#MAGFAB: Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright & Ryan Coogler cover Variety
NICE! Movie is out Friday and the article is HERE!
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss' Daughter Riley Burruss and Stepdaughter Kaela Tucker Join Forces And Fans Celebrate Their Relationship
The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s daughters Riley Burruss and Kaela Tucker may have not had the closest relationship in the past, but it seems like they’re making strides to bond more as stepsisters nowadays.
The six-minute video followed the stepsisters around while they asked strangers to answer questions about the play’s premise. During the video, Riley and Kaela laughed and playfully bickered with each other, which fans were happy to see given their somewhat strained relationship in the past.
In a video recently shared on Instagram, Riley and Kaela hit the streets of New York City to promote the broadway play The Piano Lesson, which their parents are producing.
The six-minute video followed the stepsisters around while they asked strangers to answer questions about the play’s premise. During the video, Riley and Kaela laughed and playfully bickered with each other, which fans were happy to see given their somewhat strained relationship in the past.
Kaela Tucker previously confessed to not having the best relationship with Riley Burruss.
During an interview with DJ Aone on an episode of “Speak On It” back in August, Tucker shared that she and her stepsister didn’t have a close relationship despite both living in NYC at the time.
“We don’t see each other, we don’t call each other, we don’t text each other. Umm, yeah,” she admitted. “She’s enjoying herself, enjoying her life. I told her, if she needs me, call me. I’m a cab away, train away. I am here.”
Tucker went on to explain that she and Riley would only see each other for family occasions or when when her father and stepmother came to town.
“I don’t think it’s nothing wrong,” she added.
Kandi Burruss gushed over her daughter and stepdaughter joining forces.
Last week, The Real Housewives of Atlanta star uploaded the video of her older daughter and stepdaughter onto her Instagram page showing gratitude for their promotion of her and her husband Todd Tucker’s Broadway play.
“My girls @rileyburrus & @kpt__ are working overtime to promote @thepianolessonplay. Check out the interview that they did in #WashingtonSqaurePark.”
As reported by Atlanta Black Star, Not long after Kandi Burruss shared the video, many people took to the comments to note how great it was to see Riley and Kaela getting along.
“Love seeing Riley and Kaela getting along together as sisters… You guys did a great job!” one fan wrote.
“I love that the girls are working together!” another user commented.
“I love this, sister’s unite!” someone else penned.
#MusicNews: Tank, Ari Lennox and More to Perform at 2022 Soul Train Awards
The first round of performers for the 2022 Soul Train Awards has been revealed.
Ari Lennox, Chanté Moore, Muni Long, SiR, and Tank are set to perform at the ceremony, which airs Sunday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and BET Her.
Lennox, who has six nods, may choose a selection from her latest album age/sex/location, including the current R&B radio single “Waste My Time.”
The follow-up to the acclaimed Shea Butter Baby features the hit single “Pressure” and the Summer Walker-assisted “Queen Space.”
Tank’s tenth and final album, R&B Money, has three No. 1 singles, including his most recent “Slow” featuring J. Valentine. As of today (Nov. 9), the sensual number has spent a second week atop the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Long, nominated for Best New Artist, released her official debut album, Public Displays of Affection: The Album, in September. It includes the breakout single “Hrs & Hrs,” as well as other Billboard singles, “Baby Boo” featuring Saweetie and “Another.”
SiR will likely promote his upcoming third album with one or more of its singles: “Nothing Even Matters,” “Life is Good,” or “Satisfaction.”
Meanwhile, Moore, who recently got married to former BET President of Programming Stephen Hill, could dazzle fans with a new track (“Right One“) or something from her impressive catalog.
At this time, it’s unclear what Moore will perform. The R&B veteran recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut album, Precious.
The Soul Cypher will return this year. Long, Durand Bernarr, Alex Vaughn and gospel singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard will participate.
Bernarr recently released his album Wanderlust, inspired by Kelis’ album Wanderland. He will support the album on tour in 2023.
Vaughn dropped her debut project, The Hurtbook, in October. It features production by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
Additionally, Coco Jones and Q will take the stage at the 2022 Soul Train Awards.
Jones recently released her debut EP, What I Didn’t Tell You.
Q’s last project, The Shave Experiment (Director’s Cut), was released in June 2021. Last week, he released his new single “Today.”
Leading the nominations are Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige, who got seven each. The other nominees are Chris Brown, Silk Sonic, Maxwell, Chaka Khan, and more.
R&B group Xscape will receive the Lady of Soul Award. Meanwhile, Morris Day & The Time will be honored with the Legend Award.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Salutes Foxy Brown For Being One Of Her Biggest Influences
Nicki Minaj has shown some love to fellow rapper Foxy Brown, who she considers to be one of her biggest influences.
Speaking to City Girls rapper JT for i-D, the “Moment 4 Life” hitmaker was asked to name the artists who have influenced her rap style the most.
“Foxy Brown,” Nicki replied. “I still probably at times sound similar to her. I would listen to this woman non-stop. Finding out she was from Trinidad was so freaking amazing to me, because I never imagined that a rapper could be from my country.
She added: “She’s so precise with her delivery, and so clear. And I really love clarity in raps.”
Nicki Minaj then went on to list Lil Wayne, JAY-Z and Slick Rick as three other important influences.
“The other ones that shaped my overall style a lot are Lil Wayne, especially in the beginning, I used to do a lot of things that were similar to him and JAY-Z,” she said. “One of my first faves actually was Slick Rick. I’ve always loved the British accent, I still do.”
JT threw Lauryn Hill‘s name into the mix, but while Nicki admitted the Fugees legend is her “idol,” she explained that Hill’s style is far from her own.
“I don’t think I rap or sing like Lauryn,” Nicki said. “But in terms of being my idol… oh my goodness. Two days ago when the blogs posted her singing ‘To Zion’, and she brought out her son Zion, and his two children, I was sitting there crying. I used to be listening to that song on my little CD player on the train going to high school all the way in Manhattan.”
She continued: “I’ve spoken about getting pregnant as a teenager. And if I had a soundtrack to my life, that would be one of the main songs. I listened to her, and how her thought process was to decide to not terminate her pregnancy, even though so many people told her it would be the best thing for her career… I went through an emotional rollercoaster in high school. Even though I ended up walking down the aisle on time with my diploma, I went through a very rough time. Her words got me through it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Nicki Minaj shared her thoughts on the state of female rap, and said plainly she just wants to “hear girls rap again.”
JT noted the “Queen Mix” version of Nicki’s history-making single “Super Freaky Girl,” which featured the City Girls rapper alongside unsigned rappers Katie Got Bandz, Maliibu Miitch, BIA and Akbar V. The Pinkprint rapper said she put out “Super Freaky Girl (Queen Mix)” just so she could just hear women spit.
“I wanna hear girls rap again. Like, just rap. When I did my BET Cypher years ago, I purposely didn’t wear revealing clothes,” Nicki said. “I wore a sweatsuit. So even though we were being super freaky girls on the song, and we all had fun, y’all really spit.”
Jennifer Lopez Reacts to Criticism Over Taking Ben Affleck's Last Name
Jennifer Lopez is feelin' so good. And she isn't going to let anything impact her joy—including the criticism over her taking husband Ben Affleck's last name. The singer, 53, responded to the reaction—which included a New York Times opinion piece expressing disappointment over the move.
"What? Really?" she told Vogue for its December issue, which was released Nov. 8. "People are still going to call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs. Affleck because we're joined together. We're husband and wife. I'm proud of that. I don't think that's a problem."
But would she ever want the Oscar winner, 50, to adopt the name Lopez? "No! It's not traditional," she replied with a laugh. "It doesn't have any romance to it. It feels like it's a power move, you know what I mean? I'm very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person."
And ultimately, Jennifer is trying not to focus too much on other people's opinions.
"I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that's okay, too," the Hustlers star added. "But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it's romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I'm just that kind of girl."
Jennifer announced the surname switch after she and Ben tied the knot in Las Vegas in July, signing off her July 17 "On the JLo" newsletter with "With love, Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck."
In fact, Jennifer had expressed her intent to change her last name after she and Ben first got engaged in 2002 (the pair later split in 2004 and rekindled their romance 17 years later).
"I think I'm going to stay with Jennifer Lopez," she told Pat O'Brien when asked if she'd change her name professionally in a 2003 Access Hollywood interview, "but my name will be Jennifer Affleck obviously."
And while the "Let's Get Loud" singer joked that "J.Aff" didn't "have quite the same ring to it" as J.Lo, she added, "You gotta make sacrifices."
"It's not bad," she said about the name Jennifer Affleck at the time. "I'll take it."
After exchanging vows in Las Vegas, Jennifer and Ben said "I do" a second time at his Georgia estate in August. And the "On the Floor" artist and the Argo director are thrilled their journeys led them back to each other after all these years.
"For us, this was perfect timing," Jennifer wrote in her newsletter Sept. 1. "Nothing ever felt more right to me, and I knew we were finally 'settling down' in a way you can only do when you understand loss and joy."
RCA launch Virgil Abloh scholarship for Black British students
A scholarship for underrepresented communities in creative and design industries honouring the fashion designer Virgil Abloh, who died last year, has been launched by the Royal College of Art (RCA).
The RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship is to be offered annually to “an extraordinarily talented, but financially restricted, Black British student”.
Alboh, an acclaimed fashion designer who died in November 2021 was the founder of Off-White alongside his role as artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear. He held a close relationship with the RCA having joined as a honorary visiting professor in 2020.
The £35,000 scholarship has been established with funding from an anonymous donor in the USA. It will cover the full tuition fees of any postgraduate programme in the School of Design, including fashion, textiles and design products. Typical tuition fees for these programmes range from £14,175 to £33,200. The scholarship also includes industry experience and networking opportunities.
Abloh was a fierce advocate for equality in education and learning. In 2020 he announced that with the support of partners, including the retail platform Farfetch and Louis Vuitton, he had committed over $1m to support scholarships and career opportunities for Black students in the USA through the Virgil Abloh™️ “Post-Modern” scholarship fund.
“Systemic change starts at the grassroots level, from the collective efforts of people taking action and lifting up their own communities. I’m committed to helping ensure that this social revolution is not just a moment but a movement – and I am holding myself to task,” he wrote in an online post.
Born in Illinois, Chicago to Ghanian immigrant parents, Abloh studied civil engineering followed by a master’s in architecture. It was while at university that he began designing T-shirts.
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‘He put young Black creators in positions of power’ – how the late Virgil Abloh shook up fashion
In 2009 he interned at Fendi alongside Kanye West, the rapper known as Ye.
Abloh’s own label Off-White garnered a cult following and LVMH acquired a majority stake in it in 2021.
In a fashion world ruled by tradition, Abloh took an unorthodox approach. Quotation marks became his signature trademark. He created reusable water bottles with Evian, furniture with Ikea, DJ’d around the world and in 2018 made history as the first Black designer at Louis Vuitton.
In a post to announce his death in November 2021, his family revealed he had privately been battling a rare aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma for more than two years.
Speaking about the scholarship, Shannon Abloh, the late designer’s wife, said: “Over the years, the RCA and Virgil formed a beautiful relationship based on a shared appreciation of collaboration, creative vision, and of course, education. We know that the RCA Virgil Abloh scholarship will break down financial barriers to fulfilling creative potential and empower talented young individuals to dream even bigger.”
Georgia Senate Candidates Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker Will Advance to a December Runoff Election
Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker will face off again in a runoff election next month to determine who wins the race.
The candidates came in neck-and-neck in Tuesday’s general election, with neither reaching the required 50% vote threshold to win the race outright, as 98% of ballots were counted.
Georgia secretary of state’s chief operating officer Gabriel Sterling had announced via Twitter Wednesday that a two-round system would be likely.
“While county officials are still doing the detailed work on counting the votes, we feel it is safe to say there will be a runoff for the U.S. Senate here in Georgia,” Sterling said, adding that it would be slated for Dec. 6.
Sen. Warnock, 53, has been down the runoff road before, as the same situation occurred in 2020. The reverend then won during round two in Jan. 2021. It was the first time since 2014 that Democrats gained control of the state, as 35-year-old Jonathan Ossoff also won for the Democratic Party that year.
Making history as the state’s first Black senator, Warnock thanked voters during his victory speech last year. “Tonight, we proved that with hope, hard work, and the people by our side, anything is possible,” he said of his historic win.
The 2020 campaigns drew immense funding and attracted the likes of President-elect Joe Biden, former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Mike Pence, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who all appeared at campaign events in-person or virtually to rally voters.
This year, President Obama hit the campaign trail once again to urge voters to help keep Democrats in office.
“I am counting on you to stay here through the evening, and I’m counting on you to do what is necessary if we must to fight on [in] December,” Sen. Ossoff recently urged supporters at Warnock’s campaign HQ in Atlanta in the case of a second face-off.
Sen. Warnock’s opponent this time around, republican candidate Walker, 60, a college football hall-of-famer out of University of Georgia, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate last summer, and won Georgia’s Republican Senate primary in May.
“I will stand up for conservative values and get our country moving in the right direction,” he said at the time. “I’m a kid from a small town in Georgia who lived the American Dream and I’m ready to fight to keep that dream alive for you too.”
It was a tight race for Sen. Warnock and Walker for most of the midterm election.
The Georgia runoff will see the two go head to head again, this time without a third-party candidate on the ticket to siphon off votes. In the month before the follow-up election, the candidates will battle to woo the approximately 80,000 Georgians who voted Libertarian.
Warren Beatty Sued for Allegedly Coercing Sex With a Minor in 1973
A woman has filed a lawsuit against Warren Beatty, alleging that the actor coerced her into having sex with him in 1973 when she was 14 or 15 years old.
Kristina Charlotte Hirsch filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. The suit does not cite Beatty by name, but identifies the defendant as having been nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Clyde in “Bonnie and Clyde” — a clear reference to Beatty.
Hirsch, who now lives in Louisiana, alleges that Beatty met her on a movie set, where he paid “undue attention” to her, commented on her looks and gave her his phone number. She alleges that Beatty called her numerous times in 1973, invited her to the hotel where he was living and brought her on car rides.
Representatives for Beatty did not respond to requests for comment.
The suit also states that Beatty — who would have been about 35 at the time — offered to help her with her homework and commented to her several times about losing her virginity.
According to the suit, the defendant “used his position and status as an adult and a Hollywood movie star to coerce sexual contact with Plaintiff on multiple occasions, including oral sex, simulated sex and finally coerced sexual intercourse with the minor child.”
The suit states that Hirsch was “initially thrilled” by the attention and believed she was in a romantic relationship with him.
Hirsch is seeking compensation for psychological, mental and emotional distress. The suit alleges that she has had difficulty interacting with people in positions of authority as a result of the sexual abuse, and has suffered “issues with trust and control.”
Hirsch filed the suit under a 2019 California law that opened a three-year “lookback window” for claims of child sexual abuse that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. That window expires on Jan. 1, 2023.
Hirsch is represented by Michael Reck and Michael Finnegan of the law firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates. The firm has handled numerous child sex abuse cases involving the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is laying off more than 11,000 Employees
Since Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004, the Silicon Valley company has steadily hired more employees. At the end of September, it amassed its largest-ever number of workers, totaling 87,314 people. But today (Nov. 9), the company — now renamed Meta — began cutting jobs, and deeply. Laying off over 11,000 employees, the move comes amid a tough time for Facebook’s parent company, which provided lukewarm guidance in late October for its upcoming fourth quarter earnings that startled investors and caused its shares to sink nearly 20 percent. This is an unfortunate time for those laid off but apparently, Zuckerberg did what he felt he had to do.
The staff got word earlier today through a letter from the CEO. “Today I’m sharing some of the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history. I’ve decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13 percent and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go,” he said. “We are also taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1. I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here. I know this is tough for everyone, and I’m especially sorry to those impacted.”
Zuckerberg continued: “I view layoffs as a last resort, so we decided to rein in other sources of cost before letting teammates go. Overall, this will add up to a meaningful cultural shift in how we operate. For example, as we shrink our real estate footprint, we’re transitioning to desk sharing for people who already spend most of their time outside the office. We’ll roll out more cost-cutting changes like this in the coming months.”
Nas unveils tracklist for 'King's Disease III'
This Friday (Nov. 11), Nas will unveil the third installment of his King’s Disease series with Hit-Boy. Taking to social media, the Queens legend revealed that the new album will contain 17 tracks. Whether or not King’s Disease III will include any additional features is yet to be seen.
Nas and Hit-Boy first made landfall with their first installment back in 2020 with 13 tracks and contributions from Big Sean, Charlie Wilson, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, Anderson .Paak, Fivio Foreign, and more. One particular standout from that project, “Full Circle,” reunited Nas with his The Firm cohorts Foxy Brown, AZ, Cormega, and Dr. Dre. King’s Disease II arrived the following year with collaborations alongside the likes of Lauryn Hill, Eminem, Blxst, YG, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. While its aforementioned predecessor was well-received, King’s Disease II received universal acclaim for its variety and depth. It also peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with an impressive 56,000 first-week album-equivalent units sold. Before 2021 closed out, the bicoastal duo struck again with the nine-song Magic.
In addition to his forthcoming body of work, Nas has also announced his new documentary The Invaders, a film that he created with Mass Appeal and Yo Gotti. As he explained in an Instagram post, The Invaders is centered around the Memphis civil rights movement in the late ’60s:
“Inspired by militant Black leaders like Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, a new, radicalized generation of civil rights activists made up of young college students, Vietnam vets, musicians, and intellectuals emerged in Memphis in 1967.”
Check out both the tracklisting for King’s Disease III and the trailer for The Invaders below.
King’s Disease III tracklist:
“Ghetto Reporter”
“Legit Lyrics”
“Thun Lyrics”
“Michael & Quincy”
“30 Lyrics”
“Hood2Hood”
“Recession Proof”
“Reminisce”
“Serious Interlude”
“I’m On Fire”
“Wtf Smh”
“Once a Man, Twice a Child”
“Get Light”
“First Time”
“Beef”
“Don’t Shoot”
“Til My Last Breath”
Jason Momoa Brings Adorable Stuffed Pig To 'Slumberland' Premiere After Adopting His Own Pig
Jason Momoa brought the best plus one to the premiere of his new movie Slumberland – a stuffed pig!
The 43-year-old actor carried the stuffed animal in honor of the toy in the film, and his new pet feral pig, which he adopted from the film.
“my new friend LAU LAU. or MANAPUA. we haven’t decided yet,” Jason introduced the new member of his family to fans on Instagram earlier this week. “This is why i can’t work with animals i want to bring them home. wild and feral like his pops.”
Jason added in a cute note to co-star Marlow Barkley, “@marlowbarkley look what i found. hopefully u meet him mr MANAPUA slumberland premiere.”
She responded, “Ahhhh, I LOVE him! Please bring him! I won’t tell pig!”
Jason and Marlow were joined by co-stars India de Beaufort and Kyle Chandler at the premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday (November 9).
Pregnant Abby De La Rosa Officially Confirms Nick Cannon is Father of Her Third Child, His 12th Overall
It’s official – Nick Cannon is expecting baby No. 12. Back in June, it was revealed that Abby De La Rosa is pregnant with her third child. She and the 42-year-old Masked Singer host already share 16-month-old twin boys Zillion and Zion, but she has stayed quiet on who the father of her unborn third child is…until now.
On Wednesday (November 9), Abby took to her Instagram Story to re-post a message that read, “1 night with a Libra can turn into 3-4 years. Be careful.”
Along with the post, Abby added, “damn! lol 1 night turned into 4 years and 3 kids real quick…I see no lies here smh. y’all be safe out there.”
Nick was born on October 8, 1980, meaning that his zodiac sign is a Libra.
Abby‘s revelation comes less than a week after Nick confirmed he was expecting another child with Alyssa Scott.
Trans influencer Nikita Dragun placed in men's jail after arrest: 'Disturbing and dangerous'
Nikita Dragun, a transgender beauty influencer, was arrested in Florida Monday night and released Wednesday after being placed in a men's jail.
Dragun, 26, was arrested at The Goodtime Hotel in Miami Beach on charges of battery of a police officer, disorderly conduct and misdemeanor battery, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by USA TODAY Wednesday.
The affidavit states that police responded to a report that a woman was “causing a disturbance and being extremely disorderly within the establishment,” including walking around the hotel’s pool area unclothed.
Dragun was informed by the hotel’s security personnel that her behavior was not allowed, per the affidavit, but she did not alter her conduct. The social media star also allegedly “intentionally threw water at a staff member.”
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Dragun was arrested at a hotel in Miami Beach on charges of battery of a police officer, disorderly conduct and misdemeanor battery.
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Upon arriving at the scene, officers accompanied hotel security to Dragun’s room, where loud music was playing. The security guard told Dragun that her actions “needed to stop,” at the risk of being asked to “leave the property.”
It was during this encounter that Dragun assaulted security and police with a water bottle, according to the affidavit.
“The defendant closed the door on officers, and in a short time, opens it again and tells the security guard, ‘Do you want more?’ and proceeds to swing an open water bottle, causing the water to hit and spill on both the security guard Mr. Bazile and Officer Gonzalez.”
Following the assault, Dragun was “immediately placed into custody by officers” and subsequently transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for additional booking. Dragun was placed in a men’s jail unit while in custody, said Jack Ketsoyan, a representative for Dragun.
"The situation with Nikita, who is legally female, being placed in a men’s unit of a Florida jail is extremely disturbing and dangerous,” said Ketsoyan in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday. “This decision made by the Miami-Dade County Corrections Department directly violates their protocol, which mandates that transgender inmates are classified and housed based on safety needs and gender identity.”
The affidavit notes that Dragun “appears as a female but would like to be recognized as a male.”
USA TODAY has reached out to the Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for comment.
Ketsoyan said Dragun was released from police custody Wednesday morning and “is now safe.”
Alabama Councilman Caught On Video Punching Mayor Wayman Newton In The Face
Security footage captured an Alabama congressman punching Tarrant mayor Wayman Newton in the face after a meeting.
According to TMZ, Councilman Thomas Bryant was arrested on Monday after punching Newton in the face in the parking lot of City Hall. Witnesses, including Tarrant Police Department officers, stated that the incident occurred after the two allegedly engaged in a heated disagreement inside City Hall. Bryant allegedly demanded that Newton quit as mayor during the alleged argument.
In the video, when Bryant approached him again, Newton came to his car. A short while later, the councilman hit Newton in the face.
Bryant was previously accused of using racial slurs after he called another council member a “house n*****” during a town hall meeting. After learning about the incident, Twitter users expressed concern for Newton’s well-being and called Bryant’s actions unacceptable.
According to AL.com, Bryant was arrested and booked at the Jefferson County Jail. He was charged with harassment, but Newton believes he should be charged with assault. The two political members were reportedly at odds since Newton was elected as the town’s first Black mayor.
Suspended Nets guard Kyrie Irving meets with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, per reports, as Brooklyn blows out Knicks
Suspended Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving reportedly met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday, according to multiple reports, including one from the Athletic’s Shams Charania, citing unnamed sources.
According to Charania, Silver and Irving met and had “a productive and understanding visit,” as Irving and the Nets work toward his return to the court.
Irving was suspended a minimum of five games without pay by the Nets last week, after posting a Twitter link to a documentary containing antisemitic messages, and his initial refusal to issue an apology. He missed his fourth game Wednesday night – a 112-85 Nets blowout of their crosstown rivals, the New York Knicks.
The 30-year-old posted an apology on his Instagram following his suspension from the team.
“To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize,” Irving wrote. “I initially reacted out of emotion to being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were hurt from the hateful remarks made in the Documentary.
“I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate. I am learning from this unfortunate event and hope we can find understanding between us all,” Irving continued.
Last week, Silver said he was planning to meet with Irving and was “disappointed” after the guard did not offer an apology nor denounce the “harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize.”
Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks told the media last Friday that Irving would need to pass “some remedial steps and measures” for the star to rejoin the team.
Marks said in part, “(Steps) have been put in place for him to obviously seek some counseling … from dealing with some anti-hate and some Jewish leaders within our community. He’s going to have to sit down with them, he’s going to have to sit down with the organization after this, and we’ll evaluate and see if this is the right opportunity to bring him back.”
The Nets reportedly outlined “six-action items” he must complete in order to return to the team, according to the Athletic, citing unnamed league sources.
The six steps are: Irving must apologize and condemn the film he promoted, make a $500,000 donation to anti-hate causes, complete sensitivity training, as well as anti-Semitism training, meet with the ADL and Jewish leaders and meet with team owner Joe Tsai “to demonstrate an understanding of the situation.”
Kanye West Sued For Sampling Krs-One And BDP’s “South Bronx”
According to a report from TMZ, the company that owns the rights to the Hip Hop classic song “South Bronx” has filed a lawsuit against Kanye West and his business partner for sampling the Hip Hop theme song without getting proper legal clearance.
The complaint states that West uploaded a composition containing samples of “South Bronx”to Stem Player before selling 11K stem players. The company also claims that the music and fashion mogul reached out to them for clearance, but they never gave him clearance to use the sample. The suit claims Ye and his team still heavily promoted the track that used the “South Bronx” sample to promote sales of “Donda” and the Stem Player.
The company is now seeking a settlement or they will impede West’s usage of the music.
Isiah Thomas Demands a “Public Apology” From Michael Jordan For Comments in ‘The Last Dance’
Isiah Thomas says his beef with Michael Jordan will continue until he receives a public apology.
During an interview with Greek NBA rights holder Cosmote, Thomas said he demands a “public apology” from Michael following the release of Jordan’s documentary The Last Dance.
“When I was watching the Last Dance, I’m sitting there, and I’m watching it with my family, and I’m thinking everything is good,” Thomas recalled. “And then this guy comes on television, and he says that he hates me, and then he calls me an asshole. And then I proceed to watch a whole documentary about him being an asshole. I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, time out.’ Until I get a public apology, this beef is gonna go on for a long, long time ’cause I’m from the West Side of Chicago.”
Throughout the year, Isiah has commented on his ongoing dispute with Jordan.
The former Detroit Pistons point guard was thought to have allegedly frozen out Jordan at the 1985 NBA All-Star Game, which has long been cited as the source of the MJ/Thomas feud.
“Stop lying. This story is not factual or accurate; tell the truth, man,” Isiah wrote. “Dr. J, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief, and I did not freeze you out. If memory serves me correctly, I was injured most of the second half, and Bird had a broken nose. Magic and Sampson dominated the game.”
PUMA Teams Up With Pokémon in New Sneaker Collection
PUMA is bringing nostalgic feelings for Pokémon fans and launching an exclusive collection for those that feel very close to the video game series.
In a statement from PUMA, the collection “takes inspiration from fan-favorite Pokémon – including Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Gengar – for the new collection featuring iconic graphics and playful attention to detail.”
As for the sneakers, the shoes are the main character of the collection with the bright yellow, bold orange, rich green, and legendary graphics. The sneakers will be accompanied by sweatshirts, graphic tees, and beanies.
“The collection’s sneakers focus on these beloved Pokémon from the globally popular entertainment franchise, as highlighted by the PUMA Slipstream Charmander as well as PUMA’s Suede, Rider FV, and TRC Blaze Court, which are inspired by Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Gengar. Through the footwear range, Pokémon fans will find hidden details on the tongue label, insole, and heel,” PUMA’s press release says.
The collection will be available on November 12 and sold on PUMA.com, the PUMA NYC flagship store, Foot Locker, Kid’s Foot Locker, and Champs.
Prices range from $30 USD to $130USD.
An NYC Woman was Stabbed and Dismembered By an Ex Boyfriend and then Put in a Suitcase
According to authorities, 22-year-old D’Asia Johnson was fatally stabbed nine times by her ex-boyfriend, Justin Williams.
The 24-year-old is being accused of stabbing the victim, then dismembering the body and stuffing her remains in a suitcase in her Brooklyn apartment.
Johnson was allegedly stabbed in the torso five times and four times in the back.
On Monday, the district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, announced that Williams faces several charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in connection to the death of D’Asia Johnson. Johnson’s body was dismembered in two separate suitcases.
Williams allegedly used towels and cleaning products to cover the brutal scene.
“This defendant is accused of the horrific murder and dismemberment of his former girlfriend. While we can’t erase the tragic and cruel death of D’Asia Johnson, we are fully committed to bringing this defendant to justice. I hope that this prosecution brings a measure of solace to D’Asia’s family and friends,” Gonzalez said.
It is unclear if Williams will enter a plea deal as he is being held without bail. He will be due back in court on Jan. 25.
IN WTH?!? NEWS: Slavery Voted Against In Three States During Election Day 2022
Slavery was on the ballot in the 2022 election, with three states approving changes to their constitutions to outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude as forms of criminal punishment. In Alabama, Tennessee, and Vermont, slavery was outlawed. According to ABC News, Oregon is leaning yes, but the votes are too early to call.
The one state where tossing aside indentured servitude was not enacted was Louisiana, which as a whole rejected Amendment 7.
The votes won’t change circumstances for those in prison in each state immediately, but they have created challenges for those who work under sanctions or would be further punished if they refused work.
“Voters in Oregon and other states have come together across party lines to say that this stain must be removed from state constitutions,” Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, told The Associated Press. “Now, it is time for all Americans to come together and say that it must be struck from the U.S. Constitution. There should be no exceptions to a ban on slavery.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
I SOMEONE TOOK A BITE
You can do this unnoticed
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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