Netflix almost pulled the streamer’s recent documentary “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” a week before its release for fear of reprisal, Variety has learned. The three-part docuseries re-examines Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial, which saw the pop superstar acquitted of all charges, including child molestation. It ultimately ran as planned, premiering on June 3. “It would have […]

Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray in the U.K. in relation to a “vicious and unprovoked” attack at a London nightclub in 2023. His co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty. The U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (similar in function to the District Attorney) described Akinlolu, a Florida rapper also known as HoodyBaby, as Brown’s vocal […]

A documentary about Lily Allen is coming to Prime Video. The streamer announced the feature-length doc on Wednesday, promising “an intimate portrait of the life and career of a global icon and voice of a generation.” The documentary comes after the explosive release of Allen’s fifth album, “West End Girl,” which marked her first record […]

Harry Styles’ concert scheduled for Tuesday night in Brazil has been canceled due to an unspecified “tour illness,” although Friday’s concert will take place as scheduled, according to the announcement. A rep for the singer had no further comment beyond the statement below, which reads in full:“We deeply regret to share that the Harry Styles […]

Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh pop-rock singer behind ’80s hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” died on Wednesday. She was 75. “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was […]

Jay-Z has added a London date to his string of “Jay-Z 30” shows, celebrating his three-decade career in music. The rapper will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sept. 4. The concert will mark his only U.K. stop of the year and joins previously announced performances in Paris on Sept. 10 and Los Angeles on […]

Gary Glitter, the former singer and convicted child sex offender, has been charged with historic sexual offenses dating back to 1978 and allegedly involving a girl who was under 13 years old. The Metropolitan Police announced on Thursday that Glitter — who is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2015 of […]

Victor Willis, the founding lead singer of Village People and co-writer of “YMCA,” “Macho Man” and “In the Navy,” died on Tuesday. He was 74. “We are profoundly sad to announce the death of Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People. Victor passed on Monday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy […]

A lost 27-year-old demo recording that Chris Martin and Coldplay reportedly intended for a James Bond theme — and later admitted wasn’t good enough — is going up for auction. According to the lot details by Wax Poetics, the recording of “The World is Not Enough” was “written for but understood never to have been submitted” for […]

When pioneering producer and filmmaker Kirsty Bell set out to make a film about legendary American musician Eddie Cochran, she didn’t want to merely chronicle his brief career. Looking back at the musician’s work, who died while touring the U.K. in 1960, aged just 21, Bell felt she needed to “bring him back to life.” […]