5/21/23

The Daily Buzz For May 22 ☕📰☕

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#FASHIONFAB: GUCCI Summer Stories 2023 Collection by Harley Weir Is an Accessories Feast
Italian luxury brand Gucci artfully makes another transition statement under new creative director Sabato De Sarno. Yes, we see the changes, but it’s an evolution that’s not trying to burn bridges built by Alessandro Michele.
Fashion photographer Harley Weir [IG] captures models Adarsh Jaikarran, Aivita Mūze, Indira Scott, Kevon Adonis Gyamfi, Pierce Abernathy and Sora Choi styled by Mel Ottenberg. Art direction comes from Charles Levai and Kevin Tekinel. / Hair by Mustafa Yanaz; makeup by Diane Kendal

We see major emphasis on accessories, which is the correct path. Gucci expands the narrative:
“Icons of the House such as the Jackie 1961 and the Horsebit 1955 are presented in woven raffia with leather details. The refined combination of textures is repeated on a timeless classic, the Horsebit loafers, declined in soothing earth tones. Weather it’s a weekend getaway or a long-haul holiday, the curated selection envisions solutions to travel in comfort and style. Jumbo GG leather duffle and tote bags of different sizes and colors from the Gucci Valigeria selection combine the House’s beloved motifs with its heritage, creativity, and innovation.”

Beautiful!
 
 
#RHOA: Drew Sidora's 'RHOA' Tagline Shades Ralph Pittman amid Divorce: 'Forget the Gaslight, I'm Taking the Spotlight'
Drew Sidora didn't hold back with her latest Real Housewives of Atlanta tagline.
Bravo dropped the opening credits for season 15 of the reality series on Thursday, and it appears Sidora used her tagline as an opportunity to take a dig at her estranged husband Ralph Pittman.
 
"Forget the gaslight, I'm taking the spotlight," said the Step Up alum, 38, who announced the end of her eight-year marriage to Pittman, 37, back in March.
 
Pittman has been accused on the show of gaslighting Sidora ever since the couple made their debut on RHOA back in season 13. Their marital problems will be explored this season, allowing fans the opportunity to see what led to their back-to-back divorce filings.
 
It came as somewhat a surprise to some, especially Kandi Burruss, who told PEOPLE she was "shocked" because her RHOA costar "didn't say anything" about the divorce when the two saw one another for the opening cast photo shoot the day before news of the split went public.
 
"I'm praying for Drew, I'm praying for Ralph and the kids. I hope they can figure it out," she added. "Obviously I've been around them a lot for the last couple of months. ... So I was like, 'When did it fall apart?' I have no clue. I don't know."
 
Sidora and Pittman married in 2014 and share two kids together: son Machai, 8 next month, and daughter Aniya, 2. She's also mom to 12-year-old son Josiah from a previous relationship.
 
The reality stars each filed for divorce, an hour apart, in Gwinnett County Superior Court on March 1.
 
"Love is a beautiful thing," Pittman said in a statement shared with PEOPLE after news of their filing came out. "Unfortunately we have made the difficult decision to move on to our next chapters, independent of each other. Drew and I have decided to file for divorce. We have three amazing young children, and their mindset and growth is what is most important. As we navigate this difficult time, I ask that you please respect our privacy."
 
In a separate statement to PEOPLE, Sidora — who filed first — said: "After eight years of wholeheartedly fighting for my marriage, I have made the agonizing decision to release my husband with love."
 
"Although Ralph and I have decided to move forward separately, the hope is to remain friends so that we can co-parent responsibly," she added. "In spite of our very public life, I am asking for privacy during this difficult time as my children and I learn how to navigate through our new beginnings."
 
Burruss kicked it off, shading costar Marlo Hampton after she claimed last season that no one knew Burruss outside of Atlanta. "My roots are in Atlanta, but my branches are worldwide," said the "No Scrubs" songwriter.
 
Hampton's tagline gave a nod to her history pre-Housewives, which she's admitted has included a few mugshots. "My past may be checkered, but my future is solid gold," boasted the second-season peach-holder.
 
Kenya Moore stayed more universal in her tagline. "I don't just do it for the culture. Honey, I am the culture," she said.
 
Shereé Whitfield, meanwhile, used hers as a chance to call out her fashion-line and its messy launch. "She by Shereé? More like she broke the internet," said the new "Glam-ma."
The credits end with Sanya Richards-Ross winking at her experience as an Olympic track and field athlete: "If you can't keep the pace, stay out of my race."
 
 
#NewMusic Summer Walker Releases “CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE” EP
Summer Walker is back with another installment of her “CLEAR” EP. It’s important to note that her “CLEAR” series contains a completely different sound than what we hear from albums as these EPs have more of an acoustic sound to them.
 
The new EP contains features from J. Cole and Childish Gambino along with the song “Agayu’s Revelation” which is produced by Solange, Steve Lacy and John Kirby.

LISTEN HERE
Summer’s last official album “Still Over It” was a major success for the singer as it debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. She has also found success with one of her older songs as “Karma” has gone viral on social media. The success has crossed over to radio now as it is number 2 on the Urban charts right now.
 
 
#HipHopNews: Megan Thee Stallion Debuts New Wax Figures At Madame Tussauds
Megan Thee Stallion has quickly become one of the biggest stars in pop culture over the last few years. Her larger-than-life persona has now been rewarded with two brand-new wax figures at Madame Tussauds. With three Grammys and now two wax figures, Meg is officially THAT girl.
 
One wax figure will be housed at Madame Tussauds New York and the other in Las Vegas. Fans of the “Savage” singer will be able to pose with the ultra-real wax figures starting May 20 at Madame Tussauds New York and May 29 at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas.
 
Matthew Clarkson, head of marketing for Madame Tussauds, exclaimed, “We couldn’t have hoped for more ‘Good News’ than the addition of not one but two Megan Thee Stallion wax figures into our Las Vegas and New York attractions. Everybody here at Madame Tussauds loves her music, confidence, style, and star power, which serves as an inspiration to so many.”
 
To get the wax figures as accurate as possible, a team of 20 artists took over 200 measurements for six months to create the iconic replicas. Ten layers of oil-based paint and human hair were color matched to help bring the most authentic figures possible to life.
 
When asked about the new honor, the “Hot Girl Summer” rapper asserted, “I feel like people always ask me, ‘When was the moment you knew you were famous?’ This is the moment! There are two versions of me in the most famous wax museum on the planet. Like, who am I? Them!”
 
Megan The Stallion has always been the moment. This is just the latest addition to her legendary rise to prominence. Following her brief social media hiatus, Meg has been the talk of the internet since. Fans and even other celebrities are going crazy over the “Tina Snow” rapper’s latest accomplishment.
 
For more information on the new Megan The Stallion wax figures, visit www.madametussauds.com.
 
 
#RIP Jim Brown, Athlete, Actor, And Activist Has Died at 87
Jim Brown has died. One of the most successful professional athletes in American history, Brown’s off-field career was in some ways even more varied and colorful than his record-setting time in the NFL: As an actor, activist, and, on one occasion, a nude Playgirl model, Brown was a hugely dominant force in America in the 1950s, ’60s, and beyond. Per Variety, Brown died on Thursday in Los Angeles; he was 87.
 
Born in the 1930s in Georgia, before moving with his family to Long Island a few years later, Brown first gained national prominence during a college football career at Syracuse. College was also where he most prominently displayed his talents as a multi-disciplinary athlete: In addition to his football duties, which put him in the running for the Heisman, Brown was also a star of the school’s basketball team, track team, and especially its lacrosse team. Once calling it “probably the best sport I ever played,” Brown was the first Black man to ever be inducted into America’s National Lacrosse Hall Of Fame.
 
Browns from 1957 through 1965—including a single championship season in 1964. In that time, he was named to the Pro-Bowl nine consecutive times, named NFL MVP thrice, and set the league rushing yards record eight years out of the nine he played.
 
As his career in football began to wind down, Brown took up a career in acting, starting with an appearance in Gordon Douglas’ Rio Conchos in 1964. A year later, he appeared in World War II pic The Dirty Dozen, having apparently fully caught the acting bug by this point. (Delays on the film led to the Browns issuing an ultimatum demanding Brown return for training for the 1965 season; he instead announced his retirement from the sport.) Ultimately, Brown would appear in more than 50 movies and episodes of television over the next 50 years, often with a focus on gritty action roles. He appeared in everything from a starring role opposite Raquel Welch in 100 Rifles, to a turn as the murderous Fireball in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man, to a performance in Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!, to his final film role, as himself, in 2014's Draft Day. He also, briefly, got into the world of film production with his old friend Richard Pryor; the duo’s collaboration, Indigo Productions, produced only a single film before tensions between the two men led to its dissolution.
 
Meanwhile, Brown also used his clout in service of activism, acting as a vocal proponent of the civil rights movement, and he was famously part of the “Cleveland Summit” of several prominent athletes—including Mohammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—to discuss how to use their platforms to advance the cause of civil rights. In later years, Brown also launched projects designed to support minority-owned businesses, and to help former gang members develop new life skills.
 
Brown’s legacy is complicated, though, by a long history of legal issues, often related to allegations of violence against women. Although most charges against him were eventually dropped (or not pressed at all, on some occasions), on multiple occasions throughout his life, Brown was accused of assault and battery, frequently against his romantic partners. Perhaps most notably, Brown was accused by his second wife, Monique Brown, of smashing her car with a shovel and threatening her in 1999. Brown ultimately served three months in jail over failure to comply with his community service sentencing in the ensuing trial; Monique Brown later recanted her testimony, and the pair remained married until his death this week.
 
 
Wendy Williams' Rumored Hospitalization Has Been Shut Down By her Rep
Wendy Williams is not admitted to hospital, according to her representative. The 58-year-old star - who hosted "The Wendy Williams Show" for over a decade until 2021 when she stepped down due to her ongoing issues with autoimmune condition Graves disease - was rumored to have checked into a New York facility over a fortnight ago but now a rep for the former shock jock has quashed the rumours and noted she has not even been in the area.
 
"I can confirm that Wendy Williams is not in the hospital, as reported. I can also confirm she is not in New York, as reported," Shawn Zanotti told PageSix.
 
Just days ago, a source had claimed that Wendy was in medical care and briefly left the facility before checking back in almost straight away. The source told The US Sun, "Wendy first went into the hospital about two weeks ago. She was released briefly last weekend, and she went right back in."
 
A second insider claimed that Wendy's family were aware she had been hospitalised as they insisted she was not in a rehabilitation facility. The source said, "All I know is she is in the hospital right now, and it's not rehab. I don't know which hospital."
 
The former radio host had been due to give a talk at an event but cancelled at the last minute, with another insider claiming that her ability to perform had been "rocky at best" as they alleged she had a wavering ability to string a sentence together.
 
The source said, "There is a video from Wendy that will be played Saturday, apologizing for the late cancellation. Wendy's ability to perform has been rocky at best. She can put together a sentence one day but not the next. There have been serious questions recently about if she will ever get better."
 
 
Nike removed all of Ja Morant’s new sneakers from their website after another gun incident
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant finds himself in hot water again after another gun incident on Instagram Live. He’s been suspended from all team activities while the NBA also investigates the matter. To make matters worse, it appears Nike is punishing Ja.
 
Per TMZ, the company removed all of his new sneakers from their website. However, you can still buy them from several retailers including Dicks Sporting Goods and Flight Club. Nevertheless, Nike is clearly trying to make their voice heard here.
 
Morant had his first signature shoe released on April 19th and they’ve been flying off the shelf. There’s also a new color coming out later this month. For the time being, at least.
 
The two-time All-Star is in the news for all of the wrong reasons lately. First, he flashed a firearm on camera in Denver at the end of the regular season, which resulted in an eight-game suspension. Despite releasing an apology and saying he learned from his mistake, Ja Morant did the exact same thing recently while cruising around with his friend.
 
Adam Silver already said he’s preparing for the worst when it comes to the league’s investigation, with the belief that Ja could be slapped with a massive suspension in 2023-24. We’re talking in the ballpark of 40 games.
 
Morant signed a mammoth contract with Nike in 2019 and he’s seen as one of their primary NBA athletes. But, that endorsement deal could be in serious jeopardy after this latest IG Live fiasco. The reality is a lot of young ballers look up to the 23-year-old and Nike knows that. He’s not setting the right example right now and it may result in more repercussions.
 
 
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell spotted filming 'Good Burger 2'
Good Burger is back in business two months after its leading men, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, confirmed that a sequel to the classic film had finally been greenlit! In mid-March, the two actors reprised their roles as Dexter Reed and Ed, respectively, during a special appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

During the late-night show’s cold open, the comedic duo and Fallon welcomed fans to Good Burger 2, home of the Good Burger. Thompson revealed that filming for the sequel was slated to begin sometime this summer. However, on Friday (May 19), TMZ obtained photos of the burger joint and crew on location in Providence, Rhode Island, proving that production was already in full swing. According to the outlet, filming kicked off on Thursday (May 18).
Additional outlets that obtained images from the set showed that Thompson and Mitchell had already begun filming scenes. In one photo, Mitchell can be seen in his Good Burger uniform and rocking his character’s signature braided bob hairdo. The longstanding “Saturday Night Live” comic was spotted in regular attire.

Following the news of a follow-up to the 1997 Nickelodeon movie, the two “All That” alums issued public statements about finally answering fans’ requests for a sequel. “I can’t believe it’s been a little over 25 years since great customer service was born at Good Burger,” said Thompson in a statement obtained by Variety. “Being a part of something so many generations of people have come to love has made me so proud, and now to be back where it all began, working on the sequel, is surreal! [I] love performing with my brother Kel and can’t wait to show the fans what these characters have been up to since we last saw them.”

“Ed is one of those timeless characters that has brought so much joy and laughter to fans, and it’s such a beautiful blessing to still be doing it after all these years,” said Mitchell. “It’s super awesome to come back and continue the stories of Dex, Ed, and Good Burger for both the people who grew up watching and their kids.”

The movie’s longline reads: “Dexter Reed is down on his luck after another one of his inventions fails. Ed welcomes Dex back to Good Burger with open arms and gives him his old job back. With a new crew working at Good Burger, Dex devises a plan to get back on his feet but unfortunately puts the fate of Good Burger at risk once again.” A release date has not been disclosed just yet, but fans looking for a dose of nostalgia will be able to stream Good Burger 2 on Paramount+ when the time comes.
 
 
Beyoncé and JAY-Z reportedly purchase California’s most expensive home
Bring out the Ace of Spades because congratulations are in order! JAY-Z and Beyoncé have reportedly become homeowners of the most expensive residential dwelling in the state of California. The news broke today (May 19).
 
According to TMZ, the power couple paid $200 million for a 30,000-square-foot beachfront property in a prime area of Malibu. The outlet claims to have received the information from trusted real estate insiders. The big buy blows the previous highest-selling home in the state, listed at $177 million, out of the water. JAY-Z and Beyoncé’s alleged history-making house now takes the throne as the second most expensive piece of property in the United States, with TMZ citing a $238 million apartment in New York City as the top contender.

As JAY-Z and Beyoncé are known to live a life of privacy, neither Grammy winner has confirmed the news for themselves. However, the thought of the super stars dropping a big bag wouldn’t come as surprising. Last week, CBS News revealed Queen Bey’s “Renaissance World Tour” alone could bring in “more than $2 billion” for the Houston native. The tour, named after her seventh studio album, recently kicked off to rave reviews and will visit over 50 cities worldwide. The first show commenced on May 10 at Sweden’s largest stadium, Friends Arena, and the final date will be Sept. 27 in New Orleans.
 
As for the pricey pad, JAY-Z and Beyoncé are said to be the newest neighbors on Billionaires’ Row — a sought-after stretch of land overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Paradise Cove. William Bell, a notable art collector, is listed as a previous owner. It reportedly took him nearly 15 years to create the all-concrete mansion with Japanese master architect Tadao Ando. Fans of the “‘03 Bonnie & Clyde” are supportive of the news. “That Dubai show was the down payment. I love this for them. Black power couple!” one person tweeted.
 
 
Jordan Neely eulogized by Rev. Al Sharpton at funeral
The death of Jordan Neely has outraged protestors across New York City and the country. The ex-Marine who placed him in a fatal chokehold on the subway on May 1 was charged with second-degree manslaughter, but nothing will bring the Michael Jackson impersonator back.
 
Today (May 19), family, friends, and supporters gathered for Neely’s funeral at Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem. Leaders including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams, and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado were in attendance. Rev. Al Sharpton, who has delivered the eulogy at the memorial services for other unjustly killed Black people like Tyre Nichols, took some time at the podium to state facts about Neely’s death.
 
“There has been, since Jordan’s death, a distortion of values that we need to make clear has been violated,” Rev. Sharpton said in the beginning of his eulogy, per The New York Times. He went on to describe Neely’s death as a “crime” and called on people to support his family. “When they choked Jordan, they put their arms around all of us,” he railed. “All of us have the right to live.”
 
“Jordan was not annoying someone on the train. Jordan was screaming for help,” the reverend stated plainly. “We keep criminalizing people with mental illness. People keep criminalizing people that need help. They don’t need abuse; they need help.” Watch him speak below.
 
Sharpton noted that Neely’s mother, who died when he was young, had her funeral at the exact same church. He also pointed out the structural problems that eventually led to Neely’s death at the hands of a vigilante.
 
“The agencies that failed to keep him and give him mental health [care] choked Jordan. Those that let him go, even though they had his record of needing help, they choked Jordan. The city agencies choked Jordan. He’d been choked most of his adult life,” the faith leader asserted. “He’s an example of how you’re choking the homeless, how you’re choking the mentally ill, how you’re choking all over the city, and we come to say this choking has got to stop.”
 
Watch the funeral service HERE
 
 
Jonathan Majors & Meagan Hold Hands in Photos as Dating Rumors Heat Up
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are feeding into rumors that they’re an item.
Earlier this month it was reported that the potential couple was spotted out on a movie date as the Creed III star faces charges of assault stemming from an arrest in March.
 
On Saturday (May 20), new photos of the duo emerged. In them, they’re holding hands and appear to be fairly close.
 
In pics obtained by Page Six, Jonathan and Meagan were seen catching a flight together.
Both stars were casually dressed and had on dark sunglasses to stay under the radar. Jonathan pulled a hood up, and Meagan wore a baseball cap low to help cover her face.
 
Their outing comes after a report suggested that they were a “fairly new” item who had developed a bond in recent weeks. Reps for Jonathan and Meagan did not return Page Six‘s request for comment. We’ll let you know as we hear more.
 
The romance rumors come as things are getting serious for Jonathan.
Jonathan was formally charged with with “several counts of assault in the third degree, three counts of attempted assault in the third degree, one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, and one count harassment in the second degree” after his arrest. In the aftermath, other alleged victims spoke out against the actor.
 
His career also took a hit, with him being dropped from several projects.
Through it all, the star has maintained his innocence, and his attorney has even claimed that he was the one who was assaulted.
He made a virtual appearance in court earlier this month.
 
 
Donna Summer's Daughter Mimi Opens Up About Healing from Sexual Abuse as a Child
Mimi Summer has taken control of her past and is ready to share her story with the world.
In light of Love to Love You, Donna Summer's premiere on Friday, Mimi — the eldest daughter of the late Disco Queen Donna Summer — opens up to PEOPLE about why she decided to tell her story of being sexually abused as a child in the film, how she's found healing since and her relationship with her mother.
 
"I feel like I'm pretty open, but I've had to work through a lot of stuff in my life," Mimi tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I have four kids of my own, and I want to make sure that I'm not passing on things from my own trauma or things from my own story."
 
The documentary reveals that Mimi was sexually abused by someone related to her family's housekeeper when she was a young girl — drawing parallels to Summer's experience of being sexually abused by her childhood pastor.
 
"We never really got closure from it," she says.
"I don't know that she was ever super comfortable talking about. That was probably one of her biggest nightmares, was something like that happening to one of her kids," she adds. "So I think that might have been a very difficult thing for her to have to really hash out with me in some ways."
 
"I didn't hold it against her in any way. Because I understood. I was older when she found out, and so I understood at that point that the healing process for her took a lot longer," she says. "And for me, I was very aware of it from a much earlier age so I was able to gauge it, realize what it was, and start working on it. There's a shame element that comes with that, so learning how to realize that this wasn't me, it wasn't my fault."
 
She adds, "So even though we didn't really get into the nitty-gritty of it and really kind of work through all of that, I still understood where she came from. I understood because I lived it in a sense. So I think I have a lot of grace for her in that way."
 
Summer gave birth to Mimi after moving to Germany and meeting Austrian actor Helmuth Summer. Because she welcomed her so early on in her career, the documentary shows that Mimi was largely taken care of by her grandparents. When asked how she felt being away from her mom for months at a time, she remembers missing her.
 
"I'm sure like any child, a child who has military parents or has a celebrity parent or a politician as a parent, somebody who's gone a lot; you're a child, you want your parent. So I was blessed because I had amazing grandparents who raised me, and so they really did stand in the gap for her."
 
"I understood, and I felt really sad for her in a lot of ways," she adds. "I think that was a struggle sometimes, to share her with everyone."
Something that helped her during that time, was listening to "Mimi's Song," a song Summer released in 1978 for her daughter to listen to before bed when she was on the road.
 
"Every time I heard it, it made me feel seen and made me feel remembered and made me felt like, 'Oh, this is how she feels about me.' Even though she might be miles away, thousands of miles away, and I can't be with her, this is how she feels about me when she's away."
 
In her later years, however, Mimi says that the singer was actively involved: "When she was home, when she would come back to Nashville, the first thing that she did was call us. 'All right, who's picking up cozy meals? Who's picking up dinner? Let's get dinner. Go to the grocery store. We're going to make food.'"
 
She adds, "My last memories with her was — we talked all the time. She would call me up every week and check-in. We had a mom-daughter relationship. We didn't really fight or argue too much. I was blessed to have the time that I had with her."
 
Her last day, she says, was "vulnerable": "I think she just realized I got no face to show other than the one I've got," Mimi reflects. "She just let all the walls down, and so we really got to just be with her in all of her vulnerabilities and weaknesses and her funniness."
 
Love to Love You, Donna Summer, which was co-directed by Summer's daughter Brooklyn Sudano and Roger Ross Williams takes "an in-depth look at the icon as she creates music that takes her from the avant-garde music scene in Germany, to the glitter and bright lights of dance clubs in New York, to worldwide acclaim, her voice and artistry becoming the defining soundtrack of an era," per a release.
 
"A deeply personal portrait of Summer on and off the stage, the film features a wealth of photographs and never-before-seen home video footage — often shot by Summer herself — and provides a rich window into the surprising range of her artistry, from songwriting to painting, while exploring the highs and lows of a life lived on the global stage," the description continues.
 
Love to Love You, Donna Summer is out now on HBO and HBO Max.
 
 
Tupac Shakur Honored with Street in California: Tupac Shakur Way
Tupac Shakur is getting a street named after him in California. The late rapper will have a stretch of a street in Oakland named in his honor after a unanimous vote by the city council on Tuesday.
 
The section of MacArthur Boulevard — where Shakur once lived — between Grand Avenue and Van Buren Avenue will be known as Tupac Shakur Way. MacArthur Boulevard will still keep its existing name.
 
Shakur, who was born in Harlem in New York City, lived in Oakland in the early 1990s. He said in a 1993 video interview that he got his "Game" from Oakland. "When I got to Oakland that's when I learned the Game," he said. "I give all my love to Oakland, if I'ma claim somewhere I'ma claim Oakland."
 
Commemorative signs and plaques signaling the change will be paid for by the Tupac Shakur Foundation, according to NBC News. A timeline for the renaming has not been announced by Oakland City Council.
 
The legislation says the commemorative street naming will remind us of Shakur's "contributions to Oakland and our communities through the celebration of art and culture as an awakening tool towards changes in society."
 
In 2016, the mayor of Oakland declared June 16 — the musician's birthday — as Tupac Shakur Day for his contributions to the community.
 
Shakur died in 1996 at the age of 25, six days after being shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
Last June, the star's family honored his legacy by opening up a pop-up restaurant in California. His estate opened Powamekka Café in Los Angeles, where Shakur also lived, on June 16, 2022.
 
The "Changes" rapper thought of the concept for the eatery before his untimely death in 1996. He dreamed of Powamekka Café being a place for "divaz" and "playaz," per notes later found by his family and shared on his official Instagram page when the L.A. location was announced.
 
Shakur also wrote that he wanted his restaurant to be "a passionate paradise 4 people with power 2 play and parlay," serving as "the perfect hideout 4 those who wish 2 escape the world'z cold reality."
 
 
Family and Friends came out to Congratulate Ludacris on Walk of Fame Star
*”Fast X,” the tenth film in the Fast & Furious Saga, launches the final chapters of one of cinema’s most storied and popular global franchises, now in its third decade and still going strong with the same core cast (including Ludacris) and characters as when it began.
 
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.
 
In 2011’s Fast Five, Dom and his crew took out nefarious Brazilian drug kingpin Hernan Reyes and decapitated his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. What they didn’t know was that Reyes’ son, Dante (Aquaman’s Jason Momoa), witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay the ultimate price.
 
Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged and old enemies will resurface. But everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son (Leo Abelo Perry, Black-ish) is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.
 
Directed by Louis Leterrier (Clash of the Titans, The Incredible Hulk), Fast X stars returning cast members Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Jason Statham, John Cena and Scott Eastwood, with Oscar® winner Helen Mirren and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron.
 
The film also features an extraordinary new cast including Oscar® winner Brie Larson as Tess, a rogue representative from the Agency; Alan Richtson (Reacher) as Aimes, the new head of the Agency who doesn’t hold the same fondness for Dom’s crew as his predecessor, Mr. Nobody; Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad) as a Brazilian street racer with a powerful tie to Dom’s past; and legendary Oscar® winner Rita Moreno as Dom and Mia’s Abuelita Toretto.
 
“Fast X,” in theaters now, is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent. The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr., David Cain, Chris Morgan, Amanda Lewis and Mark Bomback. www.thefastsaga.com
 
 
Jimmie Allen Apologizes to Wife Amid Sexual Assault Lawsuit
*Jimmie Allen posted a public apology to his estranged wife after his former manager filed a sexual assault lawsuit against him.
 
“I want to publicly apologize to my wife Alexis for humiliating her with my affair. I’m embarrassed that my choices have brought shame on her. That’s something that she did not deserve at all,” the Grammy-nominated country singer wrote on Thursday.
 
“I also want to apologize to my children for being a poor example of a man and a father. I’m working on becoming a better person that my kids can be proud of. My goal is to be better than the generation before me.”
 
We reported previously that Allen’s former manager filed a sexual assault and harassment lawsuit anonymously in Tennessee last week. The management company, Wide Open Music, as well as the company’s founder, Ash Bowers, are also named in the lawsuit, ABC News reports.
Allen is accused of sexually abusing “Jane Doe” and manipulating her over an 18-month period.
 
According to ABC News, the lawsuit claims that in May 2020 Allen “sexually harassed Plaintiff openly and publicly by making comments about her status as a single female, her innocence, and how hot she looked. He did so from the stage, in front of the production crew and public audiences.”
 
Allen has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming he and Jane Doe’s sexual relationship was consensual.
 
“It is deeply troubling and hurtful that someone I counted as one of my closest friends, colleagues and confidants would make allegations that have no truth to them whatsoever,” Allen said in a statement to PEOPLE.
 
“I acknowledge that we had a sexual relationship — one that lasted for nearly two years. During that time she never once accused me of any wrongdoing, and she spoke of our relationship and friendship as being something she wanted to continue indefinitely,” the statement continued.
 
In his IG message, Allen said “The business takes so much from you. It’s full of temptations that can cripple you and ruin everything you’ve built. I’m ashamed that I wasn’t strong enough to withstand them. I will no longer be a victim of my weaknesses.”
 
Allen and his wife announced their separation last month after 3 years of marriage. The pair have two minor children with a third on the way.
 
Earlier this week, he wrote, “We gonna be alright” on his Instagram Story, adding that “This too shall pass.”
 
 
Instagram Reportedly In The Process Of Creating A Twitter-Like Text App
Instagram is reportedly working to create a Twitter-like app. According to a Bloomberg report, Instagram, a social media platform under Meta Platforms, is in the process of developing a text-based application that will directly rival Twitter. The anticipated timeframe for its release is potentially towards the end of June.
 
Money Control initially reported in March that Meta was investigating the development of a social network focused on text updates, aiming to rival Twitter. Shortly thereafter, Meta officials conveyed to Platformer their belief in the potential for a distinct platform where creators and public figures can share timely updates related to their interests.
 
According to a screenshot shared by Lia Haberman, a professor of social and influencer marketing at UCLA, the upcoming app will be independent from Instagram. However, users will have the convenience of connecting their accounts and effortlessly following the same individuals they currently follow on Instagram with a single click.
 
In the future, the app could potentially be compatible with other platforms aiming to attract former Twitter users. This includes Mastodon, which has announced that users on their platform will soon have the ability to follow and engage with posts on Meta’s new platform without the necessity of creating a separate account.
 
Nevertheless, the alleged text-based rival will serve as a new addition to the apps within Meta Platforms. Alongside Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp are also encompassed within the same company.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
I smelled that
I smelled that miles away.


HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM

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