Eminem Brings Taylor Swift's Historic Reign at No. 1 to an End, Stevie Wonder's Record Stays Intact

Eminem performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 9, 2018, left, and Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour on June 21, 2024. (AP Photo)
Eminem performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 9, 2018, left, and Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour on June 21, 2024. (AP Photo)
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Eminem Brings Taylor Swift's Historic Reign at No. 1 to an End, Stevie Wonder's Record Stays Intact

Eminem performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 9, 2018, left, and Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour on June 21, 2024. (AP Photo)
Eminem performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 9, 2018, left, and Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour on June 21, 2024. (AP Photo)

Eminem's latest album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce),” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, unseating Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" after 12 weeks.
In its first week, “The Tortured Poets Department” hit 891.34 million album streams stateside, according to Luminate, the biggest streaming week for an album in history, The Associated Press said.
Swift's album debuted at No. 1 in April and held the top spot for three months. She is the only woman to have done so; Swift beat the previous record held by Whitney Houston's 1987 album, “Whitney.” It spent its first 11 weeks at No. 1.
“The Tortured Poets Department” tied Morgan Wallen's 2023 album “One Thing at a Time,” which also debuted at No. 1 and stayed there for 12 consecutive weeks. (It would later remerge at the top spot, spending 19 weeks total at No. 1.)
The only album to outperform them is Stevie Wonder’s 1976 masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life.” It spent 13 weeks at No. 1 after debuting in the top spot; 14 weeks there in total.
“The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)" is Eminem's 12th album and his 11th to hit No. 1. “The Tortured Poets Department” dropped to No. 4 as a result. In the second slot is K-pop boy band ENHYPHEN's “ROMANCE:UNTOLD” and irreverent country Zach Bryan's “The Great American Bar Scene” is at No. 3.



Disneyland Workers Threaten Strike Action over Wages, Treatment


Disney employees rally outside the main entrance of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 2024, ahead of a planned strike authorization vote. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
Disney employees rally outside the main entrance of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 2024, ahead of a planned strike authorization vote. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
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Disneyland Workers Threaten Strike Action over Wages, Treatment


Disney employees rally outside the main entrance of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 2024, ahead of a planned strike authorization vote. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
Disney employees rally outside the main entrance of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 2024, ahead of a planned strike authorization vote. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)

Hundreds of Disneyland Resort employees protested outside the world-famous California theme parks Wednesday, calling for better wages and denouncing alleged anti-union practices by the company ahead of a looming strike vote.
Featuring workers in costumes from the parks' "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars" themed rides, among others, the rally was organized by unions representing some 14,000 Disneyland employees, from rollercoaster operators to candy makers, said AFP.
Slogans among the signs being carried included "Mickey would want fair pay" and "Disney, don't be the villain" at the march in Anaheim, near Los Angeles.
"We deserve fair wages," said 44-year-old Disneyland employee Ginny Cristales.
"A strike is our last resort, that we're not wanting to do. But if Disney doesn't comply and give us what we need, then we're all ready."
Disney has been in negotiations since April with the four California unions representing its park employees.
The talks have so far yielded nothing, and unions accuse the so-called "Happiest Place in the World" of intimidating employees.
Disney is claimed to have reprimanded and issued warnings to more than 500 employees for wearing a union pin featuring an image of Mickey Mouse's glove clenched in the shape of a fist.
"Last week, I saw a manager telling one of the cast members to remove her badge. He told her that it will be on her record card," said Cristales.
"She was stressed and she got scared."
The allegations have prompted an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board.
Disney has said the union buttons violate its "Disney Look" dress code.
Employees will vote on whether to authorize a strike this Friday. If the action is approved, unions will then decide on its terms and duration.
Contract talks with Disney are set for next Monday and Tuesday.
- 'We make the magic' -
In the wake of last year's devastating strikes by Hollywood actors and writers, another large-scale walkout at Disney would be historic.
Employees at the Disneyland resort -- composed of the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks -- have not gone on strike since 1984, according to the LA Times.
But Cristales, a mother of four, said her $2,800 monthly wage does not even cover her family's rent.
"We make the magic, they make the money," went one of the chants heard Wednesday, as passing cars honked in support.
"Disney will invest $2 billion in its park but refuses to pay workers a living age" read a slogan on a protesters' T-shirt.
Organizers said one thousand protesters attended the rally.
An AFP journalist saw several hundred march to the park's perimeter, where they tried to set up for speeches, but were told by security to move to a car park some 200 yards (meters) away.
"With today's rally, we continue to be focused on the wellbeing of our guests and cast members," said Disney in a statement Wednesday.
"We remain committed to the upcoming meetings on July 22-23 and reaching an agreement with Master Services that focuses on what matters most to cast members, positions Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation and enables us to continue delivering incredible guest experiences."