#MAGFAB: Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy Covers GQ March Issue
…On the Hollywood “bubble” and living a normal life: I love “not working”
Murphy tries to do one movie a year and is perfectly happy to be “unemployed” while he waits for the right new film to come his way. “I have a couple of friends who are actors but a majority of them are not,” Murphy tells GQ. “The majority of my buddies are not in the business. I also love not working. And I think for me a lot of research as an actor is just f—king living, and, you know, having a normal life doing regular things and just being able to observe, and be, in that sort of lovely flow of humanity. If you can’t do that because you’re going from film festival to movie set to promotions…I mean that’s The Bubble. I’m not saying that makes you any better or less as an actor, but it’s just a world that I couldn’t exist in. I find it would be very limiting on what you can experience as a human being, you know?”
…On his heightened fame and why he won’t take photos with fans
“To me, it always seems to go in waves,” Murphy tells GQ of his heightened fame. “When Peaky was at its kind of apex, you’d feel a different energy around, walking around, a little bit like I do now—but then it settles down again. It kind of comes in waves. And then you don’t have something in the cinema for ages, and people forget about it. So. It seems to be like that, and you sort of ride that, and then things go back to normal.”
As for the fans who do approach? “I don’t do photos,” he says. “Once I started doing that,” he said, “it changed my life. I just think it’s better to say hello, and have a little conversation. I tell that to a lot of people, you know, actor friends of mine, and they’re just like: I feel so bad. But you don’t need a photo record of everywhere you’ve been in a day.”
…On receiving Christopher Nolan’s infamous red script for OPPENHEIMER
In the fall of 2021, Christopher Nolan flew to Murphy in Ireland with a script for his top secret new film, printed on red paper. “Which is supposedly photocopy-proof,” Murphy explains. Every previous Nolan script had been dropped off by Nolan or one of his family members, he tells GQ. “So, like, it’s been his mom who’s delivered the script to me before. Or his brother, he’ll go away and come back in three hours. Part of it has to do with keeping the story secret before it goes out. But part of it has to do with tradition. They’ve always done it this way, so why stop now? It does add a ritual to it, which I really appreciate. It suits me.”
Working on a Christopher Nolan set: “There’s no phones” and “no chairs”
“When I’m on a Chris set, it does feel a little bit like a private, intimate laboratory,” he tells GQ. “Even though he works at a tremendous pace, there’s always room for curiosity and finding things out, and that’s what making art should be about, you know? There’s no phones—but also no announcement: Everybody just knows. And there’s no chairs. Because he doesn’t sit down. Sometimes a film set can be like a picnic. Everyone’s got their chairs and their snacks and everyone’s texting and showing each other f—king, you know, emojis or whatever, memes, which I do know—” he says, referring obliquely to a meme of Cillian Murphy not knowing what a meme is. “But why?”
Cillian Murphy reveals “Many of my films I haven’t seen”
In the aughts, Murphy was working frequently, in some movies that were better than others. “Many of my films I haven’t seen,” he said. “I know that Johnny Depp would always say that, but it’s actually true. Generally the ones I haven’t seen are the ones I hear are not good.” Oppenheimer? “Yes, I’ve seen OPPENHEIMER,” he tells GQ.
GQ’s March Issue on newsstands February 27.
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Guobadia To Make ‘The Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Season 16 Return;
Porsha Williams Guobadia is making her comeback to The Real Housewives of Atlanta and has also signed an overall scripted talent deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment.
Williams Guobadia has officially rejoined the cast following a two-season absence and will return for Season 16 on Bravo.
“I’m incredibly thankful for the vision and faith NBCUniversal has put in me to be a larger part of their family,” Williams Guobadia said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to being back on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and showing the world my new world!”
The entrepreneur originally joined the show in Season 5 and left following Season 13. As part of her deal, Williams Guobadia will partner with NBCUniversal Entertainment for scripted project opportunities across the company’s broadcast and streaming properties.
“Porsha Williams Guobadia is a multi-hyphenate and we are fortunate to collaborate and tap into her creativity and passion through this partnership,” Rachel Smith, Executive Vice President of Unscripted Content, Lifestyle and Documentaries, NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement. “Our audience has supported and admired Porsha as she so authentically, hilariously and vulnerably shared her life over the years and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her back to the NBCU family.”
RHOA was placed on an extended hiatus following Season 15. As production prepares to resume on a new season, longtime housewife Kandi Burruss announced she would be leaving the franchise after 14 seasons. Bravo has not confirmed what the rest of the cast for the Atlanta-based show looks like but the most recent season included Kenya Moore, Shereé Whitfield, Drew Sidora, Sanya Richards-Ross and Marlo Hampton.
Williams Guobadia most recently starred in the RHOA spinoff Porsha’s Family Matters in 2021 and in Season 3 of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, which aired in 2023. The reality TV personality was also part of the inaugural cast of the William Shatner competition Stars on Mars.
On the scripted side, she has made guest appearances on HBO’s Insecure, IFC’s Sherman’s Showcase, Fox’s Star and TV One’s Steppin’ Back to Love.
Williams Guobadia is repped by Karen Kinney, KK Entertainment & Media, Fox Rothschild LLP and UTA. The Real Housewives of Atlanta is a Truly Original production.
#NewMusic from Lizz Wright ‘Your Love’ & Also is Planning her World Tour
As she continues the countdown to the release of new album Shadow, renowned vocalist Lizz Wright gifts fans with another taste of what’s to come on the new project. Her latest single entitled “Your Love” offers a bright take on a subject often wrought with gloom
Co-written with Jack DeBoe, Matthew Cusson and Chris Bruce, Lizz sings of her intention to celebrate the lives and love brought by those who have passed on, as opposed to wallowing in the pain. Legendary singer, songwriter and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello and lauded harpist Brandee Younger add their signature touches to the stunning tribute as Lizz remembers the good times.
“When I think of your sweetness / The love that brought me here / All the times that I wondered / How you put away my fear,” Wright reminisces in her dulcet tone. She presses on, wishing that the one who she lost was still here, but holding on to what they left her with. “Now that you are gone away / I need your hand in mine / All day, walk around, walk around singing / All day, walk around singing / Wake me up / I’m gonna keep on moving in the rhythm of your love,” she sings.
Drawing inspiration from her late grandmother, Wright found strength and a new perspective in their final conversation. Via Facebook she shared, “The last thing my grandmother said to me in our final conversation was, ‘I love you forever and there ain’t nothing nobody can do about that. You hear me?’” She went to on to state, “As I grow older, I see love as a calling more than a mood or random incident. Love is the way forward.”
Celebrate the imprint of love left by those who have joined the ancestors when you listen to Lizz Wright’s “Your Love.” Stream the single below and add it to your playlists from your preferred digital music platform. Pre-order Wright’s Shadow LP before its Friday, April 12th release date.
In a new cover story published today for GQ’s March issue, GQ’s global director of content development Daniel Riley joined Oscar-nominated actor Cillian Murphy in Dublin for an in-depth conversation about evading the Hollywood “bubble”, why he doesn’t watch his own films, making OPPENHEIMER with Christopher Nolan, and more.
…On the Hollywood “bubble” and living a normal life: I love “not working”
Murphy tries to do one movie a year and is perfectly happy to be “unemployed” while he waits for the right new film to come his way. “I have a couple of friends who are actors but a majority of them are not,” Murphy tells GQ. “The majority of my buddies are not in the business. I also love not working. And I think for me a lot of research as an actor is just f—king living, and, you know, having a normal life doing regular things and just being able to observe, and be, in that sort of lovely flow of humanity. If you can’t do that because you’re going from film festival to movie set to promotions…I mean that’s The Bubble. I’m not saying that makes you any better or less as an actor, but it’s just a world that I couldn’t exist in. I find it would be very limiting on what you can experience as a human being, you know?”
…On his heightened fame and why he won’t take photos with fans
“To me, it always seems to go in waves,” Murphy tells GQ of his heightened fame. “When Peaky was at its kind of apex, you’d feel a different energy around, walking around, a little bit like I do now—but then it settles down again. It kind of comes in waves. And then you don’t have something in the cinema for ages, and people forget about it. So. It seems to be like that, and you sort of ride that, and then things go back to normal.”
…On receiving Christopher Nolan’s infamous red script for OPPENHEIMER
In the fall of 2021, Christopher Nolan flew to Murphy in Ireland with a script for his top secret new film, printed on red paper. “Which is supposedly photocopy-proof,” Murphy explains. Every previous Nolan script had been dropped off by Nolan or one of his family members, he tells GQ. “So, like, it’s been his mom who’s delivered the script to me before. Or his brother, he’ll go away and come back in three hours. Part of it has to do with keeping the story secret before it goes out. But part of it has to do with tradition. They’ve always done it this way, so why stop now? It does add a ritual to it, which I really appreciate. It suits me.”
Working on a Christopher Nolan set: “There’s no phones” and “no chairs”
“When I’m on a Chris set, it does feel a little bit like a private, intimate laboratory,” he tells GQ. “Even though he works at a tremendous pace, there’s always room for curiosity and finding things out, and that’s what making art should be about, you know? There’s no phones—but also no announcement: Everybody just knows. And there’s no chairs. Because he doesn’t sit down. Sometimes a film set can be like a picnic. Everyone’s got their chairs and their snacks and everyone’s texting and showing each other f—king, you know, emojis or whatever, memes, which I do know—” he says, referring obliquely to a meme of Cillian Murphy not knowing what a meme is. “But why?”
Cillian Murphy reveals “Many of my films I haven’t seen”
In the aughts, Murphy was working frequently, in some movies that were better than others. “Many of my films I haven’t seen,” he said. “I know that Johnny Depp would always say that, but it’s actually true. Generally the ones I haven’t seen are the ones I hear are not good.” Oppenheimer? “Yes, I’ve seen OPPENHEIMER,” he tells GQ.
GQ’s March Issue on newsstands February 27.
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Guobadia To Make ‘The Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Season 16 Return;
Williams Guobadia has officially rejoined the cast following a two-season absence and will return for Season 16 on Bravo.
“I’m incredibly thankful for the vision and faith NBCUniversal has put in me to be a larger part of their family,” Williams Guobadia said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to being back on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and showing the world my new world!”
The entrepreneur originally joined the show in Season 5 and left following Season 13. As part of her deal, Williams Guobadia will partner with NBCUniversal Entertainment for scripted project opportunities across the company’s broadcast and streaming properties.
“Porsha Williams Guobadia is a multi-hyphenate and we are fortunate to collaborate and tap into her creativity and passion through this partnership,” Rachel Smith, Executive Vice President of Unscripted Content, Lifestyle and Documentaries, NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement. “Our audience has supported and admired Porsha as she so authentically, hilariously and vulnerably shared her life over the years and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her back to the NBCU family.”
RHOA was placed on an extended hiatus following Season 15. As production prepares to resume on a new season, longtime housewife Kandi Burruss announced she would be leaving the franchise after 14 seasons. Bravo has not confirmed what the rest of the cast for the Atlanta-based show looks like but the most recent season included Kenya Moore, Shereé Whitfield, Drew Sidora, Sanya Richards-Ross and Marlo Hampton.
Williams Guobadia most recently starred in the RHOA spinoff Porsha’s Family Matters in 2021 and in Season 3 of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, which aired in 2023. The reality TV personality was also part of the inaugural cast of the William Shatner competition Stars on Mars.
On the scripted side, she has made guest appearances on HBO’s Insecure, IFC’s Sherman’s Showcase, Fox’s Star and TV One’s Steppin’ Back to Love.
Williams Guobadia is repped by Karen Kinney, KK Entertainment & Media, Fox Rothschild LLP and UTA. The Real Housewives of Atlanta is a Truly Original production.
#NewMusic from Lizz Wright ‘Your Love’ & Also is Planning her World Tour
As she continues the countdown to the release of new album Shadow, renowned vocalist Lizz Wright gifts fans with another taste of what’s to come on the new project. Her latest single entitled “Your Love” offers a bright take on a subject often wrought with gloom
Co-written with Jack DeBoe, Matthew Cusson and Chris Bruce, Lizz sings of her intention to celebrate the lives and love brought by those who have passed on, as opposed to wallowing in the pain. Legendary singer, songwriter and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello and lauded harpist Brandee Younger add their signature touches to the stunning tribute as Lizz remembers the good times.
“When I think of your sweetness / The love that brought me here / All the times that I wondered / How you put away my fear,” Wright reminisces in her dulcet tone. She presses on, wishing that the one who she lost was still here, but holding on to what they left her with. “Now that you are gone away / I need your hand in mine / All day, walk around, walk around singing / All day, walk around singing / Wake me up / I’m gonna keep on moving in the rhythm of your love,” she sings.
Drawing inspiration from her late grandmother, Wright found strength and a new perspective in their final conversation. Via Facebook she shared, “The last thing my grandmother said to me in our final conversation was, ‘I love you forever and there ain’t nothing nobody can do about that. You hear me?’” She went to on to state, “As I grow older, I see love as a calling more than a mood or random incident. Love is the way forward.”
Celebrate the imprint of love left by those who have joined the ancestors when you listen to Lizz Wright’s “Your Love.” Stream the single below and add it to your playlists from your preferred digital music platform. Pre-order Wright’s Shadow LP before its Friday, April 12th release date.
LISTEN HERE
In addition to her new album, Lizz Wright has a world tour on the horizon. View the tour dates below as well then head to her website to grab tickets for upcoming shows across Europe and North America.
Lizz Wright 2024 World Tour dates:
March 5 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands
March 7 - Tivoli Vredenburg - Utrecht, Netherlands
March 8 - Muziekcentrum Frits Philips - Eindhoven, Netherlands
March 10 - Kino SC - Zagreb, Croatia
March 11 - Columbia Theater - Berlin, Germany
March 13 - Ostrow Cultural Center - Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland
March 14 - Synagoga Pod Białym Bocianem - Wrocław, Poland
March 15 - Cadogan Hall - London, United Kingdom
April 5-7 - Brennan's Bar & The Carlyle Room - Washington, DC, United States
April 10 - City Winery Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA, United States
April 11 - Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club - Portsmouth, NH, United States
April 12 - City Winery Boston - Boston, MA, United States
April 14 - City Winery New York - New York, NY, United States
April 27 - Koerner Hall - Toronto, ON, Canada
April 28 - Space - Evanston, IL, United States
July 8 - Jazz à Vienne - Vienne, France
July 10 - Jazz Open - Stuttgart, Germany - Stuttgart, Germany
#HipHopNews: Lil Yachty Dropping Joint Album With Singer James Blake
Lil Yachty announces he's dropping a new joint album with English singer James Blake.
On Tuesday night (Feb. 13), Lil Yachty shared a video on his Instagram page captioned "this is real..soon." In the post, which can be seen below, Boat announces he has been working on a full length LP with James Blake.
"I mean, granted, I think James has worked with a quite substantial amount of hip-hop artists. But this project is so left for both of us," the Quality Control rapper says in the clip.
“And then, aside from the one picture that James posted, which—he doesn’t have many followers actually—I don’t think people know that we know each other exist. So it’s just gon’ be like, 'What the f**k? When they do this?'"
Chance The Rapper, Vince Staples, RZA and others. In 2017, he went on tour with Kendrick Lamar. Most recently, he was featured on Travis Scott's Utopia album on the tracks "Lost Forever, "Til Further Notice" and "Delresto (Echoes)."
Janet Jackson Sported Double Pigtails and Oxford Heels at Thom Browne’s NYFW Show
The pop icon had a twinning moment with Queen Latifah while sitting front row.
Janet Jackson has arrived at New York Fashion Week, attending Thom Browne’s Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show on Feb. 14 in a look straight from the designer himself.
The “All For You” singer wore a crisp white calf-length jacket with black trim over a suited look consisting of a black buttoned jacket dress underneath a white shirt and black tie. The dichromatic color palette continued, with Jackson wearing black-and-white heeled Oxford shoes and an oversized black tweed briefcase bag. The pop icon further accessorized her look with large hoop earrings and horn-rimmed glasses.
The look was part of a matching set with her close friend, Queen Latifah — the rapper’s ensemble included a structured black vest dress worn over a white shirt with red, white, and blue piping around the arm, and a black tie. Instead of a tweed bag, Latifah accessorized with an oversized clock-shaped purse from the brand. The pair sat next to each other in the front row during the Edgar Allan Poe-inspired show, and also posed for pictures with Browne. (See InStyle’s footage from the Thom Browne show, here.)
Janet has been a longtime fan of the American designer’s work, attending several of his past shows and telling Vogue in 2022 that “his magic and his imagination is beyond.” She added, “That’s what I love about him. He can go anywhere and do anything. And he just lets his imagination go. And I love that about him — that creativity.”
1 Dead, At Least 21 Others Wounded In Shooting Following Chiefs Super Bowl Celebration Rally
A shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally left at least one person dead and at least 21 others wounded Wednesday, officials said, shattering a joyous afternoon for the massive crowd celebrating the Chiefs latest NFL title. Three people are in custody for questioning.
Authorities are still working to determine a total number of victims, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said.
In addition to the fatality, 21 other people suffered gunshot wounds, Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said.
The shooting is just the latest instance of gun violence disrupting American life at places once considered safe. This one was at a sports celebration with a huge crowd. Others have been at churches, schools, grocery stores, outlet malls, hospitals, college campuses and house parties. In June 2023, two people were shot as fans were leaving a celebration of the Denver Nuggets’ NBA title.
Kansas City-area radio station KKFI said DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan died after being shot at the rally.
“Lisa was one of our programmers/DJs on Taste of Tejano. Like all our programmers, she was a volunteer who donated her time and talent to KKFI. … Their show has brought a voice to the KC community that is missed in the mainstream media,” said Kelly Dougherty, director of development and communications for the station. Dougherty called Lopez-Galvan an amazing person and said she went to the rally to be with the community and celebrate the championship.
Police said earlier they were working to identify the person who died and gave no further details about the victim.
Law enforcement and medical personnel gather around an injured person.
Graves told reporters three people had been detained for questioning. “We are working to determine if one of the three are the one that was in (a) video where fans assisted police.”
CNN spoke with four hospitals that received 29 patients from the shooting. Officials said 19 of those people were treated for gunshot wounds. Three of the wounded were in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Children’s Mercy Hospital received 12 patients from the incident, according to Stephanie Meyer, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. Eleven of those are children between the ages 6 and 15. Nine of the children were shot and all are expected to recover, spokesperson Lisa Augustine said.
An estimated 1 million people were in downtown Kansas City celebrating their team’s back-to-back Super Bowl championship, and the area where the shooting took place in Union Station was steps away from where the team held a victory rally for thousands of fans after the parade ended.
Children were able to come see their football heroes as school districts in the Kansas City metro area had canceled classes to allow students to attend the celebration.
Players were still on the stage of the Chiefs’ victory rally when the shooting took place, mingling with each other after it had ended. While some people had begun filtering out of the area, it was still packed with fans – who began to flee in fear after the sound of the shots.
Graves said guns were recovered at the scene but she couldn’t specify how many. More than 800 law enforcement officers were in the area for the event when the shooting happened on the west side of Union Station, she said.
All of the Chiefs players, coaches and staff who attended are safe and accounted for, Mayor Quinton Lucas said at the news conference.
Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce wrote on X: “I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me.”
Madison Anderes, 24, said she thought fireworks were going off but, but a man in front of them turned and yelled, “He’s got a gun. He’s got a gun.”
She said she heard more pops; these were louder.“That’s when all chaos broke out,” Anderes said, who was knocked down on the ground when everyone started running. “I felt like I was going to die. I felt like a sitting duck and I was going to get shot.”
The celebration started with Chiefs players crowded on double-decker buses, waving to fans as they rolled through the city. Kelce was spotted on the same bus as Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes but it did not appear that his girlfriend, megastar musician Taylor Swift, was able to make the trip. Swift has tour dates in Australia this weekend.
It didn’t take long for some players to leave their rides to walk the parade route, high-fiving fans and some even handing out a few libations to people who had been waiting throughout the morning to cheer on the Chiefs.
A victory rally following the parade featured several players toasting the team’s connection with the city – statements made all the more poignant in the aftermath as people fled in fear.
“Everything we did this year was because of you guys,” said Chris Jones, the team’s standout defensive lineman.
“Chiefs Kingdom, y’all are the reason we do what we do,” Mahomes said. After the shooting, he posted on X: “Praying for Kansas City.”
The Chiefs have cemented themselves as the NFL’s latest dynasty with this championship, their third in five years. Mahomes, who at 28 years of age has already made a claim to the title of greatest quarterback ever, ran along the parade route with his arms outstretched – a similar pose to the one he made after tossing the winning touchdown in overtime on Sunday.
Mahomes certainly enjoyed last year’s parade, too, at one point handing a fan the Lombardi Trophy and then apparently forgetting about it as he walked away. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt held onto the trophy this year, keeping it aboard his double-decker bus and away from the grasp of his quarterback – and any fans with whom he might have left it.
Championship parades are often a time for players to let loose and blow off steam as they revel in their victory ahead of the offseason. In a virtual news conference on Tuesday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters it has been “mentioned a couple of times” to his players not to go too overboard with the celebrations.
“It’s great to have fun but be smart,” he added.
Joe Hennessy, a reporter for local station KCTV, posted a video on X of Chiefs fans arriving at the parade route at 4 a.m. to secure their places at the front.
“Chiefs fans are built different!” he wrote.
Nkechi Diallo, FKA Rachel Dolezal, Loses Job After School District Discovers OnlyFans Account
Nkechi Diallo, formerly known as Rachel Dolezal, has been relieved of her duties with the Catalina Foothills School District in Arizona after administrators discovered her OnlyFans account.
Julie Farbarik, the district’s director of alumni & community relations, confirmed the news to News 4 Tucson, sharing in a statement that Diallo’s “posts are contrary to our district’s ‘Use of Social Media by District Employees’ policy and our staff ethics policy.”
According to Farbarik, the administration learned of her OnlyFans account Tuesday, Feb. 13. Explicit photos from the risqué account have been shared to various sites, including a screenshot of the former NAACP chapter president bending over and letting it breathe in front of her Christmas tree. It remains unclear if the photos were shared by Diallo or a subscriber.
“We only learned of Ms. Nkechi Diallo’s OnlyFans social media posts yesterday afternoon,” Farbarik added. “She is no longer employed by the Catalina Foothills School District.”
Diallo was allegedly making $19 an hour in her teaching gig and sold content on OnlyFans for $9.99 a month, The Post reports.
There was no shortage of reactions to the news on social media. Check them out below.
As Dolezal, she was outed in 2015 as a white woman falsely posing as a Black person, largely for career gain, as she held a position as the Spokane, Wa. President of the NAACP. She was also a prominent African Studies professor in Washington State.
During a 2021 interview with Tamron Hall, she explained the difficulties she faced attempting to find work after the scandal.
“I started with applying for all of the things I was qualified for, and after interviews and getting turned down, I even applied to jobs that didn’t even require degrees, being a maid at a hotel, working at a casino. I wasn’t able to get any of those jobs either.”
Usher Reveals Plans For New Drama Series About Black Love In Atlanta
Universal Studio Group, for a new drama series that will bring his music to life.
“My 30-year catalog has resonated with so many people no matter where they were in their lives,” Usher said in a statement. “I’m happy to be working with UCP to bring the music to life. I hope the series resonates with you the way my music continues to.
According to Variety, the untitled drama is about “Black love in Atlanta and individuals looking to find a place to call home.” The series, overall, will “explore music, style, sex, romance, and secrets that threaten to tear relationships apart.”
There is a chance Usher will return to acting and make an appearance on the show, but that has not been confirmed. His on-screen credits include a recurring role on Moesha and leading film roles such as In The Mix and Light It Up.
Amid news of the TV series, Usher shared photos from his intimate wedding. The family affair took place on Super Bowl Sunday. His wife, Jennifer, donned a veil that read “Mrs. Raymond.” The couple exchanged rings as their children—who all wore matching looks— sat in the back of the vintage convertible.
In the caption of the photo set, Usher referenced his new song, “One Of Them Ones,” along with his wedding date.
On the D’Mile-produced record, the 45-year-old father sings of an eternal love: “This right here/ This that s**t that’ll have you all inside of your feelings/ Confessin’ your love for the one/ This right here (Right here)/ Gon’ make you put a ring on it/ Makin’ calls about your feelings/ ’Fessin’ your love for the one/ All because you found one of them ones.”
Usher also recently announced more dates for his upcoming Past Present Future Tour, set to kick off in Atlanta this August.
Will Smith To Star As Iraq War Veteran In Upcoming Thriller ‘Sugar Bandits’
Will Smith is officially adding another intense role to his résumé. The veteran actor is set to play the lead in Sugar Bandits, an upcoming action thriller centered around an Iraq War veteran.
Per Variety, the film is written by Chuck Hogan and based on his book Devils in Exile. Hogan also boasts credits in The Town and The Strain. In Sugar Bandits, the main character teams up with other vets to target the drug trade in Boston. The movie was reportedly first announced back in 2013.
Sugar Bandits will be produced by Smith and Jon Mone through Westbrook Studios with Ryan Shimazaki overseeing. Stuart Ford will produce for AGC Studios, and Richard Abate will produce for 3 Arts Entertainment.
Smith’s last major film was Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation in 2022, which sold to Apple TV+ in Cannes for a market record deal of $120 million. Prior to that was 2021’s Oscar-winning King Richard film, a movie based on the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams.
The Fresh Prince is also working on a sequel to I Am Legend, the 2007 blockbuster starring him as a lone scientist in a deadly plague. The follow-up film is set to feature Micheal B. Jordan as the lead and see Smith reprising his role.
A lot has happened in the life of Will Smith over the past year, and he provided an update in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter about where he is at mentally as of lately. “I have to be clear about who I am and what I am attempting to do in the world,” he said. “And I can’t need others to applaud for me to stay focused on my mission… I want you to feel good. And at the same time, I am deeply human. And I am in the process of perfecting my virtue.”
Beyonce Shows Skin In Sexy Lace Dress On Valentine's Day
Queen Bey put on a busty and leggy display in the sleeveless black dress that came with sheer black lace on most of its parts. The gown also had a plunging neckline, two spaghetti straps and ruffle details on the wearer's thighs down to her feet. Despite showing off her cleavage, she covered her private area with a pair of black thong undies.
The "If I Were a Boy" songstress enhanced the all-black look with a black leather belt featuring a gold embellishment on its front side, and a pair of sheer black gloves, which were high enough to cover slightly above her elbows. She also rocked a black cowboy hat and high heels.
For the special day, Beyonce accessorized herself with a number of rings featuring green stones. She looked stunning with her bold makeup, including dark red lipstick, long lashes and black eyeliner. In addition, her long platinum tresses cascaded down her back and were styled in loose waves.
In a few of the pictures, Queen Bey struck a pose with Jay-Z, who looked clean in a white button-up shirt, black suit, matching bow and a pair of long matching tailored pants. The wedded couple was arm-in-arm as they looked straight at the camera.
Along with the photos, Beyonce exclaimed in the caption of the post, "Happy Valentine's Day to you, sending lots of love." She also set one of her newly-released singles titled "TEXAS HOLD 'EM", which she surprisingly unleashed on Sunday, February 11, as the background music of the post.
Lady GaGa And Joaquin Phoenix Get Romantic In New 'Joker: Folie A Deux' Photos On Valentine's Day
Love is in the air on Valentine's Day and Todd Phillips is also embracing the romantic spirits. Making use of the special day, the director promoted his upcoming film "Joker: Folie a Deux" by sharing new photos highlighting the main couple of the movie.
On Wednesday, February 14, the filmmaker let out the pictures via his Instagram page, before they were reposted on the "Joker" movie's official account. The first picture features Joaquin Phoenix's title character a.k.a. Arthur Fleck and Lady GaGa's Harley Quinn meeting face to face.
Fleck sports his clown face makeup and a red suit while standing in front of his love interest, who dons a black outfit. The black background adds a rather mysterious and ominous feel to the romantic setting.
Two other photos were unleashed in black and white. One of the snaps shows the pair meeting while Fleck is behind bars. The two get cozy despite being separated by metal gate, with Fleck putting his head through it to have his nose touch Quinn's. In the third and last picture, the twosome dances in what looks like a stage.
Plot details have been kept under wraps, but it has been reported that the film would be a musical. Besides returning as director, Phillips writes the script for the upcoming movie with Scott Silver.
In November, cinematographer Lawrence Sher teased that "Joker 2" is "a big swing" and will be "really surprising to people." He told Definition Magazine, "We've got the new Joker coming out next year and were just finishing up post-production on it. This movie is a big swing and it’s going to be really surprising to people. I'm so excited for everyone to see it."
Zazie Beetz is set to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond. Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey have also been added to the cast in undisclosed roles.
The Fantastic Four Casting and New Release Date Revealed by Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios has not only revealed a new July 25, 2025, release date for The Fantastic Four, but also the big news that it will star Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm.
Marvel Studios shared the big news on X/Twitter with an awesome poster that features all of these characters together celebrating Valentine's Day. In a nice touch, it also includes the loveable robot H.E.R.B.I.E. and includes an image on the wall of Moss-Bachrach's Ben Grimm as a NASA Astronaut before he was turned into The Thing.
The rumors for the casting of The Fantastic Four have been some of the biggest floating around in the world of Marvel, and now we finally have our answers. It also confirms John Krasinski, who starred as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, will not be reprising the role in this film... at least in the starring role. You never know with the multiverse!
Pascal, who is continuing to build is impressive resume after The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, and more, was reported to be taking the role back in November 2023 and that turned out to be true.
The Fantastic Four is part of MCU's ongoing Phase 5 and has been in the works for some time. It will see Matt Shkman as director and Josh Friedman was said to be brought on to rewrite a script first written by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer.
We don't know much more about the film, but we do know that it won't be an origin story and will take inspiration in part from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This tracks as Shakman has been a director and executive producer for the show alongside his work on Succession, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Boys, Fargo, and much more.
LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company to Launch Men’s Grooming Line
LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company is getting in on the men’s grooming game.
The production company has teamed up with Parlux to develop a seven-product collection of skin, hair and beard care products inspired by TSHC’s Emmy Award-winning show, The Shop.
Co-created by Paul Rivera and Randy Mims, the series — now approaching its seventh season — sees James and Maverick joined by a host of guests for conversations about entertainment, sports, politics, community and the textures of daily life. Past guests include Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Osaka, David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, Jason Sudeikis and others.
“We created The Shop out of a deep love and passion for the barbershop experience,” said Rivera in a statement exclusively to WWD. “Our show was designed to bring people inside the shop for the debates, the arguments and the therapy you can only get at a true neighborhood spot. Now, we want to give people another side to the experience.”
To that end, The Shop Men’s Grooming Line will roll out to roughly 1,600 Walmart doors on April 1. Priced under $10 per product, the range aims to offer male consumers of all ages an accessible, solution-led approach to personal care.
“We’re so excited to welcome The Shop and their new line of men’s grooming products to our growing assortment, and believe our customers will love the high-performance products at an exceptional value,” said Creighton Kiper, vice president, merchandising, beauty, Walmart U.S., in a statement.
The debut collection will feature an exfoliating face wash, soothing shave cream, aftershave-toner, hydrating facial lotion, deep-conditioning beard cream, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, and a styling pomade.
“From our very first meeting, Parlux saw the tremendous potential and opportunity for The Shop to create a grooming line as a natural extension of the show and their community,” said Lori Singer, president of Parlux, which is also the partner for Drake’s Better World Fragrance House and Billie Eilish’s fragrance line. She added that the vegan, cruelty-free range “encapsulates The Shop’s values of high performance, empowerment and self care.”
Having initially launched on Max in 2018, The Shop has since taken to YouTube, where new episodes air via TSHC’s Uninterrupted channel. Most recently, the show wrapped up a five-installment historically Black college and university tour in December, and Season 7 is slated to debut in March.
Arrest made in theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue in Kansas
On Tuesday (Feb. 13), The Associated Press reported that a 45-year-old white man was arrested in the theft of a Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita, KS. Ricky Alderete was charged with felony theft and aggravated criminal damage to property in the case. He also was charged with identity theft and making false information over an October 2022 incident involving a pawn ticket.
According to Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan, authorities are looking for others in connection with the highly publicized theft. “When you try to take something from this community, it won’t tolerate it,” he stated. While no additional details were given, Sullivan did promise more information after other suspects are apprehended.
Back in January, surveillance video showed at least two thieves hauling the Jackie Robinson statue away from Wichita’s McAdams Park after cutting the sculpture at its ankles, leaving only its feet at the crime scene. It was found “smoldering” in a trash can some days later.
“I’m frustrated by the actions of those individuals who had the audacity to take the statue of Jackie Robinson from a park where kids and families in our community gather to learn the history of Jackie Robinson, an American icon, and play the game of baseball,” Sullivan said during a news conference at the time of the incident. “This should upset all of us.” Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson described the situation as “horrendous” and “disgusting.” “Many people want to find those folks before law enforcement,” Johnson added.
League 42, a Little League Baseball nonprofit named after Robinson’s number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, were said to have paid about $50,000 for the statue, which was installed in 2021. “Jackie overcame so much adversity in his life and was able to become the first Black player in Major League Baseball,” read a message from League 42’s website. “We are inspired by his story.”
Tiffany Haddish responds to Mo'Nique's "Club Shay Shay" remarks: "I understand and I respect her"
On Monday (Feb. 12), “Entertainment Tonight” shared an interview with Tiffany Haddish that took place during Super Bowl LVIII weekend. During the exchange, reporter Nischelle Turner asked the comedian about comments that Mo’Nique made about her during a recent “Club Shay Shay” appearance.
“I am grateful and thankful that I am on the minds of people I look up to,” Haddish said. “It felt like an auntie talking. You know how we do. So I was like, ‘Dang, I been on your mind? I didn’t even know I was on your mind.’ So I’m grateful.”
The Girls Trip star continued, “I didn’t know if there was a mutual love and respect because she’s not my friend, so I get it. I’m not close to her. We never had a conversation about it. So, at the end of the day, I understand and I respect her. I do have respect for her. That’s it.”
Haddish then made it clear that she’d prefer to discuss the issues with Mo’Nique directly. “I’d rather not do anything behind anybody’s back. I’d rather do it to your face,” she added. “I come from the 1900s; we talk to your face. If I got a problem with you, I’ll tell you to your face. I’m 100 with it. Everybody that I have a problem with, they know I have a problem with them and the whole world don’t know.”
Back in 2018, Haddish spoke on Mo’Nique’s then-battle with Netflix to GQ. “I don’t live her life. I don’t have that husband of hers,” she said, referring to the Baltimore talent’s spouse, Sidney Hicks. “I’m looking at how [Netflix has] opened up so many opportunities for Black females and comedy.”
During her sit-down on “Club Shay Shay,” Mo’Nique addressed those remarks. “Tiffany, if you had a husband like mine, you may not have two DUIs,” she told host Shannon Sharpe. “If you had a husband like mine, you may not be caught up in what looks like you could have been grooming a child. And I say that with no judgment, but when you speak about having a husband like mine, you open up the door.”
Jess Hilarious Reveals She’s Pregnant with Second Child
*Jess Hilarious announced on “The Breakfast Club” this week she and her boyfriend Chris are expecting a baby.
Chris called into the show to share his excitement about their “little bundle of joy.”
As Rap-Up reports, Chris said, “Hey, baby. It’s your man. I wanted to call and say, ‘Happy birthday.’ I know it’s a special day for you. I can’t wait to see you. I’m so proud of you. I love that you’re staying divine all the time, and you’re such an amazing woman. I can’t wait to see you later, and I’m so excited for our little bundle of joy, babe.”
Jess confirmed she’s pregnant with her second child, as she has an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Some fans noted in the comments of The Breakfast Club’s clip of the segment on Instagram that Jess appeared to be caught off guard by her boyfriend’s announcement, and perhaps she wasn’t ready to make this reveal. In the comments, one IG user wrote, “Getting a new job and immediately telling them you bout to go on maternity leave is crazy!!”
Last month, Jess officially joined “The Breakfast Club” as the newest co-host of the popular NYC-based radio show, iHeart Radio announced on Jan. 29.
She joins current longtime hosts Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy on the daily morning program.
“I’m very excited to have Jess Hilarious join The Breakfast Club. She is a force in her own right, an actress, comedian, podcaster and now, the co-host of The Breakfast Club,” said Thea Mitchem, iHeartMedia executive vice president of programming in a press release, Billboard reports.
“Jess was the standout choice to join Charlamagne and DJ Envy to build upon The Breakfast Club’s legacy of entertaining, informing, and enlightening the community,” the statement continued.
Jess added, “I’m looking forward to joining forces with one of the largest media platforms. I’m confident that taking the third seat at The Breakfast Club will show people that Jess Hilarious is not just comedy, but culture.”
A ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Got Beyoncé And Queen Latifah Confused Despite A ‘Greatest Rappers Of All Time’ Category
The world is still abuzz over the Queen Bey. This past Sunday (February 11), Beyoncé broke the internet after dropping two new country singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Showcasing her versatility, Bey continues to show us that she can nail any genre.
In fact, she did so last year when she dropped her rap single, “My House,” which premiered in tandem with her Renaissance concert film. As a result of her fire bars, one might think this would put her on some sort of greatest rappers of all time list. At least, such was the case for a contestant on Jeopardy.
In a category for “50 Greatest Rappers of All Time,” contestants were given a prompt, which read “She invited us to ‘come into my house’ and also deal with ‘the wrath of my madness’; We bow down before this queen.”
One contestant answered, “Who is Beyoncé?” presumably thinking the prompt was referring to “My House.” Unfortunately, this was not the correct answer.
Another contestant answered “Who is Queen Latifah,” which was in fact, the correct answer. The prompt was alluding to Latifah’s songs, “Come Into My House” and “Wrath Of My Madness” from her 1989 album, All Hail The Queen.
Florida School Requires Parental Consent for Students To Participate In Read Aloud By African American Author
Due to state law, a Florida school district is requiring parents’ consent to allow their children to participate in a book reading by an African American author.
According to the form, the “read-aloud” is scheduled for Tuesday to have certain guests, like firemen/doctors/artists, attend the event.
“I had to give permission for this or else my child would not participate,” said parent Charles Walter, whose daughter attends Coral Way K–8 in Miami.
Walter claimed that after seeing it, he verbally agreed with the teacher to let Eva participate, but he was informed that his daughter would not be allowed to do so if the signed form was not returned.
“My daughter didn’t even mention it to me,” Walter said. “She didn’t want me to sign it because she thought it would be boring.”
He said, “The idea that kids can have a say in what activities they participate in is really strange. And then the idea that some kids would be taken out of class just seems bizarre.”
Enacted to align with the 2022 Parental Rights in Education law, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, this requirement limits discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades.
According to Walter, whose other daughter is in fourth grade at the same school, he never had to sign a permission slip for either child to participate in a read-aloud or to listen to a guest speaker.
“It was obviously quite shocking to receive the form,” Walter said. “I hope that the school district recognizes that people aren’t in agreement with this policy and reconsiders.”
Since at least November, Miami-Dade County public schools have been operating under a permission form policy that mandates that they get parents’ permission for a number of events, such as having a guest speaker visit a class.
A spokesperson for the school district said in a statement: “We realize that the description of the event may have caused confusion, and we are working with our schools to reemphasize the importance of clarity for parents in describing activities/events that would require parental permission. However, in compliance with State Law, permission slips were sent home because guest speakers would participate during a school-authorized education-related activity.”
According to the state’s education commissioner, Manny Diaz Jr., “Florida does not require a permission slip to teach African American history or to celebrate Black History Month. Any school that does this is completely in the wrong.”
At a recent school board meeting, board member Steve Gallon III raised concerns about the policy’s fair implementation, particularly questioning if teachers would need parental permission for a Holocaust survivor guest speaker.
“I don’t want this to be a narrative that is restricted to Black history and African American history.”
In response, Walter Harvey, the district’s general counsel, and John Pace III, the deputy superintendent, said that any guest speaker, including a Holocaust survivor, would require parental consent.
Jennifer Lopez Says That Upcoming Album “Might Be Her Last Album Ever”
Jennifer Lopez says that her upcoming album, “This Is Me… Now,” could be her final venture in music, hinting at retirement.
During an interview with ET, J.Lo said, “The truth is, I don’t even know if I’ll ever make another album after this. It’s such the kind of quintessential Jennifer Lopez J.Lo project, and I really feel very fulfilled, so they really will be collector’s items at a certain point.”
She then expressed her uncertainty about creating another album, sarcastically saying, “Don’t tell Benny [Medina] that that’s what I’m thinking.”
J.Lo’s upcoming album is a sequel to “This Is Me… Then,” released in 2002.
“I feel like it’s the end of a kind of an era for me and the beginning of a new one, so I would never say never, but right now I feel like I really put my heart and soul into this, and I’m very excited, and it definitely took a lot out of me,” she added.
In addition to her album, she will star in a movie inspired by her music, This Is Me… Now: A Love Story which is set to be released by Prime Video.
Lizz Wright 2024 World Tour dates:
March 5 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands
March 7 - Tivoli Vredenburg - Utrecht, Netherlands
March 8 - Muziekcentrum Frits Philips - Eindhoven, Netherlands
March 10 - Kino SC - Zagreb, Croatia
March 11 - Columbia Theater - Berlin, Germany
March 13 - Ostrow Cultural Center - Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland
March 14 - Synagoga Pod Białym Bocianem - Wrocław, Poland
March 15 - Cadogan Hall - London, United Kingdom
April 5-7 - Brennan's Bar & The Carlyle Room - Washington, DC, United States
April 10 - City Winery Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA, United States
April 11 - Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club - Portsmouth, NH, United States
April 12 - City Winery Boston - Boston, MA, United States
April 14 - City Winery New York - New York, NY, United States
April 27 - Koerner Hall - Toronto, ON, Canada
April 28 - Space - Evanston, IL, United States
July 8 - Jazz à Vienne - Vienne, France
July 10 - Jazz Open - Stuttgart, Germany - Stuttgart, Germany
#HipHopNews: Lil Yachty Dropping Joint Album With Singer James Blake
Lil Yachty announces he's dropping a new joint album with English singer James Blake.
On Tuesday night (Feb. 13), Lil Yachty shared a video on his Instagram page captioned "this is real..soon." In the post, which can be seen below, Boat announces he has been working on a full length LP with James Blake.
"I mean, granted, I think James has worked with a quite substantial amount of hip-hop artists. But this project is so left for both of us," the Quality Control rapper says in the clip.
“And then, aside from the one picture that James posted, which—he doesn’t have many followers actually—I don’t think people know that we know each other exist. So it’s just gon’ be like, 'What the f**k? When they do this?'"
Chance The Rapper, Vince Staples, RZA and others. In 2017, he went on tour with Kendrick Lamar. Most recently, he was featured on Travis Scott's Utopia album on the tracks "Lost Forever, "Til Further Notice" and "Delresto (Echoes)."
Janet Jackson Sported Double Pigtails and Oxford Heels at Thom Browne’s NYFW Show
Janet Jackson has arrived at New York Fashion Week, attending Thom Browne’s Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show on Feb. 14 in a look straight from the designer himself.
The “All For You” singer wore a crisp white calf-length jacket with black trim over a suited look consisting of a black buttoned jacket dress underneath a white shirt and black tie. The dichromatic color palette continued, with Jackson wearing black-and-white heeled Oxford shoes and an oversized black tweed briefcase bag. The pop icon further accessorized her look with large hoop earrings and horn-rimmed glasses.
The look was part of a matching set with her close friend, Queen Latifah — the rapper’s ensemble included a structured black vest dress worn over a white shirt with red, white, and blue piping around the arm, and a black tie. Instead of a tweed bag, Latifah accessorized with an oversized clock-shaped purse from the brand. The pair sat next to each other in the front row during the Edgar Allan Poe-inspired show, and also posed for pictures with Browne. (See InStyle’s footage from the Thom Browne show, here.)
1 Dead, At Least 21 Others Wounded In Shooting Following Chiefs Super Bowl Celebration Rally
Authorities are still working to determine a total number of victims, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said.
In addition to the fatality, 21 other people suffered gunshot wounds, Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said.
The shooting is just the latest instance of gun violence disrupting American life at places once considered safe. This one was at a sports celebration with a huge crowd. Others have been at churches, schools, grocery stores, outlet malls, hospitals, college campuses and house parties. In June 2023, two people were shot as fans were leaving a celebration of the Denver Nuggets’ NBA title.
Kansas City-area radio station KKFI said DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan died after being shot at the rally.
“Lisa was one of our programmers/DJs on Taste of Tejano. Like all our programmers, she was a volunteer who donated her time and talent to KKFI. … Their show has brought a voice to the KC community that is missed in the mainstream media,” said Kelly Dougherty, director of development and communications for the station. Dougherty called Lopez-Galvan an amazing person and said she went to the rally to be with the community and celebrate the championship.
Police said earlier they were working to identify the person who died and gave no further details about the victim.
Law enforcement and medical personnel gather around an injured person.
Graves told reporters three people had been detained for questioning. “We are working to determine if one of the three are the one that was in (a) video where fans assisted police.”
CNN spoke with four hospitals that received 29 patients from the shooting. Officials said 19 of those people were treated for gunshot wounds. Three of the wounded were in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Children’s Mercy Hospital received 12 patients from the incident, according to Stephanie Meyer, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. Eleven of those are children between the ages 6 and 15. Nine of the children were shot and all are expected to recover, spokesperson Lisa Augustine said.
An estimated 1 million people were in downtown Kansas City celebrating their team’s back-to-back Super Bowl championship, and the area where the shooting took place in Union Station was steps away from where the team held a victory rally for thousands of fans after the parade ended.
Children were able to come see their football heroes as school districts in the Kansas City metro area had canceled classes to allow students to attend the celebration.
Players were still on the stage of the Chiefs’ victory rally when the shooting took place, mingling with each other after it had ended. While some people had begun filtering out of the area, it was still packed with fans – who began to flee in fear after the sound of the shots.
Graves said guns were recovered at the scene but she couldn’t specify how many. More than 800 law enforcement officers were in the area for the event when the shooting happened on the west side of Union Station, she said.
All of the Chiefs players, coaches and staff who attended are safe and accounted for, Mayor Quinton Lucas said at the news conference.
Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce wrote on X: “I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me.”
Madison Anderes, 24, said she thought fireworks were going off but, but a man in front of them turned and yelled, “He’s got a gun. He’s got a gun.”
She said she heard more pops; these were louder.“That’s when all chaos broke out,” Anderes said, who was knocked down on the ground when everyone started running. “I felt like I was going to die. I felt like a sitting duck and I was going to get shot.”
The celebration started with Chiefs players crowded on double-decker buses, waving to fans as they rolled through the city. Kelce was spotted on the same bus as Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes but it did not appear that his girlfriend, megastar musician Taylor Swift, was able to make the trip. Swift has tour dates in Australia this weekend.
It didn’t take long for some players to leave their rides to walk the parade route, high-fiving fans and some even handing out a few libations to people who had been waiting throughout the morning to cheer on the Chiefs.
A victory rally following the parade featured several players toasting the team’s connection with the city – statements made all the more poignant in the aftermath as people fled in fear.
“Everything we did this year was because of you guys,” said Chris Jones, the team’s standout defensive lineman.
“Chiefs Kingdom, y’all are the reason we do what we do,” Mahomes said. After the shooting, he posted on X: “Praying for Kansas City.”
The Chiefs have cemented themselves as the NFL’s latest dynasty with this championship, their third in five years. Mahomes, who at 28 years of age has already made a claim to the title of greatest quarterback ever, ran along the parade route with his arms outstretched – a similar pose to the one he made after tossing the winning touchdown in overtime on Sunday.
Mahomes certainly enjoyed last year’s parade, too, at one point handing a fan the Lombardi Trophy and then apparently forgetting about it as he walked away. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt held onto the trophy this year, keeping it aboard his double-decker bus and away from the grasp of his quarterback – and any fans with whom he might have left it.
Championship parades are often a time for players to let loose and blow off steam as they revel in their victory ahead of the offseason. In a virtual news conference on Tuesday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters it has been “mentioned a couple of times” to his players not to go too overboard with the celebrations.
“It’s great to have fun but be smart,” he added.
Joe Hennessy, a reporter for local station KCTV, posted a video on X of Chiefs fans arriving at the parade route at 4 a.m. to secure their places at the front.
“Chiefs fans are built different!” he wrote.
Nkechi Diallo, FKA Rachel Dolezal, Loses Job After School District Discovers OnlyFans Account
Julie Farbarik, the district’s director of alumni & community relations, confirmed the news to News 4 Tucson, sharing in a statement that Diallo’s “posts are contrary to our district’s ‘Use of Social Media by District Employees’ policy and our staff ethics policy.”
According to Farbarik, the administration learned of her OnlyFans account Tuesday, Feb. 13. Explicit photos from the risqué account have been shared to various sites, including a screenshot of the former NAACP chapter president bending over and letting it breathe in front of her Christmas tree. It remains unclear if the photos were shared by Diallo or a subscriber.
“We only learned of Ms. Nkechi Diallo’s OnlyFans social media posts yesterday afternoon,” Farbarik added. “She is no longer employed by the Catalina Foothills School District.”
Diallo was allegedly making $19 an hour in her teaching gig and sold content on OnlyFans for $9.99 a month, The Post reports.
There was no shortage of reactions to the news on social media. Check them out below.
As Dolezal, she was outed in 2015 as a white woman falsely posing as a Black person, largely for career gain, as she held a position as the Spokane, Wa. President of the NAACP. She was also a prominent African Studies professor in Washington State.
During a 2021 interview with Tamron Hall, she explained the difficulties she faced attempting to find work after the scandal.
“I started with applying for all of the things I was qualified for, and after interviews and getting turned down, I even applied to jobs that didn’t even require degrees, being a maid at a hotel, working at a casino. I wasn’t able to get any of those jobs either.”
Usher Reveals Plans For New Drama Series About Black Love In Atlanta
Universal Studio Group, for a new drama series that will bring his music to life.
“My 30-year catalog has resonated with so many people no matter where they were in their lives,” Usher said in a statement. “I’m happy to be working with UCP to bring the music to life. I hope the series resonates with you the way my music continues to.
According to Variety, the untitled drama is about “Black love in Atlanta and individuals looking to find a place to call home.” The series, overall, will “explore music, style, sex, romance, and secrets that threaten to tear relationships apart.”
There is a chance Usher will return to acting and make an appearance on the show, but that has not been confirmed. His on-screen credits include a recurring role on Moesha and leading film roles such as In The Mix and Light It Up.
Amid news of the TV series, Usher shared photos from his intimate wedding. The family affair took place on Super Bowl Sunday. His wife, Jennifer, donned a veil that read “Mrs. Raymond.” The couple exchanged rings as their children—who all wore matching looks— sat in the back of the vintage convertible.
In the caption of the photo set, Usher referenced his new song, “One Of Them Ones,” along with his wedding date.
On the D’Mile-produced record, the 45-year-old father sings of an eternal love: “This right here/ This that s**t that’ll have you all inside of your feelings/ Confessin’ your love for the one/ This right here (Right here)/ Gon’ make you put a ring on it/ Makin’ calls about your feelings/ ’Fessin’ your love for the one/ All because you found one of them ones.”
Usher also recently announced more dates for his upcoming Past Present Future Tour, set to kick off in Atlanta this August.
Will Smith To Star As Iraq War Veteran In Upcoming Thriller ‘Sugar Bandits’
Per Variety, the film is written by Chuck Hogan and based on his book Devils in Exile. Hogan also boasts credits in The Town and The Strain. In Sugar Bandits, the main character teams up with other vets to target the drug trade in Boston. The movie was reportedly first announced back in 2013.
Sugar Bandits will be produced by Smith and Jon Mone through Westbrook Studios with Ryan Shimazaki overseeing. Stuart Ford will produce for AGC Studios, and Richard Abate will produce for 3 Arts Entertainment.
Smith’s last major film was Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation in 2022, which sold to Apple TV+ in Cannes for a market record deal of $120 million. Prior to that was 2021’s Oscar-winning King Richard film, a movie based on the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams.
The Fresh Prince is also working on a sequel to I Am Legend, the 2007 blockbuster starring him as a lone scientist in a deadly plague. The follow-up film is set to feature Micheal B. Jordan as the lead and see Smith reprising his role.
A lot has happened in the life of Will Smith over the past year, and he provided an update in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter about where he is at mentally as of lately. “I have to be clear about who I am and what I am attempting to do in the world,” he said. “And I can’t need others to applaud for me to stay focused on my mission… I want you to feel good. And at the same time, I am deeply human. And I am in the process of perfecting my virtue.”
Beyonce Shows Skin In Sexy Lace Dress On Valentine's Day
Beyonce Knowles has offered social media users a glimpse of her sizzling outfit for Valentine's Day. The "Break My Soul" hitmaker showed some skin in a raunchy lace dress as she posed with her husband Jay-Z.
On Wednesday, February 14, the 42-year-old superstar uploaded a series of photos, which she compiled into a video, on her Instagram page. In some of the pictures, she could be seen leaving little to the imagination in a see-through gown, which was long enough to touch the floor.Queen Bey put on a busty and leggy display in the sleeveless black dress that came with sheer black lace on most of its parts. The gown also had a plunging neckline, two spaghetti straps and ruffle details on the wearer's thighs down to her feet. Despite showing off her cleavage, she covered her private area with a pair of black thong undies.
The "If I Were a Boy" songstress enhanced the all-black look with a black leather belt featuring a gold embellishment on its front side, and a pair of sheer black gloves, which were high enough to cover slightly above her elbows. She also rocked a black cowboy hat and high heels.
For the special day, Beyonce accessorized herself with a number of rings featuring green stones. She looked stunning with her bold makeup, including dark red lipstick, long lashes and black eyeliner. In addition, her long platinum tresses cascaded down her back and were styled in loose waves.
In a few of the pictures, Queen Bey struck a pose with Jay-Z, who looked clean in a white button-up shirt, black suit, matching bow and a pair of long matching tailored pants. The wedded couple was arm-in-arm as they looked straight at the camera.
Along with the photos, Beyonce exclaimed in the caption of the post, "Happy Valentine's Day to you, sending lots of love." She also set one of her newly-released singles titled "TEXAS HOLD 'EM", which she surprisingly unleashed on Sunday, February 11, as the background music of the post.
Lady GaGa And Joaquin Phoenix Get Romantic In New 'Joker: Folie A Deux' Photos On Valentine's Day
Love is in the air on Valentine's Day and Todd Phillips is also embracing the romantic spirits. Making use of the special day, the director promoted his upcoming film "Joker: Folie a Deux" by sharing new photos highlighting the main couple of the movie.
On Wednesday, February 14, the filmmaker let out the pictures via his Instagram page, before they were reposted on the "Joker" movie's official account. The first picture features Joaquin Phoenix's title character a.k.a. Arthur Fleck and Lady GaGa's Harley Quinn meeting face to face.
Fleck sports his clown face makeup and a red suit while standing in front of his love interest, who dons a black outfit. The black background adds a rather mysterious and ominous feel to the romantic setting.
Two other photos were unleashed in black and white. One of the snaps shows the pair meeting while Fleck is behind bars. The two get cozy despite being separated by metal gate, with Fleck putting his head through it to have his nose touch Quinn's. In the third and last picture, the twosome dances in what looks like a stage.
Plot details have been kept under wraps, but it has been reported that the film would be a musical. Besides returning as director, Phillips writes the script for the upcoming movie with Scott Silver.
In November, cinematographer Lawrence Sher teased that "Joker 2" is "a big swing" and will be "really surprising to people." He told Definition Magazine, "We've got the new Joker coming out next year and were just finishing up post-production on it. This movie is a big swing and it’s going to be really surprising to people. I'm so excited for everyone to see it."
Zazie Beetz is set to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond. Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey have also been added to the cast in undisclosed roles.
The Fantastic Four Casting and New Release Date Revealed by Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios shared the big news on X/Twitter with an awesome poster that features all of these characters together celebrating Valentine's Day. In a nice touch, it also includes the loveable robot H.E.R.B.I.E. and includes an image on the wall of Moss-Bachrach's Ben Grimm as a NASA Astronaut before he was turned into The Thing.
The rumors for the casting of The Fantastic Four have been some of the biggest floating around in the world of Marvel, and now we finally have our answers. It also confirms John Krasinski, who starred as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, will not be reprising the role in this film... at least in the starring role. You never know with the multiverse!
Pascal, who is continuing to build is impressive resume after The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, and more, was reported to be taking the role back in November 2023 and that turned out to be true.
The Fantastic Four is part of MCU's ongoing Phase 5 and has been in the works for some time. It will see Matt Shkman as director and Josh Friedman was said to be brought on to rewrite a script first written by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer.
We don't know much more about the film, but we do know that it won't be an origin story and will take inspiration in part from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This tracks as Shakman has been a director and executive producer for the show alongside his work on Succession, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Boys, Fargo, and much more.
LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company to Launch Men’s Grooming Line
LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company is getting in on the men’s grooming game.
The production company has teamed up with Parlux to develop a seven-product collection of skin, hair and beard care products inspired by TSHC’s Emmy Award-winning show, The Shop.
Co-created by Paul Rivera and Randy Mims, the series — now approaching its seventh season — sees James and Maverick joined by a host of guests for conversations about entertainment, sports, politics, community and the textures of daily life. Past guests include Tracee Ellis Ross, Naomi Osaka, David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, Jason Sudeikis and others.
“We created The Shop out of a deep love and passion for the barbershop experience,” said Rivera in a statement exclusively to WWD. “Our show was designed to bring people inside the shop for the debates, the arguments and the therapy you can only get at a true neighborhood spot. Now, we want to give people another side to the experience.”
To that end, The Shop Men’s Grooming Line will roll out to roughly 1,600 Walmart doors on April 1. Priced under $10 per product, the range aims to offer male consumers of all ages an accessible, solution-led approach to personal care.
“We’re so excited to welcome The Shop and their new line of men’s grooming products to our growing assortment, and believe our customers will love the high-performance products at an exceptional value,” said Creighton Kiper, vice president, merchandising, beauty, Walmart U.S., in a statement.
The debut collection will feature an exfoliating face wash, soothing shave cream, aftershave-toner, hydrating facial lotion, deep-conditioning beard cream, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, and a styling pomade.
“From our very first meeting, Parlux saw the tremendous potential and opportunity for The Shop to create a grooming line as a natural extension of the show and their community,” said Lori Singer, president of Parlux, which is also the partner for Drake’s Better World Fragrance House and Billie Eilish’s fragrance line. She added that the vegan, cruelty-free range “encapsulates The Shop’s values of high performance, empowerment and self care.”
Having initially launched on Max in 2018, The Shop has since taken to YouTube, where new episodes air via TSHC’s Uninterrupted channel. Most recently, the show wrapped up a five-installment historically Black college and university tour in December, and Season 7 is slated to debut in March.
Arrest made in theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue in Kansas
On Tuesday (Feb. 13), The Associated Press reported that a 45-year-old white man was arrested in the theft of a Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita, KS. Ricky Alderete was charged with felony theft and aggravated criminal damage to property in the case. He also was charged with identity theft and making false information over an October 2022 incident involving a pawn ticket.
According to Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan, authorities are looking for others in connection with the highly publicized theft. “When you try to take something from this community, it won’t tolerate it,” he stated. While no additional details were given, Sullivan did promise more information after other suspects are apprehended.
Back in January, surveillance video showed at least two thieves hauling the Jackie Robinson statue away from Wichita’s McAdams Park after cutting the sculpture at its ankles, leaving only its feet at the crime scene. It was found “smoldering” in a trash can some days later.
“I’m frustrated by the actions of those individuals who had the audacity to take the statue of Jackie Robinson from a park where kids and families in our community gather to learn the history of Jackie Robinson, an American icon, and play the game of baseball,” Sullivan said during a news conference at the time of the incident. “This should upset all of us.” Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson described the situation as “horrendous” and “disgusting.” “Many people want to find those folks before law enforcement,” Johnson added.
League 42, a Little League Baseball nonprofit named after Robinson’s number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, were said to have paid about $50,000 for the statue, which was installed in 2021. “Jackie overcame so much adversity in his life and was able to become the first Black player in Major League Baseball,” read a message from League 42’s website. “We are inspired by his story.”
Tiffany Haddish responds to Mo'Nique's "Club Shay Shay" remarks: "I understand and I respect her"
“I am grateful and thankful that I am on the minds of people I look up to,” Haddish said. “It felt like an auntie talking. You know how we do. So I was like, ‘Dang, I been on your mind? I didn’t even know I was on your mind.’ So I’m grateful.”
The Girls Trip star continued, “I didn’t know if there was a mutual love and respect because she’s not my friend, so I get it. I’m not close to her. We never had a conversation about it. So, at the end of the day, I understand and I respect her. I do have respect for her. That’s it.”
Haddish then made it clear that she’d prefer to discuss the issues with Mo’Nique directly. “I’d rather not do anything behind anybody’s back. I’d rather do it to your face,” she added. “I come from the 1900s; we talk to your face. If I got a problem with you, I’ll tell you to your face. I’m 100 with it. Everybody that I have a problem with, they know I have a problem with them and the whole world don’t know.”
Back in 2018, Haddish spoke on Mo’Nique’s then-battle with Netflix to GQ. “I don’t live her life. I don’t have that husband of hers,” she said, referring to the Baltimore talent’s spouse, Sidney Hicks. “I’m looking at how [Netflix has] opened up so many opportunities for Black females and comedy.”
During her sit-down on “Club Shay Shay,” Mo’Nique addressed those remarks. “Tiffany, if you had a husband like mine, you may not have two DUIs,” she told host Shannon Sharpe. “If you had a husband like mine, you may not be caught up in what looks like you could have been grooming a child. And I say that with no judgment, but when you speak about having a husband like mine, you open up the door.”
Jess Hilarious Reveals She’s Pregnant with Second Child
*Jess Hilarious announced on “The Breakfast Club” this week she and her boyfriend Chris are expecting a baby.
Chris called into the show to share his excitement about their “little bundle of joy.”
As Rap-Up reports, Chris said, “Hey, baby. It’s your man. I wanted to call and say, ‘Happy birthday.’ I know it’s a special day for you. I can’t wait to see you. I’m so proud of you. I love that you’re staying divine all the time, and you’re such an amazing woman. I can’t wait to see you later, and I’m so excited for our little bundle of joy, babe.”
Jess confirmed she’s pregnant with her second child, as she has an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Some fans noted in the comments of The Breakfast Club’s clip of the segment on Instagram that Jess appeared to be caught off guard by her boyfriend’s announcement, and perhaps she wasn’t ready to make this reveal. In the comments, one IG user wrote, “Getting a new job and immediately telling them you bout to go on maternity leave is crazy!!”
Last month, Jess officially joined “The Breakfast Club” as the newest co-host of the popular NYC-based radio show, iHeart Radio announced on Jan. 29.
She joins current longtime hosts Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy on the daily morning program.
“I’m very excited to have Jess Hilarious join The Breakfast Club. She is a force in her own right, an actress, comedian, podcaster and now, the co-host of The Breakfast Club,” said Thea Mitchem, iHeartMedia executive vice president of programming in a press release, Billboard reports.
“Jess was the standout choice to join Charlamagne and DJ Envy to build upon The Breakfast Club’s legacy of entertaining, informing, and enlightening the community,” the statement continued.
Jess added, “I’m looking forward to joining forces with one of the largest media platforms. I’m confident that taking the third seat at The Breakfast Club will show people that Jess Hilarious is not just comedy, but culture.”
A ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Got Beyoncé And Queen Latifah Confused Despite A ‘Greatest Rappers Of All Time’ Category
In fact, she did so last year when she dropped her rap single, “My House,” which premiered in tandem with her Renaissance concert film. As a result of her fire bars, one might think this would put her on some sort of greatest rappers of all time list. At least, such was the case for a contestant on Jeopardy.
In a category for “50 Greatest Rappers of All Time,” contestants were given a prompt, which read “She invited us to ‘come into my house’ and also deal with ‘the wrath of my madness’; We bow down before this queen.”
One contestant answered, “Who is Beyoncé?” presumably thinking the prompt was referring to “My House.” Unfortunately, this was not the correct answer.
Another contestant answered “Who is Queen Latifah,” which was in fact, the correct answer. The prompt was alluding to Latifah’s songs, “Come Into My House” and “Wrath Of My Madness” from her 1989 album, All Hail The Queen.
Florida School Requires Parental Consent for Students To Participate In Read Aloud By African American Author
Due to state law, a Florida school district is requiring parents’ consent to allow their children to participate in a book reading by an African American author.
According to the form, the “read-aloud” is scheduled for Tuesday to have certain guests, like firemen/doctors/artists, attend the event.
“I had to give permission for this or else my child would not participate,” said parent Charles Walter, whose daughter attends Coral Way K–8 in Miami.
Walter claimed that after seeing it, he verbally agreed with the teacher to let Eva participate, but he was informed that his daughter would not be allowed to do so if the signed form was not returned.
“My daughter didn’t even mention it to me,” Walter said. “She didn’t want me to sign it because she thought it would be boring.”
He said, “The idea that kids can have a say in what activities they participate in is really strange. And then the idea that some kids would be taken out of class just seems bizarre.”
Enacted to align with the 2022 Parental Rights in Education law, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, this requirement limits discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades.
According to Walter, whose other daughter is in fourth grade at the same school, he never had to sign a permission slip for either child to participate in a read-aloud or to listen to a guest speaker.
“It was obviously quite shocking to receive the form,” Walter said. “I hope that the school district recognizes that people aren’t in agreement with this policy and reconsiders.”
Since at least November, Miami-Dade County public schools have been operating under a permission form policy that mandates that they get parents’ permission for a number of events, such as having a guest speaker visit a class.
A spokesperson for the school district said in a statement: “We realize that the description of the event may have caused confusion, and we are working with our schools to reemphasize the importance of clarity for parents in describing activities/events that would require parental permission. However, in compliance with State Law, permission slips were sent home because guest speakers would participate during a school-authorized education-related activity.”
According to the state’s education commissioner, Manny Diaz Jr., “Florida does not require a permission slip to teach African American history or to celebrate Black History Month. Any school that does this is completely in the wrong.”
At a recent school board meeting, board member Steve Gallon III raised concerns about the policy’s fair implementation, particularly questioning if teachers would need parental permission for a Holocaust survivor guest speaker.
“I don’t want this to be a narrative that is restricted to Black history and African American history.”
In response, Walter Harvey, the district’s general counsel, and John Pace III, the deputy superintendent, said that any guest speaker, including a Holocaust survivor, would require parental consent.
Jennifer Lopez Says That Upcoming Album “Might Be Her Last Album Ever”
During an interview with ET, J.Lo said, “The truth is, I don’t even know if I’ll ever make another album after this. It’s such the kind of quintessential Jennifer Lopez J.Lo project, and I really feel very fulfilled, so they really will be collector’s items at a certain point.”
She then expressed her uncertainty about creating another album, sarcastically saying, “Don’t tell Benny [Medina] that that’s what I’m thinking.”
J.Lo’s upcoming album is a sequel to “This Is Me… Then,” released in 2002.
“I feel like it’s the end of a kind of an era for me and the beginning of a new one, so I would never say never, but right now I feel like I really put my heart and soul into this, and I’m very excited, and it definitely took a lot out of me,” she added.
In addition to her album, she will star in a movie inspired by her music, This Is Me… Now: A Love Story which is set to be released by Prime Video.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Little Red Riding Hood
It’s so important to be your raw and authentic self because remember, there’s only one you out there!
It’s so important to be your raw and authentic self because remember, there’s only one you out there!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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