#FASHIONFAB: Vogue Brazil March 2023 Honors Their Own Fashion Designers in 'Bossa Nossa', by Pedro Napolinario
Models Ana Flávia, Ana Patrocino, Carmen Mina, Gaia, Juliana Ribeiro, Rosario S, and Shirley Pitta star in ‘Bossa Nossa’, styled by Daniel Ueda. Photographer Pedro Napolinario [IG] is in the studio for Vogue Brasil March 2023. Rita Lazzarotti provides fashion direction./ Hair and makeup by Helder Rodrigues
The fashion story runs 17 pages with a focus on 34 Brazilian brands that elevate natural fashion. We shouldn’t assume that ‘natural fashion’ is sustainably-made fashion.
Rather, natural fashion reflects the Brazilian pov or “attitude, celebrating identity, colors and values with materials, fabrics and volumes that elevate national fashion to the ultimate power.“ That’s a good word salad, but Brazil — just like America — is today a deeply divided country.
It absolutely inspiring to see straw and raffia materials combined with other ‘natural’ materials that reflect the country’s diversity. The images are strong and engaging.
#RHOA: Shereé Whitfield Debuts a New Hair Color….Like it or Leave it?
Shereé Whitfield has returned to the blonde side. The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member took to Instagram on April 16 to show off another jaw-dropping beauty transformation. Shereé posted two photos of herself rocking icy blonde, dark-rooted hair that was styled with a middle part and long, soft curls. The ethereal look was complemented by a white Zimmerman printed jumpsuit, a pair of neon Tom Ford high heels, and a sparkly Fendi mini bag.
“Don’t look at the caption, look at me,” the She by Shereé founder wrote.
As expected, fans and friends flooded the comments section with compliments. RHOA alum Cynthia Bailey wrote, “So pretty,” while The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Mia Thornton added, “Oh, Yes Ma’am!” followed by a series of flame emojis.
Though Shereé was clearly appreciative of all the love, she made it clear that the stunning look was a team effort. She credited her lashes to Atlanta-based salon A Babe Beauty; her makeup to Alexys Pelissier; and her hair to Walter George-Fleming, who was also behind Shereé’s incredible blonde interview look for RHOA Season 14.
“The blonde bombshell is back!” the celebrity hairstylist captioned a repost. “I snapped on this color!”
The new grandmother showed off the light hairstyle during an April 14 charity event for Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that aims to combat food insecurity. Shereé attended the event alongside her RHOA castmates Sanya Richards-Ross and Marlo Hampton, who also posted a few photos from the night.
“‘We only Have what we Give!’” Marlo wrote in an Instagram caption. “We had the opportunity to support a great charity event ‘TASTE’ presented by Meals on Wheels Atlanta! What a night!! [Meals on Wheels Atlanta] good eats, good vibes, and lots of giving.”
Season 15 of RHOA premieres on Sunday, May 7, at 8/7c
#MusicNews: Erykah Badu announces "Unfollow Me Tour" with Yasiin Bey
Erykah Badu is coming to a city near you. The neo-soul legend announced the “Unfollow Me Tour,” which will feature Yasiin Bey as her special guest. Produced by Outback Presents, the 25-city trek begins in San Antonio on June 11 and will make stops in Denver, Boston, Philadelphia, and more before wrapping up on July 23 with a homecoming show in Dallas.
Badu’s last body of work was But You Caint Use My Phone, an 11-track mixtape that made landfall in 2015. The project debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 thanks to 35,000 album-equivalent units moved in its first week. Outside of her own releases, she has delivered rare features on more recent songs like “Yun” by RM, “Lowkey” by Teyana Taylor, “Afro Blue” by Robert Glasper, and more.
Although she hasn’t released new music in quite some time, her sister Koryan has faith that each show on the tour will have no trouble being packed out every night. “One thing I brag about all the time is that my sister is probably the only artist I know who easily sells out arenas despite not having put out an album in almost a decade,” she said in a previous interview with Vogue. “And to me this moment feels like her re-blossoming.”
Be sure to check out the full list of dates for Erykah Badu’s “Unfollow Me Tour” featuring Yasiin Bey down below. Tickets officially go on sale Thursday (April 20).
June 11 – San Antonio, TX
June 13 – Glendale, AZ
June 15 – San Diego, CA
June 16 – Las Vegas, NV
June 17 – Los Angeles, CA
June 20 – Sacramento, CA
June 21 – Oakland, CA
June 23 – Seattle, WA
June 26 – Denver, CO
June 28 – St. Louis, MO
June 30 – Saint Paul, MN
July 1 – Chicago, IL
July 2 – Detroit, MI
July 7 – Boston, MA
July 8 – New York, NY
July 9 – Philadelphia, PA
July 11 – Newark, NJ
July 12 – Norfolk, VA
July 13 – Washington, D.C.
July 15 – Atlanta, GA
July 16 – Charlotte, NC
July 18 – Nashville, TN
July 19 – Birmingham, AL
July 21 – Memphis, TN
July 23 – Dallas, TX
#HipHopNews: Metro Boomin Announces Album With Future
Metro Boomin is ready for some more. Fresh off his epic set at Coachella, the super-producer has announced that he and Future are working on a joint project.
Taking to Instagram, he reflected on his performance at the festival last Friday. “After a 10+ year journey it was surreal to perform @coachella in front of 20k+ with my brother @future,” said Metro.
He then told fans that a “Metro Pluto album” was on the way.
Metro brought out Future at “Trochella” where they performed their collaborations including “Superhero (Heroes & Villains),” “Mask Off,” and “I Serve the Base.”
While they’ve worked together numerous times, this would mark their first collaborative effort. Metro previously teamed up with 21 Savage on a pair of joint projects, 2016’s Savage Mode and 2020’s Savage Mode II.
In February, Future revealed that he was back in the studio readying a new album. “Im in album mode,” he tweeted. “Moving different all 2023.”
His most recent album, I Never Liked You, was released in April 2022. It became his eighth No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
Metro also brought out The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Don Toliver during Weekend 1 of Coachella. He will return for Weekend 2 this Friday.
Charges dropped against Alec Baldwin in fatal on-set 'Rust' shooting. But could be refiled.
Charges against Alec Baldwin have been dropped in the fatal on-set "Rust" shooting, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Baldwin, 65, had been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, on the New Mexico set of the Western in October 2021. The actor was practicing a cross-draw when the gun fired, striking the cinematographer and director Joel Souza, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury.
"We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident," Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, the attorneys for Baldwin, said in a statement.
Baldwin's next court appearance in the case had been set for May 3. Baldwin already waived his right to appear at the preliminary hearing. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges in a court filing.
The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over Hutchins' death.
Gun enhancement charges filed in the case against both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were dropped in late February.
Gutierrez-Reed has been scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing starting on May 3. Her attorney has said she intends to plead not guilty and has said she has no idea how live rounds ended up in the gun.
Her attorneys confirmed Thursday that she still faces charges, saying in a statement that they "fully expect at the end of this process that Hannah will also be exonerated."
"The truth about what happened will come out and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered," her attorneys, Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion, said in the statement.
David Halls, the first assistant director for the film, was sentenced last month to six months unsupervised probation as part of a plea deal. Halls, who handed the Colt .45 revolver to Baldwin prior to the shooting, was charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon.
His hearing came days after Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced she was stepping away from prosecuting the case. The move followed state Rep. Andrea Reeb also stepping down as special prosecutor in the case.
In their place, the district attorney appointed Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors.
In a statement Thursday night, Morrissey and Lewis said "new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis in the case."
"Consequently, we cannot proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form. We therefore will be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr. Baldwin to conduct further investigation," they said. "This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled. Our follow-up investigation will remain active and ongoing."
The special prosecutors said the charges against Gutierrez-Reed "remain unchanged." A status conference is scheduled for Friday.
"Rust," which had been on hiatus since the deadly on-set shooting, resumed principal photography at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana on Thursday, a spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions said. The production returned with the original producers and principal cast, including Baldwin.
OOOPS! Dan Bongino, 'Unfiltered' Fox News host, leaving network
NEW YORK -- Fox News is parting ways with weekend host Dan Bongino, after the former Secret Service agent turned conservative pundit said Thursday they couldn't agree on a new contract.
“It's not some big conspiracy,” Bongino said on his podcast. “There's no acrimony. This wasn't like some WWE brawl that happened. We just couldn't come to terms on an extension.”
Bongino hosted the Saturday night show “Unfiltered” and said that while he was given the chance to do a last show this weekend, he decided against it.
The blunt-talking former New York police officer began doing commentary on Fox a decade ago, joining as a contributor in 2019 and beginning his Saturday night show in 2021.
His “Canceled in the USA” program on Fox Nation will also end, and the streaming service will no longer air his daily radio show. Bongino may still appear as a guest on Fox shows, the network said.
“We thank Dan for his contributions and wish him success in his future endeavors,” Fox said in a statement Thursday.
SpaceX Starship rocket launches testing and explodes mid-flight
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Thursday launched its Starship rocket for the first time, but fell short of reaching space after exploding in mid-flight. No crew were on board.
It’s the culmination of years of regulatory work and technological tests for SpaceX and the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.
The company made a first go at getting this launch off the ground on Monday, but a pressure valve in the Super Heavy booster apparently froze. The company’s teams worked to resolve a number of unidentified issues to make a second attempt possible Thursday.
SpaceX leadership has repeatedly stressed the experimental nature of the launch and said any result that involved Starship getting off the launchpad would be a success.
Starship is designed to carry cargo and people beyond Earth and is critical to NASA’s plan to return astronauts to the moon. Two years ago, SpaceX won a nearly $3 billion contract from NASA to use Starship as a crewed lunar lander. That would see Starship be used for as part of NASA’s Artemis moon program, delivering astronauts to the lunar surface from the agency’s SLS rocket and Orion capsule.
The company had hoped to conduct the first orbital Starship launch as early as summer 2021, but faced delays in development and in winning FAA approval, which came late Friday.
'Abbott Elementary' takes a field trip to the Franklin Institute in Season 2 finale
Many residents in the Philadelphia region look back with nostalgia on school trips to the Franklin Institute. Now, that experience will be depicted on "Abbott Elementary."
The sitcom's cast and crew recently traveled to the renowned museum to film the Season 2 finale, which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday on ABC. It marked the first time an episode in the Philadelphia-based series had been filmed in the city.
The finale, titled "Franklin Institute," follows Abbott Elementary students and staff on a field trip to the science museum. They had been raising money to visit the institution earlier in the season.
Along the way, first grade teacher Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), attempts to spend time with Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson), who seems reluctant to do so, likely due to the complicated nature of their friendship. Principal Ava Coleman(Janelle James) teaches the students about aliens, which leads to extraterrestrial chaos.
"We're just thrilled that we're able to be the location and focus of the season finale," said Larry Dubinski, president and CEO of The Franklin Institute. "'Abbott Elementary' is just an amazing cultural phenomenon. And, for us as an education institution, which gets more school visits than anyone else in Pennsylvania, it's a highlight that we feel really proud and obviously really excited about."
Local viewers will recognize Franklin Institute staples like the giant heart, the train factory and the Ben Franklin Memorial.
The "Abbott Elementary" team reached out to Franklin Institute last fall to explore the possibility of depicting the museum in an episode about a field trip, Dubinski said. He added that he was "thrilled" at the prospect.
"We're an educational institution; at the heart of what we do is to inspire and educate, especially young people," Dubinski said. "And how this show highlights teachers and their impact on kids is just amazing ... (that) we're able to really highlight what we do in the city, and have that on a national platform, like we will on Wednesday night, it's just absolutely fantastic."
After meetings and tours, the crew filmed the episode in one day in February.
"Obviously, a phenomenal production staff (at 'Abbott Elementary')," Dubinski said. "And then in addition to that, I'm very fortunate to have such a tremendous team (at Franklin Institute) that was able to offer some insight and things that would be helpful as they planned it."
The show's creator, Brunson, discussed what it was like to film an episode in her home town during an appearance last week on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." It turned out that when the "Abbott Elementary" crew landed in Philly, Eagles fans were celebrating a huge playoff win by (what else?) climbing poles.
"It was the first time so much of my crew had been to Philly ... We arrived at our hotel, people have already started climbing the poles in the city, because that's what Philadelphians do," Brunson said. "And my crew was like, 'So this is the city that we're making the show about?' I'm like, 'Yeah this is a good representation.'"
Along with experiencing the Philly flair firsthand, Brunson also spoke to the magic of the museum that she experienced as a grade school student growing up in the city.
"I'm so excited," Brunson said. "We shot at a very famous museum to us Philadelphians called the Franklin Institute ... It's like our Smithsonian. And that's where you go on your field trips. And I was just over the moon that they let us come film there."
Though the Franklin Institute's employees were not a part of the filming, Brunson and Williams met with museum staff.
"We were able to talk to both of them," Dubinski said. "And it was really wonderful ... (Brunson) is just a phenomenal writer and obviously this series has just captivated the country, right?"
Season 2 of the award-winning series, which has broken viewership records for ABC, began revealing what life outside the classroom is like for the characters.
Janine's strained relationships with her mother (Taraji P. Henson) and sister (Ayo Edibiri) have been put on full display. And the will-they-won't-they relationship between Janine and Gregory has been explored further, with particularly tense moments occurring away from Abbott Elementary, including a near-kiss outside a hookah lounge.
Perhaps viewers will see sparks fly between the pair by the Franklin Institute's iconic Giant Heart.
The "Franklin Institute" episode isn't the first to show the students and staff of Abbott embarking on a field trip. They went to a fictional version of the Philadelphia Zoo during the Season 1 finale. With the show already renewed for a third season, there's no telling where in Philadelphia "Abbott Elementary" may visit next.
The Season 2 finale of "Abbott Elementary" will be available to stream through Hulu on Thursday.
Yung Miami Confirms Breakup With Sean "Diddy" Combs
Sean "Diddy" Combs and Yung Miami's situationship has sailed. Almost a year after the two confirmed that they were dating but not exclusive, Yung Miami (born Caresha Brownlee) shared that she and the music mogul are now single but "still good friends."
"That's not my man," the podcaster recently told The Cut, after she was asked about their relationship status. "We had our own situation, I'm not gonna put a title on it."
However, Yung Miami—who is known for her candid takes—did note that the two "were f--king with each other hard" during that time.
"We were together every day at one point," she said. "He supported me, I supported him. I'll let the internet call it whatever they want to call it."
Indeed, the duo have attracted curious minds since being linked in 2021. When Yung Miami launched her Caresha Please podcast on Diddy's Revolt network in June 2022, the "Bad Boys for Life" rapper appeared on its inaugural episode and shared insight into their relationship.
"We date," Diddy said at the time. "We're dating. We go on dates. We're friends. We go to exotic locations. We have great times."
In September, Yung Miami clarified that she and Diddy were together but do "see other people outside" of their relationship as well. "We single, but we're dating," she explained to XXL magazine. "That's what I mean when I say we go together. When we're together, we're together. We're having the time of our lives, but we're still single."
And Diddy proved that Yung Miami had a place in his heart when he came to her defense after being called a "side chick" by DJ Akademiks.
"@YungMiami305 is not my side chick," the 53-year-old tweeted Dec. 13. "Never has been, never will. She's very important and special to me, and I don't play about my Shawty Wop. I don't discuss things on the Internet and I will not start today."
Diddy—who recently welcomed a baby girl named Love Sean Combs—added at the time, "But know that if you do something to hurt mine, I'm gonna to come to your house and we're gonna talk about it like human beings. LOVE."
Jonathan Majors Maintains Innocence After More Women Come Forward With Abuse Allegations
The future of Jonathan Majors' career looks murky. Following his March arrest for alleged assault, more women have come forward with abuse allegations against the actor, who just rose to fame with his roles in "Creed III" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania".
On Wednesday, April 19, Variety reported that multiple alleged abuse victims of the 33-year-old are cooperating with the Manhattan district attorney's office. The site notes that "the prospect of more women waiting in the wings would mark a dramatic turn in the case."
The D.A. has not released an official statement on the newest allegations against Majors, but his attorney is adamant that he's not guilty. "Jonathan Majors is innocent and has not abused anyone. We have provided irrefutable evidence to the District Attorney that the charges are false. We are confident that he will be fully exonerated," Majors' attorney said in a statement following the new report.
Majors was taken into custody on March 25 after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend. He's accused of slapping his partner before putting his hands around her neck, ultimately resulting in visible injuries. Among them were a "laceration behind her ear, redness, and marks to her face."
The Emmy-nominated actor was subsequently charged with two counts of assault in the third degree, aggravated harassment and attempted assault. He was released on his own recognizance on the same day with a limited order of protection.
His attorney later revealed the text messages that Majors' girlfriend sent to him following the altercation to prove his innocence. In the texts, she said, "Please let me know you're okay when you get this. They assured me that you won't be charged. They said they had to arrest you as protocol when they saw the injuries on me and they knew we had a fight. I'm so angry that they did. And I'm sorry you're in this position. Will make sure nothing happens about this. I told them it was my fault for trying to grab your phone."
Ahead of his first court appearance in May, Majors has been dropped by his former public relations manager the Lede Company and talent manager Management 360. As of now, WME is still representing Majors.
He has also been dropped from a slew of projects, including Protagonist Pictures' adaptation of "The Man in My Basement", an Otis Redding biopic as well as an ad campaign for the MLB's Texas Rangers baseball team.
There's also report that Marvel may replace the "Lovecraft Country" star with Damson Idris as Kang the Conqueror in future MCU films, which likely will cause a domino effect to his career. "I think the truth is everyone is waiting to see what Marvel will do," says an industry insider familiar with the situation. "It doesn't mean everyone will do the same thing, but that's what people are looking to."
Tiger Woods Undergoes Surgery Due To Lingering Injuries From 2021 Accident
Tiger Woods has taken care of issues caused by a 2021 accident. More than two years after suffering damage to his leg in the car crash, the professional golfer shared with the world that he has undergone ankle surgery to treat his post-traumatic arthritis.
The 47-year-old's team made the announcement through a statement released on his social media account on Wednesday, April 19. His team added that the procedure, which was successful, took place at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City, and was done by Dr. Martin O'Malley.
"Earlier today, Tiger underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture. It was performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City," the official statement read. "He has determined the surgery to be successful."
In the statement, Tiger's team further assured fans that Tiger is doing fine following the procedure. They shared, "Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation."
Offering a similar statement about Tiger's condition post-surgery was Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports. In a telephone interview with the Associated Press, the agent stated, "He's resting now and will start the recovery process."
Mark added there was "no timetable on" the exact date Tiger could return to play. "The first goal is to recover and lead a much more enjoyable day-to-day life," he stressed in the same interview.
Tiger's surgery came a couple weeks after the renowned golfer had to pull out of the 2023 Masters Tournament during the third round due to a foot injury. Explaining the reason behind his withdrawal, he tweeted, "I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis."
"Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support," the father of two went on to write in his April 9 post. He concluded his message by stating, "Good luck to the players today!"
Tiger suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity after he was involved in a single-car accident back in February 2021. Since then, he went through numerous operations on his ankles and legs. Nonetheless, he admitted that he deals with "constant" right leg pain.
Drake Puts His Abs on Display in Social Media Thirst Trap! LOL!
Drake is feeling "Way 2 Sexy." On Wednesday, the 36-year-old Take Care rapper shared a photo on his Instagram Stories where he put his abs on full display.
In the photo, Drake is standing to the side wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. "5 min cold plunge for the soul," he captioned the snap.
Last month, Drake announced he was going on tour with his Her Loss collaborator 21 Savage.
The 29-date tour will kick off on June 16 in New Orleans and will make stops in major cities like Chicago, Boston, New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
It will also mark Drake's first tour since 2018's Aubrey & the Three Migos. Since then, he's released four albums, including his most recent with 21 Savage.
Drake and 21 Savage announced their collaborative album Her Loss in October during a visual for their hit single "Jimmy Cooks."
The album featured 16 songs, including their hit "Rich Flex." Earlier this month, the "Fair Trade" performer played an unreleased song which is believed to be titled "Rescue Me" on Sound 42's The Fry Yiy Show on SiriusXM Radio.
On the track, he sampled audio of Kim Kardashian discussing her divorce from West (which was finalized in November of last year) in the 2021 series finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, leading fans to believe he is taking aim at Kanye West.
Natasha Rothwell is heading back to rich idiot paradise for The White Lotus season 3
When God closes a door (rest in peace, Tanya McQuoid), he opens a wellness center. Natasha Rothwell is officially returning to The White Lotus for season 3, Variety confirms, ostensibly reprising her role as spa manager Belinda Lindsey.
A kind-hearted listener to a fault, Belinda was a season 1 fan favorite, winning friends and influencing people with the killer service-industry combination of a dogged work ethic and a warm, inviting smile. Most towering among those friends was the one and only Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge, who won an Emmy last year for the role), who promised Belinda she would finance the wellness center of her dreams before ultimately ditching the plans for a new guy: Greg (Jon Gries).
Having White Lotus withdrawals? Here are 10 movies and shows to fill that void
So far, the details on The White Lotus season 3 have been scarce but resonant: we know now that it will be set in Thailand, and creator Mike White has hinted that the season will be “a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality,” a tease that certainly leaves room for plenty of wellness storylines. Whether Belinda will return to the eponymous resort as an employee or a guest remains tantalizingly up in the air.
One thing’s for (pretty) certain: Belinda won’t be getting swindled by Tanya again in season 3. Those who tuned in religiously for the Sicily-set second season no all too well how Tanya and Greg’s little love affair played out. The seemingly benevolent, stylish gays Tanya galavanted through Italy with turned out to be a vulturous crew helmed by Quentin (Tom Hollander), who Greg had hired to murder Tanya in a plot to cash in on her wealth.
So early in the “pick apart every detail of season 3" game, it feels pretty far-fetched to imagine Belinda had anything to do with Tanya’s watery grave, consciously or unconsciously. But as The White Lotus starts to look a lot more like a franchise than a limited series, anything feels possible. Bring on the detailed lore!
Supreme Court rules in favor of death row inmate Rodney Reed in DNA lawsuit
Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed has been seeking to overturn his sentence since he first received it in 1996. Today (April 19), the Supreme Court sided with Reed in a lawsuit related to his case, clearing the way for him to continue fighting for his freedom.
The justices ruled in a 6-3 decision that Reed should have a chance to argue for DNA testing of crime scene evidence that he says will help exonerate him. With this move, SCOTUS sent Reed’s case back to a lower court to reconsider his constitutional challenge to the state’s law on DNA evidence.
The high court took up the question of whether Reed waited too long to file his lawsuit claiming that untested crime scene evidence would clear his name. Texas courts and the federal appeals court in New Orleans found that he missed the deadline.
The Supreme Court reversed the appellate ruling with their majority opinion penned by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas dissented. Thomas, who is currently under fire for accepting luxury trips from a Nazi memorabilia collector, wrote that the outcome “is no barrier to the prompt execution of Reed’s lawful sentence,” per the AP.
Reed was sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Prosecutors declared that Reed raped and strangled Stites as she went to work at a supermarket in the rural town of Bastrop near Austin. He has long stood by his claim that Stites’ fiancé, a former police officer named Jimmy Fennell, was the real murderer. According to the death row inmate, Fennell was angry because Stites was having an affair with a Black man. The ex-fiancé, meanwhile, has served time behind bars for sexual assault and has denied killing her. He was eventually released from prison in 2018.
The case has caught the attention of prominent people both inside and outside the world of politics. Before his scheduled execution in November 2019, celebrities and lawmakers shared their support for Reed and demanded he be allowed to prove his innocence. Beyoncé, Rihanna, Meek Mill, T.I., Oprah Winfrey, and Kim Kardashian were just a few of the big names who successfully advocated for him four years ago
Ahmaud Arbery's mother plans meeting with Ralph Yarl to offer support
Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, has plans on meeting with Ralph Yarl following the Kansas City, Missouri shooting. Arbery, 25, was chased down and killed by two white men as he jogged near a Brunswick, Georgia neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020. Yarl, 16, was shot in the head by a white homeowner after mistakenly ringing the wrong doorbell late last week; however, the teen survived.
Both Cooper-Jones and Yarl’s family are represented by civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, and the slain young man’s mother has asked him to make the connection, TMZ shared today (April 19). The outlet noted she would like to meet with the teen and his relatives to offer support since she has been through a similar tragedy. The publication added that although Merritt thinks it is a good idea, there’s no set date on when the conversation will take place.
Yarl was just released from the hospital on Monday (April 17) after 84-year-old Andrew Lester shot him in the head and arm on April 13. In a previous interview, the high school junior’s mother claimed the only reason he was able to come home so soon was because members of his immediate family are in the medical field and are able to aid in his ongoing recovery. “The residual effect of that injury is going to stay with him for quite a while. He’s home, but I want to remind everybody that Ralph is home because he is surrounded by a team of medical professionals. I’m a nurse for almost 20 years. His aunt is a physical therapist, his uncle is a medical professional. That is why he is home,” his mom shared this week.
Cooper-Jones isn’t the only person looking forward to meeting the teen with a remarkable story. Earlier this week, Merritt revealed President Joe Biden invited him to the White House. “Last night, I had a chance to call Ralph Yarl and his family. No parent should have to worry that their kid will be shot after ringing the wrong doorbell. We’ve got to keep up the fight against gun violence. And Ralph, we’ll see you in the Oval once you feel better,” Biden tweeted yesterday (April 18).
Frank Ocean Will Not Play Weekend Two at Coachella
Frank Ocean will not be performing Coachella this coming weekend.The 35-year-old musician pulled out of his headlining set for weekend number two of the popular music festival, just days after his first performance there last weekend drew a lot of criticism.
According to Variety source, Blink-182 will take over Frank’s place at the festival.
In a statement from Frank‘s reps sent to Just Jared, they say that he withdrew “after suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1. Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity. On doctor’s advice, Frank Ocean is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg.”
Frank then added in his own words that weekend one was “chaotic. There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.”
After his headlining set was cut short over the weekend, concert goers started to complain about Frank‘s set, which was his first concert since 2017.
While many called out Frank‘s lackluster performance, there were also several things going on behind the scenes that caused the production to be changed up in a short amount of time.
One Coachella attendee documented how Frank ended his show on Saturday, which led to many more disappointed fans on social platforms.
However, Justin Bieber seemed to be a fan of the performance.
Otis Redding III, Who Followed Father Into Music, Dies at 59
Singer and guitarist Otis Redding III, the son and namesake of the legendary 1960s soul singer, has died from cancer at age 59, his family said Wednesday.
Redding was just 3 years old when his father, Otis Redding, perished along with several band members in a plane crash on Dec. 10, 1967. More than a decade later, the younger Redding and his brother, Dexter, formed the funk band The Reddings, which recorded six albums in the 1980s.
“It is with heavy hearts that the family of Otis Redding III confirms that he lost his battle with cancer last evening,” said his sister, Karla Redding-Andrews, in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Otis Redding Foundation, the family’s charity in Macon.
Though singles “Remote Control” and “Call The Law” by The Reddings made appearances on the Billboard music charts, the Redding brothers never matched their father’s success. Redding continued playing and performing after the band recorded its final album in 1988.
He was once hired for a European tour as guitarist for soul singer Eddie Floyd, under whose guidance the younger Redding became comfortable performing “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” and other songs of his famous father.
“He said, `You can play guitar with me, but you’re going to have to sing a few of your dad’s songs,‘” Redding recalled in a 2018 interview with WCSH-TV in Portland, Maine. “I was like, `Huh? I don’t sing,’ you know. And he was like, `Well, you’re going to sing “Dock of the Bay” with me tonight.’”
Redding worked with his family’s foundation to organize summer camps that teach children to play music, and served as board president for the local chapter of Meals on Wheels.
He continued to perform his father’s songs for audiences large and small, according to his website, from appearing onstage at Carnegie Hall for a 2018 Otis Redding tribute concert to singing at weddings and private parties. Redding said he was grateful for the enduring legacy even if it overshadowed efforts to make music of his own.
“No matter how hard I try to do my own thing, you know, it’s like … ‘sing one of your daddy’s songs,’” he told the Maine TV station. “So I go ahead and do what people want, and I live with it. But I’m not under any pressure and I don’t put myself mentally under any pressure to go begging for record deals.”
Billy Porter Waves Off James Baldwin Biopic Casting Criticism
Billy Porter is paying no mind to haters who are already coming out of the woodwork to critique his casting in the upcoming James Baldwin biopic.
It was announced last week that the actor would take on the role of the influential gay writer in a film based on David Leeming’s James Baldwin: A Biography. Porter is also co-writing the script with fellow actor Dan McCabe, but it was the perception of his ability to portray Baldwin that some on social media were preemptively calling into question.
Tamron Hall brought the topic up with Porter during Wednesday’s episode of her talk show — and he had no qualms shutting the haters right down.
“First and foremost, the internet has created a space where it’s made people think that their opinion matters at all,” he said. “I am 53 years old and I’ve dedicated my life to my art and my craft. Question me at your own peril.”
Notably, the criticisms of Porter’s casting have largely been rooted in homophobic stereotypes, mocking the Pose star’s own flamboyance and insinuating that because those are largely the types of characters he’s played in the past, that’s all he, as a gay man who doesn't embody the narrow norms of masculinity, is capable of doing.
“@mizchief Billy is going to over act this role. James Baldwin was way more than his sexual preference. I'm afraid Billy will over exaggerate that aspect of his legacy and make it more about his liberated experience as a Black LGBT male.”
“Billy porter as James Baldwin halfway through writing Giovanni’s Room ”
It’s also notable that a number of these critics seem to focus on saying that Baldwin was “so much more” than his sexual orientation, while declining to extend that same acknowledgement of humanity to Porter. If anything, these comments appear to betray an interest in downplaying Baldwin’s own queerness and suggest even casting a gay man in the role at all is purely for spectacle.
Part of the controversial push to cast more queer actors in queer roles is due to the public perception that actors like Porter can only be convincing playing these parts — a broad generalization that is never applied to heterosexual actors in the same manner, and which results in queer actors being shut out from playing characters that aren’t explicitly gay. If they aren’t given the opportunity to showcase their range due to these stereotypes, then of course audiences aren’t going to know what they are truly capable of.
But despite the backlash and all the ignorance it’s revealing surrounding the challenges LGBTQ+ actors face in the entertainment industry, Porter is determined to do Baldwin justice in the film.
“James Baldwin and his work and what he represented in the world, everything, he’s one of the first people who I saw who looked like me, who represented me in the fullness: Black, queer, and present. I’m alive because I was able to see him in my early 20s,” he said.
“I’ve worked hard for this… I’m going to focus on the work — that’s all I can do. People have been doubting me my whole life. This ain’t nothing new.”
Producer Sues Dr. Dre Over Kendrick Lamar Song + Ice Cube Talks Squashing Beef
*A music producer is taking legal action against Dr. Dre, claiming the hip-hop icon illegally sampled his music.
According to the legal documents, obtained by The Blast, Micah Foster claims Dre found an original track he created and uploaded to Soundcloud, a song titled “The Don Big Boss Whistle 2013 (‘Boss 2013’), and used it in a mix.
Micah, who has had a long-standing relationship with Dr. Dre, claims the hip-hop mogul sampled his song in Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5 (‘Heart 5’)”, which was released last spring. Micah alleges he has received no payment from Dr. Dre or his Aftermath record label for using his music, nor has he received any royalties from Lamar’s song.
Foster is reportedly seeking over $100k to resolve the matter.
Serena Williams Is Reportedly Shopping A New Memoir With Offers Up to $10 Million
Sources say that Serena Williams is open to offers for a memoir that could top $10 million.
According to a publishing insider, Williams is “selling a memoir via [power literary agent] Suzanne Gluck at WME” and claims that there are “eight-figure deals on the table.”
Other sources tell Page Six that a deal might have already been reached, adding that Williams’ team had been considering bids for several books already.
In 2009, Williams previously used a ghostwriter to write the book “My Life: Queen of the Court.”
Since the publication of that book, she has experienced many new professional highs, married tech billionaire Alexis Ohanian, given birth to a child, and struggled with health concerns.
Williams announced the launch of her multimedia production company, 926 Productions, on Monday, which reportedly already has a first-look TV deal with Amazon Studios.
Williams said, “With the launch of 926 Productions, we aim to elevate female and diverse voices through content that speaks to everyone.”
Netflix to End Its DVD Mailing Service in September
On Tuesday, Netflix announced that it would be ending its DVD mailing service after 25 years on Sept. 29, 2023.
The company said, “Our goal has always been to provide the best service for our members, but as the business continues to shrink, that’s going to become increasingly difficult.”
The streaming service initially started mailing out DVDs in April 1998. In 2007, the company launched its online streaming and video service.
It’s been over ten years since its first DVD was sent out in a red envelope.
According to Netflix, they have amassed over 230 million paid subscribers for its streaming services and mailed over 5.2 billion DVDs.
“We feel so privileged to have been able to share movie nights with our DVD members for so long, so proud of what our employees achieved, and excited to continue pleasing entertainment fans for many more decades to come,” the company said.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
'Quick Stop Before the Big Event'
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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