Entertainment
Maverick Gives Tom Cruise First $100m Opening Weekend

By Derrick Bangura
The new Top Gun movie has given Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise his first $100 million (£79m) opening weekend at the box office.
Top Gun: Maverick sees him reprise his role as US navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell from the original 1986 film.
In its first three days in North American theatres, the sequel earned an estimated $124 million (£98m) in ticket sales, Paramount Pictures said Sunday.
Worldwide, that figure is raised to an estimated $248 million (196m).
“These results are ridiculously, over-the-top fantastic,” said Chris Aronson, Paramount’s president of domestic distribution.
“I’m happy for everyone. I’m happy for the company, for Tom, for the filmmakers.”
Cruise’s previous biggest opening weekend for a movie came in 2005 with War of the Worlds, which raked in $64 million (£50m).
The 59-year-old’s second outing as Maverick also had the fourth biggest opening of any film in the Covid-era, behind the best-selling Spider-Man: No Way Home, second-placed Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and then The Batman.
He was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the new film’s UK premiere recently.
The original movie flew high above the competition, topping last Wednesday’s weekly UK film chart, as fans – young and old – prepared for the official release of the sequel last Friday.
Becca Monahan, commercial director of the Official Charts Company said it was “fantastic to see Tom Cruise back in the skies again after 36 years”.
“That the original Top Gun has made history by getting to number one on the Official Film Chart and that many of those sales were digital downloads is a great achievement,” she noted.
Liz Bales, chief executive of the British Association for Screen Entertainment agreed, saying she expects that the sequel “takes cinema audience’s breath away on the big screen” – a nod to the original film’s Oscar-winning song.
Critics praised the return of Top Gun: Maverick earlier this month, calling it a “barrier-breaking sequel”.
The Independent called it “as thrilling as blockbusters get”, praising it as a “true legacy sequel”.
The Telegraph called it “absurdly exciting” and “unquestionably the best studio action film in years”.
Entertainment
“I Have Social Anxiety” — BBNaija Housemate Dede Opens Up Amid Criticism

Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate, Dede, has revealed her struggle with social anxiety following criticisms from fellow contestants who described her as a “snub.”
Dede’s reserved nature has sparked controversy in the house, especially her refusal to hug male housemates, which some interpreted as unfriendly or aloof.
In a candid conversation with fellow housemate Koyin, Dede opened up about her mental health challenge.
“Do you have social anxiety?” she asked Koyin.
Koyin replied, “No, do you?”
“Yes, I do,” Dede answered.
Koyin then reassured her not to be overly concerned about how others perceive her, adding that “such is life.”
During her first diary session with Biggie, Dede had described herself as an introvert who “doesn’t like people.” She also offered clarity on her decision not to hug other housemates, saying it stemmed from the fact that she didn’t know them before the show.
Dede’s admission has since sparked conversations on social media about mental health awareness and the importance of respecting personal boundaries.
Entertainment
“Davido Is Nigeria’s Most Influential – Manager Asa Asika Insists”

Asa Asika, manager of Afrobeats superstar Davido, has declared that the singer is the most influential person in Nigeria.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Zeph podcast, the renowned talent manager stood by his belief, despite ongoing debates and differing opinions in the entertainment industry and among fans.
“Davido is mad influential. I don’t care what anybody says, I think Davido is the most influential person in Nigeria. I have seen it firsthand,” Asika said.
Davido, the head of DMW (Davido Music Worldwide), is currently the most followed Nigerian across major social media platforms, a metric often cited by fans to support claims of his dominance in the digital space.
However, the debate over who holds the most real-world and online influence among Nigeria’s top music exports—Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy—has remained a hot topic for years, with each artiste commanding a fiercely loyal fanbase.
Asika’s statement is expected to reignite the conversation, particularly among fans of the three Afrobeats giants.
Entertainment
“UK Men Are Too Broke for Me” – Bobrisky Lashes Out on Instagram

Controversial social media personality, Okunyele Idris Olarenwaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, has sparked reactions online after criticising men in the United Kingdom over their lifestyle and financial status.
In a recent Instagram post, Bobrisky described UK men as “too broke” for his taste, noting that their tendency to share apartments and split bills is far from impressive.
“By the way, UK men are too broke, avoid them,” he wrote.
“They share apartments, they share bills among themselves, ewwww.”
The popular influencer went further to outline the standards he expects from any potential suitor, insisting that they must exude luxury and class, particularly through their choice of fashion and accessories.
“Before any UK guy can approach me, please come correct. The least wristwatch I want to see you wear is Presidential Rolex and a designer’s slippers,” he added.
“If me as a girl can rock Presidential Rolex, why can’t you?”
The post has since generated mixed reactions on social media, with fans and critics weighing in on Bobrisky’s high-end preferences and controversial take on UK men.
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