Iggy Azalea for Harper's Bazaar Vietnam - July 2021!
Weeks ago, Iggy Azalea debuted a stunning all-red look on Instagram, and it's safe to say that it wasn't Whole Lotta Red-related. In a recent post to Instagram, the In My Defense femcee revealed that she had landed the cover of Harpers Bazaar Vietnam, and the red-hot look was merely a part of her steamy photoshoot for the magazine.
Throughout several pictures, you can see Iggy embracing what she describes as "Jessica rabbit" aesthetic, as she rocks a form-fitting red dress, a sweeping black dress, and a striking zebra print top. Check out her gorgeous, all-red look for the cover of Harpers Bazaar Vietnam below.
Iggy got extremely candid during her cover story for Harpers Bazaar Vietnam, reportedly telling the magazine, "I’m so excited for what’s happening this year! I put in all the groundwork during the pandemic last year and made use of my time at home. Now in 2021, everything is finally ready to share with the world. I have an album on the way, my fragrance Devil’s Advocate is out, a US tour is happening and tons more… I am busier than I have been in years…"
As previously reported, Iggy Azalea has already confirmed that her forthcoming album will finally release in August, with her imminent single "I Am The Stripclub" set to stoke excitement for the project when it arrives this Friday. Now with the reveal that she will be touring, it's evident that the mother of one has even bigger plans for this year than fans previously imagined.
Regardless if you debate her rapping skills, She MURDERED these pics! FABULOUS!
Sha’Carri Richardson, a Track Sensation, Tests Positive for Marijuana But Will Compete in the Olympics!
The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced the positive test result Friday morning, and said Richardson had accepted a suspension of one month, starting on June 28. That could clear her in time to run in the 4x100 meter relay that takes place later in the Games — if she is named to the U.S. team.
In an interview with NBC on Friday, Richardson blamed the positive test on her use of marijuana as a way to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother while she was in Oregon for the Olympic trials. Richardson, who was raised by her grandmother, said she learned about the death from a reporter during an interview and called it triggering and “definitely nerve-shocking.”
“It sent me into a state of emotional panic,” she said, adding, “I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.”
She apologized to her fans, her family and her sponsors, saying, “I greatly apologize if I let you guys down, and I did.”
U.S.A. Track & Field has notified other women who competed in the 100-meter final at the trials about the failed drug test, according to two people with direct knowledge of the information, and several runners have been told that they have moved up a spot in the final standings.
Jenna Prandini, who placed fourth at the trials, has been notified that she will now be one of the three American women running the 100 in Tokyo, and Gabby Thomas, who finished fifth at the trials, was named as an alternate for the race, the people said.
Richardson will be eligible to return to competition just before the track and field events at the Games begin on July 30. That day’s schedule includes the first qualifying rounds in the women’s 100, an event that now will happen without her.
Early Thursday afternoon, Richardson cryptically tweeted, “I am human.” And on NBC on Friday, she expanded on that thought.
“I just say, don’t judge me and I am human — I’m you, I just happen to run a little faster,” she said, adding that she expects some people to criticize her marijuana use. “They don’t necessarily understand, and I wouldn’t even call them haters.”
While Richardson’s suspension will be over by the time the Olympic track and field competition begins, the positive test erased her Olympic trials performance in the women’s 100, meaning she will not run in the event. Unlike the Olympic selection processes of some other countries, U.S.A. Track & Field’s procedures leave little room for discretion over who qualifies. They dictate that the top three finishers in a given event at the trials qualify for the Olympics, provided their performances reach the Olympic standard.
It is possible that Richardson could still compete in the 4x100-meter relay even if she is ruled out of the individual race. The decision would be up to U.S.A. Track & Field, the national governing body of the sport.
Up to six athletes are selected for the country’s relay pool, and four of them must be the top three finishers in the 100 meters at the Olympic trials and the alternate. The governing body names the remaining two members of the relay pool.
In a statement, U.S.A. Track & Field said Richardson’s situation “is incredibly unfortunate and devastating for everyone involved,” but made no mention of whether or how she would compete at the Olympics.
Renaldo Nehemiah, Richardson’s agent, did not respond on Thursday to a phone call or a text message.
Marijuana is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances. Both USADA and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee are signatories to the WADA code, meaning they follow its rules.
“While we are heartbroken, the USOPC is steadfast in its commitment to clean competition and it supports the anti-doping code,” the organization said in a statement Friday morning. “A positive test for any banned substance comes with consequences and we are working with the USATF to determine the appropriate next steps. We are dedicated to providing Sha’Carri the support services she needs during this difficult time.”
Marijuana is banned only during in-competition periods, which are defined as beginning at 11:59 p.m. on the day before a competition and ending at its conclusion. Athletes may have up to 150 nanograms per milliliter of THC, the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, without causing a positive test.
According to USADA, marijuana is a prohibited substance because it can enhance performance, it poses a health risk to athletes and its use violates the spirit of the sport.
“The rules are clear, but this is heartbreaking on many levels; hopefully, her acceptance of responsibility and apology will be an important example to us all that we can successfully overcome our regrettable decisions, despite the costly consequences of this one to her,” Travis Tygart, chief executive of USADA, said Friday in an emailed statement.
A suspension for testing positive for marijuana can be up to two years. The minimum length is a month, if an athlete can prove the use of marijuana was not related to sports performance and if the person completes a substance abuse treatment program. Just last month USADA suspended Kahmari Montgomery, a sprinter, for one month after he tested positive for marijuana.
Richardson’s positive test came about a week before the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee needs to submit the names of its athletes competing in Tokyo. And Richardson was not only supposed to be one of them, but also was expected to be one of the most recognizable Olympians, at least by the end of the Games.
She dominated the opening weekend of the trials, drawing attention for her scintillating performances, her long orange hair (“to make sure that I’m visible and being seen,” she said) and an emotional moment when she sprinted into the stands to hug her grandmother.
Her victory in 10.86 seconds made her an instant favorite to win the gold medal in Tokyo and set up a highly anticipated showdown at the Olympics with the Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won the 100 at the last world championships. Richardson ran the second-fastest 100 this year, behind Fraser-Pryce, and in April ran the sixth-fastest time ever.
“This will be the last time the U.S. doesn’t come home with a gold medal in the 100,” Richardson said to NBC.
Lil Kim Reacts To 50 Cent’s Diss: I See U Still In Ur Feels About That Dinner Date!
It’s safe to say Lil Kim had one of the most memorable looks as she donned all while with triangle bangs complete with a Prada broach in her hair.
50 Cent couldn’t help himself and made Lil Kim one of his latest celebrity targets on Instagram.
He shared a side by side of her and an owl and wrote,
“who did this s***, this ain’t right. LOL catch FOR LIFE on IMDb Tv now !”
Lil Kim’s longtime boyfriend and father of her daughter, Mr. Papers, wasted no time in responding.
He commented,“Leave my wife out of the jokes ya heard”
Now, Lil Kim is speaking on it and suggested 50 Cent is salty that he turned her down for a dinner date.
She reposted his comparison with the caption,
“The accuracy [crying laughing Emojis] Hilarious [laughing Emojis] I ain’t bothered not one bit. My family & friends more mad than me. [laughing Emoji]
S*** like this don’t move me one way or another cause I’m still a bad b**** that n***az b****es, mommies, daughters, and aunties still want to be till this day and I love it!! [laughing Emojis]”
She continued,
@50cent I see u still in ur feels about that dinner date u asked me on that I had to turn down. Let it go u have a beautiful girlfriend, I have a loving husband. Let it go.”
She went on to address anyone who has an issue with Mr. Papers’ comment.
“And for those of u coming at my husband, Mr. Papers, he did real nigga shit. What a husband is suppose to do…All y’all can go to hell. Not Respectfully. 50cent, I address that situation all in my book coming in November. Make sure you go get it. Pre-orders available now. Be Blessed every one, stay positive.”
What are your thoughts on Lil Kim’s response?
#RHOA: Cynthia Bailey Doesn't Know if She'll Return to RHOA: 'All Good Things Must Come to an End'
Cynthia Bailey's future on The Real Housewives of Atlanta is still up in the air, she says.
The supermodel, 54, said Wednesday that she still hasn't heard if she's coming back to the long-running Bravo show.
"I don't even know if I'm gonna be returning next season," she admitted, when asked about the possible fates of two of her cast mates, Porsha Williams and Drew Sidora.
The reality star also clarified that she hasn't been formally let go from the show, but "I don't have a contract in my hand" just yet.
"I don't know what's happening," she said, adding she'd hope to show her life as a wife to broadcaster Mike Hill. "I'm in a really happy place in my life. My fans got to see my happy ending. So I want them to be able to see me happy," she said.
No matter what happens. Bailey said she's choosing to focus on the "amazing" 11 seasons she's had.
"If I don't come back, I wish the show well. It's been an incredible journey with incredible memories," she said. "However it works out, Bravo has been amazing to me. This platform has been amazing. It's created so many opportunities for me. I'm good."
"I'm hopeful I won't be out of the Bravo business. I just won't maybe be on this show anymore. I have a lot of other things I would like to do with Bravo," she said, jokingly adding: "You'll still be seeing these cheekbones."
This isn't the first time that Bailey has spoken up about her RHOA fate. During an appearance on the Wendy Williams Show last week, she joked about rumors spreading online that she will not be a part of the Bravo reality show's upcoming 14th season.
Bailey's teases came right at the top of her segment with Williams, after the talk show host told Bailey the two were "going to light New York on fire!" with a dinner and a night out on the town.
"You're paying, right?" Bailey asked. "Word on the street is I may be out of a job, so I'm going to need you to pay if we're gonna go to dinner!"
Bailey has been a full-time cast member on Real Housewives of Atlanta since its third season, which premiered in 2010.
The most recent season, which finished airing in May, followed Bailey as she walked down the aisle and married husband Mike Hill.
If Bailey does leave the Atlanta Housewives, she won't be going far. She is among the A-List cast of the upcoming Real Housewives crossover reality vacation series, alongside fan-favorites Luann de Lesseps, Melissa Gorga, Teresa Giudice, Kenya Moore, Kyle Richards and Ramona Singer.
The trip was eventful for Bailey, she told Reality Check.
"I always come in peace, love in light, but... I definitely bumped heads with a couple of the ladies," she teased. "You'll be hearing about that soon, I don't want to give too much away, but one unexpected situation happened — I don't want to get into details but I'll just say, the dynamics of the friendship has really changed."
The show will stream on Peacock later this year.
#NewMusic From Raphael Saadiq – My Path!
Legendary singer Raphael Saadiq presents us with the new single “My Path” which is his contribution to the documentary film “A Crime in the Bayou”.
The song was recorded in New Orleans which is also the setting of the film. The song is meant to be uplifting and joyous while capturing the spirit of the city, along with the path we are still marching on towards justice and equality today.
LISTEN HERE
A poignant yet inspiring true story about allyship and justice, the documentary feature A Crime on the Bayou opened in select theaters nationwide on June 18th, 2021
#HipHopNews: Biz Markie Is Still Alive, Manager Confirms Amid Death Rumors on Social Media!
Rumors spread on social media tonight that New York rap icon Biz Markie had died, but those rumors are not true. Biz Markie is still alive and under medical care, his manager Jenni Izumi confirmed in a statement. Many people, including prominent artists like Pharrell and Talib Kweli, shared their reactions as Biz Markie trended on Twitter in the early hours of this morning.
“The news of Biz Markie’s passing is not true,” Izumi wrote. “Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best health care possible. Biz’s wife and family are touched by the outpouring of love and admiration from his friends, peers and fans alike. At this time, we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
The rumors tonight follow reports of health scares in the recent past. Markie was hospitalized in 2020 for an illness related to Type II Diabetes and reportedly suffered a stroke.
Phylicia Rashad backpedals on Cosby tweet: “I fully support survivors of sexual assault”!
Phylicia Rashad is saying that she supports sexual assault survivors!
Yesterday, news broke that disgraced actor and comedian Bill Cosby would be released from prison after serving almost three years because of an agreement with a previous prosecutor that prevented him from being charged in the case.
One of the first public figures who rejoined at this reveal was Cosby friend and before “The Cosby Show” co-star Phylicia Rashad, who played his wife, Claire Huxtable, on the series. “FINALLY!!!!” she tweeted. “A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” And almost immediately, people on social media began condemning the actress for rejoicing over the release of a convicted Cosby years after dozens of women came forward and accused him of drugging and rapping them.
Catching wind of the brutal backlash, Rashad is offering her support to sexual assault survivors. “I fully support survivors of sexual assault coming forward. My post was in no way intended to be insensitive to their truth. Personally, I know from friends and family that such abuse has lifelong residual effects. My heartfelt wish is for healing,” she tweeted. However, her initial tweet still remains up.
Cosby has also broken his silence since his release. On his social media accounts, he posted the message: “I have never changed my stance nor my story,” he wrote in the tweet. “I have always maintained my innocence. Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law. #BillCosby.”
This message was posted shortly after he and his attorneys held a press conference to discuss his conviction being overturned. Accusers such as Victoria Valentino and Sarita Butterfield, who’ve alleged that Cosby previously drugged and raped them, have also spoken out today. “I’m surprised and shocked with today’s news of Cosby’s release,” Butterfield said. “It seems the justice system served the criminal, in this case, as opposed to the victims. At this point, I just hope that he took time to reflect on the pain and anguish his actions caused so many women. And also, puts in the work towards becoming a better person.”
Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg Surrenders Ahead Of Expected Charges!
Donald Trump’s longtime finance chief surrendered early Thursday to New York authorities for arraignment in the first criminal indictment arising from a two-year investigation into the former president’s company.
Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg was photographed walking into a building that houses both the criminal courts and the Manhattan district attorney’s office around 6:20 a.m.
Weisselberg, 73, was due to be arraigned in the afternoon on a grand jury indictment charging him and Trump’s namesake company with tax crimes related to fringe benefits given to employees, like the use of apartments, cars and school tuition, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
The indictment, returned Wednesday, will remain under seal until Weisselberg’s court appearance, the people said. They were not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation and did so on condition of anonymity.
Weisselberg’s lawyers, Mary Mulligan and Bryan Skarlatos, said in a statement that the executive will plead not guilty and “fight these charges in court.”
A lieutenant to generations of Trumps, Weisselberg has intimate knowledge of the former president’s business dealings and the case could give prosecutors the means to pressure him into cooperating with an ongoing probe into other aspects of the company’s business.
So far, though, there’s no sign that the man regarded by Trump’s daughter Ivanka as a “fiercely loyal” deputy who’s “stood alongside my father and our family” for decades will suddenly turn on them.
In a statement Thursday, the Trump Organization defended Weisselberg, saying the 48-year employee was being used by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.’s office as “a pawn in a scorched-earth attempt to harm the former president.”
“This is not justice; this is politics,” the Trump Organization said, arguing that neither the IRS nor any other district attorney would ever think of bringing such charges over employee benefits.
There was no indication Trump himself would be charged at this stage of the investigation, jointly pursued by Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats.
Trump, a Republican, did not respond to reporters’ shouted questions about the case as he visited Texas on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, he blasted New York prosecutors as “rude, nasty, and totally biased” and said his company’s actions were “standard practice throughout the U.S. business community, and in no way a crime.”
Vance declined to comment on the case as he arrived at the courthouse Thursday, saying only “See you all at 2:15” — a reference to Weisselberg’s expected arraignment time.
Vance, who leaves office at the end of the year, has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into a variety of matters involving Trump and the Trump Organization, such as hush-money payments paid to women on Trump’s behalf and truthfulness in property valuations and tax assessments, among other matters.
Vance fought a long battle to get Trump’s tax records and has been subpoenaing documents and interviewing company executives and other Trump insiders.
James assigned two lawyers from her office to work with Vance’s team on the criminal probe while continuing her own civil investigation.
Weisselberg, an intensely private man who lived for years in a modest home on Long Island, came under scrutiny of Vance’s investigators, in part, because of questions about his son’s use of a Trump apartment at little or no cost.
Barry Weisselberg, who managed a Trump-operated ice rink in Central Park, testified in a 2018 divorce deposition that the Trump Parc East apartment was a “corporate apartment, so we didn’t have rent.”
Barry’s ex-wife, Jen Weisselberg, has been cooperating with both inquiries and given investigators reams of tax records and other documents. In March, she told The New Yorker that some compensation for Trump Organization executives came in the form of apartments and other items and that “only a small part of your salary is reported.”
The Trump Organization is the business entity through which the former president manages his many entrepreneurial affairs, including his investments in office towers, hotels and golf courses, his many marketing deals and his television pursuits. Trump’s sons Donald Jr. and Eric have been in charge of the company’s day-to-day operations since he became president.
James Repetti, a tax lawyer and professor at Boston College Law School, said a company like the Trump Organization would generally have a responsibility to withhold taxes not just on salary, but other forms of compensation — like the use of an apartment or automobile.
Such perks wouldn’t be considered taxable income if they were required as a condition of employment, Repetti said, such as providing an apartment for the convenience of an employee who is required to be at the office or worksite at odd or frequent hours, or allowing the use of a car for business purposes.
Another prominent New York City real estate figure, the late Leona Helmsley, was convicted of tax fraud in a federal case that arose from her company paying to remodel her home without her reporting that as income.
The Trump Organization case involves possible violations of New York state tax laws.
“The IRS routinely looks for abuse of fringe benefits when auditing closely held businesses,” Repetti said. “The temptation for the business is that it claims a tax deduction for the expense, while the recipient does not report it in income.”
Michael Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who’s been cooperating with Vance’s investigation, wrote in his book “Disloyal,” that Trump and Weisselberg were “past masters at allocating expenses that related to non-business matters and finding a way to categorize them so they weren’t taxed.”
Weisselberg first started working for Trump’s real estate-developer father, Fred, after answering a newspaper ad for a staff accountant in 1973, working his way up.
Keeping a low profile — aside from a 2004 appearance as a guest judge on Trump’s reality TV show “The Apprentice” — Weisselberg was barely mentioned in news articles before Trump started running for president and questions arose about the boss’ finances and charity.
Cohen said Weisselberg was the one who decided how to secretly reimburse him for a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. The finance chief made headlines again when it was revealed that his signature appeared on one of the reimbursement checks.
Barbara Res, who oversaw the construction of Manhattan’s Trump Tower, says she was surprised to learn about the seemingly large role Weisselberg has played in Trump’s business. She recalls him years ago just collecting rent, paying bills and doing Trump’s taxes.
“He was the chief accountant, but he wasn’t in the inner circle. He would come in with his head down, ‘Yes, Mr. Trump. No, Mr. Trump,’” Res said. “He’s the only person I knew who would call him Mr. Trump. Now he’s a big shot.”
Meghan McCain exits 'The View': She says 'I just feel like it's the right decision for me'!
Meghan McCain confirmed reports she's leaving The View. McCain has been the conservative commentator on the show for four years, often getting into fiery debates with her co-stars. But there was nothing but respect across the panel as she made her announcement at the top of Thursday's show.
"I'm just going to rip the bandaid off," McCain began. "This is going to be my last season here at The View... It is not easy to leave, I just feel like it's the right decision for me."
McCain will finish out Season 24 alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines, which wraps at the end of July. Although her contract wasn't up, per Variety, the television personality said she's making the best decision for her family.
"Look, COVID has changed the world for all of us and it changed the way, at least for me, the way I am looking at life," she shared, explaining that location was a factor in choosing not to return. McCain moved to Washington, D.C. amid the pandemic where she and her husband are raising daughter, Liberty. The View tapes in New York City.
"I have this really wonderful life here that ultimately, I didn't want to leave," she added, but called the show "one of the greatest" privileges of her life.
McCain revealed her father, the late senator John McCain, was who encouraged her to join the ABC talk show.
"He said that I could never give up an opportunity to work on such an iconic show and to work with Whoopi Goldberg — and he was right," she said. "It was one of the last things he told me to do before he died."
Joy Behar, who often sparred with McCain, wished her colleague nothing but the best.
"You and I have had our disagreements," Behar said, noting how they both stuck their necks out for their opposing political views. "I really, really appreciated that you were a formidable opponent in many ways and that you spoke your mind. You're no snowflake, missy."
McCain wrapped up with a parting note to the media.
"The media needs to do a better job of covering the women on this show," McCain declared. "We are covered with deep misogyny and sexism by the media. If five men were doing what we do every day, I really do believe that we'd probably have a Pulitzer Prize at this point. It's always reduced to really reductive coverage. I implore the media to do better as they cover the rest of you going forward."
McCain helped make The View daytime's most-watched talk show during her tenure. It won the 2020 Emmy award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show and became a go-to stop during the 2020 presidential election. McCain is the second longest-running conservative co-host on the program behind Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
WATCH
"For the past four years, Meghan McCain has brought her fierce determination and vast political knowledge and experience to The View. She recently came to us with her decision to depart the show at the end of this season, a difficult choice that she made for her and her family that we respect and understand," a spokesperson for ABC News tells Yahoo Entertainment. "We wish the best for Meghan as she plans her next chapter, and thank her for the passion and unique voice that she shared with us and our viewers each day."
Britney Spears's Request To Remove Father From Conservatorship Denied By Judge!
Britney Spears's conservators are at odds over the treatment of the pop star — and Judge Brenda Penny ensured Jamie Spears isn't going anywhere at the moment.
In documents obtained by Variety, the judge denied Britney's request to remove her father as sole conservator of her estate without prejudice. While the singer's court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham III, filed papers in November 2020, the ruling is noteworthy given Judge Penny signed the document on Wednesday — one week after Britney's shocking plea to the court, calling the conservatorship "abusive."
The filing states that the court found Britney to be "substantially unable to manage his or her financial resources or to resist fraud or undue influence." The singer's attorney claimed in documents his client was "afraid of her father" and would refuse to perform again if remained in control of her estate.
Jamie made his stance clear on co-conservator, Jodi Montgomery, in his own documents filed on Tuesday.
Following last week's explosive hearing, Britney's father filed papers blaming Jodi Montgomery for most of the singer's issues: like not being able to make her own reproductive choices. In a new statement, Montgomery says she has been a "tireless advocate" for Britney over the past two years and hopes to create "a path for termination of the conservatorship."
Britney is under a conservatorship of both the estate and person. Her father controls all financial decisions as conservator of the estate, while Montgomery is in charge the superstar's medical and personal choices. In March, Britney's court-appointed lawyer filed paperwork asking the court to select Montgomery as the singer's permanent conservator. However, the "Slave 4 U" singer made it clear she's unhappy with both parties, telling the court she wants her "life back."
"My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a huge role in punishing me ... they should be in jail," Spears emotionally told the judge last Wednesday. "I'm talking to you today because I feel again, even Jodi is starting to kind of take it too far with me."
Montgomery's attorney says, "If Britney wants any issue" brought to the court, "Ms. Montgomery is and has always been ready, willing, and able to do so."
"If Britney wants any issue brought up to the Court, Ms. Montgomery is and has always been ready, willing, and able to do so," Lauriann Wright of Wright Kim Douglas, ALC, tells Yahoo Entertainment. "From the very beginning of her appointment in September 2019, Ms. Montgomery and the medical team that she assembled have had one primary goal — to assist and encourage Britney in her path to no longer needing a conservatorship of the person."
Montgomery's attorney adds, "Britney's choice to marry and to start a family have never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms. Montgomery has been conservator of the person."
In Jamie's court filing, he said he's "concerned" for his daughter and called out both Montgomery and Britney's lawyer. Lawyers for the elder Spears say he's "greatly saddened to hear of his daughter's difficulties and suffering, and he believes that there must be an investigation into those claims." Jamie claims he's been cut off from communicating with Britney and "is simply not involved in any decisions related to Ms. Spears's personal care of medical or reproductive issues" as Montgomery is "fully in charge" of her "day-to-day" care.
However, Montgomery's statement insinuates many of Britney's issues do ultimately fall back on Jamie. Read the statement in full below:
The conservatorship of the person for Britney Spears includes multiple layers of protection for Britney, including the Court, the court investigator which regularly updates the Court, her medical team, and my client, Jodi Montgomery. In fact, conservatorships in California are subject to the strictest laws in the nation to protect against any potential abuses, including a licensing requirement for all professional fiduciaries. Ms. Montgomery is a licensed private professional fiduciary who, unlike family members who serve as conservators, is required to follow a Code of Ethics which can be found here. More information about California private professional fiduciaries can be found here. Private professional fiduciaries often serve in cases as a neutral decision-maker when there are complex family dynamics, as in this case. As counsel, my firm and I serve as the liaison between Ms. Montgomery in her role as Conservator, and the Court, ensuring absolute compliance with the legal requirements of the Conservatorship.
I can state unequivocally that Jodi Montgomery has been a tireless advocate for Britney and for her well-being. While she does not control Britney’s financial assets, she is responsible for her personal care, and if Britney wants any issue brought up to the Court, Ms. Montgomery is and has always been ready, willing, and able to do so. From the very beginning of her appointment in September 2019, Ms. Montgomery and the medical team that she assembled have had one primary goal – to assist and encourage Britney in her path to no longer needing a conservatorship of the person.
As to Britney’s right to marry, that is unaffected by the conservatorship under Probate Code §1900. As to family planning, that is also unaffected by the conservatorship. If Britney needs any assistance with either, Ms. Montgomery has and will be there to provide any assistance needed to Britney. Britney’s choice to marry and to start a family have never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms. Montgomery has been conservator of the person.
Since being appointed in September 2019, Ms. Montgomery has tirelessly acted in Britney’s best interests with the approval of her doctors and the oversight of the Court. All of Ms. Montgomery’s fees and costs are approved by the Court, as required by law, after petitions setting forth her fees and costs in detail are filed with the Court in the public record. To protect Britney’s medical privacy, portions of the time records contained in those petitions do have to be sealed.
Because Ms. Montgomery does not have any power or authority over the conservatorship of the estate, every expenditure made by Ms. Montgomery for Britney has had to be first approved by Jamie Spears as the conservator of the estate. Some expenses are pre-approved, but if new services or an increase in existing services is sought, Mr. Spears has to approve that expenditure. Practically speaking, since everything costs money, no expenditures can happen without going through Mr. Spears and Mr. Spears approving them. Ms. Montgomery has advocated on Britney’s behalf for any expenditures that Britney has requested as well as for expenditures recommended by Britney’s medical team. Not every requested expenditure has been approved. Jamie Spears, as conservator of the estate, has a duty to make decisions in the best interests of the estate, and sometimes that has meant requested expenditures have been denied or limited.
Ms. Montgomery’s tenure as conservator of the person beginning in September 2019 has been complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Britney lives in the Southern California area, who has suffered some of the highest Covid rates in the country. California’s state of emergency due to the pandemic started on March 4, 2020, with many restrictions not being lifted in the Los Angeles area until just weeks ago. Britney is someone who was at an increased risk of severe illness due to preexisting conditions. A well-renowned epidemiologist was brought onto the medical team and that doctor’s advice was followed to ensure Britney’s safety from exposure to the virus at all times.
While it is Ms. Montgomery’s professional duty to be Britney’s protector and advocate, honoring her wishes and seeing to her best interests while Britney is under conservatorship, it is her sincere personal wish that Britney continues to make meaningful progress in her well-being so that her conservatorship of the person can be terminated. Ms. Montgomery looks forward to presenting a comprehensive Care Plan to the Court setting forth a path for termination of the conservatorship for Britney, and Ms. Montgomery looks forward to supporting Britney through that process.
ALERT! ‘Black Panther 2’ Begins Production!
Marvel has officialy started production for Black Panther 2. In an interview with Variety, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige said the sequal to the sequel to the Oscar-winning, moview “Black Panther” began filming Tuesday at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Marvel Studios chief.
Variety reports, Ryan Coogler is returning to direct the screenplay. According to Feige said everyone from the original cast is also coming back — except the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in August 2020 after a four year battle with colon cancer.
“It’s clearly very emotional without Chad,” Feige said before the “Black Widow” Global Fan Event in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. “But everyone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans. We’re going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud.”
According to Variety, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Florence Kasumba, and Angela Bassett would all likely reprise their roles from the original film. (A representative for Marvel Studios said there was no further update.)
NBA playoffs: Chris Paul's 41 points put away Clippers, Suns advance to first NBA Finals since 1993!
Chris Paul looked like a man playing for his first trip to an NBA Finals in a 16-year career, and that performance now has his Phoenix Suns one series away from their first-ever championship.
The Suns defeated the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers 130-103 to win the Western Conference finals and advance to the Finals, their first trip since 1993. They also become the first team to reach the NBA Finals after missing the playoffs 10 years in a row.
It took a vintage night from Paul, for better or worse, to get them there. Paul finished with 41 points on 16-of-24 shooting (7-of-8 from deep), eight assists, four rebounds and three steals.
A close first half went the Suns' way at the end, with Phoenix holding a nine-point lead at halftime. That lead extended to as much as 17 points in the third quarter, but the Clippers looked on their way to another wild rally when they cut the lead to seven.
A personal 8-0 run from Paul led the Suns' response, interrupted by one of his best acting jobs in recent memory, and the lead ballooned to as much as 28 points in the fourth quarter.
After getting burned by Paul George for 41 points in Game 5, the Suns went all out to prevent a repeat performance. Led by Torrey Craig's on-ball defense, the Suns held George to 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
Beyond a 26-point, nine-rebound performance by Marcus Morris Sr., George didn't have much help from a Clippers team still missing its top player in Kawhi Leonard and top two big men in Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac.
With Ibaka and Zubac out, DeMarcus Cousins was the Clippers' only center available to counter Deandre Ayton, who was again impressive in the paint. The former No. 1 overall pick had 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting and 19 rebounds, embracing a role in which he does most of his work away from the ball.
The Suns have been good … and undeniably lucky
Let’s make something clear here: The Suns have been playing like a deserving NBA Finals team.
Paul has performed well enough to re-establish his value as a franchise cornerstone at the age of 36. Devin Booker looks more and more like a superstar. Ayton has managed to remove some theoretical regrets over taking him instead of Luka Doncic or Trae Young in the 2018 NBA draft. The supporting cast has taken a big step forward under Monty Williams.
And yet, you really can’t look at the Suns’ path to the Finals without noticing who wasn’t there.
They played the Los Angeles Lakers while Anthony Davis dealt with a groin strain that eventually knocked him out of the series. They played the Denver Nuggets while the team was missing its second-most important player in Jamal Murray. And, of course, the team never saw two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in this series.
Injuries have been a recurring story in the NBA playoffs thanks to last year's shortened offseason, and the Suns stand as the primary beneficiary of that. It could continue in the NBA Finals as well, with Antetokounmpo and Young both currently dealing with injuries.
That might be a frustrating note for a team that probably felt it was getting a raw deal by playing the defending champions in the first round, but it’s just how this has all played out.
Rihanna’s Version Of Business Casual Includes Zero Pants!
Rihanna puts her own spin on business casual.On Wednesday, the 33-year-old superstar joined boyfriend A$AP Rocky for a business meeting in NYC, wearing an oversized pinstripe Junya Watanabe blazer ($1,352.50) — and skipping pants.
The fashion and beauty mogul accessorized with Luis de Javier Pumps, an R13 baseball cap and a Goyard bag.
Adding to Rihanna’s leggy look, the tiny white shorts she wore underneath her giant jacket were only visible from the back.
Perhaps the fashionable couple are cooking up a new collab; both Rihanna and Rocky have separately designed shoes for Amina Muaddi, with the bad gal having worn her beau’s designs more than once.
The two rekindled their romance during the coronavirus pandemic and have been openly flaunting their love as of late. A$AP Rocky called Rihanna “the love of [his] life” and “the one” in a recent interview, and the pair have shown tons of PDA while out on dates in NYC this week.
Tamar Braxton Speaks On Her Suicide Attempt 1 Year After The Incident!
Tamar Braxton is getting vulnerable as she opens up about her suicide attempt from last year and her battle with WEtv. 2020 was a hard year for many of us, including the Grammy-nominated artist and podcaster Tamar Braxton, 44. As previously reported, Tamar Braxton made headlines last year when news broke that she tried to take her own life on July 16, 2020. At the time of the incident, Tamar was reportedly home with her young son and her then-fiancé David Adefeso, who found her unresponsive, and she was rushed to the hospital.
During a recent interview with PEOPLE, Tamar opened up about her suicide attempt and where she was mentally at that dark time.
“That time of my life was so dark and so heavy. I didn’t see how I was going to come out on the other side. I didn’t even know that there was another side. But I chose to change my life. Most people think, ‘Oh, she went to a hotel, probably took a bunch of drugs, was on a binge.’ It didn’t happen like that. It was just everyday life, trying to figure out how to get through the day.”
At that time of her life, Tamar was in the process of filming her own docuseries, Tamar Braxton: Get Ya Life!, for WE tv. She’s also been a part of her family’s reality TV series, Braxton Family Values, which also airs on WE tv.
Tamar has not been shy about speaking about her ill relationship with WE tv lately and how they treated her during her time with the network. In 2018, while filming for BFV, it was revealed without Tamar’s consent that she was molested as a child. During her interview, Tamar shared how betrayed she felt by WEtv.
How it came out was very traumatic for me. I thought I had successfully buried that part of me, but it was manifesting in different ways. It was coming out in how I dealt with things emotionally, how I looked at situations, how I conducted myself.”
Tamar also revealed that she wanted to do a positive reality series but the network would edit her in a bad light. After a scene, I’d watch it back, and it would be nothing like how it went down. They started piecing words together and sentences. I just thought that wasn’t necessary. I wanted to do positive television.it was about a positive Black family. That’s just not what it was anymore.I felt ignored. That’s when things really started to go downhill for me I still love television. but I’m definitely not ever doing another docuseries about my life“dedicated to being the best mom, the best person I can be. I am moving forward.”
In addition to that, the ‘Love And War’ singer shared her son, 8-year-old Logan Vincent Herbert, helped pull her out of the dark place she was experiencing.
“I didn’t want to continue being a disappointment for him. How can his friends’ parents respect me if this is what they see every day? I wouldn’t let my kid go over to a child’s house if this is what was portrayed on television. In my sickness, I thought that if I can take the embarrassment out of his life, maybe he would have a chance to have the best life.”
What are your thoughts on what Tamar Braxton?
SoHo Karen’ Charged With Hate Crimes After Falsely Accusing Black Teen of Theft!
SoHo Karen’s legal troubles have intensified. According to ABC News, 22-year-old Miya Ponsetto has been charged with federal hate crimes in connection to a 2020 attack on a Black teen. The incident, which was captured on camera, took place on Dec. 26 in the lobby of NYC’s Arlo Hotel, where she falsely accused a 14-year-old boy of stealing her phone.
The child’s father, famed jazz musician Keyon Harrold, posted footage of the altercation on social media, showing a masked Ponsetto demanding hotel staff to get her iPhone back from the teen. Surveillance footage also captured Ponsetto tackling the boy to the ground, before an Uber driver returned the misplaced device to the hotel.
“She scratched me; she Tackled and grabbed him. He is a child!” Harrold captioned the Instagram video. “Now watch it again. This lady is not even a guest at the hotel. She checked out of the hotel on the 23rd of December; today is the 26th. Now watch as the manager advocates for the lady who is not even a hotel guest, insisting and attempting to use his managerial authority to force my son to show his phone to this random lady. He actually empowered her!!! He didn’t even consider the fact we were actually the guests! Now think about the trauma that my son now has to carry, only coming downstairs to have box day brunch with his dad.”
Ponsetto was arrested in California on Jan. 8 and charged with two counts of attempted assault, attempted robbery grand larceny, and endangering the welfare of a child. Fast-forward to Wednesday, when a grand jury indicted her on two counts of unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime, aggravated harassment in the second degree, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Her attorney, Paul D’Emilia, called the hate crime charges “shameful.”
‘SNL’ Alum Chris Kattan Removed From Flight for Allegedly Refusing to Wear Mask!
Former Saturday Night Live cast member and A Night at the Roxbury star Chris Kattan was ordered to get off an American Airlines flight Monday for refusing to properly wear his mask, TMZ reports.
Kattan was aboard a flight headed back to Los Angeles out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when he allegedly exhibited behavior that alarmed his fellow passengers. Witnesses claim Kattan was stumbling around, and appeared to be sick with mucus hanging from his nose. Flight attendants brought him paper towels after being alerted by passengers of his appearance, but also asked that he put on a mask since he wasn’t wearing one at the time.
American Airlines abides by U.S. federal law which requires that all passengers wear a face covering while on board their planes. Refusal to do so could result in either being denied boarding or future travel with the airline.
Kattan allegedly put on the mask, but kept it below his nose. After failing to comply with multiple requests from flight attendants to wear his face covering properly, he was asked to get off the flight. Kattan pleaded that he not be removed, but attendants threatened to call the cops if didn’t deplane, so he got up and left.
Kattan’s lawyer, Samuel Joshua Smith, told TMZ that his client’s bizarre conduct was the result of a “severe allergic reaction to supplements he has been taking to treat lingering neck pain.”
“We strongly deny that Mr. Kattan would ever refuse to wear a mask. Mr. Kattan is fully vaccinated and unequivocally supports CDC guidelines,” Smith said. “This past Monday Mr. Kattan was returning to Los Angeles from a successful tour of comedy shows. Unfortunately, Mr. Kattan suffered a strong allergic reaction to supplements he has been taking to treat lingering neck pain from his injury on SNL. This reaction affected his balance and psychological state. The effects also caused him to have trouble breathing.”
According to Smith, Kattan was able to take the next flight back to L.A.
James Franco settles sexual misconduct lawsuit for $2.2 million!
James Franco has settled his sexual misconduct lawsuit for $2,235,000, Variety reported on Wednesday.
The multimillion-dollar figure was revealed in court filings obtained by the outlet and is pending approval by a Los Angeles judge.
Plaintiffs Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal filed the class-action complaint in LA in October 2019, alleging that Franco, now 43, and his business partner Vince Jolivette had “engaged in widespread inappropriate and sexually charged behavior towards female students by sexualizing their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects” at the acting school the pair once operated.
The parties had first come to an agreement regarding the suit in February. Franco’s production company, Rabbit Bandini, and another of his partners, Jay Davis, were also named.
Tither-Kaplan and Gaal further claimed that students at the $300/month acting school who were willing to strip for Franco and his pals were given preferential treatment.
Per Variety, the proposed cash split in the settlement is as follows: $894,000 would go to Tither-Kaplan and Gaal — divided into $670,500 and $223,500, respectively, minus attorney fees — with $1,341,000 being put into a common fund for the remaining members of the class action.
Tither-Kaplan and Gaal reportedly have approximately two months to turn down the settlement should they want to pursue further action; any unclaimed funds are slated to be contributed to the National Women’s Center.
Franco’s attorneys previously shot down Tither-Kaplan and Gaal’s claims as “false and inflammatory, legally baseless and brought as a class action with the obvious goal of grabbing as much publicity as possible for attention-hungry Plaintiffs.”
The settlement also includes a provision for a joint statement by all parties that allows Franco to continue to deny the allegations, while “[acknolwedging] that Plaintiffs have raised important issues.”
The joint statement continues, “All parties strongly believe that now is a critical time to focus on address the mistreatment of women in Hollywood. All agree on the need to make sure that no one in the entertainment industry — regardless of sex, race, religion, disability, ethnicity, background, gender or sexual orientation — faces discrimination, harassment or prejudice of any kind.”
Franco and Jolivette’s Studio 4, which had branches in Los Angeles and New York, opened in 2014 and closed in 2017.
Robert L. Johnson, America's first Black billionaire is calling for $14 trillion in reparations!
Robert L. Johnson, America's first Black billionaire and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), is calling on the federal government to pay out $14 trillion in reparations to Black Americans — and he wants a check too.
Johnson made the charge in an interview with Vice News published Wednesday.
"Reparations would require the entire country to … admit that the result of slavery has been 200 years of systemic racism and for that reason Black folks have been denied $13-15 trillion of wealth," Johnson told the outlet. "And therefore we as a country now must atone by paying Black people of all stripes —the rich ones, the poor ones, and the middle—out of our pocket."
The figure could equate to roughly $333,400 per person, based on 2019 data from the US Census Bureau that showed there are approximately 41.9 million African-Americans in the US.
The wealth gap between Black and white Americans exists for many reasons. The effects of redlining in the housing market, differences in education, homeownership, lower wages, unconscious and conscious biases, have all contributed.
Johnson, now 75, told Vice News that a $14 trillion payout would be enough money to close the wealth gap. However, he says he's "not exactly optimistic."
There has been legislation introduced to support reparations for Black Americans. A bill to create the "Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act," otherwise known as HR 40, would be a step towards the reparations conservation if it were to get passed. The bill was first introduced in 1989 by Congressman John Conyers.
"HR 40, when it's passed, will not actually provide reparations for anyone, but what it will do is move us on the road to be more truthful and in direct conversation about what happened," Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, a civil rights advocacy organization, told Vice News. "We're also seeing local communities have these conversations, seeing a reparations mindset to some advocacy work to repay Black people."
There have been local efforts, too, including in Evanston, Illinois which in March became the first town in the US to embark on a reparations plan. The Chicago suburb will spend $10 million in total, starting with $400,000 in mortgage relief for families.
Johnson said that reparations should reach Black Americans of all walks of life, even those who have accumulated wealth. Johnson named successful Black people such as Oprah Winfrey, Lebron James, Micheal Jordan, and even himself, of all being deserving of a check.
"If you're a successful Black business, the idea is you've had enough," Johnson told Vice News. "But no one ever asks if [a white-owned business] is too rich to benefit from investing in a football stadium, or receiving other benefits like preferential tax treatment or liquidity injections from the Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the US — here's why it's so powerful and how it affects your financial life
The Federal Reserve ("the Fed") is the central banking system of the US and just about everything it carries out influences your financial decisions.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘THEY FORGOT THEIR WALLETS?’
WalmartiansI think they’re forgetting something?
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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