Connect with us

Published

on

Kate Moss has made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut, following her daughter on the catwalk – as the US lingerie brand brought its famous show back after six years.

Some of the world’s most famous models and musicians took part in the fashion show in New York, including sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, Tyra Banks, and Adriana Lima.

Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani also made history as they became the first transgender models to walk the famous Victoria’s Secret runway.

Gigi Hadid walks the runway during the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City, U.S., October 15, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Image:
Gigi Hadid (pictured) and her model sister Bella both took part. Pic: Reuters/Andrew Kelly

Alex Consani walks the runway during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Image:
Alex Consani is one of the show’s first transgender models. Pic: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

The show, which launched in 1995, was watched by millions of viewers each year at its peak.

However, it was cancelled in 2019 after suffering its lowest ratings the previous year. It had also begun to attract criticism for lack of diversity.

Now, it is “celebrating all women” with its return, the brand said.

Model Kate Moss walks the runway during the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City, U.S., October 15, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Image:
Moss made a surprise appearance after her daughter, Lila. Pic: Reuters/Andrew Kelly


Tyra Banks walks the runway during the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City, U.S., October 15, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Image:
Tyra Banks came out of modelling retirement to walk the runway. Pic: Reuters/Andrew Kelly


Moss, 50, made a surprise appearance during the event in New York – appearing on the runway wearing a pair of feathered angel wings, walking to I Love Rock’n’Roll, just moments after her 22-year-old daughter, Lila.

Bella Hadid, 28, emerged during a performance from Cher – who sang a medley of her 1998 tracks Believe and Strong Enough, leading the show’s first line-up of all female music performers, including K-pop star Lisa and South African singer Tyla.

Cher performs during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Image:
Cher led the all-female music performers. Pic: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Banks, the former America’s Next Top Model host, returned to the show for the first time in two decades.

The star, 50, broke her retirement to close the event, her first Victoria’s Secret runway since 2005.

Read more:
Ozzy Osbourne’s former guitarist shot several times
Cheating row after conker champion crowned

Brazilian model Lima also made a comeback, having announced her retirement in 2018.

Cher’s boyfriend Alexander “AE” Edwards and US actor Dylan Sprouse were among the crowd, with Sprouse cheering on his model wife Barbara Palvin – showing family support with cardboard cut-outs of their pets.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Donald Trump wades into Sydney Sweeney ad debate

Published

on

By

Donald Trump wades into Sydney Sweeney ad debate

Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.

The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.

It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.

One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
Image:
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP

In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.

Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”

Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”

Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.

But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.

The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.

In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”

Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.

Read more from Sky News:
Kremlin urges caution in nuclear rhetoric following Trump’s submarine order
Still wanted: UK riots suspects pictured in new police appeal

Trump clearly couldn’t wait to get involved in the discourse

They say all publicity is good publicity, and Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad is certainly notching up the column inches, especially now Donald Trump has intervened.

The US president must have been breathlessly excited when he found out Sweeney was a registered Republican because he wrote a Truth Social post in support of her before deleting it twice and reposting three times to correct various spelling and grammatical errors.

He clearly could not wait to get involved in the discourse.

“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there,” he wrote. “Go get ’em Sydney!”

In any other era, the president weighing in so heavily on one side of a pop culture issue would’ve been unusual.

But the current president knows people are talking about the ad around their dinner tables and at parties right now. By injecting himself into the discussion, they will now be talking about him too.

In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.

“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.

Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Actor Dhanush criticises AI-altered ending for re-release of hit film Raanjhanaa

Published

on

By

Actor Dhanush criticises AI-altered ending for re-release of hit film Raanjhanaa

Indian actor Dhanush says he has been left “completely disturbed” by the re-release of one of his hit films with an alternative ending assisted by AI – but the production company behind it has rejected criticism of the move.

Hindi-language romantic drama Raanjhanaa, called Ambikapathy in its Tamil-language title, has made headlines over its re-release 12 years after first hitting cinemas in 2013.

Eros Media World says the new version, which sees the film’s original ending switched to a happier one, is a “lawful and creative reinterpretation, not a replacement”, and that the change and use of artificial intelligence has been made clear to viewers.

The company says the alternate ending was “crafted under the direction of a human creative team using AI only as an assistive tool – not as an autonomous content generator”.

In a statement sent to Sky News, group chief executive Pradeep Dwivedi said the studio wanted to offer “fresh dimensions for audiences” and never intended “to undermine the original essence” of the film.

However, the AI-assisted re-release has already drawn criticism from the film’s director Aanand L Rai, and now its star Dhanush has released a statement to say the “AI-altered climax” had left him “completely disturbed”.

“This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection,” Dhanush said in a message posted on X. “This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago.”

Dhanush said the use of AI to alter films or other content “is a deeply concerning precedent for both art and artists” that “threatens the integrity of storytelling and the legacy of cinema”.

He added: “I sincerely hope that stricter regulations are put in place to prevent such practices in the future.”

Read more from Sky News:
Oasis ‘shocked and saddened’ after man dies at Wembley gig
Coldplay’s viral kiss cam set to feature in UK shows

Jewish comedian says she has new venue for Fringe

Eros said Dhanush’s “wonderful performance” in the role of Kundan had brought the character to life “in an unforgettable way”. However, the studio said the actor’s team had been aware of the plans before the re-release and that they had received “no formal objection”.

“While we acknowledge and respect differing views on the use of AI in film, our aim has been to explore how technology can complement storytelling and offer fresh dimensions for audiences – never to undermine the original essence of a film,” Mr Dwivedi said. “The original Raanjhanaa and Ambikapathy remains much loved and widely available, and the IP is fully preserved.”

He added: “Just as storytelling evolves, so too does music – and with responsible use of AI, even the most iconic soundtracks are being respectfully reimagined as remixes to resonate with new generations while preserving their original soul.

“We deeply respect the creative community and remain committed to collaborating in ways that ensure mutual respect, innovation, and progress for the cinematic arts. As one of India’s most storied film studios, Eros remains committed to celebrating Indian cinema, nurturing talent, and embracing technology responsibly.”

Dhanush’s comments come after statements posted by Rai, who has described the re-release as “a betrayal” to the original that has been “dressed up as innovation”.

Writing on Instagram, he said: “This was never just a film to us. It was shaped by human hands, human flaws, and human feeling. What’s now being circulated is not a tribute. It is a reckless takeover that strips the work of its intent, its context, and its soul.”

Responding to the director’s criticism, Mr Dwivedi reiterated that the re-release is “a respectful creative reinterpretation – clearly labelled and separate from the original version” and said such practices are “common in global cinema, and reflect our long-standing commitment to innovation, audience engagement, and cultural preservation”.

He also highlighted an ongoing legal dispute between Eros and Colour Yellow Productions, the studio co-founded by Rai.

Demonstrators at the picket line outside Warner Bros. Studios oin August 2024. File pic: AP
Image:
Strikes by video game actors ended in June after starting last year. File pic: AP

The re-release comes as artificial intelligence continues to cause concern among some in the creative industries. In June, video game actors in the US ended a strike after nearly a year of industrial action over the use of AI by game studios – an issue that was also part of the concerns raised by the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023.

Earlier this year, Oscar-nominated film The Brutalist made headlines for using the technology to “refine” Hungarian accents.

It has also been used for de-aging stars such as Harrison Ford for the latest Indiana Jones film and Tom Hanks in the 2024 picture Here – and for helping to create “the last Beatles record” featuring John Lennon’s vocals, released in 2023.

There is a “good side” to the technology but also a “scary side”, Sir Paul McCartney has said, adding: “We will just have to see where that leads.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Oasis ‘shocked and saddened’ after man dies at Wembley Stadium concert

Published

on

By

Oasis 'shocked and saddened' after man dies at Wembley Stadium concert

Oasis have said they are “shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan” at their Wembley Stadium concert on Saturday.

Together with their bandmates, Liam and Noel Gallagher have offered their “sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved”.

Metropolitan Police said officers on duty at the stadium responded, alongside venue medics and the London Ambulance Service, to reports a person had been injured at around 10.20pm.

The statement continued: “A man – aged in his 40s – was found with injuries consistent with a fall. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”

According to media reports, the man fell from the stadium’s upper tier.

A concertgoer on social media said they saw the incident and described it as “horrific”.

Oasis on stage. Pic: AP
Image:
Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage at their first reunion gig. Pic: AP

Metropolitan Police said: “The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage.

“If you have any information that could help us to confirm what happened, please call 101.”

Oasis performed at the venue as planned on Sunday night, delivering the final concert of a five-night run at Wembley.

Addressing fans at the stadium, singer Liam said: “This one’s for all the people who can’t be here tonight, but who are here if you know what I mean, and aren’t they looking lovely. Live Forever.”

The band then played the track of the same name.

Read more:
Car finance compensation scheme being considered
Storm to bring 90mph winds to the UK

Oasis support act Richard Ashcroft paid tribute on Instagram, writing: “I was shocked to hear of the death of one of the audience last night sending my love to the family and friends.”

A spokesperson for Wembley Stadium said: “Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.”

They will then head to Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States, before returning to Wembley for two more dates in September.

The reunion tour began at the start of July and marks the Gallagher brothers’ first performances together since Oasis split acrimoniously in 2009.

Continue Reading

Trending