Bob Dylan lyrics sell for $800k at auction, how to connect with David Lynch one last time and TikTok momentarily goes dark

Welcome to ICYMI, where we recap the pop culture and entertainment news you might have missed over the past few days. This edition includes the auction of Bob Dylan’s unfinished lyrics, TikTok’s brief shutdown scare, the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on the entertainment industry, a meditation event honoring director David Lynch, and Australian comedian Aaron Chen’s US debut.

While Timothée Chalamet may be doing his best Dylan impression on the promo tour for *A Complete Unknown*, a recent auction proved that there's still reverence for the original Bob Dylan. Draft lyrics to Dylan’s classic song, “Mr Tambourine Man,” sold for $508,000 (approximately $819,000 AUD) at a Nashville auction over the weekend. The typed lyrics contained three versions of the song, written on two pages of yellow paper, with handwritten notes by Dylan on the third draft.

“Mr Tambourine Man,” from Dylan’s 1965 album *Bringing It All Back Home*, was his first song to reach number one in both the US and the UK. The lyrics came from the personal collection of the late music journalist Al Aronowitz, who reported that Dylan wrote the lyrics at his home in New Jersey. According to the auction house, Julien’s Auctions, quoting Aronowitz, “[He sat] at my white plastic breakfast bar, using my portable typewriter, amid a chain of cigarette smoke, his bony, long-fingered hands hammering out the words.”

The lyrics were part of a larger collection of Dylan memorabilia, with approximately 60 items going under the hammer at the auction. Julien’s Auctions stated that the items generated a total of nearly $1.5 million (approximately $2.4 million AUD) in sales through live and online bidding. Other high-priced items from Saturday’s auction included a 1968 signed oil on canvas painting by Dylan, which sold for $260,000 (approximately $419,000 AUD), and a custom 1983 Fender guitar he owned and played, which went for $225,000 (approximately $362,000 AUD).

TikTok users in the US bid farewell over the weekend as the app was scheduled to shut down in the US due to a ruling by US Congress. Heartbroken users revealed their final secrets before the “doomsday” arrived: fitness influencers admitted they weren’t doing their own workouts; PR relationships were exposed; and makeup creators confessed to wiping away their signature foundation. The app went dark locally on Saturday night, with a message that read, “Sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable,” blocking their access as the ban went into effect.

Users were in shock, with everyone becoming a tech expert. Creator Katie Fang used a virtual private network (VPN) to send out a distress call, while mega-influencer James Charles hid under the covers, posting from an anonymous account. Meanwhile, the rest of the world celebrated a TikTok without Americans, where centimetres, Celsius, and kilograms reigned supreme. However, less than 24 hours later, the incoming President, Donald Trump, promised to issue an executive order delaying the law, allowing the company to “make a deal to protect our national security,” meaning selling the app to a non-Chinese company.

Trump posted on X, “I want the U.S. to have 50% ownership in a joint venture. By doing this we are saving TikTok, keeping it in good hands, and allowing it to continue to operate.” Following the announcement, TikTok restored service, and Americans were back after their dramatic exit.

As thousands of Los Angeles locals are grappling with their losses and preparing to rebuild their city, Hollywood is working to support fire victims and the current awards season. After initially being postponed a few weeks, the Critics Choice Awards has been delayed again, this time to February 7. The event will still be held at the Barker Hangar, close to the Pacific Palisades area, where thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate due to the fires.

Several other awards season events, such as the Oscar nominations, have been postponed. Other events, such as the annual British Academy Film Awards tea party, have been canceled altogether. Meanwhile, a host of big-name musicians have united for a “FireAid” benefit concert to raise money for those most affected by the wildfires. The FireAid concert will be held on January 30 across two locations and features a lineup including Billie Eilish, Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, John Mayer with Dave Matthews, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Katy Perry, and Stevie Nicks, among others.

LA locals No Doubt will be reuniting for the concert, marking the Gwen Stefani-led band’s first time performing together since their Coachella reunion performance last year. For fans heartbroken by the passing of director David Lynch, there is one final opportunity to honor the eccentric creative. Lynch’s children – Jennifer, Austin, Riley, and Lula – have announced a global collective meditation event to honor their late father, on what would have been his 79th birthday.

“Our beloved father was a beacon of creativity, love, and peace. Let us come together, wherever we are, to honor his legacy by spreading peace and love throughout the world. Please take a moment to meditate, reflect, and send positivity out into the universe,” they said in a collective statement. Lynch’s children are calling on fans to gather at 12 pm PST on Monday, January 20, for a 10-minute meditation for David. If you’re an Aussie “Lynchian” who wants to get involved, here are the local times:

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria (Australian Eastern Daylight Time): Tuesday, January 21, 7 am. Queensland (Australian Eastern Standard Time): Tuesday, January 21, 6 am. Western Australia (Australian Western Standard Time): Tuesday, January 21, 4 am. South Australia (Australian Central Daylight Time): Tuesday, January 21, 6:30 am. Northern Territory (Australian Central Standard Time): Tuesday, January 21, 5:30 am.

Australian icon Aaron Chen has made his big break in the US, appearing on NBC’s late-night talk show, *Late Night*, hosted by Seth Meyers. The Sydney-born comedian has already won over the nation with his portrayal of George in *Fisk*, his role as the hilariously deadpan sidekick on Guy Montgomery’s *Spelling Bee*, and his performances at countless local comedy festivals. Previously, *Late Night* has been hosted by David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Fallon, and has welcomed guests from Hollywood, the music industry, politics, and more.

In his stand-up performance, Aaron utilized his quirks as an Australian in the US, as well as the struggles of being diagnosed with autism, all delivered in his signature unconventional style. Needless to say, he knocked it out of the park.