#FASHIONFAB: The Mugler H&M Capsule Collection Has Arrived
The look-book for the Mugler H&M collection is here. The collection is true Mugler, each piece is defined by the irrepressible Mugler energy: playful, youthful, body-positive and complimenting each individual’s identity.
The womenswear styles include signature Mugler oversized shoulders with a cinched waist shaping the body. Modern expression of the house codes, the spiral multi-seaming runs throughout the collection in the form of baggy jeans, nylon and denim bonded thong jeans, and jackets. Leather trench coats and jackets with an elongated scarf detailing, strong tailoring is accompanied by the illusion catsuits, leggings, cut-out bodysuits, dresses with decadent embellishments.
The menswear assortment features a collective of leather styles including trousers, blazers, and a trench coat with engraved buttons. The denim selection includes a sculpted jacket with padding that accentuates the form. Sharp tailoring can be layered with see-through flocked star prints and corseted tank tops.
The collection offers an array of gender fluid accessories including sheer gloves and tights, bags, scarves, and silver and gold body chains to earrings and necklaces in different proportions and shapes, ranging from teardrops to the iconic Mugler star.
“This collection is a watershed moment for the house of Mugler – a chance for us to celebrate our history and the pieces that we are beloved for today. The collaboration includes many of our signatures, from catsuits and bodycon dresses to tailoring, denim and beautiful, bold jewellery and accessories.” Casey Cadwallader, Creative Director, Mugler
“Casey and the Mugler team have been incredibly generous in offering up so many of the house’s classics and signatures, which shoppers will recognise from the runway and red carpet. The collection encapsulates the H&M ethos of sharing great fashion and democratizing design. Every piece is an icon.” Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative advisor at H&M
The archive revival part of the collection is a tribute to Thierry Mugler’s greatest hits from the 80’s and 90’s. Each style curated by Casey Cadwallader, arrives with its own special label, featuring Thierry Mugler’s signature embodying the founder’s legacy, featuring a black velvet dress with a shaped waist, and puffed sleeves, a lace corset dress, a skirt suit with piercing details, and an acidic green tailored jacket. Accessories for this section, include boomerang-shaped earrings and a double brooch connected by a chain.
The cast highlights the spirit of Mugler’s diverse community. Photographed by Lengua and styled by Haley Wollens, the look book features a vast array of talents, from fashion icons to musical talents. The cast includes Jerry Hall, Connie Fleming, Mariacarla Boscono, Anna Ewers, Ariish Wol, Sora Choi, Imaan Hammam, Selena Forrest, Lidia Judickaite, Yilan Hua, Aweng Chuol, Amaarae, Eartheater, Arca, Xu Meen, Luthando Ngema, Cheikh Diakhate and Fernando Lindez.
The Mugler H&M collection will be available at hm.com and in selected stores on May 11.
Where Is XSCAPE Now, After the Dramatic Conclusion of Their Series with SWV?
All great things must come to an end, and if the finale of SWV & XSCAPE: The Queens of R&B is any indication, change is coming for the four women of XSCAPE.
Bravo’s limited series certainly displayed the Atlanta-based quartet’s ups and downs throughout the season, featuring founding members Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, and real-life sisters Tamika Scott and LaTocha Scott-Bivens. Following an epic concert event in Los Angeles with fellow ‘90s R&B group SWV in the sixth and final episode, it was time for everyone to say their goodbyes.
Thankfully, the ladies of XSCAPE show no signs of stopping, despite mounting tensions between LaTocha and the other singers. Much of the show’s drama revolved around the gospel singer and her sister, despite previous attempts to make amends, as well as disagreements between LaTocha and Kandi over the direction and management of the group, among other grievances.
So, did the drama affect the fate of XSCAPE? Well, it seems so.
Where Is LaTocha Scott-Bivens Now?
Tamika and LaTocha haven’t spoken since filming wrapped, as detailed in the finale, which aired Sunday, April 9. Tamika also confirmed their estrangement on the April 3 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, claiming LaTocha changed her phone number and blocked her on social media.
On Sunday, the same day as the SWV & XSCAPE finale, LaTocha released her solo gospel album titled The Invitation: A Conversation with God. LaTocha — performing on a first-name-only basis — had released several singles in the weeks leading up to the series finale.
Since filming, LaTocha seems to be keeping busy, including having a church visit with SWV member Cheryl “Coko” Gamble in Chesapeake, Virginia, and a separate song session with Grammy Award-winning “Mother of Gospel,” Pastor Shirley Caeser (whom you might recognize from this video and its made-famous remixes).
Where Is Tamika Scott Now?
As for Tamika, she’s keeping busy with her culinary brand, Southern Fuse, selling a potpourri of southern-style spices and bundles, with flavors such as barbeque and cajun. Her website also showcases her cookbook, Table Set: Cooking with Tamika Scott, and features online recipes “sure to put the taste of the south in your mouth,” such as fried chicken. More of Tamika's recipes can be found on social media.
Tamika and the other ladies of XSCAPE recently appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where her bandmates supported Tamika’s long-time love of cooking, as posted on Tamika’s Instagram page (LaTocha claimed she was the better cook, and while Kandi agreed both were prima chefs, she pointed to how often Tamika shared her culinary skills on social media).
Where Is Tiny Harris Now?
Tiny remains as active on the music scene as ever, but recently took some time to spend spring break with her family in Florida, having the “best time” as the clan enjoyed a ride at Legoland theme park.
She's also keeping busy with sexy photo shoots for her die-hard fans, posing as she, Tamika, and Kandi hit the road, including in Washington D.C., headlining for the R&B Experience, alongside Monica, Tamar Braxton, Tevin Campbell, and others.
Their next stop? Chicago, with additional stops in Detroit, Miami, Orlando, and San Francisco.
“Been on the go all day,” Tiny said in an April 4 post on Twitter.
Where Is Kandi Burruss Now?
And last but not least, there's Kandi, who just celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary with husband Todd Tucker (which even left Mama Joyce in her feelings). The longtime cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Grammy Award winner shared a video of the ceremony, which included inviting one another’s daughters to join as a united family.
Both daughters, Riley Burruss and Kaela Tucker, were recently seen “living their best life” in New York City to support XSCAPE during their Washington D.C. concert, the same show recently mentioned by Tiny.
Kandi and Nick Cannon are currently developing a new girl group, Psiryn.
Since the SWV & XSCAPE finale, XSCAPE won the Lady of Soul Award at the Soul Train Music Awards 2022 in November, as published by BET. On stage, the ladies thanked God, their mothers and families, and especially thanked their fans for their love and support throughout their three decades in the music industry.
“What I’d like to say is continue to shine your light for the world to see,” LaTocha encouraged the audience during their acceptance speech. “Embrace love. Love yourselves, because it took me a while to get to love myself, but now we all are here.”
Here’s hoping for continued love for the group with hopes that they can rise above their differences and keep making incredible music.
You can find episodes of SWV & XSCAPE: The Queens of R&B on Peacock or catch up on the Bravo App.
#NewMusic from Daniel Caesar Releases New Album “Never Enough” (Stream)
R&B singer Daniel Caesar is back with his new album “Never Enough”. The project is his first since the 2019 project “Case Study 101” and features production by the legendary Raphael Saadiq and Dylan Wiggins. Some may not be aware, but this is actually Daniel Caesar’s first ever release on a major label as his previous projects have all been put out through his imprint Golden Child.
The album features the current singles “Let Me Go” & “Do You Like Me?,” as well as collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign, Omar Apollo, serpentwithfeet, and Mustafa.
STREAM HERE
Daniel Caesar will be hitting the road for his “Almost Enough: The Intimate Sessions” tour which will stop by LA, New York and Toronto before he travels to Europe for the second leg of the tour.
#HipHopNews: Quavo Honors Takeoff With New Album 'Rocket Power'
Quavo is keeping Takeoff’s memory alive. Taking to Twitter, he announced that his second solo album will be titled Rocket Power.
“#RocketPower🚀 All My Emotions In This Album No Interviews ♾🔒,” tweeted Quavo.
The rocket mantra has often been associated with Takeoff, whose 2018 solo debut album was titled The Last Rocket.
Quavo has yet to reveal a release date for his new album. Last month, he released the first single “Honey Bun.” Prior to that, he paid tribute to Takeoff with a pair of tracks including “Greatness” and “Without You,” which he performed at the Grammys.
Quavo continues to rep his late nephew, who was fatally shot outside a Houston bowling alley in November. He’s been using the hashtag #ForTake as he gears up for his next solo album, his first since 2018’s Quavo Huncho. In October, he and Takeoff released their joint album Only Built for Infinity Links.
Quavo has kept a low profile in the wake of Takeoff’s death, but he did recently step out to the premiere of Praise This. He stars alongside Chloe Bailey in the Peacock film.
Ousted Tennessee legislator Justin Jones reinstated after Nashville council vote
The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted Monday to return Justin Jones to the state Legislature after he was removed last week by Republicans for protesting gun violence on the House floor.
The 36 council members at Monday’s meeting unanimously supported reinstating Jones. The council had suspended its rules to allow an immediate vote instead of holding a monthlong nomination period.
Less than an hour later, Jones was sworn in on the steps of the State Capitol. He raised his fist as he entered the House chamber while supporters chanted, "Welcome home!"
Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, walks into the House chamber with Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, Monday, April 10, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Jones was appointed to represent District 52 by the Metro Nashville City Council earlier in the day after being expelled the previous week for using a bullhorn to shout support for pro-gun control protesters in the House chamber.
Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, walks into the House chamber with Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday.George Walker IV / AP
"I want to welcome democracy back to the people's house," Jones said in a speech on the House floor. "I want to thank you all, not for what you did, but for awakening the people of this state, particularly the young people. Thank you for reminding us that the struggle for justice is fought and won in every generation."
Jones and fellow Democrat Justin J. Pearson, who are Black, were expelled Thursday in House votes that drew national attention to racial dynamics in the state’s legislative body.
Jones, Pearson and state Rep. Gloria Johnson had led supporters in chants calling for gun control measures after a shooting at a Nashville school killed six people, including three 9-year-old children. The three broke House rules and used a bullhorn when they were not recognized to speak.
House leaders cast the protest as an "insurrection" and voted Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson from the General Assembly. Johnson, who is white, survived her vote, which she suggested had to do with her race. After Monday's council vote, Johnson and Jones embraced and locked arms.
Hundreds of demonstrators who had assembled outside the Metro Nashville Courthouse marched to the State Capitol after the council vote. They were joined by Jones and Pearson.
“Today we send a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence,” Jones said, speaking in front of the State Capitol. “This is not about one person. It’s not about one position. It’s about a movement.”
Pearson said: “You might try and silence it. You might try and expel it, but the people’s power will not be stopped."
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners, the body charged with choosing Pearson's successor, will meet Wednesday to consider action to reappoint Pearson to his seat, Chairman Mickell Lowery announced Sunday.
“I believe the expulsion of State Representative Justin Pearson was conducted in a hasty manner without consideration of other corrective action methods,” Lowery said in a statement. “I also believe that the ramifications for our great state are still yet to be seen.”
Cameron Sexton, the Republican House speaker, has committed to seating whomever the two bodies appoint to fill the vacancies, including Jones and Pearson.
“The two governing bodies will make the decision as to who they want to appoint to these seats," a spokesperson for Sexton wrote in a statement. "Those two individuals will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires.”
In interviews since their expulsion, Jones and Pearson said they have felt tensions among their fellow legislators since they started in the majority-white Legislature. Jones said he and Pearson had a “target” on them since they joined the Legislature because of their race, ages and activist backgrounds.
Pearson added, “When you have people who make comments about hanging you on a tree and hanging Black people on a tree as a form of capital punishment, when you wear a dashiki on the House floor and a member gets up and they talk about your dashiki saying it’s unprofessional, they’re really sending signals that you don’t belong here.”
Democrats in Washington have rallied around Jones and Pearson. Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Nashville on Friday to meet with the "Tennessee Three," as the group has been called, praising them for "channeling" their constituents' voices in speaking out against gun violence. President Joe Biden also called them and invited them to visit the White House. He had called their expulsion "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent."
Nashville Metropolitan Council member Zulfat Suara said: “He’s a duly elected representative of his constituents. They voted him in. They chose him. They want him to speak for them. We cannot stop the voices of the masses or what the voters wanted. That would not be good for our democracy. What the state did [Thursday] is that: kill democracy.”
Black Nashville residents expressed outrage at the ousting of the two lawmakers, saying it silenced their voices. “It’s like our vote doesn’t matter,” one resident said.
Expulsion from the Legislature has been a rare punishment reserved for the most serious offenses, with only a few such instances in the last several decades. Unlike in those cases, Jones and Pearson were not charged with or convicted of breaking the law.
Under state rules, Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, must schedule a primary for Jones' and Pearson's seats within 60 days and a general election within 107 days. Both Jones and Pearson have said they will seek re-election
Old National Bank shooting gunman Has been identified as Connor Sturgeon
The man who allegedly shot and killed five people and injured eight others at Old National Bank in Louisville on Monday had worked at the bank full time since June 2021, according to his LinkedIn account.
Connor James Sturgeon's online account said he still worked there, but it is unclear when it was last updated.
Sturgeon, 25, worked most recently as a syndications associate and portfolio banker. He also worked there for three summers as an intern.
Kathy Schoettlin, executive vice president and chief of communication for the Evansville, Indiana-based bank company, did not respond to emails or calls to her office and cell phone.
Louisville shooting aftermath:'You would've thought Godzilla was coming down the street'
Sturgeon, whose family lived in Greenville, Indiana, lived in Louisville on Taylor Avenue. He graduated from Floyd Central High School, where he played basketball.
His father, Todd Sturgeon, was head basketball coach at the high school, where he was hired in 2014 when Connor was a 6-foot-4 sophomore.
The elder Sturgeon resigned from Floyd Central in 2022 saying he wanted to spend more time with Connor and a younger son.
Connor Sturgeon earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Alabama, a UA spokesperson confirmed.
A SWAT team entered his house Monday afternoon in the Camp Taylor neighborhood in southern Louisville, and police canvassed the neighborhood seeking doorbell camera footage.
Former Donda Academy Teacher Suing Kanye West Speaks Out, Says Kids Aren't Progressing
One of the former teachers of Ye’s (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) Donda Academy that’s currently suing him and the school for wrongful termination is speaking out.
In a new interview with TMZ, Cecilia Hailey divulged more alleged details on the “code violations” she and daughter/fellow plaintiff Chekarey Byers said were taking place at the school, including the fact that the children aren’t getting graded properly nor learning about important factual events. She also said that parents who’ve enrolled their kids in the school need to be aware that it will be a difficult road ahead of them when trying to get them into a better school.
“They need to be aware that their children are behind and that they need to consider that it’s gonna be very hard for them to be able to transfer their kids out of that school next year,” Hailey began. “Or later because there is no grades. Which I think they know of, and they can’t get transcripts. And that they’re not getting what they need. They’re absolutely not getting what they need
The kids are being suppressed because of all the constant changes that go on at the school. We have something in place that’s kind of called ‘educate’ that we haven’t even been keeping up with. But since I’ve been there, there have been no report cards given to the students or progress reports. So because Donda’s not accredited, you really can’t get any documents from the school to show where you’ve been.
“We can tell you on things that we graded. But for it to be legitimately documented with the Department of Education, they don’t have that. And so what happens is when kids do leave to go to another public or private school, they are then tested. And if they’re gonna test them—if they come in at third grade level or fourth grade level and they’re in the sixth grade—they’re going to go in the third grade. Or they’re going to be considered getting IDP or learning disabled because they’re behind. But it won’t be the child’s fault that they’re behind, it is Donda’s fault.“
Hailey then went on to allege that the kids did not learn about important historical events like the Holocaust nor did they have an African-American history class or engage in any celebration of Black History Month.
As previously reported by The Root, Hailey and Byers are suing the Jesus Is King artist and his school on the grounds that they were let go from their positions as teachers last month “in retaliation for reporting code violations.” They also claim that they were “discriminated against based on their race and illegally had wages withheld or were repeatedly improperly paid.”
#RIP: Al Jaffee, longtime Mad magazine cartoonist, dead at 102
Al Jaffee, Mad magazine's award-winning cartoonist and ageless wise guy who delighted millions of kids with the sneaky fun of the Fold-In and the snark of "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions," has died. He was 102.
Jaffee died Monday in Manhattan from multiple organ failure, according to his granddaughter, Fani Thomson. He had retired at the age of 99.
Mad magazine, with its wry, sometimes pointed send-ups of politics and culture, was essential reading for teens and preteens during the baby-boom era and inspiration for countless future comedians. Few of the magazine’s self-billed “Usual Gang of Idiots” contributed as much — and as dependably — as the impish, bearded cartoonist. For decades, virtually every issue featured new material by Jaffee. His collected "Fold-Ins," taking on everyone in his unmistakably broad visual style from the Beatles to TMZ, was enough for a four-volume box set published in 2011.
Readers savored his Fold-Ins like dessert, turning to them on the inside back cover after looking through such other favorites as Antonio Prohías' "Spy vs. Spy" and Dave Berg's "The Lighter Side." The premise, originally a spoof of the old Sports Illustrated and Playboy magazine foldouts, was that you started with a full-page drawing and question on top, folded two designated points toward the middle and produced a new and surprising image, along with the answer.
The Fold-In was supposed to be a onetime gag, tried out in 1964 when Jaffee satirized the biggest celebrity news of the time: Elizabeth Taylor dumping her husband, Eddie Fisher, in favor of "Cleopatra" co-star Richard Burton. Jaffee first showed Taylor and Burton arm in arm on one side of the picture, and on the opposite side a young, handsome man being held back by a policeman.
Fold the picture in and Taylor and the young man are kissing.
The idea was so popular that Mad editor Al Feldstein wanted a follow-up. Jaffee devised a picture of 1964 GOP presidential contenders Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater that, when collapsed, became an image of Richard Nixon.
"That one really set the tone for what the cleverness of the Fold-Ins has to be," Jaffee told the Boston Phoenix in 2010. "It couldn't just be bringing someone from the left to kiss someone on the right.”
Jaffee was also known for "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions," which delivered exactly what the title promised. A comic from 1980 showed a man on a fishing boat with a noticeably bent reel. “Are you going to reel in the fish?” his wife asks. “No,” he says, “I’m going to jump into the water and marry the gorgeous thing.”
Jaffee didn’t just satirize the culture; he helped change it. His parodies of advertisements included such future real-life products as automatic redialing for a telephone, a computer spell checker and graffiti-proof surfaces. He also anticipated peelable stamps, multiblade razors and self-extinguishing cigarettes.
Jaffee's admirers ranged from Charles M. Schulz of "Peanuts" fame and “Far Side" creator Gary Larson to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, who marked Jaffee’s 85th birthday by featuring a Fold-In cake on “The Colbert Report.” When Stewart and "The Daily Show" writers put together the best-selling "America (The Book)," they asked Jaffee to contribute a Fold-In.
"When I was done, I called up the producer who'd contacted me, and I said, 'I've finished the Fold-In, where shall I send it?' And he said — and this was a great compliment — 'Oh, please Mr. Jaffee, could you deliver it in person? The whole crew wants to meet you,'" he told The Boston Phoenix.
Jaffee received numerous awards, and in 2013 was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, the ceremony taking place at San Diego Comic-Con International. In 2010, he contributed illustrations to Mary-Lou Weisman's "Al Jaffee's Mad Life: A Biography." The following year, Chronicle Books published "The MAD Fold-In Collection: 1964-2010."
Art was the saving presence of his childhood, which left him with permanent distrust of adults and authority. He was born in Savannah, Georgia, but for years was torn between the U.S., where his father (a department store manager) preferred to live, and Lithuania, where his mother (a religious Jew) longed to return. In Lithuania, Jaffee endured poverty and bullying, but also developed his craft. With paper scarce and no school to attend, he learned to read and write through the comic strips mailed by his father.
By his teens, he was settled in New York City and so obviously gifted that he was accepted into the High School of Music & Art. His schoolmates included Will Elder, a future Mad illustrator, and Harvey Kurtzmann, a future Mad editor. (His mother, meanwhile, remained in Lithuania and was apparently killed during the war).
He had a long career before Mad. He drew for Timely Comics, which became Marvel Comics; and for several years sketched the "Tall Tales" panel for the New York Herald Tribune. Jaffee first contributed to Mad in the mid-1950s. He left when Kurtzmann quit the magazine, but came back in 1964.
Mad lost much of its readership and edge after the 1970s, and Jaffee outlived virtually all of the magazine's stars. But he rarely lacked for ideas even as his method, drawing by hand, remained mostly unchanged in the digital era.
“I’m so used to being involved in drawing and knowing so many people that do it, that I don’t see the magic of it,” Jaffee told the publication Graphic NYC in 2009. “If you reflect and think about it, I’m sitting down and suddenly there’s a whole big illustration of people that appears. I’m astounded when I see magicians work; even though I know they’re all tricks. You can imagine what someone thinks when they see someone drawing freehand and it’s not a trick. It’s very impressive."
Chloe Bailey Speaks Out Amid Low Sales for Debut Solo Album 'In Pieces'
Chloe Bailey is speaking out after her debut solo album In Pieces dropped with a slow start on the Billboard chart.
The 24-year-old singer released her first solo album on March 31 and it debuted at #119 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 10,000 units, according to Chart Data.
In comparison, Chloe x Halle‘s debut album The Kids Are Alright peaked at #139, but their sophomore album Ungodly Hour did much better with a peak position of #16.
Chloe, who also stars in the new hit Amazon series Swarm, took to Twitter on Monday morning (April 10) to thank fans who have listened to the album.
“in pieces was about letting go & trusting myself. i’ve enjoyed every moment of it and i love everyone who listened to it. tour starts tomorrow in chicago and im so ready to perform these songs for yall ❤️🔥,” she tweeted.
Kim Kardashian joins season 12 of ‘American Horror Story’
Kim Kardashian has joined the cast of 'American Horror Story'. The SKIMS founder and 'The Kardashians' star, 42, has shared a trailer for season 12 of the hit FX anthology series by Ryan Murphy, which will see her star alongside Emma Roberts.
She captioned the video on Twitter with a pair of eyes and blood droplet emoji.
Kim and Emma’s roles are not known at this time, but Kim will be a leading lady for the first time in a role "crafted specifically for her", Ryan told Variety.
The season is titled 'Delicate' and a promo clip teases: "Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian are delicate."
Emma, 32, who has had multiple roles on the show since 2013, wrote on her own page: "This summer ... Kim and I are DELICATE."
Halley Feiffer is the showrunner for series 12.
Kim has previously made cameos in 'How I Met Your Mother', '2 Broke Girls', and 'Ocean's 8'.
She also appeared in the 2008 parody flick 'Disaster Movie'.
FX is a subsidiary of Disney, which has a partnership with 'The Kardashians'.
Kim recently made a surprise appearance at Arsenal's game against Sporting Lisbon.
The businesswoman was seen with her and ex-husband Kanye West's seven-year-old son Saint cheering on the English Premier League side at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 16 as they faced the Portuguese side in the Europa League, but she didn't seem to be as enthusiastic a fan as her little boy, who had Arsenal ladies player Katie McCabe's name on the back of his top.
While Saint and his young friends cheered on Mikel Arteta's side in their Arsenal kits, Kim appeared disinterested as she scrolled through her phone.
In an Instagram Story post featuring bottles of Prime drinks and match programmes, she simply wrote: "Send help SOS."
In November 2021, Kim - who also has North, nine, Chicago, five, and three-year-old Psalm with Kanye - teamed up with another English soccer team, Leeds United, and a New York rabbi to safely fly 30 Afghan youth players to the UK after their home nation was rocked by turmoil when the Taliban took back power, with the organisation being against women playing sport.
Cam’ron Faces Backlash For Remarks On Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors Photoshoot
Cam’ron is facing backlash for comments made regarding photos of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors.
On Saturday (April 8), the Harlem rapper, 47, uploaded to Instagram two photos of the Creed III actors in close proximity, taken from a photoshoot accompanying their feature in The New York Times.
The first photo, a black and white image, features the two men posed with Majors hugging Jordan as they both look forward into the camera. In the second image, the men rest their heads on each other, again looking ahead.
“The reason I didn’t go see creed,” wrote the “Get ‘Em Girls” rapper in the caption.
While Killa Cam was not explicit in his reasoning, the comments challenged the rapper’s stance on masculinity due to Jordan and Majors’ friendship being portrayed through the intimate photoshoot. Award-winning songwriter Skillz shared his own post, combatting Cam’ron’s line of thinking.
“We are our own worst enemies smh. I tell all my homies I love em…Why? Cuz I do! Sometimes it throws em off but Ion care, Ima keep saying that ish. Tomorrow aint promised. We all getting older man & death is definitley certain. Its already hard enough out here for black men as it is bro,” wrote the battle rapper to begin his lengthy caption.
“You cant even show love or accept it without your own trying to make it out to be something else. I [don’t] know Micheal B Jordan but I know losing Chadwick was hard on him….cuz shit it was hard on all of us. We clowned that man before he died not even knowing how sick he really was. Maybe Jonathan came into Mikes life when he needed a friend…a bro. How come men cant have healthy relationships with other men without [their] masculinity or sexuality being questioned? I put up a post last week saying ‘Black men its ok to smile in your pictures’ and got nothing but dudes saying ‘naaah Ion do that ish Skillz’ You [don’t] do what? Smile? You [don’t] see nothing wrong with that? Maaan the times we living in goofy af.”
The caption continued, “Yall got it. When you die and ya family [don’t] have one picture of you smiling you got it bruh. Hardest obituary pic ever. You won.”
DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia added to Skillz’s comments writing “My brother missing out cause its an Amazing movie! I’ve watched it five times and I’m not just saying that because we had the theme song in the trailer,” followed by laughing emoji.
Singer Lil Mo pointed out “Heard you. Cuz we losing sooooo many black me. And you never know what anyone is going through so GRACE and mercy should always be extended. With that being said, BUL that’s Hugging Michael just caught a case for domestic violence against the W lady and they bout to cook him. This wild,” referencing Jonathon Majors being arrested last month for allegedly strangling his girlfriend.
Released on March 3, 2023, Creed III earned $58.7 million in its opening weekend in North America as well as $41.8 million overseas.
“This is beyond all of our expectations. And we knew that we had something special — we tested the movie, and it tested great, but the public responded so resoundingly to it,” expressed Erik Lomis, MGM’s head of distribution, at the time.
“Everything went right here, starting with the movie itself. It was just up to us not to break it when they gave it to us, and we didn’t.”
Mom of 6-year-old who shot teacher indicted on felony and misdemeanor charges
Virginia teacher Abigail Zwerner was teaching her first grade class on Jan. 6, 2023 when one of her students pulled out a gun and shot the educator. She sprung into action and ushered the rest of her kids out of the classroom before tending to her injuries. The incident caused national outrage aimed at the child’s parents. Today (April 10), the child’s mother came one step closer to facing justice.
Deja Nicole Taylor was indicted by a grand jury on charges of felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child. According to The Daily Press, prosecutors have also asked a Circuit Court judge to assemble a “special grand jury” to “continue the investigation into any security issues that may have contributed to this shooting.” The Richneck Elementary School teacher alerted multiple administrators that day that one of her students had a gun on him, but they failed to act. As a result, these staff members and others at Newport News Public Schools could also face consequences.
Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit in January seeking to place blame on those in authority who ignored her warnings. The Newport News Commonwealth Attorney’s Office said today that “the facts and the law support charging Deja Taylor” for failing to keep a gun out of her son’s hands. The charges come “after a thorough investigation by Newport News Police Department and this office.”
“[Prosecutors’] investigation will continue as long as necessary to determine whether others are criminally responsible for the shooting of Jan. 6,” the Attorney’s Office wrote in a news release this afternoon. Commonwealth Attorney Howard Gwynn emphasized that the evidence was outstanding in this incident. “Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,” he said.
Newly Single Taylor Swift Spotted Getting Dinner in New York City
Taylor Swift is not hiding inside amid her breakup from longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn.
The 33-year-old newly single singer was spotted out for dinner with some celeb friends on Monday night (April 10) in New York City.
Taylor was joined by frequent musical collaborator Jack Antonoff and his fiancee Margaret Qualley for dinner at Via Carota restaurant in downtown Manhattan.
Interestingly enough, the restaurant happens to be blocks away from Cornelia Street, which was the inspiration for one of Taylor‘s songs on the Lover album and believed to be about Joe.
For those who don’t know, Taylor used to have a home on Cornelia Street.
“And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends / I’d never walk Cornelia Street again / That’s the kind of heartbreak time could never mend / I’d never walk Cornelia Street again,” Taylor sings on the track.
Taylor is back in the U.S. after filming a music video over the weekend in England with a popular star she once worked with many years ago.
Tory Lanez's sentencing in shooting of Megan Thee Stallion is delayed again
Tory Lanez's sentencing in the shooting of Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion has been pushed back as his new legal team tries to get him a new trial, delaying a case that fans of both musicians have closely watched for nearly three years.
The sentencing, which was originally scheduled for January, has been rescheduled multiple times, and Lanez has hired new attorneys since his conviction. A sentencing hearing was initially on the schedule Monday, but it will occur later because of Lanez’s motion for the new trial.
In court Monday, his defense said it wanted to raise new issues, and another court date was scheduled for next week, Deputy Los Angeles County District Attorney Alexander Bott said.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
He faces a maximum sentence of 22 years and eight months in prison if he is given the maximum sentence on each charge, served consecutively. He could also be deported to Canada following time served.
The case stems from an altercation between Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, in July 2020, as they were leaving a party in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.
Police were called to the scene for reports of a fight in an SUV.
Weeks after the incident, Megan Thee Stallion said on Instagram that she had been shot and eventually identified Lanez as the shooter.
She testified under oath that Lanez had shot her in the foot, although initially she told police officers she had cut herself on broken glass.
“I couldn’t walk for a while,” she testified. “I still have nerve damage. I can’t really feel the side of my left foot. The back of my feet are always sore, but I just push through it.”
Lanez declined to testify in his own defense. He did, however, dedicate an entire album to rebutting Megan Thee Stallion’s version of events.
Lanez’s request for a new trial alleges that prejudicial evidence was erroneously entered into evidence, according to a copy of the motion obtained by NBC News.
Concerns with forensic testing, the late inclusion of Instagram posts and prejudicial photos of Lanez's gun tattoo were among the appeal issues put forth by Lanez’s new attorney, Matthew Barhoma.
The motion also alleges that the prosecution interfered with Lanez’s right to counsel with a line of questioning of a key witness, Kelsey Harris, about accusations that Lanez tried to bribe Harris. In September, Harris had a lengthy interview with investigators, but she backtracked parts of her testimony at the trial, citing anxiety and postpartum depression, for her inconsistency.
Even though prosecutors accepted that Lanez's former attorney Shawn Holley was not involved in any bribery attempt at the time of Harris' interview, the state “opted to wait until mid-trial to raise the exact same allegations against counsel,” the motion said.
Holley withdrew from Lanez’s legal team as a result, according to the motion.
Barhoma did not respond to requests for comment.
The prosecutor's office filed a response to the appeal Thursday, saying that the motion lacked substance and that the guilty verdict should stand. It included a memo from Holley to the court dated Jan. 10, in which she said she had to leave the trial because of an out-of-state arbitration.
"The evidence presented at trial was properly admitted, and the defendant's claims of errors and violations of his constitutional rights are without merit," the prosecution's filing said. "The verdict reached by the jury was based on credible evidence and was supported by the law."
Similar to other celebrity trials, the shooting case was the subject of significant social media commentary and speculation. Fans of Megan Thee Stallion called many of the people defending Lanez perpetuated “misogynoir,” referring to the specific misogyny against Black women where sexism and racism intersect.
Lanez’s defense also relied on the concept, alleging that Megan Thee Stallion falsely accused him because of jealousy. His attorney alleged that she and Harris, who was also in the car the night of the shooting, had gotten into an argument over him and other men.
Popular bloggers and entertainment sites have also fueled misinformation about the case, experts said.
In September, Megan Thee Stallion condemned the commentary that appeared on blogs and Twitter, writing, “It might be funny to y’all on the internet and just another messy topic for you to talk about but this is my real life and I’m real life hurt and traumatized.”
Florida Republican Webster Barnaby Receives Backlash After Calling Transgenders ‘Demons’ And ‘Mutants’
Footage is currently surfacing the internet of Webster Barnaby who is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives calling transgenders “demons and imps” and compared them to “mutants from another planet” during a committee hearing on Monday.
among us today on planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet,” Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona, said before the House Commerce Committee approved the bill. “This is the planet Earth where God created men male and women female. I’m a proud Christian conservative Republican. I’m not on the fence, not on the fence.” Barnaby’s comments came after transgender people testified against the bill.
He went on to say the “demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world. So, I’m saying my righteous indignation is stirred. I am sick and tired of this. I’m not going to put up with it. You can test me and try to take me on. But I promise you I’ll win every time.”
After his remarks several speakers some identifying as transgender had a few words for him. One man is currently going viral after speaking on Barnaby’s comments saying, “I am a trans man this bathroom ban is just another piece of coordinated effort by Christian billionaires like Betsy Defost to erase trans people from society.” Kalep Garcia said. “Transgender people are Floridians, were students, workers and business leaders. Were parents, siblings, aunts, uncle’s and children. We work hard we contribute to our communities. We pay more more in taxes than the billionaires who found the astro turf campaigns do. These are the exact kind of bills that are designed to put my life in danger and in fact I legally changed my gender marker from female to male. It says male on my driver license. If I’m legally male how will they prove I am transgender. Are the police going to make me pull my pants down. I wish you were obsessed with housing, healthcare, education and corporate taxes more than you are with the genitals of men like me. This bill is dangerous this bill is creepy, vote no! He ended.”
Minutes after Republicans advanced the bathroom bill, Barnaby apologized for his comments. “I referred to trans people as demons,” Barnaby said. “I would like to apologize to the trans community for referring to you as demons.”
Ewwwww, Dalai Lama Apologizes After Asking Child to ‘Suck’ His Tongue in Disturbing Video
Screenshot of Dalai Lama is kissing an Indian boy at a Buddhist event
*The Dalai Lama has apologized for kissing a young boy on the lips and asking the child to suck his tongue.
A disturbing video of the incident went viral last week and it comes as the Biden administration pushes genital mutilation surgeries and puberty blockers on children as part of transgender ideology.
All of this simply highlights how women and children remain the most vulnerable and under attack — globally.
The Dalai Lama sexually assaulted the boy at an event in northern India in February, CNN reports.
In a statement Monday, the office of the 87-year-old spiritual leader said he “wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,” adding “His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras.”
In response to the incident, the Delhi-based child rights group, Haq: Center for Child Rights, condemned “all forms of child abuse” in a statement to CNN.
The group added, “Some news refers to Tibetan culture about showing tongue, but this video is certainly not about any cultural expression, and even if it is, such cultural expressions are not acceptable.”
Devin Booker Teams With Converse For New ‘Chuck 70’ Sneaker
Devin Booker unveiled the most recent iteration of Converse’s most recognizable design, the Chuck 70, in the tunnel before last night’s Phoenix Suns vs. LA Clippers game.
Devin Booker’s third NBA All-Star collaboration with Converse is brought to life with the shoe and a short film that goes along with it. They capture his idea for a modernized Chuck 70.
Booker’s fondness for the Chuck 70 is well known; in 2022, he declared the sneaker to be his favorite and displayed his big collection. It’s a mainstay of the tunnel fit titan’s classic, minimalist wardrobe, so much so that Booker asked Converse to design and produce his version of the silhouette. Booker simplified it to create a blank canvas ready for a simple, classic aesthetic.
Converse, a company built on the principle of creative expression, and Booker are working together to produce a short film that will realize his cinematic vision. The movie shows Booker traveling across the desert to an unspecified destination while fusing iconic American imagery with an iconic silhouette, pointing to his continued quest of a legacy both on and off the court.
An undyed egret canvas upper, a tonal embroidered Chuck patch, and a clean tape midsole without pinstripes or toe bumpers are how Booker realized his concept for the style. On April 12, the Converse x Devin Booker Chuck 70 will be accessible worldwide via Converse.com and the Nike SNKRS app. On April 13, it will also be accessible at Foot Locker and a few other retailers
Baltimore Mayor To Implement Summer Curfew For Minors After Two Teens Were Shot
The Mayor of Baltimore has implemented a summer curfew after two teens were shot while officers attempted to break up a group of minors.
According to WBAL-TV, over 200 teens had congregated in the city’s Inner Harbor neighborhood around 9 p.m. on Sunday, where police attempted to break up the group when a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old were shot and injured.
WBAL stated that one of the victims was in critical condition while the other one was stable.
According to police, two suspects were detained: one was found with a loaded gun in a police garage and the other had a loaded gun that matched the shooter’s description.
Following the incident, Baltimore’s mayor, Brandon Scott, said that for the upcoming summer months, a curfew of 9 p.m. for those under the age of 14 and 10 p.m. for those under the age of 17 would be in effect.
“I want everyone to hear me and hear me clearly,” Scott said. “We are going back to the old days. We will be enforcing a youth curfew as we move into the later spring and summer months.”
“It’s not just about making sure we are getting them off the street, but making sure that we are supporting them and figuring out what’s going on with them and their families,” Scott said. “It is not normal for person to be that far away from their home and no one knows where they are or cares for them.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Petting a Duck
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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