#FASHIONFAB: Actress Danielle Deadwyler for W MAGAZINE’s Directors Issue
In the second of three covers for W Magazine Volume 2, The Directors Issue, on stands March 14th, Academy Award Nominated actor and director Todd Field directs TILL lead actress, Danielle Deadwyler and attempts to channel the film noir spirit of Humphrey Bogart, titled WHAT’S UNDERNEATH, conceived by Field himself. Todd Field wanted to create a cover that poses a question and makes you want to open the magazine in order to find out the answer. In the issue, Field touches on the first time he met Danielle Deadwyler and discusses how the script for TÁR came to be.
Story by Lynn Hirschberg, Directed and Photographed by Todd Field and Styled by Allia Alliata di Montereale
Sharing his first job in the film industry: “I ran six machines as a projectionist at a second-run movie theater. Some of the films played for months, and I studied them through repeat viewing. Wonderfully varied films like Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Nicolas Roeg’s Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession, Robert Redford’s Ordinary People, Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat, Barry Levinson’s Diner, Ken Russell’s Altered States, and David Cronenberg’s Scanners.”
On a film from history he wished he had worked on: “There are many. Too many. But today I’ll say Mikhail Kalatozov’s Soy Cuba [I Am Cuba]. It was the most incredible piece of film poetry, and virtually impossible technically when it was released back in 1964. Alfonso Cuarón turned me on to this film, and all of us owe a debt of thanks to Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola for their efforts in restoring what was once a lost and forgotten masterpiece.”
On Deadwyler’s performance in Till: “Grief is told by the survivors, and she made the pain of the living powerful in a way that went well beyond a movie performance.”
Discussing working on the first original screenplay that he’s made into a movie, Tar: “I was home thinking about the film business, and Lydia Tár occurred to me. The people I’ve met in the industry are difficult, challenging, formidable, and brilliant all at once. They have power because of those qualities. And whether that power is a boost or a curse was a subject that I couldn’t ignore. I also saw the complicity: We are attracted to brilliant monsters—we both love them and want to watch them be destroyed.”
#RHOA: Peter Thomas Faces Charges After Choking Tammy Rivera's Niece At His Restaurant
Cynthia Bailey's ex-husband Peter Thomas apparently doesn't always treat his customers like a king and queen at his restaurants. In a new report, the 62-year-old is facing charges after he allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and proceeded to choke her.
According to The Neighborhood Talk, the woman is identified as Chanel Williams, who is also the niece of reality star Tammy Rivera. It was said that the victim was dining at Peter's Baltimore restaurant Bar One when she noticed that Peter was in a bad mood.
She subsequently shared her observations with her friends, but Peter allegedly overheard the remarks and quickly confronted the woman. The woman claimed that the former "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star came to her section and aggressively grabbed her throat before staff members intervened him.
The report further stated that the victim was "distraught and embarrassed." She was also allegedly "taken aback by his alleged actions."
Fans gave mixed responses after catching wind of the news. One person said, "Doesn't surprise me at all. Something has always been off with him to me." Another user commented, "This man is 62... when does it stop?" One other speculated that his abusive trait might be the reason why Cynthia left him, saying, "He prolly was doing that to Cynthia. That's why she left him."
Some others, meanwhile, trolled Peter by bringing up his best friend and "The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Mia Thornton. "Why he ain't call Mia… she likes to tussle on his behalf," she shared. One other joked, "Mia wanna clear this one up for your brother?"
The users were referring to Mia's feud with her co-star Wendy Osefo after she threw a drink at Wendy. Mia was mad at Wendy after Peter told her that his business deal to open a restaurant with Wendy fell through because she ghosted him.
In an interview, Peter defended himself after instigating drama between the ladies as he claimed that he was being messy for TV. "When I talk to Wendy, you don't think the producers go back and tell every cast member my conversation with Wendy? Of course, they did," he said. "Alright, it wasn't off-camera. It was on camera, it's a show. So to make the show entertaining, and to make it worthwhile, they showed both my establishments. I have to play ball."
"So stop acting like if y'all ain't watching a f**king TV show. I'm making a TV show. And y'all think this is some personal s**t. It isn't because none of us would be talking to each other," he added.
#MusicNews: Chlöe Bailey Announces 'The In Pieces Tour'
Ahead of her debut album In Pieces, Chlöe Bailey has announced dates for “The In Pieces Tour.” The 10-date trek, which marks her first solo outing, kicks off April 11 in Chicago before making its way to Toronto, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, and more.
She will make a stop at the Sol Blume festival in Sacramento on April 30 before wrapping in Los Angeles on May 3.
Fans can catch Chlöe performing songs off her upcoming debut In Pieces, which arrives March 31. The album has spawned singles including “Pray It Away,” “Surprise,” “Treat Me,” and her latest, “How Does It Feel” with Chris Brown.
“It’s everything that I’ve been going through, all the tearing down, people underestimating, telling me I can’t do it—all of those things have gone into the music,” Chlöe told ESSENCE. “The album is me picking myself up and talking myself out of any little place or space that the world has tried to put me in, that people and personal relationships have tried to put me in, and even [doing that to] myself. It’s me breaking free.”
Tickets go on sale to the public starting Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. local time, with a pre-sale beginning now.
The In Pieces Tour Dates
April 11 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
April 13 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
April 14 – Toronto, ON – Rebel
April 17 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
April 18 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
April 20 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
April 23 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
April 25 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
April 26 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
April 30 – Sacramento, CA – Sol Blume Festival
May 3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo
#HipHopNews: Drake, Usher To Headline J. Cole's Dreamville Festival
J. Cole has assembled a dream lineup for his Dreamville Festival.
Drake, Usher, and Burna Boy will join Cole at his annual festival when it returns to Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina for a third year on April 1-2.
In between dates of his Las Vegas residency, Usher will headline Saturday, with additional performances from Lil Durk, City Girls, Sean Paul, Jessie Reyez, and Key Glock.
Cole will welcome special guest Drake, who will help him close out the main stage on Sunday night. The two will perform a medley of hits from each of their chart-topping catalogs. Other acts on Sunday’s bill include Summer Walker, GloRilla, Waka Flocka Flame, Mario, and the African Giant himself, Burna Boy.
The entire Dreamville Records roster will also represent with Ari Lennox, J.I.D, EARTHGANG, Bas, Cozz, Lute, and Omen.
Over 80,000 people attended last year’s two-day celebration, which featured Lil Baby, Wizkid, Kehlani, Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Wale, plus a Gangsta Grillz set with Lil Wayne, Jeezy, and T.I.
The inaugural Dreamville Festival was held in April 2019 after being postponed in the wake of Hurricane Florence. The 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled amid the COVID pandemic.
Two-day tickets are on sale now at DreamvilleFest.com.
Janet Jackson Dissed By Nephew TJ Over Her 'Overly Sexualized' Shows
TJ Jackson is not a fan of his aunt's raunchy stage acts. Janet Jackson, who has been dubbed one of R&B and pop icons, has been dissed by her nephew over her "overly sexualized" performers.
TJ weighed in on his aunt's sexy performances after a fan shared a clip of Janet performing "Would You" in concert, where she danced against, seductively touched and even insinuated oral sex on a fan strapped to a table. Commenting on the video, he tweeted, "I never liked when she did this in concerts either. I don't like when females are overly sexualized in art...it degrades and objectify's women in a way that's not healthy. I prefer the 'That's The Way Love Goes' Janet."
When a follower asked if he perhaps has "a different outlook on it because she's your literal aunt," TJ replied, "Nah...I didn't like it ...it just diminishes her amazing talent. But would love to hear your disagreement."
The son of Tito Jackson went to explain that he didn't mean disrespect to his aunt and that his comment goes to other female black celebrities. "I love black women. I wish you would respect the black women we put in our music videos and if you are really serious about making a difference stop supporting the negative image many female black celebs today portray. WAP was not a good look. That deserves your energy," he wrote in a separate tweet.
The 44-year-old singer followed it up with another positive message which read, "To all the black women out there.... know your worth. I truly believe you are the strongest beings on the planet. Don't sell yourself short. Become the queens you are meant to be. #lovealways."
TJ Jackson explained why he disliked his aunt Janet Jackson's raunchy performances.
Regardless his criticism, TJ still praised his aunt for being "a trailblazer and an icon." He added, "I agree. She wouldn't have had it any other way. She is a trailblazer and an icon. From Control to RN to All for You to Gone Till It's Gone…There will never be another JJ."
Though TJ made it clear that he meant no harm with his remarks, some people still called him out for his alleged disrespectful comments on Janet. "Not TJ Jackson on here policing black women and their sexuality, including saying that his own aunt being sexual diminished her talent. This coming from the Jacksons who barely popped. Then saying he loves black queens, but yet, won't procreate or marry one. During BHM!" tweeted one fan.
Another weighed in, "I hope @tjjackson is happy with his 15 minutes of viral content at the expense of his aunt." A third added, "I hardly ever see you post anything about your aunt Janet who has broken down barriers and broken records. Every time she does something huge it's crickets. You always give your uncle props which you should but where's the love for Janet? This is what you choose to say?"
Vanessa Bryant settles remaining claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.9 million
The legal saga over the photos taken of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site is over and the final payout for his widow Vanessa Bryant is $28.85 million, according to USA Today.
Vanessa has reportedly reached a settlement to close her remaining litigation and future claims against Los Angeles County that its sheriff's department and fire department shared photos showing the aftermath of the deadly crash involving her husband and daughter Gianna.
She had previously won $15 million in federal court (initially $16 million before a juror discovered an error) in her initial lawsuit against L.A. County, but that wasn't the end of the county's exposure. The new settlement, which includes that previously won money, will also see Bryant's children added as plaintiffs to finalize the deal.
The settlement is reportedly still subject to court approval.
Vanessa's attorney Luis Li said he hoped their victory will prevent similar cases in the future in a statement:
“Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct. She fought for her husband, her daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family were treated with similar disrespect. We hope her victory at trial and this settlement will put an end to this practice.”
After her initial win, Bryant pledged to donate the money to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. It's unclear if the settlement money will have the same fate. She and the other families with loved ones in the crash also reached a confidential settlement in 2021 with the helicopter company involved in the crash.
Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter died in the crash, won $15 million in a parallel lawsuit against L.A. County and settled his remaining claims for nearly $20 million last year.
Per USA Today, Bryant and Chester still had leverage after their wins in court because they could have pursued California state law claims against the county that were not part of the trial in federal court. The total cost of the scandal for L.A. County now sits at over $50 million when adding two $1.25 million settlements for the other families involved in the crash.
Zendaya Will Reportedly Earn $1 Million USD per Episode for 'Euphoria' Season 3
Zendaya is blazing a trail for young, female actresses everywhere. As a part of a widely talented class of rising stars, Zendaya has garnered herself two Emmys wins for her role as Rue Bennett in Euphoria.
A critical part of the series, new reports have indicated that Zendaya is slated to earn $1 million USD per episode for season three of the series. Matthew Belloni of Puck reported that Zendaya has “just closed a big re-negotiation,” placing herself amongst the Friends stars with her new salary. Zendaya recently became an executive producer for the second season of the show. She was also the youngest person to ever receive an Emmy nomination in the producing category at the age of 25.
Fellow Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney has said in the past, “They don’t pay actors like they used to, and with streamers, you no longer get residuals. The established stars still get paid, but I have to give 5% to my lawyer, 10% to my agents, 3% or something like that to my business manager. I have to pay my publicist every month, and that’s more than my mortgage.” In Belloni’s report, he also indicated other A-listers in the seven-figure TV salary range. Besides Zendaya, Michael Keaton on Dopesick, Jason Sudeikis on Ted Lasso, and Elisabeth Moss on Shining Girls are amongst those in the same group. Currently, John Krasinski on Jack Ryan is the highest-paid TV actor.
As Euphoria continues to be one of the most popular shows on HBO Max, it will be interesting to explore how the characters develop and how Zendaya will continue to grow on the show.
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot is out, Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson are in the April runoff for Mayor
Mayor Lori Lightfoot finished third in Tuesday’s election with 16.89% of the vote, behind former Chicago
Lori Lightfoot, the first Black woman and the first openly gay person ever to serve as mayor of Chicago, on Tuesday became a one-term mayor.
With nearly 99% of the precincts reporting, the mayor who guided Chicago through the pandemic finished third in Tuesday’s election with 17.06% of the vote behind former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, who won 33.77 %, and Cook County Commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson, who wound up with 20.29%.
Vallas, 69, and Johnson, 46, will face off five weeks from now in the April 4 runoff to decide who will become the 57th mayor of Chicago.
“Obviously, we didn’t win the election. But I stand here with my head held high and my heart full of thanks,” Lightfoot told supporters shortly before 9 p.m.
“You will not be defined by how you fall. You will be defined by how hard you work and how much you do for other people,” she said.
Vallas waited until Lightfoot’s concession call and speech before claiming his place in the runoff. When he did take the podium, he asked the crowd to give the outgoing mayor a round of applause for her service and courage.
“I haven’t been this happy since my son returned from Afghanistan,” Vallas told a crowd of supporters chanting his name.
Vallas then returned to the law-and-order message that carried him into the runoff.
“Public safety is the fundamental right of every American. It is a civil right, and it is the principle responsibility of government. We will have a safe Chicago. We will make Chicago the safest city in America,” he said.
“It will not only come from providing the police with the resources and the support that they need, but from building the bond between the police department and the community so we have true community policing. ... I will also ... have zero tolerance when it comes to violating the law or violating the Constitution. And this is coming from a family of four police officers, including my wife.”
A triumphant Johnson claimed his spot in the runoff a few minutes later — with an updated version of what former Mayor Harold Washington said on the day he became Chicago’s first Black mayor in 1983.
“Here’s Brandon,” a beaming Johnson said as his supporters chanted, “We want Brandon.”
“Well Chicago, we did it y’all. They said that this would never happen. I am so freakin’ proud because we did this. A few months ago, they said they didn’t know who I was. Well, if you didn’t know, now you know. ... We have shifted the political dynamics in this city.”
He added, “Tonight is about building a Chicago that truly invests in our people. The most radical thing we can do as a city is to love the people of Chicago. Loving people and investing in people — that is the way my father raised me. The finances of this city belong to the people of the city. So, we’re gonna invest in the people of the city.”
A Vallas-Johnson runoff promises to be a generational battle between “the candidate of the Fraternal Order of Police” and the “candidate of the Chicago Teachers Union,” as veteran political strategist David Axelrod put it.
It will also offer voters the starkest of contrasts on the future of education and policing.
By blanketing the television airwaves with commercials linking Garcia to two indicted political powerhouses — former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and former cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried — Lightfoot drove up Garcia’s negatives to the point where the Southwest Side congressman finished in fourth place with 13.74% of the vote.
It didn’t save Lightfoot. But it may well have helped Johnson.
As his campaign manager predicted, Johnson appears to have claimed a large share of undecided African-American voters who were “searching” for an alternative to Lightfoot.
That and the 1,000-strong army of CTU and SEIU members who helped turn out the vote for Johnson managed to propel a relative political unknown into the finals of the mayoral sweepstakes.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), who endorsed Vallas, said there was a “show of force” for Johnson — with at least three CTU members or staffers paid by the teachers union — in every precinct he visited Tuesday in Old Town, Streeterville, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and the Gold Coast.
“They’re everywhere. It’s a saturation ground game — even in precincts where Johnson was not expected to do well. If they have that many people to spare, that’s incredible. It’s something to see. This is the new machine,” Hopkins said, harkening back to the pre-Shakman heyday of the old Democratic machine.
With violent crime and the perception of it foremost on the minds of voters, the mayor who chose Chicago Police Supt. David Brown and stubbornly refused demands from all eight challengers to get rid of him failed to make the runoff.
Forty years ago, Jane Byrne, the first woman to serve as mayor of Chicago, was turned into a one-termer by a defeat that paved the way for another first: the election of Chicago’s first Black mayor, Washington.
Now Lightfoot follows in the footsteps of Byrne after suffering the ultimate political humiliation — an incumbent mayor not only denied a second term: She couldn’t even make it into the runoff.
Lightfoot’s first and only term was marred by the pandemic, civil unrest, a teachers strike, battles with the CTU over the reopening of schools and a seemingly endless strings of public arguments with City Council members and other elected officials.
She started the race with a public approval rating stuck in the mid-20s and was never able to overcome that low rating.
Lightfoot was counting on African-American voters to help her over the finish line and compensate for the support she lost among lakefront voters disappointed with her record on reform, transparency and crime. She has pointed to her signature Invest South/West plan as proof that no mayor — not even Washington — has done more for the African-American community.
But with six other Black candidates in the race, Lightfoot’s narrow path to victory was ultimately sealed off.
“We can never, ever allow this to happen again,” retired U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Il.), a Lightfoot supporter, told the Sun-Times shortly before the mayor conceded.
“Chicago is the most segregated city in America. It’s tribalism at its worst and at its best.”
The contrast between the two runoff opponents could not be more stark when it comes to the future of policing and public education in Chicago.
Vallas has run an uncharacteristically disciplined campaign singularly focused on this law-and-order message.
Decrying the “utter breakdown of law and order” in Chicago, he has unveiled a sweeping plan to fill 1,700 police vacancies, take the handcuffs off demoralized officers and stop “brazen” criminals from terrorizing residents.
It starts with firing Brown and his entire leadership team and ends with “pushing resources to the district level,” restoring beat integrity and using the $100 million the CTA spends each year on private security to add about 700 new officers.
Johnson won’t commit to filling the 1,700 police vacancies or fully funding the Chicago Police Department’s $1.94 billion budget. In fact, he wants to cut at least $150 million from the police budget by reducing the number of supervisors and raising the ratio between bosses and rank-and-file officers.
The cornerstone of his anti-violence strategy is his tax-the-rich plan to bankroll $1 billion in new spending on public schools, transportation, new housing, health care, mental health and job creation. He wants to train and promote 200 new detectives, launch a comprehensive efficiency audit, close CPD’s Homan Square facility, erase a “racist” gang database and end the three-year, $33 million ShotSpotter contract.
Vallas wears his opposition from the teachers union like a badge of honor.
He has further infuriated the CTU by proposing that scores of Chicago Public Schools buildings now operating more than half-empty forge partnerships with charters and parochial schools; the school day and school year be lengthened; and tax increment financing surplus be used to create a school voucher program. He prefers to call it a “scholarship” program.
Lightfoot has accused Vallas of being a closet Republican who is anti-abortion and pro-voucher — even though he ran for governor and lieutenant governor as a Democrat and has called himself a Democrat his entire life.
The mayor has condemned Johnson as a “radical” plotting to defund the police and raise taxes by $800 million, killing jobs and driving businesses out of Chicago.
Vallas and Johnson are now expected to use those same lines of attack against each other.
“Paul Vallas is someone who is supported by the Jan. 6th insurrectionists. He switched parties when ... Barack Obama became the president of the United States. He went as far as to say that he is more of a Republican than anything else. He said that he fundamentally opposes abortion. As head of the Chicago Public Schools, he ran the teachers’ pension fund into the ground, closed neighborhood schools and punished students who were in need,” Johnson said Tuesday night.
“After Hurricane Katrina, Paul went to New Orleans and privatized three quarters of the city’s public schools, which caused the largest decline of Black educators. He left similar messes in Philadelphia, Connecticut and, of course, right here in Chicago. This is the truth about Paul Vallas.”
With five weeks to go until the runoff, both Vallas and Johnson will likely need to raise $5 million in short order while also debating each other and crisscrossing the city in a frenzied attempt to expand their political bases.
Vallas’ greatest opportunity for expansion lies in Hispanic wards that backed Garcia. Johnson is hoping to consolidate a divided African-American vote and resurrect the rainbow coalition that elected and re-elected Harold Washington, in part, by winning Garcia’s formidable endorsement.
Although Vallas finished 15 percentage points ahead of Johnson and goes into the runoff as the favorite, Axelrod has called Johnson a dangerous opponent.
In short order, Vallas needs to define Johnson in the same way Lightfoot has struggled to define him: as a “radical” who wants to “defund” the Chicago Police Department and whose $800 million “tax the rich” plan will drive jobs and businesses out of Chicago.
Johnson is also a “big personality” and a talented communicator who could ride a wave of national media attention into the runoff — just as Lightfoot did in 2019, Axelrod said.
“Big personalities are an advantage. ... He’ll get more attention ... because he’ll have started off as kind of an unknown, and he’ll have scaled the heights to get into the finals, and he’ll be treated, initially, as the story,” Axelrod said.
“It’s not ... a story that Vallas made the runoff. But it will be a story if Johnson does,” Axelrod said last week. “He will be propelled by that. He will get a lot of attention, and he’s a good performer. That’s all to his advantage. He also will get more scrutiny, and it will be a very interesting battle about the direction Chicago wants to go.”
In 2019, businessman Willie Wilson captured 13 of 18 majority Black wards in round one of the mayoral sweepstakes before giving Lightfoot a pivotal endorsement in round two.
This time, he spent more than $6 million of his personal fortune. But, his oft-repeated promise to hunt criminals down “like rabbits” apparently gave voters second thoughts —even after Wilson held a string of gas and grocery giveaways.
Even so, the 9.46%that Wilson did carry helped drive the strong turnout among older voters who dominate Wilson’s church-based constituency.
That makes his runoff endorsement pivotal, just as Wilson’s endorsement of Lightfoot was in 2019.
On Tuesday, Wilson was asked whether he would endorse Vallas, whose law-and-order, take-the-handcuffs-off the police message was similar to his own message.
“I will not be endorsing Lori Lightfoot. I can tell you that much. … She’s not good for Chicago. Never will be good for Chicago,” said Wilson, who said he plans to visit churches and neighborhoods before deciding whether or not to make an endorsement.
“We’ve got to get Chicago right. Too many people have suffered under Lightfoot’s hands. And I don’t even know if she still thinks that crime is high. I think she feels that crime is low, to be honest with you. She just don’t get it. If a person don’t know that they’re doing something wrong, how can they fix it?”
Michael B. Jordan set to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Creed III’s director and leading man, Michael B. Jordan, will be the latest celebrity to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On March 1, while viewers at home search for tickets to watch the New Jersey native’s upcoming film, Jordan’s name will be cemented on the historic landmark with close friends reported to bare witness.
“Michael B. Jordan has become a household name thanks to his many roles on the big screen,” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “To think that this star didn’t grow up with dreams of being an actor! Luckily for us, he changed his mind, and now he will be honored with an iconic star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
The event will be streamed live exclusively on walkoffame.com at 11:30 a.m. PT and emceed by Lupita Sanchez Cornejo, chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Guest speakers include Creed III co-star Jonathan Majors and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.
The prestigious recognition comes ahead of the Creed III premiere, which will be Jordan’s feature film directorial debut. Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, and Florian Munteanu will star alongside Majors and Jordan in the franchise’s third installment. In the film, Jordan’s character Adonis Creed’s boxing journey will continue as he faces his past with an old friend.
“Still dominating the boxing world, [Creed] is thriving in his career and family life,” the synopsis read. “When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, resurfaces after serving time in prison, he’s eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter who has nothing to lose.”
Missy Elliott And Timbaland Are Teasing An Official Reunion
Recently, Missy Elliott took to her Instagram Stories to connect with Timbaland, stating, “it’s go time” in regard to creating new music. On Monday (Feb. 27), Timbaland responded via his social media, confirming that the legendary duo will soon be returning to the studio. “Watch… time for us to press that go button,” he said. “[Missy], we’re in our bag like always!”
Back in 2019, Elliott marked her return to wax with the five-song EP Iconology, which she largely produced alongside her Virginian counterpart. Prior to that, she released her sixth studio LP, The Cookbook, in 2009. That album both peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and scored a platinum certification. Earlier this month, she contributed to Skrillex’s Quest For Fire single “RATATA.”
As previously reported , Elliott became the first female rapper to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an achievement that she called “an incredible honor.”
She added, “I’ve spent my career making the kind of music I love and it means so much to know that I have touched others as well. To hear that I am the first female hip hop artist to ever be nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Wow! This one hits extra different as I hope it opens doors for other female emcees to be recognized!”
In an interview on “Drink Champs,” Timbaland opened up about how he and Elliott began their iconic relationship.
“A friend of mine introduced me to Missy and told Missy that she needed to meet me,” he revealed. “I was just doing music and she was like, ‘He make dope beats.’ She introduced me to singing over hip hop beats, ’cause when she was singing, I’m like, ‘I ain’t ever heard that before.'”
Sam Smith Spotted on NYC Juice Run with Rumored Boyfriend Christian Cowan
Sam Smith is continuing to spend time with rumored boyfriend, fashion designer Christian Cowan!
The 30-year-old singer, who just won a Grammy Award for the song “Unholy,” was seen picking up some green juice during an afternoon outing on Sunday (February 26) in New York City.
Sam and Christian were first spotted about a month ago and they looked cozy while going for a stroll around the Big Apple, leading to dating rumors.
A couple weeks ago, Sam showed support for Christian at his New York Fashion Week show and they were seen together again a few days later.
Neither of the stars have commented on the rumored relationship yet.
Jonathan Majors pitches rom-com starring him and Issa Rae: "Let's do it"
After starring in a handful of action and drama films, Jonathan Majors is ready to take his talents to the romantic comedy genre… with Issa Rae. During an interview with The Cut, the “Lovecraft Country” actor shared a few of his favorite romantic movies, including The Notebook, Love Jones, Blue Valentine and Love & Basketball. He also revealed that he “falls in love every day,” explaining to the reporter, “Life is beautiful. Love is everywhere.”
On Saturday (Feb. 25) night, viewers, attendees, and even a reporter bore witness to the chemistry between Majors and Rae as they both appeared onstage at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards as presenters. “Issa, I love nights like this. We all get to get together; it’s one of those rare times. It’s beautiful. Issa and I …,” Majors said as he introduced the nominees.
But then Rae interrupted, asking Majors, “What’s your sign?” which led them into a brief, funny discussion about astrology: He is a Virgo, and she is a Capricorn. Afterward, the event’s social media team joined in, saying, “Somebody write the script” on Instagram.
Then, on Sunday (Feb. 26), Majors sat down with Variety and was asked which rom-com storyline he would like to try. He responded by giving them his ideal plot. “We grew up together,” he said. “And then I come back home, and it’s like, ‘Oh, okay.’ We can start with that. I want to do a run through a park, you know what I mean, a run through Central Park, trying to beat her to the airport. Say we live in Harlem, then we’ve got Central Park, and then you’re running through LaGuardia trying to find Issa.”
“Issa, you want to do it? Let’s do it,” he continued. Majors then revealed that, that style of presenting at the award ceremony was a first for him. “She was fabulous, and I just kind of… I mean, it’s Issa Rae. You can’t drop the ball.”
Majors can be seen in theaters now in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and on March 3 for the upcoming Creed III alongside Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson.
Kevin Durant Responds to Charles Barkley Saying He Holds Him to ‘Same Criteria’ As LeBron and Kobe
On Monday’s episode of ESPN’s First Take, Charles Barkley shared his thoughts on Kevin Durant’s recent trade to Phoenix, where the two-time NBA champion hopes to win his third title.
According to Barkley, KD, who won his first two championships alongside Steph Curry with the Golden State Warriors, needs a third ring to cement his status with all-time greats like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
“LeBron said, ‘I had to win a championship without D-Wade to get old heads’ respect,’” Barkley explained on First Take. “Kobe Bryant said, ‘I have to win a championship without Shaq to get these old heads off my back.’ I hold Kevin Durant to the same criteria.”
Ever present on Twitter, it didn’t take long before Durant hopped on the platform to respond to Barkley, as KD maintained that he wasn’t aware LeBron made such comments regarding his ring count.
“I don’t remember bron saying this…somebody link me to the article,” KD wrote.
Earlier this month, following a tumultuous tenure in Brooklyn, the Nets traded Durant and T.J. Warren to the Suns as part of a deal that saw Brooklyn receive Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and a 2028 pick swap.
Durant, who’s been sidelined since Jan. 8 after suffering an MCL sprain, is expected to make his Suns debut Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets.
“He’s itching to get out there,” Phoenix head coach coach Monty Williams told reporters on Monday.
Judge Postpones Tory Lanez Sentencing Date in Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Case
As expected, Tory Lanez’s sentencing in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case has been postponed.
As reported by KTTV and others, a new potential sentencing date (April 10) was set during a hearing with Superior Court Judge David Herriford on Tuesday. This outcome was more or less predicted, per court reporter Meghann Cuniff, who also shared an extensive breakdown of Tuesday’s Lanez developments via a Substack update.
Tuesday’s hearing also saw the judge lifting a gag order that had blocked Lanez from speaking publicly about the case. As previously reported, Lanez’s current legal team is now expected to file an order for a new trial.
In December, Lanez was convicted on a trio of counts in connection with the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. In a statement released in response to the conviction, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón took a moment to commend “the bravery of Megan Pete,” adding that she showed “incredible courage and vulnerability” when providing her testimony in the case.
“You faced unjust and despicable scrutiny that no woman should ever face and you have been an inspiration to others across LA County and the nation,” Gascón said at the time. “Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed. This trial, for the second time this month, highlighted the numerous ways that our society must do better for women.”
Not long after the conviction, Lanez was reported to have hired multiple new lawyers, including (according to TMZ) an attorney famously linked with Casey Anthony.
Biden Administration Gives U.S. Agencies 30 Days to Purge TikTok from Federal Devices
The Office of Management and Budget Director announced Monday that federal agencies would have 30 days to remove the TikTok app from all federal devices.
According to Director Shalanda Young, the Chinese-owned app must be uninstalled on all federal devices within 30 days, and contractors must do the same within 90 days.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has invested heavily in defending our nation’s digital infrastructure and curbing foreign adversaries’ access to Americans’ data,” said Chris DeRusha, federal chief information security officer. “This guidance is part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the American people’s security and privacy.”
For security reasons, specific departments already had restrictions on TikTok, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department.
In December, lawmakers slipped a bill prohibiting TikTok from federal government devices within the massive government spending package. The bill gave the Biden Administration 60 days to instruct agencies on the restriction, which OMB did on Tuesday (Feb. 28).
President Joe Biden was recently asked about a potentially more significant ban on TikTok: “I know I don’t have it on my phone.”
Photo of Tennessee Governor Dressed Drag Surfaces As He Moves To Sign Drag Ban
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has a past dressing as a woman despite his preparing to sign a bill that bans people from wearing drag.
On Monday, Lee confirmed that he would sign the notorious drag bill, a first of its kind. This, strict policy makes it illegal for performers or any “male or female impersonators” to be in drag in public spaces where children may be able to see them. First-time offenders could face likely misdemeanor charges, while additional offenses could result in a felony.
Prior to his announcement, a photo began spreading like wildfire late Saturday, showing a young Lee dressed as a woman. The black and white picture inside the 1977 Franklin High School displays a tall, slender male in a mini skirt, tight-fitting sweater, pearls, and what appears to be a frumpy-looking wig. The caption reads: “Hard Luck Woman.” Other people standing next to Lee are seen wearing large-fitting suits. It’s unclear if his get-up was part of a spirit day or if this was his everyday attire. Either way, it’s contradictory to his current stance.
When Lee was shown the photo during a Monday press conference, he was asked if he remembered taking it. The governor wouldn’t confirm nor deny the image but did get slightly agitated.
“What a ridiculous, ridiculous question that is! Conflating something like that to sexualized entertainment in front of children, which is a very serious subject,” he told a reporter.
Newly unsealed search warrant lists items accused killer Bryan Kohberger had with him when he was arrested
MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — A search warrant unsealed on Tuesday reveals new details in the investigation of the man charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.
Bryan Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary.
The warrant, signed on December 29 by a judge in Monroe County, was executed at the Kohberger home in Indian Mountain Lake Estates in Chestnuthill Township around 1:30 a.m. on December 30.
The warrant shows that investigators obtained the following items from Kohberger and inside the home:
a flashlight,
four medical-style gloves,
a t-shirt (Arizona Jean Co.),
a sweatshirt (Washington State Cougars),
a pair of size 13 shoes (Nike),
a pair of black socks (Under Armour),
black shorts (Under Armour ),
black boxers (Under Armour),
one cheek swab.
The complete search warrant is posted below.
Authorities said they plan to release more search warrants on Wednesday for Kohberger's car and the home in Monroe County.
Kohberger waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing during a status conference in January.
A judge in Latah County, Idaho, set the preliminary hearing for June 26 at 9 a.m., expecting it to last five days. Prosecutors will try to show a judge that they have enough evidence to justify the felony charges.
The November 13 slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin left the rural community in Moscow, Idaho, grief-stricken and afraid, prompting nearly half of the university's students to leave town for the perceived safety of online courses.
Weeks went by without a named suspect, and few details were released, but on December 30, Kohberger, a graduate student studying criminology from the university located just ten miles away — was arrested at his parents' home in eastern Pennsylvania.
Investigators seized stained bedding, strands of what looked like hair, and a single glove — but no weapon — when they searched Kohberger’s Washington state apartment, according to documents released in January.
Read the full search warrant HERE.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
“CUTE PET’
Meet Wally Gator
HAVE A GREAT DAY AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
No comments:
Post a Comment