Month: February 2022

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Pop Daypop

Ed Sheeran teams up with Bring Me The Horizon for new version of ‘Bad Habits’

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Ed Sheeran and Bring Me The Horizon performed a collaborative version Sheeran’s “Bad Habits” together at the BRIT Awards on February 8; and now the pop star and rock band have released a studio version of the song, which you stream –here.

Sheeran also revealed he and Bring Me The Horizon are working on a new song together, saying “playing with Bring Me The Horizon was a dream. I got in touch with Oli and we were going to write together but then the pandemic happened, so we were in touch – I’ve been a fan for a long time.” 

Take a listen to Sheeran’s “Bad Habits” featuring Bring Me The Horizon – here.

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Sports Daypop

Minnesota Vikings officially announce Kevin O’Connell as new head coach

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The Minnesota Vikings officially announced the hiring of Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as the team’s 10th head coach in franchise history.  The move officially put to rest speculation that O’Connell might stay in Los Angeles.

A first-time head coach, the 36-year-old O’Connell will replace Mike Zimmer, who was fired after eight seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings had interviewed four finalists for the job, along with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, former New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and O’Connell.

Vikings co-owner and president Mark Wilf said in a statement that O’Connell is “a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator.” Added Vikings co-owner and chairman Zygi Wilf: “Beyond the Xs and Os, everyone we spoke with throughout this search process spoke highly of Kevin’s ability to motivate players, coaches and staff.”

O’Connell played briefly as a quarterback in the NFL with New England and the New York Jets. His coaching career began in 2015 as the Cleveland Browns’ QB coach, before spending three years in Washington where he was promoted to offensive coordinator. He held that same position with the Rams for the past two seasons.

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Sports Daypop

Reports say that All-Star outfielder Juan Soto rejected Nationals’ $350 million extension before MLB lockout

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According to reports, the Washington Nationals offered All-Star right fielder Juan Soto a 13-year, $350 million contract extension before the MLB lockout began Dec. 2. ESPN’s Enrique Rojas said Wednesday that Soto told him: “Yes, they made me the offer a couple of months ago, before the lockout we have in baseball. But right now, me and my agents think the best option is to go year after year and wait for free agency. My agent, Scott Boras, is in control of that situation.”

The Dominican Republic native has emerged as one of MLB’s best players since making his debut for Washington in May 2018.  Soto, 23, was the NL MVP runner-up last season. He hit .313/.465/.534 with 29 home runs in 151 games and ranked third with a .999 OPS to go along with it. He also recorded more walks (an MLB-best 145) than strikeouts (93).

Soto is arbitration-eligible through 2024 and can become a free agent ahead of the 2025 season. If he continues to produce at an MVP level, he could receive the richest deal in MLB history (which is currently held by the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout with his 12-year, $426.5 million contract.)

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Entertainment Daypop

Netflix releases ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2 teaser trailer

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Netflix released the teaser trailer for Season 2 of “Bridgerton.” Season two tells the story of Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling and viscount, as he sets out to find a suitable wife. Bridgerton Season 2 focuses on the new relationship, based on Julia Quinn’s novel ‘The Viscount Who Loved Me, ‘the second in Quinn’s best-selling Bridgerton series.

The official description for season two reads: “Driven by his duty to uphold the family name, Anthony’s search for a debutante who meets his impossible standards seems ill-fated until Kate (Simone Ashley) and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) Sharma arrive from India. When Anthony begins to court Edwina, Kate discovers the true nature of his intentions — a true love match is not high on his priority list — and decides to do everything in her power to stop the union. But in doing so, Kate and Anthony’s verbal sparring matches only bring them closer together, complicating matters on both sides. Across Grosvenor Square, the Featheringtons must welcome the newest heir to their estate while Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) continues to navigate the ton whilst keeping her deepest secret from the people closest to her.”

Bridgerton is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and Chris Van Dusen.  Season 2 returns March 25.

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Entertainment Daypop

Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers split, ending one year engagement

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Actress Shailene Woodley and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers have ended their one-year engagement, after months of rumors and speculation regarding their status. A source told People magazine that the breakup was “amicable” but the relationship “just wasn’t working” due to differing personalities and careers that culminated in “obstacles that they couldn’t surmount.”  Reps for Woodley and Rodgers declined to comment.

Rodgers, 38, and Woodley, 30, began dating in July 2020, after Rodgers split from his girlfriend of two years, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. After a year of dating, Rodgers and Woodley announced their engagement in February 2021, saying they had been engaged for months.

Fans began to suspect the couple had split when Shailene was photographed surfing in Malibu without her ring back in October. More recently, Aaron failed to mention Shailene in his NFL Honors speech on Feb. 10, where he was named MVP; nor was Shailene in attendance at the ceremony.

Shailene Woodley, Aaron Rodgers Split After Whirlwind Engagement

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Pop Daypop

Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals drop all COVID-related restrictions

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The Coachella and Stagecoach festivals have revealed that there will no longer be any COVID-related barriers to entry.  After stating last fall that vaccinations would not be required for entry, now attendees will not be required to present a negative COVD-19 test, and there will be no requirement to wear masks while attending the festivals.  The California Department of Public Health issued new guidelines that went into effect Wednesday, saying vaccination proof will no longer be required for large outdoor events.

A tweet from the Stagecoach account read: “Festival Admission Update: As we prepare to spend an incredible weekend in the desert together we are announcing that there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Stagecoach 2022, in accordance with local guidelines.”  Visit http://stagecoachfestival.com for more info.

No similar tweet has come from the Coachella account, but Coachella’s safety page declares an “update” which says: “In accordance with local guidelines, there will be no vaccination, testing or masking requirements at Coachella 2022.”  A bullet point adds: “However, the event shall be presented in accordance with applicable public health conditions as of the date of the event and which may change at any time as determined by federal, state or local government agencies or instrumentalities, artists or the promoter; such requirements may include, without limitation, changes to capacity, attendance procedures and entry requirements, such as proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID-19 test, and other protective measures such as requiring attendees to wear face coverings.”

Coachella will take place over two successive weekends — April 15-17 and 22-24 — with headliners Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Kanye West.  Stagecoach takes place April 29-May 1 with Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett headlining the festival.

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Pop Daypop

Troye Sivan previews new music in the first trailer for his film ‘Three Months’

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Australian pop star Troye Sivan portrays Caleb, a teenager from South Florida, in the coming-of-age film ‘Three Months.’  The film marks Sivan’s first return to the big screen since 2018’s Boy Erased, where he portrayed a young man named Gary going through the motions at a gay conversion therapy assessment program.

In Three Months, the character of Caleb finds out he’s been exposed to HIV the day before he’s scheduled to walk across the stage at his high school graduation.  The trailer for Three Months introduces the characters who play a role in Caleb’s understanding of the world as he waits 90 days for a definitive test result that could change his future.  This moment in Caleb’s life is accompanied in the trailer by a new song from Sivan; the film features two new songs from Sivan, whose last single “Angel Baby” was released in September 2021.

Three Months arrives to Paramount+ on February 23.  You can check out the trailer for the film – here.

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Sports Daypop

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva takes first place in short program at Winter Olympics despite doping controversy

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Kamila Valieva, the Russian figure skater at the center of the latest Olympic doping scandal, took the lead in the women’s short program, earning 82.16 points and topping teammates Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova. The 15-year-old Valieva broke down into tears as she awaited her scores, in what was her first competition since a ruling cleared her after she failed a drug test ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Valieva had tested positive for a banned heart medication, trimetazidine, in Russia in December, but her test result only came to light last week.  The court said the investigation into the doping offense would take months to resolve and it gave a favorable decision for her in part because she was a minor or “protected person,” making her subject to different rules from an adult athlete.

The decision drew condemnation from USOPC president Sarah Hirshland and accusations of racial bias from American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who wasn’t allowed to run in the Tokyo Olympics because she tested positive for THC – an ingredient found in marijuana.

On Tuesday, Denis Oswald, the permanent chair of the International Olympic Committee’s disciplinary commission, elaborated on the ruling, saying there was a mix-up with Valieva grandfather’s heart medication: “She presented elements which brought some doubts about her guilt, and also she was in a very special situation that the Olympic Games take place only every four years and if she would miss the competition at this Games, the damage could not be repaired.”  However, the IOC has said that there would be no medal ceremony for the event and there would be no medal ceremony if Valieva places in the top three in the women’s individual figure skating.

Twenty-five of the top 30 skaters will move onto the free skate round Thursday – the second part of the women’s singles figure skating competition.

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Entertainment Daypop

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens announce their engagement

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Olympic gold medal gymnast Simone Biles and Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens announced on social media that are engaged. The two shared photos from the Valentine’s Day proposal in Houston, Texas, including a close-up look at Biles’ engagement ring.

The couple celebrated their one-year anniversary in August 2021 while Biles was in Tokyo, Japan, competing in the Summer Olympics.  In a post on Instagram, Owens wrote “Woke up this morning with a fiancée 💍❤” and added that Biles “really had no clue” he was going to pop the question.  The 24-year-old Biles also wrote on her Instagram:  “THE EASIEST YES. I can’t wait to spend forever & ever with you, you’re everything I dreamed of and more! let’s get married FIANCÉ.”

Biles won a silver medal with the U.S. team and a bronze in beam at the Tokyo Olympics, withdrawing midway through the team competition citing her mental health. Biles withdrew from all of the individual events until she returned to compete in balance beam.  The gymnast recently said she was uncertain about what’s next for her competitively, including a potential bid for the 2024 Paris Games.  Throughout her career, Biles has won seven Olympic medals and 25 World Championship medals.

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Entertainment Daypop

Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall set to host this year’s Oscars

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The 94th Academy Awards announced that the 2022 Oscars will be hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes.  Said Hall, Schumer and Sykes via a press release:  “We want people to get ready to have a good time. It’s been a while.”   The trio will be the first to host the Academy Awards since Jimmy Kimmel emceed the 2018 ceremony; the Oscars have aired without a host in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Hall, Schumer and Sykes all have previous awards show hosting experience. Hall hosted the 2019 BET Awards, Schumer hosted the 2015 MTV Movie Awards and Sykes hosted the 2018 GLAAD Media Awards.  Will Packer, producer of the Oscars, said: “This year’s show is all about uniting movie lovers. It’s apropos that we’ve lined up three of the most dynamic, hilarious women with very different comedic styles. I know the fun Regina, Amy and Wanda will be having will translate to our audience as well. Expect the unexpected!”

The last time there were at least three hosts was 35 years ago at the 1987 Academy Awards when Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Paul Hogan emceed. The only time there have been multiple women hosting was 45 years ago at the 1977 Academy Awards when Ellen Burstyn and Jane Fonda hosted alongside Warren Beatty and Richard Pryor.

“The Power of the Dog” leads this year’s Oscars with 12 nominations, followed by “Dune” with 10 nominations.  The 2022 Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 27, on ABC.

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