Category: 5. Entertainment

Bob’s Burgers (20th Television Animation/Hulu/Fox). Creator and executive producer Loren Bouchard and supervising director Bernard Derriman will break news about the upcoming milestone 300^th episode with the cast including H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz and Larry Murphy. 10 a.m., Ballroom 20

Futurama (20th Television Animation/Hulu). Panelists include Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, executive producers Claudia Katz and Ken Keeler, supervising director Peter Avanzino and voice cast Billy West, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, David Herman and Maurice LaMarche. 11 a.m., Ballroom 20

Abbott Elementary (20th Television/ABC/Hulu). Panelists included creator and star Quinta Brunson, stars Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and executive producers Patrick Schumacker, Randall Einhorn and Brian Rubenstein. 11:15 a.m., Indigo Ballroom

The Simpsons (20th Television Animation/Fox/Disney+). Panelist include Matt Groening, writers Matt Selman and Mike Price, director Matt Faughnan, consulting producer/director David Silverman and surprise guest stars for a sneak preview of Season 37. 11:45 a.m., Ballroom 20

Star Trek Universe (CBS Studios/Paramount+). Featuring the cast and executive producers from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (panelists include stars Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong and Paul Wesley with executive producers and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers and executive producer Alex Kurtzman) and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (panelists include Holly Hunter, Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard along with executive producers and co-showrunners Kurtzman and Noga Landau). 12:30 p.m., Hall H

The Rookie (20th Television/ABC/Hulu). Panelists include executive producer and star Nathan Fillion and creator/executive producer Alexi Hawley tease and preview the upcoming Season 8. 12:30 p.m., Indigo Ballroom

American Dad! (20th Television Animation/Hulu/Fox). Panelists include stars Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Dee Bradley Baker and Jeff Fischer, along with executive producers Matt Weitzman and Kara Vallow and writer Nic Wegener who offer a sneak peek at the upcoming Season 20. 12:45 p.m., Ballroom 20

Family Guy (20th Television Animation/Hulu/Fox). Panelists include stars Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Jennifer Tilly and Mike Henry along with executive producers Alec Sulkin and Kara Vallow. 1:30 p.m., Ballroom 20

Paradise (20th Television/Hulu). Panelists include star and executive producer Sterling K. Brown and creator and executive producer Dan Fogelman reflect on Season 1 and tease what’s to come for Season 2. 1:45 p.m., Indigo Ballroom

Ghosts (CBS Studios/CBS/Paramount+). Panelists for the CBS/Paramount+ comedy include stars Utkarsh Ambudkar, Danielle Pinnock, Asher Grodman and Devan Chandler Long and executive producers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman discussing the upcoming Season 5. 3:30 p.m., Ballroom 20

Project Hail Mary Audible Book Club (Audible). Best-selling author Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary narrator Ray Porter, and Project Hail Mary film producer Aditya Sood discuss the making of the Audible Studios production and share some of their favorite excerpts from the audiobook. 4:15 p.m., Room 6A

Anne Rice Immortal Universe (AMC Networks). Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire returns to Comic-Con with panelists executive producer Mark Johnson, showrunner and executive producer Rolin Jones, composer Daniel Hart and cast members Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson and Eric Bogosian. Attendees will also be introduced to Anne Rice’s Talamasca with showrunners and EPs John Lee Hancock and Mark Lafferty, along with cast members Nicholas Denton, William Fichtner, Celine Buckens and Maisie Richardson-Sellers. 4:30 p.m., Ballroom 20

Twisted Metal (Playstation Studios and Peacock): An exclusive advance screening of the first two episodes of Twisted Metal Season Two before premiering on Peacock on Thursday, July 31. In Season Two John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) enter the deadly TWISTED METAL tournament hosted by Calypso (Anthony Carrigan), where they’ll battle new foes and familiar faces, including the murderous clown Sweet Tooth (Joe Seanoa and Will Arnett). 10-11:15 p.m. PT, Room 6DE

The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft, leaving a critical gap in the evolution of new sounds and future careers.

The need for creative spaces has never been more urgent. Between 2010 and 2023, more than 1,200 youth centers closed across the U.K.—an average of one every week. These losses hit underserved communities the hardest, stripping young artists of the safe, supportive environments they need to grow.

To help change this trajectory, Spotify is strengthening our commitment to youth well-being and creativity through the Open Doors Fund, part of our ongoing partnership with Youth Music. Backed by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund, the initiative provides essential funding and opportunities to empower the next generation of creators—and ensure the spaces that shape them not only survive, but thrive.

Championing youth spaces across the U.K.

To amplify this effort and spark national conversation, Spotify and Youth Music have launched a multichannel campaign that brings the realities facing youth spaces into sharp focus through powerful storytelling and public engagement.

Our hero video captures a week inside a youth center, showcasing the creativity and community these spaces make possible. Acclaimed artist and advocate Kojey Radical dropped in to spend time with Girl Grind UK, a youth music space where young women are building confidence, community, and creative careers, to witness the impact of these spaces firsthand.

Across London, out-of-home placements amplify youth voices in public spaces, while a coordinated social media campaign encourages audiences to engage, share, and take action.

The campaign also lives on-platform through Open Doors, a bespoke playlist curated with Kojey. Featuring both established and emerging U.K. artists who began their journeys in grassroots spaces, the playlist celebrates the vital role these centers play in nurturing talent and calls for their continued protection.

Spotify London welcomes the next generation of creators

As part of our commitment to the Open Doors campaign, Spotify brought the mission to life within our own walls, hosting an inspiring Open Doors Day at our London office. The event welcomed young people from 15 youth centers supported by the Open Doors Fund, offering a space for connection and creativity.

The urgency behind this work is clear. Youth Music warns that within the next decade, young people across eight U.K. regions could lose access to vital music projects. Chronic underfunding—made worse by the cost-of-living crisis—has pushed many community spaces to the brink. Today, two in five (41%) grassroots youth music projects are at risk of closure, a sharp 17% rise since 2024.

“These spaces are the heart of local communities, giving young people a place to feel connected, inspired, and empowered,” said Matt Griffiths, CEO, Youth Music. “With Spotify’s support, we can give these vital spaces a lifeline, ensuring they continue to serve young people for years to come.”

Open Doors Day was designed to equip the next generation with real tools for success. Through hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes industry insights, and conversations with the Spotify and Youth Music teams, attendees gained invaluable guidance on building creative careers. The day also featured special appearances by award-winning artist Guvna B and Grammy-nominated songwriter Carla Marie Williams MBE, who shared their journeys and inspired young creators to keep pushing forward.

Empowering generations to come

The Open Doors Fund is about more than just keeping the lights on. It’s about lifting up young people, fostering creativity, and providing pathways into the music industry. A staggering 54% of Youth Music’s funded partners have a waiting list of young people eager to participate, but a lack of funds prevents them from doing so. 

Spotify and Youth Music are committed to extending the Open Doors Fund into 2026, ensuring that even more youth spaces receive the funding they need to continue supporting young people. 

“The Open Doors Fund isn’t just about preserving spaces—it’s about powering what’s possible,” said Kristin Jarett, Social Impact Lead, Spotify. “When young people have the tools, the space, and the support, they create the future of music. We’re committed to making sure those doors stay open.”

The Spotify and Youth Music partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of investing in the next generation of artists. By providing essential resources and opportunities, the Open Doors Fund is helping to keep the beat alive by ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have the chance to pursue their musical dreams. Because the artists of tomorrow need a space to begin.

To learn more about the Open Doors Fund, or to get involved with Youth Music, visit here.

When the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES premiered in 2018, it ranked No. 1 among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14* and spawned a global franchise that includes two animated series, two chart-topping soundtracks, and, soon, a one-of-a-kind interactive live concert experience with the cast of Descendants: The Rise of Red. But before the North American tour kicks off July 17 in San Diego, fans will be introduced to two new leads, Victor and Nova, when ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires debuts Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and streams globally the next day, Friday, July 11, on Disney+.

What’s the secret to the ZOMBIES franchise’s success?

 

“I think it’s the music, the dancing, and the message,” Meg Donnelly, who reprises her role as alien Addison and is an executive producer on the film, said. “There’s a really strong message of acceptance, especially in ZOMBIES 4. It applies to kids and adults. It’s a message we all learn, and I think ZOMBIES does a great job of explaining it with really fun, positive vibes.”

“A lot of factors go into it, but I think it’s the people,” Milo Manheim, who returns as zombie Zed and is an executive producer on the film, added. “We have an amazing cast. The crew, the creative team, the production team — everybody is so happy to be making these movies. We took a really bold step in making the first movie; it was a very out of the box idea. It just makes people feel good. It’s got such a positive message, and that created this huge, ZOMBIES universe.”

 

Captivating Characters

In the first three ZOMBIES movies, Zed and Addison brought human and monster kind together in their hometown of Seabrook. In the fourth film, a summer road trip with their friends, zombie Eliza (Kylee Russell) and werewolf Willa (Chandler Kinney), takes an unexpected detour, landing them in the middle of a new rivalry: Daywalkers vs. Vampires.

ZOMBIES franchise newcomer Freya Skye plays Nova, a Daywalker who can harness the power of the sun. “She lives in perpetual day in Sunnyside,” Skye explained. “Her dad is Commander Bright [Jonno Roberts], so she’s next in line to be leader of the Daywalkers.”

Malachi Barton — a Disney Channel vet who previously starred in Stuck in the Middle, the Under Wraps films, and The Villains of Valley View, among other projects — plays Victor, a Vampire who lives in Shadyside and can harness the power of the wind. “He is a very charismatic kid. He’s super adventurous and always looking for the next experience,” Barton explained. “He’s so curious about what else the world has to offer, but he’s been taught to stay in his Shadyside bubble. But once he meets Nova, he comes out of his shell a little bit.”

Despite all odds, there is an invisible string tying Nova and Victor together — similar to the one that helped Seabrook’s star-crossed couple Zed and Addison unite their people.

“I think the movie does that on purpose, to give ZOMBIES fans that nostalgia of Zed and Addison in the first movie,” Donnelly said. “There are a lot of parallels with Victor and Nova, and that’s what makes this movie so special. It’s like we’re passing the torch in a way.”

 

Memorable Music

Now available from Walt Disney Records, the ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires soundtrack features nine original songs, including “Don’t Mess with Us” and “The Place to Be,” as well as two reprises of fan-favorite hits: “Ain’t No Doubt About It” and “Someday.”

Skye and Barton agreed “Show the World” is their favorite new number in the movie.

“It’s a really happy song, and it summarizes everything the movie talks about,” Skye said. “We were all together that day, so it was a really fun memory for us to all be together. Everyone’s characters are happy — there’s no kind of conflict — so it was a real fun one.”

“It’s a really big number. It’s the closer. It’s really hard to pick and choose a favorite, just because they all flow so well,” Barton said. Referencing Skye’s solo number, he added, “They all play a big part in their own way — or in ‘My Own Way.’ See what I did there?”

However, filming the “Ain’t’ No Doubt About It” reprise in New Zealand was “my singular favorite day of shooting anything ever,” Manheim revealed. “Obviously, that song means a lot to us, but there was something very special about that day. The clouds parted, and it was just so beautiful. It was a moment for me and Meg to reflect on everything we’ve been through with this franchise, and it just felt like everything was leading up to that moment.”

File this as prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay good news: Larry David is returning to TV with a new six-episode sketch comedy about American history, produced the Obamas’ by Higher Ground.

He will be writing the HBO series alongside Jeff Schaffer, who was a showrunner, executive producer and director on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” David will star in the series, which will feature some actors from “Curb” as well as noteworthy guest stars.

Schaffer and David will both executive produce, with Schaffer taking the lead on directing. Barack and Michelle Obama will be executive producing the limited series for their banner Higher Ground Productions alongside Vinnie Malhotra and Ethan Lewis.

HBO’s official logline reads, “President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion.

…But then Larry David called.”

“Once ‘Curb’ ended, I celebrated with a three-day foam party,” David said in a press release. “After a violent allergic reaction to the suds, I yearned to return to my simple life as a beekeeper, harvesting organic honey from the wildflowers in my meadow. Alas, one day my bees mysteriously vanished. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I return to television, hoping to ease the loss of my beloved hive.”

Obama added, “I’ve sat across the table from some of the world’s most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of our most intractable problems. Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David.”

The beloved and critically acclaimed “Curb Your Enthusiasm” aired for a total of 12 seasons from 2000 to 2024.

“The characters Larry is playing didn’t change history. In fact, they were largely ignored by history. And that’s a good thing,” Schaffer said.

David and Schaffer have also worked together on “Seinfeld” and the TV movie “Clear History,” which starred David. Schaffer is also known for his work as the co-creator of “The League” and “Dave” at FX. And David is no stranger to sketch TV comedy — he was a writer and performer on ABC’s early ‘80s late-night series “Fridays.”

It has been 20 years since the U.S. version of The Office premiered on NBC, launching nine seasons of painfully hilarious workplace antics and cementing its place as a pop culture phenomenon. Long after the final episode aired, the series continues to thrive: quoted in office halls, shared in memes, and streamed endlessly by loyal fans. Now, the beloved mockumentary is finally getting a new chapter with the spin-off series The Paper.

The Paper is set in the same universe as The Office but trades the world of paper sales for the daily grind of a small-town newspaper. Production is already underway, with a confirmed release this Fall. Read on for everything we know about The Paper.

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When Does It Premiere?

The Paper will air exclusively on Peacock starting September 4, a date announced by the streaming service via social media in July 2025, along with a look at the show’s first poster.

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Who’s behind the new adaptation?

The Paper is the latest project from Greg Daniels, co-creator of the U.S. version of The Office and Parks and Recreation, and Michael Koman, known for his work on Nathan For You. The upcoming mockumentary will be set in the same universe as The Office, this time shifting the lens to a small-town newspaper.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels shared that much of the original crew from The Office will return to work on The Paper. He also expressed enthusiasm about diving back into the mockumentary format, a storytelling style that helped make The Office a commercial success.

Daniels and Koman are set to executive produce alongside Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the duo behind the original British version of The Office.

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WHAT IS The PAPER ABOUT?

Much like its predecessor, The Paper is a mockumentary sitcom about a struggling American industry. While The Office explored the slow decline of the paper sales business, The Paper shifts its focus to local journalism.

Set in the same universe as The Office, the new series follows the daily chaos at The Truth Teller, a fictional small-town newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. In an effort to save the floundering publication, the paper’s publisher begins recruiting volunteer reporters to keep the presses running. The show picks up with this ragtag newsroom trying to stay afloat in the digital age, capturing all the dysfunction, awkwardness, and heart that fans of The Office will instantly recognize.

Keeping continuity with the original series, the same fictional documentary crew that once chronicled the lives of Dunder Mifflin employees in Scranton, Pennsylvania is now embedded in the offices of The Truth Teller.

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Who’s In It?

From what we know so far, Oscar Nuñez will reprise his role as The Office’s Oscar Martinez, now working in the accounting department at The Truth Teller. “I told Mr. Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more bustling, cosmopolitan city,” Nuñez joked at an NBCUniversal Upfront. “Greg heard me, and he moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton. So, it was nice to be heard.”

Leading the cast of The Paper are Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina, About Time) and Sabrina Impacciatore, who earned an Emmy nomination for her standout role in season 2 of The White Lotus. Impacciatore will play the no-nonsense managing editor of The Truth Teller, while Gleeson plays a newly hired staffer.

So far, Nuñez is the only Office alum officially confirmed to appear in The Paper, though others may follow. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) told Entertainment Tonight that he’d be willing to return: “I will do anything for that guy,” he said of Daniels. “He calls, I’ll show up.” Meanwhile, Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) and Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin), who co-host the Office Ladies podcast, told the Today show they recently visited the set and reconnected with many familiar faces behind the scenes, whom Kinsey warmly called “our extended family.”

Rounding out the newsroom ensemble are Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Ramona Young, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, and Tim Key.

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Are there any trailers?

No trailers for The Paper have been released yet, but the film has shared a first look via social media. The Paper began production in July 2024, so it is safe to assume that filming is close to wrapping or that season 1 is already in post-production. With a September 4 release scheduled, we can expect a trailer in the coming weeks.

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The Paper arrives on Peacock September 4, 2025.

On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.

Thumbnail image by Peacock

Camila Cabello has set the internet ablaze following her recent performance in Dublin.

The 28-year-old singer, who rose to fame with her 2017 hit single Havana, has taken the internet by storm with an ethereal outfit.

On Wednesday, July 9, the Work from Home hitmaker turned heads in a dramatic silver corset featuring a standout halterneck design.

She paired the look with matching skimpy hot pants and sky-high knee-high boots.

The audience went all gaga over the Worth It singer after she performed her hits – including Never Be the Same, She Loves Control, Inside Out, and Consequences – with great energy and backup dancers at the 3Arena.

This electrifying night followed Cabello’s trip to Monaco, where she attended the 2025 Monaco E-Prix Formula 1 race with her Lebanese boyfriend, Henry Junior Chalhoub.

Following her European tour, the former Fifth Harmony star has upcoming performances in Australia and Brazil lined up.

For the unversed, Cabello’s Yours, C Tour kicked off on Saturday, June 21, at the Starlite Occident Festival in Marbella, Spain, and will conclude on September 14, 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil. 

It was difficult for Katy Perry to contain her emotions on the final night of the Australian leg of her Lifetimes World Tour on June 30. As she held her arms overhead and made a hand-heart gesture, the singer addressed the crowd with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for always being there for me, Australia,” she said with a shaky voice before pulling herself together to perform her hit song “Firework.”

The weepy moment came just days after news broke of Katy’s split from fiancé Orlando Bloom following a nine-year romance. The former couple — who got engaged in 2019 — share daughter Daisy, 4. While Katy, 40, was crying on stage, Orlando, 48, was posting inspirational messages on his Instagram (“each day is a new beginning,” read one) and returning from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ wedding in Venice, where he was spotted partying and cozying up to Sydney Sweeney.

While his notoriously flirty behavior had always been an issue throughout the course of their relationship, the source says there were other factors at play in their split, most notably the stress of their high-octane careers. “Katy and Orlando were both so tightly wound,” says the source, who adds, “They started to bicker and it got worse and worse over time. It became borderline toxic.”

Separate Lives

Katy has been especially on edge. In May 2024, she ended her seven-season gig as a judge on American Idol amid harsh reviews. “The trolling she endured during that time was on another level, and that pressure bled into her home life with Orlando,” says the insider. That same year, she sparked more backlash for working on a new record with Dr. Luke, whom Kesha had sued for sexual assault in 2014. (Katy defended herself on the Call Me Daddy podcast, saying, “He was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with.”) The album, 143, was supposed to mark her big comeback to performing, but critics took a chain saw to it. Variety wrote, “[Katy sounds] as if she’d just punched in between American Idol tapings.”

Her reputation took an even bigger hit in April after she joined Gayle King and four other women on Blue Origin’s trip to space, and later that month footage of her lackluster dance moves on the opening night of her Lifetimes tour went viral. “Katy’s strong but she was very rattled by the criticism,” says the insider.

And Katy wasn’t getting the support she needed from Orlando. “He was sympathetic to a point, but he grew tired of having to constantly console her,” the source says, noting that the actor thought her trip to space “was a bad idea.”

Meanwhile, the Lord of the Rings star (who shares son Flynn, 13, with ex-wife Miranda Kerr) has also been under pressure, work-wise. “He’s been in a creative rut for a while,” says the source, who adds, “He’s been hustling hard for a hit movie after a quiet few years.” (The source says he’s hoping to be cast in the upcoming Lord of the Rings sequel, The Hunt for Gollum.)

The combined stress took a toll. “It reached the point where Katy and Orlando were living separate lives and going for large chunks of time without communicating because the tension was so palpable,” says the insider.

Salt In The Wounds

Orlando’s post-breakup behavior is only making matters worse. On June 27, he made headlines after he was seen hugging a mystery woman in the back of a boat at Bezos’ pre-wedding party (making matters worse, she was later identified as Katy’s pal, stylist Jamie Mizrahi).

He also reportedly partied all weekend at the A-list affair like he seemingly didn’t have a care in the world, giving no hint he’d just broken up with his fiancée of six years. “He’s been pretty insensitive,” says the source, who adds that Katy’s friends aren’t surprised. “Orlando’s always been this way. He’s a total flirt who can’t really stop himself, especially now that he’s officially single. Her friends are telling her she’s better off without him.”

Justin Bieber is about to drop a new album, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Def Jam will release his long-awaited seventh album on Friday, July 11, sources reveal.

A representative for Bieber didn’t reply to request for comment. Def Jam declined to comment.

As THR reported, Bieber headed to Iceland in late April to put finishing touches on the project, his first since 2021’s Justice. His Nordic getaway hosted jam sessions and allowed the pop superstar to ”vibe out” with a number of musical collaborators, an insider reveals.

As of Thursday, a billboard in Iceland that depicts Bieber with the word “Swag” is starting to go viral online. Presumably, that could be the name of the album though it’s unclear at press time. The same billboard went up in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Bieber posted several photos and videos of his own Thursday as well that show what seems to be the album’s tracklist.

Recent posts on Instagram, such as this one from June 30, also show what appears to be a final mix in ProTools. Other studio images suggest that music being played for Bieber is past its tracking phase and that the stereo files seen are a finished mix of some sort.

As sources shared with THR in April, Bieber had been hosting “jam sessions” at his Los Angeles house where attendees have included his longtime DJ Tay James, musical director HARV, SZA collaborator Carter Lang and Australian artist Eddie Benjamin. Features on the album include Gunna and Sexyy Red as well as Cash Cobain, each of whom Bieber has shouted out on social media in recent months.

Bieber had also tapped talents like U.K. singer-songwriter Sekou and producer Dylan Wiggins (Kali Uchis’ “I Wish You Roses,” The Weeknd’s “Die For You”), among other lesser-known music-makers that he discovered on social media and enlisted via DMs.

Bieber’s long awaited album comes four years after his last album, and his life has changed significantly since then. For one, he had a child with wife Hailey Bieber last year. On the music side, he split from his longtime manager Scooter Braun in 2023. Braun just announced earlier this month that he’s stepping down as CEO of Hybe America.

As THR reported, the two recently resolved their remaining financial issues — specifically, a debt triggered by the cancellation of Bieber’s Justice tour in 2022. (A representative for Bieber declined to comment on the settlement at the time.) In not fulfilling his contractual obligation to AEG (the tour’s promoter) to complete the concert dates, for which he received a $40 million advance, Bieber was left owing more than $20 million to AEG. Then-manager Braun, through his company, covered what was owed through a loan. The two were partnered in a number of other businesses including a record label and film projects.

Braun was also involved in a $200 million catalog deal to Hipgnosis Songs (now Recognition Music) for Bieber’s songwriting interests, possibly the largest nest egg in music history for an artist under 30. (Worth noting: Hailey Bieber, who married Justin in 2018, recently sold her Rhode Beauty skin care brand to e.l.f. Beauty for $1 billion; Braun was a seed investor.)

WOOHOO to open in September in downtown Dubai

Topline

• AI ‘Chef Aiman’ to create data-driven flavour combinations
  

• Aims to reduce food waste and boost sustainability
  

Updated On: Thu, 10 Jul 2025

23:41:59 PKT

DUBAI (Reuters) – In Dubai, your dinner might soon come with a side of source code.

WOOHOO, a restaurant that bills itself as “dining in the future”, is set to open in September in central Dubai, a stone’s throw from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Food at WOOHOO will be assembled by humans, for now, but everything else – from the menu to ambience to service – will be designed by a culinary large-language-model called “Chef Aiman.”

Aiman – a portmanteau of “AI” and “man” – is trained on decades of food science research, molecular composition data and over a thousand recipes from cooking traditions around the world, said Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of WOOHOO’s founders.

While Chef Aiman can’t taste, smell or interact with his dishes like a chef normally would, the model works by breaking cuisine down to its component parts like texture, acidity and umami, and reassembling them into unusual flavour and ingredient combinations, according to Aiman’s developers.

These prototypes are then refined by human cooks who taste the combinations and provide direction, in an effort led by renowned Dubai-based chef Reif Othman.

“Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data,” Aiman explained, in an interview with the interactive AI model.

The goal, Aiman’s creators say, is not to supplant the human element of cooking but to complement it.

“Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity,” said Oytun Cakir, who is also chief executive of hospitality company Gastronaut.

Aiman is designed to develop recipes that re-use ingredients often discarded by restaurants, like meat trimmings or fat, he said.

Longer term, WOOHOO’s founders believe Aiman could be licensed to restaurants across the globe, reducing kitchen waste and improving sustainability.