#MAGFAB: Jennifer Hudson for REAL SIMPLE Magazine
On raising her teenage son: “My son goes to a predominantly white school and he has giant hair, a whole afro. And he loves to walk in there with the big old ‘fro and the pick in his hair. And I’m like, ‘Do you realize the statement you’re making? Know that just wearing your hair like that is a statement alone.’ He’s very rooted in who he is and okay with that. I didn’t grow up like that.” “It’s a completely different time. And being a mom of a black son, there are certain things you have to make him conscious of and aware of. And who he is within the world. And there’s so many layers he has to learn, but now he’s at an age where he can fully understand it. And he’s so evolved beyond what I could ever imagine.”
On taking care of herself: “We sometimes forget about ourselves. I was just at home, and I was like, ‘I got this big old house, but the only space I have in it is my bedroom.’ That’s like life: We give so much to everybody that we end up, as women and mothers, in a little corner of our own lives. Why not give ourselves space, grace, compassion, and consideration? That’s something I’m working on. I’m always trying to get better at life.” “I also make a point to have my David walks. A little walk in the morning with my son to Starbucks. It helps me gather myself by finding even little moments, because everything is in little small windows. It’s stealing the mini vacations for yourself. I’d like a real one, though. One of my birthday wishes, when I turned 40, was to have a one week off. I’m still waiting for that and I’m about to be 42.”
On her foundation’s impact on back-to-school season in Chicago: “My sister and I started the Julian D. King Gift Foundation in honor of my late nephew and dedicated it to him, my mother, and my brother. It’s how we stay connected to them. It gives back to the youth of Chicago, making sure they have their school supplies. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about where their book bag going to come from, if people going to laugh at their shoes, or if they don’t have the tools they need to learn. We’ve had parents that say, it was either pay my rent or buy my kids school supplies. We also do a holiday toy drive. We want the kids to know: Your positivity is highlighted and we encourage it and we support you all to keep going.”
On kicking off season two of her talk show: “I feel like the show is every bit of who I am and how I connect with people. The only difference is the cameras are rolling. I want it to be a platform where everyone can sit on the couch and tell their story and be celebrated. Everyone has a superpower, a talent—not only playing an instrument or acting or dancing or singing, but whatever you’re passionate about. I get to be around people who specialize in something. And because they’re so into what they’re into, I’m intrigued.”
The September issue of REAL SIMPLE is on sale August 18.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore and Cynthia Bailey Address Fallout, Rekindled Friendship
Reunited and it feels so good! Cynthia Bailey and Kenya Moore have re-forged their friendship, and are reflecting on their falling out, and what brought them back together.
In this sneak peek from the upcoming episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the ladies are together again and revealing exactly what happened that drove a wedge between them back in 2021.
"Kenya and I fell out after the Ultimate Girls Trip," Bailey recalls, adding that it took "several, several months" for them to even talk again.
WATCH: "We reconnected after we saw each other at Teresa Giudice's wedding," Moore says in a solo interview. According to Bailey, it was Moore's genuine interest and consideration for her mother, Barbara's, health that got her to move on from their bad blood.
"She asked me about my mother, who at the time had just been diagnosed with breast cancer," Bailey recalled. "And it just actually felt good to see her."
For Moore, being out of touch with Bailey meant not being there to support her when she was going through her mother's health struggle or her public divorce -- which is not something she intends to do again.
"I didn't know she was having a hard time in her marriage," Moore said. "But I'm just so happy to have my sister back. And now that I know what she's been going through, I'm never ever not going to be there for her."
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Fans can also stream the episode the next day on Peacock.
#NewMusicVideo from Eric Roberson “Things Meant For Me”
Eric Roberson has just released the visual for his latest single “Things Meant For Me”.
The song was written and produced by Eric Roberson and Brett “B Dubb” Baker. Upon its release last month, Roberson stated:
“This song captures the thoughts I have shared and practiced for years. I truly believe we find songs more than we create them. So my goal is to stay away of the life nudges. And as I prepare to release a song a month for the rest of the year, I wanted to start with this song.”
WATCH HERE
On raising her teenage son: “My son goes to a predominantly white school and he has giant hair, a whole afro. And he loves to walk in there with the big old ‘fro and the pick in his hair. And I’m like, ‘Do you realize the statement you’re making? Know that just wearing your hair like that is a statement alone.’ He’s very rooted in who he is and okay with that. I didn’t grow up like that.” “It’s a completely different time. And being a mom of a black son, there are certain things you have to make him conscious of and aware of. And who he is within the world. And there’s so many layers he has to learn, but now he’s at an age where he can fully understand it. And he’s so evolved beyond what I could ever imagine.”
On taking care of herself: “We sometimes forget about ourselves. I was just at home, and I was like, ‘I got this big old house, but the only space I have in it is my bedroom.’ That’s like life: We give so much to everybody that we end up, as women and mothers, in a little corner of our own lives. Why not give ourselves space, grace, compassion, and consideration? That’s something I’m working on. I’m always trying to get better at life.” “I also make a point to have my David walks. A little walk in the morning with my son to Starbucks. It helps me gather myself by finding even little moments, because everything is in little small windows. It’s stealing the mini vacations for yourself. I’d like a real one, though. One of my birthday wishes, when I turned 40, was to have a one week off. I’m still waiting for that and I’m about to be 42.”
On her foundation’s impact on back-to-school season in Chicago: “My sister and I started the Julian D. King Gift Foundation in honor of my late nephew and dedicated it to him, my mother, and my brother. It’s how we stay connected to them. It gives back to the youth of Chicago, making sure they have their school supplies. Kids shouldn’t have to worry about where their book bag going to come from, if people going to laugh at their shoes, or if they don’t have the tools they need to learn. We’ve had parents that say, it was either pay my rent or buy my kids school supplies. We also do a holiday toy drive. We want the kids to know: Your positivity is highlighted and we encourage it and we support you all to keep going.”
On kicking off season two of her talk show: “I feel like the show is every bit of who I am and how I connect with people. The only difference is the cameras are rolling. I want it to be a platform where everyone can sit on the couch and tell their story and be celebrated. Everyone has a superpower, a talent—not only playing an instrument or acting or dancing or singing, but whatever you’re passionate about. I get to be around people who specialize in something. And because they’re so into what they’re into, I’m intrigued.”
The September issue of REAL SIMPLE is on sale August 18.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore and Cynthia Bailey Address Fallout, Rekindled Friendship
In this sneak peek from the upcoming episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the ladies are together again and revealing exactly what happened that drove a wedge between them back in 2021.
"Kenya and I fell out after the Ultimate Girls Trip," Bailey recalls, adding that it took "several, several months" for them to even talk again.
WATCH: "We reconnected after we saw each other at Teresa Giudice's wedding," Moore says in a solo interview. According to Bailey, it was Moore's genuine interest and consideration for her mother, Barbara's, health that got her to move on from their bad blood.
"She asked me about my mother, who at the time had just been diagnosed with breast cancer," Bailey recalled. "And it just actually felt good to see her."
For Moore, being out of touch with Bailey meant not being there to support her when she was going through her mother's health struggle or her public divorce -- which is not something she intends to do again.
"I didn't know she was having a hard time in her marriage," Moore said. "But I'm just so happy to have my sister back. And now that I know what she's been going through, I'm never ever not going to be there for her."
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Fans can also stream the episode the next day on Peacock.
#NewMusicVideo from Eric Roberson “Things Meant For Me”
Eric Roberson has just released the visual for his latest single “Things Meant For Me”.
The song was written and produced by Eric Roberson and Brett “B Dubb” Baker. Upon its release last month, Roberson stated:
“This song captures the thoughts I have shared and practiced for years. I truly believe we find songs more than we create them. So my goal is to stay away of the life nudges. And as I prepare to release a song a month for the rest of the year, I wanted to start with this song.”
WATCH HERE
Steven Jon directed the video, who added:
“We wanted the video for the song to naturally come together like the song did. The location took our breath away, so we decided to shoot there. We wanted to showcase a land of discovery. How it doesn’t always have to be a struggle. Sometimes it is about recognizing what is there. I hope the room, the song, the video and inspiration behind it all, moves others to take the time to find what’s there for them.”
#HipHopNews: Lil Wayne To Co-Host And Create A New Theme Song For Skip Bayless' "Undisputed"
Lil Wayne’s passion for sports is widely recognized, and woven into his music and recurrent appearances on ESPN. Now, it appears that the “A Milli” rapper is ready to foray into sports journalism.
In a recent episode of the “Skip Bayless Show,” the sports analyst shared the news that Wayne will join him weekly on Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed.” The guest appearance will follow the show’s resumption on Aug. 28.
“Wayne has agreed every Friday going forward to do a segment with me live,” Bayless announced. “He might not always be in the studio, depending on his schedule. But he’s going to be joining me every Friday.”
He continued, “If he’s hot or rolling, maybe we’ll keep him on for a couple of segments if he has the time. That you can look forward to. He is so deep when it comes to sports. He doesn’t yell or scream, but he gets emotional.”
In addition to the announcement, Bayless also revealed that the New Orleans native is poised to record a new theme song for “Undisputed.” The upcoming song is slated to supersede his initial 2016 track, “No Mercy.”
While discussing the forthcoming record, he shared, “Wayne and I started going back and forth. Sometimes in text. Sometimes face-to-face about ‘No Mercy,’ going back a year ago. Because at one point, he said to me, ‘I’m going to do another one.’ And I said, ‘You mean you would replace ‘No Mercy.’’ And he said, ‘Yeah.’ You can’t do better than the best.”
Bayless added, “You can’t do greater than the greatest. Because that song — that theme song ‘No Mercy’ and ‘I won’t back down’ is simply the greatest sports theme song ever. Not even close. And he would say to me, ‘Watch me. Just watch.’ He felt like I was daring him.”
Jamie Foxx Apologizes After He's Accused Of Dissing Jewish With His 'Fake Friend' Post
Jamie Foxx has released an apology after he was accused of making anti-Semitic comments. The 55-year-old actor was hit with a backlash after one of his Instagram posts was widely perceived to have been aimed at the Jewish community.
"THEY KILLED THIS DUDE JESUS... WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'LL DO TO YOU???! #fakefriends #fakelove (sic)," Jamie initially wrote on the photo-sharing platform.
However, Jamie has now taken to Instagram to issue an apology and to insist that his words had been misunderstood. The actor explained, "I want to apologize to the Jewish community and everyone who was offended by my post. I now know my choice of words have caused offense and I'm sorry. That was never my intent.
"To clarify, I was betrayed by a fake friend and that's what I meant with 'they' not anything more. I only have love in my heart for everyone. I love and support the Jewish community. My deepest apologies to anyone who was offended. Nothing but love always, Jamie Foxx (sic)."
U.S. Women's National Team Loses to Sweden in Women's World Cup 2023, Worst World Cup Finish for USWNT
The U.S. women’s national team lost to Sweden in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup, crashing out of the competition over the weekend on Sunday (August 6).
Despite the U.S. having the advantage in possession and chances created, goalkeeper Zećira Mušović prevented USWNT players Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan from advancing. The game remained scoreless at full time and again after extra time, until Sweden advanced 5–4 on penalty kicks to move on to the quarterfinals.
This round-of-16 loss is the worst World Cup finish for the USWNT. Previously, third place was the U.S.’s worst finish, via Sports Illustrated.
It is likely also the final performance from Megan Rapinoe, as she announced she would retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season, making this possibly her final match for the US national team.
The US made at least the semifinals in the previous eight tournaments, winning four titles, via CNN.
Sweden will play Japan in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on Friday (August 11).
Ne-Yo Lambasts Parents Who Support Underage Children To Change Their Gender
Ne-Yo has slammed parents who support their children changing gender at a young age. The "Miss Independent" singer - who shares Madilyn, 12, and Mason, 11, with former fiancee Monyetta Shaw; Shaffer Jr., seven, Roman, five, and Isabella, two, with ex-wife Crystal Renay; and Braiden, two, and Brixton, six months, with ex-girlfriend Sade Jenea - is baffled as to why mothers and fathers allow their offspring to make such "life-changing" decisions and accuses them of having "forgotten what the role of parent is."
"I feel like the parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is. If your little boy comes up to you and says, 'Daddy I wanna be a girl,' you just let him rock with that?" he said to Gloria Velez for VladTV.
"Where did he get that? If you let this five-year-old little boy eat candy all day, he's gonna do that. Like, when did it become a good idea to let a five year old, a six year old, a 12 year old, make a life-changing decision? When did that happen? Like, I don't understand that. He can't drive a car yet, but he can decide his sex?"
Ne-Yo insisted children should be encouraged to go against stereotypes, but that doesn't mean they need to change gender. He said, "I can't take credit for it, but I heard somebody say one time, if your son comes to you and says, 'Daddy, I want to be a girl,' ask your son, 'Son, what is a girl?' "
"What is he gonna do? He might want to play with dolls. All right, you want to play with dolls. Play with dolls. But you're a boy playing with dolls. 'I want to wear pink.' Cool, wear pink, but you're a boy wearing pink."
The 43-year-old singer declared he comes from "an era" where a "man was a man and a woman was a woman" and while he is happy for people to identify how they want to, he won't "play the game." He continued, "There was two genders and that's just how I rocked. You could identify as a goldfish if you feel like, that ain't my business. It becomes my business when you try to make me play the game. I'm not gonna call you a goldfish."
NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club suspend Noah Gragson indefinitely For posting a racist George Floyd Meme
Legacy Motor Club said Saturday that Noah Gragson had been suspended for Sunday’s race at Michigan for “actions that do not represent the values of our team.”
Gragson will be replaced by Josh Berry in the No. 42 car for Sunday’s race. Berry, who will replace Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, succeeded Gragson in the No. 9 Xfinity Series car at JR Motorsports when Gragson moved up to the Cup Series in 2023.
Gragson, 25, posted an apology to social media shortly after his suspension.
“I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media,” Gragson wrote. “I understand the severity of this situation. I love and appreciate everyone. I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple.”
Not long after Gragson's apology, NASCAR also announced that it had suspended Gragson indefinitely for "actions on social media."
According to a screenshot from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Gragson allegedly liked an Instagram meme mocking the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Gragson is currently a rookie in NASCAR’s Cup Series and in the midst of a disappointing season. He’s 33rd in the points standings and has an average finish of 28.2. Only Ty Dillon (28.6) has a worse average finish among all full-time drivers.
Gragson’s best finish of the season is a 12th at Atlanta in the spring. It’s one of two times he’s finished in the top 20 through the first 22 races of the season.
Gragson’s poor form through his first season in the Cup Series has reportedly brought his future at Legacy Motor Club into question before his suspension. According to a report in the Athletic on Tuesday, Gragson is at risk of losing his ride with the team at the end of the season.
Legacy Motor Club, the former Richard Petty Motorsports team, is moving to Toyota in 2024. While the Athletic report noted Gragson still had a chance of returning to the team, a suspension certainly doesn't help those chances.
Simone Biles dazzles in her return to easily claim the U.S. Classic
“We wanted the video for the song to naturally come together like the song did. The location took our breath away, so we decided to shoot there. We wanted to showcase a land of discovery. How it doesn’t always have to be a struggle. Sometimes it is about recognizing what is there. I hope the room, the song, the video and inspiration behind it all, moves others to take the time to find what’s there for them.”
#HipHopNews: Lil Wayne To Co-Host And Create A New Theme Song For Skip Bayless' "Undisputed"
In a recent episode of the “Skip Bayless Show,” the sports analyst shared the news that Wayne will join him weekly on Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed.” The guest appearance will follow the show’s resumption on Aug. 28.
“Wayne has agreed every Friday going forward to do a segment with me live,” Bayless announced. “He might not always be in the studio, depending on his schedule. But he’s going to be joining me every Friday.”
He continued, “If he’s hot or rolling, maybe we’ll keep him on for a couple of segments if he has the time. That you can look forward to. He is so deep when it comes to sports. He doesn’t yell or scream, but he gets emotional.”
In addition to the announcement, Bayless also revealed that the New Orleans native is poised to record a new theme song for “Undisputed.” The upcoming song is slated to supersede his initial 2016 track, “No Mercy.”
While discussing the forthcoming record, he shared, “Wayne and I started going back and forth. Sometimes in text. Sometimes face-to-face about ‘No Mercy,’ going back a year ago. Because at one point, he said to me, ‘I’m going to do another one.’ And I said, ‘You mean you would replace ‘No Mercy.’’ And he said, ‘Yeah.’ You can’t do better than the best.”
Bayless added, “You can’t do greater than the greatest. Because that song — that theme song ‘No Mercy’ and ‘I won’t back down’ is simply the greatest sports theme song ever. Not even close. And he would say to me, ‘Watch me. Just watch.’ He felt like I was daring him.”
Jamie Foxx Apologizes After He's Accused Of Dissing Jewish With His 'Fake Friend' Post
Jamie Foxx has released an apology after he was accused of making anti-Semitic comments. The 55-year-old actor was hit with a backlash after one of his Instagram posts was widely perceived to have been aimed at the Jewish community.
"THEY KILLED THIS DUDE JESUS... WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'LL DO TO YOU???! #fakefriends #fakelove (sic)," Jamie initially wrote on the photo-sharing platform.
However, Jamie has now taken to Instagram to issue an apology and to insist that his words had been misunderstood. The actor explained, "I want to apologize to the Jewish community and everyone who was offended by my post. I now know my choice of words have caused offense and I'm sorry. That was never my intent.
"To clarify, I was betrayed by a fake friend and that's what I meant with 'they' not anything more. I only have love in my heart for everyone. I love and support the Jewish community. My deepest apologies to anyone who was offended. Nothing but love always, Jamie Foxx (sic)."
U.S. Women's National Team Loses to Sweden in Women's World Cup 2023, Worst World Cup Finish for USWNT
Despite the U.S. having the advantage in possession and chances created, goalkeeper Zećira Mušović prevented USWNT players Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan from advancing. The game remained scoreless at full time and again after extra time, until Sweden advanced 5–4 on penalty kicks to move on to the quarterfinals.
This round-of-16 loss is the worst World Cup finish for the USWNT. Previously, third place was the U.S.’s worst finish, via Sports Illustrated.
It is likely also the final performance from Megan Rapinoe, as she announced she would retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season, making this possibly her final match for the US national team.
The US made at least the semifinals in the previous eight tournaments, winning four titles, via CNN.
Sweden will play Japan in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on Friday (August 11).
Ne-Yo Lambasts Parents Who Support Underage Children To Change Their Gender
Ne-Yo has slammed parents who support their children changing gender at a young age. The "Miss Independent" singer - who shares Madilyn, 12, and Mason, 11, with former fiancee Monyetta Shaw; Shaffer Jr., seven, Roman, five, and Isabella, two, with ex-wife Crystal Renay; and Braiden, two, and Brixton, six months, with ex-girlfriend Sade Jenea - is baffled as to why mothers and fathers allow their offspring to make such "life-changing" decisions and accuses them of having "forgotten what the role of parent is."
"I feel like the parents have almost forgotten what the role of a parent is. If your little boy comes up to you and says, 'Daddy I wanna be a girl,' you just let him rock with that?" he said to Gloria Velez for VladTV.
"Where did he get that? If you let this five-year-old little boy eat candy all day, he's gonna do that. Like, when did it become a good idea to let a five year old, a six year old, a 12 year old, make a life-changing decision? When did that happen? Like, I don't understand that. He can't drive a car yet, but he can decide his sex?"
Ne-Yo insisted children should be encouraged to go against stereotypes, but that doesn't mean they need to change gender. He said, "I can't take credit for it, but I heard somebody say one time, if your son comes to you and says, 'Daddy, I want to be a girl,' ask your son, 'Son, what is a girl?' "
"What is he gonna do? He might want to play with dolls. All right, you want to play with dolls. Play with dolls. But you're a boy playing with dolls. 'I want to wear pink.' Cool, wear pink, but you're a boy wearing pink."
The 43-year-old singer declared he comes from "an era" where a "man was a man and a woman was a woman" and while he is happy for people to identify how they want to, he won't "play the game." He continued, "There was two genders and that's just how I rocked. You could identify as a goldfish if you feel like, that ain't my business. It becomes my business when you try to make me play the game. I'm not gonna call you a goldfish."
NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club suspend Noah Gragson indefinitely For posting a racist George Floyd Meme
Legacy Motor Club said Saturday that Noah Gragson had been suspended for Sunday’s race at Michigan for “actions that do not represent the values of our team.”
Gragson will be replaced by Josh Berry in the No. 42 car for Sunday’s race. Berry, who will replace Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, succeeded Gragson in the No. 9 Xfinity Series car at JR Motorsports when Gragson moved up to the Cup Series in 2023.
Gragson, 25, posted an apology to social media shortly after his suspension.
“I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media,” Gragson wrote. “I understand the severity of this situation. I love and appreciate everyone. I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple.”
Not long after Gragson's apology, NASCAR also announced that it had suspended Gragson indefinitely for "actions on social media."
According to a screenshot from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Gragson allegedly liked an Instagram meme mocking the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Gragson is currently a rookie in NASCAR’s Cup Series and in the midst of a disappointing season. He’s 33rd in the points standings and has an average finish of 28.2. Only Ty Dillon (28.6) has a worse average finish among all full-time drivers.
Gragson’s best finish of the season is a 12th at Atlanta in the spring. It’s one of two times he’s finished in the top 20 through the first 22 races of the season.
Gragson’s poor form through his first season in the Cup Series has reportedly brought his future at Legacy Motor Club into question before his suspension. According to a report in the Athletic on Tuesday, Gragson is at risk of losing his ride with the team at the end of the season.
Legacy Motor Club, the former Richard Petty Motorsports team, is moving to Toyota in 2024. While the Athletic report noted Gragson still had a chance of returning to the team, a suspension certainly doesn't help those chances.
Simone Biles dazzles in her return to easily claim the U.S. Classic
It’s the only time she seemed out of place. Once Biles saluted the judges, it was the same as it ever was.
Biles soared to victory in the U.S. Classic on Saturday night in her return following a two-year layoff after the Tokyo Olympics, the case of “the twisties” that forced her to take herself out of multiple events in Japan seemingly firmly in her rearview mirror.
Biles seemed in her element in front of a sold-out NOW Arena crowd that was littered with signs of support. Her all-around score of 59.100 was easily the best of the night, remarkable considering she’d only really started training seriously in late April after her marriage to NFL defensive back Jonathan Owens.
She’s taken a muted approach to her return to the sport she’s spent the last decade redefining. Biles admitted as recently as last week that it took her a bit to recover from “the twisties,” slang for a mental block that caused her to lose her air awareness but stressed that she was “good.”
Certainly looked like it.
Wearing No. 231 and sporting — at least before she began competing — a necklace bearing “Owens” in tribute to her husband, she seemed equal parts and relaxed and energized.
She began on uneven bars, not far from a sign featuring a goat (a symbol for “Greatest of All Time”) that read “Simone Freaking Biles.” She wasn’t perfect, nearly stalling near the end of her routine. She muscled up and stayed on and when she hit her dismount, she cut her eyes off to the side as if to say “sheesh.”
Her score of 14.000 was the third best of the competition and a signal of things to come. She was as solid and steady as ever on balance beam, where she won a bronze in Tokyo after a week of uncertainty, a medal she’s described as one of the sweetest of her career.
She never officially closed the door on Paris, even after a tumultuous stay in Japan. She’s spent most of the last two years preparing for her wedding and planning the rest of her life.
Still, the lure of the gym tugged at her, though she took a more muted approach to her comeback than in 2018 or in the run-up to Tokyo in 2021.
At the moment, she’s letting her gymnastics do the talking. And they spoke loud and clear.
She was dynamic on floor exercise, where her tumbling passes have long been showstoppers. While she and coaches Laurent and Cecile Landi have tweaked her routines a bit to better take advantage of the sport’s updated Code of Points, she still does some of the most challenging gymnastics in the sport typically with seemingly effortless ease.
Biles kept all three of her tumbling passes on the floor inbounds, something that was a problem at times in 2021. Her score of 14.900 included a start value of 6.8, a massive amount of difficulty considering no other athlete had a start value over 5.9.
She finished with a Yurchenko double-pike vault, a roundoff onto the table followed by two back flips with her hands clasped behind her knees. It’s a vault she toyed with in 2021 hoping to pull off in Tokyo.
It never happened. It still might in Paris. She hopped a little bit after landing as the arena exploded, her 15.400 more than a full point better than any of the other 30+ athletes managed.
The Classic is considered a warm-up of sorts in the calendar. The U.S. Championships are later this month, with the world championships coming in October and the Olympics less than a year out.
There is plenty of time to refine things. To expand. To build. Biles’ all-around score Saturday was higher than what she posted at the same meet in 2018. What followed was two years of dominance.
Third Family Settles Astroworld Lawsuit Against Travis Scott, Live Nation and More
The family of 14-year-old John Hilgert, who died during the Astroworld tragedy, has settled their lawsuit against Travis Scott, Live Nation and additional festival organizers, according to sources via Rolling Stone.
The family reportedly settled for an undisclosed figure six months ago, and per court documents filed in Harris County, the plaintiffs withdrew their case with a notice on-suit with prejudice in February. The filing listed defendants Scott, Live Nation, Scoremore and numerous security organizations, among others. The Hilgert family is the latest to reach a settlement in their lawsuit against the aforementioned entities, following the families of Axel Acosta and Brianna Rodriguez.
In 2021, Scott held his annual Astroworld Festival at Houston’s NRG Park, where ten fans, ranging in age from nine to 27, died due to unsafe crowd rushes. Following the disaster, Scott and the event’s organizers were met with more than 500 lawsuits. In the months after, Scott’s team looked to dismiss and settle myriad cases while issuing a number of apologies.
In June, news surfaced stating that Scott would not face criminal charges for his involvement in the Astroworld tragedy. His lawyer Kent Schaffer stated “Travis is not responsible,” and “[Travis] never encouraged people to do anything that resulted in other people being hurt.”
In July, on the same day as UTOPIA‘s release, the Houston Police Department released a 1,266-page report, detailing the events of the Astroworld tragedy with lengthy accounts from Scott, Drake, attendees, law enforcement, vendors and others involved with the festival.
Former Ohio officer Ricky Anderson to stand trial for the 2022 death of Donovan Lewis
As previously reported, the 20-year-old was in bed when officers entered his Columbus residence at 2 a.m. on Aug. 30 to serve a warrant in connection with alleged felony domestic violence and assault, as well as improper handling of a firearm. Anderson is accused of firing a single shot at Lewis. The 30-year police veteran was assigned to the department’s K-9 unit.
A day after the tragedy, bodycam footage was released showing the moments leading up to the young man’s death. In it, officers were observed warning Lewis that a K-9 would be sent into his bedroom. Moments later, Anderson enters the room, and within seconds, a shot is fired at Lewis as he sits up in bed. In a press conference, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said it appeared as though the man was holding something. It was determined that he had a vape pen nearby. While bleeding out from his injury, Lewis was handcuffed and carried from his second-floor apartment. He died an hour later at an area hospital.
In a statement obtained by CNN, Lewis family attorneys Rex Elliott and Michael Wright said, “We are relieved that a grand jury concluded what we’ve known all along: Officer Ricky Anderson broke the law when he shot and killed an unarmed Donovan Lewis as he laid in his bed. CPD bodycam video showed this clearly, and nothing has changed in almost a year. Although Mr. Lewis’ family is pleased that his killer will soon face a jury of his peers, they are incredibly disappointed that it took so long to come to this conclusion in the first place.”
Lewis’ untimely passing was the catalyst of protests across the city as the public demanded justice. In February, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Anderson. In the filing, they noted that the disgraced officer had accumulated 60 complaints of excessive force throughout his career. He was also terminated in 2004 before being reinstated a month later. He retired from the force amid the department’s investigation into Lewis’ death.
'Barbie' Movie Hits the Billion Dollar Mark at the Global Box Office!
Barbie is a billionaire! Warner Bros. confirmed on Sunday (August 6) that the Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie movie has officially passed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, The Wrap reports.
The movie is now just the sixth film in Warner Bros. history to cross that mark, and the first-ever billion-making movie by a solo female director.
The movie crossed the billion mark in its third weekend, bringing in an additional $53 million at the domestic box office and $74 million overseas. It’s now made $549 million domestically, and $572 abroad.
It’s also set to pass The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the highest-grossing movie of 2023, and is set to become the fourth highest grossing movie of the post-pandemic era.
Angus Cloud's mother speaks out on her son's death, says 'he did not intend to check out of this world'
Cloud’s mother Lisa Cloud McLaughlin took to her private Facebook account on Aug. 5 to write about her son’s death, per Deadline. She shared with her followers, “Friends, I want you all to know I appreciate your love for my family at this shattered time. I also want you to know that although my son was in deep grief about his father’s untimely death from mesothelioma, his last day was a joyful one.”
She also wrote that her son, whose birth name is Conor Angus Cloud Hickey, spoke about assisting family members with college, and that he spent his last day cleaning his room and tidying the house.
"I don’t know if or what he may have put in his body after that,” she continued. “I only know that he put his head on the desk where he was working on art project’s, fell asleep and didn’t wake up. We may find out that he overdosed accidentally and tragically, but it’s abundantly clear that he did not intend to check out of this world."
She noted that though "social media posts have suggested his death was intentional," that was "not the case."
“To honor his memory, please make random acts of kindness part of your daily life,” she concluded.
Cloud’s co-workers on the hit series, which is not yet filming its third season, took time to express their sorrow over his death. Zendaya, whose character Rue is friends with Cloud’s Fezco on Euphoria, penned a tribute to her late co-star on Instagram, writing that “Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus (Conor)."
"I’m so grateful I got the chance to know him in this life, to call him a brother, to see his warm kind eyes and bright smile, or hear his infectious cackle of a laugh," she added.
Maude Apatow, who plays Lexi, Fezco’s Season 2 love interest, wrote, "Angus was the funniest person ever. I would get so excited to see on the schedule that we would be working together because I knew we’d have the best day, laughing so hard. He was the sweetest and made everyone around him so happy. He was just the best. Words can’t really capture how magical of a person he was. My heart is broken."
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 988.
Madonna Announces Rescheduled Tour Dates Are Coming Soon: 'See You Soon for a Well Deserved Celebration!!'
Madonna is giving an update on the postponed dates for her upcoming tour.
On Friday, the pop icon, 64, revealed that the rescheduled dates for her Celebration World Tour —which was postponed following her hospitalization in June for a serious bacterial infection — will be available soon in a post on her Instagram Story.
“Thank you again for your incredible support and patience over these past few weeks!” Madonna wrote. “I’m happy to report that the re-routed tour schedule will be coming in the next few days!”
“See you soon for a well deserved Celebration!! 🎉🌈🥳💘,” the singer added.
Last month, Madonna announced that her upcoming world tour, celebrating the 40th anniversary of her debut album, will now launch in Europe in October with dates in the U.S. rescheduled to take place afterward. The postponement came following her hospitalization for a serious bacterial infection, which was first confirmed by her longtime manager Guy Oseary in a June 28 Instagram post.
"On Saturday June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which [led] to a several day stay in the ICU. Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected," said Oseary in the Instagram post. "At this time we will need to pause all commitments, which includes the tour."
The morning after Oseary's post, PEOPLE confirmed Madonna had returned home and was continuing her recovery. "She's feeling better and following doctor's orders and resting," said a source close to the singer
Madonna’s Friday tour update comes days after she praised her children for their support during her hospitalization in a candid Instagram post
“Love from family and friends is the best Medicine. One month out of the hospital and I can reflect,” Madonna began. She shared several photos alongside her message, including one that showed her hugging her son David Banda, 17, and another posing with her daughter Lourdes Leon, 26.
“As a Mother you can really get caught up In the needs Of your children and the seemingly endless giving,” Madonna continued. “But when the chips were down my children really showed up for me. I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference.”
“So did the love and support from my friends,” Madonna also mentioned, before pointing out another photo she had posted of her holding a framed polaroid photo. “If you zoom into this Picture I am holding You will see A Polaroid taken by Andy Warhol of Keith Haring wearing a jacket with Michael Jackson’s face painted on it. A perfect triangle of Brilliance.”
“Artist who touched so many lives including my own. I sobbed when I opened this gift because I realized how lucky I am to be alive,” the popstar continued. “And how fortunate I am to have known these people and so many others who are also gone.”
“Thank you @guyoseary for this gift! And Thank you to all my angels who protected me and let me Stay to finish doing my work! ♥️,” Madonna added.
Mega Millions Increases To $1.5B After Another Draw With No Winners
The Mega Millions jackpot is expected to rise to $1.55 billion in the next drawing, topping the previous $1.537 Billion in October 2018.
Friday’s lucky numbers were 11, 30, 45, 52, 56, and a gold Mega Ball 20, but officials way there was no jackpot winner.
If there is a winner on Tuesday’s draw, the winner will have the cash option estimated to be $757.2 million, TMZ reported.
The jackpot has continued to climb since it was last won on April 18.
“There’s always an air of excitement around the country when Mega Millions jackpots soar,” Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. “The growing jackpot is a source of entertainment and winnings for players while generating important dollars for the good causes supported by each lottery. We are grateful for our players, appreciate our hardworking retailers, and remind everyone to play responsibly.”
To win, a participant must match all numbers, including the Mega Ball number. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, the outlet reported.
The previous four $1 billion Mega Million jackpots were won in 2018, 2021, 2022, and January 2023.
Good luck!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Candy Dreadz
Call it Jolly Rancher?
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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