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City-state’s culture minister says grant given to pop icon ‘not anywhere as high as speculated’.

 

Singapore has downplayed the size of a grant it paid Taylor Swift after the city-state’s efforts to lure the pop icon led to complaints from regional neighbours.

Singapore’s Culture Minister Edwin Tong said on Monday that speculation about the size of the grant was “not accurate”.

“I can say that it is not accurate and not anywhere as high as speculated, but due to business confidentiality, we cannot reveal the specific size and conditions of the grant,” Tong told Parliament in response to questions from lawmakers.

Tong said the government was also confident that the economic benefits of Swift’s six concert dates in the city would be “significant and outweigh the size of the grant”.

Tong’s remarks come after Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last month told a business forum that Singapore had paid Swift between $2m and $3m on the condition she not perform in any other country in Southeast Asia.

“If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand,” Srettha was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post. “Concerts can generate added value for the economy.”

Philippine legislator Joey Salceda last week called on Manila to grill Singapore about the reported grant, saying such behaviour is “not what good neighbours do”.

Singapore officials had previously acknowledged offering Swift a grant to come to the city-state, without disclosing its terms, due to the benefits she would have on tourism-related sectors such as accommodation, retail and dining.

Singapore’s Channel News Asia has reported that hotels and airlines saw demand for flights and accommodation around the dates of the concerts jump by up to 30 percent.

Apart from four shows in Japan last month, Swift’s concerts in Singapore are the only stops she is making in Asia as part of her The Eras Tour.

The sold-out shows, which run until March 9, are being attended by some 300,000 fans, including those from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Swift, one of the most successful music artists of all time with 14 Grammy wins and hundreds of millions of album sales worldwide, performed the first of her Singapore concerts on Saturday, after wrapping up the Australian leg of her tour last week with a show in front of 81,000 fans at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

Travis Kelce, the star athlete known for his prowess on the football field, has dropped a bombshell by revealing his ultimate goal with none other than pop icon Taylor Swift. In an exclusive interview with a major entertainment outlet, Kelce made headlines by disclosing his intentions to take his relationship with Swift to the next level.

With the world buzzing over their high-profile romance, Kelce left no room for speculation as he announced, “We’re tying the knot.” The declaration stunned fans and media alike, marking a significant milestone in the couple’s journey together.

Kelce’s revelation sheds light on the depth of his commitment to Swift, transcending the realm of celebrity gossip and confirming their bond as genuine and enduring. While details about their impending nuptials remain scarce, Kelce’s announcement has sparked widespread excitement and anticipation among their legion of admirers.

As Kelce and Swift prepare to embark on this new chapter of their lives together, all eyes are on the couple, eagerly awaiting further updates on their love story and the journey towards their happily ever after.

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may soon find themselves challenged for the title of NFL supercouple, as sources reveal Kim Kardashian could be joining the singer in the stands if her new man signs with the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

Odell Beckham Jr, 31, is reportedly eyeing up a move from Baltimore Ravens to Travis’ beloved team in Missouri in a bid to be ‘closer’ to the reality TV star, who lives in Los Angeles.

 

The couple are now exclusive having first been publicly linked in September 2023, with insiders claiming the sportsman is planning a ‘future’ with the billionaire SKIMS founder, 43.

‘Odell is a free agent and is looking to sign with a team that will get him closer to LA to be closer to Kim,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

 

Kim Kardashian and Odell Beckham Jr. could become the next NFL supercouple as sources claim the wide receiver is eyeing up a move to the Kansas City Chiefs to be ‘closer’ to Kim.

Chiefs Kingdom welcomed pop royalty Taylor Swift to Arrowhead Stadium this past season with Taylor Swift cheering on tight end boyfriend Travis Kelce (pictured)

‘He loved his time with Baltimore and may sign with them again, but he has many more options and he is now going to use his personal life as a means of supporting his professional life.’

The insider continued: ‘Kim and Odell are firing on all cylinders and it is very simple right now between them because she can still do her thing, be a mom and he can do his thing.

‘There is no wedding bells to consider, it is just fun and physical right now. He would love to be closer to Kim as he sees a future with her.’

They finished: ‘Odell might sign with the Chiefs, and we all know what that would mean. Kim and Taylor in the same building – talk about fireworks.’

Odell is currently weighing up options following his most recent season with the Baltimore Ravens – with former NFL star Robert Griffin III suggesting that he would be a great addition to the Chiefs as they get ready to defend their Super Bowl title next season.

‘The @chiefs SHOULD SIGN Odell Beckham Jr,’ he wrote on X. ‘Last year he proved he is STILL DYNAMIC after being 8th in the NFL averaging 16.1 yards per catch.

‘The @Chiefs struggled with drops last year, but @obj had the lowest drop rate of his career with 1 drop on 64 targets (1.6%). Chief him.’

Odell landed in Baltimore last year after returning from an ACL injury, which he sustained during the LA Rams’ Super Bowl victory in 2022 before he was ruled out of the entire 2022-23 season.

Odell reportedly wants to base himself in a location closer to Kim’s Los Angeles home – pictured together in Ls Vegas on February 10

Kim attended the Super Bowl in Las Vegas earlier this month, while Taylor supported Travis and the Chiefs in a separate box.

Odell sat in Kim’s box and was pictured in the back row hiding behind three sodas at this year’s Super Bowl final

If he does sign with the Chiefs, and Kim joins Taylor, 34, in the box with her pal Brittany Mahomes, it will mark eight years since their very bitter public feud.

Back in 2016 Kim’s ex-husband, rapper Kanye West, released his track Famous which included a vulgar reference to Taylor.

The Bad Blood singer took offence and called him out for the lyrics – to which Kim chose to release a partial recording of a phone call between Kanye and Taylor about the song.

Taylor hit back, claiming that while Kanye spoke through some of the lyrics on the call, he never said that he would call her a ‘b***h.’

The Bad Blood hitmaker opened up on the ordeal during her interview with TIME last year, after she was named the magazine’s Person of the Year in December.

Travis (left) and the Chiefs previously beat Odell and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship on January 28

The insider explained that while the couple aren’t putting too much pressure on their budding romance, Odell does ‘see a future’ with the Skims mogul

She said that the public fallout felt like ‘a career death,’ adding: ‘Make no mistake — my career was taken away from me.’

In the interview she also revealed she was dating Travis months before she first appeared at his game on September 24. It marked the same month that Kim was first linked to Odell.

She later attended his 31st birthday party in November and was pictured arriving with her younger sister, Khloe Kardashian, 39 – who reportedly briefly dated Odell in 2016.

Kim and Odell were also rumored to be at the same pre-Grammy party earlier this month with TMZ claiming they put on an amorous display at the bash.

The star-studded party was thrown by Jay-Z at the exclusive Bird Streets club and was attended by other celebrity names including Kim’ mom Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Corey Gamble.

Kim was also pictured with Odell at the Wynn Tower Suites in Las Vegas ahead of this year’s Super Bowl. Neither party has commented publicly on the relationship.

According to Daily Mail on August 21, a black female student called on people to donate money for college through a post on the fundraising platform GoFundMe. After hearing the news, Taylor Swift quickly donated 23,000 pounds.

 

Vitoria Mario (18 years old) dreams of becoming a mathematician in the future but cannot enter university due to financial problems. The black female student migrated from Portugal to live with relatives in Tottenham (UK) 4 years ago. She could barely pay for her studies while her father passed away and her mother remained in Portugal.

After asking for help everywhere but receiving no response, she decided to ask the community to raise money for her to go to school through the fundraising platform GoFundMe. The amount of money that Vitoria Mario wants to achieve is about 40,000 pounds (more than 1.2 billion VND) to pay for tuition, buy supplies, learning equipment and living expenses for 4 years of university.

After reading the above female student’s appeal, Taylor Swift reviewed and decided to donate 23,000 pounds (more than 700 million VND) to help the black girl pay tuition. The singer of Look what you made me do did not forget to leave a message: “Vitoria, I read your story online, they really inspire people because of your motivation and your efforts to transform dream come true. I want to give you the rest of my goal amount. Good luck with everything you do. Best regards, Taylor.” In response, the 18-year-old female student expressed her happiness: “My mind was blown away when I read those words. I wondered how I could achieve the target number and now, the miracle has happened” and thanked everyone for their support.

Credits: IMAGO / Poolfoto Motorsport, IMAGO / Laci Perenyi, IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Over the past few years, the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have undertaken several initiatives to promote diversity and inclusivity in F1. Journalist Matt Bishop, who himself is an openly gay man, has lauded the two legendary F1 drivers for their efforts. In an exclusive conversation with The SportsRush‘s Tanish Chachra, Bishop was asked about what has prompted the likes of Hamilton and Vettel to express their views about inclusivity and diversity more freely now.

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In reply, the British journalist said, “The world has changed as I say and Formula 1 has changed with it. Formula 1 when it began, in the ashes of the Second World War in 1950, we’re talking about really white male heterosexuals”.

Bishop believes that because of F1’s historical context, most of the founders of the sport developed prejudices. However, he believes that the newer generations no longer have such prejudices.

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Since most of the youth of today’s generation do not have any significant prejudices, they tend to have a more open mindset and have more acceptance towards others. As a result of this increased acceptance in society, Bishop believes that the likes of Vettel and Hamilton also feel more comfortable in expressing their viewpoints.

Bishop then explained how he is very proud of both Hamilton and Vettel for the efforts they have put in to speak about LGBTQ+ rights. Bishop referred to both these drivers as “allies” as they have repeatedly voiced their support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The journalist pointed out how Hamilton is famous for voicing his support by wearing his rainbow helmet. Meanwhile, when it came to Vettel, Bishop revealed that the German had the perfect response to anyone who spoke against LGBTQ+ rights. Bishop explained,

“He (Vettel) expressed it better than I’ve ever heard anyone express it at all. He simply used to say: ‘Everyone in the world has an inalienable right to be who they want to be and love whom they want to love. And if you can’t agree with that, then I think you’re the person who’s got the problem”.

Matt Bishop believes younger drivers are unfazed by older generations’ prejudices

After praising both Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for their support, Matt Bishop then pointed out how none of the younger drivers share the prejudices that many of the older generation did when he joined F1. The British journalist revealed that he joined F1 in the early 1990s, a time when it was uncommon for the LGBTQ+ community to freely express themselves.

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As a result, when he chose to come out, his peers regarded him as the “only gay in the Formula One village”. While Bishop was confident that he was not the only one, he believes that such was the discomfort that people like him faced to come out and freely express themselves.

After revealing the same, Bishop then explained how times have changed in today’s generation. The journalist believes that many of the younger drivers like Kevin Magnussen, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Nyck de Vries never cared about him being gay.

In fact, Bishop revealed that the trio also met his husband, Angel, and not once did they seem fazed when they saw two men being married to one another. Bishop then concluded his remarks by explaining how even big companies like Liberty Media now have to be more careful with their stance on the LGBTQ+ community for commercial reasons.

Bishop believes that as more and more drivers have begun to voice their support for the LGBTQ+ community, bigger corporations have no choice but to promote diversity and inclusion in their organizations. The Briton pointed out that if these companies do not do so, then people will “wonder why” they are hesitant to showcase their support.

In a stunning display of gratitude and friendship, iconic rapper Slick Rick surprised former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson with a lavish gift on his 57th birthday. The gift? None other than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, an extravagant symbol of luxury and prestige.

The gesture, which took place at Tyson’s birthday celebration, left onlookers in awe and underscored the depth of the bond between the two legends. Slick Rick’s decision to bestow such a grand gift upon Tyson speaks volumes about the respect and admiration he holds for the boxing icon.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, known for its opulent design and unparalleled craftsmanship, perfectly encapsulates the essence of Tyson’s larger-than-life persona and his status as a global icon. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose contributions to the world of sports and entertainment have left an indelible mark on history.

Beyond the material value of the gift, it is the sentiment behind it that truly resonates. Slick Rick’s gesture serves as a reminder of the importance of showing appreciation for the people who have made a meaningful impact in our lives. In a world often characterized by fleeting relationships and superficial interactions, acts of genuine friendship and gratitude like this one are truly remarkable.

The bond between Slick Rick and Mike Tyson extends far beyond the realms of music and sports; it is a testament to the power of genuine connections and the enduring nature of true friendship. As Tyson cruises in his new Rolls-Royce Cullinan, he will undoubtedly be reminded of the unwavering support and camaraderie he shares with Slick Rick.

In a society where material possessions often take precedence over personal connections, Slick Rick’s gift serves as a poignant reminder of the true value of friendship and the importance of expressing gratitude. It is a gesture that transcends wealth and status, touching the hearts of all who witness it.

As the world continues to marvel at Slick Rick’s grand gesture, it serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us all of the profound impact that acts of kindness and generosity can have on the lives of others. In a world where division and discord often dominate the headlines, moments of genuine connection and camaraderie are more precious than ever.

In the end, Slick Rick’s gift to Mike Tyson is not just a Rolls-Royce Cullinan; it is a symbol of enduring friendship, deep gratitude, and the power of meaningful connections to enrich our lives.

ANTHONY JOSHUA blasted Tyson Fury in a blistering rant just hours after his obliteration of Francis Ngannou.

The former two-time unified heavyweight champion knocked the MMA man mountain out cold in the second round of their crossover clash in Saudi Arabia early on Saturday morning.

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Anthony Joshua brutally knocked out Francis Ngannou in their Saudi showdownCredit: GETTY

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Tyson Fury was ringside for his fellow Brit’s third KO win in a rowCredit: SKY SPORTS

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Joshua was in no mood to talk about his long-time rival after the stunning stoppageCredit: IFL TV
AJ’s demolition of Ngannou has put him on course for a long overdue Battle of Britain with The Gypsy King, who was ringside for the Riyadh rumble.

But he wasn’t in the mood for discussing a domestic dust-up with the WBC heavyweight champion due to his pre-fight putdowns of himself and Ngannou.

The fired-up Watford warrior told iFL TV: “F**k Tyson Fury.

“I don’t like trash-talking people, but I heard him say, ‘Oh, I’m here to do commentary about these two sausages.’

“Or something like that.

“Bro, that guy that I fought and that he fought is an ex-UFC heavyweight champion [and has] a phenomenal story and someone who has changed their life around.

“[He’s] just too disrespectful. So forget anything about him right now.”

Before Joshua can think of sharing the ring with Fury, he must first wait for his Brit rival to have back-to-back undisputed heavyweight title fights with Oleksandr Usyk.

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Anthony Joshua walks away after flatlining Francis NgannouCredit: GETTY
A fight between Joshua and Fury will arguably be the biggest in the history of British boxing, a fact promoter Eddie Hearn is well aware of.

Speaking moments after Joshua’s third successive KO, the Matchroom Boxing chief said: “I’m so proud of him because there was a huge amount of pressure.

AJ Celebrates huge knockout win over Francis Ngannou
“If we won this fight then he would fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk.

“You’re looking at the No1 heavyweight in the world.

“Tyson Fury please beat Usyk because you will get the biggest fight in the history of the sport.

“As a fighter, he’s an inspiration to young people.

“What I said would happen, happened. He destroyed Francis Ngannou.

“He’s a beast and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”

TYSON FURY was seemingly involved in a backstage barney in the aftermath of Anthony Joshua’s win over Francis Ngannou.

The Gypsy King was ringside for his fellow Brit’s demolition job of his former opponent in Saudi Arabia early on Saturday morning.

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Tyson Fury was ringside for Anthony Joshua’s clash with Francis NgannouCredit: GETTY

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The Gypsy King launched a blistering X-rated rant during backstage after the fight

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It’s unclear who the WBC heavyweight king was shouting at
Fury, 35, was sat alongside wife Paris as AJ knocked the former UFC heavyweight champion out cold with a brutal overhand right in the second round of their Saudi showdown.

And he was seemingly fired up as he made his way to leave the Kingdom Arena.

The WBC heavyweight champion was filmed backstage bemoaning the fact someone he’d had an interaction with had disappeared.

He said: “Has f***ed off, the useless c**t.”

It’s unknown who the furious Fury was talking about in the video, which has spread like wildfire on social media.

Boxing fans were quick to comment, with one saying: “He’s rattled. He knows the jig is up.”

Another said: “Fury feeling the pressure.”

And another said: “Rattled when the cameras were off him.”

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Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in the second round of their Saudi showdownCredit: Getty
One remarked: “He is FUMING.”

Another chimed in: “Running around in a waistcoat with no shirt, a dyed beard calling people useless cunts is quite an image.”

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Paris Fury looks horrified as Francis Ngannou collapses to floor after he’s brutally knocked out by Anthony Joshua
Joshua, 34, did his part to get a Battle of Britain between himself and Fury back on track with his destruction of Ngannou.

Fury must now register back-to-back wins over Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed fights later this year to ensure the fight happens.

He said: “I’m sure Oleksandr Usyk will have something to say something about that.

“I had a s*** performance against Ngannou. AJ did absolutely fantastic and lit him up with a right hand.

“If he fights me after I beat Usyk twice then it will be a different game.”

Joshua, however, refused to be drawn on a historic domestic dust-up with his long-time rival, telling iFL TV: “F**k Tyson Fury.”

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Anthony Joshua didn’t hang around as he dominated Francis NgannouCredit

Reba McEntire opened up on her marriage to ex-husband Narvel Blackstock during her Friday, March 1, appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.

Blackstock is a famous producer and manager who was married to the country star from 1989 until they called it quits in 2015.

SOURCE: MEGAReba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock tied the knot in 1989.

Due to the fact that they were in overlapping lines of work, the “Consider Me Gone” singer admitted their relationship was “a situation that was always business.”

“I think it works for some people. They can be married or have a relationship and work together,” she explained. “Our work was all the time.”

SOURCE: MEGAReba McEntire is the newest coach on ‘The Voice.’

“Our marriage was 26 years. We started out working together in the band,” she continued. “He was part of the band, and then became my manager, later on then my husband, but it was a situation that was always business — whether we were getting ready in the morning, pillow talk, whatever, but it was business.”

“Even when we were on vacation to recharge the batteries, about three days into a vacation it was like, ‘You know what we can do?’” she told the 50 First Dates actress.

SOURCE: MEGAThey divorced in 2015.

As OK! previously reported, McEntire revealed that she was entirely against their 2015 breakup when it first happened.

“The divorce was not my idea. I didn’t want it in any shape, form or fashion,” she candidly shared. “I just want everybody to be happy in their lives, because our lives are too short to be miserable. So, yeah, I just thought it was the best thing to take my marbles and go play somewhere else, is what Daddy used to always say.”

SOURCE: MEGAReba McEntire previously said getting married again would be ‘up to’ her boyfriend, Rex Linn.

In a separate interview, McEntire said she can “never forget” some of the things Blackstock did in their marriage, but “going on with life is what’s really important.”

“I think about what God wants me to do,” she noted. “I focus on that. Faith is really important. It keeps me sane and it keeps me hopeful.”

Rumors suggest that Henry Cavill’s dream MCU role is now out of the actor’s reach.

The One Marvel Character Henry Cavill Would Love to Play

Captain Britain

From Doctor Doom to Cyclops, there are quite a few Marvel characters that fans would love to see Henry Cavill play. But the question is, whose identity does Cavill want to take upon himself? Well, he himself has the answer for that.

Back in 2021, the Enola Holmes actor appeared for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter where he was asked which Marvel character would he, “hypothetically” want to play. Cavill replied,

“I’m never going to say a Marvel character that is already being played by someone else because everyone’s doing such an amazing job. However, I have the internet and I have seen the various rumors about Captain Britain and that would be loads of fun to do a cool, modernized version of that — like the way they modernized Captain America. There’s something fun about that, and I do love being British.”

Cavill as UK’s premiere peacekeeper and the mythic guardian of the Omniverse? Sign us up!

However, there are some rumors about Cavill’s entry into the MCU and they just might prove to be a hiccup in the actor’s way to Captain Britain.

Henry Cavill Might Not Get to Play Captain Britain After All

A still from Deadpool & Wolverine‘s teaser trailer

After Cavill’s exclusion from the DCU, there was a good chance that he’d finally step into the MCU and be one step closer to playing the Marvel superhero of his dreams. Unfortunately, this is where Wolverine comes in. According to a trusted industry scooper on X, CanWeGetSomeToast, Cavill will be playing the role of Wolverine in the upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman sent his fans into a frenzy when he revealed that he would be returning as Wolverine and becoming an official part of the MCU, after the events of Logan (2017). And now, rumors suggest that there will be not one, but multiple variants of the claw-bearing mutant.

Now, according to the scoop, Cavill will be playing one of those supposed variants.

We don’t know if Cavill playing Wolverine will sit right with the audience but we do know that it will block any and all roads that lead to Captain Britain for him. Just like John Krasinski couldn’t return to the superhero universe after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Cavill’s MCU journey would end up being limited to Deadpool & Wolverine. Do we want that?

Deadpool & Wolverine will release in theaters on July 26, 2024.