VP Nominee Kamala Harris Covers ELLE Magazine!
Senator Kamala Harris covers ELLE’s November 2020 issue, on newsstands on November 3rd. The Democratic vice presidential nominee talks about the fight for justice and freedom she’s been waging since birth and why she wants Americans to feel hopeful. Photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin and styled by Alex White. Written by Ashley C. Ford.
Senator Kamala Harris started her life’s work young. She laughs from her gut, the way you would with family, as she remembers being wheeled through an Oakland, California, civil rights march in a stroller with no straps with her parents and her uncle. At some point, she fell from the stroller (few safety regulations existed for children’s equipment back then), and the adults, caught up in the rapture of protest, just kept on marching. By the time they noticed little Kamala was gone and doubled back, she was understandably upset. “My mother tells the story about how I’m fussing,” Harris says, “and she’s like, ‘Baby, what do you want? What do you need?’ And I just looked at her and I said, ‘Fweedom.’”
As the senator and I log into our Zoom call, I have a lot of questions—and a few trust issues. I don’t sugarcoat my words: I start by asking what many of us would like to know. How can people who have only known the underside of this country’s boot trust her, another politician, to do the right thing? How will the people with the least visibility know that she sees them? Harris leans toward the screen and tells me about her favorite way to greet people, learned from various cultures in Africa. “When you [are introduced] for the first time, the greeting is not ‘Pleased to meet you.’ The greeting is ‘I see you.’ I see you as a complete human being. At this moment in time, it is so critically important in our country for all people to be seen in their full selves, in a way that gives them the dignity they deserve.”
On defending a person’s right to dignity from day one of her time in Washington: “I came to DC for orientation [in November 2016]. And then there was the inauguration, and the next day there was the Women’s March, where I spoke. And then I got on these committees. And then all these confirmation hearings for people like General [John F.] Kelly. Then right after that came the Muslim ban. Senator Harris was sitting in a DC apartment filled with unpacked moving boxes, fielding calls from civil rights lawyers she’d worked with over the years. They told her of clients detained by ICE officials and how they were unable to get information in or out: “‘Kamala, they’re not letting us talk to our clients.’” This would not do. “I’m used to being in the executive branch and getting things done,” Harris says of her time as attorney general of California. “And not having to ask permission. In fact, that’s why I’ve run for most offices I have run for, because I’m not so good sometimes at asking for permission.”
Somehow, she found the home telephone number of General Kelly, who at the time was secretary of Homeland Security, and called him up. “First thing he says to me: ‘How’d you get my number? Why are you calling me at home?’” The look she gives me—raised eyebrows and a slightly curled lip—indicate that his greeting, also, would not do. She says she told him she was calling “Because I’m a United States senator who represents one out of 11 Americans, and you right now have a situation that you need to explain to me about why your people aren’t letting them see their lawyers.”
On what justice means to a prosecutor who wants to defend our civil rights: “It’s about freedom, it’s about equality, it’s about dignity. When you achieve equality, and freedom, and fairness, it’s not because I grant it to you. It’s because you fought for it because it is your right. This is not about benevolence or charity; it is about every human being’s God-given right. What do we collectively do to fight for that? That’s what justice represents to me—it’s about empowerment of the people.”
On how it shaped her to grow up in an environment with such strong personalities and values: “There was no question that you had to dedicate yourself to fighting for justice on some level or another,” she says. “That the measure of you is so much bigger than you; it’s the impact you have, it’s what you do in service to others. And that’s how I was raised. I was raised that it is not about charity and benevolence, it’s about your duty. No one’s going to congratulate you for it—it’s what you’re supposed to do. If you sit at the dining table and you want to say something, you’d better be prepared to defend it, no matter how old or young you are.”
On not being ashamed of having evolved her perspective and hoping the current moment is the beginning of something, not the end: “What I hope and pray is that we can get to a point where, through what are undoubtedly difficult conversations, we confront the real history of America. Doing it in a way that is motivated by love, but also is fully honest.”
She believes if more white people understood how racism also hurts them, they would fight harder against racist systems and actions. And she has questions for white people who can’t seem to fathom how discrimination also disrupts their lives, especially those who struggle socioeconomically: “What did that whole characterization of poor Black women and calling them welfare queens do to public programs that were about feeding hungry children—all hungry children—regardless of their race?” she asks. I push back on this. There was a time when I would have agreed with her, but now? I’m skeptical. I’ve seen people at anti-mask protests, fighting for their right to die via COVID-19. I don’t know if those people care about suffering from the by-products of racism. I ask if she really believes that white people understanding how racism hurts them might change some of their minds. She looks sad for a moment, and says, “I do.” Then adds, “But it’s not the only way, right?”
On the night she became the second Black woman in history elected to the U.S. Senate and being ready to fight for freedom: “In every one of my elections, part of our routine is we do a small friends-and-family dinner before we go to the campaign night celebration.” She explains that it was looking like the election was going to be called for Donald Trump. “My godson, Alexander, who was seven years old at the time, came up to me, crying, and said, ‘Auntie Kamala, they’re not going to let that man win, are they?’ And you know the babies in your life.…” She closes her eyes and swallows. “I held him. I mean, it still brings me pain to remember how he felt, and what it made me feel, which is that I needed to protect this child. I had one way, in my mind, I thought the evening would go. And then there was the way it turned out. And so by the time I took the stage, I had ripped up my notes, and all I had was Alexander in my heart. And I took the podium and I said, ‘I intend to fight. I intend to fight.’ ”
Six men charged in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer!
An FBI-led investigation identified six men who were trying to plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The investigation involved multiple informants and undercover FBI personnel.
Based on court documents, the FBI was well aware of the activities of the men charged Thursday and there does not seem to have been an imminent threat posed to Gov. Whitmer, a Democrat.
The documents identify the defendants as Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris, and Brandon Caserta.
At a meeting in July, allegedly attended and recorded by one of the informants, the men “discussed attacking a Michigan State Police facility, and in a separate conversation after the meeting, Garbin suggested shooting up the Governor’s vacation home," authorities said.
Then at a July 27 meeting, Fox and an informant discussed a possible kidnapping of Whitmer, with the defendant allegedly saying: “Snatch and grab, man. Grab the f---ing governor. Just grab the b----. Because at that point, we do that, dude — it’s over.”
The federal investigation involved at least one member of a Michigan militia group who was involved in a Second Amendment rally at the Michigan statehouse in June.
That member allegedly told the FBI that the group was considering killing police officers and agreed to become an informant.
But the involvement of that militia in the plot to kidnap the governor appears to be minimal as the group that is charged today allegedly discussed keeping the broader militia out of their actual plan.
In a YouTube video from May, Caserta claimed in a 30-minute diatribe that “the enemy is government.” He shot the video in front of an anarchist’s flag and a map of Michigan.
Caserta did not post on YouTube again until three weeks ago. In that video, Caserta does not speak, and simply loads and poses with a long gun off camera while wearing a shirt that says “F--- The Government.”
For months, Whitmer has drawn the ire of militia groups and others opposed to her restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
Armed protesters took to the streets of Lansing, the state capital, during the early days of Whitmer’s coronavirus lockdown orders. And President Donald Trump famously tweeted "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" in April.
"The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire," Trump tweeted on May 1. "These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal."
Whitmer was elected as the state's 49th governor in 2018, defeating Republican Bill Schuette by nearly 10 percentage points.
#RHOA: Two ‘RHOA’ Stars Allegedly Had Sex With Stripper At Cynthia Bailey’s Bachelorette Party!
Cynthia Bailey’s bachelorette party allegedly took a wild turn with some girl-on-girl action and a scandalous hookup between two “Real Housewives of Atlanta” stars and a male stripper, Page Six has learned.
A source who witnessed the bash exclusively told us that some of the women began hooking up with each other in the living room of the house they were staying in in Charleston, South Carolina. There were about nine or 10 guests total invited to the party.
“There were multiple people that had girl-on-girl,” a source said, adding that the hookups went beyond making out to oral sex in some instances. “They were so drunk.”
We’re told the cameras captured the alleged hookups in the living room since the cast is currently filming Season 13 of “RHOA.”
However, as the crew wrapped and some of the women went to bed around 5 a.m., two ladies allegedly went off into a private bedroom with the male stripper hired for the party to continue their steamy rendezvous.
A source said they heard noises coming from the room that sounded like people inside, who allegedly included two cast members and the male stripper, were having sex.
“[I was] hearing all these noises, sex talk and ‘F me harder,'” the source said, adding that at least one other person allegedly heard them getting it on for about an hour. “She said when she thought they were finished, they started back up again.”
Page Six was not able to confirm on the record which of the cast members were involved, but we’re told bride-to-be Bailey, 53, was not one of them.
The following night at dinner, the “RHOA” stars confronted the cast members who allegedly hooked up with the male stripper. It is unknown whether Bravo will include this footage in the final edits of the show since the season is still currently being filmed.
A source said one of the women who was accused of having the threesome first wanted to make it seem as if it were a “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” fling, but then became upset because of the confrontation.
With NeNe Leakes officially gone, the Season 13 “Housewives” reportedly include Bailey, Kenya Moore, Porsha Williams, Kandi Burruss and newbies Drew Sidora and Latoya Ali. Tanya Sam and Marlo Hampton reportedly also return in a “friend of the Housewives” role.
Bailey is set to walk down the aisle with fiancé Mike Hill at the Governors Towne Club in Acworth, Ga., this upcoming weekend on Oct. 10.
A rep for Bravo could not be reached for comment.
Houston Transgender Activist, Journalist, and Community Leader Monica Roberts Dies At 58!
Roberts was the creator of the award-winning blog, TransGriot, which has been covering the trans community since 2006.
The details of Roberts' death have not been announced.
Roberts and her blog has gained notoriety for its covering of trans issues, setting the standard for how to posthumously identify and tell the stories of transgender people.
The GLAAD Media Award-winning blog not only covered the violence against, but also shared the accomplishments within the trans community, according to “Out” magazine.
“My blog is of vital importance, not just to me but to this entire community,” Roberts told “Out” at the time. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run into some trans millennial who tells me that my blog inspired them to do this or inspired them to do that. At least five people have told me that reading my blog posts is what kept them from committing suicide. So every time I sit down and start writing a post, I keep that in mind — that what I’m writing may inspire someone who does not want to persevere.”
Roberts earned several awards for her work including the Susan J Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement at Creating Change in 2019 and outstanding blog at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2018, according to the LGBT-interest magazine, “Advocate.”
She was also listed in the “Out 100” list in 2019 and received the Phillips Brooks House Association’s Robert Coles Call of Service Award in 2016 and the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award in 2015, according to TransgenderMap.com.
She was also a vocal voice in Texas politics.
Roberts is a Black transgender woman born in Houston in 1962. She graduate from Jones High School in 1980 and then graduated the University of Houston in 1984.
Across nearly two decades, her work has appeared in the the Bilerico Project, Ebony.com, The Huffington Post, Advocate, Loop21.com, Transadvocate, Racialicious, Feministe, Global Comment, What Tami Said and Womanist Musings.
The TransGriot originally started as a column in 2004.
Many reacted to the news of Roberts' untimely death on social media:
“I’m shocked at the sudden loss of [Monica Roberts,]” activist and producer Imara Jones wrote. “For trans journalists she was a pioneer and an essential North Star. I know so many of us will be deeply saddened by her passing.”
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales said: “The sudden death of @TransGriot is a huge loss. Her fierce advocacy for #trans rights was crucial and admirable. Let’s vow to remember her and stand in solidarity to advance her work. She worked to stop anti #transgender violence and discrimination. Rest in Power.”
#NewMusicVideo from Sunshine Anderson ‘Level Up’!
When Sunshine Anderson released her single "Level Up" last October, we just knew that she was creeping up on a comeback with the 10-year anniversary of her last album on the horizon for 2020. But along came a certain global pandemic that canceled everyone's plans. Thankfully, Sunshine believes in no bop left behind and gives the single a second wind with the release of its music video. The "Level Up" video sees Sunshine luxuriating at home, both in bed and in front of a fireplace, and also strutting her stuff down streets of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, where she's called home for many years. Our girl is sporting a cute short hairdo and three chic outfits, one of which we were concerned might result in a wardrobe malfunction but her girls stayed put.
WATCH HERE
Music isn't the only thing that Sunshine Anderson has been working on. She will soon add author to her resume. The songstress has written a book entitled #1 Hit Wonder: 7 Steps To Reinvent Yourself that is currently available for pre-order via her Instagram page. While we wait for her book to be released, hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer for new music from this singer whose voice has truly been missed.
#HipHopNews: T.I. Taps Lil Baby, Rick Ross, & Snoop Dogg For New Album ‘THE L.I.B.R.A’!
After announcing his new album The L.I.B.R.A (The Legend Is Back Running Atlanta), T.I. has revealed the star-studded lineup. Due Oct. 16, the project boasts a slew of heavy-hitters including Lil Baby, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, and John Legend, along with appearances from Jadakiss, Jeremih, Benny The Butcher, and T.I.’s own son Domani.
Last month, Tip celebrated his 40th birthday and released a video for the lead single “Ring” featuring Young Thug.
first album since 2018’s Dime Trap, which debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.
The Grand Hustle boss continues to expand his empire with the Trap Music Museum, one of Atlanta’s most visited attractions, and the launch of his successful podcast “expediTIously.”
T.I., along with Dr. Melva K. Williams, have also started teaching a course on the Business of Trap Music to undergraduate students at Clark Atlanta University. Due to COVID, the class is being taught over Zoom.
Rapper Tory Lanez Charged With Shooting Megan Thee Stallion!
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles prosecutors on Thursday charged rapper Tory Lanez with shooting artist Megan Thee Stallion during an argument earlier this year.
Lanez is accused of shooting at Megan Thee Stallion’s feet, hitting her, after she left a SUV during a fight in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, according to a release.
He faces two felony charges — assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The complaint states Lanez “inflicted great bodily injury” on Megan Thee Stallion.
A message sent to Lanez’s representative was not immediately returned.
Lanez, a 27-year-old Canadian rapper and singer whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, is due to be arraigned Tuesday in Los Angeles. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of roughly 23 years.
Lanez was arrested the night of the shooting but released after posting bail. Prosecutors are recommending that his bail be set at $1.1 million at his arraignment.
Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, is identified in the felony complaint only as Megan P.
She had declined to name Lanez as the person who shot her in social media posts and videos on the subject for more than a month. But on Aug. 20, she said in an Instagram video that “Yes ... Tory shot me,” and urged him to “stop lying” about the incident.
She’s discussed the shooting in several often emotional Instagram videos, calling it “super scary” and “the worst experience of my life.”
She declined to tell police that night that she had been shot, and initial reports were only that a woman had foot injuries consistent with broken glass. She has said that she was too frightened the situation would have escalated if she revealed to police that there had been gunfire.
Lanez has not spoken publicly about the incident. On Sept. 24, he said on his social media accounts that he would break his silence that evening, but that announcement turned out to be a teaser for the release of his fifth studio album, “Daystar.”
Lanez has not reached the stardom that Megan the Stallion has, but had a Billboard top 20 hit with “Luv” in 2016, and has had a successful run of mixtapes and major-label records since his career began in 2009.
At the time of the shooting, Megan Thee Stallion was already a major hip-hop star following a triumphant year that saw her nominated for artist of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Since the shooting, her guest stint on the Cardi B song “WAP” helped turn the track — and music video — into a huge cultural phenomenon, and she has performed on the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.”
Here Are The Highlights From The Vice Presidential Debate Between Mike Pence And Kamala Harris!
Here are the highlights from the 2020 Vice Presidential Debate
The one and only debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris was quieter, clearer and more disciplined than the resentful, chaotic presidential debate a week earlier.
Despite the calmer tone — and the two sheets of plexiglass separating the contenders — sparks flew from both sides of the stage with no less frequency throughout the evening.
The contest, held in Utah before a small, socially distanced audience, began with a focus on the coronavirus pandemic but quickly fanned out to encompass a broad range of issues, including climate change, trade, jobs and America’s posture toward China.
While Pence, Harris and moderator Susan Page were the only ones on stage, President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden were the biggest targets of the debate.
failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country,” she said in her very first answer, launching into a sweeping attack on the Trump administration’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis.
As the debate shifted focus toward economic issues — where Trump polls the highest — Pence offered his sharpest critiques of Biden’s policy record. When Harris slammed the Trump administration’s trade war with China, the vice president retorted: “Joe Biden never fought it.”
Less than four weeks remain until the Nov. 3 election.
Here are the highlights:
Coronavirus takes center stage
The debate kicked off with a question about the coronavirus, which has killed more than 210,000 people in the U.S. What, the moderator asked, would the Biden administration do to combat the coronavirus pandemic?
Harris highlighted the staggering death toll of the virus in the U.S., and slammed the White House for failing to act in the early days of the pandemic.
“They knew what was happening and they didn’t tell you,” she said. “They knew, and they covered it up.”
Pence defended the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis, and argued that a Biden administration would have fared no better under the same scenario.
“Our nation’s gone through a very challenging time this year, but I want the American people to know that from the very first day, President Trump has put the health of the American people first,” he said.
Pence and Harris both dodge questions about their running mates’ ages
Page asked both Pence and Harris about concerns on the ages of Trump, 74, and Biden, 77.
Neither candidate provided a direct answer.
The Trump campaign has made Biden’s age a central attack line of the election. Trump, meanwhile, was discharged from a hospital just two days before Pence and Harris sat down to debate, and he is currently being treated for the coronavirus at the White House.
Echoes of the Trump-Biden debate
When Harris tore into Trump over damning reports about his attitude and actions toward the U.S. military, Pence refused to move on without completing his rebuttal — and forcing a rebuke from the moderator.
“Joe Biden would hold Russia to account,” Harris said after referencing reports that Russia offered bounties to Afghan militants to kill U.S. troops.
Page attempted to move on, but Pence insisted he be allowed to respond. When Page gave him 15 seconds, he replied, “I’ve got to have more than that.”
“The slanders against President Donald Trump regarding men and women of our armed forces are absurd,” Pence said.
Page cut in, but Pence kept talking, leading to a moment reminiscent of the interruption-fest between Trump and Biden a week earlier.
“You’ve had more time than she’s had so far” Page said amid the crosstalk. “I did not create the rules tonight.”
Critics pounced on Pence for steamrolling Harris and Page.
Some also said that Page could have done more to prevent Pence from speaking after his time ran out. And a few suggested that Harris should be allowed more time to compensate.
An eighth grader’s question: If you can’t get along, how can we?
Page asked the vice presidential candidates the last question of the night submitted by an eighth grader from Springville, Utah.
“When I watch the news, all I see are two candidates from opposing parties, trying to tear each other down. If our leaders can’t get along, how are the citizen supposed to get along?” Page read. “Your examples could make all the difference to bring us together.”
Pence offered advice to the student: “Don’t assume that what you’re seeing on your local news networks is synonymous with the American people.” He gave the example of the late Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, who were famously close friends despite their staunchly opposing political views.
Harris took the opportunity to talk up Biden’s character. “Joe has a longstanding reputation of working across the aisle,” she said. “Joe Biden has a history of lifting people up and fighting for their dignity.”
In a debate without a single jaw-dropping moment, optics gain outsize importance.
Unfortunately for the vice president, that meant viewers were acutely aware that a fly landed on his head late in the evening.
Pence had been speaking about law enforcement, pushing back on the notion of implicit bias in policing as “a great insult” to officers.
But at least on social media, audiences were instantly distracted by the visiting insect.
Meghan Trainor Announced Her Pregnancy With A Christmas Themed Pic!
Halloween is still weeks away, but Meghan Trainor and Daryl Sabara's pregnancy announcement skipped straight to Christmas. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, Trainor told fans that she is pregnant with the couple's first child on Instagram, sharing a sonogram of her family's new addition surrounded by festive ornaments and wreaths. "You all know how long I’ve wanted this!!!!," she wrote. "@darylsabara and I are so beyond happy and excited to meet this little cutie early next year! WE’RE PREGNANTTTTT!!!"
Sabara also shared the picture on his Instagram, writing, "I love you @meghan_trainor and I can't wait to start a family with you." Yep, the little boy from Spy Kids is all grown up and having his own child, or as some may call it, a new Spy Kid.
The couple also announced their pregnancy with an appearance on Today, something Trainor had been dreaming of for quite some time. As she told host Hoda Kotb, she wanted her to be one of the first people she shared the big news with. "We were thinking about who do I tell first, and I was like, I told Hoda since I was 19 going to The Today Show (that) I will have the most babies in the world," she said. "It finally happened and we're so excited." She and Sabara even wore matching Kotb hoodies for the occasion.
The "No" singer didn't reveal any information about the baby's sex or an exact due date, but did share that she was about halfway along in her pregnancy, which she said has been "very easy so far" and made her realize just how strong women really are. "I do feel like I'm learning new things every single day," she said. "I realized how amazing women are... women are superheroes. This is crazy."
Trainor has been very vocal about her desire to have kids in the past. Only a month after she married Sabara in December 2018, she told PEOPLE that she was ready to start their family, but she had to put her music commitments first. “If we could do it how we want to, we’d be, like, totally preggo right now!," she said. “We’re both so excited for it. We both constantly watch baby YouTube videos and lessons on like, 'How to take care of an infant.'"
In October 2019, Trainor told E! News that she wanted "a bunch" of kids. However, if she had it her way, she'd have triplets and be done with pregnancy for good. "I want to get it all done at one time and be like, pop them in there," she said. "Let's knock it out. Let's do it at once. I want twins or triplets. I want a doctor to put them in, you know?"
Inside new ‘RHONY’ Cast Member Eboni K. Williams’ Career And Love Life!
Eboni K. Williams is ready for her apple. The attorney and television host, 37, announced that she was joining “The Real Housewives of New York” on Thursday, telling Page Six in a statement: “NYC is filled with successful and dynamic Black women. I’m excited to join this legendary franchise as the first Black housewife. Can’t wait to share a slice of life in this city that hasn’t been seen before. Anyone who’s aware of my work knows I don’t hold back. I’m going to keep it just as real here as I do everywhere else.”
Here are seven things to know about the newest Bravolebrity.
She had a career in law
Williams will know how to hold her own in an argument with the “RHONY” ladies, as she clerked for Louisiana’s Secretary of State and the state’s Attorney General. She also served as a public defender and worked in private practice in 2010. Williams graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications and African American studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
She has been on TV before
Williams was a correspondent for CBS News and a contributor for Fox News. She appeared on “Hannity” and “The O’Reilly Factor.”
She also served as a co-host on “Outnumbered,” “The Five” and “Fox News Specialists.”
She had a short stint on the radio
Williams joined WABC radio for an afternoon show with Curtis Sliwa, but the gig only lasted from June 2017 until October 2017.
She has a connection to Diddy
Williams currently co-hosts “State of the Culture” alongside Remy Ma and Joe Budden on Diddy’s REVOLT TV.
She is private when it comes to her love life
Williams was rumored to have dated her childhood friend, Gray Sandy, but has kept a low profile when it comes to her significant others.
Williams penned “Pretty Powerful: Appearance, Substance, and Success” in 2017. In the book, she wrote about her own career and spoke to women including Meghan McCain and Marcia Clark about how they balance looking the part in their jobs with their responsibilities.
LeBron James And His IPromise School Staff And Students Will Be Featured On The Next Wheaties Box!
Lebron James has scored another win for himself, as well as the underserved kids at his Promise School in Akron, Ohio. According to General Mills, the Lakers superstar will be the next athlete to grace the iconic orange Wheaties box.
The last athlete to grace the cover was AP Athlete of the decade Serena Williams.
However, this year’s box will be different from the previous boxes, as it will feature a wraparound image of Lebron and the students and staff of his IPromise School. In 2018, Lebron opened the school to help at-risk children from his hometown in Akron, Ohio.
On Wednesday, Lebron announced the news in a statement, saying, “The movement we’ve started in Akron is about doing our part to uplift our community by first listening and then responding with the resources they need.” He said, “We will continue to do everything we can to create a better future for our kids and our community, and it starts with the students, teachers and everyday champions you see on this box.”
Over the next few weeks, you can expect a rollout of The LeBron James Wheaties box in the U.S.
James has built quite a legacy for himself on the court, which includes 13 all-NBA first-team selections, ten NBA Finals, three NBA championships, and just one game away from his fourth, in just seventeen seasons.
The idea to include the IPromise students and staff on the box was to illustrate that this “Kid from Akron” has “never forgotten where he came from.”
Brand experience manager Taylor Gessell said in a statement, “We all know LeBron James for his record-breaking basketball career, but his achievements off the court truly set him apart.”
“From starting the LeBron James Family Foundation, to boldly speaking out on racial injustice, to launching the I Promise School – LeBron is a champion of change who is using his sports platform to better the world. We couldn’t be prouder to feature such a positive force of inspiration for the next generation of champions on Wheaties’ historic box,” she added.
Although he is currently competing for his fourth championship, Lebron said he is honored to join the long list of athletes who have graced the cover of the Wheaties box,
“Growing up where we come from, to see my I Promise kids and families from Akron, Ohio, represented on the iconic Wheaties box means everything,” he said. “The movement we’ve started in Akron is about doing our part to uplift our community by first listening and then responding with the resources they need. We will continue to do everything we can to create a better future for our kids and our community, and it starts with the students, teachers, and everyday champions you see on this box.”
The back of the box will feature Lebron’s history, but it will also include the history of the IPromise School and its mission to help the children of Akron.
Executive director for the Lebron James Family Foundation, Michele Campbell said that Wheaties has helped make IPromise School’s goal of not just helping the students, but their entire families as well, with quality education, a safe place to live, and food on the table.
“Having our students, families and educators on the Wheaties box alongside LeBron is pretty powerful, and it illustrates that deep and meaningful work cannot be done alone.” She said, “It takes an entire community to truly rally around those that need it most, and it takes a lot of passion and hard work. But it can be done, and we’re humbled to continue pushing the envelope on what’s possible for these families and all communities across the country.”
‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Halts Filming After Positive COVID-19 Tests!
Filming on the new “Jurassic World” movie at Pinewood Studios in the UK has been suspended for two weeks because of COVID-19 cases on set. Director Colin Trevorrow tweeted Wednesday that there were “a few” positive tests for the virus.
He added that the individuals tested negative shortly after, but that they would be pausing for two weeks regardless to adhere to safety protocols.
positive tests last night and that all tested negative this morning.
“The safety and well-being of our entire cast and crew is paramount,” the spokesperson added. “Those who initially tested positive are currently self-isolating, as are those who they have come into contact with.”
On Tuesday, Universal said that the release of “Jurassic World: Dominion” was being delayed a year to June 2022.
The franchise starring Chris Pratt was one of the first major Hollywood productions to restart after coronavirus pandemic-related shutdowns. The New York Times in August wrote about the enhanced safety protocols on the set and a few crew-member cases in Britain and in Malta over the summer.
It’s the second significant shoot to be affected by COVID-19. Last month the U.K. shoot on “ The Batman,” a Warner Bros. film, also halted production because of a positive case.
'SNL' Removes Morgan Wallen From This Weekend's Show After Partying Maskless in Alabama!
Country singer Morgan Wallen was set to be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live's Oct. 10 episode. However, shortly after videos emerged of Wallen partying without a mask on in Alabama recently, he has since been removed from the show, per Variety. In a statement, Wallen apologized for his actions and explained that he fully understands SNL's decision to cancel his upcoming appearance.
On Wednesday, Wallen posted a video on Instagram in which he explained that SNL had recently informed him he will no longer be the musical guest on Saturday's episode. The singer posted the video from a hotel room in New York City, where he has been preparing to go on the sketch series. He shared that he has not tested positive for COVID-19 but that his "actions from this past weekend were pretty short-sighted, and have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams." Wallen came under fire after several TikTok videos emerged that showcased him partying with fans without a mask on. In one of the videos, which was posted on Monday, he even appeared to kiss one of those fans during this get-together.
"I respect the show's decision because I know I put them in jeopardy, and I take ownership for this. I’d like to apologize to SNL, to my fans, to my team for bringing me these opportunities, and I let them down," Wallen said. He continued to say that he has some personal growth to do in light of this situation. "I think I lost myself a little bit. I tried to find joy in the wrong places and, I don't know, it's left me with less joy, so I'm going to try to work on that. I'm going to take a step back from the spotlight for a little while and go work on myself. I wish I could have made country music and my fans proud this Saturday, but I respect the decision once again."
Wallen said that SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels gave him "a lot of encouragement" in regard to this matter. Michaels also reportedly told the singer that they would "find another time to make this up." As of right now, there has been no announcement about what musical guest will take Wallen's place on Saturday's episode.
Kevin McCall Outs Eva Marcille and Missy Elliott?
R&B singer Kevin McCall implies his ex, Eva Marcille, has an ongoing thing with Missy Elliott...
Kevin made the shocking claims on Instagram.
However we all know this isn’t true. I think the brother needs to seek help!
Music Icon Dionne Warwick Hosts National Day of Remembrance For Victims of COVID-19!
Over the past weekend, legendary soul singer Dionne Warwick hosted a National Day of Remembrance for those who died from the novel coronavirus disease.
The event, which took place virtually in Washington D.C., on Sunday, Oct. 4, was produced by COVID Survivors for Change, a grassroots, non-partisan organization that connects those affected by the disease with proper resources. Families of those who died from the illness, including health-care workers, faith leaders and many more, joined Warwick in the memorial effort.
“It’s time to stand with all the survivors and Americans who have been devastatingly impacted,” The Grammy Award winner said in a statement to MSN. She added, “It’s time to thank the essential workers and treat this pandemic as it is: an incredible tragedy. And most of all, it’s time to pray for those still suffering and for our Nation to unite and come together to mourn and honor the precious lives lost.”
During the Oct. 4 event, 20,000 chairs were left empty on the Ellipse — a 52-acre park located south of the White House — as part of a dramatic statement symbolizing the many lives claimed by the deadly disease. The event included a national moment of silence, musical performances by artists and memorial tributes for loved ones who were being honored.
This isn’t Warwick’s first time using her platform to bring awareness to a global crisis. The former U.S. Ambassador for Health has used her platform to bring attention to the AIDS crisis during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Her song “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne & Friends raised millions of dollars for AIDS research and prevention.
COVID Survivors for Change founder Chris Kocher also released a statement to MSN regarding the event saying, “Behind every statistic and every number is a real person whose life was cut short or changed forever. The National COVID Remembrance will carve out a public space to tell their stories and demand our elected officials honor their deaths by doing what needs to be done to stop the spread of disease.”
According to the CDC, the total number of deaths caused by COVID-19 has surpassed 210,000 as officials begin to prep for a possible second wave as winter and flu season approach. Check out the full virtual event here.
Niecy Nash Recites Wedding Vows in Wife Jessica Betts' 'Catch Me' Music Video!
Niecy Nash and wife Jessica Betts are celebrating their marriage! The 50-year-old Claws actress appears alongside her new wife in Jessica‘s new “Catch Me” music video.
In the video, Niecy frolics in a stunning wedding gown while at the beach with Jessica.
The video also includes the newlyweds reciting their wedding vows, after tying the knot back in August.
“I promise to always love you and to always choose you. You are a testament to the magic that happens when your heart is opened,” Niecy says. “I will meet you there, wherever there is. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
WATCH
“I’ve watched you pour into so many people, but now you’ve got somebody to pour into you. I’m going to pour into you,” Jessica vows. “You deserve nothing but happiness. Love you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘FLOWER POWER’
Roses are red, violets are blue, those boot say stripper, those jeans do too.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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