King of K-pop G-Dragon cuts a trendy figure as he arrives in Sydney flanked by heavy security fending off fans ahead of Australian leg of World Tour
The King of K-pop, who is about to embark on the Australian leg of his eponymous world tour, was seen making a low-key entrance through a Sydney Airport loading dock on Tuesday.
The BigBang frontman flaunted his trendsetting street style while wearing brown cargo pants, chunky black boots and a pink long-sleeve tee with embroidered roses on the sleeves.
He accessorised the laid-back ensemble with an R-emblazoned baseball cap, dark shades and a face mask, attempting to go under the radar.
The Too Bad hitmaker was flanked by a strict security team as he made his way through the airport, with one shielding the star with an umbrella over his head.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
One of the security guards wasn't leaving anything to chance as he shone a light at waiting fans who were hoping to get a picture of the megastar.
G-Dragon could be seen chatting on the phone as he briskly walked to his car, using his other hand to pull up his baggy pants so they didn't drag on the floor.
The K-pop star is set to play two shows in Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on July 2 and July 3, before heading to Melbourne for a slew of shows at Rod Laver Arena.
He will then move on to the Asian leg of his tour, performing shows in Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Hong Kong.
Before coming to Australia, G-Dragon made an appearance at Psy's annual Summer Swag 2025 concert in South Korea.
He took to the stage at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on Saturday, performing his hit songs Power, Home Sweet Home, and Crayon.
'It's really been a long time,' he told the crowd of nearly 30,000 people.
'I'm currently on a world tour after 88 months, but I came here to celebrate with my big brother Psy,' he said.
G-Dragon has been romantically linked to a number of high-flying A-listers, including American-Japanese model Kiko Mizuhara and Drowning Love actress Nana Komatsu.
He even dated BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, who recently starred in 2023 flick The Idol alongside Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd aka Abel Tesfaye.
However, the Drama hitmaker is said to be currently single as he takes to the Australian stage this month.
In September 2024, G-Dragon made headlines after he led a lavish art auction alongside Pharrell Williams in Seoul.
The glamorous occasion, which was attended by Princess Eugenie, marked the Nothing but a 'G' Thang: The Art and Archive of G-Dragon exhibition.
King Charles' niece, who was likely invited to the event in her role as an Associate Director for gallery Hauser & Wirth, put on a stunning display in a metallic-themed midi dress from London-based designer Peter Pilotto.
The beaming royal was keen to capture special moments, with footage showing the mother-of-two filming the hosts on her phone as they were speaking.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
No A-list treatment here! Olivia Rodrigo's very unlikely pre-show snack 'revealed' amid her gruelling summer festival circuit
She is one of the biggest pop stars in the world and even headlined Glastonbury this past weekend. But Olivia Rodrigo 's very unlikely pre-show snack has been 'revealed' this week after she took to the stage at BST Hyde Park for a spectacular show. The singer, 22, delighted audiences at the gig as she brought out superstar Ed Sheeran to sing his hit The A Team. And now, The Sun have reported that before she went on stage she enjoyed some simple boiled eggs and toast rather than anything fancy or elaborate. An insider told the publication of the gig: 'Olivia's area had been decorated with wildflower plants to make it feel relaxing and summery for her and Ed. 'They even infused her water with strawberries to suit her tastes. But Olivia didn't need anything special. 'She just chowed down on boiled eggs and toast before the show and hung out with Ed. Everyone was talking about how lovely and low key both her and Ed were.' The source added that there was no fuss made for the down-to-earth star who had a huge wardrobe with her but simply just chose one outfit and 'decided not to change again'. A representative for Olivia has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. The weekend after BST Hyde Park, Olivia headlined the Glastonbury Pyramid stage in the coveted Sunday night slot. On the night she wowed in a pair of Union Jack hot pants as she shared her 'love' for England during her headline set. She put on a show-stopping performance on the Pyramid Stage as she closed the festival at Worthy Farm in the daring number which she teamed with fishnet tights and a graphic T-shirt. During her energetic set, Olivia paused to express her love for a variety of British foods as she gushed over Marks and Spencer sweets. She said: 'One thing you should know about me is f***ing love England, I love England so much. It's bands like the Cure that first got me acquainted with England but now that I'm older I have so many things I love about England.' The good 4 u hitmaker, who is dating British actor boyfriend Louis Partridge, also 22, revealed her greatest loves for the country and gushed that she 'really loves English boys'. She continued: 'I love pop culture, I love that nobody judges you for having a pint at noon it's the best. I love English sweets from M&S and Collin the Caterpillar. 'True story I have had three sticky toffee pudding since arriving at Glastonbury so safe to say I love English food. 'As luck would have it, I also really love English boys, I wrote this next song about getting to know a boy from England who loves beans on a jacket potato, I took all our little jokes and made a song called, So America.' As she kicked-off her set, the Disney star cut a trendy figure in a white lace dress as she sang hit Obsessed, which featured on her 2023 Guts album. Olivia said: 'How are we doing tonight, Glastonbury? Holy f****** s***, I don't think I've ever seen so many people in my life. Guys, it's the last night of the festival. Are you ready to have some fun?' The chart-topping star's set also featured performances of Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl, Vampire and Drivers Licence, the 2021 single that proved to be a turning point in Olivia's music career. The singer was later joined on stage by Robert Smith from the Cure. Before her guest appeared on stage, Olivia said: 'I'm so wildly excited about this next guest. He is perhaps the best songwriter to come out of England, he is a Glastonbury legend and a personal hero of mine.' The duo then joined forces to perform a rendition of Friday I'm in Love, which appeared on The Cure's 1992 album Wish. Olivia - who previously appeared at Glastonbury in 2022, when she performed on the Other Stage - also did an incredible encore featuring, So American, All-American B****, good 4 u, and get him back! The pop star - who changed into the eye catching Union Jack-themed hot pants for her encore - finished her show by adding: 'Thank you so much, Glasto. This really is a dream come true! I'm so very grateful. Thank you!' Fans rushed to X - formerly known as Twitter - to gush that Olivia was one of the 'best performers' of the weekend and applauded the Disney star for 'silencing the haters' after they claimed she didn't deserve the headline spot. They wrote: 'Olivia Rodrigo, that's how you headline Glastonbury, 10/10 no notes; 'The entire Glastonbury crowd singing drivers licence omg Olivia Rodrigo you will always be that girl; 'Olivia Rodrigo, that's how you headline Glastonbury, 10/10 no notes; 'This crowd for Olivia Rodrigo… best crowd of the whole entire weekend, her connection to the crowd is on another level; 'Olivia Rodrigo silencing the haters with this brilliant performance; 'I have to admit I am well-impressed by Olivia Rodrigo's headline show on the Pyramid Stage at #Glastonbury tonight. She sings, she plays piano, acoustic guitar and electric guitar, and then rolls out Robert Smith to duet on a couple of classics by The Cure. And she's only 22!; 'Okay olivia rodrigo rightly deserved that headliner spot, what a show and at only 22 as well; 'The way Olivia Rodrigo has proven (yet again) how she is easily one of the main pop girls in today's world!! And on one of the biggest stages in the world; 'Not even ashamed to admit it, that Olivia Rodrigo set was one of the best things I've seen this year at Glastonbury!; '22 years old and headlining Glastonbury… what a f***ing gal you are miss Olivia Rodrigo proud of you'. On Saturday, Olivia made sure she fully immersed herself in the festival spirit as she was spotted sat on top of her boyfriend Louis Partridge's shoulders, singing her heart out to Common People during Pulp's surprise set. The pop-punk singer appeared in high spirits as she belted out the iconic lyrics, whilst waving her arms about. Olivia kept it casual as she wore a black and white sleeveless vest, which she paired with leopard print shorts and a hunter wellies, with white over-the knee socks.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Nelly sparks debate for revealing the parental duties he WON'T do... as fans feel sorry for wife Ashanti
Nelly will not be receiving any father of the year awards anytime soon. The hitmaker, 50, refuses to get up in the middle of the night with his infant son, as revealed on a recent episode of Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together. The rapper sparked some outrage when he revealed his daddy duties also don't include diaper duty. The couple are parents to son Kareem, who will turn one on July 18. 'You know what? It's absolutely ridiculous that you'll still be dead asleep and he'll be mad loud,' Ashanti, 44, is heard chiding him in a recent clip. Nelly responded that he 'doesn't hear' the baby crying. 'It's ridiculous,' the Only U singer asserted, again. 'It's a gift, I guess,' he retorted, adding, 'I'm blessed with that tune-out.' In an earlier conversation about the Grillz singer's upcoming 54-stop global Where's the Party At Tour, he implied that the childcare duties would be on Ashanti. 'Well, listen, it's all you. I ain't gonna even lie,' Nelly told her. 'You know, I ain't got nothing for him.' In a conversation with friends caught on camera, the Air Force Ones artist is heard telling them, until Kareem can say 'I'm hungry' and 'I need to use the bathroom,' Ashanti be in charge. The Country Grammar artist then joked, Ashanti should take advantage of her time with Kareem, because 'as soon as he gets to walking and talking, he'll be with the crew.' 'Dang sis, this show got your tea getting clocked lol it's not you tho, it's Nelly,' wrote one angry commenter on Ashanti's Instagram page, adding, 'Maybe you should have shelved this one baby…. But hey, best of luck mamas.' 'Girl u got ur baby leave him again,' advised another. When Ashanti, 44, chided Nelly, 50, for not getting up during the night with the baby the Grillz singer replied 'It's a gift, I guess,' he retorted, adding, 'I'm blessed with that tune-out' During an interview promoting the Peacock show on Today, 'I told her before we had him, I said, "now listen, I'm here, but chasin' toddlers at 50 ....' adding he would be happy for her to have 'as many as you want,' and he would hire 'as many nannies as we can afford.' Nelly has four older children - Chanelle, 31, and Cornell III, 26, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Channetta Valentine. He is also dad to his late sister's kids, Shawn and Sydney, who he adopted after her death in 2005. Ashanti and Nelly first met in 2003 and had an on-again, off-again relationship for a decade before splitting for another 10 years in 2013. They reunited professionally in 2021 at Verzuz battle between Ja Rule and Fat Joe at Madison Square Garden. Sparks apparently flew at the time, and the couple revealed they had privately wed in December 2023 and welcomed Kareem seven months later. The previously private couple decided to open up their lives in the reality show because 'I thought it would be great letting our fans get a different view of us,' Nelly said in a Peacock Blog. 'I think it's a cool vehicle because it gives people a chance to see the inside things that they don't normally see all the time,' Ashanti explained. 'Especially for me, this is my first rodeo! He's done this before,' she said referring to his time on Dancing with the Stars and in the mockumentary Real Husbands of Hollywood. All eight episodes of Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together are available for streaming on Peacock.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Meet Velvet Sundown, Spotify's hottest new band. But are they real?
Their soft-rock songs have racked up more than 550,000 listeners on Spotify in a matter of weeks, but are the Velvet Sundown real or an AI-generated band? The group have all the hallmarks of AI, from their lifeless photographs to the lack of evidence the musicians exist or have ever played live. But just as their apparently hoodwinked 'fans' and the industry had concluded that this was another case of AI killing off real stars, the Velvet Sundown popped up to defend themselves. 'Absolutely crazy that so-called 'journalists' keep pushing the lazy, baseless theory that The Velvet Sundown is 'AI-generated' with zero evidence,' they wrote on X to their rather underwhelming audience of 92 followers. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. 'This is not a joke. This is our music, written in long, sweaty nights in a cramped bungalow in California with real instruments, real minds, and real soul. Every chord, every lyric, every mistake — HUMAN.'Just because we don't do TikTok dances or livestream our process doesn't mean we're fake … We are REAL!' Adding to the mystery is that this X account is not the one linked to from their Spotify profile. Whoever is making the pleas, they have fallen on deaf ears. Deezer, the streaming service that flags AI music on its platform, said on a label: 'Some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence'. However, Spotify does not have a policy of labelling AI music and some fans felt misled by the platform's 'verified artist' label attached to the Velvet Sundown, which only means that it is the artist's stream. Daniel Ek, Spotify's co-founder and chief executive, has been generally positive about the potential of AI's impact on music. He said in May: 'I'm mostly optimistic and mostly very excited because we're just in the beginning of understanding this future of creativity that we're entering. • Alexa's AI song generator angers music industry 'We want real humans to make it as artists and creators, but what is creativity in the future with AI? I don't know. What is music?' However, while some artists such as the producer Timbaland and Ryan Tedder, a songwriter for Adele and Taylor Swift, are embracing it, the technology represents a threat to different parts of the industry. • Jimmy Page: AI is putting the magic of human artistry at stake The new AI music-making platforms such as Suno and Udio are being sued by the record companies for breach of copyright. Fraudsters are also uploading AI tracks and getting bots to listen to them to generate revenue. Deezer said that 18 per cent of all music uploaded to the platform daily — more than 20,000 tracks — were 100 per cent AI-generated. Of these, 70 per cent were fraudulent, which risks crowding out genuine artists. Spotify has a policy of not manually recommending AI tracks on playlists and will ban AI songs that impersonate real artists. However, the Velvet Sundown's success appears to have stemmed from the fact that Spotify has been putting the band's songs on the popular Discover Weekly playlist, which is algorithmically created. The Velvet Sundown are not the only AI success story on Spotify. Music Business Worldwide this week identified 13 AI-made 'artists' on the platform with 4.1 million monthly listeners between them. They include a country artist called Aventhis (a million listeners), a group called the Devil Inside (700,000 listeners) and a Marvin Gaye-inspired Nick Hustles (200,000 listeners). • Will AI give us new McCartney and Dylan albums in 2060? The musician and author Chris Dalla Riva said on TikTok: 'Since it's so easy to generate music this way, you could flood services with this music and completely crowd out people who are trying to make a career as an artist, trying to make legitimate art. If you are just writing a prompt and generating hundreds of songs at scale, it's very clear that this is just a way for you to try to make money.'
