Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez says challenging “Kiss of the Spider Woman” role is something she’s “wanted to do my whole life”
Jennifer Lopez says her latest project, a musical film exploring an unlikely bond between a transgender character and a political revolutionary, arrives at a moment when a message of acceptance is necessary.
“I think it’s necessary because the world is in a place where there’s a lot of hate … there’s a demonization of like the Latino community, of the queer community….and I think, you know, we need to remind each other that love is the answer – not hate,” Lopez told “CBS Mornings” co-anchor Gayle King about the new film, “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” which hits theaters Friday.
Lopez said she was “immediately floored” when she read the script for the film by writer and director Bill Condon, known for his work on “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls.” The movie is based on a 1970s novel by Manuel Puig, which Lopez described as being far ahead of its time.
The story’s central message focuses on a transgender character and a cisgender political revolutionary who come from completely different worlds but, through extraordinary circumstances, come to recognize each other’s humanity and develop a deep bond.
“I thought to myself: this is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” she said.
Playing three “very different characters”
Lopez said the last time she felt that same thrill was when she was preparing for her star role in “Selena.” In “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Lopez plays three different versions of the same woman.
“They’re the same person, but they’re three very different iterations of this woman and they’re all very different characters and they have very different looks as well. And that was fun. But I think the essence of who they were was very different, but still the same. And I think that was the challenge,” Lopez explained.
Lopez said the film’s core message is about seeing past differences.
“When you forget about all those things, if you forget about somebody’s political views and you forget, we’re all entitled to our opinions about everything and our ways of thinking, and even, you know, from where we grew up and where we’re from all over the world. But the truth is, we’re all human, we’re all the same. And if we can just see that we can allow people to be who they are and love each other anyway,” she said.
She also spoke about her character, Ingrid Luna, who appears in one musical sequence. In that scene, Ingrid helps another character escape the harsh reality of prison through a fantasy-like performance. The number, titled “Where You Are,” serves as an emotional moment of release, inviting the character to forget his surroundings and find comfort through imagination.
“And I think that’s what art and music and movies…films do for people. You know, and especially in difficult times of their life, I know for me, it definitely has been that way,” Lopez said.
Bad Bunny and the power of music
Lopez and Shakira headlined the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV halftime show, with a special guest performance from Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny during a rendition of “I Like it.”
As Bad Bunny now prepares to take the NFL’s biggest stage for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show, Lopez is sharing her appreciation for the artist as he encourages people to learn Spanish. She said the message behind his performance, much like her new film, centers on love and openness, encouraging people not to close themselves off to new experiences.
“Music and art transcends language. It doesn’t matter,” she said. “And he’s done that probably more than anybody of any generation he really has.”
Lopez said the Super Bowl gives artists a rare opportunity to reach new audiences and show who they are.
“It’s about not having so many ideas and closing yourself off to experiences that you might be missing out on something wonderful. Don’t do that to yourself. That’s what I would say,” she said.
She praised a moment when Bad Bunny brought singer Marc Anthony, the father of Lopez’s children, onstage during a concert in Puerto Rico.
“It couldn’t have been a more perfect moment. And I didn’t even see it. I know it was perfect– God didn’t let me see it, because I would’ve exploded. I would’ve died,” Lopez said.
For Lopez, it’s always important to keep her mind and heart open, telling King she still considers herself a “hopeful romantic” – the term she told King she preferred over “hopeless romantic” in an interview in 2022.
“100%. 100%. And the more self aware I become with the lessons that I learn and the hardships that I go through, the more I feel whole and complete on my own, the more I become hopeful for that same type of person to come into my life,” said Lopez. “The more I know the more, you know, that type of person will come into my life. Yeah. And so I’m excited for everything in the future.”
Entertainment
Who’s Sienna Rose? Olivia Dean’s rival or a digital phantom—here’s what you need to know
A mysterious singer is buzzing on social media whom many believe might be a phantom, as she has already amassed over three million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Soul singer Sienna Rose took the music scene by storm with her muggy hits, leaving fans praising her ‘melodious’ and ‘captivating’ voice.
Sienna Rose, one of Spotify’s most-listened-to artists, as been revealed to be nothing more than an AI-made-up persona, despite the fact that she had earned £2,000 a day through their streams.
But despite earning comparisons to UK chart-topper Olivia Dean, it’s now been revealed that Sienna’s voice, image, and songs are all AI-generated, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Spotify continued to host Sienna’s music without any disclaimer about her authenticity.
According to The Sun, she is now believed to be the creation of the same individual behind a popular AI reggae act called Babylon Burn, which boasts 756,000 listeners monthly on Spotify.
Let’s find out what the buzzing is about, Sienna Rose?
Sienna dropped her six-track EP in September last year, titled Velvet Embrace, followed by an eight-track project the very next month and a nine-track extended player in November called The Shape of Tenderness.
Fans, despite the doubts over authenticity, are buzzing with her captivating music.
Sienna continued her streak of hit tracks by releasing a ten-track ‘debut album’ Honey On The Moon in December.
The synopsis read: ‘Inspired by the analogue texture of 1960s soul yet rooted in today’s sound, Sienna’s music feels cinematic and deeply personal.
Every note she sings carries a sense of truth and beauty, making Sienna Rose not just a performer, but a storyteller of the heart.’
The publication also revealed the name behind this phantom on Spotify as Robert Lancaster but didn’t mention any further details.
Although Spotify did confirm to the Daily Mail that a wide range of acts use AI to make music, meaning policing its use and labeling their content can prove difficult.
How does Spotify deal with AI artists?
The outlet further added, while incorporating the version of Spotify: ‘AI is a fast-moving shift for the entire music industry, and it’s not always possible to draw a simple line between ‘AI’ and ‘non-AI’ music.’
Spotify, the music streaming platform, clarified its stance over AI-generated music content, stating, “Spotify is focused on the actions that guard harmful AI use cases, including removing spam and deceptive content, strengthening enforcement against impersonation and unauthorized voice cloning, and supporting industry-standard AI disclosures in music credits.”
Teen phenom Andreeva has clinched the 2026 Adelaide International all-teen clash for the fourth straight time.
Andreeva defeated Victoria Mboko by 6-3, 6-1 in the final to win her first WTA 500 title.
It was Andreeva’s 12th win of the last 13 games to capture the 2026 Adelaide title.
After the victory, Andreeva said during the trophy presentation ceremony, “Hello everyone, First, of course, I’m going to say congrats to Vicky and her team. You have been playing amazing since last year, and I just want to congratulate you for the great week.
She quipped at her own team, saying, “I don’t know, I guess my team comes next. But I do feel like it was all me. I don’t know what I can. I’ve been working, sweating, and I don’t know why you’re here, honestly.”
The world No. 8 showed to the world at the Adelaide final that it’s not about how you begin, but how you end.
As was evident from her spectacular display of the game, after she had dropped the first three games but won nine straight between the first and second sets to continue to a straight-sets victory over Victoria Mboko, she clinched her fourth career crown.
Buzzing with triumph, the teen phenom shared a post-match montage post.
In a lyrical two-line couplet, she was seen saying, “Mirra, Mirra on the wall, I’m the champion of Adelaide after all.”
Who is Mirra Andreeva?
Mirra Andreeva is the eighth-seeded player, who was born in Krasnoyarsk, the third-largest city in Siberia.
Mirra Andreeva started playing tennis when she was six years old. Both the sisters relocated to Sochi, Russia, and then Cannes, France, to set up a training base with coaches Jean-Rene Lisnard and Jean-Christophe Faurel.
Andreeva is the sister of Erika Anderson, who is also a professional tennis player.
Andreeva won her debut WTA Tour title in Romania in July 2024 and her second in Dubai in February 2025 before securing her third straight win in Indian Wells in March 2025.
After a historic victory in the 2026 Adelaide International on January 17, Mirra Andreeva is set to head to the Australian Open for her next big challenge, starting tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, 2026.
- Rodriguez reshuffles cabinet after US-backed transition in Venezuela.
- US pressure mounts as Venezuela drops Maduro ally Alex Saab.
- US deportation flight returns Venezuelans after Maduro ouster.
Venezuela’s interim president on Friday dismissed businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, from his post as minister of industry.
In a Telegram message, Delcy Rodriguez announced the ministry would be combined with a commerce ministry and thanked Saab — a Colombian-born Venezuelan — “for his service to the Homeland; he will be taking on new responsibilities.”
The change comes amid pressure from Washington following the January 3 US military raid that ousted Maduro.
Saab, released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States, was appointed to office in 2024 by Maduro.
He had been arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 due to an Interpol notice over accusations that he had served as a money launderer for the socialist leader.
He was subsequently extradited to the US, where he and his business partner Alvaro Pulido were charged with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela.
Saab’s dismissal is among the latest key changes to Venezuela’s government by Rodriguez since the US capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, meanwhile, said her country is starting a “true transition” to democracy and will become free with support from the United States and President Donald Trump.
Trump, however, has sidelined Nobel laureate Machado and backed former vice president Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the seizure of Maduro.
“We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said during an event in Washington, adding that this will have an “immense impact on the lives of all Venezuelans” as well as around the region and the world.
“Venezuela is going to be free, and that’s going to be achieved with the support of the people of the United States and the president, Donald Trump,” Machado said.
Her party has presented evidence that Maduro stole the 2024 election — claims supported by Washington and much of the international community.
But Trump has said that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans, and opted to stick with Rodriguez so long as she toes the line on US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Machado said Friday that Rodriguez is “following orders” rather than acting of her own will.
The opposition leader’s remarks came a day after US Central Intelligence Agency chief John Ratcliffe met Rodriguez in Caracas.
Ratcliffe travelled to Venezuela to “deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship,” a US administration official said on condition of anonymity.
Nobel medal
In an indication of that improved relationship, a US deportation flight carrying 231 Venezuelans landed in Caracas on Friday, the first since Maduro’s overthrow.
Trump has made cracking down on undocumented immigrants a major part of his second term, carrying out sweeping immigration raids and deporting migrants.
Machado, 58, on Thursday presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in a bid to win over the US president.
“He deserves it,” she said. “And it was a very emotional moment, I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.”
It was not immediately clear if Trump — who said Friday that he and Machado will “be talking again” — kept the award following their White House lunch. The Norwegian Nobel Committee says its prizes cannot be transferred.
Trump had campaigned hard to win last year’s prize, falsely claiming that he stopped eight wars since taking office, but it went to Machado instead.
Trump and Rodriguez had their first telephone call on Wednesday and the White House said he “likes what he’s seeing” from her.
Rodriguez said, however, that her government will stand up to Washington.
“We know they are very powerful… we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue,” she said Thursday.
Rodriguez was delivering Maduro’s state of the nation address to parliament while the long-time authoritarian leader is in a New York jail facing drug trafficking charges.
By contrast, Machado, who campaigned for years to end leftist Maduro’s rule, was greeted by jubilant supporters in Washington.
Who’s Sienna Rose? Olivia Dean’s rival or a digital phantom—here’s what you need to know
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