#MAGFAB: Joan Smalls Takes Cartier To the Streets For Sorbet Magazine #37 by Greg Swales
Supermodel Joan Smalls covers Sorbet Magazine #37 ‘The Rebel Issue’ [IG], lensed in lower Manhattan by Greg Swales [IG]. William Buckley styles Smalls rocking Cartier jewelry throughout the vibrant and edgy fashion story. Smalls has a strong rebel streak all her own — the first [and present] Latina face of Estée Lauder cosmetics in 2011; the first person of Puerto Rican descent to front fashion campaigns for Chanel, Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Givenchy, Moschino, Roberto Cavalli, Tom Ford, and many, many more; Joan, the first to walk these paths, so people coming up behind her can run.
Joan Smalls was one of fashion’s most articulate voices in the aftermath of the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Her personal reflections on her own experiences and essays she has written about racism in the fashion industry are cited below.
Within the context of how Sorbet Magazine defines rebel status, Joan Smalls definitely qualifies. I hope Joan agrees that we’ve made substantial progress in becoming a more inclusive industry.
#RHOA: Lafayette record label suing 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' for unauthorized use of song
Lafayette-based record label ML1 Records and Sam Trocki, a Miami Beach, Florida-based singer and producer, are claiming copyright infringement over “The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s” alleged unauthorized use of the song “Lost Children.”
The duo filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Aug. 24, court records show.
Named in the suit are the show’s producers, Truly Original; Bravo Media, the network that airs the show; and NBCUniversal, Bravo’s parent company.
The song was released by Trocki in partnership with hip hop and R&B artist CeeLo Green in September 2020. A remix of “Lost Children” was released in November 2020. Trocki holds the copyright for both songs; acquiring the copyright for the original version in January 2021 and for the remix in October 2021, the lawsuit said.
ML1 Records is the administrator of the copyrights, their filing said.
ML1 Records and Trocki claim the song was used without permission, allowing the popular show and associated producers to earn “direct and indirect profits they would not have otherwise realized but for their infringement of the Works,” the suit said.
Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise launched in 2006. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” started in 2008 and currently follows six main cast members living in and around Atlanta, looking at their relationships, professional lives and dramas.
“Lost Children” appears in two episodes in the show’s 13th season – “The Giving Peach” and “How the Wig Stole Christmas,” the lawsuit claims.
In “The Giving Peach,” the song appears from the 2:00 to the 2:59 mark over an introductory scene introducing the casts’ goings on for the episode.
In “How the Wig Stole Christmas,” the song appears from 12:14 to 12:35 in the background of a scene where Kenya Moore is meeting with her therapist for an at-home session to discuss her murky relationship with her estranged husband.
ML1 Records and Trocki are seeking at least $1 million in damages, with statutory damages of $150,000 per copyright infraction, with the number of infractions up to the judge’s determination, the filing said.
Truly Original, Bravo and NCUniversal have until Oct. 19 to respond to the lawsuit.
ML1 Records, founded by Joseph Karre, is located at 212 W. Main St. in downtown Lafayette.
#MusicNews: Ciara Says Her Upcoming New Album Is a Major ‘Super R&B’Project
Ciara recently sat down with Zane Lowe of Apple Music for a conversation about her new Summer Walker-assisted single “Better Thangs” and what it felt to collaborate again.
The two previously joined forces for Walker’s 2021 album, Still Over It, on which Ciara featured on the outro, fittingly titled “Ciara’s Prayer.”
“Summer’s special. Summer’s voice is incredible. I think she’s blessed us with something that’s so unique and sonically,” Ciara told Lowe.
“I played her a few songs, but I wanted to let her choose what she wanted to do. But I was like, ‘I hope she picks this one.’ And there was nothing better than when she said, ‘I want to do that record.'”
Ciara also discussed her forthcoming eighth album, which will be released on Republic Records and Uptown Records in partnership with her imprint Beauty Marks Entertainment.
She signaled the record is designed to pleasure her devout fans, especially those who are anxious to hear more R&B-centric sounds.
“I got a super R&B, hardcore R&B in the center of this album,” said Ciara. Like many artists, she revealed that she isn’t one to listen to her music once it’s recorded. However, that’s a different case for this upcoming LP.
She said, “To be honest, I don’t listen to my music when I’m outside of the studio. It’s weird. It’s like, I’m listening to myself over and over. But it’s not that I don’t love my music. It’s just, I feel weird listening to myself. But I say that because this album, I have wanted to play this album more than normal. And it’s in the first stage when you do want to listen back and see how things feel to you.”
Ciara is already giving the next album much credit, even comparing it to her 2004 extraordinary debut album Goodies.
“Honestly, and I really mean this, my first album to me was my best album of my whole journey. I feel like this album has taken me right there where that album was — energy-wise, tonality…the R&B core that’s in this record,” she affirmed.
#HipHopNews: 2022 BET HIP HOP AWARDS: SEE THE FULL WINNERS LIST
ATLANTA, GA – The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia last Friday (September 30).
This year’s ceremony, which aired on Tuesday night (October 4), was hosted by Fat Joe and featured performances from legends like Lil Kim, Wu-Tang Clan, Jeezy, Clipse and Three 6 Mafia, as well as current stars such as Kodak Black, Moneybagg Yo and Joey Bada$$.
As for the awards themselves, Drake and Kanye West headed into the show as the most nominated artists with 14 and 10 nods, respectively, but it was Kendrick Lamar who walked away as the night’s biggest winner after scooping six awards.
The Compton native cleaned up in categories such as Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Best Hip Hop Album of the Year and Lyricist of the Year thanks to his chart-topping Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers LP, as well his collaborative relationship with Baby Keem.
Drake didn’t walk away empty handed, though. The OVO hitmaker added two trophies to his collection for Best Collaboration and Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse, tying with himself in the latter category for his show-stealing cameos on Jack Harlow’s “Churchill Downs” and Future’s “Wait For U.”
Hip Hop’s southern sisters were recognized for their achievements as Latto’s “Big Energy” was crowned Song of the Year, while “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” star GloRilla won Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist. Trina was the recipient of this year’s “I Am Hip Hop Award” thanks to her impact and legacy over the last two decades.
Elsewhere, Hitmaka beat out the likes of Pharrell, Metro Boomin and Hit-Boy in the Producer of the Year category, Gangsta Grillz impresario DJ Drama won his first DJ of the Year award in almost a decade, and 50 Cent won Hustler of the Year thanks to his continued success in film, TV and the alchohol industry.
Check out the full list of winners at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards below.
Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
Future
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
Hip Hop Album of the Year
Latto – 777
Drake – Certified Lover Boy
Kanye West – Donda
Future – I Never Liked You
Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry
Nas – King’s Disease II
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — WINNER
Song of the Year
Latto – “Big Energy” — WINNER
GloRilla & Hitkidd – “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”
Jack Harlow – “First Class”
Cardi B f. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
Kodak Black – “Super Gremlin”
Future f. Drake & Tems – “Wait For U”
Drake f. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Lyricist of the Year
Baby Keem
Benny The Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
JAY-Z
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Best Hip Hop Video
A$AP Rocky – “D.M.B.”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties” — WINNER
City Girls f. Usher – “Good Love”
Cardi B f. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
BIA f. J. Cole – “London”
Future f. Drake & Tems – “Wait for You”
Drake f. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Best Collaboration
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”
City Girls f. Usher – “Good Love”
Cardi B f. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
Drake f. 21 Savage – “Jimmy Cooks”
Benny The Butcher f. J. Cole – “Johnny P’s Caddy”
Future f. Drake & Tems – “Wait For U” — WINNER
Drake f. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Best Duo or Group
42 Dugg & EST Gee
Big Sean & Hit-Boy
Birdman & NBA YoungBoy
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
DaBaby & NBA YoungBoy
EarthGang – WINNER
Styles P & Havoc
Best Live Performer
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Tyler, The Creator
Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist
Baby Keem
Blxst
Doechii
Fivio Foreign
GloRilla — WINNER
Nardo Wick
Saucy Santana
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Drake – “Churchill Downs” (Jack Harlow f. Drake) — WINNER (Tie)
J. Cole – “Poke It Out” (Wale f. J. Cole)
J. Cole – “London” (BIA f. J. Cole)
Lil Baby – “Girls Want Girls” (Drake f. Lil Baby)
Kanye West – “City of Gods” (Fivio Foreign f. Kanye West & Alicia Keys)
Drake – “Wait For U” (Future f. Drake & Tems) — WINNER (Tie)
Jadakiss – “Black Illuminati” (Freddie Gibbs f. Jadakiss)
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Director X
Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free — WINNER
Teyana Taylor
Producer of the Year
ATL Jacob
Baby Keem
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka — WINNER
Kanye West
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams
Hustler of the Year
50 Cent — WINNER
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
JAY-Z
Kanye West
Megan Thee Stallion
DJ of the Year
D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Drama — WINNER
DJ Kay Slay
DJ Premier
Kaytranada
Mustard
Nyla Symone
L.A. Leakers (DJ Sourmilk & Justin Credible)
Best Hip Hop Platform
Big Boy’s Neighborhood
The Breakfast Club
Caresha Please — WINNER (Tie)
Complex
Drink Champs — WINNER (Tie)
HipHopDX
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
NPR Tiny Desk
Verzuz
Impact Track
Lizzo – “About Damn Time” — WINNER
Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys – “City of Gods”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”
Nas f. Ms. Lauryn Hill – “Nobody”
Latto – “Pxssy”
Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5”
Doja Cat – “Woman”
Best International Flow
Benjamin Epps (France) — WINNER
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Blxckie (South Africa)
Central Cee (UK)
Haviah Mighty (Canada)
Knucks (UK)
Le Juiice (France)
Nadia Nakai (Zimbabwe)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Congrats to all the winners!
Pete Davidson May Have Removed Kim K-Dedicated Chest Tattoo 2 Months After Split
The “SNL” alum got several tiny tats in honour of his socialite ex during their whirlwind romance.
Things between Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson appeared to be going incredibly well just a few months ago, with the comedian meeting and spending plenty of time with the reality star’s four children (despite Kanye West’s troubling tantrum over the situation), and the couple taking several tropical trips together.
Their relationship came to a sudden end just a few months ago, though, and now, it looks like the Saturday Night Live alum may have removed one of the several tattoos he got that were dedicated to the 41-year-old.
According to a report from TMZ, Davidson was photographed on Tuesday (October 3) hanging out on the set of his upcoming comedy series, Bupkis, in his home state of New York.
Cameras caught the 28-year-old looking casual and comfy, wearing a Staten Island crewneck under a red and blue windbreaker, matching track pants, and a pair of clean dad sneakers. What viewers also noticed about the funny man’s look was a bandage peering out of his sweater, seemingly hinting that he may have had his “My Girl is a Lawyer” tattoo removed.
While dating Kardashian, Davidson also got a smaller tattoo that appeared to list off the initials of his girlfriend and the children she shares with Ye; it remains unclear if that one is currently still on his body following their split.
Things may not have worked out in his latest romantic venture, but the New Yorker does have a lot to look forward to, what with his upcoming Peacock series co-starring The Sopranos actress Edie Falco, who’s had lovely things to say about her experience working with Pete.
“You kind of fall in love with him the second you meet him,” she told Page Six this past weekend. “There is something so endearingly vulnerable and out there [about him]. He doesn’t play games. He doesn’t try to keep up an image beyond what he cops to.”
“He’s absolutely lovable. The second you meet him, you just want to hug him. He’s as genuine a person as I’ve come across in a long time.”
Will Edward Enninful Manage To Take the Voguie Magazine Empire from Anna Wintour?
The rare smile that flashed across the face of legendary American Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour at Victoria Beckham’s Paris fashion show on Friday was too remarkable to go unnoticed. That it was directed at the man who sat just a few seats away, British Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful, was even more intriguing.
For while Ms Wintour must have hoped that the gesture would convey a sense of unity, behind the glossy pages of the fashion bible is a growing froideur between the magazine’s grand dame and her former protégé, the first black and openly gay man to get the top job.
Indeed, playing out in the shadows is what one magazine insider has described as ‘a fight not only for the crown of Vogue but for the very heart and soul of the magazine itself’.
Enninful is driving the most radical and controversial changes in the magazine’s 130-year-old history: an audacious bid to make Vogue more diverse and even ‘genderless’ – a departure from its traditional female base
At the centre of it all is Enninful himself, who is driving the most radical and controversial changes in the magazine’s 130-year-old history: an audacious bid to make Vogue more diverse and even ‘genderless’ – a departure from its traditional female base.
The latest decision to raise stylishly bushy eyebrows was the inclusion of Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet on the latest cover, making him British Vogue’s first male cover star. Enninful is said to be ‘keen’ to land Ncuti Gatwa, the first black Doctor in Doctor Who and star of Netflix’s Sex Education, as his next cover star.
‘He wants to appeal to everyone, not just women,’ a source confided to The Mail on Sunday. ‘To him, the future is a genderless, multicultural Vogue that appeals to everyone and excludes no one. Gay men have always bought the magazine but he wants to attract everyone and reach out to an audience who would not traditionally buy a women’s fashion magazine.’
What that means for those faithful to Vogue’s female-led brand of high fashion remains to be seen. As one observer put it: ‘At its heart, Vogue represents glamour and aspiration for women. If you stop it being a women’s magazine, you destroy its soul.’
But at the moment, it seems there is little that can slow Enninful. Since the 50-year-old, who arrived in the UK from Ghana aged 13, took over the helm of British Vogue five years ago, there has been constant speculation that he is being lined up to take over Wintour’s job as Editor-in-chief of American Vogue and Global Chief Content Officer of the magazine’s publisher, Conde Nast.
Since the 50-year-old, who arrived in the UK from Ghana aged 13, took over the helm of British Vogue five years ago, there has been constant speculation that he is being lined up to take over Wintour’s job as Editor-in-chief of American Vogue and Global Chief Content Officer of the magazine’s publisher, Conde Nast
A source said: ‘There have been plenty of pretenders to the throne but Edward considers himself her natural successor and he is the only person who appears to be a real threat.’
Yet even in the famously waspish world of fashion he has been branded a ‘diva’, and has earned himself the deliciously catty soubriquet ‘Edward Enninfulofhimself’.
Also bitchily referred to as the ‘Queen Mother’, he is said to have much in common with his mentor. One US outlet has alleged he has ‘assistants [who] lead him around through meetings and carry his glasses and eye drops and help apply them’.
His admirers say that no one ever calls him the ‘Queen Mother’ and that he needs eyedrops because his eyesight is so bad it borders on being a disability.
Reports also suggest he waves off colleagues with simple requests by asking them to ‘call Darnell’ [his powerful agent, Darnell Strom].
And his differences with the formidable Wintour – whose famously demanding personality has earned her the nickname ‘Nuclear Wintour’ – suggest he is made of stern stuff.
In the US, reports of the growing rift between the magazine empire’s two most influential editors burst into the open this week with several outlets seemingly ‘briefed’ about the simmering tensions.
‘Anna Wintour’s Feud With Her Protege Is Turning Conde Nasty’ read one headline in an article which alleged that Enninful is ‘apparently gunning for the Iron Lady of Gloss’s plum job’ and has told associates he ‘believes he can do a better job than Wintour atop the Vogue brand’.
The publication speculated Wintour may try to ‘appease’ Enninful, who has spent recent weeks on a book tour promoting his memoir, A Visible Man, by manoeuvering him into another coveted position, perhaps the editorship of an alternative magazine in the Conde Nast stable, to protect her own job. ‘Anna is no fool, so people expect there to be musical chairs soon,’ said one source.
The latest decision to raise stylishly bushy eyebrows was the inclusion of Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet on the latest cover, making him British Vogue’s first male cover star
Tongues were wagging last month when Enninful was absent from a glamorous ‘Vogue World’ event in New York hosted by Wintour to showcase her vision for the magazine’s future.
A source said: ‘He’d been all over New York promoting his memoir so the expectation was he’d be there. The fact he was on annual leave and flying to California at the time has been a source of constant chatter.’
The pair also kept their distance in Paris this week despite the choreographed smiles at Posh’s fashion show. Enninful holed up at the Crillon hotel with his friend, Tatler Editor Richard Dennen, while Wintour took her favourite suite at the Ritz.
Meanwhile, just as intriguing, are signs that Wintour appears to have been taking a leaf out of Enninful’s book in a bid to stay with the times.
When he took over as British Vogue’s editor in 2017, it marked a radical departure from the magazine’s previous editor, the highly respected Alexandra Shulman, who’d held the post for 25 years.
Enninful was heard describing the office as having ‘too many old white posh women’. Several senior female executives were immediately replaced by men and women of colour, and with them a number of ‘young, cool and gay hipsters’. One of them is his protege Alex Kessler, a fashion editor who lists his pronouns as he/him.
Not to be outdone, Wintour was prompted to look at her own empire which had been criticised for being ‘white-centric’. Certainly since then she has sought to promote diversity and once famously looked around an editorial meeting and declared: ‘Why are there so many white people in the room?’
But if Wintour views Enninful as a threat, her supporters are not admitting it. Last night one said: ‘Everyone is making a big deal about Edward putting Timothée on the cover, but Anna put Harry Styles on the cover of American Vogue two years ago.
‘Anna is tough. She’s survived three decades at the very top of her game. She’s like the Queen, she will die in that job. She’ll never willingly hand it over.
‘Anna has been always very firm in her view of what Vogue should be; a fashion bible for women.’
But, it seems, Enninful is a man with a mission. He has also been on a major charm offensive in the States as he promotes his book.
In a profile in the New York Times, he spoke about his lifelong battle against racism, telling the now infamous story about how a white security guard at Vogue’s London HQ turned him away from the front door and told him to use the tradesman’s entrance.
Although the guard was fired, Enninful used the anecdote to illustrate the daily racism that he encounters, including having to ask a white staff member to hail cabs for him.
The piece gushingly described Enninful as ‘at the vanguard of a new cohort’ who ‘yanked open the fusty chintz curtains and displayed an aurora borealis of different races, sizes, ages and sexualities’.
He also quietly showed off his star power by handing the author of the New York Times piece a list of friends to contact which started with: ‘Beyoncé. Rihanna. Naomi. Iman. Oprah.’
A well-placed source predicts Enninful will remain undeterred in pursuit of his goals. ‘In public, he and Anna show nothing but respect for each other but there seems no doubt that he is gunning for her crown,’ the source said.
‘She may have tried to move with the times, and kudos to her for trying, but she cannot change the fact she is an old white woman.’
His value has been recognised within the company. Enninful now holds the title of European Editorial Director of Vogue as well as Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, giving him control of influential Vogue editions in Italy, France and Spain. And, whatever he is doing, it’s working.
While British Vogue’s readership is small (around eight million between print and digital compared with American Vogue’s 25million, according to Conde Nast), British Vogue’s subscriptions rose more than 14 per cent in 2021 compared with the previous year.
As Enninful told the New York Times: ‘You can still have diversity and keep the quality up,’ pointing to covers featuring Rihanna and Beyoncé and a special issue guest-edited by the Duchess of Sussex.
He has also gained powerful allies including Conde Nast publisher Jonathan Newhouse’s wife Ronnie, who has known him since the 1990s when she was the creative director for Calvin Klein and he was the stylist for Kate Moss’s jeans campaign. Richard Dennen, clearly influenced by his colleague, now ensures every other Tatler cover features a person of colour.
As for Enninful, in public at least, he remains diplomatic. When asked by the New York Times if he ‘had ambitions to run the Vogue mothership’, he responded: ‘I’m happy working in Europe.
‘But you never know what the future holds.’
Angelina Jolie Alleges That Brad Pitt ‘Choked’ One Of Their Children And ‘Slapped’ Another In
Angelina Jolie has revealed new allegations against Brad Pitt as the two battle in court over their French estate. Pitt filed suit against Jolie after she sold her stake in the winery, which he considered a “hostile takeover.” The two have been ensnared in a contentious divorce ever since an incident on a 2016 private flight from France to California. Jolie has previously accused Pitt of physically and verbally abusing her in front of their children during a drunken rage. Those allegations also included Pitt allegedly getting physical with one of the children who reportedly attempted to defend Jolie.
In new court documents filed on Tuesday, Jolie has expanded on those allegations with new details about Pitt’s actions. She also accused Pitt of attempting to make her sign a non-disclosure agreement before entering into negotiations over selling her shares in the winery. Via The New York Times:
Her filing goes on to describe an extended physical and verbal outburst in September 2016 as Mr. Pitt, Ms. Jolie and their six children flew from France to California. “Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face” and “grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her,” the filing states, adding that at one point “he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children.” Federal authorities, who have jurisdiction over flights, investigated the incident but declined to bring criminal charges. Days after the plane trip, Ms. Jolie filed for divorce.
According to The New York Times, Jolie filed a report with the FBI and a redacted version was seen by news outlets. However, the Times reports that “it is unclear whether the heavily redacted F.B.I. report included allegations that Mr. Pitt had choked or struck any of the children.” After the FBI submitted the report, charges were not brought against Pitt by the U.S. Attorney Office “due to several factors.” One of those factors is Jolie was “conflicted on whether or not to be supportive of charges.”
Jolie has grown less hesitant to share the alleged details of the 2016 flight as the two litigate the sale of the French winery.
Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother Slams Kanye West Over ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt, Says it Legitimizes ‘Extremist Behavior’
Kanye previously had lent his support to Arbery’s family after the unarmed Black jogger was chased and murdered by father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael in 2020. In June 2020, West donated $2 million to the families of Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. He also made an additional donation to cover the legal fees for Arbery.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-James, expressed her “extreme disappointment” for Kanye’s “White Lives Matter” stunt.
“As a result of his display ‘White Lives Matter’ started trending in the U.S., which would directly support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son,” Cooper-James relayed through her attorney Lee Merritt. “That is the thing that Wanda and families like hers continue to fight against.”
“This mockery of the Black Lives Matter movement and his now denunciation of the movement as some sort of hoax flies directly in the face [of what he’s said,]” the statement added. “It’s confusing for her, it’s confusing for the families to receive his support privately, but publicly to set us all back.”
Before kicking off his YZY SZN 9 fashion show on Monday, Kanye was joined by conservative pundit Candace Owens, who also wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt. Ye delivered a speech in which he touched on various topics, but did not acknowledge the controversial t-shirt.
“I am Ye and everyone here knows that I am the leader,” he said. “You can’t manage me. This is an unmanageable situation.”
Ye later addressed the criticism surrounding the choice of wardrobe by blasting the Black Lives Matter as a “scam.”
“Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam. Now its [sic] over. You’re welcome,” he wrote on his Instagram Story.
Since the controversial attire, Ye has been denounced by various members of the fashion community including Tremaine Emory and Gigi Hadid.
Ryan Coogler almost quit Hollywood after Chadwick Boseman's death
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ryan Coogler admits that he contemplated quitting Hollywood after Chadwick Boseman’s death.
Ahead of the long-awaited sequel to the box office hit, Black Panther, director Ryan Coogler is opening up about almost leaving the film industry after the death of his friend, Chadwick Boseman.
On Monday (Oct. 3), Coogler sat with Entertainment Weekly to talk about his excitement for the latest addition and how Boseman’s death took a heavy toll on him. The 36-year-old director said he wasn’t sure if he had it in him to do Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, let alone any more movies.
“I was at a point when I was like, ‘I’m walking away from this business,'” Coogler said. “I didn’t know if I could make another movie period, [let alone] another Black Panther movie, because it hurt a lot. I was like, ‘Man, how could I open myself up to feeling like this again?'”
Coogler revealed that in the weeks after the movie star’s untimely passing, he replayed memories of the two together, watching old footage and listening to old interviews of Boseman talking about his character, T’Challa, and what Wakanda meant to him. While reflecting on Boseman, he said, “I was poring over a lot of our conversations that we had toward what I realized was the end of his life. [So] I decided that it made more sense to keep going.”
Coogler and Marvel have repeatedly stated there were no plans to replace Boseman with another actor for T’Challa. However, the director hoped the sequel would carry the late actor’s legacy while telling a new story.
“It’s my job as a filmmaker to do things that I have personal integrity with [and] if I don’t believe in what I’m doing, I’m going to have a hard time getting other people to do their best work. For them to do their best work, they have to believe in it. At the end of the day, the choices we make have to feel truthful to me. When filmmakers make things that don’t feel truthful to them, you can feel it. And I will argue that those projects don’t have a shot at working,” Coogler said.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters Nov. 11.
California high school cancels football season after players' mock slave auction goes viral
A California high school football team will be sitting this season out after players were caught hosting a mock slave auction. Officials at the Yuba City Unified School District were notified of the disturbing video on Thursday (Sept. 29).
By Friday (Sept. 30), the school’s staff decided to not allow the players to participate in that night’s scheduled football game. Soon, officials chose to extend the ban for the remainder of the season. The mock slave auction was held at River Valley High School in what appears to be a locker room. In the video, several Black students are without clothes and stand only in their underwear as a large group of white students excitedly “bid” on them.
Yesterday (Oct. 3), The Washington Post shared a statement from Superintendent Doreen Osumi. “Reenacting a slave sale as a prank tells us that we have a great deal of work to do with our students so they can distinguish between intent and impact,” Osumi said. “They may have thought this skit was funny, but it is not; it is unacceptable and requires us to look honestly and deeply at issues of systemic racism,” she continued.
The varsity team was 0-5 before the incident. Administrators shared that some of the football players may face further punishment in addition to being banned from playing this season. Osumi explained that she’s hoping the situation can serve as an opportunity to create programs to educate students about history.
“When students find humor in something that is so deeply offensive, it tells me that we have an opportunity to help them expand their mindset to be more aware, thoughtful and considerate of others,” the superintendent said of the football player’s actions.
On social media, many believed the lessons should start at home. One person argued that “white kids holding a mock slave auction is a reflection of how they were raised.” Another wrote, “This is the perfect example of parents failing their children. For this to happen today, in this society, is mind-blowing.”
Prosecutors Won’t Pursue Charges in Columbus Short’s Domestic Violence Case
*Columbus Short’s domestic violence case has been dropped. The L.A. City Attorney’s Office recently shared that prosecutors reviewed the case and decided not to pursue charges.
Details as to why prosecutors came to that decision haven’t been released publically at the moment. However, according to Columbus Short, he did nothing wrong.
The “#Scandal” actor said, “They dismissed the case from what I was told because the prosecutor felt there was no wrongdoing.”
He continued, “I knew when I was charged it was stupid but based on past allegations. They jump to the worst conclusion…”
Actor Columbus Short warned his followers that, whatever they were about to read about him, was false. According to the Scandal star, he was informed that a certain media outlet was about to make some serious allegations against him.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, he stated: “I just got word that #TMZ bout to drop a story tomorrow, talking about I got charges dropped on me. For domestic violence and, second, child abuse. What?! The devil is a liar.”
He continued: “So, I’m just putting this word out early. Cause Ima preemptively strike, cause I ain’t playing these games this time. I laid down the last time, I ain’t laying down no more. Harvey, if you want some smoke, bring it on! Stop playing with me!”
On Feb. 16, news broke that Columbus was charged with 2 misdemeanors for domestic violence. Reports claimed that he’d been arrested earlier this month for a dispute with his wife that turned physical.
The alleged altercation reportedly occurred in front of a child, leading to a child endangerment charge…
Al Pacino signing blockbuster book deal with Penguin Random House
“The Godfather” star Al Pacino is closing a deal with publishing giant Penguin Random House to pen a book, sources exclusively tell us.
Details of the method actor’s tome are under wraps, but a source told Page Six that Pacino’s book will be handled by the same team at Penguin that was behind Will Smith’s best-selling 2021 memoir, “Will,” which was co-written with “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F–k” scribe Mark Manson.
We hear that CAA is repping Pacino in the deal. Reps for Pacino, CAA and Penguin did not comment.
The no-doubt highly anticipated Pacino book will be the first memoir from the 82-year-old Oscar winner.
The iconic actor previously published in 2006, “Al Pacino: In Conversation with Lawrence Grobel,” which was a series of talks over more than 25 years between the star and journalist/celebrity biographer Grobel — who has also penned books of his talks with Hollywood icons Ava Gardner and Robert Evans.
Pacino grew up in East Harlem and the Bronx, and attended the famed High School of Performing Arts and trained at the Actors Studio before becoming a major star.
Besides his New York upbringing and early career, a book by the icon would surely be rife with Hollywood tales of starring in acclaimed classics, including “The Godfather” trilogy, “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Scarface,” “Heat,” “Scent of a Woman,” “Carlito’s Way,” “Donnie Brasco,” “Ocean’s Thirteen,” “The Irishman,” and more.
Pacino has never been married, but has a grown daughter with former acting coach Jan Tarrant, and twins with “National Lampoon’s Vacation” star Beverly D’Angelo.
He’s also been linked romantically to Jill Clayburgh, Diane Keaton, Penelope Ann Miller and Argentine actress Lucila Solá, the mother of Camilla Morrone. He’s recently been dating much younger girlfriend Noor Alfallah.
Madonna Shows Off Her Pink Hair While Catching Flight Out of NYC
Madonna is on the move. The 64-year-old “Like A Virgin” entertainer was joined by a few friends as she arrived at JFK Airport for a flight out of town on Sunday night (October 2) in New York City.
For her flight, Madonna showed off her bright pink hair while all bundled up in a black puffer coat and black sweats paired with sunglasses.
Rihanna Says She's 'Nervous' & 'Excited' About Performing at Super Bowl Halftime Show
Rihanna is teasing her 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance! The 34-year-old entertainer was asked a few questions about her upcoming performance while leaving Bristol Farms after doing some grocery shopping on Tuesday afternoon (October 4) in Los Angeles.
For her afternoon outing, Rihanna went comfy and casual in a long-sleeved DMX shirt paired with sunglasses and slides.
As she left the grocery store, Rihanna teased her upcoming performance.
At first, Rihanna admitted to TMZ that she’s “nervous” about her Halftime Show, before adding that she’s “excited.”
She was then asked who she might be bringing out during the show as a special, surprise guest, and all Rihhana did was raise her hands and shrug.
Quincy Jones Joins Tik Tok, Deliver Inspirational Message In First Post
Renowned producer, social activist, and pioneering Black music executive Quincy Jones has officially joined Tik Tok.
In addition to announcing the creation of his TikTok account, Jones also posts his first-ever video on the service, which features inspirational advice. The channel will include exclusive video content, motivational speeches, and a rundown of timeless works from Jones’ illustrious production library.
The TikTok audience has already embraced Quincy Jones’ work, utilizing classic songs like Michael Jackson’s “Bad” (1.4M+ total creations) and “Billie Jean” (281K+ creations), as well as Jones’ 1962 song “Soul Bossa Nova” (13K+ creations), which was famously featured in the Austin Powers movies.
You can see Quincy Jones’s first Tik Tok message HERE
Andy Cohen blasts 'The Talk’ co-hosts: ‘There is one person carrying the show’
Jerry O’Connell was a guest on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Monday, where he found himself defending his co-workers. After being a guest and guest-host for several years, O’Connell became a permanent co-host of The Talk in 2021. While he has thrived on the daytime talk show, Cohen claims he is the only one.
“I have to say, I have been noticing all day, Jerry, because I saw you this morning too, you have been hunched over all day,” Cohen said. “And I know it's because you are carrying The Talk on your back. Honestly. I'm sorry but CBS should quadruple your salary. There is one person carrying the show and I'm sorry but he is sitting right here because without Jerry there ain't no show. There ain't no show without Jerry.”
O’Connell shares hosting duties with Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Sheryl Underwood and Natalie Morales. Throughout Cohen’s rant, O’Connell adamantly denied that there was any validity to what was being said.
“We love everyone at The Talk,” said O’Connell. “I am currently employed there…Andy’s words, not mine. I love everyone.”
‘Game of Thrones’ Fans Boycott George R.R. Martin’s Next Book, Accusing Coauthors of Racism
Bestselling fantasy author and “House of the Dragon” executive producer George R.R. Martin is caught in the crossfire of the heated battle over inclusive casting — and some of his fans are calling for a boycott of his upcoming book due to comments by its coauthors.
Out Oct. 25, “The Rise of the Dragon: An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One” is being touted as a “deluxe reference book” for those itching to learn more about Westeros’ most powerful family. When Martin publicized it on social media last week, thousands of fans responded in outrage, many calling out the problematic behavior and “history of racism” of his coauthors, married couple Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García Jr. “I will not be buying anything with Linda and Elio attached to it,” one wrote, while others urged Martin to sever ties with the pair.
Now the coauthors are fighting back, with Antonsson insisting to Variety that she is not a racist and García saying he feels under attack for sticking to his views about Martin’s original works.
The “Game of Thrones” superfans have been collaborating with Martin since before HBO’s hit adaptation of his “A Song of Ice and Fire” books. Soon after Antonsson and García created online forum Westeros.org in 1999, Martin recruited them as fact-checkers for his book “A Feast for Crows.” In 2014, they served as coauthors on “The World of Ice & Fire,” an illustrated companion book for the series of novels.
Critics have taken issue with Antonsson’s blog posts, some dating to more than a decade ago, in which she decries the casting of people of color in “Game of Thrones” to play characters that are white in Martin’s books. In one post from March 2012, for example, Antonsson complained about Nonso Anozie, a Black man, getting cast in the role of Xaro Xhoan Daxos, who is described as pale in the books. Five months later, she celebrated the fact that white actor Ed Skrein was cast to play Daario Naharis, despite a rumor claiming the network was looking to fill the role with someone of another ethnicity.
More recently, Antonsson wrote that the character of Corlys, portrayed by Steve Toussaint on “House of the Dragon,” was miscast. “There are no Black Valyrians and there should not be any in the show,” she said of the common ancestors of Velaryons and Targaryens.
Antonsson contends that upset fans are criticizing “cherry-picked statements stripped of context.” She tells Variety that it bothers her to be “labeled a racist, when my focus has been solely on the world building.” According to the author, she has no issue with inclusive casting, but she strongly believes that “diversity should not trump story.”
“If George had indeed made the Valyrians Black instead of white, as he mused on his ‘Not a Blog’ in 2013, and this new show proposed to make the Velaryons anything other than Black, we would have had the same issue with it and would have shared the same opinion,” Antonsson says.
Inclusive casting in fantasy has become a hot-button issue recently, with Black actors in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” facing racist comments online. Toussaint recently noted that some fans who object to his playing a “rich Black guy” have no issue buying into the existence of dragons.
But Antonsson dismisses Toussaint’s comments as a “false dichotomy which completely misses the point of how secondary world fantasy functions.” Changing the ethnic makeup of characters “raises all sorts of logical questions,” she contends.
Antonsson notes that her gripes with “House of the Dragon” aren’t limited to its casting choices: she takes issue with the specifics of one character’s death because it differs from Martin’s source material, as well as the lack of repercussions for Ser Criston Cole’s actions in Episode 5. García adds that the duo tried to “stir up a #FixASeahorse campaign” after the series changed the Velaryon house sigil from an actual seahorse to a mythical half-horse half-fish, but they were “too late.” Still, Antonsson and García say they’re both really enjoying “House of the Dragon” and credit showrunner Ryan Condal as “someone who clearly cares about the source material.”
As for Martin, who declined to speak with Variety for this story, Antonsson says he is “very much aware” of the arguments she and García have had online with fans. She adds that while Martin “doesn’t see the point in engaging with people” on social media, “he has not suggested we should stop sharing our opinions.”
Finally, Antonsson supports boycotting authors she doesn’t agree with — she just wishes fans were doing it “because of our actual opinions rather than those they project on us.”
Ten Speed Press, the publisher behind “Rise of the Dragon,” did not respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Heinz Brings Back Its “Tomato Blood” Just In Time for Halloween
Heinz is bringing in Halloween by once again rebranding its famous ketchup as “Tomato Blood.”
Don’t worry, the ketchup does not contain actual blood. Heinz has simply redesigned their bottles to read “Tomato Blood” in a larger font with the words “Tomato Ketchup” underneath in smaller letters. Heinz has also replaced its traditional tomato logo with blood drip.
The company has launched its spooky campaign with the help of Toby, the vegetarian vampire. In social media marketing videos, the 280-year-old ghostly “influencer” is seen drinking the “blood” directly from the bottle to intrigued witnesses.
“The limited-edition Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup bottle features the iconic ketchup people know and love in a design even vampires can appreciate,” stated Alyssa Cicero, Brand Manager, Communications for Heinz.
While this may be the first time we are seeing their vampire spokesperson, this is not the first time that Heinz has rolled out the “Tomato Blood” line during the scary season. Last year, they launched the “Tomato Blood” Halloween costume makeup kits. They even took it a step further with the Tomato Blood Ketchup Pop-up at the temporary Heinz Halloween Store in Los Angeles.
In the past, the company has remixed its bottles for various reasons. In 2019, they unveiled the “Tomato Edchup” bottles in collaboration with singer Ed Sheeran.
Heinz “Tomato Blood” bottles are available in grocery stores now for a limited time.
Judge Grants Jesse Williams’ Visitation Requests and Orders Co-Parenting Sessions Amid Custody Battle with Ex-Wife Aryn Drake-Lee
Jesse Williams will continue to have access to his two children with ex-wife Aryn Drake-Lee as he continues his stint on Broadway in New York City. Williams made his stage debut in the revival of the Tony Award-winning play “Take Me Out.”
In a previous court filing, the actor was granted four consecutive days with 8-year-old daughter Sade and 7-year-old son Maceo. According to the new order, which was obtained by PEOPLE, the “Grey’s Anatomy” star will be given specific visitation days in NYC during the fall months. The couple has also been ordered to attend 10 sessions of co-parenting counseling.
The judge’s ruling took place during a Sept. 30 court hearing that both Williams and Drake-Lee attended. Other specifics include both parents being ordered not to discuss their legal battle with or in front of the children, nor to make disparaging remarks or social media posts about each other.
The former couple was together for over a decade; they were married for five years before their divorce was finalized in 2020. Drake-Lee previously argued visitation should take place in Los Angeles where she and the kids live. Following the latest court session, the realtor loosely expressed her frustrations with the judge’s decision. “It turns out the court does think it’s good for children to regularly fly on overnight flights to accommodate a parent who won’t do the same for them,” she wrote on Instagram.
In a previous post, she explained that her intentions were never to rob Williams of time with their two children. “Of course children should spend quality time with each parent. And the conditions under which that happens matter. I have never deprived him of his time. Though I have consistently asked that it honors their developmental stages and routines,” she wrote.
In his past filings, Williams has alleged that his ex-wife did not adhere to their custody agreement and did not allow the children to have daily phone calls with him. Drake-Lee also addressed the latter claim online, writing, “All I ask is that calls happen when our children are most likely to be interested and available vs during the hardest hours of the day. Our kids are also old enough to voice when they do and don’t want to answer now.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘THE HANDMAIDS TALE’
They shop at WalMart too
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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