Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ makes Spotify’s global Songs of Summer 2023 list, Lizzo to sue former backup dancers, Manchester City confirm arrival of Jeremy Doku. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest which summarizes five of the hottest global news you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix. Mary J Blige Earring Collection
1. Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ makes Spotify’s global Songs of Summer 2023 list
Congrats to all the black people that earned their spots 2023
— Daisy #jealousy #pttr (@poofalakazam) August 23, 2023
Song of the Summer Spotify US and Spotify Global Worldwide pic.twitter.com/SuTCtZxy6M
On August 23, Spotify released its Song of Summer list for US and global listeners, and Rema’s Calm Down made the global list. Rema’s Calm Down featuring Selena Gomez was ranked No. 20 on the list, topped by “Ella Baila Sola” by Latino artistes Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma. The global list also includes songs from British pop star Harry Styles, American superstar Miley Cyrus, Latino streaming giant Bad Bunny, and British hip-hop stars Dave & Central Cee.
“Calm Down” is the only song from an African artiste on the list, and Rema is also the only African artiste to make the list. Listeners won’t be surprised to find “Calm Down” on the list following the impressive global success that has seen it top charts in North Africa, the Middle East, and India. The single also holds the record for the highest charting song for a Nigerian on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Chart.
2. Lizzo to sue former backup dancers for “malicious prosecution” as new evidence comes to light
Lizzo intends to sue the backup dancers who are taking her to court, @TMZ reports.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 23, 2023
Lizzo's attorney says newly surfaced photos show Lizzo's accusers returned to the topless cabaret a month later and took photos with the performers. pic.twitter.com/Ie9ufMLwj4
Earlier this month, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, who previously performed as part of Lizzo’s Big Grrrls dance troupe, filed a lawsuit accusing the “About Damn Time” hitmaker of weight-shaming, sexual harassment, and fostering a hostile work environment. Since then, Lizzo has been receiving major backlash from fans, and as a result, she is planning on countersuing her accusers. On August 23, the Grammy Award-winning singer’s attorney, Marty Singer, issued a statement to reporters saying that they “intend to sue for malicious prosecution after she prevails and these specious claims are dismissed.”
“The lawsuit is a sham,” the attorney added to the statement. Singer also included photos that purportedly show the plaintiffs Davis, Williams, and Rodriguez with “the performers after the topless cabaret show at the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris” back in March. In the plaintiffs’ lawsuit, they claimed that Lizzo did not tell them that the performers at Crazy Horse would be naked, which was “robbing them of the choice not to participate.”
3. South Africa: Jub Jub’s case postponed to November
Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye now faces 13 counts ranging from rapes, indecent assaults, kidnapping, assault and assault to cause grievous bodily harm. | @City_Press https://t.co/zvGF66y2mB
— News24 (@News24) August 24, 2023
TV presenter and musician Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye on Thursday briefly returned to Joburg Magistrates Court. Facing charges of rape, attempted murder, and assault, his matter has now been postponed following his lawyer’s, Terrence Ntsako Baloyi from Baloyi Ntsako Attorneys, request for additional time to study the docket. He is expected to be back in court on November 8.
In July, Jub Jub handed himself over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) following a warrant that was issued for his arrest on three counts of rape, two of attempted murder, and one of assault. He was later released on bail. Under the bail conditions, the musician had been ordered to hand over his passport to the investigative officer, and he was not allowed to have any contact with the victims.
4. Burna Boy denies saying America doesn’t have culture
#BurnaBoy shut down rumors of him saying Black America has no culture after fans called him out for the snippet of his “City Boy” video seemingly being influenced by Black Americans. 🎥 @Complex pic.twitter.com/ZEm4dhZZqO
— theJasmineBRAND (@thejasminebrand) August 24, 2023
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy has denied insinuating that Black Americans do not have culture. In a recent interview with American media outlet, Complex, Burna Boy said he was misquoted. The singer said, “My mission is to bring us [the world] together. My mission is to build a bridge that can’t be broken, a bridge that should have always been there. People that said that [I alluded that Black Americans don’t have culture] have their own agenda.”
“Coming back to the point of that I said black people have no culture or whatever. Does that even make sense? If you watched the video of the interview, if you can show me the part where I said black Americans don’t have culture. That is all I need. If somebody can just show me that part. There is nothing I said that Malcolm X didn’t say. But obviously, it’s Burna Boy saying it and he is from Africa and it fits the agenda for your little group or whatever.”
5. Manchester City confirm arrival of Jeremy Doku as Belgian forward completes €65m move from Rennes
I’m so proud to join this great club. I can’t wait to get started and to make history together! Thank you for welcoming me to your city, see you soon 🫡 pic.twitter.com/lDXQdZhO86
— Jeremy Doku (@JeremyDoku) August 24, 2023
Manchester City have announced the signing of Belgium winger Jeremy Doku after agreeing a €65 million (£56m/$70m) fee with Rennes. Doku joins the Premier League champions on a five-year contract from Ligue 1 side Rennes, with whom he scored 10 goals and contributed 12 assists in three seasons across all competitions. The winger is City’s third signing of the summer, after midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and defender Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. Doku has been signed to fill the boots of Riyad Mahrez, who left City to join Saudi side Al-Ahli after five silverware-laden years at the Etihad Stadium. His arrival could spell bad news for Cole Palmer, who has made a strong start to the season but is set to face reduced playing time after featuring very little in City’s run to the treble.
“This is a great day for me, both personally and professionally. Manchester City are the best team in world football, so to be joining them is something very special for me and my family,” Doku told City’s official website. “I am a young player with so much learning and improving to do. Working with Pep and his staff, and playing alongside these work-class players, will make me a much better player. I feel sure of that. Watching City last season was amazing. To win the Treble is the hardest thing in football and they did it. You cannot imagine how exciting it is to be joining this team. I cannot wait to get started. Hopefully, I can make the fans happy.”
Featured image: @heisrema/Instagram
Our Weekday News Digest summarizes five of the hottest news topics worldwide–including celebrity news from Hollywood to Nollywood, the latest trending global headlines from American reports to top African news today, and the best sports stories in 2023.
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