Demi Moore for Vogue Italia - April 2021!
Actress Demi Moore takes the cover of Vogue Italia‘s April 2021 The Many Friends edition lensed by fashion photographer Brett Lloyd. In charge of styling was Alister Mackie, who for the cover selected look from Fendi Haute Couture collection. Beauty is work of hair stylist Eamonn Hughes, and makeup artist Peter Philips. Creative direction by Ferdinando Verderi, with casting direction from Piergiorgio Del Moro and Samuel Ellis Scheinman, and production by Bureau Betak.
For the cover Demi is holding the copy of Orlando that Virginia Woolf gave to Vita Sackville-West, from Kim Jones’ collection of rare books. Designer Kim Jones is the guest editor of Italian Vogue‘s April 2021 edition.
I am thrilled to have such an amazing group of people work on this Vogue Italia project with me. I looked at people in fashion through to art and literature, and at all the things I love, and I wanted the issue to represent that. It’s people I admire and also people I know I will continue to admire in the future. – Kim Jones
This month we did an experiment. We called in a designer who is known for surrounding himself with talented people, and we pooled our respective creative communities. The April issue is therefore the result of an encounter between the passions and people who play a role in the life and work of Kim Jones, and the large, slightly dysfunctional family of Vogue Italia. – Emanuele Farneti, Editor-in-Chief
Suspect in Indianapolis mass shooting Named Brandon Scott Hole. He was a former FedEx employee, and was known to law enforcement!
INDIANAPOLIS — During a Friday afternoon press conference, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) identified the suspect in a shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx facility as Brandon Scott Hole, 19, of Indiana.
Police also confirmed that Hole was a former FedEx employee. As of Friday afternoon, the Marion County Coroner’s Office was still working to identify the victims and notify their families.
Police say Hole took his own life after killing eight people and injuring several others at a FedEx Ground facility.
FedEx shooting: Police say shooting was over before officers arrived; gunman started ‘shooting at random’ in parking lot
IMPD said the shooting happened at the FedEx ground facility in the 8900 block of Mirabel Road. When officers arrived around 11 p.m., they arrived to a chaotic scene but the active shooting incident had ended and Hole was already dead.
Investigators believe Hole got out of his car after arriving and randomly started firing in the parking lot before going inside. There reportedly was no confrontation that preceded the shooting.
Family members express grief, frustration, relief in FedEx mass shooting aftermath
Four people were shot outside the facility and another four were shot inside. IMPD said Friday afternoon that four other people went to the hospital with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. Three people went to the hospital with minor injuries.
Officials said the incident lasted just a few minutes. It’s not clear at this time how many people in total were at the facility at the time of the shooting.
According to police, Hole was last employed by FedEx in 2020. Police did not have many details, but confirmed that Hole used “a rifle.”
Earlier Friday, investigators seized evidence and electronic devices from an address associated with Hole.
According to a report in March 2020, IMPD responded to a mental health call at the same address. Hole was transported to a hospital, and a shotgun was seized at the time.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan provided the following statement:
In March 2020, the suspect’s mother contacted law enforcement to report he might try to commit “suicide by cop”. The suspect was placed on an immediate detention mental health temporary hold by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. A shotgun was seized at his residence. Based on items observed in the suspect’s bedroom at that time, he was interviewed by the FBI in April 2020. No Racially Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE) ideology was identified during the course of the assessment and no criminal violation was found. The shotgun was not returned to the suspect.
No motive has been released at this time. IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said Friday morning they may never know “all the ins and outs about why this occurred.”
#RHOA #TWIRL: Kenya Moore Reveals the New Pool and Deck at Moore Manor!
Last August, Kenya Moore posted a snap from a splashy project that was in the works at her storied Atlanta home, Moore Manor. "Woo hoo shotCrete day," she wrote, to caption a shot of workers building her in-ground pool. By November, the twirl queen had announced that the pool was "just days away" from completion. And on the April 11 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, viewers got to check out the finished project.
In the episode, Kenya invited some of the RHOA ladies over for cocktails. And as Cynthia Bailey arrived, Kenya took her aside to point out the new pool, which was filled with water. Though late-fall leaves were still on the ground, the Moore Manor owner seemed to be already planning for warmer weather.
Pointing toward the pool area, Kenya told Cynthia: "We'll have the cabanas; Brooklyn's little play area will be at the very top."
She also dished on the new upstairs deck, which is surrounded with glass walls — and makes for a great selfie spot. "That's new, too. I built a deck," the haircare mogul said proudly.
In the December 6, 2020 episode of RHOA, Kenya revealed the impetus behind her decision to build a pool, and it had to do with her split from Marc Daly. "I'm just making choices for myself and not considering how it's going to make Marc feel," she said then. "Marc never wanted a pool and I thought, 'Oh, You don't live here anymore so I'm building a pool because it's what I wanted."
Want more RHOA? New episodes air Sundays at 8/7c
#NewMusic from Miguel Releases “Art Dealer Chic Vol. 4″ EP!
Miguel has released Volume 4 of his “Art Dealer Chic” series which he began releasing nearly a decade ago. You may remember that the “Art Dealer Chic” series originally led into Miguel’s breakout sophomore album “Kaleidoscope Dream” in 2012. It was on volume 1 that his biggest hit to date “Adorn” was released.
Miguel had this to say about the new project:
“I’ve been doing a lot of work to consider and refine my beliefs in the last few years. Inevitably, this brought me back to Art Dealer Chic as ADC is more or less an moniker for active mindset curation; Choosing the thoughts, emotions, and actions that reflect my truest self instead of letting what I’ve experienced or what is expected of me dictate my choices. As a basic operating system this mentality has made a profound impact on my life and I want to continue to share how, through the music and the conversation around ADC.”
STREAM HERE
#HipHopNews: DMX Fans Push 2003 Autobiography To Amazon Bestsellers List!
It’s been less than a week since the Hip Hop community suffered a crushing blow with the loss of DMX. The Ruff Ryders vet passed away at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York on April 9 after suffering a catastrophic heart attack. As his streaming numbers explode by 928 percent, his 2003 autobiography E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX is also feeling the love from his grieving fans.
According to Rolling Stone, the book skyrocketed back into the Top 50 on Amazon’s bestsellers list for biographies on Tuesday (April 13) but has now landed in the No. 57 spot as of Wednesday (April 14). For a book that’s 18 years old, the increase in sales should be commended and further prove just how revered DMX was or, frankly, still is.
Written by DMX “as told to” former music editor at The Source Smokey D. Fontaine, the book chronicles DMX’s tumultuous childhood, rise to rap infamy and time at Def Jam Recordings. The title of what is considered his official memoir is a play on both X’s real name, Earl Simmons, and an acronym for “Ever Always Real Life.”
As explained in the description, “Raised in the ghetto, abandoned as a child, addicted to drugs and women all his life but still able to produce four consecutive #1 Hip Hop albums in a row…this is the life and times of the darkest and most dangerously introspective hip-hop artist ever—at the height of his career and completely uncensored.”
DMX was just 50 years old at the time of his death. He leaves behind 15 children and an impenetrable legacy that will live on through his music and family. Cop the book here.
Jennifer Lopez And Alex Rodriguez Officially End Engagement!
The superstar couple, who started dating in 2017, has ended their two-year engagement and will remain friends, making the announcement in a joint statement to “Today.”
“We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so,” they said. “We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another’s children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support.”
The announcement comes a month after reports that Lopez, 51, and Rodriguez, 45, had split. However, they later said they “never officially broke up” and were “working through some things.”
J.Lo had been spending time in the Dominican Republic shooting a movie while A-Rod was in Miami. “It’s tough seeing each other especially with quarantining and COVID, but they want to try to stay together,” a source said at the time.
They once again sparked breakup rumors earlier this week after J.Lo shared a series of selfies from the set of her new movie, Shotgun Wedding, and her engagement ring was noticeably missing.
The couple got engaged in March 2019 after dating for two years. Rodriguez proposed during a romantic getaway to Baker’s Bay in the Bahamas. They had planned to get married last year, but had to delay the wedding twice due to the pandemic.
Just hours before officially announcing their split, A-Rod looked back on better days, posting a video featuring a photo of him and J.Lo while Coldplay’s “Fix You” played in the background. He tagged Lopez with a heart in the caption.
Bobby Brown blames Nick Gordon for Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina's deaths!
Bobby Brown opened up about the string of tragedies he's experienced — the deaths of son Bobby Brown Jr., daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and ex-wife Whitney Houston — as well as his addiction on Wednesday's Red Table Talk.
The 52-year-old singer said he "definitely" believes Nick Gordon was responsible for the deaths of Houston and Bobbi Kristina, who died amid eerily similar circumstances in 2012 and 2015, respectively. He thinks Gordon, who was found liable for Bobbi Kristina's death, supplied mother and daughter with drugs, noting he was with each woman when they drowned. Gordon died of a heroin overdose in 2020.
The New Edition star said there was "definitely" foul play related to Bobbi K.'s death and thinks Gordon "definitely" drugged her. She had several narcotics and prescription drugs in her body when she went under water in a bathtub, which led to brain damage that put her in a coma for nearly six months before she died.
"He was the only one there with both situations — with my ex-wife and with my daughter — and they both died the same way," Bobby said.
RTT's Willow Smith asked if he meant Gordon was to blame for Houston's death too, Bobby said, "I believe so," of that bathtub drowning, with effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors, at the Beverly Hilton. "This is my opinion of who I think this young man was," Bobby continued. "Being around my daughter and being around my ex-wife, I think he was more so a provider of party favors."
Gordon was never charged criminally for Bobbi Kristina's death. There were no charges filed in Houston's death either.
Bobby said he was never able to confront Gordon, noting he was in rehab to treat his alcoholism when Gordon died in a Florida hotel room. He said Bobbi, who died at age 22, was in an abusive relationship and dealing with drug addiction at the time of her death — and was generally in a bad place feeling lost without her mother. One of Bobbi and Gordon's roommates at their Atlanta home testified in Gordon's trial that Gordon kicked Bobbi days before she died, knocking out one of her teeth. He said his daughter didn't confide in him about abuse, but he thinks she may have. Bobbi had booked a flight to see him in L.A. and it was scheduled for two days after she was found in the tub.
Bobby also spoke about the death of son Bobby Brown Jr., who died in November at age 28. The autopsy revealed he overdosed on fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol. Bobby said Bobby Jr.'s situation was different than Bobbi's because, "He wasn't a user. He would experiment with different things. It wasn't like he was dependent on drugs — like my situation," as Bobby has been sober from drugs for 19 years. "I depended on it, I needed it. He was a young man that tried the wrong stuff and it took him out of here."
Bobby acknowledged the role his addictions contributed to the deaths of his "babies." He talked about his own upbringing, the son of alcoholic parents, seeing people drink and use drugs around him. His marriage to Houston, from 1992 to 2007, mirrored that in a pattern of generational abuse.
He said his long history with drugs and alcohol abuse led Bobby Jr., whose mom was Bobby's ex-girlfriend Kim Ward, to feel like he "could test" substances," admitting, "I feel guilty about that." Ditto Bobbi, who he said "saw first-hand things that were wrong" as he and Houston famously battled their dependencies. "It confused things and ultimately she was stuck in an abusive with a man — a boy, I should say — [who] basically controlled her to the point where her life was taken," he said.
He also spoke about his volatile marriage to Houston, acknowledging there was alcohol and substance abuse, which he said resulted in verbal abuse.
"We fought hard verbally — and we loved even harder," he said of their marriage. "Our love was strong for each other... We just got caught up and that had nothing to do with how we felt about each other. The love was always there. We tried so hard. We struggled really hard as a couple to get clean for ourselves. I got clean a long time before she did. We were already divorced. She was a strong woman. She was fighting really hard to save her own life. I had strength enough for myself at that time. Being an addict, I had to save myself.... Unfortunately, we grew apart while I was trying to find myself."
It was reiterated that he didn't introduce Houston to drugs, as he's long been blamed for. Houston's brother Michael has said he did, and Bobby first saw Houston use cocaine on their wedding day.
"I don't look at pointing the finger," he said. "We did it together. It's not that I started her or she started me. Drugs is a bad thing. You get caught up in it. Once you're caught up in it, there's no stopping it."
While Bobby stopped using drugs 19 years ago, he kept drinking and it caught up with him in 2019.
"I started losing bodily function," he said. "My body started shutting down." He said he no longer got intoxicated consuming alcohol, it became a situation where "I needed it to wake up. I needed it to stop the shakes, to function on a day-to-day basis."
He added, "I couldn't accept going to the bathroom on myself," noting that he had done so in front of the young kids he shares with wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown. Devoted to the 12 Steps program, "I go to sleep now, I don't pass out... My whole feeling about life has changed."
Bobby — now a grandfather of two — said he realized, "If I don't break this cycle" of generational abuse, "who is? I have to give them the reason to live clean. If I'm not right, nothing else is going to go right."
He admitted, "I got second, third and fourth chances at life."
Issa Rae Discussing The Final Season of Insecure and Talks of Future Projects!
At the end of its fourth season, Insecure left many of its characters’ fates — and relationships — in limbo. Issa Rae, the producer and star of the HBO comedy has teased that the show’s fifth and final season will address burning questions and contain even more unexpected plot twists.
Rae tells PEOPLE that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic inspired the plotline of Insecure’s final season.
“They’re asking themselves, ‘Are we going to be okay?’ Because so much happened last season in their lives,” she says. “We thought they would be faced with this question of despair, and that question will motivate them throughout the season.”
Insecure, which debuted in 2016, includes Jay Ellis, Alexander Hodge, Amanda Seales, and Natasha Rothwell. The series follows best friends Issa (Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they attempt to navigate the complicated professional and personal landscape of Los Angeles.
She says she’s most excited for fans to see Molly’s character grow over the course of the final season, but she won’t give anything away. Season 5 has already started filming, and the show will premiere later in 2021.
Rae’s schedule has been jam-packed with other film and television projects, as well as a new collaboration with LIFEWTR to help diverse creators in the arts.
She says she’s most excited for fans to see Molly’s character grow over the course of the final season, but she won’t give anything away. Season 5 has already started filming, and the show will premiere later in 2021.
Rae’s schedule has been jam-packed with other film and television projects, as well as a new collaboration with LIFEWTR to help diverse creators in the arts.
LIFEWTR’s “Life Unseen” campaign has chosen 20 artists to design labels for its bottles and is holding a contest (now through July 30) for artists to win a chance to exhibit their work, earn mentorship from Rae, and $10,000 to finance potential ventures. Also, LIFEWTR collaborated with the Institute for Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (QSIDE) to investigate representational gaps in the film, fashion, music, and the visual arts.
They’re looking for artists that are enthusiastic and unique, as well as those who are interested in “opening the door for others down the road because it’s important to inspire the next generation and show people that they can have the same opportunities,” according to Rae.
Following Insecure’s conclusion, Rae will concentrate on creating TV projects for HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. as part of a new five-year contract she recently signed with WarnerMedia.
Rap Sh*t, an eight-episode comedy series, follows “the female rapper moment we’re having in history right now, and [serves as] commentary on the culture,” as Rae describes.
Above all, Rae says she wants to keep creating material that she can enjoy on her own time.
“I had a moment where I decided I’m going to create all the shows that I want to see, all the worlds I want to see,” she says. “Now, I have the opportunity to collaborate with people I’m fans of to do just that…and that’s a dream come true.”
A Plethora of Black Panther Fans Petition to Recast Chadwick Boseman's King T'Challa to Honor Character's Legacy!
ands of Black Panther fans are petitioning to re-cast Chadwick Boseman's King T'Challa in the upcoming Marvel sequel, out of respect for the late actor's work on the character and to "honor" the hero's legacy.The petition, posted on Change.org by E-Man's Movie Reviews, outlines a call to action "for the President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige, Co-President Louis D'Esposito, and Writer/Director Ryan Coogler to reconsider their decision, and recast the role of 'T'Challa' in the Black Panther franchise."
Feige previously said T'Challa would not be recast after the loss of Boseman, who died in August after a private cancer battle at the age of 43.
"If Marvel Studios removes T'Challa, it would be at the expense of the audiences (especially Black boys and men) who saw themselves in him," the petition says. "That also includes the millions of fans who were inspired by the character as well."
"By not recasting, it could stifle the opportunity for one of the most popular, leading Black superheroes to add on to their legacy," it continues. "The #1 way to kill a legend, is to stop telling their story."
The petition goes on to encourage signing and using the hashtag #RecastTChalla on social media, but clarifies that the movement's intention "is not asking for an immediate replacement" in the role or a replacement of Boseman in the grand scheme, as "no one could ever do that."
"Nor is this calling for the prevention of other characters to take up the mantle of Black Panther like Shuri or anyone else," it continues. "This petition is merely asking to continue the portrayal of T'Challa in the MCU. #RecastTChalla is a call to fulfill the role that Chadwick Boseman worked so hard for the world to see."
"T'Challa's character was only scratching the surface with his story in the MCU, and there is so much more left to tell," the petition also says.
Feige, 47, announced in December that Boseman's role of King T'Challa would not be recast following his death, and the sequel would instead focus on the fictional kingdom of Wakanda.
"I know Chad wouldn't have wanted us to stop," Coogler, 34, recently told The Hollywood Reporter. "He was somebody who was so about the collective. Black Panther, that was his movie. He was hired to play that role before anybody else was even thought of, before I was hired, before any of the actresses were hired."
Angela Bassett — who played T'Challa's mother, Wakandan Queen Ramonda, in the 2018 Marvel film — spoke with Entertainment Tonight in January about the "interesting" decision not to recast Boseman.
"I had not thought about that idea, but of course it is Wakanda and they are, in terms of technology, they are so far ahead of the rest of the world that they would be able to bring some of that," said Bassett, 62, of a potential CGI reimagining of T'Challa, which Executive Producer Victoria Alonso also shot down in November.
She went on to call the death of Boseman "a tremendous loss," adding that "Kevin and the Marvel universe and Ryan, the director, the writer from before, they are committed to telling [a story] and equally as much as we can, equally planned."
As of Wednesday morning, the Change.org petition had garnered over 4,000 signatures.
Black Panther II is scheduled for release on July 8, 2022.
Atlanta public school named after Ku Klux Klan grand wizard renamed for Henry Aaron!
An Atlanta public school named for notorious Ku Klux Klan grand wizard and Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest is getting a new name.
After a unanimous vote by the Atlanta Board of Education on Monday, Forrest Hills Academy will now be known as Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy. The change will take effect in time for students to return to school in the fall.
'Names do matter'
“It is very important that we understand our history," school board member Michelle Olympiadis said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It’s very important that we understand where we are coming from."
"Names do matter," board member Jason Esteves said.
Henry "Hank" Aaron is an Atlanta Braves icon who retired as MLB's home run king in 1976. A civil rights stalwart, Aaron broke color barriers in baseball and used his platform to promote social justice causes. He died in January at 86 years old.
He also preferred to go by his given name Henry instead of Hank, something the school board may not have been aware of when deciding on the school's name. According to the Washington Post, "Hank" was a moniker given to Aaron by a public relations staffer who thought the nickname was more palatable to white fans.
Why was the school named after Forrest to begin with?
Forrest was a general in the Confederate army during the Civil War who was later elected the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in 1867, two years after the conclusion of the war. He oversaw the 1864 Fort Pillow massacre where his men killed roughly 300 Black Union army troops after they surrendered.
Why is a school in 2021 named after Forrest to begin with? Atlanta councilwoman Joyce Sheperd explained in December that officials named the school after the street where it resides, unaware of the name's historical significance.
“At the time, our decision was based on the name of the road in front of the school,” Shepard said. “We were unaware of the history of the naming, so it’s appropriate that we as the community begin to correct this and find a better name.”
Is street name change next?
School board member Eshé Collins, who led the committee that recommended the name change honoring Aaron, said the conversation has sparked neighborhood discussions about changing the street name too.
The school name change required a unanimous vote to override a district policy requiring a five-year waiting period after a person's death to use their name on a school, according to AJC. According to Atlanta's 11 Alive, the Hank Aaron Center for Learning and Growth, Barbara Whitaker Center of Excellence and Hammond Park Academy were also considered as names.
The newly named Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy is an alternative school focusing on students in need of additional academic support.
'Bachelor' star Colton Underwood filming reality series for Netflix after coming out!
Colton Underwood will document his coming out journey for Netflix.
Yahoo Entertainment can confirm Underwood, who was the lead of The Bachelor in 2019, is filming a reality series for the streaming giant. The news comes hours after Underwood publicly revealed he's gay.
Variety, which broke the news of Underwood's new project, cites sources who say the series will focus on the former NFL player "living his life publicly as a gay man." Olympian Gus Kenworthy will reportedly appear on the show "acting as a guide, of sorts, for Underwood."
Netflix declined to comment when reached by Yahoo. A rep for Underwood did not immediately respond.
Underwood sat down with ABC's Robin Roberts for an emotional interview that aired on Wednesday.
"I'm gay," the 29-year-old shared on Good Morning America. "I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it. And the next step in all of this was sort of letting people know."
Underwood, who also appeared on Bachelor in Paradise, admitted he was in a "dark" and "bad" place in his personal life before coming out.
"I got to a place where I didn’t think I was ever going to share this," he told Roberts. "I would have rather died than say I'm gay. I think that was sort of my wake-up call."
Underwood said he doesn't have suicidal thoughts anymore after coming to terms with his sexuality.
The television personality and author has been applauded by his Bachelor family.
"We are so inspired by Colton Underwood's courage to embrace and pursue his authentic self," The Bachelor franchise's executive producers said in a statement. "As firm believers in the power of love, we celebrate Colton’s journey in the LGBTQIA+ community every step of the way."
Chris Harrison — who is on hiatus from the franchise since his controversial interview with Rachel Lindsay — broke his social media silence to offer words of encouragement.
"Very proud of you today," Harrison wrote on Instagram. "Happy to see you stand up and openly live your truth. You have my love and support my friend."
Underwood's untitled reality series is currently in production, but a timeline for the launch is unclear.
If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 911, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Army sergeant Jonathan Pentland charged with assault after video shows him accosting, shoving Black man!
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A white Army non-commissioned officer depicted in a viral video accosting and shoving a Black man in a South Carolina neighborhood has been charged with third-degree assault.
Jonathan Pentland, 42, was charged Wednesday and listed as detained in the Richland County jail and issued a personal recognizance bond, according to online jail records, which did not show him as having an attorney.
The video, posted Monday by a woman on Facebook and shared thousands of times, shows a man, identified as Pentland, demanding that a Black man leave the neighborhood before threatening him with physical violence.
"You're in the wrong neighborhood," Pentland, standing on the sidewalk, can be heard saying to the other man before using an expletive. "I ain't playing with you. ... I'm about to show you what I can do."
According to Shirell Johnson, who posted the video, the incident happened in a subdivision of The Summit, which has a Columbia address but is technically outside the city's limits. The video does not show what started the conflict. Johnson did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking further details.
A white non-commissioned Army officer depicted in a viral video accosting and shoving a Black man in a South Carolina neighborhood has been charged with third-degree assault.
The recording begins with Pentland, a U.S. Army sergeant first class, asking the Black man what he's doing in the area. The Black man says he was simply walking and not bothering anyone.
Throughout the three-minute video, Pentland continuously demands that the other man leave the neighborhood, getting in his face and, at one point, pushing the man, who almost falls to the ground.
"Let's go, walk away," he said. "I'm about to do something to you. You better start walking right now."
At the end of the video, a woman who Pentland identifies as his wife can be heard telling the other man that he had picked a fight with "some random young lady" in the neighborhood, a claim the Black man then denies.
Johnson said authorities arrived at the scene and only gave Pentland a citation for malicious injury to property for slapping the man's phone out of his hand and cracking it.
Officials at Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army's largest basic training facility, said Wednesday they were looking into the incident. On one of its Twitter accounts, base officials also said that U.S. Department of Justice authorities were investigating as well.
According to social media accounts connected to Pentland, he has been stationed at Fort Jackson since 2019 and has worked as a drill sergeant at the garrison, a 53,000-acre complex that trains 50% of all soldiers and 60% of women who enter the Army each year.
Asked on Twitter for his response to the video, Fort Jackson Commanding Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr. said the behavior displayed in the video "is by no means condoned by any service member."
"We will get to the bottom of this ASAP," he said.
On his official Facebook page, Beagle said Army officials "have begun our own investigation and are working with the local authorities."
Earlier this year, the Department of Defense announced that Beagle would take over as commanding general at Fort Drum, New York, to be succeeded at Fort Jackson by Brig. Gen. Patrick R. Michaelis. An official transfer date has not been announced.
Commenters on the video said they had reached out to the Richland County Sheriff's Department asking for additional charges to be filed. In a release issued early Wednesday, a department spokeswoman said deputies had been dispatched to the neighborhood for "an assault" call involving one of the men several days before the date of the video, and that all of the matters were under investigation.
During an afternoon news conference, Sheriff Leon Lott said the other man in the video was not a juvenile but declined to release his name. Lott said that man had been involved in other incidents in the neighborhood in the days leading up to the video but said that "none of them justified the assault that occurred."
"The first time I saw the video, it was terrible. It was unnecessary," Lott said, noting he had met with community leaders and elected officials before speaking with reporters. Lott said his investigators had turned their case over to prosecutors, who determined what charge to levy against Pentland.
Pentland did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment. If convicted, he faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
State Sen. Mia McLeod, who represents the area, said Wednesday on the Senate floor that she had spent much of the previous day in discussions about the incident and planned to meet with the sheriff later in the day.
"My sons have a freaking right to live," said McLeod, who is Black. "Another unarmed Black man could be dead today because he was walking in a neighborhood that, I am told, is adjacent to his, doing absolutely nothing."
Towanda Braxton Loses Home to Foreclosure!
Earlier this month Tamar Braxton stunned her fans after admitted she had secretly been homeless this
Now another Braxton sister is facing serious housing issues...
From Radar Online
According to court documents obtained by Radar, a federal court judge granted a motion brought by Rushmore Loan Management to seize Towanda Braxton’s home to sell it off to the highest bidder.
They needed permission to seize possession of the home due to Braxton currently being in the middle of bankruptcy. Once a person files, the court puts a pause on all pending legal actions until the outcome of the case.
F9 Gets A Fast And Furious New Trailer Ahead Of Its June 25th Debut!
F9 — the imaginatively named ninth film in the increasingly physics-defying Fast & Furious franchise — has a new trailer, arriving almost a full year after its original May 2020 release date.
F9 will see a whole roster of familiar faces from the Fast & Furious universe return, including Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Ludacris), and Magdalene Shaw (Helen Mirren).
As revealed in the first trailer (released what feels like a lifetime ago in January 2020), F9 will also see the triumphant return of Sung Kang as Han Lue, whose character has been presumed dead since 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, a fact that required the plotlines of movies four through six in the Fast & Furious franchise to be set as prequels before Tokyo Drift in order to allow Kang to continue to appear in the films.
WATCH HERE
Also returning is Jordana Brewster’s Mia Toretto, who exited the franchise in Furious 7 when her character retired alongside Brian O’Conner (played by Paul Walker until his death in 2013).
The Furious gang will be facing off against John Cena, playing Jakob Toretto, the previously unseen third Toretto sibling to Diesel’s Dom and Brewster’s Mia, who’ll be teaming up with Cipher (Charlize Theron’s villainous hacker from The Fate of the Furious).
F9 was originally set to hit theaters on May 22nd, 2020, but it has seen its release date bounce around the calendar due to theater shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s now set to hit theaters in the US on June 25th, and — barring any other delays — will be the first major blockbuster to debut since Tenet last fall.
The film is also by no means the end of the popular franchise. Universal has plans for 10th and 11th films to finish out the mainline Fast & Furious series, in addition to further spinoffs (including a sequel to the somehow-even-more-absurd Hobbs & Shaw spinoff).
Serena Williams Strikes TV Deal With Amazon Studios, Sets Docuseries On Professional & Personal Life!
Tennis icon Serena Williams has inked a first-look TV deal with Amazon Studios, with an untitled docuseries already in the works.
The 23-time Grand Slam tennis champ will work with Amazon Studios to create scripted and unscripted television projects that will debut exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The in-the-works docuseries will follow Williams’ professional and personal life. The untitled series comes from Plum Pictures, Goalhanger Films and Amazon Studios. Williams will executive produce with Patrick Mouratoglou, Stuart Cabb and Tony Pastor.
“I’m very excited to be partnering with Amazon Studios – they are developing some of the most inspiring and important content for a global audience. I have a lot of stories I’m eager to tell, including a continuation of my own, and I look forward to sharing those with the world,” said Williams.
“Serena has transformed her sport and become one of the most inspiring athletes, entrepreneurs and women of her generation, admired not only for her unmatched prowess on the court but for her dedication to advocacy as well,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “We’re incredibly excited to share her journey in this new series, and to work with her to create new original content for our Prime Video customers worldwide.”
Williams is the most prized WTA player of all time, raking in 23 Grand Slam titles among 73 singles and 23 doubles championships, and gold medals at the 2000, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Beyond tennis, Williams has delved into business, entertainment, fashion and philanthropy. In 2018 she launched the Yetunde Price Resource Center in Compton, CA, honoring the life and memory of her oldest sister and ensuring those affected by trauma have the necessary resources to persevere.
Missing LSU Student Kori Gauthier Body Has Been Found In The Mississippi River!
Authorities reported that they have found the body of Kori Gauthier in the Mississippi River after she was reported missing last week.
The Louisiana State University student’s missing person case went viral on social media after family and friends pleaded for her safe return on April 6. She stopped reporting to class and missed a doctor’s appointment, Before the discovery, investigators said her car was abandoned on the Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge after it was struck by another vehicle. Her cell phone was also damaged during the incident.
LSU Chief of Police Bart Thompson said 18-year-old Gauthier’s body was pulled from the St. John the Baptist Parish on Tuesday and no criminal activity or foul play was involved. “Since Kori was first reported missing, the LSU Police Department, Baton Rouge Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies and volunteers have taken exhaustive measures to locate her and, in the process, to determine what led to her disappearance. This is a difficult conclusion for all of us, but we hope this will bring closure for the Gauthier family,” he said.
According to the New York Post, Gauthier’s uncle left a Facebook video thanking everyone for their search efforts and added that the family hopes that finding her remains “can start the healing process.” Her father also wrote the following message on Facebook: “I come to you with a very heavy heart!!, God granted me the one wish I had and that was to receive her in any way to be put to rest properly… I would like to thank everyone who assisted in any way.”
Before her passing, Gauthier was an education major at the school and started her freshman year.
Nicole Kidman Turns Into Lucille Ball in First Photos from 'Being the Ricardos' Set!
Nicole Kidman is transforming into Lucille Ball for her role as the legendary comedienne in the biopic Being the Ricardos. The Oscar-winner is seen sporting Ball's fiery, orange hair in new photos snapped of her on the set of the Aaron Sorkin-directed biographical film.
Being the Ricardos will tell the story of Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz, who starred in the popular 1951 sitcom I Love Lucy. The two were married from 1940 and split in 1960.
Kidman posted a photo from the closed set last week, saying that the film is currently in production.
"Currently in production 🤫📵🎬 #BeingTheRicardos," she shared.
Back in January, Kidman raved about playing Ball despite the casting controversy that ensued once news broke that she and Javier Bardem would be playing the iconic TV couple.
"I was like, 'Yeah, I would love to give it a go,'" Kidman told Variety. "With Aaron's words and his direction and Javier… that's kind of a wonderful prospect to, you know. But yikes, off we go. Give it a go. Try my best -- see if I can do it."
Kidman said she had been watching a lot of behind the scenes moments from I Love Lucy, including rehearsals from the sitcom.
"I love Lucille, having looked now and delved into her," she said. "She's an amazing woman," Kidman added. "I'm very excited for people to see what Aaron found out about her and the way he's interpreted Desi and Lucy and the way that it's so rich. I didn't know any of this."
Kidman's excitement over the role comes after Ball and Arnaz's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, spoke out in a message on Facebook attempting to calm fans worked up about the casting of the film. Fans had taken to social media to suggest other actresses to portray Ball, while Debra Messing, who previously played Ball's I Love Lucy character during an episode of Will & Grace, even campaigned for the part.
"Nobody has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine, or ... any of the silly things. It's the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband, Dezi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo," Lucie explained.
"Aaron has done a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life, and it's just a little ... slice of life in their journey," she shared. "It's not the whole story. It's not a biopic from cradle to grave. It is a two-hour feature film about these two people and some of the remarkable things they lived through. So I hope I can set the record straight here, and just say, stop arguing about who should play her, 'She doesn't look like her, her nose isn't the same, she isn't as funny...'"
"Just trust us, it's going to be a nice film, and p.s. the voting is over," Lucie added. "I love all of you.]
President Biden Announces Troops Will Withdraw From Afghanistan By September 11!
President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that all U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be withdrawn before September 11, ending America’s longest war.
There are around 2,500 troops currently stationed in the country. The U.S. withdrawal will not be based on conditions on the ground, ABC News reports.
“We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago,” Biden said from the White House Treaty Room. “That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021.”
Biden acknowledged that it had been 10 years since Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden had been killed. And the goal of preventing Afghanistan from serving as a base for terrorist attacks had been reached. He said, “Since then, our reasons for remaining in Afghanistan become increasingly unclear…”
The president spoke to former presidents Bush and Obama about the withdrawal, and both agreed it was time. Obama said Biden “made the right decision” in a statement.
News of Biden’s announcement was met with criticism from both sides of the aisle. Mitch McConnell called it a “grave mistake.” But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the move as a better thought out plan than when Donald Trump arbitrarily announced that he would withdraw the troops.
At one point, there were 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, topping out in August 2010. Since October 2001, more than 20,000 troops have been injured, and 2,300 were killed.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
'BAG IT'
Now you know why I use those clear plastic fruit bags on everything. Box of macaroni & cheese? Throw it in the baggie.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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