#MAGFAB: Danielle Brooks Cover ELLE’s 2023 ‘Women in Hollywood’ December/January Issue!
Danielle Brooks Wants to Reflect ‘The World That I Actually Live In’. The joyful actress on saying “h**l no” to her doubts, and the best advice Oprah gave her.
Brooks sees her success as being not only for herself, but for a larger collective, especially plus-size Black women like her who are rarely represented onscreen beyond stereotypes. “That’s what I signed up for as an actor—to be a reflection of the world that I actually live in, to represent the person who doesn’t feel she has a voice and who isn’t seen,” she says. “Even to represent myself.”
Danielle Brooks Wants to Reflect ‘The World That I Actually Live In’. The joyful actress on saying “h**l no” to her doubts, and the best advice Oprah gave her.
Brooks sees her success as being not only for herself, but for a larger collective, especially plus-size Black women like her who are rarely represented onscreen beyond stereotypes. “That’s what I signed up for as an actor—to be a reflection of the world that I actually live in, to represent the person who doesn’t feel she has a voice and who isn’t seen,” she says. “Even to represent myself.”
“At the end of the day, I got into this acting thing because I loved it. It was my play. It was my escape. I felt like a kid on a playground,” Brooks says. If she steps into a role or reads a script and doesn’t feel that way, she knows it’s time to reassess. “I always have a phrase: ‘If you ain’t having fun, you ain’t doing it right.’”
On the healing power of The Color Purple: “It was my first Broadway show. But, it brought a lot of pressure for me. I had this imposter syndrome and did not understand how, in my first Broadway show, I’m Tony-nominated. All of these things started creeping up of, ‘I don’t deserve this.’ But getting to sing ‘H**l No,’ the song that Sofia sings every night, and say h**l no to my fears, say h**l no to this voice that is putting doubt [in me] and saying that I’m not worth it—really was healing for me.”
The best advice she received from Oprah: “That I have everything I need within me, and that the ancestors are with me on my journey. They truly have been. This role has called for a lot physically, mentally sacrificing, being away from my family for so long. So to know that I’m surrounded by love and support, not only from my earthly family, but from my spiritual family that have passed on—they’re with me. She reminded me that in moments where I felt like, ‘I do not know how I’m going to do this scene again.’ She was there picking up the phone, just available to me. So not only was I taught that lesson, but I also was taught to pass that on to someone as well. When it’s my time, and I’m in a position similar to hers, to make sure to give that same amount of grace, love, and support that she gave me.”
On her hopes for Black women in the industry post-strikes: “It’s the song ‘Get Paid.’ [Laughs] I just want us to have a piece of that pie. People sitting on $45 million a year are living well. I’ve been to some of their houses. You can share some of that pie, because people are really struggling. In turn, we can share that with our people and our community and those in need. It starts at the top.”
Nice!
#RHOA: HOT or NOT? Shereé Whitfield Is Glowing in a Neon Bikini on Vacation
The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Shereé Whitfield and The Real Housewives of Dubai's Lesa Milan have an epic battle of fashion-related shade (more on that later.) However, in Shereé's latest Instagram post, her fashion was the farthest thing from shady. Instead, the She by Shereé designer gave us a new look that's so bright, it's electric.
Of course, this isn't the first time Shereé has experimented with bold color on a beach day. In the past, we've seen the designer wear a neon-green thong bikini with blonde braids. On another occasion, she wore a neon thong swimsuit that was decked with crystals. And clearly, the RHOA cast member has no plans to put a stop to her bright style streak
In a recent Instagram Story, the Atlanta mom shared a selfie that showed her wearing a neon yellow bikini. She paired the two-piece style with diamond earrings, and completed the look with a blonde braid with curled tendrils spilling down. The chic bikini also showed of Shereé's stomach tattoo, which depicts a giant rose.
So is it HOT or NOT?
#MusicNews: Tamia & Joe Are going on Tour together! See the dates!
Tamia and Joe are combining their talents and coming to a stage near you. The two artists are readying a joint concert tour, which kicks off in February 2024.
The Tamia & Joe Spring 2024 Tour will actually begin while winter is still roaring, with the first show scheduled for February 9th in Washington, D.C. After that, the tour will keep it moving across the United States to cities such as Cleveland, Detroit, Oakland, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Hitting a total of 15 cities altogether, the final date will be in St. Louis on May 4th.
Joe and Tamia are looking forward to getting out on the road in the new year. This is the first major concert tour from Tamia in years and follows Joe’s stint on Maxwell’s The Night Tour in 2022. Concertgoers are guaranteed to get a good show out of the singers who brought us hits like “I Wanna Know,” “Don’t Wanna Be A Player,” “So Into You” and “Can’t Get Enough,” respectively. Two of the finest vocalists to come out of the ’90s, they are cut from a different cloth and both still sound superb.
Excited yet? You should be, and you should also be making plans to attend if you live in or near any of the cities where the Tamia & Joe Spring 2024 Tour will be passing through as seen below. Tickets for the D.C., Cleveland, Detroit and Atlanta dates are already on sale and available for purchase. Tickets to the remaining shows on the tour go on pre-sale on Wednesday, December 6th with the code TJ2024 before going on sale to the general public on Friday, December 8th.
Tamia & Joe Spring 2024 Tour dates:
Feb 9 – Washington, D.C. – DAR Constitution Hall
Feb 10 – Cleveland, OH – Playhouse Square
Feb 17 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
Mar 2 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theater
Mar 15 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Theatre
Mar 23 – Charlotte, NC – Bojangles Coliseum
Mar 29 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre
Mar 30 – Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Pac
Apr 5 – Norfolk, VA – Chrysler Hall
Apr 6 – Atlanta, GA – Cobb Energy Pac
Apr 12 – Baltimore, MD – Lyric Theatre
Apr 13 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
Apr 19 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater At Virgin Hotels
Apr 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Peacock Theater
May 4 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
Go get them Tix!
#HipHopNews: Birdman Warns Joe Budden to Leave YoungBoy Never Broke Again Alone
Birdman has jumped into the fray between Joe Budden and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. The Cash Money Records honcho warned Joe to leave YB alone.
Joe Budden has pissed off NBA YoungBoy with his disparaging remarks about young rapper. After the Louisiana rhymer delivered his profanity-laced rant aimed at the popular podcaster, rap mogul Birdman chimed in with his thoughts on the matter.
In a post he shared on his Instagram Story on Sunday (Dec. 3), Birdman warned Joe Budden to not upset NBA YoungBoy—too late for that!—and to just leave the young rapper alone.
"@JOEBUDDEN YOU F*KIN WITH SOMETHIN YOU SHOULD LEAVE ALONG [blood drop emoji] STUNNA CORLEONE GOTTI NBARG [green heart emoji] [eagle emoji]," Birdman wrote in his post, which can be viewed below.
There's no word if Joe Budden will heed Birdman's message.
Birdman's message comes after NBA YoungBoy posted an angry video rant on his Instagram Story where he eviscerated Joe Budden for his criticism of his music on The Joe Budden Podcast. The Louisiana rhymer warned Joe to not mention his name ever again. He also insulted his manhood.
"Don't speak on me. I don’t play that s**t.” Don't rat on me neither, you p***y b***h," YB seethed in his videos, which can be viewed below.
"Stupid dumb b***h, yo d**k don't get even hard no more, clown-a*s n***a," he continued. "Ain't no sabotaging me, b***h. F**k wrong wit that n***a, mayne? Don't rat on me."
"I don't want to argue with ya b***h a*s, n***a," he added. "B***h, you do all them interviews, come on to Gravedigger Mountain and talk to me, n***a. B***h, if you can't do that, mayne, hey, you b***h-made n***a. Shut your f**kin' mouth!"
For the uninitiated, Gravedigger Mountain is located in Utah, which is where NBA YoungBoy lives under house arrest.
The brouhaha between Joe Budden and NBA YoungBoy began with Budden’s popular podcast, The Joe Budden Podcast. On the most recent episode, titled “Malcolm on Ice,” the subject of YB’s music came up and Joe made it clear that he was not a fan.
"That n***a's trash. He's horrible. He is horrible," Joe said about YB's music in the video below. "He is horrible. He is really, really, really, really, really bad."
"He's really, really, really bad," Joe added again.
The issue that TJBP co-hosts have with NBA YoungBoy is the amount of albums YB has released in the past year. They feel that he has dropped way too much music and there has been a lack of quality control. They also believed that YoungBoy can't fully explore his creativity if he's stuck in his Utah home all day and can't travel outside of the state.
Nevertheless, Joe Budden maintained his position that NBA YoungBoy's music is trash, period.
#BABYLOVE: Nelly and Ashanti reportedly expecting first child together
After rekindling their romance earlier this year, it is being reported that rapper Nelly and his long-time beau, Ashanti, are expecting their first child together.
According to Us Weekly, a source close to the couple confirmed the news after the air sparked rumours over the weekend.
Ashanti, 43, fueled the rumours when she attended Nelly’s Black and White Ball in St Louis. During the event, the 'Only U' singer placed her hand on her stomach while on stage with Nelly, and he did the same.
This will be Ashanti’s first child, while Nelly, 49, shares daughter Chanelle, 29, and son Cornell Haynes III, 24, with ex Channetta Valentine.
The couple have been the subject of a cloud of congratulatory messages from adoring fans who were happy to see them reconcile after a ten-year separation. Nelly and Ashanti started dating in 2003 and called it quits in 2013.
Sheryl Lee Ralph’s New Documentary Explores HIV Impact on Black Women
*Sheryl Lee Ralph’s new documentary short “Unexpected” examines how the new HIV epidemic is impacting straight Black women.
HIV infection rates among Black women are 11 times higher than those among White women and four times higher than those among Latina women, according to the CDC, People reports.
“So many people around the world have moved away from the conversation around HIV and AIDS,” Ralph said.
“In 40 years, I have seen this narrative around this disease go from that they wanted to call a ‘gay white man’s disease’ to a ‘Black woman’s disease,’ especially the Black woman in the south of the United States,” she added.
“It has become the burden of this group of women to continue to do the work of raising awareness, and that’s exactly what this film does,” Ralph said.
In September, Ralph announced that her nonprofit charity, the Diva Foundation, rebranded and expanded its programming.
Since 1990, the Diva Foundation has advocated for HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention. The organization will now focus on five “pillars,” namely Health Awareness, Women and Girls, LGBTQ+, Social Justice & Racial Equity, and Food & Housing Insecurity, per Vibe.
“I have always believed that the core of effective artistic activism is trusted messengers,” Ralph said. “Trusted messengers make a world of difference because they make people feel seen and heard. They are transparent vessels that bring their lives and full experiences to the table to help others.”
She added, “The Diva Foundation works hard to ensure that the people who serve are represented by messengers they can trust. I’ve been blessed to have the support of many volunteers, fellow celebrities and influencers, and corporate partners to make this vision a reality,” she said.
Lenny Kravitz Clarifies Recent Comments About “Black Media” Amid Backlash
Lenny Kravitz doesn’t have beef with Black media, but rather with Black award shows like the BET Awards and the now-defunct Source Awards.
After recent backlash stemming from comments he made mentioning Black publications, the rockstar took to social media to clarify his statement.
“It is important to me to set the record straight on recent media reports based on an interview I did [with Esquire]. My black musical heritage means a lot to me, and I owe my success to my supporters who have taken this journey with me over the span of my career,” began the 59-year-old.
Kravitz continued, “The comment I made was not about ‘black media’ or the ‘black community.’ I was specifically referring to black awards shows in particular. My comment was meant to express a concern about ensuring that black artists are being recognized for their work in what is now being called ‘non-traditional’ black music, which it is not.”
He, then, referenced how instrumental rock-n-roll is “in creating and [being] a part of our history,” noting, “We must retain our heritage and celebrate that together.”
The biracial artist concluded, “BET and countless others have paved the way for this type of recognition. I hope that by sharing my concern a spotlight will be shone on this issue. Love and peace.”
When speaking with Esquire, Kravitz mentioned VIBE as one of the outlets who was seemingly delayed in celebrating him. He expressed, “To this day, I have not been invited to a BET thing or a Source Awards thing. And it’s like, here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers—just like those that came before me broke down, that is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it?”
Sha’Carri Richardson Receives USATF’s Athlete Of The Year Award
Sha’Carri Richardson has been named Athlete of the Year. The accomplished star was honored on Sunday at the USA Track and Field’s Night of Legends ceremony (Dec. 3) where she received the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Athlete of the Year for Women Award for her dominant performances in 2023.
Richardson’s feats include wins at Budapest’s World Athletics Championship’s 100m, 200m, and the women’s 4x100m relay competitions. The LSU legend accepted the accolade and delivered a speech in person. The 23-year-old spoke about her faith in God and how everything that has happened to her thus far was written. Sha’Carri also expressed her “responsibility” as one of USATF‘s top athletes.
“With the God that I serve, everything happens when it’s supposed to happen,” she said. “So when I stand here today as the world champion, that’s because now was the time for that to happen. Now is the most impactful it would be, the most powerful it would be, and the most sincere it would be.
“I understand the influence that I have, I understand the responsibility that I have to USATF and as a top female USA athlete, and to my country, and to my Black family, to my beautiful women, to everybody that has been misunderstood for trying to be their best selves and not be put into a category because they do track and field and have been put in a bubble.”
Elsewhere, Sha’Carri Richardson is featured on Forbes‘ 30 under 30 sports list. The annual list honors 600 North American leaders from 20 various sports. Richardson was among the top 30 on the coveted list.
“Sha’Carri Richardson missed the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after a failed drug test drew her a one-month suspension; she was later lauded for speaking openly about how she used cannabis to cope with Olympic qualifying and the death of her biological mother,” the Forbes profile details. “After a disappointing 2022 season, she took gold in the 100 meters at the 2023 world championships with the fifth-fastest time ever. She also won bronze in the 200.”
Billy Miller Found With Suicidal Notes, Autopsy Report Reveals
Soap star Billy Miller died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The "General Hospital" actor's cause of death has been revealed after he was found dead on September 15 aged 43 at his home in Austin, Texas, days before he was due to turn 44, following a long battle with bipolar disorder and manic depression.
An autopsy reported obtained by RadarOnline.com has shown the actor was found in his bathtub "with an apparent gunshot wound to the head." First responders were said by the document to have found "multiple letters indicating suicidal intent" and "a revolver chambered for .410 shotgun shells" in "the descendant's right hand."
Billy, who wasn't married and had no children, also had several drugs and alcohol in his system at the time of his death, including "cocaine, and its metabolites, diphenhydramine, and amphetamine." His blood alcohol level was listed at 0.08, according to Radar.
Billy's mum Patricia revealed a few days after the shock death of her "The Young and the Restless" star son he had "surrendered his life." She told Soap Opera Digest, "He fought a long, hard, valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease."
"He loved his family, his friends and his fans, but in the end, the disease won the fight. We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss," she added, before concluding, "I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support."
Billy got his big break in 2007 when he landed his first big TV role as Richie Novak on "All my Children". He was cast as Billy Abbott on "The Young and the Restless" a year later, and starred on the CBS series from 2008 to 2014.
#HipHopNews: Birdman Warns Joe Budden to Leave YoungBoy Never Broke Again Alone
Birdman has jumped into the fray between Joe Budden and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. The Cash Money Records honcho warned Joe to leave YB alone.
Joe Budden has pissed off NBA YoungBoy with his disparaging remarks about young rapper. After the Louisiana rhymer delivered his profanity-laced rant aimed at the popular podcaster, rap mogul Birdman chimed in with his thoughts on the matter.
In a post he shared on his Instagram Story on Sunday (Dec. 3), Birdman warned Joe Budden to not upset NBA YoungBoy—too late for that!—and to just leave the young rapper alone.
"@JOEBUDDEN YOU F*KIN WITH SOMETHIN YOU SHOULD LEAVE ALONG [blood drop emoji] STUNNA CORLEONE GOTTI NBARG [green heart emoji] [eagle emoji]," Birdman wrote in his post, which can be viewed below.
There's no word if Joe Budden will heed Birdman's message.
Birdman's message comes after NBA YoungBoy posted an angry video rant on his Instagram Story where he eviscerated Joe Budden for his criticism of his music on The Joe Budden Podcast. The Louisiana rhymer warned Joe to not mention his name ever again. He also insulted his manhood.
"Don't speak on me. I don’t play that s**t.” Don't rat on me neither, you p***y b***h," YB seethed in his videos, which can be viewed below.
"Stupid dumb b***h, yo d**k don't get even hard no more, clown-a*s n***a," he continued. "Ain't no sabotaging me, b***h. F**k wrong wit that n***a, mayne? Don't rat on me."
"I don't want to argue with ya b***h a*s, n***a," he added. "B***h, you do all them interviews, come on to Gravedigger Mountain and talk to me, n***a. B***h, if you can't do that, mayne, hey, you b***h-made n***a. Shut your f**kin' mouth!"
For the uninitiated, Gravedigger Mountain is located in Utah, which is where NBA YoungBoy lives under house arrest.
The brouhaha between Joe Budden and NBA YoungBoy began with Budden’s popular podcast, The Joe Budden Podcast. On the most recent episode, titled “Malcolm on Ice,” the subject of YB’s music came up and Joe made it clear that he was not a fan.
"That n***a's trash. He's horrible. He is horrible," Joe said about YB's music in the video below. "He is horrible. He is really, really, really, really, really bad."
"He's really, really, really bad," Joe added again.
The issue that TJBP co-hosts have with NBA YoungBoy is the amount of albums YB has released in the past year. They feel that he has dropped way too much music and there has been a lack of quality control. They also believed that YoungBoy can't fully explore his creativity if he's stuck in his Utah home all day and can't travel outside of the state.
Nevertheless, Joe Budden maintained his position that NBA YoungBoy's music is trash, period.
#BABYLOVE: Nelly and Ashanti reportedly expecting first child together
After rekindling their romance earlier this year, it is being reported that rapper Nelly and his long-time beau, Ashanti, are expecting their first child together.
According to Us Weekly, a source close to the couple confirmed the news after the air sparked rumours over the weekend.
Ashanti, 43, fueled the rumours when she attended Nelly’s Black and White Ball in St Louis. During the event, the 'Only U' singer placed her hand on her stomach while on stage with Nelly, and he did the same.
This will be Ashanti’s first child, while Nelly, 49, shares daughter Chanelle, 29, and son Cornell Haynes III, 24, with ex Channetta Valentine.
The couple have been the subject of a cloud of congratulatory messages from adoring fans who were happy to see them reconcile after a ten-year separation. Nelly and Ashanti started dating in 2003 and called it quits in 2013.
Sheryl Lee Ralph’s New Documentary Explores HIV Impact on Black Women
*Sheryl Lee Ralph’s new documentary short “Unexpected” examines how the new HIV epidemic is impacting straight Black women.
HIV infection rates among Black women are 11 times higher than those among White women and four times higher than those among Latina women, according to the CDC, People reports.
“So many people around the world have moved away from the conversation around HIV and AIDS,” Ralph said.
“In 40 years, I have seen this narrative around this disease go from that they wanted to call a ‘gay white man’s disease’ to a ‘Black woman’s disease,’ especially the Black woman in the south of the United States,” she added.
“It has become the burden of this group of women to continue to do the work of raising awareness, and that’s exactly what this film does,” Ralph said.
In September, Ralph announced that her nonprofit charity, the Diva Foundation, rebranded and expanded its programming.
Since 1990, the Diva Foundation has advocated for HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention. The organization will now focus on five “pillars,” namely Health Awareness, Women and Girls, LGBTQ+, Social Justice & Racial Equity, and Food & Housing Insecurity, per Vibe.
“I have always believed that the core of effective artistic activism is trusted messengers,” Ralph said. “Trusted messengers make a world of difference because they make people feel seen and heard. They are transparent vessels that bring their lives and full experiences to the table to help others.”
She added, “The Diva Foundation works hard to ensure that the people who serve are represented by messengers they can trust. I’ve been blessed to have the support of many volunteers, fellow celebrities and influencers, and corporate partners to make this vision a reality,” she said.
Lenny Kravitz Clarifies Recent Comments About “Black Media” Amid Backlash
Lenny Kravitz doesn’t have beef with Black media, but rather with Black award shows like the BET Awards and the now-defunct Source Awards.
After recent backlash stemming from comments he made mentioning Black publications, the rockstar took to social media to clarify his statement.
“It is important to me to set the record straight on recent media reports based on an interview I did [with Esquire]. My black musical heritage means a lot to me, and I owe my success to my supporters who have taken this journey with me over the span of my career,” began the 59-year-old.
Kravitz continued, “The comment I made was not about ‘black media’ or the ‘black community.’ I was specifically referring to black awards shows in particular. My comment was meant to express a concern about ensuring that black artists are being recognized for their work in what is now being called ‘non-traditional’ black music, which it is not.”
He, then, referenced how instrumental rock-n-roll is “in creating and [being] a part of our history,” noting, “We must retain our heritage and celebrate that together.”
The biracial artist concluded, “BET and countless others have paved the way for this type of recognition. I hope that by sharing my concern a spotlight will be shone on this issue. Love and peace.”
When speaking with Esquire, Kravitz mentioned VIBE as one of the outlets who was seemingly delayed in celebrating him. He expressed, “To this day, I have not been invited to a BET thing or a Source Awards thing. And it’s like, here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers—just like those that came before me broke down, that is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it?”
Sha’Carri Richardson Receives USATF’s Athlete Of The Year Award
Sha’Carri Richardson has been named Athlete of the Year. The accomplished star was honored on Sunday at the USA Track and Field’s Night of Legends ceremony (Dec. 3) where she received the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Athlete of the Year for Women Award for her dominant performances in 2023.
Richardson’s feats include wins at Budapest’s World Athletics Championship’s 100m, 200m, and the women’s 4x100m relay competitions. The LSU legend accepted the accolade and delivered a speech in person. The 23-year-old spoke about her faith in God and how everything that has happened to her thus far was written. Sha’Carri also expressed her “responsibility” as one of USATF‘s top athletes.
“With the God that I serve, everything happens when it’s supposed to happen,” she said. “So when I stand here today as the world champion, that’s because now was the time for that to happen. Now is the most impactful it would be, the most powerful it would be, and the most sincere it would be.
“I understand the influence that I have, I understand the responsibility that I have to USATF and as a top female USA athlete, and to my country, and to my Black family, to my beautiful women, to everybody that has been misunderstood for trying to be their best selves and not be put into a category because they do track and field and have been put in a bubble.”
Elsewhere, Sha’Carri Richardson is featured on Forbes‘ 30 under 30 sports list. The annual list honors 600 North American leaders from 20 various sports. Richardson was among the top 30 on the coveted list.
“Sha’Carri Richardson missed the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after a failed drug test drew her a one-month suspension; she was later lauded for speaking openly about how she used cannabis to cope with Olympic qualifying and the death of her biological mother,” the Forbes profile details. “After a disappointing 2022 season, she took gold in the 100 meters at the 2023 world championships with the fifth-fastest time ever. She also won bronze in the 200.”
Billy Miller Found With Suicidal Notes, Autopsy Report Reveals
Soap star Billy Miller died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The "General Hospital" actor's cause of death has been revealed after he was found dead on September 15 aged 43 at his home in Austin, Texas, days before he was due to turn 44, following a long battle with bipolar disorder and manic depression.
An autopsy reported obtained by RadarOnline.com has shown the actor was found in his bathtub "with an apparent gunshot wound to the head." First responders were said by the document to have found "multiple letters indicating suicidal intent" and "a revolver chambered for .410 shotgun shells" in "the descendant's right hand."
Billy, who wasn't married and had no children, also had several drugs and alcohol in his system at the time of his death, including "cocaine, and its metabolites, diphenhydramine, and amphetamine." His blood alcohol level was listed at 0.08, according to Radar.
Billy's mum Patricia revealed a few days after the shock death of her "The Young and the Restless" star son he had "surrendered his life." She told Soap Opera Digest, "He fought a long, hard, valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease."
"He loved his family, his friends and his fans, but in the end, the disease won the fight. We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss," she added, before concluding, "I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support."
Billy got his big break in 2007 when he landed his first big TV role as Richie Novak on "All my Children". He was cast as Billy Abbott on "The Young and the Restless" a year later, and starred on the CBS series from 2008 to 2014.
His performance earned him three Daytime Emmy Awards, two for best for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series and one for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. He went on to play Drew Cain and Jason Morgan on "General Hospital", on which he was a series regular until 2019.
Kim Kardashian To Play Lawyer Laura Wasser-Inspired Character On Legal Drama
Kim Kardashian is set to expand her acting career. The 43-year-old "The Kardashians" star will be playing famed lawyer Laura-Wasser-inspired character on a new scripted series, which will be executive produced by herself and mom Kris Jenner.
According to Deadline, Kim has been tapped to play a character who is described as Los Angeles' "most successful divorce lawyer and the owner of an all-female law firm." Playing a lawyer should be exciting for the mom of four as she's been passionate about following in her father Robert Kardashian's footsteps as a lawyer.
Meanwhile, the upcoming legal series will be written by "Brothers & Sisters" creator and playwright Jon Robin Baitz alongside Joe Baken. Ryan Murphy will serve as executive producer alongside Kris. Meanwhile, it is reported that the planned series will be streamed on Hulu, the current home of "The Kardashians".
This won't be the first time for Kim to work together with Ryan. The two previously collaborated on the latter's hit TV series "American Horror Story: Delicate". On the FX series, Kim played Siobhan, a cutthroat publicist for Emma Roberts' character Anna.
While casting sparked criticism among fans who were skeptical over the reality TV star's acting skills, Ryan defended the casting at the time. He said in a statement, "Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the 'AHS' family."
He added, "Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done."
No other details are available about the new series, but the filming is reportedly set to start in late 2024 for an early 2025 premiere date.
Elon Musk now gives Paris Hilton an earful as her company pulls ads from X
However, this partnership hit a roadblock recently when Hilton's company decided to pull its advertisements from X due to concerns over the platform's alleged anti-Semitic content. The abrupt end to this collaboration seems to have irked Musk, who is now openly criticising Hilton's advertising campaign on X.
During an interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit last week, Musk expressed his frustration, saying, "If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself. Go. F***. Yourself." Musk didn't mince his words, making it clear how he felt about the situation. He even addressed Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, who had spoken at the same event, emphasising his strong stance.
This clash comes in the aftermath of Musk's apology for a controversial tweet on November 15 that appeared to align with an anti-Jewish post. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has been under intense scrutiny on social media after he publicly supported a user on X who asserted that Jewish individuals fuelled animosity towards White people in response to a post on the platform.
Musk expressed regret for his actions but, during the DealBook Summit interview, using strong language to lash out at advertisers who withdrew their support.
The fallout from Musk's tweet has seen around 200 major advertisers, including industry giants like Disney, Apple, and IBM, halt their ad spending on X. According to a New York Times report, this advertising pause could cost X up to $75 million in the current quarter if it persists.
Acknowledging the potential financial implications, Musk admitted that a continued halt in advertising could bankrupt X. However, he also suggested that the public would likely blame the brands involved rather than holding him solely responsible for the situation.
The controversy took a turn when Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, expressed at the summit that the association with Musk and X was not necessarily positive for the company. Musk responded by saying he should have explained his position more thoroughly.
In an effort to address concerns, Musk clarified that his visit to Israel in October, where he toured sites affected by Hamas' assault, was planned independently of the X posts and the ensuing controversy.
Usher Gets Overcome With Emotion During Final Performance of Las Vegas Residency: ‘God Bless You’
A fan-filmed clip reposted by Usher on Sunday (Dec. 3) showed the “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” singer breaking down on stage during the last show of his My Way residency. In the middle of his finale rendition of “Without You” — Usher’s much-loved 2011 collaboration with David Guetta — the singer fell to his knees crying. Surrounded by a crew of backup dancers hugging and cheering him on, Usher slowly returned to his feet and began singing the song’s final chorus a capella, encouraging the audience to join him.
With the whole crowd chanting the lyrics along with him, Usher raised his hands out to the crowd to offer them a moment of thanks. “God bless you, I love you,” he shouted into the audience as they sang back to him.
Speaking to Billboard back in August 2022, Usher said that he wanted his now-wrapped residency to prove that he and his team could show his. “The challenge was to show it’s not by chance we had success in Las Vegas,” he said. “We deliberately made decisions that would elevate your thinking on the evolution of who I am as a creative.”
The finale performance of Usher’s new show comes ahead of a busy few months for the pop-R&B legend. After hopping on a remix of Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You,” Usher posted a clip of himself and the BTS star dancing to his hit single “Yeah” over the weekend, encouraging fans to “stay tuned” for what the pair have coming next. Meanwhile, the singer is also preparing for his upcoming performance at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 11.
Alicia Keys' New Musical 'Hell's Kitchen' Will Move to Broadway in Spring 2024
Hell’s Kitchen, the new musical written by Alicia Keys, is heading to Broadway in Spring 2024!
The musical is currently playing an acclaimed, sold-out run at The Public Theater in downtown New York City and it will move to Broadway next year.
The show features music and lyrics by Alicia, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, and direction by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.
Hell’s Kitchen will begin preview performances on March 28, 2024 ahead of an official opening night on April 20, 2024 at the Shubert Theatre. Broadway favorites Shoshana Bean and Brandon Victor Dixon are leading the cast of the off-Broadway run, though casting for the upcoming transfer has not yet been announced.
The musical is loosely based on Alicia’s own experiences growing up in 90s New York City and her relationship with her mom inspired the show’s central story: a moving, relatable mother-daughter love story.
“Good things take time and for 13 years, I’ve been dreaming, developing and finding inspiration for a musical based on my experience growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. Hell’s Kitchen is inspired by my life, but it’s not a biographical story. It’s a story about family relationships and identity: Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who are we becoming?” Alicia said in a statement. “The score features new songs that I’m really excited to get out into the world alongside many of my album releases that you know but you’ve never heard like this – rearranged and reinterpreted.
I’m honored to be a part of this Broadway season with so much incredible talent and great stories. I grew up with musical theater and have so many memories of standing on line at TKTS to see shows like Miss Saigon and Rent. For me, Hell’s Kitchen is also a New York story of finding your dreams and for me, this musical coming to Broadway is the embodiment of that idea. I’ve learned so much from the experience and the collaboration with Michael Greif, Camille A. Brown, Kristoffer Diaz and Adam Blackstone. I love and respect the art form so much and I’m excited to see it come to Broadway.”
Jonathan Majors Joined by Girlfriend Meagan Good During First Day of Assault Trial
Jonathan Majors has wrapped up his first day in court. The 34-year-old Marvel actor held hands with girlfriend Meagan Good as he left the courthouse following Day One of his assault case on Monday (December 4) in New York City.
Jonathan was first arrested back on March 25 after alleged domestic dispute with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. He is facing charges of misdemeanor assault, aggravated harassment, and harassment. He has pleaded not guilty.
In the opening statements of the trial, Prosecutor Michael Perez detailed events that led to Jonathan‘s arrest. He said that the former couple took a private car service back to their apartment after attending a party in Brooklyn, Variety reports.
Grace then saw a text message on Jonathan‘s phone from a woman named “Cleopatra” that read, “Wish I was kissing you right now.”
Grace allegedly took the phone out of Jonathan‘s hand and the prosecutor claims that Jonathan then began grabbing the right side of Grace‘s body and prying her finger off the phone to get it back. The prosecutor said that this caused Grace to have bruising, swelling, and substantial pain.
“He intended to cause Grace Jabbari physical injury and, in fact, he did cause her physical injury,” the prosecutor asserted.
Jonathan did not deny that the text message from another woman caused the alleged altercation, but his criminal defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry alleges that it was Grace who assault Jonathan, claiming that Grace ripped two buttons off his coat and teared off the pocket “with her bare hands.”
After the alleged incident in the car, Grace allegedly ran into three strangers on the street, who invited her to go to a club. The prosecutor told jurors that Grace went to the club to “block out the experience.” Meanwhile, Jonathan checked into a hotel room and ended their relationship through a text message.
Grace later returned to the apartment and, according to his lawyer, called Jonathan 32 times before allegedly taking two sleeping pills.
When Jonathan went back to his apartment the following morning, he allegedly found Grace unconscious on the floor of the closet.
Jonathan‘s lawyer told jurors that he called the police “out of concern” for Grace‘s mental state because she was unconscious and allegedly threatened suicide in her texts to him.
Jonathan Majors Joined by Girlfriend Meagan Good During First Day of Assault Trial
Jonathan Majors has wrapped up his first day in court. The 34-year-old Marvel actor held hands with girlfriend Meagan Good as he left the courthouse following Day One of his assault case on Monday (December 4) in New York City.
Jonathan was first arrested back on March 25 after alleged domestic dispute with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. He is facing charges of misdemeanor assault, aggravated harassment, and harassment. He has pleaded not guilty.
In the opening statements of the trial, Prosecutor Michael Perez detailed events that led to Jonathan‘s arrest. He said that the former couple took a private car service back to their apartment after attending a party in Brooklyn, Variety reports.
Grace then saw a text message on Jonathan‘s phone from a woman named “Cleopatra” that read, “Wish I was kissing you right now.”
Grace allegedly took the phone out of Jonathan‘s hand and the prosecutor claims that Jonathan then began grabbing the right side of Grace‘s body and prying her finger off the phone to get it back. The prosecutor said that this caused Grace to have bruising, swelling, and substantial pain.
“He intended to cause Grace Jabbari physical injury and, in fact, he did cause her physical injury,” the prosecutor asserted.
Jonathan did not deny that the text message from another woman caused the alleged altercation, but his criminal defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry alleges that it was Grace who assault Jonathan, claiming that Grace ripped two buttons off his coat and teared off the pocket “with her bare hands.”
After the alleged incident in the car, Grace allegedly ran into three strangers on the street, who invited her to go to a club. The prosecutor told jurors that Grace went to the club to “block out the experience.” Meanwhile, Jonathan checked into a hotel room and ended their relationship through a text message.
Grace later returned to the apartment and, according to his lawyer, called Jonathan 32 times before allegedly taking two sleeping pills.
When Jonathan went back to his apartment the following morning, he allegedly found Grace unconscious on the floor of the closet.
Jonathan‘s lawyer told jurors that he called the police “out of concern” for Grace‘s mental state because she was unconscious and allegedly threatened suicide in her texts to him.
Grace allegedly was initially hesitant, but eventually claimed to police that she had sustained injuries from Jonathan, who was subsequently arrested. She was then take to the hospital to receive treatment.
Months later, Grace was arrested in October and charged with assault and criminal mischief in connection with the March incident.
Following his arrest, Jonathan‘s lawyer argued that his Hollywood career has suffered.
“Mr. Majors’ lifetime of hard work was coming to fruition and his career seemed unstoppable until he ended his relationship with Jabbari and she made these false allegations,” Jonathan‘s lawyer said in court. “[This is] a man who spent 30 years working hard to get to where he was on March 25. A man with the world at his fingertips.”
His defense concluded their opening statement by saying, “This is a case about the end of a relationship, not about a crime… at least not one that Mr. Majors committed. In revenge, she made these false allegations to ruin Mr. Majors and take away everything he spent his life working for…End this nightmare for him.”
If convicted, Jonathan faces up to one year in jail.
Dapper Dan Teams with GAP for New ‘DAP GAP’ Collection
Harlem fashion designer Dapper Dan has teamed with GAP again for new hoodies just in time for the holiday season.
Dapper Dan’s latest 18-piece collection for DAP GAP includes apparel and accessories for adults and kids. The line includes graphic hoodies, totes, baseball hats, socks, and ascots that boast the “DAP” motif.
“This is exciting for me because we are now offering products for kids for the first time. I have a commitment to instilling hope in the young people who are coming up behind me, and I want them to see who I am and what I’ve accomplished, so being able to dress all generations, including the kids, is very meaningful to me,” Dapper Dan said in an interview with HIGHSNOBIETY.
Sizes range from toddler 2T to adult XXXL, with prices starting from $25 to $128 USD.
“A breakthrough is when people finally find their space in areas they have never been before, but a breakout is when you take the culture and the people who created it and bring it around the world. When Gap came to me, this partnership signified a breakout for the culture,” said Dapper Dan in a statement, HYBEBEAST reports.
Months later, Grace was arrested in October and charged with assault and criminal mischief in connection with the March incident.
Following his arrest, Jonathan‘s lawyer argued that his Hollywood career has suffered.
“Mr. Majors’ lifetime of hard work was coming to fruition and his career seemed unstoppable until he ended his relationship with Jabbari and she made these false allegations,” Jonathan‘s lawyer said in court. “[This is] a man who spent 30 years working hard to get to where he was on March 25. A man with the world at his fingertips.”
His defense concluded their opening statement by saying, “This is a case about the end of a relationship, not about a crime… at least not one that Mr. Majors committed. In revenge, she made these false allegations to ruin Mr. Majors and take away everything he spent his life working for…End this nightmare for him.”
If convicted, Jonathan faces up to one year in jail.
Dapper Dan Teams with GAP for New ‘DAP GAP’ Collection
Harlem fashion designer Dapper Dan has teamed with GAP again for new hoodies just in time for the holiday season.
Dapper Dan’s latest 18-piece collection for DAP GAP includes apparel and accessories for adults and kids. The line includes graphic hoodies, totes, baseball hats, socks, and ascots that boast the “DAP” motif.
“This is exciting for me because we are now offering products for kids for the first time. I have a commitment to instilling hope in the young people who are coming up behind me, and I want them to see who I am and what I’ve accomplished, so being able to dress all generations, including the kids, is very meaningful to me,” Dapper Dan said in an interview with HIGHSNOBIETY.
Sizes range from toddler 2T to adult XXXL, with prices starting from $25 to $128 USD.
“A breakthrough is when people finally find their space in areas they have never been before, but a breakout is when you take the culture and the people who created it and bring it around the world. When Gap came to me, this partnership signified a breakout for the culture,” said Dapper Dan in a statement, HYBEBEAST reports.
“This DAP GAP campaign is my love letter to Harlem, and my way of continuing to propel our culture and community forward,” he added. “Gap gave us the global presence that allowed us to have the breakout and I can’t wait for the next generation to be a part of this movement.”
The new DAP GAP items will be available in stores and via the brand’s website on December 5.
“Working with GAP allows me to be a personification of my culture and spread that personification around the world,” Dapper Dan told HIGHSNOBIETY.
“I made history with GAP by bringing my culture to the masses and the world, making the collection accessible to those who have followed and supported me over the years,” he added.
The new DAP GAP campaign “represents a visual bridge where Harlem and GAP meet.”
Brooklyn Family Sues Hospital After Healthy Mother Dies Following Childbirth
The family of a mother who died while giving birth has filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking $42 million from a New York hospital. Christine Fields, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, reportedly passed away after giving birth at Woodhull Hospital in November. Her family claims hospital staff did not properly perform an emergency C-section and monitor her post-surgery.
The mother, who has two other children, was conscious and responsive after the baby was born but went into cardiac arrest the next day. The family’s attorney said there was pooling blood, which occurs when the blood is unable to pump back to the heart and collects in the extremities.
Attorney Ira Newman spoke with PIX11, saying, “Her baby’s heart rate drops, and there’s fetal distress. She’s rushed in for a C-section, and we are investigating and have learned from the [medical examiner’s] office that there was pooling blood.”
A $42 million lawsuit has been filed against the hospital. Denene Witherspoon, the mother of Fields, claims her daughter was “healthy.”
“I miss my daughter so much, and I need to know what happened to my daughter,” she told media outlets.
“My daughter was healthy, my daughter was 30, my daughter did everything right. She had had a birthing plan. Nothing was followed according to her birthing plan, and now I don’t have my child, and it just hurts so much. that was my heart. She made me so proud, and now I don’t have that in my life anymore. Now, I have to help raise three kids that don’t have a mother.”
Fields leaves behind three children, including her newborn child and her fiancé Jose Perez, who has been left devastated.
“We were looking forward to a wedding this year, but she ended up pregnant and we put it on hold. We just thought it was going to be a regular birth like the first, second kid,” Perez told the New York Daily Mail.
Fields’ autopsy results are pending. Family lawyer Sanford Rubinstein said: “Three children, ages 3, 5 and a newborn infant, will now be raised without a mother. This is tragic. This family had no reason to think this wasn’t going to be a healthy childbirth.”
The mother’s tragic passing comes three years after the death of Sha’Asia Washington, who also died during an emergency C-section at the hospital in 2020.
City data from 2019 shows that black mothers across the five boroughs are more than twice as likely to die giving birth than white mothers, PIX11 News reported.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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