Jodie Turner-Smith for Hunger Magazine - The Community Issue 2021!
Actor Jodie Turner-Smith is 30 minutes late. I’ve almost resigned myself to the fact our chat isn’t going to happen today when she suddenly pops up on screen with a smile. “I’m so sorry about everything that has gone on today. I’m actually in Jamaica – we came out here for a holiday and then I’ve been working as well,” she says with an energy that instantly disarms you.
Given the hectic 18 months that the 34-year-old has just experienced, she can be forgiven. It’s been a nonstop ride for her since the end of 2019, when she enjoyed widespread acclaim for her titular role in Lena Waithe’s on-the-run crime drama Queen & Slim, alongside Daniel Kaluuya. But just as the industry called lift-off on her career, the pandemic put film and TV production on ice. The global shutdown was actually a blessing in disguise for Turner-Smith, as lockdown regulations coincided with her maternity leave following the birth of her daughter in April 2020. “[Motherhood] has definitely changed me. I’m a different person now,” she tells me. I can see Joshua Jackson, Turner-Smith’s husband and her daughter’s father, scrolling through his phone in the background. “You have to transform in order to bring a baby into the world, so it’s impossible to be the same person. I love it, I love being [a mum].”
Transformation is nothing new for Turner-Smith, who was born in Peterborough and grew up in a village just outside the city. Hers was the only Black family in the village, and she was the only one of her sibling group to be born outside Jamaica. She emigrated to the US at the age of nine and was working as a banker in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when a friend introduced her to Pharrell Williams after a NERD concert. His advice to move to Los Angeles and become a model inspired her to make the leap. Since then, she’s worked her way up the ranks, starting out shooting for the likes of Gucci and appearing in the video for Zayn Malik’s “Pillowtalk”, eventually cutting her acting teeth with a role in the series True Blood before her career breakthrough with Queen & Slim. “Working on Queen & Slim was such a life-changing experience for me in so many ways. Being somebody who didn’t go to drama school, the number one way that I learn is being on set, and from the actors who are so gracious to show me the way they work and to really let me into their process,” she says. “I think a big thing for me was getting to work with these two women [writer Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas], who were just so driven and focused and had such an immaculate vision. I’m glad that I have them in my corner to ask questions or if I want advice about things.”
The mammoth task of embodying Queen, a defense lawyer who goes on the run with her Tinder date after he accidentally kills a racist police officer, has been the perfect preface for her upcoming role, and arguably her most ambitious to date. This month, Turner-Smith will captivate audiences with her portrayal of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second, and most famous, wife. The three-part limited series for Channel 5 documents the final five months of Anne’s life, as the miscarriage of her son, a legitimate heir for Henry, ultimately leads to her demise.
Since her casting in the series was announced, social media has been rife with opinion, some positive, some negative, but while Turner-Smith admits it can be hard to ignore, she’s keen to maintain some distance from the opinions of prospective viewers. “I have definitely seen a lot of the discourse. Obviously, there’s a certain amount of separation I like to keep between myself and what’s going on, just because there’s a lot of really negative and racist commentary, and I think it’s really important to try to isolate myself from as much as possible. But I think it’s great that people are having a dialogue about it. The important thing to remember is that there is a distinction between history and historical drama. History is rooted in objective facts and with historical drama you have a license to explore a relationship between the past and the present. This is a well-known story that has been told many, many times – we’re telling it in a different way, in a way that’s hopefully exciting for people.”
With I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu playing her similarly fated brother George, and Mark Stanley of Game of Thrones taking the role of Henry VIII, the project is one that not only seeks to entertain but inform; it’s packed full of historical facts that will open the world’s eyes to Anne and her influence on Tudor Britain. The scope of the work, and the fact that it’s such a well-known story, meant that Turner-Smith had to be well versed in Tudor history in order to immerse herself in the life of Henry’s queen. “I definitely did a lot of research, and we also worked closely with the historian Dan Jones to make sure that we would stay faithful to what is historically true about her and include historical details and plot points. I read some books too. I really loved The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives. I thought it was so interesting how it just talked about her magnetism and how I feel it’s often not reflected that the relationship between Anne and Henry was so deeply connected and intense, you know, and I hope that was an interesting element to bring to it.”
By the time this issue hits shelves, her latest flick, Without Remorse, will be available to stream on Amazon Prime. Also starring Michael B Jordan, Jamie Bell and Guy Pearce, the action thriller is based on the Tom Clancy book of the same name. But how does the small-screen experience compare to that of the silver screen? “Well, I think the medium of television has changed so much. You’re seeing so much incredible content on television that is so amazing and elevated. With COVID-19 and nobody really going to the cinema, I feel like the line is disappearing. From my limited experience of working, I do find that television moves quite a bit faster than creating a movie, obviously because of the amount of time you get to turn over an episode versus how much time you get to complete a film. And then in television, if it’s episodic, you will often work with multiple directors and so that makes it different. There are obviously similarities and differences in both and they’re both just two different adventures. And, depending on who you ask, there’s more money to be made in television.”
With banking, acting, modelling and motherhood already under her belt, I wonder what strings Turner-Smith plans on adding to her bow next. Her answer is resolute. “Definitely writing and directing,” she says with a nod. “I directed a short film called Jackie last year. I wrote it too. That was such an incredible experience – it really made me fall deeply in love with that process. What drives me is this idea that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by just trying to see what happens when I create something. I’m not afraid of trying and not succeeding at something. I think it’s better to try and fail and know that that wasn’t the thing for you than to not try and live your life wondering what else you were capable of.” If her trajectory so far is anything to go by, there’s a future full of successes ahead.
#RHOA: Thieves Break Into Phaedra Parks Car, Steal Camera With Photos From Son’s Graduation!
ATLANTA — Police say a former Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member was robbed in Buckhead Wednesday night.
Police said Phaedra Parks’ Mercedes-Benz was parked on Miami Circle when someone broke into her car and took personal items.
Parks said on Instagram that the two men jumped through the passenger window and broke her glove compartment.
She said that the thieves stole a backpack RHOA castmate Porcha Williams gave her for her birthday. Inside was a camera with photos of her son’s recent graduation.
“The items they took are sentimental to me,” Parks wrote. “If you have any info please DM (on Instagram.)
Parks is one of a string of celebrities to be the victim of a theft in Atlanta recently. Singer Akon had his Range Rover stolen from a Buckhead gas station. In January, rapper Ludacris’ Mercedes-Benz was stolen while he was at an ATM.
#MusicNews: Mariah Carey Splits With ROC Nation!
Mariah Carey is under new management. The pop icon has parted ways with Roc Nation after three and a half years. According to The Sun, Mariah quit JAY-Z’s management company after a “huge fight” between the stars about the future of Carey’s career, which reportedly led her to seek new management.
“Mariah and JAY had an explosive meeting which did not go well at all,” a source told the outlet. “She has made it clear she wants nothing more to do with him and has called it quits with Roc Nation.”
She will formally depart in the next few weeks, but the Roc Nation website no longer lists her among its clients. “It is a shame because they had done some great work in the last few years. But this meeting couldn’t have gone much worse,” said the insider.
However, another source close to the situation tells The Daily Mail that claims of a fallout between Mariah and JAY-Z are “simply not true.” “Mariah’s relationship with Roc Nation ended amicably and Mariah and JAY-Z are on great terms,” said the source.
Carey, who signed with Roc Nation in November 2017, is said to have already begun “talking to other managers and thinks she has found someone who she feels has full belief in her.”
She is currently working on a new album and world tour. “There is a heavily R&B-influenced album being finalized at the moment and she is planning a world tour for next year, so she isn’t letting this stand in her way,” said the insider.
Under Roc Nation management, Carey released her 30th anniversary album The Rarities and published her best-selling memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Additionally, she signed a deal with Apple TV+ for her holiday special, “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.”
#HipHopNews:There’s A New Pop Smoke Album In The Works!
Pop Smoke has more music on the way. The late Brooklyn rapper’s manager, Steven Victor, took to Twitter on Friday to tease a second posthumous project, writing “POP SMOKE ALBUM” alongside a series of flame emojis.
This is not the first time there have been rumblings of a new Pop Smoke album. Last month, another one of his managers, Rico Beats, also shared plans.
“I see and hear everything kept it cool tho no worries pay back around the corner Popsmoke new album loading…” said Rico Beats.
It’s unclear when the album will be released, but Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, remains in the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The album, which was released in July 2020, has spent the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart since M.C. Hammer’s Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt Em in 1990.
50 Cent, who co-executive produced Shoot for the Stars, may not be involved the second time around. “[Steven Victor] talked to me about the new record, and I’m not sure if I’ll participate with this, that record,” he told Kris Kaylin. “I just wanted to make sure that his record did what it was supposed to. My interaction with Pop was like he was looking at me like I could tell him the right way to go, and that everything would work based on what I was saying.”
He alluded to issues behind the scenes, while crediting himself for the album’s success. “Outside of producing the record and having it perform well, I did all the promotions for that record for it to work. They would just have put it out and you’d have to find it out of basic interest.”
In his tweet, Victor also confirmed new albums from Pusha-T and Nigo.
Kim Kardashian Breaks Down Over Failed Marriage To Kanye!
On Keeping Up With the Kardashians Thursday night, Khloé Kardashian revealed that Kim Kardashian had been privately struggling with her marriage to Kanye West and, right before leaving for the family's last trip for the show, Kim and Kanye got into a "big fight."
"You know, Kim has been struggling privately behind camera about her relationship, and it's tough, because Kim is clearly redirecting so much of her frustration, and sadness, and anger and, you know, sometimes, you just take things out on something that has nothing to do with what you're going through," shared Khloé.
KUWTK then aired previously unseen footage of Kim (ugly) crying to sisters Kourtney, Kendall and Kylie. "I just, like, honestly can't do this anymore," sobbed Kim. "Why am I still in this, like, place where I'm stuck? For years. Like, he goes and moves to a different state every year. I have to be, like, together, so I can raise the kids, you know? He's an amazing dad. He's done an amazing job."
Kourtney told Kim that Kanye still will be an amazing dad, and suggested that "he'll be better without" Kim "handling things."
"I think he deserves someone that can go support his every move, and go follow him all over the place and move to Wyoming. I can't do that. He should have a wife that supports his every move and travels with him and does everything, and I can't. I feel like a failure that it's, like, a third marriage. Yeah, I feel like a loser. But I can't even think about that. Like, I want to be happy," cried Kim.
Ultimately, Khloé shared, "Kim is one of the most incredible human beings, literally, ever, and she tries to protect their union at all costs. But it's hard when you carry that responsibility on your shoulders, and I just want her to take care of herself, too," while Kim concluded, "There's, like, honestly nothing to talk about. I mean, I won't live with, like, the fighting and stuff. Like, if it was constant."
And in the teaser for next week's episode, Kim shares, "I always thought I could just have my kids, my husband moves from state to state, and then I realized, like, no, I didn't come this far just to come this far and not be happy."
Al Roker's Daughter Courtney Is Married, Today Stars Attend Fairytale Ceremony!
Courtney Roker is officially off the market! The eldest daughter of Al Roker married her fiancé and actor Wesley Laga on Friday, June 4. The couple, who announced their engagement in April 2020, tied the knot at The Ashford Estate in New Jersey.
"Last night was beyond anything I could ever imagine," Courtney captioned her Instagram post on Saturday, June 5, alongside a few portraits of their wedding. "I celebrated my love for my husband, and felt the love from everyone. My heart is filled with happiness and filled with joy. And I gotta say my husbands dance moves aint to shabby. Now on to the honeymoon."
"My next chapter," she added, sharing a photo of herself and Wesley smiling from ear to ear.
The bride dazzled in a sleeveless white ballgown that featured floral embellishments and layers of tulle. She tied her look together with a diamond-adorned tiara. As for the groom? Wesley looked dapper in a dark navy suit and a white button-down shirt. He donned a black tie and matching dress shoes.
The newlyweds celebrated their big day with close friends and family members.
For the special occasion, Al suited up in a blue tuxedo, while his wife, Deborah Roberts, donned a vibrant fuchsia gown. Courtney's siblings, Nicholas Albert Roker and Leila Roker, also wore navy outfits.
The Today weather anchor's co-hosts also joined in on the fun, including Hoda Kotb, Sheinelle Jones and
Sheinelle shared details of Courtney and Wesley's special ceremony. Of their wedding, the Today anchor wrote, "We couldn't think of a better reason to 'dress up' again for the first time in more than a year."
"Congrats to our friends @alroker & @debrobertsabc and the stars of the night Courtney & Wesley on this beautiful wedding!" she continued. "We had so much fun! Everyone was so busy having a BALL and dancing I just realized we didn't get a pic with the bride & groom! (Wesley's dance moves were pretty epic.) It was a night filled with so much joy."
Sheinelle also posted several candid images from the event, including a couple of photos that captured Al and his son flashing huge smiles.
Additionally, Deborah shared her excitement on Instagram.
"What a weekend of love and life!" she began her post. "Our hearts are truly bursting with joy and pride as we celebrate the new journey for Courtney and Wes. We wish you all the joy and happiness your hearts can hold."
She later snapped a picture of Al and Courtney dancing together, writing, "Beautiful memories."
Al also raved over his daughter's new milestone. "A perfect magical evening being there for the marriage of my first princess," he wrote in part.
Ahead of the wedding, the 66-year-old journalist shared a throwback family photo, captioning his post, "I am marveling at fast [sic] time flies. Seems like yesterday @ouichefroker was this little girl and tomorrow she's getting married. Al And Isabel Roker would have been so proud of their granddaughter."
Breonna Taylor's Mother Remembers Late Daughter on Her 28th Birthday!
The mother of Breonna Taylor celebrated her late daughter on what would have been her 28th birthday.
Breonna, an EMT living in Louisville, Ky., was killed in her apartment during a fatal shooting by police on March 13, 2020 after they entered her home in the middle of the night. She was 26. Her death led to a rallying cry for justice, and spearheaded global protests against police brutality.
But to her mother Tamika Palmer, Breonna was just her daughter, whose life was cut short. In a June 5 Instagram post, Tamika shared an illustration of Breonna, along with an emotional caption.
"Everybody saying Happy 20Gr8 & that's cool but ain't nothing happy about you not being where you supposed to be at 20Gr8, I was robbed, your sister was robbed, your friends was robbed, your family was robbed," Tamika began. "But with all that being said the world is showing out for you Breonna I know I wouldn't want it any other way and you don't deserve anything less but what I will say is I'm sorry, I'm sorry the world you loved and the city you adored traded your life as if you didn't matter, but as I said before I'm grateful I raised a Queen to show the world and the city different I couldn't of asked for anything different but you left a legacy with me, your sister , friends & family and we are eternally grateful to you."
She concluded her message, "Happy Birthday Baby WE LOVE YOU!!!"
Last June, Tamika spoke to MSNBC about celebrating Breonna's birthday without her for the first time.
"We're just coping with it. It's hard, of course to celebrate her birthday with her not here. It's just very difficult," she shared at the time. "I want these officers arrested. I don't think they should still be on payroll. That's justice for Breonna. She's not here. She's still not getting paid. She doesn't get to go to work every day."
Thus far, no officer has been charged with causing Breonna's death.
Last year, Breonna was honored in the August issue of Oprah Winfrey's magazine. In her "What I Know For Sure" column, she wrote, "We can't be silent. We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice. And that is why Breonna Taylor is on the cover of O magazine. I cry for justice in her name."
Calm App Says It Will Pay Fines For Tennis Players Who Skip Grand Slam Press Appearances Like Naomi Osaka!
The Calm App is showing its support for tennis star Naomi Osaka by paying the fines of athletes who opt out of 2021 Grand Slam media appearances due to mental health reasons.
Calm, the company responsible for the successful meditation and mindfulness app, announced that they would cover the fines for any player who declines media appearances for mental health reasons during the 2021 tournament. The company also stated that they would match the penalty with a $15,000 donation to Laureus, a French youth sports charity.
Last month, Osaka announced that she would not be doing press to protect her mental health. She stated that her decision was not personal towards the tournament or journalists. Professional athletes are usually required to do post-match press conferences or risk facing hefty fines.
However, it did not take people long to begin criticizing her. English broadcaster Piers Morgan has heavily slammed Osaka for her decision.
Osaka attributed her decision to her struggle with depression since the U.S. Open in 2018. The 23-year-old says she felt “both vulnerable and anxious while in Paris for the French Open,” leading her to pull out of the games altogether.
“I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right, I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press, and fans,” Osaka stated.
The Calm App is the latest company to rally around Osaka. Shortly after her announcement to exit the French Open, Nike expressed their support for her.
Tiffany Haddish Will Portray Olympic Runner Florence Griffith Joyner in Upcoming Biopic!
Tiffany Haddish is going to star in a biopic about one of her idols, Olympic track and field star, Florence Griffith Joyner. Haddish will portray the runner, known by her fans as "Flo-Jo," in the film produced by Haddish herself.
Joyner helped popularize track and field with her record-breaking Olympic run and flashy sense of style. She was known for originating the one-legged running suit which has been seen on some of today's athletes like Serena Williams. Joyner is considered the fastest woman in the world, with many of the records she set in the 1988 Olympics yet to be broken. Joyner died in 1998 at the age of 38 of an epileptic seizure.
The Girls Trip star took to Twitter Thursday to share a Variety article announcing the news. She also vowed that she's going to work hard to honor the Olympian's legacy.
"My Heart is so full Right now! I can’t even explain how hard I am going to work to honor Her Legacy!," Haddish tweeted.
Sports studio, Game1 Co-CEO’s Basil Iwanyk and Greg Economou, and Melanie Clark of Haddish’s She Ready Productions will produce, while Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road Pictures will serve as an executive producer on the biopic.
"We are thrilled to partner with Tiffany on such an important project," Iwanyk said in a statement obtained by Variety. "Tiffany has established herself as one of the greatest entertainers in the world today – helping her tell the story of her idol Flo-Jo is an amazing honor and privilege."
For Haddish, the project is about telling Flo-Jo's story the way it should be told.
"I am looking forward to telling Flo-Jo’s story the way it should be told,” Haddish said in the statement. "My goal with this film is making sure that younger generations know my ‘she-ro’ Flo-Jo, the fastest woman in the world to this day, existed."
Flo-Jo’s widower and former coach, Al Joyner, will serve as a producer and creative consultant on the project and has already begun training Haddish for the role.
"I am so elated to team up with game1 and Tiffany Haddish on this project," Joyner added. "Working with Tiffany has been a great pleasure – she is incredibly dedicated, focused, and committed to portraying the spirit of Florence accurately, whose legacy of making a difference in the world will live on for generations to come. I hope that this film touches all who see it and inspires people to BE the change the world so desperately needs right now!"
Woman Who Accused Cuba Gooding Jr. Of Groping Wins Lawsuit!
Natasha Ashworth sued Gooding in 2019, saying he repeatedly groped her backside at the nightclub where she worked.
The female bartender who accused Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. of groping her has won a default judgment against him after he refused to respond to her lawsuit for over a year.
Natasha Ashworth sued the Jerry Maguire star in 2019, claiming that he repeatedly groped her backside at Tao Downtown, the New York nightclub where she worked.
Gooding refused to answer her complaint for over a year, and Ashworth ultimately filed for a default judgment against him at the beginning of 2021. She was one of more than 30 women who accused him of touching them inappropriately or sexual misconduct.
While Gooding has appeared in the accusations’ criminal proceedings, which include six misdemeanor counts of sexual abuse and forcible touching from three accusers, including Ashworth, he never appeared in the civil case.
Gooding has repeatedly denied the women’s claims.
On Wednesday, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge granted Ashworth’s request for a default judgment, given the star’s refusal to hire a civil lawyer or file any court papers to defend himself. The judgment was for Ashworth’s civil claims of assault and battery, but Justice Alexander Tisch denied a default judgment for infliction of emotional distress, citing its redundancy.
The judgment will allow for a trial that would determine potential monetary damages Ashworth may be awarded in the case.
According to Page Six, Mark Heller, who is representing Gooding in the criminal case, said the claim is “baseless, and the judgment is worthless.”
As previously reported, Gooding was sued by another woman, who alleged that he raped her after coaxing her to his hotel room in 2013. The new woman filed as a Jane Doe and claimed the two met at a New York City hotel bar.
The Jane Doe in that lawsuit is being represented by famed women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred.
Chrissy Teigen Exits Netflix Show Amid Ongoing Courtney Stodden Bullying Backlash!
Amid backlash from the Courtney Stodden bullying controversy, it’s reported that Chrissy Teigen, 35, has exited Mindy Kaling‘s Netflix show ‘Never Have I Ever, a comedy following a first-generation Indian American teen, Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan).
In the show, Teigen was set to voice a role in one episode on the series’ second season. Reports emphasize that Teigen did not get fired, but peacefully dropped out of her planned voice role. As we previously reported, Stodden, who is non-binary, called out Teigen for harassing them online and telling them to “kill” themself over a decade ago. The cyberbullying came after Stodden married actor Doug Hutchison when they were 16 and he was 60.
Teigen finally issued an apology on May 12 in a lengthy Twitter post. She said, “I am ashamed and completely embarrassed at my behavior but that is nothing compared to how I made Courtney feel. I have worked so hard to give you guys joy and be beloved and the feeling of letting you down is nearly unbearable, truly. These were not my only mistakes and surely won’t be my last as hard as I try but god I will try!! I have tried to connect with Courtney privately but since I publicly fueled all this, I want to also publicly apologize. I’m so sorry, Courtney. I hope you can heal now knowing how deeply sorry I am. And I am so sorry I let you guys down. I will forever work on being better than I was 10 years ago, 1 year ago, 6 months ago.” Stodden accepted the apology, but called Teigen out for finally issuing a sorry in an attempt to save her partnerships with Target, Macy’s and more — who eventually dropped her.
Muhammad Ali Documentary 'City of Ali' Debuts WATCH The Trailer!
It's been exactly five years since boxing icon Muhammad Ali passed away. This week, on the anniversary of his death, the documentary City of Ali is premiering during an event in his hometown of Louisville as part of the annual Ali Festival — a week-long event that celebrates and remembers Ali's undeniable legacy.
City of Ali, directed by Graham Shelby and produced by Jonathan McHugh, takes viewers to Louisville as they get a look at the week of Ali's funeral as over 100,000 people came together in Ali's hometown (not to mention the billions streaming the procession from all over the world) to remember and honor the life of the boxer, activist and philanthropist. Ali passed away in the midst of the Presidential election in 2016, the proposal of a Muslim ban, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement's rapid expansion.
The film features interviews from the late boxer's family, including Asaad Ali, Lonnie Ali, Rahman Ali and Rasheda Ali, as well as Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, members of the Muhammad Ali Center and more.
In an interview with Variety, City of Ali director Graham Shelby explained of the film, "Our film’s title really has two meanings: On the one hand, the City of Ali is Louisville, where Cassius Clay grew up and Muhammad Ali came home. The City of Ali also refers to the global community of people Ali touched and inspired in his incredible life. This documentary tells the story of what happened when those two communities came together. It was an unforgettable moment to experience and we’re excited to share City of Ali with fans of The Champ worldwide."
WATCH
You can watch City of Ali Now by ABRAMORAMA @ Home Cinema Release.
Federal Judge Tosses Out California’s Assault Weapon Ban After 32 Years!
via Complex: On Friday, judge Roger T. Benitez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California referred to the ban as a “failed experiment,” prompting criticism from the state’s governor. In a statement, Governor Gavin Newsom called the ruling a “direct threat to public safety and the lives of Innocent Californians.” California prohibited the sale of assault-style weapons in 1989, and the law was challenged in 2019 in a suit filed against the state’s attorney general. Judge Benitez wrote that certain sections of the state’s penal code that defined assault weapons were “unconstitutional and shall be enjoined.”
Judge Benitez wrote that the “Government is not free to impose its own new policy choices on American citizens where constitutional rights are concerned.” He added that the AR-15 rifle in particular was “a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment,” and compared it to a Swiss Army Knife. Newsom wrote that comparing an assault rifle to a Swiss Army knife “completely undermines the credibility of this decision and is a slap in the face to the families who’ve lost loved ones to this weapon.”
Meanwhile, gun rights advocates celebrated. “It’s clear the judge did his homework on this ruling, and we are delighted with the outcome,” said Alan M. Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. Brandon Combs, president of the Firearms Policy Coalition, a pro-gun group that brought the 2019 lawsuit to court, said in a statement that the ruling “held what millions of Americans already know to be true: Bans on so-called ‘assault weapons’ are unconstitutional and cannot stand.”
Zayn Malik Caught On Video Shirtless During Verbal Altercation With Stranger In NYC!
Cell phone footage recorded the moment when a random stranger confronted Zayn Malik and wanted to fight the singer in front of a bar in New York City.
The singer was smoking a cigarette outside of the Amsterdam Billiards Club in Manhattan Thursday night when the man tried to pick a fight with the former One Direction member. Witnesses said the stranger and his friends were exiting out of the Little Sister Lounge next door before the verbal altercation occurred. At one point, the stranger called Zayn Malik a homophobic slur, and the singer exchanged several curse words while confronting him.
However, the confrontation didn’t turn physical as both parties were being calmed down by their friends and it was unclear why Zayn’s shirt was off the entire time. His girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, was not present during the fight.
Police were not involved in the fight since the situation died down pretty quickly. A statement from Zayn’s rep was not released in regards to the situation.
Nigeria Bans Twitter After Company Deleted Tweet From President Buhari!
The Nigerian government announced that it has “indefinitely suspended” Twitter’s operations in the country in a statement on Friday.
According to CNN, a statement on the suspension was posted on the official Twitter account of the Ministry of Information and Culture.
“The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria,” the statement read.
The American social media company is being accused of allowing its platform to be used “for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
The suspension comes two days after Twitter deleted a tweet by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari that was reportedly perceived as offensive.
President Buhari warned insurrectionists that they were in for a “rude shock” on Tuesday, then tweeted a message referring to the 1967-70 civil war that killed at least 1 million people.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War,” his tweet stated.
“Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” he continued. His tweet was allegedly taken as a warning of a fierce crackdown on growing violence.
Twitter confirmed that Buhari’s message was removed for violating its “abusive behavior” policy, also leading to a 12-hour suspension of his account.
Delta Air Lines Flight Diverted To New Mexico After Passenger Tries To Breach Cockpit!
An unruly passenger who tried breaking into the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Tennessee from California was subdued by cabin crew and fellow passengers as the plane was diverted to New Mexico, officials said.
Delta Flight 386, from Los Angeles bound for Nashville, arrived around 2:20 p.m. local time at Albuquerque International Sunport, where authorities removed the passenger from the plane and took him into custody, an airport spokesperson said.
Delta said the Boeing 737-900 had 162 passengers and six crew members aboard.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Albuquerque said on Twitter that it was responding to the incident and that there was "no threat to the public at this time." The FBI provided no further details.
The airline and law enforcement did not say whether the individual was armed, whether he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs or what may have prompted his outburst.
No one was hurt during the incident, and the flight resumed its trip to Nashville after the diversion, the airport spokesperson said.
Los Angeles-based CBS News affiliate KCBS-TV posted cellphone video taken by several passengers showing a man lying on his stomach in the aisle of the aircraft repeatedly yelling “Stop this plane" as he was being restrained.
A flight attendant and passengers bound his hands and feet with yellow cord, then carried him to the rear of aircraft, where he was placed face down in a seat, the video clips showed.
“Thanks to the crew and passengers of Delta Flight 386 ... who assisted in detaining an unruly passenger as the flight diverted to Albuquerque," Delta said in a statement, adding that aircraft landed without incident and the passenger was removed by law enforcement.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
BALLER SETUP IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT!
A RV and WalMart? What could be better!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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