Entertainment
Thousands of tickets to Taylor Swift and other events illegally resold by broker, FTC alleges
A Maryland ticket broker is accused of illegally purchasing and reselling hundreds of thousands of tickets for profit, including thousands to Taylor Swift’s highly sought Eras Tour.
The Federal Trade Commission is suing Key Investment Group, saying the company made millions of dollars in profit from reselling the tickets at inflated prices.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, Aug. 18, in U.S. District Court in Maryland, accuses the company and its affiliates of bypassing Ticketmaster’s security measures designed to block resellers from violating ticket-purchase limits.
Key Investment Group also did business under the names Epic Seats, TotalTickets.com LLC and Totally Tix LLC, according to the complaint.
The FTC alleges that, in a one year period, the group purchased at least 379,776 tickets from Ticketmaster at a cost of nearly $57 million. The company then allegedly resold those tickets on secondary marketplaces for about $64 million.
In a statement, Key Investment Group said it will “vigorously defend itself against this clear example of regulatory overreach.” It claims the FTC “misleadingly characterizes KIG’s use of standard internet browsers,” and said the government’s case “threatens to dismantle the secondary ticket market for live events.”
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tickets
Between March and August of 2023, Key Investment Group allegedly purchased 10 or more tickets to 38 Taylor Swift concerts, totaling 2,280 tickets, according to the complaint. The FTC says the company made more than $1.2 million in profit reselling those tickets.
For just one Taylor Swift show, the defendants allegedly used 49 different accounts to buy 273 tickets. The Eras Tour had a six-ticket purchase limit per customer, per event.
Among other events the FTC alleges were targeted was a 2023 Bruce Springsteen concert in New Jersey. Despite a four-ticket limit, the defendants allegedly purchased and resold more than 1,500 tickets.
How the alleged scheme worked
According to the FTC, the group used thousands of Ticketmaster accounts, both fictitious and third-party accounts it had purchased, to bypass security measures and purchase the tickets.
The company is also accused of using thousands of credit card numbers, including virtual card numbers, spoofing IP addresses to hide the identity of the ticket purchaser, and using SIM technology to collect the incoming verification codes.
In doing so, the FTC said the brokers violated the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, which prohibits people from “circumventing a security measure, access control system, or other technological control or measure on an internet website or online service that is used by the ticket issuer to enforce posted event ticket limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules.”
Entertainment
Natalia Dyer explains Nancy Wheeler’s key blunder in Stranger Things 5
Natalia Dyer, known for her role as Nancy Wheeler in Stranger Things, addresses a big blunder she made in season finale.
At the end of season four, the city Hawkins had giant rifts of the Upside Down opened up in the ground across the city, however Nancy and her brother Mike (Finn Wolfhard) fail to inform the rest of their family about it.
In the new season, the fans witness the consequences of her parents being in oblivion, when a Demogorgon attacks them putting her parents, mom Karen (Cara Buono) and dad Ted (Joe Chrest), in critical condition in hospital and their little sister Holly (Nell Fisher) getting kidnapped by Vecna.
In an interview with Variety, Dyer revealed the reason why Nancy kept her parents in the dark.
“This actually was a conversation with the Duffers,” Dyer said. “In that discovery of what’s happened since, what have we said to people? What have we explained?”
She added, “You have this military presence all around, and I think there’s this sense of — especially within Nancy — there’s this wanting to protect. I think in this scenario, especially like with her family, sometimes you feel like not telling is protecting.”
Dyer explained that since the incident Nancy feels “a lot of guilt” and sees the loss as “a failure” despite trying to do the right thing.
However, she also revealed the positive impact it has on the Wheelers, saying, “I think that’s also a bonding moment for the Wheelers. I think it’s a galvanising moment for what they have to do ahead of them.”
In addition to Wolfhard, Buono, Crest and Fisher, Dyer also stars along with her boyfriend Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), who is also her love interest in the series and Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Nancy’s ex-boyfriend.
Stranger Things season five volume one is now streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis’ wish comes true with special west end treat
It looks like the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children are about to have a very merry Christmas indeed.
After Princess Kate revealed that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were a little sad about missing the Royal Variety Performance, their festive prayers have been answered.
The young royals have reportedly been invited to watch the West End sensation Paddington: The Musical.
This stage show, a heartwarming spin-off of the beloved marmalade-loving bear, has already cemented its status as a British cultural institution.
Paddington famously shared a sandwich with the late Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee, and the character has since become a symbol of tribute to the monarch.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO! from the red carpet, producer Sonia Friedman said, “We can’t wait for Paddington to meet the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales—it’s going to be very special.”
Friedman, known for hits like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, added, “We’re very proud. It’s taken hundreds of people and many years to get to this point, and now we’re handing it over to the audience—it feels amazing.”
The royal couple have already had a sneak peek, enjoying a performance number from their private box during the Royal Variety Performance on November 19.
Producer Eliza Lumley described the moment as “iconic,” calling it a royal seal of approval for the production.
Even Tom Fletcher couldn’t hide his excitement: “I invited Their Royal Highnesses to see the show, so hopefully they’ll make it to the theatre.
Performing a tiny peek for them at the Royal Variety was surreal—they seemed to really enjoy it, and I hope the kids do too.”
Entertainment
Did Charlie Puth audition for ‘Wicked’ film?
Charlie Puth did not audition for Wicked.
The popstar is shutting down the recent buzz claiming he auditioned for the blockbuster films.
The singer took to X on Saturday, November 29, and cleared the speculation in a joke-filled reply after a fan account shared a list of artists who were rumoured to have read for roles in the two-part movie.
“I never auditioned for Wicked I would be so bad lol,” wrote Puth, 33.
The list included some huge names such as Jennifer Lopez, Shawn Mendes, Renee Rapp, Katy Perry, Harry Styles, Amanda Seyfried, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Dove Cameron, Lea Michele and Jessie J.
While Puth was never in the running, several of those stars have previously confirmed that they did audition for the films.
Amanda Seyfried has been open about how badly she wanted the role of Glinda. She explained her audition experience in 2022, saying she was juggling filming The Dropout while preparing for the musical tryout.
“Last summer while I was playing Elizabeth [The Dropout], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of Wicked — because I wanted it that much,” she told Backstage.
She shared that she sacrificed her Sundays just to go for it.
Even before Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were cast as Glinda and Elphaba, other big names were linked to the project.
Lady Gaga had been attached to the film as Elphaba during early development before director changes were made, according to OK! Magazine.
Actress Cristin Milioti also confirmed she tried for the role. She told her audition story on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, explaining how she was excited but nervous to sing in person again after COVID.
She recalled being asked to belt the hardest music and said, “I open my mouth and the sound that escaped me is something I will hear on my deathbed. It was disgusting. I sounded terrible.”
Despite many stars chasing those iconic roles, Charlie Puth wasn’t one of them—and he’s more than happy to set the record straight himself.
-
Sports1 week agoWATCH: Ronaldo scores spectacular bicycle kick
-
Entertainment1 week agoWelcome to Derry’ episode 5 delivers shocking twist
-
Politics1 week agoWashington and Kyiv Stress Any Peace Deal Must Fully Respect Ukraine’s Sovereignty
-
Business1 week agoKey economic data and trends that will shape Rachel Reeves’ Budget
-
Tech6 days agoWake Up—the Best Black Friday Mattress Sales Are Here
-
Fashion7 days agoCanada’s Lululemon unveils team Canada kit for Milano Cortina 2026
-
Politics1 week ago53,000 Sikhs vote in Ottawa Khalistan Referendum amid Carney-Modi trade talks scrutiny
-
Tech6 days agoThe Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop Punches Above Its Weight
