Sad Kanye inflatable renamed after criticism from mental health advocates
In response to criticism from mental health groups, Australia’s Splendour in the Grass festival renames a 30-foot-high inflatable sculpture called ‘Sad Kanye’ as ‘Happy Kanye’. The sculpture was created by Barcelona-based art group Hungry Castle (who were responsible for the previous year’s giant pink turd). In the initial press release Splendour said:
Why the sad face Kanye?. Why you got that resting bitch face, dog? Sometimes you crazy but you’re a dope ass producer and writer.
After criticism from fans who noted that West has suffered from depression, Splendour releases a follow-up statement:
Dear Kanye, This is not a diss track. Yesterday we announced plans to build a tribute sculpture of you. It’s based on an internet meme titled Sad Kanye and as artists, we believed it would be an interesting platform to spread a message of positivity and good vibes. The concept is simple, we plan to invite the entire world to climb inside your mind and make you happy. Our work is based on the internet, celebrity figures and meme cultures. It was never our intention to start a dialogue about mental health issues. But as you know more than anybody, great art can often be divisive and is ultimately open to the interpretation of the public. We want to thank the internet for opening our eyes to this viewpoint and we now see how this project could be viewed as insensitive. We believe mental health is a serious issue and if our art is bringing awareness to this (even if accidentally) than perhaps just perhaps that’s a good thing. We’re fans of your rich body of work and we’re incredibly excited to share this playful installation with Splendour in the Grass and Bestival this year. Which is why we’ve decided to retitle the work HAPPY KANYE, which is what this is really all about. Good vibes
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Poses with Garda fans
McGregor poses with Sgt. David Hanrahan and Garda Steven Tyrrell for a picture at Leixlip Garda Station. McGregor owns property in Straffan, Kildare, just 15 kilometres from Leixlip.
Well known visitor at Leixlip Garda yesterday with Sgt. David Hanrahan and Gda. Steven Tyrrell. @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/PsSh4uUI2K
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) June 2, 2017
McGregor stays at pub landlord’s house after big night out in Skerries
On a visit to the coastal town of Skerries in Co Dublin McGregor is mobbed by fans in a local pub. Landlord Ollie Grimes says Gregor found out about Ollie’s Place through an MMA connection: head chef Stephen Kavanagh is the brother of MMA womens’ champion Sinead Kavanagh.
I just got a call from Conor asking if he could pop out to Skerries for a bit of craic. I told him ‘come on out’. The next thing I knew he was stood next to the regulars in my bar. I’ve had Nicky Byrne of Westlife, and Roger Daltrey of The Who drinking in my bar but I’ve never seen anything like the crowd that turned up to see Conor. He really is the people’s champion, signing autographs for everyone and doing pictures.
After closing Ollie put Conor up at his own home rather than sending him back in a taxi to Kildare.
There’s no hotel in Skerries so I thought he can stay with me but I wasn’t really sure my wife would believe me when I rang her to say Conor McGregor was staying over. That is until I arrived home at the door with Conor beside me. I woke up the next morning thinking I’d dreamt the whole thing up, but there was Conor having breakfast with my family. I waved him off a while later. He was a huge hit in Skerries.
Kim K: Kanye, Not Monica Rose, responsible for style transformation
On Watch What Happens Live!, Cohen asks Kim K about her relationship with celebrity stylist Monica Rose:
The entire Kardashian/Jenner clan used a stylist named Monica rose. You all recently unfollowed her on social media and are no longer associated with her. Can you give us the real reason that she is no longer in your universe?
Kim K:
Shit. I will say…Y’know what. I haven’t worked with her in maybe four years, so my reason is not connected with this. But I will say that I read that it was said that she was the reason for my makeover when I met Kanye. And I will say that Kanye got me a new team and that was documented….And for me that I wanted a new vibe, and Kanye wanted to give me a makeover…I just wanted a change, but I recently heard that…[As for the family], you’d have to ask Khloe, Kendall and Kylie, and the girls.
Watch The Throne promo
Youssef Hannoun releases a fan promo for the upcoming McGregor-Mayweather fight.
I’ve been listening to them laugh my whole career. I’ve got this situation where people are truly doubting me. Like they doubted me at the very, very beginning.
McGregor’s top 10 press conference moments
A compilation of McGregor’s top ten press conference moments is released including his water bottle fight with Nate Diaz, and his response to Jeremy Stephens.
Who the f-ck is that guy!
https://youtu.be/U8qqN-pgB7s
Showtime exec: McGregor-Mayweather goal is ‘early fall’
A showtime executive says that while they would be willing to wait until next year if they had to, Mayweather and Showtime are targeting an early fall date for the proposed superfight.
I think the date really is a function of how long it takes to get a deal done because the reality is, it took a long time for the UFC and Conor to reach an agreement to allow Conor to participate. Now the real negotiations start which is the Floyd side versus the Conor-UFC side. If that drags on then you’re probably looking at late this year. If it really drags on then you’re looking at early next year. But if people are as motivated as they seem to be – I know how badly Floyd wants it – if we get this wrapped up pretty quickly we could be seeing it early fall. That’s the goal. That’s what we’ve heard from Floyd. Now it’s just getting in a room and seeing if people will be reasonable on the kind of deal that they’re looking for.
Efron: Madonna is a UFC fan
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Efron says he is a huge UFC fan, and of McGregor. He found himself sitting next to Madonna at the McGregor-Alvarez fight.
She was calling out things about the fight [and] having the time of her life out there.
Video highlights McGregor attitude change when friends become opponents
A video is released that shows McGregor’s attitude to fighters before and after he gets them as opponents. the video contrasts McGregor’s behaviour when talking about Cowboy Cerrone, Joe Duffy, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tyron Woodley, and Floyd Mayweather.
I have no friends in this game.
https://youtu.be/ftrnZ_2kUTs
Garbrandt, Dillashaw fight called off
White says that the bantamweight title fight between Garbrandt and Dillashaw has been officially called off, due to a Garbrandt back injury. Dillashaw will be rebooked to a flyweight title fight against 10-time defending champion Demetrious Johnson in August. However, Johnson, has said that he’s not interested in such a fight. A newly announced interim middleweight title fight featuring Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker will serve as the UFC 213 co-main event. The card will be headlined by female bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who is defending her title against Valentina Shevchenko. White:
After [Cody’s] last round of treatment in Germany, they told him he’d need four weeks to rest. That would have put him two weeks out from the fight. With Cody out, we’re going to make T.J. versus Mighty Mouse [Johnson]. That’s the plan.
Frampton to fight in Ireland on July 29
Delivering a promise made to his fans to fight in Ireland, Frampton says he will fight at Windsor Park on July 29th. No announcement of his opponent has been made. A third fight against Leo Santa Cruz seems unlikely, due to the Mexican’s unwillingness to travel. Lee Selby has also been rumoured, but his team say there has been no contact about a fight.
McGregor and Mayweather face off in wood
James O’Neal displays his latest creation, a wooden sculpture of Mayweather, alongside his previous sculptures of McGregor and Muhammad Ali, at an Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame ceremony. O’Neal says his next project will be Cris Cyborg.
Ringside audio of Kavanagh coaching McGregor during second Diaz fight
A recording is released of Kavanagh giving advice to McGregor during the second Nate Diaz fight.
Everything is working the way we said it would. Don’t change anything. Stay with the leg kicks. Don’t push anything. We’ve got four rounds to go.
https://youtu.be/OCKAPFn0Au0
The McGregor Show
A fan video is released of McGregor singing to Jay-Z’s Empire State Of Mind.
Just a lad from Crumlin, who knocked out every other sucker. Now I’m here on Broadway to slap the head off some poor f-cker.
Conor McGregor Transformation video
A video is released showing McGregor’s physical transformation as he becomes the world’s leading MMA fighter.
Is McGregor Gonna Get Lucky? promo video
A promo from Axiom films outlines McGregor’s chances as he heads towards a fight with Mayweather.
I almost feel sorry for how McGregor is going to be embarrassed and beat down.
McGregor test drives iBox green boxing gloves
McGregor shares a video on Instagram lacing up his Emerald-Isle-emblazoned gloves and punching pads with an anxious-looking partner.
Floyd better be ready, the baddest man on the planet is hunting.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTHCJaJg57D/
Shows off Rolexes at the dinner table
McGregor posts an Instagram of him at the dinner table waiting to be served steak, with two new Rolex watches.
Hurry up with that steak!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUKyRJ3AbgF/
Kavanagh posts McGregor sparring video
Kavanagh posts (and then deletes) a video of McGregor’s boxing training.
Joshua-Klitschko could rematch at end of October
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirms that Joshua and Klitschko are likely to fight again before the end of the year.
I believe Klitschko will go ahead with the rematch so we are looking at dates. The Principality Stadium is not really available in November because of rugby so 28 October is the option. Most of December is available but I don’t really want to go that late. Josh has a bit of a sore shoulder, Klitschko has had a tough fight, his face was bashed up. You have got two more weeks in May, all of June and after that they will be thinking ‘right let’s get back in camp’. Even if you started back in camp in August, then you have September and October so end of October can work.