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š®š¹ Airbnb brings Gladiators back to Rome
PLUS: TikTokās CEO Seeks Muskās Wisdom; āWickedā and āGladiator IIā Deliver Big
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TOP STORY
š®š¹ Airbnb brings Gladiators back to Rome
Airbnb is bringing gladiators back to Rome.
The short-term rental giant is embracing the Gladiator II hype and plans to host live gladiator-style battles in the Colosseum.
Yes, Iām being dead serious.
š Airbnb ($ABNB) stock is up 2.13% this year.
Airbnb says these ābattlesā are designed to celebrate the Colosseum's cultural history while promoting the Gladiator II movie.
As (unfortunately) expected, theyāll be reenactments, not actual bloodshed.
The event will feature choreographed gladiator battles inspired by the movie.
Visitors will be able to book tickets through Airbnbās platform.
Negotiations are underway to include a mix of live events and digital content for streaming.
But it'll still be awesome to see gladiators.
š¬ Theyāve even partnered with historians, actors, and filmmakers to make the experience āauthenticā and claim itās all about respecting the siteās heritage.
There is some drama, though, because not everyoneās a fan of awesome ideas.
Local lawmakers, for instance, are pissed, saying...
Hosting entertainment events in a UNESCO World Heritage Site crosses a line.
Concerns are mounting over potential damage to the Colosseumās structure.
Some have called it a āgimmickā that prioritizes profit over preservation.
And yet, Airbnb is still pushing forward.
I guess you could say the fight over the Colosseum isnāt just happening in the arena (*slaps knee*).
š¬ The Colosseum is one of the most visited landmarks in the world, drawing nearly 7 million tourists annually.
SOCIAL MEDIA
š± TikTokās CEO Seeks Muskās Wisdom
So, apparently, TikTokās CEO Shou Chew has been hitting up Elon Musk. Nah, not for that.
The CEO of the app your roomate canāt stop scrolling has reportedly contacted Musk for insights on dealing with the incoming Trump administration.
Why? Because TikTok is once again staring down the barrel of a potential U.S. ban, and Chew seems to think Musk might have some tips for navigating the storm.
Not a bad guy to get some advice from. Picking that brain might take a while, though, lol.
So, whatās got Chew so nervous?
During his first term, Trump signed an executive order banning TikTok, but courts blocked it from taking effect.
Then, earlier this year, President Biden signed a law mandating that ByteDance divest from TikTok by mid-January 2025, or the app will face a U.S. ban.
Ouch, I remember that. Wait, so does Trump want to keep this impending ban alive?
Not necessarily.
Trump seems less focused on banning TikTok outright, and Chew, ByteDance leaders, and Musk are all reportedly optimistic about finding a possible path forward.
Great. So, whatās next? A federal appeals court decision on TikTokās lawsuit is expected next month, which could be a make-or-break moment.
Until then, itāll just be awkward coffee dates between Chew and Musk.
ENTERTAINMENT
šæ āWickedā and āGladiator IIā Deliver Big
Things are getting spicy at the box office. While some of us were busy figuring out the Thanksgiving menu, āWicked,ā and āGladiator IIā stormed into theaters and made bank.
Universalās āWickedā opened to a jaw-dropping $114M domestically, while Paramountās Gladiator II slashed its way to $55.5M.
Combined, these two blockbuster beasts brought in nearly $200M in North America over the weekendāmaking it the biggest pre-Thanksgiving box office haul in over a decade.
So, whatās it like on the ground? As expected, creators have already come up with catchy names for the films, dubbing the combo āGlickedā or āWikiatorā (still a work in progress).
Many are even calling it this yearās Barbenheimerābut with more swords and far less pink.
Here are some more numbers:
Wicked:
$114 million domestic debut (slightly under Fridayās $120million estimate).
One of the highest openings for a musical adaptation.
$164.2 million globally.
Gladiator II:
$55.5 million domestic opening.
$165.5 million in international earnings.
$221 million global total.
I hope you saved enough space to get tickets to the movie!
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