Divorce, a proposal and new tracks: The key moments from Adele’s Oprah interview
Adele has spoken openly about her divorce, its impact on her son, and how people reacted to her weight loss in a wide-ranging interview with chat show legend Oprah Winfrey.
The 33-year-old also performed tracks from her new album 30 at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on the CBS special, ahead of its release later this week.
Here are the key moments from her performances and interview on Sunday night.
Adele was worried her new album was a ‘bit too private’
Speaking to Winfrey in the same garden where the former chat show host interviewed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Adele said she was worried that her upcoming album, which she has previously admitted was written while going through her divorce, could be too personal.
“I think the reason I’m so brave to do it in my career so far is because music helped me in any situation and I would like to do the same for people who are so alone… to be reminded that they’re not alone,” she said.
“There were moments where I was writing the record and I thought that might be a bit too private, too about myself to put out.
“But nothing is as scary as what I’ve been through over the past few years behind closed doors.
“So I’m not frightened about what people might or might not do.”
Adele’s new album is released this week. Pic: Colombia Records
It was the first time her son Angelo had seen her perform live
Her performance during the two-hour special was also the first time her son, Angelo, had watched her perform live on stage – something she said made her nervous.
Adele also told Winfrey that 30 was dedicated to her son, and is a way of showing him “who I am”.
She said: “The whole album is not about him, it’s about me and I just wanted him to hear me talking madly, deeply about who I am and how I feel.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have that conversation with him in real life, so he can go and listen to it.”
Also in the audience at Griffith Observatory were James Corden, Drake and Lizzo, with Adele telling the crowd she was s******* herself for the performance.
Adele with new partner US sports agent Rich Paul (centre). Pic: AP
Adele publicly addressed her weight loss – saying she wasn’t “shocked” by the reaction
She mentioned it briefly during her stint on Saturday Night Live, but Adele opened up to Winfrey about her weight loss.
The singer said that she had never set out to lose almost 100lbs (45kg), and that she always has been, and always will be, body-positive.
“My body has been objectified my entire career, I’m too big, I’m too small, I’m hot or I’m not,” she said.
“I never looked up to anyone because of their weight.
“I [was] body-positive then and I’m body-positive now – but it’s not my job to validate how people feel about their bodies.
“I feel bad if anyone feels horrible about themselves but that’s not my job. I’m trying to sort my own life out.”
She also boasted that she can now deadlift 160lbs (72kgs) and that she told her trainer she wanted to be an Olympian.
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We heard new tracks from 30 for the first time
We’ve already heard Easy On Me, her first single off 30, but Adele treated the LA crowd to three more tracks during her performance.
Fans heard I Drink Wine, Hold On and Love Is A Game, as well as the aforementioned Easy On Me from the new album.
The crowd also heard a number of classic Adele tracks including Hello, Rolling In The Deep and her Bond-theme Skyfall.
Two fans in the crowd got engaged with the help of Adele
Two loved-up fans, Quentin and Ashley, used Adele’s Griffith Observatory performance to get engaged – with the singer helping them out.
Adele asked the crowd to be quiet before Ashley was blindfolded and led on stage, where Quentin popped the question.
The singer then stepped out, stunning Ashley, and invited them to sit on the front row with Lizzo.
She then performed Make You Feel My Love, saying in-between lines: “She’s crying her eyes out!”.
30 is released later this week.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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