Snoop Dogg Named Team USA Honorary Coach for Winter Olympics
Snoop Dogg announced he has teamed up with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as “Coach Snoop, Team USA,” a volunteer role focused on supporting and uplifting American Olympians and Paralympians away from competition. Building on his breakout success as an NBC correspondent during Paris 2024, he’ll return in a similar role for the 2026 Winter Games, complete with the same humor and charm viewers enjoyed in the Summer Games.
Lululemon CEO to Step Down
Lululemon confirmed that CEO Calvin McDonald will step down on Jan. 31, and stay on as a senior advisor until March 31. Board Chair Marti Morfitt has become Executive Chair to help guide the transition, while CFO Meghan Frank and Chief Commercial Officer André Maestrini will serve as interim co-CEOs as the company searches for a new leader. During McDonald’s tenure since 2018, Lululemon more than tripled revenue, expanded globally, especially in China, and broadened its product portfolio, leaving the company well-positioned for continued growth.
Helena Bonham Carter In Early Talks for a Starring Role in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4
Deadline reports that HBO is in early talks with Helena Bonham Carter to star in Season 4 of The White Lotus, potentially making her the first confirmed cast member for the upcoming installment. Plot details remain under wraps, but the season is set in France, with production possibly starting this spring.
Picasso Painting Valued at $1.1M to Be Raffled in Charity Draw
The “1 Picasso for 100 Euros” charity raffle is returning with a chance to win Pablo Picasso’s 1941 gouache-on-paper portrait Tête de femme, valued at about €1 million ($1.1 million). Up to 120,000 tickets will be sold for €100 (about $117) each, with the drawing set for April 14 at Christie’s Paris. Proceeds will benefit Fondation Recherche Alzheimer, and the artwork comes from the Opera Gallery collection.
MLS Cup Ratings Jump Thanks to Messi
Lionel Messi secured his first MLS Cup with Inter Miami last weekend, marking his 47th career trophy, as the team beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1. Per the league, the match drew Fox’s biggest MLS Cup audience in three years, averaging 994,000 viewers on Fox and Fox Deportes, while total global viewership across Apple TV, TSN, RDS, TNT, HBO Max Mexico, and other platforms exceeded 3.6 million. The numbers highlight a growing trend of fans watching via streaming, with Apple reporting a 23% rise in postseason viewership this year.
Louis Vuitton Names Chase Infiniti Brand Ambassador
Louis Vuitton has named rising actress Chase Infiniti as its newest brand ambassador, following a series of red carpet appearances in the brand’s designs, including most recently at the Gotham Awards. Infiniti, who stars in Paul Thomas Anderson’s action thriller One Battle After Another alongside major Hollywood names, has earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for her breakout performance. She will next appear in Hulu’s upcoming series The Testaments.
‘Zootopia 2’ Crosses $1 Billion Global Box Office, Fastest Hollywood Animation Ever To Milestone
Animated hit Zootopia 2 has surpassed $1 billion globally after only 17 days in theaters, making it the fastest PG-rated film to reach the milestone. The Disney sequel has earned $232.7 million domestically and $753.4 million internationally, joining this year’s $1 billion club alongside Lilo & Stitch and China’s Ne Zha 2. Opening ahead of Thanksgiving, it achieved a $158 million domestic and $559 million global launch, marking the second-largest Thanksgiving debut, the best start for an animated film, and the fourth-biggest worldwide debut ever.
Lindsey Vonn Scores First World Cup Downhill Win Since 2018
At 41, Lindsey Vonn made a remarkable comeback by winning a World Cup downhill race at St. Moritz, becoming the oldest winner since the circuit began in 1967. This victory, her first in nearly eight years and after returning with titanium knee implants following a five-year retirement, saw her take the lead by 1.16 seconds over Austria’s Mirjam Puchner, despite trailing earlier in the race. Vonn, who turns 42 in October, confirmed plans to retire at the end of the season in March.
Australian Open Holding Conference Featuring Top Brands and Marketing Leaders
Tennis Australia is launching AO Matters, an exclusive, invite-only conference for top Chief Marketing Officers and senior brand executives during the Australian Open in January. The event will bring together 100 marketing leaders for discussions on the future of global sports partnerships, brand engagement, fan experience innovation, emerging technologies, and cultural trends shaping the industry. Confirmed speakers include Australian Open CEO Craig Tiley, New Balance’s Evan Zeder, TikTok’s Amy Bradshaw, global sports sponsorship expert Ricardo Fort, and others.
RB Leipzig Make Tatjana Haenni Bundesliga’s First Woman CEO
RB Leipzig named Tatjana Haenni its new CEO, effective Jan. 1, making her the first woman to hold a CEO position at a Bundesliga club. A former Swiss international with 23 caps, Haenni has also worked in administrative roles at UEFA, FIFA, and the Swiss Football Association. She will lead Leipzig’s management team alongside Johann Plenge (business), Florian Hopp (administration), and Marcel Schäfer (sport), with Plenge additionally becoming deputy chair and overseeing federation and league relations.
Image: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
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