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  • Lily Allen Takes a Well-Earned Bow in ‘West End Girl’ Live Show

    Lily Allen Takes a Well-Earned Bow in ‘West End Girl’ Live Show

    Lily Allen brought her critically acclaimed album West End Girl to Los Angeles over the weekend, drawing in sold-out crowds at downtown L.A.’s Orpheum Theater.

    Lily Allen Performs West End Girl, the singer’s latest tour, is more of a one-woman show than a pop concert. The singer-songwriter performs the entirety of her vulnerable latest album, West End Girl. The theater setting allows fans to fully dive into the world of the album, with elaborate sets one might find, well, on the West End instead of a pop concert.

    Playing her second of two shows in L.A., Allen began the album from the beginning with the titular track, phone call and all. One of the most impressive things about Allen’s show is her dedication to the character she’s portraying on stage and that she never once breaks it.

    Lily Allen performs West End Girl at The Orpheum Theatre on April 26, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.

    Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Live Nation

    Never once does the singer stop to address the crowd, only pausing for brief set and costume changes, or breaking the fourth wall of the narrative. That didn’t stop the crowd, however, from chiming in with jams aimed at Allen’s ex-husband, David Harbour, including one audience member shouting “fuck him,” which elicited laughs from fellow audience members.

    The show, which clocks in at roughly an hour, is more than worth it. If it were any other show, an hour would be an almost offensively short amount of time for a headliner to perform, but with West End Girl, it clearly works. It’s perhaps one of the best ways music can be enjoyed — in the most theatrical way possible.

    During “Madeline,” the album’s lead single, Allen chooses a member of the crowd to represent the song’s namesake. For fans at Sunday’s L.A. performance, they were treated to an appearance from actress and reality TV icon Lisa Rinna, who danced under a spotlight on her seat as Allen sang.

    Throughout most of the show, fans in L.A. stayed put in their seats, until later in the set when it seemed like the diehard fans couldn’t help but get up to dance along with Allen’s singing. Given the set design, the lack of dialogue to the crowd and the theatrical environment, it was a bit of a gamble. But once some of the crowd got to their feet, many joined to dance and sway along.

    Lily Allen performs “Pussy Palace.”

    Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Live Nation

    Unsurprisingly, as the song is a highlight on Allen’s album as well, “Pussy Palace” was a standout moment during the show. Through some well-placed video projection and sound effects, it felt as if Allen was hopping on the New York subway to this apartment, taking the audience along for the ride.

    The outfits Allen wore were another bright spot of the show, and some have already sparked online chatter. During “4chan Stan,” Allen wraps herself in fabric that appears to be littered with receipts, a reference to the song in which she finds out her husband’s bought someone else a luxury handbag (“Never been in Bergdorf’s / But you took someone shopping there in May, ’24 / You bought her a handbag, it wasn’t cheap”).

    Lily Allen performs West End Girl at The Orpheum Theatre on April 26, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.

    Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Live Nation

    To end the show, flowers were passed to Allen on stage, who took a bow for the adoring audience. She performed no encores, simply concluding the show with the album’s last track, “Fruityloop.”

    The British singer-songwriter will continue the tour on April 28 in San Francisco. She’ll pick the tour back up in the summer, opting to perform in arenas across the U.K., U.S., Canada and Australia.

  • Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Knicks lead in pivotal Game 5

    Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Knicks lead in pivotal Game 5

    Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks are hosting the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs first round series on NBC and Peacock.

    Welcome to Tuesday night!

    We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, recaps and highlights from tonight’s action.

    The 76ers defeated the Celtics 113-97, dominating the second half behind Joel Embiid (33 pts) to force Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday.

    Now, the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks (8 ET, Peacock / NBC) are battling.

    We’ll soon see the San Antonio Spurs take to the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, ESPN), seeking to reach the second round for the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:05 ET

    One time for Joel Embiid

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:55 ET

    Postgame Presser: 76ers-Celtics

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:47 ET

    Brunson sparking as Knicks maintain lead

    73-57 Knicks with 7:30 to go in the third quarter, as Jalen Brunson (20 pts) pushes his scoring total.

    He’s handily outplayed CJ McCollum, who has four points on 2-of-7 shooting.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:34 ET

    Sixers win, force Game 6

    We’re headed back to Philadelphia, as the Sixers rose up in the second half to defeat the Celtics 113-97.

    Joel Embiid (33 pts) dominated the Celtics’ front line, while Tyrese Maxey (25 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) and Paul George (18 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, team-high +19) filled in the gaps.

    Quentin Grimes (18 pts, 4 3PM) added firepower in 24:04 off the Sixers’ bench.

    Jayson Tatum (24 pts, 16 reb) starred for the Celtics, while Jaylen Brown (24 pts) contributed.

    But Payton Pritchard (12 pts) was the only other player to reach double figures, as the team shot just 28.2% from 3-point range.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:27 ET

    Philly stepping on the gas

    111-96 Sixers with 2:16 to go in the fourth quarter, as they fought to extend their season.

    They’ve earned a 61-39 advantage in the second half.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:25 ET

    Knicks lead at the half

    64-48 New York at the break, although the Hawks closed the half on a 11-5 run to cut into the advantage.

    The Knicks have built a 40-22 gap in points in the paint, leading by as many as 22 during the contest.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:22 ET

    Sixers in control

    104-94 Philadelphia with 4:04 to go, as the Sixers’ physicality and shooting takes control of the ballgame.

    Joel Embiid (33 pts) has been dominant in the second half, as has the Philly defense. Paul George and Quentin Grimes have dogged Jaylen Brown, while VJ Edgecombe is making Jayson Tatum work.

    They’re 6-of-11 from the field in the fourth, while Boston is 3-of-17.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:14 ET

    Every possession matters in Boston right now

    You can feel the tension in the air in TD Garden, as the Sixers seek to keep their season alive and force a Game 6 in Philly.

    100-94 Sixers on another Quentin Grimes (18 pts on 5-of-7 shooting) 3-pointer — their largest lead of the night.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:12 ET

    Knicks open up big lead

    59-37 Knicks with 3:08 to go in the second quarter.

    New York’s had their shooting touch all night, knocking down 60.5% of their shots.

    Jalen Brunson (14 pts, 4 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast) are sparking the Knicks offense.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:10 ET

    ‘This is vintage Embiid right now’

    Mike Breen said, as Joel Embiid (29 pts) pulled up for a floater in the lane over Neemias Queta.

    “He is catching the ball where he wants to and not bailing out this Celtics defense,” said Tim Legler.

    Sam Hauser (8 pts) has hit back-to-back 3-pointers to keep Boston in reach.

    94-92 Sixers with 7:33 to go in the fourth quarter.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:02 ET

    Sixers take the lead

    88-86 Sixers with 10:54 to go in the fourth quarter.

    Philly’s found the stroke from deep, going 8-for-12 from 3-point range to bring their total to 13-for-36 (36.1%) for the night.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:49 ET

    Sixers, Celtics trading big shots

    Joel Embiid (25 pts) has been unstoppable, leading the 76ers on a run.

    Jayson Tatum (18 pts, 11 reb), Tyrese Maxey (16 pts, 5 reb) and Payton Pritchard (12 pts, 6 ast) have just traded 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions.

    Fans in the TD Garden are living and dying with every basket right now, as Philly’s cut the lead to 74-70 with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:44 ET

    Mitch Rob responds with a poster

    After Jonathan Kuminga delivered an alley-oop slam, Mitchell Robinson (6 pts, 3 reb) just posterized him on an offensive rebound. It’s a 65.6 on the Dunk Score scale.

    33-22 Knicks with 33.3 seconds to go in the first.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:41 ET

    Sixers cut it to five

    65-60 Boston with 7:37 to go in the third, as Joel Embiid (21 pts, 6 ast) continues to attack.

    He got Nikola Vučević retreating in the lane, then rose up for a patented free throw line jumper.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:36 ET

    Kuminga rises up, but Knicks lead

    27-20 Knicks with 2:11 to go in the first quarter, but Jonathan Kuminga (4 pts) just threw down an absolute stunner of a slam.

    It’s a 78.0 on the Dunk Score scale.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:27 ET

    Nick Nurse urges team to keep firing

    “We’ve got to start knocking those down,” said Nurse, according to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

    Philly’s 5-of-20 from 3-point range as the second half begins.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:17 ET

    Dyson Daniels hot early

    The Aussie has six of the Hawks first eight points on 3-of-3 shooting, as the Hawks turn up the defensive pressure against the Knicks.

    So far, New York’s handled it well, taking a 11-8 lead with 8:08 to go in the first quarter.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:10 ET

    Celtics up 57-50 at the half

    Boston closes on a 7-2 run to take the lead into the break. They’re up to 51.1% FG shooting on the night, while Philly’s at 42.5%.

    Payton Pritchard (9 pts, 6 ast) is +16 on the game so far. His quickness and shooting ability have given the Sixers’ problems, allowing Boston’s spaced, whirring offense to find room against Nick Nurse’s lane-packing style of defense.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:06 ET

    Embiid making his presence felt

    Joel Embiid (13 pts, 5 ast) just hit a soft fadeaway in the lane over Neemias Queta (6 pts, 9 reb).

    On the next possession, he drew Derrick White in transition, posted him up, then dished it to Tyrese Maxey (13 pts) for a 3-pointer when Jayson Tatum (14 pts, 8 reb) took an extra step towards him.

    50-48 Sixers with 2:10 to go in the half.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:58 ET

    Physicality picking up

    Both teams are scrapping with 4:20 to go in the second quarter, as the 76ers have cut the lead to 45-41.

    In the last few possessions, Sam Hauser had the ball stripped in the lane, Tyrese Maxey drew a foul, Kelly Oubre Jr. knocked the ball away from Jaylen Brown and earned a jump ball as they dove in the backcourt. Andre Drummond then showed his quickness to stone Brown on the drive.

    You can feel the intensity picking up in Boston.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:51 ET

    Grimes rallies the Sixers

    A four-point play opportunity for Quentin Grimes (3 pts, 1 reb) can staunch the bleeding for the Sixers, who are down 42-34 with 6:51 to go in the second period.

    Boston’s shooting is starting to strain the Sixers — after starting 1-of-10, they’re 2-of-4 this quarter.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:45 ET

    Boston opens up a lead

    35-26 Celtics with 8:52 to go in the second quarter, as Payton Pritchard (7 pts, 4 ast) drops five quick points in the period.

    Boston is battling Joel Embiid (7 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast), who took Luka Garza to the rim in the post a few possessions ago, throwing double-teams at the big man.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:36 ET

    Celtics lead 23-21 after one

    Tyrese Maxey (8 pts) leads Philly in scoring, while Jaylen Brown (6 pts) is tops for Boston.

    Neither team has found the touch from 3-point range, with the Celtics 1-of-10 (10%) and the 76ers 3-of-13 (23.1%).

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:30 ET

    Celtics controlling the glass early

    Jayson Tatum (4 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) and Neemias Queta (4 pts, 8 reb) have helped the Celtics to a 16-9 advantage on the glass with just over two minutes remaining in the first, but the Sixers are hanging close at 16-15.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:30 ET

    CJ McCollum and the Atlanta Hawks are back in Madison Square Garden tonight on NBC and Peacock with their series against the New York Knicks tied 2-2.

    Atlanta:

    • PG CJ McCollum
      • McCollum was held to 17 points after earning the respect of the Madison Square Garden crowd in Game 2, but it’s been a great series for him. He’s averaging his highest PPG (24.5) since helping take the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19 (24.7).
    • SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
      • Alexander-Walker hasn’t had his breakout game yet in this series, scoring 13.8 ppg, below his season average of 20.8.
    • SF Dyson Daniels
      • The defensive dynamo from Australia has a series of tough matchups in this series. Can he out-hustle Josh Hart, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges?
    • PF Jalen Johnson
      • Johnson was held to 14 points on 33.3% FG shooting in Game 4. The Hawks were 4-7 when he scored 14 or fewer this season.
    • C Onyeka Okongwu
      • The sixth-year center from USC is shooting 50% on four 3PA per game this series. Watch his long-range attempts.

    New York:

    • PG Jalen Brunson
      • Will the Hawks look to put a bigger defender on Brunson? Jonathan Kuminga has held him to four points on 1-of-5 shooting on 46 possessions so far this series.
    • SG Josh Hart
      • Hart is shooting just 13.3% from 3-point range this series.
    • SF Mikal Bridges
      • Bridges has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, playing just 40 over Games 3 and 4, with Miles McBride getting most of the time.
    • PF OG Anunoby
      • The Anunoby-Johnson matchup is crucial in this series. The wing from Indiana has defended Johnson throughout, and outplayed him to the tune of 22 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4.
    • C Karl-Anthony Towns
      • Towns is averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds against Atlanta, shooting 57/50/92 from the field. He leads the Knicks at +46 in this series.

    Watch Miles McBride off the Knicks bench — he can help slow down CJ McCollum while adding 3-point shooting.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:00 ET

    Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers will look to keep their season alive in Boston against the Celtics to start tonight’s action on ESPN.

    Philadelphia:

    • PG Tyrese Maxey
      • The 76ers’ main scorer has to adjust with Joel Embiid back.
    • SG VJ Edgecombe
      • The rookie out of Baylor has been a bellwether for Philly this series. If he’s hot, they’re dangerous. 
    • SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
      • The swingman is always a thorn in the side of the Celtics.
    • PF Paul George
      • Can the future Hall of Famer outplay Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown with the Sixers’ season on the line?
    • C Joel Embiid
      • Embiid is 3-13 against the Celtics in his Playoff career.

    Boston:

    • PG Derrick White
      • White is always a steadying influence for Boston. Can he help contain Tyrese Maxey while finding offensive opportunities?
    • SG Jaylen Brown
      • Brown leads the Celtics in free throws attempted (29) during this series. His steady downhill pressure is key.
    • SF Sam Hauser
      • Hauser is shooting 45.5% from 3-point range this series. He can change a game quickly from deep.
    • PF Jayson Tatum
      • Tatum is 15-5 against the 76ers in his Playoffs career.
    •  C Neemias Queta:
      • Queta has faced foul trouble in each of the last two games. With Joel Embiid back, Boston will also look to Nikola Vučević to battle in the post.

    Keep an eye on Payton Pritchard off the Celtics’ bench. The sixth-year guard out of Oregon is second on the team in plus-minus this series (+44, behind Tatum’s +48).

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 5:45 ET

    Tuesday’s injury report

    Joel Embiid is probable for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey is available.

    Jock Landale is out for the Hawks.

    Jonathan Isaac has been upgraded to doubtful for tomorrow’s Magic-Pistons Game 5.

  • What’s Coming to Disney+ in May 2026

    What’s Coming to Disney+ in May 2026

    Disney+ is heading into May with a packed lineup of premieres, returning favorites and major live sports.

    May kicks off with the premiere of “Sofia the First: Royal Magic” and “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir Chibi: Shorts.” ESPN broadcasts begin early, including the men’s lacrosse championship, the PGA championship and, later in the month, the women’s college world series. 

    On the entertainment side, new and returning titles arrive across Disney+ and Hulu, with highlights like “We Bought a Zoo,” Season 9 of “American Idol” and Season 2 of “Rivals” available for streaming. 

    Take a look at Disney+’s full May slate below, and sign up for a Disney+ account here.

    May 1
    “The Boss (El Encargado)” Season 4 (Premiere) (Hulu Original)
    “Impuros” Season 6 (Premiere) (Hulu Original)
    “Magicampers” Season 1 (Disney+)
    “Perfect Crown” (Hulu Original)
    “Travis Japan Summer Vacation!! in the USA” (Premiere) (Hulu Original)
    “We Bought a Zoo” (Hulu)

    May 2
    “iHeartCountry Festival” (Hulu)
    “Perfect Crown” (Hulu Original)
    “UFL – Dallas Renegades at DC Defenders” (ABC, ESPN)
    “Men’s Lacrosse MAAC Championship” (ESPNU, ESPN)
    “Men’s Lacrosse Big East Championship” (ESPNU, ESPN)
    “Women’s Lacrosse Big 12 Championship” (ESPNU, ESPN)

    May 3
    “Women’s Lacrosse MAAC Championship” (ESPNU, ESPN)
    “Men’s Lacrosse ACC Championship” (ACCN, ESPN)
    “Men’s Lacrosse Ivy League Championship” (ESPNU, ESPN)

    May 4
    “American Idol” Season 9 (ABC, Disney+)
    “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord” (Finale) (Disney+ Original) (Disney+)

    May 5
    “Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2 (Disney+ Original) (Disney+)

    May 6
    “Gold Land” (Hulu Original) 

    May 8
    “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir Chibi: Shorts” Season 1 (Premiere) (Disney+)
    “Playdate with Winnie the Pooh: Shorts” Season 3 (Disney+)
    “Perfect Crown” (Hulu Original) 
    “Travis Japan Summer Vacation!! in the USA” (Hulu Original)
    “We Bury The Dead” (Hulu)

    May 9
    “Chibiverse” Season 4 (Premiere) (Disney+)
    “Perfect Crown” (Hulu Original)
    “WNBA Season Start – ABC Doubleheader, Game 1” (ABC, ESPN)
    “WNBA Season Start – ABC Doubleheader, Game 2” (ABC, ESPN)
    “WWE Backlash” (ESPN)

    May 10
    “LALIGA ElClásico – FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid” (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+) 

    May 11
    “American Idol” Season 9 (ABC, Disney+)
    “The Split” (BBC, Hulu)

    May 12
    “Tucci in Italy” (Premiere) (Disney+ and Hulu)
    “A Marvel Television Special Presentation: The Punisher: One Last Kill” (Premiere) (Disney+ Original)

    May 13
    “Battle of Fates (DUBBED)” Season 1 (Hulu Original)
    “Gold Land” (Hulu Original)
    “Hey A.J.!” (Disney+)

    May 14
    “FX’s Welcome to Wrexham” Season 5 (Premiere) (Hulu)
    “PGA Championship – First Round” (ESPN)
    “PGA Championship – First Round” (ESPN2, ESPN)

    May 15
    “Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel” (Disney+)
    “Lisa Ann Walter: It Was An Accident” (Hulu Original)
    “Perfect Crown” (Hulu Original)
    “Rivals” Season 2 (Premiere) (Hulu Original)
    “Travis Japan Summer Vacation!! in the USA” (Hulu Original)
    “PGA Championship – Second Round” (ESPN)
    “PGA Championship – Second Round” (ESPN2, ESPN)

    May 16
    “Perfect Crown” (Hulu Original)
    “FA Cup Final” (ESPN)
    “PGA Championship – Third Round” (ESPN)
    “UFL – Houston Gamblers at St. Louis Battlehawks” (ABC, ESPN)

    May 17
    “PGA Championship – Final Round” (ESPN)

    May 18
    “Battle of Fates (DUBBED)” Season 1 (Hulu Original)

    May 19
    “The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn” (Premiere) (Hulu Original) 

    May 20
    “Bluey Minisodes” (Disney+)
    “Gold Land” (Hulu Original)
    “NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern or Western Conference Final Begins” (ESPN, ABC)

    May 21
    “Alien: Romulus” (Hulu)

    May 22
    “Arco” (Hulu)
    “BeddyByes” Season 1 (Disney+)
    “Travis Japan Summer Vacation!! in the USA” (Hulu Original) 

    May 23
    “Banana Ball: Bananas vs. Tailgaters” (Disney+, ESPN)
    “DFB Pokal – German Cup Final” (ESPN)
    “UFL – Birmingham Stallions at Columbus Aviators” (ABC, ESPN)

    May 24
    “NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship” (ESPN)
    “NWSL on ESPN+ – Bay FC vs. Chicago Stars” (ESPN+, ESPN)

    May 25
    “NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship” (ESPN) 

    May 26
    “Descendent” (Hulu)
    “Sofia the First: Royal Magic” (Premiere) (Disney+)

    May 27
    “Gold Land” (Hulu Original) 

    May 28
    “Deli Boys” (Season 2) (Hulu Original)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #1” (ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #2” (ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #3” (ESPN2, ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #4” (ESPN2, ESPN)

    May 29
    “Banana Ball: Party Animals vs. Coconuts” (Disney+ and ESPN)
    “RoboGobo” Season 2 (Disney+)
    “Travis Japan Summer Vacation!! in the USA” (Hulu Original)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #5” (ESPN2, ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #6” (ESPN2, ESPN)

    May 30
    “Women’s College World Series Game #7” (ABC, ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #8” (ESPN)

    May 31
    “WWE Clash” (ESPN)
    “UFL – Orlando Storm at DC Defenders” (ABC, ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #9” (ABC, ESPN)
    “Women’s College World Series Game #10” (ESPN2, ESPN)

  • Adam Carolla Defends Jimmy Kimmel Amid Melania Trump “Expectant Widow” Backlash: “Pretty Typical Roast Joke”

    Adam Carolla Defends Jimmy Kimmel Amid Melania Trump “Expectant Widow” Backlash: “Pretty Typical Roast Joke”

    Adam Carolla has come to Jimmy Kimmel‘s defense amid the backlash he’s faced for his “expectant widow” joke.

    The right-leaning comedian reacted to the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host’s remarks made at his faux White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which he began by noting that he was going to approach the topic “from a comedic standpoint.”

    “That’s a pretty typical roast joke,” Carolla said on The Adam Carolla Show. “It is also a trope: Any younger, beautiful woman who’s married to an older guy, especially if the guy’s rumored to be sort of a douchey, you would make that joke at any roast.”

    Donald and Melania Trump both called for the late night host to be fired from Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a joke he made ahead of the shooting at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

    On Thursday, Kimmel poked fun at the event, sharing faux remarks for the dinner. He addressed the First Lady by noting, “Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

    “When you make a joke and then nothing happens, like there was no shooting, no one made a thing about it before the shooting. So then it’s kind of a thing where you go, like, ‘Oh, that Elisha Krauss, I hate that bitch, I hope she dies!’ And then two days later, you get in a car crash, and you die, then everyone looks at me and goes, ‘Now I’m angry at you,’” Carolla said. “But I’m like, if she never got in a car crash, you never said anything.”

    Carolla continued, “Like, this thing happened, then the joke happened before. So, A) it’s unrelated. B) I mean, to be fair, now people do this one too, they go, ‘It’s not like he wrote that joke, but he said that joke, but he didn’t write that joke. Somebody wrote that joke and he said it.’”

    “If Trump was at a roast on Thursday, you would do that joke,” Carolla added. “Well, if he’d never been president, you would do that joke.”

    On Monday, following the assassination attempt at Saturday night’s event, Trump slammed Kimmel on Truth Social, writing, “He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’ A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason. I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”

    During the Monday episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host did not apologize for the joke, and pushed back at Melania and the president’s request: “You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and the first lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job? We’ve all been there, right?”

    The Federal Communications Commission, on Tuesday, then launched an early review of Disney‘s broadcast TV licenses. However, a Disney spokesperson told THR they were “confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels. Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”

    The backlash follows controversy Kimmel faced in September for comments he made in the wake of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said in his monologue at the time.

    On Sept. 17, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled from the air, but returned a few days later on Sept. 23, after Nexstar and Sinclair threatened to keep the show from their stations.

    Carolla similarly defended Kimmel in the wake of the September suspension, noting, “The right and the left are always sort of misinterpreting things. He was inaccurate about something. It wasn’t like he was necessarily attacking Charlie Kirk. He was trying to dump it on Trump and inaccurate about it.”

  • Lakers’ Austin Reaves hopes to return for pivotal Game 5 vs. Rockets

    Lakers’ Austin Reaves hopes to return for pivotal Game 5 vs. Rockets

    Austin Reaves, the team’s 2nd-leading scorer, was listed as questionable for the past two games.

    EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers will wait until game time Wednesday night to determine whether he is ready to return from nearly four weeks on the sidelines with a strained oblique muscle.

    Reaves expressed cautious optimism Tuesday when he spoke to reporters for the first time since getting hurt April 2 at Oklahoma City. The Lakers’ second-leading scorer was listed as questionable for the past two games of their first-round playoff series against Houston, but ultimately didn’t play while Los Angeles split the contests to take a 3-1 series lead.

    “I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves said at the Lakers’ training complex. “I feel good. Trending in the right direction. I can’t wait to get up (Wednesday) and attack another day.”

    Lakers coach JJ Redick gave no hints about the team’s mindset around Reaves, saying his availability will be “based on whether he’s good to go. We’ll talk through that.”

    Reaves has tried to stay even-keeled during the second major injury absence of his otherwise outstanding season. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds, but played in just 51 games thanks to the oblique injury and a strained left calf that sidelined him for 19 straight games from Christmas to February.

  • Jane Fonda Slams FCC’s Review of ABC Licenses as ‘Naked Attempt to Weaponize Government Power Against Dissent’

    Jane Fonda Slams FCC’s Review of ABC Licenses as ‘Naked Attempt to Weaponize Government Power Against Dissent’

    Jane Fonda, the actor and activist who is the founder of the modern Committee for the First Amendment, strongly criticized the FCC’s order requiring Disney’s ABC-owned local stations to apply for early renewal of their broadcast licenses. The agency’s order Tuesday came a day after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called for Disney and ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel over a joke he made about Melania looking like “an expectant widow.”

    “FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s latest order to review the broadcast license of all ABC stations is a naked attempt to weaponize government power against dissent,” Fonda said in a statement provided to Variety.

    Fonda continued, “What we are seeing fits a deliberate and deeply troubling pattern of authoritarian regimes throughout history — and it should alarm anyone who believes in the First Amendment and the fundamental principle that the government has no authority to decide who gets to speak in a free society. Together, we must call this out clearly and forcefully for what it is: the systematic use of federal power to narrow the range of acceptable speech until only approved voices remain.”

    The FCC’s Media Bureau, in its order, said it was calling in ABC’s licenses for eight owned-and-operated stations for early review pursuant to an investigation into Disney and ABC over potential violations of the FCC’s “prohibition on unlawful discrimination” — meaning the agency is specifically probing the media conglomerate’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.

    But the timing of the order left the distinct impression that the FCC was acting in response to conservatives’ outrage over Kimmel’s joke. The licenses for ABC’s eight stations were not due for renewal until 2028 at the earliest, with some not due until 2031.

    In a statement about the FCC’s order, a Disney spokesperson said in part: “ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public‑interest programming. We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels.”

    The FCC has not commented beyond the Media Bureau’s order.

    On the April 27 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” the late-night host defended his remark about Melania as “a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination. And they know that.” He also said, “I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject,” adding in a remark aimed at the First Lady, “And I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.”

    Last October, Fonda relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, a McCarthy-era initiative founded in the 1940s by her father, Henry Fonda, to protect against attacks on free speech.

  • Anne Hathaway Says Thinner Models Were Not Fired From ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘There’s Misinformation Out There’: ‘Nobody Lost Their Jobs’ in Push for Size Inclusivity

    Anne Hathaway Says Thinner Models Were Not Fired From ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘There’s Misinformation Out There’: ‘Nobody Lost Their Jobs’ in Push for Size Inclusivity

    Anne Hathaway is clarifying one of the viral stories around the making of “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which brings the Oscar winner back as Andy Sachs. In a Harper’s Bazaar cover story published last month, Hathaway’s co-star Meryl Streep revealed that Hathaway went up to the film’s producers on set and urged them to cast size-inclusive models. Since then, Hathaway has been asked repeatedly about fighting for size inclusivity during production.

    “It was just this kind of quick thing that happened on set and now it’s become a much bigger story,” Hathaway recently told “Good Morning America” about the moment while clarifying that she never once advocated for models to be fired from the production, which is how some on social media interpreted the story.

    “I do want to mention there’s a little misinformation getting out there right now that people were fired because of the size inclusivity and that just didn’t happen,” Hathaway said. “Nobody lost their jobs, in fact, it created more jobs… It’s so hard because I can’t say what the scene is about, but there’s a song that Lady Gaga wrote and it’s a beautiful, amazing song. Isn’t it better when you see so many different types of bodies up there with that?”

    Streep told Harper’s Bazaar in March that she was surprised how skinny the models were on the film’s set, and “Annie clocked it too, and she made a beeline to the producers about it, securing promises that the models in the show that we were putting together for our film would not be so skeletal! She’s a stand-up girl.”

    Speaking to Variety at the “The Devil Wears Prada 2” world premiere in New York City, Hathaway spoke for the first time about Streep’s revelation.

    “I had noticed that we had beautiful models on set, and a lot of them were more traditionally model-sized,” she said. “I knew what the context of the scene was, and I thought the scene would be so much more enjoyable for the audience if we had just a wider range of bodies on display, because all different shapes are beautiful.”

    “I just went to the producers and I asked that question: ‘Don’t you think the scene would be stronger if we had a more inclusive approach to sizing?’” Hathaway continued. “They looked up and were so sad that they hadn’t thought about it. I think they were so locked in, just kind of going with the flow. But as soon as they saw it, they were the ones who made it happen in like an hour.”

    Hathaway clarified to “Good Morning America” that just because she got the film’s producers to hire size-inclusive models does not mean the models who were originally cast lost their jobs on the film. The goal was for the scene being filmed to be representative of all models and body types.

    “The Devil Wears Prada 2” opens in theaters May 1. Watch Hathaway’s full interview on “GMA” in the video below.

  • Bitcoin 2026 Conference Exposes a Growing Rift Between Wall Street and Early Adopters

    Bitcoin 2026 Conference Exposes a Growing Rift Between Wall Street and Early Adopters

    The Bitcoin 2026 Conference drew more than 40,000 attendees to The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas from April 27 to 29, but the institutional-heavy speaker lineup sparked a sharp backlash from early adopters who accused the event of abandoning its cypherpunk origins for corporate suits and regulators.

    The Bitcoin 2026 Conference at The Venetian Resort exposed a widening tension that has been building since institutional adoption began reshaping who holds Bitcoin. The ad-hoc-news.de reported that while the event’s speaker list reads like a roll call of institutional power, early Bitcoin adopters were voicing sharp criticism on the conference floor, arguing that an event built around regulator appearances, corporate treasury panels, and ETF product showcases has abandoned the counterculture ethos that built Bitcoin as a tool to route around exactly those institutions.

    Bitcoin 2026 Brings Wall Street and Cypherpunks Into the Same Room but Not the Same Vision

    As crypto.news reported, the event had surpassed 30,000 registered attendees before opening and welcomed more than 40,000 across the three days with over 500 speakers on multiple stages. The institutional footprint was impossible to miss. SEC Chair Paul Atkins used the conference to unveil Project Crypto, a Commission-wide initiative to modernize securities rules for digital assets and establish a new token taxonomy classifying most digital assets as non-securities. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel appeared in a fireside chat titled “Code is Free Speech: Ending the War on Bitcoin,” framing Bitcoin development as protected speech and signaling reduced enforcement pressure. Simon Dixon, an early Bitcoin investor and inaugural conference speaker, was less celebratory. “Let’s face it, this Bitcoin conference is compromised. Bitcoin is open source code. It’s a big mistake not to understand the difference,” he posted on the eve of the event. His specific criticism was that marketing custody products, ETFs, and corporate treasury strategies to Bitcoiners promotes tools that undermine the individual sovereignty the protocol was built to deliver.

    The Structural Shift Behind the Culture War

    The tension is not purely aesthetic. Bitcoin ETFs now collectively hold more than one million coins, and more Bitcoin is held through ETFs, corporate treasuries, and custodial platforms than directly by individuals using self-custody wallets. That shift in ownership structure is the underlying argument: when the majority of Bitcoin is held in regulated wrappers rather than self-custody, the network’s resistance to institutional control changes in practice even if the protocol itself remains unchanged. As crypto.news documented, the “Code and Country” policy forum was designed explicitly to facilitate direct engagement between Bitcoin builders and US policymakers, a framing some early adopters read as Bitcoin asking permission from the system it was built to bypass. Crypto ETFs saw $1.2 billion in inflows the week of the conference, the fourth consecutive positive week, with Bitcoin leading at $933 million and BlackRock’s IBIT alone drawing $732.6 million.

    What Was Actually Decided at the Conference

    Beyond the cultural debate, the Bitcoin 2026 Conference produced several substantive developments. Lummis announced that the CLARITY Act markup will happen in May. MARA Holdings announced the MARA Foundation focused on quantum resistance and network stewardship. Paul Atkins outlined a new regulatory framework that separates digital securities from digital commodities. As crypto.news tracked, the quantum threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography was serious enough to warrant its own dedicated conference panel, following the April 2026 release of BIP 361, a three-phase proposal to migrate Bitcoin toward quantum-resistant outputs that would ultimately freeze unmigrated coins. Bitcoin reached $79,000 on the conference’s opening day before retreating as Iran ceasefire uncertainty pushed oil back above $104, illustrating that the macro environment driving the institutional demand story the conference celebrated is also the same macro environment that can reverse that demand within hours.

    BTC Inc., the organizer behind the Bitcoin Conference, has not publicly responded to the criticism from Dixon and other early adopters, and the conference’s programmatic direction suggests it views institutional legitimacy as the path forward regardless of internal dissent.

  • Coinbase Report: Crypto Markets Show Bottoming Signals as Macro Risks Ease

    Coinbase Report: Crypto Markets Show Bottoming Signals as Macro Risks Ease

    Crypto markets may be entering a stabilization phase as improving sentiment and stronger on-chain signals support a possible near-term bottom, according to Coinbase Institutional and Glassnode research. Although geopolitical tensions and macro uncertainty continue to shape risk appetite, analysts say several indicators now point to conditions that could support recovery later in the second quarter.

    Total crypto market capitalization excluding stablecoins dropped 18% during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting pressure across digital assets. However, stablecoin supply rose from $308 billion to $318 billion during the same period. That increase suggests capital did not fully exit crypto markets. Instead, some investors appear to be waiting on the sidelines for stronger confirmation before redeploying funds.

    Bitcoin’s investor sentiment has also improved. Glassnode data shows Bitcoin’s Net Unrealized Profit and Loss metric moved from a fear phase into optimism.

    At the same time, 75% of institutional investors and 71% of non-institutional investors consider Bitcoin undervalued. That shift strengthens the argument that downside risks may be becoming more limited.

    On-Chain Data Points to Accumulation

    Several blockchain signals support a more constructive market structure. Bitcoin supply moved within the past three months dropped 37% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, supply held for over one year increased by 1%. That trend often reflects reduced speculative activity and stronger conviction among long-term holders.

    Additionally, Bitcoin’s profitability metrics now place the asset in an accumulation zone. The MVRV framework and supply-in-profit data suggest valuations sit near historically favorable levels. The Puell Multiple also fell to 0.7, signaling miner revenues remain below long-term norms, a condition often associated with market bottoms.

    Ethereum Sees Long-Term Holders Strengthen Position

    Besides Bitcoin, Ethereum also showed structural improvement despite underperformance. Supply held for less than three months declined 38% in the first quarter, while long-term supply rose 1%. That shift suggests weaker hands exited the market while patient investors increased holdings.

    Besides that, Ethereum’s NUPL moved near the transition from Capitulation toward Hope, indicating sentiment may be stabilizing after heavy selling pressure. Analysts also pointed to growing asset differentiation as a major theme, arguing Ethereum’s future cycles may depend more on utility and adoption than broad speculative flows.

    Consequently, investors are increasingly focused on whether Ethereum can benefit from improving regulatory clarity and long-term network demand as market conditions normalize.

    Macro Risks Still Shape Market Direction

    Despite stronger technical signals, macro conditions remain the dominant driver. Bitcoin’s correlation with the S&P 500 climbed to 0.58, reinforcing its growing sensitivity to broader risk markets. At the same time, uncertainty tied to Middle East tensions and oil disruptions continues to cloud growth expectations.

    The IMF now projects global GDP growth at 3.1% for 2026, down from 3.4%. However, some private forecasts warn growth could slow to 1.4% if energy shocks worsen. That risk continues to limit aggressive positioning.

    Moreover, analysts highlighted two internal crypto themes worth monitoring, progress on the CLARITY Act and development in post-quantum cryptography protections. Both could influence market structure over the medium term.

  • As US-Iran talks remain ‘stalled’, experts warn of ‘long-term disruptions’

    As US-Iran talks remain ‘stalled’, experts warn of ‘long-term disruptions’

    With the United States-Israeli war on Iran entering its 60th day, experts warn that there is no end in sight, as negotiations continue to be “stalled” amid soaring oil prices and inflation.

    The US and Israel launched their attack on Iran on February 28. Tehran retaliated by closing off the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas exports pass from the Middle East, mainly to Asia and also to Europe.

    More recently, the US has put in place its own blockade to cut off any ships carrying Iranian oil and eventually force the country to shut off production once it runs out of storage space and seek a resolution.

    With the two locked into a standoff, oil prices have continued to soar. On Tuesday, WTI crude was at $100.09 at 12:30pm ET [16:30 GMT] – up from $67.02 the day before the attacks – and Brent crude was trading at $111.85, up from $72.87 on February 27.

    At the pump in the US, that has translated into the highest level in nearly four years for the average price of petrol. Petrol prices were at nearly $4.18 a gallon ($1.10 a litre) on Tuesday, up from the national average of $2.92 since late February, according to data from the American Automobile Association.

    “Negotiations seem stalled … and any near-term resolution seems difficult,” said Rachel Ziemba, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

    “The US economy is more resilient than some others, but at the end of the day, we’re going to see a global impact on prices,” Ziemba added.

    In the midst of all this, the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it would leave the oil cartel OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, a move long rumoured as it chafed against OPEC production quotas and had differences with Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s de facto leader. While the UAE’s move signals it wants to produce and sell more oil, that is not feasible while the strait remains closed, and for now, prices will continue to soar.

    Rising prices

    That effect on prices is showing up in the US, as well, and the consumer price index last month reached 3.3 percent on an annual basis, the highest level since May 2024, which was driven by a jump in energy prices. 

    Bernard Yaros, lead US economist at Oxford Economics, told Al Jazeera that the spillover effects from higher energy prices will add to core inflation over the next year.

    “This reflects the passthrough of higher energy costs into non-energy commodities and services, which tends to peak three months after the initial energy shock,” Yaros said in an email. “Risks to this estimate are skewed to the upside, though, as higher energy prices will bleed into higher short-run inflation expectations, which influence wage-setting behaviour.”

    On the global front, economic consequences of the conflict are expected to linger beyond any truce.

    Ben May, director of Global Macro Research at Oxford Economics, said in an April 13 report that the firm was lowering its world gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast by 0.4 percentage points since the start of March to 2.4 percent “because we expect a more prolonged disruption to shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz … But even if a truce is maintained, it will take time for energy production and shipping traffic to return to normal levels.”

    May said he expects Brent oil price to average about $113 per barrel in the current quarter before falling to just less than $80 per barrel by the end of this year.

    The higher oil price, along with rising prices for petrol, fertilisers, and agricultural commodities, is expected to push up global inflation, he warned.

    For the US, the heightened uncertainty and the squeeze to household real incomes come on top of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which, over the past year, have already pushed up prices and slowed down hiring and investments. Oxford Economics has downgraded US GDP growth to 1.9 percent from 2.8 percent, citing “weaker-than-anticipated activity” at the start of the year.

    The ongoing war will also have consequences in the upcoming midterm elections in November. A new, four-day Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday showed 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in the White House, down from 36 percent in a prior Reuters/Ipsos survey, which was conducted from April 15 to 20.

    The majority of responses were gathered prior to the Saturday night shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where Trump was due to speak, and it’s not clear if the incident changes people’s views.

    Trump’s standing with the US public has trended lower since taking office in January 2025, when 47 percent of Americans gave him a thumbs-up. Now, only 22 percent of poll respondents approved of Trump’s performance on the cost of living, down from 25 percent in the prior Reuters/Ipsos poll.

    ‘Long-term disruptions’

    David Coffey, a procurement and supply chain consultant with Catalant, warns that things will get worse, and he’s starting to see shelves not as well stocked.

    The reason for that is that roughly 11 percent of global maritime trade transits the strait each year — that includes minerals and energy-intensive commodities like fertilisers, chemicals, petcoke, cement, oilseeds and grains, explained libertarian Cato Institute’s Scott Lincicome in an article in the Dispatch last month.

    A disruption in supplies and a global rise in prices of these and other commodities are hurting industries everywhere, including the US.

    Coffey rattles a long list of areas sensitive to a squeeze, including industrial manufacturing, car parts, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, to name a few.

    “Even if fuel supplies restart, it’ll be a few weeks before it can reach anywhere. There will be long-term disruptions … And with no end in sight, it’s going to be worse. Companies are looking at, ‘How do we rejig our supply sources?’ But there’s no substitute for fuel.”