As 2024 comes to a close, the music industry has been anything but quiet — serving us a sizzling feast of stories that have left us completely overwhelmed. From Diddy’s tragedy behind bars and legal troubles to Liam Payne’s tragic death, not to mention Taylor Swift’s record-breaking tour, we’ve witnessed some truly difficult moments. forgetting makes us smile, cry, scream and dance our hearts out.
So grab your popcorn (and tissues) as we get back to the seven biggest news stories that turned music upside down this year!
Diddy’s arrest and ongoing legal battle
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The arrest of disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has become one of the most reported stories of 2024. Although Combs’ past has long drawn a series of accusations, he was exposed after a disturbing clip resurfaced in 2016 showing him assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Cassie Ventura in a hotel.
This comes with the discovery of Combs’ controversial past which led to accusations of sex trafficking, fraud and trafficking in prostitution. Closely linked to his infamous “freak” parties, anonymous victims were given their statements and many A-list celebrities were also brought into the fray.
The ongoing fight against Combs includes Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents more than 120 of Combs’ victims. The rapper is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center since September and has been denied bail multiple times.
Despite the rapper’s incarceration, Combs’ prison status is still being monitored by the public and the media; from his dietary habits to his interactions with family members.
BenniferSecond divorce
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend ELLE’s Women in Hollywood Celebration at Nya Studios on December 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
After rekindling their relationship in 2021 and remarrying in 2022, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, her and Ben Affleck’s second wedding anniversary in Georgia.
According to an insider, although the “All I Have” singer didn’t want a divorce, she “seemed relieved” to do so.
Meanwhile, Lopez is said to be prioritizing self-care and personal development, and looks forward to starting afresh in 2025 after a difficult year.
Liam Payne’s sudden death
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On October 16, Directioners were deeply saddened by the news of Liam Payne’s death after the late singer fell from a third-floor balcony, at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The news was immediately widely reported, revolving around the late singer’s last moments before the fall. Following the tragic incident, Payne’s fans, loved ones and music industry colleagues paid tribute to him in vigils and on social media.
On November 20, Payne’s former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik gathered to pay their respects at their late bandmate’s funeral.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s engagement
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco got engaged on Instagram
In early December, Selena Gomez sparked rumors that she was about to enter a new chapter of her life with boyfriend Benny Blanco. That was after the couple celebrated Thanksgiving at “our house”; As a result, discussions about possibly taking the plunge quickly erupted on social media.
That’s right, on December 12, the famous couple announced their engagement, with Gomez showing off her ring on Instagram and captioning it “forever starts now.”
Blanco also shared a clip of him and Gomez clinking glasses, a never-before-seen moment between him and the pop star businessman on the night of the proposal.
Chappell Roan tells photographer about ‘STFU’
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The 2024 Video Music Awards were flashy, quirky and sprinkled with spice – like when Chappell Roan clapped back at a rude photographer.
During a photo shoot on the red carpet, the “Red Wine Supernova” singer was adjusting her outfit when paparazzi yelled at her to “s**t the f**k up”.
This immediately caught Roan’s attention, causing her to react strongly while pointing at them, “You bastards,” and adding, “Not me, b***h.”
The incident sparked mixed reactions, with some criticizing Roan for “always complaining”. However, others praised her for standing up against the “rude and annoying” photographer.
Dua Lipa is ‘engaged’ to boyfriend Callum Turner
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On December 27, The Sun reported that Dua Lipa was engaged to boyfriend Callum Turner, whom she had been dating for less than a year. According to the source, the engagement was apparent due to Dua’s latest post celebrating the holidays, in which lowkey showed off a wedding ring.
A source then informed the outlet that Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are now engaged, saying that 2024 is a breakout year for the singer and that the engagement is “the cherry on the cake” for with her. Representatives of both sides have also requested direct comments.
Taylor Swift wraps up ‘The Eras’ tour
ANDRE DIAS NOBRE/AFP via Getty Images
Taylor Swift finally wrapped up her lengthy world tour on December 8, which began in March 2023. “The Eras” tour, which grossed more than $2 billion, has ended in Vancouver.
During its run, the influential “The Eras” tour broke many records, including being the highest-grossing tour of all time and the first tour to gross more than 1 billion USD. In August, Variety reported that the “All Too Well” hitmaker earned up to $17 million per show, not including profits from ticket resale.
After finishing the tour, Swift is said to have given her crew more than $197 million in bonuses to express her gratitude. An insider also revealed that Swift plans to “relax and get some rest.”
The source added that she was happy to spend some quality time with boyfriend Travis Kelce.
Tags Liam Payne, Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco, Diddy, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jennifer Lopez, Chappell Roan, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift