Young

We’ve seen animated animals belt out tunes in the “Sing” movies. We’ve learned about “The Secret Life of Pets” (twice). And we’ve visited them in “Zootopia” (also on two occasions). Now we get to see them play basketball. “Goat,” produced by Golden State Warriors prodigy Stephen Curry, is yet another underdog story about following your dreams wrapped in a by-the-numbers sports movie. It feels utterly unoriginal on multiple fronts.

Taking the popular acronym GOAT (Greatest of All Time) to its most literal form, the first feature by TV animation veteran Tyree Dillihay — from a screenplay by Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley — follows an anthropomorphic young goat who aspires to become the GOAT.

A lifelong fan of roarball (this film’s version of basketball), Will, who is voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, dreams of playing for his hometown team, Vineland. His admiration for the sport is embodied by Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), Vineland’s most accomplished player, who carries the entire team on her back — she wants all the glory of victory for herself.

The world of “Goat” is divided between “smalls” and “bigs” (unlike “Zootopia” where the separation is between predators and prey). Will considers himself a “medium” but in the eyes of professional roarball players, he’s tiny. Still, after going viral for bravely challenging Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), one of the sport’s major stars who is double his size, Will lands a chance to play in the big leagues.

To the credit of the writers, roarball is a rather inclusive sport. There are no gendered teams, nor any discrimination based on species. Will might be the first “small” to make it big, but that stems from the public’s prejudice, not from rules that ban animals like him from playing.

Desperate for instant relevancy (like plenty of animated features these days), “Goat” is steeped in vapid internet references, from crypto to online memes. Sports fans, however, will find specific allusions, like contentious press conferences and even the kiss cam. Rowdy and kinetic from start to finish, “Goat” does in fact reflect the fast-paced dynamism of basketball, but it soon reveals itself a sugar rush without much substance.

Once Will joins the team, a “never meet your heroes” lesson ensues, since Jett feels like he’s usurping her position. Animosity on her part creates tension until Will opens up about his personal reason for playing. The emotions are not complex here, but they are heartfelt, thanks to how McLaughlin and Union conjure up larger-than-life personalities via their voice performances.

Meanwhile, Will’s other teammates — a rhinoceros, a giraffe (played by Curry himself), an ostrich and a Komodo dragon — don’t feel distinct enough from the ensemble casts of other animated projects like “Sing.” Each member of the assortment has their quirks, some of which occasionally yield a chuckle: Archie (David Harbour), the rhino, has two comically violent kid daughters.

There’s no denying “Goat” has a vibrant aesthetic, but that alone can’t overwrite its defects. Back in 2018, Sony Pictures Animation dazzled the industry when “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” introduced an approach that mixed 3D CGI with traditional hand-drawn animation. This combination of techniques doesn’t make “Goat” particularly unique anymore.

What’s most impressive, visually, about “Goat” is the way the natural world blends with the urban settings. Vineland, Will’s neighborhood, is indeed covered in vines and yet the vegetation appears organically integrated into the infrastructure. Each game takes place in a different ecosystem. The finale, for example, unfolds amid cracked volcanic rocks and lava. There’s visible handcraft and care in creating these backdrops for the action.

A mixed bag of eye-catching imagery and formulaic writing, “Goat” disappoints because it follows every expected path toward a triumphant conclusion. Its premise could have offered up a kid-friendly reading on failure that doesn’t simplify a way out of adversity. If talking animals will continue to be used as surrogates for human experiences — especially for young viewers — some nuance would be appreciated.

The body of Lil Jon’s son Nathan Smith, who performed as DJ Young Slade and went missing Tuesday night, was recovered Friday from a pond near his home in Milton, Ga., according to local police. The rapper’s son was 27.

“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated,” Lil Jon and his ex-wife wrote Friday on social media.

“Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted — he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.”

They said their son was “amazingly talented” as a music producer, artist and engineer. Nathan Smith was a graduate of New York University, his parents said.

Nathan Smith, a.k.a. DJ Young Slade, performs with his father, Lil Jon, at the Hollywood Palladium in March 2014.

(Kevin Winter / Getty Images )

“We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him,” the parents concluded before thanking the many local authorities and rescuers who helped search for their son.

The Milton Police Department said Tuesday on social media that Nathan Smith hadn’t been seen since he “ran out of his house” at 6 a.m. that day.

“Subject left on foot and does not possess a phone. He may be disoriented and in need of assistance,” the statement said. “Family and friends are concerned for his safety.”

On Friday, Milton police said in a statement that teams had expanded the search to include the pond in a nearby park after failing to find Smith elsewhere. Divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department recovered a body from the water shortly before noon local time Friday, the statement said.

“The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” police wrote, adding there was no indication of foul play. However, the official cause and manner of death were still to be determined.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this difficult time. The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honor the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy,” the statement concluded.

Lil Jon and Nicole Smith expressed gratitude in their post confirming their son’s death. The two married in 2004 after welcoming Nathan in 1998 but split up amicably in 2022.

“Thank you for all of the prayers and support in trying to locate him over the last several days,” they wrote Friday.

LOLA Young is single and looking for love after returning to the stage from her career break.

The Londoner triumphed with the Best Pop Solo Performance Grammy on Sunday night for her No1 hit Messy — and she won over even more fans with an emotional performance of the song.

But I can reveal she has well and truly moved on from the subject matter, all about the end of a previous relationship, and has signed up to dating app Raya.

And she has overhauled her life by cutting out booze.

I’ve seen her profile on the high-end matchmaking app, which features a handful of sultry photos, as well as one of her performing, and is linked to her official Instagram account.

But she still has an air of mystery, choosing to leave the “bio” section of her profile blank. It’s a change from September, when she said she was too busy to date.

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However, it’s fair to say it’s been a period of a lot of changes for Lola.

She took a four-month break after collapsing on stage in September, and only returned to the spotlight at a pre-Grammys party at the end of last week.

Now she is sober, I’m told industry pals Lily Allen and Sir Elton John, who are also teetotal, have been offering their support.

Lola revealed she had ditched alcohol when asked how she would be celebrating following her Grammys success.

She said: “I am going to have an In-N-Out burger with my manager and everyone. And I’m probably going to go out a little bit.

“I don’t drink, but it’s going to be fun anyway.”

Last year, she revealed she had to check into rehab to tackle a cocaine addiction in 2024, just as Messy was rising up the charts.

Then on her song d£aler, released last summer, she sang about the struggle of “tryna be sober.”

Now it sounds like things are finally looking up for her — and she seems in great spirits.

Speaking about her break, Lola said: “This is a very difficult industry to be in.

I took the time out to get better because there were a lot of things going on in my head, in my personal life, and we constantly have to be protected as artists.

“I had to make the decision to do it for myself — to be kind to myself and give myself space.”

“But now I am back. I feel better.

“I will do as much as I can to be good for my fans and to be good for the people that love me.”

She’s got Teyst

Teyana Taylor was my best-dressed star of the night, and it’s fair to say she probably has the busiest awards season of anyone.

She wore this stunning, sculptural Tom Ford dress but sadly lost out on the Best R&B Album prize for her record Escape Room, with the gong going to Leon Thomas’s Mutt instead.

Still, Teyana will have plenty more wins I’m sure. The multi-talented performer is the favourite to win Best Supporting Actress at the Baftas and the Oscars – after winning the same prize at the Golden Globes – for her role in One Battle After Another.

She joined a load of stars hitting the town, with Justin Bieber spotted in an open hoodie, having earlier performed his song Yukon in just some silver silk boxers.

That wasn’t half as mad k as Lady Gaga performing with a black bird cage on her head though.

Kesha wore an over-the-top head-dress to greet fans, while Miley Cyrus looked chuffed to pose with Bad Bunny.

And Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo and Bruno Mars all looked super-stylish as they headed out to the afterparties.

Those celebrity stylists have been working overtime.

All the goss at The Grammys

Cher added some laughs to proceedings when announcing the Record of the Year winner, claiming it had gone to Luther Vandross, despite the fact he died 21 years ago.

She got confused when reading out who had won, claiming she thought the name would be on the autocue and she wouldn’t have to open the envelope on stage.

But when she did, she saw the title Luther and said the late singer’s name instead.

Thankfully, winners Kendrick Lamar and SZA, whose song Luther samples the soul star’s version of If This World Were Mine, put two and two together and realised they had won.

And that was a relief, because it was seven more seconds before Cher exclaimed: “No, Kendrick Lamar!”

Sabrina’s tough love

She left the ceremony empty handed despite six nominations, although Sabrina Carpenter still sent pulses soaring during a racy performance of her hit Manchild.

But any new admirers should take note, she has no qualms about spilling the beans on her love life in her music.

Speaking backstage, Sabrina, who wrote her last album Man’s Best Friend about her ex Barry Keoghan, said: “I love really hard. If you f*** with me, there will be consequences.

“I feel pretty transparent going into any of my relationships that I write songs and I think they’re just as down for it.

“Also, most of the time, they’ve been pretty flattered. When they get a song written about them, good or bad, I think they’re just excited to get a shout out.

“I’m not scared of men in that sense. I am scared of men sometimes, but I’m not scared in that sense.

“I will attract exactly who I’m supposed to attract. And again there’s so much conversation around women that are honest and strong and opinionated and determined, focused.”

Winner Tyla will ao A-POP

Tyla celebrated her second Grammy win by announcing her new album will be called A-POP.

She won Best African Music Performance for Push 2 Start, having won the same gong in 2024 for Water.

Speaking backstage, she said: “I wanna announce that my sophomore album drops this summer and it’s called A-POP.”

Asked what fans can expect, she said: “Amazing new music. It’s going to be different. It’s me now. I just grew up… I’m now 24, I feel like a woman.

“I’ve got other things I want to say and other vibes I want to give, so yeah, it’s definitely a different vibe but I’m so excited.”

Charli XCX is a self-proclaimed “365 Party Girl” so I can see why her post-event bash was one of the most star-studded of the evening.

The Saint Laurent-sponsored event took place at Bar Marmont in West Hollywood – the go-to venue for luxury brands – and boasted a guestlist including Demi Lovato, Paris Hilton, Diplo and Rose.

Not so clever, Trevor

Donald Trump has threatened to sue Grammy host Trevor Noah over his jokes about him at the bash.

Noah, inset, said: “Song of the Year – that is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!

“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.

“Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast.

“Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!” Here we go again . . .

GRAMMYS viewers were left in stitches after Lola Young accidentally said the F-word in their acceptance speech.

The British singer, who brought Bad Bunny and other Grammy Awards attendees to tears with her Best New Artist performance, won for Best Pop Solo Performance for their hit single Messy.

Lola, 25, took the stage to accept the award and deliver her speech to a packed audience of her peers, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Jelly Roll, Chappell Roan, and more.

Many fans believed the musician, who goes by they/them pronouns, would win Best New Artist, but they were edged out by Olivia Dean, who accepted the award from The Subway singer.

It quickly became clear to Grammy Awards viewers that Lola – who performed early in the show due to a change in format – hadn’t expected to win, and did not prepare a speech.

They went off the cuff, and in her nervousness and excitement they let the F-word slip.

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CBS’ censors, typically on a delay to prevent these mishaps, bleeped her too early and missed the actual curse word.

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much,” Lola began, smiling while holding her statue.

The bleeping began as they continued speaking, cutting off just as they said, “f**king.”

They immediately began waving her hands, apologizing profusely.

“Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” they yelled into the camera.

If there were any doubt about this being the year of the freshman in high school basketball, all you needed to do was look at who was on the court Saturday in a sold-out rivalry game between Village Christian and visiting Heritage Christian.

“There were five freshmen out there,” Heritage Christian freshman guard Ty Lazenby said.

Make no mistake about how much young talent Heritage Christian has after a 74-71 victory that ended the Crusaders’ 11-game winning streak.

The Warriors (20-6, 6-2) start two freshmen and three sophomores. In high school sports, you never know who’s staying and going each year, but Heritage Christian is feeling good about its group.

“They had to reenroll by yesterday,” coach Paul Tait said.

Said Lazenby: “We’re figuring it out. In two years we’re going to be very good.”

On Saturday, Eli Simmons had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and fellow sophomore Houston Rolle scored 16 points. Lazenby had 15 points. Another freshman, Nalu Clark, the brother of Virginia NCAA champion guard Kihei Clark, had seven points and seven assists.

It was left to sophomore Tyler Jackson to put the finishing touch on the win, banking in a free throw with 11.9 seconds left for a three-point cushion that forced Village Christian’s outstanding freshman, Will Conroy Jr., to shoot a three to tie. It didn’t go.

Conroy finished with 28 points. The Crusaders got into trouble when they failed to get the ball to Conroy earlier, resulting in a turnover and forcing them to foul Jackson.

Village Christian still can win the Olympic League title outright with a win over Maranatha next week. Heritage Christian is rooting for Maranatha to produce a three-way tie for first.

Crespi 57, Harvard-Westlake 52: The Celts advanced to a Tuesday night Mission League tournament semifinal at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame by eliminating Harvard-Westlake, which lost for the third time in its last four games. Isaiah Barnes scored 19 points.

Loyola 60, St. Francis 57: Quincy Watson and Deuce Newt each scored 13 points to help the Cubs keep their playoff hopes alive. They advance to play top-seeded Sierra Canyon on Tuesday in a Mission League tournament semifinal.

Girls’ basketball

Ventura 46, Mater Dei 42: Kai Staniland and Emma Anter each scored 13 points in Ventura’s upset of the Monarchs.

Sierra Canyon 73, Oak Park 46: Jerzy Robinson scored 29 points in a matchup of Open Division teams.

THE UK’s capital is one of the priciest cities in the world, making it
tricky to explore if your bank balance is already in the red.

But there’s one corner of London that’s the perfect budget day out- especially if you’re a broke Gen Z.

Camden in North London has long been a magnet for young Brits, from the punk scene in the 1980s to Britpop fans in the 1990s, to the Indie kids of the Noughties.

After the heyday of the Hawley Arms and bands like the Libertines, the
area lost its cool status to the likes of Hackney and Shoreditch in the east of the city.

But, it is now having a resurgence thanks to its wide range of live music venues – which Camden has managed to maintain while other areas face mass closures thanks to rising costs and noise complaints.

Great nightlife and budget-friendly – the perfect combination for anyone under 25 years old.

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To see just how affordable it really can be, I attempted to spend a day in Camden without spending more than £25, while still enjoying great food, drinks and attractions.

I started off wandering around the world-famous Camden Market, one of the largest markets in London where even on a budget, there is plenty to see and do.

Stalls sell everything from vintage costume jewellery and slogan t-shirts for a tenner,  to the usual I Love London souvenirs.

Camden has always been known for its unique clothes stores and these days, it still has plenty of second-hand clothing.

Rokit and Traid both have stores on the high street and the market is also home to The Vintage Collection, which stocks Britain’s ‘largest collection of non-worn vintage from the 30s to the 90s,’ – which is great fun to look through.

Or if you’re looking for a bit of art and culture, The Camden Arts Centre offers free entry into its  galleries and gardens six days a week.

All that perusing had got me hungry, but thankfully the market has a massive selection of food options with over a hundred food stalls from around the world.

When it comes to food, I opted for the TikTok viral Funky Chips that sells boxes of chip shop-style chips loaded with Indian and Mexican-style toppings.

They weren’t the cheapest, as the nacho chips covered in cheese, onions and jalapenos set me back £9.60 – they were filling and worth every penny.

There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy your street stall food near the market without needing to book or spend extra money.

The market is also home to past Camden resident Amy Winehouse’s statue, which still attracts fans from all over the world 15 years after she passed away.

Having filled my stomach, I was looking for some entertainment so headed for The Elephants Head in the heart of Camden high street, which offers free regular live music events.

On the day I visited, the venue was hosting bands from around the UK, with the Brighton band Cade drawing in the biggest crowd of the day, both inside and outside the venue.

The venue also offers two pints for £12.50, meaning it is a great budget-friendly spot for young people.  Where else could you enjoy four hours of free live music?

Of course, if you’re looking for big nights out with a bigger budget, then Camden also houses several huge music venues, including KOKO, the Jazz Cafe and the Roundhouse.

For those looking for some peace, the Regents Canal offers a quiet escape from the bustling crowds of the high street with its colourful longboats, buskers and street art.

This is a prime spot for young people during summer as it is filled with independent cafes, offering other great, cheap lunch alternatives.

If the weather is on your side, it is also worth visiting the neighbouring Primrose Hill, for its panoramic, skyline views of the capital.

Once afternoon turned to evening, I headed to The Lock Inn to take full advantage of their 2-for-1 cocktail deals and rooftop bar.

The deal means you can get two quality cocktails costing £13.95 or just £6.97 every Monday – Friday during Happy Hour.

If cocktails aren’t your bag, head down to The Dublin Castle for affordable pints and more live music or DJ sets.

This popular boozer is known for its ties to Amy Winehouse, with many of her early gigs being here, and these days it attracts an eclectic mix of local locals and fans of the Back To Black star.

It had been a long day, with shopping, TikTok-famous food, a gallery, live music, park hangs and evening cocktails – and how much lighter was my wallet? Just £23.

Not bad for 12 hours in one of the world’s priciest cities.

For more on budget breaks, here are the best cheap destinations to visit every month and the free things you can do there.

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Hey, Greenland — feeling a little low after President Trump’s ongoing attempts to buy or otherwise acquire the land under your feet? Neil Young can fix that framework!

Just keep “Rockin’ in the Free World.” For free. Forever.

The 80-year-old “hippie at heart” on Tuesday granted “our friends in Greenland” a year of free access to his music catalog, hoping that its contents “ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government.”

(Of course, all U.S. administrations, even Trump’s, are effectively temporary, given the whole “elections every four years” thing. That should ease some stress right there.)

“It is my sincere wish for you to be able to enjoy all of my music in your beautiful Greenland home, in its highest quality,” Young wrote on his blog. “This is an offer of Peace and Love. All the music i have made during the last 62 years is yours to hear.” It’s unclear whether he’s giving away the middle-tier “Rust” subscription, which is just a penny under $45 a year, or the top-notch “Patron” subscription, which adds unspecified extras and a promise of priority treatment for $99.99 annually. The basic level subscription, at $24.99 a year, doesn’t provide the “highest quality” sound or the “music films” his message promises.

Greenlanders who take him up on his offer can renew for free annually as long as they stay put on the island. Young’s team will need cellphone numbers with the Greenland country code: 299.

Young said he hoped other “organizations” would follow in his footsteps.

He does have a “Heart of Gold,” after all.