#MAGFAB: 40 Iconic Women Cover the March 2024 Issue of British Vogue, Edward Enninful’s Last as Editor-In-Chief
“The end of an era. After six and a half years and 153 cover stars – including the 40 legendary women who were photographed together in New York for our March 2024 issue – behold Edward Enninful’s 76th and final edition of British Vogue. Bonded by magnificence, purpose and a previous appearance on the cover, a sisterhood of megastars gathered for a once-in-a-lifetime photoshoot. When the initial idea for the cover was ignited, there was only one question: would 40 of the most booked and blessed women on earth actually make it to one studio in Manhattan, on one day in December, to take one image together? Spoiler alert: they came. From London, New York, Paris, Milan and Los Angeles, they materialised as if from a dream. Because who else could get 40 of the greatest talents from fashion, Hollywood and beyond in one room for a show of unity but Edward?”
“So here it is: my 76th and final edition of Vogue, six and a half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women who feature on this cover. It’s been an extraordinary ride and an absolute honour. As I step into my new role, as Condé Nast’s global creative and cultural advisor for Vogue, I’m determined to keep championing the incredible array of voices in fashion and media, and ensure we keep the energy explosion of the last few years going. We always say it, because it always needs to be said: there is a great deal yet to be done.”
The March 2024 issue is on sale from 13 February 2024.
#RHOA: Did Kenya Moore Know About Pal Kandi Burruss’ ‘RHOA’ Exit Beforehand?
Kenya Moore has confessed to her knowledge of Kandi Burruss' exit from the "Real Housewives of Atlanta."
In a media chat, the reality television star opened up about being aware of Burruss' decision to depart from the show way before the businesswoman shockingly announced it on the Grammys red carpet.
The mother-of-one's public acknowledgment comes shortly after an insider revealed ex-Housewife Porsha Williams' alleged condition for a comeback.
Even though she has been keeping mum on her peach status since shooting for the 15th season of "RHOA" wrapped up over a year ago. Moore is open about dishing on her friend, Burruss. She used the opportunity of a recent interview to disclose:
"We had conversations like, 'OK, well if you get a phone call let me know...' We communicated about all of that, and once she told me that she had made the decision not to return I was like, 'Are you sure? Really think about this. Are you sure?' "You know, you've been there for 14 consecutive years...'"
After praising the singer-songwriter for being "so loved and so well-respected," the beauty pageant titleholder added, "I think once she made the decision, it was really clear she felt good about the decision."
Moore then admitted that she ultimately opted to support her pal, telling ET, "If that's what you really want, and that's where your heart takes you, I'm all for it." Delving deeper into the conversation with the outlet, the haircare mogul explained:
"Everything has its season. You can't have one, single job forever, for the rest of your life, at least most people don't. You have to follow your heart, and in this time where I just feel liberated, you know? I finally have been granted a divorce, I finally got the most beautiful child I ever wanted — everything that's on my vision board comes true, for the most part — and I feel like when it's time for me to move on, I'll just know, and it'll be a happy moment."
Moore also reiterated that her leaving "RHOA" will not be sad since it will translate to her "taking a step in a different direction" and shared her "hope that everyone would support me in that."
Regarding Burruss' unexpected revelation at the Grammys, the 47-year-old admitted later that she had not intended to share the news at the awards ceremony. As she disclosed, the circumstances surrounding the information being shared there boiled down to being there for her family and exploring new opportunities.
She elaborated that stepping away from the reality television show allowed her to fully embrace certain "mommy duties" that were previously challenging to manage. In her words:
"Like I was doing real mommy duties, and I was loving it. I was like, now, I know this ain't got nothing to do with making money, but I probably wouldn't have been able to be there for every one of those things had I not had the little extra time on my hands."
Burruss' mention of having "a little extra time" on her hands referred to the break Bravo granted cast members while they navigated the uncertainties surrounding the next season of the show and the fate of the housewives, as The Blast reported.
Burruss became a fixture on "RHOA" from its second season in 2009, sharing the highs and lows of her personal and professional journey.
While Burruss is leaving the show, her former frenemy, Porsha Williams, has seemingly been considering a return for the right amount. As an insider stated in August 2023:
"Bravo has been trying to get Porsha to come back to 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' for the possible cast shakeup, but she's playing hardball. Bravo offered Porsha a lot of money to return, but she declined."
According to them, the former "Dish Nation" co-host has been vocal with her friends about her desire to become "the highest-paid Housewife on any franchise."
While the source noted the potential for Williams' return, they claimed, "as of now, she and Bravo have not come to an agreement." It is worth noting that the 42-year-old previously declared that she had not completely ruled out a return to the reality television series where she was a fixture from 2012 until 2021.
"I've never written it off, I've never talked down on the show. I love what the girls are doing. I love that the brand is still as strong as it was before, and you just never know. I will say [that] I'll never say 'never,'" she expressed.
#MusicNews: Ashanti, Nelly & Juicy J Team Up For New Jermaine Dupri Produced Single “This Lil’ Game We Play”
Legendary hitmaker Jermaine Dupri has just unleashed the new single “This Lil’ Game We Play” featuring Nelly, Ashanti and Juicy J via his So So Def Recordings Label in partnership with Mass Appeal.
The song includes a recognizable sample of Subway & 702’s classic song of the same title. This version of the song was produced by Jermaine Dupri.
LISTEN HERE
“So here it is: my 76th and final edition of Vogue, six and a half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women who feature on this cover. It’s been an extraordinary ride and an absolute honour. As I step into my new role, as Condé Nast’s global creative and cultural advisor for Vogue, I’m determined to keep championing the incredible array of voices in fashion and media, and ensure we keep the energy explosion of the last few years going. We always say it, because it always needs to be said: there is a great deal yet to be done.”
The March 2024 issue is on sale from 13 February 2024.
#RHOA: Did Kenya Moore Know About Pal Kandi Burruss’ ‘RHOA’ Exit Beforehand?
In a media chat, the reality television star opened up about being aware of Burruss' decision to depart from the show way before the businesswoman shockingly announced it on the Grammys red carpet.
The mother-of-one's public acknowledgment comes shortly after an insider revealed ex-Housewife Porsha Williams' alleged condition for a comeback.
Even though she has been keeping mum on her peach status since shooting for the 15th season of "RHOA" wrapped up over a year ago. Moore is open about dishing on her friend, Burruss. She used the opportunity of a recent interview to disclose:
"We had conversations like, 'OK, well if you get a phone call let me know...' We communicated about all of that, and once she told me that she had made the decision not to return I was like, 'Are you sure? Really think about this. Are you sure?' "You know, you've been there for 14 consecutive years...'"
After praising the singer-songwriter for being "so loved and so well-respected," the beauty pageant titleholder added, "I think once she made the decision, it was really clear she felt good about the decision."
Moore then admitted that she ultimately opted to support her pal, telling ET, "If that's what you really want, and that's where your heart takes you, I'm all for it." Delving deeper into the conversation with the outlet, the haircare mogul explained:
"Everything has its season. You can't have one, single job forever, for the rest of your life, at least most people don't. You have to follow your heart, and in this time where I just feel liberated, you know? I finally have been granted a divorce, I finally got the most beautiful child I ever wanted — everything that's on my vision board comes true, for the most part — and I feel like when it's time for me to move on, I'll just know, and it'll be a happy moment."
Moore also reiterated that her leaving "RHOA" will not be sad since it will translate to her "taking a step in a different direction" and shared her "hope that everyone would support me in that."
Regarding Burruss' unexpected revelation at the Grammys, the 47-year-old admitted later that she had not intended to share the news at the awards ceremony. As she disclosed, the circumstances surrounding the information being shared there boiled down to being there for her family and exploring new opportunities.
She elaborated that stepping away from the reality television show allowed her to fully embrace certain "mommy duties" that were previously challenging to manage. In her words:
"Like I was doing real mommy duties, and I was loving it. I was like, now, I know this ain't got nothing to do with making money, but I probably wouldn't have been able to be there for every one of those things had I not had the little extra time on my hands."
Burruss' mention of having "a little extra time" on her hands referred to the break Bravo granted cast members while they navigated the uncertainties surrounding the next season of the show and the fate of the housewives, as The Blast reported.
Burruss became a fixture on "RHOA" from its second season in 2009, sharing the highs and lows of her personal and professional journey.
While Burruss is leaving the show, her former frenemy, Porsha Williams, has seemingly been considering a return for the right amount. As an insider stated in August 2023:
"Bravo has been trying to get Porsha to come back to 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' for the possible cast shakeup, but she's playing hardball. Bravo offered Porsha a lot of money to return, but she declined."
According to them, the former "Dish Nation" co-host has been vocal with her friends about her desire to become "the highest-paid Housewife on any franchise."
While the source noted the potential for Williams' return, they claimed, "as of now, she and Bravo have not come to an agreement." It is worth noting that the 42-year-old previously declared that she had not completely ruled out a return to the reality television series where she was a fixture from 2012 until 2021.
"I've never written it off, I've never talked down on the show. I love what the girls are doing. I love that the brand is still as strong as it was before, and you just never know. I will say [that] I'll never say 'never,'" she expressed.
#MusicNews: Ashanti, Nelly & Juicy J Team Up For New Jermaine Dupri Produced Single “This Lil’ Game We Play”
Legendary hitmaker Jermaine Dupri has just unleashed the new single “This Lil’ Game We Play” featuring Nelly, Ashanti and Juicy J via his So So Def Recordings Label in partnership with Mass Appeal.
The song includes a recognizable sample of Subway & 702’s classic song of the same title. This version of the song was produced by Jermaine Dupri.
LISTEN HERE
“This Lil’ Game We Play” arrives as the first release under So So Def’s newly minted partnership with Create Music Group.
Stay tuned for more news and announcements. Jermaine Dupri and So So Def Recordings are coming soon.
#HipHopNews: Joe Budden Slams Logic Over Tearful Interview With His Father: 'I Wanted To Smack Him'
Joe Budden has criticized Logic‘s tearful interview with his father about his childhood trauma, saying he wanted to “smack” the rapper.
During the latest episode of his self-titled podcast, Budden spoke about Logic’s emotional conversation with his dad Robert Bryson Hall Sr. and slammed him in a lengthy tirade.
“I feel sorry for him… I feel sorry for the people that feel they have to speak down on their parents ’cause they have resentments,” Budden began. “And if you wanna do that, you don’t have to do that on camera for the sake of content.
“I think Logic has a lot of that self-hate inside of him and it comes out in these weird ways. I wanted to smack Logic for talking to his dad like that. I see that shit and pray for him.”
Budden then addressed Logic’s mixed-raced background: “I didn’t need this interview to know that Logic hates his dad … You have no problem leasing the blackness that dad gave you even though, by your admission, you and dad are not [close].
“So now you think it’s comfortable for you to sit in front of your black father’s face and say, ‘N-gga.’ You think you got a lot of passes that I don’t believe you to have. That’s how a lot of his music comes off to me. My beef with Logic is his internal identity crisis that he has with himself.”
He also called Logic “a fucking weirdo” and claimed his story about his father asking him for $850,000 to buy a house was “a crock of shit.”
Last week, Logic conducted an emotional interview with his father about their family history on his podcast Logically Speaking.
Addressing his dad’s past crack addiction, the DMV native said while sobbing: “There’s a part of me that has grown and developed mentally, but there is still that little boy that’s still waiting on the curb for his dad.”
He added: “I waited every weekend and you never showed up. You always said that you would […] I look at my son and I think how much my son means to me. I’m a man of my word today because you aren’t.
“I want you to know that it really hurt [and] I just want to ask: what is it like as a man who used a substance that would allow you to make that little boy wait forever? Was it worth it?”
His father replied: “It felt like being in Hell. It felt like having something control me. Like Rick James said, cocaine’s a Hell of a drug. I was young, self-centered and stupid as fuck, but if I knew then what I knew now, my life would probably be different.”
Logic and Joe Budden have had issues in the past, with the podcaster criticizing him for airing family issues in public just last year.
In turn, Logic called Budden a “hurt man” for his repeated criticism of him.
Usher picks up Las Vegas marriage license allegedly now married.
The singer and his longtime girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea obtained the license on Thursday.
The musician took a break from prepping for his 2024 Super Bowl halftime show earlier this week to pick up a marriage license in Las Vegas. The eight-time Grammy Award-winner and his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Goicoechea, obtained the license on Thursday in Clark County, Nevada, according to court records acquired by PEOPLE. Las Vegas is located in Clark County.
The performer kept his left hand covered with a glove throughout his high-energy halftime show, which featured special guest artists like Alicia Keys, H.E.R., will.i.am, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon, and Ludacris. As of Sunday night, no marriage certificate has been filed with the court.
Usher, 45, and Goicoechea’s marriage license dropped one day before the release of the R&B/pop star’s 9th studio album, Coming Home, which he told EW reflects his journey from being a married man to a single man.
“The idea of that journey felt like me finally coming back home to this place that I'm very comfortable to just share and know I'm being vulnerable in. I'm ready,” he said.
Usher, born Usher Raymond IV, sparked rumors in 2019 that he was dating Goicoechea, a music executive. The pair have two children together: daughter Sovereign Bo, born in 2020, and son Sire Castrello, born in 2021. Usher shares two children—15-year-old Usher Raymond V and 14-year-old Naviyd Eli—with his first wife Tameka Foster, whom he divorced in 2009. He and his second wife, Grace Miguel, divorced in 2018 after three years of marriage.
Las Vegas has been the site of several milestones for Usher. In addition to his Super Bowl 2024 halftime show and his potential nuptials, the singer wrapped his My Way Las Vegas residency in December.
Beyoncé Announces New Album Act II, Shares New Songs
Beyoncé has announced a new album: Act II arrives March 29. She’s also graced us with two new songs: “Texas Hold ’Em” and “16 Carriages.” Listen to those below, and scroll down for Beyoncé’s teaser clip for the album.
During the Super Bowl LVIII broadcast, Beyoncé revealed the news with a video on her Instagram. It looks as though she’s going country for the second act of her Renaissance trilogy, based on the sound of both songs and the footage in the teaser. The announcement video features old-school tunes like Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline,” as well as a dusty scene of men looking up at a massive billboard featuring a scantily-clad Beyoncé and the words “Texas! Hold ’Em.” The moment seems to be a reference to Wim Wenders’ 1984 film Paris, Texas.
“Texas Hold ’Em” was co-written by Canadian artist Lowell, with production and instrumental contributions from Rhiannon Giddens, Raphael Saadiq, Hit-Boy, Nathan Ferraro, Killah B, and more. “16 Carriages” features Dave Hamelin, Gavin Williams, Justus West, Saadiq, and more.
While the album news came as a surprise, Verizon did hint that a Beyoncé-related advertisement would run this week. Sure enough, she starred in a Verizon commercial during the Super Bowl in which she teased releasing new music to break the internet. Minutes later, she did just that. Beyoncé also wore a white cowboy hat to the 2024 Grammys last weekend, perhaps as a nod to her country pivot.
Stay tuned for more news and announcements. Jermaine Dupri and So So Def Recordings are coming soon.
#HipHopNews: Joe Budden Slams Logic Over Tearful Interview With His Father: 'I Wanted To Smack Him'
During the latest episode of his self-titled podcast, Budden spoke about Logic’s emotional conversation with his dad Robert Bryson Hall Sr. and slammed him in a lengthy tirade.
“I feel sorry for him… I feel sorry for the people that feel they have to speak down on their parents ’cause they have resentments,” Budden began. “And if you wanna do that, you don’t have to do that on camera for the sake of content.
“I think Logic has a lot of that self-hate inside of him and it comes out in these weird ways. I wanted to smack Logic for talking to his dad like that. I see that shit and pray for him.”
Budden then addressed Logic’s mixed-raced background: “I didn’t need this interview to know that Logic hates his dad … You have no problem leasing the blackness that dad gave you even though, by your admission, you and dad are not [close].
“So now you think it’s comfortable for you to sit in front of your black father’s face and say, ‘N-gga.’ You think you got a lot of passes that I don’t believe you to have. That’s how a lot of his music comes off to me. My beef with Logic is his internal identity crisis that he has with himself.”
He also called Logic “a fucking weirdo” and claimed his story about his father asking him for $850,000 to buy a house was “a crock of shit.”
Last week, Logic conducted an emotional interview with his father about their family history on his podcast Logically Speaking.
Addressing his dad’s past crack addiction, the DMV native said while sobbing: “There’s a part of me that has grown and developed mentally, but there is still that little boy that’s still waiting on the curb for his dad.”
He added: “I waited every weekend and you never showed up. You always said that you would […] I look at my son and I think how much my son means to me. I’m a man of my word today because you aren’t.
“I want you to know that it really hurt [and] I just want to ask: what is it like as a man who used a substance that would allow you to make that little boy wait forever? Was it worth it?”
His father replied: “It felt like being in Hell. It felt like having something control me. Like Rick James said, cocaine’s a Hell of a drug. I was young, self-centered and stupid as fuck, but if I knew then what I knew now, my life would probably be different.”
Logic and Joe Budden have had issues in the past, with the podcaster criticizing him for airing family issues in public just last year.
In turn, Logic called Budden a “hurt man” for his repeated criticism of him.
Usher picks up Las Vegas marriage license allegedly now married.
The singer and his longtime girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea obtained the license on Thursday.
The musician took a break from prepping for his 2024 Super Bowl halftime show earlier this week to pick up a marriage license in Las Vegas. The eight-time Grammy Award-winner and his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Goicoechea, obtained the license on Thursday in Clark County, Nevada, according to court records acquired by PEOPLE. Las Vegas is located in Clark County.
The performer kept his left hand covered with a glove throughout his high-energy halftime show, which featured special guest artists like Alicia Keys, H.E.R., will.i.am, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon, and Ludacris. As of Sunday night, no marriage certificate has been filed with the court.
Usher, 45, and Goicoechea’s marriage license dropped one day before the release of the R&B/pop star’s 9th studio album, Coming Home, which he told EW reflects his journey from being a married man to a single man.
“The idea of that journey felt like me finally coming back home to this place that I'm very comfortable to just share and know I'm being vulnerable in. I'm ready,” he said.
Usher, born Usher Raymond IV, sparked rumors in 2019 that he was dating Goicoechea, a music executive. The pair have two children together: daughter Sovereign Bo, born in 2020, and son Sire Castrello, born in 2021. Usher shares two children—15-year-old Usher Raymond V and 14-year-old Naviyd Eli—with his first wife Tameka Foster, whom he divorced in 2009. He and his second wife, Grace Miguel, divorced in 2018 after three years of marriage.
Las Vegas has been the site of several milestones for Usher. In addition to his Super Bowl 2024 halftime show and his potential nuptials, the singer wrapped his My Way Las Vegas residency in December.
Beyoncé Announces New Album Act II, Shares New Songs
During the Super Bowl LVIII broadcast, Beyoncé revealed the news with a video on her Instagram. It looks as though she’s going country for the second act of her Renaissance trilogy, based on the sound of both songs and the footage in the teaser. The announcement video features old-school tunes like Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline,” as well as a dusty scene of men looking up at a massive billboard featuring a scantily-clad Beyoncé and the words “Texas! Hold ’Em.” The moment seems to be a reference to Wim Wenders’ 1984 film Paris, Texas.
“Texas Hold ’Em” was co-written by Canadian artist Lowell, with production and instrumental contributions from Rhiannon Giddens, Raphael Saadiq, Hit-Boy, Nathan Ferraro, Killah B, and more. “16 Carriages” features Dave Hamelin, Gavin Williams, Justus West, Saadiq, and more.
While the album news came as a surprise, Verizon did hint that a Beyoncé-related advertisement would run this week. Sure enough, she starred in a Verizon commercial during the Super Bowl in which she teased releasing new music to break the internet. Minutes later, she did just that. Beyoncé also wore a white cowboy hat to the 2024 Grammys last weekend, perhaps as a nod to her country pivot.
Renaissance was Beyoncé’s seventh solo studio album, and was originally billed as Act I: Renaissance—implying future releases would follow suit—before its release in July 2022. While the album never got traditional music videos, there was a “cliquebait” clip for “Break My Soul,” a “brand campaign anthem film” for Tiffany & Co. that used “Summer Renaissance,” and a concert film that played in theaters worldwide. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé was the No. 1 movie in the United States during its debut weekend and, as of January 11, raised over $44.4 million worldwide.
“Break My Soul” was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Dance/Electronic Recording at the 2023 Grammy Awards, but Beyoncé won only the latter award. That didn’t stop her from taking home four trophies that night anyway, though, raising her overall career tally to 32 wins – breaking the record for the most Grammys won by an artist in the award show’s history.
Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo Defy Gravity In The ‘Wicked’ Trailer
Attention current and former theater kids: the Wicked trailer is here.
The first trailer for the long-awaited musical, which is based on the hit Broadway production (which itself is based on a novel with characters that originally appeared in a pretty popular movie and book you might have heard of), stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. The cast also includes Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh.
WATCH:
Here’s more for Wicked, which is directed by Jon M. Chu: The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked is being split into two parts: Wicked: Part One opens on November 27, followed by Wicked: Part Two on November 26, 2025.
Dwayne Johnson Shuts Down 'Garbage' Claim Of Him Getting Booed Onstage Over Hawaii Relief Fund
"I typically refrain from responding to toxic, false clickbait garbage like this because I hate dignifying bulls**t with a response, but when you use Hawaii's tragic events to draw attention to yourself I won't stay quiet," the 51-year-old began his statement. He was replying to a tweet that read, "CROWD IN VEGAS BOOs 'THE ROCK' DEMANDING HE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH AID FOR MAUI."
The Rock went on to note, "This moment you're referring to is from our @WWE press conference this past Thursday where I turned 'heel' - wrestling parlance for bad guy." He continued, "I'm playing it up with our crowd as they boo. It's what we do in our WWE universe, and we all love every second of it."
"For the record: Our People's Fund of Maui has already DELIVERED over $50 MILLION DOLLARS to over 8,000 survivors who were affected by the fires, and I'm grateful to the bone that we've been the primary funders," the Hollywood star further explained. "Hawaii is where I grew up, where I raise my children throughout the year and where my ancestors are buried. These are my Polynesian people and these are OUR American people."
"You can't imagine how much they are still struggling daily to put their lives back together and take care of each other," he stated. "Our Poly American people are as resilient as people come, and they will raise and get back on their feet.
Addressing the X user, The Rock stressed, "Nick, instead of posting bulls**t like this that you know is false - I encourage you to post something positive for Hawaii, for our Polynesian American people. Or actually take positive action and come to Hawaii to help out in an uplifting way." He then concluded, "I'm in Hawaii now, and I guarantee you, you'll get great content that can actually make a difference in people's lives. Genuinely."
The Rock teamed up with Oprah Winfrey in August 2023 to launch the People's Fund for Maui, but the celebrity duo faced criticism after they called on the public to contribute to the fund. He later responded to the backlash, vowing that he "will be better" next time.
#BoxOfficeNews: 'Argylle' Keeps 'Lisa Frankenstein' Buried On Lowest Super Bowl Weekend
Sluggish box office continues six weeks into 2024 as Super Bowl LVIII became the main spectacle this weekend. "Argylle" effortlessly maintains its crown in North America as "Lisa Frankenstein" fails to revive the moviegoing business.
Matthew Vaughn's pricey spy action comedy added an estimated $6.5 million to its domestic gross, dropping 62.8% from last week. It has so far earned $28.8 million domestically and $31.3 million internationally for a global total of $60.1 million so far.
The movie, which boasts a star-studded cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose and Samuel L. Jackson, still has a long way to go to cover its budget, which was estimated at around $200-250 million.
"Argylle" easily defeats "Lisa Frankenstein", which debuts to a meek $3.8 million opening. The horror comedy, which marks Zelda Williams' feature-length directorial debut, only spent $13 million to produce, which might come as a relief for Focus Features.
The PG-13 love story stars Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows, a teenager who falls in love with a Victorian man resurrected from his grave, played by Cole Sprouse. It holds a 50% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and got an average grade of "B" from audiences surveyed by CinemaScore.
The rest of the top five belong to holdovers. They are "The Beekeeper", which stays steady at No. 3 with additional $3.5 million, "The Chosen: S4 Episodes 1-3", which falls 2-4 with an estimated $3.1 million, and "Wonka", which drops another spot to No. 5 with approximately $3.1 million.
Overall, combined ticket sales clocked in at an estimated $40 million this week, marking the worst showing for Super Bowl weekend in more than three decades outside of 2021, when many theaters were sill closed because of the COVID-19 crisis.
"That's extremely quiet for any weekend of the year, including Super Bowl weekend," says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. " '[Dune: Part Two]' cannot come fast enough."
Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, weighs in, "This year unfortunately marks a low ebb for the football-centric weekend and with only one new wide release film hitting theaters and a lack of momentum in the marketplace the industry will now have to look toward the post-game era to get back on track."
He attributes this to a number of factors, including the unique attention on this year's game which, he says, "has become the center of attention for the world of entertainment." He adds, "There was only one new movie and there's been so little momentum in this movie marketplace. It should come as no surprise that, at least in the modern era, this is the lowest grossing Super Bowl weekend that we've seen."
Top 10 of North American Box Office (Feb. 09-11, 2024):
"Argylle" - $6.5 million
"Lisa Frankenstein" - $3.8 million
"The Beekeeper" - $3.5 million
"The Chosen: S4 Episodes 1-3" - $3.1 million
"Wonka" - $3.1 million
"Migration" - $3 million
"Anyone But You" - $2.7 million
"Mean Girls (2024)" - $1.9 million
"American Fiction" - $1.3 million
"Poor Things" - $1.1 million
Child and man wounded, suspected shooter dead in incident at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston
The woman entered the church, accompanied by a boy believed to be about 5 years old, and started shooting, Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.
Two off-duty law enforcement officers who were at the church when shots were fired about 1:50 p.m. opened fire, and the woman was killed, Finner said.
The child was in critical condition, and a man, who is in his 50s, was being treated for an injury to his leg, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said.
Finner said that if law enforcement gunfire is responsible for striking the child, “I’m going to put that blame on her” for putting the boy in danger.
The woman had a "long rifle" and a backpack and was wearing a trench coat when she entered the church from a parking lot and started shooting, Finner said.
Her identity has not been released. Finner described her as being in her early 30s. Motive is part of the investigation.
The woman threatened that she had a bomb and sprayed an unknown substance on the ground, Finner said. It was not clear what the substance was as fire department personnel arrived to investigate and clear the scene, he said.
Police checked a vehicle and a backpack for possible explosives, none of which have been reported.
The two officers who opened fire were off-duty. One is an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the other is a Houston police officer, Finner said.
The FBI’s and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Houston offices were assisting police with the investigation, spokespeople for both agencies said.
Police believe that the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is no further danger to the public.
Shooting happened between services
The shooting happened between services as people were arriving for Spanish service, Osteen said.
A livestream of the day's scheduled events was interrupted by gunfire and went offline. Until then, the stream showed pastor Jorge Basave, speaking in Spanish from what appeared to be a lobby area of the church, giving the website for a coming Lakewood Church event.
Gunfire was heard, Basave paused and continued before another shot was heard, someone shrieked, and the feed was halted. Video of the livestream has been marked private.
A woman named Maria who is from Colombia and witnessed the shooting said she heard the first shot about eight minutes before a church service started.
"After the second shot, everybody started running. I ran with my kids ... my family," she told NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston.
Then she heard eight more shots, she said. She and her family lay down on the floor until someone told them it was safe to leave the church.
She said she called her husband and father to say "I love you," thinking it might be the last time. She said she never imagined she would be in something like this.
Another woman, Maria Ortiz, said she was on the church's terrace level as part of a choir when she heard gunfire and was not sure what to do. She froze and took the event as "a sign" that perhaps it was her last day of life, she said.
"I'm ready," she said she told herself before she was swept up in the chaos of evacuation.
"I started to follow my sisters, my brothers," Ortiz said. "Thank you, God. It’s wonderful because God is over [me]."
Denise Davis, who said she is part of a church medical team on hand for emergencies, said she heard "multiple gunshots" coming from "different types of guns."
"Lot of gunpowder, lot of smoke," she said. "So we just ran."
Davis said she was asked to return to treat at least two patients, whose injuries she declined to describe. "I can't tell you," she said.
Cherami Fisher said she had exited a restroom as gunfire erupted and spotted Osteen in the same hallway she would use to exit the building.
"I had just gone into the bathroom, got out and heard the bam-bam," said Fisher, who said she just moved to the region from Los Angeles.
Osteen said that he was "in a fog" after the violence and that he was keeping the injured in his prayers.
"We don't understand why all these things happen," he said at the news conference. "But we know God's in control."
In a subsequent statement on Facebook, Osteen urged his congregation to lean on their faith to cope with anguish.
"Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement," he said. "Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another."
Houston Mayor John Whitmire lamented that the violence took place while people were preparing to practice their faith and others were anticipating the Super Bowl.
"We find ourselves gathered here to respond to this tragedy," he said.
In a statement Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred.”
Abbott said he has offered "full support and resources of the State of Texas" to Whitmire "to help this community and help bring swift justice to the criminal who committed this heinous act."
The megachurch is regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, making it the third-largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Osteen’s televised sermons reach about 100 countries.
The church has grown tremendously over the past 25 years since Osteen took over after his father’s death in 1999 and introduced an upbeat style of Christian televangelism that has captured a following of millions. The elder Osteen founded the church in a converted feed store in 1959.
Wendy Williams' former husband Kevin Hunter Sr. felt blindsided and furious upon learning about the new Lifetime documentary.
Wendy Williams’ former husband, Kevin Hunter Sr., has reportedly expressed feelings of being blindsided and furious upon learning about his son’s involvement in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries, “Where is Wendy Williams?” Sources close to the situation have revealed Hunter’s disappointment and concern over the portrayal of his ex-wife in the documentary.
According to reports from The Sun, an insider within Wendy Williams’ inner circle shared exclusive insights into Hunter Sr.’s reaction to the documentary. The insider revealed that Kevin Hunter Sr., aged 51, was taken aback and deeply disappointed by the negative portrayal of Wendy Williams in the trailer for the docuseries. Hunter Sr. reportedly felt blindsided by the project, particularly after his son, Kevin Hunter Jr., had initially expressed a desire to have no involvement in it.
The insider further disclosed that Kevin Hunter Sr. had been staunchly against the documentary from the outset, fearing that it would tarnish Wendy Williams’ legacy even further. Wendy Williams, a former TV host, departed from her long-running talk show amidst ongoing health and legal battles in July 2021, marking a significant chapter in her career.
Kevin Hunter Sr., also known as Big Kev, reportedly found the scenes in the documentary trailer depicting Wendy Williams in distressing situations, such as yelling over a bottle of vodka and appearing disoriented in New York City, to be “very sad.” He expressed anger and frustration over what he perceived as the continued exploitation of his ex-wife for entertainment purposes.
Furthermore, Kevin Hunter Sr. expressed regret and sorrow over his son, Kevin Jr.’s, decision to be involved in the project. Despite being advised against it, Kevin Jr. ultimately chose to participate in the documentary, a decision that his father reportedly viewed as detrimental to his best interests.
As the release of the docuseries draws near, the fallout from Wendy Williams’ tumultuous career and personal life continues to unfold, leaving a trail of mixed emotions and unanswered questions about her future in media.
Jermaine Dupri shows a good sense of humor in response to jokes about his Super Bowl outfit
On Twitter, one user wrote that the So So Def head honcho looked “a bald-headed Oompa Loompa” while another compared him to “one of the munchkins from The Wizard of Oz.” Notably, Dupri’s socks caught more attention than the rest of his outfit due to its whimsical style.
Earlier today (Feb. 12), Dupri responded to the roast about his appearance on Instagram. “Ha! Okay, I ain’t have time for y’all last night — I was too drunk. Me and my homies performed at the Super Bowl! So I’m just really seeing [the jokes]. Y’all got me f**ked up!” he wrote. “But I will say it’s funny as hell.”
He also shared a close-up of his socks — which were designed by Louis Vuittion — and asked the fashion brand’s men’s creative director, Pharrell Williams, if he saw the social media responses himself. Monica, Timbaland, J. Valentine, and many others laughed along with Dupri in the comments.
Back in November 2023, Usher brought out Dupri for one of the final dates of his critically acclaimed Las Vegas residency. As previously shared by REVOLT, Usher told the crowd how different connections led him to his longtime collaborator.
“Found my way there with [Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs],” he explained. “LaFace Records is the home of so many incredible artists, whether it was TLC, or whether it was OutKast, or any of the amazing artists, right? But then I made my way back to Atlanta after trying all of that, and I said, ‘Man, it was meant for us to work together.'”
Larsa Pippen Sparks Breakup Rumors with Marcus Jordan
Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan just competed on The Traitors together, but there seems to be trouble in paradise IRL.
The 49-yaer-old Real Housewives of Miami star and the 33-year-old basketball player and son of Michael Jordan are sparking breakup speculation after fans took note of some recent Instagram activity.
Both Larsa and Marcus no longer follow each other on the social media site, and it appears they have removed all photos of each other from their pages.
In addition, Larsa also posted a couple of things on her Instagram story on Sunday (February 11) that seemingly allude to a breakup.
She shared this video from a page called “The Breakup Bounce,” which features Morgan Freeman, with the caption, “Straight Talk From Your Inner Voice Always listen to your inner voice. It knows what’s right and who’s real. In the noisy world, those who hear it find their way.”
She also posted a poll asking followers, “Should your friends unfollow your ex”
Just a few days before, Larsa posted her outfit from the Real Housewives of Miami reunion, and the second slide of the post features her with Andy Cohen and Marcus.
Neither Larsa or Marcus have spoken out about the status of their relationship.
The potentially broken up couple were rumored to be seeing each other in December 2022 and went Instagram official in late January 2023.
They were also the first couple to compete on The Traitors together. The Peacock series’ reunion is reportedly set to film in a few weeks.
Mike Epps Insinuates Shannon Sharpe Is Gay, Sharpe Threatens To Expose Him
Footage of Epps performing at a comedy show surfaced on social media this past weekend, during which the comedian insinuated that Sharpe is gay and that he declined the former NFL star’s request to appear on his Club Shay Shay podcast.
“That ni**a Shannon Sharpe called me trying to do an interview,” the 53-year-old said to the crowd. “I said ‘no Madea, I ain’t doing no interview with you’ – so you can sit across from me and look at my balls.”
He continued, adding “The ni**a sh*t is called Shay Shay the ni**a is telling you. Put a wig on that motherf**ker and tell me if that ain’t motherf**king Madea sister.”
After catching wind of Epps’ comments, Sharpe clapped back at the comedian during an episode of his Nightcap podcast with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. While Sharpe didn’t mention Epps by name, he alluded to the comic’s viral clip while threatening to expose direct messages between he and Epps.
“Mention my name again, and I’m gonna put the DMs [out],” Sharpe said during the broadcast. “And I don’t like doing this. But you’re lying.”
The 55-year-old chose not to acknowledge or respond to Epps’ insinuations that he is homosexual, but again warned that he would expose the content of their communication if Epps further disparaged his name. “I don’t care about all that other stuff. You can say I’m gay … I don’t care about that,” Sharpe said.
“‘Cause I won’t chase a lie. But I won’t let you lie on my name.” He continued, adding “Say my name again, and I’m gonna release the DM. Because you’re lying.” Accusing Epps of lying about being asked to appear on Club Shay Shay, Sharpe ended his tirade with what could be taken as a veiled threat against the Indiana native if the two were to cross paths in the future.
“You said I reached out to you to come on Club Shay Shay, and you’re a mofo lie. Now when I see you, I’m gon’ see if you’re about that. I’m gon’ see if you want to say what you been saying, trying to get some jokes because you got mad because Katt Williams did what he did.”
Shannon Sharpe has become a lightening rod within the entertainment world following his interview with Katt Williams, which has amassed millions of views and saw Williams verbally take aim at a number of comedic legends.
Donna Summer’s Estate Calls Out Kanye For Alleged Infringement
In an Instagram Story posted Saturday, the estate of the late disco legend Donna Summer said that West didn’t obtain permission for the use of the singer’s 1977 “I Feel Love.”
“Kanye West asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song, ‘I Feel Love,’ [but] he was denied,” the post read. “He changed the words, had someone re-sing it, or used AI but it’s ‘I Feel Love’…copyright infringement!”
Ye’s song in question is “Good (Don’t Die)” from his Vultures 1 album, HipHopDX reported.
The post also tagged Ozzy Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, which seemed to allude to her similar complaint against West. She also accused the rapper of using a live sample of “Iron Man” even though he was denied the right to do so
“@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. HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN.,” Osbourne posted on X Friday in the aftermath of the Vultures 1 album event that was live-streamed the night before.
Interesting.
Kansas City Baby Dies After Mother ‘Accidentally’ Places Her in Oven For a Nap
According to ABC News, Kansas City resident Mariah Thomas was charged with a Class A felony, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
On Friday, police responded to a report of an infant not breathing. The 1-month old was found with apparent burns on her body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I thought I put [infant’s name redacted] in her crib, and I accidentally put her in the oven,” Thomas allegedly told the infant’s grandfather.
The infant’s grandfather told responders that his daughter “put the child down for a nap and accidentally placed her in the oven instead of the crib.”
According to reports, the statement didn’t explain how the mistake happened.
“We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life,” said Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker. “We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances.”
According to Missouri state law, Thomas could face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
I Blinked Twice
I din’t saw it the first time.
I din’t saw it the first time.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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