February 24, 2025

About the author  ⁄ MTV News

Amanda Bynes’ Wild Week Was Anything But ‘All That’

In a virtual life that has already raised eyebrows — from sexually charged flirting with rapper Drake to unpredictable sensitivity about which photos of her are used by media outlets — former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes upped the ante this week with a series of provocative photos and beefs that drew concern from fans and friends alike.

Bynes kicked the week off by posting a new series of selfies of her half-shaved head, seemingly taken at a gym, followed by a sudden change of heart about Drizzy, who she'd previously wished would .

On Tuesday, she took a veiled shot at the rapper, writing that she was "loving" his "far apart eyes." Just a short time later, Bynes uploaded a side-by-side image of herself and the MC with the message "@drakes kinda ugly huh?"

@drakes kinda ugly huh? on Twitpic

Bynes, 27, who appears to be taking her fashion cues from hardcore femcee Blac Chyna, threw a couple more shots at the Young Money star before moving on to a series of provocative bathroom shots in which she was wearing just a bra and leggings. "About to put on makeup!" she wrote on Wednesday. "I weigh 135, I've gained weight! I need to [be] 100 lbs.!"

That series of three lingerie snaps drew more than 700,000 views, just under the total for the topless photos she uploaded on Thursday with her hands covering her ample assets. What followed was a series of topless images in ...

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‘Iron Man 3’: Where Does It Rank In The Marvel Cinematic Universe?

The seventh movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be packing theaters all weekend long as it blasts its way toward a possibly record-breaking opening weekend.

The film is packed with more twists and turns than previous Marvel movies, with certain plot points offering up some of the biggest surprises in the franchise's history. But the specter of "Marvel's The Avengers" hangs over both Iron Man and "Iron Man 3." Tony Stark is haunted by the preceding film's alien invasion, while the film tries its hardest to differentiate itself by getting more personal.

But when the smoke clears and the armor is plugged in to charge, where does "Iron Man 3" rank? Is it the best of the "Iron Man" trilogy? Does it come close to "The Avengers"? Do Captain America, Hulk or Thor's solo films give it a run for its money? We rounded up a panel of specialists to put "Iron Man 3" in its place.

"It's a return to form after the stuttered, wandering second movie, and stands up to 'The Avengers.' Tony Stark's not even bothering with a suit anymore — Iron Man has become a collection of bits and pieces which whizz onto him at random, seemingly of their own choice. His villains, as well, are scattered and impossible to predict and piece together, whilst his only constants — Pepper, his mind and, uh, alcohol — all come and go. But these disparate, complicated parts of the story are welded together fearsomely by Shane Black, whose script and direction keeps the Iron Man in fine form, ...

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Penn Badgley Returns To His First Passion With ‘Greetings From Tim Buckley’

After six seasons on The CW's "Gossip Girl" — which concluded with the revelation that his character Dan Humphrey was actually the titular female blogger — actor Penn Badgley is breaking from the tony Upper East Side with his biopic in which he portrays musician Jeff Buckley.

The film opens a small window onto the life of Buckley, who died at the age of 30, accidentally drowning in Tennessee's Wolf River. "Greetings" takes place over about a week-long period as the younger Buckley prepares to perform at a tribute concert for his father, Tim, who was a celebrated figure in the folk music world and also died at a young age (28 years old).

The role is a departure for Badgley, who not only flexes his acting muscles but also his vocal cords. And it was a project that held special significance for the 26-year-old.

"Jeff was a certain kind of influence on me when I was a teenager," Badgley told MTV News. "I grew up being really passionate about music to the point that I would call it my first passion over acting, so you know, it was somebody who I respected and admired."

Badgley was particularly buoyed by the fact that the film didn't sensationalize the life of a man he so admired and respected.

"It was a story being told in an incredibly delicate and artful way, respectful way, not exploiting his tragic end or anything of that kind of typical mythic rock-star stuff," he said. "And as an actor I was thinking, I really want to do ...

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Thirty Seconds To Mars Release Epic, Elemental ‘Conquistador’ Lyric Video

Thirty Seconds To Mars have already proven that they're capable of elevating the usually staid "lyric video" to new heights — both literally and figuratively — with their epic, aptly-named clip.

And now, they're carrying on that loft tradition with another text-based video, this one for the LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS track "Conquistador." Like the "Air" video, this one relies exclusively on stunning, wide-screen imagery — swirling storm-fronts and tidal surges, driving rain and crackling lightning, animals straining in slo-motion — though this one isn't quite as ephemeral. Instead, it's powerful, primal pounding along in time with the song's massive guitars, stabbing strings and thundering drums.

"This is a fight to the death!" Jared Leto declares on the chorus, and as the song crashes and careens around him, that sentiment seems oddly fitting. And when paired with the elemental imagery, the point is driven home with the subtlety of a sledgehammer: This is Thirty Seconds To Mars at their biggest, their baddest ... and anyone who's a fan of the band knows that's no small statement, either.

After watching the "Up in the Air" lyric video, we declared it to be "as good as any actual music video you're likely to see any time soon." And then Mars followed that up with the equally-epic Will "Conquistador" get the same wide-screen treatment? We can't say for sure ... though, based on this lyric clip alone, it certainly deserves it.

...

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Vanessa Hudgens Sells ‘$$$ex’ In New Video: Watch Now!

Vanessa Hudgens invited fans on a neon-colored fever dream in and she's keeping the aesthetic alive in her just-released music video for featuring L.A. girl group YLA.

While the video never enters Harmony Korine levels of naughtiness, the clip (co-directed by the actress) is a spectacle of grainy footage, bright colors, quick shots, funky effects, flashing lights and pretty ladies. The video's '90s rave-culture vibe certainly mimics the grinding Rock Mafia-produced dance track, which features vocals from Hudgens as well as YLA.

For Hudgens' part, she's singing the provocative tune to camera, her dark hair pulled back. She's wearing a midriff-baring black tank and a thick gold choker, lip-synching lines like "Can't you feel my hot sex" before it all breaks down into a musical mess of synths and beats.

"The video is '90s-inspired, gritty, with a vision of crazy lights and colors. It's so different than everything else out there. I love it!" she told E! News about the clip, which she shot in a friend's basement in Manhattan Beach, California.

One of the girls in YLA, Laura New, also happens to be friends with Hudgens, giving her pal's vision two thumbs up. "We all wanted a retro feel to it," New said. "Then Vanessa had some really great ideas, and we all went for it. ... She got behind the camera and was fixing lights and made it happen."

While Hudgens has focused on acting the past few years, the actress seems to be making the move back to singing since releasing "Spring Breakers" in ...

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Psy Breaks Down ‘Gentleman’ Video, Frame By Frame

By now, you've heard Psy complain that the week he released his smash hit was ever" and call himself in the music video.

But you probably don't know the backstory behind the video itself ... and, frankly, neither did we. So we sat down with Psy as he watched the "Gentleman" clip, and broke it down for us, frame-by-frame. And right off the bat, he shared what he believes to the the true secret to its success.

"This is the first time I've gotten to say my reaction to my video, and, wow, he's an a--hole. And he thinks he's sexy," Psy laughed. "[It's] so stupid. And now, we're dancing at the library, [so it's] stupid in a row. I love that!"

Stupidity aside, there are plenty of nods to his other huge hit, — "We shot this in multiple shops, and they are all in [the] Gangnam [District]," Psy said — and the Korean music scene ... including the inclusion of the so-called "Arrogant Dance" made popular by K-Pop group Brown Eyed Girls.

"The dance is called 'Arrogant Dance,' and it's a dance plus an attitude. It's new moves to the world, but in Korea, a girl group did it before, and it was very famous," Psy explained. "So I thought 'Oh, we have a lot of catchy moves in K-Pop, so I can remake it and bring it to the world.' The group's name was Brown Eyed Girls, and one of the girls is in this video."

And while "Gentleman" doesn't feature quite as many, ...

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One Direction, Selena Gomez Top ‘Today,’ ‘GMA’ Summer Concert Lineups

Things are heating up this summer as the "Today" show and "Good Morning America" line up their respective summer concert series, continuing the battle for ratings supremacy.

The "Today Show" summer concert series is about to get a little more Fun. The rockers are confirmed to kick off the annual festivities on May 24. And one week later, the Package Tour will hit the stage with the New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men.

In June, Maroon 5, Hunter Hayes and Phillip Phillips will all grace "Today." The following month, John Mayer, Musical March Madness winner Ed Sheeran and Fall Out Boy are slated to perform.

August is when things get even more star-studded. One Direction will once again perform on the show on August 23, just in time for the August 30 release of their 3-D film, "This Is Us." One week later, Chris Brown will perform on the show on August 30, closing out the lineup.

But, "Good Morning America" is offering up some counter-programming, enlisting divas to play the show taking place in Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Mariah Carey will kick it off on May 24. One week later, Pitbull, will take the stage. And then "X Factor" stars Little Mix and Emblem3 will tag team on June 7. Carly Rae Jepsen will appear on the show on June 14.

Former Disney star, Demi Lovato, who will release her album Demi on May 14, will perform on the show on June28. Imagine Dragons are down for July 5. Meanwhile Jennifer ...

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AraabMUZIK ‘Alive And Well’ After Shooting

Hip-hop producer and MPC maestro Abraham Orellana, better known as AraabMUZIK, is "currently alive and well" as he recovers in a local hospital after being shot Wednesday during an attempted robbery in his native Providence, Rhode Island. Orellana's ... ...

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‘Iron Man 3’ Blasts Through Fan Expectations

Ever since the Avengers beat back an invading army of villainous aliens, fans have been clamoring for more big-screen Marvel action. And now, after a year of highly analyzed trailers and heavily scrutinized plot points, "Iron Man 3" has landed in the... ...

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