Megan Thee Stallion For the March edition of Harper’s Bazaar!
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is on the March cover of Harper’s Bazaar, but her fans are pretty disappointed with the subdued pictorial, adding her to a growing list of prominent Black women whose recent magazine covers have fired up discourse about how their dynamism is downplayed.
The 26-year-old “Savage” emcee didn’t seem to mind, though, and shared the photos on her Instagram account Friday. She captioned the images “UNSTOPPABLE 💪🏾🔥 HOTTIES IM ON THE COVER OF @harpersbazaarus,” and many of her followers praised her natural look and flawless finish.
She apparently reviewed and helped edit the photos, Collier Schorr, the photographer who shot them, revealed not long after the images lit up social media.
But that adulation wasn’t conveyed in other commentary on the photos. In fact, the criticism dramatically diverged from the exultant nature of the magazine’s cover story about Megan being at the top of her artistic game, finishing college and “defending her right to be young, Black, and free.”
Instagram and Twitter users called photographer Schorr’s minimalist photo shoot boring, bland and messy — despite the high-fashion styling by Samira Nasr that featured Megan modeling Alaïa, Chanel, Prada and Saint Laurent.
Similarly, Vogue was recently dragged for its cover shoot of Vice President Kamala Harris and last year’s cover featuring Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
Social media users are lambasting Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' February 2021 Vogue shoot, decrying its lighting, backdrop and wardrobe direction.
In July, Vanity Fair was briefly celebrated for enlisting Dario Calmese as the first Black photographer to shoot a cover for the mag. But Calmese’s striking photos of Oscar winner Viola Davis were swiftly criticized when he revealed that the cover image was a re-creation of “The Scourged Back,” a harrowing 1863 photograph of a formerly enslaved man.
It’s unclear what inspired Schorr for Harper’s Bazaar, though it was clear that some fans weren’t buying what she was selling.
One Twitter user wrote that the magazine should be “ashamed” for making “a young vibrant woman look all washed out” and accused the professional photographer of shooting images that were worse than selfies. Others called for Schorr to be fired.
“The quality of the pics could’ve been better,” wrote a commenter on the Shade Room’s post. Another commenter said: “Something is off,” while someone else chimed in with “Wtf that don’t even look like Meg”
Reps for Megan Thee Stallion and Harper’s Bazaar did not immediately respond to The Times’ requests for comment.
In a statement posted on her Instagram account Friday, Schorr said that the rapper had a hand in editing the images after she shot them.
“A most remarkable experience making pictures with Megan Thee Stallion who discussed each picture and edited afterwards with me,” Schorr wrote. “In charge of her self❤️Total collaboration as it should be to make together new images of her at this moment in her life. The styling by @samiranasr allowed for all the play and exploration. Grateful to work this way. Sharing visions.”
The general consensus praised the way Schorr preserved Megan’s natural look. But others still dragged the photographer for missing the mark.
Incidentally, Megan’s interview with writer Lauren Michele Jackson discussed the tension of being “the alter ego of the glossy star” and how the artist has been experimenting with a softer, more natural approach to her makeup: “Can’t nobody tell me how to be the Hot Girl,” the rapper said.
The interview is the latest in the “Hot Girl Summer” and “WAP” emcee’s traumatic and transformative year, which comes just ahead of her getting her degree in health administration and vying for a best new artist Grammy next month.
“I’m realizing that I don’t have to be in full glam every time you see me, because I’m just getting more comfortable with myself and more comfortable with my skin,” Megan said in the interview. “I know that I’m a person that everybody looks to, and they’re like, ‘Oh, Megan, she’s a confident woman. She’s so strong.’ But you have to go through things to become that person.”
Jackson wrote in her profile: “Her control has been hard-won. She may not always get to decide what narratives follow her image, but the Megan we see is the Megan she wants to be.”
#RHOA: According to Kenya Moore 'Someone Screwed the Stripper' During Cynthia Bailey's Bachelorette Party!
What happens in the dungeon doesn't always stay in the dungeon.
During Sunday night's episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kandi Burruss threw Cynthia Bailey a surprise dungeon-style bachelorette party on day three of the cast trip to Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
For the X-rated occasion, Kandi, 44, got each of the women risqué costumes, including a white one for Cynthia. "You have entered the dungeon," she was told when welcomed to the party. Cynthia, 54, was also given a remote-controlled vibrating device for her panties and a sex swing, but those weren't the biggest gifts of the night — Kandi coordinated for an exotic dancer, named Bolo the Entertainer, to put on a private show for the women.
And following the wild evening, Kenya Moore was convinced that he gave some intimate, private attention to at least one other Housewife the next morning, and she turned into a detective to try and figure out who was allegedly making "moans and groans" with Bolo.
"There's not enough holy water or sage in the world to erase what went down in this house," Kenya, 50, told cameras in an investigative-style interview with producers at the beginning of the episode. "Someone screwed the stripper. It wasn't me, but I'm going to find out who did."
A rep for Bolo did not immediately respond for request for comment.
The women were first introduced to Bolo outside of the house, where he was standing in a large glass box with his toned body on full display. "Bolo got a big peepee," Cynthia told cameras while Porsha Williams said: "It's a dream, it's a mirage."
He then delivered a NSFW performance for the ladies inside the home, where they showered him with money. When he was done, Porsha asked Bolo if he would come back and "party" with them. After he questioned if the show was still filming, she told him "no, it's cool," and that's apparently when the real party began — without cameras.
Kandi proceeded to ask producers to turn off the cameras "so we can actually have fun," which they agreed to. The women's microphones were removed and the cast moved or covered the interior cameras. "It was like, a group consensus to just cover the cameras," Kandi said in a confessional.
But there was an outside camera that captured glimpses of the action, including Bolo partying with the women and LaToya Ali "straddling" and "grinding" Porsha — according to Kenya — while making out. "I found myself face down on a coffee table," Drew Sidora recalled to cameras. "And I felt very free."
At 6 a.m. the following morning, Kenya went downstairs and "could hear noises — moans and groans — and ... voices coming from the hallway," she recalled to cameras. "I'm like, 'Are you serious? Somebody is screwing the stripper.'" (She claimed to have heard the noises coming from an open bedroom in between Kandi and Porsha's rooms.) At 7:06 a.m., Bolo was recorded leaving the house.
"A lot of things happened throughout the night. There was a few people giving Bolo a lot of attention," Kandi told cameras. "Who those people were, I am not here to tell you."
That afternoon, the women split up, with half staying at the house by the pool — Kenya, Cynthia, LaToya, Shamea Morton and Tanya Sam — and other half — Kandi, Porsha, Drew and Marlo Hampton — going out on a fishing boat.
Before they left, though, Kenya hinted to some of the women in the kitchen that she had heard the alleged moans and groans. "All y'all gotta do, since y'all so 'WAP'-y, is go in that bed y'all was in last night."
Joining Drew and Shamea in appearing surprised was Kandi, who said, "Whose bed? I wasn't in nobody's bed," adding, "Listen, what happens in the dungeon stays in the dungeon."
Drew agreed. "Kenya should definitely take a page out of Marlo's book — of keep it to yourself," she said in a confessional.
Kenya, though, was on a mission to find out exactly what happened in the "dungeon" and who was involved. While lounging at the pool, Kenya and Cynthia discussed all that they witnessed the night before. "Girl, Drew, I was totally shocked by that," she said to Cynthia. "What wasn't she doing?"
When LaToya joined the pair, Kenya said, "I think I'm going to have to play detective." After a playful line of questioning, LaToya was ultimately declared "exonerated" by Kenya regarding the possibility that she spent the night with Bolo.
Shamea and Tanya then joined "Bolo Court," where they were questioned by Kenya. Meanwhile, the Housewives on the boat enjoyed a fun fishing excursion (and caught a shark!).
Later, before dinner, Kenya continued the conversation while in the kitchen with Kandi, LaToya and Shamea. "I know you heard some things because your room is right there," Kenya said to Kandi.
"I came to this refrigerator to get some milk. I heard some things," she told LaToya, and confirmed she heard groaning and moaning.
"That private dance lasted for a good 45 minutes," Kenya claimed, referencing the noises. In a confessional, Kenya alleged, "When I tell you it was a certified freak-hoe show, I heard someone saying, 'F--- me harder. F--- this p---- harder.'"
Furthermore, she claimed to the women, "And I think I heard multiple women's voices."
"I know Porsha's voice, so I knew it was her," Kenya alleged to cameras. "But, honestly, I could not figure out who that other woman was." (In a confessional, a producer was heard saying, "Bring in Ms. Williams," before a second producer said, "She says she's not doing it." When the first producer pressed, "Is she really not showing up?" the second producer replied, "Porsha says she pleads the fifth.")
Following the conversation, Kenya made peace with Marlo, who also said she heard noises around 5 or 6 a.m. But the drama downstairs only ramped up.
Speaking with Tanya and Porsha, Shamea filled in the latter about Kenya's Bolo questioning earlier in the day. She then repeated Kenya's claims. "She says this morning, 'I heard some noises, like sex,'" Shamea said.
When Porsha, 39, asked what Kenya was "implying," Shamea told her, "She never really said directly. But that is what I got. I got her trying to say you, [Tanya] and Bolo."
"But how she just going to make that up like that?" Porsha said.
Tanya, too, was irritated. "No, that really actually bothers me," she said. "She's making disparaging comments about me and you involving a stripper."
"Kenya is so disgusting. She want me to go in there and be fired up ... girl, you tired. I don't f--- with you. You honestly can't even bother me with your lies," Porsha told Tanya and Shamea.
Tanya added, "I need to set that record straight like, 100 percent."
Joining LaToya in the kitchen, Tanya and Porsha brought up the innuendo about them. "Now I understand the issue with Kenya today, because she's making our fun night into a problem," LaToya said.
Next week, the drama is sure to pick right back up, with a "to be continued" closing out the episode.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.
#MusicNews: Toni Braxton Reaches #1 Spot on R&B Charts With “Gotta Move On” featuring H.E.R!
Congratulations are in order for Toni Braxton. The singer has already crafted a legendary career but now has another accolade to add to her resume.
Braxton has just reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Adult R&B Charts with her current single “Gotta Move On” featuring H.E.R. This is the singer’s 11th #1 hit overall and follows in the footsteps of recent #1 singles “Do It” and “Live Out Your Love” with Kem.
“Gotta Move On” as well as “Do It” were featured on Braxton’s most recent album “Spell My Name” which released last year in 2020.
This achievement also means that Braxton has charted at the #1 spot in four different decades so far.
#HipHopNews: Roddy Ricch & 42 Dugg Atlanta Video Shoot Erupts in Gunfire; 3 People Shot!
A Roddy Ricch and 42 Dugg video shoot in southwest Atlanta ended in violence on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
Authorities say that two people were shot and a third person was injured on the set of the shoot as they arrived at a scrap yard on Wells Street around 4 p.m. When they got there, they found a man grazed by a round of gunfire but he was alert and assessed by Grady EMS at the scene.
Officers discovered that two additional male victims were also shot at the location. Antoine Blake, 25, and Vernon Moulder, 29, were shot during the same incident and took themselves to Grady Memorial Hospital. Atlanta police confirmed that both men are stable and that neither of the artists were injured.
The investigation is still going on at the incident site at the steel yard where at least one film trailer was parked. Police said officers detained and arrested 40-year-old man on a drug charge, but he is not considered the shooting suspect.
42 Dugg took to Instagram Live with Lil Baby to confirm that he was not hurt by the gunshots, as some rumors suggested.
Patrick Mahomes And Fiancée Brittany Matthews Welcome Baby Girl!
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his fiancée Brittany Matthews have welcomed a baby girl. Matthews shared news of the birth of Sterling Skye Mahomes on social media.
Matthews said little Sterling was born on Feb. 20 and weighs 6 lbs 11 oz.
Mahomes and Matthews got engaged at Arrowhead Stadium in September, the same day that the Chiefs QB got his Super Bowl LIV ring. Then later that month the couple, who have been together since high school, shared that they were expecting a baby, and a few weeks after that, they revealed the baby’s gender on social media.
Since then, the couple has kept the due date under wraps.
But earlier this month, Mahomes said the baby’s due date was fast approaching.
“I’m not supposed to tell, but it’s coming up pretty quickly,” Mahomes said.
“We have all the things planned out and every single gadget and tool you can have to be great parents. But at this at the time I’m trying to tell her to hold off until after the game,” Mahomes said.
UCLA Gymnast Gets Memorable Phone Call From Janet Jackson, “Thank You For Sharing Your Talent”!
A UCLA gymnast, who performed a routine solely to Janet Jackson hits, received one of the best phone calls of her life on Friday.
Moments after Margzetta Frazier debuted her routine, Jackson FaceTimed Frazier herself to thank the athlete for inspiring her.
WATCH
So nice to meet u on FaceTime today @IAmMargzetta ! All the best to u tonight w/ @uclagymnastics 🖤🖤🖤 pic.twitter.com/LuCxadKEAa
— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) February 20, 2021
“I just want to say thank you,” Jackson told Frazier on facetime. “Thank you for sharing your talent. It’s so beautiful to see you tumble. Really inspiring. It just inspired me to want to do more, and do better and be stronger. I loved it. Absolutely loved it.”
Shocked and holding back tears, Frazier thanks the singer, saying Jacksons’ kind words meant everything to her, People reported.
Jackson also informed Frazier that she would love to meet her someday and possibly get a personal tumbling lesson.
“I would one day love to learn how to tumble,” Jackson joked, “Hopefully, I won’t break anything!”
Frazier credits Jackson for her love of gymnastics.
“She is the reason I love gymnastics,” Frazier said after a meet against the University of Utah this week. “I really try my best to make it a performance to entertain, and that’s because of her.”
Football Camp Player Attempting To Trash-Talk Cam Newton Properly Gets Called Out By Social Media!
Cam Newton is not here for the disrespect. And neither is the social media landscape, which promptly called out a clicks-happy kid who squandered an opportunity to improve on his talents.
A player at the NFA 7v7 East Regional held at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this weekend set up a made-for-social trash-talking moment with the New England Patriots quarterback. The video began to circulate on Sunday with viewers noting the disrespect of the teenager and how well Newton handled the episode.
The young football player calls out to Newton, telling him he's poor since he's about to become a free agent. The quarterback, who was walking by the sidelines, comes back and responds with "I'm rich." He then asks where his father is at to speak with him.
Newton later responded to the interaction on Instagram, explaining why he asked about the boy's father and his motivation to participate in the football camp. The post also included extended video of Newton's interaction with the young player.
"Instead of speaking or going back and forth with a child, I wanted to have a man to man conversation with his father!!" Newton wrote. … The truth is this. I impact kids’ lives in a positive way, make no mistake about it."
The player, Jseth Owens, later wrote an apology to share on social media late Sunday. He directed it to Newton and everyone in his organization, writing he "did not intend for it to get as far as it did!"
"As a football player I let my competitive side get the best of me & it was a huge miscommunication," he wrote. "It was in the midst of the moment & I realize now how a lot of you took it as disrespect. I never meant to humiliate & let anyone down."
Newton is currently No. 15 on Spotrac's active players list in all-time earnings. The former Heisman winner has made more than $122 million in contract money since being drafted No. 1 the 2011 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. He signed a one-year deal with the Patriots last offseason that was worth up to $7.5 million and will become a free-agent in March unless he re-signs.
That income doesn't include earnings from sponsorship and partnership deals with companies that include Under Armour, Gatorade and Downy. Per Forbes, he made approximately $5.5 million in endorsements alone in 2020.
Surely, those aren't poor-man numbers. And even if they were, even if Newton had blown all his money and made headlines for it, it's not cool to yell it at the guy for it with peers holding up phones to capture and share. That's the lowest of the low no matter how it's cut. Not to mention this particular target is taking time out of his offseason and family life to help the next group of football stars behind him.
Newton is at the camp because his Cam Newton Foundation sponsors teams participating in the competition. He takes a hands-on approach to the teams and was in the huddle with them throughout the weekend.
The interaction between Newton and a player, whose team is not clear but presumably wouldn't be on aNewton team, began to make its way through the Twitter-sphere on Sunday.
It was overwhelmingly poor for the player, who appeared to want to go viral but instead is a teenager who made a bad name for himself in the eyes of social media users.
Ne-Yo Set to Welcome Baby No. 5 with Wife Crystal Smith!
Ne-Yo's family is getting bigger! The "Another Love Song" singer and his wife Crystal Smith shared the exciting news that they're expecting!
Making the pregnancy reveal even cuter, the two posted a heartwarming announcement on Instagram on Sunday, Feb. 21. "Overjoyed to announce...," the 41-year-old star captioned his post, "...the family is expanding."
"You ready baby? Let's go," he added while including the hashtags, "#Number5, #5thandFinal, #BlessingsonBlessings."
Crystal took to her Instagram page to post the baby news, writing, "This is why I love you..."
Both stars uploaded a video, which showed Ne-Yo caressing his wife's growing baby bump. The short clip also featured Major's song "This Is Why I Love You."
This will be the couple's third baby together, as they are both proud parents to Shaffer Chimere Smith Jr., 4, and Roman Alexander-Raj Smith, 2. Ne-Yo is also a dad to Madilyn Grace Smith, 10, and Mason Evan Smith, 9, who he shares with his ex, Monyetta Shaw.
News of the couple's pregnancy announcement comes just one day after Ne-Yo gushed over his wife on Instagram to celebrate their relationship.
"Today marks 6 years of marriage," the musician began his post on Feb. 20, "It has been a bumpy beautiful, tragically terrific ride full of twists n' turns, up's n' down's...and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"We've grown so much. With the understanding that we've still got some growing to do, of course, I have to acknowledge how far we've come," he continued. "I think once we both realized that marriage isn't ownership...but partnership, we found our tempo, our melody. And now we've become a beautiful harmony. I pray we sing this song forever."
Before closing, he praised Crystal once more and added, "You fell in love with a songwriter, so the words come easy and can be mistaken for pacification. But I love you like lungs love oxygen. So I'm gonna SHOW YOU as often as humanly possible."
"It's slowly but surely becoming public knowledge that myself and my wife have decided to go ahead and get a divorce," he said on the Private Talk With Alexis Texas podcast on Feb. 15, 2020. "It's not a sad thing, it's more of us realizing... Long story short, I'm never gonna talk bad about her. I'm not that person. There's nothing bad to say about her. She's a fantastic woman. She's the mother of my children and she's always gonna be that and I will always respect her."
The "Push Back" singer explained that they both wanted to take time to focus on themselves and work through their individual issues.
"We realize that our demons don't mesh and until both of us get a hold of our personal demons, it's gonna be just difficult for us to stay married," he noted. "With that being said, that's that, that's the end of that chapter, not the end of the book. Like I said, that's the mother of my kids and I love her to death. We're going to be family forever."
After celebrating their anniversary and sharing their baby news, it's clear the couple is stronger than ever.
James Franco Sexual Misconduct Has Been Case Settled!
James Franco and two former students at a Los Angeles acting school he founded have settled a lawsuit which accused the star of sexual misconduct.
According to the agreement, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, who attended Franco's now-defunct Studio 4, have dropped their claims.
The women alleged that the Hollywood actor engaged in "sexually-charged behaviour towards female students".
Franco's lawyers previously described the claims as "false and inflammatory".
BBC News has contacted representatives for Franco to ask if he has any further comment in light of the settlement.
The precise terms of the settlement, which was filed on 11 February but not reported until now, are not known. The deal also applies to Franco's production company, Rabbit Bandini, and his two business partners, Vince Jolivette and Jay Davis.
Studio 4 opened in 2014 and closed three years later.
Ms Tither-Kaplan and Ms Gaal said in their original filing in 2019 that Franco tried to "create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitation in the name of education".
He was accused of abusing his position by pushing female students into taking part in sex scenes and "dangling the opportunity for roles" in his films.
The Pineapple Express and 127 Hours actor denied the claims at the time, with his lawyers describing them as "ill-informed".
Tither-Kaplan had previously come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the actor-director, shortly after he won a Golden Globe Award for his film The Disaster Artist in 2018.
When the allegations first surfaced, Franco said they were "not accurate".
The deal will be submitted for preliminary court approval by 15 March.
Franco is particularly well known for his work with Seth Rogen, including on films such as Sausage Party, The Interview and This Is The End.
He has also directed several films himself, including The Disaster Artist, Sal and Zeroville, which also starred Rogen.
Franco was nominated for best actor at the Oscars in 2011, for his starring role in 127 Hours, which was directed by Danny Boyle.
Boxing Star Gervonta Davis Involved In Baltimore Hit-And-Run Crash!
Boxing champ Gervonta Davis was the driver in a November hit-and-run car wreck in downtown Baltimore which injured three, according to a police report.
Davis, 26, a two-division world champion and one of the sports rising stars, ran a red light while driving a 2020 Lamborghini Urus SUV slamming into a 2004 Toyota Solara.
The report, obtained by The Guardian, said the Toyota has been “destroyed” and that at least one person inside had suffered serious injuries.
Davis and two other passengers in his car got out of the more than $200,000 vehicle and bolted on foot, according to the report.
Davis was listed as “at fault” in the crash but so far charges have not been filed.
“The investigation into the hit-and-run accident is still ongoing,” Lindsey Eldridge, a Baltimore police spokesperson told The Guardian. “The department has turned over findings to the state’s attorney’s office, and we are working closely to gather and determine any charges that may be pending as a result of this incident.
Jay-Z Announces Partnership With Moët Hennessy As They Acquire A 50% Stake In Ace Of Spades
Jay-z Announces Partnership With Moët Hennessy As They Acquire A 50% Stake In Armand De Brignac
Luxury wines and spirits brand Moët Hennessy announced a partnership with Shawn JAY-Z Carter through the acquisition of a 50% stake in Armand de Brignac, a leader in champagne. The partnership reflects a shared vision between Moët Hennessy and Shawn JAY-Z Carter for the future of this iconic Maison.
With its striking look and natural appeal to a global and diverse luxury consumer, Armand de Brignac has brought unprecedented innovation and energy to the Champagne category since 2006. It has been a worldwide success with a strong presence in North America, Asia, and Europe, and over 500 000 bottles sold in 2019, in particular with an outstanding position in the high energy channels.
“For years we have been following the fantastic success of Armand de Brignac and admiring their ability to challenge some of the rules of the Champagne category. Often referred to as “Ace of Spades”, Armand de Brignac breaks barriers and reflects contemporary luxury, while preserving the traditions of the Champagne terroirs. Today, we are incredibly proud to be partnering with them and believe that the combination of our Champagne experience and international network coupled with Shawn JAY-Z Carter’s vision, the strength of the Armand de Brignac brand and quality of its range of prestige cuvées will allow us to take the business to new heights across the world”, says Philippe Schaus, President & CEO of Moët
“I’m proud to welcome the Arnault family into ours through this partnership that began with Alexandre Arnault and continued with his father Bernard Arnault and Philippe Schaus, at my home in Los Angeles. It is a partnership that has felt familiar the entire time. We are confident that the sheer power of the Moët Hennessy global distribution framework, its unparalleled portfolio strength and its long-established track record of excellence in developing luxury brands will give Armand de Brignac the commercial power it needs to grow and flourish even further” says Shawn JAY-Z Carter.
The partnership will be anchored in the acquisition of a 50% stake in Armand de Brignac by Moët Hennessy as well as in a global distribution agreement. The 50%-50% structure is an essential element of this alliance and ensures that each of the two partners wants to bring its strengths and expertise to ensure the success of this long-term alliance.
“We are going into this partnership on equal terms together with JAY-Z and his family and with the same conviction that we are only at the beginning of a wonderful story. Together, we will lay a strong path forward to firmly cement Armand de Brignac as a luxury icon for current and future generations of customers”, concludes Philippe Schaus.
Kris Jenner Is Launching Her Own Beauty Brand!
Kris Jenner is taking off her momager hat and gearing up to launch her own company.
The reality star and matriarch of the famous Kar-Jenner clan, is reportedly getting ready to start her own beauty company.
The family is already successful in the industry as Kim Kardashian recently sold 20 percent of her popular KKW Beauty line to beauty giant Coty for $200 million earlier this year.
The youngest sibling of the family, Kylie Jenner, is also a billionaire thanks to her successful Kylie Cosmetics brand.
Kris Jenner is now joining the ranks with her daughters as she reportedly filed an application to trademark “Kris Jenner Skincare”, “Kris Jenner Beauty” and “Kris Jenner Skin” on Feb. 10th.
The trademarks would cover hair care items such as shampoo and conditioner, along with skin care products like cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. She also wants to sell nail polish and false eyelashes under the trademarks, according to reports.
André Leon Talley Is Fighting Eviction From The Mansion He Lives In!
Vogue legend André Leon Talley is being dragged out of his $1 million New York home by the former CEO of Manolo Blahnik USA who alleges the former editor is $500,000 behind in rent.
Talley has dramatically fallen out with his former close friend, high-powered shoe exec George Malkemus — who expanded Manolo Blahnik in the US and more recently partnered with Sarah Jessica Parker on her SJP Collection.
Malkemus has now launched legal action against Talley in a bid to get him out of the palatial White Plains property.
Talley, 72, has long insisted that the historic 11-room colonial home, with sumptuous gardens at 75 Worthington Road, is his own, telling telling the New York Times in 2018, “It is my sanctuary.”
But new court papers seen by Page Six allege that the real owners are Malkemus and his business partner and husband Anthony Yurgaitis, who bought the home in 2004 for just over $1 million.
The pair have known Talley for nearly 40 years. Yet on November 12, 2020, Malkemus, “Commenced a summary non-payment proceeding in White Plains City Court … seeking to evict Talley from the home and for a money judgement against Talley in the amount of $515,872,97 representing alleged arrears,” new court papers state.
Talley — who in 1988 was appointed by Anna Wintour to be the creative director of Vogue, the first African-American person to ever hold the position — responded by filing his own lawsuit against Malkemus and Yurgaitis in Westchester Supreme Court on January 25, 2021.
He claims the pair, who were “long-time, trusted friends,” agreed to buy the home for him and transfer the title once he had repaid them the $1,020,000 purchase price.
While Malkemus and Yurgaitis allege Talley is behind in rent, the former Vogue editor-at-large’s filing alleges, “This action arises out of the Defendents’ improper attempt to evict Talley from a home … that is rightfully his, so that they may sell the property.”
He claims that he has lived at the home since and paid back more than the purchase price, totaling $1,075,588, as of January 2020, with his court papers stating: “He has also paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to third parties to maintain and improve the home.”
Ironically, the home features numerous items from Blahnik in pride of place, including a sketch of a shoe by the famed designer himself.
But it is alleged Malkemus and Yurgaitis have now “sought to invoke a never-operative “lease” agreement in order to enrich themselves by forcing Talley from the home, seeking an additional $515,872.97 from Talley as alleged “arrears” and selling the home solely for their own benefit.
The papers state that, “Over time, as friends, Talley and Malkemus assisted each other not only in professional matters, but in personal matters as well … as he rose in the fashion world and found his circumstances frequently changing and demands on his time increasing. “
The papers allege that in 1999, Talley needed to buy a new car but was unable to do so because of “issues with his credit.” Malkemus allegedly offered to buy the car on his behalf using $45,000 in funds provided by Talley.
Then in 2004, Talley was renting a home that developed a mold problem and he needed to find a new place near New York. “At the time, Talley’s work schedule was particularly demanding and he could not obtain traditional financing,” the lawsuit claims.
Instead, Talley’s lawsuit alleges he, Malkemus and Yurgaitis entered into a “gentleman’s agreement” and that Talley would provide a $120,000 down payment and Malkemus and Yurgaitis would “use the down payment and funds of their own to purchase the home for Talley’s benefit.”
“The parties agreed that Talley would exclusively own, occupy and care for the home. It was agreed and always understood that Talley would, over time, ‘pay off’ the balance of the purchase price paid by the defendants at which point title would then formally be transferred to Talley,” the former editor’s legal paper work claims.
“In the meantime, the defendants would hold title for the beneficial ownership of Talley.”
But, “Talley made episodic payments over time dictated by his income flow,” totaling approximately $1,075,558 by January 1, 2020.
The papers detail a highly unusual arrangement that, “while Talley has resided in the home from 2004 to the present, he has made episodic payments to the Defendants that he understood to be equity payments.
“The timing and amount of these episodic payments were based on Talley’s cash flow. … Talley never made these payments to the Defendants on a monthly basis, and was not asked to.”
Talley also alleges in the lawsuit he has personally spent over $200,000 to maintain the home, including replacing the roof and the boiler and had the windows and shutters replaced, spending at least $200,000 on improvements.
But, “Despite this, in or around March of 2020, the Defendants began discussing with Talley their interest in selling the home solely for their own financial benefit.
“They began asking him to either make additional payments or vacate the home so it could be sold to a third party.”
Talley claims in his filing that this discussion came just before a bankruptcy petition against Manolo Blahnik USA.
“In return for his decades of friendship and trust, on November 12, 2020, Malkemus commenced a summary non-payment proceeding in White Plains City Court … seeking to evict Talley from the home and for a money judgement against Talley in the amount of $515,872,97 representing alleged arrears.”
“Since 2004 Talley has always operated with the understanding the home was his, and that the arrangement could be formalized upon his repayment of the purchase price of the home.”
But, “Because this promise was not reduced to writing, Talley has no adequate remedy at law.” He is demanding he be allowed to continue living in the home and the title be transferred to him.
Talley retired from full-time editing in 2014 and more recently taught classes remotely at the Parsons School of Design in Paris.
But he is no stranger to drama and recently published a bombshell book, “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir,” which was critical of Wintour. He described his relationship with her as “in an iceberg.”
Malkemus and Yurgaitis’ attorney Edward David said, “The complaint only tells his [Talley’s] side of the story.
“We have not yet filed our answer or counterclaim which will explain the real story.
“Remember, the initial complaint was for eviction in Greenburgh Town Court. Malkemus and Yurgaitis are the record owners of the house and want to sell it.
“Talley is over $300,000 behind in rent. He is desperate to stay and they concocted their ‘story’.”
Ted Cruz Posts Texas Disaster Relief Photo-Op After Cancun Backlash!
While his state was struggling following a severe winter storm, Ted Cruz opted to take his family on vacation to Cancun, Mexico. The move caused a significant backlash, and now the Senator is trying to get back into the people’s good graces.
On Saturday, Cruz posted pictures of himself helping with disaster relief efforts, like delivering water and shaking hands with his constituents. One of the photos shows him placing a case of water into the trunk of someone’s car. He captioned the images “#TexasStrong.”
The gesture seems forced after Cruz left Texas behind for the sun and sand while millions of people were left without power for days in the freezing temperatures. Cruz initially said he was escorting his daughters to Mexico and coming right back, which was a lie. Still, he flew home the next day following the public’s outrage.
United Airlines Flight Emergency Lands Due To Engine Failure!
A United Airlines flight headed for Honolulu was forced to return to Denver International Airport on Saturday.
After United Flight 328 took off about twenty-minutes, pilots reported engine failure, which sent debris flying off the plane, landing in the backyards of residents in a nearby suburb.
A passenger aboard reportedly heard a “boom.” “There was a big boom and the kind of sound you don’t want to hear when you’re on the airplane,” Travis Loock told CNN. “And I instantly put my shade up, and I was pretty frightened to see that the engine on my side was missing.”
The plane experienced failure in its right engine.
According to Broomfield police, residents were tweeting and calling in about “a plane falling from the sky” when it was just large pieces of debris in actuality.
“Images from the scene showed large pieces of debris lying in the front yards of homes and a soccer field at the local park,” CNN reported. Fortunately, no one was injured.
“… The fact that we’re not getting reports of any injuries is absolutely shocking at this point,” Rachel Welte of the Broomfield Police Department said. “It’s amazing.”
Flight 328 safely returned to Denver at around 1:30 p.m. Aboard were 241 passengers and ten crew members.
“United Flight 328 experienced an engine failure and safely returned to Denver. We are in contact with the FAA, NTSB, and local law enforcement,” United Airlines said in a statement. “The NTSB is investigating and has directed that any persons with debris from this event contact their local law enforcement agency.”
According to CNN, the incident is being described as “an uncontained engine failure. Mary Schiavo, former inspector general at the federal Department of Transportation, said this type of failure is likely to happen after takeoff because “you have to request so much power from your engines to get them up there.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘CLOSE ENOUGH’
Before all of these fancy pants vehicle companies started making crossovers we had to make our own car / SUV crossovers. Just as good in my opinion.
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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