#MAGFAB: Sharon Stone for Elle Spain 2023
Sharon Stone’s still got it. The Oscar-nominated actress, 63, nodded to her iconic leg-crossing scene from “Basic Instinct” for Elle Spain’s May 2021 cover, posing on a wooden stool in just a white tank top, underwear and gold heels.
In an unforgettable sequence from the 1992 erotic thriller, Stone’s leggy character, Catherine Tramell, reveals she’s going commando while clad in a dangerously short white turtleneck dress and matching coat.
It’s not the first time the star has referenced the scandalous scene; in 2019, she struck a spread-leg post for Vogue Portugal’s “Sex Issue” in a plunging bodysuit, fishnets and stilettos. She also re-enacted the titillating moment at the GQ Men of the Year Awards that same year, sharing a powerful message about owning one’s sexuality in the process.
Stone opens up about her “Basic Instinct” role in her new memoir, “The Beauty of Living Twice,” revealing that she was led to believe the flashing scene — which she viewed for the first time in “a room full of agents and lawyers” — wouldn’t be quite so graphic.
“That was how I saw my vagina-shot for the first time, long after I’d been told, ‘We can’t see anything — I just need you to remove your panties, as the white is reflecting the light, so we know you have panties on,'” she wrote.
“Basic Instinct” director Paul Verhoeven previously said Stone is “lying,” telling Icon in 2017, “Any actress knows what she’s going to see if you ask her to take off her underwear and point there with the camera.”
As for why Stone allowed the use of the footage in the final cut? “It was correct for the film and for the character; and because, after all, I did it,” she wrote in her memoir.
#RHOA: MTV gives first look at Kandi Burruss, Porsha Williams in ‘Pretty Stoned’
Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams steal the spotlight preview of MTV’s new female-led stoner comedy, “Pretty Stoned.”
The Atlanta-set film follows two dueling co-workers: Stella (Pretty Vee), a proud stoner with no commitment to her job and Darcy (Paris Berelc), an overachiever focused on her career.
The two women must join forces when they find themselves in trouble after one of them disposes $20,000 worth of pot from a drug Queen Pin and her henchwomen.
Burruss, 46, plays Mrs. Thompson, the fabulously wealthy mother of Tabatha “DreamDoll” Robinson’s character, Meena, Darcy’s girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Williams, 41, is among a group of celebrity cameos, also including D.C. Young Fly and Navv Greene.
Both “Real Housewives of Atlanta” stars took to social media to express appreciation for their roles in “Pretty Stoned.”
“Im so excited!” Burruss and Williams enthused last week in nearly identical Instagram posts, encouraging fans to “spark up” with them while watching their flick.
“So many great people are a part of this project,” the ladies added. “Can’t wait for you to watch!”
“Pretty Stoned” is the latest addition to MTV’s library of 4/20 movies.
“How High,” “How High 2” and “Half Baked” are set to air on MTV as part of a movie marathon leading into the premiere of “Pretty Stoned” on April 19 at 8 p.m. ET, with an encore the following night at 9 p.m. ET.
#MusicNews: Justin Timberlake's New Album Is Done, Sounds Like 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' Part 2
Justin Timberlake is going back to the Future. The pop superstar’s next album is reportedly done and will feature a sound reminiscent of his past. During an interview with Variety, Timbaland compared the “fun” project to FutureSex/LoveSounds, which he produced.
“We just finished up and everything sounds great. Now it’s really on him how and when he envisions it to come out, but it’s done and it’s coming,” said the super-producer.
He revealed that they wanted to channel the vibe of Timberlake’s 2006 album, which spawned hits like “SexyBack,” “My Love,” and “What Goes Around… Comes Around.”
“It’s fun Justin — it’s like FutureSex/LoveSounds but nothing too heavy, just giving you what you expect from us,” he added. “Music is a young sport — of course, we’ve both seen a lot of life, but you have to bring out the 13-year-old kid again, you know?”
Timberlake’s last album was 2018’s Man of the Woods, which featured contributions from Timbaland, The Neptunes, Alicia Keys, and Chris Stapleton.
This time around, the dynamic duo is not overthinking it. “We had songs that maybe were too complicated, so we said we want it to feel like FutureSex part two, so we did songs that will fit that,” said Timbaland.
In addition to Timberlake, Timbaland has been in the studio with Missy Elliott, whose upcoming album will have a reggaeton-infused sound, which he dubbed “Missy-ton.”
“I know how Missy works: It’s got to be new and fun — or maybe not so much new as kind of underground, and everything is upbeat,” he shared. “Some of it has a kind of Latin feel to it, almost a Bad Bunny effect, some of it’s kinda like underground Brazilian funk. People gonna eat it up — and it might reach a just a different demographic of people. It’s like it’s her doing… not reggaeton but Missy-ton.”
He hopes to release the long-awaited project this summer. “We’ve got a lot of songs we’re gonna start recording soon, and my dream is to have it out around her birthday in July. I want it to sound how she looks — she looks incredible right now. We both look like we 19 again — see?”
#HipHopNews: Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, And Playboi Carti To Headline Rolling Loud Miami
The Rolling Loud Miami lineup is here. Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, and Playboi Carti will headline the 2023 edition of the festival when it returns to Hard Rock Stadium on July 21-23.
The three-day event will also include performances from Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Lil Yachty, Kodak Black, City Girls, Offset, Rae Sremmurd, and Don Toliver, along with rising stars like Ice Spice, Coi Leray, Central Cee, and GloRilla.
For the the first time, the festival will expand beyond hip-hop with artists like Bryson Tiller, PinkPantheress, Foushée, Turnstile, and YOVNGCHIMI.
Travis and Rocky previously headlined Rolling Loud Miami in 2021. Carti was most recently a headliner at Rolling Loud California in March, which also featured Travis and Future.
Tickets go on sale Friday, April 14 at 10 a.m.
Developing Now! Nima Momeni Has been arrested for murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee. Police say they knew each other
San Francisco Police have arrested Nima Momeni in connection to the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said during a news conference on Thursday.
Scott described Momeni as a 38-year-old man from Emeryville, California. Scott said Momeni and Lee knew one another, but he didn’t provide further details about their connection.
Momeni was taken into custody without incident, according to Scott, and taken to the San Francisco County jail where he was booked on one charge of murder.
Lee was stabbed to death in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco early in the morning of April 4th. Many in the tech world and beyond responded to news of Lee’s death with an outpouring of shock and grief.
Some, including Elon Musk, also said the incident highlighted the fact that “violent crime in SF is horrific.” But on Thursday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins criticized Musk’s statement as “reckless and irresponsible.” Jenkins said Musk’s remark “assumed incorrect circumstances” about the death and effectively “spreads misinformation” while police were actively working to solve the case.
Lee was the former chief technology officer of Square who helped launch Cash App. He later joined MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency and digital payments startup, in 2021 as its chief product officer.
Josh Goldbard, the CEO MobileCoin, previously told CNN: “Bob was a dynamo, a force of nature. Bob was the genuine article. He was made for the world that is being born right now, he was a child of dreams, and whatever he imagined, no matter how crazy, he made real.”
Earlier Thursday, San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Matt Dorsey expressed his gratitude to the police department’s homicide detail for “their tireless work to bring Bob Lee’s killer to justice and for their arrest of a suspect this morning.”
Dan Snyder reaches preliminary agreement to sell Washington Commanders to Josh Harris for $6B
Nearly five months after a fellow NFL team owner publicly declared that he believed “there’s merit to remove” Dan Snyder from owning the Washington Commanders, Snyder is close to finding a different solution.
Snyder has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to sell the Commanders to hedge fund manager Josh Harris for an NFL-record $6 billion, according to Sportico and NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
The decision comes several weeks after the NFL’s annual league meeting in Phoenix, where team owners, executives and head coaches all convened. Had Snyder’s well-documented concerns not yet been resolved, team owners could have decided whether to vote on his removal. NFL bylaws stipulate three-fourths of club owners — 24 — must approve a forced sale.
It doesn't seem like force will be necessary.
The Commanders’ new ownership group would include Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management and team owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils; D.C.-area billionaire Mitchell Rales, who co-founded Fortune 500; and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Tilman Fertitta, who owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets, were also reportedly interested, per The Washington Post, though Snyder reportedly prevented Bezos’ bid due to discord with the Bezos-owned Post.
Snyder has long refused to sell his team, just as he had long refused to change the name of his now twice-renamed-in-the-last-three-years Commanders. But on Nov. 2, a statement from the Commanders indicated a change in tone.
“Dan and Tanya Snyder and the Washington Commanders announced today,” read the statement, “that they have hired BofA Securities to consider potential transactions.”
Snyder’s Commanders ‘far short of NFL values,’ investigation found
NFL team owners didn’t expect this descent when they unanimously approved Snyder’s purchase of the franchise on May 25, 1999.
“He impresses me as a team player,” then-New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson said, per Washington Post archives. “He’s going to be a good partner for us.”
The Commanders’ former nickname of "Redskins" predated Snyder, but it was he who in 2013 told USA Today that he would “NEVER — you can use the caps” change his mascot despite it being considered by some as racially insensitive and offensive terminology.
The 2020 threat of sponsorship revocation from companies including FedEx, whose name canvasses the Commanders’ stadium, prompted the nickname's July 2020 removal. But concerns about Snyder’s fitness to be a team owner were just starting to boil.
Allegations against Snyder and the Commanders have tumbled forward in the past three years. More than 40 women who worked for the Commanders alleged they were sexually harassed in the workplace by colleagues including Snyder and executives. A subsequent NFL investigation determined “the culture of the club was very toxic and fell far short of the NFL’s values,” and the league fined Snyder $10 million in July 2021.
The NFL did not officially suspend Snyder then, instead saying his wife, Tanya, would oversee daily operations. The league also refused to release the full findings or any written report of its investigation, citing privacy concerns. The result: U.S. Congress’ House Committee on Oversight and Reform opened its own investigation. In Congressional testimony, former Washington cheerleader and marketing manager Tiffani Johnston accused Snyder of making sexual advances, including putting his hand on her thigh, during a work dinner. Snyder also pushed her toward his car afterward, she said, before his attorney stopped him and said it was “a very bad idea, Dan.”
That February 2022 testimony prompted the NFL to open another investigation, this time hiring former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chair Mary Jo White. In 2018, White had investigated allegations of sexual harassment and use of racial slurs against then-Carolina Panthers team owner Jerry Richardson. The NFL fined Richardson $2.75 million after her investigation substantiated the claims. Richarsdon had already put the team up for sale by then, and its new owner was approved before the five-month investigation was complete.
White’s investigation of Snyder, however, has dragged on more than a year. NF commissioner Roger Goodell has repeatedly said the league had not given and would not give White a timeline by which to conclude her process.
As the investigation period continued, though, allegations continued to mount.
Congress sounds alarm on Snyder's financial integrity
On April 12, 2022, the House Oversight Committee contacted the Federal Trade Commission regarding a new strain of Snyder-related concerns: financial impropriety.
“We are writing to share evidence of concerning business practices by the Washington Commanders uncovered during the Committee’s ongoing investigation into workplace misconduct at the team,” the letter read. “Evidence…indicate(s) senior executives and the team’s owner, Daniel Snyder, may have engaged in a troubling, long-running and potentially unlawful pattern of financial conduct that victimized thousands of team fans and the National Football League (NFL).”
The Commanders were accused of violating league revenue-sharing agreements, allegedly keeping “two sets of books” to conceal profits from the NFL.
Snyder’s repeated inability — largely due to his reputation and practices — to secure a new stadium deal for the Commanders didn’t help his standing among team owners. Last October, ESPN reported acrimony among the group and Snyder investigating fellow team owners so he could threaten to release “dirt” if they threatened to force a sale.
Mere days later, Indianapolis Colts team owner Jim Irsay descended the lobby steps of a New York hotel where the league was holding a meeting and elaborated to reporters on what he considered to be decades of “gravely concerning” behavior from Snyder.
“At this point, I’m very concerned that he needs to be removed,” Irsay said. “There has to be serious consideration to be ready to move in that direction.”
A Commanders spokesman called Irsay’s remarks “highly inappropriate,” asserting that there is “no reason for the Snyders to consider selling the franchise.
“And they won’t.”
BofA securities was hired to explore sale possibilities weeks later.
Washington flailed on field under Snyder's team ownership
Once a cornerstone NFL franchise that won three Super Bowls during a 10-year stretch, Washington has struggled to win for much of Snyder's 24-season tenure.
The team has won just two playoff games, including one his first season as owner in 1999 and the next in 2005. Only four times did Washington win the NFC East title — even though it’s changed hands every year since 2003. Instead, Snyder’s team compiled a 164-220-2 record in the regular season and cycled through eight head coaches, including the much-publicized Steve Spurrier misfire from 2002-2003, as well as two interim coaches.
There were brief flashes of excitement, from Robert Griffin III's offensive rookie of the year campaign in 2012 to Kirk Cousins' "You like that?" game that punctuated a division title season in 2015. Washington also drafted and signed franchise greats like Champ Bailey, Trent Williams and London Fletcher. Current head coaches Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel famously got their NFL coaching starts with Washington.
Snyder's time was a far cry from the championship level that preceded him. Off the field, dysfunction spread even further. So while Harris and company are set to become the league’s second new NFL team ownership group in as many years, they arrive with a much taller task than the Walter-Penner group who bought the Denver Broncos last year for $4.65 billion.
And yet: They might have a chance to restore a once-proud franchise.
21-year-old Jack Teixeira Is the Suspect In Gov’t Documents Leak He has been Taken Into Custody
A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced.
Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Garland identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information.
FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira’s Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody outside the property, “without incident,” Garland said.
He will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defense information, Garland said, and will have an initial court appearance in federal court in Massachusetts.
It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned.
Law enforcement officials roped off the street near the home. The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira on Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home earlier said that “he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Feds will be around soon, I’m sure.”
The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member.
The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters.
The National Guard did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, “We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents.”
Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the case to the Justice Department. But he said: “We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those.”
The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a “very serious risk to national security,” and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible.
“We’re getting close,” President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, “there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is of great consequence.”
The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday.
It’s possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place “where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community.”
In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the poster’s own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers.
Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement.
There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically.
That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents — and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout.
It’s those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters — almost as if they’d been stuffed into someone’s pocket.
In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that it’s a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
Billy Porter set to co-write, co-produce and star in James Baldwin biopic
Billy Porter’s dream role of playing writer James Baldwin has turned into reality.
The Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner has been tapped to co-write, co-produce and star in an upcoming biopic about the cultural icon for Allen Media Group Motion Pictures.
The film will be based on the 1994 book “James Baldwin: A Biography,” written by David Leeming. The University of Connecticut emeritus English professor was an assistant and friend of the trailblazing scribe for 25 years.
Porter will team up with frequent collaborator Dan McCabe on the script.
Baldwin was an openly gay, African American writer and civil rights activist who died in 1987 at the age of 63.
“As a Black queer man on this planet with relative consciousness, I find myself, like James Baldwin said, ‘in a rage all the time,’” Porter said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I am because James was. I stand on James Baldwin’s shoulders, and I intend to expand his legacy for generations to come,” the “Kinky Boots” star added.
During his acceptance speech at the 2019 Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the “Pose” star name-checked his idol, saying: “James Baldwin said, ‘[It] took many years of vomiting up all the filth that I had been taught about myself and halfway believed before I could walk around this Earth like I had the right to be here.’”
“I have the right, you have the right, we all have the right,” Porter added.
Born in Harlem, Baldwin’s prolific writings included social commentary, essays, novels, plays and poems about race, sexuality and the politics of the time.
His best-known works include “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “The Fire Next Time,” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” the latter of which was adapted into a Oscar Award-winning 2018 film helmed by Barry Jenkins.
Jamie Foxx Is 'On His Way to Recovery' After Facing 'Medical Complication'
Jamie Foxx is on the mend. The Academy Award winner's daughter, Corinne Foxx, issued a statement on Instagram Wednesday revealing that the actor is recovering after facing a "medical complication" on Tuesday.
'We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday," shared Corinne in a statement written on behalf of the Foxx family.
"Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers," the statement reads. "The family asks for privacy during this time."
A representative for Foxx did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The 55-year-old actor was most recently seen on the set of the upcoming Netflix movie Back In Action, which also stars Cameron Diaz. The highly anticipated film will be the first big-screen project Diaz has starred in since 2014's Annie remake, which also featured Foxx.
Related: Jamie Foxx 'Pursued' Cameron Diaz to Come Out of Retirement and Make Netflix's 'Back in Action'
While Netflix has been tight-lipped with details on the plot of Back in Action, an insider told PEOPLE that the Charlie's Angels actress and Foxx "have great chemistry" on set.
A film source previously revealed to PEOPLE that Foxx was instrumental in getting the actress to make another movie. "When this project came along and she was pursued by Jamie Foxx, who she has known and worked with for years, she decided to go for it," said the source.
Prior to the start of filming, the actor celebrated his birthday in December by posting a throwback black-and-white photo of himself as a child and reflecting on his childhood.
"Dis big head boy bday and thanks for all the bday shouts #sagseason if it's my birthday it's your birthday," he captioned the post.
Mo’Nique sues CBS, Paramount over ‘Parkers’ royalties
Mo’Nique sued Paramount and CBS on Wednesday, seeking what the Oscar-winning actor and comedian says are unpaid royalties from her sitcom “The Parkers.”
The breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Associated Press alleges the defendants artificially depressed the show’s profitability to “retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due” to Mo’Nique’s production company.
“While the Series has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series’ talent have not been permitted to share in the fruits of that success,” the suit says.
The suit was filed by Hicks Media, the production company Mo’Nique owns with her husband and business partner, Sidney Hicks. It names as defendants CBS Studios, Paramount Pictures and the show’s production company Big Ticket Productions. It seeks monetary damages to be determined at trial.
Emails seeking comment were sent to representatives of the defendants.
The suit says the series’ creators and writers have been similarly underpaid, and that Mo’Nique learned of the alleged breach of contract when they recently filed a similar lawsuit.
“I just want the contractual compensation that I’ve earned,” Mo’Nique said in a statement.
“The Parkers,” a spinoff of the sitcom “Moesha,” ran for five seasons and 110 episodes on the now-defunct network UPN, a forerunner of The CW, from 1999 to 2004. Mo’Nique starred as Nikki Parker, a mother who returns to the same college her daughter is attending.
The show has been rerun in syndication in various forms since, and has been available for streaming on Netflix since 2020.
In a previous lawsuit, Mo’Nique sued Netflix for race and sex discrimination in its offer for a proposed comedy special, accusing the streaming service of giving her a lowball offer that was part of a larger company tendency to underpay black women. The suit was settled last year.
“Mo’Nique is not shy about taking on these David vs. Goliath battles in Hollywood to challenge these questionable practices that are endemic to the industry,” David deRubertis, one of her attorneys in both lawsuits, said in a statement.
The 55-year-old actor, whose legal name is Monique Angela Hicks, first gained fame as a stand-up comic and was among the “Queens of Comedy” featured in the 2000 film of the same name. She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in the 2009 movie “Precious.”
Authorities won't pursue federal charges in Shanquella Robinson's death
Federal authorities in North Carolina will not pursue federal charges in the death of Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year-old woman found dead in Mexico during a trip with friends in October.
From Robinson’s family to Black social media users, many have demanded answers and prosecution consistently in the months since the Charlotte woman was found dead at a villa in Cabo San Lucas on Oct. 29. But on Wednesday, officials with the U.S. attorney’s offices in the Western District of North Carolina announced that, after a lengthy investigation with the Middle District of North Carolina, they “concluded that federal charges cannot be pursued.”
“As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed,” authorities said in a news release. “Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution.”
Attorneys for Robinson’s family, Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson, said in a statement Wednesday that there were differences between the U.S. and Mexico autopsies in Robinson’s death.
“These discrepancies can be credited to the delay in investigation by U.S. officials, who conducted a second autopsy once Shanquella’s body was embalmed,” the attorneys said. “When an investigation is delayed, the hard evidence to support prosecution diminishes, but in this case, that is due to the U.S. not considering this case to be a high priority.”
The news comes weeks after Robinson’s legal team urged the U.S. government in a letter to intervene in the case and expedite the prosecutorial process.
Robinson’s relatives have long suspected foul play in her death. Robinson was vacationing with six friends at the Mexican resort, arriving on Oct. 28. She was dead less than 24 hours later with friends claiming she had alcohol poisoning, the family said. Robinson’s body had bruises and cuts, with knots present on her face. The necropsy report by the Baja California attorney general’s medical examiner, made public by Ben Crump, one of the family’s attorneys, labeled Robinson’s death as “violent.”
Posts about Robinson’s death went viral on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
People have also shown their support beyond the social media outcry. A fundraiser for the family has brought in more than $363,000. Hundreds of family members, friends and supporters gathered for Robinson’s funeral in November.
Federal authorities said Wednesday that they usually don’t issue public statements regarding the status of an investigation, but due to the public concern and the circumstances of Robinson’s death, they wanted to “reassure the public” that they extensively reviewed the available evidence.
“The death of Ms. Robinson has been incredibly difficult for her family and the community,” the news release said.
As for the family, the attorneys said they haven’t lost hope in the case.
“While it is discouraging for the loved ones of Shanquella that their own Department of Justice will not be pursuing charges against Shanquella’s aggressor, it is our stance that justice is still possible for her death,” they said in the statement.
Robinson’s family did not respond to a request for comment.
Salamondra Robinson said at a news conference last month that she was still struggling to cope with her daughter’s death. “It’s still like a nightmare,” she said. “I don’t know how anyone could have done her like that.”
Jay-Z To Perform Concert at Basquiat x Warhol Exhibit in Paris
Jay-Z will be performing at the upcoming Jean-Michel Basquiat x Andy Warhol exhibit in Paris. Organized by the Louis Vuitton Foundation, the concert will take place on the evening of Friday, April 14.
The rapper hasn’t performed in the city since his 2018 co-headlining tour with Beyoncé, the On The Run Tour II.
Entitled Painting four hands, the exhibit follows the Foundation’s 2018 Basquiat retrospective. This latest show expands on Basquiat’s collaborations with Warhol. Over the course of fewer than two years, the artists worked on around 160 paintings together.
The Foundation describes the exhibition as “the most important exhibition ever dedicated to this extraordinary body of work and brings together more than three hundred works and documents including eighty canvases jointly signed by the two artists.”
Painting four hands has been on view at the Foundation’s Auditorium in Paris since April 5 and will be up until August. Tickets for the Jay-Z concert, meanwhile, are on sale now for €140 EUR ($155 USD).
RIP, HBO Max. Hello, Max. What to expect from the new Name MAX!
It's not TV... it's Max. That's the big takeaway from the recent Warner Bros. Discovery presentation about the future of the company's signature streaming service, previously known as HBO Max. The move to drop the "HBO" part of the name has been expected ever since Discovery Inc. formally acquired HBO's parent company, WarnerMedia from its previous owners, AT&T, one year ago in April 2022. "Last year was a year of coming together, a year of discovery," Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav remarked at Max's official unveiling. "And now, off we go."
Launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, HBO Max was an ambitious attempt to bring together all of WarnerMedia's many brands — from HBO and Warner Bros. Studios to Adult Swim and Turner Classics Movies — under one streaming umbrella, while also creating original series and documentaries that were exclusive to the service. But AT&T quickly soured on the media business and sold the company to Discovery in a $43 billion deal that merged the home of Tony Soprano with the residence of Dr. Pimple Popper.
Over the past year, there's been plenty of speculation about how the two media companies — one of which has prestige TV coursing through its veins while the other is more famous for reality shows you can half-watch while scrolling TikTok — would combine their wildly different content portfolios into a single service. But Zaslav clearly isn't sweating any brand confusion. "This is our time," he remarked, perhaps accidentally-on-purpose echoing the Warner Bros. '80s favorite The Goonies. "Everything is possible, especially with the media assets, the storytelling IP and the amazing creative talent we have here at Warner Bros. Discovery."
Zaslav also premiered the official tagline that will accompany Max's launch on May 23: "The one to watch," a phrase that seeks to establish the service — which will encompass HBO and Discovery shows as well as content made by other brands like Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Magnolia Network, TBS and TNT — as the natural alternative to streaming industry behemoths Disney+ and Netflix. "Max is the one to watch because it’s home to shows that have a super-sized effect on people and culture," he remarked, calling it the "streaming version of Must See TV." That argument didn't make Friends with Wall Street, though: The Hollywood Reporter noted that the Warner Bros. Discovery stock slipped by six percent after the company's rebrand presentation.
With HBO Max poised to vanish from your content row next month, here's everything you need to know about your new best friend, Max, from how much the new service costs to what you can expect to see — and not see — when you log in.
How do I sign up for Max?
If you're already an HBO Max subscriber in the U.S., the good news is that you won't have to. On May 23, most pre-existing customers will find that Max app has automatically replaced HBO Max on their Rokus, Fire TVs, iPads or whatever other digital media player you use. But Warner Bros. Discovery advises that a certain portion of users will be prompted to download Max to complete the update. In either case, all of your previous data — watch history, payment information etc. — will seamlessly transfer from HBO Max to Max. So no need to re-bookmark The Sex Lives of College Girls or, if we're going old school, John From Cincinnati, to make sure you finish watching those shows.
New domestic subscribers, meanwhile, can enroll at Max.com or through participating providers like app stores and TV and cable services like DirecTV and Verizon. (Check out the FAQ page on the official Max.com site for more intel.) International audiences will have to wait a little bit longer to get on the Max train. Warner Bros. Discovery plans to roll the service out in Latin America later this year, with Europe and Asia to follow in 2024.
How much will Max cost me?
Conveniently, it's the same amount as your HBO Max subscription... at least for now. The ad-lite version with minimal commercial breaks is $9.99 per month and $99.99 per year, while the ad-free version remains $15.99 per month and $149.99 for the year. But a major upgrade will also be rolling out later this year: For $19.99 per month ($199.99 per year) you can enroll in the Max Ultimate Ad-Free tier and watch Season 2 of House of the Dragon in 4K with Dolby Atmos sound quality. You'll actually feel like those giant CGI lizards are in your living room.
Is Max replacing Discovery+ as well?
To borrow a line from a popular former president: If you like your Discovery+, you can keep your Discovery+ and its $4.99 per month price tag. But be warned: While reality favorites like 90 Day Fiancé, Dr. Pimple Popper and Fixer Upper will be available to Max subscribers, Succession and Peacemaker won't pop up on Discovery+ — although Warner Bros. Discovery hopes to lure some of those subscribers over to the higher-priced Max tiers with regular offers of an upgrade.
But the company's leaders also recognize that the core Discovery+ business is strong enough to leave untouched. "It is a profitable streaming service, so we don’t want to leave any profitable subscribers behind," noted JB Perrette, CEO and President of Warner Bros. Discovery's Global Streaming and Games division. That's why new shows based on popular reality franchises — like Fixer Upper: The Hotel, Love & Translation from the 90 Day Fiancé makers and the Octavia Spencer-hosted true crime series Lost Women of Highway 20 — will be available on both Discovery+ and Max.
Is HBO going away?
Only from the name of the service. Otherwise, it's business as usual at the prestige TV Emmy factory, which unveiled trailers for three new shows that will almost certainly be in awards contention as soon as they debut. Jodie Foster is starring in the latest iteration of HBO's True Detective franchise, this one taking place in frozen, sunless Alaska. Meanwhile, Mare of Easttown star Kate Winslet ditches her "murder durder" Pennsylvania accent in favor of a more regal European voice in The Regime, a limited series set in a fictional authoritarian state. And lastly, Robert Downey Jr. teams up with South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook for The Sympathizer, a Vietnam War-era story based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Needless to say, HBO is also gearing up to mine more material from its most successful series ever: Game of Thrones. In addition to the sophomore season of House of the Dragon, HBO and Max content maestro Casey Bloys also announced a straight-to-series order for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight based on Westeros mastermind George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg prequel novellas. The author will help oversee the new series, which takes place a century before the events of the mothership show and follows the rambunctious early adventures of a future commander and king respectively.
Will Max still be producing original shows?
If by "original shows" you mean series based on some of the company's biggest IP... then yes! Bloys shared early footage of the first big Max series out of the (Bat) gate — The Penguin, a spinoff of Matt Reeves's recent blockbuster reboot, The Batman, with Colin Farrell reprising his role as the waddling nightclub owner as he sets out to become "the new kingpin of Gotham." Bloys also reminded the crowd that Max will play a central role in James Gunn and Peter Safran's cross-media "Gods and Monsters" storyline for the next phase of the DC Universe, hosting five planned superhero shows including Waller and Paradise Lost. That reminds us — someone give Robin Wright a call about that Wonder Woman prequel already.
Outside of superhero content, Max is also in the midst of making Welcome to Derry — based on Stephen King's It — and announced new series set in the world of The Conjuring and The Big Bang Theory. But their biggest IP bet by far is a decade-long series set in J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World that will re-adapt all seven of the original Harry Potter books with new actors in the roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Despite the controversy surrounding Rowling, the author will still be closely involved with the series which Bloys teased will offer "more in-depth stories" than were possible in the feature film series.
For the record there are some non-IP originals in the works at Max: Sebastian Maniscalco stars in How to Be a Bookie from Big Bang creator Chuck Lorre and former Olympian Shaun White gets The Last Dance treatment in the docuseries, The Last Run. And hey — if Gunn and Safran want a Green Lantern who can also snowboard, White's a shoo-in for the role.
Will Westworld be returning to Max?
Left unmentioned is the fate of HBO Max shows that Warner Bros. Discovery already jettisoned from the platform and sold off to free streamers like Tubi and The Roku Channel. That list includes Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's pricey Westworld series, as well Ridley Scott's Raised by Wolves and Joss Whedon's The Nevers. Since those shows were sold off in the first place as a way to cut costs and recoup money on their high budgets, it's unlikely that they'll rejoin the Max fold anytime soon. Similarly, don't hold your breath waiting for Max to pull a Snyder Cut and un-cancel the canceled Batgirl movie as that decision would erase the tax write-down Warner Bros. Discovery received when the streaming-only superhero film was buried in the Batcave. Maybe returning Batman Michael Keaton can get his pal Barry Allen to access the Speed Force and transport us all to a universe where we can watch Leslie Grace kicking butt on Max.
Will I be able to see The Flash on Max?
Feeling conflicted about paying movie theater prices to watch Ezra Miller's solo run as DC's resident speedster given the allegations against them? You're not alone. In that case, you can wait to watch The Flash when it races onto Max in the fall. And if you skipped Shazam: Fury of the Gods at the multiplex, you'll be able to stream Zachary Levi's final adventure when Max launches on May 23. But if you're one of the millions of moviegoers suffering from superhero fatigue, don't worry — Warner Bros. hits-in-waiting like Barbie and Dune: Chapter 2 will also be making their streaming debuts on Max after their theatrical runs wind down.
And Bloys made it clear that there won't be any repeats of the infamous "Project Popcorn" experiment where expensive movies like The Suicide Squad and Godzilla vs. Kong debuted day-and-date on HBO Max and in theaters. "Films coming out of theaters are huge engagement drivers," he noted, promising that Max will be the post-theatrical streaming home for 20 Warner Bros. movie a year.
What's the biggest difference between HBO Max and Max?
As Dom Toretto would say... it's all about family. Fresh off the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Hollywood is once again realizing the value in entertainment that parents and kids can enjoy together. According to Perrette, that's the main reason why "HBO" was dropped from the streaming service's name.
"It's a brand that has been build over five decades to be the trendsetter in entertainment for adults," he noted, emphasizing that Max's interface would make family friendly content easier to find. "But it's not exactly where parents would eagerly drop off their kids. Max will better curate our rich history of animation, children's educational programming and blockbusters that the whole family can enjoy."
As part of that family-focused rebrand, three new animated series were unveiled at the presentation: the Gremlins prequel, Secrets of the Mogwai; a Peter and the Wolf adaptation overseen by U2 frontman Bono; and Tiny Toons Looniversity, a revival of the much-loved '90s afternoon babysitter Tiny Toon Adventures. Hey Max: If you really wanna be our new streaming best friend, you'll greenlight a Taz-Mania reboot, pronto.
Max launches on May 23.
Expelled Rep. Justin Pearson reinstated to Tennessee House in unanimous vote
The tragic mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville on March 27 led to cries for change from the local community. On March 30, protesters filled the gallery in the Tennessee House of Representatives and called on elected leaders to do something about the carnage. Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson joined in their chants. The Republican-led legislature retaliated by expelling Jones and Pearson, the two youngest Black representatives in the body.
On Monday (April 10), a county commission in Nashville voted unanimously to reinstate Jones as the interim representative for his district. Today (April 12), a Memphis-area council did the same for Pearson. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to appoint him to his recently vacated seat. Both Jones and Pearson will have to run in and win a special election for their seats to permanently return to the Capitol.
“I want to commend you for standing up for the things that matter to the people of Shelby County and the state of Tennessee,” Commissioner Shante Avant told Pearson at the board hearing today, per The New York Times. “You have done well by us in making sure that our voices can be heard.”
Before the committee took up the issue of filling Pearson’s seat, the 28-year-old lawmaker rallied with hundreds of supporters and marched with them in tow. The gathered crowd cheered when the vote to send Pearson back to the House passed. Just like his colleague, Justin Jones, Pearson took to the streets flanked by his well-wishers.
After he was officially reinstated, Pearson delivered a powerful statement to the audience while surrounded by his family. “The message for all the people in Nashville who decided to expel us: You can’t expel hope. You can’t expel justice. You can’t expel our voice. And you sure can’t expel our fight,” he said triumphantly.
Queen Latifah makes history as the first female rapper inducted into the Library of Congress
Queen Latifah has been blazing her own path her entire career. Today (April 12), that path took her to the Library of Congress. Every year, the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress inducts over two dozen audio contributions from accomplished Americans who have made an impact on culture with their work. Latifah is a part of the 2023 class of inductees, and she made history in the process.
Latifah’s 1989 debut album All Hail the Queen will forever be a part of the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. In doing so, the “U.N.I.T.Y.” rapper became the first woman hip hop artist to join the prestigious collection.
In a statement, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden explained the significance of the National Recording Registry and what Latifah’s addition specifically means. “The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture,” she said, per NPR. “The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come, and we welcome the public’s input on what songs, speeches, podcasts, or recorded sounds we should preserve next.”
“Her album showed rap could cross genres including reggae, hip hop, house, and jazz — while also opening opportunities for other female rappers,” the statement said of All Hail the Queen‘s inclusion. In recent years, hip hop artists like Dr. Dre, Nas, and N.W.A. have seen their works added to the Library of Congress, but a female rapper has never joined the party until now.
Latifah is just one of the over two dozen artists who will have a place in history at the Library of Congress after today. Other selections include the Super Mario Bros. theme song, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, “Flashdance… What a Feeling” by Irene Cara, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics, and Madonna’s Like a Virgin album. They join iconic recordings added last year like A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low-End Theory, Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and Alicia Keys’ Songs in A Minor.
A League of Their Own Officially Renewed for Second and Final Season
A League of Their Own is rounding third and heading for home. Prime Video has formally renewed the series adaptation for a second and final season, which is officially being billed as a “four-episode limited series.” The news confirms THR‘s report in March that A League of Their Own would indeed conclude with a very short Season 2.
“We’re deeply proud of the work that Abbi, Will, the cast and crew have done reimagining A League of Their Own which has produced an incredibly loyal fanbase as well as achieved numerous, well-deserved recognitions and accolades,” added Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon and MGM Studios. “After hearing what Abbi, Will and the writing team have planned for the new story within this wonderful series, we are excited for our fans to see what comes next.”
A reinterpretation of the beloved 1992 film, A League of Their Own follows the women who formed their own professional baseball league while the nation’s men were fighting in World War II. Led by Jacobson (Broad City) as Carson Shaw, D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place) as Greta Gill and relative newcomer Chanté Adams as Max Chapman, the series chronicles not only the racism of the era, but the lengths to which gay female baseball players had to go to protect themselves.
During the Season 1 finale, the Rockford Peaches fell to the South Bend Blue Sox in the championship game, with former Peach Jo De Luca hitting the winning home run. Carson and Greta also parted ways after the baseball season concluded… but in a cliffhanger twist, Carson’s husband Charlie spied Carson giving Greta a passionate goodbye kiss.
Ariana DeBose to Host the 2023 Tony Awards
Ariana DeBose is back to do “the thing” as the host of this year’s Tony Awards.
It’s the second time the actor is serving as emcee for Broadway’s biggest night, which is taking place on Sunday, June 11 at the United Palace in New York’s Washington Heights. The ceremony starts at 8 p.m. ET and will air live on CBS, as well as the streaming service Paramount+.
“I was honored to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back! So looking forward to celebrating this incredible season and the people who make the work happen,” DeBose said. “Here’s to adding some uptown flavor to the magic of the Tony Awards!”
DeBose, an Oscar winner for “West Side Story” and theater kid at heart, has a tough act to follow after she performed a viral opening number at this year’s BAFTA Awards. Her performance served as a tribute to the females in the room and included a medley of “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves,” “We Are Family” and an original rap that name-checked all of the women nominees. Some of the immortal lyrics were, “Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my ‘Woman King’ / Blanchett, Cate, you’re a genius, and Jamie Lee, you are all of us!”
Will she reference, or perhaps even replicate, the campy number at the Tonys? Only time will tell, but the Tonys producers are already supplying jokes about the instantly iconic BAFTA performance.
“Ariana will host and dance and sing, we’re so thrilled she’s back to do the thing,” said Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment.
DeBose also knows what it’s like to be a Tony nominee; she was up for featured actress in a musical for “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” in 2018. Her other theater bona fides include “Hamilton,” “Bring It On: The Musical,” “A Bronx Tale” and “Pippin.” On TV, she’s appeared in the Apple TV+ series “Schmigadoon!” Up next, she’s starring in Sony’s Marvel movie “Kraven the Hunter” and Disney’s animated adventure “Wish.”
“She’s baaaack! We could not be more excited for the sensational Ariana DeBose to return to the Tony Awards stage as our host for this year’s show,” said Jack Sussman, executive VP of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS. “As we celebrate the best of Broadway at the United Palace, a venue with a rich and storied history, we know that Ariana will bring an unparalleled level of passion and energy to her hosting duties, making it an incredible night to remember.”
Nominations will be announced on May 2. Past Tonys hosts include James Corden, Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban, Audra McDonald, Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman.
“A force both on and off the stage, Ariana DeBose is unstoppable – an award-winning actress, powerhouse vocalist and commanding dancer — she is the true definition of ‘triple-threat,’” said Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League. “We are thrilled to welcome back one of Broadway’s brightest lights to dazzle, inspire and illuminate this year’s Tony Awards!”
Former ‘SNL’ Star Says ‘God Hates Homosexuality’ During Tennessee Council Discussion About Holding A Gay Parade In Franklin
A former “Saturday Night Live” cast member did her best to try and stop a gay parade from taking place in Franklin, Tennessee during a council discussion on Tuesday. Franklin Pride, which was first held two years ago, required a special-event permit for this year’s occasion, and during Tuesday’s conference, it was agreed that the celebration had been given the approval for June. Before the decision, however, Victoria Jackson, who appeared on “SNL” for six years between 1986 to 1992, put up a strong fight to try and convince the council why Franklin Pride was a bad idea.
One of her first claims was that God does not like homosexuality, nor does he apparently like pride. “Like, one of the most things he hates is pride,” Jackson said in a confident manner. She carried on by citing different Bible verses, adding, “Proverbs 11:12: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”
As she neared the end of her rant, the former actress and comedian encouraged people to check out a YouTuber named Becket Cook. According to his channel’s description, the Texas native said he lived his life as a gay man until — through the help of a church service — he was able to transform his life and dedicate his life back to Christ. Jackson’s career quickly derailed after she chose to leave “SNL” for a sitcom with actor George Clooney which never got picked up by a network.
The council’s decision to approve a Gay Pride event is significant for several reasons. First, it shows that the city of Franklin is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all its residents, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Secondly, it sends a message to other cities in Tennessee that it’s possible to celebrate diversity and promote equality without compromising one’s values or beliefs. Finally, it provides a platform for the LGBTQ+ community to showcase their talents, creativity, and contribution to the city’s cultural and economic growth.
Religion has played a significant role in the LGBTQ+ community in Tennessee. Many religious institutions have been vocal opponents of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights, citing religious beliefs and values.
However, there are also many religious leaders and communities that have embraced the LGBTQ+ community and advocated for their inclusion and acceptance. The Franklin Pride event is a testament to the power of community and the ability to bridge the gap between religious and secular beliefs.
Franklin Pride will take place on June 3.
Rifle Used In Louisville Bank Shooting That Killed 5 Will Be Auctioned Off & Back On The Streets Thanks To Kentucky Law
Thanks to a law in Kentucky, the AR-15-style rifle that was used in the recent Louisville bank shooting, that killed five people, will be auctioned off, and will end up back on the streets.
As previously reported, on Monday morning (April 10), a 25-year-old man named Connor Sturgeon took an AR-15-style rifle into his place of work, Old National Bank, and killed five people, and left nine others wounded.
It is reported that Sturgeon fired his rifle upon receiving notification of his termination. It is reported that the shooting happened during a morning employee meeting — where some staffers appeared in-person and others virtually.
Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey says the department received a call around 8:30 a.m.
Within three minutes of the report, the LMPD officers were on the scene, where they found an active shooter inside the bank, later identified as Sturgeon. Police would end up killing him after a shootout with authorities.
Since Monday, the deceased victim count has risen from four to five, and includes:
Joshua Barrick, a 40-year-old senior vice president
Juliana Farmer, a 45-year-old commercial loan specialist
Tommy Elliott, a 63-year-old senior vice president (and close friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear)
James Tutt, a 64-year-old market executive.
And most recently listed is Deanna Eckert, a 57-year-old executive administrative officer.
As of Monday afternoon (April 10), the nine other people injured, were all hospitalized.
Of those nine, three were listed in critical condition, including a 26-year-old police officer who was shot in the head. The officer had just graduated from the police academy less than two weeks ago.
Three other victims were listed in non-critical condition, and three more had been released. A hospital spokesperson added that five of the nine people injured had gunshot wounds.
Since, the Louisville bank shooting — which saw the gunman, Connor Sturgeon killed by police after he killed five and injured nine — Louisville Metro Police Department officials released bodycam footage from the deadly mass shooting.
It is also been learned that the AR-15-style rifle that Sturgeon used in the shooting will be auctioned off and eventually find its way back onto the streets — all thanks to a law in Kentucky.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg spoke out on Tuesday (April 11) and said that he unfortunately cannot destroy the assault-style rifle that Sturgeon used to kill five people in his city, including a friend of the Louisville Mayor and a friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Emotionally, Greenberg explained that the gunman’s rifle was confiscated after police shot him dead, but Kentucky law (KRS 500.090) requires officers to send the weapon to state police officials, in order for them to sell it at auction.
The most Mayor Greenberg can do to the rifle is remove the firing pins, which would make the weapon inoperable for at least a little bit. However, he cannot destroy the impounded weapon in any other way, otherwise it is considered illegal.
Odell Beckham Jr. Signs $18M Deal with Baltimore Ravens
*Free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
Beckham’s agreement is reportedly worth up to $18 million, with $15 million in guarantees, per Ravens Wire.
ESPN writes, “The Ravens had been in contact with Beckham since last year and met with him at the annual league meeting two weeks ago. Baltimore then struck a deal a day before Beckham was scheduled to visit the New York Jets.”
Beckham told CBS NFL Insider Josina Anderson that he was “feeling more love from the Ravens.”
He even posted an Instagram photo of his toddler wearing a Baltimore jersey.
“He’s a phenomenal locker room presence,” said Nelson Stewart, Beckham’s high school coach from Isidore Newman in New Orleans, The Baltimore Sun reports. “He makes your team better. He leads by example. His football IQ is off the charts.”
Stewart added, “He wasn’t a spotlight seeker [growing up]. In high school, he didn’t like doing interviews. He was so young [when he became a star in the NFL]; he was in his early 20s and didn’t know how to navigate it. Every moment, the cameras were on him. Passion can get viewed one way, but he’s a guy who wants to win and he’s passionate about it. It matters so much to him.”
Now that Beckham is a 30-year-old father and star athlete, Stewart sees a different side of him.
“When he came into the league, everything went right, then he got hurt and battled adversity,” Stewart said. “It hardened him, having that much success and then going to Cleveland and being hurt [and that not working out] and then tasting [success] again with the Rams. He’s shown an ability to get off the mat. He’s more mature now, has life perspective.”
Nick Carter Sued By Dream Singer Melissa Schuman For 2002 Sexual Assault
Singer Melissa Schuman is suing Nick Carter after she attempted to press charges against him for sexual assault 5 years ago.
The Backstreet Boys singer is being sued by Schuman for allegedly sexually abusing her in 2002 when she was 18 and he was 22.
The lawsuit states that he forced her to perform oral sex on him and to receive oral sex in return.
Despite her assurances to Carter that she was saving herself for marriage, Schuman, a former member of the girl group Dream, claims Carter later took her virginity.
Initially, in 2017, Schuman filed a police report so that Carter could face criminal charges, but the D.A.’s office declined to prosecute.
According to TMZ, Schuman wants to go before a judge to present her cases since there are new measures for revising the statute of limitations for civil claims.
However, Nick’s attorney, Liane K. Wakayama, said, “Melissa Schuman has been peddling this tale for many years, but her allegation was false when she first made it back in 2017 – and it still is. A judge in Nevada recently ruled, after reviewing the extensive evidence we laid out, that there are strong grounds for Nick Carter to proceed with his lawsuit against Ms. Schuman for plotting to damage, defame and extort Nick, his associates, his friends, and his family.”
Liane added, “In light of our progress in Nevada, this kind of response is at once both predictable and pathetic. But this PR stunt won’t shake Nick from his determination to hold Ms. Schuman and her co-conspirators to account for the immeasurable pain and suffering their extortionate conduct has caused.”
TMZ previously reported that Nick had refuted all of her claims. Earlier this year, he filed a lawsuit against Schuman for $2.3 million, alleging that she had been attempting to extort money from him forced years.
2 Americans Detail Their Experience After Surviving Mexican Cartel Kidnapping
The two Americans who survived a Mexican cartel kidnapping in March are coming forward with disturbing details on the horrifying ordeal.
Latavia Washington McGee and Eric Williams spoke with CNN’s Anderson Cooper about the attack, which left two of their friends, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, dead.
The four friends were driving in the Mexican border city of Matamoros when they turned down a side street and heard a car horn. However, Brown said not to stop because he saw a gun, Washington McGee explained.
Then the white minivan they were driving in was forced to a stop, and Woodard and Brown ran out of the doors immediately when they were instantly gunned down.
“When I jumped out on the driver’s side, that’s when I was shot in both legs,” Williams said, who appeared on CNN in a wheelchair and wearing a large leg brace.
Williams, 38, couldn’t see Woodard because he was behind him but saw Brown on the ground, “but I could see Zindell’s back. He was hit two times, and big chunks of meat was gone.”
A graphic video showed the four U.S. citizens loaded into a white truck in broad daylight with multiple witnesses. At the time, Brown and Woodard were alive, according to Williams.
The pair said they arrived at a house 10-15 minutes later, and the kidnappers wore red “Diablo masks” and put “guns at our heads, telling us not to look up.”
A cartel investigator started speaking to the group, and “that’s when Shaeed said ‘I love y’all, I’m gone,’ and he died right there.” tearful Williams revealed, “It was the last thing he said.”
Williams was taken to a medical clinic to be treated for his wounds with no medication–they stitched his legs up, and then Brown was waiting for medical attention at the clinic as well. “I talked to him the whole time… just told him I was sorry because I asked him to come with me, and he just said, ‘It’s okay, I’m your brother, I’m supposed to be there for you, I love you.” Brown died an hour later.
When Washington McLee was shown a video from a cartel leader of her kidnapping, she said she began crying. “I just started crying, [thinking] looks like I’m never going home,” the mother of six said.
The cartel members also tried to make the two survivors have sex with each other, however, the pair refused to and told the gunmen they were brother and sister and Washington McLee was pregnant.
Mexican authorities have charged six men and five cartel members, and the pair were found with their hands tied together with belts near a pickup truck.
The U.S. Department has issued a travel advisor listing Tamaulipas State under the Do Not Travel To section due to crime and kidnapping.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Isle Two
Clean up, Please
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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