#MAGFAB: Rita Ora for Wonderland - Spring 2023
The pop powerhouse and multi-hyphenate talks latest single “You Only Love Me”, her most candid album to date, and how she’s carving a new chapter in her enduring career.
“I said to myself, ‘What is the most honest thing I can do?’ And in my opinion, it was opening the song with [Taika’s] voice, from a voice note. We always send them to each other back and forth. And it just came out really naturally and I just think there’s something really pure about inviting people into my life through my music, which I think I have done with this album more than ever before.”
Covering our Spring 2023 issue, Rita Ora talks documenting her love for Taika Waititi in her upcoming album, harnessing autonomy in the next chapter of her career, and why she thinks Louis Theroux would be a great addition to RuPaul’s Drag Race. Preorder the issue now at wonderland.com
#RHOA: Phaedra Parks’ Risqué Photoshoot Leaves Fans Shook and Bringing Up Her Classy Days on ‘RHOA’
Phaedra Parks showed fans a different side of the Southern belle lawyer we all know in her recent Valentine’s Day photo shoot.
The mother of two uploaded a series of pictures onto her Instagram for all of her 2.9 million followers to see.
In the first montage of visuals, Parks is seen with blue hair, a skin-tight blue dress, and a white fur stole wrap as she sat and then later stood in exotic stripper heels in front of a blue set with large van-shaped objects in her backdrop.
In one of Parks’ three photos, she was seen holding a piece of candy between her lips that read, “wrong lips.”
“Don’t be #blue I already fell for you,” Parks wrote as her caption. Her post received over 110,000 likes and over 1,900 comments.
Parks’ second upload showed two photos of her standing with a plain blue background that popped out her stunning look. These photos maintained over 91,000 likes and over 1,700 comments.
“Still giving you the blues [blue heart],” she wrote as her second caption.
Most of the comments under the former “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star’s photos revolved around fans being stunned by her choice of clothing.
“Is this the same prayer cloth wearing Phaedra”
“Not the Southern Belle”
“What happened to the Southern Belle act?”
“It’s called ‘lawyer after dark’ now check that lol”
The social media outlet The Shade Room uploaded her photos onto their page, where a few fans compared Parks’ look to the Starz Network drama series “P-Valley.”
“P-Valley Phaedra”
“Okay Ms. Summer Breeze!!! It’s giving welcome to the PYNK”
“Pynk” is the name of “P-Valley’s” strip club located in Mississippi, where the main characters dance.
This isn’t the first time Parks stunned fans with her racy ensembles. In October, the 49-year-old celebrated her birthday wearing nothing but nipple patches underneath a cut-out lace-up shirt and leather pants.
Many fans expressed shock at her outfit choice considering that she presented herself as a classy peach during her time on “RHOA.”
Despite Parks’ mixed reviews of her recent clothes, fans are of one accord about one thing: her return to the Bravo network.
It was revealed in January 2023 that she was making her reality TV comeback on the 10th season of “Married to Medicine.” According to Theybf.com, everyone’s favorite lawyer has a new doctor beau, who might be her connection in joining the cast.
During her 2022 Bravocon interview, the actress and mortician revealed that she was dating someone her sons love.
While it’s unclear who this new boyfriend is, Parks has previously been linked to “The Haves and the Have Nots” actor Medina Islam in 2019, and was married to Apollo Nida from 2014 until 2017 before he went to prison on wire and bank fraud charges.
#NewMusic from Chris Brown Drops 'Psychic' Video With Jack Harlow And Cassie
Chris Brown goes back to the future in his new video for “Psychic.”The R&B superstar drops the latest visual off his Breezy album featuring Jack Harlow and co-starring Cassie as his leading lady. Breezy shows out with his electrifying moves in the futuristic clip, directed by Cameron Dean.
In addition to cozying up to Cassie, Chris pays homage to his idol Michael Jackson in his red jacket. The epic clip ends with a splash as Breezy and his army of metallic dancers deliver a dazzling sequence in a pool of water.
The video marks a reunion for Chris and Cassie, who appeared in his “Crawl” video back in 2009. “Psychic” also features a sample of Cassie’s 2006 hit “Me & U.”
WATCH HERE
Brown is currently traveling across Europe on his “Under the Influence” tour, which wraps March 26 in Paris. In May, he will perform at the Lovers & Friends festival in Las Vegas.
“Psychic” appears on Chris’ Grammy-nominated album Breezy, which was released last June featuring appearances from Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, H.E.R., Wizkid, Tory Lanez, and more.
#HipHopNews: T.I. Responds After Boosie Badazz Calls Him A 'Rat'
Boosie Badazz and T.I.’s friendship is going up in smoke over claims of snitching.
During a recent interview, Boosie claimed that he pulled the plug on their joint album because T.I. once admitted that he snitched on his late cousin to get out of a gun charge.
“With the T.I. situation, if he did that, you a fu**in’ rat too,” Boosie told VladTV. “If you doing anything wrong, you doing anything criminal wise, and you cooperating with law enforcement to get you out of trouble, that means you’re corroborating, that means you’re a rat.”
During a 2020 episode of his “expediTIously” podcast, Tip copped to snitching on his dead cousin, Toot, to avoid jail time following their weapons arrest in the early 2000s. However, Boosie doesn’t seem to buy it.
“When I saw that, I think T.I. fu**in’ lying,” he said. “I think he went up there and just got to fu**in’ talking… From me talking and vibing with this man, I don’t feel like he could have held that in for fu**in’ all these years.”
After Boosie’s interview went viral, T.I. fired back. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, he reposted a clip and blasted Boosie for disrespecting him without speaking to him first.
“To get on da net & speak on shit you’ve never spoke to me about is leaving me to believe you been hiding ya heart the whole time!!!!” he wrote. “I’d NEVER speak ‘certain disrespect’ on your name/reputation bout a ‘IF’ homie… da convict code say When in doubt…pull the paperwork out!!! … ‘IF’ it was a question or confusion bout anything I said you could’ve called and asked …. so u can report back & tell ya ‘OG’ …or you could’ve pulled up & checked the blk & white like I’m offering now.”
He told Boosie that he could care less what he or others think. “PULL UP & report back to da rest of these ni**az who opinions matter so much to you. Cause I could Give a F**k bout what no ni**a think bout me!!! ‘The tail shall never wag the dog’ Leadership Leads…. wit facts and stats… we don’t follow no fantasyland shit…remember that!!! & I ain’t bending my knees for nothing or fearing nothing but GOD!!!”
He later tagged Boosie and expressed his disappointment in the way he handled the situation. “So cmon & see what you speaking bout so next time you can speak intelligently. @mamaheliveagain.2.0 I expected more from you. This shit ain’t solid. obviously I thought we WAS something we WASNT.”
Boosie—who also called Gunna a “rat” for taking a plea deal in the YSL RICO case—claims T.I.’s snitching “ruined everything,” and that their joint album will never see the light of day after cries from his fans and even his 61-year-old uncle. “They like Boosie, ‘You cannot put this album out,'” he said.
#BABYLOVE: Da Brat Is Pregnant With Her First Child
Da Brat is going to be a mom.The rapper and her wife Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart are expecting a baby, the couple reveals to PEOPLE. This will be the first child for the 48-year-old “Funkdafied” rapper, who is 18 weeks pregnant.
“It’s been quite a journey,” says Da Brat, who admits, “there’s a lot of stuff we learned about women over the age of 40.”
The announcement comes one year after the couple tied the knot during a ceremony outside Atlanta.
“It started as a joke, we were like, ‘We’re extending our family!'” says Da Brat. “But then we got a huge response. It was like, ‘Oh my God do we want to actually have kids, and if we do, girl, we better hurry up!’ ”
Harris-Dupart, who is the CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, already had three children prior to their relationship, but Da Brat admits that kids were never part of the plan. “I never thought I was going to have kids,” she says. “I just thought it wasn’t in the cards for me. I’ve had a great career, a full life. I felt like, because I didn’t get pregnant earlier on, then it just wasn’t going to happen for me.”
The couple decided that Da Brat would carry the baby, given Harris-Dupart’s history of health complications following her egg retrieval procedure.
Da Brat faced a difficult journey herself. She underwent surgery to remove fibroids and polyps prior to her embryo transfer procedure before suffering a miscarriage.
“I had never been so excited about something that I didn’t even know I wanted,” says Brat. “I fell in love with the idea and then it was all snatched away from me.”
The couple, who chose an anonymous donor described as “an eager entrepreneur” from their cryo bank, is excited to grow their family. “It’s just a blessing. I’m excited!” says Brat.
The stars of WE tv’s “Brat Loves Judy” also appeared on “Sherri” on Monday where they made the surprise announcement.
BAFTA Producer Says Twitter Criticism of Ariana DeBose's Opening Number Is 'Incredibly Unfair'
Ariana DeBose faced criticism on social media following her performance at the 2023 BAFTA Awards — but a producer of the awards show said that her opening number was celebrated by members in the audience on Sunday.
"I think it's incredibly unfair, to be frank," said producer Nick Bullen while speaking to Variety about the musical performance. A group of dancers performed alongside the Oscar winner, 32, as she sang "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" and "We Are Family" and also rapped about the night's female nominees.
"The songs she was singing are very familiar songs, the room was clapping, and people were sort of dancing to the music," he told the publication. "That rap section in the middle, mentioning the women in the room, was because it's been a great year for women in film, and we wanted to celebrate that."
During the number, which came after host Richard E. Grant's opening monologue, DeBose rapped in part: "Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my 'Woman King,' Blanchett Cate you're a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us," as the camera panned to members of the crowd showing an array of different expressions.
Bullen explained that the West Side Story star "worked with a great musical director and choreographer" and believes that there were mixed reactions because "a lot of people don't like change."
"There's a view that the BAFTAs have to be this slightly stiff, traditional British, middle-England messaging," said Bullen, adding that "American awards shows have much more razzmatazz, much more showbiz and perhaps a broader range of people being involved."
He continued: "We felt we're not about revolution, we're about evolution. Let's just evolve, let's just move forward with some gentle changes that start to lay out the stall of what this show should be and where we should be with it."
While DeBose hasn't spoken out about the criticism that followed Sunday's awards ceremony — and her Twitter account appears to be deactivated — she previously addressed social media trolls after her Saturday Night Live hosting gig last year.
"You try hosting SNL, reading cue cards with slight dyslexia and then get back to me, brah," the Hamilton actress responded to a user who referred to DeBose accidentally saying the wrong year during her opening monologue.
"Maybe get someone who isn't on level with Joe Biden at reading since that's a qualification to acting… reading lines," the Instagram user continued, to which DeBose wrote, "Cool. You're a troll. Bye."
Cher At War With Her Sons Over Hot Romance With Much Younger Boyfriend Alexander ‘AE’ Edwards
Lovestruck Cher has been plotting to elope with her 37-year-old boy toy Alexander “A.E.” Edwards in a quickie Las Vegas wedding — and cut her disapproving sons out of her $360 million will, RadarOnline.com has learned.
The 76-year-old diva is convinced the music producer is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with and is fuming that her son Chaz Bono, 53, and Elijah Blue Allman, 46, have not supported the relationship, sources said.
“Cher is mad at them she’s ready to cut them out of her life completely,” said a source. “She’s been hell-bent on marrying this guy and is speaking to her lawyers about adjusting her will to make A.E. her sole beneficiary.”
Cher and A.E. have been packing on the PDA since revealing their unlikely romance in November. By December, the Believe singer was flashing her reported $250,000 engagement ring from A.E. on Twitter!
More recently, A.E. jetted Cher to Arizona for a round of Super Bowl parties, where they were seemingly attached at the hip.
Sources said the ageless entertainer and her hunky young music man were planning to snub her sons and only invite her lifelong pal Paulette Howell and rapper Tyga to the Sin City nuptials.
Sources claimed the singer has clashed with Chaz and Elijah because they’ve branded A.E. as a gold-digger. “They think he’s playing her to cash in on her power and influence in the music industry,” a source said.
Cher apparently unloaded over the Christmas holidays, blasting her kids for being more concerned about her money than her happiness, an insider revealed.
“Cher doesn’t believe her sons should be counting her cash,” said the insider. “If that’s their primary focus, they can kiss the entire pile goodbye.”
Another source said Cher often covers the tab for A.E., “He’s barely paid for anything since he and Cher met in Paris last September.”
“Cher has a lot of people worried for her right now. She’s saying it’s her business who she dates and she’ll make her own decisions, but the warning signs are there for everyone to see,” the source said.
Don Lemon to return to CNN, undergo ‘formal training’
CNN anchor Don Lemon will return to work Wednesday and will receive “formal training” in the aftermath of his on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, network CEO Chris Licht said in an email to employees Monday night.
The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, did not specify the training. Licht added that it was important to him that the network “balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”
Lemon has not been on the air since Thursday, when he said the 51-year-old Haley was not “in her prime” during the broadcast of “CNN This Morning.” Lemon and fellow hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins had been discussing Haley’s suggestion that politicians over 75 should be subject to mandatory mental competency tests.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” Lemon said, explaining why he was “uncomfortable” with the age discussion. He said a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s. Haley is 51.
He was challenged by Harlow, who tried to clarify what Lemon was referencing: “I think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,” Lemon responded. He brought up the subject again an hour later, and was rebutted by commentator Audie Cornish.
“She’s in her prime for running for office,” Cornish said of Haley. “Political prime is what we’re talking about.”
Lemon issued a statement that same day saying he regretted his “inartful and irrelevant” comments, which were widely condemned. Haley herself called the comments sexist and used the episode to fundraise.
According to The New York Times, Licht chastised Lemon during an editorial call Friday, saying his remarks were “upsetting, unacceptable and unfair” and a “huge distraction.” Lemon appeared at the meeting and apologized to staffers, CNN reported.
“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” Licht wrote in the Monday night memo. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”
Harlow said at the top of Tuesday morning’s show that Lemon would be back the next day.
Madonna Candidly Admits To Getting Plastic Surgery After Looking Unrecognizable At Grammys
Madonna has finally gotten candid about the cosmetic procedures she had. The 64-year-old Queen of Pop has admitted to getting plastic surgery after being heavily criticized for looking unrecognizable at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
On Monday, February 20, the "Material Girl" hitmaker took to Twitter to coyly reveal that she had plastic surgery. Along with a photo of herself smiling for the camera while sitting in a chair, she wrote, "Look how cute i am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol [laughing with tears emoji]."
In the snapshot, Madge rocked a pair of distressed blue jeans over sheer tights, a black jacket and a black cap that read, "Spiritually Hungry." The "Like a Virgin" singer's quip came weeks after she took the Grammys stage to introduce Sam Smith and Kim Petras, the first trans woman to perform at the show and win a Grammy, for their performance of "Unholy".
During her brief appearance, Madonna quickly became a trending topic after fans made remarks about how different her face looked. "Me attempting to ignore the fact that Madonna has a whole new face. #GRAMMYs," one Twitter user wrote, adding a meme video of Adele looking confused at a basketball game. "Has Madonna been nominated for 'Best New Face' at this year's Grammy Awards?" another user weighed in.
Someone else remarked, "That is not the Madonna I grew up with. This is a lesson for all, embrace aging." Another said, "I could barely recognize Madonna at the Grammys," while a different user said they believed Madonna covered her neck to hide her neck lines, writing, "Madonna is so smart. She covered her neck so she doesn't look old lol."
Upon learning of the backlash, Madge issued a statement that blasted "ageism and misogyny." The "Papa Don't Preach" singer wrote, "Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone's face!!"
"Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women pass the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous," she added.
Madonna went on to note that she has "never apologized" for her appearance, and she's "not going to start," before referencing Beyonce Knowles' "Renaissance" hit, "Break My Soul". She added, "I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come," before concluding, "Bow down b***hes!"
Judge Greg Mathis announces new show "Mathis Court" will debut this fall
Judge Greg Mathis is coming back to the courtroom this fall. According to Deadline, the 62-year-old court show arbitrator will work with billionaire Byron Allen on his new series “Mathis Court,” set to debut later this year. The news comes just days after Warner Bros. announced the “Judge Mathis” cancellation after 24 seasons.
“Judge Greg Mathis is an outstanding, charismatic, and iconic television host,” Allen said of the judge.
Per the site, “Mathis Court” will join Allen Media Group’s seven other court series on the television network Justice Central, available in over 50 million U.S. homes.
“We are extremely confident that our eighth and newest court series with Judge Mathis will be very successful for years to come as he joins our outstanding roster of talent. Including Judge Kevin Ross, Judge Mablean Ephriam, Judge Christina Perez, Judge Karen Mills-Francis, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Judge Lauren Lake, and Judge Eboni K. Williams,” Allen continued.
In 2018, “Judge Mathis” took home a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series in 2004. He currently stands as the longest-running Black male host on television.
The show was the second longest-running court show in continued production with the same host, behind “Judge Judy,” which ran for 25 seasons.
“For years, I’ve proudly watched Byron Allen build a first-class global media empire. After 24 years on the air, I can’t think of a better company to work with to create my next great chapter,” Mathis stated. “Byron and I are both from Detroit, and it’s exciting to see him build the Motown of court programming by bringing together all of my fellow judges from his eight court shows – who are the best of the best,” he added.
Allen Media Group is currently pitching “Mathis Court” for broadcast, cable, and distribution platforms.
Queen Latifah to host 54th annual NAACP Image Awards
This Saturday (Feb. 25), the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards will take place. The organization has revealed today (Feb. 21) that their official host will be the iconic actress, artist, and entrepreneur Queen Latifah. This will also be her first time taking on the role of the NAACP Image Awards emcee, a position that was held by Anthony Anderson over the last nine years.
“It’s an honor to host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, especially in the year we are celebrating 50 years of hip hop,” Latifah stated via press release. “This is a night to celebrate Black excellence and Black contribution to our industry and beyond. Celebrating one another, lifting each other up and you know we’ll have fun doing it!”
“Queen Latifah is one of our generation’s most influential and iconic voices. We are excited to collaborate with the groundbreaking megastar as she hosts the 54th NAACP Image Awards,” added Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP of specials, music programming, and music strategy. “As always, we look forward to partnering with NAACP to celebrate Black creativity and ingenuity for an unforgettable night of Black excellence that will inspire, entertain, and empower viewers worldwide.”
The award show will be broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, which will also mark the first in-person ceremony since February 2020. The event will air at 8 p.m. ET on BET. Viewers can also catch it across all Paramount Global networks (including BET HER, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, LOGO, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, POP TV, Smithsonian, TV Land, and VH1).
As previously reported by REVOLT, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are set to receive this year’s President’s Award. The couple is being honored for their “tireless humanitarian work as they continue to advocate for equality and acceptance for all.”
Family of Black gay teenager found dead on NYC train tracks demands answers
The family of a 19-year-old gay Black man who was found dead on train tracks in Brooklyn, New York, this month are demanding answers, and justice.
The body of Deandre Matthews was found around 4 p.m. Feb. 7 on freight train tracks near the 2200 block of Nostrand Avenue, New York police said.
Officers said Matthews was unresponsive, with “significant burn wounds” throughout his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The city chief medical examiner's office said he died of "gunshot wounds of the head with perforation of the skull and brain." His death was ruled a homicide.
No arrests have been made in the case, which remains under investigation.
Danielle Matthews described her son as a “calm, silly, friendly person” who was studying criminal justice at State University of New York Broome Community College in Binghamton. He liked to go by the nicknames "Dre" and "Prince."
“He was just a beautiful soul. He was a great kid. Never had police contact. First in my family to go to college. He was amazing,” she said.
Matthews said she last heard from her son Feb. 6, when he asked to use her car. She didn't know where he was headed that night, and police said he was last seen leaving his home at 5:45 p.m.
Danielle Matthews said that at about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 7, her mother called her asking where her car was because it wasn’t in front of the house.
“That was the worst phone call I got in my life. I went to my window. My car was not there. I began to call my son. My son did not answer his phone," she said.
"I then located my car about 3:30 a.m. with a tracking system on my car because I have a new car. I located my car. I called the police. They came. My car was burnt, and from there I knew my son was gone,” she said.
She said the back seat was burned, with no sign of Deandre Matthews.
“My son was missing. A couple of hours later Feb. 7, that evening, is when they located my son’s body,” Matthews said.
“This was not something we expected, never thought it was going to happen in a million years,” she said.
Matthews said she wishes she knew what led to her son's death. There were no red flags, and he never vocalized concerns about his safety, she said.
She said she believes his death was a hate crime possibly motivated by the fact that he was gay.
“I don’t know, but I believe it was a hate crime. Who would kill a beautiful soul like that?” she said.
Deandre Matthews’ sister, Dajanae Gillespie, also said she believes he may have been the victim of a hate crime.
“He was gay. And I feel as if this could’ve been a hate crime,” she told NBC New York.
“I want to know why [the killer] did it. What was the reason? Deandre wasn’t a violent person. This wasn’t for retaliation. He wasn’t in the streets,” she said.
Police officials have not said whether they are investigating the case as a hate crime.
Danielle Matthews believes her son’s killer will be caught, saying she has been in contact with police and “they are doing a good job.”
“Let's not give up. Let's not let Deandre’s name go in vain. I want justice for my son," she said.
Pentatonix Honored with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Announce North American Leg of 'The World Tour'
Pentatonix is being honored! The Grammy award-winning group – featuring members Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee – became the first a Capella group to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday (February 21) in Hollywood, Calif.
Rachel Platten and Andy Grammer also attended the ceremony to honor the group.
Earlier that day, Pentatonix announced the North American tour dates for their Pentatonix: The World Tour, and that Lauren Alaina is joining them on the road.
Pentatonix: The World Tour 2023 Dates & Locations:
Wed Aug 09 — Jacksonville, FL — Daily’s Place
Thu Aug 10 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 12 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live
Sun Aug 13 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion
Tue Aug 15 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Thu Aug 17 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center
Sat Aug 19 — Raleigh, NC — Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Park
Sun Aug 20 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
Tue Aug 22 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
Wed Aug 23 — Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Thu Aug 24 — Syracuse, NY — St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sat Aug 26 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center
Mon Aug 28 — Maryland Heights, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 29 — Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center
Thu Aug 31 — Milwaukee, WI — American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Sat Sep 02 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 03 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob MusicTheatre
Wed Sep 06 — Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion
Thu Sep 07 — The Woodlands, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman
Sat Sep 09 — Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 11 — Irvine, CA — FivePoint Amphitheatre
Tue Sep 12 — Mountain View, CA — Shoreline Amphitheatre
Thu Sep 14 — Ridgefield, WA — RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Sat Sep 16 — Puyallup, WA — Washington State Fair
Handyman-For-Hire Who Reportedly Murdered L.A. Bishop David O’Connell After Complaining The Clergyman Didn’t Pay Up, Held On $2 Million Bond
Carlos Medina, the 61-year-old handyman accused of murdering L.A. Bishop David O’Connell, purportedly killed the clergyman after complaining about an unpaid debt.
According to Sheriff Luna, the suspect’s wife was reportedly the housekeeper for O’Connell and Medina himself had been known to do work around the house for the late bishop. Luna also asserts Bishop O’Connell was pronounced dead in the bedroom of his home, succumbing to at least one gunshot wound to the upper torso area. A deacon discovered the bishop’s body after visiting his home to perform a welfare check when O’Connell was purportedly late to a meeting. It was then that investigators responded after the deacon called 911. Medina’s wife, who has reportedly worked as the bishop’s housekeeper for over a decade, was not working on the day of O’Connell’s death and has been cooperating with authorities throughout the ongoing investigation. Evidence including two firearms, which could possibly link Medina to the murder, were collected following his arrest. Sheriff Luna also added a vehicle similar to the SUV that Medina had driven to the residence in the past was onsite and captured by surveillance footage of O’Connell’s driveway on the day of the murder. Luna also said there appeared to be no signs of forced entry at the home.
Additionally, Sheriff Luna also revealed authorities received a tip that Medina had complained about the deceased bishop owing him money and “acting erratically,” before O’Connell’s death.
“Detectives were told by the tipster that they were concerned because Medina was acting strange, irrational, and made comments about the bishop owing him money,” Luna said.
Sheriff Luna added that the investigation will continue as authorities conduct interviews to try to pinpoint what exactly occurred ahead of the fatal shooting incident.
“I am not certain of any dispute,” Luna said. “That’s something that came up from one of the witnesses, but as all of you know, our investigation continues, which means interviewing multiple witnesses to find out and get a better picture of what happened here.”
Bishop David O’Connell had been a staple of the Los Angeles community since as early as the 90s when he gained notoriety for his efforts to connect residents of riot-torn neighborhoods and local law enforcement, following the gruesome police beating of Rodney King. Sheriff Luna says an outpouring of support from the community has rained down in the days since news broke of his shooting death.
“I can’t tell you how many phone calls I received over the last 48 hours of people who have worked with him in different capacities and this man, this bishop made a huge difference in our community,” Luna said. “He was loved.”
Brittney Griner Photographed Back on the Court After Re-Signing With Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner is back on the court. The WNBA star was photographed smiling in her Phoenix Mercury practice gear on Tuesday. The team took to Instagram to share a few pictures (above), writing, “There she is.”
Griner just signed a new one-year contract with the team. General manager Jim Pitman told the Associated Press, “We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed. We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.”
Per Insider, Griner had to take a 32 percent pay cut to rejoin her teammates. In 2013, the eight-time All-Star was drafted first overall to Phoenix.
The organization shared other Griner posts on social media as well, including a motivational locker room note and highlight clip, writing, "No. 42 is power, prestige, and passion.”
Brittney Griner has shared her first statement since her release from Russian custody earlier this month.
“It feels so good to be home!” wrote Griner alongside a photo of her leaving the plane that brought her back to the States, and another of her hugging her wife Cherelle Griner. “The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”
Griner thanked everyone who personally helped organize her release, including Cherelle and the Biden-Harris Administration. She also announced her intentions to play for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” she continued. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”
The 32-year-old said she looks forward to returning to the court, and thanked everyone who advocated, wrote, or posted for her return.
Griner was freed in a prisoner swap that saw the U.S. release convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout last week. Biden confirmed the news in a tweet, where he said he spoke to Griner and said she was coming home. Her family shared a statement to express “sincere gratitude” to Biden and others who helped end her wrongful detainment, which stemmed from her arrest in Moscow in February over the possession of hash oil cartridges.
Original IPhone From 2007 Sells For $63,000 At Auction
A first-generation 2007 iPhone recently sold for $63,000 in a Sunday online auction. The phone had never been opened and went for over 100 times the original cost.
CNN notes the bidding started at $2,500, but the 27 bids would inflate the number on LCG Auctions’ website to the final number. LCG Auctions founder Mark Montero stated the bids were between 10 buyers and the final bid came from “an individual from the US.”
The phone was owned by Karen Green who received the 8 GB phone as a gift but never opened it. Another iPhone she once owned sold for over $39,000.
The iPhone originally cost $599 and only had a 3.5-inch screen and 2-megapixel camera, while running on a 2G network exclusive to AT&T.
#SNEAKERSNEWS: Jordan Brand Announces Jayson Tatum’s First Signature Sneaker, The Tatum 1
The Tatum 1 is Jayson Tatum’s first signature shoe with Jordan Brand. The Tatum 1 is the season’s lightest shoe in Jordan Brand’s performance line, and it was created for the next generation of athletes.
The Tatum 1 is a product of a his want to wear a shoe connected to his foot and featured a TPU frame, wrapped in ground-contact form acting as an integrated traction pattern. The sneaker has minimal rubber on the toe and the ball of the foot to accent Tatum’s predominantly forefoot game. The forefoot has a sizable, cage-free Zoom Air bag that helps give maximum energy return without compromising court feel. The collar is cushioned for ankle support, and the mesh knit upper is sturdy yet light.
The Tatum 1 stands out for paying special attention to the design for children. Tatum wanted a shoe that young children could easily slip on and off of. Tatum collaborated with the Jordan Brand design team to help shape a kid-friendly version of his iconic sneaker that featured an exclusive, injected TPU tailgate mechanism for simple access.
“I want people to feel like they can connect to me,” says Tatum. “I remember being a kid, walking into the store, and looking for the signature shoes of my favorite players. The moment I saw the shoe or put the shoe on, I felt like I was in sync and closer to them in a way. So, I want this shoe to be a bridge between my fans and me to bring us closer together.”
The Tatum 1 stands out for paying special attention to the design for children. Tatum wanted a shoe that young children could easily slip on and off of. Tatum collaborated with the Jordan Brand design team to help shape a kid-friendly version of his iconic sneaker that featured an exclusive, injected TPU tailgate mechanism for simple access.
The Tatum 1 releases April 7 in full family sizing.
Fifth HIV Patient Cured Following Stem Cell Transplant
In a stunning milestone for HIV research, a fifth man has been cured of the virus.
On Monday, researchers published their latest findings in Nature Medicine. The 53-year-old referred to as “the Dusseldorf patient,” has now become the fifth patient in the world to be cured of the potentially lethal virus thanks to a stem cell transplant. He initially received treatment in 2019. He has not taken medication since then, and it has been confirmed that he has no traces of the virus.
Scientists continue to look into stem cell transplants as a long-term means of curing patients living with HIV. While the use of antiretroviral medication can deem people living with the virus undetectable, the stem cell transplant offers complete eradication within the body. Though promising, the treatment is still extremely risky and hard to complete.
Stem cell transplants are typically used in cancer patients as a last resort, though it has been effective in people living with HIV as well. Each of the cured patients underwent stem cell transplants to also treat their blood cancers. Their donors each possessed an HIV-resistant mutation that essentially replaced a patient’s immune system. The issue is that this genetic mutation that makes people resistant to HIV only exists in 1% of the world’s population.
According to the National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research, the first person to be cured of HIV was Timothy Ray Brown, who became an advocate for HIV patients. Sadly, he passed away in 2020 from leukemia. Brown served as a case study of stem cell effectiveness in curing the disease which has claimed millions of lives, most notably during the devastating AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Since then, advancements in treatment have allowed people to live long and healthy lives, but the disease is incurable.
Dr. Bjorn-Erik Ole Jensen, who treated “the Dusseldorf patient,” is hopeful but recognizes more research is required.
“This obviously positive symbol makes hope, but there’s a lot of work to do,” Jensen confirmed.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘HIP HUGGERS?’
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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