Entertainment
Catherine O’Hara, star of Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, dies at 71
Catherine O’Hara, the beloved Hollywood and television star whose career spanned decades and generations, has died at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy defined by fearless comedy, warmth and remarkable versatility. Best known to global audiences as the frazzled but unforgettable mother in the Home Alone films and the flamboyant Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara remained creatively active and deeply admired until the very end of her life.
True to her lifelong dedication to her craft, O’Hara was working almost until her death. Just last year, she starred in Seth Rogen’s critically acclaimed Hollywood satire The Studio, where she played Patty Leigh, a long-serving studio boss whose firing at the start of the series sets the story in motion. The role once again showcased O’Hara’s ability to balance sharp satire with humanity, as Patty later reinvents herself as a successful producer behind some of the industry’s biggest hits.
Beyond her iconic turn as Kevin McCallister’s overwhelmed mother in Home Alone, O’Hara carefully built a zany, self-aware persona that became one of the most delightful fixtures in Hollywood. With roots in improvisational comedy, she brought spontaneity and intelligence to every performance. Whenever the Canadian star stepped onto an awards-show stage, even the most jaded viewers could expect something memorable.
One standout moment came during the socially distanced 2020 Canadian Screen Awards, when O’Hara joked about “enjoying the great indoors” and delivered her acceptance speech from home. Fully committing to the gag, she played herself off with music — then continued singing her speech to the tune, embodying the eccentric charm fans had come to adore, particularly through her portrayal of Moira Rose.
That same year, when she won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy, O’Hara celebrated the chance to portray “a woman of a certain age — my age — who gets to fully be her ridiculous self.” Appearing from a Toronto viewing party during Covid restrictions, she turned a virtual ceremony into an intimate, joyful moment. The following year, her reunion onstage with Schitt’s Creek co-stars Dan Levy, Eugene Levy and Annie Murphy was warmly received, especially as the group lovingly teased Eugene Levy in front of a global audience.
O’Hara continued to steal the spotlight in later years. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, she memorably delayed presenting an award by asking, “Must we really choose one winner?” before theatrically ripping up the envelope. At the Oscars that same year, she reunited with her Beetlejuice co-star Michael Keaton to present the make-up and hairstyling awards, joking that “the last thing we want is for anyone to know what we actually look like or the squalor in which we actually live.”
Her partnership with Seth Rogen also extended beyond The Studio. Last year, the pair presented together at the Golden Globe Awards, delivering a rambling, self-aware routine about Canada’s imaginary awards shows that ran long but earned plenty of laughs, particularly for its affectionate digs at Americans and the excesses of awards culture.
In The Studio, O’Hara’s Patty Leigh shone brightest during an episode set entirely at the Golden Globes, where her character effortlessly schmoozed a room full of Hollywood stars and power brokers. The performance earned O’Hara a Golden Globe nomination earlier this month, and she is also nominated for best female comedy performance at the forthcoming Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards). That honour, now awarded posthumously, carries a bittersweet poignancy.
Catherine O’Hara’s death marks the loss of a rare talent — an actress who embraced age, absurdity and reinvention with joy, and who consistently elevated every project she touched. While she is gone, the laughter she created, the characters she embodied and the generosity she brought to her art ensure that her presence will continue to be felt, celebrated and cherished for many years to come.
Electronic artist Look Mum No Computer has been selected to represent the United Kingdom at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.
The solo performer — real name Sam Battle — is known for blending music with technology, building unconventional instruments and composing electronic soundscapes using devices such as modified Furby toys and Game Boys.
Battle first emerged on the music scene in 2014 as the frontman of indie rock band Zibra, which performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2015. Since then, he has focused on his solo project, gaining global attention for his inventive approach to sound creation.
“I find it completely bonkers to be jumping on this wonderful and wild journey,” he said after the announcement.
“A lifelong Eurovision fan, I love the magical joy it brings to millions of people every year. Getting to join that legacy and fly the flag for the UK is an absolute honour.”
Based in Kent, the artist has built a strong online presence, amassing around 1.4 million followers across his social media platforms, including his YouTube channel.
His work has drawn widespread interest for its creativity, featuring inventions such as Furby-powered organs, synthesiser bicycles and even flame-throwing keyboards.
“I’ve spent years creating, writing and producing my own visions from scratch,” he said. “I’ll be bringing every ounce of my creativity to the stage — I hope Eurovision is ready to get synthesised.”
Pop superstar Taylor Swift has asked the US government to prevent a bedding company from trademarking the phrase “Swift Home,” arguing that it could mislead consumers into thinking she has endorsed the brand.
Swift’s legal representatives contend that New York-based company Cathay Home has styled the word “Swift” in a way that closely resembles the singer’s trademarked cursive signature.
Cathay Home, which sells bedding products through major retailers, had applied to register the “Swift Home” trademark for use on its home goods. In response, Swift — through her rights management entity — filed an appeal with the US Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday.
In the filing, her legal team argued that the proposed trademark creates a “false association” with the artist, potentially leading consumers to believe she has endorsed the company’s products.
They further stated that the move appeared intended to leverage Swift’s “goodwill and recognition” to enhance the brand’s market appeal.
According to the documents, Swift already holds federal trademarks covering the use of her name and signature across a wide range of goods — including bedding, clothing and music-related merchandise.
Over the course of her career, Swift has secured more than 300 trademarks globally, encompassing her name, initials, album titles and even select lyrics — a reflection of her expansive commercial footprint.
The singer-songwriter’s business influence has grown alongside her creative success. With a net worth estimated at well above $1bn (£730m), boosted by record-breaking global tours, Swift continues to play an active role in protecting the commercial use of her brand identity.
Entertainment
Bad Bunny Breaks New Ground at Super Bowl with Spanish-Language Spectacle Celebrating Unity
Bad Bunny delivered a landmark Super Bowl half-time show that blended cultural pride, star power and a call for unity, even as former US President Donald Trump dismissed the performance as “terrible”.
The 31-year-old global superstar turned the 14-minute spectacle into an affectionate tribute to his native Puerto Rico and the wider Americas, ending with messages of shared identity and togetherness with the United States. The performance featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, while high-profile cameos from Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G and Jessica Alba added to the celebratory atmosphere.
Much of the show unfolded around Bad Bunny’s now-famous casita set — a stylised recreation of a traditional Puerto Rican home that has become a visual hallmark of his live performances. Cameras captured celebrity guests dancing on its porch as the music pulsed with Caribbean rhythms and Latin pop energy.
Fresh off a year in which he was named the world’s most-streamed artist of 2025 by Spotify, Bad Bunny made history by becoming the first performer to deliver an entire Super Bowl half-time show in Spanish. The Super Bowl is typically the most-watched television event in the US, making the moment a significant cultural milestone.
He briefly switched to English for a single line — “God bless America” — before naming countries across Central, South and North America as dancers paraded with their national flags. Behind them, a billboard carried the message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” The segment concluded with Bad Bunny holding a football emblazoned with the words: “Together, We Are America.”
Despite the symbolism, the artist — born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — avoided any direct political criticism of the current US administration during the performance. Nonetheless, Trump, who did not attend the game, took to his Truth Social platform to attack the show, calling it “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!”
He went on to describe the performance as “an affront to the Greatness of America” and complained that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying”, comments that quickly drew criticism from Bad Bunny’s fans and supporters of multicultural representation.
In response to the controversy, conservative group Turning Point USA organised a separate event dubbed the All-American Halftime Show, headlined by outspoken Trump supporter Kid Rock.
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