#FASHIONFILES: Patrick Wilson and Halle Berry at the “Moonfall” Premiere
At the Noonfall Premeiere the stars Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson came out. Halle Berry in Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and Patrick Wilson in Hermès. Here a few more shots below.
Looking good Movie is out Friday 2/4/22.
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Sells Georgia Mansion Below Asking Price
DULUTH, GA — Reality star NeNe Leakes' Georgia mansion is officially off the market. According to the Redfin listing, she sold the property last Tuesday for $2,650,000 — $845,000 less than the asking price.
Leakes originally purchased the home in 2015 for $2.1 million, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
The 10,000-square foot Mediterranean-style mega-estate is tucked away in the gated Sugarloaf Country Club and includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
The estate features a resort-style pool with waterfalls with a full wraparound. covered patio.
The basement also includes an entertainment bar, theatre room, game room and a beauty salon.
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty oversaw the sale of the property on behalf of the reality star.
Leakes put the property up for sale not long after her late husband, Gregg, died from colon cancer in Sept. 2021, TMZ reported.
#MusicNews: The Queen Icon herself Janet Jackson Hints at New Music During ‘Fallon’ Appearance
Janet Jackson made a virtual appearance on The Tonight Show Wednesday to promote Janet Jackson, the new four-part docuseries about her life and career that aired last month on Lifetime and A&E.
Sporting a relaxed, casual look, the pop superstar tells host Jimmy Fallon she was overwhelmed by the response to the documentary. According to Variety, over 15.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the series across the two nights it aired.
“I’m very thankful that so many people watched it and enjoyed it,” she says. “It was all such a surprise to me. I was not expecting any of it…I was just really so, so worried that people would find it boring, to be quite honest with you.”
The documentary, which Jackson says was filmed over the course of five years, follows the singer’s rise from a childhood spent in the shadows of her famous siblings to becoming a global (if not somewhat reluctant) superstar in her own right.
“It’s been almost 50 years that I’ve been doing this,” Jackson explains. “I thought it would be best to tell my story, if I can, as opposed to having someone else tell it for me.”
During the interview, Fallon playfully jokes that Jackson may have felt somewhat obligated to include Questlove, the drummer for The Tonight Show house band The Roots, in the production — a suggestion Jackson quickly shoots down.
“It was very important to have Quest in the documentary,” she said. “He was such a huge supporter in getting me inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with all the fans. I just can’t thank him enough. That’s just a huge moment in my career, in my life.”
The documentary also includes interviews with a host of other celebrities, including Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul.
Near the interview’s conclusion, Fallon asks Jackson if “Love I Love,” an unreleased song heard briefly during a segment of Janet Jackson, would see an official release sometime in the future — or if the “Escapade” hitmaker had plans to produce new music in the coming years.
“It’s so funny because that’s — it was a song that I recorded, like, three years ago,” the singer says of “Love I Love.” “And, in the documentary, we thought, ‘Oh, this would be cool to put this song right here in this moment, this piece in the documentary.’ And, everyone started reacting to it. So I dunno. We’ll just have to see. Maybe.”
#HipHopNews: Drakeo the Ruler’s Son Files $60 Million Wrongful Death Suit Against Live Nation
Drakeo the Ruler’s son filed his wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles Wednesday asking for at least $60 million in damages from defendants, including concert promoter Live Nation.
According to the complaint, the promoters “were completely knowledgeable of the potential dangers” at their Once Upon a Time in L.A. festival last December and allowed the show to go on despite an “utter lack of security” in the backstage area where Drakeo, born Darrell Caldwell, was fatally stabbed.
Drakeo’s “ongoing public feud” with fellow festival rapper YG was listed as one factor that put his personal safety at risk, the paperwork said.
“While there is no evidence to indicate that YG had anything to do with the events that would lead to Mr. Caldwell’s murder on the evening of December 18, 2021, it was clear that other members of the Bloods gang may take issue with him,” the filing said. “It was widely known that members of the Bloods gang were actively targeting Mr. Caldwell.”
The mother of Drakeo the Ruler’s only child plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit Monday against the promoters who organized the Once Upon a Time in L.A. music festival where the rising rapper was murdered backstage last month, she announced Thursday.
The complaint will name festival organizer Live Nation along with indie promoters C3 Presents, Bobby Dee Presents and Jeffrey Shuman as defendants and seek at least $20 million in damages, lawyers representing the family said.
Tianna Purtue tells Rolling Stone she still hasn’t been able to watch the now infamous video purportedly showing her son’s dad under attack amid the backstage melee that ended his life on Dec. 19. When her lawyer James Bryant played the 46-second clip at a press conference Thursday, she looked away as soon as she realized what it was.
“I haven’t seen the video yet. I can’t bear to watch it,” explains Purtue, who is suing on behalf of her 5-year-old son Caiden.
Purtue was at the hospital where Drakeo, born Darrell Caldwell, was rushed with a mortal stab wound in his neck. She’s heard the accounts that an earlier attack in the backstage area happened minutes before Caldwell was ambushed again by unidentified assailants.
“It just makes no sense. There was no security in sight. No one was there to help until the absolute last moment where he’s fighting for his life. That’s when EMT comes around,” she says.
“Where was security? Where were they? Where was their post? I’ve been to plenty of festivals, and security is at every checkpoint,” she adds. “How did this whole festival come into play with no security around? And this is backstage at that. So it was a real scare for me. He’s backstage. He’s supposed to be protected as an artist. He’s coming to do a show for his fans, and he’s not even protected. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Bryant, whose co-counsel for the complaint includes Rodney Diggs and Kellen Davis, tells Rolling Stone that his analysis of the video shows Caldwell and his small entourage were accosted by at least 40 others.
“In this instance, security was so terrible, you don’t see anybody around. And on top of that, the fence that separates the public from the artists was opened like it was a wide-open door. They were opening it and closing it like it was a door,” he says, referring to the video.
Bryant says Caldwell himself was not a gang member, but the concert was held in South Los Angeles, an area steeped with gang allegiances. Caldwell had been acquitted in a murder case involving the death of an Inglewood Family Blood, and Bryant believes the concert promoters should have recognized his situation in relation to other local performers.
“I looked at that video, and I saw a sea of red. I don’t know if it was specifically gang-related, but I can tell you that all of those people attacking him were dressed in red, and that to me signifies that they were probably Bloods,” Bryant, head of the entertainment division at The Cochran Firm, tells Rolling Stone. “If you look at the video, 40 to 60 people attacked this man who basically had no one there to help him. It was truly a modern-day lynching. They targeted him, knew what they wanted, and achieved their goal.”
Live Nation and the other promoters had no immediate comment Thursday on the announced civil action. In a statement to Rolling Stone, they said, “Once Upon a Time in LA joins Drakeo’s family, friends, and fans in grieving his loss. The festival is continuing to support local authorities in their investigation as they pursue the facts.”
Purtue says she’s heartbroken that her son lost his dad shortly after Caldwell was acquitted in the murder case and released from jail, just as his rap career was reaching the next level.
“Caiden is going to miss out on a lot. Right now, he’s only going to kindergarten. He still has middle school, high school, his first football team, first basketball team,” she says. “You always need your dad. He’s losing out on so much he would learn from his dad that I can’t teach him. Who’s going to be there to do all those things? When he’s going through puberty, he’s supposed to have a dad. He already spent the first few years of life seeing his dad through glass. Now whenever he wants to speak with his dad, he’ll have to do it at a grave.”
4 Men charged after overdose death of actor Michael K. Williams
NEW YORK (AP) — Four men face charges that they were members of the drug distribution crew that supplied a deadly mix of narcotics to Michael K. Williams, the renowned actor from “The Wire” who overdosed just hours after buying fentanyl-laced heroin in a deal recorded on security camera video.
The man seen on camera handing Williams the drugs on a Brooklyn sidewalk, Irvin Cartagena, was charged with directly causing the actor’s death, authorities said.
Williams’ death was investigated by the New York City police department, but the charges were brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who revealed that the suspects had been under surveillance even before the actor’s fatal overdose last September.
It was a sting that bore a striking resemblance to the kind depicted on “The Wire,” where Williams gained fame playing the bandit Omar Little.
For months, a paid informant working for the NYPD had been making controlled buys of heroin on the same block where Williams purchased his drugs. An undercover police officer made one buy just days before the actor copped his fatal dose, court papers said.
The vials of drugs found with Williams when his body was discovered on Sept. 6 bore the same label, “AAA Insurance,” as the vials purchased by the officer.
The day after the actor’s death, the NYPD’s informant went back to buy more drugs from the same group, recording a conversation in which some members of the crew talked about Williams’ overdose. One denied selling any drugs containing fentanyl.
Cartagena and the three other men in the case were arrested Tuesday. Three made initial appearances Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. Cartagena’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Thursday in Puerto Rico, where he was arrested.
It was not immediately clear who would represent him or who could comment on his behalf.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who announced the charges with New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, called overdose deaths a “public health crisis.”
“And it has to stop. Deadly opioids like fentanyl and heroin don’t care about who you are or what you’ve accomplished. They just feed addiction and lead to tragedy,” Williams said.
Sewell said police detectives in Brooklyn “lived this case, never relenting in their investigation until they could bring a measure of justice to Michael K. Williams and his family.”
Williams, 54, was found dead in his penthouse apartment in Brooklyn Sept. 6. At that time, the medical examiner’s office ruled Williams’ death an accident
Police pieced together Williams’ movements in the hours before his death using data from his mobile phone and license plate readers.
A security camera on the block recorded the drug deal, police said.
Williams talked with the group, and one of the people placed his hand on the actor’s shoulder in an apparent gesture of recognition, according to the complaint. Cartagena then walked around a row of trash cans, retrieved a plastic bag and handed it to the actor, the court papers said.
The men continued to sell fentanyl-laced heroin in broad daylight amid apartment buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan even after knowing that Williams had died from one of their products, authorities said.
The others charged were identified as Hector Robles, 57, Luis Cruz, 56, and Carlos Macci, 70, all of Brooklyn. Their lawyers did not immediately return messages seeking comment. It wasn’t clear whether they were the men seen in the surveillance video.
All three were ordered detained at their initial court appearances.
The conspiracy charges against all four carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years. The charge against Cartagena accusing him of causing the actor’s death carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Cartagena had been arrested in February 2021 on state drug charges in Brooklyn after selling four small waxy paper bags to an undercover investigator, according to a federal complaint against him. At the time, he was on pretrial release from a gun charge arrest in August 2020.
He pleaded guilty Aug. 26 to disorderly conduct in both crimes and was sentenced to time served, the complaint read.
Williams’ “stick-up boy” Omar Little on “The Wire” — a fictionalized look at the underpinnings of Baltimore that ended in 2008 but remains popular in streaming — was based on real-life figures. He created another classic character as Chalky White in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and appeared in the films “12 Years a Slave” and “Assassin’s Creed.”
He had spoken frankly in interviews about his experiences with addiction.
US Raid In Syria Has Killed The Top Islamic State Leader
ATMEH, Syria (AP) — The leader of the violent Islamic State group was killed during an overnight raid carried out by U.S. special forces in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, President Joe Biden said Thursday.
The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the militant group on Oct. 31, 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in the same area. A U.S. official said al-Qurayshi died as al-Baghdadi did, by exploding a bomb that killed himself and members of his family, including women and children, as U.S. forces approached.
The operation came as IS has been trying for a resurgence, with a series of attacks in the region, including a 10-day assault late last month to seize a prison.
U.S. special forces landed in helicopters and assaulted a house in a rebel-held corner of Syria, clashing for two hours with gunmen, witnesses said. Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted the town of Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced people from Syria’s civil war.
First responders reported that 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women.
Biden said in a statement that he ordered the raid to “protect the American people and our allies, and make the world a safer place." He planned to address the American public later Thursday morning.
“Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS,” Biden said in a statement. He said all Americans involved in the operation returned safely.
Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and senior national security aides monitored a live-feed of the operation from the White House Situation Room according to an official.
The operation marked a military success for the United States at an important time after setbacks elsewhere — including the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal — have led allies and opponents to conclude U.S. power globally was weakening.
The two-story house, surrounded by olive trees in fields outside Atmeh, was left with its top floor shattered and blood spattered inside. A journalist on assignment for The Associated Press and several residents said they saw body parts scattered near the site. Most residents spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“The mission was successful,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a brief statement. “There were no U.S. casualties."
Idlib is largely controlled by Turkish-backed fighters but is also an al-Qaida stronghold and home to several of its top operatives. Other militants, including extremists from the rival IS group, have also found refuge in the region.
“The first moments were terrifying; no one knew what was happening,” said Jamil el-Deddo, a resident of a nearby refugee camp. “We were worried it could be Syrian aircraft, which brought back memories of barrel bombs that used to be dropped on us,” he added, referring to crude explosives-filled containers used by President Bashar Assad’s forces against opponents during the Syrian conflict.
The top floor of the low house was nearly destroyed; a room there had collapsed, sending white bricks tumbling to the ground below.
Blood could be seen on the walls and floor of the remaining structure. A wrecked bedroom had a child’s wooden crib and a stuffed rabbit doll. On one damaged wall, a blue plastic baby swing was still hanging. Religious books, including a biography of Islam's Prophet Mohammad, were in the house.
Al-Qurayshi had kept an extremely low profile since he took over leadership of the Islamic State. He had not appeared in public, and rarely released any audio recordings. His influence and day-to-day involvement in the group’s operations was not known and it is difficult to gauge how his death will affect the group.
His killing, however, is a significant blow just as the group had been trying to reassert itself in Syria and Iraq.
The opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense, first responders also known as the White Helmets, said 13 people were killed in shelling and clashes that ensued after the U.S. commando raid.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, also said the strike killed 13 people, including four children and two women. Ahmad Rahhal, a citizen journalist who visited the site, reported seeing 12 bodies.
The Pentagon provided no details on casualties in the raid.
The Observatory said the troops landed in helicopters. Residents and activists described witnessing a large ground assault, with U.S. forces using megaphones urging women and children to leave the area.
Omar Saleh, a resident of a nearby house, said he was asleep when his doors and windows started to rattle to the sound of low-flying aircraft at 1:10 a.m. local time. He ran to open the windows with the lights off, and saw three helicopters. He then heard a man, speaking Arabic with an Iraqi or Saudi accent through a loudspeaker, urging women to surrender or leave the area.
“This went on for 45 minutes. There was no response. Then the machine gun fire erupted,” Saleh said. He said the firing continued for two hours, as aircraft circled low over the area.
Taher al-Omar, an Idlib-based activist, said he witnessed clashes between fighters and the U.S. force. Others reported hearing at least one major explosion during the operation. A U.S. official said that one of the helicopters in the raid suffered a mechanical problem and had to be blown up on the ground.
The military operation got attention on social media, with tweets from the region describing helicopters firing around the building near Atmeh. Flight-tracking data also suggested that multiple drones were circling the city of Sarmada and the village of Salwah, just north of the raid’s location.
At the height of its territorial conquests around 2014, the Islamic State controlled more than 40,000 square miles stretching from Syria to Iraq and ruled over 8 million people.
The Islamic State group has been reasserting itself in Syria and Iraq with increased attacks.
Last month, it carried out its biggest military operation since it was defeated and its members scattered underground in 2019: an attack on a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees. The attack appeared aimed to break free senior IS operatives in the prison.
It took 10 days of fighting for U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led forces to retake the prison fully, and the force said more than 120 of its fighters and prison workers were killed along with 374 militants. The U.S.-led coalition carried out airstrikes and deployed American personnel in Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the prison area to help the Kurdish forces.
A senior SDF official, Nowruz Ahmad, said Monday that the prison assault was part of a broader plot that IS had been preparing for a long time, including attacks on other neighborhoods in Kurdish-run northeastern Syria and on the al-Hol camp in the south, which houses thousands of families of IS members.
The U.S.-led coalition has targeted high-profile militants on several occasions in recent years, aiming to disrupt what U.S. officials say is a secretive cell known as the Khorasan group that is planning external attacks. A U.S. airstrike killed al-Qaida’s second in command, former bin Laden aide Abu al-Kheir al-Masri, in Syria in 2017.
Some Female CNN staffers are furious Allison Gollust still has a job after Jeff Zucker affair
Female employees at CNN are furious that chief spokesperson Allison Gollust is keeping her job after “lying” about her affair with newly resigned CEO Jeff Zucker “for years,” sources told The Post.
“Why is she allowed to keep her job?” a CNN insider railed.
“CNN is supposed to be a transparent news network. How does she get away with lying about their affair for so long?”
Early Wednesday, Zucker sent a memo to colleagues announcing he’d be retiring after his relationship with Gollust came to light during CNN’s probe into Chris Cuomo. He called the relationship “consensual” and told staff that he wished he’d disclosed it sooner.
Gollust released a statement shortly after saying that she and Zucker had been professional colleagues for over 20 years but their relationship “changed during COVID.”
One insider called the comments “a total lie.”
“They’ve been together for years,” the source dished.
“And she’s still lying about it today — the statement she made that ‘recently our relationship changed during COVID’ is a total lie.”
Drake Just Unfollowed Rihanna a Day After She Announced Her Pregnancy With ASAP Rocky
Done for good. Drake unfollowed Rihanna and ASAP Rocky a day after their pregnancy announcement. Rihanna and Rocky, who started dating in 2020 after years as friends, confirmed they were expecting their first baby together on January 31, 2022, after the “Umbrella” singer was photographed in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City with a massive baby bump.
In the photos, Rihanna was seen in light-blue jeans and a long, pink puffer coat that was unbuttoned at the bottom, so she could show off her growing baby bump, which was covered in a gold cross and colorful jewels. Rocky, for his part, wore a black beanie, a denim jacket and leather as he gave Rih a kiss on the forehead and held her hand. A day after the announcement, however, Drake seemed to have unfollowed both Rihanna and Rocky, according to Twitter news account @PopTingzz. As of writing this, Drake still doesn’t follow Rihanna, but has since re-followed Rocky, who also follows him back. (Rihanna doesn’t follow Drake.)
A source told People on January 31 that Rihanna didn’t think she’d want to be a mother until her relationship with Rocky. “Having a baby is something she was never focused on, but being with Rocky opened her up to the idea. She couldn’t be happier and is so excited to be a mom,” the insider said. “She’s loving all the changes to her body during pregnancy and has always celebrated pregnant women in her runway shows for Fenty.” The insider continued, “Everything Rihanna does, she does it her own way on her own time table, and having a baby is no different. They’re just like any other pair of parents-to-be. Yes, they happen to be famous but they’re just the cutest, giddiest young couple that’s expecting kids.”
The source also reported that Rocky has “doted” on Rihanna from the “very beginning” of their friendship.”A lot of guys have tried to sweep her off her feet, but Rocky actually managed to do it,” the insider said. “He’s over-the-top romantic and sends her rooms full of flowers all the time. She’s never felt this way before and this relationship has changed her.” A second source also confirmed to People that Rihanna and Rocky “live together now and seem beyond happy” and that their “friends are excited too” about their baby on the way. “Everyone is happy it’s all working out. They will be great parents,” the insider said.
Another source also told People at the time that Rihanna and Rocky “each knew and respected the other through music, their collaboration and their other work” before their relationship. “It has grown from there. He admired her and was even awed by her,” the insider said. “He was eager to start a relationship and felt she was worth waiting for.” The source continued, “They always have fun together. They joke and act goofy. They enjoy life and like to travel. They love being together and are the loves of each other’s lives.”
News broke that Rihanna and Rocky were dating in November 2020, almost a year after her split from entrepreneur Hassan Jameel. The two met in 2012 after Rocky was featured on a remix of Rihanna’s single “Cockiness (Love It).” Drake, for his part, first met Rihanna in 2005 when the Rih was filming the music video for her song “Pon De Replay” at a restaurant in Toronto, where Drake played music at.
In 2009, Page Six reported that Drake and Rihanna were seen kissing at a restaurant in New York City after her breakup with Chris Brown. “She was drinking whiskey and apple juice and making out with him all night,” a source told the site at the time. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2015, Rihanna denied that she ever dated Drake and confirmed that her last “official” boyfriend at the time was Brown. Rihanna also told Vogue in 2018 that she and Drake weren’t friends anymore. “We don’t have a friendship now, but we’re not enemies either. It is what it is,” she said.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Reveals 2022 Nominees
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2022 nominees on Wednesday (Feb. 2), revealing the 17 acts eligible for induction into the Rock Hall’s Class of 2022.
Indie auteur Beck, rock hitmaker Pat Benatar, art rocker Kate Bush, new wave oddballs Devo, new wave chart-toppers Duran Duran, hip-hop heavyweight Eminem, synth-pop duo Eurythmics, heavy metal fixtures Judas Priest, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, political rock outfit MC5, proto-punks New York Dolls, country legend Dolly Parton, rap-metal outfit Rage Against the Machine, R&B hitmaker Lionel Richie, pop singer-songwriter Carly Simon, alt hip-hop icons A Tribe Called Quest and pop vocal pro Dionne Warwick are all nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022.
Beck, Eminem, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, A Tribe Called Quest, Carly Simon and Dolly Parton are all first-time Rock Hall nominees this year, although several of those names have certainly been eligible for decades – the Rock Hall’s rule is that an artist must have released their first commercial recording 25 years earlier than the year of the nomination. This means Eminem scored a nomination in his first year of eligibility, much like RRHOF 2021 inductee Jay-Z.
This is the sixth nomination for Detroit rockers MC5 and the fourth nom for Rage Against the Machine, perhaps the most successful rock band to follow MC5 in espousing revolutionary political action. 2022 marks the third nomination for Kate Bush, Judas Priest, New York Dolls and Devo. After appearing on the ballot last year for the first time, this is the second nomination for Dionne Warwick, Eurythmics and the late Fela Kuti. It is also Pat Benatar’s second nomination, after first appearing on the 2020 Rock Hall ballot.
While the Rock Hall inductees are decided upon by a body of more than 1,000 artists, industry members and historians, fans have the opportunity to contribute to the selection process by voting every day at vote.rockhall.com or at the museum in Cleveland. The five artists who receive the most votes of these 17 nominees will be tallied among the other ballots to ultimately decide the Class of 2022.
The Rock and Roll Class of 2022 will be revealed in May 2022, with the ceremony itself taking place at a to-be-announced date and location this fall.
Unmasking Of Rudy Giuliani On Fox’s ‘The Masked Singer’ Prompts Judges Ken Jeong & Robin Thicke To Walk Off In Protest
Rudy Giuliani was unmasked as an exiting costumed contestant in last week’s taping of the first Season 7 episode of Fox’s popular primetime series The Masked Singer. Deadline hears that as soon as they saw Giuliani, judges Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke quickly left the stage in protest.
The show is known for its jaw-dropping surprises when celebrity contestants shed their headpieces after they are eliminated. The reaction to Giuliani was perhaps the most polarizing the show has seen since 2020. The Masked Singer faced criticism then when another controversial Republican politician, Sarah Palin, was unveiled as The Bear.
We aren’t revealing which costume Rudy wore or what his swan song was — his exit episode won’t air until next month — so you can still revel in his reveal. The theme of the new season is “The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly”; your political affiliation determines which category Giuliani fits.
Deadline hears that while Jeong and Thicke exited (they eventually returned), fellow judges Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger remained onstage. They bantered with Giuliani, a controversial figure for pressing what is widely derided as a baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from his client Donald Trump.
Fox did not comment.
Cheslie Kryst's mom mourns her daughter's death: "I have never known a pain as deep as this"
The mother of Cheslie Kryst, a former Miss USA, is breaking her silence after losing her daughter last week to suicide.
On Wednesday (Feb. 2), April Simpkins released a statement about the loss of her daughter. “I have never known a pain as deep as this,” she said. “I am forever changed. Today, what our family and friends privately knew was the cause of death of my sweet baby girl, Cheslie, was officially confirmed.”
Simpkins added that her daughter led two lives — a public and private one. The 2019 Miss USA hid that she was dealing with high-functioning depression from everyone. She told her mother about the disorder shortly before she died.
“Cheslie — to the world, you were a ball of sunshine wrapped in smiles. We talked, FaceTimed or texted one another all day, every day,” Simpkins added. “You were more than a daughter — you were my very best friend. Talking with you was one of the best parts of my day. Your smile and laugh were infectious. I love you baby girl with all my heart. I miss you desperately. I know one day we’ll be together again. Until then, rest easy and in peace.”
Simpkins asked that any donations be made to Dress for Success, “an organization that was dear” to Kryst’s heart. She also listed the phone number to the National Suicide Hotline so other people could get help if they needed it.
As previously reported, Kryst died on Jan. 30 after falling from a 60-story building in Manhattan. The New York Post said the beauty queen lived on the ninth floor of the building, but was last seen out on a terrace on the 29th floor. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to People on Monday (Feb. 1) that Kryst died by suicide. She was 30 years old.
Check out Simpkins’ full statement below.
Taraji P. Henson to Play Shug Avery in ‘The Color Purple’ Movie Musical
*Taraji P. Henson has been tapped to star as Shug Avery in Blitz Bazawule’s “The Color Purple.”
As reported by Variety, the forthcoming Warner Bros. movie musical is an adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical from Marsha Norman, Brenda Lee, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, which was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning epistolary novel by Alice Walker.
The upcoming film follows the classic 1985 film adaptation from director Steven Spielberg and centers on Celie, a Black Southern woman who struggles to find her identity amid decades of abuse. Whoopi Goldberg played Celie in Spielberg’s film.
Spielberg’s film was a box office success, grossing $142 million against a budget of $15 million.
Bazawule will direct the movie musical from a script penned by Marcus Gardley (“The Chi”) and based on Alice Walker’s novel. Bazawule is best known for his work on Beyoncé’s “Black is King,” “The Burial of Kojo” and “Cherish the Day.”
Spielberg, Quincy Jones (who produced Spielberg’s 1985 version) and Oprah Winfrey (who starred in the film and was nominated for an Oscar) signed on as producers for Bazawule’s project in 2018, around the time the project was first announced.
Henson joins previously announced stars Corey Hawkins (as Harpo) and singer H.E.R. has been cast as Squeak (played by Rae Dawn Chong in Spielberg’s film).
The movie is currently set to be released on December 20, 2023.
Nicki Minaj says she and the City Girls have made amends
It looks like Nicki Minaj and the City Girls have put their differences to the side.
On Wednesday (Feb. 2), the Pink Friday rapper took to Twitter to announce that she and the rap duo worked things out after she gave an interview saying that she wouldn’t collaborate with them because they previously tweeted negative things about her. “Just had a great convo with @ThegirlJT @YungMiami305,” she tweeted. “Let’s move on & make new memories y’all.”
JT retweeted Nicki, adding, “Sag sister! Thank you for your time, your advice! A true queen…love you!” while Yung Miami wrote, “Queen tingz,” with a unicorn and heart emoji.
During a recent interview on “The Morning Hustle” show, Nicki explained why she would not do a record with the City Girls. “Well… I don’t know,” she said. “What I will say is that, a few years ago I saw a video of them and I asked someone on their team at the time about them. … I was thinking about jumping on a record, one of their records that was out at the time. And then…social media happened.”
The “Seeing Green” spitter suggested that JT and Yung Miami said negative things about her in interviews and on social media. “You know, people will say something about someone, an artist,” Nicki continued. “The thing is, whenever you post something on the internet, it’s there forever. Whenever you say something in an interview, it’s there forever.”
She added that the issue was “let go,” but said, “why would I work with someone that doesn’t like me?”
Previously, the City Girls publicly shared that they were team Cardi B during her feud with Nicki. The Barbz also unearthed several negative tweets about the “Itty Bitty Piggy” emcee that were written before the duo gained mainstream success.
Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade’s Daughter Launches Kid’s Clothing Line
It’s never too soon to begin building an empire. Following the successful release of a New York Times Best Selling children’s book, Kaavia James Union-Wade is now partnering with Janie and Jack to launch her own kids’ fashion line with the help of her parents Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade, of course.
The little icon in the making is only three years old and already has a massive following of supporters admiring her adorable style via social media. Gabrielle Union-Wade says that Kaavia James has apparently had a passion for fashion “since she could walk.” It seems that the affectionately named “Shady Baby” was bitten by the bug on her own accord.
Gabrielle Union-Wade shared this about her mini me:
“She’s had an obsession with our closets … the shoes and purses. It’s all about accessories in my closet and in Dwyane’s closet. She literally likes to climb into his racks of clothes,”
Elaborating on what may have sparked Kaavia’s interest, Gabrielle had this to say:
“I guess because of the pandemic, being a pandemic baby, the bulk of her life has been spent [with] us doing press and fittings and everything in our house, so she’s been around it all and has been super, super into it. She’ll be feeling the materials and she’ll want to understand how everything is working.”
The Kaavia James Union-Wade x Janie and Jack collection will reportedly launch on Wednesday, February 2nd. The pieces will feature bright, vivid colors and are said to be reflective of Kaavia’s own vibrance and fashion sense. The clothing line also aims to honor African culture with the use of beautiful graphics, crochet, and color blocking patterns. Kaavia James was reportedly very much involved in the process.
Mom, Gabrielle Union-Wade explains how Kaavia rendered her input, sharing this behind-the-scenes exclusive:
“When we were designing this line, people were like, ‘How does a child participate in the fashion process?’ But when we whittled down our ideas between the Janie and Jack design team and me and my husband, we showed [Kaavia] the French Terry [styles], we showed her the triple-tier ruffles and the prints. There were things that we loved that she was like, ‘No.’ And we didn’t force any of it on her. If she didn’t like it, that was it.”
Sharing more on the experience, Gabrielle Union-Wade says:
“It was a slow, organic process. We didn’t want to be forced into anything. We wanted to make sure this was completely collaborative and truly represented Kaavia. And it does. And I’m thrilled how the clothes turned out. I’m thrilled how the campaign turned out and it’s her. It’s her.”
Gabrielle Union-Wade speaks on the functionality of the clothing line, saying:
“We’d like to think we’re on the other side of mastering potty training [laughs]. You know, so making sure that we’re creating clothes that are fashion-forward and super cute, but also practical and functional. They need to be able to survive an accident or multiple washings. And we want people to be able to enjoy these outfits over and over and over again and not feel like, ‘Oh, they’re so special. I have to save them for a special occasion.’”
The Kaavia James Union-Wade x Janie and Jack collection includes gender neutral sets modeled by Kaavia and her bestie, Crosby Sparrow in a recent campaign. The sets are part of an appropriately named “Best Friends Forever” collection.
Gabrielle Union-Wade spoke on what inspired the sets, saying:
“Once Kaav and Crosby got to the age where they were able to identify colors and shapes, they like when they have something similar on. They like to be twinning.”
The theme for the campaign featuring Kaavia James and Crosby Sparrow was titled “The World of Joy.” The team felt that it was important to showcase inclusivity and diversity through the visuals.
Gabrielle Union-Wade shared this:
“Our world is very, very inclusive. And we just wanted to make sure that if we’re doing a campaign called ‘The World of Joy’—imagine that it really looks like the world.”
According to reports, the Kaavia Union-Wade x Janie and Jack collection will be available to shop in select Janie and Jack stores nationwide and online at a price point ranging from $10.50 to $74.00.
Will you be purchasing pieces for you little cutie?
What do you think of Summer Walker’s Newest Hair Moment?
In the early hours on Wednesday morning, Instagram woke to photos of Summer Walker showing off her newest hair look-A shaved head with a long faux locs pony in the middle of her head that cascaded down her back. her caption read: “Legit wanted this hair style my whole life 🖤🥺👅”
A drastic change from what we are used to seeing on the ‘No Love’ singer but not surprised, as in November she tattooed her boyfriend’s name Larry on her face. Although it seems Instagram is loving this look her peers are responding with all positive feedback, Sza commenting with a simple “Hardddd” and Tamar Braxton with “It’s dope tho🔥.” But, Black Twitter is in a frenzy, with comments from everyone saying she was inspired by Zuko of Avatar, Goro from Mortal Combat, as well as expressing their feeling of the drastic changes that say “Being a summer walker fan is so difficult sometimes because she always leaves me speechless.”
Whether you like it or not I think we all can agree that we need to separate the art from the artist. It’s clear that she is a bonafide creative from her music to her style including her hair and clearly she enjoys expressing all aspects of it.
Issa Rae Is Listing Her Home On Airbnb For $56 A Day During Valentine’s Day Weekend
Issa Rae is helping lucky couples set the mood this Valentine’s Day by placing her Los Angeles home on Airbnb for just $56 a night.
The “Insecure” creator has teamed up with the home hosting company to list her lavish residence from Saturday, February 12th to Monday, February 14th. Guests will have the opportunity to stay one night and enjoy the South L.A. residence that features breathtaking panoramic views of the city, Black artwork, and even an itinerary curated by Rae.
The director and actress will highlight some of her favorite places for couples to check out, including landmarks in Baldwin Hills and Inglewood. Some of the local spots in her guidebook include My 2 Cents, Supervsn Studios, and Swift Café.
Rae unveiled her Airbnb plans on Twitter Wednesday, sharing photos of her home decor and a link to the website. The listing description states that Rae will greet guests virtually at check-in, and an on-site concierge will be in place to assist.
“I can’t wait to show guests all the things that make black L.A. so special firsthand,” Rae wrote in her listing.
The booking will open on February 8th. All guests looking to book the home are responsible for their own travels to and from Los Angeles.
U.S. Army to Start Discharging Soldiers for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine
The U.S. Army announced Wednesday that soldiers who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be discharged.
via Complex:
“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a statement. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness.” The Pentagon issued a vaccine mandate for all active duty members with the Army setting a deadline for Dec. 15.
In a memo to the Air Force, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley pointed out that mandating vaccines in the military “is not new,” citing the requirement that troops receive several shots in their first few days of basic training, per NBC News. Still, those in the Army were dragging their feet as the date drew near for this latest mandate.
According to NBC News, 19,000 of the Army’s soldiers hadn’t even started the protocol one week prior to the Dec. 15 deadline.
The New York Times reports that other branches of the military have already gotten a head-start on dismissing those who will not get inoculated against the disease. The Navy discharged 45 members last week, marking the first wave of removals since its own deadline of Nov. 28. Of the 1.3 million active duty personnel, the Pentagon said 97 percent have taken, at least, one dose of the vaccine, claiming less than 100 service members have been ousted over the mandate.
About 80 members of the military have died from complications related to COVID-19.
New York Officer Accused Of Using Anti-Muslim Language and Punching Man ‘Until He Lost Consciousness’
A New York officer has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly spewed anti-Muslim slurs at a driver while physically attacking him “until he lost consciousness.”
Riggs Kwong, 50, is accused of brutally beating a 32-year-old man during a traffic altercation on Jan. 16 in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn. According to the Brooklyn’s District Attorney’s office, the victim – who at the time was driving a Toyota Rav 4 – allegedly followed Kwong’s Honda Accord to an intersection after Kwong allegedly blocked the victim’s car. After following Kwong’s car, the victim allegedly drove in front of the officer and cut him off.
The incident was reportedly recorded by Kwong, who allegedly told the victim that he was trying to make a turn. Kwong was off-duty at the time. “I’m trying to make a left here on the service road and this terrorist is terrorizing me, you’re upset because I didn’t let you make a U-turn, Mr. Mohammed … Al Qaeda, Terrorist, ISIS …” is accused of saying.
Kwong reportedly continued to call the victim racial slurs, and at one point, the victim got out of his car to take photos of the cop’s license plates. The victim eventually went back to get into his car but got out again and slapped the hood of Kwong’s vehicle. That’s when Kwong got out of his car, according to a prosecutor, NBC News reports.
Things went extremely left after Kwong allegedly tried to spit in the man’s face and the victim spit back at him. The officer then allegedly hit the man while calling him anti-Muslim names and using anti-Muslim language. The victim was knocked to the ground during the incident, losing awareness.
When Kwong called 911 he explained that he was an off-duty cop, claiming the victim threw the first punch. However, surveillance footage showed Kwong allegedly throwing the first blow. Kwong was arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime and aggravated harassment. Kwong has since been suspended from the NYPD, and he’s pleaded not guilty to the crimes. He’s been released without bail is expected to come back to court on March 22, NBC News reports.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
DON’T SKIP IT
When you trained your who life but just the upper part.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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