Met Gala guests from Beyoncé to Nicole Kidman set to flaunt fashion as art
Fashion biggest night is making a statement this year with its dress code, “Fashion is art." Global Editorial Director of Vogue Anna Wintour and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute curator, Andrew Bolton, are putting their stamp of approval on the idea. Guests from Beyoncé to Nicole Kidman are sure to make an artistic spectacle with the directive. A-list stars and cultural tastemakers are set to take the Met steps Monday as part of the fundraising event for the museum's Costume Institute. For an up-close look at all the red carpet drama, Vogue will host its annual livestream of the night starting at 6 p.m.
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ struts to first place with $77 million debut
Studio estimates on Sunday say "The Devil Wears Prada 2" has topped the box office with $77 million in the U.S. and Canada and $156.6 million internationally. Women drove the success, making up 76% of ticket buyers. The sequel, featuring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, sees Andy Sachs working again for Miranda Priestly. Critics had mixed reviews, but 74% of viewers would recommend it. The film cost $100 million to produce, a significant increase from the original. Meanwhile, the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" took second place with $54 million. This weekend kicks off Hollywood's critical summer movie season.
New Met Gala fashion exhibit seeks to ‘reclaim’ body types that art history has ignored
NEW YORK (AP) — Monday's glittering Met Gala guests will be the first to sample “Costume Art,” a new exhibit that explores the dressed body through art history. Curator Andrew Bolton says the exhibit aims to reclaim diverse body types. Those include corpulent, disabled, aging and pregnant bodies. The show features 25 new mannequins, painstakingly created on real people with various body types. Highlights include garments that emphasize the pregnant body, and corsetry that displays rather than hides the flesh. There is also a section that explores various types of disability — physical, sensory and cognitive. The show opens May 10 to the public and runs through Jan. 10, 2027.
Britney Spears is set to be arraigned on a DUI charge. But she doesn't have to appear in court
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Britney Spears is set to be arraigned in a Southern California courtroom Monday after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. It is likely only her lawyer will appear in front of the judge. Prosecutors charged the 44-year-old pop superstar with one misdemeanor count after her March 4 arrest. Since then, she voluntarily checked into a substance abuse treatment center. The misdemeanor charge means she is not required to appear, and her absence won't count against her. Prosecutors said the case will be handled according to their standard protocol for defendants with no DUI history, no crash on the road, and a low blood-alcohol level.
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 10-16 includes Kenan Thompson and Cate Blanchett
Celebrities having birthdays during the week of May 10-16 include “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson, “Bohemian Rhapsody” actor Rami Malek and “Nashville” actor Clare Bowen. Actor-writer Lena Dunham and actor Robert Pattinson both turn 40 during the week, while musician Stevie Wonder reaches 76. Other celebs with big days include “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” host Stephen Colbert, actor Cate Blanchett and singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Musician David Byrne of Talking Heads turns 74, actor Tim Roth hits 65, actor Megan Fox welcomes 40 and singer Janet Jackson celebrates 60.
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Berlin's Pergamon Museum will reopen in mid-2027 as a lengthy restoration moves forward
BERLIN (AP) — Berlin’s Pergamon Museum will reopen next year after the first part of a painstaking restoration effort that has kept its centerpiece out of the public eye for more than a decade. It is traditionally one of the German capital’s top tourist attractions. The authority that oversees many of Berlin’s museums announced Monday that the museum will reopen on June 4, 2027. The museum’s centerpiece is the 2nd-century B.C. Pergamon Altar, decorated with a marble frieze. The Pergamon Museum has been closed altogether since October 2023. The part of the building containing the Pergamon Altar has been closed for far longer, since 2014.
Argentina's Milei restores press access to presidency after a ban sparks backlash
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — President Javier Milei of Argentina has restored press access to his government headquarters. It comes more than a week after his decision to block credentialed reporters from the building triggered backlash from lawmakers and press freedom advocates. Journalists said early Monday that they could enter the Casa Rosada — or the Pink House, Argentina’s equivalent of the White House — for the first time since April 23. That was when Milei’s spokesperson announced the closure of the press room used for decades. The ban added to a list of attacks and reprisals against news organizations by Milei, whose hostility toward the press mirrors the aggressive approach of his ally, U.S. President Donald Trump.
A sun-baked Senegal village erupts in color for one of Africa’s biggest dance festivals
TOUBAB DIALAO, Senegal (AP) — Twenty-five dance companies from across Africa have showcased their talent at the African Dance Biennial in Senegal. The event took place over the weekend in Toubab Dialao, a fishing village. It is the continent’s largest contemporary African dance showcase. The three-day event, which closed Sunday, was held at the École des Sables school. The school, founded by Germaine Acogny in 1998, is renowned for its open-air sand studio and nature-rooted teaching philosophy. However, its future is uncertain due to a nearby deep water port project threatening the surrounding land. Arts institutions are resisting the development.
Shakira thrills a crowd of 2 million with free concert on Brazil's Copacabana beach
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Shakira has performed a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian city's mayor said 2 million people attended the event on Saturday night. It was part of her "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran," or “Women No Longer Cry” world tour. Before the show, Shakira told Brazil’s TV Globo that she believes it will be the biggest concert of her career. The performance is part of Rio’s effort to boost the economy after major festivities such as the famous Carnival and New Year’s Eve festivities and before the monthlong Saint John’s Day celebrations in June. The mayor said the show could generate significant financial returns.
Denis Leary’s ‘crazy idea’ puts civilians through FDNY training to raise funds for fire departments
Actor-comedian Denis Leary has found a unique way to raise funds for his Leary Firefighters Foundation. Instead of traditional events, he hosts a "Firefighter for a Day" experience with the Fire Department of New York. This annual event, held since 2016, allows non-firefighters to train with professionals at the FDNY Fire Academy. Participants engage in activities like rushing into burning buildings and rappelling down structures. Leary's initiative draws actors, athletes, and corporations, raising significant funds for fire departments across the U.S. The foundation aims to provide essential equipment and training, addressing gaps in government funding.

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