#MAGFAB: Ms. Fenty Rihanna Covers Vogue China
Rihanna has graced the latest cover of Vogue China as she preps to expand her lucrative Fenty Beauty brand to the Asian country.
On the issue’s cover, Rih rocks a chic, four-piece Mariachi-esqué look with embroidered floral designs all over its jacket, skirt, bralette and hat. She also sports a glistening red lip, sharp claw nails with 3-D floral designs embedded on to them, and a gold “mom” ring to compliment her set.
Additionally, the 36-year-old also gives a close up on an alternate cover, where she shows off her Mehndi print wrist tattoo, beaded box braids and her beloved cupid’s bow
Rihanna’s official interview with the fashion bible is expected to drop soon, as the mother-of-two also announced that she’d be launching Fenty Beauty in the second largest beauty market in the world on April 1.
In a video released on March 20, Rih and multicultural models could be seen wearing stunning looks, courtesy of Fenty, as she announced the expansion.
The “Lift Me Up” singer sports a red lip and slick hairstyle as the models can be seen putting on various Fenty Beauty products, including Gloss Bomb, Pro Filt’r Concealer, foundation and more.
The brand has catapulted the singer and businesswoman into billionaire status. According to Forbes, Rihanna became the youngest “Self-Made Woman Billionaire” in America in 2022, with a net worth of $1.4 billion.
Through years of hard work and ground-breaking endeavors, Rih has cashed in on her empire, including her Fenty makeup brand, Savage x Fenty lingerie line, Fenty Skin collection and of course, her music career.
Just last month, the Bajan icon and her beau, A$AP Rocky, starred in a noir “Bonnie and Clyde” inspired short film to promote their new Fenty Lux Balm. The Harlemite also promoted the essential product in his 2023 song “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n),” where he raps: “Flossy, glossy/ Nah, bi**h this ain’t lip gloss/ Lux balm up in my palm/ New collab wit my baby mom.”
#RHOA: Bette Midler Wants to Join ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’
Bette Midler had what some fans felt was a fantastic casting idea for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
The Hocus Pocus star is shooting her shot at joining Bravo’s hit reality TV series—and her idea din’t go unnoticed.
The award-winning actress made the seemingly humorous suggestion on Saturday, March 30, and responded when a few notable X accounts weighed in on the idea. While several celebrities have in the past made cameos on Real Housewives shows, Midler, 78, seemed to have a more significant role in mind.
“Is it too late for me to become a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills?” Midler tweeted. “I’ve never watched it, but I am in the mood to talk some sh*t. And to get paid for it? A dream!”
Following her pitch, Bravo tweeted a response from its official X account. “Talk about a glorious crossover,” the tweet said. It included a winking face emoji paired with a diamond emoji.
Andy Cohen, who serves as the Real Housewives franchise’s executive producer, also shared his thoughts on Midler joining the cast. “It’s time!” he wrote on X in a tweet that, like Bravo’s, included a diamond emoji.
Midler then took her idea one step further as she seemingly realized that any quality reality TV star needs a catchy tagline.
“I think my tagline should be, ‘Those Beaches don’t know what’s about to hit ‘em!!’” she tweeted. Bravo responded on X with a few emojis indicating applause.
RHOBH first launched in 2010, about four years after the Real Housewives franchise kicked off with its first show a bit further south in Orange County, Calif. With RHOBH’s 13th season over, fans of the show are already looking forward to its return in Season 14, though little is currently known about which cast members will return.
Filming for the popular Bravo show hadn’t started as of mid-March, indicating that the earliest the show could return would be late 2024 or early 2025.
#MusicNews: Beyonce Sends Flowers to Black Country Musicians Mickey Guyton and K. Michelle
Beyoncé is giving Black women in the music industry — like Mickey Guyton, K. Michelle, and Tyla — their flowers.
“With opportunity comes possibility. The possibilities are endless with you @Beyonce,” Guyton, 40, wrote via X on Friday, March 29, alongside photos of a bouquet of white flowers and a note from Bey, 42, herself.
“Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining,” the note read, signed with “love and respect” from Beyoncé. In 2020, Guyton became the first Black female artist to be nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for her song “Black Like Me.” That same year, she was the first black female artist to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Guyton wrote via X: “God gave me an assignment and I followed. May the doors continue to stay wide open.”
The gifts didn’t stop there, as musician K. Michelle also shared photos of her white flower bouquet via Instagram on Friday as well, with a similar note of support from the “16 Carriages” singer. “I love what you’ve been doing and I know it’s not easy to enter a new space,” Beyoncé wrote to Michelle, 42. “Sending you positivity and respect. I hope to meet you one day.”
Michelle, who is also a cast member on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, is currently working on her debut country album, which is expected to drop sometime in 2024, called the gift from Beyoncé “one of the nicest things EVER,” and congratulated the Grammy winner on the release of her latest album, Cowboy Carter.
“Thank you for giving me my flowers, they are so beautiful,” Michelle captioned her post. “I’m so nervous about FINALLY getting to put out my first country album, and this just fueled the fire 🔥 I’m so motivated.”
Beyoncé also sent a bouquet to Tyla, with a note congratulating the “Water” singer on her “beautiful new album,” with the encouragement to “keep killing it.” Tyla, 22, shared a photo of the card and bouquet via Instagram Story on Saturday, March 30.
Beyoncé released her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, 2024. Though it is her first country album, it is also the second installment of a three-part project following the release of Renaissance in 2022. The album itself features country artists Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson, as well as Willie Jones and Post Malone.
In the second song off Cowboy Carter, a cover of “Blackbird” by The Beatles, Beyoncé spotlighted four other Black female country musicians who joined her on the track: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts.
“Beyoncé taught me how to be soft but strong. A force of nature. I’ve watched her be forged like metal in the fire of this industry and she remained poised, and grateful,” Adell wrote via Instagram on Friday. “Thank you Queen Bey for busting these gates wide open with this album. For letting your light spill over onto MY head. I am humbled by the thought.”
support following the release of her two singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which made her the first Black woman with a No. 1 single on the Hot Country Songs chart. She also noted that Cowboy Carter was “over five years in the making.”
“It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed … and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she wrote via Instagram on March 19. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.”
While she did not specify the experience, fans believe it was a reference to her first country single “Daddy Lessons” not being considered eligible for any country music Grammy Awards in 2016.
#HipHopNews: 50 Cent Replaces Chris Brown As Scheduled Headliner For 2024 Dreamville Festival
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Chris Brown and Muni Long will no longer be performing at this year’s Dreamville Festival. Instead, 50 Cent and Hunxho will be taking their respective spots, as announced today (April 1).
Brown was initially slated to headline on April 6 alongside SZA. Other entertainers on the lineup for that day include JID, Lil Yachty, ScHoolboy Q, Sexyy Red, Jeremih and more. Meanwhile, Long’s axed April 7 set will see J. Cole and Nicki Minaj as the headlining acts, in addition to artists like Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock and Bas, among others.
In the comment section, fans who planned on attending had varied reactions, primarily due to the lack of R&B performers on the bill. “I know [you all] ain’t take Chris Brown and replace him with 50 like they the same genre. This better be an April Fools’ joke,” wrote one person.
Another added, “So, let me get this right… [First,] No Ari Lennox. [Second,] No Chris Brown. [Third,] No Muni Long. Y’all replace our R&B headliner with a rapper?” Elsewhere, a disappointed user questioned, “[SiR] or [Bryson Tiller] weren’t available? One has a [fire] album out; the other is releasing this weekend.”
Given the event is next weekend, it’s unknown whether Dreamville Festival will make any more changes to accommodate fans’ demands. When the lineup was first announced, many pointed out how difficult it would’ve been to top 2023’s feat, which included Usher, Drake and Summer Walker, among others.
Per the company’s website, tickets are still available to purchase. It also noted, “No refund will be owed if a festival performer is changed or canceled.”
Last month, Dreamville Festival President Adam Roy shared, “Some of the biggest names in music will travel to Raleigh in only a few short weeks, bringing about one of the most highly anticipated festivals of the year. Our team looks forward to welcoming all of our day one fans from around the world back to Dreamville Festival.”
#RIP: Vontae Davis, former NFL star, found dead in Miami home at age 35
Vontae Davis, former NFL cornerback for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, has died, with all three teams confirming the news on Monday. He was 35, just two months short of his 36th birthday.
The cause and circumstances of his death are unknown. According to the Davie Police Department, Davis was found dead in his Florida home on Monday morning after being discovered by the house assistant, per ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder. A death investigation is currently underway, though investigators have said they don't expect foul play.
Davis, who spent a decade in the NFL, is best known for his abrupt retirement in 2018. At halftime of the Bills' Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Davis retired and released a lengthy statement afterward explaining his move.
“Today on the field, reality hit me fast and hard: I shouldn’t be out there anymore. It’s more important for me and my family to walk away healthy than to willfully embrace the warrior mentality and limp away too late.”
After his sudden retirement, Davis seemed to be in a good place. The Washington Post did a profile on him in late 2019, a year after he left the game, and he had recently published "Middle School Rules," a children's book in which professional athletes share lessons they learned growing up.
Davis shared his own story in the book: a rough upbringing in Washington, D.C. with a violent father and a drug-addicted mother. His grandmother saved him and his six siblings, including former NFL tight end Vernon Davis, by taking them from foster care and adopting him. In school, Davis excelled athletically in both football and track, and ended up choosing to attend Illinois. He was a first-round draft pick in 2009, and was a two-time All-Pro during his NFL career.
Davis was arrested two months ago in Miami for driving under the influence. He hit a truck pulled over with a flat tire, then was found asleep by the side of the road when police arrived. He admitted to police at the scene that he had been drinking.
As news of Davis' death began to spread, tributes started appearing on social media. Colts owner Jim Irsay and former teammates Pat McAfee and T.Y. Hilton all shared their feelings about Davis' sudden passing, as did many others.
Yung Miami Breaks Her Silence On “Diddy’s Sex Worker” Allegations
Yung Miami has responded to allegations that she was a “sex worker” for Sean “Diddy” Combs. The City Girl was recently named in one of the several lawsuits filed against the rap mogul.
On Thursday (March 28), the Florida native denied being paid a monthly fee to provide sexual favors for Combs and others at his behest, a claim that was made by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who has accused Combs of coercing him into having sex with himself and others.
Seemingly responding to users on X that believed the allegations made against her were true, Yung Miami took to the social media platform to express her disbelief. “Y’all be going for ANYTHING,” the Caresha Please host clapped back in a post, with one user suggesting that the artist would do anything for $250,000, according to Jones’ lawsuit.
However, Yung Miami would deem the accusations as hearsay and the product of a rumor that originated online. “Something the internet made up and yall ran with it!!!” the 30-year-old responded. “Ni**as don’t even pay that for child support why tf would a ni**a ever pay me 250k for. FOR WHAT??”
Yung Miami has also provided proof that conflicts with Jones’ claims that she transported pink cocaine. The claim stated that she transported the drugs from Miami to Virginia at Diddy’s request prior to his appearance at the Something in the Water music festival in Virginia in 2023.
On that date, a video shows her in New York being measured and fitted for the custom dress she wore at the 2023 Met Gala, which she and Combs attended together. During the star-studded event, Diddy confirmed that he and Yung Miami are romantically involved, but don’t refer to each other as mates, just simply close friends.
“We definitely go together real bad!” he said when asked of their relationship status. “She’s my date for the night… We don’t put titles on it. Everybody wants us to put a title on it, we don’t put titles. This like my best friend in the world, one of the most beautiful people God has blessed me with. And I’m blessed that she’s my date tonight.”
Later that year, during an interview with Billboard, the “Act Bad” rapper spoke of how she attracted Combs’ attention, as the two have been linked together dating back to 2022.
“I don’t know ’cause people say that I wasn’t Diddy type,” the artist explained at the time. “But clearly, I am. So, I think that you just be yourself because people, they gravitate towards real. Like, so many people try to be something that they not. You just got to be yourself. I’m just myself. I’m just that b**ch and that’s how you just bag a n**ga.”
#BoxOfficeNews: 'Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire' Scares Off 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' At Box Office
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" roars its way to the top of North American box office. On its opening weekend, Warner Bros. and Legendary's monster film debuts atop the chart with an estimated $80 million.
The fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise beats expectations with the monstrous debut, having been predicted to open to around $45-55 million. It's the second-best opening in the MonsterVerse universe after 2014's "Godzilla" ($93.2 million) and the fifth biggest Easter opening of all time.
"It's a cinematic event, and we're seeing these iconic characters doing things we've never seen them do before," says Mary Parent, chairman of worldwide production for Legendary. "There's big swaths of the film that don't have any dialogue, where we put you with the characters, it's a very mythic experience."
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, also weighs in on the biggest attraction of the movie. "These are literally two of the biggest movie stars in the world, and you have to see them on the biggest screen possible with the biggest sound possible," he says.
Globally, the film stomps to a $194 million launch after taking in $114 million overseas from 64 markets, with China still becoming the biggest market as $44 million of its international cume comes from the country.
"The New Empire" isn't that loved by critics, holding a 55% "rotten" average on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences seemed to disagree. They gave the movie, starring Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens, an "A-" CinemaScore.
"This is certainly an exciting result," says Mary Parent, chairman of worldwide production for Legendary, of the movie's appeal to young audiences. "The film does a great job for the core fans and succeeded in broadening the audience. It played to a new and younger audience."
"The New Empire" easily steals the crown from "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire", which drops to the second place with an estimated $15.7 million. The fifth installment in the "Ghostbusters" film franchise plummets 65.1% in its second week.
"Dune: Part Two" also falls one place to No. 3 with an estimated $11.1 million, dropping a modest 37% from last week. "Kung Fu Panda 4" trails close behind at No. 4 with approximately $10.2 million, followed by Sydney Sweeney's horror film "Immaculate" which adds an estimated $3.3 million on its second weekend.
Top 10 of North American Box Office (Mar. 29-31, 2024):
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" - $80 million
"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" - $15.7 million
"Dune: Part Two" - $11.1 million
"Kung Fu Panda 4" - $10.2 million
"Immaculate" - $3.3 million
"Arthur the King" - $2.4 million
"Late Night with the Devil" - $2.2 million
"Tillu Square" - $1.9 million
"Crew" - $1.5 million
"Imaginary" - $1.4 million
Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice reportedly sought after multi-vehicle crash caused by speeding luxury cars
Two drivers were speeding in a Corvette and a Lamborghini when the Lamborghini lost control and hit the center median wall, causing a chain-reaction collision in Dallas.
Dallas police are reportedly looking to speak with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice after two luxury cars were involved in a high-speed crash and the occupants of the vehicles walked away from the scene.
Rice is cooperating with authorities "and will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly," his attorney, Royce West, told ESPN in a statement. West is a Democrat state senator whose district includes part of the Dallas area.
"On behalf of Rashee Rice, his thoughts are with everyone impacted by the automobile accident on Saturday," West said in the statement.
Officers were called to North Central Expressway in Dallas at 6:25 p.m. on Saturday after two speeding drivers lost control and crashed, "causing a chain reaction collision involving four other vehicles."
Police told The Dallas Morning News on Sunday that the drivers were in a Corvette and a Lamborghini, and the Lamborghini veered onto the shoulder and hit the expressway's median wall.
The Morning News reported that one of the cars involved in the crash is leased or registered to Rice and that a Dallas police call sheet seen by the newspaper lists Rice as the person who authorities believe was behind the wheel of the Corvette.
Police have not identified any of the people involved in the crash.
“The occupants of the Lamborghini and the Corvette all ran from the scene without stopping to determine if anyone needed medical help or providing their information,” police told the newspaper.
No major injuries were reported, according to police, but two people were treated at the scene and two others were taken to a local hospital.
Video posted on social media by Kayla Quinn, who said she was in one of the cars that was hit, appears to show the damage to the driver's side of her vehicle. A Facebook post from someone who said she is Quinn's mother said Quinn's 4-year-old son was in the car.
Video taken by a bystander and shared on social media by Quinn's mother shows several people walking away from the scene. The bystander asks them if they are all right and if they are “just gonna leave it.”
Rice, who grew up in the Dallas area, was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was part of the team's Super Bowl win in February.
He logged 39 yards across six caught passes during the Super Bowl, an impressive achievement for a rookie receiver during a hard-fought championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL declined to comment on the crash.
In an interview with KCMO Talk Radio’s “Mundo in the Morning,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said the team will “react accordingly” after all the facts are gathered on the crash.
“In all these situations you have to wait until you have all the facts and frankly, we don’t have all the facts at this point,” Donovan told Pete Mundo on Monday. “The one comforting fact that we do have is that there was a multi-car crash in Texas, in Dallas, and fortunately, it doesn’t appear that anyone was hurt and we should be grateful for that. We’ll get to the bottom of it, we’ll gather the facts and we’ll react accordingly.”
Crystal Mason! Black Woman’s Conviction Overturned After Wrongful Prison Sentence For Voting
On Thursday, an appeals court in Texas overturned the conviction and the egregiously absurd five-year sentence handed to a Black woman for a crime she arguably should never have been charged with in the first place.
According to the Texas Tribune, the Tarrant County-based Second Court of Appeals formally acquitted Crystal Mason, who was charged with a felony for casting a provisional ballot in 2016 while on supervised release for a federal conviction, which she didn’t know made her ineligible to vote.
“I am overjoyed to see my faith rewarded today,” Mason said in a statement. “I was thrown into this fight for voting rights and will keep swinging to ensure no one else has to face what I’ve endured for over six years, a political ploy where minority voting rights are under attack.”
“I’ve cried and prayed every night for over six years straight that I would remain a free Black woman,” she continued. “I thank everyone whose dedication and support carried me through this time and look forward to celebrating this moment with my family and friends.”
Mason, who has had her life upended for seven years behind this case, has always maintained that she was unaware she wasn’t eligible to vote, and, when it comes down to it, there was never a reason to believe she did. In fact, the court said in its decision that no evidence had ever been presented that proved she knowingly tried to vote illegally, “which is a condition that must be met in order to convict her of illegal voting,” the Tribune noted.
Despite the lack of evidence, Mason is only being cleared of all wrongdoing after the so-called justice system worked damn hard to treat a Black woman’s life like it doesn’t really matter by taking away her freedom for a frivolous reason.
From the Tribune:
The Second Court of Appeals initially upheld her conviction but two years ago was instructed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to “evaluate the sufficiency” of the evidence against Mason, saying that the lower court had “erred by failing to require proof that [Mason] had actual knowledge that it was a crime for her to vote while on supervised release.”
Seriously, unless they have found explicit evidence of intentional voter fraud, legal officials really need to ask themselves why they’re so eager to put Black people, or anyone for that matter, in prison for any time at all just because they don’t have expert knowledge on all the ins and outs regarding what makes a person eligible to cast a vote.
Of, course, while no one should be locked up for this kind of thing, it’s difficult not to notice that, like in all things “justice” system related, Black people are disproportionately vulnerable to falling victim to having their lives ruined by petty legal technicalities, such as in the cases of Mason, and Pamela Moses, another Black woman, who was sentenced to six years in prison after she was convicted of registering to vote while being ineligible to do so because of past legal issues, a conviction that was also later overturned. (In that case, she literally had a form signed by her probation officer that said she could legally vote, and prosecutors argued she conned her PO into signing it. Like—bruh!)
In fact, right now folks on social media are noting the striking differences in Mason’s treatment compared to that of Georgia Republican Party official Brian Pritchard, who voted illegally while ineligible due to a felony conviction not once, but nine times and was only penalized with a $5,000 fine.
Besides Prichard, who, interestingly enough, promoted Donald Trump’s “big lie” about voter fraud costing him his second term, numerous white Republican voters were sentenced to probation and/or given small fines for voting illegally during the same time period when Mason, Rose and other Black people were drowning in legal woes and being thrown in jail all because they weren’t aware it was illegal for them to have a say in their nation’s electoral process.
Afterall, This is America.
Andy Cohen FINALLY apologizes for spreading Kate Middleton conspiracy theories
Andy Cohen apologises for spreading Kate Middleton conspiracy theories Bravo host Andy Cohen is the latest star to apologise for joking about Kate Middleton’s whereabouts following the revelation of her cancer diagnosis.
In a video released on 22 March, the Princess of Wales revealed that she had been undergoing chemotherapy in the wake of major abdominal surgery in January. Following the operation, cancer cells were found in subsequent tests.
At the time, Kate’s condition was not disclosed to the public, and the release of a photoshopped image of the princess and her children exacerbated the spread of conspiracy theories speculating on the reason behind her low profile.
“I just want to say, I am heartbroken by the news about Princess Kate,” Cohen, 55, said on Monday’s broadcast of his SiriusXM radio show, Andy Cohen Live.
“I think someone on Sky News called me a numpty, and they were right. I wish I had kept my mouth shut.”
“We are all praying for Princess Kate and King Charles,” he added, referring to the monarch’s cancer diagnosis, which was revealed in early February.
The Watch What Happens Live host clarified that he hadn’t apologised sooner because his show had been on hiatus and this was his “first opportunity back in front of a live microphone”.
When footage surfaced of Middleton appearing to visit a farm shop in March, Cohen had further flamed conspiracy theories by tweeting: “That ain’t Kate…”
Actor Blake Lively was one of the first to apologise for partaking in the frenzy, referring to a now-deleted post that seemingly poked fun at Kate posting an edited picture of her family for Mother’s Day.
Posting on an Instagram Story on Friday (22 March), the Gossip Girl star wrote: “I’m sure no one cares today but I feel I have to acknowledge this.
“I made a silly post around the ‘photoshop fails’ frenzy and, oh, man, that post has me mortified today. I’m sorry.”
Meanwhile, fans have been calling on reality TV star Kim Kardashian to apologise for joining in the speculation about why Kate had been absent from public life.
On 17 March, the reality star posted a photo of herself posing in front of a luxury car, and captioned the post: “On my way to go find Kate.”
The 42-year-old princess said in her announcement video that she needed to recover from surgery before she could start “preventative chemotherapy”, as advised by her medical team.
“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she added.
Kate explained she had needed time to come to terms with the news and tell her children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, before informing the wider world.
She said: “It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Pharrell Williams Accused of Fraud by Neptunes' Chad Hugo
The planets are in motion, and Pharrell Williams’s plans for the Neptunes may be in retrograde. Chad Hugo, half of the influential hip-hop production duo, has accused his partner of “fraudulently” trying to claim the group’s trademarks for himself. Billboard reported April 1 that Hugo’s attorneys recently filed an action at a federal tribunal claiming that Williams “has committed fraud” and “acted in bad faith” by filing to trademark the name “the Neptunes” by himself. The filings in question would trademark the duo’s name for streaming, music videos, and live performances.
Williams’s company, PW IP Holdings LLC, made the three filings in 2022. Williams already owns the trademark for the Neptunes for music recordings and is also trying to trademark the name for merch. Hugo’s attorneys said in their filing that they would also separately try to void the recordings trademark. As a duo, The Neptunes have worked on music together as recently as 2022, the year they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
A rep for Williams told Billboard that Hugo’s actions “surprised” him. “We have reached out on multiple occasions to share in the ownership and administration of the trademark and will continue to make that offer,” the rep said. “The goal here was to make sure a third party doesn’t get a hold of the trademark and to guarantee Chad and Pharrell share in ownership and administration.” Hugo’s attorneys, meanwhile, said they had “repeatedly” contacted Williams’s camp, who they say admit Hugo should be included on the trademarks. However, in their version, Williams tried to impose unspecified “onerous business terms” over the trademarks. Well, maybe Hugo and Daryl Hall can just form a new duo now?
Billie Eilish Says Criticizing ‘Wasteful’ Vinyl Sustainability Practices ‘Wasn’t Singling Anyone Out’
In an effort to raise awareness about the music industry’s sustainability practices, or lack thereof, Billie Eilish is highlighting the ways in which artists — herself included — can avoid feeding into the cycle of overconsumption. In a recent interview with Billboard, the musician called out the “wasteful,” yet popularized, trend of artists releasing multiple vinyl variants with slight differences in artwork or track listing to encourage more purchases. But the point of her criticism was nearly overshadowed by speculation about whether she was subtly calling out anyone in particular.
“It would be so awesome if people would stop putting words into my mouth and actually read what I said in that Billboard article. I wasn’t singling anyone out, these are industry-wide systemic issues,” Eilish wrote in a statement shared via Instagram Stories over the weekend. “When it comes to variants, so many artists release them — including ME! Which I clearly state in the article. The climate crisis is now and it’s about all of us being part of the problem and trying to do better. Sheesh.”
Eilish’s original comments focused mainly on the scale of the artists who most engage in these practices as well as the driving force behind these multiple releases. “It’s some of the biggest artists in the world making fucking 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more,” Eilish told Billboard. “It’s so wasteful, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care that much about your numbers and you care that much about making money — and it’s all your favorite artists doing that shit.”
The pushback to the statement came in large part from Taylor Swift’s fanbase. Swift has released vinyl packages with varying colors, covers, and bonus content for her recent releases, including 1989 (Taylor’s Version), Midnights, and the forthcoming The Tortured Poets Department. Swift has also received heat for the carbon emissions from her private jet, making sustainability and environmental protection something of a touchy subject for Swifties, who are quick to jump to her defense.
But musicians including Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and more have also released multiple pressings for their album releases. Eilish herself released at least a dozen for Happier Than Ever. But she never claimed she wasn’t complicit.
“It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right, and I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable,” Eilish added. “I was watching The Hunger Games and it made me think about it, because it’s like, we’re all going to do it because [it’s] the only way to play the game. It’s just accentuating this already kind of messed up way of this industry working.”
Eilish, who spoke alongside her mother, Maggie Baird, in the interview, detailed her approach to promoting sustainability in everything from vinyl packaging (she’s released some pressings made from recycled materials), transportation, food, and most particularly, her merch. “It’s about how it feels and how it looks and how it’s made,” she explained. “And so the problem is to make sure that my clothing is being made well and ethically and with good materials and it’s very sustainable and that it feels good and is durable. It’s going to be more expensive.” She also reduced the amount of merchandise being created for drops, Baird added.
The hope, as they expressed, is that the small things will add up to big changes. But the industry often prioritizes profit over the planet and the people who live on it.
“We know from research that fans are more likely to take action if they believe the artist is authentic. Which I think unfortunately scares off a lot of artists because they’re like, ‘Well, I don’t want to say I’m trying to do X because I’m not perfect on Y,'” Baird stated. “That’s a barrier that is really challenging to break, especially with social media and the culture of cancel and hate. The truth is, you just have to do it anyway. Artists can cast a giant shadow of influence. If you’re not perfect, but you are influencing many, many, many people to do better, it’s multiplied hundreds of times.”
LeBron James Beefs Up Home Security After Squatters Takeover Property Near His Mansion
*LeBron James is troubled by squatters occupying a $5 million residence near his Beverly Hills estate.
In October, squatters seized the property after it remained vacant on the market for months, The Blast reports. Since then, it has become a venue for “cocaine orgy parties.”
According to Curbed, the basketball icon expressed concern over the situation following the home takeover in the Beverly Grove Place neighborhood. One resident “got in touch with LeBron James’ house manager,” who said the Los Angeles Lakers star was “very concerned.”
James has allegedly increased security measures at his residence because of the squatters’ parties, according to James’ house manager, per The Blast.
“I’ve heard from my security team up there about all the crazy cars, crazy parties at night, how we’re not able to get into our property sometimes because they’re blocking the street with their cars, and just the nuisance at night with the loud music and people floating out to the streets,” the house manager said, who opted to remain anonymous, according to The Blast.
“It’s one of the reasons we have security 24/7. Otherwise, there’s no need for me to have security there 24/7 because it’s just a construction site,” the house manager added.
According to the Daily Mail, the squatters advertised rooms in the property on Booking.com for $300 per night. They also charge party attendees a $75 entrance fee. The house parties have led to incidents of assaults, fires, and arrests.
LAPD Senior Lead Officer James Allen disclosed that the squatters claimed they were friends of the original owners and had been asked by him to come live on the property.
Allen went further to note that the current ownership of the home is uncertain, as it has been the subject of a bankruptcy court case, and that the home is entering foreclosure.
Allen shared that they are putting together a plan to ensure the individuals get evicted from the property.
“I guess he left his friends in the house. I guess we can say they’re squatters. But they’re squatters to the owner that’s in foreclosure to the bank,” Allen said.
“We’re working on a plan with the bank to evict the individuals because there’s no one at this point to evict them and say they’re there illegally,” he continued. “I’ve submitted it to the City Attorney. I’m citing the home every time we get a radio call for a party.”
He added, “They’re using the home outside of its original purpose, illegally.”
DeVon Franklin Admits ‘Belief System’ ‘Shaken’ From Meagan Good Divorce
*DeVon Franklin’s marriage to Meagan Good may have damaged his heart, but he is not calling the failed union a mistake.
During a recent appearance on Nick Cannon’s Counsel Culture podcast, Franklin addressed how he healed from his split with Good. The couple were married close to a decade after jumping the broom in June 2012, according to Essence. Franklin filed for divorce from Good in 2021, with the breakup finalized in June 2022. Irreconcilable differences were cited as the reason for the pair’s split.
Voicing his feelings over his failed relationship, Franklin opened up about the situation with an honest assessment.
“I wouldn’t say that it didn’t work. I wouldn’t say it was unsuccessful,” the ordained minister told Cannon. “Because maybe it did exactly what it was trying to do. That also was a perspective that I had to kinda learn as I went through my healing.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that I came out of it feeling like a failure. But I felt a little bit vulnerable. I felt like my belief system had been shaken,” Franklin admitted, noting the four months of pre-engagement counseling he and Good did as well as 10 months of premarital counseling and therapy throughout their marriage.
Not even sharing their story in literary form with their book “The Wait” was enough to help their relationship.
“That was [a] devastating moment. And for me as a man, I had two choices,” Franklin said. “I could say, ‘You know what? I’m gonna act like none of this bothers me, and I’m just gonna keep going.’ Or I could just say, ‘You know what? I’m gonna be truthful. This hurts.’ And so for me, I chose the truthful route.”
Cannon’s interview with Franklin isn’t the first time the 45-year-old author/producer has spoken about how his divorce impacted him. In past interviews, Franklin has spoken highly of Good, adding he still has love for her.
The romance may not be there, but that doesn’t mean the love disappeared.
“Love is eternal. So my love for her doesn’t stop at marriage. My commitment to her well-being is still intact,” Franklin shared.
Despite the divorce, Essence reports the motivational speaker has a “hopeful attitude and still wants to be married again.” So much so that the author has reportedly moved on and is currently involved with a mystery woman he was seen out and holding hands with earlier this week.
As for Good, her spare time has been spent with actor Jonathan Majors. The pair have been dating for close to a year.
#RIP: Barbara Rush Dies: ‘Peyton Place’ & ‘All My Children’ Actress Was 97
Veteran actress Barbara Rush, best known for her recurring roles on Peyton Place and All My Children, as well as the 1953 film It Came From Outer Space, has died. She was 97.
The passing was confirmed by Rush’s daughter, Fox News Channel senior correspondent Claudia Cowan, who said, “My wonderful mother passed away peacefully at 5:28 this evening. I was with her this morning and know she was waiting for me to return home safely to transition.
Cowan added, “It’s fitting she chose to leave on Easter as it was one of her favorite holidays and now, of course, Easter will have a deeper significance for me and my family.”
Born on January 4, 1927, in Denver, Colorado, Rush began her career in the University of California theater program, where she graduated in 1948. She’d go on to perform on stage at the Lobero Theatre and the Pasadena Playhouse before signing with Paramount Pictures, where she made her on-screen debut in 1950’s The Goldbergs.
She starred on the big screen throughout the 1950s, most notably in the 1951 sci-fi film When Worlds Collide, 1952’s Flaming Feather, 1954’s It Came From Outer Space, for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female, and the critically-acclaimed 1956 drama Bigger Than Life opposite James Mason.
Rush transitioned to television in the 1960s, appearing in classic series such as The Eleventh Hour, Ben Casey, Batman, Dr. Kildare, The Fugitive, Marcus Welby, M.D., McCloud, Maude, Ironside, and Mannix.
From 1968 to 1969, she starred in 75 episodes of the popular ABC soap opera Peyton Place, where she played Marsha Russell. She would return to the world of soaps in 1992 when she joined the cast of ABC’s All My Children, portraying Nola Orsini for 35 episodes.
Her later roles included The WB’s 7th Heaven, where she played the recurring role of Grandma Ruth Camden, the 2006 short film My Mother’s Hairdo, and the 2017 short Bleeding Hearts.
As her on-screen career ended, Rush would continue to act on stage, making occasional appearances for the Theatre Guild in Orange County, California.
She is survived by her two children, Claudia Cowan and Christopher Hunter.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Don’t Mess with this Guy
A whole neighborhood would tear you up and run you over
A whole neighborhood would tear you up and run you over
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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