#MAGFAB: Megan Thee Stallion Bares THE BODY for WOMEN’S HEALTH’s May/June ‘Body Issue’!
It’s the rebirth of Megan the Stallion. With her third album on the way, hip-hop’s it girl is in her strongest era yet, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. Baring all the cover of the 2024 WOMEN’S HEALTH Body issue, the Grammy-winning rapper shares how she quiets the noise of haters and embraces a revamped approach to health and wellness, detailing her mind and body transformation which included learning how be her own ultimate hype woman. Plus, in her episode of the Women’s Health video series “Everything But The Sweat”, Megan shares how she gears up and winds down for her daily workouts—from her morning smoothie recipe to the music that gets her blood pumping—and reveals how she starts her day and preps for all her “hot girl activities.”
Of her drive: “I always feel like, ‘I got to do something better.’ I can’t be stuck. I can’t be stagnant.”
On suffering mentally and enduring an immense amount of hate after she was shot by rapper and former friend Tory Lanez: “A lot of people didn’t treat me like I was human for a long time. I feel like everybody was always used to me being the fun and happy party girl. I watched people build me up, tear me down, and be confused about their expectations of me. As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings, and handle it with grace. But I’m human.”
On struggling behind-the-scenes while her career continued to heat up: “Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans. I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers. I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”
On being inspired to move her body as she started mending her soul: “Working on myself made me get into working out because I needed to focus my energy somewhere else. I used working out to escape and to get happy.”
On the appeal of looking good, which for her means having a bod that resembles a volleyball player’s: “Strong legs! You look like you can jump high. I love that look.”
On her morning routine, which includes journaling, meditation, and prayer: “Alone time is something I need. I like getting up and being able to be at peace. In my everyday life, I speak with so many people. When I perform, I take on so many energies. I like to recharge my battery. Let the start of the day be about me; then, I can give my energy to everybody else.”
On finding solace in the shower, where she also does a lot of her best writing: “I love the sound of running water. I can clear my head.”
On her next album: “I was inspired to create this album about rebirth because I feel I am becoming a new person physically and mentally.”
On choosing a snake as the project’s motif: “They’re feared, misunderstood, respected, healing.”
On showing both sensitivity strength in her music: “I’ve always struggled to figure out how to be vulnerable and still make music that is going hard at the same time. I’m getting into a better space with making music that is still true to myself but also true to my message. I am very much a flower, but my flower has thorns.”
On having the strength to persevere:“I’m proud to still be here. I didn’t quit. I want to see myself grow and be better than I am right now. And I will. I know I will.”
#RHOA: How Cynthia Bailey Feels About Kandi Burruss' 'RHOA' Exit and Porsha Williams' Return!
The RHOA alum was in attendance on Wednesday at the 25th edition of the "An Unforgettable Evening" gala on-- a fundraiser gala held at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, which benefited the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
While walking the star-studded carpet, Bailey spoke with ET's Denny Directo, and addressed the departure of Kandi Burruss and the return of Porsha Williams for the show's forthcoming season.
"Kandi's been on since, I think, season 2. She is, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring women on the show," Bailey marveled. "She's such a boss, she's always had her hand in so many other pots, and she's just such a good person."
Burruss revealed to ET in February that she planned to step back from the show to focus on other projects as well as her family.
"I think, I've always known that once Kandi decided to move on, she was going to be fine," Bailey continued. "She's an actress, she's a singer, I mean she's all over the place. So I only expect to see even more from Kandi at this point."
Cynthia Bailey walks the pink carpet at the An Unforgettable Evening charity gala, benefiting the Women's Cancer Research Fund at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, on April 10, 2024.
Additionally, Bailey noted that Burruss still "has a great relationship with the network, and she can go back anytime she wants to."
While Burruss is departing, Williams has been tapped to make her comeback after leaving the show at the end of season 13 -- the same season Bailey first decided to exit the series before coming back as a recurring guest and friend.
When asked if she felt bringing Williams back to the show was a good move on Bravo's part, Bailey exclaimed, "Of course, of course of course! She's great TV."
"I know that she's going to tell her story, she's going to have fun with it, and she's going to give us good TV," Bailey shared.
Williams posted a video to Instagram back in February to share her excitement for returning to RHOA.
"I'm incredibly thankful for the vision and faith NBCUniversal has put in me to be a larger part of their family," Porsha says. "I'm looking forward to being back on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and showing the world my new world!"
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In August, a source told ET, "Bravo has been trying to get Porsha to come back to RHOA for the possible cast shakeup, but she's playing hardball."
The source added, "Porsha is telling friends she wants to be the highest-paid Housewife on any franchise. Porsha could return, but as of now, she and Bravo have not come to an agreement."
At the time, Bravo offered Porsha a lot of money to return, but she declined.
In July, Porsha spoke with ET about possibly returning to the Bravo hit show and said the door isn’t closed.
"I mean, listen, it's so [good] to be missed. It would be bad if it's brought up and you're like, 'No, she can stay where she is,'" Porsha joked. "I love that people want to see me. I love that people are still interested in my life and who I am."
"I've never written it off, I've never talked down on the show. I love what the girls are doing. I love that the brand is still as strong as it was before," she added, "and you just never know. I will say [that] I’ll never say 'never.'"
It's unclear when the 16th season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta will begin filming and which cast members are fully confirmed to be returning, other than Williams.
#NewMusic from Tori Kelly Releases New Album “TORI.”
Grammy winning singer/songwriter Tori Kelly has just released her long awaited new album “TORI.” via Epic Records.
The project is Kelly’s fifth studio album overall and was executive produced by Jon Bellion. It features 15 all new songs with an eclectic mix of guest contributions, including features from Ayra Starr, KIM CHAEWON of kpop band LE SSERAFIM, and Jon Bellion himself.
It includes previously shared, fan-favorite songs like “missin u,” “shelter,” and “cut,” plus recent single “high water.”
Last year, Tori Kelly began laying the groundwork for TORI. with the release of tori, a seven-track prelude to the album featuring a range of styles and sounds that showcase the true Tori. It set the stage for the most versatile and vulnerable project of the artist’s career, weaving together sonics and songwriting that represent the full picture of a woman coming into her own. She adds:
“This album is an expression of every side of me; some of them I’ve never shown before. I decided to name it ‘TORI.’ because this music is me confidently stepping into myself as an artist and as a woman.”
Fans can see the star bring her new album to life beginning April 12 on The Purple Skies Tour, which kicks off in Ventura, CA and makes stops across North America, culminating in Kansas City, MO on May 3. Stay tuned for more dates to be announced soon.
#HipHopNews: Legendary NY Hip Hop DJ #RIPMisterCee Reportedly Passes Away At 57!
Legendary Hip-Hop DJ Mister Cee, the man who spun for Big Daddy Kane and helped discover late rap icon The Notorious B.I.G., has passed away at 57. No cause of death has been revealed.
On Wednesday (April 10), news of Mister Cee’s passing spread throughout the Hip-Hop community, with many of his peers and fans paying their respects to the influential spinner also known by the nickname “The Finisher.”
“We have lost the iconic Mister Cee,” wrote Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg on X on Wednesday afternoon. “I listened to him yesterday and am in complete shock. He was a dear friend to all of us, a wonderful man, and one of the most important and impactful DJs of all time. I love you Cee.”
While the timing of Mister Cee’s death is unconfirmed, it’s believed he passed away on Wednesday (April 10), as he was last heard DJing Rock The Bells’ Sirius XM program The Set Off Show on Tuesday (April 9).
A Brooklyn native, Mister Cee—born Calvin LeBrun—hailed from the borough’s Bedford-Stuyvesant section, where he gained a reputation as one of the best DJs in New York City. As a childhood friend of Big Daddy Kane, Mister Cee became the Juice Crew member’s DJ, working with Kane on his 1988 debut Long Live the Kane.
During the early ’90s, Mister Cee would be introduced to The Notorious B.I.G., a then relatively unknown rapper from Brooklyn who he took under his wing and helped land a record deal.
An associate executive producer on Biggie’s classic debut Ready to Die, Mister Cee would enjoy a lengthy career as a DJ on New York radio station Hot 97 before leaving the station in 2014 following a controversial arrest for soliciting a prostitute
Despite the seeming scandal, Mister Cee continued his career as one of the highest-regarded DJs in the game. His most recent radio gigs were at 94.7 The Block and his aforementioned mix show on Sirius XM’s Rock The Bells.
Roberto Cavalli, Designer To the Stars, Dies at 83!
Roberto Cavalli, the Italian fashion designer who celebrated glamour and excess, sending models down the runway and actresses onto red carpets wearing leopard-print dresses, bejeweled distressed jeans, satin corsets and other unapologetically flashy clothes, has died. He was 83.
His company announced the death on Instagram but provided no details.
Mr. Cavalli’s signature style — “molto sexy, molto animal print and molto, molto Italiano,” as the British newspaper The Independent once described it — remained essentially unchanged throughout his long career. But he skillfully reinvented his clothes for different eras, enjoying several renaissances and building a global lifestyle brand in the process.
In the 1970s, Mr. Cavalli designed jackets, jeans and minidresses made from patchwork denim, selling his upscale hippie frocks in a boutique in St. Tropez, on the French Riviera, to actresses like Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren.
For the next two decades, he remained largely unknown outside Europe. Then, in the 1990s, he reinvented luxury denim, first with the sandblasted look and then, in a stroke of invention, by putting Lycra in jeans to make them fit more snugly and look sexier. When the model Naomi Campbell wore a pair during a runway show in 1993, stretch jeans became a huge trend.
Before that breakthrough, Mr. Cavalli’s business was floundering, and he had considered closing his factory. But from the mid-’90s onward, he was one of the biggest names in fashion, with stores around the world, celebrity admirers like Lenny Kravitz and Cindy Crawford and licenses for everything from jewelry, perfume and sunglasses to children’s clothes, housewares and a Roberto Cavalli-branded vodka, which came packaged in a snakeskin-covered bottle.
Like (Gianni) Versace or Calvin (Klein), Cavalli achieved single-name status: He stood for an immediately recognizable aesthetic.
“Roberto loved excess, but he never lost his point of view,” Nina Garcia, the editor in chief of Elle magazine, said in an email in 2020. “Even when minimalism was the norm, he believed in maximalism. He dressed us thinking that life — and fashion — should be lived at full speed.”
A full obituary will follow.
Legendary Football Player and Actor O.J. Simpson has DIED at age 76!
O.J. Simpson, whose immense fame on the football field was eclipsed by his infamy off it, died Wednesday according to his family. He was 76.
Simpson had been battling cancer and had been in hospice. Simpson's attorney also confirmed his death to TMZ.
"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer," read a statement posted by Simpson's family on X. "He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren."
No matter what Simpson did as a football player, he will always be more remembered for perhaps the most famous murder trial in American history, one that had people glued to their televisions on a daily basis and split the country along racial lines. The moment he was found not guilty of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman was one of the most-watched in television history, as was Simpson’s slow-speed Ford Bronco chase through Southern California freeways after he was charged with the murders and failed to turn himself in.
Long before the trial that fascinated a large majority of Americans, Simpson’s fame was undeniable. He was one of the most famous football players ever, and became a celebrity off the field.
O.J. Simpson became a football star at USC
Orenthal James Simpson, born July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, California, changed how athletes — particularly African American athletes — were viewed in the mainstream, well before he became a notorious figure.
Simpson’s rise started at the University of Southern California, where he was one of the greatest college running backs ever. He enrolled at USC after attending City College of San Francisco for two years, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting his first season. Simpson’s cross-field, 64-yard, game-winning touchdown run against UCLA that season is still one of the most famous plays in college football history. In 1968, Simpson’s senior year at USC, he won the Heisman Trophy.
Simpson was a nearly perfect running back. He had good size at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds. He had world-class speed; in 1967 he was part of a four-man USC relay team that set a world record in the 440-yard event. He also had fantastic football instincts, especially in the open field.
In the 1969 common draft, the Buffalo Bills, then part of the American Football League before the merger, selected Simpson with the first overall pick.
NFL stardom in Buffalo
Simpson’s NFL career started slow, and he looked like a potential bust through three seasons. Then in 1972, the Bills hired Lou Saban as head coach, and he helped turn Simpson into a star.
Simpson was an All-Pro in 1972. In 1973, Simpson had one of the most iconic seasons in NFL history, becoming the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He finished with 2,003 yards, which became one of the most recognizable numbers in sports. He was named NFL MVP. It’s still one of the most famous single-season performances by a player in NFL history.
"That was like someone breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record," Bills Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure said, regarding Simpson’s 1973 season, in the ESPN documentary “O.J.: Made in America.” "It was unheard of."
Simpson was named first-team All-Pro five straight years. His 1975 season, in which he had 2,243 yards from scrimmage and 23 touchdowns, isn’t as celebrated as his 1973 season but was statistically better. For that five-year stretch, Simpson was one of the greatest running backs in football history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. In his induction speech, he thanked his second wife Nicole.
With each passing year, Simpson’s fame grew.
Simpson’s fame extended beyond football
Few football players experience the type of fame Simpson gained in the 1970s. How many NFL players get on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine?
A Hertz rental car advertising campaign in the 1970s exposed Simpson to a new, wider audience. Simpson running through the airport to get to the Hertz counter became one of the most memorable and successful ad campaigns ever, and it made Simpson a celebrity.
"Before that, I'd say 30 percent of the people I met recognized me, and they'd be football fans. Now I'd say it's closer to 90 percent,” Simpson told Rolling Stone in that 1977 cover story.
The Hertz campaign was notable for the racial aspect, too. It was a turning point, as Simpson showed a Black spokesperson could be a successful pitchman. The campaign changed advertising forever.
Even as Simpson’s playing career wound down — it ended after two quiet years with the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 and 1979 — his celebrity status remained strong.
Simpson was a top pitchman, and he got plenty of acting roles. His acting career started when he was playing for the Bills, and his most memorable role was as Nordberg in “The Naked Gun” comedy movie series. The retired Simpson might have been more famous in the 1980s than almost any NFL player from that era. He also was on television as a commentator, including a coveted role on “Monday Night Football.”
Part of Simpson’s widespread popularity was how he endeared himself to the white community, a theme that was explored at length in “OJ: Made in America.” In the documentary, those who knew Simpson claimed he would often say, “I’m not Black, I’m O.J.”
Ironically, the man who showed apathy toward his racial identity would be in the middle of a double murder trial that split America by racial lines.
A trial that captivated a nation
On June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were killed outside Nicole’s Brentwood residence.
Over the next year and four months, there were many moments and people that will live forever in memories and pop culture: the Bronco chase that set television records; the “dream team” of lawyers that turned Johnnie Cochran into a star; bloody gloves; “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit;” numerous instant celebrities like Kato Kaelin, Lance Ito, Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden; and the explosion of notable trials as reality television.
On Oct. 3, 1995, Simpson was found not guilty. Due in large part to the misconduct by the Los Angeles Police Department that was uncovered in the trial, the outcome was celebrated by many Black people. Conversely, many white people were outraged. The trial shined a harsh light on the racial divide in the United States.
In 1997, Simpson was found liable for the murders in a civil trial, and ordered to pay $25 million in punitive damages to the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Goldman. That became just a footnote to one of the most famous criminal trials in American history.
Simpson goes to a Nevada prison
In 2008, Simpson was found guilty of robbery and kidnapping, stemming from a 2007 incident at a Las Vegas hotel over sports memorabilia Simpson believed was stolen from him. The verdict came 13 years to the day after the not guilty verdict in the double murder trial.
Simpson spent nine years in a Nevada prison before he was released.
Simpson would never escape the infamy of the double murder trial. More than 20 years later, people were still obsessed with it; FX released “The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” in 2016, which was a popular hit, and ESPN released the critically acclaimed five-part “O.J.: Made in America” documentary later that year.
Simpson’s death will lead to further exploration of a legacy that is unlike any other in American sports history.
Usher To Receive Key To Hometown In Special ‘Coming Home’ Celebration!
In partnership with UTC and Chattanooga Business Elite (CBE), the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County will host a special community-wide “Coming Home” ceremony for the esteemed crooner.
“The city of Chattanooga provided a spark that ignited the fire in me to pursue my dreams as a singer and I’m thankful for the support I received from so many great family members, friends, and mentors so early in my journey,” expressed Usher in a statement. “Thank you for the honor, I look forward to celebrating with you all.”
Usher Super Bowl Halftime Show, 'Coming Home' interview
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly shared, “The pride in Chattanooga during Usher’s iconic Super Bowl halftime show was palpable. We know as a smaller city we punch way above our weight when it comes to the talent our city produces, and Usher is one of the finest examples of that talent. He’s going to feel the love when he comes home to McKenzie Arena on April 20th. I look forward to seeing y’all there.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp also spoke highly of Usher. “From his days at Orchard Knob and Dalewood to the pinnacle of the music industry, Usher is one the great talents who have come through our public school system,” he said. “I hope other young boys and girls across Hamilton County see Usher’s rise to the world stage and know that they have the same potential.”
The celebration will be hosted at the McKenzie Arena and is free for attendees. However, tickets are required and limited to two per person. Only 3,500 tickets will be available online on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Friday, April 12, at 10 a.m. ET.
Prior to his Super Bowl Halftime Show, Usher received the key to Las Vegas for his contributions to the city with his dynamic three-year residency, which concluded in December 2023. His next tour kicks off this August.
Grammy-Award Winning Gospel Recording Artist and Renowned Pastor Hezekiah Walker Set to Break Ground on East Brooklyn Affordable Housing Development
Hezekiah Walker has long been a beacon of light and hope in the bustling streets of East New York, Brooklyn. Born and raised in Fort Greene Housing Projects, Brooklyn is where Hezekiah Walker developed a love for Gospel music and a heart for people. The renowned Gospel artist, multi-Grammy award winner, and Pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle (LFT) has always believed in the transformative power of music and faith, and he has always had a desire to make a difference in his community – a difference that extended beyond the four walls of the church.
In 2011, Walker and LFT were preparing to build a 2,000-seat church on a property that he had purchased in 1998. While he was in prayer, however, he heard God telling him to not build a church but to build something that would benefit people in the community. Not long after, a developer called Walker about building affordable housing in the area and the project began to gain momentum. In 2013 Walker founded the Hezekiah Walker Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the residents of East New York Brooklyn. A large part of the vision was to provide affordable housing for those in need.
11 years later, that vision is coming to fruition with the official groundbreaking for HezHouse Apartments, an affordable and supportive housing development by Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Tabernacle, the Hezekiah Walker Community Development Corporation, Brooklyn Community Housing & Services, TT Development Group and Alembic Community Development. The groundbreaking will take place on Easter Sunday, which is the 30th church anniversary of Love Fellowship Tabernacle.
“I really want to leave a legacy above and beyond music,” says Walker. “I want to be able to say to people and show people that Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir was not just out here singing for money and popularity, we were singing to invest in our community.”
HezHouse Apartments will bring 236 affordable housing units to the heart of East New York Brooklyn. Among the 236 units, there will be 63 studios, 72 one-bedroom units, 73 two-bedroom units, and 28 three-bedroom units, offering a variety of living spaces to accommodate families of all sizes. What sets this development apart is the inclusion of 142 supportive units specifically designed for individuals and families dealing with serious mental disorders or substance use disorders. Of the 142 supportive units, 93 are designated as affordable units, ensuring that those in need have access to safe and stable housing.
Before long, the once vacant lot that was going to be the home of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle will be transformed into safe, comfortable homes for families who have struggled to find stable housing in New York City.
“I’m humbled and excited to finally break ground on HezHouse Apartments. We have worked hard and waited faithfully for this day to come. What better way to be the hands and feet of Jesus than to help ensure our neighbors have an affordable, safe and comfortable environment that they can call home,” says Walker.
White Indiana State University Student Uses Beyoncé Album to Unleash Racist Rant; School
An Indiana University student is facing backlash for her racist remarks on social media, sparking protests on campus.
“I’m sorry, but if you’re Black, you’re not country. I don’t care,” the student said in the video reshared on TikTok. “I wish I meant that in the nicest way, but babe, I know you were raised in the country or your grandparents were … but they was picking, OK?”
She added, “They wasn’t planting. Just keep that in mind. They wasn’t making money. They were getting sold for money. You ain’t country.”
Her comments were seemingly in response to Beyonce’s record-breaking country album, “Cowboy Carter.” The 27-track highly anticipated project was released on March 29 and included features from Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Linda Martell, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone. Additionally, the mega-star highlighted Black artists — Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Shaboozy, Willie Jones, and Reyna Roberts.
The woman was exposed as a nursing student at the Terre Haute-based university, where the student population is mostly white. People also called out how dangerous it would be if she entered the medical field with white supremacist views, pointing out how racism is a public health crisis.
Demonstrations erupted on campus this week, calling on the school to take action, shouting: “Hate has no place here” and “Silence is violence.”
“We’re here to make sure something like this doesn’t get swept under the rug again. The damage that occurs because of that [the lack of university response] is that students are told silence is OK and that they don’t matter,” Nadia Lomax, a protest organizer, told Indiana Statesman, the university’s newspaper.
The video was originally posted on Yik Yak, a popular social media app for college students. Protesters made a list of demands for university officials, including that they condemn the video and that the student face consequences. Indiana State University addressed the student’s outcry in a statement on Monday.
“As stated in our University Mission Statement, Indiana State University has a long history of valuing diversity and inclusiveness on our campus. We are aware and continue to monitor the situation involving comments published online by an Indiana State University student,” officials said, per the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. “The student’s comments do not align with our institutional values. We reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. ISU takes incidents of this nature seriously and is committed to ensuring a welcoming environment for everyone.”
However, some people told the Tribune-Star that the response was lackluster: “This should be something that comes out from leadership, and it should be emphatic that this is not tolerated on our campus,” said Darrell Morton Jr., president of the university’s Black Alumni Network.
“What I would like to see is ISU come out and define what their policy is on hate speech. It should be defined,” Morton added.
'Michael' Surprises With First Footage Of Jaafar Jackson As Michael Jackson At CinemaCon
The trailer begins with a look at The Jackson 5 performing "ABC" on TV and then cuts to a 1990s-era concert of Michael, portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, where he performs "Man in the Mirror". "Michael, you have a very special light. So let your light shine unto the world," MJ's mom Katherine (Nia Long) says in voiceover.
There are also images of a masked Michael being hounded by fans and paparazzi. Jaafar perfectly emulates the late King of Pop as he has a strong resemblance to his uncle and appears to have captured his dancing and stage presence.
During the presentation, producer Graham King ("Bohemian Rhapsody") promised the biopic would cover Michael's musical successes and his controversies. "There are biopics, and then there is Michael," said Graham, who called MJ "an enigma full of eccentricities."
He said the movie has more than 30 songs and teased it would be "long" in order to do the music star's story justice. "Behind the unrelenting scrutiny and the accusations and the blinding media spotlight, he was simply a man. A man who lived a very complicated life. The movie will get into all of it," King said, alluding to the multiple scandals Michael faced.
Michael "was a simple man who lived a complicated life," King added. "When you mention his name, everyone has an opinion of him." And so far, putting his life onscreen has been "a daunting task to say the least."
"Michael", directed by Antoine Fuqua, is set for April 18, 2025 release in the U.S. The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Katerina Graham and many others.
Rick Ross Allegedly Featured On Diddy's 'Freak-Off' Tapes
Rick Ross might be part of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' kinky parties. If his ex-girlfriend Tia Kemp is to be trusted, Rozay may be featured in the embattled rapper's purportedly secretly filmed "freak-off" sessions.
Tia, who shares a child with the "Purple Lamborghini" rhymer, made the shocking allegations against her ex in an Instagram video. She launched an online rant as she was mad because The Boss did not reach out to her to help coordinate their son's prom night.
"I want you to talk. Don't be scared now! No Diddy. You scared now, huh?" she said in a video. "I know you on them tapes. Freaky b***h. I know you is. 10 children having muthaf**ka. I ain't gonna let off you … What you quiet for?" she taunted.
Tia added, "Nobody wants to see your Louis [Vuitton] outfits and sneakers, b***h. Nobody don't don't care to see the jets no more. You running out of h*es now. Go over there and give Diddy a hug. Go ride the bike with him, you fat b***h."
This isn't the first time Tia made a rant against her former partner. In March, she claimed that the 48-year-old rapper has a secret child that looks like Drake. "You oughta rap about your muthaf**kin' children you around here hiding," she said in response to Rozay dissing her on Future and Metro Boomin's song "Everyday Hustle". "I want to see my stepson that look like Drake."
"You been doing that s**t since our baby was five," she claimed. "For 20 f**king years you played games […] Rap at me on another song, I'm coming to that f**king gate with them double R's on."
Rick had previously issued a cease and desist order against Tia to stop her making "false and defamatory" statements about him and his family. The former model, however, was adamant as she responded, "Sent me a cease and desist. I ain't lying. It's the truth. How you gonna sue me for defamation? Sue 50 Cent then. Don't beef with me."
In other news related to Diddy, his accuser Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones has claimed that he has a recording of the hip-hop mogul admitting to his crimes. "He shared how he would get things by force," Lil Rod explained.
He detailed, "This included record deals, signatures on contracts, sex acts from women and men, as well as the women of his enemies. He bragged about departed attorney Johnny Cochran's savvy legal skills and ability to pay off the witnesses through private investigators and other third parties."
The music producer is suing the Bad Boy Records founder for alleged sexual assault and allegedly engaging in a "massive" cover-up of their involvement in the shooting of a 30-year-old man in September 2022.
Woman dies in crash after allegedly killing boyfriend, pushing daughters out onto highway: police
The deaths of the baby and the couple, which were discovered at three separate locations in Los Angeles County, began when the woman allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death, according to our sister station KABC.
Investigators say it appears that Danielle Cherakiyah Johnson, 34, killed her live-in boyfriend at their Woodland Hills apartment around 3:40 a.m., then drove off with her two daughters who had witnessed the homicide.
She then apparently forced the two girls out of her vehicle in the middle of the 405 Freeway in Westchester. The older girl, a 9-year-old, was holding the 8-month-old when they were ejected from the SUV and hit the roadway, investigators say. The girl lost hold of the baby, who was then struck by a vehicle on the freeway and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson then drove to Redondo Beach, where she died after crashing her Porsche SUV into a tree at a high speed.
Sources say Johnson had been living with 29-year-old Jaelen Chaney and they had been a couple for several years. She was in the process of divorcing another man, the father of her 9-year-old daughter. Authorities have not yet confirmed if Chaney was the biological father of the baby who died on the freeway.
Ho events unfolded
Neighbors said they heard a loud argument coming from a unit in the building in the middle of the night before Chaney was stabbed to death. A 26-year-old woman who lives in the building next to the apartment says Monday morning, she saw a bloody scene.
"Their door was wide open, there was blood on the floor leading into their apartment, and then a trail of it in the hallway leading up to the elevator, and I saw some blood on the walls," she said.
Her father called 911.
"Called the police and told them that something was not right," he recalled. "And they told me, when I spoke to the EMT, to go in and check on the body. So I did. And he was deceased, he was facedown on the floor. And there was a lot of blood."
It appears that by the time neighbors noticed the scene and called 911, Johnson had already killed her infant daughter and died in the crash, as police were not called to the Woodland Hills scene until about 7:30 a.m.
Authorities believe Johnson drove away from the scene of the fatal stabbing with her two daughters, an 8-month-old baby and a 9-year-old, damaging the apartment gate in the process.
Around 4:30 a.m., the mother and the two children were driving northbound in a dark colored Porsche Cayenne on the 405 Freeway in the Westchester area when Johnson forced her two children out of the vehicle, investigators believe.
"The suspect slowed the vehicle and opened the passenger door for her daughter and told her to get out of the car," said LAPD Lt. Guy Golan. "When the daughter didn't do that, she forcibly pushed her out of the vehicle in the middle of the freeway while moving."
"The 9-year-old girl was holding the baby at that time when she was ejected from the vehicle. As she hit the roadway, she injured herself and she let go of the infant, being in the middle of the freeway."
The Baby was struck by a vehicle and later pronounced dead at the scene.Drivers who discovered the children on the freeway called 911.
The older girl, the sole survivor, was transported to a hospital. She is now in custody of Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Sources told KABC the 9-year-old girl was a witness to the Woodland Hills homicide.
A baby gil died and another girl was hospitalized with injuries after they were found on the northbound 405 Freeway in the Westchester area Monday.
"If anyone else was in the area, northbound 405 at Centinela Avenue approximate 4:30 (a.m.), we'd appreciate if you could call with any information," said CHP Officer Isabel Diaz.
BravoCon was previously held in New York City for it’s first two events in 2020 and 2022, but made the move to the West Coast in 2023.
BravoCon 2025 will return to Caesars Forum and is set for November 14-16, 2025.
While there won’t be a BravoCon this year, the network will launch an interactive experience for fans called Watch Party by Bravo.
The experience, which debuts this spring, will kick off in New York and Los Angeles to start, giving fans “advanced screenings and exclusive sneak peeks of the network’s buzziest and most anticipated shows.”
Jennifer Lopez Background Singer Discusses Predatory Producer and Being 'Screwed Over' in TikTok
Since late March, singer Natasha Ramos has revealed her unpleasant experience, also supporting the longstanding allegations that the This Is Me... Now singer doesn't use her own vocals on songs.
She said the two were introduced in the early 2000s at the Hit Factory, where Ramos was recording, and that the two were friendly before things went sour. Along with "Jenny," Ramos also sang on "I'm Glad," "The One," "Loving You," and "Baby I Love U!"
"I feel like all of the other ones, excluding 'Jenny From the Block,' are very much true-blue background vocals," she said. "I think the problem with 'Jenny From the Block' is that they kept my laugh, and they kept ad-libs, and they turned her vocals like all the way down, and the 'from the Bronx' part is me," Ramos said.
"I say no. He's like, 'If you don't give me a kiss, I'm gonna take you off all these records,'" Ramos recounted.
Ramos shared that she gave Rooney a "tap kiss" but that the producer wanted "tongue," to which she demanded to leave the studio. "And all these years [later], I can't help but feel like that was a big piece in why I was screwed over so badly," she said.
Ramos went on to detail that she was contacted about a documentary being made about "Jenny From the Block," in which Rooney was involved with the "awkward" Zoom meeting. Assuming that the project "fell through the cracks," Ramos acknowledged Lopez's recent Prime Video documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, which chronicles her latest album and its accompanying "musical experience."
In another post, Ramos clarified that she sang the "Jenny From the Block" hook but that she was unsure how much of Lopez's voice was used on the single.
In the album's credits and Lopez's thank you notes, Ramos admitted that she was acknowledged, but that financially, she wished that she "had been taken care of a little more."
"I was definitely taken advantage of, but what are you gonna do now?" she said.BernNadette Stanis Says ‘Good Times’ Animation Was Supposed To Be “Progressive
“Jimmie Walker did contact Norman’s [Lear] office in 20202 and he pitched a Good Times cartoon which would include all of us except for Esther Rolle, and we didn’t hear anything back from them,” explained the actress. “At least six months later they came up, and somebody said they had a cartoon coming.”
Since the trailer was revealed for the new Good Times, audiences have criticized the characters and premise of the series. Initially, Stanis detailed that she had a small role in the cartoon, however, had not watched the preview nor seen the full series. Now that she has viewed the clip, she opened up about how she expected something different.
“When you see something that actually is not progressive, it kind of brings you back into the projects two generations later. Thelma had a baby, what happened to that baby? I wanted to be a surgeon, I guess I was. JJ was a famous artist. So you have positive images generations before that and then all of a sudden you see this,” she elaborated.She continued to clarify that she has not been contacted since Good Times was released on Netflix earlier this month. Stanis also shared her opinion that Lear, pioneer of the original series and executive producer of the cartoon, may not have been aware of the show’s specifics.
“I wanna say something about my friend Norman Lear. I was at his 100th birthday, and I did mention, I said, ‘Norman how do you think about the cartoon?’… He kind of smiled and looked at me as if he didn’t really understand. Maybe it was a senior moment… He was 100. But, I love Norman and I do believe that he maybe was told the same thing I was told I don’t know…. because he only produced quality work. I gotta say on his behalf, I don’t know if he really understood what it was going to be about or he just knew it was going to be a cartoon called Good Times because like everyone else. You have the title on there, you automatically think of us.”She later added, “Now get out there & write your screeds about a show you’ve seen just a two-minute trailer for. Go off as if you know the fullness of the journey or the message we’re trying to share about the systemic barriers WE still face no matter our station in life.”
‘Joker 2’ Trailer: Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix Unleash Bad Romance in Thrilling First Footage
That’s the message of the first trailer for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” which sees Joaquin Phoenix reprise his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck (who later becomes Batman’s notorious foe) and conspire with Lady Gaga as the equally twisted Harley Quinn.
The dark and gritty footage begins at the famed Arkham Asylum — where Joker is locked up at the end of the first film — as Arthur Fleck has a deranged “meet cute” with another inmate (you guessed it, Gaga’s Harley Quinn). After the chance encounter in the halls of prison, they fall madly, deeply in love and plan to break out of their straight jackets to take on the world beyond their padded cells. It brings them to the streets of Gotham City, where they manically dance and twirl around the city.
“I’m nobody. I haven’t done anything with my life like you have,” Harley Quinn, dressed down in sweats, tells Joker as she makes a finger-gun gesture and mimes shooting herself in the head.
The first film served as a moody origin story for the Joker, who is portrayed in this cinematic universe a reclusive, struggling stand-up comedian and part-time clown. In the sequel, he takes his act on the road and performs on all kinds of stages with Harley Quinn as his demented muse — and she’s wearing his signature makeup, smeared lipstick and all. This time around, though, Arthur Fleck doesn’t seem so lonely.
The trailer ends with Harley at Arkham Asylum as she draws a happy face with red lipstick on the glass partition between her and Joker. “I want to see the real you,” she tells him.
WATCH HERE
“We loved the character of Arthur too much, but we didn’t want to jinx the [original] movie,” Phillips said. “We cast Gaga because she’s magic.”
Little is known about the actual plot of the sequel, which is reportedly a jukebox musical. Phillips said that categorization isn’t entirely accurate, though it will feature plenty of song and dance numbers. In the trailer, they waltz across rooftops and through Gotham City to notes of “What the World Needs Now Is Love.”
“I like to say it’s a movie where music is an essential element,” says Phillips. “It doesn’t veer too far from the first film. Arthur has music in him. He has a grace to him.”“About a month before the first ‘Joker’ came out, the narrative on the film really turned and there [were] these bizarre warnings about the movie,” he said. “It was amazing that exhibitors didn’t budge an inch, and when the movie came out, it did huge business. That attitude was a huge reason for our success.”
“Joker 2” will debut on the big screen on Oct. 4, 2024 — exactly five years after the first film. The original cost $62.5 million to produce, an unusually conservative budget for a comic book adaptation. Given its runaway financial success, the follow-up was granted a much more substantial $200 million price tag.
The sequel will screen in the Imax 70mm format. Although it was shot with Imax-certified lenses that modify digital cameras and not its film cameras, the company has created at least 10 film prints of “Joker: Folie à Deux” to play in select worldwide locations.
Footage of “Joker” debuted as part of Warner Bros.’ presentation to exhibitors. The studio also has “Beetlejuice 2,” “Horizon: An American Saga” and “Mad Max” prequel “Furiosa” on its 2024 slate.
Aoki Lee Simmons Losing Modeling Opportunities Due to Weight Comments
The fashion brand released the following statement: Embodying BCBG New York’s essence of modern femininity and the harmony of day-to-night style, Aoki showcases the captivating duality of her lifestyle of fashion and post-graduate life, bringing a unique blend of elegance and intellect to the visuals.
The campaign announcement follows the 21-year-old daughter of Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons, addressing her social media followers who believe she has an eating disorder. She urged them to refrain from labeling her as “anorexic” in the comments of her posts, citing the negative impact on her modeling career.
The “Argyle” star and former WWE champion, 46, revealed on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast that he and his four brothers grew up in a small Massachusetts town, where Steve faced hardships because of both his love of computers and his sexual orientation.
Although Steve, now 50, wasn’t out of the closet in high school, he faced harsh behavior for being a “true nerd.”
“I really feel for what it must have been like for him growing up,” he added.
Though the “Barbie” star was a few years younger than Steve, he recalled feeling protective of him.
The five Cena brothers lived “acres away” from other kids and mostly hung out with one another when they were kids.
“There was enough of us to have a basketball team, which means we could do whatever we wanted. We want to play football or baseball, there’s enough of us. We didn’t feel we needed anyone else,” recalled Cena.
At some point between ages 10 and 12, Cena entered other “social circles” and found himself wanting to stand up to bullies.
“I took on the role of, ‘Hey, if you say something to the younger brothers, I will do my best to throw myself in harm’s way,” he recalled.
At age 12, Cena decided to start working out with weights, he said, “because I was getting my a-- kicked.”
“I walked into physical education class with now seniors who were pushing me down the hill,” he said. “I remember specifically one kid who literally spearheaded the anti-John movement, I closed my locker door and he’s next to me and we were looking at each other like, ‘Is it gonna go down?’”
But instead of throwing hands, Cena says, he decided to de-escalate the situation.“And for some reason — at 15 — I summoned up the situational awareness to be like, ‘Hey man, we’re good, don’t worry about it,’” he said. “And that was it. Not only did he never pick on me again, I never really got f’ed with again in high school.”
“I never was like fuck ‘em,” he said, adding that he “never backed off.”
He said that the bullying at school didn’t faze him because he’d been “getting this s--- kicked out” of him his whole life by his brothers.
Cena has previously made headlines for his support of the LGBTQ community. In 2013, when approached by a TMZ reporter who questioned him about WWE star Darren Young coming out as the first out gay wrestler in the league, Cena was nothing but supportive.
“My oldest brother is openly gay and coming from a family of five boys, that’s extremely tough to admit that and he’s openly accepted by our family,” he explained. “I know Darren personally, Darren’s a great guy, that’s a very bold move for him and congratulations to him for actually doing it.”
When pressed by the reporter if Young’s announcement would “change” things in the locker room, Cena shut any insinuations down.
“Not at all,” he replied. “Darren Young is a consummate professional, I’m actually proud of him for (coming out).”
Brett McAlpin, once a high-ranking deputy, was handed a 20-year state sentence. Joshua Hartfield, a former police officer, received 15 years, while Christian Dedmon got 25 years, Hunter Elward 45 years, and Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke each received 20 years.
The case drew national outrage, with condemnation from top law enforcement officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, who called it a “heinous attack on citizens they had sworn an oath to protect.” It highlighted Mississippi’s history of racial injustices.
McAlpin was the first to face sentencing on Wednesday, receiving 15 years on one charge and five years on another in state court. Malik Shabazz, representing Jenkins and Parker, emphasized the significance of the state sentencing, considering Mississippi’s history of racial crimes and police brutality.
The defendants, including five former Rankin County sheriff’s deputies and a former police officer from Richland, pleaded guilty to charges like obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution. Dedmon and Elward also admitted to home invasion.The charges stemmed from an Associated Press investigation linking some officers to violent encounters since 2019, resulting in the deaths of two Black men. The officers admitted to breaking into a home without a warrant, torturing Jenkins and Parker for hours, using racial slurs, and assaulting them before shooting Jenkins in the mouth.
They then attempted a cover-up, including planting drugs on the victims and threatening other officers. Daniel Opdyke was the first to confess, showing investigators evidence of their plan.
Despite expressing remorse in federal court, these officers were held accountable for their actions. Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who fired the officers in June, faced criticism, with calls for his resignation and a civil lawsuit filed against the department by Jenkins and Parker.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Keeping Hydrated
Makeshift masks and gloves plus being hydrated is the key.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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