#MAGFAB: Viola Davis for People Magazine - 25th April 2022
Viola Davis Opens Up About Bullying, Trauma in New Memoir: I Was 'Hiding a Huge Part of My Story'. Viola Davis has never been afraid to live her truth.
The Tony, Oscar and Emmy winner, 56, grew up in deep poverty with her parents and five siblings. "People are constantly asking, 'So how did you get from Central Falls, R.I.? Oh, you grew up poor? Really?' And then you start your story," she tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "And you'd say it again and again."
While Davis' parents struggled to make ends meet for the family, she endured trauma and heartbreak: living in a dilapidated, condemned building infested with rats; dumpster-diving among maggots for food; reeking of urine at school because she had wet the bed and the family had no clean laundry; incessant bullying by boys who threw rocks at her for being Black.
And then there was the physical and emotional abuse her alcoholic father inflicted on her mother, as well as the sexual abuse she and her oldest sisters survived. Yet Davis insists: "I count it all as joy. I do," she says. "All of those things happened to me, but I own it. And it's a part of who I am."
In her new memoir Finding Me, Davis, now married to her husband of almost 19 years, actor Julius Tennon, 68, and mom to their daughter Genesis, 11, offers vivid details about her journey out of poverty.
"Everything I've experienced is what connects me to the world. It's given me an extraordinary sense of compassion. It's reconciling that young girl in me and healing from the past — and finding a home," she says.
The actress admits she had "an enormous existential crisis" before deciding to write her memoir.
"I always thought acting defined my life, and it doesn't," she says. "What people in the world tell you is that if you find that thing that you do, that you are great at, then that's it. And you have money in the bank, and you have a house, and you have a cute husband, and he loves you and your kid, that's it. And it's not."
"I was still hiding a huge part of my story," she adds. "It's almost like I reinvented all the things that I wanted to and tossed away the rest of it. You know when you look at pictures down memory lane, and you see it differently. I'm looking at little Viola, and I see how strong she was and how she was just a spitfire. I think that's why I wrote the book, that if I somehow explored it, unpacked those memories, resolving them, that somehow I could find my peace."
Finishing the book made the actress feel "terrified but great," says Davis, who next stars in and exec-produces the Showtime series The First Lady.
"That's what happens when you just go out on the limb, and you live your truth, is that you risk exposure. You risk shame. You risk criticism. But boy, there is absolutely no other way to live."
Finding Me will be released on April 26.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Claps Back at Nene and Critics of Kandi & The Gang’s Ratings
Kandi Burruss is no stranger to family conflict. Her mother Joyce and her husband Todd Tucker are frequent subjects of drama on Real Housewives of Atlanta (because they like butting heads).
Recently, the mother and son-in-law have been clashing at the family restaurant, which is highlighted on Kandi and the Gang, their new spinoff show. Mama Joyce disapproves of Todd’s management style, and recently challenged him to work in the kitchen – to get a better perspective.
In an interview with Insider, Kandi gave an update on Todd’s relationship with Joyce. “It’s gotten much better in the last couple of weeks,” she revealed.
On the trailer for RHOA season 14, however, Joyce told Kandi that Todd can’t afford to pay off a condo. Todd then expressed that Mama Joyce is “so disrespectful.”
“They had gotten back to being a little weird with each other,” Kandi told the outlet. “But recently they made up again for the hundredth time. So hopefully, we’ll keep them on the right track.”
She went on to say, “We are never disrespectful to each other — even when we’re angry, it’s only so far the conversation is going to go … So, I think we know how to give each other that moment to cool down and then come back to it and try to compromise.”
Sadly, respect is lacking in a different relationship – with Kandi and her former costar: NeNe Leakes. According to rumor, NeNe has thrown shade at Kandi and the Gang‘s ratings.
While speaking with Pop Culture, Kandi clapped back with her own response. “Oh my God, what is the ratings on [NeNe’s] show? I don’t want this to become a big shade-throwing contest between she and I because just like she can throw shade at me, I can throw shade at her,” she said. “But my whole thing is like I do not understand why she does that.”
When NeNe and Kandi were fellow castmates, their ‘friendship’ seemed on thin ice, with cracks forming all around. Now, the ice has finally shattered.
Kandi expressed, “Back when [NeNe] did have a show, me and her wouldn’t even be on the same page. But I still be posting, telling people to watch her show. That’s just how I am. I feel like if we have any type of interaction, I’ma show people support. Not throw salt on you. And I don’t understand why her, I don’t understand why her fans always be treating me like I’m stopping her from doing something.”
“What did I do to you?” asked the star. “What is my show stopping you from doing? Nothing. I saw some of her fans in the comments saying stuff like, ‘That could have been NeNe’s show.’ … If her theory is correct, right, how come Porsha has a show? Porsha has a wonderful show. She has her own show, she’s had two actually … What about Kim Zolciak? Why it always gotta be me?”
Some of her costars, in Kandi’s opinion, aren’t willing to pitch to the network. “We pitched our show. A lot of them don’t pitch shows. A lot of them just sit there and say, ‘I’m so great that Bravo should just throw a show on my lap. That is not what I do,” she said. “Me and my husband, we come up with these ideas. And we pitch them.”
Kandi admitted, “Sometimes the network is for it, sometimes they aren’t. Everything we do does not get picked up. Surprising because I know y’all think everything I do is working … But we put ourselves out there to get a yes or no. And that’s what you have to do.”
“People love to talk about how our first week ratings weren’t as big as they needed to be but the one thing that y’all also didn’t notice is our other show ‘Kandi’s Wedding’ was over 2.4 million viewers,” she explained. “My ‘Xscape: Just Kicking It’ series was averaging over 1.7 million viewers on the regular. And our ‘Ski Trip,’ 1.4 million.”
The star continued, “My reality shows are the highest rated spinoffs of the other people who had them. Don’t play me like, ‘Why she got…’ Because I work for it y’all!”
As many fans know, NeNe isn’t afraid of a good Twitter war. We’ll have to wait and see if Kandi’s shady response triggers another battle.
#NewMusic from Lizzo Drops New Single ‘About Damn Time’
Ahead of hosting “SNL” this weekend, Lizzo returns with her new single “About Damn Time.” The disco-infused bop, which Lizzo has declared the “song of the summer,” is an empowering anthem guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
“I’ve been so down and under pressure / I’m way too fine to be this stressed, yeah / I’m not the girl I was or used to be / Bitch, I might be better,” she sings before declaring, “I’m coming out tonight!”
In the magical video, Lizzo attends the Stressed and Sexy Support Group. When she’s asked to recite a poem, she imagines herself moonwalking in a sparkly catsuit through the halls and playing the flute in a pool while surrounded by synchronized swimmers.
LISTEN HERE
“About Damn Time” follows the Cardi B-assisted “Rumors” off Lizzo’s upcoming album Special, which drops July 15.
“I think that the music really is going to speak for itself,” she told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe of the follow-up to 2019’s Cuz I Love You. “I’m writing songs about love from every direction, and I hope that I can turn a little bit of the fear that’s been running rampant in this world, energetically into love. That’s the point.”
Lizzo, who recently launched her YITTY shapewear brand, will perform her new single on “SNL” this weekend. She will also serve as host, becoming the third Black female to pull double duty in the show’s history.
#HipHopNews: Megan Thee Stallion Debuts New Song Slamming Men At Coachella
During her Coachella set in Indio, Calif. on Saturday (April 16), the Hot Girl debuted a brand new song. On the empowering anthem, which samples Jodeci’s “Freak’n You (Remix),” Meg reps for the ladies while calling out a “f**k ni**a.”
“This song is very motherfu**in’ personal to me and it’s to whom it may the f**k concern and I really feel like my ladies gon’ f**k with me on this one,” said Megan, who previously teased the track on Twitter.
“I’m the only reason that your goofy ass got bitches,” she raps. “Damn, I can’t believe I used to let you f**k me / I’d rather be in jail before a broke ni**a cuff me.”
She drives it home on the hook: “Because dick don’t run me, I run dick / Ni**a, yeah, you’s a bitch.”
While she didn’t mention any names, there is speculation that she is addressing Tory Lanez. In February, Tory sent a tweet where he claimed that he was sleeping with Megan and her best friend, who was in the car when she was shot.
“Good D*ick had me fu**ing 2 best friends …. and I got caught,” he tweeted. “That’s what I apologized 4 . … it’s sick how u Spun it tho …”
At the time, Megan fired back. “Fu**ing two best friends… Ni**a you shot me you know whats what you were apologizing for,” she told Tory.
Tory was temporarily taken into custody for the tweet, a violation of the discovery protective order and personal contact order. He was released after posting $350,000 bond. He later released his song “Mucky James” on which he seemingly addressed the incident.
“I was at a high in my career / You think I’d come out here and ******,” he raps. “And if you think I would do that shit, you on some stupid shit / I don’t need to do that shit.”
BREAKING: #RIP: DJ Kay Slay Reportedly Dead at 55 Following Battle with COVID-19
DJ Kay Slay has died after a battle with COVID-19, according to music manager Wack 100.
He was 55. Back in January, Wack 100 was first to share news of DJ Kay Slay’s illness on Instagram, writing:
““Pray for my brotha @djkayslay It’s not looking good. He might be mad at me for this those that know Slay but he needs all the support he can get … Been 14 days fighting Covid and he’s just be put on a ventilator . Keep him in your prayers Please.”
A post on DJ Kay Slay’s Instagram page at the time urged supporters to “keep the positive energy up for my brother Slay fir a speedy recovery.”
Story developing…
RuPaul's Drag Race Team Launches Canned Cocktail and Mocktail Line, House of Love
Everybody say love! The creative minds behind RuPaul's Drag Race have launched House of Love, a new line of canned cocktails and mocktails, which debuted Friday during the show's season 14 reunion special while simultaneously becoming available for pre-sale.
World of Wonder founders and RPDR producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, who teamed up with RuPaul Charles for the drink brand, told Adweek that the move into branded merchandise was "a long time coming" and a "natural extension" of the ever-growing TV franchise.
"It's always been about a bigger idea — it's more than a drink that tastes good, it also feels good and it sends out a message, like Ru has always said, 'Everybody say love,'" Barbato explained. "It sounds like we're sipping from our own cocktails, but we sort of are."
In partnership with Svedka Vodka founder Marina Hahn, the drinks come in four alcoholic flavors — pomegranate lime vodka, watermelon vodka, tangerine margarita, and strawberry daiquiri, each with 7 to 12 percent alcohol content. The inclusive line also features two virgin options in ginger mule and colada, which also serve as the perfect mixers.
"There's no such thing as a side hustle — life is a hustle," Bailey added. "We see this launch as a full-blown business with merchandise drops and immersive experiences. We've all been used to thinking of things in silos, and one of the joys of creating today is that you can do it in lots of different ways."
The drinks are available in four-packs for $17.99, as well as 24-can "Viewing Party" boxes, which come with 30-day all-access passes to the production company's streaming platform World of Wonder Presents Plus as well as House of Love merchandise flash sales.
"Charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent never tasted so good," Charles, 61, said in a statement. "We put a little bit of love in every can."
RuPaul's Drag Race season 14 crowns a winner this coming Friday on VH1. The House of Love cocktails and mocktails will be available at www.houseoflovecocktails.com.
Kate Middleton, Prince William, & Their Kids Attend Easter Services!
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and two of their children, Prince George, 8, and Princess Charlotte, 6, attend the Easter Matins Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Sunday (April 17) in Windsor, England.
Prince Louis, the three-year-old youngest child of the royal couple, did not attend the outing. He turn four years old this month.
The HISTORY Channel Set To Premiere Jackie Robinson Documentary
LeBron James’ Uninterrupted production company will produce the documentary After Jackie premiering on the HISTORY Channel. The doc will showcase Black professional baseball players who came after Jackie Robinson, the groundbreaking player who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
The HISTORY Channel, in association with MLB, has announced the premiere date for this original documentary.
According to Variety, the two-hour documentary will premiere on June 18. The History Channel announced the documentary on Friday (April 15), the 75th anniversary of Robinson starting at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It was the first time a Black man played in the Major Leagues.
“When the Hall of Famer retired to continue his efforts off the field, there was still much work to be done in baseball and players including Bill White, Curt Flood, and future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson picked up where Jackie left off,” a press release sent to Variety reads.
“The relentless efforts and sacrifices of these brave men would eventually advance the status of Black players on and off the field, send the league toward greater roster integration, and force the sport of baseball, and the country, to change for the better.”
The doc will feature archives of interviews and footage of White, Flood, and Gibson, who continued the fight for racial equality. Ken Griffey Jr., Joe Torres, Dave Roberts, Al Downing and Tim Carver offer a modern perspective on their equality journey.
Andre Gaines will direct with producer Stanley Nelson.
In association with the documentary, the HISTORY Channel is issuing study guides to schools on Jackie Robinson and his life’s work. They’re also supporting the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars program.
Celebrity Chef José Andrés’ Non-Profit World Central Kitchen Destroyed By Russian Missile, Workers Wounded
Russian missiles raining down on central Kharkiv, Ukraine yesterday killed two people and injured 18. Among the latter group were workers at celebrity chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, a charitable effort which has fanned out across the country to feed those effected by the war there.
WCK CEO Nate Mook announced the terrible news on Twitter writing, “An update I hoped I’d never have to make. I’m at a @WCKitchen restaurant in Kharkiv, where less than 24 hours ago I was meeting with their amazing team. Today, a missile stuck. 4 staff were wounded. This is the reality here—cooking is a heroic act of bravery.”
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been hammered by Russian shelling all week with dozens killed, including at least three children.
Amid the destruction, Andrés himself posted an update on the WCK staff: “To everyone caring and sending good wishes to the team in Kharkiv, thank you, the injured are fine, and everyone is ready and willing to start cooking in another location.”
He ended with, “Many ways to fight, we do it with food!”
On Sunday, Mook posted video of the organization’s staff already rebuilding in that other Kharkiv location.
“The work doesn’t stop! Today, the restaurant team is moving all food products & non-damaged equipment to another kitchen location in Kharkiv,” wrote Mook. “The injured staff are doing well—and all the team here wants to continue cooking. Truly in awe at the bravery of our @WCKitchen partners!”
Also on Sunday the Executive Director of the U.N’s World Food Programme, David Beasley, told Face the Nation of seeing food depots and warehouses blown up — facilities that contain nothing else but food.
“There is no question that food is being used as a weapon of war in many different ways [in Ukraine],” he added.
#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Fantastic Beasts 3 The Secrets of Dumbledore’ Opens to Franchise-Low $43 Million
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” the third chapter in the “Harry Potter” spinoff series, collected a muted $43 million in its domestic box office debut.
In pandemic times, those ticket sales were enough to lead this weekend’s box office charts and land one of the biggest North American openings in 2022. But it’s also a sign that magic is in short supply for J.K. Rowling’s lucrative and ever-expanding Wizarding World. Dinged by mixed reviews and growing apathy for prequel series star Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and company, “The Secrets of Dumbledore” stands as the worst start for a “Harry Potter”-adjacent movie. (Its predecessor, 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” launched to $74 million in North America, while the 2018 follow-up “The Crimes of Grindelwald” bowed to $62 million.)
The diminishing enthusiasm for “Fantastic Beasts” is problematic because witchcraft and wizardry does not come cheap. Warner Bros. shelled out $200 million to produce “The Secrets of Dumbledore,” and the studio spent tens of millions more to promote the film to audiences across the globe. Like the franchise’s earlier entries, “The Secrets of Dumbledore” will be reliant on the international box office to make money in its theatrical run. The first two “Fantastic Beasts” installments — which ended with $814 million globally and $650 million globally, respectively — made nearly 75% of revenues from foreign sales.
“Fantastic Beasts 3,” too, has been a bigger draw to overseas audiences. Since the film touched down in several foreign markets last weekend, “The Secrets of Dumbledore” has grossed $193 million globally to date. But the persistence of COVID-19 has cut into the box office in China, where 50% of movie theaters are closed, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has meant that country is not granted access to Hollywood’s films. Those limitations have been difficult for all blockbusters. Since the pandemic began in 2020, only five Hollywood movies have generated at least $500 million at the global box office. One film that hasn’t had trouble smashing that benchmark is “The Batman,” which has been a bright spot for Warner Bros. This weekend, the comic book adventure, starring Robert Pattinson, has blown past $750 million worldwide.
“Harry Potter” veteran David Yates directed the third chapter in the prequel series, which follows the beloved Hogwarts professor Albus Dumbledore (portrayed by Jude Law). But he’s only one of a couple Dumbledores with “secrets,” as referenced in the movie’s title. In “Fantastic Beasts 3,” which was co-written by Rowling and another “Potter” alum Steve Kloves, a young(er) Albus and Scamander, a notable magizoologist, team up to thwart the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelson, replacing Johnny Depp) from igniting a wizarding world war. The cast also includes Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner and Jessica Williams.
Variety’s Peter Debruge called the film a “vastly improved sequel.” The prequel saga, which predates the adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione, is intended to be a five-film franchise, but executives at Warner Bros. are waiting to see how “The Secrets of Dumbledore” is received by audiences before giving films four and five the greenlight. “Fantastic Beasts 3” secured a “B+” CinemaScore, the same grade as its predecessor. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” landed higher marks, an “A-” score, from moviegoers.
Off-screen, “Fantastic Beasts” has been a controversy magnet. On top of declining box office ticket sales, the series has been subjected to blowback over Rowling’s controversial views on sex and gender identity, as well as the domestic abuse allegations that forced Depp out of the franchise. And Miller, who has a key role in the latest film, was recently arrested for disorderly conduct and harassment, though a temporary restraining order against the actor has been newly dropped.
Though moviegoers may not be aware of all the scandals plaguing “Fantastic Beasts,” internally at Warner Bros. it has become a headache, one that has become less and less pleasant to endure because the series is no longer minting money in its theatrical run. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, however, is much more than a film franchise. The fantastical universe has lent itself to profitable theme parks, live events and a Broadway play, as well as consumer products riches and success on home entertainment.
This weekend’s other major release, Sony’s R-rated faith-based drama “Father Stu,” flopped in its domestic debut, earning only $5 million from 2,705 North American theaters. The film, which sunk to fifth place, has earned $8 million since opening on Wednesday. Mark Wahlberg, who stars in the film with Mel Gibson, produced “Father Stu” and used his own money when COVID-19 tacked on extra costs to production.
Rosalind Ross, Gibson’s partner, wrote and directed the film, which tells the story of boxer-turned-priest Father Stuart Long and his inspiring journey from self-destruction to redemption. “Father Stu” is Gibson’s first major studio movie since 2017’s “Daddy’s Home 2” from Paramount Pictures. Gibson has largely been working on smaller indies and straight-to-streaming action films with Lionsgate and Saban Films in the decade since making headlines for anti-semitic and racist tirades.
Several holdovers, including “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” “The Lost City” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” had more to celebrate over the weekend. After all, it’s not a common occurrence that a romantic comedy (in “The Lost City”) and an indie movie (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) place higher on box office charts than a major superhero movie (Sony’s “Morbius”) and an explosive Michael Bay movie (Universal’s “Ambulance”).
In the No. 2 spot, Paramount’s family friendly “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” sped to $30 million from 4,258 cinemas, declining 58% in its second weekend of release. As “Sonic 2” continues to charm audiences, the film has generated a strong $119.6 million in North America to date.
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s romantic action-adventure “The Lost City” took third place for the second weekend in a row. The movie, also from Paramount Pictures, collected $6.5 million in its fourth weekend in theaters, bringing its domestic tally to $78.5 million.
A24’s genre-overload “Everything Everywhere All At Once” enjoyed another impressive run, moving up to fourth place with $6.1 million from 2,220 screens. Directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and starring Michelle Yeoh in a multiverse action-adventure-comedy-fantasy-sci-fi mashup, the indie film has earned $17.6 million so far.
In sixth and seventh place, respectively, “Morbius” added $4.7 million from 3,462 locations, while “Ambulance” scraped together $4 million from 3,412 locations. “Morbius,” which opened in theaters earlier in April, has grossed $65 million to date. “Ambulance,” which debuted on the big screen last weekend, has since generated $15 million.
Isaiah Rashad Addresses Sex Tape Leak During Coachella 2022 Set
Isaiah Rashad is breaking his silence. The 30-year-old rapper hit the stage to perform at 2022 Coachella Music Festival on Saturday (April 16) in Indio, Calif.
During his performance, he addressed the leak of a sex tape that occurred earlier in the year, which he had previously kept quiet about for months, allegedly containing footage of him engaging in sex acts with two men.
The performance included an opening video montage of other people’s reactions to the tape, including The Game and Joe Budden.
“The purpose of doing that was to embarrass him. However, that backfired. When his video leaked, his dreams and everything went up,” a voice said during the clip.
“I see all the messages and all the positivity…y’all kept me alive these last couple months,” he later announced during the set.
During a performance of “Wat’s Wrong” from 2016’s The Sun’s Tirade, he seemingly shed a tear
Kim Kardashian Pairs Crop Top with Matching Skirt for Revolve Festival at Coachella 2022
Kim Kardashian is at Coachella! The 41-year-old reality star and SKIMS founder stepped out for the Revolve Festival part held during the 2022 music festival on Saturday afternoon (April 16) held at the Merv Griffin Estate in La Quinta, Calif.
Kim sported a gray one-sleeve crop top and matching long skirt with a high slit paired with thigh-high gladiator sandals and sunglasses for the event, which was co-presented by the h.wood Group.
The night before, Kim‘s younger sister Kylie Jenner was spotted at Coachella while checking out the performers with some famous friends.
If you missed it, a fellow celeb recently revealed that her daughter is “best friends” with Kim‘s daughter North West!
Tracy Morgan and rapper Darryl McDaniels thrill crowds at NY Auto Show
Tracy Morgan and Run DMC’s Darryl McDaniels rode their way to the New York Auto Show.
The “Saturday Night Live” alum and rapper were on hand Saturday at The Javits Center for the show, which runs until April 22. It’s the first show for car nuts in three years, having been canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The “Last O.G.” star has been a longtime fan of luxury cars.
In September 2019 he was spotted driving alone on 14th Street in a convertible Rolls-Royce while blasting a Michael Jackson tune.
The car was a Phantom Drophead Coupe convertible with a limited-edition yacht-inspired wooden “deck” and worth a mere $500,000.
Earlier that year Morgan, 53, got into a fender-bender just moments after driving his $2M 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport off the Manhattan Motorcars lot. He estimated that the damage would cost a boggling $32,000 to repair.
In 2014, Morgan received life-threatening injuries when a Walmart truck crashed into his limo where he lost his close friend James McNair. The horror smash left him in a coma after suffering brain damage.
Morgan recently made an unannounced appearance at Radio City Music Hall while dozens of kids rehearsed for the Madison Square Garden’s “Garden of Dreams Talent Show,” delighting the crowd.
A spy told us that the comedian got a standing ovation and his daughter, Maven, seems set to follow in her dad’s footsteps.
The 8-year-old got up on stage and told some jokes.
McDaniels recently released a children’s book called “Darryl’s Dream,” about “creativity, confidence and finding your voice.”
Benzino Shuts Down Rumors He Was In A Relationship With Transgender Model Shauna Brooks
Clear it out! Benzino finally breaks his silence and is shutting down rumors that he was in a relationship with transgender model Shauna Brooks after a video surfaced Thursday. In the video, Shauna explains that it wasn’t an attempt to “out” the rapper, but she was opposed to hiding their love privately, while Benzino allegedly expressed his fear of people looking at him crazy. Shauna also made a few tweets about the situation. However, Benzino denied all claims on Twitter and said their only involvement was with the movie ‘False Advertisement.’
Benzino tweeted, “This is the movie Shauna Brooks, and I played in. Though we never did scenes together, the director gave my number to Shauna because she wanted to rent out the Crab Trap for an event. I had a couple of conversations, and still to this day, we never met in person.” While pausing to promote the film, he said the movie had already won an award.
Once the promo was over, he got back to the subject, tweeting, “They won’t get away with it, but until then, I will keep my progress and still treat people with respect while displaying professionalism no matter what race or gender they happen to be. I know who I am as well as the people who know and love me. Anyone else doesn’t matter anyway.” As he wrapped everything up, he made it clear that he had respect for the LGBT community.
Hampton University to clear outstanding balances for students
The Virginia-based school has become the latest HBCU to announce that it will clear outstanding account balances. Specifically, Hampton has chosen to wipe all the overdue funds leading up to students’ Spring 2022 semester.
School officials have also decided that there will be no increase in tuition fees or room and board for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Hampton’s President Dr. William R. Harvey said in a press release that the decision is due to the financial hardships many students and their families continue to face due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
“In keeping with the University’s efforts to help our students, there will be no increase in tuition, fees, room and board for the 2022-2023 academic year,” Dr. Harvey said. “In addition, on behalf of the University, I am pleased to announce that all outstanding balances for the Spring 2022 semester will be erased. We hope that this action will continue to assist our students and their families at our Home by the Sea.”
The HBCU previously tapped into the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) last year to clear outstanding balances for students in the Spring 2021 semester.
Several other HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta University, Wilberforce University in Ohio, Delaware State, Shaw University, and South Carolina State have taken similar steps to relieve students of financial obligations.
The initiatives have been made possible partially due to the support the HBCUs have received from the federal government under the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
The CARES Act allotted $2.2 trillion to provide fast and direct economic aid to the American people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately $14 billion of that amount was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education as the HEERF.
Hampton also recently announced that U.S. Army retired Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, a 1983 graduate of Hampton University, will serve as the institution’s next president.
TikToker Neyo White Sues Spa That Left Him With Burns From Chemical Peel
TikToker Neyo White went viral after he accused a spa that he says gave him a facial that left him with splotches all over. Now, he is taking matters to court to sue the business.
White filed suit against Diamond Faces Skin Care Bar, claiming they gave him a botched chemical peel that burned his face and caused discoloration and peeling.
He also claims he suffered from pain and distress.
In his lawsuit, White details the process he went through, including how he got the service done in February. At the time, the spa told him the burning was normal and not to worry, TMZ reported.
However, that wasn’t the case, and he has pictures to show his injuries, including severe burns.
He also claimed he suffered skin disfigurement, possibly permanent scarring, which led him to suffer shock, fear, mental anguish, etc.
The whole mess could have been handled outside of court, but the spa refused to refund his $150.
Now he’s seeking compensatory and punitive damages of at least $500,000.
He also sues the esthetician, who he says co-owns the place and performs the service. White claims she also failed to renew her license, which he says lapsed back in August 2021.
Chris Brown Reportedly Calls Authorities On A Woman Who Has Been Stalking His House For Weeks
Chris Brown just can’t catch a break. The singer is now having issues with a stalker who refuses to stop popping up at his house.
About two weeks ago, LAPD was called to Chris’s San Fernando Valley home because a woman would not leave. But according to TMZ, by the time authorities had arrived, the woman had disappeared.
Oddly two days after the first incident, the LAPD received a random phone call saying Chris needed a welfare check. However, they knew it wasn’t true.
But the persistent stalker didn’t stop her madness there. Last week, Chris’s security called the police again because the same woman had returned and got into a verbal altercation with the security. The woman was seen circling Chris’s house roughly ten times. Since there wasn’t any crime committed, authorities just made an incident report just to have documentation.
It’s possible that the woman may have gotten Chris’s address after he had a public yard sale at his home a few years back.
Five Tipsters To Split $50k Reward For Info That Led To Subway Shooter’s Arrest
Five people who provided police with information that led to the capture of the suspect responsible for a mass shooting on a New York City subway train will split the $50,000 reward.
Frank James, 62, the man accused of being the gunman in Tuesday’s shooting, was taken into custody Wednesday without incident. He has been charged with breaking a terror-related law for the shooting that left ten people suffering gunshot wounds and 19 others injured in Brooklyn.
The New York Police Department credits the five tipsters as providing tips that “contributed directly to the arrest.” They will evenly split $50,000 in rewards provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Transport Workers Union Local 100, and Police Foundation. Crime Stoppers rewards are earned after a suspect is arrested and indicted.
“We appreciate all of those who responded to our call for information to locate this suspect, including all of those whose tips did not pan out,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “We urged the public to join us in this effort to find this suspect, and New Yorkers stepped up.”
The good Samaritans have not been identified, nor has the information they provided. After James was identified as a suspect, several reports of sightings were made. James even reportedly called Crime Stoppers on himself from a McDonald’s in the East Village. By the time police responded, he had fled the restaurant. However, he was spotted nearby by someone who recognized him and alerted the police.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
BUT WHY?
Dude is playing stone age and new world combined in one era.
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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