#FASHIONFAB: Louis Vuitton’s Trunks Take Center Stage For The Holidays
Louis Vuitton embraces the holiday season with an enchanting 2023 campaign that captures the essence of luxury and celebration. The campaign is an enchanting visual, spotlighting models Ahmadou Gueye, Mathieu Simoneau, and Wen Qiming, who breathe life into the narrative crafted by the iconic fashion house.
Wen Qiming, Ahmadou Gueye, and Mathieu Simoneau gather in a moment of timeless elegance, their sophisticated suits complemented by Louis Vuitton’s iconic luggage.
Photographer Oliver Hadlee Pearch adds a layer of storytelling, showcasing the season’s intricate details and refined aesthetics. Meanwhile, stylist Stella Greenspan curates the campaign’s fashion narrative with finesse, dressing the models in sharp evening wear that exudes sophistication with every thread.
The advertisement is a canvas where timeless style meets contemporary flair, demonstrating Louis Vuitton’s dedication to fine craftsmanship. The clothing selection highlights the brand’s signature tailoring and teases with more relaxed garments—pieces that promise to be the perfect gifts, resonating with the spirit of travel and leisure that the holiday season embraces.
An undeniable highlight of the campaign is the prominence of Louis Vuitton’s legendary trunks. These storied pieces, adorned with the iconic monogram print, share the spotlight as co-stars, symbolizing the brand’s rich heritage.
The trunks, a seamless blend of functionality and elegance, are storytellers of the brand’s journey, holding the essence of Louis Vuitton’s luxurious lineage within them.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore's Hair Spa Had a *Very* Special "First Client" Guess Who?
As Kenya Moore prepares to open her first salon, the luxuriously appointed Kenya Moore Hair Spa, her daughter Brooklyn Doris Daly is never far from her mind. In the video above, The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member explains that her businesses, including her haircare brand, are "special" to her because they're helping her build a legacy for Brooklyn.
As such, the little girl is an important part of her mama's forthcoming hair spa. And, as it happens, she's also a V.I.P. guest there and was part of the development process. On Season 15 Episode 16 of RHOA, Kenya did Brooklyn’s hair in the posh glam room at Moore Manor (see the space in the video above). “Welcome to the Kenya Moore Hair Care test salon,” she said. “Is this relaxing?”
Although Brooklyn was all smiles in the test salon chair, the little one did have a few pointers for her mama. “You have to make that moisturized,” she said, to which Kenya jokingly responded, “You’re a very demanding customer, OK? Where is your money?”
Since then, Brooklyn has had a chance to visit the real hair spa. Keep scrolling to see what happened when the cutie pie stopped by the Kenya Moore Hair Spa.
Kenya Moore Hair Spa gets its "first client"
In a December 20 Instagram post shared on the hair spa's feed, the business made a major announcement. "Blessings and greetings!!" the caption read. "[Brooklyn Daly] was our first client. She requested a silk press but her mommy never gave her one before. Since this was a special occasion ... mommy said ok. Stay turned for the after."
The photo showed the little girl seated at a salon wash station, already looking quite glam. Brooklyn was wearing a bright pink outfit and dainty hoop earrings, having her hair washed before a stylist went in for the hair-straightening service. If you ask us, she looks like a very poised client, and we can only hope she was happy with her sevice.
On Season 15 of RHOA, viewers saw Kenya pay a visit to the Kenya Moore Hair Spa, which was still under construction. "I want my guests at the Kenya Moore Hair Spa to experience total luxury, from the hair care products to the atmosphere," she explained. "This is going to be my legacy for [my daughter] Brooklyn."
As Kenya explained during the episode, she plans for the salon to offer valet parking, glam decor that includes a "beautiful light installation," and six hair stations.
#MusicNews: Kirk Franklin Releases New Holiday Track “Joy to the World”
Chart topping artist, songwriter, and producer Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) has released a new holiday track with “Joy to the World,” a Spotify Exclusive single. Recorded at the Spotify studio in Los Angeles, Franklin has created a reflective, poignant performance of the beloved song to bring encouragement and joy with this new uplifting arrangement, celebrating the spirit of the holiday season.
LISTEN HERE
The 19-time GRAMMY®-winner has continued to light up the stage delivering praises and his acclaimed hits to packed arenas on the cross-country tour The Reunion Tour with Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, Israel Houghton, and David and Tamela Mann, which wraps November 24th. Franklin just celebrated his latest GRAMMY nomination for 2024, where his #1 hit song “All Things” is up for Best Gospel Performance/Song. “All Things” is featured off his latest #1 hit album Father’s Day, available now.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Sits Down With Joe Budden For An Exclusive Interview
On Friday (Dec. 22) night, Joe Budden and Nicki Minaj teased an exclusive interview that they released only on Patreon. In typical Barbz fashion, the electric fan base has already grabbed clips from behind the paywall and started circulating them on social media.
This marks Minaj’s first interview with Budden in over a year. During their lengthy conversation, Minaj tackled a couple of topics, but none more polarizing than the controversial “Stay in your Tory lane b**ch, I’m not Iggy” bar.
In a recently leaked clip, the popular podcast host posed the question by saying, “This could be a quadruple entendre. I could think of ten different things that that might mean. What does it mean?” Minaj responded by saying, “What does it mean to you,” thus leaving Budden to say, “It could be shade to a few people.”
The “FTCU” rapper continued to say, “Well, without thinking about it being shade to a few people, what do you think the line itself means?” The former emcee-turned-media personality closed the conversation by saying, “‘I’m not one of them,’ and I think it was a clever way to say that.” Minaj smiled and thanked Budden for giving her what she believed to be a rare compliment from him.
After Pink Friday 2 went No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, Minaj decided to rank her discography on Twitter. In a transparent tweet, the Lil Wayne co-signee stated, “Ok, here’s my honest ranking 1. Pink Friday 2 2. The Pinkprint 3. QUEEN 4. Pink Friday 5. Pink Friday Roman Reloaded (The Re-Up), But I truly respect all Gag City residents’ opinions. What the albums mean to you is your own truth based on where you were in your own life.”
During the sit-down, the “Anaconda” rapper also showed love to women in rap. In a clip, she says, “There’s a lot of female rappers that I really, really, really, actually love. Like as an artist and as a person. And what I don’t want this to turn into, even though I like being funny and stuff, I don’t want this to turn into bashing female rappers.” Minaj even noted on social media, “Oh, this [definitely] won’t be the clip they focus on, [child].”
You can watch the full interview via Joe Budden’s Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/joebudden
Tinashe Granted 3-Year Restraining Order Against Stalker Who Got Arrested Outside Her L.A.
Tinashe may now breathe a sigh of relief. The "2 On" hitmaker reportedly has been granted a three-year restraining order against a stalker who got arrested outside her home in Los Angeles.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the judge has signed off on the restraining order against a man named Ramon Oppikofer. It will remain in effect until December 2026.
Tinashe made her petition in November, claiming that Ramon, whom she has never met, has randomly tagged on Instagram since 2022. While the singer initially ignored it, she got concerned after Ramon showed up at her brother's private birthday party on October 27 without being invited.
Ramon allegedly gave Tinashe a hotel room key, but she made light of the situation and gave it right back to him. Things turned creepy after he allegedly arrived out of nowhere outside of her house a few days later.
Tinashe said she called police that day, but he was gone by the time they arrived. The man allegedly came back on November 2, ringing her doorbell. Although Tinashe didn't respond to him, she said the man returned later that same day in an SUV, pulling up in front of her house and calling out her name.
People who were inside the property later confronted the man. Still, it didn't stop him from returning to Tinashe's house and ringing her doorbell. This time, however, he got rebuffed by Tinashe's father as the man allegedly broke into her actual house.
The 30-year-old musician divulged that she went to an area of her house and locked herself inside, but Ramon kept trying to open the door. The man eventually went away after some music studio co-workers who were on site told him to go away.
Tinashe claimed Ramon kept lurking outside. Luckily, police eventually showed up and arrested him. Ramon was reportedly booked for misdemeanor trespassing but was released shortly due to L.A. County's no-bail policies and the singer's request.
Ne-Yo Takes The Crown As Season 10 Winner Of ‘The Masked Singer’
The Masked Singer crowned its season 10 winner. The finalists included Macy Gray as the Sea Queen, Janel Parrish as the Gazelle, John Schneider as the Donut, and this season’s winner, Ne-Yo as the Cow.
Of his win and costume, the Grammy winner confessed to Entertainment Weekly, “I never thought that one of my most fun stage performances would be with me dressed up as a female cow of all things. I never would’ve imagined that.” Throughout the season, Ne-Yo sang covers of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River,” Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell,” Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means To Me,” Bruno Mars’ “Treasure,” and his own hit, Rihanna’s “Take A Bow.”
Cow had judges torn with some guessing it was Usher, Billy Porter, or Jamie Foxx underneath the clever disguise. Ne-Yo did admit that he chose to be a female cow to throw judges off—considering he has personal friendships with two of them—but despite his attempts to conceal his identity, he can’t fake his singing voice.
“There’s no way around it […] the second I started singing, somebody was going to catch me,” explained the 44-year-old.
Robin Thicke remained consistent on his stance that it was Ne-Yo behind the mask, but Nick Cannon was on the fence. For the singer, he felt, “If I’m this close to [Cannon] and he doesn’t know that this is me, I’m home free. Even after the show, he was like, ‘Bro, you really shocked me. I really didn’t think that it was you. I really didn’t know.'”
The only other people Ne-Yo couldn’t fool were his children and mother. “My mom and my kids called it right away from the first show,” explained the father of four. He tried to deny it, but they were adamant.
They quipped, “We’ve been listening to your voice our whole lives. We know you when we hear you.”
Ne-Yo continued, “So yeah, they caught it right away. A lot of my friends, they didn’t catch it. They were fooled, but yeah, the family, immediate family, right away they knew it was me.”
As far as what’s next from the newly-minted winner, he’s working on a new album, will be embarking on an international tour with Mario in the spring, and teased that fans should “expect to see [him] on the big and small screen relatively soon in some ways that you’ve never seen [him] before.”
Louis Vuitton embraces the holiday season with an enchanting 2023 campaign that captures the essence of luxury and celebration. The campaign is an enchanting visual, spotlighting models Ahmadou Gueye, Mathieu Simoneau, and Wen Qiming, who breathe life into the narrative crafted by the iconic fashion house.
Wen Qiming, Ahmadou Gueye, and Mathieu Simoneau gather in a moment of timeless elegance, their sophisticated suits complemented by Louis Vuitton’s iconic luggage.
Photographer Oliver Hadlee Pearch adds a layer of storytelling, showcasing the season’s intricate details and refined aesthetics. Meanwhile, stylist Stella Greenspan curates the campaign’s fashion narrative with finesse, dressing the models in sharp evening wear that exudes sophistication with every thread.
The advertisement is a canvas where timeless style meets contemporary flair, demonstrating Louis Vuitton’s dedication to fine craftsmanship. The clothing selection highlights the brand’s signature tailoring and teases with more relaxed garments—pieces that promise to be the perfect gifts, resonating with the spirit of travel and leisure that the holiday season embraces.
An undeniable highlight of the campaign is the prominence of Louis Vuitton’s legendary trunks. These storied pieces, adorned with the iconic monogram print, share the spotlight as co-stars, symbolizing the brand’s rich heritage.
The trunks, a seamless blend of functionality and elegance, are storytellers of the brand’s journey, holding the essence of Louis Vuitton’s luxurious lineage within them.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore's Hair Spa Had a *Very* Special "First Client" Guess Who?
As such, the little girl is an important part of her mama's forthcoming hair spa. And, as it happens, she's also a V.I.P. guest there and was part of the development process. On Season 15 Episode 16 of RHOA, Kenya did Brooklyn’s hair in the posh glam room at Moore Manor (see the space in the video above). “Welcome to the Kenya Moore Hair Care test salon,” she said. “Is this relaxing?”
Although Brooklyn was all smiles in the test salon chair, the little one did have a few pointers for her mama. “You have to make that moisturized,” she said, to which Kenya jokingly responded, “You’re a very demanding customer, OK? Where is your money?”
Since then, Brooklyn has had a chance to visit the real hair spa. Keep scrolling to see what happened when the cutie pie stopped by the Kenya Moore Hair Spa.
Kenya Moore Hair Spa gets its "first client"
In a December 20 Instagram post shared on the hair spa's feed, the business made a major announcement. "Blessings and greetings!!" the caption read. "[Brooklyn Daly] was our first client. She requested a silk press but her mommy never gave her one before. Since this was a special occasion ... mommy said ok. Stay turned for the after."
The photo showed the little girl seated at a salon wash station, already looking quite glam. Brooklyn was wearing a bright pink outfit and dainty hoop earrings, having her hair washed before a stylist went in for the hair-straightening service. If you ask us, she looks like a very poised client, and we can only hope she was happy with her sevice.
On Season 15 of RHOA, viewers saw Kenya pay a visit to the Kenya Moore Hair Spa, which was still under construction. "I want my guests at the Kenya Moore Hair Spa to experience total luxury, from the hair care products to the atmosphere," she explained. "This is going to be my legacy for [my daughter] Brooklyn."
As Kenya explained during the episode, she plans for the salon to offer valet parking, glam decor that includes a "beautiful light installation," and six hair stations.
#MusicNews: Kirk Franklin Releases New Holiday Track “Joy to the World”
LISTEN HERE
The 19-time GRAMMY®-winner has continued to light up the stage delivering praises and his acclaimed hits to packed arenas on the cross-country tour The Reunion Tour with Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, Israel Houghton, and David and Tamela Mann, which wraps November 24th. Franklin just celebrated his latest GRAMMY nomination for 2024, where his #1 hit song “All Things” is up for Best Gospel Performance/Song. “All Things” is featured off his latest #1 hit album Father’s Day, available now.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Sits Down With Joe Budden For An Exclusive Interview
On Friday (Dec. 22) night, Joe Budden and Nicki Minaj teased an exclusive interview that they released only on Patreon. In typical Barbz fashion, the electric fan base has already grabbed clips from behind the paywall and started circulating them on social media.
This marks Minaj’s first interview with Budden in over a year. During their lengthy conversation, Minaj tackled a couple of topics, but none more polarizing than the controversial “Stay in your Tory lane b**ch, I’m not Iggy” bar.
In a recently leaked clip, the popular podcast host posed the question by saying, “This could be a quadruple entendre. I could think of ten different things that that might mean. What does it mean?” Minaj responded by saying, “What does it mean to you,” thus leaving Budden to say, “It could be shade to a few people.”
The “FTCU” rapper continued to say, “Well, without thinking about it being shade to a few people, what do you think the line itself means?” The former emcee-turned-media personality closed the conversation by saying, “‘I’m not one of them,’ and I think it was a clever way to say that.” Minaj smiled and thanked Budden for giving her what she believed to be a rare compliment from him.
After Pink Friday 2 went No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, Minaj decided to rank her discography on Twitter. In a transparent tweet, the Lil Wayne co-signee stated, “Ok, here’s my honest ranking 1. Pink Friday 2 2. The Pinkprint 3. QUEEN 4. Pink Friday 5. Pink Friday Roman Reloaded (The Re-Up), But I truly respect all Gag City residents’ opinions. What the albums mean to you is your own truth based on where you were in your own life.”
During the sit-down, the “Anaconda” rapper also showed love to women in rap. In a clip, she says, “There’s a lot of female rappers that I really, really, really, actually love. Like as an artist and as a person. And what I don’t want this to turn into, even though I like being funny and stuff, I don’t want this to turn into bashing female rappers.” Minaj even noted on social media, “Oh, this [definitely] won’t be the clip they focus on, [child].”
You can watch the full interview via Joe Budden’s Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/joebudden
Tinashe Granted 3-Year Restraining Order Against Stalker Who Got Arrested Outside Her L.A.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the judge has signed off on the restraining order against a man named Ramon Oppikofer. It will remain in effect until December 2026.
Tinashe made her petition in November, claiming that Ramon, whom she has never met, has randomly tagged on Instagram since 2022. While the singer initially ignored it, she got concerned after Ramon showed up at her brother's private birthday party on October 27 without being invited.
Ramon allegedly gave Tinashe a hotel room key, but she made light of the situation and gave it right back to him. Things turned creepy after he allegedly arrived out of nowhere outside of her house a few days later.
Tinashe said she called police that day, but he was gone by the time they arrived. The man allegedly came back on November 2, ringing her doorbell. Although Tinashe didn't respond to him, she said the man returned later that same day in an SUV, pulling up in front of her house and calling out her name.
People who were inside the property later confronted the man. Still, it didn't stop him from returning to Tinashe's house and ringing her doorbell. This time, however, he got rebuffed by Tinashe's father as the man allegedly broke into her actual house.
The 30-year-old musician divulged that she went to an area of her house and locked herself inside, but Ramon kept trying to open the door. The man eventually went away after some music studio co-workers who were on site told him to go away.
Tinashe claimed Ramon kept lurking outside. Luckily, police eventually showed up and arrested him. Ramon was reportedly booked for misdemeanor trespassing but was released shortly due to L.A. County's no-bail policies and the singer's request.
Ne-Yo Takes The Crown As Season 10 Winner Of ‘The Masked Singer’
The Masked Singer crowned its season 10 winner. The finalists included Macy Gray as the Sea Queen, Janel Parrish as the Gazelle, John Schneider as the Donut, and this season’s winner, Ne-Yo as the Cow.
Of his win and costume, the Grammy winner confessed to Entertainment Weekly, “I never thought that one of my most fun stage performances would be with me dressed up as a female cow of all things. I never would’ve imagined that.” Throughout the season, Ne-Yo sang covers of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River,” Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell,” Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means To Me,” Bruno Mars’ “Treasure,” and his own hit, Rihanna’s “Take A Bow.”
Cow had judges torn with some guessing it was Usher, Billy Porter, or Jamie Foxx underneath the clever disguise. Ne-Yo did admit that he chose to be a female cow to throw judges off—considering he has personal friendships with two of them—but despite his attempts to conceal his identity, he can’t fake his singing voice.
“There’s no way around it […] the second I started singing, somebody was going to catch me,” explained the 44-year-old.
Robin Thicke remained consistent on his stance that it was Ne-Yo behind the mask, but Nick Cannon was on the fence. For the singer, he felt, “If I’m this close to [Cannon] and he doesn’t know that this is me, I’m home free. Even after the show, he was like, ‘Bro, you really shocked me. I really didn’t think that it was you. I really didn’t know.'”
The only other people Ne-Yo couldn’t fool were his children and mother. “My mom and my kids called it right away from the first show,” explained the father of four. He tried to deny it, but they were adamant.
They quipped, “We’ve been listening to your voice our whole lives. We know you when we hear you.”
Ne-Yo continued, “So yeah, they caught it right away. A lot of my friends, they didn’t catch it. They were fooled, but yeah, the family, immediate family, right away they knew it was me.”
As far as what’s next from the newly-minted winner, he’s working on a new album, will be embarking on an international tour with Mario in the spring, and teased that fans should “expect to see [him] on the big and small screen relatively soon in some ways that you’ve never seen [him] before.”
‘Married to Medicine’ Star Dr. Jackie Addressess Backlash Following Comments Made Claiming Black Women ‘Cry Wolf’ During Pregnancy
Earlier this week, a clip resurfaced from a YouTube Live Stream in 2020 that shows Dr. Jackie along with castmate Dr. Heavenly Kimes for a Q&A session on women's health. During that conversation, she said pregnant Black women "cry wolf," which she believes prevents them from receiving adequate health care, as reported by Page Six. On Thursday (Dec. 21), she addressed that comment in her Instagram story.
"Recently, a clip from a nearly 2 hour video was taken out of context to make it appear that I, somehow, take lightly, what I have advocated for concerning the devastating problem facing the Black maternal health crisis," she said in the post.
"It has been my life's work to highlight and attempt to rectify the issues that devastatingly impact Black maternal mothers versus our counterparts. As a physician, I educate my patients every day to be their own best health advocate. As we continue to face medical mistreatment and gaslighting, my intention with the broader conversation was to ensure patients enter their pregnancies armed with information and tools to effectively communicate their needs with their doctors to ensure a positive outcome.”
She continued, "Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, I will continue to fight for the lives of Black mothers and babies."
While talking to Dr. Heavenly in that 2020 live stream, Dr. Jackie said, "Sometimes as African American women, we’re a bit more dramatic and that you go to the doctor and you complain and you complain and you complain and you’re not taken seriously because you cry wolf the entire pregnancy."
Dr. Heavenly immediately fired back. "That ain't me boo. I don't know what you are talking about," she responded.
Dr. Jackie continued, “We wanna also make sure that you’re being serious with your doctor and not playing the games so that could take you off work."
"Because then we see you 25 times in the pregnancy, it’s hard to believe there’s a true problem when there’s a true problem.”
Her comments have caused backlash and some are demanding she be removed from the Bravo reality show.
"#Married2med Bravo @BravoTV @Andy DR JACKIE needs to be fired immediately! Send her an email and let’s hope she isn’t ‘too dramatic,'” one tweet read.
This resurfaced clip comes on the heels of a recent conversation she had with Vice President Kamala Harris to address the maternal crisis in the U.S. that was posted jointly to their individual accounts on the app.
Beyoncé Makes Surprise Appearance At “Club Renaissance” Party In Brazil
Beyoncé‘s Brazilian fans were in for a big surprise when the coveted icon made an appearance at a special event following the premiere of Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé.
The concert-film premiered in the South American country on Thursday (Dec. 21), and to celebrate its release, fans held a “Club Renaissance” party at a convention center in Salvador, Bahia. Randomly, Bey made her way to the stage — causing much hysteria as fans cheered and caught the moment on social media.
“Brazil, I love you so much,” she could be heard saying to the crowd. “I came because I love you so much…. It was very important to be here, right here.”
During her surprise appearance, the Houston star apologized to fans that she didn’t bring her record-breaking tour there, but was happy to be with them in that moment.
Bey also attempted to do the “mute challenge,” where the audience is supposed to be quiet when she says the “Energy” line: “Look around, everybody on mute.” However, fans were way too shocked to see Queen Bey in the flesh.
Laughing off the failed moment, Bey continued to gaze at all of the love she was being shown
Following the event, Beyoncé and her publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, posted a few flicks from their trip, showing Bey in a silver gown and posing with the country’s flag. Bey also shared photos of her on a private jet, which apparently has a luxurious bedroom.
“Move out the way when the queen touches down in Bahia, Brazil!! what a time! Thank you Brazil,” captioned Noel-Schure.
Fortunatley for international fans, “the renaissance is not over.” Beyoncé recently revealed that the concert-film tour is being extended to 15 additional countries.
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé officially released in the U.S. on Dec. 1, and has since landed among the highest-grossing concert films ever made.
Paramedics found guilty in 2019 death of Elijah McClain renew safety concerns of ketamine use during arrests
“During our training, we were told numerous times that this is a safe, effective drug,” said Cichuniec during the trial, according to CNN. “That is the only drug we can carry that can stop what is going on and calm him down so we can control his airway, we can control him, and the safety of him, [and] get him to the hospital as quick as we can.”
As reported, McClain was stopped by officers who were responding to a call regarding a suspicious person in the area. At the time, he was walking home from a convenience store. During the confrontation, the Black man was forcibly detained with the use of a chokehold and injected with ketamine. Moments after, he went into cardiac arrest. He died days later on Aug. 30, 2019. Prosecutors argued the drug was administered without checking the man’s vitals. The Adams County Coroner’s Office determined that he died from complications of ketamine.
“We knew that these cases were going to be difficult to prosecute. We are satisfied by today’s verdict, and we remain confident that bringing these cases forward was the right thing to do for justice for Elijah McClain,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “His life mattered. He should be with us here today.”
In the wake of the verdict, Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Alec Oughton issued a statement on Facebook that read, in part, “While I appreciate the jury’s diligence, integrity, and public service to ensure a fair trial, I am discouraged that these paramedics have received felony punishment for following their training and protocols in place at the time and for making discretionary decisions while taking split-second action in a dynamic environment.”
Three officers and two additional paramedics have also been indicted for their roles in the arrest and treatment of McClain. In 2021, his family reached a $15 million settlement with the city.
Laura Lynch, Founding Member of The Chicks, Dies at 65 in Car Crash
Laura Lynch, one of the founding members of the country music band The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks), has sadly passed away at the age of 65.
The upright bass player died in a car crash on Friday in West Texas. CBS News confirmed the sad news with her cousin.
In the aftermath, The Chicks took to social media to pay tribute to Laura.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Chicks,” current band members Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire and Natalie Maines wrote on Instagram alongside a vintage video of the group performing. “We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together.”
They continued, writing, “Laura was a bright light…her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West.”
Laura founded the group with Emily, Martie and Robin Lynn Macy before parting ways in 1995.
Our thoughts go out to everyone who knew and loved Laura at this difficult time. RIP.
Vin Diesel accused of sexual battery by former assistant in new lawsuit
In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY, Asta Jonasson alleges that the actor sexually assaulted her the fall of 2010 during the filming of "Fast Five" in Atlanta.
According to the lawsuit, Jonasson was hired by the actor's production company One Race to work for him in various capacities, including organizing and accompanying Diesel to parties and ensuring she was nearby in photos if the actor attended events without his longtime girlfriend.
A lawyer from Greenberg Gross, the firm representing Jonasson, said in a statement: "We are proud to represent Ms. Jonasson and hold accountable Vin Diesel and those who allowed and covered up his sexual assault. The law exists to protect those who have been wronged, no matter how powerful or famous the defendant is. Sexual harassment in the workplace will never stop if powerful men are protected from accountability."
Bryan Freedman, a Los Angeles-based lawyer representing Vin Diesel, said in a statement that Diesel "categorically denies this claim in its entirety."
"This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly 9-day employee," Freedman said in the statement. "There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
The allegations state that after a late night in September 2010, Jonasson was asked to wait for Diesel, 56, in his suite at the St. Regis hotel while he entertained hostesses from a club. When the women left, Diesel grabbed Jonasson's wrists and pulled her onto the bed, according to the lawsuit.
She escaped and asked Diesel to leave, but he allegedly began to grope her breasts, kiss her chest and run his hands along her waist and upper legs, including her inner thighs.
Jonasson was afraid to "forcibly refuse her superior" for her personal safety and job security, but after Diesel moved to pull down her underwear, Jonasson screamed and ran down a hallway.
According to the lawsuit, Diesel pinned her to the wall and placed her hand on his genitals. He masturbated, while "terrified, Ms. Jonasson closed her eyes, trying to dissociate from the sexual assault and avoid angering him," according to the suit.
Hours later, Diesel's sister and president of One Race Samantha Vincent called Jonasson to fire her after fewer than two weeks on the job, the suit says.
Though Jonasson signed a nondisclosure agreement when she accepted the position, she was able to file the claims because of the Speak Out Act, which prevents the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements in instances of sexual assault and assault and harassment, and California's AB2777, which temporarily waives statutes of limitations for sexual abuse allegations occurring in 2009 or later.
Jonasson also says in the suit that the #MeToo and Time's Up movements empowered her to "reclaim her agency and justice for the suffering she endured at the hands of Vin Diesel and One Race."
In addition to his lead role in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, Diesel is also known for his work in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Riddick."
Chris Brown Refuses Deposition Sit Down For $71 Million Ex-Housekeeper Lawsuit
*It’s going to take more for Chris Brown to appear for a videotaped deposition than a scheduled date.
According to RadarOnlne, the singer is refusing to comply with demands for his former housekeeper, identified as Jane Doe, to sit for the deposition. Court documents obtained by the site revealed Doe served Brown’s company Black Pyramid with a notice for his deposition. Days before the proceeding, Brown’s lawyers objected to the notice, claiming it was untimely served.
The vocalist’s legal team also mentioned a default that was entered in 2022 against their client. They go on to state that Brown filed his official answer to the case after the default was entered by the court. Although Brown appeared and filed his response, Radar noted the initial default entered has yet to be vacated. Despite the entertainer’s efforts to have the default vacated, the housekeeper has refused to work with him on the issue.
Until Doe agrees to set aside the default, Brown said he could not appear for a deposition.
The deposition drama marks the latest development in Doe’s $71 million lawsuit against Brown. The housekeeper filed her complaint in July 2021, claiming to have worked at Brown’s Tarzana, California home on Dec. 12, 2020. Doe stated she was unaware the “Look at Me Now” crooner had “vicious, killer attack dogs” on his property.
Doe goes on to detail an attack made on her by a Caucasian Orvchake/Caucasian Shepherd dog named Hades while she was taking out the trash. According to the housekeeper, Hades “savagely” ripped parts of her face, arms, and body off. Doe also stated she lay on the floor bleeding out while attempting to protect her face and body and claimed Brown came outside and instructed his security guards to remove Hades from the home. During the ordeal, Doe said she feared for her life.
Doe sued Brown for $71 million in damages for her emotional and mental distress — along with medical expenses for her injuries. Doe’s allegations have been denied by Brown, who claimed she caused the attack by mistreating Hades. According to the “This Christmas” star, Doe “voluntarily teased, abused, and mistreated the dog and thereby provoked the attack.”
His lawyer wrote, “[Doe] invited the injuries now complained of and assumed the risk of them with full knowledge of the magnitude of that risk, in that she knew her foregoing conduct might cause the dog to attack her, and seriously injure her, both of which events are alleged to have occurred,” Brown’s lawyer wrote.
At this time, a judge has yet to rule in Doe’s case.
Jane Doe is not the only person suing Brown. The housekeeper’s sister Patricia also filed a lawsuit against him over the same incident. In her suit, Patricia claims emotional distress suffered from watching Hades attack her sister.
Lizzo Files A Petition To Seal The Documents In Her Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
According to reports, lawyers representing Lizzo are requesting the sealing of documents in her ongoing harassment lawsuit, arguing that the release of these filings could impact her business.
On Tuesday, a petition requesting to seal the documents was submitted, expressing Lizzo’s apprehension. The petition expressed worry that revealing sensitive information like employee pay, contract talks, and third-party contacts could cause public backlash.
The judge has not decided yet, indicating the continuing legal disagreement between Lizzo and her ex-dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. These individuals allege that the artist coerced them into attending and participating in explicit performances in Amsterdam and Paris. Additionally, they accuse Lizzo of weight-shaming, false imprisonment, and racial discrimination.
In November, the women wrote a 19-page document stating that the anti-SLAPP provision doesn’t protect Lizzo from legal responsibility.
“Can a global celebrity be forever insulated from civil liability because all their conduct is protected as free speech under the anti-SLAPP statute?” the filing says. “Defendant Lizzo asks this Court to rule in exactly that fashion. Fortunately for all victims of celebrity malfeasance, the law says otherwise.”
In October, Rolling Stone revealed that 18 dancers supported Lizzo as her legal team sought to dismiss the case. The filing claimed the three dancers showed a “pattern of gross misconduct and failure to perform their job adequately.”
The lawsuit is different from the one filed by designer Asha Daniels, who claimed to have faced “degradation, forced physical labor, denial of medical care, sexual harassment, and racial harassment” while working on tour with Lizzo. Last week, Lizzo asked to dismiss the harassment and discrimination lawsuit.
Nick & Aaron Carter’s Sister Bobbie Jean Carter Passes Away At 41
Nick and Aaron Carter’s sister Bobbie Jean Carter has passed away. Their mother, Jane Carter, confirmed the news to TMZ.
“I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time. When I am able to think clearly, I’ll release a fuller statement; but until then I would request to be left to grieve in private.”
“[H]owever deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater. So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious eight-year-old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother.”
Bobbie passed away Saturday morning in Florida, TMZ reported. The cause of her death is unknown at this time.
Bobbie Jean, who was also known as BJ, was somewhat involved in the family’s music business amid the height of her brothers’ careers. She served as a wardrobe stylist and makeup artist during Aaron’s tours back in the early 2000s.
She also appeared on the family’s E! reality TV show, “House of Carters,” but as of late, Bobbie Jean lived a relatively private life in obscurity, shying away from the spotlight.
The family has endured tragedies, with the loss of Aaron last year and sister Leslie in 2012.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Santa’s Coming!
Santa and Mrs Claus dropped in from the North Pole to visit your local Converse Wal-mart to say hello to Store Manager Kevin and lots of lucky boys and girls!
Santa and Mrs Claus dropped in from the North Pole to visit your local Converse Wal-mart to say hello to Store Manager Kevin and lots of lucky boys and girls!
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!
EFREM
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