#FASHIONFAB: Nile Rogers For in Chanel Eyewear 2023 Campaign
Chanel launched its 2023 Eyewear campaign inspired by retro style and the rise of disco bling.
Campaign models Vivienne Rohner and Hyunji Shin are known to fashionworld. Nile Rogers may be a new name — unless you are old-schooled in “Good Times, “I’m Coming Out,” and “Le Freak.”
Nile Rodgers: The Prolific and Influential Musician
Rodgers is a critically acclaimed musician, composer, and producer who has made an indelible mark on the music industry. Born in New York City in 1952, Rodgers grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at a young age. He formed his first band, The Big Apple Band, with his friends when he was just 15 years old.
Rodgers' breakthrough came in the mid-1970s, when he formed the disco group Chic with bassist Bernard Edwards. The band's debut album, "Chic," was a huge success, featuring hits like "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" and "Everybody Dance." Chic went on to release a string of hit albums and singles, becoming one of the most popular groups of the disco era.
In addition to his work with Chic, Rodgers has collaborated with a who's who of music industry icons over the course of his career. He has produced albums for David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran, Diana Ross, and many others. He has also contributed his skills as a session guitarist to countless recordings.
Rodgers' influence can be heard across many genres of music, from disco and funk to rock and pop. His distinctive guitar playing and production style have become hallmarks of his work, and his influence can be heard in the music of countless artists who have followed in his footsteps.
In recent years, Rodgers has continued to work on new music and collaborate with other artists. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, a fitting tribute to a musician who has left an indelible mark on the music industry over the course of his decades-long career.
10 Magazine shares an interview with the Chanel eyewear stars, where Vivienne Rohner asks: “Nile, I’ve read that John Lee Hooker once told you to never get photographed without sunglasses, is that true, and have you always stuck to his advice?”
Nile Rodgers: “Yes, it’s true. I had a TV show on VH-1 and John Lee Hooker was a guest playing on it. After, he pulled me aside and said: “That’s the rule of cool, never get your photograph taken without sunglasses on!” I’ve worn them ever since.”
#RHOA: Hot or Not? NeNe Leakes In A Plunging Polka Dot Jumpsuit With A Racy Cutout Across Her Stomach
NeNe Leakes showcased her incredible curves in a stylish, black and white polka dot jumpsuit with a racy cutout across her stomach in Miami Beach over the weekend.
While crossing the street, the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, 55, looked cheerful as she flashed a bright smile and gave a friendly wave to onlookers.
She accessorized her ensemble with a $4,900 quilted leather Yves Saint Laurent bag and a pair of oversized black shades, which protected her dark brown eyes from the sun.
The mother-of-two was headed to lunch with a group of friends, who she described on Instagram as her 'village.'
The evening prior, she uploaded photos from a decadent meal at the restaurant, Giselle, which serves Mediterranean & French-inspired cuisine.
Leakes had been one of the reality series' leads ever since it premiered in 2008.
However, the designer ultimately chose to leave the program following the conclusion of its twelfth season.
Williams remained on as one of the show's stars until the end of its 13th run of episodes.
The reality television personality shared her photos just after she posted a sizzling photoset to her Instagram account.
The media figure showed off a considerable amount of skin while she posed for the sultry snaps, in which she donned a red-and-orange bikini top that exposed her toned midsection.
She also donned a matching bottom that showcased her curvy thighs and impressively toned legs.
Williams added a bit of reflective shine with a pair of white sunglasses that contrasted well with the colorful tones of her clothing.
Her beautiful locks fell onto her shoulders and were offset by her swimwear's vibrant colors.
#MusicNews: Watch Babyface’s Tiny Desk Concert
Kenneth Edmonds, professionally known as Babyface, is one of the most sought out songwriters in modern times. So, it was only fitting that when the NPR Tiny Desk Concert series wanted to kick off Black Music Month, they called the musician. Babyface didn’t hold back, giving the series one Black-ass musical family reunion showcasing his impact across nearly fifty years.
WATCH
Outside of his solo catalog, as a producer, he’s worked with some of the biggest names in music, including the late Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Usher, and recently Ari Lennox. His setlist offered a tasting of those past collaborations. With backing support from fellow vocalist Tank, Chanté Moore, and Avery Wilson, Babyface opened up with his classic 1987 song “Two Occasions,” recorded as part of the group The Deele. The entertainer followed that up with his solo 1989 song, “Whip Appeal.”
Known as the woman whisper, when transitioning to Karyn White’s “Superwoman,” which he wrote and produced, Babyface shared how he’s been able to create music from the women’s perspective. “When I was a kid, I was always falling in love and getting my heart broken,” he said. “So when that would happen, I would write these really sad songs. Then I realized I probably was feeling the same hurt women were feeling.”
The remainder of the set included a cover of Madonna’s “Take A Bow,” Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry,” Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk,” “Change the World,” Fall Out Boy’s “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love To You” and “End Of The Road,” and closed with Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” off of the Waiting To Exhale movie soundtrack that Babyface produced.
The band consisted of Babyface on both the keys and, at times, the guitar, musical director Erskine Hawkins II as additional support on the keys, Antoine Porter on the guitar, Walt Barnes Jr. on bass, and Reggie Regg on drums.
Although the series features Black artists throughout the year, this subsegment is dedicated to celebrating their contributions to the art form on a much grander scale. The outlet said, “Together, these artists represent the past, present, and future of Black music.”
#HipHopNews: Diddy To Receive Harlem Icon Award
Diddy has just announced that he’ll be returning to his old stomping grounds of Harlem this week to receive the prestigious Apollo Icon Award.
On Saturday (June 10), the Bad Boy mogul took to Instagram to put a call-of-action out toward those who are looking to celebrate with him on Monday (June 12).
“Wassup Harlem, I’m coming Home,” Diddy said. “Monday, I’ll be there, getting that Apollo Icon Award. And you know it’s up. So if you in the city all the Harlemites, ya’ll know I ain’t got everybody’s number but I plan on seeing you, and drinks is on Diddy.”
He added: “Yeah. The champ is coming back home. The King is coming back home. The son is coming back home. Harlem, Harlem, Harlem. I’m coming back home.”
Diddy will be receiving the Icon Award during the Apollo Theater’s Spring Benefit. Other award recipients include Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who will be bestowed with the Impact Award; Apollo’s CEO Jonelle Procope, who will be honored for her dedicated service to the Apollo for twenty years; and indie eyewear manufacturer Warby Parker, who will be bequeathed the Outstanding Leadership in Innovation, Diversity, and Global Community award.
According to The Apollo’s website, the fundraiser is a celebration of the theater’s long-standing legacy and its dedication to Harlem and New York City. In addition, all proceeds will benefit the venue’s innovative performing arts, education and community initiatives that serve 200,000 people every year.
MC Lyte is also scheduled to perform at the event, and Wyclef Jean and DJ D-Nice will also perform DJ sets to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.
The Tony Awards 2023: ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ And ‘Leopoldstadt’ Take Top Honors
“Kimberly Akimbo,” the melodically bright, tenderhearted account of a New Jersey teen who ages at five times the normal rate, was the major winner at the 76th Tony Awards on Sunday night, earning the top honor of best musical and four other prizes, including best book, score, and leading and featured actress in a musical.
As widely expected, the Tony for best play went to “Leopoldstadt” by 85-year-old Tom Stoppard, a Holocaust drama inspired by the playwright’s discovery late in life of his own Jewish roots. It collected four trophies, including best director of a play, costumes and featured actor, winning over “Ain’t No Mo’,” “The Cost of Living,” “Between Riverside and Crazy” and “Fat Ham.”
Other trophies in the play categories were divided among other shows, with Jodie Comer voted best actress for her portrayal of a highflying lawyer turned assault victim in “Prima Facie” and Sean Hayes named best actor in a play for his impersonation of actor-pianist Oscar Levant in “Good Night, Oscar.” The visually vibrant “Life of Pi” dominated the design awards for plays, as it was recognized for sets, sound design and lighting.
In other contests, lead actor in a musical went to J. Harrison Ghee, who won over their co-star Christian Borle and five other actors for “Some Like It Hot,” and best lead actress was won by Victoria Clark, as the fast-aging 16-year-old in “Kimberly Akimbo.” Bonnie Milligan took home the Tony for best featured actress in a musical for her portrayal of a lovable scam artist in “Kimberly Akimbo.”
These Broadway actors are finally getting the spotlight they deserve
The win for Ghee made history, as the first time an actor who identifies as nonbinary has won a Tony in the leading actor category. That achievement was doubled by Alex Newell, who also identifies as nonbinary and won the award for best featured, or supporting, actor in a musical, for “Shucked.” An overcome Newell told the crowd, “I have waited for this my entire life, and I thank every one of you.” Turning to their mother, Newell said: “I thank you for loving me unconditionally.”
It was a night, in fact, when works challenging intolerance head-on were celebrated again and again. Tony voters opted for seriousness over serendipity in picking Broadway’s best musical revival, giving the award to “Parade,” the fact-based story of the lynching of an innocent Jewish man, Leo Frank, in Georgia in the early 1900s over its chief rival, “Into the Woods.” (Both shows originated off-Broadway, as concert productions in New York City Center’s Encores! series.)
Ben Platt performs a scene from "Parade" at the Tonys. The show won for best musical revival. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
In winning best director of a musical for “Parade,” Michael Arden cited the prejudice he faced in his youth as a gay man. “Keep loving and uplifting each other,” he said. “And vote every chance you can.” (His counterpart winner as best director of a play was Patrick Marber, for “Leopoldstadt.”)
The presentations in 26 categories, chosen by a voting academy of more than 700 theater producers, actors, designers and others, occurred during a ceremony that lacked a key ingredient from previous telecasts: writers. The Writers Guild of America, whose strike against TV and film studios is in its second month, agreed not to picket the Tonys only if the show proceeded without the contributions of writers.
That required the broadcast from the United Palace in Manhattan’s Washington Heights — the first 90 minutes on Pluto TV, a free streaming service, and three more hours on CBS — to rely not on pre-written banter, but on the drama of the Tony races and the pizazz of musical performances.
Ariana DeBose hosted the 76th Tony Awards on Sunday. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)
“We don’t have a script, you guys. Live and unscripted. You’re welcome!” an out-of-breath Ariana DeBose, host of the CBS telecast for the second year in a row, said after the opening number — performed smartly (and wordlessly) by a cadre of dancers in the lobby and aisles. Telling the audience that the script-less event was necessitated by writers “in pursuit of a fair deal,” she explained that there were no teleprompters, only countdown clocks for the speeches.
“Darlings, buckle up!” the delightful DeBose added.
No such note of caution was needed. The entire ceremony — hosted for the first 90 streaming minutes by Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin — felt sleek and spontaneous, and proceeded at a gratifyingly swift pace. Despite (or because of?) its special challenges, it was one of the best Tony shows in memory. The evening included such notable presenters as Common, Uzo Aduba, Barry Manilow, Melissa Etheridge and Lupita Nyong’o, and even a notable burn by actress Denée Benton, who referred to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida as that state’s “grand wizard.”
One of the high points was the appearance of Lea Michele, star of the revival of “Funny Girl,” triumphantly singing a joyful “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” She sang the same number on the Tony telecast in 2012, when the sequence was perceived as an audition for a role she would win a decade later, as the replacement for the revival’s original Fanny Brice, Beanie Feldstein. (The cameras caught her walking offstage and into the arms of DeBose.)
There were also numbers from all of the best-musical nominees, “Some Like It Hot,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “Shucked,” “& Juliet” and “New York, New York.” The musical revival nominees — “Camelot,” “Parade,” “Into the Woods” and “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” — also performed, in what amounted to live infomercials for their shows.
The performance by Lea Michele and the cast of "Funny Girl" was a highlight of the Tonys broadcast. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
For best revival of a play, the voters singled out Suzan-Lori Parks’s “Topdog/Underdog,” her 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner about a pair of down-on-their-luck brothers whose attempt to mastermind a street hustle ends in tragedy. “Theater is the cure!” Parks exclaimed in her exuberant remarks.
The urgent mandate to be both quick and quick on one’s feet seemed to inspire many of the Tony winners, including Brandon Uranowitz, who won as best featured actor in a play for his dual roles in “Leopoldstadt.” Addressing his parents in the audience, Uranowitz said he wanted to repay them for their sacrifices. “But I work in the theater, so I can’t do that!” he declared.
The Tonys gave out special honors to two Broadway mainstays, 91-year-old actor Joel Grey and 96-year-old composer John Kander, who with his lyricist partner, the late Fred Ebb, wrote “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and a slew of other shows. Early in the evening, Kander accepted his award with a special tribute of his own.
“I am grateful to music,” he said, “which stayed my friend for my entire life and has promised to stay with me to the very end.”
Here’s The Winners List
Best Play
Ain't No Mo'
Between Riverside and Crazy
Cost of Living
Fat Ham
Leopoldstadt
Best Musical
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
New York, New York
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Best Revival of a Play
August Wilson's The Piano Lesson
A Doll's House
The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window
Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog
Best Revival of a Musical
Parade
Into the Woods
Lerner & Loewe's Camelot
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Book of a Musical
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
New York, New York
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Almost Famous
Kimberly Akimbo
KPOP
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog
Corey Hawkins, Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog
Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Wendell Pierce, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee Make History as First Nonbinary Actors Nominated for Tony Awards
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Chastain, A Doll's House
Jodie Comer, Prima Facie
Jessica Hecht, Summer, 1976
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Christian Borle, Some Like It Hot
J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot
Josh Groban, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Brian d'Arcy James, Into the Woods
Ben Platt, Parade
Colton Ryan, New York, New York
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sara Bareilles, Into the Woods
Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo
Lorna Courtney, & Juliet
Micaela Diamond, Parade
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper, Ain't No Mo'
Samuel L. Jackson, August Wilson's The Piano Lesson
Arian Moayed, A Doll's House
Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt
David Zayas, Cost of Living
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford, Fat Ham
Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ain't No Mo'
Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window
Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living
Kara Young, Cost of Living
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, Shucked
Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo
Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like It Hot
Jordan Donica, Lerner & Loewe's Camelot
Alex Newell, Shucked
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester, Into the Woods
Ruthie Ann Miles, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo
NaTasha Yvette Williams, Some Like It Hot
Betsy Wolfe, & Juliet
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Prima Facie
Life of Pi
Good Night, Oscar
Leopoldstadt
A Christmas Carol
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
New York, New York
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Lerner & Loewe's Camelot
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Best Costume Design of a Play
Life of Pi
Fat Ham
Leopoldstadt
Ain't No Mo'
Good Night, Oscar
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Some Like It Hot
Parade
Lerner & Loewe's Camelot
KPOP
& Juliet
New York, New York
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Leopoldstadt
Prima Facie
A Doll's House
Fat Ham
Life of Pi
Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
A Christmas Carol
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
New York, New York
Lerner & Loewe's Camelot
Parade
& Juliet
Some Like It Hot
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Sound Design of a Play
Ain't No Mo'
Life of Pi
A Christmas Carol
A Doll's House
Prima Facie
Best Sound Design of a Musical
New York, New York
Shucked
Into the Woods
& Juliet
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali, Fat Ham
Jo Bonney, Cost of Living
Jamie Lloyd, A Doll's House
Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt
Stevie Walker-Webb, Ain't No Mo'
Max Webster, Life of Pi
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Parade
Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot
Jack O'Brien, Shucked
Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo
Best Choreography
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Some Like It Hot
New York, New York
& Juliet
KPOP
Best Orchestrations
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
New York, New York
Congrats to all the winners!
Silvio Berlusconi, Former Italian Leader And Media Tycoon, Dies At 86
Silvio Berlusconi, the former populist prime minister and media tycoon who defied a succession of scandals to tower over Italian public life for decades, has died. He was 86.
Berlusconi’s Mediaset television network announced his death on Monday alongside a smiling photo of the man on its homepage. A cause of death was not immediately clear.
Italy's longest-serving premier, Berlusconi formed the country's largest media company before using his fame and wealth as the launchpad for a political career that saw him lead Italy three times.
He rode out sex scandals and criminal investigations to remain influential in Italian politics until the last. His Forza Italia party helped bring down the government of then-Prime Minister Mario Draghi in July last year. Months earlier he put himself forward as a candidate for Italy's presidency.
This was despite years of ill health, diagnosed with leukemia in April and with a history of heart surgery, prostate cancer and hospitalization with Covid-19. He was admitted to the hospital Friday for what doctors described as a regular check up related to a lung infection.
Political allies paid tribute Monday to a man who fiercely divided opinion but had nevertheless been a cornerstone of Italian life for more than 40 years.
Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Berlusconi "a fighter" and "a man who was never afraid to defend his conviction." Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party also helped bring down Draghi last year, said he was "one of the most influential men in the history of Italy."
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called him a "great Italian" and said he had lost a "great friend." And Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said his death marked the "end of an era."
Even Berlusconi's rivals conceded his outsized legacy.
"Many loved him, many hated him: everyone today must recognize that his impact on political but also economic, sporting and television life was unprecedented," Matteo Renzi, the country's former center-left prime minister, said on Twitter.
From broadcasting to bunga bunga
Born in Milan on Sept. 29, 1936, Berlusconi was the son of a middle-class banker.
Once a singer on a cruise ship in his younger days, he became a household name as a property tycoon and owner of the storied soccer club A.C. Milan but built his fortune — and his brand — through his media empire.
Silvio Berlusconi in Milan in 1977. He made his fortune through construction and TV broadcasting before launching his political career.Edoardo Fornaciari / Getty Images file
He served as prime minister in three separate stints, from 1994 to 1995, from 2001 to 2006 and from 2008 to 2011
But he was just as well known for his controversial private life, where sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption followed him for years.
He spent much of the past 30 years embroiled in legal battles and faced 35 criminal court cases, but only one for tax fraud led to a definitive conviction.
Berlusconi gained worldwide notoriety as the host of so-called bunga bunga parties, private dinners that allegedly led to shows performed by young and attractive guests.
An Italian court acquitted Berlusconi in February over allegations of paying witnesses to lie in an underage prostitution case that has dogged the former prime minister for more than a decade.
Berlusconi was accused of bribing 24 people, mostly young, female guests at the parties, in a previous trial where he was charged with paying for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan nightclub dancer.
But despite the scandals Berlusconi remained an active politician until his death.
He sat in the Senate, the Italian Parliament’s upper house, and yet again stirred controversy in recent months by criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, putting him at odds with Meloni’s right-wing coalition government.
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia Party is part of the government, but he did not have a role himself. He was also a member of the European Parliament.
Forza had found itself outflanked on the right of Italian politics in recent years, first by Salvini's party, The League, and then by the Brothers of Italy, the far-right, anti-immigrant party led by Meloni.
Berlusconi was a long-time friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, no matter the controversy it caused.
He said the pair had rekindled their affections in October, at the height of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when the Russian leader sent him “20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter” on his 86th birthday. “I have been declared by him as the first of his five real friends,” Berlusconi said at the time.
Putin paid tribute on Monday, hailing Berlusconi as "a dear person, a true friend."
Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian leader accused of dismantling his country’s democracy, tweeted: “Gone is the great fighter.”
Berlusconi had enjoyed the support of the powerful Catholic Church for much of his career, but in 2009 after the latest x-rated allegation about his private life, he declared: "I'm not a saint, you've all understood that."
Marlon Wayans Cited For 'Disturbing The Peace' Following Altercation With 'Rude' United Agent
Marlon Wayans is forced to miss his upcoming show due to an incident with United Airlines. While the actor/comedian insists that he's not to be blamed for it, police have issued him a citation related to the incident.
According to a spokesperson for the Denver Police Department, Marlon was involved in an altercation with a gate agent from United Airlines on Friday, June 9. After speaking with all parties, cops slapped him with a citation for disturbing the peace.
The "Scary Movie" star allegedly was upset when he was instructed to check a bag during the boarding process. While it was a common request, the actor reportedly wasn't having any of it. He angrily slammed his ticket on the counter and proceeded to board the plane despite the gate agent's attempt to stop him. His behavior prompted the gate agent to call for security.
A source close to Marlon, however, claimed that he was first told he had to consolidate his bag. But he was then told he had to check the bag altogether. Marlon was eventually escorted off the plane about 30 minutes later. A video obtained by TMZ saw the actor looking pissed while leaving the airport.
Following the incident, Marlon took to Twitter to blast United. "If this is how @UnitedAirlines_ treats their first class customers…. I'd rather fly any competitor coach. Sorry KC I'm gonna miss tonight's shows due to a United gate agent who probably hated white chicks," Marlon, who was set to perform Friday night at Kansas City Improv, tweeted. He's referring to his 2004 movie "White Chicks" that also features his brother Shawn Wayans.
"KC… my apologies. It's not my fault blame the gate agent and @UnitedAirlines_ can't believe they allow their first class customers to be treated this way. I need corporate to reach out DM me. This agent was rude," he further fumed. In another tweet, he wrote, "So petty. I fly hundreds of thousands of miles every year. I will be sure not to spend my first class money on @united."
Marlon Wayans blasted United on Twitter after an argument with a gate agent.
Meanwhile, United issued its own statement regarding the matter. "In Denver on Friday, a customer who had been told he would have to gate-check his bag instead pushed past a United employee at the jetbridge and attempted to board the aircraft," a spokesperson told TMZ. "The customer won't be flying on United to his destination."
Zion Williamson’s Stepfather Defends Pelicans Star Amid Social Media Scandal
After the announcement hit social media earlier this week that Zion Williamson and his girlfriend are expecting their first child together, adult film star Moriah Mills tweeted a series of NSFW posts blasting the Pelicans star and claiming she had recently had relations with him.
In his first public appearance since the social media scandal engulfed him earlier this week, Williamson attended an event for his foundation on Friday. During the event, he pledged $250,000 to the Jefferson Parish school system to help cover uniform costs for children who have to attend new schools due to consolidations in the area.
His stepfather, Anderson Lee, also spoke at the charity event on Friday, defending Williamson emphatically without speaking on the week’s events directly.
“I wanna say this and I want to be politically correct when I say it. That’s my son and I love him,” he began, per Fox 8 New Orleans. “You know, when I was a child, I walked like a child. I talked like a child … did childish things. But when I became a man, what I understood … is that God blessed me. So all I’m gonna say this morning is believe half of what you see and nothing you hear. That’s all I’m gonna say. I stand by my son 100%.”
The two embraced after Williamson’s stepdad concluded his speech following a tough week for the Pelicans star.
Nia Long says her 11-year-old son's school allowed the N-word to go uncensored during a recital
Nia Long wants to see some accountability after claiming that a racial epithet was not censored in a song that was played at her youngest son’s school.
“What is this world coming to? I attended my son’s school for a dance recital, and a song was played featuring the N-word. Somebody has some explaining to do. I will not sit in silence. I will not tolerate perpetual gaslighting,” she tweeted late Friday (June 9) evening. Long shares her 11-year-old son, Kez Sunday Udoka, with her ex-fiancé, Ime Udoka.
The former couple were together for 13 years before their split was confirmed in early December of last year. The end of the relationship came on the heels of the former Boston Celtics head coach being caught in a scandalous affair with a staffer. He was subsequently suspended and ultimately let go by the franchise. In April, he was announced as the new coach of the Houston Rockets.
When it comes to her children, Long is fiercely protective and devoted. “My life is full. My heart is full. God has been good to us. My greatest gifts. Happy Mother’s Day to those building up our kids. Mothers come in all forms. I love you Massai Dorsey and Kezzie,” she wrote in an Instagram post in May. She also shares a 22-year-old son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, from a previous relationship with her former actor beau, Massai Z. Dorsey.
While it is unclear what song Long took issue with, it still sparked a flurry of reactions. “Get on ‘em… be[cause] silence is complicity,” wrote one person. Another commented, “The directors or teachers should be held accountable for that. Who would pick a song like that for a dance recital[?] Instrumentals, maybe.” A third person wrote, “Couldn’t even play an edited version? The word itself is vile but virtually inescapable. You would think adults would understand it’s not appropriate for any school-related function.”
The use of the N-word has come under fire in hip hop for years. While artists and fans alike argue that the culture flipped the negative connotation by dropping the “er,” there is still an abundance of disdain for the slur. In 2007, the NAACP held a burial ceremony in downtown Detroit for the racist term that dates back to times of enslavement in America.
Naomi Watts Has Married Billy Crudup
Naomi Watts is sharing an inside look at her wedding to Billy Crudup. The Watcher star, 54, posted a series of behind-the-scenes photos from her wedding day on her Instagram Story over the weekend, shortly after confirming her marriage to Crudup, also 54, on Saturday.
In a first photo, Watts and Crudup wore their wedding day attire, with the new bride leaning into Crudup with her hair styled in a tousled bob, as the Morning Show actor wore a navy blue suit jacket, white shirt and buttonhole flower.
Both newlyweds smiled happily for the camera, while Watts proudly labeled Crudup her “hubby” in text over the image.
Watts’ wedding dress was shared in full-length in the next photo, which showed the actress standing outside and holding a bouquet of white flowers, which she revealed in a follow-up post were "from the deli!!"
She next shared an image of the newlyweds having some "fun" with friends. Still in their wedding wear, Crudup stood behind Watts with his arms wrapped around her, as the couple were joined by Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney, as well as Josh Hamilton and Lily Thorne.
“Happy birthday to @jhamilton,” Watts wrote over the image. “A little bit of fun with husband…@markruffalo @sunnyspop_retail and lovely Lily.”
On Sunday, the actress gave more glimpses into her wedding day, then thanking those involved in creating her bridal look.
"So grateful for these two who've been there for a solid 18 years. Love them so so much," Watts wrote above a photograph that showed her smiling in her wedding dress while standing beside hairstylist Ryan Trygstad and makeup artist Kyra Panchenko.
Another photo showed the trio with Watts' manager, Jason De Beer, who poked his head into the bottom of the shot. The actress wrote: "And @jasondebeer!!! So beyond grateful for you."
The actress bought "flowers from the deli" for her wedding
Watts confirmed her marriage to Crudup — whom she began dating in 2017 — in an Instagram post on Saturday, a day after the pair sparked marriage rumors when they were spotted in wedding gear in photos obtained by Page Six.
Watts shared a photo of herself and Crudup in front of what appeared to be a Manhattan courthouse with wide smiles as she held onto a bouquet of white flowers.
"Hitched! 🕊️🪢♥️," Watts simply captioned the photo.
Tracee Ellis Ross Opens Up About Dishonest Journalism, Getting Snubbed by Jay Leno’s Booker and Tribeca Thriller ‘Cold Copy’
It’s all about the framing of a news story “We’re seeing it now, how a narrative can change the truth,” says Tracee Ellis Ross as she slides into a plush chair in her Los Angeles home. There’s no particular trending story on her mind. The actress and sometimes director is simply musing about the state of clickbait journalism and America’s eroding trust in the media. The topic is front and center in her latest movie, the Fourth Estate thriller “Cold Copy,” in which Ross plays Diane Hager, an esteemed yet cutthroat TV journalist who begins mentoring an ambitious wannabe (Bel Powley), eventually leading them both down a morally bankrupt path.
“There’s a way that you can tell stories, you can create a frame around a story that completely changes the identity of a human being, their humanity,” Ross says. “I think Diane Hager really is a part of that system.”
As the middle daughter of music icon Diana Ross and business manager Robert Ellis Silberstein, the “Black-ish” star witnessed firsthand how her mother’s story often was shaped into a pat narrative that bore little resemblance to reality. She even had a front row seat when the elder Ross sat for some of the biggest TV personalities.
“My mom was interviewed by Barbara Walters multiple times,” she notes. “And Oprah numerous times. And I was interviewed, too. There very clear differences between what it felt like being interviewed by Oprah and what it felt like being interviewed by Barbara Walters. I will keep those to myself. But there was a distinct difference in feeling.”
With “Cold Copy,” Ross’ antagonist is a next-level shark, taking pleasure with her subjects squirming under questioning in a craven pursuit of ratings. Written and directed by newcomer Roxine Helberg, the film sees Ross shedding her own identity (“Just physically, I talk with my hands. I don’t know if you noticed, but Diane did not do a lot of hand-talking,” says Ross, gesturing wildly. “I smile all the time. I laugh all the time. I don’t think Diane Hager smiled unless she felt like she had manipulated somebody. And it wasn’t a smile. It was a smirk.”). Says Helberg: “Tracee is just charisma embodied, but then she can really plumb these incredible emotional depths when she wants to, and it’s so effortless. And that’s so perfect for Diane because you need the audience to fall under her spell. So, when cracks start to show, it has real impact.”
As “Cold Copy” makes its world premiere tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival, Ross won’t be alone in the audience. “My dad will be there,” she says. “Unfortunately, my mom is on tour.” In the runup to the film’s debut, Ross sat down for Variety to talk about finding inspiration in Katie Couric’s memoir and how “I never was OK with” the indignities actresses endured in pre-#MeToo Hollywood.
Did you see any parallels between the news business and Hollywood?
Ross: Of course. [laughs] The system has created a need for that kind of cutthroat-ness. I don’t think you have to be that [unethical] person. But I think it is the easiest path, and, unfortunately, you lose your soul in the process. I hope in my own journey in Hollywood that there have been no casualties to my success. Not that I had to make a choice that would make me lose my soul. I do think that people [choose] the other side, and their integrity has been compromised. We’ve seen it. We’re hearing a lot of those stories now.
How has the #MeToo reckoning changed things?
Ross: I think the shift in the world we’re living in — if you use #MeToo as an example — for women is the revelation, “I don’t have to subject myself to that.” Generations of women were taught, “That’s just part of it. That’s the tax you have to pay.” But then the tide changes, and somebody is courageous enough to come forward, or somebody finds a weakness in the system and is able to break it open. And then everybody gets to go, “Oh, I don’t have to do that anymore. Like, I never liked that. I never was OK with it. But I didn’t know how to make it [otherwise].”
What made you take a chance with a first-time director?
Ross: Roxine is an incredibly intelligent woman, who has a really deep emotional intelligence. Her dad was a therapist. She has an ability to write that [moral dilemma] into the material, which I think Bel and I saw in the script and why we signed on. I also love working with new directors. One of my favorite things as an actor, when I’m not directing, is really just showing up to be of service to the director’s vision and storytelling. I find it really exciting, especially when it’s a woman. Being able to say, “What do you want this to be? And how can I help be of service to that and create something together with you?”
What was Roxine’s initial pitch to you?
Ross: The script was first. And I was just very intrigued by the character. I started sort of pulling the character apart. When I first read the script, I had a lot of questions. And there were a lot of things that needed to be reconciled. It wasn’t written for a Black woman. But as a Black woman, there were certain lines and certain things that kind of didn’t gel. And I also really wanted to make sure that this didn’t perpetuate [the stereotypes of female] competition in the wrong way. So Roxine and I had a lot of conversations, back and forth. And it was the same thing when we were working. There wasn’t a lot that needed to be changed about the core of the script, but I wanted to know what Roxine’s working style was and how we were going to be able to get into some of the darker stuff. It was just a really interesting story about two women that we don’t normally see.
A story of two women similar to the one you told in “The High Note” with Dakota Johnson.
Ross: That was my that was one of my concerns at first, honestly, that it was it too much alike if you were to take just the skeleton of it. When you pulled back, was it the same story? But it felt very different to me. Obviously, the character was completely different. As I dove in with Roxine, there was so much more to it. There was such a different layering of what we were trying to get to. “High Note” was about how the system sort of pigeonholes a woman in in the [music] industry, and “Cold Copy” is how a woman has used the system, all the wrong things and the bad parts of the system, to get herself to a certain place. And then her protege is the one that takes her down, as opposed to the opposite. It’s really interesting to play somebody who’s on the wrong side of things.
What did you do to prepare for the role?
Ross: I read Katie Couric’s book [“Going There”]. I read a fantastic book about all of the big female newscasters. The realization for me is how few female on-camera journalists have gotten to a place where we know their name. The book goes into all of their journeys. There’s a common thread: They’re the only [women] in the room. So I was thinking of what this trajectory must have been for Diane and what she would have had to have been in order to move forward and be in the position that she was in.
What has been your career highlight so far?
Ross: Winning the Golden Globe [for “Black-ish”]. I had never been to the Emmys. I’d never been to the Golden Globes. I couldn’t get on a late night talk show. I remember when I was on “Girlfriends,” Jay Leno’s talent person saying to my publicist, “We love Tracee. Call us when she gets a role that we care about.” So that was my experience in the industry. The industry was a lot more segregated at the time. So winning the Golden Globe, from an ego perspective, it’s like “Blah, blah, blah, really great.” But winning is a marker for the industry. It changes something about how you are seen, particularly as a person of color in this industry, and how you are paid. That moment at the Golden Globes really shifted my career into a different place. I’ve always been the same person. But it changed some other things.
What do you love most about Hollywood?
Ross: I love that Hollywood is an industry that is meant to support creative dreams. And that there is a sense of being able to tell stories that expand humanity and our understanding of ourselves and each other. And when entertainment is done right, it has the ability to open minds and hearts and really change the course of the world. There are studies that say culture pushes policy.
And what do you hate most about Hollywood?
The hard part is there’s a lot of frustrating moments. You’re pushing up against a system that honestly is not made for expansive liberation. I luckily come from a family where I was taught to not only know who I am, I was given an environment to thrive and blossom and become who I am and to trust who I am and to use my voice to not be afraid of authority. To not be afraid of the status quo, but instead to use my own inner compass as a way to navigate life. So, Hollywood doesn’t scare me.
Who influenced you more, your mom or your dad?
Ross: I gotta tell you, it’s both. I get my sense of humor from my dad. He and I are so much alike. I spent more time with my mom. She was my sole parent for the majority of my childhood. I’m so much like my mother and I’m so much like my father. I don’t know who influenced me more. But I think my career has been more influenced by my dad.
Any career regrets?
Ross: Nah. I’ve had such an amazing run. I did eight years on “Girlfriends” and eight years on “Black-ish.” That’s 16 years of my life. I had four months off [a year], two of those I was trying to recover from the season. And then, if you’re going to squeeze a movie in there, it better be a good one. During “Girlfriends,” I wasn’t getting those offers. During the years of “Black-ish,” I did the things that I wanted to do when they came up. Since “Black-ish,” I’ve done three movies and put out a podcast and I have a hair company. I’ve stayed pretty busy. And “Cold Copy” just feels really exciting to me. It’s [a character] I’ve never seen in myself. Even when Roxine sent me the poster picture, it took me a minute to remember that was me. I was like, “Who is this?” It doesn’t even look like me.
Reps For Supermodel Irina Shayk Shut Down Tom Brady Rumors: 'It Is A Totally Malicious And Fictional Account'
Representatives for Irina Shayk are vigorously denying reports that the Russian supermodel "threw herself" at newly single, and newly retired, football great Tom Brady at a lavish wedding in Sardinia, Italy.
The rumors of Shayk's pursuit of the beloved former quarterback came out last week in a Page Six report that claimed Shayk made “a beeline” for Brady, 45, at the exotic wedding of billionaire Joe Nahmad and model Madison Headrick, which was held at the luxurious Hotel Cala di Volpe. The piece read that Shayk, 37, "scarcely let [Brady] out of her sight," and "followed him around" the festivities "all weekend," and that she was even "throwing herself at him" at the nuptials, which also welcomed big-name guests including Leonardo DiCaprio and Serena and Venus Williams.
The report added that Brady, who split from supermodel Gisele Buündchen, his wife of 13 years, in 2022, "wasn't interested" in pursuing anything with Shayk.
In response to the allegations, a representative for Shayk told Page Six that the claim is “totally fictional.” Cheri Bowen, vice president of The Society Management, also told DailyMail.com: that "this story is completely false. It is a totally malicious and fictional account of the evening."
Last week, a friend of Shayk's told DailyMail.com that Shayk and Brady's relationship was simply "platonic."
"They’re just friends. They have a purely platonic relationship," the friend claimed.
Shayk is the latest female celebrity who has been linked — accurately or not — to Brady since his divorce last fall, with insiders recently shutting down speculation about him and Kim Kardashian.
The model shares a 6-year-old daughter, Lea, with actor Bradley Cooper. Despite the fact that the couple split in 2019, they're frequently seen spending time together while out and about with their daughter.
Teddy Riley Defends Supporting Donald Trump in Spite of 37 Count Indictment
*The man who wrote produced and performed the smash hit song and Summer anthem “No Diggity,” Teddy Riley has shocked the crap out of a lot of folks after declaring his support for Donald Trump after his Federal indictment on 37 counts.
Not surprisingly, Riley’s support for Trump has drawn a lot of attention, particularly due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022.
On the other hand, the legendary songwriter/producer/artist has chosen to address the backlash. In response to online criticism, Riley is speaking out and sharing his personal motivations and beliefs as to why he is not bailing on Trump.
After it was reported that Trump was being indicted for a second time, he took to social media to react, reports TheYBF.
“I AM AN INNOCENT MAN,” Trump wrote on Instagram. “THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TOTALLY CORUPT. THIS IS ELECTION INTERFERENCE & CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!”
Responding to the online criticism and accusations of supporting a figure many consider to be racist, Teddy offered a personal explanation for his support.
He told The Shade Room that one of the reasons he’s embracing Trump is because the ex-prez released his older brother, Lou Hobbs, from prison. Hobbs, who had been serving a double life sentence, was granted clemency during Trump’s presidency. Riley interpreted Trump’s act as having the ability to facilitate change and offer second chances to those in need, specifically people of color.
Man Found 3 Severed Heads at Desk After Complaining About ‘Deplorable’ Work Conditions
Transportation coordinator Dale Wheatley said that he found three severed heads left next to his desk after he complained about the conditions of bodies donated to the company he works at, Anatomical Gift Association, in Chicago.
Per People, Wheatley filed a police report when he discovered three heads in a storage tub by his desk, which he said was in retaliation to complaints he made about his job. "At first I was confused," Wheatley said. "My boss walked by, and I asked him why the heads were at my desk. He said they need to get back with their bodies so we can send them to cremation."
During his five years at the job, he had never seen body parts placed by his desk. The human remains are typically supposed to be kept in designated storage areas, where they are kept until they are sent to medical schools for students to use. When the parts are used by medical students, they are returned and cremated so the ashes can be returned to families. "I asked him why they were at my desk," Wheatley added. "And he said, 'I don't know Dale, there's a lot of strange things going on.'"
The 37-year-old Wheatley said that he also recently found smoldering sage in the company's office, which he took as an indication that he was an "evil spirit" that needed "warding off." The month prior to the discovery of the heads, Wheatley said he complained that some donated bodies were not being handled properly, resulting in rotting. In some instances, rats chewed on several cadavers after breaking through storage bags.
During a press conference this week, Wheatley said that donors had been sent back because of mold, rot, and bugs. "It's deplorable," he said. "This job has severely weighed on me over the years."
Per the Chicago Tribune, the executive vice president of the Anatomical Gift Association denied Wheatley's claims but acknowledged that some bodies arrive at the facility "twisted" or "emaciated." “We accept every donor,” he said. “And we make a commitment to the donor that their bodies will be studied.”
Kanye Hit With Lawsuit by Photographer of Image He Used When Antagonizing ‘Vogue’ Editor
Kanye West has been hit with another lawsuit. According to TMZ, photographer Michaela Efford is suing West for using her photo of Vogue contributing editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson without Efford’s permission. Ye posted the image to his Instagram back in October as he antagonized Karefa-Johnson online and in interviews.
Efford has alleged that West's use of her picture means she can’t market or make money from it. Efford is pursuing unspecific damages in the lawsuit.
The largely one-sided beef between Kanye and Karefa-Johnson dates back to October, when Ye wore a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt at his YZY SZN 9 presentation. Karefa-Johnson shared her thoughts on the situation on her Instagram Stories, calling the phrasing on his shirt “pure violence.”
He then took to his Instagram to insult her. He posted Efford’s photo and incorrectly asserted that Gabriella Karefa-Johnson is “not a fashion person.”
Ye is the subject of at least three other publicized lawsuits. One was filed by teachers from his Donda Academy school, another by a photographer who accuses him of throwing her phone, and the third lawsuit involves Gap.
Nazis Protest Outside Of Walt Disney World
On Saturday, a group of protesters gathered outside Walt Disney World theme park in Florida, holding signs featuring Nazi imagery and messages in support of the state’s controversial governor, Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis, who recently announced his candidacy for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has been engaged in a prolonged dispute with the Walt Disney Company for over a year. The conflict originated when the entertainment company opposed the Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
In response, the Republican governor targeted Disney’s Florida theme park, introducing legislation that revoked the park’s special self-governance zone, which granted Disney significant autonomy in managing the land, according to Newsweek.
Disney, in turn, has countered DeSantis’s actions through legal means, including a recent lawsuit against the state government. The company alleges that it has faced unlawful political retaliation for exercising its right to free speech.
This ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the governor’s standing as a political leader.
DeSantis dismissed the lawsuit as “political” and lacking merit, asserting that the state of Florida will no longer allow any company to operate without accountability.
On Saturday, images and videos circulated on social media depicting a small group of protesters gathered near the prominent sign at the entrance roadway to Disney World. They carried signs and flags adorned with Nazi imagery, including swastikas. Some displayed signs and banners featuring DeSantis’s face and messages endorsing his 2024 presidential campaign.
Anna V. Eskamani, a Democratic Florida State Representative whose district encompasses the Orlando metropolitan area, was among the first to share a video of the protestors, expressing her disgust at the presence of Nazis outside Walt Disney World.
Activist and organizer Shannon Watts tweeted, “Two dozen white supremacists are currently outside the main entrance of Disney World in Orlando, marching with signs featuring Gov. DeSantis’s face, swastikas, the n-word, and homophobic slurs. This is the 2023 Republican Party.”
The presence of protesters displaying Nazi imagery and hate-filled messages has sparked outrage and condemnation from various individuals and groups, highlighting the concerning nature of the situation.
Apparently It Isn’t!
Guess not.
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