Olivia Responds to Babydoll Dress Criticism, Ariana's Music Video, Taylor x Toy Story 5 Debunked

Olivia Rodrigo Slams "Disturbing" Backlash Over Babydoll Stage Dress

Olivia Rodrigo is firing back at critics who accused her of sexualizing children’s clothing after she wore a babydoll dress during a May 8 performance. Speaking on The New York Times podcast Popcast, Olivia expressed her disgust with the online commentary, calling the reaction deeply unsettling. Rodrigo pointed out the baffling double standard of the criticism, noting that while audiences haven't blinked when she has performed in more revealing stage outfits like sparkly bras and shorts, a fully covered-up dress suddenly caused an uproar simply because people deemed it "childlike."

Instead of backing down, the star used the moment to call out a broader, toxic societal issue, arguing that the hyper-fixation on her outfit "really shows how we normalize pedophilia in our culture." Rodrigo explained that she chose the look to channel her alt-rock heroes like Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love, not to look sexy. Ultimately, she urged younger women and girls to reject the harmful rhetoric that forces them to police their own wardrobes to prevent men from sexualizing them, emphasizing, “You shouldn’t be responsible for some guy sexualizing you in a way that was never your intention.”

Ariana Grande Shares Eerie Hitcher-Inspired Video Teaser for Petal Lead Single

Ariana Grande has thrilled fans by sharing an eerie new teaser for her upcoming single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” the lead track from her highly anticipated eighth studio album, Petal. Directed by frequent collaborator Christian Breslauer, the cinematic snippet stars actor Justin Long in a tense car ride, culminating in a creepy rearview-mirror reveal of Grande’s piercing stare as a trap-adjacent beat builds. The teaser wraps with the single's title splashed in a retro yellow font that pays direct homage to the classic 1986 thriller The Hitcher. Long’s cameo proudly continues Grande's long-standing tradition of casting Hollywood heavyweights in her visuals, following past appearances from Penn Badgley, Evan Peters, and Charles Melton.

The highly anticipated track sets the stage for Petal, which is scheduled to drop on July 31 via Republic Records. Executive produced by Grande alongside ILYA, the album marks her first proper studio LP since her acclaimed, multi-year turn as Glinda in the Wicked cinematic universe. The release of Petal is strategically timed to land right in the middle of her massive 41-date Eternal Sunshine Tour, her first global trek since 2019.

ICYMI:

• Role Model has announced his new album ‘Chuck Timely & The Hourglass’ out August 7th.

• Gracie Abrams has announced ‘The Look at My Life Tour.’ Featuring special guests Rachel Chinouriri, The Japanese House, Holly Humberstone, Grace Ives, and more.

Taylor Swift x Toy Story 5 Not Happening, Despite Speculation

Pixar has broken the hearts of Swifties and Disney fans alike by debunking the internet's biggest rumor surrounding Toy Story 5. During an interview at Pixar headquarters with digital creator Shivani Khosla, director Andrew Stanton, co-director McKenna Harris, and producer Lindsey Collins explicitly addressed the viral speculation that Taylor Swift would be lending her vocals to the franchise. While the creative team admitted they were incredibly flattered by the online buzz, with Stanton calling it a "freakin' honor", he firmly shut down the idea that she is involved. "The sad truth is we watched the movie being mixed last week and the song on the end was not Taylor Swift," Stanton confirmed.

The widespread theory originally ignited on April 30, when Swift’s official website briefly displayed a mysterious 10-minute countdown featuring a bright yellow font and a blue-sky-and-white-cloud backdrop unmistakable from the Toy Story branding. Though Swift's team has remained tight-lipped about what that glitchy countdown actually signified, Pixar's leadership has made it clear that a trip to the toy box isn't on the pop star's immediate horizon.

POP FACT: On this day in 2000, Britney Spears’ Oops!... I Did It Again debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and became the fastest-selling LP by a female solo artist in chart history.

Latto Unveils Star-Studded Features for Big Mama

With her upcoming album Big Mama just hours away from release, Latto has officially fueled fan excitement by announcing a powerhouse lineup of guest features for the project. The "Put It On Da Floor" hitmaker, who has been teasing this new chapter of her life throughout the promotional rollout, is bringing an eclectic mix of top-tier talent across hip-hop, R&B, and crossover genres. Listeners can look forward to appearances from prominent names, including GloRilla, 21 Savage, Mariah the Scientist, Wizkid, Teyana Taylor, Sexyy Red, Odeal, Jelly Roll, and Doja Cat.

ICYMI:

• A drama series based on Celine Dion is in the works, titled ‘Growing Up Dion.’

• In a new interview with Vogue Singapore, Zara Larsson has revealed Beyonce, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, and Whitney Houston as her personal ‘Mount Rushmore.’

— Katie Macbeth

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