AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:18 p.m. EDT

Rapper Mystikal sentenced to 20 years in Louisiana rape case

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The rapper Mystikal will serve 20 years in prison for raping a woman at his Louisiana home in 2022. He pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in March with a sentencing cap of 20 years. The victim spoke in court before sentencing and asked the judge to give Mystikal the maximum sentence, according to local ABC affiliate WBRZ. She reportedly said the rapper had punched her, choked her, pulled out her braids and forcibly raped her. The Louisiana rapper's given name is Michael Lawrence Tyler. He received multiple Grammy nominations in the early 2000s.

Macy’s Fourth of July show to feature Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Salt-N-Pepa and Shaboozey

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's is set to celebrate America's 250th birthday with a spectacular July Fourth fireworks show featuring performances by Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Salt-N-Pepa, Noah Kahan, Bebe Rexha and Shaboozey. This 50th edition of the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration will light up New York City with 85,000 shells in 30 colors from six barges, plus a new laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge. Viewers can catch the show live on NBC or Peacock from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST. The fireworks show will be accompanied by a vocal performance by “The Voice” season 29 winner Alexia Jayy.

Movie Review: 'Leviticus' makes a demon out of desire in an auspicious debut for Adrian Chiarella

The new movie “Leviticus” is being released this weekend. It's a horror-satire by Adrian Chiarella and explores a chilling premise of desire becoming deadly. The film, named after the Old Testament book often used to justify homophobia, follows Naim and Ryan, two young men in a small Australian town. Their budding romance faces a terrifying twist when Christian “conversion therapy” unleashes a demon, Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy says. Chiarella's debut nods to Alfred Hitchcock and “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” blending horror with a queer revolt. The film captures the vulnerability of new love and the dangers of repression. “Leviticus” is rated R and runs for 88 minutes.

Ann Patchett’s next accolade: A peace prize rooted in the Dayton Accords legacy

NEW YORK (AP) — Ann Patchett has received the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award. The Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation announced the honor Wednesday, recognizing her work for fostering peace and global understanding. The award is named after the diplomat who helped broker the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords. Patchett, known for novels like “Bel Canto” and “The Dutch House,” also owns a bookstore and advocates for writers. She encourages making small, meaningful contributions to peace. The foundation also announced finalists for the 2025 Dayton Literary Peace Prize Awards, including Amanda Knox’s memoir “Free.” Winners will be announced in September.

A look at presidential libraries as the Obama Presidential Center opens to the public this week

NEW YORK (AP) — Franklin Roosevelt helped launch the modern system of presidential libraries in the late 1930s. A network of museums and research facilities has since grown nationwide. Historian Douglas Brinkley calls them vital hubs for lectures and research. Presidential libraries often reflect a leader's personality and legacy. Settings for presidential libraries range from small towns in Iowa to big cities in Texas and California. Barack Obama's library opens to the public Friday in Chicago. While archives are mostly managed by the National Archives, museums are funded by private donors, which can influence how history is presented.

British TV personality Jeremy Clarkson reveals prostate cancer in final 'Clarkson’s Farm' episodes

LONDON (AP) — British television personality Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he has prostate cancer on the final fifth-season episodes of his farm reality show. Clarkson says that the disease is aggressive but was detected early. The 66-year-old Clarkson tells farm manager Kaleb Cooper and consultant Charlie Ireland about his diagnosis during a harvest planning discussion on “Clarkson's Farm.” He later said from a hospital bed that part of his prostate was removed and he’ll know his prognosis in November. Clarkson is known for his outspoken views and has become an agriculture advocate since taking up farming in 2019. Clarkson said on social media Tuesday that he would share somber news on the final episodes of “Clarkson’s Farm" which were released on Wednesday.

Sean Penn to direct Warner Bros. movie about a police officer at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Penn will direct a movie about a police officer who was at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in 2021, Warner Bros. said Tuesday. Following his Oscar-winning performance in “One Battle After Another,” Penn will direct the as-yet-untitled film from his own script. Bradley Cooper is in talks to star, though no deal has been finalized. Penn attended the 2002 hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. The movie’s announcement comes just days after the U.S. Justice Department said it will not challenge Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

‘Obsession’ is a sensation. Everyone, including Curry Barker, is trying to figure out what it means

NEW YORK (AP) — Over the last month, “Obsession” has sent shock waves through Hollywood. Curry Barker’s microbudget horror film has grossed $286 million worldwide, and it’s still going. In North America, it has outgrossed “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” It’s Focus Features’ biggest hit in its 24-year existence and ranks among the most profitable movies ever made. Coupled with the A24 hit “Backrooms,” by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, it’s been a coming-out party for YouTube as a breeding ground for the next generation of filmmakers. It’s also brought waves of Gen Z moviegoers into theaters. Summer has historically been dominated by legacy franchises, but “Obsession” may represent a sea change.

JD Vance went on television to plug a faith memoir. 'The View' had other plans

Vice President JD Vance is promoting his new book, but that wasn’t the main focus when he went on ABC’s “The View” to plug his memoir on faith. Instead, Vance faced tough questions on Jeffrey Epstein, the economy and immigration. His appearance on the show Tuesday marked a rare foray for a Trump administration official into what they consider hostile media, with the long-running morning show generally dominated by its liberal hosts. Vance joked about the challenging environment at the start of the hour, saying, “This is a show of MAGA Republicans, right?” He defended President Donald Trump’s comments on affordability and inflation by rephrasing his remarks on them, leading Joy Behar to ask him, “Are you his interpreter, or are you his vice president?”