#FASHIONFAB: Da’Vine Joy Randolph in Valdrin Sahiti
We thought her dress for the main event was a perfect representation of how far she’s come as a star, but we had no idea she was going to outdo herself later that night. Hat tip to her stylist they finish the look off beautifully. Love the hair and the black lip. She’s been working so hard to campaign and set herself up as a prestige actress that it’s actually fun to see her embrace being a hottie now that the pressure’s off her.
Style Credits:
– Valdrin Sahiti Dress
– De Beers Jewelry
Styled by Wayman + Micah | Hair by Tai Simon| Makeup by Sheika Daley
#RHOA: Alum NeNe Leakes Claims Porsha Williams Refused to Film With Her
NeNe Leakes slammed former Real Housewives of Atlanta costar Porsha Williams for allegedly refusing to work with her on the set of Netflix’s The Upshaws.
In a series of posts shared via Instagram Story on Friday, March 15, Leakes, 56, shared that her management company had approached her with an offer from The Upshaws (starring Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes) saying the series was “interested in casting [her] for a part” in an episode directed by Kim Fields.
“I was excited to do it. It’s a comedy, I love comedy [and] I used to have a comedy show … so comedy is something I love to do and was really happy to do it,” Leakes said. “They told me that Porsha Williams Guobadia was also playing in this particular series. She would be side-by-side with me. I was excited, I hadn’t seen Porsha. We always have a good laugh when we see each other, so I was like, ‘Me and Porsha gonna kill this part.’”
The former RHOA star reportedly landed in Los Angeles and went to the Upshaws set expecting to see Williams, 42, at the show’s rehearsal, but she was a no-show. “Porsha never came,” Leakes said. “Production called me and asked me if I had any issues with any Housewives because they were going to be recasting the other position.”
“I was later told that Porsha did not show up and said that she did not want to work with me, that we had had issues from the past and she did not want to work with me,” Leakes said, adding that she was “shocked” and “more than disappointed” by the outcome. She added that she and Williams had “double-dated a few times,” taking trips together to places like Miami, Dubai and Las Vegas.
“I am shocked to hear that Porsha would go to a production company and say that she doesn’t want to work with me because we’ve had a lot of issues in the past. What lots of issues did we have in the past?” Leakes asked. “We don’t have any issues that we can’t work together. We are professionals.”
In 2019, Williams publicly called out Leakes for “fat-shaming” her just days after giving birth to her first child. Leakes later served Williams with a cease and desist letter after she shared screenshots via Instagram of text messages Leakes had sent her at the time, wherein she allegedly called Williams “a lying ass fat hungry bitch,” among other things.
“We’ve had petty things, we’re on a reality show,” Leakes said via Instagram Story in 2024. “So we obviously are gonna have some sort of issues. But we’ve not had anything where we could not work together. I’m sad and disappointed that Porsha would go to any company and say that she’s had issues with me and that we cannot work together. That is a lie.”
Leakes also claimed she had texted Williams before posting to her Instagram Story, who allegedly replied saying she was “going through a divorce and [Leakes] didn’t reach out to little sis.” Williams filed for divorce from her husband Simon Guobadia in February after 15 months of marriage.
“The bottom line is, Porsha did not want to share the spotlight. That’s it. And professionals can share the spotlight,” Leakes concluded in her video. “Porsha is not a star. She is a Bravolebrity. Be clear.”
In December 2018, a source shared with Us Weekly that Williams was being iced out by Leakes. “There’s no reason that NeNe and Porsha can’t be friends,” the source said at the time. “It’s on NeNe’s end. There’s nothing Porsha can do to maintain a friendship with NeNe if it’s going to be like this.”
#NewMusic from Tank “Before We Get Started” Featuring Fabolous
R&B icon Tank has just unleashed his new single “Before We Get Started” featuring rapper Fabolous via R&B Money/Atlantic Records.
The song was produced by Bizness Boi and Dirk Pate and adds a hint of nostalgia, blending contemporary R&B vibes with Tank’s distinctive style.
LISTEN HERE
The accompanying music video, directed by Taj & Dre, celebrates the R&B genre. As Tank joyously commemorates his success as an R&B hitmaker, the video becomes a vibrant homage to the genre’s rich esthetic and enduring allure.
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Explains Why She Didn't Release Her Remix To Ice Spice's "Munch (Feelin' U)"
Cardi B provided insight on a few topics in her life during her interview with Speedy Morman. For the first time since Ice Spice’s ascension, Cardi B shared why she did not officially release her remix to “Munch (Feelin’ U).”
Complex reported, “In an interview with Speedy Morman for ‘360 With Speedy,’ Cardi was asked about the rumors she recorded a remix for the song alongside Central Cee. ‘I don’t know about Central Cee, but I did do a thing for Ice Spice, but I just did not like how it sounded,’ she shared at the 32:30 point of the episode, seen above. ‘I love the record, I did not like how I sound. You know, it being on a drill beat, it’s not as easy as it looks… I was like, ‘They’re gonna drag me, and they’re going to drag the song bad.””
She continued, stating, “I’m really good at being more aggressive than being, like, more sexy. I feel like I’m better off being aggressive than being sexy. So, I just felt like it was not giving, I was like, ‘I don’t even want to do this to this girl.’ The record is already great, I don’t want to f**k it up. I just hated my verse… I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is embarrassing. I can’t catch the beat for s**t.’ Doing drill music is not as easy as people think it is.”
The official remix of the record featured Nicki Minaj, serving as the two New York emcees’ first official collaboration. Cardi B also used the interview to detail her experience with cosmetic surgery, her relationship with Offset, her new album and more.
Although Cardi hasn’t formally announced her sophomore LP’s title or release date, she hinted that it would arrive before 2024 ends. On her Instagram Story, she stated, “I’m not letting my anxiety, I’m not letting what haters say, I’m not letting what fans say [stop me]… I’ve got no choice because I’m dropping my album this year.”
2024 NAACP Image Award Winners List: Fantasia, Taraji Usher, ‘The Color Purple’ And More
After a week’s worth of dinners, brunches, fashion shows, and finally, the big night, The 2024 NAACP Image Awards wrapped Saturday (March 16) after honoring the biggest names and best talent of the last year.
While most winners will come as no surprise to some, as the organization has been slowly handing out awards all week, Saturday’s broadcast brought out the big guns, with Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson and The Color Purple taking home awards in addition to those won before show. Usher also has a big night, taking home Entertainer Of The Year and President’s Award trophies.
Check out the full winners list below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
– Valdrin Sahiti Dress
– De Beers Jewelry
Styled by Wayman + Micah | Hair by Tai Simon| Makeup by Sheika Daley
#RHOA: Alum NeNe Leakes Claims Porsha Williams Refused to Film With Her
In a series of posts shared via Instagram Story on Friday, March 15, Leakes, 56, shared that her management company had approached her with an offer from The Upshaws (starring Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes) saying the series was “interested in casting [her] for a part” in an episode directed by Kim Fields.
“I was excited to do it. It’s a comedy, I love comedy [and] I used to have a comedy show … so comedy is something I love to do and was really happy to do it,” Leakes said. “They told me that Porsha Williams Guobadia was also playing in this particular series. She would be side-by-side with me. I was excited, I hadn’t seen Porsha. We always have a good laugh when we see each other, so I was like, ‘Me and Porsha gonna kill this part.’”
The former RHOA star reportedly landed in Los Angeles and went to the Upshaws set expecting to see Williams, 42, at the show’s rehearsal, but she was a no-show. “Porsha never came,” Leakes said. “Production called me and asked me if I had any issues with any Housewives because they were going to be recasting the other position.”
“I was later told that Porsha did not show up and said that she did not want to work with me, that we had had issues from the past and she did not want to work with me,” Leakes said, adding that she was “shocked” and “more than disappointed” by the outcome. She added that she and Williams had “double-dated a few times,” taking trips together to places like Miami, Dubai and Las Vegas.
“I am shocked to hear that Porsha would go to a production company and say that she doesn’t want to work with me because we’ve had a lot of issues in the past. What lots of issues did we have in the past?” Leakes asked. “We don’t have any issues that we can’t work together. We are professionals.”
In 2019, Williams publicly called out Leakes for “fat-shaming” her just days after giving birth to her first child. Leakes later served Williams with a cease and desist letter after she shared screenshots via Instagram of text messages Leakes had sent her at the time, wherein she allegedly called Williams “a lying ass fat hungry bitch,” among other things.
“We’ve had petty things, we’re on a reality show,” Leakes said via Instagram Story in 2024. “So we obviously are gonna have some sort of issues. But we’ve not had anything where we could not work together. I’m sad and disappointed that Porsha would go to any company and say that she’s had issues with me and that we cannot work together. That is a lie.”
Leakes also claimed she had texted Williams before posting to her Instagram Story, who allegedly replied saying she was “going through a divorce and [Leakes] didn’t reach out to little sis.” Williams filed for divorce from her husband Simon Guobadia in February after 15 months of marriage.
“The bottom line is, Porsha did not want to share the spotlight. That’s it. And professionals can share the spotlight,” Leakes concluded in her video. “Porsha is not a star. She is a Bravolebrity. Be clear.”
In December 2018, a source shared with Us Weekly that Williams was being iced out by Leakes. “There’s no reason that NeNe and Porsha can’t be friends,” the source said at the time. “It’s on NeNe’s end. There’s nothing Porsha can do to maintain a friendship with NeNe if it’s going to be like this.”
#NewMusic from Tank “Before We Get Started” Featuring Fabolous
R&B icon Tank has just unleashed his new single “Before We Get Started” featuring rapper Fabolous via R&B Money/Atlantic Records.
The song was produced by Bizness Boi and Dirk Pate and adds a hint of nostalgia, blending contemporary R&B vibes with Tank’s distinctive style.
LISTEN HERE
The accompanying music video, directed by Taj & Dre, celebrates the R&B genre. As Tank joyously commemorates his success as an R&B hitmaker, the video becomes a vibrant homage to the genre’s rich esthetic and enduring allure.
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Explains Why She Didn't Release Her Remix To Ice Spice's "Munch (Feelin' U)"
Complex reported, “In an interview with Speedy Morman for ‘360 With Speedy,’ Cardi was asked about the rumors she recorded a remix for the song alongside Central Cee. ‘I don’t know about Central Cee, but I did do a thing for Ice Spice, but I just did not like how it sounded,’ she shared at the 32:30 point of the episode, seen above. ‘I love the record, I did not like how I sound. You know, it being on a drill beat, it’s not as easy as it looks… I was like, ‘They’re gonna drag me, and they’re going to drag the song bad.””
She continued, stating, “I’m really good at being more aggressive than being, like, more sexy. I feel like I’m better off being aggressive than being sexy. So, I just felt like it was not giving, I was like, ‘I don’t even want to do this to this girl.’ The record is already great, I don’t want to f**k it up. I just hated my verse… I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is embarrassing. I can’t catch the beat for s**t.’ Doing drill music is not as easy as people think it is.”
The official remix of the record featured Nicki Minaj, serving as the two New York emcees’ first official collaboration. Cardi B also used the interview to detail her experience with cosmetic surgery, her relationship with Offset, her new album and more.
Although Cardi hasn’t formally announced her sophomore LP’s title or release date, she hinted that it would arrive before 2024 ends. On her Instagram Story, she stated, “I’m not letting my anxiety, I’m not letting what haters say, I’m not letting what fans say [stop me]… I’ve got no choice because I’m dropping my album this year.”
2024 NAACP Image Award Winners List: Fantasia, Taraji Usher, ‘The Color Purple’ And More
After a week’s worth of dinners, brunches, fashion shows, and finally, the big night, The 2024 NAACP Image Awards wrapped Saturday (March 16) after honoring the biggest names and best talent of the last year.
While most winners will come as no surprise to some, as the organization has been slowly handing out awards all week, Saturday’s broadcast brought out the big guns, with Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson and The Color Purple taking home awards in addition to those won before show. Usher also has a big night, taking home Entertainer Of The Year and President’s Award trophies.
Check out the full winners list below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Andra Day
Usher
Outstanding Motion Picture
The Color Purple
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – The Color Purple
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Taraji P. Henson – The Color Purple
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
India Amarteifio – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris – Snowfall
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Mike Epps – The Upshaws
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Cord Jefferson – American Fiction
Usher
Outstanding Motion Picture
The Color Purple
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – The Color Purple
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Taraji P. Henson – The Color Purple
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
India Amarteifio – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris – Snowfall
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Mike Epps – The Upshaws
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Cord Jefferson – American Fiction
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Ava DuVernay – Origin
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Chloe Bailey – Praise This
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Keith Powers – The Perfect Find
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Swarm
Outstanding Talk Series
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Sherri Shepherd – Sherri
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gail Bean – Snowfall
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes – Bel-Air
Outstanding Drama Series
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgeton Story
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
William Stanford Davis – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – The Color Purple
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Youth Performance (Motion Picture)
Mila Davis-Kent – Creed III
Outstanding Social Media Personality
Angel Laketa Moore
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Phylicia Rashad – Heaven Down Here
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Don Cheadle – Secret Invasion
Outstanding International Motion Picture
Brother
Outstanding Music Video
Chris Brown – “Sensational” feat. Davido & Lojay
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
DC Young Fly – Celebrity Squares
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
Wild ‘N Out
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
20/20 – “Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts”
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Outstanding Children’s Program
Gracie’s Corner
Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series
Leslie Jones – The Daily Show After The Cut
Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama
Doggyland
Outstanding Short Form Series – Reality/Nonfiction
I Was a Soul Train Dancer
Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)
Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
The After
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
Lil’ Ruby
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)
Issa Rae – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding News and Information Podcast
Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams
Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form
Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast
Outstanding Podcast – Scripted Series
Yes We Cannabis
Outstanding Arts, Sports and Entertainment Podcast
Here’s The Thing
Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean
Outstanding Lifestyle / Self-Help Podcast
Black Money Tree
Outstanding International Song
“Me & U” – Tems
Outstanding Jazz Album
Brand New Life – Brandee Younger
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
Father’s Day – Kirk Franklin
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
“How We Roll” – Ciara feat. Chris Brown
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
“Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
The Color Purple – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Various Producers
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Jongnic Bontemps
Outstanding Male Artist
“Good Good” – Usher with 21 Savage x Summer Walker
Outstanding Female Artist
“The Journey” – H.E.R.
Outstanding New Artist
Jaguar II – Victoria Monét
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
“Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion
Outstanding Album
Jaguar II – Victoria Monét
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
Family Lore – Elizabeth Acevedo
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
The New Brownies’ Book – Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Rootless – Krystle Zara Appiah
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography
Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?’ – Jarrett Hill and Tre’vell Anderson
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
The Talk – Darrin Bell
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
Suddenly We – Evie Shockley
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora – Kahran Bethencourt
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
Everyone’s Thinking It – Aleema Omotoni
Congrats to all the winners!
Wendy Williams’ Guardian Calls Lifetime Doc “Blatant Exploitation” In Lawsuit
In unsealed legal documents, a court-appointed guardian for Wendy Williams is taking on A+E networks regarding the shocking documentary chronicling the former television hosts’ recent health and wellness issues.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit describes Where Is Wendy Williams as “blatant exploitation,” claiming the network filmed the footage without the proper permissions. Sabrina Morrissey, acting as Williams’ guardian, suggests the 59-year-old did not have the legal or mental capacity to authorize her participation, and that she was presented the idea under false pretenses.
“This blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition who is beloved by millions within and outside of the African American community is disgusting, and it cannot be allowed,” reads the complaint, per THR.
According to the report, Morrissey attempted to block the documentary’s release, and was granted a temporary restraining order before the decision was overturned by a judge citing the First Amendment. William Selby, Williams’ manager on the project and also an executive producer alongside the broadcaster and her son Kevin Hunter Jr., was alleged to have creative control.
Selby, however, claimed to have been as shocked as Morrissey when the trailer for the documentary was allegedly released without notification.
According to the filing, it remains unclear who authorized the creation of The Wendy Experience, the company that signed off on a contract with Entertainment One to authorize footage of Williams. Allegedly created after Williams’ legal guardianship was established, the signature is said to be “not clearly legible; however, it is highly distinguishable from W.W.H.’s signature.
Williams’ publicist has also publicly spoken out against the documentary, saying “There were a lot of good moments. None of those good moments were shown.” Per THR, A+E issued its own statement saying, “We look forward to the unsealing of our papers as well, as they tell a very different story.”
In an interview published by TODAY, the filmmakers claimed to not have been aware of Williams’ diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and dementia during the production process.
“I think we all ultimately wanted to shed light on this period of time in Wendy’s life to help understand what she was going through,” detailed showrunner Erica Hanson.
“I can totally understand how, at times, it’s hard to watch. It was hard at times to film, but we wanted to be honest in painting a real picture of her isolation and her struggle with addiction. We didn’t know that she had dementia. We didn’t know that it was confusing at times. Some days, Wendy was on and very Wendy. Other days, she wasn’t. We all felt this was a complex and sensitive story to tell, and we all felt a great responsibility to do it with dignity and sensitivity.”
Celine Dion Flashes Smile In Rare Pic With Three Sons Amid Stiff-Person Syndrome Battle
In the snap, which was posted on Instagram on Friday, March 15, the 55-year-old posed between 13-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson and behind Rene-Charles Angelil, 23. She kicked off her caption, "Today the world recognizes International SPS Awareness Day. As many of you know, in the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)."
"Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the hardest experiences of my life, but I remain determined to one day get back onto the stage and to live as normal of a life as possible," the musician added. "I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you!"
Celine went on to note, "I want to send my encouragement and support to all those around the world that have been affected by SPS. I want you to know you can do it! We can do it!" She then concluded, "Love Celine xx."
Celine announced her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disease that caused her spasms, in December 2022. The health issue forced her to cancel all remaining concerts of her "Courage World Tour".
I'm so sorry to disappoint all of you once again... and even though it breaks my heart, it's best that we cancel everything until I'm really ready to be back on stage," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, last year. "I'm not giving up… and I can't wait to see you again! - Celine xx."
Jimmie Allen's Ex-Manager Drops Sexual Assault And Rape Lawsuit Against The Singer
"FeganScott can confirm that Jane Doe and Jimmie Allen have reached a mutual accord as to Plaintiff's claims and Mr. Allen's counterclaims and have agreed to dismiss them," a legal representative for the woman told PEOPLE. The decision reflects only that both parties desire to move past litigation."
Jane Doe initially filed her complaint in May 2023. She named Jimmie, his former management company, Wide Open Music, and its founder, Ash Bowers as defendants.
While Jimmie can now breathe a sigh of relief, Jane Doe still plans to sue Wide Open Music and Ash. She argued that they knew about Jimmie's alleged behavior, did nothing to protect her and fired her when she complained about it.
The first case might be dismissed, but there was another woman who has been suing Jimmie for allegedly filming her during sex. In court documents filed in June last year, Jane Doe No. 2 said she met Jimmie on a plane in 2022. At that time, she did not know who he was and he reportedly asked for her phone number.
The accuser and Jimmie had since been engaged in "daily" long-distance communication over the phone. At that time, the musician was still married to Alexis Gale but he told the woman that they had separated and wanted to marry her.
In July 2022, the woman and Jimmie had a trip to Las Vegas and that's when things turned south. She claimed Jimmie "sexually assaulted" her in his hotel room before passing out. Once she went to leave the room, she noticed that the crooner "surreptitiously and, without her consent, placed his cell phone in the closet facing the bed and had been videotaping the entire event."
Jane Doe No. 2 stated in her lawsuit that she was unable to wake Jimmie up to delete the alleged recording, so she took his phone and brought it to police. In her complaint, the woman said she's suffered "extreme emotional distress, including anxiety and depression," and has been unable to "trust" in the wake of the alleged incident. Thus she's suing Jimmie for assault, battery, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress.
'Squid Game' actor O Yeong-su gets suspended sentence in sexual harassment case
South Korean actor O Yeong-su, who starred in the first season of the hit Netflix series "Squid Game", was convicted on Friday on charges of sexual harassment and handed a suspended prison sentence, a court official said.
The Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court sentenced O to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, as well as 40 hours of attendance at a sexual violence treatment programme, the court official said by telephone
The 79-year-old actor, who was charged with two counts of sexual harassment in 2017, had denied the accusations.
As he was leaving the court, O told reporters he planned to appeal against the decision. He has seven days to appeal or the ruling will be upheld.
O was indicted in 2022 and prosecutors had previously sought a sentence of one year in prison, according to media reports. Womenlink, a women's rights group in South Korea, welcomed the ruling and urged O to apologise to the victim.
The controversy over the accusations of sexual harassment saw him dropping out of an upcoming film in South Korea.
Dr. Dre Says He Had 3 Strokes After a Brain Aneurysm in 2021
Recalling how it began, Dre explained that he woke up with extreme head pain, and his son and a friend convinced him that he needed to go to urgent care, where he was told his condition was "serious."
"Next thing you know, I’m blacking out," he said. "I’m in and out of consciousness, and I ended up in the ICU. I was there for two weeks. I’m hearing the doctors coming in and saying, you don’t know how lucky you are... It’s just something that you can’t control that just happens and during those two weeks, I had three strokes."
Dre added that one of the more frightening aspects to the ordeal was that the doctors couldn't pinpoint an exact cause of his aneurysm. "Nobody could give me an answer," he continued. "I had no idea that I had high blood pressure or anything like that because I’m on my health shit. I’m lifting weights, I’m running, I’m doing everything I can to keep myself healthy... High blood pressure in Black men, that’s just what it is. They call it the silent killer. You just have no idea, so you know, you have to keep your shit checked."
Looking back on the experience, Dre says that it "makes you appreciate being alive that’s for sure," adding: "It’s crazy, so now knowing that I had no control over that. It’s just something that could happen out of the blue. You wake up and you go, shit. OK, I’m here."
Chris Tucker addresses outrage over joke stealing
Katt Williams’ explosive “Club Shay Shay” interview that kicked off the year and flipped the comedy world upside down is still a talking point, even when the comic’s name is not mentioned. The Emmy Award winner held nothing back when calling out his peers like Cedric the Entertainer for allegedly stealing a joke.
The accusation has been addressed by Cedric a few times since the podcast episode aired, and now Chris Tucker has chimed in on the matter. In a recent interview with Atlanta radio station V-103, the Friday star said that joke stealing is a real part of their world of comedy, but the brotherhood shared between peers is far more prominent. “I tell people, like, ‘Everybody’s a part of my success’ — every comedian I ever saw in the comedy clubs, every actor — because we all picked up each other’s game. So, we all together on this,” he began.
“We like magicians, we watch each other, we don’t tell secrets. We have a problem with each other, we should say it when we see each other... say, ‘Hey man, you stole my joke’ or ‘Man, that sounds like my joke’… you know, work it out amongst each other,” added Tucker without name-dropping Williams or those who have publicly addressed similar frustrations since the viral interview.
Moreover, Tucker said that shared experiences often blur the lines of where a joke originated. “Sometimes stuff sounds like yo’ stuff. You might — and I did joke about Black presidents years ago, I’ve heard that before — so everybody has their own story. We all go through the same thing, like we all ate cereal when we were kids, we all got a mama and a daddy, so some stuff may sound like yo’ joke, and some people do steal. But that’s when you… gotta keep your game up, you gotta come up with some more material. You know, keep writing… and some stuff you do, and they cannot steal ‘cause everybody knows, ‘Wait a minute, now that’s Chris Tucker’s stuff’ or such and such.”
Elsewhere in the discussion, Tucker, who is making his return to the spotlight with “The Legend Tour," promised that he is back for good and has several other projects in the works. So, it's safe to say that fans can get used to seeing him more often again.
Bruno Mars Has Allegedly Racked Up $50 Million In Gambling Debt At MGM
According to NewsNation, Mars has allegedly racked up over $50 million in gambling debt at MGM. A source close to the matter spilled the chips with the outlet. “He owed millions to the MGM,” they said.
“[MGM] basically owns him,” they continued. “He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt. [He will] only make $1.5 million per night after taxes.”
Mars has become a staple in Las Vegas’ entertainment thanks to his residencies (including a solo run and one as part of Silk Sonic). But, based on NewsNation‘s report, the Grammy Award winner’s forthcoming series of shows at Park MGM isn’t about fan demand but more about making good on his supposed outstanding balance.
Although Mars and none of his representatives have commented on the allegation, he’s been candid about his love for casinos. For example, in 2016, he and James Corden jammed out during his “Carpool Karaoke” segment on Late Late Show, and Mars joked about his gambling kick.
With the allegations out, Mars’ 2013 story with GQ has resurfaced. In the interview, the singer reflected on how his love for gambling started back when he was 19 years old. “I used to be like a loudmouth,” he said. “You know the guy, people would want to take his money. If you do get them to lose, they’re out for you, they’re gunning for you. And that’s when they’re weak. And that’s when you jump or pounce on them.”
Mars went on to detail his first major loss of a hundred dollars. “I remember my first bet,” he said. “My hand was shaking, and a guy called me out on it and embarrassed me,” he said. “You gotta lose. You just have to lose to win, to understand.”
Bruno Mars has not addressed the claims.
Michael Imperioli responds to climate protestors who crashed his and Jeremy Strong's Broadway show: 'Wild'
"No hard feelings," the Emmy winner wrote after helping physically escort one protester from the theater.
Michael Imperioli has reacted to his “wild” night after climate protestors crashed Thursday’s preview performance of his new Broadway show, An Enemy of the People.
In video footage from the event published online, at least three Extinction Rebellion activists can be seen being physically escorted out of the Circle in the Square Theater — including one by Imperioli himself — after they disrupted the play to protest the ongoing climate crisis, shouting, “There’s no Broadway on a dead planet!”
"Tonight was wild….no hard feelings, Extinction Rebellion Crew. Michael is on your side, but Mayor Stockmann is not. Much love," Imperioli wrote on social media after the performance, referring to his character in the play.
Their protest echoes the premise of Henrik Ibsen's 1882 play. The revival, which stars Imperioli and Succession's Jeremy Strong, follows a doctor (Strong) who discovers that the town’s drinking water is poisoning residents, only to be silenced by local officials, including his brother (Imperioli).
The protestors took a stand during a unique break in the play in which a bar is brought out on stage and theatergoers are offered the chance to have a drink as its characters mill about. Actors were called to leave the stage while the protestors were removed, but many remained in character throughout the disruption, with Strong and Imperioli reacting to Extinction Rebellion as if the interruption were part of the script.
In another clip from the performance, a protestor can be heard shouting that "governments have failed us,” prompting Strong to shout back, “He’s right.”
“He’s not right!” Imperioli replied.
After the final protestor was removed from the theater, Imperioli said, "Go back to drama school."
Representatives for An Enemy of the People declined to provide a statement to EW.
In a press release obtained by EW, Extinction Rebellion claimed that their interruption of the show was intended to "peacefully protest against the use of fossil fuels." They are demanding that "the government tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, halt biodiversity loss, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
"This action follows a tradition of nonviolent civil disobedience in arts and theater, such as Parisian students’ occupation of the Odéon theater in 1968— not to mention theater itself as a powerful medium for provoking social change," the release read in part. "Today’s action highlights the failure of governments and corporations to treat climate and ecological breakdown as the crisis it is."
An Enemy of the People is set to open at the Circle in the Square Theater on March 18.
Pornhub Pulls Out of Texas Over Age-Verification Law Protest
In a statement, the popular pornography site noted that it made the “difficult decision” to “disable access” in Texas, Complex reports.
“As you may know, your elected officials in Texas are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website,” reads the message displayed to users in the state. “Not only does this impinge on the rights of adults to access protected speech, it fails strict scrutiny by employing the least effective and yet also most restrictive means of accomplishing Texas’s stated purpose of allegedly protecting minors.”
Earlier this year, Pornhub blocked access in North Carolina and Montana over bills regulating access for underage users. The site is also unavailable in Mississippi, Utah, and Virginia.
“Providing identification every time you want to visit an adult platform is not an effective solution for protecting users online, and in fact, will put minors and your privacy at risk,” the message on Pornhub’s website states.
“The safety of our users is one of our biggest concerns. We believe that the only effective solution for protecting minors and adults alike is to verify users’ age on their device and to either deny or allow access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that verification,” the message continues.
The company claims that the age verification procedures will redirect users to other websites lacking adequate safety measures.
“Texas has a right to protect its children from the detrimental effects of pornographic content,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, per Houston Chronicle.
Paxton had previously initiated legal action against Pornhub’s parent company in an attempt to compel its adherence to the law.
“I look forward to holding any company accountable that violates our age verification laws intended to prevent minors from being exposed to harmful, obscene material on the internet,” Paxton added.
Tracee Ellis Ross Shuts Down The Possibility Of A ‘Girlfriends’ Reboot: “The Ship Has Sailed”
Tracee Ellis Ross says a ‘Girlfriends’ reboot is not happening! During a recent interview with VIBE, Ross, who portrayed Joan in the show, discussed the possibility of a return to the hit series.
“The cast has always wanted to do it, but I’ll be honest with you, the ship has sailed,” Ross said. “I don’t think it’s ever going to happen. I think it would be a miracle.”
Despite a reboot is unlikely, Ross says the cast including Persia White, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones and Reggie Hayes, still keep in contact with each other.
“We have a thread of me and the girls and we text all the time,” Ross added. “We talk about it, but I think we’re all at different places in our lives and our careers now. I think there was a point 10 years ago and then when they we were all game, but we couldn’t get the powers that be to .get on board.”
She continued, “We’ve tried numerous times as a cast to make it happen, but unfortunately, we don’t own the rights to the show. We are not the producers. We are not Mara Brock Akil, CBS Paramount, or whoever the people are that own the show. Golden, Persia, Jill, Reggie and I have been game. We’ve all talked about it, but I genuinely don’t think it’s ever going to happen at this point.”
Nonetheless, Ross also recognized the fans’ longing for a reboot, stating that she, too, feels “heartbroken” over its cancellation but has since come to terms with it.
“The truth is, I think we have been broken-hearted in the past, but now we are past being broken-hearted,” Ross said. “We’re so happy that the audience still loves the show, and still wants it, but I don’t think it’s ever going to happen.”
Saucy Santana Speaks On His “Strategic Game Plan” For Navigating Homophobia In Hip-Hop
During his sit-down with host, Katya, the “Material Gworl” star talked about homophobia in Hip-Hop and if it still exists in 2024.
“It’s definitely real,” he began. “Coming into rap, I was strategic. I said I was going to rap from a girl’s standpoint and I remember when my song came out, it went viral. I remember 2019, 2020, I couldn’t be in certain rooms. Dudes was like ‘nah’ — not necessarily rude to me, but you could just feel the energy. But one thing about me, once you be around me, people love me.”
“I’ve been around street dudes and hood hyper-masculine boys, and my game plan was: I was always mean. I was stiff,” he continued. “A lot of times men have a stigma that gays are gonna come around and, ‘Oh I wanna suck your d*ck’ and we’re gonna start twerking and all that, and I would be in the room like, ‘You could never touch me bi**h.'”
Speaking to gaining the respect in Hip-Hop that he felt he rightfully deserved, he added, “Once my accolades started speaking for me, I had so many different men in rap like, ‘Bro keep going.’ Drake done FaceTimed me with Caresha, Jack Harlow… I get so much respect from different dudes outside now.”
However, despite the long road it took to become a charting artist with features from icons like Madonna, Santana admitted, “I still got a long way to go,” due to the “older generation of rappers still not having it.”
Elsewhere in the convo, the 30-year-old spoke on growing up in Florida and not always being accepted, but leaning on the love he had for himself.
“I grew up middle class,” he said. “I always say ‘I’m a hood bi**h’ or ‘I’m ghetto’ but I didn’t grow up like that. Once I turned maybe like 15, 16, I’m like, ‘Okay, I wanna go to the projects.’ I started smoking Black & Mild’s… I wanted to see the streets and the hood, and what was the difference. I remember I used to walk up and down the road to the projects with my f**king c**chie cutters on, my crop tops, my face beat — I used to cause an up f**king roar. I was me, I was free. I didn’t give a f**k.”
“I went through so many different things with dudes in the hood and people feeling like, ‘You ain’t supposed– can’t be in this space. They wasn’t having it,” he expressed. “I was standing my ground like, ‘No, yes I am. I’m finna be right out here.‘ And I gained my credentials and I started gaining my respect, slowly, but surely, in the streets.”
Man captured in Trenton after killing 3 family members in Bucks County, police say
A man accused of killing his stepmother, teen sister and the mother of his two children in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was captured by police in Trenton, New Jersey.
Andre Gordon, 26, was found walking through the streets of Trenton and trying to blend in with the crowd early Saturday evening after two separate shootings left three of his family members dead and two different communities across two states in complete shock, investigators said.
Investigators say 26-year-old Andre Gordon shot and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, 13-year-old sister and the 25-year-old mother of his two children in Bucks County. Gordon then barricaded himself inside a home in Trenton, New Jersey, and took hostages, according to officials.
The ordeal began Saturday around 8:30 a.m. on Southard Street in Trenton, New Jersey. Sonya Hansen said she was sitting in her car with her grandson when a man -- who police later identified as Gordon -- approached the vehicle while armed with a gun.
“And then he pulled the gun out and my grandson seen the gun, he’s only 9-years-old, he jumped out the car and ran,” Hansen said. “And then I see my grandson run so I jumped over the car, over the seat, and then I ran to my daughter’s house.”
Gordon stole Hansen's vehicle, drove it to a home on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, Pennsylvania, around 8:50 a.m. and forced his way inside the house, according to officials.
Gordon then allegedly shot and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, as well as his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, inside the home. Three other family members, including another 13-year-old, were also inside the home at the time, officials said. Gordon searched for the other three family members but left after he couldn't find them, according to investigators.
Shortly after, around 9 a.m., Gordon broke into another home about two miles away on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, investigators said. Once inside, he killed the mother of his two children, 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, according to officials. Their two children were also inside the home as well as Daniel's mother and a fourth family member.
Police said Gordon bludgeoned Daniel's mother with his weapon. She is currently recovering at the hospital.
Police said Gordon then carjacked another person at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Dollar General store on the 1200 block of Bristol Pike in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. The driver was not injured.
Officials believe Gordon was armed with an AR-15 style weapon during the murders and carjacking incidents.
Investigators said they later recovered the stolen vehicle, a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV.
Police are seeking 26 year-old Andre Gordon, who is believed to be driving this stolen vehicle after killing three people in Levittown on Saturday morning.
After the shootings, a shelter-in-place was in effect for about three hours in Falls Township before it was lifted.
Investigators later determined that Gordon was barricaded inside a home with other people inside on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey. Police and SWAT team members arrived and surrounded the home around 10:30 a.m., at one point breaking the windows and throwing tear gas inside.
Police tried to contact Gordon inside the home but were unable to.
Shortly before 3 p.m., SkyForce10 captured police bringing people out of the second floor window of the home and then down a ladder to safety.
At some point, investigators learned that Gordon was no longer inside the house, however.
“He was at that house at one point but before we were able to establish a perimeter, he slipped out,” Trenton Police Director Steven Wilson said. "At some point we did receive information that the suspect may be on the street.”
Gordon was later found by police unarmed and walking on New York Avenue in Trenton around 5 p.m., according to investigators.
“Trenton Police patrol officers were the ones who apprehended him,” Wilson said. “When they grabbed him he was identified.”
Marissa Ridorfino said she witnessed the arrest.
“They had guns drawn but the guy didn’t have any weapons on him,” she said. “So he got down but started getting up again. But then they got him down and then they just tackled him.”
Police have not yet determined how long Gordon was walking around in Trenton before he was captured. They also have not yet recovered his weapon, investigators said.
Neighbors in Trenton told NBC10 they were shocked a murder suspect was walking through their community for what may have been several hours.
“It was actually kind of crazy that he wasn’t even in the house,” Ridorfino said.
Gordon is currently in custody at Trenton Police headquarters and will later be extradited back to Pennsylvania.
Police also said all of the people inside the home on Phillips Avenue are accounted for and no one was injured.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Just Milk
Hoarding milk to the newest level
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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