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Jimmy Kimmel returns: DeNiro cameos as Disney decides to up its prices

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Timing is everything. Disney doesn’t seem to have learned that lesson. 

Jimmy Kimmel got justifiably emotional as he returned to air last night, assuring his audience that it was “never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” 

The late-night talk-show host, who was suspended “indefinitely” after making comments about the death of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, received several lengthy standing ovations as he kicked off Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the Disney-owned ABC network.  

“If you like me, like me, if you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind,” he said, adding: “But I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” 

“This show is not important,” said Kimmel. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” 

He’s not wrong and is in the majority, as a recent The Economist / YouGov poll found 68 per cent of Americans do not think it’s acceptable for the feds to pressure broadcasters to remove shows that include speech they disagree with. 

Kimmel spoke of his appreciation for the “freedom to speak”, admitting it was “something I’m embarrassed to say I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen off the air.”  

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was axed by CBS earlier this year

He called out the actions of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, highlighted the threats on First Amendment rights, and ironically showed a clip of Donald Trump saying the following: “If we don’t have free speech, then we just don’t have a free country. It’s as simple as that. If this most fundamental right is allowed to perish, then the rest of our rights and liberties will topple, just like dominoes, one by one, they’ll go down.” 

He also showed a clip of Trump on Air Force One saying that Kimmel had no ratings.  

“Well, I do tonight,” retorted Kimmel – a remark which was followed by a standing ovation. Referring to Trump, he added: “He did his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show.”

As for the full official ratings of last night’s show, they are currently unknown as of writing. It is worth mentioning that despite Kimmel returning to air, the late-night talk show will remain unavailable on some local networks after conservative media groups Nexstar Media and Sinclair both announced that they would continue to boycott the show. 

Per the New York Times, Nexstar and Sinclair own more than 20% of local ABC affiliate stations between them. 

“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the company shared on social media. 

Still, the episode aired and is partially available on YouTube – where it has currently garnered over 2.8 million views in the space of three hours.  

Then came that all-important timing.  

Actor Robert De Niro made a surprise appearance on the show in a skit mocking FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. 

It was appropriate, considering Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way” – a statement Republican Senator Ted Cruz said was “right out of Goodfellas.” 

“Pardon me for saying so, and maybe you’re the wrong guy to talk to, but it seems like the FCC is using mob tactics to suppress free speech,” Kimmel told De Niro – who was playing the role of a new FCC Chairman. 

De Niro responded: “ What the f*ck did you say to me?” 

The Oscar-winning actor continued with a profanity-laced rant, in which he talked about free speech: “Speech… it ain’t free no more. (…) Depends on what you want to say. Like if you want to say something nice about the president’s beautiful, thick, yellow hair or how he can do his makeup better than any broad, that’s free. But if you want to do a joke like he’s so fat he needs two seats on the Epstein jet, that’s gonna cost you.” 

Perfect timing.

Less perfect timing was Disney announcing that the cost of some of its various streaming service bundles will be increasing.  

Indeed, according to the Disney+ website, as of 21 October, the price of packages that include Disney+, Hulu and ESPN will be going up from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while the Disney+ Premium is rising from $15.99 to $18.99 per month. 

Considering the controversy around the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, which led to outrage with many customers threatening to cancel their subscriptions and celebrities recommending the cancelation of Disney subscriptions, price hikes may not be the way to go right now in order to undo some of the reputational damage caused.  

Meanwhile, Trump threatened to “test ABC” after the broadcaster allowed Kimmel to return, stating on Truth Social: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!” 

“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” Trump continued in his post. “He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this.” 

Trump added: “Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.” 

This is a reference to ABC previously settling with Trump in December, paying $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit, centered around anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.

While Trump denied all wrongdoing in the case, a jury found that Trump had defamed Carrol and was liable for battery.

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Giorgio Armani creations interplay with Italian masterpieces at new Milan exhibition

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“Giorgio Armani, Milano, for love’’ at the Brera Art Gallery opens today, mere weeks after the celebrated designer’s death at the age of 91.

Featuring 129 Armani looks from the 1980s through the present day, the exhibition places his creations among celebrated Italian masterpieces by such luminaries as Raphael and Caravaggio.

It is one of a series of Milan Fashion Week events that were planned before Armani’s death, to highlight his transformative influence on the world of fashion.

“From the start, Armani showed absolute rigor but also humility not common to great fashion figures,’’ said the gallery’s director Angelo Crespi. “He always said that he did not want to enter into close dialogue with great masterpieces, like Raphael, Mantegna, Caravaggio and Piero della Francesca.’’ 

Instead, the exhibition aims to create a symbiosis with the artworks, with the chosen looks reflecting the mood of each room without interrupting the flow of the museum experience – much the way Armani always intended his apparel to enhance and never overwhelm the individual.

A long blue asymmetrical skirt and bodysuit ensemble worn by Juliette Binoche at Cannes in 2016 neatly reflects the blue in Giovanni Bellini’s 1510 portrait “Madonna and Child”; a trio of underlit dresses glow on a wall opposite Raphael’s “The Marriage of the Virgin”; the famed soft-shouldered suit worn by Richard Gere in American Gigolo, arguably the garment that launched Armani to global fame, is set among detached frescoes by Donato Bramante. Every choice in the exhibition underscores the timelessness of Armani’s fashion. 

Armani himself makes a cameo, on a t-shirt in the final room, opposite the Brera’s emblematic painting “Il Bacio” by Francesco Hayez. 

“When I walk around, I think he would be super proud,’’ said Anoushka Borghesi, Armani’s global communications director. 

Armani’s fashion house confirmed a series of events this week that Armani himself had planned to celebrate his 50th anniversary. They include the announcement of an initiative to support education for children in six Southeast Asian, African and South American countries. The project, in conjunction with the Catholic charity Caritas, is named “Mariu’,’’ an affectionate nickname for Armani’s mother.

In a final farewell, the last Giorgio Armani collection signed by the designer will be shown in the Brera Gallery on Sunday, among looks he personally chose to represent his 50-year legacy.

“Giorgio Armani – 50 Years” opened to the public today at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, Italy. The exhibition lasts until 11 January 2026.

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The last day of doomsday: What is the viral ‘RaptureTok’ trend?

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If you’re reading this today, Wednesday 24 September 2025 could be the last day before the end of the world as you know it.

If you’re reading this tomorrow, you weren’t blipped out of existence and good luck with all the rebuilding. Please do better.

Confused? We’ve got you covered.

According to the more holy corners of TikTok, it has been prophesized that yesterday – or today, they couldn’t make their minds up on which one, so just go with it – is the day of the Rapture.

For the filthy heathens among you, that’s the long-awaited end-time event when Jesus Christ returns to Earth, resurrects all dead Christian disciples and brings all believers “to meet the Lord in the air.”

It wasn’t yesterday, clearly, so today’s the day… And turn off that R.E.M. song, this is serious.

This all stems from South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed that the Rapture will occur on 23 or 24 September 2025. Mhlakela said that this knowledge came directly from a dream he had in 2018, in which Jesus appeared to him. Mhlakela reiterated all of this on 9 September in an interview with CettwinzTV and since then, the prophecy has become a viral sensation on TikTok.

Many individuals on the social media platform have taken this literally and very seriously, with more than 350,000 videos appearing under the hashtag #rapturenow – leading to the trend / popular subsection dubbed ‘RaptureTok’. 

Some videos mock the prophecy, but you don’t have to scroll for too long to find those who are completely convinced that it’s happening today.

There’s advice on how to prepare; tips on what to remove from your house should certain objects contain “demonic energy”; and testimonies of people selling their possessions. One man, who goes by the name Tilahun on TikTok, shared a video last month, in which he said he was selling his car in preparation for the big day. “Car is gone just like the Brides of Christ will be in September,” he said.

One woman in North Carolina was live recording yesterday from the Blue Ridge Mountains, fervently keeping an eye on any holy activity in the sky. Another claimed that her 3-year-old started speaking in Hebrew, thereby confirming that it’s all legit. 

Some more distressing videos include American evangelicals saying goodbye to their children for the last time… We won’t share those, as they’re actually quite depressing.

It’s hard to completely blame TikTok users for wanting the final curtain to drop, as things aren’t going too great down here on Earth. That being said, it’s worth noting that the Bible never actually mentions the Rapture; it’s a relatively recent doctrine that originates from the early 1800s, one which has gained traction among fundamentalist theologians – specifically in the US, where everything is fine, civil conversation is alive and well, no one’s worried, and they’re all enjoying their “God-given freedoms”.

So, if the Rapture does come to pass, we here at Euronews Culture will be eating a whole concrete mixer full of humble pie. If it doesn’t, see you tomorrow, and do spare a thought for those who are going to be very disappointed on Thursday 25 September. 

And if extra-terrestrial beings followed Tara Rule’s advice (see below), thank you alien visitors for joining in on the fun. And if you could provide some much-needed guidance on how to do better, that would be grand.

Only a few more hours left to find out…

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‘Dawson’s Creek’ reunion sees James Van Der Beek make surprise appearance amid cancer battle

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The cast of the hit TV show Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003, came together earlier this week for a reunion charity event in New York City.  

The cast, including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, took the stage at the Richard Rodgers Theater on Monday evening to read the 1998 pilot episode.  

The evening was to raise money for F Cancer and James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson in the show. Van Der Beek, 48, was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year, and was unable to attend.

However, he shared that he had an understudy for the evening…

“I DO have an understudy. A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available),” he wrote. “Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient. The role of ‘Dawson,’ usually played by James Van Der Beek, will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can’t believe I just got to type that.” 

Additionally, a visibly moved Van Der Beek did appear on screen via video message. 

“I can’t believe I don’t get to hug my cast mates,” he said. “I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.” 

During the event, Van Der Beek’s wife Kimberly and the couple’s children joined the cast onstage to sing Paula Cole’s ‘I Don’t Want To Wait’, which served as the show’s theme song. 

Another surprise during the event was when Steven Spielberg – Dawson’s hero throughout the series – appeared on screen. Check out the director’s message below:

Van Der Beek has undergone chemotherapy and has continued to engage publicly, advocating for cancer awareness and the importance of early detection. He has promoted new screening options and teamed up with Guardant Health to raise awareness about colorectal cancer screening for people under 50.

The video message during the reunion show has sparked concern after fans noticed that the actor appeared visibly thinner compared to earlier public appearances.  

Messages of support flooded social media, with fans praising Van Der Beek’s resilience.

Elsewhere, Holmes and Jackson, who played Joey and Pacey respectively in Dawson’s Creek, are currently working together on a new project, Happy Hours

According to Deadline, the forthcoming trilogy is “a story about two people (played by Holmes and Jackson) navigating their relationship within the challenges of careers and family responsibilities and the pursuit of love, despite life’s inevitable obstacles. It’s a character-driven dramedy that explores the emotional journey of young loves who reconnect as adults, with the connective thread of shared joys, loss, and hope.” 

Holmes is directing, writing and starring in the movie – and the reunion between the two has sparked rumours about a possible romantic rekindling.  

Holmes and Jackson met in the 90s. They were an item and appeared close during the reunion evening. However, multiple sources clarified that Homes and Jackson aren’t back together and enjoy a longlasting and continuing friendship. 

Reflecting on the event, Holmes wrote on Instagram: “I will never find the words for what these three beautiful humans mean to me. For our shared journey. For our everlasting bond. James, Josh, Michelle… from April 1997 – I love you.” 

He added: “James, you got this. We got you. To everyone who supported us from the beginning and who continue to support James and his beautiful family, we thank you. Thank you for last night.”

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