Finneas Defends Billie, Taylor's 'Opalite' Music Video, Blair Waldorf Returns

Finneas Brings Receipts to the Billie Discourse

The 2026 Grammys were always going to be a political lightning rod, but the drama followed Billie Eilish home long after her "Wildflower" win. During her Song of the Year acceptance speech, Billie kept it blunt: “No one is illegal on stolen land,” she told the room, before punctuating the moment with a sharp “f*** ICE.” The predictable wave of "shut up and sing" backlash from the usual talking heads followed, but Finneas wasn't about to let it slide. He hopped on Threads to defend his sister with a rebuttal that effectively nuked the conversation: “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”

Now three-time Song of the Year winners, the siblings are clearly over the industry’s obsession with keeping artists quiet. When a USA Today op-ed suggested celebrities dodge politics, Finneas pointed out the irony, arguing that critics are the ones "making it matter" by obsessing over the speech for days. 

Taylor Swift Announces "Opalite" Music Video and 48-Hour Vinyl Drop

Four months after The Life of a Showgirl dropped, Taylor Swift is finally giving “Opalite” the visual treatment. A countdown clock hit her site this morning, confirming the video lands on Friday at 8 a.m. ET, but there’s a catch. It’s hitting Spotify and Apple Music first, with YouTube fans having to wait until Sunday. To sweeten the deal, she’s also dropped an "Opalite" 7-inch vinyl available for just 48 hours.

The delayed YouTube launch isn't an accident. Following YouTube's messy exit from Billboard’s chart data, Taylor is funnelling everyone toward paid platforms to exploit Billboard’s new rules, which value a subscription stream way more than a free one.

ICYMI:

• Harry Styles has announced a ‘One Night Only’ concert in Manchester on March 6th, tickets will be available through a request system for £20.

• Miss Piggy has told ET that Ariana Grande is her dream guest for ‘The Muppets Show.’ 

Blair Waldorf Returns, New Standalone "Gossip Girl" Novel Announced

Blair Waldorf is officially returning to the Upper East Side, and no, it’s not another reboot. Original Gossip Girl author Cecily von Ziegesar just inked a massive deal for a standalone novel titled, simply, Blair. The twist? We’re catching up with B in her 40s. Plot details are currently locked in a vault, but we know the story follows the iconic socialite as she returns to Manhattan to claw her way back to the top of the food chain.

It’s the first time von Ziegesar has touched the series in over a decade, and the publishing world is reportedly "frenzied" over the acquisition. With a global launch set for Summer 2027, expect a heavy dose of headbands and high-society sabotage. Some legends never go out of style, and Blair Waldorf is nothing if not a legend.

POP FACT: On this day in 1945, Bob Marley was born.

Pieter Mulier Appointed Creative Director of Versace

The worst-kept secret in fashion is finally official: Pieter Mulier is taking the reins at Versace. After months of rumors and a few cheeky hints on Instagram, the former Alaïa visionary will start his new gig this July. It’s a major homecoming for Mulier, who spent two decades as Raf Simons’ right hand; the appointment effectively reunites the duo following the Prada Group’s $1.25 billion buyout of the house. It’s been a chaotic year for Versace. Donatella stepped back in March, and her successor, Dario Vitale, lasted only one collection before the Prada acquisition shook things up. Now, Mulier is tasked with the impossible: stabilizing a family brand that no longer has a family member at the helm. If his success at Alaïa is anything to go by, Versace is about to get a lot more sophisticated.

ICYMI:

• Pedro Pascal has replaced Joaquin Phoenix in ‘De Noche,’ a gay romance film that Phoenix dropped out of last minute. 

• FKA Twigs has teased a new era with profile picture changes on Spotify and Instagram.

• A24 is working on a ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ TV series & Film following a months-long bidding war, with Glen Powell set to co-produce.

• Spotify has announced that it paid out $11 billion to artists and labels throughout 2025.

• Peppa Pig has revealed that her younger brother, George, has been diagnosed as moderately deaf. 

Best New Track: “Homewrecker” by Sombr

Fresh off the Grammys stage (like, actually, a couple days ago), Sombr released a new song today.

In a silver jumpsuit this past Sunday, Sombr shimmered and spun alongside…Doechii? What looks surprising on paper comes together naturally.

The singer capped off a strong week with “Homewrecker.” Being Grammy nominated in the Best New Artist category gives him real momentum going forward. Can he keep up?

Sombr is probably best known for his hit “back to friends.” It seemed to play every time you turned on the car radio. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop airplay chart and it didn’t go unnoticed by Taylor Swift, either: he was photographed exiting a dinner party with a loaf of her sourdough bread.

“Homewrecker” taps into the same glitzy energy as “back to friends.” A handful of love-coded phrases linger in the margins of the song: “Do you got plans for life?” he sings. “I don’t want to be how you formulate opinions on astrology,”—this is delivered with a knowing wink.

We’re eager to see where he decides to take it from here.

—Dawson Therre

— Katie Macbeth

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