#MAGFAB: Actress Taylor Russell Covers HARPER’S BAZAAR’s Dreamers Issue
BONES AND ALL star Taylor Russell covers Harper’s Bazaar’s Dreamers Issue photographed by Amy Troost and styled by Alexandra Carl.
On learning to play the harp during the pandemic lockdown by signing up for virtual lessons:
“I wanted to play it for a very long time,” she explains. “I was like, ‘What’s the one instrument that none of my neighbors are going to hate hearing?’ “Russell was living in New York at the time, and everyone was stuck indoors. “It’s the harp. It could never be annoying. It’s such a beautiful, calming thing,” she says. (The first song she learned to play was “Creep” by Radiohead.)
On her leeriness with being labeled an “It girl”;
She tells me that she recently turned off her phone for a week and “didn’t turn it back on and just read for the week because my brain was so overwhelmed.”
On her belief that one’s willingness to change is what makes a good artist:
“The good ones, you can tell that their life is evolving throughout the decades because they’re interested in different things. I mean, all the good ones have their specific eras,” she says.
On her approach to fashion:
“I feel like a little kid being able to do all this stuff that I’m doing right now,” Russell says of her approach to fashion. “ ‘Why not just run around that playground?’ is how I feel. Let’s see how it shifts and evolves.”
On her approach to acting which includes cliff-diving into roles and tapping into memories to connect with a character: “Acting is the opposite of running away,” Russell says. “It illuminates something.”
On being drawn to the genuineness of the film, Bones and All:
“It felt so sincere,” Russell says of the Bones script. “That’s something I look for because I think it’s vulnerable to be sincere. That’s something that a lot of people want, but it’s hard to grasp.”
On being handpicked by director Luca Guadagnino for the role of Maren in Bones and All, and how that process wasn’t at all typical for her: “Guadagnino just offered me the role after seeing Waves,” she says. She couldn’t believe her luck: “I just felt like, ‘Oh wow, life can be easy like that? That’s weird.’ ”
#RHOP: Season 7 Seating Chart Has Been Revealed
Break out your champagne flutes, because it’s time for The Real Housewives of Potomac reunion. And given how dramatic things have been for the ladies this season (proof above!), we’re sure the cast had a lot to say about it all at the recent taping.
But if you can’t wait for the reunion to air, no problem. We’ve got your back. The Season 7 reunion was recently filmed and BravoTV.com has a first look at the seating chart… you know, if that’s of interest to you.
Reunion host Andy Cohen is right in the middle of the action. On his right sits Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, and Dr. Wendy Osefo. On Andy’s left sits Karen Huger, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Robyn Dixon, and Mia Thornton.
Andy also posted several Instagram Stories from the set, teasing “a lot happening here.” Consider our interest piqued.
Fans will recall that RHOP reunions have brought many unexpected moments over the years, including epic receipts
We can’t wait to find out what the Season 7 reunion has in store for us.
Relive some of those RHOP Season 6 reunion moments (above), and at the top of the post, get a sneak peek at the upcoming January 22 episode of RHOP.
Watch The Real Housewives of Potomac on Bravo Sundays at 8/7c and the next day on Peacock. Catch up on the Bravo app.
#NewMusic from Gene Moore and India.Arie ‘Beautiful’
Gospel singer Gene Moore reunites with India.Arie for his new heartfelt single, “Beautiful.” It was written by Jayshawn Champion and produced by Ohio band Red Hands.
You can almost hear the clink of champagne flutes from a couple in love during this earnest single that seeps true romantic happiness.
Moore and Arie sound wonderfully soulful, giving us all the examples of why their partner is one of a kind. Moore opens, singing, “Every day I wake up with you on my mind / When it comes to love you gettin’ all of mine / Imma never tell you no, it’s yes all the time / Every single thing I need, you multiply.”
Arie responds, “Yes I was made for you / Can’t get away from you / Walking and talking with you be so good / Everywhere claiming you / It’s not a game with you / Nothing and no one can tell me about you.”
“Beautiful” is Moore’s first taste of new music as a lead act since 2019’s Tunnel Vision. The album was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
Moore, who last worked with Arie in 2014 on seasonal music, picked up his second Grammy nomination for “The Better Benediction.”
The song, lifted from PJ Morton’s lauded album Watch The Sun, also features Zacardi Cortez, Samoht, Tim Rogers and Darrell “MusiqCity” Walls. It is nominated for Best Gospel Performance at the 2023 Grammys.
LISTEN HERE
As for Arie, she last headlined the third annual Black Girls Rock! Fest in Washington, D.C. She had the support of the National Symphony Orchestra to perform her award-winning hits.
In the music world, Arie, alongside Morton, assisted on “Forever” from Robert Glasper’s Grammy-nominated album Black Radio III. She also appeared on “Hi,” a song from Glasper’s Black Radio III (Supreme Edition).
Arie hasn’t released a proper album since 2019’s Worthy, which was among Rated R&B’s 30 Best R&B Albums of 2019 list.
On Feb. 10, Arie will be hosting India.Arie’s Soul Bird Experience at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Support will come from Kevin Ross. Tickets are available now on ticketmaster.com.
#HipHopNews: Drake Brings Out Dipset & 21 Savage At Harlem Apollo Show
Drake enlisted help from Dipset and 21 Savage as he took fans on a “journey” through his career at the first of two shows at Harlem’s Apollo Theater.
During his intimate set at the iconic venue on Saturday night (January 21), which had been pushed back numerous times due to TakeOff’s death and “production delays,” the 6 God ran through hit singles and deep cuts alike as the stage transformed from his childhood bedroom to a record label boardroom.
Attendees included Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr. and Ice Spice — who Drake allegedly dissed on his latest album Her Loss following reports that he unfollowed her on Instagram — as well as the Toronto rapper’s mother and longtime producer Noah “40” Shebib.
Towards the end of the concert, Drake brought out hometown heroes Dipset as the stage morphed into a Harlem bodega. Dressed in Cam’ron’s famous pink fur coat and hat, Drake played hypeman as Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and Freekey Zekey tore through “I Really Mean It,” “Dipset Anthem” and “We Fly High (Ballin’).”
Before departing the stage, The Diplomats gifted Drizzy a custom OVO x Dipset bracelet, while The Boy paid tribute to the NYC crew’s influence.
“These guys right here from Harlem made us dress different, talk different, walk different, rap different — all the way in Canada,” he said.
Shooting back to present day, Drake then welcomed 21 Savage to the stage for several tracks from their 2022 joint album Her Loss, including “Rich Flex,” “Privileged Rappers” and “Spin Bout You,” as well as “Jimmy Cooks” and “Knife Talk.”
In between songs, the duo hinted at going on tour together in 2023, with Drake telling the crowd: “We’re gonna be out on the road this summer.” Details about an alleged It’s All a Blur Tour surfaced online prior to the show.
The Canadian hitmaker also teased the release of yet another new project — which would mark his fourth in three years — while giving a heartfelt speech to his fans.
“I appreciate all of those people that stick by me. I know it’s like a cool thing … to be like ‘fuck Drake’ … but I deeply appreciate everybody for continuing to support us,” he said.
“I’ve thought about a bunch of things in life, but at this moment in time none of those things are stopping making music for you, so I’ll be here for you for a little bit at least. And I hope I can strike up more emotions for you, maybe this year. I might get bored and make another one, who knows!”
Drake will return to the Apollo Theater for round two on Sunday night (January 22). Check out the setlist from Saturday’s concert below.
Over My Dead Body
Wu-Tang Forever
Trust Issues
Marvins Room
Say Something
Feel No Ways
Practice
Jaded
Jungle
Karaoke
Best I Ever Had
Headlines
HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)
Started From the Bottom
I’m on One
No New Friends
Energy
Know Yourself
Nonstop
God’s Plan
Laugh Now Cry Later
Hold On, We’re Going Home
Controlla
One Dance
In My Feelings
Passionfruit
Way 2 Sexy
Wait For U
Massive
Calling My Name
Sticky
Yebba’s Heartbreak
I Really Mean It (with Dipset)
Dipset Anthem (with Dipset)
We Fly High (Ballin’) (with Dipset)
Rich Flex (with 21 Savage)
Privileged Rappers (with 21 Savage)
Spin Bout You (with 21 Savage)
Jimmy Cooks (with 21 Savage)
Knife Talk (with 21 Savage)
Legend
Beyoncé Duets With Daughter Blue Ivy At $24m Dubai Concert
Beyoncé shared the spotlight with her daughter Blue Ivy Carter as she made her long-awaited return to the stage in Dubai.
In her first headlining show since December 2018, Queen Bey put on what was billed as a “once-in-a-lifetime performance” on Saturday night (January 21) as part of the grand reveal of Atlantis The Royal, Dubai’s newest ultra-luxury resort which opens next month.
The exclusive, invite-only concert ran for approximately one hour and earned Beyoncé a reported $24 million. Attendees included her husband JAY-Z and their three children, her parents, Tina and Mathew Knowles, as well as the likes of Chloe and Halle Bailey, Nia Long and Kendall Jenner.
The theatrical production, which opened and closed with a spectacular fireworks display, saw the pop icon bring a bevy of ballads to life, including “Freedom,” “Spirit” and “Be Alive,” in addition to party-starters like “Crazy in Love,” “Naughty Girl” and “Drunk in Love.”
One of the highlights came when Bey’s 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy joined her onstage to help her perform “Brown Skin Girl,” their collaboration from the 2019 The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack.
Rocking a red sequined jumpsuit and billowy skirt, Blue Ivy stood next to her mother with a mic in hand and nailed the choreography that the dancers were doing beside them.
When the song ended, she “hugged her mom, walked up the steps, and struck a pose, even blowing kisses to the crowd like a pro before she left the stage,” according to Variety.
Blue Ivy previously shared the stage with Beyoncé during her show-stopping performance of the King Richard single “Be Alive” at the 2022 Oscars last March, which was filmed at a tennis court in Compton, California in tribute to Serena and Venus Williams’ roots.
In 2021, the preteen became the second-youngest Grammy winner ever at age nine when “Brown Skin Girl,” which she co-wrote and sang on and whose music video she appeared in, won Best Music Video.
Beyoncé’s lucrative Dubai concert didn’t include any material from her latest album Renaissance, which she’s presumably saving for her rumored 2023 tour. Queen Bey is also reportedly in talks to perform at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, which take place in Los Angeles on February 5.
The 41-year-old is nominated in nine categories — the most of any artist this year — including Album of the Year (Renaissance), Record of the Year (“Break My Soul”) and Best R&B Song (“Cuff It”).
Meanwhile, it was reported last November that Beyoncé is planning a joint project with JAY-Z as part of her Renaissance trilogy. According to The New York Times pop culture reporter Kyle Buchanan, the second installment in the series will be an “acoustic” album, followed by a full-length collaboration with her husband, whom she previously teamed up with on 2018’s Everything Is Love.
Check out the setlist for Beyoncé’s Dubai concert below.
At Last (Harry Warren cover)
XO
Flaws and All
Ave Maria
Halo
Brown Skin Girl (with Blue Ivy Carter)
Be Alive
Spirit of Rangeela (Performed by Firdhaus Orchestra)
Otherside
Bigger
Spirit
Freedom
I Care
Beautiful Liar
Bwatwains Beek (Performed by Firdhaus Orchestra)
Crazy in Love
Countdown
Naughty Girl
Drunk in Love
Gunman kills 10, wounds 10 after Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park
A gunman killed 10 people and wounded 10 others inside a Monterey Park, California, ballroom dance club following a Lunar New Year celebration, setting off a manhunt for the suspect.
The shooting occurred around 10:20 p.m. Saturday at the Star Dance Studio, located at 122 W. Garvey Avenue. Monterey Park is located several miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley.
Ten people, five women and five men, were pronounced dead at the scene, Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference Sunday morning. The wounded were taken to hospitals with conditions ranging from stable to critical.
The gunman, described only as an Asian male between 30 and 50 years old, fled the scene. The motive was still unknown.
“Everything is on the table. We don’t know if this a hate crime as defined by law, but who walks into a dance hall and guns down 20 people?” Luna said.
Capt. Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said people were “pouring out of the location screaming” when officers arrived at the dance studio at around 10:30 p.m. He also said police were investigating another incident in the nearby city of Alhambra to see whether it was connected.
In Alhambra, investigators were seen at the Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio in the 100 block of South Garfield Avenue, about two miles north of the Monterey Park shooting, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to Luna, a man entered the dance hall with a weapon, which was wrestled away by someone inside the venue, about 20 minutes after the Monterey Park attack, though it remains to be seen if the two incidents are connected.
According to a Fox News report, the gunman used “high-powered assault rifle” in the Star Dance Studio attack. Luna, however, said an “assault rifle” was not used.
Gov. Gavin Newsom decried the violence at what should have been a happy event.
“Monterey Park should have had a night of joyful celebration of the Lunar New Year. Instead, they were the victims of a horrific and heartless act of gun violence,” he posted on Twitter. “Our hearts mourn as we learn more about the devastating acts of last night.”
Monterey Park is a city of about 60,000 people that sits at the eastern edge of Los Angeles. The majority of its residents are Asian immigrants or their descendants, most of them Chinese. Downtown Monterey Park is dotted with strip malls that are full of small businesses whose signs are in both English and Chinese. Cantonese and Mandarin are both widely spoken, Chinese holidays are celebrated, and Chinese films are screened in the city.
The city’s Lunar New Year celebration had attracted thousands.
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents Monterey Park and was at the festival yesterday, noted the city’s “significance as having one of the largest percentages of AAPI residents in the United States.”
“For decades, the city has elevated the cultures and histories of AAPIs in this country – breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes along the way,” she wrote on Twitter. “As we await to see if this is a hate crime, we must continue the work of protecting our communities and keeping them safe.”
“Star Trek” actor George Takei, a Los Angeles native, also mourned the “horrifying news.”
“A whole community wracked by gun violence and death, on what should have been a joyous Lunar New Year celebration,” he wrote on Twitter. “No motive is yet known. But we must act to end the ability of murderers to take so many lives so brutally.”
The celebration in Monterey Park is one of the largest Lunar New Year events in Southern California. Two days of festivities were planned but officials canceled Sunday’s events following the shooting.
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, who represents the city in Congress, said despite the tragedy that “tore a hole through all of our hearts,” the city will recover.
“Monterey Park is resilient. What I know about the people here is that we will get through this together,” she said.
The tragedy marked not just the fifth mass killing in the U.S. since the start of the year but also is the deadliest since May 24, 2022 – when 21 people were killed in a school in Uvalde, Texas, according to The Associated Press/USA Today database on mass killings in the U.S. The latest violence comes two months after five people were killed at a Colorado Springs nightclub.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call homicide detectives at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 800-222-8477.
Jeremy Renner Shares Morning Workouts To Help Mend Over 30 Broken Bones After Snowplough Accident
Jeremy Renner was left with more than 30 broken bones in his snowplough accident on New Year's Day. Currently recovering in hospital after being crushed by a snowplough, the 52-year-old actor is has taken to Instagram to share an update with his followers.
"Morning workouts, resolutions all changed this particular new years …. Spawned from tragedy for my entire family, and quickly focused into uniting actionable love [heart emoji]," wrote the Hollywood star - who is best known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel movies.
"I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I …. Much love and appreciation to you all. These 30 plus broken bones will mend, grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens. Love and blessings to you all (sic)."
Meanwhile, Kym Renner - Jeremy's sister - has been encouraged by the progress he's made over recent days. She shared, "We are so thrilled with his progress. If anyone knows Jeremy, he is a fighter and doesn't mess around. He is crushing all the progress goals."
Kym and other members of the family are feeling optimistic about his recovery. However, she's also aware that there's still a long road ahead of him. She said, "We couldn't feel more positive about the road ahead."
Jeremy was injured when he tried to remove a stranded family member's car from the snow near his home. The "Hurt Locker" star was struck by a snowplough and left "completely crushed" by the vehicle.
A doctor - who lived nearby - fixed a tourniquet to his leg until the actor was airlifted to hospital. He was subsequently kept in an intensive care unit in a critical condition before undergoing surgery on his injuries.
Nia Long addresses devastating scrutiny caused by Ime Udoka's cheating scandal
For vastly different reasons, last year came to a rocky end for Nia Long and Will Smith. The Hollywood juggernaut obviously faced an onslaught of scrutiny after he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars. And Long was blindsided by an alleged cheating scandal involving her longtime partner, NBA head coach Ime Udoka.
While the two aforementioned men were put through the metaphorical ringer by the media and outraged fans, Long says she can still sympathize with Smith. Both have put on their best faces even during one of the most publicly difficult periods of their lives. “He’s carried a burden for many years to try to represent what perfection looks like or [what] achievement looks like,” said Long of her former “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star’s joyous persona in a Jan. 19 interview for Yahoo Entertainment. She noted as they were blossoming actors there was no room for them to be human.
The “The Best Man: The Final Chapters” actress added, “I think we all have our moments in life where we have to reconcile things that maybe we suppress. And I think it’s hard growing up in this business and being front and center every day, all day.”
As she experienced a flood of emotions, Long referenced the turmoil of her and Udoka’s breakup. The former couple was engaged for seven years and share a son, 11-year-old Kez. “You know, I’ve had some pretty devastating moments in my life over the last couple of months, and I’ve had to just say, ‘It’s all right. You’ll pick yourself back up… ‘ Oh my God, I’m about to cry. You pick yourself back up and you keep it moving,” she said.
Long is currently promoting two films, Missing and You People. Both movies hit theaters on Friday (Jan. 20). The latter will also be available on streaming giant Netflix starting Jan. 27.
Shannon Sharpe Addresses Heated Altercation With Ja Morant and Grizzlies
Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was involved in a fiery courtside exchange with Memphis Grizzlies players Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks during the Grizzlies’ 122-121 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Referees and security got involved after Grizzlies players and Ja Morant’s dad Tee got into it with Sharpe.
According to TMZ, Sharpe was eventually escorted into the tunnel.
“They didn’t want this smoke, Dave,” Sharpe said of the incident, per ESPN. “They do all that talking and jockeying and I ain’t about that jockeying. It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said, ‘F’ me. I said, ‘F’ you back. He started to come at me and I said, ‘You don’t want these problems.’ And then Ja came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the dad came and he obviously didn’t want no problems.”
Things seemed to cool down later in the night with Sharpe and Ja’s dad Tee seemingly making up.
The Lakers ended up winning the game 122-121.
Lisa Marie Presley celebrated by Sarah Ferguson, Axl Rose, Austin Butler and more at Graceland memorial
The daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley died on Jan. 12 at age 54 after going into cardiac arrest, though an official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Titled "A Celebration of the Life of Lisa Marie Presley," the memorial service was held at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., the iconic home made famous by her parents.
Presley's family members, including mother Priscilla and actress daughter Riley Keough, were joined by Sarah Ferguson, Austin Butler, Axl Rose and several other celebrities who honored the late recording artist with a touching service filled with music and memories.
During his opening remarks, film producer Joel Weinshanker told the crowd that Presley had specifically requested one thing at her funeral: "Don't make it sad."
"Lisa, we will try to honor your wish today," added Weinshanker, People reported.
Priscilla Presley also took the stage and announced that she would read something written by her granddaughter — presumably Keough, the oldest of Presley's three daughters — to that "says it all."
"'I have no idea how to put my mother into words. Truth is, there are too many. Lisa Marie Presley was an icon, a role model, a superhero to many people all over the world, but Mama was my icon, my role model, my superhero — in much more ways than one,'" Priscilla shared, People reported. "'Even now, I can't get across everything there is to be understood or known about her, but as she always said, I'll do my best.'"
Priscilla concluded the speech by sharing "our heart is broken. Lisa, we all love you."
Keough's husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, also shared words on his wife's behalf. Smith-Petersen's speech sparked speculation that he and Keough have welcomed a daughter, People reported.
"'I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me, the way you loved my brother and my sisters,'" he said, sharing Keough's words. "'Thank you for giving me strength, my heart, my empathy, my courage, my sense of humor, my manners, my temper, my wildness, my tenacity. I'm a product of your heart, my sisters are a product of your heart, my brother is a product of your heart.'"
Ferguson, a close friend of Presley's, challenged the audience to "stoke our flames within to celebrate extraordinary Lisa Marie."
"I stand here with great honor, because we called each other Sissy. I've been here with you all for all your lives and I stand here with great honor," shared Ferguson. "So Sissy, this is for you with affection."
She went on to quote the late Queen Elizabeth, saying: "My late mother-in-law used to say that nothing can be said, can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments because grief is the price we pay for love, and how right she was."
Austin Butler, who portrayed Elvis Presley in the recent film Elvis, was also in attendance. He previously spoke out after Lisa Marie's death, releasing a statement professing his grief for her loved ones over the loss.
“My heart is completely shattered for Riley, Finley, Harper and Priscilla at the tragic and unexpected loss of Lisa Marie,” Butler said, referring to Presley's three surviving children and her mother, Yahoo Entertainment previously reported. “I am eternally grateful for the time I was lucky enough to be near her bright light and will forever cherish the quiet moments we shared. Her warmth, her love and her authenticity will always be remembered”
In the event's program, the Presley family shared a message of gratitude for the overwhelming outreach following Lisa Marie's death.
"We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the love, compassion and support you have shown our family during this difficult time," the message read. "We will always be grateful."
Presley will be buried next to her son, Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in 2020 at age 27, and close to her famous father's final resting place.
Presley was pronounced dead on Jan. 12, just two weeks away from her 55th birthday. She went into cardiac arrest at her home in the Calabasas-Agoura Hills neighborhood two days after her high-profile appearance at the Golden Globe Awards.
Several hours later, Priscilla confirmed her daughter's death in a statement.
"It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us," said Priscilla.
Buzz Aldrin gets married on his 93rd birthday to his 'longtime love,' Anca Faur
Iconic astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man to walk on the moon, announced Friday he spent his 93rd birthday tying the knot with his "longtime love" Anca Faur in a small ceremony in Los Angeles.
"I am pleased to announce that my longtime love Dr. Anca Faur & I have tied the knot. We were joined in holy matrimony," Aldrin shared on Twitter with two photos of them dressed in tux and gown. He added that he and his bride "are as excited as eloping teenagers."
Aldrin said that on the same day he was honored by the Living Legends of Aviation, making the day a three-in-one celebration.
This marks Aldrin's fourth marriage. He was first married to Joan Ann Archer for two decades before getting a divorce in 1974. The next year he married his second wife Beverly Van Zile, they later divorced. His third marriage was to Lois Driggs Cannon in 1988 on Valentine's Day before divorcing 23 years later.
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin made their historic walk on the lunar surface, fulfilling a vow by the late President John F. Kennedy to send a manned crew to the moon and safely return them to Earth. Michael Collins was the third member of the crew.
Richneck Elementary Reportedly Ignored Teacher’s Concerns About Six-Year-Old Boy Before Shooting
Richneck Elementary School’s administration reportedly ignored teacher Abigail Zwerner’s concerns and reports about her student’s behavior weeks before he shot her.
It was revealed in a staff group chat that Zwerner asked for help with the first grade student’s behavior weeks before he shot her in the chest. According to the Washington Post, the school administration allegedly ignored concerns about his behavior and stated that the school could not assist him with his needs. Sources who revealed this information requested anonymity because they are concerned about being fired as a result of speaking to the media.
There was one instance where the boy wrote a teacher a note stating that he hated her and wanted to light her on fire, then watch her die. The teacher brought the note to the school’s administration but was told to leave the situation alone. In another occasion, the boy threw furniture and other school supplies during class which caused his classmates to hide under desks. He also barricaded the doors to a classroom, in an attempt to prevent a teacher and other students from leaving.
Teachers also told the outlet there was a lack of resources for special education students and a special education teacher complained about having a high case load. Some of the teacher’s aides missed work and the six-year-old boy did not recieve the services he needed. Additionally, he was seen walking around the school without a staff member and had random outbursts during lessons.
As previously reported, the boy’s family released a statement for the time about the shooting and said Zwerner worked diligently to make sure their son recieved the best educational care.
“Our heart goes out to our son’s teacher, and we pray for her healing in the aftermath of such an unimaginable tragedy as she selflessly served our son and the children in the school. She has worked diligently and compassionately to support our family as we sought the best education and learning environment for our son,”
Some parents in the school had concerns after reports of bullying and one parent said administrators are making it difficult to address her concerns as one principal failed to show up for a meeting about the bullying. Substitute teacher Celeste Holiday said Zwerner had 25 to 30 students and it was difficult for her to maintain classroom order but said she was a caring teacher.
“She was great. She was doing the best she could. She mentally prepared me. She told me, ‘They’re rambunctious 6-year-olds. It’s going to be a hard day. Do the best you can.’”
It is unclear if the boy will be charged for the shooting as Virginia law states children under the age of 7 are unable to develop the intent to carry out an illegal act. However, someone could be charged for the weapon used in the shooting.
As for Zwerner, she was released from the hospital earlier this week and was listed in stable condition.
T.J. Holmes allegedly had sex with 24-year-old ABC employee in his office
T.J. Holmes allegedly had sex with a much younger subordinate while on the job.
A source claimed to DailyMail.com on Thursday that Holmes had a months-long affair with Jasmin Pettaway, then 24, in 2015 — while the currently suspended “GMA3” co-host was married to his now-estranged wife, Marilee Fiebig.
“He was a predator who took full advantage of his position, and he was reckless,” claimed the source, who reportedly knew Pettaway — a script coordinator — well at the time.
“It was Jasmin’s first real job in television, and it was a big deal for her,” continued the source, who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity. “She was looking for a mentor, and she reached out to several people. T.J. was someone who was responsive, but he absolutely abused the position of trust.”
According to the reported insider, Pettaway and Holmes — who joined the ABC News team in September 2014 — often worked the same shifts.
“Holmes was someone who would grab drinks, and he and Jasmin started doing that,” the insider claimed, noting that Holmes, now 45, “was a correspondent at the time.”
The informant went on to allege that the first time the pair’s relationship “got sexual” was “in his office” — only a “couple of hours” before he was set to go on the air.
The insider claimed to the Mail, “They had sex, and I know she was confused afterwards as to what it meant.”
According to the source, Holmes’ alleged behavior with Pettaway was not uncommon, but rather part of “incredibly reckless” conduct on his part.
The anchor even allegedly once “got handsy” with Pettaway in public while they were having drinks, per the report.
“He just didn’t seem to care,” the source said, claiming that Holmes was “wearing his [wedding] ring” at the time.
The pair’s alleged affair “fizzled out” after a few months, leaving the insider wondering whether Holmes was “ever invested in being a mentor at all.”
“He had it all on his terms. He was interested and then he wasn’t,” the informant claimed, adding, “No one talked about abuse of power back then, but stuff happened.”
An ABC source tells Page Six exclusively that “there is already an internal investigation underway into if anything happened between T.J. and Jasmin Pettaway.”
“She was only at ABC News for a short period of time, but if they did have an affair when he was her superior, this would be a huge problem for T.J.,” our source adds.
ABC declined to comment.
5 Memphis Officers Fired After Death of Man (Tyre Nichols) Who was Hospitalized After His Arrest
The Memphis Police Department has terminated five police officers in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols, who passed away in a hospital after being arrested by police earlier this month, according to a post from the department’s verified Twitter account.
“The egregious nature of this incident is not a reflection of the good work our officers perform, with integrity every day,” Police chief Cerleyn “CJ” Davis said in a statement.
Investigators working on an internal review of the arrest found the officers violated policies for use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid, the chief said.
Nichols’ family voiced its approval of the terminations, according to a statement from their attorneys.
“We join Tyre’s family in supporting the Department’s decision to terminate the five officers who brutalized him, ultimately causing his death. This is the first step towards achieving justice for Tyre and his family,” attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said. “They must also be held accountable for robbing this man of his life and his son of a father.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether the officers’ actions were criminal in nature.
“Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, the Memphis Police Association will not comment on the termination of officers in the Tyre Nichols case,” the union representing the officers said. “The citizens of Memphis, and more importantly, the family of Mr. Nichols deserve to know the complete account of the events leading up to his death and what may have contributed to it.”
Also, the Department of Justice and FBI have opened a civil rights investigation.
On January 8, the police department announced officers pulled over a motorist for reckless driving the previous day. “As officers approached the driver of the vehicle, a confrontation occurred and the suspect fled the scene on foot,” officials said in a statement posted on social media.
Officers pursued the suspect and again attempted to take him into custody when another confrontation occurred before the suspect was apprehended, according to police.
“Afterward, the suspect complained of having a shortness of breath, at which time an ambulance was called to the scene. The suspect was transported to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition,” officials said.
The man, identified as Nichols, died a few days later, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Details about the injuries Nichols suffered or his cause of death have not been released. CNN has reached out to the Shelby County coroner.
Google Is The Latest Tech Giant To Layoff 12,000 Employees
Google is cutting 12,000 jobs, making it the latest tech giant to do so.
The news was announced Friday in an email from Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to the company’s employees, which was also posted on the company’s news blog.
“Over the past two years, we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth,” Pichai wrote. “To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today.”
Google’s operations underwent a “rigorous review” that is reflected in the layoffs. Pichai stated that the affected positions “cut across Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels, and regions.”
Employees who are laid off will be given a severance package that includes six months of health insurance, job placement assistance, and immigration support, starting at 16 weeks of salary plus two weeks for each subsequent year of employment at Google.
Pichai said, “As an almost 25-year-old company, we’re bound to go through difficult economic cycles. These are important moments to sharpen our focus, re-engineer our cost base, and direct our talent and capital to our highest priorities.”
Within the last month, Microsoft announced 10,000 job cuts, Amazon said it would cut 18,000 jobs, and Facebook parent Meta announced it is eliminating 11,000 positions. Software maker Salesforce said it would shed 7,000 workers.
In recent months, Netflix, Peloton, Twitter, and other industry leaders have reported substantial layoffs or reduced hiring.
“All the tech giants have now entered the layoff game,” Wall Street analyst Adam Crisafulli of Vital Knowledge said in a report.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘YEP, THAT’S WHAT’S UNDERNEATH’
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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