#MAGFAB: Chlöe Bailey is COSMOPOLITAN First Digital Cover Star
If there’s one certainty in Chlöe Bailey’s life these days, it’s that the 24-year-old is perpetually booked and blessedly busy. Having solidified her bona fide solo artist status with the 2021 release of her chart-topping first single “Have Mercy,” she’s now guest starring in the show Swarm, just released her deeply personal debut solo album In Pieces, has a starring role in the upcoming movie Praise This, and is about to kick off a solo headline tour. As Cosmopolitan’s first-ever digital cover star, Chlöe is the most vulnerable she’s ever been, opening up about sharing some of the most delicate pieces of herself, navigating the spotlight for the first time without the security blanket of her best friend and baby sister, finding time for self-care and more.
On the rawness and vulnerability to the tracks on her new album, In Pieces: “Those moments where I’ve been scared to articulate what I feel inside, I put it into the music. Now people get to hear my innermost thoughts within these songs, which are all the moments where I’ve been scared to speak up or explain how I feel. There were moments I was heartbroken, not only through romantic relationships but friendships, family, and people I thought I could trust. In Pieces is about how we put ourselves back together after feeling like the world breaks you down. It’s therapeutic knowing that people who inspired some of these songs will hear them. It gives me my power back.
On making music and the liberating power of expressing herself: “I make music for people who are great at acting like everything’s okay when it’s not, and they’re afraid to tell somebody. I’m used to people-pleasing, putting my feelings on the back burner, and being the bigger person. Now I’m learning to just be. It’s been freeing. I’ve grown and evolved so much the past three years, which were the hardest of my life. I had to experience those hard moments so I could create this body of work.”
On how she and sister Halle continue to support each other: “She shows up for me in every way. We’re constantly on FaceTime, texting, and sending each other funny memes to lift each other up in this lifestyle and this world that can sometimes feel suffocating. I’m proud of us—what we’re doing together and separately. We’re still attached at the hip, but I think neither of us really knew who the other was without the other one.”
On establishing herself outside of the partnership with Halle: “I’ve had to learn who I am individually. We both had separation anxiety when she traveled to London to film The Little Mermaid. It was really scary for both of us because she’s my other half. Halle always says that I play a mother role. It’s funny, when we look at baby pictures, even though I was just 2 years old, I was the one feeding her with her bottle, rocking her in her chair, burping her—as young as I was. Even up until now, she’s like my little baby.”
On what it has been like to transition from child star to a full-grown woman while in the spotlight: “Because it’s all I’ve known, the transition has felt like every other girl my age and how they’ve grown up. I can’t be selfish and say, ‘Oh, but mine’s under a microscope’—that’s the case for every young Black woman. All of us have to deal with growing up under a microscope and being ridiculed no matter what we do. I don’t single myself out. It just seems like it’s happening a lot to me because I’m on a public forum as a Black woman. So it doesn’t feel different. All of us are going through this.”
On the type of woman she wants to be: “Glitz and glam isn’t everything. I want my soul to be happy too. I’m molding myself to be like my godmom and Halle. My godmom’s heart is really pure, and she’s so selfless, loving, and smart.”
On whether she’s taken a moment to relish in all her success: “I’m trying every day to take it all in because I know I’ll never get this moment again.”
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss and Sanya Richards-Ross React to Drew Sidora Divorce
The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Drew Sidora and her husband of nearly 10 years, Ralph Pittman, are currently in the process of getting a divorce. And while fans got to see a few of Drew’s RHOA castmates react to the news in the recently released Season 15 trailer — namely, Marlo Hampton, who called the divorce announcement a “top story” online — Kandi Burruss and Sanya Richards-Ross weren’t among them.
That said, the two have since shared their responses. When asked if she was shocked by the divorce news, Kandi told Extra, “I was, simply because, first of all, my husband and I just produced a movie. It’s not out yet, but Drew is starring in it, and so Ralph was coming to set [and] checking on her… And actually, the last day of [The Piano Lesson] was Ralph’s birthday, and they came to New York to celebrate his birthday and to celebrate with us.”
Not long after that, “the announcement came out,” Kandi added. “[Drew] did not say anything. I was like, ‘Wait, I just saw her yesterday and she didn’t mention this.’”
Sanya was also surprised to hear about the former couple’s split because, like Kandi, she had also just celebrated Ralph’s birthday with them. “Oh, that came as a huge shock to me. Huge shock,” Sanya told Pop Culture. “I actually was at Ralph’s 40th birthday party two weeks prior to the news breaking out. So I was really, really sad for them, because they have children, and I think that’s the toughest part.”
Drew Sidora Gets Emotional Over Her Divorce from Ralph Pittman in RHOA Season 15 Trailer
“I know that they’ve had some issues in their marriage, but it was my hope that they would figure it out for their kids,” Sanya added, referencing Drew and Ralph’s son, Machai, and daughter, Aniya. (Drew is also the mother of an 11-year-old son, Josiah, from a previous relationship.)
“It’s still a lot unfolding,” Sanya concluded, “but I think all of us, we were really… Well, I will speak for myself. I was shocked.”
The rest of the RHOA cast is sure to weigh in on the divorce once Season 15 premieres in May. Drew, for her part, can be seen getting emotional when the topic arises in the trailer as a producer asks, “Are you ready to talk about Ralph?”
Crying, she responds, “Yeah.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 15 premieres Sunday, May 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
#MusicNews: Ruben Studdard Signs To SRG/ILS Label To Release Upcoming Album
The SRG/ILS Group have just announced that they’ve signed veteran R&B crooner Ruben Studdard to their roster.
Ruben is currently wrapping up production on his new album with producer and songwriter Balewa Muhammad. The new album is set to arrive this summer!
The singer joins other talented artists already on the label including Chaka Khan, Brian McKnight, Angie Stone, Erica Campbell, and many others. Studdard adds:
“I am truly excited to join a label that is always looking out for their artists and making sure that whatever they release, its great music that is impactful to the culture. After partnering with veteran songwriter and producer, Balewa Muhammad and Executive Producer, Walter W. Millsap, I just knew that finding the right home for me was key and I am happy to be here, and I am ready to rock and roll with Claude Villani and the entire SRG/ILS team!”
Stay tuned for upcoming music from the project!
#HipHopNews: Offset Seemingly Calls Out Quality Control Amid Lawsuit
Offset is putting Quality Control on blast. The Migos rapper took to Twitter to call out his former label amid his ongoing lawsuit. In a series of since-deleted tweets, he claimed that QC was preventing him from releasing solo music.
“Never thought life be this fu**ed up,” he wrote while paying tribute to Takeoff with the hashtag #LLTake. “I can’t drop music also.”
While he didn’t mention QC by name, he alluded to “Black ppl holding black ppl back.”
The tweets come amid his legal battle with QC over his solo career. Back in August, he sued the label and accused them of ignoring a deal they negotiated back in January 2021. Offset claims he “paid handsomely” for his solo artist rights, but QC did not honor the deal and was trying to claim ownership of his solo music including his single “54321.”
“[Quality Control’s] wrongful interference with the upcoming release of Offset’s new music and continued instance of being credited as the owner of Offset’s new solo sound recordings is groundless and unjustified,” Offset’s lawyer said in a recent court filing obtained by RadarOnline.
Offset delayed his sophomore solo album, the follow-up to his 2019 debut Father of 4, in the wake of Takeoff’s death in November. He hasn’t released any solo music this year aside from his Hit-Boy collaboration “2 LIVE,” which was released in partnership with Patron.
On Friday, Quavo dropped his solo single “Honey Bun” via Quality Control. He and Offset have seemingly been unable to reconcile and reportedly got in a fight before Quavo’s Takeoff tribute at the Grammys.
In February, Quality Control CEO Pierre “P” Thomas and COO Kevin “Coach K” Lee sold Quality Control, home to Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, and City Girls, to HYBE America in a deal valued at $320 million in stock and cash.
Iowa star Caitlin Clark defends Angel Reese amid criticism, speaks on invitation to White House
Despite losing the national championship on Sunday to the LSU Tigers, Iowa's Caitlin Clark had a stellar season where she raked in records and awards.
One more honor was bestowed on her Tuesday when she was presented the John R. Wooden Women's Player of the Year Award during "Outside the Lines" on SportsCenter. This follows her being named the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, The Associated Press women's basketball Player of the Year and this year's recipient of the Wade Trophy.
“This is a huge honor, this is one of the most prestigious, obviously all of these awards are a big deal," she said on the broadcast. "... Coach Wooden is a legend. It’s just a big honor to win an award in his name.”
During the segment, Clark spoke about her season, competing against LSU star Angel Reese and First Lady Jill Biden's invitation to the White House.
Caitlin Clark praises Angel Reese, says LSU player shouldn't be criticized for taunt
During the national championship game, Reese taunted Clark with the "You Can't See Me" gesture. Clark also taunted the Louisville Cardinals in the same way in the Elite Eight. The Iowa star received praise from John Cena for using his signature celebration. But Reese received criticism online for her action, being called "classless," among other names.
Clark said that she "honestly didn’t see (Reese's taunt) when the game was going on" and that it was wrong for people to criticize Reese, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, when the emotion and passion is what gets people to watch the game. The ABC broadcast of the national championship had an average viewership of 9.9 million people, the most ever for a women's college basketball game.
“I think the biggest thing is we’re all competitive. We all show our emotions in a different way. Angel’s a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her. I love her game, the way she rebounds the ball, scores the ball is absolutely incredible. I’m a big fan of her," Clark said, noting that she hasn't been on social media much since the loss and said the game was "super, super fun."
Many people said that the difference of reaction was due to racism. Clark is white and Reese is Black.
“No matter which way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did," Clark continued. "I’m just one that competes and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little bit of trash talk in the entire tournament. It’s not just me and Angel, I don’t think she should be criticized.”
Clark also addressed First Lady Jill Biden's idea to invite both the Tigers and Hawkeyes to the White House after the national championship game. Traditionally, only the champion is given an opportunity to visit the President.
“I don’t think runner-ups usually go to the White House," she said. "I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them. Congratulations, obviously, they deserve to go there. Maybe I can go to the White House on different terms, though."
Biden has since taken back her proposal, with her press secretary saying the comments "were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes."
The First Lady was in attendance at the national championship in Dallas and Clark expressed her appreciation for the many celebrities and legends of the game, including four-time WNBA champion and LSU alumna Seimone Augustus and WNBA All-Star and 2018 college national champion Arike Ogunbowale.
"I’m just lucky enough that there were some really cool people in the arena at that championship game Sunday night," Clark said. "There were some really highly sought after people watching and supporting women’s basketball and that’s exactly what this game needs. I appreciate the First Lady being in the house and watching both teams and supporting the greatness of women’s basketball.”
Your First Look: Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in BARBIE The Movie!
In Barbie Land, anyone can be Barbie (or Ken) — and Twitter users are joining in on the fun.
A new trailer and posters for the "Barbie" movie, out July 21, were met with excitement Tuesday as audiences celebrated getting a deeper look into the much-anticipated film.
The movie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as one iteration of the iconic Barbie and Ken, but it also features an expansive cast of 10 other Barbies and four more Kens, including Issa Rae, Dua Lipa, Simu Liu and Ritu Arya.
WATCH HERE
Every character got a poster and a description, with the Barbies holding various accolades, while the Kens are mostly "just Ken."
Along with the trailer and the posters, the "Barbie" team released a selfie generator that gives fans the chance to insert themselves into Barbie Land. People can upload their pictures into the program to get their very own "Barbie" posters, complete with captions about what kind of Barbie or Ken they are.
Many Twitter users had a field day with the generator, while others edited their own Barbie memes.
"This Barbie is doing the thing," a user wrote, attaching a picture of actor Angela Bassett and alluding to Ariana DeBose's famous rap about her.
While people literally put themselves into the Barbie universe using the selfie generator, they also celebrated seeing people who looked like them in the film, too.
While its plot is still unclear, the buzz around the movie is undeniable. Fans expressed that they are ready to buy their tickets now.
Tyler Perry Says 'It's Not a Rumor' He's 'Beyond Interested' in Buying BET
The sky's the limit for Tyler Perry! ET's Nischelle Turner visited Perry at Tyler Perry Studios, on the set of his new movie, Six Triple Eight, where he revealed that there's truth to the rumors about him buying a majority stake in BET -- in fact, he's very interested in purchasing the network.
"Rumor? No, it's not a rumor," Perry shared. "I've been there for four years now and had tremendous success. I wasn't expecting this to happen, so, yes -- if that is possible, I'm very, very interested in taking as much of it..."
He continued, "If it's possible, I'm gonna take as much of it as I can."
Perry isn't the only one who wants a piece of the network, both Byron Allen and Diddy are vying to buy into BET.
"Part of it is -- and I've read about Byron Allen and Puffy and everybody wanting to bid and so on and so forth, and I think it's really great," the filmmaker began. "This is what I love about it -- when Bob Johnson sold it in 2000, I think it was, there wasn't one black person who could buy it. So now, to see all of these black people, men and women, who are able to be in a position to buy it? Man, that makes me feel really, really excited."
Perry, who already has the number one show on BET+ with All the Queen's Men, is looking forward to the network being Black-owned again.
"I think there was sadness when Bob sold it, and I think there'll be happiness when it's Black-owned again," Perry said. "And even though Shari (Redstone) and what is it? Viacom and Paramount? They've done a phenomenal job with it. They didn't let it fall by the wayside; they didn't let it go into dust. They nurtured it and took care of it."
He continued, "And to see Shari at this position saying, 'I think it should be returned to a black owner?' I figured, OK, see, that's my kind of person.'"
As for a time frame for when a sale will go down, Perry kept his lips sealed, maintaining again that a resolution is near.
"We can very much say that there are conversations. I am beyond interested," Perry added.
The 53-year-old film star is already very much involved in the network, and is currently a minority stakeholder in the company, in addition to Kenya Barris, Rashida Jones and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. Perry also helped launch BET+ in 2019, two years after he signed a film and TV deal with BET.
In addition to All the Queen's Men which is on the network's streaming platform, he currently has four shows on BET, including Oval, Sistas, House of Payne and Assisted Living.
Chicago mayoral election results: Brandon Johnson elected next mayor as Paul Vallas concedes
Brandon Johnson was out thanking voters after becoming the projected winner in the Chicago mayoral election.
With 99% of precincts reporting, Johnson has 51% of the vote with 286,647 votes, with Vallas having 49% of the vote with 270,775 votes.
The 47-year-old Cook County commissioner won the race to become the mayor of Chicago in a come from behind victory by a candidate who was largely unknown six months ago.
The progressive Democrat faces the challenge of bringing together a city divided on how to deal with crime and other big issues.
Tuesday night he said he's ushering in a new chapter for the city.
"The truth is the people have always worked for Chicago," Johnson said. "Whether you wake up early to open the doors of your businesses or wear a badge to protect our streets or nurse patients in need or provide childcare services, you have always worked for this city and now Chicago will begin to work for its people. All the people."
In his victory speech, Johnson struck a triumphant and highly optimistic note. He talked about how tonight means the civil rights movement and labor rights movement have finally won, and said his government will be a government that truly belongs to the people of Chicago.
Man Arrested For Impersonating Police Officer To Get Into Megan Thee Stallion Concert
A man was arrested for pretending to be a policer officer to gain entry into a Megan Thee Stallion concert.
Trayvone Lil Darus Stevenson was charged with impersonating a public servant after he tried to sneak into the AT&T Block Party concert during the NCAA March Madness Music Festival in Houston on Friday, where the “Savage” rapper was the headliner.
According to court documents, obtained by ABC13 Houston, the 28-year-old man allegedly wore a “Police K-9” vest and “identified himself to event security as a police officer for the purpose of getting into a live music event associated with the Final Four college basketball weekend.”
Stevenson, who has no prior record, is actually a barber in Houston and has no background in law enforcement. After spending the weekend in Harris County Jail, he faced a judge on Monday and was released after posting a $20,000 bond.
“Megan Thee Stallion is a fantastic draw, big draw, especially here in Houston, but this is still a felony case,” prosecutor Mathew Jackson said during Monday’s hearing. “You cannot go and impersonate an officer to get into a concert venue.”
Megan’s sold-out performance at Discovery Green was part of the NCAA March Madness Music Festival, her first concert of the year. The free, three-day event also featured Lil Nas X, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg addresses criticism after Donald Trump's arrest
Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president in history to face criminal charges today (April 4). His supporters, including congressional representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos, showed up outside New York County Criminal Court where the twice-impeached leader surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. Following the unprecedented arraignment, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office handled the investigation, spoke to reporters in a brief press conference.
“These are felony crimes in New York state, no matter who you are,” Bragg stated plainly of the charges Trump faces. “We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct.” He went on to describe how his office has an experienced white-collar crimes unit thanks in large part to its location. “This is the business capital of the world,” he said. “We regularly do cases involving false business statements. The bedrock of the basis for business integrity and a well-functioning business marketplace is accurate record-keeping.” Watch the full press conference below.
The case stems from an alleged hush payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump, with the help of his personal lawyer Michael Cohen, allegedly paid Daniels to keep quiet about a one-night stand they had back in 2006. But as the now-unsealed grand jury indictment shows, Bragg’s case goes beyond the hush payment, unraveling an alleged “catch and kill” scheme by Trump, Cohen, and American Media, Inc. (AMI) that “agreed to identify and suppress negative stories about him,” according to CBS News. Both Cohen and AMI, the publisher of tabloids like The National Enquirer, have “admitted to committing illegal conduct in connection with the scheme.”
Bragg told reporters at the news conference that Trump allegedly “repeatedly made false statements on New York business records” and also “caused others to make false statements.” Rather than take his word for it, he insisted that the facts will speak for themselves in court. “Why did Donald Trump repeatedly make these false statements?” he questioned. “The evidence will show he did so to cover up crimes relating to the 2016 election.”
YouTuber Shot While Performing Prank Video At A Virginia Mall
A Youtuber was shot while filming a prank video at the Dulles Town Center Mall on Sunday. Authorities said the shooter didn’t take too kindly to the joke.
Tanner Cook,21, said he was playing jokes against suspect Alan Colie,31, for another video when he suddenly pulled out his gun. “I was playing a prank and a simple practical joke, and this guy didn’t take it very well,” he explained to WUSA9 from his hospital bed. His friend was recording the altercation when Colie pulled out his gun and now the footage is a part of evidence for the case. Cook said Colie didn’t say anything to him before pulling out the gun.
Cook’s father, Jeremy Cook, expressed a similar sentiment and claimed Colie “wasn’t having fun” while his son was filming with other mall goers. “They were making a video at the mall and trying to have fun with people and this guy wasn’t having fun. There was a phone that was around him and they were interviewing or talking to him,” he explained.
Tanner was critically wounded after the shooting and investigators said the bullet entered through his stomach and liver. He underwent surgery and is expected to recover. Additionally, he plans to continue filming videos for his YouTube channel, Classified Goons. The channel currently has 39,7000 subscribers on the platform.
“And he didn’t like it, and he pulled out his gun and shot my son.”
The outlet said the mall reopened on Monday after it was shut down for an entire day due to the shooting.
Social media is divided on the shooting as some believe prank videos have gone too far with invading an individual‘s privacy.
The opinions regarding the shooting have been divided as some people believe prank and interview videos sometimes push the boundaries when it comes to privacy.
Colie was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharging a firearm within a building.
Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black Welcome Second Child Together
Surprise! Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley have welcomed their second child together!
The 28-year-old Olympic gold medalist and 48-year-old screenwriter never revealed that they were expecting, and an announcement appeared in UK’s The Times on Wednesday (April 5).
The announcement first began by listing their last name, “Black-Daley,” and then continued adding that on March 28, they welcomed a son. They named the baby boy Phoenix Rose.
They are also parents to Robbie Ray Black-Daley, born in June 2018.
The pair married in 2017 and shared their wedding video for everyone to see!
Congratulations to the happy couple on the wonderful news of their second child!
Don Lemon’s Misogyny at CNN, Exposed: Malicious Texts, Mocking Female Co-Workers and ‘Diva-Like Behavior’
Back in 2008, Don Lemon was co-anchoring CNN’s “Live From” weekday show with Kyra Phillips, a gig that he landed after he arrived at the network two years prior from local news in Chicago. For months, tensions between the pair kept mounting. On more than one occasion, a “Live From” producer and a newsroom supervisor had to pull Lemon off the air during a commercial break because of the anchor’s provocative antics, not unlike his recent declaration that the 51-year-old Nikki Haley isn’t a viable presidential candidate because she “isn’t in her prime.” Amid the charged atmosphere, sources say Lemon disrespected colleague Nancy Grace on the air and Soledad O’Brien during an editorial meeting attended by roughly 30 staffers.
But his antipathy toward Phillips was particularly concerning and had many members of the close-knit Atlanta news team on edge. While Phillips was on assignment in Iraq — a high-profile gig that Lemon coveted — he vented his disappointment at being passed over by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips’ desk in the news pod they shared, according to two sources who worked there at the time. When she returned from Iraq, things only got weirder. One night while dining with members of the news team, she received the first of two threatening text messages from an unknown number on her flip phone that warned, “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it.” Phillips was visibly rattled and quickly enlisted CNN’s higher ups to identify the sender.
Remarkably, the texts were traced back to Lemon, according to those same sources. A human resources investigation was launched, and while the findings were never disclosed to the growing pool of staffers who were aware of the situation, Lemon was abruptly pulled from his co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to the weekends. It was a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action. It appears to be the last time he was paired with a female anchor until his most recent assignment on “CNN This Morning With Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.”
Phillips, who joined ABC as a Washington-based correspondent in 2018, declined comment. A spokesperson for CNN said, “Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago.”
In the wake of Lemon’s Feb. 16 Haley comments — derided as “unacceptable” and “sexist” by everyone from CNN chair Chris Licht to Haley herself, and even referenced by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh during her best actress acceptance speech — his fate at CNN hung in the balance, with many colleagues privately calling for his ouster. Despite the outcry, he landed back on his feet after riding the bench for two days, posting a Twitter mea culpa in which he insisted that he is “committed to doing better” and ignoring the matter altogether during his Feb. 22 on-air return. Still, the incident has spotlighted Lemon’s troubling treatment of women and unprofessional antics, dating back nearly two decades. Variety spoke with more than a dozen former and current colleagues who painted a picture of a journalist who flouted rules and cozied up to power all while displaying open hostility to many female co-workers. Each and every time, he appeared to charm his way out of facing any meaningful consequences.
Those who worked with him say he was a shameless name dropper and left behind hints that he socialized with important people, like a hand-written note from Stedman Graham that he had taped on his computer. Some were unnerved by his talk of his previous lawsuits, believing it signaled that he was litigious. He frequently let drop that he successfully sued Tower Records as well as the Chicago PD for racial profiling and didn’t need to worry about money thanks to the settlements. (Variety can only find record of the former, which was settled in 2001 and appears to be sealed. Through a CNN spokesperson, Lemon says he never sued the Chicago PD). All the while, he began openly dating a fresh-out-of-college staffer despite a major age difference and power imbalance. (Lemon was 41, while the staffer was 22.) The ambitious anchor, who is gay, was not out of the closet at the time, but wasn’t hiding it either. The pair would drive to work together in Lemon’s car and began a long-term open relationship. Dating a junior employee was frowned upon at the time.
“As fast as you could make a rule, Don would bend it,” says one senior executive at the time.
More troubling was his misogynistic behavior, multiple sources say. Lemon called one of his producers fat to her face. Not long before he was identified as sending threatening texts to Phillips, he mocked Grace on air by mimicking her, shocking fellow colleagues. Grace declined comment but a person close to her tells Variety that “she thinks he’s an ass” and that he was always “rude, dismissive and really unfamiliar with the [news] content being discussed.”
“That was the beginning of when you knew that Don was kind of volatile and didn’t say good things about women,” says a witness to the Grace incident.
If Lemon felt threatened by Grace, the biggest star at CNN/Headline News at the time, she wasn’t the only one. He was upset that O’Brien landed the gig of hosting CNN’s high-profile “Black in America” docuseries, which launched in 2008. During an editorial call attended by roughly 30 staffers, he suggested O’Brien isn’t Black, according to two witnesses, who found the characterization wildly offensive. “Don always wanted to be front and center on anything high profile, especially anything involving race,” says a colleague.
O’Brien, who wasn’t present, tells Variety, “Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him.”
The CNN spokesperson said, “Don, Soledad and others have in the past correctly referred to her Afro-Cuban heritage as it is a unique part of her personal story. But Don denies making any related remark in a derogatory way.”
When he wasn’t shocking his cohorts, he was annoying them with “diva-like behavior,” says one, like skipping editorial calls, showing up late to the newsroom or just generally exhibiting disengaged behavior. In 2009, CNN was allowed to send one journalist into the Staples Center to cover the Michael Jackson memorial. Lemon was the choice, while Anderson Cooper and O’Brien anchored outside. Sources remember Lemon complaining on social media that Cooper got more airtime.
“That led to a come-to-Jesus moment,” says another senior executive from the era. “Don was told, ‘Look, you’ve got to address your behavior. Your performance as a reporter is great. It’s your behavior that’s gotta improve. It’s what’s going to derail you if you’re not careful.’”
Instead of reining in Lemon, his superiors let things slide, perhaps because he had fostered a close friendship with then-Turner Broadcasting System chairman and CEO Phil Kent, sitting in the Turner box alongside Kent at sporting events.
After Kent hired Jeff Zucker to run the network in 2013, Lemon only became more of a provocateur. About six months after Zucker arrived, Lemon gave his on-air take on five ways the Black community could fix its problems, including suggesting “pull up your pants.” He went on to add: “Walking around with your ass and your underwear showing is not OK. In fact, it comes from prison when they take away belts from the prisoner so that they can’t make a weapon. And then it evolved into which role a prisoner would have during male-on-male prison sex. The one with the really low pants is a submissive one. You get my point.” Goldie Taylor, a former CNN consultant who appeared frequently as a guest on Lemon’s weekend show, said she was blacklisted at the network for critiquing Lemon’s controversial comments. “I am personally banned from a network b/c, ironically enough, I dared disagree w/ a black man publicly abt black life […] I don’t throw rocks and hide my hand. That network is @CNN and the anchor is @donlemon,” she tweeted in 2016.
Taylor remains steadfast in her criticism of Lemon.
“I’m never surprised when Don gets in trouble,” she tells Variety. “It makes me neither happy nor sad to see him undermine his own success. There was a time when it appeared that Black people were most often the subject of his ire. Now, it seems to me that when he says something offensive, there’s almost always a woman on the other side.”
One female colleague who had been close to the anchor in his early days at the network found that during the Zucker era, Lemon was losing touch with his former friends. She adds that the change showed in his journalistic choices, with the anchor neglecting important stories affecting the Black community.
“I saw a new Don emerging, and I didn’t like the new Don,” she says. “He likes celebrity. He likes fame, likes power. He was no longer the same person.”
He became increasingly polarizing, particularly when it came to discussing women, which sometimes came off as tone-deaf. In 2014, he drew widespread condemnation when he told a Bill Cosby rape accuser that she could have stopped an attack by biting the comedian’s penis.
Over the years, Lemon relied upon his charm to win over would-be adversaries, particularly men. Even the opposing counsel in the Tower Records lawsuit speaks glowingly of the anchor.
“I thought he was a quality person and a pleasure to be in his company,” says attorney Paul Rosen, who represented Tower Records in the civil suit. “I remember him working with me on a number of cases I had in Philadelphia [after the settlement] and it’s a pleasure to see [him] on air and what he has achieved in the broadcasting field.”
Likewise, Zucker never wavered with his support for Lemon. In 2016, he landed in the primetime lineup with his own show, “Don Lemon Tonight.” That same year, Donald Trump called Lemon “dumb as a rock,” which only contributed to the anchor’s rising star. The more Trump criticized Lemon, the more his fame grew as he quickly became a household name alongside Cooper.
But some colleagues questioned his journalistic ethics. In 2021, disgraced actor Jussie Smollett testified in court that he first learned that Chicago police doubted his story about being the victim of a MAGA-inspired attack after he received a text message warning from Lemon. As a result, Lemon opted not to hand his phone records over to cops.
Says Washington State University journalism professor Ryan Thomas, “Ethically speaking, we can distinguish between conflicts of interest that should be avoided and conflicts of interests that, if they can’t be avoided, should be mitigated and disclosed. [The Smollett case is] very clearly in the former category. … Involving yourself in a story involving a public figure — whether to warn, advise or coach — is as clear and bright and flashing an ethical red line as it gets in journalism. A freshman journalism student would clearly recognize the problems inherent.”
Adds one long-time colleague: “He should have been benched in that instance. No question.”
But CNN says it looked into the matter and found Lemon behaved appropriately. “CNN reviewed the incident in question at the time and found that any interaction was an act of journalism as Don was attempting to prompt a response from Mr. Smollett and book him for his show,” a spokesperson for the network said.
Regardless, Zucker stood by Lemon despite firing anchor Chris Cuomo for advising his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the latter faced sexual harassment allegations. In arbitration filings, Chris Cuomo’s attorneys argued that his transgressions were similar to Lemon’s. After Zucker was ousted in 2022, many believed that Lemon would be on the chopping block. But Lemon survived the regime change at parent company WarnerMedia following its merger with Discovery that same year. Still, higher-ups were suddenly paying attention to his behavior amid his woeful ratings. In September, he relied on a sexist trope on air to try to explain why fellow panelist S.E. Cupp was stumbling over a statistic about Republicans. “Is it fair to say this because I’m not a mommy, but is it mommy brain?” he asked Cupp. An awkward silence ensued before Cupp answered, “No, Don, I just forgot what I was going to say,” she said.
Then, Lemon was moved back to mornings in November and paired with two female anchors, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, for the first time since the Phillips debacle. One executive noted that it was a recipe for disaster. And the gaffes continued. One month into the new gig, Lemon drew ire for saying the U.S. men’s national soccer team should get paid more than the women’s team and insisted the former is “more interesting to watch.”
Three months later came the Haley comments, which sources say prompted Harlow to flee the set with Collins following her to try to talk to her. An intense news cycle ensued, with the CNN brand taking a hit at a time when the network’s ratings continue to nosedive as it tries to find its footing in the Licht era. But once again, Lemon survived the outcry.
Still, if there was a past laissez-faire attitude about Lemon, those days appear to be over. CNN is making him undergo “formal training.” Now, more and more people are willing to call him to task, like a critical Washington Post op-ed titled “Does Don Lemon’s punishment fit the crime?” But he remains planted behind the anchors’ desk.
Says attorney Devin McRae, who specializes in entertainment contract litigation, “These provisions that [CNN anchors] have in their contracts that define what is cause for termination, it’s pretty abstract. That allows CNN to subjectively apply it. Ultimately, it does seem to come down to, ‘How is Lemon’s behavior making CNN look?’”
Raquel Welch Died of Cardiac Arrest and Had Alzheimer's Disease Leading Up to Her Death
Raquel Welch's cause of death has been revealed. The actress died at age 82 on Feb. 15 of cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. The certificate also lists Alzheimer's disease as a condition that led to the cause of death.
Welch's longtime manager Steve Sauer previously confirmed to PEOPLE that she "passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness."
He continued, "Her career spanned over 50 years starring in over 30 films and 50 television series and appearances. The Golden Globe winner, in more recent years, was involved in a very successful line of wigs."
"Raquel leaves behind her two children, son Damon Welch and her daughter Tahnee Welch," Sauer concluded.
Welch made her film debut in the mid 1960s, with breakout roles in 1966's Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C. that same year.
Following those, Welch would star in dozens of films, including 1973's The Three Musketeers, which earned her a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture comedy or musical.
Other titles under her belt include 100 Rifles, The Prince and the Pauper, Chairman of the Board and more. Her final film role was in 2017's How to Be a Latin Lover. She also memorably performed "I'm a Woman" with Cher back in 1975 on The Cher Show.
Welch became a pin-up after flaunting her curves in 1966's camp classic One Million Years B.C. But behind the glamour, the star (born Jo Raquel Tejada) was a hardworking single mom whose career as a sex bomb helped her raise two kids after splitting from her first husband in 1964.
The actress, whose book Beyond the Cleavage became a bestseller, previously told PEOPLE as she celebrated her 70th birthday in 2010 that she has "had a great life — and it's not over yet!"
Following the sad news of her death, many celebrities shared sweet memories with Welch, including Reese Witherspoon, who worked alongside her in the 2001 comedy Legally Blonde.
"So sad to hear about Raquel Welch's passing. I loved working with her on Legally Blonde," Witherspoon, 47, shared on Twitter alongside an image of Welch. "She was elegant, professional and glamorous beyond belief. Simply stunning. May all her angels carry her home."
ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts added that Welch "lit up movie screens for years with her beauty and charisma" in her tweet, with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Christopher Meloni also sharing similar feelings on Twitter: "Raquel Welch dying is a very weird feeling."
The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation, a foundation set up by the legendary animator who worked on One Million Years B.C., also honored Welch by sharing an image of her from the film.
"We are saddened to hear about the passing of legendary actress Raquel Welch, who starred as Loana in Ray Harryhausen's 1966 classic 'One Million Years B.C'. An iconic role which spawned one of the most famous movie posters ever. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time," they wrote.
Tamar Braxton’s Ex-Husband Vince Herbert Facing $80k Lawsuit in Jewelry Fraud Case
*Tamar Braxton’s ex-husband Vince Herbert allegedly owes a famed Los Angeles jeweler over $80k but he’s refusing to pay.
As RadarOnline reports, Michael Greene and Greene & Co International claim the music producer contacted them in 2018 and requested 7 custom pieces. The company trusted Herbert was good for the line of credit they extend him after he boasted about “his career, and his involvement in the music industry,” according to the lawsuit.
After the pieces were created, Greene & Co. allowed Herbert to leave the store with the jewelry without payment. But the check he wrote worth $20k ended up bouncing and he failed to make good on repeated promises to pay, according to the lawsuit.
“Immediately, via text messages with the [Herbert], [Greene & Co.] informed the [Herbert] that the check was returned for insufficient funds and inquired when the $20,000.00 and the remaining balance of the invoice would be paid in full,” per the suit, according to Radar.
The jeweler’s lawsuit initially demanded $66k in damages for fraud and breach of contract, but now the company wants $81k.
As RadarOnline reports, Greene & Co have sought an $81,356.60 default judgment from the court.
A judge has yet to rule on the matter.
Back in 2019, The Blast reported that Herbert was facing two lawsuits for writing bad checks, both from a company called NK Real Estate Investments.
Braxton filed for divorce from Herbert in October 2017 after nine years of marriage. They share a minor son.
Cash App Creator, Bob Lee, Stabbed to Death in San Francisco
Early Tuesday, it was reported that well-known tech executive, Bob Lee, was stabbed to death in downtown San Francisco.
According to reports, Lee, 43, was the chief product officer of cryptocurrency startup MobileCoin. He also started Cash App and was a former chief technology officer of Square.
“Our dear friend and colleague, Bob Lee, passed away yesterday at the age of 43, survived by a loving family and collection of close friends and collaborators,” MobileCoin said in a statement. “a dynamo, a force of nature … the genuine article.”
Police say they found the victim after they received reports of a stabbing at around 2:35 am. He was later taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
At this time, no arrest has been made. San Francisco police haven’t released any further details about the case, but a friend of the tech guru said the incident occured while walking in the Rincon Hill neighborhood, according to NY Post.
NASA Announces First Woman and First Black Astronauts to Go on a Lunar Mission
NASA has announced the first woman and first Black astronauts to join a four-member team to fly around the moon in more than 50 years.
The agency revealed that US Navy aviator Victor Glover was chosen as the Artemis II pilot, and Christina Koch, an engineer who already holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, as a mission specialist.
Aside from being a part of the second crewed flight of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, Glover will be the first astronaut of color to go on a lunar mission.
Additionally, Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to ever be selected for a mission to the moon, will serve as a mission specialist, while Reid Wiseman, a veteran of the International Space Station, will lead the four-person crew as Artemis II mission commander.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Am I Really Confused
Where’s the front?
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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