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O.J. Simpson — NFL football star, and controversial, high-profile subject of one of the most famous murder trials of all time — has died at age 76. Las Vegas outlet Local10.com had reported earlier this year that Simpson was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer in February 2024.

The Simpson family shared in a statement via X on Thursday, April 11: “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”

Simpson originally rose to fame and popularity as a football player: first as the Heisman Trophy-winning tailback for the University of Southern California in the late 1960s, and later playing 11 seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Per ESPN, Simpson won four NFL rushing titles, rushed for 11,236 yards in his career, scored 76 touchdowns, made five first-team All-Pro squads and played in six Pro Bowls. His best season was 1973, when he ran for 2,003 yards — the first running back to break the 2,000-yard rushing mark (doing it in 14 games) while averaging 141.3 yards per game – which is still an NFL record.

Simpson later went on to become a commentator for “Monday Night Football,” as well as dabbling in acting in movies such as “The Naked Gun” series in the 1980s. He appeared in films such as “The Klansman,” “The Cassandra Crossing” and “The Towering Inferno,” as well as the miniseries “Roots”.

However, he became infamous and a household name following the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, who were fatally stabbed. Simpson was married to Nicole Brown Simpson from 1985 to 1992; she was found stabbed to death outside her Brentwood condo alongside her friend, Ron Goldman, on June 12, 1994. Simpson was charged with the murders when investigators found a glove with blood stains on his property, and he originally agreed to turn himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department; but instead, he became involved in a low-speed car chase on June 17 as he evaded being arested. Police pursued Simpson as he rode in a 1993 Ford Bronco driven by his former teammate Al Cowlings, who said that Simpson was holding a gun to his own head during the drive.

Simpson was arrested for their deaths, after which the highly-publicized, 11-month criminal trial took place from 1994-95. The trial became one of the most significant events of the 1990s, and is believe to have been one of the most widely publicized events in American history. Amid much controversy, Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Brown Simpson, and Goldman.

Simpson’s legal troubles were far from over, however, when in 2008 he was found guilty on 12 charges relating to an armed robbery incident in Las Vegas in 2007. Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison and was granted parole in July 2017 before being released in October 2017, and eventually granted early discharge from parole in December 2021. (per Entertainment Weekly)

Simpson is survived by kids Arnelle, Jason, Aaren, Sydney and Justin. (Simpson shared Arnelle, Jason and Aaren with first wife Marguerite Whitley; he shared children Sydney and Justin with ex-wife Nicole.)

Editorial credit: Vicki L. Miller / Shutterstock.com

Prime Video shared the official trailer for ‘The Idea of You’ featuring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, posting on X: “when the last thing you expect becomes the only thing you want #TheIdeaOfYouOnPrime, May 2”

The Idea of You, based on the Robinne Lee novel of the same name, follows Solène (Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the plant.  An official film synopsis reads: “As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.”

Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfield, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White and Dakota Adam also star in the film, which features “Dance Before We Walk,” the debut single from August Moon, which will appear on the film’s soundtrack (to stream the song, head here.)

The film, which had its world premiere March 16 at SXSW festival, will debut on Prime Video on May 2.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

The filming of the third season of HBO’s Euphoria has been delayed, as creator Sam Levinson continues to write the upcoming installment’s script. HBO said in a statement to Deadline. ““HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season. In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

Per the outlet’s sources, the shoot was expected to begin in the next few months, with HBO and Max Content CE Casey Bloys stating in November that Euphoria S3 would premiere in 2025. However despite news of the delay, the network is still aiming to release the forthcoming season next year.

Season 2 of Euphoria premiered in January 2022, marking a minimum three-year gap between where the show left off and when Season 3 finally debuts.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

FX’s ‘The Bear’ will return for a fourth season on Hulu, with the comedy-drama series quietly renewed for Season 4 following its Season 3 renewal last year. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Seasons 3 and 4 will film back-to-back.

Created by Christopher Storer, The Bear follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a talented young chef who inherits his family’s Chicago sandwich shop and transforms it into his own restaurant. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott and Matty Matheson also star.

Season 2 of the series was released in June 2023 and won several awards, including Best Comedy at the Primetime Emmy Awards, Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) at the Golden Globe Awards and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble (Comedy Series) at the SAG Awards.

The Bear was officially renewed for Season 3 in November 2023; and according to Variety, is currently in production.

Editorial credit: Loredana Sangiuliano / Shutterstock.com

Billboard revealed that Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ has reached No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, making her the first-ever Black female artist to achieve the feat since the chart’s launch in January 1964. In February, Beyoncé became the first-ever Black female artist to top the Hot Country Songs chart with the album’s lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s eighth album, also reached the top spot on the Billboard 200, Americana/Folk Albums and Top Album Sales charts, having sold 407,000 equivalent album units in its first week of chart eligibility. Cowboy Carter claims the biggest week of 2024 and the largest since Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version), with 1.653 million units on the Nov. 11, 2023-dated list. The feat also marks Beyoncé’s biggest week by units, since her Lemonade album debuted at No. 1 with 653,000 units (mostly from traditional album sales) on the May 14, 2016, chart. The new effort also lands Beyoncé her biggest streaming week ever.

Cowboy Carter was released on March 29, and features “vocalists, musicians, and orators” including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Linda Martell, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Jon Batiste, Rhiannon Giddens, Nile Rodgers, Robert Randolph, Gary Clark, Jr., Willie Jones, Brittney Spencer, Shaboozey, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy. Additional collaborators on the project include The-Dream, Pharrell Williams, NO I.D., Raphael Saadiq, Ryan Tedder, Ryan Beatty, Swizz Beatz, Khirye Tyler, Derek Dixie, Ink, Nova Wav, Mamii, Cam, Tyler Johnson, Dave Hamelin and Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter.

Editorial credit: Sky Cinema / Shutterstock.com