Vanity Fair - 27th Annual Hollywood Issue!
Vanity Fair on Tuesday dropped its star-studded Hollywood issue to celebrate Tinseltown’s best “who pushed storytelling forward with hope and humanity during a surreal year.”
The eye-popping 27th annual issue called “A Fantasia in Ten Acts” features Michael B. Jordan, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Sacha Baron Cohen, Maya Rudolph doing a spilt, Michaela Coel, Spike Lee, LaKeith Stanfield on top of a white horse, Awkwafina and Dan Levy.
The 2021 Hollywood portfolio “portrays a magical dreamscape representing not only that the show must go on, but that there’s joy in its continuance,” Vanity Fair said in a press release.
In the issue, which hits newsstands on March 2, the stars “speak candidly about how interpreting this year’s events has become central to their work, and how the transformation the entertainment industry has undergone could present an opportunity for more lasting, positive change.”
Inside, one photo shows Theron donning a Richard Quinn coat and boxing gloves while standing in a boxing ring alongside a roaring bear before a canyon backdrop.
In answering what has made her the angriest and what gives her hope from this past year, Theron responded, “It’s hard to try to quantify what, amongst the horrible events that we’ve had in this last year, are the worst.
“They are all pretty f–king sh-tty,” she continued. “Dealing with a virus and the amount of human loss that we’ve had—that’s pretty f–king sh-tty. The pain and the suffering that I have seen my friends of color go through during this period…I mean, I’m hoping it’s an awakening.”
“The Old Guard” actress also referred to the Jan. 6 US Capitol riot as “all pretty f–king sad.”
“The only thing that makes me feel like I can think of the glass as half full, instead of half empty, is that I’m hoping that out of a lot of this really deep, deep, deep pain and suffering, we will come to realize that we can’t keep going this way,” she said.
Artists Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari directed 10 photo shoots across four continents for the issue “using modern techniques that allowed VF to minimize on-set personnel and maximize COVID-19 protocol,” the magazine said.
#RHOA: Sheree Whitfield’s Boyfriend Tyrone Gilliams Has Been Released from Prison!
'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Sheree Whitfield is free to love whoever she wants ... now that the guy she wants is free from prison!
Sheree's boyfriend, Tyrone Gilliams, says he was released from prison in Kentucky last week and ever since then he's been spending lots of QT with Sheree. We're told they've mostly been spending time in Philly ... going out and enjoying cheesesteaks, naturally.
We're told Sheree's helping him acclimate back into life on the outside ... which includes helping him catch up with the latest technology.
True 'RHOA' fans know Tyrone and Sheree dated briefly nearly a decade ago, but he cut off contact when he realized the feds were going to indict him in a wire fraud case. Tyrone was ultimately sentenced to 10 years back in October 2013.
They reconnected around her birthday in 2016, and decided to start dating again -- which meant communicating as much as possible, and Sheree visited him in prison.
Things went south, though, in 2018 when Tyrone says he lost an appeal ... so they stopped dating.
Now that Sheree's single and he's scored an early release -- due to COVID spreading in prison -- he says the time was right to rekindle that old flame.
Tyrone says he can see them getting married down the line, but he has no plans to pop the question just yet.
#NewMusic from Jordin Sparks “You Still Think Of Me”!
Jordin Sparks has had her fair share of heartbreak, and she continues to channel those experiences into songs. Her latest offering is the empowering “You Still Think Of Me” single. On the track, she sings about how she knows she still has a hold over a certain someone:
Painting my nails a new shade of blue. Shaking my head at the memory of you. Can’t believe all of the things you put me through. You had so many outside relations. Tried to lie through your teeth can’t explain them./ Makes me feel good just to erase em. You were waking up in other peoples sheets/ You still thought of me. You still thought of me. and I know it didn’t kill you, baby/ You still thought of me, you still thought of me, and I know it didn’t kill you, baby.
LISTEN HERE
“‘You Still Think of Me’ is emotionally intense, and it’s very healing at the same time,” said Sparks about the song via press release. “It’s simultaneously haunting and redemptive. I love the duality of it. I’ve gone through a lot, and I’m finally at a place to share my experiences through my music. I’ve been through the fire, and I’ve come out on the other side better, not bitter and sure of who I am. I am so, so grateful.”
#HipHopNews: Bobby Shmurda Released From Prison!
Over six years later, Bobby Shmurda celebrated his homecoming on Tuesday (Feb. 23). The Brooklyn rapper was released from prison just before 8:30 a.m., according to TMZ.
Shmurda, whose real name is Ackquille Pollard, walked out of New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility 10 months early after the prison’s Time Allowance Committee decided to grant him a conditional release for good behavior.
In October 2016, the 26-year-old was sentenced to six to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and weapons possession in connection to his leading role in the GS9 gang. He received credit for around two years of time served before the sentence. Back in September, he was denied parole for 11 violations, including allegedly having a shank, drug possession, and fighting.
Shmurda’s mother, Leslie Pollard, was overcome with joy while speaking with her son on a FaceTime call after his release.
“There are no words to explain the JOY in my [heart] God knows the way I Love my boys and I Thank him for bringing them both back to me in one piece the same way they left,” she wrote. “I am so overwhelmed and in 6 years 2 months and 5 days and 5.5hrs I finally feel like myself again. God is so good and we are truly BLESSED!!!!”
Quavo was there to welcome Bobby back, sharing footage of his homecoming on social meda. In the clip, Bobby is seen with a mask and hoodie over his head while exiting a private plane and holding a Louis Vuitton briefcase with “Shmurda Kit” written on it.
He will be under parole supervision for the next five years until Feb. 23, 2026.
Tiger Woods Resting After Extensive Surgery To Stabilize Leg Injuries!
Authorities say there's no immediate evidence that Tiger Woods was impaired in a car crash that left him with multiple fractures in his right leg.
His surgeon said the 15-time PGA Grand Slam champion had multiple "open fractures" to his lower right leg. The surgeon said a rod was placed in the tibia, while screws and pins were inserted in the ankle.
At a news conference, the police chief and fire chief of Los Angeles County didn't answer follow-up questions on how they know he wasn't impaired or how fast he was driving. Weather was not a factor in the crash.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Fire Chief Daryl Osby say Woods was conscious and able to communicate when authorities arrived to pry him from an SUV after a rollover crash Tuesday. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition. His agent said he underwent leg surgery.
Authorities also say the inside of Woods' car likely kept him alive during the crash.
Sheriff Villanueva explained the car's interior gave Tiger "the cushion to survive what otherwise would have been a fatal crash."
He also noted the golfer was buckled up at the time of the accident, but that the front end of the vehicle was "totally destroyed."
The deputy who first responded said Woods was alert and able to respond. He also said the location was prone to accidents.
Woods has suffered knee, back and neck problems for more than a decade, and these new injuries raise the question of whether the 45-year-old will be able continue his golfing career.
Taraji P. Henson Was "Gutted" When She Only Took Home $40K for Her Role in Benjamin Button Says Now She Knows Her Worth!
Taraji P. Henson is getting real. The Empire actress is known for her boisterous, fun-loving personality: bubbly and downright hilarious during every award show, red carpet, and talk show appearance. But she's just like everyone else — and sometimes she just wants to wallow.
On this week's episode of Ladies First with Laura Brown, the Hidden Figures actress is opening up about therapy, mental health, and what she does to cope.
"I have a therapist, so she gives me exercises and things that I can do, and then there's some days when I just be like, I want to be dark, I don't give a shit," Henson tells InStyle's editor in chief Laura Brown. "I'mma stay on a sofa. I'mma drink my wine, and I'mma eat my Cheetos."
Everyone has those days — especially almost a full year into worldwide lockdown. But she's also reminding us that it's OK to have bad days, because you can pick yourself up tomorrow. "I know that it's energy that I'm just letting run through me, because I know that's not going to be me tomorrow," she tells Brown. "I just have to be honest with myself. Very honest. 'How do you feel today? Don't force yourself to do something if you don't feel like it.'"
This podcast may contain cursing that would not be appropriate for listeners under 14. Discretion is advised.
And some days, she also doesn't have it in her to be Cookie, her well-known Empire character.
"Cookie's retired," she says. "I have to get back to me. I've got my own issues. I don't want the character's issues and mine all the time."
But the actress has earned the right to not want to be synonymous with a single character; she has range, after all, from Empire to romcom What Men Want to the 2008 film that launched her to stardom, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. But her flawless and critically acclaimed performance didn't earn her a paycheck she truly deserved. Stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett earned millions for their roles, and when it was all said it done and taxes and her team were paid, Henson says she only made around $40,000. The single mom says that covered her young son's school tuition at the time — and not much more.
"I felt like what I was asking, at that time of my career, was fair to the ticket sales that I would contribute to this big film. [The studio] wouldn't do it... and then I was gutted." But the actress says that helped her realize her worth and start standing up for herself in her career — which has also had its challenges, because she then bumps up against the 'strong Black woman' stereotype, which she says can be unfair even if it's well intentioned.
"I understand why we took that on, Black women being the bottom of the totem pole, never being seen," she said. "I understand, but it's when others go, 'Yes, strong Black woman!' and then it dismisses us ... Then if my child or somebody I know is gunned down in the streets, I'm supposed to be strong through that? I'm not allowed to be angry? I'm not allowed to be pissed off?" It's dehumanizing, she says; "I can't say [anything back] because you've taken everything from me. I'm not allowed to feel that? I'm just supposed to be strong?"
She raises similar points about "Black girl magic," too. "I'm not a fairy," she says. " I get it. It's sweet, but baby, I'm not a fairy. I don't have magic dust."
Clive Davis Diagnosed With Bell’s Palsy, Postpones Grammys Bash!
Clive Davis has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and will postpone the second half of his annual pre-Grammys party, his rep Sean Cassidy confirmed.
“He is being treated with antibiotics and steroids and is expected to recover within six to eight weeks. He is in good spirits and looks forward to doing the second half of his pre-Grammy gala in May,” Cassidy said, adding that the record industry legend was diagnosed a week ago.
Bell’s palsy is a condition that causes temporary facial paralysis. A source close to Davis told us it’s not affecting his ability to speak.
“But if he had to do a Zoom [party] with 2,000 people, having a facial tick is not going to work,” the source said.
Davis, 88, planned to host two virtual galas in place of his annual live bash due to the pandemic. He held the first gala last month. Nancy Pelosi, John Legend, Diddy and Gayle King were among thousands of guests who attended the five-hour Zoom party. Cardi B., Cyndi Lauper, Megan Thee Stallion and Quincy Jones are some of the names who RSVPd for the second party on March 13.
This is the first time in 45 years of hosting the event that Davis has had to postpone.
“He is obviously disappointed with the delay, but he is excited to host the second installment later this spring as it is shaping up to be as big as the first one,” his rep said.
A new date for the party has not been announced yet.
Sean Paul Says His Beyoncé And Jay-Z Comments Were Taken Out Of Context!
Reggae star Sean Paul just explained that his recent comments about Beyoncé were taken out of context when he said that Jay-Z was uncomfortable when he was around the Destiny’s Child frontwoman.
Paul seemed to imply on the Jamaican radio show Too Live Crew, Action & the Burgerman that Jay was threatened by his presence. That’s why he and Beyoncé had limited interaction during the recording of the video of their 2003 hit single “Baby Boy” and thereafter. The interview led many to conclude that Hov may have had competition before the couple tied the knot.
Speaking with HotNewHipHop, he cleared up the confusion. “It was a radio show here in Jamaica and I get this regularly. When I go to Texas, I get it from radio shows there. I don’t know what it is but people are like, ‘So tell me…’ Then it gets to that part in the interview where they’re like, ‘What happened with you and Beyoncé?’ Nothing really happened. The hit song was dope,” he said.
Paul also joked that he hopes this is the last time he has to speak on the long-running rumor.
Meek Mill Apologizes for Kobe Bryant Lyric!
Over the weekend a snippet of unreleased music from Meek Mill leaked online where he uses the death of Kobe Bryant in a metaphor.
Meek claims to have privately apologized to Kobe's widow after a wave of backlash...
After Vanessa addressed the lyric online Meek basically Tweeted 'F' your feelings but later claimed to have privately apologized
Golden Globes Admits It Has No Black Voters Amid Shocking Snubs!
Could this explain some of this year’s egregious snubs? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association — the group of people who nominate and select winners for the annual Golden Globes — has come under fire for lack of diversity after a report found zero black members currently in the organization.
The Los Angeles Times did a bombshell deep dive into the “insular, improbably powerful group” and the mysterious identities of its 87 members, who often keep “low profiles.” The revealing report found that although the group has some members of color — there are no black members.
The HFPA confirmed to the outlet that there are indeed no black members — but claimed it’s an issue they’re “committed to addressing.” However, the group did not elaborate on a plan of action.
When nominations were released in early February, there were notable snubs including widely acclaimed films such as Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” and Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah” for the top big-screen honors — though “Judas” star Daniel Kaluuya scored a nod for a “supporting role.” Same goes for the entire cast of HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” on the small screen: It was nominated for best TV drama — but the entire cast was overlooked for acting nods.
Similar omissions have previously led to mass outcries from the public, namely in 2015 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out Oscars, was criticized for lack of diversity. The #OscarsSoWhite social-media campaign forced the organization to make moves for more inclusivity, which it has since been working to address.
However, the HFPA pointed fingers at the group’s members for failing to nominate the critically acclaimed — and fan-adored — projects.
“We do not control the individual votes of our members,” HFPA said in a statement to the LA Times. “We seek to build cultural understanding through film and TV and recognize how the power of creative storytelling can educate people around the world to issues of race, representation and orientation.”
As for the true identities of the elusive group, the folks involved are not publicly listed on the association’s website. A “longtime publicist” told the outlet that some are international journalists, but “a lot of them work with outlets I’ve never heard of.”
Still, the rep said: “We give them amazing access. We are forced to do that because of who they are.”
Still, some are well-known, including Lisa Lu, who played the grandmother in 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians.” Other members include former beauty queen Margaret Gardiner, former Russian bodybuilder Alexander Nevsky, who is now an actor with roles in “low-budget action films,” and Noel de Souza, a journalist from India who also played Mahatma Gandhi in a “Star Trek: Voyager” episode.
The Golden Globes group’s lack of diversity isn’t the only controversy brewing behind-the-scenes ahead of the show, which is set to air Feb. 28.
Another explosive report claimed that the HFPA was treated to a five-star trip to France to visit the set of “Emily in Paris,” which scored a nomination that many critics and fans considered to be a shock. Even a writer for the Netflix show penned a piece stating that other great works, including “I May Destroy You,” instead deserved the nomination
Charlamagne Tha God Reacts to LaKeith Stanfield Taking Aim at Him!
The long-standing rift between radio personality Charlamagne Tha God and actor LaKeith Stanfield is only growing wider as the two men continue to be at odds with each other over comments made on-air and on social media.
While Stanfield has commented about his recent frustrations with Charlamagne, it is a since-deleted video that garnered a reaction from the “Black Privilege” author: “Don’t dish it if you can’t take it, king. The brother has a bad habit of throwing rocks and hiding his hands.”
In the video Stanfield is seen shirtless, wearing baggy jeans and a black beanie while rapping and aiming a gun at photos of William O’Neal, the FBI informant he portrays in “Judas and The Black Messiah”, and Charlamagne on a computer screen.
“What LaKeith does is he gets online and he plays the victim, makes it seem like I’m always coming at him,” further explained Charlamagne in his response to the video.
Given the fact that he was seen pointing a gun at Charlamagne’s photo, Stanfield issued a statement on his IG that has since been deleted, stating: “I see they tryna frame it like I was serious even tho clearly I was having fun. Nobody trippin off y’all it’s always been fun (except for the time when you blatantly lied and said I did things I didn’t do on the red carpet – that was just irresponsible). I couldn’t possibly have beef with a radio personality that doesn’t even make sense. I have no interest in it. But when you say dumb things I’ll be here wit that thumpa”
The entire back-and-forth began when the actor took offense to the “Breakfast Club” co-host saying Stanfield was “born to play this role” of O’Neal, who helped with the assassination of Fred Hampton.
Stanfield caught wind of last week’s interview and took aim at Charlamagne on social with comments such as, “Hoes. This is what hoes do. Get sonned by reality. Get off me bro u a lame. Daniel ain’t an idiot. Leave me be dog and find somebody else @cthagod.”
While interviewing Stanfield’s cast mate David Kaluuya, who portrays Hampton, Charlamagne asked if he [Kaluuya] found himself “looking at LaKeith differently after the way he played this role because he did it too well.” Kaluuya opted to stay out of the thick of things between Charlamagne and Stanfield, and instead praised the actor for a job well done.
On social people responded to the ongoing feud between the actor and radio host.
“CTG you’re weak for going at him in an interview when he wasn’t there to defend himself.”
“Anybody sensing a pattern here with CTG?? 😂😂 seems like he’s always b****ing about someone or someone is always b****ing about him”
“Stop fighting before we put y’all in time out and we don’t care who started it.”
“Y’all both need to squash it.”
Cardi B Talks New Music, Her Rise To Fame & More With Mariah Carey!
For Interview Magazine's latest issue, Cardi B sat down for a chat with the one-and-only Mariah Carey. The "We Belong Together" singer interviewed the mag's cover star for a candid discussion, as Mariah asked Cardi about everything from her new music to her previous days as an exotic dancer to life in quarantine.
"You probably want to talk about your new album and we can get into that. How are you feeling about it?" Mariah asked of the "WAP" rapper's highly-anticipated sophomore album.
"I feel like I’m missing some songs," Cardi admitted, before noting that the pandemic has also made her question if she should put music out during this time. "Everybody’s rushing me to put it out, but I don’t know if it’s the right time. When I do interviews, I like to be in people’s faces. I hate Zoom meetings. They’re just so weird. I like to do listening parties. You can’t even tour. That sh*t’s wack as f**k."
The legendary songstress then offered Cardi some advice, saying, "Take your time to make it the best album that you can. That’s what I think everybody wants you to do. I know how it feels when people try to rush you because you’re coming off such a mammoth success."
Mariah went on to ask Cardi if she has "a song like 'Be Careful' on" her upcoming LP?
"I do have a song like 'Be Careful,' but I think it’s more personal," the "Bodak Yellow" rapper revealed. "People were saying, 'You need to be softer. You need to talk more about yourself.' And I was telling them that it’s really hard for me to do love records and express myself like that because I never do that. I don’t talk about love and sh*t."
Sticking with the new music topic, Mariah asked Cardi if she has "any fears surrounding the new album?" to which Cardi replied, "people always have crazy expectations, especially when it comes to female rap. It’s not like it’s a competition, but people are always comparing and comparing and comparing." She added, "It’s almost like they want to see you fail. I hate the feeling when I don’t do something really good. So I want my sh*t to be good because my last album did so well, and if this one doesn’t do well, I’m going to feel really sad."
The next topic on the table was Cardi's rise to fame as Mariah asked her to recall her time working in a strip club.
"... were you like, 'This is going to be the next step, and then I really want to make records'? Or were you just going with the flow?" Mariah asked.
"When I first entered the strip club, I was really shy. I felt really uncomfortable. I felt very ashamed. There were times when I was crying, like, 'Oh my gosh, if my mom or my dad found out, they’d be so humiliated.' But I needed the f**king money," Cardi recalled. "I was living with my boyfriend at the time, but he wasn’t doing sh*t. I used to smoke weed back then, so I felt like weed was necessary. I wanted money for weed and to move out. I just wanted enough money to rent a room. That’s how desperate I was to get the f**k out of the situation I was in."
Cardi admitted that when she was stripping she never expected or planned to become a superstar after that. "I went to a high school for performing arts. I used to sing, I used to rap, I used to act, all that sh*t. Once I started having troubles at home and got kicked out, I saw everything I did in high school as a silly dream. It wasn’t reality anymore," she admitted to Mariah. "So when I started stripping, after a while, I just wanted to make $20,000. 'If I make $20,000,' I thought, 'I’ll open a f**king business and I won’t have to strip anymore.'"
To read Mariah's full interview with Cardi B, click HERE!
Safaree Deeply Regrets Marriage to Erica Mena!
Two years ago Nicki Minaj's ex-boyfriend Safaree Samuels married reality star Erica Mena
Now Safaree calls his marriage the biggest mistake he's ever made...
And Erica responds…
OOOPS!
Kenya Barris & Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Team For ‘The 50th Law’ Series Adaptation At Netflix!
Kenya Barris, the creator/executive producer behind the Black-ish franchise, and the Power franchise executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, are developing a series for Netflix. It is based on The 50th Law, the bestselling book by Jackson and Robert Greene.
Barris and Hale Rothstein, who together executive produce Barris’ Netflix comedy series blackAF, will write the pilot script and executive produce the potential series alongside Jackson via G-Unit and Greene. Lionsgate TV will produce via Jackson’s overall deal at Starz.
The 50th Law is a semi-autobiographical account detailing 50 Cent’s rise as both a young urban hustler and as an up-and-coming musician with lessons and anecdotes from historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Sun Tzu, Socrates, Napoleon, Malcolm X and James Baldwin.
Barris executive produces through his company Khalabo Ink Society via his overall deal at Netflix, which he recently exited for a producing pact at ViacomCBS. At Netflix, Barris created, executive produces and stars in comedy series #blackAF, which has been renewed for a second season. Through his Khalabo Ink Society, Barris also executive produces the Astronomy Club sketch comedy series and the upcoming Kid Cudi adult animated music series Entergalactic.
Through his G-Unit Film & Television, Jackson executive produced Starz’s flagship drama Power, created by Courtney Kemp, and now executive produces the four greenlit spinoff series. Power Book II: Ghost already has been renewed for a second season; Power Book III: Raising Kanan is slated to debut this year. Additionally, under Jackson’s overall deal at Starz, G-Unit is ramping up for Season 1 production on Black Mafia Family and has Season 2 of ABC drama series For Life. The G-Unit slate also includes Family Affair at ABC, A Moment In Time: Massacre and an untitled Female Sports Agent project at Starz, and the T.I.-lead Twenty Four Seven at Paramount+. Jackson is repped by APA and attorneys Eric Feig and Stephen Savva.
Longtime Barris collaborator Rothstein brought The 50th Law project to him. Rothstein reunited with Barris on blackAF having previously worked on Barris’ ABC comedy series Black-ish and spinoff Grown-ish. On the film side, Rothstein co-adapted the remake of Brewster’s Millions for Universal & Davis Entertainment. He also co-created the comedy Bright Futures, which went to pilot at NBC. Rothshtein is repped by APA and Morris Yorn.
Barris and his Khalabo Ink Society have the Peabody-winning Black-ish, two successful spinoff series in Grown-ish (Freeform) and Mixed-ish (ABC), as well as another spinoff in the works, Old-ish. On the feature side, the company is in production on a reboot of the family comedy Cheaper By the Dozen starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff, along with several other high-profile projects in the works including an animated feature based on the songs of Bob Marley, a remake of the classic sports comedy White Men Can’t Jump, and a film about comedic icon Richard Pryor that will mark Barris’ feature directorial debut. Additionally, Khalabo Ink Society, which focuses on socially conscious storytelling that reflects our culture and tackles contemporary issues and themes, has expanded its imprint into other genres of storytelling with several projects in various stages of development including a documentary feature about the life and career of groundbreaking civil rights attorney Ben Crump and a feature-length musical about Juneteenth with Pharrell Williams. Barris is repped by CAA, Artists First and attorney Gregg Gellman.
Greene is the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, which has sold well over 2 million copies; The Art of Seduction, which has sold over 1 million copies; as well as The 33 Strategies of War, Mastery, The Laws of Human Nature and The 50th Law, which he co-wrote with Jackson. Greene is repped by CAA and Michael Carlisle at Inkwell.
Ahmaud Arbery Honored With Memorial Run One Year After His Murder!
Murdered jogger Ahmaud Arbery is being remembered in Georgia a year after being killed for jogging through a neighborhood.
Arbery’s loved ones have organized a memorial procession to take place on Tuesday evening. The procession will run through the Satilla Shores subdivision, the same place where racist white men murdered Arbery as he jogged through the neighborhood. Organizers ask supporters outside Brunswick to participate in the event virtually by running for 2.23-miles (3.59-kilometers) to remember the avid jogger.
“It is important to remind people of the origins when it all started,” said Jason Vaughn, organizer of the anniversary events. Vaughn is Arbery’s former high school football coach. “For a long time, it was like we were yelling into the dark, and nobody was listening.”
Arbery was killed on February 23rd, 2020 while jogging through the Satilla Shores subdivision. Three white men–Travis McMichael, his father, Greg McMichael, and neighbor Roddie Bryan–chased Arbery down before Travis jumped from the vehicle, struggling with Arbery before shooting him twice. The three have claimed they felt he was a burglar. However, there has never been any evidence to suggest that Arbery broke into any homes.
It took authorities nearly two months to arrest because the first prosecutor assigned to the case refused to bring about charges. On May 5th, leaked cell phone footage of the murder outraged the country. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case and arrested the gunmen soon after.
On Tuesday, Wanda Cooper, Arbery’s mother, filed a civil lawsuit accusing her son’s killers and local authorities, who initially responded to the shooting, of violating his civil rights. The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court seeks $1 million. Attorneys for the men have maintained that they suspected Arbery of being a burglar; therefore, no crime had been committed.
Cocaine Kingpin Rayful Edmond III Granted A Sentence Reduction!
Former cocaine kingpin Rayful Edmond III was granted a reduced sentence on Tuesday. He had been sentenced to life in the 1980s.
U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled to reduce Edmond’s life prison sentence to 20 years. The judge cited Edmond’s cooperation with prosecutors as the reason for the sentence reduction. Edmond has helped prosecutors in several drug and homicide cases over the past two decades in Washington D.C., North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
The 56-year-old has been incarcerated for 31 years. Despite the judge’s ruling, Edmond will likely remain jailed due to his separate 30-year prison sentence pending in Pennsylvania for dealing drugs out of a federal prison in the state. As of now, it is unclear whether the 11 years Edmond has served in addition to his newly reduced 20-year D.C. sentence will apply to the Pennsylvania case.
In 2019, federal prosecutors filed a court motion for Edmond’s release from prison to reward his work as an informant. They later recommended that his sentence be reduced to 40 years. His lawyers argued that Edmond’s cooperation deserved a much bigger reduction. Judge Sullivan ultimately agreed on 20 years.
Edmond was convicted in 1989 of overseeing a massive drug operation that brought D.C. around 1,700 pounds of cocaine each month. Authorities have estimated that he was bringing in nearly $2 million a week between 1985 and 1989. His mother, Constance D. Perry, was also charged with helping him to deal drugs. He began cooperating in 1997 to assist his mother with getting released. From 1998 to 2014, Edmond’s cooperation resulted in the arrest and conviction of over 100 drug dealers. He also assisted in undercover sting operations, testified as a government witness in trafficking trials and two homicide trials.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘BIG MAC’
Now he’s on the prowl to find a nice chocolate shake to go with that man meal.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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