#FASHIONMAG: Adut Akech, Bella Hadid in 'Hot Tips' Jeweled Fingertips for Vogue US April 2022
Top models Adut Akech and Bella Hadid front ‘Hot Tips’, charting nail art as a new form of jewelry. Gabriella Karefa-Johnson styles the superfly girls in images by Valentin Herfray [IG]. Nail artists are Mei Kawajiri; Natalie Pavloski, and Sylvie Macmillan./ Hair by Evanie Frausto; makeup by Raisa Flowers:
NICE!
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes moves into stunning $18M Atlanta condo.
REAL Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes has moved into a stunning $1.8M Atlanta condo featuring a massive master bath and all-white decor.
The Sun can exclusively report on her recent move as Nene has sued Bravo and Andy Cohen for "ignoring" her co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann's alleged racism.
Her luxury unit is located off of the English Garden entrance and has access to all of the hotel's amenities and servicesCredit: Google Maps
The Sun can reveal that NeNe has been settling into her new $1.8M three-bed and three-and-a-half bathroom home.
NeNe, 54, sold her Georgia mansion and moved into the luxury Atlanta condominium in the wake of her late husband Gregg Leakes' tragic death.
She bought the 4,000 square-foot condominium back in November.
Her luxury unit is tucked away in an English Garden entrance and is only steps away from a posh Atlanta shopping area.
Celebrity former STRIPPERS featuring Cardi B, Chris Pratt & Channing Tatum
The pristine all-white interior condo boasts a fireplace, a wet bar, and oak flooring along with a state-of-the-art applianced kitchen.
NeNe's master bedroom, dedicated to the entire top floor, includes a luxury bathtub adorned with stone and a separate laundry room.
The best part for NeNe is that her condominium has access to all of the neighboring hotel's luxury services and amenities at her fingertips.
#NEWMUSIC from PJ Morton Enlists Stevie Wonder & Nas For New Single “Be Like Water”
PJ Morton shares an epic collaboration with his new single “Be Like Water” as he taps the legendary Stevie Wonder and Nas to feature on the song.
“Be Like Water” represents a spiritual centerpiece of his upcoming album and shares a message to stay adaptable to the challenges on life’s journey. Morton shares:
“‘Be Like Water’ was definitely a phrase I had heard before. Bruce Lee made it famous of course, but it didn’t fully connect with me until we were all shut down and I had to pivot in my life like we all had to. After I finished writing it I could only hear Nas’ voice on it. For him to actually get on it blew my mind. Then when Stevie Wonder agreed to be on it and to learn that Nas had always wanted to work with Stevie, it was beyond my wildest dreams!”
LISTEN HERE
The song is set to be included on PJ’s upcoming album “Watch the Sun” which is set to release on April 29th, 2022.
The singer will also be heading out on tour in support of the album later this year.
#HipHopNews: Kanye West Addresses Family Drama On Pusha T Album
Kanye West’s presence is felt on Pusha T’s new album It’s Almost Dry, which dropped Friday.
In addition to executive producing the album with Pharrell, Ye is featured on “Dreamin of the Past” and “Rock N Roll.” On both tracks, he opens up about his family drama that has made headlines in the wake of his divorce from Kim Kardashian. However, he stops short of attacking his ex or her boyfriend, Pete Davidson.
“Born in the manger, the son of a stranger / When daddy’s not home, the family’s in danger,” he raps on “Dreamin of the Past,” echoing his previous sentiments about keeping his family together.
On “Rock N Roll,” which also features Kid Cudi, the father of four addresses his custody issues and tension between him and his ex-wife.
“I ain’t come to pick up the kids to pick a fight,” raps Ye, who previously claimed that Kim wouldn’t allow him inside her home to see their kids.
After a series of social media outbursts, which led to a temporary Instagram ban, Ye reportedly told Kim that he was “going away to get help” and agreed to stop harassing his estranged wife and cyberbullying Davidson.
He canceled his Coachella performance and was spotted in Utah with his girlfriend Chaney Jones.
“I just want him to be happy,” Kim told the “Not Skinny Not Fat” podcast when asked about Ye and his new girlfriend. “She seems like the sweetest. Whatever makes you happy, I don’t care what it is.”
Britney Spears Announces She’s Taking a Break From Social Media
Britney Spears won’t be on social media for a while.
On Sunday, the pop icon took to Instagram to announce that she’ll be taking a break from social media, as she awaits the birth of her third child.
“I’m going on a social media hiatus for a little while !!!” Spears captioned a post, which appropriately contained a video of a baby in sunglasses with a mini vanity set. “I send my love and God bless you all.”
Spears’ social media break comes just weeks after she announced that she’s having a “Baby One More Time.” Britney already has two kids in 16-year-old Sean and 15-year-old Jaden, whom she shares with ex Kevin Federline. Her soon-to-be third child will be shared with fiancé Sam Asghari, whom she met on the set of her “Slumber Party” music video back in 2015.
“I obviously won’t be going out as much due to the paps getting their money ? shot of me ? like they unfortunately already have,” Britney wrote earlier in the month. “It’s hard because when I was pregnant I had perinatal depression…I have to say it is absolutely horrible ?…women didn’t talk about it back then…some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained like that with a baby inside her…but now women talk about it everyday…thank Jesus we don’t have to keep that pain a reserved proper secret ? ???…This time I will be doing yoga ???? every day!!! Spreading lots of joy and love ?!!!”
Asghari shared what the moment meant to him, too, writing on social media that “marriage and kids are a natural part of a strong relationship filled with love and respect.”
“Fatherhood is something i have always looked forward to and i don’t take lightly. It is the most important job i will ever do,” he said.
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins Makes History as First Black woman to stay long-term on space station
“You know there’s not enough of us. Women are underrepresented in science, although it’s getting better in some ways,” said groundbreaking astronaut Mae Jemison.
Image: NASA astronaut, mission specialist, Jessica Watkins waves as she arrives with "Crew4" astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 18, 2022.
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins will join a small yet groundbreaking list Saturday when she becomes the fifth Black woman to go to space and the first Black woman to serve aboard the International Space Station.
Watkins’ mission has drawn praise from diversity and inclusion experts, but it shows just how far Black women still have to go in the white, male-dominated profession.
“You know there’s not enough of us. Women are underrepresented in science, although it’s getting better in some ways,” said Mae Jemison, who made her own headlines in 1992 when she became the first Black woman to go to space.
“There is a lot of gatekeeping, both conscious and unconscious, that keeps people out. But once you are there, it’s ‘where do you fit?’ People hold you to a stereotype of what they consider a scientist. There’s this unrelenting requirement that you prove you have the right to be there. Many times I think that we achieve in these fields in spite of, not because of.”Watkins will be the fifth Black woman to have gone to space. The others are Jemison; Stephanie Wilson, who, at more than 42 days, has spent more time in space than any Black other woman; Joan Higginbotham; and Sian Proctor, the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft.
Watkins joined NASA as an intern and held several positions as a researcher and geologist before she was selected as an astronaut candidate in 2017. Watkins earned her bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University and her doctorate in geology at UCLA. Her career with NASA has been long and full of accomplishments: She has held roles at the agency’s Ames Research Center and studied near-Earth asteroids at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and she was was part of the science team for the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity.
She gushed about the coming trip in a previous interview, agreeing that her mission is both a barrier-breaking moment and the natural progression of the field.
“We have reached this milestone, this point in time, and the reason we’re able to arrive at this time is because of the legacy of those who have come before to allow for this moment,” Watkins said. “Also, recognizing this is a step in the direction of a very exciting future. So to be a part of that is certainly an honor.”
The crew will blast off from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, early Saturday for a six-month stint in the ISS laboratory conducting research and doing maintenance on the station, the space agency said. Watkins will work alongside three other crew members — astronauts Robert Hines and Kjell Lindgren of NASA and Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency.
On Sept. 12, 1992, Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour. Jemison and Sharon McDougle, then a spacesuit technician, walk away from the orbiter at the end of the crew training.NASA
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While Watkins’ accomplishment is a great step forward for the space industry and evidence of its strides in diversity, there is still work to be done.
A report this year from the Space Frontier Foundation, a space advocacy organization, found that nearly 90 percent of people who have been to space are white men. And the space industry as a whole — from researchers and managers to writers and photographers — is “only marginally better,” the researchers said. The report also found that white people in the space industry are more likely to make six-figure salaries than Black employees.
“The fact that it’s taken this long to get African American folks on the ISS is disappointing. But it’s nice to see this focus is finally happening,” said Kim Macharia, a Black woman who is the chair of the foundation’s board. She highlighted that even though crews began living on the ISS in 2000, it took more than a decade for a Black astronaut, Victor Glover Jr., to serve a long-term mission on the station. Bernard Harris Jr. in 1995 became the first Black person to walk in space. Just nine years earlier, Ronald McNair became the second Black astronaut to go to space; he died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986.
“Less than 12 percent of all astronauts have ever been women, specifically. And then when you look at the number of people of color, the number is even lower there,” Macharia said. “But in the actual workforce at large, about 20 percent of the industry’s workforce is women. So, there’s a lot of work to be done when it comes to addressing these demographics.”
Most recently, Jemison was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for her widely recognized accomplishments in the field. Since leaving NASA, she has prioritized diversity in her own endeavors. She leads 100 Year Starship, a global initiative to support human travel to another star within the next 100 years. “I actively bring in people who embody that word ‘inclusion’ — across ethnicity, gender and geography — as well as across disciplines,” she said.
Jemison isn’t the only former NASA employee to have taken on such a task. John Hines, a former NASA researcher, founded the Hines Family Foundation to provide resources and opportunities for children from disadvantaged communities interested in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math.
Now, as Watkins continues her career with a growing NASA, Jemison is using her recognition to push the industry forward.
“Very frequently we have a tendency to forget that we have to continue to grow. And we don’t hold ourselves to that. I do,” she said. “I always hold myself to continuing to grow, learning new things and contributing in a different way.”
Megan Thee Stallion discusses alleged Tory Lanez shooting with Gayle King
Megan Thee Stallion addresses the alleged shooting incident with Tory Lanez in a sit-down interview with “CBS This Morning” co-host Gayle King.
The pre-taped interview marks the first time Meg has opened up about the altercation on television.
Clips from the interview show the Grammy award-winning rapper holding back tears as she describes the eventful night in July 2020.
“It was an argument because I was ready to go and everybody else wasn’t ready to go, but that’s like normal friend stuff. We fuss about silly stuff all the time,” Meg says in a clip. “I never put my hands on anybody, I never raised my voice too loud. This was one of them times where it shouldn’t have got this crazy.”
“So, I get out the car and everything happens so fast. All I hear is this man screaming, he said ‘dance bitch’ and he starts shooting, and I’m just like ‘oh my God.’ He shot a couple of times,” Meg adds. “He is standing up over the window shooting. And I didn’t even want to move. I didn’t want to move too quick, ‘cause I’m like ‘oh my God’ if I take the wrong step I don’t know if he can shoot something that’s super important I don’t know if he can shoot me and kill me.”
King asks Meg if she was afraid for her life at that moment and she tearfully replies: “I was really scared because I had never been shot at before.”
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Lanez with assault and weapons charges following the alleged shooting in late 2020. A judge also recently ordered that he be remanded into custody after prosecutors said he violated a restraining order obtained by Megan.
Lanez has maintained his innocence since the incident occurred, and the case is now scheduled to go to trial in September.
As previously reported, the “Body” rapper admitted to being shot multiple times in an Instagram post she shared in July 2020. She decided to release the statement because of some inaccurate reports surrounding her involvement in Lanez’s arrest.
“I was never arrested. This whole experience was an eye-opener and a blessing in disguise. I hate that it took this experience for me to learn how to protect my energy,” she captioned the IG post.
Megan’s actual message read: “The narrative that is being reported about Sunday morning’s events are inaccurate and I’d like to set the record straight. On Sunday morning, I suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me.
“I was never arrested, the police drove me to the hospital where I underwent surgery to remove the bullets. I’m incredibly grateful to be alive and that I’m expected to make a full recovery, but it was important for me to clarify the details about this traumatic night.”
ExxonMobil faces backlash after banning LGBTQ flags from company flagpoles
ExxonMobil has banned LGBTQ flags from being flown outside its offices prompting backlash from some of its employees.
According to Bloomberg, the gas and oil company updated their guideline on acceptable flags that can be displayed outside their corporate offices. They claim to have made this decision to maintain a uniform look.
Tracey Gunnlaugsson, vice president of human resources, told Bloomberg the move is “intended to clarify the use of the ExxonMobil branded company flag and not intended to diminish our commitment to diversity and support for employee resource groups.”
“We’re committed to keeping an open, honest, and inclusive workplace for all of our employees, and we’re saddened that any employee would think otherwise,” Gunnlaugsson added.
This decision comes a little over a month before June, which is celebrated as Pride Month. Employees at the Houston chapter of Exxon’s internal Pride organization have reportedly responded by refusing to represent the company in Houston’s June 25 Pride celebration.
Exxon’s Pride employee resource group has existed since 2008 and currently has about 3,000 members globally. Exxon’s worldwide workforce is about 63,000 in total.
“It is difficult to reconcile how ExxonMobil recognizes the value of promoting our corporation as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community externally (e.g. advertisements, Pride parades, social media posts) but now believes it inappropriate to visibly show support for our LGBTQ+ employees at the workplace,” the group said, according to Bloomberg.
“These types of visible actions are even more impactful for many of our LGBTQ+ colleagues who aren’t out at work and may not feel comfortable participating in PRIDE events,” the group added.
This news also comes amid a fight in Florida over what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which was signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis this year. This is a bill that forbids instructions on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Critics argue it limits LGBTQ discussions in schools.
Kim Kardashian Joins Boyfriend Pete Davidson at Mark Twain Prize Ceremony 2022!
Kim Kardashian is joining boyfriend Pete Davidson at a very special event!
The 41-year-old reality star and the 28-year-old Saturday Night Live cast member made their first public appearance together at the 2022 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor held at The Kennedy Center on Sunday evening (April 24) in Washington, DC.
Other stars in attendance included Steve Carell and wife Nancy, Jimmy Kimmel and wife Molly McNearney, The Office actor Ed Helms, Insecure stars Yvonne Orji and Chinedu Unaka, and comedian Samantha Bee.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul Pelosi along with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and husband Chasten Buttigieg were also in at the event.
During the event, Bruce Springsteen took to the stage for a performance.
Jon Stewart is being honored as this year’s recipient of the Mark Twain Prize For American Humor. He was supported at the event by wife Tracey McShane and their kids Nathan, 17, and Maggie, 16.
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky spotted at dinner for first time since rapper’s arrest
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were spotted out and about together for the first time since his arrest.
The two dined at celebrity hot spot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif., Saturday night, just days after the rapper was handcuffed at LAX in connection to a shooting that took place in 2021.
Rihanna, 34, put her baby bump on full display for the outing, rocking a black bra, black-and-white jacket and sparkly mini shorts.
The pregnant singer accessorized with towering, silver pumps and a matching sparkly handbag.
Rocky, 33, looked equally stylish in a gray hoodie with white floral detailing and matching jeans.
He completed his look with a bedazzled belt, gray tee and plenty of bling around his wrists and neck.
According to an eyewitness, the lovebirds were at the establishment with family and friends for a baby shower dinner.
The outing marked the first time the two have been photographed together since Rocky posted $550,000 bail after getting arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, in relation to a Nov. 6 incident with a firearm.
As previously reported, the two were returning home from a trip to Barbados last Wednesday when the rapper was picked up and put in handcuffs at the airport.
Rocky was spotted leaving police HQ in downtown Los Angeles later in the day, surrounded by several officers as he got into a black SUV.
Police said an argument on Nov. 6 between “two acquaintances” escalated and resulted in the suspect firing a handgun at the victim.
The suspect, who cops later identified as the “Praise The Lord” rapper, allegedly fled the scene on foot with two other men.
TMZ also claimed police executed a search warrant at Rocky’s California home, using a battering ram to enter the property, and leaving with one box of potential evidence.
Mary J. Blige To Kick Off Strength of A Woman Festival in Atlanta
Mary J. Blige is bringing her inaugural Strength of A Woman Festival to Atlanta, Georgia, and judging by the star-studded lineup, the music event is here to stay.
Strength of A Woman Festival will take place on May 7th, 2022, with performances by Chaka Khan, Xscape, City Girls, Queen Naija, Omeretta, and Mary herself. While the concert itself is on May 7th, the festival is actually a weekend-long women empowerment collective that kicks off with a comedy night on Friday, May 6th, headlined by Ms. Pat, followed by the highly anticipated Strength Of A Woman Summit also on Friday. The summit will team up with local businesses to tackle wellness, beauty, tech, and music with appearances from Rubi Rose, Sevyn Streeter, and more.
Several panels will be taking place during the summit portion, including the “Storytellers” panel, brought to you by BET Studios. This conversion highlights the women working in music, television, and film. Building Beauty Brands From the Inside Out is another great panel for women interested in the world of beauty and launching their own businesses.
“Get dressed. Get decked out. Let your hair down. The strength of a woman is about us coming together to heal, to be examples for each other, and to do some partying,” Blige said of her music celebration.
Free tickets for the summit went live on April 21st at https://www.universe.com/soawsummit. Tickets and information on the rest of the festival can be found at www.soawfestival.com.
Blige is presenting the festival in collaboration with Pepsi and LiveNation
Will Smith travels to India following Oscars slap controversy
Will Smith has been photographed for the first time since the night of the 2022 Oscars, where the Best Actor winner slapped Chris Rock onstage over a joke aimed at wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The “King Richard” star appeared to be in great spirits in photos where he’s seen smiling with fans, taking pictures and waving to onlookers at a private airfield Saturday in Mumbai, India.
While the purpose of the the star’s trip is currently unknown, it’s likely a welcome escape for the actor, who was banned from all Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences events for 10 years after publicly assaulting Rock due to a G.I. Jane joke about Pinkett Smith, who suffers from hair loss condition, alopecia.
After smacking the actor in her defense, Smith shouted at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f–king mouth!”
The following day, the “Independence Day” star issued an apology to Rock and The Academy for his behavior.
“My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about my Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”
Smith went on to apologize to “the Academy, producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,” as well as to “the Williams Family and my King Richards Family.”
Smith slapped rock over a joke aimed at wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
“I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” he concluded. “I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.”
Smith also resigned from The Academy shortly before being banned.
Nicki Minaj Says She Is 'Sober' and 'Loving Life': 'Be Gentle with Yourself'
Nicki Minaj says she is in a good place. The rapper, 39, briefly opened up about her sobriety in a series of tweets posted Thursday on Twitter.
After a Twitter user asked if she was high, the artist replied in a quote-tweet, "No I'm sober & loving life. You ?"
In a second tweet, Minaj added, "I used to b happy when I was high. Now I'm happy when I'm sober. No judgement to anyone. Be gentle with yourself. 🎀."
In a third tweet, she said, "My eyes naturally look like that and ppl always think I'm high when I'm not wearing makeup. Plus my eyes are naturally gray & I was born in the Caribbean islands of Cuba. The 1st paragraph was 💯 true tho."
Minaj previously talked about how motherhood has changed her. She welcomed her son, now 18 months, with husband Kenneth Petty in September 2020.
During a February appearance on The Late Late Show, the "Barbie Tingz" artist told host James Corden that becoming a mother "has made me see more good in people" and "more good in the universe."
"It makes you more of a forgiving person," she explained at the time, adding, "When I look at my son, I'm reminded that I am so blessed.
"I realized, for so many women, this is their dream. Their dream is to have a child and not everybody gets that blessing," Minaj continued. "So when you have a little baby, you are reminded every day like, 'Oh my God. Thank you God for this little gift.' "
Minaj also recently opened up to Corden, 43, about her mental health. During an appearance on Carpool Karaoke earlier this month, the "Trollz" artist revealed that she struggles with anxiety.
"I think when you are a woman and you're in the public eye all the time, if you're not careful you can become less confident because you're being constantly scrutinized," she explained. "I just don't think it's natural. It's not natural for a human being to just always feel like everyone's critiquing them."
Cam Newton Says His Controversial ‘Bad B*tch’ Comments Were Taken Out Of Context: ‘I’m Not Sexist & I Don’t Think Women Are Beneath Me’
NFL quarterback Cam Newton is clarifying his recent controversial comments, where he tried to define what he deems a “bad b*tch.” Cam affirms he’s not a sexist and despite claiming “women need to know when to shut up,” he says, he “doesn’t think women are beneath him.”
The Backstory
Prior to Cam now clarifying his comments, he previously went on friends Gillie Da Kid and Wallo‘s podcast, ‘Million Dollaz Worth of Game.’ During his interview, Cam and hosts began discussing “bad b*tches” and how they differ from the traditional woman.
Cam’s Upbringing
Cam first explained how he was raised. He said, “I had a perfect, a perfect example of what a man was in my life by my father. My parents have been together for 36, 37 years now and it’s a beautiful thing. I grew up in a three parent household. My mom, my father, and my grandmother. And I knew what a woman was. Not a bad b*tch!”
Cam’s Definition of a Bad B*tch
Further breaking down what a “bad b*tch” is to him, Cam said, “A bad b*tch is a person who’s just, you know, ‘Girl I’m a bad b*tch. ‘I’m doing this, I’m doing that.’ I look the part but I don’t act the part. There’s a lot of women who are bad b*tches.”
Cam goes on to note that his use of “b*tches” wasn’t to degrade women. He explained that he’s using the phrase “to go off the aesthetic of what they deem is a boss chick.”
Cam’s Shoots Himself In The Foot
Now, explaining what “a woman for [him] is,” Cam continued, “A woman for me is handling your own but knowing how to cater to a man’s needs. Right? And I think a lot of times when you get that ascetic of ‘I’m a boss b*tch, Imma this, Imma that.’ No baby! But you can’t cook. You don’t know when to be quiet! You don’t know how to allow a man to lead.”
The Backlash
As warranted, Cam began trending all over social media and received tons of backlash from everyone and their mother, calling him sexist, misogynistic, and more.
Cam Addresses Comments
Now, taking to his YouTube series,’Funky Friday w/ Cam Newton,’ he explains how his comments were taken out of context from the hour-plus-long interview. In the eight-minute clip, Cam says he’s now setting the record straight.
Cam explained, “Recently, I was just scrutinized. Bashed. Went viral. For something that I did and spoke on. But it was a clip that was taken completely out of context. I think for me, growing up how I grew up, raisiny my children, my daughters, the way I raised them, it’s completely different than how I was depicted. And that hurts me to a degree, but also tells me where we still are as a society. We are very, very sensitive on topics that need to be brought to the forefront. And if you use me as a a sacrificial lamb, so be it.”
Cam continued, “I know my heart. I know my intentions. I never once had this sexist mentality. I never had this dictatorship mentality towards women. You know, this mentality that women are beneath me, because that’s completely false. That narrative being even highlighted is completely against everything that I believed in and do believe in. So, for me to go through what I went through it’s cool, but I’m think I’m using this platform now that I have to reach out to strong women–Black, white, interracial. It doesn’t matter–just to prove to the world that I’m completely that or I’m completely not that, that you think that I am. But, using it in a way to do good to more people.”
Barack and Michelle Obama Not Renewing Podcast Contract with Spotify
*Barack and Michelle Obama’s podcast contract with Spotify Technology SA is coming to an end in October, and they will not renew it. Bloomberg reports that Higher Ground, the Obamas’ production company, failed to strike an agreement with Spotify. The former First couple wanted the popular streaming service to expand coverage so that the show could reach a larger audience, but it seems Spotify is not willing to do that.
Higher Ground signed a three-year deal with Spotify in 2019 but the terms of the agreement made it hard for the project to reach a wider audience. This didn’t go down well with the Obamas. For that reason, there will be no renewal of the contract. Already, their media company is reported to be in talks with other alternatives such as Amazon’s Audible and iHeartMedia, among others.
Spotify has produced very many podcasts from Higher Ground ever since the deal started. These include: “Renegades: Born in the USA,” “The Big Hit Show,” “The Michelle Obama Podcast,” and “I Am.”
“Renegades: Born in the USA” was a series of discussions between Bruce Springsteen and former President Obama. Bloomberg reports that those shows will continue to air on the digital streaming platform through the fall.
Higher Ground was founded in 2018, and since then it has created both scripted and unscripted television and film projects. Some of their documentaries, such as “Becoming,” “Crip Camp,” and “American Factory” received widespread positive feedback. “American Factory” even won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Since Higher Ground and Spotify were partners on the podcasts, the Obamas’ next deal will require new programming
Toddler Who Was Used By Father As ‘Human Shield’ In 2019 Philadelphia Shooting Dies
Yaseem Jenkins, the toddler who was used as a “human shield” by his father during a 2019 drug-related shooting in Philadelphia, sadly died on Tuesday. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a press conference Friday “We are awaiting a medical examiner’s report on the cause of death, but we have reason to believe the cause of death is his original injury from that shooting.”
Jenkins, 3, was just 11 months old when he was shot in several areas including his head, neck, and buttocks after his father, Nafes Monroe, allegedly tried to buy drugs with counterfeit cash in the city’s Hunting Park section, PEOPLE reports citing KYWTV. During the exchange, the alleged shooter, Francisco Ortiz, opened fire on Monroe after the drug deal went sour. Baby Jenkins was struck a total of four times.
“He was using counterfeit money to purchase drugs knowing that counterfeit money is very upsetting to drug dealers, and when they find out they’re being burned with counterfeit money, they act violently,” Anthony Voci, Homicide Unit Chief with the District Attorney’s Office, told KYW in 2019. He also said at the time, “Our investigation has led us to believe that he intentionally had his child with him when he was making such types of purchases with the idea or belief that if someone saw that he had a child in the car, that they would not fire upon him,” Anthony added. “A human shield is probably the term that I would use.”
The 2019 shooting left Jenkins in critical condition. The initial prognosis for the child was very heartbreaking. North Philadelphia Police Caption Nicholas Brown told reporters that there would “be no chance for full recovery for that child,” and that if he survived, ‘he [would] most likely be a quadriplegic.”
Meanwhile, during that time, Monroe had been charged with recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child, KYW-TV noted. During Friday’s press conference, Krasner revealed that if medical examiners deem Jenkins’ death to be a result of the injuries he sustained in the shooting, the shooter, Ortiz, was expected to be charged with murder.
“Yaseem fought long and hard to recover from his injuries while still being the strong happy kid he was, but sadly lost the battle,” reads a GoFundMe campaign set up to cover Jenkins’ funeral costs. “It saddens us to have to lay him to rest at such a young age. Our family is devastated and heartbroken by his unexpected passing.”
30-Year-Old Man Accused Of Gunning Down Atlanta Security Guard Arrested
A 30-year-old man accused of fatally shooting an Atlanta security guard has been arrested.
Atlanta police confirmed the arrest of Stanley Henderson, who is accused of killing 51-year-old Anthony Frazier while he was outside of the American Wings and Seafood restaurant located on Cleveland Avenue around 7 p.m. on April 18.
Police also released a video that showed the man walking up on Frazier from behind with a gun.
A witness reported seeing a person who matched the suspect’s description that was released through CrimeStoppers, police then enacted a manhunt which led to Henderson’s arrest, Radar Online reported.
Police said they believe robbery was the suspect’s motive.
It was also reported that one officer was hurt while chasing the suspect through the woods, but the police eventually took him into custody.
Henderson has a criminal history and was charged with one count of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Benzino Threatens To File Lawsuit After 50 Cent Says He's Going To Put Coi Leray On TV
The battle between Benzino and 50 Cent is far from over, and it was made clear Saturday night when Benzino called 50 out.
Benzino is upset that 50 Cent tried to drag his daughter Coi Leray in their feud. The “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” alum claimed he’s going to file a lawsuit after the “In Da Club” hitmaker declared he will put the “Trendsetter” artist on TV if people keep hating on her.
On Saturday, April 23, Fiddy shared a photo of Coi on Instagram. Alongside the snap, he wrote, “Now would be a good time to stop hating on @coileray I’m gonna make her show up on your Tv. STOP worrying about a first week WORK.”
Having caught wind of the post, Benzino call Fiddy out on Twitter. “Hey RATMAN aka 59 I appreciate u putting my Coi on but does she know you and STARS ain’t been seeing eye to eye lately. Well I just got my hands on a federal lawsuit saying that the ‘BMF’ trademark isn’t yours & knew about it & never told Meech or STARS. Big mistake you dummy,” he argued.
“Your dumb a** made the decisions not to tell anyone because you already invested too much,” the TV personality added. “I’ll be releasing the entire lawsuit real soon, but I’m gonna let u marinate for sec before I stick a fork in you.”
“You crossed a line with my kid but that’s ok, she’ll have to live with the decision she made to go against her father to deal with the opps,” he went on noting. “Everyone who is a real person will recognize her disloyalty and it will be her downfall. Smh, people who sell their souls always regret it.”
Prior to this, Benzino challenged 50 Cent to a celebrity boxing match. “Let’s throw those right there,” the 56-year-old said while showing off his hands to the camera. “Listen, man. You want to beat man about things, man? Step in the ring, because that’s [where] men settle their differences. F**k all that internet s**t. Step in the ring.”
Benzino and 50 Cent started beefing after the latter insinuated that Benzino is gay in a homophobic remark. On April 13, the Queens native wrote alongside a clip in which Benzino talked about his sexual preferences, “Young Buck, Benzino just embrace who you are but don’t pat nobody butt when they score a basket. fool. Hahaha, Nah. FOR REAL! PUNK.”
Video Surfaces Of DaBaby Swinging On His Own Artist Wisdom
DaBaby began trending on Twitter Saturday after video footage surfaced of him punching a rapper signed to his Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment label.
The video shows DaBaby throwing the first punch at Wisdom, and then the two begin to scuffle. The incident was immediately broken up by security.
It appears the footage was taken backstage somewhere, but there is no word on where the altercation took place or what prompted it. DaBaby was listed among the headliners at Spring Jam 2022 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Still, it’s not clear if the tussle happened at the event.
This 30-year-old rapper has recently made headlines, primarily for getting into physical altercations instead of his music. Just last week, DaBaby shot a man for trespassing on his property. Prior to that, things got physical between him and the brother of DaniLeigh at a bowling alley. The rapper and DaniLeigh, who share a baby, were seen arguing in a video posted to social media, prompting her brother to get involved.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
DOUBLE STANDARD
We’re not really sure what’s going on here.
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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