🇮🇹 Airbnb brings Gladiators back to Rome

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TOP STORY
🇮🇹 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, I’m being dead serious.

Airbnb says these “battles” are designed to celebrate the Colosseum's cultural history while promoting the Gladiator II movie. 

As (unfortunately) expected, they’ll be reenactments, not actual bloodshed.

• The event will feature choreographed gladiator battles inspired by the movie.

• Visitors will be able to book tickets through Airbnb’s 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.

There is some drama, though, because not everyone’s 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 Colosseum’s structure.

• Some have called it a “gimmick” that prioritizes profit over preservation.

And yet, Airbnb is still pushing forward.

I guess you could say the fight over the Colosseum isn’t just happening in the arena (*slaps knee*).

SOCIAL MEDIA
📱 TikTok’s CEO Seeks Musk’s Wisdom

So, apparently, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew has been hitting up Elon Musk. Nah, not for that.

The CEO of the app your roomate can’t 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, what’s 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, what’s next? A federal appeals court decision on TikTok’s lawsuit is expected next month, which could be a make-or-break moment.

Until then, it’ll just be awkward coffee dates between Chew and Musk.

ENTERTAINMENT
🍿 “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” Deliver Big

Things are getting spicy at the box office. While some of us were busy figuring out the Thanksgiving menu, “Wicked,” and “Gladiator II” stormed into theaters and made bank.

• Universal’s “Wicked” opened to a jaw-dropping $114M domestically, while Paramount’s Gladiator II slashed its way to $55.5M.

• Combined, these two blockbuster beasts brought in nearly $200M in North America over the weekend—making it the biggest pre-Thanksgiving box office haul in over a decade.

So, what’s it like on the ground? As expected, creators have already come up with catchy names for the films, dubbing the combo “Glicked” or “Wikiator” (still a work in progress).

Many are even calling it this year’s Barbenheimer—but with more swords and far less pink.

Here are some more numbers:

Wicked:

• $114 million domestic debut (slightly under Friday’s $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!