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#RHOA: Kandi Burruss, and More Celebrate Sherri Shepherd in Broadway's Aladdin
The View host is the first woman to play the Genie in the Disney hit.
A host of celebrities were on hand October 22 to celebrate Emmy-winning talk show host, comic, and actor Sherri Shepherd's return to Broadway as the Genie in the hit Disney musical Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Shepherd—best known for co-hosting The View and subsequently hosting her own syndicated talk show Sherri—joined the cast October 16 and is scheduled to continue through January 3, 2027. In the gallery below, check out the stars who were on hand for Shepherd's official opening, including Robin Roberts, Gayle King, Sara Haines, Ricki Lake, Bevy Smith, Kandi Burruss, and more.
Shepherd succeeded Caleb A. Barnett, who is staying with the production as the Genie standby during Shepherd’s run. Shepherd is the first woman to play the Genie in the Disney hit, which has historically cast men in the role of Aladdin's wise-cracking mentor. James Monroe Iglehart created the role on Broadway, winning a Tony for his performance.\
“Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true—and an incredible honor,” said Shepherd in an earlier statement. “The Genie is such an iconic character, and I’m beyond excited to bring my own energy, humor, heart, and a little bit of magic to this role. I hope audiences see themselves in this Genie and leave the theatre feeling so much joy and inspired to believe in the impossible. To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly. I'm ready to rub the lamp, unleash some magic, and have the time of my life on Broadway.”
“Throughout her career, Sherri has represented delight, wit, and loving good humor, making her the perfect entertainer to play the life force that is the Genie,” added Disney Theatrical Group Managing Director Andrew Flatt and Executive Producer Anne Quart. “We can’t wait to see what happens when Sherri’s authentic, brilliant comic energy meets the joyous escape of Aladdin. Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.”
On Broadway, Shepherd also made history as the first African American actress to portray the Evil Stepmother in Cinderella. Her other theatre credits include the Off-Broadway shows Love, Loss, and What I Wore; and Joy Behar's My First Ex-Husband. Her extensive television credits include 30 Rock, Friends, Sex Lives of College Girls, HARLEM, Mr. Iglesias, Trial & Error, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Less Than Perfect. Her film credits include Tyler Perry’s STRAW, Brian Banks, Precious, Ride Along 2, and Beauty Shop.
The current Broadway cast is led by Rodney Ingram in the title role, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine, and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The show also features Jacob Ben-Shmuel as Omar, Colt Prattes as Kassim, JC Montgomery as Sultan, Don Darryl Rivera as Iago, and Ryan Gregory Thurman as Babkak. Caleb A. Barnett, Wes Hart, and Marcus M. Martin stand by for several principals.
Aladdin recently became the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history. There have been 11 productions on four continents welcoming over 22 million guests.
The stage production, which expands the 90-minute film into a two-act format, has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
Aladdin opened at the New Amsterdam March 20, 2014, following previews that began February 26. The musical was nominated for five 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. James Monroe Iglehart won the Tony for his performance as the Genie.
Aladdin is designed by Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes, and sound designer Ken Travis.
The production was originally produced by Thomas Schumacher. The creative team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette, and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. John MacInnis is the associate choreographer, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor, and Myriah Bash is the general manager.
The musical is produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart.
#NewMusic from John Legend Releases New Album ‘Muse,’ Fully Produced by Pharrell Williams
EGOT-winning singer-songwriter John Legend has officially released his latest studio album, Muse, via Republic Records. The project marks a major collaborative milestone, as it was co-written and produced entirely by 14-time Grammy-winning musician and Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director Pharrell Williams.
Despite a friendship spanning more than twenty years, Muse represents Legend and Williams’ first full-length album collaboration. The concept took root after Legend provided vocals for Clipse’s comeback album, Let God Sort ‘Em Out. Inspired by Legend’s performance on the Grammy-nominated track “The Birds Don’t Sing,” Williams sought to build an entire record specifically around the singer’s voice.
Recorded largely at Williams’ studio within the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris, the album seamlessly bridges classic and contemporary genres. The production weaves together gospel, traditional standards, doo-wop, classic soul, Afrobeats, and hip-hop, anchoring lush strings and horns with heavy 808s.
“Pharrell’s idea from the beginning was that we would create something with all of these classic, cinematic elements, almost like a Black James Bond feel to it, but with a modern backbeat at its foundation,” Legend shared. “It sounds like something new for us, but this album came to life so naturally.”
Coinciding with the album’s release, Legend debuted the official music video for “Bodies On The Floor,” featuring Clipse, available to watch first on Spotify for 48 hours. Directed by Grammy-nominated filmmaker Paul Hunter and produced by PRETTYBIRD, the black-and-white visual captures the cyclical, magnetic toxicity of two lovers. Legend co-wrote the lyrics with Samm Henshaw, drawing thematic inspiration from the language of gang warfare in the crime drama MobLand to illustrate a relationship built on harm and retaliation.
The 10-track project navigates the full spectrum of romance and conflict. The titular opening track traces a tumultuous relationship against the romantic backdrop of Paris, while “Her” takes a gentler, nostalgic approach inspired by the music of Legend’s father. Tracks like the cinematic “Get Back” and the empathetic “Are You OK?” are joined by the previously released singles “Daylight” and “Fireflies,” which also received visual treatments from Hunter.
STREAM HERE:
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss, and More Celebrate Sherri Shepherd in Broadway's Aladdin
A host of celebrities were on hand October 22 to celebrate Emmy-winning talk show host, comic, and actor Sherri Shepherd's return to Broadway as the Genie in the hit Disney musical Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Shepherd—best known for co-hosting The View and subsequently hosting her own syndicated talk show Sherri—joined the cast October 16 and is scheduled to continue through January 3, 2027. In the gallery below, check out the stars who were on hand for Shepherd's official opening, including Robin Roberts, Gayle King, Sara Haines, Ricki Lake, Bevy Smith, Kandi Burruss, and more.
Shepherd succeeded Caleb A. Barnett, who is staying with the production as the Genie standby during Shepherd’s run. Shepherd is the first woman to play the Genie in the Disney hit, which has historically cast men in the role of Aladdin's wise-cracking mentor. James Monroe Iglehart created the role on Broadway, winning a Tony for his performance.\
“Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true—and an incredible honor,” said Shepherd in an earlier statement. “The Genie is such an iconic character, and I’m beyond excited to bring my own energy, humor, heart, and a little bit of magic to this role. I hope audiences see themselves in this Genie and leave the theatre feeling so much joy and inspired to believe in the impossible. To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly. I'm ready to rub the lamp, unleash some magic, and have the time of my life on Broadway.”
“Throughout her career, Sherri has represented delight, wit, and loving good humor, making her the perfect entertainer to play the life force that is the Genie,” added Disney Theatrical Group Managing Director Andrew Flatt and Executive Producer Anne Quart. “We can’t wait to see what happens when Sherri’s authentic, brilliant comic energy meets the joyous escape of Aladdin. Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.”
On Broadway, Shepherd also made history as the first African American actress to portray the Evil Stepmother in Cinderella. Her other theatre credits include the Off-Broadway shows Love, Loss, and What I Wore; and Joy Behar's My First Ex-Husband. Her extensive television credits include 30 Rock, Friends, Sex Lives of College Girls, HARLEM, Mr. Iglesias, Trial & Error, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Less Than Perfect. Her film credits include Tyler Perry’s STRAW, Brian Banks, Precious, Ride Along 2, and Beauty Shop.
The current Broadway cast is led by Rodney Ingram in the title role, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine, and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The show also features Jacob Ben-Shmuel as Omar, Colt Prattes as Kassim, JC Montgomery as Sultan, Don Darryl Rivera as Iago, and Ryan Gregory Thurman as Babkak. Caleb A. Barnett, Wes Hart, and Marcus M. Martin stand by for several principals.
Aladdin recently became the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history. There have been 11 productions on four continents welcoming over 22 million guests.
The stage production, which expands the 90-minute film into a two-act format, has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
Aladdin opened at the New Amsterdam March 20, 2014, following previews that began February 26. The musical was nominated for five 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. James Monroe Iglehart won the Tony for his performance as the Genie.
Aladdin is designed by Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes, and sound designer Ken Travis.
The production was originally produced by Thomas Schumacher. The creative team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette, and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. John MacInnis is the associate choreographer, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor, and Myriah Bash is the general manager.
The musical is produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart.
#NewMusic from John Legend Releases New Album ‘Muse,’ Fully Produced by Pharrell Williams
EGOT-winning singer-songwriter John Legend has officially released his latest studio album, Muse, via Republic Records. The project marks a major collaborative milestone, as it was co-written and produced entirely by 14-time Grammy-winning musician and Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director Pharrell Williams.
Despite a friendship spanning more than twenty years, Muse represents Legend and Williams’ first full-length album collaboration. The concept took root after Legend provided vocals for Clipse’s comeback album, Let God Sort ‘Em Out. Inspired by Legend’s performance on the Grammy-nominated track “The Birds Don’t Sing,” Williams sought to build an entire record specifically around the singer’s voice.
Recorded largely at Williams’ studio within the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris, the album seamlessly bridges classic and contemporary genres. The production weaves together gospel, traditional standards, doo-wop, classic soul, Afrobeats, and hip-hop, anchoring lush strings and horns with heavy 808s.
“Pharrell’s idea from the beginning was that we would create something with all of these classic, cinematic elements, almost like a Black James Bond feel to it, but with a modern backbeat at its foundation,” Legend shared. “It sounds like something new for us, but this album came to life so naturally.”
Coinciding with the album’s release, Legend debuted the official music video for “Bodies On The Floor,” featuring Clipse, available to watch first on Spotify for 48 hours. Directed by Grammy-nominated filmmaker Paul Hunter and produced by PRETTYBIRD, the black-and-white visual captures the cyclical, magnetic toxicity of two lovers. Legend co-wrote the lyrics with Samm Henshaw, drawing thematic inspiration from the language of gang warfare in the crime drama MobLand to illustrate a relationship built on harm and retaliation.
The 10-track project navigates the full spectrum of romance and conflict. The titular opening track traces a tumultuous relationship against the romantic backdrop of Paris, while “Her” takes a gentler, nostalgic approach inspired by the music of Legend’s father. Tracks like the cinematic “Get Back” and the empathetic “Are You OK?” are joined by the previously released singles “Daylight” and “Fireflies,” which also received visual treatments from Hunter.
STREAM HERE:
To complement the release, Legend launched “The Muse Gallery,” an interactive, museum-style digital experience on his website where fans can explore themed rooms containing music, merchandise, and video content.
Beyond his recording career, Legend is currently preparing for the premiere of Imitation of Life, marking his first original score for the stage. Co-produced by The Shed and National Black Theatre, the musical begins previews in New York on November 21 ahead of a December 3 opening.
Starring Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren with direction by Whitney White and a book by Lynn Nottage, the production is based on Fannie Hurst’s 1933 novel. Legend and Mike Jackson are producing the project through Get Lifted Film Co., bringing the story of two mothers—one Black and one white—raising daughters in 1920s and ’30s Atlantic City and New York to the theater.
Muse is available to stream and download now across all major digital platforms
#HipHopNews: NFL Announces Jay-Z Will Perform at Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show
Jay-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027.
“Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage,” Jay-Z said, calling the milestone “a dream come true.”
The performance follows Roc Nation’s years of curating the halftime show and Jay-Z’s anniversary tour celebrating his albums ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘The Blueprint.’
Jay-Z has officially been announced as the performer for the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show next year.
The announcement comes less than a week after a report indicated Jay-Z was seemingly appointing himself as the headlining act when Super Bowl LXI will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027. Roc Nation, which was co-founded by Jay, has been working with the NFL since 2019 on curating the halftime show.
“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement shared by the NFL. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
“For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with JAŸ-Z and Roc Nation, and I’ve seen the extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the same statement. “When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that JAŸ-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him. I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Music and International Content., said: “JAŸ-Z's impact on global music culture is as profound as it is undeniable.. “We've had the privilege of working closely with him these last few years to bring some of the world's most exciting and prolific artists to the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage and we are so thrilled that he will be taking that stage himself this year. We know it's going to be an incredible show."
The big game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, and on mobile devices with NFL+. Per the league, ESPN's Spanish-language telecast will also be available on ESPN Deportes and Disney+, with a different Spanish-language presentation on Univision.
The halftime show will be executive produced by Jay’s Roc Nation, and the company also serves as strategic entertainment advisor. The show will directed by Hamish Hamilton. Hamilton, coincidentally, also directed Hov’s 2003 special Jay-Z in Concert, as well as Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show back in 2013.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, Jay-Z embarked on the JAŸ-Z30 Tour — which fittingly ended in SoFi Stadium, the same stadium where Super Bowl LXI will be held.
On the final night of JAŸ-Z30 Tour in Los Angeles, the rapper turned the evening into something similar to a halftime show performance, bringing out a number of West Coast music legends, including Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.
In the midst of his JAŸ-Z30 celebration, Jay released the eight-part docuseries JAŸ-Z in 8, chronicling his career and catalog.
Judge Dismisses Cassie From $35 Million ‘Freak-Off’ Lawsuit Filed by Former Escort
Starring Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren with direction by Whitney White and a book by Lynn Nottage, the production is based on Fannie Hurst’s 1933 novel. Legend and Mike Jackson are producing the project through Get Lifted Film Co., bringing the story of two mothers—one Black and one white—raising daughters in 1920s and ’30s Atlantic City and New York to the theater.
Muse is available to stream and download now across all major digital platforms
#HipHopNews: NFL Announces Jay-Z Will Perform at Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show
“Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage,” Jay-Z said, calling the milestone “a dream come true.”
The performance follows Roc Nation’s years of curating the halftime show and Jay-Z’s anniversary tour celebrating his albums ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘The Blueprint.’
Jay-Z has officially been announced as the performer for the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show next year.
The announcement comes less than a week after a report indicated Jay-Z was seemingly appointing himself as the headlining act when Super Bowl LXI will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027. Roc Nation, which was co-founded by Jay, has been working with the NFL since 2019 on curating the halftime show.
“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement shared by the NFL. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
“For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with JAŸ-Z and Roc Nation, and I’ve seen the extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the same statement. “When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that JAŸ-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him. I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Music and International Content., said: “JAŸ-Z's impact on global music culture is as profound as it is undeniable.. “We've had the privilege of working closely with him these last few years to bring some of the world's most exciting and prolific artists to the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage and we are so thrilled that he will be taking that stage himself this year. We know it's going to be an incredible show."
The big game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, and on mobile devices with NFL+. Per the league, ESPN's Spanish-language telecast will also be available on ESPN Deportes and Disney+, with a different Spanish-language presentation on Univision.
The halftime show will be executive produced by Jay’s Roc Nation, and the company also serves as strategic entertainment advisor. The show will directed by Hamish Hamilton. Hamilton, coincidentally, also directed Hov’s 2003 special Jay-Z in Concert, as well as Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show back in 2013.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, Jay-Z embarked on the JAŸ-Z30 Tour — which fittingly ended in SoFi Stadium, the same stadium where Super Bowl LXI will be held.
On the final night of JAŸ-Z30 Tour in Los Angeles, the rapper turned the evening into something similar to a halftime show performance, bringing out a number of West Coast music legends, including Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.
In the midst of his JAŸ-Z30 celebration, Jay released the eight-part docuseries JAŸ-Z in 8, chronicling his career and catalog.
Judge Dismisses Cassie From $35 Million ‘Freak-Off’ Lawsuit Filed by Former Escort
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang dismissed Cassandra Ventura with prejudice from Clayton Howard's $35 million lawsuit on Oct. 21.
Clayton Howard, a self-represented former male escort who worked under the name "Dave," sued Ventura, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC last June over being “forced” to participate in ;freak-offs.’
Ventura's attorneys argued Howard never connected her conduct to sex obtained through force, fraud or deception, citing Howard’s own account of multiple cash payments and return visits.
Cassie Ventura has been dropped from a $35 million lawsuit filed by a former escort who claims that he was involved in “freak-off” sessions with her and Diddy.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang granted the singer's motion to dismiss at an Oct. 21 hearing in Los Angeles, according to documents obtained by Complex, which allows the case to proceed against Diddy, real name Sean Combs. The suit was filed last June by Clayton Howard, who alleged that he was hired by Diddy and Cassie on multiple occasions and claimed that the singer aborted his child.
"Defendant Ventura's motion to dismiss is hereby granted; this will be the order as stated on the record," the minutes read. The allegations against Ventura were dismissed with prejudice.
Clayton Howard, who worked as a male escort under the name "Dave," named Ventura, Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC in the suit. He alleged Ventura arranged sessions under Diddy’s order, and that the two used drugs and coercion to abuse him during paid encounters in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
Attorneys for Cassie argued he never connected her conduct to sex performed through force, fraud or deception, and pointed multiple cash payments and return visits as proof that he was not a victim of trafficking. They also referenced Howard’s complaint about Diddy’s violence and control over his former girlfriend, including his ability to decide when encounters ended.
"These defects are not curable by better drafting or any reframing of the facts," her lawyers wrote.
A July 2025 ruling had given Howard another shot, and he filed a fifth amended complaint on August 3, 2025. Meanwhile, Cassie’s filings in the case have stated she is a U.S. citizen now living outside the United States, with no intention of moving back.
Days before the hearing, Howard tried to substitute a fresh rewrite that altered his claim of roughly 12 hours of confinement during a December 2016 encounter in Miami, which was denied.
The same order granted Bad Boy Entertainment and CeOpco's motion only in part, with Howard being allowed 14 days to amend, and said the court would consider Howard's request to file an additional response. Diddy, who is serving the 50-month sentence imposed last October, has denied wrongdoing and was ordered to answer by a Nov. 4 deadline.
Cassie, who shares three children with her husband, Alex Fine, quietly relocated from the U.S. ahead of her testimony in Diddy’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
Police Called on 3-Year-Old Soccer Player After Parents Complained He Was Hogging the Ball
Nevada, a 3-year-old soccer player in Winter Park, Florida, became the center of a police response on Sunday after he reportedly began defeating the opposing team.
Winter Park police say the matter was civil, not criminal, and that body camera footage shows no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park.
Nevada's family claims the league asked them to leave and refunded their fall registration after other parents complained that he was hogging the ball.
A 3-year-old soccer player in Winter Park, Florida, had his game interrupted over the weekend after a youth league official called officers on the child.
As seen in a series of TikToks, the soccer player, named Nevada, was ejected from the Saturday (Oct. 24) match after allegedly defeating the other team and being in possession of the ball. In one TikTok, the child’s parents were heard arguing with authorities about the matter.
Shortly after officers arrived, the i9 Sports soccer league official asked them to speak with Nevada’s parents directly because he did not want to escalate the situation. The family was cooperative and requested an event number, which officers provided.
The family says they were told they could not come back to the field and were given a refund for their fall registration after other parents complained that Nevada was hogging the ball.
"They really called the police on a 3-year-old because he had the ball too much," Nevada's father said in the video.
In a statement, the Winter Park Police Department claimed the matter was civil rather than criminal, confirming that officers' body-worn cameras were worn, and that no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park, per News 6.
In a follow-up statement with The Breakfast Club, Nevada’s mother, Martasia Griffin, said her son was “targeted throughout the season because of his talent.” The woman added that the league’s director didn’t defend Nevada or his family after protests from the other players’ families and offered a refund for the boy to leave the program.
“Parents like, ‘Oh, we paid for this just like you did,’” Griffin said. “But if my kid is sitting out the whole thirty minutes so, he's not playing either. You're trying to fault my kid for actually playing soccer. He's 3 years old. His teammates are four and five. He's the youngest on the team.”
Carl Thomas’ Ex Calls Him a ‘Deadbeat’ After VERZUZ: ‘Please Miss Me with the Church Songs’
Carl Thomas took VERZUZ to church, but his daughter’s mother wasn’t moved. Just days after the R&B veteran delivered a gospel-flavored performance during his matchup with Case, Latoya Shantel Young hit Instagram with a much different review, accusing Thomas of being a “deadbeat” father who has failed to support their seven-year-old daughter.
“I’m so tired of seeing this deadbeat Carl Thomas come down my motherf*cking timeline,” Young said in a Reel. “Let’s just hop right out the window with that.”
Young’s frustration centered on Thomas’ rendition of “I Need Thee Every Hour,” which he performed before sliding into his 2000 track “Come to Me.” Backed by a piano, Thomas explained that his church upbringing and the music of gospel composer Thomas A. Dorsey helped inspire the song.
The moment became one of the night’s biggest talking points—but Young said the spiritual display did not match the man she knows. “Please miss me with the ‘I love Jesus’ sh*t,” she said. “Please miss me with the church songs when your ass don’t even pay your f*cking child support.”
Young claimed Thomas took her to court to establish whether he was the father, then requested that child support be handled through the state. According to her, that process confirmed his paternity and created a formal support obligation, but she alleges he still has not consistently provided for their daughter. “You promised me you was gonna do right by your daughter,” Young said. “She is now seven years old. You have yet to do anything for your f*cking daughter.”
She added that she never initiated the child-support case herself, alleging Thomas started the process and later failed to make good on it. The Reel did not include court records or specify how much money she says is owed.
The blast arrived as Thomas enjoyed renewed attention from his Oct. 22 VERZUZ showdown with Case at Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles. The two singers ran through the heartbreak records that helped soundtrack turn-of-the-century R&B, including Thomas’ “Summer Rain,” “Emotional,” and “I Wish,” alongside Case staples such as “Happily Ever After,” “Touch Me, Tease Me,” and “Missing You.”
Thomas’ platinum-selling debut, Emotional, arrived in 2000 on Bad Boy and made him one of the era’s most recognizable voices.
Young’s complaints are not new. During a 2023 appearance with Kendra G, she said she first met Thomas while interviewing him for her show, Free Nation: Word on the Street.
She maintained that they were friends for six or seven years before one encounter resulted in their daughter’s conception.
Young also pushed back on Tasha K’s characterization of her as Thomas’ “homeless baby moms,” explaining that she owned a salon for 16 years and had television work when she met him.
She acknowledged experiencing housing insecurity years later after relocating to Atlanta but said that chapter had been presented without the proper timeline.
Miss Jones exposes how Ebro took over her morning show
Tarsha Jones, aka Miss Jones, is a well-known radio personalty who worked for Hot 97 in New York City, and other radio stations in her career.
She currently hosts the morning show for classic hip-hop “94.7 The Block” in New York City. Miss Jones was the first black woman to host Morning Radio with a hip hop radio format.
During an appearance on the “Quiet Part Out Loud” podcast, Miss Jones exposes how Ebro Darden strategically took over her morning show at Hot 97.
She said Ebro was hired as assistant program director and was promoted to program director at Hot 97. But Ebro wanted to be an on-air personality and he had his eye on her morning show. “He knew that his desire and his game plan was to be on-air,” Miss Jones said.
She said that while Ebro was “plotting to get on-air,” rival station Power 105, which she described as “the little engine that could,” was able to climb up the mountain because Ebro was too “unfocused” as a programmer.
“And here they are winning because everyone’s asleep at the wheel,” she said of Hot 105.
She became emotional as she explained how Ebro gained control of her morning show. She was suspended in 2005 due to an on-air incident and her contract was not renewed. Ebro then took over as co-host of the Hot 97 morning show, which he renamed “Ebro in the Morning.”
But that’s not the end of the story.
Ebro in the Morning was abruptly cancelled on December 12, 2025. He took his grievances to social media where he complained about his termination. He blamed his departure on his outspoken political views and the need for Hot 97 to appease their advertisers.
Ebro now cohosts a podcast with Peter Rosenberg and Laura Stylez.
In addition to radio personality, Miss Jones is an R&B singer who performed on rapper AZ’s “Sugar Hill” (1995), Big L’s “M.V.P.” (1995) and Big Pun’s hit song “Punish Me” (1998).
Beyoncé Wants Cécred To Win Skeptics
Beyoncé wanted Cécred to reach “the people who can’t stand my music.”
In i-D’s public interview preview, she described a goal of winning customers through results. She discussed the brand with interviewer Eni Subair. She said she was Cécred’s sole investor.
“I’m the founder, visionary, and sole investor, not the face or model for this brand. I had a vision to build something that solved real problems and performed so incredibly that the people who can’t stand my music still use Cécred, because it work,” she said.
That approach was part of her plan from the start. In her 2024 GQ interview, Beyoncé said she kept herself out of Cécred’s launch ads. She wanted customers to judge the products without her fame doing the work.
“My mother and I poured decades of experience, tradition, and love into Cécred, so seeing our community grow across every ethnicity, texture, generation, and gender is so fulfilling. In the beginning, it took some conditioning from the world’s perception of how to launch a brand founded by someone like me,” Beyoncé said.
She also described a double standard in business. Men could be seen as the decision-makers. Famous women were often treated as marketing faces. She said she wanted her work on the products to matter.
She wanted to build something that could earn respect on its own, rather than depend on her name.
Her tie to haircare went back much further than the launch.
Before Cécred had a public name, Beyoncé spoke about growing up around her mother’s salon. She said her first job involved sweeping up hair, and Destiny’s Child sang for clients as they sat for appointments.
She also recalled the entrepreneurial women she met at the salon. She cited that experience while explaining the line’s roots.
As AllHipHop reported when she announced Cécred in February 2024, the launch trailer paired scenes of Beyoncé washing her hair with childhood footage of her and her mother, Tina Knowles.
The announcement set February 20 as the start date. It followed a May 2023 teaser in which she had connected the business to her mother’s work.
That family role extended into product development. Space NK’s Cécred page identified Tina as vice chairwoman and described her involvement in salon testing.
The retailer said she brought four decades of work to the brand. That included her roles as a hairstylist, salon owner and entrepreneur.
Cécred was also on sale through Space NK’s UK site, with shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and styling products listed.
The options included a scalp scrub, detangling spray and heat styling mist. The range covered wash routines, protective styles and extensions, according to the retailer. The retailer also offered the line in stores.
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Costume Hits 10-Year Search High Ahead of Halloween
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” look ranks No. 18 among Google’s most-searched Halloween costumes for 2026, while searches for Jackson costumes have reached a 10-year high.
The renewed interest follows the billion-dollar success of the Jaafar Jackson-led biopic Michael and a streaming resurgence that put “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” and “Beat It” atop Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart.
Jackson’s original red-and-black “Thriller” jacket and other iconic performance pieces will headline a December auction in Abu Dhabi as U.S. Halloween spending is projected to hit $13.5 billion.
More than four decades after Michael Jackson turned a red leather jacket into one of pop culture's most recognizable fashion statements, his “Thriller” look is back among America's most-wanted Halloween costumes.
According to Google's annual Frightgeist report, “Thriller”-era Michael Jackson ranks No. 18 among the top-trending Halloween costumes for 2026. Even more significantly, Google reports that searches for Michael Jackson costumes have reached their highest level in a decade, adding another milestone to an already remarkable year for the late King of Pop.
Jackson's signature look landed alongside an unusual assortment of pop culture figures, including country legend Kenny Rogers at No. 14 and Masters of the Universe villain Skeletor at No. 19. Buddy the Unicorn, from the 2026 horror comedy Buddy, claimed the top spot, followed by the viral squishy toy NeeDoh.
But Jackson's presence on the list carries additional significance, considering the renewed attention surrounding his career throughout 2026.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic Michael, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, became the first biographical film to cross $1 billion worldwide earlier this year. The movie's success prompted Lionsgate to begin developing a sequel, while Jackson's catalog experienced a substantial resurgence across streaming platforms and Billboard.
At one point, “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” and “Beat It” occupied the top three positions on Billboard's R&B Streaming Songs chart. Meanwhile, Thriller and Bad ranked among Sony Music's best-selling recorded music projects during a quarter in which the company's music sales increased 22 percent.
The renewed interest has extended to Jackson's memorabilia, too.
Earlier this month, Julien's Auctions announced it would offer Jackson’s original red-and-black leather jacket and shoes from the 1983 “Thriller” music video, along with his rhinestone-covered glove and loafers from his historic Motown 25 performance
The four pieces, which have not been offered at auction in nearly two decades, will headline Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Auction in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 7, as part of a three-day auction event.
“The Thriller jacket is the one the world has never stopped talking about,” Julien's Auctions executive director Martin Nolan said when announcing the sale.
“Each one carries a moment that changed pop culture forever,” he added.
The original “Thriller” short film, directed by John Landis, premiered in December 1983 and helped establish the music video as a major entertainment format. Jackson's red jacket, black loafers, and choreographed zombie sequence became inseparable from the record's cultural identity.
Now, those same visual elements are reaching a new audience during a Halloween season expected to drive record consumer spending.
The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, including $4.4 billion on costumes.
“Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind,” NRF executive Allison Zeller said.
Clayton Howard, a self-represented former male escort who worked under the name "Dave," sued Ventura, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC last June over being “forced” to participate in ;freak-offs.’
Ventura's attorneys argued Howard never connected her conduct to sex obtained through force, fraud or deception, citing Howard’s own account of multiple cash payments and return visits.
Cassie Ventura has been dropped from a $35 million lawsuit filed by a former escort who claims that he was involved in “freak-off” sessions with her and Diddy.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang granted the singer's motion to dismiss at an Oct. 21 hearing in Los Angeles, according to documents obtained by Complex, which allows the case to proceed against Diddy, real name Sean Combs. The suit was filed last June by Clayton Howard, who alleged that he was hired by Diddy and Cassie on multiple occasions and claimed that the singer aborted his child.
"Defendant Ventura's motion to dismiss is hereby granted; this will be the order as stated on the record," the minutes read. The allegations against Ventura were dismissed with prejudice.
Clayton Howard, who worked as a male escort under the name "Dave," named Ventura, Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC in the suit. He alleged Ventura arranged sessions under Diddy’s order, and that the two used drugs and coercion to abuse him during paid encounters in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
Attorneys for Cassie argued he never connected her conduct to sex performed through force, fraud or deception, and pointed multiple cash payments and return visits as proof that he was not a victim of trafficking. They also referenced Howard’s complaint about Diddy’s violence and control over his former girlfriend, including his ability to decide when encounters ended.
"These defects are not curable by better drafting or any reframing of the facts," her lawyers wrote.
A July 2025 ruling had given Howard another shot, and he filed a fifth amended complaint on August 3, 2025. Meanwhile, Cassie’s filings in the case have stated she is a U.S. citizen now living outside the United States, with no intention of moving back.
Days before the hearing, Howard tried to substitute a fresh rewrite that altered his claim of roughly 12 hours of confinement during a December 2016 encounter in Miami, which was denied.
The same order granted Bad Boy Entertainment and CeOpco's motion only in part, with Howard being allowed 14 days to amend, and said the court would consider Howard's request to file an additional response. Diddy, who is serving the 50-month sentence imposed last October, has denied wrongdoing and was ordered to answer by a Nov. 4 deadline.
Cassie, who shares three children with her husband, Alex Fine, quietly relocated from the U.S. ahead of her testimony in Diddy’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
Police Called on 3-Year-Old Soccer Player After Parents Complained He Was Hogging the Ball
Winter Park police say the matter was civil, not criminal, and that body camera footage shows no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park.
Nevada's family claims the league asked them to leave and refunded their fall registration after other parents complained that he was hogging the ball.
A 3-year-old soccer player in Winter Park, Florida, had his game interrupted over the weekend after a youth league official called officers on the child.
As seen in a series of TikToks, the soccer player, named Nevada, was ejected from the Saturday (Oct. 24) match after allegedly defeating the other team and being in possession of the ball. In one TikTok, the child’s parents were heard arguing with authorities about the matter.
Shortly after officers arrived, the i9 Sports soccer league official asked them to speak with Nevada’s parents directly because he did not want to escalate the situation. The family was cooperative and requested an event number, which officers provided.
The family says they were told they could not come back to the field and were given a refund for their fall registration after other parents complained that Nevada was hogging the ball.
"They really called the police on a 3-year-old because he had the ball too much," Nevada's father said in the video.
In a statement, the Winter Park Police Department claimed the matter was civil rather than criminal, confirming that officers' body-worn cameras were worn, and that no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park, per News 6.
In a follow-up statement with The Breakfast Club, Nevada’s mother, Martasia Griffin, said her son was “targeted throughout the season because of his talent.” The woman added that the league’s director didn’t defend Nevada or his family after protests from the other players’ families and offered a refund for the boy to leave the program.
“Parents like, ‘Oh, we paid for this just like you did,’” Griffin said. “But if my kid is sitting out the whole thirty minutes so, he's not playing either. You're trying to fault my kid for actually playing soccer. He's 3 years old. His teammates are four and five. He's the youngest on the team.”
Carl Thomas’ Ex Calls Him a ‘Deadbeat’ After VERZUZ: ‘Please Miss Me with the Church Songs’
Carl Thomas took VERZUZ to church, but his daughter’s mother wasn’t moved. Just days after the R&B veteran delivered a gospel-flavored performance during his matchup with Case, Latoya Shantel Young hit Instagram with a much different review, accusing Thomas of being a “deadbeat” father who has failed to support their seven-year-old daughter.“I’m so tired of seeing this deadbeat Carl Thomas come down my motherf*cking timeline,” Young said in a Reel. “Let’s just hop right out the window with that.”
Young’s frustration centered on Thomas’ rendition of “I Need Thee Every Hour,” which he performed before sliding into his 2000 track “Come to Me.” Backed by a piano, Thomas explained that his church upbringing and the music of gospel composer Thomas A. Dorsey helped inspire the song.
The moment became one of the night’s biggest talking points—but Young said the spiritual display did not match the man she knows. “Please miss me with the ‘I love Jesus’ sh*t,” she said. “Please miss me with the church songs when your ass don’t even pay your f*cking child support.”
Young claimed Thomas took her to court to establish whether he was the father, then requested that child support be handled through the state. According to her, that process confirmed his paternity and created a formal support obligation, but she alleges he still has not consistently provided for their daughter. “You promised me you was gonna do right by your daughter,” Young said. “She is now seven years old. You have yet to do anything for your f*cking daughter.”
She added that she never initiated the child-support case herself, alleging Thomas started the process and later failed to make good on it. The Reel did not include court records or specify how much money she says is owed.
The blast arrived as Thomas enjoyed renewed attention from his Oct. 22 VERZUZ showdown with Case at Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles. The two singers ran through the heartbreak records that helped soundtrack turn-of-the-century R&B, including Thomas’ “Summer Rain,” “Emotional,” and “I Wish,” alongside Case staples such as “Happily Ever After,” “Touch Me, Tease Me,” and “Missing You.”
Thomas’ platinum-selling debut, Emotional, arrived in 2000 on Bad Boy and made him one of the era’s most recognizable voices.
Young’s complaints are not new. During a 2023 appearance with Kendra G, she said she first met Thomas while interviewing him for her show, Free Nation: Word on the Street.
She maintained that they were friends for six or seven years before one encounter resulted in their daughter’s conception.
Young also pushed back on Tasha K’s characterization of her as Thomas’ “homeless baby moms,” explaining that she owned a salon for 16 years and had television work when she met him.
She acknowledged experiencing housing insecurity years later after relocating to Atlanta but said that chapter had been presented without the proper timeline.
Miss Jones exposes how Ebro took over her morning show
Tarsha Jones, aka Miss Jones, is a well-known radio personalty who worked for Hot 97 in New York City, and other radio stations in her career.
She currently hosts the morning show for classic hip-hop “94.7 The Block” in New York City. Miss Jones was the first black woman to host Morning Radio with a hip hop radio format.
During an appearance on the “Quiet Part Out Loud” podcast, Miss Jones exposes how Ebro Darden strategically took over her morning show at Hot 97.
She said Ebro was hired as assistant program director and was promoted to program director at Hot 97. But Ebro wanted to be an on-air personality and he had his eye on her morning show. “He knew that his desire and his game plan was to be on-air,” Miss Jones said.
She said that while Ebro was “plotting to get on-air,” rival station Power 105, which she described as “the little engine that could,” was able to climb up the mountain because Ebro was too “unfocused” as a programmer.
“And here they are winning because everyone’s asleep at the wheel,” she said of Hot 105.
She became emotional as she explained how Ebro gained control of her morning show. She was suspended in 2005 due to an on-air incident and her contract was not renewed. Ebro then took over as co-host of the Hot 97 morning show, which he renamed “Ebro in the Morning.”
But that’s not the end of the story.
Ebro in the Morning was abruptly cancelled on December 12, 2025. He took his grievances to social media where he complained about his termination. He blamed his departure on his outspoken political views and the need for Hot 97 to appease their advertisers.
Ebro now cohosts a podcast with Peter Rosenberg and Laura Stylez.
In addition to radio personality, Miss Jones is an R&B singer who performed on rapper AZ’s “Sugar Hill” (1995), Big L’s “M.V.P.” (1995) and Big Pun’s hit song “Punish Me” (1998).
Beyoncé Wants Cécred To Win Skeptics
Beyoncé wanted Cécred to reach “the people who can’t stand my music.”In i-D’s public interview preview, she described a goal of winning customers through results. She discussed the brand with interviewer Eni Subair. She said she was Cécred’s sole investor.
“I’m the founder, visionary, and sole investor, not the face or model for this brand. I had a vision to build something that solved real problems and performed so incredibly that the people who can’t stand my music still use Cécred, because it work,” she said.
That approach was part of her plan from the start. In her 2024 GQ interview, Beyoncé said she kept herself out of Cécred’s launch ads. She wanted customers to judge the products without her fame doing the work.
“My mother and I poured decades of experience, tradition, and love into Cécred, so seeing our community grow across every ethnicity, texture, generation, and gender is so fulfilling. In the beginning, it took some conditioning from the world’s perception of how to launch a brand founded by someone like me,” Beyoncé said.
She also described a double standard in business. Men could be seen as the decision-makers. Famous women were often treated as marketing faces. She said she wanted her work on the products to matter.
She wanted to build something that could earn respect on its own, rather than depend on her name.
Her tie to haircare went back much further than the launch.
Before Cécred had a public name, Beyoncé spoke about growing up around her mother’s salon. She said her first job involved sweeping up hair, and Destiny’s Child sang for clients as they sat for appointments.
She also recalled the entrepreneurial women she met at the salon. She cited that experience while explaining the line’s roots.
As AllHipHop reported when she announced Cécred in February 2024, the launch trailer paired scenes of Beyoncé washing her hair with childhood footage of her and her mother, Tina Knowles.
The announcement set February 20 as the start date. It followed a May 2023 teaser in which she had connected the business to her mother’s work.
That family role extended into product development. Space NK’s Cécred page identified Tina as vice chairwoman and described her involvement in salon testing.
The retailer said she brought four decades of work to the brand. That included her roles as a hairstylist, salon owner and entrepreneur.
Cécred was also on sale through Space NK’s UK site, with shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and styling products listed.
The options included a scalp scrub, detangling spray and heat styling mist. The range covered wash routines, protective styles and extensions, according to the retailer. The retailer also offered the line in stores.
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Costume Hits 10-Year Search High Ahead of Halloween
The renewed interest follows the billion-dollar success of the Jaafar Jackson-led biopic Michael and a streaming resurgence that put “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” and “Beat It” atop Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart.
Jackson’s original red-and-black “Thriller” jacket and other iconic performance pieces will headline a December auction in Abu Dhabi as U.S. Halloween spending is projected to hit $13.5 billion.
More than four decades after Michael Jackson turned a red leather jacket into one of pop culture's most recognizable fashion statements, his “Thriller” look is back among America's most-wanted Halloween costumes.
According to Google's annual Frightgeist report, “Thriller”-era Michael Jackson ranks No. 18 among the top-trending Halloween costumes for 2026. Even more significantly, Google reports that searches for Michael Jackson costumes have reached their highest level in a decade, adding another milestone to an already remarkable year for the late King of Pop.
Jackson's signature look landed alongside an unusual assortment of pop culture figures, including country legend Kenny Rogers at No. 14 and Masters of the Universe villain Skeletor at No. 19. Buddy the Unicorn, from the 2026 horror comedy Buddy, claimed the top spot, followed by the viral squishy toy NeeDoh.
But Jackson's presence on the list carries additional significance, considering the renewed attention surrounding his career throughout 2026.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic Michael, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, became the first biographical film to cross $1 billion worldwide earlier this year. The movie's success prompted Lionsgate to begin developing a sequel, while Jackson's catalog experienced a substantial resurgence across streaming platforms and Billboard.
At one point, “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” and “Beat It” occupied the top three positions on Billboard's R&B Streaming Songs chart. Meanwhile, Thriller and Bad ranked among Sony Music's best-selling recorded music projects during a quarter in which the company's music sales increased 22 percent.
The renewed interest has extended to Jackson's memorabilia, too.
Earlier this month, Julien's Auctions announced it would offer Jackson’s original red-and-black leather jacket and shoes from the 1983 “Thriller” music video, along with his rhinestone-covered glove and loafers from his historic Motown 25 performance
The four pieces, which have not been offered at auction in nearly two decades, will headline Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Auction in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 7, as part of a three-day auction event.
“The Thriller jacket is the one the world has never stopped talking about,” Julien's Auctions executive director Martin Nolan said when announcing the sale.
“Each one carries a moment that changed pop culture forever,” he added.
The original “Thriller” short film, directed by John Landis, premiered in December 1983 and helped establish the music video as a major entertainment format. Jackson's red jacket, black loafers, and choreographed zombie sequence became inseparable from the record's cultural identity.
Now, those same visual elements are reaching a new audience during a Halloween season expected to drive record consumer spending.
The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, including $4.4 billion on costumes.
“Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind,” NRF executive Allison Zeller said.
Ava DuVernay Defends Using AI in New ’14th’ Netflix Documentary
Ava DuVernay is defending her decision to use AI in her new Netflix documentary 14th.
The upcoming project is a deep dive on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment and the fight over birthright citizenship. Archival photographs are brought to life with the help of AI in the doc.
As she screened 14th at the 2026 AFI Fest on Sunday (October 25), Ava, 54, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter where she responded to criticism over the use of AI in the doc.
“The tools that the artists used to do the parallax and the animation in the films have that technology in them, as does Pro Tools with sound, as does Avid with editorial, as does Resolve with color,” she said of industry postproduction tools. “I think we’ve come to a place in filmmaking where we have to be really sober about the ways in which that technology is [used] across so much of the workflow.
Ava added of AI, “We didn’t use it to fabricate a person or make an avatar of a person or approximate someone’s voice that said something they didn’t say. We actually animated some photos that are in the public domain, and from what we’ve been hearing from people, it does bring people closer to that time in history, which was our goal. So people have to see it and check it out for themselves and make their decisions about how they feel.”
14th will get a limited theatrical run starting November 27 and start streaming on Netflix on December 4.
‘All My Children Actor #RIPAlanDysert Passes Away at 75
“My heart is broken,” Michele wrote while remembering her husband and their life together.
She described Alan as her best friend and reflected on their relationship, explaining how grateful she was to have experienced such a special love.
Alan was best known for portraying Sean Cudahy, a charming con artist, on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
He first appeared on the series in 1980 and was credited in 79 episodes through 1990.
His other acting credits included Soap, Two Weeks and The Grift.
Beyond acting, Alan worked as a musician, writer, filmmaker, producer and acting teacher. He was particularly passionate about helping aspiring performers develop their confidence and pursue their careers.
In her tribute, Michele shared that her husband had experienced several serious health challenges over the years.
Alan previously revealed in his 2023 autobiography, Lights, Camera, Cancer!, that he had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive and incurable form of cancer.
He detailed undergoing four major cancer-related surgeries, a recurrence of the disease, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and numerous CT scans, per People.
However, Michele did not disclose an official cause of death.
She also reflected on her husband’s sense of humor, adventurous personality and determination to make the most of his life.
“Alan had an incredible gift for storytelling, a wonderful sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, and a personality that could fill any room,” she wrote.
Originally from Illinois, Alan studied at the University of Illinois before pursuing a career in entertainment.
Alongside his work on television, he became a respected acting coach and mentor, including for performers in Nashville.
Michele also shared that Alan wanted people to celebrate his life and remember the happiness he brought them.
The actor is survived by his wife and his two sons, Cody and Cooper.
Our thoughts are with Alan‘s family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.
Halle Berry's daughter and fiancé testify in custody battle
Halle Berry's daughter, Nahla Aubry, took the stand on Monday in the actor's custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.
The 18-year-old testified behind closed doors as the former couple returned to Los Angeles Superior Court for the second week of proceedings over Martinez's request for a domestic violence restraining order.
The appearance came after Nahla first filed a declaration of support for her mother earlier this month.
Berry's fiancé, Van Hunt, also returned to the stand for cross-examination. Both witnesses were believed to have testified for less than an hour each, Page Six reports.
Following a lunch break, closing arguments began, with the proceedings again taking place in private.
Closing arguments will continue on Tuesday, and a ruling is expected this week.
Martinez is seeking a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody of the former couple's 13-year-old son, Maceo.
The Unfaithful actor claims Berry choked the teen during an altercation at her home on 26 September.
In his court filings, Martinez claimed Maceo contacted him after the alleged incident and begged to be picked up.
A judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order on 1 October and awarded him temporary primary custody of Maceo.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations.
El Paso Teens Who Appear to Be Hispanic Caught on Video in KKK Robes Yelling Racial Slurs
A group of teenagers who appear to be Hispanic were caught on video wearing white Klan robes and chanting racial slurs at a Halloween gathering, and the El Paso KKK footage now has the city’s police chief, its congresswoman and the local NAACP demanding accountability.
The clips started spreading over the weekend after FitFam El Paso, a local social media page, shared them. They show about six people in pointed white hoods and robes, first in what looks like a backyard and then walking as a group down a dark street on the city’s East Side. In one video, the group chants “we hate” followed by the N word. Other teens off camera can be heard laughing and egging them on.
No one in the robes has been publicly identified. Atlanta Black Star reported that most of them appear to be Hispanic, in a city where Hispanic residents make up about 81 percent of the population. That detail is a big reason the video has traveled far beyond Texas. People online are asking how kids from a community that white supremacists have targeted ended up dressed as the most recognizable white supremacist group in American history, aiming the N word at Black people.
A caption on one widely shared repost claims the person filming calls the group “the team,” which has fueled speculation that they play high school sports together. Police and school officials have not confirmed that.
El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said Monday that his department is reviewing whether anyone broke the law, including disorderly conduct. In Texas, that charge can cover using abusive or offensive language in public that is likely to start a fight.
“Symbols and language associated with the Ku Klux Klan represent a history of terror, violence and racial hatred,” Pacillas said. “They have no place in our community. Treating that history as a costume or a joke is unacceptable.”
He added that free expression has limits once it crosses into conduct that threatens public order or other people’s safety, and he asked anyone with information to contact the department. He also put some of it on the parents, saying families play an essential role in teaching young people that hatred and intimidation have no place in El Paso.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso in Congress, posted a statement Sunday calling the reports “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.” She said the KKK represents a shameful history of white supremacy, racial terror and violence against Black Americans and other communities of color, and that “no El Pasoan is too young to understand that racism has no place in our community.”
On Monday, members of the El Paso NAACP gathered outside the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse to address the El Paso KKK incident directly, calling out the “hatred, terrorism and racism” the Klan stands for. The branch also connected it to the darkest day in the city’s modern history. On August 3, 2019, a gunman drove more than 600 miles to an El Paso Walmart and killed 23 people after posting a racist screed about a “Hispanic invasion” of Texas. The NAACP reminded the city that the same white supremacist ideology at the root of the Klan drove that attack on Mexicans and immigrants.
El Paso also had its own Klan chapter in the 1920s. Known as Frontier Klan No. 100, it signed up about 3,500 local members before it collapsed later that decade.
Some posts online have compared the El Paso KKK video to a 2010 case in Woodsboro, Texas, where high school students in Klan costumes attacked a Black teen with a stun gun on Halloween. The two cases are not connected.
Police have not announced any arrests or charges, and it is still unclear whether the gathering was a private party or which school, if any, the teens attend.
Ava DuVernay is defending her decision to use AI in her new Netflix documentary 14th.The upcoming project is a deep dive on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment and the fight over birthright citizenship. Archival photographs are brought to life with the help of AI in the doc.
As she screened 14th at the 2026 AFI Fest on Sunday (October 25), Ava, 54, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter where she responded to criticism over the use of AI in the doc.
“The tools that the artists used to do the parallax and the animation in the films have that technology in them, as does Pro Tools with sound, as does Avid with editorial, as does Resolve with color,” she said of industry postproduction tools. “I think we’ve come to a place in filmmaking where we have to be really sober about the ways in which that technology is [used] across so much of the workflow.
Ava added of AI, “We didn’t use it to fabricate a person or make an avatar of a person or approximate someone’s voice that said something they didn’t say. We actually animated some photos that are in the public domain, and from what we’ve been hearing from people, it does bring people closer to that time in history, which was our goal. So people have to see it and check it out for themselves and make their decisions about how they feel.”
14th will get a limited theatrical run starting November 27 and start streaming on Netflix on December 4.
‘All My Children Actor #RIPAlanDysert Passes Away at 75
Alan Dysert, the actor best known for playing Sean Cudahy on All My Children, has sadly passed away.
The soap opera star died on Friday (October 23) at the age of 75, his wife Michele Dysert confirmed in a Facebook tribute shared over the weekend.“My heart is broken,” Michele wrote while remembering her husband and their life together.
She described Alan as her best friend and reflected on their relationship, explaining how grateful she was to have experienced such a special love.
Alan was best known for portraying Sean Cudahy, a charming con artist, on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
He first appeared on the series in 1980 and was credited in 79 episodes through 1990.
His other acting credits included Soap, Two Weeks and The Grift.
Beyond acting, Alan worked as a musician, writer, filmmaker, producer and acting teacher. He was particularly passionate about helping aspiring performers develop their confidence and pursue their careers.
In her tribute, Michele shared that her husband had experienced several serious health challenges over the years.
Alan previously revealed in his 2023 autobiography, Lights, Camera, Cancer!, that he had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive and incurable form of cancer.
He detailed undergoing four major cancer-related surgeries, a recurrence of the disease, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and numerous CT scans, per People.
However, Michele did not disclose an official cause of death.
She also reflected on her husband’s sense of humor, adventurous personality and determination to make the most of his life.
“Alan had an incredible gift for storytelling, a wonderful sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, and a personality that could fill any room,” she wrote.
Originally from Illinois, Alan studied at the University of Illinois before pursuing a career in entertainment.
Alongside his work on television, he became a respected acting coach and mentor, including for performers in Nashville.
Michele also shared that Alan wanted people to celebrate his life and remember the happiness he brought them.
The actor is survived by his wife and his two sons, Cody and Cooper.
Our thoughts are with Alan‘s family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.
Halle Berry's daughter and fiancé testify in custody battle
Halle Berry's daughter, Nahla Aubry, took the stand on Monday in the actor's custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.The 18-year-old testified behind closed doors as the former couple returned to Los Angeles Superior Court for the second week of proceedings over Martinez's request for a domestic violence restraining order.
The appearance came after Nahla first filed a declaration of support for her mother earlier this month.
Berry's fiancé, Van Hunt, also returned to the stand for cross-examination. Both witnesses were believed to have testified for less than an hour each, Page Six reports.
Following a lunch break, closing arguments began, with the proceedings again taking place in private.
Closing arguments will continue on Tuesday, and a ruling is expected this week.
Martinez is seeking a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody of the former couple's 13-year-old son, Maceo.
The Unfaithful actor claims Berry choked the teen during an altercation at her home on 26 September.
In his court filings, Martinez claimed Maceo contacted him after the alleged incident and begged to be picked up.
A judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order on 1 October and awarded him temporary primary custody of Maceo.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations.
El Paso Teens Who Appear to Be Hispanic Caught on Video in KKK Robes Yelling Racial Slurs
The clips started spreading over the weekend after FitFam El Paso, a local social media page, shared them. They show about six people in pointed white hoods and robes, first in what looks like a backyard and then walking as a group down a dark street on the city’s East Side. In one video, the group chants “we hate” followed by the N word. Other teens off camera can be heard laughing and egging them on.
No one in the robes has been publicly identified. Atlanta Black Star reported that most of them appear to be Hispanic, in a city where Hispanic residents make up about 81 percent of the population. That detail is a big reason the video has traveled far beyond Texas. People online are asking how kids from a community that white supremacists have targeted ended up dressed as the most recognizable white supremacist group in American history, aiming the N word at Black people.
A caption on one widely shared repost claims the person filming calls the group “the team,” which has fueled speculation that they play high school sports together. Police and school officials have not confirmed that.
El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said Monday that his department is reviewing whether anyone broke the law, including disorderly conduct. In Texas, that charge can cover using abusive or offensive language in public that is likely to start a fight.
“Symbols and language associated with the Ku Klux Klan represent a history of terror, violence and racial hatred,” Pacillas said. “They have no place in our community. Treating that history as a costume or a joke is unacceptable.”
He added that free expression has limits once it crosses into conduct that threatens public order or other people’s safety, and he asked anyone with information to contact the department. He also put some of it on the parents, saying families play an essential role in teaching young people that hatred and intimidation have no place in El Paso.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso in Congress, posted a statement Sunday calling the reports “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.” She said the KKK represents a shameful history of white supremacy, racial terror and violence against Black Americans and other communities of color, and that “no El Pasoan is too young to understand that racism has no place in our community.”
On Monday, members of the El Paso NAACP gathered outside the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse to address the El Paso KKK incident directly, calling out the “hatred, terrorism and racism” the Klan stands for. The branch also connected it to the darkest day in the city’s modern history. On August 3, 2019, a gunman drove more than 600 miles to an El Paso Walmart and killed 23 people after posting a racist screed about a “Hispanic invasion” of Texas. The NAACP reminded the city that the same white supremacist ideology at the root of the Klan drove that attack on Mexicans and immigrants.
El Paso also had its own Klan chapter in the 1920s. Known as Frontier Klan No. 100, it signed up about 3,500 local members before it collapsed later that decade.
Some posts online have compared the El Paso KKK video to a 2010 case in Woodsboro, Texas, where high school students in Klan costumes attacked a Black teen with a stun gun on Halloween. The two cases are not connected.
Police have not announced any arrests or charges, and it is still unclear whether the gathering was a private party or which school, if any, the teens attend.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
