By Mariel Turner
8:20am PDT, Aug 16, 2019
JAY-Z announces music and social justice partnership with NFL
JAY-Z is adding a new gig to his resume. The hip-hop billionaire and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a music and social justice partnership between the league and Jay's entertainment and sports company, Roc Nation, on Aug. 13. The rapper, who previously shared support for blackballed NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick and has sparked criticism for now aligning with execs, will act as the league's "live music entertainment strategist."
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Woodstock celebrates its 50th anniversary
Fans and former concertgoers celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival this month. The multi-day concert, which took place from Aug. 15 to 18 in 1969, featured legendary performers like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Sly & the Family Stone and Santana. Woodstock memorialized the counterculture of the 1960s with more than 400,000 people in attendance.
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Missy Elliott to receive MTV Video Vanguard Award
Missy Elliott will become the first female rapper to receive MTV's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, network execs announced on Aug. 12. The honor comes just a few months after Missy was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The 2019 MTV Video Music Awards air on Aug. 26.
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Katy Perry accused of sexual misconduct by former music video co-star
An actor-model who appeared in Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" music video is accusing the singer of exposing his body to a group of people at a 2012 party. Josh Kloss described the encounter in an Instagram post: "It was Johnny Wujek's birthday party at moonlight roller way. And when I saw her, we hugged and she was still my crush," he wrote on Aug. 11. "But as I turned to introduce my friend, she pulled my Adidas sweats and underwear out as far as she could to show a couple of her guy friends and the crowd around us, my penis. Can you imagine how pathetic and embarrassed I felt?" Katy has yet to respond to the allegations.
Multiple concerts canceled amid Placido Domingo sexual harassment investigation
Two opera houses canceled scheduled performance by Placido Domingo on Aug. 13 after the Los Angeles Opera general director was accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. The Philadelphia Orchestra and San Francisco Opera announced that Placido would no longer perform, and New York's Metropolitan Opera said it would wait for the conclusion of the L.A. Opera's investigation "before making any final decisions about Mr. Domingo's future at the Met." Placido's accusers alleged to The Associated Press that the singer tried to pressure them into sexual relationships and would sometimes damage their careers if they refused his propositions.
Bauhaus singer Peter Muphy recovering after heart attack
Peter Murphy is being monitored in a New York hospital after suffering a heart attack on Aug. 13. The Bauhaus frontman experienced shortness of breath and was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital where he had "stents placed in his right coronary artery and was started on medications to manage his heart condition," according to cardiologist Jason Song. Peter's scheduled August performances at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City have been postponed indefinitely. "We would like to thank the fans for their undying support and hope that Peter will be back on stage with a refreshed heart, stronger than before," his family said in a statement.
A$AP Rocky "disappointed" by guilty verdict in Swedish assault trial
A$AP Rocky released a statement about his legal troubles on Aug. 14 just a few hours after a Swedish court found him guilty on misdemeanor assault charges. "I AM OF COURSE DISAPPOINTED BY TODAY'S VERDICT. I WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF MY FANS, FRIENDS, AND EVERYONE WHO SHOWED ME LOVE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME," he wrote on Instagram. "IMMA KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU TO MY TEAM, MY MANAGEMENT, ATTORNEYS, LABEL AND EVERYONE WHO ADVOCATED FOR JUSTICE." The rapper will not serve any further jail time — he spent about a month behind bars until this trial was concluded in early August — but along with his co-defendants must pay $22,300 in restitution and legal fees to the victim, Mustafa Jafari.
Taylor Swift causes a stir after dancing video goes viral
Taylor Swift is all about the fun these days! Former "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestant A'keria Davenport captured the pop star on video singing and happily dancing to her song "You Need to Calm Down" at a party on Aug. 10 in celebration of her 10 MTV Video Music Awards nominations. The clip, which was posted to Instagram, quickly went viral and fans ate it up, with some speculating that the pop star had a few drinks before the dance party.
