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☆ Boba tea startup rejected by 'Shark Tank' pitches Simu Liu after cultural appropriation debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The Twrl founders say they hope the initiative they took moves those conversations forward and educates some people along the way. Later, Taiwan would claim to be the birthplace of the boba drink concept, a sweet concoction of an aromatic tea, milk and boba balls. The first U.S. boba drink shops opened in the 1990s but there’s conflicting reports on whether the San Francisco Bay Area or Southern California was the starting point, Phun said. But it didn’t come from a place of, ‘I really love boba tea,’” she said. Meanwhile, the “Dragons’ Den” episode led to some significant fallout.

Persons: Olivia Chen, Pauline Ang, Simu Liu, Liu, Chi, Twrl, “, ”, Chen, ” Liu, Juily, South America . Colonization, boba, Phun, ” Phun, “ It’s, ” Megan Ruan, they’re, ” Chen, ‘, ” Ruan, it’s, Ang, Manjit Minhas Organizations: ABC, San, Bobba, American, Cal State, South America ., San Francisco Bay Area, Gold House Ventures, Foods Locations: San Francisco Bay, “, Quebec, Taiwan, South America, Pacific Islands, Asia, U.S, Southern California, American, Japan, China

☆ The origins of bubble tea, one of Taiwan’s most beloved beverages
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

It all started with foam teaInvented in the 1980s, bubble tea (also called “black pearl tea” or “boba tea”) is a beloved Taiwan classic. Lin Hsiu Hui, product manager at bubble tea chain Chun Shui Tang, said she created the very first glass of bubble milk tea at a staff meeting in 1988. Bubble tea chain Easy Way argued in a press conference, “Why don’t you ask people to skip drinking Coke instead?”The saga was dubbed the “bubble tea for arms” incident by local media. Bubble tea 2.0Bubbleology founder Assad Khan says his first bubble tea experience was 'love at first sip.' But no matter how funky you get with the recipe, the soul of a good bubble tea has always been, well, the tea.

Persons: that’s, Simu Liu, Canadian Liu, “, it’s, Chang Fan Shu, yao, shou yao, ”, Tseng, Tsang, Tu Tsong, – Tu, Tu, ” Tu, Lin Hsiu Hui, Tang, ” Lin, Chun, Chun Shui Tang, boba ”, Amy Yip’s, Assad Khan, ” Khan, Bubbleology, It’s Organizations: CNN, Marvel, CBC, Chun, CNN Travel, Chun Shui Tang, hawker, Defense Ministry Locations: Hong Kong, Canada, Quebec, Canadian, Taiwan, ”, Tainan, Hanlin, United States, China, Assam, hawker, Asia, British, Chinatown, New York, Lankan

☆ A boba business storm is brewing, and a 'Shang-Chi' star is in the middle of it
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Shang-Chi" star Simu Liu called out two boba tea entrepreneurs who appeared on an episode of "Dragons' Den." They were promoting their new drink, which they said was healthier than regular boba tea. AdvertisementSimu Liu is in the middle of a brewing business feud over a popular Asian drink. When asked if he liked the drink, Liu, who joined the show as a panelist in its 19th season, said, "I thought it was fine." The global boba tea industry — or bubble tea as it is known in Asia — is estimated to be worth billions.

Persons: Liu, —, Chi, Sébastien Fiset, Jess Frenette, Manjit Minhas, there's, Fiset, Bobba, Winniedapoo, boba, Instagram, Frenette, Liu's, it's, Bob Chapek Organizations: Service, Québec, NBC, Ventures, LinkedIn, American Pacific, CBC Gem, Allied Market Research, Business Locations: Markham, Canada, Taiwan, Bobba, Asia —

Actor Simu Liu blasted a pair of Quebec entrepreneurs last week who went on Canada’s version of “Shark Tank” to pitch a drink they say has “transformed” boba tea. Sébastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, founders of a bottled popping boba and alcoholic bubble tea brand called Bobba, were seeking $1 million in exchange for 18% of the company. Their products include cans of alcoholic bubble tea, as well as grab-and-go packets of popping boba. “Dragons, you have probably heard about bubble tea,” Frenette said before Liu quickly interjected with a sarcastic: “I’ve never, has anyone else heard of bubble tea? Not everything has to be traditional.”Fiset responded by saying Bobba’s popping boba makes the drink “not an ethnical product anymore.” Minhas agreed that the popping boba was new, saying she’d never experienced it.

Persons: Simu Liu, Sébastien Fiset, Jess Frenette, CBC’s, ”, Fiset, boba, ” Fiset, Liu, Bobba, “, ” Liu, Let’s, “ Barbie, Frenette, ” Frenette, I’ve, Manjit Minhas, ” Minhas, she’d, Brian Scudamore, ” didn’t Organizations: Bobba’s, Ventures, Bobba Locations: Quebec, —, Canadian, Fiset, Taiwan, Markham, Bobba

☆ Canadian drink company tastes controversy after Simu Liu raises cultural appropriation questions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Controversy bubbled for a Canadian drink company after its founders drew the ire of a Marvel superhero on an episode of a “Shark Tank”-style reality series. On a recent episode of CBC’s “Dragons’ Den,” actor Simu Liu appeared as a guest star and prospective investor. The owners of a Quebec-based bubble tea brand called Bobba were featured, seeking funding to grow their brand. Bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea-based drink with tapioca balls that has risen in popularity in recent years. The friction between Liu and Bobba owners Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette was visible early in their pitch.

Persons: CBC’s, Simu Liu, Liu, Sebastien Fiset, Jess Frenette, ” Liu, ”, Frenette, Fiset, “, boba, Den, Manjit Minhas, Bobba, Liu “, Frenette’s, Minhas Organizations: CNN, Marvel, Sunday Locations: Canadian, Quebec, Taiwan, Canada, “, Bobba

☆ 'Heartsick' Jennifer Lopez cancels upcoming summer tour to spend time with family
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewJennifer Lopez has announced her decision to cancel her upcoming North American tour to spend more time with her family, telling her fans she is "devastated" about letting them down. The tour was going to be the singer's first live tour since her "It's My Party" tour in 2019. Dimitri Hakke/Getty ImagesAs Variety noted, by April, the tour had been rebranded to "This Is Me... Live: The Greatest Hits." 👏#JLo #AtlasEnMX pic.twitter.com/r2VX3XsXwi — Glamour Mex y Latam (@GlamourMex) May 23, 2024Lopez's costar, Simu Liu, intervened, responding: "OK, we're not doing that."

Persons: —, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer, Lopez, Dimitri Hakke, Ben Affleck, México, 👏# J, lamour Organizations: Service, Business, Ticketmaster, Party, Entertainment, Hollywood Locations: Orlando, Houston, Mexico City, estreno

☆ Opinion: Why we can’t let go of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s love story
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Opinion Holly Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

After expressing anxiety over other actors’ reluctance to star in the movie, Lopez brings up her spouse. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the 75th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater on March 23, 2003 in Hollywood, California. Now, with an album, film and documentary themed around their second act, Lopez has invited that scrutiny back again, despite her beloved’s obvious reluctance. “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” is swiftly becoming The Greatest Love Story Never Off Duty. Neither Lopez nor Affleck has addressed the current breakup rumors so far.

Persons: Holly Thomas, Katie Couric, Jennifer Lopez’s, Ben Affleck, Lopez, “, Benny Medina, I’m, Affleck, I’ve, ”, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Winter, Jenny, that’d, Ben, You’ve, Elaine Goldsmith, Thomas, Derek Hough, that’s, Icarus, Simu Liu, “ We’re, ” Affleck, We’re Organizations: Katie Couric Media, CNN, Kodak Theater, Netflix Locations: London, Hollywood , California, Bennifer, Las Vegas, Vegas

☆ Jennifer Lopez plus AI robots in ‘Atlas’ equals fuel for Netflix’s algorithm
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Say what you want about Jennifer Lopez, but streaming algorithms surely love her, which accounts for her parade of recent movies – “The Mother” (Netflix), “Shotgun Wedding” (Amazon) and “Marry Me” (Peacock), all in the last two years. Add to that “Atlas,” a nonstop sci-fi action movie that basically gets the job done with a plot that recalls Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” just with a lot more cursing. Atlas must then team up with another AI robot (voiced by Gregory James Cohan) in order to survive. Netflix continues to lay down expensive bets on genre movies, with Zack Snyder’s two-part “Rebel Moon” among the more prominent recent examples. For her part, Lopez steps into a slightly different role – and wisely away from another rom-com – in her dual capacity as producer and star.

Persons: Jennifer Lopez, ”, Disney’s, Atlas Shepherd, Harlan, Simu Liu, Gregory James Cohan, Mark Strong, Sterling K, Brown, Lopez, Brad Peyton –, Dwayne Johnson, Andreas ” –, Zack Snyder’s, it’s Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Sterling, “

☆ Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Blackpink's Lisa: Celebrities spotted at Coachella 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Amanda Goh | Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The annual Coachella music festival, held in Indio, California, is underway. Here are the celebrities who have attended the music festival so far. The likes of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, Taylor Swift, and even Blackpink's Lisa have been spotted among the audience. Here are the celebrities who have been seen enjoying Coachella 2024 so far. Taylor Swift and Travis KelceTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Neon Carnival held during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival on April 13, 2024 in Thermal, California.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Lisa, —, Lana Del Rey, Tyler, Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez, Travis Kelce Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Gilbert Flores, Swift, Jason, Lauren Sánchez, Kris Jenner's, Corey Gamble, Lana Del Rey's, Rocky, Shakira, Blackpink's Lisa LISA, BLACKPINK, Bizarrap's, Blackpink's Lisa, Blackpink, Barry Keoghan Barry Keoghan, Tommaso Boddi, Sabrina Carpenter's, Keoghan, Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Jaden Smith Bieber, Smith, Hailey Bieber Hailey Bieber, Campbell Puckett, 🌵🎡, Rob e, mee, fou, ann u, e, Lew, tim e Organizations: Service, Billboard, Los Angeles Times, Coachella Music, Arts Festival, Getty, NFL, Coachella, AP, Valley Music, Arts, spo Locations: Indio , California, Thermal , California, Coachella, Singapore, fes, Fes

☆ Best and Worst Moments From the 2024 Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Fittingly for an Academy Awards celebrating 2023, the year of “Barbenheimer,” the movies that made up that phenomenon commanded our attention on Sunday night, too. Most Charming Performance: Ryan Gosling, ‘I’m Just Ken’America’s No. 1 Ken, the “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling — who was also nominated for best supporting actor and presented a tribute to stunt performers with Emily Blunt — brought the house down with his performance of “I’m Just Ken,” one of two nominated “Barbie” songs. Gosling roamed into the audience, getting Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Emma Stone briefly on mic. If the Oscars wanted a viral video moment, they sure got it (even though it had been announced in advance).

Persons: “, Ryan Gosling, Ken, ”, “ Barbie, Oppenheimer ”, ‘ I’m, Ken ’ America’s, Barbie, Ryan Gosling —, Emily Blunt —, “ I’m, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben, Adir, Scott Evans, Ncuti, Gosling, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera, Emma Stone, Mark Ronson, Wolfgang Van Halen, — Alissa Wilkinson Organizations: Hollywood Locations: tuxes

☆ The 'Barbie' cast wore all-black to celebrate America Ferrera, not protest their Oscar snubs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementBut these fans were ignoring the fact that one "Barbie" star was wearing Barbie pink — America Ferrera. America Ferrera attends the 2024 Oscars. It was a showstopping dress that finally gave Ferrera — who mostly wore black during the "Barbie" press tour — her big red-carpet moment. America Ferrera presenting at the 2024 Oscars with her "Barbie" costar Kate McKinnon. AdvertisementFerrera received her first Oscar nomination for "Barbie."

Persons: —, Margot Robbie, Robbie, strapless Versace, Mike Coppola, Barbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Greta Gerwig hadn't, Jeff Kravitz, America Ferrera, Arturo Holmes, Ferrera —, Gerwig's snubs, Gosling, Hillary Clinton, Gerwig, America, Rich Polk, Ferrera, Rita Moreno, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Emma McIntyre Organizations: Service, Academy, Business, AMI, ABC, Hollywood, America, Variety, Latina

☆ Ryan Gosling Delivers a ‘Just Ken’ Spectacle at the Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Esther Zuckerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In one of the most anticipated and surely one of the most exuberant moments of Oscar night, Ryan Gosling took the stage to perform “I’m Just Ken,” the nominated song from “Barbie” by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. Wearing a sparkling pink suit and a cowboy hat, Gosling started out in the audience serenading his “Barbie” co-star Margot Robbie, who couldn’t contain her giggles. He then took the stage surrounded by an army of besuited Ken dancers, including fellow movie Kens Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa and Scott Evans. Mark Ronson joined him onstage but Slash of Guns N’ Roses did the true shredding, showing up midway through for a cameo. His early routines, including one in which he wears “Hammer pants,” have received tens of millions of views online.

Persons: Oscar, Ryan Gosling, Ken, ”, “ Barbie ”, Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Gosling, Barbie ”, Margot Robbie, Liu, Kingsley Ben, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, Robbie, Greta Gerwig, “ Barbie, America Ferrera, Emma Stone, Stone, Ronson, Barbie, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake Organizations: Mouse, Disney Locations: “ La La

As well as celebrating the year in movies, the annual extravaganza has long been the red carpet event of the year. Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesTeo Yoo. Alberto Rodriguez/Variety/Getty ImagesJamie Lee Curtis looked elegant in a flowing black gown by Dolce & Gabbana. Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesLeah Lewis, star of Best Animated Feature “Elemental,” looked dreamy in a layered Lever Couture gown featuring a whimsical train. Marleen Moise/Getty ImagesTaylor Zakhar Perez popped on the red carpet with a blue Prada suit styled by leading celebrity stylist Jason Bolden.

Persons: Margot Robbie who’s, “ Barbie ”, Colman Domingo, America Ferrera, Billie Eilish, Zendaya, Danielle Brooks, Mike Coppola, Andrea Riseborough, Loewe, Alberto Rodriguez, Ferrera, Richard Shotwell, Steinfeld, Elie, Sarah Meyssonnier, Huy Quan, Giorgio Armani, Jordan Strauss, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons Jordan Strauss, Louis, David Yurman, Laverne Cox, David Swanson, Issa Rae, Mark Ronson, Grace Gummer, Kevin Mazur, Teo Yoo, Barbie, Simu Liu, Sean Lennon, Kemp Muhl, Gilbert Flores, Sandra Hüller, Cartier, Justine Triet Jordan Strauss, AP Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade Kevin Mazur, Ludwig Göransson Kevin Mazur, Masaki Takahashi, Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko, Christina, Eva Longoria’s, Tamara Ralph, Rita Moreno, Reuters D'Pharaoh Woon, Chasinghorse, Jamie Lee Curtis, Omar Rudberg, Sarah Morris, WireImage, Sean Wang, Chang Li Hua, Sam Davis, Yi Yan Fuei, Chang, Yi, Leah Lewis, Gregg DeGuire, Dominic Sessa, Tom Ford, Celine Song, Reuters Marlee Matlin, Oscar, dazzled, Raymond, Marleen Moise, Ramakrishnan, Zuhair Murad, Getty, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Jason Bolden, Erika Alexander Organizations: CNN, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood’s, America, Dolce, Gabbana, Elie Saab, Louis Vuitton, Getty, AMI Paris, Variety, AP, Los Angeles Times, Reuters Locations: AFP

☆ John Cena says his agency tried to talk him out of his 'Barbie' cameo because it was 'beneath him'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"The perspective from an agency standpoint was, 'This is beneath you,'" he told Howard Stern. Cena didn't take his agency's advice: he appears as Mermaid Ken in the blockbuster. Dua Lipa and John Cena have small roles as mermaid Barbie and Ken in "Barbie." Warner Bros."The perspective from an agency standpoint was, 'This is beneath you,' which I get that," he said. The actor, currently promoting his upcoming comedy "Ricky Stanicky," appears as Mermaid Ken with long, flowing blonde hair alongside Dua Lipa's Mermaid Barbie in several cutaway gags.

Persons: John Cena, Barbie, Howard Stern, Cena didn't, Ken, —, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrara, Simu Liu, They're, Cena, Greta Gerwig, Robbie, Margot, You'll, weren't, Ricky Stanicky Organizations: Service, Academy, Dua, Warner Bros Locations: Dua Lipa

☆ The most daring looks celebrities wore at the 2024 People's Choice Awards
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The 2024 People's Choice Awards took place in California on Sunday. While some celebrities wore neon colors, others opted for bold cut-outs and feather detailing. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe 2024 People's Choice Awards, hosted by Simu Liu, took place in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday. Several celebrities rocked up to the red carpet in bold, colorful outfits that featured cut-outs, ruffles, and feathers.

Persons: Heidi Klum, Lainey Wilson, Natasha Bedingfield, —, Simu Liu Organizations: Service Locations: California, Santa Monica , California

☆ Dan Levy said turning down the opportunity to play one of the Kens in 'Barbie' still haunts him: 'That was a tough day'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewDan Levy recently dropped a major bombshell after revealing he turned down a role in the blockbuster film "Barbie," which he called "a tough day." "Logistically could not make it work despite desperately trying to," Levy told the outlet. "I think Greta had such a like wonderfully bizarre and and magical aesthetic idea of of what that movie was," Levy told People. Although Robbie played the titular role, Amy Schumer and Anne Hatheway nearly played the beloved doll. Robbie told Vogue in May 2023 that she initially wanted Gal Gadot to play Barbie.

Persons: —, Dan Levy, Levy, People's Jason Sheeler, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Eugene Levy, Emma McIntyre, Margot Robbie, Barbie, Jaap Buitendijk, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Greta, Levy's, Amy Schumer, Anne Hatheway, Gal Gadot, Gadot Organizations: Service, Business, Warner Bros, Vogue, Netflix Locations: Levy

Hollywood jumped into planning mode Thursday at the news of a tentative agreement between striking actors and the major entertainment companies. Just hours after the tentative agreement was announced, “The Marvels” star Iman Vellani was already being offered to press for interviews. The Walt Disney Co. movie, which cost over $200 million to produce, opens this weekend with showtimes starting as early as Thursday afternoon. Searchlight Pictures also started actively planning things for Michael Fassbender, who stars in Taika Waititi's “Next Goal Wins,” out next week. Brunson’s writing team had already been back in the room, but the strike’s suspension clears the way for filming.

Persons: Hollywood, what's, Iman Vellani, Michael Fassbender, ”, Timothée Chalamet, Wonka ”, Jason Momoa, publicists, Joe Biden, ” Biden, “, they’ve, Gavin Newsom, Simu Liu, “ Barbie, ” Lui, “ Bravo, ” Albert Brooks, Rob Reiner, “ Albert Brooks, Max, ” Brooks, ” Octavia Spencer, ” “ Abbott, Quinta Brunson, “ we’re, Justine Bateman, Priscilla ”, “ Ferrari, Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein, “ Maestro, Carey Mulligan, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Jeffrey Wright, Ridley Scott’s “ Napoleon, Joaquin Phoenix, Martin Scorsese’s, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert DeNiro, Alexander Payne’s “, Paul Giamatti, Annette Bening, Jodie Foster Organizations: Walt Disney Co, showtimes, Searchlight Pictures, Screen Actors, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, “ SAG, SAG, HBO Locations: California, Venice

☆ 'Look what you made me do': Taylor Swift attends film premiere, moves up release
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" was set to open in theaters worldwide on Friday, but high interest prompted Swift to add earlier screenings in some markets. "Look what you genuinely made me do: Due to unprecedented demand we're opening up early access showings of The Eras Tour Concert Film on THURSDAY in America and Canada!!" [1/5]Taylor Swift attends a premiere for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 11, 2023. Inside the theater, Swift thanked fans for supporting the Eras Tour, which has sold out stadiums around the world. "I've never had this much fun in my life as I had at the Eras Tour," she said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, showtimes, Mario Anzuoni, Adam Sandler, Mariska Hargitay, Barbie, Simu Liu, Beyonce, I've, Lisa Richwine, Miral Organizations: AMC Theatre, REUTERS, AMC Theatres, Thomson Locations: America, Canada, Los Angeles, Los Angeles , California, U.S, United States

☆ Taylor Swift shelled out $100,000 bonuses to truckers on her Eras tour, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Taylor Swift handed out $100,000 bonuses to truckers on her tour, according to multiple reports. The singer shelled out over $55 million in bonuses to staff on the tour, People reported. The Eras tour is set to become the highest-grossing tour of all time, according to Pollstar data. Taylor Swift dished out "end of tour" bonuses to staff on her Eras tour, including about 50 truck drivers, according to multiple reports. In total, the singer handed out over $55 million in bonuses to her staff, including dancers, sound technicians, and caterers, People reported.

Persons: Taylor Swift, TMZ, Swift, Scott Swift, Taylor, Mike Scherkenbach, Insider's Juliana Kaplan, Gal, Simu Liu, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: SoFi, Entertainment, Federal Reserve Locations: Los Angeles, South America, Asia, Europe

☆ The surprising list of actors who were up to play Ken in ‘Barbie’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ryan Gosling may or may not be your ideal Ken in the new “Barbie” movie, but one of the film’s casting directors has shared who else might have gotten the role. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Allison Jones — who cast the hit film along with Lucy Bevan — talked about who else might have joined Barbie in her dream house. Like the line of dolls the movie is based on, there are multiple Barbies and Kens portrayed by a diverse cast of actors. And that meant Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, and Ben Platt were out of the running to play Ken. “Simu Liu was dying to be a Ken, God bless him,” Jones said of the actor who was eventually cast as one of the Kens.

Persons: CNN — Ryan Gosling, Barbie, Allison Jones —, Lucy Bevan —, Kens, Jones, Bowen Yang, Dan Levy, Ben Platt, Ken, “, I’m, ”, CJ Rivera, Slaven Vlasic, Evan Agostini, “ Simu Liu, ” Jones, Allan, Jonathan Groff, ’, Michael Cera, Bevan, Greta Gerwig, ” Bevan, ” Margot Robbie snagged, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae Organizations: CNN Locations: London, Dua Lipa

☆ Simu Liu Went From Business School to Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Emily Bobrow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When Simu Liu first threw himself into acting in 2012, he says his dream was to be “that one Asian guy that says one line and then gets shot.” He tailored his ambitions to fit the roles available, finding work as “Hong Kong desk cop number one” and “Asian EMT number two.” With chagrin, he recalls an independent film in which he played a Japanese mob boss who spoke in guttural gibberish: “The director didn’t know Japanese and neither do I, so he said just make it up.”

Persons: Simu Liu, didn’t, ” Locations: Hong Kong, Japanese

☆ 'Barbie' review: Margot Robbie stars in Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —“Barbie” comes roaring out of the gate with an inventiveness and energy the movie perhaps inevitably can’t sustain. Still, the closest kin would probably be “The Lego Movie,” which similarly took a familiar toy and built a kind of existential crisis around it. Simu Liu, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in "Barbie." Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesThe juxtaposition of those more thoughtful elements with the sheer giddiness elsewhere – alternating between the serious and the silly, between art and commerce – doesn’t always quite mesh or feel as fresh as it might. (The film is being released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros.

Persons: CNN — “ Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig’s, Noah Baumbach, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, “ Barbie ”, Ferrell’s, Helen Mirren, Barbie, Ken, Gosling’s Ken, Ariana Greenblatt, Simu Liu, Bird, Gosling, “ Justice League ”, “ Oppenheimer, “, overdoing, ” Organizations: CNN, Mattel, America, Warner Bros, “ Justice League, Warner Bros .

☆ How to watch the ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ double feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s the “Barbenheimer” double feature, and it started its life, as most phenomena do, as a meme. He says he’s seeing “Oppenheimer” first, on its opening Friday, and then “Barbie” “right after” so he gets to experience both with packed houses. Neither “Barbie” nor “Oppenheimer” seem like they’ll be boring, so ahead of both films, use the restroom. Use it again between “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” Gerwig’s film is also the more ICEE-friendly film, so re-up on snacks and such in between. 10:50 a.m.: Arrive 10 minutes early for “Oppenheimer,” get an extra-large popcorn and prepare for cinematic annihilation.

Persons: Greta Gerwig’s, Barbie ”, Christopher Nolan’s “, Oppenheimer, ”, Margot Robbie’s Barbie, It’s, “ Barbie ”, ‘, “ Oppenheimer, “ Barbie, Ken, Nicole Kidman’s, Nolan, you’ll, ‘ Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, ” can’t, Tom Cruise, Emma Mackey, Simu Liu, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, —, it’s, you’ve, you’re, celebs, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson’s, Florence Pugh, Barbie Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, AMC, Pictures, Universal Locations: cliffhangers, ”, New Mexico

☆ At the Oscars, Diamonds May Be a Man’s Best Friend
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Jacob Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

At the Oscars, only a few will venture home with a little gold statue. Yet out on the red carpet, there is sure to be a bounty of little gilded brooches pinned to the glittery guests’ lapels. The male brooch has been an inescapable sight this awards season, highlights of which include Irish swooner Paul Mescal with a feathery Cartier pendant at the Baftas, Marvel star Simu Liu sporting a blossoming two-toned brooch to the Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards and kingpin producer Nile Rodgers sporting not one, but two double-C Chanel pins to the Grammys.

☆ All 31 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, ranked by how much money they made at the global box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Travis Clark | Samantha Delouya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Universal Pictures Worldwide box office: $264.7 million Total domestic box office: $134.8 million Domestic opening weekend: $55.4 million Budget: $150 million 29. Disney/Marvel Worldwide box office: $370.6 million Total domestic box office: $176.7 million Domestic opening weekend: $65 million Budget: $140 million 28. "Ant-Man" (2015) Marvel Worldwide box office: $519.3 million Total domestic box office: $180.2 million Domestic opening weekend: $57.2 million Budget: $130 million 23. Marvel Studios Worldwide box office: $644.8 million Total domestic box office: $206.4 million Domestic opening weekend: $85.7 million Budget: $170 million 19. Marvel/Sony Worldwide box office: $880.2 million Total domestic box office: $334.2 million Domestic opening weekend: $117 million Budget: $175 million 11.

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