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  • Is Christopher Nolan directing ‘Star Wars’ movie about Darth Vader?

    Is Christopher Nolan directing ‘Star Wars’ movie about Darth Vader?

    Claim:

    Christopher Nolan is directing a standalone “Star Wars” movie about Darth Vader.

    Rating:

    Originated as Satire

    Is Christopher Nolan directing a new standalone “Star Wars” film about the iconic villain Darth Vader? Did “Star Wars” creator George Lucas lobby Nolan to make the movie? Is actor Hayden Christensen set to put the Sith lord’s suit back on?

    In late September 2026, social media users shared a rumor claiming Nolan planned to direct a film titled, “Star Wars: Darth Vader.” That movie, should Nolan lead the charge on creating it, would follow the resounding box office success of his summer epic, “The Odyssey.”

    For example, on Sept. 23, an X user posted (archived) a Turkish-language message translating to English as follows, “Christopher Nolan, the director of the new Star Wars trilogy titled STAR WARS: DARTH VADER!” The post received millions of views.

    (@cinemovieas via X)

    A popular Instagram post also presented (archived) the image caption, “Christopher Nolan Set to Direct Standalone Darth Vader Film.”

    (@ladbible via X)

    Other posts sharing the claim circulated on Instagram (archived), TikTok (archived) and X (archived).

    In sum, we found no evidence that this rumor was true. While hopeful rumblings about Nolan one day directing a “Star Wars” film were not new, a search of X indicated an account with “satire” and “parody” labels shared the earliest post promoting this claim.

    That post (archived), appearing on the @ChaosCrave_ X account, described the fabricated idea for the movie as “an R-rated, dark-fantasy exploration of the Sith Lord’s peak Imperial era”:

    George Lucas is reportedly lobbying for Christopher Nolan to direct a standalone STAR WARS: DARTH VADER film.

    Hayden Christensen is reportedly attached to lead the project, marking his return to the suit for an R-rated, dark-fantasy exploration of the Sith Lord’s peak Imperial era.

    The post displayed a slideshow including photos of Lucas, Nolan behind an IMAX camera and Christensen, as well as an image of the “Star Wars” logo.

    (@ChaosCrave_ via X)

    The @ChaosCrave_ user profile featured a disclaimer describing the account’s content as “parody” and “satirical news.”

    In an X direct message, @ChaosCrave_ confirmed starting the rumor, saying, “Yes, I made it up completely by myself.” We also emailed representatives for Lucas and Nolan to ask about the claim and will update this article if we receive further information.

    Days prior to the claim’s inception, on Sept. 19, Christensen addressed general rumors of reprising his role as Vader — with no mention of Nolan.

    In an E! News red carpet interview during the opening night celebration for the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, a reporter asked, “We’re hearing rumors of a solo Vader film. Are you interested? Like, what can you tell us?” Christensen answered, “Oh, I think those are just rumors.” 

    The reporter then asked, “If it were to come true though, would that be something that you’d be interested in down the line?” Christensen responded, “Of course, yeah. I would be thrilled to get to do that but right now those are just rumors.”

    For further reading, we previously reported on whether Colin McGregor, the brother of young Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor, truly used the call sign “Obi-Two” in the Royal Air Force.

  • What ‘60 Minutes’ Was Missing In Its First Two New Episodes, According to Its Ex-Managing Editor

    What ‘60 Minutes’ Was Missing In Its First Two New Episodes, According to Its Ex-Managing Editor

    “I made a living for 34 years second-guessing everything I see or hear, so you have to take that into consideration.”

    That’s one of the first things that Guy Campanile, the famously exacting former managing editor of 60 Minutes and a 34-year veteran to CBS News, says to The Hollywood Reporter as he settles into an interview. At CBS News he was known for being ultra-frank even in a workplace that culturally encouraged vigorous debate as part of its story-honing process. (“It’s no secret at CBS News that I do not hold back. Many colleagues appreciated my directness. Some did not,” he wrote in an email to THR.)

    So he urges THR to take that into account as he offers his thoughts on the 59th season of 60 Minutes so far. His critiques are less stinging than one might assume given his previous assessment of why he and colleagues were fired from the program in May (that they refused to be “accomplices in the destruction of the most prestigious news program on American television”). Overall, Campanile echoes what at least a couple critics have said about the first episode of the 59th season: It didn’t seem much different than recent seasons of the program.

    “We kept hearing about a notebook full of ideas that the new executive producer had, and the broadcast had been described as a melting ice cube and that changes had to happen,” he says, adding that 60 Minutes also increased its viewership nine percent in the previous season. “And the broadcast I’ve seen the first few weeks, in the broad strokes, in shape and form, not in content, does not look very different. So I’m trying to understand why it was all blown up.”

    In May, Campanile’s time at CBS came to an abrupt end as he and multiple other staffers — including correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and senior program leaders Tanya Simon, Draggan Mihailovich and Matthew Polevoy — were ousted from the program. Correspondent Scott Pelley was also fired after a tense confrontation with an incoming leader about changes under CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

    The departures drew intense scrutiny as Weiss, who came up as an opinion journalist without traditional broadcast experience, was early in her tenure and some dismissed staffers alleged that under her leadership execs had attempted to interfere in their coverage for political reasons.

    Guy Campanile is a 34-year CBS veteran and was managing editor of 60 Minutes.

    Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

    Within this context, Campanile’s biggest critique surrounds the marquee segment of the premiere, an interview with one of the U.S. Air Force officers shot down in Iran and rescued in a daring mission by the U.S. military. The segment struck Campanile as a fitting curtain-raiser to the new season, but the report also raised questions for him. “Where I, as a viewer, got stuck is how do we have the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in that story and not ask about the conduct, the arc and the status of the war?”

    Campanile notes Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, both interviewed in the piece, aren’t doing regular briefings on the status of the broadly unpopular war in Iran or many interviews with news outlets.

    “That made me go, huh, because among some viewers, they may see that as, boy, I guess they didn’t want to ask about the war because they wanted to get this interview with the [officer],” says Campanile. (He says that, during his time at the programs, conditions were never set by subjects for interviews at 60 Minutes; correspondents could always ask what they wanted.)

    But CBS did air clips of correspondent Norah O’Donnell asking Hegseth what victory would look like in Iran and querying Caine on Iran’s missile capabilities on CBS Mornings. Her question to Caine about his concern over a munitions shortage also aired on Face the Nation — just not on 60 Minutes.

    Another Campanile critique: In its second episode of the season, 60 Minutes aired the first TV interview with Patrick Clancy, the ex-husband of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother who murdered her three children. Clancy’s trial over the summer, which ended in a mistrial, captured global media attention and sparked conversation around postpartum mental illness, making the interview a huge get for 60 Minutes.

    But watching the segment, Campanile wondered what the larger purpose of the interview was. “I think it’s a high-interest story, just like the fighter pilot’s story was a high-interest story, but you have to bring more than just high interest, at least I believe that to be the case, because otherwise it feels a little tabloid-y,” he says. “And I don’t think that’s what people want from 60 Minutes. I just don’t. I think they want something more thoughtful.”

    The changes taking place at 60 Minutes and CBS News at large are all the more consequential now that the owner that ushered them in — Paramount Skydance — has settled a lawsuit with 12 state attorneys general to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery. WBD owns CNN, which if the transaction goes through could soon also be owned by Paramount Skydance.

    Campanile says he has “lots of concerns” about that prospect: “Chief among them is who is running this operation? Is it going to be Mark Thompson or is it going to be Bari Weiss?” He adds that it remains unclear to him how the editorial oversight board required by the settlement would work, given that specifics on the body haven’t been provided. “Much was made of the CBS News ombudsman. That guy’s been missing for a year,” Campanile says.

    Campanile is continuing to work in journalism, having just launched a media consultancy, FFWD Media Mentor, tailored to early-career and student journalists. The consultancy is geared toward professionals who aren’t receiving much guidance on the job; participants will likely receive some of that no-nonsense feedback Campanile was known for at 60 Minutes.

    When it comes to his former workplace, the former managing editor says he’s interested to see what the program does in the weeks ahead. “Maybe, maybe there is a secret sauce we didn’t understand, some kind of equation that we never contemplated,” he says of 60 Minutes. “And we’ll all find out together. The viewer has the final vote in all of this. I have said over and over again, you are what the scoreboard says you are… So let’s see where we are in April and March and May, and then the final verdict will come down.”

  • Taylor Swift Breaks Two Spotify Records for 2026, Including Most-Streamed Female Artist in a Day

    Taylor Swift Breaks Two Spotify Records for 2026, Including Most-Streamed Female Artist in a Day

    Taylor Swift has broken two Spotify records for 2026, including most-streamed female artist in a day.

    Swift broke the records following the midnight release of “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore,” which featured four new songs, including lead single “Patient Zero.” That song broke the record for the most-streamed song by a female artist in a day so far this year, while Swift herself had the most streams out of any female artist in a day in 2026.

    Swift dropped “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore” after gradually rolling out the promise of new music, beginning with some Easter eggs in a “Law & Order: SVU” skit during the Emmys telecast. In character as a detective, she said, “I think what we’re going to be looking for is hiding in plain sight.” She then broke the fourth wall, looking directly at the camera and saying, “Saccharide. Aries. From the vineyard. North or south.” Swifties, of course, solved the puzzle relatively fast, noticing that the third letter of each word spelled out “encore.”

    Then, this past Tuesday, she announced that she would be releasing her new single “Patient Zero” this week, rolling out three limited edition CDs of the single on her website. Just a day later, she revealed that she was actually dropping “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore” on Friday, offering fans four new songs including “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”

    On social media, Swift explained why she wanted to add more to her 2025 album. “About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing. Something that completely blew my mind… You gave ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ the biggest first week for an album in history,” she wrote. “I took a trip to Sweden to celebrate with Max and Shellback, my two collaborators on this album. Really we just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in, but there was a studio there and we did what we do when we feel anything at all: We wrote more songs. I hope you love them, because they were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made. ‘The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore’ including four new songs is out on Friday and available to pre-order and save now.”

    Up next, Swift is set to debut the video for “Patient Zero” at this Sunday’s MTV VMAs, where she is also being honored with the inaugural Artist-Director Award. She previewed the clip on “CBS Mornings” on Thursday before sharing it on her social media accounts. The video, featuring cinematography by Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki, will star Swift alongside Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.

  • ‘SNL’ Promotes Keri Powers to Sole Head of Talent Department, Rebecca Schwartz Upped to Producer

    ‘SNL’ Promotes Keri Powers to Sole Head of Talent Department, Rebecca Schwartz Upped to Producer

    Saturday Night Live has promoted Keri Powers to serve as the sole head of its talent department, meaning she will lead the team responsible for host, musical guest and guest star bookings for late night show.

    Rebecca Schwartz has also been upped to producer, increasing her responsibilities supporting the show’s cast and production efforts.

    The news arrives after SNL‘s longtime music booker Brian Siedlecki departed from the series; as The Hollywood Reporter previously reported, the program elected not to renew his contract. Siedlecki had worked on SNL for three decades, booking a wide range of musical acts, including everyone from Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo.

    Powers has been with SNL since 2014, while Schwartz has worked on the series since 2015.

    SNL returns for its 52nd season Saturday at 8:30 p.m. PT/11:30 p.m. ET, live on NBC and Peacock, with NBA star Jalen Brunson as the first host alongside musical guest KATSEYE.

    New additions to the cast include featured players Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter. There have also been a few departures heading into season 52; Chloe Fineman announced in July that after seven years she was exiting SNL.

    “Seven years is kind of like the classic way [at SNL], and then like right as my contract was up, this amazing David E. Kelley opportunity came in like completely out of the blue. I did a little chemistry read and it was off to the races; it just felt like a perfect time,” Fineman told THR of her decision to leave. “I’m really proud of everything, but it’s hard. I’m genuinely really good friends with everybody, and I genuinely couldn’t love that job more. So it’s really bittersweet, but I’m gonna be in New York. I’m down the street. Maybe you’ll see me.”

    Martin Herlihy, hailing from the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, has also left the show. Midway into SNL season 51, Bowen Yang announced he’d be leaving the late-night show, just after the cast saw a major exodus. Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim were among those who left before season 51.

  • Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Unraveled’ Tour Setlist: Every Song Played on Opening Night in Connecticut

    Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Unraveled’ Tour Setlist: Every Song Played on Opening Night in Connecticut

    Olivia Rodrigo officially kicked off the “Unraveled” tour on Friday night with her first show at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, CT. Scroll down to see the setlist as it’s being updated live.

    The 86-date tour is in support of Rodrigo’s third album “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” which she released this past June. Following a pair of nights in Hartford, the pop singer will make her way across North America through February 2027, concluding with a 10-night run at both Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome and New York City’s Barclays Center. Then, in March, Rodrigo will jet off to Europe for shows in Amsterdam, Munich and Barcelona before wrapping the tour with a pair of shows at London’s O2 Arena.

    Wolf Alice is slated to open on the “Unraveled” tour through the end of October, followed by Devon Again for the remaining North American dates. The Last Dinner Party will join Devon Again as support beginning in January. Across the Pond, Grace Ives will open until April 12, followed by Die Spitz for the rest of the trek.

    Rodrigo already has two tours — “Sour” (2022) and “Guts” (2024-2025) — under her belt. “Guts” was her longest, spanning 102 shows across five continents. It’s currently unknown if Rodrigo plans to add dates in Asia, Australia or South America to the “Unraveled” tour.

    This past August, the singer warmed up for the trek with her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival. Rodrigo personally curated the star-studded, women-only lineup consisting of artists including Chappell Roan, Doechii and Garbage, as well as a closing performance from Rodrigo featuring guest appearances from Alanis Morissette, Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks. All net proceeds were donated to charities that support and advocate for women and girls, and as the evening came to a close, Melinda Gates matched the $10 million already raised and brought the total to $20 million.

    See the full setlist for the opening night of Unraveled Tour below (UPDATING LIVE):

    “Drop Dead”
    “U + Me = <3”
    “So American”
    “Good 4 U”
    “Deja Vu”
    “My Way”
    “Serena Joy”
    “Bad Idea Right”
    “Ballad of a Homeschooled GIrl”
    “Vampire”
    “Purple”
    “Stupid Song”

  • New Music Friday: Madonna x Charli xcx, Natanael Cano, Taylor Swift, Los Gemelos de Sinaloa, Fabiii, and more

    New Music Friday: Madonna x Charli xcx, Natanael Cano, Taylor Swift, Los Gemelos de Sinaloa, Fabiii, and more

    It’s officially fall, and we’re stepping into a new wave of music. With the MTV Video Music Awards happening Sunday, Sept. 27, the timing couldn’t be better for a fresh batch of releases. From A-list pop moments to Latin hits and unexpected collaborations, get your playlist ready and let’s have some musical fun. 

    Natanael Cano x Tito Double P x Victor Mendivil x Ovi – OLIVIA LA FLAKA 

    Mexican superstar Natanael Cano makes a powerful collaboration happen with “OLIVIA LA FLAKA,” featuring Mexican artists Tito Double P and Víctor Mendívil alongside Ovi. Inspired by Olivia, Popeye the Sailor’s wife, the track plays with double entendres while diving into a world of excess. The release lands just days before Cano’s upcoming show at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City and marks his first new song since Natanael Cano, Vol. 1, the project that brought him back to his corridos tumbados roots.

    Fabiii – Distante

    Venezuelan singer Fabiii is officially entering a new era with her debut EP, Todos Quieren un Vaivén. The six-track project, out today, features “Distante,” the EP’s final single, and shows off the rising artist’s unique blend of Afrobeat, R&B, funk, reggae, son cubano, and bolero. Inspired by the emotional vaivén of relationships – the push and pull, mixed signals, and uncertainty that can make letting go so difficult – Fabiii turns those complicated feelings into a project that moves freely.

    Los Gemelos de Sinaloa, Fuerza Regida – Soy Un Joven 

    Los Gemelos de Sinaloa kick off fall with The Gemeliza, a 13-track album packed with new music and collaborations that showcase the duo’s evolving sound. The project features four collaborations with Fuerza Regida, including “Chrome Hearts,” “Baby Momma,” “Ferrari,” and “Soy Un Joven,” along with tracks with Calle 24, Blessd, Ovy on the Drums, and El Fantasma. The release also comes at a big moment for Fuerza Regida, who earned two MTV VMAs nominations for Best Group.

    DOME, Corina Smith – @BOMBA DE HUMO

    Mexican singer-songwriter DOME is turning her internet-era memories into her official musical introduction with La Del Arroba. The 14-track debut album traces her evolution from internet personality to artist, with a 2016-inspired concept.  She had the help of some famous friends like Venezuelan singer Corina Smith, on their smooth and dreamy track, “@BOMBA DE HUMO.” Puerto Rican superstar Ozuna, Spanish viral sensation Omar Montes,  Venezuelan duo 3 AM, and Mexican singer-songwriter Bolela. 

    Akapellah – Pedro Cash 

    Venezuelan rapper Akapellah and Latin GRAMMY Award-winning producer Maffio bring a nostalgic beat and fresh flow with “Pedro Cash.” It acts as Akapellah’s response to the criticism that he changed after success, addressing the phrase, “Akapellah used to be cool.” He gives a nod to Cariaco, the Venezuelan town where he grew up, while showing that reaching a new level doesn’t mean cutting ties with the place that shaped him.

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    PLAYA FRÍA – KAPO

    Colombian star Kapo is leaning into the messiness of heartbreak with “PLAYA FRÍA,” a Latin Afrobeat track about what happens after a relationship ends. Using the image of a cold beach to represent the distance that comes with a breakup, Kapo explores the process of reconnecting with yourself, accepting a new reality, and figuring out how to move forward. The release follows his collaboration with Wisin, “Muévelo pa Mi,” as well as recent solo tracks “REINA (KRIMINAL)” and “BOMBÓN.”

    Miguel Bueno x ONIKX – Un Viaje 

    Colombian singer Miguel Bueno reflects on instant attraction with “Un Viaje,” a fun and flirty Latin Afrobeat collaboration with fellow Colombian artist and producer ONIKX. The track captures the rush that can come from one look turning into something more, and comes with a music video set on the waves of Colombia.

    Taylor Swift – Patient Zero

    Taylor Swift has officially unleashed “Patient Zero,” the first of four new songs on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore. Inspired by a real-life conversation involving one of Swift’s friends and her ex’s new girlfriend, the song puts Swift in the role of the woman who has already survived the relationship and is now offering a warning to the person living through it. Swift also directed its music video, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, which is set to make its world premiere at the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sept. 27.

    Madonna & Charli xcx – Danceteria 

    Madonna and Charli xcx are taking their club girl eras to the dance floor with “Danceteria Afterhours,” a new rework of Madonna’s “Danceteria” from Confessions II. It marks the first musical collaboration between the two artists and brings Madonna’s early New York nightlife roots together with Charli’s own electronic-pop beginnings, with Charli adding new verses that reference artists and moments that shaped her career. The collaboration arrives just days before Madonna returns to the MTV VMAs for her first performance at the show in 23 years. 

  • Isaac Mizrahi on the ‘Unzipped’ Restoration, the John Galliano Met Gala Fiasco and Why the ‘Devil Wears Prada’ Cerulean Blue Speech ‘Makes Me Want to Kill Somebody’

    Isaac Mizrahi on the ‘Unzipped’ Restoration, the John Galliano Met Gala Fiasco and Why the ‘Devil Wears Prada’ Cerulean Blue Speech ‘Makes Me Want to Kill Somebody’

    No doubt Isaac Mizrahi is excited about the release of the newly restored “Unzipped,” the 1995 documentary chronicling a moment in time when he was one of the fashion world’s hottest designers.

    However, Mizrahi admits he’s not that eager to watch it. “I have to say I hate looking back,” he tells me. “I hate this whole process, a little bit of looking back.”

    What’s so wrong with taking a trip down memory lane?

    “I looked so cute, and I look so shitty now,” the 64-year-old Mizrahi says. “I was so agile, and I’m not as agile anymore. My knees hurt. My back hurts. Even my hair. I had such cute dark hair. Oh, well. But it’s not just vanity. It’s more just about the experience of your life. Thirty years! Man, that is crazy.”

    Directed by Mizarahi’s then-boyfriend Douglas Keeves, “Unzipped” chronicles the designer’s planning and execution of the show for his fall 1994 collection.

    The film, which Miramax bought after it was a Sundance hit in 1995, includes appearances by Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, the late André Leon Talley and Eartha Kitt along with a bevy of other fashion insiders and glitterati.

    The film runs at only 73 minutes. “We didn’t intend to make it that short,” Mizrahi remembers. “We wanted it to be longer. There were about 10 minutes of Faye Dunaway that got out because we couldn’t get the rights to run footage from ‘Mommy Dearest.’”

    What?!

    “She came to a fitting. She was doing a TV pilot, and she needed a lot of suits,” Mizrahi remembers. “We had her for a day and a half, a fitting that was endless. Being the big gay that I am, I was enthralled by every word out of her mouth. One really hilarious thing that I do remember about Faye Dunaway was that she would look in the mirror, and when she liked something, she’d go, ‘Oh, that’s very Faye. Very Faye.’ Talking about herself in the third person was so fantastic. And I do that now. If I like what I look like, I go, ‘Oh, it’s very Faye.’ It’s like I think of myself as Faye Dunaway.”

    I ask Mizrahi what he would tell himself if he could go back three decades. Without missing a beat, he says, “You’re not that fat. Swear to God, that’s what I would tell myself. I used to wear these crazy Fred Mertz kind of high-waisted pleated pants that I made myself because I was so fucking crazy that my waist was big. I was so stupid, and I look stupid, I don’t look chic. I look stupid, and I was perfectly fine. I was not fat. But I was a really fat kid, so I lost 75 pounds in high school. I’m never going to get over that. You never do.”

    Mizrahi makes no secret about being on a GLP-1. “I love it,” he coos. “I’m in my 60s, darling and I recently just got so big. I’m usually very good at keeping it under control, but it’s incredible and the rest of your health benefits, it’s incredible.”

    At the height of releasing his eponymous collection, he dressed the A-list, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman. After closing shop in 1998, he released various collections under different monikers or designed for other brands altogether. He also launched a show business career with a cabaret act. Most recently, he appeared in “Marty Supreme” as Gwyneth Paltrow’s press agent.

    Mizrahi is now the creative director at Target and continues to sell a collection on QVC.

    When talking about fashion today, Mizrahi lets out a big sigh. “I don’t know if those giant spectacles they have in Paris and Milan are necessarily supposed to be influential in the way people dress six months later,” he says. “That is why that speech in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ about cerulean blue makes me want to kill somebody because that is so not the way things work. They want you to believe that’s the way it works. I want to shout that from the rooftops, ‘It never has worked that way — never!’” What those spectacles do is they bolster the image of brand names so that they can sell a ton of perfume and handbags and shoes.”

    When we talked, it was just a few days after The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced it was no longer moving forward with its planned retrospective for John Galliano that would’ve run from May 9, 2027, to Jan. 9, 2028 and served as the theme of next year’s Met Gala. Galliano, who would have been only the third living fashion designer to be feted by the Met following Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo in 2017, released a statement on Instagram announcing his decision to pull the retrospective amid backlash over his past racist outbursts.

    Galliano makes a brief appearance in “Unzipped” at dinner with Mizrahi, Talley and others in Paris. Mizrahi calls Galliano a “genius,” but also says, “When they announced [the Galliano Met Gala], I thought to myself, ‘Wow, who’s going to that?’ I’m not even talking about Jews or donors of the museum. I’m thinking about a celebrity showing up. I don’t know who would show up on that red carpet. No one is going to say, ‘I love John.’ Who’s going to say that?”

    Next up could for Mizrahi could be a producer’s hat. He’s developing a television series about the life of legendary and very controversial paparazzi photographer Ron Galella with producer Christine Vachon. “We’re doing it with the Ron Galella estate,” he says. “It’s very exciting. We’re in the first, first, first stages, so we haven’t even pitched it or anything yet. But it’s really such a great idea, only because of what it means culturally to our country.”

    “Unzipped” is now showing at the Film Forum in New York City. It will open in Los Angeles at Laemmle Royal and Laemmle Glendale on Oct. 9, followed by a nationwide rollout.

  • 2026 MTV VMAs: Everything you need to know about the show, performers, nominees, and how to watch

    2026 MTV VMAs: Everything you need to know about the show, performers, nominees, and how to watch

    The MTV Video Music Awards are on September 27th, and this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be a major night for music, with Madonna opening the show, Snoop Dogg taking on hosting duties, and some of the biggest names in music hitting the stage.

    The VMAs are going to be star studded© Getty
    The VMAs are going to be star studded

    It’ll all go down live from Los Angeles, bringing together a star-studded lineup of performers and nominees for one of music’s biggest nights.

    When are the 2026 MTV VMAs?

    The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, Sept. 27, from Los Angeles. The ceremony will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT.

    How to watch the 2026 MTV VMAs

    Viewers in the U.S. can watch the 2026 MTV VMAs live on CBS, with the ceremony also simulcast on MTV. The show will stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

    International viewers will be able to watch the ceremony on Paramount+ and MTV beginning the following day.

    Madonna is opening the 2026 VMAs

    Madonna has been there since the first show© Getty
    Madonna has been there since the first show

    The Queen of Pop is kicking off the ceremony, and the moment is about as full-circle as it gets. Madonna first performed at the very first MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 14, 1984, when she famously took the stage for “Like a Virgin.”

    At 68, Madonna is also the most-nominated artist of the night, with 11 nominations. Her nods include Artist of the Year and Video of the Year, along with nominations for Best Collaboration, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Dance, Direction, Choreography and Visual Effects.

    Madonna has collected 20 VMA wins throughout her career and has received more than 80 nominations. She is also a past recipient of the Video Vanguard Award.

    Who is performing at the 2026 MTV VMAs?

    • Raye – Raye enters the VMAs with two nominations: Song of the Year for “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” and Best Visual Effects for “Click Clack Symphony” featuring Hans Zimmer.
    • LISA – The BLACKPINK star has four nominations, including Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Cinematography and Best Editing for “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi.
    • Sienna Spiro – The rising star is nominated for Best New Artist and will also take the VMAs stage as a performer.
    • Gener8ion and Yung Lean – The artists will join forces for the first-ever live performance of “Storm II.”
    • Shaboozey and Gunna – The pair will perform their collaboration “High Noon.” Shaboozey has two nominations this year for Best Cinematography and Best Country for “Cowgirl.”
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    Kacey Musgraves will honor Dolly Parton

    LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10:  Dolly Parton (L) and Kacey Musgraves perfom onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) © Getty
    Dolly and Kacey in 2019

    The 2026 VMAs will also pay tribute to the late Dolly Parton, with Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves leading the tribute.

    Musgraves and Parton have shared the stage before, including during the 2019 Grammy Awards celebration honoring Parton as MusiCares Person of the Year.

    With Parton’s death, fans have naturally been wondering whether other artists could join Musgraves during the VMAs tribute. Miley Cyrus has not been confirmed as part of the performance, but given their history, it could make for an emotional moment. 

    The VMAs will honor George Michael

    George Michael during 1989 MTV Video Music Awards© Getty
    George Michael during 1989 MTV Video Music Awards

    George Michael’s legacy will also take center stage during the 2026 VMAs. RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims will join forces for a special tribute to the late music icon, celebrating his influence across pop and beyond. 

    The performance comes 40 years after the release of Michael’s landmark album Faith and ahead of the worldwide release of George Michael: The Faith Tour. Michael was a four-time VMA winner and a major figure throughout MTV’s early years.

    Who is receiving the Video Vanguard Award?

    Kurt Cobain and Nirvana (1993© Getty
    Kurt Cobain and Nirvana (1993

    Nirvana will receive the MTV Video Vanguard Award for 2026 in honor of their impact on music and pop culture. The iconic band made their debut on the MTV VMAs in 1992, with the network refusing to let them play their song “Rape Me.” However, Kurt Cobain strummed and sang a few bars before going into “Lithium.”

    They received awards that year for Best Alternative Video and Best New Artist categories for their track “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” In 1993, “In Bloom” won Best Alternative Video.

    Taylor Swift is getting a new honor

    Taylor Swift attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards© WireImage

    The 2026 ceremony will also introduce a new honor: Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, recognizing her work behind the camera and her contributions to visual storytelling through her music videos and short films.

    Who are the Latino artists nominated at the 2026 VMAs?

    Latin music has a small but powerful presence at this year’s ceremony, with Bruno Mars, Shakira, Bad Bunny, KAROL G, Anitta, Fuerza Regida, Rosalía and Ryan Castro among the Latino artists earning nominations.

    Bruno Mars

    Media Image© Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The

    Bruno Mars is the most-nominated Latino artist at this year’s VMAs, with five nominations. The singer, whose father is Puerto Rican, is nominated for Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, while “I Just Might” is also up for Video of the Year, Best R&B and Best Direction.

    Shakira

     Shakira performs onstage on the Opening night of her 12-date European residency in Madrid, Spain© Getty

    Shakira has three nominations this year, including recognition for her collaborations with Burna Boy on “Dai Dai” and Anitta on “Choka Choka.”

    Fuerza Regida

    Fuerza Regida© Getty

    Fuerza Regida has a major honor. The Mexican-American group from San Bernardino is nominated outside the “Best Latin” category with overall Best Group. 

    Best Latin nominees

    The Best Latin category brings together some of the biggest names in Latin music:

    • Anitta with Shakira — “Choka Choka”
    • Bad Bunny — “NUEVAYoL”
    • Fuerza Regida — “TU SANCHO”
    • KAROL G — “Papasito”
    • Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia — “La Perla”
    • Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA — “LA VILLA”
    • Shakira & Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”

    Who has the most 2026 VMAs nominations?

    • Madonna – 11 nods.
    • Taylor Swift – 9  
    • Ariana Grande  – 7
    • Sabrina Carpenter – 7
    • Bruno Mars – 5
    • PinkPantheress  – 5
    • Zara Larsson – 5   
    • LISA – 4  

    See the full nominations list here.

    Presenters

    • Alex Warren
    • Belmont Cameli
    • Charli xcx
    • Ciara Miller
    • David Corenswet
    • Ella Bright
    • Isabel May
    • Jeff Probst
    • Rachel Dratch
    • ADVERTISEMENT
    • Teyana Taylor
    • Tyla
    • Troye Sivan
  • CleanSpark closes $2.276 billion senior secured notes offering

    CleanSpark closes $2.276 billion senior secured notes offering

    CleanSpark, Inc. has closed a massive debt deal that puts fresh financial muscle behind its Bitcoin mining and data center ambitions. The Nasdaq-listed company confirmed that its subsidiary, CSDC Finance I, LLC, finalized an offering of $2.276 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes, one of the largest capital raises tied to a Bitcoin infrastructure firm this year. The transaction, structured through this CleanSpark senior secured notes offering, gives the company a sizable new pool of capital to work with as it continues expanding its footprint in energy-driven data center development.

    Key takeaways

    • CleanSpark’s subsidiary CSDC Finance I, LLC closed a $2.276 billion offering of senior secured notes carrying a 7.875% interest rate and maturing in 2031.
    • The notes were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and cannot be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption.
    • CleanSpark says it controls more than 1.8 GW of power, land, and data center assets across the United States.
    • The company frames its strategy around Bitcoin, energy, operational efficiency, and capital stewardship aimed at shareholder returns.
    • CleanSpark points investors to its SEC filings, including its Form 10-K and multiple Form 10-Q reports, for detailed risk disclosures.

    CleanSpark closes $2.276 billion senior secured notes offering

    The headline number here is hard to miss: $2.276 billion. That’s the aggregate principal amount CSDC Finance I, LLC secured through this note issuance, according to CleanSpark’s own announcement. For a company operating in the Bitcoin mining and energy infrastructure space, this capital raise gives CleanSpark considerable dry powder to deploy.

    Details of the debt issuance

    CSDC Finance I, LLC is described as a wholly owned subsidiary of CleanSpark, and it’s the entity that formally closed the offering. This structure is common in large corporate debt deals, where a financing subsidiary issues the notes on behalf of the parent company. The deal had been announced prior to closing, meaning CleanSpark had already signaled its intent to raise this capital before finalizing the terms.

    Terms and maturity of the notes

    The notes carry a fixed interest rate of 7.875% and come due in 2031, giving CleanSpark roughly five years before repayment obligations kick in. That interest rate reflects the cost of capital for a company operating at the intersection of energy markets and Bitcoin mining.

    Regulatory framework of the note offering

    These notes are not available to the general public in the traditional sense — they sit outside standard US securities registration, which limits who can buy and trade them. CleanSpark stated plainly that the notes “have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration.”

    Exemptions from registration under the Securities Act

    This is a routine but important distinction in large private note offerings. Without registration, the securities rely on specific legal exemptions to be sold within the US, a structure typically used for institutional or private placement transactions rather than retail investor access.

    Limitations on sale and distribution in the U.S.

    Because the notes fall outside standard registration, distribution is inherently restricted. This matters for anyone tracking CleanSpark data center financing activity, since it shapes who can actually hold or trade this debt — largely institutional players rather than everyday retail investors.

    CleanSpark’s strategic positioning and business focus

    CleanSpark describes itself as a market-leading data center developer, and the numbers behind that claim are notable. The company says it controls a portfolio of more than 1.8 GW of power, land, and data centers spread across the United States, positioned to take advantage of what it calls globally competitive energy prices.

    Market leadership in data center development and Bitcoin energy infrastructure

    According to the company, its business sits “at the intersection of Bitcoin, energy, operational excellence, and capital stewardship,” with infrastructure optimized “to deliver superior returns” to shareholders. This framing places CleanSpark squarely within the broader trend of Bitcoin energy infrastructure firms trying to turn cheap, reliable power into a scalable computing resource.

    Portfolio size and infrastructure capacities

    The 1.8 GW figure is significant in an industry where power access is often the biggest constraint on growth. Securing this level of energy capacity gives CleanSpark room to expand operations without having to negotiate new power deals from scratch — a competitive advantage in a sector where energy availability can make or break expansion plans.

    Why this matters: raising over $2 billion through a US securities offering of this scale reflects institutional lenders’ willingness to participate in the transaction. The notes carry a 7.875% rate, reflecting both the scale of the deal and the risk profile associated with Bitcoin-linked energy businesses.

    Forward-looking statements and associated risks

    CleanSpark was careful to frame much of this announcement within forward-looking statement language required under US securities law. The company noted that statements about the notes, the offering’s completion, and the intended use of proceeds are inherently uncertain and based on assumptions that may not hold.

    Potential factors impacting future performance

    Among the risks CleanSpark flagged: volatility in the price of its own securities, shifts in the competitive and regulatory environment it operates within, changes to its business model or strategic initiatives, and variation in how competitors perform. The company also pointed to changes in laws and regulations affecting its operations, along with uncertainty around whether it can successfully execute its business plans and capture new opportunities.

    References to SEC filings for detailed risk disclosures

    CleanSpark pointed readers toward its Annual Report on Form 10-K covering the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2025, submitted to the SEC on November 25, 2025, along with several Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q addressing the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2025, March 31, 2026, and June 30, 2026, in order to provide a more complete view of these risks. The company said these filings, along with subsequent SEC submissions, identify and address risks that could cause actual results to differ from what’s described in its forward-looking statements.

    In practice, this level of disclosure is standard for a company issuing debt at this scale — regulators expect firms to spell out the uncertainties tied to evolving business models, energy price swings, and shifting regulatory frameworks around both securities law and energy operations. It’s a reminder that even a successful $2.276 billion raise doesn’t erase the underlying volatility that comes with operating in the Bitcoin mining and data center space.

    FAQ

    What did CleanSpark announce regarding its debt financing?

    CleanSpark’s subsidiary closed an offering of $2.276 billion of 7.875% senior secured notes due 2031.

    Are the senior secured notes registered under US securities law?

    No, the notes are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and require exemptions for sale in the US.

    What is CleanSpark’s core business focus as stated in the announcement?

    CleanSpark is a market-leading data center developer focusing on Bitcoin, energy, operational excellence, and capital stewardship.

    What risks does CleanSpark identify in connection with the note offering?

    The company highlights risks including market volatility, regulatory changes, evolving business model, and uncertainties detailed in its SEC filings.

    Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.