Pakistani leaders praise Makkah Agreement as histo…

Perez Hilton was hospitalized this week after a concerning livestream, and the internet wasted no time turning it into a conspiracy theory. Social media users quickly linked the incident to Ariana Grande’s newly released “Petal” music video. According to reports, authorities responded after receiving multiple calls about the livestream. Hilton was found alone at his residence and taken to a hospital for treatment. It did not take long for online speculation to spiral. Some users pointed to dark, horror-inspired imagery in Grande’s “Petal” video, claiming a connection between the two events. A handful of posts went further, suggesting Hollywood promotes what they called “demonic influences.” Screenshots from Grande’s video were circulated as supposed evidence, though the claims remain unverified and speculative. The timing added fuel to the online chatter. The theories emerged just two days after Ariana Grande announced she is stepping away from the public eye once her current tour wraps up next month. A representative for the pop star explained that her public-facing work had left her dealing with constant scrutiny. That announcement, paired with the Hilton incident, seems to have given conspiracy theorists exactly the storyline they were looking for. As of now, there is no credible evidence connecting the two events. The theory appears to be another case of the internet linking unrelated stories to create a viral narrative out of thin air.

WASHINGTON: Several social media videos published by US President Donald Trump’s campaign and the White House that featured songs by pop superstar Taylor Swift have reportedly been removed, drawing renewed attention to the long-running tension between the singer and the Republican president. The videos had used music associated with Swift during the past week, but the posts were subsequently taken down. Neither the White House nor a representative for Swift immediately issued a public explanation for the removals. The development comes against the backdrop of Swift’s previous political opposition to Trump. Although the singer has not recently made public comments about the president, she endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival, during the 2024 presidential election. Swift has also been openly critical of Trump in the past. During the 2020 election campaign, she criticized him on social media and indicated that she did not support his bid for another term in the White House. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly attacked the singer publicly. Following Swift’s endorsement of Harris in 2024, Trump posted a message declaring that he hated the pop star. He also criticized her popularity in a separate social media post last year. The latest controversy is part of a broader dispute over the use of commercially released music in political campaigns and government-produced social media content. A number of prominent musicians have previously objected to the Trump administration or its campaign using their music, while others have publicly called for restrictions on such use. Among the artists who have raised concerns about the use of their work are Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande. Trump campaign uses Swift references in TikTok video Over the past week, Trump’s campaign used two Swift songs or references to her music in content shared through its TikTok account. One of the videos adopted the titles and themes of several well-known Swift songs and altered them to promote Trump’s political messaging. The captions referred to songs including Red, Everything Has Changed, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and The Last Time, while linking their themes to issues such as immigration, the US-Mexico border and criticism of the previous Biden-Harris administration. The campaign’s use of Swift-related material was presented as political commentary rather than as an indication of support from the singer. Another video posted in June used Swift’s song associated with the upcoming Toy Story 5 project. The campaign paired the music with footage showing Trump interacting with children at the White House, attending a UFC event and appearing at a political rally. The accompanying message praised Trump’s support for the United States and American citizens. The use of Swift’s music has attracted particular attention because of the singer’s well-documented political differences with Trump. Previous White House use of Swift’s music The latest removals are not the first occasion on which Trump-related social media accounts have featured Swift’s music. In April, the White House published a video showing members of the Artemis II crew meeting Trump. The video incorporated Swift’s song High Infidelity, including a reference to one of its lyrics. The White House also faced online reaction after publishing another TikTok video in November featuring The Fate of Ophelia, a song from Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl, which had been released the previous month. That video combined the song with images of the US flag, American landmarks and photographs of Trump, including his widely circulated 2023 booking photograph. The post generated significant discussion on social media. A White House spokesperson subsequently told news organisations that the administration was aware the controversial content would attract substantial media attention and said news outlets would extensively amplify it. Growing debate over music and political messaging The use of popular music by political campaigns has become an increasingly sensitive issue, particularly when artists have publicly expressed opposition to a candidate or administration. Trump’s communications operation has maintained a highly active presence across social media platforms and has frequently used popular songs and viral-style videos to promote the president’s political agenda. Its posts have covered a wide range of issues, including immigration enforcement, US military actions against Iran and the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The repeated use of well-known songs has helped Trump’s social media operation generate attention beyond traditional political messaging. However, it has also raised questions about whether artists support the political messages attached to their music. Swift has not publicly commented on the latest removal of the Trump-related videos. The White House and the singer’s representatives have likewise not provided an immediate explanation regarding the decision to remove the posts. The episode nevertheless highlights the continuing clash between Trump’s aggressive social media strategy and Swift’s past political statements, ensuring that any future use of her music by Trump or his administration is likely to receive close public scrutiny.