Holly to Bolly: Mariah Carey says she was ‘foiled’ at NYE disaster gig, Mark Wahlberg to work with Justin Bieber, and more

Mariah Carey says she was ‘foiled’ at NYE disaster gig

Ahead of her forthcoming UAE concert, Mariah Carey has spoken out blaming producers for her bungled performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, saying “they foiled me”. Carey says on her Twitter page that the show’s production team had technical issues and her ear monitors didn’t work. Carey stopped singing during her live New Year’s Eve set as pre-recorded vocals continued to play behind her. “Thus it turned into an opportunity to humiliate me and all those who were excited to ring in the new year with me,” she says in the 90-minute long audio statement posted on Sunday (January 8). “My feelings are hurt, but I’m working through this,” she adds. She goes on to say that she plans to take a break from “media moments and social-media moments” as she prepares for her upcoming tour, a double header alongside Lionel Richie which begins in March. Which means all eyes are likely to be on Carey’s earlier return to the stage, at the one-off solo show at Dubai Jazz Festival on February 23. – AP/IANS

Rogue One shoots down box office foes for fourth week

Rogue One, the latest chapter in the Star Wars saga, kept the box office force for the fourth consecutive week, industry estimates for North America showed on Sunday. The Disney film, which received its regional premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival in December, is the first stand-alone episode in the eight-film series, and follows the mission of rebel alliance fighters trying to steal plans to the Empire's feared Death Star. The movie pulled in US$22 million [Dh80m] at the weekend in North America, according to box office monitor Exhibitor Relations, bringing its four-week total to $477.3m [Dh1,750m]. – AFP

Eminem made Kendrick Lamar prove he didn’t have ghostwriter

Rap royal Eminem once made Kendrick Lamar prove that he did not employ a ghostwriter, with a live rapping “test” at his studio, singer Ed Sheeran has claimed. Sheeran originally heard the story from producer Rick Rubin, and shared it with others during an interview on the Zach Sang Show, reported femalefirst.co.uk. “Eminem heard that Kendrick Lamar was the best rapper and he invited him to the studio to get him on a song,” Sheeran said.

“He arrived and Kendrick came with all his mates and Eminem said: ‘I just want you in the studio, just you on your own and then my engineer is gonna come in and then record you doing it, but your mates aren’t allowed in’,” he added.

Lamar agreed to do as asked and wrote a verse. “Everyone came in to listen to it and Eminem said that he did it to test Lamar because he thought he had a ghostwriter,” Sheeran said. – IANS

Trisha brings in 2017 with Tamil remake of NH10

Actress Trisha Krishnan began the New Year by resuming work on Tamil film Garjanai, a remake of Anushka Sharma-starrer road thriller NH10.

“And 2017 officially began with Garjanai. Back to work,” Trisha tweeted yesterday (Sunday January 8). Directed by debutant Sundar B, the film also stars Amit Bhargav and Vamsi Krishna. On the career front, Trisha has an interesting line-up of films this year. Apart from Garjanaia, she will also perform in Sathuranga Vettai 2, 96 and Mohini. – IANS

Mark Wahlberg to work with Justin Bieber?

In a partnership that few would have seen coming, actor Mark Wahlberg seems to be hinting at a new project with Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer Justin Bieber.

During his appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday (January 7), the actor said he had a "Canadian fellow" over for a family dinner, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Wahlberg was asked about his 13-year-old daughter Ella. “I had a very successful friend who was there, and she’s a big fan. We invited him over for dinner,” Wahlberg said. “It’s a young man who’s been (on Ellen’s show) before. He’s a very nice young man, Canadian fellow.”

The 58-year host concluded: “So Justin Bieber is sitting there – are you going to work together?” Wahlberg cryptically replied: “Maybe”.

While it’s unclear what kind of project he’d like to work on with Bieber, he later did confirm that he would not be working on “any music”. – IANS