6/27/22

The Daily Buzz For June 28☕πŸ“°☕

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#FASHIONFAB: Jodie Turner-Smith for Gucci Bloom SS 2022 Campaign, 'The Awakening' Vogue Film

Jodie Turner-Smith for Gucci Bloom SS 2022 Campaign, 'The Awakening' Vogue Film AOC Fashion


Gucci ambassador, actor Jodie Turner-Smith stars in Gucci Bloom Spring/Summer 2022: The Awakening Campaign, styled by Francesca Cefis in pieces from Gucci’s Love Parade collection. Photographer Annie Lai [IG] is behind the lens with Yumna Al-Arashi [IG] directing the campaign film./ Hair by Marcia Lee; makeup by Sheika Daley; set design by Ines Marty Monzon

The ‘Awakening: Jodie Turner-Smith’ film articulates the actor’s feelings about motherhood and sensuality as one of mutual empowerment that is not well-expressed in western culture. In April 2020, the ‘Queen & Slim’ actor gave birth to a daughter Janie, a co-production with actor Joshua Jackson.


The film is a joint production between Gucci and Vogue, the second act of a series that explores self-discovery, actualization and empowerment. Vogue highlights all the top notes of the campaign.

“I’m modeling expression and joy and fulfillment for my child,” Turner-Smith asserts thoughtfully in the film, as she notices her reflection in a mirrored surface. “I want her to know that she doesn’t have to choose between being fulfilled and being happy, between being a mother and having work.”


Spraying Gucci Bloom fragrance on her clavicle and pulse points, Turner-Smith connects the natural world of Tuberose, Jasmine Buds, Neroli and Rangoon Creeper with her own sensual self.

 

 

#RHOA: Nene Leakes Denies Claims She’s A 'Husband Stealer’ After Being Sued By Boyfriend’s Ex-Wife

Nene Leakes just addressed claims that she ”stole” her current boyfriend Nyonisela Sioh from his ex-wife, Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh.

 

In a new Instagram Live video obtained by @therealityrundown, the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star denies ever stealing someone’s husband.

“There’s so much going on in the world, let’s just show each other a little more love. I mean that, there’s so much going on,” Leakes says in the video. ”I’m already out here husband stealing…Ain’t nobody out here stealing people’s husbands. I wouldn’t know. Nobody wants to steal somebody else’s problem, honey.”

 

Leakes claims that she’s not a ”husband stealer” comes a few days after Tehmah-Sioh sued the former reality star for ruining her marriage.

TMZ reported that Tehmeh-Sioh is suing Leakes for $100,000, alleging she suffered emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of affection as a result of the television personality hooking up with her husband while they were still married.

 

The suit has reportedly been filed in North Carolina, which is one of a few states a person can sue a spouse’s lover for alienation of affection.

 

 

#NewMusic from Chris Brown Releases New Album “Breezy” (Stream)

R&B superstar Chris Brown has dropped his tenth studio album “Breezy”. The project is spearheaded by the singles “Iffy”, “WE (Warm Embrace) as well as the recently released “Call Me Every Day” with Wizkid. This is Chris’ first official album since his 2019 project “Indigo”.

 

The album contains features from all the biggest stars in Hip Hop and R&B including Ella Mai, Bryson Tiller, Lil Wayne, Yung Bleu and H.E.R.


STREAM HERE

The tracklist is smaller than his last two albums as this one only contains 24 songs. The 2017 album “Heartbreak on A Full Moon” contained a grand total of 45 songs. Chris is also set to hit the road with Lil Baby at the end of July.

 

 

#HipHopNews: Diddy Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award!

Sean “Diddy” Combs received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 BET Awards and he received an all-star tribute fit for a king, starting with JAY-Z.

 

“Here’s this guy from a neighborhood similar to where I grown up that made it to these unreachable heights,” said Hov while honoring his fellow icon in the opening video montage. “Puff was the first one that came through and made us feel like it was us.”

Jodeci kicked off the musical salute by taking it back to Puff’s Uptown Records days with a performance of “Come & Talk to Me,” followed by Mary J. Blige, who belted out her My Life classic “I’m Goin’ Down.”

 

Puff himself emerged to “Victory” before Shyne made a surprise appearance for “Bad Boyz.” Lil’ Kim hit the stage for her verse from “It’s All About the Benjamins” before Busta Rhymes made the crowd jump with “Pass the Courvoisier,” changing the lyrics from “Pass the Courvoisier” to “Pass the Ciroc this way.”

 

Diddy gave fans a peak into his next era, the Love era, with his new single “Gotta Move On” with Bryson Tiller.

 

Following a video from Diddy’s late ex Kim Porter, Diddy performed “I’ll Be Missing You” with Faith Evans, dedicating it to Porter, who died in 2007.

 

“Baby girl Kim, this one’s for you,” he said.

Babyface took the stage to honor Puff before introducing surprise guest Kanye West, who walked out in a ski mask and sunglasses, explaining that only Puff could get him to come out of his hiatus.

 

“I was signed to Puff without him knowing,” Ye joked while reflecting on Diddy’s impact. “He inspires so many of my life choices, my wife choices.”

 

He continued to pay homage to the Bad Boy icon for breaking barriers. “This man has broke down a lot of doors,” he said. “He broke doors of classism, taste, culture, swag.”

 

While accepting the award, Diddy acknowledged all those who have come in and out of his life, including Biggie, Andre Harrell, and Kim Porter, as well as his ex Cassie “for holding me down in the dark times.” Diddy’s current love interest, Yung Miami, was in the front row cheering him on, holding up a sign that said, “Go Papi.”

 

“I got this dream of Black people being free. I got this dream of us controlling our own destiny,” said Puff, who ended his speech by announcing that he’s donating $2 million to HBCUs.

 

 

The BET Awards 2022: See the complete list of winners

The BET Awards, which celebrate Black excellence in music, culture and sports, were presented Sunday.

Lizzo kicked off the show, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, with a shining performance of her latest hit, “About Damn Time.”

 

Several of the presenters, performers and award recipients called for action after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday

 

There were moments of joy, however, too. Brandy did a surprise performance with Jack Harlow, and Mariah Carey hit some impressive high notes in a surprise performance with Latto.

Sean “Diddy” Combs received a lifetime achievement award. He was celebrated by a host of fellow artists and former collaborators like Mary J. Blige and Kanye West.

 

Will Smith, who stoked controversy at the Academy Awards by slapping Chris Rock on stage shortly before winning the best actor Oscar, won the BET Award for best actor on Sunday.

 

A full list of nominees follows below, with the winners announced during the broadcast indicated in bold.

 

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Ari Lennox

ChlΓΆe

Doja Cat

H.E.R.

Jazmine Sullivan *WINNER

Mary J. Blige

Summer Walker

 

Best male R&B/Pop Artist

Blxst

Chris Brown

Giveon

Lucky Daye

The Weeknd *WINNER

Wizkid

Yung Bleu


Best Group

Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) *WINNER

ChlΓΆe X Halle

City Girls

Lil Baby & Lil Durk

Migos

Young Dolph & Key Glock

 

Best Collaboration

Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems - “Essence” *WINNER

DJ Khaled fest. Lil Baby & Lil Durk - “Every Chance I Get”

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar - “Family Ties

Doja Cat feat. SZA - “Kiss Me More”

Drake feat. Future & Young Thug - “Way 2 Sexy”

Bia feat. Nicki Minaj - “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”

 

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Cardi B

Doja Cat

Latto

Megan Thee Stallion *WINNER

Nicki Minaj

Saweetie

 

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

Drake

Future

J. Cole

Jack Harlow

Kanye West

Kendrick Lamar *WINNER

Lil Baby

 

Video of the Year

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar - “Family Ties”

ChlΓΆe - “Have Mercy”

Doja Cat feat. SZA - “Kiss Me More”

Ari Lennox - “Pressure”

Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) - “Smokin Out The Window” *WINNER

Drake feat. Future & Young Thug - “Way 2 Sexy”

 

Video Director of the Year

Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak *WINNER

Benny Boom

BeyoncΓ© & Dikayl Rimmasch

Director X

Hype Williams

Missy Elliott

 

Best New Artist

Baby Keem

Benny the Butcher

Latto *WINNER

Muni Long

Tems

Yung Bleu

 

Album of the Year

Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) - “An Evening with Silk Sonic” *WINNER

H.E.R. - “Back of My Mind”

Tyler, the Creator - “Call Me If You Get Lost”

Drake - “Certified Lover Boy”

Kanye West - “Donda”

Jazmine Sullivan - “Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe”

Doja Cat - “Planet Her”

 

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

Marvin Sapp - “All In Your Hands”

Kanye West - “Come to Life”

Kelly Price - “Grace”

Fred Hammond - “Hallelujah”

H.E.R. & Tauren Wells - “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)”

Election Worship & Maverick City Music - “Jireh”

Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin - “We Win” *WINNER

 

BET Her

Alicia Keys - “Best of Me (Originals)”

Mary J. Blige - “Good Morning Gorgeous” *WINNER

ChlΓΆe - “Have Mercy”

Ari Lennox - “Pressure”

Jazmine Sullivan - “Roster”

Summer Walker & Ari Lennox - “Unloyal”

Doja Cat - “Woman”

 

Best International Act

Dave (UK)

Dinos (France)

Fally Ipupa (DRC)

Fireboy DML (Nigeria)

Little Simz (UK)

Ludmilla (Brazil

Major League DJZ (South Africa)

Tayc (France)

Tems (Nigeria) *WINNER

 

Best Movie

“Candyman”

“King Richard” *WINNER

“Respect”

“Space Jam: A New Legacy”

“Summer of Soul”

“The Harder They Fall”

 

Best Actor

Adrian Holmes - “Bel-Air”

Anthony Anderson - “Black-ish”

Damson Idris - “Snowfall”

Denzel Washington - “The Tragedy of Macbeth”

Forest Whitaker - “Respect” / “Godfather of Harlem”

Jabari Banks - “Bel-Air”

Sterling K. Brown - “This Is Us”

Will Smith - “King Richard” *WINNER

 

Best Actress

Aunjanue Ellis - “King Richard”

Coco Jones - “Bel-Air”

Issa Rae - “Insecure”

Jennifer Hudson - “Respect”

Mary J. Blige - “Power Book II: Ghost”

Queen Latifah - “The Equalizer”

Quinta Brunson - “Abbott Elementary”

Regina King - “The Harder They Fal”

Zendaya - “Euphoria” / “Spider-Man: No Way Home” *WINNER

 

Youngstars Award

Akira Akbar

Demi Singleton

Miles Brown

Saniyya Sidney

Storm Reid

Marsai Martin *WINNER

 

Sportswoman of the Year Award

Brittney Griner

Candace Parker

Naomi Osaka *WINNER

Serena Williams

Sha’Carri Richardson

Simone Biles

 

Sportsman of the Year Award

Aaron Donald

Bubba Wallace

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Ja Morant

LeBron James

Stephen Curry *WINNER


Congrats to all the winners!

 

 

NFL DE Carl Nassib announces charitable partnership with Trevor Project for Pride Month

Carl Nassib, the NFL's first active openly gay player, announced a charitable partnership with The Trevor Project in a post commemorating Pride Month this Sunday via Instagram.

 

Nassib will be making a donation match up to $100,000.

"We’re so grateful to Carl for his public commitment to supporting LGBTQ youth mental health," said Trevor Project CEO Amit Paley. "Carl has inspired others to live their own truth, donate to The Trevor Project’s life-saving mission, and to accept and support the LGBTQ people in their lives."

 

The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness for LGBTQ youth. According to the 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide over the course of the last year.

 

The partnership comes just over a year after Nassib came out as gay, becoming the first active NFL player to publicly come out. His announcement posted on Instagram coincides with a previous $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project, which the NFL and Las Vegas Raiders both matched.

 

"For someone like me, who has been so lucky and cherishes every day, it brings me incredible sadness to think that our LGBTQ youth are at such an elevated risk for suicide." said Nassib in his coming-out post last June. "I feel an immense responsibility to help in any way I can — and you can too."

 

Following Nassib’s coming out, the Trevor Project’s website traffic more than tripled, mostly comprised of first-time visitors.

 

"It was a really cool way to engage people who might not have known about us before," said Kevin Wong, Vice President of Communications at The Trevor Project.

 

"We have to remember the impact of something like that. If they don’t know about us, or if they maybe haven’t really thought about supporting the LGBTQ people in our lives. Maybe they think twice about that. Maybe they’re better equipped to handle conversation around mental health or suicide and preventing suicide in their friends and family circles."

Trevor Project offers free 24/7 crisis services operated by highly trained crisis counselors. According to Wong, the crisis line serviced over 200,000 LGBTQ+ youth last year.

 

"From our very first conversations with Carl, and every conversation since, he has never once wanted any of the attention on him," said Wong. "He wants to shine a spotlight on the Trevor Project. That's such a pure thing."

 

Match-eligible donations can be made to TRVR.org/CarlMatch. 

 

 

Mishael Morgan Becomes First Black Woman to Win Lead Actress Award at Daytime Emmys

Mishael Morgan made history at the 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards.

The Young and the Restless star, 35, picked up the trophy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the June 24 ceremony, making her the first Black actress to win a Daytime Emmy in the lead acting category.

 

"I was born on a tiny island in the Caribbean, and I'm now standing on an international stage and I am being honored regardless of the color of my skin, regardless of my passport, for being the best at what I do," she shared in her acceptance speech. "Now there are little girls around the world and no matter what the industry, the vocation, they can strive to be the best."

 

She continued, "I need to thank the fans and everybody sitting at home. They embraced me when I came on this show and I am so immensely proud of our generation."

 

Upon winning her Daytime Emmy, the Trinidadian-Canadian actress received a standing ovation from the audience.

"We are breaking glass ceilings left right and center and I am so honored to be a vessel and to experience this moment," she added. "Everybody out there today, we can do this thing called equality and unity together."

 

 

Samuel L. Jackson Calls Out Clarence Thomas for Leaving Interracial Marriage Off List of Targets

Samuel L. Jackson is joining several other celebrities in speaking out about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.


The Academy Award honoree, 73, called out Justice Clarence Thomas’ after Thomas suggested the court should reconsider other key decisions, including the 2015 case establishing the right to same-sex marriage, following the SCOTUS decision to overturn 1973’s Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion.

 

“How’s Uncle Clarence feeling about Overturning Loving v Virginia??!!” Jackson wrote Friday on Twitter, referring to the landmark 1967 ruling that found interracial marriage bans unconstitutional. Justice Thomas, 74, a Black man, has been married to wife Virginia Thomas, a white woman, since 1987.

 

Thomas, who was nominated by President George H. W. Bush as the second Black person to ever serve on the Supreme Court in 1991, wrote in a concurring opinion that SCOTUS should next “reconsider” the rulings that legalized birth control, sodomy and same-sex marriage.

 

“In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is ‘demonstrably erroneous,’ … we have a duty to ‘correct the error’ established in those precedents,” he said.

 

Jim Obergefell, one of the plaintiffs in the historic Obergefell v. Hodge case that guaranteed the right to marry to same-sex couples, said in a statement sent to PEOPLE that Thomas is “not the Supreme Deity.”

 

“Clarence Thomas is a Supreme Court justice appointed by humans, he is not the Supreme Deity. The millions of loving couples who have the right to marriage equality to form their own families do not need Clarence Thomas imposing his individual twisted morality upon them. If you want to see an error in judgment, Clarence Thomas, look in the mirror,” he said.

 

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren also called out Thomas in a tweet on Sunday: “Clarence Thomas made it clear: right-wing extremists aren’t stopping at abortion. They’re coming after marriage equality, contraception, & anyone who doesn’t live & look like their idea of the ideal American. But the Supreme Court won’t get the last word—the American people will.”

 

Friday’s 6-to-3 ruling reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, giving states the power to pass their own laws around abortion. Since the decision, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and South Dakota have already banned abortion in their states, after putting “trigger bans” in place that governors enacted after the SCOTUS ruling.

 

Protests have since erupted around the country, and President Joe Biden has spoken out against the ruling, which he called the “realization of an extreme ideology and a tragic error by the Supreme Court.”

 

The decision comes after the SCOTUS opinion was leaked to Politico last month. A poll conducted by CNN has since found that 66 percent of Americans did not want Roe v. Wade to be overturned.

 

 

Michael Jackson's Estate Slams LaToya's Former Fiance For Allegedly Stealing Valuables From His Home

Michael Jackson’s estate has brought some accusations against LaToya Jackson’s former fiance. Lawyers of the King of Pop have alleged that Jeffre Phillips, who got engaged to Michael’s sister in 2013, stole the pajamas the “Thriller” singer wore on his deathbed.

 

This comes just before the 13th anniversary of the pop icon’s passing. Jackson died on June 25, 2013, after suffering cardiac arrest that was said to be caused by a cocktail of drugs given to him by his doctor

 

Jeffre was engaged to be married to one of Michael’s siblings at the time of the alleged robbery, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ, but the court filing did not specify which sibling. However, it’s been reported Michael’s sister La Toya Jackson married Jeffre in 2013.

 

The documents claimed he was staying at Michael Carolwood House when he allegedly stole Michael’s iPhone, his driver’s license, prescription pill bottles, handwritten notes and a pair of pajamas that the megastar had been wearing in the hours leading up to his death. The articles of clothing had been taken off of the singer by the medical team attempting to save Michael’s life.

 

The lawsuit also alleged Jeffre stole a briefcase and paperwork, video cameras, computers and hard drives from the King of Pop.

 

As Radar previously reported, “Mickey” singer Toni Basil blamed Michael’s brutal concert rehearsal schedule for contributing to his death at only 50-years-old.

 

“He had stopped from six years, and all of a sudden, they talked him into doing a tour,” she said in an interview on Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast. “And he’s trying to sing and dance and rehearse in a small amount of time. It was killing him, and it did kill him. That’s just my opinion, because that’s so, so, so difficult.”

 

“I think it had to have been so exhausting and so physically taxing, and you know, he’s got to have his hand in it,” she continued. “He’s got to be creating it. He’s gotta be making decisions. He’s gotta be rehearsing all day. He’s gotta be dancing like he danced, and he’s gotta be singing like he’s singing.”

 

Michael is survived by his three children — Prince, 25, Paris 24, and Prince Michael II, 20.

 

 

J-Boog slams Omarion: “Chris Brown took your career and Bow Wow just took your tour”

Former B2K member J-Boog clapped back at the band’s lead singer Omarion for saying the other members of the group were “backup dancers” who “always prayed for his downfall.”

 

The heated back and forth originally started because of the Verzuz battle between Omarion and fellow R&B singer Mario this past Thursday (June 23). Mario had social media dying of laughter when he brought out impersonators to make fun of B2K.

 

Omarion took offense when his fellow band members J-Boog, Lil Fizz and Raz B joined in on the laughter by posting “You got served,” on their Instagram accounts to signal that Omarion lost badly in the Verzuz battle.

 

Omarion responded in a post on his Instagram account, “Y’all are hilarious, I’m enjoying the creativity. If you’re lucky enough to be in this business for 22 years you understand that at some point you will experience malfunctions. It comes with being an artist and making yourself vulnerable to the world.”

 

Omarion continued, “But to my 3 background dancers, I’m not surprised because this is how y’all always been, even while in the group. Praying for my downfall. Well, keep praying cause I’m overbooked and busy. Meanwhile, y’all really gotta get a job other than hating on O. I heard UPS is hiring.”

 

J-Boog then took to his Instagram page where he unleashed the heat on Omarion in a lengthy post for his “disrespect.”

 

“This thing we call B2K was never the Omarion show. It was more like a circus and each guy brought a special attraction and collectively it was fun to watch,” J-Boog wrote. “Watching you only lets me know that you were not really paying attention to what was making you Omarion because without us around it’s clear you can’t tap back into him. You look lost, almost like you looking for us to feed off. You are a fame hog and that got the best of you.”

 

J-Boog continued, saying that Omarion was jealous that other members in the group had become more popular than him. “Fame is a hell of a drug. I know when we were together as a group you wanted to be the most famous aka the most favorite … but that wasn’t the case. Fizz and Boog were the favorites. And you couldn’t understand that because you sang all the leads (by old school group design) but the guy who only talked on the track and in interviews (ME) and the other guy who rapped on our singles (FIZZ) were getting more love than you.”

 

The singer then concluded, “Chris Brown took your career and Bow Wow just took your tour,” Boog said. “If I was a backup dancer, you were a dancer with a record deal. Neither of us was singing fool lmao. Welcome to the jungle n—-, hope you survive the night.”

 

 

#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Elvis’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Battle for No. 1 With $30.5 Million Each

In an unusually close box office battle, “Elvis and “Top Gun: Maverick” have tied for first place in North America, with each film bringing in $30.5 million over the weekend.

 

“Elvis” and “Top Gun: Maverick” were locked in a dead heat all weekend as the King of Rock and Roll took the No. 1 spot on Friday and dropped to second place on Saturday. The final results will be tallied on Monday.

 

Regardless of which film comes out on top, it’s a strong result for both. For “Elvis,” a $30 million debut is impressive for a movie catering to older audiences. For “Maverick,” it’s almost unheard of for a movie to generate $30 million in its fifth weekend of release.

 

Overall, it’s an encouraging weekend at the box office as five movies are putting up sizable results. Four — “Elvis” and a fellow newcomer, Universal’s Blumhouse thriller “The Black Phone,” as well as holdovers “Maverick” and Universal’s “Jurassic World Dominion,” each grossed $20 million or more, while a fifth, Disney’s Pixar film “Lightyear,” came close with $17 million.

 “It’s beyond encouraging,” says Universal’s president of domestic distribution Jim Orr. “It’s a great sign that people really want to be back in theaters.”

 

Moreover, those ticket sales wouldn’t be far off from pre-COVID projections. Those healthy box office returns come as audiences have reportedly started to feel safer than ever going to their local cinema. According to a study by the National Research Group, 88% of moviegoers are “very or somewhat comfortable” going to the movies — marking a new all-time high. Around a year ago, that percentage was closer to 59%.

 

Baz Luhrmann directed “Elvis,” a kaleidoscopic take on the 20th century icon. Austin Butler stars in “Elvis,” which chronicles the performer’s meteoric rise to fame through the eyes of his morally ambiguous manager, Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks). Audiences dug the Warner Bros. film, awarding it an “A-” CinemaScore.

 

Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein says he’s “absolutely thrilled” with opening weekend numbers.

 

“There’s something about the movie that’s really resonating,” Goldstein said on a Sunday morning call. “Word of mouth is really terrific.”

 

At the international box office, “Elvis” kicked off with $20 million from 51 markets for a global start of $50.5 million.

 

David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, called “Elvis” a “risky proposition,” one that seems like it will pay off.

 

“The music is dated, the character is not directly familiar and the lead actor is unproven on the big screen. But critics and audiences are responding,” Gross said. “This is the Baz Luhrmann show, a music, dance and sex appeal spectacular — it’s a hit.”

 

Warner Bros. and Paramount will be counting every last dollar and cent to determine which film ranks as No. 1 by Monday. At the box office, ties for first place are rare, but it’s even more unusual that one of the two contenders has been playing in theaters for over a month.

 

The nostalgia-fueled sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” has benefitted greatly from stellar word-of-mouth, which has resulted in minuscule week-to-week drops. Now in its fifth weekend of release, “Maverick” added $30.5 million from  3,948 venues between Friday and Sunday, pushing its domestic total to $521 million. It was already the highest-grossing movie of the year in the U.S. and Canada, but, after this weekend, it’s now the highest-grossing movie at the global box office as well, with revenues at $1.006 billion. Notably, it’s the first movie of the year and only the second in COVID times (following Sony’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” with $1.9 billion) to fly past the $1 billion mark.

 

After two weekends in first place, “Jurassic World Dominion” slid to the No. 3 spot with $26.4 million from 4,233 North American locations. Those ticket sales have pushed the dino-centric tentpole past $300 million at the domestic box office. With $443.8 million at the international box office, “Dominion” has stomped to $746.6 million globally and will imminently cross the $750 million mark.

 

“The Black Phone” opened in fourth place with $23.3 million from 3,150 North American cinemas. Overseas, the movie collected $13.4 million from 45 territories, taking its returns to $35.8 million globally. The horror movie cost only $18 million to produce, putting “The Black Phone” on a glide path to profitability.

 

Scott Derrickson directed “The Black Phone,” which stars Ethan Hawke as a masked serial killer who kidnaps and torments a teenage boy. Moviegoers and critics have responded enthusiastically, giving the film a “B+” CinemaScore and 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.

 

Franchise Entertainment Research’s Gross says, ” By keeping costs low, including efficient, targeted marketing, Blumhouse rarely misses. He adds, “‘The Black Phone’ is the kind of film that streamers have not been able to make — high-profile, exciting, profitable on its own terms, and cheap.”

 

In fifth place, Disney’s “Lightyear” earned $17.7 million from 4,255 venues, a steep 65% decline from its opening. The “Toy Story” spinoff has generated $88 million in North America to date, which is a decent result for a family film in COVID times but a weaker result for Pixar. Overseas, “Lightyear” collected $19.3 million from 44 markets, bringing its international tally to $63.6 million and its global total to $152.4 million.

 

Elsewhere, the summer’s tiniest box office star, “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” made its debut on the indie scene, grossing $169,606 from six theaters — translating to an impressive $28,267 per location. A24 is releasing the gloriously reviewed film, whose origins began as a viral YouTube video about a plucky shell (voiced by Jenny Slate) with a lot of great qualities. The charming “Marcel the Shell” will expand into additional markets next weekend.

 

 

Pink Has A Biting Message For Fans Who Support Supreme Court Abortion Ruling

Pink has a very important message for her fans – especially those who are in support of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe Vs. Wade.

 

Ahead of the weekend, SCOTUS overturned the decision of the landmark court case, which had provided federal protections to those seeking abortions. Now, individual states will decide their laws.

 

In her message on social media, Pink called out certain fans who are in favor of the ruling.

“Let’s be clear: if you believe the government belongs in a woman’s uterus, a gay persons business or marriage, or that racism is okay- THEN PLEASE IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD NEVER F**KING LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AGAIN,” she wrote. “AND ALSO F**K RIGHT OFF. We good?”

 

Later on, Pink thanked Olivia Rodrigo and Lily Allen for their performance of “F–k You” at the Glastonbury Festival this weekend.

 

 

Sutton Foster Has COVID-19; Will Miss Performances of 'The Music Man'

Sutton Foster will be missing a few performances of The Music Man.

The 47-year-old actress, who plays Marion in the musical opposite Hugh Jackman, has tested positive for COVID-19.

 

Sutton shared her diagnosis with fans in a video message on Instagram.

“Hi everybody I just wanted to let everyone know that today, this morning, I tested positive for Covid,” Sutton shared, before adding that she’s “so sad that I won’t be able to be at the Music Man for a little bit.”

 

She added that her “incredible understudies Audrey Cardwell and Kathy Voutko will be holding down the fort as Marion Paroo with Mr. Hugh Jackman.”

 

“I just send all my love to everybody at the Winter Garden and to all of you. Stay healthy, stay safe and see you soon.”

In a sweet comment on her video, Hugh wrote that he’s starting the countdown to her return.

 

 

Dave Grohl Joins Paul McCartney at Glastonbury in First Performance Since Taylor Hawkins' Death

Glastonbury attendees got the surprise of a lifetime when Paul McCartney was joined on stage by two fellow musical legends on Saturday.

During McCartney's two-and-a-half-hour set at the festival in England, the former Beatle brought out both Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl for performances, marking the latter's first concert since the death of his longtime friend and Foo Fighters bandmate Taylor Hawkins in March.

 

"We love you," McCartney, 80, told Grohl, 53, according to the BBC, revealing to the audience watching him headline the Pyramid Stage that Grohl "flew in specially to do this."

"I swear, I would never miss being right here with you, right now," Grohl responded, per the BBC.

 

According to the Associated Press, Grohl joined McCartney for renditions of "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Band on the Run," while Springsteen, 72, rocked on "I Wanna Be Your Man" and his own "Glory Days."

 

Grohl describes meeting McCartney for the first time in his 2021 memoir The Storyteller, along with a subsequent anecdote about how the legendary English musician once came to his house for dinner and ended up giving his middle daughter Harper, now 13, her first piano lesson when she was 5 years old.

 

"We have wine and pizza and we're hanging out, and it was time for Paul to go," Grohl summarized on The Graham Norton Show back in October 2021. "Paul and [his wife] Nancy were leaving and there was a piano in the corner of the room, and he just can't help himself."

 

"So he sits down at the piano and starts playing 'Lady Madonna' … in my f—ing house!" the musician recalled. "My mind is blown, I can't believe this is happening. This is like the most full-circle, crazy moment of my entire life."

 

Speaking of Harper joining the former Wings member, Grohl added, "She'd never taken a lesson to play any instrument at that point, and she sat down and she watched his hands. They sat together, and he was showing her what to play, and they wrote a song together."

Foo Fighters drummer Hawkins died suddenly on March 25 in BogotΓ‘, Colombia, just before the band was scheduled to take the stage at a music festival. He was 50 years old.

 

Following Hawkins' death, McCartney shared a heartfelt tribute to the late musician, who died just months after McCartney helped induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

McCartney posted a picture to Instagram of himself and Hawkins onstage at the October 2021 induction ceremony, and wrote that he was shocked by Hawkins' death.

 

"Taylor's sudden death came as a shock to me and the people who knew and loved him," McCartney wrote. "Not only was he a GREAT drummer but his personality was big and shiny and will be sorely missed by all who were lucky to live and work alongside him."

 

 

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong tells fans he's 'renouncing' his U.S. citizenship over Supreme Court ruling

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong told London concert-goers that he is "renouncing" his United States citizenship in protest over the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.

 

Performing at London Stadium just hours after the majority-conservative court ruled that abortion rights are no longer protected, the 50-year-old rock star lashed out at the decision on Friday night.

 

"F*** America," Armstrong said on stage for the Hella Mega tour his band is headlining alongside Weezer, Fall Out Boy and others. "I'm f***ing renouncing my citizenship. I'm f***ing coming here."

 

As the crowd cheered in response, the California native carried on his diatribe.

 

"There's just too much f***ing stupid in the world to go back to that miserable f***ing excuse for a country," continued Armstrong, who at one point during the show had a Union Jack flag draped over himself. "Oh, I'm not kidding. You're going to get a lot of me in the coming days."

 

The Daily Mail reports that Armstrong also yelled "f*** the Supreme Court of America" before playing the 2004 hit "American Idiot," Green Day's response to the Iraq War and the media frenzy surrounding it.

 

Armstrong — who joins musicians like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion and more in condemning the Supreme Court ruling on stage — has previously described himself as politically independent. The singer hasn't shied away from calling out politicians, including former presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Most recently, Green Day has performed in front of a banner reading "F*** Ted Cruz," in reference to the Republican senator following the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

 

 

Travis Scott’s Team Responds To Criticism Over $5.5 Million Bugatti Purchase Following Astroworld Tragedy

Last week, Travis Scott made headlines when it was reported that he bought a $5.5 million dollar Bugatti. However, Scott was criticized by the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, who died just days after being trampled at the Astroworld festival.

Ezra’s family’s attorney, Bob Hillard told TMZ that the child would have still been alive if Scott “would’ve spent half of what he paid for the Bugatti on simple safety measures at the deadly music festival.”

 

However, a representative for Scott decided to set the record straight on the purchase, saying that it was bought in 2020.

 

According to TMZ, Scott’s representative told the news outlet that  “This latest attempt to exploit Astroworld victims and gaslight the media and the public is a new low. The car referenced was purchased way back in 2020 well before the tragic events at Astroworld), and covered widely by the media — including TMZ — at that time. Misrepresenting a two-year-old car purchase to make an unprovoked and unjustified attack on Travis Scott is nothing more than another desperate publicity stunt to try to falsely blame Travis and intentionally manipulate public opinion, which won’t work.”

 

In a new court filing in May, the total number of injury claims has topped 4,900. This includes the lawsuits from the families of the 10 concert-goers that died, the 732 claims in relation to injuries that required extensive medical care, 1,649 for less-extensive treatment, and another 2,540 claims that are still being reviewed.

 

 

Usher Presents L.A. Reid With Icon Award At Culture Creators

Usher honored his mentor L.A. Reid with the icon award at the 6th annual Culture Creator Brunch. “Our honorees share in our collective experience that is sometimes met with doubt, frustration, and unnecessary complication,” says Culture Creators founder Joi Brown. “Yet we march on as a collective village that continues to produce excellence because experience has taught us that we don’t get to quit.”


She continued: “I didn’t know what Culture Creators was to become when I started, but I’m clear on where we’re headed.”

 

This year, Usher presented Reid, a music industry veteran and mentor, with the Icon Award. L.A. Reid’s acceptance of the honor was preceded by a video montage, which included personal congratulatory remarks from the likes of Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, and Jermaine Dupri, to name a few.

 

Guests were also treated to captivating performances by Amber Riley and host Coco Jones. Culture Creators also introduced three new awards that were given out on the red carpet, Community Advocate, Blog of the Year, and HBCU Rising Culture Creator.

 

Presenting sponsor Netflix welcomed Culture Creators’ guests to a lush photo experience via the Strong Black Lead Portrait Studio. Empowered partner CÎROC treated guests to a number of curated specialty drinks like the DeLeΓ³n Blanco Pink Paloma, Summer Citrus Sunset, and a few of their summer spritzers during the immaculately designed post-show reception. Additional partners included Pivotal Ventures, Lexus, and Morgan Stanley.

 

2022 saw the event expand and evolved as it highlights the achievements of thought leaders, philanthropists, executives, entertainers, artists, and other pillars of African American culture in an intimate setting among key players.

 

In other news, Usher has a new single with City Girls slated for a July 1 release.

 

 

LeBron James Debuts the Upcoming Nike LeBron 20

For a large part of the past two seasons, LeBron James has favored wearing his Nike Ambassador 13 sneaker over his signature models from the Nike LeBron line. While the sig line typically features bulkier, high-tops with very visible Max Air cushioning, the Ambassador 13 is a bit dialed back—it’s a low-top that plays a bit more like a guard shoe with just Zoom Air cushioning. Perhaps part of the reason James continued going to the Ambassador 13 is that it’s a shoe that better suits his game, even at age 37. There’s more evidence supporting that theory with the on-court debut of the Nike LeBron 20.

 

With the LeBron 20, we’re getting a shoe that inarguably looks like an offspring of the Nike Kobe 4 and 5 era fused with the Kobe 9 and 10 Elite era. It’s still built with the knit that’s become a staple in the LeBron line, the Swooshes are somewhat displaced and extend past the rear part of the shoe, and there’s no visible Max cushioning. The exact tech specs of the shoe haven’t been announced, but Complex has confirmed with sources that this is indeed James’ next signature model—not another Ambassador.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Lakers will be able to re-tool and chase another championship this season, but there’s history on the horizon for James either way. He’s just 1,325 points away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and the LeBron 20 could very well be a part of that moment.



 NEWLYWEDS: NBA Baller Paul George & Daniela Officially Tie The Knot,

NBA star Paul George and his babies' mother Daniela are married now! And whew.  That was most definitely a ride to get here.

 

It all started back in 2014 when Daniela, an alleged ex-stripper, came forward accusing Paul of being the father of her unborn baby.  It was a scandal not just because he was rumored to be dating NBA head coach Doc Rivers' daughter, Callie Rivers, at the time, but because she claimed he offered her $1M to abort the baby.  The irony of them getting married on the same day Roe v. Wade was overturned is NOT lost on us.

 

Of course, Paul denied he demanded an abortion back in 2014, and denied he was the father until the paternity test came back saying otherwise.  Daniela sued for paternity and the case was settled around the same time Paul signed a $90M contract with the Pacers.

The twosome stayed together despite that messy start, got engaged in 2020, and had two more children with the youngest being born this past winter.

Now – three kids, a million family vacays and a few NBA teams later – the two are hitched!

 

 

Jussie Smollett Makes Rare Appearance at the 2022 BET Awards

Jussie Smollett is ready to turn over a new leaf.   The former Empire star, 40, dished about his plans for the future while walking the red carpet at the 2022 BET Awards on June 26. His arrival at the star-studded event comes just three months after Smollett was released from prison after being found guilty of filing a false police report in 2019.

 

Keeping his ensemble laid-back and classy, Smollett sported a white shirt, tan blazer, brown pants and black shoes. He completed his look with multiple gold necklaces and a matching gold bracelet.

 

However, Smollett, who directed the upcoming BET+ film B-Boy Blues, isn't calling his return to entertainment a comeback. 

 

"You know, I've never thought of myself as working my way back," the actor told Entertainment Tonight. "It's always been the plan to expand my empire, so to speak. To expand the level of what I want to do." 

 

As for what's inspiring him right now, Smollett shared that it's being "able to usher in just a new generation of artists, of actors, of this amazing talent that's out there." He added, "That's what is feeding me."

In addition to announcing that new music is on the way "very soon," Smollett shared a message to his supporters who have stood by him throughout his legal drama.

 

"I tell them just, with all my heart, just thank you," he told the outlet. "They never wavered. They never straddled the fence and for that I'm forever grateful. I don't take that lightly." 


He continued, "My family, my friends, the true ones, supporters, it's just, you know...If I never get to hug you in person, just know there's a hug in my heart that I genuinely, genuinely mean." 

 

Back in March, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in prison plus 30 months of probation for filing a false police report after telling investigators that he was the victim of an alleged 2019 hate crime. After his lawyer appealed his conviction, Smollett was released from jail just six days into his sentence..



AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

Courtesy of P.o.WM

FASHION TREND AT WALMART

Guys like this never gets old.



HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!

EFREM 

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