4/7/24

The Daily Buzz For April 8☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: W Magazine Has Released A Second Beyoncé Digital Cover
NICE! Get more HERE!


#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Says 'If You're Going To Cheat, You Need To Do It With Respect'
Reality TV star NeNe Leakes discussed a controversial topic that has people talking. The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star said cheating can be done “with respect” during a casual Instagram Live talk with Carlos King.
“Look, if I’m here in Georgia and you went to San Francisco for the weekend, any city for the weekend, what you don’t know won’t hurt you,” she said. “However, if you’re going to cheat, you need to do it with respect. I don’t like people who are not respectful.”

Social media users argued that the words “cheating” and “respectful” shouldn’t be in the same sentence.
Leakes went into more detail about her stance explaining that disrespectful cheating would be lying to the other woman, or “side chick” and not setting boundaries like her staying 50 feet away if she sees you and your partner together in public.
“I couldn’t imagine someone approaching me,” she said of the other woman trying to address her. “It would just be like what? What are you doing right now?” she joked.

King and the reality icon also added that the other woman shouldn’t be posting the man or clues that point back to him on social media. Who knew there were rules

In a follow-up post a day later, Leakes didn’t retreat from her stance, but she did have a few more things to say about those who are a “side piece chick out here.”
“I think you need to love yourself just a little bit more!” she wrote. “Me…I am number 1 or NO number at all.”
The consensus in response to her remarks is that there is no such thing as “respectful” cheating.
Some fans criticized Leakes since she was accused of interfering in the marriage of on-and-off again beau Nyonisela Sioh. The reality TV star and Sioh began dating in 2021 and in 2022, Leakes was hit with a $100,000 lawsuit by Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh. She accused NeNe of being a “homewrecker” and beginning a relationship with Nyonisela during their marriage. That said, the entrepreneur filed for divorce months later, in November 2022. Leakes denied the claims.

While the two have had a rocky relationship—Leakes even publicly said they were done last year—they seem to be back together and going strong judging by recent outings.


#MusicNews: Pharrell Quietly Drops New Album 'Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1'

Not available for streaming, the album can only be listened to on a specific website. Pharrell Williams has quietly dropped a new album titled Black Yacht Rock Vol 1.. The 10-track album appears to be an ode to his hometown of Virginia, calling it a “City of Limitless Access.”
Only available to listen via the album’s website, BlackYachtRock, Pharrell releases the album without the help of any streaming platform. Those who have listened to the album might akin the release to listening to a Pharrell-only radio channel. Some of the tracks in the album include “Richard Mille,” “Caged Bird Free,” “11:11” and “Going Back to VA.” The website to listen to the album is simple. Providing all the tracks as audio recordings, each song is available for download as is the entire album as a whole. There is also the option to join the mailing list. Those who have joined will receive an ominous “Stay tuned…” message after submitting their email.

As of writing, Pharrell has not posted to his social media to promote the album. It appears to be a lucky find for those who have caught wind of the surprise release. Have a listen to the album HERE.


#HipHopNews: JT And GloRilla Clash In A War Of Words On Social Media
JT and GloRilla went head to head with disrespect on the app formerly known as Twitter.
GloRilla name-dropped the former City Girls member on “Aite” from her new LP, Ehhthang Ehhthang. The “Tomorrow 2” emcee said, “‘Cause Cardi and Nicki on a track would break some f**kin’ records/ Me and JT ain’t the best of friends but we ain’t beefin’/ Know b**ches always havin’ ana that they keep a secret/ Forever clappin’ for the next b**ch, I ain’t competin’.”

On Instagram, one fan said, “Do anybody know why Glo slapped her at that award show?” This caused JT to respond, saying, “SHE NEVER SLAPPED ME EVER!!! EVER NEVER like you all find you all someone to play with.”
She followed that post, writing, “I been said she didn’t! She the one who went radio silent! Played into, released a song about slapping rap b**ches, now it’s female unity?? CORNY!!!!!”

In a since-deleted tweet, GloRilla said, “H** shut yo’ dumb a** up and fix them ugly a** wigs. I said it ain’t no beef, h**, you the one with secret animosity.” JT responded, “Ugly shouldn’t leave your mouth ever, Joe. You look like you were born feet first P**SY a** hoe. DON’T mention me! Secret animosity? WHY?

They then went back and forth with banter before JT stated, “I honestly thought Glo was a real b**ch, man, but she not. She caused all that s**t with [‘F.N.F. (Let’s Go) (Remix)’] too! Came in the game messy and phony, ready to switch on your homies too had to jump back on the roof!”

While GloRilla has deleted most of her responses, JT seems to be standing tall on everything she said. After Glo joked about the “Act Up” rapper being an inmate, JT took it a step further, saying, “The last one will be from me poking holes in you like the air mattresses you were sleeping on!”

While there’s no telling what will happen next, fans are anxious to see if the two women emcees will continue to experience tension. JT ominously shared an image of her mugshots with a missing slot captioned “pending.”


#JUSTMARRIED: Don Lemon and Longtime Partner Tim Malone Get Married in New York City Wedding

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon and Longtime Partner Tim Malone Get Married in New York City Wedding
“I’m a last-minute person and most things I just don’t worry about,” Lemon told People days before the ceremony. “But this one I’m secretly worried about, but I’m letting Tim take the reins because he’s a good planner.”
Lemon added, “I’ll be writing questions for like the U.N. ambassador and he’ll be saying, ‘Oh, when are they going to put the buttons on our jackets?’ It’s an important question, but I’m just like, ‘Huh? What?’ So he has a million questions, but usually he gets it done without me even answering.”

The ceremony was held at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in midtown Manhattan and officiated by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States ambassador to the United Nations.
The ceremony also incorporated marriage traditions from both Lemon and Malone’s cultures. Malone’s two sisters led the guests in a “big Irish blessing.” At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds jumped over a broom, paying respect to the symbolic way enslaved people in the American South recognized their marriages.
The couple hired out the entire bottom floor of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar (where they had their first date) in Manhattan for the weekend, a source confirmed to Us ahead of the wedding. The source also shared that among the celebrity guests expected to attend include Clive Davis, Joy Behar, Matt Laur, Sex and the City creator Darren Star, Tamron Hall as well as Alec and Hilaria Baldwin, among others.

Leading up to their nuptials, the couple has been sharing their pre-wedding festivities via Instagram. Lemon and Malone even received a pre-wedding call from Vice President Kamala Harris, which was captured in a video and posted via Instagram Story.

Lemon also shared a photo via Instagram Story of three little tuxedos and harnesses for the couple’s three dogs. “We know 3 guests ready to get this party started,” Lemon captioned the photo.
Additionally, April 6 also happens to be Malone’s 40th birthday; Malone thanked his followers for “all the love” and well wishes via Instagram on Saturday.

40th birthday aside, Malone told People that it was important for him and Lemon to have a large, traditional wedding.
“We wanted to make a public statement and we wanted to involve our loved ones,” Malone explained. “We obviously could have easily gone to city hall. We could have used Covid as a perfect excuse to do something really quiet. But I think this is also a message. For I don’t know what percent of our guests, on both sides, but for a lot of them it’s going to be their first gay wedding.”

The couple began dating in 2016, almost a year after they first met in Bridgehampton, New York, at Almond Restaurant. Lemon announced their engagement in 2019. “He gave me a present on his birthday. How could I say no?” he wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of a “Daddy Will You Marry Papa” dog collar.

“It’s weird to say ‘fiancé,’ but my fiancé is a really great guy. He’s really sweet,” the Don Lemon Show host shared in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in April 2019. “He was so vulnerable when he was asking me [to marry him]. I didn’t think it was real.” (Malone is a real estate agent at Douglas Elliman.)

“His entire body was shaking, and he said, ‘I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’ And I said, ‘Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh, are you serious? This is real!’ And I saw the box and I said, ‘All right,’” Lemon told Us. “It’s been an amazing experience.”
Lemon came out as gay in his 2011 memoir Transparent. The journalist also admitted to Us that, after getting engaged, the relationship between him and Malone felt different. “It feels real. Not that it didn’t feel real before,” he said in 2019. “I grew up thinking that … my relationships would never be public, let alone get married, and now I can get legally married. My relationship is public and I have started thinking about children. So I’m a real late bloomer! A true late bloomer.”


South Carolina Defeats Iowa for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship
A year after a stunning Final Four defeat that ended what could have been a perfect season and national championship run, the South Carolina Gamecocks finished the job Sunday in historic fashion.
South Carolina defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in the women's NCAA tournament title game to become the 10th team in Division I history to complete an undefeated season (38-0), joining UConn (six times), Baylor (2011-12), Tennessee (1997-98) and Texas (1985-86) as the only programs to achieve such a feat.

With its third national title in seven tournaments and second in three seasons, South Carolina tied Baylor and Stanford for the third-most championships all time and cemented its status as women's college basketball's latest dynasty. Coach Dawn Staley -- a former two-time player of the year who played in three Final Fours but missed out on a championship herself -- became the fifth head coach to win at least three national titles.

"It doesn't always end like you want it to end, much like last year. But my [freshmen] are at the top of my heart because they wanted this. It's awesome. .... It's awesome. It's awesome. It's unbelievable," Staley said. "When young people lock in and have a belief, and have a trust, and their parents have that same trust, this is what can happen. They made history. They etched their names in the history books."

The Gamecocks got the job done by knocking off Caitlin Clark, the presumptive No. 1 pick in next week's WNBA draft, who ends her collegiate career with the most points in Division I men's or women's history with 3,951.
Iowa, which beat South Carolina in the national semifinal last year before losing to the LSU Tigers in the title game, fell short once more of its program-first national championship.

"I think the biggest thing is it's really hard to win these things. I think I know that better than most people by now; to be so close twice really hurts," Clark said.
Final Four Most Outstanding Player Kamilla Cardoso, expected to be an early pick in the draft, finished with 15 points and a career-high 17 boards, becoming the fifth player with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a championship game in the past 25 seasons. The Gamecocks outrebounded the Hawkeyes 51-29 on the afternoon.

"Kamilla Cardoso was not going to let us lose a game in the NCAA tournament," Staley said. "She played through an injury, she played like one of the top picks in the WNBA draft and her teammates did something that no teammates have done for somebody who went to the WNBA in our program. They send her off as a national champion. So this is history for us."

South Carolina's 2017 title-winning team had A'ja Wilson and its 2022 championship squad had Aliyah Boston, but its 2024 group was defined by its youth, depth and collective talent. The Gamecocks -- who graduated 2023 No. 1 draft pick Boston and four other starters from last year -- are the first team since at least 2000 to win a title after returning none of its primary starters from a team that reached the Final Four in the previous season.

South Carolina trailed early Sunday, falling behind by as many as 11 in the first quarter as Clark put up 18 points in that frame alone, the most by a player in any quarter of a championship game.
But the Gamecocks did what they do best and stormed back to hold the lead for over 20 minutes, including the entire second half. They extended their streak of winning games when having trailed by 10-plus points to 11, the longest active one in Division I.

South Carolina built its game-high 14-point lead in the fourth behind a barrage of 3-pointers from junior Bree Hall and freshman Tessa Johnson, a marked difference from the meeting against Iowa last year when the Gamecocks hit just 4 of 20 shots from beyond the arc. They finished 8-for-19 from 3 on Sunday.

Although the Hawkeyes pulled within five with a little over four minutes to go, Iowa got no closer. Clark finished the game with 30 points on 10-for-28 shooting (5-for-13 from 3).
Three-point shooting wasn't a trademark of the Gamecocks' game last season, but their depth was, and it was on display once more Sunday as South Carolina's bench outscored Iowa's 37-0, the most bench scoring for any team in a championship game since at least 2000.

That effort was led by freshman guard Johnson with a career-high 19 points. She joined former Gamecock Destanni Henderson (2022) as the only players to set their career high in a national championship game in the past 25 seasons.


Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, Spotted Kissing 65-Year-Old Restaurateur Vittorio Assaf
Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, has found a new beau in Vittorio Assaf, a 65-year-old restauranteur and co-founder of popular Italian chain, Serafina.
People confirmed their courtship just as Page Six shared paparazzi snaps of the pair kissing in St. Barts on Tuesday (April 2). The images show Simmons in a tribal print, green bikini and Assaf rocking light blue swim trunks on the beach as they share a few kisses, covered in sand. The business owner was also seen snapping shots of Simmons as she coyly posed for his camera. They also hit the waves together before calling it a day.

“Aoki and Vittorio are spending time together and enjoying each others’ company,” a source close to Aoki told People, adding that the couple met while vacationing on the same island where they were snapped making out.
Aoki is the daughter of Kimora Lee Simmons, 48, and Russell Simmons, 66.

Followers of the model couldn’t help but flood her Instagram comments with questions and concerns following the news spreading via social media, with most making note of the potential pair’s 44-year age difference. “A 65 yr old man? Blink once for help. Twice and we’ll send the cops,” wrote one follower of the Harvard alum, with another adding, “Girl what you over there doing with that old a** man, you alright?!”

“Gil that man is an old creep. You’re too smart and beautiful to fall for such a classic pattern,” added another observer who disapproved.
Assaf was most recently linked to 24-year-old model Nya Gatbel.


#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Godzilla x Kong’ Remains No. 1 as Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ Debuts to $10 Million

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” dominated the domestic box office again, looming large over newcomers “Monkey Man” and “The First Omen.”
Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s monster tentpole added $31.7 million from 3,948 theaters in its second weekend of release. Ticket sales dropped a standard (for a tentpole of its size and scale) 60% from its mighty $80 million debut and stand at $132 million domestically and $361 million globally.

First-time director Dev Patel’s action thriller “Monkey Man” nabbed second place with $10.1 million from 3,029 venues, while Disney and 20th Century’s supernatural prequel “The First Omen” trailed at the No. 4 spot with a muted $8.4 million from 3,375 locations.

Both “Monkey Man” and “The First Omen” were destined for streaming — and not the big screen. With “Monkey Man,” originally set at Netflix, Universal Pictures landed rights for $10 million after filmmaker Jordan Peele (whose production company has a distribution deal with Universal) saw the movie and felt it deserved a theatrical release. “The First Omen” was produced for Hulu but pivoted to cinemas because horror has been a reliable theatrical draw, and it’s generally more financially rewarding for studios to put movies in theaters before they land on streaming. It cost around $30 million, so neither “The First Omen” nor “Monkey Man” has a terribly tough path to profitability during their big screen runs.

“Monkey Man” has been well received by audiences (it landed a “B+” CinemaScore) and critics (it holds an 86% average on Rotten Tomatoes), so word-of-mouth could help in the coming weeks. Patel, in addition to directing, stars in the R-rated movie as Kid, an anonymous man who exacts revenge on the corrupt leaders who are responsible for the death of his mother. Through his journey, he becomes the savior of the poor and powerless people.

“This is a good opening for an original action thriller,” says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “It was not expensive to make, and it’s going to be very profitable.”
“The First Omen” didn’t get much of a boost at the international box office, where it launched with $9.1 million for a global start of $17.5 million. The film, the sixth installment in the horror franchise and its first new entry in 18 years, wasn’t as embraced with its lousy “C” CinemaScore and 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. The prequel story follows an American woman who is sent to work at a church in Rome and discovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist.

Although those tepid grades aren’t unusual for the horror genre, a debut under $10 million is not a promising sign for its commercial prospects. Even without adjusting ticket sales for inflation, “The First Omen” didn’t come anywhere close to matching the debut of its series predecessor, 2006’s Liev Schriber and Julia Stiles-led “The Omen,” which opened to $16 million and tapped out with $119 million.

Since “Monkey Man” and “The First Omen” landed behind expectations, they did little to offset the year-to-date deficit. Overall, box office revenues are 10% behind 2023, according to Comscore. It’s a drop from last weekend when North American ticket sales were down by just 6.3%.

Elsewhere, several holdovers such as “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Dune: Part Two,” rounded out box office charts.
In third place, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” added $9 million from 3,835 theaters. After three weekends of release, the sci-fi comedy sequel has generated $88.8 million at the domestic box office and $138 million worldwide. It cost $100 million to produce, and since theaters get to keep half of ticket sales, “Frozen Empire” may not have the staying power needed to justify the studio’s return to the business of busting ghosts.

Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” rounded out the top five with $8 million from 3,398 venues. So far, the animated family film has grossed $166 million in North America and a solid $410 million globally. With its $85 million production budget, “Kung Fu Panda 4” is well positioned in its theatrical run.


Rev. Cecil ‘Chip’ Murray, Pastor of F.A.M.E Church in LA for 3 Decades, Dies at Age 94
*The Reverend Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, a towering figure who led the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church for nearly three decades, passed away at the age of 94. He served as a beacon of calm during the tumultuous 1992 Los Angeles riots and left an enduring mark on the community he served.
Murray’s impact stretched far beyond the walls of the church. During his tenure from 1977 to 2004, he transformed FAME from a modest congregation to a powerhouse of over 18,000 members, drawing luminaries like former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, reports NBC4LA.

After retiring, Murray embarked on a new journey as an educator and advocate at USC, where he founded the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement. His “Murray Method” empowered over a thousand faith leaders to address community needs head-on.

In the wake of the 1992 riots, Murray’s leadership was instrumental in calming tensions and rebuilding South Los Angeles. He famously remarked on the root causes of the unrest, drawing attention to systemic injustices that ignited the flames of discontent.

Partnering with community members like Mark Whitlock, Murray spearheaded efforts to revitalize neighborhoods ravaged by violence. Through initiatives like FAME Renaissance, they secured investments and created thousands of jobs, leaving an enduring legacy of economic empowerment.
Areva Martin, a champion for autism awareness, recognized Murray’s pivotal role in advancing social causes. His inclusive leadership within FAME provided a platform for dialogue and support, particularly within underserved communities affected by autism.

“It is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Reverend Dr. Cecil ‘Chip’ Murray. His transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to justice and community empowerment both in his contributions as an Advisory Board Member to the Special Needs Network and well beyond have left an indelible mark on countless lives, including my own and those within the African-American autism community.

Civil rights activist Najee Ali praised Murray’s dedication to social justice, noting his transformative impact on FAME and beyond.
“Pastor Murray was one of the most prominent and influential faith leaders in the nation. He was hard-working and sincere. He helped transform First AME Church under his leadership into not just a must-stop for political leaders looking for support. FAME was always in the trenches first to serve with an uncompromising track record of social justice advocacy.”

President George H. W. Bush honored Murray’s contributions by designating FAME as the “177th Point of Light,” underscoring his significance in fostering community spirit and empowerment.
Murray’s journey from Lakeland, Florida, to the pulpit of FAME was marked by service and dedication. His legacy lives on through the lives he touched and the communities he uplifted.

As we bid farewell to a remarkable leader, let us remember Reverend Cecil “Chip” Murray for his indomitable spirit, unwavering compassion, and tireless pursuit of justice.


Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher announce their marriage ended last year

One of Hollywood’s funniest couples is no more. In a joint statement posted to their respective Instagram Stories on Friday, Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen announced that they filed to end their marriage at some point last year

Over a picture of the pair dressed in white tennis gear, a note from the couple read, “After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down. In 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage.”
The message went on to say that the pair “have always prioritized” privacy, and “have been quietly working through this change.”

“We forever share in our devotion and love for our children. We sincerely appreciate your respecting our family’s wish for privacy,” the note concluded.
Fisher and Cohen wed in 2010 after a long engagement, and share three children.

Cohen is the star behind the “Borat” movies, and also received acclaim for his role in 2020’s Netflix movie “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
Fisher has appeared in popular comedic films including “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and “Wedding Crashers.” Her more recent credits include the TV series “Wolf Like Me” and 2020’s “Blithe Spirit.”


Diddy's Lawyer Slams Yacht Staffer's 'Meritless' Accusations Of Sexual Assault Against King Combs
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' lawyer has spoken in defense of the rapper's son Christian a.k.a. King Combs after he's accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit. Aaron Dyer, who represents both King and Diddy, slams the accusations by a female yacht crew member as "meritless" and "outrageous."

Aaron says in a statement, "This is just another lewd and meritless claim from [lawyer] Tyrone Blackburn - just like what he filed in the Rodney Jones lawsuit, which he still has not served. This complaint is filled with the same kind of manufactured lies and irrelevant facts we've come to expect from Blackburn."

The lawyer for Diddy and King continues, "This is exactly why the federal judge in New York slapped him two days ago for a 'pattern of behavior' in 'improperly [filing] cases in federal court to garner media attention, embarrass defendants with salacious allegations, and pressure defendants to settle quickly,' and why he was referred to the disciplinary committee in the Southern District of New York." He concludes, "We will be filing a motion to dismiss this outrageous claim."

Grace O'Marcaigh, who hires Tyrone, the same lawyer representing Lil Rod, as her lawyer, filed her suit in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 4. She says that she was working as a steward on a yacht she claims Diddy chartered for a family excursion a few days before New Year's Eve in 2022.
Grace claims she witnessed the Combs family party with a "constant rotation of suspected sex workers" and consume all sorts of drugs during her 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. shift. She believes that some of the alcoholic beverages were laced with drugs given how some of the women on the boat allegedly responded to the booze.

King, who was 24 at the time of the alleged incident, joined the party on December 28, 2022 and took an interest in her, Grace claims. He allegedly pressured her to do tequila shorts, which she believes had been "spiked."


Beyoncé’ Feat Post Malone's song “Levii’s Jeans” Sparks Surge in Levi’s Stock

Levi’s witnessed an impressive 20% jump in its stock on Thursday, all thanks to Beyoncé’s latest hit, “Levii’s Jeans,” from her country album “Cowboy Carter,” which dropped last month. The song, a catchy duet with Post Malone, runs for a bit over four minutes and gives multiple shoutouts to the iconic denim brand.
Levi Strauss CEO, Michelle Gass, couldn’t hide her enthusiasm, stating, “Denim is having a moment, and the Levi’s brand is at the forefront of this global wave.” She highlighted the significance of staying relevant in culture, especially with influential figures like Beyoncé, emphasizing the importance of their investment in maintaining the brand’s cultural centrality.

In addition to the buzz generated by the Beyoncé song, Levi’s has seen a boost in sales thanks to new denim products, including skirts and alternative pants styles. Capitalizing on the Beyoncé effect, Levi’s even tweaked its Instagram handle to “Levii’s,” mirroring the song’s spelling.

Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow noted the impact of Beyoncé’s endorsement, stating, “A nod from cultural icon Beyoncé in her new song ‘Levii’s Jeans’ is having a clear positive impact on the denim category, particularly for Levi’s.”
Despite a slight dip in stock value to $20.69 on Friday afternoon, the excitement around Beyoncé’s mention and the broader range of products have certainly given Levi’s a notable boost. Beyoncé’s eighth studio album, featuring 27 tracks and appearances from country legends like Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, and Dolly Parton, is proving to be as influential in the fashion world as it is in music.


'Romeo & Juliet' play starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers faces 'barrage of racial abuse'
The Jamie Lloyd Company has hit back after its production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” has been the subject of what they call a “barrage of deplorable racial abuse” aimed at an unnamed cast member.
The play, directed by Jamie Lloyd (“Sunset Boulevard”), stars “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star Tom Holland as Romeo and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (“Sex Education”) as Juliet.

On Friday, the Jamie Lloyd Company issued a statement, saying: “Following the announcement of our ‘Romeo & Juliet’ cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop.”


Bruno Mars to Open Intuit Dome With Two L.A. Shows

Bruno Mars will headline the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Aug. 15 and 16 — the first major concert to be held at the new venue. It marks the Grammy-winning artist's first solo concert in Los Angeles since 2018. 

Intuit Dome is the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers. The one million-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility reportedly cost $2 billion to construct and boasts the city's largest outdoor 4K LED screen, a centerpiece of its 80,000 square-foot outdoor plaza. 
“We are thrilled Bruno Mars will open Intuit Dome," said Gillian Zucker, CEO, Halo Sports and Entertainment, in announcing the concerts. "Bruno, who has a strong connection to Inglewood, will undoubtedly deliver an iconic performance that is worthy of this moment, and will undoubtably leave a lasting impression on everyone who attends these two shows."

Zucker, who was featured as a 2024 L.A. Woman in Los Angeles last month, and celebrated at the March 21 L.A. Woman event, reveals that top-of-the-line amenities  will be available to visiting performers within the Dome's 18 dressing rooms, which can be configured to a range of sizes. 
Also super-sized: the loading area inside the building that can accommodate several semi-trucks at the same time, two-way traffic and U-turns. During down time, artists can play basketball on Court B, the regulation-sized court built for the community ("B” stands for Ballmer, as in Steve, L.A. Clippers' owner). 

“When we first started, it was with a single-minded focus on basketball," says Zucker. "Steve said, ‘I want to build the most incredible basketball venue in the world.’ And as we were beginning to do that, we talked about is for it to be commercially viable, it also had to work for music. ... So we didn’t want to have a lot of suites in the building because the gaps that suites create has an impact on the intimacy of the experience for basketball. It also has a negative impact on acoustics. But it turned out to be a happy coincidence that building a building that makes it exceptional for basketball also makes it exceptional for music."

Mars has won 14 Grammy Awards, most recently in 2022 for album, song and record of the year with Silk Sonic, his duo with Anderson Paak. 
Elsewhere on the Intuit Dome concert calendar, Billy Joel will headline on Oct. 12. 
Tickets for Mars' Intuit Dome shows go on sale on April 11 at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. 



Michael Jackson Accusers’ Lawyer Defends Request to Unseal Nude Photos
Michael Jackson’s estate is fighting his accusers’ request to unseal police records that contain nude photos of Jackson that were taken by police, according to a filing obtained by The Daily Beast.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck were the subject of the documentary Leaving Neverland, in which they describe, in grueling detail, being groomed and assaulted by Jackson over the course of several years from the ages of 7 and 10 years old, respectively—including repeated instances in which they were allegedly forced to either kiss Jackson or engage in anal or oral sex with him.

The two now grown men are currently in the process of suing Jackson’s estate for allegedly enabling their abuse at the hands of the pop superstar. The latest bid by Robson and Safechuck’s legal team to obtain the old police records and photos is to prove their belief that Jackson “collected sexually provocative” photos of children, according to their attorney John C. Carpenter.

“The public at large will never see these photographs of Michael Jackson or the photographs of his child victims,” Carpenter says. “What is important is that Michael Jackson took and collected sexually provocative photographs of children that were seized by the police in their criminal investigation,” he adds.

But Jackson’s estate says in its filing to block his accusers’ access that the records request allows the “plaintiffs to exploit that series of circumstances to their benefit,” and that “obtaining those photographs now adds a second defilement to the first.”
“The photographs Plaintiffs seek were not taken willingly by Mr. Jackson,” the estate also says in the filing, “They were the result of a court-ordered search based on a false statement in what became a discredited criminal investigation.”

The estate calls the request “an egregious violation of these privacy rights, and is simply beyond the pale,” and notes that the plaintiffs had requested the records multiple times, even though they are “sealed by a court-entered protective order from the Santa Barbara Superior Court.”

Robson and Safechuck’s attorney tells The Beast that the photos are important to his clients’ case—even though, he says, “I wish I never had to look at them.”


Jelly Roll's Private Plane Makes an Emergency Landing

Jelly Roll just underwent a scary ordeal while traveling to Austin, Texas for the 2024 CMT Music Awards.
The "Son of a Sinner" singer and his wife Bunnie XO revealed that their private jet had to make an emergency landing during their journey. No one was injured.

"Our plane we were on just stopped mid air," Bunnie wrote on a TikTok video shared April 4, "& turned around for an emergency landing."
The Dumb Blonde Podcast host, 44, shared footage of their pilot speaking to their group inside the cabin of the aircraft and later, of Jelly Roll walking around in a waiting room.

"The plane just got turned around," the 39-year-old said. "They turned the plane around. They said it's an issue with the computer."
Bunnie responded, "And they want us to get back on it."
Jelly Roll added, "At least it wasn't the brakes."
Bunnie also shared on her official TikTok a video of herself with their entourage sitting inside the plane.

"When the private jet you're in just stopped mid-air, turned around & said we had to emergency land because of a malfunction," she wrote, adding in the comments, "We landed but might have to get back on the same plane."

When a fan asked if they were alright, Bunnie responded, "We're good baby but that was scary."

She added, "CMT i swear we're coming #jellyandbunnie," including a crying emoji.
Images shared by members of their entourage showed they later landed in Austin.
Jelly Roll is nominated for four honors at the 2024 CMT Awards: Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year for "Need a Favor."


Gypsy Rose Blanchard Getting Cosmetic Surgery After Split From Husband Ryan Scott Anderson

Gypsy Rose Blanchard wants a fresh start after becoming a single woman. More than a week after announcing her split from husband Ryan Scott Anderson, the author revealed that she's getting cosmetic surgery.

"I'm going through a personal transformation journey currently and that includes a physical one, too," the 32-year-old, who will undergo rhinoplasty to change the shape and appearance of her nose, told PEOPLE. "Wish me luck with my surgery and watch the whole thing this summer on Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up".

Gypsy's best friend, Nadiya Vizier, divulged that she's been wanting to get this done for a while. "She said she's a bit nervous, but she's happy it's going to be done," Nadiya explained. "The main thing is that she wanted a more feminine looking nose. She just wants to fix it up and give it a more feminine look."

"My main message is to just, people need to let her live, let her experience, if they know that she's doing something good or wrong, let her experience that. Let her learn from it," she added. "I feel like in a way, people are still trying to control her."
News of the procedure, scheduled for April 5 in Lafayette, La., arrived one week after it was revealed that Gypsy had separated from husband Ryan after nearly two years of marriage. The announcement was made in a private Facebook post obtained by PEOPLE.

According to the post, Gypsy has moved back into her family's home during this time of transition. She expressed her intention to listen to her heart and to find herself during this separation. Though so, the details leading to the couple's separation remain undisclosed.

The couple's separation comes after a brief period of marriage. They met in 2020 while Gypsy was serving a 10-year sentence for the second-degree murder of her mother, Dee Dee Gypsy. They began corresponding through letters and eventually married in a jailhouse ceremony in July 2022.

In January, Gypsy had expressed excitement about married life and plans for a second ceremony outside of prison. However, she also acknowledged some concerns about the future. "I've never lived with a man," she said. "I grew up with a mom, so I didn't even grow up with a dad in the house."


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Can you see me now?

Well, Can you?


HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM 

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