HYBE completes SM Entertainment acquisition, issues open letter: “This is an era of change for both companies”

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Korean tech giant Kakao has gained the upper hand in the battle for control of K-pop agency SM Entertainment, after HYBE Corp., the firm behind music idols BTS, said Sunday that it had called off its takeover bid. SM is the second largest talent Korean music talent firm and is behind music acts including Super M, Aespa, BoA and Red Velvet, Girls’ Generation, H.O.T., EXO, Super Junior, SHINee and NCT Dream. HYBE said on Sunday that it will “discontinue the acquisition process […] after observing that the market has been showing signs of overheating due to competition with both Kakao and Kakao Entertainment,” something that it said could “damage shareholder value.”

Michelle Obama is embracing a new side of parenting. In the first episode of her new “The Light Podcast,” Michelle invited Hoda Kobt, with the two talking about some of the perks of being in their 50s.

Things may be changing behind-the-scenes of Vanderpump Rules if Raquel Leviss doesn’t drop her order of protection against Scheana Shay.

The legal battle between Bam Margera and his estranged wife isn’t getting any less messy, we’re afraid.

Gina Prince-Bythewood is taking issue with the Oscars.

Elizabeth Taylor On March 8, the eighth annual Icon Mann Honors paid tribute to “The Woman King” director Gina Prince-Bythewood, who was lauded for her hallmark filmmaking and for inspiring culture by breaking new ground in cinema. Striving for a better future in the arts, she addressed the audience that gathered at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. “I have always believed our greatness is reflected in our work and the ways that we show the world the incredible breadth of our humanity.” The driving force for her career was further described during her acceptance speech. “From the beginning, I tell stories of Black women and girls and reframe the narrative of who we are and what we can be. I want us to look up on the screen and see ourselves reflected in a way that inspires us and that we can aspire to be. And I’m proud of the Black men that I’ve centered in my work.”

Bam Margera has found himself in more trouble.

Michelle Obama became the focus of global attention back in 2008 when her husband, Barack, became the first African American president of the United States.Despite relinquishing her title as the First Lady of the United States in 2017, Michelle remains one of the most influential women in the world thanks to her unwavering commitment to several important causes.Ever since she first stepped foot inside the White House, the mother-of-two has become a notable advocate for higher education, civil rights, ending childhood obesity and supporting military families. We've taken a look at some of Michelle's most empowering quotes of all time. Keep scrolling to discover our favourites…WATCH: Michelle Obama opens up on life without Malia and SashaIn her widely acclaimed memoir, Becoming, Michelle penned: "For me, becoming isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim.

The K-Pop world is currently going through one of its biggest ever corporate dramas, with SM Entertainment, the label of BoA, Girls Generation, EXO and Super Junior, fighting off what its management is describing as a hostile takeover from its rival HYBE, home of BTS. 

Michelle Obama is kicking off Women’s History month by tributing the most important women in her life. She shared various photos alongside her daughters, Sashaand Malia, and her mother, Marian Robinson. Michelle Obama talks about being a role model for her daughters Sasha and MaliaSasha Obama’s early morning look: oversized glasses and Ugg bootsObama kicked off her post by sharing a photo alongside her daughters.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Fox has named John Hesling its new head of Alternative Entertainment, the broadcast network’s in-house unscripted studio. Responsible for overseeing the development and production of all unscripted series owned by Fox Entertainment (FAE), as well as programs FAE produces for third-party buyers in the U.S. and abroad, Hesling will be based in Los Angeles and report to Allison Wallach, president of unscripted programming at Fox Entertainment. “I am so excited for John to join FAE and lead the incredible team we have assembled,” Wallach said. “His creative vision and vast experience as both a producer and an executive working on a global scale will be key to our strategy of building FAE as a leading provider of innovative series and formats for Fox and third-party platforms throughout the world.”

SM Entertainment boyband NCT’s “infinite” expansion will come to an end in 2023, the K-pop agency has confirmed.On February 25, SM Entertainment shared the latest in its series of videos about its new ‘SM 3.0’ strategy. In this video, SM’s co-CEOs Chris Lee and Tak Young-jun answered fan questions and also announced the end of boyband NCT’s expansion in 2023.

BreAnna Bell Netflix has announced Wanda Sykes’ upcoming hour-long standup special, “I’m An Entertainer” will arrive on the streaming service on May 23. The episode will premiere globally. Set at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia, the comedian, actress and producer Wanda Sykes returns for her second hour-long Netflix comedy special. According to the streamer, the comedian tackles a host of topics from the challenges of raising Gen Z teens to the dilemmas of being a liberal in a hyper charged political climate. Known for her social commentary, Sykes delivers “her insightful and ferocious wit and candor audiences have come to know and love,” reads the official description. The special was filmed in early February 2023.

Jason Oppenheim may have just found his forever. A source tells ET that the  star, who has been dating Marie-Lou Nurk since last year, has «never felt more serious about anyone» and is considering marriage with the model.«He has never considered marriage in a real way before, and now he is.

SZA kicked off her North American arena tour this week, debuting ‘SOS’ songs and covering Erykah Badu – see photos, footage, the full setlist and more below.The singer will tour her long-awaited second album, which was released last November, across the country for the next month. Dates began in Columbus, Ohio and Chicago this week (February 21 and 22).At the first show of the tour in Columbus, SZA gave live debuts to ‘SOS’ tracks ‘PSA’, ‘Seek & Destroy’, ‘Notice Me’, ‘Conceited’, ‘Gone Girl’, ‘Kill Bill’ and more as part of a mammoth 32-song setlist that also saw her cover Badu’s ‘Bag Lady’ and perform her Kendrick Lamar (‘All The Stars’) and Doja Cat (‘Kiss Me More‘) collaborations.See footage, photos and the full setlist from the Columbus gig on February 21 below.‘PSA’‘Seek & Destroy’‘Notice Me’‘Conceited’‘Love Galore’‘Broken Clocks’‘Forgiveless’‘Used’‘Bag Lady’ (Erykah Badu cover)‘Blind’‘Shirt’‘Too Late’‘Smoking On My Ex Pack’‘All The Stars’‘Prom’‘Garden (Say It Like Dat)’‘F2F’‘Drew Barrymore’‘Doves In The Wind’‘Low’‘Open Arms’‘Supermodel’‘Special’‘Nobody Gets Me’‘Gone Girl’‘SOS’‘Kiss Me More’‘Love Language’‘Snooze’‘Kill Bill’‘I Hate U’‘The Weekend’‘Good Days’See the full list of tour dates and buy your tickets here.

Barack Obama has endured his fair share of emotional times, but nothing could have prepared him for how he would feel when his daughter Sasha was delivered a heartwrenching health diagnosis as a baby. The politician and his wife, Michelle, are proud parents to Malia, 24, and Sasha, 21, who are now grown up, happy and healthy.However, when Sasha was only three months old, Barack and Michelle's world began to unravel as she was diagnosed with meningitis. WATCH: Michelle Obama opens up about life without Malia and Sasha at home While on the campaign trail in 2012, Barack opened up about the diagnosis and said: "People ask me what was the hardest time in my life — they ask, well what about during the debt ceiling debate and this and that and the other thing."Sasha got meningitis when she was three months old. I still remember going to the hospital together and they had to give her a spinal tap."TRENDING NOW: The Rookie's Nathan Fillion's secret struggle with ongoing condition revealedREAD: Exclusive: Today's Hoda Kotb shares lifestyle change she never saw coming The father-of-two added: "The doctors did a terrific job, but, frankly, it was the nurses that were there with us when she had to get a spinal tap, and all sorts of things that were just bringing me to tears." Sasha got meningitis when she was three months old The agonizing time will be forever etched on Michelle's mind too as she explained during an interview with Rev.

Sasha Obama looked cool and comfortable this past week. The 21 year old student was photographed while out in Los Angeles in the early morning, wearing an all black outfit with some camel colored Ugg boots. Sasha Obama is back in college following her holidays in HawaiiMalia Obama’s bosses are impressed with her work ethic and TV writing skillsSasha was photographed in Los Angeles, wearing a black long sleeve shirt, a long matching skirt and some camel Uggboots, which are one of her favorite clothing items to wear.

A huge new family attraction celebrating much-loved children's book characters The Gruffalo, Zog, The Highway Rat and more is to open next to the seaside in Blackpool this summer. £2.3mn has been spent to create the new Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse which celebrates the colourful characters from popular author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.

Coronation Street spoilers follow. Coronation Street revisits Hope Stape and Beth Sutherland's slap storyline next week. Fans have been waiting to see whether Beth's guilt will be exposed after she secretly slapped Hope at the start of this month.

Behati Prinsloo is sharing some fun snapshots with husband Adam Levine.The model took to Instagram on Friday to share a slideshow of snapshots — one of which showed her playing what appeared to be a basketball arcade game with the Maroon 5 front man.The snapshots come just over two weeks after the former Victoria's Secret model gave birth to the couple's third child together.A post shared by Behati Prinsloo Levine (@behatiprinsloo)It's unclear when the photos were taken — although Prinsloo shared some similar snapshots set in an arcade back on Valentine's Day.In late January, ET confirmed that Prinsloo and Levine had welcomed their third child.After tying the knot in July 2014, the couple became parents first with now-6-year-old daughter Dusty, born in 2016, followed by 4-year-old daughter Gio, born in 2018. Shortly after Prinsloo's pregnancy news broke in 2022, Sumner Stroh came forward claiming she had an affair with Levine for about a year and shared screenshots on TikTok of purported social media messages from the singer. In newer messages, he allegedly told her he wanted to name his third child Sumner if the baby was a boy. Other women also claimed that he had sent them messages on social media. «A lot is being said about me right now and I want to clear the air,» Levine responded in a statement on social media.