Cynthia Erivo lands in controversy after memoir release amid “Wicked” promo, New “Wizkid: Long Live Lagos” trailer shows a different side of the artist, Neymar defies injury to score sensational 17-minute hat-trick for Santos. 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 Lands in Controversy After Memoir Release Amid “Wicked” Promo
When longtime “Wicked” fan Cassie Plumridge read a specific passage in Cynthia Erivo’s memoir “Simply More,” the words rang a bell.
She realized Erivo’s memoir had repeated comments by Ariana Grande nearly verbatim—and without attribution.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 4, 2025
Cynthia Erivo’s new memoir, “Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much,” has sparked controversy just days after its release, as social media users accused the “Wicked” star of lifting language from her costar Ariana Grande without attribution. The dispute erupted after a report in The Washington Post highlighted a passage in “Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much” that closely mirrors remarks the “7 Rings” performer made in a past interview. Fans quickly criticized Erivo online, claiming she reproduced Grande’s words almost verbatim during a pivotal moment in her memoir as she promotes the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked.
Erivo’s publisher, Flatiron Books, swiftly addressed the backlash, stating the resemblance was the result of a production error. According to the company, an introductory chapter, where proper credit to Grande was originally included, was “inadvertently” omitted during printing. The publisher said the corrected version has now been updated and will be the only edition printed moving forward. Neither Ariana Grande nor Cynthia Erivo has commented publicly on the incident, leaving the controversy simmering as interest surrounding the memoir and the highly anticipated film continues to grow.
2. New “Wizkid: Long Live Lagos” Trailer Shows a Different Side of the Artist
A new trailer for “Wizkid: Long Live Lagos” offers the most personal portrait yet of the global superstar, revealing a side of the artist rarely seen amid his meteoric rise. The HBO Original documentary, directed by Karam Gill, traces his journey from the streets of Lagos to his history-making 2023 headline show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the first sellout by an African artist. Voices throughout the trailer, including his first manager, Sunday Are, describe his influence on a generation, framing him as a cultural ambassador whose music is reshaping global perceptions of Africa. The teaser also highlights the deeper tensions that shaped his rise, with Wizkid reflecting on how growing up in a challenging environment forged his powerful connection to music as a means of survival.
The trailer expands its emotional scope with appearances from his children and commentary from legendary musician Femi Kuti, who situates Wizkid within a broader lineage of African resistance and pride. At one point, Wiz pays tribute to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, showing a tattoo honoring the icon and crediting his influence on his belief in making music. The documentary, debuting Dec. 11 on HBO and streaming on HBO Max, follows a celebrated festival premiere where Wizkid surprised fans by introducing his newborn daughter. Reflecting on the filming process, he said the constant cameras revealed moments even he hadn’t realized were captured—a vulnerability he felt compelled to share. The result, as the new trailer suggests, is a film rooted in authenticity, legacy, and a profound celebration of African identity.
3. Ella Mai Announces New Album “Do You Still Love Me?”
DO YOU STILL LOVE ME?
FEBRUARY 6TH, 2026.
my 3rd studio album … wow. i cannot believe we are here! this is for the lovers, right in time for love day&right on time for scorpio making season 💛
PRESAVE NOW. pic.twitter.com/Zz25FgaxnV— Ella Mai (@ellamai) December 3, 2025
Ella Mai has officially announced her third studio album, “Do You Still Love Me?,” set for release on Feb. 6, 2026, through 10 Summers and Interscope Records. Sharing the news with her 4.9 million Instagram followers, the Grammy-winning singer expressed disbelief and excitement, calling the project one “for the lovers,” perfectly timed for both Valentine’s season and Scorpio-making season. The upcoming album features 14 tracks and is executive produced by longtime collaborator Mustard. It includes previously released songs like “Little Things,” which first appeared on her 3 EP and topped the Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart, and “Tell Her,” which creatively interpolates Destiny’s Child’s classic hit “Say My Name.”
“Do You Still Love Me?” marks Ella Mai’s first full-length release since her 2022 album “Heart On My Sleeve,” a project that featured artists such as Lucky Daye, Roddy Ricch and Latto. Following its success, she released a deluxe edition in 2023 with three additional tracks. As anticipation builds for the new album, Mai is also gearing up for her “Did You Miss Me?” Anniversary Tour, which begins Dec. 7 in London before traveling to Amsterdam, Paris and select U.S. cities, including Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, fans can purchase her “TIME. CHANGE. READY.” anniversary vinyl on the official Interscope website and presave the upcoming album ahead of its February release.
4. Luana Lopes Lara, 29 Years Old, Becomes the World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaire with Kalshi
Kalshi is now worth $11 billion, making both its founders billionaires and Luana Lopes Lara the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire. (Photo: Kalshi) pic.twitter.com/TaoFtk3oP1
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 2, 2025
Luana Lopes Lara, the 29-year-old Brazilian co-founder and chief operating officer of prediction markets platform Kalshi, has become the world’s youngest self-made billionaire after the company announced a landmark US$1 billion Series E investment round on December 3, 2025. The fundraising boosted Kalshi’s valuation to US$11 billion, propelling Lara’s net worth to an estimated US$1.3 billion and placing her ahead of tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo and global music star Taylor Swift in the latest Forbes rankings. Born in Belo Horizonte and raised in Joinville, Lara transformed her trajectory from ballet prodigy at the Bolshoi Theater School to MIT-trained computer scientist, where she met her co-founder Tarek Mansour. Together, they built Kalshi into a fast-growing platform for regulated real-event trading, overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and now dominating 62% of the global prediction-market share.
Kalshi’s rise underscores an industry boom driven by election forecasting, sports markets and rapid advances in AI tools for modeling outcomes. The company processed nearly US$2 billion in trades during the 2024 U.S. elections alone and has expanded to 140 countries with backing from major investors, including Y Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz. Lara’s journey, marked by years of ballet discipline, academic excellence, and high-stakes regulatory battles, has become a symbol of resilience and innovation for young Latino entrepreneurs worldwide. As Kalshi continues to scale globally with new products, AI integrations, and sports-market growth, analysts expect its valuation to climb even higher by 2026, cementing Lara’s position as one of the most influential figures in modern fintech.
5. Neymar Defies Injury To Score Sensational 17-minute Hat-trick for Santos
HAT TRICK FOR NEYMAR.
Five goals in his last three games and doing everything to save Santos from relegation 😤 pic.twitter.com/QfRiTdTi14
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 4, 2025
Neymar has defied medical advice to deliver a stunning 17-minute hat-trick for Santos, dragging the club closer to safety in Brazil’s top flight despite a painful meniscus injury. The 33-year-old forward, who returned to his boyhood team in January after leaving Al-Hilal, was advised to rest due to a knee problem that will ultimately require arthroscopic surgery. Instead, Neymar insisted on playing through discomfort as Santos battles relegation pressure. His decision paid off spectacularly against Juventude, where he scored in the 56th, 65th, and 73rd minutes, his first hat-trick since his Paris Saint-Germain days in 2022, before being substituted late in the match. The crucial win pushed Santos two points clear of the drop zone with just one match remaining.
With a decisive clash against third-placed Cruzeiro up next, Neymar’s short-term focus remains on securing Santos’ survival before addressing surgery and his future. His contract is close to expiring, and speculation has intensified about a potential move to Inter Miami, where a reunion with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez has been widely discussed. Neymar is also eyeing a return to Brazil’s national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the star remains in contention if he can regain full fitness. Despite playing through pain, Neymar’s latest heroics underline his determination to reclaim peak form and chase one last shot at global glory.
Featured image: Getty Images
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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