SZA Hospitalized on 36th Birthday

SZA's recent hospitalization was the culmination of a painful battle with two herniated discs in her neck (C5 and C6). The injury, which peaked just before her birthday, left her unable to comfortably sit, stand, or even turn her head. This forced a significant pause for the singer, known for being a "happily clumsy person." To recover, she spent 30 days at the Isha Foundation, a spiritual ashram in India, where she focused on yoga and meditation. Her time there included practicing Shambhavi Mahamudra, a controlled breathing and mindfulness technique, and even taking a vow of silence. She described the transformative experience as "the best birthday." Her criticism of AI in music stems from a belief that it "disproportionately" impacts Black artists. SZA has voiced her offense at the "weird, stereotypical struggle music" she's seen generated by AI and worries about new artists losing out on streaming revenue to AI-created covers. This isn't a new stance for the artist, who lyrically referenced the technology in her 2022 song "Ghost in the Machine." Beyond the music itself, she has also condemned what she calls the "environmental racism" of AI, pointing to the heavy pollution and energy consumption of data centers that she says disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's journey to his 38th birthday celebration began with a professional collaboration back in 2015 on her album *Revival*. They worked together again in 2019 before quietly starting to date in June 2023. Gomez officially confirmed their relationship in December 2023. The couple announced their engagement in December 2024 and tied the knot in Santa Barbara, California, in September 2025.