3/30/22

The Daily Buzz For Mar 31☕πŸ“°☕

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#FASHIONFAB: Tom Ford Unveils Backstage Glamour for Spring ’22 Campaign

Tom Ford’s concept of daily glamour is on display for the designer’s spring-summer 2022 collection. Ford provides sportswear for the fashionable man about town, alluding to the 1970s and ’90s. The American designer takes us behind the scenes for his new men’s campaign, where we get a close-up look at his current ready-to-wear and eyewear lines.

In Tom Ford’s spring 2022 advertising campaign, models Mathieu Simoneau and Stan Taylor share the spotlight. A high gloss aesthetic is present for the season, including shimmering textiles and big, futuristic eyeglasses. Each style complements the other, creating a sleek and straightforward image of Tom Ford’s vision of contemporary living.

Tom Ford discusses how social media, namely Instagram, has impacted how we see fashion and dress. According to the designer, “Increasingly people don’t dress in fashion for day but only for night. Or for social media. Instagram may actually be what saves fashion in the end.” Ford adds, “People now seem to only get dressed up in a major way for a red carpet or to fill their pages with shots of themselves in powerfully stylish clothes.”

Tom Ford unveils its spring-summer 2022 campaign for men.

Ford provides some insight into the season by explaining, “Black doesn’t photograph well and so clothes need to be increasingly cartoon like to have power on the tiny screens of our phones. It is altering our perception of beauty. It has certainly altered mine.”



#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Reflects on Having Suicidal Thoughts as a Child, Offers Hope for Others

Fans are showering “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss with love today after the singer-songwriter opened up about dealing with her struggles with mental health after revealing that she had suicidal ideations in middle school.


The heartbreaking admission occurred during Kandi’s recent appearance on “The Real” with co-hosts Garcelle Beauvais, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love and Jeannie Mai Jenkins, who’s currently on maternity leave.

Houghton posed the question to the group, asking them how have they’ve overcome feeling like the whole world was against them, to which Kandi admitted that she had found herself in a similar predicament, as she described.


LISTEN HERE

“It seems like people have really gotten to a place where it just feels like everything is against you, and a lot of people have been giving up,” the 45-year-old actress said as she reflected on her observation over the last year. “For me, I was at that moment at a young age. I know that’s going to sound crazy, but when I was in middle school, I thought about taking my own life.”


The former Xscape member shared that she didn’t like talking about it “because it’s very emotional for me” before explaining, “I’m only saying this because I know many people are dealing with that right now. I was feeling like that. I really wanted to go through the motions. “


Kandi said her mother Joyce Jones had a gun at the time, “and you know you’re a kid you go through their stuff, so I knew where she kept it, and I had plans to use it,” she continued. “But, for whatever reason God made her put it somewhere else because it wasn’t where she normally kept it.”


Elsewhere, she noted, “If I had done that, at that time, Think of all the wonderful things I would’ve missed out on. So I always like to tell people… it can’t rain forever. The sun is going to shine again, and sometimes it’s going to shine so bright on you, and when it does — things that you would never expect.”


The reality star shared the clip on Instagram where she reiterated her philosophy, writing, “I shared something that is a tough conversation for me but hopefully it will help someone that’s going through a dark time. Always remember It Can’t Rain Forever. Keep going! It will get better.”


Social media fans showered the star with support, with many thanking her for bravely sharing her story, including one person who wrote, “My hope is that once you have processed your moment of vulnerability that you take a deep breath and know you probably saved a young girl’s life today with your truth.”



#NewMusic from Eric Roberson Featuring The Late Kenny Greene (of Intro) “All I Want”

The late Kenny Greene was often heralded as one of the top vocalists among 90’s R&B singers prior to his untimely passing in 2001. R&B fans often wonder what could have been when it comes to the career of the former Intro lead singer.


Eric Roberson pays tribute to one of his musical heroes by adding Greene’s vocals along with those of his group Intro to his new single “All I Want”. The result is a musical masterpiece that has all of the makings of a modern day R&B classic.


LISTEN HERE

The song will be included on Roberson’s upcoming album “Lessons” which is set to release on April 1st, 2022. Also featured on the album is the title track which has become a hit single for Roberson since it’s release last Summer.



#HipHopNews: Remy Ma Says Doja Cat Is Not a Rapper

Remy Ma isn't convinced Doja Cat is a rapper. On March 25, the Drink Champs podcast released its latest episode, which featured Remy. During the episode, the Bronx, N.Y. rapper was asked about Doja. Remy gave the "Say So" artist props, but said she did not believe Doja falls under the category of a rapper.


"I don't think she's a rapper," Remy commented. "Let's be clear with that. I don't put her in the rapper category. I don't think she's a rapper but she makes dope records. I think she's dope.

Remy's opinion on whether or not Doja is a rap act sparked debate on social media.

"Remy ma can take several seats saying doja cat isn’t a rapper. that doesn’t even make sense," one person posted on Twitter.


"I agree with Remy Ma 100% on this Doja Cat topic," another Twitter user commented. "Doja make dope music but Doja Cat is not a rapper."


"With all due respect to Remy Ma, Doja Cat has absolutely done her homework when it comes to Hip Hop itself," someone else posted. "She can rap. Extremely well. So, yeah."

Doja has been fighting for respect in the rap world for the last few years. Last December, she fired back at people who said she wasn't a rapper during an interview with Rolling Stone.


"Anyone who says that I’m not a rapper is in denial," Doja said. "They don’t know what they’re talking about."

Seven months prior, Doja lashed at on social media following her nomination for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the 2021 BET Awards.


"DONT EVER FUCKIN DISRESPECT ME AS A RAPPER. AFTER THE LAST SONG I DROPPED YOU WILL RESPECT MY PEN AND THATS FUCKIN THAT. Stream Very Best," she typed



Bruce Willis Stepping Away From Acting Following Aphasia Diagnosis


Bruce Willis’ family has announced the actor is retiring from the profession after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Willis’ family members posted a joint statement to social media announcing the actor’s retirement.


“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the statement reads. “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”


“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support,” the statement continues. “We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”


We reached out to Bruce Willis’ representative for further comment, but his team has no additional statement to provide at this time other than his family’s words


Willis’ acting career started in the early 1980s with uncredited roles in films such as Sidney Lumet’s “The Verdict.” His career exploded later that decade thanks to his starring role opposite Cybill Shepherd in the ABC series “Moonlighting ” and his performance as John McClane in the 1988 action movie “Die Hard,” which gave Willis his first major film franchise. Across his four-decade acting career, Willis’ movies have grossed over $5 billion worldwide. He’s been nominated for five Golden Globes (winning one for “Moonlighting”) and three Emmys (winning one for “Moonlighting” and another for his “Friends” guest role).



Jim Carrey says he was 'sickened' by Hollywood's reaction to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars

In the aftermath of Will Smith's charged encounter with Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, comedians have rallied around the stand-up comic after he was slapped onstage by the Oscar-winning King Richard star for telling an ill-conceived joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. Kathy Griffin, Joy Behar and the Lucas Brothers are among the comedy world stars who have defended Rock on Twitter. Now comedian-turned-actor Jim Carrey has added his voice to the debate, condemning Smith's actions — and the response of the other Hollywood celebrities in the room — in forceful terms during an interview with CBS Mornings host Gayle King.


"I was sickened," the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star remarked during the interview, which was recorded on March 28 but only recently made available online. "I was sickened by the standing ovation. I felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse. It really felt like: 'Oh, this is really a clear indication that we're not the cool club anymore.'"


Carrey also made it clear that he felt Smith should have faced more serious repercussions for striking Rock, including possible arrest. Academy sources told People that Smith's removal from the ceremony was "definitely discussed seriously" in the immediate aftermath of their encounter, while the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that Rock declined to press charges.


"He didn't want the hassle," Carrey speculated about why the comedian didn't pursue legal action. "I would have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever. It's going to be ubiquitous. That insult is going to last a very long time."


Although they never shared the screen together, Carrey and Smith were two of the biggest movie stars of the 1990s, and both successfully made inroads into more dramatic territory after the peak of their comedy careers. Prior to his King Richard win, Smith received Best Actor nominations for 2001's Ali and 2007's The Pursuit of Happyness, while Carrey's seven career Golden Globe nominations include nods for 1999's The Truman Show and 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.


In his CBS Mornings interview, Carrey stressed that he "doesn't have anything against Will Smith," but holds him responsible for seizing the Oscar night spotlight away from the winners. "It cast a pall over everybody's shining moment last night," he remarked. "A lot of people worked really hard to get to that place and to have their moment in the sun and to get their award for the really hard work they did."


"It is no mean feat to go through all of the stuff you have to go through when you're nominated for an Oscar," Carrey continued. "It's a gauntlet of devotion that you have to do. It was just a selfish moment that cast a pall over the whole thing."



14-Year-Old Tyre Sampson's Harness Was Still Locked After Fatal Fall from Amusement Park Ride, According to Accident Report

New details have been released about the investigation into the death of Tyre Sampson, the 14-year-old boy who fell from an amusement park ride at Orlando’s ICON Park last week.

Tyre was visiting ICON Park on Thursday when he boarded the Orlando FreeFall ride, a 430-foot drop tower, around 11 p.m.


When the ride’s “magnets engaged” upon descent, Sampson “came out” of his seat, according to an accident report released Monday by the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.


via People: The report went on to note that Sampson’s “harness was still in a down and locked position when the ride stopped.”


The teen died from “multiple injuries and trauma,” the report stated. 

“Words cannot express the sorrow felt by the tragic loss of such a young man, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement.


“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is actively investigating the incident, along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office,” Fried added. “We hope the subsequent findings will be able to inform us all as to how this tragedy occurred and will precipitate any changes necessary to better protect patrons of amusement rides in Florida.”


Although additional details about the incident remain the subject of an ongoing investigation, the boy’s family has raised concerns that he may have been too large to safely ride on the attraction. 


Sampson’s father, Yarnell Sampson, told CNN on Friday that his son was 340 lbs.

According to the ride’s safety manual, the maximum passenger weight is 130 kg, which is roughly 287 lbs. “Be careful when seeing if large guests fit into the seats,” the manual states. “Check that they fit within the contours of the seat and the bracket fits properly. If this is not so – do not let this person ride.”


The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday that they will be “looking into” a number of factors, but that based on preliminary evidence, “it appears to be a terrible tragedy.”


During that press conference, police also stressed that “absolutely no criminal charges” had been filed. 

The ride, which opened in late December, passed its initial permit inspection with “no deficiencies,” FDACS said in a media release. The ride will remain “closed for the foreseeable future and will not re-open until all questions are answered as part of the ongoing FDACS investigation.”


Tragically, Tyre’s father said he only learned of his son’s death after coming across a video of the fall circulating on social media.

“It felt like somebody hit me so hard in my stomach,” Yarnell told NBC station WESH. “And it’s just sad, a young man’s bright future was taken away from him over a ride, an amusement park.”


In a statement posted to their website, ICON Park said they are continuing to “fully cooperate” with authorities.

“As the landlord of the 20-acre entertainment destination in the center of the Orlando Entertainment District, ICON Park’s mission is to provide safe, family entertainment,” they wrote in a statement, noting that they had suspended operations of both Orlando FreeFall and Orlando SlingShot, which are owned by the SlingShot Group.


“We continue to grieve the passing of Tyre Sampson and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the park wrote. “This was the saddest day in the history of ICON Park and we’re working hard to make sure this never happens again.”


In a previous statement, the SlingShot Group said they were “heartbroken” over Sampson’s death.

If his harness was down and locked — how did he come out of it?



Toni Braxton opens up about losing her sister Traci to esophageal cancer

On Tuesday (March 29) morning, Grammy-award-winning singer Toni Braxton gave her first interview following her late sister Traci Braxton’s tragic passing after a battle with cancer.


Just two weeks ago, (March 12) news broke that Traci Braxton had died after a battle with cancer in her esophagus. It was revealed that she had been dealing with it privately and her passing took a many fans and industry peers by surprise.


Toni sat down with Tamron Hall for Hall’s self-titled talk show and delivered an intimate conversation about the disease that ultimately led to her sister’s death and how she has been coping with the loss.


The “Unbreak My Heart” soloist revealed that she believes that Traci still communicates with her, “I’m a rain girl, I love when it rains. My sister Traci, she loves when it snows and she died that morning when it was actually pouring down snow in Virginia. So my sister is now a snowflake. And her favorite bird was a hummingbird and I saw a hummingbird the other day and it just kind of flew around and kind of suspended itself and I was like ‘Traci?’ And it started bumping and going up and down. So that made me feel so much better, I felt like she was trying to say hello to me.”


Toni also reflected on the strong bond she and her sisters share — many witnessed their closeness on their hit reality TV show, “Braxton Family Values,” which lasted for seven seasons on WE TV. The show gave fans the chance to get a glimpse of their lives and feel as if they were extended family.


The “You Mean the World to Me” singer also shared that Traci was surrounded by love during her last moments, “She had so much love. The hospice nurses were incredible. You never think that it’s going to happen to you and your family. So you have to remind yourself to enjoy the moments, be happy and it’s okay if you fuss and fight but just enjoy the moments and try to just smile and be happy. Be kind to one another. I’m okay today, so it’s okay.”


Before ending her interview with Hall, Toni let fans know that she has still been working and discussed that she has a ​​new anthology movie series on Lifetime, “The Fallen Angels Murder Club,” which premieres on April 2.



Ashanti To Be Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that award-winning musician Ashanti will receive the 2,718th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 7. Tichina Arnold and Ja Rule will assist in unveiling the star, along with Lupita Sanchez-Cornejo.


“Ashanti is an award-winning singer, author, actress and executive producer,” said Ana Martinez, Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer. “She has proven her talent in many different Hollywood industries and is an example for young girls who want to be in the ‘biz’”


Since beginning her career in 2002, Ashanti released five additional studio albums and received a Grammy, two American Music Awards, six ASCAP Awards, along with a long list of others. Her self-titled debut sold over 500,000 units in its first week – making it the highest debut by a female artist in SoundScan history – earning her the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200.


After conquering the music industry, the artist raised in Glen Cove, New York, decided to explore a career in acting. Although she had previous roles in Malcolm X, Who’s The Man, Bouge!, and Bride and Prejudice, Ashanti appeared in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz in her first big telefilm performance. She also did voice over work as Randi in the Disney-animated series The Proud Family and received roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, NBC’s American Dreams, and starred in Coach Carter, alongside Samuel L. Jackson.


Ashanti has built her brand with several major partnerships with companies such as with AMC Beauty, Herbal Essences, Pretty Little Thing, and EQ Exchange, and is ]set to release a book of poetry entitled Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love, later this year.


Ashanti’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be dedicated in the category of Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard on Thursday, April 7, at 11:30 am PDT



Drake acquires Michael Jordan cards that could be worth over $1 million

It looks like Drake is expanding on his investments. Earlier this month, the Toronto star purchased some 14 cases containing NBA basketball cards that were speculated to be worth around $200,000. In addition, he also revealed on Instagram that he was searching for a Triple Logoman card — for reference, sports expert Kiley McDaniel revealed on Twitter that a Logoman Zion Williamson card sold for more than $230,000 along back in 2021.


Just yesterday (March 28), Drizzy then appeared on an IG Live stream with famed card collector and auctioneer Ken Goldin. During the stream, the two could be seen going through boxes filled with cards from Flawless, Fleer, and more — during one unboxing, Drake scored a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card that’s speculated to be worth more than $200,000. Ultimately, the self-proclaimed Certified Lover Boy came off with 6 MJ cards, 3 rookie and 3 stickers, which (if graded as mints) can be worth well past the million dollar mark.


In addition to card collecting, Drake has been scoring some wins in the gambling world as well. As previously reported by REVOLT, this past January saw winning a bet on an online roulette table for $215,000. More recently, he won a million dollar bet on this year’s Super Bowl, which saw the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals.


As much as he has been receiving, he’s also been giving to others as well. Through the casino and sports betting company Stake, Drake and Lebron James have been blessing individuals with money throughout the month — including a mother in Drake’s hometown, who received $100,000. Just last week, he and Stake also pledged $1 million to Lebron’s I PROMISE school in Akron, OH, which is announced in an Instagram video:


“Myself and Eddie from Stake, we’re going to dedicate $1 million to the I PROMISE School, and I’m going to come drop it off myself before the school year is over.”



Kelly Clarkson Finalizes Legal Name Change to Kelly Brianne

Kelly Clarkson officially has a new name! On Monday (March 28), a California judge ruled that the 39-year-old talk show host and singer could legally change her name to “Kelly Brianne.”


“There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted,” court documents stated, which were obtained by Us Weekly. “The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner’s name is changed from KELLY BRIANNE CLARKSON to KELLY BRIANNE.”


Kelly filed a request to change her legal name back in February, several weeks before she settled her divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.



Oscar Winner Troy Kotsur Developed The Tusken Sign Language for 'The Mandalorian'

Following Troy Kotsur‘s big win at The Oscars over the weekend, fans are now learning that he also had a secret role in The Mandalorian.

While he only had a small role in episode five, the CODA star had a much bigger role behind the camera and helped to create the sign language used by Tusken Raiders in the Star Wars universe.


After winning the Best Supporting Actor honor this past weekend, Troy‘s old interview with Daily Moth (via) started to pop up where he opened up about how he created the distinct language for the franchise.


“When I was eight years old, I dreamed to be part of Star Wars. Many, many years later, almost forty years later — it is fate,” he told the outlet of being one of the Sand People.

Troy went on, opening up about the language he helped to develop.


According to him, his main goal was to avoid ASL and that the sign language reflects the needs and environment of its users.


“I made sure it became Tusken Sign Language based on their culture and environment,” Troy signed, adding that the specific signs, citing one for “Mandalorian”, which is “based on the helmet and the ‘M’ hand shape.”



Elliot Page's 'Umbrella Academy' character is now Viktor Hargreeves

It was announced in 2020 that Elliot Page would continue to play his Umbrella Academy role after he shared that he is trans, but at the time, sources told Variety that there were no plans to change the character’s gender. It seems those plans have now changed.


Page shared on social media that his character’s new name is Viktor Hargreeves. His post was accompanied by a still from the upcoming third season of the Netflix series based on Gerard Way’s graphic novels. Netflix confirmed the news too, writing, “FEELS SO GOOD TO SAY THIS: Elliot Page stars as Viktor Hargreeves in Umbrella Academy S3!!!” on its LGBTQ+-centric social media account,


Netflix also wrote on its main account, “Welcome to the family, Viktor—we’re so happy you’re here.” The A.V. Club reached out to Netflix and it confirmed that Page’s character “will come out as transgender in season 3 and be henceforth known as ‘Viktor Hargreeves.’” However, the streaming giant has yet to share any more details about how (or if) Viktor’s transition will be written into the show.


In a profile for TIME in March of 2021, it was noted that Page’s name had been changed in the credits for the series. His coworkers also noted a positive change in his demeanor. “It seems like there’s a tremendous weight off his shoulders, a feeling of comfort,” The Umbrella Academy’s showrunner Steve Blackman said at the time. “There’s a lightness, a lot more smiling.”


Page also noted that though it took some adjusting for his coworkers to call him by his new name and pronouns, he felt seen and acknowledged by them.


The third season of The Umbrella Academy began filming in early 2021, and is set to arrive on June 22, 2022. Netflix has yet to share any details of the forthcoming season’s plot.



Venus And Serena’s Stepmother, Requests Judge To STOP Divorce From Richard Williams, Claims They Have “Sizzling Sex Life”

Venus And Serena’s Stepmother, Requests Judge To STOP Divorce From Richard Williams, Claims They Have “Sizzling Sex Life”

King Richard Williams didn’t ask for all the drama he was thrown into this week, but the legendary father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams is now the center of his own personal dilemma.


The Daily Mail reports that Lakeisha Williams, 43, has requested that she and 80-year-old Richard still enjoy a sizzling sex life, despite dementia and multiple strokes he has suffered, and she wants a judge to put a stop to their divorce.


 “The wife believes that the parties have reconciled and have engaged in an active marital life including having regular weekly sexual relations including but not limited to on January 9, 2022 the night before filing this motion,” Lakeisha’s attorney Sara Lawrence wrote in court papers.

Lakeisha has asked the judge in Palm Beach, Florida, to put a stop to their divorce, as she does not believe the marriage is irretrievably broken.


Lakisha, who is 37 younger years younger than Richard has a nine-year-old son with him. They split in 2017, however, they have made no further progress in divorce proceedings and she would like to put a stop to it as she claimed they got back together in 2019.


“The parties have not complied with any of the requirements, including but not limited to not attending pretrial mediation or any mediation of any kind.”


“The parties failed to comply with time requirements for designation of witnesses or exhibits.”

Despite trying to put an end to the divorce, Lakeisha is fighting for Williams to cover her legal fee because of his daughters.



Tony Rock Says Will Smith And Chris Rock Didn’t Make Peace As Diddy Suggested

Chris Rock’s brother Tony Rock is calling cap on Diddy’s report that Chris and Will Smith are good following their viral Oscars moment. Tony was on Twitter answering questions from his fans when questions about his brother’s state poured in. The main takeaway is a sharp reply of “Yep” when asked was Diddy lying about the two patching up the moment.


According to Tony, the beef is far from over, citing that “It’s on bro” when asked about further interactions.

Diddy was the first presenter to hit the stage following Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Diddy stated they would fix the issue like a family at The Gold Party after the ceremony, he later revealed to Page Six that it was solved at the Vanity Fair event.

“That’s not a problem. That’s over. I can confirm that,” Diddy said. “It’s all love, they’re brothers.”

Page Six also notes Rock and Smith agreed to work out their issues after the ceremony. You can see where Diddy had to operate on the fly during his presentation below.


It may be safe to say that neither event actually happened



HBO Max Developing ‘It’ Prequel Television Series

Stephen King’s popular horror novel It, which was most recently adapted into two films by Warner Bros., looks like it is going to have its story continued in a new prequel series that’s reportedly in development.


Sources close to the project told Variety that more of Pennywise the Clown’s backstory would be explored in Welcome to Derry, which is set to take place in the 1960s before the events of the first It film that was released in 2017. This would also be the first time any TV or film adaptations of King’s work were expanded beyond the confines of its source material. It Chapter Two concluded with the main cast of characters growing up and returning to their hometown of Derry to defeat the evil supernatural clown once and for all.


It’s also being reported that the director of the two films, Andy Muschietti, has signed on to executive produce the series alongside Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. It and It Chapter Two collectively grossed $1.1 billion at the global box office, and while the second film was met with mixed reviews, both delivered a modern spin on a classic Stephen King horror story.


Welcome to Derry would be the latest in original television series that HBO Max has in development. The streamer is also working to produce a The Batman spinoff series for The Penguin, and received great reviews from its The Suicide Squad spinoff series, Peacemaker, starring John Cena.



Georgia Mulls Capping Its $900 Million Film Incentives & Barring Sale Of Tax Credits

A bill pending in the Georgia legislature would put a cap of $900 million on the amount of tax incentives the state gives to filmmakers each year, which has turned Georgia into one of the nation’s top filming destinations. That $900 million, which is about what the state pays out now each year, is more than any other film rebate in the country, and more than double California’s current $440 million in tax credits.


The proposed cap, which is backed by Georgia’s Senate Finance Committee, would also prohibit film companies from selling their tax credits – a common practice under the state’s existing rules among companies that aren’t based in Georgia.


California has a hybrid mix of transferability: Tax credits given to independent films are transferable – meaning they can be sold to third parties – but tax credits for relocating TV series and non-independent feature films are non-transferable.

Proponents of the proposed changes in Georgia say that an overhaul of the state’s film subsidies is long overdue. Opponents, however, note that the tax breaks support 75,000 jobs in the state, and that changing the rebate system could seriously undermine that.


“Why should Georgia be on the hook for up to 30% of the expenses for film & TV productions?” tweeted Danny Kanso, senior tax policy analyst for the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and a supporter of the overhaul. “Permanently subsidizing a huge portion of costs for an entire industry is not justifiable. This is made worse by the current lack of caps, disclosures, or basic safeguards. Georgians who want to see less of their tax dollars sent to subsidize out-of-state corporations and non-resident workers should support the important provision included by the Senate Finance Committee in HB 1437 to eliminate transferability to the sale of film tax credits.”


Georgia state Senator Nan Orrock, a Democrat, urged caution. “I would feel very cautious about whacking this tax credit,” she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


Any changes to Georgia’s film incentives will have to be approved by its Senate and the House and signed into law by the governor.



“Love & Hip Hop’s” Apple Watts Still Fighting For Her Life In Hospital After Car Crash

Apple Watts, a former cast member of “Love & Hip Hop” is reportedly still fighting for her life after a near-fatal car wreck sent her to the hospital with severe injuries.

According to TMZ, the crash left her with two breaks in her neck, a shattered arm, and a brain injury.

Sources told the outlet Watts can breathe on her own but is still getting oxygen in hopes it will assist with her healing process.


Watts reportedly underwent successful neck surgery on Tuesday but hasn’t opened her eyes or communicated verbally.


Doctors are doing what they can.



Instagram Users May Be Able to Send Voice Notes as Responses to Stories Soon

Instagram users could be able to respond to stories using a voice notes feature.

Instagram is at it again with a new feature, and it may be adding to how Instagram users are able to respond to Instagram Stories. Hypebeast reports a developer named Alessandro Paluzzi, who is able to reverse engineer applications to expose potential new features, may have revealed Instagram’s next feature.


Over the weekend, Paluzzi uploaded a screenshot of what appeared to be an image of the app’s new interface feature within direct message boxes. A microphone icon was shown in Paluzzi’s screenshot, which shows the app may be looking to implement voice capability so that users can send voice message responses to other users’ stories.


In another post, Paluzzi shared a screenshot showing an image of another new possible feature where users can share their posts using a QR code.



Kyle Rittenhouse “Unhappy” That President Biden Won’t Return His Phone Calls

During an appearance on The Jenna Ellis Show, Rittenhouse expressed his feelings after his not guilty verdict. The young man maintained his self-defense stance and said “I was 17 years old. I was attacked and had to defend myself. I’m not a racist. I’m not a white supremacist. I’m not a domestic terrorist. I’m not a murderer, and anybody who wants to sit down and have a conversation, I’m more than open.” However, he criticized President Biden for not returning his phone calls.


 “Crickets; nothing. He still hasn’t replied. So it just shows how much of a man he is to not sit down and talk.”


Previously, Rittenhouse met former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort immediately after he was acquitted. He also launched an initiative called the Media Accountability Project where he plans to bring legal action against those who reportedly tarnished his image.



AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

Courtesy of P.O.Wm

COILED IN THE MIDDLE

I was wondering if the skirt/dress folded/coiled in the middle.



HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!

EFREM

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