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Dame Maggie Smith Oscar-winning Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Dies, Aged 89—-In the Harry Potter films, Dame Maggie played the acerbic Professor Minerva McGonagall, famous for her pointed witch’s hat and stern manner with the young wizards at Hogwarts.

In hit ITV drama Downton Abbey, she played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the grand matriarch who excelled at withering one-liners through the show’s six series.

A statement from her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

They thanked “the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days”.

They added: “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Tributes were also paid by her co-stars.

Hugh Bonneville, who appeared in Downton Abbey, said: “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

“She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Dame Maggie also reprised her role for the two Downton Abbey films.

In 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, her character died of the illness she revealed at the end of the 2019 film, to the huge upset of her family and friends.

Downton followed the success of 2002 period drama Gosford Park, which earned Dame Maggie both Oscar and Bafta nominations for playing Dowager Countess of Trentham.

In his statement on Friday, the prime minister said Dame Maggie “introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career”.

“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace,” he wrote.

Dame Kristin Scott-Thomas, who starred alongside Dame Maggie in 2005’s Keeping Mum and 2014’s My Old Lady, said she “took acting very seriously but saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz”.

“She really didn’t want to deal with that,” Dame Kristin added.

“She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools. So you had to be a bit careful. I absolutely adored her.

“The last time I saw her, she was very cross about being old. ‘Maddening’ I think she said. Much loved, much admired and irreplaceable.”

A National Theatre spokesperson said her career “spanned the theatrical, film and television world without equal”.

Praising her stage performances, the statement added: “She will forever be remembered as one of the greatest actors this country has had the inestimable pleasure of witnessing.”

Bafta added that she was a “legend of British stage and screen”, praising her five competitive Bafta wins, plus the special award and fellowship she received from the organisation.

Dame Maggie’s career spanned eight decades, with early acclaim coming when she gained her first Bafta nomination for Nowhere to Go in 1958.

In 1963, she was offered the part of Desdemona in Othello at the National Theatre by Laurence Olivier, and two years later it was made into a film and Smith was nominated for her first Oscar.

The actress’s other memorable roles included 1985 Merchant Ivory film A Room With a View, in which she played the chaperone Charlotte Barlett, accompanying Helen Bonham Carter’s Lucy Honeychurch to Italy.

The role earned her another Oscar nomination and a Bafta.

And along with another national treasure, Dame Judi Dench, she appeared as an English woman living in 1930s Italy in the film Tea with Mussolini, which was released in 1999.

The two dames also shared screen time in A Room With a View and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Dame Maggie played the firm but fair Reverend Mother in the two Sister Act films, starring Whoopi Goldberg as nightclub singer Doloris Wilson, who takes refuge from the mob in San Francisco by posing as a nun in a local convent.

Goldberg called Dame Maggie “a great woman and a brilliant actress”, adding: “I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind’.”

Rob Lowe, who starred with Dame Maggie in 1993’s Suddenly, Last Summer, recalled “the unforgettable experience of working with her”.

“Sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion,” he said.

“She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools.

“We will never see another. God speed, Ms Smith!”

The veteran actress also played the old woman who spent 15 years living in a van outside Alan Bennett’s house in a film adaptation of the writer’s The Lady in the Van in 2015.

Her final roles included 2023’s The Miracle Club, which follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes, co-starring Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

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Watch Moment Burna Boy Halts Colorado Show To Exit Front-Row Sleeping Fans

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5 months ago

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November 13, 2025

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Burna Boy Halts Colorado Show To Exit Front-Row Sleeping Fans

Watch Moment Burna Boy Halts Colorado Show To Exit Front-Row Sleeping Fans—-Nigerian artist Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy paused his sold-out concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on Wednesday night after spotting a front-row fan’s girlfriend sleeping, demanding the fan take her home and refusing to perform until they left.

The incident occurred midway through his ‘No Sign of Weakness’ tour performance, attended by 9,500 fans, with videos capturing his insistence on full audience engagement.

Social media reactions have divided fans, with some supporting his stance on concert etiquette and others criticizing the ejection of paying attendees.

Watch Video With X Link Below:

https://x.com/hypetribeng/status/1988882534864724337

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“Wasiu Ayinde” by BhadBoi OML dominates TikTok Trends, FYP in 2025

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6 months ago

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October 28, 2025

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BhadBoi OML dominates TikTok Trends

“Wasiu Ayinde” by BhadBoi OML Dominates TikTok Trends, FYP in 2025—-TikTok has officially revealed its top Nigeria Song of the Summer for 2025, crowning ‘Wasiu Ayinde’ by BhadBoi OML as the track that dominated feeds and inspired trends.

Toyin Mustapha, TikTok’s Head of Music Partnerships, UK, Ireland & Sub-Saharan Africa, said in a statement that the album ‘Bhadboi’ stood out and gained popularity on the platform stemmed from its unique cultural fusion.

He said that the album masterfully blended a modern pop sound with traditional Yoruba influences from Fuji music, exemplifying how artists are redefining Afrobeats through authentic fusion.

According to him, the song’s success is a perfect example of how the platform’s list reflects a diverse and vibrant mix of sounds.

“While Nigerian artists like Davido, Olamide, and Rybeena topped the charts with their high energy anthems.

“The top ten also saw an impactful mix of gospel-inspired hits, sounds from across Africa, including South Africa and Uganda that resonated deeply with the Nigerian audience.

“TikTok is where music truly comes to life. It is a space where songs are discovered, collective enjoyment is cemented, artists grow and opportunities open up in ways that were not possible before,” Mustapha said.

According to him, what makes TikTok special is the community where fans, creators and musicians all come together to shape culture, and in this case, seasons, in real time.

Mustapha said that the Songs of the Summer showed how powerful that connection was and how TikTok continued to be the platform where Nigerian music could break boundaries and reach the world.

He said that the full list of top 10 trending tracks offered a deeper look into the sonic diversity happening across the Nigerian music landscape.

According to him, collaborations proved to be a powerful formula for chart success, with six collaborations making the list of the top ten songs of the summer.

Mustapha said that the collaborations included “99” by Olamide, Seyi Vibez, Asake, Young Jonn and Daecolm; “With You” by Davido and Omah Lay, and “Gaddem” by Rybeena & Shoday.

He said that Amapiano’s continued influence was also undeniable, with songs like “Ngishutheni” by Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh showcasing the genre’s unstoppable appeal across the continent.

According to the Tiktok boss, a growing appetite for emotionally-driven content such as soulful and inspirational tracks like Chella’s “My Darling”  among others found viral moments alongside the season’s biggest hits.

Mustapha said that these tracks found viral success on TikTok fueled by their high energy and memorable choruses for dance challenges and lifestyle content.

He said that the tracks perfectly captured the creativity and vibrance at the heart of Nigeria’s youth and culture.

According to him, more than just a ranking, the 2025 Songs of the Summer list proves TikTok’s role in pushing a diverse mix of local artists and genres to the forefront.

He said that the platform was cementing its position as a cultural incubator, helping authentic and culturally rooted music find a global audience.

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