Ex-NYC mayor slams Beyonce’s act
Beyonce may have been the big winner at the recent MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), but one person was not impressed.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, 72, called the 34-year-old US singer's 15-minute police brutality-themed performance at the show "a shame".
The ex-politician was offended by her allusions to racial injustice and police killings, particularly during Pray You Catch Me, which featured her backup dancers falling to the ground one by one, encircled by red lights, as if they had been shot dead.
Giuliani said on Fox News on Monday: "I ran the largest and best police department in the world, the New York City Police Department. I saved more black lives than any of those people you saw on stage by reducing crime and particularly homicide by 75 per cent."
Beyonce, who has been a prominent supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, also made a powerful political statement by showing up on the pre-show VMAs red carpet with an entourage that included the mothers of police violence victims.
Taylor Swift excused from jury duty
Taylor Swift has been dismissed from jury duty due to her own ongoing legal case that is similar in nature.
The 26-year-old US singer had advanced past the initial rounds of jury selection for a particularly grisly case involving aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault.
But because of her involvement in a civil sexual assault case that has yet to go to trial, Swift was excused from jury duty despite assuring the court that she could remain impartial if selected.
Swift filed a sexual assault case against a US radio DJ whom she accused of groping her last year.
According to People magazine, her brief stint at court turned into a meet-and-greet session where she gamely posed for photos and signed autographs for fellow jurors.
Linying signs with Universal Music S’pore
Singer-songwriter Linying is the latest local artist to be signed to Universal Music Singapore, joining Charlie Lim and Gentle Bones.
Her multi-rights deal includes recording rights, live shows, endorsements and merchandising, and she will be co-managed by Universal Music Singapore and Foundation Music.
Linying, 22, will be releasing her third single, the title track of her debut EP, Paris 12, on Friday, followed by the EP on Sept 30.
The five-track EP includes debut single Sticky Leaves, which had over one million plays on Spotify when it was released last year.
Pre-orders of the EP will be available from Friday on iTunes.
Linying will also embark on a string of Paris 12 tour dates across Asia, Europe and Australia this year.
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