#FASHIONFAB: Hot or Not? Michaela Jaé Rodriguez in Brandon Maxwell on THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON
We’re so happy to see Michaela Jaé’s star continue to rise. Unfortunately, it was practically a given that Pose‘s history-making cast of queer and trans actors and performers wasn’t going to continue to get the kinds of roles and exposure the show afforded them, but she’s such a powerhouse performer that we had a feeling she was just getting started.
Which isn’t to suggest her former castmates aren’t getting their time in the spotlight, but that’s the thing about stars. They tend to shine brighter than everything around them. Right now, she’s shining.
And she looks fantastic. If you’re the kind of gal who can make leather thigh-highs look effortless, then by all means, wear them for your sit-down interview. The dress is super-cute and provides a dazzling amount of visual interest without overwhelming her and the boots help balance the look visually. It’s pretty short, but she doesn’t seem remotely fussed by it. Love the hair, love the makeup. Just the right amount of jewelry.
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Is ‘negotiating’ Her discrimination lawsuit with Bravo, Andy Cohen
NeNe Leakes is in talks with Andy Cohen, Bravo and NBCUniversal to potentially settle the discrimination lawsuit she filed against them outside of court, Page Six has learned.
An Atlanta judge granted the parties a 45-day extension on Monday until Aug. 19 after the defendants requested more time to “negotiate” the dispute, according to court documents.
In a motion filed on June 24, Cohen, 54, Bravo and NBCU argued that per contract agreements existing between them and Leakes, 54, the ongoing disputes are “already subject to arbitration in New York.”
According to legal experts, arbitration is a process in which two parties in a dispute use an independent, impartial third party to settle.
The motion also noted, however, that Leakes “disagrees” with the notion of arbitration, but that both parties are “in the process of negotiating this issue in an attempt to avoid the time and expense of a motion to compel arbitration” through their respective counsel.
Since both sides “agreed” that a 45-day extension is “appropriate to complete these
discussions,” the judge granted the deadline extension.
The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum, who is black, filed the lawsuit in April over claims that she suffered years of racist remarks from former co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who is white.
The reality star alleged that only she dealt with consequences from the network and their respective production companies because they “foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged,” according to the lawsuit.
Following the filing, Leakes has maintained that she has been “blacklisted” from booking other jobs in the entertainment space as a result of her speaking out.
“I was constantly being retaliated against, being blacklisted, not able to work, being silenced, and so, you know, it was difficult to do,” the former “Fashion Police” host told TMZ in May.
NBC Universal and Bravo have their headquarters in New York, which is likely why arbitration will be held there.
In September 2021, Leakes announced she was leaving “RHOA” after 12 seasons.
She said at the time, “There’s been a lot of emotion flying from both sides. It has been hard, and I have made the very hard and very difficult decision to not be a part of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ Season 13. It wasn’t an easy decision for me. It was hard.”
#MusicNews: Ciara Signs Deal With Republic Records & Uptown Records, Readies New Single ‘Jump’
Ciara has signed a new label deal with Republic Records and Uptown Records, in partnership with her own Beauty Marks Entertainment, Billboard can exclusively reveal. The longtime R&B singer-songwriter will kick off the new partnership with the new single “Jump,” featuring Coast Contra, out July 8 and available now for pre-order.
“I am thrilled to partner with Uptown/Republic Records through my own label imprint Beauty Marks Entertainment,” Ciara says in a press statement. “[Republic co-president] Wendy [Goldstein] and I have been in discussion to work together for some time and the enthusiasm that her and the entire team have expressed over this new project marks an exciting new chapter in my career. I am grateful to be able to continue my mission of making the world dance with a team I admire, who are at the forefront of empowering artists.”
“Jump” will mark Ciara’s first new music since 2020, following her 2019 album Beauty Marks, which she independently released through Beauty Marks Entertainment. Ciara’s first Republic/Uptown full-length will be her eighth career album, following prolonged stints with LaFace and Epic prior to the launch of Beauty Marks.
“I’ve been a fan of Ciara forever,” adds Goldstein. “Working with her has been a dream, and she’s making some of the most powerful, undeniable, and innovative music of her entire career now. This is an incredible creative chapter for her, and we’re all excited to be part of it.”
“In terms of our generation, Ciara is a G.O.A.T.,” says Saint Harraway, Republic Records/Uptown Records executive vp of A&R. “She’s inspired countless artists and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. It’s an honor to be able to work with her on this next season.”
To date, Ciara has scored four top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, including the 2006 chart-topping sophomore album Ciara: The Evolution. She’s also notched eight top 10 Hot 100 singles, including No. 1 debut single “Goodies” with Petey Pablo in 2004, “1, 2 Step” with Missy Elliott, “Oh” featuring Ludacris and “Love Sex Magic” featuring Justin Timberlake.
#HipHopNews: Lil Wayne Reflects On 18th Anniversary Of His 'Classic' Album 'Tha Carter'
In honor of the 18th anniversary of his fourth studio album Tha Carter, Weezy took to Instagram to reflect on the album’s impact. The Young Money icon admitted that he was unsure how it would be received at first, but he was confident that it would become a “classic.”
“18 years ago I had no idea of what you’d think abt this album and I was worried abt what it’d do but I never doubted what it would be,” he wrote. “A classic. A living legend. A beast. A jewel. A part of me and you forever. That part.”
He ended his note by thanking his loyal fans for their support. “2 every fan thats been a member of this Carter family, I ain’t shit without you,” he said.
He received messages of support from fans and friends in the comments, including Big Sean, who wrote, “Love you bro. Thank you.”
The original Carter was released on June 29, 2004 when Wayne was just 22, and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, spawning singles like “Bring It Back,” “Go DJ,” and “Earthquake.” The 21-track album, produced by Cash Money legend Mannie Fresh, was certified platinum in September 2020.
It was followed by four sequels—2005’s Tha Carter II, 2008’s Tha Carter III, 2011’s Tha Carter IV, and 2018’s Tha Carter V.
And Tha Carter VI may be next. Wayne previously announced that he was working on a sixth installment in his beloved series.
On Sunday, Wayne joined Jack Harlow to perform their collaboration “Poison” for the first time at the 2022 BET Awards.
Cameron Diaz returns to acting for her first role in 8 years: 'I feel excited'
Consider this former Charlie's Angel un-retired. Netflix revealed today that Cameron Diaz is returning to the acting game in the upcoming feature Back in Action for the streaming service — her first onscreen role since 2014's Annie eight long years ago. And according to Netflix, it was her co-star in that movie musical remake — Jamie Foxx — that convinced her to come out of retirement for another collaboration.
The Oscar-winning Ray star had the receipts to back that claim up, posting the audio from his conversation with Diaz about how to properly make an "I'm un-retired" announcement. "I feel excited, but I don't know how to do this," the actress admits in the recording. Foxx then brings in a ringer to walk her through the process: frequently un-retired football legend, Tom Brady.
"I was talking to Jamie and he said you need a few tips on how to un-retire," Brady says. "I'm relatively successful at un-retiring." Diaz clearly appreciates the expert advice. "Honestly, exactly what I needed," she says laughing.
Foxx and Diaz didn't spill any other details about Back in Action, but the title suggests they'll both be in fighting shape for the film. It'll be Diaz's first action-heavy role since 2010's Knight and Day, which paired her with famous stunt-lover Tom Cruise. The actress stepped away from acting in 2014, pursuing other opportunities from writing books to launching the organic wine brand Avaline. In 2015, she married musician Benji Madden, and the two welcomed their daughter, Raddix, four years later.
Diaz officially announced her retirement from acting in 2018 after her friend, Selma Blair, accidentally broke the news in an interview with the U.K.'s Daily Star Sunday. She elaborated on her decision in a 2021 interview with Kevin Hart on his Peacock series, Hart to Hart.
"When you do something at a really high level for a long period of time, when you're the person that's sort of delivering on this one thing, everything around you, all parts of you that isn't that, has to sort of be handed off to other people," Diaz explained at the time. "Just, the management of me as a human being … Cameron Diaz is a machine. But for my personal, spiritual self, I was realizing that one part of me that functioned at a high level wasn’t enough."
Fans on Twitter are already setting themselves to binge mode for when Back in Action drops on Netflix.
Ricky Martin’s Former Manager Sues Him for More Than $3 Million in Unpaid Commissions
Ricky Martin is facing a $3 million lawsuit from his former manager.
In new court docs Rebecca Drucker, who served as Martin's manager in 2014-2018 and again from May 2020 to April 2022, is alleging that she was not paid the money she was owed per the management agreement she says they established, with the suit noting that Martin "maliciously refused to pay Rebecca the millions of dollars in commissions that he owes her under their management agreement."
In the complaint filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Drucker asked for $3 million, "or according to proof, and unpaid commissions are accruing on an ongoing basis."
Drucker claims that she "saved Ricky Martin’s career" and that she "protected" the "Livin' la Vida Loca" singer from "the consequences of his reckless indiscretions."
"Rebecca did so not only because she was his manager, but also because she thought that Martin was her dear friend," the suit filed by attorneys Joshua M. Rosenberg and Armound Ghoorchian at Venable LLP read.
Drucker alleged that she was in "a toxic work environment" and alluded to "a particularly ugly incident in Dubai involving Martin and his representative José Vega" in 2018, which caused her to resign from the role. After months of Martin asking for Drucker's return, she says she decided to give her professional relationship with Martin "another shot," returning as manager in May 2020.
But upon her return, Drucker claims she found that The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story actor's personal life was "in disarray."
"Although Martin’s career flourished since he re-hired Rebecca as his manager in May 2020, she was forced to deal with a litany of Martin’s personal issues, such as problems with the nanny he hired to care for his children, Martin’s nonpayment of taxes, and his substance abuse, among other issues," the suit alleged.
Drucker also claims she took steps to protect Martin's career. In September 2020, Martin received a letter from a highly-respected litigation attorney in Los Angeles, in which the attorney threatened to publicly file a legal complaint against Martin if he did not pay money to resolve a claim against him alleged by this attorney’s client.
"After reading the legal letter, Martin collapsed. He expressed his extreme fear to Rebecca that if this threat were carried out, the consequences to Martin would be catastrophic," the suit alleged.
In response, Drucker brought in "one of the top defense attorneys in Los Angeles" to defend the performer against the "devastating claim."
"Needless to say, the claim ultimately never saw the light of day," with Drucker alleging that "once again" she "saved Martin’s career" with the "exceptional managerial and advisory services that she provided to him" during the ordeal.
While dealing with these matters was all "part of the job" for Drucker, she claims she was not "receiving the compensation from the Martin Entities that she deserved."
In addition, after an attempt to resign as Martin's manager in July 2021, Drucker remained in the role at an increased rate, claiming she was promised a ten percent commission on gross income under the Management Agreement moving forward, instead of the five percent they agreed to in May 2020 -- which she claims Martin Entities has refused to pay her and will likely not pay her, in the future for "Martin’s services as a singer, songwriter, actor, sponsor, and influencer, among other professional activities" Drucker claims "she is entitled based on said future gross income."
The complaint, Drucker's attorney says, "only scratches the surface," With Rosenberg adding that Drucker looks forward to taking the matter to trial.
"Rebecca looks forward to having her day in court and prosecuting her claims in front of a jury," Rosenberg said after Wednesday's filing.
Big Boi and Sherlita Patton Have Divorced After 20 Years of Marriage
After 20 years of marriage, OutKast rapper Big Boi has gotten divorced from Sherlita Patton, according to recently filed court documents.
As TMZ reported, Big Boi filed for divorce in April and entered the final divorce decree last month. According to the documents, the rapper said there’s “no reasonable hope of reconciliation” between the couple. The docs reveal they had been separated for some time when he filed, and were living separately.
Big Boi and Patton set up a postnuptial agreement in 2016, which divided all their assets and outgoings. They agreed to not publicly disclose their respective finances, and to a settlement that will wrap up anything owed. Additionally, they agreed to not make any threats against each other throughout the divorce proceedings, including but not limited to threats of “injury, maltreating, molesting, harassing, harming, or abusing.” Neither Patton nor Big Boi has publicly addressed their divorce.
Sherlita Patton actually filed for divorce from Big Boi back in 2013 and requested both financial support and full custody of their two children together. The couple later reconciled. In an interview with TMZ, the rapper thanked Jesus and God for bringing them back together.
Big Boi has been keeping himself busy professionally. Last month he dropped the video for “Do Ya Best,” taken from his collaborative album with Sleepy Brown. He’s also indicated that he could release an OutKast documentary in the future, telling Zane Lowe he has “hours and hours and hours” of footage from the duo’s late ’90s tours.
Clifton Powell Breaks Silence On His Son Dating Barack Obama's Daughter Sasha: I Have Responsibility
Clifton Powell is feeling the pressure as a father whose son is dating one of the country's beloved former First Daughters. The actor admitted he has "a responsibility" when confirming his son Clifton Powell Jr.'s relationship with Barack Obama's second daughter Sasha.
Clifton broke his silence on the two youngsters' romance during an appearance on the "Dear Fathers" podcast. "That's amazing, 'cause you know that they've been going out for about a year, and it just hit the press, right?" the 66-year-old said.
The "Ray" star revealed he did talk to his son about dating the former First Daughter. "So, it has helped me talk to Chris about how to handle Sasha Obama because we love the Obamas, but Mr. Obama has a daughter that's dating my son, and I have an opportunity and a responsibility, to make my son responsible, gentle, kind, loving, and supportive. The things that I did not get taught," he shared.
Clifton went on assuring that he taught his son to be a gentleman and to never hurt Sasha. "So, I text him all the time, and I say, 'Treat Sasha like you would want somebody to treat your daughter,' " he said of his advice to his son.
Clifton Jr. and Sasha were first reported dating in April after photos surfaced of the two together. In the images, Sasha flashed a smile as she walked side-by-side with the young Clifton. Daily Mail additionally obtained a photo of the pair snuggling up, but it's unclear when they were taken.
It's believed that Sasha began dating Clifton Jr. after she moved to Los Angeles last August. She dropped her studies at the University of Michigan and transferred to study at the University of Southern Chicago.
Clifton Jr. himself was a student of the University of California on a basketball scholarship, but has dropped out to pursue his career in film. He is currently directing commercials and working on his career as a director.
Daytime Emmys 2022: 'Kelly Clarkson Show' Named The Biggest Winner With Seven Wins
The 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards announced its winners on Friday, June 24. The night saw "The Kelly Clarkson Show" coming out as the big winner as it collected seven wins. Prior to this, the show already won five Creative Arts trophies.
At the event, Kelly Clarkson's popular talk show was given the title of Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show. The show additionally won Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host for Kelly. It is the third time for the singer to win the category.
Meanwhile, ABC's daytime drama "General Hospital" was the second biggest winner of the night with five Daytime Emmys. It included Outstanding Daytime Drama, Directing and Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress. It made "General Hospital" the most-winning daytime drama in history, having won outstanding daytime drama 15 times.
Also making history was "The Young and the Restless" actress Mishael Morgan as she became the first African-American woman to win Outstanding Actress in Daytime Drama category. Meanwhile, Outstanding Actor in Daytime Drama went to "The Bold and the Beautiful" actor John McCook.
Syndicated shows led the overall win with 16 victories. It included Outstanding Game Show Host for Steve Harvey ("Family Feud") and Outstanding Game Show for "Jeopardy!".
Other honorees that night were "Penguin Town", "Cat People", "Headspace: Guide to Meditation" and "You vs. Wild". Netflix was the second broadcast network to win most trophies (9) with ABC and CBS trailing behind with five each.
JoJo Siwa Opens Up About Changes Her & Kylie Prew Have Made Since Getting Back Together
JoJo Siwa is opening up about rekindling her relationship with Kylie Prew!
The 19-year-old So You Think You Can Dance judge shared in a new interview about getting back together, and even changes they’ve made since before.
“It’s really nice,” JoJo told People about being back together. “It’s good to have people that have your best interest around you, and she really does have mine.”
When asked if they approached anything differently this time, she said, “Oh yeah, definitely, and still as we go. We’re still learning things, setting new boundaries, releasing boundaries… all the normal things.”
Kylie was also seen surprising JoJo at WeHo Pride in the first episode of her new Facebook Watch series JoJo Goes. She teased that Kylie will be in more episodes.
“Actually, she joined me in a lot of them. She joined me in beach volleyball. She surprised me in the Pride Parade. She was a blast,” JoJo dished.
Ray Liotta Remembered at 'Black Bird' Premiere: Daughter & Fiancee Attend, Paul Walter Hauser Wears 'Field of Dreams' Tee
Ray Liotta‘s daughter Karsen Liotta and his fiancée, Jacy Nittolo, team up on the red carpet for the premiere of his final small screen role, Black Bird.
The two posed for pictures together and apart, remembering Ray alongside his co-stars at the event held at Regency Bruin Theatre on Wednesday night (June 29) in Los Angeles.
Paul Walter Hauser honored Ray by wearing a Field of Dreams t-shirt, with Ray‘s character, under his light blue suit, and met up with Taron Egerton, Greg Kinnear and Jake McLaughlin at the premiere.
Joe Williamson, Christopher B. Duncan, Melanie Nicholls-King, Dennis Lehane, Sepideh Moafi, Cullen Moss, Braxton Alexander, Cade Tropeano and the real Jimmy Keene were also seen at the event.
Ray unexpectedly passed away at the age of 67 in late May.
Drake Offered $1M To Fight His Impersonator
Drake imposter Izzy has been booked to square off in the boxing ring and now he’s looking for an opponent to go up against.
Damon Feldman of Celebrity Boxing tells @tmz_tv that he recently signed Izzy and booked a fight for an August 27th event. However, they’re trying to snag the real Drake for the fight! Now, the offer is just $1M. While it sounds like a big number, it doesn’t seem like enough money for Drake to stop everything that he’s doing to box the guy.
While we wait to see how this all plays out, it’s clear that Drizzy has had enough of Izzy pretending to be him. The social media personality who actually gets paid thousands of dollars to impersonate Drake — was spotted earlier this month in Houston nightclub Area 29 where he got kicked out! The video of the moment made its rounds to DJ Akademiks’ Instagram page, and the real Drake caught wind of it. In fact, he let his actions speak louder than words, and attacked the clone … by liking the video
Travis Barker Was Reportedly Hospitalized For Pancreatitis Triggered By A Colonoscopy
Fans were left worried last night when it was revealed that Travis Barker had been hospitalized, with his wife Kourtney Kardashian rushing to be by his side. And now we know why the Blink-182 drummer was warded, to begin with. According to TMZ, Travis suffers from pancreatitis which is a condition where the pancreas can get swollen and inflamed over a short period of time.
The pancreas is an organ that’s located behind the stomach and helps with digesting food, and some of the most common symptoms people experience include severe pain in the abdomen area, feeling nauseous, and coming down with a soaringly high fever.
While it’s unclear what the 46-year-old rockstar was experiencing before being taken to the hospital, the aforementioned publication claims that doctors believe it had something to do with a colonoscopy Travis had recently undergone. Sources say that it was the Poosh founder who took her husband to the hospital in West Hills, California, early Tuesday before he was transferred over to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by an ambulance.
On social media, Travis’ daughter Alabama has asked fans to keep her dad in their prayers while he’s beginning his recovery process. She included a photo of herself holding Travis’ hand in a post-and-delete pic on TikTok, while her father appeared to be resting on his hospital bed, but clearly awake and alert seeing that he was holding an iPhone in his hand.
Just hours before his medical scare, Travis had already hinted that something may have been wrong when he wrote, “God save me.”
The father-of-two and Kourtney only (officially) tied the knot last month when they had their closest family and friends fly out to Italy to watch them get married in a beautiful ceremony held in Portofino.
Xzibit threatens legal action over money not received from "Pimp My Ride"
Xzibit is on a mission to get the funds that he says are owed to him following the success of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride.” The rapper claims that he will take legal action if the company behind the iconic show does not pay up.
After resolving another legal matter that was focused on his investment in a cannabis brand, the 47-year-old entertainer took to social media and demanded that ViacomCBS pay him what he believes he is rightfully owed. “Pimp My Ride” premiered in 2004 and ran for six seasons before airing its final episode in 2007.
“While I’m at it, hey @viacom_intl why is it you’ve made millions off the show #PimpMyRide I carried on my back and found ways to cut me out?” he said in an Instagram caption. “Like saying I would get percentages of all merch sold let alone streaming(which wasn’t even in the contract) and putting in the fine print ‘with my name and likeness’ then proceed to take my ‘name and likeness’ off of ALL the merchandise including dvd sales after season 1? To top that you guys went back and EDITED all of my music out of ALL entire seasons in order to avoid paying me for my publishing.”
Although Xzibit was the face of the series, which took cars that were in poor condition and completely restored and customized them for eager fans, he claims he never reaped the benefits.
“Let’s talk about worldwide syndication!!!! Wow. Hey, guys, my number is still the same. Hit me up,” he continued. “Or…… Can anybody hit me with a law firm who isn’t afraid of Viacom to get me right? Robert M. Bakish, President of Paramount Global. … #IveBeenQuietLongEnough #InNeedOfAnswers.”
According to Xzibit, “it’s never too late to do the right thing.” At this time Viacom has not responded to the claims.
Ray J blames Verzuz loss on "the Casamigos"
Last week’s millennial mash-up Verzuz will not soon be forgotten. From watermelons getting action to memes guaranteed to make the group chat lit, it was truly a night that will go down in pop culture history. As previously reported by REVOLT, last Thursday (June 23), Ray J teamed up with Bobby V to vocally battle it out on stage in Los Angeles against Pleasure P and Sammie. The four were supposed to hype the crowd for Omarion and Mario’s performance, and that’s just what they did.
After setting social media on fire and receiving a light scolding from his sister Brandy, also known as “The Vocal Bible,” Ray J has finally explained what went wrong during the show. During Sunday’s (June 26) episode of “The Joe Budden Podcast,” the “Pump It Up” rapper called the “One Wish” singer to get his take on what went down. Ray J answered the phone with a laugh as if he already knew a grilling session was on the way. “You know you my man, but you making this really tough for me today,” Budden says before he begins to get to the bottom of the Verzuz loss.
“Dude, I know bro. It’s something that I didn’t have planned,” the “Wait a Minute” singer said. After a pause, Budden and his hosts burst into laughter seemingly because the event was not only planned but highly publicized. Ray J shared that he had a great time at the event but was surprised when he woke up the next day and saw the show had gone viral. “I woke up and I seen it and I was like, ‘That’s me? Like, that’s me. That’s me, man,’” he said. Budden then wanted to know what else was going on in order for such a chaotic and eventful R&B night to go down. “Yeah, but that wasn’t wine. What was the drink for [the evening]?” Budden asks.
“The Casamigos,” Ray J responds as he blames the popular tequila. While on the phone, he added that he intends to make up for his performance. “I owe it to the singers and the R&B cats that really do harmonies to come back and redeem myself, “he said. He added that it doesn’t have to be for Verzuz, it can be anywhere, even “on the street.”
Martin Lawrence Reveals That He And Jamie Foxx Almost Made A “Shenehneh & Wanda” Movie
Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx were two of the biggest comedians in the 1990’s. They were both known for their comedic range and ability to play different characters, with Foxx showcasing his skills on In Living Color, and Martin on his own sitcom Martin. Two of their more popular characters, Wanda and Shenehneh were fan favorites and in a recent interview, Martin Lawrence revealed that the two characters were supposed to have a movie together.
While on the Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Fallon asked Lawrence if there would ever be a Martin reboot. Lawrence said he doesnt think they could recapture what they did in 1992, but would love to do a movie based around Shenehneh.
“I think, well, you know, the Martin show was like catching lightning in a bottle and I don’t think we can redo that again,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind working with the cast again on something but I don’t think we can do that again.” Fallon said that a movie would be “like the Martin Cinematic Universe,” to which Lawrence replied that he “would love to see a movie with Sheneneh.”
That’s when Lawrence said that he and Jamie Foxx were supposed to do a movie with Shenehneh and Wanda. “We were supposed to do a movie with Sheneneh and Jamie Foxx with Wanda, but that never came about,” Lawrence added. “If we could ever get that together, I think y’all would love this.”
Michael Jackson Once Turned Down A 2pac Collab Because Of Loyalty To Biggie Smalls
Quincy Jones III, the son of legendary producer Quincy Jones, revealed on BET’s oral history of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, that Michael Jackson was supposed to feature on the album, but declined due to his relationship with Biggie Smalls.
The oral history was published earlier this month to coincide with what would have been Shakur’s 51st birthday. In the article, Quincy Jones III, also known as QD3, recalled that he had set up a meeting at Neverland Ranch to talk to Michael about featuring on 2Pac’s song, “Thug Passion,” which featured a sample from Jackson’s 1983 song “Human Nature.”
Michael said he couldn’t do the song because he “liked Biggie.”
“So I set up a meeting at Neverland. I go up there and told Michael about it. And do you know what Micheal said? He liked Biggie.”
MJ and Biggie Smalls had collaborated the year before on the song “This Time Around.”
“Thug Passion” ended up not being on The Don Killuminati, but would go on to be released on the 2000 Death Row compilation album, Too Gangsta For Radio.
Elsewhere, QD3 talked about 2Pac’s process when it came to making music.
“‘Pac would take all my beats including the ones I would never play for people,” QD3 said. “I learned a lesson that you gotta be spontaneous more and he taught me how to just think and just do it. ‘Pac would get irritated when you sat there and fiddled with sounds almost like you were disrespecting his time a little bit.”
He added: “I would say he was manic. There would be moments that called for quiet voice and candles and all that and he would be screaming and smoking Newports. He was on fire with this manic push. He was always pushing. You could tell he wasn’t comfortable in some way and there was something that was making him uncomfortable.”
Hulu to Stream 2022 Essence Music Festival
*Hulu announced that it will be the official streaming destination of the 2022 ESSENCE Festival.
The hotly anticipated event will take place in person in New Orleans, and virtually, from June 30 – July 3, 2022. This marks the first time ever that the festival will be available on a streaming platform.
Comedian Kevin Hart will kick off the 2022 Essence Fest weekend Thursday at the Smoothie King Center. On Friday night, Nicki Minaj will make her Essence debut as the Superdome headliner.
As reported by nola.com, Saturday’s bill “boasts a tribute to Patti LaBelle plus performances by Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, D-Nice with Carl Thomas and Stephanie Mills, and Lucky Daye, the New Orleans-born singer who won a Grammy for best progressive R&B album this spring,” the outlet writes.
The festival concludes Sunday with performances from New Edition, the Isley Brothers, the Roots backing the Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon the Chef, City Girls, Tems and Ashanti, per the report.
Per press release, select daytime programming including panel discussions and evening musical performances will be available exclusively to Hulu SVOD subscribers to livestream at no additional cost*. The “ESSENCE FEST PRIMETIME” livestream will run on the platform July 1 – 3 from 7:00pm – 11:59pm CT.
Hulu will also have a special presence on-site at the Festival, providing guests with an immersive experience at “The Rink @ The Hulu Motel,” a roller skating rink filled with interactive touchpoints, giveaways, and content-themed bites and drinks. Skaters will also be treated to live performances by DJ OHSO and DJ DIAMOND KUTS. The three-day activation will be open July 1-3 from Noon – 7:00pm to guests 21+ at the New Orleans Civic Theatre, according to the news release.
This announcement comes on the heels of the news that The Walt Disney Company will be the exclusive entertainment sponsor of the 2022 ESSENCE Festival, expanding on a decade-long partnership.
Mavis Staples Says This about the Late Aretha Franklin: ‘She was VERY INSECURE’
*Singer/Civil Rights Activist Mavis Staples, 82, is opening up about her complicated friendship with the late Aretha Franklin! The beloved singer who has an impressive catalog of solo work– in addition to what she recorded alongside her siblings in the group The Staple Singers–is getting candid about the relationship she had with Franklin.
During a recent interview (with the New Yorker), Staples recalls that although she and the “Queen of Soul” went way back and had a long-term friendship, she felt Aretha was not always kind to her.
Staples revealed that Franklin disrespected her when she allegedly decided to turn down the volume of Staples’ vocals on a recording of a live 1987 duet of “Oh Happy Day” they recorded together. Staples says that she was unaware this occurred until the recording was released. Mavis Staples said she just shrugged it off and let it go.
“I should’ve told her, ‘No, just don’t put the record out,’ but you know me: goody-goody Mavis.” During the interview, Mavis Staples said that Aretha Franklin put her temperament to the test several times during the course of their friendship. “I put up with her for a long time till I got tired, you know? She was very insecure. I tried my best to be her friend. She would call me and ask me to call her back. When I called her back, the number was changed. So, you know, she was weird like that.”
Welcome to Plathville's Kim and Barry Plath Announce the End of Their 24-Year Marriage
Welcome to Plathville: Ethan and Kim Plath Reunite for First Time in Dramatic Mid-Season Trailer
Kim and Barry Plath are officially ending their marriage.
The Welcome to Plathville stars confirmed they're parting ways after 24 years of marriage
"After considerable thought and discussion, we have decided to end our marriage," said Kim, 49, and Barry, 54. "While this was not an easy decision, we know it's the best choice for both of us. We have been through many highs and lows in our 24 years of marriage and as we navigate this new chapter in our lives, we will co-parent our amazing children."
Kim and Barry's marriage has been a storyline on season 4 of Welcome to Plathville — including their decisions to separate and live apart.
"I can't help but feel a little betrayed," Barry said in a preview for Tuesday night's episode. "One thing I thought wouldn't ever be shaken was us. Now it's totally shaken up. It's just really sad. It's a tragedy."
In a confessional, he added, "I look at her and I see a woman who feels trapped. I have bought flowers and bought presents, but I'm still an optimist hoping that she'll change."
Kim shared her side of the relationship, too. "I just feel like I've been hurt too much," she told Barry.
When the Plathville patriarch asked Kim why she's being "selfish," she added, "Do you want me to stay knowing that I'm not happy?"
Moriah Plath opened up about her parent's separation in June. "I've known for months before anything actually happened, months before they actually decided to separate," the 19-year-old said. "I knew that they were struggling."
The daughter also opened up about her feelings on her parent's split. "At the end of the day, I just want her and my dad to be happy," she said. "It's really hard because they both want different things, so it's hard watching. I want my dad to be happy, but this is tearing him apart, but my mom's not going to be happy with my dad."
"So it's just — I don't know, people change," she added. "Things fall apart sometimes. You just got to be able to be there for yourself at the end of the day."
Kim and Barry had 10 children together — Moriah, Ethan Plath, 24, Hosanna Plath, Micah Plath, Lydia Plath, Isaac Plath, Amber Plath, Cassia Plath and Mercy Plath. They also had a son, Joshua, who died at 17 months old.
Welcome to Plathville airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
Chris Pratt says social media criticism, including 'worst Chris' title, 'really f***ing bothered me'
Chris Pratt has clearly spent a lot of time thinking about being dubbed the "worst Hollywood Chris."
A new Men's Health profile on the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World actor spends a significant chunk analyzing why some on social media find Pratt unlikable. It's not just the "worst Chris" thing — how, in 2020, Twitter users ripped him apart in a ranking of movie star Chrises (Hemsworth, Pine and Evans). There's also been backlash over a 2021 tribute post to wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, and much over whether he attends an anti-LGBTQ church. He has his theories about why he's been "misunderstood," which he shared, admitting the online hate has "really f***ing bothered me."
"You don't ever wanna get caught complaining or anything," Pratt told the outlet. "'Cause I have so many blessings. I consider everything a blessing truly in my life." However, he admitted he's wondered, "Why are they coming after me?"
The Parks and Recreation alum, 43, pinpointed the public turn to his "God is real, God loves you, God wants the best for you. Believe that. I do" speech at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
"Maybe it was hubris," the Generation Award winner said. "For me to stand up on the stage and say the things that I said, I’m not sure I touched anybody. Religion has been oppressive as f*** for a long time. I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person. I think there’s a distinction between being religious — adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God — and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is. The evil that’s in the heart of every single man has glommed on to the back of religion and come along for the ride.”
That led to Pratt addressing directly for the first time his association with Hillsong, a controversial megachurch that has had leaders declare homosexuality a sin. Pratt denies there is one.
"I never went to Hillsong," he said. "I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church."
Asked why he never said that directly before, including in 2019 when he publicly denied going to a church that "hates people," he replied, "I'm gonna, like, throw a church under the bus?" He paused and added, "If it’s like the Westboro Baptist Church, that's different."
For the record, he said he attends Zoe Church, which has similarities to Hillsong. The founder of Zoe, pastor Chad Veach, served as the executive producer for a film about people who "have struggled with 'sexual brokenness,'" which included "same-sex attraction."
Pratt then said he doesn't attend Zoe exclusively, noting that when he and Schwarzenegger baptized their daughter Lyla, nearly 2, the ceremony was held at a Catholic church in Santa Monica that Schwarzenegger attended as a child.
Pratt also spoke of the backlash over a November Instagram tribute he posted to Schwarzenegger, with whom he also shares newborn daughter Eloise, in which he thanked her for giving him a "healthy" child. Social media viewed it as a dig against his first wife, Anna Faris, who delivered their son prematurely.
"I [wrote] something like, 'Find someone who looks at you the way my wife looks at me,'" Pratt said of the post. "Then I gave her some s*** in the thing and said, 'But I love you. I'm so thankful for my wife — she gave me a beautiful, healthy daughter.' And then a bunch of articles came out and said, 'That’s so cringeworthy. I can't believe Chris Pratt would thank her for a healthy daughter when his first child was born premature. That's such a dig at his ex-wife.' And I'm like, That is f***ed up. My son's gonna read that one day. He's 9. And it's etched in digital stone."
He said, "It really f***ing bothered me, dude. I cried about it. I was like, I hate that these blessings in my life are — to the people close to me — a real burden."
Pratt let his guard down on these topics to the point where he imagined what his publicist would have said had she been present for the conversation. ("'I'm sweating, Chris, I'm sweating,'" he pictured her saying. "'What happened to the it's-an-honor-just-to-be-nominated-let's-move-on f***ing line that we talked about?'") But clearly, his team was involved in the piece because it went so far as to have two directors speak to how Pratt is far from the worst Hollywood Chris.
"It absolutely infuriates me," Guardians's James Gunn told the outlet. "Chris is unspeakably kind to people... And there’s a lot of stuff that people have literally just made up about him — about his politics, about who he is, about what he believes of other people, you know?"
Colin Trevorrow, who directed two Jurassic World films, also praised him for the profile, saying, "I don’t know why we treat each other this way."
Instagram/Facebook Slammed For Hiding & Censoring Abortion Posts
Instagram and Facebook are under fire for blocking certain posts pertaining to abortions.
In the days since the Supreme Court’s controversial decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, several abortion rights advocacy groups have reported that their posts and stories have been hidden. In some instances, the posts display a warning that they are displaying sensitive content. In some cases, Instagram has asked users to confirm their age before displaying the content. In others, the posts were hidden altogether and unable to be viewed.
What most of the posts have in common is that they all slam the Supreme Court’s decision and speak out in support of women’s rights. They were all informational in nature.
This latest eyebrow-raising occurrence comes after the Associated Press accused Facebook and Instagram of deleting posts offering to mail abortion pills to citizens in states that restrict them. The Meta-owned platforms confirmed that they’d deleted these posts because they violated policies prohibiting selling or gifting pharmaceuticals, drugs, and firearms. However, AP strongly disagrees with this explanation, as they observed posts advertising marijuana that were left in place.
After multiple reports and some accusations of pro-life censorship, Instagram has said the issue is a “bug,” and they are working to repair it.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
TOO MUCH GAME
I forgot what game he is wearing.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
