Entertainment News Archives

The family of electronic dance musician Avicii has released a second statement about their late son this week, saying the famed DJ “could not go on any longer” and that “he wanted to find peace.” Avicii, born Tim Bergling, was found dead last week in Muscat, Oman at age 28. Details about his death were not revealed. “Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress,” read the statement, released Thursday. Avicii had in the past suffered acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking. After having his gallbladder and appendix removed in 2014, he canceled a series of shows in attempt to recover. The Swedish performer retired from performing in 2016 but still produced albums and songs.  Some of his hits included Wake Me Up and Le7els. He was an international pop star, performing his well-known electronic dance songs around the world.

A Montgomery County jury of seven men and five women returned guilty verdicts regarding the January 2004 sexual assault of Andrea Constand. The jurors spent nearly 15 hours over two days deciding the verdict after being charged Monday morning. Victims of Cosby sitting in the courtroom shrieked and cried in delight after the first verdict was announced. Cosby stared straight ahead as the verdict was read, but moments later lashed out loudly at District Attorney Kevin Steele and called him an “a–hole” after the prosecutor asked that Cosby be immediately jailed because he might flee. Cosby denied he has an airplane and shouted, “I’m sick of him!” The judge decided Cosby can remain free on bail while he awaits sentencing. No sentencing date was set, but state law requires it within 100 days of a conviction. Cosby, 80, could face up to 30 years in prison — 10 years for each count. Asked by a reporter whether he plans to appeal, Cosby’s lead defense attorney Tom Mesereau said, “Yes, yes, very strongly.”

Beyoncé’s headlining appearance at Coachella has influences her album sales. Billboard magazine reports in the week following her April 14 performance at Coachella, sales and streams of the album and song catalog of both Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child jumped 83 percent.Three of Beyoncé’s albums have re-entered the Billboard 200 Album chart: “Lemonade,” at number 91, her self-titled album at number 138 and “I Am…Sasha Fierce” at 160. Beyoncé performed again at Coachella on Saturday, but any sales or streaming information influenced by that will reflect on next week’s chart.

Actress Priyanka Chopra confirmed that she will attend Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry. Chopra is still deciding which dress she will wear. “I sort of may have an idea,” she told Us Magazine.  The actress also spoke about her close friendship with the 36-year-old Markle. “I’ve known Meghan for three years and I’m so happy the way the world has responded to her because as long as I’ve known her … she is a relatable young woman of the world today,” she said. “She’s that girl who thinks out of the box. She has always been an activist. She has always had a strong voice. She’s an ambitious girl of today. I think the world needs strong role models like Meghan. I think, I hope, Meghan will end up being one of those people.” Harry, 33, and Markle announced their engagement in November after more than a year of dating. They are set to tie the knot on May 19 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in England.

The 2018 Billboard Music Awards will feature a special performance from South Korean boy band BTS. Billboard announced in a news release Tuesday that the K-pop group will perform a new single at the awards show May 20 in Las Vegas. The event will mark BTS’ first performance at the Billboard Music Awards. The boy band attended the awards show for the first time in 2017. “Look out for our second appearance or – say what? – FIRST PERFORMANCE at the @BBMAs! #BTS_BBMAs,” the group tweeted Tuesday. BTS is also nominated for Top Social Artist at this year’s ceremony, which the band won back in 2017.