#MAGFAB: Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson For Harper’s Bazaar. Believe Political Change Is Possible!
“The Justins,” as they’re now known, are Harper’s Bazaar Icons for 2023. Below, they explain what brought them into politics and where they find hope for the future.
JUSTIN JONES
Idon’t look like the other elected officials in the building. In fact, I was told that I should cut my hair and assimilate. But I know that we have to represent a new model of what legislators can look like. Someone who does not assimilate or accommodate white supremacy and these “norms” of what we’re supposed to be and who we’re supposed to appeal to and how we’re supposed to curtail our identities in order to be accepted in a space. We represent a new South.
I’m Black, but I’m also Filipino and Indigenous, and I bring all those identities with me into this legislature every day. My family wasn’t overtly political. I grew up raised by my grandmothers, and they didn’t teach me politics necessarily, but they did teach me about justice. What does it look like to build a beloved community? What does it look like to think about our ancestors and the generations that will follow after us?
When I was elected in 2022, I was the youngest Black lawmaker in our state. I ran against a city council member [in the primary] who had all the endorsements and support, but I recognized that our generation didn’t have a voice in the Capitol. I was tired of begging my now colleagues to hear our voices. I was tired of begging to be let in the door. Running for office was a way to make sure our issues were heard.
“We have to represent a new model of what legislators can look like.”
Doing this work here is so critical because the South has really been the front line of so many battles in our nation throughout history. This is where we need bold voices for progressive change, and I think it’s welcome. I believe that’s why we see so many laws to try to suppress any type of revolutionary change. They know that if we step forward and build these coalitions and do the work of the progressive movement, we have the numbers on our side.
I remember people telling me before we got expelled, “Go in there and be apologetic”— basically bow down to the speaker and then maybe they won’t expel you. But I knew that that’s not what I was going to do. We’re the two youngest Black lawmakers; I’m 27, Pearson is 28. If they were not threatened by us and our generation, they would not have expelled us.
Every time you see them react in extreme ways, it is confirmation that we have power and that we need to seize our platform. I think defeatism is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I reject it because I believe that the world that I want to live in, the world that I want my children to live in, is worth fighting for.
JUSTIN J. PEARSON
Ihad no intentions about being a part of the environmental-justice movement, honestly. I’ve always cared deeply about justice but had not seen myself in that work or in that space. What happened—and this happens with a lot of moments and movements—is there are times where the movement calls us in to do something that’s different than we might otherwise do in order that justice might come forward.
I became engaged because I was proximate to the problem, and proximity is a necessary precursor to anybody who is engaged in a movement. You have to be proximate to know what the issues are, to understand who the people are, and to resist and to fight back. And that’s what we did.
We’re in a very difficult, harmful status quo that operates in death-dealing. Everything feels urgent because everything is urgent. We can’t afford to not act on all fronts. We’ve got too much poverty. We’ve got too many kids dying from guns. We’ve got too much health-care inequality. We’ve got too much wealth inequality. I believe that if we do nothing about the climate and environments of injustice, then the future that we inhabit will be one that is treacherous and terrible and ungodly.
“I take care of my community as passionately as I did before I ever had a title.”
What we have to be doing is stuff that is subversive to the way that things are. For legislators, that means using your voice and your platform to advocate for and write different laws. For teachers, that is to teach a curriculum that is inclusive and to tell kids that they matter and use their preferred pronouns and say their names. For preachers, that is to preach differently and to teach a gospel of love and liberation.
What will it take? Everything. Everyone will have to go all in with their resources and their talents and pedigrees and privilege and positions and authority and wealth. And if people think it’s robbery that they have to have to give something for us to have justice, that they have to have to put down their titles and pick up the cross of justice-building—if they think that’s robbery, then we are going to continue to move forward without them.
Because here’s the truth: The movement that we must build is open to everybody whose heart is open, whose spirit is open, whose mind is open, but our movements for justice do not have time to try and convince people of others’ humanity. That is not a good investment of time.
I serve in a people-powered, people-first way, because that’s the only way I know how to serve. I never thought of myself separate from being an activist. I’m an activist dash legislator—and it’s a good position to be in. I take care of my community as passionately as I did before I ever had a title.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore's Quest For Her Mother's Love is Traumatic at Minimum
Kenya Moore's relationship with her mother is extremely troubled and heartbreaking, with her mother refusing to even acknowledge her presence.
Kenya shares multiple instances of her mother's animosity towards her, including threatening to destroy her and trying to sabotage her beauty pageant career.
Kenya believes her mother may suffer from undiagnosed mental illness, and pursued a degree in psychology to better understand their toxic relationship. Despite her difficult upbringing, Kenya is determined to be a loving and caring mother to her own children.
Carlos King was joined by RHOA’s Kenya Moore on his podcast, Reality With the King, and in part one of the interview, fans learned a lot more about Kenya’s harrowing relationship with her mother. The details of her young life are absolutely shocking, and if you hated Kenya before, it’d certainly be difficult to do so now. Longtime viewers of the Bravo reality series are familiar with the basic story: Kenya's mother became pregnant as a young teenage mother, didn't want her, tried to keep the pregnancy a secret and Kenya was ultimately raised by her father and grandmother. The former beauty pageant queen's mother has never acknowledged her. But as Kenya opened up to Carlos, more heartbreaking details were revealed.
RHOA fans are well aware of the fact that Kenya’s relationship with her mother, Patricia, was not the best. In 2013 via a blog post on Bravo, Kenya shared that her mother won’t even acknowledge her presence when they’re in the same room together. In the blog, Kenya shares, “She has never spoken to me. Even if present in the same room with other people and family, she pretends that I simply don’t exist. She pretends I’m invisible.” In season 8, episode 10 of RHOA, Kenya attempts to speak with her mother by walking up to her house and knocking on the door. Her father urges her against doing this as he is well aware of how her mother feels about her. What makes this moment more difficult to watch is that she hears her mother lock the door and say not to open it to whomever she is in the house with.
During the interview, Kenya shares a few examples of her mother’s animosity towards her. It’s unfathomable to think that any person would treat a child that way, especially as a mother. She shared that when she was very young, she tried to tell her mother how she felt about the way she treated her. “She told me she would destroy me to my face,” she shared with Carlos, citing a particular incident from her childhood. As a child who was desperate to even be noticed by her mom, she recorded a plea with her cousin, and hid in the closet hoping her mother would listen to it. Her mother, however, sensing that someone was in the room, flew into a rage upon finding her. Kenya shared the horrifying thing her mother said to her that day, telling the young child: "I will dog you for the rest of your life. I will never be your friend.”
She went on to share with Carlos another story of her mother’s animosity, this time from the beginning of her beauty pageant career. She shared that her mother attempted to destroy her pageant career by getting one of her crowns taken away from her when she was 16 years old. “My mother was calling the pageant director and was telling her I was an alcoholic, I was dating this older man, I was all of these horrible things, and that I should not be her beauty queen. I was a horrible representation, and she tried to have my crown taken away," Kenya explained.
Kenya later shared with Carlos that she felt that her mother suffers from undiagnosed mental illness, and wanted to figure out what she suffered from, which made her decision to pursue a degree in psychology an easy one. Her relationship with her mother is clearly a toxic one. It seems as if her mother wasn’t just dismissive of Kenya, she outright hated her. According to psychologist Mary Grande, “Toxic mothers are disconnected from their own self. They lack the awareness, skills, and empathy to look inwards, reflect, and move towards healing… A toxic mother can have lasting and damaging effects on her daughter's life, through the way she treats her daughter, talks to her daughter, and sees her daughter. If you're the daughter of a toxic mother, it's likely that you grew up feeling unsupported, unloved, and unworthy. This deep sense of inadequacy can lead to a number of problems in adulthood, including codependency, low self-esteem, and difficulty setting boundaries.”
Luckily for Kenya, she had enough positive female influences in her life to allow her to grow up in such a way that she is able to be a good mother for her own daughter. Typically, situations involving a toxic mother raising a daughter creates an almost hopeless cycle. Perhaps her own experience growing up amplified her desire to be a caring mother to her own children, and it is evident based on what is seen on screen.
#MusicNews: Beyoncé and Amazon Music Drop Third “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” Collection
Beyoncé and Amazon Music unveiled the third installment of their exclusive “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” merchandise collection. Available now online, the fresh drop introduced five unique items.
Among the new offerings was the On Air Icon T-shirt, which featured an image of Bey on the front with symbolic imagery tied to the circuit adorned on the back. Meanwhile, the On Air baseball cap boasted a distinctive red logo and “RWT2023” inscription. Other pieces included a tote bag, as well as a gray and black hoodie.
These new items joined the previous capsules, which showcased merchandise linked to the musician’s songs like “VIRGO’s GROOVE,” “HEATED,” and “ALIEN SUPERSTAR.”
“‘RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR’ exclusive online collection. / Drop 3.0. / Amazon Music x Beyoncé,” the streaming platform tweeted earlier this morning. Priced at $30 to $65, the limited capsule is expected to be available while supplies last.
Beyoncé is currently on the North American leg of her “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR.” The remaining dates include stops in Miami, St. Louis, Las Vegas, Inglewood, and back-to-back nights in Houston. The arena run will conclude on Oct. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri.
On Monday (Aug. 14), the singer made headlines after showing support for Lizzo. “I love you, Lizzo,” Bey shouted to the crowd. It came as a surprise due to the ongoing lawsuit lodged against the Detroit native last month. Furthermore, she was accused of sexual harassment, disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment.
A day after the suit was made public, the music icon omitted the “Special” singer’s name during her Aug. 1 performance of “BREAK MY SOUL (THE QUEENS MIX).”
#HipHopNews: Polo G Announces Release Date For Upcoming Album 'HOOD POET'
“Numb, but not completely. Numb enough to grow in faith from my self-inflicted wounds. Numb enough to struggle with the words, ‘I love you.’ Numb enough to decline a good time but not numb enough to feel my own strength. The strength built from let downs of picking myself up,” he said in the clip.
“I heard whispers. I heard cries. I heard gunshots through the night. I heard paramedic sirens. I heard someone say, ‘It’ll be alright,'” Polo continued. “There is no live experience without confusion or heartbreak. My path and my destiny is what made me concrete. He overcame obstacles during pain or emotional trauma. HOOD POET.”
This will serve as the Chicago rapper’s first LP in over two years. Hall of Fame dropped in June of 2021 and was reissued as Hall of Fame 2.0 in December.
Elsewhere, the stream showcased a massive mural featuring a design synonymous with the album and previewed songs from the upcoming release. It was accompanied by a countdown to each preview so that fans could tune in at the right moment.
To commemorate the announcement, Polo purchased a new chain from Icebox. It was adorned with a massive heart-shaped pendant bearing the LP’s title. Alongside a goat (also an acronym for “greatest of all time,” a nod to his second project’s title), the piece also covered a microphone and a hand holding a pen in diamonds.
According to the press release, Polo worked closely with frequent collaborator Southside on HOOD POET to make it his most personal project to date. The acronym stands for “He overcame obstacles during pain or emotional trauma.”
Moreover, the lead single is titled “Barely Holdin’ On,” which will be released on Aug. 18. It will be joined by a companion music video directed by Arrad.
Sam Asghari Officially Files For Divorce From Britney Spears
Sam Asghari is wasting no time in parting ways with Britney Spears. The fitness trainer has filed for divorce from the singer to legally end their 14-month marriage, just hours after news broke that they called it quits.
The 29-year-old hunk cited the usual "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for ending the marriage, according to TMZ. He reportedly listed July 28, 2023 as the official date of he and Britney separated. He is asking for spousal support and attorneys fees.
In the docs, his lawyer Neal Hersh says Sam will contest the prenup. "[Sam] has yet to determine the full nature and extent of the separate property assets and obligations of each party," the documents reportedly state. "There are various items of community and quasi-community assets and debts, the full nature and extent of which are unknown to [Sam] at this time."
It was reported back then that when they tied the knot, Britney had Sam sign a prenup that maintains her assets as separate property. While it's unlikely that a judge would declare the prenup invalid, Britney is allegedly expected to write a check to Sam to end any issues regarding the prenup.
Meanwhile, Britney is being represented by a dream team of Hollywood lawyers amid the divorce. She has reportedly retained top divorce lawyer to the stars, Laura Wasser, and will continue to work with her powerhouse attorney Mathew Rosengart, who helped her out of her conservatorship, Variety has reported.
TMZ earlier reported that Britney and Sam split over cheating allegations. The model reportedly confronted his wife over rumors suggesting that she cheated on him, leading to a huge fight between them. He has reportedly since moved out of their house and is now living in his own place. One insider pointed out, "It's only a matter of time before Sam files for divorce."
A source additionally told ET, "She's adamant she didn't cheat. The two haven't got along for a while and it finally came to an end after a major blowup." The 41-year-old pop star reportedly "has not been doing well" amid the split. "She has been denying any cheating allegations and going through a lot of emotions," the source shared.
"She is hurt because the situation brings up old feelings for her. This is the last thing she needed, especially after her boys moved to Hawaii, being worried about the fires there, and so on," the source explained. "She has been trying to get back on her feet and be healthy emotionally, physically, and mentally. Britney has people by her side and her immediate circle is there for her. They are rallying around her."
Of the rumored rift, another source claimed, "Britney and Sam have had ups and downs throughout their relationship. They have a lot of love for each other, but they also argue a lot over fundamental issues. Sometimes they feel as though each other's needs aren't being completely met. Recently, things took a bad turn and their arguments became more serious and real."
A separate source said that Britney and Sam "have had issues on and off as a couple since before they were married." The source continued, "Their issues tend to get worse when they are away from each other and spending time apart. Britney has the tendency to feel like she isn't being prioritized by Sam at times. Their arguments have led them to become unhappy at times in their relationship. They are also on different pages when it comes to their future as a couple, which has been a point of contention."
Britney and Sam got married at her California home in June 2022 after dating since 2016.
Keke Palmer And Darius Jackson Still 'Love Each Other' Amid Split Rumors After Mom-Shaming Drama
Despite reports that the fitness instructor/actor has "moved on" following their public drama, a source claims that the pair still "love each other," but there are things they need to resolve. "They love each other," the source tells Us Weekly. "But they keep their life very private."
The so-called insider adds that "those close to them hope they can work things out for the sake of themselves and their child," before noting, "It's their own lives." The insider goes on stressing, "They have to resolve things on their own."
PEOPLE previously seemed to confirm that Keke and Darius have broken up following his controversial comments on her revealing outfit. "He's moved on," the outlet cited a source as saying on Wednesday, August 16.
Darius threw shade at his partner Keke after she attended Usher's Las Vegas residency show in July, during which she was spotted wearing a "booty cheeks" getup. Responding to a clip of his girlfriend dancing with the R&B crooner at the concert, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "It's the outfit tho.. you a mom."
He later doubled down on his comment in a follow-up tweet which read, "We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn't want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others." Justifying his criticism, he stated, "This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe." He finally concluded, "I rest my case."
Hinting at a rift in their relationship, Keke and Darius later unfollowed each other on Instagram. In an interview with The Cut, the 29-year-old defended showing off her postpartum body. "It's like, that's not something to hide, that's something to embrace. We're going to lean into this new body," she declared.
Recently, Keke appeared to troll Darius in Usher's "Boyfriend" music video. In a scene, she wakes up in bed and takes a call from the R&B singer after a night out with her friends. "S**t, I'm so tired… I am a mother, after all," she says, winking at the camera. The "Nope" star seemingly makes a reference to her baby daddy's comment about her see-through dress.
Jennifer Lopez appears to be following the drama. After the music video was released, the "Marry Me" actress dropped her comment by writing, "savage" with a laugh-crying emoji.
YouTuber IShowSpeed fans left in shock by extremely NSFW mishap on live stream just days after his big comeback
YOUTUBER IShowSpeed has left fans in shock after he flashed almost 25,000 viewers on a live stream.
The streamer - real name Darren Watkins Jr - is now under fire just days after he made his long-awaited return to YouTube.
Speed suffered a severe sinus infection last month that left his right eye swollen shut.
He was also diagnosed with cluster headaches, which are a result of a rare condition that causes random, painful headaches on one side of the head.
"I have this thing called a cluster headache right now. A deadly headache disease," he said in a video.
"I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't do anything right now."
Despite the fears, Speed was able to come back to streaming on August 15 and celebrated achieving 19million subscribers on YouTube.
However, the very next day, Speed found himself in an embarrassing situation that could easily see him banned from YouTube.
A shocking video shows Speed getting scared while playing Five Nights at Freddy's.
He begins yelling at one of the characters, stands up, and at one point, ends up exposing himself to an audience of 24,600 people.
He quickly sat back down after realizing what happened.
Speed seemed to be shocked himself and is heard saying: "Oh, my god," before ending the stream.
Clips of the moment quickly made the rounds on social media as fans expressed their horror over what happened.
"ISHOWSPEED DID WHAT?" wrote one Twitter user.
"IShowSpeed had a canon event," wrote another user, referencing the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse film.
And a parent fumed: "My 11-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter are both huge IShowSpeed fans. After seeing him just show his d*ng to all of his viewers, I speak for all parents when I say that we will not tolerate this.
"Ours kids will no longer watch his streams and are unsubscribing to his channel."
Fellow streamers Adin Ross and Sneako shared their thoughts with Ross believing it was likely faked.
"It was a joke," said Sneako.
Many fans speculated that Speed might get banned from the platform right after making his big comeback.
According to YouTube, content that includes "the depiction of clothed or unclothed genitals, breasts, or buttocks that are meant for sexual gratification," is banned, including "the depiction of sexual acts, or fetishes that are meant for sexual gratification."
At the time of writing, Speed's YouTube account is still active, however, fans are sure that it won't be long until it gets hit with a ban.
During Speed's hospitalization in Tokyo, Japan, following his illness, fans gathered outside the hospital to show support.
Fans chanted his name and shared messages wishing him a quick recovery.
One subscriber responded to his latest YouTube video with: "We are here for YOU SPEEDY !"
Another said: "It’s OK Speed, just know you have all of us here with you to support and pray for you. I hope you feel much better.
"Take a break from everything. Just relax. That will most likely help a lot. We love you and support you!"
"Things like this show us that streamers are human too and we gotta respect them, and especially protect speed at all costs. Sending my prayers, you're gonna get out soon speed," another fan said.
Speed, an avid soccer fan, also made headlines in recent months after repeated attempts to meet Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo - which he finally accomplished in June.
His reaction to Messi scoring a late game-winning free-kick during his debut for MLS team Inter Miami on July 21 went viral.
"If he scores this free kick, I'm a Messi fan," he said while wearing a Ronaldo jersey.
A stunned Speed subsequently turned to the camera and pulled off his jersey to reveal a Messi jersey underneath as he celebrated.
Paramount Global Drops Plan to Sell Majority Stake in BET
According to The Wall Street Journal, the company announced Wednesday that it would end the bidding process for the unit — which includes VH1 and BET Studios, streamer BET+ and the BET channel —because “a sale wouldn’t result in any meaningful deleveraging of its balance sheet, the people said.” Paramount Global had received bids ranging from approximately $2 billion to $3 billion.
Variety exclusively reported in March that Sean “Diddy” Combs was among the bidders who expressed interested in the majority stake, joining fellow media moguls Tyler Perry and Byron Allen in pursuing the acquisition of the network.
Combs has previously worked with Paramount Global, producing three iterations of MTV’s “Making the Band” between 2002 and 2009. The rapper, record producer and executive is already the owner of network Revolt, which reaches roughly 80 millions households today. Back in March, a source close to Combs told Variety that Combs is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse,” which he believes is “better for the business, for the culture and for building wealth in the Black community.”
Perry currently owns a minority stake in BET and also produces a large portion of the programming available on BET and BET+, the latter of which he helped launch in 2019. Meanwhile, Allen purchased the Black News Channel for $11 million, and his production company Allen Media Group invested over $1 billion in the last three years to acquire 27 NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates.
'Blind Side' star Quinton Aaron defends Sandra Bullock amid recent Michael Oher claims
As previously reported, court documents filed on Monday (Aug. 14) accused Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family of tricking former NFL star Michael Oher into an exploitative conservatorship, a far cry from the adoption story told in author Michael Lewis’ book “The Blind Side” and the 2009 film adaptation of the same name.
TMZ published an interview with Quinton Aaron, who played Oher in the aforementioned movie and was asked about the unfolding controversy. “Honestly, I don’t know what to think. It’s news to me,” the actor expressed. “Unfortunately, it’s not a good turn of events. This movie inspired so many people. It changed people’s lives, mine included. I feel for everyone involved, you know what I mean?”
Aaron continued, “I’m not taking sides. I love Michael, I love the Tuohy family. I don’t know, I haven’t been in communication with them since the movie, honestly. So I’m not sure what to make of what’s going on. It’s just unfortunate.”
He also reacted to a growing number of critics who feel that Sandra Bullock, who starred in The Blind Side as the aforementioned Tuohy matriarch, should rescind her Oscar as a result of Oher’s claims. “We live in a society today where people are so hellbent on pointing blame on people, and to make a statement like that doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “Sandra Bullock didn’t have anything to do with the real story… I think people just need to chill out, relax, and let the families involved handle whatever’s going on.”
Since the news hit, Leigh Anne’s husband, Sean Tuohy, responded to the petition in the Daily Memphian, saying that he was “stunned” by the allegations. “We didn’t make any money off the movie. Well, Lewis gave us half of his share. Everybody in the family got an equal share, including Michael,” Sean stated. “We’re devastated. It’s upsetting to think we would make money off any of our children. But we’re going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16.”
Lawsuit Filed Against White Woman Who Assaulted Black Child At Pool, Parents Demand Accountability
The case has taken on a racial element as the apartment manager, Kimberly Jennings, is a white woman who apparently used a racial slur when speaking to the Eurys’ 11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter, who are Black. The lawsuit’s claims include discrimination, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The family has also named the apartment complex and the real estate company in the dispute.
Documents detailing the federal lawsuit were released by TMZ. During the incident, Jennings poured soda on the boy and struck him in the face multiple times. She was also accused of pulling the little girl’s hair, hitting her and using the N-word while making her demands.
While the family does not live at the apartment complex, the children have friends who do and have been guests at the property before. Police were called about the attack and determined there was enough evidence to arrest Jennings for her actions. She was charged with two counts of assault on a child under the age of 12.
In a later interview, Jennings admitted to the incident, saying, “I had a soda in my hand, and I tossed it on him, and then I popped him. I did, I admit I did, and it was wrong.” She continued on to say, “‘When you’ve done it, and you’ve done it, and you’ve done it, and you’ve asked him not to come back. I just reacted. But, I will say that I’m sorry that I did that.” A court date for the case has been set for September.
Bruce Springsteen Postpones Two Upcoming Shows in Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen Postpones Two Upcoming Shows in Philadelphia
Sad news for fans hoping to see Bruce Springsteen in concert this weekend.
On Wednesday (August 16), the 73-year-old rocker announced that he was postponing his two upcoming shows in Philadelphia, Penn. amid his 2023 Springsteen E Street Band Tour.
“Due to Bruce Springsteen having been taken ill, his concerts with the E Street Ban at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on August 16 and 18 have been posted,” a statement on Bruce‘s Instagram read.
“We are working on rescheduling the dates, so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled shows,” the statement concluded.
As of right now, Bruce is still scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Thursday, August 24.
Back in April, a huge star joined Bruce on stage in Barcelona!
We wish Bruce a speedy recovery.
'Good Morning America' Throws a Beach-Themed Bachelorette Party for Robin Roberts and Her Fiancée Amber Laign
"As you can see, we have decked out our set for Robin and Amber's bachelorette party. They have not seen anything yet," Lara Spencer teased ahead of the couple's arrival.
As a small group of Robin's and Laign's family excitedly waited — with some dressed in colorful dresses and others in matching blue button-down shirts with patches featuring the letters "RA" — actress Niecy Nash-Betts declared, "Let's get them out here. Robin and Amber, please come check it out. We know that Key West is your happy place so we threw a party with a beach theme."
The pair walked in to lots of cheers and applause. Robin, 62, wore a bridal white blazer, white lace pants and heels, while her longtime love sported a white jumpsuit. Both had on festive silver sashes.
The women smiled and greeted their guests, who included Food Network star Carla Hall, ABC news stars Deborah Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Gayle King, Juju Chang and Roberts' sister Sally-Ann Roberts.
Spencer took a moment to ask Laign how she was feeling in the moment. "Amber, will you tell everybody . . . how does it feel to see your bride tribe together to celebrate you?" she queried, to which Laign replied: "Amazing. This is just incredible."
"This is wonderful," Robin agreed, continuing to spot familiar faces among the group and calling out to them.
An earlier segment showed the group making their way to the party on the "Bachelorette Express," as Spencer called it — with Nash-Betts, 53, behind the wheel. "This is going to be a wild ride, Robin. We got your sister Sally-Ann, some of your closet friends and even En Vogue," the Never Have I Ever star said.
The broadcast — which closed out with a performance by the R&B girl group — also included several poignant moments. Before the party kicked off, co-host George Stephanopoulos asked, “Could 14-year-old Robin Roberts have imagined she’d be having a bachelorette party on national television?”
“Uh-uh, no,” Robin replied, shaking her head emphatically. “Especially to a woman.”
It wasn't until after eight years of dating (the award-winning journalist met Laign on a blind date in 2005) that Robin publicly acknowledged her sexuality — and her romance with Laign — for the first time. Celebrating her recovery from a life-saving bone marrow transplant she underwent that year to treat myelodysplastic syndrome in a year-end Facebook post, Robin thanked her "longtime girlfriend Amber."
As the bachelorette party came to an end on Wednesday, GMA contributor Tory Johnson brought out Sally-Ann, who was carrying a gift for her sister: a personalized cutting board from Sophistiplate, according to Entertainment Weekly.
"These are great because you can put your name or a date on them. They also make one that's really, really special that your sister Dorothy helped me with," Johnson explained. "Sally-Ann is here to show you this one — a very special board. They will allow you to submit something in writing and Dorothy helped with that."
Robin then got visibly emotional when she saw that the cutting board was inscribed with her favorite family recipe.
"You know how much mama is blowing kisses to you right now, and now you have her recipe for rosemary chicken," Sally-Ann explained to her sibling. "I know you're going to be in the kitchen, where you always are." Robin and Sally-Ann's mother, Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, died in 2012.
Johnson told Robin that Dorothy Roberts — who missed the party due to a medical procedure — had handwritten the recipe, which was then etched on the board. "I should've known when I saw the Kleenex box," Robin said as she wiped away tears.
Robin and Laign's bachelorette celebration comes after a difficult year for the couple. In February 2022, Roberts announced in a video posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Laign had been diagnosed with breast cancer. "She had surgery last month and this morning will begin chemotherapy. Thankfully, the prognosis is good," she said at the time.
In July 2022, she shared in a video that Laign had completed her treatment. "My treatment is done, the course is run and I'm on my way," Laign said in the clip, before she rang a bell and did a little celebratory dance. As the new year kicked off in January, the pair revealed their plans to tie the knot in 2023.
"I'm hesitating because I haven't said it out loud yet . . . I'm saying 'yes' to marriage," Roberts told author and speaker Gabby Bernstein during GMA's Jan. 2 broadcast. "We're getting married this year."
She continued, "It was something we had talked about but we had put it off, she became ill but . . . it is saying yes to that, and that next chapter."
Leonard Bernstein’s Children Defend Bradley Cooper’s Prosthetic Nose in ‘Maestro’: ‘Our Dad Would Have Been Fine With It’
After Netflix released the first trailer for Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a biographical romance about Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, many viewers took issue with Cooper’s large prosthetic nose, deeming it the latest example of Hollywood’s stereotypical or inauthentic portrayal of Jewish people, known as “Jewface.”
But in a statement posted to Bernstein’s Twitter account, the late conductor’s children defended Cooper’s decision to “use makeup to amplify his resemblance” to their father. Cooper directed “Maestro” and stars as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as Montealegre.
“Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father,” wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein. “We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father’s music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration.”
They continued, “It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts. It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that. We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well. Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch — a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father. At all times during the making of this film, we could feel the profound respect and yes, the love that Bradley brought to his portrait of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia. We feel so fortunate to have had this experience with Bradley, and we can’t wait for the world to see his creation.”
Helen Mirren became entangled in a “Jewface” controversy last year when it was announced she would play former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in Guy Nattiv’s “Golda,” which premieres in U.S. theaters on Aug. 25. Actor Maureen Lipman told the Jewish Chronicle that she “disagreed” with Mirren’s casting “because the Jewishness of the character is so integral. I’m sure she will be marvelous, but it would never be allowed for Ben Kingsley to play Nelson Mandela. You just couldn’t even go there.” Other recent examples of non-Jews cast as famous Jewish people include Kathryn Hahn as Joan Rivers, Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz.
Speaking on the “Jewface” controversy, actor Tracy Ann Oberman told Variety, “As actors, we should be able to play anyone. That is our job and I’ve had a wide and varied career playing a multitude of parts. However, we are living in a time of enormous sensitivity around the appropriation of characters played by people who aren’t from that background. I have seen little similar concern about Jewish characters where their Jewish religious and cultural identity is intrinsic to who they are being discussed with the same respect.”
“Maestro” will premiere in competition at the 80th Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2, and it will be the spotlight gala film at New York Film Festival on Oct. 2. The movie will then have a limited theatrical window starting Nov. 22 before hitting Netflix on Dec. 20.
The film, which is produced by Cooper, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, focuses on Bernstein’s tumultuous 25-year marriage to Montealegre. The cast also includes Maya Hawke as their daughter Jamie, Sam Nivola as their son Alexander and Alexa Swinton as their daughter Nina. Additional cast members include Matt Bomer, Sarah Silverman, Gideon Glick, Michael Urie and Miriam Shor.
Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger also produce the film, from Sikelia Productions, Amblin Entertainment, Lea Pictures and Fred Berner Films. Cooper co-wrote the screenplay with Josh Singer.
Arkansas Officials Remove AP African American Studies Course Right Before Start of School Year
According to ABC News, the move was announced: “at 4:02 on Friday before schools start on the following Monday.”
“Having this course pulled out from under our students at this late juncture is just another racist move that has already played out in other states,” the organization said.
It continued, “It is our sincere hope that this last-minute decision will be seriously reconsidered promptly so that the students of Arkansas will be able to take this course this year to be able to receive both high school credit and college credit pending successful completion.”
The AP African American course sparked controversy when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration rejected it in January, citing it as “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”
After its pilot phase in 2022-23 involving 60 schools, the AP African American Studies course has expanded to include hundreds more schools for the 2023-24 school year.
“Throughout the first pilot year, we heard countless stories from the classroom about how this course opened minds, changed lives, and provided a much richer understanding of the country,” College Board told ABC News.
Starting from the 2024-25 school year, all schools will have the option to introduce AP African American Studies.
According to the College Board, input from over 300 African American Studies professors representing over 200 colleges nationwide was sought to develop the course curriculum.
The Arkansas Department of Education said the department “encourages the teaching of all American history and supports rigorous courses not based on opinions or indoctrination.”
Kanye West’s Ex-Publicist Among 18 Indicted In Georgia Election Case Against Donald Trump
Kanye West‘s ex-publicist Trevian Kutti has been named in a Georgia indictment along with Donald Trump.
On Monday, Trump faced his fourth indictment, which includes a 13 felony charge linked to his efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
According to CNN, Kutti, a former publicist to West and R. Kelly, is among the 18 political allies named in the indictment.
As stated in the indictment, Kutti is accused of pressuring Ruby Freeman, a Fulton County election worker, to admit false fraud charges from the 2020 election. Later, Trump’s baseless accusations against Freeman of rigging the election ballots for Biden eventually led to death threats, despite her testimony debunking the claims.
The indictment claims that Kutti was brought in by Willie Lewis Floyd III, director of Black Voices for Trump, who is also charged. As stated, she allegedly communicated through calls and texts with other involved individuals.
According to prosecutors, Kutti traveled from Chicago to Freeman’s Georgia home in January 2021. At that time, Freeman was already receiving threats due to Trump’s involvement. She allegedly presented herself as a “crisis manager” to Freeman’s neighbor and later called Freeman directly, expressing concern for her safety and offering help.
Following Freeman’s 911 call, an officer suggested she meet Kutti at a nearby police station. There, they conversed for an hour, during which Kutti purportedly emphasized her concern for Freeman’s safety.
Prosecutors say that Kutti and others initiated efforts to coerce Freeman into admitting false election fraud allegations that were endorsed by Trump.
Reuters had previously reported that parts of Freeman and Kutti’s conversation were captured in video footage from a police body camera.
“I cannot say what specifically will take place,” Kutti can be heard telling Freeman in the recording. “I just know that it will disrupt your freedom and the freedom of one or more of your family members … You are a loose end for a party that needs to tidy up.”
The news outlet stated that Kutti pressured Freeman, urging her to “tell everything” or face the consequence of “going to jail.” However, Freeman did not yield to these demands.
Afterward, Freeman searched Kutti’s name online and uncovered her affiliation with Trump.
According to reports, Kutti faces racketeering charges (violation of Georgia’s RICO Act), participating in a conspiracy to solicit false statements and writings, and attempting to influence witnesses.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
'Why Tho?'
WHAT?
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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