#MAGFAB: Janet Jackson for Essence Magazine
As She Prepares To Take To The Stage Again, The Music Legend Offers A Tantalizing Glimpse Of The Woman She Is Today.
The Enigmatic Janet Jackson
“Oooooooh…. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I see that?” Janet Jackson asks as I hold up the iconic cover of her 1993 album, janet., the world-shaking affirmation of sexuality that upended her public persona. “She was trying to come out of that shell, and be accepting of herself and of who she was physically,” she says after reflecting for a beat.
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is indulging me in a game. I’ve put all of her album art in a tote, and now I’m getting her quick read on the women before her. She has no idea which cover I’ll grab next—and nor do I—and the grin that stretches those famous high cheekbones of hers is both mischievous and suspicious. I draw the next album, Discipline. “Just a hot mess,” Jackson says, wrinkling her nose for dramatic effect. “I’m joking, but truly, what really comes to mind when I look at that is Jermaine [Dupri].” I draw a few more. Control. “Innocence.” All for You. “Someone who was happy—and ready to move on.” 20 Y.O. “A tough time, a tough period in my life,” she says, her voice fading away.
Jackson is curled up in a leather armchair inside a private lounge at Heathrow Airport, in London, the city where she’s raising her 5-year-old son, Eissa. She’s dressed in baggy black sweats, her waist-length locs are pulled into a sleek high bun, and she’s serene and measured throughout our hour-long conversation. Just a few days before her fifty-sixth birthday, she’s flying to Las Vegas to honor her friend Mary J. Blige at the Billboard Music Awards.
A risk-taking innovator who revolutionized Black cultural expression in the 1980s and broke barriers for women in music, Jackson is a capital “S” Superstar. A global icon and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer with incomparable impact, she’s built musical universes that centered pleasure, personal agency, self-esteem, spirituality, identity, race and social justice. She’s been a singular force for close to four decades—but she is also an enigma. We see her, we hear her, we feel her, but we don’t truly know her.
She’s kept us at arm’s length by design. Jackson’s fame and ancestry reside in such a rarefied space that it feels silly to offer a sizzle reel of the triumphs, scandals, rumors and lore that have shaped our perception of her. The ways in which we’ve thought or talked about Jackson’s career—and her interior life—have largely been informed by the half-century of mythology surrounding her family. But lately we’ve been reconsidering her legacy: What it must have cost her to break ground as a Black woman in America. What she endured as the youngest in a family as scrutinized and idolized as hers.
Our longing for Jackson to lift the veil and let us in has never faded. It’s why her four-hour, self-titled documentary, which debuted in January, brought in record views. The project was her way of reclaiming a narrative lost to gossip, cultural critique, media coverage and her own preference for keeping the world at bay. It was also her way of telling us what she wanted to—on her terms.
There’s more to be said, of course. There’s always more to be said when it comes to Jackson. And we know her at least well enough to know that anything more she chooses to share will make it into her music—not that she’s entirely ready to tell us when to expect it. Still, for the next hour with ESSENCE, she drops a couple of unexpected gems. Listen in.
Did the documentary help you better understand anything about your past selves?
I realized certain patterns I had in my personal life, in my career. Certain things I never thought about. Five years is a good amount of time to have someone follow you around like that.
I imagine making the documentary woke up a lot in you. How did you process that? Have you processed that?
For me, it was what it was—whether you liked it or not. It’s my life story and my family. It was important for me to do it, because I had the opportunity to tell my story and not have someone tell it for me. I know I got it right. I was being completely honest—but still, even in that honesty, my mother could have called and said, “Oh, baby, I didn’t like this part.” And that was the nervous part, because you never want to disappoint, you know?
Yeah.
And when she called? Ooooh. She said, “Baby, I saw your documentary. I loved every minute of it.” That was everything for me, right there.
You’re back on stage and performing live at ESSENCE Festival of Culture this year—but how are things going in the studio? Where are you with new music?
It’s so funny because I see the fans asking, “When are we going to get Black Diamond?” “Will you please release?” Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect to happen, and you have to figure things out—or you’re in a space in your life when you have to take a step back and take a break for a minute. Even though it’s something that I absolutely love, it still is my work, my job. There will be music at some point. Exactly when? I can’t say just yet, but there will be. I love it too much not to do it. This is all I know. There’s so much that I want to do—but my number one job is being a mama.
The Enigmatic Janet Jackson
I want to go back to 1986 to Control—and how it pioneered New Jack Swing. As the album came together, was there a moment when either you or Jimmy Jam or Terry Lewis thought the music was breaking ground?
No.
No?
I can honestly say, no. It was going in and just creating. Being thankful and excited about creating. Ideas flowing left and right. I remember Jimmy telling me something Teddy [Riley] had mentioned, that when he heard “Alright” it gave him this spark—this idea of this New Jack Swing. But it was never like, “Oh, this is going to be a game-changer.” I liked doing things in different registers, not always singing in the same key. Even if it’s uncomfortable, let’s try other stuff.
Do you feel you’ve got your proper due as a songwriter and producer, particularly when it comes to innovating R&B?
I’ve heard Jimmy and Terry tell me we haven’t. I’ve heard fans tell me we -haven’t. Other artists have said the same thing. That never crossed my mind. That’s not important to me, whether I did or didn’t, to be quite honest. It’s really the body of music touching people and how it impacts their lives that matters to me. It’s not the accolades. I honestly don’t think about that stuff.
What felt particularly revelatory about the documentary was getting a glimpse of how you reacted to your ascent in the industry. Has your idea of success evolved from when you were just starting out?
I’ve never been that person to have my awards on display. There’s nothing wrong with it, that’s just not me. Being able to wake up and see my baby another day. The space I might be in at that moment within my soul. What I’ve accomplished within myself. How far I’ve come from that child there to the woman that I am today. That’s success. If you came to my home, you would never know—if you did not know who I was—that I am an entertainer. I don’t have one award on my wall.
So where are all of your awards?
At a warehouse. I’m just saving them for my baby, whatever he wants to do with them. I remember when Jermaine and I were together, he said to me, “Where are your Grammys? Why don’t you have your Grammys?” So I had them brought over, because he wanted them out, so that’s what I did. Just the Grammys, nothing else. After we went our separate ways, they went back in the warehouse and haven’t come out since.
Do you feel like you have an album that is underrated?
Underrated? I don’t know if I can say underrated. With The Velvet Rope, a lot of people were expecting something that was more up. Fun and happy. I remember driving on the freeway and this car honked. It was a girl, and I looked over and she pulled up her CD and it was The Velvet Rope. I just smiled and said, “Thank you.” I appreciated her acknowledging the fact that she had it—and feeling that she understood it, she got it and it spoke to her.
It’s such a freeing album to listen to.
I think so too, but people didn’t get that as I was hoping they would, because they just wanted a certain part of me—or I should say, the other me.
#RHOA: Porsha Williams' Ex Dennis McKinley Posts About Simon Guobadia's Ex-Wife Falynn
Fans got to know Dennis McKinley as the fiancé of Porsha Williams on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Although the pair didn't make it down the aisle because of McKinley's cheating, fans still got to see him on Williams' spinoff also on the Bravo network, Porsha's Family Matters. Willams is now engaged to Simon Guobadia as she and McKinney focus on co-parenting their daughter, Pilar Jhena McKinney. But they have had some hiccups along the way. The couple's issues have played out on television, and social media, and now McKinney has a message for Bravo.
McKinley takes to social media
As reported by Urban Belle Mag, McKinley recently posted a flyer on his Instagram that came across as messy. The flyer features Falynn Pina, who is the ex-wife of Guobaida. Guobadia and Williams began a relationship while he was still legally married to Pina. Pina has since moved on as well with Jaylan Banks and the two have a daughter.
McKinley's post just adds fire to the fuel that's been burning as people believe Williams and Pina were friends and Williams was wrong for dating her ex-husband.
Supposedly, Pina is doing a tour at one of McKinley’s clubs for her birthday.
Many think that he is trying to get under Williams’ skin, and this wouldn’t be the first time. Fans remember when McKinely brought another woman to Mexico during a family retreat on an episode of Porsha Family Matters.
McKinley has words for Bravo
Mckinley also recently took to Twitter to tell the Bravo network a thing or two. He said that the reruns of Porsha Family Matters don’t need to be aired. Bravo has not said whether they will listen to McKinley’s request.
#MusicNews: Beyoncé Returns With New Single “Break My Soul”
Beyoncé is back with the new single “Break My Soul” which is surely to get people out their seats. The dance record, which is produced by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, is the lead single off the superstar’s upcoming album “Renaissance”. The trio previously worked on the classic record and number one hit “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” together.
Beyoncé announced early Thursday that the long-expected album will be arriving on July 29. No word on collaborations or features yet, but it’s safe to assume The-Dream will be involved with the project as he’s been working closely with Beyoncé for the last few albums.
LISTEN HERE
The new single “Break My Soul” samples the Robin S 1993 classic “Show Me Love”.
#HipHopNews: XXL Reveals 2022 Freshman Class
Meet the 2022 Freshman Class. XXL has revealed the 12 artists that will join Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Travis Scott in the Freshman Hall of Fame.
This year’s list of rising stars that are “breaking the mold” includes familiar names like Nardo Wick, Babyface Ray, and Saucy Santana, along with SoFaygo, KayCyy, Cochise, Big30, and Big Scarr.
Three of the 12 spots are occupied by women, including Kali, KenTheMan, and TDE’s breakout star Doechii.
Congratulations are also in order for Freshman honoree Wheezy Outta Here, the producer behind multi-platinum hits for Lil Baby, Future, Gunna, and Young Thug. Michigan-based MC BabyTron won the 10th spot, which was determined by fan voting.
Over the next month, XXL will be releasing its Freshman freestyles and cyphers, with beats crafted by Wheezy Outta Here.
Last year’s Freshman Class included 42 Dugg, Flo Milli, Morray, Pooh Shiesty, Coi Leray, Blxst, Rubi Rose, and Iann Dior.
Deshaun Watson settles with all but 4 civil sexual misconduct suits, attorney says
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson settled with 20 of the 24 women who filed civil lawsuits against him, attorney Tony Buzbee said Tuesday.
“Today I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled,” Buzbee said in a statement. “We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.”
Buzbee pointed out in his statement that Ashley Solis, the first woman to publicly accuse Watson, is one of the four women who has not settled with the Browns quarterback.
"... Ashley Solis is one of the heroes of this story. Her case has not settled and thus her story and that of the other three brave women will continue. I look forward to trying these cases in due course, consistent with other docket obligations."
This signals an important marker in a story that began on March 16, 2021, when one massage therapist accused Watson of sexual misconduct during sessions while he was still a member of the Houston Texans. Over the course of the next year, 23 more women filed civil sexual misconduct lawsuits against Watson. In the middle of it all, the Browns traded for Watson and signed him to a first-of-its-kind five-year, $230 million deal that was fully guaranteed.
Watson never faced criminal charges after two Texas grand juries declined to indict him earlier this year and he maintained his innocence since the allegations first surfaced.
In comments to reporters last week during Browns minicamp, Watson said he looked forward to clearing his name in civil court and maintained his innocence.
"I never harassed anyone. I never disrespected anyone. I never forced anyone to do anything," Watson said.
According to ESPN's Jake Trotter, Watson was asked at the minicamp if he was open to settling the lawsuits. His response, per ESPN:
"Like I said, I just want to clear my name and be able to let the facts and the legal procedures continue to play out. Right now, this is all I am doing is wanting to clear my name and be able to let all of the facts come out in the court of law and be able to focus on that."
What comes next for Watson
Despite the settlements, this is not the end of the Watson saga. There are four civil lawsuits still pending against him. And Watson still faces a possible suspension from the league for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy even if he avoids facing any accusers in court.
The NFLPA is reportedly bracing for a significant suspension from the league but reportedly plans to defend Watson by going after three NFL team owners who didn't face much punishment for off-field transgressions.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday that Watson's settlement news "has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process."
Chris Brown Responds To Michael Jackson Comparisons
Chris Brown is calling cap on the Michael Jackson comparisons.
For years, the internet has tried to compare the talents of the two superstars, with some even suggesting that Chris is better than the King of Pop.
But while some fans may argue otherwise, Chris is shutting down the comparisons. “That’s cap,” he immediately responded when Big Boy brought up the topic during an interview to promote his new album Breezy.
When asked how he deals with the conversations, he responded, “I stay the hell up out of it. I’ma keep it a hundred. I kinda back off it.”
He gave props to his idol for inspiring him and said he will never be able to compete. “My personal take on it is I wouldn’t even be breathing or even be able to sing a song if that man didn’t exist,” he said. “I don’t know if they look at it as a Jordan-Kobe thing, but I couldn’t even look at it. He’s light years ahead. There is no competing with him.”
Chris revealed that he has “shrines of this man hanging up in my house,” adding, “Hell no, I ain’t better than him.”
The CB-MJ debate was recently reignited following a viral tweet from Ryan Clark. “Chris Brown is more talented than Michael Jackson… there I said it! Have a great week,” tweeted the former NFL star before social media weighed in on the controversial statement.
This is not the first time Chris has drawn comparisons to his idol. In 2019, 50 Cent declared CB “better than MJ.”
Justin Bieber has also celebrated his “Don’t Check On Me” collaborator, likening Brown to a combination of Jackson and Tupac Shakur. “Everyone wants to wait til people die To give them the credit they deserve,” said Bieber. “I’m calling it now when CB passes away after a long full life, you will miss what you had in front of you the whole time … trust me watch you will see.”
During the Big Boy interview, Chris once again weighed in on a potential Verzuz. In the past, he said that he was only interested in battling himself, however, that may have changed.
“I’ma keep it a hundred. I’ve been talking to the people so we might figure something out but I ain’t gon’ say nothing yet,” he teased.
#NewCoupleAlert: Lena Waithe & Cynthia Erivo Seen Holding Hands At Public Event
It looks like Lena Waithe and Cynthia Erivo may be going public with their relationship!
After two years of speculation, it appears Lena Waithe, 38, and Cynthia Erivo, 35, have confirmed the rumors that they’re dating. According to reports, the pair showed up to the Alvin Ailey Spirit Gala together Thursday night (Jun.16). While the alleged couple took pictures separately on the red carpet, sources spotted them walking hand in hand into the auditorium at the Lincoln Center.
The Chicago native and the British actress first sparked dating rumors back in 2020 after being spotted at several red carpet events together. Despite the speculation, they never acknowledged the status of their relationship.
“The Chi” creator, Lena Waithe tied the knot with movie executive Alana Mayo in November 2019, but they split after only two months of marriage. In November 2020, Mayo, 40, filed for divorce from Waithe.
Nearly three months later, rumors swirled that Lena Waithe had moved in with Cynthia Erivo amid an abrupt split with her wife, Alana Mayo. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Lena Waithe and “Harriet” actress Cynthia Erivo, were caught red-handed on their own Instagram Story posts! Both ladies posted photos while watching singer Erykah Badu’s online concert, seemingly in the same home theater room, filled with starry skylights and bean bags.
Cynthia Erivo was previously romantically linked to British singer and actor Dean John-Wilson and Mario Martinez. Waithe and Erivo first connected in May 2018 when Cynthia posted a photo on her Instagram page praising Lena. She wrote:
“I finally found my sis. Lena you are absolutely everything. You are perfection. What a meeting of minds, glad to have you in my life! Stuck like glue!!! SHINE QUEEN SHINE!!”
What are your thoughts on Lena & Cynthia being spotted holding hands?
Houston Baptist basketball ‘devastated’ by Darius Lee’s death in Harlem shooting
Slain victim of Harlem shooting identified as local hoops star
The Houston Baptist basketball program is “devastated” by the tragic death of Darius Lee, who died in a mass shooting in Harlem early Monday.
Lee was one of nine people who was shot in the incident; police said that he was the only person who died, and was not the intended target in the shooting.
“We are devastated. Darius was a remarkable young man who loved the Lord, his mom, his family, his teammates, his friends and his entire HBU family,” head coach Ron Cottrell said in a statement. “We are in shock and cannot wrap our heads around this news. My heart breaks for his mom, his sister and his entire family, and for our basketball team. The only thing we find comfort in right now is knowing where Darius is. He is in the arms of Jesus… we know that as fact. And we will see him again some day.
“As great of a basketball player as he was, he was an even better person. I can’t even think of basketball right now. I can only think of what a light Darius was during his short time on earth. He was a joy to coach and we loved him so much. Please keep his mom, sister and family in your prayers, as well as our HBU basketball family, during this very difficult time.”
Lee was Houston Baptist’s leading scorer and rebounder this past season, and was on track to graduate this December.
“Our prayers are with his family first and most importantly, but also with his friends, coaches, and teammates,” Houston Baptist athletics director Steve Moniaci said in a statement.
“He was a very fine young man who had a very bright future in front of him both on and off the court. This is unfortunately, yet again, another example of the senseless gun violence that seems to be plaguing our country right now and we all pray it will cease.”
The 6-foot-6 guard played at SUNY Sullivan Community College before he transferred to Houston Baptist.
“He was an innocent kid that was in school playing basketball,” Lee’s sister, Tiara, told The Post in an earlier story. “He cared about basketball. He decided to stay outside one day, and this is what happens.
“My brother’s gone,” she lamented. “Great kid. He’s gone for no reason. I’ve been trying to figure it out myself.”
Jorge Lopez, the coach at St. Raymond High School for Boys in The Bronx, where Lee played in high school, discussed being “heartbroken” by the tragedy.
“When I first found out about it, I had heard about the shooting in Harlem, but I was just so devastated when I came to find out that Darius Lee was the victim who was killed,” Lopez said.
“I’m completely heartbroken,” Lopez added. “He had everything going for him — a great career, a great family.
“He loved coming back and monitoring young people. He worked out with our guys, got to play pick-up with the players and just spend time with them.”
'College Hill: Celebrity Edition' Premieres June 27 on BET+ Starring Ray J, NeNe Leakes, Lamar Odom, and More
‘College Hill: Celebrity Edition’ is really happening — and premieres June 27 on BET+.
via Deadline:
The eight-episode series, from Edmonds Entertainment and This Way Out Media, will feature NeNe Leakes, Ray J, Lamar Odom, Big Freedia, Stacey Dash, DreamDoll, India Love, and Slim Thug, who will head back to class to expand their educational horizons. The celebs will live together and join the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Texas Southern University as students.
In the reimagined series, per BET, each cast member is committed to focusing on their higher education as a personal challenge to prove it’s never too late. Enrolled alongside current Texas Southern University students, the cast will work towards completing a specialty certificate program to cross the graduation stage. Like any ordinary college student, they must complete their course work along with required internships, extra credit opportunities, group projects, and more.
The original reality series that followed the lives of students at historically black colleges aired for six seasons, from 2004-2009, on BET.
Wife of WNBA’s Griner tells AP scheduled call never happened
WASHINGTON (AP) — WNBA star Brittney Griner tried to call her wife nearly a dozen times through the American embassy in Russia on the couple’s fourth anniversary Saturday, but they never connected since the phone line at the embassy was not staffed, Cherelle Griner said Monday.
The couple has not spoken by phone in the four months since Griner’s arrest in Russia, where she remains jailed. That was to have changed Saturday, when a long-awaited call was to have finally taken place after getting Russian government approval. But the day came and went without any contact, leaving an anguished Cherelle Griner to wonder what went wrong and to suspect at least initially that Russian authorities had thwarted the call.
On Monday, she said she learned from her wife’s lawyers a more distressing truth: Brittney Griner had actually tried to call 11 times over a period of several hours, dialing a number she’d been given at the U.S. embassy in Moscow, which the couple had been told would then patch the call through to Cherelle Griner in Phoenix. But each time, the call went unanswered because the desk at the embassy where the phone rang was apparently unstaffed on Saturday.
“I was distraught. I was hurt. I was done, fed up,” Cherelle Griner told The Associated Press in an interview, recounting how an anniversary she had eagerly anticipated was instead spent in tears. “I’m pretty sure I texted BG’s agent and was like: ‘I don’t want to talk to anybody. It’s going to take me a minute to get my emotions together, and just tell everybody I’m unavailable right now.’ Because it just knocked me out. I wasn’t well, I’m still not well.”
The State Department said Monday that “we deeply regret that Brittney Griner was unable to speak with her wife because of a logistical error.” The department reiterated that it has no higher priority than the safety of Americans overseas and that it remains in regular contact with families of hostages and wrongful detainees.
For Cherelle Griner, the experience has exacerbated already simmering frustrations about the U.S. government’s response to her wife’s case. Though U.S. officials have repeatedly said they are working behind the scenes to get the two-time Olympic gold medalist home from Russia, she said she is “very pissed” about the snafu, especially since the call had been on the schedule for two weeks and yet no one warned her during that time that it might be logistically impossible because of the weekend.
She added: “I find it unacceptable and I have zero trust in our government right now. If I can’t trust you to catch a Saturday call outside of business hours, how can I trust you to actually be negotiating on my wife’s behalf to come home? Because that’s a much bigger ask than to catch a Saturday call.”
Cherelle Griner said a contact in the U.S. government had apologized to her for the error. She said she’s since learned that the one number Brittney Griner had been given to dial typically processes calls from prisoners on Mondays through Fridays but not weekends, which is why no one was there to transfer the call.
“But mind you,” Cherelle Griner said in the interview, “this phone call had been scheduled for almost two weeks — with a weekend date.”
Brittney Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained at a Russian airport on Feb. 17 after authorities there said a search of her bag revealed vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.
The State Department in May designated her as wrongfully detained, moving her case under the supervision of its Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, effectively the government’s chief hostage negotiator. Russian state-run news agency Tass reported last week that her detention had been extended until July 3.
Cherelle Griner said she was still hoping to talk to or meet with President Joe Biden, but “at this point it’s starting to feel like a no.”
So far, Cherelle Griner says she’s had to rely exclusively on others’ assessments about her wife’s condition. Lawyers and consular affairs officials have been able to speak with the basketball star, but her wife has not.
On the evening before the call, she went to sleep at 5 p.m. so that she’d be awake and alert at midnight to receive the anticipated call from Russia to Phoenix that never came.
“This was such a big moment because this would have been the first time where I truly could tell if she’s OK,” Cherelle Griner said, describing it as a “life-or-death” opportunity to discern how her wife was actually holding up. “This would have been the first time for me to actually just hear her in real time and to truly know if she’s okay or to know if she’s seconds away from not being in existence anymore.”
Isaiah Rashad receives key to the city in Tennessee hometown
Isaiah Rashad received his flowers in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee over the weekend. The musician was honored with not only the key to the city, but his very own day during the Bonnaroo Festival on Friday (June 17).
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly awarded the 31-year-old with the official proclamation that declared that June 17 is now Isaiah Rashad Day. “You are an inspiration to this crowd, to the world, to this city, and so I wanted to present you with a key to the city of Chattanooga,” said Kelly as he awarded the rapper with the highest honor.
Rashad was signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2013 and has since dropped critically acclaimed albums like The House is Burning, The Sun’s Tirade, and Cilvia Demo. In the past, the rapper has been vocal about struggles with depression and addiction.
At the 2022 Coachella music festival, Rashad addressed an alleged sex tape that reportedly attempted to out the rapper as gay. “The purpose of doing that was to embarrass him,” a voice read during the intro of the TDE rapper’s set. “However, that backfired. When his video leaked, his streams and everything went up.”
The clip was followed by snippets from Joe Budden, The Game, and more people in the hip hop community that came to the Tennessee rapper’s defense following the leak of the tape. He then addressed the crowd saying that people’s positive messages are what kept him alive during the controversy.
“I’ve seen y’all messages and all that shit, all the positivity,” Rashad said at one point during his Coachella set. “Y’all niggas kept me alive these last couple months.”
Now, Rashad continues to bask in people showering him with love. Following the recognition from Mayor Kelly, the “Wat U Sed” emcee held the plaques above his head and exclaimed, ” I got a fucking day, ya’ll.”
President Biden hints at plans for gas tax holiday
President Joe Biden has announced that he will make a decision surrounding a gas tax holiday by the end of the week. On Monday (June 20), he revealed that he is considering the federal holiday as a response to surging gas prices, AP News reports.
In an effort to provide Americans with a break from the rising gas prices affecting the nation, Biden’s administration has looked for ways to decrease prices. Nationwide, the price of gas currently sits at an average of slightly less than $5 per gallon.
“Yes, I’m considering it,” Biden told reporters. “I hope to have a decision based on the data- I’m looking for by the end of the week.” Gas prices initially increased following the Russian invasion in Ukraine back in February.
Just last week the Biden administration sent a letter to oil refiners, urging them to increase their refining capacity in order to lower the prices of gas. In addition to that, the administration also released oil from the U.S. strategic reserve and increased ethanol blending for the summer. While prices have lowered some, it hasn’t nearly been enough to assist Americans working to maintain within the current economy.
According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model estimates revealed on Wednesday (June 15), consumers saw a better advantage at the pump thanks to gas tax holidays. States who have participated include Connecticut, Georgia, and Maryland. Customers came out better than service stations and other companies in the energy sector thanks to the move.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen previously opened up about the willingness for a federal gas tax holiday during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “Gas prices have risen a great deal and it’s clearly burdening households,” she explained.
As of Sunday (June 19), a gallon of unleaded fuel in the U.S. currently sits at an average of $4.98. The price is up $3 from a year ago.
Stephen Colbert Reveals What Really Happened to His Staff When They Were Detained by Capitol Police
Stephen Colbert is addressing the arrest of his The Late Show staff members at the Capitol Building last week.
Some members of Colbert‘s staff were at the Capitol in Washington D.C. to film a segment with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
“How was your weekend?” Colbert joked at the beginning of his monologue on Monday (June 20). “I certainly had an interesting one, because some of my staff had a memorable one.”
He continued, “Triumph offered to go down to D.C. to interview some Congress people to highlight some January 6 hearings. I said, ‘Sure, if you can get anyone to agree to talk to you. Because, and please don’t take this as an insult, you’re a puppet.”
Colbert explained what happened when his staff got detained at the Capitol.
“Thursday evening, after they’d finished their interviews, [my staff] were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by Capitol Police, which actually is not surprising. The Capitol Police are much more cautious than they were 18 months ago and for a very good reason. If you don’t know what that reason is I know what news network you watch,” he said. “The Capitol police were just doing their job, my staff was just doing their job, everyone was very professional, everyone was very calm. My staffers were detained, processed and released. A very unpleasant experience for my staff.”
Colbert then called out Fox News for turning a “fairly simple story” into a media storm when they “started claiming that my puppet squad had committed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building”.
“First of all: what? Second of all: huh? Third of all, they weren’t in the Capitol building. Fourth of all and I’m shocked I have to explain the difference, but an insurrection involves interrupting the lawful action of Congress and howling for the blood of elected leaders, all to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This was first-degree puppetry,” he said.
Colbert said, “It’s predictable why these TV talkers are talking like this. They want to talk about something other than the January 6 hearings, the actual seditionist insurrection that led to the deaths of multiple people and the injury of over 140 police officers. But drawing any equivalency between a rioter storming the Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral ballots and a cigar chomping toy dog is a shameful and grotesque insult to the memory of everyone who died and obscenely trivializes the service and the courage the Capitol police showed on that terrible day. But who knows? Maybe there was a vast conspiracy to overthrow the government of the U.S. with a rubber rottweiler.”
The Chicks Postpone More Tour Dates After Natalie Maines’ Vocal Problems Halt Concert
The Chicks have postponed three more tour dates to give singer Natalie Maines “vocal rest” after she stopped a concert a half-hour in Sunday night in Indianapolis.
“As a result of strict doctor’s orders for vocal rest, the Chicks are forced to postpone the following shows,” the band announced on social media, listing the cities of Clarkston, MI, Noblesville, IN and Cincinnatti, OH, all of which have new dates listed for late September or early October.
This makes four shows to date that are being or will need to be rescheduled. The first, Sunday night’s show in Indiana, had the band playing a partial set before leaving the stage, then tweeting that fans should hold onto their tickets and await news of a replacement show. No new date has yet been announced for Indianapolis.
Reps for the band pointed to the group’s Twitter post and did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of Maines’ malady.
What Stopped Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ From Going to Infinity and Beyond at the Box Office?
One song before leaving the stage Sunday night, Maines told the crowd that she was already under treatment for whatever was afflicting her. In fan-shot video, she was heard telling the audience she’d try one more number, saying, “Waiting for this shot to kick in,” then clarified, “not a shot of alcohol, a shot of steroids.”
Late Sunday night, the band tweeted, “Indianapolis, we are so sorry we could not give you the show you deserved OR the show we wanted to give you. We will be back… Hold on to your tickets… We love you Indianapolis.”
Although the Chicks have always attracted negative attention on social media, ever since the Bush-comment controversy of 2003, most fans who were actually in attendance at the Indiana show signaled admiration for Maines for trying to continue with the show as long as she did, and seemed pleased at the promise they would ultimately get two nights out for the price of one, even if the first was truncated.
Patty Griffin will be the opening act on the rescheduled dates, as she was Sunday night and would have been in the next three shows.
Elon Musk’s Child Files To Change Gender Identity And Full Name, Says They ‘No Longer Wish To Be Related To My Biological Father’
One of Elon Musk’s children has reportedly filed a petition to change their full name and gender identity, stating they want to distance themselves from their father. Screenshots of the legal docs have surfaced on social media, which TMZ verified, revealing how 18-year-old Xavier Musk, has made the request to change quite literally everything about herself.
“Gender identity and the fact that I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form,” Xavier reportedly said in his legal docs. On top of that, she asked to have their name changed to Vivian Jenna Wilson, taking their mother’s last name, and that “she wants to be recognized as female” moving forward.
Though the petition has just now come to light, it was actually filed back in April, shortly after Vivian had turned 18, as noted by Yahoo! Entertainment. In total, the Tesla tech mogul has seven children, which include Griffin, Vivian, Kai, Saxon, Damian, X AE A-XI, and Exa Dark Sideræl from his previous relationship with Grimes.
It was just in late 2020 when the 50-year-old came under fire for seemingly mocking pronouns and referring to them as an “aesthetic nightmare.” After coming across an article thread titled “Real friends interrupt you when you are making a mistake.” Elon was actually mentioned in the thread due to his annoyance at people listing their pronouns in social media profiles, which he apparently didn’t seem to agree with.
“I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic [sic] nightmare,” the South African fired back. Some were quick to chime in, saying Elon was being hypocritical considering he and his then-girlfriend Grimes had chosen to name their son X AE A-XII, which is believed to be pronounced as X Ash A 12.
The original spelling was reportedly not appropriate to be registered on the birth certificate in the state of California, with Elon later telling fans they changed it to Roman numerals as it tended to “look better.”
“You named your child x æ a-12 and you want to call PRONOUNS an aesthetic nightmare????” one person wrote in response to the richest person alive. “Named his child X Æ A-12 but thinks calling someone they/them is a hassle,” another continued. “Elon musk named his baby X Æ A-12 but people having pronouns is where he draws the line.”
Rob Kardashian & Blac Chyna Settle Revenge Porn Case, No Trial
Would you get a look at that! Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna have finally settled their big revenge porn case before another nasty trial was scheduled to kickoff!
As it was previously reported, Rob Kardashian’s disputed claim that he reached a settlement agreement with Blac Chyna to end her “revenge porn” lawsuit was rejected by a Los Angeles judge last Thursday. That gave Chyna the green light to move forward with her case where she said Rob illegally posted private naked photos of her on Instagram back in July 2017.
“Chyna is very pleased that the trial judge denied Rob’s motion to ‘enforce’ a settlement that never existed,” Lynne Ciani, the Lashed Cosmetics founder’s lawyer, told Us Weekly in a statement. “Without a settlement, Chyna will prove her case to a Los Angeles jury on June 20 that Rob posted devastating revenge porn of her to millions of his Instagram followers without her consent.” Ciani added: “Rob Kardashian has never taken responsibility for his heinous and vengeful act of posting revenge porn against Chyna in July 2017. He was never criminally prosecuted. It is finally time for Rob to be held accountable in a court of law.”
However, this Monday, Jury selection in the former couple’s revenge porn case was to begin in L.A. But potential jurors were informed they’d no longer be needed as the two had finally reached a settlement. So what are the terms of the deal? Well, that has not been shared just yet but it’s been a long fight for the two and it has finally come to an end.
During a wild day on the internet, Rob posted several naked photos of Chyna on social media, fans into a massive frenzy. Chyna originally filed her lawsuit against Rob in October 2017 after their split three months prior. At the time, she reportedly was looking for 7-figures from Rob for the alleged damage his posting the photos did to her reputation and potential brand deals.
Neither of them have yet to release a statement on their settlement, but they possibly came to agreement to avoid any more drama, for the sake of their daughter Dream Kardashian.
Meanwhile, Blac Chyna has officially started the process of appealing her big loss to the Kardashian family in a Los Angeles Court. A jury in the $100M defamation case ruled in favor of the famous reality stars.
Harry Styles Joins Forces With Gucci for New Ha Ha Ha Collection
Not long after scoring the biggest album sales week of the year with his latest effort Harry’s House, Harry Styles is teaming up with Gucci for a new collaboration.
The British pop star has joined forces with creative director Alessandro Michele for a one-off capsule collection titled Ha Ha Ha, which is set to hit stores in October.
Michele told WWD that the title of the collection not only stands for the initials of his and Harry’s first names, “but also for the onomatopoeic sound of the laughing face emoji used for years to end their messages to each other.”
“Harry has an incredible sense of fashion,” Michele said in an official statement. “Observing his ability to combine items of clothing in a way that is out of the ordinary compared to the required standards of taste and common sense and the homogenization of appearance, I came to understand that the styling of a look is a generator of differences and of powers, as are his reactions to the designs I have created for him, which he has always made his own. These reactions restore me with a rush of freedom every time.”
Michele continued, “The idea of working together came to me one day while we were talking on the phone: I proposed creating a ‘dream wardrobe’ with him, starting from those small oddities that come together in childlike visions. We ended up with a mix of aesthetics from 1970s pop and bohemian to the revision of the image of the gentleman in an over-turned memory of men’s tailoring.”
The announcement arrives just after Harry donned some custom Gucci threads while performing onstage this weekend at his Love On Tour. During a tour stop in London, England, Styles wore custom Gucci blue denim flared overalls paired with suede adidas and Gucci Gazelle sneakers.
During his gig at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Styles helped an Italian fan come out. The fan, who was holding a sign that read, “From Ono to Wembley: Help me come out,” was brought onstage by Harry, who shared the message with the crowd.
“So, you would like the people of Wembley to bring you out,” Styles said, picking up a pride flag. “When this flag goes above my head, you are officially out, okay? I think that’s how it works. … When this [flag] goes over my head, you’re officially gay, my boy.”
Chris Evans Says Reprising ‘Fantastic Four’ Role Would ‘Actually Be an Easier Sell to Me’ Than Captain America
Chris Evans has indicated that it might be an “easier sell” to get him to reprise his role from 2005’s Fantastic Four than it would be to get him to play Steve Rogers/Captain America again.
In an interview with MTV News—as seen above at the 8-minute mark—Evans was asked if he was approached to return to the MCU via the multiverse as Johnny Storm, a.k.a the Human Torch, a character he portrayed in the pre-MCU film and its 2007 sequel.
“God, wouldn’t that be great?” the 41-year-old said. “No, no one’s ever come to me about that. I mean, I don’t exactly look the same anymore. That was 15, almost 20 years ago. Oh my god, I’m old. But I really love that character, but I think…aren’t they doing something now with Fantastic Four?”
Marvel has started work on a Fantastic Four reboot, although the project recently lost its attached director Jon Watts, who helmed the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy. Fans were given a surprise Fantastic Four cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though, when John Krasinski made an appearance as Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic.
“Look, I would love it,” Evans continued. “I would love it. That would actually be an easier sell to me than coming back as [Captain America]. You know what I mean? Cap is so precious to me. And you know, I almost don’t wanna disrupt what a beautiful experience that was. But Johnny Storm, I feel like he didn’t really get his day. That was before Marvel really found its footing. So, I loved that role and, you know, who knows?”
Laurence Fishburne is open to dating again at the age of 60
Twice-divorced Laurence Fishburne is interested in dating again.ABC via Getty Images
Laurence Fishburne is open to the idea of getting back in the dating scene.
The “Matrix” star, 60, was married to “Suits” alum Gina Torres for 16 years, but the pair divorced in May 2018 after Page Six revealed the previous September that Torres, 53, was dating a man described by a friend as “the cowboy type” while quietly separated from Fishburne.
And while it seems that Torres was quick to, er, get back on the horse, Fishburne is not quite there — at least not yet.
“Eventually I would like to date, but there is nobody in particular on my radar,” he told Page Six at the Tribeca Festival on June 13.
Recently, his 15-year-old daughter, Delilah, has been his date.
Delilah went to the 2022 Tony Awards with her father earlier this month and also walked the red carpet for the premiere of his documentary “The Cave of Adullam,” which is about four young boys at a martial arts academy in Detroit.
“I think the story that we are telling in this movie is one that it going to move people. These four young men are all really extraordinary people,” Fishburne told us. “The choices that they face as black males in this country is something that a lot of us are familiar with. I think that initiation is something that’s important in this film it is kind of an example of why it is.”
“The Cave of Adullam” went on to win Best Documentary Feature and Best Editing in a Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Festival.
Dave Chappelle’s High School to Honor Him Months After Students Heckled Him Over Trans Quips
*The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, based in Washington D.C., is renaming its theatre after Dave Chappelle, just months after the comedian was heckled by students who felt his jokes about the transgender community were out of line.
Dave caused controversy back in October when his Netflix special “The Closer” premiered on the streaming platform, much to the disappointment of critics who felt his witty remarks about trans people had taken his comedic jokes too far.
The aforementioned school, which Dave graduated from in 1991, had planned to do the honors in late 2021, but as the scandal surrounding the Netflix special continued, the decision was subsequently held off for the foreseeable future. The 48-year-old decided to pay students a visit back in November, but things didn’t go according to plan when a heap of teens let out their frustration during an assembly, with one being quoted, saying, “I’m 16 and I think you’re childish.”
TMZ claims Dave was heavily heckled during his appearance, and after hearing how some students were against the idea of the performance theater being named after him, he challenged his supporters and hecklers to raise money for the school. If the latter was to raise more money, he agreed to forgo the honor, but as it turned out, Dave’s fans at the school ended up piling together much more than the opposite team.
Philadelphia, L.A., Miami, Atlanta and 11 Other U.S. Cities to Host 2026 World Cup Games
Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Kansas City are among the 11 U.S. cities that will host upcoming World Cup games in 2026.
On Thursday, the soccer association announced the 16 locations for the tournament’s first-ever 48-team bracket.
All 60 games will be played in the U.S. across 11 cities, including the quarterfinals and semifinals.
New York and Los Angeles are among the two largest cities to make the cut, alongside Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The tournament will also be held in Canada and Mexico, with each country hosting ten games in Toronto, Vancouver, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey.
It will be the first time in FIFA history that three different countries will host the matches, and it will be the first time since 1994 that the games will be played in the U.S.
T.I. Blasts VH1 a Year After Network Suspended Production of Show Reportedly Over Sexual Abuse Allegations
A year following the suspension of his show, T.I. and Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle, the “King of the South,” still has some words for VH1.
Over the weekend, T.I. posted a meme saying, “I wish T.I. Family Hustle still came on.” He captioned the post questioning VH1’s loyalty.
“@vh1 13 years no loyalty. No Integrity. Just jumped to conclusions. False accusations. No apology. No accountability. No closure. In the name of protecting women…while unfairly, without due process….Subsequently punishing Women??? No problem,” he wrote with his song “F*ck Em” featuring Lil Jon.
Several women alleged that T.I. and his wife Tiny sexually abused them. Five alleged victims spoke to The New York Times about being recruited at a public venue, invited to a hotel room, and coerced into taking drugs ending up naked in bed with the couple.
“We are aware of the allegations, and while they are not connected to our show, we have reached out to T.I. and Tameka Harris, as well as local and state officials,” MTV Entertainment said. “Given the serious nature of the allegations, we have decided to suspend production to gather more information.”
However, Deadline reported the pause in production was a mutual decision between the network and the couple.
Bravo might have different procedures compared to VH1. It’s confirmed that another Xscape show is in the works and will premiere in winter. The unscripted reality T.V. series will have Xscape and SWV joining forces in a show produced by Mona Scott-Young.
Todd and Julie Chrisley Break Silence After Being Convicted of Fraud, Says its a “Very Sad, Heartbreaking” Time for Their Family
Todd and Julie Chrisley are opening up about the “heartbreaking” time for their family following their fraud convictions on their podcast, Chrisley Confessions.
Todd Chrisley says it’s been a “whirlwind,” but he did say that he couldn’t really talk about it due to legal reasons, as they were hesitant to address the elephant in the room.
“I know all of you guys are wanting to know every detail that is going on in our lives, and I have to ask that you respect that we’re not allowed to talk about it at the present time. There will come a time to where all of it is discussed,” he said.
The “Chrisley Knows Best” stars were convicted of several tax crimes, along with their tax accountant. However, Julie Chrisley was found guilty of obstruction of justice and wire fraud.
Todd continues, “We did want to come on today and let everyone know that it’s a very sad, heartbreaking time for our family right now,” he added. “But we still hold steadfast in our faith, and we trust that God will do what he does best because God’s a miracle worker, and that’s what we’re holding out for.”
Julie said, “We’re alive and kicking, and we appreciate all the support we have received from everyone.”
Their daughter Savannah took to Instagram to share a message last week on her parents’ conviction calling life “so cruel.”
“Hi there my Instagram family… it’s been a few weeks,” she began her caption. “Before you continue reading I would like to ask one thing of you…please be kind. This life is so cruel and we’re all doing the best we can.”
She even complained that the justice system had failed her parents and that God had let her down.
“I will continue to stand by my family and fight for justice. Justice for ourselves and for others that the system has failed. (There is only so much I can comment on legally at this moment.)” Savannah’s statements come a couple weeks after her sister, Lindsie, released a statement.
The Chrisleys’ sentencing date is October 6, and they both face up to 30 years in prison.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
PLEASE DON’T DO THIS
This is the opposite of what you should be doing with your child.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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