharing, “This dude simply wants to play and perform and has done so for years. He’s a bigger idiot than he was last week. What a disgrace to bow to the mob.”

Others argued that no matter what Sheeran said, criticism was inevitable. One commenter observed, “To be fair, he was never going to ‘win’ this regardless.”

Ed Sheeran’s Tour Lost Multiple Performers In Rapid Succession

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While debate over the Philadelphia speech dominated headlines, turmoil around the tour began days earlier.

As The Blast reported, the controversy traces back to Macklemore’s appearances at Sheeran’s New Jersey shows on September 4 and 5. 

During the performances, the rapper shouted “Free Palestine” while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” which criticizes Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

After Macklemore was removed from future tour dates, the fallout expanded well beyond a single artist. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and members of Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, announced they would leave the tour in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine.

More From The Blast

Sheeran Insists Macklemore’s Exit Was Not His Call

Days after the controversy exploded, Ed Sheeran addressed that issue directly, pushing back against the growing perception that he had personally removed the rapper from the lineup. 

In a lengthy statement on Instagram, he stressed that the decision came from promoters and stadium operators, not from him.  “It’s important that I set out some facts,” Sheeran began, then explained how Macklemore joined the tour in the first place.

According to him, “Macklemore asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist.” 

Sheeran went on to explain why he generally avoided political discussions through his concerts, arguing that many people attended his shows expecting music rather than political debate.

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“My audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.” 

At the same time, he made clear that he respected Macklemore’s right to express his beliefs. “I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” he stated. 

Ed Sheeran Joins Multi-Million-Dollar Gaza Aid Effort

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As questions continued to swirl around Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour, the rapper tried to redirect attention away from the controversy and toward the humanitarian crisis that motivated his actions in the first place.

Two days after being dropped from the tour, Macklemore announced that he would donate every dollar he earned from his time on the road with Sheeran to the Palestinian people.

“I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people,” he revealed.

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Macklemore didn’t stop there. He publicly challenged Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium, to match the donation. The challenge quickly produced an unexpected development.

According to Kraft, Sheeran personally contacted him before the public challenge gained momentum and urged him to contribute to humanitarian aid.

“Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis,” Kraft said per The Blast.

Kraft added that Sheeran intended to keep the effort going beyond a single donation. He noted, “Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”

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