#MAGFAB: The Supermodels for Vanity Fair Italia - Fashion Issue 2023
Legendary!
#RHOA: Rumor: Real Housewives of Atlanta Interviews Underway for Potential RHONY-Style Reboot
Buckle up, Atlanta fans — the streets are saying the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast may be getting the RHONY treatment after all.
As you know, many viewers have been calling for the firing of the ATL cast following their dreadful 15th season. Out of the group, the only vets remaining are Kandi Burruss, Shereé Whitfield and Kenya Moore. Although they are stellar Housewives and reality stars, they’re forced to play other cast members who just aren’t on their level.
#RHOA: Rumor: Real Housewives of Atlanta Interviews Underway for Potential RHONY-Style Reboot
Buckle up, Atlanta fans — the streets are saying the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast may be getting the RHONY treatment after all.
As you know, many viewers have been calling for the firing of the ATL cast following their dreadful 15th season. Out of the group, the only vets remaining are Kandi Burruss, Shereé Whitfield and Kenya Moore. Although they are stellar Housewives and reality stars, they’re forced to play other cast members who just aren’t on their level.
Consequently, the watchers aren’t checking for it, and many want them out. After their latest season wrapped, a source very close to production dropped the news that some of our favorite Georgia peaches won’t be returning for another season because Bravo was cleaning house.
Cast members like Sanya Richards-Ross quickly denied the statements, with another source saying nothing was official. But here we are — five weeks later, and another shocking claim is shaking the Bravosphere.
Could RHOA get a full reboot?
According to Bravo and Cocktails, an inside source claims that RHOA producers are speaking with potential cast members about appearing in Season 16.
“Still up in the air, and production is underway with interviews,” the post read. “But how would you all feel if Atlanta Season 16 got the same treatment as the reboot of NY?”
“There has been lots of talk around what kind of reboot,” it continued. “Either a full recast or a Miami-style recast. But a NY recast seems to be what they are looking for. If so, expect a diverse group of affluent women in [their] mid 30’s-40’s.”
Well, well, well. The original reboot report may be right, after all. Could a RHOA reboot be in the works? It’s very possible, and let’s face it — we know exactly why. Hey, NeNe Leakes.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT RHOA GETTING A FULL RECAST?
#MusicNews: Usher Reveals Release Date For Upcoming Album “Coming Home”
The release date will coincide with his performance at the Super Bowl, which was also recently announced.
Included on the album is the current hit single “Good Good” featuring 21 Savage and Summer Walker. Also included is the previously released single “Boyfriend” which prominently featured Keke Palmer in the video.
Usher states about the upcoming album:
“We’ve put a lot of thought and creativity into this new album to tell a story that is open to interpretation and that will connect with people in different ways. I know this has been a long time coming for my fans and what I’ll say is that all good things come to those who wait. I hope you enjoy it once you hear it.”
The album will be released via mega, a music collective founded by L.A. Reid and Usher in partnership with gamma. the artist-first multimedia platform providing creative and business services across all artistic and commercial formats co-founded by CEO Larry Jackson and President Ike Youssef.
In conjunction with new music coming, Usher My Way: The Las Vegas Residency kicked off its second sold-out year, birthing numerous viral moments and ending in December. USHER: Rendez-vous à Paris, the European residency at La Seine Musicale, kicks off on September 24 until October 5.
#HipHopNews: Meek Mill And Rick Ross Tease Musical Reunion "Shaq & Kobe"
Meek Mill turned up the heat after teasing the early release of his upcoming single “Shaq & Kobe” featuring Rick Ross. On Monday (Sept. 25), the Philadelphia native took to Instagram to share the cover art for the record. He also promised fans an early drop only if they delivered.
“If you miss that MMG SOUND OF RAP MUSIC, leave a comment,” Meek wrote. “20,000 comments and I’ll leak KOBE AND SHAQ [before] Friday (Sept. 29).” At the time of reporting, the post rocketed toward its goal by racking up 20,800 replies.
In August, the rapper gave his followers a behind-the-scenes look at a recording session with Ross. Shot at Miami’s House of Hits, the clip showed snippets of their unreleased music in addition to amplifying the hype for their forthcoming project.
“MEEK X ROZAY SOUNDS. I know it’s gonna drop,” the 36-year-old captioned the Instagram post. The comment section quickly filled with fire emojis and pleas for an immediate release. Radio host Ebro Darden also chimed in. He stated, “Man, this music right here… We need [it].”
This teaser harkened back to a controversial point in time for Meek. In 2021, he faced backlash for a lyric referencing the late Kobe Bryant. In the leaked song, he allegedly rapped, “Yeah, and if I ever lack, I’m goin’ out with my chopper, it be another Kobe.”
The artist subsequently apologized, and this new track suggested a more respectful tribute to the NBA legend and his teammate, Shaquille O’Neal.
Beyond social media antics, Meek and Ross have maintained a strong relationship over the years. In March, the “Dreams and Nightmares” rapper publicly applauded the latter for fair business practices with Maybach Music Group. “Rozay kept it solid with my contract,” he tweeted.
Beyonce Fan Smacks Male Concertgoer For Hollering During 'Mute Challenge' At Singer's Houston Show
In a now-viral video taken from the Sunday, September 24 concert, a man was seen screaming "Woo!" after the Grammy winner told the crowd to be silent during her performance of "Energy". Upset by the incident, a woman around his seat smacked him and yelled, "Shut the f**k up."
The man, however, was seemingly unbothered by the incident. He even laughed off the altercation.
WATCH
There have been some headline-making moment at Beyonce "Renaissance" shows. Recently, it was unveiled that Beyonce's team flew a man named Jon Hetherington to her show after he was initially denied boarding a flight due to his wheelchair.
Jon, who has cerebral palsy, was supposed to see Beyonce in Seattle, Washington. Unfortunately, when he went to board the Alaska Airlines flight, he was allegedly told that he couldn't take his electric wheelchair onboard the plane. "Ableism strikes again. After waiting 25 years, I'm not seeing @beyonce tonight," he lamented in a video shared on Instagram.
Having caught wind of Jon's post with the help of Bey Hive, Beyonce's team arranged a flight for him to see her in Texas. Jon eventually managed to see the Grammy-winning singer in person. He even took a photo with Beyonce's mom, Tina Knowles.
"There is much that I will say in the coming days about what tonight means to me. There are some things I'll keep for myself. Truly an honor to meet you, @mstinaknowles!" the lucky fan wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for all that you've done and given the world. We're so grateful."
Colin Kaepernick Asks to Lead Jets’ Practice Squad
In a letter posted Tuesday on Instagram by J. Cole, the rapper said that he had asked Kaepernick for permission to share it with the world. “He was reluctant,” wrote J. Cole. “My argument was that I believe the people and all organizations should know the truth about how hard he works and how much he still wants to play. And always has. In the end, he agreed to let me. I wish the @nyjets organization luck. My boy @bas is a big ass fan so I saw the heartbreak of every Jets fan when Arod went down @richeisen Everyone from players, to coaches, to execs are feeling the pressure I’m sure. I hope y’all can turn it around, and I hope there’s a spot out there for my boy Kap.”
“I’m writing, of course, in response to the unfortunate loss of Aaron Rodgers,” Kaepernick began in the letter addressed to Jets General Manager Joe Douglas. “I know the aspirations this season were, and still are, to win a championship, and so that Hall of Fame sized hole will need to be filled as best aas possible to keep the team on a Super Bowl track. As of right now, Zach Wilson is charged with that task, and I wish him and the rest of the team the best moving forward.”
Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl in 2012 and nearly took them to another the following year. He was dropped by the 49ers at the end of the 2016 season — throughout which he knelt during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality and police brutality. Kaepernick has been unable to find a team since, and in February of 2019, he reached a settlement with the NFL after accusing the league of collusion and blacklisting him because of his protest.
He continued, “As much as I would love the opportunity to fill that spot, I’m writing you in hopes that you can imagine a much different approach involving me; I would be honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity to come in and lead the practice squad.”
Kaepernick, who turns 36 in November, then outlined his plan for preparing the Jets’ defense before concluding, “I’ve never retired or stopped training. My training schedule has remained the same for 6 years; Monday through Friday, 5am-8am training on the field and in the weight room. I’ve kept this training schedule without failure for the past 6 years, in hopes that an opportunity will present itself. I say this to give you some perspective on where I’m at physically. I have also attached a list of my references within the league that will vouch for my character, work ethic and ability.”
Wayne Brady Shares Life Update After Coming Out as Pansexual: 'Not Hiding'
Wayne Brady is feeling completely free to be himself after recently coming out as pansexual.
The Let's Make a Deal host, 51, announced back in August that he identifies as pansexual, and now he's opening up about the way his newly-discovered sexuality has changed his outlook on life—and more specifically, his dating life.
"It would be hard for me to truly put myself 100 percent into a relationship when there's this nagging doubt that I have not explored that piece of me, or even given voice to having that option," Brady told Entertainment Tonight in a new interview. "It doesn't mean that it's ever going to manifest itself in a relationship with a man, or a relationship with this person. I don't know, but at least being able to voice that, so that, if I go into a relationship, whomever I'm in a relationship with knows me 100 percent."
He went on to say that his new self-discovery is the "piece that was missing, that I couldn't verbalize, 'cause I couldn't lock on to it."
"Now I feel differently about that," he continued, while asserting, "I'm not hiding anything now, so now I can approach you in a way that I never have."
While expanding more on what identifying as pansexual means, Brady said he's simply "able to love whomever I want no matter the vessel."
"At the end of the day for me that just means that I am free to voice the option," he said, while clarifying, "Here's the thing: it may never happen... I'm not saying that I am going to be in a relationship with another man. I'm saying it is very possible for me to be attracted to the man because of the person. I can be attracted to this beautiful woman because of the person."
"But then again," he added, "that may be a non-binary person that might go, 'Oh, I'm attracted to you. I'm attracted to this trans person.' The best part is, now that I've said this out loud, I don't have to worry." The actor and comedian continued, "I could show up at a red carpet. I could be at Denny's for all you know, I'm not ducking anybody... because it is what it is, and I'm free to do that."
But despite his new realizations, Brady said he is still not ready to date anyone, telling the outlet, "The best thing that I could do for myself right now and to do for someone else is to not be in a relationship, is to just breathe."
"I just want to work right now," he asserted. "I want to continue to go to therapy, so that when I am ready to either pursue or be pursued, whomever that may be, my aim is to be my best self."
Target closes 9 stores in response to retail theft, adds locked cases at some stores
"We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance," the company said in a statement.
The stores set to close include one in Harlem, N.Y; two in Seattle, Wash.; three near San Francisco and Oakland, Calif.; and three in Portland, Ore. All "eligible" employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other Target locations, the company said.
The decision to close stores came after the company reported that inventory shrinkage — mostly the theft of merchandise — would cut profits by $500 million this year. In 2022, profits took a $700 million hit from inventory shrinkage.
"Shrink in the second quarter remained consistent with our expectations but well above the sustainable level where we expect to operate over time," Target CEO Brian Cornell said in the company's second quarter earnings call.
Target added it "invested heavily in strategies to prevent and stop theft and organized retail crime in our stores" prior to closing stores, including by adding more security to stores, using third-party security guard services, and implementing "theft-deterrent" tools across the business.
Ultimately though, the only decision left was to close certain stores.
"Despite our efforts, unfortunately, we continue to face fundamental challenges to operating these stores safely and successfully," the statement said.
According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) National Retail Security Survey, retail shrink — the loss of items to retail theft, organized crime, damage, vendor fraud, and other factors — was a $112 billion problem for the industry in 2022. That cost was up nearly 20% from 2021 when retail shrink accounted for $93.9 billion in losses.
At some hard-hit stores, Target is finding ways to stem the losses, such as locking cases for merchandise categories that are "prone to theft," as pictured below.
Shoppers have to ask for assistance from employees to open the cases. At this particular location in New Jersey, sections that were locked up included toiletries and higher-priced detergents.
David Johnston, NRF's vice president of asset protection and retail operations, said while this changes consumers' shopping experience, it's better long term.
For certain items such as over-the-counter medicines and baby formula, "it is more important to have the product there ... [than to] to risk it all being stolen and not available for the consumer," Johnston told Yahoo Finance. "So retailers understand the impact."
"Anything that has a high resale value or a quick resale opportunity is targeted," Johnston added. Often these stolen goods are then resold locally at bodegas or even resale markets, he said.
Target is making other efforts as well to deter theft, including payroll investments for additional security members, third-party guard services, and training store leaders and employees "so they can protect themselves and de-escalate potential safety issues associated with organized retail crime incidents," the release said.
The company is also investing in cyber defense technology. It's partnering with the investigations division of the US Department of Homeland Security to develop custom tools that detect and prevent criminal activity as well as to expand the scope of data alerts and analysis to "better capture" fraud.
When it comes to organized retail crime, Johnston said retailers and law enforcement are just "starting to see the true extent of how organized these groups are."
He explained that these groups' reach can extend to "multiple states, if not the country," with some groups traveling from the West Coast to the East Coast for "specific merchandise."
Target is one of many retailers addressing the issue of retail theft.
Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom told Wall Street on a recent earnings call that "losses from theft are at historical highs, ... and I'd say we find it unacceptable and needs to be addressed."
Walmart (WMT) US CEO John Furner also weighed in on the issue, saying, "Shrink has increased a bit this year. It increased last year. It's uneven across the country."
MC Lyte defends President Biden following LL Cool J comments
On Saturday (Sept. 23), the Congressional Black Caucus held their 2023 Phoenix Awards in Washington, D.C., which recognized those who have contributed greatly to Black communities across the globe. During the ceremony, President Joe Biden took to the podium to honor recipients LL Cool J and MC Lyte, both of whom were being acknowledged as two of hip hop’s greatest ambassadors.
As previously reported, the 46th president generated laughs from the audience by messing up the former’s rap moniker. There was also some controversy over using the word “boy” before quickly correcting himself. “Two of the greatest artist of our time, representing the groundbreaking legacy of hip hop in America. LL Jay Cool J. By the way, that boy, uh, that man’s got bigger biceps than my thighs. And MC Lyte. Both of you, thank you,” Biden stated.
Today (Sept. 26), MC Lyte shared a message to her fans in regard to the aforementioned achievement. She also defended the president over what she feels was nothing more than a regrettable error.
“In regard to the recent occurrence during the Congressional Black Caucus Phoenix Awards, while I do not condone any disrespect of any kind, especially to a Black man we all love and hold in high regard, I must say, I was actually there and I do not believe President Biden’s comments were mal-intended, he made a mistake. A mistake I’m sure he regrets,” the “Ruffneck” emcee said, before continuing, “One of my most fond memories is that of being in the presence of my elders when they make a mistake with a name, sometimes even my own. I pray that we will pay more attention to the historic importance of this moment than the errors that were made in it.”
MC Lyte further added, “What we should all spend time focusing on is this: For the first time in history, both the president and vice president of the United States, together, have acknowledged, embraced and publicly shown their love and appreciation for a monumental achievement in hip hop.”
Same cast Matt Walsh member who briefly quit 'DWTS' over the writers' strike was first to go home on night one
Season 32 of Dancing With the Stars, which was nearly delayed or even canceled due to the writer’s strike, did indeed hit the airwaves Tuesday, and the one person who briefly quit the show because of the strikes, ended up heading being eliminated first.
At this time last week, the show was strongly considering a postponement or potential cancelation given its employment of one WGA writer and the ongoing strikes that were happening. It even led to picketers on the scene and one of the cast members walking off during a rehearsal, with the threat of others doing the same.
But a deal was reached this past Sunday and DWTS and all of its cast members quickly got back to work. With 14 couples performing over the course of a two-hour and 30-minute episode on Tuesday, sending someone home right away only made sense.
Walsh was gracious in his exit, praising his partner and continuing to make jokes in the process.
“Koko’s the best, I had a wonderful time and it was a wonderful experience," he said. "And I would ask the judges to re-watch that routine sometime.".
Deborah Roberts Named Co-Anchor at ABC News’ ’20/20′
Deborah Roberts is taking up co-anchor duties at ABC News’ “20/20,” the latest in a line of distinguished anchors that includes Barbara Walters, Hugh Downs, Diane Sawyer, Connie Chung and Elizabeth Vargas who have led the long-running newsmagazine.
Roberts is no stranger to the series’ rhythms. She has been contributing to it for 28 years, ever since she joined ABC News in 1995, recruited by Barbara Walters. She will co-anchor the program with David Muir, who has been with the series since 2013. “Deborah brings her love of storytelling, her deep commitment to the truth, and most of all, her humanity to everything she does,” says Muir. “I cannot wait to stand beside her on ‘20/20.'”
Roberts believes her new role will give her a new sense of belonging to the series’ staff, particularly as ABC News has been working to expand how “20/20” is consumed by its audience. “Once you have really planted yourself firmly into a program like this as I have over the years, you look for more,” she tells Variety in an interview. By making the move to co-anchor, she adds, “you always feel like you have a little more ownership of a program, and more of a say in what it’s all about.”
“Deborah Roberts is one of a kind — a first-class journalist who brings heart, authority and integrity to every story she covers,” says Kim Godwin, president of ABC News. “Along with David Muir, she embodies the DNA of ‘20/20,’ inspiring the team and people around the world with every thoughtful word, inspiring report and impactful interview.”
Roberts takes up a role that was previously held by Amy Robach, who left ABC News earlier this year in a strange episode that involved her relationship with colleague T.J. Holmes. Both co-anchored the daytime program “GMA3.”
Known primarily as a vehicle for true-crime stories in the vein of efforts like NBC’s “Dateline” and CBS’ “48 Hours,” “20/20” has been broadening its world. In 2019, ABC News began running two-hour versions of the program that have additional traction on Disney’s Hulu streaming hub. ABC News is launching a new “20/20” podcast called “20/20 True Crime Vault” that digs into the series’ archives and repurposes episodes for the audio crowd. The “20/20” team also produces multiple stand-alone specials every year that can encompass everything from hard-to-get interviews with newsmakers to in-depth reports on bigger stories.
“The way you have a brand with legs is to keep finding that new audience,” says Janice Johnston, the newsmagazine’s executive producer.
Roberts’ colleagues describe her as indefatigable on assignment. “You know she’s going to go full force and really get into it, to be the first one to hop on a plane and get out there with the crime scene, with the investigators, to go to the house and visit the family,” says Johnston.
During her ABC News tenure, Roberts has reported for “Nightline,” “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight with David Muir,” and served as a substitute anchor for “Good Morning America” and a guest co-host on “The View.” She received a Peabody Award for the “20/20” special “Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor.” She will also continue to report across all programs and platforms as senior national affairs correspondent. Roberts is married to “Today” mainstay Al Roker, and the pair has collaborated on a book that collects wisdom about family life.
The journalist says she’s been able to learn while on the job. When she first got to ABC News, Walters was co-anchoring the program. “I was able to watch her prep,” Roberts recalls. “You could see her with her team on the set, watch how she reported her stories and interviews.” Now Roberts has a chance to sit in the same seat.
Hattie McDaniel, First Black Actor to Win An Oscar, Will Have Her Missing Award Replaced by the Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) – organization behind the Oscars – will posthumously honor Hattie McDaniel by reinstating her missing Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, which she won in 1940 for “Gone With the Wind.”
AMPAS, along with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, announced on Tuesday that it will gift a “replacement” Oscar to the Howard University Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts during a ceremony titled “Hattie’s Come Home” on October 1.
McDaniel was the first Black performer to win a competitive Academy Award for acting, for her supporting role as Mammy in 1939’s “Gone with the Wind.” At the 12th Academy Awards ceremony in 1940, McDaniel was seated separately from the film’s other nominees at the segregated Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel, the AMPAS press release detailed.
In her acceptance speech at the time, McDaniel said her win “has made me feel very, very humble and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry.”
Upon her death in 1952, McDaniel bequeathed her award – which was a plaque as opposed to a statuette, customary for supporting actor awards given in the late ’30s and early ‘40s – to Howard University. The award was displayed in the university’s drama department until the late 1960s, but its current whereabouts are unknown, according to AMPAS.
Next week’s ceremony will include opening remarks by Phylicia Rashad, dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.
“When I was a student in the College of Fine Arts at Howard University, in what was then called the Department of Drama, I would often sit and gaze in wonder at the Academy Award that had been presented to Ms. Hattie McDaniel,” said Rashad. “I am overjoyed that this Academy Award is returning to what is now the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. This immense piece of history will be back in the College of Fine Arts for our students to draw inspiration from. Ms. Hattie is coming home!”
After McDaniel’s history-making win, it would be another 51 years before another Black woman would win an acting Oscar when Whoopi Goldberg took home the prize for “Ghost” in 1991.
Jay-Z, Timbaland And Ginuwine Win Copyright Lawsuit Over Samples Used In ‘Paper Chase’ And ‘Toe 2 Toe’
A New York City judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Warner Chappell Music, rapper Jay-Z, producer Timbaland and singer Ginuwine over allegations of copyright infringement on the tracks Paper Chase and Toe 2 Toe.
The lawsuit was brought by soul musician Ernie Hines, who alleged that the 1990s tracks Paper Chase, performed and co-written by Jay-Z, and Toe 2 Toe, performed and co-written by Ginuwine, infringed on the copyright of his 1969 song Help Me Put Out The Flame (In My Heart). Both tracks were produced and co-written by Timbaland.
In his ruling issued Monday (September 25), Judge Paul Oetken of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York concluded that the part of Hines’ song that the 1990s songs allegedly copied “is not protected under copyright.”
At issue in the case was a six-second introduction to Help Me Put Out The Flame, which Hines alleged was used in both Paper Chase and Toe 2 Toe.
However, the court agreed with musical experts who said that this introduction was a barely-altered version of Mysterioso Pizzicato, a musical number from 1914 that was commonly used as accompaniment in silent movies of the era, and has been dubbed “the movie villain’s theme.”
Because that piece of music is available in the public domain, and because Hines’ intro only slightly alters that work, Judge Oetker ruled that this part of Hines’ work cannot be protected by copyright.
Hines’ intro “adds only material that is not original enough to be copyrightable. Authors and artists cannot claim copyright in ‘the raw materials of art,’ such as ‘previous creative works that have fallen into the public domain,’ as well as ‘the basic building blocks of music, including tempo and individual notes’,” Judge Oetker wrote, citing a 2021 precedent-setting case (Clinton v. UMG Recordings).
The judge also agreed with defendants’ claim that “Hines cannot establish substantial enough similarity between the allegedly infringing works and Help Me to support a triable claim of copyright infringement.”
“Given the ubiquitous appearance of the notes in the Introduction in the public domain, as well as Hines’s minimal additions to those notes, no reasonable jury could find that the amount of copying here is sufficient to support a copyright infringement claim,” Judge Oetker concluded.
Paper Chase was originally released in 1998 and appeared on Jay-Z’s third studio album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. Toe 2 Toe was released in 1999 and appeared on Ginuwine’s second studio album, 100% Ginuwine.
Neither track was a particularly large hit, with Toe 2 Toe garnering around 285,000 streams on Spotify as of last count, while Paper Chase has garnered 1.7 million streams, compared to hundreds of millions for Jay-Z’s more popular tracks.
Hines originally filed his lawsuit in 2019, explaining that it took him two decades to file a claim because he doesn’t listen to hip-hop, and only heard Paper Chase and Toe 2 Toe in 2018.
The original complaint indicated that Hines was looking for at least USD $2 million in compensation for the alleged infringement.
Florida Family Files Lawsuit Against Jack-in-the-Box After Employee Shot At Them Over Curly Fries Dispute
A lawsuit filed in a Houston court alleges a Jack-in-the-Box employee shot at a Florida family over something senseless… curly fries.
The alleged incident happened in 2021, but the video of the incident is just now being released by the attorney who represents the family, KTRK News reported.
Alonniea Fantasia Ford, the employee, has already served out her sentence, but the family also wants the company held accountable.
Ford appears agitated in the video clip as she deals with customer Anthony Ramos, who was in the car with his pregnant wife and their 6-year-old daughter, who was in the back seat, WESH News reported.
The couple reportedly paid for a combo but didn’t get their curly fries. From there, an argument transpired, but not even halfway into it, Ford can be seen with a gun.
Minutes later, she is captured throwing ice and condiments out the drive-thru window and then firing at least twice at the family.
Ford was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but was able to plead guilty to a lesser charge of deadly conduct. She served one year of probation.
The family has filed a lawsuit against Jack-in-the-Box, claiming it was negligent for not keeping customers safe from potentially dangerous employees.
Jack-in-the-Box argued back against the allegations and denied them by saying it has no control over or legal responsibility for a third party like Ford.
Ford is also named in the lawsuit, which seeks at least $250,000 in damages.
As previously reported, the 46th president generated laughs from the audience by messing up the former’s rap moniker. There was also some controversy over using the word “boy” before quickly correcting himself. “Two of the greatest artist of our time, representing the groundbreaking legacy of hip hop in America. LL Jay Cool J. By the way, that boy, uh, that man’s got bigger biceps than my thighs. And MC Lyte. Both of you, thank you,” Biden stated.
Today (Sept. 26), MC Lyte shared a message to her fans in regard to the aforementioned achievement. She also defended the president over what she feels was nothing more than a regrettable error.
“In regard to the recent occurrence during the Congressional Black Caucus Phoenix Awards, while I do not condone any disrespect of any kind, especially to a Black man we all love and hold in high regard, I must say, I was actually there and I do not believe President Biden’s comments were mal-intended, he made a mistake. A mistake I’m sure he regrets,” the “Ruffneck” emcee said, before continuing, “One of my most fond memories is that of being in the presence of my elders when they make a mistake with a name, sometimes even my own. I pray that we will pay more attention to the historic importance of this moment than the errors that were made in it.”
MC Lyte further added, “What we should all spend time focusing on is this: For the first time in history, both the president and vice president of the United States, together, have acknowledged, embraced and publicly shown their love and appreciation for a monumental achievement in hip hop.”
Same cast Matt Walsh member who briefly quit 'DWTS' over the writers' strike was first to go home on night one
Season 32 of Dancing With the Stars, which was nearly delayed or even canceled due to the writer’s strike, did indeed hit the airwaves Tuesday, and the one person who briefly quit the show because of the strikes, ended up heading being eliminated first.
At this time last week, the show was strongly considering a postponement or potential cancelation given its employment of one WGA writer and the ongoing strikes that were happening. It even led to picketers on the scene and one of the cast members walking off during a rehearsal, with the threat of others doing the same.
But a deal was reached this past Sunday and DWTS and all of its cast members quickly got back to work. With 14 couples performing over the course of a two-hour and 30-minute episode on Tuesday, sending someone home right away only made sense.
Walsh was gracious in his exit, praising his partner and continuing to make jokes in the process.
“Koko’s the best, I had a wonderful time and it was a wonderful experience," he said. "And I would ask the judges to re-watch that routine sometime.".
Deborah Roberts Named Co-Anchor at ABC News’ ’20/20′
Roberts is no stranger to the series’ rhythms. She has been contributing to it for 28 years, ever since she joined ABC News in 1995, recruited by Barbara Walters. She will co-anchor the program with David Muir, who has been with the series since 2013. “Deborah brings her love of storytelling, her deep commitment to the truth, and most of all, her humanity to everything she does,” says Muir. “I cannot wait to stand beside her on ‘20/20.'”
Roberts believes her new role will give her a new sense of belonging to the series’ staff, particularly as ABC News has been working to expand how “20/20” is consumed by its audience. “Once you have really planted yourself firmly into a program like this as I have over the years, you look for more,” she tells Variety in an interview. By making the move to co-anchor, she adds, “you always feel like you have a little more ownership of a program, and more of a say in what it’s all about.”
“Deborah Roberts is one of a kind — a first-class journalist who brings heart, authority and integrity to every story she covers,” says Kim Godwin, president of ABC News. “Along with David Muir, she embodies the DNA of ‘20/20,’ inspiring the team and people around the world with every thoughtful word, inspiring report and impactful interview.”
Roberts takes up a role that was previously held by Amy Robach, who left ABC News earlier this year in a strange episode that involved her relationship with colleague T.J. Holmes. Both co-anchored the daytime program “GMA3.”
Known primarily as a vehicle for true-crime stories in the vein of efforts like NBC’s “Dateline” and CBS’ “48 Hours,” “20/20” has been broadening its world. In 2019, ABC News began running two-hour versions of the program that have additional traction on Disney’s Hulu streaming hub. ABC News is launching a new “20/20” podcast called “20/20 True Crime Vault” that digs into the series’ archives and repurposes episodes for the audio crowd. The “20/20” team also produces multiple stand-alone specials every year that can encompass everything from hard-to-get interviews with newsmakers to in-depth reports on bigger stories.
“The way you have a brand with legs is to keep finding that new audience,” says Janice Johnston, the newsmagazine’s executive producer.
Roberts’ colleagues describe her as indefatigable on assignment. “You know she’s going to go full force and really get into it, to be the first one to hop on a plane and get out there with the crime scene, with the investigators, to go to the house and visit the family,” says Johnston.
During her ABC News tenure, Roberts has reported for “Nightline,” “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight with David Muir,” and served as a substitute anchor for “Good Morning America” and a guest co-host on “The View.” She received a Peabody Award for the “20/20” special “Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor.” She will also continue to report across all programs and platforms as senior national affairs correspondent. Roberts is married to “Today” mainstay Al Roker, and the pair has collaborated on a book that collects wisdom about family life.
The journalist says she’s been able to learn while on the job. When she first got to ABC News, Walters was co-anchoring the program. “I was able to watch her prep,” Roberts recalls. “You could see her with her team on the set, watch how she reported her stories and interviews.” Now Roberts has a chance to sit in the same seat.
Hattie McDaniel, First Black Actor to Win An Oscar, Will Have Her Missing Award Replaced by the Academy
AMPAS, along with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, announced on Tuesday that it will gift a “replacement” Oscar to the Howard University Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts during a ceremony titled “Hattie’s Come Home” on October 1.
McDaniel was the first Black performer to win a competitive Academy Award for acting, for her supporting role as Mammy in 1939’s “Gone with the Wind.” At the 12th Academy Awards ceremony in 1940, McDaniel was seated separately from the film’s other nominees at the segregated Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel, the AMPAS press release detailed.
In her acceptance speech at the time, McDaniel said her win “has made me feel very, very humble and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry.”
Upon her death in 1952, McDaniel bequeathed her award – which was a plaque as opposed to a statuette, customary for supporting actor awards given in the late ’30s and early ‘40s – to Howard University. The award was displayed in the university’s drama department until the late 1960s, but its current whereabouts are unknown, according to AMPAS.
Next week’s ceremony will include opening remarks by Phylicia Rashad, dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.
“When I was a student in the College of Fine Arts at Howard University, in what was then called the Department of Drama, I would often sit and gaze in wonder at the Academy Award that had been presented to Ms. Hattie McDaniel,” said Rashad. “I am overjoyed that this Academy Award is returning to what is now the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. This immense piece of history will be back in the College of Fine Arts for our students to draw inspiration from. Ms. Hattie is coming home!”
After McDaniel’s history-making win, it would be another 51 years before another Black woman would win an acting Oscar when Whoopi Goldberg took home the prize for “Ghost” in 1991.
Jay-Z, Timbaland And Ginuwine Win Copyright Lawsuit Over Samples Used In ‘Paper Chase’ And ‘Toe 2 Toe’
A New York City judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Warner Chappell Music, rapper Jay-Z, producer Timbaland and singer Ginuwine over allegations of copyright infringement on the tracks Paper Chase and Toe 2 Toe.
The lawsuit was brought by soul musician Ernie Hines, who alleged that the 1990s tracks Paper Chase, performed and co-written by Jay-Z, and Toe 2 Toe, performed and co-written by Ginuwine, infringed on the copyright of his 1969 song Help Me Put Out The Flame (In My Heart). Both tracks were produced and co-written by Timbaland.
In his ruling issued Monday (September 25), Judge Paul Oetken of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York concluded that the part of Hines’ song that the 1990s songs allegedly copied “is not protected under copyright.”
At issue in the case was a six-second introduction to Help Me Put Out The Flame, which Hines alleged was used in both Paper Chase and Toe 2 Toe.
However, the court agreed with musical experts who said that this introduction was a barely-altered version of Mysterioso Pizzicato, a musical number from 1914 that was commonly used as accompaniment in silent movies of the era, and has been dubbed “the movie villain’s theme.”
Because that piece of music is available in the public domain, and because Hines’ intro only slightly alters that work, Judge Oetker ruled that this part of Hines’ work cannot be protected by copyright.
Hines’ intro “adds only material that is not original enough to be copyrightable. Authors and artists cannot claim copyright in ‘the raw materials of art,’ such as ‘previous creative works that have fallen into the public domain,’ as well as ‘the basic building blocks of music, including tempo and individual notes’,” Judge Oetker wrote, citing a 2021 precedent-setting case (Clinton v. UMG Recordings).
The judge also agreed with defendants’ claim that “Hines cannot establish substantial enough similarity between the allegedly infringing works and Help Me to support a triable claim of copyright infringement.”
“Given the ubiquitous appearance of the notes in the Introduction in the public domain, as well as Hines’s minimal additions to those notes, no reasonable jury could find that the amount of copying here is sufficient to support a copyright infringement claim,” Judge Oetker concluded.
Paper Chase was originally released in 1998 and appeared on Jay-Z’s third studio album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. Toe 2 Toe was released in 1999 and appeared on Ginuwine’s second studio album, 100% Ginuwine.
Neither track was a particularly large hit, with Toe 2 Toe garnering around 285,000 streams on Spotify as of last count, while Paper Chase has garnered 1.7 million streams, compared to hundreds of millions for Jay-Z’s more popular tracks.
Hines originally filed his lawsuit in 2019, explaining that it took him two decades to file a claim because he doesn’t listen to hip-hop, and only heard Paper Chase and Toe 2 Toe in 2018.
The original complaint indicated that Hines was looking for at least USD $2 million in compensation for the alleged infringement.
Florida Family Files Lawsuit Against Jack-in-the-Box After Employee Shot At Them Over Curly Fries Dispute
The alleged incident happened in 2021, but the video of the incident is just now being released by the attorney who represents the family, KTRK News reported.
Alonniea Fantasia Ford, the employee, has already served out her sentence, but the family also wants the company held accountable.
Ford appears agitated in the video clip as she deals with customer Anthony Ramos, who was in the car with his pregnant wife and their 6-year-old daughter, who was in the back seat, WESH News reported.
The couple reportedly paid for a combo but didn’t get their curly fries. From there, an argument transpired, but not even halfway into it, Ford can be seen with a gun.
Minutes later, she is captured throwing ice and condiments out the drive-thru window and then firing at least twice at the family.
Ford was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but was able to plead guilty to a lesser charge of deadly conduct. She served one year of probation.
The family has filed a lawsuit against Jack-in-the-Box, claiming it was negligent for not keeping customers safe from potentially dangerous employees.
Jack-in-the-Box argued back against the allegations and denied them by saying it has no control over or legal responsibility for a third party like Ford.
Ford is also named in the lawsuit, which seeks at least $250,000 in damages.
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