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Athletes have unparalleled opportunities to capitalize on their sports stardom these days by threading together business, advocacy and philanthropic ventures via social media and online communities.

Soccer superstar Alex Morgan and her longtime business partner Dan Levy discuss how Morgan is charting her transition off the pitch into business, content, foundation and nonprofit work on the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”

Morgan retired from professional soccer in September 2024 after 11 seasons with the National Women’s Soccer League, as a charter player from the league’s first season in 2013. For the U.S. Women’s National Team, Morgan played in 22 World Cup matches and scored nine goals. Over her 15-year professional career, she played in 16 Olympic matches and scored six goals.

Four years ago, women’s sports accounted for 4% of the total TV time devoted to live games and related coverage. In 2025, that number has spiked to 16% and it...

The 2025 Espys gathered the world’s top athletes and biggest stars on Wednesday to celebrate the past year in sports. The star-studded ceremony relived the year’s most memorable sports moments, honoring leading athletes and uniting the industry’s fan favorites and biggest names. The night featured musical performances from Grammy-nominated rapper Busta Rhymes, acclaimed hip-hop duo Clipse, and rising rap superstar Gelo.

During the Espys, ESPN recognized former WNBA player Diana Taurasi and former Uswnt player Alex Morgan with the prestigious Icon Award, celebrating their incredible careers and profound impact on the world of sports.

Hosted by Shane Gillis at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, top athletes and celebrities attending the red carpet included Simone Biles, Damar Hamlin, Ilona Maher, Cj McCollum, Sean Evans, Terrell Owens, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Lamar Jackson, John Owen Lowe, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sloane Stephens, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jason George, Metta World Peace, Nate Diaz,...

The 2025 Espys are taking place Tonight (July 16) presented by Capital One.

The annual ESPN awards show recognize major sports achievements, remember unforgettable moments, and honor the leading performers and performances.

This year, the Icon Award will be handed out to WNBA star Diana Taurasi and former United States Women’s National Soccer Team player Alex Morgan, for their “incredible careers and significant impact on the world of sports.”

Keep reading to find out more…

Additional special awards will include honoring Oscar Robertson with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, Katie Schumacher-Cawley with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance and David Walters and Erin Regan receiving the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

If you missed it, check out the full list of nominations!

The 2025 Espys will air live Tonight (July 16) starting at 8pm Et/Pt on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and streaming next day on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

Myles Garrett and Chloe Kim are sparking romance rumors!

The 29-year-old Cleveland Browns defensive end player and the 25-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder attended the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards together on Sunday (May 25) at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan.

During their red carpet appearance, Chloe wore a strapless black ballgown, and Myles adorned a navy tuxedo. The two athletes linked arms and smiled at each other while in front of the cameras, and sources told TMZ that they were acting like a couple at the event.

Keep reading to find out more…

Chloe was a presenter at the awards, which honored the best in Japanese animation of the past year.

In March, Chloe attended a fashion show that gave a nod to her sport.

If you didn’t see, in February, Myles starred in a Super Bowl commercial with a famous actress.

We can imagine a certain Korean manhwa writer named Clugong is sitting in his chair with a smug look on his face right now, as his creation Solo Leveling undeniably dominated this year’s Anime Awards, taking home eight of them. The ceremony was held from the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, and in attendance were stars from both sides of the sea — singer Kacey Musgraves, Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, anime collaborator J Balvin; Italian singer-songwriter Damiano David; musician and actor Rina Sawayama, Brazilian pop icon Pabllo Vittar, American snowboarder Chloe Kim, screenwriter Zak Penn, the comedy duo Chocolate Planet, Japanese actor and musician Dean Fujioka; Japanese actors Kanata Hongo, and Mayu Matsuoka, Japanese model Saya Ichikawa, global drag star Plastique Tiara, English professional boxer Ben Whittaker, American recording artist d4vd, American-Chilean singer Paloma Mami, Demon Queen VTuber Ironmouse, YouTube content creator Gigguk….and...

Crunchyroll, the global brand fueling anime fandom, revealed the winners of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards during a star-studded live ceremony honoring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime. The full list of honorees can be found on the Anime Awards Official Website and below.

The 9th annual Anime Awards was again hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira, who returned for their third year in a row to celebrate anime’s biggest night. The winners were revealed by a global slate of celebrity anime fan presenters including GrammyⓇ award winning singer Kacey Musgraves; Canadian director, musician, and actor Finn Wolfhard and American actor Gaten Matarazzo, both from the hit series Stranger Things; global superstar and anime collaborator J Balvin; Italian singer-songwriter Damiano David; Musician and actor Rina Sawayama; Award winning Brazilian pop icon Pabllo Vittar; American snowboarder Chloe Kim; screenwriter Zak Penn...

Solo Leveling scored eight awards, including the top prize of Anime of the Year, to lead the winners of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on Sunday.

The ninth annual ceremony, broadcast live in Tokyo and streamed on Crunchyroll, featured an international group of presenters, including Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves, Stranger Things castmates Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, Colombian singer J Balvin, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, and Avengers screenwriter Zak Penn.

In addition to the winners selected by a worldwide fan vote (a record 51 million ballots were cast), the Anime Awards bestowed the first Global Impact Award, celebrating "visionary creators and groundbreaking works that have left an indelible mark on culture, history, and the hearts of audiences around the world," to the Attack on Titan franchise. The series premiered in 2013 and concluded in 2024.

Complete list of 2025 Anime Awards Winners:

Anime of the Year: Solo Leveling

Film of the Year: Look Back...

The winners of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards have been revealed!

The 9th annual Anime Awards was again hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira, who returned for their third year in a row for the ceremony, which aired live from Tokyo, Japan.

The winners were revealed by a global slate of celebrity anime fan presenters including Kacey Musgraves, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, J Balvin, Damiano David, Rina Sawayama, Pabllo Vittar, Chloe Kim, and more.

“Fans form deep emotional connections to anime. These are not just series, films or songs, but rather works of art that help define the identity of anime fans,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll.

“With an incredible 51 million votes this year, the 2025 Anime Awards are celebrating the creators in Japan who have captured the hearts of fans and are powering anime’s prominence in global pop culture.”

Keep reading to see who won…...

For decades, barriers and biases have made it harder for women to receive the same opportunities and recognition as men in athletics. Title IX — a law that bans sex-based discrimination in education programs — wasn’t enacted until 1972. Yet, in the face of adversity, women have continued to shatter records and redefine greatness in sports. From Serena and Venus Williams to Simone Biles, Alex Morgan, Coco Gauff, and Caitlin Clark, some of the most remarkable athletes of our time are women.

To celebrate these achievements (and the new ones being set...

Exclusive: Olympic Gold medalists Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe have inked with WME in all areas.

The sports icons will be working with the agency across brand partnerships, books, scripted and non-scripted TV, digital and podcasting, among other areas.

Bird retired from the WNBA in 2022 after a historic career spanning three decades as the world’s premier point guard, in which she won five Olympic Gold Medals, four World Championship Medals, two NCAA Championships, and four WNBA Championships, among numerous other accolades. In 2024, her jersey was retired by the Seattle Storm, becoming only the second player in franchise history to receive this honor; she officially joined the Seattle Storm ownership group, and it was recently announced that she will be inducted into both the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Hall of Fame later this year.

Rapinoe is a two-time World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold medalist and soccer legend.

Another week is coming to an end, so the Bam Smack Pow team is here once again to bring up all the most important anime news for the week. The biggest news this week is that Crunchyroll is gearing up for the annual Anime Awards next month.

With that in mind, here's all the anime news you need to know as the Easter long weekend kicks off.

In this photo illustration, a Crunchyroll Inc. logo is seen... | Sopa Images/GettyImages Anime Awards 2025 fan voting closes, ceremony scheduled for May 25

The fan voting period for Crunchyroll's 2025 Anime Awards is now closed. This year's nominees were initially determined by a panel of industry judges, with the winners to be determined by the panel of judges in conjunction with the public fan vote for categories such as Anime of the Year, Film of the Year, Best Voice Performance in both Japanese and English,...

Nancy Dubuc, the former CEO at A+E Networks and Vice Media who exited Vice in 2023, has resurfaced in an executive role at a venture stacked with fellow travelers.

Women’s sports brand Togethxr (not a typo – it’s pronounced “together”) said Thursday that Dubuc has come aboard as executive chair.

Dubuc also is a board member at Flutter Entertainment, Webtoon Entertainment, and Warner Music.

Togethxr is known for creating the popular slogan “everyone watches women’s sports,” which has been seen adorning T-shirts, hoodies and tote bags over the past couple years. The company was co-founded by pro athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird and also has other media veterans in the mix, among them former Huffington Post exec Betsy Morgan and onetime Disney entertainment chief Susan Lyne. The company last year hired Westbrook Media alum Tina Tozzi to head development.

Morgan and Lyne, who have...

We have the nominees for the ninth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Dan Da Dan, Delicious in Dungeon, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Kaiju No. 8, Solo Leveling and The Apothecary Diaries will vie for the marquee Anime of the Year prize, which will be handed out during a May 25 ceremony in Tokyo.

Fans can vote on the winners through April 14 on the Anime Awards website.

“The Crunchyroll Anime Awards are one of the most important times of year for fans because we hear directly from them on what anime they love and get to honor the creative community behind that love,” Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini said.

A number of presenters also were revealed today, including Stranger Things actors Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, along with Chocolate Planet (Shohei Osada and Shun Matsuo), Dean Fujioka, Kanata Hongo, Mayu Matsuoka, Saya Ichikawa, Ben Whittaker, Damiano David, Ironmouse, d4vd, Rina Sawayama, Chloe Kim,...

Dan Da Dan, the breakthrough sensation that became Netflix’s most-streamed anime of 2024, and the critically adored fantasy series Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End were among the top nominees for the 2025 Anime Awards, announced Thursday by Crunchyroll. Frieren led the way with 29 nods, while Dan Da Dan tallied 22 nominations. Those series will compete with Delicious in Dungeon, Kaiju No. 8, Solo Leveling, and The Apothecary Diaries for the top Anime of the Year prize.

Winners will be selected in part by a fan vote; fans can choose their favorites daily at Crunchyroll’s official Anime Awards site through April 14. This year’s Anime Awards will be live-streamed May 25 from Tokyo. Stranger Things stars Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, Japanese singer-actress Rina Sawayama, and Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim will be among the presenters.

Here is the complete list of nominations for the 2025 Anime Awards.

Anime of the Year

Dan Da Dan Delicious...

The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are coming!

The streaming platform just announced the nominees and celebrity-fan presenters for the ninth annual ceremony.

The ceremony will honor the best in Japanese animation of the past year on Sunday, May 25 at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.

The Anime Awards live ceremony will be hosted by voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira.

“The Crunchyroll Anime Awards are one of the most important times of year for fans because we hear directly from them on what anime they love and get to honor the creative community behind that love,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll.

“Anime continues to deeply resonate emotionally with fans, and anime’s biggest night of the year is sure to invoke a lot of joy and pride amongst the anime community—fans and creators alike. This...

The 9th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards are almost upon us! Crunchyroll revealed today that voting is officially live for anticipated event, with nominees revealed in the show's categories, including Anime of the Year. Fans can vote each day through April 14 for their favorite series, creators and more from last year! You can see the full list of nominees right here on Crunchyroll News. Related: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Your Ultimate Guide Also revealed is the first wave of star-studded anime-fan presenters for the 2025 Anime Awards, with more to be announced soon for the May 25 event, live from Tokyo, Japan. Presenters will include: Finn Wolfhard - Canadian director, musician, and actor who plays Mike in Stranger Things Gaten Matarazzo - American actor best known for his role as Dustin in Stranger Things Chocolate Planet - Comedy duo made up of Shohei Osada and Shun Matsuo Dean Fujioka - Japanese actor, musician...

Paris Fashion Week may be over, but the most unique fashion show in France just took place this weekend thanks to Moncler!

Moncler Grenoble brought stars like Anne Hathaway, Adrien Brody, and Jessica Chastain to the French Alps to watch a fashion show while immersed in a snowy atmosphere.

The star-studded event took place at Courchevel Altiport, located at 2,008 meters above sea level, on Saturday (March 15) in Courchevel, France.

Other attendees included Nina Dobrev and Shaun White, Penn Badgley, Ashley Park, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, Maria Sharapova, and more.

We also have some photos of the incredible catwalk, which was located on the iconic landing strip of Courchevel Airport. Check out more photos in the gallery!

Head inside to see more photos from the Moncler fashion show…

Keep scrolling to see all of the celeb attendees…

Anne Hathaway

Jessica Chastain

Adrien Brody

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White

Penn Badgley...

With Fiscal Sponsorship, independent films and their creators can accept sponsorship as if they were a non-profit through Film Independent. The program supports an inclusive variety of projects, narrative and nonfiction, shorts and features, as well as the occasional new media project, special event or advocacy initiative. Our monthly Fiscal Spotlight column introduces new fiscally-sponsored projects worth supporting.

Naturally, we want to see the fruits of all that awesome sponsorship, so today we’re checking in with four sponsored projects to see how there doing with another FiSpo Update.

Row Of Life

Project type: Nonfiction Feature

Project status: Distribution

Filmmakers: Soraya Simi, Nicholas Weissman

Synopsis: Row of Life is a feature documentary that follows Angela Madsen, a former Marine, 3x Paralympian, and renowned ocean rower, on her attempt to solo row unsupported from LA to Hawaii. Row of Life captures the year before the row and her preparation alongside her...

Chasing Gold: Milan Cortina 2026 fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 1 Episode 1 episode titled !

Find out everything you need to know about the episode of Chasing Gold: Milan Cortina 2026, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

Chasing Gold: Milan Cortina 2026 Season 1 Episode 1 Preview

“Chasing Gold: Milan Cortina 2026” is set to air an exciting new episode on NBC at 5:00 Pm on January 18, 2025. This series follows the journeys of athletes as they strive to achieve their Olympic and Paralympic dreams in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Games. With the 2026 Winter Olympics just around the corner, the pressure and excitement are building, making this episode a must-watch for sports enthusiasts.

In this episode, viewers will meet a diverse group of athletes from various sports, each with their own unique stories and challenges. The series captures their rigorous training regimens,...

When panelist Rita Ora missed The Masked Singer season 12 semi-finals due to illness, fans were left feeling confused and panicked about whether she'd be back for the season finale, but a new promo revealed that she will return to watch the Buffalos and Wasp compete for the Golden Mask Trophy. For The Masked Singer season 12 finale, Rita will join Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and host Nick Cannon as either the Buffalos or Wasp is crowned the champion.

Rita was back on the panel to help crown the winner and figure out the true identities of the Buffalos and Wasp.

In a promo for The Masked Singer season 12 finale, shared by James Warner The New Adventure Recap via YouTube, Rita was back on the panel to help crown the winner and figure out the true identities of the Buffalos and Wasp. The promo begins with Wasp singing "When I...

The Gotham announced today that Theresa Peters, Partner in the Talent department at UTA, will join the organization’s Board of Directors.

As a Board member, Peters will work with The Gotham to advance its mission of celebrating and nurturing independent film and media creators by providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition.

Peters joined UTA in 2008 from the William Morris Agency, where she was an agent for 14 years. She is a fixture within the entertainment industry, having cultivated a roster of long-time clients both in front of and behind the camera.

Notable clients include Kirsten Dunst, James McAvoy, Viggo Mortensen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander, Theo James, Sam Claflin, George MacKay, Tahar Rahim, Thomasin McKenzie, Zoe Kazan, Sam Heughan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Antony Starr, Jessica Biel, Haley Bennett, Hugh Dancy, Finn Cole, Ben Hardy, Harry Lawtey, Alba Baptista, Kyle MacLachlan, Letitia Wright, Rafe Spall, and Jamie Dornan,...

The Masked Singer is heading into the semi-finals, but the results might be shocking now that host Nick Cannon has revealed a huge admission about the outcome. Only three contestants remain in The Masked Singer season 12 after Goo was unmasked as NFL athlete Kobie Turner. Buffalos, Strawberry Shortcake and Wasp are the final 3 and will compete in the semi-finals, which will see a brand-new round called the Smack Royale, which combines the Smackdown and Battle Royale. The semi-finals, airing one week before the finale, is shaping up to be the most anticipated episode of the entire season.

Per a brand-new promo, courtesy of The Singing Showbird, The Masked Singer season 12 semi-finals will have the "closest margin we've ever had," according to Nick, which means this will be a history-making episode of the hit celebrity singing competition series. The promo begins with Buffalos performing Toto's "Africa." Then as Nick teases the close results,...

Olympic Rugby player Ilona Maher may not have the highest scores on the leaderboard, but she certainly has the most heart. After the first few weeks of performances, many DWTS viewers weren’t sure she would make it to the Season 33 finale. But at the end of the semifinals, she and her partner Alan Bersten jumped for joy when they learned they had secured a place in the finals.

Ilona loves sharing her experience on Dancing With The Stars with others. At least one other US Olympic athlete loves watching her on the dance floor and admits she’s “jealous” of Ilona’s moves.

DWTS Finalist Ilona Maher Impresses Other Olympic Athletes

Fans who follow Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten on social media have adored seeing their friendship blossom. They’re more than just dance partners — they’re friends for life.

He’s taught her so much about dance and confidence.

The Masked Singer is gearing up for Sports Night, and past contestant Dick Van Dyke will be showing up to give some huge clues for new contestant Dust Bunny as the panelists try to figure out who is under the mask. According to EW, which shared a clue package video, Dick Van Dyke knows who is inside the Dust Bunny costume, and he's making a quick appearance in the next episode as one of the Masked Ambassadors. The clues include an Earthquake Zone sign, a race car sign, a revelation that years ago he had a job making coffee at an office, and the intriguing admission that he's worked with Anne Hathaway, David Bowie and Marlin Brando.

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Edt on Fox.

Sources: EW, The Masked Singer/YouTube

The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer is a reality singing competition where celebrities perform in elaborate costumes concealing their identities,...

Even though it’s been a year, we’re all still crazy about Miley Cyrus‘ ‘Flowers. If we hear ‘Flowers’ we’re sure to be singing,’ “I can buy myself in flowers / write my name in the sands” – at least that’s how I think the iconic lyrics to Miley’s iconic Grammy winning song goes.

On Thursday, June 18, the star performed a show at an exclusive party in Los Angeles celebrating Gucci Flora, and she brought her signature fire to make the event even more memorable.

Miley Cyrus – Calls Out Kendall Jenner For Singing Along To Her Iconic ‘Flowers’ Song

Miley has been the face of perfume Chateau Marmont since 2021, and on Thursday, she performed at the intimate party comprising of nearly 200 guests.

In a clip of her performance of the Billboard chart-topping single, she called out several people in her party. And by the way, she looked fly...

The 2024 Espy Awards are set to tip off Thursday, July 11 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt in a ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles hosted by Serena Williams.

The ESPN-fronted awards ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and stream on the ESPN app.

ESPN’s YouTube and Facebook pages along with the ESPN app will livestream the red carpet arrivals beginning at 7 p.m. Et/4 p.m. Pt. Christine Williamson, Harry Lyles Jr. and Cam Newton will lead that coverage.

The ESPYs annually gathers sports and entertainment A-listers to commemorate the past year in sports, recognizing major athletic achievements, the best moments and top performers. This year, Caitlin Clark leads all 2024 Espy nominees with three, including a nom in the marquee Best Athlete, Women’s Sports category, where she is joined by U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff, two-time major golf champion Nelly Korda and fellow WNBA star A’ja Wilson.

Boldly highlighting the WNBA players' activism, Power of the Dream portrays their impact beyond basketball. The documentary seamlessly covers multiple issues and the evolution of the WNBA, making it a must-watch. Intimate and timeless, Power of the Dream captures the empowering journey of WNBA players creating history.

Fresh off a world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, Power of the Dream will land on Prime Video on June 18, making director and producer Dawn Porters latest documentary easily accessible to audiences. And, as any long-time WNBA fan (or player) will tell you, media accessibility is crucial. Powerful stories, like thrilling basketball games, are meant to be seen. It sounds clich to say, but Power of the Dream is required viewing and not just for sports fans.

Power of the Dream (2024)

Director Dawn PorterRelease Date June 18, 2024Cast Jemele Hill, Nneka Ogwumike, Sue BirdRuntime 133 MinutesGenres Documentary, SportMain Genre Documentary

Best known for directing and producing documentaries about revolutionary activists,...

Rock’n Robin Productions, a full-service, Emmy Award-winning production company, has hired Reni Calister as Chief Content Officer and Quanny Carr as Director of Development. Both media executives will work to elevate and expand the company’s portfolio of programming and further establish its reputation within the industry.

“Reni and Quanny are dedicated storytellers and a ‘dream team’ who are ready to take Rock’n Robin Productions to new heights,” said company founder Robin Roberts. “As we ready to celebrate our ten-year anniversary at Rrp, I am excited to embark on this new chapter with Reni and Quanny as they spearhead creative and continue our mission of impactful storytelling that inspires audiences and champions many stories that might otherwise not be told.”

Calister is a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer and content executive who previously, from 2018 to 2022, served as Head of Development at Rock’n Robin Productions. In that role, Calister oversaw...

Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts is expanding her production company, Rock’n Robin Productions, adding two top executives in a move to increase its content output.

The company has hired Reni Calister to be chief content officer and Quanny Carr to be director of development, with each working to elevate and expand the company’s content portfolio.

Both Carr and Calister most recently worked at Togethxr, the media company founded by Olympians Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel. Calister had been executive VP of content (and before that she worked as a development executive at Rock’n Robin); while Carr had been a director of current programming.

“Reni and Quanny are dedicated storytellers and a ‘dream team’ who are ready to take Rock’n Robin Productions to new heights,” said Roberts. “As we ready to celebrate our ten-year anniversary at Rrp, I am excited to embark...

Exclusive: More people are watching women’s sports than ever before, and Bunim/Murray Productions is betting that interest extends beyond the court or field.

The production company behind shows like Vanderpump Villa is collaborating with Sue Bird’s media company Togethxr to develop an untitled docuseries that takes viewers behind-the-scenes and into the lives of the top female athletes in the United States.

The docuseries, executive produced by Bird and Megan Rapinoe, will follow athletes from the WNBA, Nwsl, Pwhl and more, along with their families, wives, girlfriends, partners and even their situationships.

The two companies plan to shop the docuseries to potential buyers soon.

The series promises to spotlight these athletes “as they navigate the complexities of pro-sports and their relationships off the field. With a focus on the unique dynamics within these leagues, such as relationships between teammates or rivals, the show explores the challenges and triumphs of wins,...

As part of its introduction to the U.S. marketplace, Korean soju brand Hwayo is toasting creative excellence among the broader Asian creative community.

Hwayo Honors is a new event series that aims to convene artists from multiple disciplines – fine arts, film and television, fashion and more – in that most familial of settings: the dinner table. “We took inspiration from films like Eat Drink Man Woman,” says Hwayo global brand director Vy Le. “There are a lot of people who are like, ‘Oh, here’s sponsorship dollars.’ Let’s not do that. Let’s just call our friends and see how we can try to support each other.”

As a Los Angeles-based artist whose work frequently intersects with activism, Glenn Kaino was a natural partner to co-host, with Hwayo president Lucia Cho, the inaugural dinner in L.A. “I’ve spent a big portion of my career championing artists,” says Kaino,...

Gold Gala is the type of weekend where you can share an intimate booth at L.A. culinary hotspot Yangban with a Pulitzer winner (journalist Jose Antonio Vargas) and a top festival exec (TIFF chief programming officer Anita Lee) on Friday night and then mimosas and a sound bath at the Four Seasons the next morning with an Olympic figure skater and a former Miss Universe (Madison Chock and R’Bonney Gabriel, respectively) – all as part of mere pre-gaming to the titular main event, which took place at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Ostensibly a cultural celebration and awards dinner from Asian Pacific power broker network Gold House, the third annual Gold Gala was simultaneously an haute couture showcase (fashion designer Prabal Gurung served as its creative director) and a family reunion, with 600 Api talent and leaders from across multiple industries turning out in their finest “heritage black tie,...

Lucy Liu and Padma Lakshmi are among the stars who will be honored at the third annual Gold House Gala in May.

This year marks the third annual Gold Gala where top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders will convene to celebrate the 2024 A100 List.

Gold House will announce the A100 honorees on May. 1. The list highlights the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific changemakers in culture and society over the past year.

This year’s theme, A Gold New World, imagines a tomorrow for all, built by all. Luxury brand fashion designer Prabal Gurung will help bring this vision to life as the first-ever Gold Gala Creative Director.

Speaking with Variety, Gurang said, “When we talk about Asian representation, we talk about all Asians. People are flying in from India, Taiwan, Shanghai and all over. It’s about people from their respective fields coming together to inspire.” He added, “Gold House and...

The documentary “Sue Bird: In the Clutch,” about the basketball legend’s final WNBA season and her impact on sports, has been acquired following its buzzy Sundance debut.

Wolfe Releasing, the largest exclusive distributor of LGBTQ+ films, has picked up the North American distribution rights the feature documentary, which will become available for digital purchase and rental on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and Wolfe On Demand beginning March 29.

“We are honored and excited to partner with these talented producing teams to bring the legendary story of Sue Bird to wide audiences in the midst of March Madness and Women’s History Month,” stated Wolfe Releasing CEO and founder Kathy Wolfe and Evan Schwartz, VP of content. “In a time where the LGBTQ+ narrative is shifting towards celebration, Sue’s journey perfectly captures this sentiment. We believe Sue’s iconic run as one of the greatest athletes of all time will entertain,...

Exclusive: Togethxr, the media company founded by star atheletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird as well as Jessica Robertson, has a new head of development.

The company has hired former Westbrook Media head of development Tina Tozzi in the role.

Tozzi will oversee the company’s scripted and unscripted slate. She had a similar role at Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s company, and before that was director of development at Alfred Street Industries, where she developed series such as Netflix’s Is it Cake? and Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo and Hulu’s Best in Dough.

Togethxr is behind series such as Surf Girls: Kaikana, a docuseries produced in partnership with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Prime Video, and The Syd and Tp Show, an unscripted comedy series in partnership with Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and FuboTV.

It is currently working on a feature-length documentary,...

Exclusive: UTA has signed Olympic gold medalist, Chloe Kim for representation in all areas.

The 2022 Winter Olympics cemented Kim as the female face of both snowboarding and action sports when she became the first woman in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in halfpipe snowboarding. Prior to her Olympic achievements, Kim won all four women’s superpipe events in the 2020-21 season including her sixth X Games gold medal and her second World Championship.

“I am grateful for the incredible opportunity to join UTA – a hub of brilliance and creativity,” said Kim. “I am so excited to be part of their inspiring community!”

In the brand space, Kim has collaborated on deals with Meta, Monster Energy, Roxy and more. Kim has taken home five Espy Awards, the “Daring to Disrupt” award at the 2022 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, three Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports Awards, two Laureus World Sports...

There were so many celebs in attendance at the 2023 GQ Men of the Year party in Los Angeles this year, with Kim Kardashian, Megan Thee Stallion, and Megan Fox among those bringing star power to the event.

Kim matched her blonde hair to her suede dress while co-hosting the event alongside fellow honorees Travis Scott, Tom Ford, and Jacob Elordi on Thursday (November 16) at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles.

Prior to the main event, GQ global editorial director Will Welch and his co-hosts invited 40 notable guests to the Chateau Marmont Penthouse for an exclusive VIP dinner, presented by Spotify.

Travis gave a surprise performance during the party and singer Tyla joined the rapper to debut their remixed collaboration of the hit song “Water.”

Head inside to check out photos of all the celebs in attendance…

Keep scrolling to see photos of more than 90 celebs who attended…

Kim Kardashian in Chrome...

Exclusive: The Unforgettable Gala, the annual ceremony that honors the biggest and most impactful Asian Pacific Islanders in entertainment, arts and culture, is getting a broadcast and streaming home for its 2023 edition, which has been set for December 16 at the Beverly Hilton.

Organizers confirmed Wednesday that ChimeTV has come aboard as the gala’s exclusive broadcast partner, a deal that will see the show air on cable and stream worldwide at a later date to be determined.

ChimeTV is available on cable via Charter Communications and its Spectrum TV Select Plan and streaming at ChimeTVPlus.com. ChimeTV chief creative officer Takashi Cheng is also founder of Asian American collective Society1.

Journalist Lisa Ling and filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton have also been set as co-chairs of this year’s Unfo, its 21st edition, and will lead the awards selection committee. This year’s event will be compliant with SAG-AFTRA strike policies...

Image Source: Getty / Gotham

As Selena Gomez once said, everything is not what it seems. On Oct. 5, Meta unveiled Billie, an AI chatbot created using Kendall Jenner's likeness. Outwardly, the bot resembles the model to a T, down to her mannerisms, tone of voice, and blinking patterns. "Chatting with me is like having an older sister you can talk to, but who can't steal your clothes," Billie captioned its debut Instagram post. The chatbot is the first in a line of 28 new AI assistants modeled after celebrities, and as one Instagram commenter succinctly put it, "that's freaky as hell."

To be fair, artificial intelligence has proven useful in gathering information and analyzing data at a faster pace in myriad industries around the world, including healthcare, cybersecurity, financial services, insurance, the beauty industry, and business enterprises. Still, this most recent development could give "Black Mirror," "Severance," and even "The Matrix" a run for their money.

Meta‘s latest AI-generated characters look awfully familiar.

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp has partnered with a group of celebrities and influencers to launch 28 new AI chatbots. Those characters include “Zach,” who looks and sounds just like MrBeast, and “Coco,” a “dance enthusiast” who is a dead ringer for Charli D’Amelio.

The celeb-lookalike chatbots were developed using the second generation of Llama, Meta’s large language model. The participating celebs allowed Meta to record their voices and film their movements. That data was then used to build the AI characters, who will chat with users on Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Some of the stars who participated in Meta’s Llama 2 experiment — such as Snoop Dogg and Paris Hilton — are traditional celebs who have embraced emerging technologies. In order cases, Meta teamed up with YouTube and TikTok creators like MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson), D’Amelio, and Lauren Riihimaki,...

Meta is going all in on the AI rush, revealing more than two dozen different chat bots with “personalities” loosely based on celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Kendall Jenner. The announcement, made Wednesday at Meta Connect, where the tech giant is unveiling its latest AI and virtual reality projects, confirmed a rumored effort to entice younger users with a wide array of AI characters.

The event also saw the launch of the company’s first virtual personal assistant, Meta AI, which has access to real-time information and can be used across the brand’s WhatsApp,...

Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, an ad-support streaming channel, has launched its fall slate including an unscripted series featuring WNBA players Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance.

The duo are to star in The Syd + Tp Show, written by Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, which sees the World Champions and bench warming besties Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance determined to become the faces of the WNBA, despite the fact no one asked them to. This buddy comedy series follows Syd and Tp on their quest to become the most famous basketball players on earth through a mix of stunts, interviews, hijinks and a complete lack of shame.

The series will launch on September 18.

It is co-produced by Maximum Effort and Fubo, which run the channel together, and Togethxr, which was set up by athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird.

Colson and Plaisance produce, with Reni Calister, Jessica Robertson and Quanny Carr exec producing for Togethxr,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for New York Fashion Week and the Soho House Awards.

Chanel’s Lucky Chance Diner

Chanel hosted a party on Wednesday to debut the Lucky Chance Diner, a unique fragrance experience in Williamsburg. Guests included Ava Phillippe, Chase Sui Wonders, Lil Nas X, Meadow Walker, Molly Gordon, Rainey Qualley and Lori Harvey.

Lil Nas X Molly Gordon

Breitling Bash

Breitling brand ambassadors Charlize Theron and Misty Copeland co-hosted a launch party in NYC on Wednesday to celebrate the debut of two new lines in the Breitling Navitimer collection: 36 mm and 32 mm. They were joined by fellow Breitling ambassadors — basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and two-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Chloe Kim.

Breitling USA CEO Georges Kern, Charlize Theron and Breitling USA president Thierry Prissert Giannis Antetokounmpo and Charlize Theron

Nylon Nights

Bdg,...

For its 21st edition, the Unforgettable Gala, which annually fetes Asian Americans in entertainment, arts and culture, will officially be opening its awards categories to talent from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Although the event has in the past honored Asian stars with crossover impact such as Minha Kim (Pachinko), Shohei Ohtani and Psy, the announcement indicates that Unforgettable will take on a more global focus, as it partners with AsiaLab, a Seoul-based entertainment and content platform that seeks to facilitate “One Asia” through collaborations with Api stars and influencers.

For now, Character Media, the publishing company that founded and produces Unforgettable each year, is planning to hold the gala at its usual Beverly Hilton location on Dec. 16 but notes that the date could be pushed to the first quarter of 2024, depending on the status of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

“For more than 20 years, honoring Api artists, especially writers and actors,...

Hey, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" fans. We're back on to tell you that ,unfortunately, ABC is forced to have to air another week of Jimmy Kimmel Live repeat episodes this week, June 19-23, 2023, because the WGA writers strike is still going on. It started back on May 2, 2023, and there still doesn't appear to be any end in sight. We're hoping it doesn't last for the entire summer, but it's definitely on course to do just that. With all that said, we were able to dig up the Jimmy Kimmel Live, repeat episodes for this week, June 19-23, 2023. So, we're going to run those off to you right now. Let's go. Tonight, June 19, 2023, ABC is re-airng the episode that originally aired back on February 15, 2022. It featured appearances from: actor Mark Wahlberg promoting “Uncharted.” Sofia Black-d’Elia promoting “Single Drunk Female.” Musical Guest Spoon and Chloe Kim.

“I’m not who you think of when you imagine a winner,” said Ke Huy Quan as he held a gold knotted trophy in his hands. “I don’t fit the mold.” Instead, the image Quan described — “six feet tall with big muscles, good looking and a ladies man” — sounded more similar to the K-pop idol who introduced his category, Nct 127’s Johnny Suh.

Yet on Saturday night, the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once star added one more win to his growing list at The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Asian American and Pacific Islander collective Gold House hosted its Gold Gala.

Over 700 attendees came together to recognize Gold House’s 2023 A100 List, which is announced every Aapi Heritage Month to highlight the 100 Asian Pacific leaders who have most significantly impacted American culture and society in the last year. This year’s honorees included Quan, Eva Longoria,...

Angelina Jolie brought 21-year-old son Maddox Jolie-Pitt as her date to the White House state dinner in Washington DC on April 26. The pair arrived arm in arm to the soirée, which President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Jolie looked ethereal in a breezy white gown, matching blazer, and gold accessories, while Maddox looked sharp in a black suit and tie. The outing was a rare public appearance for Jolie and her eldest child, who studied at Yonsei University in Seoul and worked on the crew for Jolie's upcoming movie "Without Blood."

Several other notable stars were in attendance at the state dinner, including Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim and "Fixer Upper" duo Chip and Joanna Gaines. During the event, President Yoon surprised guests by singing one of his favorite songs, "American Pie," before Biden presented him with a guitar signed by Don McLean.

Angelina Jolie and Maddox Jolie-Pitt enjoyed a high-profile night out on Wednesday.

The mother-son duo looked chic as they attended the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, honouring South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

Maddox, 21, wore a black suit for the occasion with Jolie, 47, opting for a flowy cream-coloured dress and jacket. The actress styled her tresses down in loose waves and completed the look with a red lip and classic pearl jewelry.

According to a White House press release issued last month, the dinner marked the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Rok alliance, “which is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world.”

Angelina Jolie and Maddox Jolie-Pitt arrive to attend a state dinner in honour of South Korean President...

Update: The biggest surprise at the State Dinner was not any unexpected guest, but South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol singing a rendition of American Pie.

Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol sings “American Pie” by Don McLean during entertainment portion of State Dinner with President Biden. pic.twitter.com/M91Tj4WrHa

— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) April 27, 2023

Previously: Angelina Jolie, Reginald Hudlin and Chip and Joanna Gaines are among the boldfaced names on the guest list for tonight’s White House State Dinner for South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The dinner follows President Joe Biden’s meeting with Yoon and subsequent press conference. The U.S. and South Korea announced an agreement designed to deter North Korea.

Jolie is scheduled to attend the dinner with son Maddox Jolie-Pitt. She has visited the Biden White House on reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Hudlin is attending with his wife,...

“I never get anything right! I got one!” a dumbfounded Ken Jeong exclaimed at the end of Wednesday’s second episode of “The Masked Singer” Season 9. Magic struck when the notoriously bad guesser correctly named Howie Mandel as the secret celebrity hiding inside the Rock Lobster costume. Ken was the only panelist who got it right; Jennifer McCarthy Wahlberg and Nicole Scherzinger both went with Martin Short, while Robin Thicke picked Steve-o.

Ken chose Howie because of two clues in particular: the judge’s gavel (referring to his recurring stint on “America’s Got Talent”) and the hospital scrubs (a reference to his role on “St. Elsewhere”). “This is someone who is a legendary comedian — someone who is one of my influences,” Ken stated emphatically after the red crustacean screeched out “S.O.S.” by Abba while running around the stage as if he was being boiled.

In a rare moment of unity,...