Janet Jackson follows Beyonce’s example and introduces series of strict rules for her 2023 tour
JANET JACKSON is the latest big name musician to join stars doing #MeToo checks among their teams.
I revealed earlier this summer how Beyonce had vetted producers and rejected songs by artists for her record Renaissance if they had faced accusations of abuse or harassment.
Now insiders have revealed Janet is doing the same for her upcoming Together Again world tour.
A source said: “Janet is taking a leaf out of Beyonce’s book and is implementing #MeToo checks as she prepares for her Together Again tour.
“The checks will see everyone from her dancers and band mates to crew and general staff vetted to ensure they don’t have a history of abuse.
“It’s not cheap to do but for Janet and those close to her, creating a safe and kind work environment is more important than profits.
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Comfortable and safe environment
“She also wants a completely non-toxic working environment for all her staff and by implementing these early checks she is eradicating the risk.
“Janet’s Together Again tour is expected to generate over £70million and will be a massive event. A show that big and of the scale Janet plans cannot afford anything to happen to it.
“Janet is determined everyone working on the tour can be completely comfortable and that they are in a safe environment.”
Beyonce implemented her changes earlier this year after a producer, Detail, who worked on her 2013 hit Drunk In Love, was arrested in August 2020.
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He was charged with a number of serious sexual assaults between 2010 and 2018. Janet’s new tour was announced last month and will see her play across the States, having had to cancel her Black Diamond tour in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
The singer last performed to UK fans at Glastonbury in 2019 in a crammed 50-minute slot but before that it was a three-night run at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2011.
She is also set to debut new music at the shows so it will be an exciting moment for fans.
AJ waves in the New Year
AJ ODUDU was left a little blue as she kicked off 2023. The presenter admitted she was nursing a sore head as she posed for a New Year’s Day snap.
I am willing to bet Brits spent the start of the year in their PJs on the sofa in rainy Blighty. But lucky AJ saw in 2023 on the sands at Miami – opting to match her blue bikini with the towels from exclusive haunt Soho Beach House in the process.
The Sun previously told how AJ has been hand-picked by ITV bosses to host rebooted Big Brother when it kicks off later this year.
Speaking in November, a source revealed she jumped at the chance to front the show and was finalising her contract.
It's all about that movie
FIRST MEGHAN TRAINOR made a surprise return to the charts at the end of 2022.
And now the Made You Look singer admits she has set her sights on Hollywood.
Meghan told me of her plans: “I want to be a TV star, I want to be the next Kelly Clarkson and have my own TV show, I want to be in movies, I want to write more music for other artists and I want to have four babies. I have a lot to do.”
Meghan, who is married to Spy Kids actor Daryl Sabara, added of her Tinsel Town dream: “I really want to do more acting. I have just filmed a guest star slot on a sitcom.
“I can’t say which one but it has something to do with one of my girl mum mates. I play a character so I wait to watch it to see if I am any good.”
The All About That Bass singer continued: “It was the most fun I have ever had. I cried when I had to leave. Daryl came to the set every day and hung out with me in the trailer.
“He is so supportive. I would love to film a romcom and write the music for the film too. That would be the dream to star in a film and also write the soundtrack.”
Sounds like Meghan’s definitely got her work cut out.
But I’m all here for it just so long as she continues to give us chart-topping pop hits from time to time.
Shania's fun and fair
NOT only is Shania Twain releasing a new album and going on tour this year, she will also be on our screens after joining the panel of ITV singing contest Starstruck.
The country superstar has swerved the chance to judge on The X Factor or The Voice but said she was won over by the friendly nature of this series.
In an exclusive chat, she explained: “I wanted to have some fun without pressure and what really takes the pressure off with Starstruck is the lack of competitiveness.
“The teams come on as three people doing the same artist, who they’re really a fan of.
“They want to do the best version of that artist, but they also want to support each other. So the camaraderie is built in off the bat. It’s so touching and sincere.
“They are so happy for each other, whoever wins. I think taking the competitive element out of it removes the pretension and expectations too because what are they getting out of it?
“£50,000… But they’re not getting a record deal or the promise of being a star.
“By doing the show, they’ve lived their dreams.”
PRESSURE'S ON FOR MEL
SHE dominated the world as one fifth of Spice Girls. But Mel C admits her success can be a double edged sword at times.
Sporty Spice tells me she expects to be criticized for her performing arts dancing debut later this month despite rehearsing hard over Christmas.
She told me: “I have been involved in the development of it so have been fully involved with the whole process. I just want to do the best I can do but I can’t go into anything low key.
"I can’t get away with doing something and not being judged. It adds lots of pressure of course it does because sometimes I feel like I have to be really, really good at something otherwise I will be criticised but it would never stop me doing what I want to do.
"I love the fact I have these opportunities to try new things and learn new skills.”
New Year arrives Hurley
THE apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for Liz Hurley and her son Damian.
The model appears to have inherited his mother’s quirky fashion sense as they celebrated the New Year.
Damian opted for a statement floral jacket while Liz channelled her inner Britney Spears and rocked a semi-sheer jewelled bodysuit.
Taking to Instagram, the actress wrote alongside this snap: “A bittersweet goodbye to 2022 – a year of both extremely happy and deeply sad memories.
“Here’s to 2023 and hoping everyone’s dreams come true.”
Maybe slips a Cardi on, luv
CARDI B lets it all hang out as she sees in 2023 by performing in this very revealing red frock.
Cardi and her husband, fellow US rapper Offset, performed together at Miami club E11even. Never one to play it safe, Cardi belted out her filthy hit WAP while grinding on her man and a stripper pole.
This is set to be a big year with the release of her new album, the first since 2018 debut Invasion Of Privacy.
Insisting it will drop in the next 12 months, she said last month: “I have to put it out. I have a couple of songs that are definite, I need to make up my mind. I just feel it’s just missing something.
“I don’t know. I gotta put it out next year.”
Meg: no regrets
MOST of us want to throw out our ex’s clothing and never think of them again after a split. But Megan McKenna is thankful for some of the dodgy blokes she’s dated – as it’s allowed her to write about many a life lesson.
Megan told me: “I am still judged for doing reality TV but I don’t think that is a bad thing. I feel like I have a chance to prove that I am actually a real artist.
“With country music, it is all about stories . . . If I had a boring life I wouldn’t have anything good to write about.
“I thank all my exes and I thank all the drama in my life.”
I previously told how Megan, who played Glastonbury earlier this year, is set to spend a large chunk of next year writing and recording her second album.
I just hope that dating some of the most questionable men in TV has been worth it for the music.
Adele is fired up
ADELE had one of the worst starts to 2022 after halting her Las Vegas residency at the last minute.
But 12 months later it couldn’t be a more different story. The singer is able to say “Hello from the other side” as celebs flock to Sin City for her run at Caesars Palace, with Cher being the latest to check out the show.
Luckily for Adele, Cher and her rumoured music exec fiancé Alexander Edwards sneaked in after the lights went down to avoid being spotted.
Adele previously admitted she would have self-combusted had she known country legend Shania Twain once caught her gig.
Adele posted in November: “Thank God you had a hat on @shaniatwain. I would have self-combusted had I seen it was you. I adore you, I can’t believe you came.”
LAST year Taylor Swift broke more records than I can count with the release of her chart-topping tenth album Midnights.
And now the Anti-Hero singer can add another string to her bow after becoming the only female to have a 2023 calendar in the top ten musicians on .
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Despite massive years for both Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, neither make the list – with Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard taking first and second place.
Maybe I’m missing a trick . . . watch out 2024.