Reuters Entertainment News Summary
Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.
Elton John delivers message of tolerance at first, last Montreux show
Elton John made his first and last appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival on Saturday, delivering a slick and energetic performance that ended with a message of tolerance and love. The British singer's 2-1/2-hour show, part of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour begun last year, opened with "Bennie and the Jets", followed by early 1970s hits including "Tiny Dancer", "Rocket Man" and "Your Song".
Rapper Nipsey Hussle and accused killer talked about snitching before shooting: media
Rapper Nipsey Hussle and the man accused of killing him talked about "snitching" before the rap star was shot dead, according to court documents released Thursday, media reports said. The more than 500 pages of grand jury testimony released by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge contain the first chronology of the March 31 attack in which Hussle, 33, was shot multiple times and two others were wounded by gunfire.
Stormzy becomes first UK rapper to headline Glastonbury
Stormzy made history as the first British rapper to headline Glastonbury on Friday, bringing his experience of black urban life to the world's biggest greenfield music festival in a performance that had the capacity crowd jumping. The 25-year-old Londoner, whose debut album was released only two years ago, told the audience: "This is the greatest night of my entire life."
Glastonbury's plastic bottle ban tested by hot weather
Britain's Glastonbury Festival is greener and cleaner after banning the sale of single-use plastic bottles in the hope of inspiring long-term change - even in the middle of a heatwave that forced some music fans to queue for water. Ticket holders were encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles or to buy a metal canister, which could be refilled at water stations around the site.
Cuba legalizes independent movie-making
Cuba's Communist government on Thursday issued a decree legalizing the country's independent movie industry in a move that should facilitate production, although critics said it fails to resolve issues of censorship and distribution. Until now, Cuba's independent filmmakers have had to scramble to get their projects made due to the lack of legal recognition. And while their works have sometimes won renown in film festivals abroad, they have lacked distribution at home.
Lady Gaga fires up LGBTQ rally for Stonewall anniversary
Lady Gaga electrified thousands of revelers who gathered in New York on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ rights movement, exhorting the crowd to honor the past by using its "power" to extend and defend a half-century of progress. Her warm-up speech and a subsequent rally, part of a series of World Pride events in New York this week, commemorated the so-called Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969.
Putin says 'genius musician' Elton John mistaken on Russia LGBT rights
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Elton John was "mistaken" about LGBT rights in Russia, while praising the British singer as a musical genius. Elton John said on Friday he was deeply upset by Putin's comment that liberal values were "obsolete" and had been rejected by the majority of people in Western nations.