10/8/23

The Daily Buzz For Oct 9☕📰☕

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#FASHIONFILES: Pucci's Blows Up After Beyonce's Renaissance Tour LA Catsuit Debut!

In the about 18 months since Camille Miceli took the reins of LVMH-owned Emilio Pucci, she has steered Pucci into audacious territory that includes this perfectly-suited, cats are applauding Beyonce-worthy ensemble worn on the tour.

Note that her dancers are also wearing Pucci.  I just checked Beyonce’s IG and the likes on this outfit were also identical to her Versace outfit likes — about 1,650m. Scrolling all the way back to spring, it looks to be in the top 5 on the whole tour. There’s maybe 10 outfits in the 1.5m range.

Well done, Camille Miceli. She also received overwhelming inquiries about buying Pucci, after the Beyonce concert in LA.
As her Pucci vision takes shape in short order, it’s clear exactly where Miceli is going with the brand and she’s not stealing thunder from any other LVMH brands.

Well maybe Louis Vuitton Men’s with Pharrell Williams. Those two would be great together. They’ll be doing some collab in the not distant future. . . I feel it coming.
I’ve got it! The ‘Joy, Joy, Joy’ Virginia chorus will wear Pucci caftans for their next Paris show.
People are begging Pharrell to bring them back. He talks all about them in the first ‘Louis Vuitton Extended’ podcast and there was way more going on in Paris with that choir, than even I knew about.
That choir was mixed with Parisians-of-color singers, who had never heard American gospel music. Per Pharrell, tears were flowing far and wide.

Miceli’s description of her ideal woman perfectly describes the Voices of Fire choir members — even the guys. They can wear Pucci caftans, too. 

“It’s for women with real presence, who are not afraid of showing their confidence. It isn’t discreet. It isn’t under-the-radar bourgeois. It’s a maison for women who embrace who they are, and dare to be noticed,” Miceli said about her customers, after the big show in Inglewood, California on September 2.

Now that you’ve seen Beyonce’s Renaissance-tour, custom catsuits, when you see the Fall 2023 campaign images, you will find them positively relatable.
With this sea of black fashion that is about to bury us in the coming months, Pucci may be looking at one hell of a joy ride.


#RHOA: Fans Think Kandi Burruss May Have Confirmed Reboot Possibility
The latest season of RHOA received a lot of criticism. “Real Housewives of Atlanta” fans were very critical of the most recent season. Complaints on social media called out issues with editing and the chemistry of the cast members. Some even questioned if giving Marlo Hampton a peach was the best direction for producers to take. Kenya Moore agreed with this perspective. In her opinion, Marlo brings the show down. Kenya also accused producers of editing scenes out of episodes to protect Marlo’s image. She went on to say that their alleged protection of Marlo really hindered her own performance. And she doesn’t think she’s been treated fairly in comparison.

Other RHOA fans expressed they took issue with Drew Sidora‘s nasty breakup with Ralph Pittman. There were scenes in which Ralph wasn’t all that empathetic to Drew despite her being his wife. Drew’s own sister Allison Jordan even tried to make him understand how he was out of line. And it didn’t make sense for him to support Courtney Rhodes over his spouse. Now that fans suspect Courtney is Ralph’s alleged side chick from Tampa, some viewers believe Drew’s situation is too dark to enjoy seeing play out on the show. Interestingly enough, some fans feel like Drew carried the season with her personal story. Although it was compelling, ratings were weak all season long.

Kandi Burruss confirmed a cast shakeup is being considered.
As the season began to wrap up, rumors about the upcoming season went viral. Some suspected producers would reach out to popular vets like Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks to return. However, Phaedra will appear on the next season of “Married to Medicine” instead. Blogger B Scott said producers were considering firing all of the current cast members. And they wanted to bring in a whole new group of women to freshen things up because it’s time for new stories and smaller salaries. This didn’t sit well with some viewers because, like Kenya, they feel production is the issue.

Well, Kandi Burruss was asked about all of this during a recent interview. She told iHeart Radio, “Do whatever you need to do.”
She continued, “I’ve been over here 14 seasons. So I’ve seen different cast mates come and go. Some I was sad to see go, some I’ve seen go and come back. And I know people constantly need to see change to feel like they’re getting something.”

Some fans think Kandi may have confirmed there is a chance the whole cast will be replaced.
“So if they feel like they need to make changes then find a cast that you think is gonna work. Do I think they’re gonna find a whole cast of people that’s gonna work and satisfy our fans? Probably not.”


#NewMusic from: Bell Biv DeVoe Return With New Single “Act Like You Know” Featuring Rev Run

Legendary group Bell Biv DeVoe had just released their new single “Act Like You Know” featuring iconic rapper Rev Run of Run-D.M.C. The epic visual has also released to accompany the song.
The song was co-written by LL Cool J, BBD and Rev Run, and spotlights the legendary genre pioneers in the ultimate musical collaboration.

The song was created exclusively for the film soundtrack to their docufilm “The Hustle of @617MikeBiv”. “Act Like You Know” marks BBD’s first single in six years. Mike Bivins of the group adds:
‘Act Like You Know’ celebrates the brotherhood and history between us and Run that’s been 40 years in the making. We hope the fans enjoy this track as much as we did getting together to make it.”

LISTEN HERE

“The Hustle of @617MikeBiv” explores the life and career of Grammy award-winning artist Michael L. Bivins. An inspiring story of triumph and resilience, the film traces Bivins dreams of being an NBA player to becoming one of R&B and hip hop’s most influential figures. The film features an array of notable talent including Jay-Z, bandmates Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Johnny Gill, Ronnie DeVoe, and Ralph Tresvant, Snoop Dogg, DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and many more.

With new projects in the works, fans can be on the lookout for even more to come from Bivins and BBD throughout 2024.


#HipHopNews: Social Media Reacts To Drake & Joe Budden's Fiery Back-And-Forth On Instagram
Joe Budden released a new episode of his popular “Joe Budden Podcast.” This particular installment was highly anticipated due to his previous viral critiques of Drake’s albums.
Like clockwork, the former emcee-turned-media personality wasted no time sharing his thoughts about the “Hold On, We’re Going Home” rapper’s latest LP, For All The Dogs. While discussing the project, Budden exclaimed, “[Drake is] rapping for the children,” around the 1:09:47 mark. “I had to look up how old this n**ga was when I finished listening to the album… You’re going to be 37 years old at the end of the month. Get the f**k away from some of these younger n**gas, and stop f**king these 25-year-olds… Why are you still f**king the 25-year-olds? You’re a 37-year-old billionaire.”

In rampant fashion, the Toronto-bred recording artist responded to the clip with a lengthy caption explaining his disdain for the polarizing show lead. Drizzy said, “You left it behind to do what you are doing in this clip ’cause this is what actually pays your bills. For any artist watching this, just remember you are watching a failure give their opinion on his idea of a recipe for success… a quitter give their opinion on how to achieve longevity…”

He continued to give upcoming artists some advice by saying, “I never want anybody in the generations to think that the whole ‘everybody’s entitled to their opinion’ is a real thing. This is a man projecting his self-hate and the fact I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself. If you need it put in simpler terms, I own a 767… he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions.”

Budden responded in short by saying, “You’ll grow up sooner or later. Father Time is undefeated.”
Fans had mixed reviews of the dynamic back-and-forth. One user on social media said, “Joe Budden said, ‘Aye, man, your music isn’t growing,’ and Drake’s response to that was ‘I own a plane.’ LMFAO.” Another highly touted music business professional said, “Joe Budden on his podcast telling Drake to act old, hang out with old n**gas, and get burnt out is probably the worst advice I ever heard someone earnestly give another person lol.”


Tia Mowry Frustrated By Rumors Surrounding Her Dating Life Following Divorce

Tia Mowry finds dating life "complicated." The 45-year-old star - who settled her divorce from Cory Hardrict earlier this year - has taken to social media to address her love life, urging people to stop speculating about her relationship status.

"Just because the dating life is complicated. Doesn't mean I'm going to go back to something that no longer served me. That's like implementing if I don't book an audition or a part as an actor RIGHT AWAY I'm going to give up on my dreams. Please just stop. I ain't that weak. Please move on because I have. Thank you NEXT (sic)," Tia - who was married to Cory between 2008 and 2023 - wrote on Instagram.

In 2022, Tia took to social media to announce her split from Cory. At the time, the actress promised that they would "maintain a friendship." Alongside a black-and-white photograph of them together, she wrote, "I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different."

"I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways. These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children. I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives."

Tia subsequently admitted that she had been "learning about [herself]" after their break-up. She told E! News, "I've always been next to someone. I've always had my sister, side-by-side next to me and this is kind of the first time that I've ever been by myself. And so, I'm just really learning about myself, loving on myself and being optimistic and positive. Life is short, so just focus on the positive."


Singer Jason Derulo Has Been Accused of Sexual Harassment
Singer Emaza Gibson has accused Jason Derulo of quid pro quo sexual harassment, NBC News reports. In a new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles and obtained by the outlet, 25-year-old Gibson alleges Derulo reached out to her with the promise of a record contract, then subjected her to “aggressive behavior, unwanted invitations,” and “implications she’d have to have sex with him” to advance her music career. Gibson — who is also seeking damages from Derulo’s record imprint Future History as well as Atlantic Records — claims Derulo dropped her deal after she rejected his advances. “I have anxiety, I’m traumatized. I’ve dealt with inhumane work situations,” Gibson told NBC in an interview. “I’m at this point where I’m back to zero and I have nothing.”

Gibson is best known for her part in now-dissolved L.A.-based R&B girl group Ceraadi, which she performed in alongside her sisters Saiyr and Znui Gibson; the group was signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label in 2019 before splitting up in 2021. In her suit, Gibson claims that Derulo reached out to the group with an invitation for a work session and reached out to her again as a solo artist in April 2021 for a joint venture between Atlantic Records and Future History. Per the suit, the terms of the deal required Gibson to create a mixtape in four months and an album in six, along with a single featuring Derulo, to be presented for Atlantic Records executives. She says she and Derulo began working with each other in studio sessions, where he allegedly pressed her for drinks and dinners at members-only lounges. After declining several times, Gibson says she accepted an invite to have a drink with Derulo at his studio sometime in September 2021; while there, she says he gave her “inappropriately large amounts of alcohol” and pressured her to drink even after she told him she “wasn’t a big drinker.” Gibson says she told Derulo she wasn’t willing to compromise her morals, at which point the musician allegedly told her she might have to partake in “goat skin and fish scales” to achieve success — apparent slang for “rituals involving sex, goat sacrifices, and blood,” per Gibson’s suit.

Gibson’s suit also alleges at least two verbal outbursts on Derulo’s part. The first alleged instance took place at a meeting with Atlantic Records in New York City in November 2021, where Gibson says Derulo extended a last-minute invitation to another musician, Rosa. Gibson says Derulo showed Rosa’s music to the executives and that Rosa privately implied to Gibson that she and Derulo were having a sexual relationship. In her suit, Gibson recalled telling Derulo’s manager she was “thrown off guard” by Rosa’s attendance, prompting Derulo to hit his armrests and scream, “‘What does she have to do with you!? We weren’t going to tell you anything! We don’t have to tell you anything!” at her. Gibson claims her deal was signed after the meeting but that Derulo neglected to assign her a project manager and either dismissed or ignored several of her work-related messages, allegedly telling her he could “always get new records.” Gibson’s suit also states that Derulo charged at her in front of her mother and staff members at a Los Angeles recording session in 2022. “I had to step back … my hand just clutched my chest, because I was, like, I’ve, I’ve never been approached this way by anybody,” Gibson told NBC.

After the incidents, Gibson says she was ultimately dropped by both Atlantic and Future History in September 2022 and that efforts to report Derulo’s alleged misconduct to Atlantic’s HR department went unanswered. She is seeking damages from the defendants over sexual harassment, breach of contract, a failure to remedy workplace harassment, and violation of California’s civil rights act.

For his part, Derulo released a statement via Instagram, denying Gibson’s “false and hurtful” allegations. “I stand against all forms of harassment and I remain supportive of anybody following their dreams,” the musician said in a video. “I’ve always strived to live my life in a positively impactful way, and that’s why I sit here before you deeply offended by these defamatory claims. God bless.”
 

21 Savage declared permanent U.S. resident

LOS ANGELES − 21 Savage can now legally travel outside the United States and plans to make his return to performing internationally in his native London.
Savage's lawyer, Charles Kuck, told USA TODAY in a statement Friday that the rapper has officially become a permanent U.S. resident and may now go overseas. He cleared a major traveling hurdle after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Georgia in 2019.

Kuck said the Grammy winner followed "all applicable immigration laws since his initial detention by ICE."
"His immigration court proceedings have now been terminated and he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States with the freedom to travel internationally," Kuck said.

21 Savage, seen here performing at Coachella in 2022, has been cleared to travel abroad and plans to perform in London.
The announcement was accompanied by a clip reel of the rapper's career and childhood memories set to Skylar Grey's "Coming Home," which teased his return to the United Kingdom with a final slide that reads, "London ... I'm coming home."

"It's going to be so great to have you back in the U.K. We've missed you so much," a voiceover says. "We all love you, Shéyaa, and look forward to seeing you soon."
A companion news release teases: "This marks a milestone for the superstar as he will soon perform for the first time in London. More information to follow soon."

Savage, 30, whose birth name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, spent 10 days in a detention center in southern Georgia before his release. He was arrested in a targeted operation over his visa, which expired in 2006.
The Atlanta-based rapper said he had no idea what a visa was when his mother brought him to the U.S. at age 7. He said in a 2019 interview with the AP that immigrants like him who lived in America illegally as children should automatically become U.S. citizens.

Savage said the visa application process discourages many immigrants who don't have documents because it "hangs over your head forever."


Jamie Foxx mourns the loss of fellow actor and longtime friend Keith Jefferson

Keith Jefferson, who featured in several films that starred Jamie Foxx, reportedly passed away from cancer at the age of 53.
Jamie Foxx is grappling with the loss of long-time friend and collaborator Keith Jefferson.
The actor announced the news on Instagram Thursday (Oct. 5). He penned, “This one hurts. Keith, you’ve been nothing but absolute grace, your whole life, your heart is pure, your love is immeasurable, [and] you were an amazing soul. We will all miss you dearly. It’s gonna take a long time for this to heal. Goodbye, my friend. I love you.”

In a subsequent post, Foxx added, “Everything hurts right now having a hard time looking through these pictures reliving the memories of us having a great time going to miss you man gonna miss you… Ever since we met back in college, you have been [an] incredible soul. God rest, NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO SEE THE WORDS ABOUT MY FRIEND. RIP.”

Jefferson passed away at the age of 53 and was known for his work in both film and television. According to the late entertainer’s representative, Nicole St. John, he was involved in several upcoming projects that he looked forward to resuming before being diagnosed with cancer in August.

Responding to Jefferson’s discovery, Foxx wrote on Aug. 30, “I met Keith in college. We have a deep friendship and kinship. I’m asking everybody for prayers up. Asking God to heal his body and mind… Devil, you a lie. [Keith Jefferson] Continue to fight because you are blessed. I love [you].”

Born in Houston, the late actor attended the US International University/Performing Arts in San Diego for his Bachelor of Fine Arts. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona. Jefferson also acted in several Quentin Tarantino films, including Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Our condolences go out to the family, friends, and fans mourning Jefferson’s untimely death.


Settlement reached in 2017 Chicago hotel freezer death of Kenneka Jenkins

A settlement has been reached in the 2017 wrongful death lawsuit of Kenneka Jenkins, the girl who was found inside of a walk-in freezer of a Chicago hotel.
According to court records, the agreement was reached back in August, but it wasn’t filed because the lawyers of Jenkins’ mother, Tereasa Martin, argued that the terms of the deal should be hidden from the public to protect the family’s safety and privacy, Chicago Tribune reported. A judge denied the request on Tuesday (Oct. 3) but asked them to resubmit. A status hearing was scheduled for next week in the case. The trial has been set to start on Monday, Oct. 16.

On Sept. 10, 2017, 19-year-old Jenkins was found dead at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont after she went for a private party that was held in one of the rooms on Sept. 8. However, the surveillance video footage that went viral caused public outrage — many were worried that foul play was involved and that police botched the case.

“Our detective reported no signs of foul play throughout the whole investigation. There is no evidence that Ms. Jenkins was forced to drink alcohol or consume any narcotics while at the hotel,” Police Chief Donald Stephens III said in a statement then, according to Chicago Tribune. “While there were many theories, rumors and much speculation floating around social media regarding the death of Ms. Jenkins, none were supported with facts. While all leads and theories were investigated by our department, what we have reported throughout the investigation and again, today, are facts.”

A medical examiner’s office ruled Jenkins’ death an accident, stating that she died from hypothermia after being in the cold for so long. They also added that the alcohol and topiramate (epilepsy/migraine medication) in her system played a role. A month later, law enforcement released more evidence, including audio recordings, pictures of Jenkins’ body in the freezer, and a timeline of her final hours.

Following Jenkins’ death, her mother filed a lawsuit in December of 2018 against the hotel, its security company, and the restaurant that leased the space where the body was found for $50 million in damages. The suit stated that the staff were negligent because they failed to secure the walk-in freezer and they also failed to do a proper search when Jenkins came up missing. It also noted that the staff didn’t properly monitor security cameras that would have showed them where Jenkins was — and if they did, her death could have been prevented.


#BoxOfficeNews: 'The Exorcist: Believer' takes control of box office with $27.2M
"The Exorcist: Believer" spun heads and drove off all foes at the box office.
Facing no competition from major new releases, the latest resurrection of the demonic franchise brought in $27.2 million in North America in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

That was more than the weekend take of the next three films combined. But while it nearly earned back its reported budget of $30 million in just a few days, the take for "The Exorcist: Believer" was underwhelming as the launch of a new trilogy.
Last week's top film, "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie," was a distant second, with $11.8 million, and has earned $38.9 million after two weekends. Another horror sequel, "Saw X," was third with $8.2 million, and has brought in $32.6 million after two weekends.

Angela (Lidya Jewett, left) and Katherine (Olivia O'Neill) go missing for three days and come back possessed by an evil spirit in "The Exorcist: Believer," director David Gordon Green's direct sequel to the 1973 horror classic.
The new "Exorcist" was released just shy of the 50th anniversary of the original horror classic, and comes just two months after the death of the original film's director, William Friedkin.

Directed by David Gordon Green, who has become a legacy sequel specialist after helming a trilogy of "Halloween" films, "The Exorcist: Believer" stars "Hamilton" actor Leslie Odom Jr., with Lidya Jewett as his 13-year-old daughter.
'The Exorcist: Believer' review:Sequel is plenty demonic but lacks horror classic's soul

The film got poor reviews, managing a critics score of just 23% positive on Rotten Tomatoes. USA TODAY's Brian Truitt wrote that the film did "a decent job living up to a legendary predecessor" while also being "nowhere near as profoundly scary as William Friedkin’s genre-defining chiller."

The top five was rounded out by Disney's AI thriller "The Creator" (No. 4, $6.1 million) and "Duck Dynasty" prequel "The Blind" (No. 5, $3.1 million).

The weekend finally saw "Barbie" fall from the top 10 for the first time since the movie's release in July, after well over $600 million in domestic earnings and more than $1.3 billion globally.
Final numbers are expected Tuesday.


Israel declares war and bombards Gaza as fighting rages for second day after Hamas attack

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The toll passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.
More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel — a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades — and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza.

The declaration of war portended greater fighting ahead, and a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties.
Meanwhile, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza, saying they would be traded for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The announcement, though unconfirmed, was the first sign of the scope of abductions.

As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in Saturday morning’s assault, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking on ABC’s “This Week.” The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israel’s occupation and blockade of Gaza.

The gunmen rampaged for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert near Gaza. The rescue service Zaka said it removed about 260 bodies from the festival, and that number was expected to rise. It was not clear how many of those bodies were already included in Israel’s toll.

In response, Israel hit more than 800 targets in Gaza so far, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclave’s northeast corner.
Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Hamas was using the town as a staging ground for attacks. There was no immediate word on casualties, and most of the community’s population of tens of thousands of people likely fled before the bombardment.

“We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes” used by Hamas, Hagari said.
Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza.
A line of Israelis snaked outside a central Israel police station to supply DNA samples and other means that could help identify missing family members.

Mayyan Zin, a divorced mother of two, said she learned that her two daughters had been abducted when a relative sent her photos from a Telegram group showing them sitting on mattresses in captivity. She then found online videos of a chilling scene in her ex-husband’s home in the town of Nahal Oz: Gunmen who had broken in speak to him, his leg bleeding, in the living room near the two terrified, weeping daughters, Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8. Another video showed the father being taken across the border into Gaza.

“Just bring my daughters home and to their family. All the people,” Zin said.
In Gaza, the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people sealed off by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for 16 years since the Hamas takeover, residents feared an intensified onslaught. Israeli strikes flattened some residential buildings.

Nasser Abu Quta said 19 members of his family including his wife were killed when an airstrike hit their home, where they were huddling on the ground floor in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

There were no militants in his building, he insisted. “This is a safe house, with children and women,” the 57-year-old Abu Quta said by telephone. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the strike.
Some 74,000 displaced Gazans were staying in 64 shelters. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from.

Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. Some 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more.

Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank.
In northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Hezbollah fired rockets and shells Sunday at Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and the Israeli military fired back using armed drones. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange.

The declaration of war on Hamas announced by Israel’s Security Cabinet was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute, a local think tank. But it “demonstrates that the government thinks we are entering a more lengthy, intense and significant period of war.”

Israel has carried out major military campaigns over the past four decades in Lebanon and Gaza that it portrayed as wars, but without a formal declaration.
The Security Cabinet also approved “significant military steps.” The steps were not defined, but the declaration appears to give the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a wide mandate.

Speaking on national television Saturday, Netanyahu vowed that Hamas “will pay an unprecedented price.” He further warned: “This war will take time. It will be difficult.”
In a statement, his office said the aim will be the destruction of Hamas’ “military and governing capabilities” to an extent that prevents it from threatening Israelis “for many years.”

Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The group’s fighters broke through Israel’s security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities — as many as 22 locations.
The high death toll and slow response to the onslaught pointed to a major intelligence failure and undermined the long-held perception that Israel has eyes and ears everywhere in the small, densely populated territory it has controlled for decades.

The presence of hostages in Gaza complicates Israel’s response. Israel has a history of making heavily lopsided exchanges to bring captive Israelis home.
An Egyptian official said Israel sought help from Cairo to ensure the safety of the hostages. Egypt also spoke with both sides about a potential cease-fire, but Israel was not open to a truce “at this stage,” according to the official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to brief media.

The shadowy leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault, named “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,” was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents that have brought Israeli-Palestinian tensions to a fever pitch.
Over the past year, Israel’s far-right government has ramped up settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence has displaced hundreds of Palestinians there, and tensions have flared around the Al-Aqsa mosque, a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site.


Chris Rock to Direct MLK Biopic with Steven Spielberg
Chris Rock will direct an upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. biopic with Steven Spielberg serving as executive producer.
As People reports, the film will be based on Jonathan Eig’s MLK biography titled “King: A Life.” The best-selling book was released earlier this year and “follows MLK from the classroom to the pulpit to the streets of Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis, [as] Eig dramatically re-creates the journey of a man who recast American race relations and became our only modern-day founding father — as well as the nation’s most mourned martyr,” an official synopsis for the book reads.

The details of the film project have not yet been released.
Rock’s directorial credits include 2003’s political satire “Head of State,” 2007’s “I Think I Love My Wife,” and 2014’s “Top Five.”
News of the upcoming biographical drama comes after comedian Leslie Jones revealed in a recent interview that Rock went to counseling after Will Smith slapped him at the Oscars.

Jones told People that she was so f*cking mad” after Smith assaulted the comedian at the awards show.
“I would’ve been running around that stage like ‘Will, calm down. Jada, call your man,'” she continued.
“That sh*t was humiliating. It really affected him,” Jones said. “People need to understand his daughters, his parents, saw that. He had to go to counseling with his daughters.”

According to Jones, Smith shouldn’t have accepted the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in “King Richard.”
“He could have still fixed it,” Jones said. “‘I shouldn’t have did that. Bring Chris out. I can not accept the Oscar right now because that was f*cking wrong.'”


The Golden State Warriors To Get Their Own WNBA Team

The WNBA is headed to San Francisco. On Thursday, the NBA revealed that the Golden State Warriors would be getting a WNBA expansion that will officially play its first game in 2025. The women’s team will play in San Fran at the Chase Center, which is also home to the Warriors. However, they’ll be headquartered in Oakland, at the facility that once served as Golden State’s front office and practice space, NBC Bay Area confirmed.

“We are thrilled about expanding to the Bay Area and bringing the WNBA to a region with passionate basketball fans and a strong history of supporting women’s basketball,” wrote WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a statement.
Currently, the WNBA has 12 teams. With the extension, the league will welcome its first new team since 2008, when the Atlanta Dream made its debut with 13 players. Nevertheless, it seems that now is the best time for a WNBA expansion, considering the excellent 2023 season. According to the NBA’s official website, women’s basketball has seen new appreciation, experiencing never-before-seen viewership and attendance. Though not a professional team, LSU Tigers women’s basketball securing a championship may have played a role in the renewed interest surrounding the WNBA, which attracted the most viewers in its offseason since 2004.

As of now, the official name of the team is unknown. Fans may also begin placing deposits on season tickets.


Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez Divorce Finalized Just Weeks After Filing
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have wrapped up their divorce just weeks after filing for divorce.
The “Imagine” star had a prenup in place. Per their agreement, Gomez was given a one-time lump sum of $1,250,000, TMZ confirms. The funds are tax-free and will take the place of spousal support, with Gomez also walking away with $25,000 for his legal fees. The two didn’t share any kids, so child support is not a factor in their split. Additionally, Grande and Gomez will sell their Los Angeles property and split the earnings evenly.

Neither party contested the agreement, so finalizing their split was much smoother than some celebrity divorces. Grande initially filed for divorce in September 2023, citing “irreconcilable differences.” However, the filing read that the two had been separated since at least February 2023. The two wed in 2021 after starting their relationship in 2020. However, it seems that Grande’s busy work schedule and filming overseas interfered with the whirlwind romance.

Grande has reportedly already moved on to “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater. Before Gomez, she was previously engaged to comedian Pete Davidson. Their relationship ended before they could walk down the aisle. Her real estate ex-husband is also said to be back in the dating field, though it’s unknown if he’s pursuing any other famous ladies.

Neither Grande nor Gomez has said much about the marriage ending. However, things appear amicable between the two.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
The Difference

LOL!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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