Entertainment
MURIC Calls for Ban of Movie Featuring Nancy Isime in Niqab
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded a ban on an upcoming movie featuring popular actress Nancy Isime, in which actresses, including Isime, are seen wearing a purdah or niqab, and brandishing weapons. The group has condemned the movie as “satanic,” arguing that it depicts Muslim women as criminals and incites public prejudice against them.
In a statement released by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, the organization expressed serious concerns about the film’s portrayal of Muslim women. The statement emphasized that the movie, recently unveiled by Nancy Isime, portrays women in purdah involved in criminal activities such as bank robberies. MURIC described the movie as an extreme form of Islamophobia, calling it provocative and insulting.
The statement reads, “An extremely anti-Muslim film has been released into the Nigerian movie industry. The upcoming film, which was recently unveiled by Nancy Isime, shows women in purdah brandishing dangerous weapons and robbing banks. It is Islamophobia taken to the highest level. This film is satanic, repugnant, and provocative. It is aimed at portraying Muslim women as criminals with a violent proclivity. The film is capable of inciting the public against Muslim women. It may also expose Muslims in general to public ridicule and opprobrium.”
Professor Akintola further argued that the film could incite violence in Nigeria if immediate actions are not taken. He called on the National Film and Video Censors Board to investigate and ban the movie before its release.
“To Nigerian Muslims who have inundated our communication channels with video clips, voice notes, and other types of messages, we have this to say: please remain calm and peaceful. You have spoken loud and clear. We have received your messages and action is being taken right now. Our religion brought a message of hope and peace to the world. We will not allow anyone to paint our women, our mothers, our wives, our daughters and sisters in the colors of Shaytan. Be good ambassadors of Islam. Don’t take the law into your hands. Allow the authorities to take necessary action,” Akintola urged.
MURIC also plans to file a complaint with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, requesting action against the account responsible for sharing what they have labeled as “Islamophobic content.”
Reacting to the film, Latifat Adewunmi Jumah, who manages a Facebook page called Laj Fingers, expressed her dissatisfaction with the portrayal. She stated, “The niqab/hijab is not an armed robbery attire! The niqab/hijab is not an attire for concealing identity.”
She questioned Nancy Isime’s choice, suggesting, “If you needed to conceal your identity for a perfect robbery role, you could have used a nose mask or worn a mask. Why wear Islamic attire?”
Jumah added, “I find this offensive. Something needs to be done to stop these people. Niqab/Hijab is not a costume, neither is it a joke.”
Entertainment
Woman Accused of Shooting at Rihanna’s Home Pleads Not Guilty
A Florida woman accused of opening fire at the Los Angeles home of pop star Rihanna has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and multiple related charges.
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, entered her plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court, denying allegations that she tried to kill Rihanna and others during the incident on 8 March at the singer’s mansion in Beverly Crest.
Prosecutors allege Ortiz fired a semiautomatic rifle at the property, targeting not only Rihanna but also her partner A$AP Rocky, their three young children, and others present at the home and a nearby residence. No injuries were reported.
According to court documents, the victims listed include Robyn Fenty and Rakim Mayers—the legal names of Rihanna and A$AP Rocky—as well as Rihanna’s mother and several additional individuals.
Ortiz faces a range of serious charges, including attempted murder, 10 felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Each assault charge corresponds to an individual allegedly targeted during the incident.
Authorities say Ortiz drove to the residence, fired multiple shots, and then fled the scene. She was later arrested at a shopping centre in Sherman Oaks after her white Tesla was located approximately eight miles away.
She remains in custody with bail set at $1.875m (£1.4m) and could face life imprisonment if convicted. A judge has also barred her from practising as a speech pathologist in California.
Ortiz is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on 8 April. Her legal team has not publicly commented on the case, and representatives for Rihanna have yet to respond.
Entertainment
BTS Comeback Concert on Netflix Draws 18.4 Million Global Viewers
A livestreamed comeback concert by K-pop superstars BTS attracted 18.4 million viewers worldwide on Netflix, highlighting the group’s enduring global influence.
The one-hour performance marked the first time all seven members—Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—had performed together since October 2022, when they paused group activities to complete mandatory military service in South Korea.
Held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, the free concert drew about 104,000 attendees, according to entertainment giant Hybe Corporation—below earlier projections of 260,000.
Despite the slightly lower turnout, the event marked the launch of the group’s sold-out 82-date world tour and was streamed live to audiences in more than 190 countries. Only around 22,000 fans gained access to the main venue, while others watched via large outdoor screens set up nearby.
The broadcast quickly climbed to the top of Netflix rankings in 24 countries, underscoring the group’s massive international reach. The concert also forms part of Netflix’s broader push into live programming, following major events such as the 2024 boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which reportedly drew over 108 million viewers.
Security was tight, with around 7,000 police officers deployed, including specialised units equipped with anti-drone systems to manage the large crowds.
Financially, the comeback is expected to be significant. Analysts estimate that BTS and their label could generate over $1bn (£740m) from reunion-related activities, including touring, merchandise, album sales, and streaming. The group remains the primary revenue driver for Hybe, which saw profits decline during their hiatus.
However, investor expectations appeared to shift after the event, with Hybe’s shares dropping by 15.5% on Monday despite months of gains leading up to the reunion.
Entertainment
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky dies at 43
Leonid Radvinsky, the owner of OnlyFans and a key figure behind its rapid global rise, has died at the age of 43.
The Ukrainian-born entrepreneur, who grew up in Chicago, passed away peacefully following a prolonged battle with cancer, the company confirmed in a statement, requesting privacy for his family.
Radvinsky acquired OnlyFans in 2018 from its UK-based founders and oversaw a period of extraordinary growth that reshaped the online content landscape. Originally launched in 2016, the platform allows creators to share photos and videos while earning income through subscriptions, tips, and personalised content requests.
Its popularity surged dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions turned to digital platforms for income and entertainment. Within three years, Radvinsky’s success with the platform earned him a place on Forbes’ billionaire rankings.
Although creators on OnlyFans produce a wide range of material—from fitness tutorials to cooking content—the platform became best known for adult content and its direct creator-to-fan monetisation model. The company retains a 20% commission on all earnings generated on the platform.
By 2024, OnlyFans had grown into a massive digital enterprise, generating $1.4 billion in revenue from transactions exceeding £7 billion. It also reported more than 377 million subscribers and approximately 4.6 million creators, according to its latest filings.
However, the platform’s expansion also brought regulatory scrutiny. In 2024, Ofcom investigated concerns about potential underage access to explicit content. While the probe was ultimately dropped, the regulator fined the company about £1 million for failing to provide accurate information about its age-verification systems.
Earlier controversies included allegations that the platform did not adequately address illegal material. In response to mounting pressure, OnlyFans announced plans in 2021 to ban sexually explicit content, only to reverse the decision days later after strong backlash from users and creators.
The company has also faced legal challenges from users who claimed they were misled into believing they were communicating directly with creators, when in some cases third-party operators were involved. These cases have so far been unsuccessful.
Radvinsky, who held a degree in economics from Northwestern University, lived most recently in Florida. Beyond OnlyFans, he invested in technology ventures through his firm, Leo.com, and was involved in philanthropic efforts, including donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
According to Forbes, his net worth was estimated at $4.7 billion. He had also been exploring a potential sale of OnlyFans in the past year, signaling possible changes in the company’s future direction before his passing.
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