BET Awards bring star power as Doechii, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey shine in 25th anniversary show

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The BET Awards has delivered a night of major star power and poignant moments as it marked its 25th anniversary with a mix of comedy, emotion and calls for justice. The awards aired live Monday from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Doechii made her presence felt early during the ceremony, using her acceptance speech for best female hip-hop artist to draw attention to the immigration raids and protest crackdowns taking place just miles from the venue. Foxx, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin received the Ultimate Icon Award. They were selected due to their impact on entertainment as well as their community impact and advocacy.

BTS looks to reunite this year as 2 more members finish their military service

CHUNCHEON, South Korea (AP) — K-pop superstars RM and V are the latest members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea’s military after fulfilling their mandatory service. The pair began their service in 2023 after three other BTS members, Jin, J-Hope and Suga, were already months into their conscription. Six of the group’s seven members served in the army, while Suga is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent. Jin and J-Hope were discharged earlier, and Jimin and JungKook are scheduled to be discharged Wednesday. Suga is to be released later this month. BTS plans to reunite as a group sometime this year.

Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82

NEW YORK (AP) — Sly Stone, an electrifying musician, songwriter and showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and ’70s, has died. He was 82. His time on top was brief, from roughly 1969 to 1971, but his influence on music and culture lasted for decades after. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash. From early hits as rousing as their titles —“I Want To Take You Higher,” “Stand!” — to the sober aftermath of “Family Affair” and “Runnin’ Away,” Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it wanted to hear the message.

Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400M lawsuit against 'It Ends With Us' costar Blake Lively

A judge has dismissed the lawsuit that Justin Baldoni filed against his “It Ends With Us” costar Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment. The ruling is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the film. Lively sued Baldoni in late December. Baldoni then sued Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni can’t sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in court are exempt from libel claims. And the judge ruled that Baldoni’s claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn’t count as extortion under California law.

Foreperson’s complaints signal a divided jury at Harvey Weinstein’s retrial

NEW YORK (AP) — The foreperson of the jury deliberating in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes retrial has told the judge that some jurors are prodding others to change their minds, talking about the former studio boss’ past and going beyond the charges. The foreperson relayed his concerns in a closed-door conversation Monday with the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers. A transcript was released. Weinstein's defense asked unsuccessfully for a mistrial. Meanwhile, another juror also asked to speak to the court Monday, and she said deliberations were going well. The discussions ultimately continued through Monday and are set to resume Tuesday. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault.

Misty Copeland broke barriers in ballet. Now she’s retiring and moving to ‘the next stage’

NEW YORK (AP) — Trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland has decided to move on to what she calls “the next stage” in her career. Copeland broke barriers at American Ballet Theatre. Ten years ago she became the first female Black principal dancer in the company's 75-year history. Now, after an October farewell gala, she is leaving the company she joined a quarter-century ago as a teenager. Copeland says she wants to focus on other aspects of her career. The 42-year-old has authored a number of books, including the “Bunheads” series, with a a second installment coming soon. She has made a film with her production company and works toward diversity and inclusion in dance with her Misty Copeland Foundation.

Judge orders managers for late Johnny Winter to pay $226,000 in damages in lawsuit alleging theft

A Connecticut judge has settled a bitter feud over the estate of the late legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter. The judge on Friday ordered his managers to pay $226,000 in damages for improper payments they received after his 2014 death and rejected their claim to the rights to his music. Relatives of Winter’s late wife, Susan, sued Winter’s manager Paul Nelson and his wife, Marion, in 2020, claiming the Nelsons swindled more than $1 million. The Nelsons denied the allegations. The judge also ruled that fraud allegations against the Nelsons were not proven. Paul Nelson died from a heart attack last year. Lawyers in the case did not return messages.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' ex says he was violent and forced a sex encounter after public apology in 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs' ex-girlfriend says he forced her to have a “freak-off”-style sexual encounter with a male sex worker last year after chasing her around her California home, putting her in a chokehold, punching her in the face and kicking down doors. Testifying for a third day Monday under the pseudonym “Jane,” the woman said the much larger Combs erupted during what was planned as a romantic evening together after she accused him of cheating on her. The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could put him in prison for life.

Tony Awards draw best audience in 6 years for CBS

NEW YORK (AP) — The Tony Awards on Sunday lured 4.85 million viewers to CBS, its largest broadcast audience in six years. CBS says Monday that Nielsen data shows the telecast — hosted by “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo — scored a 38% increase over last year’s 3.53 million viewers. That’s the largest audience for the Tonys since 2019, when the telecast that year nabbed 5.4 million viewers and “Hadestown” was crowned best new musical. The latest version also had to compete with the second game of the NBA Finals, between the Thunder and Pacers,

'Day of the Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies at 86

LONDON (AP) — Frederick Forsyth, the British author of “The Day of the Jackal” and other bestselling thrillers, has died after a brief illness. He was 86. Jonathan Lloyd, his literary agent, said Forsyth died at home early Monday surrounded by his family. Forsyth served as a Royal Air Force pilot before becoming a foreign correspondent and a novelist. In 2015, he told the BBC that he had also worked for the British intelligence agency MI6 for many years. “The Day of the Jackal,” published in 1971, propelled him into global fame. The political thriller about a professional assassin was made into a film and more recently a television series starring Eddie Redmayne.