JLo backtracks on Moscow concert
Lopez, also known as JLo, and her management reportedly reached an agreement to perform in the Russian capital roughly three months ago. A fee of at least $1 million was agreed, and a date was set, Mash Telegram channel reported on Tuesday.
Discussions reportedly began after Russian promoters inquired about Lopez during her regional tour through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia in August. The parties signed a letter of intent, but the singer's team later backed out.
While citing reputational risks associated with the Ukraine conflict as a reason for refusal, sources said Lopez herself is open to performing once the conflict is over.
Evgeny Finkelstein of leading Russian concert agency PMI, who is believed to have led the negotiations, did not deny the reports when questioned but declined to comment further.
Jennifer Lopez last performed in Moscow in August 2019 as part of her 'It's My Party' tour.
Several Western artists have cancelled previously scheduled Russia appearances in the wake of the Ukraine conflict and ensuing cultural boycotts. Last year, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was reportedly offered a staggering $8 million to play a concert in Moscow but, despite agreeing to the sum, eventually turned down the proposal. He came to Moscow, however, on a private visit in June 2024.
A handful of other Western public figures, have also visited Russia since 2022, including American actor Steven Seagal, and filmmaker Oliver Stone.
In 2024, Jennifer Lopez appeared on the cover of her new studio album 'This Is Me… Now,' her first in ten years, wearing a jumpsuit designed by the Russian fashion label Yanina Couture.
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Russia Today
5 days ago
- Russia Today
JLo backtracks on Moscow concert
American pop singer Jennifer Lopez has cancelled a planned concert in Moscow set for August, according to media reports. Lopez, also known as JLo, and her management reportedly reached an agreement to perform in the Russian capital roughly three months ago. A fee of at least $1 million was agreed, and a date was set, Mash Telegram channel reported on Tuesday. Discussions reportedly began after Russian promoters inquired about Lopez during her regional tour through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia in August. The parties signed a letter of intent, but the singer's team later backed out. While citing reputational risks associated with the Ukraine conflict as a reason for refusal, sources said Lopez herself is open to performing once the conflict is over. Evgeny Finkelstein of leading Russian concert agency PMI, who is believed to have led the negotiations, did not deny the reports when questioned but declined to comment further. Jennifer Lopez last performed in Moscow in August 2019 as part of her 'It's My Party' tour. Several Western artists have cancelled previously scheduled Russia appearances in the wake of the Ukraine conflict and ensuing cultural boycotts. Last year, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was reportedly offered a staggering $8 million to play a concert in Moscow but, despite agreeing to the sum, eventually turned down the proposal. He came to Moscow, however, on a private visit in June 2024. A handful of other Western public figures, have also visited Russia since 2022, including American actor Steven Seagal, and filmmaker Oliver Stone. In 2024, Jennifer Lopez appeared on the cover of her new studio album 'This Is Me… Now,' her first in ten years, wearing a jumpsuit designed by the Russian fashion label Yanina Couture.
Russia Today
05-05-2025
- Russia Today
Trump to hit non-US films with 100% tariff
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would impose a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, marking the first time his restrictive trade policies have been extended to the entertainment industry. In his post on the Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the American film industry was dying a 'very fast death' due to incentives offered by foreign countries to lure US filmmakers. Since returning to office in January, Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs, culminating in his 'Liberation Day' tariffs introduced on April 2. They target more than 90 US trade partners. Most were paused for 90 days, though a baseline 10% remains in effect. China was excluded from the pause and was hit with a tax of 145% on all imports. Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs and new export controls on US goods. Trump said he had directed agencies, including the Commerce Department, to begin 'immediately' imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films entering the US. 'We're on it,' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X. It remains unclear, however, whether the measure would target foreign studios, US companies filming abroad, or both. The US president also framed foreign film productions as a national security threat, asserting that other countries were using cinema as a vehicle for 'messaging and propaganda.' 'WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!' he declared. Trump's post came after weekend meetings at his Mar-a-Lago Club with actor Jon Voight and his manager, Steven Paul, Bloomberg said citing people familiar with the matter. They reportedly presented the president with their plans for more federal tax incentives for US film and TV production. In January, Trump appointed Voight, along with actors Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone, as special ambassadors to Hollywood to help promote US job growth in the entertainment sector. Hollywood production has been increasingly shifting overseas, as countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expand tax incentives to attract film and TV projects. Film and television production in Los Angeles has declined by nearly 40% over the past decade, according to FilmLA, the region's film office. The trend has contributed to a decline in US-based shoots, with studios seeking lower costs and bigger rebates abroad. According to Ampere Analysis, global content spending is expected to hit $248 billion in 2025, driven largely by streaming platforms – further fueling the push for more affordable production hubs. Trump's move follows China's decision last month to 'moderately reduce' the number of Hollywood films permitted in the country, a retaliatory step against his aggressive tariff policies. William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce official and CSIS fellow, warned that retaliation against Trump's film measures could be devastating. 'We have a lot more to lose than to gain,' he told Reuters, adding that justifying tariffs on national security or emergency grounds would be difficult.
Russia Today
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Legendary Russian sculptor dies
Prominent Russian-Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who was the epitome of Russian sculpture, has died at the age of 91, his assistant has announced. According to Sergey Shagulashvili, Tsereteli suffered heart failure at 1:30am on Tuesday in Moscow. Later, his staff said that a farewell service would take place in the iconic Cathedral of Christ the Savior, but he would be buried in his native Georgia. Tsereteli, the president of the Russian Academy of Arts since 1997, was widely regarded as a defining figure in Soviet and Russian monumental art. Among his most recognized works is the towering Peter the Great statue in Moscow. Standing 98 meters (322 feet) tall, the monument was unveiled in 1997 to commemorate 300 years of the Russian Navy. It remains one of the tallest statues in the world. Internationally, Tsereteli is known for 'Good Defeats Evil', a bronze sculpture installed at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The artwork depicts St. George slaying a dragon crafted from fragments of dismantled Soviet and American nuclear-capable missiles, symbolizing the end of the Cold War and victory over the specter of the nuclear Armageddon. Another notable work is the 'Tear of Grief', (also known as 'To the Struggle Against World Terrorism') a 10-story monument in Bayonne, New Jersey, dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks. The sculpture features a large stainless-steel teardrop suspended within a cracked tower. It was presented as a gift from Russia and unveiled in 2006. Throughout his career, Tsereteli created more than 5,000 art works that spanned beyond architecture to include paintings and frescoes. He received numerous honors, including the title of People's Artist of the USSR and the French Legion of Honor. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has offered her condolences, describing Tsereteli as 'an artist of international renown and a true public figure who knew no borders or barriers in the cause of peace and creativity.' '[He was] a true people's diplomat. He will live not only in our hearts but also in his works: in the stained glass and enamels decorating embassies, in monuments and sculptures placed around the world, in the lush flowers and bouquets that he painted with such passion. He knew how to love and how to give love,' she added.
