Category Archives: ENTERTAINMENT

Eurovision 2026: More Countries Cast Doubt On Returning Next Year Amid Israel Controversy

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After Slovenia’s national broadcaster said it will not compete in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel remains part of the competition, it looks like more countries could be following suit.

Over the summer, discussions took place among Eurovision’s participating broadcasters about whether Israel should remain part of the contest despite the ongoing war in Gaza, with the situation due to be reassessed in the coming months.

Since then, Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO has said it will only return to Eurovision in 2026 if Israel is banned, similarly to how Russia has not been invited to take part in the competition since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Following this, the chair of Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has said it is still not clear whether Iceland will be competing in 2026, saying the board will make a decision once it’s clear if Israel will be invited to return.

Icelandic duo VAEB at Eurovision earlier this year
Icelandic duo VAEB at Eurovision earlier this year

via Associated Press

Meanwhile, Spain’s minister for culture Ernest Urtasun has called for the country to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel remain part of the contest.

Per Eurovoix, Urtasun told La Hora De La 1: “I don’t think we can normalise Israel’s participation in international events as if nothing is happening.

“Events like Eurovision [bring] a certain representation of a country. In Eurovision’s case, it is not an individual artist who participates but someone who participates on behalf of that country’s citizens.”

Spanish Eurovision star Melody
Spanish Eurovision star Melody

via Associated Press

It’s worth pointing out that Spain is one of the so-called “Big Five” countries at Eurovision, who contribute more financially than other competing nations, and is therefore guaranteed a place in the grand final, without having to compete in the semi-final stages.

Last week, Eurovision’s director Martin Green issued a statement to HuffPost UK which read: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Song Contest.

“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each Member to decide if they want to take part in the Contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”

Eurovision had no further comment when contacted for comment by HuffPost UK on Wednesday

Reigning Eurovision winner JJ has called for Israel's removal from the competition
Reigning Eurovision winner JJ has called for Israel’s removal from the competition

via Associated Press

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the broadcasters for Germany and Italy – who, like Spain, also make up the “Big Five”, as do the UK and France – had both threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel is not permitted to return to the event in 2026.

A spokesperson for Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) later told HuffPost UK: “The ESC is a music competition organised by EBU broadcasters, not governments.

“The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC.”

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Masterchef Unveils New Judging Line-Up After Gregg Wallace And John Torode’s Exits

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The new presenting and judging team for the BBC series MasterChef has been announced.

For the last few months, the long-running show has been at the centre of controversy, after both Gregg Wallace and John Torode were dropped as judges following an external investigation earlier this year.

On Monday evening, their replacements were officially confirmed, with former regular guest critic Grace Dent being appointed a full-time judge moving forward.

She’ll be joined at the helm by chef Anna Haugh, who previously served as a judge on one series of Masterchef: The Professionals in 2022.

Grace enthused: “I’m over the moon to be coming back to the MasterChef kitchen and unearthing what culinary skills people have been cooking up behind closed doors.

“It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table. I am in for such a treat with this series, I can’t wait to get started.”

Anna agreed: “I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years.

“MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cooks in home kitchens and of course in my industry. I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition.”

Prior to that, it was revealed that Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt would be taking over Gregg Wallace’s old slot on Masterchef: The Professionals.

Masterchef: The Professionals stars Marcus Wareing, Matt Tebbutt, Monica Galetti
Masterchef: The Professionals stars Marcus Wareing, Matt Tebbutt, Monica Galetti

Gregg was fired as the host of MasterChef in July, after almost 20 years at the helm, following claims that were upheld in a report alleging the use of sexual language and one case of unwanted physical contact.

He has since apologised for “any distress caused” by his behaviour, while also noting that he was cleared of what he described as “the most serious and sensational accusations”.

John was then dropped after a complaint of alleged racist language was upheld, though he has since claimed he has “no recollection of what I’m accused of”.

The most recent season of MasterChef was filmed last year, featuring both Gregg and John as usual, although the BBC made the decision to greatly reduce their screen-time.

Two of the most recent contestants requested that they be edited out of the show in light of the controversy.

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Ayo Edebiri Swoops In To Save Co-Stars During Tense Interview Moment

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Ayo Edebiri’s facial expressions are about to take you on a journey.

The Emmy-winning star of The Bear recently went viral thanks to the way she navigated a very tense interview moment.

Meanwhile, an Italian journalist who was interviewing Ayo was forced to release a statement Sunday, writing on Instagram that she has “been subjected to personal insults and attacks because of a question that, for some reason, was not well received by some members of the public”.

The incident occurred last week while Ayo and her co-stars, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, were speaking to the Italian outlet ArtsLife Tv about their upcoming movie After The Hunt.

During the interview, reporter Federica Polidoro asked the actors what they felt had been “lost during the politically correct era” of America.

“What [do] we have to expect in Hollywood after the Me Too movement and the Black Lives Matter [movement] are done?” she asked.

Although the question might have made some sense within the context of the film – considering that the Luca Guadagnino-helmed project explores both those themes – what made the question odd was that the Italian journalist specifically addressed Julia and Andrew, but not Ayo, who is a Black woman.

“The two of you,” she said immediately after she asked the question, clarifying she was speaking specifically to the white actors.

Ayo Edebiri expressing a plethora of emotions during an interview with her “After the Hunt” co-stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.
Ayo Edebiri expressing a plethora of emotions during an interview with her “After the Hunt” co-stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.

Screenshot ArtsLife Tv via YouTube

In response to the question, a stunned Andrew dramatically turned to his co-stars and let out a flabbergasted laugh.

“Um, well, OK,” a shocked Ayo began as Julia, who appeared perplexed, turned to her co-star apologetically.

Julia then tried to give the reporter an out.

“Uh, can you repeat that?” Roberts asked. “With your sunglasses on, I can’t tell which one of us you’re talking to, so—”

Roberts asking the reporter to clarify whom she was speaking to.
Roberts asking the reporter to clarify whom she was speaking to.

Screenshot ArtsLife Tv via YouTube

“So, the question was for Julia and Andrew,” Polidoro clarified before repeating her question.

In response, a range of emotions flashed across Ayo’s face, ending in disgruntled acceptance.

“It’s not done,” Julia began.

“Yeah, I know that [question’s] not for me, and I don’t know if it’s purposeful [that] it’s not for me, but… I don’t think it’s done,” Ayo said of Americans fighting for racial and gender equality.

She added: “Maybe if there’s not mainstream coverage in the way that there might have been, daily headlines, in the way that it might have been eight or so years ago. But I don’t think it means that the work is done. That’s what I would say.”

“I don’t think it’s done at all,” she continued. “I think, maybe, hashtags might not be used as much.

“But I do think that there’s work being done by activists, by people, every day, that’s beautiful, important work that’s not finished. [That work is] really, really, really active for a reason, because this world is really charged, and that work isn’t finished at all.”

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When a clip of the moment made its way to social media platforms like X and Reddit, some users praised Ayo for how she handled the situation.

“Jesus look how hard she’s working to make sure she can speak up for herself and others without seeming difficult. That must be fucking exhausting,” a Reddit user pointed out.

“The way Andrew spun around to face Ayo, and the way Julia called that woman out for wearing her sunglasses…I love that disgusted, united front,” another Redditor said.

In her Instagram statement Sunday, Polidoro did not address why she excluded Ayo in her question. Instead, she wrote that she found it “striking” that people “who unjustly accuse me of racism and consider themselves custodians of justice” think it’s OK to send her messages that include “violent language, personal attacks, and cyberbullying”.

“Censoring or delegitimising questions considered ‘uncomfortable’ does not fall within the practice of democracy,” she wrote.

“To those who unjustly accuse me of racism, I would like to clarify that in my work I have interviewed people of every background and ethnicity, and my own family is multi-ethnic, matriarchal, and feminist, with a significant history of immigration.”

She added: “In my view, the real racists are those who see racism everywhere and seek to muzzle journalism, limiting freedom of analysis, critical thinking, and the plurality of perspectives.”

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