Latest news with #MacyGray
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
How many watermelons do you see? This optical illusion has stumped even the most observant minds
Social media continues to be a treasure trove of diverse content—ranging from laugh-out-loud memes to thought-provoking facts. But recently, one genre in particular has captivated users: optical illusions. These brain teasers have become a favourite pastime for those who enjoy a good challenge, and this particular puzzle has left people utterly perplexed. (Also read: Think your eyesight is perfect? Count all the cats in this tricky optical illusion to prove it) American singer Macy Gray shared a curious image on Facebook that's now doing the rounds online. The post features a visual puzzle made entirely of watermelon slices arranged in a square pattern. The caption claims, '99% will fail this,' and poses a seemingly simple question: 'How many watermelons are here?' At first glance, the answer might seem obvious. The image displays eight curved watermelon slices—four at the corners and four along the sides. It gives the impression that these represent eight individual watermelons. But here's where things get tricky. This illusion isn't just about what you see—it's about what you assume. The image cleverly plays with our sense of quantity and shape. So the real question is: how many whole watermelons are actually represented in this image? It's a clever play on visual cues that has left many users scratching their heads in the comments section. Check out the puzzle here: Before scrolling through comments or searching for the answer, take a moment to really study the image. How many whole watermelons do you think are hidden in the picture? This watermelon puzzle is just the latest in a growing trend of optical illusions that continue to captivate social media users. It's not just about getting the right answer—it's about seeing things from a different perspective. (Also read: Test your visual skills: Find cube in this tricky optical illusion to prove you're a true puzzle champion) So, how many watermelons have you counted?
Metro
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Macy Gray remembers her debut album - and her Glastonbury streakers
It's been 25 years since Macy Gray's gravelly, one-of-a-kind voice first broke through the noise of pop music with her debut album On How Life Is. In 1999, her enormous hit track I Try was already glinting with the gold of an all-time classic, even as it continued to dominate charts all over the world and propel her album to number one. The 31-year-old single mother of three from Canton, Ohio, earned a Grammy for the song, and the sky seemed to be the limit from there. But in the following quarter-century, despite continued success with her second and third albums, Gray earned a complex reputation, once famously forgetting the words to the Star-Spangled Banner and other similar mishaps. It began to look like she was standing in her own way. Among journalists, her name became synonymous with diva tendencies and uncooperative interviews. As a result, the prospect of speaking with Gray as she prepares to celebrate the milestone anniversary of On How Life Is was more than a little daunting – especially given that she just this year stormed off reality show The Masked Singer, once again displaying a fiery temper to fans. But when Gray sits down with Metro to discuss her upcoming new album, the legacy of her debut, and her past regrets, she's unexpectedly softspoken and attentive – if not overly forthcoming at first. 'I was listening to it the other day,' Gray says of her breakout hit, I Try. 'That song is on autopilot in my brain. It's like walking and talking – you don't even think about it anymore.' While many artists grow weary of their most well-known work, Gray remains deeply connected to the record that changed her life: 'People ask me if I'm tired of it, or if I'm over it… but I'm just not. I love that album, it helped change my life, and I still love performing it.' For Gray, On How Life Is captures the essence of a transitional time, personally and universally. 'It was that moment everybody has where you're trying to grow up,' she recalls. 'You're in your twenties, your mom and society are pressuring you, but you're still figuring it out. You're supposed to be the sh*t, but you're not quite there yet.' That honesty, paired with Gray's signature voice and genre-bending style, has allowed the album to endure the test of time. Contrary to her reputation, she seems more than willing to acknowledge her past mistakes, and one can't help but wonder if her notoriety is entirely earned – or just the product of a sensitive, artistic spirit being thrust suddenly into a brutal spotlight. When asked what advice she'd give her younger self, she sighs and admits: 'I don't know what I would tell me, because I know I was at a point in my life where you could have given me the best advice ever, and I probably wouldn't have listened, you know?' As for regrets about the last 25 years, Gray says there are 'a million things' she'd go back and change, and, when prompted to expand, she admits: 'There's always somebody that got away. Of course, you want to do smarter things with your money. I probably would have moved. I don't think I would have stayed in Los Angeles. I probably… I had so many opportunities to live overseas and I blew them off. I probably would have moved, that's one thing, somewhere else.' She even seems willing to discuss her disastrous reality TV career, revealing light-heartedly that she turned down a stint on Celebrity Big Brother because: 'They told me they only had one bathroom. I didn't know if I could have made it through that.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But not one to dwell unnecessarily, Gray is quick to assure that 'her whole life has been a highlight,' and for now, she's looking towards the future. 'I want to make more good records. I want to be a better singer, better on stage. I'm just focused on getting better, really,' she says with real conviction. That dedication is the heart of the advice she'd pass on to rising artists: 'Keep practicing. Keep getting better. Don't forget how you got there.' Her upcoming album will feature new collaborations, though she's keeping names under wraps for now. She lights up at the mention of newer artists like Lola Young and Doechii, and it's evident that Gray remains as passionate about her craft as ever, even if she sometimes finds it challenging to navigate the public relations side of things. 'Doechii's awesome – refreshing. I hadn't thought about it, but yeah, I should reach out to her,' she says of a possible collaboration with the Anxiety hitmaker. 23 June: London, Union Chapel 24 June: Manchester, New Century Hall 27 June: Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket 28 June: Birmingham, Town Hall Buy tickets here. As she kicks off her UK anniversary tour, the 57-year-old is well aware that entertainment offers people vital relief in today's world. Or as she puts it, people are 'just dying for an excuse to party.' And she's prepared to give it to them. Her shows promise a full-throttle celebration: 'We got the best music, and we're gonna have fun—dancing, singing, screaming. It's a good night out, a great show.' The UK, Gray says, has always held a special place in her heart. 'Every country, every city has its own personality, but the UK… they're ready to celebrate. Almost on the edge of their seats, like just waiting for you to do something so they can just get up and go, you know?' Her Glastonbury performance is still one of her most vivid career memories, and she's quick to say she wouldn't rule out an eventual return to Worthy Farm. 'When we got to I Try, it was like this sea of people singing every word. You can't get that feeling anywhere else.' The traces of weary disinterest displayed through parts of the interview dissipate when she's reminded of the time a naked couple streaked across the stage at her Glastonbury performance. One can't help but think we're getting a brief glimpse of the real Macy as she belly laughs at the memory. 'So I was singing, and all of a sudden this – and they were older – like they were, like, skinny, you know, little bit wrinkly, and they just ran across the stage, butt naked, and they waved at me, and then they ran off,' she says animatedly through laughter. 'And that was it. I can see it, like, second by second. I don't remember what I did. I was so stuck on them, I don't remember if I stopped.' When Gray really gets talking, her famous voice, with all its quirks, is on full display. Unkindly described in the past as 'a cross between Minnie Mouse and Marge Simpson,' it's not surprising that it's been a source of insecurity for the singer, given how much the media commented on it at the beginning of her career. 'It's true I used to be really quiet in public because people would laugh or have comments,' she says of her voice. 'That's gone away a lot since I've gotten older, but sometimes I still kind of think twice before I say something.' Her perspective on fame has also evolved. She notes how different the industry is now, especially with the rise of platforms like TikTok. 'You can make a song and put it out the next day. That's new. It's great for the fans, but it's a different world. I'm adjusting.' More Trending Gray's soulful, timeless music remains as relevant today as ever, but many of her inspirations and mentors have passed away, leaving her to navigate her evolution as an artist on her own. 'I don't think I would be making the music that I make had I not listened to everything Prince put out, you know.' But the late legend was more than a source of musical inspiration to her: 'We used to talk, and he was always giving me really good advice, you know, he always answered the phone, which I thought was super cool. But there's a ton of influences. I'm a big Donna Summer fan. I got to spend some time with her, and I learned a lot from her.' Despite all the changes, Gray sees music and entertainment as a unifying force, even as the world grows more fractured. 'You go to a festival, and you're not thinking about who voted for who. Everybody's singing the same song, dancing together. Entertainment is essential right now.' At 25 years since her debut, Macy Gray isn't slowing down or apologising unnecessarily for the times she's stumbled. She's still experimenting, still growing, still trying her best to weather a harsh industry with a sensitive disposition and a wide-open heart. That may not always be pretty, but for Macy Gray, you can be certain that it will always be authentic. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Glastonbury headliner takes swipe at Elon Musk with savage lyrics in new song MORE: Spice Girls rumoured to reunite – but there's a major catch MORE: Oscar-winning actor confirmed for 2025 Capital Summertime Ball in most insane line-up
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Why Macy Gray is singing the blues over Ozempic and her spending spree
Macy Gray is "p***** off" that Ozempic didn't work for her and just made her "sick". Image: Bang Showbiz Macy Gray is "p***** off" that Ozempic didn't work for her. The "I Try" hitmaker tried the weight-loss drug, and while she's seen it transform friends' bodies, she had to stop using it because it made her ill. She told "The I Paper": "I'm the only person in the world who had a bad reaction to Ozempic. I'm so pissed off. All my friends are 30 pounds smaller, and I just got sick. But I'm doing well health-wise. I'm 57 and I haven't really started to feel anything going bad." Macy has never been "good with money", and her lavish spending over the years included custom-made shoes at $3,000 a pair and "half a million dollars" on her garden. She admitted: "At one point, I had five very expensive cars at the same time, and I didn't even drive them. I just ended up wrecking them. "I got a bit carried away with bespoke shoes. I used to get everything custom-made, and that got really expensive. Suddenly, I couldn't go to the store and buy normal shoes. I had to go to a cobbler. And that's $3,000 a pop. I had a lot of jewellery. "I did a lot of stupid s*** to my house too. I spent half a million dollars on landscaping. Trees and plants, basically. Was it worth it? No. They died. "I've never been good with money, and I'm not really any better with it now. I'm not good at saving or planning with it. "It's something you have to learn to be good at because, honestly, anybody can make money. You can win the lottery. You can be smart and make decisions. You can save. You can rob somebody. "There are all kinds of ways to get money, but keeping it is a whole other planet. You have to know what you're doing, or it will go away."
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Macy Gray says she is 'p***** off' with Ozempic as she reveals what she really thinks of the weight loss drug
Macy Gray has admitted that she is 'p***** off' with Ozempic as she revealed what she really thinks of the weight loss drug. The singer, 57, revealed she has tried Ozempic as she hoped to drop the pounds like friends who have transformed their bodes on it. However, Macy revealed the weight-loss drug didn't work for her and instead made her really ill. She told the i newspaper: 'I'm the only person in the world who had a bad reaction to Ozempic. 'I'm so p****d off. All my friends are 30 pounds smaller, and I just got sick. 'But I'm doing well health-wise. I'm 57 and I haven't really started to feel anything going bad.' Macy has never 'been good with money' and her lavish spending over the years included custom-made shoes at $3,000 a pair and 'half a million dollars' on her garden. She admitted: 'At one point, I had five very expensive cars at the same time, and I didn't even drive them. I just ended up wrecking them. 'I got a bit carried away with bespoke shoes. I used to get everything custom made and that got really expensive. Suddenly I couldn't go to the store and buy normal shoes. I had to go to a cobbler. And that's $3,000 a pop. I had a lot of jewellery. 'I did a lot of stupid s*** to my house too. I spent half a million dollars on landscaping. Trees and plants, basically. Was it worth it? No. They died. 'I've never been good with money – and I'm not really any better with it now. I'm not good at saving or planning with it. 'It's something you have to learn to be good at because, honestly, anybody can make money. You can win the lottery. You can be smart and make decisions. You can save. You can rob somebody. 'There are all kind of ways to get money, but keeping it is a whole other planet. You have to know what you're doing, or it will go away.' The actress - who has three adult children with ex-husband Tracey Hinds - is currently single but is 'excited' about the idea of falling in love again, though she isn't sure where to find a potential partner because she thinks it would be 'awkward' to join a dating app, even one such as the exclusive platform Raya, which has been used by many famous faces. She said: 'Love is different now because I see bulls*** a mile away. I'm not in love at the moment but I like being in love and I'm still very excited about it. 'When you're younger, you meet somebody, and you don't know what you know. My radar for bad behaviour works better now and that kind of sucks. 'I can't really go on dating apps. Three of my friends got married off of a dating app, so I'm like, "Maybe I should go on a date now", but that would be so awkward for everybody. 'People talk about Raya but that's all bulls***. We'll see what happens.' It comes as Macy revealed that she's set to release her first solo album in seven years. The legendary singer's last solo release was 2018's Ruby, with tracks including Buddha, Cold World and Sugar Daddy. And though she hasn't strayed far from the mic with 2023 album The Reset, a collaboration with her long-time touring band The California Jet Club and stints on The Masked Singer UK, US and Australia, she's now finally due to give her fans a brand new, unaccompanied record. Sharing the big news with The Sun, Macy said: 'We're probably going to drop a record when we're in the UK. 'We're in the middle of it and we want to drop some songs to see what everybody thinks. Then I will probably be able to put out an album by September.' And in celebration with her career news, Macy hinted that she may even make a surprise visit to this year's Glastonbury festival. Sharing the big news, Macy said: 'We're probably going to drop a record when we're in the UK. 'We're in the middle of it and we want to drop some songs to see what everybody thinks' [pictured in 2024] Speaking of her upcoming record, Macy told how it features less production so as to showcase her voice, adding that the album is 'raw' and 'stripped down' and that she's 'having fun' making it. The star, who shot to fame in 1999 with her huge track I Try, is currently in rehearsals for her tour which celebrates 25 years since the release of her debut album, On How Life Is. She's set to hit the stage at Ronnie Scott's in London for a trio of shows, before returning to the capital with a gig at Union Chapel on June 23. Concerts in Manchester and Glasgow will follow, with the performer then heading to Birmingham's Town Hall on June 28. And when informed that this Saturday date coincides with Glastonbury, Macy didn't hide the fact that she'd be keen to head down to Somerset's Worthy Farm. She teased: 'I would love to go out there. I love that festival. Maybe I'll run up there.' She last played the famous Pyramid Stage stage back in 2003, with Macy describing it as 'wild' after naked people ran across the stage during her set, nothing that she'd 'never seen anything' like it. Macy's album news comes after she previously made headlines in the UK back in January after dramatically storming off stage following her elimination from The Masked Singer. Before Macy's identity was revealed, she walked off the stage when host Joel Dommett announced the sad news that she had to go home. ITV viewers were shocked but moments later the star returned to the stage and was revealed to be American singer Macy, who did not look impressed about leaving the reality show. A source went onto claim that Macy was completely 'blindsided' by being one of the first contestants to leave the UK show after reaching the final of the US version in 2023 which she was disguised as the Sea Queen. Macy was reportedly 'shellshocked' and 'gutted' to be leaving the hit ITV show so early as she enjoyed participating in the American version. Speaking to The Sun, the insider claimed: 'When Macy stormed off stage everyone was frozen in shock but as soon as she reached backstage, crew removed her mask so they could talk her down. 'It was the shock of it for her as well as the upset and in that moment she had a very raw, human reaction and wanted out. For a professional performer to reach that point shows how badly she felt.' Macy had a similar meltdown in 2021 when she appeared on the Australian version of the show and sulked when she was voted off.
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Macy Gray 'got sick' on Ozempic
Macy Gray is "p***** off" that Ozempic didn't work for her. The 'I Try' hitmaker tried the weight-loss drug, and while she's seen it transform friends' bodies, she had to stop using it because it made her ill. She told the i newspaper: "I'm the only person in the world who had a bad reaction to Ozempic. I'm so pissed off. All my friends are 30 pounds smaller, and I just got sick. But I'm doing well health-wise. I'm 57 and I haven't really started to feel anything going bad." Macy has never been "good with money" and her lavish spending over the years included custom-made shoes at $3,000 a pair and "half a million dollars" on her garden. She admitted: "At one point, I had five very expensive cars at the same time, and I didn't even drive them. I just ended up wrecking them. "I got a bit carried away with bespoke shoes. I used to get everything custom made and that got really expensive. Suddenly I couldn't go to the store and buy normal shoes. I had to go to a cobbler. And that's $3,000 a pop. I had a lot of jewellery. "I did a lot of stupid s*** to my house too. I spent half a million dollars on landscaping. Trees and plants, basically. Was it worth it? No. They died. "I've never been good with money – and I'm not really any better with it now. I'm not good at saving or planning with it. "It's something you have to learn to be good at because, honestly, anybody can make money. You can win the lottery. You can be smart and make decisions. You can save. You can rob somebody. "There are all kind of ways to get money, but keeping it is a whole other planet. You have to know what you're doing, or it will go away." The 'Dutch' actress - who has three adult children with ex-husband Tracey Hinds - is currently single but is "excited" about the idea of falling in love again, though she isn't sure where to find a potential partner because she thinks it would be "awkward" to join a dating app, even one such as the exclusive platform Raya, which has been used by many famous faces. She said: "Love is different now because I see bulls*** a mile away. I'm not in love at the moment but I like being in love and I'm still very excited about it. "When you're younger, you meet somebody, and you don't know what you know. My radar for bad behaviour works better now and that kind of sucks. "I can't really go on dating apps. Three of my friends got married off of a dating app, so I'm like, 'Maybe I should go on a date now,' but that would be so awkward for everybody. "People talk about Raya but that's all bulls***. We'll see what happens."
