#MAGFAB: Tyler Mitchell Flashes 'Heroines Fantasy' for M Le Magazine du Monde
Models Abény Nhial, Ayan Bookh, Chloé, Luca, Maty Fall Diba, and Nyagua Ruea strike ‘Heroines Fantasy’ poses lensed by Tyler Mitchell [IG]. Marie Chaix styles the ensemble in formal, aristocratic fashion formality for M Le Magazine du Monde March 5, 2022./
Hair by Cyndia Harvey; makeup by Thomas de Kluyver; set design Andy Hillman
#RHOA: BET Set To Reboot ‘College Hill’ With Nene Leakes
BET was one of the pioneering networks throughout the 2000s to provide some of the first reality TV shows from a Black perspective, from introducing the late Frankie Lons in Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is to giving MTV’s Laguna Beach some competition with Baldwin Hills.
One of the core shows that many think back fondly on though is the HBCU-oriented College Hill, an alternate to The Real World and Road Rules that featured a predominately Black cast of college students living together for a semester as millions watched from home. After running for six seasons between 2004 to 2009, the show is now set to return on BET with a new spin that features celebrities who didn’t attend or finish college.
Although not officially confirmed, a handful of outlets have been receiving buzz surrounding a College Hill reboot starring entertainers in music, sports and television, including Nene Leakes, Lamar Odom, Ray J, Big Freedia, DreamDoll, India Love and Slim Thug. Those reports were fueled even further after the aforementioned celebs were recently spotted together walking through the campus of Texas Southern University (seen above), which is said to be the official filming location.
A handful of the show’s original stars went on the achieve further success long after the show ended, including actor/Black skincare CEO Dorion Renaud (College Hill: Atlanta) and Love & Hip Hop alum Ray Cunningham (College Hill: Virginia State University).
Given some of the intense drama that erupted during those peak seasons, including the now-infamous fight between Crystal and Vanessa during College Hill: Virgin Islands, we hope the celebs can fill in some big shoes of entertainment. We can’t wait to tune in!
#MusicNews: Mary J. Blige Announces Her First Ever “Strength Of A Woman” Festival
Legendary Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige has just announced the inaugural “Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit” in partnership with Pepsi and Live Nation Urban. The festival will take place in Atlanta, Georgia and include three days full of music, comedy and community building events from May 6th – 8th, 2022.
The event is intentionally being held during Mother’s Day weekend and is curated for and by women in the cultural hotbed of Atlanta. This multi-touchpoint festival, which focuses on Music, Wellness, Tech, Beauty, and Financial Literacy is the evolution of Blige’s life’s mission and purpose. She adds:
“The idea for the festival came to us after early listening sessions of my latest album with my family and friends and women in the industry. Each time, the people in the room would share a story, oftentimes of heartbreak or pain, but they always ended with joy and love and how their girlfriends or mom or sister helped them find their voice and strength. We felt like after two years of being inside and having to endure so much, that this was the type of experience that people, especially women, deserved” stated Blige. “I’m so grateful to all of the performers, vendors, and participants for committing themselves to our inaugural event and I am so excited to do this in a city that has been rocking with me since the very beginning of my career. I am proud to create this with my sisters and I look forward to an undeniably beautiful and special experience.”
The festival is the idea of Blige, and her partners Nicole Jackson, Vice President of MJB Inc., and Marketing Guru Ashaunna Ayars of The Ayars Agency. They’ve assembled a team of women to lead every arm of the festival from production to communications, an effort that echoes the purpose and vision of the festival.
The festival is the first of its kind to have women not only as the performing acts, but as the decision-makers behind the scenes.
Fans can expect performances by Mary J. Blige and special guests including Chaka Khan, City Girls, Ella Mai, and Queen Naija, and more, hosted by Kenny Burns.
LINEUP:
Friday, May 6th
COMEDY SHOW at Buckhead Theater
Ms. Pat, Wanda, Just Nesh, Erica Duchess
FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT (Night 1) at Tabernacle Atlanta
Kiana Ledè, Emotional Oranges, Rubi Rose, Inayah, MK XYZ, Omerettá the Great
Saturday, May 7th
SUMMIT at The Gathering Spot ATL
SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT (Night 2) at State Farm Arena
Mary J. Blige & Friends, Chaka Khan, City Girls, Special Guest Ella Mai, Special Guests Xscape, Queen Naija, Baby Tate, Omerettá the Great
Sunday, May 8th
Mother’s Day Brunch at City Winery
Kierra Sheard, Le’Andria Johnson
#HipHopNews: Kanye West's 'Donda 2' Won't Be Dominating Billboard Charts Anytime Soon
Despite becoming the most streamed artist on Spotify in anticipation for the release of Donda 2, Kanye West’s decision to only release the project on his $200 STEM Player has cost him a placement on the Billboard charts, and it might partially be the fault of Tekashi 6ix9ine.
Billboard revealed on Monday (March 7) that Kanye’s STEM player is being considered merchandise, and said the absence of Donda 2 from the Billboard charts was due to album bundling rules the company created a few years ago. The rules were created after 6ix9ine attempted to game the charts in his favor via merch bundles when he released his 2020 TattleTales project.
Billboard argued the STEM player “can be used for other means besides the playing of the album,” which in their eyes qualifies it as merch. Kanye has so far been mute on whether he ever plans to make Donda 2 more accessible to the public, via streaming or other means.
The disappointing news comes after the album’s predecessor Donda had one of the biggest first-week sales for an artist in 2021, with Kanye moving over 309,000 units its debut week.
Kanye announced in February that he planned to release Donda 2 exclusively to his STEM player as part of his “anti-streaming revolution,” calling streaming an “oppressive system” that doesn’t pay artists enough. The move jeopardized his relationship with Apple Music, where, according to reports, Ye passed on a $100 million deal in order to roll out the project on his STEM player.
Ye criticized Apple on social media and wondered why the company was willing to meet with Spotify CEO Daniel Ek but not him.
“I love how Apple only sees artist in only one way,” he wrote alongside a screenshot of a text from a Live Nation executive informing him the Apple sponsorship deal was dead. “They’ll sit with Daniel Ek but won’t meet with Ye. I remember me and Virg were with Daniel Ek in the club in Stockholm and he told me he could tell I get more pussy than him.”
Report: Seattle Seahawks agree to trade QB Russell Wilson to The Denver Broncos
No one expected this news Tuesday, or maybe ever. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seattle Seahawks are trading their longtime quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
The exact terms of the trade aren't known yet, but NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the Broncos are sending a bevy of players and draft picks to the Seahawks in exchange for their Super Bowl-winning star
Among the players we know reportedly heading to Seattle: backup QB Drew Lock.
According to Pelissero, he was informed Tuesday afternoon that he was part of the Wilson trade, as was defensive end Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant.
As far as the draft picks, quite a few are reportedly headed to Seattle: Two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick, while a fourth-round pick is headed to Denver with Wilson.
Trade has been years in the making
A possible Wilson trade has been in the offing for several seasons now. Before the 2021 season, Wilson was reportedly unhappy in Seattle, specifically with head coach Pete Carroll, though he repeatedly shook off those reports. But after a disappointing season — and even during that disappointing season — the speculation persisted.
Wilson's reported unhappiness in Seattle wasn't the only reason the Seahawks traded him. Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reported that Wilson wanted big bucks in the future, and that wasn't in the Seahawks' plans.
There was a tiny hint that a trade might be coming. At the end of February, Wilson actually scrubbed the Seahawks from his Twitter bio. While some players do that when they're just frustrated or angry with their franchise (like Kyler Murray for example), it turns out it meant a lot more in Wilson's case.
The Broncos haven't confirmed anything yet, but the people running their Twitter account are having a good time implying that Wilson is coming to Denver.
Wilson, 33, has been with the Seahawks since they drafted him in the 3rd round in 2012, and he led them to a victory over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII just a few years later. Wilson and the Seahawks have been to the playoffs every year since he was drafted, with the exception of just two seasons (2017 and 2021), and they made an additional Super Bowl appearance after the 2014 season. Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowler, and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020
Enrique Tarrio Former Proud Boys Leader Indicted in Jan. 6 Investigation
Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, has been charged with conspiring with other top lieutenants of the far-right nationalist group to attack the Capitol last year, according to an indictment set to be released on Tuesday by federal prosecutors.
The indictment of Mr. Tarrio was the latest step in the Jan. 6 investigation and the second time in recent months that charges had been filed against a leader of a far-right extremist group that took part in the Capitol attack. In January, prosecutors charged Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia, with seditious conspiracy for what the government has described as a plot to violently disrupt the work of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021.
Mr. Tarrio was not in Washington on Jan. 6, having been arrested two days earlier for having vandalized a Black Lives Matter banner at a Black church in the city after a pro-Trump rally in December 2020. Mr. Tarrio, who was also charged at the time with carrying two high-capacity rifle magazines, was ordered to leave Washington by a local judge as part of his release agreement.
But prosecutors say that he issued orders before the attack on the Capitol for members of the group to be dressed “incognito” when they arrived in Washington on Jan. 6. He also took part in a private Telegram group chat as several leaders and members of the Proud Boys stormed the Capitol.
Mr. Tarrio’s lawyer, J. Daniel Hull, declined to comment on the charges, saying he was waiting to see the government’s indictment.
33-Year-Old Ukrainian Actor Pasha Lee Killed While Defending Country Against Russian Forces: Reports
Pasha Lee, a well-known Ukranian actor, TV host, singer and composer, was killed Sunday by Russian shelling.
According to local reports and Ukraine’s Odesa International Film Festival Facebook account, the movie star had “joined the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to protect the country from Russian occupiers.” He was killed “as a result of shelling by Russian occupiers,” the festival organizers said.
Lee’s last Instagram post on Friday showed him in Irpen wearing camouflage gear as he wrote in the caption (roughly translated to English): “For the last 48 hours there is an opportunity to sit down and take a picture of how we are being bombed, and we are smiling because we will manage and everything will be UKRAINE. WE ARE WORKING!!!”
The actor was also a singer and TV host, plus he did voiceover dubbing for the Ukrainian versions of movies like The Hobbit and The Lion King, according to Deadline.
The New York Times reported that on Sunday, Russian forces fired mortar shells at a bridge in Irpin that was being used to evacuate people from the area, killing at least four civilians.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades. Details of the fighting change by the day, but hundreds of civilians have already been reported dead or wounded, including children. More than a million Ukrainians have also fled, the United Nations says.
The invasion, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has drawn condemnation around the world and increasingly severe economic sanctions against Russia.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,” he told the European Union in a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ Advocates Says DaBaby Hasn’t Kept Any Of His Promises, Return To Rolling Loud Is “A Slap In The Face”
OOP! HIV and LGBTQ advocates are still unhappy with DaBaby and say his upcoming Rolling Loud performance is a “slap in the face.”
To give a recap, DaBaby hit the stage at Rolling Loud Miami in July 2021. While performing, the Charolette native said some offensive and homophobic comments about people living with HIV/AIDS.
“If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks. Then put your cellphone lighter up,” he said to the audience.
DaBaby received backlash for his remarks and quickly did damage control. The rapper released multiple apologies and met with LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD and eight HIV advocacy groups. According to the groups, DaBaby promised to donate, bring awareness to the disease, and collaborate with the organizations to offer testings at his concerts.
However, the organizations say they were shocked to know DaBaby hasn’t followed up with his commitments.
“It feels as though the meeting and taking time to meet with us was all just smoke and mirrors. None of the things that he talked about doing or following through with have come to fruition,” says the Prevention Access Campaign, Deondre B. Moore.
The organizations also add that they were blindsided by Rolling Loud, allowing DaBaby to perform once again.
“For us, it’s kind of a slap in the face,” Moore continued. “To see them still being able to support and push him up to be on the same stage where he made such horrible comments and degrading comments for people living with HIV.”
In addition to not receiving any donations, Moore also adds that DaBaby agreed to have STD screenings at his shows, but “none of that has happened as well.”
‘Naked and Afraid’ exposes first ever trans woman contestant on nude show
She’s naked and unafraid. A Florida veteran made TV history after becoming the first-ever transgender woman to compete on the smash-hit survival reality show “Naked and Afraid.”
“People like me don’t get chosen for things like this,” said Terra, 37, who was assigned a male gender at birth but began transitioning four years ago because she had “always felt female” growing up, the Daily Mail reported. The trailblazer appeared on Sunday night’s episode of the Discovery Channel series, which took place in Zambia, Africa.
For the uninitiated, each “Naked” episode entails dropping two strangers, generally a man and a woman, off in the wilderness with no food, water, gear or clothes — hence the name. From there, the pair are forced to make shelter, start a fire, forage for food, and otherwise survive for 21 days while in their birthday suits.
Terra, who bow-hunted her whole life and served in the US Air Force for 12 years, lasted the duration, despite not finding much food and lacerating her nipple. It was a testament to the vet being “absolutely prepared” for the challenge, having survived for weeks in the wilderness with just a knife.
Not to mention that Terra’s “Naked” accomplishments paled in comparison to the serious challenges she faced during her gender transition.
“Transitioning is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but so worth it,” insisted the pioneering survivalist on the show, which is currently in its 14th season. Terra has had her breasts augmented but has yet to undergo penile inversion vaginoplasty — where one’s manhood gets surgically inverted and a vulva and neovagina is created, according to the Urologic Clinics of North America journal.
“Things on the outside aren’t what they are supposed to be at this point in my transgender transition,” explained Terra. “I do have breasts, and I do have the male genitalia still.”
In fact, she was initially concerned about what her partner on “Naked” would think of her being in anatomical limbo.
“When it comes to my partner, they’re either gonna accept everything or they’re gonna go off the deep end, and we’re gonna see some bad s – – t,” said Terra prior to meeting her male companion.
Thankfully, the gentleman, a “conservative” South African farmer named Shaun, literally welcomed Terra with open arms.
“Yeah, you’re unique,” he exclaimed upon laying eyes on his teammate’s nude bod for the first time. “It is a bit of a shock to me, but we’re all unique and special.”
He added, “I’m open-minded, and we’re going to do this together. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”
Relieved at being accepted into the fold, Shaun’s right-hand trans woman responded, “‘I appreciate that. And I’ve got your back, too.”
“Hearing that is a big thing to me,” she continued. “We’re gonna do this, we’re gonna be OK.”
They then hugged and embarked on their adventure. Unfortunately, Shaun suffered a concussion three days into the show and had to be evacuated, leaving his partner to fend for herself for the remaining two and a half weeks, Yahoo! reported.
Nonetheless, Terra learned a lot from her stint on the show.
“I’m not a gender, I’m not a label, I’m just a human,” she said while being extracted at the episode’s end. “It’s empowering. I’m going through my own transitional journey.”
The military vet added, “And I know now that if I just stick with it, there’s nothing I cannot do in this world.”
Terra is not the first trans person to appear on “Naked and Afraid.” That honor goes to Quince Mountain, a trans man from Illinois who was featured on a Season 10 episode, which saw him stranded in the Honduran jungle with Florida police officer Teresa Owens, the DM reported. Both managed to make it the entire three weeks.
Shaquille O’Neal holds huge bash for 50th birthday
Shaquille O’Neal celebrated his 50th birthday Sunday night at Miami steakhouse Prime 112 — which was decked out with decades worth of memorabilia as a tribute to the basketball legend.
Shaq’s pals packed the restaurant — which was closed to the public for the night — he also got well wishes via video from famed pals like Dwyane Wade, Kevin Hart, Kenny Smith, Dr. J, and Ludacris.
“I wish I could give you 50 Krispy Kreme donuts, I know that would be the perfect gift for you,” former Heat star Alonzo Mourning says in a clip. (O’Neal has owned a number of Krispy Kreme franchises and is the global face of the brand).
In another, Charles Barkley said, “You’ve got one of the best hearts of all the guys I have ever worked with.” Meanwhile, Warriors star Steph Curry told him, “I know you’re the busiest man in showbiz in the world of sports but take your time to celebrate another year on this earth.”
We’re told O’Neal is a regular at Prime 112 — a favorite of stars like Kim Kardashian and Alex Rodriguez — and that all the furniture was cleared out for the bash, except his favorite table.
“The walkway into the party was covered with large scale blow ups of every ‘Sports Illustrated,’ cover Shaq was ever on,” says a spy.
We’re told all the waiters were given special Reebok sneakers to wear, a reference to the baller’s long relationship with the company, which he now owns a chunk of. The windows were also covered with Shaq-themed items and the cake was shaped like a Pepsi can, another nod to his many longstanding corporate ties.
Guests included TNT co-host Ernie Johnson, Authentic Brand Group’s Corey and Jamie Salter, and Adam Richman, the producer of Super Bowl weekend bash “Shaq’s Fun House.”
Eric Stonestreet shares video of happy reunion with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
The "Modern Family" co-stars also posted photos of their get-together in New York City.
Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson may not be playing a married couple on "Modern Family" anymore, but it's clear they still adore each other.
The former co-stars reunited in New York City — and Stonestreet, 50, shared several videos and photos from the emotional meetup Monday in a gallery on Instagram.
"A meet cute two years in the making. Missed this guy a lot. Love you @jessetyler," he captioned it, adding the hashtag #nyc.
It shows the two actors grinning while embracing. "It's been two years," Stonestreet dramatically wails.
He followed that up with several snaps of the actors posing together on a city street. In one cute pic, Ferguson, 46, leans in to give his former TV hubby a sweet peck on the cheek.
In a final video, presumably shot from inside a car the pair were traveling in, Stonestreet can be heard yelling to pedestrians, "Hey, that's the red-headed guy from 'Modern Family'!"
Fans of the pair know the joke dates back at least to 2013 when Stonestreet yelled a similar phrase to embarrass Ferguson while he was sitting next to him in a car.
The pair's reunion made Ferguson so happy that he shared the video of him and Stonestreet hugging in his Instagram story. He also posted one of the reunion photos on Instagram and captioned it "huzzzbin."
"Modern Family" aired from September 2009 until April 2020 on ABC. Ferguson played Mitchell Pritchett, the husband of Stonestreet's character, Cameron Tucker. The couple were parents to a daughter named Lily, played by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, and, later, a baby son named Rexford.
Of course, in real life, Stonestreet announced his engagement to girlfriend Lindsay Schweitzer on Instagram in August 2021 after five years of dating.
“She said, ‘She’d have her people call my people,’” the actor joked in the caption of a gallery filled with photos of Schweitzer showing off her gorgeous ring.
Meanwhile, Ferguson has been married to lawyer Justin Mikita since 2013. The pair share a son, Beckett Mercer Ferguson-Mikita, who turns 2 in July
Broadway to maintain COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandate through April
Broadway will maintain its mask and vaccine policies through April despite Mayor Eric Adams rolling back many COVID-19 mandates starting Monday.
“Our current guidance is through April 30, and we are scheduled to update that guidance on April 1,” Broadway League president Charlotte St. Martin said in a statement. “Discussions are held weekly on our protocols and at this point, there is no change to our guidance.”
The statement echoes a similar sentiment expressed by the Broadway League last month, when Gov. Kathy Hochul dropped the indoor dining mask mandate as a result of low COVID infection rates.
When asked whether dropping the indoor mask mandates would apply to the Great White Way, Adams left it up to theater officials.
“Broadway will make their determination and we’ll respect that, but we’re lifting our mandates,” he said.
Broadway shows returned to New York in September after being shuttered for nearly two years due to the pandemic.
Several shows also faced shutdowns and cancellations due to a spike in cases linked to the Omicron variant in January.
According to recent statistics, Broadway’s vaccine and mask mandate have not hindered show attendance. Box office receipts climbed 5 percent over the previous week to $23 million and over 92 percent of available seats were filled.
The statement from the Broadway League comes as the industry gears up for an additional 16 productions that are scheduled to hit the stage this year.
Disney Employees Slam Bob Chapek’s Memo on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill: ‘Silence Is Unacceptable’
As the Walt Disney Co. takes heat for a report detailing how the company has financially backed all of the sponsors of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, employees and artists associated with Disney have taken to social media to criticize its response to the bill.
Particularly upsetting many staffers is CEO Bob Chapek’s memo expressing “unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community” despite the lack of a public statement opposing the bill, which would limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools..
The email, which Chapek sent to Disney staffers on Monday, reads: “In terms of our communities, we are and will continue to be a leader in supporting organizations that champion diversity. In 2021, we provided nearly $3 million to support the work of LGBTQ+ organizations. And, we have a long history of supporting important events like Pride parades.” Directly addressing Disney’s silence on the bill, Chapek added, “I do not want anyone to mistake a lack of statement for a lack of support. We all share the same goal of a more tolerant, respectful world. Where we may differ is in the tactics to get there.”
The reaction from Disney-affiliated individuals has been a mix of disappointment and frustration.
“[Disney is] starting to include more LGBT characters that let kids know that being gay is all right. But when they have donated to the sponsors and co-sponsors of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and they have made no position against this bill, and they are going to continue donating to these politicians, they are essentially saying that this bill is OK,” said animation writer Benjamin Siemon in a video posted on Twitter. “This bill is going to hurt kids, and that’s why I’m asking Disney to please take a position on the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and say that it’s wrong and say that you’re going to stop donating to the politicians that vote for it.”
“I’m gay! I work for Disney feature animation! Disney needs to support the people making the content AND the families we’re making them for! Silence is unacceptable!” tweeted character technical designer Cameron Black in response to Siemon’s video.
“I LOVED being a part of a Disney Channel show known for featuring gay characters AND storylines,” said “Andi Mack” actor Lilan Bowden, also quoting Siemon’s post. “The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will be DETRIMENTAL to LGBTQIA+ kids. I’m with [Siemon], hoping the company or more ppl in the company take action against this hateful bill. #DisneySayGay.”
“Never been quiet about my love of Disney over the years but being loud about my own identity as a queer human took YEARS,” tweeted Brock Powell, a voice actor featured in “Mickey Mouse Funhouse,” “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Across the Universe” and “Baymax Dreams.” “Breaks me in pieces that a company that literally pays me to speak is paying to keep me silent by funding puritanical Anti-LGBTQIA+ politicians. #DisneySayGay.”
Drew Z. Greenberg, a writer for “Agents of SHIELD,” tweeted, “I’m a huge Disney fan as is well documented on this site. Even I say this statement is weak.”
Dana Terrace, known for creating “The Owl House,” directing on the “DuckTales” reboot and storyboarding for “Gravity Falls,” tweeted, “I’m fucking tired of making Disney look good so who’s ready for another charity livestream?” She posted a video elaborating on her thoughts, saying, “Disney was recently found out to be donating large sums of money, hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the sponsors and co-sponsors of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, a bill that effectively tells LGBT+ kids, ‘You don’t exist. You don’t deserve to exist. You shouldn’t even be talked about.'”
“It is so frustrating that us LGBT Disney employees have to speak up about existing and wanting other people in our community to be safe, in fear for our livelihoods. If the company is so dedicated to inclusion, why is standing up for the safety of LGBT youth, at odds with it,” tweeted Sam King, who directs “The Ghost and Molly McGee.”
Melanie Martin Apologizes To Aaron Carter: Blames Postpartum Depression For Falsely Accusing Him Of Punching Her
Aaron Carter’s ex Melanie Martin recently filed a restraining order claiming that the singer punched her and even broke three of her ribs. Now, Martin is apologizing and retracting her statement.
“Just wanted to make a statement I’ve had a bad time with post pardom [sic] depression. Aaron never hit me I was angry because I mad a mistake a bad one. And we were arguing A LOT because he was trying to break up with me for what I did,” Martin wrote in a statement on Instagram two days ago. “Aaron is definitely NOT a drug abuser I’ve been a witness to it for two and a half years and there [sic] are a lot [of] claims that he is online it’s completely untrue I’ve been here the whole time!!!”
She continued, “He takes care of his mental health and is serious and has been working with a doctor for 2 and a half years and I want to make it VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. Because of all the claims about him I fell down the stairs manyyy times and I’m dropping all charges I’m going to the doctor to get help with my POST PARDOM DEPRESSION [sic] AND MY SONS WELL BEING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IM NOT SURE IF HE WILL FORGIVE ME BUT I WANT HIM TO KNOW IM SORRY AND THAT I SAID THINGS THAT WEREN’T TRUE AND I MADE A MISTAKE. AND I WANT TO BE HONEST TO EVERYONE and the WORLD AND MAKE THIS RIGHT.”
Martin also shared how she knows that she needs to heal during this time.
“BUT AS I SAID BEING A MOM AND TAKING CARE OF MY SON AND MY POST PARDOM [sic] DEPRESSION IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR MYSELF MY SON AND AARON and I don’t know if we can work this out with each other as a couple but I’m hoping he’ll forgive me,” she concluded.
As we previously reported, Martin asked for protection against the singer.
“He punched me in the left rib and pushed me. I didn’t feel the pain till a few days later, then left the house because he threatened to give me a restraining order then I went to Kaiser, my doctor and took X-rays. 3 broken ribs,” she wrote
Atlanta Falcons’ Calvin Ridley Indefinitely Suspended – Gambled on NFL games
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended indefinitely for gambling on NFL games during the 2021 season, the league announced Monday.
The suspension will last at least through the conclusion of the 2022 season, the NFL said. Ridley, 27, may petition for reinstatement on or after February 15, 2023.
In a letter to Ridley notifying him of his suspension, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote, “Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.
“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”
The NFL’s investigation found no evidence that any game was compromised in any way by Ridley’s actions. The league did not specify which games Ridley gambled on..
Ridley had stepped away from football for personal reasons
After the NFL announced Ridley’s suspension, the former Alabama standout tweeted, “I bet 1500 total I don’t have a gambling problem.”
The league says the gambling allegedly took place during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team and was away from the club’s facility on the non-football illness list.
A few weeks prior, on October 31, Ridley announced he was stepping away from the Falcons for personal reasons.
At the time, Ridley wrote, “These past few weeks have been very challenging and as much as I’d like to be on the field competing with my teammates, I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing. This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future. I want to thank my teammates, the entire Atlanta Falcons organization, our great fans, my friends, and my family for all of their support during this time.”
In a statement following news of Ridley’s suspension Monday, the Atlanta Falcons said, “We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on [February] 9. We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice and support the league’s findings and actions. We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.”
Ridley won two national championships during his time at the University of Alabama and was a first-round draft pick for the Falcons in 2018.
Daphne Maxwell Reid and Vernee Watson-Johnson to Appear in Episode 9 of ‘Bel-Air’
*If you haven’t heard, Peacock’s critically-acclaimed drama series ”Bel-Air” has reunited with original “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” stars Daphne Maxwell Reid (Frank’s Place, Snoops) and Vernee Watson-Johnson (General Hospital, Bob Hearts Abishola). Both will guest star in the new hit series.
Daphne Maxwell Reid will play “Helen” and Vernee Watson-Johnson will play “Janice,” members of the Art Council Board of Trustee. The two will guest star in episode 109 of BEL-AIR, streaming March 24 on Peacock.
Maxwell Reid played Aunt Viv and Watson-Johnson played Viola “Vy” Smith in the original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air series.
Bel-Air is currently streaming on Peacock. New episodes are released every Thursday. The season one finale will stream on Thursday, March 31 on Peacock.
Set in modern-day America, Peacock’s new one-hour drama series Bel-Air imagines the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air through a new, dramatic take on Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. As these two worlds collide, Will reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions, and biases of a world far different from the only one he’s ever known.
Executive produced by Will Smith, and inspired by Morgan Cooper’s viral trailer that reimagined the iconic, culture-defining ‘90s sitcom, Bel-Air takes a fresh and raw approach to this world of swagger, style, and aspiration, while exploring Will’s complex journey through a current lens. The new series features an ensemble cast that introduces Jabari Banks as Will and a creative team that includes Cooper, who serves as director, co-writer, and executive producer, and co-showrunners and executive producers T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson.
Chris Rock And Kevin Hart Team Up For Joint Comedy Tour
Two veteran comedians are coming together for a few shows that are guaranteed to have their fans rolling on the floor. Slated to take over the Tri-state area this summer are successful Black comics Chris Rock and Kevin Hart.
“Breaking News!!! Excited to announce a run of shows with Chris Rock this summer!!!” the Philly native announced on Monday (March 7). Alongside the caption was the promotional ad, which included the dates for the upcoming tour.
“Rock Hart: Only Headliners Allowed” will kick off on July 21 at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. The following day (July 22), the comedians will hit the stage at the Prudential Center in New Jersey before making their way across venues New York and New Jersey, and wrapping things up on July 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“Chris has forever been a mentor of mine and more importantly a brother and a friend to me in this comedy game,” Hart wrote amid his Instagram announcement. “I can’t wait to make history with him and destroy these markets!!!!!! Buckle up bitcheeeeesssss…..it’s about to go down!”
As Rock and Hart gear up for their joint tour, the two are also preparing to travel and perform for their respective fanbase. Rock’s “Ego Death World Tour,” which starts this month, will see him deliver “very personal,” “very funny,” “introspective” and “all-new material.” It will be his first major comedy tour in years.
As for Hart, he is set to travel across 31 venues in Canada and the US for his “Reality Check” tour, which will begin July 2 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. He will also take the stage when the Essence Festival makes its return to New Orleans.
Look above for the announcement of the “Rock Hart: Only Headliners Allowed” tour. Tickets go on sale on Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. ET. According to Rock, more dates will be announced
Tamera Mowry-Housley says hosting "The Real was like going to battle"
Tamera Mowry-Housley has enjoyed longevity in her career from being a child star on “Sister, Sister” to co-hosting popular daytime talk show, “The Real.” However, the veteran actress recently opened up on an episode of “The School of Greatness” podcast revealing parts of her career that were challenging, Essence reports.
“Being on a talk show, and you can take it or leave it, is not a safe place,” the actress said alongside host Lewis Howes. “And I wish someone would have told me that because I would have been prepared, and I was not.” The former talk-show host got “real” about how the gig required a lot of her emotionally, criticism she endured, and being engulfed in misleading scenarios during her time on the show.
“They will take what you say and they’ll use it out of context to fit their narrative of who they think you are,” she said. “And that’s what happened for years on that show,” she described, adding it was like “going to battle, but you don’t know you’re going to battle. And then people come and they start fighting and have to do all these things to [protect yourself].”
Mowry-Housley said she didn’t feel “armed” until nearly the end of her time on the show. “You can literally watch the beginning of the season to the end season and [by the end] you see this strong warrior,” as she described her self reflection. However, the mother of two was actually thankful for her lack of awareness.
“I wasn’t supposed to know it wasn’t a safe place, because I wouldn’t be who I am now,” she said. “I learned so much about myself doing that show.” In a nod to her growth, entertainer said she feels a lot freer to be herself. “I learned that it’s okay not to be perfect,” she said. “I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable. And it is okay to speak your truth.”
The actress joined “The Real” since its debut in 2013 up until 2020 along with original hosts Jeannie Mai Jenkins, comedian Loni Love, 3LW alum Adrienne Houghton and recording artist Tamar Braxton.
U.S. Secretary Of State And Brittney Griner’s Wife Release Statements On Detained WNBA Star
WNBA Star, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and Phoenix Mercury center, Brittney Griner, is currently in the custody of the Russian government for alleged possessions of hashish oil cartridges. The drug charges for Griner come in the middle of the war between Russia and Ukraine, where tensions are high, and relationships with America are strained.
Speaking with ESPN, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States will “provide every possible assistance” to Griner and other citizens held in other nations.
Griner has played the last five WNBA offseasons overseas, where higher salaries are for women players. Griner has been in custody since early February.
“There’s only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point,” Blinken. “Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we, of course, stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia.”
He added, “We have an embassy team that’s working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia. We’re doing everything we can to see to it that their rights are upheld and respected.”
In addition to Blinken, Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, released a statement on Instagram:
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wife’s safe return from Russia. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life. I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely.
Thank you!”
– Cherelle Griner
Following her detainment, America has released an additional “do not travel” warning for Russia.
Willow Smith Shows Off New Arm Tattoo
Willow Smith just added some new ink to her arm. She debuted her massive tattoo on Instagram last week.
The tattoo shows a magical hand reaching what looks to be a funnel. This isn’t the first time the “Emo Girl” has shown off her tattoos, and it seems like by the same artist, Raymond Jimenez.
She says, “my manzz <@rayjtattoo> did it AGAIN!! 🤯”
Fans and fellow celebrities were also quick to love the tattoo.
SZA says, “Incredible.” While one fan commented, “dope af.”
The last time Willow posted about a tattoo was in November 2021. It’s safe to say fans can expect more ink in the future.
Willow shares a tattoo with her mother, Jada, and grandmother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris. The trio debuted their matching flower lotus tattoos in May 2021 and documented the moment on Red Table Talk
Dr. Dre’s Attorney Says Death Row Records Doesn’t Own ‘The Chronic’ Following Snoop Dogg’s Acquisition
It was recently announced that rapper Snoop Dogg recently acquired Death Row records, but according to Dr. Dre’s attorney, The Chronic was not a part of that.
During an interview with Tidal, Snoop Dogg suggested the legendary hip-hop imprint had secured ownership of Dre’s album. However, Dre’s lawyer begs to differ.
“There are false reports out regarding ownership by Death Row of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic,” attorney Howard King said in a statement to Complex. “Dr. Dre owns 100 percent of The Chronic.”
Just days before the two joined the stage to perform at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, Snoop made an announcement saying he had struck a deal to acquire Death Row Records, which was the label he called home during the earlier part of his career.
It was also reported that the deal gave Snoop full control over the labels, however, that was except for certain projects: 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, and Dre’s 1992 debut effort.
Snoop informed Wilson that Pac’s albums had been returned to his estate sometime last year, but he’s confident he could bring the projects back to Death Row. However, he didn’t go into details, but dis imply that he had already struck a similar deal in regards to The Chronic.
“As far as 2Pac’s masters, 2Pac’s masters came back to him last year. But I got a great relationship with his estate, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be able to work something out … to continue some Death Row 2Pac business now that Snoop Dogg is in control of Death Row. Same with Dr. Dre and The Chronic. I got The Chronic album. I got Doggystyle, Tha Doggfather, Murder Was the Case, Dogg Food, Above the Rim. I got all those records.”
Billboard previously reported that The Chronic was supposed to return to Dre in 2023, which means that “could give Snoop Dogg time to negotiate with Dr. Dre to try and keep the album on the label, even if it’s only through a distribution deal.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
ABE!
He looks so cool in those!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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