#MAGFAB: Colman Domingo For British GQ Hype
After Colman Domingo graduated from university in Philadelphia, he moved to San Francisco to pursue acting on the advice of one of his tutors. It was the early ’90s and Domingo had recently come out to his family. “I went there at 21 years old, skinny and cute [with] a lot of energy,” he says now.
Drawn towards the bohemian lifestyle that artists lived out in the Bay Area, he grew his hair and got a job at The Kennel Club, a bar and alternative music venue that hosted the likes of Gil Scott-Heron and a pre-Nevermind Nirvana. He wanted to be a dancer. The bosses liked him. Could he work behind a bar, too? He lied and told them yes. Domingo’s co-workers taught him the tactics that led to tips: tight trousers, unbuttoned shirts, strong cocktails. Until then, his brother had been the one in the family who knew how to dress, but now he was starting to work out his own style playbook.
Every night Domingo would leave the club and move onto the next place with his cash in his back pocket. “We would go out after the bar and blow it,” he says. He took ecstasy (a long-retired habit; “I've got things to do”), and went to raves. “I remember one night I made a lot of money. The next day I bought a scooter and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge to the nude beaches on the other side.”
Drawn towards the bohemian lifestyle that artists lived out in the Bay Area, he grew his hair and got a job at The Kennel Club, a bar and alternative music venue that hosted the likes of Gil Scott-Heron and a pre-Nevermind Nirvana. He wanted to be a dancer. The bosses liked him. Could he work behind a bar, too? He lied and told them yes. Domingo’s co-workers taught him the tactics that led to tips: tight trousers, unbuttoned shirts, strong cocktails. Until then, his brother had been the one in the family who knew how to dress, but now he was starting to work out his own style playbook.
Every night Domingo would leave the club and move onto the next place with his cash in his back pocket. “We would go out after the bar and blow it,” he says. He took ecstasy (a long-retired habit; “I've got things to do”), and went to raves. “I remember one night I made a lot of money. The next day I bought a scooter and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge to the nude beaches on the other side.”
Those years have remained important to Domingo for many reasons, not least a testament to the power of a great outfit to win people over. Three decades later, he’s still flexing that sense of style. You might have seen him in glamorous regalia – like the black custom Louis Vuitton suit with Nehru collar that he wore at the Globes last month. Often wearing tailoring which plays with proportion and in experimental shades, Domingo is a fixture on best-dressed lists as regularly as he appears on red carpets
We are speaking in the midst of awards season, with Domingo nominated for Rustin at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Oscars. Answering our call, he’s a little more dressed down, in a lumberjack tartan shirt and a red baseball cap. Relaxed, you could say, or, as relaxed as you can be while in the hectic swirl of lunches, interviews, appearances on late-night television.
Now 54, Domingo has been doing this for over 30 years, though you’re likely to have only noticed him in the last five. Maybe it was for his role as a recovering addict in HBO’s Euphoria; or for playing a menacing pimp or civil rights activist in lauded arthouse movies Zola and Selma. Or maybe, it was his work in the Netflix biopic Rustin, in which he plays another civil rights trailblazer, Bayard Rustin. This year, Domingo earned his first Oscar nomination for that performance, becoming the first Afro-Latino man and the first gay Black man to be recognised in the Academy’s 96-year history. “I never thought that I was doing anything particularly special,” he tells me from his Los Angeles apartment.
Domingo is used to being informed of his history-making career. In 2018, at a college talk he conducted while in the middle of filming Fear the Walking Dead, a student raised his hand to ask him a question: Do you realise that you're doing something very unique in this industry? There was no one else like Domingo, the student claimed: a gay Black man working in Hollywood at the wattage he was. Domingo tilts his head, recalling his reaction. “I was struck that I didn't realise it.”
Part of Hollywood’s strange fixation with what we are rather than who we are, on using queerness as a qualifier to talk about an actor’s success, is something Colman Domingo has spent his career studiously ignoring. He never dreamed of being better within the confines of certain characteristics, but of being better at what he does full stop. “People constantly refer to Robert Downey Jr as an actor; they refer to Brad Pitt as an actor – but do they say, openly white?
“Why do I have to get all these monikers put on myself?” He lets out a little laugh. “You know,” he says, “I'm just Colman Domingo, the actor.”
This is not to say that Domingo does not understand the “hunger for representation”, but rather that, in order to succeed, he had to ignore the limitations others have tried to impose on him, and build the career he knew he deserved.
During those years in San Francisco, Domingo was figuring out who he was, as a person and an artist. His friend circle in the late ’90s was made up of queer, cultured types, such as Doug Holsclaw, the artistic director of the LGBTQ-led Theatre Rhinoceros. In 1998, Holsclaw, asked a still-green Domingo if he ever wanted to write something for the stage. With “$500 and a dream”, he started a theatre company, and his debut, Up Jumped Springtime, became the highest-grossing show the Theatre Rhinoceros had seen in 25 years.
“I feel like [the city] liberated me,” he says of those years. “You go there to really be an artist, because it's not about New York Times reviews. It's not about moving to Broadway. It was the genesis of my whole being.”
But Domingo did move onto Broadway, and New York’s theatre scene embraced him. He earned two Tony nominations (one for acting, another for writing) and, in London, an Olivier nomination too.
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#RHOA: Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes Are Stranded Housewives in New Lifetime Survival Movie
Elsewhere in the teaser, Richards admits, “Maybe there’s some things I haven’t told you about my marriage.” Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes can use their past experiences as Real Housewives as inspiration for their latest film roles.
TV network Lifetime announced on Thursday, February 1, that Richards, 52, and Leakes, 56, will team up for a made-for-TV movie called Hunting Housewives.
According to a logline, the film follows four housewives as they “find themselves stranded in the wilderness” after a plane crash.
“They must use their wits and determination if they ever hope to make it back home to their families,” the synopsis reads, per People.
Dancing With the Stars alum Kym Johnson-Herjavic and Melyssa Ford round out the Hunting Housewives squad. In the flick, the four friends attempt to take a “much-needed spa retreat” away from their families before their plane to the getaway crashes.
“With no knowledge of basic survival, the housewives must use their wits and whatever is in their designer bags to try to survive in the rugged wilds,” the summary adds. “When they realize they are not alone, even frenemies must align to outwit their hunters.”
Lifetime also dropped a “first look” at the film, which premieres next month, via Instagram. In one pic, Richards looks glam in her sequin gown while having a conversation. A second image shows the friends huddled under a silver emergency blanket in the middle of a forest.
Of course, Hunting Housewives is not Richards or Leakes’ first experience with the “housewives” label. Richards, for her part, starred on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills during seasons 9 and 10. While she opted to leave the franchise in 2020, she returned for a cameo during a season 12 episode in late 2023.
“I didn’t have a bad experience,” Denise recalled of attending Kyle Richards’ weed dinner during a January 2024 episode of Melissa Gorga’s “On Display” podcast. “At a certain point in your life, it’s whatever. I’ve had everything under the sun written and said about me. I’m like, ‘OK, so there’s a night where I’m at a weed party and I’m slightly sideways.’ Of all places to be sideways, I would rather be sideways at a weed party.”
Leakes, meanwhile, was a staple on The Real Housewives of Atlanta on and off between seasons 1 to 11. She left RHOA after 2019’s season 12.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for me. It was hard,” Leakes said in a September 2020 YouTube video. “I’m just so happy that I can say that I was a part of a genre that opened up doors for Black ensemble reality shows. I want to thank everybody [who] has looked up to me over the years. … I want to thank Bravo for all the memories. Thank you to the cast for all of the memories.”
Two years later, Leakes sued Bravo and executive producer Andy Cohen, who never addressed the claims, for allegedly fostering a hostile and racist working environment. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in August 2022.
Hunting Housewives premieres on Lifetime on Saturday, March 9.
#MusicNews: Next Up for a Vegas Residency…..BABYFACE!
Once upon a time, Las Vegas used to be the city where washed-up artists went to try to eke out a living and survive. Nowadays, however, Las Vegas is the place where living legends go to thrive with lucrative residencies and, in some cases, revive their careers. Babyface is ready to join the ranks of icons such as Usher, New Edition and Wu-Tang Clan with his announcement of his upcoming Vegas residency aptly titled Babyface: Live In Las Vegas.
With his deep catalog of hits and classics – his own and those that he’s written and produced for other artists – Babyface is the perfect person to have a Las Vegas residency. He still puts on an excellent show heavy on nostalgia, showmanship, musicianship and live vocals. He will bring all that and more to the stage every night at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas during Babyface: Live In Las Vegas.
The prolific artist who just picked up his 13th GRAMMY Award a few weeks ago previously did a mini-residency in December 2019 and January 2020 at another venue. His 2024 run at Palms will be spread out over the course of four months. So far, there are six dates scheduled, coinciding with three weekends.
Babyface: Live In Las Vegas jumps off on Memorial Day weekend with its first show on Saturday, May 25th and a subsequent show on Sunday, May 26th. After unofficially kicking off summer, Babyface will unofficially end the season during his next set of shows over Labor Day weekend on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1st. His last two shows are on the calendar for Friday, November 8th and Saturday, November 9th, right before the holiday season begins.
With this limited run of concerts, Babyface: Live In Las Vegas is going to be one hot ticket. If you’re interested in attending (and, trust us, you should be), you can shop for tickets during the presale, which is currently underway on Ticketmaster. To access the presale, use the special code BABYFACE. If you need to wait until payday Friday to purchase tickets, they go on sale to the general public starting at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET also via Ticketmaster.
Saturday, May 25
Sunday, May 26
Saturday, August 31
Sunday, September 1
Friday, November 8
Saturday, November 9
#HipHopNews: Lil Kim Sparks Romance Rumors With Younger Rapper After Adoring Birthday
The Hard Core rapper appeared to go public with her new man on Monday (February 26) as she gushed over her special bond with Brown and shared videos of them enjoying each other’s company.
“I know this post is a little late but I was blessed enough to spend ur whole birthday with U and we’re still celebrating,” she wrote on Instagram. “Our bond is so perfectly matched in the most organic way. I kno it was God that brought us 2gether.
“If ppl only knew how big of a role u play in my life and in my career. If they only knew ur a big part of the reason the beehive is getting new music right now. U are my motivation and that voice that is always cheering me on. Ur so intelligent and such a boss.
“If they only knew the things we figure out 2gether, how we can talk with our eyes and be on the same page. How we are each others rock, the late night talks, the gut wrenching laughs we share, the arguments, the debates.”
She continued: “U get on my nerves sometimes but it also brings me great pleasure to annoy u cause I’m annoying. Even after I annoy u, u always give me the biggest smile. Which if anyone knows u, they know that u barely do and that’s why it makes me so happy to annoy u.
“It’s so weird how we became so close because it happened out of nowhere but I’m really proud of what we’re building and most of all the unconditional love we have for each other. Ur a sweet gangsta and I love it!
“I always want the best for u and I wanna see u go all the way to the top where u belong. U deserve it. My twinn, my bestfrennn. So proud to call u my artist. I Love u 4 Ever @realtayybrown.”
The two also recently dropped a song together called “Love For Ya,”
In the comments section, Lil Kim’s fans celebrated what appears to be her new relationship, with one commenting: “Loving the joy he brings to you KIMMIE!”
Another asked: “They go together or work together? Or both?”
Others, however, criticized the perceived age gap as one said: “I love you Kim but he look like he’s 19yrs old.”
Someone else wrote: “How old is he? Defly looks like baby tho. Cute just young. But I bet he ready lol. Hi Kim cougar.”
Kim, who is 49, previously dated The Notorious B.I.G. before his death and was later in relationships with Scott Storch and Ray J.
She also dated Mr. Papers before accusing the rapper of domestic abuse.
Wendy Williams’ Publicist Calls New Documentary “Exploitative”
Following the conclusion of the new Where Is Wendy Williams? documentary, the former host’s publicist, Shawn Zanotti, feels that Williams was “being exploited.”
“She thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career… She would be mortified. There’s no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way,” Zanotti, who also featured in the doc, told NBC News.
Zanotti told the outlet she was first pitched the documentary by Creature Films and eOne Television in 2022. This was the same company behind Williams’ previous documentary, Wendy Williams: What a Mess! This time, Zanotti shared, “When I mentioned [doing a documentary] to Wendy, she immediately said: ‘Yes, I would love to do it. I would love to be able to get my story out there.’”
“That is not the project that [Williams] signed up for. That’s not the project [the producers] brought to me. That’s not what I told her this was going to be about,” she noted. “There were a lot of good moments. None of those good moments were shown.”
Prior to the documentary, Williams’ management revealed that she’d been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Zanotti said that she hasn’t spoken to Williams since she entered a treatment facility back in April, but is still her publicist.
Producers have admitted that had they known about Williams’ health issues, they wouldn’t have proceeded with filming, but Zanotti is calling their bluff.
“I don’t think [the diagnosis] would have stopped them at all,” she told NBC News. “The producers were asking questions throughout the entire time — would ask questions where she would somewhat seem confused, and I feel as though it was done to be intentional at that moment in time to make their storyline. Again, this was presented as a documentary to her, but to me, it looked as though it was a reality show of a circus, a circus to her downfall.”
‘Who TF Did I Marry’ TikTok: Man Alleging to Be Ex Seeking Legal Action Over False Claims
Reesa, whose real name is Teresa Johnson, lodged several accusations against Legion, including that he lied about his occupation, finances, and family—and that he wasn’t upfront about his criminal past. It appears Reesa hasn’t confirmed that McCoy is her ex.
He told the outlet that they were “having trust issues at one point,” and that while she tried to resolve their issues, she allegedly attempted to “expose” him if he didn’t give in to her. She came forward with her story because he wouldn’t comply.
He also told TMZ that Reesa’s viral series has taken a toll on his job in PR for a hospital. He said he recently had a meeting with attorneys at work to discuss his legal options against Reesa—and he approves whatever his job chooses to do.
While it’s unknown if he’s seeking private counsel for himself, McCoy told the outlet that, “the way he’s been portrayed by Reesa is not who he is at all,” and that he feels “wronged” by her story.
Former WWE Superstar Virgil Dies After Battling Dementia
Former WWE superstar Virgil has died. The grappler, whose real name was Michael Jones, passed away in hospital on Wednesday, February 28 at the age of 61 after battling serious health issues in recent years, including dementia and a number of strokes, TMZ reports.
Wrestling referee Mark Charles III, known as The Count, also shared the news on Facebook. He said, "My dear friends, it is with great sorrow that I bring news from the Jones family of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones, whom we know and loved as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Train Jones and more. Virgil passed peacefully at the hospital this morning and I ask that you pray for him and for his family. May his memory be eternal!"
Virgil made his wrestling debut in 1985 and was the heavyweight champion in Championship Wrestling Association, as well as tag team champion with Rocky Johnson. He then moved to the WWE, which was then known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was best known as "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase's personal assistant and bodyguard before turning on him at Summerslam 1991 and eventually defeating him at WrestleMania VII.
He spent around a decade with WWE and then had a brief stint with the National Wrestling Conference before joining WCW under the name Vincent and acting as head of security for nWo. Virgil made a brief return to WWE in 2010 as Ted DiBiase Jr's bodyguard and went on to make several appearances in AEW as Soul Train Jones.
WWE bosses said they were "saddened" by the news. The organization said in a statement, "WWE is saddened to learn that Michael Jones, known to WWE fans as Virgil, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Jones' family, friends and fans."
Diddy Accused Of Paying Off Club To Let Shyne Take The Fall For 1999 Shooting
The woman spoke against the embattled rapper in a video that circulated online on Wednesday, February 28. In it, she recalled the incident that took place in December 1999 in a New York club, for which Shyne was convicted in 2001.
In the video, the woman said it was Diddy, not Shyne, who shot her in the face. "I watched him fire the gun. I've said it all this time," the woman said repeatedly. "Puffy [shot] me in the face. They all knew he did it."
As to why Diddy was never convicted while Shyne was put in jail, the woman claimed that the "I Need a Girl" rhymer "paid off the club" and let his mentee Shyne to take the fall. "Everyone knew he did it, but he paid off the club, bouncer and club owners" to hide the video, she said.
Stressing that "this man almost took my life," the woman vowed that she will not stop until Diddy pays the price for his alleged wrongdoings. "You ain't see nothing yet," she warned, before accusing the 54-year-old star of "harassing" her for the past 24 years because before Cassie, she's "the only person to be victimized by him and to successfully sue him and get paid."
"As God as my witness, I will not stop until you suffer every single iota of punishment," she declared. "Until I have every second of recompense that you took from me. For every tear that I had to cry or my children had to cry, I am going to get a million back from you. I will not stop until you pay the price for what you did to my life."
The woman originally posted the video on TikTok. Over the clip, she wrote, "Puffy S#ot me in the Face in 1999...!!! He's Guilty #RICO."
Diddy, his bodyguard and Shyne were all tried for the shooting, but the Bad Boy Records founder and his bodyguard were acquitted on all counts. Shyne, on the other hand, was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Richard Lewis, comedian and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' actor, dies at 76
The actor dishes on playing the hilarious Leon Black on the comedy and what fans can expect during its final season.
Richard Lewis, the comedian and actor known for his roles on the HBO comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and in the film "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," has died. He was 76.
Lewis "passed away peacefully" at his home in Los Angeles Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack, his publicist Jeff Abraham said in a statement to ABC News.
"His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship and support and asks for privacy at this time," the statement said.
The comedian revealed last year that he had been living with Parkinson's disease.
Lewis was best known for his dark and self-deprecating sense of humor, starting his career in comedy clubs and making appearances on late-night talk shows like "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" throughout the '70s and '80s.
He starred on the ABC sitcom "Anything but Love," a workplace romantic sitcom alongside Jamie Lee Curtis for four seasons between 1989 and 1992. The pair played co-workers at a magazine office in Chicago who struggle to keep their feelings out of the workplace.
He also played a fictionalized version of himself on Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," where he can be seen in the 12th season which is currently airing.
On the big screen, Lewis most famously played Prince John in Mel Brooks' comedy classic "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" opposite Cary Elwes as the titular character.
He also starred alongside Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in the Oscar-winning drama "Leaving Las Vegas."
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, in April 2023, Lewis announced that he was retiring from stand-up comedy after nearly 50 years.
He also revealed in the video that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about two years prior.
Lewis recently opened up about how his Parkinson's had affected his outlook on life, telling Vanity Fair in an interview published earlier this month that "it's been a combination of forcing myself to look back and be grateful."
"I've had such an amazing life. I still do. I'm a lucky man," he told the magazine. "I got in touch with more gratitude and also acceptance."
Lewis, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, was honest about his mental health struggles as well as his recovery from alcohol and drug abuse in both his comedy and his writings, first with his 2000 memoir "The Other Great Depression" and then with his 2015 book "Reflections From Hell: Richard Lewis' Guide on How Not to Live."
David, his co-star on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," said in a statement Wednesday, "Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he's been like a brother to me. He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I'll never forgive him."
Meek Mill Clashes with DJ Akademiks Over Diddy Lawsuit Claims, Sparks Social Media Firestorm
In a recent surge of tension on X, the ongoing feud between Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill and online personality DJ Akademiks has flared up, with accusations flying and the internet ablaze. The controversy centers around Akademiks' comments on a Twitch stream regarding an unverified claim in a lawsuit against Diddy, leading to a heated exchange that underscores deeper issues of toxic masculinity and homophobia in the music industry.
Origins of the Feud
The latest episode of the Meek Mill and DJ Akademiks saga began when Akademiks discussed a sexual harassment and assault lawsuit filed against Diddy, in which Rodney “Lil Rod Madeit” Jones alleges sexual misconduct involving several industry figures, with Meek Mill and Usher speculated to be indirectly involved. Akademiks insinuated that Meek Mill's name was among those redacted in the lawsuit, sparking outrage from the rapper. Meek Mill took to Twitter to express his frustration, hinting at legal action and accusing Akademiks of jealousy and spreading false information.
Escalation and Public Reaction
The dispute quickly escalated, with Akademiks resorting to homophobic slurs and questioning why Meek Mill was so upset if the claims were unfounded. This exchange has not only reignited their personal beef but also attracted widespread attention on social media. Fans and followers have expressed concern over the use of homophobic language and the perpetuation of toxic masculinity within the discourse. Meanwhile, both parties have received support and criticism, highlighting the polarizing nature of the issue.
This incident is emblematic of larger issues within the music industry and society at large, including the stigmatization of LGBTQ+ individuals and the use of defamation in personal feuds. The heated exchange between Meek Mill and DJ Akademiks serves as a reminder of the damaging effects of toxic masculinity and the importance of addressing and challenging homophobia in all forms. As the story develops, it will be interesting to see if this incident sparks any broader discussions or changes within the industry.
Will Smith & Martin Lawrence Pal Around on Set of 'Bad Boys 4' After Filming Major Scene
Dressed in monochromatic blue, Will and Martin, who wore a bomber jacket, reclined against a car. They were also photographed interacting with fans in between takes.
Their day of hard work on set comes after Will was spotted filming a major scene earlier this week!
On Sunday (February 25), photos emerged of Will filming a wedding scene with Melanie Liburd. People obtained a photo from the scene.
In it, the actor wore a white jacket with black pants. Melanie rocked a long train with her strapless gown, and she held a bouquet of flowers. The onscreen couple shared a sweet kiss!
Will was spotted onset filming the movie almost a year ago in April 2023. However, it was put on hold during the strike
Tyler Perry offers $400K to Cocoa Brown after she lost home to fire
TMZ reports that the Atlanta media mogul offered Brown, who is best known for her role as Jennifer in the Perry-created sitcom "For Better or Worse," $400,000 for a new home.
Brown, 51, lived in a home on Mountain Laurel Way in Fayetteville, Georgia with her son, Phoenix.
The Fayette County Department of Fire & Emergency Services confirmed with FOX 5 that firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the home on the afternoon of Feb. 18.
By the time crews arrived, officials say they found the home's second floor and attic covered with heavy flames. The conditions were so quickly deteriorating that all personnel were pulled from the structure just before part of the home collapsed.
The cause of the fire may have been a lit candle that fell onto a pile of clothing. Brown reportedly tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher but was unable to do so.
Friends of the actress and comedian have started a GoFundMe, with a goal of $50,000. As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe has raised more than $75,000 of its $100,000 goal from more than 1,200 donors.
Perry isn't the only one in the entertainment industry to send their love and support to Brown. Top donors to her GoFundMe included media mogul Byron Allen and fellow comedians Marlon Wayans and Tiffany Haddish.
Brown told TMZ that she and her son have been "deeply moved" by the support and are "filled with profound gratitude" for Perry's help.
"Having each other, our fur babies, and seeing and feeling all this love has strengthened our love for each other and humanity," Brown said.
She has an upcoming performance during the Funk 'N Funny Brunch with Kasper & The 911 Band and LaMont Ferrell at The City Winery in Atlanta on March 2.
Other TV and film credits include "A Dark Way Out," "Never Have I Ever," "9-1-1," "The Soul Man," and "American Crime Story."
The fire department says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Michael Jackson’s Abuse Accusers Want Trial Date Before ‘Michael’ Biopic
The two Michael Jackson molestation accusers featured in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland have won the right to combine their negligence lawsuits against Jackson’s companies into a single case and are pressing for a trial by early next year – before the April 2025 debut of the Michael biopic helmed by Training Day director Antoine Fuqua.
A judge granted the consolidation to plaintiffs Wade Robson and James Safechuck during a Wednesday hearing in Beverly Hills, Calif. Standing outside the courtroom after the ruling, the duo’s lawyer said he believes defendants MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures – both now owned by the estate – are seeking a trial well beyond his target of February 2025 because the biopic is expected to be largely flattering. (The estate’s executors are listed as producers.)
“They want the Michael Jackson biopic to come out before the trial. That’s what I think,” lawyer John C. Carpenter tells Rolling Stone. “These corporations that facilitated the abuse in the first place, they’re rewriting the history.”
A lawyer for Jackson’s companies said during the hearing that her clients plan to waive a three-year speedy trial rule because she believes the case won’t be ready for jurors until after December 2026. She said the trial likely would last more than 20 days with dozens of witnesses.
Robson, a choreographer and director, and Safechuck, a writer, actor and director, sued MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures for negligence, breach of duty and intentional infliction of emotional distress in separate lawsuits in 2013 and 2014 respectively. They won the right to proceed together Wednesday after their previously dismissed complaints were revived by an appellate ruling over the summer. The August ruling found that companies can owe their own separate duty to protect victims even if they’re “solely owned” by an alleged perpetrator of abuse.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge who granted the consolidation set a follow-up hearing for June 5. Lawyers for the Jackson companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This case goes back 35 years. There’s been a huge amount of related litigation,” defense lawyer Jennifer L. Keller told the court Wednesday as she argued for the case’s transfer to a new department that handles “complex” disputes. She cited what she called the “highly unusual nature of the pleadings claiming entities of Mr. Jackson should be held responsible for not exercising adequate supervision” and said the court would have to “grapple with” some “very difficult legal issues.”
“I don’t think the matter is complex. It’s certainly old, but I think we can get this done expeditiously,” Carpenter responded. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Carpenter said his clients are eager for “the truth to prevail.”
“Most of the discovery has already been done in the Robson case, so I think we’re nearly ready to go,” he said. “They were both children being abused at the same time, so there’s a heavy overlap. With respect to the injuries, that’s where the evidence is different. But liability is the same. These were two boys who were molested.”
Jackson’s estate has denied the claims in the lawsuit. In a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone, Jackson’s family members claimed Robson and Safechuck are making false claims for financial gain. “It’s about the money,” Marlon Jackson said.
Wendy's says it won't do 'surge pricing' after all, backtracking after a backlash
“Earlier this month we issued our fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings results and included an update on investments we are making in our digital business,” Wendy’s said in a statement. “One initiative is digital menu boards, which are being added to U.S. Company-operated restaurants. We said these menu boards would give us more flexibility to change the display of featured items. This was misconstrued in some media reports as an intent to raise prices when demand is highest at our restaurants.”
“We have no plans to do that and would not raise prices when our customers are visiting us most,” the company added.
The fast food fracas started earlier this month, when Tanner touted the coming rollout of new digital menu boards, an approximately $20 million investment that he said would extend to all U.S. restaurants the company operates by the end of next year. Tanner also highlighted how the digital menu boards would allow for pricing changes.
“Beginning as early as 2025, we will begin testing more enhanced features like dynamic pricing and daypart offerings, along with AI-enabled menu changes and suggestive selling,” he said. “As we continue to show the benefit of this technology in our company-operated restaurants, franchisee interest in digital menu boards should increase, further supporting sales and profit growth across the system.”
His comments during the Feb. 15 quarterly earnings call attracted little notice at the time. That changed this week, with a slew of headlines (including on Quartz) that compared Tanner’s “dynamic pricing” to Uber’s well-known “surge pricing.” The ride-hailing app raises prices when demand is highest to increase the supply of drivers and minimize wait times for riders.
“Dynamic pricing” is widely understood to mean changing prices as demand fluctuates to maximize revenue. But after an initial backlash from customers and on social media, Wendy’s says Tanner didn’t mean “surge pricing” when he said “dynamic pricing.”
“To clarify, Wendy’s will not implement surge pricing, which is the practice of raising prices when demand is highest,” a Wendy’s spokesperson told NBC News. “We didn’t use that phrase, nor do we plan to implement that practice.”
“Any features we may test in the future would be designed to benefit our customers and restaurant crew members,” the company said in its statement. “Digital menu boards could allow us to change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts and value offers to our customers more easily, particularly in the slower times of day.”
Kellogg’s CEO Faces Backlash for Suggesting People Should Eat Cereal for Dinner to Save Money
The CEO of Kellogg’s is under fire for endorsing a tone-deaf campaign aimed at low-income families, sparking widespread backlash.
Recently on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, CEO Gary Pilnick discussed Kellogg’s 2022 ‘Cereal for Dinner‘ campaign, featuring popular cereals like Corn Flakes and Fruit Loops, with a message encouraging consumers to ‘give chicken the night off.'”
“The cereal category has always been quite affordable, and it tends to be a great destination when consumers are under pressure,” said Pilnick. “If you think about the cost of cereal for a family versus what they might otherwise do, that’s going to be much more affordable.”
Pilnick nonchalantly dismissed concerns about the campaign’s potential negative impact on consumers when asked if it might ‘land the wrong way.’
“We don’t think so. In fact, it’s landing really well right now,” he replied. “Cereal for dinner is something that is probably more on trend now, and we would expect [it] to continue as that consumer is under pressure.”
However, users on social media pointed out the wealth disparity reflected in Pilnick’s comments, discussing the impact of inflation on rising food costs, and expressed concerns about the health implications of frequently opting for cereal as a dinner substitute.
“This fool [is] making four million bucks a year. You think he’s feeding his kids cereal for dinner?” said one TikTok user.
“I wonder if he thinks cereal is a nutritious enough dinner for his own family?” wrote an X user, who shared a screenshot of Pilnick’s $4 million annual salary.
Mitch McConnell to step down from GOP leadership position in the Senate
He will continue to serve in the US Senate but will allow “the next generation of leadership” to take the helm of the Senate Republican Conference.
McConnell, who turned 82 last week, said, “the end of my contributions are closer than I prefer.”
McConnell has long been a towering figure in Washington, DC, and has made history over the course of his political tenure. In 2023, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history.
However, in recent months, McConnell has found in himself at odds with members of his conference particularly over the issue of additional US funding for the war in Ukraine. And McConnell has a strained relationship with the Republican Party’s front-runner for the presidential nomination: Donald Trump. CNN reported in January, the two hadn’t spoken in more than three years.
“As I have been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work,” McConnell said in his floor remarks. “A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. That day arrived today.”
He received a standing ovation at the end of his remarks, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, approached him afterwards to shake his hand. He was followed by many of his colleagues from both sides of the aisle, receiving a hug from Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
US Supreme Court to hear Trump’s immunity claim in 2020 election case
The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether Donald Trump may claim immunity in special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion case, adding another explosive appeal from the former president to its docket and further delaying his federal trial.
The court expedited the case and will hear arguments the week of April 22.
The move puts the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination on track for another high-stakes date with the high court, which earlier this month heard arguments in a separate case questioning whether Trump disqualified himself from running for a second term under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection ban.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court arguments could come while Trump is on trial in New York on criminal charges of falsifying business records as part of a cover-up to conceal hush money payments before the 2016 election. (Trump has pleaded not guilty.)
The high court on Wednesday ordered that a lower court ruling against Trump remain on hold until it decides the issue. As is common when granting a case, the court released only a short order and did not indicate how the justices voted.
A spokesperson for the special counsel’s office declined to comment.
The decision is a significant victory for Trump for at least two reasons: He will now be able to argue for sweeping presidential immunity that, if granted, could undermine the bevy of legal challenges he faces, and he will also be able to push off a trial, likely for several weeks at least.
It’s also the second time the justices have rejected a request from Smith. The special counsel had months ago asked the high court to take the case before the DC Circuit decided it – and was rejected.
Had the justices rejected Trump’s emergency request to pause the case, Smith would have been able to move more quickly – virtually guaranteeing a trial before the November election.
The court asked Trump to file his opening arguments in the case by March 19. Smith’s office has been asked to file its own brief laying out their arguments by April 8, and Trump has until April 15 to submit his written final arguments before oral arguments are held.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Speed is a Necessity
Well, so He or “SHE”? can do it fast!
Well, so He or “SHE”? can do it fast!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
