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‘Barbie Girl’ band Aqua announces split after three decades together

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‘Barbie Girl’ band Aqua announces split after three decades together


Aqua announces surprise split

Aqua is taking its final bow.

Nearly three decades after Barbie Girl turned the Danish pop group into a global sensation, the band has announced it is officially ending its run as a live act. The trio — Lene Nystrøm, René Dif, Søren Rasted — shared the news with fans in an emotional Instagram post Monday, May 18, alongside a picture of their iconic logo.

“After many incredible years, we have decided to close the chapter of AQUA as a live band,” they wrote. “AQUA has been such a huge part of our lives, and together we’ve had the chance to experience more than we ever dared to dream of.”

The band added, “When you’ve been together for this long, you also learn when it’s time to protect what you’ve created together. For us, this feels like the right moment to say goodbye, while the memories are still strong, and while the love for the music, the story, and each other remains intact.”

After thanking fans for 30 years of “the love, the energy, the support, and for all the moments,” they signed off with “nothing but love and gratitude.”

Aqua exploded onto the music scene in 1997 with Barbie Girl, the bubblegum pop anthem that dominated charts worldwide and sparked controversy thanks to its cheeky lyrics. The track even prompted Barbie’s parent company Mattel to sue the band’s label in 2000, though the case was ultimately dismissed.

The group first split in 2001 before reuniting in 2007. They later enjoyed a major revival in 2023 when Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice sampled their biggest hit for Barbie World on the blockbuster Barbie soundtrack.





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Jennifer Lopez gushes over ‘Off Campus’ after Mika Abdalla channels popstar

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Jennifer Lopez gushes over ‘Off Campus’ after Mika Abdalla channels popstar


Jennifer Lopez gushes over ‘Off Campus’ after Mika Abdalla channels popstar

Jennifer Lopez has gushed over the new Prime Video series Off Campus after lead actress Mika Abdalla channelled the pop star’s most iconic fashion moment on screen. 

The romance show became an overnight hit following its debut on Wednesday, 13 May, with its steamiest scenes quickly going viral across social media. 

One particular clip that caught the eye of the 56-year-old global superstar features Abdalla’s character, Allie Hayes, recreating Lopez’s famous plunging green Versace jungle dress from the 2000 Grammys, prompting Lopez to repost the footage on X with the enthusiastic caption, “love this shooooww.”

The high-fashion moment takes place early in the series when Allie crosses paths with hockey player Dean Di Laurentis, played by Stephen Kalyn, at a Halloween party. 

The legendary dress itself has quite a history in the fashion world, having first been modelled by Amber Valletta during Versace’s Spring/Summer 2000 runway show in 1999, before Lopez famously made it a cultural phenomenon at the Grammy Awards and later wore a reimagined version on the runway in 2019.

Abdalla, 26, recently took to TikTok to share the intense behind-the-scenes process required to bring the iconic outfit to life for the show.

Speaking in a clip shared by Betches UK, the actress revealed that the garment had to be built entirely from scratch, a process that required five separate fittings. 

She recalled how her very first session involved putting on a nude leotard so the team could cut it up and pin the material directly to her, adding that she was so heavily taped into the finished product that she felt completely ready to dance the night away.

The actress also admitted that her own intuition told her the scene would be a massive talking point for fans, despite the fact that the Halloween storyline does not actually appear in Elle Kennedy’s original book series.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Abdalla explained that as they got closer to finishing the dress and she saw how it looked on camera during filming, she knew it was going to be a hit with the audience. 

The popular new Prime Video adaptation is based on the five-book Off Campus franchise, which predominantly follows the complicated love lives of various hockey players at the fictional Briar University.





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‘Star Wars’ voice actor was 64

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‘Star Wars’ voice actor was 64


Tom Kane dies: ‘Star Wars’ voice actor was 64

Tom Kane, the legendary voice actor famous for his iconic roles in Star Wars and The Powerpuff Girls, has died at the age of 64. 

His death occurred on Monday and was confirmed in a touching Facebook statement by his talent agency, Galactic Productions. 

The agency praised Kane as an extraordinary performer whose extensive work shaped the childhoods and imaginations of millions across the globe, bringing wisdom, strength, humour, and heart to every single role he touched.

The Kansas City native built a remarkably long career in the industry, having started out in voiceover work when he was just 15 years old. 

Star Wars fans will know him best as the voice behind the beloved Jedi Master Yoda in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as Admiral Ackbar in the 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Beyond a galaxy far, far away, Kane was also the voice of Professor Utonium in Cartoon Network’s The Powerpuff Girls from 2016 to 2019.

He was a staple of the gaming world too, lending his vocal talents to major titles like the Call of Duty franchise, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and Marvel Future Revolution.

Tragically, Kane’s prolific voiceover career was cut short a few years ago.

In 2020, he suffered a stroke that left him largely unable to speak, a devastating blow for a man whose voice had become such a comforting and recognisable part of so many people’s lives and memories.

Aside from his immense professional success, his agency made sure to highlight his reputation as a deeply compassionate family man. 

Off-screen, Tom was a devoted husband and father who, alongside his wife, built a loving family of nine children, three biological and six welcomed through adoption and fostering. 

Galactic Productions noted that this generosity defined who he was just as much as his remarkable talent. 

Kane is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their children. 

His agency beautifully concluded their tribute by writing that though his voice may now be silent, the characters, stories, and love he gave to the world will live on forever, adding, “May the Force be with you, always.”





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Harry Potter important actress leaves series just before season 2

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Harry Potter important actress leaves series just before season 2


Harry Potter important actress leaves series just before season 2

An important Harry Potter actress has left the highly anticipated new HBO series just before the production moves on to season two. 

Gracie Cochrane, the young star playing Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny Weasley, in the upcoming first season of the TV adaptation, has abruptly walked away from the high-profile franchise. 

Her exit triggers an immediate recasting process for the major role ahead of the second season, which is scheduled to begin filming this autumn following an early renewal by the network.

The shocking departure was confirmed by Cochrane and her family in a statement explaining that she had made the challenging decision to step away from her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after season one due to unforeseen circumstances. 

The family added that her time in the wizarding world had been truly wonderful and expressed gratitude to casting director Lucy Bevan and the production team. 

HBO followed up with its own statement, offering full support for the family’s decision, thanking Cochrane for her work on the first season, and wishing her the best for the future.

This unexpected casting shake-up comes just seven months before the latest television adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books officially hits screens on Christmas 2026. 

The eight-episode debut season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will introduce a fresh-faced core cast led by 12-year-old Dominic McLaughlin as the titular young wizard, alongside Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy. 

Heavyweight acting talent like John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost are also confirmed to star.

Losing Cochrane at this stage is a significant hurdle for the showrunners, as Ginny Weasley’s character expands drastically in the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which will serve as the basis for the next block of episodes. 

Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, excitement for the series remains incredibly high, especially after HBO dropped its first teaser trailer on 25 March. 

The project has even received the ultimate blessing from original cinema star Daniel Radcliffe, who sent a sweet letter to McLaughlin wishing him well and telling him he hoped he had an even better time on set than he did. 

While McLaughlin admitted he went mad with excitement reading the note on a train, the production team must now focus on finding a new actress capable of stepping into Ginny’s shoes before cameras roll again.





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