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Michael Jackson Biopic Opens With $96 Million
Filmmaker Spike Lee praised Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' in a CNN interview, defending its timeline against critics. The film grossed $96 million in its opening weekend, surpassing previous musical biopics. Separate reports covered a new casino's debut in New York City and reactions to gunshots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
May 2, 6:02 AM·1m read3 sources
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The biopic ends in 1988, before the first accusation against Jackson in 1993, Lee said. "First of all, if you’re a movie critic, and you’re complaining about the stuff— all this other stuff— but the movie ends at ‘88.
The stuff you’re talking about, accusations, happen [later]. So you’re critiquing the film on something that you want in, but it doesn’t work in the timeline of the film. But people showed up. Worldwide, people showed their love," Lee stated.
The film earned $96 million in its opening weekend, more than any other musical biopic upon opening. m.
PT. In New York City, Resorts World became the first-ever casino in the city when it opened two days before journalist Will Rahn's visit on Thursday. Rahn visited the facility, located near JFK Airport.
The casino's arrival followed efforts during Andrew Cuomo's time as governor of New York. Gunshots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last weekend. Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, seated at a table during the incident, asked his tablemate if he was going to finish his salad.
Blankfein later met journalist Suzy Weiss for coffee and discussed the event. A 31-year-old computer science graduate allegedly attempted to assassinate the president of the United States last Saturday. The Free Press article covering these topics was published on May 2, 2026.
