#MAGFAB: Gabby Sidibe for Brides Magazine.
Gabby is back and she did a spread for Brides Magazine. Take a look at the pics.
NICE. And the article is HERE!
#RHOA: Shereé Whitfield Shares a New Look Inside the Finished Chateau Shereé
Amid a years-long building process, Shereé Whitfield once explained that creating a massive dream home “takes time.” As we saw on the May 8 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the stunning Chateau Shereé was certainly worth the wait.
Although Shereé shared a look at the completed home in the video above back in 2018, the recent episode of RHOA showed the finishing touches she has put on the furniture and decor in the years since. Chic lighting and stunning florals are now present everywhere from the spacious foyer to the eye-catching dining area. As for the buzzed-about basement? It's finally 100 percent finished with the most gorgeous entertainment room, bar, spa room, and lounge area.
Although Shereé and Kenya Moore have gone through some drama related to the house over the years, Kenya had nothing but praise for the completed abode. “Look at the chateau!” she exclaimed during the episode. “It’s gorgeous.”
As Shereé explains in the video above, she put a great deal of thought into every inch of the massive home. “I love detail," she says. "Everything is hand-picked by me.”
Watch new episodes of RHOA Sundays at 8/7c
#MusicNews: Diddy Announces New Album, Launches R&B Label Love Records
The music mogul, also known as Love, has officially announced his return to music with the launch of his R&B record label Love Records in partnership with Motown Records. The new label will be dedicated to R&B music and will release singles and collaborative projects from a collective of world-class artists, producers, and songwriters.
Additionally, Diddy has signed a one-time album deal with Motown. The project, which he will executive produce and A&R, will mark the first release on Love Records and is set to arrive this summer. He recently teased a collaboration with The Weeknd as part of a Beats by Dre commercial starring Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“Music has always been my first love, Love Records is the next chapter is about getting back to the love and making the best music of my life,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs, who will continue to oversee his iconic Bad Boy label. “For the Label I’m focused on creating timeless R&B music with the next generation of artists and producers. Motown is the perfect partner for my album and I’m excited to add to its legacy.”
Motown Records CEO and Chairwoman Ethiopia Habtemariam added, “This is a major moment for Motown, as Diddy is one of this century’s most important voices in music and culture; To be a part of his next evolution and album is nothing short of monumental.”
It’s been over six years since Diddy released his last project, MMM (Money Making Mitch). Last year, he announced plans for an R&B album called Off the Grid, but it never saw the light of day.
“I’m making a classic,” he said at the time, while also revealing that he recorded an R&B version of his 1997 hit “It’s All About the Benjamins.”
Ahead of his album release, he will serve as host and executive producer of the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, which will air live from Las Vegas on Sunday.
#HipHopNews: Young Thug’s Lyrics Used Against Him In Rico Indictment
Young Thug’s lyrics are being used against him in his racketeering case.
The rapper is among 28 defendants of the Young Slime Life collective who were named in a 56-count indictment, which includes charges ranging from drug and gun possession to murder. He was arrested on Monday in Fulton County on charges of Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity.
The indictment alleges that Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, was in possession of stolen weapons, and that he possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine, hydrocodone, and marijuana. Prosecutors allege that two associates of YSL, Christian Eppinger and Antonio Sumlin, worked to “to obtain the permission of ‘Slime’ to make a second attempt to murder” YFN Lucci while he was in jail.
Thug is also accused of renting a car that was “used in the commission of the murder of Donovan Thomas, Jr., a rival gang member.”
According to Rolling Stone, prosecutors are using Thug’s song lyrics and social media posts to portray him as a violent gang figure.
Lyrics from nine different songs were listed in the indictment, starting with 2014’s “Eww,” with the most recent being 2021’s “Ski” with Gunna.
The indictment also listed Thug’s 2018 collaboration with Nicki Minaj “Anybody” (“I never killed anybody but I got something to do with that body”), 2018’s “Just How It Is” (“Gave the lawyer close to two mil, he handles all the killings”), and 2020’s “Take It to Trial” (“For slimes you know I kill, trial, I done beat it twice, state, I’m undefeated like feds came and snatched me”).
Prosecutors alleged that Thug’s lyrics constituted “an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.” Social media posts by Thug and other YSL members were also cited in the case.
Thug’s attorney Brian Steel blasted the decision to use his client’s lyrics against him. “It’s offensive to take a musical artist’s poetry and then twist it out of context into crimes,” he said.
When asked about using the lyrics, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis responded, “I believe in the first amendment, it’s one of our most precious rights. However, the first amendment does not protect people from prosecutors using it as evidence if it is such. In this case, we put it as overt and predicate acts within the RICO count, because we believe that’s exactly what it is.”
There have been efforts to stop rap lyrics from being used in court. In January, lawmakers in New York introduced the “Rap Music on Trial” bill, which would limit the circumstances in which any form of “creative expression” can be shown as evidence of a crime to a jury. It received support from JAY-Z, Meek Mill, Big Sean, Fat Joe, and Killer Mike.
Thug, who remains in custody, made his first court appearance on Tuesday. His lawyer said he “committed no crime whatsoever,” adding, “We will fight till my last drop of blood to clear him.”
Gunna has also been named in the indictment and was charged with one count of conspiring to violate RICO.
One rapper who was not named is Jack Harlow. However, during a press conference, a reporter bizarrely asked the D.A. why the “First Class” rapper was missing from the indictment.
“The indictment’s got Young Thug and a bunch of other rappers. There was one name I was actually expecting to see there and I didn’t. And that’s Jack Harlow,” said the reporter. “Can you speak to that?”
Mike Tyson Cleared From Charges For Assaulting Airline Passenger
Fomer heavy-weight champ Mike Tyson will not face charges for punching a fellow first-class passenger while aboard a plane last month.
Reportedly, the San Mateo County District Attorney announced on Tuesday (May 10) that authorities will not file charges against Mike Tyson, 55, due to
“the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.”
On April 20, while at San Francisco International Airport on a JetBlue plane, Mike Tyson repeatedly punched airline passenger Melvin Townsend III in the face. Representatives for Tyson alleged the male passenger was harassing him and threw a water bottle at him while he was seated.
In regards to closing the case, District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said in a statement,
“These include the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr. Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr. Tyson that no charges be filed in this case.”
According to reports, authorities previously said that the victim had provided minimum details about the incident and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Elon Musk confirms he will reverse Twitter's ban of former President Trump
Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk would reinstate former President Donald Trump's Twitter account should his acquisition of the social network successfully close later this year.
"I would reverse the permaban," Musk said during a live interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday afternoon. "We should not have permabans."
Moreover, he called Twitter's original decision to ban Trump in January 2021, "a morally bad decision, to be clear, and foolish in the extreme."
At the time, Twitter banned Trump's account "due to the risk of further incitement of violence," in the wake of the attempted insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Pushed specifically on the logic behind Trump's ban, Musk said it still didn't justify a permanent ban.
"I think permabans fundamentally undermine trust in Twitter as a town square where everyone can voice their opinion," he said. "If there are tweets that are wrong and bad, those should be either deleted or made invisible, and a temporary suspension is appropriate. But not a permanent ban."
The ban didn't serve to "end Trump's voice," he said. "It amplified it among the right. And this is why it's morally wrong and flat out stupid."
Musk has repeatedly referred to Twitter as "the de facto public town square" of the modern era — the digital equivalent of a public forum. To that end, he's been critical of Twitter's decision to permanently ban Trump from the site many times before.
Even if Trump's account were reinstated, it's not clear if Trump would come back. He's repeatedly said that he would not, and is instead sticking with the social media service he started after exiting office, Truth Social.
Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan rips complaints about casting the TV series
Rick Riordan, author of the best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has some pointed words for critics of the decision to cast Leah Jeffries as the character Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ series based on the books. Jeffries is a person of color. In the books, Annabeth is white.
Under the headline, "Leah Jeffries is Annabeth," Riordan writes on his website, "I have been clear, as the author, that I was looking for the best actors to inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters, and that physical appearance was secondary for me." He continues, "You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white."
According to Jeffries, her Tik Tok account was "banned" by people angry over the decision.
"So I guess all the people that kind of did not want me to be Annabeth or something, they literally took down my whole account," Jeffries says in a video posted in a new Tik Tok account.
A spokesperson for Tik Tok says Jeffries' account was taken down due to the platform's minimum age requirement of 13. Jeffries is 12.
Riordan's Percy Jackson books have sold more than 180 million copies worldwide. The live action series tells the story of 12 year old Percy Jackson, a modern demigod embracing his newfound supernatural powers.
"The trio is complete!" Riordan enthused on May 5 when he announcing that Jeffries' Annabeth would join actor Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood who plays Percy Jackson's best friend. Jackson will be played by Walker Scobell.
In his statement, Riordan writes that Percy Jackson fans who denounce the casting decision have missed the series' "core message."
"The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. There is power in plurality. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. Anyone can be a hero."
Through his imprint with Disney Hyperion Publishing, Riordan has a track record of elevating the work of diverse authors. According to his website, "Our goal is to publish great middle grade authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage."
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Actors’ Equity Condemn Illegal Recording of Nude Performers After ‘Take Me Out’ Leak
“Take Me Out” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and the Actors’ Equity Association have released statements condemning the illegal recording of actors in nude scenes after footage of Jesse Williams performing naked in the Broadway production leaked online.
“I’m appalled by the disrespect shown to the actors of our company whose vulnerability on stage ever night is crucial to ‘Take Me Out,'” Jesse Tyler Ferguson wrote on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. “Anyone who applauds or trivializes this behavior has no place in the theater which has always been a safe space for artists & audience members.”
Ferguson, who stars alongside Williams in the production of “Take Me Out,” continued by saying, “If nudity is what you are coming for… you are in for a long boring night. It’s within a challenging 2 and a half hour play with big ideas, beautiful language & remarkable acting from a company of 11 actors that you will have to sit thru as well. You’ll be bored.”
Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing over 50,000 actors and stage managers involved in live theater, released a similar condemnation Tuesday afternoon, calling the leak an act of “sexual harassment and an appalling breach of consent.”
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the creation and distribution of photographs and videos of our members during a nude scene,” said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “As actors, we regularly agree to be vulnerable onstage in order to tell difficult and challenging stories. This does not mean that we agree to have those vulnerable moments widely shared by anyone who feels like sneaking a recording device into the theater. Whoever did this knew not only that they were filming actors without their consent, but also that they were explicitly violating the theater’s prohibition on recording and distribution.”
Second Stage Theater, which produced the “Take Me Out” revival, also released a statement regarding the leak.
“It is deeply unfortunate that one audience member chose to disrespect the production, their fellow audience members and, most importantly, the cast in this manner,” Second Stage Theater’s statement reads. “Taking naked pictures of anyone without their consent is highly objectionable and can have severe legal consequences. Posting it on the internet is a gross and unacceptable violation of trust between the actor and audience forged in the theatre community. We are actively pursuing takedown requests and ask that no one participates in the distribution of these images.”
Second Stage Theater has also vowed that it plans to station more staff members inside the auditorium at New York’s Hayes Theater to crack down on illegal recording of the production.
A revival of the play by Richard Greenberg, “Take Me Out” has drawn acclaim since opening on Broadway earlier this spring. The production netted four Tony nominations yesterday, including best revival of a play and three nominations for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play, for Ferguson, Williams and Michael Oberholtzer.
Apple discontinues the iPod touch
Apple is discontinuing the iPod touch, the last version of the portable music player it still sells.
The announcement ends an era of digital music that Apple kicked off when it first introduced the iPod in 2001, boasting of its ability to hold “up to 1,000 CD-quality songs into an ultra-portable, 6.5 ounce design that fits in your pocket.”
The first version of the iPod touch, which more closely resembles the iPhone, was introduced in 2007. The latest version was introduced in 2019.
The $199 iPod touch can send iMessages and place FaceTime calls in addition to playing music, but can’t make phone calls. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, said in a statement that “the spirit of iPod lives on” through its many other products that integrate music-playing features.
Apple said the iPod touch will be available while supplies last.
Mo'Nique Joins Starz Crime Drama BMF for Season 2
Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique (Precious) has joined the Starz crime drama BMF for Season 2.
The first season of BMF introduced the story of two brothers — Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (played by Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. and Da’Vinchi) — who created Black Mafia Family, the most prominent drug distribution network in American history.
Mo’Nique is set to recur during Season 2 as Goldie, a sophisticated Atlanta strip club owner with swagger and street smarts. She will form an alliance with the Flenory brothers which will help fuel their migration from Detroit to Atlanta. “A fierce protector of her dancers and the people in her world, Goldie isn’t afraid to take care of business — no matter what the cost,” the character description concludes.
Mo’Nique’s previous TV credits include Moesha and the spinoff The Parkers, episodes of Nip/Tuck and Ugly Betty, and the HBO biopic Bessie (for which she earned an Emmy nomination, playing Ma Rainey).
Previously announced BMF Season 2 additions include Leslie Jones (SNL), Kelly Hu (Arrow) and Christine Horn (Snowfall), while La La Anthony has been upped to a series regular as Markesha.
Returning cast members for Season 2, meanwhile, include Russell Hornsby (as Charles Flenory), Michole Briana White (as Lucille), Myles Truitt (as B-Mickie) and Steve Harris (as Detective Bryant); Snoop Dogg, Arkeisha “Kash Doll” Knight and Serayah will continue in recurring roles.
'Little Women: Atlanta' Star Ms. Juicy Hospitalized After Stroke
Ms. Juicy has suffered a stroke. Late last month, it was revealed that the 50-year-old Little Women: Atlanta star, whose real name is Shirlene Pearson, was in the ICU, but the cause of her hospitalization was not made public at the time.
On Monday (May 9), Ms. Juicy‘s PR team released a statement on how she’s doing, while revealing that she was in the hospital after suffering a stroke.
“We are thankful to announce Ms Juicy has been moved out the ICU, however there is anew journey ahead of her healing,” Meme Agency shared on Ms. Juicy‘s Instagram.
“We can confirm that Ms Juicy did suffer a stroke,” the statement continued. “As many of you know, Ms Juicy is an amazing actress, tv personality, and host, however this journey and this journey ahead will not be easy.”
The statement went on to add that Ms. Juicy‘s sister has set up a GoFundMe page in order to help cover Ms. Juicy’s medical expenses.
“Ms Juicy’s sister Tanya has started a GoFundMe in which all proceeds will go to Ms. Juicy,” the statement read. “Ms Juicy is a very private person and wants everyone to know she is fighting and ready to go home.”
The statement concluded, “She wants to thank her fans for showing so much love and keeping her in their prayers.”
We hope Ms. Juicy gets well soon.
Common Celebrates His Daughter Graduating Howard University Law School In THREE Years!
Common was all smiles as he watched his daughter Omoye Assata Lynn receive her college degree from Howard University Law School. Keep scrolling to see the proud moment when the rapper/actor watched his daughter switch her graduation tassel.
We love to see celebrities front and center for their children’s big milestones. In full support of his baby girl, Common watched as his daughter made her way down the aisle to collect her degree from the honorable HBCU.
After the ceremony, Common happily posted footage from the graduation onto his Instagram, along with a heartwarming caption about how his daughter graduated in just three years.
“There are no words to describe how proud I am! Finishing Law School at Howard University in the 3 years is pretty AMAZING,” Common wrote on Instagram on May 8. “Congrats to my daughter and all the graduates of 2022. Now go out in the world and be great!”
Congratulations, Omoye! Keep doing amazing things!
Katy Perry Lands Lead Role in New Animated Movie Musical 'Melody'
On Tuesday (May 10), the 37-year-old singer landed the titular role in the upcoming animated movie musical Melody.
In the Jeremy Zag-directed movie, Katy will be voicing the Melody, “a kind-hearted, insecure singer who must overcome the evil plans of Rose Stellar, a jealous wicked pop queen who has vowed to destroy her. Set against the backdrop of New York City, Melody will take audiences on an adventure of song, laughter and heroic quest. In her arsenal, Melody has seven musical notes that set her apart and have magical qualities and help guide her moral compass,” according to Deadline.
Along with starring in Melody, Katy will also be writing and performing songs for the movie.
Katy also announced the news on Twitter, writing, “Hi, I’m Melody!🎶” along with a few photos of her character.
Make sure you get the scoop on the other new project Katy Perry has in the works.
Bobby Brown reveals he was sexually abused by a priest as a child
Legendary R&B singer Bobby Brown has opened up about some of his childhood trauma in an episode of “Biography: Bobby Brown.” The documentary is set to air on A&E later this month.
Brown opens up about his troubled childhood, and details the attempt at sexual molestation by a priest while he was a young boy.
“When my mother was arrested, I was sent to temporary custody by social services which was supposed to be a religious place,” he said. “It was not a nice place to be as a child. One of the priests tried to molest me.” Brown continued, adding, “He tried to touch my private parts. There was no penetration or anything. He touched my privates and I didn’t like that. I punched and kicked and punched some more until he got away from me; so I ran away from there as quickly as possible.”
“At that time, I was a young boy. I didn’t know what sexual boundaries were. I just knew I didn’t like being touched. Some things are hard to forget.”
The legendary singer went on to reveal more troubling events from his childhood and life as a young adult. He explains the sustained trauma from watching his best friend get stabbed to death at age 12. His mother was also assaulted by the police. One of the most publicized revelations from the interview come from Brown’s sexual experiences with Janet Jackson and Madonna.
“Did I sleep with Madonna? We didn’t do any sleeping. That just happened. I don’t even know how it happened. I don’t believe she knows how it happened. She probably knows how it happened, but we didn’t do no sleeping,” he says in reference to their active sex life.
Brown then spoke about his relationship with five-time Grammy award winner Janet Jackson.
“And then there was Janet Jackson, I had a big crush on Janet. What was it about Janet? Everything. Her little smile, body, her dance moves, her little laugh.” He admits that Janet was the one who called it quits.
Brown is known as one of the kings of R&B. He was a former member of New Edition in the 80s and was later part of a highly-publicized relationship with Whitney Houston.
Part one of “Biography: Bobby Brown” airs on A&E on Monday, May 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It will be followed by part two, which will air the following day (May 31). That night will also usher in the inaugural episode of the 12-part docuseries, “Bobby Brown: Every Little Step,” which airs at 10 p.m. ET. New new episodes will follow on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning on June 7.
Dr. Dre donates $100 million to help Compton High School break ground on new performing arts center
Dr. Dre is giving back to his neighborhood in a huge way. The Compton native has just pledged a donation of $100 million to Compton High School.
His donation went toward breaking ground on the $200-million campus. The school will name a new performing arts center after the emcee born, Andre Young.
“This city is special, and young people living in it are special,” said Dr. Dre during a groundbreaking ceremony at the “Andre ‘Dr. Dre’ Young Performing Arts Center.”
Although Dr. Dre did attend high school in the local Compton area, he ultimately dropped out. During the ceremony, he reflected on how things might have panned out differently had the school’s had better resources for students looking to have a creative outlet.
“I was an artistic kid in school with no outlet for it,” said the “Nuthin’ but A ‘G’ Thang” emcee. “I knew I had something special to offer to the world, but with nothing to support my gift, schools left me feeling unseen.”
Along with the new performing arts center, the school’s new campus will include an academic building which will seat up to 1,800 students. It will also feature a new gym, an aquatics center, a football stadium, and a track.
“I’ve always wondered how much further ahead I might have been had the resources I needed in school were available,” he said at the ceremony. “If I had learned more about the business industry, I would have saved myself [an] extreme amount of time, money and most importantly, [made] a lot of friendships.”
This isn’t the first educational investment made by the former N.W.A member. He recently partnered with longtime friend and renowned music executive, Jimmy Iovine to open a magnet public school in South L.A.
In addition to that, Dr.Dre donated $70 million to the University of Southern California (USC) to help build a new academy.
Delaware lacrosse team accuses white Georgia cops of racial profiling
On April 19, Delaware State University’s female lacrosse team, the Hornets, had just played the last game of the season at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. The following day the girls were traveling north on I-95 in Liberty County, Georgia, southwest of Savannah as they headed back to the university when they were stopped by law enforcement officials.
What happened next now has people talking.
Officers pulled the bus over, initially stating that the driver Tim Jones had been improperly traveling in the left lane.
Sydney Anderson, a sophomore lacrosse player present during the traffic stop, detailed the events. Anderson published her side of the story for the school’s newspaper last week (May 4).
According to those present, several white Georgia deputies began to search the charter bus of the mostly Black lacrosse student-athletes and coaches.
Saniya Craft, one of the players onboard, posted a video of the deputies saying, “If there is anything in y’all’s luggage, we’re probably gonna find it, OK? I’m not looking for a little bit of marijuana, but I’m pretty sure you guys’ chaperones are probably gonna be disappointed in you if we find any.”
Those present for the ordeal said that a drug-sniffing canine was on the scene as authorities instructed Jones to open the bus’ cargo storage area.
“If there is something in there that’s questionable, please tell me now because if we find it, guess what? We’re not gonna be able to help you,” a deputy announced to the women’s lacrosse team.
Aniya Aiken, a senior player, was traveling with a gift from a family member in her belongings. A deputy asked Aiken what it was and when she responded saying she didn’t know because it was a wrapped gift, he responded, “You accepted something and you don’t know what it is?”
Yesterday (May 9), DSU President Tony Allen released a letter addressing the incident. Allen alerted Delaware Gov. John Carney, the state Attorney General’s Office, Delaware’s congressional delegation and the Congressional Black Caucus about the troubling traffic stop.
“They, like me, are incensed. We have also reached out to Georgia Law Enforcement and are exploring options for recourse – legal and otherwise – available to our student-athletes, our coaches, and the university,” Allen said in the statement.
Yesterday, Delaware State coach Pamella Jenkins praised the girls for keeping their composure during the incident.
Jenkins said, “One of my student-athletes asked them ‘How did we go from a routine traffic stop to narcotics-sniffing dogs going through our belongings?’”
Gov. Carney called the video “upsetting, concerning and disappointing.”
Allen announced, “We do not intend to let this or any other incident like it pass idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the evidence leads us. We have video. We have allies. Perhaps more significantly, we have the courage of our convictions.”
As of yesterday, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office had not released a statement regarding the incident.
Tom Cruise 'came in and just fired everyone' on 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 21 Pilots singer says
When Top Gun: Maverick finally lands in theaters May 24, it will even sound different than once planned.
Twenty One Pilots lead singer Tyler Joseph said Tuesday, during an interview with Los Angeles radio station KROQ, that he was once involved with the music.
"Funny thing, I was working with the music-placement person for the new Top Gun, on writing a new song for them, and then I believe Tom Cruise came in and just fired everyone," Joseph said. "You've seen that new Top Gun trailer has been out for like three years. There's been a few overhauls, and I was part of that."
However, Joseph said that he hadn't gotten far.
"I saw some scenes," Joseph said. "They brought me in to show me some scenes and stuff, and I actually don't think I started writing.”
A source close to the production says Joseph's comments are "just not true" and that Cruise never saw any songs submitted by the band.
We have reached out to reps for both Cruise and the movie's studio, Paramount, for comment and will update this story with any statements.
Cruise has a reputation as a harsh taskmaster. In December 2020, audio was leaked from the set of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning in which Cruise can be heard threatening to fire anyone not following COVID-19 protocols.
The sequel to 1986's Top Gun, on which Cruise is a producer, has been delayed multiple times, at least partly because of the pandemic. The first trailer was released way back in July 2019.
Just last week, Lady Gaga released her new song for the flick, "Hold My Hand," which she described as "a love letter to the world during and after a very hard time."
"When I wrote this song for Top Gun: Maverick, I didn't even realize the multiple layers it spanned across the film's heart, my own psyche, and nature of the world we've been living in," Gaga wrote. "I've been working on it for years, perfecting it, to make it ours. I wanted to make music into a song where we share our deep need to both be understood and try to understand each other — a longing to be close when we feel so far away and an ability to celebrate life's heroes."
She called working with Cruise on the song and the movie's score "a beautiful experience."
Cruise had good things to say, too, about the Oscar- and Grammy-winning artist's song.
"It's like that moment when things just came together in such a beautiful way," Cruise told James Corden this month during an appearance on The Late Late Show. "Her song that she'd written just fell right in and became really the underlying score and the heartbeat of our film. She's amazing."
The original soundtrack was, of course, a huge blockbuster, having moved more than 9 million copies to date. Hits such as Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" (which won the Oscar for Best Song) and "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins, plus tunes from '80s favorites Cheap Trick, Loverboy and Miami Sound Machine, propelled the collection to No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts and the best-selling soundtrack of 1986.
Nike Accuses Stock X Of Selling Fakes After Purchasing Counterfeit Shoes
Nike is moving forward with its trademark-infringement lawsuit against Stock X as the footwear company claims it purchased four counterfeit pairs from the reselling platform.
The company asked a federal judge for permission to add counterfeit claims and false advertisement as Stock X claims to sell sneakers that are “100% authentic.” During a court filing on Tuesday, Nike said they purchased four counterfeit pairs of sneakers from the platform despite the sneakers providing the authenticity tag and receipt.
“Those four pairs of counterfeit shoes were all purchased within a short two-month period on StockX’s platform, all had affixed to them StockX’s ‘Verified Authentic’ hangtag, and all came with a paper receipt from StockX in the shoe box stating that the condition of the shoes is ‘100% Authentic,’”
According to Bloomberg, the federal lawsuit was filed in February after Nike accused the reselling platform of taking advantage of their trademarks with a service called Value NFTs. However, Stock X argued in court that the NFTs are not digital sneakers and are physical sneakers that can be purchased from their vault. The sneakers can also be traded among users.
The lawsuit comes after Stock X plans to become public since the platform has earned a reputation for resellers to invest and profit off the sneakers in their inventory. Currently, the company is valued at $3.8 billion.
Customers react to the news of Nike purchasing counterfeit shoes from Stock X
Over the years, Stock X has faced criticism over the customer service policies in addition to other issues involving resellers. Social media was shocked to learn about the lawsuit as Stock X has been accused of selling counterfeits for years.
A Marilyn Monroe Painting by Andy Warhol Sells for a Record $195 Million
On Monday, Andy Warhol’s iconic silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe sold for $195 million, breaking the record for the most expensive American piece of art ever sold.
In 2017, the legendary Warhol painting surpassed the previous record of $110.5 million set by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat’s untitled 1982 skull painting at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. Before Basquiat, Warhol held the record, with his 1963 piece “Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)” selling for $105.4 million in 2013.
Before the auction, Sotheby’s assessed Warhol’s 1964 painting to be worth $200 million.
The Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation Zurich, which put the painting up for auction, will receive 100% of the proceeds. The foundation strives to provide health care and educational initiatives to children.
Initially, the 40×40 prints were one of five silkscreens produced in 1964 and housed in a stack at Warhol’s New York studio, The Factory.
According to Artsy, Dorothy Podber, a performance artist, asked if she could “shoot” them, and he agreed, assuming she meant with a camera. Instead, Podber took out a handgun and shot everyone except the turquoise print on the forehead.
The four paintings were restored by Warhol and became known as the “Shot Marilyns.”
Over the years, all five paintings have been sold for significant sums of money. The blue background artwork was first sold for $5,000 in 1967. The orange background sold for $17.3 million in 1998, then went for a reported $200 million or more to hedge fund investor Ken Griffin.
“‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’ is the absolute pinnacle of American pop,” Alex Rotter, chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art at Christie’s, said. “The painting transcends the genre of portraiture, superseding 20th-century art and culture. Standing alongside Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus,’ Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ and Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselle d’Avignon,’ Warhol’s ‘Marilyn’ is one of the greatest paintings of all time.”
Azealia Banks Claims Lady Gaga is Jealous of Nicki Minaj and ‘Has Zero Respect For Black Women’
*Azealia Banks claims Lady Gaga is fiercely jealous of Nicki Minaj, so much so that the singer asked Banks to stir up drama with the rapper on her behalf.
Banks spilled the tea in a series of shocking tweets, alleging she has proof of the conversation with the pop star. Banks made the bombshell statement on Monday after fans suggested that she and Gaga collaborate.
“Lastly, no. That woman has zero respect for Black women,” Banks alleged while explaining why she refuses to join forces with Lady Gaga, RADAR reports. “I cannot ever respect her for literally asking me to beef with Nicki Minaj on her behalf, I refuse and send a less incendiary song, insinuates that were gonna spill Nicki’s *human blood* (f—ing eye roll).”
Banks also suggested that the gay community has been bamboozled by Gaga’s “hodge podge pseudo bs for years.”
“Like her deep deep jealousy and hatred for Nicki Minaj and the sneaky shit she was saying and trying to do behind the scenes was just gross,” Banks continued. “If I want to beef or pop s— about Nicki I will do so on my own accord. I will never do a white woman’s bidding for her. TUH.”
Banks is known for taking aim at celebrities online. Earlier this year she called out Kanye West’s parenting skills and his publicly venting frustrations on social media against his 8-year-old daughter, North West, using TikTok.
“This is the second time he has publicly bullied North West. First with the abortion shit, and now putting her on blast on his Instagram page as if she’s some sort of criminal,” Banks said, referring to Ye’s 2020 presidential campaign speech where he revealed Kim considered having an abortion when she was pregnant with her first child.
She also accused Ye’s fans of making too many excuses for his wild antics, and recalled the time the rapper “had no problem with that magazine cover where North had on a f*cking belly top and purple eyeliner with her little buds showing thru the shirt, he thought it was fashion. You all said nothing.”
“Kanye is an abusive psychopath, it’s beyond mental illness,” Banks continued. “Stop trying to help him and start trying to help the poor child that he keeps on trying to embarrass and abuse publicly to garner sympathy for his ashy ass.”
Packers Shareholder Calls Out Team for Drafting Only Black Players
*A Green Bay Packers shareholder wants to know why the team only drafted Black players for the 2022 season.
The question was posed in a letter from a shareholder named Marilyn. It was published in President and CEO Mark Murphy’s monthly column on the team website, where he answers questions from fans and shareholders. Read the woman’s letter in full below via Packers.com:
A question from Marilyn, a longtime Packer fan and shareholder
Out of the 11 players drafted by the Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft none are white. I also looked at the first two rounds of 64 and found that only 11 players drafted by all the teams were white. When I Googled the question of how many white overall were drafted, Google wouldn’t answer it. I wonder why. I sure hope we aren’t going to have to hear all the whining about equity, justice and all the markings on hats and shoes and all else. I suggest the NFL is actually racist for always choosing and highlighting black players. I am sure that is why you chose Love for a QB when he never should have been chosen. I hope the Packers will play the National Anthem and fly the flag high with the planes going over as they always have. Anyone who doesn’t respect and honor our flag and our military heroes does not belong on the Packer roster. So for the 2022-2023 season, let’s just play football and leave all the politics and racism out of the stadium.
As reported by the New York Post, in his monthly column, “Murphy Takes 5,” Murphy addressed the team’s decisions in the 2022 NFL Draft, and why “out of the 11 players drafted by the Packers, none are white.”
“Marilyn, I can assure you that the NFL and particularly the Packers are not racist when it comes to drafting players,” Murphy wrote. “Our draft decisions are based solely on the players’ abilities and whether we think they can help our team.
“In case you haven’t noticed, approximately 80% of the players in the league are Black, and it has been that way for many years. There was a time, though, many years ago when teams were reluctant to draft Black players. Vince Lombardi, who was discriminated against because he was Italian, helped change things when he came to Green Bay and built the Packers into a dynasty by focusing on bringing in Black players. I am very proud of our players, both Black and white, when they speak out on social justice and equity issues. They are in a privileged position as NFL players and can help others who are not so fortunate.”
Tom Brady Set To Be Lead Analyst For Fox Sports Following NFL Retirement
Tom Brady will reportedly be joining Fox Sports as a lead analyst following his career with the National Football League (NFL).
Gone and back again, Brady is still wearing his jersey after his short break from the league. However, it looks like he’s already got plans for when he finally says goodbye to football for good.
NBC Chicago reports the 44-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is heading to Fox Sports as their lead NFL analyst “immediately following his playing career,” per Lachlan Murdoch, Fox’s executive chair and CEO. Murdoch announced the news in a statement Tuesday morning. The deal reportedly includes a “long-term agreement” with Fox as a broadcast analyst, NBC Chicago reports.
While with Fox, Brady will work alongside Kevin Burkhardt and act as an “ambassador” for the network and manage “client and promotional initiatives.”
In the meantime, Brady will be going back to play in the NFL for his 23 season after announcing his retirement in March during the offseason after his 22nd season.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
SHE WAS DUMPED!
Wait, how would she pay?
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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