Welcome to the first instalment of Did You Hear…? Where we recap the top five pieces of news from the past week in pop culture so you’re always up to speed.
From hot new couples, to some long awaited new music, let’s take a look back at the entertainment stories that had us buzzing the week of August 9, 2021.
1. Britney Might Finally Be Free
This had to be the biggest piece of news this week, and maybe even this month!
After years of fans questioning if Britney Spears was okay, due to her strange Instagram presence and the oppressive conservatorship over her that has been in place since 2008, it seems the singer is finally on her way to freedom.
On August 12 — almost two months after Britney directly addressed the court and begged them to end the ‘traumatising’ conservatorship — Jamie Spears announced his decision to remove himself from his daughter’s estate.
According to his attorney, while there are “no actual grounds” for removal, Jamie “does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests.”
He also added that Britney’s father intends to work with the court and Britney’s new attorney to “prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator.”
Read the full story, here.
2. New Couple Alert!
This week we were treated to the news that Austin Butler and Lily-Rose Depp are dating, after photos exclusive to The Daily Mail showed the pair kissing and enjoying an evening stroll following dinner.
At this time, Lily-Rose, 22, and Austin, 29, haven’t confirmed nor defined their relationship in any official capacity.
Depp was previously in a relationship with actor Timothée Chalamet for a year, while Butler’s nine-year relationship with Vanessa Hudgens ended in January 2020.
Read all about this exciting new romance, here.
3. Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Show Their Star Power
The latest campaign for Beyoncé’s Ivy Park label focuses on the brand’s youngest demographic, so it’s only natural that Bey’s own children make an appearance in its video.
Queen Bey also gave us a special gift: a rare glimpse of her and Jay-Z’s four-year-old twins, Rumi and Sir Carter.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, Beyonce shared her excitement over the new kids’ line, saying her family is a huge inspiration behind the designs.
“On our family vacations, we love to coordinate our outfits,” she said. “My kids are usually on set with me for shoots, and we’d find ourselves putting them in extra-extra-smalls so we could match. So, it is a natural progression for IVY PARK to introduce a selection of key silhouettes in children’s sizing.”
Read more about the new collection, here.
4. Has Lil Nas X Found 'The One'?
22-year-old rapper Lil Nas X is one of the cover stars featured on Variety‘s “Power of Young Hollywood” issue, and in the accompanying interview, he briefly touched on his love life.
“I’ve had some good boyfriends and some bad ones,” Lil Nas X noted. “A lot of them were emotionally unavailable or had a lot of insecurity and whatnot.”
However, he’s “found someone special now.” Though the “Industry Baby” singer didn’t reveal the identity of that certain someone, he did add, “I think this is the one. I can’t explain it – it’s just a feeling.”
We couldn’t be happier for him! Read all about it, here.
5. Beyoncé Is Working on New Music!
Yep, we know we already included a Queen Bey story in this roundup, but hey! She’s Queen Bey so ’nuff said!
In addition to giving us a glance at twins Rumi and Sir, the singer also revealed that she has new music in the works!
With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again,” Beyoncé told the Harper’s Bazaar. “I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible.”
“I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half…Yes, the music is coming!”
We cannot wait and can we just say, we DESERVE this! Read the full story, here.