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The Daily Buzz For Mar 1 ☕đŸ“°☕

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#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.”

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.

Get more at GQ Hype 


#RHOA: Denise Richards and NeNe Leakes Are Stranded Housewives in New Lifetime Survival Movie
“This whole thing was a setup,” Denise Richards says as the women realize that their plan crash was no accident. Melyssa Ford replies: “Your husband wired an entire forest to capture his wife’s survival of a plane crash?”
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
Lil Kim has sparked romance rumors after penning a sweet message to up-and-coming rapper Tayy Brown for his 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 Teesa’s alleged ex has come forward to tell his side of the story. Jerome McCoy—whom Reesa calls “Legion” in her viral, 50-part TikTok series, “Who TF Did I Marry?”—told TMZ that her claims about their relationship aren’t true.
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
A new allegation has been raised against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. After Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones sued the hip-hop mogul for sexual assault and harassment, a woman claimed that the rapper shot her in the face in the 1999 club 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
Will Smith is having a busy week on the set of Bad Boys 4.The 55-year-old movie star was spotted having a great time on set with costar Martin Lawrence as they filmed in Miami, Florida on Wednesday (February 28).

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
Tyler Perry is reportedly stepping up to help actress and comedian Cocoa Brown after she and her young son lost their Georgia home in a devastating 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
Wendy’s would like a word about the difference between “dynamic pricing” and “surge pricing.” After a flurry of attention this week to comments by CEO Kirk Tanner during the fast food chain’s February earnings call, Wendy’s now says it has “no plans” to raise prices when demand is highest.

“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
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will step down as GOP leader in November, the Kentucky Republican announced on the Senate floor Wednesday, marking the end of an era on Capitol Hill and setting up a high-stakes race for his successor.
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!


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM

2/28/24

The Daily Buzz For Feb 29☕đŸ“°☕

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

#MAGFAB: REACHER Actor Alan Ritchson for MEN’S HEALTH Magazine
He’s always had the look, but for actor Alan Ritchson, the celebrity is new. Hollywood told him actors don’t break past 30. But he kept working, and at 41, after decades of near misses and tiny roles, the Reacher star is busting out. This month, Ritchson stars opposite Hilary Swank in Ordinary Angels, and he has a role in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, out in April. Ritchson proves there’s power in patience. 
Now on the cover of MEN’S HEALTH’s March/April issue, the Fit At Any Age issue, Ritchson opens up about his decades-long road to Reacher-dom, making a move into the dramatic realm, the challenges of bipolar disorder, and more. Plus, in Men’s Health “Gym & Fridge” cover video, Ritchson gives a peek at his home gym and fridge, from his wife’s homemade meatloaf and his obsession with cookie dough to the secrets of how he stays jacked for his role as Jack Reacher.

On being bullied as a late-blooming teenager in Florida, especially once a tumor began pushing his chin bone out: “When you haven’t hit puberty and you’re 17 and you’ve got a face growing out of your face, it fortifies a sense of kindness that I’m grateful for.”
On meeting his wife, Catherine, in a ballet class while in high school—finally speaking to his crush after recruiting a friend to find out whether she had any interests that might serve as an in: “After the millionth time of us sitting next to each other, inches away, tying our shoes—so now it’s super awkward—I was like, ‘So I heard you ice-skate.’ She was like the sweetest thing in the world.”

On a long cycle of high expectations and profound disappointments, thinking he’d made it after landing a multi-season run as bombastic football captain Thad Castle on the Spike TV sitcom Blue Mountain State: “I just sort of expected that there would be a cornucopia of comedies for me to choose from, and nobody really wanted to see me for anything.”

On fumbling his audition for 2011’s Thor, a role had been his to lose: “I didn’t take it seriously. I was like, ‘They’ll throw me the part if I look like the guy; nobody really cares about acting.’”

On when Hollywood finally took notice: “I had about 50 offers the weekend after season 1 of Reacher opened [in 2022]. I knew my life had changed.”

On testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT), which he tried at the suggestion of his doctor: “People can think what they want, but I work out very hard.”

On the stigma around supplemental testosterone: “I didn’t even know that it was considered an anabolic steroid to some people. It was just: There was a hormone that was missing for me, and I needed it.”

On moving into the dramatic realm, deciding to play beleaguered father Ed Schmitt in Ordinary Angels, “I needed a stark juxtaposition.”

On the precariousness of Hollywood: “The industry’s funny. It can’t be relied on. You have to be very patient with it.”

On how his manic episodes manifest in relatively harmless ways at home: “It’s this thing like I gotta find a perfectly white pair of shoes that look like a tennis shoe but aren’t. Three days later, eight pairs of shoes show up that are all identical. And I’m like, ‘Oh, shit, I’m manic right now.’”

On how his bipolar disorder symptoms can manifest on set: “When I’m feeling depressed, it doesn’t really matter, because I am so focused at work. I could go weeks without people even knowing I feel a certain way. When I’m manic and I feel like something isn’t living up to its best potential, it usually comes out in a very—not in a mean way—but in a ‘this has to be better’ way. Like a very, almost obsessive ‘this has to be better.’ ”

On racing his Ducati V 4R along the winding mountain roads in Georgia, a pastime he considers meditative rather than terrifying: “It’s like a mental bath.”

On how much he can bench: “I’ve actually been asked this question a million times and I’d never tested myself until a week ago. I threw up 355. I did it six times, so that was not my max. I didn’t feel safe doing more, because I was alone.”

On the best cheat meal: “Mac and cheese. For sure. Love mac and cheese.”

The March/April “Fit At Any Age” issue of Men’s Health hits newsstands nationwide on March 5.


#RHOA: Porsha Williams Requests Simon Guobadia Not 'Destroy' Financial Records and Prenup Is Enforced After She Filed for Divorce!
Porsha Williams issued a formal request of her husband, Simon Guobadia, after she filed for divorce.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 42, filed a legal complaint against Guobadia on Feb. 22 as she requested that the Nigerian-born businessman not “destroy, conceal or alter” any financial documents relevant to their ongoing separation, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

In the filing, Guobadia was officially notified of the requirement under Georgia law for him to “exercise reasonable care to protect and preserve evidence relevant” to the case, which includes financial records, income records, tax records and expense records, as well as any documents “reflecting relevant conduct” by him or Williams.

Williams also requested that her prenup with Guobadia be “enforced” by the court, per the filing. The agreement was signed on November 17, 2022, per the documents, just days before the pair wed in a traditional Nigerian native law and custom ceremony, which they followed up with an American ceremony.
"The weddings were a dream come true," she told PEOPLE at the time. "It was all of me and all of Simon represented that day. And all the people who love us and support us were there for us."

In the filing, the Bravo star cited the marriage being “irretrievably broken” as her reason for the divorce, while also requesting that Guobadia be held financially responsible for her legal fees associated with the case.
However, a source told PEOPLE the divorce is "unrelated to recent allegations involving Simon's past," but, rather, the cause of their split is an "ongoing matter.”

On Monday, Williams shared her appreciation for her fans and followers amid the divorce news.
“Thank you for your prayers & support. -PW,” she wrote over a black screen in a post on her Instagram Story.
Later that same day, Andy Cohen weighed in on the split as he revealed that he and the other RHOA producers were in the dark about Williams’ marital issues prior to the filing.

“Wanted to talk a little Housewives news,” Cohen, 55, said on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live. “First of all, Porsha announced last week that she is leaving Simon and I gotta tell you something, I was saying to the other producers of Atlanta, when the news started breaking about Simon and some of his immigration issues, I was like, ‘This is not…’ I was so surprised.”

Cohen denied that the 42-year-old reality star’s relationship status was a factor in her upcoming return to RHOA, which was announced earlier this month.
“None of us knew any of this was on the horizon and this was really meant to be Porsha's happily ever after kind of victory lap season,” he shared. “So it's just, I was so surprised and taken aback and listen, we wanted Porsha on the show for Porsha.”

The Watch What Happens Live host continued, “We would take Porsha married, single, picking up the pieces of her life, on high, on low, however she wants, you know, however she's gonna be, but we didn't know, and this is really a big right turn from the story that I think all of us thought we would be telling, so sending love to Porsha.”


#MusicNews: Normani Teases Sultry New Song Off Upcoming Debut Album!

Normani is coming in strong for her upcoming debut album, and she took to social media to tease one of the project’s sultry tracks.
In a clip shared by a fan account on Instagram, the 27-year-old star is seen lip-syncing along to a smooth R&B melody, featuring the lyrics: “When I get you alone / Boy, what you going to do with this? / Don’t talk too much / Just do this s—.”

Normani announced last week she’ll be releasing her debut album, Dopamine, this year. She posted the album artwork on Instagram, which features the black-leather bikini-clad singer riding on top of a black rocket. “cryingg typing this rn. DOPAMINE THE ALBUM,” she captioned the post. The announcement of her long-awaited first full-length project arrives after fans noticed the ex-Fifth Harmony member had cleared her Instagram.

Normani has yet to reveal Dopamine‘s release date, but according to the rapidly changing date counter on the aforementioned website, it will be released in 2024. In addition to her elated fanbase, the announcement also drew positive comments from the artist’s former Fifth Harmony members Camila Cabello, Ally Brooke, Lauren Jauregui and Dinah Jane.

“Let’s gooooođŸ”¥,” Jauregui wrote, while Cabello added a series of rocket emojis. “there she is đŸ¥¹đŸ”¥đŸ”¥,” Jane added. And Brooke shared several sparkling heart emojis and clapping hand.


#HipHopNews: Latto To Headline The NCAA's Super Saturday Concert Ahead Of Women’s 
Final Four Game!
Latto is gearing up to headline the Super Saturday Concert on the eve of the NCAA Women’s Final Four Division I Championship Game. The event is set for April 6 at the Cleveland Public Auditorium in Ohio. It will also be free to the public.
“I am excited to bring the energy to Cleveland and perform at the NCAA Super Saturday Concert Presented by AT&T,” Latto expressed. “I’m looking forward to supporting the growth of women’s basketball and [continuing] to empower the entire female community.”

Despite only being two months in, 2024 is shaping up to be a busy year for Latto. In January, she was revealed to be one of the judges for season two of Netflix’s Hip Hop competition show “Rhythm + Flow.” She’ll be joined by DJ Khaled and Ludacris.

Earlier this year, the Queen of Da Souf artist debuted “Sunday Service,” which sparked a flurry of reactions from fans and rappers alike. Latto heightened anticipation for its release with cover art featuring Ice Spice, Missy Elliott, Coi Leray, Lil’ Kim, KARRAHBOOO, and Sexxy Red on it. Many assumed that she’d be taking aim at her rumored rivals due to the announcement timing.

However, when the record eventually came out, fans accused her of doing a bait-and-switch. The musician responded via Instagram Live, where she said a video of her calling the track an “homage” to her female contemporaries was taken out of context.
“Clips got chopped up, so what I am gonna do is speak on it. When [have] y’all ever known me to duck smoke? B**ch, I’m never ducking smoke,” the “Big Energy” hitmaker explained. “I’m sorry y’all [have] never been in a Sprinter before, [but] music videos be on shuffle. [That] s**t don’t be that deep. I ain’t see that s**t. My mama can drop dead right now if I’m f**king lying. F**k I need to lie for? I already said I ain’t ducking smoke.”

Nonetheless, excitement is still brewing for Latto’s third studio album. It could contain her 2023 smash hit “Put It On Da Floor” or the subsequent remix featuring Cardi B.


Gabourey Sidibe Is Pregnant With Twins!

Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe is growing her “Empire”! “I’m pregnant!” Sidibe, 40, captioned an Instagram on Feb. 27. “We thought it was time to give our cats some responsibility so we’re giving them each a baby to take care of!
"Double the babies, double the cats, double the fun!!" she continued. "Twin Delivery coming soon! Twinty Twinty Four!"

Sidibe, who earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in the 2009 drama “Precious,” included a series of photos to mark the occasion. In two pictures, the actor’s husband, Brandon Frankel, sweetly cradles Sidibe’s bump. They also next to double strollers.
The couple tied the knot in 2021 after meeting on the dating app Raya in 2019. During a joint interview with Brides magazine in 2022, Frankel revealed that their first date lasted “more than seven hours.”

Sidibe confessed that before Frankel came along, she wasn't sure that marriage was in the cards for her.
“I couldn’t imagine dating someone I actually liked. Turns out, totally possible! So, I’m really happy to have been wrong about where I saw my life going, partnership-wise," she shared with Brides. [Brandon] is an incredible, incredible partner."
Sidibe announced her engagement on Instagram in 2020.

“My BFF proposed and now I get to hold him forever,” she wrote at the time. “The funniest man I’ve ever met. The sweetest human to exist. @brandontour made up a song for when I put my bonnet on at night. The second I look a bit stressed and overwhelmed, he jumps into action to take over what he can for me. Every moment with him is a joy. He is the partner i thought I was too independent to need.”

Frankel, who has a tattoo of his wife's name on his thigh, is just as smitten.
"I hope you all get to meet the love of your life that rocks your entire world and changes the way you view everything," he wrote on Instagram in 2023.


Kanye West Alleges Adidas Is Selling ‘Fake’ Yeezy Designs, Claims Company Is Suing Him For $250M
Once again Adidas is selling more Yeezy designs and it isn’t sitting well with Kanye West who alleges that they’re “fake.”
During Super Bowl LVIII weekend, the rapper posted a picture of himself alongside Adidas CEO, Bjørn Gulden.
It’s no secret Adidas has been hurting financially after parting ways with Kanye over his antisemitic rhetoric, so it seemed as though he and the brand were back on better terms and possibly planning to reunite.

Despite the cordial photo, however, things are apparently tense between West and Adidas again over the Yeezy brand.
On Monday, several sneaker leakers sounded the alarm that Adidas would release new Yeezys soon and the New York Daily News reported that the sneaker brand did just that. Reps for Adidas told the publication that they’ve been working to “unload” about $1.3 billion worth of Yeezys since cutting ties with the rapper in October 2022.

With that in mind, they’ll be releasing the inventory over the course of this year in a manner that helps “ensure a fair and premium experience for consumers.”
Adidas plans to sell products from 2022 like some of the brand’s “most popular designs” and will donate some of the proceeds to groups fighting hate including antisemitism.

According to Kanye however, the new colorways released by the brand weren’t approved by him, and he’s accusing Adidas of “creative rape” while calling the sneakers “fake.”
“Anybody who loves Ye would not buy these fake Yeezys,” wrote Kanye on Instagram.” I never made these color ways, I’m not getting paid off of them and adidas is suing me. All these celebrities and the public will stand against a T-shirt or the color of my hat but when y’all see me have my children hidden from me or see an actual Fortune 500 company r*pe one of your heroes in real life don’t nobody say nothing or do nothin. As far as the system goes. What y’all gone do now take my album down again? Freeze my accounts again? Threaten people to not work with me again? All the new non approved 350’s are cooorny.”

Kanye was apparently so befuddled by the audacity of Adidas that he even uploaded a video so people could hear it from his mouth. In the video, he expanded on the brand reportedly suing him for $250 million and alleged that he’s not being paid for the new releases.

Love or hate Kanye West, we all can admit he is right about the 350 sneakers being outdated, and Adidas selling products not approved by him defeats the purpose of releasing them. Some fans are even alleging that Adidas lied about cutting ties with Kanye over his antisemitic remarks and think they were just cutting him out of the business.


Adele Receives Support After Forced To Postpone 'Weekends With Adele' Concerts

Adele has received heartwarming responses from her fans despite putting her "Weekends With Adele" concerts on hold. The "Easy On Me" songstress was supported by her devotees after announcing that she had to postpone her Las Vegas residency shows

On Tuesday, February 27, the 35-year-old singer made use of Instagram to share the unexpected announcement. She uploaded a photo of a message that read, "Sadly I have to take a beat and pause my Vegas residency."
On the reason why, Adele explained, "I was sick at the end of the last leg and all the way through my break. I hadn't quite gotten the chance to get back to full health before shows resumed and now I'm sick again, and unfortunately it's all taken a toll on my voice."

"And so on Doctors orders I have no choice but to rest thoroughly," the singer went on to write. Though so, she assured, "The remaining 5 weekends of this leg are being postponed to a later date. We are already working out the details and you will be sent the information asap."
Adele concluded, "The postponed dates are: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 & 30 March." Along with the announcement, she issued an apology to her devotees in the caption of the post, "I love you, I'll miss you like mad and I'm sorry for the inconvenience x."

While Adele made many of the fans disappointed, others showed their support for the singer. In the comments section of the post, one in particular wrote, "After 80 shows you already deserve a rest." Another joined in, "That angel voice has to be recovered, take care of yourself," adding a red heart emoji.
Prior to the announcement, Adele shared that she was put on voice rest after struggling to hit certain notes during her shows. Speaking to concertgoers at one of her gigs at Caesars Palace, she said, "I'm sure you can hear it in my talking voice and my singing voice. Your girl was tired. I didn't sleep very well."

"And Ursula from the ocean has come from my chest tonight. I can't hit my headnotes properly. I didn't sleep very well and my chest is on fire. Straight after this show I am going on voice rest," the "Someone Like You" songstress further elaborated.


Donna Summer's Estate Files Lawsuit Against Kanye West And Ty Dolla $Ign For Stealing Her Song
Donna Summer's estate sues Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign for sampling her hit song "I Feel Love" without permission. The estate claims in the court documents that the rappers used the song on their track "Good (Don't Die)" even after the estate turned down his request to interpolate the 1977 song.

Obtained by TMZ, the filing states that "permission was explicitly denied" over the use of the singer's 1977 song. It continues, "Despite this denial, Defendants shamelessly used instantly recognizable portions of Summer's hit song."
In the lawsuit, the estate accuses the two musicians of "arrogantly and unilaterally" deciding "they would simply steal" the song for their collaborative album "Vultures 1" after their request was denied. As for the reason why they turned down the request, the estate explains it was because they "wanted no association with West's controversial history."

Donna's estate, who is also suing Ye's label, is seeking major damages and an injunction blocking further distribution of the song.
Following the controversy, "Good (Don't Die)" has been removed from several streaming services. The track, however, is still available in physical copies of the album.

This isn't the only clearance dispute surrounding Ye's "Vultures 1". Prior to this, Ozzy Osbourne slammed the Chicago rapper for sampling Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" on the song "Vultures" even after he refused to give Ye a permission.
"@kanyewest ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF 'IRON MAN' FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY," the rocker tweeted earlier this month. "HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!"

Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne also criticized Ye, calling him a "disrespectful antisemite" who "represents hate." She added, "The motherf***er's a pig." The former "The Talk" co-host, who was raised Jewish, also noted, "Kanye f**ked with the wrong Jew this time."


Two Men Found Guilty In Murder Of Run-D.M.C. DJ Jam Master Jay

An ongoing murder case in the Hip-Hop world has finally come to an end. On Tuesday (Feb. 27), two men were found guilty of killing Jam Master Jay. The pioneering DJ of the legendary Run-D.M.C. group was slain in 2002.

After reportedly deliberating for about 10 hours, a Brooklyn jury decided two men who were close to Jay were guilty for the crime: Ronald Washington, Jay’s childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., Jay’s godson.
“Y’all just killed some innocent people. Get me outta here,” Washington said in the courtroom per CNN after the verdict. Jordan looked at his supporters and said, “I love y’all.”

American hip hop group Run-DMC (American rapper Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons, American musician and DJ Jason ‘Jam Master Jay’ Mizell (1965-2002), and American rapper Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels) attend the 1987 Soul Train Music Awards. Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

The jury’s decision came after a witness who was at the recording studio that night, Uriel Rincon, testified that Washington and Jordan came in armed. He alleged Jordan shot Jay in the head said him being “confused and scared” made him keep the attackers’ identities secret, according to WABC.

“It’s about greed. It’s about money. It’s about jealousy,” Assistant US Attorney Artie McConnell said in the prosecution’s closing arguments. “And it’s about the actions of two men, Karl Jordan, Jr., and Ronald Washington, that the evidence proves are killers.”

However, defense attorneys were adamant that the real killer was a third defendant, Jay Bryant. Bryant was charged in May 2023 with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder. His trial is set for 2026 and he has pleaded not guilty. In closing arguments, the defense attorneys mentioned that a hat found next to Jam Master Jay’s body contained only Bryant’s DNA, and Bryant was the only defendant seen on a security camera.

“Jay Bryant is literally reasonable doubt in this case,” said Michael Hueston, Jordan’s attorney.


Jeremiah Brent joins "Queer Eye" cast for season nine after Bobby Berk exit
Say hello to your newest member of "Queer Eye"'s Fab Five — Jeremiah Brent. The long-time interior designer is not a stranger to being on TV for his design work. He and his partner in life and work, Nate Berkus, have had multiple design shows on TLC and HGTV. The new cast announcement comes on the heels of Bobby Berk's departure from Emmy-winning reality show "Queer Eye" after eight seasons in November last year. Berk's exit caused a stir among fans, who theorized there had been a falling out with the cast. But Berk told Vanity Fair that he left because the cast had reached the end of their initial contact with Netflix.

"We thought we were done," he said. Brent will join the crew alongside Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown and Tan France. The new season is reportedly headed to production in Las Vegas this spring to help everyday people find their confidence and makeover their lives for them, Variety reported. Moreover, Brent is the founder of Jeremiah Brent Design and lifestyle brand Atrio. He rose to fame in 2011 when he worked as Rachel Zoe’s styling associate on “The Rachel Zoe Project." Alongside his husband, Berkus, the pair have collaborated on their line Living Spaces and co-host their shows “Nate & Jeremiah By Design,” “Nate & Jeremiah: Save My House” and “The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project.”


Jennifer Lopez gets honest about past abusive relationships, her biggest fear and forgiving Ben Affleck in new doc

Jennifer Lopez is ready to tell "the truth about my personal life. Lopez's new documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, is about the making of the singer's latest album (This Is Me...Now) and corresponding film (This Is Me...Now: A Love Story), both of which take heavy inspiration from her romance with Ben Affleck and her many high-profile relationships in between.

"I've been married four times now. I'm sure people watching from the outside were like, 'What is this f***ing girl's problem?'" Lopez says to open the documentary. "What I portrayed to the world was, 'Oh, this didn't work out, and it's fine, and I'm good, and they're good, and they were great, and I was great' and all of that was kind of bulls***."

Naturally, Affleck is a big part of the documentary, much to his reluctance at times, but his presence is key in helping Lopez show off a vulnerable side fans have never seen before.
Here are some of the biggest moments in her new documentary.

Affleck is uncomfortable being Lopez's 'muse' — but when they got back together, he had to 'compromise'
The documentary is named after a book of love letters Affleck made for Lopez. On their first Christmas back together, Affleck gifted Lopez a book of "every letter and every email" they ever wrote to each other. It’s titled The Greatest Love Story Never Told. It includes material from 2001 and 2021 "and counting."

Lopez explains, "There's the personal story of Ben and I that has never been told. I don't think he's very comfortable with me doing all of this. But he loves me, he knows I'm an artist, he's going to support me in every way he can because he knows he can't stop me from making the music I made and writing the words I wrote."

While Affleck "doesn't want" to stop her, Lopez says, "that doesn't mean he's kind of comfortable being the muse."
Lopez let songwriters read the personal letters as inspiration for her album This is Me…Now, which came as a surprise to Affleck.

"Jen was really inspired by this experience, which is how artists do their work," Affleck shares. "As a writer, director I certainly do the same things. But things that are private I had always felt are sacred and special because, in part, they're private. So this was something of an adjustment for me."

When they rekindled their romance after two decades apart, Affleck initially told Lopez to keep their private life private.
"The catalyst for [our breakup] was this massive scrutiny for our private life," he explains. "I had a very firm sense of boundaries initially around the press. While Jen I don't think objected to it in the way I did, I very much did object to it. Getting back together, I said, 'Listen, one of the things I don't want is a relationship on social media.' Then I sort of realized it's not a fair thing to ask."

Affleck compared wanting that to someone who wants to date a boat captain, but doesn't like water. "We're just two people with different approaches trying to learn to compromise," he states.

Lopez opens up about past abuse
One of the most talked-about scenes in This Is Me...Now: A Love Story is "the glass house," which depicts the singer in an abusive relationship as she sings "Rebound." In the documentary, Lopez explains that's rooted in her own truth.
"There were people in my life who said 'I love you' and then didn't do things that were kind of in line with the word 'love,'" she reveals.

"You have to hit rock bottom where you're in situations so uncomfortable and so painful that you finally go: I don't want this anymore. A therapist said to me, 'What if this was your daughter? What would you do?' And it was so clear. I'd tell her get the f*** out of here and never look back. But for me, it was so clouded and complicated," Lopez explains. "It was like looking through fog."
Director Dave Meyers previously told Yahoo Entertainment that filming "Rebound" was one of the toughest days on set, given the subject matter. It's clear that day took a toll on Lopez, too.

"Being thrown around and manhandled like that is not fun. I mean, I was never in a relationship where I got beat up, thank God, but I've definitely been manhandled and a couple of other unsavory things," she says. "Rough. Disrespectful."

In her 2014 memoir, Lopez wrote she was "mentally, emotionally, verbally" abused but didn't name names.
Lopez brushed off fear of how media may interpret "Rebound"
Actor Anthony Ramos wouldn't film "the glass house" scene because of his friendship with Marc Anthony.

"[Anthony] was going to do the 'Rebound' number with me," Lopez says in the doc. "And he was like, 'Ah, I'm friends with Marc."
Lopez quickly married Anthony after she and Affleck first split in 2004. They were together for more than seven years and share 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme.

Lopez is then shown on the phone trying to persuade the In the Heights star to do the project.
"[Marc's] the father of my kids, obviously. I'm never gonna do anything that's going to really like pinpoint him out, but it is very meta," Lopez tells Ramos. "It is about the 20-year journey between that last album [This Is Me...Then] and this album, and a lot of things happened, and there was a lot of relationships that I was in. That thing that you're playing in it is representative of many relationships, not one specific relationship."

Lopez later tells friend and collaborator Shawn "Beezy" Barton, "If we only did our art thinking about what the media's gonna say ... what the f*** are we doing?"

Affleck and Lopez share lighthearted moments
The documentary is a personal, and oftentimes serious, deep dive into Lopez's life. However, it's peppered with some gleeful moments that give a glimpse of Affleck and Lopez's marriage. At one point, the Oscar-winning director is reading the script for Lopez's film in which a scene describes Lopez as a 28-year-old woman.

"I love that you want to play younger, even in autobiographical," Affleck says.
"This is not my autobiographical! This is meta! This is me using some of my story," Lopez replies.
"It's your story but younger," Affleck laughs, before nuzzling into his wife.

Lopez's childhood pain fueled relationship issues, insecurity
"Jen felt emotionally neglected as a child," Affleck says. Although it's hard to imagine Lopez — someone whose "professional life" is "wildly successful and who, on Instagram looks, like they're living the happiest life in the world" — struggles, she does.

"In Jennifer's case, I don't think there's enough followers, or movies, or records or any of that stuff to still that part of you that still feels that longing and pain," he tells the camera. "Ultimately, that's the work that you've got to do on your own."

Lopez believes her relationship with her parents set her up for some of her romantic failures.
"I felt very ignored by my dad because he was always working nights and then all day he would sleep and I didn't feel like I had enough of a connection with him. My mom was a narcissist, center of attention, life of the party-type person," she says. "The combination of the two of those things set me on a course to be with those types of people. What I started to realize was I'm comfortable with this, but I don't like this. I want something different, I want something better."

Insecurity also trickles over to Lopez's professional life as she feels like she's "not good enough."
"You know that feeling you're just letting everyone down all the time and you're never really doing anything right?" she says through tears, explaining she fights feeling "not good enough" in "the movie, as a partner, as a mother, as all of the things and all you want to do is be the best at all those things."

Lopez says her "biggest fear" is failing at "being a parent."
Bennifer initially broke up 3 days before 2004 wedding
"We had a big wedding planned, 14 ushers and bridesmaids, and three days before, we just crumbled under the pressure," Lopez reveals. "For all those years, it was really hard 'cause I didn't just feel like I lost the love of my life, I felt like I lost the best friend I ever had. And I couldn't talk for so many years and that was the hardest part."

Affleck seems somewhat surprised by the devastation that ensued after they called off their engagement.
"When I first read the script, it looked like the inciting incident that causes all this pain down the road is our breakup. I thought, 'Wow.' Nobody did anything wrong, it was mutual ... we have to kind of forget it, forgive each other," he tells her. "Do you forgive me?"

It's not until the end of the film that viewers get Lopez's answer to that question.
"Yeah, I think I've forgiven you all the way," she replies. "I think I need to forgive myself [for] some things."
The Greatest Love Story Never Told streams on Prime Video Feb. 27.


R&B Artist Eric Benét to Headline Florida AIDS Walk
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, has added R&B singer, actor, and activist Eric BenĂ©t as a headliner for the 19th Annual Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival, an annual spring break event that attracts more than 2,000 attendees and raises $2 million for 13 local nonprofit organizations providing HIV/AIDS services in the South Florida community.

YouTube sensation Todrick Hall and international DJ/producer DJ Citizen Jane also will perform

BenĂ©t signed his first record deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1994 and released his first studio album, True to Myself, in 1996. His sophomore album, A Day in the Life, featured the hit single “Spend My Life with You.” BenĂ©t’s acting career began when he guest starred on the sitcom For Your Love in 1999, and he appeared in the film Glitter in 2001. He released his third studio album, Hurricane, that same year under a new deal with Reprise Records. In 2005, he portrayed Reece Wilcox on the series Half & Half, and in 2007, he had a recurring role on the MTV scripted show Kaya. Other albums include Love & Life, Lost in Time, The One, and the self-titled Eric BenĂ©t. BenĂ©t has received four Grammy Award nominations. In 2000, he was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song for his performance of “Spend My Life with You.” BenĂ©t and his business partner, music industry veteran Alison Ball, recently formed JBR Entertainment Group.

REGISTRATION: FloridaAidsWalk.org
WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 2024
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: Fort Lauderdale Beach


After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, BenĂ©t performed the song “Heart of America” with Wynonna Judd, Terry Dexter, and Michael McDonald to raise money for hurricane victims. He also co-founded Mission Save Her, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting human trafficking, slavery, and sexual abuse of women and girls around the world.

“We are honored to have Eric BenĂ©t join the Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival as a headlining artist,” said Tracy Jones, AHF Southern Bureau Chief. “This annual event raises critical funds for local HIV and AIDS nonprofit service organizations, and having Eric lend his voice and star power to the day’s festivities is a true gift.”
Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival also features informational booths on health and wellness services, children’s games, food trucks, and other family-focused activities.


Angel Reese Debuts Reebok’s ‘Not Made To Be Subtle’ Apparel Collection For Women

Reebok takes a bold step forward today with the launch of its latest women’s apparel line, the “Not Made to Be Subtle” collection. This innovative range, designed to cater to both performance and lifestyle needs, celebrates individuality and self-expression without reservation.

At the forefront of the collection’s global campaign stands Angel Reese, Reebok partner, college basketball champion, and fashion icon. Known for her fierce spirit and boundless energy, Reese embodies the ethos of the Not Made to Be Subtle collection – encouraging women to embrace movement and style with confidence.

“I love using fashion as a vehicle for creativity and expression in everything I do,” said Angel Reese. “The Not Made to Be Subtle collection lets me do just that – with bright, bold colors and unique designs I can express myself, tackle an intense workout, and show up with style every day in confidence.”

The Lux Contour line is central to the collection’s offerings, featuring innovative pieces like the Lux Contour Crop Top ($45) and Lux Contour Leggings ($75). These garments are engineered with precision to provide unparalleled support and comfort during workouts, featuring contour panels and elongated lines to enhance the wearer’s silhouette while utilizing Reebok’s RBK-DRY moisture-wicking fabric technology.

Expanding beyond performance wear, the Not Made to Be Subtle collection offers a curated selection of lifestyle pieces, including the Studio Editorial Jacket ($120), Classics Volume Pants ($60), and Classics Jumpsuit ($95), designed for seamless transition from workout to everyday wear.
Expanding beyond performance wear, the Not Made to Be Subtle collection offers a curated selection of lifestyle pieces, including the Studio Editorial Jacket ($120), Classics Volume Pants ($60), and Classics Jumpsuit ($95), designed for seamless transition from workout to everyday wear.
“As we celebrate National Women’s History Month, we are thrilled to introduce the Not Made to Be Subtle collection designed to honor and empower all things femininity,” says Portia Blunt, VP of Apparel at Reebok. “Clothing is such a powerful tool of self-expression, and this new collection is built to give her the confidence to move freely and boldly.”

The Not Made to Be Subtle collection will hit Reebok.com and select retailers worldwide on March 8th, empowering women everywhere to embrace their unique style and strength.


Brooklyn Preacher on Trial for Fraud Charges That Funded His Luxurious Lifestyle
Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday, where he will face charges of embezzling a parishioner’s retirement funds and attempting extortion to fund his opulent lifestyle. Known for his penchant for Rolls Royce’, Miller-Whitehead will undergo jury selection nearly two years after being indicted for wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements.

Prosecutors allege that Miller-Whitehead exploited a parishioner’s trust by misappropriating their savings and deceived a businessman with fraudulent promises of leveraging his connections with New York City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, to secure millions of dollars.

Despite the serious accusations, Miller-Whitehead has consistently maintained his innocence.

Since his arrest, Miller-Whitehead has been free on $500,000 bail. Interestingly, he was previously the victim of a robbery during a church service, where he lost $1 million worth of jewelry.

Dawn Florio, Miller-Whitehead’s attorney, asserts that the bishop has pleaded not guilty and eagerly awaits his trial to contest the charges against him.
The prosecution’s documents do not explicitly link Miller-Whitehead’s alleged crimes to his relationship with Mayor Adams during his tenure in Brooklyn. However, an evidentiary request hints that this association may be scrutinized during the trial.

The prosecution seeks testimony from a New Yorker journalist regarding the article “The Mayor and the Con Man,” published last month. Rachel Strom, representing journalist Eric Lach, argues that this subpoena could compromise journalistic integrity and potentially endanger confidential sources.

Mayor Adams has responded to inquiries about the legal proceedings, emphasizing that there was no authorized connection between his office and Miller-Whitehead’s alleged criminal activities.
The court has decided to omit references to Miller-Whitehead’s previous convictions for identity theft and grand larceny in the pretrial phase, although these details may be introduced if he opts to testify.

In the upcoming trial, Miller-Whitehead is accused of misleading a parishioner into investing $90,000, which was then allegedly used for personal luxuries, and of convincing a businessman to provide a $500,000 loan under the guise of securing preferential treatment in real estate ventures through his purported city official connections.
The arrest followed a six-month investigation in 2022, initiated by Brandon Belmonte’s complaint. The trial is expected to feature crucial evidence from covert audio recordings of conversations between Belmonte and Miller-Whitehead.


Chanel Iman Marries Davon Godchaux 5 Months After Welcoming Baby No. 3

Chanel Iman married New England Patriots football player Davon Godchaux five months after the couple welcomed their daughter, Capri Summer Godchaux.
Chanel Iman went from supermodel to super-bride. The Victoria's Secret Angel tied the knot with New England Patriots player Davon Godchaux on Feb. 24, less than a year after announcing their engagement and five months after welcoming their daughter, Capri Summer Godchaux.

"We had always dreamed of this moment," Chanel told Vogue in an interview published Feb. 27, "talking about marriage and our future together."
The 33-year-old—who also shares daughters Cali Clay Shephard, 5, and Cassie Snow Shephard, 4, with ex-husband Sterling Shephard—explained that the couple eloped on a yacht called the Parillion in the Caribbean Sea before docking in Anguilla for the reception, because they "couldn't wait for football season to be over so we can complete our union."

"We planned the wedding the way we desired—doing something together that we love with our kids and our blended family," Chanel explained. "This was our ideal, dream day."

And while most of the couple's loved ones attended, one important member of the family wasn't able to witness the happy moment at the last minute: the NFL player's son Davon Godchaux II, 7, from a previous relationship.
"It was very heartbreaking to find out that we would have to proceed without one of our four," Chanel noted. "We look forward to celebrating our union with him all together at a later date this year."

For the big day, Chanel wore a white Zuhair Murad dress that featured an embellished bodice and off-the-shoulder straps, pairing the look with a cascading tulle veil to match the gown's full tulle skirt. As for Davon, the 29-year-old rocked a custom black-and-white suit for the special occasion.

And the nuptials certainly went off without a hitch. In fact, Chanel—who confirmed her romance with Davon in April 2022 after calling it quits with Sterling three months earlier—said the newlyweds now want to make take a trip to Anguilla annually.
"We laughed, we cried, we danced," she gushed, "and made incredible memories together."


Donald Trump Says Prince Harry Will Face Deportation if He’s Re-elected

*Donald Trump is still bitter about Prince Harry marrying a Black woman.
In a new interview, Trump suggested that he would deport the prince if he were elected president again.
“I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That is unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me,” Trump told the Daily Express.

“I think they have been too gracious to him after what he has done,” said Trump, referring to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Last year, Trump said he wanted to debate Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, to address “the way she dealt with the Queen,” the former president told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

“Let’s set it up. Let’s go do something. I’d love to debate her. I would love it,” Trump told Hewitt, The Daily Mail reported.
“I didn’t like the way she dealt with the Queen. I became very friendly with the Queen. She was an incredible woman,” Trump said. “I think it’s not a good situation going on with the two of them, but I didn’t know that they don’t like me. Somebody mentioned it might be possible. They wouldn’t be the only ones.”

Meanwhile, we reported earlier that Meghan and Harry recently launched a new Sussex.com website offering the latest news about the royal couple’s philanthropic endeavors. The updated site also links their Archewell Foundation non-profit and Archewell Productions.
The new site’s homepage features a photo of Harry and Meghan and text that reads: “The office of Prince Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

Page Six reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are catching heat online for using their royal titles and the coat of arms on the new website. The couple resigned from their duties four years ago. This is likely the reason Trump believes Harry “betrayed” the late Queen Elizabeth — because he chose his black wife over royal life in the UK.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
So Handsome!

Hide your daughters!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM