#MAGFAB: Nicki Minaj Makes US Vogue Cover Debut!
While she may be promoting her forthcoming studio album “Pink Friday 2,” Nicki Minaj is on the cover of Vogue (US) in cream — a delicately draped Valentino couture gown, that is.
Minaj has previously been featured on the covers of the Arabian and Japanese editions of Vogue (in 2018 and 2019, respectively), but the December issue of US Vogue marks her stateside debut.
It’s a moment that also marks a milestone: after nearly 15 years of dominance in the rap industry, the performer sat down with Vogue to discuss her new album, the pressures of fame, and the challenges and joys of raising her 3-year-old son, who she publicly refers to as “Papa Bear.” (Minaj hasn’t otherwise officially revealed her son’s birth name.)
“There’s a freeness that you have around you when you’re at your best when you’re doing your thing at your peak,” Minaj told the magazine. “But once you start knowing that you’re being judged, there’s no longer that free spirit. People who excel at something make it look easy, but they also deal with a lot of fear of letting people down and letting themselves down. Once you make it, it’s like anything you say can be used against you.”
(Case in point: Minaj spoke briefly about the controversy that ensued in 2021 following a tweet she shared seemingly skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines’ efficacy. “I’m one of those people who doesn’t go with a crowd,” she said, adding, “I like to make my own assessment.”)
It’s also with this perspective — grown out of long being in the public eye, but still wary of it — that Minaj addressed being seen as an emblem of “body positivity” for other women of color with curves, yet not always feeling so positive herself.
“I just looked at a video that I posted on Instagram when I was 25, and I would f**king pay to look like that right now,” Minaj admitted. “But today I can say that I’m at peace with who I am and how I look.”
The rapper also disclosed that she had recently undergone breast reduction surgery, and told Vogue of her new physique that, “actually I love it.”
“I used to want a bigger butt, and now I look back and realize how silly that was,” she said. “Love your curves, and love your non-curves. There’s nothing wrong with any of it.”
“When you look around and try to keep yourself in a grateful frame of mind… the things that you can be thankful for seem to start adding up,” Minaj explained. “That’s the thing that’s changed in me. It’s not that I’ve taken these amazing steps. It’s just about finally being happy with who you are as opposed to where you are.”
#RHOP: Karen Huger Reveals Health Scare in the Most Grand Dame Way Possible
The Grand Dame is taking charge of her wellbeing. Karen Huger opens up about a recent health scare in E! News' exclusive sneak peek at The Real Housewives of Potomac's Nov. 12 episode. And, yes, she shares the news in the most Karen Huger way possible.
While taking a Pilates class with Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby and Mia Thornton, the 60-year-old reveals she recently had her heart checked out by doctors.
"I went for all of the tests, which would scare you," Karen explains in the preview. "MRI, calcium, EKG, stress test, blockage and what have you. I still choke up when I say it."
After taking a second to regain her composure, the Bravolebrity continues, "I have five percent of calcium in my carotid arteries."
After this admission caused her costars to look a bit confused and concerned, she adds, "But that is a number that cannot hurt me. It's not life-threatening."
Surprised by the revelation, Gizelle responds, "So that's why we're here? Because you have a blockage?"
However, Karen clarifies further, "It's not a blockage, it's a deposit."
Reflecting on the scare, the Grand Dame adds in a confessional, "The good news is I caught it in time and diet and just being vigilant about my health will stop any more buildup."
And in true Gizelle form, she questions the seriousness of Karen's condition in her confessional.
"I don't even know what to equate that to," she jokes. "Five percent buildup in your heart, huh? Does that mean you need to clean your ears?"
#NewMusic from Glenn Lewis He Releases New Holiday EP “This Christmas With Glenn Lewis”
Soul crooner Glenn Lewis has just released the holiday EP called “This Christmas With Glenn Lewis” The project includes his rendition of two holiday classics “The Christmas Song” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”.
Minaj has previously been featured on the covers of the Arabian and Japanese editions of Vogue (in 2018 and 2019, respectively), but the December issue of US Vogue marks her stateside debut.
It’s a moment that also marks a milestone: after nearly 15 years of dominance in the rap industry, the performer sat down with Vogue to discuss her new album, the pressures of fame, and the challenges and joys of raising her 3-year-old son, who she publicly refers to as “Papa Bear.” (Minaj hasn’t otherwise officially revealed her son’s birth name.)
“There’s a freeness that you have around you when you’re at your best when you’re doing your thing at your peak,” Minaj told the magazine. “But once you start knowing that you’re being judged, there’s no longer that free spirit. People who excel at something make it look easy, but they also deal with a lot of fear of letting people down and letting themselves down. Once you make it, it’s like anything you say can be used against you.”
(Case in point: Minaj spoke briefly about the controversy that ensued in 2021 following a tweet she shared seemingly skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines’ efficacy. “I’m one of those people who doesn’t go with a crowd,” she said, adding, “I like to make my own assessment.”)
It’s also with this perspective — grown out of long being in the public eye, but still wary of it — that Minaj addressed being seen as an emblem of “body positivity” for other women of color with curves, yet not always feeling so positive herself.
“I just looked at a video that I posted on Instagram when I was 25, and I would f**king pay to look like that right now,” Minaj admitted. “But today I can say that I’m at peace with who I am and how I look.”
The rapper also disclosed that she had recently undergone breast reduction surgery, and told Vogue of her new physique that, “actually I love it.”
“I used to want a bigger butt, and now I look back and realize how silly that was,” she said. “Love your curves, and love your non-curves. There’s nothing wrong with any of it.”
“When you look around and try to keep yourself in a grateful frame of mind… the things that you can be thankful for seem to start adding up,” Minaj explained. “That’s the thing that’s changed in me. It’s not that I’ve taken these amazing steps. It’s just about finally being happy with who you are as opposed to where you are.”
#RHOP: Karen Huger Reveals Health Scare in the Most Grand Dame Way Possible
While taking a Pilates class with Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby and Mia Thornton, the 60-year-old reveals she recently had her heart checked out by doctors.
"I went for all of the tests, which would scare you," Karen explains in the preview. "MRI, calcium, EKG, stress test, blockage and what have you. I still choke up when I say it."
After taking a second to regain her composure, the Bravolebrity continues, "I have five percent of calcium in my carotid arteries."
After this admission caused her costars to look a bit confused and concerned, she adds, "But that is a number that cannot hurt me. It's not life-threatening."
Surprised by the revelation, Gizelle responds, "So that's why we're here? Because you have a blockage?"
However, Karen clarifies further, "It's not a blockage, it's a deposit."
Reflecting on the scare, the Grand Dame adds in a confessional, "The good news is I caught it in time and diet and just being vigilant about my health will stop any more buildup."
And in true Gizelle form, she questions the seriousness of Karen's condition in her confessional.
"I don't even know what to equate that to," she jokes. "Five percent buildup in your heart, huh? Does that mean you need to clean your ears?"
#NewMusic from Glenn Lewis He Releases New Holiday EP “This Christmas With Glenn Lewis”
Soul crooner Glenn Lewis has just released the holiday EP called “This Christmas With Glenn Lewis” The project includes his rendition of two holiday classics “The Christmas Song” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”.
STREAM HERE
Expect more from Glenn soon!
#HipHopNews: THE D.O.C. Says He’s Making New Music With ‘A.I. Technology’
The Dallas native recently sat down with CBS Mornings. He reflected on the near-fatal 1989 car accident that forever changed his voice, and how he still feels like he has something to say with his music over three decades into his decorated career.
“Fab 5 Freddy asked me if I would be interested in building an album using A.I. technology,” D.O.C. said. The goal would be for him to make new songs, but for A.I. to replace his current damaged voice with one that sounds like him pre-accident.
Freddy told the program: “I just felt like it was a no-brainer for somebody like him to bring some music to the world.”
The N.W.A. affiliate is working with an A.I. company called Suno to bring his vision to life, and he’s excited about the early returns. His last solo LP arrived with 2003’s Deuce.
“When this thing happens, it sounds like a real me,” he said of the company’s computer-generated recreations of his circa-1989 voice, which Suno is applying to new material he’s writing. “I’ve been doing this since I was 16 years old, but I wanted to be the greatest of all-time. And A.I. might give me another shot at that title.”
While D.O.C. is getting back in the booth, he still ranks the late Notorious B.I.G. as his greatest rapper ever.
Back in May, he explained to the What’s The Headline podcast why Biggie holds his top spot, although he was upset when he initially heard the Brooklyn legend.
“I got mad at Biggie Smalls ’cause I could hear where I was gonna go,” The D.O.C. began. “When he first came [out], I could hear where I wanted to go, and couldn’t do it. So it made me be angry with him — before I met him.”
He continued: “But when I met him, he was such a genuine dude. He asked me to take a picture with him, and he was so fuckin’ humble.
“And I was like, how can you hate a dude like that? Ever since then, he’s been my No. 1, really. We were in Chicago at something. It was Saafir and Craig Mack and Smalls and myself. And he was just a cool dude, man.”
Keke Palmer Looks Sad In First Sighting After Getting Restraining Order Against 'Abusive' Ex-BF
Keke Palmer has been spotted in public for the first time since she was granted a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson. The "Nope" star, however, did not appear in good spirits when leaving her home with her son.
On Saturday, November 11, the 30-year-old was caught on camera looking somber while leaving her home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City. Pictures published by Daily Mail showed the actress cradling her baby boy Leodis as she chatted on the phone.
For the outfit, Keke sported a T-shirt touting Super Bowl XXVIII, the 1994 contest in which the Dallas Cowboys bested the Buffalo Bills. She paired it with yellow sweatpants and chunky clogs.
Keke was given a temporary restraining order against Darius just a few days earlier. In her request, the "Scream Queens" alum admitted she was "very concerned" about being able to keep her little boy safe without measures in place.
"I am very concerned for Leo's safety with Darius given his violent, volatile, and jealous nature, comments he has made which have caused me grave concern, and the lack of restraint Darius has already exhibited regarding his temper in front of our son," she stated.
Darius now must stay at least 100 yards away from Keke and their son, as well as any childcare settings the boy attends. He is not allowed to have visitation with the baby, and Keke has been given temporary sole physical and legal custody until a hearing takes place on 5 December to determine any further action on the arrangement.
Meanwhile, in court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Keke claimed Darius got "rough" with their son. "On September 26, 2023, I was concerned for Leo's safety after Darius became very frustrated with him when Leo was crying while Darius changed his diaper. Darius started getting rough with Leo physically and I stepped in to make sure Darius would not hurt him. Darius was angry and it almost became a tug of war with Leo," she wrote in the docs.
When she took over changing Leo, Keke alleged Darius turned his aggression on her instead. She continued, "Darius finally let go and Leo was not harmed, but as I was holding Leo trying to comfort him and finish changing his diaper, Darius hit me in the head before storming out of the room."
Chrisean Rock Reportedly Assaults Singer James Wright Chanel At Tamar Braxton’s ‘Love & War Tour’
LeTroy Davis, who is a member of Tamar’s team, took to his Instagram Story completely outraged as he recalled the series of unfortunate events.
He admitted that they extended an invitation to Chrisean to come out and support her fellow Baltimore native, Tamar.
LeTroy added that Chrisean Rock arrived “drunk…with a thousand people smelling like weed…looking dumb!”
But, somewhere along the night signals got crossed and Chrisean Rock thought she was going to be performing.
Before her performance of “Love & War,” Tamar Braxton brought Chrisean out on stage and you could see the brewings of a hot mess ensuing.
“She was mad that she didn’t get to perform,” LeTroy Davis said in the video posted on his Instagram Story.
He went on to share that Chrisean Rock was hot as fish grease about not being able to perform and she “stormed into Tamar’s dressing room with a thousand people.”
According to LeTroy, everyone on Tamar Braxton’s team, including James Wright Chanel, began trying to calm Chrisean down and explained that they didn’t know she was a performer.
James reportedly told Chrisean that they didn’t purposefully shade her. He said they sincerely didn’t know that she was expecting to perform.
She responded by telling James to “lie again.” When he began to explain even more, LeTroy said Chrisean Rock punched James Wright Chanel in his face.
“She hit James, right in his face…chipped James’ tooth. James’ face is bloody. James is at the hospital right now because his nose will not stop bleeding!”
LeTroy Davis exclaimed, “She’s going to prison!“
He also took to his Instagram Story writing:
Y’all need to stop rewarding bad behavior and bad people. I am so disgusted Chrisean came to my show and ASSAULTED James.
She hit James in his mouth. She is disgusting. She deserves the way everybody treats her. She is trash. That ghetto hip hop trass a– girl should have never been there.
She is the bottom of the barrel. I’m so sorry for anyone who had to witness that TRASH tonight. She ruined an amazing night and imma make sure she goes to JAIL.
I hope everything bad that’s supposed to happen to her, does. Everyone has worked they a– off to make this tur happen. and for Chrisean to come and assault James…I’m at a loss for words.
I just want to let y’all know that that girl Chrisean y’all keep hyping up assaulted James Wright Chanel at Tamar’s concert tonight. James is in the hospital.
I swear I will do everything to make sure she goes to prison. She is trash and that’s why her life is the way that it is. She deserves every bad thing that happens to her.
Prior to hitting the stage, Tamar Braxton was cutting up in her dressing room with Chrisean Rock.
The singer said, “Baltimore b— done linked TF up! Y’all in trouble.”
Oh, the foreshadowing of it all…
Video also surfaced online of the moment Tamar brought Chrisean out on stage with her before performing her timeless hit, “Love & War.”
James Wright Chanel was not amused as Chrisean cut up on stage.
Another video surfaced online of Chrisean Rock disrupting Tamar Braxton’s performance of “Love & War.”
James Wright Chanel, who became a viral sensation years ago for his reaction to Patti LaBelle‘s sweet potato pies, has not publicly addressed Chrisean Rock’s alleged assault, but he posted the quote, “God Is.”
Chrisean is trending on Twitter (X) as people react to the incident.
Ex-NFL Player Chad Wheeler Found Guilty in Domestic Violence Case
The former Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle was found guilty of two counts of domestic violence involving a former girlfrien
Former Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Chad Wheeler has been found guilty of two counts of domestic violence involving a former girlfriend, according to multiple reports.
The ex-Seahawks backup was found guilty on Thursday of first- and second-degree domestic violence assault, and not guilty of unlawful imprisonment, ESPN, The Seattle Times and Sports Illustrated reported.
A King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson told ESPN that the state could seek a mandatory maximum sentence of five years for the first-degree assault charge because the jury determined that Wheeler “used force or means likely to result in death.”
Wheeler’s former girlfriend, Alleah Taylor, who has previously spoken out about the assault, seemingly responded to the verdict on X (formerly known as Twitter). "I finally have justice," she wrote.
King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment or additional details about the verdict.
Wheeler, 29, was arrested in Kent, Washington in 2021 and later charged with domestic violence assault and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the crime, according to The Seattle Times.
Wheeler’s trial was delayed due to his defense team’s repeated requests to “get expert evaluations done,” the newspaper reported.
According to charging documents obtained by PEOPLE, on the night of his arrest, Wheeler allegedly "viciously attacked the victim in her bedroom" and strangled her twice until she lost consciousness.
Taylor told police Wheeler then threw her on the bed, choking her and trying to smother her. She began to lose consciousness and tried to fight back, but Wheeler grabbed her arm and twisted it, the documents allege.
Taylor recalled the moments after the alleged assault at the couple's Seattle-area apartment in an interview with CBS This Morning in February 2021.
"I had touched my face, and I looked down and there was — there's blood on my hand," Taylor said. "And I remember getting up and running to the bathroom. Chad was standing by the bed, by the doorway, and he was sipping his smoothie. And he was, like, 'Wow, you're — you're still alive.'"
Taylor was rescued by police after she texted friends and family asking them to call 911 while locked in the bathroom, the charging documents stated. When officers arrived on the scene, Taylor began to scream while Wheeler allegedly began apologizing to her, telling police "I don't beat women!"
Taylor, whose injuries included a fractured humerus and dislocated elbow, later told investigators that she was attacked after Wheeler had asked her to bow to him and she refused.
The Seahawks later released Wheeler from the team, saying in a statement, "The Seahawks are saddened by the details emerging against Chad Wheeler and strongly condemn this act of domestic violence."
Following the verdict on Thursday, Wheeler was taken into custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14, per ESPN.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Republican Sen. Tim Scott suspends presidential campaign
“I love America more today than I did on May 22. But when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” he said.
The announcement Sunday night took many of Scott’s aides and donors by surprise. Two people close to his campaign said they were not given advance notice, even though it was becoming increasingly clear Scott was facing an uphill struggle to break through in the GOP primary.
The super PAC supporting Scott pulled its slate of television ads in October, and, following last week’s third GOP presidential debate, decided not to make a new investment.
Scott’s presidential prospects dimmed over the last several weeks, beginning with the super PAC’s decision to pull its ads. Last month, the Scott campaign said it was going “all in” on Iowa in an effort to gain on his primary rivals by targeting the first nominating contest on the GOP calendar.
Scott kept the decision to exit the race close to his vest, people linked to his campaign said, but the timing was more surprising than the announcement itself. His team had been worried about qualifying for the fourth Republican debate next month, after being the last candidate to meet the donor and polling thresholds to make last week’s debate. He had been hoping a strong debate performance would jumpstart his candidacy, but even he conceded to advisers and allies that hadn’t happened.
By leaving the race now, people close to his campaign said, he can return to the Senate without an embarrassing finish in Iowa. He preserves the possibility of a future political run — and leaves without getting in the crosshairs of Donald Trump, should the former president become the nominee.
“Tim ran an optimistic, hopeful message — but that’s not where the Republican base is right now,” a GOP official who supported Scott told CNN.
Scott told Fox News’ Trey Gowdy that he will not back another Republican candidate, saying he believes “the best way for me to be helpful” is to withhold an endorsement in the primary.
Scott said he has no intention of accepting a vice presidential nomination, reaffirming a position he repeated frequently on the campaign trail.
“I ran for president to be president,” he said. “I think I was called to run. I was not called to win, but I certainly was called to run. … Being vice president has never been on my to-do list for this campaign, and it’s certainly not there now.”
Prominent Scott donor and metal mogul Andy Sabin told CNN he’s “disappointed but not surprised” that the senator decided to step aside and said he now plans to back former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP primary.
Scott launched his campaign in May, hoping to bring an optimistic message to a Republican field dominated by figures such as Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who portrayed America as a nation in decline. He made his personal story a central narrative of his campaign, often speaking about growing up in poverty in South Carolina raised by a single mother and using those experiences to counter Democratic arguments on a wide range of issues, from criminal justice to education to economic policy.
“The truth of my life disrupts their lies,” he said often at campaign events.
The South Carolina senator entered the race with a major cash advantage after he converted his Senate campaign account into a presidential fund. This gave him a $21 million head start on fundraising and allowed him to flood the airwaves with early advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire. Scott’s TV spots became so ubiquitous in early states that by the summer, audience members at campaign events were able to quote lines from his ads back to him.
Scott campaign officials often touted his war chest to explain his path to the nomination, arguing they’d have the resources to stay in the race through the South Carolina primary while other candidates would face pressure to drop out.
Yet it was the Scott campaign that began to feel pressure in the fall after Trust in the Mission PAC, the super PAC supporting the senator’s White House bid, cut the remainder of its $40 million TV ad reservation, citing difficulties with “breaking through” to Republican voters. The announcement came shortly after the release of fundraising reports showing the campaign burning through its cash reserves at a high rate.
In response, the Scott campaign pivoted its strategy to a single-minded focus on Iowa, shifting staff and TV ad reservations into the state and significantly increasing his visits. The focus on Iowa was accompanied by a more aggressive rhetorical approach, with Scott increasingly leveling sharp criticisms at President Joe Biden and Republican rivals such as DeSantis, Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a notable departure from an earlier more affable approach to campaigning.
As perhaps the most prominent Black Republican politician in the country, Scott frequently leaned into conversations about race as a means to boost his fundraising and court voters. He cited his own experiences to suggest that America’s struggles with racism were largely in the past. At the second Republican primary debate in California, Scott grabbed headlines when he outlined in stark terms his belief that the country has transcended the history of slavery and Jim Crow-era segregation, while also excoriating anti-poverty programs created in the 1960s.
“Black families survived slavery. We survived poll taxes and literacy tests. We survived discrimination being woven into the laws of our country. What was hard to survive was [President Lyndon] Johnson’s Great Society, where they decided to … take the Black father out of the household to get a check in the mail, and you can now measure that in unemployment, in crime, in devastation,” Scott said during the debate.
A devout Christian, Scott also made his faith a recurring theme, often quoting Bible verses at campaign events. His campaign prioritized outreach to Iowa evangelical voters and community leaders, who make up a significant coalition of Republican caucusgoers. Scott quickly came out in support of a 15-week federal ban on abortion and pushed his rivals to do the same, drawing praise from anti-abortion groups and leading evangelical political figures.
Scott’s exit from the presidential race marks the latest chapter in a political career that began in 1995, when he won a special election for the Charleston County Council. He held the seat for more than a decade before his election to the South Carolina House in 2008. After one term as a state lawmaker, Scott won a US House seat representing South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
Scott joined the US Senate in 2013 after Haley, who was serving as governor, appointed him to fill a vacancy left by GOP Sen. Jim DeMint’s retirement. Scott retained the seat in a 2014 special election, was reelected to a full term in 2016 and won a second full term last year.
Scott has expressed more openness than most Republicans to working with Democrats in Washington – he has led bipartisan policing overhaul talks alongside Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, which ultimately broke down. But he also owns one of the most conservative voting records in Congress. He rarely broke with Trump during the latter’s presidency, and, on the campaign trail, he frequently touted his conservative stances on taxes, criminal justice and education.
Throughout the campaign, Scott’s criticism of Trump – the front-runner for the GOP nomination – was relatively tame compared with his attacks on other primary contenders. He often expressed support for policies enacted during the Trump administration, most notably the 2017 tax cuts he helped draft in Congress, but regularly argued that Trump lacked the support in key swing states needed to carry Republicans to victory in a general election.
“I think if you look at the results in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada … one of the things that you want to know is: ‘What’s the difference between Tim Scott and other candidates, Donald Trump specifically?’” Scott said to reporters at an Iowa campaign event in October. “The difference is I believe that I am the most electable candidate we have in the field.”
Scott suggested on Sunday that he’s going to keep looking for “another opportunity” to launch a White House bid.
“I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me, ‘Not now, Tim.’ I don’t think they’re saying, Trey, ‘No,’ but I do think they’re saying, ‘Not now,’” Scott said. “And so I’m going to respect the voters … and keep working really hard and look forward to another opportunity.”
Denzel Washington to Play Ancient Warrior Hannibal in Netflix Historical Epic From Antoine Fuqua
Denzel Washington is teaming up once again with his “Training Day” and “Equalizer” director Antoine Fuqua to play the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal in an untitled Netflix movie, Variety has confirmed.
The film will be written by John Logan, the three-time Academy Award winner who scribed Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator” and Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator.”
According to the official logline, the movie is “based on real-life warrior Hannibal, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history. The film covers the pivotal battles he led against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War.”
Hannibal famously invaded Italy while riding a Northern African war elephant. Under his lead, the Carthaginians won key victories against the Romans, allowing Hannibal to occupy the majority of southern Italy for 15 years. Eventually, Hannibal was defeated by the Romans at the Battle of Zama after they counter-invaded North Africa.
Washington produces the film alongside Erik Olsen, Adam Goldworm and Fuqua via his Hill District Media’s first-look deal with Netflix.
Fuqua most recently directed Washington in the 2023 action-thriller “The Equalizer 3,” in which Washington reprised his role as ex-Marine Robert McCall.
Washington is currently involved in another war epic, the upcoming sequel to Scott’s “Gladiator.” That movie had to pause production in Morocco due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, but the director recently revealed he had been editing 90 minutes of footage during the labor shutdown. Washington joins Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Pedro Pascal in the film, currently dated for November 2024.
Washington is represented by WME. Fuqua is repped by LBI Entertainment and WME.
Deadline first reported the news of the Hannibal project.
SNL slammed for using fake excerpt in parody of Britney Spears’ memoir
The book has been widely successful, selling more than 1.1 million copies and becoming an instant hit.
But the release has already seen some controversial moments, with Saturday Night Live airing a sketch involving a parody of the book.
This included a fake excerpt which has got Britney fans furious online.
The book goes into extensive detail about Britney's personal experiences in the early 2000s, including explosive claims about her relationship with Justin Timberlake.
Among the many claims in the book is that Timberlake had requested that Britney have an abortion as he 'wasn't ready' to be a dad.
Now, a lot of the passages read out in the SNL sketch aren't actually from Spears' book, but one that's particularly attracted ire is a fake excerpt that went viral before the book's release.
The joke passage was a fictional account of Britney sleeping with someone, and about her reaction to how poorly endowed her partner was.
It was part of a skit about celebrities auditioning to be the person to record the audiobook for the memoir.
The passage in question read: "'Yeah, I'm ready, put it in', I said, he replied: 'It's in'. My whole world collapsed."
Needless to say, fans were not impressed, and piled into the comments to make their feelings known.
One wrote: "In her book Britney Spears wrote about her traumas and how everyone used her even her family members mistreated her and SNL have the audacity to make her fun like this way? Shame on them!"
Another replied: "SNL needs to be held accountable for this. They should apologise."
A third responded: "Britney’s book was her way to tell us about the trauma she been through and they have the audacity to use it for jokes? It isn’t a laughing matter."
It's not the first time that Britney has been at the centre of a controversial moment, and people even previously urged others to lay off.
A famous example is the speech made by Craig Ferguson in 2007, when Britney was very publicly going through a difficult period.
Ferguson recounted his own experiences as a recovering alcoholic, saying: “Comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it.
"It should be about us attacking the powerful people, attacking the politicians and the Trumps and the blowhards, going after them. We shouldn’t be attacking the vulnerable people.”
He went on to say: "She clearly needs help."
At the time, Britney had shaved her head in front of paparazzi photographers, having recently finalised her divorce from Kevin Federline.
Bobby Berk Is Leaving Netflix’s Queer Eye After 8 Seasons
Queer Eye co-host Bobby Berk has announced his exit from Netflix’s lifestyle reality show following its upcoming eighth season.
“The love that I have received from you all over the last 6 years has been absolutely surreal,” Berk wrote on Instagram Monday. “You have tuned in and been dedicated fans and together we were able to share the healing powers of design. I learned from you all about kindness, love and acceptance and that has changed my life for the better. The way you have embraced me and accepted me for who I am is something that l will truly carry with me for the rest of my life.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that Season 8 will be my final season on Queer Eye. It’s not been an easy decision to be at peace with, but a necessary one. Although my journey with Queer Eye is over, my journey with you is not. You will be seeing more of me very soon.”
Berk has hosted the streaming giant’s reboot with Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown and Tan France since it began in 2018. Season 8 is set to release in full on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.
“We appreciate the heart and dedication Bobby Berk brought to Queer Eye over eight amazing seasons,” ITV Entertainment, Scout Productions and Netflix said in a statement. “He will always be a member of the Fab Five family and we wish him the very best.”
On the heels of Berk’s exit, Netflix has announced the series’ Season 9 renewal, reports our sister site Deadline. The show will change locations from New Orleans to Las Vegas, though Berk’s replacement has yet to be announced.
Foxy Brown Seemingly Shades Lil Kim Over Claim Her Book Will Outsell The Bible
While Kim received a lot of mockery after her public claims, her one-time nemesis Foxy Brown has now appeared to offer her own take.
In an Instagram Story, Brown simply wrote: “BIBLE” along with a laughing face emoji.
The two initially started feuding in the late ’90s as two of the highest profile women in Hip Hop. There was later a shooting incident outside a New York studio, and Foxy Brown has continued to diss Lil Kim on record and in interviews in the years since.
Kim initially made her comments about outselling the Bible last week during an Instagram Live, saying: “When we post our pre-sales, we be surpassing the Bible.”
She added: “And that’s crazy. And the thing is, it’s like the Bible, like I don’t take that lightly. I already know that. But it’s like some crazy shit going on behind the scenes.”
Kim then alluded to having issues with the publisher of her memoir: “You have to be really careful when you deal with these book companies because they try to, like, literally take advantage of you.”
For context, the Bible is considered the highest selling book of all time and is believed to have sold between five and seven billion copies worldwide since it was first published.
The best-selling memoir of all time is The Diary of Anne Frank, which is estimated to have sold around 35 million copies since it was first made available in 1947.
Lil Kim first announced her memoir The Queen Bee in 2021 and revealed that she had finished writing it earlier this year. She wrote on X, then known as Twitter: “It’s been a long journey beehive, edits are finally done [raised hands emoji]. Thank you to my bestie/soulmate @themarcjacobs for doing my forward.”
The book is now expected to be released in September 2024 and, according to a press release, will detail “her complicated high-profile relationships, the misogynistic industry she fought to change through sex positivity, the challenging double standards of self-image and beauty in the spotlight, and the momentous act of loyalty that ultimately landed her in prison.”
Secret Service opens fire on people attempting to break into car outside Naomi Biden's home:
The Metropolitan Police Department and Secret Service are investigating an agent-involved shooting after possibly three individuals attempted to break into a government car outside the Georgetown home of President Joe Biden’s granddaughter, Naomi Biden, according to sources familiar with the situation.
While a Secret Service spokesperson didn’t identify the protectee, he said Sunday night just before midnight in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Secret Service agents encountered possibly three individuals breaking a window on a parked and unoccupied government vehicle.
"During this encounter, a federal agent discharged a service weapon and it is believed no one was struck," the spokesperson said. "The offenders immediately fled the scene in a red vehicle and a regional lookout was issued to supporting units. There was no threat to any protectees and the incident is being investigated by the DC Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service."
It is unclear if Naomi Biden heard the commotion but she was made aware of the incident afterward, according to sources.
"Second District officers, and MPD Internal Affairs were on scene assisting US Secret Service regarding this incident. We have no further information at this time," the Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement.
Motor vehicle thefts in Washington are up 98% year-to-date, while thefts from vehicles are down slightly (-1%), according to the latest MPD data.
Naomi Biden, 29, is the daughter of Hunter Biden and his ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and work as a lawyer at the firm of Arnold & Porter. She married Peter Neal in a ceremony at the White House in November 2022.
Marlon Wayans Revealed His Son, Kai, Is Transgender
Marlon Wayans opened up about his son Kai's transition in a new interview on The Breakfast Club.
Marlon shares both Kai, 23, and his other son, Shawn, 21, with his ex-girlfriend, Angela Zackery.
He was discussing material for his standup comedy routines when he shared that he planned to discuss his journey to accepting Kai's decision in an upcoming special called Skittles or Rainbow Child.
“Skittles or Rainbow Child is about my daughter," Marlon shared. "I have a daughter that transitioned into a son. My daughter Amai is now Kai, and so, I talk about the transition. Not his…their transition but my transition as a parent, going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance.”
Marlon said initially, it was "painful" to come to grips with the transition. Adapting to Kai's preferred pronouns, they/them, was also challenging. "But I gotta respect their wishes," he continued.
Marlon said that as a parent, it's important for his children to have the space to be their most authentic selves. "I want my kids to be free. I want them to be free in spirit, free in thought, free to be themselves. The more you know yourself, the more you can govern yourself, the more you live your truth, the happier your existence. So, if they can’t get that in the household with their father and their mother, how the fuck do I send them out into the world with that kind of confidence? And I'm just so proud of them for being them.”
It comes after Marlon previously celebrated Kai in a post for Pride 2019.
Peer-support services are available at the Trans Lifeline. You can call the hotline at 1-(877-) 565-8860.
Federal Jury Convicts Former Baltimore Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby on 2 Counts of Perjury
Mosby, 42, pleaded not guilty last year to two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements after authorities said she applied for the loans to withdraw money from her retirement accounts, tapping a CARES Act provision intended for those hurt financially during the Covid-19 pandemic, prosecutors said.
The former prosecutor is facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison for each of the two counts of perjury, the Justice Department said.
Mosby is also charged with two counts of making false mortgage applications for the vacation homes in another federal case which will be tried separately. A date for that trial has not yet been set, federal prosecutors said.
A federal grand jury indicted Mosby in January 2022 after authorities said she lied on the application by indicating she had “adverse financial consequences” due to the pandemic – even though she earned a gross salary of $247,955.58 that was “never reduced” in 2020, according to an indictment. She also failed to disclose she owed $45,000 in federal back taxes, it says.
She also allegedly said she would be the primary resident at one of the homes in order to secure a lower rate when she had already entered into an agreement with a rental management firm, the indictment says. She sold one of the homes for a $150,000 profit, The Baltimore Sun reported.
At the time, Mosby called the charges a “political ploy” and said she was “unequivocally innocent.”
During closing arguments, Mosby’s lead attorney and federal public defender Jams Wyda said the case is “about a three-page form and what was in Marilyn Mosby’s mind when she filled it out,” CNN affiliate WBAL-TV reported. “The government spent time on things that don’t matter.”
Wyda said in court Mosby told the truth when she completed paperwork indicating the pandemic harmed her business, arguing she “established the business, put money into it and was working to make it profitable in 2020.”
“She qualified and she reasonably believed she qualified. She is innocent,” Wyda continued.
According to The Washington Post, Mosby said after the verdict outside the courthouse: “I’m not commenting at this time"
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Need To Take A Nap
You know, sometimes life gets way too overwhelming and all you want to do is take a good nap. Apparently, this is exactly what happened to this guy.
You know, sometimes life gets way too overwhelming and all you want to do is take a good nap. Apparently, this is exactly what happened to this guy.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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