#FASHIONFAB: Ayman Salah Menswear by Tobias Wirth for GQ Portugal January 2023
Sudan-born model Ayman Salah is styed by Moritz Lindert in ‘Tidal Wave’, a fashion story for GQ Portugal’s January 2023 issue, lensed by Tobias Wirth [IG]./ Grooming by Katja Maassen
Nice!
#RHOA: Cynthia Bailey’s Dog, Bailey, Has Passed Away
Cynthia Bailey has lost an important member of her family — her beloved dog, Bailey.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum shared the upsetting news on her Instagram page on January 30.
“Bailey has gone to doggie heaven,” she wrote in the caption of her post, which featured various videos of Bailey set to Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s song, “See You Again.”
“Going to miss this little guy,” Cynthia continued. “Will forever be in my heart and soul. I love you my friend. I will never forget you. God will take it from here.”
Cynthia went on to thank her mom, Barbara Morris, for “taking such great care” of the pup.
“He loved you dearly,” she continued, adding a red heart emoji.
Several Bravolebrities took to the comments section to send their condolences to the model.
“Oh no, so sorry for [your] loss!” RHOA’s Shereé Whitfield wrote. Shamea Morton posted, “Aaah I’m sorry, Cynthia.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Gretchen Rossi, who will appear on the upcoming fourth season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, said, “Sending you healing prayers. I’m so sorry my friend.”
The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Robyn Dixon noted that she was “sending hugs” to Cynthia, while Mia Thornton said, “So sorry love. Such a lil sweetie!”
The aforementioned Housewives weren’t the only notable people to share kind messages for Cynthia and Bailey. Her ex-husband, Mike Hill, noted in a comment that he was “gonna miss [his] Bailey Boy!!” and added three praying hands emojis.
Less than a day after Cynthia posted about her dog’s death, she shared a video of herself working out at the gym.
“No matter what happens in life, continue to live, love, laugh, work, pray [and] take care of yourself,” she began the caption of her January 31 post. She thanked her fans and loved ones for “all the texts, phone calls, prayers, [and] well wishes” following Bailey’s passing.
“He is making lots of friends in doggie heaven now. Not my will, God’s will be done,” she concluded. “I appreciate all of you.”
#MusicNews: Rihanna To Announce Comeback Tour After Super Bowl
Rihanna’s comeback is in full effect. The pop icon is reportedly gearing up to launch a world tour this year. According to The Sun, she will announce dates for her first tour in over six years following her halftime performance at Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12.
The tour will reportedly start in North America before heading to Europe in 2024. The new mom is planning “mini residencies in major cities” in order to not have to move venues every day.
“She has her North American dates ready to announce for 2023 after the Super Bowl and it will be a matter of time before European dates are announced for 2024,” said the insider. “Her plan is to set up mini residencies in major cities rather than visit multiple places.”
Anticipation continues to build for her Super Bowl performance, which will reportedly include new music.
“Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance will be one of the best of all time,” added the insider. “She’s been working overtime on every element of the show. The list of songs that made the cut are pretty comprehensive and touch on every era of Rihanna including the new one she’s about to embark on.”
Rihanna, who recently earned her first Oscar nomination, hasn’t toured since 2016’s “Anti World Tour” in support of her last studio album Anti.
Fans have been waiting seven years for the follow-up, but it’s unclear when the project will arrive.
“Super Bowl is one thing. New music is another thing. Do you hear that, fans?” Rihanna told The Associated Press in November. “The second that I announced this, I said, ‘Oh, my God, they’re going to think my album is coming. I need to get to work.”
#HipHopNews: Drake Pays Tribute To Lil Wayne At Grammy Event
Drake has avoided the Grammys, but he made an exception for his friend Lil Wayne.
The “Rich Flex” rapper appeared in a pre-taped video segment during the Black Music Collective pre-Grammy event on Thursday where Weezy was honored with the Global Impact Award.
“Good evening, Grammys. Well, I haven’t gotten to say that since 2016,” Drake said while acknowledging his last appearance at the Grammys seven years ago.
“My name is Drake and I’m here tonight on behalf of the Black Music Collective,” he said before pulling down his glasses and winking at the camera. “To present the Global Impact Award to Ed Sheeran.”
Someone then whispered in his ear, informing him that Lil Wayne was the actual recipient. “Lil Wayne, makes sense… That’s a lot better, by the way,” he said.
He went on to give Weezy his flowers. “I love you so much and I don’t want to make this personal because the Global Impact Award would be about how you affected everybody, not just me,” he continued. “I know I’d probably get annoyed with saying how much you mean to me and my family, but I speak on behalf of everybody when I say that our careers, our cadences, our melodies, maybe our face tats or our outfits or our decisions in general would not have been the same without your natural gift to just be yourself.”
He ended by throwing more shade at the Grammys. “Just know that there’s only one Lil Wayne and that’s why he’s receiving the Global Impact Award from the Black Music Collective at the Grammys,” he said, winking once again.
Drake has had a contentious relationship with the Grammys. After receiving nominations for Certified Lover Boy and “Way 2 Sexy” in 2021, he withdrew both his nods. He continued the boycott by withholding his eligible album Honestly, Nevermind from 2023 consideration.
DJ Khaled presented the Global Impact Award to a humbled Wayne. “I don’t get honored,” said the Young Money icon. “Where I’m from, New Orleans… You’re not supposed to do this.”
Tyga hit the stage to perform “A Milli” during a musical tribute that also included 2 Chainz and Swizz Beatz.
In addition to Wayne, Missy Elliott and Dr. Dre were honored during Thursday’s ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
Ne-Yo And Crystal Renay Finalize Divorce
Ne-Yo and his wife are officially done. Six months after announcing their separation, the R&B crooner and Crystal Renay have finalized their divorce.
According to the terms of their settlement, obtained by TMZ, Ne-Yo will keep three of the couple’s four Georgia homes and pay his ex $1.6 million to balance out the division of their real estate holdings.
Crystal will keep one of their homes and receive $20,000 in moving expenses. Ne-Yo will also pay her $150,000 so she can buy a new car. He will hold onto their 2022 Bentley Bentayga.
Additionally, Crystal will receive $12,000 a month in child support for their three kids and Ne-Yo will cover the children’s school expenses. This is in addition to the $5,000 a month in alimony he has to pay over the next three years.
Ne-Yo and Crystal will share joint custody, and have agreed that they won’t bring new partners around their children unless they get married or engaged to that person.
Crystal filed for divorce back in August after accusing the “So Sick” singer of cheating with multiple women over the course of eight years.
“8 Years. 8 Years of lies and deception. 8 years of unknowingly sharing my life and husband with numerous women who sell their bodies to him unprotected.. every last one of them!” she wrote. “To say I’m heartbroken and disgusted is an understatement.”
Ne-Yo responded to the cheating accusations by asking for privacy while he deals with the “challenges” with his family.
“For the sake of our children, my family and I will work through our challenges behind closed doors,” he said at the time. “Personal matters are not meant to be addressed and dissected in public forums. I simply ask that you please respect me and my family’s privacy at this time.”
Two men arrested in 'cold-blooded' massacre of 6, including mother and baby, in Tulare County
After a predawn gun battle and a series of raids across Tulare County, authorities said Friday they had arrested two men accused of killing six people, including a teen mother and her baby, in an execution-style massacre that stunned the Central Valley farm town of Goshen last month. The suspects were identified as 25-year-old Noah David Beard of Visalia and 35-year-old Angel "Nanu" Uriarte of Goshen.
Noah David Beard, 25, of Visalia is arrested early Friday. He and Angel "Nanu" Uriarte, 35, are accused of killing six people in the Central Valley farm town of Goshen. (Tulare County Sheriff's Office)
After a predawn gun battle and a series of raids across California, authorities said Friday they had arrested two men accused of killing six people, including a teen mother and her baby, in an execution-style massacre that stunned the Central Valley farm town of Goshen last month.
The suspects were identified as Noah David Beard, 25, of Visalia and Angel "Nanu" Uriarte, 35, of Goshen, both Norteño gang members, according to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office.
Uriarte engaged in a gun battle with federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives early Friday and was wounded before being taken into custody, officials said. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said Uriarte, who could face federal charges in the assault of a federal officer, underwent surgery at a hospital and was expected to survive.
Investigators identified Beard as the suspect accused of killing the 16-year-old and her baby.
During the news conference, Boudreaux played a grainy surveillance video showing the young mother fleeing with her son moments before they were killed.
A grainy image of a woman with long dark hair lifting up a baby alongside a wooden fence.
Alissa Parraz lifts her 10-month-old baby over a fence in an image from video. (Tulare County Sheriff's Office)
In the video, Alissa Parraz runs across a dark driveway with her baby in her arms toward a locked chain-link gate blocking the street. Unable to escape, she hoists her baby over a nearby wooden fence and lowers him onto something on the other side before running across the driveway and vaulting over the chain-link fence.
Moments later, a man walks toward them. He raises his right arm, a dark shadow of a gun visible in his hand, then the video cuts off. Both mother and child were shot in the back of the head, Boudreaux said.
In audio from a 911 call played during the news conference, a woman inside the house is heard crying and pleading.
“They shot my boyfriend. They keep shooting outside," she says. "I don’t know if they are still here. I’m scared. ... Please hurry, please. I don’t know where they are now — [gasp] — they’re still shooting.”
“They’re still shooting?” asks the dispatcher.
“Yes,” the woman answers. “Hurry please. They’re coming back. They’re coming back. They’re back.”
“Who’s coming back?”
“The guys,” the woman says. “Do you hear them? Someone else is screaming now.”
Shots are heard on the recording.
“That’s them,” the woman says, gasping. “They’re shooting in the house.”
The woman on the 911 call survived the attack by hiding in a trailer, Boudreaux said.
Eladio Parraz Jr., 52, was killed first, followed by Marcos Parraz, 19, and Jennifer Analla, 50, who was shot in her sleep, the sheriff said. Rosa Parraz, 72, was shot in the head while on her knees just beside her bed. Alissa Parraz and 10-month-old Nycholas were the last to die.
"This family was targeted by cold-blooded killers," Boudreaux said.
A man in tactical gear leans over a first aid kit next to a man lying on the ground.
Lying on the ground, Angel "Nanu" Uriarte receives medical attention following a gun battle with authorities early Friday. (Tulare County Sheriff's Office)
The Tulare County district attorney's office has charged Beard and Uriarte with six counts of murder and a series of special allegations including multiple murders, and committing murders to further the activities of a criminal street gang.
The Jan. 16 killings instilled fear in Goshen, an impoverished community in the San Joaquin Valley. In recent years, drug trafficking and gang violence have turned sparsely populated rural areas such as Goshen into some of the most violent places in California, but even so, the brutality of a family's massacre shocked the nation, prompting people from as far away as Maine to donate to a reward for the capture of the killers.
At least two members of the Parraz family were Sureño gang members, Boudreaux said, adding that Goshen is considered rival Norteño territory. Beyond that information, the sheriff said investigators had not identified any motive for the slayings.
Evidence that led to the suspects' arrests came in part thanks to DNA analysis, which was expedited by ATF labs in Maryland, Boudreaux said. The suspects had been under constant surveillance since Jan. 23, he said.
"We knew every move they were making," Boudreaux said. "We had them under our wing where we wanted them." The public, he maintained, was never at risk.
The Tulare County Sheriff's Office dubbed the early morning raids Operation Nightmare and said they included search warrants served at three locations in Goshen and nearby Visalia, and at several state prisons, including North Kern, Corcoran, Folsom and Pelican Bay. In all, eight cells and 16 inmates linked to the Nuestra Familia prison gang were targeted.
Federal law enforcement has been assisting the Sheriff's Office in its investigation, along with police departments in Visalia, Porterville and Woodlake. The investigation is ongoing, authorities noted Friday.
The morning after the killings, Boudreaux had declared that the violence was likely the work of a drug cartel. Twenty-four hours later, he modulated that assertion slightly.
“I’m not saying this is a cartel,” he said. “But I am not eliminating that possibility.”
He also complained about what he termed a loose border.
As he announced the arrests Friday, Boudreaux said some of his earlier public statements had been designed to reach the suspects and further the investigation.
"We released information to the media on purpose," he said. "We mentioned cartels, we mentioned gang members up and down the state of California, the potential of them trying to get out of the country. [The suspects] felt we weren’t focusing on them."
A pistol lays in the ground.
In Friday's arrests, authorities said additional weapons were recovered during the search of the homes of the two suspects. (Tulare County Sheriff's Office)
Both suspects have a long record with law enforcement in Tulare County.
In October 2021, Beard was arrested by Visalia police and charged with carrying a handgun and cocaine, according to Tulare County prosecutors. That case is pending, said Stuart Anderson, a spokesman for the Tulare County district attorney.
At the time of the arrest, Beard was a fugitive, having violated probation in Kansas' Wyandotte County, where he was convicted of aggravated robbery, according to court records.
He was extradited to Kansas in November 2021 to answer for the probation violation, Anderson said. It’s unclear when he was released. Beard was previously charged in Tulare County in 2016 with hit and run, driving a stolen car and obstructing a Tulare County sheriff’s deputy. He pleaded no contest to hit and run, other charges were dropped, and he served 20 days in county jail, Anderson said.
Uriarte was charged in 2014 in Tulare County with assaulting a person with a handgun, a crime that prosecutors said was committed in association with an unspecified street gang. Anderson said Uriarte pleaded no contest and served about five years of a seven-year prison sentence.
Uriarte and Beard could not be reached for comment.
The Norteño gang the two men allegedly belong to are tied to the Nuestra Familia prison gang, one of two prison-based organizations that hold strong sway over Latino gangs in California. The other is the Mexican Mafia.
The Nuestra Familia was born in the 1960s, formed by state prisoners who resented the Mexican Mafia’s grip over Latino inmates. At its founding, the Nuestra Familia — Spanish for “our family” — was not defined by any geographical divide. Many of its earliest members were from Chino, East Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California.
Over the years, however, the Nuestra Familia came to draw its members from Northern and Central California gangs. A rough line was drawn at Bakersfield: Gangs north of this line answered to the Nuestra Familia, its members identifying both in prison and on the streets as Norteños. Law enforcement officials have noticed that an increasing number of gangs in Northern and Central California now identify as Sureños, meaning they take orders from and pay “taxes” to members of the Mexican Mafia.
In an FBI report reviewed by The Times, a recent defector from the Mexican Mafia said the organization was eager to expand into northern and rural areas of the state, where drugs command higher prices than in Southern California neighborhoods that are saturated with competing dealers.
Don Lemon 'Screamed' At 'CNN This Morning' Co-Host Kaitlan Collins During Ugly Off-Air Incident
Don Lemon reportedly lashed out at his "CNN This Morning" co-host Kaitlan Collins. If a new report is to be believed, the TV personality "screamed" at his co-host during an ugly December 2022 incident that has left the cast and crew worried ever since.
Two sources spilled to New York Post that Don was mad at Kaitlan and approached her following the show's December 8, 2022 broadcast. The 56-year-old anchor later unloaded on his 30-year-old workmate in front of staffers as he accused her of "interrupting" him on air.
"Don screamed at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio," one source said of the incident. It was also reported that the explosive fight was brought up to CNN CEO Chris Licht, who was allegedly appalled by Don's behavior.
The second source, meanwhile, said a producer talked to Don at the behest of Chris. The anchor was told to take the next day off to "cool off."
The two and fellow co-host Poppy Harlow were allegedly supposed to get drinks and arrive together at a White House Christmas party for the press the following night. However, the pre-party gathering never happened and they went to the bash separately. According to the insider, Don had a late-night dinner with his agent, Jay Sures, after the party.
Following the dustup, Kaitlan and Don have been on set together less frequently. He was most recently sent to Memphis to quarterback coverage on the death of Tyre Nichols. Meanwhile, Kaitlan had been working remotely from Washington DC on and off in January.
"At this point, Kaitlan wants to be on set with Don as little as possible," a source said of Kaitlan, who was most recently served as CNN's youngest chief White House correspondent. "It's messy."
The second source went on to note that "Don has been given notes" by the show's producers "to not talk so much, to let other people talk." The informant continued, "Don's a bossy guy and difficult to work with - even he would admit that. He was a solo act before. He doesn't want to be in Destiny's Child."
Another source close to Don confirmed the former primetime anchor ws "not happy" about sharing the limelight with Poppy and Kaitlan. "Don has an intractable ego," a source claimed. "My understanding is he wants the show to be about him. I don't know how you fix that. It's a very difficult situation."
A representative for the network refused to comment on the incident. However, it said, "In just three months, these anchors have created a compelling morning show that breaks news and drives the conversation."
The off-air fight wasn't the only drama on "CNN This Morning" which launched on November 1, 2022. Prior to that, Don got into an awkward dispute with his two co-hosts on air as they were arguing that the U.S. men's soccer team should get paid more than the women's team despite the mens' relative lack of success at the World Cup.
Beyoncé’s former dancers will need to audition to get on her upcoming tour
Beyoncé has announced her new world tour dates and her dancers are looking to get their spots back.Getty Images For Parkwood Entert
Beyoncé has announced her first tour since 2018 — and while fans are thrilled, some of her former dancers might be sweating.
“With a world tour comes a whole new staff and that includes the dancers, bandmates and backup singers. It’s out with the old and in with the new,” pointed out one insider.
“Her last tour was the ‘On The Run Tour II’ back in 2018 with Jay-Z. So she will be sure to deliver– but with a new tour comes a brand new staff so she has been auditioning a whole new team.”
The diva’s “Renaissance” tour will kick off its North American leg on July 8 in Toronto, we previously reported, with subsequent stops in US cities including Chicago, New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston and New Orleans, among others..
“The old dancers are free to audition once again to regain their spots but Beyoncé will be more open to fresh new young talent taking on the reigns,” said an entrainment source.
“She is looking for young women and men — and also a few new band members as well — to take on the new positions on her team.”
The 41-year-old icon and mother of three made the world tour announcement via Instagram on Wednesday. The full itinerary is available on the “Crazy In Love” singer’s official website along with ticket information.
Enlarge ImageBeyoncé posing on a silver beaded horse with a silver beaded cowboy hat.
The tour begins internationally on May 10, and ends in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 27.
beyonce/Instagram
Page Six exclusively revealed in September 2022 that Beyoncé was planning to take her critically acclaimed dance album on the road. A source told us at the time that the 28-time Grammy winner was booking stadiums around the world for her first tour since her and her husband Jay-Z’s “On the Run II” shows in 2018.
'Flashdance' singer Irene Cara’s cause of death revealed
Irene Cara, best known for her work acting in '80s movie Fame, in which she also performed the theme song, and for taking home the Oscar for the theme song in 1983's Flashdance, died of high cholesterol and hypertension, both her publicist, Judith A. Moose, and the medical examiner in Florida's Pinellas County confirm to Yahoo Entertainment.
The medical examiner's office notes that Cara suffered from arteriosclerotic (meaning cholesterol/plaque buildup in the arteries) and hypertensive cardiovascular disease (caused by high blood pressure), and that diabetes was a contributory condition. The manner of death was listed as natural.
Cara, 63, died Nov. 25 at home. Moose shared the sad news on social media.
"She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films," she wrote, after asking for privacy for Cara's family. She also noted that a memorial for Cara's fans would be announced at a later date.
A Jan. 26 tweet from the late star's official Twitter account responded to fan who theorized that Cara was still alive, as no specifics about a public memorial had been given.
"While I would love nothing more than for that to be true, unfortunately, it's not," the post read. "I'm currently waiting for word from venues I've contacted to book her public memorial. It is being tentatively scheduled for March 18th (her birthday). I'll share more updates as they're available."
Along with the Oscar that she won for "Flashdance... What a Feeling," she also took home a Golden Globe and two Grammys.
U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance balloon
The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that had been transiting across the country for several days.
In a statement Saturday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the balloon at the direction of President Joe Biden. Lloyd said the balloon was being used by the People’s Republic of China “in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.”
Biden gave authorization on Wednesday to take down the balloon as soon as it could be done “without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path,” Lloyd said.
“In accordance with the President’s direction, the Department of Defense developed options to take down the balloon safely over our territorial waters, while closely monitoring its path and intelligence collection activities,” he said in the statement.
TV footage shows the high-altitude balloon, which is estimated to be the size of three school busses, bursting in a small explosion before falling into the water. Officials will attempt to recover the debris, according to NBC News.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop in parts of North Carolina and South Carolina and closed additional airspace on Saturday afternoon. The departures were paused “to support the Department of Defense in a national security effort,” a representative told CNBC. Normal operations began resuming later that afternoon, the FAA said on Twitter.
Biden broke his silence about the balloon for the first time Saturday, telling a group of reporters, “We’re going to take care of it.” Later that afternoon, he told reporters that he had instructed officials to “shoot it down” on Wednesday, but that they wanted to wait until it was as safe as possible.
“They successfully took it down, and I want to compliment our aviators who did it,” Biden said. “And we’ll have more to report on this a little later.”
The balloon was initially spotted over Billings, Montana, on Wednesday. Defense officials said the Pentagon considered shooting down the balloon earlier this week but decided against it after briefing Biden. The decision was made in consultation with senior leaders, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Biden concluded that the U.S. would not shoot down the balloon because debris from it could cause damage on the ground, a Pentagon official said. Moreover, any information the balloon collects would have “limited additive value” compared with China’s spy satellites.
China’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that the balloon was a civilian weather airship intended for scientific research that was blown off course. It described the incident as a result of a “force majeure” for which it was not responsible.
This claim was summarily dismissed by U.S. officials. A senior Pentagon official told reporters Thursday night that the object was clearly a surveillance balloon that was flying over sensitive sites to collect intelligence.
“We have noted the PRC statement of regret, but the presence of this balloon in our airspace is a clear violation of our sovereignty as well as international law and is unacceptable that this has occurred,” the official said.
The presence of the balloon prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to indefinitely postpone what was to be an already tense trip to China on Friday.
The visit was intended to reinforce communication and cooperation between the two countries as tensions have deepened over China’s increasing military aggression toward Taiwan and closer alliances with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Instead, Blinken told China’s director of Central Foreign Affairs Office, Wang Yi, in a phone call Friday that the balloon was an “irresponsible act and a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law that undermined the purpose of the trip,” according to a readout of the discussion.
E-40 donates $100,000 to Grambling State University's music department
On Friday (Feb. 3) morning, rapper E-40 donated $100,000 to Grambling State University’s music department
While announcing the surprise at his former school, the “Big Subwoofer” hitmaker was joined by his wife, Grambling State’s President Rick Gallot, and Dr. Nikole Roebuck, who serves as the school’s music department chair and director of bands. Their music studio was named Earl “E-40” Stevens Sound Recording Studio in his honor as a token of appreciation.
The HBCU shared the news on their social media platforms. “We had a very special guest return to campus for Prez Says and to present a special donation to the university,” they captioned an Instagram video. “@e40 and @dr.nikkiroe combined forces to make this special moment happen and rename the recording studio in the Performing Arts Center to the Earl ‘E-40’ Stevens Recording Studio. It was our pleasure to have you back on campus #GramFam and we appreciate the impact your gift will have on our students.”
The California native is a founding member of rap group the Click and founder of independent label Sick Wid It Records. He has released 28 studios albums to date. His first solo album, Federal, was released in 1993 and peaked at No. 80 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Major Way, which was his second album, was released in 1995 and it peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
The 55-year-old is currently the owner and creator of an extensive profile of wine and spirits brands including E.Cuarenta Tequila, Tycoon Cognac, and Sluricane. E-40 also co-owns a restaurant called The Lumpia Company with Alex Retodo.
JAY-Z and Bacardi officially end multibillion-dollar legal battle
After months of litigation, JAY-Z and Bacardi have resolved their dispute over their multibillion-dollar cognac joint venture, D’USSÉ. The settlement was announced in a press release today (Feb. 3) and called for “an affiliate of the liquor giant to buy out a majority of the rap star’s 50 percent stake in the cognac company, D’USSÉ LLC, leaving Bacardi owning at least 75.01 percent of the business.” Hov will still retain “a significant ownership stake” through his company SCLiquor LLC.
“Growing D’USSÉ over the past decade from an idea to one of the fastest-selling spirits in history has been a blessing,” the hip hop veteran said in the statement. “The next phase of this journey will further cement D’USSÉ’s legacy as one of the world’s most respected brands. I am excited to renew this partnership with Bacardi.”
“We have deep respect for his creativity and business acumen and are proud of our accomplishments in establishing D’USSÉ as a leader in an exciting and competitive category,” the statement read on behalf of Bacardi.
The dispute began with Bacardi offering $500 million for JAY-Z’s interest in the venture to which the rapper responded with a $1.5 billion counteroffer that wound up being rejected. The “Encore” emcee then took the case to court, and even filed a separate lawsuit that claimed Bacardi was “intentionally running D’USSÉ into the ground.”
On the music front, the multi-platinum certified artist’s last full-length solo album was 2017’s 4:44, which boasted guest features from Frank Ocean, Damian Marley, Gloria Carter, and Beyoncé while housing fan-favorites like “Family Feud” and “The Story of O.J.” Since then, Hov blessed us with verses on tracks like “Neck & Wrist” by Pusha-T and “GOD DID” by DJ Khaled, the latter of which is performing this Sunday (Feb. 5) at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Lizzo Hard Launches Relationship with Myke Wright, Performs at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Party
Lizzo and her boyfriend Myke Wright just took their relationship to the next level!
The 34-year-old Special hitmaker and her boyfriend hard launched their romance and made it red carpet official on the red carpet at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman (aka Clive Davis‘ iconic Pre-Grammy Party) in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The event took place on Saturday night (February 4) at The Beverly Hilton, and Lizzo did even more than take the next step in her relationship.
Lizzo also took the stage to perform during the party!
She looked so fierce in a black dress trimmed with royal blue feathers. Myke, meanwhile, kept it classic in a black tuxedo. The duo appeared to be in good spirits and very much in love with each other. Lizzo hopped on Instagram to celebrate their night in a sweet post.
If you didn’t know, Lizzo and Myke have been dating for over a year now. Back in October, she revealed that she was considering taking yet another, even bigger step with her man!
3 bodies found near Detroit identified as missing rappers
Three bodies found in an abandoned apartment complex in the Detroit area were identified Friday by Michigan State Police as the missing rappers who had not been seen since a gig they were scheduled to perform at two weeks ago was canceled.
MSP tweeted: "The victims in this homicide investigation have been positively identified by investigators. They are: Armani Kelly, Male, Oscoda; Montoya Givens, Male, Detroit; Dante Wicker, Male, Melvindale. We offer condolences to their family and friends."
The cause of death and motive is unknown.
Last month, the rappers were supposed to perform at Lounge 31 in Detroit, but the show was canceled due to equipment problems, police said.
Kelly was last seen leaving Oscoda —about three hours north of Detroit— around 11 a.m. on Jan. 21 around to head to the lounge. In the days after he disappeared, Kelly's mother, Lorrie Kemp, tracked his vehicle through Onstar and found it at three locations in Warren, about half an hour north of Detroit, CBS Detroit reported.
A week later, a 15-year-old was arrested driving a vehicle associated with one of the missing men, authorities said.
"I can tell you that there was a juvenile that was arrested, not in connection with the missing people, but in connection with a vehicle associated with one of the missing people," Dawn Fraylick, communications director for the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, told CBS News.
During a news conference Tuesday, Detroit Police Chief James White said all three of the men's cellphones were turned off around the same time the night they went missing.
Thursday evening, MSP said via Twitter that "multiple victims" were found in the building on the corner of McNichols and Log Cabin in Highland Park, a city about 10 minutes from Detroit, but their identities had not yet been confirmed. MSP said via Twitter that the building where the bodies were found "is in very poor condition and rat invested which is slowing progress."
Anyone with information is being asked to contact 800 SPEAK.UP or 855 MICH.TIP.
Elon Musk Says Twitter Will Now Share Ad Revenue With Blue Subscribers
Elon Musk is offering more incentives for Twitter Blue sign-ups.
The billionaire tech mogul announced on Friday that the platform would start sharing ad revenue with eligible users. Musk said those who are subscribed to Twitter Blue Verified will receive a cut of the revenue from ads that appear in their reply threads, but failed to provide additional information on how the program would work.
Twitter currently offers a few monetization options, including its Super Follows and Tips features.
“Starting today, Twitter will share ad revenue with creators for ads that appear in their reply threads,” he wrote. “To be eligible, the account must be a subscriber to Twitter Blue Verified.”
Ex-Adidas Exec Eric Liedtke on Adidas' Rise, Yeezy, and His Departure | The Complex Sneakers Podcast
A Twitter Blue subscription comes with exclusive features and perks, including the highly coveted verified check mark, the option to edit published tweets, and the ability to upload videos that are up to 10 minutes long. As of now, the premium subscription service costs $8 a month or $84 per year. (Those who subscribe directly through iOS pay $11 a month.)
Depending on how the ad revenue program works, subscribers may be able to recover the subscription cost through viral tweets. But, again, Musk and Twitter have yet to lay out any specific details, like how much of the revenue Twitter will share and how creators will get paid.
Musk reassured users he and his team will provide more information in the near future.
“More to come on this front,” he tweeted. “Twitter needs to be where a creator is most highly rewarded for their time & talent.”
More to come on this front. Twitter needs to be where a creator is most highly rewarded for their time & talent.
Kyrie Irving Reportedly Requests Trade From Brooklyn Nets (Report)
Kyrie Irving time with the Brooklyn Nets appears to have run its course.\
NBA insider Shams Charania took to Twitter on Friday to report that the All-Star point guard has requested to be traded by next week’s deadline. Should the Nets refuse to move Irving before the Feb. 9 deadline, Charania says Kyrie plans on leaving the team as a free agent this summer.
The news arrives several months after Kyrie requested to be sign-and-traded ahead of the start of the NBA season, before he ultimately decided to opt into the final year of his four-year contract.
Kyrie’s latest trade request continues what’s been a tumultuous tenure for the star point guard in Brooklyn. During the 2020-21 season, Kyrie’s refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine kept him from playing Nets home games until NYC mayor Eric Adams altered the city’s laws.
Earlier this season, Kyrie sparked backlash after posting a link on social media for the documentary Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, a 2018 film that focuses on antisemitic tropes.
He was subsequently suspended for a minimum of five games without pay, and was told to complete six action items in order to return to the team. The demands included a face-to-face meeting Jewish leaders, the completion of sensitivity training, a $500,000 donation to anti-hate groups, and a public apology for promoting the aforementioned film.
In December, Nike ended its partnership with Irving, making the Nets star a sneaker free agent.
Dr. Yusef Salaam: Member of ‘Exonerated Five’ to Run for NYC City Council
*Dr. Yusef Salaam, a member of the Exonerated Five, announced today (02-04-23) that he’s throwing his hat into the ring and running for New York City Council.
Dr. Salaam will formally start his campaign Saturday for the 9th district, which represents parts of Harlem, Morningside Heights and the Upper West Side.
In 1990, as the whole world recalls, Salaam was wrongly convicted in the Central Park jogger case. His conviction was rescinded in 2002.
Since his release, Salaam has worked as a criminal justice advocate and serves as a board member for the Innocence Project.
Michigan Mom Says Daughters NSFW Art Projected Was Misinterpreted: ‘It’s A Freaking Bow Tie’
A Michigan mom is criticizing her 11-year-old daughter’s school for its handling of an NSFW art project that was just misinterpreted by the fifth grader’s teacher.
Sierra Carter received a call from her daughter’s elementary school teacher stating the girl had drawn an “inappropriate” picture during art class. A male student approached the teacher to let her know that Carter’s daughter had drawn “boy parts on her pig project.”
According to her mom, Carter’s daughter explained that she drew a bow tie on the pig, not male genitalia. The teacher gave the picture to the school’s principal, who advised to write the student up.
The following week, Carter brought her daughter to school so she could meet with school officials and see the art for herself. She told Yahoo Life that attached to the drawing was a piece of paper that described how her daughter reacted to the teacher’s questioning of the picture. She was advised it would be placed in her student file.
“As soon as I look at it, I’m like, ‘Are you freaking kidding me?” Carter explained in her now-viral TikTok video. “It’s a freaking bow tie!’
She believes that her daughter was failed by the adults at the elementary school and should have “shut this down.”
“You can’t just sit there and assume or ostracize a child for something like that,” she told the outlet. “Because one boy thinks it’s something, that’s the word you’re gonna take?”
After getting home from the school, Carter decided to vent her frustrations on TikTok. Her video has been more than 600,000 times and has almost 60,000 likes. Many of the 18,000 comments the video has racked up suggest Carter escalate the issue to the Superintendent of the school district.
“Teacher here… bow tie, but woulda had to show my fellow teachers because it’s cute and funny,” @pattydg222 wrote. “Nothing more.
Several other people suggested Carter frame the drawing and give it to the principal, teacher, and social worker.
“I would frame it and give it to the teacher and principal as a gift,” @heather_4255 wrote with a laughing crying emoji.
The school district issued a statement to Yahoo Life, saying, “it is unfortunate that a one-sided narrative has been created on social media that paints our staff in a negative light. As with every situation, there are two sides to this story.”
“In this case, a student appropriately brought concerns to the attention of our staff,” the district’s statement read. “In response, our staff handled the situation with compassion and discretion. Staff contacted the student’s parents to discuss the situation. No student was singled out or ostracized. Every effort was made to protect the privacy and dignity of all students. Nothing has been placed in any student’s school records related to this matter.”
John Denney, the district’s Superintendent, confirmed to the outlet that the drawing was not placed in Carter’s daughter’s student file. However, there are “notes that can be referred back to if there are any significant issues through the end of the year,” an email to Carter states.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘JUST TESTING’
Just testing the strength of the tape’
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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