Month: December 2022

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Sports Daypop

Miami Marlins and infielder Jean Segura agree to 2-year, $17M deal

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The Miami Marlins and veteran infielder Jean Segura have agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract. Segura spent the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, where the two-time All-Star hit 10 home runs and collected 33 RBIs in 98 games last season. The Dominican Republic native has a .285 career batting average over 11 seasons, where also spent time with the Los Angeles Angeles, Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners.

The 32-year-old Segura hit a career-high .319 and led the National League with 203 hits and 637 at-bats in 153 games in 2016 for the Arizona Diamondbacks; and has hit at least .300 in three different seasons.

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Sports Daypop

Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dies at age 82

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Brazilian soccer icon Pelé has died after battling cancer, his family announced Thursday on social media. He was 82.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the man widely known as Pelé died at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Pelé’s cancer was discovered when he underwent colon tumor removal surgery in 2021. He was admitted to the hospital Nov. 29 for a respiratory infection, and was re-evaluated for the chemotherapy treatment. The hospital said last week that his colon cancer had progressed and continued to impact his kidney and heart function, saying in a news release: “The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein regretfully confirms the death of Pelé, today, December 29, 2022, at 3:27 p.m, due to multiple organ failure, a result of the progression of colon cancer associated to his previous clinical condition. Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein sympathizes with “the family and everyone who suffers from the loss of our dear King of Football.”

Pelé was a three-time World Cup champion, scoring 12 times in 14 career appearances at the tournament. Additionally, he scored nearly 1,300 goals over his professional career. Pelé’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, wrote on Instagram: “Everything we are is thanks to you. We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.” In addition, a message posted to Pelé’s Instagram account read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pele, who peacefully passed away today. On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love. His message today becomes a legacy for future generations. Love, love and love, forever.”

Tributes to Pelé flooded social media Thursday afternoon, with messages from the Brazilian Football Confederation and other national teams, and players from around the world including Neymar Jr., Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo wrote on Instagram: “My deep condolences to all of Brazil, and in particular to the family of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.  A mere ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing. An inspiration to so many millions, a reference yesterday, today and forever. The love you always showed me was reciprocated in every moment we shared even from distance. He will never be forgotten and his memory will live forever in each and every one of us football lovers. Rest in peace King Pelé.”

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Entertainment Daypop

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ breaks Paramount+ record to become most watched movie premiere

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Top Gun: Maverick was already this year’s No. 1 theatrical release with a global box office of $1.48 billion, and now after debuting over the Christmas holiday it has officially become the most-watched movie premiere ever on the Paramount+ streaming service. According to an official announcement by Paramount, the blockbuster sequel now stands as the most watched movie, globally, with its premiere weekend streaming on Paramount+ (Dec. 22 through Dec. 25).  Maverick surpassed the previous record held by Sonic the Hedgehog 2 by some 60 percent; and the film’s success also increased streaming viewership for the original Top Gun movie by nearly 400 percent, in addition to Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible franchise entries enjoying a 140 percent increase.

Paramount Pictures CEO Brian Robbins said in a statement: “The runaway success of this film across theatrical, digital and now in streaming is an undeniable proof point demonstrating the power of Paramount’s multi-platform release strategy  Across all our 2022 titles, and now with Top Gun: Maverick, our studio has unlocked the value of variable windowing that streaming provides to augment a film’s overall success.”

Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer, Paramount Streaming, added: “We are thrilled to see a continuation of the film’s massive record-breaking success by becoming the No. 1 most-watched movie premiere on Paramount+. We continue to benefit from the highly anticipated theatrical hits from Paramount Pictures that come to the service delivering fans a new way to continue to watch and re-watch their favorite movies.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Fashion designer and punk icon Vivienne Westwood dies at 81

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Dame Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer and activist who was considered an icon of Britain’s punk movement in the 1970s, has died at age 81.  A message posted to Westwood’s Twitter read: “Vivienne Westwood died today, peacefully and surrounded by her family, in Clapham, South London. The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better.”

Westwood was born Vivienne Isabel Swire on April 8th, 1941 in Derbyshire, England. She briefly attended University of Westminster (then Harrow Art School), but would go on to become a primary school teacher making her own jewelry on the side, which she sold on London’s Portobello Road. In the mid-1960s, Westwood met artist Malcolm McLaren, who would shortly thereafter become manager of Sex Pistols. Together, Westwood and McLaren managed the store SEX, where they sold the clothing they designed. SEX increased in popularity and became a hub for London punks after Sex Pistols were seen wearing Westwood and McLaren’s designs.

Westwood is largely credited for helping push the punk movement towards the mainstream, as well as unifying the fashion and music industries. Westwood was also vocal about numerous causes and movements, notably climate change awareness, and often incorporated her political activism into her designs.

Westwood is survived by her husband, Andreas Kronthaler, and two sons: Ben Westwood, born 1963, and Joseph Corré, born 1967.

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Pop Daypop

The Weeknd teases new video for his song, ‘Is There Someone Else’

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The Weeknd released his fifth studio album, Dawn FM, in January, and now he is teasing an upcoming video for the song “Is There Someone Else”.  When a fan asked how he felt after a year that saw the album go to #1 on the Billboard sales chart, The Weeknd tweeted back, saying “i feel istheresomeoneelsemusicvideo-ish.”

A video for the song “Is There Someone Else” would be the sixth from Dawn FM.  The lead single “Take My Breath,” and the rest of the singles — “Out of Time,” “Sacrifice,” “Gasoline” and “How Do I Make You Love Me” all have previously released videos.

No further announcement has been made about a video release or who might star in or direct it. In the past, Tesfaye has worked most frequently with directors Cliqua, who recently did the “Out of Time” video, Anton Tammi (“In Your Eyes”), and Grant Singer (“Try Me”).

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Pop Daypop

Taylor Swift sets radio songs chart record with ‘Anti-Hero’

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Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” became the No.1 song across US radio stations, making Swift the first artist to have landed on the top of Billboard’s Radio Songs chart in the 2000s, 10s, and 20s. Swift earned her seventh Radio Songs chart-topper, tying Maroon 5, Katy Perry, and Usher for the fourth-most No.1s dating to the chart’s beginning in December 1990.

In just eight weeks, Midnights achieved over six million album equivalent units worldwide, three million in the U.S. alone, and became the only artist ever to have five albums with over one million units during release week. Midnights moved almost 1.6 million during its debut week and is the first album to sell over one million physical albums since 2015. Swift also broke streaming, physical and vinyl album sales milestones around the world as Midnights became the fastest-selling album of her career, and became the first artist in history to capture the entire Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge said, “Taylor is a multidimensional creative force whose achievements place her among the most accomplished artists in the history of music, and we are thrilled and honored to partner with her across so many aspects of her career.” Republic Records Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Monte Lipman said, “Taylor’s achievements over the past year have been absolutely spectacular! With more than two dozen historic milestones set by Midnights, it’s nearly unimaginable for any artist to sell more than six million albums in less than eight weeks during any era of our business. These accomplishments further exemplify Taylor’s prowess as the consummate artist and storyteller defining a generation.”

Taylor Swift Breaks Radio Songs Chart Record with “Anti-Hero”

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Sports Daypop

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker to miss at least four weeks

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The Phoenix Suns confirmed on Wednesday that All-Star guard Devin Booker will miss at least four weeks with a left groin strain. The Suns said that Booker will be reevaluated after the four weeks.

The 26-year-old Booker has missed six of the past nine games because of hamstring and groin ailments. He returned for the team’s Christmas Day matchup against the Denver Nuggets, but only played four minutes before having to leave the game. He returned to Phoenix for further evaluation while the team continued its six-game road trip.

Booker is averaging a career-high 27.1 points per game and already topped 50 points twice this season. The Suns currently have a 20-15 record and are in fifth place in the Western Conference.

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Sports Daypop

Las Vegas Raiders to start Jarrett Stidham in place of QB Derek Carr against 49ers

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The Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels announced Wednesday that they are benching Derek Carr, the team’s starting quarterback since 2014, for Jarrett Stidham, who was acquired in an offseason trade from the New England Patriots. Stidham will start against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, with undrafted rookie free agent Chase Garbers as the backup. A 2019 fourth-round pick, Stidham will be making his first career start. He is 8-for-13 for 72 yards in three games this season. McDaniels said of the move: “None of us is happy with where we’re at, but we think it’s an opportunity to evaluate a younger player who hasn’t had much time to play. Derek was great. He understands the scenario that we’re in and the situation and is very supportive of the two young guys. He’ll do anything he can to help them.”

Carr has struggled in his first season under the Raiders’ new regime with head coach McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. Carr has an NFL-high and career-high-tying 14 interceptions, and his passer rating of 86.3 is his lowest since his rookie season. Carr had signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension in the spring. His $32.9 million salary for next year and $7.5 million of his 2024 salary would be fully guaranteed should he be injured. Sources say that the Raiders made this move in part to maintain Carr’s health and keep their options open this offseason, including for a potential trade. The sources did note that the option for Carr to return in 2023 is still on the table.

The Raiders have also placed defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Denzel Perryman, who suffered left elbow and left shoulder injuries, respectively, against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

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Entertainment Daypop

Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for controversial comments on Holocaust

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Whoopi Goldberg has issued an apology after receiving backlash for her remarks about the Holocaust, after she seemingly doubled down in an interview with the The Sunday Times of London on comments she made earlier this year.  In the Sunday Times interview, Goldberg dished on cancel culture and more before reiterating the controversial comments she made earlier this year on The View, when she declared the Holocaust was “not about race,” but about “white supremacy” and “man’s inhumanity to man.”  As a result of those remarks, ABC News President Kin Godwin announced in a statement that Goldberg would be suspended from The View for two weeks.

In response to the Sunday Times interview, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement that Goldberg’s comments “are deeply offensive and incredibly disappointing, especially given that this is not the first time she had made remarks like this. In a moment when antisemitic incidents have surged across the U.S., she should realize that making such ignorant statements can have real consequences.” Greenblatt also issued a statement following Goldberg’s initial comments about the Holocaust: “[Whoopi’s remarks] are deeply offensive and incredibly disappointing, especially given that this is not the first time she had made remarks like this. In a moment when antisemitic incidents have surged across the U.S., she should realize that making such ignorant statements can have real consequences.”

Goldberg has since apologized in a statement to Variety: “Recently while doing press in London, I was asked about my comments from earlier this year. I tried to convey to the reporter what I had said and why, and attempted to recount that time. It was never my intention to appear as if I was doubling down on hurtful comments, especially after talking with and hearing people like rabbis and old and new friends weighing in. I’m still learning a lot and believe me, I heard everything everyone said to me. I believe that the Holocaust was about race, and I am still as sorry now as I was then that I upset, hurt and angered people. My sincere apologies again, especially to everyone who thought this was a fresh rehash of the subject. I promise it was not. In this time of rising antisemitism, I want to be very clear when I say that I always stood with the Jewish people and always will. My support for them has not wavered and never will.”

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Pop Daypop

RM becomes first BTS member to have a solo album reach Top 10 on Billboard 200

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BTS’s RM has become the first member of the band to have a solo album enter the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. RM’s ‘Indigo’ has landed itself at Number 3, coming after the song saw its CD release after it debuted as a digital-only album.  ‘Indigo’ included collaborations with several Korean artists and American heavyweights like Erykah Badu and Anderson .Paak.

SZA’s ‘SOS’ topped the Billboard list, with Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ landing at No. 2. Among the other non-Christmas albums in the top 10 are Metro Boomin’s ‘Heroes & Villains’, Drake and 21 Savage’s ‘Her Loss’ and Bad Bunny’s ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’.

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