Oscar hopefuls including Jessie Buckley and Timothée Chalamet gather for luncheon and class picture
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Nearly all of this year's Oscar nominees gathered Tuesday for the Academy Award nominees luncheon. This event celebrates the nominees and serves as a group portrait session and an orientation for next month's ceremony. Attendees included Jessie Buckley, Timothée Chalamet, and Teyana Taylor. The luncheon is an egalitarian affair where big names mix with newcomers. Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor advised the nominees on acceptance speeches. She urged winners to be prepared and keep speeches to 45 seconds. The annual roll call summoned all the nominees to the stage for their class photo. It began with Delroy Lindo and ended with Taylor.
Ralph Lauren's fall 2026 collection a mix of romantic adventure with metallic flair
NEW YORK (AP) — Ralph Lauren evoked fresh takes on timeless designs during his Fall 2026 runway show. The 86-year-old designer revealed his latest collection at the Clock Tower building in Manhattan on Tuesday with guests including Anne Hathaway, singer Lana Del Rey and actor Lili Reinhart in attendance. He took his guests on an adventure into the English countryside with his fall collection. It was filled with earth toned looks accessorized with shimmery metallic detailing from silver belt chains to dazzling brooches. Lauren said in his show notes that he loves the adventure of fashion, describing his muse as a modernist with a nod to history.
Super Bowl averages 124.9M viewers in US, Bad Bunny's halftime 128.2 million, both short of records
Seattle's Super Bowl victory over New England on Sunday night didn't break viewership records. The game averaged 124.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL+, according to Nielsen. This is less than the 127.7 million who watched Philadelphia beat Kansas City last year. Bad Bunny's halftime show also fell short of records. It averaged 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-most watched halftime show. Kendrick Lamar, Michael Jackson, and Usher hold the top three spots. Global viewership numbers for the halftime show are expected next week.
Movie Review: A deeply affecting day with dad, amid Nigerian unrest, in ‘My Father’s Shadow’
Sopé Dìrísù plays father to two young boys in “My Father's Shadow,” which is opening in theaters Friday. The debut feature from filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. is semi-autobiographical. He and his brother lost their father at a young age and set out to capture memory and grief in a day spent together. In her review for The Associated Press, film writer Lindsey Bahr writes that “My Father’s Shadow” is a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993. “My Father's Shadow” is being released by Mubi. It has not been rated.
'God bless América': Why Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show resonated far beyond the US
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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance resonated deeply with Latino audiences. By saying “God bless America” and naming countries across the Americas, he highlighted the broader meaning of “América” in Spanish, which often refers to the entire continent. This moment drew cheers in places like Mexico City, where fans felt pride and recognition. Many saw it as a statement of inclusion and cultural visibility. Bad Bunny performed in Spanish, embracing his identity without adapting to English-speaking audiences. U.S. President Donald Trump called the show “an affront to the Greatness of America.”
Chappell Roan leaves talent agency led by Casey Wasserman, who appears in Epstein files
Chappell Roan has left the talent agency Wasserman. It is led by entertainment industry executive and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics chair Casey Wasserman. His name appears in files recently released on Jeffrey Epstein. Roan's statement published Monday on her Instagram story does not name Epstein. She said she made her decisions because she believes “meaningful change” in the music industry “requires accountability and leadership that earns trust.” Roan's statements follows a number of others from smaller acts in music, including the bands Wednesday, Beach Bunny, Water From Your Eyes and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino. Representatives for Roan and Wasserman did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment.
New Christian artists push genre boundaries with rap, Afrobeats and R&B
A new wave of Christian artists from various backgrounds is drawing young audiences to faith-based rap, Afrobeats and R&B. They are making music that hasn't traditionally been represented in many Christian spaces, which makes it challenging for them to break into the mainstream. However, social media algorithms have helped them reach wider audiences and bigger labels are catching on. Christian rap has been growing for over a decade, but its newer subgenres and counterparts have grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. The artists say their songs help people connect with God when traditional worship and gospel songs don't resonate.
Movie Review: In 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die,' a man from the future fights an AI apocalypse
It’s been argued that with the onset of AI, storytellers need to get weirder, more imaginative, more human. Gore Verbinski’s absurdist AI satire “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” is a stab in that direction, and there’s a bonkers charm to how it tackles contemporary anxieties head on, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. Sam Rockwell stars as a man from the future who steps into a Los Angeles diner and declares that he's from the future. He's there to enlist recruits for a resistance. This is the first film in a decade from Verbinski, the director of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Verbinski cobbled together a more modest budget for this independent production.
Paramount sweetens offer for Warner Bros. shareholders in hostile takeover fight
NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount is intensifying its efforts to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. On Tuesday, the company offered Warner shareholders an added “ticking fee” if the deal doesn't close by year-end. Paramount also pledged to fund Warner's proposed $2.8 billion breakup payout to Netflix under their merger agreement. Paramount's offer otherwise remains at the same price of $30 per share in cash. Paramount aims to buy Warner for $77.9 billion but needs more shareholder support — and is again extending the deadline for its tender offer, which is now March 2. Meanwhile, Warner's leadership has continued to back its $72 billion studio and streaming deal with Netflix. Both deals face tremendous antitrust scrutiny.
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