#MAGFAB: Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts for Essence Magazine
On Monday, April 17th, Jalen Hurts agreed to terms of a 5-year extension worth $255 million with the Philadelphia Eagles, making him the highest paid player in NFL history on a per year basis. The Houston native graces the cover of ESSENCE’s 2023 Men’s Issue. Read his interview below.
“I’ll take it black,” says Jalen Hurts, “with honey.” This is how the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles orders his coffee. There are layers to this man.
He wants his beverage piping hot, and who can blame him? It’s about to be spring, and Philly is featuring snow flurries. We’re sitting in an empty, yuzu-scented Buddakan dining room, opened early especially for Hurts, as starstruck staffers prep for the dinner rush.
With Hurts as the Eagles’ shot-caller, the team won a franchise record–breaking 14 games last year. It was a storybook season for a quarterback who has seen his share of underappreciation. That made it especially heartbreaking to watch Hurts, in the last moments of Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII, come within a literal whistle of winning. “To me,” he says, “it’s all about winning championships. We came up a game short.”
But Philly’s not mad at Hurts. For many fans, the Super Bowl referee’s call was at best controversial, and at worst unfair to all the players on the field. In fact, Philadelphia—a temperamental sports town with six professional teams—believes in Jalen Hurts. “He is the new Fresh Prince,” West Philly native and hip-hop legend DJ Jazzy Jeff shared with Sports Illustrated. When the Eagles clinched the NFC Championship, Jeff and Hurts even did the infamous Fresh Prince dap-up—a true moment of Black Boy Joy—and they went viral.
Despite his size, you can’t hear Jalen Hurts roll up on you. He walks like a mouse on cotton. Hurts is in cozy black joggers and a dark hoodie from ALLWINS, a brand worn by elite Gen Z athletes like the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane. Ambitious guys who move with grace and carry big equipment. The brim of Hurts’s Rhude ball cap tilts low under his hood. Eyes: obscured. Body language: relaxed. All wins. He has a mysterious air about him, but about his destiny, Hurts is clear.
“I always knew what I’d be,” he says. “As a kid, I always knew. I never knew how I’d get there, but I always knew what I wanted.”
Could he have known he was going to—like Michael Vick, Steve McNair, Colin Kaepernick and others before him—do his part to sack American football’s myth of the gleaming White quarterback? And could he have known he was going to be this fine?
With Hurts, there’s more than your basic handsome- athlete thing going on. He left “cute” behind at the University of Alabama, where he played with locs streaming down his back. Jalen Hurts is so alluring that even the National Football League posted a clip of him solemnly chewing bubble gum—and everyone wanted a piece.
Hurts’s agent, Nicole Lynn, says she doesn’t often post him to her Instagram feed—“because I get all the DMs, and I’m like, Hey, that’s my little bro. Everybody gotta chill.” But Lynn knows what she’s working with. “He’s a mixture of Kobe Bryant and Beyoncé,” she says. An avid Bey fan, Lynn knows she’s said a mouthful, but hear her out. “Jalen gives you so little in public,” she explains. “Even when you’re talking to him, you want more. You don’t really know him. He’s not intentionally secretive but naturally has this elusive I need to know, I need more. That’s Beyoncé. It makes you wanna know them. It makes you wanna root for them.” And as for the late Kobe Bryant? “Jalen’s got the Kobe obsessive work ethic. Shooting for greatness. And never satisfied.”
Jalen Alexander Hurts—in addition to his athletic and leadership abilities, his ambition and his physical beauty—loves to, as he puts it, “keep the main thing the main thing.” One of his main things is the role Black women play in his life. Hurts often reminds folks that while he did not grow up in church, there are other ways to find faith. “I love me some Granny Cindy,” a smiling Hurts says of the grandmother with whom he often FaceTimes. Then he pulls back his hoodie and tilts up his cap. His eyes are bright and engaged. “She’s the staple in my spirituality. She’s always the one like, ‘Ask God for what you want. Ask God for what you need. He knows, but it’s okay to say it in prayer.’ ”
Hurts is also tight with his mother, Pamela Hurts. An all-star game attender, she gave him a love for artists like Guy, Angela Winbush, and Maze featuring Frankie -Beverly—and she’s deeply and publicly protective of her middle son. Mrs. Hurts, who has been married to Hurts’s father, Averion Hurts, Sr., for nearly 30 years, also modeled for the Eagles star quarterback how to, as he says, “get it out the mud, because she’s had to get it out the mud for herself.”
Hurts recalls a time, right around his freshman year in college, when his mother, a special education teacher, saw colleagues being laid off and decided she had to find a way to reinvent herself. “She went back to school, and she got her master’s to become a counselor,” he recalls. “That’s a living testimony for me.”
And when Hurts talks about romance, he mentions things like strolling the holiday Houston Zoo Lights extravaganza with a date. “I’m not married or anything like that,” he says. “But I am spoken for.” Hurts’s girlfriend, Bryonna “Bry” Burrows, works as an IT professional and is a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.—Hurts himself is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. They’ve been dating off and on since their University of Alabama days, back when he was quarterbacking for the Crimson Tide. When the two made their romance public, after last season’s NFC Championship game, many Black women across the Internet simultaneously mourned the fact that Hurts was off the market and were giddy to see that a Black woman had won his heart. Jalen and Bry made romance look effervescent and victorious—like we deserve to talk as much about green flags as red.
“I knew a long time ago,” says Hurts about Burrows. “I mean, to this point in my life, that’s an irreplaceable feeling. I think that’s what allowed us to get to where we are now.”
The relationships Hurts has with Black women extend from the personal to the professional—including the fact that his first cover story as a pro athlete is with a magazine that has been in service to Black women since 1970. And Hurts’s alliance with his agent is historic. In addition to being president of football at large for Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group, Lynn is the first woman of any race to represent a Super Bowl starting quarterback. “Just to give you context on repping quarterbacks,” she says via phone, right before jumping on an elevator, “what I do as an agent is already unique because I am a Black woman. I’m a woman. I’m in the 1 percent of all 900 certified agents. But even for a White male, repping quarterbacks is upper-echelon.”
The details of how Lynn, a University of Oklahoma alum, contacted Hurts (who wasn’t even following her) via Instagram DMs, was vetted by the player’s father and then was interviewed by Hurts himself, will rock a sports documentary someday. Suffice to say, Lynn’s presence in professional sports is already shattering and profound.
And these are just a few of the Black women on Team Jalen. “I’m not doing anything to be different,” says Hurts. “I just think that’s the way it’s been ordained. I have the ultimate amount of respect for anyone who goes out there and grinds for something. Puts the work in, and they go get it done. I don’t put a gender on those things.” Hurts is as active and imaginative in his life story as he is on the field. “This process has been very efficient,” he says with what is quickly becoming the quarterback’s trademark grin. “Work has been done. It’s the kind of innovative thoughts that we all just pour. We think about stuff and create opportunities.”
Get more at ESSEENCE!
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Went to Costa Rica on Vacation
The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum took to Instagram on April 15 to share more photos and videos from her epic Costa Rican getaway. Porsha returned to the tropical destination recently, alongside her daughter, Pilar Jhena “PJ” McKinley; her husband, Simon Guobadia; and their family, who enjoyed several days of sun-soaked fun in honor of PJ’s 4th birthday.
“A Costa Rica Birthday Fit for a Princess [PJ],” Porsha captioned a video montage of the festivities. “The Guobadias know how to have a good time! Fireworks at the house, family obstacle course, cookout, and lots of love. We love you so much whittle munchkin!”
The post provided a closer look at Porsha and Simon’s Costa Rican vacation home and everything that went down during the over-the-top birthday bash. Highlights included PJ blowing out the candles on her birthday cake and the family taking turns hitting a Minnie Mouse piñata, which may look familiar to those who keep up with Porsha’s Instagram activity.
“Creating beautiful memories,” she captioned another vacation post, before adding a comedic detail. “Oh yeah and yes my wig slid right off underwater.”
Classic Porsha. Porsha is no stranger to Costa Rican vacays. She and PJ traveled to the country back in 2021 to celebrate the birthday of Shamea Morton’s daughter. The Go Naked Hair co-founder returned the following year with Simon.
Watch The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Thursdays on Peacock.
#MusicNews: SZA Announces Additional Dates For 'SOS Tour'
After selling out arenas across the country earlier this year, the “Kill Bill” singer has announced new dates for her “SOS Tour” across Europe and North America, which runs through the fall.
The 10-city European trek kicks off June 1 in Amsterdam and travels to Paris, Berlin, Manchester, and London, wrapping in Dublin on June 21.
She then returns to North America for 21 arena dates, starting Sept. 20 in Miami with stops in Brooklyn, Houston, Los Angeles, and more before ending in Phoenix on Oct. 29.
The first leg of the 17-city North American trek, which featured Omar Apollo, began Feb. 21 in Columbus, Ohio and wrapped in L.A. on March 23.
The tour comes in support of SZA’s chart-topping sophomore album SOS, which was released in December and spent 10 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200. She plans to release a deluxe edition in the near future.
Tickets are available now.
THE S.O.S. TOUR – EUROPE DATES
June 1 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome*
June 5 – Paris, France – Accor Arena*
June 7 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion*
June 9 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena*
June 11 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
June 13 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena*
June 15 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro*
June 17 – London, UK – The O2*
June 18 – London, UK – The O2*
June 21 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena*
*With Support from RAYE
THE S.O.S. TOUR – NORTH AMERICAN DATES
Sept. 20 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Sept. 22 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
Sept. 24 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Sept. 26 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center^
Sept. 28 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Sept. 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Oct. 1 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Oct. 4 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Oct. 6 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Oct. 7 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Oct. 10 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Oct. 11 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Oct. 14 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Oct. 15 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
Oct. 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Oct. 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena
Oct. 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Oct. 23 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Oct. 26 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Oct. 28 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Oct. 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
^Rescheduled Date from Leg 1 without Omar Apollo
#HipHopNews: Latto Appears To Take Shots At Nicki Minaj During Coachella Performance
Latto’s beef with Nicki Minaj doesn’t seem to be over The “Big Energy” rapper appeared to reignite their feud while making her Coachella debut. During her set at the Sahara stage on Sunday, Latto debuted a new song on which she takes shots at her idol turned rival.
“She thought I would kiss her ass, she must ain’t took her meds,” she raps on the track. “Say she got a problem, imaginary smoke / Bitch, you said it’s up, then put it on the floor, pussy ho.”
As she walked off the stage, Latto added, “Let a bitch know. We tired of the subtweets this year. Bitch, let me know.
Back in October, Latto and Nicki got into a heated exchange on Twitter after Nicki brought up Latto’s “Big Energy” while discussing the Grammys’ decision to exclude “Super Freaky Girl” from the rap category and keep “Big Energy.”
Latto accused Nicki of subtweeting her and called her a “40-year-old bully,” while Nicki shared DMs she received from Latto and insinuated that she used ghostwriters.
During her Coachella performance, Latto brought out another female rapper, Saweetie, to perform “Bitch From Da Souf (Remix).”
“Us rap girls, we work our ass off. And right now, I just wanna give Latto her flowers,” said Saweetie. “She can rap her ass off. Bitch, and you look better than me.”
Prosecutor files 2 felony charges against suspect Andrew Lester in Ralph Yarl shooting
The Clay County Prosecutor's Office announced that it filed two criminal charges against a suspect in the April 13 shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in Kansas City, Missouri.
Andrew Lester, an 85-year-old white man, was charged with one count of felony assault in the first degree and one count of armed criminal action, also a felony, Clay County prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson said during a press conference Monday evening.
The 16-year-old Black teenager was shot Thursday night by a homeowner in Kansas City after he accidentally went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings, police said on Sunday.
"He knowingly caused physical injury to [Yarl] by shooting him," Thompson said, adding that the first count is a class A felony with a sentence of up to life in prison, while the second count is an unclassified felony and carries a range of punishment of 3-15 years in prison.
A warrant was issued for Lester's arrest and a bond was set at $200,000, Thompson added. It's unclear if Lester has retained an attorney.
In his statement to police, Lester said he "had just laid down in bed when he heard the doorbell ring," according to the probable cause statement.
Lester told police he picked up his gun, a .32 Smith & Wesson 1888 revolver, and went to the front door, which consists of an interior main door and exterior glass storm door, both of which were locked, the statement reads.
"Lester stated he opened the interior door, and saw a black male approximately 6 feet tall pulling on the exterior storm door handle. He stated he believed someone was attempting to break into the house, and shot twice within a few seconds of opening the door," the statement reads.
Lester told police he had never seen the man before and that "no words were exchanged during the incident and the male had not said anything prior to pulling on the door handle," according to the probable cause statement.
The suspect told police "it was the last thing he wanted to do, but he was 'scared to death' due to the male's size," his own age, and his "inability to defend himself," the statement reads.
Police conducted an informal cursory interview with Yarl at Children's Mercy Hospital on Friday, according to the probable cause statement. Yarl told police he parked in the driveway, went to the front door, "pressed the doorbell and waited outside the front door," the statement reads. Yarl told police the man inside "took a long time but finally opened the door holding a firearm," and then "he was immediately shot in the head and fell to the ground," according to the statement.
Yarl told police he got up and "ran away to keep from being shot," and that the man allegedly said "don't come around here," according to the probable cause statement.
Yarl told police he went to multiple residences to ask for help and tell people to call the police, the statement reads.
Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the Yarl family along with attorney Ben Crump, told ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis in an interview Monday that the family is "relieved" that charges have been filed.
"Because of the national outpouring, because of the community of Missouri that stood up, because of all the national organizers and people who have lent their voice -- it seems that the prosecutors and law enforcement agencies on the ground are taking the case more seriously," Merritt said.
The case garnered national attention over the weekend, and the White House confirmed to ABC News that President Joe Biden spoke with the Yarl family on Monday.
"This evening, the president spoke by phone to Ralph Yarl and shared his hope for a swift recovery," the White House said Monday night.
"Ralph just got off the phone with the president of the United States today, who assured him that, you know, that he was and the rest of the nation was invested in justice for him," Merritt told ABC News.
Ralph's aunt Faith Spoonmore told ABC News Live Prime in an interview Monday before charges were announced that Ralph was shot in the head through a glass door and then in the arm and suffered a traumatic brain injury and an injury in his arm.
"He is healing. We are taking it one day at a time," she said, adding that the shooting has also taken an emotional toll on the family.
The charges came after protests erupted in Kansas City over the weekend after Lester, who was unidentified at the time, was taken into custody and then released pending an investigation by the Kansas City Police Department.
"We understand how frustrating this has been," Thompson said. "But I can assure you that the criminal justice system is working and will continue to work. As with any serious case, we approached this one in an objective and impartial manner."
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said during a press conference Sunday evening that after the shooting, the suspect was taken into police custody and placed on a 24-hour investigative hold but had since been released while police investigate and present evidence to the prosecutor's office.
"After consulting with the Clay County Prosecutor's Office, the homeowner was released pending further investigation due to the need to obtain a formal statement from the victim, forensic evidence and compile additional information for a case file to be presented," Graves said on Sunday.
Police announced on Monday afternoon that they submitted the case to the Clay County Prosecutor's Office; prosecutors announced the charges two hours later.
Crump and Merritt said in a statement released Monday evening that the family is "extremely relieved that criminal charges are finally moving forward."
"'Justice delayed is justice denied.' We are relieved that charges are finally moving forward but are disappointed in the delay that necessitated national outcry for an obvious crime," Merritt said in a statement. "We are cautiously optimistic about accountability and justice."
Merritt said that Ralph was released from the hospital on Saturday and is in the care of his doctors at home. He said that the family now wants to "see this man held accountable to the full extent of the law."
"Despite of everything, we are grateful that he is alive because considering what he went through, I don't think the person who did this intended that he will be alive," Spoonmore told ABC News. "... We are upset, we are angry, but we also understand that it could have been much worse."
Jonathan Majors Dropped by Manager Entertainment 360 Following Domestic Violence Charges
Jonathan Majors and his talent manager Entertainment 360 have parted ways, an insider has confirmed to Variety. The development comes three weeks after the “Creed III” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” actor was arrested on charges of assault and harassment in New York in late March.
Majors has also been dropped by his former public relations manager, the Lede Company. A source with knowledge of the PR company confirmed that the actor was removed as a client last month.
No immediate comment was made available by Entertainment 360 or the Lede Company.
The 33-year-old actor was arrested in Manhattan on March 25 and charged with assault and harassment regarding a domestic dispute with a 30-year-old woman. New York police responded to a 911 call, leading to Majors being taken into custody. The unnamed victim was hospitalized with “minor injuries to her head and neck,” according to authorities.
Majors’ legal team has denied that the assault took place, alleging that evidence exists that would clear the actor of the charges.
“Mr. Majors completely denies assaulting the woman,” Majors’ criminal defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry said in a statement in the week after the arrest. Chaudry also released a series of text messages that were allegedly exchanged between Majors and the 30-year-old woman to further contextualize the situation.
Before his arrest, Majors was widely seen as a rising star in Hollywood. The actor earned an Emmy nomination for “Lovecraft Country” and had marquee roles in two spring blockbusters this year, “Creed III” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” His was set to reprise his “Quantumania” role, the villainous multiverse traveler Kang, in future Marvel projects, including “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” in the summer of 2025. Additionally, Majors earned critical praise for his performance in “Magazine Dreams,” which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Searchlight Pictures only days before the actor was arrested.
Deadline was first to report the break between Majors and Entertainment 360.
Woman Fatally Shot in New York After Pulling Into Wrong Driveway
A 20-year-old woman was shot to death by a homeowner in upstate New York after pulling into the wrong driveway, investigators said on Monday.
Kaylin Gillis was in a car with three friends looking for another friend's house in the rural area of Hebron, New York, on Saturday night when they mistakenly turned down the wrong driveway.
After the vehicle had been in the driveway for a "very short time," Kevin Monahan came out of the residence and fired two shots as the group of friends was exiting the property, police said. One of the shots struck Gillis.
The group then drove to the neighboring town of Salem to get cell service and call for help. Emergency responders performed CPR on Gillis, but she was pronounced dead.
"There was clearly no threat from anyone in the vehicle," Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy said at a press conference. "There was no reason for Mr. Monahan to feel threatened, especially as it appeared the vehicle was leaving at the time."
Monahan, 65, refused to come out of his house when officers arrived to investigate reports of shots being fired, police said. After authorities spoke with Monahan through a 911 dispatcher and in person for roughly an hour, he was taken into custody.
Monahan has been charged with second-degree murder. He was being held in the Warren County Jail.
Murphy said Gillis, a native of Schuylerville, New York, was "an innocent young girl" from "a very good family."
“This is a very sad case of some young adults that were looking for a friend’s house and ended up at this man’s house who decided to come out with a firearm and discharge it," Murphy said.
50 Cent Has Not Proposed To Girlfriend Jamira “Cuban Link” Haines Just Yet
In a recent video posted by Jamira “Cuban Link” Haines, she showed a performance of her man 50 Cent as she supported him from the side of the stage.
50’s stage presence wasn’t the only thing that caught eyes, so did a huge rock on Cube’s left ring finger. Social media immediately began speculating that Fif had proposed to the fitness influencer and law student.
“[white heart and lock emoji],” Jamira captioned a post of her and the TV mogul walking through the event space with Summer Walker’s “Session 32” playing in the background.
However, it has been learned by a rep for 50 Cent that the two are not headed to the alter just yet, per TMZ Hip-Hop.
Jamira’s gleaming heart-shaped ring was posted multiple times back in July 2022 as she wore it out to club appearances and more — so it may have just been a gift.
“If they were in your close friend they would really know what’s going on,” one Instagram user wrote insinuating that they knew the inside scoop. Another user said, “The 1st woman to ‘really’ cuff [it].”
The Starz impresario has been publicly dating the Cuban Fit boss lady since 2019, when the two attended the Power season 6 premiere together. However, fans who follow both public figures knew of the two being romantically involved ahead of their first public outing.
Jamira seems to bring out another side of Jackson that many fans like. Earlier this year, Haines made a video pranking her media mogul beau with the lyrics to Tank’s poem “DM Pretty.” Unclear of where the line came from, 50 jokingly brushed her off.
In another video, the couple joked around with comedian Michael Blackson on Instagram Live, where Fif teased Blackson about “flirting” with his girl.
Disney’s Live-Action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Casts Nani’s Love Interest David
American film director, animator, voice actor and screenwriter born 1962
Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch film has cast newcomer Kahiau Machado as David Kawena, Nani’s love interest and Lilo’s friend, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Newcomer Maia Kealoha is playing Lilo, while Sydney Elizebeth Agudong is playing Nani. Zach Galifianakis joined the cast in February. Stitch, naturally, will be a CG confection. Dean Fleischer Camp, the filmmaker behind indie darling and best animated feature Oscar nominee Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, is directing the remake that is intended to be a major release on Disney+.
The Hawaii-centric story tells of the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who was genetically engineered to be a force of destruction. With nosy social workers and pursuing aliens banging on the door, the two bond over a shared sense of family and win the day. Jason Scott Lee voiced David in Lilo & Stitch and Stitch Has a Glitch, while Dee Bradley Baker voiced the character in Stitch! The Movie and Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright wrote the script for the adaptation. Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois wrote and directed the original feature.
Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are producing. Rideback’s Ryan Halprin is executive producing.
The original film was released in 2002 and became a cult success, grossing over $273 million worldwide based on an $80 million budget. It was also nominated for best animated feature at the 75th Academy Awards.
'Phantom of the Opera' takes final Broadway bow with tears, chandeliers – and a vow to return soon
It’s not every night that you see a chandelier take a bow. But at Sunday’s closing performance of "The Phantom of the Opera," the world's most famous light fixture made a final, rousing descent during the show's curtain call, earning thunderous applause from the Majestic Theatre audience.
"As the Phantom commands, we must salute our luminous star!" producer Cameron Mackintosh proclaimed amid a touching tribute to the cast, crew and creatives who helped make the gothic musical a record-breaking phenomenon.
USA TODAY was on the scene with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber as he bid adieu to Broadway's longest-running show after 35 years and nearly 14,000 performances.
'The Phantom of the Opera' terrified me as a child. How I learned to love 'the music of the night.'
Stars came out in full force for the last performance of "Phantom," which tells the story of a masked composer who haunts a Paris opera house and falls in love with a young singer named Christine Daaé.
Glenn Close was spotted grabbing champagne during intermission, and Lin-Manuel Miranda snapped selfies and Sara Bareilles chatted with fellow theatergoers. Gayle King filmed the cast's final bows on her smartphone, not long before Webber joined Sarah Brightman – his former partner and the show's original Christine – for a moving curtain call speech.
Sarah Brightman, left, and Andrew Lloyd Webber speak onstage during the final curtain call for "The Phantom of the Opera."
Late last month, Webber's eldest son, Nicholas, died at 43 after a battle with gastric cancer. "I hope you won't mind if I dedicate this performance to my son," Webber said onstage. "When he was a little boy, he heard some of this music and he loved it."
"Yes, he did," Brightman said. "When Andrew was writing it, he was right there, so his soul is with us. Nick, we love you very much."
The performance itself was also highly emotional. Emilie Kouatchou, the first Black actress to play Christine full time on Broadway, smiled through tears as she received a midshow standing ovation for her gorgeous rendition of "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again." The show's heart-tugging last moments were met with resounding sniffles from the audience, while iconic props such as the Phantom's boat and monkey music box were greeted with whoops and cheers.
The chandelier has descended on 'The Phantom of the Opera' after 35 years on Broadway
On the red carpet before the performance, cast members past and present hailed "Phantom" for its astounding legacy. The show arrived in New York in 1988 as part of the "British invasion" of Broadway, helping usher in a new age of megamusicals with spectacular set pieces and thumping pop-rock scores. Directed by Hal Prince, the production won seven Tony Awards, including best musical, and its songs have been memorably covered by everyone from Barbra Streisand to Josh Groban.
'Sweeney Todd' review: Josh Groban is a cutthroat crooner in spectacular Broadway revival
"This is like the grandfather of Broadway," says John Riddle, who plays Christine's suitor Raoul. "It's the standard for what the type of scale a show can be. It's the end of an era."
"It certainly did change what a Broadway musical can be," adds Laird Mackintosh, who stepped in to play the Phantom for principal Ben Crawford, who was out sick and on vocal rest. "It has a wow factor and a magic and a theatricality that hasn't changed since the '80s. It's still an incredibly potent piece of theater."
'It's only a matter of time' until 'Phantom' returns to New York
Fans wait outside the Majestic Theatre during the final performance of "Phantom" on Broadway.
Fans wait outside the Majestic Theatre during the final performance of "Phantom" on Broadway.
As with many other shows, ticket sales for "Phantom" lagged when Broadway reopened after COVID-19. But the musical got a massive box-office boost when Mackintosh and Webber announced its closing, earning a record $3 million in a single week last month and playing to standing-room-only audiences.
"It's just amazing what has happened in the last few months," Webber said during the confetti-filled curtain call. "I don't think any of us thought the 'Phantom' would go out with quite the bang that it has. Maybe it'll come back – you never know."
Mackintosh similarly teased the show's inevitable New York return, saying, "It's only a matter of time."
"The one question I keep getting asked again and again – will the Phantom return?" Mackintosh said onstage. "Having been a producer for over 55 years, I’ve seen all the great musicals return. And 'Phantom' is one of the greatest."
'Phantom of the Opera' postpones end of long Broadway run to April after ticket sales spike
The music of the night is more powerful than ever, judging by the hundreds of fans in "Phantom" masks and T-shirts who waited for hours outside the Majestic Theatre on Sunday. The show has even gained popularity on TikTok, thanks in part to Webber's playful presence on the platform.
"I don't feel it's the end," Brightman said on the red carpet. "It's become a classic, and you know this because you watch all the new generations coming up and they're really enjoying it. The fact that so many people from this generation want to see this, it means it's going to be back."
Why Was Frank Ocean’s Coachella Set Such a Disappointing Mess?
A post early Monday from the music-festival-centric Twitter site the Festive Owl offered a seemingly plausible basic explanation for what transpired, several basic facts of which have been confirmed by sources to Variety, along with reports in Rolling Stone and TMZ. Reps for Coachella promoter Goldenvoice, its parent company AEG and Ocean did not immediately respond to Variety’s requests for comment.
The sources confirm that an elaborate stage production involving an ice rink and a battery of skaters — who would apparently skate around Ocean and the band during their set — was constructed, rehearsed for several days and ready to go, but abruptly called off on Sunday afternoon, after the festival was already under way. Why the production was abruptly changed, however, has two different explanations.
Citing “sources,” the Festive Owl wrote: “Frank decided at the last minute that he no longer wanted it at all. All of the people walking around him at the start of the performance were actually ice skaters, had been practicing for weeks, and were supposed to be skating as part of the production. Coachella had to deconstruct the approved stage (that had been planned and signed off on for months in advance) + melt the entire ice rink and then set it up how Frank decided today with no warning. Which is what you ended up seeing, and caused the hour-long delay. This all happened when doors had already open for Sunday, and people were securing their spots to see him. If the last minute changes weren’t made he wouldn’t have performed at all — leaving the festival without a closing headliner.” Variety sources support the basics of this report.
The reports in TMZ and Rolling Stone — which published at around the same time Monday afternoon — cite a source as saying that production on Ocean’s performance “was adjusted at the last minute to account for an ankle injury the singer sustained during on-site rehearsals in the week leading up to the festival,” according to Rolling Stone, with TMZ adding that the incident took place not during actual rehearsals but while he was riding one of the bicycles that artists and staff use to get around the sprawling Coachella grounds. It added that the injury “was serious enough for doctors to advise Frank’s production be changed.”
While Ocean indeed was seated for much of the performance, during the DJ segment he got up and bopped around the stage for a few minutes, although it’s unclear what level of mobility the original production called for (or whether he was planning on skating as well?). It also would not fully explain why, if the injury took place earlier in the week, the stage was so hastily dissembled just hours before the performance was scheduled to begin — sources report hearing construction sounds almost up to the set’s hour-delayed start.
However, such observations are based on obscured views: The stage was dominated by giant video screens that showed images from the stage that were often unclear, with the performers themselves frequently obscured by the group of people walking in a circle around them — apparently a half-step toward the original skating concept — and the stage itself was not clearly visible to most of the audience.
As for the livestream, a source tells Variety that although Ocean’s set was never publicly scheduled to be broadcast, organizers had expected it and were not told it wasn’t happening until the production changed; they were told not to expect a livestream from Bjork.
Ocean is scheduled to close out Coachella’s weekend two this coming Sunday.
'Beef' Actor David Choe's Rape Comments Resurface, Netflix Show Faces Boycott
People are calling for a boycott of the Netflix series Beef after actor David Choe‘s comments about his “rapey” behavior resurfaced online.
The 46-year-old artist and former podcast host plays Isaac on the show and he made the comments on his podcast DVDASA back in 2014.
On the podcast, David talked about his experience getting a massage from a woman named Rose and he seemingly claimed to sexually assault her.
“I just take her hand and I put it on my dick, and she just holds it there,” David said. He said that the masseuse didn’t seem to enjoy it, but continued going along with it.
When David wasn’t pleased by what Rose was doing, he asked her to spit on him, but she wouldn’t. He then asked her to kiss his member, but she wouldn’t.
“I take the back of her head and I push it down on my dick, and she doesn’t do it, and then I go, ‘Open your mouth, open your mouth,’ and she does it,” he said. “And then I start face-f**king her.”
David‘s co-host Asa Akira replied, “You raped.”
BuzzFeed reports that he added, “I just want to make it clear that I admit that that’s rapey behavior. But I am not a rapist. With the rape stuff… I mean, I would have been in a lot of trouble right now if I put her hand on my dick and she’s like, ‘F**king stop I’m gonna go call security.’ That would have been a much different story. But the thrill of possibly going to jail, that’s what achieved the erection quest.
After the podcast got backlash nearly a decade ago, David claimed that he creates stories on his podcast. “I’m sorry if anyone believed that the stories were fact. They were not!” he said.
David is reportedly attempting to get clips removed from social media, claiming he owns copyright to the podcast.
Mike Tyson Says He’s Open To Fighting Roy Jones Jr. And Former Rival Evander Holyfield: “I Could Be Persuaded”
Mike Tyson may be retired but is still open to getting in the ring with Roy Jones Jr.
TMZ recently caught up with the former heavyweight champ and asked if he would consider a rematch with Jones Jr., who he previously fought in 2020. Despite not being fully into boxing anymore, Tyson said he is open to the possibility,
“I could be persuaded,” the 56-year-old boxing legend said.
The outlet also asked Tyson if he would be interested in another rematch against his former rival Evander Holyfield and his answer remained the same.
Nevertheless, Tyson didn’t reveal the monetary amount he would require to agree to future fights with boxing legends, but he did mention that he has been approached by individuals in Saudi Arabia who are interested in his participation.
“I don’t know,” he said. “When I see the money people for the end of the product, my mind works clearer. I can’t express myself right now financially.”
In 1996 and 1997, Tyson had two memorable fights against Holyfield, but unfortunately lost both. In 2021, he had agreed to participate in an exhibition match with Holyfield but negotiations ended up falling apart. Tyson also took on Jones Jr. in a highly successful exhibition match in 2020.
Stevie J Hires New Lawyer in Divorce Battle with Faith Evans
Music producer Stevie J has hired a new lawyer for his divorce battle with singer Faith Evans.
The move comes nearly a year after the former “Love & Hip Hop” star publicly attempted to make amends with the R&B songstress. As RadarOnline reports, at the time, Stevie posted a sweet Mother’s Day message on social media that said “Faith Rene Jordan I’ve hurt you, disrespected you and humiliated you in front of the world. From this day forward I promise to listen to your feelings and be more delicate with your heart.”
“I also promise to build you up even more & to communicate daily with you, respect you and love on you until you’re as happy as you were when we got married,” Stevie added.
“I’ve learned my lesson and I NEVER want to live without you because God knows I’m a better man with you and I’m asking you to find it in your heart to forgive me and allow me to rebuild our trust.”
Brittany Mahomes Defends Brother-In-Law Jackson Mahomes Against Sexual Assault Allegations
Brittany Mahomes is calling out the naysayers and defending her brother-in-law, Jackson Mahomes.
The 27-year-old mom of two, and wife of Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, responded to a question during a Q&A on Instagram, and revealed how she felt about the accusations and general comments about the 22-year-old.
When asked by a fan what she thought, Brittany called them all “ignorant”, via People.
“He is a human just trying to live his life and find his way and until you walk a day in his shoes (which no one ever will) you have no right to say sh** about him,” she went on.
“So it’s best to just shut up,” she concluded.
Recently, Jackson has come under fire for alleged assault by Aspen Vaughn, who is the owner of the Overland Park restaurant in Kansas, in March.
This was on top of the accusations by fans that Jackson uses his brother Patrick‘s fame to his advantage.
Lying GOP Rep. George Santos announces 2024 reelection campaign
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., a freshman member of the House who has faced backlash from both sides of the aisle over fabricating parts of his personal and professional biography, formally announced his reelection campaign Monday.
"As a first-generation American, I am no stranger to the issues affecting my district. I grew up poor with a single mom, and thanks to the American dream, a poor boy of immigrant parents in Queens can grow up to serve his community in the halls of Congress," Santos said in a statement.
"Good isn't good enough, and I'm not shy about doing what it takes to get the job done," he added.
Santos was expected to announce a reelection bid, having filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission in March.
The scandal-plagued lawmaker from Long Island is currently facing an investigation from the House Ethics Committee. The committee has voted to establish a subcommittee of two Republicans and two Democrats to look into whether Santos engaged in "unlawful activity" during his 2022 campaign and investigate a sexual misconduct allegation involving a staffer.
George Santos already has a GOP primary challenger
Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan war veteran and student at Columbia University pursuing a masters in sports management, announced his bid for Santos' seat earlier this month.
"America is ready for a change. New York's 3rd Congressional District requires someone who will work to secure our future. That person is not George Santos. As an Afghanistan veteran, I stand for truth, and accountability, and will work every day to secure our future, and preserve New York values," Curry said in a statement after Santos announced his reelection bid.
McDonald's changes up burgers with more melted cheese, more Big Mac sauce
McDonald's (MCD) is out with an update to its burger lineup that will impact its Big Mac, McDouble burger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, and hamburger.
The changes include a softer bun, more melted cheese, adding white onions onto the patties for a caramelized flavor, and more Big Mac sauce, the company announced Monday. The updated recipe is currently being offered on the West Coast in the following cities: Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Denver, among others. By early 2024, the changes will be available nationwide.
The change was first introduced in international markets, including Australia, Canada, and Belgium, where McDonald's said the new recipe received "rave reviews."
“We found that small changes...adjusting our grill settings for a better sear, added up to a big difference in making our burgers more flavorful than ever," a McDonald's executive said in the release.
Americans seem to still be lovin' McDonald's core menu items.
Last quarter, same-store sales in the U.S. increased by 10.3%, higher than expectations of 7.62%. In a call with investors, CEO and President Chris Kempczinski said there are still lots of opportunities to grow market share with its core menu items as it works towards its larger growth strategy, Accelerating the Arches 2.0, and its commitment to core menu items such as burgers, chicken, and coffee.
McDonald's is "continuing to grow our share in beef despite having a very strong presence in that already," he said.
This reinvestment in its burgers comes nearly two years after it entered into the chicken sandwich wars, which Kempczinski said is performing well for the global fast food chain."We are gaining market share in both chicken and beef," he said on the call.
Compared to a year ago, McDonald's stock is up more than 15%. Guggenheim Partners Director Gregory Francort told Yahoo Finance the company has a massive market share. "This is a company that's doing $50 billion in sales on an industry that's $800 [billion] or $900 billion."
This reinvestment comes as competitor Burger King (QSR) is looking to take some of that market share, with a major $400 million overhaul dubbed Reclaim the Flame and reinvestment into its core menu item, the Whopper.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Cookie Monster
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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