CULTURE
Culture coverage
Today's coverage leans right of center. 101 stories in the last 48 hours across 178 outlet reports.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day poised for massive opening as critics rave
The new Marvel film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" opens Friday, with analysts expecting a domestic debut between $260 million and $280 million.
Hollywood financier Jason Cloth arrested in $100 million fraud scheme
Jason Cloth, the producer behind hits like “Joker,” was taken into custody in Los Angeles after a federal indictment charging him with a multi-year $100 million wire-fraud and Ponzi operation.
Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard dies in Dublin motorbike accident
Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard was killed in a single-vehicle motorbike crash on Lower Road in Lucan, near Dublin, early Thursday morning.
Netflix faces $105 million lawsuit after unreleased Nicolas Cage thriller disappears
A Swiss billionaire who financed the unreleased Nicolas Cage film “Fortitude” is suing Netflix for $105 million, alleging the movie’s master copy was stolen from Netflix’s offices.
BTS Declares They Won’t Enter 2027 Grammy Consideration Amid New Asian Pop Category
The seven-member group announced via Instagram that they will not submit entries for the 2027 Grammy Awards, urging music to be judged beyond regional or language lines.
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' poised for strong second-weekend box office
The Odyssey is expected to earn about $84.5 million domestically this weekend, a modest 32% drop from its opening, indicating solid staying power.
Emily Wilson praises the buzz but slams Nolan's Odyssey adaptation
Classicist Emily Wilson, whose 2017 translation inspired Christopher Nolan, published a scathing review of his new Odyssey film.
Spotify launches AI-driven Running Mode to sync playlists with workout tempo
Spotify unveiled Running Mode, an AI-powered tool for premium subscribers that aligns music beats per minute with running pace.
AMC Global Media signs $500 million co-exclusive streaming pact for The Walking Dead universe
AMC Global Media will license the entire Walking Dead franchise to both Netflix and AMC+ starting in 2027 under a five-year, $500 million deal.
Health Secretary launches online cooking series championing fermented-food diet
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. debuted a web-based cooking program that highlights his favored fermented-food regimen, featuring low-cost recipes with sauerkraut and kimchi.
Xbox service outage disrupts both digital and disc-based game playback
An Xbox network failure that began Sunday night stopped users from launching digital titles and, temporarily, games on physical discs.
Florida’s $85 Million ‘Villa Skyfall’ Redefines Ultra-Luxury Living
A new $85 million estate called Villa Skyfall, styled after James Bond, has hit the market in the gated Stone Creek Ranch community near Delray Beach, Florida.
Disney to Transfer its 50% A+E Stake to Hearst in $1 B+ Deal
Disney will sell its half-ownership of A+E Global Media to Hearst for over $1 billion, giving Hearst full control.
Operation Iron Justice nets 27 alleged sex buyers during San Diego Comic-Con
A three-day sting during San Diego’s Comic-Con led to 27 arrests for solicitation and the rescue of nine victims, including two minors.
Renowned Black Art Pioneer Betye Saar Dies at Age 99 in Los Angeles
Betye Saar, a leading figure of the 1960s Black Art Movement known for her assemblage works, passed away in Los Angeles at 99.
Disney drops Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot, shifts to OpenAI’s Codex for coding
Disney will stop using GitHub Copilot and several other AI coding assistants in the U.S. this August, opting to adopt OpenAI’s Codex instead.
Tim Hortons faces LGBTQ+ criticism over Harry Potter tie-in with J.K. Rowling
Tim Hortons' new Harry Potter menu sparked swift condemnation from LGBTQ+ groups who say partnering with author J.K. Rowling conflicts with Canadian inclusivity.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ prison term cut again, moving release to early 2028
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sentence was reduced by another month, setting his new release date for January 24 2028.
Joe Rogan dismisses MAGA backlash over casting choices in blockbuster "The Odyssey"
Joe Rogan ridiculed the MAGA criticism of the new film "The Odyssey," calling the casting controversy a fabricated culture-war issue.
Major record labels urge global charts to bar AI-generated songs
Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group are pushing for AI-created tracks to be excluded from worldwide music charts.
Anthony Bourdain biopic 'Tony' earns flawless Rotten Tomatoes rating
The film 'Tony', portraying chef Anthony Bourdain and starring Dominic Sessa, has achieved a perfect 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes after its first batch of reviews.
Mike Darnell signs multi-year overall deal with Netflix to steer unscripted content
Veteran reality-TV producer Mike Darnell has secured an exclusive multi-year overall agreement with Netflix, where he will also advise the streamer’s unscripted division.
Congressional firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene weds MAGA reporter Brian Glenn in Las Vegas
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene married former Real America's Voice correspondent Brian Glenn in a ceremony in Las Vegas.
Influence Media Partners to buy Anthem Entertainment's music and film assets for over $600 million
Influence Media Partners, backed by BlackRock affiliates, agreed to purchase the bulk of Anthem Entertainment’s publishing, master recordings and film-TV catalog in a deal valued at more than $600 million, with closing expected in Q4 2026.
Paramount+ greenlights six-episode 'Clueless' sequel starring Alicia Silverstone
Paramount+ has ordered a six-episode continuation of the 1995 film 'Clueless', with Alicia Silverstone returning as Cher Horowitz and production set for 2027 in Los Angeles.
John Legend cast as Harry Belafonte in Bill Condon's Apartheid-era film "The Road Home"
EGOT winner John Legend will portray Harry Belafonte in Bill Condon’s new drama about Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and the Graceland tour, with filming now underway in South Africa.
Universal Music posts $3.8 billion Q2 revenue as touring earnings fall
Universal Music Group reported a 10.5% year-over-year rise to €3.294 billion for Q2, while merchandise sales slipped due to weaker touring income.
AI Studio Fairground to Debut First All-AI FAST Television Channel
Fairground Entertainment, founded by former Xumo creator Colin Petrie-Norris, will launch a free, ad-supported FAST channel dedicated entirely to AI-generated shows and movies next month.
Banijay Entertainment reports modest first-half revenue dip after All3Media merger
Banijay Entertainment posted a 2.2% decline in first-half revenue to €1.37 billion, citing lower production output while distribution rose.
Piers Morgan condemns Cornell student’s refusal to work for a Jew as overt antisemitism
On his show, Piers Morgan confronted Cornell senior Austin Franco, who reiterated his refusal to work for a Jewish person and dismissed any apology.
Veteran Writers Guild Foundation Leader Angela Wales Kirgo Dies at 78
Angela Wales Kirgo, who led the Writers Guild Foundation for nearly two decades, passed away in Sydney after battling cancer.
Kanye West and former aide Lauren Pisciotta reach settlement in harassment case
Kanye West and his ex-assistant Lauren Pisciotta have agreed to settle her sexual-harassment and wrongful-termination lawsuit, with a dismissal to be filed within 45 days of July 23.
Cinemark posts record $1.1 billion Q2 revenue as box office rebounds
Cinemark reported $1.09 billion in revenue for the quarter ending June 30, 2026, a 15.5% increase year-over-year, driven by strong ticket and concession sales.
Original Chantels vocalist Arlene Smith dies at 84 in New York
Arlene Smith, the lead singer of the 1950s R&B group The Chantels, passed away at 84 from natural causes in a New York rehabilitation center.
Anne Sweeney Steps Down from Netflix Board After Over a Decade
Anne Sweeney resigned from Netflix’s board of directors on July 26, 2026, ending more than 11 years of service.
Meghann Fahy Leads HBO’s New Limited Series on the Louise Woodward Trial
Meghann Fahy will headline HBO’s upcoming limited series dramatizing the 1997 Louise Woodward case, with production slated for a 2027 premiere.
Unwoke Podcast Episode Explores Speculation on the 2028 Republican Field
The latest Unwoke All-Access episode drifts from its usual prep to a spontaneous discussion about possible Republican contenders for the 2028 presidential election.
Six Flags Great Adventure to debut 382-foot coaster breaking six world records
Six Flags Great Adventure announced Bakunawa, a 382-foot, 100-mph roller coaster that will set six new world records when it opens in 2027.
Stephen A. Smith suggests Trump’s feud with LeBron stems from political endorsements
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith argued on his YouTube channel that Donald Trump’s attacks on LeBron James are driven by the basketball star’s support for Democratic candidates.
MAGA Influencer Merges Politics and Adult Content, Fueling Right-Wing Media Tie-Ups
Savanna Cannon blends conservative commentary with OnlyFans modeling, illustrating a growing partnership between right-wing media personalities and adult-content creators.
Noah Kahan denounces Trump’s use of his song and refuses permission
Singer Noah Kahan posted on Instagram that he would never allow his track “American Cars” to be used by Donald Trump or the White House.
Bangkok's New Content Market Generates Over $65 Million in Deals at Inaugural Event
Thailand's first dedicated international content marketplace concluded its debut with roughly THB2.2 billion ($65.5 million) in agreements after three days of matchmaking and co-production talks.
Andy Cohen slams GOP senators for grilling Fauci as a "war on science"
On his talk-show, Andy Cohen denounced Senate Republicans for a three-hour interrogation of Dr. Anthony Fauci, calling it an attack on science and accusing them of inventing crimes.
Disneyland raises prices on dozens of food and drink items, with few cuts
Disneyland announced another round of price hikes affecting 291 menu items across 13 dining venues, while a handful of drinks saw modest reductions.
John Cleese defends deportation advocate Rupert Lowe, claims some cultures outrank others
John Cleese publicly backed Rupert Lowe’s deportation stance, asserting that certain cultures are superior and dismissing his critics.
Michael Zavros clinches Archibald People's Choice with portrait of Alex Ryvchin
Artist Michael Zavros secured the 2026 Archibald People's Choice Award for his painting of Alex Ryvchin, a co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Stephen Colbert honored with anti-censorship prize at Berkeley ceremony
Former late-night host Stephen Colbert will receive an anti-censorship award from the Before Columbus Foundation at the University of California, Berkeley on Sept. 26.
Friends of folk legend Linda Perhacs appeal for help after months of silence
Friends and former manager of 82-year-old folk singer Linda Perhacs say she vanished after leaving a care home eight months ago and they have been unable to contact her or her legal guardian.
Beau Clark Opens Up About Resentment as Stay-At-Home Dad on New ‘House of Stassi’ Episode
Beau Clark told a friend on the premiere of “House of Stassi” that he feels angry and detached from his wife, Stassi Schroeder, after becoming the family’s primary caregiver.
Epic 'Ramayana' Trailer Unveiled, Showcasing Grand Battle Between Rama and Ravana
The first official trailer for Namit Malhotra's mythological film 'Ramayana' was released online, highlighting a visually stunning clash between Ranbir Kapoor's Rama and Yash's Ravana.
Cardi B Confirms Butt Reduction, Shares Diet Tips and Past Cosmetic History
During an Instagram Live, Cardi B revealed she has already undergone a butt reduction and discussed her current diet and previous cosmetic procedures.
Amy Winehouse's father ordered to pay nearly $2.7 million to friends over auction dispute
A London judge ruled that Mitch Winehouse must pay almost $2.7 million in damages and legal fees to Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay after his lawsuit over a 2021 auction was deemed baseless.
Tribeca Films picks up three indie titles starring Dratch, Shor and a holiday rom-com
Tribeca Films has added three debut-feature movies - Loves Company, A Very Merry Breakup and Magic Hour - to its 2026 distribution slate.
Sonoya Mizuno's Directorial Debut 'Stages' Begins Filming with Star-Studded Cast
Sonoya Mizuno has started shooting her first feature as director, titled 'Stages', in the United Kingdom with an ensemble that includes Julie Delpy, Takehiro Hira, Kathryn Hunter, Kate Dickie and Emma D'Arcy.
Billie Eilish Concert Film Arrives on Paramount+ with VR-Enhanced Experience on Aug. 6
Paramount+ will stream “Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live)” on August 6, a concert movie shot in Manchester and Phoenix using VR-3D technology.
Lego's Pokémon Smart Play Sets Bring Interactive Battles and Training to Builders
Lego is set to launch its Pokémon Smart Play collection on August 1, featuring interactive bricks that let the creatures make sounds, battle and respond to training.
Too $hort, 60, launches new Lil Jon-produced album and defies hip-hop age norms
Hip-hop veteran Too $hort, now 60, released his 23rd studio album, fully produced by longtime collaborator Lil Jon, and says he’ll keep making music.
Thai travel vlogger Hlun Solo confirmed dead while filming in Georgia
The family of Thai YouTuber Hlun Solo announced his death after he vanished during a solo trip to Georgia.
Podcasters Cash in on Multi-Million Dollar Streaming and Advertising Deals in 2026
Top podcast hosts are securing multi-year contracts worth tens of millions, with platforms like Spotify, Netflix and Amazon paying for audio-video rights and ad sales.
Justice Department lifts TikTok ban, prompting partisan posts from Trump officials
The Justice Department cleared TikTok for federal use, leading Trump administration officials to open accounts and post overtly patriotic, AI-driven videos that many view as low-brow propaganda.