2026-01-28
After several celebrities said TikTok was limiting their videos about ICE, the platform responded, blaming the issue on an ongoing power outage at a U.S. data center. “Since yesterday we've been working to restore our services following a power outage at a U.S. data center impacting TikTok and other apps we operate. We're working with our data center partner to stabilize our service. We're sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon.”
New York Times
TikTok says the new US entity has not updated its algorithm since the joint venture was announced, after users accused it of suppressing posts related to ICE
Some users had accused the app of blocking them from posting videos about Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The app said it was a power outage issue.
2026-01-27
After several celebrities said TikTok was limiting their videos about ICE, the platform responded, blaming the issue on an ongoing power outage at a U.S. data center. “Since yesterday we've been working to restore our services following a power outage at a U.S. data center impacting TikTok and other apps we operate. We're working with our data center partner to stabilize our service. We're sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon.”
New York Times
TikTok says the new US entity has not updated its algorithm since the joint venture was announced, after users accused it of suppressing posts related to ICE
Some users had accused the app of blocking them from posting videos about Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The app said it was a power outage issue.
2025-10-01
The creator of AI actress Tilly Norwood has released a statement following a weekend of heated backlash. “She is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work - a piece of art. Like many forms of art before her, she sparks conversation, and that in itself shows the [image]
Bloomberg
SAG-AFTRA criticizes AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood, the subject of a viral UK TV show parody, saying it opposes replacing performers with “synthetics”
SAG-Aftra, the union of film and TV industry actors, criticized the AI-generated character Tilly Norwood …
Emily Blunt says AI “actress” Tilly Norwood is “really scary” and warns Hollywood agencies: “Don't do that.” “I don't know how to [talk about it] other than to say how terrifying this is. Are you serious? That's an AI? Good Lord, we're screwed. That is really, really scary, Come [image]
Bloomberg
SAG-AFTRA criticizes AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood, the subject of a viral UK TV show parody, saying it opposes replacing performers with “synthetics”
SAG-Aftra, the union of film and TV industry actors, criticized the AI-generated character Tilly Norwood …
2025-06-12
This week's Variety cover story: Tim Cook Reveals Apple's Vision for Movies and TV: Why Spending Millions on Blockbusters Like ‘F1’ is About More Than Selling iPhones @tim_cook https://variety.com/... [image]
Variety
A look at Apple's vision for Apple TV+ and its film business, as Tim Cook says the company's $200M+ bet on “F1 the Movie” is about more than selling iPhones
Apple CEO and Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton join forces on ‘F1 the Movie’ to take the tech giant's film business to new heights
2025-03-09
Behind the scenes of Sean Evans and @nealmohan's Variety cover shoot 🔥 Read the full cover story here: https://variety.com/... [video]
BBC
A look at YouTube's hidden world: most of the videos on the platform capture everyday life and have rarely been seen, with the median video having just 41 views
There's a secret side of YouTube, just beyond the guiding hand of the algorithm - and it's nothing like what you know. Bluesky: @thomasgermain , @antisomniac , and @mausellmoli Mas...
Behind the scenes of Sean Evans and @nealmohan's Variety cover shoot 🔥 Read the full cover story here: https://variety.com/... [video]
Variety
A look at YouTube's origins, growth, and domination as the platform turns 20, including an interview with CEO Neal Mohan, who is nearing 10 years at the company
and a threat,” he says. “YouTube showed us how powerful viral video could be.” He still thinks “Lazy Sunday” was a primary reason Google bought YouTube. https://variety.com/... Sim...
2025-03-08
Behind the scenes of Sean Evans and @nealmohan's Variety cover shoot 🔥 Read the full cover story here: https://variety.com/... [video]
Variety
A look at YouTube's origins, growth, and domination as the platform turns 20, including an interview with CEO Neal Mohan, who is nearing 10 years at the company
It's a muggy morning the day before the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan is stuck in parade traffic and not happy about it.
2024-11-26
Universal Music has responded to Drake's claim that it conspired to “artificially inflate” the streaming numbers of Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss, “Not Like Us”: “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the [image]
Billboard
Drake initiates legal action against UMG and Spotify for allegedly using bots, payola, and more to pump Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us, a track that attacks Drake
In a legal petition, the star's company accuses UMG of serious wrongdoing — a stunning twist months after his high-profile feud with Kendrick.
2024-09-10
Following the announcement of his new album, the Weeknd is planning to release the project's first single “Dancing in the Flames” on Friday. The song will be accompanied by a music video shot entirely on Apple's freshly announced iPhone 16 Pro. https://variety.com/...
MacRumors
Apple unveils iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max with larger 6.3" and 6.9" screens, four titanium finishes, Camera Control, A18 Pro, 48MP ultrawide, 5x telephoto cameras
Apple today announced the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max—its latest flagship smartphones—featuring larger displays …
2024-05-25
Apple Music's list of the 100 best albums of all time is “ridiculous and exists almost expressly to make you mad,” writes @ChrisWillman. https://variety.com/...
Wall Street Journal
Apple Music's “100 Best Albums” list, based on votes from about 250 employees, artists, and industry executives, is eclectic, unpredictable, and controversial
Why did a trillion-dollar company make a music list that would make people lose their minds?
2024-03-09
Marilyn Monroe, who died 62 years ago, has been reincarnated as a “hyper-real” AI-generated digital avatar that lets fans engage in a conversation with the late actor — who can answer questions “in Marilyn's signature voice and style.” https://variety.com/...
Deadline
Digital Marilyn, an interactive AI avatar of Marilyn Monroe that was created using GPT-3.5 by Soul Machines and Authentic Brands Group, was unveiled at SXSW
One of Marilyn Monroe's most famous quotes was, “I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it.”
2024-03-07
A studio source at Apple says both “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon” were profitable movies, buoyed by ancillary revenue streams. Both ranked among the 10 highest-grossing films of the past year on the Apple app store. https://variety.com/...
Variety
Sources: Apple spent $700M+ of its reported $1B+ 2023 studio spend on just Napoleon, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Argylle, which earned $466M combined
On March 10, the tech giant has 13 shots to take home an Oscar via two historical epics, “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Napoleon …
2024-01-29
Warner Bros. Discovery's video game CEO is “actively working with [Gunn and Safran] on the core franchises within the DC Universe.” “Frankly, there hasn't been as close a relationship between the studio and the games business as there should've been.” https://variety.com/...
Variety
A look at Warner Bros. Discovery's push to expand its gaming division with live services and mobile games, by leveraging its franchises like Game of Thrones
Jennifer Maas / Variety :
2023-11-29
A source close to “Killers of the Flower Moon” denied that there was any censorship involved regarding Robert De Niro's Gotham Awards speech and said that the incident was an example of a miscommunication. https://variety.com/...
Variety
Robert De Niro criticizes Apple and the Gotham Awards, after sources say Apple cut part of his speech slamming Donald Trump, which he read anyway from his phone
The “Killers of the Flower Moon” actor was gearing up to slam Donald Trump at Monday's Gotham Awards, but when he took the stage …
2023-11-11
In the end, SAG-AFTRA did not get every AI restriction it was looking for. But it did get most of it, including a requirement that if a Frankenstein actor contains recognizable features of real-life actors, studios must get permission. “If you're using Brad Pitt's smile and... [image]
Rolling Stone
SAG-AFTRA's deal would require studios to obtain consent before creating digital replicas of living and deceased actors, disclose their use, and pay to use them
Rolling Stone :
2023-06-01
After allegations were reported in depth by The Wall Street Journal, about 1,000 Activision Blizzard employees signed a petition urging Bobby Kotick to resign as CEO. He says his biggest mistake was failing to forcefully defend the company and his legacy. https://variety.com/...
Variety
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick says he was humbled and outraged by toxic workplace culture claims and blames “outside forces” for most of Activision's image issues
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick addresses toxic workforce claims: “Most of what you've read in the news media is a mischaracterization. Having said that...it's been a catalyst for us to say, ‘How can we have the most inclusive, welcoming workplace?’” https://variety.com/... [video]
Variety
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick says he was humbled and outraged by toxic workplace culture claims and blames “outside forces” for most of Activision's image issues
2023-05-03
Amanda Seyfried on the potential WGA strike: “My writer friends think it's going to happen.” #MetGala https://variety.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Gizmodo
The Writers Guild of America strikes after negotiations over pay and AI issues with Netflix, Disney, Apple, Amazon, Sony, and others failed; nearly 12K may join
2023-05-02
Jimmy Fallon on the potential writers strike: “I wouldn't have a show if it wasn't for my writers, and I support them all the way.” https://variety.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Gizmodo
The Writers Guild of America calls for a strike after negotiations with Netflix, Apple, Amazon, and others over pay and AI issues failed; around 12K may strike
The Writers Guild of America, the union that bargains on behalf of Hollywood's screenwriters, has called a strike after negotiations …