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Michael Jackson biopic achieves record-breaking $217 million global opening
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The new Michael Jackson biopic, "Michael," has achieved a record-breaking global box office opening of $217 million, making it the highest-grossing debut for a biographical film. The movie, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, surpassed previous records held by "Bohemian Rhapsody" $124 million and "Oppenheimer" $180 million. Adam Fogelson, Chairman of US distributor Lionsgate, attributed the success to strong turnout across diverse audiences. Despite a mixed critical reception, with a 38% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has garnered a 97% audience rating. "Michael" continues a trend of successful musical biopics and incorporates Jackson's original vocals, focusing on his musical legacy. The film notably omits the child sexual abuse allegations against the singer, concluding its narrative in 1988, prior to the allegations becoming public. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the production faced challenges including costly reshoots for its reported $200 million budget.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadA South African woman, Thabile Sibeko, identifying herself as president of the Inizwe Nathi Party, made controversial statements at the airport during the repatriation of Nigerians from South Africa. The first group of 262 Nigerians, primarily women and children, arrived in Lagos following escalating anti-immigrant violence. Sibeko bid farewell to the Nigerians, stating, "We did not appreciate the wrongs that you have done, and we hope that you have learned a lesson." She accused Nigerians of being responsible for drug-related problems in South Africa, alleging they had "killed our children with drugs," and asserted, "Nigeria is horrible, these people are horrible." She differentiated Nigerians from other foreign nationals, to whom she expressed gratitude. It could not be independently verified if the Inizwe Nathi Party is a registered political party in South Africa. This repatriation occurs amidst weeks of anti-foreigner violence in South Africa. A second flight for the remaining Nigerians is scheduled for June 15. South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, characterized the repatriations as routine immigration enforcement, noting a 46 percent increase in deportations over two years. Nigerian officials, however, stated the returnees were fleeing xenophobic attacks, with over 1,000 Nigerians having registered for voluntary return.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs NSCIA has cautioned against attributing criminal activities to specific religious or ethnic groups, stating that such narratives exacerbate divisions and hinder efforts to combat insecurity. In a Democracy Day message, the NSCIA, through its Public Affairs Officer Abbas Jimoh on behalf of the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, emphasized that criminality should not be given ethnic or religious labels. The council expressed concern over persistent threats from banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism, which claim lives and impede national development. It condemned all forms of violence and urged perpetrators to cease their destructive actions. The NSCIA also addressed attempts to associate Nigerian Muslims with violent crimes, calling such profiling false and unfair to the majority of peace-loving Muslims. It cited the recent kidnapping in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, noting that subsequent developments disproved initial attempts to link the incident to Islam or Sharia. The council further stated that ethnic profiling was misleading, as suspects were not identified as Fulani, contrary to earlier reports. The NSCIA urged media, opinion leaders, and stakeholders to maintain professionalism and fairness in reporting to avoid inflaming tensions. It called for increased cooperation among government, security agencies, and citizens to address insecurity and congratulated Nigerians on Democracy Day,
Nigeria's Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticized Afrobeats star David Adeleke, known as Davido, for his public advocacy regarding the abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State. Omokri argued that global publicity surrounding terrorism cases could hinder rescue efforts. Davido had used his appearance at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert to highlight the plight of pupils and teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, wearing a customized jacket and shirt with victims' names. In a statement via X, Omokri warned that such publicity could empower terrorist groups rather than pressure them, stating, "Publicity Helps Terrorists. It Does Not Pressure Them. They Treasure it!" He referenced former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's view that "Publicity is the oxygen of terrorism" and suggested that global attention can shift pressure from perpetrators to governments. Omokri also claimed that past advocacy efforts, including his own, had unintended consequences, citing how his activities made Leah Sharibu's release less likely by increasing her value as a hostage. He further argued that the global #BringBackOurGirls movement complicated rescue efforts for the Chibok girls by prompting abductors to increase security. Omokri maintained that Nigerian security agencies are actively working on rescue operations for the Oyo schoolchildren, noting past successful recoveries.