#MAGFAB: Chloe X Halle For Essence, September/October 2022
Sister duo Chlöe and Halle Bailey have become the recent stars to grace the cover of ESSENCE Magazine. The talented Georgia natives will be on the cover of the magazine’s September/October global Black Fashion issue.
The duet have been investing in their work for years. Ever since they made their debut on youTube with riveting vocals and talent that eventually captured Beyoncé’s attention, they have been unrelenting in their pursuit for success. In this season of their lives, the are unapologetically being true to themselves and candid about their journey. According to Essence, in the issue, Chloe and Halle share their thoughts on love, individuality, body image, and style. Together, the sister have earned five Grammy Award nominations since 2018.
The sisters have been working hard at their craft for years, and they are finally getting growing recognition for their artistry. Essence’s September/October 2022 issue will showcase Chlöe, and sister Halle who have been taking big strides in the music and film industry. In 2021, Chlöe made her solo debut with the riveting “Have Mercy” record as the lead single for her upcoming album. Additionally, ever-improving stage presence, performance and overall craft have improved, making her one of the most respected current-day, budding solo artists.
Halle has been making large strides as well too, and she has the impressive portfolio to prove it. The 22-year-old landed a role in the live-action remake of the “Little Mermaid,” which is set to be open in theaters in May 2023. Before Bailey landed the role, only one other Black person had played a Disney princess, and so with that role, she broke barriers. This isn’t Halle’s first time working in film. She previously starred in “Grown-ish,” and will be adding another credit to her acting repertoire with the “The Color Purple,” which will be a star-studded remake of Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The musical is scheduled to be released in December 20, 2023 by Warner Bros.
The three-cover spread is scheduled to hit newsstands on September 6.
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Dismisses Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against Bravo
Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes has dropped her lawsuit against Bravo.
According to docs obtained by People, the 54-year-old "dismisses this action and all claims asserted by Leakes without prejudice."
The document continued, "All Parties consent and stipulate to the foregoing dismissal. No party will seek recovery of costs or attorneys' fees in any submission to this Court." Leakes will be able to resurface the lawsuit if she wishes.
In April, Leakes filed a lawsuit against Bravo, NBCUniversal, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives from the companies, and Real Housewives of Atlanta executive producer Andy Cohen. She alleged that they allowed a racist and hostile work environment.
According to Radar Online, in court documents, there were details about a cast trip to Spain during the tenth season where the ladies were instructed not to bring family members or husbands, to which the suit claims exceptions were made for the more “favorable” cast members.
“These were the rules, and they were supposed to apply to everyone,” the suit read.
“But, as often happened, a second set of more favorable rules seemed to apply to white Zolciak-Biermann.” Zolciak decided to not attend the trip, which the actress claims led to her being publicly attacked by Zolciak and her daughter, Brielle Zolciak-Bierman, claiming her new home was “roach-infested.”
“Mrs. Leakes, and some of her fellow Black housewives, were outraged by the claim that Mrs. Leakes’ house was “roach” infested – a term that Mrs. Leakes and fellow housewives felt was racially-offensive for its cultural implications for impoverished black women living in the projects,” the court docs stated.
The lawsuit also included emails from the network, claiming Leakes was told it was “bad for business” to call out Zolciak over her alleged racist remarks and instructed her to “take it offline.”
“They now began to hurl accusations of concern against Mrs. Leakes,” the court docs read.
“Among other things, Bravo executives raised concerns about Mrs. Leakes’ social media (i.e., her response to the perceived racially-offensive attack by Zolciak-Biermann and her daughter) and about media reports of a tax lien that Mrs. Leakes had received."
The former Housewives star claims she was hit with an $824k tax lien that was ultimately paid off in full.
“Yet, NBC, Bravo, and True used this issue as a justification for having concern about Mrs. Leakes’ professional future and then as a justification for silencing her during this time period,” read the document.
“In contrast, other, non-Black housewives were allowed to do much worse without consequence or even threat of consequence.” The reality star claims the tax lien attack was “clearly retaliatory” and she had first brought it to the network's attention in 2016.
NeNe Leakes has not released a public statement about dismissing the lawsuit.
#NewMusic from Tank And Chris Brown 'See Through Love'
Tank’s 10th and final studio album R&B Money arrives today featuring a collaboration with Chris Brown.
After previously teaming up on songs like “Take My Time” and “Foreplay,” the R&B crooners reunite on the sultry “See Through Love,” which finds them once again serenading the ladies.
“I live for the moments with you when nobody’s around / Growing with you and letting go of myself / Come here with me, girl, it’s safe as it sound,” sings Tank.
The 17-track album also features appearances from Rotimi, Vedo, and Blaq Tuxedo, along with “Can’t Let It Show,” “I Deserve,” and the fan favorite “Slow” featuring J. Valentine.
LISTEN HERE
“R&B Money is a labor of love to my fans and to the genre of R&B. This is who I am!” said Tank. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for artists like Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Keith Sweat, Al Green, and my fans who inspire me every day to make music. I wanted this album to pay homage to my influences and my evolution as an artist, and I think that’s what this final album represents.”
Last night, Tank celebrated the release of his final album at his R&B Money Jam at the Peppermint Club in West Hollywood. He welcomed friends including Jon B, Pleasure P, and Jamie Foxx, who got on the mic to perform his hits “Blame It” and “Gold Digger.”
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Makes Billboard Chart History With 'Super Freaky Girl' No. 1 Debut
Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” has debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, giving the Queens icon her third No. 1 hit overall and first as a solo artist.
Per Billboard‘s archives, Nicki is the first female solo rap artist to debut at the Hot 100’s summit since Lauryn Hill in 1998 with “Doo Wop (That Thing).”
“You did it barbz,” Nicki penned to Instagram in a note to her fans. “You did it. I love you so much. like so so SO much. Thank you.”
The 39-year-old previously topped the Hot 100 as a guest alongside 6ix9ine on “Trollz” and she provided a boost to Doja Cat’s smash hit “Say So.”
The Rick James-sampling “Super Freaky Girl” tallied over 21 million streams and debuted at No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart with 89,000 downloads, which is the largest pure sales week for any song this year.
Minaj earned her 21st Top 10 hit on the Hot 100 of her career and 124th entry overall, which is good for the seventh most of any artist ever.
In a push for the No. 1 spot, Nicki Minaj resurrected her alter-ego Roman Zolanski for the remix to “Super Freaky Girl.” The remix is simply an extended version of the original featuring a brand new third verse from Nicki’s fan-favorite persona.
It’s a celebratory month for Nicki, who has been tapped as a host alongside Jack Harlow and LL COOL J at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards scheduled to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday (August 28).
The Young Money resident will be honored with the 2022 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year’s ceremon
Arrests Made In Connection To Crime Spree At Mariah Carey’s Atlanta Home!
A group of men who were allegedly responsible for a rash of crimes in Atlanta, including the burglary at Mariah Carey's home have been arrested ... and MC is singing the praises of law enforcement for delivering justice.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ 24-year-old Jeremy Caldwell, Terryion Anderson and Jalen Huff are all in custody in connection to a crime spree in the area, which included the burglary at Mariah's home. The men were arrested in Miami.
The Sandy Springs PD says the three men are responsible for a string of armed robberies, home invasions and burglaries in the area. They say several celebrity homes were targeted during the home invasions ... and during one incident a man was shot.
Sources close to Mariah tell us the singer was out of town July 27 when her home was broken into, but add she's, "so grateful for the detectives who arrived on the scene immediately."
Mariah posted pics of herself on vacation shortly before the alleged crime happened ... so it's possible the perps were tipped off to the fact her home was empty.
Since the break-in first happened, we're told Mariah's been working closely with police to make sure something like this never happens again -- and she's already gone all-in on the redecoration, claiming it's looking better than ever.
Trans Prisoner Who Impregnated Two Inmates At Women’s Prison Reveals She Tried To Remove Her Testicle w/ A Razor To ‘Stop The Pain’ After Being Mistreated & ‘Misgendered’
The transgender prisoner who impregnated two of her fellow inmates at a women’s prison in New Jersey has revealed she tried to remove one of her testicles with a razor after being misgendered at her new men’s facility.
Demi Minor, 27, (born Demetrius Minor) was moved from Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township to the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility (GSYCF) with male inmates in June after guards learned of the pregnancies. Minor– who is serving a 30-year sentence for stabbing her former foster father to death–has since complained that she has been mistreated and abused at her new prison, where staff are allegedly refusing to acknowledge her gender identity.
Last week, Demi Minor mad a post on her Justice 4 Demi blog, she revealed she ended up in the emergency room after using a razor to cut out one of her testicles in an apparent suicide attempt. She wrote:
“When I began to bleed, I did not even think about dying. I just thought about finally having relief from the pain that I felt…Being here in a male prison, amplifies the harm that I once felt… I hate it all.”
According to reports, Minor–who was first jailed at the age of 16–started to transition into a woman in 2020 and was transferred out of the male prison system to Mahan. The 800-inmate Mahan facility began housing transgender women – including those that have yet to undergo gender reassignment surgery – last year after a lawsuit brought by an inmate and the ACLU. It now has 27 trans prisoners.
In her blog, Minor explained she began feeling ‘hopeless’ and ‘ignored’ at GSYCF on July 28 after she was reportedly asked to prove she was transgender despite having provided staff with medical records stating she had been ‘on hormones for years.’
She claims she was later told by the committee chair that there were some things that ‘we can biologically not change’, suggesting that,
“regardless of my transition without surgery I am a man.”
Demi Minor wrote,
“I ignored her comments. But the truth is everything she said hurt, and was hard not to cry in the meeting it was hard to know that the same people who I once admired were now responsible for placing me in harms (sic) way…I started cutting again, and with a razor I begin (sic) making a incision to remove my testicle. In my head, I just wanted the pain to stop. I just wanted out of this. They don’t know what the hell that I am going through. Instead, if you have a penis, you deserve to be in a male prison. That is all central offices cares about.”
Minor noted that she has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, meaning she is ‘five times more likely’ to die by suicide, but admitted she sometimes ‘would rather not be here.’
Since her transfer, Minor claims men write her letters asking for sexual favors and that she finds herself in some ‘dark places’. She said the women she knew in Edna were the ‘one family’ she ever had and that she was ‘stuck in a body that I hate’.
One of the women who Demi Minor got pregnant was inmate Latonia Bellamy, 31, a double murderer who gave birth in the fall. Bellamy was 19 when she, her cousin and a second man killed Nia Haqq, 25, and Michael Muchioki, 27, in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the couple unloaded gifts from their car at 3 am on a Sunday morning in April 2010.
Minor was just 16 years-old when she broke into the home of her stepfather Theotis Butts’s home in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. According to reports, Butts had taken her in as a foster child, but Minor was no longer living with him.
Minor stabbed Butts, 69, several times and then fled to New York where she was arrested.
In a post on Minor’s website, Bellamy wrote: ‘We found love in a hopeless place,’ quoting a popular song from Rihanna.
Cynthia Bailey shares ‘good news’ after mom’s ‘agonizing’ cancer diagnosis
Cynthia Bailey is feeling hopeful about her mom’s fight against stage 1 breast cancer.
The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum, 55, recently told Page Six exclusively that Barbara Ford Morris is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing a lumpectomy Monday.
“They found it through her mammogram. She didn’t feel anything. That was the only way they found it,” Bailey shared.
“The good news is that we caught it early. Early detection saved my mom’s life.”
The “Terror Lake Drive” actress is particularly relieved that, as of now, Morris’ treatment plan does not include chemotherapy.
“She doesn’t have to do chemo,” she said. “They’re going to remove [the cancer], and then they’re going to give her radiation treatments after that. So, she should be good.”
In an Instagram post Monday, Bailey thanked her friends, family and fans for “all the love, phone calls, texts and prayers” as Morris was feeling a “little anxious and nervous” pre-surgery.
Despite any jitters, the former Bravolebrity noted that Morris also appeared to be “in good spirits mentally and emotionally” under the care of medical staff at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital.
“Her blood pressure was too high to operate when they prepped her but thankfully they were able to get it down before the surgery,” she wrote. “Now we pray and wait.”
Bailey told us that waiting was debilitating at the start of Morris’ breast cancer battle.
“They don’t tell you anything other than they’ve found cancer. Then you have to wait a week and a half until you go in. And we went in, of course, an hour early to make sure we got in. We couldn’t get in fast enough,” she explained.
“It was agonizing. But then knowing that she was going to be OK was the biggest blessing and put us both at ease.”
Bailey’s husband, Mike Hill, is optimistic that Morris’ story will inspire others to prioritize their health.
“I’m just so grateful that they found it early. Cynthia’s mom is so good about going to the doctor,” the sportscaster told us at his 52nd birthday party at Seventy7 North in Studio City, Calif., on Saturday.
“I hope it inspires women — and everyone for that matter — to go in and get those checkups and take care of their health,” he elaborated, applauding his wife and mother-in-law for powering through a tough time together.
“Cynthia and her mom have been so strong throughout all of this, and I couldn’t be more proud of them both,” Hill added. “Surgery day is Monday, and everything is going to be all right. I believe that.”
Megan Thee Stallion Now Seeking $1 Million in Her Lawsuit Cut Ties With 1501 Certified Entertainment
Megan Thee Stallion is now requesting $1 million in damages in her lawsuit against 1501 Certified Entertainment as she seeks the court’s help in parting ways with the Houston-based label.
Rolling Stone writes that her attorneys argue Megan has “satisfied all option periods” stipulated in her contract with 1501 since Traumazine, which was released earlier this month, and 2021’s Something for the Hotties “both constitute an ‘album’ as defined in the parties’ recording agreement.” The Carl Crawford-founded label countered that the rapper hasn’t fulfilled her contractual obligations since Hotties doesn’t count as an album for a number of reasons.
Ahead of the release of Traumazine, Megan took to Twitter to post a series of tweets in which she seemed to declare that her second studio album would the “last one” with 1501, without identifying the label by name.
“Thank you hotties for rocking with me through the bullshit WE ALMOST OUT LETS STAY FOCUSED AND RUN THIS LAST ONE UP,” she tweeted.
Megan’s request for a minimum of $1 million in damages stems from her claim that she has already fulfilled her debt and should be rewarded for her “entirely one-sided” contract, in addition to 1501 allegedly withholding payment for her share of the royalties on her music. The label alleges Megan still owes them “many millions” for work outside of creating music, such as touring, endorsing, and merchandising.
1501 claims Megan “seemed happy” with her relationship with the label until she hired Roc Nation to manage her nearly three years ago. The Houston native credits Roc Nation with helping her realize that her deal with 1501 wasn’t operating along industry standards, such as 60 percent of her recording income going toward the label, as opposed to a traditional 50-50 split.
Aqib Talib steps down from "Thursday Night Football" gig amid brother's shooting controversy
As previously reported, on Aug. 13, the brother of former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib was involved in a fatal shooting. While at a youth football game in Texas, Yaqub Salik Talib got into a verbal altercation with a youth coach named Mike Hickmon. The confrontation turned deadly.
Following the tragic incident, Aqib’s attorney released a statement revealing his client was present at the time of the shooting and expressed his grief for the situation. “Aqib was present when this unfortunate incident occurred and is very distraught and devastated over this terrible loss of life. He would like to convey his condolences to the family of the victim and to everyone who witnessed this unfortunate tragedy,” the attorney said.
In a report published this morning (Aug. 22), Rams Wire announced Aqib would be stepping down from his role as a broadcaster with Amazon. The former NFL player was hired as a studio analyst for the company’s “Thursday Night Football” show. NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared the news via Twitter last night (Aug. 21). “Just spoke to Aqib Talib. In light of the recent tragedy, he is going to step aside from his broadcasting duties at Amazon to spend time with his family,” Rapoport wrote. Aqib had just joined Amazon’s network in late June.
Sources say both Talib brothers were coaches for the North Dallas United Bobcats, one of the youth teams that played during the Aug. 13 game. Hickmon, 43, was a coach for the opposing team from Dragons Elite Academy. According to the New York Post, the victim was a father of three. When news of the shooting first spread, many social media users said Hickmon’s 9-year-old son was present and witnessed the horrific incident.
On Aug. 15, Yaqub turned himself in to the police. He was charged with first-degree murder.
Will Smith makes hilarious return to Instagram
Will Smith is returning to Instagram using the skill he knows best: humor.
On Sunday (Aug. 21), Will took to his Instagram account to post a lighthearted encounter with a tarantula at the Holiday Inn. The 53-year-old actor exchanged banter with his son Trey Smith as they figured out how to deal with a large tarantula patrolling the premises.
“Posting this from a Holiday Inn,” he captioned the post.
“What the whole h**l. That’s a big a** spider,” exclaimed Will in the video. “That’s a tarantula,” Trey specified. “Alright Trey, you gotta get that out of here,” said Will to an incredulous Trey. “C’mon, you’re young and strong. You can handle the bite,” said Will.
“That’s the biggest spider I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Trey. The 29-year-old then proceeded to place a glass container over the tarantula, punctuated by a static scream from Will. “We’re selling the house,” joked Will.
The post was met with comments filled with laughter. “That’s HIS house now,” commented the official “Red Table Talk” account. The streaming show is hosted by Will’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Levity and humor are Will’s signature traits, and also seems to be his strategy to inch back onto Instagram following his Oscars incident. On Saturday (Aug. 20), he posted a video with a caption titled, “Me trying to get back on social media.” The video featured a baby gorilla playfully poking an adult gorilla before the latter jumps to confront the former off camera.
Celebrities have shown support for Will in his comments. “We miss u,” wrote Justin Bieber on the video. The comment received over 4,800 likes.
Prior to those posts, Will’s latest upload was a nearly six-minute public apology to Rock in late July in a statement that was also posted to YouTube.
“I’ve reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is that he is not ready to talk,” said the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star. “But when he is, he will reach out.
“So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you,” Will continued as he stared into the camera. “My behavior was unacceptable, and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Tiffany Haddish’s ‘Girls Trip’ Check Helped Pay Off Her Home
Tiffany Haddish’s breakout role in Girls Trip gave her all the momentum needed to make her one of Hollywood’s rising Black stars. Starring alongside veteran actresses Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Regina Hall, Haddish revealed she was paid $80,000 for her role in a new Cosmopolitan cover story. She also revealed that she cashed in her funds to pay off her home to keep from homelessness again.
“So immediately when I started making a little bit of money doing things like Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong and The Carmichael Show, I started trying to figure out how to create generational wealth,” Haddish revealed. “The fastest way to do it and the first way you should go about doing it is buy some land. So before we even got into season 2 of The Carmichael Show, I bought a house. Everybody told me I should wait, but I didn’t care.”
Haddish was able to pay off her home after finishing the first season of the animated show. She was willing to sacrifice her first big check for everlasting security.
She added, “I just knew I was going to have to always make enough money to take care of me and the house, and that’s what I did. Between that show’s next season, the Keanu movie, and making sure I can live comfortably off of $500 a month, I was able to pay off half the house. The Girls Trip check was the final check. People told me to spend it in other ways, but I used it to pay off the house because I was always afraid of being homeless again.”
Expressing that she never wants to be broke again, she went on to say, “Now I have a surplus of money, but I’m still afraid of being poor again. Every movie I made, I would just buy another piece of land or a house.”
#FASHIONFAB: Hot or Not? Ciara Celebrates Spirits and Statement Colors in Green Blazer for Her Ten To One Rum Brand
Ciara brought radiant colors to the red carpet for a celebration of her Ten To One Rum brand on Aug. 19 in Los Angeles. The event was held in collaboration with Pronghorn, an organization that supports Black-owned businesses in the spirits industry.
The Grammy-winning musician chose lime green shorts and a matching blazer from her clothing line LITA by Ciara. She opted for no shirt underneath, emphasizing the two-piece set itself. Ciara is an investor, co-owner and director for Ten To One Rum.
Ciara coordinated the outfit with a pair of bright pink strappy platform sandals and accessorized with stacks of bangles on both of her arms, a layer of necklaces and two rings. She parted her hair down the middle and went for flowing curls framing her face. For beauty, she chose a natural look that included a nude lip and subtle eyeshadow.
LITA by Ciara, which launched in August last year, is an acronym for “love is the answer.” The singer took inspiration for the line from vintage staple pieces in her closet that she describes as tomboy-chic. Ciara’s other fashion venture is gender-neutral clothing line Human Nation, created in collaboration with her husband, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.
Human Nation, LITA, and Russell Wilson’s swimwear brand Good Man are founded under The House of LR&C, the couple’s fashion company. The acronym stands for “love, respect and care.” Three percent of net revenue from The House of LR&C goes to the Why Not You Foundation, the couple’s nonprofit dedicated to children’s health and education. In July, the duo opened their first retail store for The House of LR&C in Seattle.
Gary Busey Denies Sexual Assault Allegations, Says Accusers Are Lying
Gary Busey is speaking out in response to allegations of sexual assault.
The 78-year-old Oscar-nominated actor was charged with multiple charges of sex crimes and harassment after an incident at the Monster-Mania horror film convention in New Jersey.
Gary was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, one count of criminal attempt/criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, and one count of harassment.
TMZ spotted Gary at a gas station in Malibu, Calif. on Monday (August 22) and the photographer questioned him about the charges.
Gary claimed that “nothing happened” with the two women who made the allegations, adding that it was “all false.” He said that his interaction with the “two girls took less than 10 seconds.”
“Then they made their story,” he added. When asked what he would say to his fans who are concerned about the allegations, he said, “I don’t care because there are no accusations.”
Watch the video on TMZ.com.
American Idol's Sanjaya Malakar Comes Out as Bisexual, Reacts to Being Called 'Gay' as a Teen
Sanjaya Malakar, who shot to fame as a Top 10 finalist on American Idol season six, is opening up about his sexuality.
The former singer, who is now 32, came out as bisexual during an interview on The Adam Shank Show podcast and he also discussed what it was like to be called “gay” in his teenage years.
Sanjaya was just 17 while competing on the show, on which his vocals were criticized for being “utterly horrendous” by judge Simon Cowell. He revealed during the interview that he’s now working as a pastry chef and bartender.
“I identify as bisexual,” Sanjaya said (via People). “At the time [that I was on American Idol], I did not know, which was why it was so weird for me.”
“I had a hard time figuring out how to interact with young boys because my dad’s from India and grew up in a temple, so there was never like, ‘This is how you are a boy,’” Sanjaya said about his upbringing. “And then, my mom is an A-type personality, Italian-American woman, and [so are] her sisters and my sisters and all of that, so growing up I was already the awkward theater kid.”
He added, “I always got along with theater kids. I always got along with gay kids and girls, so I was like, ‘OK, these are my people.’ But I don’t know. Everyone keeps telling me that I am gay, and I’m like, 7. I don’t even have any attraction to anyone, so why are you telling me this?”
Sanjaya talked about being called “gay” while on the show, despite having a long-term girlfriend at the time.
“I was exploring my life as a child, and then American Idol happened, and everyone was like, ‘Oh, he’s gay.’ And I was like, ‘OK, well now I have to say no, because at this point they’re forcing me to make a decision and define myself,’” he said. “At that time, that was a big thing as well, ’cause I grew up in a time when being called a f—-t in school was the worst thing that could ever happen to you. You had to be as hyper-masculine as possible to fit in, and coming up in 2007, it was like, ‘Being gay is OK, but you have to define yourself, and there’s this or that.’”
“All of my publicists were like, ‘Oh, just tell everyone you’re single. Be ambiguous. No one needs to know anything about anything because you don’t want to lose your fans.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, but why am I manipulating what I know of myself to figure out what kind of fans I’m going to get because I’m still trying to discover who I am?’” he said.
Sanjaya talked about feeling comfortable in his sexuality at 32.
“For me, at this point I don’t really care about what people know of my sexuality, and if I got into a serious long-term relationship with a guy I would bring him to my family, and they’d be like, ‘Oh, cool,’” he said. “A couple of my cousins are bi as well and have brought home gay partners and then come and married someone else. It becomes a big deal, and it’s not.”
Rapper Fetty Wap faces mandatory 5-year sentence after guilty plea
Rapper Fetty Wap is facing at least 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy drug charge Monday. The plea was made in federal court in Central Islip on Long Island before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Locke.
The 31-year-old, whose real name is William Junior Maxwell II, and five others were arrested in October and charged with "conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, including cocaine, fentanyl and heroin," according to court documents.
On Monday, Maxwell pleaded guilty to the charge, which comes with a minimum sentence of five years in prison.
Maxwell did not request to be released on bond and remains in custody. No sentencing date was scheduled, a representative for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said.
Authorities claim that between June 2019 and June 2020, Maxwell and five others used the U.S. Postal Service and cars with hidden compartments to distribute 100 kilograms of illegal substances from the West Coast to Long Island and New Jersey.
Once the drugs arrived on Long Island, they were allegedly distributed to dealers. Maxwell was accused of being a kilogram-level redistributor for the trafficking organization.
Two of Maxwell's co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the case. Robert Leonardi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances and Anthony Cyntje pleaded guilty to that same count and a firearms charge.
Maxwell is best known for his chart-topping hit "Trap Queen," which earned him two Grammy nominations in 2015. The tracks "My Way," "679" and "Again," all off his 2015 self-titled album, also cracked the Billboard Top 100 that year.
‘House of the Dragon’ premiere makes history with 10M viewers and counting, according to HBO
When we talked to “House of the Dragon” creators George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal ahead of the series premiere, Martin said that any future “Game of Thrones” spinoffs would hinge on this one.
If the “Dragon” couldn’t fly with HBO viewers, then all the rest, now in development, might have a tougher time getting that coveted green light.
It’s still early days, but now his Westeros Television Universe is one flap of the wings closer to realizing its fantasy-based reality.
Because “House of the Dragon,” the heavily promoted “GOT” prequel that premiered Sunday, Aug. 21, has set a new record for HBO.
The drama created by Bayonne’s Martin and Hasbrouck Heights’ Condal drew 9.986 million viewers in the United States from both linear and HBO Max platforms Sunday night, making it the largest series premiere in HBO history, the cable network announced Monday.
Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series of books introduced the world of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, providing the source material for HBO’s Emmy-winning series “Game of Thrones,” which ran for eight seasons before ending in 2019.
Martin acknowledged that a part of that audience, disappointed by the final season, may not return for the new series. But HBO Max has seen a jump in viewership for “GOT” in the run-up to “House of the Dragon.”
Milly Alcock as young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Emma D'Arcy plays the older version of the character in "House of the Dragon."Ollie Upton | HBO
“House of the Dragon” is based on Martin’s 2018 book “Fire & Blood,” a history of House Targaryen which covers the Targaryen civil war, or the Dance of the Dragons.
Condal joined Martin in adapting the book for the series, also serving as showrunner alongside “GOT” director Miguel Sapochnik, who directed the prequel’s premiere. (All three are executive producers.)
‘House of the Dragon’ premiere recap: Bloody ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel fires up the franchise
“It was wonderful to see millions of ‘Game of Thrones’ fans return with us to Westeros last night,” Casey Bloys, chief content officer for HBO and HBO Max, said in a statement. “‘House of the Dragon’ features an incredibly talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into the production, and we’re ecstatic with viewers’ positive response. We look forward to sharing with audiences what else George, Ryan, and Miguel have in store for them this season.”
HBO said the show also had the largest series premiere on HBO Max in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The hourlong series, which airs Sunday nights on HBO (when it also becomes available on HBO Max), has nine episodes remaining.
Among the other “Game of Thrones” prequels in the works is a show focusing on a young Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka The Sea Snake, played by Steve Toussaint in “House of the Dragon.”
There’s also “Snow,” a “GOT” sequel in development that would see the return of Kit Harrington as Jon Snow.
“House of the Dragon” airs 9 p.m. ET Sundays through Oct. 23 on HBO and HBO Max.
Instagram Ceases Temporary Payments For In-Stream Video Ads
Months after announcing the ending of IGTV videos for creators, Instagram is ending temporary pay for instream videos.
In April, Instagram announced that it would primarily focus on reels, long-form videos, shopping, and other new additions to the platform. CEO Adam Mosseri said the platform wanted to shift its focus to videos to compete with TikTok and Youtube Shorts. The change was made to meet the demands of the competitive market. However, it was soon discovered that creators would no longer receive payments for their in-stream videos.
We’ve noticed this change on our platform as Instagram sent us a notification claiming they are sending final payments in October.A similar situation happened when eligible creators would receive payments for tagging products for the new affiliate program, but Instagram stopped the program two months after its launch.
“We want to make Instagram the best place for creators to earn a living by partnering with brands. To do this, we are focusing on Instagram’s Creator Marketplace – a singular destination where brands and creators can more easily build content partnerships – and ending the current test of Instagram onsite affiliate,” said a Meta spokesperson.
Due to the constant changes, more creators are taking their endeavors to TikTok or Youtube since there haven’t been any changes to their monetization programs. Even casual users are switching to video-focused platforms since Instagram has yet to fix their chronological feeds.
Scott Disick Involved In Single-Car Crash in Calabasas, Flips His Lamborghini
Fans are currently sending out prayers to Scott Disick who was involved in a car crash over the weekend.
According to TMZ, the incident took place on Sunday in the Oaks gated community in Calabasas. Law enforcement sources told the outlet that Disick was alone in the car during the accident and “didn’t appear impaired” after his car flipped over. The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star was said to have suffered just a minor cut to the head but refused medical attention when paramedics arrived on the scene.
Pictures from the scene that were obtained by the publication show the damages his car sustained after he reportedly smashed into a stone mailbox. Per the outlet, Disick’s Lamborghini was towed from the scene and there were no arrests made or citations issued.
Further details on what possibly triggered the accident has yet to be shared. Disick, 39, has not commented publicly on the incident.
Meanwhile, fans have taken to his comment section to send him prayers along with positive messages. One Instagram user wrote, “Wishing you a speedy recovery. @letthelordbewithyou hope your family are looking after you. Another said, “Hope your ok @letthelordbewithyou never ever refuse medical treatment your body in shock anytime something like this happens! I didn’t feel it until. A third added, “ Hope you’re all good from the crash man ! Not the lambo!”
Now, aside from this, Scott has been appearing to be in good spirits as he was recently spotted hanging out with Rod Stewart’s daughter, Kimberly Stewart, in Beverly Hills. However, on Thursday, Us Weekly reported that Disick is “still heartbroken over Kourtney Kardashian” tying the knot to Blinks drummer Travis Barker on April 4, May 15, and May 22 following a whirlwind 16-month romance.
“He’s still heartbroken over Kourtney. He’s throwing himself into work as a distraction. He’s still into real estate and flipping homes, and is working on new collections for Talentless,” the source said.
Despite that, the source told the outlet that, Scott isn’t dating anyone seriously at the moment,” the source says of the Talentless cofounder, 39. “He’s working on himself. He’s enjoying being single.” Disick has also been focused on coparenting his three kids.
André 3000 And Supreme Brand Team Up For A New Campaign
André 3000, one half of the super group OutKast is featured on a new campaign with the popular streetwear brand Supreme. Earlier this week, Supreme began rolling out a series of teasers on its social media pages with the ATLiens artist rocking the iconic Supreme box logo white t-shirt.
The promotional photo shot by Deana Lawson was unveiled just ahead of the first batch of products the NYC-based clothing line will reveal for its new Fall/Winter 2022 collection. Many believe 3 Stacks will be the next artist featured on its iconic seasonal photo tee.
Chris Brown Says He's Banned From Awards Shows
Chris Brown won’t be taking the stage at an awards show anytime soon.
The R&B superstar reveals that he’s been banned from awards shows. He made the revelation while sharing an Instagram video from one of his concerts in New Mexico, saying he would have quit the industry if not for his fans.
“YOU SEE THE PEOPLE??? EVERY SHOW IS PACKED LIKE THIS,” he wrote in his caption. “IF IT WASNT FOR MY INCREDIBLE FANS I WOULD’VE BEEN QUIT… I don’t like the fake celebrity SHIT…”
Despite his ability to sell out shows, Breezy says he hasn’t been booked to perform at an awards show in years. “AWARD SHOWs HAVENT let me perform in years… yet my shows STILL SELL OUT. LET ME BE GREAT…”
Someone in the comments asked if the BET Awards would let him perform, to which Chris responded, “Nope.” Chris last performed at the BET Awards in 2017.
In the meantime, you can catch him live at an arena near you on his “One of Them Ones” co-headlining tour with Lil Baby, which wraps at the end of this month.
The “Warm Embrace” singer recently made headlines after responding to Diddy’s claim that R&B was dead. “R&B ain’t dead,” he wrote. “A lot of people are deaf to what real music is… Damn near every rapper wanna be a singer.”
‘90 Day Fiancé’ star Yve Arellano charged with domestic assault, battery
“90 Day Fiancé” star Yvette “Yve” Arellano is facing domestic violence charges amid her husband Mohamed Abdelhamed’s text cheating scandal.
Arellano was charged on Aug. 15, 2022, with one count of assault against a household member and one count of battery (household member), New Mexico court records seen by Page Six show.
The TLC reality star has a bond arraignment hearing scheduled for Sept. 6. In Touch was the first to report the news of the charges.
“The domestic abuse allegations have been falsified by Mohamed,” Arellano’s rep, Dominique Enchinton of Dominton Talent House, claims in a statement to Page Six. “Mohamed and the woman he has been cheating on Yve with have discussed his options from the very beginning.
“They specifically discussed a U-Visa and how Mohammed could qualify for this just in case Yve found out about his indiscretions,” the rep alleged.
“The domestic abuse allegations are completely false and just a ploy to keep him in the US. Yve was not arrested on 8/15 or any other day,” the statement claims. “Yve has never been abusive toward Mohamed and just wants this chapter in her life to be done so she can move forward.”
Arellano’s legal woes come about three weeks after Abdelhamed, 28, found himself in a digital cheating scandal in which he was accused of texting inappropriate messages to another woman shortly after he and Arellano, 48, married.
The Egypt native addressed the cheating scandal during Sunday night’s “90 Day Fiancé” tell-all, where he admitted to texting other women. Abdelhamed said he met a woman online, and while he initially thought they were “just friends,” their rapport turned into something “bigger.”
“You know, it’s very shocking, raw, disappointing, saddening,” the Albuquerque native said of his infidelity. “He chose to spend his time focused on starting other relationships and engaging in activity that a married man should not be engaging in.”
While it was unclear at the end of the episode whether the couple remained together, Abdelhamed hinted at a split on his Instagram Story on Monday.
“A lot of people asking, why I’m not saying my part of the story, that’s because I was trying my best to end my relationship with respect, that’s all,” he wrote.
Arellano, meanwhile, thanked her fans for their support after his infidelity came to light.
“Thank you ladies for sharing your stories of infidelity, heartaches, & pain,” she wrote on her Instagram Story Sunday. “Obviously, we are not alone. Why commitment for some isn’t a commitment. There’s lots of healing that needs to happen in this world on so many levels.
“If you don’t want to be exclusively just say so,” she continued, “so people can make their own informed decisions…”
Adidas CEO Makes Shocking Departure, Company Scramming to Find Replacement
Adidas CEO Kasper Rørsted has shocked the apparel industry by departing the company after renewing his contract in 2020 for another five years.
The soon-to-be former CEO will make his exit in 2023. After a series of unfortunate events, including COVID 19, inflation, and rising supply chains, sales have plummeted, boosting Asian sales. Rørsted recommended that the company appoint a new CEO to re-evaluate the sales strategy.
Adidas announced, “After three challenging years that were marked by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and geo-political tensions, it is now the right time to initiate a CEO transition and pave the way for a restart.”
He will remain the CEO until the new successor takes over to ensure the company has a smooth transition.
Bloomberg reports, “Adidas shares have lost about 37% in value this year, ranking them among the worst performers on the 50-member Euro Stoxx 50 Index. The stock slumped as much as 6.9 euros, or 4.2%, to 158.7 euros in Frankfurt following the announced CEO change.”
When he initially took over, he increased the company by 67 billion euros in 2021, per Bloomberg. However, since the pandemic and more supply changes, the company’s value has fallen drastically while Nike and Puma increased.
The company and Rørsted have mutually agreed on his departure. While the company scrams to find a new replacement, Rørsted will officially exit next year.
Apple Employees Create Petition After Company Calls For Remote Workers To Head Back To The Office
Apple employees have kicked off a petition requesting that they be allowed to work from home amid the company’s return-to-office mandate.
Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a deadline to all company workers, calling for them to be back in the office for at least three days a week, starting Sept. 5. In response to the policy, workers clapped back in the form of a petition, saying they are doing just fine working from home as they would in the office, demanding “location flexible work.”
The petition — called Apple Together — was put together by a group of workers at the company, who claim they’ve been doing “exceptional work” during the pandemic and after, in spite of not being in the office.
“This uniform mandate from senior leadership does not consider the unique demands of each job role nor the diversity of individuals,” the petition states. “Those asking for more flexible arrangements have many compelling reasons and circumstances: from disabilities (visible or not); family care; safety, health, and environmental concerns; financial considerations; to just plain being happier and more productive,” it went on.
According to an April survey, 76 percent of Apple employees have responded poorly to the return-to-office mandate.
Two Arkansas Officers Suspended, One Placed on Administrative Leave After Video Captures Them Beating Suspect
Three Arkansas officers have been removed from duty after a bystander captured them violently beating a suspect outside a Crawford County convenience store.
The incident reportedly happened after 10:30 a.m. Sunday in outside the Kountry Xpress store on Georgia Ridge Drive in Mulberry. Officials say the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Randall Worcester of Goose Creek, South Carolina, was confronted by police after being accused of threatening employees at a store in Alma earlier that day.
A now-viral video shows the officers beating the man during an arrest attempt. One officer is seen punching the man in the face and slamming his head while another one restrains him as the third officer knees the suspect.
In a statement released Sunday night, the Arkansas State Police said an investigation had been launched into “the use of force by two Crawford County sheriff’s deputies and a Mulberry police officer.”
Two of the officers who are deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office were suspended, and the third, an officer with the Mulberry Police Department, was placed on administrative leave.
“I hold all my employees accountable for their actions and will take appropriate measures in this matter,” Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante said while announcing the two officers from his department have been suspended “pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Mulberry Police Department said, “The city of Mulberry and the Mulberry Police Department takes these investigations very seriously and holds all their officers accountable for their actions,” while announcing the officer involved in the incident from their department has been placed on administrative leave.
The suspect was later charged with second-degree battery, resisting arrest, refusal to submit, possessing an instrument of crime, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, terroristic threatening and second-degree assault.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Convenient’
That’s not how to use them!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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