#FASHIONFILES: Lady Gaga in Christian Siriano at “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Hot or Not?
Taking this post back-to-back with the one about Kristen Stewart on Colbert, it seems to us that a couple of the showier awards-track actresses opted for a return to the simple and uncomplicated in their style choices. Stewart went as classic as she’s ever gone and now here’s Steffi, doing a take somewhere between Prestige Actress and Ariana Grande as she heads in to see Jimmy Kimmel:
Give the lady credit: a poseur she may sometimes seem, but she knows what the hell to do with those sleeves. So many people wouldn’t. Anyway, this is all surprisingly mainstream in its style and the dress itself – sleeves aside – is uncharacteristically simple. Even the lack of color strikes us as slightly notable for having a sort of sober maturity. Of course Gaga’s worn traditional styles plenty of times, but this is, you’ll pardon the term, more basic than normal for her. We don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s a really cute look and it’s styled flawlessly. It’s just perhaps notable around these parts when actresses on awards campaigns take a decidedly conservative approach to their style.
Dress is cute but is it HOT or NOT?
Justice Stephen Breyer to retire from Supreme Court, paving way for Biden appointment
WASHINGTON — Justice Stephen Breyer will step down from the Supreme Court at the end of the current term, according to people familiar with his thinking.
Breyer is one of the three remaining liberal justices, and his decision to retire after more than 27 years on the court allows President Joe Biden to appoint a successor who could serve for decades and, in the short term, maintain the current 6-3 split between conservative and liberal justices.
At 83, Breyer is the court's oldest member. Liberal activists have urged him for months to retire while Democrats hold both the White House and the Senate — a position that could change after the midterm elections in November. They contended that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stayed too long despite her history of health problems and should have stepped down during the Obama administration.
Ginsburg's death from cancer at 87 allowed then-President Donald Trump to appoint her successor, Amy Coney Barrett, moving the court further to the right. An appointment by Biden could keep Breyer's seat on the liberal side of the court for years or decades to come.
Biden said in brief remarks to the press on Wednesday that he will leave it to Breyer to formally announce the retirement.
"Let him make whatever statement he's going to make and I'll be happy to talk about it later," he said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki had earlier tweeted a statement, saying, "It has always been the decision of any Supreme Court Justice if and when they decide to retire, and how they want to announce it, and that remains the case today." The White House had no additional details or information to share, she added.
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Berkeley School of Law, urged Breyer to retire in a Washington Post op-ed article in May, writing that there are times "when the stewards of our system must put the good of an institution they love, and of the country they love, above their own interests. They have to recognize that no one, not even a brilliant justice, is irreplaceable, and that the risks presented by remaining are more than hypothetical."
Biden promised on the campaign trail to nominate a Black woman to the court. In the wake of Breyer’s announcement, there was an outpouring of statements calling for him to follow through. The progressive group Demand Justice hired a truck last year to drive around Washington with the sign: "Breyer Retire. It’s time for a Black woman Supreme Court justice."
Among likely contenders are U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, a former Breyer law clerk; and Leondra Kruger, a justice on California’s Supreme Court.
Jackson, formerly a district court judge in Washington, was nominated by Biden to the U.S. Circuit Court and was confirmed by the Senate in mid-June on a 53-44 vote, including three Republicans. She succeeded Merrick Garland, who left the appeals court to become Biden’s attorney general.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., was among those who issued a statement soon after the news of Breyer's impending retirement, calling on Biden to uphold his pledge to nominate a Black woman as the next justice.
"The court should reflect the diversity of our country, and it is unacceptable that we have never in our nation’s history had a Black woman sit on the Supreme Court of the United States — I want to change that," she said.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., echoed those sentiments in a tweet, saying Biden has the opportunity to bring "diversity, experience, and an evenhanded approach to the administration of justice."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Biden's nominee will "receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and will be considered and confirmed by the full United States Senate with all deliberate speed."
U.S. offers Russia 'serious diplomatic path forward' but rejects demand to ban Ukraine from NATO
"America owes Justice Breyer an enormous debt of gratitude," Schumer added.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who voted for Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, said if Democrats "hang together," as he expects, they will have the power to replace Breyer without one Republican vote.
"Elections have consequences, and that is most evident when it comes to fulfilling vacancies on the Supreme Court," Graham said in a statement.
Despite calls from some Biden supporters to add more seats to the Supreme Court to counter its current conservative lean, Breyer said in March that such a move would risk undermining confidence in the court. Advocates of court packing, he said, should "think long and hard before embodying those changes in law."
Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Breyer came to the Supreme Court in 1994 and became one of the court's moderate-to-liberal members, though he often said it was misleading to label justices with such terms.
Breyer believed that interpreting the Constitution should be based on practical considerations, changing with the times. That put him at odds with conservative justices who said the court must be guided by the original intent of the founders.
"The reason that I do that is because law in general, I think, grows out of communities of people who have some problems they want to solve," he said in an interview.
Breyer wrote the court's opinion striking down a state law that banned some late-term abortions in 2000 and dissented seven years later, when the Supreme Court upheld a similar federal law passed by Congress. He supported affirmative action and other civil rights measures. And in a widely noted dissent in 2015, he said the death penalty in America had become so arbitrary that it was probably unconstitutional.
Biden is expected to act quickly to nominate a successor who can be ready to serve when the court's new term begins Oct. 3. A former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden knows firsthand how the confirmation process works.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Goes Off On RHOA Cast Member While Filming Season 14
Kandi Burruss clashed with someone while filming season 14 of RHOA. Kandi Burruss made headlines recently after Bravo released the first look at her new spinoff, “Kandi & the Gang.” On the show, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” fans will see the inner workings of Kandi’s OLG empire. Unfortunately for Kandi, running multiple restaurants has its dramatic moments. At times, the drama even affects her family. Interestingly enough, Kandi recently told RHOA viewers that she also had a dramatic moment while filming the upcoming season. In fact, Kandi went off on one of the other women.
During a recent Amazon Live session, Kandi said, “So we will be filming RHOA into February, for a couple more weeks. And listen, it’s interesting. I bumped heads with someone real bad, real bad last week. I can’t tell you who it is cause I got in trouble already for telling y’all little things happening during filming. But yes, I got into it real, real bad. They had me talking real crazy to them, you know?”
Kandi continued, “Oh, please forgive me when you hear some of the stuff I said out my mouth. It was terrible! I was upset, I was mad. They was talking crazy to me too now so it wasn’t one-sided, to be clear. It wasn’t just me. But y’all just gonna have to wait until the show airs for you to see it cause I’m not telling you ahead of time who it was so…”
#MusicNews: Kem & Babyface Announce “The Full Circle Tour” With Host Sherri Shepherd
Kem and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds have just shared the exciting announcement that they will be embarking on a tour together this year. The tour is called “The Full Circle Tour” and will be hosted by personality Sherri Shepherd.
The tour will include nearly 30 stops across the U.S. and will kick off March 30th in Virginia. The tour will see the artists make stops in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles among other stops before wrapping up in Oakland on May 15th.
Fans will surely get to hear some of Kem’s biggest hits including songs from his most recently released album “Love Always Wins”. Meanwhile, Babyface is sure to share selections from throughout his timeless catalog of hits.
See below for full list of dates. Tickets will go on sale on January 28th, 2022.
3/30 Petersburg, VA
3/31 Baltimore, MD
4/1 Springfield, MA
4/2 Philadelphia, PA
4/7 New Orleans, LA
4/8 Atlanta, GA
4/10Orlando, FL
4/14 Columbus, GA
4/15 Jackson, MS
4/16 Houston, TX
4/17 Grand Prairie, TX
4/21 New York, NY
4/22 Norfolk, VA
4/23 National Harbor, MD
4/24 National Harbor, MD
4/27 Detroit, MI
4/29 Chicago, IL
4/30 St. Louis, MO
5/1 Nashville, TN
5/5 Greensboro, NC
5/6 Charlotte, NC
5/7 Macon, GA
5/8 Southaven, MS
5/13 Las Vegas, NV
5/14 Los Angeles, CA
5/15 Oakland, CA
#HipHopNews: 50 Cent, Tyler, The Creator & Megan Thee Stallion To Headline Uk Fest Parklife 2022
With COVID-19 restrictions easing in the United Kingdom, the festival industry is looking to get back on its feet in 2022. U.K. staple Parklife Festival revealed its star-studded lineup on Tuesday (January 25) and Hip Hop will definitely be in the building.
50 Cent,Tyler, The Creator and Megan Thee Stallion are set to invade Manchester’s Heaton Park during the weekend of June 11 and June 12, 2022. Other artists on the bill include Drake collaborator Headie One, Lewis Capaldi, Arlo Parks, Jamie xx, Mahalia and more.
Pre-sale tickets go on sale starting on Wednesday (January 26) at 10 a.m. GMT while the rest of the general public will have their chance on Thursday (January 27). Last year’s festival sold out in just 78 minutes following 2020’s cancellation. Prices start at £129.50 for general admission and £169.50 for VIP
“For the vast majority of musicians, the live circuit is their lifeblood,” Help Musicians CEO James Ainscough said of the need for touring’s comeback in Europe. “Whether that performance is at a function or a festival, a grassroots venue or a world-famous stage, live performance is the fragile gig economy that all musicians rely on.”
Janet Jackson says brother Michael teased her about her weight: 'Pig, horse, slaughter hog, cow'
Janet Jackson has said her brother Michael Jackson teased her about her weight gain and called her names.
The singer speaks about her relationship with her late older brother, as well as her personal battles with weight fluctuation in a new two-part documentary series, Janet Jackson.
"There were times when Mike used to tease me and call me names. 'Pig, horse, slaughter hog, cow," Jackson, 55, shares.
"He would laugh about it and I'd laugh too, but then there was somewhere down inside that it would hurt.
"When you have somebody say you're too heavy, it affects you."
The actress and pop star — who grew up in the spotlight as the youngest member of the Jackson family — added, "I'm an emotional eater, so when I get stressed or something is really bothering me, it comforts me."
Jackson said she and her older brother — who died in 2009 aged 50 — drifted apart as they grew older, starting with the release of his album Thriller in 1982.
She revealed: "I remember really loving the Thriller album but for the first time in my life I felt it was different between us, a shift was happening.
"That's the time Mike and I started going our separate ways. He just wasn't as fun as he used to be."
And when they worked together on 1995 song "Scream," she felt frozen out by him.
"Michael shot nights, I shot days," she says in the documentary. "His record company would block off his set so I couldn't see what was going on. They didn't want me on set.
"That really hurt me because I felt I was there fighting the fight with him, not to battle him. I wanted it to feel like old times between he and I, and it didn't. Old times had long passed."
Michael Jackson was first accused of child sex abuse in 1993. His sister says she was upset at the personal cost to her.
"It was frustrating for me," she says. "We have our own separate lives and even though he's my brother, that has nothing to do with me.
"But I wanted to be there for him, to support him as much as I possibly could."
Janet has also claimed that after Michael paid a settlement pay-out to the family of 13-year-old Jordan Chandler, who alleged the singer molested him at his Neverland ranch in California, she lost out on a big deal with Coca-Cola.
"When that came out, Coca-Cola said, 'No, thank you.' Guilty by association. That's what they call it, right?" she says.
The new four-hour documentary has been filmed over five years and will include "never-before-seen footage" from her childhood and a look at her relationship with notoriously strict father, Joe Jackson.
The two-part show — which coincides with the 40th anniversary of her 1982 eponymous debut album — will also feature home videos of Jackson and her 5-year-old son, Eissa Al Mana.
David Ortiz voted into Baseball HOF 2022; Bonds, Clemens, Schilling snubbed
David Ortiz saved the Baseball Hall of Fame from another shutout.
The former Red Sox DH, who tormented the Yankees throughout his career, was the lone member of this year’s class to get the 75 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America needed in his first time on the ballot.
The longtime Yankees nemesis received 77.9 percent of the vote, announced Tuesday in Cooperstown.
But the results did not go well for Alex Rodriguez — also in his first year on the ballot — as he finished with 34.3 percent of the vote.
And they also ended the chances of three other controversial figures getting voted in by the writers. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling all failed to get in on their 10th and final years on the ballot.
Bonds went from 61.8 percent to 66 percent and Clemens from 61.6 to 65.2.
On Twitter, Clemens wrote he and his “family put the [Hall of Fame] in the rearview mirror 10 years ago. I didn’t play baseball to get into the HOF.”
Ortiz has denied ever using steroids, but he was linked to them — especially after he allegedly tested positive for an unspecified PED in 2003 during preliminary testing done by MLB. His name was in a report by the New York Times in 2009.
Asked about the situation on a Zoom call on Tuesday, Ortiz said, “You don’t know what [drug] anybody tested positive for. … I never failed a test [after MLB instituted drug testing in 2004]. What does that tell you?”
Rodriguez was suspended for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and is looking at a similar fate to Bonds and Clemens, something Rodriguez has acknowledged.
“Of course I want them to get in, because that would mean that I have an opportunity to get in one day,” Rodriguez said on ESPN in 2019.
Schilling’s legacy has been impacted by hateful comments the pitcher has made about transgender people, Muslims and blacks. And he likely lost some support he may have already had last January when he supported the rioters who stormed the Capitol.
After that vote, Schilling wrote a letter to the Hall, requesting his name be removed from this year’s ballot because he didn’t want to be associated with Bonds and Clemens.
The Hall, though, did not grant his request. His tally dropped from 71.1 percent to 58.6 percent.
After Tuesday’s announcement, Schilling focused on his old teammate, writing on Twitter: “Every year the conversation revolves around who didn’t get in, like All-Star voting [and] who got cheated. I say it every year and especially this year, focus on who did get in. [Ortiz] deserved a first ballot induction. Congratulations my friend. You earned it.”
Others took steps closer toward election, with Scott Rolen going from 52.9 percent to 63.2 percent in his fifth year of eligibility.
Todd Helton and ex-Met Billy Wagner also finished above 50 percent, with 52 and 51 percent, respectively.
Ortiz spent the first six seasons of his career with the Twins before he joined the Red Sox in 2003 and led them to their first World Series title in 86 years the following season. The slugger hit 541 homers in his career and had a .947 OPS in the postseason and was particularly tough against the Yankees.
“It was fire to me,’’ Ortiz said on MLB Network of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. “Every time we played the Yankees, it was Goliath against David and we were David. We’ve got to bring the best to beat Goliath.”
He will be honored at a ceremony in Cooperstown in July, along with former Dodger first baseman and Mets manager Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva — all elected by the Golden Days Era committee which represents the period from 1950-69.
Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil will also be honored after getting in through the Early Baseball Era committee, which recognizes members of the game who made their mark prior to 1950.
#RHOSLC: Jennie Nguyen removed from 'Real Housewives' cast for offensive posts
Bravo has removed Jennie Nguyen from the cast of "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" after her offensive social media posts resurfaced.
The network announced the removal Tuesday on social media.
"Bravo has ceased filming with Jennie Nguyen and she will no longer be a cast member of 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,'" Bravo said in the announcement. "We recognize we failed to take appropriate action once her offensive social media posts were brought to our attention. Moving forward, we will work to improve our processes to ensure we make better informed and more thoughtful casting decisions."
Nguyen did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NBCUniversal is the parent company of both Bravo and NBC News.
Nguyen, who is Vietnamese American, was alleged to have shared images and text posts describing protesters as "BLM Thugs" and "violent gangs" throughout the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. She also reposted memes in support of "White Lives Matter," as well as anti-vaccination content.
In one cartoon she reposted, an elderly white woman shows a middle-age white man the stick figure decals on her car.
"No, that's not my family, that's how many rioters I've hit!" the woman says in the image.
After the posts resurfaced last week, Nguyen apologized on Instagram.
"I want to acknowledge and apologize for my deleted Facebook posts from 2020 that resurfaced today. At the time, I thought I was speaking out against violence, but I have since learned how offensive and hurtful my words were," she wrote. "It's why I deactivated that account more than a year ago and why I continue to try to learn about perspectives different from my own. I regret those posts and am sincerely sorry for the pain they caused."
After she apologized, she continued to film with the cast of "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" despite calls to fire her.
Other cast members denounced Nguyen. In an Instagram post, Jen Shah said she was "disappointed" by the "disingenuous apology" Nguyen shared. Shah said she was compelled to "stand up" on behalf of her husband and her children, who are Black.
“I am deeply offended by the racially insensitive posts and comments. It was infuriating to see her like and repost comments that made a mockery of and showed complete apathy toward those killed marching to bring awareness to the deep-seeded social justice issues that plague our country. I am equally disappointed by the disingenuous apology that was issued," Shah said.
Cast member Meredith Marks alluded to a gag order on the cast in her statement responding to the posts but promised "repercussions."
"Since it was not perfectly clear in my previous tweet and I can now speak out in more depth, I am sickened by my co-worker's racist and prejudicial posts that recently surfaced," Marks said on Twitter. "I do not stand behind or support these posts in any way, shape, or form. I stand with and support the communities affected and targeted by this. I am deeply disturbed and outraged by her actions. Black Lives Matter."
Vivica A. Fox shares message from Regina King after star loses son to suicide
Vivica A. Fox spoke on behalf of her “friend and sister” Regina King Monday, sharing that the Oscar winner is doing “okay” following the death last week of her son Ian Alexander Jr. by suicide.
“I was with Regina last night,” Fox, 57, shared, as she held back tears on FOX Soul’s “Cocktails with Queens.” “She’s okay.”
“More than anything else, I’m glad I got to hug her and look in her eyes,” she continued. “This has been absolutely one of the longest weekends that I’ve ever had in my life. It’s like I can’t stop crying.”
Fox added that King wanted to assure fans that she is “surrounded by so much love” during this trying time.
“She said to tell everybody that she’s gotten y’all texts,” Fox said. “The outpouring of love for her, her family and her son … she appreciates it.”
Vivica A. Fox paid a visit to Regina King’s home after the actress lost her son to suicide.
King confirmed the tragic news of her son’s death in a statement to People Friday night.
“Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian,” the statement read. “He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time. Thank you.”
Fox continued, “I just pray that what we do more than anything else for our sons, for our children … COVID and everything has got everybody in a dark spot, in a dark place. If y’all see any signs of someone being in distress or if somebody reaches out to you that is maybe not having a good day … stop, take a moment, make sure they are okay.”
In addition to Fox, King has received an outpouring of support from her industry peers, including Rosanna Arquette, Halle Berry and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Rihanna's First Savage X Fenty Store Opens in Las Vegas
Rihanna’s lingerie brand Savage X Fenty has made its brick-and-mortar debut in Las Vegas, and the move comes at a time when big-box retailers are shuttering stores while popular e-commerce brands plant roots in commercial spaces.
According to Fox Business, the inaugural Savage X Fenty lingerie store is located at the Fashion Show Las Vegas mall. The store has five rooms that feature merchandise and mannequins with diverse body types modeled after actual people. Savage X Fenty customers will also be able to try “interactive experiences” and “photo-worthy moments,” according to the brand’s press release.
“We wanted to be able to connect with our customers in real life and give them something they have never seen before,” Rih said in a statement. “Creating the space took a lot of imagination, married with things I’ve always wanted to change about my own experiences as a customer, from mannequins to the Fit Xperience, to customer service. We are so happy with the outcome and now I can’t wait for people to see it.
As previously reported, earlier this month the “Kiss It Better” singer took to Instagram to announce that her online lingerie brand would be moving to physical stores across the United States. “2022, we coming in HOT!” Rih captioned an image of the forthcoming store. “We bout to bring you a whole new #SavageXFenty experience with the launch of our brick-and-mortar retail stores!”
Last year, Christiane Pendarvis, chief marketing and design officer of Savage X Fenty, told Business Insider that physical stores were coming. “Fit and comfort are so important,” she said, adding that there were “customers who don’t feel comfortable purchasing online.”
Savage X Fenty debuted in 2018 and is now worth more than $1 billion after seeing a 200% increase in revenue in 2020. It accounts for $270 million of Rih’s total fortune, which sat at $1.7 billion last year. In addition to Las Vegas, stores will also be built in Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
J. Cole, Kid Cudi and more to perform at 2022 Governors Ball Music Festival
Kid Cudi, J. Cole and Halsey will headline this year’s Governors Ball Music Festival, organizers announced on Tuesday (Jan. 25). The New York City event is set for this June and will feature performances by Migos, Roddy Ricch, Jack Harlow, Coi Leray, YG, Denzel Curry, Playboi Carti, Kaytranada, Jazmine Sullivan, J.I.D. and many more.
Cudi will kick off the three-day festival with a headlining performance on Friday, June 10. Halsey will perform the following day (June 11), with Cole wrapping up the event on Sunday evening (June 12).
Pre-sale tickets for Citi cardmembers are currently available with general ticket sales starting on Thursday (Jan. 27) at 12 p.m. EST. Head to the Governors Ball Music Festival website to find single-day and three-day passes, as well as VIP tickets.
Following the 2022 lineup reveal on Tuesday, festival promoters Founders Entertainment also announced that they will be donating $25,000 to the Bronx apartment building fire relief efforts via the New York City Mayor’s Fund.
Bronx natives Cardi B and Fat Joe previously contributed to the fund, with Cardi covering the funeral expenses for the victims of the deadly apartment building fire, which claimed the lives of 17 people.
“I’m extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help,” the “WAP” rapper said at the time.
The New York City mayor expressed his gratitude for the contribution, telling TMZ, “We are grateful for Cardi B, a real superstar on and off the mic, for granting some critical financial relief to families of the victims. The city will be forever thankful to her and also to the grassroots donors and corporate partners who have been able to offer immediate support for our neighbors in need, to reestablish themselves during this difficult time.”
Charlamagne says Kanye West's bar about Pete Davidson was "corny as hell"
Charlamagne tha God was not impressed by Kanye West’s shot at Pete Davidson on his new collaboration track with Game.
During a recent episode of “The Brilliant Idiots” podcast, the “Breakfast Club” host said Ye’s bar about his estranged wife’s new rumored boyfriend was “corny as hell.”
“What happened to Jesus?” Charlamagne asked. “What happened to God? You weren’t even cursing on your records, now all of a sudden you want to beat up Pete Davidson? I didn’t respect it.”
“I just thought the line was corny…and I think about what he said on ‘Drink Champs‘ when he said he used all the backpack rappers,” the host added. “And now you see him hanging out with all the street rappers now. He’s hanging out with all these guys just so he can say that line. But I want all you street rappers to know, he’s using y’all too. But the difference is, the street rappers aren’t going to be used. They gon’ keep their hands in Kanye West’s pockets, cause wolves don’t make good house pets. And Kanye gon’ learn that.”
Charlamagne also said that he’s “been tired” of Ye’s antics, however, he wished the “All Of The Lights” rapper good luck in all of his future endeavors.
As previously reported, Ye spoke about his soon-to-be ex-wife’s new man on the track “Eazy.” He rapped, “God saved me from that crash just so I could beat Pete Davidson’s ass.”
The Donda spitter also spoke about the “Saturday Night Live” star during an interview with Hollywood Unlocked. He said that he wasn’t allowed to drop his kids off at home because Kardashian’s “new boyfriend” was there. “Took my kids back, I’m driving them and North is like, ‘I want you to come upstairs and see something,’” Ye said. “I’m hearing that the new boyfriend is in the house, where I can’t go to.”
Cardi B Speaks Out After Being Awarded Additional $3 Million in Slander Lawsuit Against YouTuber
Cardi B is speaking out after another win in court. The Grammy-winning rapper was awarded nearly $3 million in punitive damages and attorneys' fees in her lawsuit against YouTuber Tasha Kebe, a.k.a. Tasha K, per Billboard.
Jurors ruled Tuesday that Kebe is responsible for $1 million in punitive damages, Variety reports. Her company Kebe Studios LLC was ordered to pay an additional $500,000. Kebe will also have to reimburse Cardi for the rapper's legal costs, which add up to $1,338,753.47.
The latest award for Cardi B is in addition to the $1.25 million Kebe was ordered to pay the Hustlers star Monday, bringing the total to more than $4 million.
Kebe's attorney Sadeer Sabbak said, according to the outlet, that the defense "disagree[s] with the verdict" and "will be filing an appeal."
Cardi also said in a statement shared with PEOPLE, "After almost four years of repeated libel and slander against me, being able to walk away from this victorious brings me great happiness. I appreciate Judge Ray for conducting a fair and impartial trial."
"I am grateful for the jury and their careful deliberation over the past two weeks. I am profoundly grateful for the hard work and support from my legal team. Most importantly, thank you to my family and close friends who held my hand and helped me get the support I needed during this experience."
Seemingly referencing her moment during the trial when she testified that Kebe's remarks caused her to be "extremely suicidal," Cardi said in her statement that fans have "learned about the darkest time in my life," sharing it was "fueled by the vile, disgusting, and completely false narratives that were repeatedly and relentlessly being shared online."
"I thought I would never be heard or vindicated and I felt completely helpless and vulnerable," Cardi added. "I have never taken for granted the platform that my fame allows me to have, which is why for over three years I dedicated every resource I had to seek justice."
Cardi shared that she didn't want "justice" solely for herself, noting that "the intentional harm that was done to me, is done to countless others every day."
"The only difference between me and the high schooler who is being cyberbullied and lied on by their classmates is the money and resources I have access to," she added. "We collectively have to say enough is enough. We can no longer be a society that turns a blind eye to blatant lies. The unchecked behavior and provably false content on platforms like YouTube have to be addressed and removed. The constant harassment and lies that are reported as factual from journalists and bloggers have to end."
She shared that her career was launched on social media, "so I know the power it has," adding that while social media has forged movements from Black Lives Matter to Stop Asian Hate and Women's Rights, "we've also seen countless stories of children and adults deciding to take their own lives due to cyberbullying and intentional attacks."
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
"So while I am very grateful that this trial has come to its conclusion and the jury has rendered a powerful and substantial message, literally—I really hope that my experience forces all of us, but especially the platforms who allow this behavior to be a part of their communities, to re-think what moves us forward as a society versus what cripples us."
She ended with a message for those who have considered harming themselves. "If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for help at 1-800-273-TALK."
In her lawsuit filed in March 2019, Cardi accused Kebe of making "malicious" claims against her, such as alleging the rapper was a prostitute, cheated on her husband, used cocaine, and contracted herpes and HPV, according to Rolling Stone.
She also said Kebe tried to "destroy" her career by intentionally making "false" claims about her.
Cardi alleged the "degrading and harassing" remarks first began around April 2018, when Kebe shared a video, via her YouTube channel unWinewithTashaK, claiming Cardi's pregnancy with daughter Kulture, 3, could result in a child born with special needs.
Kebe previously denied any wrongdoing and attempted to file her own lawsuit against Cardi for assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging that the rapper "began to publicly trash" her on the internet, resulting in Kebe allegedly being threatened.
Judge William M. Ray II dismissed Kebe's allegations in July, Rolling Stone reports.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Kevin Spacey Seeks to Toss Out $31 Million ‘House of Cards’ Judgment
for Kevin Spacey are seeking to throw out a $31 million arbitration award arising from his conduct on the set of “House of Cards,” saying his behavior amounted to nothing more than “sexual innuendos” and “innocent horseplay.”
The production company behind the Netflix show, MRC, won a confidential arbitration ruling against Spacey in 2020. The company had argued that Spacey owed them millions in lost profits because his misconduct forced them to remove him from the sixth season of the show, and it had to trim the season from 13 episodes to eight.
The judgment became public on Nov. 22, when MRC filed a petition in civil court to confirm the award. Spacey’s lawyers filed an opposition on Friday, asking the court to set the ruling aside. The attorneys argue that Spacey did not engage in sexual harassment and did not violate MRC’s anti-harassment policy.
“The truth is that while Spacey participated in a pervasive on-set culture that was filled with sexual innuendoes, jokes, and innocent horseplay, he never sexually harassed anyone,” the attorneys argued. “In fact, as the evidence established and the Arbitrator recognized in the Award, the few times Spacey was told that his conduct made someone feel uncomfortable or was in any way unwanted, he stopped.”
Spacey was first accused of misconduct in a Buzzfeed article on Oct. 29, 2017, in which actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey had made a sexual advance in 1986, when Rapp was 14. Production on “House of Cards” was suspended two days later. Two days after that, CNN published a story accusing Spacey of creating a “toxic” environment on set by making crude comments and engaging in non-consensual touching of young male staffers.
According to the opposition filing, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos sent an internal email within hours of publication of the CNN story, in which he said, “Let’s announce tomorrow that there is NO scenario in which Kevin Spacey will appear in any version of a final season of the show.”
Sarandos also decided to cancel a film, “Gore,” which Spacey produced and starred in, and which was then in post-production.
The arbitrator viewed videotaped deposition testimony from “House of Cards” crew members, and found that Spacey violated MRC’s sexual harassment policy with respect to five of them. But according to Spacey’s lawyers — Stephen G. Larson and Jonathan E. Phillips — that conduct was not part of the CNN story, and only came to light after a subsequent internal investigation.
They argue that MRC’s move to scrap two episodes that had already gone into production and start over was forced by Sarandos’ decision on Nov. 2. Therefore, they contend, the damages MRC ultimately suffered could not have been caused by the alleged misconduct that surfaced later on.
“As the Arbitrator recognized, the reduction in episodes was a foregone conclusion once Netflix dictated to Petitioners that Spacey could not and would not be a part of Season 6,” the attorneys argued. “But what the Arbitrator ignored is that the conduct he found to be in breach of the Agreements was not even known by Netflix at the time it made this decision. In other words, the breaches found by the Arbitrator could not have been related to Petitioners’ damages because those damages had already been caused by the time the breaching conduct was known.”
Courts tend to show near total deference to arbitration proceedings, so Spacey faces an uphill fight in seeking to set aside the arbitrator’s findings. His attorneys argue, however, that the award must be vacated because there is no rational relationship between the alleged breaches and MRC’s damages. The arbitrator’s ruling remains under seal.
Bridgeport Mayor Announces Internal Investigation Into Handling Of The Death Of Lauren Smith-Fields — Medical Examiner Rules Death As An “Accident”
Bridgeport Mayor Announces Internal Investigation Into Handling Of The Death Of Lauren Smith-Fields — Medical Examiner Rules Death As An “Accident”
On Monday evening, the state medical examiner revealed that Lauren Smith-Fields died from a deadly combination of fentanyl and alcohol. As it was previously reported, the 23-year-old died following a “date” with an older White man whom she met through a dating app, Bumble.
Smith-Fields’ family has slammed Bridgeport Police Department’s handling of the case and announced plans to file a lawsuit. However, according to the latest update, the mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, has announced that the police department’s interactions with the family of Lauren Smith-Fields, will now be investigated by the Office of Internal Affairs. The announcement comes after Smith-Fields’ family called a detective’s handling of the case “racially insensitive.”
“There is no tolerance for anything less than respect and sensitivity for family members and their loss,” Mayor Joe Ganim said in a statement. “To that end, this matter has been referred to the Office of Internal Affairs to conduct a full and fair investigation.”
Ganim released a statement saying: “I would like to restate the city’s condolences to the family and friends of Lauren Smith-Fields, and to the many caring individuals who have reached out seeking answers for Lauren. I recognize that the family and the community is experiencing a lot of pain because of the loss of a young woman in addition to unanswered questions and concerns about the way the matter has been handled.
First, sensitivity and care is of utmost importance when working with the family of a victim. There is no tolerance for anything less than respect and sensitivity for family members and their loss. To that end, this matter has been referred to the Office of Internal Affairs to conduct a full and fair investigation.
Second, I share concerns echoed by many about the amount of time and manner a family is informed of a loss. Death notifications should be done in a manner that illustrates dignity for the deceased and respect and compassion for the family. Therefore, I will work with the Chief of Police to make appropriate changes here in Bridgeport now for our department’s policies and practices regarding notifying family members of a death. I support and add my voice to the family, community, and elected officials who are calling for state legislation on this issue. Finally, I have contacted the State Medical Examiner to request assistance in expediting this matter so that the investigation can proceed, and detectives may provide a comprehensive report to the family and parents of Lauren Smith-Fields. I offer my support in bringing closure to the family during this terrible tragedy,” News12 quotes.
Antonio Brown Claims The Bucs Offered Him $200K To Go To The ‘Crazy House’
Antonio Brown and his attorney, Sean Burstyn, did an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” which airs Tuesday night. In the interview, the 33-year-old receiver claimed the Buccaneers offered him $200,000 to go to the “crazy house.”
“You seemed to resent the feelings of so many former coaches and teammates that you were in need of mental assistance. Does that bother you?” Gumbel asked.
Burstyn spoke up first saying, “To the extent any of that is coming from a spin that Antonio had a spontaneous mental episode, it’s resentful and it’s hurtful and it’s a disservice to people who do suffer from mental health challenges. We all have our difficulties — Antonio, myself, everybody …,” he said. Brown then spoke up saying, “Yeah, these guys at Tampa Bay Bucs tried to agree with me to give me $200,000 to go to the crazy house so these guys could look like they know what they’re talking about.”
Gumbel then challenged what he was offered $200,000 for.
“The offer was Antonio would basically sit on the sidelines, go on some list — and commit himself to some form of intensive mental health treatment,” Burstyn said. “And we were specifically told, in writing, by the general manager, twice, ‘Don’t spin this any other way.’”
“I have mental wealth. A lot of people may not understand me or know how I look at things or don’t know how I react emotionally to things. It’s not for them to understand me. I have a beautiful family and kids across the world who look up to me,” Brown shared.
Keith Urban takes over Adele's Caesars Palace concert dates
Keith Urban is set to take over Adele's cancelled Caesars Palace tour dates after the British singer pulled the plug on her residency less than 24 hours before showtime.
The 54-year-old Australian rocker has been booked to play on nights in March that tickets had been sold for Adele to play there.
Urban was already set to perform at the Las Vegas theatre on May 30, after Adele's run was scheduled to have wrapped up, but Caesars has since announced that Urban will start his run earlier.
Saving the dayk! Australian rocker Keith Urban, 54, (pictured) has been booked to replace Adele's
His additional dates at the Colosseum are March 25, 26 and 30 and April 1 and 2, 2022 - a pair of weekends that Adele would have been playing as part of her now-scotched three-month residency.
It comes after the British singer, 33, postponed a series of shows at Caesars Palace with just 24 hours' notice on Friday, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as a mitigating factor.
principally an onstage pool she was required to perform over (pictured enjoying a dip in 2016)
But the decision left thousands of fans in the red, with many having spent as much as $9,000 on tickets and only hearing the news after boarding flights to the United States.
Sources now claim that Adele cancelled the residency after a disagreement over set design, principally an onstage pool she was required to perform over during one of her numbers.
Peter Robbins, Former Child Actor Who Voiced Charlie Brown in the 1960s, Dies at 65
Peter Robbins, a former child actor best known as the original voice of Charlie Brown in the 1960s “Peanuts” animated specials, died last week, his family announced. He was 65.
His family told Fox 5 in San Diego that he died by suicide.
Robbins, born Aug. 10, 1956 in Los Angeles, started acting at age 7, landing the role of Charlie Brown in “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” in 1963. He would play the “Peanuts” character in the subsequent animated classics “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965), “Charlie Brown’s All Stars!” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (both 1966), “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown” (1967), “He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown” (1968), and “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown” (1969). His final appearance voicing Charlie Brown came in the 1969 hit animated feature film “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.”
Robbins also appeared in various live action TV shows of the era, including episodes of “The Munsters,” “F-Troop” and “The FBI.” He also appeared in several feature films, including 1966’s “Moment to Moment,” from which the photo above is taken.
His final acting role came when he was 16 years old, in an 1972 episode of “My Three Sons.” He retired from acting and eventually pursued careers in real estate and radio.
Robbins also struggled with mental health, saying under oath that he suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He also battled addiction and legal problems throughout his life. He was sentenced to a year in prison in 2013 for making threats and stalking, serving his time in an addiction treatment center. In 2015 he was sentenced to 4 years and 8 month in prison for sending threatening letters. He was paroled in 2019.
After his release from prison, he told Fox 5 in San Diego, “I would recommend to anybody that has bipolar disorder to take it seriously because your life can turn around in the span of a month, like it did to me. I came out of prison and I’m a better person for it. I’m much more humble and grateful and thankful that I lived through the experience.
According to Fox 5 San Diego, a memorial for Robbins will be announced at a later date.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is a free, 24/7 confidential service that can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information and local resources.
Oreo Announces New Line Of Frozen Treats
Oreo announced it is releasing a new line of frozen products, called Oreo Frozen Treats.
But unlike other cookies and cream products, Oreo’s treats will serve up an authentic Oreo cookie taste. They use a creme-flavored base and are filled with pieces of real Oreo cookies.
1. 1.Oreo Bars feature a creme-flavored base packed with Oreo cookie pieces and then dipped in a coating of crushed Oreo wafer pieces.
2. Oreo Cones feature a chocolate cone filled with a creme-flavored base packed with Oreo cookie pieces and dipped in crushed Oreo wafer pieces.
3. Oreo Sandwiches feature a creme-flavored base mixed with Oreo cookie pieces, sandwiched between two large Oreo cookie wafers.
4. Oreo Tubs will come in both 48-oz and 14-oz size tubs of a frozen dessert featuring a creme-flavored base with Oreo cookie pieces packed into a scoopable tub.
5. The Oreo Frozen Treats are only available in select stores for the time being. They will be rolled out to grocery stores beginning in March.
The March timeline is fitting for the cookie, which is celebrating 110 years on March 6.
Kim Kardashian’s Rep Says Laptop Kanye West Retrieved From Ray J Does Not Contain a New Sex Tape
Monday, Kanye West made headlines after claiming he stopped an alleged second sex tape of Kim Kardashian and Ray J from being released.
In a sit-down with Jason Lee of Hollywood Unlocked, Ye said he flew to get the rumored second sex tape after Wack 100, Ray J’s former manager, teased he was in possession of part two of the infamous tape.
“I went and got the laptop from Ray J myself that night,” West told Lee. He also said in that interview Kardashian was relieved he retrieved the computer and broke down in tears when he brought it to her.
Tuesday, a Kardashian spokesperson told Page Six that the laptop did indeed exist; however, there was nothing sexually explicit about the unseen content.
“The computer and hard drive collected were supposed to contain the original video and any unseen footage. After review, there was nothing sexual unseen, only footage on the plane on the way to Mexico and footage at a club and restaurant on the same trip,” read the statement.
“Kim remains firm in her belief that there is no new second tape that exists. After 20 years, she truly wishes to move on from this chapter [and] focus instead on the positive things she continues to do as a mother, entrepreneur and advocate for justice reform.”
A source also said Kim was grateful for Kanye’s gesture in retrieving the laptop as the tape still is a source of embarrassment to the Skims founder.
“Kim was and still is truly grateful to Kanye for getting it back,” our insider shared. “The tape caused her a lot of pain and continues to haunt her to this day. Even though they are no longer together as a couple, they remain aligned with the same concerns about how this content that continues to be used against her will affect their four young kids in the future.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
WAIT, WHAT IS THIS?
Legend has it that she’s not wearing anything underneath.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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