Olivia Rodrigo breaks silence on outfit backlash
Singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has responded to criticism over her recent babydoll dress outfits, saying the backlash reflects how society normalises the sexualisation of young women. Speaking on the New York Times Popcast, Rodrigo said she was upset by claims that the dresses infantilised or sexualised her appearance. The singer explained that the outfits, worn in her Drop Dead music video and at Spotify’s Billions Club Live concert, were inspired by ’90s rock icons such as Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love. Rodrigo said she felt “cool and comfortable” in the dresses and did not view them as sexual. She argued that the criticism reinforces harmful messages often directed at girls from a young age — that they are responsible for how others perceive them. Rodrigo added that she wants younger women to feel free to dress comfortably without fear of being unfairly sexualised or judged. (IANS)
Nicolas Cage legally changed his name last year
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage has revealed that he legally changed his name from Nicolas Kim Coppola to Nicolas Cage last year, saying he wanted to create his own identity rather than be known as part of the famous Coppola family. In an interview with Variety, Cage said he preferred being the “patriarch” of his own family instead of the “clown cousin” on the margins of Hollywood royalty. The actor said he adopted the surname “Cage” from Marvel character Luke Cage and avant-garde composer John Cage, while keeping “Nicolas” because it was given to him by his father. Cage explained he wanted a short, memorable name similar to James Dean. The actor’s next project is Spider-Noir, inspired by Marvel’s Spider-Man Noir comics. (IANS)
Cynthia Erivo recalls Singapore incident that ‘stripped’ her humanity
Cynthia Erivo has spoken out against the backlash she faced after protecting Wicked co-star Ariana Grande during an incident at Universal Studios Singapore in November 2025. A man reportedly rushed towards Grande, prompting Erivo to intervene when security failed to react quickly. The actress told Variety that online memes and TikTok videos unfairly targeted her appearance, physique and bald look, reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women like her. Erivo said the criticism made her feel “dehumanised” and may have influenced her decision not to actively campaign for an Academy Award, as she did not want to endure further public scrutiny.. (IANS)
Nick Jonas shares adorable drummer photos of Malti Marie
Nick Jonas delighted fans by sharing adorable pictures of his daughter Malti Marie during technical rehearsals for his show. The photos showed little Malti exploring the backstage setup, trying out the drums, holding a microphone and wearing headphones while spending time with her father. Nick captioned the post, “What happens in Vegas.” Fans praised the sweet father-daughter moments shared online. Nick and Priyanka Chopra welcomed Malti via surrogacy in January 2022. The singer has previously spoken about the challenges surrounding her premature birth, revealing she weighed only 1 pound, 11 ounces and spent nearly 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. Nick described the NICU nurses as “angels” and recalled how he and Priyanka took turns staying with Malti during her difficult early months. (IANS)
