Legendary Jazz great, 23-time Grammy winner Chick Corea dead from 'rare form of cancer' at 79!
Chick Corea, an architect of the jazz fusion genre as a member of Miles Davis’s first electric ensemble, one of the most important pianists of the post-John Coltrane era, and the composer of such jazz standards as “Spain,” “500 Miles High,” “La Fiesta,” “Armando's Rhumba,” and “Windows,” has died. His death from “a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently” occurred on Feb. 9, and was announced via a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday afternoon. Corea was 79 years old.
Armando “Chick” Corea was born June 12, 1941 in Chelsea, Mass., and was introduced to the piano and drums at a young age by his father, a Dixieland trumpet player. He took piano lessons from concert pianist Salvatore Sullo at age 8 and started playing professionally while still in high school, later moving to New York City to study music at Columbia University and the Juilliard School. While his formal undergrad education lasted less than a year, Corea remained in New York and started learning on the job as an in-demand keyboardist and bandleader, playing with the likes of Willie Bobo, Herbie Mann, Stan Getz, and Sarah Vaughan.
After the release of his first two albums, 1966’s Tones for Joan's Bones and the 1968 trio LP Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, Corea replaced Herbie Hancock in Miles Davis’s band during Davis’s late-‘60s Lost Quintet transitional period. Switching upon Davis’s recommendation to electric piano (and frequently using a processing device called a ring modulator), Corea played on Davis's Filles de Kilimanjaro, In a Silent Way, Miles Davis at the Fillmore, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, On the Corner, and one of the most influential albums in jazz history and a classic of the progressive jazz genre, Bitches Brew.
In 1970, Corea and his Davis band colleague Dave Holland left to form the free jazz ensemble Circle; two years later, Corea changed course again and formed the seminal fusion group Return to Forever, which revolutionarily mixed elements of rock, funk, and Latin American music and, along with Weather Report and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, spearheaded the jazz-rock movement of the ‘70s.
Over the course of his more than six-decade career, Corea never stayed in one lane or stayed idle for long, playing music that bridged avant-garde, bebop, chamber music, classical, and Latin jazz, and influencing artists ranging from alternative metal band Living Colour to D.C. hardcore band Bad Brains to bluegrass-fusion artist Béla Fleck and neo-soul pianist Robert Glasper. His other projects included the Chick Corea Elektric Band, the Chick Corea New Trio, the Five Peace Band, and Chick Corea & the Vigil, and he celebrated his 75th birthday in 2016 by playing with more than 20 different groups during a six-week residency at Greenwich Village’s famous Blue Note Jazz Club. His final recording was last year’s live solo album Plays, which featured interpretations of the works of Domenico Scarlatti, Bill Evans, Frédéric Chopin, and Thelonious Monk. In late 2020, Corea was reportedly working on both a trombone concerto for the New York Philharmonic and a percussion concerto for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
“Throughout his life and career, Chick relished in the freedom and the fun to be had in creating something new, and in playing the games that artists do. Through his body of work and the decades he spent touring the world, he touched and inspired the lives of millions,” read the statement on Corea’s Facebook page. “Though he would be the first to say that his music said more than words ever could, he nevertheless had this message for all those he knew and loved, and for all those who loved him:
“‘I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright. It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It’s not only that the world needs more artists, it’s also just a lot of fun. And to my amazing musician friends who have been like family to me as long as I’ve known you: It has been a blessing and an honor learning from and playing with all of you. My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could, and to have done so with all the artists that I admire so dearly — this has been the richness of my life.’”
Corea is the fourth-most-nominated artist in the history of the Grammy Awards, with 65 nominations as well as 23 total Grammy wins. He has a chance to posthumously win two more Grammys at next month’s ceremony, where he is nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Janet Jackson To Auction Scores Of Her Legendary Stage Outfits!
Janet Jackson is cleaning out her closet, putting her wedding dress and dozens of her stage costumes up for auction in May for the first time.
Julien's Auctions said on Thursday that the five-time Grammy winner is selling more than 1,000 of the costumes she wore on stage, on tour, on red carpets and in music videos over the past four decades.
Jackson has kept the costumes in storage for years.
A pair of shoes belonging to Janet Jackson is on display.
"Janet has never done an auction before. In fact, we find it very hard to find items at auction, any auction, from Janet Jackson because she's kept everything," Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions, said.
"It's cathartic for her... she's happy to let them go and to raise money for a charity that's really important to her," Nolan said.
Some of the top items in the May 14-16 sale in Beverly Hills include the wedding outfit from Jackson's second, secret marriage, to dancer Rene Elizondo Jr in 1991. The marriage was not publicly known until the couple split eight years later. The ivory bodysuit with a tiered ruffle skirt dress carries a pre-sale estimate of $2,000 - $3,000.
The singer, 54, is also parting with the original Rhythm Nation Jacket from her eponymous 1990 world tour. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $6,000 - $8,000.
The floor-length metallic silver coat that Jackson wore in her 1995 music video for "Scream" with her brother Michael Jackson is expected to sell for up to $8,000. A 17th century-inspired ensemble of cropped riding jacket and thigh high boots she donned during her 1993-95 world tour has an estimate of $4,000 - $6,000.
The singer's most famous outfit - the black leather bustier that was ripped, briefly exposing her breast at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show - is not included in the auction.
Jackson is also selling her 1956 Chevrolet Cameo Pickup truck, which has been restored to its original condition. It is expected to fetch between $50,000 - $70,000.
A portion of the auction proceeds will go to the Christian child sponsorship group Compassion International. Jackson will also give 100% of sales of a limited edition three volume set of auction catalogs, offered at $800, to the nonprofit.
Kevin Hart's Personal Shopper Defrauds Comedian out of More Than $1M!
Kevin Hart's one-time personal shopper was charged with defrauding the comedian out of more than $1 million in fraudulent credit card purchases, the Queens District Attorney announced Wednesday.
Dylan Jason Syer, 29 and of Long Island City, was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on a 10-count indictment charging him with grand larceny in the first and second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the first and second degree, identity theft in the first degree and scheme to defraud in the first degree for allegedly making the unauthorized charges and purchases using the actor and comedian's credit cards between Oct. 12, 2017 through Feb. 25, 2019, prosecutors say.
According to the district attorney's office, Syer first became acquainted with the Hart in 2015 through his personal shopping business, Sire Consulting, LLC, through which he was contracted to buy several items for the actor. It was through this connection that Syer acquired Hart’s credit card numbers with the understanding that he would only use to make authorized purchases. Instead, Syer allegedly made over $1 million of unauthorized charges on those credit cards over the course of 19 months.
In total, Syer allegedly charged approximately $923,000 on Hart’s credit cards without authorization, in addition to $240,000 worth of jewelry and watches purchased from a high-end jeweler in California, the district attorney says. Additionally, Syer is also accused of purchasing fine art and other collectibles worth thousands, and at least 5 Patek Phillipe watches valued at more than $400,000. Among these art and collectible purchases was a Sam Friedman painting, at least 16 Bearbrick collectible dolls, five KAWS collectible dolls, and two Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere bags.
In addition to the criminal charges, the district attorney is also filing an asset forfeiture action against Syer in Civil Court, seeking to seize and ultimately forfeit Syer’s assets up to the amount that he allegedly stole.
“No one is immune to being targeted by fraudsters," District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. "This defendant, who owned a personal shopper business, used legitimate purchases to gain access and then allegedly continued to charge the actor’s credit cards for astronomical sums of money.”
Some of the alleged unauthorized purchases made by Dylan Jason Syer, according to the Queens District Attorney's Office.
Katz went on to say, “The defendant thought he was beyond reach and was living out his uber-rich lifestyle fantasies. But my team uncovered the bogus purchases – from the credit card charges being processed by the bank, down to tracking FedEx packages delivered to Syer’s home and business. This should serve as a cautionary tale for everyone. Regardless of whether you are a celebrity or not, anyone can fall victim to this kind of fraud. It is paramount to keep track of your expenses, check your credit reports and diligently keep your financial information to yourself.”
Syer is set to return to court on Feb. 17. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. Attorney information was not immediately known.
Rev. Al Sharpton Files For Divorce From Estranged Wife, 15 Years After Separation!
Al Sharpton on Thursday filed for divorce from his estranged wife of more than 15 years.
The 66-year-old Baptist minister is set to divorce his longtime wife Kathy Jordan Sharpton almost two decades after the couple split in 2004 after 24 years of marriage, according to documents filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The pair, who have two daughters together, Dominique and Ashley Sharpton, first met in the 1970s when Shaprton worked as James Brown’s road manager and Kathy as the music icon’s backup singer.
Sharpton or Kathy Jordan Sharpton did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ requests for comment.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore’s Estranged Husband Marc Daly Is Creating His Own Reality Show!
Team #TWIRL Remember when Marc did appear on last season of theRHOA with Kenya and their baby daughter, Brooklyn Daly. He actually didn’t want to and stopped appearing. He also was extremely controlling and talked down to Kenya.
Well get a load of this. Now BOSSIP is reporting that Marc is going to have his own reality show, with a celebrity co-star. Excuse me? The man who refused to live his life on camera? The man who made us cringe every time he talked to his wife?
The show will be about Black-owned businesses. But the show, set in Brooklyn, will also depict operating restaurants, and love. Is anyone else getting Vanderpump Rules vibes? Marc could be looking for a lucky lady to spend his life with. Seriously?
I can’t wait to hear what Kenya has to say about it! Your Thoughts?
#NewMusic from Robin Thicke ‘Lucky Star”
Robin Thicke drew inspiration from some of his biggest heroes when writing music for his forthcoming album, On Earth, and in Heaven.
The 43-year-old hitmaker took to social media to reveal the emotional meaning behind the album's opener "Lucky Star," which was inspired by his late father Alan Thicke, who died in 2016, and Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell, who passed away in May.
"This is the last song I wrote for the album and it’s also the first track on the album," Thicke wrote on Instagram. "Once we had this song I knew the album was complete. You know that feeling you have when you’re all alone but you know that you’re not alone. That’s what 'Lucky Star' is about. That presence in your life that holds you tight, gives you hope, and lights the way. My father and Andre Harrell are my Lucky Stars."
Thicke also shared a lyric video for "Lucky Star" on Friday. "When I'm down and out/ And I've lost my way/ Through the hardest nights and the darkest days/ Oh Lucky Star won't you help me light the way," he sings on the uplifting track.
LISTEN HERE
In early January, Thicke announced plans to release On Earth, and in Heaven, first full-length album in six years. The forthcoming set is scheduled for release on Feb. 12, and marks the debut project under his new partnership between Lucky Music and Empire.
Robin Thicke and April Love Geary Welcome Third Child: 'You Are So Perfect'
A minute-long trailer for On Earth, and in Heaven shows the singer's highs and lows over the last decade, from topping the Billboard Hot 100 with "Blurred Lines" in 2013 to losing his father several years later.
Thicke's last studio album, 2014's Paula, was a tribute to his then-estranged wife Paula Patton. The LP debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
#HipHopNews: DMX Says He Has A Song With Pop Smoke Coming Soon!
In 2003, DMX promised "X gon' give it to ya" on his hit song of the same name. Eighteen years later, the 50-year-old rapper has yet to walk back on those words. As DMX prepares to release what can be presumed to be his next studio album, the New York native announces a collaboration with one of Brooklyn's beloved rhymers.
On Monday (Feb. 8), in a brief snippet of an unreleased interview with N.O.R.E. and DJ Efn for their Drink Champs podcast, DMX was asked about other artists he's collaborated with, possibly for a new project, that would appeal to a younger hip-hop audience. In response, the late Pop Smoke is among a few other rappers that Dark Man X has new music with.
N.O.R.E. dropped a few names like Lil Tjay and Meek Mill, whom X says aren't the type of "new" artists he's worked with on his new tracks. "I got uh, Griselda boys, Pop Smoke," X answered. "That's what type of new I'm doing."
X added that he hadn't met Pop prior to him being shot and killed in Feb. 19, 2020. "The growl and everything, I guess it's just a coincidence," DMX said.
The conversation shifted a bit when N.O.R.E. began comparing Pop's grit to X's and 50 Cent's. The show's cohost then inserted that the Meet the Woo rapper could've metaphorically been 50 Cent and DMX's love child since the late rhymer has similar rap qualities of X and Fif.
"But he [50 Cent] would have the baby. It would be ours, but he would have it," DMX joked in good spirit.
#FASHIONNEWS: Rihanna And LVMH To Close Fenty!
Rihanna's LVMH-backed luxury ready-to-wear line Fenty is closing, just under two years after debuting in Paris, Business of Fashion reports.
In a statement to Fashionista, LVMH confirmed the news: "Following the completion of a fundraising round where L Catterton has taken a stake into Savage X Fenty, LVMH and Rihanna reaffirm their ambition to concentrate on the growth and the long-term development of Fenty ecosystem focusing on cosmetics, skincare and lingerie. In the meantime, Rihanna and LVMH have jointly made the decision to put on hold the ready-to-wear activity, based in Europe, pending better conditions."
Back in October, during a call about Q3 sales, LVMH chief financial officer Jean-Jacques Guiony described Fenty as a "work in progress," per WWD, saying: "On Fenty fashion, we are obviously still in a launching phase and we have to figure out exactly what is the right offer. It's not something that is easy... We have successes, we have things that have worked less well, so we have to sort in between the two and really decide what should be the core strengths of the offer in the years to come."
Fenty was a significant launch for LMVH in 2019: It marked the first time a Black woman was at the helm of a brand within its umbrella (Rihanna served as both its CEO and its artistic director) and the first time since 1987 that the conglomerate helped start a fashion house from the ground up. In December 2019, Rihanna won the Urban Luxe award at the British Fashion Council's Fashion Awards.
"Being the first Black woman to lead a luxury house, especially under LVMH, it was a huge deal to see him just encourage people to buy black," Rihanna told Vogue U.K. in her May 2020 cover story. "I felt connected to it, and knowing why really made me feel like there's no way I can ignore this."
In 2020, Fenty brought in Amina Muaddi to collaborate on two footwear capsules, and hired a managing director from Nike. According to WWD, "a skeleton staff" is still working for Fenty in Paris, as the brand's e-commerce is expected to shut down in a few weeks.
Rihanna's other fashion ventures, though, seem to be going strong: On Wednesday, Savage x Fenty announced it had secured $115 million through a Series B fundraising round, led by L Catterton (which LVMH has a stake in).
Woman out $100,000 in con that convinced her she was in romance with Bruno Mars!
A north Texas woman reportedly coughed up $100,000 to a catfishing con that convinced her she was in an online romance with Bruno Mars.
The case led to a money-laundering charge filed against Chinwendu Azuonwu and his appearance in a Harris County criminal court early Tuesday for a probable cause hearing, online court records show.
Prosecutors claim Azuonwu was behind the scheme that started back in September 2018 and targeted the 63-year-old victim, according to Houston-based KTRK-TV.
The woman reportedly told investigators a person pretending to be Mars reached out and convinced her she shared a meaningful connection with the 35-year-old “Uptown Funk” singer.
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Documents obtained by the station say the woman fell in love with the Mars account after it drew her in with her multiple texts and photos of the Grammy winner while he was on tour.
The fraudulent Mars account soon began asking the woman for money, directing her to send a $10,000 check made out to a “friend of the band” for “tour expenses,” KTRK-TV reported.
Two days later, it asked for more funds and received $90,000, the station reported.
The money was deposited in accounts held by Azuonwu and an alleged accomplice, identified as Basil Amadi, prosecutors reportedly said.
Investigators armed with search warrants later found a $90,000 deposit in Azuonwu’s account, which was drained down to a zero balance, according to the report.
Azuonwu is due back in court Wednesday for a bail review hearing, court records show.
Tisha Campbell & Tichina Arnold Are Teaming Up For A Talk Show!
Long-time best friends and fellow actresses Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold are coming together to launch and host Tisha & Tichina Have Issues, a new talk show putting a twist on celebrity interviews.
Campbell and Arnold are known for their portrayal as best friends Gina and Martin in the five-season ’90s hit sitcoms Martin. Now in their latest venture, the duo are set to co-host intimate and candid conversations with celebrity guests, friends, and renowned public figures.
The talk show will welcome Campbell and Arnold’s inner celebrity circle to spill their personal insight on the momentous points in their career, their most comedic tales, and their relationships with the hosts. In light of the pandemic, the show will be filmed from their homes.
Working together in the past, Campbell and Arnold are marked by their signature comedic flair and ability to co-host as a seamless pair. The two recently reprised their role as co-hosts of the 2020 Soul Train Awards for the third time.
“Tichina and I have worked together and known each other so long…we finish each other’s jokes!,” Campbell said in a statement to ET. “I’m happy that me and my bestie will have the opportunity to create and enjoy a platform where our audience can get intimate with us — and when our celebrity guests come through, they can bring on a friend so we can all get to know them in a more fun, open and candid way.”
The series will be executive produced by Campbell, Arnold, and Andrew Jameson (POWER). ITV America’s Thinkfactory Media will produce the show. Tisha & Tichina Have Issues is currently in development and will soon land with a network and/or streaming platform.
“I am pleased to be working with Thinkfactory and my long-time friend and colleague Tisha Campbell on our dream project,” Arnold added in the statement. “Never before has television played a greater role in our communities, and I feel certain that connecting through our brand of positivity and laughter is sure to shine through to our forever faithful fans.”
The Mandalorian Actress Gina Carano Fired by Lucasfilm!
Actress Gina Carano, known for playing former Rebel Alliance soldier Cara Dune on Disney's the Mandalorian, has been fired from the show, according to io9.
In a statement sent to io9, a Lucasfilm representative spoke on the matter:
“Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”
Carano was the subject of much criticism recently when, in a now-deleted Instagram post, she compared being a modern-day Republican to being Jewish during the Holocaust. The hashtag #FireGinaCarano has trended on social media in recent months after other incendiary comments by the television and film star.
Sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that Lucasfilm planned on announcing in December that Carano would star in her own Star Wars series. Those plans were scrapped after Carano's November tweets.
Have you watched Star Wars: The Mandalorian?
Carano has also been a vocally against the use of masks in public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as insinuating voter fraud conspiracies regarding the 2020 Presidential election.
Carano first appeared as Cara Dune in episode four of The Mandalorian season one, when she teamed up with the titular bounty hunter to protect a community against raiders using stolen Empire weaponry. She returned midway through season two/episode 12 to assist in destroying an Imperial base and later in episode 15 to help infiltrate a refinery. The character proved initially to be popular with Star Wars fans, but opinion quickly soured following Carano's comments.
KeKe Wyatt Apologizes for Diminishing Oppression in the Black Community!
Back in 2007 bi-racial singer KeKe Wyatt famously admitted in Essence Magazine that her white mother regularly referred to her and her siblings as n-words when they were growing up [click here if you missed that].
KeKe is back with another hot take on race, followed by the requisite apology...
It all started last week after KeKe appeared on the Bigo app with former Love and Hip Hop LA cast member Milan Christopher and the conversation turned to oppression in the Black community.
KeKe appeared ambivalent and over talked Milan while insisting Black people didn't own oppression and ticked off other races who were oppressed and told Milan there was more to life than just being 'Black.' She also accused the Black community of oppressing bi-racials.
During the same panel KeKe also called gossip blogger MC Shakie a monkey.
This week KeKe appeared on Claudia Jordan's Cocktails with Queens to apologize.
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and First Amendment Crusader dies at 78!
Porn purveyor Larry Flynt, who built Hustler magazine into an adult entertainment juggernaut that included casinos, films, websites and other enterprises as he relentlessly championed First Amendment rights, has died at age 78.
Flynt, who had been in declining health, died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his longtime attorney, Paul Cambria, told The Associated Press. He had been paralyzed and nearly killed in a 1986 assassination attempt.
“He suffered decades of health issues and you can imagine it was pretty difficult,” said his nephew Jimmy Flynt Jr. He added, “I loved him and may he rest in peace.”
From his beginnings as a fledgling Ohio strip club owner to his reign as founder of one of the most outrageously explicit adult-oriented magazines, Flynt constantly challenged the establishment and was intensely disliked by the religious right and feminist groups that said he demeaned women and put them at risk with pictures of bondage and other controversial acts.
Flynt maintained throughout his life that he wasn’t just a pornographer but also a fierce defender of free-speech rights.
“My position is that you pay a price to live in a free society, and that price is toleration of some things you don’t like,” he once told the Seattle Times. “You have to tolerate the Larry Flynts of this world.”
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with him at least once, when he won a long and bitter battle with the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who sued him for libel after a 1983 Hustler alcohol ad suggested Falwell had lost his virginity to his mother in an outhouse.
That case and much of the rest of Flynt’s life were depicted in the acclaimed 1996 film, “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” which brought Oscar nominations for director Milos Forman and for Woody Harrelson, who portrayed Flynt.
Flynt’s far-flung company produced not only Hustler but other niche publications. He also owned a video production company, scores of websites, two Los Angeles-area casinos and dozens of Hustler boutiques selling adult-oriented products. He also licensed the Hustler name to independently owned strip clubs.
At the time of his death he claimed to have video-on-demand operations in more than 55 countries and more than 30 Hustler Hollywood retail stores throughout the United States.
“It’s a massive corporation and he started it with nothing,” Jimmy Flynt Jr. said.
His publishing and financial successes were offset in equal measure by controversies and tragedies.
Over the years, Flynt fought battles with drug and alcohol addiction, and his daughter Lisa Flynt-Fugate was killed in a car crash in 2014 at age 47.
Left paralyzed from the waist down and in unrelenting pain by a March 6, 1978, shooting, Flynt refused to slow down, continuing to build his business for another 44 years. Always a flashy dresser, he used a gold-plated wheelchair with a velvet-lined seat.
“His doctors had said he should have passed away 30 years ago,” Jimmy Flynt Jr. said Wednesday. “He outlived most of the doctors who took care of him,” he added with a chuckle.
With an estimated fortune over $100 million, Flynt spent his later years in the political arena. When California voters recalled Gov. Gray Davis in 2003, Flynt was among 135 candidates to replace him. He campaigned as “a smut peddler who cares” and gathered more than 15,000 votes.
A self-described progressive, Flynt was no fan of former President Donald Trump. Before the 2016 election, he offered payment of up to $1 million for video or audio recordings of Trump engaging in illegal or “sexually demeaning or derogatory” activity.
In 2017, Flynt offered a $10 million reward for evidence that would lead to Trump’s impeachment, and in 2019 Larry Flynt Publications sent a Christmas card to some Republican congressional members that showed Trump lying dead in a pool of blood, with the killer saying, “I just shot Donald Trump on Fifth Avenue and no one assassinated me.” It was a reference to Trump’s boast that he could do the same and not lose any votes.
Although Flynt often disgusted the masses, he became an unlikely poster boy for First Amendment causes, who even supporters of the same issues weren’t sure what to make of.
“If I can leave any kind of legacy at all, it will be that I helped expand the parameters of free speech,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1998.
During the 1998-99 impeachment of President Bill Clinton, he threatened to expose lawmakers’ sexual exploits. Saying he only wanted to unmask the hypocrisy of the investigation, he offered huge sums for material that could be verified and published in Hustler. His efforts at the time hit former Reps. Bob Livingston — who was expected to become House speaker before Flynt threatened to expose his affairs — and Bob Barr.
Political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy senior fellow, said at time his effort was “dangerous to the First Amendment ... This is sexual bounty hunting.”
Over the years, he vastly expanded his business into the internet and the adult movie industry, noting the nroads they made into his magazine sales.
“You can see more on cable and satellite today than you could see in what I published in 1974,” Flynt told The Associated Press in 2003.
Born Nov. 1, 1942, in Lakeville, Kentucky, Larry Claxton Flynt Jr. grew up poor.
He ran away from home and joined the Army at 15, but when military officials learned his true age they discharged him. Undeterred, Flynt enlisted in the Navy and served until 1964.
Divorced twice by age 21, he eventually found his calling by buying bars and turning them into Hustler clubs that featured topless dancers. In an effort to drum up business, he published a newsletter that became Hustler magazine.
Unlike the more subdued Playboy and Penthouse, Hustler featured raw imagery and biting cartoons. It showed female genitalia and shocked readers with a 1978 cover depicting a woman being fed into a meat grinder. Pictorials sometimes featured S&M and bondage scenes with women tied and gagged.
Flynt offered large sums of money to famous women to pose naked, and although they turned him down he did manage to publish a photographer’s nude sunbathing photos of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
His magazine became a lightning rod for anti-pornography groups and drew the ire of Cincinnati attorney Charles Keating, who helped get Flynt sentenced to 25 years in prison for selling Hustler. The conviction was thrown out, but it helped form the cornerstone of subsequent legal battles.
During one of those battles Flynt announced in 1977 that he had become a born-again Christian with the help of former President Jimmy Carter’s sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton. He promised his magazine would still feature nudity but become more tasteful.
His religious revival was short-lived. While he was involved in an obscenity trial in Georgia in 1978, Flynt was shot twice by white supremacist Joseph Paul Franklin, who said he was incensed by a magazine’s mixed-race photo layout.
Prosecutors decided not to try Franklin, who was executed in November 2013 for a 1977 slaying outside a suburban St. Louis synagogue.
Ironically, Flynt was one of the most vocal opponents of executing Franklin, saying that while he hadn’t forgiven him, he didn’t think capital punishment was the solution.
In chronic pain, Flynt gave up Christianity and embraced alcohol and pain killers. He and his fourth wife, Althea, moved to Los Angeles and spent most of their time behind their mansion’s 5,000-pound steel door. Althea, who became addicted to heroin and contracted the AIDS virus, drowned in their bathtub in 1987 at age 33. Her death was ruled accidental.
“Althea was the best thing that ever happened to me,” a disconsolate Flynt said at the time.
A sober Flynt eventually returned to work, pain eased by surgery, and he tooled around his office in his signature gold-plated wheelchair. With a gruff voice but otherwise friendly demeanor, he rarely missed an opportunity to promote himself.
Among his many legal battles was a dispute that erupted in 1983 when he said he obtained an FBI tape related to a drug sting involving carmaker John DeLorean. He was found in contempt of court for screaming profanities at federal judges, and served several months. The charge was eventually overturned on appeal.
Flynt also had a second run-in with authorities in Ohio in the late 1990s. He and his brother, Jimmy, who owned a store in Cincinnati, were indicted on obscenity and conspiracy charges. The store paid a $10,000 fine and agreed to stop selling X-rated videos as part of a plea agreement.
He also had legal run-ins with his brother and nephews over the years. In one action he claimed the nephews were producing inferior films under the Flynt name that were an embarrassment to him.
Survivors include Flynt’s brother, Jimmy; his wife, Elizabeth Berrios; and several children.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Lauren London Slams Pregnancy Rumors: "Please Stop"!
On Feb. 10, the ATL star took to her Twitter to address an article that claimed she was pregnant.
"Woke up to some straight bulls--t. Rumors ! Lies !" she tweeted. "On a woman trying her best to heal?! Please stop. I'm NOT pregnant."
The actress is the mother two children, Kameron Carter, 11, who she shares with Lil Wayne, and Kross Ermias Asghedom, 4, who she shares with her late partner, Nipsey Hussle.
On March 31, 2019, it was announced that the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles rapper, born Ermias Davidson Asghedom, was fatally shot outside his store, The Marathon Clothing.
Lauren and Nipsey dated for six years at the time of his death and kept their relationship private. Although rumors circulated about Lauren's love life since Nip's death—including speculation linking her to Diddy—no such whispers have ever been revealed to hold any truth.
One year after the shooting, the mother of two took to her Instagram to pay tribute to the star's memory and lasting legacy.
Kim Kardashian Slams Critics for Doubting North West's Impressive Painting!
Kim Kardashian is in momma bear mode and she's ready to protect her cubs!
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star took to social media to remind critics that she's not to be messed with "when it comes to my children!!!"
The SKIMS founder, who shares four kids with Kanye West, previously showed off North West's impressive painting a day prior. "My little artist North," the proud mom shared of her daughter's skills.
However, people began to speculate that Kim's 7 year old didn't actually do the painting herself. But of course, the 40-year-old star set the record straight and slammed those who were doubting North's work of art.
"My daughter and her best friend have been taking a serious oil painting class where their talents and creativity are being encouraged and nurtured," Kim captioned her Instagram Story on Tuesday, Feb. 9. "North worked incredibly hard on her painting which took several weeks to complete."
"As a proud mom, I wanted to share her work with everyone," the KKW Beauty founder continued, "I'm seeing op-ed pieces in the media and social media from grown adults breaking down whether or not my child actually painted this!"
Kim explained just how ridiculous it is for people to knock down a child's special moment, saying, "How dare you see children doing awesome things and then try to accuse them of NOT being awesome!?!?! Please stop embarrassing yourselves with the negativity and allow every child to be great!!!"
However, not everyone doubted North. Kim later shared tweets and messages of people cheering on the little one for her artwork.
"Shout out to all the proud moms out there that love to show their baby's masterpieces," the beauty mogul wrote in a separate post, adding drawings from Kanye's childhood that proved it runs in the family, "Throwback to some of her dad's artwork that he did when he was a kid."
This isn't the first time North has put her many talents on display. Last June, the little one appeared in her father's single "Wash Us In The Blood" featuring Travis Scott, which is the first track from his upcoming album God's Country.
North made a cameo, which showed footage from her dad's Sunday Service rehearsals, where she danced and sang with the choir behind her. And just a few months before, she stole the Yeezy show during Paris Fashion Week when she took center stage for her musical debut.
Along with her singing chops, the eldest of the West kids is also following in her mother's fashionable footsteps. Not only has Kim shared photos of North's fabulous outfits, but she's raved over her eye for design. "Styled by North * fake cast included," the fashion mogul previously said of North.
Bruce Springsteen Arrested At New Jersey National Park On Suspicion Of Drunken Driving!
Bruce Springsteen was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol at a national park in New Jersey last year, authorities said Wednesday.
Springsteen, nicknamed the Boss, was arrested Nov. 14 in Gateway National Recreation Area, also known as Sandy Hook, and charges included driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area, according to National Park Service spokeswoman Brenda Ling.
The arrest was first reported Wednesday by TMZ.
Ling said Springsteen, a well-known New Jersey native, was cooperative throughout the process.
Representatives for the rock legend did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
News of the arrest comes days after the debut of Springsteen's first Super Bowl commercial. In the two-minute spot for Jeep, Springsteen says the country will again see unity and says "there's hope on the road up ahead."
A spokesperson for the Jeep brand said the Super Bowl commercial has been put on pause.
"it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the details of a matter we have only read about and we cannot substantiate," the spokesman said.
"But it’s also right that we pause our Big Game commercial until the actual facts can be established," the Jeep spokesperson said. "Its message of community and unity is as relevant as ever. As is the message that drinking and driving can never be condoned.”
Fans have long praised Springsteen, 71, for his healthy lifestyle.
In his 2016 autobiography “Born to Run,” Springsteen said he avoided drugs and didn’t try alcohol until he was 22, partially because how he saw how drinking affected his father.
"He’s in good shape by not doing drugs. It’s something he doesn’t have to preach about. He’s a living example of what happens when you never do drugs your whole life," Springsteen’s E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt told Rolling Stone in 2012, speaking of Springsteen's stamina on stage.
"I mean, I’m sure he’s taken a drink or two a few times in his life, but he was never a drinker either. And he eats right and he’s in the gym. Well, that’s what happens," Van Zandt said. "Don’t do drugs. Don’t drink, eat right, go to the gym and you can rock & roll at 62, too."
Halle Berry Snaps Over Sky High Child Support!
Nine years ago Academy Award winning actress Halle Berry was ordered to pay her ex-boyfriend, model Gabriel Aubry, $20,000.00 a month in child support for their daughter Nahla .
Halle lashes out claiming her exorbitant child support amounts to extortion...
It all started after Halle made an eyebrow raising post on Instagram stating 'women don't owe you shit," then got into a discussion with her fans about child support.
Woody Allen Abuse Allegations To Be Explored In New HBO Doc!
Woody Allen’s sexual abuse allegations are the subject of a new shocking HBO documentary that will delve into claims made by his estranged daughter Dylan Farrow.
According to Variety, the four-part documentary, entitled “Allen v. Farrow,” will feature exclusive home movies, court documents, police evidence, and never-before-heard audiotapes.
The special, which will air this month, will also include interviews with Dylan Farrow, her mother, actress Mia Farrow, her brother Ronan and family friend singer Carly Simon; as well as interviews with investigators, experts, eyewitnesses, and the prosecutor who handled the case, Frank Maco.
In the documentary, filmmakers Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering, and Amy Herdy delve deeply into the abuse allegations, the subsequent custody trial, Allen’s infamous relationship with Mia’s daughter Soon Yi-Previn (whom he later married and has two daughters with). The film promises to examine “the aftermath of the trauma on the family in the years that followed.”
Dick and Ziering’s are the filmmakers behind another recently released HBO documentary, “On The Record,” which focused on sexual abuse allegations against Russell Simmons.
In a clip from the film’s trailer, a shocked Mia Farrow is heard saying, “Who on Earth could have believed that of Woody Allen?” speaking on the shocking allegations.“I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t believe it,” she said.
“No matter what you think you know, it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Dylan Farrow can be heard saying.
“Allen v. Farrow” premieres on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 9 p.m.
Twitter Will Uphold Permanent Ban On Donald Trump Even If He Runs For Office Again!
Twitter says it will uphold its ban on Donald Trump, even if he were to run for public office again.
According to NBC News, Twitter’s chief financial officer Ned Segal told CNBC, “When you’re removed from the platform, you’re removed from the platform.”
Segal continued, “Our policies are designed to make sure that people are not inciting violence,” the CFO said. “He was removed when he was president, and there’d be no difference for anybody who’s a public official once they’ve been removed from the service.”
Segal also dispelled the notion that many users left the social media platform after Trump was banned.
“We added 40 million people to our DAU [daily active user count] last year, and 5 million last quarter,” Segal said. “In January, we added more DAU than the average of the last four Januarys, so hopefully that gives people a sense for the momentum we’ve got from all the hard work we’ve done on the service.”
Twitter was the first social media platform to take permanent action to ban Trump on January 8th, after the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
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