Christopher Meloni for Men's Health Magazine - September 2021!
Christopher Meloni covers Men’s Health September issue photographed by Ben Watts.
The toughest cop on TV just turned 60. Christopher Meloni, 2021’s most-unexpected sex symbol, keeps getting stronger and now he’s back with his own show, Law & Order: Organized Crime. Finally, he’s calling the shots and loving his life. IT’S MELONI TIME.
On having a renaissance in the back third of his life: “My ass is. It’s cool as shit. The aspect of age comes into play as far as the cover of [this magazine] and how I feel about it. A friend of mine said, ‘Did you ever think in a million years you’d be on the cover of Men’s Health?’ I said, ‘Certainly not at age 60.’”
On the tension in his family during his childhood: “Living in that house was like living in a dark cloud…I just remember always looking around, like, ‘Am I fucking crazy?’…I could feel it. The trauma of childhood is real. And I carry that with me.”
On how he deals with the anxiety his success brought him: “When something weird and out of the norm happens, I don’t panic. I always sit with it and go, All right, let’s experience what’s happening, because getting tenser is not going to help the situation.”
On how he felt when his career started taking off: “When my career started to happen, I could feel it. But I didn’t want to trust it, because I had struggled for so long—or at least it felt like I’d struggled for so long—and I didn’t want it to go away. I don’t know how many people get this opportunity to dream a dream and have it come to fruition. Because everyone does the first part, but to have it come to fruition then starts a whole other journey of Now what? And What is this? And How do you manage? This doesn’t fall under the category of burden or anything like that. It’s just a new world. You’re so used to the old way of: I have to keep this mindset and I’ll just dream a dream. But if the dream actually happens, then you’re like, Okay, now we have to manage the dream. What do we do, actually?”
On how his contract negotiations for Law & Order: SVU broke down: “My thought was: Instead of 22 episodes, bring me back for nine episodes, or bring me back for 18 episodes. They literally came to me on a Thursday night and said, ‘This is the deal. We want the answer by tomorrow. It’s our way or no way.’ I don’t want to fuck around with you guys. This is what I want. If you can’t do it, that’s fine. Let’s figure out my exit.”
On his mentality this time with Law & Order: Organized Crime: “This time around with the Law & Order ride, I’m not stressed by: Will it go well? Will it not go well? Not that I know how it’s going to go. Just that, eh, just ride. Just do, just be. There are bigger things, more important things. I know how important this is to me, but I have a clearer vision of life. I know a little more about love. I know a little more about real pain. I know about joy. I know better management skills. As you go through life, you get a clearer understanding of things, of your holes and of your gifts.”
Nice!
#RHOA: Kenya Moore's Amazon Summer Fashions Are "Gone with the Wind Fabulous"!
Kenya Moore always serves up premium looks and shade on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Recently, she brought some "drama" to an Amazon Live broadcast, and by "drama," I am referring to an over-the-top, scene-stealing swimsuit coverup. She also delivered some shade, and by that I mean sunglasses. The Bravolebrity shared her Amazon must-haves for a summer vacation and her picks did not disappoint. They were all on trend and under the budget.
Kenya shared, "I'm so excited because I love Amazon. So many people don't know my little trade secrets. You look at celebrities and you see them on TV. You see that they have all of these beautiful clothes and they have all of these gorgeous shoes and everything that you can imagine and you're like 'How can they afford all of that?' Well, the little unknown secret is that we use Amazon religiously. Well, I know I do."
The Twirl queen elaborated, "If I'm going on a trip, if I'm just going out with the girls, or on a date, or whatever, I turn to Amazon, especially when I want to get it fast. Amazon Prime is a girl's best friend. I know you know that should be your best friend, not diamonds, Amazon Prime." Ain't that the truth.
"I love to shop for all of my fashions on Amazon. I made some special Hot Girl Summer picks for you," Kenya shared, adding, "Today, we're just focusing on beach. We're focusing on summertime. You can go to the pool in these outfits. You can lounge around your home. You can go out to a dinner. You can just enjoy your summer. This is a Hot Girl Summer, OK?" You don't have to tell us twice.
"What I love the most about all these fashions is that they're so affordable. You don't have to break the bank," Kenya said. Keep on scrolling to see her picks that are all "Gone With the Wind Fabulous."
#MusicNews: #AaliyahisComing, Aaliyah’s Music May Be Finally Coming To Streaming Services!
Aaliyah’s music may be finally coming to streaming services.
The late singer’s label appears to be hinting at the imminent release of Aaliyah’s discography on streaming platforms. Blackground Records 2.0 has set up new social media accounts and launched a new website, AaliyahIsComing.com, while promoting the hashtag #AaliyahIsComing. Fans can also sign up to receive updates via email.
#AaliyahIsComing started trending as fans shared their excitement over the long-awaited release of Aaliyah’s music.
This isn’t the first time that such an announcement has been teased. In late 2019, someone claiming to be Aaliyah’s uncle, Blackground CEO Barry Hankerson, tweeted that Aaliyah’s full discography would be available to stream in January 2020, but it never materialized.
Only Aaliyah’s debut album, 1994’s Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, is currently available for streaming. Her other two albums—1996’s One in a Million and her third and final studio album, 2001’s Aaliyah—are not available on any digital platforms.
This month marks the 20-year anniversary of Aaliyah’s death. The 22-year-old singer died in a plane crash in the Bahamas on Aug. 21, 2001.
#HipHopNews: Dipset gives props to The LOX after Verzuz battle!
Sometimes you’ve just got to give respect where it’s due, and The Diplomats did just that after they hit the stage for their Verzuz battle in New York City’s Madison Square Garden last night.
On Wednesday (Aug. 4), Jim Jones, Cam’ron and Juelz Santana took time to salute Jadakiss and The LOX for their performance, which most of the internet says secured the Yonkers crew an unofficial victory. In the comments section for a celebration video from Jadakiss’, all three rappers gave The LOX props for the epic showcase.
“I tip my hat to u love it for free see you on tour I Had a really blast,” Capo wrote in a comment. “Great night… NYC 4 The Win.. But U Deff got that MVP my boy …Love u bro,” Juelz wrote in another comment.
For his part, Cam’ron uploaded a solo post making light of the event before saluting The LOX in the caption. “Me walking outside after the show. Lolol Gotta tip my hat to @thelox great fucking show y’all!! Tour starts Nx month wit @__stateproperty more dates to be announced,” Cam wrote.
While Dipset and LOX have shown class after their contest, things looked pretty heated during the Verzuz battle, which saw both sides brag and shout obscenities at each other. By the end of things, they gave props to one another and described the night as a win for New York City rap.
While The LOX have kept it classy, rap’s resident super troll 50 Cent joked at Killa Cam’s expense after the Verzuz bout. In an IG post that included a photoshopped image of Jadakiss rocking Cam’ron’s signature pink mink. In the caption, 50 wrote, “@jadakiss The LOX smoked @mr_camron DIPSET last night. LOL took his pink shit!”
The Billionaire's Club Has A New Member Her Name? Rihanna!
Rihanna told us all along she was calling the shots. Out there, collecting money from all manner of ... people.
Now it turns out the singer, actress, cosmetics and lingerie mogul is a billionaire.
Not only that, she's become "the wealthiest female musician in the world and second to Oprah as the richest female entertainer," according to Forbes.
The publication, which has been crunching the numbers behind the Barbadian star's empire, estimates her net worth at a whopping $1.7 billion.
Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician. Surprisingly, the vast majority of it has nothing to do with her record-breaking hits. In fact, most of it — approximately $1.4 billion --has been accumulated one lipstick, mascara tube, and blush brush at a time: the oodles of cash raked in from her Fenty Beauty makeup line launched in 2017 in a 50-50 partnership with luxury brand LVMH.
The brand bucked traditional cosmetic industry standards when it was first unveiled and drew praise for the daring step of including 40 shades of foundation that would provide coverage from deep skin tones to albino skin, and anyone in between. The strategy sparked a movement to be more inclusive within the industry.
Forbes says the rest of Rihanna's fortune stems from her stake in Savage x Fenty, her lingerie company. That is estimated at $270 million. There's also Fenty Skin, which debuted last year and, of course, the revenue that comes from her steady stream of global hits as well as her acting career.
Bad Girl Riri fans have been delighting in the news of her mega-wealth, including some of her musical peers.
Nikki Minaj congratulated her with what could be a rap lyric: "a BILLI-ON here, a BILLI-ON there- Little Bajan bih w/ green [eyes] - dat bag is a different size," Minaj wrote in an Instagram post.
It's been more than five years since Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, released an album. And it seems no one, not even her record label, knows when R9, her rumored and long-awaited reggae album will drop.
For now, fans will have to make due with a new line of products. Last week, Rihanna told her Twitter followers to prepare for Fenty Parfum.
Dr. Dre’s Oldest Daughter, Latanya Young, Says She’s Homeless, Living Out Of Her Car!
Dr. Dre’s oldest daughter says she’s homeless and living out of her car — despite repeated pleas for help to her music mogul father.
LaTanya Young, who works for DoorDash and Uber Eats as a delivery driver, said in a new interview that she hasn’t received money from the Beats founder in a year and a half.
“My kids are staying with friends — they are not living in the car, it’s just me,” Young, who is a single mother of four, told the Daily Mail.
“I’m taking odd jobs just to make it now — I got paid $15 an hour as an assembler at the warehouse. I’m trying to keep my head above water. I’ve been in debt for a while.”
LaTanya is Dre’s daughter with Lisa Johnson, from whom he split when LaTanya was 5 years old. She claims she hasn’t seen the music producer, born Andre Young, in 18 years and can only communicate with him via his team.
LaTanya said she fears losing her rental car because she can’t afford the payments after moving to California from Las Vegas in search of better work.
“The car is a pretty penny,” she explained. “It’s an SUV that costs $2,300 for three weeks and I only paid for one week.
“Sooner or later they are going to take the car.”
LaTanya admitted that Dre has given her money in the past but says he stopped paying in January 2020.
“His lawyer has said that my dad doesn’t want to help me because I’ve spoken about him in the press,” she explained, adding, “I feel like I’m damned if I do, I’m damned if I don’t.
“I’m just trying to communicate with him and see if he wants to talk to his grandkids.”
Another pain point for LaTanya was the news of the nearly $300,000 per month Dre is set to pay ex-wife Nicole Young as part of their divorce settlement.
“It’s embarrassing because people are looking at me wondering: Why?” she said. “What Nicole has got is what my mom should have got.”
DaBaby Receives Open Letter, Offer for Private Meeting From 11 HIV/AIDS Organizations: “We Urge Him to Learn the Facts”!
After controversial remarks about his gay fans and HIV/AIDS led to him being dropped from multiple music festivals, the rapper has an offer for a private meeting to discuss facts about the disease.
After his controversial anti-gay remarks led to a wave of backlash and lost gigs, rapper DaBaby issued two apologies with the most recent, posted Monday, focusing on the importance of education and guidance to learn from the mistakes. “I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources,” he wrote. “That’s what I needed and it was received.”
A day later, a group comprised of 11 organizations has come forward publicly with an open letter and an offer to do just that — offer education, specifically about HIV/AIDS in the hope that he can learn the facts and pass along the intel to his fans. While performing at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival last month, the hitmaker asked fans to shine cellphone flashlights if they “didn’t show up today with HIV/AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that will make you die in two to three weeks.”
DaBaby later addressed the comments and only fueled the fire by stating his gay fans “don’t have HIV/AIDS” because they’re not “nasty” or “junkies.” He was subsequently dropped from the lineups of music festivals including Lollapalooza, the Governors Ball and Day N Vegas, among others.
The organizations behind the letter include Arianna’s Center, Black AIDS Institute, GLAAD, the Normal Anomaly Initiative, Prevention Access Campaign, Relationship Unleashed, the 6:52 Project Foundation, and leaders from the Gilead COMPASS Initiative including Southern AIDS Coalition, Emory University, the University of Houston and Wake Forest University.
Dashawn Usher, GLAAD’s associate director for communities of color, said, “Together with leaders in the HIV field, we are asking for a meeting with DaBaby to educate and enlighten him, and all Americans, about the facts: HIV is preventable and with treatment, it can become undetectable and therefore untransmittable. DaBaby can be a powerful and influential voice where Black Americans need it most. We urge him to learn the facts and use his platform to share the truth that can save lives.”
The full open letter can be found below.
We, the undersigned, represent organizations leading the fight to prevent HIV and provide care and treatment for people living with HIV, especially Black LGBTQ people across the Southern United States.
We heard your inaccurate and harmful comments at Rolling Loud and have read your Instagram apology. However, at a time when HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans and queer and transgender people of color, a dialogue is critical. We must address the miseducation about HIV, expressed in your comments, and the impact it has on various communities.
2021 marks the 40th year of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the greatest obstacles in our work to end HIV are the compounded stigmas attached to anti-Blackness, living with HIV, misogyny, and anti-LGBTQ attitudes and stereotypes, all of which are fueled by misinformation. Fear and stigma keep people, particularly Black Americans, from accessing HIV prevention or care that White Americans have historically accessed and continue to access more easily. We believe you now have an opportunity to not just move past this unfortunate incident, but to use your platform and celebrity to heal not harm.
We believe that anyone can be an HIV advocate by amplifying: how there is medication (PrEP) that can prevent people from getting HIV with one pill a day, how routine treatment stops the virus from being passed on by people living with HIV, how people receiving HIV care can survive and thrive while living with it, and how open and empathetic conversations eliminate stigma. You can be a powerful and influential voice, especially across your home base in the South, where the Black community’s needs are notoriously under-represented across every public spectrum. We encourage you to share this information with your fans and followers, and become an agent of truth and change.
Music artists have historically led the way to lift up understanding of HIV and accelerate LGBTQ acceptance. Several artists and platforms have spoken up against you. While we appreciate their stand, we also invite them to take action and to do their part to end HIV by supporting organizations like ours serving people who are Black, LGBTQ and/or living with HIV.
As mentioned in your latest apology, education is important. We agree. GLAAD and Gilead Science’s 2020 State of HIV Stigma Study found that 90% of Americans believe “there is stigma around HIV,” that “people are quick to judge those with HIV,” and “people make assumptions when someone is tested for HIV.” There were a significant number of people (40%) who did not know that HIV can be treated. Nearly 60% wrongfully believe it is “important to be careful around people living with HIV to avoid catching it.”
Here are the facts:
– People living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot sexually transmit HIV. Treatment can suppress the virus to a point where it is no longer detected in a person’s body. When it is undetected, it is untransmittable, the key message of the U=U campaign.
– Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV. 13% of them don’t know it, reinforcing the need for HIV testing and to end stigma around HIV testing.
– People most vulnerable to HIV are those with limited access to transportation, housing, healthcare, and social support. We should focus on advocating for resources in our community rather than stigmatizing women and LGBTQ people.
– Black Americans account for more HIV diagnoses (43%), people living with HIV (42%), and the most deaths among people with HIV (44%) than any other racial and ethnic group in the U.S.
– The CDC states the U.S. South experiences the greatest rates of HIV and lags behind in providing quality HIV prevention services and care. According to AIDSVu, a program from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and the Center for AIDS Research at Emory University, 31,864 people are living with HIV in North Carolina, where you were raised.
– Medications like PrEP protect people who do not have HIV from contracting it. The CDC states that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.
As leaders of organizations directly serving Black, LGBTQ, and HIV+ communities, we invite you to a private, off-the-record, virtual discussion with us. You stated you now understand how and why your comments were damaging. An open conversation holds the potential for you to now create meaningful impact by transforming from an adversary to an advocate.
Sincerely,
Dr. Samira Ali, Director, SUSTAIN Center at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
Dr. Davin D. Clemons, CoFounder and Chief Financial Officer, Relationship Unleashed
Gwendolyn D. Clemons, CoFounder and Executive Director, Relationship Unleashed
Kia Colbert, Program Director, EnCORE, Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance
Raniyah Copeland, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute
Ian L. Haddock, Founder and Executive Director, The Normal Anomaly Initiative
Rev. Dr. Shonda Jones, Wake Forest Faith Coordinating Center
Arianna Lint, CEO & President, Arianna’s Center
Dr. Allison Mathews, Wake Forest University Faith Coordinating Center
Deondre B. Moore, U.S. Partnerships & Community Engagement Manager, Prevention Access Campaign
Warren A. O’Meara-Dates, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, The 6:52 Project Foundation, Inc.
Neena Smith-Bankhead, Center Director, EnCORE, Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance
Bec Sokha Keo (they/them), Public Impact Scholar, SUSTAIN Center at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
DaShawn Usher, Associate Director, Communities of Color, GLAAD
Dafina Ward, Executive Director, Southern AIDS Coalition
#2021Olympics – Tamyra Mensah-Stock Is The 1st Black Woman To Win A Gold Medal In Wrestling1
Tamyra Mensah-Stock has broken a barrier at the Tokyo Olympics!
Yesterday (Tuesday, August 3rd), Houston native Tamyra Mensah-Stock became the first Black woman to win Olympic gold in wrestling. She made the accomplishment after defeating Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu in the 68-kilogram freestyle wrestling event. After her barrier-breaking win, Tamyra Mensah-Stock told reporters:
“These young women are going to see themselves in a number of ways and they’re going to look up there and go, I can do that. I can see myself.”
A video showing her acknowledging her win also began circulating. The athlete said:
“[Representing my country] feels amazing. I love representing the U.S. I freaking love living there, and I’m so happy I get to represent USA!”
Notably, UFC president Dana White shared the aforementioned video and congratulated Tamyra Mensah-Stock on her win. He tweeted:
“Congratulations Tamyra Stock for being the first black woman to win a wresting gold medal. I love your energy, I love your positivity, and we couldn’t have a better representative of our country.”
Additionally, Jordan Burroughs–who won gold in wrestling at the 2012 London Olympics–congratulated her as well, tweeting:
“She’s done it! Olympic Gold Medalist! Congratulations @MensahTamStock. Welcome to the club!”
It is also worth noting that–on top of being the first Black woman to win Olympic gold in wrestling–Tamyra Mensah-Stock is the second American woman to do so after Helen Maroulis won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Congratulations to Tamyra Mensah-Stock!
Barack Obama To Celebrate 60th Birthday With Scaled-Back Party!
Barack Obama turns 60 years young today (Aug. 4), so it’s only right that he celebrates another year around the sun. Unfortunately, due to concerns with the new COVID-19 variants, a few changes have been made to his scheduled birthday bash.
Initially, Obama’s event was set for Saturday (Aug. 7) at Martha’s Vineyard and was expected to have 200 workers and hundreds of other guests including Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, who were all required to test negative for COVID-19.
With rising COVID-19 Delta variant cases, however, Obama has decided to dial it back a bit and make his birthday celebration more intimate.
“This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and COVID[-19] safeguards in place,” Obama’s spokesperson Hanna Hankins said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug. 4). “Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the [former] president and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends. President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon.”
Among the many birthday wishes sent Obama’s way were posts from Viola Davis and Benjamin Crump. President Joe Biden took to social media to share a photo of him and Obama giving each other a high five. “Happy birthday, @BarackObama,” he wrote. “I’m proud to call you a brother and a friend — and I’m grateful for your selfless service to this nation.”
His wife, Michelle Obama, also showed her partner some love on his day. “Of all your accomplishments, I know that being a present, loving to our girls tops them all,” she penned the caption of a family portrait. “Thank you for never letting the weight of the world get in the way of being a wonderful husband and father. Happy 60th birthday, @BarackObama.”
In a follow-up post, she said that she is still turning her head for her husband after all these years
Kendall Jenner Sued for $1.8 Million for Breach of Modeling Contract!
Just try to keep up with the list of allegations between fashion house Liu Jo and the highest-paid model in the world, Kendall Jenner.
In a legal complaint filed at a New York City court on Monday, Aug. 2, the Italian company accuses the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star of breaching the terms of a modeling contract by failing to appear at the second of two planned photo shoots, for which she was to be paid a total of $1.5 million, plus a 20 percent service fee. Kendall, who was the highest-paid model in the world in 2018 with $22.5 million in annual earnings, according to Forbes, has not addressed the allegations, but her model management company issued a statement denying the claims.
In its lawsuit, obtained by E! News, Liu Jo claims the 25-year-old star took part in the first shoot in July 2019 and that by February 2020, it had already paid her $1.35 million. The second shoot was set to take place in London in March 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic prohibited her from traveling.
The lawsuit states that the parties agreed to postpone the shoot to the fall, but did not confirm a new date. Kendall allegedly eventually "ceased responding to Liu Jo" until the company "informed her that it considered her in breach of the contract and that, therefore, the contract was terminated, according to the documents. The complaint also claims it filed the complaint after "having no success in obtaining a refund" the supermodel allegedly owed.
A spokesperson for model management company The Society Management, which represents Kendall, told E! News, "This suit is without merit. The Society Management, on behalf of Ms. Kendall Jenner, has continually offered Liu Jo alternative dates and locations to fulfill an agreement that was forced to be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic."
The statement continued, "Jenner has willingly offered to complete services honoring her commitments."
Also in its lawsuit, Liu Jo said that after Kendall proposed to postpone the shoot to October, the company learned the model "would be traveling to Italy in September 2020 to perform a photo shoot for a different designer." The complaint includes a link to a Metro U.K. article that contains photos of the model, appearing to show her arriving at a Versace shoot late that month. This year, Kendall appeared in ads for the luxury brand.
After Kendall allegedly "continued to fail to respond to urgent requests and communications relating to the logistics" of the proposed mid-October photo shoot, Liu Jo told her "she was in breach of her obligations under the agreement" and two days later, Kendall told the fashion corporation she was not in breach of the deal and that it was "impossible" for her to travel to Italy that fall, according to the complaint.
The company says in its filing that according to the terms of their contract, at least its first and second payments to the model must be refunded because she did not attend the second photo shoot and, the group alleges, it could also not be rescheduled to a mutually convenient date. The company is seeking at least $1.8 million in damages.
"Due to Ms. Jenner's refusal to negotiate in good faith, Liu Jo was forced to find replacement models and restructure its entire Spring/Summer 2021 photoshoot [sic]—at great expense to Liu Jo," the lawsuit states, "due to Ms. Jenner's refusal to uphold her end of the bargain."
The Weeknd’s ‘Take My Breath’ Video Pulled From Imax Theaters Over Seizure Concerns!
The Weeknd’s new music video hasn’t even premiered, but it’s already causing concern.
The XO superstar had hoped to surprise fans by debuting the clip for “Take My Breath” during IMAX screenings of The Suicide Squad, which hits theaters on Thursday night.
According to TMZ, executives at IMAX decided to pull the video because they felt the light and strobe effects would be potentially dangerous to those watching with epilepsy and could trigger seizures.
However, fans will still be able to watch the video when it premieres on YouTube and other platforms this Friday. The Weeknd has been teasing stills from the clip on social media, and the song can be heard in a promo for the Tokyo Olympics.
“Take My Breath” is the first release from The Weeknd’s upcoming album. “It’s the album I’ve always wanted to make,” he told GQ of the follow-up to 2020’s After Hours.
Simone Biles Reveals Her Aunt Died Unexpectedly During Olympics!
Simone Biles revealed Tuesday she was dealing with a family tragedy amid trying to get her mental health in order on the global stage of the Tokyo Olympics.
via: Revolt: “Two days ago my aunt unexpectedly passed and that was something I wasn’t expecting to happen at the Olympic Games either,” she told reporters. “So at the end of the day, you have to be a little bit more mindful of what you say online because you have no idea what these athletes are going through as well as [in] their sports.”
The news arrives after Biles withdrew from four individual finals and the women’s team final at the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old cited concerns about her mental health and said she was suffering from “twisties,” a gymnastics term that means having difficulty making safe landings.
“Every day I had to be medically evaluated by the doctors and then I had two sessions with a sports psychologist which kind of helped keep me more level-headed,” she said regarding the Balance Beam Final. “I was cleared to do beam, which I honestly didn’t think I’d be cleared to do last night.”
In an interview with People, Biles spoke further about prioritizing her own mental and physical well-being.
“It wasn’t easy pulling out of all those competitions. People just thought it was easy, but I physically and mentally was not in the right headspace and I didn’t want to jeopardize my health and my safety because at the end of the day it’s not worth it,” she said.
“My mental and physical health is above all medals that I could ever win. So to be clear, to do beam, which I didn’t think I was going to be, just meant the world to be back out there. And I wasn’t expecting to walk away with the medal,” she added. “I was just going out there doing this for me.”
Biles’ new bronze medal makes her the most decorated American Olympic gymnast in history.
Prayers to Simone and her family.
Pepa Issued a $676,675 Lien from Plastic Surgeon Dr. David Sayah for Unpaid Surgery Fees!
Sandra “Pepa” Denton from legendary rap group Salt-N-Pepa has been slapped with a lien worth nearly $700,000 for her alleged unpaid surgery fees by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. David Sayah on July 30. A lien is a claim that is made on an item, usually one’s property, to satisfy an unsettled debt.
This initial claim comes almost a year following Denton’s lawsuit against Sayah for alleged negligence. The “Shoop” rapper said the surgeon coerced her into getting multiple botched procedures following her 2018 car accident that caused the previous biopolymer injections inserted in her butt and hips to shift.
According to Radar Online, the court documents states that Sayah is asking the 54-year-old to pay $676,675 for his services. The alleged three procedures included a series of injections and implants stemming from Denton’s 2019 to 2020 visits.
Sayah initially filed the lien as part of Denton’s other ongoing lawsuit against Uber and another driver after the chain-reaction car crash that she was in. Sayah’s lien will allow the surgeon to receive any funds if the reality star’s lawsuit against the ride-sharing company would go in her favor.
After the news about Sayah’s lien against Denton was made public many people voiced how they wouldn’t have paid the surgeon either, given the rapper’s final results. One person went as far as to quote their own rendition the star’s 1993 hit single “Whatta Man.”
“Wouldn’t pay either, s–t is terrible!”
“He messed her up and he wants his money back???”
“What a man what a man what a mighty mighty petty man“
“I wouldn’t pay if my booty came out like that neither.”
Denton was referred to Sayah back in September 2019 after injuries from the crash allegedly interfered with her traveling abilities and performances due to the intense pain she claimed she suffered.The initial intentions behind the consultation was to remove the biopolymer injections and butt implants.
The “Growing Up Hip-Hop: Hollywood” star claimed in her 2020 lawsuit against Sayah that instead of doing what she asked he allegedly pressured her to replace her implants with smaller ones, and performed an unsuccessful liposuction she later had to later reconstruct. In the suit, the star stated her final procedure with Sayah was in February 2020, which was to remove the biopolymer injections.
Following the alleged botched procedures, Denton then consulted with another physician after still experiencing butt pains despite the injection removal. Upon her visit the doctor found “large amount of biopolymer silicone and dead scar tissue remaining.”
Denton has yet to issue a public statement regarding the latest developments.
Meghan Markle's '40x40' Video Gives First Glimpse at Baby Lilibet!
On her 40th birthday, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (aka Meghan Markle) launched the 40×40 campaign.
“I believe mentorship is one way to help women regain confidence and rebuild their economic strength, and for my birthday, I have asked 40 friends, activists, athletes, artists, and world leaders to help kickoff a global effort by contributing 40 MINUTES OF MENTORSHIP to support women re-entering the workforce. With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms, and, I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well,” the Duchess posted on Archewell. “If you are able, please JOIN US and pledge 40 minutes today in service of others in the way that feels right to you. The time that you donate can contribute to a GLOBAL WAVE OF SERVICE and set in motion meaningful impact in our own communities, and across the world.”
In the video, which also features Melissa McCarthy, the Duchess included some hidden Easter Eggs including a juggling Prince Harry in the background, and the first glimpse of baby Lilibet! People claims this is indeed a photo of the newborn, and she can be seen in the center of a tri-fold picture frame being kissed by her dad.
Baby Lilibet was born on June 4 and we have yet to see an image of her.
Louis CK Announces 24-City Comeback Comedy Tour Starting This Month!
Disgraced comedian Louis C.K. will be returning to the stage this month as part of a 24-city comeback tour around the country.
The tour kicks off Aug. 13 and 14 with two nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and concludes with two nights in Boston in mid-December. Some dates on this current tour are rescheduled from a 2020 tour that C.K. had planned but was forced to cancel due to the coronavirus pandemic.
C.K. plans to also take the tour overseas; he is scheduled for appearances in the Ukraine, Denmark, Germany and Romania in 2022.
According to C.K.’s website and an email promoting the tour first reported by the New York Post, the comic said he will try to avoid spreading the coronavirus at his gigs and plans to “comply with the local governments of each city in terms of health standards and practices. Like everyone else, we will just do our best under the circumstances.”
The comedian, whose real name is Louis Székely, went on hiatus after multiple women came forward with sexual harassment allegations against him in November 2017. He was accused of masturbating — or asking to do so — in front of women who were seeking to work with or learn from him. Comedian Rebecca Corry was one of the five women C.K. was accused of trying to expose himself to, and she told The New York Times that C.K. “told me he had issues.”
After initially staying mum on the allegations, C.K. did admit to them. “These stories are true,” C.K. stated at the time. “At the time, I said to myself that what I did was OK because I never showed a woman my d— without asking first, which is also true.”
C.K. continued in his statement, “What I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d— isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”
Following his admittance of the sexual misconduct, C.K. suffered a massive career fallout — he was dropped by his management team at 3 Arts Entertainment and his APA agency and publicist Lewis Kay also cut ties. C.K.’s film he was working on at the time called “I Love You, Daddy” for distributor The Orchard was shelved and streamers FX, Netflix, HBO and TBS all distanced themselves from the former star.
C.K. himself said he lost $35 million in an hour after the allegations were made public.
The comedian whose show “Louie” won three primetime Emmy Awards did try to get back onstage prior to this tour, but his standup sets were not exactly well-received. In particular, C.K. was torn up online after telling a joke at a December 2018 gig in Long Island about school shooting victims — which, understandably, was deemed by most to be in poor taste. “You’re not interesting because you went to a high school where kids got shot,” C.K. said during the gig.
The Met Gala is back See who made the list!
Met Gala is back! The event, also known as the “Fashion Oscars,” is normally held in May but was pushed back this year in hopes that things would get more “normal.” While it will reportedly be a smaller and more intimate affair this year due to Covid-19, a glittery guest list is starting to come together.
We hear that those making the cut include Anna Wintour favorite Rihanna, whose looks from past galas — like a yellow gown by Guo Pei — have become iconic; and actress Lupita Nyong’o, who has appeared on multiple Vogue covers.
The source tells us model Emily Ratajkowski (who announced her pregnancy with a Vogue digital cover) and hit “Havana” singer Camila Cabello have also made the envied list.
This year’s gala will be taking safety precautions. A spokesperson for the Met told The Daily Beast Tuesday, “Currently, all attendees at The Met Gala on September 13 must provide proof of full vaccination and will also be expected to wear masks indoors except when eating or drinking. We will update these guidelines as needed.”
We’re told that the invite-only event — with solo tickets reportedly costing $30,000 and tables going for $275,000 — has already sold out.
We also broke the exclusive news that Timothée Chalamet would co-host, while musician Billie Eilish and tennis star Naomi Osaka will also join as co-chairs.
Chief External Relations Officer for The Costume Institute tells us, “We do not comment on the guest list in advance of the Gala.”\
Sanaa Lathan Reveals She Stopped Drinking Alcohol Three Years Ago!
Sanaa Lathan is opening up about the lifestyle changes she's made over the past few years.
In an interview with People Mag, the actress, 49, details her decision to quit drinking alcohol three years ago and the steps she's made to better her overall mental and physical health.
"I stopped drinking about three years ago," says Lathan, who will be starring in the upcoming Netflix series Hit & Run. "Alcohol was not going well with me physically. Just, it was not working anymore. It affects everything, and that's part of the reason why I stopped, because even if you're going out a couple of times a week and you're drinking, it was starting to affect me throughout the week. It wouldn't be necessarily a hangover, but it definitely dimmed my energy. I didn't feel as good. It was affecting anxiety."
"You don't realize how over time it gets your brain out of balance as well," she adds. "And the more I educated myself on really what it does to you ... I have a mother who has never drank, and she's probably the funnest person, the happiest person, because there's this whole belief that you can only have fun with alcohol. I had to really reprogram that aspect, because it's just all over in our culture. So, I haven't missed it. My life has definitely become more of a morning life, but I can still go out and have fun."
Lathan, who also journals regularly as a form of self-care, says meditation has helped her cope with the stresses of every day life.
"I grew up with a mother who taught me about meditation so, I did it on and off," she says. "The reason why I came to this practice was several years ago, I went through a lot of trauma. I had a best friend who died suddenly. She was not sick. It was completely unexpected. I didn't process it. I was in a shock type of situation."
On top of suddenly losing her best friend, Lathan says she was also dealing with more trauma all at once that eventually led to panic attacks.
"I didn't process it and just kept on being the strong girl, being a strong woman," she says. "And then several months later, I started having panic attacks. I didn't know what a panic attack was. Little did I know that it's a real thing, and I would get three to five a day, even if I was happy."
"I went to the doctor and he was like, 'This is a result of trauma that you did not process correctly. It's when your body. It's handling it.' And he was like, 'There's medications, but you can try holistic things first.' And I always tend to do the holistic thing first, before I go a traditional route. So I started [meditating], and as soon as I started, they went away. There's so many benefits. And so, I'm a huge believer, a huge advocate."
Now, Lathan — who plays journalist Naomi Hicks alongside actor and creator Lior Raz in the Netflix thriller — says she feels "blessed" for the life she's created and the work she continues to do.
"I just feel really blessed to be on this journey, as challenging as it's been, of being an artist in this business," she says. "I don't take for granted the success that I've had. Yes, it has been tough at times. There've been times where I have wanted to give up, and yet, I am so incredibly grateful for just to be able to continue to tell these stories and do what I love."
Hit & Run premieres on August 6 on Netflix.
White South Carolina Cop David Lance Dukes Fired and Arrested After Bodycam Footage Shows Him Stomping on Black Man’s Head!
A white 38-year-old South Carolina police officer David Lance Dukes has been arrested and charged with first-degree assault and battery after bodycam footage showed him stomping on a nearly 60-year-old Black man’s head.
The incident in question happened on July 26, when Dukes responded to reports that there had been sightings of someone with a gun nearby. Clarence Gailyard, age 58, and his cousin Demario Julian were walking home when they were approached by officers with guns drawn. Gailyard attempted to get down to the ground, but because of previous leg and hip injuries he took longer than the officers liked. That’s when Dukes appeared to stomp on Gailyard’s head as his hands and knees were on the ground, as the bodycam footage shows.
As per the Times and Democrat of Orangeburg, attorney Justin Bamberg explained that Clarence Gailyard walks with a stick and is “relatively slow.” At the time of the incident, he was carrying his walking stick, which he has used for a number of years. “I saw Dukes get out of the patrol vehicle with a gun drawn. He had the gun drawn back. He could’ve killed me,” said Gailyard.
Dukes has been fired following an investigation into the incident. “Officer Dukes then approached the victim, who was on his hands and knees,” reads the A.S.C. Law Enforcement Division warrant. “While the victim was in a defenseless position on his hands and knees, Officer Dukes raised his right leg and forcibly stomped with his boot on the victim’s neck and/or head area. The force of the blow caused the victim’s head to strike the concrete. The victim suffered a contusion to his forehead and was transported by EMS.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘NAPTIME’
Naptime Well, It’s a relaxing place to sleep.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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