8/19/26

The Daily Buzz For Aug 20☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: Celine Dion for Harper's Bazaar US - September 2026
Beautiful!

#RHOA: Peter Thomas Debuts New Girlfriend, Talks 32-Year Age Gap
Peter Thomas is putting his personal life back in front of the cameras. In a new appearance on Carlos King's Reality with the King, the former RHOA personality introduced his new girlfriend, Alex, while also revisiting unresolved tension with his ex-wife, Cynthia Bailey.

The interview marked Thomas' first in-person sit-down since his prison stint, and the conversation moved quickly from his legal troubles to his relationships. Thomas said he and Alex began dating before he reported to prison, and he acknowledged the 32-year age gap between them. "She's much younger," he said, adding, "I don't know what's going to happen."

When King asked directly about the difference in age, Thomas answered, "Thirty-two years."
Later in the episode, King formally brought Alex into the conversation. Before she appeared, Thomas addressed anyone criticizing the relationship.

"When nobody was there for me, the only person that drove four hours to come and visit me, four hours to go back and help me keep my sanity in that prison… there was this woman," Thomas said. "She might be younger than me, but she is a woman."
He added, "If my daughters are okay with it, then I couldn't give a two what the rest of the world think about it. She's over 30, so it's all good."
Alex also defended the relationship on the podcast, saying her interest in Thomas was not about his public profile. "It's not even about who he is, honestly," she said. "For me, it's more so the character opposed to his name."

The girlfriend reveal came after a lengthy discussion about Bailey, Thomas' former wife and longtime RHOA co-star. King noted that some viewers felt Bailey had not publicly spoken negatively about Thomas and did not deserve past criticism from him.
Thomas pushed back on that, saying, "Those must be Cynthia fans because Cynthia did do something that hurt me."

Thomas claimed the issue centered on a property matter tied to their divorce and said he felt abandoned after previously choosing not to pursue money from Bailey. "I thought we were good. I thought I didn't take nothing from the divorce. I thought we were friends," he said. "Now I lost my house because she didn't stand up for me like I stood up for her."

He also said the RHOA narrative around their marriage affected how the public viewed him. "I took for years… people were saying I'm broke, she support me, I am living off of her and all of that and none of that was true," Thomas told King.
The interview arrives as Thomas continues reshaping his public image after his federal tax case. He previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to one count of failure to pay over trust fund taxes tied to several businesses, including Bar One Baltimore, Bar One Miami Beach, Sports ONE, Club One CLT, and PT Media.

Prosecutors said the businesses failed to pay more than $2.5 million in employment taxes, including more than $1.7 million withheld from employees' wages.
Thomas was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and later said in court filings that he had been approached about a reality project centered on rebuilding his life after prison.

#MusicNews: Boney James Taps Ledisi for ‘I Belong to You,’ Announces 20th Album ‘A Simple Man’
Grammy-nominated saxophonist Boney James has joined forces with Ledisi for his new single “I Belong To You.”
Over a lush, horn-infused backdrop, Ledisi sings of unwavering devotion to her significant other as she craves more time together amid her demanding schedule.
“Lately, I’ve been busy, I need to see your face / Let’s find the time we need more days and hours, yeah / I love it when you take care of me,” she sings in the first verse.

“I Belong To You” marks James’ and Ledisi’s first collaboration since teaming up for Luther Vandross’ 2004 tribute album, Forever, For Always, For Luther, on “My Sensitivity (Gets in the Way).” The former will appear on James’ 20th album, A Simple Man, set to release Oct 2 via Concord Records.
Speaking on his new album, James said, “I don’t need a lot of things to make me happy. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve wanted to drop the extraneous things. The simple life is something I crave, and that spirit found its way into this album. A Simple Man is about getting closer to what feels essential, both in the music and in my life.”

A Simple Man will include additional collaborations with Marquis Hill and Larry Carlton. Boney’s upcoming LP will follow 2024’s Slow Burn, which included the October London-assisted “All I Want Is You.”

Regarding the latter album, Boney shared, “When I mentioned the phrase ‘slow burn’ to people as a possible title, they said, ‘That also refers to your whole career in a way. This is my nineteenth record and I feel like I’m just hitting my stride.”

Listen to Boney James and Ledisi’s “I Belong To You” HERE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSv3xM9B6s0
See the tracklist for A Simple Man below.

Boney James’ A Simple Man Album Tracklist
Dreams
Morocco feat. Marquis Hill
The Midnight Sun
I Belong To You feat. Ledisi
Things Are Looking Up
The Wire
Storybook feat. Larry Carlton
In A Sentimental Mood
A Simple Man
Birdsong


#HipHopNews: LL Cool J, Lil’ Kim, Method Man, and Redman to Headline Rock the Bells Festival 2026
The Rock the Bells Festival 2026 will bring a star-studded lineup of hip-hop and R&B veterans to Newark, N.J., this Thanksgiving weekend as headliners LL Cool J, SWV, Lil’ Kim and Method Man & Redman take the stage.
Taking place at the Prudential Center on Nov. 29, the “Home for the Holidays”-themed concert will double as a sendoff for Hip-Hop History Month and feature a set by DJ D-Nice featuring The LOX, LeToya Luckett and David Banner. Additional performers and surprise guests will be announced at a later date.

LL Cool J’s presence carries particular significance. The pioneering rap star and Rock the Bells expressed his excitement in preserving and celebrating hip-hop culture and bringing the annual festival back to New Jersey.

“Hip-hop has shaped the world for more than five decades, and Rock the Bells exists to honor the people who made that history and keep the culture moving upward,” the Queens native said in a statement announcing the show.
“There’s something special about seeing artists and fans from different generations come together under one roof. Bringing that energy back to Newark over Thanksgiving weekend feels right. We’re going to celebrate music, show love to the community and close out Hip-Hop History Month together.”

Shelby Joyner, President of Black Promoters Collective, which is producing the event in partnership with Rock the Bells, also spoke on the cultural celebration. “
The Black Promoters Collective was built to produce world-class live experiences that celebrate Black culture at the highest level. Rock the Bells embodies that mission. Together with LL Cool J, we’re producing an experience that honors hip-hop’s pioneers, celebrates its influence, and brings generations together through the music that continues to shape culture around the world.”

Presale tickets are available Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. ET through Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. ET. The local, venue and promoter presale begins Thursday, August 20, at 10:00 a.m. ET and concludes at 11:59 p.m. ET. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 21, at 10:00 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.

#HipHopNews: Racist Snoop Dogg Hanging Doll Incident Ends In City Manager Getting Fired

A city manager was fired after the council deemed his response to a racist incident involving a Snoop Dogg doll was inadequate.
A Golden, Colorado, city manager is out of a job after the city council voted unanimously to fire him over his handling of a racist incident involving a Snoop Dogg doll at the fire department.

Scott Vargo got the ax on Tuesday after the council decided his response to the March incident didn’t cut it.
That’s when a “Snoop on a Stoop” doll, a parody of the “Elf on the Shelf” toy designed to look like Snoop Dogg, was found hanging by its neck from a rope in a fire station stairwell.
The city moved fast initially. They launched an investigation right away and fired the employee who put the doll there.

But when other city workers found out about it weeks later, they weren’t happy with how leadership handled things. That’s when the real fallout started.
“This is an extremely difficult moment for our City, but maintaining trust is fundamental to leadership,” Mayor Laura Weinberg said. “We are committed to accountability, meaningful change, and doing the work necessary to rebuild trust.”

City officials admitted they messed up. In a July statement, they said their response “fell far short” and “failed” employees and residents.
They acknowledged the doll wasn’t just some dumb workplace prank; it carried serious historical weight tied to racial violence and terror.
“It can undoubtedly cause fear, anger, grief, and a profound loss of trust. No one should ever question whether they are respected, valued or safe in a City workplace or while receiving services from the City of Golden,” the city said.

The council voted to bring in an interim city manager effective immediately.
They’re also moving forward with an independent third-party investigation to dig into what happened, how leadership responded, and what needs to change in the organization’s culture.

ABC Sues Trump’s FCC Over Free Speech
On Tuesday (August 18), ABC filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in federal court, claiming that regulatory actions and an investigation was part of the Trump administration’s agenda to restrict its free speech.
“Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” the lawsuit filed in Washington D.C. read. It names FCC Chairman Brendan Carr along with its two commissioners, Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez.

The lawsuit includes references to the many attacks against ABC by President Donald Trump, including his demands for it to lose its license as well as his attacking a network reporter who questioned him about the Epstein files and his grievances over the 2024 Presidential debate that the network hosted.

It also brings up Carr’s threat to ABC after late night host Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about the investigation of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last September, in which Carr said on a podcast that “we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” adding that companies can get involved “or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” Kimmel would be off the air for several days afterward after two major station groups with affiliates claimed they wouldn’t air Kimmel’s show.

ABC’s lawsuit also declares that the FCC would use the time after a period of public comments on whether to renew the licenses for eight stations, declaring that “Any FCC adjudication would be a charade.” Carr called for the investigation last spring. None of the eight stations, which cover New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles among other cities, were up for renewal yet.

It then outlined how the FCC could use the adjudication as a weapon to prolong an investigation to cost ABC and its parent company, Disney, money or to outright “deny license renewal or immediately revoke the Stations’ licenses,” which would take ABC off the air entirely.
No other network has challenged the FCC directly via litigation, even as Carr and the FCC has launched multiple investigations against them, including CBS over its editing of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Madonna celebrates 68th birthday in Corfu
Madonna has celebrated her 68th birthday with a party in Greece.
In a carousel posted to Instagram on Tuesday, the superstar shared photos from the 16 August festivities in Corfu, surrounded by her kids, her reported boyfriend of two years, 30-year-old footballer Akeem Morris, and a whole host of friends.

"It's My Birthday! Eat, Pray, Love, Drink, Dance, Break plates, Feed Cats! Thank you G*D!" the Confessions II singer wrote alongside the carousel.
Madonna's children Lourdes, 29, Rocco, 26, Mercy, 20, and 13-year-old twins Stella and Estere joined the al fresco dinner at the Atzardo taverna in Kouramades, a small village on the Greek island.
After dinner came musical performances, plate-smashing, and a heart-shaped cake decorated with the evil eye.
To close out the evening, they danced to music by Terraròss, an Italian folk band that has performed at Madonna's private birthdays in the past, W Magazine reported.
Madonna has this week been announced as the leading nominee for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving 11 nods, including the coveted Artist of the Year and Video of the Year categories.

The Like a Prayer hitmaker is also nominated for Song of the Year for her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, Bring Your Love, as well as Video of the Year for her 14-minute project Confessions II - The Film.

Hayden Panettiere’s Mom Lesley Vogel Releases Statement on Her Death, Calls Out Brian Hickerson
Hayden Panettiere‘s mother, Lesley Vogel, has released a statement on the death of the 36-year-old Nashville star.
Just a few months ago, Vogel revealed that she and Hayden had become estranged.
Lesley Vogel called out Brian Hickerson directly in her statement about Hayden Panettiere’s death

“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” she told NBC News. Hickerson was Hayden‘s on-again/off-again boyfriend, and was with her when she was pronounced dead.
“I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path,” she said.

Hayden Panettiere had a tumultuous relationship with her mother
Earlier this year, Hayden opened up about a conversation she had with her mom where she wanted to cut things off professionally, but have a personal relationship instead.
“She came into my trailer during lunch when we were filming ‘Heroes,’ and I said to her, ‘I don’t want us to work together anymore; I just want you to be my mom,’” she said on Jay Shetty‘s podcast. Her mom’s response? “You owe me.”

She said, “And that’s all she said, and she walked out. And part of me was like, ‘Oh, I’m relieved that it was short, like, rip the Band-Aid off.’ But then it was like this dark looming cloud over my head going, ‘What does she mean by I owe her? What form of payment is she expecting?’”
“Once the business aspect was removed, I was hoping that there [would] be no reason for her to be anything other than my than my mom. And the fact that it seemed like she didn’t want to — didn’t care to — have a relationship with me was a tough pill to swallow.”
“I’ve desperately [sought] her approval for my entire life. You know, she was the person after every take that I looked to. I wouldn’t look to the director or the producers or anybody else. The only person that existed and the only person whose opinion mattered to me was hers,” she added.

Lesley Vogel claimed she was no contact with Hayden Panettiere as of May of 2016
She told Page Six, “After 20 years of trauma, I took the advice of professionals and chose the no-contact route. As many parents of entertainment children [know], we are all too familiar with the painful observation of watching the self-destructive paths they sometimes choose. No parent hopes for this scenario; we want our children to be the best of themselves and live a peaceful, joyful life!”

“Sadly, this is out of our control. You cannot save someone who does not want to be saved. Radical acceptance is the most difficult challenge any parent must embrace. Unfortunately, I have seen a great deal of such in my life experience,” she added. “When someone leaves, the smear campaign begins; accusations, anger, belittling, gaslighting, etc. are the classic signs of this behavior style. The craving of drama and punitive action is traditional and to be expected.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a relationship right now. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day,” Hayden said as well of their relationship to Us Weekly.

‘Reading Rainbow’ Star Mychal Threets Shares He Is Checking Himself Into the Hospital: ‘I Am Not Okay’
“Reading Rainbow” star Mychal Threets revealed online Monday that he was “not okay” and would be checking himself into a hospital.
Threets was heading to the hospital for some mental health care, after posting to his Threads account that he was “seeking help.” The actor appeared as Mychal the Librarian for years on Sony Pictures Television’s reboot of the PBS children’s program.

“I am not okay. Maybe I’ll never be okay. I’m seeking help. Going to the hospital tomorrow. In this moment I am safe. By God’s grace,” Threets wrote. “No matter what happens to me, I will always be thankful for the extraordinary people in my life who worry, who help me. Thank you for your care. I will always love you.”

The nature of the social media post unsurprisingly alarmed fans when it went up Monday. Many made their support heard whether they were everyday fans or more high-profile. “Community” alum Yvette Nicole Brown suggested that if Threets was feeling that low that he go to the hospital earlier.

“If you need the help, maybe go tonight, friend,” she posted.
“Reading Rainbow” first premiered in 1983 and ran until 2006. It was designed to use television to inspire children’s love of reading and build lasting connections between kids and books. It was revived in 2025 on Kidzuko in an effort to motivate, help and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects and new books. Threets hosted the revival, which had another 24 episodes ordered in February.

“When I saw the response to the relaunch of ‘Reading Rainbow’ and the enthusiasm for Mychal as host, it was clear there is a passionate audience that truly values educational children’s programming,” executive producer Michael Davies said in a statement about the renewal. “This series offers more than entertainment—it empowers viewers through reading, which feels especially critical at a time when literacy rates are in historic decline.”

Representatives for Threets did not immediately return a request for comment.

Rosie O’Donnell Credits ‘Oompa J. Loompa’ Trump for Her TV Comeback: ‘Couldn’t Have Done It Without You’
Rosie O’Donnell issued a tongue-in-cheek thank you to Donald Trump for her TV comeback, joking the president brought her back like he “did with fascism and the measles.”
The comedian took aim at Trump during Tuesday’s monologue for “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where she is serving as guest host while the eponymous host is on summer break.

“I’m so grateful to be filling in for Jimmy and to be hosting a talk show on network TV once again,” O’Donnell, who notably had her own show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” for six seasons between 1996 and 2002, said at the start of her monologue. “This has been, kind of, a strange experience for me, because all of a sudden I’m re-famous.”

She continued: “I’m back in the spotlight all thanks to President Oompa J. Loompa, who is watching us this evening from inside a catering cart.”
“You know, I couldn’t have done it without you, sweetie,” she went on. “You brought me back just like you did with fascism and the measles.”

While O’Donnell said “enough about him,” she did take one more shot at Trump later in her monologue, calling him “Velveeto Corleone” when sharing a Strait of Hormuz update.
“We also learned today that the United States could be acquiring some new land soon,” she said. “Velveeto Corleone was up bright and early at 7 a.m. this morning to post an image of a map listing the Strait of Hormuz as a U.S. territory, which makes literally no sense. I’ll put it this way. If the U.S. is in charge of the Strait, then I’m also straight. And let’s face it, I’m not.”

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.

#RIP ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93

Bill Rasmussen, the visionary entrepreneur whose idea for a 24-hour sports network led to the creation of ESPN and transformed how fans consume sports, has died. He was 93.
ESPN announced Rasmussen's death on Tuesday, Aug. 18, describing its founder as a “game-changer for the ages.” According to the network, Rasmussen died from the effects of Parkinson's disease.

“ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network forever changed the landscape of sports media, died today at the age of 93,” the network said. “A game-changer for the ages. Thank you for everything, Bill.”
ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network forever changed the landscape of sports media, died today at the age of 93.

A game-changer for the ages. Thank you for everything, Bill ❤️
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro also paid tribute to Rasmussen and the entrepreneurial spirit that helped turn an ambitious concept into a sports media institution.

"Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports," Pitaro said. "Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn't for Bill's passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s."

Rasmussen's idea began taking shape in 1978 after his tenure as communications director for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association came to an end. While traveling through Connecticut with his son Scott Rasmussen that August, the two began discussing programming possibilities for satellite television. What initially centered on regional sports coverage eventually grew into a national network dedicated to sports around the clock.

With financial backing from Getty Oil, an NCAA programming agreement and a major advertising commitment from Anheuser-Busch, ESPN officially launched on Sept. 7, 1979, reaching approximately 1.4 million homes. The network's first program was SportsCenter, hosted by Lee Leonard and George Grande.

Rasmussen served as ESPN's founder, first president and later chairman before leaving an active role with the company in 1980. What he helped start in Bristol, Connecticut, ultimately grew from roughly 80 employees at launch into a global sports media powerhouse.

His impact earned him numerous honors over the decades. Sports Illustrated included Rasmussen on its 1994 "Forty for the Ages" list of figures who transformed sports, while USA Today dubbed him "The Father of Sports Television." He was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025.

Earlier this year, ESPN revisited Rasmussen's groundbreaking vision with the documentary Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN, chronicling how he and his son turned the unlikely idea into reality.
Rasmussen is survived by his sons Scott and Glenn, daughter Lynn, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife of 56 years, Lois, died in 2011.

Vin Diesel Reunites With Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster & Meadow Walker for ‘Fast & Furious’ 25th Anniversary
The Fast & Furious family is celebrating 25 years since the movie that started it all!
Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Meadow Walker, and more stars reunited at a special anniversary screening of The Fast and the Furious on Monday (August 17) in Los Angeles.

The group posed together outside the event, where several cars were displayed alongside a backdrop celebrating the movie’s milestone. Meadow, whose late father Paul Walker starred as Brian O’Connor, also shared photos with Vin and Jordana.
Inside the theater, Vin, Michelle, and Jordana joined longtime franchise producer Neal H. Mortiz to address the audience before the screening.

The original movie opened in theaters on June 22, 2001. It introduced Vin as Dominic Toretto, Paul as undercover police officer Brian, Jordana as Mia Toretto, and Michelle as Letty Ortiz, launching a franchise that has continued for more than two decades.
Several stars from across the film series joined the celebration, including Tyrese Gibson, Nathalie Emmanuel, and original movie stars Noel Gugliemi and Chad Lindberg. Montana Tucker and producer Brandon Birtell were also photographed at the event.

Fans will soon have another opportunity to watch the first installment on the big screen. The Fast and the Furious returns to participating theaters beginning Friday, August 21, as part of its 25th anniversary celebration. Showtimes and availability will vary by location.

Beyoncé Was 19 And Sitting On A Producer’s Lap When Michael Jackson Called The Studio
Beyoncé and Michael Jackson footage from 2001 is circulating again, and the part everybody is stuck on is not the phone call. In the clip, a 19-year-old Beyoncé, still in Destiny’s Child, takes a call from Jackson while sitting on the lap of producer F. Marc Schaffel. Rap-Up reposted it on August 17, asked followers whether it read as a harmless industry moment or questionable optics, and the comments have not stopped since.

The footage itself is genuine, and it is not brand new. TMZ published it in April 2026. It comes from Schaffel, a longtime Jackson associate who filmed him extensively between 2000 and 2003 for a reality series that was never released. The project fell apart after Neverland Ranch was raided in 2003, and the tapes sat. Schaffel has since assembled the archive into a three-part documentary he is shopping to streaming services, which is exactly why pieces of it keep landing on the timeline.

The Beyoncé segment was shot in 2001, in the weeks after September 11, during work on “What More Can I Give,” the all-star charity single Jackson organized to raise money for victims. Beyoncé was one of the artists brought in to record. In the clip, she is in the studio hearing the song for the first time. Jackson’s people tell her she is the legitimate new thing and that Michael is a fan of her work. She gets visibly flustered and says don’t tell me that. Then Jackson calls the studio himself to thank her for participating, and she thanks him back repeatedly, clearly overwhelmed. It is a real moment of a teenager meeting her hero, two years before “Crazy in Love” made her one.

And through the entire call, she is on Schaffel’s lap. That is the frame that took over. Schaffel’s history came right back with the clip. During a 2006 court case, Jackson testified that he ended Schaffel’s involvement with the charity project after learning Schaffel had previously produced adult films. That detail is now attached to every repost.

Being clear about what is and is not here matters. The footage does not show misconduct. Nobody has accused Schaffel of anything involving Beyoncé, and Beyoncé has never said anything about it. She was 19, a legal adult, in a working studio full of people. What the clip actually captures is a young artist who had not yet learned to control a room, in an industry where an executive can pull a teenager onto his lap during a business call, and nobody present treats it as unusual. That is the conversation people are having, and it is a fair one to have without turning speculation into an allegation.

The song at the center of it never really got its moment either. “What More Can I Give” was recorded with a lineup that included Beyoncé, but it was shelved, with many attributing that to Jackson’s feud with Sony at the time. It was set for release again in 2003 in both English and Spanish, and a video was shot, but it got pulled a second time as Jackson’s legal problems mounted.
Beyoncé released “Dangerously in Love” in 2003 and never looked back. Twenty-five years later, a few seconds of tape from before any of it happened is doing numbers, which says as much about how completely she won as it does about the clip.

Penn State Students Accused Of Running Cocaine Ring Through Fraternities And Using Pledges To Package Drugs
A sprawling drug case tied to two Penn State fraternities took a major turn Tuesday when the man prosecutors describe as the operation’s top cocaine supplier surrendered and was denied bail. The alleged cocaine trafficking ring has now resulted in charges against 14 people, including 13 current or former Penn State students and the father of one accused student. According to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, investigators say the operation centered around members of Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon and primarily unfolded in 2023 and 2024.

Agostino Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York, surrendered Tuesday morning after failing to appear for his scheduled arraignment Monday, according to an update from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Abbatiello was arraigned on numerous felony charges, including multiple counts involving possession with intent to deliver cocaine and conspiracy. A judge denied him bail. Attorney General Dave Sunday said, “Abbatiello was at the very top of the chain,” according to WABC Eyewitness News.

The allegations behind the cocaine trafficking ring go far beyond recreational drug use at fraternity parties. Court records released by the Attorney General’s Office say a State College police investigation began in September 2024 and included controlled cocaine purchases. Investigators said Thomas Robinson, then associated with Delta Upsilon, was arrested after multiple controlled purchases and later identified Abbatiello, a Sigma Chi member, as a source of cocaine.

Grand jury records allege Robinson described several large transactions with Abbatiello during 2024, including purchases involving hundreds of grams and, on separate occasions, one kilogram of cocaine. The records also allege fraternity pledges helped divide cocaine into smaller bags for distribution. Sunday described the alleged practice in especially stark terms, saying, “Cutting and bagging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities,” according to WABC.

Investigators contend the cocaine trafficking ring expanded as drugs were sourced through contacts in Philadelphia and New York. The grand jury presentment says Larz Zeepvat, a Sigma Chi member, testified that Abbatiello eventually obtained a New York source and began purchasing larger quantities. Zeepvat also alleged he and Robert Zanolla made three trips to obtain cocaine for Abbatiello, with the drugs brought back to State College.

The same presentment says witnesses described Abbatiello as the largest cocaine distributor at Penn State during the period under investigation. Prosecutors allege he expanded distribution beyond fraternity members to other students and continued distributing cocaine among friends as recently as February 2026. Those claims remain allegations and have not been proven at trial.

Prosecutors also accuse Thomas Robinson of playing a major role in the operation. The Attorney General’s Office says Abbatiello and Robinson served as the main suppliers while Mohammed Huraibi and Larz Zeepvat were also charged with felony offenses connected to the organization. Robert Zanolla faces felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility charges along with related misdemeanor counts. Eight additional defendants face misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia charges.

The cocaine trafficking ring investigation also reached outside the student population. Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson’s father, is accused of interfering with the investigation. Describing those allegations, Sunday said, “…Who we allege took steps to conceal evidence including a safe containing drugs and cash,” according to WABC. Prosecutors have charged Paul Robinson with offenses that include evidence tampering and hindering apprehension.

Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset, New York, is accused by investigators of helping transport cocaine from New York. When WABC reporters approached a residence connected to him, a person who answered the door declined to discuss the case, saying, “Yeah, I’m not talking.”

Penn State has moved to distance the university from the alleged conduct. In an official university statement, Penn State said Delta Upsilon was placed on interim suspension while its student accountability office investigates. The university also said Sigma Chi is not a recognized Penn State organization and operates outside university support and oversight.

Andrea Dowhower, Penn State’s vice president for Student Affairs, said, “We are horrified by these serious allegations,” and added that “criminal activity, including hazing such as this, has no place at our institution.” The university said it intends to cooperate with law enforcement while separately reviewing potential student and organizational misconduct.

Sigma Chi has also taken action as scrutiny surrounding the alleged cocaine trafficking ring intensifies. According to NBC10 Philadelphia, Sigma Chi executive director Michael J. Church said members charged in the case had been suspended pending the investigation and that the chapter was placed on interim suspension while the organization determines whether the allegations involved individuals or broader chapter activity.

Sunday has framed the case as a warning that being part of college social life does not insulate anyone from serious criminal consequences. “Just because you’re at college and you’re making money, and you think that this is something you can get away with … it’s not,” he said, according to WABC. Following Abbatiello’s surrender, Sunday said the most significant alleged members of the organization were accounted for, and that preliminary hearings would be the next stage of the case.

For families watching the case unfold as students return to campuses, the allegations also raise questions about how dangerous behavior can become normalized inside closed social circles. Manhasset resident Trish Dessi told WABC, “If you’re not in a good place, call your parents, call somebody that you love that will help you; that’s really what it’s about. It’s unfortunate, and I hope these boys are OK and their future’s OK.”

The charges now place the alleged cocaine trafficking ring in the hands of Pennsylvania’s court system, where prosecutors will have to prove the accusations against each defendant and those charged will have the opportunity to contest the government’s case.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Courtesy of P.O.Wm
Walmart Ninja Thief Apprehended
Bro is dressed for summer attire

AND NOW Meet: DADDY DAMIEN 
It's Damien! 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 DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

8/18/26

The Daily Buzz For Aug 19☕📰☕

FOLLOW US ON BLUESKY!

#MAGFAB: Nicole Kidman for Vogue UK - September 2026
She's back!

#RHOA: Andy Comes to Phaedra's Defense at RHOA Reunion: "I've Known This Woman for Many Years..."
Andy Cohen defended Phaedra Parks during the RHOA Season 17 reunion, saying that if she truly wanted to escalate issues with Pinky Cole, she would have directly contacted network executives or him personally.
Phaedra and Pinky’s reunion conflict centered on accusations about behind-the-scenes complaints, business criticism, and the “meat-gate” rumor, with both women accusing each other of damaging their reputations.
Despite the heated exchanges, Phaedra and Pinky ultimately said they had moved forward, noting they had recently spent time together and previously worked together without major issues.

On The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17 reunion, host Andy Cohen defended Phaedra Parks amid a debate about behind-the-scenes drama between her and Pinky Cole. More specifically, Pinky accused Phaedra of "call[ing] the higher-ups" on her regarding an undisclosed comment that she allegedly made off-camera.

On Part 2 of the RHOA reunion, Phaedra insisted, "If I wanted to go to the higher-ups, I really would've went to them." That's when Andy chimed in to back up Phaedra's claim.

"I've known this woman for many years," the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host told Pinky. "If she really wanted to make a thing, she would've called me or she would've called someone in New York. And she didn't."
Pinky, for her part, responded by saying that she wanted to put on record that she was "no threat to anybody in this group" and "wouldn't hurt a fly."

Phaedra and Pinky's interactions during Reunion Part 2 first grew heated amid a conversation about the latter's business losses and bankruptcy filing. After unpacking her reasons for taking issue with Pinky referring to bankruptcy as "a positive thing," Phaedra claimed, "All you do in this group is brag and give everybody your ideas."

From there the two made accusations about each other's business acumen. Afterward, Andy pivoted to another sensitive subject, which he dubbed "meat-gate." (ICYMI: Phaedra had been blamed for accusing the Slutty Vegan owner of secretly eating meat, though it was actually Kelli Potter who made the comment.) After Kelli and Shamea Morton Mwangi both apologized for their roles in the game of telephone, Phaedra replied, "But the real thing is Pinky has never apologized to me."

She added, "You have my number, but you [dragged] me. You prayed for my wigs, you said I eat cadavers. You never apologized.
Pinky, meanwhile, declared to she had no intention of apologizing to Phaedra, because she had "called the higher-ups" on her. "She said I made a comment about having to protect myself when it related to a significant device," Pinky explained. "I did not make the comment."

By Phaedra's account, Pinky never had a one-on-one conversation with her on the matter. "Instead, she just wanted to drag me," she added, prompting a quick rebuttal from Pinky, who said that she'd decided to swallow her feeling because she was a newcomer in the group.

"But I didn't like it," Pinky continued. "I'm not gonna let that s--t go, 'cause you don't play with nobody's name and nobody's character like that."
The Georgia peaches are back, as The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17 is officially underway, with new episodes airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock. 

The returning RHOA Season 17 cast members include Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell, along with newcomers Pinky Cole and K. Michelle. The women are joined by friend Cynthia Bailey.
Once Phaedra and Pinky had seemed to get everything off their chests, Andy asked if the two felt better about their friendship moving forward. "We're fine!" Pinky answered first, before going on to detail how she'd spent some quality time and Phaedra's home, where some "nice vegan food" was even awaiting her, at the time.

"One thing about me is I'm mature, and I can move past things, as we can see," Pinky added. "I can let stuff go. So, I have no problem with Phaedra."
Phaedra, meanwhile, already noted that she and Pinky had actually "done business together" in the past. "I never had a problem with her," she further remarked. "So that's why I didn't understand where all the weird energy was coming from."
With the Phaedra drama behind her, don't miss details on Pinky's pregnancy announcement that she made during Part 1 of the RHOA Season 17 reunion.

#MusicNews: Chris Brown and Usher Extend ‘The R&B Tour’ With Eight New Dates

Chris Brown and Usher‘s R&B Tour just got even more massive. Due to overwhelming demand, the R&B icons have added eight new shows to their co-headlining stadium tour, bringing their total North American run to 59.

The newly added dates include new stops in Baltimore, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, plus a fifth show in Atlanta and a fourth in Los Angeles.
Fans can sign up to access the artist presale now through Tuesday (Aug. 18) at 10 p.m. ET. The Citi Presale begins Wednesday (Aug. 19) at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the artist presale on Thursday (Aug. 20) at 10 a.m. local time, alongside other presales. Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday (Aug. 24) at 10 a.m. local time.

The R&B Tour kicked off June 26 in Denver at Empower Field at Mile High. According to Live Nation, the stadium tour grossed more than $101 million across the tour’s first eight shows alone. Further, over 566,000 tickets were sold across the first 13 concerts — all sold out.
Beyond that, the tour is already making history. It became the first concert tour at Detroit’s Ford Field to play three consecutive nights in the venue’s nearly 25-year history.

At its three-night run at Washington, D.C.’s Northwest Stadium, it set a new venue attendance record, drawing over 122,000 fans, and marked the first-ever three-night concert run in the stadium’s history.
Up next, Usher and Brown will visit Chicago, where they’ll play two nights at Soldier Field Stadium, followed by three shows at San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium. The tour will conclude in Tampa, where they’ll play at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.

Chris Brown and Usher’s Upcoming R&B Tour Dates
Aug 17 – Boston, MA @ Gillette Stadium
Aug 21 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field Stadium
Aug 22 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field Stadium
Aug 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Levi’s Stadium
Aug 29 – San Francisco, CA @ Levi’s Stadium
Sep 1 – San Francisco, CA @ Levi’s Stadium
Sep 5 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
Sep 6 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
Sep 10 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Stadium
Sep 12 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Stadium
Sep 13 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Stadium
Sep 18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
Sep 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
Sep 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
Sep 29 – Glendale, AZ @ State Farm Stadium
Oct 3 – El Paso, TX @ Sun Bowl Stadium
Oct 5 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
Oct 9 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Stadium
Oct 10 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Stadium
Oct 15 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium – Newly Added Date
Oct 17 – Baltimore, MD @ M&T Stadium – Newly Added Date
Oct 24 – Cincinnati, OH @ Paycor Stadium – Newly Added Date
Oct 29 – Columbia, SC @ Williams-Brice Stadium – Newly Added Date
Oct 31  Indianapolis, IN @ Lucas Oil Stadium – Newly Added Date
Nov 5 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Newly Added Date
Nov 6 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Nov 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Nov 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Nov 11 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Nov 15 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
Nov 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium – Newly Added Date
Nov 20 – New Orleans, LA @ Caesars Superdome
Nov 21 – New Orleans, LA @ Caesars Superdome
Nov 24 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Stadium
Dec 3 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium
Dec 5 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium
Dec 6 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium – Newly Added Date
Dec 11 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium
Dec 12 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium

Get tickets at raymondandbrowntour.com.

#HipHopNews: Tyler, The Creator Hosts $5 Dance Party in Atlanta
Tyler, The Creator made good on a promise. Last year, the Grammy winner unveiled his DON’T TAP THE GLASS album, with a pair of events in Los Angeles and New York. Well, on Monday, August 10, he honored a promise he’d made exactly one year earlier, when a fan asked him to bring the events to Atlanta.

Tyler hosted a dance party at the 1,500-capacity Enspire Mercantile venue in Atlanta. “Don’t come if you aren’t going to dance,” the announcement for the event read, advertising it as only $5 to enter. 

When he released DON’T TAP THE GLASS, Tyler made it clear that he made an album intended to make listeners want to move. 
“I asked some friends why they don’t dance in public, and some said because of the fear of being filmed,” he wrote on Instagram in 2025. “I thought damn, a natural form of expression and a certain connection they have with music is now a ghost. It made me wonder how much of our human spirit got killed because of the fear of being a meme, all for having a good time.”

The Isley Brothers End Family Feud Over Legendary Name

Ronald Isley keeps The Isley Brothers trademark after settling a three-year legal fight with his late brother Rudolph’s estate over who owns the legendary group’s name.
Ronald Isley and his late brother’s estate just wrapped up a three-year legal battle over who owns the rights to the name The Isley Brothers, and the settlement came through this week without any public details about what either side actually agreed to.

The two had been fighting in federal court since 2023 over the trademark to one of soul music’s most legendary group names, with Rudolph claiming he and Ronald should own it together and Ronald insisting the name belonged to whoever kept using it.

Attorneys for both sides filed a joint dismissal, ending the dispute with prejudice, which means Rudolph’s estate can’t bring the same claims back to court.
Rudolph filed the original lawsuit months before he passed away in October 2023 at age 84, accusing his brother of trying to lock down exclusive federal trademark registration for The Isley Brothers without his knowledge or permission.

He argued that after their brother O’Kelly died in 1986, he and Ronald remained equal co-owners of the group’s name and everything that came with it.
Ronald’s legal team pushed back hard, pointing out that Rudolph hadn’t performed with the group since 1989 and had basically checked out decades ago, so the trademark belonged to whoever was actually using it in the music business.

The judge initially sided with Rudolph’s argument that he had a legitimate case, refusing to dismiss the case back in August 2023 and citing specific examples of his involvement in the group’s business.
Judge Thomas Durkin noted that Rudolph had helped secure a multimillion-dollar publishing deal in 2018 and arranged for the group’s classic track “Shout” to appear in a Super Bowl commercial in 2023, suggesting he remained connected to the group’s operations even if he wasn’t on stage.

After Rudolph’s death, his estate stepped in as the plaintiff and kept fighting, but negotiations eventually led to this week’s settlement.

Timberwolves to Retire Kevin Garnett’s Jersey on February 28
The Minnesota Timberwolves plan to retire Kevin Garnett’s jersey on February 28 at Target Center, according to Dane Moore.
I've heard February 28th for the Kevin Garnett jersey retirement at Target Center
The ceremony will take place when Minnesota hosts the Boston Celtics, creating a notable occasion for Garnett and the franchise where he established his legacy.

Garnett spent the majority of his Hall of Fame career with the Timberwolves and remains one of the most significant players in franchise history.
The jersey retirement will honor his contributions to Minnesota as the Timberwolves prepare to celebrate one of the organization’s defining stars.

Dispatch Audio Suggests Hayden Panettiere May Have Suffered An Overdose

New information has surfaced about Hayden Panettiere’s final moments.
According to dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, officials can be heard referencing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time the 36-year-old actress died Sunday (Aug. 16). Greenville Police had already confirmed to the outlet that officers and EMS responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at a Greenville, South Carolina home around 1:50 p.m., which cited law enforcement sources saying a friend of Panettiere’s placed the 911 call.

First responders reportedly tried to revive Panettiere using advanced cardiac life support — chest compressions combined with medication, breathing tubes and heart rhythm monitoring — before she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. The Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner’s Office are handling the investigation, and an official cause of death is expected only after an autopsy is completed. Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Usher Proudly Celebrates Son Cinco As He Heads To Howard University
Usher is one proud dad as his oldest son prepares for an exciting new chapter.
The R&B superstar took to social media to celebrate his son, Usher “Cinco” Raymond V, as the teenager prepares to attend Howard University following his high school graduation. Usher shared footage of Cinco surrounded by family and loved ones while marking the major milestone.

Alongside the emotional moment, Usher penned a heartfelt message to his son:
“So proud of my son! U did this. U made this happen. Now it’s your time to show em who U are.”
Cinco graduated from high school earlier this year, with Usher publicly celebrating the accomplishment at the time. Now, the 18-year-old is preparing to continue his education at the prestigious HBCU in Washington, D.C.

Cinco is Usher’s eldest son with his ex-wife Tameka Foster. The former couple also shares son Naviyd Raymond. Usher is also dad to daughter Sovereign and son Sire with his wife, Jenn Goicoechea.
Congratulations to Cinco on his next chapter!

RuPaul's Drag Race is set for a 19th season on MTV, with its companion series Untucked also coming back alongside the new run

RuPaul's Drag Race is set for a 19th season on MTV, with its companion series Untucked also coming back alongside the new run, Thatgrapejuice reports. This renewal underscores the franchise’s ongoing popularity and expanding footprint in reality television.

Deadline further confirms that the renewal announcement includes both the main series and Untucked, emphasizing the continued partnership between MTV and the show's production team. Additionally, Paramount+ has greenlit a 12th season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, with The Hollywood Reporter noting that a ninth season of the All Stars’ Untucked spinoff has also been ordered. Thatgrapejuice adds that Season 18 of RuPaul's Drag Race notably increased its ratings by 19% in the key 18-49 demographic and ranked among the top three cable series of 2026 so far.

RuPaul's Drag Race originally debuted in 2009 and has become a staple of reality competition television, produced by World of Wonder Productions. The show features a rotating panel of judges including Michelle Visage alongside RuPaul, whose engaging hosting earned him his 11th consecutive Emmy nomination this year. The series has secured a total of 11 Emmy nods this season alone and has previously won Outstanding Reality Competition Program multiple times, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone in the entertainment landscape.

The decision to renew both the main series and its companion shows reflects the franchise’s strong fan engagement and its ability to evolve while maintaining loyal viewership. With casting and premiere details for Season 19 yet to be revealed, the continuation of Untucked alongside the main show promises fans an inside look at the drama and camaraderie that has become integral to the series’ appeal.

Jeanie Buss Contesting Siblings’ Decision to Sell Remaining Lakers Shares
In a letter from her lawyer, obtained by ESPN, Jeanie Buss is contesting her siblings’ vote to sell their remaining 17.8 percent share of the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
Written by her attorney Adam Streisand, Jeanie argued in a letter to the five siblings who voted in favor of selling the family’s stake that a 2017 court ruling indicated a sale cannot be “effectuated without approval by the co-trustees, i.e. Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss.”

Here are the relevant parts of the 2017 court order Jeanie Buss is invoking in contesting the five Buss sibling’s vote to sell the Lakers.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the tag-along provision was enacted when four of the six siblings in the Buss family trust voted to approve the sale of its remaining stake.

The Buss family trust -- composed of siblings Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse -- received Show more
The Sporting Tribune founder and CEO Arash Markazi reported that Jim, Johnny, Joey and Jesse triggered this provision.
Jim, Johnny, Joey and Jesse Buss had the chance to cash in on the record sale of the Lakers and effectively fire Jeanie Buss as governor and did just that. Jeanie has fired or sued all of her brothers since taking control of the team. It’s the final act of a wild reality show.

Breaking: The Buss family has decided to sell its remaining 17.8% ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to new majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, sources tell ESPN. 

The Buss family trust -- composed of siblings Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse -- received
The letter argues that co-trustees are “bound to vote … to ensure that the minimum 15 percent ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner.”

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Mark Walter agreed to let Jeanie stay on as the team's controlling owner for at least five years when he bought a majority stake in the Lakers in June 2025.
Iger recently told the California Post that he has “every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie,” adding, “If things change, they’ll change.”

The letter stated “to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.”

Netflix Fires Back at Tyra Banks, Moves to Toss 'ANTM' Defamation Lawsuit

Netflix is asking a court to toss Tyra Banks’ defamation lawsuit over the three-part docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, arguing she signed away rights to approve edits and released defamation claims after her interview.
Banks says the series selectively edited her comments—especially around contestant Shandi Sullivan’s alleged sexual assault—to make it look like she forgot or ignored the incident, while Netflix counters that the documentary clearly shows her remembering and never claims she was present or covered anything up.
The legal fight lands amid a broader reexamination of America’s Next Top Model, with former contestants and staff like Tiffany Richardson and Jay Manuel criticizing Banks and the show’s production, even as Banks plans a return with Cycle 25.
Netflix is pushing back against Tyra Banks’ claims that its America’s Next Top Model docuseries defamed her, asking a court to dismiss the model and television personality’s lawsuit and arguing that she agreed to give filmmakers control over how her interview would be edited.

According to court documents obtained by People, the streamer filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on August 14. Netflix and EverWonder Studio also filed an anti-SLAPP motion and said they intend to “vigorously defend” Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, the three-part documentary that premiered in February.

At the center of Netflix’s response is an agreement it says Banks signed after sitting for an extensive interview. According to the motion, Banks acknowledged that she had “no right to review or approve” the finished project and released certain claims related to its production, including defamation and false light.

Netflix characterized her objections as disagreements with “ordinary editorial decisions” rather than false statements.
Banks filed her lawsuit in June, alleging that filmmakers selectively edited her interview to construct a defamatory portrayal of her involvement in controversial events during America’s Next Top Model. She requested a jury trial and unspecified damages.

One of Banks’ central complaints involves Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan. Sullivan has described a sexual encounter filmed while contestants were in Italy as an alleged sexual assault.
Banks claims the Netflix series edited her interview in a manner that falsely suggested she did not remember Sullivan’s story and allowed viewers to believe she knowingly permitted Sullivan’s trauma to be exploited for television.

Netflix disputes that interpretation. “A documentary expressly showing Banks remembering does not imply that she forgot,” the company argued. It also maintains that the series never claims Banks was present during the incident, could have intervened or subsequently covered it up.

The lawsuit marks another development in the renewed examination of America’s Next Top Model, which has included criticism from former contestants and staff.
Tiffany Richardson recently accused Banks of bullying her during Cycle 4, while Banks acknowledged in Reality Check that she “went too far” during the infamous confrontation in which she told Richardson, “We were all rooting for you.”

Former creative director Jay Manuel also criticized Banks and the production in the documentary, alleging that story considerations sometimes influenced which contestant photos were selected for judging.
Former judge Kelly Cutrone subsequently defended Banks, saying she believed Banks “got done dirty” by the documentary and blasting Manuel over his criticism of his former boss.

Netflix is now standing firmly behind the filmmakers.
“Tyra Banks was given the opportunity to speak openly about her experience and the creators fairly presented her perspective alongside those of every other participant shown in this documentary,” a Netflix spokesperson told People.
The legal fight arrives as Banks is also preparing to revisit the franchise itself. Earlier this year, she confirmed plans for Cycle 25 of America’s Next Top Model, which would mark its first new installment since 2018.

Anita Baker Teases ‘Forever’ More Than 20 Years After Last Album
Anita Baker teased her long-awaited return to R&B by posting a one-minute clip of new music titled “Forever” with the caption “Forever... is coming,” offering no release date or further details.
The lush, slow-burning teaser marks her first new material since 2004’s My Everything and 2005’s Christmas Fantasy, ending a two-decade drought of full-length releases from the singer behind “Sweet Love” and “Caught Up in the Rapture.”
Baker’s cryptic rollout fits her “Mysterious One” reputation and comes after years of tour drama, including a public fallout with Babyface, viral clashes with concertgoers over filming, and blunt online pushback against rumors about her career.

Anita Baker is done keeping fans waiting. The eight-time Grammy winner teased her return to R&B over the weekend with a one-minute clip of new music—and only three words of explanation.

“Forever... is coming,” Baker wrote on X, pairing the preview with a close-up photo and musical-note emoji. No release date. No rollout. Just enough to put the Queen of R&B back in the conversation.
The teaser captures Baker in the lane she helped build: rich vocals, grown-up romance and a sleek, slow-burning arrangement. She did not say whether “Forever” is a standalone single, the first taste of an album, or something else entirely.

The mystery is on-brand. Baker’s fiercely private persona once earned her the nickname “The Mysterious One,” and even her latest announcement—which was paired with a video clip teasing about a minute of new music—leaves fans to fill in most of the blanks.

Baker’s last studio album, My Everything, arrived in 2004, followed by Christmas Fantasy in 2005. That means listeners have gone more than 20 years without a new full-length collection from the singer behind “Sweet Love,” “Caught Up in the Rapture,” “Giving You the Best That I Got” and “Body and Soul.”

The preview also gives Baker a chance to pull the focus back to her music after several years of tour drama and heated social-media exchanges. During her 2023 Songstress Tour, Babyface missed a New Jersey show after technical problems delayed the schedule.
When his supporters blamed Baker, she fired back and told him to “tell Kenny’s crazed narcissist fan base to leave me alone.” She later removed Babyface from the tour’s remaining dates, citing online harassment and threats.

That was hardly Baker’s only viral concert moment. She has stopped performances to confront front-row attendees over flash photography and recording, sometimes directing security to remove fans. Abrupt cancellations—including an Atlanta show called off shortly before it was scheduled to begin—also drew complaints from ticket holders seeking clearer answers.
Baker has been just as direct online, shutting down stories about supposed feuds with Maxwell and the late Luther Vandross while warning commentators against spreading what she described as misinformation about her career and business dealings.

Diplo Reveals He Privately Welcomed His Fourth Child, Shares First Photo of Baby Girl

Diplo is a dad again.The 47-year-old DJ and producer privately welcomed a baby girl, his fourth child, last year.
What did Diplo share about his daughter?
He revealed the news in an Instagram update about his life and his family over the weekend, writing: “My daughter celebrated her first birthday with llamas wearing sunglasses,” adding “Lazer couldn’t find peru on a map.”

Diplo is a father to sons Lockett, 15, and Lazer, 11, with ex Kathryn Lockhart, as well as Pace, 6, with Jevon King.
“Watching your kid become someone new in real time is the whole thing,” he added.
He also shared a photo of himself holding his newborn daughter with a red heart emoji placed over her face.

Diplo made headlines recently by saying it’s time to embrace AI, because it’s inevitable. The Major Lazer superstar producer and DJ spoke out about embracing the new technology in an interview, and quotes from the conversation are making the rounds on social media.

Diplo reflects on traveling with his family
This trip didnt fit anywhere in my schedule so I just tore it up the calender because I’ve missed things before telling myself there’d be a next time. there isn’t always.

What gets me about the incas is that nobody told them it was impossible. no wheels, no shoes, some bulls–t uncooperative alpacas, no iron, no writing. They just eating corn, potatoes and guinea pig. and they cut stone the size of a car and set it so tight you can’t get a knife between the joints, dragged them halfway up a mountain. five hundred years ago. the churches the spanish built on top of them have cracked. the inca walls are still there. They had a very large idea of what was possible.

dad asked a shaman if he’d find love again since my mother passed which is not a question i’ve ever heard him ask out loud. It was the vulnerable thing I’ve ever heard him say.. my daughter celebrated her first birthday with llamas wearing sunglasses …Lazer couldn’t find peru on a map a week ago and walked out of the airport in a poncho and an alpaca hat looking like he been selling ayuasca to backpackers .. watching your kid become someone new in real time is the whole thing.

i always have a lot on. But id rather lose sleep with my family then at a club or a rave this summer.. happiness is all just moments we collect and some of them sit at 15,000 feet, listening to a band play Los mirlos on a train to Cusco. The Shaman told my dad in Quechua that hes got love all around him . I fell asleep on the floor in my son’s lap in this old library where we passed around Guinea pig bones and coca leaves.

But now its time to get back to work, this trip was worth reaching even thought it’s hard to reach.

NAACP Joins Fight For Answers in the Nolan Wells Case 
The push for answers in Nolan Wells’ unexplained death is gaining new legal force as the NAACP joins his family in demanding a fuller accounting of what happened on Mississippi’s Horn Island.

According to Reuters, the NAACP announced Monday that its Office of General Counsel has joined the legal team representing Wells’ family. The organization will work alongside attorneys already involved in the Nolan Wells investigation, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, while pushing authorities for comprehensive fact-finding and greater transparency.

“We’re taking up this fight to search for truth and transparency surrounding the death of Nolan Wells,” said Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP. “Drawing on the Association’s long history of pushing for full and fair investigations when Black lives are lost under suspicious circumstances, we will help bring additional investigative resources to bear and work to ensure that no stone is left unturned in seeking answers and accountability for Nolan’s family.”

Clarke previously led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division before becoming the NAACP’s general counsel, according to the organization’s leadership information. The NAACP’s involvement adds another major civil rights voice to a case that has expanded far beyond Mississippi and drawn demands for outside scrutiny.

The Nolan Wells investigation began after the 18-year-old traveled with friends to Horn Island for a Fourth of July gathering. Wells did not return to the mainland with the group, and his body was recovered two days later. His family has questioned accounts of his final hours, including explanations about why he allegedly remained on the island while his phone was taken back to the mainland. Authorities have not announced evidence establishing that a crime occurred.

Those unanswered questions became more significant after Wells’ family commissioned an independent autopsy. Forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. listed Wells’ cause and manner of death as undetermined and said he could not rule out nonaccidental factors. Mitchell found no fractures or deep tissue injuries, but he documented an area of red discoloration on the back of Wells’ skull that he said required additional investigation. Decomposition and limitations caused by the earlier state autopsy also restricted what Mitchell could determine.

Mississippi’s State Medical Examiner has completed an official autopsy, but its findings had not been publicly released as of mid-August. Jackson County officials have also said the completed investigation will be presented to a grand jury, a procedure the district attorney has described as routine for deaths in the county that are not natural or noncriminal vehicle fatalities.

The Nolan Wells investigation has also reached Washington. The Congressional Black Caucus called for a full, transparent and independent investigation in July, saying Wells’ family and the public deserve answers about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death.

“The world is watching, and Nolan Wells’s family deserves a thorough accounting of what happened,” said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of the NAACP. “Too often, the deaths of young Black people are dismissed, downplayed, or inadequately investigated unless we demand answers. Our involvement in this case is part of our ongoing commitment to make sure those answers are pursued with urgency and respect for Black lives.”

With the NAACP now working alongside Crump and the Wells family, the pressure for transparency continues to grow while the central question remains unresolved: what happened to Nolan Wells between the time he arrived on Horn Island and the recovery of his body two days later?

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Customer service heated argument
Walmart employees appreciate when another customer can deflect the rage away from them.😁👍

AND NOW Meet: AJ 
It's AJ! 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 DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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