Rapper Kanye West has earned more than $25 million this year from cancelled concerts after two upcoming performances at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg were called off.
The artist, who now goes by the name Ye, only signs performance contracts if organisers pay half of his fee in advance regardless of whether the shows take place.
He collected $10 million (£7.3 million) for the cancelled Russian dates, which had been scheduled for October 10 and October 11 at the venue.
The Gazprom Arena had previously announced the concerts on social media earlier this week before issuing a statement denying that any rental agreements had been signed or that the events were going ahead.
Performing in Russia is not explicitly banned for foreign musicians, but financial sanctions stemming from the war in Ukraine create significant commercial complications and political risks. Ye would have been the first major Western artist to play in the country since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
An industry source said: "Kanye's management are killing his career here, because every cancellation means that you have another market where people won't want to take him on again."
"It seems the people who organised the gigs in Russia didn't have the ability to do so," the source added. "Everyone got tempted by the money, and then it's blown up in their faces. If you want to do a gig in Russia, you need to sit down with one of Putin's assistants and offer assurances nothing is going to happen to cause the government embarrassment."
Contract cancellations pile up following anti-Semitic remarks
The 24-time Grammy Award winner has faced numerous event cancellations following public outrage over anti-Semitic comments, including a headlining slot at London's Wireless Festival scheduled for last month. He received $7.5 million (£5.5 million) for the Wireless Festival appearance after UK authorities banned him from travelling to the country on the grounds that his presence "would not be conducive to the public good."
Ye also received $4 million (£2.9 million) for a cancelled show in France and another $4 million (£2.9 million) for an event in Italy called off this summer, bringing his total earnings from unperformed shows this year to $25.5 million (£18.7 million).
In January, Ye published a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologizing for his conduct and attributing his actions to bipolar disorder. "I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state," he wrote in the statement. "It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love Jewish people." The rapper had previously released a song titled Heil Hitler and sold t-shirts featuring swastikas.
Emmerdale stars launch viral allotment account
Emmerdale stars Jeff Hordley, 56, and his wife Zoe Henry, 52, have achieved unexpected social media success after launching an account documenting their allotment garden.
Hordley, who plays village mechanic Cain Dingle in the ITV soap opera, and Henry, who portrays local vet Rhona Goskirk, started the page on August 3. The couple have already amassed 226,000 followers on Instagram and 320,000 on Facebook by posting updates about beetroot sizes and courgette plants.
David Mitchell reflects on driving test failure
Actor David Mitchell has revealed that he cannot drive in real life, mirroring the reluctant driver aspect of his character John "Ludwig" Taylor in the comedy drama series Ludwig.
The 52-year-old actor failed his driving test around the age of 30 after taking lessons. "Which is just as well as I would have been a danger to other road users," Mitchell said.
"When I was learning, I could never shake this image of me being in this large metal thing full of petrol, which I could lose control of at any moment: it was like going around waving a loaded gun!" Mitchell explained.
"One of the great ironies of series one of Ludwig was that my character John Taylor was criticised for being a bad driver, when at least he could drive," he added. "He was being played by someone who couldn't drive and would have been a menace if they had done. Being able to drive is useful, but I'm at a time in my life when learning any new skill would be incredibly hard."
Reports suggest the character may retake his driving test in a future storyline of the show.
Nicola Peltz Beckham honoured at Venice Film Festival
Actor Nicola Peltz Beckham, 31, is set to receive a rising star award at the Venice Film Festival next weekend. The citation for the Kineo award notes that she began her acting career 20 years ago as a child.
Peltz Beckham will be honoured alongside veteran actor Faye Dunaway, who co-stars with her in the self-funded ballet film Prima.
Hugh Bonneville joins cast of The Gentlemen
Hugh Bonneville takes on a contrasting role to his character Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey, playing Lord "Dickie" Hawthorne in the second series of Netflix drama The Gentlemen, streaming from next Thursday.
Bonneville plays a camp aristocrat with a styled bouffant hairstyle who is described by drug kingpin Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone, as a "posh c***."
Lord Hawthorne first appears at a shooting event hosted by Eddie Horniman, Duke of Halstead, played by Theo James. Horniman seeks access to the House of Lords to influence marijuana legislation, where Hawthorne may assist.
During the series, Hawthorne pursues Jack, played by Harry Goodwins, the younger brother of Susie Glass, played by Kaya Scodelario. The character drinks, swears, slurps down oysters, and dances like Louie Spence in Ibiza. In one scene over cocktails, Hawthorne tells Horniman: "I know I look like a useless old fruit, but I do know when I'm being worked, lubed, greased over."
The production attracted attention following speculation that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, could appear in a potential third series. Netflix addressed the rumors in a press release stating: "ABOUT THE GENTLEMEN S3..Your guess is as good as mine."
Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden linked to James Bond
Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden is under consideration for the role of James Bond, while his wife, actor Saoirse Ronan, has expressed interest in playing a franchise villain.
Speaking to Empire magazine, Ronan said: "I want to go dark. I said that I wanted to be a Bond villain, and I'm dead serious. I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain. Especially for girls and women, to see someone who can just take all that pent-up anger and direct it somewhere."
Amazon MGM Studios acquired full control of the James Bond franchise from producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson in 2025. Casting is ongoing, with an official announcement expected this autumn and filming potentially starting at the end of the year.
Producer Amy Pascal indicated that casting decisions are expected by the end of the year, noting that Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow and that producers are seeking something stirring and exciting. Other actors linked to the 007 role include Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Tom Holland.
Greta Gerwig Narnia reboot delayed for reshoots
The first installment of Netflix's Narnia adaptation, directed by Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig, has been postponed from its planned November release to next year following emergency reshoots after test screenings.
With a budget of $280 million, the film is the most expensive production ever undertaken by the streaming service, surpassing The Odyssey. Based on C.S. Lewis's prequel novel The Magician's Nephew, the story has been relocated to 1950s London and features a cast including Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep.
