show biz

As movies have morphed from a vibrant public event into a product we watch on our personal screens, film criticism has also been disrupted thanks to apps like Letterboxd. Fortunately, film critic A. S. Hamrah hasn’t gotten the memo. He is an insurrectionary voice in a time of critical complacency. Hamrah, who contributes reviews to Bookforum, n+1 and the Baffler, wields his pen like a flame thrower, lambasting Hollywood’s decline in a trenchant voice spiked with barbed wit while also shining a light on great marginalized films.

Hamrah has recently published two new books: a collection of his reviews called “Algorithm of the Night,” as well as a compilation of Hollywood news items called “Last Week in End Times Cinema” that reads like a doom scroll of cultural decay. I chatted with Hamrah about Marvel, Pauline Kael and AI.

✍️ Author Chat

A. S. Hamrah is a film critic and author of the recently published books “Algorithm of the Night” and “Last Week in End Times Cinema.”

(Courtesy of A. S. Hamrah)

Both of these books really describe the end of an era for movies, what you call the end of a worldview. What do you mean by that?

I think the goal of the studios, Netflix in particular, is not just to end theatrical exhibition but to end a certain way of understanding the cinema and to just turn it into television. The merger of cinema and television is very bad for cinema.

In the past, when existential threats of film reared their head, whether it was television or videocassette recorders, there was a sense of movies having to work harder to maintain its supremacy. But if everything is film, then there is no countervailing force. It all just merges into one thing.

People who watch a lot of TV were seen as kind of not really up to life in some ways. But it was never the goal of TV to crush cinema, which is the case now. Someone like Ted Sarandos at Netflix, his whole thing is based on pretending that no one likes to go to the movies anymore, when, in fact, millions of people all over the world love going to the movies.

I feel like your criticism is not about thumbs up, thumbs down. Even when you write a negative review, it’s fun to argue against it. You are creating a dialogue with your readers.

I don’t write a negative review to stop people from seeing a film. I want them to see it and make up their own mind about it. I also really try to avoid writing anything that can be extrapolated for a movie ad. I don’t want my stuff to be taken out of context and thrown onto a movie poster.

“Algorithm of the Night” is a collection of reviews by film critic A. S. Hamrah.

(Courtesy of A. S. Hamrah)

What critics inspired you?

Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael. The writer who had the biggest influence on me is Manny Farber, for the way he thinks about things and the freedom of his writing.

“Last Week in End Times Cinema” is the most depressing book I read last year, just a desultory litany of headlines about movie reboots, the creeping influence of AI on film, and so on.

When I first started publishing these, people thought I was making them up. I started culling them with great joy and mirth, but as the year progressed, with the wildfires in LA, the whole project became much more dire. And the death of David Lynch was a real blow, I thought.

You take a dim view of AI.

It seems to be Hollywood’s goal to not have any human beings involved in filmmaking. Why pay Will Smith $20 million when you can have an AI voice? But they’ve been preparing the ground for this since the beginning of the century. It feels like the whole system of production of Marvel films is already a form of AI. They’re trying to educate audiences into liking garbage, and that is what I mean when I write about the death of a worldview.

What films did you like last year?

“The Secret Agent,” “The Mastermind,” “Bugonia.” I saw “One Battle After Another” twice. There’s plenty of good commercial films that people can see in theaters, but the media acts like they don’t exist.

(This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)

📰 The Week(s) in Books

“One of the reasons I decided to focus on Orange County is that it’s not the norm — not what you think of as the Deep South. It’s Disneyland. It’s California,” author Eric Lichtblau says.

(Photos by Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times, Little Brown Company)

Costa Bevan Pappas has a chat with Eric Litchtblau about his new book “American Reich,” which explores the roots of white supremacy in Orange County. “One of the reasons I decided to focus on Orange County is that it’s not the norm — not what you think of as the Deep South,” Lichtblau tells Pappas. “It’s Disneyland. It’s California. These are people who are trying to take back America from the shores of Orange County because it’s gotten too brown in their view.”

Xialou Guo has crafted a radical remix of “Moby Dick” titled “Call Me Ishmaelle,” and Leanne Ogasawara is enchanted: “There is so much pleasure to be had in rereading old favorites — and part of the joy is meeting beloved characters, who have been updated or somehow arrive in a new form to resist old tropes and types.”

A year after the wildfires, L.A. native Jacob Soboroff has written “Firestorm,” and he sat down with Mariella Rudi to discuss the first book to be written about the calamity. “For me, it’s a much more personal book,” Soboroff says. “It’s about experiencing what I came to understand as the fire of the future. It’s about people as much as politics.”

Finally, Bethanne Patrick gives us the lowdown on January’s must-read book, while Eva Recinos gives us the five best science books of 2025.

📖 Bookstore Faves

Josh Spencer, owner of the Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles, opened a second location of the book store at 4437 Lankershim Blvd.

(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Ever since it opened a little over a year ago, Josh Spencer’s second edition of The Last Bookstore has grown a vibrant community of Valley-dwelling book lovers hungry for a store that sells newly published titles and a curated selection of second-hand gems. I chatted with store manager Shane Danielson about what customers are excited about right now.

What’s selling right now at the Valley store?

Right now film adaptations current and upcoming are driving a lot of our fiction sales – “Frankenstein,” Pynchon’s “Vineland” (for “One Battle After Another”), “Wuthering Heights.” Certain “brand name” authors always do well: Brandon Sanderson, Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut. But generally, our stock is so diverse that it’s hard to spot broader trends.

What kind of community has gathered around the store?

We have a growing community of literate, curious, frequently funny, often politically-engaged readers and book lovers, both young and not-so-young, who see reading and things like book groups as an act of resistance to the dominant culture. They want to turn off their screens for a while, and give themselves over to the longer narrative and deeper pleasures that a book provides.

What specific genres are popular?

Plays and books about acting sell every day – unsurprising, since we’re close to the Warner Bros. and Universal studios as well as two local theatre schools. Horror, science fiction and fantasy are perennials; and an increasing number of women, presumably disillusioned with real-world dating options, are enthusiastic consumers of “romantasy” authors like Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas. Classics also do surprisingly well: people seem to be reading an awful lot of Dostoevsky and George Orwell and Jane Austen. Which is encouraging.

We know how difficult it is in this culture to make folks care about books. Do you still find in people that desire — to read, and to explore through books? Are people still curious to learn about the world via books as opposed to ChatGPT?

Many of our customers say they treasure the physicality of a book – its heft, the tactility of the pages – as opposed to the frictionless experience of reading on a Kindle or another device. And interestingly, they all say variations on the same thing, which is that those other reading experiences just don’t stick; for whatever reason, they don’t retain much of what they’ve read afterward.

The Last Bookstore in Studio City is located in 4437 Lankershim Blvd.

(Please note: The Times may earn a commission through links to Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.)

KENDALL Jenner has opened up on cosmetic procedures she’s had in order to shut down rumours once and for all she’s had work done. 

While the Kardashian family love ‘tweakments’ and going under the knife to achieve their perfect image, 30-year-old Kendall has always maintained that she has never had any plastic surgery to maintain her supermodel looks. 

Appearing on the In Your Dreams podcast, Kendall shut down rumours that she’s had any sort of extensive work – despite facing years of criticism online by those claiming she’s lied about having surgery on her face, including a nose job. 

“I’m not going to sit here and convince anyone that I haven’t had work,” the star told host Owen Theile. “There’s a whole world on the internet that thinks I’ve had full facial reconstruction.

“I’m just here to tell you the truth, which is the fact that I’ve never had any plastic surgery on my face. Nothing. I’ve never had any work done.” 

While Owen didn’t appear convinced, she stood her ground and added: “I swear to God. I’ve done two rounds of Baby Botox in my forehead. That’s it. The only thing I’ve ever injected.”

She added that she “didn’t love it” and has opted to not use it since. 

“I look at old photos of me and I’m like, ‘Wait, it does look like I have a nose job,’” she added. “[But] I swear to God, on everything that I love, I’ve never had a nose job.” 

However, while she’s not had any major work done, she loves having skin rejuvenation treatments after suffering from acne for years. 

Among the treatments she’s tried are the “vampire facials” which involve microneedling platelet-rich plasma into the skin, and PRP injections to inject her own blood plasma back into her skin to give a filler-type effect. 

However, Kendall does understand where the confusion is coming from, admitting that looking at old photographs from her teenage years she could see why people would presume she’d gone under the knife. 

But she condemned those who have used social media to analyse what she may or may not have had done, saying it could have a negative impact on young people who follow her. 

“It can affect young people in such an interesting way,” she explained. “Because then they see that and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, that’s what I have to do to look like that.’ And then they go rush, and they do something silly.”

The star’s frank chat also included her addressing long-standing rumours about her sexuality – despite being in public relationships with stars including Harry Styles, Bad Bunny and Devin Booker.

“I understand that coming out is not an easy thing for anybody, if not most people, and I’m not saying it’s an easy thing” she said.

“But knowing, and I can speak for myself here, and knowing myself, I think at this point in my life I’d be out if I was.”

“I’m not saying it’s an easy thing. I’m just saying that knowing me and knowing how I would want to live my life, I would be,” she added.

“I’d have no problem being that.”

“All’s to say, as of today, I am not,” she later added, before noting: “I don’t think I will be, but I’m not closing doors to experiences in life.”

VICKY Pattison looked absolutely sensational in a new string of throwback pictures and videos from her time in Cyprus. 

The Strictly Come Dancing star was flown over to the exotic island as the host of Channel 4 series Honesty Box – where struggling couples competed for a cash prize as they were grilled on their romance by a military-standard lie detector.

But while the cameras were off, Vicky seized the moment to soak up some sun by the hotel pool, showing clips of her stripping down to a tiny black bikini for some summer sun. 

Sharing the new pictures on Instagram, Vicky shared: “Come and film the Honesty Box with me…

“Had this in my drafts for AGESSSSS… and thought it needed to be shared! Last year Honesty Box hit screens and I wanted to give you a little BTS of what a day in the life looked like out there!” 

“Me and my team had such a ball! And the show was AMAZING!!!” she wrote. 

GO GLOW

Shoppers can save 30% off Jo Malone dupes at Gloriah — Vicky Pattison is a fan

DIAMOND RETURN

Strictly star Vicky Pattison gets engaged again after £200k rock was stolen

“Loads of singles, all looking for love in a villa with one MAJOR twist… THE HONESTY BOX! Which uses military grade, lie detector technology to make sure our cheeky little truetopians are being as honesty as possible!!! 😂😳 

“That’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons! 😂 All with me and the gorgeous [Lucinda Light] making sure these cheeky little minxes behave 😂” 

Unfortunately for Vicky, the potential for any other trips over to Cyprus for the show have been cancelled following the axe of the series after just one batch of episodes.

The decision was made in November as Channel 4 chose to focus on other dating shows that also grabbed public attention at the time. 

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Honesty Box was a brilliant format from a great team but there were many great new reality hits this year.

“We have had tough decisions on what is returning. Virgin Island really landed with our audience and will return next year.”

The show was part of a new string of shows by Channel 4 which became smash hits – most notably Virgin Island, which aired around the same time and caused a bigger buzz as cameras followed a dozen virgins on a journey to pop their cherries.

Honesty Box is available to watch in full now on Channel 4. 

Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr opened up about being ‘walked over’ in past relationships and admitted he ‘doesn’t trust anyone’ in candid chat with Amanda Holden

Alan Carr has made a heart-wrenching confession about his divorce, revealing that he’s been “walked over” in the past and now finds it hard to trust anyone.

The 49-year-old winner of Celebrity Traitors opened up during his BBC show ‘Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job’, which he co-hosts with his best mate, Amanda Holden, 54.

As they enjoyed Aperol Spritz cocktails under the sun, the close friends discussed the rapid pace of life and their respective experiences with divorce. Alan, who was previously married to Paul Drayton, didn’t mention his ex by name but shared some poignant reflections on his past relationships.

The conversation began when the star of The Traitors expressed his feelings about nearing the age of 50. Amanda chimed in, acknowledging that they’d both weathered many storms in life, including divorce, and admitted to making “bad decisions” in her past.

Reflecting on his own romantic history, Alan responded: “I mean, it’s not decisions for me, but knowing your worth and the amount of times I’ve been walked over and people have demeaned me.”

He added: “You know, like, there’s times that I wish I’d said, ‘no’, I wish I’d been a bit bolder and a bit… No. Stronger. Yeah, a bit stronger.”

Alan then confessed his biggest challenge when it comes to starting a new relationship. “I don’t really trust anyone, really. That’s the trouble. I think that is my main thing,” he confided in Amanda. “But, yeah, it’s just getting out there and trusting, isn’t it?”

Alan was previously in a 14-year relationship with his now ex-husband. Paul and Alan were together for a decade before tying the knot in 2018, with superstar Adele officiating their nuptials at her lavish Los Angeles residence.

The couple shared a life on a farm they purchased in West Sussex, where they raised animals together. However, the pressures of lockdown took a toll on their relationship, leading to their divorce in 2022.

During Alan’s stint on Celebrity Traitors, which he ultimately won, Paul opened up to The Sun about their relationship. He revealed: “He [Alan] was tolerant most of the time when we were together, but if he felt someone was taking advantage of him, he would cut them out of his life. He is ruthless in that way.”

“I don’t want to say he’s a good liar – as far as I know, he never lied to me during our relationship – but he will be good at playing the game, and he will be a good Traitor.”

Reflecting on the controversy from Traitors involving Paloma Faith, where Alan touched her face to “murder her in plain sight”, Paul joked: “There were a few times in our relationship when I bet Alan wished he could have touched my face and bumped me off, to save him from the stress I was causing him. I fell in love with him because he’s funny and we used to make each other laugh.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

PALOMA Faith has shared a look at her blossoming baby bump after a luxury break in Oman. 

The singer is pregnant with her third child, and ahead of the birth whisked away for a sunsoaked getaway with her two daughters and partner, Stevie Thomas.

Sharing pictures from the resort’s poolside, Paloma looked relaxed and happy as she posed for selfies, while in another she was seen asleep in a bikini with her bump on display. 

Alongside photographs of the Middle Eastern resorts sights, Paloma was also seen beaming next to Stevie in another loved up snap. 

“Amazing trip to Oman with the boy, kids and bump,” she wrote alongside the pictures on Instagram. 

“I have to say it’s an amazing part of the world and I am so blessed to share this time with my kids before new baby comes ….. taking time out with family from work is something to push for and I really try.” 

PALOMA’S HEARTBREAK

Paloma Faith in tears as she reveals best friend died ‘really slowly’

SENDING LOVE

Pregnant Paloma Faith in worrying hospital dash as she’s put on a nebuliser

“Someone said to me recently you only really get 18 summers with your kids and I was lucky to extend that with a bit of winter sun,” she added. 

“I never take time with them for granted and I can’t wait to have my third miracle baby. 

“I have to say, I feel VERY happy about my personal life right now, it’s all going wonderfully!” 

Paloma announced she was expecting her third baby back in October last year, shortly after her brutal exit from Celebrity Traitors, where she was murdered at the hands of close pal, Alan Carr. 

This is her first child with Stevie, having welcomed her two daughters, born in 2016 and 2021, with her ex-husband, artist Leyman Lahcine. 

For both babies, Paloma was open about years of fertility struggles, undergoing IVF in order to conceive. 

After splitting from Leyman in 2022 after a 10 year relationship, it’s believed Paloma and music venue director Stevie secretly dated for a year before going public with their romance in March 2025. 

While she’s been praising her current pregnancy experience, in December she worried fans as she was rushed to hospital and put on a nebuliser after a nasty bout of Flu A.

Thankfully she has since fully recovered, taking the opportunity to ditch the British cold for a resort trip abroad with her family and loved ones.

James Bond and MobLand star Pierce Brosnan shared what “keeps him alive” as he reflected on his acting career and whether he plans to continue

Pierce Brosnan has opened up about his views on retirement, following his latest role in the biographical sports drama Giant. The film tells the story of boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, portrayed by Amir El Masry, with Pierce taking on the role of Brendan Ingle, the fighter’s former trainer.

The narrative follows Hamed’s journey from a working-class boy in Sheffield to becoming a world featherweight champion, guided by Brendan’s coaching both inside and outside the ring.

Knowing all too well about having a modest upbringing, Pierce relocated to London with his mother aged 11 to start a new life and pursue drama school.

Decades later, he’s built an impressive body of work spanning films and television series, including James Bond, Mrs. Doubtfire, Remington Steele, Mamma Mia! and MobLand.

Reflecting on Naseem’s career concluding at 28, Pierce explained why he’s determined to continue working at 72. “It’s the creative life that keeps me alive,” the Irish-born star revealed.

“I’m 72, time is moving on for me and I can feel the tick of it. I’ve been down this path a long time now, but what else do I do but really live the life and the time that I have left?”.

During the same interview with The Independent, the actor also praised his family, especially his wife Keely Shaye Brosnan, for their unwavering support throughout his career.

Discussing the source of his confidence, in what he described as the “capricious” world of acting, he explained: “Family, for sure. I have a great wife, who’s given me wings to fly.

“I’m a catholic, and my faith is very strong and you have to be as tough as old boots to be in the game this long.”

Pierce also spoke about the prospect of retirement while promoting Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club last year.

The film, adapted from Richard Osman’s bestselling book series, follows a group of friends living in a retirement home who enjoy solving murders as a hobby, only to become embroiled in a case themselves.

Speaking about his role to USA Today, Pierce said he feels “very fortunate” to still be working as an actor and confessed he wouldn’t have a clue what to do if he hung up his boots.

“The doing of being an actor and the constant doing of it is invigorating,” he explained.

When he’s not on set, the star treasures quality time with his family.

Wed to Keely since 2001, the pair share two sons, Paris and Dylan. From his first marriage to Cassandra Harris, he legally adopted her three children Charlotte, Sean and Christopher.

Heartbreakingly, Charlotte lost her life in 2013 at just 41 following a battle with ovarian cancer, the same disease that claimed Cassandra’s life in 1991.

Speaking previously to Esquire in 2017 about his approach to parenting and being brought up by a single mother, he reflected: “I know what it’s like to bring up sons.

“It can be a very arduous road. My fatherly instincts are purely my own. They relate back to no one, because there was no one.”

AMERICAN actor T.K. Carter best known for his role in horror Sci-Fi film The Thing has been found dead at home.

Carter played Nauls in the 1982 movie and has starred in other films including Southern Comfort, He’s My Girl, and Ski Patrol.

He also featured in various television shows including Punky Brewster, The Corner, and Just Our Luck.

According to TMZ, the actor was found dead on Friday at his home in Duarte, California.

Officers discovered his body around 5:40 pm after they were called to the property.

No foul play is suspected and a cause of death has not yet been released.

read more on celebrity deaths

STAR GONE

Actor in Oceans Eleven, Rhoda, and Commando dies following heart attack

STAR KILLED

Singer shot dead in car during ‘ambush-style’ killing as cops launch manhunt

More to follow…

HOME Alone star Daniel Stern has been cited for allegedly soliciting a prostitute at a hotel.

The actor who is best known for playing Sticky Bandit (formerly Wet Bandit) Marv in the iconic Christmas films alongside Macaulay Culkin and Joe Pesci was allegedly busted by cops in Camarillo, California last month.

Stern, 68, was ticketed on December 10, a law enforcement source from Ventura County told TMZ.

He was not arrested but soliciting a prostitute in California is a misdemeanour.

Those who are convicted of such an offense in the Golden State can get up to six months behind bars or a $1,000 fine.

Neither Stern nor his representatives have issued comment about the citation.

The father-of-three has been married to his wife Laure Mattos since 1980 and has ditched Hollywood to focus on his art.

He lives on a ranch in Ventura where he sculpts and raises cattle.

On Christmas Eve he told People that he has been asked by the owners of the Home Alone house to create a sculpture of one of his iconic scenes.

“I got a call from the people who own the Home Alone house,” he said.

“And I’m a sculptor [and] they asked if if I would do a sculpture for the house. So I’m creating a sculpture of me and the spider.”

Back in October it was revealed by TMZ that he had been hospitalized after suffering an unknown medical emergency, but was quickly released and said to be “doing well”.

In other Home Alone news, before Christmas The U.S. Sun looked at how Kevin McCallister’s extravagant trip to New York City in the sequel would look today, including how much it would cost.

Plus, Macaulay Culkin has revealed what his children think of his starring role in the iconic films.

The original Traitors star Amanda Lovett left fans in shock as she sported a fresh faced new look during her appearance on Uncloaked alongside stars including Charlotte Church

She became a fan favourite as one of the original Traitors on the BBC show until she was eliminated after her co-star Wilfred Webster turned on her. But now the Amanda Lovett, 57, has set tongues wagging once again following her recent appearance on the BBC show’s spin-off programme Uncloaked.

Amanda Lovett appeared on Friday’s episode of The Traitors Uncloaked with Ed Gamble, Charlotte Church and the most recent banished star of this series, Fiona. But it was her fresh-faced appearance that made viewers take a second look as she appeared completely different to her previous TV stint, while on the first series of the show.

It has been reported that Amanda has taken great care to look after her skin with the use of creams and non-invasive procedures in a bid to tighten her face, resulting in a more youthful look. One fan wrote: “Sorry but amanda looks PHENOMENAL #TheTraitors.” Another said: “What on earth has happened to Amanda #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK #Uncloaked.”

READ MORE: Man who struggled to lose weight sheds 7 stone and gets abs after spotting Instagram ad

Meanwhile a third person added: “Uncloaked – how the f*** does Amanda not look ANYTHING like Amanda?!?!” A fourth penned: “Amanda (S1) looks 20 years younger on uncloaked omgg.” Previously, the mum of five, who is also a grandmother claimed that her treatments were only temporary and so she made the decision to undergo a neck and lower facelift.

At the time she said: “I was looking at myself on the camera, and I kept seeing myself at all these different angles that I had never seen before, as it’s so different to having a picture taken. I noticed my face and neck were just getting saggier and saggier.” She added: “I started to think about needing to wear a scarf or polo necks just to hide this area of my body that I didn’t like. But then I thought, ‘why should I do that when there is help out there that can sort this issue out and take the years back a bit?'”

The procedure is believed to have cost an estimated £7,600 and reportedly took up to five hours while awake under local anaesthetic. Recalling the procedure, she said: “I was a bit apprehensive at first – I wondered how bad it would be choosing to be awake rather than asleep, but it really wasn’t that bad. It felt like a lot of tugging, pulling and tugging. I found it comforting – I even dozed off at one point.”

The recovery period took three to four weeks according to the reality TV star as she waited for the swelling to go down. But her full recovery took three months. She added: “It takes time to heal, but I was back going out with friends after three weeks. Now I haven’t got a scar or anything. It’s absolutely amazing.”

Fans of The Traitors recently complained to BBC bosses as they felt the programme Uncloaked was spoiling the main show by giving away key pointers. The spin off show airs shortly after the main show and invites the murdered contestants and those who have been banished, as well as celebrities to discuss the recently aired show.

But at the end of the Uncloaked, show host Ed Gamble teases his guests and viewers have noticed that he usually gives an insight into who will be the next person to leave. During Friday’s episode featuring Charlotte Church and Amanda, they were invited to discuss Fiona’s exit and their appearance was shown on Thursday night’s episode of the spin off show, leaving some fans to figure out the outcome before the main show aired.

Taking to Twitter one person said: “So I worked out a theory last night, and I didn’t tweet it because I didn’t want to spoil tonight’s show but, alas, it came true. Regarding #Uncloaked, their guests keep spoiling the show, and I’m tweeting this so they hopefully see it and stop it!! @BBC.”

Another person said: “They have themed guests, and the pattern is too obvious. For example, Mark was on last night after Amanda got banished by chance, because he was banished by chance too. The other guest was Fozia, murdered face to face… just like Maz.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Maybe it’s the leather seats or the free parking. But out of every movie theater in the U.S. and Canada, AMC Burbank 30 had the most lucrative box office in 2025.

The combined efforts of the three theater locations, less than a mile apart (AMC Burbank 16 and Town Centers 6 and 8), brought in the highest box office numbers, according to Comscore. The AMC in New York’s Lincoln Square came in second place. Overall, the theater chain holds seven of the top 10 highest-grossing box offices in the U.S. and Canada, with four locations in L.A., two in New York and one in Florida.

The L.A. AMC locations at The Grove, Century City and CityWalk ranked at numbers five, six and eight, respectively.

“AMC’s longstanding success in Los Angeles is driven by several factors, including the size of the market, the enthusiasm of the Hollywood community and local audiences for seeing films on the big screen, and AMC’s focus on delivering a high-quality moviegoing experience,” said a spokesperson for the theater chain in a statement to The Times.

“Across the region, AMC locations regularly offer a diverse film slate that spans major studio releases, independent titles, and AMC Artisan Films.”

AMC has had a presence in Southern California since 1969, when it opened its first West Coast location in La Habra. By the mid-1980s, the theater chain grew significantly, opening multiplexes in Burbank and Century City. There are now 36 locations in the greater Los Angeles market.

Daniel Loria, the senior vice president at the Box Office Company, a cinema data analytics firm, said Los Angeles and New York being the most profitable cities isn’t shocking. Many studios and theaters typically use the two largest metros to gauge which markets to expand to and how long a movie will be playing in theaters.

“This industry really relies on the power of those two cities for the entire world to function,” Loria said, referring to the film business.

“These are the capitals of cinema. You see this concentration within that top 10 because of the indexing performance they have, not only on a local level, but on a global level as well.”

The number of movies showing in larger cities also plays a key role in box office gross. Loria said that in some regions of the country, local theaters will only get three or four movies showing at a time. Whereas in bigger markets, there is more diversity in showings and more opportunities to go see a movie, as the theaters are usually bigger and have more screens. Beyond the number of screens, a film‘s visual format is also a major factor in profit and ticket pricing.

When seeing a movie in a premium format, like IMAX or Dolby Cinema 3D, at an AMC, an adult ticket can range between $25 and $30 on a weekend, whereas a standard format would cost around $18. Many movie theaters in Los Angeles have these high-quality screens, which can boost box office gross sales more than other theaters that do not offer a premium viewing experience.

Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends at Comscore, said major theater chains usually have more drawing power when their locations have high-quality screenings available.

“What’s striking is how premium formats are driving impressive box office [sales] even in an age of price sensitivity among consumers,” said Dergarabedian. “Savvy moviegoers understand that the upcharge is worth the investment, particularly with films that are epic in scope and are best viewed in the grandest format on offer at their local cinema.”

In recent years, movie membership passes have helped bring audiences into theaters more consistently . AMC’s A-list membership allows subscribers to see up to four movies a week, for the monthly price of $27.99. There are nearly 1 million A-listers.

“The greater Los Angeles area is also home to a highly engaged AMC Stubs A-List membership base that makes theatrical moviegoing a priority,” wrote an AMC spokesperson. “The connection between AMC, Hollywood, and Los Angeles moviegoers continues to benefit our studio partners, filmmakers, and audiences.”

KATIE Price’s family “fear” for her after she “split” from boyfriend JJ Slater.

Rumours of trouble in paradise have been circling for months, but now it is being reported that the couple have “parted ways”, with those closest to Katie, 47, concerned she’ll “jump into another relationship”.

Yesterday it was reported that Katie and JJ have “split”, with the Married At First Sight star “moving out” of her home.

The former glamour girl has a long relationship history, and is known for going from one man to the next.

She has had high profile romances with Peter Andre, Carl woods and Alex Reid, to name but a few.

Despite telling her podcast listeners this week that she “doesn’t need a man”, Katie’s family are reportedly “concerned” that she will jump straight into another relationship now that things are “over” with JJ.

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED

Katie Price fans in stitches as they spot funny detail in bedroom pic

SAD CONFESSION

Katie Price admits she ‘doesn’t like the person in the mirror’

A source told the Mirror: “She always says the same thing [about being happy alone and not needing a man in her life] but she’ll be throwing herself into the next relationship.

“She wants to find a husband and can’t cope without being with a partner. It wouldn’t be surprising if she hasn’t got someone lined up already.”

Continuing, the insider added: “It will last three seconds. Her family are concerned she will throw herself deep into another relationship and put the pressure on again to get married, like she has with JJ.

“You can’t force someone to get married, you can’t force someone to love you.”

Addressing the “JJ split”, the source said: “This has been on the cards for a long time.

“She’s been pushing for marriage, wanting a guy that’s marriage material but the writing has been on the wall for a long time.”

Talking about other concerns her family have regarding her endless cosmetic surgery procedures, the source revealed: “Her family are very worried about her.

“There is a real problem there and they are worried she will die on the operating table, because she’s not strong enough.

“She isn’t strong enough for a general anaesthetic, let alone another procedure.”

Katie’s rep told The Sun they had “no comment” on these claims.

JJ ‘SPLIT’

Yesterday it was reported that after months of speculation, Katie and JJ had “split”.

It came after they put on a untied front on Boxing Day, following break-up rumours.

However, according to insiders, they have “broken up” after two years of dating.

A source told the Mail: “Katie has had doubts for some time about whether JJ is husband material, but she hoped those concerns would fade.

“Instead, her fears only grew, and she’s now accepted the relationship will not end with her walking down the aisle for a fourth time.

“JJ was left disappointed and has already packed his bags and moved back to his home in Essex.”

MEETING JJ

Katie and JJ began dating in late 2023, following her split from ex-fiancé Carl Woods.

She reportedly first reached out to him following his time on the E4 show, MAFS, though he’d previously messaged Katie years before calling her “fit”.

There was no overlap between JJ’s romance with ex Ella Morgan.

In February 2024, the duo confirmed that they had begun dating.

Katie Price’s relationship history

We take a look back at the highs and lows of Katie Price’s relationship history.

1996-1998: Katie got engaged to Gladiators star Warren Furman – aka Ace – with a £3,000 ring. But their relationship didn’t make it as far as ‘I do’.

1998-2000: Katie described Dane Bowers as ‘the love of her life’ but she broke up with the singer when he allegedly cheated on her.

2001: Footballer Dwight Yorke is the father of Katie’s eldest child Harvey. He has had very little to do with Harvey throughout his life.

2002: Rebounding from Dwight, Katie famously had one night of passion with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, allegedly taking his virginity.

2002-2004: Katie was dating Scott Sullivan when she entered the jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He threatened to “punch Peter’s lights out” when chemistry blossomed between her and Peter Andre.

2004-2009: The jungle romance resulted in Katie marrying Aussie pop star Peter. They had two kids, Junior and Princess, before their bitter split in 2009.

2010-2011: Fresh from her break-up with Peter, Katie enjoyed a whirlwind relationship and marriage with cage fighter Alex Reid. They split 20 months after their Las Vegas wedding.

2011: Katie briefly dated model Danny Cipriani… but it ended as quickly as it begun.

2011-2012: They didn’t speak the same language, but Katie got engaged to Argentinian model Leandro Penna in 2011. He later fled home to South America.

2012-2018: Wedding bells rang once more after Katie met Kieran Hayler in 2013. They had two kids together, Jett and Bunny, before their break-up and divorce.

2018-2019: Katie moved on quickly with Kris Boyson. They had an on-off romance for one year and even got engaged. They split for good in 2019.

2019: Katie was linked to Charles Drury during her on-off relationship with Kris. Charles, who also dated Lauren Goodger, has always denied being in “official relationship” with her.

2020-2023: Car salesman Carl Woods took a shine to Katie in 2020. Their relationship was up and down for three years. They broke up for a final time last year.

2024-present: After weeks of rumours, Katie confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater in February this year.

BROOKLYN Beckham shared an emotional birthday message to his wife Nicola Peltz amid the legal row with his parents.

The Sun revealed yesterday that the aspiring chef sent parents David and Victoria a legal notice warning they can now contact him only via lawyers.

The extraordinary “desist” letter also instructs them not to “tag” him on social media.

Despite the ongoing feud, Brooklyn took some time out of his day to post a gushing tribute message to his wife.

To celebrate her 31st birthday, Brooklyn shared a black and white photo from their vow renewal, which took place last August at Nicola’s family estate in Westchester, NY.

The photo showed them sweetly embracing with Nicola wearing her mum Claudia’s repurposed dress that she wore to her wedding in 1985.

READ MORE ON BROOKLYN BECKHAM

FAMILY REUNION?

Brooklyn Beckham reconciles with grandparents & chats to them regularly

FEUD BOMBSHELL

Brooklyn Beckham sends David and Victoria extraordinary legal notice

Brooklyn wrote: “My dear Nicola x happy birthday beautiful girl.

“I love you with all my heart and I am the luckiest man to call you my wife.

“You are the funniest and most hard working person I know.

“Can’t wait to stay young with you baby girl xx”

Although Brooklyn has switched off the comments on the post, it has been liked by over 30,000 people.

Just yesterday, it was revealed that Brooklyn is only in contact with his parents via the lawyers.

A breach of the legal letter was the reason why Brooklyn Beckham blocked his parents online after mum Victoria “liked” a roast chicken video he shared.

Posh’s positive response to his poultry recipe on Instagram then led to a fall-out last month, with youngest son Cruz, 20, posting: “They (my parents) woke up blocked . . . so did I.”

However, we revealed the blocking followed weeks of frustration from Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola, who believe their requests for private reconciliation were ignored.

‘Heart-breaking tale’

Transformers star Nicola has also now blocked the Beckhams.

Brooklyn’s grandparents and wider family, though, have not been blocked and regularly comment on his posts, which he is happy with.

A source said: “Truly, people do not know the full facts of this heart-breaking tale, and think Brooklyn was just being truculent when he blocked his parents.

“The reality is that he issued them with a letter at the end of last summer, asking for any correspondence to go via lawyers only, and wanted to try and make amends privately not publicly.

“He felt his parents continued to ignore his wishes and kept mentioning him online instead of reaching out privately.

“For their part, David and Victoria have simply tried to let their beloved eldest son know the door is always open, and that they still care.

“After this letter, they had no other physical means of reaching out to him so what were they to do?

“They of course feel utterly bemused and devastated by this latest turn of events. There is no malice from their part, only concern.

“But it is clear, if there is going to be any reconciliation, it will be away from prying eyes and must be done privately.

“That’s all anyone wants but, alas, seems a long, long way off given they are only now communicating through lawyers.”

Last month, Brooklyn took to Instagram to demonstrate his chicken-in-beer recipe, prompting a “like” from Victoria.

Within 48 hours, he had blocked his immediate family.

However, last year, Romeo, 23, and Cruz blocked their older brother on Instagram, before unblocking him some time after.

This, Brooklyn’s friends feel, was therefore the “first social media act of war”.

The Beckhams’ feud with Brooklyn and Nicola dates back almost four years, and has reached rock bottom.

Pals of the US-based pair claim it started after his brother, former ­Burberry model Romeo, began dating Brooklyn’s ex Kim Turnbull.

But the Beckhams lay the fault squarely at the feet of Nicola, accusing her of being “difficult”, and deny a romantic relationship between Kim and Brooklyn.

This criticism has understandably hurt the actress, whose tycoon dad, Nelson, is worth more than £3billion.

She believes the relationship with her future in-laws became untenable in the months leading up to her 2022 wedding.

She gave an interview to Variety magazine confirming Posh had reneged on an offer to design her gown, meaning she wore a bespoke Valentino dress instead.

Victoria was also devastated to have been accused of hijacking the wedding day itself after singer Marc Anthony — whom the Beckhams had booked — described the mum of four, not bride Nicola, as the “most beautiful woman in the room”.

Both Brooklyn and Nicola are said to have cried on their wedding day, and relations between the two families have not been the same since.

Despite a brief detente — Nicola supported the designer’s fashion show in Paris while Posh attended the red-carpet premiere of her movie Lola — things have since deteriorated.

They have not spoken in 13 months, with the most recent public fall-out occurring ahead of the ex-England captain’s star-studded 50th birthday celebrations last May.

Neither Brooklyn nor Nicola attended any of his week of events.

ROBBIE Williams has revealed the heartbreaking text he received from his actress daughter Teddy at 2am.

Robbie, 51, who shares 13-year-old Teddy with his wife Ayda Field, has opened about his teenager’s torment over the future.

Teddy is following her dad into the world of showbiz, and has already started making waves as an actress, which includes starring in a Hollywood movie.

However, now the teen has set her sights on being a singer, just like her dad Robbie.

Teddy’s famous father has had huge success after starting out in boyband Take That, and then going onto sell hundreds of millions of records worldwide as a solo artist.

But Robbie has revealed that his teenage daughter has put tremendous pressure on herself to follow in his footsteps and achieve the same kind of success as a singer.

READ MORE ON ROBBIE WILLIAMS

NO REGRETS

Fat jabs are making me blind, fears Robbie as he vows to keep using them

CLASS ACT

Robbie Williams plans huge career change as he compares himself to comedians

Opening up to Scott Mills on Radio 2, he talked about Teddy’s dream of becoming famous like him.

“Ted in particular is so desperate for it,” Robbie revealed.

“Now, when I was growing up in Stoke-on Trent, I was also incredibly desperate for it, whatever it was, you know, watching Top Of The Pops on Thursday and thinking, how the hell do I get in that box in the corner of this room and be one of those people?

“But I’ve never seen it so acute as I do with Ted. She sent me a text the other day. And it goes, let me get this.

“It says – this was Thursday, six minutes past two in the morning, ‘Dad, what if I’m not a singer? It’s my biggest fear not to be a singer.’ Biggest capital letters. ‘What if I’m nothing?’”

Robbie then jokingly added: “And I was like, ‘babe, you’re a nepo. You’ll be fine!’”

Turning serious again, the star said: “The only thing that worries me about it is, she’s incredibly sensitive. I am painfully, painfully sensitive.

“In some quarters it would be deemed as being oversensitive. She is worse than me. And I’m worried about what words will do to her.

“For me, it was either this or stacking shelves at ASDA – so this, every single day and for Ted, she’s got options.”

MOVIE DEBUT

Robbie’s daughter Teddy recently made her acting debut in Rebel Wilson and Danny Dyer film, Tinsel Town.

The Christmas movie features Teddy as the daughter of actress Rebel’s character Jill.

The teenager was seen at the premiere of the movie in November with her proud parents.

The teenager was all smiles as she stepped out on the red carpet with dad Robbie and mum Ayda.

It was revealed last February that Teddy was making her movie debut in Tinsel Town after being spotted filming alongside Rebel and Danny.

A source told The Sun at the time: “Teddy was born to be a star – after all, her parents are both the ultimate performers.

“Robbie and Ayda have been keen to keep her out of the spotlight for as long as possible though – obscuring her face on social media etc – so this is all very much being driven by Teddy who’s wanted to be on stage since she was old enough to talk!

“It’s a small part but obviously is super-exciting, and everyone is really proud of her.

“She’s an absolutely lovely girl on and off screen, and has fitted in seamlessly into on-set life.”

As well as Teddy, Robbie and Ayda are also parents to children Charlton (Charlie), Colette (Coco) and Beau.

The high-profile couple have consciously kept their children away from the public eye for most of their lives.

Loose Women panellist Ayda previously said: “We never show their faces, it’s really important to us.

“We’re really proud and we want to share absolutely everything but there’s a law in this country that means they can’t put pictures up of kids in the papers unless you’re posting their faces.”

ACTOR and director Timothy Busfield is facing allegations of child sexual abuse.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the Emmy-winning star, best known for his roles in “Field of Dreams” and the TV shows “The West Wing” and “Thirtysomething”.

A police probe into the film icon was launched in November 2024 when cops attended the University of New Mexico Hospital after a doctor made a report.

An officer reportedly spoke with two parents who said their children were actors on the FOX TV show “The Cleaning Lady” – where Busfield, 68, worked as a director.

The producer is alleged to have told the siblings to call him “Uncle Tim”, and was accused of tickling their stomach and legs, according to a warrant filed by Albuquerque police on January 4.

Hospital employees told police that it appeared the kids had been groomed, court documents say.

PORN STAR ‘PREDATOR’

Inside horrific rape & sex attack allegations made against Ron Jeremy

One of the minors claimed the alleged abuse started when he was seven years old.

Busfield allegedly touched the child five or six times on another occasion.

The director is said to have grown “closer to the boys” over the series shooting, the children’s’ parents say in the arrest warrant.

One of the minors told a therapist in 2025 that Busfield touched his “genitalia” and “bottom” while in a bedroom on the set of the TV show, according to an affidavit obtained by KTLA.

The document says that Busfield told an officer that he had engaged in “playful” contact with the children on set, but denied any wrongdoing. 

Busfield, also well-known for his role in “Revenge of the Nerds”, now faces two counts of sexual contact with a minor and child abuse. 

It is currently unclear whether or not the Hollywood star has been booked yet.

According to his arrest warrant, Busfield has previously faced sexual assault allegations dating back to 1994.

The Sun reached out to Busfield’s team for comment.

Busfield has over 700 credits as an actor, producer and director in TV and film.

He won an Emmy Award for his role as Elliot Weston on the hit series “Thirtysomething” in 1991.

The film industry giant is best-known for his role as Danny Concannon in several seasons of “The West Wing”.

But he has also appeared in several films including “Stripes,” “Sneakers” and “Quiz Show”.

Busfield married Melissa Gilbert in 2013, and the pair do not share any children.

Breaking news… More to follow…

THE Golden Globes are set to bring the drama this year.

This year’s ceremony, which will happen on Sunday, January 11th, promises big names and some seating surprises.

Fans are excited about the Golden Globes seating chart, which was exposed in some sneak peak photos by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

The thoughtful seating arrangements might create some drama of its own.

Attendees include pop star Charli XCX, who is seated next to Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams.

A Reddit thread was quickly created, with fan theories dropping.

FACE OFF

Kylie Jenner’s evolution: From filler fails to ‘natural’ Golden Globes look

One commenter said, “Charlie XCX is so lucky.”

Another fan replied, “I just know she’s gonna love those boys.”

Their dynamic interactions are highly anticipated around the room, with notable presenters including close friends and co-stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

The Hollywood favorites will be joined by other presenters like Snoop Dogg, Colman Domingo, Amanda Seyfried, Ayo Edebiri, Miley Cyrus, Macaulay Culkin, and Kevin Hart.

Their seating will create exciting connections and conversations.

At George Clooney’s table will also be Jean Smart, Miley Cyrus, Chris Pine, and Queen Latifah.

“Miley Cyrus and Leonardo DiCaprio are sat at the table next to theirs,” one Reddit commenter stated.

Another fan replied: “Omg Connor can talk to her about dressing up as her in middle school!”

An A-list comedy table will seat Seth Rogen, Jeremy Allen White, and Kevin Hart.

A third table had a strange twist.

Famous redheads Emma Stone and Sarah Snook are seated directly next to each other.

Comedian Nikki Glaser is set to lead the event as host, and many think the star will also bring some heat to the night.

Between Nikki, the comedy table, and the steamy duo of Connor and Hudson, fans think this will be a dream team pairing at tables.

As the event approaches, memorable interactions and funny moments are expected.

This year’s ceremony is shaping up to be memorable, with many funny moments expected and some intriguing rivalries, too.

There was no mention of Timothée Chalamet or a certain Jenner sister.

The Golden Globe Awards are renowned for recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign.

Organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), this awards show stands out because it celebrates both cinematic achievements and television programming in one event, unlike many other awards that focus solely on one medium.

The Globes are famous for their relaxed atmosphere, where winners often share heartfelt and humorous speeches, fostering a sense of camaraderie among stars.

Additionally, the Golden Globes often serve as a precursor to the Oscars, helping to shape the conversation around movies during awards season.

The Golden Globes have hosted some unforgettable celebrity moments over the years.

Besties Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift had fans running to lip-reading experts when they were caught whispering at their table in 2024.

In 2015, Jeremy Renner famously spent a little too much time “reading” the cue cards near Jennifer Lopez’s cleavage while they presented on stage.

A standout memory was Jennifer Lawrence tripping on her way to accept her award in 2013, showcasing her relatable, down-to-earth persona.

In 2009, host Ricky Gervais made headlines with his sharp humor, poking fun at several celebrities, including Mel Gibson, which led to mixed reactions.

The ceremony also often features fun interactions between stars, such as awkward encounters, playful banter, and heartfelt reunions, adding to its entertainment value.

MOLLY-Mae and Tommy Fury have been enjoying a stunning “honeymoon” at a private island resort – and it costs £10k a week.

The family stayed at the One & Only Reethi Rah resort, where villas lead straight into the Indian Ocean.

Molly-Mae updated her YouTube channel with her first Vlog of 2026 centred around her Maldives’ luxury trip.

The Island Resort costs about £10K per week for 2 adults and 1 child in December and she previously said it was her dream honeymoon destination.

But since the couple doesn’t think that they will be having a honeymoon anytime soon – they just decided to go.

In her vlog, Molly-Mae said: “I really wanted to vlog a little bit of this trip. I love making videos for you guys but also I never film holidays anymore.

SHUT DOWN

Moment fuming Molly Mae storms off camera after awkward question about Tommy Fury

BIG DECISIONS

Molly-Mae Hague breaks down in tears over ‘bittersweet’ moment in new trailer

“Mainly because since having a baby we don’t really go on trips like this anymore.”

The Maybe star then strolled along with Bambi as she showed off her beautiful Maldives water villa and stunning view.

But she pointed out that they hadn’t been going outside the villa unless they were holding their daughter’s hand due to the risk of all the water.

The pair then grabbed an ice cream before they showed a glorious white beach dotted with luxurious sun beds.

Later on in the evening, the family cosied up on sumptuous sun beds to watch some beach cinema.

And in another shot, Molly-Mae said: “this beach is absolutely stunning,” as the camera zoomed around the tropical sands.

The family also dined in a stunning restaurant as they dined on chicken supreme and truffle risotto.

Tommy also enjoyed tennis lessons on the resort as Molly-Mae gave a tour around her sumptuous water villa.

Elsewhere, Molly-Mae had a traditional massage and said it was very interesting.

She added: “What I was not informed about it, which is not a problem, but that the massage is completely topless.”

However, the star said she quickly got used to it and then didn’t even notice she was topless.

The resort is nestled on North Male Atoll with villas having access into the beautiful Indian Ocean.

It was previously voted the best in the world 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.

Fans flocked to praise Molly-Mae and one person wrote: “It’s so lovely to see you, Tommy & Bambi happy together again.”

A second said: “So refreshing to see an influencer chilling on holiday rather than all the unrealistic full glam posts, this is how we all look most of the time on holiday – makeup free, sea salt hair and fully relaxed. Thank you mo.”

While a third said: “I just love this vlog. Molly going on every 5 minutes about how grateful she is to be there.

“Her and Tommy describing how they burst into tears from the overwhelming appreciation of even being able to stay there.

“Even the moment when Tommy explained to bambi how their trip is a holiday, and they can’t just jet out whenever they want, showing how this luxury isn’t affordable for the average person.

“You & Tommy are both incredible human beings and you both should be proud for the loving and humble life you’ve created for yourselves and your little human.”

However, the star was called out over the summer for moaning about “not having enough fun”.

But Molly-Mae flew to St Moritz in January, Budapest in April, Dubai in May, Disneyland Paris via private jet in May, Turkey in August, and St Tropez again via private jet in August.

The star also enjoyed a motorhome holiday to the Isle of Man in July.

However, many of her trips are for work – and she often shares a glimpse of the action, including photo shoots in lavish locations like St Moritz earlier this year.

Mexican alternative band Café Tacvba is petitioning two of the largest music labels to take its catalog off of Spotify.

On Wednesday, the group’s singer Rubén Albarrán made an Instagram post calling on its former labels Universal Music Mexico and Warner Music Mexico to take action.

“I delivered letters to the record labels WMM and UMM, which by contract have the exploitation rights of Café Tacvba’s catalog, asking them to remove our music from the platform Stupidfy [sic] because it contradicts our artistic vision and our personal and band ethics,” Albarrán said.

He also claimed that the streaming giant invests in weapons manufacturing, runs ads for ICE and uses artificial intelligence in a way that is detrimental to musicians.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek leads an investment group that gave $694 million to the European defense technology startup Helsing in June.

“I personally invite our followers to listen to our music on other platforms, or better yet boycott it, and don’t take part in the abuses of power, ongoing wars, violence.” Albarrán added. “It is time to create a new world, more just — where music still has value, meaning, accompanies people, giving them support, joy, hope.”

Spotify responded to Albarrán’s post in a statement to The Times.

“We respect the artistic legacy of Café Tacvba and Rubén Albarrán’s right to express his views, but the facts tell a different story,” a Spotify spokesperson wrote. “Spotify does not fund war. Helsing is a separate company that has been supplying defense tech to Ukraine. Furthermore, there are currently no ICE ads running on Spotify; the advertisements mentioned were part of a U.S. government recruitment campaign that ran across all major media and platforms. We are a platform for music, and our AI policy is focused on protecting human artists from clones and fraud.”

In November, Rolling Stone reported that Spotify received $74,000 from the Department of Homeland Security to air ICE ads, according to information acquired from several data services.

According to Variety, the music streamer stopped airing ICE ads at the end of 2025. News of Spotify’s terminated contract came after Renee Nicole Good was killed by a federal immigration agent during an operation Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Spotify’s statement to The Times also claimed that the platform pays artists more equitably than other streamers, saying, “We are proud that Café Tacvba’s music has generated millions of dollars on Spotify over the years, and the reality is that Spotify continues to pay out more money to more artists than any player in music history. We consistently pay out 70% of our revenue to rightsholders.”

According to Spotify’s artist website, platformed artists must contact their label or distributor and ask them to issue a takedown request.

Universal Music Mexico and Warner Music Mexico did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

Café Tacvba broke out onto the Latin rock scene with their second album,“Re,” a 20-song release from 1994. With smart, biting lyrics that touched on love, loss, hate, politics and modernism, the LP was hailed by the New York Times as “the equivalent of the Beatles’ White Album for the Rock en Español movement.” The L.A. Times’ critic Josh Kun dubbed it a “landmark.” And Rolling Stone put “Re” at the top of its “Top 10 Greatest Latin Rock Albums of All Time.”

The group saw even further international recognition with its 2003 megahit “Eres,” which received award recognition at the fifth annual Latin Grammys and has also accumulated over a half-billion streams on Spotify.

Stephen A. Smith is arguably the most-well known sports commentator in the country. But the outspoken ESPN commentator’s perspective outside the sports arena has landed him in a firestorm.

The furor is due to his pointed comments defending an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot a Minneapolis woman driving away from him.

Just hours after the shooting on Wednesday, Smith said on his SiriusXM “Straight Shooter” talk show that although the killing of Renee Nicole Good was “completely unnecessary,” he added that the agent “from a lawful perspective” was “completely justified” in firing his gun at her.

He also noted, “From a humanitarian perspective, however, why did he have to do that?”

Smith’s comments about the agent being in harm’s way echoed the views of Deputy of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said Good engaged in an “act of domestic terrorism” by attacking officers and attempting to run them over with her vehicle.

However, videos showing the incident from different angles indicate that the agent was not standing directly in front of Good’s vehicle when he opened fire on her. Local officials contend that Good posed no danger to ICE officers. A video posted by partisan media outlet Alpha News showed Good talking to agents before the shooting, saying, “I’m not mad at you.”

The shooting has sparked major protests and accusations from local officials that the presence of ICE has been disruptive and escalated violence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frye condemned ICE, telling agents to “get the f— out of our city.”

The incident, in turn, has put a harsher spotlight on Smith, raising questions on whether he was reckless or irresponsible in offering his views on Good’s shooting when he had no direct knowledge of what had transpired.

An angered Smith appeared on his “Straight Shooter” show on YouTube on Friday, saying the full context of his comments had not been conveyed in media reports, specifically calling out the New York Post and media personality Keith Olbermann, while saying that people were trying to get him fired.

He also doubled down on his contention that Good provoked the situation that led to her death, saying the ICE agent was in front of Good’s car and would have been run over had he not stepped out of the way.

“In the moment when you are dealing with law enforcement officials, you obey their orders so you can get home safely,” he said. “Renee Good did not do that.”

When reached for comment about his statements, a representative for Smith said his response was in Friday’s show.

It’s not the first time Smith, who has suggested he’s interesting in going into politics, has sparked outside the sports universe. He and journalist Joy Reid publicly quarreled following her exit last year from MSNBC.

He also faced backlash from Black media personalities and others when he accused Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas of using “street verbiage” in her frequent criticisms of President Trump.

“The way that Jasmine Crockett chooses to express herself … Aren’t you there to try and get stuff done instead of just being an impediment? ‘I’m just going to go off about Trump, cuss him out every chance I get, say the most derogatory things imaginable, and that’s my day’s work?’ That ain’t work! Work is, this is the man in power. I know what his agenda is. Maybe I try to work with this man. I might get something out of it for my constituents.’ ”

HOLLY Ramsay has delivered a fresh blow to Adam Peaty’s family.

The Olympic swimmer tied the knot with Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly, but the lead up to the wedding was full of drama after he reportedly uninvited his parents – Caroline and Mark.

Only Adam’s sister Bethany attended from his side, serving as a bridesmaid alongside Holly’s sisters, Tilly and Megan.

This came after Adam’s feud with his mum exploded last month when she was not invited to Holly’s hen do.  

But now Holly has shared some intimate details about the night before the big day.

Taking to social media, Holly shared some sweet snaps from the night.

A HOL NEW LIFE

Inside Adam Peaty’s bid for £5m paycheck as he ditches working-class family

DEEPER BLOW

Adam Peaty’s most hurtful move yet – and why family have shielded his mum

She also revealed how her siblings played a ‘special’ role in her big day.

In the caption of her latest post, Holly penned: “The night before our wedding we hosted an intimate cocktail party to kick start the Weekend Celebrations.”

She went on: “My siblings all did a speech which was so special and we celebrated with cake, spicy margs and then an early night, ready for the big day!!”

Fans flocked to the comments, with some quick to bring up Adam’s falling out with his parents.

One person penned: “Have some respect for your parents as well, who supported you through every thick and thin and made you the person you are today.”

Another asked: “What about his MOM and DAD?”

This comes after the Olympian shared a clip from his wedding speech over the weekend.

Taking to Instagram, he shared a post of his speech in which he declared he would “always choose” Holly.

As Adam made the promise, he was seen getting emotional and wiping tears from his eyes.

But fans weighed in on the emotional vow, with one person commenting under the video: “I’ll always choose you – hmmmm, can’t help but wonder how Victoria [Beckham] felt hearing that sentence, especially since it’s the same one Brooklyn keeps using in his posts as a subtle jab at his family.”

This comment touched upon the ongoing Beckham family feud since Brooklyn married wife Nicola Peltz.

Adam and Holly’s wedding had a star-studded guest list,

The guest list for their big day included the Beckhams and several other famous faces, despite some notable absent loved ones from Adam’s side.

In what might be the most decisive critique yet of President Trump’s remake of the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera’s board approved a resolution on Friday to leave the venue it has occupied since 1971.

“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the company said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Roma Daravi, Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, described the relationship with Washington National Opera as “financially challenging.”

“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship,” Daravi said in a statement. “We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”

Kennedy Center President Ambassador Richard Grenell tweeted that the call was made by the Kennedy Center, writing that its leadership had “approached the Opera leadership last year with this idea and they began to be open to it.”

“Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety,” Grenell wrote. “We have spent millions of dollars to support the Washington Opera’s exclusivity and yet they were still millions of dollars in the hole – and getting worse.”

WNO’s decision to vacate the Kennedy Center’s 2,364-seat Opera House comes amid a wave of artist cancellations that came after the venue’s board voted to rename the center the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. New signage featuring Trump’s name went up on the building’s exterior just days after the vote while debate raged over whether an official name change could be made without congressional approval.

That same day, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) — an ex officio member of the board — wrote on social media that the vote was not unanimous and that she and others who might have voiced their dissent were muted on the call.

Grenell countered that ex officio members don’t get a vote.

Cancellations soon began to mount — as did Kennedy Center‘s rebukes against the artists who chose not to appear. Jazz drummer Chuck Redd pulled out of his annual Christmas Eve concert; jazz supergroup the Cookers nixed New Year’s Eve shows; New York-based Doug Varone and Dancers dropped out of April performances; and Grammy Award-winning banjo player Béla Fleck wrote on social media that he would no longer play at the venue in February.

WNO’s departure, however, represents a new level of artist defection. The company’s name is synonymous with the Kennedy Center and it has served as an artistic center of gravity for the complex since the building first opened.