#MAGFAB: Yara Shahidi for Harper's Bazaar Arabia 2023
Gorgeous and the article is HERE!
#RHOA: Should NeNe Leakes Return To RHOA?
NeNe Leakes departed The Real Housewives of Atlanta after season 12, but it's high time Bravo bring her back to the long-running series.
NeNe Leakes exited The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2020, but it's time for her to return to the Bravo series. After appearing in eleven seasons, NeNe's relationship with the show and network soured when, in 2022, she accused Bravo, NBCUniversal, and the production team for violating federal employment and anti-discrimination laws. NeNe's lawsuit claimed Kim Zolciak-Biermann made racist comments about her, but Bravo punished NeNe for complaining rather than Kim. While NeNe later dropped the case, the stain of marking Bravo execs as racist hasn't disappeared, especially considering NeNe's wild popularity and glaring absence from the show.
Her assessment that production turned a blind eye to problematic behavior for the sake of the story isn't unfounded. Kim engaged in repeated behavior that could easily be labeled racist. NeNe called out Kim for saying she didn't want to go to a barbeque and eat chicken with her, playing into stereotypes about Black people. Kim also repeatedly made digs at NeNe, referring to her as an animal and ugly. Upon her return to RHOA in 2018, Kim had her daughter Brielle film roaches in NeNe's bathroom and blast it across the internet. Last but not least, after bringing Kandi Burruss on to produce the iconic "Tardy for the Party," Kim never paid Kandi.
Bravo's decision to give Kim her own spin-off and never outright condemn some behavior on the show doesn't paint a great picture, but it could be helped by bringing NeNe back to RHOA. While the drama hasn't stopped NeNe and Kim from making amends time and time again, it's still clear that NeNe deserves more. The reality is that most television networks have engaged in institutional racism in one form or another over the years, but that doesn't mean it can't and shouldn't be rectified in some way.
Bravo Blaming Everything On NeNe Is Nonsensical
Ostracizing NeNe for attempting to call out these normalized antics in the industry isn't the answer. RHOA has also been on a downward spiral since NeNe's departure. While the show attempted to address systemic racism by following Porsha Williams' activism in 2020, the effort felt half-baked in the context of NeNe's banishment. In response to news that Brandi Glanville is returning to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Twitter user traebug000 wrote, "It's Amazing to me how everyone can get an opportunity to return to these housewives shows but @NeNeLeakes when we know that's Housewife a Royalist. Where is the grace?"
NeNe & Andy Still Need To Talk
NeNe retweeted it, reaffirming her 2021 statement that she'd be happy to return to RHOA to settle unfinished business. She told friends Loni Love and Garcelle Beauvais on The Real, "I think Andy and I were really close for a really, really long time, and I love Benny boo, [Cohen's son], and I helped pay for his baby shower and all those things. I think that Andy and I need to have a sit-down and talk, and then we're off to the races."
NeNe's also incredibly missed by The Real Housewives of Atlanta viewers and has so much to share after her husband Gregg's passing. She's running her restaurant and lounge, The Linnethia, and thriving with her boyfriend, Nyonisela Sioh. It's time Bravo welcomes NeNe back and gives the world what it deserves: a look at her next chapter.
#NewMusic from LaTocha (of Xscape) Releases Solo Debut Album “The Invitation: A Conversation with God”
LaTocha Scott from the legendary group Xscape has just released her long awaited debut solo album “The Invitation: A Conversation with God”. The project releases through her Made Girl Music Label in partnership with Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG.
STREAM HERE
“The Invitation: A Conversation with God” is a collection of anthems, ballads, and songs of inspiration that speak to the highs, lows, and in-betweens of life. LaTocha adds:
“Music has been my passion and saving grace for as long as I can remember. Even throughout my R&B career, I’ve always made it a point to give God the praise for he is whom all my blessings flow, so to now be at a point where I’m able to marry my passion for music and with my love and devotion for God, I couldn’t be more proud of this full circle moment.“
The veteran singer had previously released the singles “I’m Yours” and “Stay With Me” from the album leading up to its release. “Stay With Me” is currently in rotation at both Gospel and R&B radio.
#HipHopNews: Jim Jones Says Pusha T Isn't Deserving Of Top 50 Greatest Rappers
During an episode of the Rap Caviar Podcast, the Jim Jones weighed in on Billboard’s list of the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, which placed the Clipse rapper at No. 29. But according to Jones, he doesn’t deserve a spot in the top 50 at all.
“What has he done that puts him in the greatest rappers of all time besides talk about coke that he probably didn’t get himself?” asked Jones while debating with others members of the panel.
While he did give Pusha props as a lyricist, he questioned his impact on the culture.
“He’s nice as shit. He could rap his ass off, but what has he done?” asked Jones. “Nobody has dressed like him. Nobody wants to be like Pusha T. I don’t remember nothing. And let’s not be evil, but we don’t talk about rap where the ni**a that’s popping the bitches wanna f**k and the ni**as wanna be like. I don’t know too many ni**as in this game that was leaning towards being like Pusha T.”
“Pusha T don’t hold no weight out here. He not pushing no shit out here,” added Jones, while Bootleg Kev noted his critically-acclaimed 2018 album Daytona.
Jones went on to say that he would “easily” put Big Sean and Cam’ron over Pusha. “You go in these clubs, I don’t know no records they play in the club with Pusha T. They don’t play his shit outside.”
Jones may be biased based on his friendship with Pusha T’s enemy Drake, who brought him and the Diplomats on stage during his show at the Apollo in January.
Jones recently declared Drake the greatest rapper of all time. “The relevancy that he keeps showing year after year, hit after hit, record after record. Any record that he has put out has seemed to go multi-platinum,” he told Complex. “That never has happened before in this history.”
#BoxOfficeNews: 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' wins big at the box office with record opening $200 million
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" powered up at the box office with an impressive opening.
The movie ran up the score with more than $200 million in the US and Canada for its five-day opening run, according to a news release, and an estimated $377 million worldwide -- the latter topping the box office launch record for an animated movie, previously held by "Frozen 2."
It marks the biggest global box office opening of the year, with "Super Mario Bros." standing ahead of "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which brought in the $225.3 million during its February opening.
The movie is based on the world of Nintendo's classic 1985 "Super Mario" video games and stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach.
Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Kevin Michael Richardson and Sebastian Maniscalco round out the cast.
Actor Charles Martinet, Mario's longtime official voice in the games -- who many gamer purists felt should have been cast as the titular character instead of Pratt -- makes a special appearance in the movie.
"Super Mario Bros." follows Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi as they're transported down a mysterious pipe while working underground to fix a water main. The brothers wander into a "magical new world" and when they're separated, "Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi," according to a synopsis on the movie's website.
The solid opening is a healthy sign for movie theaters headed into the summer box office season, with the next "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie, also starring Pratt, kicking off in May.
'Euphoria' season 3 will reportedly have a five-year time jump
The third season of the popular HBO series Euphoria will reportedly have a five-year time jump. Additionally, the filming for the next season will start in June.
The Executive Vice President of HBO programming, Francesca Orsi gave a statement on the renewal last year, saying:
"Sam, Zendaya, and the entire cast and crew of 'Euphoria' have taken Season 2 to extraordinary heights, challenging narrative convention and form while maintaining its heart. We couldn't be more honoured to work with this gifted, wildly talented team or more excited to continue our journey with them into Season 3."
The series did face significant controversy during the run of its second season and afterwards as well, with one of the main cast members Barbie Ferreira choosing to leave the series citing a lack of direction for her character.
‘I was wrong’: Daniel Caesar walks back controversial racial comments
Daniel Caesar is admitting he was wrong for the 2019 rant about Black people while he was defending white influencer YesJulz. Caesar came to the influencer’s defense after she attacked Scottie Beam and Karen Civil.
The influencer made headlines for her exploitation of Black culture and was called out. She also made herself a target for scrutiny by tweeting a picture of a t-shirt with the slogan “N—– lie a lot” across the front, and asking her followers if she was allowed to wear it at a festival.
Caesar went directly to his followers after YesJulz was targeted online for her comments.
“Why are we being so mean to Julz?” he asked his followers. “Why are we being so mean to white people right now? That’s a serious question. Why is it that we’re allowed to be disrespectful and rude to everybody else and when anybody returns any type of energy to us. That’s not equality. I don’t wanna be treated like I can’t take a joke.
“White people have been mean to us in the past, yeah, but what are you going to do about it? Tell me what you’re going to do about that? There’s no answer, other than creating and understanding and keeping it moving. You have to bridge that gap.”
Now, in a new interview with Apple Music 1, Caesar reflected on the 2019 incident.
“I completely understand the response,” he told Nadeska. “And in time, after taking time to get over myself and to really honestly look at myself and everything that was happening, I was wrong. I was wrong, and I’m sorry about that. For a long time, I was like, ‘You can’t do anything, you can’t say anything without whatever.’
“You can do and say whatever you want, but it’s like for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. And that’s physics, that’s science. That’s one of those things that the knowledge of that can literally put my mind at ease where I’m like, oh, I did deserve. What happened, happened because I deserved it, because I knocked the domino over and set a course in motion.”
Nadeska pointed out that Black women especially felt disrespected by his words and how he was defending “was someone who we feel like had taken a lot from Black culture and not appreciated it.”
Caesar responded: “Yeah, it’s really when I think about it, it was like, ‘Yeah, it was the perfect storm, honestly.’ I just mean it’s kind of crazy how awful that was,” he said of her sentiments. “Throughout the process in the last few years it was so often, it’s like, ‘so that was a mistake.’”
Now, he wants to share his experience and hopes that it inspires others to make a change.
“I just put it all into the music,” he revealed. “And that’s kind of like I was saying like, at this point, after having punished myself, after having been punished, it’s like at this point you got to just keep making music.
“I want to make music that leads people somewhere as opposed to music that can pacify them or make them feel good. I want to make music that makes people want to change their life. Truly inspiring music.”
Daniel Caesar’s latest album, NEVER ENOUGH, was released on Friday (April 7).
JoJo Siwa claps back at Candace Owens over accusation she is pretending to be queer 'for attention'
JoJo Siwa has responded to Candace Owens's accusation that she lied about her sexuality.
Last week, conservative commentator Owens posted a video via Twitter in which she claimed the 19-year-old dancer had pretended to be queer.
"I don't believe JoJo Siwa is a lesbian, by the way. I want to state that very clearly. I do believe that she's desperate for attention," she said, referencing a TikTok in which JoJo opened up about realising she didn't like men.
"It's very clear to me she did that video for attention. She got attention because it's a great way to find a community of victims."
The clip was captioned: "Is JoJo Siwa lying about being a lesbian for attention?"
A few days later, Siwa clapped back at Owens in her own Twitter message.
"I haven't watched the video yet... But if it has anything to do with your caption, respectfully back the f**k off," she fired.
Siwa posted a video to TikTok in October 2022 telling fans that she first realised she was gay after hearing Demi Lovato's 'Cool for the Summer', watching Jenna Dewan's Lip Sync Battle performance, and not wanting to be intimate with a man during a date.
Tiger Woods withdraws from 2023 Masters
Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the 2023 Masters. The 15-time major champion had made the cut on the number, then struggled in the opening holes of his third round Saturday.
"I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods said in a statement. "Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!"
Plantar fasciitis is an injury of the connective tissue around the heel, and it can make walking extremely difficult. Woods faced a long Sunday of walking 29 holes over Augusta's hilly terrain.
The third round of the Masters was cut short by rain that soaked the course. Wind and plummeting temperatures made the east Georgia course feel like an Open Championship venue. Woods is still feeling the effects of a catastrophic February 2021 car wreck, and he has indicated that cold weather is a hostile enemy to his reconstructed leg. Combined with the steep inclines of Augusta National, it's apparent that the challenge proved too much for Woods to handle.
The withdrawal ends Woods' run of completed Masters. He has made the cut every single year since his professional debut. On Saturday he tied the record of 23 consecutive cuts held by Gary Player and Fred Couples.
Woods has not completed a full tournament since last year's Masters. He also withdrew from the PGA Championship due to injury, and missed the cut at last year's Open Championship.
Saturday, Woods appeared likely to make the cut as he played his final holes of the weather-delayed second round. But a bogey-bogey finish left him on the outside until the cut line later slipped to +3. Woods played his first seven holes of the rain-delayed third round at +6. His final holes of the 2023 Masters ran bogey-double bogey-double bogey.
"I've always loved this golf course, and I love playing this event," Woods said after the second round. "Obviously I've missed a couple with some injuries, but I've always wanted to play here. I've loved it."
Lance Reddick's family says his cause of death contradicts his healthy lifestyle
Lance Reddick’s family says early reports of the actor’s cause of death have not been authenticated by an autopsy, despite information about his death certificate being released.
As previously reported, “The Wire” standout was found dead inside his Studio City, California, home on March 17. At the time, representatives said he appeared to have passed away due to natural causes. However, on April 6, TMZ was the first to report that a Los Angeles coroner’s death certificate revealed Reddick’s cause of death was due to ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
That same day, Reddick’s longtime family attorney, James Hornstein, issued a statement disputing the early diagnosis. “The coroner’s statement on the death certificate is not a result of an autopsy. No autopsy was performed on Lance. To my knowledge, no medical examination of Lance during his lifetime ever indicated such conditions,” said Hornstein. He did not clarify if or when an autopsy will be performed.
He went on to explain that the “Fringe” cast member lived a healthy lifestyle that contradicts any concern about heart issues. “Lance was the most physically fit person I’ve ever known,” added the attorney. “He exercised daily at his home gym, including extensive cardio work, and the availability of gym facilities was a contractual requirement for his work away from home. He ate as if a dietitian was monitoring his every meal.”
Reddick’s sudden passing was a shock to fans and his industry peers, especially the cast of his latest project, John Wick: Chapter 4. The film’s star, Keanu Reeves, remembered his friend as a remarkable artist. “We worked together on four films over 10 years,” Reeves told People at the March 20 premiere in Los Angeles. “He was a remarkable artist and a special person with grace and dignity.” Reeves and other members of the cast paid tribute to their co-star by wearing blue ribbons in his honor.
Pop Smoke murderer pleads guilty, sentenced to 4 years in juvenile hall
Pop Smoke’s death in February 2020 blindsided many hip hop fans who were thrilled to see the New York native’s rise to stardom at a young age. Yesterday (April 6), those seeking justice came one step closer to seeing that reality. The Los Angeles Times reported that an unnamed 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery. This makes him the first of four defendants who’ve been charged in the rapper’s death to admit fault in the case.
He was 17 at the time of the attack. Given his age then, he received a sentence of four years and two months in Los Angeles’ Secure Youth Treatment Facility instead of an adult prison. The judge chose not to apply the two years and eight months that he has already spent in juvenile hall to his sentence. Three other people have been charged in the case: Corey Walker, who was 19 at the time, and two unidentified assailants who were 15 and 17. The judge has barred the release of the minors’ names.
Pop Smoke was visiting Los Angeles in February 2020 when he posted a photo on Instagram of a gift bag he received, which inadvertently showed the address of where he was staying. The group of teens used that information to track down the “Dior” rapper. According to court testimony, the 15-year-old pistol-whipped the Brooklyn-bred MC and shot him three times in the back, then stole a Rolex watch that they sold for $2,000. The rhymer was rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries at the age of 20.
The defendant who pleaded guilty yesterday allegedly was responsible for scouting out the mansion and helping Walker find three other young people for the robbery. All the while, he maintained “constant communication” with Walker in their getaway car.
'American Idol' announces shocking, unprecedented Final Judgment: 'We literally made this decision two minutes ago'
Sunday brought the American Idol Showstoppers round — aka “Final Judgment,” or as old-school viewers called it back in the day, the “Green Mile” — as the judges selected the “magic 24” moving on to Season 21’s semifinals. And after watching this year's remaining 55 hopefuls perform for a live audience at L.A.’s Orpheum Theatre, the judges claimed they were facing their toughest and “most intense” decisions ever.
Of course, the judges say that every season. But they did seem to genuinely agonize over some deliberations, especially when it came to two similarly sultry, falsetto-dependent soul singers, PJAE and Malik Heard. After hearing PJAE do Luke James’s “I Want You” and Malik do the vibey Tevin Campbell crowd-pleaser “Can We Talk,” the panelists were at a standstill, so they decided to solve the problem with a good old-fashioned sudden-death sing-off, right there in the deliberation room.
And, as is often the case with American Idol Final Judgment/Green Mile episodes, there was a good old-fashioned “twist,” too — but this one really was a series first.
So, here’s what went down: PJAE and Malik were tasked with choosing either Billie Eilish’s “Everything I Wanted” or “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R. (they had to agree on this), rehearsing for one hour, then returning to sing in the room with no reverb, microphones, or musical backing of any kind. After going with the Eilish ballad, both contestants delivered elegant renditions, and vocally, it was extremely close. However, PJAE interpreted the song with more pure, raw emotion, and Luke Bryan even said it was the best PJAE had “ever sang in his whole life.” It therefore seemed like PJAE was the winner.. but apparently the judges were not expecting this development, because now they seemed more flummoxed than before.
“The person that we were thinking about is out!” announced Katy Perry, as the judges went rogue and suddenly changed their minds. “We’ve never done this, but we’ve actually moved someone else out of the competition … We literally made this decision two minutes ago.”
To clarify, that decision was to keep both PJAE and Malik — but at the expense of another, unnamed contestant that they’d originally earmarked for the top 24.
It was unclear if any singer among Sunday's eliminees was the specific one who’d been shoved aside to make room for both PJAE and Malik. Among those sent home were Kaylin Hedges, a Platinum Ticket recipient who faltered on her poorly chosen Seal cover, and Adin Boyer, the autistic singer-songwriter who’d struggled but ultimately triumphed during Hollywood Week. Adin’s vocals weren’t quite up to par with some of the rest of the top 55, but Lionel Richie assured the gifted musician that he had “a definite place in this business” and even told him, “I want to write with you. I mean that. I just want to sit down with you and see what you have to offer, because you have a lot in there. Look for the phone call!” Hopefully those weren’t empty words from Lionel, but regardless, Adin left Idol with his head and spirits very high.
Fire Wilmore’s Sunday exit was a lot more tense, even it was — I’m being honest, in a Cowell-like way — long overdue. A hard-luck single mom with a decent voice who’d been given multiple chances (starting with an invitation to audition again after she was initially turned down), Fire had had an “interesting journey” this season. And her Showstoppers cover of Duffy’s “Mercy” left things on a literal high note, as it was her best performance yet. But it still wasn’t enough, so the panel the told Fire that her interesting journey on Idol was finally ending. “Truthfully, your fire is never going out,” Fire’s biggest supporter, Katy, insisted, adding, “I love you.” But Katy, the one who’d given Fire that second shot during the auditions, didn’t extend any offer to collaborate or stay in touch, like Lionel had with Adin. And as Fire “shut down” — that was how Luke described her real-time reaction to her rejection — the disappointment and even anger on her face was evident. “I’m not OK with going home. I just feel like I needed this more than a lot people did. But it doesn’t matter,” she told host Ryan Seacrest with a standoffish shrug. (If I’m being especially honest, I suspect producers played on Fire’s desperation, for ratings and drama, and never really intended to advance her to the live shows — so I did understand her bitterness.)
Sunday’s episode ended with a cliffhanger: another sing-off, this time between smoky-throated teens Paige Anne and Megan Danielle. Paige Anne hadn’t been feeling well this week and therefore delivered her Showstoppers rendition of “California Dreamin’” remotely, from her hotel room. (Side note: Why hadn’t that been an option for the ailing Kaya Stewart, who had to drop out last week?) And Paige actually gave what the judges said was the show’s “best in-room performance ever.” (Another side note: This was high praise, considering that two past winners, Noah Thompson and Just Sam, gave remote performances during their respective seasons.) Megan had the advantage of doing her performance, of the A Star Is Born ballad “Always Remember Us This Way,” with a full band and audience at the Orpheum — but the judges still seemed to think the two singers occupied the same lane. So, they told Paige and Megan to pick any Adele song (why???) and the girls went with “Easy on Me.” The night ended with Paige’s lovely if a bit too staid and controlled rendition of that tune, but we’ll have to wait until Monday’s part-two Showstoppers episode to find out if Megan’s presumably rawer and raspier take was better — or if the judges went easy on these sing-off contenders and let both go through to the top 24 as well.
Keshia Knight Pulliam Announces She Gave Birth in Birthday Post: 'What an Eventful Birthday Week'
Keshia Knight Pulliam is now a mom of two! The Cosby Show alum, 44, revealed to her 2.1 million followers on Instagram that she and husband Brad James recently welcomed a son on a post uploaded on her birthday.
"With this little one we are complete… Happy Birthday to me!!! What an eventful birthday week… 😆," Pulliam wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for the birthday wishes!! 😘"
She also shared a cute video showing her and James preparing for the birth at the hospital. In the video, James can be seen in hospital scrubs filming as he joked around with Pulliam, who was in a hospital bed.
"This is how grown people play doctor," he quipped in the video as he asked his wife about her diet and symptoms, to her amusement.
The clip ended with a shot of the couple posing at home with their newborn baby boy wrapped in a blanket and Pulliam's 6-year-old daughter Ella, whom she shares with ex Edgerton Hartwell.
Pulliam and James, who tied the knot in September 2022 announced they were expecting their first child on The Tamron Hall Show in December 2022.
Pulliam, noticeably pregnant, told the host that it felt "so good" to finally talk about it publicly. "Not that I've been trying to hide it," she said, "but when you've had a miscarriage, when you've gone through this journey, you want to just enjoy this moment and want to make sure that everything is OK."
Following the appearance, Pulliam shared the news on Instagram, writing alongside a video of her and James on the set of the talk show, "Oh Baby Baby!! Baby James coming 2023!! 🥰❤️🥰."
Last month, the couple revealed the sex of their baby in a joint Instagram post, writing, "It's a BOY!! 💙," alongside a photo of themselves popping confetti cannons filled with blue powder.
Pulliam began dating James in 2019 after the pair met on the set of the TV movie Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta.
The couple exchanged vows in Sept. 2021, with both members of the couple sharing photos from the intimate event on their respective social media accounts. James shared a carousel of shots from the couple's special day, along with a beautiful tribute to his wife.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step..." he began his caption. "I'm grateful to take mine with you.. my friend, my counselor, business partner, travel buddy, co-parent, trip advisor, lover, movie critic, negotiator, ride not die-er, designated driver (even tho I'm a better driver) chef, spiritual healer, and so much more..."
"I love you eternally, and gift you with my tribe and family who will protect and support you and our family by any means necessary," James continued, adding the hashtag "#TheJamesBond" in his post, just as Pulliam did.
‘Bodyguard’ Musical Halted by ‘Mini-Riot,’ as Rowdy Theatergoers Loudly Singing Along With ‘I Will Always Love You’ Are Dragged Out
A touring production of the stage version of “The Bodyguard” was brought to a halt and canceled in Manchester, England on Friday night after patrons would not stop singing along with the musical’s songs, leading to house lights coming up during the climactic number “I Will Always Love You.” Two women were forcibly pulled out of the theater by security, and several police cars arrived to oversee the evacuation of the theater after what patrons on social media described as “fights in the aisles” and even “a mini-riot.”
According to news reports out of Manchester and tweets from those inside the Palace Theatre, the show — based on the hit 1992 film — had already been temporarily halted once during the first act because of the disruptive audience sing-alongs, but was resumed. Later, though, with only about 10 minutes to go before the end, it was put on pause again while its star, Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton, attempted to sing the climactic song made famous in the movie by Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You,” over the sound of tuneless howling coming from audience members. Thornton’s mic was cut mid-song, the house lights came up and offenders were evicted — struggling against being pulled out by their shoulders, in video footage captured by attendees — and the show was officially called off.
Local police questioned the women who were thrown out. A statement said that “a decision about any further action will be made once the evidence has been reviewed.”
Stories about the incident immediately began to be exchanged among patrons of the British theater scene, and soon internationally as well, as the most egregious examples yet of what some see as a growing scourge of rudeness and even aggressive behavior threatening the traditional decorum of the theater.
“Went to The Palace Theatre in Manchester to watch ‘The Bodyguard’ and a bunch of entitled pricks starting singing over the lead during the final song,” wrote @tashalou96 on Twitter. A riot broke out, the show was canceled and the police were called.” Wrote another user, @REDARMY1878: “Just been to watch ‘The Bodyguard’ at the Palace and a mini riot erupted during the big ending, show canceled, people being physically removed and fights in the aisles. All because you can’t sing along!!! Police at the scene!!! Utter madness.” Said @islandnites, “They’ve had to stop the show AGAIN during the finale because of people shouting out, screaming and being incredibly disruptive. Just unbelievably disrespectful to the actors. And they’re refusing to leave. This is horrendous. Never seen anything like it.”
The leading lady, Thornton, recorded a video message and posted it on her Instagram Stories shortly after taking her makeup off from the performance, telling disappointed patrons: “I respect that you paid your money, and i am so grateful to everyone who respects the people on stage who want to give you a beautiful show. For everything that happened tonight, I cant say, I don’t have all of the details. I just am very, very sorry that we couldn’t finish the show. i fought really hard. It feels awful.. … I thank everyone who was respectful of the performers and am very, very sorry for those who weren’t. I hope we see you soon.”
Audience audio and video tweeted from theatergoers captured the sound of the unwanted sing-along before the performance was halted, with growing murmuring over the disturbance and fed-up audience members saying “Shut up.” Footage of the women being pulled out from the front of the balcony was also shared.
Ayden Callaghan, who plays the role made famous by Kevin Costner in the film version, tweeted: “Theatre pulled the show at the end tonight because of disgusting behaviour. We wanted to carry on but it had become a major incident. I’m really sorry to what was 99.9 per cent a brilliant audience that a few badly behaved individuals ruined it.”
Although it had not gone this far before, the rudeness of audience sing-alongs on the national tour of “The Bodyguard” was not a phenomenon isolated to Manchester. It had already become such a problem that it was the stuff of social media warnings and news headlines. In early February, Glasgow Live reported that a standing engagement of the show in that city’s King’s Theatre beginning in late January had been subject to “people trying to ‘outsing’ the actors and ‘chatting’ during the show.” The theater posted an admonition on social media asking patrons to show “consideration” for others and warning: “Anti-social behaviour towards our staff or other customers will not be tolerated.”
Behavior described by those who attended the Glasgow engagement appeared to be at least as bad as what happened in Manchester Friday, if not worse, including evictions, although shows were not halted. Among the comments excerpted by Glasgow Live: “It was ridiculous how inappropriate fully grown adults were behaving. Actively trying to outsing the professional actors. It was such a shame and I felt terrible for the on-stage professionals being wolf-whistled and boo-ed every second scene.” Wrote another: “There were people being loud, singing along when they shouldn’t have been, and getting up and down all the time. The thing that was a bit confusing though is why the staff removed a customer to let her back in and then have to remove her again but properly. Also, the show was still going at a moment that was very quiet/intense and you could hear the woman shouting in the stairs.” … “Stay at home with your Buckie Bottle and listen to Whitney if you can’t behave and just enjoy it like normal people.”
Louisville Mass Shooting! Police: 5 dead, 6 injured, including police officer; shooter dead
Louisville Metro Police said there were "multiple casualties" after responding to reports of an active shooter at a downtown bank Monday morning.
Police said five people are dead and six are injured, one of the people injured was a police officer. Their condition is unknown.
LMPD said the shooter was killed as well, but it's unclear if the shooter is considered one of the five people killed.
As of 10 a.m., police have reported there is "no active danger."
LMPD is asking residents to avoid the 300 block of East Main Street. The incident reportedly took place inside the Old National Bank.
A witness who was inside the building told WHAS11 they saw a man with a "long assault rifle" fire multiple shots inside the bank on the first floor, near the conference room area.
"He just started firing," he said. "I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me."
Another witness, who works in an office building facing the bank, said the shooter and law enforcement officers got into a "shootout." They said civilians were being carried out.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed his sympathies with the families of those impacted and said he would be heading to Louisville on Monday.
FBI Louisville and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive are also on the scene assisting Metro Police.
Officials say Lincoln Elementary School and UofL Health are under lockdown.
WHAS11 reporters are at the scene gathering information.
Billionaire David Geffen Marries Former Go-Go Dancer With “Super-Secretive” Past
Billionaire David Geffen’s new “husband” is a former go-go dancer with a secretive past.
The 80-year-old media magnate’s net worth is reportedly $7.7 billion. His friends told the New York Post that his husband is one-time model Donovan Michaels, 30.
Born David Armstrong in Michigan, he used the alias Brandon Foster when he moved to Florida in 201. He began dancing and promoting parties at Miami’s gay clubs, including “clothing optional” pool parties “along with plenty of other hot sexy guys.”
Geffen and Michaels were spotted touching down at a New York City heliport last Monday.
Pictures of the couple show Geffen flashing a gold band on his ring finger.
Friends of Michaels say he would flaunt his toned physique from time to time on Instagram, and post from September 2014, he said he was “doing a little camming tonight,” adding he would “put on a good show” for anyone who would pay to access his footage.
He moved to the Big Apple around 2016 or 2017 for the city’s modeling scene. That time he took on another new name, which he currently uses.
However, a former girlfriend said Michaels only dated women from what she knew of him.
The ex, who asked to remain anonymous, said Michaels always jumps head-first into any adventure, so she isn’t surprised by his nuptials.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. I mean, he’s very attractive,” she said. “He would tell me people just assumed that he was into guys from what he posts on Instagram.”
“I know that he was getting comments like that from gay men, that he was really attractive and in really good shape.”
It’s unclear how Michaels and Geffen met, but a source said Michaels trained Geffen.
Showbiz411 reported the couple got married in March in a ceremony attended by only four people.
One of Michaels’ friends, who also asked to remain anonymous, told The Post the former fitness trainer “was always looking for his next adventure and was really determined to improve his life.”
Geffens owns several sprawling estates across the U.S., including one in New York’s most expensive apartments.
Sources told The Post that Michaels came from “very humble beginnings” and was one of 13 children in a family from the small town of Imlay City, Michigan.
A former friend recalled how Michaels was “super-secretive” and rarely spoke about his history.
“It took a while to really get to know him because he was really private about his past,” said the friend, who wanted to remain anonymous.
Doja Cat Says She’s Done Making Pop Music
Doja Cat is done making pop music. The rapper/ singer is currently working on her new album, Hellmouth, and told fans definitively in a series of tweets that it will be all rap.
Doja tweeted yesterday, “no more pop,” and followed it up with another tweet saying, “i also agree with everyone who said the majority of my rap verses are mid and corny. I know they are. I wasnt trying to prove anything I just enjoy making music but I'm getting tired of hearing yall say that i can't so I will.”
The Grammy winner rose to fame with pop songs — including the viral TikTok sensation, “Say So” — but has always included rap in her discography.
One person responded to Doja saying they hope the “comments are not the only thing that pushed” Doja to “go full rap.” In response, Doja said, “pop isnt exciting to me anymore. I dont wanna make it.”
Doja teased her new album yesterday by posting a screenshot of three unfinished songs. She confirmed in a tweet that there would be 10 tracks total plus five extras.
The artist told Variety in a recent interview that her next era would be “going in a more masculine direction.”
“I know that I’ve done a lot of pink and soft things, a lot of pop and glittery sounds,” Doja said, before saying that the new album would be anything but that.
Her last album, Planet Her, was released in 2021 and solidified her status as one of the biggest recording artists. She’s collaborated with the likes of SZA, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and more. As for her forthcoming rap album, we’ll have to see who she features.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Too much soda
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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