#FRAGRANCEFABULOSITY: Lenny Kravitz Stars In The Yves Saint Laurent Y Elixir Ad
The Fragrance ambassador Lenny Kravitz embodies Yves Saint Laurent’s latest cologne, Y Elixir, in an advertisement that marries the energy of music with the sophistication of scent. “I worked on Y Elixir as an haute couture version of Y,” explains master perfumer Dominique Ropion. “This interpretation of Y is more intense, woodier, richer, its sensuality was reinforced, which makes this opus the most luxurious yet.”
Ropion’s creation is a journey where the grace of oud wood, the freshness of lavender, and the spirit of rock blend seamlessly.
The YSL ad reveals a contrast: Kravitz surrenders to the rhythm with his guitar in one setting and his piercing gaze in another. Blue tones dominate, mirroring the new metallic blue glass bottle of Y Elixir.
Kravitz’s bold patterns and sleek leather styling mirror the fragrance’s intense, woodier, richer character.
In a captivating fragrance advertisement, the sleek Yves Saint Laurent Y Elixir bottle takes center stage, resting atop a glossy guitar.Pin
The iconic Y bottle is reimagined in bold metallic blue with a matte black emblem, a metaphor for the cologne—a classic symbol infused with potent energy.
Elixir, the most luxurious opus of the Y line, is encapsulated by the ad’s ambiance: a space where artistry meets luxury and the fragrance, like the musician representing it, refuses to be confined to a single note.
#RHOA: Are Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks Still Friends?
Real Housewives of Atlanta viewers watched Porsha Williams’ friendship with Phaedra Parks implode during the Season 9 reunion. Phaedra was unmasked as the source of the rumor that Porsha spread about Kandi Burruss and her husband, Todd Tucker. Porsha claimed that the couple allegedly planned to drug and sexually assault her.
After that, Phaedra lost her peach and her friendship with Porsha. But now Porsha is filming for Season 16 of RHOA, while Phaedra is a cast member of Married to Medicine. A Bravo renaissance for both ladies.
But do the duo, formerly nicknamed “Frick and Frack,” have a relationship now? Porsha addressed her relationship with Phaedra during a recent Amazon Live. “It was so funny because just earlier I was talking about Phaedra Parks because we have the same makeup artist. And I was just saying how similar we are — just thinking about, like, we love the same makeup, we love our hair to be the same,” Porsha explained. “We’re both from the South. You know, she’s a Southern Belle, and I feel like I’m sort of a Southern Belle.”
The former besties had decided to work on their friendship and attended functions to encourage and support each other. “And, yes, I definitely have texted her from time to time. You know, she’s very, very busy… I’m really busy. I have a lot going on in my life, she has a lot going on,” Porsha stated.
“Some friendships, you don’t got to talk to somebody every day. Literally, I talked to her the other day on the phone, and you would’ve thought we talked the day before,” the mother of one stated. “And those are the types of friendships you need to cherish. The type of people you can call and catch up with… ‘Let’s get into the kiki. Let’s get into enjoying the relationship,’” she added. I’m surprised that their friendship could overcome such a betrayal.
Porsha is also excited to be back on RHOA. “Everybody has their own experiences,” Porsha said, “and this is my experience. I just want to be as genuine — I think my fans and my supporters have followed me because I’m very transparent… I’m just excited to share my life again as a woman,” she added. “I think that my story was a little incomplete when I left.”
You can watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta streaming on Peacock.
#MusicNews: Earth, Wind & Fire Announces Their 2024 Las Vegas Mini-Residency
Earth, Wind & Fire is coming back to Las Vegas. The legendary music group has announced a mini-residency at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
The seven-show limited engagement is coming this fall, from Oct. 9 through Oct. 19. All performances will begin at 8:30 p.m.
Presale tickets for Citi cardmembers will be available beginning Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. Artist presale starts Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m. local time.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj & Her Husband Enjoy Intimate Moment On His Birthday
Nicki Minaj and her husband have made the most of a brief break from parenting duties by putting their romance on display for all the world to see.
During downtime on her ongoing Pink Friday 2 Tour on Sunday (April 7), Nicki filmed herself and Petty on Instagram Live while they dined at a restaurant to celebrate his 46th birthday.
The married couple could be seen cozying up together as the Young Money hitmaker wished her main man a happy birthday.
“We finally got a little, tiny, bitty moment from Papa Bear,” Nicki said, referring to their three-year-old son, as Petty cuddled her from behind.
“I wanted to say happy birthday to the love of my life,” she added while deflecting requests from fans for them to kiss so she wouldn’t get makeup on her husband’s face.
Despite not wanting to share a kiss on the lips, Nicki caressed Petty’s face as he held her tightly and thanked her for the birthday wishes.
The rare glimpse into the couple’s love life comes on the heels of Nicki Minaj sharing an adorable moment from a recent show starring Papa Bear.
The superstar mom brought her Pink Friday 2 Tour to her hometown of New York City in late March, and was joined by members of her family including her infant son.
In a clip that made the rounds online, the little boy can be seen dancing as his mom’s 2010 hit “Roman’s Revenge” is heard playing in the background.
Weeks earlier, Kenneth Petty demonstrated that he’s his wife’s biggest fan by joining her on Instagram Live. During the stream, Nicki tested her husband’s knowledge of her music by challenging him to recite some of her rhymes.
“You say you the biggest Barb so now you gotta finish the lyric,” she said before spitting a few lines from her Pink Friday 2 track “Pink Birthday”: “Lowkey ‘cuz we just that ill now, ain’t never had a…”
Petty finished the line by rapping: “Bad bitch ’til now,” although Nicki was forced to correct him slightly as the actual line goes: “Ain’t never had a ill bitch ’til now.”
The “Roman’s Revenge” rapper continued the verse by spitting: “Post a pic, got ’em jackin’ like…,” to which her husband confidently picked up the baton: “Like Jill now.”
Petty scored another point when Nicki said: “Break the internet at…” and he responded: “At will now.”
Pleasantly surprised by her husband’s knowledge, Minaj declared that he “won Nicki trivia,” adding: “I ain’t gonna lie, I ain’t know you was gonna get the words like that at least once.”
Petty responded: “That’ all I listen to!”
UConn Beats Purdue to win second straight NCAA national championship
With exactly six minutes left in Monday night’s national championship game, UConn guard Tristen Newton zoomed a pass to a cutting Stephon Castle, who skipped past Zach Edey in the paint and laid in an ordinary layup. Except, it was only ordinary in execution — because that basket put the Huskies up 17 points, their largest lead of the night.
Consider that the moment the hourglass flipped, and time started ticking until UConn’s looming championship celebration.
Minutes later, the confetti cannons inside State Farm Arena erupted, finalizing UConn’s 75-60 win over Purdue in Monday’s national title game — and immortalizing Dan Hurley’s Huskies, who accomplished what no college basketball team had since Florida in 2006-07: winning consecutive NCAA championships.
That feat alone is historic. Other than Florida, only Duke in 1991-92 had gone back-to-back since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty in the 1960s and 1970s. But it’s the way that UConn won its 12th straight NCAA Tournament game — by, effectively, turning into the basketball version of a wood chipper — that lifts this two-year stretch to legendary status.
Last season, UConn won its six games in the Big Dance by a staggering average of 20 points per contest … yet somehow Hurley’s encore squad was even more dominant. After UConn’s 15-point victory over the Boilermakers, who were playing in their first national title game since 1969, the Huskies’ average victory margin this tournament? A whopping 23.3 points per game. That not even the Boilermakers — a No. 1 seed with two-time Wooden Award winner Zach Edey — could keep the final score to single digits speaks to UConn’s overwhelming dominance. The 7-foot-4 Edey finished Monday’s game, likely his last in college, with 37 points and 10 rebounds… and it mattered little.
And if this wasn’t already the case, go ahead and formally welcome UConn’s to the blue-blood club. Monday’s win was the Huskies’ sixth NCAA title, pushing them past Duke — which has five — and into a tie for third all-time with North Carolina; only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight) have more. That all six championships have come in a 25-year span since 1999, and under three different coaches, only further validates Connecticut’s place in college basketball’s historic hierarchy.
The same can be said of Hurley; the 51-year-old is now only the third active Division-I men’s coach with multiple national titles, joining Bill Self and Rick Pitino.
And it’s Hurley who deserves plenty of credit for UConn’s masterful game plan Monday night. Stopping Edey is an impossible task. Even in a battle of the two best bigs in America — Edey vs. 7-2 UConn’s center Donovan Clingan, who managed 11 points and five rebounds despite foul trouble — the Big Maple was always going to get his. He scored 16 of Purdue’s 30 first-half points, especially early on, when he feasted with his patented array of hook shots. But UConn countered well late, holding Edey without a basket over the final 5:47 before halftime — and during that stretch, the Huskies stretched their lead to six.
At the same time, UConn completely smothered Purdue — which entered as the second-best 3-point shooting team in America, making 40.6 percent from deep — from behind the arc. Hurley’s strategy of not having UConn’s guards help when Edey got the ball inside meant Purdue’s perimeter players had no breathing room. Case in point: Purdue only attempted one 3-pointer in the first 17 minutes of the game; it wasn’t until Braden Smith canned a fadeaway 3 with the shot clock expiring, 2:17 before intermission, that the Boilermakers actually made a triple.
Offensively, the difference between the two teams’ philosophies couldn’t have been more pronounced. Edey took 12 of Purdue’s 28 first-half attempts, making more shots than the rest of the Boilermakers did combined. On the flip side, while Cam Spencer scored seven of UConn’s first 11 points, the Huskies leaned on their balance and depth. Four different Huskies — Spencer, Clingan, Tristen Newton, and Hassan Diarra — had at least three made shots before any non-Edey Boilermaker did so.
That dichotomy became untenable for Purdue from the very first possession of the second half. Edey missed a bunny inside, and UConn turned it into a Newton 3 on the other end — a critical five-point swing that pushed Purdue into an early danger zone. From then on, what had been a back-and-forth battle between KenPom’s No. 1 and 2 teams — only the fourth time that’s happened since 2005 —became a lopsided, 20-minute-long UConn’s coronation. A surprise putback dunk from freshman Camden Heide, off another Edey miss, only briefly revived the Boilermakers’ hopes… until, soon after, they went 4:29 without a made field goal, during which UConn pushed its lead to 16. Newton — who finished with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds — was the maestro making it all happen.
The last made shot of that run was a Diarra layup in transition; Purdue coach Matt Painter couldn’t have called timeout more quickly, sensing the game getting away from his team.
Jerrod Carmichael Talks Sex Addiction, Jokes Of Disturbing “Race Play” Fantasy
Jerrod Carmichael revealed he’s into “race play.” During Friday’s (April 5) episode of the Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, Jerrod explored his relationship with sex. Viewers follow Jerrod as he attempts to find a therapist to unpack his issues after admitting to cheating on his long-distance boyfriend, Mike. The comedian expressed that he is addicted to intercourse and often uses sex to “escape” the world around him.
In a particular instance, Carmichael can be seen discussing sex during an apparent stand-up show. He offers a moment of vulnerability to the audience, detailing his sexual fantasies. One of them being “race play.” If you don’t know, Urban Dictionary defines “race play” as an “avant-garde form of role play used by two consenting adults that incorporates racist, hurtful, & derogatory terms and comments regarding the others race, to fulfill and reach sexual pleasure.”
“Sometimes, I joke to him that our relationship is like that of a slave and a master’s son who teaches me how to read by candlelight,” the comedian tells an apparent disapproving crowd in the documentary. “Yeah, he groans too because he’s a good person. He doesn’t like the f**king joke. I like that joke. That’s my burden. I think that’s shit’s hilarious. ‘Yes, sir? Maria Antoinette, sir? I don’t know what that is!’ That’s a joke for me!”
The episode also features bits of conversation with his therapist. It was during this conversation that the comedian admitted that he became sexually active at a very young age. Jerrod also detailed how comedy impacts his relationship with sex and his sexuality. He alleged that he has had at least “1,000” sexual partners, but that may be “lowballing it.”
“I was a very sexual child since probably I was three or four, with older kids,” Carmichael explained. “I definitely had experiences with boys that I hid and my teenage years into my twenties, beginning secret sex with guys…Sex offers me power and control. It’s an escape. I use it to escape.”
Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” Slammed With Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Universal Music Group (UMG) has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over Mary J. Blige‘s 1992 classic, “Real Love.” Blige was not named in the lawsuit nor was she accused of any wrongdoing.
In the lawsuit filed by Tuff City Records in Manhattan federal court on Thursday (April 4), it’s been alleged that “Real Love” features an unlicensed sample of The Honey Dippers’ 1973 hit, “Impeach the President,” which had been sampled before in several Hip-Hop and R&B records, including J. Cole’s “Wet Dreamz,” Nas’ “I Can,” LL Cool J’s “Around The Way Girl,” and most recently, Doja Cat’s “Can’t Wait.”
Hillel Parness, an attorney representing the label, said in the complaint that they have “advised defendant repeatedly of the presence of the uncleared sample” in Blige’s “Real Love,” but UMG has not rectified the matter.
Parness added, “Defendant has repeatedly refused to engage plaintiff in substantive negotiations to rectify the foregoing, let alone agreed to compensate Plaintiff for the past infringement or on an ongoing basis.”
However, Tuff City claims that UMG Recordings—a UMG subsidiary and owner of the “Real Love” master—reached an agreement regarding the uncleared sample, but UMG has not.
Over the past 15 years, Tuff City has sued regarding uncleared samples or interpolations in songs from JAY-Z to Frank Ocean and more. In 2014, a judge dismissed their case regarding JAY-Z’s “Run This Town” after determining that the sample in question was “barely perceptible.” In 2018, Tuff City was ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to the Beastie Boys, who felt it was a case “clearly without merit.”
Tuff City first sued over an improper usage of “Impeach the President” back in 1991, claiming Marley Marl had illegally sampled the record on LL Cool J’s “Around The Way Girl” and “Six Minutes of Pleasure.”
It set precedence in Hip-Hop regarding sampling because up until then, rap artists rarely sought out proper licensing for their recordings. The case was later settled on confidential terms.
Taylor Swift Unveils Lyrics From Upcoming Album 'Tortured Poets Department'
Taylor Swift has treated her fans, famously known as Swifties, to more details about her new album. Around two weeks before releasing "The Tortured Poets Department", the "All Too Well" hitmaker unveiled lyrics of a song from the upcoming record.
On Monday, April 8, the 34-year-old superstar surprised social media users with a teaser of lyrics on her Instagram page. Making use of Instagram Stories, she uploaded a video documenting a manual typewriter, which apparently was used by someone to type the lyrics of a song that will be included in her new album.
"Crowd goes wild at her fingertips/ Half moonshine/ Full eclipse," the lyrics, which were typed with a black ink on a white paper, read. Along with the teaser, Taylor encouraged social media users to "pre-order" the album "now" by providing a link to a website. She did not forget to let out a white heart emoji over the short footage.
The video was later reshared by a blog via X, formerly known as Twitter. It prompted X users to voice their thoughts on the teaser. In the replies section of the tweet, one in particular wrote, "Her teasing these lyrics on the day of the eclipse," adding a crying face emoji. Similarly, another joined in, "It's eclipse day and perfect lyrics out. Taylor is [a red heart emoji]."
Meanwhile, a third showered the "Shake It Off" songstress with praise, "Truly a jem. She knows how to rule," adding a diamond and crown emojis. In the meantime, a fourth claimed, "I've no idea what this means yet but these lyrics will circle in my brain for days, IM SO EXCITED."
Taylor is slated to unleash "The Tortured Poets Department" on April 19. After breaking the news about the album at the 2024 Grammy Awards on February 4, she later revealed that she has four editions of the record with a bonus track each. The editions, namely "The Manuscript", "The Bolter", "The Albatross" and "The Black Dog", will be dropped simultaneously on April 19.
City Girls' Rep Allegedly Plays Down Yung Miami And JT's Online Feud
City Girls' team seemingly does not fret despite Yung Miami and JT's online feud. A representative for the female hip-hop duo has reportedly played down the two ladies' fiery back-and-forth on social media.
In a Monday, April 8 report published by TMZ, it's said that City Girls rep said not to worry about the relationship between the group mates as it's only "minor." Moreover, sources close to the group said that the rift is just "a family dispute" outside their professional careers.
Yung Miami and JT's clash began with the former accused the latter of "sneak dissing" her for weeks. "A b***h been sneak dissing me for weeks and I ain't say s**t what a b***h mad at me fa?????!!!!!!" Yung Miami wrote. "I ain't jealous of a soul l'm always like go b***h go!!! I clap for everybody I show love to EVERYBODY !! it ain't a b***h I haven't shown love to!!!!!!"
JT, meanwhile, accused Yung Miami of "playing dumb." She added, "I know I come off crazy but never in my life did no wack s**t to this girl she literally enjoys seeing me being dragged when ppl show me loves she goes crazy & talk about it!"
"It'll be too much for me to tweet! I will like a sit down.... Caresha please! And this time leave Santana home!" JT wrote in in a separate tweet. She also asked "which songs was about [Yung Miami]," to which the former flame of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs replied, "NO BARS 7 SIDEWAYS."
When a fan defended Yung Miami and called JT "pathetic" for throwing shade at her group mate, JT clapped back, "& I was sure there for her from the beginning but y'all will see this in time that I'm not, never was & never will be the problem! Have a nice day."
Yung Miami and JT have traded shots at each other on social media.
Yung Miami and JT last released music together in October 2023, with City Girls' third studio album "RAW". JT is currently on a solo tour ahead of her solo album debut, while Yung Miami has been battling allegation in one of Diddy's lawsuit that she's the hip-hop mogul's sex worker.
Broadway Legends Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga to Bring 'Old Friends' Musical to L.A. Ahead
Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga will be returning to Broadway in 2025.The Tony Award-winning actresses previously starred in the West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends in London in late 2023 and now they’re bringing the show to the U.S.
Old Friends is a revue of the late Sondheim‘s greatest hits with a star-studded cast.
The show will have its North American premiere at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre in February 2025 before heading to Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in March 2025.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said, “Old Friends was Steve‘s idea, born during lockdown, when he suggested it was time (and we had plenty of it!) we put together a third review of his work, to follow from the worldwide hit Side by Side By Sondheim in 1976 (my first!) and Putting It Together (which Julia McKenzie directed at the Manhattan Theatre Club starring Julie Andrews in 1993). Though we had started work, very sadly, on Thanksgiving 2021, Steve moved on. So, a few weeks later over the Christmas holidays I collated all our notes and, drawing on material from all the other shows Steve, Julia and I had worked on over the years, completed ‘our farewell show.’”
“In May 2022, we staged a star-studded Gala in London’s West End at the Sondheim Theatre (which I had rebuilt and renamed after him) to celebrate Steve’s work and raise funds for his new Foundation. It was a sensational success that sold out within hours, screened simultaneously at the nearby Prince Edward Theatre, and was subsequently broadcast on TV on the BBC. The material held together so brilliantly that I decided to press ahead and give Old Friends the full stage life Steve and I had always planned. The show opened in September 2023 at London’s Gielgud Theatre, directed by Matthew Bourne, side by side with Julia McKenzie, and choreographed by Stephen Mear. Starring Bernadette Peters (making her West End debut at long last!) and Lea Salonga, it received rave reviews and nightly standing ovations during its 16-week run,” he continued.
Mackintosh added, “It is a tremendous joy to now be bringing Old Friends to the Ahmanson in Los Angeles and to be back side by side with Lynne Meadow at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York thanks to Daryl Roth’s support, with a terrific company headed again by my old friends Bernadette and Lea with many other stars to be announced shortly. Audiences are in for a joyous and unforgettable evening featuring some of the greatest songs ever written for the musical theatre in ‘a great big Broadway show’ – just as Steve wanted.”
Todrick Hall Reacts to Backlash for Launching GoFundMe for His Family
Todrick Hall is responding to all of the backlash that he’s received for launching a GoFundMe page to support his family.
The 39-year-old entertainer set a goal of raising $10,000 for his family after their house burned down.
“I do not come from money, at all, and typically I would be the person to step up to the plate to help. But, as a performer who’s just recovering from the pandemic and the union strike myself there’s only so much I can do so. I have helped where I can, but I can’t get the entire family back on their feet at this moment as I’m transitional period myself,” Todrick wrote on the page.
Todrick received backlash as he hosted a lavish birthday party amid the news, with party guests giving a view from inside his L.A. mansion, including his luxurious closet.
In a new open letter to fans, Todrick explained why he had the birthday party amid the GoFundMe campaign.
Todrick revealed that his birthday party was paid for by brand sponsors and he included text receipts to show he didn’t pay for anything.
Keep reading below to see the open letter…
I struggle sometimes to decide whether or not to address controversy but in my experience saying nothing allows the internet to paint your narrative and I’m not interested in allowing that anymore. I just want to be crystal clear, I would NEVER spend money that my fans raised during a traumatic time for my family on a birthday party. I wouldn’t under these circumstances spend my own money on a party either. Everything at my party was either gifted or sponsored and it was organized by someone very close to me who knows I’ve been going through a rough time and wanted to celebrate me on my birthday and going away party.
I don’t expect everyone to understand my life, my choices, etc. And I know that I’m not for everyone, but the level of hate, death threats, racism, etc that I receive on a daily basis is just not acceptable and it’s dangerous. People swear I don’t pay for anything, until it fits their narrative to say I’d spend $20k on a birthday (which I have never done). Everyone’s telling me to sell my home and my luxury possessions (which I am) but last year they swore I lied about owning my home. You can’t sell a home you don’t own btw, but no one checks these facts, they just circulate the headlines.
At the end of the day I’d like to say thank you to everyone who donated to help me help my family. This has been extremely difficult for us emotionally already without the internet chiming in. We need to be careful of how we talk about people online because these comments can be absolutely too much, especially from people who aren’t at all involved in this situation. Thx for everyone who helped and thx to all my LA peeps who came out to support me for my bday/going away. I’m excited to unplug and be back with my first love, musical theatre.
Jelly Roll Once Turned Down Chance to Meet Diddy at Last Minute: 'I Don't Even Know If That's a Picture I Want'
Jelly Roll bailed on meeting Diddy after getting bad vibes about the hip-hop mogul, who's facing multiple lawsuits over alleged sexual assault and sex trafficking.
In an interview on the podcast Cancelled with Tana Mongeau alongside his wife Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll revealed he had a chance to greet Diddy when they were both on Jimmy Kimmel Live last October, mere weeks before Cassie's lawsuit accusing him of rape and abuse went public. The 39-year-old Grammy nominee rejected the opportunity at the last minute because he didn't have a good feeling about it.
“I will tell this story, and I'll probably get in trouble for it; not harping on it 'cause it's a hot topic. ... And this is the first time in my career, ever, where they said, ‘Do you want to meet such-and-such?’” he recalled around the 43:00 mark below, as pointed out by Shawn Setaro at HipHopDX. “And I said 'yeah,’ and I started walking that way. And as I was getting down the hallway—this is a true story—I said ‘nah,’ and went and got back in the car. Swear. I don't know what it was. And I made a joke at first, I was like, 'Who don't wanna meet the guy that got 2Pac killed?' And nobody thought that was funny, so I was like, 'Ooh, that was a bomb, maybe I shouldn't go do this anyway.'"
The "Need a Favor" artist continued, “So I was already skeptical, 'cause I thought I had a funny [joke]—I probably wouldn't say that [around him]. And we were walking, I was just like, 'I don’t know.' Very seldom does things rub me in a way where I was like, ‘I don’t even know if that’s a picture I want.’ ... I've ended up in pictures with people I didn't wanna be with, just 'cause motherfuckers are [walking] a carpet around the same time. ... And you're like, 'Yo, I don't really know who this human is, kind of.'"
Last month Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by homeland security in connection with a federal sex trafficking case. Following the raids, the Bad Boy Records founder released a statement through his attorney denying all wrongdoing.
Diddy was hit with a new lawsuit this week as a woman accused his son King Combs of assaulting her during a yacht party in 2022. Diddy is also a defendant in the suit, with the woman saying the 54-year-old is liable since it was his party. Diddy was accused of aiding and abetting King in the alleged assault.
Theater Company Responds After Racist Haters Call Black ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Actress ‘Ugly’
*The Duke of York Theatre in London is defending Black actress Francesca Amewudah-Rivers after racist trolls labeled her as too “ugly” to portray Juliet in their latest production, “Romeo & Juliet.”
Amewudah-Rivers is best known for the show “Bad Education. Her casting alongside Tom Holland as Romeo in the forthcoming theatrical production of “Romeo and Juliet” has created social media buzz, with many calling it “the worst casting ever for Juliet.”
The theater company reacted to the haters in a statement: “Following the announcement of our ‘Romeo & Juliet’ cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop. We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment. We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs. Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported.”
The message continued: “Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion, and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators.
The Duke of York Theatre added, “The ‘Romeo & Juliet’ community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”
Amewudah-Rivers shared her excitement about her Juliet role on Instagram. Several people slammed her appearance in the comments and mocked her for seemingly having a mustache. Some people are convinced she’s transgender (male to female), further fueling the criticism over the play’s casting. The haters take issue with a Black woman playing Juliet.
Amewudah-Rivers posted an announcement about the play, and in the comments, actress Susan Wokoma came to her defense, writing, “Posting my love again because I am SEATED for you! I hope all the racists and misogynists are rattled and haunted by our visibility every single day their f-ing useless lives. This happens to me *every time* I’m cast in anything. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. May every Juliet be black.
One fan added, “standing with you fully against this sickening onslaught of anti-blackness and racism. a caring reminder that the white-walker’s opinions don’t matter have never mattered and never ever will no matter how many of them decide to congregate.”
In a statement about the production, Amewudah-Rivers said: “I’m so grateful to be making my West End debut as Juliet with The Jamie Lloyd Company. It’s a dream to be joining this team of incredible artists with Jamie at the helm. I’m excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom, and to welcome new audiences to the theatre.”
“Romeo & Juliet” will run at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre May 23 through Aug. 3. It has already sold out, The Root reports.
Halle Bailey Added To Pharrell-Inspired Musical
Here’s some Hip-Hop in Hollywood news: A Pharrell Williams-inspired musical film in the works at Universal just added another star name. Halle Bailey, the star of The Little Mermaid, will lead opposite Kelvin Harrison Jr. and 2024 Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
Pretty much all the industry trades confirmed Bailey’s involvement in the project, but her character and the other character details are tightly under wraps. However, if you know much about Pharrell’s story, you can imagine a whole lot.
Michael Gondry (Be Kind Rewind) is directing, and Williams, of course, is producing.
So Shadow and Act say the film is a “coming-of-age musical set in 1977 Virginia Beach,” and the story will draw inspiration from Williams’ childhood experiences “growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments.” See, there’s a lot of intel there, but they say the project is “under wraps.” How is that guarding a secret? Anyway, Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson are penning the script.
Williams will produce with Mimi Valdés via I am OTHER. Gil Netter produces under his self-titled production company, Gil Netter Productions.
Bailey was last seen in a significant role in The Color Purple and was the titular character in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Ryan Coogler Vampire Film With Michael B. Jordan Adds Delroy Lindo
The next big Hollywood movie from Ryan Coogler starring none other than Michael B. Jordan has just announced more of the untitled film’s cast.
Both Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter reported that Delroy Lindo is confirmed as on board. Jack O’Connell is in talks, and rumor has it that he will play the villain. Lindo’s role is unknown, much like the title. C’mon ya’ll, give us something.
Speaking of under wraps, this project has been protected from leaks, but Shadow and Act gave some rumored intel with the film “set in the Jim Crow-era South, and possibly involves both vampires and Southern supernatural traditions.” Now get this: Shadow and Act regurgitated another rumor that Jordan may play two characters who are twin brothers. That’s interesting. Here’s more from the rumor mill: the tone of the film is described as having a musical element. One source said Lindo’s role has “a musical element to it.” Now, that’s a lot of possible information for a so-called closely guarded project.
Coogler is serving as a screenwriter, director, and producer through his company, Proximity Media. Proximity Media producers Zinzi Coogler (Ryan’s wife) and Sev Ohanian are producing.
Warner Bros won the rights to the film after a crazy bidding war.
Meek Mill Admits Rumors of Him and Diddy Being Gay Have Confused Meek’s Son
Meek Mill has addressed gay rumors in connection to Diddy, saying that the unconfirmed claims are confusing the Philadelphia rapper's 12-year-old son. Amid a recent—and lengthy—diatribe on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday (April 8), Meek Mill wrote, "I don’t believe no Diddy story once they lied about me now! Anybody try to sexually assault me it will be a bang out on the spot how yall don’t know that lol I don’t care but yall confusing my son he’s 12 with people saying his dad gay it’s sick now outchea so f**k it."
Meek’s tweet was in response to a fan who wrote him, saying, "Damn, Wale a full grown p***y? Didn’t Puffy dangle him from the balcony (no Diddy)?" The tweet has since been deleted.
The social media user, however, was referring to claims that Diddy held Wale over a balcony during a studio session with Cassie years ago, which Wale’s team denounced. Wale also seemingly responded to the fallacy, writing online, "The slow demise of [authentic] journalism ... I use to pray for gullible ... now I'm scare of them."
Meek Mill Indirectly Mentioned in Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones' Lawsuit Against Diddy
Separately, Meek’s reference to sexual assault in his tweet presumably stems from him being purportedly mentioned in producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ lawsuit against Diddy, which claimed that Puff had a sexual encounter with a "Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj," presumably alluding to Meek Mill.
Meek Mill has had quite a time on X today, lamenting on numerous topics, including his thoughts on J. Cole retracting his diss towards Kendrick Lamar as well as his issues with
Jackie Chan Shares Health Update After Fans Expressed Concern Over His Appearance
While celebrating his 70th birthday over the weekend, Jackie Chan addressed his fans’ concerns over his older appearance.
The iconic actor and martial artist’s comments come after social media users became concerned after a photo of Chan sporting gray hair at an event went viral.
After the photo began circulating on X last month, many fans shared in the comments section that they were worried about the state of his health.
On Sunday, Chan marked his birthday milestone by posting throwback pics of himself on various film sets during his lengthy Hollywood career.
The “Karate Kid” alum then shared that “a lot of friends” were concerned about his health after the photo of him with a “white beard” surfaced.
Though having grays at 70 years of age is certainly not unimaginable, Chan took the time to explain his new appearance to his worried fans
“Not so long ago, a lot of friends saw some recent photos of me on the internet, and they were all concerned about my health. I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know, don’t worry!” Chan said.
“It’s just a character appearance for my latest movie. The character requires me to have white hair, white beard and look old,” he added.
Chan also shared he’s “always been willing to try new things for a movie, no matter if it’s a challenging stunt or a breakthrough appearance for a character.”
Elsewhere in his post, he wrote, “Even before today, many friends have been reminding me: ‘Jackie, it’s going to be your 70th birthday!’ Every time I hear this number, my heart would stop for a second ― I’m 70 years old already?”
The stunt legend then opened up about reaching the milestone age and shared gratitude for the clever words of his big brother, Sammo Hung, who said, “Being able to grow old is a fortunate thing.”
“Especially for us stunt people, we don’t know how lucky we are to be able to grow old,” Chan added.
The “Rush Hour” star went on to gush over being in the “entertainment business for 62 years,” adding that he’s “lucky” to still be filming today.
“Looking at these photos brings back so many fond memories. All I can say is: I love making movies and I love you all,” he continued.
Wrapping up his message, Chan added, “A big thank you to everyone for all your birthday wishes. Hope everyone stays happy and healthy!”
Cher's Son Elijah Hits Back At Mom Amid Conservatorship Battle
Cher has been locked in a legal battle with her 47-year-old son, Elijah Blue Allman, over a proposed conservatorship. In a bombshell declaration, Allman is challenging his mother's request, claiming he is sober and capable of managing his finances.
Cher's initial petition, filed in December 2023, alleged that Allman was struggling with mental illness and drug addiction, rendering him unable to handle his finances. She cited his inheritance payments from his late father Gregg Allman's estate and expressed concern that he would spend the funds recklessly on drugs.
However, Allman's declaration refutes his mother's claims. He states that he has hired lawyers, paid his bills, and is working on new projects. He also asserts that he has retained an accounting firm to assist with tax and financial management.
Allman further alleges that Cher is unfit to serve as his conservator due to her own financial mismanagement. He also questions her mental health history, claiming that she has identified as "manic depressive."
A judge has denied Cher's request for a temporary conservatorship but has scheduled a hearing for March 2024 to consider a permanent arrangement. Allman's wife, Marieangela King, is also involved in the legal battle, accusing Cher of orchestrating a kidnapping plot and being "categorically unfit" to be a conservator.
Cher has maintained that her actions are motivated by concern for her son's well-being. However, Allman insists that he does not need his mother's help and is capable of managing his own affairs. The ongoing conflict highlights the complex and emotionally charged nature of conservatorships, with both sides believing they are acting in the best interests of the individual in question.
The Fragrance ambassador Lenny Kravitz embodies Yves Saint Laurent’s latest cologne, Y Elixir, in an advertisement that marries the energy of music with the sophistication of scent. “I worked on Y Elixir as an haute couture version of Y,” explains master perfumer Dominique Ropion. “This interpretation of Y is more intense, woodier, richer, its sensuality was reinforced, which makes this opus the most luxurious yet.”
Ropion’s creation is a journey where the grace of oud wood, the freshness of lavender, and the spirit of rock blend seamlessly.
Kravitz’s bold patterns and sleek leather styling mirror the fragrance’s intense, woodier, richer character.
The iconic Y bottle is reimagined in bold metallic blue with a matte black emblem, a metaphor for the cologne—a classic symbol infused with potent energy.
#RHOA: Are Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks Still Friends?
After that, Phaedra lost her peach and her friendship with Porsha. But now Porsha is filming for Season 16 of RHOA, while Phaedra is a cast member of Married to Medicine. A Bravo renaissance for both ladies.
But do the duo, formerly nicknamed “Frick and Frack,” have a relationship now? Porsha addressed her relationship with Phaedra during a recent Amazon Live. “It was so funny because just earlier I was talking about Phaedra Parks because we have the same makeup artist. And I was just saying how similar we are — just thinking about, like, we love the same makeup, we love our hair to be the same,” Porsha explained. “We’re both from the South. You know, she’s a Southern Belle, and I feel like I’m sort of a Southern Belle.”
The former besties had decided to work on their friendship and attended functions to encourage and support each other. “And, yes, I definitely have texted her from time to time. You know, she’s very, very busy… I’m really busy. I have a lot going on in my life, she has a lot going on,” Porsha stated.
“Some friendships, you don’t got to talk to somebody every day. Literally, I talked to her the other day on the phone, and you would’ve thought we talked the day before,” the mother of one stated. “And those are the types of friendships you need to cherish. The type of people you can call and catch up with… ‘Let’s get into the kiki. Let’s get into enjoying the relationship,’” she added. I’m surprised that their friendship could overcome such a betrayal.
Porsha is also excited to be back on RHOA. “Everybody has their own experiences,” Porsha said, “and this is my experience. I just want to be as genuine — I think my fans and my supporters have followed me because I’m very transparent… I’m just excited to share my life again as a woman,” she added. “I think that my story was a little incomplete when I left.”
You can watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta streaming on Peacock.
#MusicNews: Earth, Wind & Fire Announces Their 2024 Las Vegas Mini-Residency
Earth, Wind & Fire is coming back to Las Vegas. The legendary music group has announced a mini-residency at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
The seven-show limited engagement is coming this fall, from Oct. 9 through Oct. 19. All performances will begin at 8:30 p.m.
Presale tickets for Citi cardmembers will be available beginning Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. Artist presale starts Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m. local time.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj & Her Husband Enjoy Intimate Moment On His Birthday
During downtime on her ongoing Pink Friday 2 Tour on Sunday (April 7), Nicki filmed herself and Petty on Instagram Live while they dined at a restaurant to celebrate his 46th birthday.
The married couple could be seen cozying up together as the Young Money hitmaker wished her main man a happy birthday.
“We finally got a little, tiny, bitty moment from Papa Bear,” Nicki said, referring to their three-year-old son, as Petty cuddled her from behind.
“I wanted to say happy birthday to the love of my life,” she added while deflecting requests from fans for them to kiss so she wouldn’t get makeup on her husband’s face.
Despite not wanting to share a kiss on the lips, Nicki caressed Petty’s face as he held her tightly and thanked her for the birthday wishes.
The rare glimpse into the couple’s love life comes on the heels of Nicki Minaj sharing an adorable moment from a recent show starring Papa Bear.
The superstar mom brought her Pink Friday 2 Tour to her hometown of New York City in late March, and was joined by members of her family including her infant son.
In a clip that made the rounds online, the little boy can be seen dancing as his mom’s 2010 hit “Roman’s Revenge” is heard playing in the background.
Weeks earlier, Kenneth Petty demonstrated that he’s his wife’s biggest fan by joining her on Instagram Live. During the stream, Nicki tested her husband’s knowledge of her music by challenging him to recite some of her rhymes.
“You say you the biggest Barb so now you gotta finish the lyric,” she said before spitting a few lines from her Pink Friday 2 track “Pink Birthday”: “Lowkey ‘cuz we just that ill now, ain’t never had a…”
Petty finished the line by rapping: “Bad bitch ’til now,” although Nicki was forced to correct him slightly as the actual line goes: “Ain’t never had a ill bitch ’til now.”
The “Roman’s Revenge” rapper continued the verse by spitting: “Post a pic, got ’em jackin’ like…,” to which her husband confidently picked up the baton: “Like Jill now.”
Petty scored another point when Nicki said: “Break the internet at…” and he responded: “At will now.”
Pleasantly surprised by her husband’s knowledge, Minaj declared that he “won Nicki trivia,” adding: “I ain’t gonna lie, I ain’t know you was gonna get the words like that at least once.”
Petty responded: “That’ all I listen to!”
UConn Beats Purdue to win second straight NCAA national championship
With exactly six minutes left in Monday night’s national championship game, UConn guard Tristen Newton zoomed a pass to a cutting Stephon Castle, who skipped past Zach Edey in the paint and laid in an ordinary layup. Except, it was only ordinary in execution — because that basket put the Huskies up 17 points, their largest lead of the night.
Consider that the moment the hourglass flipped, and time started ticking until UConn’s looming championship celebration.
Minutes later, the confetti cannons inside State Farm Arena erupted, finalizing UConn’s 75-60 win over Purdue in Monday’s national title game — and immortalizing Dan Hurley’s Huskies, who accomplished what no college basketball team had since Florida in 2006-07: winning consecutive NCAA championships.
That feat alone is historic. Other than Florida, only Duke in 1991-92 had gone back-to-back since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty in the 1960s and 1970s. But it’s the way that UConn won its 12th straight NCAA Tournament game — by, effectively, turning into the basketball version of a wood chipper — that lifts this two-year stretch to legendary status.
Last season, UConn won its six games in the Big Dance by a staggering average of 20 points per contest … yet somehow Hurley’s encore squad was even more dominant. After UConn’s 15-point victory over the Boilermakers, who were playing in their first national title game since 1969, the Huskies’ average victory margin this tournament? A whopping 23.3 points per game. That not even the Boilermakers — a No. 1 seed with two-time Wooden Award winner Zach Edey — could keep the final score to single digits speaks to UConn’s overwhelming dominance. The 7-foot-4 Edey finished Monday’s game, likely his last in college, with 37 points and 10 rebounds… and it mattered little.
And if this wasn’t already the case, go ahead and formally welcome UConn’s to the blue-blood club. Monday’s win was the Huskies’ sixth NCAA title, pushing them past Duke — which has five — and into a tie for third all-time with North Carolina; only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight) have more. That all six championships have come in a 25-year span since 1999, and under three different coaches, only further validates Connecticut’s place in college basketball’s historic hierarchy.
The same can be said of Hurley; the 51-year-old is now only the third active Division-I men’s coach with multiple national titles, joining Bill Self and Rick Pitino.
And it’s Hurley who deserves plenty of credit for UConn’s masterful game plan Monday night. Stopping Edey is an impossible task. Even in a battle of the two best bigs in America — Edey vs. 7-2 UConn’s center Donovan Clingan, who managed 11 points and five rebounds despite foul trouble — the Big Maple was always going to get his. He scored 16 of Purdue’s 30 first-half points, especially early on, when he feasted with his patented array of hook shots. But UConn countered well late, holding Edey without a basket over the final 5:47 before halftime — and during that stretch, the Huskies stretched their lead to six.
At the same time, UConn completely smothered Purdue — which entered as the second-best 3-point shooting team in America, making 40.6 percent from deep — from behind the arc. Hurley’s strategy of not having UConn’s guards help when Edey got the ball inside meant Purdue’s perimeter players had no breathing room. Case in point: Purdue only attempted one 3-pointer in the first 17 minutes of the game; it wasn’t until Braden Smith canned a fadeaway 3 with the shot clock expiring, 2:17 before intermission, that the Boilermakers actually made a triple.
Offensively, the difference between the two teams’ philosophies couldn’t have been more pronounced. Edey took 12 of Purdue’s 28 first-half attempts, making more shots than the rest of the Boilermakers did combined. On the flip side, while Cam Spencer scored seven of UConn’s first 11 points, the Huskies leaned on their balance and depth. Four different Huskies — Spencer, Clingan, Tristen Newton, and Hassan Diarra — had at least three made shots before any non-Edey Boilermaker did so.
That dichotomy became untenable for Purdue from the very first possession of the second half. Edey missed a bunny inside, and UConn turned it into a Newton 3 on the other end — a critical five-point swing that pushed Purdue into an early danger zone. From then on, what had been a back-and-forth battle between KenPom’s No. 1 and 2 teams — only the fourth time that’s happened since 2005 —became a lopsided, 20-minute-long UConn’s coronation. A surprise putback dunk from freshman Camden Heide, off another Edey miss, only briefly revived the Boilermakers’ hopes… until, soon after, they went 4:29 without a made field goal, during which UConn pushed its lead to 16. Newton — who finished with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds — was the maestro making it all happen.
The last made shot of that run was a Diarra layup in transition; Purdue coach Matt Painter couldn’t have called timeout more quickly, sensing the game getting away from his team.
Jerrod Carmichael Talks Sex Addiction, Jokes Of Disturbing “Race Play” Fantasy
In a particular instance, Carmichael can be seen discussing sex during an apparent stand-up show. He offers a moment of vulnerability to the audience, detailing his sexual fantasies. One of them being “race play.” If you don’t know, Urban Dictionary defines “race play” as an “avant-garde form of role play used by two consenting adults that incorporates racist, hurtful, & derogatory terms and comments regarding the others race, to fulfill and reach sexual pleasure.”
“Sometimes, I joke to him that our relationship is like that of a slave and a master’s son who teaches me how to read by candlelight,” the comedian tells an apparent disapproving crowd in the documentary. “Yeah, he groans too because he’s a good person. He doesn’t like the f**king joke. I like that joke. That’s my burden. I think that’s shit’s hilarious. ‘Yes, sir? Maria Antoinette, sir? I don’t know what that is!’ That’s a joke for me!”
The episode also features bits of conversation with his therapist. It was during this conversation that the comedian admitted that he became sexually active at a very young age. Jerrod also detailed how comedy impacts his relationship with sex and his sexuality. He alleged that he has had at least “1,000” sexual partners, but that may be “lowballing it.”
“I was a very sexual child since probably I was three or four, with older kids,” Carmichael explained. “I definitely had experiences with boys that I hid and my teenage years into my twenties, beginning secret sex with guys…Sex offers me power and control. It’s an escape. I use it to escape.”
Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” Slammed With Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Universal Music Group (UMG) has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over Mary J. Blige‘s 1992 classic, “Real Love.” Blige was not named in the lawsuit nor was she accused of any wrongdoing.
In the lawsuit filed by Tuff City Records in Manhattan federal court on Thursday (April 4), it’s been alleged that “Real Love” features an unlicensed sample of The Honey Dippers’ 1973 hit, “Impeach the President,” which had been sampled before in several Hip-Hop and R&B records, including J. Cole’s “Wet Dreamz,” Nas’ “I Can,” LL Cool J’s “Around The Way Girl,” and most recently, Doja Cat’s “Can’t Wait.”
Hillel Parness, an attorney representing the label, said in the complaint that they have “advised defendant repeatedly of the presence of the uncleared sample” in Blige’s “Real Love,” but UMG has not rectified the matter.
Parness added, “Defendant has repeatedly refused to engage plaintiff in substantive negotiations to rectify the foregoing, let alone agreed to compensate Plaintiff for the past infringement or on an ongoing basis.”
However, Tuff City claims that UMG Recordings—a UMG subsidiary and owner of the “Real Love” master—reached an agreement regarding the uncleared sample, but UMG has not.
Over the past 15 years, Tuff City has sued regarding uncleared samples or interpolations in songs from JAY-Z to Frank Ocean and more. In 2014, a judge dismissed their case regarding JAY-Z’s “Run This Town” after determining that the sample in question was “barely perceptible.” In 2018, Tuff City was ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to the Beastie Boys, who felt it was a case “clearly without merit.”
Tuff City first sued over an improper usage of “Impeach the President” back in 1991, claiming Marley Marl had illegally sampled the record on LL Cool J’s “Around The Way Girl” and “Six Minutes of Pleasure.”
It set precedence in Hip-Hop regarding sampling because up until then, rap artists rarely sought out proper licensing for their recordings. The case was later settled on confidential terms.
Taylor Swift Unveils Lyrics From Upcoming Album 'Tortured Poets Department'
Taylor Swift has treated her fans, famously known as Swifties, to more details about her new album. Around two weeks before releasing "The Tortured Poets Department", the "All Too Well" hitmaker unveiled lyrics of a song from the upcoming record.
On Monday, April 8, the 34-year-old superstar surprised social media users with a teaser of lyrics on her Instagram page. Making use of Instagram Stories, she uploaded a video documenting a manual typewriter, which apparently was used by someone to type the lyrics of a song that will be included in her new album.
"Crowd goes wild at her fingertips/ Half moonshine/ Full eclipse," the lyrics, which were typed with a black ink on a white paper, read. Along with the teaser, Taylor encouraged social media users to "pre-order" the album "now" by providing a link to a website. She did not forget to let out a white heart emoji over the short footage.
The video was later reshared by a blog via X, formerly known as Twitter. It prompted X users to voice their thoughts on the teaser. In the replies section of the tweet, one in particular wrote, "Her teasing these lyrics on the day of the eclipse," adding a crying face emoji. Similarly, another joined in, "It's eclipse day and perfect lyrics out. Taylor is [a red heart emoji]."
Meanwhile, a third showered the "Shake It Off" songstress with praise, "Truly a jem. She knows how to rule," adding a diamond and crown emojis. In the meantime, a fourth claimed, "I've no idea what this means yet but these lyrics will circle in my brain for days, IM SO EXCITED."
Taylor is slated to unleash "The Tortured Poets Department" on April 19. After breaking the news about the album at the 2024 Grammy Awards on February 4, she later revealed that she has four editions of the record with a bonus track each. The editions, namely "The Manuscript", "The Bolter", "The Albatross" and "The Black Dog", will be dropped simultaneously on April 19.
City Girls' Rep Allegedly Plays Down Yung Miami And JT's Online Feud
In a Monday, April 8 report published by TMZ, it's said that City Girls rep said not to worry about the relationship between the group mates as it's only "minor." Moreover, sources close to the group said that the rift is just "a family dispute" outside their professional careers.
Yung Miami and JT's clash began with the former accused the latter of "sneak dissing" her for weeks. "A b***h been sneak dissing me for weeks and I ain't say s**t what a b***h mad at me fa?????!!!!!!" Yung Miami wrote. "I ain't jealous of a soul l'm always like go b***h go!!! I clap for everybody I show love to EVERYBODY !! it ain't a b***h I haven't shown love to!!!!!!"
JT, meanwhile, accused Yung Miami of "playing dumb." She added, "I know I come off crazy but never in my life did no wack s**t to this girl she literally enjoys seeing me being dragged when ppl show me loves she goes crazy & talk about it!"
"It'll be too much for me to tweet! I will like a sit down.... Caresha please! And this time leave Santana home!" JT wrote in in a separate tweet. She also asked "which songs was about [Yung Miami]," to which the former flame of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs replied, "NO BARS 7 SIDEWAYS."
When a fan defended Yung Miami and called JT "pathetic" for throwing shade at her group mate, JT clapped back, "& I was sure there for her from the beginning but y'all will see this in time that I'm not, never was & never will be the problem! Have a nice day."
Yung Miami and JT have traded shots at each other on social media.
Yung Miami and JT last released music together in October 2023, with City Girls' third studio album "RAW". JT is currently on a solo tour ahead of her solo album debut, while Yung Miami has been battling allegation in one of Diddy's lawsuit that she's the hip-hop mogul's sex worker.
Broadway Legends Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga to Bring 'Old Friends' Musical to L.A. Ahead
Old Friends is a revue of the late Sondheim‘s greatest hits with a star-studded cast.
The show will have its North American premiere at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre in February 2025 before heading to Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in March 2025.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said, “Old Friends was Steve‘s idea, born during lockdown, when he suggested it was time (and we had plenty of it!) we put together a third review of his work, to follow from the worldwide hit Side by Side By Sondheim in 1976 (my first!) and Putting It Together (which Julia McKenzie directed at the Manhattan Theatre Club starring Julie Andrews in 1993). Though we had started work, very sadly, on Thanksgiving 2021, Steve moved on. So, a few weeks later over the Christmas holidays I collated all our notes and, drawing on material from all the other shows Steve, Julia and I had worked on over the years, completed ‘our farewell show.’”
“In May 2022, we staged a star-studded Gala in London’s West End at the Sondheim Theatre (which I had rebuilt and renamed after him) to celebrate Steve’s work and raise funds for his new Foundation. It was a sensational success that sold out within hours, screened simultaneously at the nearby Prince Edward Theatre, and was subsequently broadcast on TV on the BBC. The material held together so brilliantly that I decided to press ahead and give Old Friends the full stage life Steve and I had always planned. The show opened in September 2023 at London’s Gielgud Theatre, directed by Matthew Bourne, side by side with Julia McKenzie, and choreographed by Stephen Mear. Starring Bernadette Peters (making her West End debut at long last!) and Lea Salonga, it received rave reviews and nightly standing ovations during its 16-week run,” he continued.
Mackintosh added, “It is a tremendous joy to now be bringing Old Friends to the Ahmanson in Los Angeles and to be back side by side with Lynne Meadow at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York thanks to Daryl Roth’s support, with a terrific company headed again by my old friends Bernadette and Lea with many other stars to be announced shortly. Audiences are in for a joyous and unforgettable evening featuring some of the greatest songs ever written for the musical theatre in ‘a great big Broadway show’ – just as Steve wanted.”
Todrick Hall Reacts to Backlash for Launching GoFundMe for His Family
Todrick Hall is responding to all of the backlash that he’s received for launching a GoFundMe page to support his family.
The 39-year-old entertainer set a goal of raising $10,000 for his family after their house burned down.
“I do not come from money, at all, and typically I would be the person to step up to the plate to help. But, as a performer who’s just recovering from the pandemic and the union strike myself there’s only so much I can do so. I have helped where I can, but I can’t get the entire family back on their feet at this moment as I’m transitional period myself,” Todrick wrote on the page.
Todrick received backlash as he hosted a lavish birthday party amid the news, with party guests giving a view from inside his L.A. mansion, including his luxurious closet.
In a new open letter to fans, Todrick explained why he had the birthday party amid the GoFundMe campaign.
Todrick revealed that his birthday party was paid for by brand sponsors and he included text receipts to show he didn’t pay for anything.
Keep reading below to see the open letter…
I struggle sometimes to decide whether or not to address controversy but in my experience saying nothing allows the internet to paint your narrative and I’m not interested in allowing that anymore. I just want to be crystal clear, I would NEVER spend money that my fans raised during a traumatic time for my family on a birthday party. I wouldn’t under these circumstances spend my own money on a party either. Everything at my party was either gifted or sponsored and it was organized by someone very close to me who knows I’ve been going through a rough time and wanted to celebrate me on my birthday and going away party.
I don’t expect everyone to understand my life, my choices, etc. And I know that I’m not for everyone, but the level of hate, death threats, racism, etc that I receive on a daily basis is just not acceptable and it’s dangerous. People swear I don’t pay for anything, until it fits their narrative to say I’d spend $20k on a birthday (which I have never done). Everyone’s telling me to sell my home and my luxury possessions (which I am) but last year they swore I lied about owning my home. You can’t sell a home you don’t own btw, but no one checks these facts, they just circulate the headlines.
At the end of the day I’d like to say thank you to everyone who donated to help me help my family. This has been extremely difficult for us emotionally already without the internet chiming in. We need to be careful of how we talk about people online because these comments can be absolutely too much, especially from people who aren’t at all involved in this situation. Thx for everyone who helped and thx to all my LA peeps who came out to support me for my bday/going away. I’m excited to unplug and be back with my first love, musical theatre.
Jelly Roll Once Turned Down Chance to Meet Diddy at Last Minute: 'I Don't Even Know If That's a Picture I Want'
In an interview on the podcast Cancelled with Tana Mongeau alongside his wife Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll revealed he had a chance to greet Diddy when they were both on Jimmy Kimmel Live last October, mere weeks before Cassie's lawsuit accusing him of rape and abuse went public. The 39-year-old Grammy nominee rejected the opportunity at the last minute because he didn't have a good feeling about it.
“I will tell this story, and I'll probably get in trouble for it; not harping on it 'cause it's a hot topic. ... And this is the first time in my career, ever, where they said, ‘Do you want to meet such-and-such?’” he recalled around the 43:00 mark below, as pointed out by Shawn Setaro at HipHopDX. “And I said 'yeah,’ and I started walking that way. And as I was getting down the hallway—this is a true story—I said ‘nah,’ and went and got back in the car. Swear. I don't know what it was. And I made a joke at first, I was like, 'Who don't wanna meet the guy that got 2Pac killed?' And nobody thought that was funny, so I was like, 'Ooh, that was a bomb, maybe I shouldn't go do this anyway.'"
The "Need a Favor" artist continued, “So I was already skeptical, 'cause I thought I had a funny [joke]—I probably wouldn't say that [around him]. And we were walking, I was just like, 'I don’t know.' Very seldom does things rub me in a way where I was like, ‘I don’t even know if that’s a picture I want.’ ... I've ended up in pictures with people I didn't wanna be with, just 'cause motherfuckers are [walking] a carpet around the same time. ... And you're like, 'Yo, I don't really know who this human is, kind of.'"
Last month Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by homeland security in connection with a federal sex trafficking case. Following the raids, the Bad Boy Records founder released a statement through his attorney denying all wrongdoing.
Diddy was hit with a new lawsuit this week as a woman accused his son King Combs of assaulting her during a yacht party in 2022. Diddy is also a defendant in the suit, with the woman saying the 54-year-old is liable since it was his party. Diddy was accused of aiding and abetting King in the alleged assault.
Theater Company Responds After Racist Haters Call Black ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Actress ‘Ugly’
*The Duke of York Theatre in London is defending Black actress Francesca Amewudah-Rivers after racist trolls labeled her as too “ugly” to portray Juliet in their latest production, “Romeo & Juliet.”
Amewudah-Rivers is best known for the show “Bad Education. Her casting alongside Tom Holland as Romeo in the forthcoming theatrical production of “Romeo and Juliet” has created social media buzz, with many calling it “the worst casting ever for Juliet.”
The theater company reacted to the haters in a statement: “Following the announcement of our ‘Romeo & Juliet’ cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop. We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment. We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs. Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported.”
The message continued: “Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion, and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators.
The Duke of York Theatre added, “The ‘Romeo & Juliet’ community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”
Amewudah-Rivers shared her excitement about her Juliet role on Instagram. Several people slammed her appearance in the comments and mocked her for seemingly having a mustache. Some people are convinced she’s transgender (male to female), further fueling the criticism over the play’s casting. The haters take issue with a Black woman playing Juliet.
Amewudah-Rivers posted an announcement about the play, and in the comments, actress Susan Wokoma came to her defense, writing, “Posting my love again because I am SEATED for you! I hope all the racists and misogynists are rattled and haunted by our visibility every single day their f-ing useless lives. This happens to me *every time* I’m cast in anything. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. May every Juliet be black.
One fan added, “standing with you fully against this sickening onslaught of anti-blackness and racism. a caring reminder that the white-walker’s opinions don’t matter have never mattered and never ever will no matter how many of them decide to congregate.”
In a statement about the production, Amewudah-Rivers said: “I’m so grateful to be making my West End debut as Juliet with The Jamie Lloyd Company. It’s a dream to be joining this team of incredible artists with Jamie at the helm. I’m excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom, and to welcome new audiences to the theatre.”
“Romeo & Juliet” will run at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre May 23 through Aug. 3. It has already sold out, The Root reports.
Halle Bailey Added To Pharrell-Inspired Musical
Pretty much all the industry trades confirmed Bailey’s involvement in the project, but her character and the other character details are tightly under wraps. However, if you know much about Pharrell’s story, you can imagine a whole lot.
Michael Gondry (Be Kind Rewind) is directing, and Williams, of course, is producing.
So Shadow and Act say the film is a “coming-of-age musical set in 1977 Virginia Beach,” and the story will draw inspiration from Williams’ childhood experiences “growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments.” See, there’s a lot of intel there, but they say the project is “under wraps.” How is that guarding a secret? Anyway, Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson are penning the script.
Williams will produce with Mimi Valdés via I am OTHER. Gil Netter produces under his self-titled production company, Gil Netter Productions.
Bailey was last seen in a significant role in The Color Purple and was the titular character in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Ryan Coogler Vampire Film With Michael B. Jordan Adds Delroy Lindo
The next big Hollywood movie from Ryan Coogler starring none other than Michael B. Jordan has just announced more of the untitled film’s cast.
Both Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter reported that Delroy Lindo is confirmed as on board. Jack O’Connell is in talks, and rumor has it that he will play the villain. Lindo’s role is unknown, much like the title. C’mon ya’ll, give us something.
Speaking of under wraps, this project has been protected from leaks, but Shadow and Act gave some rumored intel with the film “set in the Jim Crow-era South, and possibly involves both vampires and Southern supernatural traditions.” Now get this: Shadow and Act regurgitated another rumor that Jordan may play two characters who are twin brothers. That’s interesting. Here’s more from the rumor mill: the tone of the film is described as having a musical element. One source said Lindo’s role has “a musical element to it.” Now, that’s a lot of possible information for a so-called closely guarded project.
Coogler is serving as a screenwriter, director, and producer through his company, Proximity Media. Proximity Media producers Zinzi Coogler (Ryan’s wife) and Sev Ohanian are producing.
Warner Bros won the rights to the film after a crazy bidding war.
Meek Mill Admits Rumors of Him and Diddy Being Gay Have Confused Meek’s Son
Meek’s tweet was in response to a fan who wrote him, saying, "Damn, Wale a full grown p***y? Didn’t Puffy dangle him from the balcony (no Diddy)?" The tweet has since been deleted.
The social media user, however, was referring to claims that Diddy held Wale over a balcony during a studio session with Cassie years ago, which Wale’s team denounced. Wale also seemingly responded to the fallacy, writing online, "The slow demise of [authentic] journalism ... I use to pray for gullible ... now I'm scare of them."
Meek Mill Indirectly Mentioned in Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones' Lawsuit Against Diddy
Separately, Meek’s reference to sexual assault in his tweet presumably stems from him being purportedly mentioned in producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ lawsuit against Diddy, which claimed that Puff had a sexual encounter with a "Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj," presumably alluding to Meek Mill.
Meek Mill has had quite a time on X today, lamenting on numerous topics, including his thoughts on J. Cole retracting his diss towards Kendrick Lamar as well as his issues with
Jackie Chan Shares Health Update After Fans Expressed Concern Over His Appearance
While celebrating his 70th birthday over the weekend, Jackie Chan addressed his fans’ concerns over his older appearance.
The iconic actor and martial artist’s comments come after social media users became concerned after a photo of Chan sporting gray hair at an event went viral.
After the photo began circulating on X last month, many fans shared in the comments section that they were worried about the state of his health.
On Sunday, Chan marked his birthday milestone by posting throwback pics of himself on various film sets during his lengthy Hollywood career.
The “Karate Kid” alum then shared that “a lot of friends” were concerned about his health after the photo of him with a “white beard” surfaced.
Though having grays at 70 years of age is certainly not unimaginable, Chan took the time to explain his new appearance to his worried fans
“Not so long ago, a lot of friends saw some recent photos of me on the internet, and they were all concerned about my health. I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know, don’t worry!” Chan said.
“It’s just a character appearance for my latest movie. The character requires me to have white hair, white beard and look old,” he added.
Chan also shared he’s “always been willing to try new things for a movie, no matter if it’s a challenging stunt or a breakthrough appearance for a character.”
Elsewhere in his post, he wrote, “Even before today, many friends have been reminding me: ‘Jackie, it’s going to be your 70th birthday!’ Every time I hear this number, my heart would stop for a second ― I’m 70 years old already?”
The stunt legend then opened up about reaching the milestone age and shared gratitude for the clever words of his big brother, Sammo Hung, who said, “Being able to grow old is a fortunate thing.”
“Especially for us stunt people, we don’t know how lucky we are to be able to grow old,” Chan added.
The “Rush Hour” star went on to gush over being in the “entertainment business for 62 years,” adding that he’s “lucky” to still be filming today.
“Looking at these photos brings back so many fond memories. All I can say is: I love making movies and I love you all,” he continued.
Wrapping up his message, Chan added, “A big thank you to everyone for all your birthday wishes. Hope everyone stays happy and healthy!”
Cher's Son Elijah Hits Back At Mom Amid Conservatorship Battle
Cher's initial petition, filed in December 2023, alleged that Allman was struggling with mental illness and drug addiction, rendering him unable to handle his finances. She cited his inheritance payments from his late father Gregg Allman's estate and expressed concern that he would spend the funds recklessly on drugs.
However, Allman's declaration refutes his mother's claims. He states that he has hired lawyers, paid his bills, and is working on new projects. He also asserts that he has retained an accounting firm to assist with tax and financial management.
Allman further alleges that Cher is unfit to serve as his conservator due to her own financial mismanagement. He also questions her mental health history, claiming that she has identified as "manic depressive."
A judge has denied Cher's request for a temporary conservatorship but has scheduled a hearing for March 2024 to consider a permanent arrangement. Allman's wife, Marieangela King, is also involved in the legal battle, accusing Cher of orchestrating a kidnapping plot and being "categorically unfit" to be a conservator.
Cher has maintained that her actions are motivated by concern for her son's well-being. However, Allman insists that he does not need his mother's help and is capable of managing his own affairs. The ongoing conflict highlights the complex and emotionally charged nature of conservatorships, with both sides believing they are acting in the best interests of the individual in question.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
How to Ignore?
Must be hard to follow him
Must be hard to follow him
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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