KATSEYE Manon denies feud, Ariana Grande's nomination, Sydney Sweeney's political stance

Manon debunks rumors of KATSEYE feud

A brief video recorded inside KATSEYE’s tour bus set off intense speculation this week after member Manon was seen raising her voice while Sophia, Lara, and Megan appeared engaged in the conversation. The moment quickly circulated online, prompting rumors that the rookie global girl group was experiencing internal conflict.

Manon has now directly addressed the situation, posting a clarification on Weverse to shut down the rumors and explain the real cause of her frustration.

“[The] girls aren't fighting!” she assured fans, emphasizing that her reaction in the clip had nothing to do with her fellow members. 

“I was really upset because there was a grown man in the crowd who wasn't even a fan, just shoving people including kids to get autographs he could resell later,” she clarified.

KATSEYE, formed through the HYBE–Geffen global girl group project, has been on a packed promotional schedule in recent weeks. They are currently on the road for The Beautiful Chaos Tour, with their next stop set to light up the WAMU Theater in Seattle.

Ariana Grande scores Critics Choice Award nomination

Ariana Grande has officially entered this year’s awards race, earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance as Glinda in Wicked: For Good.

The musical film, which collected seven nominations overall including Best Picture, is one of several major contenders at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards. Its additional recognition in categories such as Best Casting & Ensemble and Best Costume Design highlights the film’s broad technical and creative achievements.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ Sinners dominated the nominations list with 17 nods, the most of any film this year. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the crime epic secured prominent placements including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan. One Battle After Another followed closely with 14 nominations, continuing a competitive field among films earning double-digit recognition.

Grande’s nomination arrives in a particularly competitive supporting actress lineup and marks one of the most notable individual acknowledgments tied to Wicked: For Good. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, continues to expand its awards momentum as the season progresses.

Sydney Sweeney breaks silence on American Eagle ad backlash

Sydney Sweeney has publicly addressed the criticism surrounding her American Eagle campaign months after the denim ad sparked widespread backlash online. The Euphoria actress drew controversy after the brand used the word “jeans” as a play on “genes,” prompting debate over the message and imagery.

“I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true,” the actress asserted in an interview with People.

She explained why she chose not to speak immediately following the reaction and expressed regret over staying silent.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together,” Sweeney noted. 

“I’m against hate and divisiveness. In the past, my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it."

The 28-year-old actress said she was “surprised” by the response to the campaign and that she merely did it because she loved the jeans and the brand. 

“So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us,” Sweeney added.

The actress has previously chosen not to comment on the matter, making this her first public explanation since the controversy began.

Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau goes Instagram official

Grammy nominee Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have effectively confirmed months of dating rumors after the pop star shared a carousel of photos and videos featuring the two together during her recent stop in Japan.

The post, uploaded to Perry’s Instagram feed on Saturday, included a close-up selfie where the pair lean in cheek-to-cheek, smiling at the camera. Another clip shows the duo sampling sushi at what appears to be a traditional Tokyo restaurant. Perry captioned the set, "Tokyo times on tour and more."

Their joint appearance marks the clearest acknowledgment yet of a relationship that has been the subject of growing speculation. The two have been spotted side by side several times this year, including when Trudeau attended one of Perry’s concerts earlier in the summer during her ongoing Lifetimes Tour.

Trudeau appeared to add fuel to the conversation earlier this week when he reposted a photo showing himself and Perry alongside former Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko.

In his message on X, he wrote, "Great to see you [Fumio Kishida]. Katy and I were so glad to have the chance to sit down with you and Yuko. Thank you, Fumio, for your friendship and your continued commitment to both the international rules-based order and to a better future for everyone."

Perry is currently touring Asia, with Japan as one of the major stops on her global tour.

ICYMI:

• Marvel fans are in for a major throwback as Disney is set to re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters in September 2026, giving audiences another chance to experience the record-breaking blockbuster on the big screen before its highly anticipated follow-up, Avengers: Doomsday, arrives.

• Netflix reassured its subscribers after sending out a letter addressing concerns surrounding their acquisition of Warner Bros., including HBO and HBO Max: “Both streaming services will continue to operate separately. We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You'll hear from us when we have more to share.”

• The White House has been facing backlash due to a pro-ICE social-media post that featured Sabrina Carpenter’s hit track “Juno,” which the pop star swiftly condemned as “evil and disgusting.” Carpenter publicly demanded that her music never be used to promote what she called an “inhumane agenda,” prompting the administration to remove the video.

— Bea Bertuldo

Subscribe to the newsletter to discover new releases through Pop Base weekly and to find out what songs we declare the best of the week.