#MAGFAB: Usher for British GQ Hype & GQ Hype
He’s been making beds squeak for nearly three decades now, but more recently he’d been stuck in a creative rut. That was until he found himself spiritually renewed thanks to a Las Vegas residency that’s become a sex-soaked smash.
When Usher first arrived in Las Vegas two years ago for a stint of shows at Caesars Palace, it had been six years and one-and-a-half albums since he’d done a full tour. But because he is Usher, he quickly shook off any stage rust and transformed himself into one of the most sought-after performers in a town already overflowing with sought-after performers. The Caesars show was such a crazy success that he’d soon parlay it into an even bigger Vegas residency—sweaty, theatrical, lascivious; extremely Usher—down the street at the Park MGM, where he became one of the most dedicated employees on MGM’s payroll. And it turns out, he kind of loves having a job.
So it’s on a chilly night in December that MGM is throwing its annual company holiday party, about 15 minutes off the Strip in an otherwise bland event space. A Hallmark-movie-handsome singer is belting out jazz standards to a tipsy audience of Gen X’ers who are doing the office party two-step. And inside the glass foyer, between the double doors into the space and another set of double doors outside, is Usher, who is trying to get into the corporate holiday party but—at least for the moment—can’t.
He’s the world-famous singer of a dozen club anthems and a dozen more crooning, desirous ballads, but tonight the superstar is politely waiting at the door. Across eight studio albums, Usher is one of the defining artists of the ’90s and the aughts. His music is for house parties, clubs, breakups, grind trains, and affairs. From his sophomore album, My Way, on, he has become almost synonymous with a good lay or a good time. He performed at both of Obama’s inauguration concerts and introduced the world to a shy Canadian teen named Justin Bieber. But in the 2010s his output mellowed, and he seemed to disappear from the spotlight. At least before he found himself again, here, in Sin City.
Apparently, there had been some miscommunication. Usher was invited to the holiday party by MGM’s top brass. Someone said Usher was going to come, then someone said Usher wasn’t going to come, and then, hours later, Usher and his entourage of three plus me materialized at the entrance. (Every time I have fantasized about going to a party with a famous, intensely desired man—which is often, because I am a dreamer and also a Leo—it has never played out like this.) It’s freezing in this lobby-atrium-foyer thing, but Usher is flashing a dimpled smile. He’s wearing a bouclé overcoat with a puffer vest and T-shirt underneath; his hair is chartreuse-blond. Diamonds, each the size of an AirPod, are lodged in his ears via conch piercings. We are talking to a frazzled woman with a drink in her hand who is trying to figure out what the hell to do with us.
“We didn’t know you were coming!” she says. “Let me—I’ll go get someone.” But then Usher smiles at her and she smiles back and that idea of going to get someone slips her mind. “Here,” she says, “just follow me!”
Get more at GQ Hype.
#RHOA: Hot or NOT? Cynthia Bailey Dazzles in a Cutout Corset Dress on the Red Carpet
If three makes a trend, it’s official: Cynthia Bailey has entered her era of black dresses on the red carpet. Over the past few weeks, The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum has hit events in a series of show-stopping dark looks. And her latest just might be the (black) cherry on top. But first, let’s review the month in Cynthia slays.
For a Grammy party in early February, the Atlanta mom hit the town in an elegantly sexy strapless look. Next, she appeared on the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder number by Balmain. Both dresses were black, and Cynthia didn’t stray from the dark palette for her latest red-carpet event.
In a February 23 Instagram post, Cynthia debuted her latest all-black dress. The photo shows the Lake Bailey resident standing outside Regal Cinema Atlantic Station, where she took in a screening of Creed 3. “Stepped out tonight!” she wrote in her caption, adding a popcorn emoji. Stepped out and showed out.
Cynthia’s movie-night look consisted of a corset-top dress with cutouts, and the black fashion clung to her every curve. She paired the dress with sparkling sandals. Her go-to hair and makeup artist, Jason Tavares, was on beauty duty.
Cynthia’s glam included dark shadows, glossy lips, and coral-kissed cheeks. (She may have stashed some extra gloss in her Alexander McQueen clutch, which she scored from Order Luxe.) She wore a custom hairpiece from Bundles by Bell, which left curls tumbling down her shoulders. Does this woman know how to work it or what?
Cynthia’s red-carpet outing came on the heels of her 56th birthday, which she celebrated in style. Lycra style, that is. Her celebratory snaps from the day showed her posing in one skintight catsuit after the next. And what else would one wear to usher in a year of positive change?
In a birthday post, the former model wrote, “[I] read somewhere that the number 56 represents growth, change, new beginnings, spirituality [and] transformation. OK!!! [I] am ready!”
Cynthia Bailey Is Ready for “New Beginnings” at Lake Bailey
But Cynthia’s season of change (and black dresses) started long before her birthday. At the start of 2023, she shared an inspirational post. “New energy, new beginnings,” she wrote, flashing a radiant smile.
#NewMusic from Musiq Soulchild & Hit-Boy Debut Their First Single “Beat of a Slow Dance”
Legendary Hip Soul Soul singer Musiq Soulchild and star producer Hit-Boy have just shared their new single “Beat of a Slow Dance”.
The song feels vintage and soulful, with Musiq’s crooning taking us on a journey while Hit-Boy’s compelling production provides a perfect backdrop.
This is the first offering from the duo’s collaborative album “Victims & Villains” which is set to release on March 10th, 2023.
WATCH HERE
“Victims & Villains” will be the first full length album release from Musiq Soulchild since he put out “Feel The Real” back in 2017.
#HipHopNews: Stream Don Toliver's New Album 'Love Sick'
Don Toliver returns with his highly-anticipated new album Love Sick, which arrives today via Cactus Jack/Atlantic Records.
The 16-track set boasts a star-studded lineup including Wizkid, Brent Faiyaz, Charlie Wilson, James Blake, TisaKorean, and Toro y Moi.
Justin Bieber and Future team up on “Private Landing,” while Lil Durk and GloRilla are featured on “Leave the Club.” Don duets with his girlfriend Kali Uchis on the previously-released single “4 Me,” which samples Beenie Man and Mya’s “Girls Dem Sugar.”
The album arrives alongside a self-written short film, which will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video starting today. Fans can also tune in to Love Sick Radio on Amazon’s Amp app on Friday for a live conversation with Don during the film’s premiere.
Love Sick follows 2021’s Life of a Don, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the hits “What You Need” and “Drugs n Hella Melodies” with Kali Uchis.
Starting March 8, Don will hit the road with Future on the “One Big Party Tour,” which runs through April 8 in Minneapolis.
Stream Love Sick HERE.
Dwyane Wade’s Daughter Issued Legal Name And Official Gender Change
Following an intense court battle between Dwyane Wade and his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, a court has finally issued a legal name change and gender change for their daughter, Zaya.
Last November, Zaya's mother contested a legal petition by Wade to allow their daughter to change her name and gender officially. In court documents obtained by The Blast, Siohvaughn claimed that their child was being pressured financially to make the decision.
Friday in Los Angeles, the judge granted Dwyane Wade's legal petition to change daughter Zaya's name and gender after an objection from his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade.
A court document obtained by The Blast states that "The Petition for Recognition of Minor's Change of Gender and Issuance of New Birth Certificate filed by Zion Malachi Airamis Wade, by and through gal, Dwyane T. Wade, Jr. on 08/22/2022 is Granted in Part."
It continues that the "Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner's name is changed from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade is changed to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. The gender of the Petitioner is changed from male to female."
According to the court document, Zaya is also to be issued a new birth certificate stating her new name and gender.
Last year, in November, The Blast exclusively reported that Zaya's mother tried to oppose the legal petition, accusing her ex-husband of trying to exploit his transgender daughter.
She argued on the basis of parental consultation, saying that Dwyane "shall discuss with and obtain input in the major decisions affecting care, welfare, activities, health, education and religious upbringing" of their children prior to any major life-changing decisions being made.
She further claimed that "there are multiple factors to be considered by the Court in determining the requests to change the minor child's name and gender. The minor child is fifteen and one-half years old."
The angered mother of two also added that Dwyane "is positioned to profit from the minor child's name and gender change with various companies through contacts and marketing opportunities including but not limited to deals with Disney."
Wade later refuted all of his ex-wife's claims in an Instagram post, slamming her for trying to demonize him.
Following claims by Wade's ex-wife, Siohvaughn, that he was trying to exploit Zaya, the former NBA pro took to Instagram to call her out, calling the allegations "Harmful."
Wade wrote in his lengthy statement, "While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn's attempt to fight Zaya's identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I'm very disappointed that she continuously find [sic] ways of centering herself and HER needs without regard to her children."
He further added that he has, "given her the opportunity to reach out to Zaya’s teachers, doctors and therapist over the years and even meet her friends, so she could get her own understanding of our child’s needs for her LIFE!"
The 40-year-old did not hold anything back as he deemed his ex-wife an "absent parent" for her refusal to attend a single "recital, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent-teacher conference etc," and yet calls herself a "good Christian mother."
The former Miami Heat player also pressed that he and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, have never pressured "Zaya or any of [their] children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them." He stated that this time, he wouldn't "sit on [his] hands" as Siohvaughn accuses him falsely saying that, "The high road has run out of real estate. My lawyer will be in contact."
The former basketballer, who obtained full custody of his children with Siohvaughn in 2011 after their divorce, took his time to praise his daughter for her intelligence and all-round good grades. Wade made sure to spotlight Zaya's "4.0 GPA” and her being in “honors classes.”
The proud dad spoke on how Zaya manages to maintain her good grades “while navigating all this unsolicited and harmful attention and debates about her gender and sexuality from those who are committed to not listening to her, much less even knowing her!”
Wade and Union have both been praised by fans for the support they've shown their trans daughter, Zaya all through her journey.
NAACP Image Awards 2023: See the complete list of winners
The ceremony for the 54th NAACP Image Awards took place Saturday.
The event recognizes achievement in the arts, entertainment and culture by people of color in more than 80 categories. Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis, Will Smith and Angela Bassett, who won Entertainer of the Year, were among those honored.
A list of nominees in several film and television categories follows below. Winners are indicted in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
Angela Bassett *WINNER
Mary J. Blige
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Outstanding Motion Picture
“A Jazzman’s Blues”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” *WINNER
“Emancipation”
“The Woman King”
“TILL”
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Daniel Kaluuya – “Nope”
Jonathan Majors – “Devotion”
Joshua Boone – “A Jazzman’s Blues”
Sterling K. Brown – “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul”
Will Smith – “Emancipation” *WINNER
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Danielle Deadwyler – “TILL”
Keke Palmer – “Alice”
Letitia Wright – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Regina Hall – “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul”
Viola Davis – “The Woman King” *WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Aldis Hodge – “Black Adam”
Cliff “Method Man” Smith – “On The Come Up”
Jalyn Hall – “TILL”
John Boyega – “The Woman King”
Tenoch Huerta – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” *WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” *WINNER
Danai Gurira – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Janelle Monáe – “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”
Lashana Lynch – “The Woman King”
Lupita Nyong’o – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary” *WINNER
“Atlanta”
“black-ish”
“Rap S**t”
“The Wonder Years”
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – “black-ish”
Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” *WINNER
Donald Glover – “Atlanta”
Dulé Hill – “The Wonder Years”
Mike Epps – “The Upshaws”
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Loretta Devine – “Family Reunion”
Maya Rudolph – “Loot”
Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” *WINNER
Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood”
Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brian Tyree Henry – “Atlanta”
Deon Cole – “black-ish”
Kenan Thompson – “Saturday Night Live”
Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” *WINNER
William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” *WINNER
Jenifer Lewis – “black-ish”
Marsai Martin – “black-ish”
Sheryl Lee Ralph – “Abbott Elementary”
Wanda Sykes – “The Upshaws”
Outstanding Drama Series
“Bel-Air”
“Bridgerton”
“Euphoria”
“P-Valley” *WINNER
“Queen Sugar”
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris – “Snowfall”
Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air”
Kofi Siriboe – “Queen Sugar”
Nicco Annan – “P-Valley” *WINNER
Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us”
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” *WINNER
Brandee Evans – “P-Valley”
Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer”
Rutina Wesley – “Queen Sugar”
Zendaya – “Euphoria”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air”
Amin Joseph – “Snowfall”
Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things”
Cliff “Method Man” Smith – “Power Book II: Ghost” *WINNER
J. Alphonse Nicholson – “P-Valley”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh – “Bridgerton”
Bianca Lawson – “Queen Sugar”
Loretta Devine – “P-Valley” *WINNER
Susan Kelechi Watson – “This Is Us”
Tina Lifford – “Queen Sugar”
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
“Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons”
“From Scratch”
“The Best Man: The Final Chapters” *WINNER
“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
“Women of the Movement”
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Morris Chestnut – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters” *WINNER
Samuel L. Jackson – “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
Terrence Howard – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Trevante Rhodes – “Mike”
Wendell Pierce – “Don’t Hang Up”
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Niecy Nash-Betts – “Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” *WINNER
Regina Hall – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Sanaa Lathan – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Viola Davis – “The First Lady”
Zoe Saldaña – “From Scratch”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Glynn Turman – “Women of the Movement”
Keith David – “From Scratch” *WINNER
Omar Benson Miller – “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
Russell Hornsby – “Mike”
Terrence “TC” Carson – “A Wesley Christmas”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Alexis Floyd – “Inventing Anna”
Danielle Deadwyler – “From Scratch”
Melissa De Sousa – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Nia Long – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters” *WINNER
Phylicia Rashad – “Little America”
Woody Harrelson Spreads Anti-Vax Conspiracies During SNL Monologue
Woody Harrelson is no stranger to conspiracy theories — but his ‘Saturday Night Live’ monologue went beyond conspiracy into straight dangerous rhetoric.
The Oscar-nominated actor, who first won over audiences on Cheers, is a 9/11 truther who’s shared a number of conspiracy theories during the Covid pandemic. In April 2020, Harrelson posted a gonzo article tying the supposed “negative effects of 5G” to the spread of Covid, saying he found it “very interesting.” In a May 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, Harrelson said of mask-wearing during the pandemic, “As one who doesn’t believe in the germ theory, I find it rather absurd.”
And so, during his rambling SNL monologue Saturday night, an apparently under the influence Harrelson continued along these lines. After a winding story about smoking weed — shouting-out his pot shop in West Hollywood, The Woods — and claiming his manager, Jeremy, transported weed from the LA shop to New York for him, Harrelson went into a spiel about the pandemic.
The self-proclaimed “anarchist” joked about a supposed movie script, a clear metaphor for the pandemic, that went, “The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes, and people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs — and keep taking them — over and over.”
He then remarked, “I threw the script away. I mean, who is gonna believe that crazy idea! Being forced to do drugs? I do them voluntarily all day long.”
Tommy Hilfiger claims Russell Simmons told him "street kids and rappers" wore his clothes to feel rich
Tommy Hilfiger said Russell Simmons’ co-sign gained him popularity amongst the hip hop community in the 1990s.
Tommy Hilfiger has Russell Simmons to thank for his popularity amongst the hip hop community throughout the 1990s.
Prior to luxury fashion houses becoming go-to status symbols of success, the who’s who of the culture could be seen in Hilfiger’s editorial campaigns and draped in the ready-to-wear attire. While his clothing line was already popular among the affluent crowd who could afford prep school tuition and family summer homes in Cape Cod, Nantucket and the Hamptons, it was not until hip hop embraced the Americana brand that it shot to newfound levels of popularity.
“It was actually Russell Simmons, who really is one of the godfathers of hip hop, who said to me that young street kids and rappers wanted to wear the clothes because they wanted to look rich,” Hilfiger said in a feature for The Guardian, which was published on Feb. 20 but has become a social talking point this weekend.
Simmons had already cornered his share of the streetwear apparel market when he launched Phat Farm in 1992. His then-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, expanded the line to women with Baby Phat in 1999.
Hilfiger stated that the success he achieved following photoshoots with Aaliyah and Snoop Dogg established him as hip hop’s designer of choice, dethroning Ralph Lauren for a time and even dictating his approach to apparel. He said that the significance of sports inspired him to make large logos as demand for Tommy Hilfiger garments grew.
“They wanted everything way, way oversized because they were buying sizes that were way too large. And so I started just making oversized, and it was a perfect storm. I was dressing Puff Daddy for his tours. I was dressing Biggie Smalls. I was dressing Tupac,” he recalled.
Elsewhere in the interview, Hilfiger shut down the rumor that he appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1997 and stated that he hated the attraction his work garnered from hip hop culture and instead intended for his clothes to be worn by upper-class white people. “It was devastating that people would think that I would really think that way. And I think people who know me knew that it wasn’t true,” he said of the fabricated narrative.
Anthony Ciccone, Eldest Brother of Madonna, Dead at 66
The post Anthony Ciccone, Eldest Brother of Madonna, Dead at 66 appeared first on Consequence.
Madonna’s oldest brother, Anthony Ciccone, has died at the age of 66.
Joe Henry, husband of Madonna’s sister Melanie Ciccone, shared news of Anthony’s passing on Saturday. “Anthony was a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can,” Henry wrote in a note posted to Instagram. “But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on. But trouble fades; and family remains— with hands reached across the table. Farewell, then, brother Anthony. I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision.”
Hailing from Michigan, Anthony Ciccone was the oldest of eight siblings. Due to addiction and other personal issues, he was estranged from his family for much of his adult life. Speaking about his pop star sister in a 2011 interview, he stated, “I never loved her in the first place, she never loved me. We never loved each other.”
Ciccone worked as a carpenter, and was later employed at his father’s wine vineyard.
In 2017, Ciccone reportedly achieved sobriety and made amends with his family.
Woman Involved in Lady Gaga's 2021 Dognapping Sues Her For $500,000 Reward Money
An accomplice to Lady Gaga‘s dog thief wants her reward money for getting the French bulldogs home safely.
If you forgot, the 36-year-old “Bad Romance” pop titan’s beloved pet dogs Koji and Gustav were stolen in 2021, and she offered $500,000 for their safe return. The precious pooches made it safely home, but apparently the reward money was not released.
Now, Jennifer McBride, who returned the dogs and was part of a group arrested in relation to the dognapping, is taking Gaga to court for the reward money.
People obtained legal documents that show Jennifer is claiming Gaga voided a contract after promising the reward money “no questions asked.” The pop star is also accused of “fraud by false promise and fraud by misrepresentation.”
The legal documents argue that Gaga announced a reward to “induce members of the public, such as Plaintiff [Jennifer], to rely upon it and to act upon said promise by locating and delivering Lady Gaga‘s bulldogs to Defendants.”
Gaga has not yet commented on the lawsuit, nor has her legal team.
Her dogwalker Ryan Fischer was shot during the dognapping and spoke out about the “hardest part” of his recovery process. He also revealed all that Gaga did to support him after the tragedy.
Paris Hilton Reveals She Was Raped At 15 After An Older Man Spiked Her Drink: ‘I Have Visions Of Him On Top Of Me, Covering My Mouth’
Paris Hilton has revealed how being raped at 15 has left her with lifelong trauma after having her drink spiked at a California mall. The former reality star-turned-businesswoman shared the graphic details in her recent interview with Glamour magazine as she embarks on a promo run for her upcoming book, “Paris: The Memoir.”
The 42-year-old gets candid about the scary encounter, recalling how she had been living with her grandmother out in Palm Springs at the time but frequently traveled to Los Angeles to visit her friends.
Their usual hangout spot was at the Westfield Century City shopping center, and even though Hilton admitted that it wasn’t uncommon for older guys to approach them. Given that she was just 15, the heiress says on one occasion, she was offered “berry wine coolers” by one of the men who had come up to her, but she also remembered him being very forceful in trying to get her to, at the very least, take a sip.
“When I had maybe one or two sips, I just immediately started feeling dizzy and woozy. ‘I don’t know what he put in there; I’m assuming it was a roofie [Rohypnol].”
Hilton says she later found herself with the man on top of her as he sexually assaulted her. But the effects of whatever had been put in her drink made it hard for her to even defend herself. “I remembered it. I have visions of him on top of me, covering my mouth, being like, ‘You’re dreaming, you’re dreaming,’ and whispering that in my ear.” Hilton admitted that the nightmare of an experience left her feeling ashamed.
The upcoming release of her memoir comes three years after Hilton shared the heartbreaking experience she endured while attending the Provo Canyon boarding school in the ’90s. During her almost one-year stay, the “Simple Life” star said in her YouTube documentary, “This Is Paris.” She suffered from physical and emotional abuse as she described the educational institution as a prison.
“It was supposed to be a school, but [classes] were not the focus at all,” Hilton told PEOPLE while promoting the YouTube doc. “From the moment I woke up until I went to bed, it was all day screaming in my face, yelling at me, continuous torture.”
“The staff would say terrible things. They were constantly making me feel bad about myself and bully me. I think it was their goal to break us down.
“And they were physically abusive, hitting and strangling us. They wanted to instill fear in the kids so we’d be too scared to disobey them.”
“Paris: The Memoir” drops March 2.
Media publishers drop Dilbert comic strip after creator’s Black ‘hate group’ remark
The creator of the Dilbert comic strip faced cancellations Saturday as he defended remarks describing people who are Black as members of “a hate group” from which white people should “get away.”
Various media publishers across the U.S. denounced the comments by Dilbert creator Scott Adams as racist, hateful and discriminatory while saying they would no longer provide a platform for his work.
Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes Dilbert, did not immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment. But Adams defended himself on social media against those whom he said “hate me and are canceling me.”
Dilbert is a long-running comic that pokes fun at office-place culture.
The backlash began following an episode this past week of the YouTube show, “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” Among other topics, Adams referenced a Rasmussen Reports survey that had asked whether people agreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white.”
Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of Black respondents disagreed and others weren’t sure.
The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized in 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the discussion forum 4chan but then began being used by some white supremacists.
Adams, who is white, repeatedly referred to people who are Black as members of a “hate group” or a “racist hate group” and said he would no longer “help Black Americans.”
“Based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people,” Adams said on his Wednesday show.
In another episode of his online show Saturday, Adams said he had been making a point that “everyone should be treated as an individual” without discrimination.
“But you should also avoid any group that doesn’t respect you, even if there are people within the group who are fine,” Adams said.
The Los Angeles Times cited Adams’ “racist comments” while announcing Saturday that Dilbert will be discontinued Monday in most editions and that its final run in the Sunday comics — which are printed in advance — will be March 12.
The San Antonio Express-News, which is part of Hearst Newspapers, said Saturday that it will drop the Dilbert comic strip, effective Monday, “because of hateful and discriminatory public comments by its creator.”
The USA Today Network tweeted Friday that it also will stop publishing Dilbert “due to recent discriminatory comments by its creator.”
The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and other publications that are part of Advance Local media also announced that they are dropping Dilbert.
“This is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve,” wrote Chris Quinn, editor of The Plain Dealer. ’“We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly do not want to provide them with financial support.”
Christopher Kelly, vice president of content for NJ Advance Media, wrote that the news organization believes in “the free and fair exchange of ideas.”
“But when those ideas cross into hate speech, a line must be drawn,” Kelly wrote
Serena and Venus Williams Creating Documentary About the 1971 Women’s World Cup
*Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams are not just two legendary tennis stars — they also have an agenda: spreading awareness about the need for gender equity in sports.
The two continue to use their platforms and status to highlight this agenda. A few years ago, Serena became part-owner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City team.
As part of this noble mission, the sisters are currently creating a documentary about the 1971 Women’s World Cup. Dubbed “COPA 71,” the film explores the story behind the most defining moments in the history of sports. Women’s soccer teams from around the world met at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to compete during the 1971 summer.
The pivotal event attracted approximately 100,000 attendees. At the end of it, Mexico’s team lost to Denmark’s team, which triumphantly returned home with the title.
The event was a significant step in women’s sports, but it was also the last Women’s World Cup since the creation of FIFA in 1991. The event has quite been overlooked, and its significance is undervalued. So it’s the reason the two Williams want to bring it back for posterity. The sisters will be the executive producers of the “COPA 71” project, collaborating with Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios imprint. It will feature some little-known footage from the competition.
In an interview with Variety, Serena said that “Copa 71” tells the story of one of the most inspirational and significant moments in women’s sports history.
“It’s an honor to partner with my sister and Westbrook Studios to help bring this magical story to light, which has been buried for far too long,” she added.
On her part, Venus said she’s excited to “help elevate and empower fellow female athletes and their accomplishments, and to make sure these women have their voices heard through this inspiring documentary.”
“COPA 71” will be directed by James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay. Other executive producers besides Serena and Venus are Isha Price, New Black Films’ Alex Holmes, and Westbrook Studios’ Jon Mone.
The release date for the film has yet to be announced.
Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance Receives 103 Fcc Complaints For Being “Overtly Sexual”
According to a report from TMZ, the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show performance featuring Roc Nation songstress Rihanna was hit with 103 Federal Communications Commission(FCC) complaints for being too sexual for football viewers.
According to the report, Super Bowl watchers littered the FCC’s email with complaints about Rihanna’s performance being “pornographic”, with the lyrics and dancing being suggestive in a sexual nature.
One person in particular compared RiRi’s set to Kim Petra and Sam Smith’s sultry performance at the 2023 Grammys, saying, “I don’t care what someone worships but children shouldn’t be exposed to pornography and as an adult I don’t wish to see it … Where has decency gone? How about respect for others and self.” Another person in Utah said, “This year the halftime show was so indecent I had to turn off the TV because of the pornographic content.”
The “Umbrella” singer was also criticized for spreading “her ass cheek at the crack. She rubbed her pants where her labia were three times.”
Rihanna’s comeback performance was a historic one as she revealed to the world she’s expecting her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky. She also reportedly earned over $350K in song royalties after the show due to a massive increase in streaming. According to a report from Apple Music, the day after the Sueor Bowl, Rihanna’s worldwide listeners on the streaming service jumped by a whopping 331%.
California Man Sets Guinness World Record By Visiting Disneyland 2,995 Days In A Row
A California man set the Guinness World Record for most consecutive daily visits to Disneyland after visiting 2,995 times. Guinness World Records created a brand new category to accommodate the feat and made it official last week.
Jeff Reitz, 50, began visiting Disneyland in Anaheim in 2012 when he was unemployed to exercise and keep his mind off job-hunting. He continued to visit until the park shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic on March 14, 2020.
“We decided to use Disneyland as a positive as we were out of work and had annual passes that had been gifted, so it was a source of free entertainment,” he told Guinness World Records.
Reitz became a Disneyland celebrity along the way, amassing more than 27,000 Instagram followers. Guests in the park began to recognize him and would stop him for pictures and autographs.
Even after finding employment, Reitz made sure to match his work schedule to Disneyland’s schedule so he could make it before the park closed on days there were special events.
His quest was marked by milestones along the way. Disneyland presented Reitz with a gift basket and Honorary Citizenship after spending 366 days in the park. After completing another year of visits, he received a free dinner. When he hit 2,000 days in 2017, he was gifted a backpack.
But after more than eight years in the parks, Reitz said he is no longer a pass holder and will not resume his daily trips. He said other factors, like park reservations, have made it less fun.
“The idea of having to make a reservation, that right there was a big downer,” Reitz explained to the New York Post. “I’d go over there after work, and you know, maybe grab a bite to eat, you know, enjoy some rides or shows … It was nice being able to just pop in at will.”
He told the outlet that since his streak ended, he’s been able to return to some of the hobbies he enjoyed before his daily Disney trips. His girlfriend, Karen Bell, says another upside is that they have been able to take longer trips and vacations.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Zero Sugarcoats given
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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