#MAGFAB: Maya Rudolph for The Hollywood Reporter - June 2022
There aren’t too many things that terrify Maya Rudolph. The list is basically black widow spiders, stand-up comedy and walking into a roomful of people she doesn’t already know and having to introduce herself.
The first on that list could actually kill her, and the latter two require her to be herself, which is “just so naked and vulnerable,” she says as she forks into a Goop salad on an overcast afternoon this spring. It’s fitting, then, that Rudolph has devoted so much of her existence to becoming other people: a collection of divas on Saturday Night Live, the briefly incontinent bride in Bridesmaids, a hormone monstress on Big Mouth and, soon, a billionaire divorcée on the Apple TV+ comedy Loot.
The wigs, the voices, they’re all armor, she acknowledges. “Deep down, it’s probably all those years of living with tragedy on my forehead,” she says of losing her mom, famed Black soul singer Minnie Riperton, to breast cancer just two weeks before she turned 7. “And then being asked about it and, ‘Oh, that must have been so hard for you,’ and I don’t want to have that conversation. I don’t want to feel that way. Like, why are we talking about sad things?”
To this day, Rudolph is considered, among her friends, an authority on losing a parent, she says, though she never got to mourn in private, as they would. Her mother’s death, which left her with neither a female role model nor a Black one at home, was every bit a public experience — right down to the Jet magazine cover, for which she, her brother and their white music producer father would pose. The headline that accompanied it: “Minnie’s Family Faces the Future With Her Dreams.”
Inside were photos from her first motherless birthday party, including a shot of young Maya treating her guests to a dance she’d titled The Heart Attack, inspired, she’d said, by the comic stylings of Sanford and Son’s Redd Foxx. “I don’t remember the dance at all, but, like, coining it The Heart Attack? Of course I’d do that,” says Rudolph, who now, at nearly 50, has four children of her own with her longtime partner, director Paul Thomas Anderson.
It was also a way to try to extinguish any lingering sadness, to make everyone around her feel more comfortable — to make herself feel more comfortable. “There were so many factors that made me feel like there wasn’t anyone else like me growing up — because I was mixed, because I didn’t have a mom — and I just wanted to fit in. I just wanted to be normal.” Rudolph stops herself there and backtracks: “But I also didn’t want to be normal.”
Long before she was mangling the English language as Donatella Versace or caressing a loaf of bread as Oprah Winfrey, Rudolph was channeling that energy into a video camera in her best friend’s living room. Between renditions of Annie and Fame, the pair would play “talk show.” Her friend was the host, Dinah Shore, whom they’d renamed Dinah Snore, and Rudolph would be her ridiculously confident larger-than-life guest.
“I think the word we’d probably use today would be ‘diva,’ ” she says, seated in the backyard of her residential office, acknowledging that she could just as easily be describing any number of characters she’s released into the world as an adult. “Like, it’s not just a lady, it’s a lady with a feather boa and that feeling of, ‘I’m here and I’m very loud.’ “
Where the draw to Mae West-style characters comes from has long been a source of fascination for Rudolph, whose everyday energy is considerably lower-key. Part of it, she’s certain, is that she was raised in a house full of men, which meant she spent much of her childhood obsessed with what it was to be a woman. Playdates were often an excuse to rummage through friends’ medicine cabinets to see what exactly womanhood required. What she couldn’t learn through observation, she worked out through performance. If you think about it, she says now, “most of my characters are drag queens because all I wanted was to be a ‘real girl.’ “
It’s not lost on Rudolph that her memories of her mother are larger-than-life too. “The fact is, I saw my mom with a spotlight on her and total command of the stage,” she says, having tagged along to sound checks and tour dates. “She’d have flowers in her hair and a microphone in her hand, and how could that not have a dramatic effect on me?”
For years after, Rudolph would show up to school in her mom’s vintage gowns, which she’d pair with cowboy boots or whatever else she’d thrifted the weekend before. Fashion became as much a form of self-expression as it was another suit of armor. “She was always so inherently cool with her style, never trying too hard, never following others,” says Danielle Renfrew Behrens, a veteran producer and friend since kindergarten who now runs Rudolph and Natasha Lyonne’s production company. In fact, Behrens just assumed Rudolph would go into fashion. And, at a few different points, she did flirt with the idea of launching her own line, though admittedly she’s more interested in the clothes than the business.
Jack Black, who was a few years ahead of Rudolph at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, remembers nothing of her outfits but has a distinct memory of her joining his improv class and immediately knocking him off his game. “I was really enjoying being king of the hill of the theater department, and then here comes Maya, and she was just so funny and gifted and relaxed, and it really made me question whether I should even continue, like, that’s how strong she was,” says Black. “It’s like I was Salieri and she was Mozart, and I was so jealous that it kind of paralyzed me.”
It was Black who took her to her first Groundlings show at 14. Years later, after Rudolph earned her degree from UC Santa Cruz and played with the first of a few bands, she joined the comedy troupe and, as she tells it, found her people. Emily Spivey was among them, and the pair quickly became writing partners. “It was like a portal opened up in Maya’s side and I just plugged into it,” says Spivey, who would later follow Rudolph to SNL. “And it’s funny because we couldn’t have had more different childhoods — she was raised in Los Angeles, and I’m from High Point, North Carolina — but we laughed at all the same things and we love writing these humongous characters and we just fell in love with each other.”
Together, the two have worked on at least a few hundred sketches, not to mention a film (Wine Country), a sitcom (Up All Night), an animated comedy (Bless the Harts) and a variety show (Maya & Marty). Some of their early work can still make Spivey howl, like “Feminist River,” about two feminist college girls who were singing about their periods as one of their boyfriends shouted profanities at them from the audience. When the time came, there was more than enough for a compelling SNL reel, which Spivey’s now husband edited for Rudolph and then overnighted to New York. Somewhere, Spivey still has the FedEx receipt.
But before Rudolph landed her dream job, she dabbled: as a costumer’s assistant, a waitress, a singer and an actress, landing her first real role on City of Angels, a Steven Bochco medical drama for CBS. Rudolph should have been thrilled, but set life wasn’t nearly as intoxicating as the stage. She was, and still is, happiest performing live. Then, in 2000, she landed her meeting with Lorne Michaels. He asked her the million-dollar question: “Why do you think you should work at Saturday Night Live?” Rudolph’s response, which mortifies her to this day: “Because I love wearing wigs.” She was hired anyway.
Rudolph started at the tail end of SNL‘s 25th season, which was exhilarating for her and unsettling for many of her new colleagues who feared she’d come to replace them. She still remembers asking Chris Parnell, whom she knew from The Groundlings, what, exactly, she was supposed to do. “We just write,” he told her. “Till when?” she asked. “Till, like, 7 or 8 in the morning,” he said, and then all the doors started closing. So Rudolph walked into an office and opened up the Mac SE/30 on the desk. The name of its previous user popped up onscreen: Paul Thomas Anderson.
The filmmaker, who’d broken out with the 1997 drama Boogie Nights, had been at SNL the week before. He was getting ready to make Punch-Drunk Love with former castmember Adam Sandler when Molly Shannon, with whom he had mutual friends, invited him to come see how the show came together. Before Anderson knew it, he was directing a short. Rudolph remembers catching a glimpse of him on show night; he remembers seeing her name listed as a new castmember on a piece of paper. He knew in that moment that his “life had just changed,” he later told SmartLess co-hosts Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes.
As the story goes, Anderson went back home to Los Angeles, where he watched Rudolph on TV and was bowled over by how talented she was. On his way to London to work on his Sandler dramedy, he made sure to stop briefly in New York to come by the show and meet her. “Then I got to London and thought, ‘Well, something doesn’t feel right,'” he said, “and I just came back to New York [to take her out].” That was 22 years and four children ago. Rudolph says she knew only pieces of that story before she heard Anderson telling it on air, though she plays coy on which pieces. Get more at The Hollywood Reporter
#RHOA: Kenya Moore Opens Up About Being "in Jeopardy of Losing [Her] Business"
The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member explained that she "could lose everything" if she doesn't turn Kenya Moore Haircare around.
During the June 19 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kenya Moore got real about the "drama" her beauty brand, Kenya Moore Haircare, has been facing.
"I had a deadline last month. I did not do what I was supposed to do with Walmart," Kenya told Shereé Whitfield during the episode. "I did not get them the samples, I did not get the packaging."
Kenya went on to explain why she didn't meet the company's expectations. "Here's the problem: So all of my [bottles] come from China and, you know, all of the shipments are backed up," she said. "So if I don't have it — everything — by a certain date, I may miss that deadline, too." In addition to shipping delays, Kenya also has another hindrance: "I don't have a team."
"If I don't turn it around, I could lose everything right now," Kenya said.
Kenya took a moment to reflect on her business' circumstances in an episode interview. "I figured out how I got myself in this situation because of all of my personal issues and not putting my business before my personal," she disclosed. "For us to be in jeopardy of losing my business, especially our biggest retailer, it's scary. You don't want to ever be in that position where you're going backwards. . . A lot is at stake here."
Watch new episodes of RHOA Sundays at 8/7c and streaming on Peacock.
#NewMusic from Babyface & Ella Mai ‘Keeps On Fallin”
It’s long been established that Babyface is the man. The hitmaker is now into the sixth decade of being an artist, and he’s nowhere near retirement. He’s actually entering the next phase of his career with a new record deal with Capitol Records, and he makes his debut on the label with the new single “Keeps On Fallin'” featuring Ella Mai.
Babyface teased the collaboration on social media prior to its release, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look in the studio with Ella and producer D’Mile in footage recorded back in March 2021. The living legend is super chill in the clip, complimenting Ella’s work and explaining his process to the songstress who also plays it cool.
o craft “Keeps On Fallin’,” Babyface reached into his deep trunk of hits to sample Tevin Campbell‘s “Can We Talk.” The song, which he co-wrote and co-produced with Daryl Simmons for the teen dream in 1993, is a solid foundation for D’Mile to work his production magic. D’Mile provides the superstars with a sound full of synths, keys and percussion that hits nostalgic notes while being a contemporary bop.
Always a gentleman, Face steps aside to give Ella the first verse and she steps right on up. After being happily “Boo’d Up” years ago, “Keeps On Fallin'” shows that she’s still head over heels. “Every day like the first day / Still get butterflies, oh yeah,” Ella admits early and she keeps showering her lover with love.
The second verse belongs to Babyface who comes through with some sage wisdom and reminds her just who she is. “You the reason why in the first place / He been goin’ up and it shows, babe / Ain’t no doubt about it, you Ella Mai / You gotta give yourself some credit,” he sings, almost like a big brother letting her know that she’s got the sauce.
Babyface and Ella Mai were equally excited to work with each other. While Ella described getting to work with him as, “an absolute dream come true for me,” Babyface couldn’t wait to record with her. “When I first heard Ella’s voice, I thought, ‘what an incredible and distinctive voice, I have to get in the studio with her!’ Well, I did…and it was everything I imagined and more!” he shared, totally enamored with Ms. Mai.
LISTEN HERE
One thing’s for sure and two things are for certain, Babyface knows how to make a hit song and “Keeps On Fallin'” is an intergenerational jam. The song’s groove and its catchy lyrics are ready for either a smooth two-step or the latest TikTok dance – all are welcome and invited to the cookout. We already anticipate rocking this track all summer long, and it has the potential to become a new R&B classic.
#HipHopNews: Kid Cudi Announces ‘To The Moon’ World Tour
Kid Cudi is returning to the road on his “To the Moon – 2022 World Tour,” which travels to 27 cities across North America, Asia, and Europe this summer and fall. The North American leg kicks off Aug. 16 in Vancouver, with stops in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Dallas, and Chicago. In the fall, the tour will hit Japan and Europe, including shows in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris, wrapping Nov. 22 in Milan.
Don Toliver and Strick will join Cudi on the North American trek, with additional support on select dates by Denzel Curry and 070 Shake. Supporting acts for the international leg will be announced at a later date.
“To the Moon” also includes a stop in Cudi’s hometown of Cleveland for his inaugural Moon Man’s Landing festival on Sept. 17 with Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, Dominic Fike, Jaden, and 070 Shake.
Cudi is readying his new studio album Entergalactic, which will debut alongside his animated music series for Netflix of the same name. Earlier this month, he dropped the first single “Do What I Want.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m. local time. American Express card members can purchase tickets for the North American dates starting today.
TO THE MOON WORLD TOUR DATES
Aug. 16 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Aug. 18 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Aug. 19 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Aug. 21 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Aug. 23 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
Aug. 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Aug. 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Aug. 27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Aug. 30 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Aug. 31 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Sept. 1 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Sept. 4 – Miami, FL – FTX Arena
Sept. 6 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sept. 8 – Washington DC – Capital One Arena
Sept. 9 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Sept. 10 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sept. 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Sept. 14 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Sept. 16 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sept. 17 – Cleveland, OH – Moon Man’s Landing
Oct. 17 – Tokyo, Japan – Toyosu PIT
Nov. 12 – Berlin, Germany – Verti Music Hall
Nov. 13 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
Nov. 15 – London, UK – The O2
Nov. 17 – Brussels, Belgium – Palais 12
Nov. 20 – Paris, France – Zenith
Nov. 22 – Milan, Italy – Fabrique
Tennis Star Naomi Osaka Teams Up w/ Lebron James’ SpringHill Company To Launch Media Company
Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka is expanding her talents and is getting into the entertainment business by launching a media company in partnership with LeBron James, 37, and Maverick Carter’s, 42, The SpringHill Company.
Naomi Osaka, 24, and her longtime agent and business partner Stuart Duguid are behind the production banner, which is called Hana Kuma. As previously reported, Osaka and Duguid also launched their own sports agency in May. According to the new production banner Hana Kuma –hana means “flower” and kuma means “bear” in Japanese–the company
“will produce stories that are culturally specific but universal to all audiences; playful and bold in its approach to tackle important issues of society.”
Naomi Osaka said in a statement: “There has been an explosion of creators of color finally being equipped with resources and a huge platform. In the streaming age, content has a more global perspective. You can see this in the popularity of television from Asia, Europe and Latin America that the unique can also be universal. My story is a testament to that as well. I’m so excited for what we are building at Hana Kuma. We will bring stories to life with this goal in mind: to make unique perspectives feel universal and inspire people along the way.”
The first project under the Hana Kuma banner will be MINK!, an upcoming New York Times documentary about Patsy Mink– the first woman of color elected to Congress– and the author and sponsor of Title IX, which prohibited sex-based discrimination in schools that receive government funding.
NBA star Lebron James– who co-founded SpringHill in 2020 with Maverick Carter– praised Naomi Osaka’s “grace and power” and said he believed the partnership would “help empower her to do even more great things.”
According to reps for Hana Kuma, SpringHill will provide production, development and other strategic resources to the company, continuing a strategy of building a business model “to center athletes as creators” and
“to act as an incubator for athletes who want to create and story tell beyond their sport in creative, impactful and thought-provoking ways.”
According to reports, SpringHill raised a new round of financing last year from big names like Nike, RedBird Capital and Epic Games in a major deal that valued Maverick Carter and Lebron James’ company at $725 million. A significant focus of that financing was giving SpringHill the money needed to invest in new creators.
Tyler Perry Reflects On How An Invite From Oprah Changed His Life: In That Very Moment I Decided To UP MY DREAMING!
Multi-talented entertainer Tyler Perry is offering a word in inspiration!
Earlier today, the 52-year-old producer shared with his 6.8million followers a clip from a huge moment in his life. In a lengthy post, the Madea creator detailed the effect of experiencing Oprah Winfrey’s celebrity studded “Legends Ball”, in his early 30’s.
Beginning the post, Tyler Perry wrote:
“When I was in my early 30s I didn’t know Oprah very well, but she gave me an experience that changed my life and set me on a path that has allowed me to try and do the same for many others. She invited me to her Legends Ball, and I have to tell you, I was sitting in that room just looking at all of those legends, from a future President named Barack Obama to Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King, and Sidney Poitier. I mean, all my icons. Everywhere I turned there was someone else who blew my mind.”
Accompanied with the post, the Sistas writer shared a clip from 2006 event. Various influential Black celebrities make an appearance in the clip, including Tyra Banks, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, and Chaka Khan. In the post, Tyler Perry noted notable celebs that took his breath away including future President Barack Obama.
“Being there in that moment, something happened that changed my life’s path….At that age I struggled with feeling worthy of good things. I often felt small, like I didn’t belong. But what I now know, looking back from my 52 years of living in this body, is that that feeling comes from the abuse I endured, the things that were said and done to me as a child.”
But hear me clearly, I had to do away with that feeling because that is a dangerous mindset. Feeling unworthy can cause you to miss your greatest blessing. And trust me, I know how hard it is to feel worthy, especially when you grow up in an abusive household. Thank God I got past it.”
The NAACP image award winner goes on to discuss how his reality at the time left him stunned. Tyler says that at some point, he outwardly questioned how he managed such a feat. In that moment, the actor stated that Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, immediately gave him assurance that he deserved to be at such a surreal event. In that very moment I decided to UP MY DREAMING!! And God met me at the level that I started to dream on…..I really did start to dream bigger and by doing that, God has blown my mind.”
I said all that to say this, the people in your life who make you dream bigger are the points on your soul’s compass….Follow that dream!! Follow that faith!! God bless you.”
Since overcoming days living in his car, Tyler Perry has become a staple influence in the Black community. By bringing jobs to underserved communities and sharing stories that aren’t normally highlighted, he’s continued forging a great path of success, grossing over $670million dollars with his just beloved Madea franchise. His latest Madea flic, A Madea Homecoming, premiered on Netflix earlier this year.
#OOOPS: The Mother of NeNe Leakes Grandchild Blasts Both Her and Son Bryson
The mother of NeNe Leakes’ grandchild is ready to air out both her and her son, Bryson, on a reality TV show.
Symone Davis took to Instagram to blast Bryson for refusing to do two reality shows they both allegedly have the opportunity to participate in.
She wrote:
“So we have the opportunity to do 2 reality shows. But this 1 refused because he doesn’t want me to embarrass him on TV. Yea, I left him alone back in 2017, but he still wants to be a family. So why not do our own show.
He rather flip burgers at Burger King & sleep couch to couch…but ya momma a millionaire. I’m trying to see what the ratings would be for this be the ( knows I’m comin HARD with my receipts. My mouth has no filter. I like Million Dollar checks $ . Where’s my pen /, bishh I’m signing 3″
Taking things a step further, Symone continued to blast Bryson’s mom, NeNe Leakes, for some alleged mistreatment — and other things.
“Ok… so it’s pretty funny how everything I said would happen has surfaced. How do you blacklist me & your family, telling me you’ll make sure I never work with anyone in tv, but now you’re crying that the industry is blacklisting you. Keep it a buck… you’re a terrible friend & person to work with. Hell, terrible person PERIOD! You’ve lost ALL of your good friends. Weren’t you the same 1 saying “I cash TRUMP checks bitch”? Well I’m the same 1 that said “You better humble yourself bc everything you have can be taken away”… cough cough. Here we are. Your husband is gone that you took from his wife & kids. Your oldest son is a junkie. You don’t do anything for your grandkids, you got fired from #realhousewivesofatlanta , you have no real friends, you tried to sell your house for 4 mil so you’ll make profit. However, you were going to loose that house so you settled for 575k profit minus what you still owed/behind. & the deeper shit goin on I won’t even say right now. But this karma is worth some . Better hope that lounge works out bc those boutiques were a FLOP! & your tv career is OVER! Idk how people respect you or call you the Queen. delusion. Burger King may be best for you too… ok that’s all. Carry On/.Oh & keep your legs closed to married men “
Honestly, we don’t blame Bryson for not wanting to do reality tv. See Symone’s posts below
American Airlines Cuts Services to Three U.S. Cities Due to Pilot Shortage
American Airlines is ending service in three cities this fall in response to the industry-wide pilot shortage.
via: Revolt
American Airlines has made the decision to remove three U.S. cities from its services due to a pilot shortage. Locations that will be cut include Toledo, Ohio, Ithaca, New York, and Islip, New York, CBS News reports.
Other arrangements will be provided by the airline company for individuals who may have already booked flights to the impacted locations. According to a statement from American Airlines, the organization is “extremely grateful for the care and service our team members provided to our customers in Islip, Ithaca, and Toledo.”
They also revealed that they “are working closely with them during this time,” according to a spokesperson for the company. The news comes just after thousands of flights were canceled or delayed over the past weekend when many Americans were traveling to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth.
James Ferrara, co-founder and president of global host travel agency InteleTravel, told USA Today that due to shortages in skilled positions such as pilots, airlines are unable to keep up with the demand of their travelers.
“We’re in a boom time for travel. We’re blowing away all records of all previous years,” said Ferrara. “So you’ve got this surge in demand, and you’ve got limitations on staffing.”
Among the airports impacted the most by flight delays and cancellations over the past weekend are New York City’s LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport were also affected on Sunday (June 19).
According to The Federal Aviation Administration, pilots are required to retire at age 65. However, at the height of the pandemic, thousands in the profession opted to retire early. Per Pilots’ unions, the positions have not been able to replenish the roles as quickly as needed to sustain the industry.
American Airlines will halt services to the three cities starting Sept. 7.
Dave Chappelle declines having high school theater named after him
On (June 20), the Duke Ellington School of the Arts held a theater dedication ceremony in honor of Dave Chappelle, as the auditorium was intended to be renamed in his honor. Somewhat surprisingly, the decorated comedian took to the stage and announced that said venue would instead be named the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.
The reason for the change is largely because of controversy surrounding Chappelle in the wake of recent stand-up specials on Netflix — specifically The Closer, which saw him speaking candidly about his opinions on the LGBTQIA+ community. The release of that special generated enough vitriol to cause an employee walkout at Netflix, with many of Chappelle‘s detractors accusing him of “punching down” in regards to the transgendered community.
“No matter what they say about ‘The Closer,’ it is still [one of the] most watched specials on Netflix,” he reportedly said during the ceremony. “The more you say I can’t say something, the more urgent it is for me to say it. It has nothing to do with what you are saying I can’t say. It has everything to do with my freedom of artistic expression.”
As previously reported, Chappelle was met with polarizing response during a surprise trip that he made to the Washington, D.C. institution back in November. According to various reports, several students criticized Chappelle during his visit, calling him a “bigot” and stating that his “comedy kills.” One particular student was quoted as saying, “I’m 16 and I think you’re childish; you handled it like a child.”
Referencing that moment, Chappelle admitted that the backlash from those students “sincerely hurt me.” He also reportedly stated that he’s not looking to create a distraction for the school:
“The idea that my name will be turned into an instrument of someone else’s perceived oppression is untenable to me.”
Lil Nas X rolls out a series of fake partnerships as promo for upcoming single
Lil Nas X is known for his different sense of humor and can often be seen trolling fans and haters alike on social media. Over the weekend, the “Industry Baby” used a handful of popular brands to tease fake partnerships to promote his upcoming single “Late to da Party” which features NBA YoungBoy.
On Saturday (June 18), in an obviously nonexistent partnership with MacDonalds (not to legally be confused with fast-food giant McDonald’s), the 23-year-old artist promised BBLs to fans who pre-saved his new song. “So happy to announce I am teaming up with Macdonalds to give out FREE BBLS to the first 1,000,000 ppl to presave my new single,” he said in a tweet. A photo of a yellow “M” against a red background was attached with a message that read, “Win a free fat ass when you pre-save ‘Late to da Party’ today!”
The openly gay artist continued the promotional rollout by pretending to partner with the Christian-influenced chain restaurant Chic-Fil-A. “Get a free meal on Sundays when you pre-save,” the photo said of the eatery that is closed on Sundays. In another post, Lil Nas X uploaded a poorly photoshopped picture that included himself, YoungBoy and a random group of white kids holding a birthday cake. The Shutterstock watermark was left on the image.
In a more explicit post, the “Scoop” singer announced a fake deal with LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr. Although the posts were clearly jokes, Grindr got in on the action by urging everyone to “hurry up and pre-save while you can.” Lil Nas X is no stranger to trolling or photoshop. Last August, he announced his album, Montero, by using Drake’s Certified Lover Boy pregnant woman emoji cover art and replacing it with pregnant men. As Lil Nas X continues to find new ways to troll, we’ll be on the lookout for “Late to da Party.”
#RIP: NFL's Jaylon Ferguson Passes Away at 26, Baltimore Ravens Announce
Jaylon Ferguson, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, has tragically passed away at the young age of 26.
The team announced the tragedy in the early hours of Wednesday (June 22).
“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson,” the Ravens said in a statement. “He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon‘s family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon.”
No immediate details were available about the cause of death.
Jaylon was drafted to the Ravens in the 2019 NFL Draft, tallying 4.5 sacks and 67 tackles in his career there.
Our thoughts are with Jaylon‘s friends, family, and loved ones during this time. RIP
Sherri Shepherd Announces Premiere Date for New Daytime Talk Show
On Tuesday (June 21), Sherri Shepherd announced the premiere date for her upcoming daytime talk show heading to Fox.
The 55-year-old Emmy winner announced that Sherri will premiere on Monday, September 12.
“September 12 can’t get here fast enough. Hosting my own talk show is a dream come true and I’m so excited to take viewers on this joyous journey,” Sherri said in a statement, via EW.
“My new show will be something truly fun and fresh, a daily hour of entertainment escapism with plenty of laughter, fun and flirtiness as I give my take on pop culture,” Sherri continued. “And I’m so glad to have such an awesome senior production team helping to make this magic a reality.”
Sherri is taking over the timeslot of The Wendy Williams Show, which officially ended earlier this month after 13 seasons.
Sherri and other stars had been filling in for Wendy as guest host of her show since 2021, due to Wendy taking a step back amid health issues and other behind-the-scenes turmoil.
David Perler – who was the executive producer and showrunner for 12 of the past 13 seasons of The Wendy Williams Show – will be continuing his roles on Sherri.
Amber Heard Reportedly Set To Write Tell-All Book As She Has ‘Nothing To Lose’ After Johnny Depp Trial
Amber Heard is reportedly planning to write a tell-all book about her relationship with ex-husband Johnny Depp, after being ordered to pay a whopping $8.4 million in damages following their explosive six-week trial.
The Texas native’s legal team has already come forward and said that their client is in no position to pay the high sum, and sources are now asserting that Amber believes her career in Hollywood is over, so she’s turning her attention to penning her own memoir as she feels she has “nothing to lose” at this point.
“Amber considers her career in Hollywood over. She’s already in talks and is excited about it. At this point, she has nothing to lose and wants to tell all,” a source explained, indicating that the book will be heavily focused on Amber’s version of events regarding her tumultuous romance with the Pirates of the Caribbean star.
And while Amber may think she has nothing to lose by putting out a book that will have Johnny’s name all over it, a New York divorce lawyer has weighed in on the report, saying that the 36-year-old needs to be very careful when talking about her ex unless she wants to be sued for defamation again.
After hearing about Amber’s supposed plans to write a tell-all memoir, Dror Bikel told OK! Magazine, “Depp and his attorneys will be reading and listening to everything that Heard states. If she crosses the line, which is likely, there is no question that will be hit with another defamation suit and end up right back in court.”
Earlier this month, it was reported that Amber was broke and struggling for cash after being hit with the jury’s verdict earlier this month. And just last week, she was spotted shopping in discount store TJ Maxx in New York with her sister Whitney, which would further indicate that she is, indeed, facing some financial problems right now.
Furthermore, she gave her first televised interview since the jury’s verdict last week, where The Rum Diaries star insisted she was standing by her accusations against Johnny “until her dying day.”
“To my dying day, I’ll stand by every word of my testimony,” she told interviewer Savannah Guthrie on TODAY. “I did do and say horrible, regrettable things throughout my relationship, I behaved in horrible, almost unrecognizable to myself ways, I have so much regret. (I have) freely, openly and voluntarily talked about what I did… It was ugly and could be very beautiful. It was very, very toxic. We were awful to each other. I made a lot of mistakes, but I’ve always told the truth.”
Amber is still expected to star in the upcoming “Aquaman 2” — which hits theaters next year — after a petition to remove her from the second installment had reached almost five million signatures.
Two Men Accused Of Hacking Gas Station, Selling Gas At Discounted Rate
Police have taken two men into custody in Virginia Beach and accused them of hacking into gas pumps and selling fuel at a discounted rate.
According to Virginia Beach police, officers responded to the Citgo gas station in the 1400 block of North Great Neck Road on June 14 for a report of suspicious activity. The gas station was closed at the time.
Officers later learned that devices were being used to “illegally access gas pumps.” The gas was then being sold at a discounted rate through a phone application and was being advertised on social media.
Police have not confirmed the exact amount of gas that was stolen, however they’ve determined that “thousands of dollars” of gas were taken from the business over several days.
Authorities say the incident is still an active investigation. Police are advising local gas stations that close overnight to review security camera footage to ensure they have not been victims as well.
Rob Gronkowski Announces Retirement From NFL
Rob Gronkowski is retiring. Again. One of the greatest tight ends of all time is calling it a career at the age of 33. Gronk made the announcement on social media.
“I want to thank the whole entire first class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team,” Gronkowski said in his statement. “I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field.
“The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all.”
Gronk who retired after his stint with the New England Patriots returned from retirement at the call of Tom Brady. Gronk’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he would not be surprised if that happened again.
“It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call,” Rosenhaus said. “This is just my opinion, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season.”
If it truly is a wrap, Gronk will finish his career with four Super Bowl wins, a four-time All-Pro, and five trips to the Pro Bowl. He also was named to the 2010s All-Decade Team and the 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He also has the most career touchdowns by a tight end in postseason history. A future Hall of Fame resume for sure.
Snoop Dogg Tells Martha Stewart He Smokes 15-25 “Special Cigarettes” A Day
If there are two things you know Snoop Dogg for, it’s his music and his love for marijuana. In fact, it’s basically a part of his entire brand and has been since his days as an artist on Death Row.
On the other hand, in the last decade or so, Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart have become the duo we never thought we needed. As the businesswoman and tv personality readies the pilot episode for her upcoming podcast, The Martha Stewart Podcast, Snoop Dogg shares in a preview just how many “special cigarettes” he smokes a day.
“The question they’re going to ask is whether or not Snoop is smoking. Can you tell me how many of those special cigarettes you smoke a day do you think?” Martha asks.
Snoop replied, saying “It depends. When I’m shooting television, maybe about 15 a day. But when I’m making music, probably about 25 and the thing is when I’m with Martha, she’s the secondhand queen. I make sure she gets all the secondhand smoke.”
Martha responded by saying that contrary to popular belief, the secondhand smoke makes her concentrate more when she’s around Snoop.
“That is the only time I get that fabulous secondhand smoke. And I must tell you, it makes me feel really good. And it does not disturb my concentration. In fact, I think it makes it even better and it doesn’t make me tired or any of the things that people say marijuana does to you. It’s fantastic. I think it’s great.”
In previous years, Snoop has revealed that he smokes more than 15-25 blunts a day. In a 2012 Reddit conversation, Snoop said that he rolls 81 blunts a day. He also added that the longest he has gone without smoking is 164 days.
“The longest I’ve ever been off is 164 days and muthafuckas say that’s a great answer. But the better question is, when was it when I first started smoking and how long was my life before I took my first pull? That’s the question I pose to you, Reddit.”
Giancarlo Esposito on Future Gus Fring Stories: ‘Vince Gilligan Said to Me It Is Not Over Until It’s Over’
With just six episodes remaining in the final season of AMC’s Better Caul Saul, Giancarlo Esposito, who plays Gus Fring in the Breaking Bad universe, teased a possible spin-off centered around his character during a recent appearance on the Late Show With James Corden.
“It’s over. It’s going to be over,” Esposito said at the 5:05 mark of the above clip, before revealing that series creator Vince Gilligan might be ready to explore his character’s origin story in a potential spin-off.
“Vince Gilligan said to me, ‘It is not over until it’s over,” he added. “Is that a clue? For me, I think it may be a clue because as an actor I take that [to mean] ‘There could be something else.’”
Esposito added, “In my brain, there is another show...called ‘The Rise of Gus.’”
It isn’t the first time Esposito has discussed a potential spin-off. Back in April, the actor hinted at the possibility in an interview with Insider from earlier this year.
“The last days [on set of Better Call Saul], I’m tearing up and looking over my shoulder and I hear Vince say, ‘You never know,’” Esposito said of the possibility of Fring headlining his own spin-off series. “And so, I’ve always wanted, and felt like, there’s room for material for the rise of Gus. I feel like it’d be interesting to know where he came from.”
Although Breaking Bad did somewhat explore Fring’s origin story, Esposito thinks there’s room to dig even deeper into the character. “I feel like he came from a really wealthy family, had the opportunity to run, not only the family, but government in another country,” he told Insider. “He had that kind of brain, that charisma, that stature, and he traded it in because he wanted to be his own man. There’s something fascinating to me about that.”
Janet Hubert Joins Cast of AMC’s New ‘Damascus’ Series
*Former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Janet Hubert has landed a role in AMC’s “Demascus” series.
“Demascus” is a half-hour series created by writer and playwright, Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm (Boomerang) and executive produced by Mark Johnson’s Gran Via Productions (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad). Kirk Moore (American Crime, For Life) and Chisholm serve as co-showrunners. Myki Bajaj of Gran Via is also a producer, per press release.
Okieriete Onaodowan (Jack Ryan, Station 19) stars as Demascus, a 33-year-old Black man who goes on a journey of self-discovery using an innovative new technology that allows him to experience different versions of his own life. Hubert has been cast to play Dr. Bonnetville, a psychotherapist with a quick wit and a smart mouth; she uses her patented blend of apathy and cutting edge technology to aid her patients on their quests for personal growth.
Hubert joins previously announced cast members Caleb Eberhardt, who plays Redd, Demascus’ Bohemian artist best friend who is a reformed reprobate stumbling into adulthood, and he’s determined to take Demascus with him. Shakira Ja’nai Paye plays Naomi, an alluring performer who captures Demascus’ heart and imagination during a chance meeting; she’s a haunting missed connection and he can’t stop wondering: “what if?”.
Madonna refused to dress down for ‘Will & Grace’ guest role
Madonna was too much of a “Material Girl” to wear corporate clothes for her 2003 cameo on “Will & Grace.”
In the Season 5 episode, titled “Dolls and Dolls,” Karen (Megan Mullally) gets a job in an office and meets Liz (Madonna), who then becomes her roommate — but according to executive producer Gary Janetti, the Queen of Pop wouldn’t dress down for the part.
“[She’s] like an executive secretary, the kind of woman who wears her sneakers on the subway and carries her shoes in her bag and goes to a happy hour after work and thinks she’s kind of like, you know, a big deal in her tiny office,” Janetti, 56, explained on Wednesday’s episode of the “Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef” podcast.
“So she was supposed to wear, you know, Anne Klein II suits with sneakers and be the kind of woman you’d see on the subway. And Madonna as that is very funny … but Madonna didn’t want to wear any of those clothes.”
Because Madge, now 63, was “at the height of her fame” at the time, she brought her own wardrobe and glam teams to the sitcom set.
“So she looked fabulous,” Janetti continued, “but as a result, it was about 50 percent less funny than it should have been.”
Janetti admitted he didn’t know if Madonna had “a particularly good sense of humor” and decided that trying to convince her to wear her character’s pre-selected wardrobe “wasn’t a conversation that was going to happen.”
“We even had jokes we had to change because of what Karen said — maybe based on what she was wearing — [because it] didn’t make sense anymore,” he told Yontef.
“I mean, she looked like Madonna. She looked like a rich, fabulous celebrity, which wasn’t what the character was,” he said. “But she was game when she was on the show, and she was also funny.”
Reps for the musician did not immediately respond to Page Six Style’s request for comment.
Krispy Kreme Releases Original Glazed®-Flavored Soft Serve Ice Cream and Milkshakes For The Summer
Fans will be able to quench their sweet desire with a new dessert from Krispy Kreme.
The new menu will include seven new shakes inspired by popular donut flavors, with select locations offering the original glazed donut-flavored soft-serve ice cream.
Currently, only ten markets will sell the new donut-inspired dessert.
The ice cream will contain ingredients from the original glazed doughnut, such as the signature glaze flavor and whole natural milk. The new frozen delicacy is available in cups or waffle cones and comes in three flavors: original glazed, strawberry iced sprinkled, and chocolate iced. It will also be infused with Krispy Kreme flavor from their proprietary donut mix and original glaze flavor. Customers can add a dehydrated original glazed doughnut topping to their ice cream to enhance their sweet treat.
Among the new additions of the Krispy Kreme milkshakes are seven flavors: Original glazed, strawberry iced sprinkled, chocolate iced, lemon filled, cookies & Kreme, birthday batter, and coffee & Kreme.
“The introduction of original glazed soft serve ice cream is a big day for Krispy Kreme and our fans,” Krispy Kreme’s Chief Marketing Officer Dave Skena said. “Our fans love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and they also love rich, creamy ice cream. We’re confident their love of ice cream and for Krispy Kreme is going to go to an entirely new level after they experience these deliciously unique shakes, cones, and cups. We’re thrilled to begin our rollout on the first day of summer.”
Fans can find the original glazed donut milkshake at participating locations like North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas. Krispy Kreme revealed that they would be disclosing some of the additional participating locations such as Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, and Kansas.
The new menu items are out now.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
AT LEAST HE TRIED
At least he tried to use one!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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