Content creators are redefining live entertainment in Texas
Why it matters: Content creators are turning their fame into profitable, real-world fan engagement — and changing the live entertainment economy.
State of play: StubHub's most in-demand creator tour shows include Alex Cooper's "Unwell Tour," the "Crime Junkie" podcast tour and Mel Robbins' "Let Them" tour.
The ticket vendor says Texans represented the largest single-state fanbase for female-hosted podcast content.
Fun fact: Texas residents have no issue showing up to these events solo.
The Lone Star State led the nation in single ticket purchases, with about 7% more solo buyers than California.
Zoom in: While Cooper and Robbins haven't visited San Antonio recently, "Love Island" star Jeremiah Brown and YouTube group Any Means Possible (AMP) spent time in the city over the summer.
"Barstool Live" also recorded a live show at River North Icehouse during Final Four earlier this year.
Matt Rife, who first went viral on social media, has two comedy shows set for September at the Majestic Theatre.
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USA Today
4 minutes ago
- USA Today
Why is Melania Trump threatening to sue Hunter Biden? Here's her story on meeting Donald
First lady Melania Trump and former President Joe Biden's son are feuding over different accounts of how she met Donald Trump. Hunter Biden said in a YouTube interview published on Aug. 5 that late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose controversy has roiled the Trump administration for weeks, introduced Donald Trump to the woman who would become his third wife. The first lady on Aug. 6 threatened to sue for more than $1 billion if he didn't retract the claim, and Biden said in a follow up video, 'F--- that. That's not going to happen." Biden in the second video published Aug. 14 pointed to 2019 news reports that Epstein was claiming he introduced the couple. But Melania Trump's account of how they met goes back to a September 1998 meeting at a New York City nightclub. Here is how she says she met her husband before his political rise to power. 'Melania' excerpt tells her story: 'Hi, I'm Donald Trump.' The first lady posted an excerpt from her memoir "Melania" on social media in July, telling the story of how she met her now husband. Chapter 5: 'Hi, I'm Donald Trump.' On a Friday night in September 1998, as I settled into the comfort of my New York City apartment after a whirlwind trip to Paris, my phone rang. It was a friend of mine. 'My boyfriend is throwing a party at the Kit Kat Klub tomorrow night,' she said. 'Please come. We haven't seen each other in so long.' 'I just got back from Paris,' I said. 'Please, it will be fun. A lot of people will be there. We'll pick you up.' While I was tired and jetlagged, I loved the idea that my weekend was about to be filled with the company of friends. I have always been selective in how I choose to spend my time and where I put my energy. A late-night party at the club was not my top choice for a Saturday evening. I much preferred staying in, watching a film, or going to dinner with close friends. Though I didn't shy away from social gatherings, clubs were simply not my cup of tea. I accepted the invitation anyway; after all, it was Fashion Week — a time of glamour and sophistication. I was actually looking forward to mingling with industry insiders and trendsetters. When I stepped into the sleek black limo my friend arrived in, I felt like a celebrity en route to a gala. As we arrived at the Kit Kat Klub, the energy of the crowd and the dazzling lights greeted us. Inside, the dark, crowded space buzzed with models, photographers, editors, and designers mingling in this Fashion Week Saturday night. I settled in upstairs at our table in the VIP section, where the atmosphere was one of sophistication and camaraderie. Some guests danced, while others engaged in lively conversation, and we were all enjoying ourselves. I saw my friend wave at someone behind me. When I turned around, I noticed a man and an attractive blonde woman approaching us. 'Hi, I'm Donald Trump,' the man said when he reached my table. 'Nice to meet you.' I recognized the name, and I knew he was a businessman or celebrity, but not much else. He put his hand out to shake mine. 'Hello,' I replied. 'I'm Melania.' His eyes filled with curiosity and interest, and, seizing the opportunity, he took the seat next to mine and started a conversation. He asked me about my time in New York, my Slovenian home, and my world travels. It was a moment of connection, a brief encounter that left a lasting impression. It was nice to make a new acquaintance. He was accompanied by a beautiful date, so I initially dismissed our conversation as mere pleasantries exchanged at an industry event. The music was loud, and the crowd boisterous, making it difficult to truly connect with someone. From the moment our conversation began, I was captivated by his charm and easygoing nature. There was so much bustling activity around us, but his intent focus on our interaction made me feel like the center of his world. It was a refreshing departure from the usual superficial small talk, and I found myself drawn to his magnetic energy. What did Hunter Biden say about Melania Trump? Hunter Biden said that Epstein introduced President Donald Trump and Melania Trump. In an appearance on YouTube show Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan, Biden gave a lengthy interview that discussed his father's disatrous debate performance and other topics, in addition to Epstein. 'They spent an enormous amount of time together," Biden said of the president and Epstein in his interview with Callaghan. "That's how Melania, and the first lady and the president met. Yeah, according to Michael Wolff," he said referring to the author of several Trump books. Trump's association with Epstein, whom he knew socially, has dogged him since his first term in office. In 2019, Trump said he'd had a 'falling out' with Epstein, whom he described as a 'Palm Beach fixture,' in the mid-2000s. Their connection was back in the spotlight when Tesla CEO Elon Musk linked Trump to Epstein during the height of their feud. Biden cited news going back to 2019 that "reported that sources said that Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be the person to introduce Donald Trump to Melania at that time.' Melania Trump threatens legal action over Biden's claims On Aug. 6, the first lady threatened to sue Biden for more than $1 billion if he doesn't retract the claim. The legal notice by Alejandro Brito, the first lady's lawyer, demands that Biden "immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump." Donald Trump said he encouraged his wife's legal action against Biden. "Jeffrey Epstein had nothing to do with Melania," Trump said August. 14, during an interview with Fox Radio's Brian Kilmeade. "But they do that to demean. I told her to go ahead and do it. She was very upset about it." Other outlets have also received notices from Melania Trump's lawyer over similar claims and issued apologies and retractions. But Biden doesn't seem poised to back down. 'I don't think that these threats of a lawsuit add up to anything other than a designed distraction, because it's not about who introduced whom to who,' Biden said. 'I don't know how that in any way rises to the level of defamation to begin with.' Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
35 minutes ago
Giada De Laurentiis accuses Mario Batali of making sexist comments in foreword of her 1st cookbook
Before the age of social media, Giada De Laurentiis helped create the blueprint for modern culinary multi-hyphenate women as a Food Network host, cookbook author and chef. But she says her road to success wasn't without adversity behind the scenes. In the most recent episode of Samah Dada's YouTube series, "On The Menu," De Laurentiis opened up about an emotional incident she claims involved fellow chef Mario Batali more than 23 years ago, during her early days as the host of "Everyday Italian." "This is a person we're not supposed to talk about, but we're going to," De Laurentiis said in the July 29 episode. "I remember from my first cookbook, 'Everyday Italian,' asking Mario Batali for a foreword. Because he's really the main guy I had worked with, he's a legend in the Italian space. Of course we know what happened afterwards, but in that time, he was. And I felt like his stamp of approval would have been huge for me." "He said he would, and then he wrote it," she continued. "And when I read it, I cried, because I realized, ah, he's basically saying that I've gotten to where I've gotten and had this little bit of success that I had because I have big boobs, and that if he had boobs, he would even be much further ... because I'm like a joke, right? Like, to him, it was like a little bit of a joke." De Laurentiis said she called her editor, Pam Krauss of Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, "in tears." "I was like, 'Clearly I can't use this, so now what do I do?'" she recalled. De Laurentiis claims Krauss told her they would "rewrite" the foreword and send it back to Batali "just for approval," which she said they did. "But I will never forget," she said, referring to Batali's alleged original foreword. "That's basically what a lot of people figured. Cute girl with big boobs, and so that's why they're watching her. And that's why she's successful." ABC News has reached out to Krauss for confirmation of De Laurentiis' account. Batali, who rose to fame as the host of Food Network's "Molto Mario" from 1996 to 2004 and as co-host of the former ABC daytime cooking show "The Chew" from 2011 to 2017, came under public scrutiny after being accused of sexual misconduct in December 2017, amid the #MeToo movement. Four women accused Batali of inappropriate touching, which prompted him to take a leave of absence from both his restaurant business and "The Chew" that year. In a statement immediately following the initial of sexual misconduct accusations, Batali said he was "so very sorry" for disappointing his friends, family, co-workers and fans, adding at the time, "My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility." Batali was eventually terminated from the "The Chew," which was canceled in June 2018, and he sold his restaurant holdings a year later. In a statement at the time of Batali's termination from "The Chew," ABC said, "While we remain unaware of any type of inappropriate behavior involving him and anyone affiliated with our show, ABC takes matters like this very seriously as we are committed to a safe work environment and his past behavior violates our standards of conduct." Batali was later accused of sexual assault by several other women, and in 2018, the New York City Police Department confirmed it had opened criminal investigations for two separate sexual assault allegations against Batali, one of which was reported on "60 Minutes" that same year. In a statement to ABC News at the time, Batali said in part, "I vehemently deny any allegations of sexual assault. My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions." The NYPD ultimately declined to file charges in those cases, stating that they could not find enough evidence to make an arrest. In 2022, in the only case involving Batali that went to trial, he was found not guilty of indecent assault and battery, in connection with a 2017 incident in Boston. Batali has maintained that he is not guilty of the allegations in that case. De Laurentiis stepped away from Food Network in 2023 after 21 years. She has written and published 11 cookbooks, founded an Italian e-commerce market and lifestyle brand, Giadzi, and most recently returned on-camera with the new Amazon Prime series "Giada in My Kitchen." Dada thanked De Laurentiis on social media Tuesday for sharing a "powerful conversation" with her during their July 29 interview and for "being so vulnerable and personal." The post, which featured a clip from the interview, has amassed millions of views, thousands of likes and hundreds of comments combined across TikTok and Instagram.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Will Taylor Swift be at Travis Kelce's preseason game vs. Seahawks?
It's getting to be that time again. Travis Kelce continues to play NFL games in 2025, and his girlfriend Taylor Swift has had some time to cheer him on at Kansas City Chiefs games. She was there a few last season, including playoff games and -- of course -- the Super Bowl. MORE: Photos of Taylor Swift going through all the emotions for Chiefs-Texans So the question is: will she be there for the Chiefs' second preseason matchup on Friday between the Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks? Given that it's a preseason game and that it's on the road -- remember, Swift didn't attend road games last season -- it's probably a no for this one, even though they were together for the epic New Heights podcast we all loved. But we'll see!
