Latest news with #OVOFest
Winnipeg Free Press
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Drake officially cancels postponed Australia, New Zealand shows after months of delay
TORONTO – Five months after Drake backed out of concerts in Australia and New Zealand, his fans are set to get their money back. Live Nation Australia has notified ticketholders that four postponed shows for the Toronto rapper's Anita Max Win tour are now officially cancelled, after assurances earlier this year that they would be rescheduled. The entertainment company says refunds will be issued, stating on the TicketTek retailer website that 'extensive efforts' to reschedule the shows 'within the necessary timeframe was not possible.' It added that Drake remains committed to performing in the countries again 'when his schedule permits.' Drake blamed a 'scheduling conflict' when he sidelined the tour, which was his first since a crippling spat with rap rival Kendrick Lamar. At the opening show Feb. 4 in Perth, he walked onto the stage wearing a black hoodie that appeared to be punctured by bullet holes, the mock wounds on his back pouring out theatrical smoke. A few shows later, he handed out cash to a few lucky fans, which attracted so much attention that people started showing up with signs begging him for financial aid. The Anita Max Win tour stalled out shortly after that, and he postponed the last four shows. Ticketholders were offered refunds or the opportunity to hang onto their tickets for rescheduled dates that never materialized. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Since then, Drake has performed elsewhere. Last month, he surprised fans of Morgan Wallen with an appearance at the controversial country star's second tour date in Houston. He then took the stage with the Backstreet Boys a few weeks later in Toronto, where the boy band jokingly welcomed him as their 'sixth member.' He also made a guest appearance at rapper Central Cee's concert in Toronto, telling the audience that his star-studded hip-hop concert OVO Fest would return this summer. So far, dates have not been announced. Drake also joined his collaborator PartyNextDoor for a run of U.K. tour dates earlier this month, with more European shows booked throughout September. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Drake officially cancels postponed Australia, New Zealand shows after months of delay
TORONTO - Five months after Drake backed out of concerts in Australia and New Zealand, his fans are set to get their money back. Live Nation Australia has notified ticketholders that four postponed shows for the Toronto rapper's Anita Max Win tour are now officially cancelled, after assurances earlier this year that they would be rescheduled. The entertainment company says refunds will be issued, stating on the TicketTek retailer website that 'extensive efforts' to reschedule the shows 'within the necessary timeframe was not possible.' It added that Drake remains committed to performing in the countries again 'when his schedule permits.' Drake blamed a 'scheduling conflict' when he sidelined the tour, which was his first since a crippling spat with rap rival Kendrick Lamar. At the opening show Feb. 4 in Perth, he walked onto the stage wearing a black hoodie that appeared to be punctured by bullet holes, the mock wounds on his back pouring out theatrical smoke. A few shows later, he handed out cash to a few lucky fans, which attracted so much attention that people started showing up with signs begging him for financial aid. The Anita Max Win tour stalled out shortly after that, and he postponed the last four shows. Ticketholders were offered refunds or the opportunity to hang onto their tickets for rescheduled dates that never materialized. Since then, Drake has performed elsewhere. Last month, he surprised fans of Morgan Wallen with an appearance at the controversial country star's second tour date in Houston. He then took the stage with the Backstreet Boys a few weeks later in Toronto, where the boy band jokingly welcomed him as their 'sixth member.' He also made a guest appearance at rapper Central Cee's concert in Toronto, telling the audience that his star-studded hip-hop concert OVO Fest would return this summer. So far, dates have not been announced. Drake also joined his collaborator PartyNextDoor for a run of U.K. tour dates earlier this month, with more European shows booked throughout September. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Former Stylist Reveals Mogul's Nicknames For Cassie During Trial Testimony
Diddy's sex trafficking trial has focused a lot on his alleged physical abuse of Cassie, beyond the traumatic video shared from their stay at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. His former stylist revealed that he had several nicknames for her that were degrading as well. Deonte Nash testified in court this week, claiming that the controversial mogul would call his ex-girlfriend 'baby girl, CC, bi**h, slut, h*,' according to People. Nash worked for Puff from 2008-2018, coincidentally the same period that he dated the 'Me & U' artist, and specifically stated that 'bi**h' was 'his fave.' He added, 'He would say, 'She was nothing but a slut anyway.'' Attorneys asked Nash how Cassie would respond to these harsh monikers, and he claimed that they made the 38-year-old singer 'sad' or she would 'go into a depression.' Nash additionally shared how the Bad Boy co-founder would manipulate his former partner by threatening to send out her sex tapes or 'beat [her] a**,' which 'drove her crazy' and made her 'super emotional' to the point that 'she might stay in the house for days.' Deonte Nash's testimony corroborates what Dawn Richard, a former Danity Kane member who is also suing Diddy for sexual assault, said in her testimony. She claimed that he 'owned' Cassie and would regularly be violent toward her anytime she defended herself. 'He would drag her and kick her and punch her in the mouth,' Richard said. Cassie herself took the stand and spoke about her traumatic experiences in his 'freak-offs,' namely having moments where men would urinate in her mouth to the point she would choke on it. She also claimed that he abused her when they took a trip to Drake's OVO Fest in Toronto and lunged at her with a wine opener when he learned that she was dating Kid Cudi. Cudi, multiple sex workers, and former assistants also have taken the stand, adding more color to these situations, which all align with initial findings when the former REVOLT chairman's homes were raided last year. More from Male Escort From Diddy's "Freak-Offs" Offers Apology To Cassie Suge Knight Gives Unexpected Take On Diddy's Possible Fate In Sex Trafficking Trial Diddy's Legal Team Files Motion For Mistrial Amid Arson Investigator's "Prejudicial" Testimony
Black America Web
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Drake Announces OVO Fest Will Return To Toronto This Summer
Source: Cole Burston / Getty As we round out a year since his fiery beef with Kendrick Lamar, Drake has once again refused to hunker down and is instead back outside. Over the weekend, Drizzy popped out for Central Cee's Toronto show at the History venue and announced to his hometown that the OVO Fest will be returning this summer. 'I'll see you this summer,' he tells the crowd. 'I will say this, though, because I haven't had the chance to say this yet. OVO Fest is back this year.' The crowd erupts with the news as Drake puts Cee on the spot, telling him he needs to come through for the Toronto-born musical festival. Drake hasn't held the annual fest since 2022, which he dubbed the October World Weekend: Road to OVO Fest Tour . It was the festival's 10th anniversary, so he enlisted some pioneering Canadian acts to perform, including Nelly Furtado, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, k-os, Choclair, Glenn Lewis, and Jully Black. The weekend continued with Chris Brown and Lil Baby, and the final night served as a YMCMB reunion as Drake took the stage with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. Before that, it'd been a few years since Drake organized the festival because of COVID-19 restrictions and contracting the virus himself. Drake didn't announce any official plans or a venue, but the fest usually gets announced at the top of the summer, while it occurs towards the end of July, so we should expect an official announcement soon. See how hyped social media is for the lineup to be revealed below. Drake Announces OVO Fest Will Return To Toronto This Summer was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Drake says OVO Fest is returning this summer
Drake performs during Lil Baby's Birthday Party at State Farm Arena on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2022, in Atlanta. OVO Fest will be back this summer, according to Drake. The Toronto superstar made the announcement during a surprise guest appearance at British rapper Central Cee's concert on May 24. Central Cee was performing at History—a live music venue in the Beaches neighbourhood, part-owned by Drake—and the Toronto rapper was sitting in a VIP section on one of the balconies when he surprised the crowd. In videos posted to social media, Drake can be seen with a mic in hand before he starts performing his song 'Nokia.' After the performance, he spoke to the crowd for several minutes. 'Thank you for having me, you know I love you all and I'll see you this summer, by the way,' Drake can be heard saying on video. 'I haven't had a chance to say this yet, but OVO Fest is back this year, so we'll need [Central Cee] there for that.' Typically held in August to coincide with Toronto's Caribbean Carnival and featuring a star-studded lineup usually filled with surprise guests, Drake hasn't held OVO Fest since 2022. That edition saw rappers Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj hit the stage, as well as a number of Canadian artists including Kardinal Offishall, Shawn Desman, and Nelly Furtado. No other details about this summer's OVO Fest have been released.
