Hollywood actor Will Smith is facing a lawsuit from a former violinist on his 2025 music tour, who alleges wrongful termination, retaliation, and sexual harassment—claims that Smith’s legal team has strongly denied, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Brian King Joseph filed the suit Monday in California state court, accusing Smith of “predatory behavior” and of “deliberately grooming and priming” him for “sexual exploitation,” though he does not point to a specific incident directly involving Smith. The lawsuit includes claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, and sexual harassment, among others.

Smith’s attorney, Allen Grodsky, dismissed the allegations as “false, baseless and reckless,” stating that they are categorically denied and that Smith will use all legal avenues to address the claims and establish the truth. According to the complaint, Smith first invited Joseph to perform at a 2024 San Diego show and later included him on his global tour, Based on a True Story, which was tied to Smith’s upcoming album. Joseph claims Smith told him they shared a special connection that Smith did not have with others.

The lawsuit also describes an incident at a Las Vegas hotel in March 2025, when Joseph alleges his bag containing his room key went missing for several hours before being returned by tour management. Later that night, he says he found a note in his room reading, “Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,” along with a bottle of HIV medication, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork. Joseph claims he feared someone—whom he suspects was part of Smith’s management—might return to his room to engage in sexual acts.

After reporting the incident, Joseph alleges he was blamed for “sexual harassment” and was subsequently fired. The lawsuit quotes him as being told, “I don't know, you tell me, because everyone is telling me that what happened to you is a lie, nothing happened, and you made the whole thing up. So, tell me, why did you lie and make this up.” King, who placed third on a season of America’s Got Talent, asserts that the events reflect a pattern of predatory behavior rather than an isolated incident. He claims to suffer from PTSD and is seeking unspecified damages.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Insta/@willsmith.

According to reports, Tommy Lee Jones’ daughter, Victoria Jones, has passed away. Victoria, 34, was reportedly found dead in a hotel room in San Francisco on New Year’s Day, January 1. TMZ was the first to report the news, citing law enforcement sources. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed to People that they were called to the Fairmont Hotel around 3 a.m. local time on Thursday for a medical emergency, where an unidentified individual was found dead. The San Francisco Police Department also told People that officers responded to the hotel that morning, where they met paramedics and officially declared an adult female deceased at the scene.

NBC Bay Area reported that Victoria was discovered in a hotel hallway early Thursday morning, citing police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation. The sources noted that her identity would not be officially confirmed until the body is examined by a medical examiner. Authorities have said there is no suspicion of foul play in her death.

Tommy Lee Jones, 79, had Victoria and her brother Austin, 43, with his ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. Victoria appeared in a few of her father’s films as a child, including Men in Black II in 2002 and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada in 2005, which Tommy directed. Her passing has come as a shock to family and fans alike, marking a tragic start to the new year for the actor’s family.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Men in Black II.

Movie enthusiasts hoping for a showdown at the box office between Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan will have to wait, as the clash has been postponed. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reported that the release of Alia Bhatt’s eagerly awaited spy thriller Alpha has been delayed to avoid overlapping with Salman Khan’s upcoming war drama Battle of Galwan.

Alpha was originally set to release on April 17, 2026. However, the makers have decided to shift the release to a later date to ensure a smoother theatrical window. Adarsh shared on X: “#BreakingNews... ALPHA AVOIDS CLASH WITH BATTLE OF GALWAN – YRF TO DECIDE ON A NEW DATE... #AdityaChopra steps aside for #SalmanKhan, moving Alpha from its April 17, 2026 release to avoid a direct clash with BattleOfGalwan. #YRF had locked April 17, 2026, for Alpha, but a new date will be announced after reviewing the theatrical calendar in the coming months.”

This is not the first delay for Alpha, which was initially planned for a Christmas 2025 release before being pushed to April 2026. With the latest postponement, the film is expected to release later in 2026, though an official date is yet to be revealed. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is the sixth installment in the successful YRF Spy Universe, which includes hits like Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, and Pathaan. Alongside Alia Bhatt, the film stars Sharvari and Bobby Deol in key roles.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Kunal Nayyar enjoys “paying random families’ medical bills.” The 42-year-old actor, who reportedly earned around US$1 million (S$1.3 million) per episode of The Big Bang Theory, says his wealth doesn’t feel like a burden. He and his wife, Neha Kapur, use their fortune to help others, including funding university scholarships for underprivileged students.

Speaking to the i newspaper, he said, “Money has given me greater freedom, and the best gift is the ability to give back and change people’s lives. We also support animal charities because we love dogs. But what I really enjoy is going on GoFundMe at night and paying random families’ medical bills—that’s my masked vigilante thing. Money feels like a grace from the universe, not a burden.”

Kunal believes helping those less fortunate benefits everyone. He noted, “People expect kindness from leaders or politicians, but real change starts at home. If your neighbor asks for sugar and you shut the door, there is no world peace.” He hopes audiences of his latest film, Christmas Karma—a retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol—take away the lesson that change must start with oneself.

The actor also spoke about experiencing racism worldwide, saying, “I cannot change my skin color; it’s the suit I have to wear for life.” He expressed concern about the resurgence of overt racism, citing far-right marches in London, and emphasized that prejudice stems from narrow-mindedness. Kunal approaches hardship with compassion, explaining, “You can’t change someone’s mind through aggression. By responding with grace, you can help heal the inner child and hold space for what’s screaming inside them.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Insta/Kunal Nayyar

In the episode of ‘Culture Club,’ Melanie Oliveiro chats with Claire Javier, an emerging indie-pop singer-songwriter, about her music, focusing on her latest single, “Easy.” Javier shares the story behind the dreamy and playful track, which captures the surreal feeling of a past romance. The Filipino-Singaporean artist also discusses her other single, “Misbehave,” her experiences performing live, and her evolution from introspective songwriting to a more narrative and confessional style. To explore more Singaporean artists like Claire Javier, visit Hear65.com, an initiative by the National Arts Council, produced by independent music media company Bandwagon.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

The 2025 Emmy Award nominations are out, with Severance leading the pack with 27 nominations. The Penguin follows closely with 24, while The Studio and The White Lotus each earned 23 nods, highlighting the top contenders in television over the past year. Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng discuss the most unexpected omissions and surprise nominations with Dr. Nasya Bahfen, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy at La Trobe University.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

He’s spent a full day submerged in slime, stayed underground for 48 hours, and given away huge sums of money to fortunate contestants. But are MrBeast’s videos just clever clickbait – or bold experiments in creative innovation?
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian

New Zealand artist Marlon Williams dedicated five years to creating his latest album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which is sung entirely in the Māori language. Its release comes at a politically charged time, as the current coalition government in New Zealand restricts the use of Māori in public services and recently suspended three MPs for performing a haka in protest of a bill seen as undermining Indigenous rights. Williams discusses with Reged Ahmad the experience of performing in his first language on a global stage and also shares a live performance of a song from the album at the Guardian Australia studio.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.