#FASHIONFILES: Karim Benzema & Bizarrap Rock adidas Originals NMD V3 Silhouette Sneakers
Bizarrap stars in the adidas Originals NMD V3 Silhouette sneaker campaign. Photo Credit: adidas
Adidas is one of the leading brands in the design of sports shoes for its innovative design and the work it does with the environment. The latest news from the label is that of the adidas Originals NMD V3 Silhouette sneaker. The NMD V3 Silhouette combines its successful redesign with the care of the ocean since these new shoes use a minimum of 50% Parley Ocean Plastic, recycled plastic from marine waste, and another 50% recycled polyester.
A campaign celebrates the launch of the adidas Originals NMD V3 Silhouette. Furthermore, the advertisement features French footballer Karim Benzema and Argentinean DJ and producer Bizarrap. The talents take to a modern set, embodying the NMD spirit of future icons forging the cities of tomorrow. Adidas’ vibrant new visuals encourage people to “create new paths.”
The adidas Originals NMD V3 Silhouette shoe reinvents the original NMD model, offering an urban design for new generations to discover. The shoe’s upper part is similar to the original but deviates with its details, including red and blue colors on the sides and sole, colors so uneven that they combine with the black and white versions. Instead of the traditional EVA wedges that highlight the midsole and provide stability, a piece in the midsole that holds the red and blue components also appear in the toe box as a dashed line.
#RHOA: Sheree Whitfield Shades 'Love & Marriage: Huntsville' Star Martell Holt's Former Mistress After She's Called 'Old'
The Real Housewife of Atlanta star Sheree Whitfield is trying to enjoy her new romance with Martell Holt from Love & Marriage: Huntsville, but Holt’s longtime mistress Arionne Curry won’t let them be great.
Whitfield is receiving a lot of criticism from people for dating the reality star one. Curry took to Instagram and referred to Sherree as an “old b—h.” The RHOA OG went to Instagram to throw slight shade of her own.
Whitfeld throws shade
On her Instagram, she posted a video montage made by a fan with pictures of her looking fabulous and used the caption “#old and cold,” seemingly referring to Curry’s rant.
In another post, Whitfield let it be known that she is a full-course meal. Curry was nicked named “coleslaw” by Funk Diva, suggesting she was more of a side dish while Martell Holt’s ex-wife Melody was a full course meal.
Whitfield took it a step further in another post.
“The day you look at other women and celebrate their strengths instead of think of them as competition is the day you go from a girl to a woman. – Ali Washington,” she captioned a post, along with the hashtags: “#SelfLove #Growth #Old&Cold #ExplorePage #FullCourseMealWithTheTablePotsPansAndPlates”
#MusicNews: Usher Slams Narrative That R&B Is Dead: “It's Blasphemous'
Following Chris Brown, Usher is coming to the defense of R&B. During his conversation with Bevy Smith on SiriusXM’s Bevelations, the R&B superstar pushed back at Diddy’s controversial suggestion that R&B is dead, which sparked a hotly-contested debate on social media.
“When I hear people say stuff like, ‘What happened to R&B?’ or ‘R&B is dead,’ it’s not, you just don’t understand the basis of it,” Usher said. “How can something come out 20-some-odd years ago and all of a sudden have a resurgence in a way that people just want to talk about it, sing it, enjoy it?”
He went to explain that there would be no hip-hop if not for R&B. “R&B is timeless. It ain’t gonna go away,” he added. “So when I do hear people, even like Puff saying R&B is dead, he sounds nuts to me. It sounds crazy. You know, especially knowing he was a pioneer in understanding and beneficiary of it. The source that is R&B created the breath of life that was breathed into hip-hop. It wouldn’t be. There would be no hip-hop if there were not R&B, so it’s blasphemous to hear people say anything, especially hip-hop cats, to say anything about R&B.”
Bevy defended Diddy, suggesting he was trying to promote his upcoming R&B album and didn’t really mean what he said.
“If you really want to make something happen, I say celebrate it more than decline it,” Usher said. “If anything, why don’t you take two minutes to really recognize the cats that are doing and give them that recognition and celebration?”
Usher explained that all music is rooted in R&B, while showing love to his “little brother” Chris Brown, Pharrell, Dr. Dre, and Justin Bieber. “When I heard [Bieber] do songs like ‘Peaches,’ he gets it. It lives forever,” he said.
He also cited Diddy’s upcoming hits battle with Jermaine Dupri in Atlanta, while calling out Puff for igniting the “R&B is dead” debate.
“Y’all don’t live without R&B. Neither one of y’all,” he said. “If this a thirst trap moment or you trolling, keep that shit in the comment section. I’m not fu**ing with none of that.”
Just last week, Chris Brown echoed similar sentiments, slamming the notion that R&B needs saving. “THESE NI**AS SAYING R&B IS DEAD??? WATCH YOUR MOUTH NI**A… IT AINT DEAD,” he said. “ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEAF TO WHAT Real MUSIC IS… DAMN NEAR EVERY RAPPER WANNA BE A SINGER.”
Amid the backlash, Diddy explained that he didn’t intend to offend anyone. “It’s been 3 days of the debate…This is the clarity of the message…It’s not disrespect to anybody,” he tweeted. “This conversation was out of love and me purposely wanting to bring attention to R&B! It was something that I saw the effect of the Hip hop and R&B balance. That balance is honesty and realness when it comes together, melodies, vulnerability and most importantly LOVE!!!”
#HipHopNews: Virtual Rapper FN Meka Dropped By Capitol Records After Backlash
Virtual rapper FN Meka has been dropped by Capitol Records following backlash over cultural appropriation and racist stereotypes.
“We offer our deepest apologies to the Black community for our insensitivity in signing this project without asking enough questions about equity and the creative process behind it,” Capitol Music Group said in a statement Tuesday. “We thank those who have reached out to us with constructive feedback in the past couple of days—your input was invaluable as we came to the decision to end our association with the project.”
The “robot rapper,” which was backed by virtual record label Factory New, was the first augmented reality artist to sign to a major label. The character, who has more than 10 million followers on TikTok, faced growing backlash after being depicted using the N-word in song lyrics and trivializing incarceration and police brutality.
Just hours before Capitol dropped FN Meka, the activist nonprofit group Industry Blackout released an open letter demanding that the label “terminate” the partnership.
“While we applaud innovation in tech that connects listeners to music and enhances the experience, we find fault in the lack of awareness in how offensive this caricature is,” the organization said in a statement. “It is a direct insult to the Black community and our culture. An amalgamation of gross stereotypes, appropriative mannerisms that derive from Black artists, complete with slurs infused in lyrics.”
“This digital effigy is a careless abomination and disrespectful to real people who face real consequences in real life,” the letter continued while citing Gunna, who is featured on FN Meka’s debut single, “Florida Water.”
“Gunna, a Black artist who featured on a song with FN Meka, is currently incarcerated for rapping the same type of lyrics this robot mimics. The difference is, your artificial rapper will not be subject to federal charges for such.”
Industry Blackout also called out Capitol for its “serious lack of diversity and resounding amount of tone deaf leadership,” adding, “This is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The group demanded that the label issue a public apology and remove Meka’s music from all platforms, as well as for “all monies spent” to “be allocated to charitable organizations that directly support Black youth in the arts, as well as marketing budgets for Black artists signed to Capitol Records.”
In an interview with The New York Times, Factory New founder Anthony Martini said he anticipated the deal’s termination, citing “blogs that have latched onto a clickbait headline and created this narrative.” He said that the project was “not this malicious plan of white executives” and that the team behind FN Meka was “actually one of the most diverse teams you can get.”
Capitol confirmed that it did not pay an advance to sign the rapper and there was no money to be paid back in the deal.
Garcelle, Lisa Rinna respond after Jax is attacked by ‘RHOBH’ fans
Enough is enough. Garcelle Beauvais and Lisa Rinna have responded to “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” fans who are mercilessly attacking Beauvais’ 14-year-old son Jax online.
“I’m usually a very strong woman,” Beauvais, 55, wrote via social media Tuesday. “I’ve been raised to be strong. My life has taught me to be strong but when it comes to my kids! It hurts. It’s not OK.”
The “Love Me as I Am” author added, “I’ve been in tears all night. It’s just a TV show people. Scream at your TV throw something at your TV but leave our kids alone #RHOBH.”
The cyberbullying has come as Beauvais’ feud with Rinna plays out on the Bravo reality series.
The women have clashed over castmates Erika Jayne and Diana Jenkins, friends of Rinna’s who Beauvais has either questioned or butted heads with.
Fans of Rinna, 59, Jayne, 51, and Jenkins, 49, have taken it upon themselves to hurl hurtful insults at Beauvais and her kid in defense of their favorite cast members.
Video length 1 minute 36 seconds1:36Erika Jayne slammed for cursing at Garcelle Beauvais’ 14-year-old son
Erika Jayne slammed for cursing at Garcelle Beauvais’ 14-year-old son
But Rinna demanded in a Tuesday Instagram Story post that their children be left out of any online discourse regarding the show.
“We are doing a tv show. We try to entertain you-why can’t you treat it like wrestling for gods sakes love us-love to hate us,” she wrote. “But leave the kids alone!”
The Rinna Beauty founder continued, “What I was just sent about @garcelle son is disgusting and unacceptable.”
Rinna also noted previous harassment aimed at Kyle Richards’ daughter Portia, 14, Jayne’s adult son, Tommy Zizzo, and her own daughters, Delilah Belle, 24, and Amelia Gray Hamlin, 21.
“What I heard happen to Porshe [sic] @kylerichards18 is disgusting and unacceptable. what you’ve said and done to my own kids disgusting,” she wrote. “The threats to @theprettymess son!?!! And I’m sure all of the other beautiful children.”
Rinna concluded, “They didn’t sign up for this. What are [you] doing?! The kids – all of our kids should be off limits so stop it now. Enough is enough.”
Beauvais — who shares Jax and his twin, Jaid, 14, with ex-husband Mike Nilon and Oliver Saunders, 31, with former spouse Daniel Saunders — retweeted Rinna’s message and echoed, “This has to stop!!! They’re just kids.”
“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Kanye West won’t be charged for alleged assault against a fan in L.A.
Kanye West will not face charges for an alleged assault against a fan that happened earlier this year.
“After a thorough and careful review of all the evidence, our office is declining to file based on no reasonable likelihood of conviction,” the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office told TMZ.
The incident that spurred the complaint took place in downtown Los Angeles at about 3 a.m. in January.
The street where the alleged battery happened was near Soho Warehouse, a members-only downtown club popular with celebrities.
The case was being investigated as misdemeanor battery. Maximum jail sentence for the crime is six months in jai
The First Trailer for Tyler Perry's Upcoming Netflix Drama 'A Jazzman's Blues’
It’s about that time for another Tyler Perry production and it is a project that the filmmaker previously said is “very, very different for” him.
Set in the 1940s deep South, the trailer begins with actors Joshua Boone and Solea Pfeiffer sharing a passionate kiss. The two play star-crossed lovers Bayou and Leanne, whose forbidden love is the backdrop for decades of secrets and lies being uncovered.
“That was our first kiss,” says Bayou in the trailer. “Ain’t nothing felt that good in all my life. You asked me not to tell nobody, but I sure wanted the world to know.”
In addition to Boone and Pfeiffer, the cast also includes Austin Scott, Milauna Jemai Jackson, Brent Antonello, Brad Benedict, Kario Marcel, Lana Young and Ryan Eggold.
In July, Perry, 52, said about the film, saying, “I wrote it in 1995. It was the first screenplay I ever wrote. The two characters are just trying to find their own way in the world. Initially, I wanted to play the lead role of Bayou, but that was 1995 — I aged out.”
The Hollywood mogul is in a much different place in life and his career than when he originally wrote A Jazzman’s Blues, making the project even more personal for Perry.
WATCH
“I was in Atlanta struggling to make it. I was hungry, sleeping on my cousin’s couch, eventually getting put out and being homeless. I was trying to get my first play off the ground, and this screenplay just poured out of me,” he recalled. “I held onto it for all of these years.”
The trailer features the new song “Paper Airplanes” by singer-songwriter Ruth B., which she co-wrote with Grammy winner Terence Blanchard.
A Jazzman’s Blues is on Netflix Sept. 23. It will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 11.
Idris Elba Would Really Like You To Stop Asking Him About Playing James Bond
For the last time, please stop asking Idris Elba about James Bond.The Beast actor has heard rumors about playing 007 since at least 2018, and he’s tired of it. “I have no more answers for it,” Elba said on the Jemele Hill is Unbothered podcast. “I just tell people, ‘Aw, don’t ask me that.’ Because a lot of times it’s really lazy journalism. And people try to use it as clickbait like ‘what’s he gonna say this time?’ I try to say the same things.” He admitted that he occasionally enjoys trolling people, like with this 2018 tweet, and “every now and then, I’ll give them some philosophy on why I don’t want to do it or why it’s a rumor. But most times now, I tend not to talk about it.”
Tell me about it. People are always demanding to know if I’m playing Bond, too. I’d like to take this opportunity to set the record straight: I have not been officially asked (yet).
It’s for the best that Elba isn’t interested in the role, anyway. A recent rumor claims that the Bond overlords are looking for “someone probably in their 30s” and “taller than 5’10” to be in at least “the next three movies.” I know just the tall 30-something for the job.
Dennis Rodman No Longer Plans On Traveling To Russia To Help Brittney Griner After Being Discouraged By U.S. Government
While former NBA star Dennis Rodman ambitiously claimed he would be flying to Russia in a bid to help free Brittney Griner, it looks as if his plans have been derailed by the U.S. government. The 61-year-old told NBC News on Saturday that he had gotten “permission to help that girl,” and that he was looking to make the trip as early as this week.
However, Ned Price, who is a spokesperson for the State Department, released a statement to ABC News on Monday, letting it be known that if Rodman was to go ahead and fly out to Russia, he “would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government.” Furthermore, Price asserted that Rodman trying to negotiate with officials in Russia would only complicate things amid ongoing talks to bring Griner back to the U.S. as quickly as possible.
“We believe that anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts,” he added. This led Rodman to backtrack from his comments over the weekend, telling ABC News in a statement of his own he will no longer be flying out to Russia after all.
Griner has been detained in Russia since February when she traveled to Moscow with vape cartridges containing hashish oil inside her luggage, which is deemed illegal in the country. She has since been found guilty and was sentenced to a whopping nine years in prison, with reports claiming the U.S. government is having ongoing talks with Russia to trade notorious arms dealer for the release of Griner and US Marine Paul Whelan.
Since the verdict of her nine-year prison sentence, Griner’s legal team has already filed an appeal, with her attorney Maria Blagovolina calling the ruling “excessive,” and that those who have been in similar cases in the past were given much lighter punishments than the one handed to her client.
Earlier this month, Russia did confirm that they were actively having discussions for a prisoner exchange with the U.S., though an agreement had yet to be reached. “The discussion of the quite sensitive topic of prisoner exchange of Russian and American citizens has been ongoing along the channels set out by the two presidents,” Alexander Darchiev, who is the director of the North American department at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, shared.
FIRST LOOK: Janelle Monae In Netflix’s ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’
Janelle Monae is set to star in Knives Out follow-up Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, according to first-look photos from the Netflix murder mystery. Monae will appear alongside Daniel Craig and Edward Norton in the Rian Johnson-directed effort. Johnson spoke on the inspiration behind the film’s title in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum.
“I’m always fishing for something fun that Blanc can grab onto as an overwrought metaphor that he can beat to death,” he said. “This is all in plain sight from the very start. So, the idea of glass came to me, something that’s clear. I’ll be very honest. I literally got out my iPhone and searched my music library with the word ‘glass.’ There’s got to be some good glass songs. I was like, ‘Oh, is it a glass fortress? Is it a glass castle? Is it a glass man?’ The first thing that came up, because I’m a huge Beatles fan, is ‘Glass Onion.’”
Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista will also star in the film.
Monáe’s last film was 2020’s Antebellum. She also starred in the second season of the Amazon series, Homecoming. In May, Monae revealed that she’d been cast to play Josephine Baker in the A24 series De La Resistance, but a release date has not been revealed yet.
Glass Onion will premiere in select theaters before arriving on Netflix December 23.
Jason Momoa & Hera Hilmar Celebrate 'See's Final Season Premiere in LA
Jason Momoa holds on to Hera Hilmar‘s clutch while posing for photos with her on the red carpet premiere of See‘s final season held at DGA Theater Complex on Tuesday (August 23) in Los Angeles.
The two stars were joined by a ton of their co-stars, including Olivia Cheng, Nesta Cooper, Mainei Kinimaka, Yadira Guevara-Prip, Trieste Kelly Dunn, David Hewlett, and Michael Raymond-James.
The eight-episode final season of See will debut this Friday, August 26 on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday.
If you’re unfamiliar, See is set in a brutal and primitive future, hundreds of years after humankind has lost the ability to see.
In season three, almost a year has passed since Baba Voss (Momoa) defeated his nemesis brother Edo and bid farewell to his family to live remotely in the forest. But when a Trivantian scientist develops a new and devastating form of sighted weaponry that threatens the future of humanity, Baba returns to Paya in order to protect his tribe once more.
Sterling K. Brown & Regina Hall Hit 'Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul' Premiere in LA
Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall hit the red carpet for the premiere of their new movie, Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. held at Regal LA Live on Monday (August 22) in Los Angeles.
The two actors were joined co-stars Devere Rogers, Conphidance, and Austin Crute, as well as Sterling‘s actress wife, Ryan Michelle Bathe at the event.
Regina and Sterling produced the pic alongside Daniel Kaluuya, and Jordan Peele, who also were at the premiere with twin directors Adanne Ebo and Adamma Ebo.
Here’s a summary for the movie: In the aftermath of a huge scandal, Trinitie Childs, the first lady of a prominent Southern Baptist Mega Church, attempts to help her pastor-husband, Lee-Curtis Childs, rebuild their congregation.
Kevin Durant will remain with the Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant will remain with the Brooklyn Nets, according to the team’s general manager, Sean Marks. In a statement on Tuesday (Aug. 23), he revealed that he met with Durant and decided to continue working with him.
“[Coach] Steve Nash and I, together with [governors] Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, met with Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles yesterday,” he said. “We have agreed to move forward with our partnership. We are focusing on basketball with one collective goal in mind: Build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn.”
According to ESPN, Durant first requested a trade in June and reaffirmed that desire in a meeting with Joe in London earlier this month. During that meeting Durant wanted Tsai to choose between him, Nash and Marks. However, Nash and Marks will keep their jobs, and Durant’s four-year $198 million extension he signed last offseason kicks in this season.
Last month, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he never liked public trade demands. “This needs to be a two-way street,” Silver said. “Teams provide enormous security and guarantees to players, and the expectation is, in return, they will meet their end of the bargain.”
He continued, “I’m realistic that there are always conversations that are going to go on behind closed doors between players and their representatives and the teams. But we don’t like to see players requesting trades, and we don’t like to see it playing out the way it is.”
It is unclear why Durant wanted the trade in the first place. Some assume that it stems from the Nets barely reaching the playoffs. The Boston Celtics eliminated the team in four games in the first round. According to the NBA, the Nets refused to extend Kyrie Irving’s contract, a close friend of Durant. As a result, Irving had to pick up his option for the next season, the final year of his contract.
Also re-signed by the Nets were center Nic Claxton, forward Kessler Edwards, and guard Patty Mills. In addition, the team added free agents T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner. In a trade with the Utah Jazz, the Nets acquired swingman Royce O’Neale.
Prosecutor dismisses charges against Atlanta cops involved in Rayshard Brooks’ death
Georgia’s Special Prosecutor Peter Skandalakis announced on Tuesday (Aug.23) that two Atlanta police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in June 2020 will be cleared of murder and assault charges.
Skandalakis stated that both officers, Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan, acted reasonably in response to a deadly threat. “Both acted as reasonable officers would under the facts and circumstances of the events of that night. Both acted in accordance with well-established law and were justified in the use of force regarding the situation,” he stated.
Skandalakis said Brooks’ case was not like other incidents involving the deaths of Black men in recent years. “This was not an Ahmaud Arbery who was being chased by armed citizens. This was not a George Floyd who was on the ground with an officer kneeling on his neck,” Skandalakis said. “This is not that case. These facts are distinguishable and distinct from what happened in those two situations.”
Last year, Skandalakis took over after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis removed herself and her office from the case. Willis expressed concerns about the actions of her predecessor, who charged Rolfe with murder a week after the shooting.
In June 2020, Rolfe and Brosnan responded to complaints of Brooks sleeping in a car in the drive-thru lane of a Wendy’s restaurant. Police body camera video shows the two officers calmly conversing with Brooks for nearly 40 minutes.
The officers had Brooks take a sobriety test, declared that he’d had too much to drink, and attempted to arrest him when a struggle broke out between the three men. Brooks, 27, fled from the officers and was shot multiple times, killing him. A subsequent autopsy revealed Brooks had been shot twice in the back by Rolfe, who had fired his gun.
After the shooting, Rolfe was fired, but the Atlanta Civil Service Board overturned his dismissal in May 2021. According to the board, the city failed to follow its disciplinary procedures.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck enjoy boat ride during Italian honeymoon
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck kicked off their second honeymoon with a boat ride on Tuesday.\
The newlyweds — who tied the knot for a second time on Saturday — were spotted cruising across Lake Como off the coast of Tremezzo while sitting on the back of a speed boat. They were mainly alone aside from the captain and co-captain.
Lopez, 53, continued to rock white as she wore an oversized, long-sleeved white dress. She completed the look with a matching white bag and gold accessories.
Affleck, 50, on the other hand, wore a blue long-sleeved shirt with linen khaki pants and white sneakers. He also wore a gold bracelet.
During their boat ride, the couple seemed wrapped up in an intense conversation with the singer intertwining her arms around her husband’s.
Despite the seemingly serious conversation, the newlyweds shared a sweet kiss before the “Batman” actor looked lovingly at his new bride.
That same day, the couple — who kept their PDA to a minimum — had also been photographed having lunch at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como.
According to photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the Oscar winner was caught staring at pictures of his bride, who rocked three Ralph Lauren dresses on their big day — on his phone.
Over the weekend, Bennifer 2.0 celebrated their love with a three-day celebration.
They kicked things off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday before tying the knot a second time in front of friends and family the very next day. They ended the weekend with a brunch/barbecue on Sunday.
Despite the stunning all-white celebration, the weekend didn’t go as seamless as they hoped.
The couple had to rush to the hospital on Friday after Affleck’s mom fell from a dock at the actor’s Georgia estate and required medical attention. A wedding guest was also rushed out of the venue in an ambulance on Saturday.
One month ago, Lopez and Affleck “flew to [Las] Vegas” and said “I do” at A Little White Chapel in front of two of their five combined children: the “Argo” star’s Seraphina, 13, and one of the “Marry Me” singer’s 14-year-old twins, Emme.
Soon after their quickie wedding, they were photographed honeymooning in Paris.
All of their kids — including Affleck’s Violet, 16, and Samuel, 10, as well as Emme’s brother, Max — were present for the second nuptials.
Brandy recalls singing with Whitney Houston in ‘Cinderella’ as her ‘ultimate favorite moment’
Brandy recalled her iconic role as Cinderella in the film, and how special it was working with Houston.
“Honestly, my ultimate favorite moment was never in the movie,” Brandy recalled. “It's in the studio with Whitney.”
Bernadette Peters, who played the evil Stepmother, recalled the two stars having a special bond.
“Their chemistry was just off the charts,” Peters said. “I think Brandy admired her so much. I think Whitney was so loving to her, and what could be more perfect than that, having your Fairy Godmother be someone that loves you, and you look up to.”
That chemistry resonated with audiences, as the televised event was a huge success. In fact, many fans watched the reunion and discussed its importance on Twitter.
Houston died in 2012. Even though she wasn’t able to be part of the reunion special, her successor had something to say about her performance. Billy Porter plays Fab G, aka Fairy Godmother, in the 2021 live-action Cinderella.
“She's Gospel Fairy Godmother, honey, she sang the s*** out of that,” Porter said. “And Brandy was like black princess and just because of the quality of her voice, it's a completely different story.”
John Boyega not interested in returning to 'Star Wars' — but happy to be a fan again
John Boyega holds the title for “biggest superfan ever cast in a major role in the Star Wars universe,” and it’s not even close.
The London-born actor, previously best known for the 2011 cult sci-fi comedy Attack the Block, was the epitome of giddiness after being cast as stormtrooper-turned-Resistance fighter Finn in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Boyega’s unfettered delight was evident in his ecstatic reaction to the Force Awakens trailer or when he clapped back at Star Trek veteran William Shatner for throwing shade at The Force.
With three movies in five years, Star Wars turned Boyega into a household name. But somewhere along the line, his relationship with the Star Wars universe grew… complicated. It is something the actor has opened up about more in the years since the Skywalker Saga concluded in 2019.
Racist online attacks were leveled at both Boyega and his Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker co-star Kelly Marie Tran that eventually led him to call out the series’ toxic fanbase in 2020. That same year, he bemoaned the fact that he was “the only cast member whose experience of Star Wars was based on their race.”
As he told The Daily Beast this week, he believed he was the lead when he was first cast in The Force Awakens, only to see his role shrink as the trilogy progressed.
Despite the negative experience, however, Boyega has reclaimed his Star Wars fandom as he admitted to us in an interview while promoting his new dramatic thriller Breaking, which portrays the real-life story of a Marine veteran who threatens to blow up a bank over a disputed disability claim (watch interview clip above).
“It actually gives you freedom,” says Boyega, who has kept up with Disney+’s recent streaming series The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan. “I was just at [Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction] like two weeks ago. It gives [me] freedom to just go back to what I was doing before, which was just consuming Star Wars content without involvement.
“And that in itself is cool for me. I feel like I graduated to young OG status. Just playing the [video] games and watching what they’re doing past our timeline in the universe, and it’s been good, it’s been fun.”
Considering Boyega’s role was most prominent in The Force Awakens, it’s no wonder the actor, without hesitation, cites that film as the favorite installment he acted in.
And while castmate Oscar Isaac recently made headlines for saying he’d be open to returning to Star Wars someday — and original stars like Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford all returned for the latest trilogy — Boyega, now 30, doesn’t appear to be anywhere near making such a (hypothetical) commitment.
“At this point I’m cool off it. I’m good off it,” he said on SiriusXM’s Tell Me Everything With John Fugelsang. “I think Finn is at a good confirmation point where you can just enjoy him in other things, the games, the animation. But I feel like [the Star Wars sequel trilogy] was good for me.”
Horatio Sanz Accuser Claims Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels and Tracy Morgan Enabled Sex Assault
A woman who is suing former “SNL” star Horatio Sanz for sexual assault asked the court’s permission on Tuesday to add Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels, and Tracy Morgan as defendants, arguing that they enabled Sanz’ misconduct.
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, alleges that Sanz “groomed” her when she was a teen fan of the show. She also alleges that Sanz kissed her, groped her, and attempted to digitally penetrate her at a party in May 2002, when she was 17 years old.
She filed suit in August 2021 under a state law that opened a two-year “lookback window” allowing victims of child sex abuse to bring claims that otherwise would have been barred by the statute of limitations. More recently, New York City amended its own law to create a two-year lookback window, allowing accusers to sue anyone who enabled such conduct.
According to the complaint, the accuser and her teenage friends regularly attended “SNL” after-parties in 2000 to 2002. The suit alleges that Fallon and Sanz would drink with her at these parties, and that Fallon once questioned her about her age, and she responded that she was a junior in high school. She also met Michaels at one of the parties, who gave her advice on pursuing a writing career, according to the complaint.
The suit alleges that Morgan rented out a space for an after-after-party in May 2002, where Sanz allegedly groped her against her will.
Sanz’ lawyer, Andrew Brettler, has denied the allegation, saying that the woman sought a $7.5 million payout before filing the suit last year.
The original complaint was filed by attorney Jeffrey P. Fitz, naming Sanz and NBCUniversal as defendants. Fitz also alleged that 18 NBCU employees either knew or should have known of Sanz’ grooming and sexual misconduct, including Fallon, Morgan and Michaels, as well as numerous other “SNL” cast members.
NBCUniversal filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in April, arguing that the network was not responsible for Sanz’ off-hours conduct.
“Employers owe no general duty to protect third-persons from the possibility of sexual abuse by their employees,” the network’s lawyers wrote.
Doe hired a new lawyer, Susan Crumiller, in June. Crumiller notified the court of her intent to amend the complaint, which rendered the motion to dismiss moot. Crumiller is seeking a hearing on Sept. 8 to obtain permission to file the amended version, adding Fallon, Michaels and Morgan as defendants.
An NBC spokesperson said the network would again seek to have the suit thrown out.
“Regardless of Jane Doe’s changing narratives, NBC intends to renew its motion to dismiss,” the spokesperson said.
Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Paul Sentenced to 5 Days in Jail and 3 Years of Probation for DUI
Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul has received his sentencing after being arrested in the spring for a DUI.
The Associated Press reports that the spouse of the U.S. House Speaker pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges, resulting in a five-day stint in jail and three years of probation. Paul Pelosi was arrested on May 28 in Napa County, California’s wine country after crashing into another driver.
He previously served two of his five-day sentence and was given a good conduct credit for another two days. He will fulfill his fifth day by working eight hours in the local court’s work program. Pelosi will also have to go to a three-month drinking driver class—and an ignition interlock device will be installed in his car, which requires the driver to give a breath sample in order for the engine to start. Additionally, he will pay around $5,000 in victim restitution for medical bills and lost wages and about $2,000 in fines.
Paul Pelosi crashed his 2021 Porsche Carrera into the other driver after 10 p.m. in Yountville, California. He had a blood alcohol content of .082 percent, which is slightly above the legal limit. According to California Highway Patrol officers, Pelosi was “unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage.”
he politician’s partner received a misdemeanor DUI due to injuries sustained by the other driver, who claimed to have headaches and feel pain in his upper right arm, right shoulder, and neck on the day after the accident.
Pelosi was let go on a $5,000 bail. Nancy Pelosi wasn’t with him at the time, as she was in Rhode Island giving a commencement speech at Brown University.
Magic Johnson Addresses Fake Story Circulating About Donating Blood
The presumably brainless among us who insist on widely amplifying fabricated claims in hopes of achieving virality have now forced Magic Johnson to speak out about a made-up story that’s been making the rounds as of late.
A recent tweet shared alongside a photo of Johnson carried with it the claim that he had donated blood “to help underprivileged communities help fight COVID-19,” which is false. To be clear, the Twitter page credited with the tweet states in its bio section that it is a satire account.
In a message shared Tuesday, Magic addressed the discussion surrounding the tweet in question.
“I’m aware of the false story circling the internet, and to be clear, I have never donated blood,” Johnson, who in 1991 announced he had HIV, said.
A fact-checking piece from the Associated Press adds even more context, revealing that the photo used alongside the tweeted lie actually shows Johnson having his blood drawn during a doctor’s appointment. The image originates from a 2012 documentary.
Last November, Johnson and his wife, Cookie, reflected on his 1991 diagnosis announcement in an interview with Gayle King, as well as the decades of philanthropy it inspired. Through his Magic Johnson Foundation, founded in 1991, the revered athlete and activist has continued to rise awareness about treatment and prevention methods.
Thank God! Man charged with murder after 3 men killed in hit-and-run outside Jeffery Pub
CHICAGO — Chicago’s top cop on Tuesday announced that a man has been charged with murder after three men were killed in a hit-and-run outside a popular South Side bar.
Tavis Dunbar, 34, turned himself in on Monday and was charged with three counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.
Police said the crash happened around 5 a.m. on Aug. 14 on the 7000 block of South Jeffery Boulevard.
Witnesses told police there was a fight outside of the Jeffery Pub, a popular LGBTQ bar, when a sedan plowed through the group. Police do not believe Dunbar was involved in that fight.
According to court documents, a witness told police Dunbar told the four men outside the bar, “I got something for you, you mother*******.”
The witness then reported to police they saw Dunbar walk northbound on Jeffrey, which was in the direction of his vehicle, according to documents.
Video obtained by CWB Chicago shows the silver sedan traveling south on Jeffrey and not slow down as they hit four men. Three of the men died as a result of a hit-and-run and a fourth was injured.
Those who died were identified as Devonta Vivetter, 27, of Chicago, Donald Huey, 25, and Jaylen Ausley, 23.
“It appears to be intentional based upon what everyone has seen,” CPD Chief of Detectives Brenden Deenihan said at the time.
According to documents, a search warrant was executed on the black box of Dunbar’s vehicle. Prosecutors said information revealed that 2.5 seconds before impact, the vehicle was traveling at 47 miles per hour. The vehicle accelerated to 59 mph .5 seconds before impact and Dunbar depressed the accelerator to 99 percent, documents allege.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that Dunbar never touched the brakes and “essentially slammed on the gas pedal as he drove directly into 4 human beings, brutally killing three of them.”
Dunbar turned himself into police on Monday and CPD said he “significantly” changed his appearance.
Fans of Michael Jackson Clap Back After Rolling Stone UK Names Harry Styles the ‘New King Of Pop’
*Michael Jackson’s Nephew Taj has called out Rolling Stone for proclaiming that artist Harry Styles is the new “King of Pop.”
Rolling Stone UK is catching heat online after sharing its latest cover featuring the British singer. Longtime Jackson fans are not here for this desperate attempt by the publication to re-write music history by dubbing Styles as the King of Pop — a title long associated with Jackson.
Taj Jackson tweeted to the publication: “There is no new King of Pop. You don’t own the title @RollingStone, and you didn’t earn it, my uncle did. Decades of dedication and sacrifice. The title has been retired. No disrespect to @Harry_Styles, he’s mega talented. Give him his own unique title.”
One Twitter user said of the Rolling Stone cover, “There is only one King of Pop and he is still dominating charts, breaking records and his legacy is selling out tribute shows across the U.S. It’s disrespectful to both artists to give Harry a name that is not only taken, but trademarked.”
Another noted, “Its interesting how you never try to ‘dethrone’ any of the white artists with honorific titles.”
A third commented, “Umm… is anyone going to tell @RollingStoneUK legal department that “King of Pop” is trademarked and owned by the Michael Jackson estate and that the should see permission before throwing around the title to the undeserving?”
Another added, “You can’t be King of Pop with 2 albums. The sales of his albums are ridiculous.”
And one person said, “MJ didn’t make music and toured segregated America and double worked hard with creativity that of his peers, to be called a mediocre yt dude a new King of pop in 2022.”
“Why are you setting Harry up for a drag? Every 5 years Trolling Stone is trying to prop up another Great White Hope, but everyone and their mother know who the real King of Pop is. You need to give up,” commented another Twitter user.
One commenter noted the ongoing effort by anti-black white supremacists in the music industry to discredit Jackson simply because no white artist has ever and will never ever come close to his impact and popularity globally.
“You know it hurts them to their SOUL that a black man is still the indisputable King of Pop,” the person tweeted.
Gucci Opens It's First Detroit Store
Detroit just got its very first Gucci store. The new luxury store is located downtown Detroit on 1274 Library St. and has women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Doors officially opened on Friday to residents of Michigan, with a Gucci representative confirming the new store.
Poet Jessica Care Moore confirmed the new store opening and her work at the new location. A stanza specifically for the store will be put up on the wall.
Her Instagram post captioned, “Left a very awesome meeting downtown & caught a glimpse of a few lines from a stanza of my poem going up on a wall up the street from the new @gucci store in Detroit.”
The stanza in the background reads, “The spirit of a fashionable city is felt as soon as…” with the rest covered up.
“More about the poem & all the things soon, and I will absolutely post the finished mural. 💜 I also stopped by the All Things Detroit store @askjennyfer & there are a few signed copies of my fifth book that need to be purchased!!! Support global Detroit based artists. ,” her caption concludes.
The store makes it the second store in the state, the other location is in Troy, Michigan.
LeToya Luckett Talks About Beyoncé’s Work Ethic and Shares Stories from Their Destiny’s Child Days
In the past, LeToya Luckett has given her followers a glimpse into her personal and professional relationship with her former Destiny’s Child bandmate Beyoncé.
Luckett has shared various stories, such as her first encounter with Beyoncé at elementary school and how she felt following her untimely departure from the group in 2000.
LeToya Luckett gives fans insight into Beyoncé’s “monstrous” work ethic during a recent interview with “R&B Money” hosts Tank and J Valentine. Photo:@r&bmoneypoadcast/YouTube
During an Aug. 20 interview on Tank and J. Valentine’s podcast titled “R&B Money,” Luckett once again strolled down memory lane at the 1:06:25 mark when asked what R&B artists’ talents or traits she would use to create the perfect entertainer as part of the game called R&B Voltron.
The game’s categories included vocals, style/aesthetics and performance. Luckett revealed that the perfect artist would have Jazmine Sullivan’s vocals, Rihanna’s style, Mary J.Blige’s vulnerability and the stage presence and show-stopping performances of both Michael Jackson and Beyoncé.
As Luckett listed why she named each artist for the particular category, she revealed on mark 1:12:33 that in the past, when attending a Beyoncé concert, she would reflect on how much the singer has worked on her craft.
The 41-year-old said while laughing, “I be watching her on stage sometimes and be like we didn’t use to do that.”
She continued, “But it came from perfecting your craft and working. When some of us wanted to go to the movies, when some of us wanted to go when we did have our off time, she was in the studio sitting there by herself writing a record.”
Further into the conversation, Luckett shared that during the early days of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé would work when the group had down time.
Luckett said, “I will never forget we was at this little indoor play jungle gym situation having our fun like kids supposed to. She sat out in a hot a– car and was writing to a track. I remember going ‘where B at?’ They were like ‘she in the car.’ I was like I’m going to go in there and see what she doing.’ I went and sat in the passenger seat and she just wrote this record.”
The mother of two wrapped up the discussion by saying Beyoncé’s work ethic displayed how badly she wanted to accomplish her dreams despite missing out on certain activities.
Luckett said, “I was like we be out here trying to have fun and this girl, she’s on it. She lives this. Like she wants this bad. It is no surprise to me that she is the icon that she is…I will say her work ethic is monstrous. I ain’t seen nothing like it. Being around it made you feel guilty if you weren’t.”
As Luckett’s remarks made its rounds on social media blogs, many brought up that Beyoncé’s success came from the hard work she put into her projects. One user even praised Luckett for reminding people of Beyoncé’s talent and working abilities.
“Thank You Letoya because a lot of people stay hating on Beyoncé and putting her down for what reason idk she literally minds her business but it’s good hearing her say this to remind people.”
“See… Bey earned the title that so many try to say she’s undeserving of. I’ll admit that did not care for her back in the day, but noticed that the woman was a entertainer with a strong work ethic. I couldn’t deny that.”
“Beyoncé really earned all her flowers that’s why I hate to see people try to discredit her. She really been that girl since I was a little girl.”
“Beyoncé deserves so much respect and praise she’s worked so hard to get where she’s at.”
McDonald’s Bringing the Chicken Big Mac to the U.S.
McDonald’s is remixing their famous Big Mac burger with an all-new chicken twist.
The 67-year-old fast food chain has announced the creation of the Chicken Big Mac, which stacks two chicken patties in between buns with pickles, shredded lettuce, American cheese, and the beloved Big Mac sauce. McDonald’s decided to offer the sandwich to the United States for a test run after it became an instant success in the United Kingdom. But will the U.S. welcome the Chicken Big Mac with open arms? The company sure hopes so.
“While not everything we test makes it on our U.S. menus, we’ll use this time to gather feedback from both customers and restaurant crew as we consider opportunities to offer more delicious options in the future,” the company said in a statement.
The Chicken Big Mac was such a hit in the U.K. earlier this year that McDonald’s was forced to discontinue it after just ten days due to overwhelming demand.
McDonald’s is no stranger to the chicken business. Their Chicken McNuggets and chicken sandwich options have been popular options on their menus for years. However, the Chicken Big Mac provides an opportunity for Big Mac lovers to have an alternative to beef.
The new chicken sandwich, which is looking to rival the likes of the Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A offerings, will make its debut in the Miami area this month for a limited time only. If it becomes a hit amongst foodies in Florida, McDonald’s is prepared to take the savory dish nationwide
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘No Time to lose’
They do it everywhere now
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
EFREM
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