Miley's New Album, Galliano Exhibition Cancelled, Messi Retires Internationally

Miley Cyrus Teases Name Change and Announces New Album 'Bass Persuades'

Miley Cyrus appears to be ushering in her next musical era with a bold rebrand, dropping her famous surname in favor of the mononym "MILEY" while officially announcing her upcoming tenth studio album, Bass Persuades, set for release on September 18 via Atlantic Records. The 33-year-old pop star kicked off the soft-launch by purchasing a wrap-around cover of the Los Angeles Times featuring only her face and first name, alongside updating her official website and Instagram with a red-tinted portrait simply captioned "MILEY." The subtle shift was quickly embraced by major platforms, with Google even prompting users searching her full name with a cheekily corrected "Did you mean... just: miley”.

To celebrate the release of Bass Persuades, Cyrus will make a rare return to the stage with a special two-night residency at the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 16 and 18, where she is set to perform the new record in full. The upcoming album follows last year's Something Beautiful, with Cyrus recently teasing that this project explores a deeply layered "peaceful kind of love" rooted in self-discovery and personal growth. Presales for the Hollywood Bowl shows begin September 8, ahead of the general onsale on September 10, signaling a massive rollout for her fresh creative chapter.

John Galliano Cancels Major Met Exhibition Following Backlash

Fashion designer John Galliano has canceled his highly anticipated retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art due to significant backlash over his past behavior. The exhibition, titled John Galliano: Horizons, was slated to open in May 2027 but faced immediate criticism from civil rights leaders and officials who were concerned about honoring Galliano amid rising antisemitism, particularly because it coincided with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). In a statement, Galliano acknowledged that holding the exhibition could be painful for some and stressed that true atonement requires personal responsibility rather than public accolades.

The controversy surrounding Galliano dates back to 2011 when he was dismissed from Dior for making antisemitic remarks and was later convicted by a Paris court for his actions. Although he has maintained 15 years of sobriety and returned to fashion with Maison Margiela, advocacy groups such as the Anti-Defamation League praised the cancellation as the right choice. Even Vogue’s Anna Wintour expressed support for Galliano's decision, calling it courageous, highlighting the ongoing conversation about accountability in the fashion industry.

ICYMI:

• Beyonce has donated $200 million to support flood relief efforts in Indiana.

• Sadie Sink stars in a new campaign for Calvin Klein.

Lionel Messi Retires from International Football

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, following Argentina's loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. The legendary player, who leaves as Argentina's all-time top scorer with 125 goals and most-capped player with 207 appearances, reflected on his decision, stating it "hurts deeply" but feels it's time to make way for the next generation.

Despite his international retirement, Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he has a contract until 2028. Throughout his international journey, Messi led Argentina to memorable victories, including the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest footballers in history.

POP FACT: On this day in 1964, Keanu Reeves was born.

Tom Holland Becomes Hollywood's Third Highest-Grossing Lead Actor

Tom Holland has cemented his status as one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws, ascending to third place on the all-time highest-grossing lead actors list after Spider-Man: Brand New Day crossed $2.33 billion worldwide. The milestone pushes the 29-year-old actor past fellow Marvel star Chris Pratt, leaving him trailing only Zoe Saldaña ($15.47 billion) and Scarlett Johansson ($15.4 billion) on the historic ranking. Holding the No. 1 spot domestically for five consecutive weekends, Holland's fourth standalone Spider-Man film has amassed $891.5 million in North America, nearing Star Wars: The Force Awakens' all-time record of $936.6 million, while boasting an unmatched per-film lead-role average of $622.1 million across his career.

ICYMI:

• A jury has found a man guilty of orchestrating the killing of Tupac Shakur, almost 30 years on from his death.

• Fontaines D.C. have announced that they’ll be performing at Ireland’s Slane Castle in June 2027, making history as the third-ever Irish band to do so.

• Dua Lipa has posted new photos in the studio.

• Rihanna has become the first-ever female artist to have eight songs surpass 2 billion streams on Spotify.

— Katie Macbeth

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