#MAGFAB: Zendaya for Vogue Italia - July 2022
FAB!
#RHOA: Phaedra Parks Reveals If She Still Speaks to Porsha Williams Today
When Phaedra Parks appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on June 30, she not only offered an update on how co-parenting life is going with her ex-husband, Apollo Nida, but also opened up about where she stands today with fellow The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Porsha Williams.
“Yeah, actually, I talk to her,” she said during Thursday’s WWHL. “You know she’s getting married. Congratulations, Porsha. So we don’t talk a lot lot, but we definitely keep in touch.”
While in the Clubhouse, Phaedra also shared her take on longtime RHOA friend Marlo Hampton finally getting a peach for Season 14. You can hear her thoughts on that in the WWHL clip above.
It’s been several years since Phaedra left RHOA, and when she appeared on WWHL, she reflected on that time in her life. “I mean, it was a great experience,” she said. “I think only people like Ex-Wives [on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip] and only people who have done reality can understand the intensity of it, but I don’t have any regrets. But I live without regrets, honey.”
These days you can catch Phaedra, as well as her fellow WWHL guest Dorinda Medley, on Peacock’s The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club. Season 2 of Peacock’s RHUGT is streaming now, with a new episode available to stream each Thursday. Of course, fans can also binge Season 1 of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip on Peacock now.
Plus, you can find Phaedra making a cameo on the upcoming July 6 episode of The Real Housewives of Dubai.
#MusicNews: Usher Performs Nostalgic Set For NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Usher capped off NPR’s Black Music Month celebration with an electrifying set for Tiny Desk.
Dressed in all black, the R&B icon performed for one of his most intimate audiences, taking it back with a nostalgic six-song set of hits spanning his legendary career.
“I’m just hoping to just really have fun today, this office party that we’re having,” he told the crowd at NPR headquarters.
Joined by Eric Bellinger and Vedo, who he called “two of the most incredible voices of this time,” he kicked things off with a reworked rendition of his 1997 breakout single, “You Make Me Wanna…”
He acknowledged the “Superstar” challenge while delivering flawless vocals on the Confessions classic. That was followed by The Neptunes banger “U Don’t Have to Call” before Mr. Raymond took it “Nice & Slow,” including a shoutout to his “pretty little thing here in D.C.”
The feel-good vibes continued with “Confessions Part II.” He closed out the 25-minute performance with “My Way,” the title track off his 1997 album, which turns 25 this year.
WATCH HERE
You can catch Usher live when his new Las Vegas residency opens July 15. He has also teamed up with City Girls on the Miami duo’s new single “Good Love,”.
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Opens Up About Working With Kanye West, New Album, & Music Video 'Drama'
Fresh off the release of her new single “Hot Sh*t” with Kanye West and Lil Durk, Cardi B joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to discuss the collaboration and her upcoming album.
She revealed that she has had the song since 2019 but was nervous about how it would be received.
“This song been in the vault for a minute,” she said. “It’s a he because for some reason I be thinking some songs just have genders. It’s weird. So the song is a boy. And this song, I think, is a little bit older than ‘WAP’ I think I recorded this song around 2019 around there. So I’ve been having this song for a minute. Everybody always loved this record, but I always feel like this record’s so masculine. I don’t know if people want to hear that from me…”
Cardi feels the Tay Keith-produced track fills a void in today’s music. “I feel like we’re missing these club bangers. I don’t know what’s going on right now,” she said. “I want to hear like… You know those records that Meek used to do, I want to hear one of those that it’s just like, pump me up. I’m trying to bring that with this record.”
She also opened up about collaborating with Kanye West for the first time. “Kanye gave me this verse a couple of months ago when he was just all over the media, because of all of the things that were going on, and I like how his verse it’s personal, but it’s not that personal. It’s enjoyable in the clubs that you could be like, ‘Yeah, yeah. You talk your big cash.’ I really love it. And I’m so happy that he gave me this verse.”
She was able to see another side to Ye from her interactions with him. “And I had a lot of conversations with Kanye West. I learned so much about him and he’s such an amazing, sweet person. I’ve been feeling like, I wish a lot of people have conversations with him so they could just see the real…the him.”
Cardi revealed that the Lil Durk verse came about after a suggestion from her label. “You know what’s so crazy? I never spoke to Lil Durk before, right? I was having a meeting with my label and everything and I was like, ‘It is missing something. We still missing a artist to it.’ And it said, ‘How about Lil Durk?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah. All right. Send it to him.’ And as soon as they sent the record, the next day, I feel like a couple of hours, they was like, ‘Oh yeah, he sent in the verse.’ I was like, ‘Oh sh*t.’ And I loved it right away. He just for that young energy to the record.”
A music video was shot months ago, but it has been delayed because of technical issues. “I don’t want to talk about the video because this video has brought me so much drama,” she said. “This is my first time trying CGI. It was something very different for me. I couldn’t maneuver or move how I wanted to, because I was very confused. After I finished the video, I find out that this sh*t takes so long. I did this video around March, and it’s still not even ready yet… It’s an amazing video, but it’s just really fu**ing… I would never do CGI again, ever, ever, ever again.”
Now that she’s back, Cardi is not letting up. After this, she plans to drop another song “that is different from this record,” followed by her long-awaited sophomore album.
“I really just want to put that album together. I’m just trying to put all my plans together and everything together,” said Cardi, who will return to the stage for the first time since 2019 at this month’s Wireless Festival in the U.K. “I haven’t put out a single since ‘Up.’ That’s almost a year-and-a-half ago, so I’m just breaking in. But once I get comfortable and I start setting in, I’m ready to go on beast mode. I’m ready for it.
Beyoncé Reveals 'Renaissance' Album Cover
In less than 30 days, Beyoncé will return with her seventh studio album Renaissance. Ahead of the drop, she has revealed the striking cover art, which finds Queen Bey sitting on a holographic horse while posing nearly naked in a silver bikini, her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders.
Along with the celestial artwork, she opened up about the inspiration behind “act i” of the album, revealing that her intention was to provide an escape for fans amid trying times.
“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving,” she wrote in her Instagram caption. “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.”
She added, “I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
Bey has already shared a peek into her dreamy new project with the album’s first single “Break My Soul,” which samples Robin S.’s “Show Me Love” and features Big Freedia.
Renaissance arrives July 29.
Simone Biles, Gabby Giffords and Denzel Washington Among Medal of Freedom Awardees
President Joe Biden will award the Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — to 17 recipients next week. The nominees are pictured here clockwise from top left: Simone Biles, John McCain, Denzel Washington and Gabrielle Giffords.
*(CNN) — President Joe Biden will award the Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — to 17 recipients next week, with his first slate of honorees since taking office featuring Olympians, an Academy Award winner, the first American to receive the Covid-19 vaccine outside of trials, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and civil rights advocates.
Biden will bestow the medal to several posthumous honorees, including Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
The list includes Olympic athletes Simone Biles and Megan Rapinoe, the fifth and sixth female athletes to be honored for the award. Rapinoe will be the first female soccer player to receive the medal.
According to a statement from US Soccer, Rapinoe, the US Women’s National Team forward and an advocate for equal pay, found out last week when Biden called her between practice sessions in Denver. When she saw “The White House” pop up on her phone screen, she thought she was either getting a robocall or being pranked by her teammates.
2022 Medal of Freedom Awardee - Simone Biles
“In that moment I spoke to the President, I was, and still am, totally overwhelmed,” Rapinoe said in a statement, adding that she is thinking of “all the people who I feel deserve a part of this medal.”
“I am humbled and truly honored to be chosen for this award by President Biden and feel as inspired and motivated as ever to continue this long history of fighting for the freedoms of all people. To quote Emma Lazarus, ‘Until we are all free, we are none of us free,'” she added.
Biden’s list of awardees also includes religious clergy and social justice advocates, including: Sister Simone Campbell, who previously led the Catholic social justice organization NETWORK; Father Alexander Karloutsos, a priest who has provided counsel to several US presidents; Fred Gray, one of the first Black members of the Alabama State legislature since Reconstruction; Diane Nash, a civil rights organizer; and Raúl Yzaguirre, a civil rights advocate and former US ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
2022 Medal of Freedom Awardee – Denzil Washington – Getty
Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington will also receive the award.
There are former lawmakers on the list as well, including former Wyoming Republican Sen. Alan Simpson and former Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Giffords, who became an advocate for gun violence prevention after she was shot in an assassination attempt in 2011, said in a statement that she’s “humbled and honored” to receive the medal.
“Since I was shot more than 11 years ago, my personal recovery journey has taught me that it’s not the setback that defines us: it’s how we respond to it. There have been no shortage of setbacks as I relearned how to talk and how to walk, just as there have been no shortage of setbacks in the fight for gun safety that I’ve dedicated my life to. And yet I’ve never lost hope,” she said. “One of my reasons for hope sits inside the Oval Office today, elected to accomplish the near-impossible task of healing a divided nation.”
Other recipients include Dr. Julieta García — the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president, Gold Star father Khizr Khan, Sandra Lindsay — a New York nurse who was the first American to receive a Covid-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials, and Brigadier General Wilma Vaught — one of the most decorated women in the history of the US military.
According to the White House, Biden will present the awards on Thursday, July 7 at the White House.
Biden is a Medal of Freedom honoree himself. Then-President Barack Obama surprised his vice president with the award in 2017.
R. Kelly sues prison for allegedly placing him on 'punitive' suicide watch
R. Kelly is suing the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn after being placed on suicide watch for what his lawyer claims are "purely punitive reasons" because he's a "high-profile inmate."
The "I Believe I Can Fly" singer, 55, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday following his conviction for racketeering and sex trafficking last fall. Now his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, is arguing that his Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment are being violated.
"MDC has a policy of placing high-profile individuals under the harsh conditions of suicide watch whether they are suicidal or not (this was done recently with Ghislaine Maxwell)," Bonjean said.
Bonjean argues in the court documents that suicide watch "can and does cause serious mental harm" to a non-suicidal inmate because of its harsh restrictions.
"Inmates are stripped of their clothing and underwear and dressed in a smock made of material that is akin to the material that moving companies use when wrapping furniture," the complaint alleges. "They cannot shower or shave, and are sometimes not even afforded toilet paper. Meals are not provided with utensils, forcing inmates to eat with their hands. They have no ability to consult with loved ones or supportive figures."
In addition, the complaint states that inmates on suicide watch are "typically placed in a single cell without bed rails and offered no items of comfort" while prison officials monitor them around the clock. According to the complaint, the inmates do not receive psychiatric care.
In the statement, Bonjean said that MDC Brooklyn is being run "like a gulag."
"My partner and I spoke with Mr. Kelly following his sentencing," she wrote. "He expressed that he was mentally fine and ONLY expressed concern that even though he was NOT suicidal, MDC would place him on suicide watch (as they did following the guilty verdict)."
A representative for the Federal Bureau of Prisons did not provide PEOPLE with a comment specifically about Kelly's incarceration.
"For safety and security reasons the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) does not provide information about conditions of confinement or internal security practices for any particular inmate," reads a statement from the BOP provided to PEOPLE. "The BOP is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all inmates in our population, our staff, and the public. Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority. The BOP does not comment on pending litigation or matters that are the subject of legal proceedings."
MDC Brooklyn is one of the facilities overseen by the BOP.
Kelly faced a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Prosecutors had requested at least 25 years in their sentencing memo, pointing to "the seriousness of the offenses, the need for specific deterrence, and the need to protect the public from further crimes."
When New York federal Judge Ann Donnelly handed down the sentence, she said, "This case is not about sex. It is about violence, cruelty, and control."
Kelly was arrested in Chicago in February 2019 on charges of aggravated sexual abuse. He was later indicted on federal charges of racketeering and conspiracy for creating a network to locate girls and transport them across state lines for him to abuse.
Kelly's predatory behavior toward women and underage girls is chronicled in Chicago reporter Jim DeRogatis' 2019 book Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly and Lifetime's 2019 Surviving R. Kelly documentary series.
He is set to go on trial for the Chicago charges in August. He also faces charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice in Minnesota.
Director Sues Justin Timberlake In Over Documentary
Justin Timberlake's deal to make a documentary about his blockbuster album "The 20/20 Experience" isn't sitting well with the project's director, who's now suing JT for years of hard work ... according to a new lawsuit.
The singer is being sued by John Urbano, who claims JT recruited him back in 2012 to shoot and edit a documentary film about the making of his third studio album.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Urbano claims Justin proposed an arrangement where he would share profits from the film with Urbano instead of paying him his normal fee -- but Justin shelved the doc, which is why the director feels he got the shaft.
Urbano claims he filmed Justin for a total of 60 days all across the world and spent about 2,500 hours editing the footage into a documentary titled, "The Making of The 20/20 Experience."
The director says if he had been paid on the front end for the project, his filming and editing fees would have reached $2,450,000 ... but he says the only money he's seen out of Justin is a modest $20,000 upfront fee, plus reimbursements for expenses incurred while filming. According to his math, Urbano's been paid just $7 per hour for the project.
Urbano claims Justin was moved by the documentary at first, but after his album became his most successful solo project he lost interest in the doc, which has never been released.
The problem for Urbano ... he says Justin promised to share profits with him, but if the doc sits on a shelf, the promise of a big payday goes out the window.
Urbano claims Justin used his network of agents, managers, and handlers to stop the director from getting paid ... and he wants compensation for an allegedly breached agreement.
The director wants Justin to cough up lots more money, and he also wants a judge to declare he owns all the rights to the documentary.
Lindsay Lohan Is Married to Financier Bader Shammas
Lindsay Lohan is married! PEOPLE can confirm that the actress and singer, 36, is married to financier Bader Shammas.
The news of Lohan’s marriage comes about after the Parent Trap star called Shammas her “husband” in an Instagram post on Friday.
“I am the luckiest woman in the world. Not because I need a man, but because he found me and knew that I wanted to find happiness and grace, all at the same time,” Lohan began her caption of a photo of the two of them.
She added: “I am stunned that this is my husband. My life and my everything. every woman should feel like this everyday.”
In November last year, Lohan announced her engagement to Shammas, sharing a gallery of photos smiling with her new fiancé and showing off her ring. “My love. My life. My family. My future,” she wrote in the caption.
In February, Lohan shared an update on her nuptials when Extra host Rachel Lindsay asked her what kind of bride she thought she would be.
“Are you going to be low-key? Are you going to be all-in? I’m not going to call you a bridezilla, I’m not going to do that,” the former Bachelorette asked.
“I’m definitely not like that,” said Lohan. “I’m more low-key. Even on my birthday I want to make sure everyone else is good and then I can be okay. So I’ll be more like that.”
“I’m looking at destinations,” Lohan continued. “I’ve already started talking to a friend of mine about the dress. But I want to do things right and I want to pace everything. But it’s an exciting time. I’m very girly, so….”
Back in February 2020, Lohan first sparked romance rumors when she shared a since-deleted group photo from a music festival in Dubai, casually mentioning a “boyfriend” in the caption.
In the picture, Lohan could be seen happily posing between a man in a black jacket and Bastille drummer Chris “Woody” Wood, who performed with his band that night. Also among the group were Lohan’s sister Aliana and rocker Dan Smith.
“@aliana lovely night with sister and my boyfriend bader. such a magical night,” she wrote alongside the photo at the time.
Congratulations.
NFL Player Jaylon Ferguson Died from Cocaine and Fentanyl Combination, Medical Examiner Determines
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson died last month from the effects of cocaine and fentanyl, a representative of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore has confirmed.
According to the examiner’s office, Ferguson died of “the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine,” and his death has been ruled accidental.
No further details are available at this time.
Ferguson was 26 years old. He was found unresponsive inside of a Baltimore residence on June 21.
In a statement, the Baltimore Police Department said they responded to a call about a “questionable death” at a residence shortly after 11 p.m. on June 21. Once there, they found paramedics working on Ferguson, who “never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on the scene.”
“No signs of trauma was found or foul play suspected at this time but investigators are not ruling out the possibility of an overdose,” police told PEOPLE at the time.
Ferguson had played three seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. The team released a statement mourning his death on June 21. “We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson,” the Ravens said.
“He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and an infectious personality,” they continued. “We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon’s family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon.”
Ferguson was a father of three, according to ESPN.
The Baltimore linebacker’s overdose is the second drug-related death in the NFL this year. Pittsburgh Steelers player Dwayne Haskins died in April after he was struck by a truck on a Florida highway. Medical examiners later determined Haskins had alcohol and ketamine in his system at the time of his death.
Ex-boyfriend charged in the fatal shooting of NY mother, Azsia Johnson
Police have arrested the ex-boyfriend of the woman who was fatally shot while pushing her child in a stroller in New York City. This past Wednesday (June 29), 20-year-old Azsia Johnson was fatally wounded from point blank range in a targeted killing in the Upper East Side around 8:30 p.m.
Police now believe her child’s father, Isaac Argro, 22, may have been the one to pull the trigger. According to police, Argro was arrested Friday (July 1) in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. He is charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the shooting, CBS News reports.
“This was premeditated murder,” said Lisa Desort, Johnson’s mother, to the media following Argro’s arrest. “He intended to kill my daughter no matter what.” The young woman’s mother said the former couple had an abusive past. She revealed her daughter had filed several complaints with the police prior to being shot. “He beat my daughter up as she was six months pregnant, and she left him,” said Desort. “Ever since then, he’s been threatening her and me with death.”
Mayor Eric Adams released a statement on the shooting and subsequent arrest. “Azsia Johnson’s family is hurting, they deserve justice, and we will deliver it,” he started. “I am relieved to report to New Yorkers that we have captured the individual who we believe murdered this young woman as she walked with her baby. I’d like to applaud NYPD for their valiant efforts to track down this alleged killer. All New Yorkers stand with the Johnson family in this difficult time.”
The brazen shooting took place in the residential area of Lexington Avenue and East 95th Street. Police say the former couple’s child was unharmed as Argro fired a single shot into the side of Johnson’s face.
In a press conference Wednesday, police said they were looking for a man dressed in all black. Camera surveillance in the area reportedly placed Argro at the scene of the shooting. The tragedy marks an uptick in a string of violent crimes in the city.
Rihanna stuns festival crowd with first major post-pregnancy sighting
Rihanna is back outside weeks after welcoming her and boyfriend A$AP Rocky’s first child. The Barbados native was spotted Friday (July 1) by fans in London navigating the crowd at the Wireless Festival.
The “Good For You” rapper is headlining day one of the three-day festival. TMZ reports, sources who spotted Rihanna boarding a private jet in Los Angeles, California, say the couple’s newborn son was also in tow for the international trip.
Tweets capturing the “Rude Boy” songstress show she remained covered up in black tights, and a black puffer jacket. Other artists gracing the stage on day one included Chris Brown, Lil Uzi Vert, and Fivio Foreign.
The couple welcomed their first child together seven weeks ago (May 13). The singer’s pregnancy confirmation came after several fans speculated she was with child. In her first pregnant photos shared with the public, Rihanna bared her baby bump while wearing denim jeans, a long pink puffer coat, and a bejeweled necklace that cascaded over her belly. The longtime friends have been dating since late 2020.
A beaming Rocky was never too far behind Rihanna as she graced red carpets in belly baring outfits throughout her pregnancy. Speaking with N.O.R.E. on “Drink Champs”, Rocky said, “I’m proud, man,” when it came to his relationship and unborn child. Considering the notoriety that comes with dating someone as high-profile as Rihanna, Rocky said he keeps his focus on what’s true.
“Fuck what the outside world got going on, fuck what the outside world thinks. It’s really about an understanding between two components: you and your significant other. That’s it.”
The couple’s child wasn’t their only collaboration this year. Rihanna also made an appearance in Rocky’s video for “D.M.B.” As for when the singer plans to drop new music, fans can only hope she keeps her word that it will be “soon.”
Serena Williams regrets not taking Virgil Abloh's fashion advice
Serena Williams is opening up about the one regret she has in working with late fashion icon Virgil Abloh. Williams is one of several celebrities reflecting on their experiences working with Abloh in a new 30-minute film for Vogue.
In it the tennis phenom recalled lacking the confidence to rock one of Abloh’s more dramatically glamorous designs during the 2019 French Open. “I still kind of regret not doing what Virgil told me to do,” said Williams. “He wanted me to wear this long skirt with the crazy train, and then a cape with a train, and then just walk out on the court.”
Williams is no stranger to adorning attention-grabbing outfits. But in this case, the tennis powerhouse was unable to see the vision Abloh had in mind. “And I’m thinking, ‘Virgil, I like fashion, and I like pushing the envelope, but this — I just don’t think I can do this,'” she added. “I just wasn’t brave enough to go out there in all the red clay, and just walk out in this train, of like, a Met Gala at the French Open.”
Williams previously wore two designs by the late designer during her appearances in the 2018 US Open. The designs were part of Williams’ and Abloh’s Queen capsule collection with Nike.
“With Serena, we have one of our generation’s most powerful, inspiring athletes as the muse. I was trying to embody her spirit and bring something compelling and fresh to tennis,” said Abloh of working on designs for Williams in a press release. “What I love about tennis is the gracefulness. It’s an aggressive and powerful game, but it takes touch and finesse. So the dress is feminine, but combines her aggression.”
In November of last year, the Louis Vuitton artistic director passed after a private battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare cancer. His death came as shock to those who adored him but were unaware of his illness.
Nicki Minaj Fans Slam Essence Festival for Not Live Streaming Her Performance
Nicki Minaj fans are not happy with the 2022 Essence Festival.
The team behind the annual event landed themselves in hot water after promising that the 39-year-old rapper’s performance would air live on Hulu on Friday night (July 1), only to announce last minute that her set would no longer be streaming.
Given that Nicki had been heavily promoted on the festival’s social channels, many Barbz felt as though they had been led on. Her fans then took to Twitter to voice their frustrations.
“Hulu and Essence Fest — y’all are going to hell for not showing Nicki Minaj when you know that’s the only reason we’re watching,” one fan wrote, while another added: “Nah because this is so messed up, Hulu and essence has been promoting all week saying we’ll be to see Nicki Minaj LIVE on stream.. it seems like they [used] us for interactions once again.”
Cynthia Erivo Talks Being Bisexual & Taking Time to Come Out
Cynthia Erivo is opening up about her sexuality. The 35-year-old two-time Oscar-nominated actress and singer is featured on the cover of British Vogue‘s Pride issue alongside Cara Delevingne, Ariana DeBose, and more.
In the issue, Cynthia confirms that she is bisexual after previously coming out as queer.
The article noted it “took her a long time to share that she is bisexual.”
Cynthia told British Vogue that many LGBTQ+ people “still feel the need to be constantly justifying why we deserve to be treated as equal beings, when really the only difference is that we love differently and we express ourselves differently. Rather than being chastised for that we should be commended for being brave. That’s the most important thing: giving people the space to show up fully as who they are.”
Cynthia has been in a relationship with actress and writer Lena Waithe for several years.
Bruce Willis struggled making 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' before publicly sharing aphasia
The extent that Bruce Willis struggled before going public with his aphasia diagnosis is being brought to light.
Within the Los Angeles Times's exposé about Hollywood producer Randall Emmett — who faces abuse allegations and civil fraud claims — Willis's struggles with acting, amid his struggles to communicate due to the disorder, are detailed. Emmett hired Willis to appear in two dozen films since 2006.
While shooting Midnight in the Switchgrass in September 2020, the action superstar from the Die Hard franchise, now 67, couldn't kick open a door — take after take. Willis, who had his lines fed to him via an earpiece because he could no longer remember them — was being coached through the scene by the voice on the other end. A stunt coordinator also tried to guide him. However, Willis didn't seem to understand, seven crew members who were present claimed to the outlet.
Emmett, who was directing for the first time, also tried to mimic for Willis what he needed to do for the scene. When that also failed, Emmett left the set in frustration, eyewitnesses claimed, and Willis stood there.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked the crew.
Emmett — who's accused in the piece of offering actresses work in exchange for sex, among other things (he denied the allegations) — reportedly called his then-fiancée, reality star Lala Kent, and cried: "It’s just so sad. Bruce can’t remember any of his lines. He doesn’t know where he is."
In the story, Emmett's rep denied he was aware "of any decline in Mr. Willis's health" and denied the conversation with Kent. Emmett went on to make five more films with Willis over the next 15 months
Alicia Haverland, a prop master on Midnight in the Switchgrass, which came out in June 2021, told the outlet that Willis's health struggles were an open secret.
"Our stunt coordinator mentioned he was struggling," Haverland said. "Our first AD saw he was struggling. You would have to be blind to not see him struggling.”
Willis's attorney, Martin Singer, told the LAT, "My client continued working after his medical diagnosis because he wanted to work and was able to do so, just like many others diagnosed with aphasia who are capable of continuing to work. Because Mr. Willis appeared in those films, they could get financed. That resulted in literally thousands of people having jobs, many during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In March, Willis's family announced he had been diagnosed with aphasia and would be retiring from acting.
The family's announcement came hours before another LAT story, that had been in the works, which detailed how aphasia was suspected by Willis's coworkers for years. Nearly two dozen people who had been on set with him in recent years expressed concern about his well-being, especially as he churned out one movie after another — many of which went straight to VOD. Among the claims was that Willis unexpectedly fired a gun loaded with a blank on the wrong cue, which the producer and armorer denied. Multiple set sources claimed he often seemed confused, once asking, "Why am I here?"
When Yahoo Entertainment spoke to Emmett last year about directing Willis in Switchgrass, he didn't let on at all that Willis was struggling.
"As a producer, when I walk on a set and see Bruce, I give him a hug, sit in my chair, watch the director direct and then we go to dinner and I go home," he said at the time. "When I was directing and Bruce walked onto the set, I was petrified! He's a guy that I've known for 15 years, but I had to talk to him in a very different light. If I didn't like something, I'd have to tell him. So it was a whole other psychology, but it ended up being better than I expected because he's a giving actor."
He said Willis took the role "as a favor to me, not for the kind of money that he takes on all of his other movies. I mean, he's Bruce Willis — he doesn't need a lot of direction. That's why I wanted to cast great actors in this: half the battle is already won there. It's not like I had to teach anybody how to act!"
The latest LAT piece details how Willis's many in recent roles were a huge part of Emmett’s production company Emmett/Furla Oasis's success. The exposé really centers on Emmett’s Hollywood dealings — and there are some disturbing allegations.
Through interviews and confidential documents, the outlet reports that several women accused Emmett of pursuing them in inappropriate ways, including one who alleged she was offered acting work in exchange for sexual favors. He reportedly reached a $200,000 settlement with the woman, arranged by attorney Gloria Allred. Another woman claimed he sent her unsolicited pictures. It's claimed that he paid women to sign nondisclosure agreements to keep their alleged intimate relationships secret.
Kent, who Emmett split from last year, also claimed in the piece that Emmett tackled her and knocked her to the ground when she asked to see his phone after he was linked to other women. She also claimed to the outlet that she was offered $14,000 at the start of their relationship — while he was still married to actress Ambyr Childers — but she declined. Emmett denied the allegations against him in the article — and claimed Kent was orchestrating a "smear campaign" against him.
'The Wire' cast and creators reflect on the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking HBO series
It wasn't difficult to find a cop drama when you switched on your television twenty years ago. For starters, the Law & Order and CSI franchises were in their respective heydays, with multiple shows spread across multiple nights of primetime network television. Meanwhile, upstart cable series like The Shield, Monk and The Dead Zone were offering up their own versions of the classic cop show formula. But despite the plethora of police procedurals on the air in 2002, there wasn't a show on any network quite like HBO's The Wire. And series creator David Simon knows that firsthand, since that was part of his pitch to the home of breakout hits like The Sopranos and OZ.
"There's a show bible that somebody leaked maybe a decade ago that had a cover letter that said: 'This is what the networks do: They catch the bad guy,'" Simon tells Yahoo Entertainment during an all-star 20th anniversary press event for The Wire. "I said, 'What you should do now is go to the meat and potatoes of network TV — the cop show — and you should undo it. You should invert it so that it's not, 'Are they going to catch the bad guy?' It's 'Who is the bad guy and why do you think so?'
Simon's pitch to "undo" the typical police procedural intrigued then-HBO executives Carolyn Strauss and Chris Albrecht. "They told me later that they hadn't been thinking they were going to go into the network wheelhouse, but then it started to appeal to them and they gave us a shot," he says now.
Simon repaid HBO's early faith in The Wire many times over. While the series was famously stiffed by the Emmys during its five season run from 2002 to 2008, it remains a pillar of the prestige television era, one that's mentioned in the same breath as The Sopranos, Mad Men and Breaking Bad. The show also served as the launching pad for stars like Idris Elba, Dominic West, Wendell Pierce and the late Michael K. Williams. And two decades later, its layered portrait of a city in crisis resonates more than ever against the backdrop of real world headlines.
"It wasn't just about what was happening in police stations," observes Clarke Peters, who played Baltimore Police detective Lester Freamon. "It was the whole city." Adds Lance Reddick, whose alter ego, Cedric Daniels, rose through the ranks to become police commissioner, but left the department rather than compromise his ethics: "It was the first time television tried to portray the police in such a completely realistic way. Several times, cops could come up to me and say, 'Man, that s*** was too real.'"
The Wire didn't waste any time announcing how it would depart from the traditional procedural playbook. One of the show's signature moments arrived in the fourth episode of the first season, when homicide detectives Jimmy McNulty and "Bunk" Moreland (West and Pierce, respectively), arrive at a murder scene and piece together what happened using only F-bombs.
"David described that scene to us saying, 'Hey, [HBO] is gonna be on me about the language, so I figured we are just, we are just gonna go all out," Pierce remembers, laughing. "For me, it was just about playing off of Dominic, which was great — we had fun with it. And then once it aired, I knew that scene would be iconic. Everyone would remember that scene. It wasn't until after the show ended that I realized how iconic the show would be."
As much as he enjoyed filming it, West also remembers thinking at the time that the scene was something of a "departure" from The Wire's commitment to realism. "The show was highly naturalistic, and then suddenly this quite stagey and artificial scene came up," he says. "I thought, 'I don't know if the audience is gonna buy this.' And they did! We acted it well, but David was great at finding those moments where he could get artificial and operatic."
While dysfunction within the Baltimore police force was a major focus of The Wire, Simon and his writing team paid equal attention to what was happening on the city's streets. The Barksdale organization — overseen by kingpin Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) — was the central spoke around which the rest of the local drug trade operated. And as the series unfolded, characters that were only minor parts of early episodes took on major roles in future events. That's what happened with Michael K. Williams, whose charismatic performance as equal opportunity robber, Omar Little, made him an in-demand actor. (Williams died of a drug overdose in 2021.)
"David Simon told us in the beginning when Mike and I came on, 'You guys are sub, sub, sub storylines," remembers Andre Royo, who played heroin addict-turned-police informant, Bubbles. "The cops are trying to catch Barksdale, and you guys are outside of that storyline on your own and I don't know if you're gonna make it. Every time we got a new season, he and I would be like: 'You coming back? Yeah, me too!'"
Williams also functioned as a kind of mentor for some of the younger performers on the show like Jamie Hector, who was 29 when he joined The Wire as one of Barksdale's many rivals, Marlo Stanfield. "My first day on set, I saw him walking to his trailer and I was like, 'Mike, what's up man? My name is Jamie and I just started on the show.' He looked at me and said, 'What character are you playing?' I told him and he looked right at me, took a drag of his stogie and said, 'No arguing about the wardrobe.'"
"He dropped a jewel on me," Hector continues. "Because I went to the trailer with respect for wardrobe and hair and make-up. If there was a time where I wanted input, I would provide input, but mostly I was like: 'You have an artistry of your own, you're creating a world for my character." So that was a jewel, man — a memorable moment for me."
In the years since Simon brought the curtain down on The Wire, we've seen several of the storylines and subjects the series tackled play out in real life. Most recently, a rash of school shootings from Florida to Texas has spurred debate over the level of police presence in public schools. The Wire made the Baltimore school system the central focus of its fourth season, following former detective Roland Pryzbylewski, played by Jim True-Frost, as he transitions into the role of middle school teacher.
"Everything that's happening now in the real world is illuminated by things that happen in The Wire," True-Frost says when asked how his character's journey has impacted his perspective on current events, including school shootings. "When my character went into the school system, I was taking a trip into what essentially was my lens on Baltimore. My wife was a teacher at a tough, under-resourced school, and I certainly heard from her and from other teachers that they really appreciated the kind of spotlight the show put on that situation."
For Simon, the show's continued relevance is something to be concerned about rather than simply celebrated. "I wish The Wire was not relevant thematically to where the country still is," he notes. "There have been improvements and modest retrenchments in our laws, but the truth is that a lot of this is dependent on who we elect. We're not addressing ourselves as a society. We're still struggling to recognize our own problems and to act on them."
As shows like The Sopranos and Deadwood have found new audiences amongst the streaming generation, HBO has found ways to bring those dormant series back via prequel and sequel features like The Many Saints of Newark and Deadwood: The Movie. But Simon and executive producer Nina Noble have so far resisted the temptation to continue The Wire. "We've moved on," says Noble. "I'm glad The Wire is still part of the conversation, but we have other things to say and other ways to say things."
For his part, Simon makes it clear that the story of The Wire is too personal to him to hand off to another creative team to continue. "Stories have a beginning, middle and end and there are other universes to build," he says, pointing to his recent six-episode HBO series, We Own This City, as a "coda" to The Wire. "That show says what we would now want to say about this next generation of policing, and what the wages of sin have brought to a place like Baltimore."
While The Wire creators may not be interested in revisiting their version of Baltimore, several members of the cast are raring to return. "There's a whole generation of police officers who probably came up on The Wire, and a whole bunch of criminals who learned from it as well," says Peters. "It's a non-stop drama. And I have to say that there was always that debate on what was a better show: The Sopranos or The Wire. Hands down, it's The Wire. The real deal is the real deal: You can sit back and follow one man's life or you can look at a whole city where you live and figure out which is the better story to be told.
The Wire is available to own on Blu-ray, DVD and digital and to stream on HBO Max.
Big Freedia details meeting with ‘queen’ Beyoncé for ‘Break My Soul’
Big Freedia had a fangirl moment while meeting with “very humble” and “sweet” Beyoncé.
The Queen of Bounce, 44 — who was previously sampled on Beyoncé’s 2016 track, “Formation” — met with Queen Bey during their latest collaboration on the new hit song, “Break My Soul.”
Freedia exclusively tells Page Six that she was “grateful,” “humbled” and “excited” when the Grammy winner’s team reached out to hers about using her vocals from her 2014 song, “Explode” — but was “blown away” when she heard the final product two weeks ago at Beyoncé’s recording studio in Los Angeles.
“I mean, the speakers were like jumping at me. The bass was coming out of the speakers so heavy. I was in there just like shaking and like excited and overwhelmed,” she recalls.
The New Orleans native says she was “getting ready to leave the studio” when one of Beyoncé’s liaisons approached her and said, “Do you want to talk to the queen? She’s here.”
“I was like, ‘Holy crap. You know I wanna talk to her!’” Freedia tells us, explaining she “went over to her” and that the two “hugged” and “had a conversation.”
“She thanked me for being on her track. And I’m like, ‘No, thank you for having me as a guest on the track!’” she shares, adding that the former Destiny’s Child singer, 40, is “very humble,” “so sweet” and “laidback.”
“She only turns into [her stage persona] ‘Sasha Fierce’ when she hits stage.”
But the surprises didn’t stop there. Freedia says she had no heads up that “Break My Soul” would be dropping on June 20 as the debut single on Beyoncé’s forthcoming seventh solo studio album, “Renaissance.”
“I didn’t know that it was coming out. I didn’t know that I was the first single. I found out the same day y’all did,” she explains, saying she learned the news when Beyoncé “announced the name of the song” on her social media platforms a few hours before releasing it.
Though the track — a catchy dance anthem — is drastically different from what the BeyHive is used to, Freedia feels they created “the hottest song of the summer.”
“I mean, this is something that we all need. This is the summer anthem. It is something that will bring us all back together on the dance floor,” she says. “It’s powerful. It’s inspiration. It’s motivation. It’s gonna have people… in clubs dancing. It’s gonna have people in workout rooms dancing. In the gym. I mean, everywhere.”
Beyoncé feels similarly with regard to “Renaissance” as a whole, writing in part to her Instagram followers Thursday, “I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
In addition to chasing her musical dreams, Freedia’s also been prioritizing her academic ones.
She decided to go back to school alongside seven other stars — including NeNe Leakes, Ray J, Lamar Odom, Stacey Dash, Slim Thug, India Love and Dreamdoll — for BET+’s original series, “College Hill: Celebrity Edition.”
Freedia tells us she roomed with the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum for the rewarding experience; however, her cameo on Season 12 — the first without Leakes — did not come up in conversation.
Swizz Beatz Gifts Alicia Keys $400,000 Egyptian-Themed Necklace
V
Fresh off a performance in Milan earlier this week, Alicia Keys was gifted an extravagant piece of jewelry by husband Swizz Beatz.
Designed by famous jeweler Elliot Eliantte, TMZ reports the 150-carat pendant cost an estimated $400,000. The necklace features baguette diamonds molded in the shape of the Great Pyramids, which sit alongside a portrait of Alicia inspired by the 18th-century ancient Egyptian queen Nerfiti.
Eliantte took to Instagram on Thursday to show off his work, posting a video that features Alicia trying on the pendant for the first time among a crowded room of guests.
“Legendary Nights W Legendary Ppl!” the jeweler captioned the clip. “From NYC To Milan @aliciakeys Receives A Special Necklace From Her Husband @therealswizzzAnd Their Children.”
Eliantte subsequently shared another video of the lavish piece, writing, “Art Piece Made For A Queen. The Iconic Nefertiti Has Been Sculpted to Resemble @aliciakeys. This Custom Designed Link Made of Ankhs & Infinity Links Symbolizes Eternal Life. The Baguettes Are Set in a Brick Formation Like the Great Pyramids in Egypt.”
It isn’t the first time Swizz has enlisted Eliantte to craft his wife a pendant. Back in December 2021, the superproducer gifted Alicia a rare piece in celebration of the release of her latest album, Keys.
The necklace paid homage to Keys’ 2021 LP with the wording scribed above iced-out piano keys.
Kevin Hart Announces New Animated Special, NFTs and Metaverse Projects
*Kevin Hart has announced a brand new original animated project, “Confessions from the Hart,” debuting July 6 exclusively on Roku.
The 30-minute animated anthology is based on his popular IGTV series of the same name. The special will also kick off a series of Web3 experiences including an NFT collection that will release to the public on July 7, according to a press release.
The special takes fans inside Hart’s virtual universe where audiences will get a front row seat to Hart’s most immersive and personal experience to date with the special showcasing moments from Hart’s life, as told by him, per the news release.
“Confessions From the Hart” will launch exclusively on the Roku Channel on Wednesday, July 6 — Hart’s 43rd birthday. Additionally, Hart’s media company, Hartbeat, will release a limited number of NFTs that will let fans access bonus content in the Kevin Hart Nation Metaverse Screening Room, developed in partnership with Web3 platform Moonwalk and virtual entertainment company, Virtua.
Starting Thursday, July 7, fans will be able to purchase one of 10,000 unique “Confessions From the Hart” NFTs at web3.kevinhartnation.com for $65 each. The NFTs can be purchased with a credit card or Ethereum-based cryptocurrency.
“My favorite thing to do is make people laugh, and with Hartbeat’s expansion into the metaverse and Web3 we will have exponential opportunities to bring humor and comedy to a whole new audience. I am so proud of my team for their forward thinking and ingenuity,” Hart said in a statement. “With this new technology we will be able to continue expanding our footprint into the new technological frontiers of content creation.”
The NFT will serve as a key to unlock future exclusive content of “Confessions from the Hart” as well as receive exclusive member benefits in Kevin Hart Nation IRL and Metaverse experiences.
“Kevin has always been one of the most forward-thinking and entrepreneurial entertainers in the industry, tapping into new technologies to connect with audiences. His entry into the Metaverse is another example of HARTBEAT’s commitment to connecting with fans wherever and whenever they consume content,” said Jeff Clanagan, President & Chief Distribution Officer at HARTBEAT Media.
“‘Confessions from the Hart’ is the first in a series of Metaverse activations as we expand IP across innovative distribution touchpoints. We look forward to creating more experiences that complement traditional linear platforms and physical event experiences that Web3 natives and mainstream audiences can enjoy,” he added.
“The Roku Channel and HARTBEAT have a strong, longstanding partnership and we are proud to continue expanding the ways in which we collaborate to provide free premium content, including Roku Originals, VOD and FAST programming under the LOL brand,” says David Eilenberg, Vice President and Head of Roku Originals, Roku
“’Confessions from the Hart’ is a perfect example of the thoughtful, inventive, and hilarious fare Kevin and his creative team have become known for worldwide, and we’re excited to bring it to millions of streamers via The Roku Channel,” he added.
Doritos Bringing Back Blazin’ Buffalo & Ranch Flavor In Custom Bags Made By Black Artists
Doritos is bringing back its beloved Doritos Blazin’ Buffalo & Ranch flavor in limited-edition packaging designed by Black artists.
The move will highlight Black creators through the company’s SOLID BLACK initiative. In its second year, the program will invest $5 million in this year’s class of Black Changemakers. Of the $5 million, $200,000 will be granted to four Changemakers, $125,000 will be donated to five nonprofits, and $25,000 will go to Dallas-based black lead organization For Oak Cliff, among other causes.
The limited-edition packaging for the Blazin’ Buffalo and Ranch was designed by Mz. Icar, an anonymous art collective composed of Black women who excel in both fine art and street art. The stunning bags are black and feature the SOLID BLACK logo with colorful Black faces on the bag, highlighted in hues of purple, green, and blue.
“This piece is a love letter saying, ‘I see you. We see you. We see us,'” Mz. Icar wrote in an Instagram post showing the custom potato chip pouch.
Doritos lovers wanting to grab a bag with the exclusive artwork must act fast. Only 2,000 of them are available online for purchase. The SOLID BLACK Blazin’ Buffalo and Ranch Doritos can be purchased at www.snacks.com/doritossolidblack.
Australian Burger Joint Forced To Rebrand After Kanye West Sent Them A Cease And Desist Letter For Naming The Restaurant “College Dropout Burgers”
An Australian restaurant is rebranding after Kanye West sends them a cease and desist letter.
On Thursday, College Dropout Burgers reportedly received some backlash from Kanye. Yeezy is allegedly asking the burger joint to rebrand themselves or face legal issues.
In addition to the name, the restaurant also referenced Kanye songs throughout its menu. CDB offers a ‘Golddigger’ fried chicken burger, a ‘Good Morning’ breakfast burger, and a ‘Cheezus’ burger.
“It’s pretty hard being a Kanye West fan with this situation. We have to respect his wishes and move forward,” Mark Elkhouri, the restaurant’s founder, says.
Elkhouri mentions that initially, he thought Kanye was a fan of the restaurant because he viewed their Instagram story. However, it seems as though he was just collecting information for his letter.
“The fact he was viewing our [Instagram] Stories and was there had me believe he was a fan of us,” Elkhouri added.
As a result, Elkhouri isn’t debating with Kanye and will rebrand his company. Elkhouri will be changing the name of the restaurant and the logo, which is a variation of Kanye’s ‘Graduation’ bear.
“Moving forward, I feel like it is a bit of a blessing in disguise,” Elkhouri said. “Because let’s face it, not everyone is a Kanye West fan.”
Despite Kanye’s letter, Elkhouri isn’t letting the legal issues effect his idolization of the rapper.
“I am extremely disappointed. There’s no doubt about that, but it doesn’t even come close to the impact that he’s had on my life,” Elkhouri adds.
50 Cent Reacts to Randall Emmett’s Sexual Misconduct Scandal
50 Cent has predictably weighed on Randall Emmett’s misconduct scandal.
Fif shared his thoughts via Instagram on Friday, a day after the Los Angeles Times published a bombshell piece accusing Emmett of offering acting roles in exchange for sexual favors.
“See this is why I made him give me my Money by Monday,” Fif captioned the post. “Then after he had to stay a 100 feet away from me.”
Despite the jab, Emmett’s team insists he has no issue with 50.
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson attends ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Randall will always be grateful for his decade-long friendship with 50 and has great respect for the man,” Emmett’s representative told Us magazine.
Fif began feuding with Emmett back in 2019, when he publicly accused the film and TV producer of owing him money. The G-Unit boss claimed he had loaned Emmett $1 million, and was growing frustrated by how long it was taking for Emmett to pay him back. In typical 50 Cent fashion, he began trolling Emmett—an executive producer of Fif’s Power series—as well as his then-fiancée, Lala Kent. The drama unfolded on social media, before Fif announced Emmett had finally paid off his debt.
“I got my money, so I have no problem with @randallemmettfilms in fact I’m wishing him and his family a very blessed day,” 50 wrote “😏positive vibes now guys. LOL #lecheminduroi #bransoncognac #bellator.”
Famed attorney Gloria Allred is representing the actress who has accused Emmett of sexual misconduct. The woman claims she worked with the producer on multiple projects over the course of three years, and complied with his alleged requests to perform sexual favors in order to get acting jobs.
Allred outlined the allegations in an October 2021 letter addressed to Emmett. About three months later, the producer allegedly signed a settlement agreement that gave the accuser $200,000 in exchange for her silence. Emmett has denied the allegations, and claims it was part of a smear campaign launched by Kent, with whom he shares a child.
“These allegations are false and part of a now-familiar smear campaign orchestrated by Randall’s ex-fiancée to sway their custody dispute,” his representative Sallie Hofmeiste Hofmeister told Page Six. “Lala Kent has lied and manipulated others in her desperate attempt to win full custody of her daughter, keep her name in the press and remain relevant in reality television.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
MS SOGGY
The guy in red.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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