#MAGFAB: Beyoncé for Essence Magazine #editorial
Cute!
#RHOA: Porsha Williams’ Announces Her Divorce! And Simon is UNBOTHERED!
Cute!
#RHOA: Porsha Williams’ Announces Her Divorce! And Simon is UNBOTHERED!
The husband of returning “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams has shared an unapologetic Instagram post amidst rumors that the newlywed could be deported.
Simon Guobadia was reportedly denied permanent residency in the United States due to a criminal record and is currently appealing the decision, according to court documents as previously reported. The news comes with a staggering series of allegations against Guobadia and just after Williams announced her return to the reality show following a three-year hiatus.
The Nigerian businessman reportedly came to the U.S. on a six-month visitor’s visa in 1982 but returned to Nigeria in 1985 after overstaying the visa. Guobadia was denied citizenship after marrying his first wife, Karron English, according to recent revelations. He came back to the U.S. in 1986 on another six-month visa but again failed to return home after the visa expired. Reports also claim he pleaded guilty in 1987 after he was arrested for felony bank and credit card fraud.
Between 1988 and 1991, Guobadia allegedly using a fake identity on his temporary resident pass-through and failing to disclose his criminal past on immigration documents. He was also allegedly arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle and credit card fraud, resulting in his deportation in 1992.
However, his 1988 application was approved and Guobadia was issued a green card. He returned to the U.S. and applied for citizenship again in 2016, but he was denied because “his temporary resident status was unlawfully granted,” the court documents purportedly say.
In 2020 and 2022, Guobadia was denied again. He filed a complaint to challenge the decision in 2023, but it was denied in early 2024. Despite his immigration drama, Guobadia seemed unfazed about his possible deportation in a post shared on Instagram on Feb. 20. The post featured Guobadia seated in a golf cart smoking a cigar.
“Happy Tuesday to all who ever overcame and persevered in life,” he wrote on Feb. 20 “You are winning. #42yearsLivinginAmerica.”
One fan replied, “If unbothered was a person! Great sense of humor.”
Porsha and Simon were married in 2022 following the 59-year-old’s divorce from Falynn Guobadia, Williams’ co-star on “RHOA.” The couple’s relationship caused a scandal that played out on the reality show due to many speculating about the timing of when he and Porsha began dating.
It’s unclear if the 42-year-old knew about her husband’s history before their nuptials. But fans are anticipating season 16 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” will be interesting given Guobadia’s immigration issues.
#NewMusic from Noel Gourdin “You (I’m Ready)”
Veteran soul crooner returns with the brand new single “You (I’m Ready)”. The song was produced by Lorenzo Johnson, and written by Gourdin along with Canita Rogers and Marquis Green.
LISTEN HERE
Simon Guobadia was reportedly denied permanent residency in the United States due to a criminal record and is currently appealing the decision, according to court documents as previously reported. The news comes with a staggering series of allegations against Guobadia and just after Williams announced her return to the reality show following a three-year hiatus.
The Nigerian businessman reportedly came to the U.S. on a six-month visitor’s visa in 1982 but returned to Nigeria in 1985 after overstaying the visa. Guobadia was denied citizenship after marrying his first wife, Karron English, according to recent revelations. He came back to the U.S. in 1986 on another six-month visa but again failed to return home after the visa expired. Reports also claim he pleaded guilty in 1987 after he was arrested for felony bank and credit card fraud.
Between 1988 and 1991, Guobadia allegedly using a fake identity on his temporary resident pass-through and failing to disclose his criminal past on immigration documents. He was also allegedly arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle and credit card fraud, resulting in his deportation in 1992.
However, his 1988 application was approved and Guobadia was issued a green card. He returned to the U.S. and applied for citizenship again in 2016, but he was denied because “his temporary resident status was unlawfully granted,” the court documents purportedly say.
In 2020 and 2022, Guobadia was denied again. He filed a complaint to challenge the decision in 2023, but it was denied in early 2024. Despite his immigration drama, Guobadia seemed unfazed about his possible deportation in a post shared on Instagram on Feb. 20. The post featured Guobadia seated in a golf cart smoking a cigar.
“Happy Tuesday to all who ever overcame and persevered in life,” he wrote on Feb. 20 “You are winning. #42yearsLivinginAmerica.”
One fan replied, “If unbothered was a person! Great sense of humor.”
Porsha and Simon were married in 2022 following the 59-year-old’s divorce from Falynn Guobadia, Williams’ co-star on “RHOA.” The couple’s relationship caused a scandal that played out on the reality show due to many speculating about the timing of when he and Porsha began dating.
It’s unclear if the 42-year-old knew about her husband’s history before their nuptials. But fans are anticipating season 16 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” will be interesting given Guobadia’s immigration issues.
#NewMusic from Noel Gourdin “You (I’m Ready)”
Veteran soul crooner returns with the brand new single “You (I’m Ready)”. The song was produced by Lorenzo Johnson, and written by Gourdin along with Canita Rogers and Marquis Green.
LISTEN HERE
This is his first offering since the release of the previous single “Getcha” which came out last year.
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Fans Create Missing Poster in Search of Rapper and Put Up Around Miami – Is It an Album Rollout?
Cardi B fans have been circulating a fake "Missing" poster of the Bronx rapper in Miami, sparking speculation about a potential album rollout.
On Saturday (Feb. 24), Cardi B fan page @UpdatesofCardi on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared a fake "Missing" poster of Cardi B asking their followers to repost it on social media. The phony poster, which can be viewed below, features a photo of the Bronx rapper and information about her age, height, weight, sex, gender and more.
According to the poster, Cardi was reportedly last seen on Jan. 1, 2024, in Miami. The fan page also included the hashtag #WhereIsCardi, which fans can tag on their social media posts.
Following the release of the fake "Missing" poster of Cardi B, people in Miami started posting a paper copy of the image all around the city. One fan even walked around the Miami streets holding up a sign with the "Missing" poster to get people's attention about Cardi's alleged disappearance.
Fans are so concerned about the Grammy Award-winning rhymer's whereabouts, that people in Mexico, Paris and New York City have joined in the search. But still no Cardi.
Although the poster states that Cardi was last seen on Jan. 1, Cardi and her rumored ex-husband, Offset, were spotted together on a Valentine's Day date. So, she hasn't disappeared. Instead, the Grammy-winning artist is simply enjoying her life.
Clean Water Advocate,Passionate and Outspoken Flint City Councilman Eric Mays Passes Away
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays has passed away. Eric Mays was a third-term councilman who represented Flint's First Ward.
He was beloved for his bold and courageous service on behalf of Flint’s First Ward, and his strong presence will be deeply missed.
“This is a tremendous loss for our community and a shock to all friends and family,” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “As our community grieves during this difficult time, on behalf of Councilman Mays’ family, we ask that community members respect their privacy and allow them time and space to mourn. We continue to lift the family in prayer.”
The flag at Flint City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in his honor beginning Monday, February 26.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Video appears to show Cam Newton in scuffle at youth football event
A video surfaced Sunday that appears to show 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton involved in a scuffle at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta.
It seems to show Newton, wearing one of his custom-made hats, being shoved by three people near the top of a set of steps before the pushing, shoving and grabbing moves toward a fence line. The video lasts less than 30 seconds before the altercation is broken up by a police officer and event security personnel at the We Ball Sports x DynastyU 7v7 tournament at B.E.S.T. Academy.
Newton, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft out of Auburn, does not appear to throw any punches in the video and seems to be fending off three other people. There is one punch thrown in Newton's direction, but it is unclear if it landed on the former quarterback.
It also is uncertain what prompted the altercation. Newton, who is from Atlanta, runs C1N, an organization founded in 2021 that focuses on developing young athletes' skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7-on-7 tournaments and other events, according to Newton's website. The website indicates the organization's mission is to create an environment that fosters growth and development on and off the field, helping young athletes achieve their goals in football and life.
C1N plays in tournaments across the country.
Newton's 15-and-under team won the championship at the event, according to a post by Newton on X.
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Newton's representatives Sunday night were unsuccessful.
Newton hasn't played in the NFL since 2021, when he spent a portion of the season with the Carolina Panthers, the same team that drafted him.
Newton enjoyed 11 campaigns in the NFL, throwing for more than 32,000 yards and 194 touchdowns. He also ran for 75 TDs during his time with the Panthers and the New England Patriots.
AT&T to give $5 credits to customers affected by widespread service outage
AT&T announced Sunday that it would give $5 in bill credit to thousands of customers affected by last week's widespread cellphone service outage.
The outage on Thursday affected more than 70,000 customers at its peak but included waves earlier in the day, when outages for more than 32,000 and 50,000 customers were reported.
"We apologize for Thursday’s network outage," said AT&T, based in Dallas. "We recognize the frustration this outage has caused and know we let many of our customers down."
The company said in a statement the day of the outage that an initial review found the lack of service was "caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack."
The outage drew an investigation from the Federal Communications Commission, with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security lending a hand, White House officials said.
AT&T said the $5 credit could take two bill cycles to take effect, and it added that the reduction won't apply to prepaid, business and Cricket Wireless customers.
"For the portion of consumer and small business customers most impacted by the outage, we are automatically applying an account credit," it said.
The company said it was also working to ensure such an outage isn't repeated
Judge Luke Bryan To Be Replaced By Jelly Roll On 'American Idol'
"American Idol" will allegedly feature a new face in the upcoming season 23. According to a new report, the long-running singing competition show is planning to have judge Luke Bryan replaced with another country star, Jelly Roll.
It's said that Luke may not return for the show's next season because he wants to spend more time with wife Caroline and their two teen sons. A source told the National Enquirer, "It's doubtful Luke will continue on Idol after this season, so they're bringing Jelly on to test the waters and see how viewers react."
However, some ABC honchos are allegedly hesitant about making Jelly a full-time judge. The insider added, "Their only worry is that Jelly is such a sweet guy, he won't have the heart to be brutally honest in critiquing a contestant - but he would instantly make the show hotter and more relevant!"
The source further noted that Luke has given Jelly his personal endorsement to join the series, which also features Lionel Richie and Katy Perry as judges. Luke himself has been open when it comes to his admiration for the "Bottle and Mary Jane" singer, who was jailed 40 times before finding redemption.
"Every time I'm around the guy, he's just so intriguing and interesting," Luke gushed. "You know, life's journey is not all squeaky clean and beautiful, with no bumps in the road. I think he lets a lot of people not feel alone."
The new report came after Katy shared that the current season of "American Idol" would be her last. "I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for 'Idol'," so she told Jimmy Kimmel on his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". "I mean, I love 'Idol' so much. It's connected me with, like, the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat, you know what I'm saying?"
#BoxOfficeNews: 'Bob Marley: One Love' is still The No. 1 Film in America!"Bob Marley: One Love" still received much love from the audience in its second week. Paramount's musical biopic about the late singer is unchallenged from the top spot of the North American box office despite the arrival of several newcomers.
The film added an estimated $13.5 million from 3,597 theaters on its second weekend, a 53% decline from its debut. The movie, which was produced for about $70 million, has eclipsed that mark, grossing $71.1 million domestically and $120 million globally so far following its surprising box office debut that surpassed expectations.
"Some of his greatest hits came out nearly 50 years ago, but his music still resonates through this film," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore.
"One Love" strong performance holds off newcomer "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training" from taking over the first place. The latest installment in the Japanese animated film series from Crunchyroll and Sony debuts to an estimated $11.7 million in the second place.
The first-week ticket sales of the dark fantasy movie are slightly better than its predecessor, 2023's "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village" ($10.1 million in its initial weekend) but far behind 2021's "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" ($21 million amid pandemic-era theater closures). Still, it's an impressive number considering the fact that the latest "Demon Slayer" movie only played in 1,949 locations, far less than "One Love" with 3,597.
Meanwhile, "Ordinary Angels" starring Hilary Swank opened at No. 3 with an estimated $6.5 million from 3,020 theaters. "When faith-based dramas connect, they can go on a run, and 'Ordinary Angels' is set up to do that," David A. Gross of movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research predicts. However, he notes, "Faith-based dramas play almost exclusively in the domestic market, with limited potential overseas."
Placing fourth this week is "Madame Web", which drops two slots after adding an estimated $6 million to its domestic gross. "Migration" slides from No. 4 to No. 5 with approximately $3 million.
"There might not be any huge blockbuster films recently, but there some real gems out there for moviegoers to see," said Dergarabedian of the movies currently playing in theaters, before the release of "Dune: Part Two" on March 1. He added, "It's the calm before the sandstorm."
Top 10 of North American Box Office (Feb. 23-25, 2024):
"Bob Marley: One Love" - $13.5 million
"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training" - $11.6 million
"Ordinary Angels" - $6.5 million
"Madame Web" - $6 million
"Migration" - $3 million
"Argylle" - $2.8 million
"Wonka" - $2.5 million
"Drive-Away Dolls" - $2.4 million
"The Beekeeper" - $1.96 million
"The Chosen: S4 Episodes 4-6" - $1.8 million
Quinta Brunson discusses her favorite memes and “Abbott Elementary” on “Hot Ones”
Quinta Brunson joined First We Feast’s “Hot Ones” to discuss her Emmy-winning series, "Abbott Elementary," comedy, and her favorite memes of all time.
Playing Janine Teagues in the TV show, Brunson spoke about her character's evolution from a "plain Jane" with questionable fashion and hair choices to someone who embraces personal growth. "It looks bad on purpose. She’s a girl who doesn’t quite know what to do with her hair and wardrobe yet, but she’s proud of herself regardless and that’s what I wanted people to take away with that kind of character,” the actress and writer explained.
Elsewhere, Brunson highlighted the impact of Keenen Ivory Wayans on her career. She noted, "Just finding out how much he studied comedy. Clearly, he was a natural, but I was like, if he studied, then I definitely have to study, too. You have to educate yourself. For some reason, people think they don’t have to educate themselves about entertainment and that is sad to me.”
“Abbott Elementary” season three premiered on Feb. 7 and will run a total of 14 episodes. It stars Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Chris Perfetti, to mention a few. The show was also renewed for a fourth installment, which is reportedly slated to air on ABC in fall 2024.
“I just appreciate the access of network comedy,” Brunson told Deadline in May 2023. “I’m even starting to get a little confused with how many streaming services are available, and I’m young and of this era, but there’s so much. I enjoy all those different streaming platforms, but it felt like ABC was a very safe place to go.”
Toward the end of “Hot Ones,” the Peabody Award winner revealed her favorite memes. Among them was Idris Elba coughing after eating a spicy wing on the same show and a viral compilation of Tokyo Toni saying, “Well, yes! Well, sorta kinda. Well, no.”
Man Who Was Blasted In ‘Who TF Did I Marry?’ TikTok Series Responds, Says His Ex-Wife Is Lying’
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Fans Create Missing Poster in Search of Rapper and Put Up Around Miami – Is It an Album Rollout?
Cardi B fans have been circulating a fake "Missing" poster of the Bronx rapper in Miami, sparking speculation about a potential album rollout.
On Saturday (Feb. 24), Cardi B fan page @UpdatesofCardi on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared a fake "Missing" poster of Cardi B asking their followers to repost it on social media. The phony poster, which can be viewed below, features a photo of the Bronx rapper and information about her age, height, weight, sex, gender and more.
According to the poster, Cardi was reportedly last seen on Jan. 1, 2024, in Miami. The fan page also included the hashtag #WhereIsCardi, which fans can tag on their social media posts.
Following the release of the fake "Missing" poster of Cardi B, people in Miami started posting a paper copy of the image all around the city. One fan even walked around the Miami streets holding up a sign with the "Missing" poster to get people's attention about Cardi's alleged disappearance.
Fans are so concerned about the Grammy Award-winning rhymer's whereabouts, that people in Mexico, Paris and New York City have joined in the search. But still no Cardi.
Although the poster states that Cardi was last seen on Jan. 1, Cardi and her rumored ex-husband, Offset, were spotted together on a Valentine's Day date. So, she hasn't disappeared. Instead, the Grammy-winning artist is simply enjoying her life.
Clean Water Advocate,Passionate and Outspoken Flint City Councilman Eric Mays Passes Away
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays has passed away. Eric Mays was a third-term councilman who represented Flint's First Ward.
He was beloved for his bold and courageous service on behalf of Flint’s First Ward, and his strong presence will be deeply missed.
“This is a tremendous loss for our community and a shock to all friends and family,” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “As our community grieves during this difficult time, on behalf of Councilman Mays’ family, we ask that community members respect their privacy and allow them time and space to mourn. We continue to lift the family in prayer.”
The flag at Flint City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in his honor beginning Monday, February 26.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Video appears to show Cam Newton in scuffle at youth football event
A video surfaced Sunday that appears to show 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton involved in a scuffle at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta.
It seems to show Newton, wearing one of his custom-made hats, being shoved by three people near the top of a set of steps before the pushing, shoving and grabbing moves toward a fence line. The video lasts less than 30 seconds before the altercation is broken up by a police officer and event security personnel at the We Ball Sports x DynastyU 7v7 tournament at B.E.S.T. Academy.
Newton, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft out of Auburn, does not appear to throw any punches in the video and seems to be fending off three other people. There is one punch thrown in Newton's direction, but it is unclear if it landed on the former quarterback.
It also is uncertain what prompted the altercation. Newton, who is from Atlanta, runs C1N, an organization founded in 2021 that focuses on developing young athletes' skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7-on-7 tournaments and other events, according to Newton's website. The website indicates the organization's mission is to create an environment that fosters growth and development on and off the field, helping young athletes achieve their goals in football and life.
C1N plays in tournaments across the country.
Newton's 15-and-under team won the championship at the event, according to a post by Newton on X.
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Newton's representatives Sunday night were unsuccessful.
Newton hasn't played in the NFL since 2021, when he spent a portion of the season with the Carolina Panthers, the same team that drafted him.
Newton enjoyed 11 campaigns in the NFL, throwing for more than 32,000 yards and 194 touchdowns. He also ran for 75 TDs during his time with the Panthers and the New England Patriots.
AT&T to give $5 credits to customers affected by widespread service outage
AT&T announced Sunday that it would give $5 in bill credit to thousands of customers affected by last week's widespread cellphone service outage.
The outage on Thursday affected more than 70,000 customers at its peak but included waves earlier in the day, when outages for more than 32,000 and 50,000 customers were reported.
"We apologize for Thursday’s network outage," said AT&T, based in Dallas. "We recognize the frustration this outage has caused and know we let many of our customers down."
The company said in a statement the day of the outage that an initial review found the lack of service was "caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack."
The outage drew an investigation from the Federal Communications Commission, with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security lending a hand, White House officials said.
AT&T said the $5 credit could take two bill cycles to take effect, and it added that the reduction won't apply to prepaid, business and Cricket Wireless customers.
"For the portion of consumer and small business customers most impacted by the outage, we are automatically applying an account credit," it said.
The company said it was also working to ensure such an outage isn't repeated
Judge Luke Bryan To Be Replaced By Jelly Roll On 'American Idol'
"American Idol" will allegedly feature a new face in the upcoming season 23. According to a new report, the long-running singing competition show is planning to have judge Luke Bryan replaced with another country star, Jelly Roll.
It's said that Luke may not return for the show's next season because he wants to spend more time with wife Caroline and their two teen sons. A source told the National Enquirer, "It's doubtful Luke will continue on Idol after this season, so they're bringing Jelly on to test the waters and see how viewers react."
However, some ABC honchos are allegedly hesitant about making Jelly a full-time judge. The insider added, "Their only worry is that Jelly is such a sweet guy, he won't have the heart to be brutally honest in critiquing a contestant - but he would instantly make the show hotter and more relevant!"
The source further noted that Luke has given Jelly his personal endorsement to join the series, which also features Lionel Richie and Katy Perry as judges. Luke himself has been open when it comes to his admiration for the "Bottle and Mary Jane" singer, who was jailed 40 times before finding redemption.
"Every time I'm around the guy, he's just so intriguing and interesting," Luke gushed. "You know, life's journey is not all squeaky clean and beautiful, with no bumps in the road. I think he lets a lot of people not feel alone."
The new report came after Katy shared that the current season of "American Idol" would be her last. "I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for 'Idol'," so she told Jimmy Kimmel on his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". "I mean, I love 'Idol' so much. It's connected me with, like, the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat, you know what I'm saying?"
#BoxOfficeNews: 'Bob Marley: One Love' is still The No. 1 Film in America!"Bob Marley: One Love" still received much love from the audience in its second week. Paramount's musical biopic about the late singer is unchallenged from the top spot of the North American box office despite the arrival of several newcomers.
The film added an estimated $13.5 million from 3,597 theaters on its second weekend, a 53% decline from its debut. The movie, which was produced for about $70 million, has eclipsed that mark, grossing $71.1 million domestically and $120 million globally so far following its surprising box office debut that surpassed expectations.
"Some of his greatest hits came out nearly 50 years ago, but his music still resonates through this film," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore.
"One Love" strong performance holds off newcomer "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training" from taking over the first place. The latest installment in the Japanese animated film series from Crunchyroll and Sony debuts to an estimated $11.7 million in the second place.
The first-week ticket sales of the dark fantasy movie are slightly better than its predecessor, 2023's "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village" ($10.1 million in its initial weekend) but far behind 2021's "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" ($21 million amid pandemic-era theater closures). Still, it's an impressive number considering the fact that the latest "Demon Slayer" movie only played in 1,949 locations, far less than "One Love" with 3,597.
Meanwhile, "Ordinary Angels" starring Hilary Swank opened at No. 3 with an estimated $6.5 million from 3,020 theaters. "When faith-based dramas connect, they can go on a run, and 'Ordinary Angels' is set up to do that," David A. Gross of movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research predicts. However, he notes, "Faith-based dramas play almost exclusively in the domestic market, with limited potential overseas."
Placing fourth this week is "Madame Web", which drops two slots after adding an estimated $6 million to its domestic gross. "Migration" slides from No. 4 to No. 5 with approximately $3 million.
"There might not be any huge blockbuster films recently, but there some real gems out there for moviegoers to see," said Dergarabedian of the movies currently playing in theaters, before the release of "Dune: Part Two" on March 1. He added, "It's the calm before the sandstorm."
Top 10 of North American Box Office (Feb. 23-25, 2024):
"Bob Marley: One Love" - $13.5 million
"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training" - $11.6 million
"Ordinary Angels" - $6.5 million
"Madame Web" - $6 million
"Migration" - $3 million
"Argylle" - $2.8 million
"Wonka" - $2.5 million
"Drive-Away Dolls" - $2.4 million
"The Beekeeper" - $1.96 million
"The Chosen: S4 Episodes 4-6" - $1.8 million
Quinta Brunson discusses her favorite memes and “Abbott Elementary” on “Hot Ones”
Quinta Brunson joined First We Feast’s “Hot Ones” to discuss her Emmy-winning series, "Abbott Elementary," comedy, and her favorite memes of all time.
Playing Janine Teagues in the TV show, Brunson spoke about her character's evolution from a "plain Jane" with questionable fashion and hair choices to someone who embraces personal growth. "It looks bad on purpose. She’s a girl who doesn’t quite know what to do with her hair and wardrobe yet, but she’s proud of herself regardless and that’s what I wanted people to take away with that kind of character,” the actress and writer explained.
Elsewhere, Brunson highlighted the impact of Keenen Ivory Wayans on her career. She noted, "Just finding out how much he studied comedy. Clearly, he was a natural, but I was like, if he studied, then I definitely have to study, too. You have to educate yourself. For some reason, people think they don’t have to educate themselves about entertainment and that is sad to me.”
“Abbott Elementary” season three premiered on Feb. 7 and will run a total of 14 episodes. It stars Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Chris Perfetti, to mention a few. The show was also renewed for a fourth installment, which is reportedly slated to air on ABC in fall 2024.
“I just appreciate the access of network comedy,” Brunson told Deadline in May 2023. “I’m even starting to get a little confused with how many streaming services are available, and I’m young and of this era, but there’s so much. I enjoy all those different streaming platforms, but it felt like ABC was a very safe place to go.”
Toward the end of “Hot Ones,” the Peabody Award winner revealed her favorite memes. Among them was Idris Elba coughing after eating a spicy wing on the same show and a viral compilation of Tokyo Toni saying, “Well, yes! Well, sorta kinda. Well, no.”
Man Who Was Blasted In ‘Who TF Did I Marry?’ TikTok Series Responds, Says His Ex-Wife Is Lying’
The man who was described by his ex-wife in a viral 50-part series known as “Who TF Did I Marry?” is claiming she was unfaithful and he left her.
An Atlanta woman known as Reesa Teesa on TikTok took the internet by storm after she shared several videos describing her ex-husband as a pathological liar. Teesa referred to her ex as “Legion” in the videos, but he has now been identified as Jerome “JC” Rome McCoy.
Viral TikToker Reesa Teesa details how she married a man she barely knew during the pandemic.
Teesa said they met on Facebook, and McCoy later rescued her when her tire blew on her way to their first date. He paid the bill for the repair as well as for their date, and the two soon became close over time. The COVID-19 pandemic soon followed, and despite only dating for two weeks and going against her Christian values, Teesa claimed she and McCoy moved in together because she didn’t want to quarantine alone. She also loved the idea of someone else helping with her bills.
Teesa said that McCoy claimed to be a former arena football player who worked at Apple in California before moving to Atlanta for a job as the VP of a condiment company. Teesa also said that McCoy convinced her that he could afford a $700,000 home, and the two were married in January of 2021.
By June, she had kicked him out, and they were divorced. Teesa later discovered that everything McCoy had told her was a lie, including his job. She said she found out McCoy was actually a forklift driver at a temp company, not a VP. She also learned that he allegedly used fake social security numbers on their mortgage documents, was on probation, and faked phone conversations with his family and friends.
Teesa also accused McCoy of failing to pick her up from the hospital following a miscarriage and revealed that he once impersonated a police officer.
“I just know that everything was a lie. I have not found anything that proves something was true,” she said. “I did not pay attention to the United Nations of red flags, and I’m paying the consequences for that.”
McCoy responded in a video of his own circulating online, where he accused Teesa of being the liar and cheating on him with a man named Bradley.
“Straight lying. It’s sad. It’s completely false, he began, “She lied about everything.”
“We went to marriage counseling, didn’t work, and we broke up,” he continued, “But all my message to her is please stop lying to these people and tell them the real reason I left you. You cheated. I caught you in the house with Bradley.”
He also noted that he plans to tell his side of the story but hasn’t decided which platform he will tell it to.
After the video was shared on The Jasmine Brand’s Instagram page, many were shocked by the recent revelation One fan was shocked by the number of videos shared by Teesa. “This is crazy. I’m not watching a 50-part story about someone’s Lyin husband & I damn sure not investigating to find his identity. Y’all need internet restrictions.”
Another fan wrote, “That scratch on the head mean he did whatever she said he did!” A third added, “The audacity he about to get online and lie to us too.”
Teesa added that she shared her story as a cautionary tale for others, in hopes of avoiding what happened to her.
Jeffrey Wright wins Best Actor at The Independent Spirit Awards
Jeffrey Wright took home the award for best lead performance at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards for his role in American Fiction.
When Wright made his way to the stage to accept the award from presenter Colman Domingo, he expressed how thrilled he was to receive the honor from the actor. “Wow, thank you, thank you. And to receive this from you, Colman, man … it’s just a beautiful gift,” he gushed.
“It’s funny, you go to these awards shows, [and] you kind of grow tired of them and then you get one and uh … kind of changes the vibe,” he joked, met with raucous laughter.
He recalled attending the Independent Spirit Awards back in 1997, when he was up for best debut performance for his starring role in Basquiat. “The first time I was here at the Independent Spirit Awards, I had the opportunity to meet, for the first time, Muhammad Ali, who was here with his film When We Were Kings and who was an absolute hero of mine and remains so to this day. So this adds to wonderful memories of this event,” he said.
Wright then gave a blunt explanation as to why American Fiction was made as an indie film despite its all-star cast, which besides the actor includes Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown and Adam Brody. “The reason that our film was independent at the start was because nobody wanted to finance it—except for Ram Bergman and Rian Johnson,” he said referencing the movie’s T-Street executive producers.
Besides thanking his co-stars, Wright made sure to thank his “smart, scrappy crew who, one day, when we were filming on a beach, one of them raised a pirate flag above the grip truck.” He joked, “If that doesn’t tell you what independent filmmaking is, nothing will.”
Wright beat out nine other nominees, which included Jessica Chastain (Memory), Greta Lee (Past Lives), Trace Lysette (Monica), Natalie Portman (May December), Judy Reyes (Birth/Rebirth), Franz Rogoswki (Passages), Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers), Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One) and Teo Yoo (Past Lives).
This marks the actor’s first Spirit Awards win after being nominated two times prior. Besides his Basquiat nomination, he was previously up for best supporting male for his role in Broken Flowers.
The 39th annual Independent Spirit Awards streamed live on Film Independent and IMDb’s YouTube channels and X (formerly known as Twitter) pages.
Keke Palmer Son Leo's First Birthday, Shares Sweet Tribute
Keke Palmer is celebrating a major milestone in her son’s life! The 30-year-old entertainer’s little one Leodis, aka Leo, just turned one years old, and she took to social media to celebrate his birthday by sharing a super sweet message.
“I gave LIFE! Greatest day of my life. Nothing else matters,” she captioned a video from the hospital when he was born.
She also shared a series of photos, and talked about how he makes her life “so worth living.”
“Leo Beo!! Happy Birthday son I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,” she started out. “You came into my life today at 3:25pm, but I knew even before then that you were the strongest person I ever knew. There were so many moments during my pregnancy where your silent strength would give me peace. This is something you still do just with your mere existence!”
“You make my life so worth living. If I’m being honest I have always teeter tottered with life. I have just always been so annoyed by it and the ups and the downs and it has always seemed so painful for trivial reasons. Things could be so simple and they’re not and that always gave me a bitter feeling,” Keke continued. “But since you my son, I have no confusion on why I am here! On my purpose or my value or why I should stay. I wanna stay for you. I want to be here to love and protect you and watch you be the good in this world!”
“You are so special and so precious I would take a thousand bullets to the chest, run into a burning building, essentially I’d die a thousand deaths… or actually I’d LIVE, I’d live a million lives. Even with all the pain and suffering one has to experience here. I will do it over and over again, because I know that I’d be with YOU! I will live, I will smile, I will cry, I’ll be angry, I’ll have love and I’ll have pain, I will find JOY. I will do all the things.. for you. It’s so easy to say no, it’s so easy to say GOODBYE. But I say YES and I say HELLO to LIFE because of YOU! I’m so happy for my son. Thank you God. I love you so much buddy.”
Happy birthday Leo!!!
Tyler Perry Puts $800M Studio Expansion On Hold Due To AI Fears
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the media mogul spoke on the collateral damage of the text-to-video model, saying,
“Being told that it can do all of these things is one thing, but actually seeing the capabilities, it was mind-blowing.”
Perry’s plans to expand the Atlanta-based 330-acre behemoth he opened in 2008 included the addition of 12 new soundstages. However, he fears that what AI is capable of doing to the lives of creatives in Hollywood would be worse than Mike making Sheila walk up that mountain in Why Did I Get Married?
“Because as I was looking at it, I immediately started thinking of everyone in the industry who would be affected by this, including actors and grip and electric and transportation and sound and editors, and looking at this, I’m thinking this will touch every corner of our industry.”
The concern from the magnificent Madea maker is interesting. In the past, he’s proudly praised his decision to not hire other writers for his projects while allegedly refusing to hire crew members in any of the industry’s unions.
Still, Perry is willing to ring the alarm on Open-AI because of genuine concern for what comes next. He went on to tell the outlet how he feels Hollywood should approach the problem, saying,
“I just hope that as people are embracing this technology and as companies are moving to reduce costs and save the bottom line, that there’ll be some sort of thought and some sort of compassion for humanity and the people that have worked in this industry and built careers and lives, that there’s some sort of thought for them.
The fairy godfather of Black actor jobs also admitted to using AI on two upcoming projects. So, we shall see.
NASA Seeks Volunteers For Its Upcoming One Year Simulation Mission To Mars
NASA is seeking a new set of volunteers to participate in a project focused on exploring the experience of inhabiting Mars.
In a recent announcement, the space company revealed its need for additional participants interested in residing within a simulated Mars environment at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for one year.
The upcoming mission, known as CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), marks the second out of three missions. In this phase, four volunteers will reside in a 1,700-square-foot simulation named the Mars Dune Alpha. This habitat, constructed using 3D printing technology, features individual living quarters for each volunteer, a workspace, a medical station, lounge areas, a galley, and food growing stations.
During their stay in the habitat, crews will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise routines, and overseeing crop growth, as outlined by the organization.
To join the simulation, volunteers must possess a strong desire for unique experiences and an interest in aiding NASA’s preparations for the inaugural human expedition to Mars. Additionally, applicants must be between the ages of 30 and 55, non-smokers, and proficient in English.
Nevertheless, the organization further specified that crew selection will adhere to standard NASA criteria for astronaut candidates. A master’s degree in engineering, math, biology, or related sciences, along with professional experience or at least two years of doctoral work in those fields or a test pilot program, is required. Additionally, volunteers may be compensated for the mission and can qualify with 1,000 hours of piloting experience, military experience, or a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field coupled with four years of professional experience.
Alex Rodriguez Responds to People Commenting on Drastic Tan, Says He Fell Asleep in Sun
Alex Rodriguez has responded to people commenting on a deep tan he showed off while watching an NBA game courtside recently.
On Saturday, the World Series champion took to his X page, formerly Twitter, to address all the jokes that have been flying ever since he was seen with noticeably darker skin last week during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to the former New York Yankee, he was on vacation and dozed off while sitting out in the sun.
"Alright, everybody, I know that I'm dark, but I am Dominican, and I went on vacation and fell asleep in the sun, so everybody, calm down tranquilito y suavecito mi gente," A-Rod said.
Rodriguez recently celebrated his girlfriend Jaclyn Cordeiro 's birthday with a sweet Instagram tribute.
"Happy birthday and happy Valentine’s Day @jac_lynfit," he wrote." "Thank you for making everyday brighter. You are a beautiful light in my life and make me better everyday. Love you mucho!"
Air Force member dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C.
The U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., in an apparent protest against the Israel-Hamas war has died, according to a U.S. official.
The Air Force said it won’t release the name of the airman until 24 hours after his next of kin are notified.
The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department responded to a call about a person on fire outside the embassy just before 1 p.m. Sunday. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had been extinguished by members of the Secret Service.
Dressed in military fatigues, the airman filmed himself yelling “Free Palestine” before collapsing to the ground.
In a livestream, he called the Israeli crackdown in Gaza "genocide" and said what he was doing was not as extreme as the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Then he put his phone down, doused himself over the head with a liquid from a water bottle, and then set himself ablaze.
The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, D.C. Fire and EMS said. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed he was active duty.
The embassy said that no staff members were injured.
The incident comes as the Israel-Hamas war has stretched into its fourth month.
It follows a similar incident in December when a woman set herself on fire outside the Israeli Consulate General building in Atlanta. A Palestinian flag was recovered from the scene and police described the incident as an “extreme political protest.”
There have been multiple protests since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostage. Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Air Force said it won’t release the name of the airman until 24 hours after his next of kin are notified.
The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department responded to a call about a person on fire outside the embassy just before 1 p.m. Sunday. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had been extinguished by members of the Secret Service.
Dressed in military fatigues, the airman filmed himself yelling “Free Palestine” before collapsing to the ground.
In a livestream, he called the Israeli crackdown in Gaza "genocide" and said what he was doing was not as extreme as the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Then he put his phone down, doused himself over the head with a liquid from a water bottle, and then set himself ablaze.
The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, D.C. Fire and EMS said. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed he was active duty.
The embassy said that no staff members were injured.
The incident comes as the Israel-Hamas war has stretched into its fourth month.
It follows a similar incident in December when a woman set herself on fire outside the Israeli Consulate General building in Atlanta. A Palestinian flag was recovered from the scene and police described the incident as an “extreme political protest.”
There have been multiple protests since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostage. Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli military has presented the war Cabinet with a plan for the evacuation of civilians from "fighting areas" in Gaza. It comes as Netanyahu has spoken of a planned ground offensive on Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city along the border with Egypt, where 1 million Palestinians have sought safety.
International figures, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, have warned against a full-scale Israeli assault on Rafah, citing safety concerns over Palestinians seeking refuge there as well as obstruction of the flow of aid.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
No comments:
Post a Comment