#MAGFAB: Zaya Wade, in Dazed Cover, Opens Up about Educating Her Trans-Affirming Family
Zaya Wade is one of the most famous trans teens on the planet, and she’s well on her way to becoming a fashion icon too. Earlier this month, she made her runway debut at Miu Miu’s Paris Fashion Week show; now, one week later, she’s landed her first magazine cover for Dazed’s spring issue.
Fittingly, the theme of the issue is “New,” celebrating “all things new in culture and the world at large” and surveying “new voices for the new generation.” The 15-year-old Wade can definitely be considered one of those voices, as she has been since she came out as trans at the age of 12. That’s a position she’s well aware of, as the teen explained in the story accompanying her cover shoot.
“I think it’s not my job, but it’s my honor to continue and further my family’s education and appreciation for the entire LBGTQ+ community as we grow together,” she said. “As our understanding of acceptance has broadened over the past couple of years, we have made the strides to keep ourselves educated and combat the ignorance.”
The daughter of former NBA champion Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union, both of whom recently spoke out about the need for greater allyship to Black trans people at the NAACP Awards, Zaya also noted that there were certainly “some highs and some lows” to growing up in the public eye.
“I mean, a lot of attention equals a lot more hate, a lot of transphobia, and [there is] a lot of pressure on me, but I’m also able to reach more people,” Wade explained. “The positives of having such an inclusive platform completely outweigh all of the negativity online, which my support system has enabled me to filter out. It has allowed me to let in the positivity and distribute it to all of the trans people in the world who need a voice and give them a platform to get inspired to live with themselves without being afraid.”
Wade also answered questions from trans youth in the U.K., with one 20-year-old asking her what she wished all younger trans kids knew.
“There are so many people out there. I wish I knew that as a kid because I felt so isolated, thinking there was no one else like me,” she said, adding that visibility is much greater for trans adults than trans children. “There are thousands of communities waiting [for you], and the trans community is forever growing. Even if you can’t have direct contact with them, just seeing their experience is so accessible because of social media. Other people can inspire you.”
The Wade family has been a beacon of positive trans representation for years now. Back in 2020, when Zaya came out, Union stated that she and her husband were simply “doing what is natural to us, which is loving her.” Union also took the teenager to her first pride (on a Bring It On float, no less), and her father has similarly shown his support via matching pink hair — and filing the petition for Zaya’s legal name change. At a time when trans kids are desperately in need of models of healthy, loving families, the Wades are a shining example.
You can read the full cover story with Zaya Wade on Dazed’s website.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss’ Son Ace Wells Tucker Started His Own YouTube Channel
He may only be 7 years old but Kandi Burruss’ son Ace Wells Tucker is already making a name for himself on YouTube.
The pint-sized entrepreneur has already amassed more than 17,000 followers on his YouTube Channel Ace Plays and Giveaways, where he gives a glimpse into his life and shares tips and toys with his “best friends on YouTube.”
Proud mom Kandi checked in with Ace about the channel’s growing popularity on SWV & XSCAPE: The Queens of R&B, airing Sundays at 9:30/8:30c on Bravo.
“Ace, how many people do you have subscribed to your YouTube channel now?” she asked.
“17,261,” Ace told his awestruck mom as the family relaxed in their Atlanta home.
“OK, little, turn up,” Ace’s dad, Todd Tucker, teased.
Kandi, who is not only a member of the chart-topping R&B band XSCAPE but is also a castmate on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, announced Ace’s YouTube channel on her own Instagram account in January 2020.
“Guess what?! @acetucker has started his own Youtube channel called Ace Plays And Giveaways!” she wrote. “Ace’s channel is fun content for kids. Every week Ace will be playing & giving away toys or tickets to events that are kid friendly to one of his subscribers that watches & comments on his page. Subscribe now because he’ll be posting a new video soon!”
To drive home the message, Kandi included an irresistible video of an almost 4-year-old Ace making a plea to potential subscribers.
“All I want for my birthday is for you guys to subscribe to my channel,” he said.
More than three years later, Ace continues to deliver to his online fans and “best friends on YouTube,” as he calls them, providing videos of him unboxing toys, instructing his peers on the best way to make cheesy bread, or providing a behind-the-scenes look at his life.
His most recent video features the 7-year-old unboxing a slime kit and then sharing how to make it.
“Guys, we're making slime,” he said, before momentarily getting distracted and showing his fans “how to fly.”
“OK, I’m back. I almost went to the moon because my flying power is so bad,” he said before continuing on with the project.
Ace likely inherited his online savvy from his mom, Kandi, who has her own successful YouTube channel, KandiOnline, where she’s garnered more than 600,000 subscribers.
Just like his mom, Ace has found a way to relate to his growing fan base online — but with his own unique take.
“Have a great 2023 and have a good school year,” he concluded in his slime tutorial. “Do good. Tell your mom and dad that you love watching YouTube if you do. Have a great time! Bye!”
It’s no surprise Ace is a natural in front of the camera. Last year in The Real Housewives of Atlanta Kandi took Ace to an acting coach and revealed he had “a lot of auditions” in his burgeoning pursuit to become a child star.
“Ace, I always say, that's our can-do-it-all baby,” Kandi told The Daily Dish last year. “That boy is good at everything he tries. He's open to try [anything]... pretty much anything he tries to do, he's pretty good at it.”
#NewMusic from Tori Kelly – Missin U
Songstress Tori Kelly returns with the brand new single called “missin u”, via Epic Records. The song also arrives with a visual to accompany it.
The Jon Bellion produced and co-written song finds its inspiration in turn-of-the-millennium R&B with its head-nodding bounce. Kelly’s voice soars over gorgeous stacked harmonies, flexing her signature towering vocal range.
WATCH HERE
“missin u” is just the beginning of the new Tori. She’s working on a whole lot more music for release very soon.
#HipHopNews: Kurupt Says 2pac Getting Killed On Suge Knight’s Watch Was Why He Left Death Row
Kurupt has revealed that 2Pac‘s death served as proof that the Death Row Records environment was too dangerous — and the reason he decided to leave the label.
In a new interview with The Art Of Dialogue, the Dogg Pound rapper shared that, by the time he followed Dr. Dre‘s lead and requested to be let out of his contract, all of Death Row’s artists had become weary of how much life at the label mirrored street life.
“Everywhere we was going we had to keep our eyes open, 10 toes on the ground,” he recalled. “We had to stay heated and make sure that we protected ourselves. And then to go to Death Row and feel the same way as when we in the streets: we all kinda got burnt on that.”
He went on to explain that, while his group mates Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger and Soopafly were still signed to Death Row after Dre left, he simply couldn’t get past the fact that not even Suge Knight‘s presence could assure their safety.
“We all was a little tired of walking on egg shells,” Kurupt continued. “Because if we gon be here and it feels the same was as being on the streets, then whats the difference? If a n-gga gotta come to the studio heated, what’s the difference.
“Dr. Dre set up the woo-wop, like, ‘It can be done, you can leave,'” he added. “When I saw Dr. Dre do that, then 2Pac died, that was the final straw for me. N-ggas is getting shot even with Suge. Now THAT is it.”
Despite the criminal element that seemed to follow Death Row at its peak, Kurupt said in a separate clip from his appearance on The Art Of Dialogue that Snoop and Daz did their best to keep 2Pac away from the Los Angeles gang culture they had all grown up in.
“Crippin’ and Bloodin’ is real! This ain’t no joke,” he explained. “This shit ain’t to play with, this ain’t something you just kick around. Once you in, you in for life; you gotta ride it out homie. And 2Pac is militant! He’s not a gang member.”
Kurupt added: “He’s from a Black Panther background, a whole ‘nother background. It’s just not healthy for him. A lot of us gangbang ’cause we wanted to; and a lot of us gangbang ’cause we had to. We lived there; we had to protect our community, you know.”
Upon leaving Death Row, Kurupt went on to launch his own imprint, Antra Records, at A&M Records, through which he released two solo project. But he remained part of Suge Knight’s roster as one half of Tha Dogg Pound with Daz Dillinger.
Once Daz finally stepped away from the infamous label, the duo changed their name to Dogg Pound Gangstas (D.P.G.) after Knight claimed ownership of their original name and any music they had recorded prior to their departure.
Kurupt would rejoin Death Row in 2002 and eventually become its vice president. He released his fourth studio album, Against the Grain, on the label in 2005.
UBS to Buy Credit Suisse in $3.3 Billion Deal to End Crisis
UBS Group AG agreed to buy Credit Suisse Group AG in a historic, government-brokered deal aimed at containing a crisis of confidence that had started to spread across global financial markets.
The Swiss bank is paying 3 billion francs ($3.3 billion) for its rival in an all-share deal that includes extensive government guarantees and liquidity provisions. The price per share marked a 99% decline from Credit Suisse’s peak in 2007.
The Swiss National Bank is offering a 100 billion-franc liquidity assistance to UBS while the government is granting a 9 billion-franc guarantee for potential losses from assets UBS is taking over. Regulator Finma said about 16 billion francs of Credit Suisse bonds will become worthless to ensure private investors help shoulder the costs.
The plan, negotiated in hastily arranged crisis talks over the weekend, seeks to address client outflows and a massive rout in Credit Suisse’s stock and bonds over the past week following the collapse of smaller US lenders. A liquidity backstop by the Swiss central bank mid-week failed to end a market drama that threatened to send counterparties fleeing, with potential ramifications for the broader industry.
“It was indispensable that we acted quickly and find a solution as quickly as possible“ given that Credit Suisse is a systemically important bank, Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan said at a press conference late Sunday.
The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department welcomed the deal, as did the European Central Bank. US authorities had been working with their Swiss counterparts because both lenders have extensive operations in the US, Bloomberg reported earlier. Authorities sought an agreement before markets opened again in Asia.
US equity futures rose early Monday as investors weighed the agreement and central bank moves to boost dollar liquidity. The Fed and five other central banks announced coordinated action on Sunday to boost liquidity in US dollar swap arrangements, the latest effort by policymakers to ease growing strains in the global financial system.
UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher said he will shrink Credit Suisse’s investment bank, a unit that has racked up losses in recent years, likely ending the dreams of a CS First Boston spinoff. The Swiss universal bank, the one business of Credit Suisse that has remained a relative bastion of stability, is expected to stay with UBS, despite concerns about concentration in the domestic market.
“Let me be very specific on this: UBS intends to downsize Credit Suisse’s investment banking business and align it with our conservative risk culture,” he said at a press conference announcing the deal. He said it’s too early to say how many jobs may be cut after the deal.
The government’s loss-guarantee was necessary because there was little time to do due diligence and Credit Suisse has hard-to-value assets on its books that UBS plans to wind down, Kelleher said. If that results in losses, UBS would assume the first 5 billion francs and the federal government the next 9 billion francs.
The takeover of the 166 year-old lender marks a historic event for the nation and global finance. The former Schweizerische Kreditanstalt was founded by industrialist Alfred Escher in 1856 to finance the build-out of the mountainous nation’s railway network. It had grown into global powerhouse symbolizing Switzerland’s role as a global financial center, before struggling to adapt to a changed banking landscape after the financial crisis.
UBS traces its roots back through some 370 separate institutions over 160 years, culminating in the merger of the Union Bank of Switzerland and the Swiss Bank Corporation in 1998. After emerging from a state bailout during the 2008 financial crisis, UBS built a reputation as one of the world’s largest wealth managers, catering to high- and ultra-high net worth individuals globally.
While Credit Suisse avoided a bailout during the financial crisis, it has been hammered over recent years by a series of blowups, scandals, leadership changes and legal issues. Clients had pulled more than $100 billion of assets in the last three months of last year as concerns mounted about its financial health, and the outflows continued even after it tapped shareholders in a 4 billion-franc capital raise.
“This was the only possible solution,” Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said, adding it was needed to stabilize the Swiss as well as international financial markets. Credit Suisse, she said, was no longer able to survive on its own.
Tamar Braxton Engaged to ‘Queens Court’ Finalist Jeremy ‘JR’ Robinson
Tamar Braxton is getting married! The star, 46, and finalist Jeremy “JR” Robinson got engaged on the finale of her Peacock dating show “Queens Court.”
During the episode, she told him, "I prayed for somebody to understand me and not look at me and my flaws and just accept me for who I am. And then I met you. And then I saw every single thing that I ever prayed for as a child."
The attorney told her, "I'm not only willing, I'm ready. So much so that I don't want to be your friend… I want to be your husband."
Popping the question, he went on, "Tamar, I'm here forever because I don't see my life without you. I love you, Tamar. Tamar, will you marry me?" Braxton is asked if he was sure, and he told her, "Absolutely sure."
Tamar nodded “yes,” and told him, "I can't believe I found what I was looking for."
Fans then learned that six months after filming the proposal, Tamar and JR are still together.
She even shared a video of Robinson on her Instagram account on Friday, writing, "It's my birthday but I have to post the one who puts this cheesy smile on my face. It took me a while to realize that this wholesome, traditional love is the kind that I wanted and needed. We have 6 children between the two of us and they mean EVERYTHING to me."
Tamar added, "So miss me with the he has 4 baby mamas!! 😂😂Thank God for them. We are blessed And drama free thank God for my best friend, life partner and fiancée @rarebreednola the happiest birthday to me ever my ❤️ "
Braxton shares son Logan, 9, with ex Vincent Herbert.
Drake Leaves Fans Upset After Cutting His Set Short At Lollapalooza Argentina
Drake has angered his fans once again. The "Certified Lover Boy" artist reportedly cut his set short at the Lollapalooza Argentina and people were clearly disappointed by his decision.
It remains unclear why the Canadian star "unexpectedly ended" his set early. He also made fans pissed off by canceling the live broadcast of his performance.
Calling out the Grammy winner, one Twitter user argued, "wow drake's lollapalooza Argentina performance was complete trashhhhhhh. ended the set 30 min early, cut the livestream 5 mins before the show." Another tweeted, "Holy f**k this dude."
"@Drake You come to Argentina to become a star, by prohibiting the show from being broadcast live, s**tty garbage," a third fumed. "Get out of our country broken face #LOLArgentina #Lollapalooza.
One Instagram user also voiced their disappointment in the comment section of Lollapalooza Argentina's Instagram posts. "Started 10 minutes late, cut 30 minutes early, sang 30 seconds of each song, out of control just said the word literal 'control,' " the person detailed. "sound went off, screens stayed on black for minutes - a disaster."
Just days prior, Drake caused an uproar after announcing his joint tour with 21 Savage. Fans were baffled by the pricey ticket prices. Those who had early access to the tickets were not happy to find out that there were no tickets for less than $100.
Standard general admission tickets for nosebleed seats, which are the worst section, start at $137 and go up to $495+ as you get closer to the stage. Some others claimed that the ticket prices go as high as for $1,000.
"Drake concert tickets are 1k??? he better chris brown me on dat stage," one fan tweeted, referring to CB giving a lap dance to audiences at his European concerts. Another exclaimed, "Drake concert tickets 1k for a seat??? He better sit in my lap and sing in my ears."
Harry And Meghan Signed 'Landlord And Tenant' Agreement On Windsor Home After Royal Exit
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not required to pay rent on their Windsor home after paying back the money used for its refurbishment. Previously living in the five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage while still working members of the royal family, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle agreed to refund the £2.4 million taxpayers had spent on refurbishing the abode when they stepped back from official duties and moved to California.
While it was reported they would pay a "commercial rate" for the property - which would cost an estimated £150,000-£230,000 a year, Buckingham Palace have now stated the lump-sum payment they returned wiped out their rental obligations as the money was seen as "rent in lieu."
A spokesperson told the Mail on Sunday newspaper, "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a contribution of £2.4 million to the Sovereign Grant which covered the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage. They have fulfilled their financial obligations in relation to the property."
"In line with usual practice for the Sovereign Grant report, the accounting treatment was scrutinised and signed off by the National Audit Office and the Treasury. As with any such agreement between landlord and tenant, further details regarding the Sussexes' tenancy arrangements would be a private matter."
Harry and Meghan - who have children Prince Archie, three, and Princess Lilibet, 21 months, together - moved into the property in spring 2019 after extensive work transformed it from a number of separate properties into one large family home but, when they stepped back from royal duties the following year with plans to be "financially independent," Buckingham Palace released a statement saying it was the couple's "wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home" and they later said they would continue to pay a "commercial rate" of rent for the property.
Accounts show they paid five-month rent before handing over the £2.4 million lump sum in September to cover the refurbishment costs. Official reports for the Sovereign Grant - which detail public spending on the royal family - show the money was split into three headings and recorded on two sets of accounts.
The sum is listed as both "rental income" and "recharges for functions and other income" in the 2020/21 figures, and the following year the final part of the money is listed as "deferred income under current liabilities."
Former Cabinet Minister and Privy Counsellor Norman Baker has blasted the deal. He said, "It is outrageous that Harry and Meghan should be able to live in a huge house on these terms while regular people struggle to put food on the table."
The house is now rumored to be handed over to Prince Andrew who was fired as a working royal due to Jeffrey Epstein scandal. It's unclear whether or not he will stay there rent-free, but there is no uproar over the report that he's moving into Frogmore Cottage.
Former Major League Pitcher T.J. House Comes Out As Gay
Former major league baseball player T.J. House came out as gay and announced his engagement to his partner, Ryan Neitzel, in an emotional social media post Thursday.
House, who pitched for the Cleveland Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays from 2014 to 2017, said he lived out his childhood dream of playing professional baseball in Cleveland at 23, but that he used it as a “drug” to “numb what was really going on inside.”
“Deep down I wanted something more, I wanted to be loved not for what I did, but who I was,” he said in a Facebook post.
He said he felt like he could not be himself around many people, because of conversations he heard from others and in church.
“It’s hard listening to people talk about you without them knowing that the words they are saying are directed at you,” he said.
He added that shame kept him from coming out, but “love has finally set me free.”
House is only the third former MLB player to come out publicly, according to the LGBTQ sports website Outsports. He follows Glenn Burke, who came out in 1982 after playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, and Billy Bean, who came out in 1999 after playing for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.
“This is a great day for the league and baseball,” Bean, who is now the league’s senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, told Outsports.
Outsports contributor Ken Schultz said in a statement that House's announcement is significant because few pro athletes in men's sports have come out and baseball in particular is still waiting for its first active LGBTQ player.
“TJ choosing to share his story publicly reinforces our presence in the clubhouse and gives modern-day players an example of one of their peers living as his true self and sharing his strength and happiness with the world," Schultz said.
In his post, House noted that the recent passage of the Respect for Marriage Act will allow him and Neitzel “to have the same rights and opportunities that each of you have.”
The bill, which the House sent to Biden’s desk Thursday, provides federal protection for marriages between same-sex and interracial couples.
“It protects the same benefits. It makes us equal to you. It allows Ryan Neitzel and I to come together and create something beautiful. It gives me the confidence to get engaged to the person I love (he said Yes!), to marry them,” he said. “I have a wonderful fiance, who challenges me daily to become a better person.”
House said at the end of his post that he is “finally healing” after locking up who he was for more than 20 years. “Today I am Loved,” he wrote.
Megan Thee Stallion stuns in chic photos celebrating Women's History Month
Megan Thee Stallion is keeping a smile on her face as she continues to ease her way back into the public eye. On Saturday (March 18), the Houston Hottie shared a carousel of six images highlighting some of the moments she experienced while at Vice President Kamala Harris and Glamour’s Women’s History Month brunch.
The event was held in Washington, D.C., at the vice president’s residence and highlighted women trailblazers across industries. The three-time Grammy Award winner wore a black skirt with blue accents and a matching sweater as she posed on the gated grounds. During the brunch, Harris delivered an impassioned speech: “Economic empowerment of women is about an investment in the future of our country. When you lift up the economic status of women, you lift up the economic status of families and communities, and all of society benefits.”
The Traumazine artist was named one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year honorees in 2021. “I am truly humbled to be in such incredible company. I really want to thank my mom. I want to thank my mom because she taught me how to be the woman that I am,” said the then 26-year-old as she accepted her award. Holly Thomas, the rapper’s mother, died in 2019 after a battle with brain cancer.
This month, the “Savage” emcee made her first red carpet appearance at Vanity Fair’s Oscar party last weekend, on March 12. She was styled by Law Roach in a figure-hugging black Bach Mai mermaid gown. “I wanted to make her feel secure and comfortable and make her feel and look as perfect as possible so that she can have the strength to do what she had to do,” explained Roach about Megan’s look in an interview with The Cut just days after he announced his retirement as a celebrity stylist. The star-studded event marked the first time Megan had been seen since photos from her birthday surfaced online last month.
Viola Davis Dishes On Being Handpicked By Michael Jordan To Play His Mom in 'Air'
Viola Davis is opening up about her role in Air, as Michael Jordan‘s mom.
The 57-year-old actress stepped into the role for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon‘s latest project together, which had its premiere over the weekend at SXSW.
According to Ben, who directs as well as stars in the movie, one of Michael‘s only requests was that Viola play his mother, Deloris.
Speaking to THR about her part, Viola said that “Mothers are the most important figures in anybody’s life, so I was very flattered and deeply moved to be asked to play Michael’s mother.”
She went on, “I know Michael Jordan but didn’t know that Deloris brokered this deal to get him a huge stake in the shoe and in turn, protected her son’s legacy. I wanted to know more about this woman who had the strength and courage to fight for her son’s worth.”
“For Deloris to have this insight and progressive vision, to stand her ground in the negotiation room – which I know can be the hardest part of the job – makes her an incredible woman. That made me lean into this project.”
Michael, and Ben‘s wife, Jennifer Lopez, also encouraged a bigger presence of Deloris in the movie, after an early version of the script, it was minimal.
In one particular scene, which featured a phone call between Deloris and Matt’s character, Sonny Vaccaro, was only run two times.
“I want to play the scene so they can get up, they can do whatever they want, they can move around,” Ben recalled said. “We did two takes and I said, ‘That’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. I’m done. If you want to go again, I’ll shoot all day.’”
He adds, “[Viola] went, she watched the playback. When she came out, it was the first time I saw her smile and I just felt like, ‘Oh my God.’ It was the most lovely, rewarding moment.”
Air will be out in theaters on April 5.
#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Shazam: Fury of the Gods’ Stumbles With $30 Million Opening Weekend
“Shazam: Fury of the Gods” opened to No. 1 in North America, but the Warner Bros. and DC Comics sequel fell short of expectations with its disappointing $30.5 million debut from 4,071 theaters. Heading into the weekend, the film was expected to collect $35 million to $40 million, which already wasn’t all that spectacular since it cost north of $110 million to make and another $100 million to market.
It’s a substantial drop from 2019’s “Shazam,” the first comic book installment starring Zachary Levi’s quirky hero, which opened to $53.5 million and ended its box office run with $140 million domestically and $366 million globally. It’s also one of the worst starts in the DC Cinematic Universe, other than pandemic-era releases like “Wonder Woman 1984” ($16.7 million) and “The Suicide Squad” ($26 million), which both opened simultaneously on HBO Max.
At the international box office, “Shazam 2” added $35 million from 77 markets for a dismal global start of $65.5 million.
“It’s a soft start, there’s no other way to put it,” says Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice Pro. “Comic book films are steadily showing that without an event-level hook, it’s difficult to live up to predecessor performances.”
Reviews and word-of-mouth may not help “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” in the coming weeks. It landed a “B+” CinemaScore, down from the first film’s “A” grade. And it holds a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, a dramatic decline from the original’s 90% average. David F. Sandberg returned to direct “Fury of the Gods,” which centers on Levi’s Billy Batson and his foster siblings — all of whom transform into superheroes when they say “Shazam!” — as they team up to fight the Daughters of Atlas, who wield a weapon that could destroy the world. Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Lucy Liu and Helen Mirren co-star in the film.
“Fury of the Gods,” to some degree, is also the victim of the big reset at DC. It’s the first movie to be released since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over the superhero universe and set it on a brand new direction. Though the producers have been careful not to absolutely rule out the return of any established DC hero (save for Henry Cavill as Superman), fans can see the writing on the wall.
“DC sequels have seen diminishing returns in recent years,” Robbins says. “That’s compounded by the current creative shakeup, whose impact won’t be felt for a couple of years [but] makes the broader franchise feel even more fragmented to audiences for the time being.”
At one point, comic book tentpoles were untouchable at the box office. But “Shazam 2,” as well as Disney’s poorly received Marvel sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” are beginning to reveal cracks, at least when it comes to subpar-rated adventures. “Ant Man 3” impressed with its mighty $106 million opening in February, but it has crumbled in subsequent weeks and will almost certainly end up as the lowest-grossing installment in the trilogy, despite scoring the biggest start. DC’s prior standalone adventure “Black Adam,” led by Dwayne Johnson, also massively disappointed in its theatrical run, grossing $392 million worldwide on its $200 million-plus budget.
That’s not to suggest that superhero fatigue has taken over — and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” look to dominate at the summer box office — but it points to a future in which studios can no longer release just any mega-budgeted comic book adaptation in theaters with the expectation it’ll gross at least $500 million globally with ease.
“So far [in 2023], ‘Ant-Man’ slowed after an excellent start, and ‘Shazam’ is falling,” says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “Neither film found an original, creative way forward; neither elevated their series.”
Elsewhere at the box office, Paramount’s thriller “Scream VI” slid to second place with $17.5 million from 3,676 North American cinemas. Those ticket sales, down 61% from its stellar $41 million debut, bring the sequel’s domestic tally to $76 million after two weeks on the big screen. The horror film has added another $40 million internationally, bringing its global tally to $116 million.
Michael B. Jordan’s sports drama “Creed III” took third place with $15.3 million from 3,477 venues, down just 44% from the weekend prior. After three weeks of release, the film has generated a stellar $127.7 million. Already, the third “Creed” movie has out-earned its predecessors as the first film ended its run with $109 million and the sequel tapped out with $115 million.
Sony’s prehistoric sci-fi thriller “65” landed at No. 4 with $5.8 million from 3,405 cinemas, a 54% drop from its debut. The film, starring Adam Driver, has grossed $22.4 million to date, which isn’t a great result given the $45 million budget.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” rounded out the top five with $4.1 million from 2,650 theaters in its fifth weekend of release. So far, it has generated $205 million in North America, above the original “Ant-Man” ($180 million) and behind the 2018 sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp” ($216 million). But with $462 million globally, ticket sales for “Ant-Man 3” are dramatically below the first movie with $519 million and the follow-up with $622 million.
Disney Star Josh Gad Calls Out 'Pathetic' Racist Response to Halle Bailey Little Mermaid Trailer
After the first trailer for Disney's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid debuted during the 95th Academy Awards, Gad, 42, called out the ongoing racist response to Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel, which has resulted in the YouTube video being flooded with 1.2 million "dislikes" as of Saturday.
"Imagine being so broken and pathetic in life that your chief concern is the skin color of…a make-believe singing mermaid," Gad wrote Thursday on Twitter.
The first teaser for the highly anticipated update of the 1989 animated film has additionally garnered 3.5 million dislikes since it debuted in September.
The Little Mermaid director Rob Marshall previously responded to the racist backlash, which has plagued the film since Bailey's casting was announced in 2019, explaining that there was "no agenda" in choosing a Black actress.
"We just were looking for the best actor for the role, period. The end," he told Entertainment Weekly in December. "We saw everybody and every ethnicity."
He explained their criteria was someone "incredibly strong, passionate, beautiful, smart, clever," who exudes "a great deal of fire and joy" in playing the iconic Disney princess.
Bailey said that landing the role has "changed my perspective on everything," explaining in September how it has "impacted my life in so many ways."
"The fact that now it's getting to be played by me, a person who looks like me, woman of color, I'm just like, wow, I'm so grateful what it will do for all the other little Black and brown boys and girls who will see themselves in me," said Bailey. "Because I know if I had seen myself when I was younger, I think my whole perspective would've changed."
The Little Mermaid premieres in theaters May 26.
Dennis Rodman Accuses Travis Scott of Copying His Sneaker Design, Claims He Was the First to Flip the Nike Logo Backward
Dennis Rodman wants credit for influencing Travis Scott and Nike’s sneaker collaboration.
The Naismith Hall of Fame inductee has accused the hip-hop artist of stealing the backward swoosh concept that has been featured on Scott’s Air Force 1 and Jordan 6 silhouettes.
Rodman claims he is the reason their globally recognized logo was flipped more than two decades ago.
A video of The Worm at the 2023 Chicago Got Sole sneaker convention recently began circulating on social media, drawing attention to the trademark. In it, Rodman is shown addressing the design controversy as he holds up the mocha colorway of the Travis Scott 1s.
“Travis Scott has copied my shoe,” declared the five-time NBA Championship winner about the high-top sneaker that retails for $175.
“I was the first guy to do mines backwards when I was playing with Chicago Bulls. Come on, Travis, give me some credit, you know. You copied my s—t. You copied my s—t, all right. So this ain’t new; this ain’t new, brother. Either way, congratulations,” added Rodman.
The “Bad As I Wanna Be” author debuted his first shoe collaboration with the brand, the Nike Air Darwin, in 1994. Last year, when Rodman went sneaker shopping with Complex, he spoke about his partnership with the company.
“It was amazing, the fact that when they did this whole thing, they did it backwards,” he said. The New Jersey native noted that his influence on the shoe design for one particular reason was bittersweet.
“I said, ‘Wow, they won’t put my name on it. They want me to wear it, but won’t put my name on it.’ I guess I wasn’t famous enough.”
At the time, his Bulls teammate Michael Jordan had been with Nike for a decade. The Air Jordan was first released in 1984, and has remained one of the basketball star’s most sought-after kicks.
His successful deal with Nike ultimately led to the formation of the Jordan Brand, which is reportedly worth more than $255 billion.
Rodman said he knew he was onto something when he began seeing fans in the stands wearing his shoes instead of Jordan’s.
“It was so awesome, I waned to bust Michael’s a— and say, ‘Hey you know Michael, my s—t is outselling yours,’ ” he told the outlet.
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG’s can be found on various sneaker platforms for as low as $145 to $500.
Michael Jordan Reportedly in Serious Talks to Sell His Majority Stake in Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan is engaged in serious discussions to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin and Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnall have emerged as front-runners to acquire Jordan’s stake, which he bought for $275 million from BET co-founder Bob Johnson in 2010.
At the time, Jordan said in a statement, “Purchasing the Bobcats [Charlotte’s team name from 2004–2014 before returning to the Hornets] is the culmination of my post-playing career goal of becoming the majority owner of an NBA franchise. I am especially pleased to have the opportunity to build a winning team in my home state of North Carolina.”
Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim purchased a significant stake from Jordan in the Hornets in 2020. Sundheim is said to be involved in talks to buy Jordan’s majority stake.
Michael Jordan Doesn’t Think Anyone on the Hornets Could Beat Him in a Game of 1-on-1
It is likely that Jordan will retain a minority stake in the franchise, even if the sale goes through. He’s the only former player to become a majority owner of an NBA team.
The news of Jordan looking to sell comes at a time where there has been some turnover at the NBA’s governor level. Mat Ishbia, a billionaire mortgage lender, reached an agreement in December to purchase the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA for $4 billion. Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry agreed to sell his 25 percent stake in the franchise to Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem. The deal is worth a reported $3.5 billion.
Former Celebrity Stylist Law Roach Details The Final Straw That Led To His Retirement
Law Roach opens up about the incident that prompted him to declare his retirement from styling celebrities.
Last week, Roach posted a disheartening message on Instagram announcing his retirement. The stylist didn’t give any details to why he made the abrupt decision initially but later discussed his choice in an interview with The Cut. According to Roach, the final straw that led to his departure was a situation between a client and her team that occurred before an Oscars party.
“That morning, I got a call from one of my clients; it was her, her publicist, and somebody from a brand that I’m supposed to do [a] project with,” Roach explained. “And I found myself on the phone with these three women, and I felt like I was defending myself because the one woman from the brand was like, ‘Oh, he’s not communicating, and you’re not gonna have a dress,’ and all these things. And it was just a lot of things that were not true.”
He then expressed he was hurt because his client didn’t come to his defense seeing as he always protect his clients.
“I thought that she knew that my goal always is to protect my clients. And at that moment, I just didn’t feel like I was being protected.” He continued, “That call was very early the very next day after. And the client was one of the clients that I dressed that night. And it’s just like, I got off the phone, and I felt like I’m still fighting. I’m still fighting. I’m still defending myself.”
Nevertheless, Roach clarifies that he’s not retiring from fashion but from celebrity styling.
Police Investigating Miami Beach Shooting That Left One Dead And Another Injured
One person is dead, and another was injured in a Miami Beach shooting Friday night near Seventh Street and Ocean Drive during a busy spring break weekend.
Miami Beach Police heard gunshots ring out around 10:41 p.m. and discovered two male victims. Both men were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where one of the men was pronounced deceased. The other victim was listed in critical condition, and the Miami Herald reports the man was subsequently discharged.
Police announced that four guns were recovered at the scene, and one person was taken into custody. They have not confirmed whether the person is responsible for the shooting and said he is cooperating fully.
Police blocked off the area with crime scene tape after the shooting, which remains under investigation. Police department spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez said Saturday morning that the identities of those involved will not be released.
Police presence has been bolstered in the area during the busy spring break season. Officers have utilized ATVs and golf carts to aid in patrolling efforts.
The shooting comes on the heels of two “false alarm” situations that saw large crowds of people sent running from the area for unknown reasons. Both incidents nearly led to dangerous stampedes.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Ms. Soggy
The guy in red.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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