Global Pulse

分类： entertainment

  • ‘I do not want to reconcile with my family’ says Brooklyn Peltz Beckham

    ‘I do not want to reconcile with my family’ says Brooklyn Peltz Beckham

    In an explosive social media revelation that has sent shockwaves through celebrity circles, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham has publicly declared his permanent separation from parents David and Victoria Beckham. The 26-year-old scion of the globally renowned couple delivered a scathing indictment of his family’s conduct in a meticulously detailed Instagram post to his 16.2 million followers.

    The core allegation centers on what Brooklyn describes as a systematic campaign by his parents to ‘control narratives’ in press coverage about their family dynamics while simultaneously attempting to ‘ruin’ his marriage to actress Nicola Peltz Beckham. According to his account, this interference began even before their lavish 2022 wedding ceremony.

    Among the most serious claims is the allegation that Victoria Beckham, despite initially agreeing to design Nicola’s wedding dress, abruptly canceled the arrangement at the ‘eleventh hour,’ forcing the bride to secure alternative attire under extreme time pressure. Brooklyn further contends that his mother ‘hijacked’ his first dance with Nicola during the reception, performing what he characterized as ‘inappropriate’ dancing that left him feeling profoundly ‘uncomfortable and humiliated’ before hundreds of guests.

    The post additionally reveals that Nicola was reportedly excluded from David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations, which Brooklyn interprets as deliberate disrespect toward his wife. He attributes these actions to the family’s prioritization of ‘public promotion and endorsements’ above personal relationships, asserting that ‘Brand Beckham comes first’ in their value system.

    Concluding his emotional statement, Brooklyn reflected on his childhood marked by ‘overwhelming anxiety’ and contrasted it with the ‘peace’ he has found since establishing independence from his family. Representatives for David and Victoria Beckham have not yet issued any public response to these allegations.

  • Nigeria remembers master wood carver

    Nigeria remembers master wood carver

    The global art community mourns the passing of Kasali Akangbe Ogun, the renowned Nigerian wood carving master who transformed Yoruba cultural traditions into monumental artistic achievements. Ogun, who died recently after a brief illness, was laid to rest this week, leaving behind a legacy that bridges sacred art practices and contemporary cultural preservation.

    Hailing from Osogbo in southwestern Nigeria, Ogun emerged from a long lineage of Yoruba wood carvers, revitalizing a family tradition that had skipped two generations before his birth around 1945. Despite receiving only one week of formal education due to his father’s early death, Ogun’s innate talent propelled him to international recognition, eventually lecturing university students in the United States through his artistic mastery.

    Ogun became a pivotal figure in the New Sacred Art Movement, founded by Austrian-Nigerian artist and Yoruba priestess Susanne Wenger in the 1960s. This collective dedicated itself to protecting the 75-hectare Osun Forest and its sacred river, which gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005 for its profound cultural significance in Yoruba cosmology. The forest is regarded as the abode of Osun, the goddess of fertility in the Yoruba pantheon.

    The artist developed a distinctive style characterized by lean, elongated faces and dynamic, flowing forms that transformed traditional Yoruba devotional practice into contemporary artistic expression. His craftsmanship is visible throughout the Osun Grove in ritual figures, majestic pillars, and exquisitely crafted shrine roofs that blend spiritual depth with visual poetry.

    Beyond his local impact, Ogun achieved international acclaim with exhibitions at prestigious venues including Iwalewa Haus in Germany (1989), Africa Centre in London (1990), Edinburgh Fringe (1994), and throughout the 1990s at the National Black Theatre in Harlem, New York. In 2013, he served as Distinguished Africana Artist-in-Residence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

    Despite his global recognition, Ogun maintained a simple life among the people of Osogbo, committed to preserving his living environment as a model of traditional Yoruba culture. He actively safeguarded the sacred forest, sometimes confronting those attempting to fish in the prohibited waters of the Osun River.

    The artist’s legacy continues through his children, who have inherited his wood carving tradition, and through his works currently featured in the landmark Nigerian Modernism exhibition at Tate Modern. His influence extended unexpectedly to popular culture, with tributes coming from figures including Wayne Barrow, manager of hip-hop legend The Notorious B.I.G.

    As Ogun himself poignantly described his role: “I am a dot, just a dot, connecting the past to the present, and the future.” His artistic vision has ensured that Yoruba cultural heritage remains vibrantly alive for generations to come.

  • In pictures: Valentino’s life and work – and the stars who shared his journey

    In pictures: Valentino’s life and work – and the stars who shared his journey

    The fashion world continues to reflect on the monumental legacy of Valentino Garavani, the Italian couturier who passed away recently, leaving behind an indelible mark on haute couture. Founding his eponymous fashion house in 1960, Valentino’s designs became synonymous with elegance and glamour, gracing international red carpets and award ceremonies for over six decades.

    This retrospective showcases the designer’s profound influence through his relationships with iconic figures. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, exemplified Valentino’s regal aesthetic in a sophisticated velvet and lace creation in 1992. Throughout the 1990s supermodel era, Valentino frequently collaborated with fashion luminaries including Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, and Helena Christensen, defining the decade’s glamour standards.

    The designer’s Hollywood connections produced memorable red carpet moments, with Sharon Stone, Halle Berry, and Cate Blanchett wearing Valentino creations to major events including the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Berry’s bronze gown at the 2002 Golden Globes and Blanchett’s silk-taffeta dress at the 2005 Oscars demonstrated Valentino’s mastery of both color and structure.

    Valentino maintained particularly close personal relationships with several stars, referring to Anne Hathaway as “like my daughter” and considering Gwyneth Paltrow a cherished friend. Following his passing, Paltrow expressed being “so lucky to know and love Valentino,” while Jennifer Lopez frequently selected his designs for her most prominent public appearances.

    Even after his 2008 retirement, the Valentino brand continues to captivate the fashion world under creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Recent appearances by Pedro Pascal at the 2023 Met Gala demonstrate the label’s ongoing relevance and ability to capture public attention, proving that Valentino’s vision continues to inspire contemporary fashion.

  • James Cameron shuts down ‘Titanic’ ending debate

    James Cameron shuts down ‘Titanic’ ending debate

    Legendary filmmaker James Cameron has definitively closed one of cinema’s most enduring debates regarding the fate of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Titanic. During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the three-time Academy Award winner expressed exhaustion with persistent questions about whether Jack Dawson could have survived the 1912 shipwreck by sharing the floating door with Rose (Kate Winslet).

    Cameron revealed that extensive scientific testing was conducted to examine this exact scenario. ‘We even went to the lengths of doing an experiment to see if Jack could have in any way survived, or if they could have both survived,’ the director stated, expressing frustration that his previous explanations had been overlooked by dedicated fans.

    The director provided a detailed technical analysis, explaining that survival would have required specific knowledge of hypothermia management that simply didn’t exist in 1912. ‘If Jack somehow was an expert in hypothermia and somehow knew what science now knows back in 1912, it is theoretically possible, with a lot of luck, that he might have survived,’ Cameron conceded before delivering his final verdict: ‘Therefore, the answer is no, he could not have. There’s no way. The conditions were not met.’

    This scientific approach reflects Cameron’s renowned commitment to accuracy and narrative precision, qualities that have contributed to his unprecedented commercial success. The director recently made history as the only filmmaker to deliver four billion-dollar productions, with Titanic and his Avatar franchise demonstrating his unique ability to combine rigorous scientific foundations with blockbuster storytelling.

  • Look: Why everyone’s speculating over Kriti Sanon’s boyfriend

    Look: Why everyone’s speculating over Kriti Sanon’s boyfriend

    Bollywood sensation Kriti Sanon has become the center of intense romantic speculation following recent social media activity from rumored beau Kabir Bahia. The entertainment circles are abuzz after Bahia posted intimate photographs from the lavish Udaipur wedding of Sanon’s sister, Nupur Sanon, who married actor Stebin Ben in a dreamy ceremony.

    The Instagram upload featured several captivating images showing Bahia and Kriti Sanon together at various wedding functions. During the Christian ceremony, the actress dazzled in an elegant turquoise blue gown while Bahia complemented her in a sophisticated white tuxedo. Additional photographs captured the couple during the traditional Haldi ceremony, where they appeared comfortably close and genuinely happy in each other’s company.

    Social media reactions erupted immediately following the post’s publication. Fans flooded the comments section with enthusiastic responses, with one follower exclaiming, ‘Finally Kabir and Kriti in one frame,’ while others expressed admiration for their apparent chemistry. Notably, Sanon herself acknowledged the post with a ‘like,’ though neither party has officially confirmed the nature of their relationship.

    This development follows previous instances that fueled dating rumors. Last November, Sanon shared a beachside selfie with Bahia on her Instagram Stories to celebrate his birthday, accompanied by a heartfelt caption: ‘Happy Birthday to the one I can be stupid with! May this world never change the good heart you have!’

    While the romance speculation continues to dominate entertainment news, Sanon maintains professional momentum with multiple upcoming projects, including the anticipated sequel ‘Cocktail 2’ alongside co-stars Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.

  • Giorgio Armani launches new era with iridescent colors and a star-studded front row

    Giorgio Armani launches new era with iridescent colors and a star-studded front row

    MILAN — The fashion world witnessed a significant transition as Giorgio Armani’s first menswear collection since the iconic designer’s passing debuted under the sole creative direction of his longtime collaborator Leo Dell’Orco. The showcase, which closed Milan Fashion Week, attracted celebrity attendees including Ricky Martin and Hudson Williams in the front row.

    The collection masterfully balanced Armani’s heritage with contemporary innovation, maintaining the brand’s signature soft tailoring while introducing sharper, modern elements. The presentation opened with a fresh color narrative, featuring a loden green top paired with a textured jacket and gray trousers. Iridescent jewel tones in calming purples and lapis blues created striking contrasts against luxurious velvet, cashmere, and chenille fabrics.

    Archival Armani aesthetics emerged through blouson bomber jackets and belted trench coats complemented by simple white shirts with ties, alongside the brand’s trademark pleated trousers. The ensembles were completed with slightly crumpled fedora hats, adding a touch of casual sophistication.

    In a departure from Armani’s usual presentation style, the new collection received a full walk-through finale, with Martin capturing the moment from his front-row seat as the audience applauded enthusiastically. Fashion experts noted the collection’s heightened energy and joyful spirit, with WWD’s Fashion and Style Director Alex Badia observing, ‘There is something about joy. It is not a new beginning but you can sense something new is happening.’

    Carlo Capasa, head of Milan’s fashion chamber, praised the collection as ‘very modern’ while maintaining ‘the true spirit of Armani.’ Dell’Orco, who collaborated with Armani for four decades, received extended applause when he took his bow, notably dressed in a double-breasted suit without a tie—a subtle but meaningful departure from Armani’s signature dark T-shirt and blazer combination.

  • ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Review: A smaller, smarter return to Westeros

    ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Review: A smaller, smarter return to Westeros

    The fantasy landscape of Westeros returns with a refreshingly intimate approach in HBO’s latest spinoff ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ now streaming weekly on OSN+ in the UAE. Departing from the epic scale of its predecessors, this series adapts George R.R. Martin’s novella ‘The Hedge Knight’ with a deliberate focus on character development and grounded storytelling.

    Set approximately a century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ the narrative follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a knight-for-hire determined to prove his worth through tournaments and small missions, accompanied by his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Unlike the dragon-filled skies and throne-room conspiracies of previous iterations, this installment explores Westeros at human scale, where honor and personal identity carry equal weight to political power.

    The series demonstrates structural intelligence through its concise format—six episodes of approximately thirty minutes each—creating tightly paced storytelling that avoids narrative bloat. While the weekly release schedule may challenge binge-conditioned audiences, the deliberate pacing allows for meaningful character development without unnecessary padding.

    Performance excellence elevates the production, with eleven-year-old Dexter Sol Ansell delivering a remarkably nuanced portrayal of Egg that consistently captivates. Peter Claffey physically embodies the towering knight while bringing emotional depth to a character who frequently misreads social situations, generating authentic humor through awkward interactions and class disparities.

    The production maintains visual sophistication despite its smaller scope, with cinematography reaching particular brilliance in episode five—a sequence that also reaffirms the series’ commitment to maintaining Westeros’ signature edge despite its lighter tone. Familiar house names like Targaryen and Baratheon emerge organically, satisfying franchise enthusiasts while remaining accessible to newcomers.

    This character-driven approach proves Westeros needs neither ice zombies nor dragons to maintain compelling storytelling, offering a refreshing alternative to the increasingly complex mythology of ‘House of the Dragon.’ With season two already greenlit, the series establishes a promising new direction for Martin’s fantasy universe.

  • How a bout of food poisoning helped Ben Affleck while filming for ‘Armageddon’

    How a bout of food poisoning helped Ben Affleck while filming for ‘Armageddon’

    In a surprising revelation about Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes challenges, Academy Award winner Ben Affleck has disclosed how a severe bout of food poisoning unexpectedly contributed to his performance in the 1998 sci-fi blockbuster ‘Armageddon.’ During a recent interview with Fox 32 Chicago, the actor recounted the physically demanding circumstances surrounding one of the film’s most emotionally charged scenes.

    Affleck described being struck by food poisoning during the filming of his character’s heartfelt farewell to Bruce Willis’ character, Harry Stamper. Despite his debilitating condition, the then-less-experienced actor felt compelled to report to work rather than request a day off. ‘I wasn’t an experienced enough actor at that point to know that you can just pick up the phone and be like, ‘I’m too sick to work today,” Affleck explained. His commitment led to the extraordinary situation of vomiting between takes—an experience he noted was unique in his entire career.

    The actor humorously reflected that his genuine physical distress ultimately enhanced the emotional authenticity of the scene. In this pivotal moment, Affleck’s character AJ Frost bids farewell to Willis’ self-sacrificing oil driller who remains aboard an asteroid to manually detonate a nuclear device saving Earth from destruction.

    Directed by Michael Bay, ‘Armageddon’ featured an ensemble cast including Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Will Patton, Steve Buscemi, William Fichtner, Owen Wilson, and Michael Clarke Duncan. The film became a cultural phenomenon and remains a notable entry in the disaster movie genre, with Affleck’s revelation adding a new layer to its production history.

  • Kevin O’Leary praises ‘Marty Supreme’ co-star Timothée Chalamet for being ‘well-grounded, normal’

    Kevin O’Leary praises ‘Marty Supreme’ co-star Timothée Chalamet for being ‘well-grounded, normal’

    Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary has revealed remarkable insights about his co-star Timothée Chalamet’s character during their collaboration on the film ‘Marty Supreme.’ The business mogul turned actor expressed admiration for Chalamet’s ability to maintain normalcy despite achieving extraordinary Hollywood success.

    During an exclusive interview at the annual BAFTA Tea event, O’Leary detailed his observations of Chalamet’s professional conduct and personal temperament. The 71-year-old television personality emphasized that the young actor has remained completely unchanged by fame, describing him as ‘very well-grounded’ and ‘a very normal guy’ despite his skyrocketing career.

    O’Leary attributed Chalamet’s stability to strong family foundations, revealing he had personally met and spent time with the actor’s mother in New York. ‘He is focused on work… I think that’s a good attribute,’ O’Leary noted. ‘He hasn’t let any of the stardom stuff affect him at all. He’s the same guy I met at the beginning. Eight months later, he’s the same guy.’

    The businessman also expressed professional admiration for Chalamet’s dedication to his craft, particularly his method acting approach to portraying Marty Mauser, a ambitious ping-pong player. ‘I certainly saw what a method actor is like. That’s not how I work, but that’s how he works. And I think he was fantastic,’ O’Leary stated.

    In ‘Marty Supreme,’ O’Leary made his acting debut as Milton Rockwell, a wealthy New York businessman who develops a complex relationship with Chalamet’s character. The film has generated significant buzz within entertainment circles, with O’Leary’s comments providing unique perspective on one of Hollywood’s most prominent young talents.

  • Italian fashion designer Valentino dies aged 93

    Italian fashion designer Valentino dies aged 93

    The fashion world mourns the passing of Italian design maestro Valentino Garavani, who died peacefully at his Roman residence on January 20th at age 93. Surrounded by family members, the legendary couturier’s departure marks the end of an era for haute couture. The Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation confirmed the news through an official Instagram statement, announcing public viewings would be held at Piazza Mignanelli on January 21-22, followed by a funeral service at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.

    Born in Lombardy during May 1932, Valentino revolutionized twentieth-century fashion with his distinctive vision of luxury and opulence. His designs became synonymous with aristocratic elegance, characterized by lavish fabrics, meticulous craftsmanship, and his signature ‘Valentino red’—a vibrant crimson hue inspired by Spanish cultural aesthetics. The iconic fiesta dress, debuted in his groundbreaking collection, propelled the Valentino fashion house to international acclaim following its 1960 co-founding.

    Throughout his illustrious career, Valentino dressed generations of style icons from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor to contemporary Hollywood stars including Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Lopez. His designs consistently embodied red-carpet glamour rather than utilitarian fashion, with former British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman noting his creations represented ‘fabulous gowns’ rather than office attire.

    Valentino’s recent recognition with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the December 2023 British Fashion Awards underscored his enduring influence. Despite evolving fashion trends, the designer maintained his commitment to classical beauty and refined elegance, cultivating lifelong relationships with celebrity clients. His final 2007 collection featured an all-red finale, paying homage to the color that defined his six-decade legacy.