“The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous reckless lies,” a representative for Perry said in a statement to TheWrap. “Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”

Her response came after the actress accused the singer on Sunday of sexually assaulting her at a nightclub 20 years ago, via Threads.

“Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne. I was only in my early 20s. I’m now 40. It has taken almost 2 decades to say this publicly,” she wrote. “I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it. Later she agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret. But I DID tell yall she wasn’t a good person. Instead I got attacked by.. everyone.”

After a social media user asked if the “I Kissed a Girl” singer “kissed and girl” and didn’t like it, Rose replied, “She didn’t kiss me.”

“She saw me ‘resting’ on my best friends lap to aoivd [sic] her and bent down, pulled her underwear to the side and rubbed her disgusting vagina on my face until my eyes snapped open and I projectile vomited on her,” she further stated.

Rose continued: “Not interested in filing a [police] report over this, not when I haven’t even filed a report for the numerous rapes at the hands of grown men. But she is more than welcome to sue me (she won’t, because it happened, I have photos and it was literally in public and witnessed by multiple people). Plus there is so much more that happened in the years leading up to her silly song she won’t want me discussing. The psychological manipulation was strong with that one.”

Later on, the actress added, “Just left the police station,” though she didn’t share any further specifics.

The post Katy Perry Denies Ruby Rose’s Sexual Assault Claims as ‘Dangerous, Reckless Lies’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Jackson Jr., who portrayed Ice Cube in the 2015 N.W.A. biopic, “Straight Outta Compton,” took to X on Friday evening after one user asked why his dad hadn’t been “in a good movie since the ’90s,” suggesting everything since was “straight garbage.”

“Listen. I could just say the ‘Jumpstreet’ films and end this,” Jackson Jr. sounded off. “But ‘All About the Benjamins’ not good? ‘Fist Fight’ not good? ‘Lottery Ticket’ not good? ‘TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES’ NOT GOOD!?! [He’s] been in FOUR franchises since the 2000s began.”

Jackson Jr. then went on to name the blockbuster franchises, including the “Barbershop” trilogy, both “Jumpstreet” movies, “Ride Along,” as well as the “Are We Done Yet” movies and show, which the rap legend created and executive produced.

“And added two more ‘Fridays,'” he went on. “So, technically it’s 5! Don’t let some movie that they shot DURING THE PANDEMIC!!!!! IN HIS DAMN OFFICE WITH NOBODY AROUND HIM that a studio decided to still release 5….YEARS……LATER (for some reason) make you get hot in the ass to disrespect MY GUY.”

Jackson Jr. was clearly referencing Ice Cube’s “War of the Worlds,” which came out this year and was panned by critics. It was notably named the worst film of the year by the 2026 Razzie Awards, winning five awards in total, including Worst Picture, Actor, Director and Remake.

Nonetheless, Ice Cube’s son refused to let a fan speak poorly about his dad’s career, adding, “But brotha check thyself…before you wreck thyself. Now you go on and get ya ass up outta here. And don’t forget to share like and subscribe. The one piece is real.”

Read his full statement below.

Listen.

I could just say the Jumpstreet films and end this.

But All About the Benjamins not good? Fist Fight not good? Lottery Ticket not good? TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES NOT GOOD!?!

He been in FOUR franchises since the 2000’s began

Barbershop- Trilogy
Are we done yet.… https://t.co/IvHIJq2FD7

— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) April 11, 2026

Earlier on Friday, Jackson Jr. shouted out the news that Ice Cube and Kevin Hart were in talks to return for “Ride Along 3,” writing on X, “Now please believe if I’m in this … It is 100 percent Nepotism.”

Jackson Jr., who is the oldest son of Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff, has made a name for himself in Hollywood in the last decade, with film credits in “Ingrid Goes West,” “Den of Thieves,” “Long Shot,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Just Mercy” and “Cocaine Bear,” among other titles. He also appeared in three episodes of 2022’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

The post O’Shea Jackson Jr. Blasts Fan’s Claim Dad Ice Cube Peaked in the ’90s: ‘Brotha, Check Thyself’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Hosted by TheWrap and photographer Ian Spanier, talent from the day including “Insecure” creator-star Issa Rae, Dhar Mann Studios founder Dhar Mann, Whalar co-CEO Jo Cronk and Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade all joined for an exclusive midday photo session.

The afternoon of the summit began with a spotlight panel on Rae (pictured below), an actor, writer and producer who started her creative work on YouTube before creating HBO’s Emmy-nominated “Insecure.” In many ways, Rae’s journey set the stage for the courtship between Hollywood and creators that the summit explored.

“We’ve been working with creators for 100 years, right?” Fox Entertainment’s Wade said during the “The Next Wave of Short-Form Storytelling” panel. “I don’t think of creatives or creators as difficult. Usually, they are trying to realize their vision … These are eminently brilliant creatives who have not just an understanding and ability to create content, but to create businesses.”

Check out our full portrait gallery below:

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit is an invite-only gathering of the top creators, entertainment leaders and brand partners who are shaping the future of storytelling and the new entertainment economy.

The event is presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, both part of the Whalar Group. It is sponsored by City National Bank, Fox Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP and Webtoon.

Issa Rae, Creator & Producer

Dhar Mann, Founder, Dhar Mann Studios

Jo Cronk, Co-CEO, Whalar

Rob Wade, CEO, Fox Entertainment

Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios & Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe

John Kulback, Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP

Michelle Khare, Creator & Host, “Challenge Accepted”

Adam W, Creator & Comedy Star

Adam W, Brandon Marshall, 13-Year NFL Veteran & Pioneer of Athlete-Driven Media, Jo Cronk, Ross Smith, Comedy Content Creator, and Ian Trombetta, Global SVP of Social, Creator & Content Marketing, NFL

Adam W, Brandon Marshall, Jo Cronk, Ross Smith, and Ian Trombetta

Shira Lazar, Founder & CEO, What’s Trending, Creators 4 Mental Health

Ian Trombetta

Jessica Ramsden (Rotaniah), Creator

Brandon Marshall

Josh Richards, Entrepreneur, Multi-Hyphenate Creator & Cultural Architect, CrossCheck Studios

Dunia McNeily, Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment

Yongsoo Kim, President, Webtoon Entertainment

Andrew Bachelor, Actor and Creator

Sharon Waxman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, TheWrap

Kudzi Chikumbu, VP, Creator Partnerships, Tubi

Ross Smith

Tony Vassiliadis, EVP, Operations & Strategy, Fox Entertainment

Kayla Cobb, Senior Reporter, TheWrap

The post Creators x Hollywood 2026 Portrait Studio: Issa Rae, Michelle Khare and More Social Media Greats Strike a Pose appeared first on TheWrap.

The “Mission: Impossible” star commemorated the first day of this year’s Coachella music and arts festival in Indio, California, by unveiling a massive model of a shovel set up near the festival’s desert grounds. The actor shared a photo of the installation Friday morning on X with its coordinates and the caption, “In DIGGER We Trust.”

Little is known right now about “Digger,” Cruise’s first non-franchise film since 2017’s “American Made.” Directed by “Birdman” and “The Revenant” filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film has been described as a satirical black comedy. Its purposefully vague synopsis teases that it follows “the most powerful man in the world” as he races to prove that he is humanity’s savior before the very disaster he unleashed destroys everything.

In addition to Cruise, the film’s ensemble cast includes Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed, Emma D’Arcy, Robert John Burke, Burn Gorman, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Goodman and others. The film is set to hit U.S. theaters in October.

In DIGGER We Trust. 33.711°N, 116.233°W pic.twitter.com/EcK9vLuqtC

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) April 10, 2026

This past December, Warner Bros. released a brief, 49-second teaser for the film, which features a physically unrecognizable Cruise as he dances along the railing of an oceanside pier wearing cowboy boots and swinging a shovel just like the one set up near Coachella this week.

Plus, “Digger” is not the only Hollywood title trying to capitalize on the festival’s popularity. Last week, HBO announced it would be hosting a special screening of the “Euphoria” Season 3 premiere on the festival grounds at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 12. The event makes “Euphoria,” which returns this week from a four-year hiatus, the first TV series to screen a premiere episode at Coachella.

That’s in addition to the regularly scheduled performances of Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G, KATSEYE, The Strokes, Addison Rae, David Byrne, Young Thug, Wet Leg and many more.

Coachella 2026 runs April 10-12 and 17-19, while “Digger” is slated to hit theaters on Oct. 2.

The post Why Tom Cruise Put a Massive Shovel in the Desert for Coachella appeared first on TheWrap.

Speaking at The Wrap’s Creators x Hollywood, in partnership with Whalar and The Lighthouse, on Wednesday, Webtoon Entertainment president Yongsoo Kim noted that there is change happening in the comic world, for the better.

“We are seeing a shift in where great stories start,” he said at the half-day summit exploring the intersection of creators, culture and the entertainment industry. “They originally started mostly from starting inside traditional publisher or studios, but today, we are seeing more and more coming from individual creators, digitally, online.”

Speaking on the “How Creators Are Building Multimedia Universes” panel, presented by Webtoon, alongside creator Jessica Ramsden and Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios & Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, Kim added that webcomics are quickly building their own legions of fans, simply because they adapted to the consumer habits of Gen Z.

“Today’s fandom grew with storytelling on their mobile and it is almost second nature to them,” he explained. “Webcomic contents are serialized and social, so our fans keep revisiting our app to check how the story develops, and relationship with characters, and community on platform is developing. Then over time, users realize that ‘I want to check the next episode’ and build a habit of returning to our platform.”

As those readers return, Register noted, they’re also developing direct relationships with the creators themselves, which is proving to be an exciting shift on his side of things.

“There is the relationship between the author and the audience that I do not have in traditional animation,” he said. “So after I’ve greenlit an episode, made it, produced it, gave it to the network, it’s 18 months from beginning to end, and it’s out there, and either the fans are going to be happy with our decision or not happy with our decision, but there’s a lot more going in. And I think what’s great about digital is, the author and the audience, they are seeing that reaction immediately.”

“What’s great about digital and being able to publish that quickly is that reaction is so fast, people can pivot quicker,” Register continued. “And so me, as a studio, when I’m looking at that stuff, I’m looking at something that has been crafted along the way, because that relationship and that immediate reaction is so gratifying.”

Ramsden readily agreed, noting that while she keeps a buffer between herself and those reactions — she’s generally about six months ahead in her stories — the immediacy of them proves beneficial.

“If I can see, ‘Oh, they really love this character, OK,’ I can think of a storyline where I can add them more, where I can have more of that really positive interaction, more of that positive representation,” she said. “So it is really nice to be able to kind of get that instant gratification.”

Now, Warner Brothers Animation and Webtoon are partnering for 10 new series based on web comics, spanning across genres including action, fantasy and romance, according to Kim.

“What is exciting is that these stories already have a blueprint, like global audience fandom and millions of global page views, which make them really compelling for adaptation,” he said.

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit is an invite-only gathering of the top creators, entertainment leaders and brand partners who are shaping the future of storytelling and the new entertainment economy.

The event is presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, both part of the Whalar Group. It is sponsored by City National Bank, Fox Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP and WEBTOON.

The post How Web Comics Are Tapping New Talent and Building Fandoms More Easily for Big Screen Adaptations appeared first on TheWrap.

At The Wrap’s Creators x Hollywood, in partnership with Whalar and The Lighthouse, the NFL’s Global SVP of Social, Creator & Content Marketing Ian Trombetta and creators Adam Waheed – who creates videos under Adam W – and Ross Smith spoke to the access the league affords creators and how this closer content serves as a win-win for consumers and the NFL.

Speaking on the “The New Playmakers: Creators Shaping the Future of Sports Fandoms” panel, Waheed admitted that he was shocked to receive the opportunity to work directly with the NFL as a creator — “No f–king way I get to work with the NFL, this is amazing!” — but added that it’s “one of the smartest things” the league does to bring it a step above other professional sports organizations.

“I think one of the smartest things the NFL does, and why they’re far past any other sports league, is they really embrace and know what’s going on in the culture of social media,” Waheed said, “where a lot of other companies and leagues, they think they know, but Ian and a lot of the guys on the team actually know what’s culturally relevant on the platforms. That makes all the difference.”

For Trombetta, it comes down to how freely the NFL gives creators access. Thanks to that open access, he thinks it leads naturally to stronger content that ultimately gets seen by more people. It’s been a mutually beneficial investment that has continued to grow as more teams see and reap the benefits of these creators.

“I think for us, one of the big changes that we had – again, give credit to commissioner and all the way down – but the amount of access that we’re able to give these guys now and opportunities to really shine has grown so much,” Trombetta said. “And the clubs also have to get invested in that, and they see the value. They see the output and what the returns are. So that’s also for us the real currency to give these guys what they need from a content and access perspective.”

And it isn’t just rabid fans of the NFL who are enjoying the benefits of seeing their favorite players, coaches and venues from new angles. A major advantage of this partnership has been in welcoming new fans to the sport. Waheed pointed out how many of his viewers were not originally football fans.

“I love the NFL, I know everything about it, but my audience doesn’t, there are a lot of people who don’t watch football who are maybe introduced to it for the first time through my channel, which really expands the game,” he explained. “And in the same sense, someone in that household might watch football, but the kid or the mom or the sister or whoever in the household might not watch it, and they get introduced to the game through that lens.”

Trombetta later added that a focus on younger fans and women were another focus for the NFL – and creators were a big part of that. He pointed to Waheed, Smith and even famous faces like Taylor Swift as figures who continue to grow the league to new demographics and keep them the biggest sport in the U.S.

“When we start looking at Adam’s audience, or Ross’ audience, guarantee you the majority of them are under 35 or even under 24. That’s very complimentary to what we’re trying to do,” he said. “And then you think about other creators that we’re working with that might have a huge Latino following or huge female following, and that brings those fans closer to us in different ways.

“So you know, you think about probably the biggest influencer, Taylor Swift, and there’s been a lot of talk about what Taylor’s done for the NFL. Our fan base is almost now 50% women, which is awesome.”

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit is an invite-only gathering of the top creators, entertainment leaders and brand partners who are shaping the future of storytelling and the new entertainment economy.

The event is presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, both part of the Whalar Group. It is sponsored by City National Bank, Fox Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP and WEBTOON.

The post NFL Partnerships With Content Creators Are a Win-Win for Fans and Execs: ‘Give These Guys What They Need’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“We’ve been working with creators for 100 years, right?” Wade said during TheWrap’s inaugural Creators x Hollywood, in partnership with Whalar and The Lighthouse, on Wednesday. “I don’t think of creatives or creators as difficult. Usually, they are trying to realize their vision … These are eminently brilliant creatives who have not just an understanding and ability to create content, but to create businesses.”

Rather than how creators may overtake traditional media, the Creators x Hollywood Summit highlighted how the old media guard and the future of entertainment are working together.

Here were some of the key themes from the event:

• Issa Rae advised creators to focus on making content on their own platforms and for their audiences, rather than relying on Hollywood’s discovery process.
• The NFL laid out a blueprint for other leagues to successfully collaborate with creators, where providing more access serves as a win for both sides.

• Creator Dhar Mann, Wade and Fox Entertainment exec Tony Vassiliadis stressed the importance of learning from social platform trends and merging them with traditional storytelling, with microdramas being a prime example.
• A common theme was for creators to find and build their niche, but also to expand their presence on multiple platforms to truly scale.

Hollywood continues to contract due to the decline of linear TV, a decrease in streaming spending and an entertainment landscape still recovering from both the 2023 strikes and the residual impacts of COVID. But the creator economy has only grown. Ad spend in the creator ecosystem hit $37 billion last year, a year-over-year growth that was four times faster than growth in the media industry. 

The afternoon of the summit began with a spotlight panel on Rae, an actor, writer and producer who started her creative work on YouTube before creating HBO’s Emmy-nominated “Insecure.” Rae spoke about her journey from being a creator to becoming one of Hollywood’s more influential creative voices in a conversation moderated by TheWrap’s Raquel Calhoun.

In many ways, Rae’s journey set the stage for the courtship between Hollywood and creators that the summit explored.

Representing the major Hollywood players were executives like President of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe Sam Register, Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy and Growth at Lionsgate Brad Haugen and Partner at 3 Arts Entertainment Dunia McNeily.

On the creator side, major names like studio founder Dhar Mann, “Challenge Accepted” host Michelle Khare, comedy star Adam W, “BFFs” podcast host Josh Richards and actor Andrew Bachelor shared their stories.

The event also shined a light on the often unsung leaders who are actively connecting these separate worlds — executives like Webtoon Entertainment President Yongsoo Kim, Vice President of Creator Partnerships at Tubi Kudzi Chikumbu, Global Senior Vice President of Social, Creator and Content Marketing for the NFL Ian Trombetta and partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP John Kulback.

During a dire time in the traditional entertainment industry, TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit was a celebration of the bright future ahead.

Issa Rae’s journey from YouTube to HBO

The “Insecure” creator and star got candid in a wide-ranging chat about her beginnings, the larger creator economy and the decline of DEI.

• Rae discussed the challenges of transitioning from the internet to traditional Hollywood, including the perception that she didn’t know the television space well.
• Rae advised creators to focus on making content on their own platforms and for their audiences, rather than relying on Hollywood’s discovery process.
• She also said executives in Hollywood are actively avoiding DEI, and offered advice on how to get diverse projects through the system.
• Rae also announced that her production company Hoorae has partnered with TikTok for its first microdrama series “Screen Time.”

Sports + Creators

• The NFL’s Trombetta and creators Adam Waheed – who creates videos as Adam W – and Ross Smith spoke about the access the league affords creators and how this closer content serves as a win-win for consumers and the league.
• A major advantage of this partnership has been in welcoming new fans to the sport. Waheed pointed out how many of his viewers were not originally football fans.

Web comics thrive

• Webtoon’s Kim, creator Jessica Ramsden and Warner Bros.’ Register explain how web comics are shaping the future.
• They also broke down how individual creators were making their own content online, bypassing the traditional publishing route.
• “What is exciting is that these stories already have a blueprint, like global audience fandom and millions of global page views, which make them really compelling for adaptation,” Kim said.

The microdramas boom

• Creator and founder Dhar Mann, Fox Entertainment CEO Wade and Fox Entertainment Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations Tony Vassiliadis discuss their new multiyear partnership to produce 40 original vertical microdramas.
• The panelists emphasized the importance of learning from social platform patterns and merging them with traditional storytelling, especially as the microdrama industry is worth an estimated $11 billion.

The business of the creator economy

• Lionsgate’s Haugen, 3 Arts Entertainment’s McNeily and Tubi’s Chikumbu took the audience inside the business of the creator economy.
• Finding a niche has proven to be key, but also establishing an audience across multiple platforms is necessary for scale.
• “You need to be everywhere. There’s 35% of Tubi users that are not on YouTube. People are like, ‘Why is Mr. Beast, the biggest YouTuber, on Tubi?’ It’s because he knows incremental audience, incremental revenue and there’s different people who go to different things to look for different things,” Chikumbu said.
• But more traditional executives are approaching their involvement with the creator economy in a familiar way: find a good, original story and a collaborator who is passionate about the work.

Creators as storytellers

• Creators Josh Richards, Andrew Bachelor and Michelle Khare go deep on the transition from social media stars to building their own businesses and IP.
• From Emmy nominations to Amazon deals, they talked about the evolving role of creators in Hollywood, and how they maintained their brand through their rise.
• They also discussed the role AI plays in content creation, with many seeing the benefits of the assistive nature of the tools, which YouTube in particular has been aggressively pushing.

About TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit:

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit is an invite-only gathering of the top creators, entertainment leaders and brand partners who are shaping the future of storytelling and the new entertainment economy.

The event is presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, both part of the Whalar Group. It is sponsored by City National Bank, Fox Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP and Webtoon. 

The post Creators Get Candid on Their Booming, Challenging Business: ‘You Need to Be Everywhere’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

In the clip, Jackson, the real-life nephew of the late King of Pop, can be seen wearing his uncle’s signature white glove and black bedazzled jacket while singing the 1983 hit, “Billie Jean.” The scene is a recreation of the late Jackson’s famed performance for “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,” where he debuted his famous moonwalk move for the first time.

While the younger Jackson successfully recreates the significant pop culture moment beat for beat, impressively pulling out his own moonwalk, many fans voiced their displeasure at the way the footage was edited.

“Literally the least inspired cinematography I’ve ever seen,” one critic wrote in response to the clip’s release. Another chimed in with, “Dawg how is actual footage of ‘motown 25’ looking way better than this clip???” A third commented, “The shots to the audience destroys the momentum. Dude what were they thinking?”

Others compared the snippet to the aesthetic of 2018’s Freddie Mercury biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

“I’m getting serious ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ vibes,” one person noted on X. “Shot and cut like s–t, but the incredible magic of the original artist the film is based on will be enough for general audiences.”

Though, one critic was far less kind, bluntly writing, “This is f–king atrocious. Holy s–t.”

literally the least inspired cinematography i've ever seen https://t.co/NNWRJ0D8HD

— luci (@reallucialanave) April 10, 2026

Yet, not everyone was hard on the new sneak peek, with one fan voicing optimism for the film’s release. “You guys are not ready for this movie’s international box office numbers,” the supporter said.

“Michael,” which is set to hit theaters on April 24, has faced its fair share of drama leading up to the release, including millions in reshoots, a scrapped final act, a delayed release and more.

The film was directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan and stars Jackson as the titular pop star, Colman Domingo as patriarch Joe Jackson, Nia Long as matriarch Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller as John Branca.

“Michael” moonwalks into theaters on April 24, 2026.

The post ‘Michael’ Clip of Jaafar Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ Performance Slammed by Fans: ‘F–king Atrocious’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Hosted at the Lighthouse in Venice Beach, Calif., TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood, in partnership with Whalar and The Lighthouse, was a half-day summit exploring the intersection of creators, culture and the entertainment industry.

In addition to bringing out prominent creators, the event also spotlighted invaluable insight from some of the creator space’s most impactful executives behind the scenes: the NFL’s Global SVP of Social, Creator & Content Ian Trombetta, Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade, Webtoon Entertainment President Yongsoo Kim and more.

The event was presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, both part of the Whalar Group. It was sponsored by City National Bank, Fox Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP and Webtoon. 

Check out a full event red carpet and panelist photo gallery below:

Issa Rae, Creator & Producer

Issa Rae

Raquel Calhoun, TheWrap Reporter, and Issa Rea

Raquel Calhoun, Sharon Waxman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, TheWrap, and Issa Rae

Sharon Waxman and Issa Rea

Kimberly Donnan, Director of Enterprise, TheWrap

Jo Cronk, Co-CEO, Whalar, speaks onstage during the “The New Playmakers & Creators Shaping the Future of Sports Fandoms” panel

Jo Cronk and Brandon Marshall, 13-Year NFL Veteran & Pioneer of Athlete-Driven Media, speak onstage during the “The New Playmakers & Creators Shaping the Future of Sports Fandoms” panel

Brandon Marshall, Adam W, Creator & Comedy Star, Ian Trombetta, Global SVP of Social, Creator & Content Marketing, NFL, and Ross Smith, Comedy Content Creator, speak onstage during the “The New Playmakers & Creators Shaping the Future of Sports Fandoms” panel

Ian Trombetta

Adam W, Ian Trombetta, and Ross Smith

Adam W

Ross Smith

Brandon Marshall

Audience members tune in to TheWrap’s “The New Playmakers & Creators Shaping the Future of Sports Fandoms” panel

Jo Cronk

Brandon Marshall

Ian Trombetta

Ross Smith

Adam W

Dhar Mann, Founder, Dhar Mann Studios, and Rob Wade, CEO, Fox Entertainment

Aneri Shah, Milky Tran, Hayden Hillier-Smith and guests

Networking Break at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood at the Lighthouse

Kayla Cobb, Senior Reporter, TheWrap, Jessica Ramsden (Rotaniah), Creator , Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios & Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, and Yongsoo Kim, President, Webtoon Entertainment, speak onstage during the “How Creators Are Building Multimedia Universes presented by Webtoon” panel

Jessica Ramsden (Rotaniah) and Yongsoo Kim

Jessica Ramsden (Rotaniah)

Sam Register

Yongsoo Kim

Kayla Cobb, Yongsoo Kim, Jessica Ramsden (Rotaniah) and Sam Register

Kayla Cobb, Dhar Mann, and Rob Wade and Tony Vassiliadis, EVP, Operations & Strategy, Fox Entertainment, speak onstage during TheWrap’s “The Next Wave of Short-Form Storytelling” panel

Rob Wade

Dhar Mann

Dhar Mann

Rob Wade

Tony Vassiliadis

Rob Wade, Dhar Mann, and Tony Vassiliadis

John Kulback, Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP, Brad Haugen, EVP, Digital Strategy & Growth, Lionsgate, Dunia McNeily, Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Kudzi Chikumbu, VP, Creator Partnerships, Tubi, speak onstage during TheWrap’s “Inside the Business of the Creator Economy” panel

Dunia McNeily

Kudzi Chikumbu

Brad Haugen

John Kulback

Kudzi Chikumbu

Dunia McNeily

Brad Haugen

Dunia McNeily, Brad Haugen, John Kulback, and Kudzi Chikumbu

Ian Trombetta, Adam W, and Ross Smith

Guests at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood at the Lighthouse

Sharon Waxman and Jo Cronk inside the portrait studio

Guests at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood at the Lighthouse

Kimberly Donnan and Dhar Mann

John Kulback, Kudzi Chikumbu, Dunia McNeily and Brad Haugen

Shira Lazar, Founder & CEO, What’s Trending, Creators 4 Mental Health, Andrew Bachelor, Actor and Creator, Josh Richards, Entrepreneur, Multi-Hyphenate Creator & Cultural Architect, CrossCheck Studios, and Michelle Khare, Creator & Host, “Challenge Accepted” speak onstage during the “Creators as Storyteller” panel

Josh Richards

Michelle Khare

Andrew Bachelor

Michelle Khare

Shira Lazar

Andrew Bachelor

Shira Lazar, Josh Richards, Michelle Khare and Andrew Bachelor

Andrew Bachelor, Tess Patton, Reporter, TheWrap, and Ivanna Rea, Social Media Manager, TheWrap

Marie-Josée Cantin Johnson, SVP Strategy, Entertainment & Sports Banking at City National Bank, welcomes guests to TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

Marie-Josée Cantin Johnson welcomes guests

Michelle Khare and Jo Cronk

Guests enjoy TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

Guests enjoy TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

Marie-Josée Cantin Johnson and Oganes Akopyan, Vice President Marketing and Events, TheWrap

Sharon Waxman and Michelle Khare

Emily Vogel, Director of Programming, TheWrap, and Michelle Khare

Sharon Waxman, Shira Lazar, Jo Cronk and Kudzi Chikumbu

Jess Lucero, Creator and Host, Kayla Cobb and Emily Vogel

Guests enjoy TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

Guests enjoy TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood cocktail party hosted by City National Bank

The post Issa Rae, Brandon Marshall, Dhar Mann and More Kick Off TheWrap’s Inaugural Creators x Hollywood Summit | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

“Just as the Nile River connects communities, sustains ecosystems and builds civilizations along its path — that’s what we do,” Randolph said in a statement of the launch. “We connect creators, athletes, consumers and brands within one system, and create value that compounds for everyone involved.”

Timed with the company’s launch, Randolph announced two acquisitions from BuzzFeed: its As/Is and Goodful brands. Those acquisitions coincide with a wider commercial partnership with several of BuzzFeed’s identity-driven brands, among them Cocoa Butter, Pero Like and A*Pop.

Positioned as a “content-to-commerce” engine, NILE & Co. (which stands for Narrative, Influence, Legacy, Enterprise) is designed to turn digital audiences into scalable businesses by pairing creators and athletes with equity stakes. The platform will focus on women consumers, a demographic Randolph emphasized as central to both purchasing power and future economic growth.

“I’ve spent my career building brands and scaling businesses alongside some of the most influential creators and commercial partners in the world,” Randolph said. “What I’ve learned is that narrative and influence are two of the biggest accelerants in modern brand building — and women are now in the driver’s seat. They control the majority of purchasing decisions, sit at the center of the largest wealth transfer in modern history, and are reshaping how capital, culture and commerce move. Naturally, our first investment is in her.”

Looking ahead, NILE & Co. will operate through three primary strategies: building new companies with creators as equity partners, acquiring and scaling culturally relevant brands and partnering with IP owners and corporations to commercialize content-driven businesses.

Randolph is joined by a leadership team that includes CFO Manveer Sehmi, Head of Content and Creator Partnerships Heather Johns, Operating Partner Melinda Lee and Creative Director Ahmad Barber.

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