There’s no better way to draw attention to an artist’s work than threatening to shut it down.
Take this week, when Macklemore was kicked off singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s tour at the behest of concert venue owners who found the rapper’s on-stage pleas to “Free Palestine” offensive.
Now Macklemore, who hasn’t had a major hit since the 2010s, is relevant again. He has the support of artists, fans and thousands more outraged by his dismissal and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The “Thrift Shop” rapper has emerged a hero, and a chastened Sheeran and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft have pledged to donate millions toward humanitarian causes in “the region.”
The stakes are considerably higher for Israeli documentarians Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened this week to revoke their citizenship for what he called the “shocking incitement” that is of their forthcoming documentary, “NAZA.”
NAZA is an acronym used by Israeli military intelligence to describe the number of civilians it estimates will be killed in an airstrike. The documentary captures the actions of Israel’s military after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in footage shot at night from Tel Aviv rooftops. “NAZA” also features anonymous interviews with intelligence officers and soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces, and builds on reporting first published by the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine, the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call and The Guardian to make the case that mass civilian deaths were built into Israel’s target decisions in Gaza.
When “NAZA” premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 10, the documentary received a 25-minute standing ovation, setting a festival record. It went on to win the prestigious Special Jury Prize.
Soon after, the directors came under attack from members of Israel’s government, with Culture Minister Miki Zohar accusing them of “treason against the state” and calling for their citizenship to be revoked.
But it’s Netanyahu who’s providing free publicity for “NAZA,” ensuring that everyone outside the film festival circuit will know of the documentary by the time of its official North American premiere at the New York Film Festival on Sept. 26.
In a move that’s likely designed to quash “NAZA’s” release and silence its directors, the prime minster pledged this week to advance two bills that would address the “immense damage” done to Israeli soldiers in the film.
Netanyahu explained in a social media clip that one bill would “revoke the citizenship of anyone who defames soldiers, and the second [bill will] hit them in their pockets and increase the statutory damages for defamation they can be sued for by 20 times. We will hit them both in their pockets and in their citizenship, as their place is not with us.”
Macklemore lost his place on a pop music tour for speaking out against Israel’s military. Abraham and Szor may lose their place as Israeli citizens. The pair were already considered controversial for their 2024 documentary, “No Other Land,” a film chronicling five years of displacement and violence in the life of Palestinians in a small village in the occupied West Bank. It won the 2025 documentary feature film Oscar.
They explained in a statement why making “NAZA” was so important.
“We made this film out of a sense of obligation to use our position as Israeli filmmakers and journalists to examine the systems behind the mass killing of Palestinian civilians for which our country is responsible,” the statement said. “While filming members of Israel’s military on rooftops at night in Tel Aviv over the past three years, we found ourselves asking the very questions that were asked by our grandparents’ generation and throughout the 20th century: How does one group of people allow the total dehumanization of another? What do the inner workings of such a system look like? … The film lets us explore something deeper than we could in our investigative journalism alone: not only the words being said, but also those that are not said, the silence. It is up to all of us to break that silence.”
The filmmakers have said that they’re using an “innovative distribution model” to bring the film to audiences “as quickly as possible.” It’s slated to reach Los Angeles on Oct. 9 before rolling out in theaters nationwide.
“NAZA” may not need a robust marketing plan if Netanyahu and the Israeli government continue to condemn the film and threaten its creators with expulsion from their own country. Censorship, and worse, are the surest way to elevate an artist and their work. Just ask Macklemore.
Death in Paradise has announced that a beloved detective will be returning as the BBC airs some classic repeat episodes
10:10, 19 Sep 2026Updated 10:10, 19 Sep 2026
Fans are thrilled to see Kris Marshall back on screens as DI Humphrey Goodman(Image: BBC)
Death in Paradise has confirmed that DI Humphrey Goodman will be back on screens very soon.
In an Instagram post that has sent fans into a meltdown, the popular BBC series confirmed it would air two repeat episodes featuring Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman.
Sharing a picture of Kris and his former co-star Josephine Jobert, who played DS Florence Cassell, the show’s Instagram wrote, “Time to reveal what we’re watching next Thursday! Yep, it’s the London episodes: #DeathInParadise series 6 episodes 5 and 6. Watch along with us from 7pm on 24 September on BBC iPlayer, BritBox, or on DVD!”
Fans were thrilled by the announcement, with one writing, “Humphrey was truly the best. I adore them all, but he was really the best and I’m so glad he got his own show. Kris Marshall is a great actor! Hopefully, the entire franchise, all three shows, will continue for quite a long time because they are all phenomenal!”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Another shared, “Florence, JP, Dwayne, and Mooney/Humphrey were the best time,” while a third added, “Yessssss one of the best two parters!!”
The plot for series six episode five reads, ” DI Humphrey Goodman and his team investigate the death of a sailing boat captain who was supposedly killed by the boat’s boom. Humphrey suspects foul play, and the clues lead them to a group of suspects who quickly catch a flight back to London.”
This leads them to London, where they continue the investigation on UK soil, marking a major change of scenery for the Caribbean-set show. It also introduces Humphrey Goodman’s replacement, DI Jack Mooney, who was played by Ardal O’Hanlon.
Episode six continues the story, “Working against the clock in a chilly and unfamiliar London, the team tries to solve the case, only to find their prime suspect murdered. They must solve two interconnected murders.”
Not only will fans see the return of Humphrey and Florence, but other characters include Danny John-Jules’ Dwayne Myers and Sally Bretton’s character, Martha Lloyd.
The episodes also see the exit of Di Humphrey Goodman after he decides to stay in London to be with his love, Martha. Despite the heartbreaking exit, fans can watch Humphrey and Martha’s love story unfold in the Death in Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise.
The cast, who are currently filming the upcoming series, have been spotted in Devon and Cornwall, where the show is set.
Death in Paradise returns on Thursday at 7pm on BBC One.
Kim Kardashian attended a SKIMS event on Regent Street last nightCredit: GettyThe US reality star was seen putting on a daring display in a leather corsetCredit: Splash
The 45-year-old was seen beaming and waving to fans as she posed up outside the bustling shop.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Her plunging dress was embroidered with silver sequins, which showed off her curve appeal.
Later on, Kim was snapped in another incredible ensemble as she made her entrance at the SKIMS afterparty, which was held in lavish private members club Maison Estelle.
Later on, Kim put on a sexy display as she left the venue in her third and final dress of the night.
The model and actress donned a tight-fitting nude two-piece, which showed off her rock hard abs.
Kim Kardashian left private members club Maison Estelle in a nude two-pieceCredit: SplashThe 45-year-old flaunted her famous Kardashian curvesCredit: Splash
Kim was this week awarded a symbolic one euro in compensation after she was robbed at gunpoint at a Paris hotel in 2016.
The award is reported to match what she asked for.
Kim and stylist Simone Harouche, also present during the robbery, said they “hope to now move forward”.
KATIE Price has made her modelling comeback as she walked the runway at London Fashion Week in a tiny waistcoat that barely contained her biggest ever boobs.
The reality star surprised fans as she made an appearance at Natasha Zinko’sLondon Fashion Weekshow XOnlyFansshow in Islington, London, last night.
Katie Price backstage ahead of the Natasha Zinko show during London Fashion WeekCredit: GettyKatie Price donned a tiny waistcoat, which struggled to contain her huge boobsCredit: Splash
The former glamour model, who went by the alias Jordan during her page three days, has now made a dramatic comeback and she was loving every minute of it.
Katie shocked fans as she made her modelling comebackCredit: SplashThe former glamour model dumped conman Lee Andrews by textCredit: mistraesthetics/Instagram
Katie recently dumped her conman husband Lee Andrews by text after discovering the crypto account he claimed had contained £37m had just £2.20 in it.
She appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier this week and confessed she’s had enough of Lee’s lies.
Jailed Lee sent a voicenoteto the show in which he criticised his wife for speaking out about him and said “divorce is probably for the best”. He also said Katie wasn’t tech-savvy and had looked in the wrong account, insisting he is a multi-millionaire.
Lee is still behind bars in Dubai’s Al Awir prison as Katie prepares for what could be showbiz’s messiest divorce.
TWO years ago, Cat Deeley was in a very different place to where she is now.
The TV presenter, 49, who had replaced Holly Willoughby on This Morning in March, was grappling with a punishing work schedule, the pressure to save the ITV show from its tarnished reputation and a marriage faltering under the pressure of two “tricky” work schedules.
This Morning host Cat Deeley had an unexpected response to her ex Patrick Kielty’s new relationshipCredit: AlamyCat’s ex, TV presenter Patrick Kielty, was all smiles as he left a north London pub with a new date following a cosy evening togetherCredit: TillenDove
In the three month period she became tearful three times on screen, and appeared at times “visibly overwhelmed.”
And speaking five months after stepping into her new hosting role, she admitted the scrutiny she was under had “shocked her.”
However, the popular star has rebuilt her life after her divorce from Patrick Kielty, 55, with a second National Television Award under her belt with This Morning, a series of lucrative commercial deals and new man Charlie Coleman, who she hopes to spend Christmas with.
And friends of the star this week told how ex Patrick’s new relationship with businesswoman Michelle McManus – the pair were seen cosying up at a North London boozer – is the icing on the cake – saying she told them: “She seems nice, and she is doing me a favour, he’s a better person when he’s happy.”
One said: “Cat’s attitude is: ‘Good luck to them. At the end of the day, that’s the whole point of separating in the first place.’
“She is genuinely happy for him, and knows it’s good for them that he’s happy and positive.
“Cat herself is in a great place and that’s where she wants to stay.
“She and Charlie are getting on really well and are already talking about spending this Christmas together, though they will have to work out the practicalities as she and Paddy share the childcare arrangements 50/50.”
Former So You Think You Can Dance? host Cat – who swapped her $5 million family home in Beverly Hills for a £4.9 million five-bedroom house in Hampstead in 2020 – joined This Morning during a period of extreme turbulence.
Former host Phillip Schofield had quit ITV in May after an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger co-worker was revealed.
Holly, who appeared on This Morning for 14 years prior to her exit, stepped back from the spotlight in October, following stalker Gavin Plumb’s terrifying plot to kidnap, rape and murder the TV star being uncovered.
Plumb was jailed for life in July following an eight-day trial.
Against this challenging backdrop, Cat and Ben Shephard, 51, took the reins of the popular daytime show.
Sources told how the pair appealed to bosses as a “safe pair of hands” who could steer them out of a crisis.
But even her early interviews showed signs she feared wading in too deep, as she said: “If it gets too much for me, I’m going to quit. I don’t need to do it – I could be a mum for most of the year and go and do the shows in America.”
And in one interview she opened up about juggling work and motherhood: “I do the juggle – the juggle is real, the struggle is real. You know, we know, we’re all just trying to make everything work. It’s all a juggle.”
Cat shares two sons, Milo and James, with ex husband Patrick – who she was married to for almost 13 years before they announced their split in July 2025.
But sources say the fault lines had appeared in late 2023, when the pair were struggling to balance their schedules.
Patrick – the host of RTE‘s The Late Late Show in Ireland – commuted to film the show in Dublin, while Cat’s So You Think You Can Dance? schedule had also created issues, requiring her to jet back to the US for long stretches.
Her move back to UK television was supposed to lessen the pressure on the duo – one of TV’s power couples.
Cat Deeley was all smiles at the National Television Awards 2026 showCredit: GettyPatrick and his beau looked cosy- spending several hours over dinner and wineCredit: TillenDove
But fans noticed that the star appeared increasingly emotional on the This Morning set.
In March 2024, just days after she joined as host, Cat burst into tears backstage upon meeting Buddy, an autism assistant puppy introduced to the studio.
She explained to viewers that meeting Buddy triggered her grief over losing her family dog, Lilly, the previous summer.
Weeks later in April, while introducing guest Kerry Irving – whose late springer spaniel Max had helped him overcome depression – Cat broke down in tears and had to ask co-host Ben to take over reading her lines.
And two months later Cat fought back tears during an interview with the family of William Reckless, eight, who had to have both of his legs and nine fingers amputated due to a severe battle with sepsis and scarlet fever.
Her 48th birthday broadcast in October also caused the presenter to break down in tears, after she was surprised by a recorded message from British poet Pam Ayres – who she said had inspired her as a child.
But 2025 seemed to bring a more positive standpoint – and a bombshell, as Cat and Patrick announced their divorce in July.
Both were keen to insist that they remained amicable, and stressed that no third parties were involved in their decision to split.
They also made clear their intention to share the parenting of their children, Milo, 10, and James, eight.
A few months later, September brought an incredible boost for the star – when This Morning won the National TV Award for Daytime, after the repeated scandals engulfing the programme had seen it lose the title in 2023 and 2024.
After the cast and crew were seen going wild in the audience, Cat said on stage: “We are so lucky to get to do this show, we all love it.
“Every single person who comes on, we love this show and it’s like having a family.”
Sources told how the award was “a shot in the arm” for the entire team behind the show – appearing to signal they were back on track.
And in the months to follow, Cat was to build up a relationship with Amazon MGM exec Charlie Coleman – who she was spotted with at a Hyde Park Lewis Capaldi gig in July.
Two months later, she spoke out about how she was thriving as a single mum – saying it was about being “as organised as you can be.”
She also admitted she had an “amazing nanny” to keep their lives on track around her busy schedule.
And she added: “Everybody is doing their best.”
In the same month Paddy – who has signed a new deal with The Late Late Show which will see him host until 2028 – said he was “pretty good” adding that the divorce was “part of the tapestry of life.”
And now, with him also moved on with new love Michelle, it seems another piece of the tapestry is complete.
The pair were married for almost 13 years before they announced their split in July 2025Credit: GettyA source said Cat ‘is genuinely happy for him’Credit: Splash
CARROT Top has been hospitalised in Las Vegas after an emergency.
His Friday night show at the Luxor was scrapped as a result.
Comedian Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott ThompsonCredit: AlamyThe comedian was reportedly rushed to hospital, forcing him to scrap his Friday night showCredit: Alamy
A source told TMZ Carrot Top, 61, had been rushed to hospital after a suicide attempt.
His rep said the comedian was recovering in hospital with “the care and support he needs”.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
The performer’s real name is Scott Thompson.
He got his nickname from a high school swimming coach.
The comedian also snagged roles on the big screen, including in Chairman of the Board, Dennis the Menace Strikes Again and Tugger: The 4×4 Jeep Who Wanted to Fly.
He has appeared on many talk shows, including a 2010 episode of The Jay Leno Show, when he had pies chucked at him by Leno and guest Emma Roberts.
His agent Jami Schlicher said: “Mr. Thompson is recovering in the hospital and is receiving the care and support he needs.
“His family and those closest to him are deeply grateful for the concern, prayers and respectfully ask for privacy.”
The Sun contacted Scott Thompson’s agent for comment.
Converse has pulled a controversial ad after it was slammed online by social media users who said it evoked Ku Klux Klan imagery.
Two ads promoting Converse’s global Chuck 70 X campaign came under fire. One featured K-pop star Karina clutching a pair of the brand’s classic high-top black sneakers by her side and wearing a white skirt, with a star spotlight in center frame.
The problem, according to social media users, was that the lighting and cropping created an outline that evoked a white pointed hood, with the shoes dangling against it. The other image showed models climbing a ladder to reach shoes that hung from a tree branch.
“We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong,” Converse said in a statement to Footwear News on Friday. “We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened, and we will do better.”
Photographer Stephanie Schwartz posted on Threads that she thought the imagery was no accident.
“Shadow, light, and composition. Every photographer can tell you, whoever did this ad knew EXACTLY what they were doing,” she wrote.
Educator Kendall C. Peacock posted a video on Instagram asking followers whether a boycott of the brand was warranted.
“Converse, converse, converse! You’ve been called to the carpet. Who approved this? … As a Black man and someone who loves Converse shoes, I find this very insensitive and distasteful.”
“How and why did nobody question these visuals?” he continued. “Deliberate racist intent hasn’t been established yet, but that doesn’t erase the impact.”
Peacock acknowledged the sneaker brand’s apology, but added that “must come with accountability.” He asked who approved the ad and what will change after its removal, and further suggested that “withholding our dollars is a reasonable demand for answers … How dare you try to make a dollar off of Black pain, Converse?”
DJ SoulChild AC said on TikTok that even if it wasn’t Converse’s intention, “We can see the symbolism from a mile away.”
“That is a depiction of the triple K right there,” he continued. “Pointed hood, dangling converses, as if someone’s being strung up … Black people ain’t stupid, bro.”
LILA Moss stole the show at H&M’s London Fashion Week show.
The star proved the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as she followed in her mum Kate Moss’s heeled footsteps and took to the runway.
Lila Moss tole the show at H&M’s London Fashion Week event in a slashed PVC dressCredit: GettyLila is the daughter of famous catwalk star Kate Moss – but is determined to pave her own wayCredit: Getty
I’m told despite being one of the biggest names at the event and being the daughter of an industry legend, Lila refused to have any special treatment.
In fact, sources tell me Lila has secretly been battling vile treatment at shows over the past year due to her nepo-baby status.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
She’s told pals how she has been given “icy treatment or totally ignored” behind the scenes as she battles to carve out a career in her own right.
A source said: “Lila was booked in the standard way, just like all the other models.
“She didn’t ask for any special treatment due to her status—in fact, it’s the opposite.
“Over the past year, she’s confided in pals that many other models give her the cold shoulder or totally ignore her altogether.
“She’s not said these words, but essentially it’s jealousy—people judge her and brand her a nepo before they have even met her.
“Yes, being Kate’s daughter has opened a lot of doors, but Lila wants to be successful in her own right.
A runway mole said that Lila does not get any special treatment on the catwalkCredit: GettyShe’s told pals how she has been given ‘icy treatment or totally ignored’Credit: Splash
“There have been many times over the years where backstage she is left all on her own.”
Lila is the daughter of Kate Moss and magazine editor Jefferson Hack.
In 2018, she was snapped up by Marc Jacobs to front his Marc Jacobs Beauty range.
In 2021, she made her Fashion Week debut by walking for Miu Miu at Paris Fashion Week.
Lila said Kate tried to put her off becoming a model at firstCredit: GettyShe was scared that Lila may fall into the same traps she did in her youthCredit: Getty
Speaking in 2022, Lila admitted her mum tried to put her off modelling.
She told British Vogue: “My mum always put me off.
“She was always like, ‘If you wanna do it, you can, but I wouldn’t recommend it’.
“When I was younger, she was scared that I’d fall into the same trap, I think.”
Kate has previously spoken candidly about the pressures of being a model.
She told Vanity Fair in 2012: “Nobody takes care of you mentally.
“There’s a massive pressure to do what you have to do.”
Big Brother star Millie has addressed her time in the ITV show after becoming the first evicted housemate of the 2026 series
23:04, 18 Sep 2026Updated 23:11, 18 Sep 2026
Millie has been booted from the Big Brother house(Image: ITV)
Axed Big Brother star Millie has shared her true feelings about one housemate after being voted out of the ITV show.
This series got off to a dramatic start earlier this week as Big Brother planted a fake housemate, Tays, amongst the cast. His mission was to cause mayhem in the house throughout the week, aided by his hand-picked deputy Philip. The pair were also handed the power to put three housemates up for the first eviction.
They selected bartender Millie, carer Pauline and housewife Rochelle for nomination, leaving the public to decide who would be shown the door. After the votes were counted, Millie was axed and ordered to leave the Big Brother house immediately.
Speaking to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best upon her exit, Millie confessed that she was “shocked” because she heard fans cheering for her outside the house.
The 19-year-old also addressed her run-in with fellow housemate Rochelle earlier this week, during which Millie shared her plans to undergo weight loss surgery. Rochelle chimed in, saying: “You can’t just have it and think ‘Oh, I’m going to carry on eating s***’ because it doesn’t work like that.”
She went on to advise Millie to try other methods but Millie insisted she has already tried other weight loss strategies. To which Rochelle replied: “You’re saying you have but I see what you eat.”
Bartender Millie was left upset by the interaction and later vented her feelings to Big Brother. Now, she has spoken about the situation revealing that she doesn’t think Rochelle fully grasps that she hurt her feelings, reports OK!.
“I think she just thinks I was being too sensitive, to be honest. Like, she’s from a different time and I think she didn’t even realise she was upsetting me. I think she’s just stuck in her ways, to be honest with you,” Millie said during the live eviction.
She went on to admit that there were times they “got along,” before adding: “But I just think after that my respect was on the floor for her because I didn’t appreciate it at all.”
Despite the spat, the axed housemate reflects on her time on the show fondly. “I had the best time and I love absolutely everyone in there. So do you know what? A win is a win! A win is a win! It broke my heart seeing them [housemates] all start crying that actually broke my heart,” she said.
Before Millie was evicted, content creator Tays was finally unmasked as the original mole, before being instructed to leave the house straight away. The remaining housemates had actually sussed out that Tays was the secret spy just hours before the eviction, after noticing he only had a handful of outfits in his wardrobe.
Following his departure, the fake contestant admitted: “That was stressful”. He also disclosed that Lynx immediately recognised him from his social media content on the opening night, which could have easily blown his mission to remain undetected. But he managed to fly under the radar for some time.
The 23-year-old further confessed he wasn’t convinced by his nominations. “I wouldn’t have picked any of them. At the start I didn’t know them,” he said, before admitting they were “clutching at straws” when selecting the three nominees.
DAVID Walliams’ entire children’s book catalogue has been dropped by publisher HarperCollins.
The author and TV star, 55, was let go by the company last year after it had been reported that he “harassed” young female staff.
David Walliams’ entire children’s book catalogue has been dropped by publisher HarperCollinsCredit: GettyWalliams was let go by the company last year after it had been reported that he ‘harassed’ young female staffCredit: Getty
A junior employee had complained about Walliams’ conduct, prompting an internal investigation.
HarperCollins will now phase out physical copies in bookshops before removing ebook and audiobook versions.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
His back catalogue of titles includes Billionaire Boy and Gangsta Granny.
In December 2025 the publisher said it would not publish any new titles by Walliams, saying it “takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously”.
TOMORROW night in Philadelphia, Ed Sheeran is expected to return to the stage for the first time since the biggest crisis of his career began.
Venues and promoters removed rapper Macklemore as the opening act on his US tour for voicing pro-Palestinian views on stage — prompting a legion of musicians, many of whom were British megastar Ed’s friends, to publicly turn against him over the past week.
Ed Sheeran performing in the US last yearCredit: GettyEd Sheeran and rapper MacklemoreCredit: Getty
This evening at Lincoln Financial Field, Ed will perform to 60,000 fans alone, with just his guitar and his trusted loop pedal, after Irish singer Aaron Rowe and Danish group Lukas Graham pulled out as support acts.
Irish folk group Beoga have performed with Ed on every night of the Loop World Tour — but they have also withdrawn, along with Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas, who was due to open six of Ed’s south American dates later this year.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
“The world feels like a very lonely place for Ed right now,” an insider tells me.
“He couldn’t have done more to change the situation. He genuinely tried everything. This pile-on has been awful.”
I’m told dad-of-two Ed, 35, is planning on pushing ahead with the concert this evening before taking a view on the remaining ten dates across the US before his shows in South America.
My insider explained: “He wants the tour to continue for fans.
“They will have spent a lot of money on travel and hotels and will want to see him perform.
“The plan is to see how it goes tonight and then Ed and his team can take a view on whether they will carry on or not.”
Last night local action groups Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z confirmed they would be demonstrating at the train station closest to the venue.
Police said they would be increasing patrols in the area and were dispatching extra officers to the area around Lincoln Financial Field before the concert starts at 8pm.
Jasmine Reilly, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Police Department, said last night: “Our officers are talking to Ed’s team to make sure all appropriate measures are taken.”
A second source told me: “A nightmare scenario is if unrest begins inside before or during the show. It’s a possibility because of the heightened emotions with everything that is going on right now.
“Naturally Ed and his team’s concerns are for the safety of the people inside and outside the venue.”
Tonight’s gig will take place 15 days after Macklemore lit the touchpaper under Bad Habits hitmaker Ed.
The rapper — real name Benjamin Haggerty — played his pro-Palestinian protest song Hind’s Hall in New Jersey before telling the crowd: “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
The next day he stood on stage again at the MetLife Stadium and declared: “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.”
Beoga members Sean Og Graham, Niamh Dunne, Liam Bradley, Eamon Murray & Damian McKeeCredit: Getty Images – GettyFinneas O’Connell was due to open six of Ed’s south American dates later this yearCredit: Getty
Two days later, the Israeli-American Council published a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from Ed’s shows.
On September 8, Jewish singer Pink ramped up emotions when she shared a statement on Instagram with her 11.7million followers.
She blasted Macklemore for going on stage “in front of a stadium full of music-loving families, with violent images from a war on the screens, dedicated a song to the movement of his choice, and then took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn’t about them.”
Three days later Macklemore was removed from Ed’s tour. US promoters Messina Touring Group said that it had been notified by venues on Ed’s US tour that they “will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the line-up.”
In a statement calling Ed a “brother”, the rapper said: “Nothing I’m writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character.
“But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened.”
Macklemore explained that Ed had told him billionaire Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots American football team and their Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, would not allow him to play the two dates there on September 25 and 26.
Danish group Lukas Graham pulled out as support actsCredit: AFPIrish singer Aaron Rowe has also pulled out as a support actCredit: Getty
Macklemore added: “Ed was in a f***ed-up position.
“His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.
“He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood.
“But he couldn’t get past his public-facing, ‘I don’t take sides.’ ”
The next day Ed addressed the situation in a statement to his 47million Instagram followers and revealed the lengths he had gone to in a bid to get everyone back on board.
He said he had spoken to “activists on both sides” as well as the owners of stadiums to find unity and that he was “appalled” by the conflict.
Ed added: “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.
“Macklemore coming off the tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.
On September 8, Jewish singer Pink ramped up emotions when she shared a statement on Instagram with her 11.7million followersCredit: Instar ImagesBillionaire Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots American football team and their Gillette Stadium in MassachusettsCredit: Getty
“I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work.”
Explaining his decision to remain apolitical, he said: “There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics.
“My audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds.
“Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes in.
“However there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.”
He concluded: “I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution, and unfortunately I was unable to do so.
“I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
Despite his attempts to make amends, Ed was left flattened the following day as the artists on his tour started to pull out.
In a statement, Irish group Beoga said: “To play in venues that silence anyone advocating for Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.”
Pro-Israeli billionaire Kraft then came out fighting in Ed’s corner.
Shortly after Macklemore announced he was donating his $1million fee for the tour to humanitarian organisations providing aid to Palestinians, Kraft said Ed had been in touch before asking to match a donation he had made.
Kraft said: “I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people.
“I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting.
“Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.
“Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”
Kraft also pointedly recalled Macklemore’s stunt in 2014, where he performed on stage in a costume which featured anti-Semitic tropes.
Macklemore apologised and said he did not mean to offend anyone but conceded the outfit could have looked like a “Jewish caricature”.
In the days prior to tonight’s show, high-profile stars have waded into the row, including British singer Paloma Faith, Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder and Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton.
The controversy also spilled over into politics, with US senator Bernie Sanders blasting Kraft.
The Democrat wrote: “In the United States of America, billionaire stadium owners should not be able to silence artists because they speak out on political issues.
“Today it is the genocide in Gaza. What’s next? If they can silence one artist, they can silence anyone.”
Since his statement, Ed has not spoken and is, insiders tell me, “staying focused” on the hours ahead of the concert.
A source said: “Ed has never faced anything like this before.
“It’s been devastating. He is trying to do the right thing by everyone. Sadly that isn’t always possible.
“As he said in his statement he has his own views on the conflict.
“Just because he has not been public in speaking about them, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care or hasn’t actively been helping in whatever way he can.”
Katie Price has made a spectacular return to London Fashion Week—over a decade since she last walked the runwayCredit: GettyKatie showed off her enhanced chest and array of tattoosCredit: Getty
Showing off her newly enhanced chest, Katie wore a black waistcoat and black satin shorts with white ruffles on the back.
Speaking to the press before strutting her stuff, Katie told The Sun: “I’m so excited to be walking in the Natasha Zinko show.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
“I’ve always been someone who believes in being unapologetically yourself, so this feels like a really natural fit for me.
“Fashion is about having fun, expressing yourself and feeling confident in your own skin, and I can’t wait to bring a bit of my personality to the catwalk.”
Taking place at Collins Music Hall in Islington, North London, the show marks the first time OnlyFans has joined London Fashion Week.
Speaking about the collaboration, Keily Blair, CEO of OnlyFans, said: “This collaboration brings together two brands with a shared belief in individuality, creativity, and fierce self-expression.
“OnlyFans has always been a platform where people can define themselves on their own terms, and Natasha Zinko brings that same spirit to fashion.
“Our London Fashion Week debut, which features OnlyFans creators, is a celebration of the communities behind both brands, and of the confidence to express yourself unapologetically.”
Meanwhile, Natasha added: “This limited capsule collection felt like a natural fit from the very beginning.
“We both share the same values: love, freedom of identity, inclusivity and body positivity. It’s about celebrating people exactly as we are.”
The reality star and fashion mogul reveals in the reality series’ Season 8 trailer released Thursday that she has been diagnosed with esophagitis.
“I have something called esophagitism,” Kim tells a stylist in the trailer. The Skims founder is then shown in a hospital bed in a series of clips, one in which it appears she’s being wheeled into a procedure. While it’s unclear who is speaking to Kim, someone off-screen says, “Didn’t your father … isn’t it what he died of?”
If esophagitis is left untreated, there’s a risk of developing Barrett‘s esophagus condition, in which the cells lining the esophagus are damaged from acid reflux, according to Mayo Clinic. The condition raises the risk of cancer that starts in the esophagus, which is called esophageal cancer.
Kim’s dad, famed attorney Robert Kardashian, died in September 2003 at the age of 59. He had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer just months before his death.
“I can’t, it makes me want to cry,” Kim’s mom Kris Jenner says in the trailer, alluding to the frightening diagnosis.
Esophagitis is inflammation of the tissues that line the esophagus, per the Mayo Clinic. The condition can be painful and make swallowing difficult, and it can cause chest pain. While there are a variety of causes for the condition, the trailer does not reveal which has contributed to Kim’s case.
Kim Kardashian in “The Kardashians” in 2022.
(Photo from Hulu)
Treatment for the health issue can vary and depends upon the severity of tissue damage and the cause. Without proper treatment, the lining of the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food and water to your stomach, can be badly damaged. This can lead to more serious health issues including scarring and narrowing of the esophagus, or even tearing in the esophagus.
When detected early, however, the condition is considered treatable.
HAYDEN Panettiere’s mother and boyfriend have reportedly been banned from her memorial amid a nasty family feud.
Lesley Vogel, Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were left off the list for the tragic actress’ celebration of life in Malibu on Saturday, according to reports.
Hayden Panettiere and her mom Lesley Vogel posed during Animal Fair’s 8th Annual Paws for Style event on June 11, 2007 at Arena in New York CityCredit: GettyHayden and Brian Hickerson, here in December 2018, dated for eight years before her deathCredit: Rex
TMZ reported on Friday that the trio will not be welcomed at the event, where 150 guests are expected to attend.
Hayden’s dad Skip Panettiere will be there, as well as celebrity friends.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
As The U.S. Sun reported, Hayden was found dead in a Greenville, South Carolina Airbnb on August 16, where she was staying with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian. She was just 36.
Despite the EMTs efforts, Hayden – who admittedly suffered from addiction in recent years – was soon declared dead.
Authorities believe she took a black-market oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl, though the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Hayden was estranged from her mother at the time of her death, and slammed her in her memoir released earlier this year.
Hayden claimed her mother was furious when she severed their professional relationship, wanting to just focus on their personal bond instead.
Most read in Entertainment
Hayden and Lesley, here in 2009, were estranged at the time of the actress’s deathCredit: GettyHayden and Brian attended her brother’s funeral in 2023Credit: Getty
“Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death,” she said, pointing fingers at Brian.
“Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful.”
And Hayden’s loved ones had been weary of Brian’s presence in her life, after the couple first started dating in 2018.
He had been arrested multiple times for assaulting her, and even served jail time for punching and choking her in the past.
Months before her death, Hayden insisted he was out of her life, but recent reports claimed they were secretly still together in her final days.
ANGELINA Jolie suffered a wardrobe malfunction as her lace bra slipped out of her silk dress while walking through JFK Airport.
The Maleficent actress, 51, was seen strutting through the terminal in New York City wearing a sheer ivory dress with draped sleeves.
Angelina Jolie accidentally flashed her bra while walking through JFK AirportCredit: TheImageDirect.comThe Maleficent actress was seen strutting through the terminal in a cream outfitCredit: TheImageDirect.com
Angelina then accidentally flashed her lace nude bra which in the low-cut frock, as the lingerie peaked through the top.
The Hollywood film star wore a pair of black heels, oversized sunglasses and a matching handbag for the airport outing.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Angelina flashed a big smile as she her way through the airport, while catching the attention of people at the airport who recognized her.
The Lara Croft star looked chic as ever in the cream ensemble.
Angelina looked chic in a satin outfit with a lace bra peaking throughCredit: TheImageDirect.com
Angelina may have looked in good spirits, but things at home have been tense.
According to court documents seen by the Daily Mail, the reason behind Vivienne’s surname change is listed as “personal”.
A source toldPeople: “He [Brad] has virtually no contact with the adult kids. His engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule.”
An official court hearing is scheduled for later this year on November 2.
This isn’t the first time Vivienne has made it clear she wants to drop the Pitt surname.
The Oscar-winner was once inseparable from all six kids: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox.
But the latest snub comes as Brad’s relationship with his children remains deeply strained.
A source told People: “He has virtually no contact with the adult kids. His engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule.”
Several Gogglebox stars were reduced to tears as they tuned into the Dolly Parton tribute at Last Night of the Proms starring Sheridan Smith and Beverley Knight
21:49, 18 Sep 2026Updated 21:50, 18 Sep 2026
Jenny Newby and Lee Riley were left in tears during the latest episode of Gogglebox(Image: Channel 4)
Emotional Gogglebox stars couldn’t hold back their tears during the latest episode of the Channel 4 show.
The armchair critics returns to screens on Friday (September 18) night as they offered their verdict on the latest programmes on television from Channel 4’s new reality show Apocalypse to ITV thriller Trigger Point.
However, it was Last Night of the Proms which left cast members in tears as they watched performers Sheridan Smith and Beverley Knight pay tribute to country music sensation Dolly Parton, who died on August 25 aged 80 following a brief and undisclosed battle with cancer.
The second half of the BBC concert, which aired on September 12, honoured the songstress with Sheridan singing feminist anthem 9 To 5, Beverley belting out I Will Always Love You and country-pop duo Ward Thomas performing Jolene.
Tuning into the concert from the comfort of their sofas, several Gogglebox stars including Mary Killen, Lee Riley and Jenny Newby were left sobbing as the musical stars paid tribute to Dolly.
Bryan Seaver, Dolly’s head of security and nephew announced the sad news of her passing on social media last month. In the video, he told fans: “Hey everyone. My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. Sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.”
Tributes from around the world were shared following the news, with Elton John saying he was: “Shocked and devastated to hear of Dolly’s passing. A giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.”
Sir Paul McCartney also commented: “The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad. She was such a wonderful woman.” It comes after Dolly was posthumously honoured with the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Awards & Honours Awards last week.
The Grammy winner appeared in a pre-recorded video to accept the award. She beamed in the clip where she accepted the award. “Well, hey, it’s Dolly, and I am so honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association,” she began.
“I mean, roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains. It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee in 1997 to write and record my album, Hungry Again.”
“And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways,” she continued.
“Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts.
“I want to thank everyone at the AMA for recognising me with this award. It’s a great honor truly, and just know that I will always love you.”
Among Dolly’s many honours include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Country Music Hall of Fame.
After his existential suburban horror epic “Weapons” became an Oscar winner (for Amy Madigan’s chilling supporting performance as Aunt Gladys), filmmaker Zach Cregger has dashed off a fun little riff on one of his favorite video games. His “Resident Evil” reboot is the eighth film in the big-screen franchise based on the Japanese zombie survival game, though Cregger’s “Resident Evil” is its own beast — put those Milla Jovovich movies out of your head entirely.
There are, of course, a few shared strands of DNA in the screenplay by Cregger and Shay Hatten: an evil company, Umbrella Corporation, responsible for a virus that mutates humans into zombies and all manner of monsters, located in the lovely Raccoon City. But our hero, Bryan (Austin Abrams), a hapless medical courier, knows none of this when he takes a gig delivering what he thinks is an organ on the snowy mountain roads to the metropolis.
Abrams, who was a standout in the ensemble cast of “Weapons,” has another big movie out this fall in which he stars as the lone protagonist, “Whalefall,” and the two films comprise an apt survival thriller double feature. In “Resident Evil,” Abrams’ Bryan spends much of his lonely mission muttering to himself in annoyance and sometimes victory, much like a gamer would. During one self-reflective moment, Bryan yells, “Yeah! Video games!” elated at how his shooting is improving.
Cregger’s approach to “Resident Evil” is to seamlessly blend the cinematic with a gaming experience and his adaptation best mimics the feeling of playing an actual game or watching someone else play one. At one point, Bryan and a comrade he meets along the way (Paul Walter Hauser) marvel at the shooting skills of Maxine (Kali Reis) as if they’re watching her play the game too.
Immediately, Cregger establishes a camera that follows closely behind Bryan, a similar motif to the cinematography he used in “Weapons.” As Bryan starts to encounter the strange beings who appear on the outskirts of Raccoon City, the game mechanisms click into place. Different characters — villains and helpers — pop up along his journey, as well as different tools and weapons. He frequently encounters locked doors, obstacles and empty spaces that he has to explore. Cregger uses first-person-shooter point-of-view shots, with the long barrel of a rifle or automatic weapon lining up our sights; one running gag sees Bryan, completely hopeless with guns, having to shoot the locks off of gates.
What was already a very darkly funny and incredibly gross film gets even more disturbing as Bryan ventures into the Raccoon City hospital, trying to make his delivery. He encounters monsters that vomit acid or explode with zombie rats; one particular ward is full of undulating sacs of bloody viscera.
Cregger remains one of our finest horror image-makers, creating surreal and snowy landscapes that are as beautiful as they are disturbing: the red and blue lights of a flipped police car in a blizzard, dark pools of blood and mysterious footsteps, tentacles greeting and meeting each other, stomach acid decimating an elevator. With impeccable sound design and an eerie score by Ryan and Hays Holladay, Cregger delivers a textured, wholly realized world.
But our guide is just a regular guy, which lends to the charm. Bryan is dealing with relationship problems that add to the urgency of his desire to survive, but he’s also just a dude with questionable self-preservation instincts, which makes for a good adventure. He has an overwhelming desire to help, which leads to some ridiculous circumstances and is a quality that Cregger plays for laughs. Abrams plays the goofball well and we’re constantly rooting for him, even as his fortunes take a turn in a tragic reversal that we’ve seen in monster movies before.
Cregger wears his influences well and they aren’t just video games but pulled from the history of horror. Still, he blends it all into his own vision so it doesn’t feel derivative. While the unwieldy ending might get away from him, the tightly controlled and efficient stretch that precedes it is the work of a new master, one who delivers imaginative, terrifying and hilarious thrills and chills, whether he’s reanimating a dead franchise or dreaming up his own uncanny vibe. “Resident Evil” might be his most playful — and gooey — film yet.
Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.
‘Resident Evil’
Rated: R, for strong bloody violence, gore and language throughout
Somewhere in the overlap between William Friedkin’s 1977 action thriller “Sorcerer” and Kelly Reichardt’s 2020 Pacific Northwest pioneer indie “First Cow” lies Padraic McKinley’s directorial debut “The Weight.”
“Sorcerer” is about a group of fugitives driving a load of dynamite across the jungle; “The Weight” follows a group of Depression-era convicts transferring gold through the forest. “First Cow” is about the sweetness of friendship and French pastries in the wilds of Oregon during westward expansion; “The Weight” is about the corrupting forces of capitalism. McKinley’s movie marries the instincts of modern indie filmmaking with a New Hollywood ethos, while bringing an authenticity to the details of the period.
We follow the story of Murphy (Ethan Hawke), a World War I vet and single father in Eugene, Ore., struggling to provide for his daughter, Penny (Avy Berry), three years into the Great Depression. After an unfortunate run-in with the law, Murphy finds himself in a prison labor camp, building a road and trying to shorten his sentence so he can get out before his daughter is adopted by a new family.
Opportunity presents itself in Murphy’s foreman, Clancy (Russell Crowe), who takes a shine to him after he fixes his car and devises an ingenious way to remove boulders without dynamite. Cuddly but dangerous, Clancy makes a seemingly simple offer to Murphy: He and three friends can earn their freedom if they hike a load of gold out of a mining camp on the eve of President Franklin D. Roosevelt confiscation of all gold stockpiles.
The how and why details aren’t that important; the story is merely that the prisoners have to get from point A to point B through a rugged forested terrain, under the watch of two intimidating chaperones, Amis (Sam Hazeldine) and Letender (George Burgess). A mining camp servant, Anna (Julia Jones), joins their group as a runaway and while it seems a straightforward task, the arduous and brutal journey is one that is liable to turn these convicts into runaways.
Murphy’s gang weren’t really outlaws to begin with — he was imprisoned for defending his daughter from some undercover cops, while Singh (Avi Nash) was arrested for his associations with socialism. Olson (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen) was part of a group going after a judge for seizing Scandinavian farms, while the most hardened criminal among them is Rankin (Austin Amelio), who grew up in juvie. But in order to survive the woods, Murphy will have to dig deep into his wartime past and rely on his own skills and smarts to make out it out intact.
McKinley pours his craft into authentically representing the era, from the perfectly worn denim of the costumes to the refreshingly real and craggy faces of the cast (and thank goodness Hawke and Crowe are respectably aging into their character-actor looks). The Bavarian forest beautifully stands in for 1930s Oregon and cinematographer Matteo Cocco balances ’70s-inspired slow zooms with composed, high-contrast images that hark to early 20th century styles of photography. A score by Latham and Shelby Gaines balances discordant, atonal tones with suspense-driven sound design that captures the creaking noises of the forest and the concealed dangers it holds.
McKinley stages a few bullet-sweating sequences of peril, including a particularly brutal transport of gold bars across a crumbling rope bridge and an underwater accident exacerbated by floating logs. Both are nail-biters but you can’t help but think he could have pushed it even further. Tonally, the film is torn between wanting to be brutally bleak and offering some kind of hope for Murphy and his precocious, adorable daughter.
When “The Weight” leans into its nasty, mean and grim moments, it gets at something that seems closer to truth than the saccharine resolution we fear is coming. It seems like McKinley wants to deliver a crushing blow, but then feints at the last minute, opting for a more optimistic kind of fantasy.
Politically and culturally, what “The Weight” speaks to is as ugly as the violence that occurs in the mud and fog of the forest. But it ends on an oddly cheery note that doesn’t square with what we’ve seen. It’s a cutesy ’70s nod that feels more “Smokey and the Bandit” than “Sorcerer.” The bolder choice would have been to commit to expressing the despairing lessons of this world. We want to see these characters changed by what they’ve experienced, even if it’s dark. We want to see them actually carry the weight.
Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.
‘The Weight’
Rated: R, for language and some violence/bloody images
Myleene Klass showed off her incredible figure during a photo shootCredit: SkechersMyleene shared behind the scenes photos from a shoot she died for SkechersCredit: Skechers
Myleene posed poolside in the red bikini and unbuttoned denim shorts as she rocked a baseball cap with large headphones over the top.
Other photos in her Instagram post included posing outside Skechers’ head office in black shorts and matching hoodie, pretending to play a large outdoor guitar statue, and hanging out with the Skechers photoshoot crew.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Myleene also showed off her business class seat on the flight as she wore a glass effect skin mask.
The I’m A Celeb star looked chic in a skintight black mini-dress which she wore to pose by a different pool while wearing a Skechers branded baseball cap.
Myleene opted for tiny shorts for most of her tripCredit: SkechersAnd made sure to keep her skin hydrated while on the long haul flightCredit: Skechers
Myleene’s fans loved the glimpse into what it takes to create a campaign shoot and shared their thoughts in the comments.
“Vibes you look absolutely incredible love your style have a positive weekend ahead,” wrote one person.
Another added: “Stunning.”
And a third wrote: “Gorgeous Myleene.”
Last month, Myleene looked incredible at The Dog Stars premierealongside her two lookalike daughters.
They cuddled up to their famous mum on the carpet and were seen smiling for the cameras.
This time around, all eyes are on Lizzie Borden who was accused of the brutal murder of her dad and step-mother in the late 19th Century before she was acquitted.
Despite Lizzie being set free, her reputation was never restored and for more than 100 years, a gruesome children’s rhyme has immortalised the crimes.
But even though this is why Lizzie Borden remains a familiar name in criminal history, the chant is far from factually correct.
Lizzie Borden rhyme explained
Watch Jose Mourinho Netflix doc with free Netflix subscription
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Jose Mourinho’s three-part Netflix documentary is available to watch at no extra cost for Sky customers as the provider gives away free subscriptions with each of its Sky Stream TV bundles.
Here is the Lizzie Borden rhyme in full: “Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother 40 whacks.
“When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.”
It states that Lizzie killed her mother and father but the woman was actually her step-mother Abby Borden as her biological mum died when she was just a child.
The rhyme goes on to detail that her parents were “whacked” 40 and 40 times but this is an exaggeration as Abby was killed by 18 or 19 strikes and father Andrew by 10 or 11.
In addition, the rhyme states that the murders were committed with an axe but police and experts believe the weapon was a hatchet, a far smaller and compact tool meant for lighter tasks in comparison to an axe.
There’s also the matter that the children’s song states that Lizzie Borden was the one to commit these crimes.
However, a jury acquitted Lizzie of their murders in 1893, so legally, she didn’t kill Abby and Andrew Jackson Borden.
Despite this verdict, public suspicion remained throughout her life and to this day, especially since it was an all-male jury that didn’t think an upper-class woman could commit such a “feral” crime.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is available to watch on Netflix
With a boisterous laugh, Giselle Bonilla recalls her introduction to Hollywood at the age of 12: on the set of “Freedom Writers,” the 2007 drama about at-risk high school students in Long Beach. She played a young version of Eva, one of the film’s main characters.
“I remember the first thing we shot was an initiation scene where I get the s— beat out of me,” she tells De Los, sitting at a coffee shop in Silver Lake on Sept. 11 (more on this date later). “They put this candy blood in my mouth, and I thought it was so fun.”
In retrospect, Bonilla, 31, finds great irony in how that initial foray into professional acting fictionally materialized her Mexican immigrant parents’ worst nightmare.
“We don’t come from money. They hustled all their lives and put my sister and I in private education, because they had this irrational fear that I would join a gang … then the first thing I ended up booking as an actor was getting initiated into a gang,” she says grinning.
Since that unique formative experience, Bonilla has traveled a winding path in and out of the industry, which ultimately led her to direct her first feature: the dark comedy “The Musical,” in theaters Friday.
The movie’s antihero, Doug (Will Brill), is a middle school theater teacher plotting his revenge against his ex-girlfriend Abigail (Gillian Jacobs), also a teacher — and her new boyfriend, the more charming Principal Brady (Rob Lowe).
Doug’s plan? To secretly persuade his young students to put on a musical about the horrors of 9/11 and its aftermath that’s certain to cause controversy and get the principal in trouble.
“I feel like you can be more honest with comedy,” says Bonilla about why this genre appeals to her. “You can get away with everything that you’re angry about and want to yell about. If you make them laugh first, people tend to listen.”
Left to right, back row: Alex Heller (screenwriter), Will Brill (center row) Gillian Jacobs, Giselle Bonilla (director) and Rob Lowe (on the floor) from “The Musical” at the Los Angeles Times 2026 Sundance Film Festival studio presented by Chase Sapphire in Park City, Utah on Jan. 24.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Though the actual show is only a small element of the narrative, it turned off distributors, who argued they wouldn’t be able to market a comedy that involved such a delicate subject.
Still, “The Musical” is making it to the big screen as a self-released title thanks to its executive producers, who believed in the film enough to put in more money for a release.
“I’m going to make sure people watch it regardless,” Bonilla says about being very involved in the marketing. “Even though it didn’t sell at Sundance, we still found a way, which is how we made the whole movie. It was nonstop fighting against the universe just to make a comedy.”
Less than a week before production started, Bonilla lost the actors who were originally playing Principal Brady and Abigail. As her film fell apart, she reached out to the industry contacts she had made after working as an assistant for a few years. Miraculously, the screenplay piqued Lowe’s interest. He came on board, essentially saving the project.
Will Brill and Rob Lowe star in “The Musical.”
(Blue Harbor Entertainment)
As a student at the AFI Conservatory, Bonilla had directed a short film version of “The Musical” that writer Alexander Heller, aware of her affinity for comedy, had conceived for Bonilla to direct. The core group of artists who made the short also worked on the feature.
And though she has always pushed for diversity on screen — including in her short films “Virgencita” and “Bullfighter” — for “The Musical,” Bonilla believed the adults had to be white.
“It would be way more damaging if I had pinned a brown person to be behind the staging of a musical about 9/11,” she explains. “It was very clear to me that this was a comedy about white liberalism and how people weaponize tragedy for their own agenda.”
When it came to the kids in Doug’s class, Bonilla wanted to reflect the multicultural mosaic that is the Los Angeles Unified School District. To be able to see herself in “The Musical,” Bonilla wanted a Latina girl as the child with the most ambition to succeed in the arts. That character became Lata: played in the feature by Melanie Herrera in her first acting credit.
“She’s a dancer. But she’s very precocious and has a really confident, type-A personality,” Bonilla says of the young actor. “Melanie gives Reese Witherspoon in ‘Election,’ like, ‘I will do whatever I have to do for the part,’ and I recognized that in myself as a kid.”
Filmmaker Giselle Bonilla on the set of “The Musical.”
(Peter McCollough)
An L.A. native raised in North Hollywood, Bonilla started doing improv at a young age encouraged by her father, Art Bonilla, who grew up in Tijuana and has worked as an actor in the U.S. for over 40 years.
Her mother, originally from Sinaloa, does workers’ compensation insurance, which provided a stable income and allowed her partner to pursue acting.
“It was tough seeing him struggle and not have any agency over work,” Bonilla says of her father. “He’s such a great actor and he’s really funny, but he’s always getting cast in these very small bit parts as a gardener or an immigrant crossing on the border.”
Unsurprisingly, when Bonilla began auditioning for roles as a teenager, similarly one-dimensional and stereotypical characters from a “troubling perspective” came her way.
“They always make the main character in those stories a white person,” she says. “And then we’re painted as these puppies that just keep getting beat up. I didn’t want to contribute to that.”
Bonilla’s interest in being on the other side of the camera solidified after playing an illiterate South Central high school student in the Byron Allen sitcom “Mr. Box Office.” She attended Pasadena City College, where she studied film production, then used the residuals from the show to help pay for her tuition at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Attending film school on the East Coast was, as she puts it, a necessary experience, because she grew up rather sheltered.
“I’m a first-gen Mexican American woman and I was supposed to live at home until I get married,” she explains; but it also exposed her to the concept of impostor syndrome.
“I always had this impostor syndrome at NYU, because that was where I first really confronted wealthy people,” she explains. “I had never been in a predominantly white institution before. And that was really eye-opening.”
It was only when COVID restrictions were lifted that Bonilla decided to apply to the AFI Conservatory, where she regained her confidence and met her now close collaborators.
She has, however, never forgotten her biggest and earliest supporters. Since she started directing, Bonilla has cast her father in many of her short films. And in “The Musical,” you can see both of her parents in the audience during the culminating school show.
“My dad is the one that yells at Rob Lowe at the end in slow motion. He’s pissed that I cut his line, but it was a union film, and we couldn’t afford to give my dad a line,” she says. “But he will be the first one to tell you that he’s not an extra. He did a ‘cameo!’”
“The Musical” director Gisella Bonilla poses at the Los Angeles Times 2026 Sundance Film Festival studio presented by Chase Sapphire in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 24.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Bonilla’s next project takes inspiration from her memories attending a Catholic school run by nuns in Sun Valley, where a teacher was discovered to be a pedophile. She describes it as “an erotic thriller told from the perspective of virgins.”
Once again, she’ll tackle an unsavory topic and figure out how to bring it to fruition; then distribute it come what may, because she refuses to be boxed in by the industry’s expectations.
“Identity stories are very important. If someone wants to do that, they should be able to do that,” Bonilla says. “But I don’t think our opportunity as Latinos should be limited to painting ourselves as victims against the supremacists.”