Celeb roundup: Ariana Grande steps back, no Maxwell shows and Kgomotso fights SAFM dismissal

Another week, another batch of celebrity headlines that had timelines working overtime. Some stories had fans celebrating, others had people picking sides, and a few left everyone genuinely shocked. 

From South African stars collecting global wins to legal battles, cancelled concerts and social media chaos, here’s everything that had the entertainment world talking this week.

1. Ariana Grande presses pause on her West End debut

Ariana Grande has decided to step away from what would have been her West End debut. 

The Grammy winner was set to star alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in Sunday in the Park with George, but producers confirmed she has withdrawn from the production. 

Her representative said the decision comes as Grande plans to take a break from public-facing work after finishing her Eternal Sunshine tour, following months of intense public scrutiny over her appearance and health.

2. Maxwell’s South African return hits another setback

Just days before Maxwell was due to perform in Pretoria and Cape Town, fans were dealt disappointing news after both concerts were officially cancelled. 

Promoters said the decision came down to circumstances beyond the singer’s control after attempts to make the shows happen, including exploring alternative dates, proved unsuccessful. 

Fans who bought tickets will receive full refunds, while organisers say they are already working on bringing the R&B star back to South Africa in 2027.

3. Babalwa M and MaWhoo score a Billboard first thanks to Tyla’s A*POP

Tyla’s “A*POP” isn’t just making noise for her. It’s creating career milestones for other South African artists too. 

“I Don’t Care” featuring Babalwa M debuted at No. 7, while “Crazy Of Me” featuring MaWhoo debuted at No. 9, giving both singers their first appearance on the chart.

4. Perez Hilton taken to hospital after reported mental health crisis

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was taken to hospital after authorities responded to reports of an apparent self-harm livestream. 

Police said crisis intervention techniques were used before he was safely transported for medical treatment. 

Hilton’s management later confirmed they were aware of the incident and asked for privacy as he receives care. No further updates on his condition have been shared.

5. Elaine swaps feature credits for centre stage with new single 'One More Dance'

Award-winning musician and songwriter Elaine has been on an impressive run of Afro-tech and dance music collaborations. Still, this time she's stepping out from behind the feature credits and putting herself at the centre.

For the song “One More Dance”, Elaine reunited with Major League DJz and also worked with producers Atmos Blaq and Mpho.wav.

She explains that the song is a great balance between the foundation of South African music, which is dance music, house music, Afro-tech, and whatever sub-genre of dance music that we have, and also where it's headed.

Veteran broadcaster Kgomotso Moeketsi isn’t letting her dismissal from SAfm go without a fight. 

After her contract was terminated in July following an internal investigation, the radio personality has announced she’s taking the matter to court. 

In a detailed statement, Moeketsi claimed the disciplinary process stemmed from a joking on-air exchange with a listener after a string of technical issues at the station. 

She’s now raising funds for legal action, saying the case isn’t about getting her job back, but about holding those involved accountable and determining whether her contract was handled fairly.

7. Cassper Nyovest gets the SAMAs party started before awards night

The SAMAs are still days away, but Cassper Nyovest has already set the mood. 

The rapper, who will host this year’s awards alongside Zanele Potelwa, has announced a “Road to the SAMAs” party in Johannesburg ahead of the main event. 

His announcement got music fans talking, with many already debating who deserves to take home trophies and which artists could steal the show at Sun City. 

With awards season officially around the corner, Nyovest is making sure the celebrations start well before the winners are announced.

8. Ayra Starr gets fans talking after teasing ‘Starr Girl’ featured artists

The Nigerian singer has officially kicked off the rollout for her highly anticipated sophomore album, Starr Girl, and fans think they’ve already cracked one of the project’s biggest secrets.

She sent social media into detective mode after quietly replacing her profile pictures across her platforms with photos of different artists, seemingly teasing the album’s features list.

On X, she switched to a photo of Theodora, while Instagram now features Zayn Malik. Over on YouTube, her profile picture is KWN, Facebook has Danny Ocean, and TikTok features Leon Thomas.

The subtle rollout immediately sparked speculation, with fans convinced the artists are all set to appear on “Starr Girl” which is scheduled for release on August 14.

9. Drake surprises women with cash prizes and luxury cars

Drake’s third annual “Strong Women, Stronger Drinks” event had social media talking after he gifted women thousands of dollars in cash and luxury cars.

Hosted in Toronto, the event celebrated women across different industries, with every guest receiving $1,000 (R16,188) on arrival before several attendees reportedly walked away with prizes of $50,000 (R809 621,50), $100,000 (R1 619 255), a BMW and even a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.

Drake explained that the event was created to bring women together to network, connect and celebrate one another.

10. DJ Zinhle sets the record straight on her friendship with Pearl Thusi

The “Kusazokhanya” hitmaker has put years of friendship rumours to rest, confirming that she and Pearl Thusi are still very much part of each other’s lives.

Speaking on the L-Tido Podcast, the award-winning DJ described Thusi as her “forever girl”, saying they’re “more like sisters” despite having gone through ups and downs over the years.

She explained that fans began assuming they had fallen out after she moved out of Thusi’s home, where they had lived together for about three years. 

She added that marriage, motherhood and different stages in their lives naturally changed how often they’re seen together, but insisted their friendship has never ended.

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