Latest news with #Cher
Malaysian Reserve
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave
SHANGHAI – Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around $40, are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers don't know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' the University of Maryland's Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Yang said. Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners', said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok — designed by China's ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland's Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.' –AFP
HKFP
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- HKFP
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride Chinese soft-power wave
Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40 (HK$314), are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers don't know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' the University of Maryland's Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Yang said. TikTok effect Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners', said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok — designed by China's ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Labubumania Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland's Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.'
UPI
a day ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: 'Clueless' re-release proves film retro but timeless
1 of 5 | Alicia Silverstone stars in "Clueless," returning to theaters Sunday. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures LOS ANGELES, June 27 (UPI) -- Clueless is returning to theaters Sunday for its 30th anniversary, but it's never really left the culture at large. While there have been many teen comedies since, the film's lingo and fashion remain evergreen and some of the details prove surprisingly prescient. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher Horowitz, a teenager attending Beverly Hills' fictional Bronson Alcott High School, wearing designer fashion and carrying a cell phone. Cher plays matchmaker for her teachers, and new student Tai (Brittany Murphy), similar to Jane Austen's heroine Emma. In the '90s, words like "whatever" and "as if" were common, following the Bill & Ted and Wayne's World popularization of "no way" and "yeah, right." Clueless made "I'm Audi" synonymous with "I'm out of here" (as in Audi/outtie), with an emphatic "Audi 5000." Those terms may have been usurped by TikTok lingo like "delulu" and "cheugy" but the sentiments haven't changed. Delulu means delusional and "as if" is essentially telling someone they are delusional, "as if" they think that's going to happen. The plaid skirts and knee-high socks were sort of retro at the time of the film's release, but they'd still work now. The music includes a '90s cover of "Kids in America," the satirical "Supermodel," and No Doubt's first hit single, "Just a Girl." Coolio's "Rollin' with my Homies" is pivotal to Tai's heartbreak, just before his "Gangster's Paradise" led the film Dangerous Minds and Mighty Mighty Bosstones appear in the film. Back then, cell phones were only for rich kids, and they were only for talking, not for staring at and scrolling for hours. The brief seconds Cher and Dionne (Stacey Dash) continue their conversation on their phones in the hall before putting them away was a joke. Cher would probably be aghast everyone has a phone now and that they type instead of talking to each other. She was all about making connections and hanging out in person at parties and the mall. The aspects of Clueless that proved most timeless were probably the least expected. Cher debates Haitian refugees in debate class, and later collects donations for victims of a natural disaster at Pismo Beach. In 1995, these probably seemed like generic events that could serve the plot. Cher had to get a middling grade in debate class that she could negotiate to an A, and demonstrate she was learning to think about others. Today, false claims about Haitian immigrants were real talking points of the 2024 presidential campaign. Regardless of their country of origin, immigration has been a major political platform and source of division. Cher's pro-immigration conclusion, "It does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty," is humorously simplistic. Yet her welcoming position would be adopted now by pro-immigration proponents. She was also very accepting when she learns her classmate Christian (Justin Walker) is gay. Coming out in the '90s was a plot point of many TV sitcoms and movies, and Christian wasn't necessarily out when Cher found out. She accepted him, so tolerance wasn't even an issue. Natural disasters have sadly only ramped up since 1995, from Hurricane Katrina to the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Fortunately, those situations have shown people to be supportive of their fellow humans in need. People aren't flocking back to theaters to see Clueless again for its politics, however. The film is still selling tickets because it's funny, charming and makes people feel good. One need not be as wealthy as Cher to enjoy her carefree lifestyle. In fact, Tai is not rich and she proves to enjoy life even more fully without the trappings Cher provides. People with stepsiblings have objected to Cher's romance with ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd) since 1995, saying even if they are not blood related and their parents have since divorced, they could never see a stepsibling romantically. That may be, but upon reflection it seems well-supported by the movie. Cher's father Mel (Dan Hedaya) says, "You divorce wives, not children." This is a wonderfully inclusive way to show he has no ill will towards his ex-wife's son, and that Josh can always have a place in the Horowitz family. Does that wipe away the stepbrother-ness? Maybe not, but Mel also seems to see there was always a connection between Cher and Josh, which probably existed before the marriage, when he encourages Josh to check on Cher at the party. To revisit Clueless is to enjoy a time capsule of '90s culture. And yet, much of the classic teen comedy proves prescient and evergreen. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China's soft-power wave into global pop culture
SHANGHAI, June 26 — Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40 (RM169), are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers don't know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral... because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' This picture taken on June 18, 2025 shows a woman with a figure of the character Labubu as she visits Pop Mart's theme park Pop Land in Beijing. — AFP pic While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' the University of Maryland's Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Yang said. A woman takes picture of limited-edition Labubus on display in Beijing on June 20, 2025, ahead of an auction by the Yongle Auction house on June 22. — AFP pic TikTok effect Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners', said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok — designed by China's ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. This picture taken on June 18, 2025 shows the character Labubu in an exhibition hall as people visit Pop Mart's theme park Pop Land in Beijing. — AFP pic Labubumania Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland's Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.' — AFP
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Cher DRAGGED into troubled son Elijah Blue Allman's divorce as ex wife slams his family's trust funds
Elijah Blue Allman's estranged wife, Marieangela King, is seemingly ready to battle her ex and his wealthy family after dragging his superstar mother Cher into their nasty divorce. The 37-year-old singer filed for divorce from Elijah, 48, on April 8 after 11 years of marriage, citing 'irreconcilable differences.' At the time, she also demanded $6,000 a month in spousal support and 'exclusive use of [their] 2017 Toyota Prius', according to court documents. Now, new court filings, obtained by Daily Mail, reveal Marieangela filed a request for order for spousal support and attorney's fees, urging the court to grant temporary spousal support in the amount of $6,500 per month and $10,000 for attorney's fees. The filing comes shortly after Elijah was discharged from a hospital following a 'drug overdose' on June 14, as reported by TMZ. Daily Mail confirmed via the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department that the son of Cher and the late Gregg Allman was rushed to the hospital last Saturday after he was found 'acting erratically.' They added that drugs were discovered inside the home, and that an investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Meanwhile, Elijah's ex, Marieangela (who goes by her stage name 'Queenie King'), is making a desperate plea with the court to order Elijah to pay her since she claims she has very little income. The self-proclaimed 'housewife' and 'homemaker' from Los Angeles revealed in the court docs that her total assets, including money in her checking and savings accounts, is $3,651.96... which is not nearly enough to cover her alleged expenses of $12,000 per month ($5,000 of this is for rent and $1,500 is for groceries and household supplies). She alleged in the June 20 court filing that she hasn't had income since she put her career on hold since 2009 'to attend to domestic duties and support Elijah's career.' 'I was very lucky to live an amazing life with my husband. I have sacrificed my professional career for the past 11+ years of marriage to support my husband in line with his family's wishes,' she said in the filing. She also informed the court that the 'entertainment market is difficult' and that she has not been able to develop her career while supporting Elijah 'and his families priorities especially under such a high profile magnifier and given no specific support to do so.' Having no support at all, she claims that she can't even afford to go to film school, which is $80,000 for two years, to build a career and said that it will 'take time for me to enter the work force and support myself.' She reasoned, 'My request for temporary spousal support is below my marital standard. Even below the marital standard, I need support to pay rent and cover my basic needs and money in order to seek further education and employment in order to become self supporting.' She added that he was the 'sole provider' during their marriage - with him covering her health and auto insurance plans - and claims that 'he was getting a minimum of $20,000 a month from two separate accounts and that was just an advance of what he was owed.' In addition, she claims he was receiving 'regular' income from various sources, including being a partner in family business (The Allman Brothers brand and related Music, Publishing, Merchandising income and assets), music residuals and royalties, 'trust funds and major contributions coming to him from family and his mother, Cher.' She specified that he was getting 'financial support directly from his Mother,' which was 'used to subordinate our lifestyle.' Cher, who reportedly has a net worth of $360 million, has publicly had a longtime feud with her daughter-in-law. So much so, that 'Queenie' is ready to fight. A source told Daily Mail, 'Marieangela believes the financial support she's asking for is warranted. She knows that Cher will want to fight her over this. She is used to it.' The aspiring entertainer has made it clear in the court docs that his famous family has money and that he can afford her attorney's fees and costs - at the rate of $300 per hour - from his sources of income, including his 'bank, estate, earnings, business distributions, his music LLC, family and institutions.' But, she assures the court that spousal support is not needed to help fund the luxe 'marital standard' she lived with Elijah, she alleges she needs $6,500 in monthly spousal support 'in order to pay for basic living expenses and obtain a vehicle.' 'We had a very high standard of living during the marriage. We lived in luxurious residences and hotels, traveled, ate at expensive restaurants,' she wrote. 'I am not asking for support sufficient to support me at our marital standard. I am asking for support to cover basic living expenses in order to move forward with efforts to become self supporting.' She detailed: '[Elijah] and I had a high standard of living during the marriage. We've traveled Europe staying in 5 star hotels. We lived in our Beverly Hills home and at our family home in Malibu. 'I've had access to private pools, gyms, chefs, maids, a therapist. We dine out at Mr Chows, Nobu, Chateau Marmont. I've flown on private planes, flown first & business class, stayed at the mansion in Vegas.' Elijah was just seen last month at celebrity hotspot Chateau Marmont where he appeared to have hit rock bottom in a shambling, zombie-like disheveled ruin - as revealed in astonishing pictures and video exclusively obtained by Daily Mail. Marieangela stated that discovery, through valuation and forensic accounting, is needed to determine the value of their marital property and assets. 'I am asking the Court to direct full financial disclosure from Respondent (Allman), including business, trust, and personal accounts, and to authorize forensic tracing of all funds used to support our marital lifestyle,' she wrote, explaining that she has 'no access to communal assets or income.' She continued: 'A full disclosure of the business' finances and Respondent's share is necessary to determine what portion of those funds are community property or have been commingled.' She also reiterated: 'I am not requesting excess or luxury. I am requesting the Court's help in obtaining clarity and fairness, because without full financial disclosure and the ability to respond, I cannot safely or meaningfully engage in these proceedings.' Elijah has yet to file his response to the divorce or speak out in the public regarding any of her claims. A source, however, told Daily Mail that things between the couple could get ugly, especially if they're not seeing eye-to-eye with claims she's made. 'There's no doubt that Marieangela has supported Elijah emotionally and even financially at times throughout their marriage. But saying she completely put her career on hold since 2009 for him feels like a stretch,' the source insisted, while noting that she released 'several solo albums over the past 15 years.' 'Elijah has always encouraged her and helped her whenever he could. Their support for each other was mutual.' They continued, 'She had to show more love and patience during his relapses and low points, but their marriage had its highs too. While she may feel like she's been held back in some ways, it's not entirely fair to say she gave up her whole career for him.' At the same time, the source said that Marieangela 'gave everything she could to this marriage... but couldn't keep him sober.' The source added, 'Elijah has to want [sobriety] for himself, and right now, she feels he has put his love for his substance abuse issues before his love for her.' The source noted that his estranged wife had fought for him to get out of a Mexican rehab years ago, and then watched him sadly relapse again. In 2023, he was found passed out at Chateau Marmont, which prompted his mother to intervene and attempt to gain conservatorship of him after concerns of his mental health and substance abuse. But her attempt to win legal control over his financial and personal affairs foundered in court and Cher dropped the bid in September 2024. Cher's longtime feud was brought up in court documents at the time when she alleged that his now-ex wife had not been 'supportive of Elijah's recovery and... actively works to keep Elijah from getting clean and sober or receiving mental health treatment that he desperately needs'. Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Cher, Elijah and Marieangela for comment. The former couple has had a tumultuous relationship. They got married in December 2013 and first filed for divorce in 2021. After Elijah filed the petition, he eventually decided to reconcile with Marieangela and call the divorce off in 2024. The couple then separated on March 31, 2025, according to King's petition for divorce filed in April of this year. On June 23, a court order for family-centered case resolution conference was filed, which is a standard ask from the court in divorces to have both parties meet and confer about the case and explore potential resolutions outside of the court. A hearing for spousal support, however, has been scheduled for August.
