#MAGFAB: Iman for Harper's Bazaar Arabia March 2024!
Here at the The Chronicles, we do love whenever our fave fashion glossies hear our pleas for supermodel covers. Hearing those pleas loud and clear this month is Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. Back in January, the Arabian fashion title shockingly published Adriana Lima looking unrecognizable as their cover star but redeems themselves immensely with the unveiling of their March 2024 installment. Olivia Phillips welcomes none other than the icon, the living legend and modeling royalty that is Iman as Bazaar Arabia’s latest cover star. Photographic duo AB+DM and stylist Ayumi Perry team up to profile the trailblazing Somali-American beauty, who wears an embroidered look from Sabato De Sarno’s debut Spring 2024 Gucci collection in the striking portrait cover photograph.
“Aaaaahh yes!! Long live the queen!” heralded oaklee91.
“This is so beautiful. This magazine is so much better than Vogue Arabia,” caioherrero chimed in.
Blueorchid commented: “Iman looks better here than she did on her British Vogue cover last year. Recognizable, at least!”
Here at the The Chronicles, we do love whenever our fave fashion glossies hear our pleas for supermodel covers. Hearing those pleas loud and clear this month is Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. Back in January, the Arabian fashion title shockingly published Adriana Lima looking unrecognizable as their cover star but redeems themselves immensely with the unveiling of their March 2024 installment. Olivia Phillips welcomes none other than the icon, the living legend and modeling royalty that is Iman as Bazaar Arabia’s latest cover star. Photographic duo AB+DM and stylist Ayumi Perry team up to profile the trailblazing Somali-American beauty, who wears an embroidered look from Sabato De Sarno’s debut Spring 2024 Gucci collection in the striking portrait cover photograph.
“This is so beautiful. This magazine is so much better than Vogue Arabia,” caioherrero chimed in.
Blueorchid commented: “Iman looks better here than she did on her British Vogue cover last year. Recognizable, at least!”
TerraVera raved: “Oh my goodness, this is beautiful! Gorgeous! Stunning! Iman is regal here. Great job Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. You knocked it out of the park!”
“Gorgeous,” was the word tFS forum member miyawaki used to describe the outcome, and we couldn’t possibly agree more.
Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar-winning actor from 'An Officer and a Gentleman' and 'Roots,' dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., who became the first Black man to win the Oscar for best supporting actor for playing a no-nonsense drill sergeant in “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982), has died, his family said Friday.
He was 87
"It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning," the actor's family said in a statement. "We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time. Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time."
In an acting career that spanned six decades, Gossett appeared in dozens of movies and television shows, including the film adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961) and big-screen spectacles like “The Deep” (1977).
He won an Emmy for playing the old slave Fiddler in the seminal ABC miniseries “Roots” (1977), acting in three of the program’s eight episodes. He delivered a memorable late-career turn in HBO’s “Watchmen” (2019), playing a former vigilante known as Hooded Justice.
But his portrayal of the tough-as-nails Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” a romantic drama co-starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger, cemented him deepest in the public consciousness.
“There’s a love-hate relationship between the sergeant and his trainees,” Roger Ebert wrote in his review. “Lou Gossett Jr. does such a fine job of fine-tuning the line between his professional standards and his personal emotions that the performance deserves its Academy Award.”
Gossett’s triumph at the 55th Academy Awards in 1983 made him only the second Black man to win an acting Oscar, 19 years after Sidney Poitier won for his leading role in “Lilies of the Field.”
Louis Gossett Jr. was born May 27, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York. He was drawn to athletics as a kid, especially basketball, but an injury kept him from playing for a time and led him to another pursuit: stage acting.
When he was in high school, a teacher encouraged him to try out for a play — and that audition resulted in his Broadway debut in the 1953 production of “Take a Giant Step,” a coming-of-age tale about a Black teenager growing up in a predominantly white community.
He graduated from high school a year later and then enrolled at New York University. He continued to pick up acting gigs along the way, including a role in the Broadway version of “The Desk Set,” as well as small parts on television shows.
Gossett’s most notable stage credit was in the original cast of “A Raisin in the Sun,” a classic play about a Black family searching for a better life. Gossett portrayed the wealthy and pretentious George Murchison, a role he reprised in the 1961 movie version directed by Daniel Petrie.
He continued to act in Broadway and off-Broadway productions during the 1960s. He made his second major film appearance in Hal Ashby’s dark comedy “The Landlord,” released in 1970. The same year, he co-starred on the short-lived TV series “The Young Rebels.”
Gossett landed roles in several lesser-known movies during the early ‘70s, including “Skin Game” (1971), George Cukor’s “Travels With My Aunt” (1972) and “The Laughing Policeman” (1973). He played a drug kingpin in “The Deep,” adapted from a novel by “Jaws” author Peter Benchley.
“Roots,” a sweeping chronicle of the evils of slavery, raised Gossett’s profile, landing him an Emmy in September 1977. Gossett’s fellow nominees in his category were all members of the “Roots” ensemble: John Amos, LeVar Burton and Ben Vereen. (The series itself claimed six awards, including best limited series.)
Gossett reprised the role of Fiddler in the 1988 television movie “Roots: The Gift.”
“An Officer and a Gentleman” propelled Gossett to national acclaim. He underwent rigorous training for the role, spending 10 days at a school for drill instructors at Camp Pendleton in California, where he marched, ran and practiced karate from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
He was thrilled to receive an Oscar nomination, but he was convinced the supporting actor prize would go to industry veterans Robert Preston (“Victor/Victoria”) or James Mason (“The Verdict”).
When presenters Christopher Reeve and Susan Sarandon called his name from the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Gossett’s agent jabbed him in the chest, the actor recalled in 2018. “They said your name,” the agent said.
“I got up as smooth as I possibly could, trying to figure out what I was going to say,” Gossett recalled in an interview with the Television Academy.
Gossett was disappointed that bigger film parts did not follow his Oscar victory.
“I was left with a lot of time on my hands” after the Academy Award, Gossett told The New York Times in 1989. “I thought I’d get a lot of offers — and they didn’t come.”
“I let myself become bitter, resentful,” he added. “I was my own worst enemy. I said to myself, ‘What more can I do? Where’s the light at the end of the tunnel?’ I started to self-destruct.”
He started to abuse alcohol, cocaine and marijuana. “I had an Oscar, an Emmy, and yet I had this big hole in my soul,” Gossett told the Times.
Eventually, Gossett entered a residential drug-treatment program in Los Angeles and stopped using drugs, according to the profile in the Times. The path to sobriety was “very humbling and necessary, a very positive time,” he said.
Gossett was a ubiquitous and dependable presence on the big and small screens for decades to come — quietly commanding, sometimes intimidating, sometimes soulful.
He acted in genre-spanning films such as “Jaws 3-D” (1983), “Enemy Mine” (1985), “The Principal” (1987), “The Punisher” (1989), “Toy Soldiers” (1991), “Diggstown” (1992), “Blue Chips” (1994) and a string of under-the-radar indie movies from 2000-2010.
He frequently cropped up on television, guest-starring on episodes of “Touched by an Angel,” “ER,” “Psych,” “Boardwalk Empire.” He recently played a small but pivotal role as a legendary attorney accused of sexual misconduct on the Paramount+ series “The Good Fight.”
“Watchmen,” Damon Lindelof’s celebrated limited series based on the landmark DC Comics series of the same name, gave Gossett one of his most distinctive late-period roles. He was the enigmatic Will Reeves, grandfather of the show’s hero, Angela Abar, played by Regina King.
Gossett's final run of roles included Ol' Mister Johnson in the 2023 film musical version of "The Color Purple" and a voice part in the John Krasinski-directed fantasy "IF," scheduled for release in May.
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Reveals Reasons for Simon Guobadia Divorce: ‘Criminal History, Questionable Immigration’
Simon was reportedly involved in several financial crimes. He is also weathering a complex immigration case that could result in his deportation. And the relationship between Porsha and Simon has continued to worsen.
Porsha’s estranged husband requested a restraining order against her. Simon claimed that Porsha brought a gunman into their home. In turn, Porsha accused Simon of having the locks changed on their house while he was in Dubai.
Porsha reveals the reason that she and Simon split
Radar Online obtained legal papers in which Porsha requested that the judge deny Simon’s appeal for access to their mansion. According to Porsha, their prenup stipulated that Simon would leave the residence within 30 days of a divorce filing. He wasn’t cooperative.
In her newest filing, Porsha protested Simon’s request to have exclusive use of the residence. And despite what sources previously said, Simon’s past did play a role in the end of their marriage.
Porsha’s filing read in part, “The media frenzy that ensued was solely a result of Husband’s actions, which included revelations about Husband’s criminal history, questionable immigration, and allegations of fraud. Wife shows that the news reports of Husband’s alleged immigration fraud, and what appeared to be an imminent threat of deportation, were shocking and affected Wife’s mental and emotional wellbeing,” the documents read. Porsha also alleged that she previously asked Simon about his criminal history and immigration status, but he never shared any of these details.
In the legal documents, Porsha’s lawyer wrote, “Since learning of Husband’s checkered immigration history and status, Wife began to question everything that she initially believed to be true as it relates to her Husband’s character, immigration, business dealings, etc, and began to uncover additional information that Husband failed to disclose to Wife.”
#MusicNews: SZA Is Reportedly Starting 'LANA' "From Scratch" Due To Leaks!
It appears that SZA’s forthcoming project, LANA, will be out on a much later date than expected.
In a now-deleted tweet on Monday (March 25) night, the artist wrote, “So, we’ll make this really simple. Y’all leaked three songs from the deluxe. At this point, y’all can keep the throwaways and leaks. I’ll be starting LANA from scratch. Do not ask me about it again. Thank you.”
Luckily, SZA revealed that she won’t be leaving fans without music altogether. “I’ll round up the leaks y’all already got, and [you all] can have those. Seems like a fair deal. ENJOY,” the artist added.
In January, the TDE songstress expressed frustration over her music being shared online illegally. She also threatened to take legal action against the person responsible for distributing her unauthorized songs.
“LEAKING MY MUSIC IS STEALING. THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY,” she shared on Twitter. “YOU ARE A F**KING THIEF, AND I PROMISE TO PUT MAXIMUM ENERGY INTO HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. I AM TIRED.”
The singer’s manager, Punch, subsequently weighed in. His post read, “When music leaks, it often [leads] to delays and/or canceling whole projects.”
LANA was initially intended to include seven to 10 new records. However, with parts of the project being illegally uploaded and SZA redoing the LP, the number of songs may change.
In 2022, SZA released her chart-topping album, SOS. It contained standout cuts like “Snooze,” “Nobody Gets Me,” and “Open Arms.” Meanwhile, Travis Scott, the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Don Toliver also made guest appearances. “Ghost In The Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, while “Snooze” took home Best R&B Song.
To celebrate the LP’s one-year anniversary, SZA shared six possible covers for LANA on her Instagram.
#HipHopNews: Metro Boomin Addresses Speculation About Drake And Future's Alleged Beef: "Stop Making Stuff Up"
Taking to Twitter, Metro urged, “Y’all n**gas [need to] stop making stuff up for engagement and enjoy the music,” without clarifying whether he was refuting the presumed beef itself or its alleged cause.
Speculation about Future and Drake’s relationship escalated following the release of WE DON’T TRUST YOU last Friday (March 22). The album featured pointed lyrics from Kendrick Lamar targeting the Toronto native and J. Cole.
Additionally, the “Mask On” hitmaker seemingly took shots at Drake on the LP’s title track. In “We Don’t Trust You,” Future rapped, “You a n**ga No. 1 fan, dog/ Sneak dissin’, I don’t understand, dog/ Pillow talkin’, actin’ like a fed, dog/ I don’t need another fake friend, dog/ Can’t be ’bout a h**, ’cause we sharin’, dog/ In your feelings, n**ga, why you playin’, dog?”
Despite the interpretations, Drake and Future have worked together a lot since their first collaboration, 2011’s “Tony Montana.” They released their joint mixtape, What a Time To Be Alive, in 2015. The project spawned hits like “Diamonds Dancing,” “Jumpman,” and “Digital Dash.” Additionally, the pair teamed up on hits like “Used to This,” “Life Is Good,” and “WAIT FOR U.”
On the other hand, Metro and Drake appeared to trade shots with one another in December 2023. The beatmaker accused Her Loss of winning over HEROES & VILLAINS at award shows due to industry politics in a now-deleted Twitter post. The self-proclaimed 6 God subsequently took a jab at “tweet and deleters” during a Kick livestream that same month.
“To the rest of you — the non-believers, the underachievers, the tweet and deleters — you guys make me sick to my stomach, fam,” Drake stated. “Look at my eyes. You guys wanna do something? That’s what I thought.”
Beyonce May Feature Cover Of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' In 'Cowboy Carter'
On Wednesday, March 27, the 42-year-old superstar made use of her Instagram account to upload a photo, which seemingly featured the tracklist of "Cowboy Carter". The snap apparently showed titles of songs, which she may include in the forthcoming set, and messages that read, "Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit" and "Brought to you by KNTRY Radio Texas."
In the poster, Queen Bey included "Jolene", sparking speculations that she is set to feature a cover of the track. The colorful graphic also featured "The Linda Martell Show", which is believed by many to be a collaborative song with Linda Martell.
Aside from "Jolene" and "The Linda Martell Show", the poster featured her previously released singles "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em". It also mentioned other potential song titles, including "American Requiem", "Blackbird", "Protector", "My Rose", "Smoke Hour", "Bodyguard", "Dolly P", "Daughter", "Spaghetti" and "Alligator Tears".
Beyonce is slated to release "Cowboy Carter" on March 29. Before dropping the country album, Queen Bey unleashed "Texas Hold 'Em", which made her the first black woman to ever reach No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart. The track later arrived atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart with 19.2 million official streams and 39,000 in sales in the U.S. through February 15.
The "Halo" songstress also has launched "16 Carriages", which entered Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart and landed at No. 9 on the tally dated February 24. The track had 10.3 million streams, 90,000 in radio reach and 14,000 in sales. She dropped "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" simultaneously during the Super Bowl on February 11.
Former Diddy Dancer Claims She Avoids Rapper 'At All Costs' After 'Horrific' Experience
Tanika, who was a backup dancer for Diddy in the '90s, said in a video on Wednesday, March 27, "Oh yeah, you know we all have stories... Seriously we all have stories. Mine is horrific and only five people know it, and I probably will never tell it. But since then, I've been like, 'Yup.' "
"Oh yeah women hold a lot in order to function everyday in a man's world," the former "Extra" host added. "Unfortch we can compartmentalization out pain and carry on. We utilize the experience as a lesson and move differently. If I told my story in 1996 then What??"
She added, "I just knew to avoid him at all costs. Yes I danced for him and kept my space. I was on the Vote or die airplane and kept my space. I interviewed him for his projects and kept my space. Nothing that is happening is surprising."
"Shame on me maybe for prioritizing my mental health some would say," she admitted. "But after working in a place that snatches souls... mine is in tact and of the light. I saved myself. Now if someone needs me to pile on my story, give me a call. But I think Cassie got it!!"
Tanika spoke up after The Grio's creative director and former MSNBC host Toure recalled asking for help from Diddy for his relative. "I know this man well enough to call him and say, 'Hey, I need a favor,' " he said in an interview with Joy Reid on Tuesday night.
He added, "This might have been 10 or 12 years ago that I called him and said, 'Hey, I have a family member, who I want you to hire them as an intern.' And he said, 'Yes.' " However, his relative's internship with Diddy "stopped abruptly like three or four months into it."
"I spoke to my family member, like, 'What happened?' " Toure said. "And they wouldn't say... and years later, they finally came out - and this is a male - and said that Puff had said, 'Come home. Stay the night with me or the internship is over.' " Toure added of his relative's response to Diddy's offer, " 'Absolutely not.' And the internship ended."
Kenan Thompson Breaks Silence About 'Quiet On Set', Urges To 'Investigate More'
Kenan Thompson has spoken out about "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV". The "All That" alum shared about his time working with Dan Schneider on Nickelodeon during his appearance on "Tamron Hall Show".
"It's tough. It's a tough subject, you know?" Kenan told host Tamron Hall. "It's tough for me because I can't really speak on things that I never witnessed, you know what I'm saying? Because all these things happened after I left, basically."
Distancing himself from Dan, the "Saturday Night Live" alum explained, "Dan wasn't really on 'Kenan & Kel' like that. I mean, he got a 'created by' credit, but it was a different showrunner, so our worlds wasn't really overly overlapping like that outside of 'All That', necessarily."
He added, "And then all of that negativity kinda started happening outside of our tenure there, you know what I mean? So I wasn't really aware of a lot of it."
The comedian applauded the docuseries, noting that it's important for the victims of the alleged abuse. "I think it's a good thing that the doc is out and is putting things on display that need to be - stories that need to be told for accountability sake but it's definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place," he shared.
"And I have fond memories of my co-stars and stuff like that, so, to hear that they've gone through terrible things like that, it's just, it's really tough," he said.
When Tamron said that the production company investigated all of the allegations, Kenan responded, "Well, investigate more! I mean because it's like, it's supposed to be a safe place you know? It's supposed to be a safe place for kids and to hear all about that it's just like, 'How dare you?' "
Yesterday, it was revealed that "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" will air a surprise fifth episode featuring a new interview with Drake Bell. Titled "Breaking the Silence", the bonus episode will delve "deeper into the toxic and dangerous culture" of some of the most iconic children's television shows in the 1990s and 2000s.
In addition to Drake, the episode will feature other former child actors from some of Nickelodeon's hit shows from the early 2000s. It will also build off "the revelations explored in the first four episodes" and include discussions with journalist Soledad O'Brien.
"Breaking the Silence" will air on April 7 on Investigation Discovery (ID) and then stream on Max.
Will Smith And Jada Pinkett’s Charity Is Reportedly Closing After The Infamous Oscars Slap
The Will And Jada Smith Family Foundation was founded in 1996 to make the world “better because we touched it,” according to the website. The nonprofit focused on arts and education, empowerment, health and wellness, and sustainability.
While the charity experienced decades of success, according to Variety’s reviewed tax filings, after Will slapped Chris Rock, high-profile contributors to the foundation stopped.
The outlet reviewed tax records (via ProPublica) showing the foundation’s revenue dropped from $1,760,000 in 2020 and $2,138,660 in 2021 to $365,870 in 2022 - an 83% drop, including the withdrawal of donors like American Airlines, which donated $76,160 in 2021, and CAA, which contributed $100,000 in 2021.
As noted by the outlet, the Instagram for the foundation hasn’t shared anything since December 19, 2022.
A source close to the foundation told the outlet the couple was already winding down the foundation before the incident and has been focusing on privately giving the same amount to charitable causes. They note that in 2022, the foundation gave $100,000 to the American Film Institute and $2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The foundation also donated money to Rebecoming and World Rebirth Foundation.
Their research also found expenditures such as office equipment and computers and $3,304 in “bank overdrawn” fees in 2022. An insider for the organization “cited a decline in staffing as evidence of the family moving away from the organization.” Variety notes that in 2021, they lowered the payment of their two staffers, and as of 2022, no paid staff worked at the organization.
But just because the foundation isn’t doing well, doesn’t mean the Smiths are worrying about money. Per a 2023 Variety report, Will is making his $25 million quote on both “Bad Boys 4” and Netflix’s “Fast and Loose.” The actor is however, still banned for from the prestigious awards ceremony.
Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling had 'a non-verbal agreement' she would stop acting to raise their kids: 'No-brainer'
Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling had 'a non-verbal agreement' she would stop acting to raise their kids: 'No-brainer'
Eva Mendes is giving some insight into her recent break from Hollywood.
During a recent appearance on "The Today Show," the actress, model and businesswoman let fans in on her relationship with her partner, Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan Gosling. Mendes admitted she "pretty much stopped acting after" starring in "The Place Beyond the Pines" in 2012, choosing to become a full-time mom instead.
"It was like a no-brainer. I'm so lucky, and I was like, if I can have this time with my children... and I still worked, I just didn't act because acting takes you on locations, it takes you away," she said on the show. "It was almost just like a non-verbal agreement that it was like, 'Okay he's going to work and I'm going to work, I'm just going to work here.'"
Gosling and Mendes met while filming "Place Beyond the Pines," in which they played a couple with an infant son. Their on-screen chemistry soon translated into a real relationship off-camera, and they welcomed their first daughter, Esmeralda, in 2014, and their second daughter, Amada, in 2016.
Eva Mendes revealed she and Ryan Gosling had a "non-verbal agreement" that she would stay home with the kids.
The couple is notoriously private about their life as a family, but they have made it clear their two daughters are what is most important to them. A source recently told People magazine that the "Barbie" star and Mendes moved "a bit further north" away from Hollywood, in order to do what's best for their children.
"For them, the most important job is their girls. Everything else comes second," the source told the outlet. "And their girls are thriving. They left L.A. to live a bit further north, away from Hollywood. They didn't want the girls to grow up around other celebrity kids."
The source also shared, "Eva and Ryan love their life," adding that they have managed to find a way to "create balance and boundaries" in order to make their relationship work. They explained the two actors "care so much about their marriage and just want their girls to live a happy life." It's unclear, however, if the two are actually legally married.
Mendes praised Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" at the Academy Awards earlier this month, posting a photo of herself on Instagram wearing the actor's bedazzled pink jacket, writing, "You took Ken all the way to the Oscar’s, RG. Now come home, we need to put the kids to bed."
Ryan Gosling performing at the Academy Awards in a pink suit.
Mendes praised Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" at this year's Oscars.
"He went and he did his job. He just happens to be really good at his job, and he did it and he came home," she said on "The Today Show," before referencing her Instagram post, adding, "Because that's what it's about. You go, you do your job the best you can and then you come home."
When it comes to Gosling being good at his job, Mendes also discussed what it was like working with him on "Place Beyond the Pines," telling "The Today Show" that she's "never experienced anything like" Gosling's work ethic and adding, "Unfortunately — or fortunately — there is only one Ryan!"
Upon accepting the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January, Gosling looked back on his career, paying tribute to both Mendes and their children while reflecting on his life as a movie star.
"I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes," Ryan told the crowd at the event, E! News reported. "I have two dream children. I dreamed of one day making movies and now movies have made my life a dream."
Ryan Gosling at the Santa Barbara Film Festival wearing a black suit.
Gosling paid tribute to Mendes and their kids while accepting an award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January.
He continued, "So the way I see it, there's no way I've contributed half as much to cinema as cinema has contributed to me. But the idea that I might've given something back to the thing that has given so much to me is too great an honor for me to express."
Ice Cube explains why he offered Caitlin Clark $5 million to join BIG3
Not long after the news hit the internet, Cube hopped on Twitter to both confirm and explain his company's decision.
"We intended [for] the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship. But I won’t deny what’s now already out there. BIG3 made a historic offer," he wrote. "Why wouldn’t we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."
The rap legend and mogul cited previous acquisitions and gave his take on the current state of women in professional sports. "The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men’s pro team and she won the championship in her first year. Then, Lisa Leslie won it all in year two," Cube stated. "With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes... [who] should not be forced to spend their offseason playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet."
He continued, "They should have more than just one professional option in the U.S. at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar. Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that BIG3 now offers another choice for athletes."
Currently, Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes are preparing for a Sweet 16 matchup against the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday (March 30). As of this report, she hadn't responded to Cube's opportunity.
Marvel Hits Pause on ‘Blade’ Due to Writers Strike
The writers strike has taken a bite out of Blade. Marvel Studios is shutting down preproduction on its vampire thriller starring Mahershala Ali, which was set to begin filming next month in Atlanta. The feature project, which has been paused once before, becomes the first tentpole movie impacted by the strike.
Blade had recently hired True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto to work on the script, but, according to an insider, “time simply ran out.” The studio will restart the production once the strike is over.
Since the strike action began Tuesday, the biggest impact has been on late night talk shows and Saturday Night Live. One drama series, Showtime’s Billions, halted production Thursday due to picketing.
While some studios have one or two movies going into production, Marvel is seemingly propping up the industry by planning on having three movies shooting at the same time, not to mention two series. Even with the Blade shutdown, it is gearing up for one of the busiest times in the company’s history.
Captain America: New World Order is currently filming in Atlanta. TV show Agatha: Coven of Chaos is also shooting in Atlanta, while fellow series Wonder Man is filming in Los Angeles. Deadpool 3 is expected to go in front of cameras later this month in London, while Thunderbolts is to hit Atlanta in June. As of now, Thunderbolts is still on track.
Fantastic Four, which is in the midst of the most closely watched casting search since Marvel hired Tom Holland to play Spider-Man eight years ago, is eying a January 2024 start date in London. That could change, if the strike were to drag on and on for six months or more, though according to sources that is seen as unlikely.
Still, even if the strike lasts just one month or six weeks, there would likely be an impact, with more movies’ start dates being push among the repercussions.
“There’s a billion dollars net in production costs that are exposed because of the strike. That’s certainly a concern,” says one source involved with the Marvel’s current slate of projects regarding those in or about to go into production.
Most big-budget blockbusters are known for their scripts evolving during production. Marvel, however, has a more acute reputation for script pages flying off the typewriters during filming. And the strike will mark uncharted territory for the studio, which is used to having a writer on set to rework things on the fly.
On the $1.92 billion-grossing Spider-Man: No Way Home, stars Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s deals weren’t completed until around December 2020, more than a month into filming. Writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers spent Christmas reworking the third act to include the Spider-Man actors, who gave input on the script. On Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), uncredited screenwriter Patrick Burleigh (Eternals) hammered out 25 pages a day on set, with director Peyton Reed and Marvel execs, including Kevin Feige, sitting in a room to review his work every evening.
Studio execs may take comfort in the 2020 WGA agreement’s “(a) through (h)” clause, which gives some leeway for a producer or director to cut a script for time, “change technical or stage direction,” and most notably, make “casual minor adjustments in dialogue or narration made prior to or during the period of principal photography.”
As observers note: No, you can’t create a new third act that suddenly has two new Spider-Men in it. Yes, you could potentially make enough changes to keep a story on track — if you read that clause generously.
One pressing concern is Captain America, since it is currently shooting. One rival production executive theorized, “[Marvel] will shoot what they can, then wait for the reshoots,” which are, in the Marvel manner, already baked into the production process.
As for the films going into production soon, Deadpool 3 is up first.
Star Ryan Reynolds is known for working as a writer on the films he produces and stars in (either uncredited, or as in the case of Deadpool 2, credited). Under the current strike rules, while a non-writer director or producer can make small adjustments to the script under the (a) through (h) clause, a writer such as Reynolds would not be allowed to.
That’s certainly a change from the norm during his other times as Deadpool. Before he was a powerhouse writer and producer, Reynolds played Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which was filmed during the last writers strike. “So we were in the middle of production, there were no writers, no anything,” Reynolds said of the Wolverine movie in 2016. “Every line I have in the movie I just wrote myself because in the script we had, it said, ‘Wade Wilson shows up, talks really fast.’ I was like, ‘What?! What am I supposed to do with that?’”
Thunderbolts hails from regular Marvel favorite Eric Pearson, known for penning Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow. Like other Marvel writers, he finds some of his key moments during production. In 2020, Pearson recounted that a signature Black Widow dinner scene featuring the core characters — played by Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Rachel Weisz — was made possible by rehearsals he had with his actors and rewrites he made on the fly. (Beef creator Lee Sung Jin is the current writer on Thunderbolts.)
And Sony’s Marvel feature Venom 3 is expected for a London shoot in the coming months, from first-time director Kelly Marcel, who penned the script from a story she developed with frequent collaborator and star Tom Hardy, who has a story by credit. Hardy is also known for coming up with ideas on the day (such as a notable scene in the first movie in which his character, Eddie Brock, gets into a lobster tank). “The lobster day was utter, utter chaos,” Marcel said during press for Venom 2. “You’ll find four or five of those in this movie. The movie clings to that feeling of joy and fun and madness.”
The last writers strike impacted multiple tentpoles, some for the worse. Star Trek (2009) writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were on set thanks to their roles as executive producers, but under the rules at that time, they could not change the script. “All we could do was sort of, make funny eyes and faces at the actors whenever they had a problem with the line and sort of nod when they had something better,” Orci said in 2009.
Star Trek was a hit with critics and audiences. Other tentpoles of the era were not as lucky. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra are among those whose that creatives have spoken ill of. (“Look, I’ll be honest. I fucking hate that movie. I hate that movie,” star Channing Tatum once said.)
James Bond feature Quantum of Solace is perhaps the most famous casualty of the WGA strike. Considered the low point of Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007, it went into production without a completed script. “On Quantum, we were fucked,” Craig said in 2011. “We had the bare bones of a script and then there was a writers strike and there was nothing we could do. We couldn’t employ a writer to finish it. I say to myself, ‘Never again,’ but who knows? There was me trying to rewrite scenes — and a writer I am not.’”
As for Marvel, it enters a new phase in its relationships with writers during this time. The first Iron Man concluded filming in June 2007, five months before the strike. Now, Marvel must contend with not only script challenges, but potential picketers as well. On Thursday, one WGA member tweeted a call to action, asking people to join them in picketing a Marvel production filming in the heart of Hollywood. The tweet, which has been deleted, was aimed at Wonder Man, which stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. In a meta moment underscoring this historic and fraught time, the series gives a superhero’s perspective on the entertainment industry, centering on a Hollywood stuntman and actor trying to make it big in the movies.
Kim Kardashian Sued by Estate of Artist Donald Judd for Showcasing Alleged Knockoff Furniture
The Judd Foundation filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian for claims made in a 2022 YouTube video of her SKKN by Kim office.
In the since-removed video, Kardashian highlighted what she called "Donald Judd tables," adding that the pieces "totally blend in with the seats."
But the foundation that oversees the estate of the late minimalist visual artist claims that the dining set is inauthentic. In the lawsuit, West Hollywood interior design firm Clements Design is named. According to the New York Times, Clements is being sued by the Judd Foundation for trademark and copyright infringement.
“Consumers are likely to believe Judd Foundation and the Donald Judd brand are connected or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed Ms. Kardashian,” reads the suit. “Judd Foundation categorically prohibits customers from using purchased Donald Judd furniture for marketing and promotional purposes.”
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Pointing out "obvious key differences" between their table and a Judd original, Clements wrote in a statement that they were "blindsided" by the filing and sought a resolution with the foundation. However, the company says that the foundation "was unwilling to settle on reasonable terms."
The Judd Foundation reportedly contacted Kardashian three days after the YouTube video was posted and a spokesperson for the businesswoman responded with an apology for "any inconvenience" and offered to "update the video caption with a retraction."
The response was unsatisfactory for the foundation, which asked that the video be removed altogether and the furniture be "recycled." Kim's team came back with another offer, this time to promote the foundation in a social media post. Despite the attempts of Kardashian's team, the Judd Foundation seems to want no association with her brand.
"It is lower quality than Donald Judd’s furniture,” Megan Bannigan, a lawyer for the foundation, told the NYT. "We don’t want to be mixed up with Kim Kardashian. We respect what she does, but we don’t want to be involved with this."
Louis Vuitton’s 2024 High Watchmaking Lineup
Also among this year’s novelties are a pair of Tambour Slim Vivienne Jumping Hours timepieces and the Voyager Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Plique-à-Jour model.
In 2023, Complex named Louis Vuitton as one of the best brands of the year. In February of that year, Pharrell was appointed by the French luxury house to the position of men’s creative director.
More recently, LV launched a new capsule collection designed by Tyler, the Creator. Shortly after the first full look at the collection was unveiled in February, Complex shared first impressions while touching on the pre-LV history that led up to Tyler's big moment.
Michelle Buteau Becomes First Woman to Tape Comedy Special at Radio City Music Hall
“I have another special coming out. We’re going to be filling it at Radio City Music Hall [on] June 6,” she said at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards about her untitled project that will begin filming this summer, Vibe reports.
“I will be the first woman and woman of color to be taping a special there, so that’s why I’m saying these things [representation] matters,” Buteau added. “You got to lay the groundwork for other people to come and think they can do it and know that they can do it.”
In related news, Buteau recently teased what fans can expect from her character, Mavis Beaumont—in season two of Netflix’s “Survival Of The Thickest.”
“It’s bigger, Blacker, bustier, bi**hier than before. All the B-words. It’s adulting next level,” she said at a pre-NAACP Image Awards event, per Vibe. “So, I feel like whatever you connected to, I just can’t wait for you to see what has happened.”
As we reported… “Survival of the Thickest” centers on Mavis Beaumont (Michelle Buteau). Black, plus-size, and newly single (not by her choice!), Mavis unexpectedly finds herself having to rebuild her life as a struggling stylist. She’s determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a body-positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss
The scripted comedy is based on Buteau’s acclaimed book of essays.
The series also stars Tone Bell, Christine Horn, and Tasha Smith. The first season featured guest stars: Annisa Felix, Allan K. Washington, Ambre Anderson, Anna George, Anthony Michael Lopez, Becca Blackwell, Christine Jones, Garcelle Beauvais, Hugh Moore, J. Riley Jr., Mark McKinnon, and Marouane Zotti.
The premiere date for Season 2 has not been announced, but you can catch up on the first season on Netflix.
Trump’s Latest Grift: Selling $60 Bibles – ‘We Must Make America Pray Again’
*In case you haven’t heard, Donald Trump launched his latest grift, a venture to promote a line of premium Bibles in collaboration with country music luminary Lee Greenwood, whose anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.” resonates deeply within Trump’s political sphere.
In a video posted on Truth Social, Trump enthusiastically endorsed the endeavor, asserting …
“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book. It’s a lot of people’s favorite book. We must make America pray again,” Trump added and emphasized the significance of religion and Christianity, lamenting their absence in the nation and attributing it to societal discord.
While the Bible remains a widely accessible text, freely distributed by churches and available on numerous platforms, the “God Bless the U.S.A. Bible” carries a hefty price tag of $59.99, excluding additional charges.
This special edition, bearing the Trump-Greenwood seal, boasts unique features, including a King James translation with a handwritten chorus from Greenwood’s iconic song. Notably, it incorporates the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Marketed as the sole Bible endorsed by Trump and Greenwood, it claims inspiration from the patriotic anthem. The text is adorned with a large font, with Jesus’s words highlighted in red.
Details regarding the financial gains for Trump and Greenwood remain undisclosed, arriving amidst a tumultuous period for Trump’s finances.
Despite a significant increase in net worth attributed to a media company merger, Trump faces immediate financial pressures, including a substantial civil fraud judgment in New York and defamation lawsuits. Moreover, his political fundraising efforts lag behind those of his Democratic counterpart, President Joe Biden.
The website selling the Trump-endorsed Bibles clarifies its non-political stance, asserting independence from Trump’s enterprises while licensed to utilize his name and likeness. Trump’s financial records reveal substantial earnings from speaking engagements through CIC Ventures, a significant contributor to his income.
“Selling Sunset” Star Chelsea Lazkani Files For Divorce From Husband Jeff After Seven Years
After seven years of marriage, the luxury real estate agent recently moved to split from her husband, Jeff Lazkani. The pair met on Tinder in 2015, shortly after she relocated to Los Angeles and tied the knot in 2017. They have since welcomed two children, three-year-old Melia and five-year-old Maddox. Sadly, Chelsea is ready to be free of her husband. It’s unknown what broke down their relationship, though she cited irreconcilable differences in her filing.
Chelsea is hoping to retain joint physical and legal custody of their children. She is also seeking spousal support but is leaving the door open for Jeff to request alimony. Chelsea, a real estate agent at the prestigious Oppenheim Group, has been a part of the Netflix series “Selling Sunset” since season five. She has a reported net worth of roughly $500,000, according to Express. Jeff, who is Managing Partner for Icon Media Direct, also has a reported net worth of around $500,000. There does not appear to be a prenuptial agreement in place, and Chelsea asked a court to help the pair divide their assets.
Jeff has been featured on the hit real estate show alongside his wife. However, he is not an official cast member. Chelsea frequently shared glimpses of her husband and family online. However, a quick glance at her Instagram shows that nearly all remnants of Jeff have been erased.
Baltimore is Selling Vacant Homes for $1
The city of Baltimore is launching a new initiative to revitalize struggling neighborhoods by selling boarded-up homes for just one dollar each.
According to reports, Mayor Brandon Scott is leading the effort to combat crime and urban decay through this groundbreaking plan.
Residents have a unique chance to acquire over 200 city-owned vacant properties and restore them to their former condition, presenting a rare opportunity for those ready to put in the effort.
Despite the opportunity, Baltimore still faces a significant challenge with approximately 15,000 abandoned properties as of 2022, indicating a lengthy and challenging path toward urban renewal.
Baltimore has one of the highest crime rates in the United States, with a 1 in 21 chance of experiencing either violent or property-related crimes.
The recent approval of the $1 initiative by a city board mirrors Baltimore’s historic “dollar house” program from the 1970s, embodying a spirit of community revitalization through individual efforts.
Individual buyers are the main focus of the $1 initiative this time around, while developers looking to purchase a home must pay $3,000.
Those who participate in the program must commit to renovating their purchased property, have a minimum of $90,000 for rehabilitation, move in within one year, and reside in the home for five years.
According to Governing.com, recipients of the initiative can receive generous grants of $50,000 to aid in renovations, contingent upon obtaining pre-approval for construction loans.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
The Easter Bunny
He’s Not Peter Cotton Tail
He’s Not Peter Cotton Tail
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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