The duo kicked things off dressed in full Trump regalia: Pershtin donned a suit and crimson tie, and Malkov wore a version of Melania’s inauguration day outfit. They stood side-by-side with their hands over their hearts as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played before launching into the rest of last week’s routine.

Malkov tore off her double-breasted suit when “YMCA” began to play, and revealed a red, white, and blue bodysuit decorated with fringe.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the performance received many rave reviews from MAGA-friendly voters on X. “Oh my the heads of the Democrat communist party are going to explode over this one. Congratulations Israel.! Job well done,” wrote one person.

Watch the performance in the video above.

The post Israeli ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestants Go Viral With Donald and Melania Trump Tribute | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Newsweek reported Martinez, who is well-known on TikTok for posting videos that document several ICE arrests, was filmed on Friday seated in her Tesla when agents opened her car door and pulled her onto the pavement. She also appeared to experience a medical event during the arrest, and at one point onlookers are heard demanding treatment for her.

The arrest was also briefly interrupted by a man who attempted to tow one of the police cars in the arrest.

“He mocked and videotaped ICE officers chasing after him,” McLaughlin also told Newsweek. “Secretary Noem has been clear: Anyone who seeks to impede law enforcement will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Martinez was initially transported to White Memorial Hospital and is currently being held in a detention center in downtown Los Angeles.

On Thursday, Los Angeles Rep. Jimmy Gomez accused ICE of staging an empty migrant detention center.

“One person was talking to the Mexican consulate who happened to be there, and the other person was just in the cell with their head down on a table or on the table or something. He was just kind of sitting there,” Gomez said of the center he visited recently.

Gomez also questioned why the center was so empty despite the numerous arrests made recently. Nearly 2,800 people have been taken into ICE custody since early June.

“They’ve been running raids, even over the weekend, and all of a sudden there’s no one there? That’s just completely bizarre,” he told MSNBC’s Jen Psaki.

The post ICE Arrests TikTok Influencer Who Documented Immigration Raids at Her Home on Livestream appeared first on TheWrap.

But then the events of October 7, 2023, took place, and “what’s happening in all kinds of industries and also in Hollywood, is that there’s a lot of pressure on celebrities to bring up things against Israel,” she added.

Gadot was asked about the movie — described as a “huge flop” by the interviewers — as she participated in an interview with amateur journalists who are on the autism spectrum. She also shared that working with Rachel Zegler was “fun” and that the pair shared a lot of laughter during their time together.

Zegler came under fire in 2024 after posting the words “and always remember, free palestine” on X after thanking her fans for their support for the “Snow White” trailer. Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from 2004-2009.

Despite Zegler and Gadot’s best efforts, the controversy impacted the film’s box office performance.

“You can always explain and try to give people in the world a context about what’s happening [in Israel] and what the reality is here, but in the end people decide for themselves,” Gadot also said. “I was disappointed that the movie was greatly affected by that and didn’t do well at the box office.”

“Snow White” was also banned in Lebanon after its release.

The post Gal Gadot Says Hollywood ‘Pressure’ to Speak Against Israel Affected ‘Snow White’ Box Office | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“I hope it’s a wakeup call. The President of the United States — I’m sort of following his example. And if you’ve got issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he’s putting out as president,” the governor said at the end of the press conference.

“So to the extent it’s gotten some attention, I’m pleased,” he continued. “But I think the deeper question is: How have we allowed the normalization of his tweets, Truth Social posts over the course of the last many years to go without similar scrutiny and notice?”

In a video interview that same day with MeidasTouch, the governor specifically called out critics of the social media strategy this week, bemoaning that “everyone’s so offended” but still neglects to hold the president to that same standard of decorum.

“We tried to raise a little awareness around that, tried to take what he’s doing and push it back in his direction. Now everyone’s so offended. ‘It’s so unbecoming of your position.’ But not the president of the United States that calls people nicknames?” Newsom questioned. “This is a serious, serious moment and requires serious people, requires serious journalism.”

Governor Newsom on the media’s feigned outrage over his Trump-style posts: What an admission! Where have they been not asking Donald Trump this? pic.twitter.com/WQKwzjr6gj

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 15, 2025

Positing why traditional news media have been quicker to question his social media mockery of Trump while the president’s behavior has been normalized, Newsom said, “They’re scared to death, because he’ll cancel them.”

Newsom’s office, led be a group of unnamed staffers, first began trolling Trump with tweets fashioned after the president’s incendiary social media style on Tuesday.

“DONALD TRUMP, THE LOWEST POLLING PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY, THIS IS YOUR SECOND-TO-LAST WARNING!!! (THE NEXT ONE IS THE LAST ONE!),” Newsom’s press office posted. “STAND DOWN NOW OR CALIFORNIA WILL COUNTER-STRIKE (LEGALLY!) TO DESTROY YOUR ILLEGAL CROOKED MAPS IN RED STATES.”

The post quickly went viral, and Newsom’s team has continued the trend all week. On Thursday morning, they poked fun at Trump’s complaint about not being nominated for prestigious awards like the Nobel Peace Prize or a Kennedy Center Honor.

“MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING — AND I AGREE — THAT I, GAVIN C. NEWSOM (AMERICA’S FAVORITE GOVERNOR) DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE,” the post read. “WHY? BECAUSE OF THE ‘MOST INCREDIBLE MAPS IN THE HISTORY OF MAPPING’ (EVEN COLUMBUS). THESE MAPS WILL END THE ‘VERY RIGGED’ ELECTIONS, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN (MAGA!!!), RETAKE CONGRESS ‘FOR THE PEOPLE’, AND SAVE DEMOCRACY.”

The post went on to call out Trump specifically once again, wrapping up with “THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER” (a phrase the president has taken to using to sign off his posts).

We’ll see how long Newsom keeps up the strategy, but it’s certainly caught a lot of attention. The question is: Will it become the “wake-up call” the governor wants it to be?

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly named Newsom’s digital director as being solely responsible the social media strategy. This post has been updated to correct that. TheWrap regrets the error.

The post Gavin Newsom Explains the Social Media Strategy Behind His Viral Trump Trolling appeared first on TheWrap.

The online event began Thursday as the “Beast Games” host’s first-ever Kick livestream, where the trio intended to stay on for as long as it took to raise $5 million. However, once they achieved that goal, they decided to go into Friday morning in order to get the most money ever raised in a single stream.

“Guys, that is 12 million years of clean water for people in need. Or put differently, that is clean water for hundreds of thousands of humans for decades each,” MrBeast explained. Ross added: “I want to give a special shoutout to everyone watching; a part of this journey. You guys are all contributing these $10, it all adds up and you guys are actually contributing to an amazing cause.”

The top donators overnight were Be LOVE Electrolyte, finnbags, Kick.com’s Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, influencer Sophie Rain and Trainwreckstv, all of whom donated at least $1 million each. Dana White, Michael Rubin, Brian Chesky, Gary Vee, Scooter Braun and Casey Wasserman all popped in with major donations as well.

During the all-nighter, three of the biggest names on the Internet got covered in snakes, listened to a mariachi band, took a lie detector test, oil wrestled, played some basketball, looked at their phones, got a haircut, took calls, set boundaries with one another and asked their fellow streamers, YouTubers and rich people to help them reach their goal.

“Access to clean water is something many of us take for granted, but for millions of people, it’s a daily struggle. This donation is my way of using my platform for something that matters. I wanted to do something that would have a real and immediate impact,” Rain said of her donation. “Not everyone can give a million dollars — and that’s OK. Even a small contribution can help change someone’s life. If my donation motivates others to take action, then it’s worth every penny.”

You can learn more about TeamWater, here.

The post MrBeast, Adin Ross and xQc Raise $12 Million in 18-Hour TeamWater Charity Livestream appeared first on TheWrap.

Produced by SuperOrdinary Studios, the creator-led entertainment division of global brand accelerator SuperOrdinary, “Beauty and the Beat” is being described as a digital series that is the first of its kind in the United States. The short-form series isn’t just being sponsored by Laneige; the company’s products will actively drive the story in each episode. SuperOrdinary Studios also manages Laneige’s storefronts on both YouTube and the TikTok Shop, creating a seamless funnel between Chow’s fans watching new episodes and those who want to purchase products. The show will also leverage SuperOrdinary’s network of over 1.2 million global affiliates.

Buzzy brands partnering with creators is nothing new. In 2024, brand-sponsored content accounted for more than $8.14 billion in revenue earned by U.S. creators, according to eMarketer. But more often than not, those sponsorships are limited to creators who specialize in unscripted content, largely because it’s easier to plug a product in those feeds. Chow’s new partnership is part of a growing shift in the industry. As YouTube reigns as the most-watched television platform according to Nielsen, one of the next frontiers in the creator landscape is figuring out how to better monetize scripted content. Branded series like this one may be the key to figuring out how to capitalize on the reach of scripted creators while giving these artists more financial freedom to make the series they want to make.

Plus, Chow is a great partner for this particular experiment. Known for his K-drama-inspired shorts, the creator has over 50 billion views across platforms. “Beauty and the Beat” will also feature Chow’s “Alan’s Universe” co-star Chelsea Sik, who has over 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube.

“This collaboration redefines how online audiences are introduced to and fall in love with brands,” Chow said in a Thursday statement.

“Partnering with a creator like Alan Chikin Chow allows us to meet our customers where they are — seamlessly integrating product discovery through the creators and content they love,” said Julien Bouzitat, general manager of Laneige in the U.S. “‘Beauty and the Beat’ is a natural extension of how Gen Z experiences beauty, where discovery, education and shopping happen within the same moment.”

“‘Beauty and the Beat’ represents the evolution of brand storytelling — where entertainment value and commercial impact aren’t competing forces, but complementary ones,” added Harry Golden, chief strategy officer at SuperOrdinary Studios. “By putting creators at the center and building commerce into the DNA of the content, we’re creating a new category of entertainment that actually drives business results while delivering the authentic, engaging stories audiences crave.”

The post Alan Chikin Chow and Laneige Launch ‘Beauty and the Beat,’ a Short-Form Scripted Digital Series | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap.

Newsom’s press office clicked Caps Lock to threaten Trump with legal action if he continued to pursue redistricting states in order to gain more of a Republican foothold. The post included the exclamation points and promises of further action that have become commonplace in the president’s own social media posts.

“DONALD TRUMP, THE LOWEST POLLING PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY, THIS IS YOUR SECOND-TO-LAST WARNING!!! (THE NEXT ONE IS THE LAST ONE!),” Newsom’s press office posted on X. “STAND DOWN NOW OR CALIFORNIA WILL COUNTER-STRIKE (LEGALLY!) TO DESTROY YOUR ILLEGAL CROOKED MAPS IN RED STATES.”

It continued: “PRESS CONFERENCE COMING — HOSTED BY AMERICA’S FAVORITE GOVERNOR, GAVIN NEWSOM. FINAL WARNING NEXT. YOU WON’T LIKE IT!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.”

In another tweet, Newsom referred to the president as “Donald ‘Taco’ Trump” a reference to the acronym “Trump Always Chickens Out” that gained prominence in earlier this year as Trump wavered on tariff promises. The post continued promising California will draw “MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS” to offset the Texas redistricting.

DONALD “TACO” TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, “MISSED” THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS,” THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!). BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR…

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 12, 2025

Everything from the all caps format, to referring to himself as the “favorite” president and even ending with the more recent addition of “thank you for your attention to this matter” was pure Trump. It’s unclear if Newsom actually has a press conference planned to discuss the redistricting further – or it’s yet another troll from governor who has continually called the president out for “chickening out” on plans or moving back deadlines.

The president and California governor have been sniping at each other on social media particularly hard since Trump activated the National Guard to assist with ICE’s deportation efforts – and to quell the protesting they sparked – back in June. Newsom said on “The Shawn Ryan Show” in July that the activation on the president’s part was unwarranted and did reputational damage to the troops who had been celebrated since helping out with the January wildfires.

“Those guys were out there at every single intersection during the fires. These guys were exhausted and now they’re being told to mask up … I told you they’re getting selfies out there where they’re beloved in Santa Monica,” Newsom explained. “Now, that reputational damage that’s being done as they’re sitting on horses with American flags running through soccer fields scaring kids that are playing soccer in the middle of the day at a summer camp for what? Just toughness. That’s weakness masquerading as strength. That’s what I don’t like about this son of a bitch.”

The post Gavin Newsom Trolls Trump in All-Caps Parody Post: ‘CALIFORNIA WILL COUNTER-STRIKE (LEGALLY!)’ appeared first on TheWrap.

The once digital media producer for Awesomeness TV tapped that internet savvy to build the platform, which he said has signed up 250,000 subscribers paying a monthly fee of $5.99 since it launched in October 2023.

While the subscription service is more akin to a traditional entertainment business, he said the nimbleness from his days working on YouTube have been the primary driver for audience growth — that and his reliance on social media as a primary marketing tool for series like female-centric reality show “Encore” and late-night talk show “Obsessed.”

“Most studios, it takes them six months. I can turn something around in 30 days,” he told TheWrap. “What they say they want to see, I give it to them. It’s pretty simple.”

Stewart’s streaming service — which airs new long-form unscripted content daily and is closer to Netflix than TikTok — illustrates how some creators are emulating elements of the entertainment world even as they amass considerable influence on social media. They’re building production studios that stand toe to toe with Hollywood facilities, and spending lavishly on higher-quality programming. Some of these stars, from MrBeast to Michelle Khare, also offer their content on more “traditional” platforms like ad-supported streaming platform Samsung TV Plus or, in the case of Benito Skinner and MrBeast, creating and starring in Prime Video shows themselves.

As a result, the top digital creators are no longer outliers in the entertainment industry — they are building empires that mimic the traditional Hollywood system. 

“Content creators and digital media are now known as the breadwinning departments in the traditional landscapes of the entertainment ecosystem,” Nadi Filsoof, digital talent manager at Underscore Talent, told TheWrap. 

The numbers reflect that, with the creator economy valued at $185 billion with an expectation to grow to $480 billion by 2027, according to Goldman Sachs. At the same time, traditional media companies and studios have had to deal with the challenges of declining legacy businesses such as linear TV. 

But for many creators, legacy Hollywood still has the allure of legitimacy and success in the entertainment industry. Internet personalities like Skinner and Jake Shane have crossed over into the traditional entertainment realm, but not without scrutiny. As studios and executives have their ears to the ground within the digital landscape, opportunities for creators are more readily available and prove to be mutually beneficial. 

And even if they aren’t starring in blockbuster films, creators understand that what works in Hollywood can work in their entertainment too.

High-value content rules 

Lasting success on social media is impossible without quality content to back it up. A flash-in-the-pan viral moment is often just that unless the creator is able to capitalize on the moment. Today’s top creators looking for longevity in the digital space are investing in high production values that rival Hollywood studios.

Take Khare, whose YouTube series “Challenge Accepted” brings cinematic ambition to the creator space. In her most recent episode, “I Trained Like a Samurai,” Khare undergoes rigorous training for a stylized 47-minute video that’s more film than vlog.

“It’s going to feel cinematic, but every moment we are thinking about the living room experience of watching something on YouTube,” Khare told TheWrap, saying she constantly asks herself: “Is this scene engaging enough? Should we cut things out of it? Should we make it longer? How can we really play to that competitiveness of when someone sits down on their couch when they have a thousand options.”

It’s noteworthy that she mentioned “living room” and not “phone,” a nod to how creators are thinking about the more traditional way of consuming media as more Americans are viewing YouTube content as mainstream television — and, increasingly, on their TVs instead of their phones. 

For her most daunting episode to date, in which she performed Tom Cruise’s deadliest “Mission: Impossible” stunt, she had a crew of 42. Her experience on Hollywood sets as a former production assistant gave her the knowledge and confidence to command larger production teams as her videos have leveled up to match her ambition. 

Her high bar has paid off, as her episodes regularly reach millions of views from her more than 5 million subscribers. But one thing she still values is her relationship with her internet community, which gives her feedback in real time. Implementing their comments, critiques and praise in the moment has allowed her to make real-time edits to episodes mid-season.

That ability to move fast — while still thinking big — defines a new breed of creators going Hollywood. MrBeast has taken his digital-first mindset into traditional media spaces most recently with his competition series “Beast Games” that has been renewed for two more seasons at Prime Video. He has translated his multi-million dollar cash prizes from YouTube to streaming with the same production and entertainment value that his 419 million subscribers have come to expect.

For other creators like Dhar Mann, high quality and output are both key ingredients to success. 

“The margins that these creators work at and the volume they have to work at – making something bespoke for every single platform is very difficult, unless you get a certain amount of scale,” CEO of Dhar Mann Studios Sean Atkins told TheWrap. 

Atkins emphasized the creator mindset as a differentiator from traditional Hollywood: “It requires that sort of entrepreneurial mindset outside of the ecosystem,” he said. “They own the growth by sheer force of entrepreneurial will.”

Can a creator go Hollywood?

For many digital creators, the line between a traditional Hollywood star and top-tier social media personality is blurring. Mann and Khare, for example, now have channels on Samsung TV Plus, found on the company’s smart TVs. MrBeast, of course, is a massive celebrity regardless of platform and medium, reaching fans everywhere from TikTok to Prime Video to Target. 

UTA’s Mahzad Babayan told TheWrap that after years working as an agent in the creator space, she feels like executives are finally understanding her clients’ content and work ethic more. 

“The amount of times I’ve seen a studio executive who is pretty high level, reach out to say, ‘I’m obsessed with Jake Shane,’ or ‘I love Delaney Rowe. Can I meet her?’” she said. “It happens a lot.”

These executives recognize that creators have a unique bond that Hollywood stars don’t necessarily foster. That dynamic was reflected in the 2025 Digital Media Trends report that showed 52% of Gen Z-ers said they feel a stronger personal connection to social stars than to TV personalities or actors. And 56% said social content is “more relevant” to them than TV series or movies. The mystery behind Hollywood celebrities is antithetical to why audiences love digital creators – they feel relatable rather than unattainable.

As more upper level executives consume this digital content themselves, Babayan said the requests for Hollywood projects become more readily available for clients. But she warned that a sizable following is not always a golden ticket onto a set. 

“It’s twofold. Yes, they have built-in audiences, and I think that’s extremely attractive, but also they have the talent and the ability to cross over,” she said. “You can’t just plug into a film or television show because you have a social following. We’ve learned over the years that that doesn’t work.” 

Babayan discovered Jack Innanen, a TikTok creator known for comedy videos that he shares with his over three million followers. She encouraged her department at UTA to build a team around him, and this spring he starred in his first series regular role in FX’s “Adults.”

Other UTA digital clients have made the leap, including Shane who appeared in “Hacks” and Netflix’s Lena Dunham series “Too Much” and Rowe who is set to appear in Amazon’s “You Deserve Each Other.”

Skinner wrote, created and starred in Prime Video comedy series “Overcompensating” this spring based on his one-man-show about his closeted college years. First gaining a platform as a digital creator as @bennydrama7, his college comedy series was well-received and renewal talks are underway. 

Filsoof noted that Hollywood’s continued bet on creators gives them leverage to use their followings to their advantage. 

“Hollywood is slowly diving into hiring influencers and people with a high following into roles because they really want to use and leverage social media as a promotion,” he said. “The benchmark for them is high engagement and a following count that is sizable, that is impactful in the markets they’re trying to attract.” 

The pipeline between Hollywood and the creator world is now a two-way street. Creators aren’t begging for a seat at the table — they’re being courted.

The post Why Creators Are Building Hollywood-Style Studios to Make TV-Ready Content appeared first on TheWrap.

The former athlete also admitted the marriage could have worked “if I knew about therapy.”

“My knowledge and my understanding, my wisdom around relationships just wasn’t vast,” Justice told Barnes. “So, I’m looking at my mom — and I’m a Midwest guy. So, in my mind, I’m thinking a wife at that time should cook, clean, [be] traditional, you know?”

The pair were married 1993 to 1997, a period that included Berry’s three-episode stint on the series “Queen” as well as her role in “The Flintstones.” Berry also made “Losing Isaiah” during the same span of time.

The years that followed included some of her best-loved, including her turn as Storm in “X-Men” and her Academy Award-winning role in 2001’s “Monster’s Ball.”

The baseball player admitted he’d only been in one relationship prior to dating Berry, which could have impacted his views as well. “Then I’m thinking, ‘OK, if we have kids, is this the woman I want to have kids with and build a family with?’ At that time, as a young guy — she don’t cook, don’t clean, don’t really seem like, motherly, and then we start having issues.”

Berry has since gone on to welcome daughter Nahla with ex Gabriel Aubrey and son Maceo-Robert with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.

Justice offered up another reason for why the marriage failed: Berry’s work schedule.

“We spent a lot of time apart because she was doing movies in this country, that country. And we honestly probably could have made it if I knew about therapy. If we knew about therapy, we probably could have made it,” he said.

Justice married Rebecca Villalobos in 2001 and is the father of three children: daughter Raquel and sons JR and Dionisio.

The post Halle Berry’s First Husband David Justice Says They Split in Part Because She Didn’t Cook or Clean | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“Guys please stop believing this nonsense. I think six of us have read the script,” the DC Studios co-CEO wrote on Threads in response to Robin fan speculation on Friday. “No one knows anything about ‘The Batman 2.'”

“Anything you’ve heard about that movie is made up or a guess. No one in the world knows anything about the concept for the story except four people,” he shared earlier in the week.

The “Superman” director’s latest reply was in response to a since-deleted post on X that read: “Robin is reportedly in the script for ‘The Batman 2 … The sequel will be as dark as the first and will take a ‘big swing,’ with Matt Reeves and Mattson Tomlin ‘really going for it.'”

What we do know, however, is that production on “The Batman: Part II” will begin in the spring. “James Gunn is already preparing to write the next installment in the Super-Family,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said during the company’s latest earnings call Thursday.

“In film, James Gunn is busy preparing the next installments of the DC Super-Family, including ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ (2026), ‘Clayface’ (2026) and the next ‘Wonder Woman.’ In addition, ‘The Batman II’ (2027) is preparing to begin shooting next spring, among several other projects in development,” a WBD note to shareholders also read.

It continued, “The 10-year vision for the DC universe also includes an exciting array of television projects, including ‘The Penguin,’ the upcoming new season of ‘Peacemaker’ and the debut of ‘Lanterns’ in 2026. In a precise and measured way, the DC franchise will increasingly overlay across the studio’s broader efforts: from film and TV to consumer products, games, experiences and social.”

The post James Gunn Shuts Down ‘The Batman 2’ Plot Rumors: ‘No One in the World Knows Anything’ appeared first on TheWrap.