#MAGFAB: Carey Mulligan for Vogue US - November 2023!
Nice!
The Colorado officer who confronted Elijah McClain found guilty of criminally negligent homicide
A Colorado jury convicted Thursday one of two officers charged in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black pedestrian who was put in a chokehold and injected with a powerful sedative, and acquitted the other officer.
The jury convicted Aurora Police Officer Randy Roedema of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.
Former Aurora officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted. Both officers had been charged with reckless manslaughter, as well as the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, and assault.
Sentencing was set for Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office was appointed special prosecutors in the case, said more work must be done to make policing safer.
“Today’s verdict is about accountability; everyone is accountable and equal under the law,” he said in a statement. “And hopefully today’s verdict is another step in the healing process for the Aurora community and the state.”
Roedema had been suspended without pay while Rosenblatt was fired in 2020 after responding “ha ha” to a picture texted to him by other officers, one of whom appeared to be administering a chokehold near a memorial for McClain.
McClain, 23, had just purchased iced tea from a corner store in Aurora on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, when he was stopped by police. Officers were responding to a report of a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms.
McClain regularly wore a mask because of a blood disorder that made him feel cold, his family has said.
When officers told McClain to stop, the young man said he was an introvert and said “please respect the boundaries that I am speaking,” bodycam video of the confrontation showed.
Officers questioned McClain before they tackled him, believing he was reaching for one of their guns, police said. There's been no evidence showing McClain, who was not armed, attempted take one of the guns.
Officer Nathan Woodyard, set to go on trial this week, then put McClain in a chokehold that forced him into unconsciousness, prosecutors have said. He was fired after the incident.
A pair of responding paramedics, also set for trial later this year, injected McClain with ketamine to sedate him after police video showed him writhing on the ground saying, “I can’t breathe, please,” and throwing up. He apologized for vomiting
Minutes later, McClain was found to have no pulse in the ambulance and went into cardiac arrest, according to a report released in fall of 2019 by a local prosecutor, Dave Young.
McClain was revived but later declared brain dead and then taken off life support. He died on Aug. 30.
Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo, who was hired in November and who was not chief when McClain died, said in a statement Thursday that many in the community had been waiting for this trial.
“As a nation, we must be committed to the rule of law. As such, we hold the American judicial process in high regard,” Acevedo said. “We respect the verdict handed down by the jury, and thank the members of the jury for their thoughtful deliberation and service.”
The deadly confrontation sparked months of protests against police brutality in Colorado, preceding the national demonstrations that erupted in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.
Adams County prosecutors initially opted against charging the police and paramedics, but Colorado's attorney general intervened and secured indictments against those involved.
An independent probe commissioned by the city of Aurora released in 2021 found that officers had no legal basis for detaining McClain and that paramedics on the scene sedated the 5-foot-6, 140-pound young man “without conducting anything more than a brief visual observation.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Doesn’t Think RHOA Recast Would ‘Satisfy Our Fans’!
Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta failed to deliver in the drama department. An insider claimed that the show might get a reboot. “There has been lots of talk around what kind of reboot. Either a full recast or a Miami-style recast. But a NY recast seems to be what they are looking for,” the source stated.
That would be a shame. The cast has some legends, namely Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, and Shereé Whitfield. The last couple of seasons just weren’t up to par with what we expect from our Atlanta peaches.
Kandi wasn’t impressed with reboot rumors
Kandi spoke with iHeart Radio’s Tyrik Wynn about the rumors. “Do whatever you need to do, you know what I’m saying? I mean, I feel like, you know, see, I’ve been over here for 14 seasons, right?” Kandi stated. “So, I’ve seen, you know, different castmates come and go. Some I was sad to see go, some I’ve seen go and come back.”
She admitted that the fans like to see changes. “I know people constantly need to see change to feel like they’re getting something, you know what I mean? So, if they feel like they need to make changes, then, find a cast that you think is gonna work,” the singer and actor said.
But Kandi was skeptical that a new cast could win over their fan base. “Do I think they’re gonna find a whole cast of people that’s gonna work and satisfy our fans? Probably not,” Kandi stated.
Still, Bravo fans were concerned about the reboot of The Real Housewives of New York City. The new cast brought a fresh energy and the diversity that the show was lacking. Perhaps keeping a couple of RHOA cast members and adding new faces would work. If they replace the entire cast, at least maybe send our fan favorites on a Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Just like RHONY: Legacy.
#MusicNews: Sam Smith Shares a New Song Snippet & Fans Think It’s a Charli XCX Collab
Fans of Sam Smith were left scrambling on Wednesday (Oct. 11) when the singer shared a snippet of a new song that seems to be a collaboration with fellow pop singer Charli XCX.
In a post to their Instagram, Smith teased a new song with a street-side lip-synch video. Dressed in a structured black-and-white sweater and a white skirt, Smith strutted down an alleyway in Osaka, Japan, singing over a glittering dance-pop track. “I knew the night that I met you/ Underneath the New York City lights,” he sang. “Baby, don’t matter what I do/ There’s an angel standing by my side.”
Listeners quickly noticed the striking similarity between Smith’s verse and a track that Charli XCX teased on Oct. 6, which Smith responded to with a side-eye and skyline emojis. Titled “In the City,” Charli’s upcoming song bears a near-identical tempo and melody as Smith’s verse shared via Instagram. Moreover, Smith’s caption for the clip was simply three emojis of a city skyline, apparently pointing to the title of Charli’s upcoming single.
Fans of the pair also pointed to a recent cameo Smith made in Charli XCX’s video for “Speed Drive” off the Barbie soundtrack as a potential teaser for their work together. In the video, Smith interrupts Charli mid-verse with a video call, asking if she’d had a chance to “listen to the mix.” When Charli responds that she’s on set for a music video, Smith apologizes, but reminds her to take a listen when she gets a chance. “It’s just, we’ve got to submit it so we can get it out,” they say. Check out Smith’s new teaser HERE
#HipHopNews: Joe Budden Alleges Drake Sent Him A Voice Message Amid Social Media Feud
Following a wave of speculated jabs and mentions from Drake earlier this week, Joe Budden finally retaliated with episode 665 of his eponymous podcast. The latest installment saw the former MC discussing the online turmoil, especially after allegedly receiving a direct message from the Toronto native himself.
“I ain’t lying. He jumped right in my DMs,” Budden revealed. He shared that the notification arrived during his girlfriend’s son’s birthday party. The New Jersey native continued, “He DMs me with a 55-second voice note. I can’t tell you what it said because I didn’t listen to it. You gotta speak to me with love.”
Subsequently, co-host Melyssa Ford suggested playing the message on air, but Budden declined. He replied, “If I was one of these clout-chasing a** n**gas, that’s exactly what I would come in here and do. But I’m too thorough at my core and my soul. Protecting energy is a thing. Y’all don’t talk to me when I say favorable things any other time. Don’t f**king talk to me now.”
Budden also criticized Drake and his team’s approach to hip hop media. “The way y’all appear to feel about hip hop media, who the f**k are y’all to think you should be granted the luxury of dishonesty?”
The pair began their back-and-forth after Budden claimed that the artist was “rapping for children” with his latest project, For All The Dogs, on Oct. 7. The following day (Oct. 8), Drizzy clapped back with a lengthy response under DJ Akademiks’ repost.
This episode also arrived on the heels of public comments from Charlamagne Tha God, who surprisingly defended Drake after getting clowned in September. The radio host argued that the criticism of the musician’s new LP was unjust.
“This is the same Drake music that he’s been putting out for at least the last six years. What’s the difference from this album [and] the album he dropped with 21 or Certified Lover Boy?” he said.
The rapper’s remarks also prompted reactions from others in his circle. Cash Money Records founder Birdman joined the fray earlier this week by urging Charlamagne to “respek [Drake].”
Lizzo Plans Tell-All TV Interview Amid Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Lizzo is reportedly considering a tell-all interview over her legal row with her backup dancers. The "About Damn Time" hitmaker previously denied allegations of discrimination and creating a "hostile work environment" made by three former members of her "Big Grrrls" dance troupe, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez and Arianna Davis, as they alleged they were subjected to sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.
Now, an insider has claimed she has been approached by a number of people to do an interview over the situation and is said to be "considering" an offer to speak to CBS News anchor Gayle King. A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: "Lizzo was privately inundated with support from people who knew her when the lawsuit was made public."
"It has been an incredibly tough time for her and she has taken a huge hit to her reputation. She has had a number of people interested in a sit down interview but it is an offer from Gayle King that appears to be the bid she will consider," the source continued. "There is obviously still a lot going on legally and Lizzo is being guided by her team as to what would be the best course of action to take."
The "Truth Hurts" hitmaker previously described the aftermath of the accusations as "gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing." The 35-year-old singer added that her "work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned", along with her character."
"Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed," the Grammy winner wrote on Instagram. "These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."
Jeannie Mai Breaks Social Media Silence After Jeezy Filed For Divorce
Jeannie Mai has broken her silence amid her separation from Jeezy (formerly Young Jeezy). Weeks after it was unveiled that her rapper husband has filed for divorce to end their two-year marriage, the TV host shared a cryptic post on Instagram.
On late Wednesday, October 11, the 44-year-old uploaded her first post on the photo-sharing platform since the divorce news broke. She alluded to her need to "take a break" and "disconnect" in order to heal in the post.
"Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect, to heal," read the note handwritten on a paper. Without addressing her split from Jeezy, the mother of one appeared to express her heartbreak as she simply added a black heart emoji in the caption.
It's Jeannie's first post since news of her marital separation was brought to light last month. Her previous post was made on September 13, one day before Jeezy filed for the dissolution of the marriage.
According to court documents, the "Put On" rapper is asking for joint custody of his and Jeannie's 20-month-old daughter Monaco. It's allegedly stated that the pair have a prenuptial agreement in place.
Following the divorce filing, it was reported that the pair split due to different "certain family values and expectations." A source told Entertainment Tonight, "They had different views, and each felt like their needs weren't being completely met." In addition, lack of privacy in their house might be another factor causing the breakup.
Despite their differences, it's claimed that Jeannie still hopes for a reunion with Jeezy. "[Jeannie] deeply loves Jeezy, and she wants to work things out. Even though Jeezy has filed, Jeannie is holding out hope that he would be willing to sit down and works things [out]," according to Page Six.
Another source revealed to PEOPLE Jeannie is still "hurt and devastated" upon learning that Jeezy decided to call off their two-year marriage. "She got married to stay married. She's committed to trying to save her marriage," the source explained.
"She obviously knew they had problems, but she wasn't expecting a divorce," the source further dished. "Now she's trying to figure out what her future looks like and where she'll be living."
Carlee Russell, who admitted to faking her own kidnapping in Alabama, was found guilty in the hoax and sentenced to a year in jail
Carlee Russell arrives to a pretrial hearing at Hoover Municipal Court in Hoover, Alabama, on
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who admitted to faking her own kidnapping, has been found guilty of two misdemeanor charges related to the case, according to CNN affiliates WBMA and WVTM.
Russell had pleaded not guilty to one count of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and one count of falsely reporting an incident.
A judge found her guilty, and Russell was sentenced to spend a year in jail and pay nearly $18,000 in restitution, according to the reports.
Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, told CNN affiliate WVTM his client asked for a verdict so they could appeal the case to a circuit court in an effort to avoid jail time.
Anthony said Russell does not object to paying restitution, saying, “I think anything is fair when it comes to restitution with the expenses that were done. So we have to say that is fair. Anytime you assert restitution it has to be proven. The amount $17-thousand and some, hours spent, I would think that would be fair.”
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who reported seeing a child on the side of the road before disappearing, turned herself into the Hoover City jail where she was arrested on two charges.
Carlee Russell turned herself in and has been charged with falsely reporting an incident
Anthony said his client has apologized for what she has done, and he wants to make sure “her mental state is just fine.”
Russell staged a kidnapping in July that captured the nation’s attention after she mysteriously disappeared after calling 911 to report a child walking along a highway. Officers arrived at the site and found her vehicle and personal items, but Russell was nowhere to be found. After a nearly 49-hour police search, Russell returned home and said she had been abducted, held hostage and escaped her captors.
Authorities continued investigating and soon the her kidnapping story unraveled. Police investigating the kidnapping found Russell’s web searches included things like, “Do you have to pay for an Amber Alert?” and “How to take money from a register without being caught.”
Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell is seen in an image released by the Hoover, Alabama police department. Russel went missing after reporting to a 911 dispatcher that she saw a toddler walking on the side of the interstate on Thursday, July 13.
There are thousands of unsolved cases of missing Black people. Carlee Russell's unverified report is rare, advocates say
Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said her phone’s search history also included queries for bus tickets from Birmingham to Nashville with a departure date of July 13 – the date she went missing – and searches for the movie “Taken,” an action film in which a woman is kidnapped by human traffickers.
Russell later admitted the kidnapping was all a hoax.
Sherri Shepherd Reveals Barbara Walters-Richard Pryor Affair
Sherri Shepherd once learned the hard way that if you’re trying to keep a secret from Barbara Walters, it’s best not to involve Joy Behar. On Wednesday’s episode of her daytime talk show, Sherri, Shepherd welcomed Behar, her former The View colleague, to reminisce about one particularly hot bit of gossip: Apparently, the late journalist once hooked up with comedian and actor Richard Pryor.
As Shepherd recounted Wednesday, comedian and writer Paul Mooney once told her that he’d walked in on Walters and Pryor—a shocking revelation she soon shared with Behar.
“I came and I told you, and I said, ‘Paul Mooney said he caught Barbara with Richard Prior—he walked in on them. And then I was like, ‘Don’t tell nobody!’” Shepherd said. “The next day, Barbara walks in and you go... something like, ‘So, you’re schlepping Richard Prior, huh?’” (Note: Behar clearly said “shtupping.”)
As Shepherd recalled, Walters turned around—“you know, Barbara’s head would swivel like that”—and asked, in a stern voice, “Who told you that?!” Shepherd, meanwhile, was “sitting there like, I done just got this job!”
The subject came up as Behar and Shepherd discussed the latter’s fear of Walters when they were colleagues on The View. As Shepherd has discussed before, the two shared a complicated working relationship.
Although Shepherd once confirmed to The Daily Beast that she saw Walters as a “big mentor” who was “instrumental” in helping her find her voice, she also acknowledged, “She was tough on me. She was really, really tough on me. But I’m glad because it helps me in this area right here.”
At the time, Shepherd recalled, “I was like, I can’t cry any more tears. Do you not like me? Every day, you are getting on me for something, lady!” But on the day Walters left, Shepherd recalled, “she put her hand on my face and she said, ‘I’m the most proud of you. You did the work, you did your homework, you did the research.’”
When Walters said “I love you, dear” before stepping into an elevator to leave, Shepherd said she began crying—to which her “big mentor” replied, “What are you crying for?!” That moment, she said, pretty much summed up their relationship.
Mary J. Blige Partners With Pepsi To Offer $30K Scholarship To Female Hampton Uni. Student
Mary J. Blige has given fans more than enough great music throughout her illustrious career, and now she plans to be a blessing in a different way. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is partnering with Pepsi to provide a $30,000 scholarship to one fortunate woman attending Hampton University.
The “Strength Of A Woman” scholarship is available to any self-identifying female who is currently a sophomore in college, holds a 2.5 GPA or above, and is pursuing a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Arts, Finance, or Creative Design. The scholarship can be renewed for up to one year or until the student secures there’s Bachelor’s Degree. The deadline to apply is next Monday (Oct. 16) and can be accessed here.
This scholarship is part of Pepsi’s $200,000 donation which will also benefit local charities and aligns with the return of the Strength Of A Woman festival and summit, which returned this past May. Check out MJB’s performance below.
“The whole mission of this festival is to celebrate and advocate for Black women,” Mary J. Blige said in a statement earlier this year. “So to have Pepsi show up and show out in the way they do is overwhelming. With their support for the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, we are able to pay it forward in so many impactful ways and to be able to grant an HBCU scholarship for a deserving student is nothing short of incredible.”
The “Be Without You” singer has been doing incredible things outside of music for the last year. This past March, she released her debut children’s book, Mary Can!
“It’s such a personal story for me, based off my own experiences as a child and even as an adult. I was so used to people telling me ‘no’ and that I ‘couldn’t’ which only motivated me more,” she said. “My hope with this book is that it instills in kids from an early age that they can do anything they aspire to do. There are no limits to what they can accomplish!”
Sergio Brown Arrested, Charged With First-Degree Murder Of Mother
Sergio Brown has been arrested and charged for the murder of his mother, CNN reports.
The former NFL player was booked into a San Diego jail on Tuesday (Oct. 10). According to the outlet, the detainment stems from an arrest warrant filed in Illinois for the death of his mother, Myrtle Brown.
The news network reported that the ex-athlete had been located in Mexico. He was then taken into custody on felony fugitive arrest charges and deported after his mom’s body was found in Illinois. Brown is now expected to be transported from California to the midwest state, where he will face first-degree murder charges concerning Myrtle’s death.
The once-thought missing man resurfaced on Sept. 18. He then took to Instagram to update his followers on his whereabouts. He dismissed reports labeling him missing as “fake news” and claimed the FBI played a part in his mother’s death. The bizarre video was also posted to social media from an account named “intplayerwithapassport” and not Brown’s official IG account.
“Fake news, fake news,” he began. “It has to be the FBI that came into my house on Bob Marley’s death day. With the 511 haze and gas — unwarranted. They kidnapped me twice from my home. The Maywood, Ill. Police Department… it had to be the FBI or the Maywood Police.”
“I thought my mama was on vacation. That’s f**king fake news. She’s retired. And you want to come to me? FBI had to do it, they got the power to do some sh*t like that. What the f**k is going on? That’s fake news.”
On Oct. 3, Brown was spotted in Tulum, Mexico. TMZ released footage that showed the ex-footballer shirtless and dancing at a party. Eyewitnesses stated that Sergio was there for several hours. While there, Brown bought alcoholic beverages and appeared in “good spirits.”
Brown, 35, and his mother Myrtle Brown, 73, had previously been reported missing in Maywood, IL. Sergio’s brother, Nick, posted to his IG on Sept. 16 to declare he was actively searching for his brother and mother. “Folks my mom Myrtle Brown and brother Sergio Brown are missing,” he typed. “I’m not waiting another hour. Please share! If you see them or one of them please let me or the Maywood Police Office know!!”
A day after his post, Myrtle was found dead in the Addison Creek Reservoir — less than 100 yards from her house.
Chris Rock asked Jada Pinkett Smith out on a date amid divorce rumors with Will Smith
In her upcoming memoir, “Worthy,” Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that Chris Rock once proposed a date, believing that she and her husband, Will Smith, were on the brink of divorce.
In an interview with People Magazine published today (Oct. 11), the actress delved into the specifics of the situation. She shared, “I think every summer, all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce. And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce.”
Jada Pinkett continued, “So he called me, and basically, he was like, ‘I’d love to take you out.’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Well, aren’t you and Will getting a divorce?’ I was like, ‘No. Chris, those are just rumors.’ He was appalled. And he profusely apologized, and that was that.”
Notably, the actress formally announced that she and Will have been secretly separated since 2016. The revelation arrived today in a preview clip of her forthcoming prime-time special that will be hosted by NBC News’ Hoda Kotb on Friday (Oct. 13).
Jada Pinkett told Kotb, “I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying. I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Jada Pinkett revealed that she hasn’t had direct communication with Rock since the Oscars altercation in March 2022 when her husband slapped the comedian onstage. She shared, “[Do I have] any desire to talk to Chris? Here’s my desire: I just hope that all the misunderstanding around this can be cleared up and that there can be peace.”
The talk show host added, “I talk about this in the book. I think that there might be some misunderstanding between Chris and I as far as the 2016 Oscars. I think that he might’ve taken offense, which I meant no harm in offending. That wasn’t my intention. But I do think that there’s a big misunderstanding there.”
Beyoncé Joins Taylor Swift at 'The Eras Tour Concert Film' Premiere in Los Angeles!
Taylor Swift had a VERY special guest in attendance at the premiere of her concert movie!
Beyoncé joined the 33-year-old “Cruel Summer” songstress for photos on the red carpet at the premiere of The Eras Tour Concert Film on Wednesday (October 11) held at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles.
For the premiere, the 42-year-old “Alien Superstar” entertainer wore a black jumpsuit with a metal breast plate paired with sunglasses.
Beyoncé just wrapped her Renaissance World Tour earlier this month, and at the end of the final show, she announced that will be releasing Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé on December 1. You can check out the trailer here.
If you missed it, Beyoncé‘s mom Tina Knowles sang her praises for both her daughter and Taylor.
Madonna's Celebration Tour: Greatest hits show to feature more than 40 songs
Madonna's first ever greatest hits tour will be "a documentary through her vast career" that includes more than 40 songs, her musical director says.
In an exclusive interview, Stuart Price told the BBC the show draws on four decades of archive footage and studio recordings to tell the star's story.
"A greatest hit doesn't have to be a song," he said. "It can be a wardrobe, it can be a video, or a statement."
He added that Madonna was back to full strength after a summer health scare.
The superstar was found unconscious in her New York apartment in June and rushed to hospital, where she received treatment for a serious bacterial infection.
The singer later said she was "lucky to be alive", and postponed the start of the sold-out Celebration Tour from July to October.
The premiere will now take place at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.
"The person that is going to take the stage looks incredible, sounds incredible, performs incredible," said Price, reassuring fans that the 65-year-old had fully recovered
He added that the three-month delay had been used to polish the show.
"Madonna has very high expectations of how much hard work people will put into something," he said. "It's very uncompromising - but she's equally as hard on herself.
"So when she took a break, that pause created an opportunity to further enhance the show. And I'm sure the opportunity [for her] to focus on being 100% well was greatly received as well."
Since she burst onto the UK charts with Holiday in 1984, Madonna has scored another 71 hits, including 13 number one singles.
Some, like Vogue, Like A Prayer and Ray of Light, are era-defining anthems. Others, like Live To Tell and Don't Tell Me, are beloved fan favourites. So how did they finalise the set-list?
"That was the big challenge," admitted Price. "In two hours, can you get all of it in? That's hard. But every great moment she's had, we took a bit of it."
Many hits will be played in full, some will be interpolated into other songs, and still more will be used as "bridges" between acts.
Price suggested a ballpark figure of 25 songs would be performed, with elements of 20 more appearing in some form.
And what about a Taylor Swift-style acoustic section, where different tracks can be rotated into the playlist every night?
"Well, Madonna's reputation is for being highly precise and highly rehearsed across all departments. When you look at a tour of this scale, it has so many moving parts, so many elements, that everything has to be highly fixed.
"But there's one thing that's always dynamic, and that's Madonna herself. Her personality is so strong, her interaction with the audience is so strong, that it creates opportunities for variation from night to night."
He has worked with Madonna since 2001, serving as music director on three previous world tours and producing 2005's Confessions On A Dancefloor album and its Abba-sampling megahit, Hung Up.
The pair established a musical shorthand that he said works almost telepathically.
"It sounds very spiritual - but a lot of the ideas we have about music are inferred or non-verbal. There's just an understanding of feeling."
Although Price hadn't worked on a Madonna concert since 2006, their bat-senses began to tingle in January.
"When she announced the greatest hits tour I called her just to say, 'Congratulations, I think this is a great idea'. And she said, 'I was just thinking about you, and I thought you'd be the perfect person to work with on this'.
"So two weeks later, I went to New York."
By that point, "Madonna had a really already highly evolved storyline" for the show that "reflected on her career, from being a young woman in New York and learning the scene, all the way through to motherhood, spiritual awakenings, and all the ups and downs. The storyline was just really, really compelling".
Madonna's tours have always reconfigured and recontextualised her music and iconography
It's no coincidence that the tour was conceived while Madonna was also working on a movie of her life story.
Due to star Julia Garner, the project was put on ice in January, around the same time as the tour was announced.
"One of the Madonna's skills is that she's able to cross-pollinate ideas between different projects," said Price. "In this case there'd been consideration about doing a biopic [which gave] this tour the potential for having a documentary aspect to it as well."
As a result, the show will draw on news footage, classic costumes and music videos.
More crucially, it will use Madonna's original multi-track recordings, with Price extracting "a vocal take where there's a car going by in the background" or "a solo from a guitarist who's no longer with us" to recapture the original spirit of the songs.
In fact, for the first time since she performed club shows at the start of her career, Madonna will not be joined by an on-stage band.
"There are live musicians that perform at different parts of the show," said Price. "But what we realised is that the original recordings are our stars. Those things can't be replicated and can't be recreated, so we decided just to embrace that."
Price spoke to the BBC from his studio on a break before the final week of rehearsals for the tour
Not that the shows will be a straightforward exercise in nostalgia. In the past, she's enjoyed tweaking her most famous songs - playing True Blue on a ukulele, or splicing the Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen into the frothy disco of Dress You Up. This tour will be no exception.
"With Madonna, everything is always about recontextualising stuff, finding ways to take strong original messages and see how they resonate in the era that we're in now," said Price.
"A lot of the powerful moments [in this show] are to do with where the music intersects with something that society was going through, especially something emotional, like the Aids crisis. Those moments are incredibly powerful."
In Madonna's world, details matter. And with thousands of hours of archive to draw on, it sounds like the Celebration tour will spotlight her ongoing contribution not just to pop music but to culture.
We'll find out on Saturday night.
Nearly $5 Million Worth of Stolen Sneakers and Streetwear Recovered By Chicago Police
Earlier this week, Chicago police cracked down on a complex criminal operation, uncovering millions in stolen goods at a West Side warehouse.
CBS Chicago reports that police traced the operation to Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, where the group targeted items from rail cars en route to retailers. Their West Side warehouse served as their operational hub, containing nearly $5 million worth of stolen merchandise, including renowned brands such as Nike, Adidas, Supreme, and UGG.
The investigation advanced when a cargo theft was reported in the vicinity, leading investigators to trace the crimes back to the warehouse. They obtained a search warrant and found a significant cache of stolen goods.
“Whether it be Nike products or UGG products or Adidas or Supreme, a lot of massive amounts of property, it’s probably close to $5 million in merchandise, minimum,” said Lyons Police Chief Tom Heroin.
“What they would do is they’d commit these cargo thefts, like from Memphis, Tennessee. They’d re-label it, and they would ship it here. They would unpackage it, repackage it, and it’s a 100% markup because they got it all for nothing,” Heroin said.
Up to this point, two unnamed individuals have been charged with the bust, while an ongoing investigation involves several others.
Drug Dealer Linked To Michael K. Williams’ Fatal Overdose Sentenced to 5-Years in Prison
On Tuesday, a drug dealer linked to the crew responsible for the fentanyl-laced heroin death of Michael K. Williams has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Luis Cruz is the third of four defendants sentenced to Williams’ fatal overdose in September 2021, four hours after he bought heroin from another crew member.
A Manhattan federal judge sentenced Cruz after he pleaded guilty to a reduced narcotics conspiracy charge in April.
Cruz’s lawyer, Deborah Colson, said he “accepted responsibility and provided a genuine, heartfelt apology.”
Cruz, a former electrician, wrote a letter to the judge explaining that he was battling drug addiction and resorted to selling drugs to sustain his habit and cover his expenses.
“It was a terrible mistake in judgment,” he wrote.
Despite Williams’ death, federal prosecutors argued that Cruz and the drug crew continued distributing fentanyl-laced heroin.
According to ABCNews, a search of Cruz’s apartment uncovered over 500 small bags of heroin and other drug paraphernalia.
Earlier this year, Irvin Cartagena, the crew member who sold the drugs to Williams, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Another crew member got over two years in jail, and the fourth person is still awaiting sentencing.
The Colorado officer who confronted Elijah McClain found guilty of criminally negligent homicide
The jury convicted Aurora Police Officer Randy Roedema of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.
Former Aurora officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted. Both officers had been charged with reckless manslaughter, as well as the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, and assault.
Sentencing was set for Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office was appointed special prosecutors in the case, said more work must be done to make policing safer.
“Today’s verdict is about accountability; everyone is accountable and equal under the law,” he said in a statement. “And hopefully today’s verdict is another step in the healing process for the Aurora community and the state.”
Roedema had been suspended without pay while Rosenblatt was fired in 2020 after responding “ha ha” to a picture texted to him by other officers, one of whom appeared to be administering a chokehold near a memorial for McClain.
McClain, 23, had just purchased iced tea from a corner store in Aurora on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, when he was stopped by police. Officers were responding to a report of a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms.
McClain regularly wore a mask because of a blood disorder that made him feel cold, his family has said.
When officers told McClain to stop, the young man said he was an introvert and said “please respect the boundaries that I am speaking,” bodycam video of the confrontation showed.
Officers questioned McClain before they tackled him, believing he was reaching for one of their guns, police said. There's been no evidence showing McClain, who was not armed, attempted take one of the guns.
Officer Nathan Woodyard, set to go on trial this week, then put McClain in a chokehold that forced him into unconsciousness, prosecutors have said. He was fired after the incident.
A pair of responding paramedics, also set for trial later this year, injected McClain with ketamine to sedate him after police video showed him writhing on the ground saying, “I can’t breathe, please,” and throwing up. He apologized for vomiting
Minutes later, McClain was found to have no pulse in the ambulance and went into cardiac arrest, according to a report released in fall of 2019 by a local prosecutor, Dave Young.
McClain was revived but later declared brain dead and then taken off life support. He died on Aug. 30.
Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo, who was hired in November and who was not chief when McClain died, said in a statement Thursday that many in the community had been waiting for this trial.
“As a nation, we must be committed to the rule of law. As such, we hold the American judicial process in high regard,” Acevedo said. “We respect the verdict handed down by the jury, and thank the members of the jury for their thoughtful deliberation and service.”
The deadly confrontation sparked months of protests against police brutality in Colorado, preceding the national demonstrations that erupted in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.
Adams County prosecutors initially opted against charging the police and paramedics, but Colorado's attorney general intervened and secured indictments against those involved.
An independent probe commissioned by the city of Aurora released in 2021 found that officers had no legal basis for detaining McClain and that paramedics on the scene sedated the 5-foot-6, 140-pound young man “without conducting anything more than a brief visual observation.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Doesn’t Think RHOA Recast Would ‘Satisfy Our Fans’!
That would be a shame. The cast has some legends, namely Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, and Shereé Whitfield. The last couple of seasons just weren’t up to par with what we expect from our Atlanta peaches.
Kandi wasn’t impressed with reboot rumors
Kandi spoke with iHeart Radio’s Tyrik Wynn about the rumors. “Do whatever you need to do, you know what I’m saying? I mean, I feel like, you know, see, I’ve been over here for 14 seasons, right?” Kandi stated. “So, I’ve seen, you know, different castmates come and go. Some I was sad to see go, some I’ve seen go and come back.”
She admitted that the fans like to see changes. “I know people constantly need to see change to feel like they’re getting something, you know what I mean? So, if they feel like they need to make changes, then, find a cast that you think is gonna work,” the singer and actor said.
But Kandi was skeptical that a new cast could win over their fan base. “Do I think they’re gonna find a whole cast of people that’s gonna work and satisfy our fans? Probably not,” Kandi stated.
Still, Bravo fans were concerned about the reboot of The Real Housewives of New York City. The new cast brought a fresh energy and the diversity that the show was lacking. Perhaps keeping a couple of RHOA cast members and adding new faces would work. If they replace the entire cast, at least maybe send our fan favorites on a Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Just like RHONY: Legacy.
#MusicNews: Sam Smith Shares a New Song Snippet & Fans Think It’s a Charli XCX Collab
Fans of Sam Smith were left scrambling on Wednesday (Oct. 11) when the singer shared a snippet of a new song that seems to be a collaboration with fellow pop singer Charli XCX.
In a post to their Instagram, Smith teased a new song with a street-side lip-synch video. Dressed in a structured black-and-white sweater and a white skirt, Smith strutted down an alleyway in Osaka, Japan, singing over a glittering dance-pop track. “I knew the night that I met you/ Underneath the New York City lights,” he sang. “Baby, don’t matter what I do/ There’s an angel standing by my side.”
Listeners quickly noticed the striking similarity between Smith’s verse and a track that Charli XCX teased on Oct. 6, which Smith responded to with a side-eye and skyline emojis. Titled “In the City,” Charli’s upcoming song bears a near-identical tempo and melody as Smith’s verse shared via Instagram. Moreover, Smith’s caption for the clip was simply three emojis of a city skyline, apparently pointing to the title of Charli’s upcoming single.
Fans of the pair also pointed to a recent cameo Smith made in Charli XCX’s video for “Speed Drive” off the Barbie soundtrack as a potential teaser for their work together. In the video, Smith interrupts Charli mid-verse with a video call, asking if she’d had a chance to “listen to the mix.” When Charli responds that she’s on set for a music video, Smith apologizes, but reminds her to take a listen when she gets a chance. “It’s just, we’ve got to submit it so we can get it out,” they say. Check out Smith’s new teaser HERE
#HipHopNews: Joe Budden Alleges Drake Sent Him A Voice Message Amid Social Media Feud
“I ain’t lying. He jumped right in my DMs,” Budden revealed. He shared that the notification arrived during his girlfriend’s son’s birthday party. The New Jersey native continued, “He DMs me with a 55-second voice note. I can’t tell you what it said because I didn’t listen to it. You gotta speak to me with love.”
Subsequently, co-host Melyssa Ford suggested playing the message on air, but Budden declined. He replied, “If I was one of these clout-chasing a** n**gas, that’s exactly what I would come in here and do. But I’m too thorough at my core and my soul. Protecting energy is a thing. Y’all don’t talk to me when I say favorable things any other time. Don’t f**king talk to me now.”
Budden also criticized Drake and his team’s approach to hip hop media. “The way y’all appear to feel about hip hop media, who the f**k are y’all to think you should be granted the luxury of dishonesty?”
The pair began their back-and-forth after Budden claimed that the artist was “rapping for children” with his latest project, For All The Dogs, on Oct. 7. The following day (Oct. 8), Drizzy clapped back with a lengthy response under DJ Akademiks’ repost.
This episode also arrived on the heels of public comments from Charlamagne Tha God, who surprisingly defended Drake after getting clowned in September. The radio host argued that the criticism of the musician’s new LP was unjust.
“This is the same Drake music that he’s been putting out for at least the last six years. What’s the difference from this album [and] the album he dropped with 21 or Certified Lover Boy?” he said.
The rapper’s remarks also prompted reactions from others in his circle. Cash Money Records founder Birdman joined the fray earlier this week by urging Charlamagne to “respek [Drake].”
Lizzo Plans Tell-All TV Interview Amid Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Lizzo is reportedly considering a tell-all interview over her legal row with her backup dancers. The "About Damn Time" hitmaker previously denied allegations of discrimination and creating a "hostile work environment" made by three former members of her "Big Grrrls" dance troupe, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez and Arianna Davis, as they alleged they were subjected to sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.
Now, an insider has claimed she has been approached by a number of people to do an interview over the situation and is said to be "considering" an offer to speak to CBS News anchor Gayle King. A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: "Lizzo was privately inundated with support from people who knew her when the lawsuit was made public."
"It has been an incredibly tough time for her and she has taken a huge hit to her reputation. She has had a number of people interested in a sit down interview but it is an offer from Gayle King that appears to be the bid she will consider," the source continued. "There is obviously still a lot going on legally and Lizzo is being guided by her team as to what would be the best course of action to take."
The "Truth Hurts" hitmaker previously described the aftermath of the accusations as "gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing." The 35-year-old singer added that her "work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned", along with her character."
"Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed," the Grammy winner wrote on Instagram. "These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."
Jeannie Mai Breaks Social Media Silence After Jeezy Filed For Divorce
Jeannie Mai has broken her silence amid her separation from Jeezy (formerly Young Jeezy). Weeks after it was unveiled that her rapper husband has filed for divorce to end their two-year marriage, the TV host shared a cryptic post on Instagram.
On late Wednesday, October 11, the 44-year-old uploaded her first post on the photo-sharing platform since the divorce news broke. She alluded to her need to "take a break" and "disconnect" in order to heal in the post.
"Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect, to heal," read the note handwritten on a paper. Without addressing her split from Jeezy, the mother of one appeared to express her heartbreak as she simply added a black heart emoji in the caption.
It's Jeannie's first post since news of her marital separation was brought to light last month. Her previous post was made on September 13, one day before Jeezy filed for the dissolution of the marriage.
According to court documents, the "Put On" rapper is asking for joint custody of his and Jeannie's 20-month-old daughter Monaco. It's allegedly stated that the pair have a prenuptial agreement in place.
Following the divorce filing, it was reported that the pair split due to different "certain family values and expectations." A source told Entertainment Tonight, "They had different views, and each felt like their needs weren't being completely met." In addition, lack of privacy in their house might be another factor causing the breakup.
Despite their differences, it's claimed that Jeannie still hopes for a reunion with Jeezy. "[Jeannie] deeply loves Jeezy, and she wants to work things out. Even though Jeezy has filed, Jeannie is holding out hope that he would be willing to sit down and works things [out]," according to Page Six.
Another source revealed to PEOPLE Jeannie is still "hurt and devastated" upon learning that Jeezy decided to call off their two-year marriage. "She got married to stay married. She's committed to trying to save her marriage," the source explained.
"She obviously knew they had problems, but she wasn't expecting a divorce," the source further dished. "Now she's trying to figure out what her future looks like and where she'll be living."
Carlee Russell, who admitted to faking her own kidnapping in Alabama, was found guilty in the hoax and sentenced to a year in jail
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who admitted to faking her own kidnapping, has been found guilty of two misdemeanor charges related to the case, according to CNN affiliates WBMA and WVTM.
Russell had pleaded not guilty to one count of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and one count of falsely reporting an incident.
A judge found her guilty, and Russell was sentenced to spend a year in jail and pay nearly $18,000 in restitution, according to the reports.
Russell’s attorney, Emory Anthony, told CNN affiliate WVTM his client asked for a verdict so they could appeal the case to a circuit court in an effort to avoid jail time.
Anthony said Russell does not object to paying restitution, saying, “I think anything is fair when it comes to restitution with the expenses that were done. So we have to say that is fair. Anytime you assert restitution it has to be proven. The amount $17-thousand and some, hours spent, I would think that would be fair.”
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who reported seeing a child on the side of the road before disappearing, turned herself into the Hoover City jail where she was arrested on two charges.
Carlee Russell turned herself in and has been charged with falsely reporting an incident
Anthony said his client has apologized for what she has done, and he wants to make sure “her mental state is just fine.”
Russell staged a kidnapping in July that captured the nation’s attention after she mysteriously disappeared after calling 911 to report a child walking along a highway. Officers arrived at the site and found her vehicle and personal items, but Russell was nowhere to be found. After a nearly 49-hour police search, Russell returned home and said she had been abducted, held hostage and escaped her captors.
Authorities continued investigating and soon the her kidnapping story unraveled. Police investigating the kidnapping found Russell’s web searches included things like, “Do you have to pay for an Amber Alert?” and “How to take money from a register without being caught.”
Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell is seen in an image released by the Hoover, Alabama police department. Russel went missing after reporting to a 911 dispatcher that she saw a toddler walking on the side of the interstate on Thursday, July 13.
There are thousands of unsolved cases of missing Black people. Carlee Russell's unverified report is rare, advocates say
Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said her phone’s search history also included queries for bus tickets from Birmingham to Nashville with a departure date of July 13 – the date she went missing – and searches for the movie “Taken,” an action film in which a woman is kidnapped by human traffickers.
Russell later admitted the kidnapping was all a hoax.
Sherri Shepherd Reveals Barbara Walters-Richard Pryor Affair
Sherri Shepherd once learned the hard way that if you’re trying to keep a secret from Barbara Walters, it’s best not to involve Joy Behar. On Wednesday’s episode of her daytime talk show, Sherri, Shepherd welcomed Behar, her former The View colleague, to reminisce about one particularly hot bit of gossip: Apparently, the late journalist once hooked up with comedian and actor Richard Pryor.
As Shepherd recounted Wednesday, comedian and writer Paul Mooney once told her that he’d walked in on Walters and Pryor—a shocking revelation she soon shared with Behar.
“I came and I told you, and I said, ‘Paul Mooney said he caught Barbara with Richard Prior—he walked in on them. And then I was like, ‘Don’t tell nobody!’” Shepherd said. “The next day, Barbara walks in and you go... something like, ‘So, you’re schlepping Richard Prior, huh?’” (Note: Behar clearly said “shtupping.”)
As Shepherd recalled, Walters turned around—“you know, Barbara’s head would swivel like that”—and asked, in a stern voice, “Who told you that?!” Shepherd, meanwhile, was “sitting there like, I done just got this job!”
The subject came up as Behar and Shepherd discussed the latter’s fear of Walters when they were colleagues on The View. As Shepherd has discussed before, the two shared a complicated working relationship.
Although Shepherd once confirmed to The Daily Beast that she saw Walters as a “big mentor” who was “instrumental” in helping her find her voice, she also acknowledged, “She was tough on me. She was really, really tough on me. But I’m glad because it helps me in this area right here.”
At the time, Shepherd recalled, “I was like, I can’t cry any more tears. Do you not like me? Every day, you are getting on me for something, lady!” But on the day Walters left, Shepherd recalled, “she put her hand on my face and she said, ‘I’m the most proud of you. You did the work, you did your homework, you did the research.’”
When Walters said “I love you, dear” before stepping into an elevator to leave, Shepherd said she began crying—to which her “big mentor” replied, “What are you crying for?!” That moment, she said, pretty much summed up their relationship.
Mary J. Blige Partners With Pepsi To Offer $30K Scholarship To Female Hampton Uni. Student
The “Strength Of A Woman” scholarship is available to any self-identifying female who is currently a sophomore in college, holds a 2.5 GPA or above, and is pursuing a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Arts, Finance, or Creative Design. The scholarship can be renewed for up to one year or until the student secures there’s Bachelor’s Degree. The deadline to apply is next Monday (Oct. 16) and can be accessed here.
This scholarship is part of Pepsi’s $200,000 donation which will also benefit local charities and aligns with the return of the Strength Of A Woman festival and summit, which returned this past May. Check out MJB’s performance below.
“The whole mission of this festival is to celebrate and advocate for Black women,” Mary J. Blige said in a statement earlier this year. “So to have Pepsi show up and show out in the way they do is overwhelming. With their support for the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, we are able to pay it forward in so many impactful ways and to be able to grant an HBCU scholarship for a deserving student is nothing short of incredible.”
The “Be Without You” singer has been doing incredible things outside of music for the last year. This past March, she released her debut children’s book, Mary Can!
“It’s such a personal story for me, based off my own experiences as a child and even as an adult. I was so used to people telling me ‘no’ and that I ‘couldn’t’ which only motivated me more,” she said. “My hope with this book is that it instills in kids from an early age that they can do anything they aspire to do. There are no limits to what they can accomplish!”
Sergio Brown Arrested, Charged With First-Degree Murder Of Mother
Sergio Brown has been arrested and charged for the murder of his mother, CNN reports.
The former NFL player was booked into a San Diego jail on Tuesday (Oct. 10). According to the outlet, the detainment stems from an arrest warrant filed in Illinois for the death of his mother, Myrtle Brown.
The news network reported that the ex-athlete had been located in Mexico. He was then taken into custody on felony fugitive arrest charges and deported after his mom’s body was found in Illinois. Brown is now expected to be transported from California to the midwest state, where he will face first-degree murder charges concerning Myrtle’s death.
The once-thought missing man resurfaced on Sept. 18. He then took to Instagram to update his followers on his whereabouts. He dismissed reports labeling him missing as “fake news” and claimed the FBI played a part in his mother’s death. The bizarre video was also posted to social media from an account named “intplayerwithapassport” and not Brown’s official IG account.
“Fake news, fake news,” he began. “It has to be the FBI that came into my house on Bob Marley’s death day. With the 511 haze and gas — unwarranted. They kidnapped me twice from my home. The Maywood, Ill. Police Department… it had to be the FBI or the Maywood Police.”
“I thought my mama was on vacation. That’s f**king fake news. She’s retired. And you want to come to me? FBI had to do it, they got the power to do some sh*t like that. What the f**k is going on? That’s fake news.”
On Oct. 3, Brown was spotted in Tulum, Mexico. TMZ released footage that showed the ex-footballer shirtless and dancing at a party. Eyewitnesses stated that Sergio was there for several hours. While there, Brown bought alcoholic beverages and appeared in “good spirits.”
Brown, 35, and his mother Myrtle Brown, 73, had previously been reported missing in Maywood, IL. Sergio’s brother, Nick, posted to his IG on Sept. 16 to declare he was actively searching for his brother and mother. “Folks my mom Myrtle Brown and brother Sergio Brown are missing,” he typed. “I’m not waiting another hour. Please share! If you see them or one of them please let me or the Maywood Police Office know!!”
A day after his post, Myrtle was found dead in the Addison Creek Reservoir — less than 100 yards from her house.
Chris Rock asked Jada Pinkett Smith out on a date amid divorce rumors with Will Smith
In an interview with People Magazine published today (Oct. 11), the actress delved into the specifics of the situation. She shared, “I think every summer, all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce. And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce.”
Jada Pinkett continued, “So he called me, and basically, he was like, ‘I’d love to take you out.’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Well, aren’t you and Will getting a divorce?’ I was like, ‘No. Chris, those are just rumors.’ He was appalled. And he profusely apologized, and that was that.”
Notably, the actress formally announced that she and Will have been secretly separated since 2016. The revelation arrived today in a preview clip of her forthcoming prime-time special that will be hosted by NBC News’ Hoda Kotb on Friday (Oct. 13).
Jada Pinkett told Kotb, “I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying. I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Jada Pinkett revealed that she hasn’t had direct communication with Rock since the Oscars altercation in March 2022 when her husband slapped the comedian onstage. She shared, “[Do I have] any desire to talk to Chris? Here’s my desire: I just hope that all the misunderstanding around this can be cleared up and that there can be peace.”
The talk show host added, “I talk about this in the book. I think that there might be some misunderstanding between Chris and I as far as the 2016 Oscars. I think that he might’ve taken offense, which I meant no harm in offending. That wasn’t my intention. But I do think that there’s a big misunderstanding there.”
Beyoncé Joins Taylor Swift at 'The Eras Tour Concert Film' Premiere in Los Angeles!
Taylor Swift had a VERY special guest in attendance at the premiere of her concert movie!
Beyoncé joined the 33-year-old “Cruel Summer” songstress for photos on the red carpet at the premiere of The Eras Tour Concert Film on Wednesday (October 11) held at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles.
For the premiere, the 42-year-old “Alien Superstar” entertainer wore a black jumpsuit with a metal breast plate paired with sunglasses.
Beyoncé just wrapped her Renaissance World Tour earlier this month, and at the end of the final show, she announced that will be releasing Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé on December 1. You can check out the trailer here.
If you missed it, Beyoncé‘s mom Tina Knowles sang her praises for both her daughter and Taylor.
Madonna's Celebration Tour: Greatest hits show to feature more than 40 songs
In an exclusive interview, Stuart Price told the BBC the show draws on four decades of archive footage and studio recordings to tell the star's story.
"A greatest hit doesn't have to be a song," he said. "It can be a wardrobe, it can be a video, or a statement."
He added that Madonna was back to full strength after a summer health scare.
The superstar was found unconscious in her New York apartment in June and rushed to hospital, where she received treatment for a serious bacterial infection.
The singer later said she was "lucky to be alive", and postponed the start of the sold-out Celebration Tour from July to October.
The premiere will now take place at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.
"The person that is going to take the stage looks incredible, sounds incredible, performs incredible," said Price, reassuring fans that the 65-year-old had fully recovered
He added that the three-month delay had been used to polish the show.
"Madonna has very high expectations of how much hard work people will put into something," he said. "It's very uncompromising - but she's equally as hard on herself.
"So when she took a break, that pause created an opportunity to further enhance the show. And I'm sure the opportunity [for her] to focus on being 100% well was greatly received as well."
Since she burst onto the UK charts with Holiday in 1984, Madonna has scored another 71 hits, including 13 number one singles.
Some, like Vogue, Like A Prayer and Ray of Light, are era-defining anthems. Others, like Live To Tell and Don't Tell Me, are beloved fan favourites. So how did they finalise the set-list?
"That was the big challenge," admitted Price. "In two hours, can you get all of it in? That's hard. But every great moment she's had, we took a bit of it."
Many hits will be played in full, some will be interpolated into other songs, and still more will be used as "bridges" between acts.
Price suggested a ballpark figure of 25 songs would be performed, with elements of 20 more appearing in some form.
And what about a Taylor Swift-style acoustic section, where different tracks can be rotated into the playlist every night?
"Well, Madonna's reputation is for being highly precise and highly rehearsed across all departments. When you look at a tour of this scale, it has so many moving parts, so many elements, that everything has to be highly fixed.
"But there's one thing that's always dynamic, and that's Madonna herself. Her personality is so strong, her interaction with the audience is so strong, that it creates opportunities for variation from night to night."
He has worked with Madonna since 2001, serving as music director on three previous world tours and producing 2005's Confessions On A Dancefloor album and its Abba-sampling megahit, Hung Up.
The pair established a musical shorthand that he said works almost telepathically.
"It sounds very spiritual - but a lot of the ideas we have about music are inferred or non-verbal. There's just an understanding of feeling."
Although Price hadn't worked on a Madonna concert since 2006, their bat-senses began to tingle in January.
"When she announced the greatest hits tour I called her just to say, 'Congratulations, I think this is a great idea'. And she said, 'I was just thinking about you, and I thought you'd be the perfect person to work with on this'.
"So two weeks later, I went to New York."
By that point, "Madonna had a really already highly evolved storyline" for the show that "reflected on her career, from being a young woman in New York and learning the scene, all the way through to motherhood, spiritual awakenings, and all the ups and downs. The storyline was just really, really compelling".
Madonna's tours have always reconfigured and recontextualised her music and iconography
It's no coincidence that the tour was conceived while Madonna was also working on a movie of her life story.
Due to star Julia Garner, the project was put on ice in January, around the same time as the tour was announced.
"One of the Madonna's skills is that she's able to cross-pollinate ideas between different projects," said Price. "In this case there'd been consideration about doing a biopic [which gave] this tour the potential for having a documentary aspect to it as well."
As a result, the show will draw on news footage, classic costumes and music videos.
More crucially, it will use Madonna's original multi-track recordings, with Price extracting "a vocal take where there's a car going by in the background" or "a solo from a guitarist who's no longer with us" to recapture the original spirit of the songs.
In fact, for the first time since she performed club shows at the start of her career, Madonna will not be joined by an on-stage band.
"There are live musicians that perform at different parts of the show," said Price. "But what we realised is that the original recordings are our stars. Those things can't be replicated and can't be recreated, so we decided just to embrace that."
Price spoke to the BBC from his studio on a break before the final week of rehearsals for the tour
Not that the shows will be a straightforward exercise in nostalgia. In the past, she's enjoyed tweaking her most famous songs - playing True Blue on a ukulele, or splicing the Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen into the frothy disco of Dress You Up. This tour will be no exception.
"With Madonna, everything is always about recontextualising stuff, finding ways to take strong original messages and see how they resonate in the era that we're in now," said Price.
"A lot of the powerful moments [in this show] are to do with where the music intersects with something that society was going through, especially something emotional, like the Aids crisis. Those moments are incredibly powerful."
In Madonna's world, details matter. And with thousands of hours of archive to draw on, it sounds like the Celebration tour will spotlight her ongoing contribution not just to pop music but to culture.
We'll find out on Saturday night.
Nearly $5 Million Worth of Stolen Sneakers and Streetwear Recovered By Chicago Police
Earlier this week, Chicago police cracked down on a complex criminal operation, uncovering millions in stolen goods at a West Side warehouse.
CBS Chicago reports that police traced the operation to Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, where the group targeted items from rail cars en route to retailers. Their West Side warehouse served as their operational hub, containing nearly $5 million worth of stolen merchandise, including renowned brands such as Nike, Adidas, Supreme, and UGG.
The investigation advanced when a cargo theft was reported in the vicinity, leading investigators to trace the crimes back to the warehouse. They obtained a search warrant and found a significant cache of stolen goods.
“Whether it be Nike products or UGG products or Adidas or Supreme, a lot of massive amounts of property, it’s probably close to $5 million in merchandise, minimum,” said Lyons Police Chief Tom Heroin.
“What they would do is they’d commit these cargo thefts, like from Memphis, Tennessee. They’d re-label it, and they would ship it here. They would unpackage it, repackage it, and it’s a 100% markup because they got it all for nothing,” Heroin said.
Up to this point, two unnamed individuals have been charged with the bust, while an ongoing investigation involves several others.
Drug Dealer Linked To Michael K. Williams’ Fatal Overdose Sentenced to 5-Years in Prison
Luis Cruz is the third of four defendants sentenced to Williams’ fatal overdose in September 2021, four hours after he bought heroin from another crew member.
A Manhattan federal judge sentenced Cruz after he pleaded guilty to a reduced narcotics conspiracy charge in April.
Cruz’s lawyer, Deborah Colson, said he “accepted responsibility and provided a genuine, heartfelt apology.”
Cruz, a former electrician, wrote a letter to the judge explaining that he was battling drug addiction and resorted to selling drugs to sustain his habit and cover his expenses.
“It was a terrible mistake in judgment,” he wrote.
Despite Williams’ death, federal prosecutors argued that Cruz and the drug crew continued distributing fentanyl-laced heroin.
According to ABCNews, a search of Cruz’s apartment uncovered over 500 small bags of heroin and other drug paraphernalia.
Earlier this year, Irvin Cartagena, the crew member who sold the drugs to Williams, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Another crew member got over two years in jail, and the fourth person is still awaiting sentencing.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Sleep Walking At Walmart
Zzzzzzzz…….
Zzzzzzzz…….
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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