Today is Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
It is the 56th day of the year.
309 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
NOTABLE & NOTEWORTHY: Another restaurant chain adds an egg surcharge.
BEN and JEN are officially single and WU-TANG CLAN announces final tour plans. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Wicked” stars to perform at the Oscars and SHARON OSBOURNE shares a regret. Details in CASTING CALL.
A pending invitation to the House of Wales in ROYALS.
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It’s on, y’all; FYRE FESTIVAL 2 is officially happening.
In a Monday press release, the organization announced that the redo of the doomed original festival will be a three-day event beginning May 30. Partiers will travel to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, where – in theory, at least – they’ll enjoy daytime activities and excursions and evening performances on the beach.
Still no details on what those activities entail or who will be performing. Event production company LOSTNIGHTS is managing the project, with two decades of related experience. Other companies have been contracted out to manage travel logistics and hospitality on site.
In the announcement of the dates and location, BILLY MCFARLAND says in part, “I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again. But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again … Thank you to my partners for the second chance.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: After the disaster of the first festival, McFarland spent some time in prison and was ordered to pay around $26 MILLION in restitution. McFarland has said since then he’s committed to paying that debt. [via Fyre Festival]
SPEAKING OF FRAUDSTERS: A US Circuit Court panel upheld the conviction of ELIZABETH HOLMES of THERANOS infamy on Monday. She’s currently serving a more than eleven-year sentence.
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If you want to try a beneficial “digital detox,” you’ll need to shut off your smartphone’s internet access for at least two weeks.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin showed 91% of respondents in a study self-reported improved their mental health or subjective wellbeing after such a break.
Participants also showed longer attention spans. "The effects on attention were about as large as if participants had become 10 years younger," particularly for older participants, one researcher says.
WORTH NOTING: The study was also far from perfect. Many participants reported needing to use their phone data for things like getting directions or video chatting on a work Zoom meeting. But overall, intentionally disconnecting from the internet boosted their moods and wellbeing. [via NPR]
JENNIFER LOPEZ and BEN AFFLECK are both now officially single.
After accepting their January 6 divorce settlement, a judge ruled it would take effect on February 21.
The proceedings were fairly drama free, with neither paying spousal support and no custody arrangements. [via THR]
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WU-TANG CLAN’s final tour, “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber,” will kick off June 6 at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore.
From there, the hip-hop group will hit up several cities across the country before wrapping on July 18 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. [via Variety]
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“Wicked” stars ARIANA GRANDE and CYNTHIA ERIVO will perform at the 2025 Oscars.
No word on what the two nominees will perform.
The awards show is set to take place live from the Dolby Theatre next Sunday, March 2. [via The Wrap]
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UP NEXT: KEVIN SPACEY’s real estate woes, OZZY’s brush with piracy, a legal win for the Trump Administration, and the US makes its first major monetary policy misstep on this date in history.
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