The Queen of HipHop Soul, Mary J. Blige Covers ELLE’s February 2022 Issue
Mary J. Blige covers ELLE’s February 2022 issue, on newsstands February 1. For ELLE’s State of Black Beauty feature, the hip-hop icon and Super Bowl headliner opens up about her iconic platinum blonde hair, the inspiration behind her upcoming album Good Morning Gorgeous, and navigating self-acceptance through beauty. As she tells ELLE’s Beauty E-Commerce Editor Nerisha Penrose: “I didn’t feel beautiful—like for real for real, not just ‘Hey, I’m pretty’ but actually believing it—until about 2016.”
On why she felt uncomfortable in her own skin, attributing her discomfort to a mix of insecurities, including a childhood scar under her left eye and a tumultuous 13- year marriage to her ex-husband and former manager: “If you’ve been beat down mentally by someone, you’re never pretty enough. You’re never smart enough. Nothing’s ever good enough.”
On starting out in the music industry with a tomboy sartorial slant, and how it was rooted in survival, not aesthetics: “When you have a single mother with two little girls living in the hood, you develop tomboy skills. You become the guys you’re hanging with, but I’m still a girl. I’m a little rougher because my environment is rougher. There’s always something you have to fight for. It was never a comfortable situation for little girls, so we had to be little tomboys to get through that time of our lives. By the time I got into the music business, that’s exactly what I was.”
On how reinvention has been her coping mechanism for escaping ‘hell’ and why she doesn’t think her hair gave her strength: “It’s not just the hairstyles and the clothing and the skin. It’s how I reinvent myself through trials and perseverance. Am I going to quit? No, I’m going to go to the next level. It’s painful to go to the next level because change is hard. But people see me come out and they think, ‘It’s just her skin or her hair.’ No, it’s her. It’s me. I’m really choosing to be a better, stronger person,” she says. The looks are just a bonus. “I won’t say hair gave me strength. I’d say I give my hair strength. Whatever I’m wearing, I’m able to have the strength to carry it now, which I was not able to have in the last layer of my life. Hair is beautiful, but I can’t carry it with confidence if I’m not confident. Because then it’d just be a weave, or it’d just be blonde hair, or my [natural] hair.”
On what song she is preparing for the Super Bowl: Sharing the stage with four other entertainers means Blige will have to shave her discography down to just one song. She’s leaning toward her seminal hit “Family Affair.” The song is a favorite of Dr. Dre, who produced it. Also, Blige says, hip-hop is something of a “Family Affair” in today’s culture: “We are the culture; [hip-hop artists] give people a way to speak. We give people a way to walk. We give people a way to talk. We give people a way to think. That’s what hip-hop and hip-hop soul have done for our culture since [the beginning].”
On her upcoming album Good Morning Gorgeous, which drops on 2/11 and how the title has become a daily mantra: “During Mudbound and when I was married, I was feeling so low. I had to pay myself the highest compliments, even if I didn’t believe it, just so I could build myself up. I would do it in the morning, because that’s the time when your hair is not done and you don’t have on makeup. You’re just kind of dealing with yourself for real.” She still wakes up and recites the same words: “Good morning, Gorgeous. I love you. I got you. I need you.”
Issue is on newsstands.
Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams Are headed to The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl, set for Feb. 13 near Los Angeles, will feature two quarterbacks who were No. 1 draft picks, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford of the Rams.
After a string of five Super Bowls featuring either Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes, on Sunday, two new quarterbacks, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and the Rams’ Matthew Stafford, made sure that trend didn’t continue.
Two weeks from now, the Cincinnati Bengals will face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., in the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. It will be only the second time that two quarterbacks who were No. 1 draft picks will face off in the championship game (Peyton Manning and Cam Newton were the first pair in 2016).
Both quarterbacks survived close calls on Sunday to get there. Burrow led the Bengals to a second-half comeback against Kansas City in the A.F.C. championship game to advance to his first Super Bowl, the third in Cincinnati’s franchise history. A few hours later, the Rams advanced to their second Super Bowl since the 2018 season after getting past San Francisco in the N.F.C. championship game.
In just his second season as an N.F.L. starter, Burrow made the Bengals’ postseason aspirations a reality, despite the franchise going 31 years without a playoff win. Cincinnati finished the regular season with a 10-7 record and one of the league’s hottest offenses, powered by Burrow’s poise, a record-setting season by the rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a career rushing season from running back Joe Mixon. Chase, who topped 1,400 receiving yards in the regular season, caught a game-tying touchdown in the A.F.C. championship game on Sunday.
The group, which is as young and inexperienced as any team in the postseason, got past Derek Carr and the Raiders in overtime in the wild-card round. Then the Bengals used a walk-off field goal against the A.F.C.’s top-seeded Tennessee Titans to win the divisional round. On Sunday, the team stunned Kansas City, the A.F.C.’s perennial conference champion, in the conference title game — keyed by a defense that stifled Mahomes, Kansas City’s superstar quarterback.
Burrow, whom the Bengals drafted with the No. 1 pick in 2020, won a Heisman Trophy in college and led Louisiana State to an undefeated season in 2019, capped by a dominant win over Clemson in the national championship.
After that win, many remember the image of Burrow, Chase and their teammates smoking cigars in celebration. Odell Beckham Jr., the Rams receiver and who formerly played for Louisiana State, was filmed giving out cash after the game.
Burrow’s success in his final season at Louisiana State foreshadowed the successful and electrifying N.F.L. quarterback he had the potential to be. His confidence was lauded by teammates, and he has been credited with implemented a winning culture in Cincinnati, despite not even playing a full season his rookie year.
After he tore multiple ligaments in his left knee in Week 11, he faced a test of how he would respond.
“I’m sure there was a lot of uncertainty on his end,” Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor told reporters this week. “He wanted to respond the right way.”
The Rams’ general manager, Les Snead, brought in Stafford during the off-season after the team decided that Jared Goff, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl a couple of seasons ago, was not its best quarterback for the future. Stafford, who was known for his big arm, had built a formidable reputation as the Detroit Lions’ quarterback. Yet he had never made the postseason, something that many credited to a lack of talent around him.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrates with his wife Kelly Hall after winning the NFL N.F.C. Championship on Sunday.Credit...Ryan Justin Kang for The New York Times
In Los Angeles, he forged a connection with one of the most productive receivers in football, Cooper Kupp, and found another burgeoning weapon in receiver Van Jefferson. After the deep threat Robert Woods tore an anterior cruciate ligament during the season, Stafford found another reliable target in Beckham, who was one of the most talented receivers in the N.F.L. but had been a clear mismatch with his previous team, the Cleveland Browns.
Snead’s methods of putting together this Super Bowl-caliber team have been unconventional and aggressive. He decided to forgo draft picks for established, impactful players like Beckham, who gave Stafford a dependable second target to replace Woods. Los Angeles also plucked a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, Von Miller, from the Broncos to play alongside the dominant defensive end Aaron Donald. Then the Rams added Sony Michel, a former Patriots running back, when Cam Akers tore an Achilles’ tendon before the season.
That all added up to a team that many predicted had too much talent not to reach this stage.
Los Angeles’s road to the Super Bowl was not without bumps, however, as Stafford piled up late-game turnovers down the season’s stretch. But after throwing 17 interceptions during the regular season, he has turned the ball over just once so far in the playoffs.
The Rams glided past Arizona in the wild-card round and survived a Tampa Bay comeback attempt in the divisional round, with Stafford using a long pass to Kupp late in the game to set up a winning field goal. Then, on Sunday, Los Angeles outlasted the 49ers in a close N.F.C. championship game.
The Super Bowl matchup appears to favor the Rams, who indeed opened as a 4-point betting favorite in sports books. Taylor, who has been the Bengals’ head coach since 2019, was the Rams’ quarterbacks coach under Head Coach Sean McVay before that. He was with the team from 2017 to 2018 and was a part of Los Angeles’s Super Bowl run at the end of the 2018 season.
Los Angeles seems to have the advantage at the line of scrimmage, with Donald, Miller and Leonard Floyd waiting to face Cincinnati’s much-maligned offensive line.
The Bengals allowed the most sacks (51) during the regular season, but that only made Burrow’s elevated passing numbers all the more impressive. He had 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdowns during the regular season, then tacked on more than 800 yards and four touchdowns in the postseason.
Stafford, after throwing for 41 touchdowns in the regular season, had four passing touchdowns in the playoffs, including two straight 300-yard passing games.
After Sunday’s conference championship games had concluded, both quarterbacks donned commemorative hats that celebrated their victories.
“This is a whole lot better than what I thought it was going to be like,” Stafford said after the Rams’ win.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss ‘Excited’ For Cynthia Bailey on ‘Celebrity Big Brother 3’
Kandi Burruss is not only one of the queens of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but she has made appearances on other reality shows. Back in 2019, the Grammy-award-winning star competed on the second season of Celebrity Big Brother. Although Burruss didn’t win, she was a fan-favorite from the Bravo universe and former co-star Cynthia Bailey is now joining the third season. As the cast was revealed, Burruss gave a shoutout to Bailey to wish her luck.
Burruss is a supportive queen and after it was revealed that Bailey was entering the Celebrity Big Brother, the RHOA star shared an Instagram post supporting her. The entrepreneur knows what it’s like to compete in the house and she most likely shared some wisdom with Bailey beforehand.
“I’m excited for my girl @cynthiabailey for joining the new season of #CelebrityBigBrother! Everyone tune in & support my girl!” Burruss posted.
Ahead of the cast reveal, it was rumored that Nene Leakes was being contacted to join the show. However, the “tastiest peach in Atlanta” denied she was even in conversations to compete for the grand prize.
Bailey will not be the only housewife on CBB3 as former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp was also confirmed to be part of the cast. Other houseguests include Carson Kressley, Chris Kattan, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lamar Odom, Miesha Tate, Mirai Nagasu, Shanna Moakler, and Todd Bridges.
The celebrities competing in the game are all vying for a $250,000 cash prize. Celebrity Big Brother house premieres on February 2 on CBS and the 24/7 live feeds will be made available to Paramount+ subscribers.
Fans react to Cynthia Bailey joining ‘Celebrity Big Brother’
After Burruss shared her support for her former RHOA co-star, it wasn’t long before fans came in to give their opinions. Some talked about Burruss’ kindness, while others didn’t seem too hopeful about Bailey making it far in the Celebrity Big Brother game.
“Kandi you’re the nicest housewife ever,” a fan replied.
“You’re such a supportive friend,” a follower noted.
“I love how you ladies friendship evolved, congrats Cynthia,” an Instagram user commented.
“Cynthia is boring as a sack of potatoes,” another fan said.
“She definitely not going to make it,” a follower predicted.
“I’m glad she’s on there. Now is the time for her to show them that she has beauty and brains,” another Instagram user mentioned.
#NewMusic from Lady Wray Releases New Album “Piece of Me”
Nicole Wray aka Lady Wray has just released her brand new album called “Piece of Me”.
This is the singer’s first project since she released “Queen Alone” in 2016, and comes once again via her longtime label Big Crown Records.
STREAM IT HERE
“Piece of Me” once again finds Wray exploring the throwback, nostalgic soul sounds that we’ve heard from her in recent years and she first began exploring on her “Lady” project years ago.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Announces New Single ‘Do We Have A Problem?’ With Lil Baby
Following a report earlier in the week, Nicki Minaj has officially announced her new single “Do We Have a Problem?” featuring Lil Baby. The song is slated to hit streaming services on Pink Friday, Feb 4.
“DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM⁉️ BABY X BARBIE 🦄🎀🤞🏽 PINK FRIDAY 🔥 FEB 4,” she captioned her post.
A music video also appears to have been shot. Nicki shared a photo from the set, which finds a blonde Barbie on top of a table in an interrogation room alongside Baby.
This marks their first collaboration. Back in October, Nicki joined the Atlanta rapper on stage during his “Back Outside Tour” in L.A. In 2019, Nicki remixed Baby and Gunna’s hit “Drip Too Hard.”
“Do We Have a Problem?” arrives ahead of Nicki’s highly-anticipated fifth studio album, the follow-up to 2018’s Queen.
“I’m back to enjoying music. You know when you’re just back in your zone and your creativity is on high and you can just do it in your sleep. It’s magic again,” she told fans last year. “This album will definitely be my best album of all time thus far.”
Chris Brown Responds To Rape Allegations
Chris Brown is firing back after being accused of rape.
This week, a woman filed a $20 million lawsuit against the R&B superstar, claiming he raped her on a docked yacht on Miami’s Star Island in December 2020. In legal documents, she says he “drugged” her before taking her to a bedroom and undressing her while she was “half-asleep.” She allegedly told him to stop, but he continued and raped her before announcing he was “done.”
The following day, she says Chris texted her and demanded she take Plan B. She did not file a police report, but is suing Chris for $20 million in damages, claiming she suffered severe emotional distress.
Following the allegations, Chris took to his Instagram Story to respond. He denied the sexual assault claims while sharing a photo of himself wearing many “caps.
“I hope y’all see this pattern of [cap] whenever I’m releasing music or projects, ‘THEY’ try to pull some real bullshit,” wrote Chris, who dropped his new single “Iffy” earlier this month.
He also took the opportunity to promote his “Iffy Challenge,” quoting the song’s lyrics in his caption: “Can’t trust these h**s kuz they iffy.”
His friend and collaborator Tory Lanez also came to his defense. “They really need to leave my dawg @chrisbrownofficial alone and just let him be great!!!!” he wrote. “Everytime he got some good shit going on … Or he start a album rollout here somebody come with some fake shit to drag him down !!!!! I’ve literally never seen the man be nothing but nice as f**k to his fans and peers !!!”
Added Tory, “Let the GOAT be the GOAT.”
Janet Jackson On Why She & Jermaine Dupri Split: I Heard That He Was Cheating
Janet Jackson is opening up about why she and Jermaine Dupri split. Tonight, part 2 of her documentary aired and both artists detailed their romantic relationship highlighting both the highs and the lows.
Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson are said to have dated from 2000 to 2008.
At one point in their relationship, the mega producer proposed to Janet.
Ultimately, distance played a part in their relationship and infidelity. When asked why they split, Janet stayed:
“I had heard he was cheating”.
J.D. seemingly admitted to cheating, saying that he had been “reckless” and that more women had been attracted to him, since he was dating Janet.
The singer also noted that JD was “constantly working” and that she wasn’t
“getting enough from him emotionally”.
Fast forward to the present day and they still remain friends.
Tom Brady's Agent & Father Respond to Retirement Rumors
Tom Brady has not yet responded to the reports that he will retire from football after a 22-year career, but some people close to him are speaking.
Both Tom‘s agent and his father Tom Brady Sr. have released statements in response to the news.
Tom‘s agent Don Yee told TMZ, “I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.”
KRON4 News spoke to Tom‘s father, who said that his son “is not retiring, saying that an online publication started circulating an unsubstantiated rumor.
MLB Helps Replace Vandalized Jackie Robinson Memorial with $40,000 Donation: 'Empower the Community'
A marker at the birth site of Jackie Robinson was vandalized.
via: People: After vandals shot at a memorial marker dedicated to the late baseball legend and civil rights pioneer last year, the MLB stepped in with a $40,000 donation for a new marker. It was unveiled Wednesday in Robinson’s rural hometown of Cairo, Georgia, The New York Times reported.
April Brown, MLB’s vice president of social responsibility, said the league established a fund for the sign’s ongoing upkeep because they “want to make sure it’s something that stands forever.”
“Sometimes people do look at things as, ‘Oh, it’s just a physical signage,'” Brown said, according to NYT. “But what it represents is how we can empower the community and audiences around social justice, and to empower and lift up those who fought for rights for all.”
The MLB’s donation helped replace the original marker outside the once-standing house where Robinson was born in 1919 (only a brick chimney remains after the building burned down in 1996). They also provided a second marker outside the Roddenbery Memorial Library, which receives more foot traffic, directing tourists to the original marker, 13 miles south.
“This community has produced great people. Jackie was one of them. Don’t be ashamed of where you come from because so many young people, they live in small towns. People ask where are you from and they say Albany or Atlanta, no you’re from Cairo, Georgia,” Robinson’s cousin Dr. Linda Walden said, according to WALB News
“To me, for someone to do such an egregious thing, I just pray for them and put it in God’s hands,” Dr. Walden added.
Robinson’s defaced marker was discovered in Feb. 2021 amid a wave of vandalism on the Georgia Civil Rights Trail, which also impacted a marker recognizing Mary Turner, a pregnant woman who was lynched in 1918.
W. Todd Groce, president and chief executive of the Georgia Historical Society, said he was initially “shocked and disappointed” but not totally surprised after Turner’s sign was previously defaced. “There’s something about using gunfire on historical markers telling stories about Black people that leads you to believe that it wasn’t simply just a coincidence,” he said, according to NYT.
“The association of guns and violence against African Americans in this country is one of the things that’s been going on for a long time,” Groce added. “So the fact that they shot these markers using guns was a signal that was being sent in some way.”
The vandalized sign will be sent to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, before eventually moving to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. It will serve as a reminder of the racial issues the country still faces, 50 years after Robinson’s death in 1972.
There are currently no leads on who vandalized the markers.
The Atlanta Braves are set to honor Robinson’s legacy this April and will bring their World Series Trophy to Cairo 75 years to the day Robinson broke the color barriers in Baseball.
Nelly RIPS Madonna and tells her to ‘cover up’ as singer wears lace underwear and pantyhose in latest racy post
NELLY laid into Madonna, telling the iconic pop singer to "cover up" after she shared a sexy snap in lacy underwear and pantyhose.
The rapper is not typically involved in online controversy.
Madonna shared a series of photos wearing a sexy outfit made up of a tiny top, lacy underwear, and pantyhose.
She capped the look off with a hat similar to that worn by a driver.
The Queen of Pop captioned the post: "Car trouble," with several emojis.
While many gushed over the daring look in the comments, it's clear that Nelly wasn't a fan.
He commented: "Some things should just be left covered up."
Nelly wasn't alone in that sentiment either.
Several Instagram users commented things like "No" and "Just stop."
A particularly vicious commenter wrote: "This is what happens when you have only yes people in your life. No one on her team is being honest with her."
Another added: "What are you doing and most importantly what have you done to yourself? Smh."
SHOWING LOVE
As many critics as there were, there were also many supporters as rapper Ja Rule commented: "How can you not love Madonna lol."
Steven Klein commented several fire emojis, while Giovanni Bianco commented one red heart.
Anabel Englund wrote: "stunning."
Madonna seemed unfazed by the haters, as did her supporters.
Joni Mitchell removing her music from Spotify: ‘I stand with Neil Young’
Singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell announced she removed all of her music from Spotify, following the lead of singer Neil Young.
Legendary singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell announced she will follow Neil Young’s lead and pull her music from Spotify over COVID-misinformation concerns.
The two music giants decided to abandon the streaming service in protest of it’s prized podcaster Joe Rogan, who they’ve accused of spreading fake information about COVID vaccines.
“I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify,” Mitchell, 78, said in a statement posted to her website on Friday. “Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives.”
Mitchell, whose career spans six decades, was awarded the Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2002 and was named a Kennedy Center honoree in 2021.
Her Canadian compatriot, Young, earlier this week gave Spotify an ultimatum in a since-deleted letter on his website that read: “They can have Neil Young or Rogan. Not Both.”
“I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform,” fumed the 76-year-old Grammy-winner in the note.
“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them.”
The following day, Spotify chose Rogan and his popular podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Spotify reportedly paid more than $100 million to be the exclusive home of Rogan’s show. Young, meanwhile, may lose 60 percent of his streaming income from his defiant stance, he said in a statement on his website.
Young said he “sincerely hopes that other artists can make a move” but that didn’t expect them to. Mitchell appears to be the first to follow suit.
“I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue,” she said in her statement.
Young and Mitchell made their departure from the platform weeks after Rogan hosted controversial “anti-vaxxer” epidemiologist, Dr. Robert Malone, who compared the current state of US public health to that of 1920s and 1930s Germany in an episode that has since been deleted from YouTube.
The episode prompted a group of 270 medical experts to pen an open letter condemning Rogan’s top-rated show.
“Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, though the company presently has no misinformation policy,” they wrote.
A Spokesperson for Spotify told The Wall Street Journal in response: “We want all the world’s music and audio content to be available to Spotify users. With that comes great responsibility in balancing both safety for listeners and freedom for creators.”
The company said that it has removed over 20,000 COVID-related podcast episodes.
Apple Music trolled its competitor in response, offering a “We Love Neil” album playlist on its homepage on Friday morning. It also declared itself “the home of Neil Young” in a tweet late Thursday and sent out at least one push notification to users promoting Young’s latest album.
Jason Momoa Is Officially Joining The ‘Fast & Furious’ Franchise
Jason has been making his rounds and gaining success in the acting world. The Fast & Furious franchise is welcoming Jason Momoa to the team!
The action film series made the announcement of the actor joining the film’s 10th installment Friday evening on Twitter with a caption saying “The Fast Fam keeps getting bigger.”
Seeing as Vin Diesel couldn’t persuade Dwayne Johnson to return, Momoa was probably the next best choice. Since the initial premiere in 2001, the “Fast” films have featured many big names such as: Jason Statham, Luke Evans, Kurt Russell, Helen Mirren, and John Cena.
Momoa’s resume has been filling up with more and more outstanding roles every day. A few of his incredible performances include Duncan Idaho in “Dune” and Khal Drogo in “Game of Throne.” The actor is also starring in Apple TV Plus series “See.” Momoa also just recently wrapped up filming for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”
To close out the adrenaline-pumping series, ‘F10’ will be a two-part finale. Justin Lin will continue directing the film. Some fan favorites like Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, and Charlize Theron will be returning. Although Momoa’s character has yet to be revealed, there has been talk of him playing a villain.
The “F10” film is set to hit theaters on May 19, 2023. Will you be watching?
Report: Denver Native Billionaire Robert F. Smith Emerges as Potential Broncos Bidder
Billionaires don’t grow on trees — especially the ilk that might have the wherewithal and chutzpah to purchase a home-state NFL franchise. Front Office Sports' A.J Perez revealed that the Denver Broncos might have found such a rare such beast in the form of local entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert F. Smith, who also happened to grow up in the Mile High City before building up a personal fortune that Forbes estimates at $6.7 billion.
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Smith made his bones successfully developing his company Vista Equity Owners, which now boasts the eye-popping $86 billion in total assets under management. That’s more than enough financial clout to work within the NFL rules that stipulate that all new owners must be able to cover 30% of the purchase price in cold, hard cash.
As things stand, the current asking price for the Broncos is purportedly in the region of $4 billion, so Smith would be on the hook for $1.2 billion out of the gates. Raising that kind of capital shouldn’t prove too problematic for the 59-year-old billionaire if it is indeed his quest to become the NFL’s first-ever Black owner.
Despite Smith’s vast wealth, entering the high-stakes auction for the Broncos still doesn’t present the same star appeal to the fans that Hall-of-Fame former quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning do. Further challenges to win ownership of the Broncos might also materialize from the ranks of the truly mega-rich as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos might still have an interest despite keeping quiet prior to the bidding process.
It’s little wonder the Broncos are a hot commodity especially when you consider just how rare it is for an NFL franchise to become available to the market. Add in the fact that with the NFL now warmly embracing the new era of vast gambling revenue streams and it’s a solid bet that the value of teams could be set to skyrocket even further.
Smith might curry some favor with fans due to his PR savvy and acts of generous philanthropy and local ties, but when push comes to shove, the size of his wallet will be all that really matters.
Rihanna's foundation pledges $15 million to climate justice organizations
Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation has committed $15 million to organizations fighting for climate justice in the United States and the Caribbean. The charitable offering was made on Tuesday (Jan. 25) in partnership with Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall initiative.
According to a press statement, the grants will benefit groups that “are focused on and led by women, youth, Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and people of color to accelerate climate justice for those at greatest risk.”
“At the Clara Lionel Foundation, much of the work is rooted in the understanding that climate disasters, which are growing in frequency and intensity, do not impact all communities equally, with communities of color and island nations facing the brunt of climate change,” Rihanna said in the announcement. “This is why CLF prioritizes both climate resilience and climate justice work across the U.S. and Caribbean.”
Justine Lucas, executive director of the foundation, also said, “CLF believes strongly that funders must build partnerships with organizations and acknowledge their deep understanding of what is necessary to achieve climate justice in their own communities.”
Some of the organizations that have already been approved for the grants include the Black Feminist Fund, Black Visions Collective, Caribbean Youth Environment Network, Center for Popular Democracy, Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund, Climate Justice Alliance, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, GirlsCARE, Helen’s Daughters, HEY Campaign (The Ashley Lashley Foundation), Hive Fund for Gender and Climate Justice, Indigenous Environmental Network, Integrated Health Outreach, Movement for Black Lives, Native Movement, NDN Collective, The Caribbean Climate Justice Project and The Solutions Project.
Rihanna, a native of Barbados, was named a National Hero of the Caribbean island last November. At the time, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley applauded the pop star’s service to her home country, “pioneering leadership” and “extraordinary achievement.”
Also on Tuesday, the ANTI singer celebrated the opening of her first brick-and-mortar Savage X Fenty store in Las Vegas.
“We wanted to be able to connect with our customers in real life and give them something they have never seen before,” Rih said about the lingerie store 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.”
Cher Sings an All-New Version of The Golden Girls Theme for NBC's Upcoming Betty White Tribute
Cher is contributing her unparalleled vocals as a tribute to America's late Golden Girl, Betty White.
The "Believe" singer, 75, shared a fabulous clip to her social media on Friday, in which she sang an all-new cover of the iconic theme song to 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls that starred White along with Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan.
Cher gave the special performance of "Thank You For Being a Friend" on the original Golden Girls Stage 5 in Hollywood, where the long-running NBC series was taped.
"Thank You For Being a Friend," originally written and recorded in 1978 by Andrew Gold, was later covered by Cynthia Fee. That was the version used on the Emmy-winning series which ran from 1985 until 1992.
"Every Friend is Golden 🌟" Cher captioned the clip on her Instagram, along with details for the upcoming TV special Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl, airing Monday.
The star-studded event will include tributes from President Joe Biden, Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli, Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Goldie Hawn, Vicki Lawrence, Jane Leeves, Jay Leno, Anthony Mackie, Wendie Malick, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Jean Smart, Mary Steenburgen and more.
"Co-stars, friends, admirers and those who shared special moments with White recount their favorite memories and reveal untold stories to commemorate the life and legacy of the trailblazing television star," NBC said in a news release.
"The telecast will include clips and never-before-seen footage that best capture White's irreverent tone, spirit and impeccable comedic timing that are a hallmark of her decades-long career."
WATCH
White died on Dec. 31, six days after suffering a stroke, according to a copy of her death certificate obtained by PEOPLE earlier this month. Her death came nearly two weeks before she would have celebrated her 100th birthday.
Ahead of her centennial year, White herself opened up to PEOPLE about how she was feeling about turning 100 years old.
According to the Golden Girls icon, being "born a cockeyed optimist" was the key to her upbeat nature. "I got it from my mom, and that never changed. I always find the positive," she said.
"Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," her agent and friend Jeff Witjas said in a previous statement after her death.
"I don't think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again."
Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl will air Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC and will be available the next day on Peacock.
NY Nurse Arrested After Making $1.5M Off Of Fake Vaccination Cards In Just Three Months
NY Nurse Arrested After Making $1.5M Off Of Fake Vaccination Cards In Just Three Months
Side hustle gone wrong: A Long Island pediatric nurse practitioner and her employee were recently busted after allegedly making $1.5 million from selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards. Her NYPD officer husband is also reportedly facing an internal probe for his potential involvement.
According to the Daily Mail, Nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono, who owns Wild Child Pediatrics Healthcare on Long Island, and her employee Marissa Urraro, 44, a practical nurse, were caught after undercover detectives obtained fake vaccination cards from them “on one or more occasions.”
CBS News reports that DeVuono was allegedly charging $220 for adults and $85 for children to enter falsified information to the New York State Immunization Information System. Despite receiving vaccines and syringes being sent to the practice from the government, patients never received a vaccine. Just within three months, they made $1.5 million, the news site notes.
Police searched the DeVuono’s home in Amityville, where they found $900,000 in cash. Some of it was found in NYPD-issued helmet bags and because of that, it drew suspicion to her husband Derin, a police officer at Brooklyn’s 60th Precinct.
So far, both nurse practitioners have been charged with forgery and DeVuono for offering a false instrument for filing. They pleaded guilty at their arraignment hearing on Friday and they were both released without bail. Meanwhile, Derin is now reportedly under an internal investigation to see if he was involved in his wife’s fraudulent business. In 2020.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
KEEP HOLDING ON
Does he use that wheelchair ?
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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