Latest news with #DaveChappelle
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
George Floyd Square gardener reflects on 5 years of cultivating memorial
Sunday marks five years since the police murder of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests and a racial justice movement. Members of Floyd's family on Friday joined a crowd in a moment of silence, just steps from where he drew his last breath in south Minneapolis. A man who tends the garden at the intersection where Floyd was murdered hopes something good can grow from painful memories. "This is our response: beauty for ashes," said Jay Webb. Out of the ashes of the uprising after the murder of Floyd, this garden in the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue stands. Jay Webb WCCO "Sometimes you do things and it's revealed to you later, you just got to step out on faith," Webb said. Webb decided a garden was needed. "It's for everyone that's ever fallen to injustice," said Webb. And for five years he has tilled this land, not as a job, but a calling. "My intention was that they will never, ever be able to pass here without remembering, " said Webb. "Underneath this garden is written the words peace, love, charity, prosperity. That which is seen comes from that which is unseen." He has witnessed people come to this plot of soil from far and near. Webb believes the flowers, plants and signs empower them to do better. "Our friend now, Dave Chappelle, we planted with and the purpose with planting for everyone who's planted whether it's from Czechoslovakia or South Africa or Uzbekistan is invite them and they would stand in the gap for all their countries, all their family, their ancestors and they would take in the authority, they would dig out this and then put a plant to replace that, that's what the prayer was," said Webb. Digging out what is bad and replacing it with what is good. For five years, this has been Webb's vision, and when asked what has changed, he said, "Belief, reverence, respect." Respect for the fallen and belief that we will move forward together, stronger than ever.
The National
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Top 35 concerts and events coming to the UAE in 2025, from Grease The Musical to Metallica
Rock, rap, opera and a hit musical are some of the performances coming soon to the UAE. A host of global stars will take centre stage from pop stars Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez, to nu-metal titans Limp Bizkit and British singer-songwriter Rod Stewart. The Abu Dhabi Comedy Season will bring more laughs, with stand-up shows featuring Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson and Bill Burr. Here, The National rounds up the best coming live events. Once seen as a journeyman artist, Egyptian singer Tamer Ashour cemented his place at the top with Haygely Mawgow3, one of the biggest Arabic hits of 2024. He now returns to the UAE, with a performance at Dubai Opera, as one of Arab pop's leading stars. Show starts at 9pm; tickets start from Dh295 The dance music spectacle returns for the third time, promising another night of high-energy sets, vibrant stage design and signature confetti showers. This year's line-up features a mix of regional and international DJs, including Franky Rizardo and Kasia. Show starts at 6pm; tickets start from Dh300 One of the biggest Filipino pop acts, the all-girl group will perform in Dubai as part of their new world tour, delivering a greatest hits set featuring anthems Pantropiko, Salamin Salamin and Karera. Show starts at 8.30pm; tickets Tickets start from Dh445 One of Australia's biggest comedians heads to Dubai as part of his Son of a Carpenter tour. Known for his brash and irreverent material, Jefferies has built a global following through his Netflix stand-up special High and Dry and the cult television comedy series Legit. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 As part of their latest world tour, the UAE stop will give fans the chance to see the influential rockers deliver some of their biggest hits, including Sweet Child O' Mine, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Welcome to the Jungle, and November Rain — the latter surpassing two billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most watched rock videos of all time. Doors open at 6pm; tickets start from Dh380 The British percussion collective Stomp transforms everyday objects – and even the human body – into instruments in a high-energy theatrical spectacle. Their routines feature performers hurling paint cans while drumming complex rhythms on them and turning brooms into dance partners. Even water cooler bottles are reimagined as sophisticated percussion tools in a show described as 'no words, no storyline, just pure energy'. Show starts at 8pm with an additional 2pm show on May 31; tickets start from Dh295 A regular performer in the UAE, Koy is known for his relatable comedy, pulling inspiration from his family. From his modest beginnings performing in a Las Vegas coffee house, he is now one of the top names in comedy, with four Netflix specials, an autobiography and a Billboard No 1 for his stand-up comedy album, Live From Seattle. Doors open at 6.30pm; tickets start at Dh180 A double bill featuring two of Arab pop's biggest stars. Tamer Hosny will bring his three-decade catalogue of hits and on-stage charisma, while Syrian singer Al Shami – one of the region's top streaming artists – showcases his electronic-inspired blend of Levantine balladry. A hit-filled night that promises to resonate with fans both young and old. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 The Academy Award-winning composer will bring his globally acclaimed tour Abu Dhabi for the first time. Known for his extensive catalogue of work, expect to hear soundtracks from films such as Interstellar, The Lion King and Dune. The performance will also celebrate Abu Dhabi's role in the Dune films, with Zimmer and his ensemble being joined by the original vocalists from Dune, Gladiator and The Lion King on stage. Doors open 6pm; tickets start at Dh579 The stage sensation celebrates 25 years since its debut in London's West End. Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and scored to the hits of Abba, the story is set on a Greek island and follows young Sophie's quest to find her father before her wedding. Tickets start at Dh125 Following a sold-out European tour, award-winning guitarist Jesse Cook returns to the UAE for intimate performances in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Renowned for his genre-blending sound that fuses flamenco, jazz and world music, Cook has sold more than two million albums and amassed more than 650 million streams. Joined by a dynamic ensemble of global musicians, these concerts promises an enchanting evening of rhythm, virtuosity and musical storytelling. Both shows start at 8pm; tickets start from Dh150 The Lebanese crooner makes his Dubai Opera debut, performing a three-decade catalogue of romantic hits including El Bint El Awiye, Omri Kellou and Law Hobna Ghalta. Expect a classy evening from a singer long dubbed the King of Romance. Show starts at 9pm; remaining tickets start from Dh350 Dubbed the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Blige brings one of her biggest world tours – which includes stadium shows across Europe this summer – to the UAE. For her Middle East debut, expect an expansive set spanning three decades of hits, including Family Affair and Real Love. Tickets go on sale May 2 from Dh295 Comedian, actor and former Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson will coming to the UAE's capital this June as part of Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. The performer also appears in the 2025 animated film Dog Man. Doors open at 6:30pm; tickets start at Dh295 The superstar American comedian returns to the UAE capital for Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. The announcement fulfills a promise Dave Chappelle made at the end of his 2024 Abu Dhabi show, when he said: 'The fact that you guys are doing this festival here is one of the most powerful things that is happening in the world. I was told before stepping on stage that this is the biggest comedy show the Middle East has ever seen. Mark my words, I will be back.' Widely beloved, yet consistently controversial, Chappelle is known for his razor-sharp wit and fearless approach to comedy. Tickets go on general sale on April 16 on the Ticketmaster website Fresh from their well-received set at the Bred Abu Dhabi festival, the Lebanese indie band bring their brand of atmospheric indie-rock to the more refined setting of Dubai Opera. Expect the intimate sounds and poetic lyricism of their new album Wedyan, alongside fan favourites such as Al Khadide and Yeb'a Shayef. Show starts at 9pm; tickets start from Dh195 Considered one of the most influential comedic voices of his generation, Burr has made a name for himself for his informal, honest and punchy style of storytelling. Doors open 8pm; tickets start at Dh250 Following her sold-out performance at the Saadiyat Nights concert series, Jennifer Lopez returns to the capital for her biggest Abu Dhabi show yet. As part of her This Is The Tour, the concert supports her new album and accompanying film of the same name. Fans can expect an electrifying set featuring a full live band, high-energy choreography, and a career-spanning selection of hits including Jenny from the Block, On the Floor and Let's Get Loud. Doors open 7pm; tickets start at Dh295 The nu-metal titans are set to make their regional debut as part of their expanding Loserville Tour – an ironic moniker that captures the band's enduring appeal despite no longer being part of the current pop conversation. That self-awareness – hilariously embraced by frontman Fred Durst with his prematurely white beard and knowingly retro stage persona – hasn't dulled the band's explosive live energy. Limp Bizkit still deliver anthems such as Rollin', My Way and Nookie with the same rebellious spirit that beguiled a generation about 30 years ago. Doors open 7pm; Tickets start from Dh435 She may be best known for her 1997 global smash Torn, but Australian-British singer Natalie Imbruglia is an underrated singer–songwriter who has cultivated a cult following through a consistently strong catalogue. Among her highlights is the criminally overlooked album White Lilies Island, featuring the minor hit That Day and her recent collection, Firebird. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 Relive the magic and splendour of the family classics Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets as they're screened in high definition on a towering 40-foot screen, accompanied by a live performance from the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble brings John Williams' unforgettable score to life in a spellbinding cinematic experience. Show times revealed soon; tickets start from Dh120 The American stand-up comedian is best known for his observational and often dark comedy style. Segura has released several stand-up specials on platforms such as Netflix, including Completely Normal, Mostly Stories, Disgraceful and Ball Hog. In addition to his stand-up career, Segura co-hosts the popular podcast Your Mom's House with his wife and fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including current events, personal stories, and humorous commentary on internet culture. In July 2022, he released his New York Times bestselling book, I'd Like To Play Alone, Please. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 The British comedian is a popular drawcard in the UAE, having performed here several times in the past decade. While known globally for his scene-stealing Hollywood roles, it's on stage – through his homespun tales and sharp observations – that his talent truly shines. Show starts at 6pm; tickets start from Dh195 Grammy-winning rapper Lil Baby makes his Dubai debut as part of his global Who Hard As Me world tour. Known for chart-topping hits like Drip Too Hard, The Bigger Picture and My Dawg, the Atlanta star brings his high-energy set to one of the city's biggest stages. With stops across the US, Europe and Australia, this tour cements his place as one of hip-hop's most electrifying acts. Show starts at 9pm; tickets start from Dh250 He one of classical music's biggest-selling acts, with more than 40 million albums sold, but Rieu is also renowned for almost single-handedly reviving the waltz, a popular European 16th-century folk dance originating in Austria. He returns to Abu Dhabi with his own 80-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra to perform waltz standards and classical version of modern hits. Doors open at 6pm; tickets start at Dh250 Inspired by the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, the stage version has been wowing audiences worldwide since its debut. Now, UAE audiences will relive the summer romance of Sandy and Danny, soundtracked by 1960s jukebox hits including Greased Lightnin' and You're the One That I Want. Evening shows start at 8pm; matinees performances start at 2pm; tickets start from Dh270 Known for their global hit In the Shadows, Finnish group The Rasmus will bring their gothic-infused pop-rock to Dubai with a set featuring crowd favourites such as First Day of My Life and Guilty, along with tracks from their latest album, Rise. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh250 After headlining festivals, the British singer-songwriter returns to Dubai for his first solo concert. Fresh off the release of his elegiac album Dear Life, Gray will perform tracks from his new work alongside enduring hits such as Babylon, Sail Away and This Year's Love. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh395 Enrique Iglesias's previous UAE concerts have been near sell-out affairs – and his coming return to Abu Dhabi is expected to be no different. Known for his irresistible blend of Latin-infused pop, the Spanish star will perform fan favourites including Bailamos, Bailando and Loco. Doors open 7pm; tickets start at Dh325 The hit Broadway adaptation of the cult film will make its Middle East debut in 2025, featuring the gothic show tunes, sharp comedy, colourful costumes, and delightfully macabre storyline that made Tim Burton's 1988 original a fan favourite. Show times revealed soon; general tickets on soon with and prices start from Dh99 The British group, who helped define hard rock and heavy metal, bring their monstrous riffs and blazing organs to Dubai for a career-spanning set featuring classics like Smoke on the Water, Child in Time, and Highway Star. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh249 The rising American pop star will open the four-day after-race concert series at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in what will be their first UAE gig. Boone has shot to fame over the past year, with his hit songs Beautiful Things and In The Stars totalling more than three billion streams combined on Spotify. His backflips and Freddie Mercury-like stage presence at both the Grammys and Coachella have also garnered attention. Access to the concert is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders and tickets for the event are now available online The American metal band will return to the UAE as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Metallica remain one of the most successful heavy metal acts in history, having sold more than 150 million albums since their 1981 debut. Their 11th studio album, 72 Seasons, released in 2023 to critical acclaim, earned them the Best Metal Performance award at the 2024 Grammy Awards. The accompanying M72 World Tour is now in its third year and continues to break attendance records across North America. Access to the concert is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders and tickets for the event are now available online The American singer is set to perform the race day concert as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Her return to Abu Dhabi follows last year's seventh studio album 143, in which she revisits her dance-pop roots and reuniting with longtime collaborators Max Martin, Dr Luke and Stargate. The album has produced three singles so far, including Woman's World and I'm His, He's Mine. By the time she arrives in the capital, Perry and her band will be a well-oiled machine, having performed more than 80 shows on The Lifetimes Tour, which begins in Mexico City on April 23 and spans the US, Europe, Australia and South America. Access to the concert is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders and tickets for the event are now available online For his first UAE concert in eight years, the British singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, 80, will perform hits from his six-decade career, including Maggie May, Forever Young and Have I Told You Lately That I Love You. Stewart announced his retirement from major global tours in November, though he doesn't plan to step away entirely. 'This will be the end of large-scale world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire. I love what I do, and I do what I love,' he said on X. Doors open at 6pm; tickets start from Dh295
The National
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
What is a foreign film production anyway?
This week on Culture Bites, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss Palestinian poet and writer Mosab Abu Toha, who won a Pulitzer Prize this week. He was recognised for his essays on life in war-torn Gaza, which reflect the hardships faced by Palestinians under Israeli siege. The hosts also review the most notable looks from this week's Met Gala, where celebrities dressed to the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. It has been an eventful week, starting off with an announcement by US President Donald Trump that he would authorise a 100 per cent tariff on movies produced outside America. Enas and Farah discuss how a move like this could impact big Hollywood productions coming to the region, where attractive cashback rebates have drawn in major projects in recent years. On the entertainment front, the UAE's music and comedy season promises an action packed summer. The hosts share some of the events they are most excited to see, including musical favourite Mamma Mia! and the return of star comedian Dave Chappelle.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Road To Nintendo Switch 2: ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Credit: Nintendo The launch of the Switch 2 is less than a month away, and much to the chagrin of haters everywhere, my Road to Nintendo Switch 2 article series is fully underway. Haters be hatin', and I be gamin'. Can we take a moment to remember Dave Chappelle's Playa Haters' Ball? Hate, hate, hate! I'm mostly joking—I don't have any actual haters, unless you count the occasional Reddit dogpile. Those people hate everything, though. I digress. What is this Road to Nintendo Switch 2 series, you ask? Well, I'm basically attempting to catch up on legacy Switch games I haven't played or haven't finished, or both, before the upgraded Switch 2 arrives on June 5. I'm going to play as many backlog gems as I can, although I realize time is quickly running out. One must imagine Sisyphus happy and all that. So far, we've covered Super Mario World 3D + Bowser's Fury , Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD . I'm sticking largely to first-party titles, which shouldn't be a surprise, because that's where the magic truly resides on any Nintendo console. Yeah, the third-party stuff exists, and will be much more present on the Switch 2 (Cyberpunk 2077!), if reports are any indication. Still, was anybody playing Resident Evil 2 on the N64? Be honest. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Credit: Nintendo Today, we're drifting into the kart racer that just wouldn't (and won't) quit, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe . It's another game that Nintendo brought over to the Switch from older hardware, and I'm starting to notice a bit of a trend here. Where would the legacy Switch be without all these remasters? I guess there just weren't enough original, first-party titles to completely fill out the Switch lineup. Sony and PlayStation are just as guilty, but regardless, I'm going to dive into the Days Gone remaster soon, like the utter chump I am. It was only $10 to upgrade, he said forlornly. Vanilla Mario Kart 8 released on the Wii U back in 2014, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is basically the ultimate version of that game, complete with tons of DLC and a still-active online community. This article is rather timely, it turns out, since the Switch 2 enters the world soon with—and no pun intended— Mario Kart World , a brand new, race-anywhere successor to the aging Mario Kart 8 Deluxe , which released over eight years ago in 2017. We're due for a substantial overhaul, to say the least. I actually played quite a bit of Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U, believe it or not, but never dove into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe until I was prepping for this article. Granted, I'm getting old, so I was there when the original Mario Kart hit the SNES, and I could never get enough, especially when it came to Battle Mode. That music is burned into my brain, and luckily, some of it makes an appearance in Deluxe . Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Credit: Nintendo I also played a ton of Mario Kart 64 with friends and family and dabbled in the GBA, GCN, DS and 3DS versions. One of the cool things about Deluxe is its constant homage to past titles; many of the tracks here are plucked from the retro games I just mentioned, and they're plus'd with better graphics for modern audiences. There are plenty of new tracks, too. Some of my favorites are the Excitebike Arena (a 3D pixel rendition of the classic NES game), Wild Woods (a treehouse ode to the Pacific Northwest, complete with a Goonies -esque waterslide) and Shy Guy Falls (a vertical, South American tepui-inspired waterfall track, complete with Sun Pitcher carnivorous plants). The imagination and attention to detail in these tracks are downright amazing, and they're filled with plenty of shortcuts to discover. I haven't tried the DLC tracks just yet, so that will have to wait for another article. The gameplay here is traditional frantic Mario Kart stuff, and it's excellent beyond measure. The graphics are great, too, even by 2025 standards. The weird thing about Nintendo games is that they age very gracefully, probably because they're not trying to be photo realistic or cutting-edge. They're more focused on clean design and memorable aesthetics, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delivers the goods in spades. I'm sure Deluxe will look dated next to Mario Kart World come June 5, but as it stands, the visuals are sublime. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Credit: Nintendo The controls are sublime as well, especially on the Pro controller, although I will say I made my way through both the 50cc and 100cc Grand Prix circuits without realizing Smart Steering was on by default. This meant I couldn't access any of the course shortcuts, and I was baffled until I finally discovered a simple toggle in the options menu. The game just begs you to play it, sort of like Super Mario Odyssey , but it can be incredibly frustrating at the higher solo levels. There's always that rogue Blue Shell, destroying you mere inches before the finish line, of course when you've been in first place the entire race. You'll still have fun, even when you're losing, however. But seriously, how can a shell hit me when I'm literally flying? Ridiculous. Online play can be frustrating too, but that feels more fair, because you know you're competing against actual humans. One of the actual humans I raced against recently was someone from Canada who went by the name 'beefy fart' and I must have laughed at that handle for a good five minutes. A man of class, I see. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Credit: Nintendo There are a surprising amount of people still playing Deluxe online and I never had trouble finding an active game. If you go online, be prepared to get humbled in a huge way, though. Even more so than when racing against the cheap AI single-player racers. I believe the only thing Deluxe is missing is an open-world adventure mode, like Diddy Kong Racing , but that's obviously being addressed in the upcoming Mario Kart World . I'll also add that I still prefer Crash Team Racing's boost mechanic over what's presented here, and don't tell anyone, but I might also prefer the characters, too. At least Deluxe has different kinds of vehicles, even if they're not as varied as Rare's N64 monkey masterpiece. It's a real testament to Nintendo's design philosophy that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains so compulsively playable all these years after its initial release, and it'll be interesting to see how it measures up to the expansive World iteration in another month. I do wonder what will become of the Deluxe online community once World hits alongside the Switch 2, and how long Nintendo will keep the servers running. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Credit: Nintendo There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The fourth entry in my Road to Nintendo Switch 2 series, and the next article I've got planned is a cool one. Make sure to both inhale and exhale (deeply) as you wait for publication… Disclosure: Nintendo provided a review code for coverage purposes.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Dave Chappelle is coming back to Abu Dhabi for another comedy gig
If you thought last year's set from Dave Chappelle was something special, buckle up. The comedy kingpin is coming back to Etihad Arena on Thursday June 27, for a show that's about to go down in Abu Dhabi's stand-up history books. Last year, Chappelle kicked off the first-ever Abu Dhabi Comedy Week with a sold-out performance that drew over 14,000 fans – the largest comedy show the region's ever seen. Now, he's set to top it. The legendary stand-up returns for a one-night-only gig as part of the Abu Dhabi Comedy Season, and it's going to be huge. Think biting wit, fearless satire and stories that only Chappelle could tell. Whether you're a die-hard fan who's watched every Netflix special (shout-out to The Dreamer) or someone who's never seen him live, this is an epic chance to get those much-needed belly laughs in (ab workout anyone?). And with presale tickets going live on April 15 and general sale opening April 16, you'll need to move faster than one of his punchlines to snag a seat. This year's Abu Dhabi Comedy Season – running from April to July – is rolling out a heavyweight lineup of hilarity. We're talking Trevor Noah, Kevin Hart, Gad Elmaleh, Michael McIntyre, Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias, Pete Davidson, Bill Burr and loads more still to be announced. If ever there was a time to embrace your inner comedy nerd, this is it. But don't sleep on it – this show will sell out. You've been warned. Price TBC. Thu Jun 27. Etihad Arena, Yas Island. You might also like… The best places to eat on Yas Island Going to Etihad Arena? Here's where you should grab a bite before (or after) your gig or event All the concerts happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 Get ready for a lot of huge names Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted
