#FASHIONFAB: Zendaya in Louis Vuitton at the DUNE: Part Two Paris Screening
This Moment has been brought to you by Zendaya, Law Roach, the fine folks at Louis Vuitton and She’s the undisputed queen of the red carpet. She looks FAB! The textile is somehow both gorgeous and ugly at the same time, and we don’t think there are many wearers who could have pulled off making such a heavy fabric look effortless at these proportions. The styling is exquisite. Hair, makeup and jewelry are all just so.
Style Credits:
– Custom Louis Vuitton Gold Metallic Hooded Crop Top and Skirt
– Louis Vuitton High Jewelry
– Bulgari Jewelry
Styled by Law Roach
#RHOA: Nene Leakes Being Taxed Over Unpaid Rent And Back Taxes!
NeNe Leakes reportedly owes thousands in rent and taxes.The former Bravo star has been given a state tax execution by the Georgia Department of Revenue for the $28,593.24 in taxes she owes. Leakes initially owed $17,785.22 in back taxes but saw the amount jump to nearly $10K due to interest and fees.
The tax filing is linked to Leakes and her now-defunct Georgia lounge, The Linnethia, LLC. It comes weeks after the College Hill: Celebrity Edition star was sued for $25K by the landlord of her former clothing store, Swagg Boutique.
The landlord claims Leakes signed a lease in 2017 and extended it through 2021. When she vacated the premises in 2022, the property owner claimed she left owing $22K in unpaid rent.
Leakes was served paperwork on Aug. 16, 2023, while outside her $1 million condo in Atlanta. The landlord claims to have tried to get the unpaid rent from Leakes but was repeatedly ignored, hence the lawsuit. However, even after being served the lawsuit, Leakes still didn’t pay up on the debt. A judge intervened and ordered the reality television star to pay $22K in unpaid rent, $2,315 in attorney fees, and another $400 in court costs.
Leakes was also hit with a default judgment last year by Photography by Ace, a photography company reportedly hired to take photos at the Linnethia Lounge but whose invoices were ignored. The financial setbacks have occurred three years after Leakes announced her departure from “RHOA” ahead of the Season 13 premiere.
Leakes is an OG on the show, which stood out since its Season 1 inception. In the months after announcing her exit, she launched a public boycott against Bravo, accusing the network of behind-the-scenes racism. In August 2022, she dismissed her racial discrimination lawsuit against Bravo, but the messy fallout made it clear she likely won’t ever return to the show she helped put on the map.
#NewMusic from Eric Roberson Releases New Single “You”
Check out the brand new single from Eric Roberson called “You”.The song was written by Eric Roberson and Brett “Bdubb” Baker and produced by Brett “Bdubb” Baker. Eric shares about the song:
“The song “You” has a hidden inspiration. The main focus is about finding someone who completes the missing parts about you. You can love anyone, but it feels different when you love the person truly meant for you. Now the fun part is, this song is part of a story I am writing. The story is about a world renown poet, who is so infatuated with the art of words, it interferes with his love life. In this story, the song “You” is actually a love story to the letter “u”. Listen again and let me know what you think.”
LISTEN HERE
This Moment has been brought to you by Zendaya, Law Roach, the fine folks at Louis Vuitton and She’s the undisputed queen of the red carpet. She looks FAB! The textile is somehow both gorgeous and ugly at the same time, and we don’t think there are many wearers who could have pulled off making such a heavy fabric look effortless at these proportions. The styling is exquisite. Hair, makeup and jewelry are all just so.
– Custom Louis Vuitton Gold Metallic Hooded Crop Top and Skirt
– Louis Vuitton High Jewelry
– Bulgari Jewelry
Styled by Law Roach
#RHOA: Nene Leakes Being Taxed Over Unpaid Rent And Back Taxes!
The tax filing is linked to Leakes and her now-defunct Georgia lounge, The Linnethia, LLC. It comes weeks after the College Hill: Celebrity Edition star was sued for $25K by the landlord of her former clothing store, Swagg Boutique.
The landlord claims Leakes signed a lease in 2017 and extended it through 2021. When she vacated the premises in 2022, the property owner claimed she left owing $22K in unpaid rent.
Leakes was served paperwork on Aug. 16, 2023, while outside her $1 million condo in Atlanta. The landlord claims to have tried to get the unpaid rent from Leakes but was repeatedly ignored, hence the lawsuit. However, even after being served the lawsuit, Leakes still didn’t pay up on the debt. A judge intervened and ordered the reality television star to pay $22K in unpaid rent, $2,315 in attorney fees, and another $400 in court costs.
Leakes was also hit with a default judgment last year by Photography by Ace, a photography company reportedly hired to take photos at the Linnethia Lounge but whose invoices were ignored. The financial setbacks have occurred three years after Leakes announced her departure from “RHOA” ahead of the Season 13 premiere.
Leakes is an OG on the show, which stood out since its Season 1 inception. In the months after announcing her exit, she launched a public boycott against Bravo, accusing the network of behind-the-scenes racism. In August 2022, she dismissed her racial discrimination lawsuit against Bravo, but the messy fallout made it clear she likely won’t ever return to the show she helped put on the map.
#NewMusic from Eric Roberson Releases New Single “You”
Check out the brand new single from Eric Roberson called “You”.The song was written by Eric Roberson and Brett “Bdubb” Baker and produced by Brett “Bdubb” Baker. Eric shares about the song:
“The song “You” has a hidden inspiration. The main focus is about finding someone who completes the missing parts about you. You can love anyone, but it feels different when you love the person truly meant for you. Now the fun part is, this song is part of a story I am writing. The story is about a world renown poet, who is so infatuated with the art of words, it interferes with his love life. In this story, the song “You” is actually a love story to the letter “u”. Listen again and let me know what you think.”
LISTEN HERE
Eric has continuously released new music over the the past months just for his fans. This month’s installments joins previously released songs “Here For You”, “Things Meant For Me”, “I Apologize”, and “Just Don’t Hold It In.”
This month, Eric Roberson kicks-off his “30th Anniversary Tour”.
#HipHopNews: Russell Simmons Hit With Rape Lawsuit From Former Def Jam Executive
Def Jam founder Russell Simmons is accused of raping a woman, who left the record label after the alleged assault.
A former Def Jam employee sued Russell Simmons for sexual battery/assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gender-motivated violence on Tuesday (February 13). The woman, identified as Jane Doe, accused the Def Jam founder of raping her in the ‘90s.
Jane Doe, a film producer, was a senior-level music executive at Def Jam. She claimed her career was derailed by Simmons, who “revealed his true colors,” when he sexually assaulted her
“One day, Ms. Doe was required to visit Mr. Simmons’s apartment, located in Manhattan, New York, in the Southern District of New York, where he typically held meetings, to have him review a new video for approval,” her lawyer wrote. “Initially, Mr. Simmons began to ‘wrestle’ with Ms. Doe in an attempt to appear playful. The situation escalated into aggression and Mr. Simmons pinned Ms. Doe down on a bed. Ms. Doe repeatedly told Mr. Simmons to get off of her, but he refused. Mr. Simmons proceeded to rape her.”
Jane Doe’s lawyer said she went back to the office after she was raped. She was “forever changed” by the assault, which led to her departure from the record label.
“For weeks she told no one about what happened,” her lawyer explained. “She experienced severe dissociation, depression and anxiety. She no longer went to the Def Jam offices regularly to work and came up with reasons to work from her nearby apartment. A short time later, Ms. Doe gave notice, left Def Jam and left New York altogether to move to California where her family was living. Because of Mr. Simmons, Ms. Doe gave up her high-powered, dream job running a thriving division she had built and a large salary. The pride she had for her role in helping transition a marginalized music genre to one of the most popular and lucrative in the world, was gone.”
Jane Doe quit her job at Def Jam in 1997. The incident haunted her for years as her future interactions with male employers became “fraught with tension.” She suffered panic attacks and struggled with an eating disorder.
The lawsuit noted Jane Doe encountered Simmons in social settings over the years. She did her best to maintain her composure when she was around him. But last year, she ran into him at a yoga class and had a shocking interaction.
“In or around March 2023, Ms. Doe went to a crowded yoga class in Los Angeles and inadvertently parked her yoga mat next to Mr. Simmons after not speaking with him for several years,” her lawyer wrote. “Mr. Simmons said her name and Ms. Doe looked up in shock to see him, asking him, ‘Is it OK if I practice here?’ Mr. Simmons leaned towards her and whispered, ‘Of course. What, do you think I’m gonna try and f### you?’ Ms. Doe was horrified. She realized not only was he unapologetic towards her personally, he did not appreciate that the assault was wrong.”
Jane Doe sought damages for loss of employment, loss of business opportunities, loss of wages and injuries suffered from Simmons’ attack. The lawsuit added to the list of allegations against Simmons, who’s been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than 20 women. Simmons denied past allegations.
Mo’Nique’s Oldest Son Responds To Her “False Narrative” Of Parenting In ‘Club Shay Shay’ Interview
Mo’Nique’s oldest son, Shalon Jackson, has spoken on their estranged bond following the comedian’s viral appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast.
In a nearly 10-minute TikTok video, Jackson responds to the portion of the interview where the Precious star addresses her “false narrative about her praying to the universe” to reconcile their relationship.
Jackson, who is also a stand-up comedian, began by explaining he wrote down his response to avoid getting emotional or caught up when sharing his side of the story.
“I would like to free her from having to continue telling that lie,” detailed Jackson. “Faith without work is dead, and neither one of us cares to put forth any effort to reconcile with the other. We are separate as she put it because she doesn’t care to be my mother any more than I care to be her son.”
He continued to explain that neither party has reached out to the other in some time, adding that Mo’Nique’s current husband does not acknowledge him while she discusses their troubled past in the viral interview.
“Neither one of us has had the desire to reach out to the other in a very long time and I don’t think either of us anticipates that feeling returning,” he said, adding “I’m tired of hearing my mother’s truths news flash…standing in your truth doesn’t make you noble.”
He continued to add, “Responding this way allows me to say my peace uninterrupted. To all those wondering, why say something now? Call it a form of therapy,” later sharing that Mo’Nique admitted to him she did not do her best job.
“To be completely honest and fair, those were things that I was willing to get over. Nobody’s perfect, we’re all human. But, my mother showed a clear lack of humility, compassion, [and] consideration when taking any level of accountability for those things. My mother does a fantastic job of acknowledging a lot of things, but she doesn’t take accountability very well and anything that she may take true accountability for is only at her convenience in my experience.”
When speaking to Shannon Sharpe, Mo’Nique confessed her plan to “Let time do that healing,” with her and her son’s fractured connection.
“It may heal it in time and it may not. And that’s something that we as parents have to say, ‘Listen, I’ve done what I can do. I’ve taken accountability for it. Now, it’s up to you,” the 56-year-old continued to explain.
Jaafar Jackson Mirrors King Of Pop In ‘Michael’ Biopic First Look
The first official photo from the pending Michael Jackson biopic features lead actor Jaafar Jackson mirroring The King of Pop.
Released by Lionsgate on Tuesday (Feb. 13), the image highlights Jaafar Jackson, the Thriller performer’s real-life nephew, in full Michael Jackson mode.
Singing into a microphone with curly hair and bright lights in the photo, the 27-year-old wears Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” look from his Dangerous Tour from 1992-93. According to Variety, Kevin Mazur, the photographer on-set to capture the moment, also photographed Michael Jackson throughout his career including, This Is It.
“With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael,” expressed producer Graham King. “He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”
“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am. For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson,” explained Fuqua in a statement.
“I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work—the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”
Usher's Ex Tameka Foster Reacts To His Secret Wedding To Jennifer Goicoechea
This month, Eric Roberson kicks-off his “30th Anniversary Tour”.
#HipHopNews: Russell Simmons Hit With Rape Lawsuit From Former Def Jam Executive
A former Def Jam employee sued Russell Simmons for sexual battery/assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gender-motivated violence on Tuesday (February 13). The woman, identified as Jane Doe, accused the Def Jam founder of raping her in the ‘90s.
Jane Doe, a film producer, was a senior-level music executive at Def Jam. She claimed her career was derailed by Simmons, who “revealed his true colors,” when he sexually assaulted her
“One day, Ms. Doe was required to visit Mr. Simmons’s apartment, located in Manhattan, New York, in the Southern District of New York, where he typically held meetings, to have him review a new video for approval,” her lawyer wrote. “Initially, Mr. Simmons began to ‘wrestle’ with Ms. Doe in an attempt to appear playful. The situation escalated into aggression and Mr. Simmons pinned Ms. Doe down on a bed. Ms. Doe repeatedly told Mr. Simmons to get off of her, but he refused. Mr. Simmons proceeded to rape her.”
Jane Doe’s lawyer said she went back to the office after she was raped. She was “forever changed” by the assault, which led to her departure from the record label.
“For weeks she told no one about what happened,” her lawyer explained. “She experienced severe dissociation, depression and anxiety. She no longer went to the Def Jam offices regularly to work and came up with reasons to work from her nearby apartment. A short time later, Ms. Doe gave notice, left Def Jam and left New York altogether to move to California where her family was living. Because of Mr. Simmons, Ms. Doe gave up her high-powered, dream job running a thriving division she had built and a large salary. The pride she had for her role in helping transition a marginalized music genre to one of the most popular and lucrative in the world, was gone.”
Jane Doe quit her job at Def Jam in 1997. The incident haunted her for years as her future interactions with male employers became “fraught with tension.” She suffered panic attacks and struggled with an eating disorder.
The lawsuit noted Jane Doe encountered Simmons in social settings over the years. She did her best to maintain her composure when she was around him. But last year, she ran into him at a yoga class and had a shocking interaction.
“In or around March 2023, Ms. Doe went to a crowded yoga class in Los Angeles and inadvertently parked her yoga mat next to Mr. Simmons after not speaking with him for several years,” her lawyer wrote. “Mr. Simmons said her name and Ms. Doe looked up in shock to see him, asking him, ‘Is it OK if I practice here?’ Mr. Simmons leaned towards her and whispered, ‘Of course. What, do you think I’m gonna try and f### you?’ Ms. Doe was horrified. She realized not only was he unapologetic towards her personally, he did not appreciate that the assault was wrong.”
Jane Doe sought damages for loss of employment, loss of business opportunities, loss of wages and injuries suffered from Simmons’ attack. The lawsuit added to the list of allegations against Simmons, who’s been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than 20 women. Simmons denied past allegations.
Mo’Nique’s Oldest Son Responds To Her “False Narrative” Of Parenting In ‘Club Shay Shay’ Interview
Mo’Nique’s oldest son, Shalon Jackson, has spoken on their estranged bond following the comedian’s viral appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast.
In a nearly 10-minute TikTok video, Jackson responds to the portion of the interview where the Precious star addresses her “false narrative about her praying to the universe” to reconcile their relationship.
Jackson, who is also a stand-up comedian, began by explaining he wrote down his response to avoid getting emotional or caught up when sharing his side of the story.
“I would like to free her from having to continue telling that lie,” detailed Jackson. “Faith without work is dead, and neither one of us cares to put forth any effort to reconcile with the other. We are separate as she put it because she doesn’t care to be my mother any more than I care to be her son.”
He continued to explain that neither party has reached out to the other in some time, adding that Mo’Nique’s current husband does not acknowledge him while she discusses their troubled past in the viral interview.
“Neither one of us has had the desire to reach out to the other in a very long time and I don’t think either of us anticipates that feeling returning,” he said, adding “I’m tired of hearing my mother’s truths news flash…standing in your truth doesn’t make you noble.”
He continued to add, “Responding this way allows me to say my peace uninterrupted. To all those wondering, why say something now? Call it a form of therapy,” later sharing that Mo’Nique admitted to him she did not do her best job.
“To be completely honest and fair, those were things that I was willing to get over. Nobody’s perfect, we’re all human. But, my mother showed a clear lack of humility, compassion, [and] consideration when taking any level of accountability for those things. My mother does a fantastic job of acknowledging a lot of things, but she doesn’t take accountability very well and anything that she may take true accountability for is only at her convenience in my experience.”
When speaking to Shannon Sharpe, Mo’Nique confessed her plan to “Let time do that healing,” with her and her son’s fractured connection.
“It may heal it in time and it may not. And that’s something that we as parents have to say, ‘Listen, I’ve done what I can do. I’ve taken accountability for it. Now, it’s up to you,” the 56-year-old continued to explain.
Jaafar Jackson Mirrors King Of Pop In ‘Michael’ Biopic First Look
Released by Lionsgate on Tuesday (Feb. 13), the image highlights Jaafar Jackson, the Thriller performer’s real-life nephew, in full Michael Jackson mode.
Singing into a microphone with curly hair and bright lights in the photo, the 27-year-old wears Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” look from his Dangerous Tour from 1992-93. According to Variety, Kevin Mazur, the photographer on-set to capture the moment, also photographed Michael Jackson throughout his career including, This Is It.
“With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael,” expressed producer Graham King. “He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”
Michael is due in theaters on April 18, 2025, and will feature Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson. Details of the project were revealed in 2022, with the support of the Jackon Estate. Acclaimed filmmaker Antoine Fuqua was announced as director in 2023.
“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am. For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson,” explained Fuqua in a statement.
“I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work—the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”
Usher's Ex Tameka Foster Reacts To His Secret Wedding To Jennifer Goicoechea
Usher's ex-wife Tameka Foster has given her take on his secret wedding to Jennifer Goicoechea. Seemingly also being kept in the dark about his Las Vegas nuptials plans, the stylist said she thought the pair had been married already.
Tameka, who spoke up on Usher's third marriage after the news broke on Monday, February 12, said in a video shared by TMZ on Tuesday, "I thought he'd been married. I don't know. I stopped keeping up with that type of thing."When asked why most people seem to forget Usher's second ex-wife Grace Miguel and only remember her, Tameka weighed in, "I don't know why. That's like his second... third... I don't know. I don't even keep up with his personal."
His romantic relationships aside, Tameka praised Usher as a father and a performer following his Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday. "But he's a good dad. That's what I care about," she said, before adding, "He's a dope performer, cause did y'all see the halftime show?"
During the chat, Tameka, who used to be Usher's personal stylist, was asked her opinion on Jermaine Dupri's outfit for the big game. "Y'all not gonna come for my brother. That's my brother, man," she said with a laugh, before giving her honest take, "I don't quite agree with what he wore. I mean, sorry JD, I love you to death and I know it was, you were dripped down in LV."
She added, "But that's the thing. That's why I don't follow designer. I don't think all designer goods are the ones for you. You have to wear what looks best on you. And name brands won't fix that. You got style. I like style more than fashion these days."
Usher tied the knot with Jennifer in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 11 following his Super Bowl performance. The pair exchanged vows at the Terrace Gazebo, an outdoor wedding chapel that seats 30 guests, with Rev. Ronald Joseph Pokrywka officiating the wedding. Usher's mother Jonetta Patton became the witness.
Just hours after the intimate nuptials, the newlyweds stepped out for a release party for the Grammy winner's new album "Coming Home" at Cathedrale. At the event, the pair were all smiles while the R&B icon flashed a gold band which he wore on his left ring finger.
Usher previously obtained a marriage license in Clark County three days before his highly-anticipated Super Bowl performance. A source told Daily Mail that the "You Make Me Wanna..." hitmaker made the decision to marry his longtime girlfriend after taking advice from his spiritual advisor Amba Kahly Su.
Usher and Jennifer began dating in October 2019. Together, they welcomed a daughter, Sovereign Bo, in September 2020 and son Sire Castrello in September 2021. He's also a father to two sons, Usher V, 16, and Naviyd, 15, whom he shares with his first ex-wife Tameka.
Selma Blair Issues Apology To Muslim Community Over Islamophobic Remark
Making use of her Instagram account, the "Legally Blonde" actress claimed she regretted saying that Islam "destroyed Muslim countries."
"This is a time of great pain and anguish for many around the world, but it is also a time to learn and better understand how words matter," Blair opened her statement which was posted on Tuesday, February 13. Of her comment on a post by Abraham Hamra about the Hamas-Israel conflict, she said, "I mistakenly and inadvertently conflated Muslims with Radical Islamists and fundamentalists, a terrible err in my words, and resulted in hurting countless people I never meant to, and I deeply regret this. As soon as my error was brought to my attention, I deleted the comment."
She continued, "Hate and misinformation are amplified so easily these days. This time by my own hands. In this instance, I erred in my writing and I fully recognize how I contributed to the Muslim community being understandably very upset. I respect and love all peace-loving communities, all over the world. It was my Muslim friends who helped educate and show me the way."
The "Cruel Intentions" actress also noted that she's "committed to paying forward their love and understanding." She added, "Those who know me, know that wherever I go, I try to create branches to hold onto, bridges to meet on for all marginalized communities. I am dedicated to tolerance and peace for all who want it - not hate."
Blair, who deactivated her X account in the wake of the criticism, concluded her lengthy statement, "I apologize to those in the Muslim community who I offended with my words. I apologize to my friends. And I apologize to anyone I hurt. And I will do better. With appreciation, love and respect. Selma."
In the comments section, the star garnered mixed responses. "Being of the Muslim faith, I thank you for your apology. It's good to learn from our mistakes," a fan wrote. However, one other didn't think the apology was genuine by saying, "Nah, you're only posting this cause you got called out- don't lie."
Another user, meanwhile, pointed out that Blair's initial comment was taken out of context. "It was clear you were talking about extremists. Your comment was amplified unnecessarily. Social media culture is so quick to jump on anything. You stand for so much goodness in the world it is awful the way you've been vilified," the person noted.
Blair received backlash earlier this week after she showed support for anti-Arab immigration policies which were recently passed by Congress. "Deport all these terrorist supporting goons," Blair wrote in the controversial comment on Abraham's post. "Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroyed minds. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate."
In addition to Blair, actors Michael Rapaport and Debra Messing also commented on Hamra's video. Rapaport wrote in a reply, "Love it," while Messing said, "THANK YOU."
Oklahoma country station explains why it turned down a fan's Beyoncé song request
Fans were sent into an uproar after a post by one on X, formerly known as Twitter, made the rounds on social media Tuesday. User @jussatto tweeted a screenshot of an email from S.C.O.R.E. Broadcasting.
"I requested 'Texas Hold ‘Em' at my local country radio station (KYKC) and after requesting, I received an email from the radio station stating 'We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station,'" the user wrote on X.
The station's general manager said the station wasn't yet playing Beyonce's new singles because of the size of its market.
"We are a small market station. We're not in a position to break an artist or help it that much, so it has to chart a little bit higher for us to add it," said Roger Harris, the general manager of Southern Central Oklahoma Radio Enterprises (S.C.O.R.E.). "But we love Beyoncé here. We play her on our [other top 40 and adult hits stations] but we're not playing her on our country station yet because it just came out."
Beyoncé seems to have been embraced on country music playlists curated by streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify. Country music radio charts are released on Mondays.
S.C.O.R.E. is comprised of five radio stations, ranging from FM to country. Harris said the KYKC station hadn't played either of Beyoncé's new singles because it follows trends from bigger stations.
"We sort of pattern ourselves after the bigger stations," he said. "When they start playing it, that's a big factor, and the charts are the second biggest."
Harris described the email as a "standard response" to requests to play songs by artists that don't typically make country music.
"If somebody calls and requests the Rolling Stones on that station, we're going to say the same thing," he said.
But he did say the station would play Beyoncé's new songs in the future
"We don't play her, but we will [with] this one, if it's a country song, we will certainly play it," Harris said. "It just has to chart higher."
He said he was interested in a fresh take on the genre.
"I've heard that [the songs are] leaning toward being country music, and I that like that," Harris said. "I think that's cool because we get tired of playing the same old beer drinking, truck driving... things like that. So, yeah, I'm really excited about somebody different doing a country music song."
As fans know, Beyoncé recently shocked the world when she dropped "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" during the Super Bowl. The songs have virtually broken the internet and made headlines as they challenge music industry norms and highlight the Black roots of country music.
Beyoncé has dabbled in the country music realm before with her 2016 hit "Daddy Lessons." The same year she performed at the Country Music Association Awards alongside the country band the Chicks. While the performance was praised by many, she was met with some controversy for it.
Beyoncé's full "Act II" album will be available March 29.
Ice Spice Talks Friend Riot's Sexuality Amid Speculation He's Gay
Ice Spice is speaking out to clear a misconception about her music producer friend Riot.
The longtime pals were together at both the Grammys and the Super Bowl this month, partying away with stars like Taylor Swift.
Following their Super Bowl Weekend appearance, a fan posted a screencap showing that he slid into Riot‘s DMs on Instagram amid fan speculation that he might be gay.
Well, Ice Spice is here to set things straight.
“he dont like boys,” the 24-year-old rapper simply wrote in response to that fan’s tweet
The music producer, whose real name is Ephrem Lopez, went to college with Ice Spice at SUNY Purchase and they have been producing music together for years. He goes by RIOTUSA on social media.
Democrat Tom Suozzi wins N.Y. special election to replace George Santos
Suozzi’s victory Tuesday over Republican Mazi Pilip cuts Republicans’ already razor-thin House majority by one seat, making legislating even more difficult moving forward. And it could provide a guide for Democrats competing in similar competitive districts this fall, especially when it comes to navigating their political vulnerability on immigration and border security.
The Democrat may seek to be sworn into Congress as early as Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking. If not, he may have to wait until the end of the month after the House takes an extended recess for President's Day.
At his victory party Tuesday night, Suozzi thanked a long list of supporters and aides and ran through some of the attacks he faced in the hard-fought contest.
"Despite all the lies about Tom Suozzi and the Squad, about Tom Suozzi being the godfather of the migrant crisis, about 'Sanctuary Suozzi,' despite the dirty tricks, despite the vaunted Nassau County Republican machine: We won," he said to applause.
Suozzi's speech was initially interrupted by protesters who accused him of supporting "genocide" in Gaza. One of them walked onstage to shout down Suozzi while holding what appeared to be a Palestinian flag, but he was removed.
Suozzi may have been helped by a winter storm that walloped the New York City area Tuesday, as Democrats built up an early advantage in early votes. But his victory also came amid some built-in advantages in name ID and fundraising as the district’s former congressman and as Democrats outspent Republicans on the airwaves.
“He has the values that I have — to get things done but to take into consideration the people who are in need. And he represents the majority of the middle class,” said Jeanne DeChiaro, who voted for Suozzi in Syosset and said her biggest issues were abortion, immigration, the economy and “the ability to be bipartisan.”
Linda Karpe, a Suozzi voter, said the roads on Long Island were “horrible” on her way to the voting booth and “the cars were swerving all around the place.”
“I think my son wants my inheritance, because he told me ‘it would be OK to drive, Mom,’” Karpe joked. “It was really bad.”
Though President Joe Biden won the Long Island-based district by 8 percentage points, according to calculations from Daily Kos Elections, Republicans have made gains in the area since then. In 2022, Santos won this open seat by 8 points, but he was expelled from Congress in December following his indictment on federal charges and a damning Ethics Committee report that alleged he broke multiple federal laws and misused campaign funds. (Santos has pleaded not guilty and is set to go to trial in September.)
The result is a blow to the Nassau County GOP, which has been energized by a string of victories in recent years amid a backlash to Democratic-run New York City and Albany. Before Santos was ousted, Republicans represented every congressional district on Long Island.
It’s also bad news for Republicans in the House who have struggled to pass even partisan bills. Once Suozzi is sworn in, they'll face even greater pressure to compromise with Democrats and can only lose two votes to advance GOP legislation, assuming all members are present. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., celebrated Suozzi's win and the shrinking GOP majority on X, writing: "One down. Four to go."
The National Republican Congressional Committee called the race "an uphill battle" from the outset and called Pilip a "fighter with a bright future within the Republican Party."
“Joe Biden won this district by 8 points, Democrats outspent Republicans two-to-one, and our Democrat opponent spent decades representing these New Yorkers — yet it was still a dogfight. Republicans still have multiple pathways to grow our majority in November," NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said in a statement.
While TV ads in the race focused largely on immigration and abortion, House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, launched an ad in recent days tying Pilip to Santos, describing her as an “ethical nightmare” and raising questions about her finances. Her campaign spokesman, Brian Devine, told The New York Times that she filed an amended financial disclosure report because "a preliminary draft ... was inadvertently submitted prior to final review by Mazi’s financial team.”
Santos’ expulsion set off the sprint to the special election, and Democrats quickly coalesced around Suozzi, who represented the district from 2017 to 2023 after having been the Nassau County executive and mayor of Glen Cove.
Descendants of Black icons gather at the White House in a historic meeting
Suozzi did not run for re-election last year, instead making an unsuccessful run for governor in a bitter primary race against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Suozzi met with Hochul before his nomination for Tuesday's contest; he apologized, and Hochul pressed him about his path to victory and his support for abortion rights, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
In the short special election, Suozzi faced a barrage of attack ads on immigration, which Republicans saw as a salient issue for voters watching an influx of migrants hit neighboring New York City. He quickly answered with his own TV ads and stressed his support for a doomed bipartisan border deal, which Pilip opposed.
Democrats also leveraged the issue of abortion, with outside groups launching ads featuring video of Pilip describing herself as “pro-life.” While Pilip said she would not support a national abortion ban, she declined to say whether she would vote to protect abortion rights at the federal level.
Suozzi also stressed his staunch support for Israel in the district, which has a sizable Jewish population, amid its ongoing war with Hamas. Pilip also emphasized her own Jewish faith and her service in the Israel Defense Forces after she migrated to the country from Ethiopia as a child.
Suozzi and Pilip could face off again in November. Both have committed to run for the full term. But the district’s lines could change in an ongoing redistricting process. The state’s redistricting commission has until Feb. 28 to draw a new congressional map, and the state GOP has vowed to challenge it if the party views it as a partisan gerrymander.
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Strikes Podcast Deal With Lemonada Media; Will Launch New Show & Distribute ‘Archetypes’ To All Platforms
The Duchess, otherwise known as Meghan Markle, has signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media, the company behind Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The move will see her launch a new podcast series and Lemonada will also distribute her previous Spotify series Archetypes to all podcast platforms.
It comes after her and her husband Prince Harry parted ways with Spotify last year.
There are no details of the show yet, but Meghan will host the as yet untitled series.
Archetypes, which was previously a Spotify exclusive, will be rolled out to all audio platforms with Lemonada distributing. The series has recorded over 10M downloads, around a million listens per episode and debuted as Spotify’s No.1 podcast in 47 countries around the world when it launched in August 2022.
The series explored the labels that try to hold women back. Mariah Carey spoke about the definition of being a diva; Mindy Kaling celebrated the choice to be single; Pamela Adlon lifted the lid on the pressure to be a wife and a mother; Issa Rae and Ziwe Fumudoh unpacked the loaded misconception that often comes with being a woman of color; and Jameela Jamil and Shohreh Agdashloo spoke about the courage that it takes to step up and speak out, even when it puts everything on the line.
Other guests included Serena Williams, Margaret Cho, Lisa Ling, Deepika Padukone, Jenny Slate, Constance Wu, Paris Hilton, Iliza Shlesinger, Sophia Gregoire Trudeau, Sam Jay, Mellody Hobson, Victoria Jackson, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Candance Bushnell, Trevor Noah, Andy Cohen and Judd Apatow.
The series, which is produced by her and Prince Harry’s Archewell Productions, won a People’s Choice Award for The Pop Podcast of 2022 and Markle won best entertainment podcast host at the Gracie Awards.
The deal is a coup for Lemonada Media, which was founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer, a former executive producer at Pod Save America producer Crooke Media, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs, cofounder of theater company Rec Room Arts.
In addition to Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which was named Apple’s 2023 Show of the Year, it is behind Hard Feelings with Jennette McCurdy, Funny Cuz It’s True with Elyse Myers, Last Day, Believe Her and Choice Words with Samantha Bee.
“I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” said Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. “Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024. Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”
“We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratize access to Archetypes, and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon. Meghan’s talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters,” added Lemonada’s CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer.
“As we’ve started development with The Duchess of Sussex, we are blown away by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, along with her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work. The Lemonada team felt immediate kinship with Meghan and the Archewell Productions team, and we are delighted to be working together,” added Lemonada’s Chief Creative Officer Stephanie Wittels Wachs.
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and Archewell Productions are represented by WME.
T-Pain and Reba McEntire Playfully Go Back-And-Forth on Social Media
Everyone loves an unlikely celebrity pairing, with the latest being Reba McEntire and T-Pain.
Their unexpected interaction went down on Sunday when McEntire, 68, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share an update prior to singing the National Anthem at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
“Boots with the fur…#SuperBowlLVIII ready!” wrote McEntire, donning a thick fur coat and matching cowboy boots. Her caption, of course, was taken from T-Pain’s 2007 club banger “Low” with Flo Rida.
The next logical step is for the two to hop on a song together and give us the most unexpected collaboration since Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. However, prior to the Big Game, T suggested that he has his sights set on his own Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The singer-songwriter sat down with Shannon Sharpe in Las Vegas for an episode of Nightcap, which ran on Friday.
When asked if the NFL and Jay-Z reached out to him about performing the Halftime Show, T-Pain said, “Absolutely. Why would I not do that? That’s a no brainer.”
The conversation must have lingered in his mind, as T-Pain followed that up with a post on his Instagram on Monday depicting him in the middle of a football field with the words “What If?...” and the caption, “I do got the hits 🤷🏿♂️ @nfl.”
It’s never too early to start guessing who the next Halftime performer might be. Although she was approached to be last year’s performer, Taylor Swift reportedly turned down the opportunity because she doesn’t want to perform until she finishes the re-recordings for her first 6 albums. Rihanna performed instead, and made history as the most-viewed Halftime show ever in 2023.
Jay-Z, who serves as the NFL’s live music strategist ansd produces the halftime show, said he might take the stage eventually.
"I don't know," Hov told Entertainment Tonight last month. "I thought it would be selfish to pick myself too early. Maybe one year. Maybe."
Billy Dee Williams once politely declined Marlon Brando’s sexual advances toward him
Billy Dee Williams says he once had to turn down a romantic proposition from none other than screen legend Marlon Brando.
A legend in his own right, the star of The Empire Strikes Back and Lady Sings the Blues has a new memoir, What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life, out this week, in which he details his adventures in Hollywood.
“Star Wars” actor Billy Dee Williams says he isn’t gender fluid. He just uses “feminine” pronouns.
He says his comments were misinterpreted and he identifies as “a very cute man.”
“I figured maybe I need to talk about a few things that might interest a few people,” Williams recently told People.“I’ve had a lot of very interesting experiences throughout the years.”
Apparently one of those “interesting experiences” occurred at a star-studded party at Brando’s home. In his memoir, Williams describes a moment in the A Streetcar Named Desire leading man’s library when Brando “propositioned” him.
Brando, who reportedly fathered at least eight children over the course of his life, was famous for his apparently omnivorous sexual tastes. “Like a large number of men, I, too, have had homosexual experiences, and I am not ashamed,” he famously told a journalist in 1976.
Williams, however, says he politely declined the Godfather star’s offer, telling Brando, “I’m not into guys.”
“I had no qualms with that kind of stuff,” Williams told People. “Whatever you are, that’s who you are. I’m more interested in meeting interesting people.”
“I’ve spent a lot of my life around gay people,” Williams added. “James Baldwin, who was gay, was my dearest friend.”
Williams, who once said he identifies as “a very cute man,” explained that he was used to fending off admirers. “I’ve been getting hit on all of my life,” he said. “Gay, straight, whatever, somebody’s always hitting on me.”
Jonathan Majors faces new accusations of abuse from Two ex-girlfriends and other women
Emma Duncan and Maura Hooper both dated the actor in drama school before he shot to fame playing Marvel roles like Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Mr Majors was also set to star in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but was fired from the Marvel Cinematic Universe after he was found guilty of having abused his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, a 31-year-old dancer from England, in December by a Manhattan jury.
He was convicted of assault in the third degree and harassment. Marvel later changed the name of the upcoming film to Avengers 5.
Ms Duncan accused Mr Majors of choking her, throwing her around and bruising her, while Ms Hooper accused him of emotional abuse, according to a New York Times article about the allegations.
Additionally, women who’d previously worked with Mr Majors spoke out against him, calling some of his behaviour on set problematic. One woman said he made a derogatory racial remark about her looks. Mr Majors denied that encounter.
Much of their accounts were relayed in pretrial statements given to the prosecution’s office ahead of Mr Majors’ trial, but were not entered into evidence due to a ruling given by the presiding judge.
Such statements have been helpful in domestic abuse cases.
Both women said they experienced love bombing in the early days of their relationships with the actor before they took a turn. In one instance in July of 2016, Ms Duncan said Mr Majors “threatened to strangle and kill” her.
Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for Mr Majors, told the outlet a fight had happened but that Mr Majors did not threaten to kill or strangle Ms Duncan.
At another point in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mr Majors “pushed Ms Duncan into the couch and began to choke her,” the pretrial statement read. He continued telling her “I’m going to kill you” and “I’m going to make sure you can’t have children.”
Ms Chaudhry told the outlet her client did not make those remarks.
Additional allegations made by Ms Duncan include more instances of abuse, including Mr Majors flipping furniture and destroying her belongings and family heirlooms.
Much of the described accounts mirror allegations Ms Jabbari made against Mr Majors at trial in December.
While on the witness stand, she said Mr Majors also threw things at her, including candles. In March, Ms Jabbari accused Mr Majors of slapping her, throwing into a car, twisting her arm and grabbing her hand. The incident was the focus of the trial.
Ms Hooper, who dated Mr Majors after Ms Duncan, said she became pregnant a couple of months into the relationship and had an abortion. She said Mr Majors asked her to move the appointment up, which his attorney denied.
Both Ms Hooper and Ms Duncan said they confronted Mr Majors with evidence that he was cheating on them something Ms Jabbari also did during her time with the actor. When Ms Hooper asked Mr Majors about the evidence, he threatened to kill himself.
Ms Jabbari and Ms Duncan both said Mr Majors also threatened suicide during their relationships.
Mr Majors still has not been sentenced for his charges relating to Ms Jabbari’s case. His next sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 8.
The actor’s attorneys are working to keep the statements of both Ms Hooper and Ms Duncan permanently sealed.
Tiger Woods Announces ‘Sun Day Red’ Clothing Line Weeks After Departure From Nike
On Monday, Tiger Woods revealed his new Sun Day Red clothing line at a Los Angeles event.
The announcement took place near The Riviera Country Club, where Woods will compete in this week’s The Genesis Invitational, marking his first PGA TOUR event since last year’s Masters.
“It started with mom,” Woods said. “Mom thought being a Capricorn that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments. Lo and behold, I go to a university that is red, Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”
According to the company’s website, Sun Day Red is “a brand that promises to bring a new and elevated standard to performance wear and luxury lifestyle fashion,” offering clothes featuring “never-before-seen patterns, fabrication, and technical detailing intended to elevate all levels of play.”
The announcement comes after weeks of speculation since Woods ended his exclusive partnership with Nike on January 8th, marking the first time he’s worn a different brand professionally.
“It’s the right time in my life,” Woods said Monday. “It’s transitional. I’m not a kid anymore. I want to have a brand I’m proud of going forward.”
The brand Sun Day Red is slated to launch on May 1.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
The Diaper Tutu
It truly is a beautiful thing that this man can waltz into a store wearing a kid’s ballerina tutu and a diaper underneath
It truly is a beautiful thing that this man can waltz into a store wearing a kid’s ballerina tutu and a diaper underneath
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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