Category: 5. Entertainment

In the Netflix documentary “The Truth About Jussie Smollett?”, police, lawyers, journalists, investigators, and Smollett rehash the events of January 29, 2019 — the infamous day when the former “Empire” actor reported that he was a victim of a violent hate crime in the streets of Chicago. The world eventually came to believe “the crime” was a hoax orchestrated by Smollett.

According to Netflix’s logline, the 90-minute doc tells the “shocking true story of an allegedly fake story that some now say might just be a true story.” In reality, the film doesn’t provide any answers. Instead, director Gagan Rehill combines court evidence and conflicting narratives to tell Smollett’s story. The outcome is a documentary that does the unexpected by allowing viewers to decide for themselves who is telling the truth.

“We collated and collected the 360 perspectives of the story,” says Rehill. “We got that and laid them against each other.”

In 2019, Smollett alleged that after buying a sandwich from a Subway store in Chicago in the early hours of the morning, two white men hurled racial slurs at him, poured an unknown chemical substance on him, and wrapped a rope around his neck. The incident was first met with an outpouring of public support. But that all changed when Chicago police released surveillance images of the supposed perpetrators, identifying the men as Nigerian American brothers who worked as extras on “Empire.” Evidence that Smollett had orchestrated the attack and paid the brothers $3,500 later surfaced.

Smollett was initially indicted on 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct, but the charges were dropped. A year later, Smollett was re-indicted, and after a high-profile trial in 2021, the actor was convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 30 months probation, including 150 days in jail, plus fines totaling more than $120,000. In 2024, the conviction was reversed on procedural grounds, as the Illinois Supreme Court found that the re-prosecution violated due process. In 2025, Smollett settled with the city of Chicago, and he continues to deny that he staged the attack.

Variety spoke with Rehill about “The Truth About Jussie Smollett?” which is now streaming on Netflix.

The case and what actually happened, depending on who you speak to, is pretty ambiguous. Did that make it a difficult documentary to maneuver?

Rehill: It was difficult in terms of acknowledging that and realizing that early on in the process. This (film) isn’t (about) the justice system. It’s about a moment in time. There are bigger themes that this (doc) addresses to help convey that.

Was one of those themes society’s relationship with the truth, which seemed to take a turn in 2019?

That’s exactly the lens I wanted to look through. The people who are in favor of Jussie are tied to a distrust of the police. All of this was happening at a time when Black Lives Matter was emerging. We were becoming more divided as a society. So the film speaks to a post-truth society that we live in.

Is it fair to say that everyone interviewed in the doc, including law enforcement, Smollett, and the Nigerian American brothers, who allegedly were hired to beat him, are unreliable narrators?

I’m really happy with this cast of characters in this film. I think it’s what makes it unique. They are all larger than life. As we were making the film, we were amassing this cast and their dynamics. Their counterpoints to each other were becoming part of what was compelling about the film. It has been key for me to align all their perspectives together in a respectful way.

Were any of the subjects paid to participate in this documentary?

So, I know that Jussie wasn’t paid. There are a lot of people who were involved in the pool of access before I came along. But what I understood and was key to me was that Jussie wasn’t paid.

The doc is being released during a time when Smollett is making forays into rebooting his career as an actor, a director, and a recording artist. Do you look at the film as a stepping stone for him?

This is certainly not the purpose of this film. It’s not a miscarriage of justice film in any way. It’s more an opportunity for people to watch, watch him, and see what they believe. So, no. It’s certainly no intention of the film or mine to help rehabilitate his career in any way.

Justin Bieber once again stirred up a storm with his latest post that left fans talking and Hailey rolling her eyes.

The 31 year old singer, who recently marked his son Jack’s first birthday, shared shirt free photos from a workout session on Monday. 

Alongside the snaps, the Peaches hitmaker wrote, “thirstrap fa u hoes” with playful tongue emojis. A man who appeared to be his workout buddy could be seen in the background, though his identity remained unclear.

The fashion icon Hailey, 28, didn’t seem impressed. Spotting Justin’s white beanie decorated with googly eyes, Hailey dropped a single eyeroll emoji in the comments, which fans quickly interpreted as subtle shade.

The post sparked questions among fans, especially after past rumours of trouble in the marriage. 

Some followers reminded him, “You’re married Justin,” while others asked where Hailey and their baby were. “Hailey, is your husband single?” one person wrote, fueling further speculation.

The noise around his personal life came shortly after Justin released his new album Swag, his first in four years. Songs from the record, including Daisies, hinted at tension in the marriage, though sources later claimed the couple were in a better place.

According to insiders, the stress of creating new music taken an emotional toll on the couple but they managed to reconnect during a family trip to Idaho after the album’s release.

Despite the drama, Justin’s music comeback has been strong, as Swag debuted at number one on the Top Streaming Album and R&B charts and landed at number two on the Billboard Hot 200.

No Hollywood star seems as intrinsically tied to Venice as George Clooney.

Twenty-seven years ago he attended his first Venice Film Festival with the instant classic “Out of Sight”; 20 years ago, it’s where he debuted his sophomore film, “Good Night, and Good Luck,” which earned him his first best director nomination; and 11 years ago, it’s where he exchanged vows with then Amal Alamuddin, at the Aman Venice, a five-star hotel perched alongside the Grand Canal.

Venice is a city that he, like many, thinks is one of the most beautiful in the world. Unlike most people, he also owns 15-bedroom villa a few hours away on Lake Como that famously co-starred in “Ocean’s Twelve.”

This year he’ll be back on the Lido again with Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” in which he plays a middle-aged movie star on a journey through Europe with his manager, played by Adam Sandler. And his longtime friend and oft co-star Julia Roberts is making her Venice debut this year with “After the Hunt.”

Here are some of Clooney’s most memorable Venice moments.

1998: “Out of Sight”

As legend has it, Clooney’s long term love affair with Venice may have begun with the festival’s premiere of Steven Soderbergh’s Elmore Leonard adaptation “Out of Sight.” Then 37 and doing press alongside Jennifer Lopez, the actor would also make another big jump soon: Leaving “ER” that February.

2003: “Intolerable Cruelty”

This Coen brothers joint, co-starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, premiered out of competition at the 60th Venice Film Festival, alongside titles like “Matchstick Men,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and “The Dreamers.” Clooney’s nearby Italian residence was already as famous as him, and a stakeout spot for amateur and professional paparazzi.

In a profile that fall, while shooting “Ocean’s Twelve,” Vanity Fair writer Ned Zeman observed: “That an affable, self-effacing Kentucky-born Hollywood actor is fast becoming the most popular public figure in Italy says a little about Italy and a lot about Clooney, who isn’t Italian, doesn’t speak Italian, and lives here only in summertime.”

2005: “Good Night and Good Luck”
Clooney’s acclaimed black-and-white dramatization of journalist Edward R. Murrow’s clash with Joseph McCarthy began its successful run in competition at the 62nd Venice Film Festival. Though it lost the Golden Lion to Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain,” it did go on to pick up six Oscar nominations including for Clooney’s directing.

During the trip, he also inspired a cocktail still served at the ritzy Belmond Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca. One night he retreated to the hotel’s Gabbiano Bar where his friend, the legendary bar manager Walter Bolzonella, mixed him a drink of lemon, sugar, vodka, cranberry juice, ginger and Angostura bitters and named it Buona Notte in honor of the film. The two would later name a prosecco, passionfruit and elderflower cocktail La Nina after Clooney’s mother, which was served at his wedding.

2007: “Michael Clayton”
Tony Gilroy’s “Michael Clayton,” which nabbed Clooney an Oscar nomination for his turn as the titular law firm fixer, played in competition at Venice. The top prize went again to an Ang Lee film: “Lust, Caution,” which also beat out the likes of “I’m Not There,” “Atonement” and “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.”

2008: “Burn After Reading”
This Coen brothers comedy featuring Clooney and Brad Pitt opted to debut out of competition in the opening night slot. He said it completed his “trilogy of idiots” that he’d played for the Coens, including “Intolerable Cruelty” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” “Looking at the parts we are playing, I’m very concerned about what you think of us,” Clooney said at the press conference. Pitt, who’d won the festival’s acting prize the year prior, added: “Like George … I’m not sure if I should be flattered or insulted.”

2011: “The Ides of March”
Another opening night, out of competition slot debut for this Clooney-directed campaign thriller starring Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman. As usual, Clooney was peppered with political questions in which he observed that, “it’s a very difficult time to govern.”

2013: “Gravity”
Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” opened the 70th edition of the Venice Film Festival before going on to win seven Oscars. Clooney, of course, attended the premiere alongside Sandra Bullock and he was self-deprecating about his role: “There were only two parts and Sandy had the other one, so I felt like this was the only one I could get away with.”

2014: George and Amal get married
The canals were packed with paparazzi for the nuptials of one of Hollywood’s favorite bachelors. On Sept. 27, Clooney, then 53, and Alamuddin, then 36, exchanged vows in front of 100 of their closest friends and family, including Bono and Matt Damon, at the luxury hotel Aman Grand Canal, originally a grand palazzo built in 1550. She wore a custom Oscar de la Renta dress, of French lace, pearls and diamanté accents. He wore a black wool/cashmere Giorgio Armani tuxedo.

2017: “Suburbicon”
Clooney returned to the festival with another of his directing projects, “Suburbicon,” a dark comedic satire about a seemingly idyllic 1950s community with Damon and Julianne Moore. This festival was especially notable for it being the Clooneys’ first public appearance since the birth of their twins, Alexander and Ella, a few months prior.

2023: Spotlight on Amal

This time George was the plus one to Amal, who was receiving an award from the Diane von Furstenberg and The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation for her work as a human rights lawyer. The power couple gave the festival some much-needed star power amid the actors strike with an appearance at the adjacent DVF Awards. “I am here in Venice with my husband; he is a rising star,” she said that night. “I just wanted to say, you, my love, like this city, take my breath away.”

2024: “Wolfs”

Clooney and Pitt reunited for the Jon Watts action comedy “Wolfs,” that played out of competition. But the spotlight was less on the film and more on the off-screen drama of the AppleTV+ produced film only getting a limited theatrical release, and his then-recent New York Times op-ed urging President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid.

“The person who should be applauded is the president who did the most selfless thing anyone’s done since George Washington,” Clooney said. “All the machinations that got us there, none of that’s going to be remembered. And it shouldn’t be. What should be remembered is the selfless act.”

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is gearing up for its network TV return as CBS unveiled several photos from the Season 2 premiere episode, “A Tie Breaker and a Huge Mistake.”

Along with the images, CBS revealed the episode logline, which teases that tensions are flaring at the tire store when new co-owners Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Reuben (Jessie Prez) can’t agree on anything. Meanwhile, Jim (Will Sasso) struggles to find his purpose now that he’s retired.

For those less familiar with the Young Sheldon spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage tracks the relationship between Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister (Emily Osment), who move in together at her parents’ house after they marry. As the couple cares for their infant daughter CeeCee, they live among familial tensions that were on the upswing as Georgie won over his in-laws to the point of taking co-ownership of their tire shop with Reuben.

As fans who tuned into Season 1 will recall, Reuben isn’t a fan of Georgie, due in part to the fact that Georgie got his job for being part of the McAllister extended family. The men seemingly put their differences aside to run the business together by the end of Season 1, but has their tune changed? The photos tease varied results.

In addition to revealing Jordan, Osment, Prez, and Sasso’s returns, the images offer a peek at Rachel Bay Jones and Dougie Baldwin back as Audrey and Connor. Scroll down for a closer look and stay tuned for more on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 as the premiere approaches.

Footage from Will Smith‘s comeback Based On A True Story tour has got perceptive online viewers pointing out curious happenings among the crowd.

Compiled of clips from his shows on tour, one shot includes fans holding up a sign that reads “We <3 You Willy” but some images of the faces around it are distorted and blurred. Others online have claimed some audience members have been bestowed extra fingers or oddly formed hands.

While some have accused the Prince of Bel Air of using artificial intelligence to beef up shots of the crowd, there have been reports of YouTube artificially altering videos uploaded to the platform without the creators’ knowledge. In a story published in The Atlantic last week, YouTuber Rhett Shull said that he believes that YouTube is using “AI upscaling” on his videos, which involves dialing up an image’s resolution and detail. “I think it’s gonna lead people to think that I am using AI to create my videos. Or that it’s been deepfaked. Or that I’m cutting corners somehow,” he told the publication. “It will inevitably erode viewers’ trust in my content.”

A rep for Smith and a rep for YouTube did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s requests for comment.

The line between reality and illusions have blurred as AI floods the internet, from fake bands to artificially generated songs to bogus photos of music legends — including a completely imagined capture of Mick Jagger, Elton John, and Rod Stewart harmonizing at Ozzy Osbourne’s memorial service.

Last month, The AI band The Velvet Sundown went viral and garnered a flurry of media coverage after suddenly appearing on popular Spotify playlists. The band also inspired an apparent hoaxer who said he impersonated the band on X and falsely claimed to be a band spokesperson during interactions with the media, including a phone interview with Rolling Stone.

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The Velvet Sundown later put out a band bio calling itself “a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence,” adding: “This isn’t a trick — it’s a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI.”

Many artists have called out the use of AI, with SZA criticizing the damaging use of AI programs that consume vital resources to function, such as ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s chatbot, Grok.

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If you’re looking for stylish sunglasses to complete your outfit, Shenseea has plenty of great options for you. Teaming up with Glasses USA, the Jamaican pop star has curated a selection of sunglasses and optical frames that fit her trendsetting personal style. From vibrant picks like the Muse Link shades to a more classic design in the Amelia E. Waverley frame, there are a variety of designs and styles to shop that’ll help level up your summer aesthetic.

Blending personal style with star power, this collaboration brings Shenseea’s sparkle to life through each frame. “For me, style is all about having fun and keeping it real,” says Shenseea in a statement. “This collection with GlassesUSA.com is about wearing what makes you feel good and confident – just being yourself.”

The collection includes oversized silhouettes, sleek cat-eyes, tinted lenses, and glossy finishes designed to move seamlessly from day to night. Whether you’re heading to a rooftop party, a festival, or simply grabbing coffee with friends, these frames are made to add a burst of personality to any look.

“Shenseea’s style is about confidence and energy,” said Arie Tom, CMO of GlassesUSA.com in the press release. “We wanted this collection to feel like her music- fresh, vibrant, and impossible to ignore. These frames are a reflection of who you are. Like Shenseea says, we took it to the max- bold designs, interesting details, and held nothing back.”

The Shenseea x GlassesUSA.com collection is now available exclusively at GlassesUSA.com, and feature many sunglasses on sale up to 60% off right now. Shop Shenseea’s picks below.

US rapper Lil Nas X has pleaded not guilty after being charged with assaulting a police officer while walking in downtown Los Angeles in his underwear.

The musician, real name Montero Lamar Hill, was taken to hospital and arrested after police responded to reports of a naked man shortly before 6am on Thursday.

The district attorney’s office said on Monday that Lil Nas X faces three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer.

He was being held on a $75,000 (£55,457) bail, conditional on attending drug treatment. It is not immediately clear whether he had posted it and been released yet.

He is set to return to court on 15 September for his next pre-trial hearing.

During the hearing on Monday, Hill’s lawyer Christy O’Connor told the judge he had led a “remarkable” life, adding: “Assuming the allegations here are true, this is an absolute aberration in this person’s life.

“Nothing like this has ever happened to him.”

A law enforcement source told Sky’s US partner network, NBC News, on Thursday that the Old Town Road and Industry Baby hitmaker punched an officer twice in the face during the encounter.

The source added officers were unsure whether he was on any substances or in mental distress.

Read more from Sky News:
Black cab rapist under investigation
National Guard to begin carrying firearms in DC
Trump says he wants to meet Kim Jong Un again

NBC News cited TMZ footage where Hill was seen walking down the middle of Ventura Boulevard at 4am on Thursday in a pair of white briefs and cowboy boots.

In the videos, Hill tells a driver to “come to the party” in one clip and in another tells the person: “Didn’t I tell you to put the phone down?”

“Uh oh, someone’s going to have to pay for that,” Hill says as he continues to walk away.

In some clips, Hill struts as if he’s on a catwalk, posing for onlookers, and at one point he places an orange traffic cone on his head.

Are you feeling a bit dotty this summer? Us, too. And we aren’t just talking about Rihanna’s spot-on maternity style, Hailey Bieber’s speckled capri pants, or all the perfectly polka-dotted street style darlings at Copenhagen fashion week. Yes, polka dots are big this season, but the retro pattern has transcended clothing—and is taking on new life—by appearing in the beauty world, too.

It started earlier this season, when Kylie Jenner declared it a “polka dot summer.” Now, Sabrina Carpenter, Sydney Sweeny, and Dua Lipa have all been spotted with the look (Lipa found the trend so nice, she tried it twice!). A handful of the trendy manicures are were painted by two of the industry’s biggest celebrity nail artists: London-based Michelle Humphrey and Los Angeles-based Zola Ganzorigt (aka the woman responsible for the glazed donut manicure).

While summer may be drawing to a close (sigh), the polka dot trend is still holding strong. If you’re looking for a little inspiration for you final warm-weather manicure—or want to take it into this spotty-dotty trend into fall, scroll on.