Shonda Rhimes for The Hollywood Reporter - October 2020!
Shonda Rhimes Is Ready to "Own Her S***": The Game-Changing Showrunner on Leaving ABC, "Culture Shock" at Netflix and Overcoming Her Fears
Three years into her groundbreaking deal and with her first projects finally arriving, the uber writer-producer talks about meeting her own high expectations and a newfound passion for her work: "Now I just want to enjoy this."
Shonda Rhimes was tired of the battles. She was producing some 70 hours of annual television in 256 territories; she was making tens of millions of dollars for herself and more than $2 billion for Disney, and still there were battles with ABC. They'd push, she'd push back. Over budget. Over content. Over an ad she and the stars of her series — Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder — made for then-presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
But by early 2017, her reps were back in discussions with the company about a new multiyear deal. They'd already made a hefty ask of her longtime home and were waiting as the TV group's then leadership prolonged the process, with one briefly tenured ABC executive determined to drive down the price tag on their most valuable creator. Meanwhile, Rhimes was growing creatively restless. "I felt like I was dying," she says now of the unforgiving pace and constraints of network TV. "Like I'd been pushing the same ball up the same hill in the exact same way for a really long time."
She knew her breaking point would come, but what it would be she never could have predicted. As part of her ABC relationship, Rhimes had been given an all-inclusive pass to Disneyland — and without a partner, she'd negotiated a second for her nanny. But on this day, she needed one for her sister, too, as she'd be taking Rhimes' teenage daughter while the nanny chaperoned her younger two. If the passes had been interchangeable, Rhimes would have been happy to give up hers — when would she have time to go to Disneyland anyway?
After some unwanted back-and-forth — "We never do this," she was told more than once — Rhimes was issued an additional pass. But when her daughters arrived in Anaheim, only one of the passes worked. Rhimes lobbed a call to a high-ranking executive at the company. Surely, he would get this sorted.
Instead, the exec allegedly replied, "Don't you have enough?"
Rhimes was beside herself. She thanked him for his time, then hung up and called her lawyer: Figure out a way to get her over to Netflix, or she'd find new representatives.
What happened next transformed not simply Rhimes' career but the television industry at large. That August, the news became official: Rhimes would be leaving her creative hub of 15 years for a first-of-its-kind, nine-figure overall deal at Netflix. Just like that, Hollywood's most aggressive licensor of content would be a major owner of it, too. Dana Walden, who had been running the Fox TV Group at the time, remembers seeing the flurry of alerts come through and being all but certain that "the industry, as [she] had known it for a very long time, was about to change dramatically." Not long after, her most valuable creator, Ryan Murphy, who had once joked that he'd be buried on the Fox lot, defected to Netflix too. Many more would follow.
“I’d say, ‘We just want to be left alone to make our shows,’ and they’d be like, ‘We want to help you in every way possible.’ So, it took a while to figure out how to meld our worlds,” says Shonda Rhimes, photographed Oct. 9 in Los Angeles, of her early days at Netflix.
Now, more than three years after her deal was signed, Rhimes, 50, will at last release her first two projects for the service, a documentary about director, choreographer and philanthropist Debbie Allen (dropping Nov. 27) and the period drama Bridgerton (Dec. 25), though neither is her creation. Netflix's roughly 200 million subscribers will have to wait at least a few months longer for Rhimes' baby, Inventing Anna, about the infamous SoHo grifter Anna Sorokin, alias Anna Delvey. That it's taken Rhimes this long to deliver fresh fare has been a source of anxiety for the fiercely competitive creator, who, until now, had been known for her ability to be prolific. "I spend a lot of time going, like, 'We should have made 50 shows by now' " she says, appearing virtually from the library in her Los Angeles home. "And not for the audience so much as, like, 'What do the bosses think?' And I know they don't think I should have made 50 shows by now, but it's very hard for me to not be the perfect storytelling machine."
Rhimes' eye first started to wander in the fall of 2016, when she agreed to meet Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos for breakfast at the L.A. restaurant République, an industry favorite. She walked to a table in the back, petrified that someone would see her with the head of the streamer and start to ask questions. When nobody did, she sat down and laid out what it was she wanted to do next — and just as important, what she didn't want to do.
"The first thing I said was, 'You're not going to get another Grey's Anatomy — not Grey's Anatomy in a cornfield, Grey's Anatomy on a baseball field or Grey's Anatomy at an airport, that's just not happening,' and he said, 'I'd never expect it to,' " says Rhimes, who had every intention of keeping her flagship series running at ABC regardless of whether she herself stayed put. "And then I said, 'I just want to be in a place where I can make stuff and no one's going to bother me or make me feel like I'm beholden,' and he was like, 'That sounds great to me.' "
Get more at The Hollywood Reporter!
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Claims She’s Sitting Pretty After Leaving 'RHOA'!
NeNe Leakes says she’s is doing just fine after walking away from "Real Housewives of Atlanta." The 52-year-old ex-Georgia peach looked happy in her latest social media post, proving she's moved on even though the Bravo drama keeps coming for her. As reported, after a summer of rumors, NeNe Leakes announced in September that she would not be back for season 13 of "RHOA."
NeNe Leakes did land her own show as co-host on E!'s new reality glam series, "Glamsquad Showdown," but she was recently spotted on a mystery set for an unknown project. Back in June, prior to leaving the "RHOA," the OG peach made the exciting announcement that she would be starring alongside Brad Goreski in the competitive beauty series that “celebrates the best celebrity ‘glam squads’ in the business.” That's not all that NeNe Leakes has in the works.
In addition to the glam series, she also landed an appearance on TBS called "Celebrity Show-Off" and most recently, was seen on a mystery set but kept her fans in the dark as to what it was for. NeNe Leakes continued to stir rumors when posed while out on a lunch date ahead of the weekend.
Taking to her social media, the ex-"RHOA" star shared the smiling shot on Thursday, October 22, and joked about serving some tea.
NeNe Leakes added some sky-high heels that wrapped around her ankles for a little extra sex appeal. "Heyyyyyy hun tea," she captioned the post.
#MusicNews: Vivian Green Announces The Release of Her Upcoming Seventh Studio Album, ‘LOVE!
The SRG/ILS Group in partnership with Make Noise Recordings proudly announce the release of “LOVE ABSOLUTE”, the anticipated seventh studio album from multi-award winning singer-songwriter, VIVIAN GREEN. “LOVE ABSOLUTE” will be globally released on Friday, November 13th, via the Make Noise/SRG ILS/UMG label imprint. The album is officially available for pre-sale now and with the pre-order purchase fans are able to download and stream, “You Send Me”. Also on Friday, October 30th, fans will receive another treat from Vivian as the song “Where You Are”, will become available on all streaming platforms with the pre-order of the album.
“You Send Me” was written by Vivian Green and co-written and produced by Kwamé Holland. The kick-off song was just world premiered on RollingOut.com to rave reviews. LOVE ABSOLUTE features guest appearances from Ghostface Killah, Internationally renown saxophonist Mike Philips, family members including her sister and son Jordan.
YOU SEND ME (Visualizer)
LOVE ABSOLUTE (Album Pre-Order Link)
“I felt liberated to explore what was in my head without a spotlight, judgment or criticism, while recording Love Absolute,” mentions Vivian. “I began writing songs at the piano when I was just eleven years old. For me it is the purest expression of songwriting. My voice and the keys serve as vessels of the music in my head. In my solitude and away from the studio. While that surely comes later, I prefer the raw expression to come first, because there is certainly magic there. That magic is what makes “Love Absolute” different from my previous albums.”
“Every ballad and mid-tempo began at the piano. I went back to the genesis and purity of my craft. While there are tracks on previous albums that came about this way, I never intentionally and insistently made half of an album from scratch,” she recalls. “I’ve listened to “Love Absolute” many times and I must say that it’s wonderfully versatile and beautifully cohesive. It’s gentle, tough, regretful, sexy, honest, loving and gives fans a look into my life. It also conveys self-love; love of my people; love of jazz; love of my privacy; and love of love. I haven’t made an album this honest in some years,” adds Vivian.
LOVE ABSOLUTE Tracklist:
1. Love Song
2. You Send Me
3. He Didn’t Hurt Me
4. This Love
5. Light Up (featuring Ghostface Killah)
6. Where You Are
7. Harlem Blues (featuring Mike Phillips)
8. Pain
9. That Kinda Pain
10. Jordan’s Question
11. We Are Everywhere
12. Sweet Home
13. The Walk Up
Vivian shares, “Kwame was the perfect producer to make this album with, because it’s NOT his preference to write this way. He is one of the most talented persons I’ve ever met and when he is out of his comfort zone, his versatility and genius just soar. The up-tempos and harder tracks are certainly his expression and the softer tracks are mine. We truly balance each other creatively. A few of my favorite tracks on the album includes; “That Kinda Pain”. It’s raw, dark and goes pretty hard. “Where You Are” is probably the most soulful track on the album. It expresses how much I love being with my love.”
“In “We Are Everywhere”, I remind us of how large the trade was, how spread out we are, and how we share the same struggles. “Light Up”, another one of our signature “bangers”! Coming up in a “Wu Tang” household, I couldn’t have imagined that I would have such a hot record with Ghostface Killah. Lastly, “Harlem Blues”, featuring saxophonist Mike Phillips is a song I’ve loved for many years. As a teenager, I used to sing it in talent shows or anytime I was prompted to sing. I’m so excited for people to hear this interpretation and Mike Phillips’ performance is just brilliant,” says Vivian Green.
#HipHopNews: On the next VERZUZ It’s T.I and Jeezey!
A second season of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s popular Verzuz series is on the way, and it looks like it’s going to feature two southern legends going toe to toe.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday (October 21), Jeezy accepted a Verzuz challenge without naming who he was speaking to.
“Say bruh, you done been around the whole world on your campaign, you know?” Jeezy started off. “Now you back here. I don’t know what you avoiding me for. I’ll tell you what, though – since it mean that much to you, put a date on it! I ain’t gon’ meet you there, I’ma beat you there. Straight up. Big Snow!”
Tip popped up in the comments, inquiring whether the post was meant for him.
“Hmmmm,” he wrote with a thinking emoji. “Could this longtime constituent of mine be referring to me??? @jeezy”
He then responded in a lengthy Instagram video and accepted the challenge – despite Busta Rhymes also calling him out earlier that same day and turning it down.
Tip has been campaigning to go up against someone on the platform for some time now, and previously addressed the idea of battling Jeezy on an Instagram Live.
“Man to be honest with you bruh, I feel like I picked who I thought was my best shot,” he told his viewers. “And everybody keep saying me and Young, me and Young, me and Young. Incredible amount of respect for Young and his catalog. That’s a personal partner of mine. But if Young wanted this smoke, he’d say it. I know Young. If Young wanted this smoke, if Young wanted this action, he’d say it! So until Young say something, it’s talk!”
There’s an Aaliyah Biography Set for Release in 2021!
The relationship between R. Kelly and Aaliyah will go down as one of the industry’s most notorious scandals. Kelly married Aaliyah when she was underage and the discovery led to Aaliyah’s family severing business ties with him. A new biography about Aaliyah will include details about her and Kelly’s relationship.
R. Kelly married Aaliyah when she was 15 and he was 27. Kelly met Aaliyah when she was 12-years-old. At the time, the two shared the same manager, Barry Hankerson, who is also Aaliyah’s uncle. Hankerson tapped Kelly to produce Aaliyah’s debut album Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.
At some point, the relationship between Kelly and Aaliyah transitioned into something romantic, and due to Kelly’s age, predatory. Friends and family reveal in the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly that Kelly was enamored with Aaliyah from the start.
She was reportedly seen walking Kelly’s dog, the two wore matching outfits publicly, and a former background singer for Kelly alleges that she caught the two being intimate on a tour bus.
According to Kelly’s former road manager, Kelly came to him in a panic when he discovered that Aaliyah was pregnant. To make the situation appear less criminal, Kelly devised a plan to marry Aaliyah. The road manager helped to secure a fake ID for Aaliyah, with her age listed at 18.
Within two months of their Illinois courthouse ceremony, MTV reported on the marriage. Aaliyah’s family had the marriage annulled under fraud due to the fake age on Aaliyah’s part and severed all ties with Kelly. Kelly reportedly paid Aaliyah’s family $100,000 for them to remain mum on the relationship.
To this day, Aaliyah’s family denies that she and Kelly were ever married. Aaliyah also denied the marriage. Henderson continued managing both Kelly and Aaliyah. He did not part ways with Kelly until Kelly’s 2008 child pornography trials.
The Jasmine Brand reports that a book published under Simon & Schuster/Atria Books about Aaliyah will be released on Aug. 17, 2021. The release comes just a week before the 20th anniversary of Aaliyah’s death
The book, Baby Girl: Better Known As Aaliyah, is written by journalist and author, Kathy Iandoli. According to an official press release about the book, the biography will “deep dive into her tumultuously abusive entanglement with R. Kelly and an intense investigation on the crash that ended her life.”
Iandoli reveals her motivation for writing the book, explaining, “I wrote this book as an Aaliyah fan. This is for all of us who for the last twenty years can spot her influence everywhere, while wishing she was still here. I left no stone unturned, and I hope I’ve added to her legacy properly.”
It’s unclear if Aaliyah’s family is in support of the book. They previously denounced anything that mentions Aaliyah’s association with Kelly, including Surviving R. Kelly and the Lifetime biopic produced by Wendy Williams.
Her family promises to one day tell what they say is the true story, and insists that any projects without their involvement tarnishes Aaliyah’s legacy.
Melania Trump ‘Astonished’ Vogue Gave Beyonce The Cover And Control!
Melania Trump expressed “astonishment" that pop superstar Beyonce was given carte blanche by Vogue magazine in 2018, according to NBC News.
“Anna (Wintour) gave the September issue of Vogue cover — complete, complete, complete, everything — to Beyoncé,” the first lady was reportedly recorded telling a former friend and aide in July 2018.
“She hired black photographer," Melania said of Beyonce’s cover. "And it’s the first black photographer ever doing cover of Vogue.”
Melania was also recorded complaining that porn-star Stormy Daniels — who allegedly had an affair with President Trump when he was a civilian in 2006 — was photographed for Vogue in 2018. She referred to the adult actress as a “porn hooker,” which drew a nasty rebuke from Daniels earlier this month.
Stormy Daniels and Melania Trump accuse each other of being a hooker »
“You sold your p—sy AND your soul," Daniels tweeted about Melania’s relationship to the president.
The latest recording reportedly includes the first lady claiming she isn’t interested in Wintour’s fancy magazine.
“I don’t give a f--- about Vogue,” Melania told her former confidante.
The first lady’s spokeswoman reportedly blasted Melania’s old pal for making the recording and criticized NBC for covering “gossip.”
Melania was scheduled to join her husband on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania Tuesday, but canceled due to lingering effects of COVID-19, which she contracted several weeks ago. The 50-year-old first lady has not hit the road to support President Trump’s re-election efforts in 2020.
Watch the Trailer for Netflix's The Prom, Starring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman!
Netflix has debuted the first trailer for Ryan Murphy's star-studded film adaptation of The Prom, being released on December 11. Watch it below:
The new movie, based on the Tony-nominated musical, features a screenplay by original book writers Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, and a score by Beguelin and Matthew Sklar.
Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Kerry Washingon, and Jo Ellen Pellman head the cast. Directed by Ryan Murphy and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, The Prom also stars Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Logan Riley, Nico Greetham, Sofia Deler, and Nathaniel J. Potvin
WATCH
The Prom tells the story of Emma (Pellman), who makes national news when her high school cancels her prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend (DeBose). At the same time, a bumbling group of Broadway stars (Streep, Corden, Kidman, and Rannells) discover her story and sense a chance to correct an injustice, while trying to get some publicity along the way
Miss Robbie Breaks Her Silence Following Tim Norman Not Guilty Plea!
Last week 'Welcome to Sweetie Pies' Tim Norman pled 'not guilty' to conspiring to murder his nephew Andre Montgomery for insurance money.
Tim's mother, Miss Robbie, breaks her silence after the plea...
In a post on Instagram Miss Robbie thanked her fans for their prayers and support.
Terrence Howard To Sue 20th Century Fox For Unauthorized Usage Of ‘Hustle And Flow’ Image For ‘Empire’!
Terrence Howard fired off a lawsuit at 20th Century FOX for using a photo of him from his 2005 movie, Hustle and Flow, which also starred his Empire co-star, Taraji P. Henson.
The 51-year-old portrayed Lucious Lyon for Empire‘s six seasons but he claims he never did a photoshoot for the show’s promotional assets. Terrence says the photo is from the studio scene from the 2005 drama when he sang the Grammy-award winning song, “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp.”
Howard, in the lawsuit, says “the still frame was selected, reversed (face looking left, not right), and subjected to CGI that simply distilled the cinematographer’s skilled capture of the head with vibrant light and shadow” to create the logo for Empire.
Terrence Howard is suing for damages because he says Paramount Studios would’ve paid him for 20th Century FOX’s usage of the image. He also wants an accounting on all merchandise where the logo appears.
Last year, Howard seemingly retired from acting saying he’s “done pretending” and is “focusing on bringing truth to the world.”
Michael B. Jordan Will Reportedly Direct 'Creed 3'!
Michael B. Jordan is reportedly returning to the Creed franchise and the role of Adonis Creed. However, his third outing will potentially involve more time behind the camera while serving a dual purpose. Jordan will reportedly direct the upcoming third film in the series.
Deadline revealed the news during a story about Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond. The outlet reported that No Time To Die would not head to a streaming platform amid COVID-19. Deadline then revealed that "MGM is working on a Creed sequel that Michael B Jordan is considering to direct." The statement was an afterthought buried in a larger article, but the news still drew considerable attention.
News about Jordan potentially directing Creed 3 also surfaced when producer Irwin Winkler wrote a book titled, "A Life in Movies: Stories From 50 Years in Hollywood." The producer of both Creed films and the original Rocky series included text in his book that revealed he had promised Jordan.
"Last year in a conversation with our Creed star Michael B. Jordan, I offered him the opportunity to not only star in, but also to direct Creed 3." Jordan has not confirmed that he will direct the film, provided it happens, but the project would mark his directorial debut.
A reporter also asked Jordan about Creed 3 during the Toronto International Film Festival. The star was on hand for the world premiere of Just Mercy. He said that the third movie is "definitely" going to happen. However, he said that he doesn't know when.
If the movie does take place and Jordan directs, there will be questions about one important character. Will Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa return? The action star bid farewell to his iconic character in November in an Instagram post featuring a photo of him in the boxing ring.
"Yo, due to the overwhelming and loving response to this wonderful character, I just want to say one last final farewell... Thank you again from the bottom of BOTH our hearts ..." Stallone wrote in the caption of his post.
However, the action star also said that he had an idea for a seventh Rocky film centered around an immigrant boxer. "[Rocky] finds this fella in the country illegally and it becomes a whole thing," Stallone said, per ScreenRant. He continued to discuss the concept, saying, "That could be different. You throw him out of the country and into another world."
The 2021 Grammy Nominations Will Be Announced On November 24!
The Recording Academy is set to unleash the nominees for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for November 24.
On Wednesday (October 21), the organization announced that the nominations will be released via an hour-long livestream beginning at 9 AM PT. The broadcast will be spearheaded by Chair and Interim Recording Academy President/CEO Harvey Mason jr., as well as former Grammy winners, nominees and hopefuls from several places across the country. After the broadcast, the nominees for all 84 categories will be announced via a press release, as well as Grammy's official site and the Recording Academy's social media platforms.
The upcoming 63rd annual affair is hoping to make the production live from beginning to end without pre-recorded segments, but understand the likelihood due to the pandemic. "We're looking at Staples with a limited audience, although that seems increasingly unlikely; Staples with live performances and no audience; or something a little more virtual, with some elements from different locations,” interim president/CEO Harvey Mason jr. told Variety. "We're still waiting to hear back from our partners at the network and the venue and our medical experts, because obviously we want this to be safe for everyone. But the date is definitely Jan. 31, and it’s going to be a spectacular show."
The 63rd GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast on CBS on January 31 at 8:00 PM ET.
Offset Pulled Over and Cuffed By Police During His Instagram Live!
Update: Offset was cuffed and released. Multiple witnesses say that the rapper was got into a confrontation with Trump supporters. One was spotted attacking his car.
Offset, one-third of the Atlanta group Migos, was on his Instagram Live when things when left. It appears that Offset was driving through a Trump rally in Los Angeles when he was pulled over.
In the video, you can see the police lights behind the vehicle and the cops asking the rapper to turn off his car. The rapper refused to turn off the car because the police allegedly had guns pointed at him.
“Turn off the engine. That’s all I’m asking you to do,” a police officer can be heard saying. Offset responded with, “I’m not doing that because you got guns out.” The police responded with, “that’s my choice.”
In the video, a police officer stated that they were responding to a call about someone waving guns in the car. An officer then unlocks the rapper’s car door and pulls him out of the vehicle.
No further details about what exactly happened. Story is developing.
Robert Downey Jr. Accused of Photoshopping Tom Holland out of Photo With Chris Pratt!
Robert Downey Jr. defended his Avengers: Endgame co-star Chris Pratt, who came under fire this week for attending Hillsong Church, which has faced allegations of holding anti-LGBTQ views. While a majority of the Instagram comments on Downey's post were substantive arguments for and against his support for Pratt, a few accused him of photoshopping the picture to erase co-star Tom Holland. The photo was taken during the production of Avengers: Infinity War and was similar to another photo of Holland standing between Pratt and Downey.
"What a world... The 'sinless' are casting stones at my [brother], Chris Pratt... A real [Christian] who lives by #principle, has never demonstrated anything but [positivity] and [gratitude]... AND he just married into a family that makes space for civil discourse and (just plain fact) INSISTS on service as the highest value," Downey wrote. "If you take issue with Chris... I’ve got a novel idea. Delete your social media accounts, sit with your OWN defects of [character], work on THEM, then celebrate your humanness... [Pratt] I [got yer back back back]."
Downey's picture showed Pratt in his Star-Lord costume and himself in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, since Downey's Iron Man costume is added in later by animators. Some fans accused Downey's team of editing the picture to take Holland, who plays Spider-Man, out of the picture. They pointed to other photos and videos from the Infinity War set that show Holland standing between them. Holland himself shared a photo in February 2017 that showed the three together. While it is entirely possible that Downey's team just shared a never-before-seen photo of the actor with Pratt, it did not stop fans from speculating that the image had digital artifacts hinting at editing.
During the week, a Twitter meme asking people to pick one Chris to eliminate — Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans or Chris Pine — went viral. Many Twitter users picked Pratt, pointing to him being a member of Hillsong Church. This prompted Pratt's co-stars and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, to come to his defense. "Is this really what we need?" Schwarzenegger asked on Instagram, adding that there is "so much going on in the world and people are struggling in so many ways" and "being mean is so yesterday." The author added, "There's enough room to love all these guys. Love is what we all need not meanness and bullying. Let's try that."
Back in February 2019, the last time Pratt's membership of Hillsong Church came under scrutiny, Pratt issued a long statement on Instagram defending the church and insisting they have their doors open to "absolutely everyone." He said the allegations of being anti-LGBTQ were not true and they were supportive of his divorce from Anna Faris. "We need less hate in this world, not more," Pratt wrote at the time. "I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man."
Sacha Baron Cohen Responds to Donald Trump's Unfunny Creep Comment!
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm star Sacha Baron Cohen responded to President Donald Trump, who reportedly called the actor a "creep" on Air Force One Friday. Baron Cohen thanked Trump for the "free publicity" for the film and said he did not find Trump funny either, even though the "whole world laughs" at the president. The most talked-about scene in the Borat sequel features Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in a compromising position with Maria Bakalova's character, Borat's 15-year-old daughter Tutar.
On Friday, Voice of America White House bureau chief Steve Herman reported Trump was asked if he saw any of Borat 2 and if he was worried about security breaches. "I don’t know what happened. But years ago, you know, he tried to scam me and I was the only one who said no way. That’s a phony guy and I don’t find him funny," Trump said, repeating his claim that he is the only person to walk out of a Baron Cohen interview immediately. Trump later added, "To me, he's a creep."
After hearing about Trump's comments on Sunday, Baron Cohen had a quick response. "Donald — I appreciate the free publicity for Borat! I admit I don’t find you funny either. But yet the whole world laughs at you," he wrote. "I’m always looking for people to play racist buffoons, and you’ll need a job after Jan. 20. Let’s talk!"
Baron Cohen has been a frequent Trump critic throughout his career. A scene in the original 2006 Borat film even shows the character going to the bathroom in front of Trump Tower in New York City. In 2003, Baron Cohen interviewed Trump for Da Ali G Show. In the scene, Trump begins to seriously answer Ali G's questions before figuring out that the show is a prank. Although the segment that aired lasted almost two minutes, Trump has claimed he immediately walked out of the interview. "I never fall for scams. I am the only person who immediately walked out of my ‘Ali G’ interview," Trump tweeted in October 2012.
In October, Baron Cohen wrote a serious op-ed about the dangers of conspiracy theories for Time. In it, he revealed that he crashed an Arkansas right-wing event, where he was "truly terrified - for the survival of democracy itself." He called out Trump for his roles in spreading the theories. "Donald Trump — who averages 23 lies a day and is the world’s greatest superspreader of coronavirus conspiracies — has caught the virus himself. He has a dutiful ally in Facebook — the greatest propaganda machine in history," Baron Cohen wrote. "And this is a time when Americans are especially vulnerable to lies and conspiracies. This trifecta has created a whirlwind of conspiratorial madness."
Jay-Z Launches Cannabis Brand Monogram!
JAY-Z is getting into the cannabis business. The hip-hop mogul has announced his first cannabis line, Monogram. The brand was born from JAY-Z’s partnership with California-based cannabis company Caliva, with whom he joined forces as Chief Brand Strategist in July 2019.
According to a press release, Monogram prides itself on its “careful strain selection, meticulous cultivation practices, and uncompromising quality,” while seeking to “redefine what cannabis means to consumers today.” The brand has unveiled its website and social media channels, and is planning an imminent launch for its inaugural product line through an e-commerce platform.
JAY-Z is the latest rapper to enter the cannabis space. In November 2019, Drake partnered with Toronto-based Canopy Growth Corporation to launch his More Life Growth Company. Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and Juicy J have also made plays in the cannabis market.
Monogram is the latest business venture for JAY-Z, whose billion-dollar empire includes Roc Nation, D’Ussé cognac, his TIDAL streaming service, and Armand de Brignac champagne.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘#TRUMPSOCKS’
Looks like the only police you don’t respect are the fashion-police.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Douglas
Meet Douglas! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
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Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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