Howard Stern defended Stephen A. Smith’s criticism of Serena Williams for her participation in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. Stern agreed with Smith’s view that Williams’ appearance indicated she was still living in the past. Smith had suggested he would divorce his wife if she trolled her ex, prompting backlash from Whoopi Goldberg and others. Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, defended her, pointing out the historical context of her dance moves. Williams herself explained that Lamar’s team appreciated her iconic crip walk dance from the Olympics.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces 2025 induction nominees: See who made the list:
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2025 nominations, featuring 14 diverse musical legends, with eight first-time nominees including Outkast, Bad Company, and Chubby Checker. Returning nominees like Mariah Carey and Oasis add excitement to the selection. The international voting panel will decide the inductees, with fans also having a say. The induction ceremony in Los Angeles this fall will honor figures beyond performers, celebrating musical influence and excellence. Outkast, Bad Company, Mariah Carey, and other nominees have left indelible marks on music history with their unique contributions and timeless hits.
Yeezy website sold a swastika T-shirt
Ye, formerly Kanye West, is facing backlash after his Yeezy website sold a swastika T-shirt, which eventually was removed by Shopify on Tuesday (February 11) for violating their terms. “All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform,” a spokesperson for Shopify said of the incident. “This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms, so we removed them from Shopify.” Ye also deactivated his X account on Monday (February 10), after making a series of antisemitic, misogynistic, and homophobic posts over the weekend, including calling for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ freedom as well as praising Hitler. As a result of all of these inflammatory actions, Ye was subsequently dropped by his Los Angeles-based talent agency, 33&West. Ye’s agent, 33&West’s Daniel McCartney, posted on Instagram on Feb. 10 that he and the agency have stopped working with the rapper “effective immediately… due to his harmful and hateful remarks that myself nor 33&West can stand for.”
Whoopi Goldberg Returns to The Oscars
Whoopi Goldberg is set to return to the Academy Awards stage as a presenter after nearly 10 years. The star-studded presenter roster includes Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb, and Bowen Yang. Last year’s acting winners, Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Emma Stone, will also be on hand to present to this year’s winner. Goldberg, herself a Best Supporting Actress winner for Ghost in 1990, has also hosted the Oscars four times (1994, 1996, 1999, and 2002), making her the woman who has hosted the most ceremonies in Academy Awards history. (EW)