entertainment news

Loretta Swit, best remembered for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the long‐running television series MAS*H, died on Friday at her home in New York City. She was 87 years old. According to her publicist, Swit likely succumbed to natural causes. Born on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, Swit was the daughter of Anna (née Lesniewski) and Andrew Swit, immigrants from Poland who settled in the United States in the early 20th century. Raised in a household that valued hard work and perseverance, Swit developed an early passion for the arts. She matriculated at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, one of the country’s most prestigious acting conservatories. There, she honed her craft in classical theatre, studying voice, movement, and dramatic literature, and prepared herself for a career on stage and screen.

More than five hundred performers, writers, and behind-the-scenes professionals from Broadway and beyond have signed an open letter condemning legendary stage actress Patti LuPone for a series of disparaging remarks about fellow performers Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. The letter, published on May 31, 2025, demands that LuPone be disinvited from the upcoming Tony Awards and calls for immediate action from industry organizations such as the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League. Below is an in-depth look at how these events unfolded, the context of LuPone’s original comments, the responses from affected artists, and the broader implications for respect and accountability in the theatre community.

During Tuesday night’s episode of The Project, host Waleed Aly sat down—via video link—with rap legend and actor Ice-T to discuss the star’s upcoming zombie thriller Zombie Plane, currently in production on Australia’s Gold Coast. What began as a routine promotional segment quickly turned into an unexpected comedy moment when Ice-T delivered a brutal yet hilarious roast of Aly’s question about rapper monikers.

On Friday, President Donald Trump intensified his long-running, mostly one-sided feud with two of America’s most celebrated musicians—Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen—via a pair of incendiary posts on his Truth Social platform. Fresh from a whirlwind diplomatic tour of the Middle East, Trump declared Swift “no longer ‘HOT’” and lambasted Springsteen as a “dried out prune” who is “dumb as a rock.” The eruptions underscore the 78-year-old president’s willingness to target cultural icons who have dared to endorse his political opponents and speak out on issues of democracy.

Los Angeles — In a high-stakes court filing that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and social-media spheres, actress and singer Halle Bailey has petitioned for sole custody of her 16-month-old son, Halo, amid allegations of domestic abuse and fears that her rapper ex-partner, Darryl “DDG” Granberry Jr., may attempt to abduct their child.

Renowned Australian actor and television icon Gerard Kennedy has passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that spans over five decades of television and film. Best known for his celebrated role as Detective Frank Banner in the police drama Division 4, Kennedy's career was marked by intensity, charisma, and a quiet humility that endeared him to generations of fans and colleagues alike.

Sophie Nyweide, a former child actor who appeared in several high-profile films and television programs in the 2000s and early 2010s, has died at the age of 24. Her family confirmed her death in an online obituary, stating that she passed away on April 14, 2025. The cause of death was not disclosed.

For decades, planetary scientists have puzzled over a major Martian mystery: why are the strongest traces of Mars’ ancient magnetic field found almost exclusively in the planet’s southern hemisphere? A new study may finally have the answer—and it lies at the heart of the Red Planet.