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☆ Meet the diehard music fan who runs one of the world's busiest arenas
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

London's O2 Arena is one of the world's busiest and sold a record 2.5 million tickets last year. The venue is managed by Steve Sayer, a music fan who previously worked for Manchester City. The O2 Arena presents comedy, boxing, UFC, esports and even monster trucks as well as music. AdvertisementIt may not be the world's most famous, but London's O2 Arena is now one of the busiest. Elton John on his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" Tour at the O2 Arena in April 2023.

Persons: Steve Sayer, —, Tom Jones, James Bond, Jason Derulo, Luke Dyson Sayer, Ateez, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, Prince, Sayer, Elton John, Monty Python, Adele, Simone Joyner, they're, Philip Anschutz, Dua Lipa, Karwai Tang, Joseph Okpako, there'd, that's, Madonna, Kevin Mazur AEG, It's, Liam Gallagher, Girls, Billy Joel's Organizations: London's O2, Manchester City, O2 Arena, UFC, Service, O2, AEG, London, AEG Europe, Billboard, The O2, WWE, Gorillaz, National Health Service, Qatar Airways, Madison Locations: Manchester, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, Dua, London, New, COVID

☆ 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' — the TV drama that shook Britain — comes to PBS
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"Mr Bates vs the Post Office" had a remarkable impact after airing in Britain and now comes to PBS. Jo Hamilton, who ran the Village Shop and Post Office in South Warnborough, Hampshire, was wrongly convicted of theft in the Post Office Horizon scandal. ITVThe program focused on Alan Bates, who along with his partner invested in a post office store in Wales in 1998. Why did the Post Office — which has been owned by the government since 2012 – continue to prosecute people when there were doubts about the software? Advertisement"Mr Bates vs the Post Office" is being broadcast on PBS weekly from Sunday April 7.

Persons: Mr Bates, —, Rishi Sunak, Seema Misra, Peter Huxham, Martin Griffiths, Julian Wilson, Jo Hamilton, Adrian Dennis, Toby Jones, who's, Harry Potter, Alan Bates, Bates, wasn't, John Beer of, –, Kevin Hollinrake, Gwyneth Hughes, Innocent, Paula Vennells, Vennells, it's, James Strong, we'd, Polly Hill Organizations: PBS, Service, ITV, of, Post, Japan's Fujitsu, Office, Getty, Journalists, Computer, BBC, Post Office, Guardian, Fujitsu, Financial Times, subpostmasters, Channel Locations: Britain, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, South Warnborough, Hampshire, AFP, Wales, John Beer of Farnham, Surrey

☆ I drove BYD's Seal electric car and Elon Musk may be grateful you can't buy one in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world's biggest maker of electric vehicles. I drove a Seal for a week and was impressed by its stylish design, features and crazy acceleration. The Seal is a similar price to Tesla's Model 3 in the UK — but BYD is not a well-known make. AdvertisementLast year BYD overtook Tesla as the world's biggest seller of electric vehicles. I borrowed a BYD Seal in Excellence trim, which also boasts all-wheel drive, for a week.

Persons: BYD, Tesla, —, It's Organizations: Tesla's, Service, Volkswagen Locations: China, London

☆ Donald Trump is just hours away from a $457 million deadline
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump faces a Monday deadline for paying a bond to New York state. The payment follows last month's verdict that Trump and his company inflated the value of assets. The NY attorney general may move to seize Trump's assets if he fails to pay in time. AdvertisementDonald Trump is hours away from a deadline to pay a $457 million bond to New York Attorney General Letitia James . Trump's debt rises daily by $111,984 in interest , meaning he owes New York state another $1 million every nine days.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, Letitia James, Judge Arthur Engoron Organizations: NY, Service, New York, Trump Organization, New York Times Locations: New York, New

☆ This tiny EV is the most ridiculous 'car' I've ever driven — but it's also a blast
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Ami is most ridiculous "car" I've ever driven — but it turns heads and is a lot of fun too. I thought I knew what to expect, but it wasn't until the "car" was driven off the trailer that I realized I'd taken custody of a large lawnmower. A large electric lawnmower. The Ami (French for "friend") also looked like it'd been washed in an army surplus cycle. Appropriately enough I almost made a new friend before I'd even parked, as a passer-by asked if I'd just bought it.

Persons: Ami, —, Ram, Romeo —, I'd Organizations: Service, Dodge, Peugeot Locations: London

☆ Prepare for house price growth to slow, says First American chief economist
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

First American's chief economist told Fortune that lower mortgage rates will cool price growth. First American chief economist Mark Fleming told Fortune that the pace of price growth has likely topped out because mortgage rates are poised to decline this year. The hikes fueled an increase in 30-year mortgage rates to more than 8% in October — a two-decade high. AdvertisementLower mortgage rates promise to boost demand, as buyers will be able to afford more expensive homes once again. "Shark Tank" investor Barbara Corcoran disagreed, predicting they would pop by 15% or 20% once mortgage rates dropped to about 5%.

Persons: Fortune, —, Mark Fleming, Sellers who'd, they'd, Fleming, Elon Musk, Barbara Corcoran Organizations: Service, First, Business

☆ Suicides, jail, and wrongful convictions — but it took the TV drama 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' to bring them justice
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Martin Griffiths, 59, jumped in front of a bus in 2013 after being falsely accused of theft at his post office branch in Ellesmere Port, near Liverpool. Jo Hamilton, who ran the Village Shop and Post Office in South Warnborough, Hampshire, was wrongly convicted of theft in the Post Office Horizon scandal. ITVThe program focused on Alan Bates, who along with his partner invested in a post office store in Wales in 1998. Why did the Post Office — which has been owned by the government since 2012 – continue to prosecute people when there were doubts about the software? "Mr Bates vs the Post Office" is available in the UK on ITVX.

Persons: It's, Mr Bates, Rishi Sunak, Seema Misra, Peter Huxham, Martin Griffiths, Julian Wilson, Jo Hamilton, Adrian Dennis, Toby Jones, who's, Harry Potter, Alan Bates, Bates, wasn't, John Beer of, —, –, Kevin Hollinrake, Gwyneth Hughes, Innocent, Paula Vennells, Vennells, it's, James Strong, we'd, Polly Hill Organizations: Service, Business, ITV, Post, of, Japan's Fujitsu, Office, Getty, Journalists, Computer, BBC, Post Office, Guardian, Fujitsu, Financial Times, subpostmasters Locations: Britain, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, South Warnborough, Hampshire, AFP, Wales, John Beer of Farnham, Surrey

☆ He wanted to be a trombone player. Instead, he ended up as CEO of one of the world's biggest airlines.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He's been CEO of European airline easyJet for the past six years. AdvertisementIn a parallel universe, Johan Lundgren would have become a professional musician and never ended up as CEO of one of the world's biggest airlines. "I like people, and I like travel," Lundgren tells Business Insider in a faint Swedish accent during an interview in central London. He spent many years at TUI, one of Europe's biggest travel companies, rising to deputy CEO by the time he left in 2015. AdvertisementIt's the UK's biggest airline and is first or second in many other markets too.

Persons: Johan Lundgren, He's, Lundgren, —, Swede, easyJet, Charles de Gaulle, Charles de, It's, I've, didn't, Bob Jordan, EasyJet, Stelios Stelios Haji, he's, that's, Michael O'Leary, Filipo Monteforte, Ryanair's Michael O'Leary, O'Leary Organizations: easyJet, Service, Royal College of Music, Soviet Union, SAS, Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, British Airways, London Gatwick, Southwest, UK's, Airbus, Getty Locations: Britain, London, Stockholm, Leningrad, Russia, Soviet Union, Soviet, TUI, Majorca, Europe, Charles, Paris, Charles de Gaulle, easyJet, Ukraine, Sweden, Canada, Toronto, AFP

☆ Hotel Chocolat's cofounders are about to become $180 million richer after Mars made a takeover bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mars is offering almost $700 million to buy Hotel Chocolat. AdvertisementThe cofounders of Hotel Chocolat stand to become about $180 million richer after Mars offered to buy the upmarket chocolatier for £534 million ($673 million.) Thirlwell stands to make £91 million ($112 million) and Harris £53 million ($65 million) from the Bounty and Mars maker's offer. Hotel Chocolat has 131 stores in the UK. Mars would keep the company "special" while helping it grow, Clarke told Bloomberg, including opening more Hotel Chocolat stores in the UK.

Persons: Angus Thirlwell, Peter Harris, —, Thirlwell, Harris, Peter Dazeley, Andrew Clarke, Mars Snacking, Clarke Organizations: Service, British, London Stock Exchange, Bloomberg Locations: British, Chocolat, Chocolat's, Japan, Peel, London

☆ Music publishers sue Amazon-backed AI company, accusing it of 'systematic and widespread' infringement of song lyrics
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Amazon-backed AI company is accused of "systematic and widespread infringement" of song lyrics. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe AI company that Amazon recently took a $4 billion stake in is being sued by a trio of music companies, which have accused the startup of "systematic and widespread infringement of their copyrighted song lyrics." The suit against Anthropic was filed in Nashville on Wednesday by Universal Music Group Publishing (UMGP), along with Concord Music Group and ABKCO. UMGP is part of Universal Music Group, the world's biggest music company. The AI company is also accused of infringing material under copyright even when not specifically asked to do so.

Persons: —, Anthropic, Claude, Katy Perry, Matthew J . Oppenheim Organizations: Universal Music Group Publishing, Nashville Wednesday, Business, Service, Amazon, Wednesday, Concord Music, Universal Music Group, Oppenheim Locations: Nashville, UMGP, San Francisco, Anthropic

☆ Billionaire Chewy cofounder Ryan Cohen takes over as GameStop CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ryan Cohen was announced as the new CEO of GameStop on Thursday. AdvertisementAdvertisementGameStop has a CEO once again after Ryan Cohen, the billionaire founder of Chewy, was appointed Thursday. Cohen had been executive chairman since early June after CEO Matt Furlong was shown the door. Cohen, who's the largest investor in GameStop with a 12.1% stake, sold Chewy in 2017 for $3.3 billion. Cohen first took a stake in GameStop in 2020 and joined its board in January 2021 before becoming chairman that June.

Persons: Ryan Cohen, Chewy, —, Cohen, Matt Furlong, Furlong, Keith Gill, Kitty, Paul Dano, Gill, David Organizations: GameStop, Service, Amazon, Forbes, YouTube, Sony Pictures

☆ Citadel Securities is locked in a legal battle with 2 ex-staff who left to start a crypto firm and say they're victims of 'corporate bullying'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The venture has faced legal challenges by Citadel Securities, whose European arm filed a case in London in June 2022. Portofino said in its initial response that Citadel's legal action was "unmeritorious, anticompetitive and a classic example of corporate bullying." AdvertisementAdvertisementIn January 2022 Griffin sold a $1.2 billion stake in Citadel Securities to venture capital firms Sequoia and Paradigm. "Further, their attempt to improperly poach Vincent Prieur, a New York-based employee described as the 'aggregator of all things crypto' at Citadel Securities, is undisputed. Prieur, who later joined Portofino, had also been the subject of legal action by Citadel Securities that was settled out of court, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: Alex Casimo, Leonard Lancia, Ken Griffin, Griffin, Peter Thiel, Slack, Zalando, Portofino, Casimo, it's, Peng Zhao, Matt Huang, Lancia, poach Vincent Prieur, Prieur Organizations: Citadel Securities, Portofino Technologies, Citadel, New, Service, Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Global Founders, Lancia, London Court, Portofino, Court, Southern, of, Sequoia, Paradigm, Financial Times, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Wall, Silicon, Miami, Swiss, London, Europe, of New York, Portofino

☆ CNN is reportedly in talks to bring in a British boss to clean up Chris Licht's mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Two British media figures have been linked with the top job at CNN, Semafor reported. Mark Thompson, the former New York Times Company CEO, is the "leading candidate," per the outlet. Not one, but two, British media figures have been linked with the role, Semafor first reported. Before an eight-year stint as The New York Times boss, he was director-general of the BBC. The decision to launch CNN Max comes about year after the company axed CNN+.

Persons: Semafor, Mark Thompson, James Harding, Chris Licht, Licht, Donald Trump, He'd, Jeff Zucker, Thompson, he'd, Semafor's Ben Smith, David Zaslav, Oli Scarff, Harding, WBD, CNN Max Organizations: CNN, New York Times Company, BBC News, Morning, The, Street Journal, New York Times, BBC, Financial Times, Washington DC, Max Locations: British, London, AFP, Asia, Washington

☆ The music industry is now driven by data, but this CEO still makes decisions based on 'gut feel and instinct'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Mushroom Records was founded in Australia in the 1970s by Michael Gudinski. Kylie Minogue started her recording career on Mushroom Records. Mariano Regidor/Getty ImagesWhile many decisions in the music business are now driven by data, "gut feel and instinct" remain part of the equation for his company at least. Kylie Minogue performs at the Mushroom Records 25th anniversary concert in Melbourne in 1998. Michael Gudinski founded Mushroom Records in 1972.

Persons: Michael Gudinski, Matt, Matt Gudinski, it's, That's, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, TayTay, Matt Jelonek, that's, Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, Vance Joy, Madonna, Don Arnold, Gudinski, Michael, Minogue, Sheeran, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Mariano Regidor, – I'm, Martin Philbey, Mushroom's, There's, Mushroom Organizations: Mushroom Records, Morning, YouTube, Mushroom Group, Touring, Getty, Victorian, ABC, Mushroom, Spotify, Universal Music, Coldplay, Universal Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Perth, Melbourne, Madrid, Spain, Europe, North America

☆ Rosie O'Donnell says she was asked about running for SAG-AFTRA president but suggested Fran Drescher instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rosie O'Donnell says she was asked about running for SAG-AFTRA president in 2021. She told The Wall Street Journal she didn't want to run, but suggested Fran Drescher instead. Rosie O'Donnell told The Wall Street Journal that the SAG-AFTRA had been in touch before its most recent election in 2021 to ask if she was interested in running as president. She said she wasn't interested but suggested they contact her friend Drescher instead, because of her "Norma Rae-like ability to inspire." She can succinctly choose the words that are going to have the most impact in the smallest amount of time," O'Donnell told the newspaper.

Persons: Rosie O'Donnell, Fran Drescher, O'Donnell, Norma Rae, She's, AFTRA, wasn't, Drescher, Jay Clendenin, Matthew Modine, Joely Fisher, Modine, Fisher Organizations: SAG, Wall Street, Wall Street Journal, LA Times Locations: Los Angeles

☆ There's going to be a lot less new TV for a while. And that's brilliant.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hollywood is facing its first strike by both writers and actors in more than six decades. It's going to mean a lot less new television this year, but that may not be such a bad thing. Almost 600 scripted TV shows were released in the United States alone last year. If that is the case, there might be a very big silver lining for us viewers: a break from the relentless release of new TV shows. Likewise with Donald Glover's often truly astonishing piece of performance art masquerading as television that's also known as "Atlanta."

Persons: they're, Jonathan Handel, you'd, I've, They're, Jeffrey Dahmer, Max, Donald Glover's, that's Organizations: Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Netflix, Apple, Paramount, Lionsgate Locations: United States, Hollywood, Hulu

☆ The CEO of Malaysia Airlines, Captain Izham Ismail, went from selling snacks as a child to running a fleet of airplanes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Captain Izham Ismail started flying for Malaysia Airlines in 1979 and became its CEO in 2017. Yet despite coming from such a modest background, Ismail went on to become a pilot and then run Malaysia Airlines, one of the world's oldest carriers. Ismail started flying for Malaysia Airlines in 1979, became a captain and a decade later was selected for its senior management training scheme. After running one of its regional carriers and becoming group chief operating officer, Ismail was elevated to CEO of Malaysia Airlines in 2017. Malaysia Airlines has 11,000 staff, down from 35,000 two decades ago, and flies to almost 50 destinations, mostly in Asia, with 106 aircraft that are all leased.

Persons: Izham Ismail, Ismail, it's, —, Captain Izham Ismail, –, Mohd Rasfan, Khazanah, Christopher Mueller, He'd, Sabena, Mat Zain Organizations: Malaysia Airlines, Service, Bournemouth University, Philippine Airlines, MIT, Stanford, Boeing, Netflix, Aer Lingus, Germany's Lufthansa, Malaysian, British Airways, American Airlines . Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates Locations: Malaysia, England, Malaysia's, Istanbul, London, Court, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Ukraine, Russian, Malaysian, Asia

☆ 'Barbie' is set to win the 'Barbenheimer' box office battle with 'Oppenheimer' on their opening weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" will both be released in theaters on July 21. Warner expects the film based on the Mattel doll to take up to $80 million in its first three days. That's about double the projected box office take for Christopher Nolan's epic over the same period. For about a year, a box office battle has been brewing between "Barbie" and Oppenheimer" — the two much-anticipated films from Oscar-nominated directors that are set to be released on exactly the same day. That's before the release of more blockbusters, including "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One" and, of course, "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer."

Persons: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's, Oscar, Greta Gerwig's, Robert Oppenheimer, It's, Cillian Murphy, Eamonn McCormack, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Mia, Nolan, Tenet, Ryan Gilbey, Rebecca Cohen, Chris Panella, Mario, David Gross Organizations: Warner, Mattel, Warner Bros, Hollywood, Universal Pictures, Guardian, Mario Bros, Nintendo, Variety, New York Times Locations: United States, That's

☆ The disappearance of the Titan submersible won't stop the super-rich from embarking on 'extreme' travel, an adventure tourism expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some wealthy people now may have "second thoughts" about going on adventure tourism, a lecturer said. Trips to the deep sea, space or remote parts of the planet offered "bragging rights," she said. The possible loss of the Titan submersible will not dampen demand for "extreme" tourism where a rescue is unlikely or even impossible, an academic told Insider. Hamish Harding, one of the people on the missing sub, also went to space with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin last year. Space tourism "may or may not" become viable and affordable to more than just the very wealthy in our lifetimes, the academic said, but the rise of "last chance" tourism would continue.

Persons: Adele Doran of, Adele Doran, Mariana Trench's, it'll, Hamish Harding, Jeff Bezos, Doran, " Doran Organizations: Adele Doran of Sheffield Hallam University, Morning, Titan, Sheffield Hallam University, EYOS Expeditions, Mariana, Virgin Galactic Locations: England, South America

☆ Europe plans to put guardrails on ChatGPT and other AI apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The European Union has taken the first steps towards regulating artificial intelligence, with its parliament backing a ban on the technology for biometric surveillance, emotion recognition, and predictive policing. Europe will also seek to require systems such as ChatGPT to indicate that content was generated by AI. The rules "aim to promote the uptake of human-centric and trustworthy AI and protect the health, safety, fundamental rights and democracy from its harmful effects," per a press release from the European Parliament on Wednesday. Talks will now begin with EU member states on the precise wording of the legislation. The rules aim to ensure that AI developed and used in Europe complied with EU rights and values including human oversight, safety, privacy, transparency, non-discrimination, and social and environmental wellbeing.

Persons: Brando Benifei, Dragos Organizations: European, EU Locations: Europe, Italy, Romania

☆ Take a look inside RuPaul's fabulous 'whimsical and fun' Beverly Hills mansion that features a ballroom adorned with disco balls
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

RuPaul and his husband Georges LeBar wanted to give their 1980s Beverly Hills home a makeover. The "Drag Race" star opened the doors of the "whimsical and fun" home to Architectural Digest. RuPaul told design magazine Architectural Digest that they'd "always loved Martyn's aesthetic, so we trusted him. The performer told Architectural Digest that the home is "meant to be whimsical and fun. See more images in the June issue of Architectural Digest, or click here.

☆ Biden, Kishida to discuss Japan ‘stepping up’ security
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The Oval Office meeting and signing ceremony at NASA’s Washington headquarters will cap a weeklong tour for Kishida that took him to five European and North American capitals for talks on his effort to beef up Japan’s security. Japan’s defense spending has historically remained below 1% of GDP. “Japan is stepping up and doing so in lockstep with the United States,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Kishida also discussed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron his hopes to improve security cooperation between Japan and their respective nations. “Those days are gone.”Biden administration officials have praised Japan for stepping up in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

☆ Biden and Kishida discuss Japan ‘stepping up’ security
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Inside the Oval Office, the U.S. president praised Japan for its "historic" increase in defense spending and pledged close cooperation on economic and security matters. Japan's defense spending has historically remained below 1% of GDP. "Japan is stepping up and doing so in lockstep with the United States," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Kishida also discussed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron his hopes to improve security cooperation between Japan and their respective nations. Kishida met with Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday before his meeting with Biden to discuss U.S.-Japan space cooperation and other issues.

☆ RuPaul's Drag Race just won another 2 Emmys. Meet the 2 men who helped turn the show into a global phenomenon.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-04 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Bailey, 62, and Barbato, 61, are responsible for propelling drag culture into the mainstream by helping to turn RuPaul and "Drag Race" into global phenomenons. Drag is ultimately a universally relatable thing," Bailey said of the popularity of "Drag Race" and the stars it has helped create. The first foreign versions appeared in Chile and Thailand, but the pinnacle arrived in October 2019 when "Drag Race UK" premiered on the BBC. "Drag Race" has become one of the most popular shows on its iPlayer streaming platform, with a fourth season underway. The winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season three, Krystal Versace (centre), with the other queens in London in November 2021.

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