TikTok Secures U.S. Future With Finalized Joint Venture
ByteDance has officially formed TikTok U.S., a joint venture majority-owned by American investors, bringing the app into compliance with new U.S. law. The venture, officially named TikTok USDS Joint Venture, will be led by CEO Adam Presser and Chief Security Officer Will Farrell, with Silver Lake, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX each holding 15%. It will implement safeguards for national security, including data protection, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances. These protections will also extend to related apps like CapCut, Lemon8, and other U.S. platforms.
Taylor Russell Joins Jonathan Anderson at Dior
Dior has named Canadian actress and director Taylor Russell, star of Bones and All, as its brand ambassador as Jonathan Anderson prepares his first haute couture collection for the house. Russell joins other former Loewe faces like Greta Lee, Josh O’Connor, and Drew Starkey, who have followed Anderson to Dior. She will appear in the Korean thriller Hope alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Hoyeon, and in Frank Ocean’s untitled feature film debut produced by A24. Russell is also a Tiffany & Co. friend.
50 Cent’s G-Unit Audio Launches New DMX Podcast With iHeart
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s G-Unit Audio is partnering with Narratively and iHeartPodcasts for Look Thru My Eyes: Becoming DMX, a new podcast series exploring the early life and rise of the late rapper DMX. Hosted by Jadakiss, the series will dive into Earl Simmons’ youth in Yonkers, highlighting his struggles, talent, and hustle before fame. Family, friends, collaborators, rivals, and cultural figures will offer first-hand insight into DMX’s formative years.
Prime Video’s ‘Barbershop’ Series Adds Zack Fox, Ziwe, More to Cast
Amazon Prime Video’s Barbershop TV series has added eight guest stars, including Zack Fox, Ego Nwodim, Diallo Riddle, Ziwe, Tituss Burgess, Comedian CP, Devon Walker, and Belmont Cameli. The series follows Travis “Trav” Porter as he tries to live up to his grandfather’s legacy at the iconic Calvin’s barbershop in Chicago, where it remains a lively community hub. The show is written and co-run by Marshall Todd, a co-writer of the original Barbershop film, alongside Max Searle.
Summer Walker Sets First Arena Tour
Summer Walker has announced her first arena run, the Still Finally Over It Tour, kicking off May 26 in Toronto and spanning North America before closing with a London O2 Arena show on Aug. 2. Although Finally Over It dropped in 2025 — debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning 77,000 album-equivalent units — the tour will feature music from the full Over It trilogy, with Monaleo and Odeal serving as openers. Presales begin Jan. 27-28, with general tickets on sale Jan. 29 via Ticketmaster.
‘Sinners’, ‘One Battle After Another’ to Re-Release on IMAX 70mm
Several contenders for the Best Picture Oscar will return to theaters ahead of the March 15 ceremony, with some making special runs on IMAX 70mm screens. Sinners will reappear at select locations during awards season and possibly beyond; shot on 70mm film by Ryan Coogler, it earned a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations. Sinners is the only film shot with IMAX film cameras between Oppenheimer and the upcoming Odyssey. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which received 13 nominations, will also return to select IMAX 70mm screens, with Warner Bros. backing both films.
Simon Porte Jacquemus Appoints His Grandmother as First Brand Ambassador
Simon Porte Jacquemus has named his grandmother, Liline Jacquemus, as the brand’s first-ever ambassador, calling her “the most special woman in my life.” A longtime presence at Jacquemus shows, she previously made her modeling debut for the house in 2020 and recently appeared in a video receiving a bag named after the designer’s late mother. He is set to present his next collection at the Picasso Museum on Sunday.
Indiana–Miami Becomes Most-Watched College Football Game in 11 Years
Indiana’s 27-21 win over Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship was the most-watched college football game in 11 years, averaging 30.1 million viewers. It ranked as the second-most watched CFP title game ever, trailing only Ohio State–Oregon in 2015, and peaked at 33.2 million viewers. ESPN said it was the most-viewed non-NFL sports telecast since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series and the fourth-most-watched college football game in the past 30 years. Overall, the 11 CFP games averaged 16.3 million viewers in the second year of the 12-team format.
Capital One to Buy Brex for $5.15B, Targets Corporate Banking
Capital One has agreed to acquire fintech firm Brex for $5.15 billion in a cash-and-stock deal aimed at strengthening its corporate banking and credit-card offerings. Founded nearly a decade ago, Brex provides technology for managing corporate cards, expenses, and rewards, and oversees nearly $13 billion in deposits across partner banks and money-market funds. Brex CEO Henrique Franceschi will continue to lead the company following the acquisition, which is expected to close in mid-2026 pending regulatory approvals. The deal comes as Capital One reported quarterly net income doubling year over year to $2.1 billion.
LEGO, Crocs Unveil Brick Clog as Part of New Partnership
Crocs and LEGO have announced a multi-year partnership, launching with a new silhouette called the Crocs LEGO Brick Clog. The design reimagines the classic Crocs clog as a brick-shaped form with a molded interior, brick-like outsole, and an all-red colorway, accompanied by a customizable LEGO minifigure. The Crocs LEGO Brick Clog will debut on Feb. 16 for $150 via Crocs and LEGO. Additional launches, including Jibbitz charms and products for adults and kids, are planned throughout 2026.
Image: Jaap Arriens / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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