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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Adam Lambert opened up about his experience performing at the 2009 American Music Awards on ABC.</li><li>According to Lambert, the network temporarily "banned" him after he kissed a man onstage.</li></ul>Adam Lambert opened up about his experience performing at the 2009 American Music Awards — and what he says was a negative reaction from ABC after he kissed a musician onstage during the telecast. Lambert was accepting an award at the 2023 Creative Coalition Spotlight Initiative Gala when he made the comments, according to <a href="https://ew.com/celebrity/adam-lambert-homophobia-gay-creative-coalition-speech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entertainment Weekly's Patrick Gomez</a>."I did the kind of performance I had seen since I was a teenager," Lambert said of his 2009 performance. "I was kind of sexy and had dancers on stage, and I did a couple of suggestive moves with a couple of dancers, and an impromptu kiss with my bass player." (The kiss occurs around the 3:28 mark in a YouTube video of the performance below.) "I was feeling it," the singer added. But according to Lambert, ABC (which televised the awards show) had a less-than-positive reaction to his onstage kiss."I got off stage and I got in trouble. The network was like, 'How dare you?' They banned me for a while," Lambert said, <a href="https://ew.com/celebrity/adam-lambert-homophobia-gay-creative-coalition-speech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per EW</a>. "They threatened me with a lawsuit. It was like, 'Oh, okay, that's where we're at.'"The "American Idol" alum said that he "didn't know" his flirtatious performance would rub some the wrong way."I'd been in a bubble in LA amongst artists, weirdos, and I didn't realize that that kind of thing would ruffle feathers the way it did," Lambert explained. Representatives for ABC didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.Lambert went on to say in his acceptance speech that he subsequently decided to "be as gay as I fucking can be," regardless of the consequences."If it gets me into trouble, it gets me in trouble, but I'm not going to back down from it," the singer said of his decision to be "flamboyant" and "wild."And despite ABC's purportedly negative reaction, Lambert said that being a visibly queer performer helped him connect with even more fans."Over the past few years, I keep meeting more and more young people that saw me when we were a kid on TV and they're like... 'You helped me talk to my parents about being gay,'" Lambert <a href="https://ew.com/celebrity/adam-lambert-homophobia-gay-creative-coalition-speech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.

Adam Lambert claims ABC temporarily banned and threatened to sue him after he kissed a man during a 2009 on-air performance

17 people you probably forgot guest-starred on 'Pretty Little Liars'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The BBC's "Platinum Party at the Palace" took place outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday night.</li><li><keyword id="11893534" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="queen-elizabeth-ii" source="Orion">Queen Elizabeth II</keyword> did not attend, but several other <keyword id="11893529" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="royals" source="Orion">royals</keyword> were among the 22,000 concertgoers.</li></ul>Global superstars, including <keyword id="11984179" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="diana-ross" source="Orion">Diana Ross</keyword>, Alicia Keys, and Sir Elton John, performed outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday night to mark Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.The BBC's "Platinum Party at the Palace" had an <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61689413">audience of 22,000</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10886349/The-Queens-Platinum-Party-Palace-concert-watched-13MILLION-viewers.html">many millions more</a> watched the <keyword id="13112463" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="platinum-jubilee" source="Orion">Platinum Jubilee</keyword> festivities live on TV.The Queen was not in attendance, but Prince Charles was.<a href="https://www.insider.com/prince-charles-paid-tribute-to-his-mummy-queen-elizabeth-at-jubilee-concert-2022-6"> Insider reported that he paid a heartfelt tribute to "Your Majesty, mummy"</a> at the concert. <div type="image" title="Royals attend Platinum Party at the Palace" height="2324" width="3098" msid="92021944" hostid="261"></div>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also watched as musical legends performed.The concert was kicked off by Queen, fronted by Adam Lambert, who performed three songs.<div type="image" title="Brian May and Adam Lambert of Queen perform during the Platinum Party At The Palace at Buckingham Palace." height="2513" width="3351" msid="92021945" hostid="261"></div>Later in the concert, a musical medley was led by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin Manuel Miranda. It featured songs from "Hamilton," "Cats," and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."Sir Rod Stewart performed two songs, followed by Andrea Bocelli's rendition of "Nessun Dorma" and a performance by the British new wave band Duran Duran.<div type="image" title="Sir Rod Stewart onstage during the Platinum Party at the Palace in front of Buckingham Palace on June 04, 2022 in London, England." height="5499" width="7332" msid="92021946" hostid="261"></div>Alica Keys sang some of her greatest hits, including "Empire State of Mind" and "Girl On Fire."Sir Elton John's performance of "Your Song," which was filmed in Windsor Castle, was broadcast to concertgoers.<div type="image" title="Diana Ross performs during the Platinum Party At The Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022 in London, England." height="3653" width="4871" msid="92021947" hostid="261"></div>And Diana Ross, the 78-year-old Motown icon, who has not performed in the UK in 15 years, closed the concert with three songs.There were also pre-recorded messages from Sir Paul McCartney, former first lady Michelle Obama, and tennis player Emma Raducanu, among others.

Diana Ross, Sir Elton John, and Alicia Keys perform for royals at star-studded Platinum Jubilee concert

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11971546" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="queen" source="Orion">Queen</keyword>'s <keyword id="14136720" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="brian-may" source="Orion">Brian May</keyword> and Roger Taylor said they will debut an unreleased <keyword id="14136719" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="freddie-mercury" source="Orion">Freddie Mercury</keyword> song.</li><li>They told the BBC that they found the song again after forgetting about it.</li></ul>Queen have announced that they will release a new song featuring the late Freddie Mercury in September.Mercury was the lead singer of the English band <a href="https://www.insider.com/queen-rock-band-50-anniversary-pictures-2021-3">when it first formed in 1970 until he died from complications with AIDS in 1991.</a> Brian May and Roger Taylor, Queen's guitarist and drummer respectively, have since continued performing as Queen, including on Saturday, when they performed with American singer Adam Lambert during the British Queen's Jubilee concert, "<a href="https://www.insider.com/photos-dianna-ross-alicia-keys-perform-at-platinum-jubilee-concert-2022-6">Platinum Party at the Palace</a>," to celebrate her 70 years on the throne.Before they went on stage at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, May and Taylor told the BBC that they will release a new song called "Face It Alone" in September."We did find a little gem from Freddie that we'd kind of forgotten about and it's wonderful," Taylor told Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2. "Actually, it was a real discovery. It's from the 'Miracle' sessions and I think it's going to be out in September.""Miracle" is the name of Queen's 13th studio album, released in 1989. It was the penultimate album before Mercury's death and contained the hit "I Want It All."When asked how they found the song, May explained: "It was kind of hiding in plain sight. We looked at it many times and thought, 'Oh no, we can't really rescue that.' But, in fact, we went in there again and our wonderful engineering team went, 'OK, we can do this and this.' It's like stitching bits together. But it's beautiful. It's touching."Taylor added: "It's a very passionate piece."In the past, Queen has released a number of <a href="https://www.insider.com/freddie-mercury-queen-unreleased-song-video-time-waits-for-no-one-2019-6">unreleased tracks featuring Mercury</a> such as "There Must Be More to Life Than This," which was a discarded collaboration with Michael Jackson and was released as part of the "Queen Forever" compilation album in 2014.

Queen will debut an unreleased Freddie Mercury song in September — 30 years after the singer's death

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Justin Guarini came in second to <keyword id="12904583" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kelly-clarkson" source="Orion">Kelly Clarkson</keyword> on season one of "<a href="https://www.insider.com/where-are-they-now-american-idol-winners-2018-5">American Idol</a>" 20 years ago. </li><li>He told Insider he never expected the show to become a "superstar machine" when he first auditioned.</li></ul>On June 11, 2002, "<keyword id="12528075" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="american-idol" source="Orion">American Idol</keyword>" aired its first episode.In the wake of the 1990s reality-TV hype from "Star Search" and MTV's "Total Request Live," Fox was hoping for a hit of its own. Soon, families across the country would sit down to cheer and vote for their favorite singers."American Idol" finalists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Adam Lambert have gone on to have legendary music careers. And over two decades later, through judge changes, cancellations, a move to ABC, and a pandemic, the show goes on. Insider spoke with the series' first runner-up, Justin Guarini, to learn what it was like to compete 20 years ago.<h2>No one knew what 'Idol' would become when season one began</h2><div type="image" title="justin guarini singing on season one of american idol in 2022" height="1504" width="2006" msid="92149638" hostid="261"></div>After airing a season of "Pop Idol" in the UK, which was inspired by New Zealand's "Popstars," the British television producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller set their sights on crossover success in the US. With a phone-driven voting system borrowed from "Eurovision Song Contest" and the "Pop Idol" <a href="https://www.insider.com/american-idol-judges-ranked-2019-3">judge Simon Cowell</a> promising to come on board, producers set out to scout talent in cities across America. Today, it's not uncommon for hopefuls to drive across the country, or even fly to Hawaii, just for a <a href="https://www.insider.com/singers-who-were-rejected-by-american-idol-2018-11">chance to audition for "American Idol."</a>For Guarini, all it took was a short drive from Pennsylvania to New York."We all went into this blind, and we were making it up as we went along," he told Insider. "All I knew is that my job was to just show up and shine."From the "cattle-call" auditions in large stadiums to pre-audition interviews with producers, there was a lot of waiting and off-camera <keyword id="12102402" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="singing" source="Orion">singing</keyword> before contestants even set foot in front of the show's host, Ryan Seacrest, and its <a href="https://www.insider.com/all-american-idol-judges-where-are-they-now-photos-2021-7">iconic first judging panel</a>: Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul. Guarini said there were "hours and hours of singers in lines" but that the process happened "over a matter of weeks, rather than months and months," as it does today."It's still one of the most wild and interesting processes I've ever been through," he added.After Guarini sang "Who's Lovin' You" by The Miracles, the famously blunt Cowell told him: "Occasionally, you're very privileged when you do a competition like this to hear somebody who's undiscovered with a voice like yours, and I think this is one of those moments."<h2>Guarini made it through to Hollywood Week with 121 other performers</h2><div type="image" title="justin guarini singing on season one of american idol" height="1147" width="1529" msid="92149640" hostid="261"></div>Hollywood Week is notoriously difficult for contestants. It's the start of long rehearsal days and late nights practicing in hotel rooms. It can push people to their limits and put singers through the wringer. And, in the eyes of producers, that makes for great television.Guarini called the show "a pressure cooker," adding: "It's a proving ground for everything that you're going to have to deal with when it comes to being successful in the <keyword id="11896019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="entertainment" source="Orion">entertainment</keyword> business and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-did-famous-musicians-look-like-when-they-were-20-2020-2">the music business</a>."Like with most reality-TV shows, Guarini said the producers "definitely knew what they were doing" when it came to packaging the reality competition. But the contestants still had some say."When it came to the outfits we wore, when it came to the songs we sang, when it came to certain elements of the performances we wanted to create and see, they were very open to our suggestions and very open to helping us put on the best presentation that we could," he said. In the final round of Hollywood Week, Guarini performed "Get Here" by Brenda Russell and made it through to the top 30. Those singers were cut down to the top 10, and the 23-year-old Guarini was officially a finalist.<h2>As the show picked up steam, the previously unknown singers were thrust into the limelight </h2>"American Idol" quickly became the hit of summer 2002. The first episode brought in <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-01-16/fox-s-american-idol-draws-fewest-viewers-since-2002#xj4y7vzkg">over 9 million viewers</a>, and by August, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/09/05/the-pop-vote/1e9f1834-4a5a-4a26-87ca-8237e1d58826/">tens of millions</a> of fans were watching each week.Guarini already understood life around cameras. When he was growing up in Georgia, his father was a politician, and his mother was an anchor for CNN.But "American Idol" was an entirely different beast.The intense shooting schedule already kept the contestants out of the leering eyes of the public, but Guarini said that the showrunners "sheltered us and shielded us from a lot of people who were trying to just get to us.""They put us in a lovely mansion up in the Hills where no one knew where we were," he said. "And when we did go out, we were always carefully guarded."While they were surrounded by luxury, the singers were often too busy performing, recording, rehearsing, and promoting the show to fully relax."I think a lot of people don't realize that being on any successful show, especially one as detailed and a production that's as big as 'American Idol,' is virtually a 24-hour job," he told Insider.<h2>In September, millions of viewers tuned in and voted for the first 'American Idol' finale</h2><div type="image" title="justin guarini looking lovingly at kelly clarkson on the season one finale of american idol" height="1175" width="1567" msid="92149642" hostid="261"></div><a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/american-idol-ratings-season-finale-ratings-graphic-6561370/">According to Billboard</a>, the season-one finale, which aired on September 4, 2002, attracted 22.8 million viewers. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/09/05/the-pop-vote/1e9f1834-4a5a-4a26-87ca-8237e1d58826/">The Washington Post</a> reported almost 16 million public votes were counted. At the time, Guarini said, it was hard to compute "the scope of everything.""You can imagine maybe like a hundred thousand people in a sports arena," he added. "To get beyond that — millions of people?"Guarini and Clarkson went head-to-head singing the "American Idol" originals "Before Your Love" and "A Moment Like This," respectively. Guarini recalled turning to Lythgoe backstage while Clarkson was performing her number and saying, "'If I win this thing, there's going to be a riot.' Because it was so apparent to any objective observer that Kelly was the one to win."And win she did. "I remember the moment Ryan called her name out being genuinely joyful and grateful for Kelly because it was so right," he said. <h2>With 20 years in the rearview, Guarini is still grateful for his time on 'Idol'</h2><div type="image" title="justin guarini on the american idol stage in 2022 for the 20th anniversary celebration" height="1033" width="1377" msid="92149644" hostid="261"></div>For both Guarini and Clarkson, life after "American Idol" came with a paid trip to Turks and Caicos, record deals, a movie offer for 2003's "From Justin to Kelly," and a leg up in the entertainment industry.Now, 20 years later, Guarini looks back on his "interesting and wonderful and wild career" that spans from Broadway roles and hosting gigs to cartoon voice-overs and soda commercials.He's still grateful for "<a href="https://www.insider.com/american-idol-fun-facts-2018-10">American Idol</a>," which he said defined his career and gave him access to many of his professional opportunities."We didn't know that it was going to be the biggest show on television for many years running," he told Insider. "We didn't know that it would spawn all kinds of shows like it. We didn't know that it would change the landscape of pop culture."We didn't know that it would be a superstar machine."

First 'American Idol' runner-up Justin Guarini breaks down what it was like filming season one

Mumbai, Apr 15 () Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will join artistes from around the world for a virtual event to support healthcare workers who are battling it out against the coronavirus pandemic.The actor took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce his participation in the 'One World: Together At Home', a virtual concert organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international advocacy organisation Global Citizen.Curated by pop star Lady Gaga, the concert will stream on April 18 on multiple global platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Alibaba, Amazon Prime Video, Apple. "Health care workers on the frontlines of the #COVID19 crisis need our support. That's why I'm standing in solidarity with @glblctzn and @WHO for One World: #TogetherAtHome - a one-night special event on April 18," Shah Rukh wrote on Twitter. The special event, 'One World: Together At Home' will see performances from Gaga, Adam Lambert, Billie Joe Armstrong, Camila Cabello, Chris Martin, David and Victoria Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Hudson, Lilly Singh, Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Taylor Swift, Vishal Mishra among others.Like many film personalities, Shah Rukh has been doing his bit to contribute to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the star provided 25,000 kits of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to the frontline medical staff in Maharashtra fighting to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state. He has committed to donate the same to West Bengal.Recently, he, along with wife Gauri Khan, offered their four-storey personal office space for treating COVID-19 patients.The 54-year-old superstar had earlier announced various initiatives to help the country during the health crisis.According to the Union health ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 377, while the number of cases in the country rose to 11,439. KKP RDSRDS

COVID-19: Shah Rukh Khan to be part of global event honouring frontline healthcare workers

Mumbai, Apr 19 () Superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas urged people to fight the the coronavirus pandemic with unity, as they joined artistes from around the world for a virtual event to support healthcare workers who are battling it out against COVID-19.Curated by pop star Lady Gaga, the 'One World: Together At Home' virtual concert was organised on Saturday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international advocacy organisation Global Citizen.In a one-minute video clip, Shah Rukh said India is facing "one of its greatest challenges in our history" and with a population of over a billion citizens, COVID-19 is "bound to have a negative impact on the country"."Like it is impacting the rest of the world too. Battling this crisis is going to take its toll, and this is the time to take action. "Right now, I'm working with a team of people to provide protective equipment, quarantine centres, food and essentials to patients, hospitals and homes. But to beat this worldwide pandemic, the world has to, must come together," he said.The "Fan" star said it's important for people to contact world and private sector leaders, and ask them to continue to contribute to WHO's Solidarity Response Fund. "So they can help to continue the hardest of areas and people who desperately need it. India, planet earth, we are one world. I love you, stay strong," the actor added.Priyanka said the impact of COVID-19 across the globe has been "unimaginable", but its effect is "particularly devastating" for the 70 million people displaced in camps and shelters around the world, including facilities in the US."I have witnessed first hand some of the overcrowded and unlivable conditions in refugee camps. Social distancing there is simply not an option. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in these specific communities, the needs are basic: health care, clean water and sanitation."Global Citizen and WHO are two organisations that I'm personally very proud to stand alongside to fight against COVID-19. In the fight to end this crisis, we truly can't affort to lose anyone behind," the actor, who is in Los Angeles, said. The star-studded line-up also included the likes of Adam Lambert, Billie Joe Armstrong, Camila Cabello, Chris Martin, David and Victoria Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Hudson, Lilly Singh, Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Vishal Mishra among others. JUR RDSRDS

SRK, Priyanka Chopra honour healthcare workers on COVID-19 frontline: We need to fight this together

Where to find cheap tickets to the best summer concerts of 2019 - including Ariana Grande, Lizzo, and Queen

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image">Ethan MillerCarrie Underwood earned $31 million in 2013.</div></div>Season 13 of "American Idol" kicks off tonight with a two-night premiere, and if this season is anything like past competitions, we'll have plenty of entertainment on our hands - from outrageous tryouts and backstage drama, to bickering judges and mindblowing vocal performances.
Just in time, Forbes has released its <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2014/01/14/top-earning-american-idols-2013/" target="_blank">list of top-earning American Idols</a>, and in the number one spot sits none other than 2005's winner, Carrie Underwood.
The 31-year-old country star earned $31 million in 2013, thanks to her nationwide tour, platinum-selling "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blown-Away-Carrie-Underwood/dp/B007HO392S" target="_blank">Blown Away</a>" album, and Olay endorsement deal.
Since taking the crown in Season 4, Underwood has pulled in more than $83 million
The singer also appeared in NBC's "<a href="http://www.nbc.com/sound-of-music/" target="_blank">The Sound of Music Live!</a>," which despite negative criticism, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sound-of-music-live-ratings-2013-12" target="_blank">attracted 18.5 million viewers</a>.
Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson came in at number two on the list, having raked in $7 million last year, while Phillip Phillips (Season 11 winner) and Adam Lambert (Season 8's runner-up) tied for third place with $5 million earned over the course of 2013.
<a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/499590/who-s-the-top-earning-american-idol-alum-kelly-clarkson-carrie-underwood-or-jordin-sparks?cmpid=emn-011514-enewsletter-title-latest-8" target="_blank">Forbes calculated</a> the former Idols' earnings through Pollstar Pro, RIAA, and Nielsen SoundScan ratings, as well as through industry interviews.

Carrie Underwood Is Forbes' Top-Earning 'American Idol' Alum

<keyword id="31204" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Katy-Perry">Katy Perry</keyword> got creative when announcing her upcoming new album Monday night.
The singer had a gold plated semi-trailer truck drive through the middle of <keyword id="2370" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="hollywood">Hollywood</keyword>.
In bold, black lettering on the side of the truck it revealed what all Katy Perry fans have been waiting for: KATY PERRY • PRISM • 10•22•13.
Prism will be Perry's fourth studio album and is set for an October 22 release date.
The truck is expected to make its way across the country, with Perry tweeting after its initial departure:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Find the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PRISM&amp;src=hash">#PRISM</a> semi, take a picture and I'll RT you. Don't worry, Los Angeles is just the first stop on the map.
— Katy Perry (@katyperry) <a href="https://twitter.com/katyperry/statuses/361999603270303745">July 30, 2013</a></blockquote>
Check out some snaps people got of the truck in Los Angeles, from both fans and fellow celebs:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yes <a href="https://twitter.com/katyperry">@katyperry</a> this is crazy!! Love it! <a href="http://t.co/Muuj3j4awO">pic.twitter.com/Muuj3j4awO</a>
— Adam Lambert (@adamlambert) <a href="https://twitter.com/adamlambert/statuses/361969374422265856">July 29, 2013</a></blockquote>

<div class="image-container" style="width:800px"><div class="image"><a href="http://instagram.com/p/cXq7o5j_9Y/">http://instagram.com/iambenlyons</a></div></div>
<div class="image-container" style="width:800px"><div class="image">twitter.com/katysring</div></div>
<div class="image-container" style="width:800px"><div class="image">twitter.com/nayV</div></div>
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Katy Perry Announced Her New Album By Parking A Huge Gold Truck In Hollywood

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">ReutersSingle's Day craziness.</div></div></div>Alibaba turned Single's Day, the Chinese holiday for the single-set, into a huge economic opportunity through a savvy marketing blitz. The company raked in $5 billion during the first 90 minutes of the sale, totaling <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-singles-day-sales-2015-11">$14.3 billion in just 24 hours</a> largely through its online shopping platforms, Taobao.com and Tmall.com. Students at Nanjing University first celebrated Single's Day in 1993 as an appreciation of, you guessed it - being single. They picked November 11 (11/11) as an ode to the loneliness of the number one.But Single's Day was never meant to be a somber affair. Just like couples buy each other presents on Valentine's Day, Single's Day is an opportunity to treat yourself, and buy the things you've always wanted.Yue Xue, a 'dating consultant' in Beijing explained to <a href="http://time.com/3576381/china-singles-day-history/">Time</a> last year that the concept of being single in China is a recent development. "China used to be a society where there was no dating culture," Xue said. "There was no going on dates to turn into a relationship. You see someone, if you can marry them or you never see them again."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Reuters</div></div></div>Singlehood only gained widespread acceptance in China because of Western films and television shows. And just as Valentine's Day has become a juggernaut for consumption, so has Single's Day.Alibaba launched a massive marketing push around Single's Day in 2009, offering special "Double 11" deals. Their timing was perfect. E-commerce has exploded in China, leading to a 5,740% growth in Alibaba's "Double 11" sales between 2009 and 2013, the <a href="http://time.com/3576381/china-singles-day-history/">Atlantic reports</a>. In the last couple years, Alibaba, once known only as an online retailer akin to Amazon, has moved aggressively into the entertainment space, launching a television production arm, and purchasing an online-streaming service that's popular in China."Jack Ma (Alibaba's CEO) is building Alibaba as the hub of all things commerce, whether it be physical goods bought and sold online, or now virtual goods and services," Brian Buchwald, the CEO of consumer intelligence firm Bomoda told the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fi-alibaba-china-double-11-singles-day-shopping-20151111-story.html">LA Times</a>.And Alibaba has combined their expansion with brilliant marketing. On Wednesday, Alibaba aired a three-hour television special, "Tmall's Double-11 Night Carnival" in order to drum up excitement for the insane "Double-11" deals.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ReutersAlibaba founder and chairman Jack Ma smiles as he poses with attendants after watching real-time data of transactions at Alibaba Group's 11.11 Global shopping festival in Beijing, China.</div></div></div>The extravagant show included Kevin Spacey as President Frank Underwood from the show House of Cards delivering a two-minute message to would-be Chinese shoppers. Daniel Craig, of 007 fame also made an appearance, as did singer Adam Lambert and a host of Chinese celebrities, the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fi-alibaba-china-double-11-singles-day-shopping-20151111-story.html">LA Times reports</a>.As the clock struck midnight, and the Double-11 deals officially opened, viewers of the broadcast at home could play along in online game show segments, where they could compete for the chance to buy Cadillacs for 15 cents, according to the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fi-alibaba-china-double-11-singles-day-shopping-20151111-story.html">LA Times</a>.For comparison purposes, Alibaba made only $9.3 billion in 2014's Single's Day sale, $5 billion less than this year, amounting to a <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/liyanchen/2015/11/10/chinas-singles-day-is-already-bigger-than-black-friday-now-its-going-global/">57% jump in sales</a>. Mobile purchases accounted for 72% of purchases in 2015, up from 43% in 2014, according to <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/11/singles-day-alibaba-black-friday/415431/">the Atlantic</a>. It was a good day for Alibaba. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-alibaba-ipo-jack-ma-nyse-2014-9">Here's How People In China Are Reacting After Alibaba's Jack Ma Left Hong Kong In The Dust</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="RpdTJkcDrND_Xmda3u4TOPvreXVFa5G6" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

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