#MAGFAB: TÁR Star Cate Blanchett Covers British Harper’s Bazaar November Issue
TÁR star Cate Blanchett covers British Harper’s Bazaar November issue photographed by Kristian Schuller and styled by Miranda Almond.
“Being an actor has staved off the inevitable decision about what I have to do with my life, because I’ve empathetically stepped into various different experiences, whether they’re fantastical or based in the real world,” she says. “I think I’m probably quite shy, and I find that the best way to get to know people is through making things together. It’s a way of having very active, visceral, engaging conversations with people. It keeps me social.”
“People often talk about left and right, up and down, right and wrong, good and bad. I don’t think in those terms,” she says. “Art exists in the grey area. I don’t know the answer to this question, but it’s a conversation that we must have, as artists, as humans, as a society. How do you remain in a robust and brutal relationship with the thing that you are making? You have to have a powerful inner critic, and sometimes that can come out. I have been spoken to in ways that now I could probably go to HR and complain about, but those conversations that were had with me early on in my career made me a better actor. It’s important we speak honestly with one another.”
Issue is on newsstands
#RHOBH: Andy Cohen Apologizes To Garcelle Beauvais After 'Real Housewives' Reunion Backlash
Bravo TV host Andy Cohen said he has apologized to “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Garcelle Beauvais after he and the network were criticized on social media over episodes of the show’s reunion that aired last week.
Cohen said on Monday’s segment of his SiriusXM radio show, “Andy Cohen Live,” that he’s sorry for how he moderated parts of the reunion special. “I really need to sincerely apologize, not only for diverting the topic but for not returning ― even worse ― to the serious conversation that was at hand,” he said, according to a clip published by the Queens of Bravo Instagram account.
During the second installment of the reality TV show’s reunion special, cast member Erika Jayne was asked to address an Instagram story she once posted that showed Beauvais’ memoir, “Love Me As I Am,” in a trash can.
Jayne said that fellow cast mate Lisa Rinna was the one who actually threw the book in the trash and that she merely posted the image in retaliation over a grievance she had with Beauvais.
Rinna explained that she threw Beauvais’ book in the trash because she was upset the actor and former co-host of “The Real” referred to her daughter’s battle with an eating disorder in the memoir. Beauvais and Rinna said during the reunion special that they’d “moved on” from the issue after Beauvais had the reference removed from an audio version and a second edition of the book.
But soon after that exchange, Cohen asked the group how the image of Beauvais’ book in the trash got circulated among cast mates, and then he flippantly diverted the conversation to the backlash Jayne faced at the time for seemingly neglecting to properly recycle items in her trash.
Many “ROBH” viewers on Twitter felt Cohen should have given more time to Rinna’s and Jayne’s behavior and how they bullied Beauvais by throwing her book in the trash and posting it on Instagram.
Some fans of the show have also criticized the reunion special for what they claim are racist undertones and microaggressions.
In the first installment, Beauvais had a tense exchange with cast member Diana Jenkins in which they discussed the racist online attacks Beauvais’ son, Jax, faced on social media over the summer.
Beauvais said that she thought Jenkins could have been behind the bots who unleashed racist remarks against her son. Jenkins denied involvement, but the two engaged in a back-and-forth over threats both of their families have received online.
Many people watching the segment thought Beauvais was being gaslighted by her cast members when she discussed her family’s experience with racist attacks.
In his Monday segment of “Andy Cohen Live,” the host also said that he has a “deep admiration” for Beauvais and that he has since talked to the cast member about the reunion and “should’ve been more in tune with her feelings.”
#MusicNews: Kem and Ledisi Announce ‘The Soul II Soul Tour’ Dates
Grammy winner Ledisi and R&B love ambassador Kem have announced their co-headlining tour, The Soul II Soul Tour.
It will kick off Feb. 3, 2023, at the Colonial Life Arena, in Columbia, South Carolina.
From there, the two veterans will travel across the U.S., making stops in major cities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Houston, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.
The tour will wrap on May 12, 2023, at the Raising Canes River Center Arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Musiq Soulchild will join them as a supporting act.
#HipHopNews: Kanye West Feels Wrath Of Jewish Rapper Kosha Dillz In New Diss Track
The notable New York rapper dropped his new single on Friday (October 21) titled “Death Con 3,” which is based on Ye’s “I’m going death con 3 on Jewish people” comment.
“Drink Champs don’t let him say shit Ralph dont fuck with or work with style,” he raps in part. “Burn a pair of Yeezys see the shoes of Birkenau/ I understand you need money for pics and views you’re a blind billionaire and I see the bitch in you.”
In a follow-up interview with The Jerusalem Post, Dillz said he was reluctant to make a song targeting the Yeezy mogul.
“I’d rather have not made the song because it’s not like he invented the wheel of antisemitism,” he said. “But because he’s so rich, he just feels like he’s saying what he wants … It’s sort of unleashing the floodgates of what everyone else has already kind of thought.”
He added: “It’s popular right now to fight antisemitism but let’s see how popular it is when someone gets attacked and people like Kanye apologize and another war breaks out with Hamas.”
Kosha Dillz is just the latest established name to come out against Kanye West in the wake of problematic comments he made regarding Jews, George Floyd and white supremacy on Fox News, Drink Champs and other outlets.
Adidas, Balenciaga, Chase Bank and even Def Jam have all cut ties with the Chicago star, which Ye recently said during a podcast interview with MIT research scientist Lex Fridman has been “the happiest day of his life.”
The fallout has also led to Kanye West being stripped of his title as a billionaire. According to Forbes, Ye’s termination of his lucrative adidas deal has left him valued at around $400 million.
A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip was the latest celebrity to voice his love for Jewish people, writing on Monday (October 24) that he “supports” both Jewish people and Palestinian people.
Hot 97 radio host Peter Rosenberg, who is Jewish, also shared his response to Kanye’s remarks in an Instagram video: “I think it’s important that we take this seriously and head-on and also not allow it to cloud our judgment as far as how we see other things… You could easily become less empathetic to other people and kind of worry about yourself first — it’s a logical thing that happens and I think we need to be mindful to not do that.”
In the wake of Ye’s anti-Semitic spewing, he was also invited to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles to educate himself on Jewish history. The invitation came after reports emerged that Ye had also allegedly professed his love for Hitler and the Nazis during his notorious rant at the TMZ offices back in 2019.
“Words matter and words have consequences Ye,” the museum wrote in a statement on Instagram. “We urge you to come visit us at Holocaust Museum LA to understand just how words can incite horrific violence and genocides.”
IT’S OFFICIAL! Elon Musk now in charge of Twitter, CEO and CFO have left, sources say
CEO Elon Musk is now in charge of Twitter. Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and finance chief Ned Segal have left the company’s San Francisco headquarters and will not be returning, sources said. Vijaya Gadde, the head of legal policy, trust, and safety was also fired, the Washington Post reported.
Musk had until Friday to complete his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter or face a court battle with the company.
In April, Twitter accepted Musk’s proposal to buy the social media service and take it private. However, Musk soon began sowing doubt about his intentions to follow through with the agreement, alleging that the company failed to adequately disclose the number of spam and fake accounts on the service.
When Musk said he was terminating the deal, Twitter sued the billionaire, alleging he “refuses to honor his obligations to Twitter and its stockholders because the deal he signed no longer serves his personal interests.”
In the ensuing months, Twitter and Musk would trade barbs via their attorneys as the two parties were slated to head to Delaware’s Court of Chancery to determine the fate of the company and whether it would end up in the Tesla chief’s hands.
Earlier in October, Musk had a change of heart and said he wanted to pursue his acquisition of Twitter at the original price of $54.20 a share if the social messaging service dropped its litigation. Distrustful of Musk’s motivations, Twitter’s lawyers said that the Tesla CEO’s “proposal is an invitation to further mischief and delay.”
A Delaware Chancery Court judge eventually ruled that Musk had until Oct. 28 to cement the Twitter deal or head to trial.
On Thursday, Musk wrote a message intended to reassure advertisers that social messaging services wouldn’t devolve into “a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences!”
“The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence,” Musk said in the message. “There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far-right wing and far left-wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society.”
Musk arrived at the Twitter headquarters earlier this week carrying a sink, and documented the event on Twitter, saying “Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!”
Musk also updated his Twitter description to “Chief Twit.”
Whitney Houston’s Estate Releases Fragrance In Singer’s Honor
Ten years after the passing of superstar Whitney Houston, the singer’s estate has released a fragrance in her honor. Through executor Marion “Pat” Houston, the estate partnered with Scent Beauty and perfumer Firmenich to produce the Whitney Houston Signature Fragrance.
The new scent arrives in late October, just two months ahead of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” an estate-approved biopic about the singer’s life.
“Whitney Houston has been a pioneer in the entertainment space and a true inspiration to women, says Steve Mormoris, the founder and CEO of Scent Beauty, in a press release. “We wanted to continue to bring her legacy to life through a scent that encompasses all that she has accomplished.”
Houston was an accomplished performer, holding the honor of being the most-award female artist in history. She also set the still-standing record for the highest number of consecutive number ones on the Billboard Hot 100. Popular songs of hers include “Saving All My Love For You,” “The Greatest Love of All” and “How Will I Know.”
The vocalist had a deep love for fragrance, Pat Houston tells ESSENCE. “Whitney had a wardrobe of fragrances that she loved. Her favorite perfume was called Worth. But of course, with the wardrobe, fragrances like Bvlgari, Givenchy, Annick Goutal—she liked Petite Cherie..She was definitely a champion for aromatherapy, fragrances and her skin feeling soft. That was her.”
Of the upcoming scent, Pat says, “The fragrance notes are inspired by Whitney’s most beloved scents. “It’s a wonderful combination of fruity sparkling florals with the warm and woody dry down in this tall, elegant bottle.”
In addition to being available online through the Home Shopping Network, the fragrance will arrive on Scent Beauty’s site in November. An exclusive holiday gift set will be also launched at Walmart early November. The fragrance will then be available at Perfumania mid-November.
Ahead of the launch, ESSENCE spoke with Pat Houston about the special release.
ESSENCE: Walk me through the backstory of this upcoming fragrance. Did the estate contact Scent Beauty?
Pat Houston: It was actually our partner, Primary Wave. We partnered with Primary Wave back in 2019.
Whitney had never endorsed anything at all. The only thing she ever endorsed in her career of 30 years was the Marion P. Candles Inspired By Whitney Houston.
I’ve always known that she wanted to do fragrances. It was such a passion for both of us and we were so close to [the fragrance] project that I just didn’t have the energy or even think pursuing it because she was such a part of it [at the time of her passing]. But once we partnered with Primary Wave, we decided to build her brand beyond her music, which is something that she wanted to do. So with Scent Beauty along with their perfumer Firmenich, we created a fragrance that was close to all of the notes that Whitney loved.
Can you share more about the brand she was looking to build for herself?
Well, it was a brand away from music, which was fragrances. But she [also] loved sneakers. She loved trench coats. She had several conversations with Tim Snell, who was her stylist for about over 10 years or more. She spoke to him about stockings because she loved stockings. She talked about that a lot growing up, how going to church, her mother would always make her wear a pair of pantyhose.
There’s a lot of beautiful women out there in the world, but Whitney’s beauty was matchless, so was her voice, and she just wanted to take it to another level. I’m trying to make all of that come to fruition for her. That’s why we’re here.
How long has this fragrance line been in the works?
Actually, it was a very short period. I think it happened this year, 2022, when we decided, with CEO [of Scent Beauty], Steve Memorials, to review all the images of Whitney’s archives to inspire a creation.
It was very quick. Once we started going through all of the archives and discussing forms and colors, they observed the lavender, silver and the crystals [in her wardrobe], and Whitney’s love for being on stage. That’s where all the packaging inspiration came from. She loved the deep metallic purples because of her gospel roots. So it all started there with trying to create that inspiration, Whitney’s own personal style. So once that was done, it was just very easy to move forward with everything else.
What was the process of working with Firmenich?
It started with, like I said, going through the archives, trying to figure out what was her personal style. It actually starts with the notes, the fragrances. You have to put an A team together in order for that to happen. Just like with her music, how Clive Davis put the A team together and the end result was what you got with the seven number one hits and so forth and so on. The same as with Berman.
It was just having one of their leading perfumers create a signature scent that captured Whitney’s favorite notes. All of those notes came from those different perfumes I named earlier, which was very important. She loved pear leaves, herbs, kind of green notes, nuances of green. She also loved the fresh orange flavor. Gardenias were one of the favorites, too—the soft, floral, white notes in that particular scent. And of course, Jasmine, which was sweet. It’s like a bouquet. And of course the dry note is more or less cozy, warm. It’s rich—kind of a powdery type of feel. So once those notes were made, we captured her own signature scent.
What made 2022 the year to release this special fragrance?
We’ve been working on Whitney’s film since last year—the release of the film is this year. At this particular time, she’s extremely relevant. There’s a whole new generation out there that doesn’t know much about Whitney Houston beyond music. It’s kind of reintroducing her to a newer generation and just letting them know just how special she was.
The fragrance platform is very special because I know that she loved it. I can talk about our grandparents a little bit, how they used to make the old remedies for you when you were younger. I just think about her not using a typical store oil to go in the bathtub. She would use olive oil, just simple olive oil to go in the bathtub and she’d come out smelling very, very soft. And she would then lavish with a lotion or whatever. But she just loved having soft skin and smelling very nice.
What is the messaging behind this perfume?
I would tell anyone to wear Whitney Houston is to feel inspired and confident like Whitney. And she always loved to encourage women to embrace love within themselves, always.
I’m hopeful that when people, women, and when men buy it for their mothers or wives or sisters or whatever, actually they know they’re actually favoring one of Whitney’s favorite things: just loving yourself. Her favorite song was “The Greatest Love Of All.” And I always will attribute that line to this Scent Beauty product, her fragrance, Whitney, with her famous signature on the bottle.
That is so beautiful. This year marked 10 years since Whitney’s passing. In your words, what is her legacy?
Her legacy is her music always. Her brand is the bridge that connects to the newer generation. Whitney would always tell anyone, all I ever wanted to do was sing. And anything that she ever put her signature on, she believed in it. She totally, totally believed in it.
Shop the Whitney Houston Signature Fragrance on HSN here.
BET+ Drops Season 3 Trailer for ‘First Wives Club’ Starring Jill Scott | Watch
*The season 3 trailer for “First Wives Club” has dropped and will return to BET+ on Thursday, November 17th.
Starring Jill Scott, Michelle Buteau, Michelle Mitchenor, RonReaco Lee and Mark Tallman, the tight-knit group of girlfriends continue to navigate the ups and downs of life and relationships together, per press release.
Guest stars this season include Deborah Cox, Essence Atkins, Tasha Smith, Valerie Pettiford, Terri J. Vaughn, Affion Crockett, and more.
Per the network’s news release, the series follows the lives of Hazel (Jill Scott), Bri (Michelle Buteau) and Jayla (Michelle Mitchenor) as they endure the pressures of new jobs, loves, and friendships.
WATCH HERE
Here’s the network’s official series description: When Hazel, Bree, and Jayla come together to celebrate Hazel’s wedding at a tropical paradise, the unexpected happens. Hazel copes by throwing herself into work where she clashes with a newly empowered Regina; Bree takes on a new lust for life, diving headfirst into extreme adventure; and Jayla fights to prove herself at her new firm. With old flames, new coworkers, shifting power dynamics, and one epic heist, the girls learn to navigate their feelings of loss to discover what’s really important to them.
The third season of “First Wives Club” debuts November 17, 2022, only on BET+. New episodes will be released every Thursday on BET+
Rosie O'Donnell Splits From GF Aimee Hauer
Rosie O'Donnell is back on the single market. It was unveiled that the "American Gigolo " star has called it quits with her girlfriend Aimee Hauer after dating for several months.
Revealing the relationship status of the 60-year-old comedienne and the massage therapist is Entertainment Online. A source told the outlet, "Rosie O'Donnell and Aimee Hauer have broken up." The cause of the split remains unknown.
It was unclear when Rosie and Aimee started dating, but they went Instagram official during Pride Month in June. The two later made their red carpet debut as a couple in the following month at the Stand Up for Friendly House comedy benefit at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.
As for how they met each other, the comedian admitted that she slid into her now-ex's DMs on TikTok. "I watched … her TikToks and every time I saw her, I would smile and [be] like, 'This woman is, like, perfect," she recalled on Howard Stern's SiriusXM show in September. "Look at her, she's so happy and enthusiastic and beautiful and bright and she has a light coming from her."
"I sent her a DM," the TV personality continued explaining. "I thought maybe we would just be friends. I said, 'You're very beautiful. I love your look,' and, like, 10 days later she wrote me back with a little video."
Before dating Aimee, Rosie, who came out as gay in 2002, was engaged to police officer Elizabeth Rooney until their split in 2019. She shares children Parker, 27, Chelsea, 24, Blake, 22, and Vivienne, 19 with her first wife Kelli Carpenter, and 9-year-old Dakota with her second wife Michelle Rounds.
Taylor Swift 'Fat' Scene Cut From 'Anti-Hero' Music Video After Backlash
Taylor Swift is filled with remorse after she was caught in a controversy over the "fat" scene in the "Anti-Hero" music video. Having been accused of sharing a fatphobic message, the Grammy Award-winning singer has agreed to cut the scene from visuals.
In the clip, the 32-year-old grapples with topics like self-loathing and their fear of being unlovable. Unfortunately, people were not happy with the scene where the musician stepped on a weighing scale. Instead of her weight, the scale showed the word "Fat" in red capital letters while her doppelganger shook her head in judgment.
On Wednesday, October 26 eagle-eyed fans noticed that the scene was scrapped from the music video on Apple Music. However, the scene still remains on the YouTube version of the visuals.
Upon its release, many Internet users accused Taylor of shaming fat people. "as an actual fat person genuinely how are we supposed to feel seeing this? Watching a thin person remind the whole world that one of the their biggest fears is being fat. Is looking like me. Demonizing the word fat while never having the experience of living in a fat body? Fatphobic," one Twitter user in particular reacted.
New York-based eating disorder therapist Shira Rose argued, "Taylor Swift's music video, where she looks down at the scale where it says 'fat', is a s**tty way to describe her body image struggles." Rose continued, "Fat people don't need to have it reiterated yet again that it's everyone's worst nightmare to look like us. Having an eating disorder doesn't excuse fatphobia."
Some fans, however, came to Taylor's defense, pointing out that the singer was talking about her experiences with eating disorders and body image issues. "If you think any time people with an eating disorder speak about their issues it's fatphobic you're facilitating the idea that people shouldn't talk about it," a Swiftie claimed.
Another defended the superstar by saying, "Taylor at no point said being a certain size was bad. She didn't say being fat was a problem. She literally said she views herself as bigger than she clearly is due to her body dismorphia. Regardless of what that scale said she would always see herself as fat..."
Salt-N-Pepa To Be Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame
Salt-N-Pepa is set to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The rap duo will receive the 2,738th star on the famous strip. Both MC Lyte and Roxanne Shanté are set to speak during the ceremony, scheduled for Nov. 4th.
Together, Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and third member Deidra “Spinderella” Roper created a lane in Hip-Hop for not only women in rap, but all artists to create music that pushed boundaries. The ladies, along with Queen Latifah, became the first female MCs to win a Grammy Award, and still hold the title for the best-selling album of all time by any female rap group with 1993’s Very Necessary.
Additionally, Salt-N-Pepa is the first female rap act to have an album go gold, and then platinum.
Their top hits include “Push It,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and “None of Your Business” all three opening the floor for women to proudly rhyme about their sensual desires.
“This upcoming star ceremony honoring Hip-Hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa will honor the amazing 80s music we all love and so many grew up with!” expressed Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez in a statement.
“We’re placing these ladies of Hip Hop royalty adjacent to Amoeba Music and right next to the Walk of Fame star of another Queen of Hip Hop, Missy Elliott!” she added.
Missy responded to the news on Twitter, celebrating the rap duo and welcoming them to the Walk of Fame.
“What a Blessing to be beside Salt & Pepa who inspired me to Rap! My sisters for over 2 Decades! & they took a lot of Criticism coming in this game to make the female emcees after them walk through the door a lot easier,” Elliott tweeted.
“Thank you S&P RESPECT.”
Nick Cannon And Model Alyssa Scott Expecting Another Baby After Losing Son Zen
American actor and rapper Nick Cannon posing for a picture wearing grey and white.
Rapper Nick Cannon attends McDonald's At Made In America Festival on September 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kris Connor/Getty Images for McDonald's
Nick Cannon is about to be a dad. Again.
On Wednesday (Oct.26), Alyssa Scott took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy with a picture revealing her baby bump.
The photo also shows her daughter Zeela wearing a matching dress with her mom, along with the caption “with you by my side,” as she stares at her little girl.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Nick Cannon is the father of the model’s expected baby, and the news arrives almost a year after the duo lost son Zen to brain cancer.
In December 2021, Cannon, 42, announced the news on his eponymous talk show that his and Scott’s infant son had passed away.
After Zen was born, doctors located fluid inside the baby boy’s head in addition to a malignant tumor that required surgery.
Cannon revealed that his son’s health deteriorated quickly last year as the “tumor began to grow a lot faster.”
Nick Cannon Welcomes Tenth Child, Third With Brittany Bell: "Another Blessing!"
“We were faithful and hopeful for that time,” Cannon said in 2021. “We carried on. He was still just playing with his brothers and sisters. I embraced every moment.”
In early 2022, the duo began a foundation in honor of their late son, intending to help find a cure for pediatric cancer.
Cannon and Scott announced on Instagram that the Zen’s Light Foundation’s primary mission “is to foster global excellence in hope, grief-care, and pediatric healthcare for families and children in need.”
The Wild N’ Out host is also a dad to twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey. He has three children — Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen, and Rise Messiah — with Brittany Bell.
In addition, Cannon has a set of twins, Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, with Abby De La Rosa, who is also pregnant, and a son, Legendary Love, with Bre Tiesi, and a daughter, Onyx, with LaNisha Cole.
Britney Spears clarifies recent IG post was not directed at Selena Gomez
Britney Spears insisted that she only has love for Selena Gomez despite fans theories’ about a previous Instagram post.Instagram/britneyspears
The pop superstar, 40, clarified in a Wednesday Instagram post that a recent social media message — in which she slammed women for judging other women — was not directed at Selena Gomez.
“Let me clarify about me sharing my beliefs on women judging other women for their own rights in expressing themselves,” Spears began.
Her caption accompanied a drawing of a woman’s silhouette that read, “A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everybody else.”
She continued, “What I said had nothing to do with anyone specific at all … it was clearly a subject in hand all women have had to deal with … look I go way back with music !!! I honestly referencing my days when I was younger when I got discriminated against harshly … men in interviews discussing my boobs on live TV or showing my midriff and skin !!! If anybody knows what judgment feels like I’m sure Selena has gone through something pretty similar.”
Social media users speculated that Spears had taken aim at Gomez for once urging young girls not to show skin on Instagram.
Getty Images for SEPHORA
Social media users guessed that Spears’ original post was directed at Gomez, 30, based on a speech the latter made at the 2016 American Music Awards.
Gomez notably told young girls she “[didn’t want to see [their] bodies” on Instagram.
The “Toxic” singer — who often goes nude on the social media app — seemingly dissed the 2020 “Ice Cream” music video Gomez filmed with K-pop girl group Blackpink.
“They say ‘This is NOT something I would do’ yet those women are the very ones who get 4 million dollar budget videos made about sucking and licking on homemade ice cream !!!!” she argued, adding that it should be up to women to choose how they want to “flaunt” their “beautiful bodies.”
On Wednesday, Spears explained that her “ice cream” comment was about Kelis’ 2004 music video for “Milkshake” — a project she applauded for its unapologetic display of sexuality.
“And what I was replying to was honestly Kelis the MILKSHAKE video when women were finally shaking their asses … that was a moment in history where people woke up to the fact… pushing the boundaries of expressing oneself became explicit… tons of people were offended!!!” the Grammy winner wrote.
“I empower women to express their bodies however they choose… and TONS of other stars who had million-dollar budget videos who were known talked s–t about her when she was a new artist trying to make it !!! I apologize for my ignorance, but I didn’t even see the video for Ice Cream that Selena Gomez, who I genuinely look up to and have so much respect for had made.”
Spears also recounted the joy she felt when Gomez attended her star-studded June wedding to husband Sam Asghari.
“As for the beautiful queen Gomez, I got to be surprised by her on my wedding day and was completely in awe of her !!!” she wrote. “I mean I played the DJ for 5 minutes like an idiot and played my favorite song of hers, ‘Bad Liar’ LOUD on the dance floor like a 6-year-old fan and got to sing my favorite song with her and I wanted to freaking pinch myself!!!”
Spears elaborated, “I would like to tell Selena which she’s probably not even aware of trash news that her music has gotten me through lots and thank you again for making my dreams come true by coming to my wedding … you’re one person I have always wanted to meet and my dream came true and I will never forget it !!!”
Gomez has yet to respond to Spears’ posts. However, it appears she may be taking some time off to rest as she announced Wednesday via her Instagram Story that she tested positive for COVID-19.
Gomez has long considered Spears an idol. Meanwhile, Spears has expressed mutual admiration over the years — and even cited Gomez’s 2015 album “Revival” as inspiration for her last studio LP, 2016’s “Glory.”
Darrell Brooks found guilty of six counts of first-degree intentional homicide
Darrell Brooks, the Wisconsin man who drove his SUV into a crowd of parade attendees, resulting in six deaths and multiple injuries, was found guilty of six counts of first-degree intentional homicide on Wednesday (Oct. 26).
Brooks, who faces a mandatory life sentence for the convictions, was also found guilty of 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon, six counts of fatal hit-and-run, two counts of felony bail jumping, and one count of misdemeanor domestic battery.
Last November, Brooks drove a red SUV through the crowd in Waukesha’s Christmas parade killing an 8-year-old boy and five members of the “Dancing Grannies” group. CNN reports two weeks before the fatal hit-and-run, the 40-year-old had been released from jail on $1,000 bail in a domestic abuse case. According to court documents, he is accused of allegedly running over the mother of his child.
In closing arguments on Tuesday (Oct. 25), Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said Brooks intentionally drove through the crowd at significant speeds and struck 68 parade-goers, turning a joyful afternoon into a nightmare. “He reached speeds of approximately 30 mph. That’s intentional. He plowed through 68 different people. 68. How can you hit one and keep going? How can you hit two and keep going?” she expressed. “His intent I do have to prove, and I submit without any doubt there’s overwhelming evidence that this was an intentional act by Darrell Brooks and an act of utter disregard for human life.”
Brooks attempted to raise questions about the vehicle and about his intent in his closing arguments. In addition, he alleged that misconceptions were told about him during the trial. “I’ve never heard of someone trying to intentionally hurt someone while attempting to blow their horn while attempting to alert people of their presence,” he said.
In a statement published on Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal, Waukesha Police Department Chief Dan Thompson said: “In the nearly one year since this tragedy, there has not been a day that our community has not grieved. The victims’ families, as well as our first responders, continue to deal with the lasting effects of the horrors of that day.”
Billy Porter reveals he doesn't listen to hip hop music: "It was for my own survival"
Billy Porter, an established figure in the LGBTQ+ community, has no problem expressing his dislike for anti-gay rhetoric in today’s hip hop music.
During an appearance on the “Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay” podcast on Tuesday (Oct. 25), Porter revealed that he does not listen to hip hop music or know any of the current rappers.
When Lathan asked the Emmy award-winning actor if he would ever talk to Boosie Badazz or DaBaby about their past comments toward the LGBTQ+ community, Porter replied: “First of all, I don’t know who they are. Let me say that, and here’s the reason — because I talk about it in my book. My childhood was very traumatizing. I was bullied, I was beaten, I was put out of the church, I was all of those things.”
He continued, “And [when] hip hop started to emerge, the first narrative was, ‘F**k the police.’ The second narrative on the list was, ‘Kill the f**gots.’ I missed hip hop because I had to extract myself from that energy so that I could save myself. I don’t know [anything] about it. I don’t know who these people are. I let the hip hop singers in — Mary J. Blige and the [other] nice rappers. You know, the Puffys, etc. But I missed a lot of that culture. And I’m not proud of it. [But] it was for my own survival.”
Porter concluded his thought, saying: “So I don’t know none of these people. I don’t know Lil Boosie. I don’t know who the f**k that is. Just like he doesn’t know who I am, or he may now, right? But when people come for me and talk about me shoving my gayness down their throats and blah, blah, blah, I’m like, ‘Then turn the page — Turn it off like I did.'”
Check out the clip of Billy Porter speaking on his history with hip hop on the “Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay” podcast HERE.
Karamo Gets Emotional While Discussing His Son Jason’s Drug Overdose for First Time
The Queer Eye star revealed that his son Jason, 25, suffered from a drug overdose nearly two years ago—something Karamo has "never talked about publicly."
"Today, I'm going to be very vulnerable with you all," Karamo said in a preview clip for the Oct. 27 episode of Karamo. "Almost two years ago, I found my oldest son Jason, lying on the floor, dying from a drug overdose."
The 41-year-old continued with tears in his eyes, "And I was terrified. I was about to lose my son. I didn't know what to do. I was in shock."
Reflecting on the scary situation, Karamo shared with viewers, "For anybody else who's out there that's going through this stuff, there are people out there that want to help you."
As seen in the preview clip, Jason joins his dad for an interview during the episode, where he will discuss what he remembers about that day.
Karamo learned he was father to Jason when his son was 10-years-old, when Karamo received a subpoena for child support, per Parents.
"My last girlfriend in high school—when I was 15—became pregnant with my child but did not tell me," Karamo told the outlet, noting of the subpoena, "I was confused, sad, angry, and weirdly excited to be a dad, but felt lost nonetheless."
Karamo then took full custody of Jason and, after later learning of Jason's half-brother Chris, the TV personality took legal guardianship of him in 2011.
In fact, embracing his role as a father also affected his own experience with drugs and alcohol. The E! correspondent told the outlet his kids were a factor in him deciding to shake his "functioning addict" tendencies.
"It wasn't until I became a dad that I asked myself how would I feel if my son had the same relationship with drugs and alcohol as I did," Karamo told Parents. "I quit and have never looked back."
As for his approach to parenting, Karamo expressed the importance of listening in a 2021 interview with Yahoo Life's So Mini Ways.
"When it comes to my kids or when it comes to talking to other parents, I'm like, ‘You've got to allow people to tell you what they're experiencing.' Create the stage for people to let people in and to allow them to say, 'Hey, this is what I'm feeling,'" he said. "And then the second thing is to believe them."
Jerry Lee Lewis Is Alive After False Death Report
There's a whole lotta head shakin' goin' on after it was falsely reported that Jerry Lee Lewis had died.
On Oct. 26, the Internet was whipped up in a frenzy after TMZ published an article purporting the death of the music legend. But, as it turned out, it was all a hoax.
"He's alive," a spokesperson for Lewis' management company told NBC News in response to the bogus report. "TMZ reported erroneously off of a bulls--t anonymous tip."
Since the online gaffe, TMZ deleted its original report and published a retraction. "Jerry Lee Lewis is not dead ... as we previously reported," the outlet's new article read. "Earlier today we were told by someone claiming to be Lewis' rep that he had passed. That turned out not to be the case. TMZ regrets the error."
The correction comes days after an update posted to Lewis' Instagram said that the musician was "too ill with the flu to attend" celebrations of his recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Instead, according to the post, Lewis chose close friend Kris Kristofferson to accept the honor on his behalf.
"It is with heartfelt sadness and disappointment that I write to you today from my sick bed, rather than be able to share my thoughts in person," Lewis wrote in an open letter on Oct. 19. "My sincerest apologies to all of you for missing this fine event, but I hope to see you all soon."
Reflecting on his decades-long career, the "Great Balls of Fire" singer continued, "I am honored to be going into that Hall of Fame rotunda with some of my heroes—Hank Williams Sr., Jimmie Rodgers and the like—not to mention so many amazing friends who have been so good to me through the years."
He added, "Thank you all for your support and love and for electing me into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and most of all, thanks to God for allowing me to experience this honor while I am still here."
Tory Lanez ordered to house arrest, electronic monitoring for allegedly shooting at Megan Thee Stallion's feet
A judge Wednesday ordered rapper Tory Lanez to be placed on electronic monitoring and house arrest by Friday while he awaits trial on charges that he allegedly shot at fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion's feet in the Hollywood Hills.
Superior Court Judge David Herriford rejected the prosecution's motion seeking to have the 30-year-old musician to be taken into custody without bail as a result of an alleged attack on a man in Chicago last month.
The judge noted that prosecutors had argued in their motion that the defendant -- whose real name is Daystar Peterson -- poses a danger to society and has a pattern of defying court orders, while noting that the defense's response counters that there was insufficient evidence that a battery had even occurred.
Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott urged the judge to order the rapper into custody without bail while awaiting trial on one count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, along with allegations that he personally used a firearm and inflicted great bodily injury. His trial is tentatively set to begin Nov. 28.
The prosecutor said Lanez has "shown such a flagrant disregard for the court's orders," telling the judge that the defendant had previously violated court orders not to come within 100 yards of Megan Thee Stallion and posting messages on social media that appeared to be directed at her. Bott told the judge that the defendant allegedly punched a man "without warning" and knocked him to the ground Sept. 17 in Chicago.
The rapper's attorney, Shawn Holley, countered that the incident in Chicago involves "mere allegations," adding that "these allegations are disputed." She noted that no case has been filed there.
"I'm not really sure that there's anything this court should do given the unproven allegations," the defense lawyer told the judge.
The judge ordered the rapper to be placed on electronic monitoring and house arrest between Friday and the next court date.
On April 5, Lanez spent about five hours in custody after the judge increased Lanez's bail from $250,000 to $350,000 after agreeing with Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta's contention that some of his social media posts appeared to be messages directed at Megan Thee Stallion. The judge ordered then that Lanez no longer make any public mention of his fellow rapper.
During a preliminary hearing last year, Los Angeles Police Department Detective Ryan Stogner testified that he spoke with Megan Thee Stallion and that she told him that she heard Lanez say, "Dance, bitch," before he fired at her at about 4:30 a.m. July 12, 2020, as the bikini-clad woman got out of a Cadillac SUV for the second time that morning following an argument.
"No one heard, `Dance, bitch,' except for Megan?" defense attorney Shawn Holley asked on cross-examination.
"Correct," the detective responded.
The alleged victim, identified in court and the criminal complaint only as "Megan P.," said her feet were "bleeding profusely" and that she fell to the ground and crawled to a nearby driveway, according to the detective.
She said a female friend who had been in the vehicle ran up to her afterward, along with Lanez, and that he "emphatically apologized for what he did" and offered to drive her home.
The detective said Megan Thee Stallion told police that Lanez "offered her money" and begged her not to say anything, telling her that he was on probation -- something Stogner said he could never substantiate.
The vehicle was subsequently stopped by police officers responding to a call of a shooting, and she initially told officers and doctors that she had not been shot and that broken glass had caused the injuries to her feet, according to the detective.
She told the detective that she was "extremely scared and embarrassed," was "scared he was going to get in trouble" and was concerned that the police might shoot him, but was "sincere," "visibly distraught" and "crying" when she subsequently admitted that Lanez had shot her, Stogner testified.
Some of the bullet fragments were subsequently removed from the woman's feet by an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but some still remain inside her and she reported that she has ongoing physical therapy and difficulty walking in some types of shoes, according to the detective.
Following his arrest, Lanez made a jailhouse phone call to the woman's female friend as she waited at the hospital and "he continued to apologize for the incident that occurred" and explained that he was basically drunk, the investigating officer testified.
In an outburst from the opposite side of the courtroom during the hearing last Dec. 14, Lanez questioned aloud how the detective could tell why he was apologizing during the call.
"Does he say anything in the jail call about shooting?" Holley asked the detective.
"No," Stogner responded.
The injured woman, who was bleeding, and Lanez were among four people in the SUV that was stopped about a mile from the scene of where shots were reported, according to LAPD Officer Sandra Cabral.
A handgun that was "warm to the touch" was discovered inside the vehicle, and four spent casings were subsequently found at the scene, Cabral testified.
In a video posted on Instagram Live following the shooting, Megan Thee Stallion said, "Tory shot me. You shot me and you got your publicist and your people are lying ... Stop lying."
She said police officers drove her to a hospital, where she underwent surgery, and added that she was "incredibly grateful to be alive."
In an op-ed published in the New York Times, she wrote that she was "recently the victim of an act of violence by a man" and that she was initially silent about what had happened "out of fear for myself and my friends."
"Even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgment," she wrote. "The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether I played a role in my own violent assault proves that my fears about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, warranted."
The rapper, whose real name is Megan Pete, gained fame in part through freestyling videos shared widely on Instagram. Her song "Savage" went viral on TikTok and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2020, while her provocative collaboration with Cardi B on "WAP" garnered her more attention.
In a posting last year on Twitter, Lanez wrote, "I have all faith in God to show that ... love to all my fans and people that have stayed true to me & know my heart ... a charge is not a conviction."
Another Unnamed Woman Alleges Herschel Walker Pressured Her Into 1993 Abortion
Walker says the Republican Senate nominee for Georgia pressured her into having an abortion in 1993, she announced at a press conference on Wednesday.
The woman, referred to as Jane Doe to protect her identity, attended the press conference virtually with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, and read her statement. Her voice was heard, but her face was not shown.
Doe said she decided to tell her story now to highlight what she said is Walker’s hypocrisy. “He has publicly taken the position that he is about life and against abortion under any circumstance when in fact he pressured me to have an abortion and personally ensured that it occurred by driving me to the clinic and paying for it,” said Doe.
At a campaign event in Georgia prior to the press conference, Walker called the allegation a “lie.”
“I already told people this is a lie, and I’m not going to entertain, continue to carry a lie along. And I also want to let you know that I didn’t kill JFK either,” Walker said, adding that Democrats are doing and saying whatever they can to win the Senate seat.
CNN has reached out to Walker’s campaign for additional comment.
“Herschel Walker is a hypocrite, and he is not fit to be a US Senator,” said Doe. “We don’t need people in the US senate who profess one thing and do another. Herschel Walker says he is against women having abortions, but he pressured me to have one,” she said.
Doe said her romantic relationship began in 1987 when Walker was playing for the Dallas Cowboys. She said she traveled to see him as he was traded to Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was married throughout their relationship, she said. Allred exhibited several personal cards she said Walker sent to Doe signed with the letter “H,” to refute Walker’s claims that he never signed anything that way.
In April 1993, Doe said she became pregnant with Walker’s child. “After discussing the pregnancy with Herschel several times, he encouraged me to have an abortion and gave me the money to do so. I went to a clinic in Dallas but simply couldn’t go through with it, I left the clinic in tears,” she recounted. She lost her nerve and said Walker was upset.
He “drove me to the clinic the following day and waited for hours in the parking lot until I came out,” she said. “I was devastated because I felt like I was pressured into having the abortion,” said Doe.
Doe said her motives are not political and she says she is a registered Independent and voted for former President Donald Trump. “I do not believe that Herschel is morally fit to be a US senator and that is the reason why I am speaking up and providing proof,” she said.
The latest claims come at a pivotal moment in a race critical to both parties’ hopes of winning a majority in a Senate now divided, 50-50. Most polling shows Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who’s running for a full six-year term, with a modest lead over Walker with less than two weeks now until Election Day and early voting in Georgia into its second week.
The allegations add a new layer to the existing controversy around Walker, who has repeatedly advocated for a national ban on abortions with no exceptions.
Walker has already been accused by a former girlfriend of encouraging her to have the procedure and then reimbursing her the cost.
Walker has denounced the woman’s claim as a “flat-out lie,” but presented with a copy of the check the first woman said was a payment for her abortion, conceded it was his signature on the paper, although he said he did not know what the check was for.
The same woman also alleged that Walker sought for her to have a second abortion years later, according to The New York Times.
She said she refused and is now the mother of a son who, she says, rarely sees his father. CNN has not independently confirmed the first woman’s allegations. She has remained anonymous in public reports.
Democrats have been mostly quiet on the controversy, following cues from Warnock. The incumbent has been careful not to directly comment on the story — either in his own remarks and during their lone debate — or be seen as criticizing Walker over the specifics, though he has, in broader terms, often said that the Republican “has a problem with the truth.”
And in a sign of the race’s stakes and increasing tension, Warnock’s campaign more recently rolled out an ad, titled “Hypocrite,” that begins with a narrator saying, “For you, Herschel Walker wants to ban abortion,” before cutting to soundbites from Walker and, eventually, a newscaster describing the allegations from the first woman to accuse him of paying for her to get an abortion.
Asked about the allegations during that debate, on October 14, Walker again denied them and even suggested, without evidence, that his political rivals were conspiring against him.
“I said that is a lie and I am not backing down,” Walker said. “And we have Sen. Warnock, people that would do anything and say anything for this seat. But I am not going to back down.”
Panera Bread Expands Grocery Line With Bagels, Pasta Bowls, Italian Wedding Soup and More
Panera Bread is upping its grocery line with several exciting new additions to its portfolio.
First up, Panera debuted a garlic demi baguette, in addition to bagels which are available in everything, cinnamon swirl and plain. They also dropped the “Country White” loaf of bread and English muffins, which will be available in select stores.
Most retailers in New York and New Jersey carry the bakery goods with hopes of extending across the nation. Stores that are participating include, Stop & Shop, Shoprite, Whole Foods Market, Roche Brothers, Star Market, Shaws, and Market Basket, including Instacart.
According to a press release, here are the products dropping soon:
Italian Wedding Soup – A familiar made fantastic addition to Panera’s flagship grocery category, available nationwide.
· Chipotle Ranch Dressing and Wildflower Honey Mustard Dressing – Available nationwide and building on Panera’s expansive variety of chef-crafted dressings.
· Garlic Demi Baguette – Adding to Panera’s existing suite of baker-crafted artisan breads, available nationwide.
· Bagels – Available in Plain, Everything and Cinnamon Swirl. Make every breakfast fantastic! Select regions only.
· English Muffins – Extending Panera’s early success in breakfast with bagels by introducing hearty, griddle baked English Muffins. A new category from Panera, available initially at grocers in the Northeast.
· Refrigerated Bowls – Abundant pasta bowls in Chicken Caprese, Tuscan Style Chicken and Lemon Chicken Primavera, available nationwide.
· Artisan Cheese Crisps – Available in Parmesan, Everything and Tomato Basil varieties – perfect for topping soups, salads, sandwiches or as a snack. Select regions only.
The company said, “It’s all part of a strategy to expand consumer access to Panera products wherever consumers shop, including off-premise — just as Panera has expanded access via its various channels, including delivery, curbside pickup, rapid pick up, and contactless dine-in.”
In addition to the new line of food, Panera is updating its packaging.
“Our new look and feel and exciting product innovations are sure to delight our consumers who can now stock chef-crafted Panera favorites at home, ready to enjoy whenever they want, for any occasion,” said vice president and general manager of CPG Panera Bread, Zach Soolman.
The new food items are available now.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
NEW AGE OF KIDS
Mom, what is that?
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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