Justin Bieber for GQ - May 2021!
He made every mistake a child star can make, including the ones that nearly destroyed him. Now—fortified by God, marriage, and a new album, Justice—Justin Bieber is putting his life back together, one positive, deliberate step at a time.
Justin Bieber and I have just met when I ask him something and he talks and talks—for 10 illuminating and uninterrupted minutes he talks. He talks about God and faith and castles in Ireland, about shame and drugs and marriage. He talks about what it is to feel empty inside, and what it is to feel full. At one point he says, “I’m going to wrap it up here,” but he doesn’t, he just keeps going, and that is what it is like to talk to Justin Bieber now. Like you’re in the confessional booth with him. Like whatever rules about “privacy” or the thick opaque wall of massive celebrity that people like Bieber are supposed to follow don’t apply.
He has lived a well-documented life—maybe among the more well-documented lives in the history of this decaying planet. But to my knowledge, there is not one example of him speaking this way—in a moving but unprompted, unselfconscious torrent of words—in public prior to this moment. I will admit to being disoriented. If I’m being honest, I had been expecting someone else entirely—someone more monosyllabic; someone more distracted, more unhappy; someone more like the guy I’m pretty sure Justin Bieber was not all that long ago—and now I am so thrown that the best I can do is stammer out some tortured version of… How did you become this person? By which I mean: seemingly guileless. Bursting with the desire to connect, to tell his own story, in case it might be of use to anyone else.
It’s a question that’s not even a question, really. But what Bieber gently says in response is: “That’s okay.”
He knows approximately what I’m asking—how he got from wherever he was to here, to becoming the man in front of me, clear-eyed on a computer screen from an undisclosed location in Los Angeles. His hair, under a Vetements hat, is long in the back; he is in no particular hurry. He is married to a woman—Hailey Baldwin Bieber—who cares for him like no one has ever cared for him, he says. He is happy. He is currently renovating the house in which he will live happily with his wife. He’s spent the past several months piecing together a new record, Justice, which is dense with love songs and ’80s-style anthems—interspersed with some well-intentioned, if not totally well-advised, interludes featuring the voice of Martin Luther King Jr.—that are bluntly honest about his bad past and equally optimistic about his future. (“Everybody saw me sick, and it felt like no one gave a shit,” he sings on the cathartic last song on the record, “Lonely.”) He’s still so overflowing with music that he puts out Freedom, a meditative, postscript of an EP about faith, just a few weeks after Justice. He is, if anything, the empathetic professional in this interaction too as he goes about trying to help me understand how he’s arrived at where he’s arrived.
“I’ll answer as best I can,” he says, nodding. As for who he was in the not-so-distant past: “Hurt people hurt people—you know? And there’s a quote; I’m trying to remember it. I don’t know if it’s biblical, if it’s in the Bible. But I do remember this quote: The comforted become the comforters. I don’t know if you’ve heard that before. But I really do feel comforted. I have a wife who I adore, who I feel comforted by. I feel safe. I feel like my relationship with God is wonderful. And I have this outpouring of love that I want to be able to share with people, you know?”
He is aware that people have perceived him at times as anything but full of love. But today, he says, he thinks of himself as a comforter, in part because he knows what it is to have been the person who needed comfort so badly. He asks himself now: How can I be of service? The new music, the inspirational messages he posts on Instagram, the deliberately calm manner in which he goes about his days—all of it is addressed in some ways to his younger self, to the kid who was drowning and felt like he’d never be saved. Justin Bieber wants to save that kid now. He wants to talk to him. He wants to tell him not all is lost.
“I don’t want to let my shame of my past dictate what I’m able to do now for people,” Bieber says. “A lot of people let their past weigh them down, and they never do what they want to do because they think that they’re not good enough. But I’m just like: ‘I did a bunch of stupid shit. That’s okay. I’m still available. I’m still available to help. And I’m still worthy of helping.’ ”
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#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Picks Her ‘Real Housewives’ All-Stars Cast!
Kandi Burruss is one of the iconic stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The reality TV personality has been on the Bravo franchise since season 2 and has seen many peach holders come and go. With a new spinoff series that would see different housewives from across the franchises come together, Burruss has assembled her ultimate dream cast.
Burruss has outlasted all of the RHOA OG stars and is now the longest-lasting peach holder on her franchise. Being part of the Bravo family for so long, she has run into many of her colleagues through the years. In a recent interview on People in 10, the Grammy-award-winning artist picked some of her favorite housewives from the current franchises.
“Well, Kenya [Moore] always spices up any show, so you gotta bring Kenya,” Burruss said.
Shen continued saying, “I would love to have Erika Jayne, I love her. Teresa [Giudice], she’s spicy. Gizelle [Bryant], I love her personality, she’s just real quick. If I had to do like a mix amongst the different franchises, I would pick them.”
The special that would have housewives from all the franchises is a show that has been pitched for the Peacock streaming service. Looking to expand its reality programming, the streamer is already developing a reboot season for The Real Housewives of Miami. To provide more original content, the all-stars special would have a group of housewives travel to an exotic location and have cameras film them.
“The trips are always the most memorable part of any season of Housewives, so it makes total sense they’d want to do this,” a source told Entertainment Tonight. “If the women want to do it is another question.”
Producers of this special had been working on this concept for a while. They allegedly contacted some housewives at the beginning of 2020 but due to the pandemic everything was paused.
“Some women were contacted in late 2019/early 2020 to test the temperature on the idea, which would see cast members — potentially both past and present — from various cities take a trip together,” the insider added.
Burruss’ co-star, Cynthia Bailey, is rumored to be one of the housewives to be going on the trip. When the RHOA star was asked about it recently, she said that it wasn’t something she could talk about because Bravo had not officially announced it.
“But I can say that I think it’s a brilliant idea,” the former model told Us Weekly.
Bailey said that the All-Stars edition is something she’s heard fans have been asking for a long time.
“I think the fans have been waiting for something like this for a long time,” she added. “For someone who’s been on the show for so long, I kind of know what to expect when I go in a house with these ladies, but I would have no idea what to expect if I had ladies from different franchises that I had to go into a house with. So, I think it’s a great idea. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
#MusicNews: Kierra Sheard-Kelly’s Memoir and new Project is Available NOW!
GRAMMY® and Stellar Award-winning artist, actress and multi-faceted entrepreneur Kierra Sheard-Kelly, released the deluxe edition of her chart-topping album “Kierra” via Karew Entertainment/RCA Inspiration.
The new album is an accompaniment to her forthcoming memoir, “Big, Bold, and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be” via Zonderkidz, which will be released this Tuesday on April 13th.
An artistic hybrid of Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Gospel sounds, Kierra continues to boldly step out as a creative powerhouse on the 20-track deluxe edition, introducing five new songs: “Out of My Mind” (feat. Camper), “Grace,” “Live 4 God,” “A Good Man,” and “Something Has to Break” (feat. Karen Clark Sheard), the duet with her mother, which is currently playing on radio and was recorded from their enthralling appearance together on the 2020 BET Awards.
LISTEN HERE
Going forward in forging fearless new paths, Kierra will make her debut as a published author on April 13th with her memoir, “Big, Bold, and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be.”
In her immersive and inspirational book for teens, Kierra shares her hard-won advice on body positivity, spiritual self-care, goal setting, finding your joy, and living boldly in faith, empowering you to grab the life you’re meant to lead.
#HipHopNews: Lil Nas X Says ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ Might Get Removed From Streaming Services!
After Nike settled their lawsuit with MSCHF Product Studio, Inc., which created the Satan-inspired sneakers for Lil Nas X by using Nike's original Air Max 97 design to help promote his latest single and video, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," the rapper is claiming the controversial song may be leaving streaming services for good.
On Tuesday (April 13), Lil Nas X made a startling announcement to fans by claiming "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" could disappear from music platforms like Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal at some point tomorrow (April 14).
"Not even joking. everybody stream call me by your name hard today because it may no longer be available tomorrow and there's nothing i can really do about it. thanks for all the support tho!" he shared on Twitter.
The "Old Town Road" rapper later followed up the tweet by explaining how fans could take measures to ensure they still have access to the track if it is removed from streaming platforms. "Everybody screen record the audio/video on youtube so you will have the song in your gallery worst case scenario," he continued.
Within the two brief tweets, the rapper did not mention why the song was possibly being removed. However, fans have started to report that the song is no longer available for them. One fan shared a screenshot on Twitter, showing an error message that said, "Looks Like 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)' is no longer available."
The Lil Nas X supporter captioned the tweet, "He’s being so serious they actually took it down."
However, the song is still available to be played on platforms like Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal.
The 22-year-old melodic rhymer's track has been shrouded in controversy for the satanic subject matter and homoerotic undertones used to create the video. Rappers like Sada Baby and Joyner Lucas have publicly spoken out against the visual for Lil Nas X's new single, but the "Panini" rapper continues to stand behind the art he created.
America’s Largest Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff dies in prison at 82!
Bernard Madoff, the infamous architect of an epic securities swindle that burned thousands of investors, outfoxed regulators and earned him a 150-year prison term, died behind bars early Wednesday. He was 82.
Madoff's death at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, was confirmed by his lawyer and the Bureau of Prisons.
Last year, Madoff's lawyers unsuccessfully asked a court to release him from prison during the coronavirus pandemic, saying he suffered from end-stage renal disease and other chronic medical conditions.
His death was due to natural causes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
For decades, Madoff enjoyed an image as a self-made financial guru whose Midas touch defied market fluctuations. A former chairman of the Nasdaq stock market, he attracted a devoted legion of investment clients — from Florida retirees to celebrities such as film director Steven Spielberg, actor Kevin Bacon and Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.
But his investment advisory business was exposed in 2008 as a Ponzi scheme that wiped out people’s fortunes and ruined charities. He became so hated he wore a bulletproof vest to court.
The fraud was believed to be the largest in Wall Street's history.
Over the years, court-appointed trustees laboring to unwind the scheme have recovered more than $14 billion of an estimated $17.5 billion investors put into Madoff’s business. At the time of Madoff’s arrest, fake account statements were telling clients they had holdings worth $60 billion.
Madoff pleaded guilty in March 2009 to securities fraud and other charges, saying he was “deeply sorry and ashamed.”
After several months living under house arrest at his $7 million Manhattan penthouse apartment, he was led off to jail in handcuffs to scattered applause from angry investors in the courtroom.
“He stole from the rich. He stole from the poor. He stole from the in between. He had no values,” former investor Tom Fitzmaurice told the judge at the sentencing. “He cheated his victims out of their money so he and his wife ... could live a life of luxury beyond belief.”
Madoff's attorney in recent years, Brandon Sample, said in a statement that the financier had “lived with guilt and remorse for his crimes” up until his death.
“Although the crimes Bernie was convicted of have come to define who he was — he was also a father and a husband. He was soft spoken and an intellectual. Bernie was by no means perfect. But no man is,” Sample said.
U.S. District Judge Denny Chin sentenced Madoff to the maximum possible term.
“Here, the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff’s crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of irresponsible manipulation of the system is not merely a bloodless financial crime that takes place just on paper, but it is instead ... one that takes a staggering human toll,” Chin said.
A judge issued a forfeiture order stripping Madoff of all his personal property, including real estate, investments, and $80 million in assets his wife, Ruth, had claimed were hers. The order left her with $2.5 million.
The scandal also exacted a personal toll on the family: One of his sons, Mark, killed himself on the second anniversary of his father’s arrest in 2010. Madoff’s brother, Peter, who helped run the business, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2012, despite claims he was in the dark about his brother’s misdeeds.
Madoff's other son, Andrew, died from cancer at age 48. Ruth is still living.
Madoff was born in 1938 in a lower-middle-class Jewish neighborhood in Queens. In the financial world, the story of his rise to prominence — how he left for Wall Street with Peter in 1960 with a few thousand dollars saved from working as a lifeguard and installing sprinklers — became legend.
“They were two struggling kids from Queens. They worked hard,” said Thomas Morling, who worked closely with the Madoff brothers in the mid-1980s setting up and running computers that made their firm a trusted leader in off-floor trading.
“When Peter or Bernie said something that they were going to do, their word was their bond,” Morling said in a 2008 interview.
In the 1980s, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities occupied three floors of a midtown Manhattan high-rise. There, with his brother and later two sons, he ran a legitimate business as middlemen between the buyers and sellers of stock.
Madoff raised his profile by using the expertise to help launch Nasdaq, the first electronic stock exchange, and became so respected that he advised the Securities and Exchange Commission on the system. But what the SEC never found out was that, behind the scenes, in a separate office kept under lock and key, Madoff was secretly spinning a web of phantom wealth by using cash from new investors to pay returns to old ones.
An old IBM computer cranked out monthly statements showing steady double-digit returns, even during market downturns. As of late 2008, the statements claimed investor accounts totaled $65 billion.
The ugly truth: No securities were ever bought or sold. Madoff’s chief financial officer, Frank DiPascali, said in a guilty plea in 2009 that the statements detailing trades were “all fake."
His clients, many Jews like Madoff and Jewish charities, said they didn’t know. Among them was Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who recalled meeting Madoff years earlier at a dinner where they talked about history, education and Jewish philosophy — not money.
Madoff “made a very good impression,” Wiesel said during a 2009 panel discussion on the scandal. Wiesel admitted that he bought into “a myth that he created around him that everything was so special, so unique, that it had to be secret.”
Like many of his clients, Madoff and his wife enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. They had the Manhattan apartment, an $11 million estate in Palm Beach, Florida and a $4 million home on the tip of Long Island. There was yet another home in the south of France, private jets and a yacht.
It all came crashing down in the winter of 2008 with a dramatic confession. In a meeting with his sons, he confided his business was “all just one big lie.”
After the meeting, a lawyer for the family contacted regulators, who alerted the federal prosecutors and the FBI. Madoff was in a bathrobe when two FBI agents arrived at his door unannounced on a December morning. He invited them in, then confessed after being asked “if there’s an innocent explanation,” a criminal complaint said.
Madoff responded: “There is no innocent explanation.”
Madoff insisted he acted alone — something the FBI never believed.
A trustee was appointed to recover funds — sometimes by suing hedge funds and other large investors who came out ahead. The effort is still ongoing, and to date has returned around 70% of lost funds to investors.
More than 15,400 claims against Madoff were filed.
At Madoff’s sentencing in 2009, wrathful former clients stood to demand the maximum punishment. Madoff himself spoke in a monotone for about 10 minutes. At various times, he referred to his monumental fraud as a “problem,” “an error of judgment” and “a tragic mistake.”
He claimed he and his wife were tormented, saying she “cries herself to sleep every night, knowing all the pain and suffering I have caused.”
“That’s something I live with, as well,” he said.
Afterward, Ruth Madoff — often a target of victims’ scorn since her husband’s arrest — said she, too, had been misled by her high school sweetheart.
“I am embarrassed and ashamed,” she said. “Like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused. The man who committed this horrible fraud is not the man whom I have known for all these years.”
About a dozen Madoff employees and associates were charged. Five went on trial in 2013.
DiPascali was the prosecution's star witness. He recounted how just before the scheme was exposed, Madoff called him into his office.
“He’d been staring out the window the all day,” DiPascali testified. “He turned to me and he said, crying, ‘I’m at the end of my rope. … Don’t you get it? The whole goddamn thing is a fraud.’”
In the end, that fraud brought fresh meaning to “Ponzi scheme,” named after Charles Ponzi, who was convicted of mail fraud after bilking thousands of people out of a mere $10 million between 1919 and 1920.
“Charles Ponzi is now a footnote,” said Anthony Sabino, a defense lawyer specializing in white collar criminal defense. “They’re now Madoff schemes.”
‘The Bachelor' Star Colton Underwood Comes Out I am a Gay Man!
Former ‘Bachelor’ star Colton Underwood opens up to ‘GMA’ about his true self. NBC LX’s ‘CURRENT’ hosts Natalie Lizarraga and Derek Zagami have all the details.
Colton Underwood is ready to speak his truth.
In a new interview with "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts, which aired on Wednesday, April 14, the former "Bachelor" shared a "deeply personal" bit of information about himself.
"Obviously this year has been a lot for a lot of people and it's probably made a lot of people look themselves in the mirror and figure out who they are and what they've been running from or what they've been putting off in their lives," he said. "And for me, I've ran from myself for a long time, I've hated myself for a long time. I'm gay and I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it."
Underwood said the "next step" was letting people know. "I'm still nervous," he told Roberts. "It's been a journey for sure."
He later added, "I'm the happiest and healthiest I've ever been in my life."
All the Bombshells From Colton Underwood's Book
The 29-year-old reality TV star previously spoke about struggling with his sexual identity in his memoir "The First Time". He wrote about growing up in a traditional household, sharing, "I didn't know who I was... And I come from an athletic family, so it was always, 'Move on, you're good.' So that threw me off. In high school, when I was struggling with my sexuality, I'm not going to talk to my parents about it. So I internalized it."
As Underwood grew older, he abstained from sex with female partners, which caused some speculation about his sexual identity among his peers, especially his teammates.
"It was one of those things where you hear something so often, you start believing it," he says. "I thought, maybe I am gay. The captain of the football team should be having sex and drinking, right? But I wasn't."
The rumors were so abundant Underwood said his parents ended up confronting him about it. He recalled his mother telling him, "You know, Colt, we'd still love you and support you if you were gay."
The speculation continued into Underwood's adulthood, even after he dated Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman and appeared on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette," as well as "Bachelor in Paradise." It was during this time that his virginity became a topic of discussion, but his friends and loved ones were "proud" that he was open and honest about it.
However, his virginity once again became a source of insecurity for Underwood when he appeared on "The Bachelor," as it produced even more questions about his sexuality. He shared, "They'd say, 'he's gay, he's hiding it.' No. But I've been there, done that now."
Following his time as the lead for the ABC show, Underwood continued to date contestant Cassie Randolph, who he eventually split from in May 2020.
Though the split seemed amicable at first, Randolph filed for a restraining order against Underwood in September, alleging he stalked and harassed her from June to August. Shortly after, Randolph dropped the restraining order against him, and Underwood explained in a statement that they were "able to reach a private agreement."
He added, "I do not believe Cassie did anything wrong in filing for the restraining orders and also believe she acted in good faith."
Former pal of Tina Turner Wants to Apologize for a Vicious Bppk he wrote about the Iconic Singer!
Sitting in his Peterborough flat, with tears welling in his mascara-lined eyes, Eddy Armani had more reason than most to be enthralled when he sat down to watch the show this week. Eddy, we can reveal, was the singer’s closest friend and confidante for the best part of 20 years until he was cut off when she met her second husband, German music executive Erwin Bach.
Seeing Tina at the ripe old age of 81, talking frankly into the camera as she looked back on her extraordinary life, was at times too much for him to take.
But rather than feeling bitter and angry like so many spurned friends do, Eddy was overcome with an altogether different emotion – peace.
“I have never stopped loving Tina and I am so happy that she is happy,” the 64-year-old reveals
“I didn’t cry but I did get a bit tearful towards the end of the documentary because it brought back memories, including all the bad times when she suffered – it is great to see that she is in a good place now.
“Erwin has given her a sense of security and love that she always craved, but was never able to get when she was younger.
“She is obviously happy and has come to terms with her past – and that gives me a great sense of peace.
“Tina and I were as thick as thieves and I feel so blessed to have had her in my life.
“And even though I know we will never see each other again, I cannot be anything but grateful that we got to spend all that time together.”
Eddy was just 12 years old when he first bumped into Tina at a shopping store in his native Los Angeles, California.
Back then the singer, who was born Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee, was at the peak of her early fame as one half of the husband and wife duo, Ike and Tina Turner.
The couple had recently joined the Rolling Stones on their UK and US tours and by coincidence Tina had just become the first female black artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, having previously recorded the River Deep – Mountain High classic with Phil Spector and his Wall of Sound.
But their phenomenal success, clocking up a string of awards and Top 10 hits, hid a private pain.
Cocaine-addicted Ike was abusive behind the scenes, cheating on his wife and sadistically beating her whenever the mood took him, as is recounted in the Tina documentary on Sky.
Showing how trapped she was, the star was with her husband’s mistress, Ikette backing singer Ann Thomas, when Eddy spotted her across a department store floor in 1968.
He recalls: “I was with my mother and sister looking for clothes when I heard this voice – and I froze.
“I looked over and Tina was talking to Ann. I told my sister, ‘That’s her!’ I walked over and was completely hysterical, shrieking: ‘Oh my God, I love you.’ I annoyed her so much that she left the shop, but I was besotted and started calling their recording studio every day asking, ‘Can I speak to Tina Turner?’
“This went on for about a year then one day the receptionist said, ‘I’m going to give you a gift, we are opening the recording studio, I’ll see if I can invite you, but you have to behave.’
“I was introduced to Ike and Tina at that event and he later made a joke that I was going to be put in charge of the fan club.
“I called up on Monday morning and said, ‘When do I start?’”
Tina at the opening of a club in London in 1986 with Eddy, right (Image: NC)
Eddy began working as a runner with Ike and Tina’s band, giving him a front row view of the couple’s dysfunctional relationship. “Ike was schizophrenic and everybody lived in fear of him,” he says. “When he walked down the hallway, we used to stand to attention.
“He was clever and would never beat Tina in front of us, but sometimes we could hear yelling. When he came out of the room, he would look at me like, How much did you hear? I would pretend I was busy typing. It was scary.
“Ike acted just like a pimp. He made Tina feel special in a way that her own mother, who rejected her as a child, never did.
“Then he stripped her down to nothing and slept with anything that moved.”
The documentary shows how Tina was so controlled by her husband that she found herself broke and without friends when she finally left him following another nasty fight en route to a Dallas hotel in 1976.
She tried to make ends meet by hitting the road as a solo artist playing at small “supper clubs”.
But Eddy, who by then was her personal assistant, reveals: “There were times that she couldn’t afford to pay me.
“She wasn’t making a lot of money and she had to pay for the band and everything and she could spend money like water.
“I remember once going to the Neiman Marcus store in Los Angeles where she spotted an $1,800 bag as we were leaving. She said: ‘I have to have that.’
“She asked the girl to hold it, but she refused so Tina pulled out a cheque book that was only supposed to be used in emergencies and said, ‘The accountants are going to kill me!’
“Eventually, the accountants had to take her cheque book away.”
Eddy filled a void in Tina’s life by moving into her four-bedroom house in LA, where he helped care for her four children.
He also relocated to London with her when she recorded her record-breaking Private Dancer album in 1984.
Tina, now 81, talks into camera frankly as she looks back on her extraordinary life (Image: Marc Gruninger)
He says: “Tina got the love she was missing in her private life from her audience and that’s why she came alive on stage.
“But at home she was a completely different person – much softer and quiet. We liked the same old black and white movies and would stay up late drinking champagne and giggling and gossiping.
“Tina loved Häagen-Dazs ice cream and she used to beg me to eat half the tub so she wouldn’t be tempted, saying ‘This stuff is dangerous.’ But if I didn’t eat fast enough, she would say, ‘Oh Eddy, forget it you’re being too slow,’ and she would grab the tub from me.”
The trauma suffered at Ike’s hands haunted the star all her life and she remained terrified of him until he died from a cocaine overdose aged 76 in 2007.
Eddy says: “Once we were watching an old movie with a scene with a wire hanger and Tina started crying. I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ She said, ‘I don’t want to talk about it, it’s too painful, Ike used to beat me with a wire hanger.’
“She has never told the public why she really moved to Europe and it was because she didn’t want to be driving in Los Angeles and see Ike pull up beside her.
“As long as he was alive, she could never feel safe.”
Tina was also haunted by her failure as a mother, as is shown in the documentary, especially after her 59-year-old son Craig, who Eddy remembers her being closest to, committed suicide in 2018. Eddy says: “She had to work. She was lucky if she saw her kids 30 days in a year.”
Tina shows how the star lived in Ike’s shadow for much of her career.
It also portrays her stunning comeback when she was transformed into one of the best-selling artists of all time, with 12 Grammy awards under her belt, making her ex a grim footnote in her past.
Today she lives in Switzerland with Erwin, 65, who she met on a visit to Germany in 1986 and married in 2013.
Sadly, she is in poor health having suffered a stroke and being diagnosed with cancer, which required a kidney transplant, just a short time after she wed.
“I liked Erwin when I first met him in London but he is German and boring and he never took to me,” Eddy says.
“In 1987 we spent Christmas in Gstaad in the Swiss Alps and everything I did was a problem. Eventually I told him, ‘Oh **** off!’ He went crazy, saying ‘I will not spend one more day in this house with that man.’ Tina tried to keep the peace but she was caught in the middle.
“She had to choose and obviously I had to go – I haven’t spoken to her in years.”
Chris Brown Sued By Ex-Housekeeper Over Alleged Dog Attack!
Chris Brown is being sued by his former housekeeper after his dog allegedly attacked her sister.
According to People, Patricia Avila and her sister Maria recently filed a lawsuit against the "Provide" singer in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that when Patricia was cleaning Chris's house on December 12, 2020, one of his dogs got out and "viciously" attacked Maria.
In the lawsuit, Patricia stated, per the outlet, that prior to the date of the attack, Chris kept his dogs on a separate part of his property, "where the housekeepers could not see them or interact with them." However, on December 12, "a Caucasian shepherd, a breed which is also known as Caucasian ovcharka and can weigh anywhere from 110 to 200 lbs. — was in the backyard," People reported.
Patricia claims that when her sister entered Chris's backyard to empty the vacuum, the "proceeded to viciously attack" her, according to the lawsuit. She says she heard her sister screaming and ran outside to find Maria "covered in blood while she was screaming and crying for help," the lawsuit states. Chris then reportedly called 911.
The dog allegedly injured Maria's face, her leg and her arm. The injuries reportedly required "multiple days in the hospital and two surgeries."
Since the alleged attack, Patricia has "suffered severe emotional distress" including post traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, the lawsuit states, per People. She "is reluctant to leave her home and cannot stop re-living the pain that she experienced as she watched her sister suffer through that horrendous attack that day."
Patricia is suing Chris for an unspecified amount of monetary damages, "citing loss of wages due to being unable to work, medical bills, emotional distress, and pain and suffering," People reported.
Ex-officer Kim Potter to be charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright case!
Kim Potter, a 26-year department veteran, shot and killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop on Sunday afternoon.
The former Minnesota police officer who was captured on camera fatally shooting Daunte Wright during a traffic stop will face charges in Wright's death, authorities said Wednesday.
Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police Department, will be charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with Wright's death, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput announced.Wright, who is Black, died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, which classified the manner of death as a homicide.
Potter and Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon turned in their badges Tuesday in the wake of Wright's death, which occurred just 14 miles north of where George Floyd was killed last year.
The day before he resigned, Gannon told reporters that he believed the officer meant to draw a Taser but "drew their handgun instead of their Taser." A short clip of body-camera video released Monday showed Wright trying to get back in his car as a female voice could be heard shouting, "Taser!"
The same female voice could later be heard saying, "Holy s--- I just shot him," as the car pulled away, police said.
His mother, Katie Wright, said she could hear officers telling her son to exit the car when he called her during the stop.
"Daunte asks, 'For what?' The police officer said, 'I'll explain to you when you get out of the car.' He said, 'Am I in trouble?' He said, 'We'll explain all of that when you step out of the car,'" Katie Wright said.
The phone hung up, but minutes later she reconnected in a video call, and her son's passenger picked up, telling her that Wright had been shot.
"She pointed the phone toward the driver's seat, and my son was laying there unresponsive," Katie Wright said. "That was the last time that I have seen my son. That was the last time I've heard from my son, and I have had no explanation since then."
Wright's death at the hands of a white police officer raised the already high tensions for Minnesotans as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for the killing of Floyd, whose death sparked nationwide protests against systemic racism and renewed calls to end police brutality last summer.
'He was ours': Daunte Wright's grief-stricken loved ones grapple with a life cut short
Minnesota has been the national focal point of several notable police shootings in recent years.
In April 2019, former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the slaying of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a white dual citizen of the United States and Australia.
Damond called police on July 15, 2017 to report what she believed to be a sexual assault happening in her neighborhood. When she went outside to greet the responding officers, Noor said he mistook her for a “threat” and fired a fatal shot.
He was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison.
In June 2017, a jury acquitted St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez for fatally shooting Black school cafeteria worker Philando Castile during a traffic stop a year earlier.
The incident drew national attention because the deadly encounter was live-streamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend and passenger, Diamond Reynolds. She said Castile was shot several times while reaching for his ID after telling Yanez he had a gun permit and was armed.
And earlier, two white Minneapolis police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old Black man, Jamar Clark, were not charged in connection to the fall 2015 encounter.
Police said Clark was suspected of assaulting his girlfriend and then interfered with paramedics who were treating her. Officers insisted Clark was reaching for their weapons during a struggle, while critics of the decision not to file charges said the man was unarmed and didn’t need to be shot.
Shonda Rhimes addresses Regé-Jean Page’s ‘Bridgerton’ exit!
Shonda Rhimes doesn’t see what the big deal over Regé-Jean Page’s “Bridgerton” exit is, saying in a new interview she’s “shocked” by the fan response over the news.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair published Tuesday, Rhimes addressed the actor’s recent departure from the show for the first time.
“Usually that happens when I’ve killed off somebody that’s been around for a while,” she said of the internet’s dramatic response, adding, “we didn’t kill him, he’s still alive!” (Sensational character deaths are a hallmark of Rhimes’ television, from “Grey’s Anatomy” to “Scandal.”)
Rhimes, 51, was also keen to reaffirm that Page’s exit after the first season of the show was in place from the beginning.
“That was the plan: come and do one season as the duke,” she said. “Anything else that was extra and wasn’t really the plan when we started wasn’t the plan when we finished.”
In an aside, Vanity Fair noted that Rhimes, 51, later clarified that “Page was invited to return for Season 2 cameos, along with a few other Season 1 characters outside the Bridgerton family.”
“There’s a lot of fantastically interesting talk that’s been going on,” she added vaguely, “mainly ’cause I think people are having a hard time letting go.”
Page “wasn’t happy with what was planned for his character for Season 2, which would have kept him a player but not the focal point of the show,” a Hollywood source told us.
“If you look at all the big names who have left [Rhimes’ hit show] ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in the past, you see you don’t disagree with Shonda, nobody is bigger than the show,” they added, though they noted that Page is leaving the show on good terms despite the behind-the-scenes shuffle.
“Bridgerton” producer Betsy Beers echoed that last point to VF, calling Page “a wonderful actor and a terrific guy.”
While everyone is in agreement on Page’s one-season arc, the conflicting narratives seem to come down to the nature of his involvement in the second season. The Hollywood Reporter said Page “was offered an opportunity to return as a guest star in three to five episodes of Season 2 — at a rate of $50,000 an episode — but declined for a multitude of reasons,” which included “an awareness that Simon would not be a focal point in Season 2.”
Page told Variety earlier this month that he opted to do “Bridgerton” — watched by a record 82 million households globally — because his role was a “one-season arc” with a “beginning, middle [and] end” in which he could “contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.”
Whatever the reason for Page’s exit, he’s certainly not looking back: He next stars in Paramount’s big-budget “Dungeons and Dragons” with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith.
Meanwhile, “Bridgerton” was renewed for a third and fourth season, as its second — which will follow Lord Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey) — began filming this week.
DMX's Family Warns Of Scams, Rumors Following His Death!
Late rapper DMX's family wants fans to be on alert. "There have been a few rumors following our loved one, Earl Simmons', passing that we'd like to clear up," they said Monday in a widely circulated statement. "No one has bought Earl's masters. Additionally, we are not selling any merch or raising money for Earl's funeral. If anyone is requesting for money for his funeral please be aware the person is a scammer. We will keep the public posted on funeral/memorial service arrangements."
DMX died April 9, a week after suffering a heart attack that left him in a vegetative state. The death of the "Party Up (Up in Here)" and "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" artist, 50, prompted tributes from his friend Gabrielle Union, his co-star in the 2003 movie Cradle 2 the Grave; fellow rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice-T; singer Justin Bieber; director Ava DuVernay and many others. In one of them, Missy Elliott commented on his importance to other artists: "Even though you had battles you touched so many through your music and when you would pray so many people felt that," she tweeted. "This is heavy for the hiphop family but your legacy lives on & your spirit."
The misinformation that has swirled since DMX died includes the story that superstar moguls Jay-Z and Beyoncé are buying his masters for $10 million.
It's not surprising, given that even the event of his death was rumored to have happened hours before it actually did.
The family has promised since that day to notify his many fans of a memorial, but they are not raising money for it.
DMX's family includes his mother, Arnett Simmons, his siblings and 15 children.
Alfonso Ribeiro: The new Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is not based on the show!
Alfonso Ribeiro has warned fans of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' that the upcoming reboot is a "reimagining" and "not based on the show".
The 49-year-old actor - who played Carlton Banks on the 90s sitcom classic - has shared how the dramatic retelling of the show that is set to arrive on NBC's streaming service, Peacock, is an entirely "different thing" and not even "comedy".
Speaking during E! News' 'Just the Sip', he spilled: "I like to call it a reimagining. We sometimes throw a lot of things into one word, one concept. A reboot would be taking the actual show and characters and bringing it back. This is a totally different show.
"It's not even based on the show. It's based on the theme song. It's a completely different thing. It's drama. It's not comedy. I have nothing to do with it so I don't really know anything more…But I actually appreciate it even more than a reboot. Let's take a concept and turn it into a different show."
Lead star Will Smith - who found fame on the program as a fictionalized version of himself - came up with the reimagining inspired by a fan-made trailer which retells the rags-to-riches story.
The new 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', which will have two seasons, will be able to dive deeper into the conflicts, emotions, and biases that there wasn't time for in the original sitcom, but will still see the main character - Will Smith - shipped out to live with his relatives in Bel Air after getting himself into trouble at home
In a YouTube video, shared last summer, Will excitedly told fans: "We have just officially closed the deal with Peacock with an unprecedented two-season-order from a pitch.
"I've been in this business for 30 years and that does not happen. They ordered two full seasons of 'Bel-Air' based on the quality of the pitch and the work that you guys have done."
In a statement Peacock confirmed the news, saying: "With a reimagined vision, 'Bel-Air' will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show."
Will, 52. had touched on how the original and the new series differ: "As funny as the episodes are, there was a whole other layer that you couldn't do. In a one hour drama, you can do eight episode arcs! The dramatic version of these ideas means that you can use existing storylines, but it's not going to seem like you're redoing an episode, because the storyline's gonna be brand new from the dramatic perspective."
The original show ran from 1990 to 1996.
Rihanna Brings New BF A$AP Rocky To Ex Drake’s Party!
Rihanna not only has a good relationship with her ex, she also seemingly has a pretty strong relationship with her new boo!
Early Monday morning (April 12), Rih Rih was spotted leaving Hollywood hot spot Delilah with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky after the two partied with her ex-boyfriend Drake.
A source told E! News, "Drake was hosting a huge group of friends in the back room of Delilah last night and invited Rihanna and A$AP." The insider added, "there is no bad blood" between the exes nor Champagne Papi and Mr.Rocky.
The Canadian rapper actually "approves and likes A$AP," the source continued, adding, "they are all really good friends."
As for their night out, a number of sources and eyewitnesses shared a play-by-play of what went down during the entertainers' late-night, early-morning hangout.
"Rihanna and A$AP arrived around midnight and stayed for several hours into the night," one insider dished to E! News. "They were going back and forth between the main dining room and private room and were laughing with Drake and having drinks with him. There were bottles of 1942 everywhere and everyone was taking shots and having a great time."
The source noted that "Rihanna looked happy to be out and was in a great mood."
"She was chatting with many people and friendly with anyone who approached her. She didn't care to be seen," the insider shared. "A$AP was nearby her the entire time, but they weren't overly affectionate. They left together in the same car."
An eyewitness also pointed out that A$AP "walked out right behind [Rihanna]" since "they usually make it a point to walk out separately or use different exits so as not to be pictured together."
Back in December, People reported that Rihanna and A$AP's relationship was "heating up."
"They've been inseparable the past few weeks," a source told the outlet at the time. "It's a new relationship, but they both seem very into it." The insider added, "Rihanna seems very happy dating A$AP. [...] They have a lot in common."
Weeks prior, People confirmed the A-lister's relationship after they were spotted with a group of friends at the Beatrice Inn in NYC in November.
Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Jeezy Help Gift 1,000 Bicycles to Atlanta Youth!
Throughout their relationship, Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Jeezy have shown how important it is to give back — and it's a practice that they are carrying into their marriage.
This past weekend, the newly-married couple teamed up with The Tony Robbins Foundation alongside Jeezy's Street Dreamz Foundation to help give 1,000 bikes to inner-city youth in Atlanta.
The charitable endeavor, titled Wheels of Dreamz, occurred at the historic Clark Atlanta University before a rally that included speeches from the "Soul Survivor" rapper and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
"The only time I felt free was when I was in motion. That's your chance to see where you want to go in life because if you stay still, that's where you'll stay," 43-year-old Jeezy, born Jay Jenkins, said in a press release. "If you've got a vision, you can achieve it. Just like you can ride from one street to the next, you can do that with life, too!"
Shortly after the event, 42-year-old Real co-host Mai celebrated its success with a post on Instagram.
"I got my first bike when I was 7 years old. And we only had enough money for one, so I had to share it by riding my lil brother on the handlebars. As a kid, and still today, I never feel more free than racing the wind with my will," she wrote. "This past weekend, @streetdreamzfoundation and @tonyrobbins gifted 1000 bikes to inner city youth here in Atlanta. Honored to witness the look of pure joy in these kids❤️."
Jeannie and Jeezy, who began dating in late 2018 after meeting on her daytime talk show's set, tied the knot at their Atlanta home on March 27. Speaking to PEOPLE recently, Jeannie opened up about why they opted to forgo waiting to have a "pretty big" destination wedding as originally planned.
"Waiting for COVID to figure itself out, we really just boiled it down to what really matters when it comes to our life, and that is being married," she said, noting that they also chose to have "a mini one" because they "wanted to make sure our family witnessed this massive moment between us."
Just before their intimate nuptials took place, the pair announced that they were using their wedding registry via The Knot to raise money for the Stop Asian Hate movement. All proceeds went to fundraisers supporting the AAPI community.
"What bonded Jeezy and I most is our passion to serve and take care of our communities," the TV personality told The Knot earlier this month. "We will spend the rest of our lives continuing to stand up against injustice, racism and hate."
She added, "It's not just the recent events that make me mindful about our distinct culture. For Jeezy, everything — from his upbringing, experiences, struggles and his position in this white-centric country — is a learning curve for me; and, vice versa. Part of the foundation of our love is constantly discovering our respective identities and gaining an understanding from our experiences."
Christian Siriano Files for Divorce From Brad Walsh Almost 3 Years After Breakup!
Christian Siriano has officially put an end to his marriage, nearly three years after he and Brad Walsh first announced their separation in June 2018.
The acclaimed fashion designer filed for divorce from the singer-producer on Tuesday, April 13, according to court records.
The singer announced the news via Instagram Stories.
"Bit more than a month ago my husband and I separated," he wrote. "I was contacted by a writer for a website who somehow found out, so rather than let them break it, I'm telling you myself. It's nobody's business and I don't want to discuss, but that's what's up."
Siriano's rep also confirmed the split "I can confirm that they're separated," the rep said in a statement. "They were together for 11 years, love each other very much and request privacy at this time."
Walsh and Siriano attended public events together in May, including the Bottomless Closet and Time 100 galas in New York. Walsh tweeted photos of the couple enjoying the Time 100 event, where Siriano was honored, and referred to his husband as his "longtime hero and love."
Siriano and Walsh tied the knot at their country house in Connecticut on July 9, 2016. The fashion designer and his groom wore matching black tuxes and celebrated their big day with many of their celebrity friends, Jay Manuel, Alicia Silverstone, Danielle Brooks and Jackie Cruz.
The two became engaged in 2013. Instead of donning a traditional ring, they wore matching engagement bracelets.
The now-exes started dating in 2007—just a year before Siriano was crowned the winner of Project Runway. Walsh shared a picture of them on the 10-year anniversary of their first date.
"Things have changed a lot since then," he wrote. "But I am still in awe and in love."
Siriano and Walsh are both creative. In fact, Walsh has even created music for the designer's runway shows.
Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion – FCC Received Over 1,000 Complaints For Grammys ‘WAP’ Performance!
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s NSFW performance at the Grammy Awards is getting lots of criticism.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received more than 1,000 complaints about their “WAP” performance last month.
One email reads, according to Rolling Stone:
“I wish to file a formal complaint against the televised grammy awards 2021. Although I did not watch the entire event, I just happened to tune in just to see if the mc’s, performers, etc. are still spewing any off colored and/or political jokes and I just happened switch my channel and was stunned to see the Cardi B/Megan, etc. etc. etc. display. This is really something for women (note: This is Women in History Month) and girls to aspire to. You have got to be kidding me. This was a disgusting display of nothing more than sluts being sluts. Is this going to continue? If so, I certainly want to know who to contact to file a lawsuit against the performers, the network, and any and all persons, corporations, etc who either directly or indirectly participated in this display of pornography. If you do not do anything about this, I will need to seek legal advice regarding any action I may take against you.”
Another complaint says the performance was “pure objectification of women at its finest,” which allegedly results in “violence against women.” Read that full complaint below.
“I felt violated with Meghan Stallion & Cardi B’s performance. I am pro sex-positivity abnd body positivity but this performance crossed the line into pornography. Many kids still awake at that time, and even non-consenting adults were unexpectedly staring at pure objectification of women at its finest. Not to mention Trevor Noah’s drooling, sweating, screaming wrap up like he was at a strip club. I am a massage therapist with deep respect for the human body who found myself crying myself to sleep wondering how this could be allowed on television. And how far this will go next year and the years after that. Art and objectification are opposite sides of the coin. Objectification perpetuates violence against women, maintaining the ripple effect that causes domestic violence, human trafficking, encouraging the consumption of women and then the disposal of them. I’ve watched the Grammys every year since I was 5 years old. It gave me something to strive for as a musician. As a female, I will never again view this program due to the allowance of this performance. since 1980? [SIC]
Another viewer from Richmond, VA referenced the recent pull of six Dr. Seuss’ books due to racial issues and Mr. Potato Head’s rebranding to become gender-neutral in their complaint.
“I have hesitated to file this complaint, but in an environment where Mr. Potato Head, Dr. Seuss, Peter Pan, etc. are being removed from public viewing, it is hard to tolerate much less stomach the performance of Cardi B at the Grammys. It was disgusting and thought of young children possibly viewing it horrifies me.” [SIC]
One complaint was kept short and sweet and reads,
“I would like to formally complain about the pornographic content of the 2021 Grammy’s 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards® live on Sunday, March 14 at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT on CBS & Paramount”
Another called for CBS and the Grammy Awards to make major changes altogether.
“Your brief bio implies (at least to me)family values. So that said I hope you in some way will attempt to end the vulgar, deplorable trash that was presented on national TV called the Grammy’s. If you’re not able then just rename it to something more in line and appropriate to what it actually was…LivePorn.” [SIC]
Cardi B previously defended the performance during a back and forth with conservative political analyst Candace Owens.
She also laughed off the recent complaints.
What are your thoughts on the complaints against the performance?
Harvey Weinstein's Attorneys Say He Shouldn't Face Trial In LA Because He's Lost Teeth And Is Legally Blind!
Harvey Weinstein's lawyers have asked he not be extradited to Lost Angeles.
They argue that Weinstein has a myriad of health issues and is nearly legally blind.
Prosecutors are trying to move Weinstein to LA to face sexual assault charges.
Harvey Weinstein's lawyers say the disgraced film producer shouldn't be extradited to Los Angeles to face sexual assault and rape charges because his health is deteriorating.
Weinstein's lawyers say the 69-year-old has lost at least four teeth, is nearly legally blind, and has a myriad of other heath issues that should keep him in a prison in upstate New York, where he's serving 23 years on a conviction of third-degree rape and forcible sexual assault of two women.
The claims were made in a video conference hearing on Monday in an objection to paperwork submitted seeking Weinstein's extradition, according to Variety.
Norman Effman, who's representing Weinstein, said along with going blind and losing teeth, Weinstein is also experiencing cardiac issues, back issues, and sleep apnea.
A judge will hear the objects in a hearing on April 30.
Earlier this month Weinstein's lawyers filed an appeal of his rape conviction in New York, and called for a new trial
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘WHO’S THE DUMMY?’
Ohhh this is creepy level > 1,000! Go away and never come back please.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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