Denzel Washington Honored with Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival
To his surprise, Denzel Washington was given an honorary Palme d’Or award on Monday night at the Cannes Film Festival. The two-time Oscar winner was presented with the lifetime achievement honor ahead of his upcoming film with Spike Lee and A$AP Rocky, Highest 2 Lowest, showing at Cannes. Washington becomes the 22nd recipient of the Palme d’Or, joining Robert de Niro, who was awarded at the beginning of this year’s festival, Meryl Streep, George Lucas, Tom Cruise, and more.
The Weeknd Tapped to Headline Reform’s Casino Gala, $1M Blackjack Tourney
Reform Alliance, the non-profit committed to probation, parole, and sentencing reform through legislation and lobbying, is set to bring back its star-studded casino night fundraising gala. Co-hosted by board members Michael Rubin, Meek Mill, and Jay-Z, this year’s festivities, which again include a $1 million blackjack tournament, are scheduled for Sept. 13 in Atlantic City. The Weeknd will headline the event, with proceeds directly benefiting the organization’s continued efforts to provide opportunity and support for millions of Americans impacted by the system. In 2023, the event raised over $24 million from A-list celebrities such as Travis Scott, Tom Brady, Matthew McConaughey, and Quavo.
Capital One Completes $35B Acquisition of Discover
After a 15-month process, Capital One has completed the acquisition of Discover, bringing together two of the biggest credit card companies that will compete with Visa and Mastercard. As part of the $35 billion merger deal that was initially announced in February 2024, Capital One will increase its Board of Directors from 12 to 15.
‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Records $102M Global Debut
Fourteen years after the last installment of the franchise, Final Destination: Bloodlines topped the domestic box office this weekend with $51 million in ticket sales. The horror feature, which currently has a 93% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, grossed the same internationally for a $102 million global debut, marking the best opening weekend for a Final Destination film. Elsewhere, The Weeknd’s experimental thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow opened in sixth place with $3.3 million.
Pierpaolo Piccioli Replaces Demna at Balenciaga
Kering, the parent group that owns Balenciaga, confirmed Monday that Pierpaolo Piccioli has been appointed creative director of the luxury house, effective July 10. The ex-Valentino designer will show his first collection for the Paris-based brand in October. Piccioli succeeds Demna, who announced earlier this year he was leaving to join Gucci.
U.S. Open to Receive $800M Upgrade from USTA
The U.S. Open is about to receive an $800 million makeover thanks to the United States Tennis Association. On Monday, the USTA announced that it’s investing $800 million to upgrade the U.S. Open facilities, including a complete renovation of Arthur Ashe Stadium and a brand-new $250 million performance center. The project, which will be self-funded, is expected to be completed by the 2027 U.S. Open.
Tom Cruise Teases Potential ‘Top Gun’ Sequel
During a recent interview with Today Show Australia, Tom Cruise teased that he and his team are developing potential sequels for 2022’s blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick and the 1990 racing drama Days of Thunder. At the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Cruise vowed to keep making movies into his 100s. Considering how well Top Gun: Maverick did at the box office ($1.49 billion worldwide), movie-goers continue to feel the need for speed.
Michele Kang Rebrands Lyon Féminin to OL Lyonnes
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin owner Michele Kang announced a heap of changes to the club on Monday, beginning with its name: OL Lyonnes. The businesswoman, who is also the majority owner of the Washington Spirit, also said the team will make Groupama Stadium – home of the Lyon men’s team – OL Lyonnes’ regular home venue. As part of the rebrand, plans to construct a new performance center designed specifically for female athletes are also underway.
‘Sesame Street’ is Moving to Netflix
The most popular street in the world is moving. Sesame Street announced Monday that Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and the gang are all headed to Netflix for its 56th season. The new-look children’s program will now revolve around one 11-minute story, “allowing for even more character-driven humor and heart,” the release says. New episodes will run day and date across PBS platforms, while Netflix will be able to develop Sesame Street video games as part of the deal.
PWHL Vancouver & Seattle Expansion Teams Get 10K Season Ticket Deposits
In just a short time since the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced that it’s expanding to Vancouver and Seattle, fans have shown out in both cities, placing more than 10,000 combined deposits for season tickets. Additionally, the league announced key dates and rules — from protected players lists to the exclusive signing date to the 2025 PWHL Draft on June 24 — as the new Seattle and Vancouver teams prepare for their league debuts in 2025-26.
Image: Sameer Al-Doumy / Pool / AFP via Getty Images
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