#FASHIONFILES: Alioune Fall in Tiffany & Co Hardwear and Eyewear Lensed by David Urbanke
Born in New York, raised in Senegal and then back to New York model Alioune Fall wears Tiffany & Co hardwear Jewelry and Eyewear, lensed by David Urbanke
HOT!
#RHOA: Kenya Moore’s Daughter, Brooklyn, Just Reached an Impressive Milestone
Kenya Moore may be The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s resident shade assassin, but she’s all sunshine when it comes to discussing her “star” of a daughter, Brooklyn Daly.
While chatting with Us Weekly’s Getting Real with the Housewives podcast on January 13, Kenya revealed that her daughter, whom she shares with her ex, Marc Daly, has hit a major milestone in school.
“She is in a[n] international school, so she is speaking almost fluent Spanish,” Kenya shared about her 4-year-old. “She has far surpassed me in speaking.”
Last year, Brooklyn demonstrated her grasp on the Spanish language when she sat down to film a confessional with her mom for RHOA Season 14. She asked a producer (in Spanish) to share his age, which he hilariously declined.
Kenya Moore may be The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s resident shade assassin, but she’s all sunshine when it comes to discussing her “star” of a daughter, Brooklyn Daly.
“I can’t put my finger on one moment,” Kenya explained. “Because every day is something new and something different and exciting and funny and weird and gross and all of that.”
While Kenya couldn’t identify one best moment with her daughter, Brooklyn did reveal a few of her “favorite thing[s]” that she does with the RHOA cast member.
#MusicNews: Avery Sunshine 'Boomerang' House-Influenced Remix
Any day that we get to hear the talented Avery*Sunshine do her thing is a good day. Today, however, is extra special because the genre-bending star is giving us something a little different. She revisits her stellar 2022 release Four Songs & A Bootleg, singling out the folksy soul of her song "Boomerang" and giving it a brand new spin with a house-inflected remix courtesy of her husband Dana "Big Dane" Johnson.
The couple has great professional chemistry in addition to their romantic vibe, with some of their best work being their collaborations. The "Boomerang (BigDane1973 Mix)" is no exception. The original was full of twangy acoustic guitar that rubbed gently against the singer's beautifully arranged keys, giving the song the feel of soft breeze. The remix throws all that out the window, replacing it with strings, a bumping four-on-the-floor beat and subtle musical flourishes that somehow keep pace with her quiet, thoughtful vocal delivery without overpowering the emotion of her touching lyrics.
Catch the groove that the songstress is throwing HERE
#HipHopNews: A$AP Rocky Pays Tribute To Hip-Hop's Fallen Stars On 'Same Problems?'
As he gears up for his long-awaited album, A$AP Rocky takes a moment to honor hip-hop’s fallen soldiers on “Same Problems?”
The song, which he debuted last month during his Amazon Music Live performance, finds Rocky asking questions while reflecting on the many artists who have tragically passed away in recent years.
“Ni**as dyin’ every other night / Ni**as cryin’, that’s a part of life / Lyin’ to my face, tryna say that it’s all good / No, I’m not alright,” he sings.
In an interview with Apple Music, he revealed that the stirring track came from a place of “remorse” and a “sense of guilt.”
“Without preaching too much, I just wanted to touch on something a bit different opposed to just being braggadocios, flamboyant and just regular rap content for me. I just kind of wanted to express myself and tell how I felt without preaching,” he said. “And I think we can all relate. We all got the same problems. The irony that my biggest hit to date was … My first hit was ‘Fu**in’ Problems.’ And now 10 years later exactly, I’m putting out a song named ‘Same Problems.'”
During his Amazon Music Live performance, he dedicated the song to those we’ve lost including Juice WRLD, King Von, PnB Rock, Takeoff, Nipsey Hussle, and A$AP Yams. He also announced the title of his next album, Don’t Be Dumb, which features appearances from Miguel, Tyler, the Creator, Lil Yachty, and Thundercat.
“It’s finished and we just putting the finishing touches on it. It’s coming for sure,” he said. “The new stuff is me being vulnerable, and it’s just no filter, and just where I’m at, at my stage. My age and how I see things, my peers, the younger kids, the older cats, it’s just my perspective.”
Earlier this week, the new dad celebrated the 10th anniversary of his debut album LONG.LIVE.A$AP by releasing a video for “Angels Pt. 2.”
Legendary Group Crosby, Stills & Nash co-founder David Crosby has died at 81
David Crosby, a prominent figure of the free-spirited 1970s Laurel Canyon scene who helped bring folk-rock mainstream with both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, has died at 81. His publicist confirmed the artist's death to NPR; no cause of death was given at the time of this report.
Crosby had long dealt with serious health problems, including multiple heart attacks, diabetes and hepatitis C, for which he had a liver transplant in 1994. In spite of those challenges, the veteran musician enjoyed a creative hot streak in recent years. He added five solo albums to his catalog between 2014 and 2021, and toured frequently with two sets of collaborators, the Lighthouse Band (which featured Snarky Puppy bandleader Michael League) and the Sky Trails Band, featuring his son, James Raymond, on keyboards.
Crosby's focus on touring stretched all the way back to his early professional days, when he was a nomadic folk musician honing his performance skills on the road. In the late 1950s, Crosby started performing at coffeehouses in Santa Barbara, Calif., but soon began traveling around the U.S., popping up in southern Florida, Chicago and Boulder, Colo. Crosby also spent a formative period in Greenwich Village, where he teamed up to play at the then-new Bitter End with Chicago musician Terry Callier.
His long and successful solo career notwithstanding, Crosby thrived on collaboration — a trait he discovered as a young child, after being mesmerized by a symphony orchestra performance. "The idea of cooperative effort to make something bigger than any one person could ever do was stuck in my head," he wrote in his 1988 autobiography, Long Time Gone. "That's why I love being a harmony singer, why I love being in a group."
Crosby's first big successes came as a founding member of expansive California country-folk troupe The Byrds. The group hit its commercial peak during his tenure, earning two No. 1 singles — covers of Pete Seeger's "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" — and reaching the Top 20 with the stormy classic "Eight Miles High." Crosby co-wrote the latter, and penned several other memorable Byrds songs, including the lilting, jangly "Lady Friend." He was instrumental in helping the group develop its harmony-rich vocal approach and kaleidoscopic sound, which incorporated psychedelic rock, jazz and twangy folk, and has taken credit for introducing bandmate Roger McGuinn to the music of John Coltrane and Ravi Shankar.
In 1967, Crosby was fired from the Byrds over growing personality and creative conflicts (although he later returned to produce and perform on 1973's Byrds). At loose ends, he immersed himself in sailing, one of his childhood passions, buying a schooner for $25,000 with money borrowed from The Monkees' Peter Tork. The boat would be a source of solace and inspiration for decades; he wrote songs including "Wooden Ships," "The Lee Shore" and "Page 43" while on board.
Crosby was born Aug. 14, 1941, and grew up in Southern California. His father was cinematographer Floyd Crosby, who won an Academy Award for his work on 1931's Tabu: A Story of the South Seas, as well as a Golden Globe for 1952's High Noon. (Crosby himself would influence another notable corner of Hollywood: He often said that Dennis Hopper took inspiration from his look and attitude for 1969's Easy Rider.)
As a kid, Crosby fell hard for The Everly Brothers, the genesis of his lifelong fascination with close harmony, further cemented by his family's regular sing-along sessions. His older brother, Ethan, introduced him to jazz, a genre he would touch on throughout his career, including with his late '90s / early '00s band CPR and on a ruminative 2017 solo album, Sky Trails.
Crosby's formative influences became more prominent in his partnership with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, with whom he explored novel ways of expressing harmony. In Long Time Gone, he deconstructs their unique vocal approach with typical concision, noting the group sang "nonparallel stuff" influenced by classical music, late '50s and early '60s jazz and the Everlys. "I did some of my very best work being subtle, moving the middle part around in internal shifts that kept it happening," he wrote. Crosby's ocean-clear tenor meshed seamlessly with the voices of Stills and Nash in hushed and haunting ways, particularly on his own "Guinnevere." His songwriting contributions also pushed the band in new directions — in particular, the rhythmic cadences of "Déjà Vu" and the loose arrangements and boho instrumental tone of "Wooden Ships."
As a trio, Crosby, Stills and Nash was both commercially and critically adored. Its self-titled 1969 debut led to an performance at Woodstock and a Grammy for best new artist, while 1970's Déjà Vu — by which point Neil Young had joined, adding another letter to the band's name — touched on both the comforts of tradition and the seismic generational shifts that were underway. Months after Déjà Vu's release, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young would become a leading voice of the nation's anti-war movement, recording the Young-penned "Ohio" in response to the May 1970 shooting of four students at Kent State University.
Over the years, Crosby — who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a member of The Byrds and of CSN — continued performing with various collaborators, with Nash serving as his steadiest foil well into the mid-2010s. Ever opinionated and brutally honest, he was an open book about his personal flaws and failings, as well as how he felt about his peers. This no-nonsense personality made him both endearing and prickly, especially as a bandmate — CSNY's internal disagreements were legendary. But in later years, it made him a natural for the concise and quippy nature of Twitter. Crosby shared wide-ranging thoughts about politics and music on the platform, and answered fan questions, both about his own career (he told one fan he "was not the right guy for the job" to when asked whether it was true that he was supposed to have worked on Leonard Cohen's second album) and about those in his orbit ("Was Jerry Garcia a tenor?" Answer: "Tenor/baritone."). Such lovable terseness even landed him an advice column in Rolling Stone.
Crosby's career was marked by countless reinventions and second chances. Years of well-documented substance abuse led to tumultuous relationships in and out of music, multiple arrests and a nine-month stint in a Texas prison in the '80s. Remarkably, his voice remained strong and unweathered, a fact Crosby himself found inexplicable, as he explained to Cameron Crowe in the 2019 documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name. Yet the film also reflected plenty of humility, portraying a musician facing his mortality by trying not to dwell on the past.
Alec Balwin to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in ‘Rust’ movie set shooting
Alec Baldwin will be criminally charged by New Mexico prosecutors for the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust,” authorities said Thursday.
Baldwin, the Emmy-winning star of “30 Rock” and dozens of films including “The Hunt for Red October,” shot the bullet that killed Hutchins. He and the movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, each will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
One of the counts is for involuntary manslaughter, in which prosecutors will have to prove there is underlying negligence, prosecutors said. The charge is a fourth-degree felony and carries a sentence of up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The second charge is involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act, which requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death, prosecutors said. This charge includes a firearm enhancement, which adds a mandatory penalty of five years in jail.
“Rust” assistant director David Halls signed a plea deal for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, resulting in a suspended sentence and six months of probation.
“If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls — had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple,” Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor on the case, said in a statement Thursday. “The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set.”
Baldwin’s attorney didn’t immediately comment.
According to documents obtained by the New York Post in September, the DA’s office had been waiting to review evidence from an FBI investigation since October 2021 after the accidental shooting took place. Once the office received the evidence, the DA announced that she intended to pursue charges and filed for $635,500 in emergency funding to hire a specialized team, including a new prosecutor, investigator, and spokesperson, to handle the case. The DA received about half of the requested funds.
Hutchins was shot and killed on Oct. 21, 2021 during a scene where Baldwin used a gun that was filled with live bullet rounds instead of dummies, which is against Hollywood film standards. Joel Souza, the movie’s director who was 48 at the time, was injured by the bullet but later recovered.
David Hall, the movie’s assistant director, admitted less than a week after the shooting that he had not properly checked the gun for safety before handing it to the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed who would pass it along to Baldwin for the scene.
Months later in Dec. 2021, Baldwin said he “didn’t pull the trigger” in an ABC interview. An FBI forensic report obtained by ABC News uncovered that despite Baldwin’s denial, the gun could not have gone off without the pull of a trigger.
Hutchins’ death amplified a wave of rallying cries for safer filming protocols on movie sets. Her family ultimately sued Baldwin and the film producers in Feb. 2022 for wrongful death. The lawsuit was settled in October and the movie resumed filming with Matt Hutchins, the widower of Halyna, serving as an executive producer.
Rihanna Gets Apology From Stephen A. Smith After Beyoncé Comment Upsets Fans
Rihanna has received an apology from Stephen A. Smith after he made headlines for downplaying the singer’s forthcoming Super Bowl halftime performance in favor of Beyoncé.
The famed sportscaster delivered his apology in an Instagram post on Wednesday (January 18), shortly after his initial comments on The Sherri Show went viral.
“I just got out of First Take and I saw some headline that’s circulating all over the place about my quote that Rihanna ain’t Beyoncé,” Smith began. “See, I’m gonna own it. I know what y’all tryna do but I’m gon’ own it because I get paid to speak for a living so I need to be more careful.
“I want Rihanna to know — you’re a superstar,” he continued. “You’re sensational. You’re spectacular. You’re no joke. And you are a worthy person to be doing the Super Bowl halftime show. Having said all of that, I was answering a question from Sherri Shepherd who took over the Wendy Williams Show and now got her own thing going and I’m very proud of her. And she asked me with a bunch of sisters in the audience what she asked me.”
“Now I’m a Beyoncé fan. I think that Beyoncé is not only a phenomenal performer, THE phenomenal performer. And the only reason any kind of comparison came into play is because Beyoncé performed at halftime at the Super Bowl not just by herself but one separate Super Bowl performance with Bruno Mars and Coldplay. And I thought those were two of the greatest shows that I’ve ever seen.”
“So what I’m saying is anybody has to measure up to that. Last year with Snoop and Dre and Mary J. and Eminem, I was like, ‘Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Coldplay. Big time! They got to measure up to that.’ Anybody who does a Super Bowl halftime show, forever I’m gonna say, ‘Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Coldplay. And then Beyoncé by themselves.’ Michael Jackson could still be alive and I would say it’s gotta measure up to that.”
“Eminem, who’s one of my favorites, I would say that about him! Coldplay, when they talked about Coldplay initially for the Super Bowl, I was like, ‘Not enough! That can’t measure up to Beyoncé and Bruno Mars!’ Or Bruno Mars by himself. Or Beyoncé by herself. I’ve always said that. I meant it as no disrespect to Rihanna. I know she’s phenomenal. And she’s my sister. Nothing but love for her. But Beyoncé is my sister too! I got love for both of them.”
“I just think that Beyoncé is the greatest performer out there today. That’s me! That doesn’t mean I’m hating on anybody else. That doesn’t mean I’m damn sure wishing for Rihanna to fail. I don’t believe she’s gonna fail. She’s gonna be great! I’m just saying that I’m a Beyoncé fan. That’s all. That’s it.”
He ended his video by wishing Rihanna well and apologizing once again.
“Rihanna, go do your thing. I apologize for creating whatever brouhaha comes of this. I gotta be more careful where people twist it and turn it into something it ain’t. My bad on that. Now I gotta go. Good luck sweetie. Looking forward to seeing you perform at halftime during the Super Bowl. You know you gotta turn it out. And I believe you will! All the best to you.”
On his Wednesday morning appearance on The Sherri Show, Smith had said Rih Rih is “not Beyoncé” – which sparked the controversy.
“There’s one thing she’s not, she ain’t Beyoncé,” he said – to which he was met with boos from the crowd. “The only reason I brought up Beyoncé is because Beyoncé recently performed at the Super Bowl.”
Rihanna will take the stage at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in Glendale, Arizona on February 12. Rih has remained tight-lipped about performance details, but many fans hope to see some of her superstar collaborators hit the stage as special guests throughout the 12-minute set.
Flo Rida Awarded $82M As He Wins Breach Of Contract Lawsuit Against Celsius
AceShowbiz - hitmaker, who filed a lawsuit against the energy drink giant in 2021, has been awarded $82,640,450 million in damages following his win.
A jury handed down the judgment in a Florida courtroom on Wednesday, January 18. Forbes reported that $27 million of the amount represents 250,000 Celsius shares the emcee said he was owed by the company.
Flo Rida, born Tramar Lacel Dillard, signed the endorsement deal with Celcius in 2014 before renewing it in 2016. The partnership ended in 2018, but it was not until around three years later that the rapper decided to drag the company to the court.
In his filing, the "GDFR" rhymer claimed he wasn't aware that Celcius was withholding stock and royalties from him because the company was successfully concealing this information from him.
"Flo Rida maintained a successful endorsement partnership with Celsius which was highly effective in opening new doors for Celsius and its products," so read the docs. "As a music industry superstar and international icon with millions of digital followers, Flo Rida played an instrumental role as the worldwide brand ambassador and launched a new era for Celsius brand development, growth, and expansion."
Flo Rida believed that from "a financial perspective," Celsius "exponentially increased product revenues and sales, attracted key investors, and upgraded its financial status - all of which ultimately led to the important transition into the Nasdaq market in mid-2017." However, it "failed to notify [him] or issue the additional shares of company stock in breach of the 2014 Agreement."
Now that he won the case, Flo Rida said in a statement, "From the start, I only wanted what I worked for, nothing more, nothing less. I was instrumental in the Celsius that you know and love today. When this journey began no one knew Celsius. I took Celsius all over the world through my videos, concerts, appearances, and social media." He added, "I have gained a new respect for the judicial system. God bless America."
His lawyer, John Uustal, stated, "There were complicated legal issues in this case. We said we'd trust the jury to do the right thing, we'd trust the verdict, accept the decision of the jury." The attorney continued, "And it's amazing how detailed the jury verdict was, how they filled out a complicated and extensive jury verdict in such a way that made it clear beyond any doubt that they understood all the most difficult issues in the case, and resolved them."
Serena Williams' Father Richard Insists Will Smith's Oscars Ban Over Chris Rock Slap Is Too Harsh
Richard Williams insists Will Smith's Oscars ban was too harsh. 54-year-old Will grabbed the Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the tennis coach - who is the father of Serena and Venus Williams - in "King Richard" but the evening was overshadowed after he slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Weighing on the scandal for the first time, Richard thinks the Academy's subsequent decision to ban the 57-year-old actor - who resigned as a member of the organisation - from the Oscars and other gala events for 10 years was too long.
Richard - who has some communication problems after suffering multiple strokes - said, "I think that whatever he [Will] wants to do, that's what he should do. People are going to think what they want to think."
"If he apologised [that's good], however he wants to deal with the situation. I wouldn't judge anyone. They should let him keep his Oscar, too. When a person [has] worked for [it] so much, then leave it alone. I really appreciate him doing so very much so I could never criticise him."
Saying the ban was too harsh, he added, "Just two days, that's enough, that's very much."
And Richard, who only saw the clip the next day after being shown it on YouTube by his son Chavoita LeSane, doesn't think the controversy has overshadowed the success of the movie or his family's story. He said, "He's done a great deal for myself and my family. I think he did extremely well, it was very wonderful."
Richard hopes to meet Will one day and joked he'd ask the "Men in Black" star to "slap [his] face." Asked if he wants to meet him one day, he replied, "I definitely hope so, yes. I would say just, hello. And maybe, what I should do ... just slap my face. He's busy and I guess I'm busy also, different locations, so I hope we're going to meet at some point."
Microsoft is laying off 10,000 employees
The tech giant plans to cut 10,000 workers or about 5 percent of its workforce by the end of Q3 this year.
Unfortunately, Microsoft is the latest tech company to announce an abundance of layoffs over the last year. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, stated in a regulatory online filing that the company is “seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.” The cuts represent a little less than 5 percent of Microsoft’s global workforce of 221,000 employees. The company began notifying affected workers today (Jan. 18) and plans to complete the layoffs by Q3, according to the note. It was not clear which divisions would see cuts.
“It’s important to note that while we are eliminating roles in some areas, we will continue to hire in key strategic areas. We know this is a challenging time for each person impacted,” Nadella stated. “The senior leadership team and I are committed that as we go through this process, we will do so in the most thoughtful and transparent way possible.”
Like other major tech companies, Microsoft embarked on ultra-rapid hiring during the global pandemic. Since 2019, Microsoft has hired about 75,000 workers. But now, as Nadella noted in his message to employees, customers are doing more with less, just as many experts predict a broader economic slowdown in 2023. “These are the kinds of hard choices we have made throughout our 47-year history to remain a consequential company in this industry that is unforgiving to anyone who doesn’t adapt to platform shifts,” Nadella said, adding that the company will continue to hire in “strategic areas.”
You can read Satya Nadella’s memo to the Microsoft staff here.
Songwriters Hall of Fame Unveils 2023 Class: Sade, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, More
Sade Adu, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Electric Light Orchestra mastermind Jeff Lynne, Alanis Morrisette collaborator Glen Ballard, New Jack Swing icon Teddy Riley and Taylor Swift collaborator Liz Rose will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization’s 52nd annual Induction and Awards Gala. The event is scheduled for Thursday, June 15, at its longtime home, the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.
Between them, the songwriters are credited with hits such as “Smooth Operator,” “Man In the Mirror,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” “My Prerogative,” and “You Belong With Me” — a partial list of their hits appears below. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.
Snoop Dogg, Sade, Blondie, Gloria Estefan, R.E.M. Among 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees
SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers said, “The music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first. Without them there is no recorded music, no concert business, no merch . . . nothing, it all starts with the song and the songwriter. We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2023 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and, in their time, literally transformed music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world.”
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create music around the world. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song.
Last year, the ceremony — which is one of the most unique and star-studded in the music industry — returned after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), the Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (the Neptunes), Rick Nowels, and William “Mickey” Stevenson were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Songwriter Paul Williams received the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, Universal Music Publishing Chairman-CEO Jody Gerson received the Abe Olman Publisher Award, and rapper Lil Nas X received the Hal David Starlight Award — the first rapper to receive that honor since Drake.
Sade Adu p/k/a Sade:
* Smooth Operator * No Ordinary Love * The Sweetest Taboo * By Your Side * Is It A Crime
Glen Ballard:
* Man In The Mirror * You Oughta Know * Hold On * The Voice Within * The Space Between
Calvin Broadus Jr. p/k/a Snoop Dogg:
* Drop It Like It’s Hot * Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang * Young, Wild & Free * Gin & Juice * Next Episode
Gloria Estefan:
* Anything For You * Don’t Wanna Lose You * Words Get In The Way * Rhythm Is Gonna Get You * Let’s Get Loud
Jeff Lynne:
* Mr. Blue Sky * Don’t Bring Me Down * Evil Woman * Livin’ Thing * Telephone Line
Teddy Riley:
* Make It Last Forever * I Want Her * Just Got Paid * I Like * My Prerogative
Liz Rose:
* You Belong With Me * Crazy Girl * Girl Crush * All Too Well * White Horse
Marvin Gaye III’s Wife Files Restraining Order Against Him After Domestic Violence Bust
More marital issues for Marvin Gaye III, son of Motown icon Marvin Gaye … his wife is seeking court-ordered protection after he got arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at her.
Marvin’s wife, Wendy Gaye, beelined it to court Tuesday and filed for a domestic violence restraining order against her husband … according to online records.
Wendy’s filing comes on the heels of her husband’s arrest. TMZ broke the story … Marvin III allegedly physically assaulted his wife and cousin during an argument inside his Calabasas home Thursday, and allegedly pointed a gun at both women.
Police surrounded Gaye’s home and called for him to come out, but he had already left in his Corvette.
The next day, MG3 turned himself in to sheriffs and was booked on two charges … misdemeanor domestic violence and felony assault with a deadly weapon. Gaye posted $50,000 bond and was released.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt missing $12.7M from account
Lawyers for Usain Bolt, one of the world’s greatest sprinters, said Wednesday that more than $12.7 million is missing from his account with a private investment firm in Jamaica that authorities are investigating.
Attorney Linton P. Gordon provided The Associated Press with a copy of a letter sent to Stocks & Securities Limited demanding that the money be returned.
Gordon said Bolt’s account once had $12.8 million but now reflects a balance of only $12,000.
“If this is correct, and we are hoping it is not, then a serious act of fraud larceny or a combination of both have been committed against our client,” Bolt’s attorneys say in the letter.
They threaten civil and criminal action if the money is not returned within 10 days.
Stocks & Securities Limited did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On its website, the company asked that clients direct all urgent queries to Jamaica’s Financial Services Commission, which is investigating the firm.
“We understand that clients are anxious to receive more information and assure you that we are closely monitoring the matter throughout all the required steps and will alert our clients of the resolution as soon as that information is available,” the company said.
The company has said that it discovered the fraud earlier this month and that several of its clients may be missing millions of dollars.
Jamaica’s finance minister, Nigel Clarke, called the situation alarming but noted it was unusual.
“It is tempting to doubt our financial institutions, but I would ask that we don’t paint an entire hard working industry with the brush of a few very dishonest individuals,” he said.
Bolt’s lawyers sent the letter Monday, the same day that Jamaica’s Financial Services Commission announced it was appointing a special auditor to look into fraud allegations at Stocks & Securities Limited, which is based in the capital of Kingston.
On Tuesday, financial authorities said they were assuming temporary management of the private investment firm. It is allowed to keep operating but needs approval from the government for any transactions.
Bolt, who retired in 2017, holds the world records for the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meters.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London & 'You People' Cast Weigh In On Jonah Hill's Choice To Skip Press For Movie Due To Mental Health
The cast of You People walk the black carpet together for official premiere, held at Regency Village Theatre on Tuesday night (January 17) in Los Angeles.
Lauren London met up with Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Andrea Savage, Elliott Gould, Sam Jay, Molly Gordon, Nia Long, Travis Bennett, and director Kenya Barris all gathered up for group photos in support of the premiere.
Noticeably missing was star Jonah Hill, who made the announcement that he wouldn’t be doing any press or walking any red carpets for his movies last year.
“You won’t see me out there promoting this film, or any of my upcoming films, while I take this important step to protect myself,” he shared at the time when Stutz came out. “If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.”
Lauren, David and Julia were very much in support of Jonah‘s decision.
“For us to pretend that we’re stronger than others and we can handle more, that’s unfair. I hold space for Jonah Hill. That’s my homeboy,” Lauren told Variety. “I love him and whatever he needs to do for his soul, I am there for it.”
Julia added, “You have to protect yourself and do what feels right to you…I want to get out there and support the project because we worked really hard on this, but at the end of the day I’m going to go home and be with my family.”
“It’s [his] prerogative. I’d love not to do press, too. It’s very exteriorizing,” David chimed in. “You come out of yourself. It’s very un-real, but it’s just part of the game.”
You People will be out in theaters on Friday, January 20, before its’ Netflix debut on January 27.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell Accused Of Having An Extra Marital Affair With NOPD Officer Jeffrey Vappie
The wife of a New Orleans police officer has accused Mayor LaToya Cantrell of having an extra-marital affair with her husband. Vappie was the former member of Cantrell’s security detail.
In an exclusive by WDSU, the documents state Danielle Watkins Vappie and Jeffrey Vappie had been married since 2002 and said Jeffrey allegedly committed “continuous acts of adultery” throughout their marriage. Jeffrey and Mayor Cantrell were listed in the woman’s divorce papers, citing their affair as the reason for her filing for divorce.
“Particularly, petitioner avers that the defendant has been in an ongoing affair with a person identified as Mrs. L.C. Upon information and belief, Mr. Jeffrey Vappie is in an ongoing sexual relationship with L.C. since approximately May 2021. On approximately November 2022, your petitioner became aware of the relationship between Mr. Jeffrey and Mrs. L.C.”
Mayor Cantrell is married to lawyer Jason Cantrell and has a daughter. However, she has yet to release a statement regarding the affair.
Months before the divorce filing, Vappie was removed from Cantrell’s security team after he was under investigation over payroll irregularities. He was also accused of spending $916 for a night at a Washington, D.C., hotel room. According to the Daily Mail, Vappie accompanied the mayor to a party in Los Angeles for dinner and another trip to Scotland. The overall cost of her security detail was over $50,000, which affected taxpayers.
Vappie did confess the affair to his wife, and the couple has been living apart since November 2022. He has worked for the New Orleans Police Department since 1997, and his wife, Danielle, is the Chief Academic Officer at Einstein Charter Schools. The police officer could also face criminal and ethical consequences for the affair if it is discovered he didn’t perform police duties while on the clock.
New Orleans citizens react to the alleged affair and say the city has a lot of issues that need to be addressed.
After news of the scandal broke out, many residents expressed their feelings regarding the city’s high crime rate and lack of focus on improving the quality of life in New Orleans.
Another North Carolina Power Station Hit With Gunfire
Another power substation in North Carolina has been damaged because of apparent gunfire, energy officials said Tuesday. The damage occurred at a power substation in Thomasville, about an hour away from Moore County, where just weeks ago two other substations were attacked by gunfire.
Energy United said that company officials learned of an “equipment issue” at the Pleasant Hill Substation on Tuesday morning, at which time crews were sent to assess the situation. There, they found that a transformer had been damaged “from an apparent gunshot” and law enforcement was notified.
No outage this time.
Michael Jackson Biopic in the Works from Training Day Director Antoine Fuqua
Director Antoine Fuqua is taking on the life of Michael Jackson in his next movie project.
On Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Fuqua, 56 and Lionsgate are teaming up to produce a biopic titled Michael, as the Training Day director said in a statement that "combining film and music are a deep part of who I am" as he embarks on directing the movie.
"The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am," Fuqua said in a statement obtained by THR on Wednesday. "For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson."
"I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work – the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV," the director continued in the statement.
"His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible," he added.
Lionsgate has said the upcoming biopic will "address all aspects of Jackson's life," according to THR, though the outlet noted it is unclear how Fuqua's film will address allegations of child sex abuse levied against Jackson that were most recently publicly detailed in the 2019 documentary film Finding Neverland.
The movie will be produced in coordination with Jackson's estate — co-executers John Branca and John McClain are listed as producers — which has repeatedly defended the late singer and songwriter against allegations, the outlet also reported.
Jackson, known as the "King of Pop" in the music industry, died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50 after he suffered cardiac arrest at his home. In 2011, his doctor Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
Fuqua most recently directed Will Smith in Emancipation, which served as 54-year-old Smith's first movie release since the controversial moment when the actor struck Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars in March 2022. The film is available to stream on Apple TV+.
Screenwriter John Logan, who previously wrote Gladiator (2000), The Aviator (2004) and the James Bond installments Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), wrote the screenplay for Michael, according to THR.
No casting decisions regarding who will portray Jackson or other major figures in the singer's life have been announced as of this time.
Anne Heche said Ellen DeGeneres was the 'first and only woman that I ever fell in love with': memoir
Anne Heche's upcoming memoir shares new insight into her headline-making '90s romance with Ellen DeGeneres.
In an excerpt of Call Me Anne, obtained by People, the late actress wrote that the former Ellen DeGeneres Show host, with whom she was in a relationship from 1997 to 2000, was the only woman she ever fell in love with. She also detailed the chaos behind-the-scenes when they first got together in 1997 — and how the world, and Hollywood, just wasn't ready.
A lot happened in a little amount of time. As DeGeneres was coming out on her eponymous show and in real life in 1997, she met the Volcano actress and they fell head over heels. Both were warned of the impact it could have on their careers, with Heche being dissuaded from bringing DeGeneres to the premiere of Volcano for fear the relationship would impact the film's success. They attended together anyway, resulting in Heche losing a "multimillion dollar picture deal." Heche had also just signed a big film deal to play Harrison Ford's love interest in Six Days, Seven Nights — and her new romance apparently had director Ivan Reitman concerned.
"I was called into my costar Harrison Ford's trailer one lunch break within the first week of shooting," Heche wrote in the book. "I was met with the sight of director Ivan Reitman and Harrison sitting on one of two white pleather sofas. I hesitantly sat on the opposite white pleather sofa."
2/21/98. Harrison Ford And Anne Heche In A Scene From The New Buena Vista Movie
Harrison Ford and Anne Heche making Six Days, Seven Nights. (Photo: Getty Images)
Heche said the men had "seen the evening news," including an erroneous report that she and DeGeneres, who had just met, were pregnant with their first child together.
"Rumors were reported that Ellen and I were pregnant," she wrote. "Our 'pregnancy' was everywhere. They showed me this as proof of why this openness about my relationship was becoming a pain in the ass for them. Why, Ivan asked me, can't I just be like Jodie Foster? (I didn't know what that meant. 'Everybody knows it,' he explained, 'it' being her sexuality. 'She just doesn't talk about it.')" (Foster came out in 2013.)
Heche recalled feeling it was "odd" that anyone would think two women "could get pregnant so quickly," but she felt it was even more strange that "they cared so much about the perception that I was going to ruin a movie that hadn't even been shot?"
For what it's worth, Ford became Heche's on-set mentor, according to the publisher's summary of the book. Reitman died in 2022.
Actor Harrison Ford and actress Anne Heche, stars of the new romantic adventure film
Anne Heche and Harrison Ford at the premiere of Six Days, Seven Nights in 1998. The action-adventure film was a moderate box-office success. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Men in Trees actress wrote that, upon refection, the "most devastating thing of all" — from when she started dating DeGeneres until when she released her first book, Call Me Crazy, in 2001 after they split — "was that no one bothered to ask me about any of it. No matter how many articles were written about me, no one asked me why I had done what I did. What was the force that would have made a human being risk everything they'd been promised, their entire career? Why? Why would I have done that?"
She wrote that since nobody asked, she would explain why. "Because I had lived in a family that was built upon lies," Heche wrote. "My father hid his sexuality his entire life. When I met Ellen and she was open and honest about her sexuality, it was the most attractive and alluring quality in a person that I had ever seen."
Heche said she was "mesmerized" by DeGeneres's "honesty, and that is why she was the first and only woman that I ever fell in love with. I was in love with a person who had chosen to leverage her very public persona in support of the cause she was standing up for, which was LGBTQ+ rights for everybody on the planet who wanted them."
The late star added, "Love became my destiny."
With the blinding spotlight on them, Heche split from DeGeneres in 2000. She went on to marry Coley Laffoon, and Heche had her first son, Homer, now 20. After her divorce, she and her Men in Trees co-star James Tupper had a relationship, which produced son Atlas, now 13. Heche and Tupper split in 2018.
Heche died after being involved in a car crash on Aug. 5, when her Mini Cooper slammed into a house and caught on fire, leaving her trapped in the vehicle for 30 minutes. She was comatose for days before the state of California declared that she was legally dead on Aug. 12. On Aug. 14, she was taken off life support. She died primarily from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, according to the medical examiner. Despite initial reports, Heche wasn't drunk or high when she crashed her car.
DeGeneres, who has been married to Portia de Rossi since 2008, made a rare comment about her ex after her death. "This is a sad day. I’m sending Anne’s children, family, and friends all of my love," DeGeneres wrote on Twitter.
Homer was named the general administrator of Heche's estate, after a court battle with Tupper. Homer recently used Heche's Instagram to promote her new memoir, calling it "the product of mom's further efforts to share her story and to help others where she could. Call Me Anne is the result and I know she was excited to share with the world. So, mom, here I am sharing it with the community you created, may it flourish and take on a life of its own, as you would have wanted."
Call Me Anne goes on sale Jan. 24.
Kim Kardashian Buys Famous Princess Diana Amethyst Cross Pendant for $197,453 at Auction
Kim Kardashian's jewelry collection just got a lot more regal. On Wednesday the SKIMS mogul, 42, purchased the diamond-encrusted amethyst Attallah cross pendant, famously worn by Princess Diana, at Sotheby's annual Royal & Noble auction.
The Kardashians star bid for the piece — which features square-cut amethysts accented by circular-cut diamonds weighing in at 5.25 carats — and eventually snagged it for $197,453 within the last five minutes. Sotheby's notes this was "double its pre-auction estimate."
"This is a bold piece of jewelry by its size, color and style which cannot fail to make a vibrant statement, whether it be of faith or fashion — or indeed both," Sotheby London's Head of Jewelry, Kristian Spofforth, shared in a statement. "We are delighted that this piece has found a new lease of life within the hands of another globally famous name."
Sources confirm to PEOPLE that Kim is honored to own a fine piece of jewelry once worn by the late princess. The beautiful cross pendant will be added to her growing collection of jewelry, pieces that were once worn or owned by strong, iconic women who have inspired Kim.
The late Princess of Wales donned the pendant on multiple occasions, the most notable being Birthright's 1987 London charity gala supporting the organization's humanitarian work for those in pregnancy and childbirth.
She wore the bejeweled, floral-detailed pendant on a long pearl chain and with a royal purple Victorian velvet gown by Catherine Walker.
According to a press release issued by Sotheby's, the ornament has a decades-long history starting with court jewelers Garrard, which designed the one-off pendant in the 1920s. It was later bought by the late Naim Attallah CBE, the former group chief executive of Asprey & Garrard who often loaned the one-of-a-kind gem to Princess Diana, in the 1980s. According to the Sotheby's release, the cross was only ever worn by the Princess, and following her death, it hasn't been seen in public, until now.
The organization also notes that Princess Diana had a close relationship with the jeweler, a bond so connected that she selected her engagement ring from the house in 1981.
Kardashian has previously made headlines for rewearing pop culture artifacts.
Last May, she broke the internet — and sparked backlash — after stepping out at the 2022 Met Gala in the same crystal-embellished Jean Louis gown worn by Marilyn Monroe when serenading then-president John F. Kennedy on his birthday in 1962.
Borrowed from the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Orlando, Florida, the iconic champagne-colored silk soufflé dress featured a curve-hugging silhouette and a scoop neckline.
Kardashian went to great lengths to embody the Hollywood icon, bleaching her hair platinum blonde for "14 hours straight" and partaking in a no-carb, no-sugar diet.
Although she received backlash for her weight loss and for wearing the iconic, delicate garment in the first place, Kardashian compared the transformation to an actor preparing for an on-screen role, telling the New York Times: "To me it was like, 'OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role and that is acceptable,'" adding, "Even Renée Zellweger gained weight for a role. It's all the same to me."
Apple Releases New Watch in Celebration of Black History Month!
*Ahead of Black History Month this year, Apple is celebrating throughout its company.
Today, customers can show their support with a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, as part of the Black Unity Collection. This collection, available starting next week, is inspired by the creative process of mosaic — celebrating the vibrancy of the Black community — and includes a matching Unity Mosaic watch face and iPhone wallpaper. For more details check out Apple’s Newsroom.
Apple users can explore activations across their platform including:
— Curated collections on Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, Apple News and the Apple TV app that surface inspiring and powerful stories on Black history, unity, and culture
— Key civil rights landmarks through Guides in Apple Maps
— Apps and games forging creative solutions for Black communities in areas such as music, banking, and gaming spotlighted on App Store
— The For Us By Us playlist on Apple Music, new episodes of The Message, and additional radio programming on Apple Music 1, Country, and HITS
— An episode of Time to Walk featuring Patti LaBelle, a meditation dedicated to honoring the month, and a Time to Run episode with Apple Fitness+ trainer Cory Wharton-Malcolm
The Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, watch face, and iPhone wallpaper are inspired by the creative process of mosaic, the vibrancy of Black communities, and the power of unity.
The Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, watch face, and iPhone wallpaper are inspired by the creative process of mosaic, the vibrancy of Black communities, and the power of unity.
Apple’s Black History Month activities complement the company’s ongoing commitment to addressing systemic racism and expanding opportunities for Black and Brown communities through its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI). This year, through REJI, Apple is expanding its support of the following organizations: Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney), Ghetto Film School (NY, Los Angeles, London), Music Forward (Los Angeles), Shout Mouse Press (Washington, D.C.), and The National Museum of African American Music (Nashville, Tennessee).
Apple Watch and iPhone
Members of Apple’s Black creative community and allies came together to develop this year’s Black Unity Collection and designed the new expressions inspired by the creative process of mosaic, celebrating the vibrancy of Black communities and the power of unity.
The Black Unity Sport Loop features the word “Unity” woven abstractly into the band using red, green, and black yarns that pay homage to the Pan-African flag, while a unique layering of yarns lends a sense of three-dimensionality to the letters. Additionally, the Unity Mosaic watch face incorporates geometric shapes in green, black, red, and yellow, and as the minutes change, each number uses pieces of other numbers to morph into new forms. iPhone users can also show their support with the new Unity wallpaper for their Lock Screen.
Rapper MC Lyte Kicks off New Year with New Beau Following Divorce
It looks like rapper MC Lyte is back in the dating game after reportedly finalizing her divorce from her now-ex-husband John Wyche. The former couple wed in Jamaica in 2017, and just three years later, the emcee called it quits and filed for divorce in August 2020.
The 52-year-old, whose legal name is Lana Michele Moorer, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. According to documents obtained by The Blast, Moorer will keep her music catalog and other items in the settlement.
The court documents also reportedly note that Moorer will keep all personal effects in her possession, including her jewelry and clothing. The “Cha Cha Cha” rapper will also keep all earnings before, during, and after her nuptials with Wyche. This includes her vehicle, financial accounts, furniture, and a life insurance policy.
She will also retain her music catalogs and other creative property in the divorce settlement, including royalties. The couple’s prenuptial agreement is currently being upheld, and each party has also reportedly waived their rights for spousal support.
But all’s well that ends well, as the rap vet recently confirmed that she’s officially moved on and dating someone new. Last week, the “Ruff Neck” artist shared a cozy photo of herself next to a man with a salt-and-pepper beard. He wore glasses on his face, while Moorer pulled hers up just above her eyes. She wrote in the caption, “This is Winning. 2023 … I’m ready.”
Fans in the comments shared their excitement over her blossoming love life, noting how happy she looks. But there weren’t many details on exactly who the mystery man is.
“But is he a ruff neck? lol jk.”
“That’s right Sis never give up on Love.”
“So deserving! You look so happy!”
“Love is in the air!”
“Congratulations and salute to the both of you.”
Fans were excited about Moorer dating happily, and if things go well, he could potentially be her next suitor. Last February the “Keep On, Keepin On” artist told the ladies of “The Real” that her divorce from Wyche was prolonged because he refused to sign on the dotted line.
“It’s hard in the beginning, but when you realize to have happiness doesn’t mean that you have to remain together, and it doesn’t mean that you are a failure because the marriage failed,” she said. “It’s all ego, so you just have to be able to let go.”
When asked if she would get married again, Moorer said yes but only “if it feels right in my soul.” She said, “I don’t want to date until my marriage is completely over because I don’t want to bring any baggage in. I want it to be so clean and clear.”
The World’s Oldest Person, French Nun Sister André, Dies At 118 Years Old
The world’s oldest person, French nun Sister André, has died.
French nun Sister André died at 118 on Tuesday in southern Toulon. The city’s mayor, Hubert Falco, took to Twitter to announce the devastating news.
The tweet translates, “It is with immense sadness and emotion that I learnt tonight of the passing of the world’s oldest person #SisterAndré..”
Sister André dedicated most of her life to religious services. The nun’s spokesperson, David Tavella, said, “There is great sadness, but she wanted it to happen; it was her desire to join her beloved brother. For her, it is freedom.” She died on Tuesday at 2 a.m.
Born Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, in Ales, Southern France, Sister André has seen two world wars and survived COVID-19 in January 2021.
The Gerontology Research Group validates details of people 110 or older, and Sister André was listed as the oldest. Now Maria Branyas Morera is the oldest person, 115.
Police Report Reveals Driver Was Speeding in SUV Crash That Killed University of Georgia Football Player And Staffer
A police report details a fatal SUV crash carrying four members of the University of Georgia football team, two of whom were killed in the accident.
The report says the driver was exceeding the limit of 40 mph when the SUV hit the curb and then went off the roadway. The crash report was released on Tuesday from the Athens-Clarke Police Department.
University of Georgia football player Devin Willock and football recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy both died in the car crash.
The police report revealed that Ford Expedition was driven by LeCroy, who was speeding and “failed to negotiate a left curve, resulting in the vehicle striking a curb with its front passenger tire and leaving the roadway,” then striking “(Georgia) Power Pole and another utility pole cutting them in half.”
After hitting two poles, the SUV “struck a tree with its rear passenger quarter panel and caused it to begin rotating clockwise where it struck another tree with its driver’s side.” Willock, 20, was seated behind Chandler LeCroy, 24, on the driver’s side and ejected from the vehicle when it landed against the corner of an apartment building, according to the crash report.
However, the front seat passenger, Warren McClendon, sustained a laceration to his head. The 21-year-old’s father says he needs stitches but is “doing well.”
Victoria Bowles, 26, was sitting in the back seat on the passenger side and sustained multiple injuries during the collision. She was transported to the hospital.
CNN reports that crash reports list the “First Harmful Event” as hitting the curb, then the “Most Harmful Event” as hitting the tree.
It is unknown if alcohol and drugs were not administered, but CNN did reach out to the Athens-Clarke coroner for toxicology results from LeCroy.
The crash happened hours after the team celebrated its second national championship victory early Sunday.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘THE DEDICATION TO FASHION’
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
No comments:
Post a Comment