1/2/26

The Daily Buzz For Jan 2☕📰☕

#MAGFAB: Oprah Opens Up About her Weight Loss Journey with People Magazine
Oprah Winfrey is sharing new details on her weight loss in recent years, including the kind of weight loss drug she took.

In a recent episode of "The Oprah Podcast", she said that she took a GLP-1 agonist, which is a specific type of weight-loss medication. Some brand name GLP-1s include Ozempic and Trulicity — though Winfrey hasn't revealed a specific brand.
"One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people just had more willpower, they ate better foods, they were able to stick to it longer, they never had a potato chip, and then I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, 'Oh, they're not even thinking about it. They're only eating when they're hungry, and they're stopping when they're full," she said on the podcast.

The media mogul's weight loss first caught the public's attention when she walked the red carpet at the premiere for the remake of “The Color Purple” in December 2023.

The same month, she confirmed to People magazine that she was taking a weight loss drug, though she didn't share which type at the time.
Winfrey told the outlet that she once though taking a weight-loss drug would be “the easy way out.”
But she later realized "the fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for," she said. "I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”

Winfrey said on an episode of "The Oprah Podcast" that she took a "GLP-1," formally known as a GLP-1 agonist, a class of weight loss medications. It works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which the body releases after eating, helping people feel full and slowing stomach emptying.
She first confirmed that she is taking a weight-loss drug in an interview with People published in December 2023, but did not confirm which medication she was taking. Many have speculated it's Ozempic, a brand name GLP-1 agonist that's been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is a famous side effect.

"I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,” she told People at the time. "It quiets the food noise."
But the decision to try a weight loss drug was not an easy one for her.
“There’s a part of me that feels … I’ve got to do it the hard way. I’ve got to keep climbing the mountains. I've got to keep suffering. I’ve got to do that because otherwise I somehow cheated myself,” Winfrey said in September 2023 during a panel on Oprah Daily, called “The State of Weight.”

It was after that discussion that she changed her mind about using a weight-loss drug, Winfrey told People, calling it her "biggest aha" moment: “I realized I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control.”

Frustration with her weight has “occupied five decades of space" in her brain, she noted.
She shared a similar sentiment in a March 2024 interview on CNN's "King Charles."
“I couldn’t work out anymore. I can’t climb any faster or run any faster. I was down to eating one meal a day. There’s nothing else I can do,” Oprah recalled of deciding to get some extra help with managing her weight.

“When I tell you how many times I have blamed myself because you think, ‘I’m smart enough to figure this out,’ and then to hear all along, it’s you fighting your brain," she added. “The one thing I hope people come away with is knowing that (obesity is) a disease and it’s in the brain."
Winfrey has lost her latest weight using a weight-loss drug and with a healthy diet and exercising. She told People the weight-loss medication is just part of her regimen for maintaining a healthy weight.
“I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me,” she said.

The talk show host added that she eats her last meal at 4 p.m., drinks a gallon of water a day and uses the WeightWatchers principles of counting points.
She's also been hiking 3 to 5 miles every day and doing a 10-mile hike on weekends, noting that she's been feeling "stronger, more fit and more alive" than she’s felt in years.
When asked about her transformation at the "The Color Purple" event, Winfrey didn’t even mention a weight-loss drug.

“It’s not one thing, it’s everything,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “I intend to keep it that way. … I was on that treadmill today.”
Studies show that weight-loss drugs need to be part of a holistic approach, with some of the strongest results in patients who are also eating a healthy diet and exercising.

In 1988, Winfrey showed off her weight loss on her TV show, but soon began regaining. "What I didn't know was that my metabolism was shot," she later wrote.
Winfrey has struggled with her weight for decades, famously losing 67 pounds with a liquid diet in 1988 then regaining the weight as soon as she “returned to real food,” she recalled on Oprah.com.
In the March 18 special, she said that she essentially "starved" herself for five months before gaining it all back.

In 1992, Winfrey reached 237 pounds, the most she ever weighed, she said during the “The State of Weight” panel discussion. She recalled feeling frustrated that no matter what she did, her body always wanted to go back to a certain weight.
In 2019, Winfrey revealed she was diagnosed with pre-diabetes before doing WW. She then lost 42 pounds with the program, getting her blood sugar and blood pressure back into normal ranges.

Her goal weight now is 160 pounds, though she told People it’s “not about the number” but about living “a more vital and vibrant life.”
As she approached her 70th birthday, her No. 1 concern was her health, Winfrey said, noting she doesn’t live with a fear of death, but with “a conscious acknowledgment that it’s possible at any time.”

“(I) recognize what an absolute miracle it is that 70 years on, that heart’s still pumping,” she added.
Ozempic and similar drugs work by mimicking the hormones the body releases when a person eats food, as TODAY.com previously reported. People have reduced appetite, and when they do eat, they feel full sooner.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, targets one hormone, known as GLP-1. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, targets two different hormones, GIP and GLP-1, which can lead to even greater weight loss, research shows.
Wegovy and Zepbound are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people with obesity or those who have complications from being overweight. Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation. People self-inject the drugs once a week and have to keep taking them to maintain weight loss.

Patients can expect to lose 15% to 20% of their body weight, says Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist who runs a weight-loss clinic in Cary, North Carolina.
Using a weight-loss medication is “in no way the easy way out,” he notes.
“You still have to improve your nutrition. You still have to stay active. You really have to stay quite consistent over time to achieve the results that are seen in the clinical studies,” McGowan tells TODAY.com.

“The reason these new medications are such game changers is they really are effective, and it’s quite remarkable to help someone who’s tried oftentimes for years, decades, maybe their entire adult life, to lose weight.”


#RHOA: Brit Eady Announces Split from Husband Mike Cunningham After 5 Years of Marriage
Brit Eady and her husband Mike Cunningham are separating after five years of marriage.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, 37, announced the news of their split via Instagram on Wednesday, Dec. 31, writing in part, "I’m posting this on the last day of 365 to remove this facade of faking like this marriage is going to work."

Eady continued: "Everybody can’t come into the next chapter. I’m done hurting and I want to be happy in my next chapter. Cheers to 2026 of putting my happiness first 🥂 ✌🏽 (And for the record as much as I can’t stand him, we are not going to create a false narrative that I’m walking away because of any fake made up rumors)."
The former Bravo star included a longer statement alongside a professionally staged photo of herself and Cunningham, plus a slide with the phrase "... & ima come out of every storm like it was never raining." The post is set to Usher's 2010 song "Papers."

Writing that she's now realized "disrespect" is what "triggers my toxicity," Eady elaborated on how she's "learning not to let people pull me out of character."
"I can be chill, fun, easy to get along with ...I can vibe with anybody. But the second I feel disrespected, everything in me shifts. My peace goes out the window, my patience disappears, and that soft version of me turns sharp real quick. I'm self-aware enough to know I'm a good woman. I'm kind, I'm genuine, I'm understanding, and I always try to lead with love," she said. "But that's exactly why disrespect hits so deep ... because I know how much grace l give before I ever lose it. When I snap, it's never random, it's a reaction. What you put in is what you get out of me."

She continued: "Still, I'm learning. Learning not to let people pull me out of character. Learning that not everyone deserves a response. Learning that peace is better than proving a point. Because growth isn't about never being triggered... it's about recognizing what triggers you and protecting yourself before you get there. Know your triggers. Guard your peace. Stay away from the people, places, and situations that force you to become someone you've worked too hard to outgrow."

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Cunningham says of the split, "All marriages have ups and downs, we just happen to go through things publicly. I’ve always had the upmost respect for my wife and our union. In spite of some of our issues being brought to the public, I will not feed into into the drama and narratives being painted."
Eady and Cunningham tied the knot in a 2020 ceremony. Eady explained why they didn't have a traditional reception in an episode of RHOA that aired in March 2025.

"Because it was during the pandemic, we went to the courthouse, filed our paperwork, and we just did a zoom saying our vows," she said, adding, "I was a little sad about that, but being a wife was way more important."

During the same RHOA episode, Eady also shared the story of how she and Cunningham initially connected.
"I met Mike when I launched my insurance agency. And Mike was my client so I didn’t want to date my client so we became friends. And probably about two or three months of him FaceTiming all the time, I was like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m going to watch out for you,'" she recalled
The reality star continued: "We dated and we went on our first trip to Vegas and I said, ‘Mike, I’ll come to Vegas with you but you not getting none.’ When I tell you we had the best time. I was like, ‘Okay, he might be the one.’"

In June, Eady filed a lawsuit against Bravo, NBC and production companies True Original and Endemol Shine North America based on allegations of defamation, emotional distress, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The notice cites an incident in episode 5 of RHOA's season 16, in which former cast member Kenya Moore displayed sexually explicit images of someone she claimed to be Eady.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Eady is suing for $20 million in damages and requesting the episode be taken down.
Bravo declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE at the time.


#MusicNews: Candi Staton Earns First Grammy® Nomination in 40 Years for "Back to My Roots"
Soul music legend Candi Staton, 85, has received her first Grammy® Award nomination in four decades for her 32nd studio album, Back to My Roots (Beracah Records / New Day / The Orchard), released on Valentine's Day 2025. The project is nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, to be held Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, broadcasting live on CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

A richly textured, twelve-track Americana soul collection of spiritual and inspirational songs, Back to My Roots blends Staton-penned originals with thoughtfully chosen covers, including The Rolling Stones' 1972 classic "Shine A Light" and retro-soul favorite "My God Has a Telephone," performed as a duet with STAX Records legend William Bell. The album's nomination places Staton alongside fellow nominees The Isaacs, Gaither Vocal Band, Karen Peck & New River, and Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

"I'm so surprised," Staton says. "I know it's a cliché, but it's always nice just to be nominated. I was nominated before and a couple of times I was always up against Aretha Franklin-who I love-but she dominated that era. I'm proud of this album, and at this stage of my life, I hope I can finally bring one home before I leave this earth."

Critical response has been equally strong. UK tastemaker MOJO ranked Back to My Roots No. 2 on its year-end Top Ten Soul Albums list-alongside releases by Mavis Staples, Leon Bridges, and Joy Crookes-while the album landed at No. 27 on the NACC Top 50 R&B/Soul records of 2025.

Standout tracks include "I Missed the Target Again," a deeply personal reflection on Staton's recent divorce featuring guitarist Jonathan DuBose Jr., which has received airplay on SiriusXM Bluesville and other blues outlets. Her older sister Maggie Staton Peebles, a fellow member of the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s, appears on the traditional "It's Gonna Rain" and the Thomas Dorsey standard "There Will Be Peace in the Valley," famously popularized by Elvis Presley.

Recorded in London with Staton's British band PUSH, the album features a Muscle Shoals-styled take on "Shine A Light." The haunting "1963" recounts Staton's first-hand memory of the September 15, 1963 Birmingham church bombing, while "Reach Down and Touch Heaven" finds her at the piano, offering a prayerful plea for divine intervention in a weary world. Additional highlights include the Motown-inspired "Love Breakthrough" and the southern soul stomp "My God Has a Telephone," pairing Staton with William Bell. The album closes with "In God's Hands We Rest Untroubled," originally recorded by late country artist Lari White.
"These songs represent my roots," Staton reflects. "Even the new songs represent something I've experienced-and that's what real soul music is about."

Back to My Roots was produced by Staton alongside her son Marcus Williams, with additional production touches from Mark Nevers of Lambchop. The album title, Staton says, reflects a lifelong journey back to the gospel, soul, and lived faith that shaped her from childhood.


#HipHopNews: Inside the Delay Surrounding J. Cole’s Long-Awaited The Fall Off

The wait for J. Cole’s next album has stretched on longer than most fans expected. The project, widely believed to be titled The Fall Off, has been teased for years with little concrete information attached. While anticipation continues to build, clarity around its release has remained elusive.

Cole’s last major release, Might Delete Later, arrived during a volatile chapter in hip hop, landing as tensions between Drake and Kendrick Lamar dominated the conversation. Around that time, Cole delivered a sharp verse on “Like That,” reminding listeners of his technical precision. He then briefly escalated the moment with the diss track “7 Minute Drill,” which was quickly withdrawn and followed by a public apology during the Dreamville Festival.

As the Drake and Kendrick rivalry continues to ripple through the industry, some believe Cole’s positioning during that period was more deliberate than it appeared. Theories have circulated that his actions were partly performative and possibly connected to the broader themes planned for The Fall Off. Still, the album itself has not surfaced.

According to Mal from the Rory & Mal Podcast, internal complications may explain the delay. He claimed both Drake and Kendrick Lamar were originally involved in the project, creating a major issue once their conflict intensified. “Yes, Kendrick was on the album, and Drake was on the album, which is why we didn’t get the album, ’cause now he gotta do his whole album over,” Mal said.

Cole has since gone quiet online, fueling speculation that timing is now a key factor. With upcoming releases from A$AP Rocky and Drake already on the calendar, fans believe Cole may be waiting for the right opening.
Despite the silence, excitement has not cooled. Any mention of The Fall Off still sparks immediate attention, reinforcing the belief that whenever it arrives, the album will carry significant weight.


Carmen de Lavallade, Beloved Dancer and Choreographer, Dies at 94
Beloved dancer, choreographer, and actor Carmen de Lavallade has died at the age of 94.
A Los Angeles native, she made her debut in 1949, performing with the Lester Horton Dance Theater. She danced as a lead dancer with Horton’s company until 1954, when she departed for New York City alongside Alvin Ailey. Both de Lavallade and Ailey made their Broadway debuts in the 1954 Truman Capote-Harold Arlen musical House of Flowers. It was in that show that she met her husband, the dancer/choreographer Geoffrey Holder.

As a dancer, she had ballets built for her by Horton, Holder, Ailey, Glen Tetley, John Butler, and Agnes de Mille. She succeeded her cousin, Janet Collins, as the principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera and was a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre. She also taught movement for actors at Yale and was a member of both

She began teaching at the Yale School of Drama as a choreographer and performer-in-residence in 1970.  Her films include Carmen Jones (1954) with Dorothy Dandridge and Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) with Harry Belafonte. She danced in productions on and off-Broadway ranging from Death of a Salesman to A Streetcar Named Desire.

She received the Dance Magazine Award in 1967, an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Juilliard in 2008, the Dance USA Award in 2010, and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2017.
Predeceased by Holder, de Lavallade’s survivors include their son, Léo.


MTV’s Music Channels Have Now Been SHUT DOWN!

If you grew up waiting all day for your favorite tracks to pop up on MTV between school and dinner, you might’ve felt a little lump in your throat yesterday. That’s because MTV’s dedicated music channels, the ones that played music videos 24/7 for decades, have officially shut down, marking what many fans are calling the end of an era in pop culture history.

After 44 years of broadcasting music videos, concerts, and countdowns, channels like MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live have all gone dark as of December 31, 2025. This leaves only the flagship MTV channel, now focused on reality TV and pop culture shows, still on the air.
In one of the most poetic goodbyes in music history, the very song that launched MTV back on August 1, 1981, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles, was played as the final farewell on MTV Music before it signed off for good. Fans quickly shared video clips and screenshots on social media, calling it “beautiful, bittersweet and perfect.” 

The last moments of MTV Music’s broadcast with Video Killed the Radio Star were shared by BBC journalist Jono Reed on X. For millions, that moment was emotional, not just because it closed a chapter, but because it bookended a generation’s soundtrack.
Stories of discovering NSync on late‑night TV, watching Blink‑182 debut videos at midnight, or even just having “Total Request Live” marathons all came rushing back in thousands of fan tweets and posts across Reddit. One fan clearly heartbroken, wrote:

“Damn. End of an era. You couldn’t be a kid in the 90s without MTV. It was everything.”
So… What Exactly Shut Down?
MTV Music 2021 logo. Image Credit: Viacom International Inc./Wikimedia Commons
All of these have ceased broadcasting as distribution contracts expired around the world. Stations in the UK, Europe, Australia, Brazil and beyond have now gone dark, leaving only MTV’s main channel, which has steadily moved away from music content toward reality programming.

Why This Happened And Why It Hurts
The world didn’t change overnight, but music consumption sure did. MTV once defined how we discovered songs and artists, including Madonna, Britney Spears, and early YouTube stars. But in recent years, people stopped waiting for a music video to show up on TV. They started pulling out their phones instead, using platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Spotify and Instagram Reels to instantly watch, share and discover new music clips on demand.

Add in major corporate shifts, including Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media and big cost‑cutting moves in 2025, and these music channels were simply no longer sustainable in a world where consumers expect everything right now and right in the palm of their hands.
In a twist of irony fans are loving and mourning at the same time, it looks like streaming really did kill the music television star.


Marlon Wayans Talks 'Natural Instinct' to Protect Trans Son: 'You Just Gotta Accept'
Marlon Wayans spoke on his willingness to "accept and love" his transgender son, Kai, during a recent visit on podcast We In Miami.
While on the podcast, the HIM star was asked about whether he considers himself a "spokesperson" for fathers of trans children. While Wayans denied the title, the actor-comedian called it his "natural instinct" to protect his 25-year-old son, Kai. Wayans shares his son with his former partner, Angela Zackery.

"People can judge and say what they want but at the end of the day that's my child," the entertainer said in the clip below. "And I'm gonna love my baby regardless of what anybody says and they should be allowed to have their anonymity and enjoy their life exactly the way they want to enjoy it."

"You can’t beat gay out of someone. You can’t hypnotize someone to not be transgender. You gotta accept and love them," he continued.
Wayans revealed in November 2023 that Kai had transitioned, which the entertainer shared that he was still coming to terms with on an episode of The Breakfast Club.

"My daughter Amai is now Kai, and so, I talk about the transition. Not her, his… their transition, but my transition as a parent, going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance," Wayans said on the radio program. The entertainer also tackled his son's identity in his 2024 comedy special Good Grief.

Elsewhere on We In Miami, Wayans called retired NBA player Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union "heroes" and "examples" to those with transgender children, and shared that he's "comfortable enough" in his masculinity to play a gay role.
"I ain't slobbing no n***a down," Wayans joked. "I don't trip. If it's the right role–and depending on how they do it...if they wanna insinuate, great, but I don't wanna be no Brokeback Mountain."

In June, Wayans showed his allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community and posted a Pride Month message of "love and support" on Instagram. "You can be a straight man and still love gay people," he captioned the post.


Quinta Brunson Responds to Pregnancy Rumors

Abbott Elementary's Quinta Bunson shut down pregnancy rumors after she shared a photo of herself in a bulky sweater during her New Year's Eve celebrations: "Not preggers."
Quinta Brunson is putting pregnancy speculation in detention.
The Abbott Elementary star was quick to shut down baby rumors, which were sparked online when she wore a bulky sweater that seemed to accentuate her stomach to a New Year's Eve celebration.

Hours after snapping a photo of herself in a white, knitted pullover with a matching beanie and a festive headband reading "2026," Quinta wrote on her Instagram Story, "Not preggers. Sweater in odd position."
The 36-year-old jokingly added, "Not 2026 already getting my ass."
And Quinta is not a fan of chatter about her personal life.

"People have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move,” she told Bustle in June. “None of us do. I promise you."
That's why she was annoyed by the narrative that she "announced her divorce" from Kevin Anik, when in actuality she had quietly filed for legal separation in March after three years of marriage.
“I didn’t announce anything," she noted, explaining that her divorce papers were simply in the court's "public record."

She added of the headlines about her split, “I hated that. I hate all of it.”
But that's not to say the Emmy winner—who got her start at Buzzfeed before creating her ABC comedy series—doesn't like staying connected with her followers.
“I love my fans, I love the people who watch Abbott,” Quinta shared. “But when it comes to matters of your personal life, you do have to tune it out."

She added, “Those are invisible voices that aren’t in your home with you, that aren’t in your personal life, that aren’t your friends.”


Zohran Mamdani promises to govern ‘expansively and audaciously’ in inaugural speech as NYC mayor
 Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class.
Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in at a decommissioned subway station below City Hall just after midnight, placing his hand on a Quran as he took his oath as the city’s first Muslim mayor.

After working part of the night in his new office, Mamdani returned to City Hall in a taxi cab around midday Thursday for a grander public inauguration where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the mayor’s political heroes, administered the oath for a second time.
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try,” Mamdani told a cheering crowd.

“To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this: No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives,” he said.
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City just after midnight Thursday, taking the oath of office at an historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city, placing his hand on a Quran as he took his oath.
Throngs turned out in the frigid cold for an inauguration viewing party just south of City Hall on a stretch of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” famous for its ticker-tape parades.

Mamdani wasted little time getting to work after the event.
He revoked multiple executive orders issued by the previous administration since Sept. 26, 2024, the date federal authorities announced former Mayor Eric Adams had been indicted on corruption charges, which were later dismissed following intervention by the Trump administration.
Then he visited an apartment building in Brooklyn to announce he is revitalizing a city office dedicated to protecting tenants and creating two task forces focused on housing construction.

‘I will govern as a democratic socialist’
Throughout the daytime ceremony, Mamdani and other speakers hit on the theme that carried him to victory in the election: Using government power to lift up the millions of people who struggle with the city’s high cost of living.

Mamdani peppered his remarks with references to those New Yorkers, citing workers in steel-toed boots, halal cart vendors “whose knees ache from working all day” and cooks “wielding a thousand spices.”
“I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” Mamdani said. “I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed ‘radical.’”
Before administering the oath, Sanders told the crowd that most of the things Mamdani wants to do — including raising taxes on the rich — aren’t radical at all.

“In the richest country in the history of the world, making sure that people can live in affordable housing is not radical,” he told the crowd. “It is the right and decent thing to do.”
Mamdani was accompanied on stage by his wife, Rama Duwaji. Adams was also in attendance, sitting near another former mayor, Bill de Blasio.
Actor Mandy Patinkin, who recently hosted Mamdani to celebrate Hannukah, sang “Over the Rainbow” with children from an elementary school chorus. The invocation was given by Imam Khalid Latif, the director of the Islamic Center of New York City. Poet Cornelius Eady read an original poem called “Proof.”

In addition to being the city’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani is also its first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. At 34, Mamdani is also the city’s youngest mayor in generations.
At the watch party on Broadway, onlookers stood shoulder to shoulder gazing up at several jumbotrons and singing and dancing to stave off the cold, with some passing out hot cocoa and hand warmers. Many described feeling as though they were witnessing history.
Among them was Ariel Segura, a 16-year-old Bronx resident, who had arrived five hours earlier to secure a place near the front of the crowd.

“I’m out here fan-girling a politician, it’s kind of crazy,” he said, wiping away tears as Mamdani concluded his speech. “Now it’s time to hold him accountable.”
In a campaign that helped make “affordability” a buzzword across the political spectrum, Mamdani ran on a focused platform that included promises of free child care, free buses, a rent freeze for about 1 million households and a pilot of city-run grocery stores.
Mamdani insisted in his inaugural address that he will not squander his opportunity to implement those policies.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hailed the ‘start of a new era for New York City’ on Thursday, taking aim at housing insecurity on his first day as mayor.
“A moment like this comes rarely. Seldom do we hold such an opportunity to transform and reinvent. Rarer still is it the people themselves whose hands are on the levers of change. And yet we know that too often in our past, moments of great possibility have been promptly surrendered to small imagination and smaller ambition,” he said.

But he will also have to face the everyday responsibilities of running America’s largest city: handling trash and snow and rats, while getting blamed for subway delays and potholes.
In his speech, Mamdani acknowledged the task ahead, saying he knows many will be watching to see whether he can succeed.
“They want to know if the left can govern. They want to know if the struggles that afflict them can be solved. They want to know if it is right to hope again,” he said. “So, standing together with the wind of purpose at our backs, we will do something that New Yorkers do better than anyone else: We will set an example for the world.”

Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, an academic and author. His family moved to New York City when he was 7, with Mamdani growing up in a post-9/11 city where Muslims didn’t always feel welcome. He became an American citizen in 2018.
He worked on political campaigns for Democratic candidates in the city before he sought public office himself, winning a state Assembly seat in 2020 to represent a section of Queens.

Now that he has taken office, Mamdani and his wife will depart their one-bedroom, rent stabilized apartment in the outer-borough to take up residence in the stately mayoral residence in Manhattan.
The new mayor inherits a city on the upswing, after years of slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime has dropped to pre-pandemic lows. Tourists are back. Unemployment, which soared during the pandemic years, is also back to pre-COVID levels.

Yet deep concerns remain about high prices and rising rents.
In opening remarks to the crowd, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez praised New Yorkers for choosing “courage over fear.”
“We have chosen prosperity for the many over spoils for the few,” she said.Mamdani insisted in his inaugural address that he will not squander his opportunity to implement those policies. (AP Video by Aaron Ranen)


Patriots' Christian Barmore facing assault and battery charge

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is facing a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery on a household/family member, according to court documents.
The charge stems from an alleged incident on Aug. 8 and was filed Dec. 16, according to the Attleboro (Massachusetts) District Court. An arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 3.

In a statement Wednesday, the Patriots said they "were made aware at the time of the incident and informed the NFL in a timely manner."
"The matter remains part of an ongoing legal process," the team said. "We will respect that process, continue to monitor the situation closely, as we have over the past few months, and cooperate fully with the league."

According to charging documents obtained by ABC, a woman who had been in a relationship with Barmore alleged that he became angry with her about the air conditioning temperature in his bedroom and that they also had argued over food. The woman told police that Barmore grabbed her phone from her hands while she was trying to leave the house, according to court documents.

The charging documents stated that the woman "intended to open the door and scream for help but Christian grabbed her before she could and threw her to the floor." She said Barmore grabbed her by the shirt "in the area of the neck" as she tried to get up but eventually let her go.

"We are confident that the evidence will demonstrate that no criminal conduct took place," Barmore's attorney, David Meier, said in a statement. "Based on the facts and the law, we expect that this personal matter will be resolved in the near future and both parties will move forward together."
Barmore, 26, is in his fifth year with the Patriots, who conclude their regular season Sunday at home against the Miami Dolphins. New England has already qualified for the playoffs, which culminate with Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that Barmore was not with the team Wednesday due to an illness.
The charge against Barmore comes one day after Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs was found to be facing a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault from an alleged incident Dec. 2.

As part of a statement regarding the charges against Diggs, the Patriots said Tuesday: "Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon."
Both Diggs and Barmore are being represented by attorney David Meier, who has not commented on the charge against the defensive tackle.
Barmore, a second-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2021, has played in all 16 games this season with 15 starts. He is third on the team with 10 quarterback hits and has totaled 26 tackles and one sack.

Both incidents are under review of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, with both players eligible to play at this time as there has been no change to their status. Pursuant to the Personal Conduct Policy, consideration for placement on the Commissioner Exempt List may be considered following formal charges in the form of an indictment by a grand jury, the filing of charges by a prosecutor, or an arraignment in a criminal court.


Will Smith Faces Accused Of Grooming Male Violinist & Giving Him PTSD
Will Smith was hit with a bombshell lawsuit from his tour violinist, who says the actor groomed him for sex and then fired him when things went wrong.
Brian King Joseph dropped the legal papers on New Year’s Eve, claiming Smith set him up for “sexual exploitation” during his Based on a True Story tour, according to USA Today.
The violinist says someone broke into his Vegas hotel room in March and left a creepy note signed “Stone F.” along with sex wipes, a beer bottle, and HIV medication.

The note said “Brian, I’ll be back no later 5:30, just us” with a heart drawn on it. Joseph told hotel security and tour management, but they called him a liar and blamed him for the whole thing.
Days later, they fired him and quickly hired another violinist. Joseph claims Smith had been grooming him since they met in November 2024. He says Smith told him, “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else.”
The violinist is suing for sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. He wants money for the financial investments he made preparing for the tour and says he now has PTSD from the whole ordeal.

It’s the latest legal troubles for the Smith’s. His wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, is facing a $3 million lawsuit from Will’s former best friend, Bilaal Salaam. Salaam claims Jada threatened to kill him at Will’s birthday party in September 2021.
According to Salaam’s lawsuit, Jada rolled up with seven people and told him he’d “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he kept talking about her personal business. She also demanded he sign an NDA “or else.”
Salaam Jada was also furious because he refused to help with damage control after Will slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

The Smith family hasn’t responded to either lawsuit yet. But with two separate legal battles involving sexual misconduct allegations and death threats, 2026 is already looking rough for Hollywood’s former golden couple.


Tommy Lee Jones' Daughter Victoria Jones Found Dead in San Francisco Hotel on New Year's Day 

Tommy Lee Jones‘ daughter Victoria Jones has died, according to multiple reports.
The 34-year-old daughter of the 79-year-old Oscar-winning actor was found dead on New Year’s Day (Thursday, January 1) at hotel in San Francisco, according to TMZ, which cited law enforcement sources.

The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed to People that they responded to a medical emergency at the San Francisco Fairmont hotel just before 3am, local time, on Thursday. The fire department said that an unnamed individual was found dead at the scene.
The San Francisco Police Department additionally confirmed that officers responded to the hotel where they met with paramedics and declared an unnamed adult female dead.
As of right now, a cause of death is unknown though the NBC Bay Area reported that foul play is not suspected.

Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and his ex-wife Kimberlea Cloughley. They also share 43-year-old son Austin Jones.
Since she was a child, Victoria also acted and appeared alongside Tommy in his 2002 movie Men in Black II. She also appeared in 2005′s The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which Tommy directed.
In additional to her movie roles, Victoria also appeared in a 2003 episode of One Tree Hill.

Our thoughts are with Tommy and Victoria‘s loved ones during this difficult time. RIP.


Marvel Drops New ‘Wonder Man’ Trailer Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Marvel is kicking off the new year with its trailer for Wonder Man.
The eight-episode series, created by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen Il as aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams, who is struggling to launch his career and becomes entangled with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), a performer whose biggest successes are behind him, when legendary director Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić) begins remaking the superhero film Wonder Man.

It was announced that Abdul-Mateen was cast in the role in October 2022. Variety noted at the time that it was the actor’s third major comic book character after playing villain Black Manta in 2019’s Aquaman and Dr. Manhattan in HBO’s Watchman the following year.
He reprised his role as Black Manta in 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

All eight episodes of Wonder Man begin streaming on Disney+ on January 27 at 6 pm P.T. / 9 pm E.T.

Watch the trailer for Wonder Man HERE


‘Community’ Director Recalls Chevy Chase’s ‘Meltdown’ After N-Word Incident On-Set

*A new documentary brings fresh details about the racial controversy that ended Chevy Chase’s time on “Community,” with director Jay Chandrasekhar providing his account of the heated on-set confrontation.

As EW reports, the conflict erupted during filming of a storyline featuring a “blackface hand puppet” and Chase’s character, Pierce Hawthorne. In CNN Films’ upcoming documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not,” Chandrasekhar explained that Chase made a comment to co-star Yvette Nicole Brown that he didn’t personally overhear, but the reaction was swift. “I know that there was a history between [Chevy and Yvette] around race, and she got up and stormed out of there,” he said.

Filming came to a halt when Brown refused to return without receiving an apology. Chase refused to apologize and instead invoked his past relationship with comedian Richard Pryor, stating: “He goes, ‘You know, me and Richard Pryor, I used to call Richard Pryor the N-word, and he used to call me the Honky, and we loved each other,'” according to Chandrasekhar.

The situation intensified after The Hollywood Reporter published details about Chase using the N-word while questioning his dialogue, though the slur wasn’t aimed at Brown or Donald Glover despite their presence. Chandrasekhar described Chase’s on-set meltdown that followed, with the actor shouting, “Who f—ed me over?” and declaring, “My career is ruined! I’m ruined!” Chase never returned to shoot additional scenes. He eventually apologized and left after season four.

Brown addressed the situation on Instagram before the documentary’s release, writing, “These are things I’ve never spoken of publicly and perhaps never will,” and adding, “In East Cleveland speak: Keep my name out of your mouth.”
“I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” debuts January 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CNN.


Eddie Levert Sr. Responds to Trump/O’Jays Event Rumors
*R&B icon Eddie Levert Sr. triggered widespread confusion online about whether he might perform at an upcoming event honoring President Donald Trump. Although he initially appeared to reject any participation, subsequent posts from him contained conflicting messages, leaving followers unsure about his actual intentions.

On December 23, Levert, lead singer of the O’Jays, addressed the rumor on Facebook, saying, “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I heard that the O’JAYS ARE PERFORMING AT THE WHITE HOUSE. IF THAT’S TRUE KNOW THAT I WANT BE THERE AND I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. ALL MONEY AIN’T GOOD MONEY ESPECIALLY ORANGE MONEY!!! Y’ALL BE BLESSED.” He did not provide details on the source of the claim.

He later attempted to clarify, specifying the event’s location: “IT’S NOT THE WHITE HOUSE IN DC ITS THE ONE IN FLORIDA MAR-A-LAGO I STILL AIN’T GOING.”

President Donald Trump speaking at a podium on Christmas Day, flanked by military personnel / via eurAI
In a separate post on December 24, the music icon further emphasized his stance while addressing potential criticism. “I haven’t said anything bad about President Trump, but I have the right to refuse to perform at any function. That’s not paying me what I require,” he wrote.

While Trump was running for president in 2016, however, the O’Jays demanded that he stop using their song at his campaign.
“I wish him the best, but I don’t think he’s the man to run our country. So when he started using ‘Love Train,’ I called him up and told them, ‘Listen, man, I don’t believe in what you’re doing. I’m not with you. I don’t want you to use my voice. I’m not condoning what you’re doing,’” Levert said at that time, according to the Atlanta Black Star.

Levert’s posts about the upcoming Mar-a-Lago party generated attention and speculation, but he made it clear he would not participate in the event.


Texas Republicans Advance Bill That Would Eliminate State Civil Rights Enforcement

The Texas civil rights enforcement bill advanced by Republican lawmakers would dismantle how discrimination complaints are handled at the state level. The bill advancing through the Texas Legislature would eliminate the state’s civil rights enforcement division, removing Texas from the list of states that actively investigate discrimination complaints tied to housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Right now, Texans who experience discrimination based on race, leaving someone without a job because of gender, denying housing due to disability, or unfair treatment tied to age can file complaints through the state’s civil rights enforcement system. That system investigates claims, mediates disputes, and can pursue accountability when violations happen. The proposed bill would dismantle that entire process.

If passed, Texas would become the only state in the country without a state-run civil rights enforcement agency. Complaints that were once handled locally would be pushed solely to the federal level, creating longer wait times, fewer resources, and higher barriers for everyday people trying to defend themselves against discrimination.

This removes one of the few tools people have to push back when discrimination shows up at work, at home, or in public spaces. Civil rights advocates warn that this move could leave marginalized communities especially vulnerable, particularly Black Texans, women, disabled residents, LGBTQ+ people, and low-wage workers who already face systemic barriers.

The timing has raised eyebrows too. This push comes as Texas lawmakers continue reshaping policies around gender, education, and workplace rules, while federal civil rights enforcement has also faced rollbacks. For many, this feels less like administrative cleanup and more like a coordinated effort to weaken protections that took generations to secure.

Civil rights laws were never symbolic. They exist because discrimination was once openly legal, enforced, and normalized. Rolling back enforcement does not erase discrimination. It just removes accountability when it happens.

If passed, the Texas civil rights enforcement bill would shift discrimination complaints away from state oversight and limit accountability for violations.
As the bill continues moving forward, advocacy groups and community leaders are preparing to challenge it, warning that Texas is positioning itself on the wrong side of history. The question now is whether public pressure will slow the momentum, or whether lawmakers will push through a move that could reshape civil rights protections across the state.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Courtesy of P.O.Wm
Crack pipe, that’s good 5 inches in there

She's using it to scratch her butt


AND NOW Meet: 
It's ! You can see more HERE

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

Enjoy!


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM

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