Cynthia Erivo makes Golden Globes history as the first Black woman to earn two lead actress (comedy or musical) nominations, Shallipopi named TikTok’s 2025 Artist of the Year in Sub-Saharan Africa, Lionel Messi, Inter Miami defeat Vancouver to win first MLS Cup title. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
Here is a rundown of five of the hottest news topics…
1. Cynthia Erivo makes Golden Globes history as the first Black woman to earn two lead actress (comedy or musical) nominations
Cynthia Erivo has made #GoldenGlobes history, becoming the first Black woman nominated twice in the lead actress (comedy or musical) category for her role in #WickedForGood. pic.twitter.com/mLpXAjt9Od
— Variety (@Variety) December 8, 2025
Cynthia Erivo has made Golden Globes history, becoming the first Black woman to earn two nominations in the lead actress (comedy or musical) category. She received her latest nod for her performance as Elphaba in Jon M. Chu’s box office hit Wicked: For Good, marking her second consecutive nomination following last year’s recognition for Wicked. This year, Erivo is nominated alongside Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee), and Emma Stone (Bugonia), further cementing her place in an increasingly competitive field.
Erivo’s milestone arrives in a category that has historically offered limited representation for Black women. Before her second nomination, only 12 Black women had ever been recognized in the Globes’ lead comedy actress race, with Angela Bassett standing as the sole winner for her role as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It in 1994. Last year also marked the first time more than one Black woman was nominated in the category, when Erivo and Zendaya (Challengers) were both recognized, though Demi Moore ultimately won. Cynthia Erivo’s second Golden Globe nomination signals a gradual, but still overdue, shift in awards recognition as Wicked: For Good continues its strong awards-season run ahead of the Golden Globes ceremony on January 11, 2026.
2. Shallipopi named TikTok’s 2025 Artist of the Year in Sub-Saharan Africa
🚨 Shallipopi wins the Artist of the Year award at the 2025 TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Awards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vqiNzFuC0U
— 49th. (@the49thstreet) December 6, 2025
Nigerian breakout star Shallipopi has been named Artist of the Year at the 2025 TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa, cementing his position as one of the region’s most influential young musicians. The ceremony, held in Johannesburg, recognized creators and artists who shaped online culture across the continent, with Shallipopi, born Crown Uzama, emerging as the standout winner. His genre-blending sound, drawing from Afrobeats, Afropop, Amapiano, and Trap, dominated TikTok trends throughout the year, becoming the soundtrack for millions of videos and moments on the platform.
TikTok credited Shallipopi’s run of viral hits for helping define a year marked by creativity and unexpected cultural moments, noting the singer’s outsized impact on how music circulates online. He was nominated alongside rising talents from Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria, underscoring the platform’s growing role in amplifying African voices. Shallipopi’s win further highlights how social media continues to transform viral visibility into major career breakthroughs, allowing a new generation of African artists to reach global audiences beyond the continent.
3. Paramount launches a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Breaking news: Paramount has launched a $108bn hostile bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery, in an attempt to outmanoeuvre Netflix after the streaming giant won an auction for the media company last week. pic.twitter.com/Fk1FVT3YHR
— Financial Times (@FT) December 8, 2025
Paramount has launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, going directly to shareholders with an all-cash offer it says is superior to the deal the company agreed to last week with Netflix. Paramount is offering $30 per share for Warner Bros. Discovery in an all-cash transaction it values at $108.4 billion, compared with Netflix’s $27.75-per-share bid, which combines cash and stock and excludes WBD’s cable assets. Paramount CEO David Ellison argued the offer delivers clearer and more immediate value, saying the company is putting $17.6 billion more in cash on the table than Netflix. Despite Warner Bros. Discovery’s board backing the Netflix deal, Paramount said shareholders should have the final say, setting the stage for a potential bidding war.
Ellison also positioned Paramount’s bid as more likely to clear regulatory hurdles, warning that a merger between Netflix, the world’s largest streamer, and HBO Max could face heightened antitrust scrutiny. He further criticized the Netflix deal as harmful to Hollywood’s theatrical business, calling it “bad for the consumer” and the creative community. Markets reacted swiftly, with Warner Bros. Discovery shares jumping 7% as investors anticipated competing offers, while Paramount stock rose and Netflix shares fell. Netflix has defended its proposal, arguing that the eventual spinoff of WBD’s cable networks would unlock additional value and that its deal would withstand antitrust review. However, Paramount’s move ensures shareholders, not just the board, will now weigh the competing visions for the media giant’s future.
4. Miss Jamaica suffered multiple injuries after serious fall from the Miss Universe stage
FULL STATEMENT: The Miss Universe Organization and the family of Miss Universe Jamaica Dr Gabrielle Henry have released a joint statement indicating that in days, the beauty queen will return home with full medical escort. She will be transported directly to a hospital as she… pic.twitter.com/IpWJsOsitS
— Damion Mitchell (@DamionMitch) December 8, 2025
Miss Jamaica, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, suffered multiple serious injuries after falling from the Miss Universe stage during the preliminary evening gown competition on November 19, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has confirmed. In a detailed update released on Monday, the organization said Henry fell through an opening on the stage in Bangkok, resulting in an intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations, and other significant injuries. She was immediately hospitalized and spent several days in intensive care, where she remained in critical condition under constant neurological monitoring following the incident.
According to the MUO, Henry continues to require 24-hour specialist supervision but is expected to return to Jamaica in the coming days with a full medical escort and be transferred directly to a hospital for ongoing treatment and recovery. The organization said it has covered all of her hospital, medical, and rehabilitation expenses in Thailand, as well as accommodation costs for her mother and sister, and has committed to paying for her medically escorted repatriation flight and all future care related to the incident. The MUO also rejected reports suggesting Henry was at fault for the fall, calling such claims inaccurate, and said her family expressed gratitude for the global outpouring of support as she continues her recovery.
5. Lionel Messi, Inter Miami defeat Vancouver to win first MLS Cup title
INTER MIAMI WIN THEIR FIRST MLS CUP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/4HE0SrjrxC
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 6, 2025
Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup title on Saturday with a 3–1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium, capping a landmark season for the club. Despite Vancouver controlling long stretches of the final, Miami’s turning point came through Messi’s influence, with the Argentine providing assists for late goals by Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende to seal the championship. Messi, who was named MLS Cup MVP, described the triumph as a central objective for the season, saying the team’s effort and resilience delivered the league’s ultimate prize after last year’s early playoff exit.
Miami struck early through an own goal after Messi set up Allende, before Vancouver equalized just past the hour mark through Ali Ahmed, following sustained pressure. The decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute when Messi intercepted a loose touch and squared for De Paul to restore Miami’s lead, then capped the night with another incisive pass to Allende deep into stoppage time. Emotional scenes followed at full time as Miami players, club co-owner David Beckham, and longtime Messi teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets celebrated the historic title, marking Messi’s first MLS crown and Inter Miami’s arrival among the league’s champions.
Featured image: G L Askew II for The Wrap
Our Weekday News Digest brings you a curated selection of the most compelling stories from around the globe. This week, we delve into the latest celebrity headlines, from Hollywood to Nollywood, explore trending global news, and highlight the most exciting sports developments of 2025.
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