#MAGFAB: Jennifer Coolidge on the Cover of W MAGAZINE’s Directors Issue
W Magazine today released the final cover of Volume 2, The Directors Issue, featuring the iconic Jennifer Coolidge in “Coolidge vs. Haute Squad 5: Attack on Neo Runway City – Jennifer Reborn” directed by Academy Award nominees Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Shot in Corriganville Park, Kwan and Scheinert planned the shoot as a tribute to tokusatsu, a genre of campy Japanese cinema that birthed such legendary creatures as Godzilla, Mothra, and Giant Robo.
Now in its fifth year, the beloved Director’s Issue highlights and celebrates some of the greatest and most talked about directors in film and this year features three out of the five Oscar nominees for Best Director.
Photographed by Lenne Chai, Production Design by Calder Greenwood, Costume Designs by Shirley Kurata, and Written by Alex Hawgood
Daniel Kwan talks about the themes of the cover shoot: “Tokusatsu is so well done, but the special effects are always kind of handmade. If you look at the stuff from the ’60s, you can feel the fingerprint. You can tell there’s somebody inside the costume. There’s something very charming about that, especially nowadays, when you can create anything digitally and nothing impresses you anymore.”
Daniel Scheinert explains what inspired this silly/fun shoot: “There is so much pressure around Everything Everywhere All at Once, so our impulse for this shoot was to do the opposite. Not only do I really just want to dress up as a monster—I want to get our friends together, play with cardboard props, and go out to the desert.”
Daniel Scheinert explains that they appreciate working with actors with a stacked résumé: “I’m prejudiced against young people. I have problems with our youth-obsessed culture and beauty standards, so anytime we can shake things up a little, I’m all for it.”
Jennifer Coolidge on her White Lotus character Tanya: “I feel bad for her, because she didn’t know what she was made of. She didn’t have that kind of faith in herself. Sometimes these scary things happen in life. And then you find out, in like two seconds, that you are a survivor and that you can really pull through for yourself, sometimes in a way that you never believed you could.”
Jennifer Coolidge on working with The Daniels for the shoot: “The film business tires people out. But I swear to god, I felt like I was getting together with little kids. They were like these sort of child prodigies who are super, super smart and just super creative. I’ve never been asked to do a shoot like this: I have weapons, take down small cities, pick up cars and throw them. I don’t know if I will ever be this surprised again. It was one of the best things I have ever been involved in.”
#RHOA: Drew Sidora's Husband Ralph Pittman Files for Divorce After Nearly 9 Years of Marriage
The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman are officially ending their marriage, PEOPLE can exclusively confirm.
"Love is a beautiful thing," Pittman, 37, said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. "Unfortunately we have made the difficult decision to move on to our next chapters, independent of each other. Drew and I have decided to file for divorce. We have three amazing young children, and their mindset and growth is what is most important. As we navigate this difficult time, I ask that you please respect our privacy."
According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Pittman's petition for divorce was received on Monday. PEOPLE also obtained documents that confirm Sidora, 37, lodged her own divorce petition an hour before Pittman.
Pittman listed the couple's separation date as Feb. 19, while The Game actress claims they have been separated since last Thursday, Feb. 23.
Though documents from Pittman request joint legal and physical custody of their children, Sidora's petition notes that "there is no chance or hope of reconciliation" between the spouses.
Sidora and Pittman married in August 2014. They later welcomed son Machai in June 2015 and daughter Aniya in February 2018. The That's So Raven alum also has an 11-year-old son, Josiah, from a previous relationship.
Many of the couple's marital woes leading up to their divorce were chronicled on RHOA.
Last year, Sidora discovered a suspicious text message between her husband and his female assistant (who was later fired). "Finding out my husband was getting close with his assistant was really hard for me," she said on the show. "I packed up my kids and we went to Chicago. I literally ran away from home."
Sidora also said she wanted Pittman to "respect the relationship."
RHOA castmates also took, with Kenya Moore calling Pittman "so disrespectful" as he faced accusations of gaslighting his wife.
"You're basically saying that she's lying and how it happened was not how it happened," Moore, 52, told Pittman in a 2022 episode. "That would piss me the f--- off if somebody said that to me to my face, especially if I'm hurting. Do you not understand that? You're tearing her down."
Despite their challenges, Sidora told BET last June that the pair planned to continue fighting for their marriage.
"I thought it was like Cinderella like a happily ever after and so we thought that's what it was going to be," she said. "My parents who have been married for like 60 years made it look so easy. I'm in a situation where we have children, we're moving to a new city — life is happening and people are growing as well as changing."
She continued, "It's hard because sometimes you're like, do I need to stay in this marriage or am I better off by myself? Then I think to myself when two people commit and you keep committing to each other, what can we do to fix this? You're switching counselors to find the right one — but we're committed and I think that's what keeps people together."
Sidora also noted that it's "not that it's perfect because I'm not perfect and God knows he's not perfect," but they "keep doing the work" nonetheless.
#MusicNews: Broccoli City Festival Announces 2023 Lineup f/ Lil Uzi Vert, Jazmine Sullivan, Brent Faiyaz, and More
Broccoli City Festival has announced its lineup for 2023. The two-day festival will go down July 15–16, 2023 at Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium Festival Grounds.
Lil Uzi Vert, Jazmine Sullivan, City Girls, Mariah the Scientist, Saucy Santana, Rema, Ice Spice, Finesse 2 Tymes, and others are set to perform on Saturday, July 15 while Brent Faiyaz, Kodak Black, Glorilla, Chloe Bailey, Asake, Coco Jones, Fat Trel, Lola Brooke, as well as others, will hit the stage on Sunday, July 16. Both days will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
General admission tickets and VIP pass options will be available for purchase starting Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. ET via this link.
“This year’s lineup continues our tradition of celebrating culture in the DMV, both nationally and locally. We want to continue highlighting those who continue to play a role in driving progress in Black communities,” Brandon McEachern, co-founder of Broccoli City Festival, said in a statement. “Our goal is to always create a dope cultural experience and highlight a diverse group of artists who are taking Black music to new heights, and I’m proud of how it’s come together.”
#HipHopNews: Birdman Says Hip-Hop Executives Deserve Their Flowers
Birdman wants some respek on his name. As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the Cash Money mogul is reflecting on his contributions to the rap game and demanding his flowers. Taking to Instagram, Birdman lamented over the lack of attention executives like him have received.
“Im confused about 50yrs of hip hop where they salute legendary artists which is well respeked,” he wrote in a since-deleted post, captured by Complex. “Also I think CEOs who kept these artists alive to be great showed them how to keep hip hop alive should be saluted in a major way.”
He touted his influence on the culture, adding, “I remember wen they said hip hop was dead and we kept it alive. YMCMB 20plus summers respek our hussle CEOs kept hip hop alive frfr.”
But Birdman wasn’t the only one feeling this way. His sentiments were echoed by Quality Control CEO Pierre “P” Thomas, whose label was recently acquired by HYBE America for $300 million. “Real talk OG,” he commented. “This should be discussed in a major way. Let’s Go.”
Snoop Dogg also agreed with Birdman, writing “facts” while applauding him. “great work cuz u and slim did that,” said Snoop.
Birdman and his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams founded Cash Money Records in 1991, becoming one of the most successful labels in music and introducing the world to icons including Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj.
Last month, the Grammys celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with an epic tribute that featured artists including LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, Rakim, Public Enemy, Scarface, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Nelly, Lil Baby, GloRilla, and more.
Jury Finds Lawyer Alex Murdaugh Guilty In The Deaths Of His Wife And Son
A South Carolina jury has found prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh guilty on all counts in the deaths of his wife and son.
Jurors deliberated for about three hours before reaching a decision. Murdaugh showed little emotion as the verdicts were read.
Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, but Murdaugh faces a sentence of 30 years to life.
Earlier in the day, Murdaugh's defense team made its final bid to prevent him from spending decades in prison, delivering their closing argument in the trial of the disbarred South Carolina attorney charged in the murders of his wife and son.
A defense attorney for Murdaugh sought to sow doubt about the work by police and forensics teams, saying they fell far short of preserving evidence from the crime scene. Murdaugh's lies and revisions to his alibi stemmed from paranoia induced by his opiate addiction, the defense insisted.
In response, the prosecution urged the jurors to pay attention to "common sense" and "facts," after hearing an abundance of testimony about Murdaugh's character.
Prosecutors said the once influential lawyer lied to those close to him when he stole millions of dollars from his colleagues and clients and — in an act of desperation, as his financial pressures were mounting — fooled his wife and son, too, when he killed them.
Murdaugh, 54, was charged with using a rifle to kill his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and a shotgun to kill his son Paul, 22. They died on the night of June 7, 2021, at the family's sprawling Moselle hunting estate in South Carolina's Lowcountry region.
Murdaugh has admitted to lying about his alibi, but insisted he did not kill his wife and son.
Murdaugh's defense says investigators fabricated evidence
Defense attorney Jim Griffin said law enforcement was biased against Alex Murdaugh from early on — adding that they later fabricated evidence against him. Pulling at threads of the prosecution's case, Griffin said state investigators "failed miserably in investigating this case."
Had the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, or SLED, done a "competent job" of gathering evidence, Griffin said, Murdaugh would have been excluded from the list of potential suspects long ago.
"Unless we find somebody else, it's gonna be Alex," Griffin said, giving his version of investigators' thinking. Saying his client's opioid habit made him "an easy target for SLED," Griffin added. "They started fabricating evidence against Alex."
SLED took samples from Alex Murdaugh's clothes, but they never took DNA samples off Maggie and Paul's clothes, Griffin said. Once investigators seized on the idea that tests showed high-velocity blood spatter on Alex Murdaugh's T-shirt, he added, they refused to dismiss that idea and pursued it "with vengeance."
But when the state was faced with mixed results and questions over tests of Murdaugh's shirt, Griffin said, they embraced a "Mr. Clean theory," which purported that Murdaugh committed the grisly murders, quickly washed himself off with a hose and got into a golf cart "butt-naked, I guess," to drive back to the house, before leaving to visit his mother.
Griffin accused the agency of a list of failures, saying the state never explained if tests were performed on hair he said was found in Maggie's fingers. He also faulted the way Maggie's phone was secured after it was found on June 8, accusing investigators of not preventing the device from continuously pinging GPS locations — which, he said, eventually overwrote data from the night of the murders.
As for the lies Murdaugh admitted telling, Griffin said his client lied because "that's what addicts do." He added that Murdaugh had "a closet full of skeletons" that he didn't want exposed.
Prosecution says to focus on what is real
Prosecutor John Meadors — a veteran of murder trials, who emerged from retirement to join the state's case earlier this year — delivered the rebuttal closing argument. In a speech rife with dramatic flair, Meadors called on the 12 jurors to look past the lies the trial has exposed, including Murdaugh's fluctuating alibi.
All Murdaugh had done when he testified, Meadors said, was to corroborate that he is a liar.
"That's what's real," Meadors repeated as he urged the jury to focus on the facts of the case, not what he deemed the defense's efforts to undermine them. He repeatedly invoked "credibility and common sense."
Meadors also mocked the defense's theory of what happened that night. If Murdaugh didn't commit the murders, Meadors said, some unknown attacker or attackers would need to know precisely when he was leaving his wife and son at the dog kennels, and to also know that guns would be there to carry out an execution-style killing.
"Does that make any sense whatsoever?" Meadors asked.
He noted that South Carolina law doesn't require the state to prove premeditation or motive in a murder case. But, he added, he believes the motive and other elements of the case against Murdaugh are proven, adding, "Nobody else could've done it."
"Thank God for Bubba," Meadors says of Murdaugh's dog
The prosecutor recalled testimony from a friend of Paul's who said he and Paul shot his .300 Blackout rifle — which prosecutors say was used to kill Maggie — a month or two before the murders. That proves the gun, which has not been located, had recently been at Moselle, Meadors said.
"That's powerful. You can feel it like the rain," he said.
"This is an episode of Columbo, except this is real," Meadors said, adding that just like the killers in that TV detective show, Murdaugh made crucial mistakes.
Meadors concluded by citing what he called "beautiful" and "perfect" testimony that came from the victims: the video Paul took proving his father was lying, and the bullets around Maggie's body that showed the murder weapon was a family gun.
"Paul had that insurance on him," Meadors said of the video, in which Maggie and Alex are heard talking about their dog, Bubba, who snatched a chicken in his mouth near the kennels.
"Thank God for Bubba," Meadors told the jury.
"I think he loved Maggie. I think he loved Paul," Meadors said, referring to Alex Murdaugh. "But you know who he loved more than that?"
When Murdaugh's alleged financial crimes put real pressure of him and threatened his wealthy lifestyle, Meadors said, he showed that he loved himself more. And Murdaugh did whatever he needed to protect himself, he added.
Defense pokes at prosecutors' use of phone data
Griffin replayed the video Paul took in the kennels around 8:44 p.m., minutes before prosecutors say the shooting started. It captured Alex, Maggie and Paul talking about dogs.
"Four minutes later, the state would have you believe that Alex Murdaugh up and blew his son's brains out" and killed his wife, Griffin said.
He also sought to sow doubt about investigators' findings of the time of death, saying that just because Paul's and Maggie's phones locked around 8:49 p.m., that doesn't mean both of them were dead.
Griffin ran through phone data reflecting the minutes after 8:49, laying out a theory in which the slain mother and son might have simply set down their phones at the kennels. Orientation changes and other movements Maggie's phone recorded, he said, might have indicated that she was still holding her own phone — or perhaps that a "bad guy" had it.
Murdaugh would never kill his wife and son, defense says
Griffin replayed witness testimony describing Murdaugh as a loving husband and father. As for the accusations of financial misdeeds that arose in Murdaugh's law firm the morning of June 7, 2021, Griffin insisted it was not different from any other day in the "frenetic" life of Alex Murdaugh.
The pressures on his client have been overblown, Griffin said. When Murdaugh did finally feel pressure, the attorney added, he took steps to end his own life in September, asking his cousin to shoot him.
Griffin began his statement with an overview of the criminal legal system, comparing the trial to an instant-replay review in college football. Despite the charges against Murdaugh, he told jurors, the call on the field — the default position of the law — is that Murdaugh is innocent. It's the prosecution's job, he added, to prove Murdaugh's guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
If the government hasn't met its "high burden" of proof, he added, the jury must find Murdaugh not guilty.
A juror is removed, shortly before deliberations are to begin
As Thursday's court session began, Judge Clifton Newman announced that a juror is being replaced on the panel. The court received a complaint from a member of the public saying the juror, a woman identified only as juror No. 785, had "improper conversations" with people not involved with the case.
Newman thanked the woman for her attentive and positive attitude throughout the case, and the investment of her time. But, he said, she would be replaced so that the integrity of the trial would remain intact.
A light moment then erupted shortly before the juror left, as she said she needed her purse from the other room — along with a dozen eggs that another juror had brought in for everyone on the panel.
"A dozen eggs?" Newman asked.
"You want to leave the eggs or take the eggs?" the judge asked. The juror affirmed that she wanted to take the eggs.
Newman also instructed her to not talk about the case until the trial is over.
The witnesses were murdered, prosecutor said
Prosecutors have built a case against Murdaugh using circumstantial evidence, lacking eyewitnesses, video records or a murder weapon.
"We couldn't bring you any eyewitnesses, because they were murdered," prosecutor Creighton Waters told the jury on Wednesday.
The trial is winding down one week after Murdaugh took the stand himself, to admit he had lied repeatedly to investigators when he said he wasn't with his wife and son at the dog kennels at Moselle shortly before they died.
In his new version of events, Murdaugh admitted being there, but he said he went back to the house minutes before 9 p.m. — the time prosecutors say the murders took place.
Prosecutor told jurors: Don't let Murdaugh fool you
In his closing argument, Waters stressed to jurors that he thinks one thing was missing from the two days Murdaugh spent testifying. If the new alibi is true, Waters asked, why hadn't Murdaugh voiced any regret that he didn't remain at the kennel, to potentially protect his wife and child?
Jurors have gotten a massive amount of information about Murdaugh's character, from his former law colleagues and clients who said he stole millions of dollars, to the multiple stories about his alibi.
"This defendant has fooled everyone — everyone who thought they were close to him," Waters said. "He fooled Maggie and Paul, too, and they paid for it with their lives. Don't let him fool you, too."
‘Welcome To Sweetie Pie’s’ Reality Star Tim Norman Sentenced To Life In Prison
Former Welcome To Sweetie Pie’s actor Tim Norman was sentenced to life in prison this week. The 44-year-old participated in the murder of his nephew, Andre Montgomery Jr.
Norman was given two life sentences on Thursday (March 2) plus a 240-month sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire resulting in death, and mail fraud during his September 2022 trial. The trial’s jury reportedly spent 17 hours deliberating before they reached a final verdict.
The St. Louis actor was originally accused back in 2020 of being the brains behind Montogomery Jr.’s 2016 murder. Court documents revealed that Norman took out a life insurance policy for his nephew amounting to $450,000 in 2014.
The father of one took to Instagram last week to advocate for his innocence. “Thank you for all the prayers. I’m still in disbelief,” he wrote. “The feds know 100% I did not do those insurance policies. But the jury didn’t get to hear that. And not one person got on the stand and said that I told them to hurt my nephews. They destroyed my name and image so you guys wouldn’t search for the truth.”
Three other people were charged for their roles in the murder and pled guilty. Travell Anthony Hill, the shooter, was sentenced to 32 years in prison in October 2022 and provided details in his plea agreement. Reportedly, Hill met up with Norman the day Montgomery Jr. was murdered and was aware of the fact he wanted his nephew killed.
Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, Norman’s insurance agent, was sentenced to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Terica Ellis was sentenced to three years in prison in January for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, despite initially facing 20 years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated the judge cited her being forced into prostitution in the past when making their decision and believed Norman would have succeeded in his scheme with or without her help.
Madonna Dating 'Summer House' Boxing Coach Josh Popper After Andrew Darnell Split
The 29-Year-Old Boxing Coach Previously Shared Photos Of Him And The Queen Of Pop On Instagram, One Of Which Showed Him Wrapping His Arm Around Her While Posing With Other Three Men.
Mar 2, 2023
AceShowbiz - Madonna has found herself a new love. Just around one week after reports about her breakup with Andrew Darnell made media headlines the "Material Girl" songstress reportedly moved on with "Summer House" boxing coach, Josh Popper.
Revealing the news was DailyMail.com. A source told the outlet that Josh has been training Madonna's six kids at his gym Bredwinners in New York City. While the pair have yet to confirm the dating reports, the boxer has shared photos of him and the Queen of Pop on Instagram.
On February 13, Josh shared a photo of him posing with three men and Madonna as he wrapped his arm around her. Another snap, meanwhile, showed the singer striking a flirty pose by hugging him from behind.
In the caption, Josh wrote, "Another W for the books!!" The 29-year-old hunk added, "I wanna thank my coaches, my team, and my Bredwinners family for pushing me to be my best in and out of the ring. I got some good people by my side."
Before being an item with Josh, Madonna was in a romantic relationship with her model lover Andrew. On February 23, however, Page Six confirmed that they were no longer together because the 23-year-old has found romance with someone closer to his own age. "It was only a very casual thing [with Andrew] so she's not broken-hearted. It's just that it has come at a bad time," said an informant.
"She's having a bit of a crisis of confidence and this doesn't help," the so-called inside source went on to explain. "She had a lot of fun with Andrew but it was never love or anything like that."
Madonna and Andrew met on a photoshoot soon after Madonna split last year from 28-year-old Ahlamalik Williams, the backup dancer with whom she had a three-year relationship.
Fans Ship Chloe Bailey And Michael B. Jordan After They Take Cute Selfie Together
Chloe Bailey and Michael B. Jordan just met up at the "Creed III" premiere and fans are here for it. A number of Internet users couldn't help but ship the two stars after they took a cute selfie together at the Monday, February 27 event.
When hitting the red carpet of the premiere at TCL Chinese Theatres, Chloe took a selfie of her, Michael and Jonathan Majors. The 'Have Mercy' singer was smiling ear-to-ear on the snap with the two actors striking cute poses.
Upon seeing the image, one Twitter user gushed, "Chloe and Michael B. I would definitely be here for." Another penned, "actually chloe bailey & michale b. would be perfect for each other they both seem like safe 'cookie-cut' individuals."
A third individual added, "This would Actually be a cute couple." Someone else chimed in, "Soo here for it." A different person then echoed similar sentiment, "They look nice together."
Michael famously dated Lori Harvey for more than one year. However, in June 2022, PEOPLE reported that the pair had called it quits. "Michael and Lori are both completely heartbroken. They still love each other," a source told the site.
While Michael is currently single, his ex Lori has moved on with actor Damson Idris. The model and the "Snowfall" star confirmed their relationship with a photo posted on Instagram Stories on her 26th birthday. In the snap, he planted a sweet kiss on her cheek with their eyes closed.
Fox Nation To Release ‘Jussie Smollett: Anatomy Of A Hoax’ Docuseries
Fox Nation will revisit the infamous Jussie Smollett saga with a five-part docuseries titled “Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax.”
Set for March 13, the series will feature exclusive interviews with brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who were part of an elaborate plot to perpetrate a staged hate crime on the Empire actor. They have apparently never spoken to the media about their role in the hoax.
Smollett continues to maintain his innocence.
“Anatomy of a Hoax takes a deep dive into a scam that reverberated through the worlds of entertainment, pop culture and politics,” said John Finley, the streaming platform’s Executive Vice President. “We’re excited for viewers to hear the real stories behind this scandal from the Osundairo brothers for the very first time.”
In January 2019, Smollett alleged he was attacked on a Chicago street by two men who were said to have shouted “this is MAGA country” while beating and putting a noose around his neck. After a thorough investigation, Chicago police uncovered that the attack was staged, and that Smollett had hired the Osundairo brothers to carry out the crime.
Fox Nation says the docuseries “will chronicle the behind the scenes maneuvering and drama that turned the star into a pariah and sent shockwaves through Chicago and beyond, leaving a trail of damaged careers and reputations. The Osundairo brothers will unravel the details from the planning of the fake crime, its execution and all that ensued in the aftermath.”
After being found guilty on five felony counts, including lying to Chicago cops, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail last March. While avoiding state prison, the incarceration came as a part of an overall sentence of 30 months probation, $120,106 in restitution to the Windy City, and a further $25,000 fine. He walked out of jail a week later after an Illinois Appellate Court cut his sentence pending appeal.
Developed and produced by Lionsgate’s Pilgrim Media Group, the series was executive produced by Craig Piligian, Nicholas Caprio, Scott Eldridge, Gloria Rodriguez and Nicole Rittenmeyer, who also serves as director.
'Today' Show Fans Are Reaching Out to Hoda Kotb After Hearing About Her Personal News
After more than a week of Hoda Kotb's absence, Today show viewers are learning what's going on with the beloved host.
Since the NBC journalist's last appearance on February 20, fans have voiced concerns over where Hoda could be as other anchors like Willie Geist, Sheinelle Jones and Tom Llamas have stepped in for her. But during the third hour segment on March 1, Craig Melvin updated folks by explaining that she took time off to take care of a personal situation.
"We mentioned that Savannah [Guthrie] and Hoda are both off," he said on the show. "Savannah, she's home after a positive COVID test yesterday ... As for Hoda, we know a lot of you have been wondering how she's doing."
He continued: "We can tell you that Hoda's OK. She's got a family health matter that she's been dealing with, so we look forward to seeing Hoda and Savannah back at the desk real, real soon."
When word spread about what caused the Emmy Award-winning co-anchor to step back from her daytime job, fans immediately reached out to her with words of encouragement on social media.
"We miss you Hoda 🙏 ! Hoping everything is okay! Your laughter is so contagious that you are so deeply missed!" one fan wrote on Instagram. "Prayers for Hoda and family! Thank you for the update," another added. "❤️ Good thoughts, good vibes and lots of prayers sent y’alls way!!!" a different user wished for her.
Despite not personally commenting on what's going on behind the scenes, Hoda is updating her followers in her own way. Over the last week, she posted pictures to her Instagram featuring words of inspiration. In her most recent post, ;from February 27, her followers saw a photo of clouds in the sky alongside the phrase, "Choose Hope."
It's also important to note that TV isn't the only thing Hoda is taking time off from. As Deadline reported, she also hasn't updated her podcast Making Space with new episodes since February 20.
We're sending Hoda all of our love and we hope to see her back on the air very soon.
Rihanna Reveals Fenty x PUMA Is Coming Back
On Wednesday, Rihanna revealed the official comeback of Fenty x PUMA, with a concise message posted to social media: “She’s back.” In classic Bad Gal fashion, details on the re-established partnership are being kept largely under wraps, but news of Rih’s fashion revival will suffice for today.
Rihanna has a longstanding relationship with the German sportswear company that dates back to 2014 when she joined the brand as creative director of womenswear. During her tenure, Rih staged several New York Fashion Week shows and released a bevy of highly sought-after sneakers, including 2016’s oh-so-popular Fenty PUMA Creeper. After her last PUMA collaboration was released in 2017, however, the partnership quietly vanished, while Rihanna dedicated time to other projects.
Two years later, Rihanna launched her independent luxury label Fenty under the LVMH banner, becoming the first Black woman to do so. However, the brand’s ready-to-wear activity was “put on hold” in 2021, reportedly due to declining sales.
While PUMA’s creative director, Rihanna successfully established identifiable design codes that left critics and customers satisfied. With an emphasis on athleisure, the visionary’s collections oftentimes included an assortment of chunky footwear, oversized loungewear and vivid bodysuits, among other playful activewear iterations. It’s likely that the return of Fenty x PUMA will lean further into Rihanna’s vision of inclusivity, with styles that adhere to a contemporary aesthetic.
At this time, there is no information on the collaboration’s launch date. Stay tuned for more information.
Justin Bieber cancels all remaining Justice tour dates after Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis
Justin Bieber has cancelled all of the remaining dates of his Justice world tour, following health issues.
The 29-year-old singer had postponed the tour several times, telling fans last summer that he was suffering from facial paralysis, after a diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS).
He said in September 2022 that he wanted to make his "health a priority".
The tour's official Twitter page posted on Tuesday that ticket holders would automatically receive a refund.
The Canadian had been due to play shows in the US, Australia and Europe, including a Manchester date originally planned in for this Saturday (4 March).
However some of his fans have previously expressed their dismay about not receiving refunds for postponed dates on the now-scrapped tour, which has reportedly grossed $55m (£46m).
No official reason has been given as-yet for the cancellation.
Fan reaction
Cade Harper, 23 from Aberdeen, who got tickets in November 2021 as a Christmas gift from a family member, told BBC News: "I'm sad he has cancelled but his health comes first and I totally understand.
"I just wish he didn't say it was only postponed. This would have been my second time seeing him as I have already seen him in Glasgow for the Purpose tour so I was looking forward to seeing him in my home town in Aberdeen."
Bieber took a total break from music in 2019 to focus on his mental health.
The Grammy-winning performer's latest album, featuring the likes of Burna Boy, Chance the Rapper and Khalid, reached number one in the US and number two in the UK chart in 2021.
But he said that subsequent shows in Europe had "taken a real toll on me" and that he needed more time to "rest and get better".
Bieber revealed the effects of his facial paralysis in June 2022, and has only performed live half a dozen times or so since
RHS is when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near someone's ears, resulting in paralysis of parts of the face.
It cannot be passed from one person to another, but it is a complication from shingles, which is linked to the chickenpox virus that many people can get when they're children.
According to the charity Facial Palsy UK, if the immune system becomes depressed and is less able to fight off infection, the body can become vulnerable to a reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
It says stress is often a trigger as it can weaken the immune system, and people who are stressed are more likely to suffer from infections.
The City of Baltimore pays record $6M in police misconduct settlement
According to The Washington Post, police misconduct has cost taxpayers upwards of $3 billion over the past decade as units around the country settle countless cases with victims and their families. The Baltimore Police Department‘s Gun Trace Task Force has specifically cost the city $22.2 million since its creation in 2007 as it resolves lawsuits brought against them. Its latest payout, stemming from a deadly police chase, is the task force’s biggest settlement yet.
On April 28, 2010, Umar Burley was picking up his friend Brent Matthews in Baltimore’s Grove Park neighborhood. But when Matthews got in the car, their vehicle was boxed in and surrounded by plainclothes police officers with masks on and guns drawn. Burley believed they were being robbed, so he drove off, leading to a high-speed chase. Shortly thereafter, Burley crashed into another car at an intersection, killing 86-year-old Elbert Davis Sr. and seriously injuring his wife, Phosa Cain.
In 2018, their daughter Shirley Johnson filed a federal lawsuit after discovering the cause of the police pursuit that led to the fatal accident. The Gun Trace Task Force was formed to get illegal guns off the street, but since its inception, members have been convicted of robbing drug dealers, planting narcotics and firearms on innocent people, and assaulting civilians. Over $20 million has been awarded to settle nearly 40 cases involving the rogue law enforcement unit, and Johnson’s legal victory on Wednesday marks the city’s biggest payment to date.
The settlement is the culmination of Johnson’s yearslong battle for justice and search for the truth. Initial accounts of the crash covered up the egregious details of police misconduct that eventually came out years later. With every new detail revealed, she and her family had to relive difficult memories as they worked to uncover what actually happened and find a resolution to their pain.
“They were feeding us this lie for over seven years. That’s how long it took before we found out what really happened to our parents,” Johnson told The Associated Press. “It’s crazy to think that Baltimore City police officers, who are supposed to protect and serve, were out there committing all kinds of crimes… and they covered it up for so long.”
Sorry Kids: TikTok Sets One-Hour Screen Time Limit for Users Under 18
Have you ever used TikTok for such a long time that you felt like your brain was going to melt and leak out of your ears? Well TikTok now has a plan (albeit certainly not foolproof) to prevent teens and children using the app from endlessly scrolling. In the next few weeks, all users under 18 years old will receive a 60-minute screen time limit automatically set by the app that can only be unlocked with a passcode.
TikTok announced the feature today, and is the first to admit that the 60-minute time limit is a little bit arbitrary. However, the company claims that the decision is based on research from and consultations with the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. Once users between 13 and 18 reach the one hour time limit, they will be prompted to enter a self-set passcode to unlock extra time. While this is an easy workaround, TikTok says that it will force teen users to make an active decision in their content consumption. For users under 13, a parent or guardian must set the passcode.
The feature will roll out “in the coming weeks,” according to TikTok’s press release, but, when asked, TikTok did not tell Gizmodo when, specifically the one-hour time limit will be released.
Of course, this all comes as lawmakers both on the state and federal levels are banning access to the ByteDance-owned app on government-issued devices, amid ongoing privacy concerns about the China-based company. It also comes as Republican-backed legislation to ban TikTok nationwide makes moves through Congress.
Senator Josh Hawley is one of the loudest lawmakers calling for an all out ban of the app. Upon introducing legislation to ban it in January, the Republican wrote that TikTok, “...threatens our children’s privacy as well as their mental health.”
While those following along don’t see a nationwide ban actually happening, it would be hard not to see TikTok’s latest move to curb screen time for kids as merely an effort to get lawmakers to ease up on calls to block access to the app.
That’s not to say that social media platforms like TikTok aren’t impacting kids. They certainly are. A survey from the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Digital Wellness Lab of over 1,400 teens found that 64% of respondents said that their screen usage interfered with sleep, while 52% said it interfered with family time. The survey also found that TikTok was the second most popular app being used by the teens that were canvassed, with 64% of teens using it at least once a day.
Obviously, Gen Z loves TikTok, but the impacts of the app—and social media more broadly—amongst the younger generations are becoming harder and harder to ignore. Earlier this year, the Seattle school system sued several social media companies, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and (you guessed it) TikTok, arguing that these platforms have helped foster a youth mental health epidemic.
Michael B. Jordan Gets A Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame Just Days Before 'Creed III' Premiere
Michael B. Jordan is looking fine in bold blue suit for his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony!
The 36-year-old star and director was honored at a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon (March 1) in Los Angeles, with his star reveal, which comes just a few days before his new movie, Creed III, hits theaters.
Jonathan Majors and Ryan Coogler were on hand to celebrate with Michael.
“My emotions are actually all over the place, I’m seeing so many people that I want to kind of get to and hug and connect with and show my appreciation,” Michael shared with ET at the event. “I want to give the love right back, you know? But then I’m also just taking a moment to just to be like, ‘Damn. OK, wow, that happened. I’m here!’”
He added, “I didn’t think it would hit me this much, but as it all started to come together and we start to see it and reality starts to set in, the importance [and] the weight of the moment… you really realize it.”
Michael‘s star is located at 6201 Hollywood Blvd., in front of the Funko Hollywood toy store.
Idris Elba & Wife Sabrina Join His Co-Star Cynthia Erivo at 'Luther: The Fallen Sun' Premiere in London
Idris Elba is look sharp on the red carpet! The 50-year-old actor and wife Sabrina posed for photos while arriving at the premiere of his new Netflix movie Luther: The Fallen Sun on Wednesday (March 1) held at BFI IMAX Waterloo in London, England.
Fellow cast members in attendance included Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis with wife Lorraine Ashbourne, and Dermot Crowley along with director Jamie Payne.
In Luther: The Fallen Sun — an epic continuation of the award-winning television saga reimagined for film — a gruesome serial killer is terrorizing London while brilliant but disgraced detective John Luther (Elba) sits behind bars. Haunted by his failure to capture the cyber psychopath who now taunts him, Luther decides to break out of prison to finish the job by any means necessary.
BTS Army: Here’s When and Where Lego’s “Dynamite”-Inspired Set Arrives Online and In Stores
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The Bangtan Boys are back — in tiny brick form. While the members of BTS are busy with solo careers, filming documentaries, military service and releasing luggage, the Army can relive the fun of “Dynamite” with Lego’s new fan-designed building set.
Available in Lego stores and online starting March 1, the 749-piece Lego x BTS Dynamite set ($100) features minifigures of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook as well as pint-sized scenes from the Grammy-nominated song’s music video. Fans can build familiar locations such as the disco, record store, donut shop, basketball court and ice cream truck, plus a detachable moving stage. Per Lego, the set will begin shipping March 18.
It comes with charming accessories including donuts, vinyl albums, microphones, a basketball and more for re-creating the whimsical video. When fully built, the complete set measures 15 inches wide by 6 inches tall by 7 inches deep — the perfect size for displaying with your BTS lightsticks and merch.
Block-loving BTS fans Josh Bretz and Jacob Twerski created the set for Lego’s crowd-sourced Ideas program, which is also responsible for fan-made sets inspired by Queer Eye. The duo submitted their product concept in April 2021, earning over 10,000 votes of support that led to the project becoming reality.
In a Q&A for Lego’s blog, Bretz explained, “Jacob had the BTS knowledge, and he was able to direct my build in the proper way. It took about a day to make the build. I watched the music video over and over and tried to capture its essence in the Lego bricks. The most difficult part was all the little prints and minifigure designs. The outfits each member of the group wears are so unique and iconic, I knew I had to do it right. I actually simply rendered out the blank minifig parts and drew on them with an art app on my phone.”
Adde Twerski, “I told him what needed to be in it, what details were most important, and how this set needed to present itself. I also sent him many screenshots from the music video. It was a fun process that only took a few days.”
BTS announced their hiatus in June 2022 so members could pursue solo careers and complete their required military service in South Korea. They’re expected to return as a group sometime in 2025.
Pre-order the BTS “Dynamite” set at the toy giant’s website, and shop the kit along with more merch from the K-pop group and its members
Report Claims Gary Owen Is Having Twins with New Girlfriend, Fans Bring Up His Strained Relationship with Older Children
Gary Owen reportedly is about to be a father again, despite going through a messy divorce with his estranged wife, Kenya Duke.
Since then, he’s also developed an estranged relationship with their children. Yet fans are in awe of how quickly he has managed to move on.
The outlet, Gossip of the City Tea, posted a picture that purportedly showed the comedian posing with a woman and little girl, and both Owen and the child were each holding a onesie in the picture while the woman held a small dog and a sign reading, “Owen twins take the field in July 2023.”
A sparkling ring can be found on the woman’s left hand, but it’s unclear if it was an engagement or wedding ring. The post was captioned, “Welp! Seems like Gary Owens (sic) is all smiles as he slides into his new family and prepares for his future twins otw!”
Gary Owen is having twins in July, this post purports to show. (Photo: @gossipofthecitytea/Instagram.)
The “Ride Along” actor infamously separated from his wife of nearly 18 years, Duke, back in 2021 and admitted to not speaking to their three adult children, Kennedy, Emilio and Austin, for nearly two years.
The former couple had been together for 23 years prior to Duke filing for divorce and accusing Owen of having an affair.
Duke also accused Owen of being a deadbeat dad, and the entertainer admitted during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club” that his children were mad at him due to his contentious divorce.
“I haven’t talked to them in like a year and a half,” said Owen. “They’re mad because I left their mom.”
Many fans were shocked by the news that the standup comic is expecting twins and commented on Owen’s fractured relationship with his adult children. “Now wait a minute…” replied one fan under the post.
“Man… ain’t no way I’m just gone be like welllllll lost my old family… let me start a new one,” added another fan. “He JUST got a divorce,” one person noted.
One fan replied, “In my kevin heart voice DAMN!!!
Another fan noted a ring on the woman’s left hand and wrote, “Wait they’re engaged too??? Is the divorce even final yet?”
“Damn and already engaged with twins,” noted one. “Wasn’t it only last year when they said they was divorcing to begin with?”
“If the old kids won’t talk to ’em, make new ones,” one chimed in. “Congrats, G.”
A Twitter user noted Owen’s affection for Black queens. “One thing about gary owen,” wrote the user. “He loves a Black woman.”
One fan joked, “He really was right when he joked about us adding the ‘S’ to his last name. He might as well legally change it at this point.”
“This man move faster than fart wind,” added one.”
“Please don’t active Kenya,” joked another fan. “You know she’s coming lol,” replied one person. “Lmfao his ex-wife finna write a whole dissertation,” another added.
One fan didn’t see any issue and replied, “I’m not seeing the problem? He’s divorced. He’s allowed to move on.”
Ja Morant Allegedly Punched Teen a Dozen Times, Flashed Gun, Police Report Says
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has been accused of punching a teen a dozen times and flashing a gun on him in a police report, as The Washington Post reports.
Per the police report, which refers to the same incident that saw Morant hit with a lawsuit last
month, Morant has been accused of punching a 17-year-old in the head during a basketball game at his Memphis home in July, 2022. The boy told police that the NBA star and one of his friends hit him so hard they left him with a “large knot” on his head and knocked him to the ground. Following the fight, Morant allegedly went into his home and came out with a gun in his waistband to threaten him, the teen told authorities in interviews.
During the pick-up basketball game, the boy said that Morant threw the ball at him hard, so he threw it back just as hard. The ball “slipped through [his] hands” and hit Morant on the chin, which the teen said started the violent interaction between them. “Do I do it to him?” Morant asked his friend, to which the friend replied, “Yeah, do it.”
The teen said Morant punched him in the jaw, while his friend punched him from the other side. “I fell to the ground, trying to cover my face, so I wouldn’t get hit in the face,” the 17-year-old told police. “I got, started getting hit, punched in my head, everything else. ... Ja hit me like 12 to 13 times.” While the boy said Morant did not aim the gun at him when he “came outside with his gun,” he did allegedly place his hand on it. “His dad was yelling at him, like: ‘No, no, no. Go back. Go back in the house,’” the boy claimed.
Following the altercation, the teen’s mother filed a police report and took him to hospital. In interviews with police, Morant has claimed he acted in self-defense and claimed the teen threw the ball at his head and then took a step towards him. Despite insisting that he felt the need to “protect” himself from the teen, he confirmed he “swung first” while suggesting “the ball was the first swing to me.” In sworn affidavits from several witnesses, Morant’s friends alleged the boy deliberately threw the ball at the Grizzlies player and “squared up” after the interaction. None of them confirmed or denied if he came outside with a gun after Morant struck him.
Elsewhere in the police report, Morant was accused of threatening a head of security at a Memphis mall after his mother got into a dispute with an employee at a Finish Line store. She called Morant after getting into a verbal argument with the employee, and he allegedly showed up later with an entourage of around nine or so others. When he was confronted by the mall security director, he refused to leave the parking lot of the Memphis mall and police arrived at the scene.
Ja Morant Responds to Report Claiming Friends Confronted Pacers Staff, Shined Red Laser at Team
Shannon Sharpe reacts after he is restrained by security
Shannon Sharpe Addresses Heated Altercation With Ja Morant and Grizzlies
“As the group was leaving the premises … Ja Morant said, ‘Let me find out what time he gets off,’ ” reads the police report, which alleges one of his crew pushed the director. The guard informed authorities he intended to file a report on the incident "because he felt threatened by the statement from Ja Morant." The interaction happened just four days before the one with the teen at his home.
Tory Lanez Sentencing Date Postponed To April
Tory Lanez will sit and await his sentencing a while longer. On Tuesday, a judge set a new sentencing date of April 10 for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in 2020.
According to Fox 11 LA, Lanez has switched attorneys since he was convicted. In a brief hearing on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge David Herriford changed the sentencing date but also agreed to rescind an order that didn’t allow Lanez from publicly speaking on the case.
Lanez and his new legal team will file a motion for a new trial on April 10. He has been behind bars since Dec. 23, 2022, where he was convicted of one felony count each of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
Lanez is facing 22 years and eight months in prison.
Howard University’s Swim Team Makes History With First Championship in Over 30 Years
Howard University has made history again! This time the HBCU is making history in swimming as it just won its first championship after 34 years over the weekend.
The Washington D.C.-based college went against Long Island University, St. Francis College in Brooklyn, and Wagner College to win the title with a 169-point margin.
Through five days of competition at Spire Institute in Geneva, OH, Howard accumulated 928 points, winning by a comfortable 169-point margin. LIU (759) was the runner-up, followed by St. Francis Brooklyn (634) and Wagner (539).
The school’s athletic department took to Twitter to congratulate the men.
“Howard can’t be the only place, the only option because we only have so many roster spots,” director of swimming and diving Nicholas Askew told CNN. “There are so many people we, unfortunately, can’t have at Howard to be able to swim.”
“We are so glad to be able to see the success and so prayerful that it will be taken note of by the other HBCUs to restart their program so we can no longer be the only HBCU,” he added.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘What did she see?’.
YIKES
HAVE A GREAT DAY AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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