I AM: CELINE DION Poster and Official Trailer
We don’t normally post about documentaries round these parts, but we think this one’ll have special significance to the Bitter Kittens.
When she says she misses the people and that she’ll crawl if she has to get to them? Baby, that is a motherfucking superstar. Oh, Tante Celine. We miss you too. This looks like a painfully raw look at what she’s been going through and we hope she gets something out of it that helps aid her recovery. We’ll be seated in solidarity.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I AM: CELINE DION gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.
Directed by Irene Taylor
Produced by Stacy Lorts, Tom Mackay, Julie Begey Seureau and Irene Taylor
Executive produced by Dave Platel, Denis Savage, Shane Carter, Krista Wegener
Streaming Globally on Prime Video June 25.
#RHOA: Tamar Braxton Was offered to be on ‘RHOA’ but she Rejected the Offer
Why did Tamar Braxton reject an offer to be on RHOA when she is no stranger to reality television fame? She and her family have had their own series plus she has been a talk show host. So, what was it about the hit Bravo show that did not appeal to her? Keep reading for more details.
Why Tamar Braxton Rejected RHOA Offer
It has recently come out that several celebrities have been turning down the chance to be part of the Real Housewives franchise. Jenny McCarthy was asked to be on RHONY years ago but declined. Christina Applegate shared she was offered a spot on RHOBH but felt she would be too boring. More so, she did not think she would add anything to the mix. Finally, Tisha Campbell was also asked to be on BH but it just was not right for her. Everyone has their limits and that is understandable.
Now, Tamar Braxton is speaking out about her offer to be on RHOA. She has been on her own reality series in the past, Braxton Family Values. Additionally, she was a co-host on The Real and won Celebrity Big Brother. Finally, she and her now ex-husband, Vincent Herbert had their own show, Tamar & Vince. So, when she was in talks to be on RHOA, it did not sit well with Tamar. According to People, she spoke to Carlos King about why that was not the right show for her:
“I’ve had conversations but the truth is, it’s just no way I’m going to sit and get a wig put on and get my face beat to argue with a bunch of b**ches about nothing. I can’t do it. What does that do for me in my life? What’s the argument?”
Tamar Braxton went on to talk more about money and that she was not going to sign on just for a good paycheck:
“Let me tell you something, all money ain’t good money. It’s just not. This is what I say: What’s for me won’t miss me. It’s not worth my mental to sit up here and get into an argument with another Black beautiful woman about nothing so ‘other people’ can think this is what we’re about.”
Seems like Tamar has a very clear stance about what she is willing to put out on television and the way she wants women to be perceived. More so, she feels she has an obligation which is great to see that she won’t risk her morals for a dollar sign.
It is clear that RHOA is not for Tamar Braxton which is fine. She likely has other avenues she can travel with all of the other work she has done in reality television. However, she has made it clear that she wants to create “feel good, funny, good, relatable epic television.” With that mindset, Tamar knows where she is going and what she wants, with a clear vision. That being said, if Bravo really likes and wants her, maybe they will tailor a show to her.
Would you have liked to see Tamar on RHOA or is the cast good as it is?
#MusicNews: Muni Long Taps Mariah Carey For Remix To Her Hit Single “Made For Me”
R&B sensation Muni Long links up with global Icon Mariah Carey to join her on the remix to her current smash single “Made For Me”.
On the remix, Carey’s instantly recognizable presence and generational voice amplify the power of “Made For Me.” The track unites two eras of R&B excellence on one anthemic duet. She adds:
“When I got the call from JD to work on the ‘Made For Me’ remix, I said yes immediately. Muni is an amazing writer and performer, and this collaboration is a match made in heaven!”
LISTEN HERE
“Made For Me” was produced by the legendary Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox, and JordanXL. It follows in the footsteps of mega hit “Hrs & Hrs” and vaulted to #1 at R&B Radio.
The current single has recently cracked the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, it has spent 7 weeks at #1 on the R&B Radio Airplay Chart, and catapulted to #1 on Apple’s R&B Chart and #2 on the Apple Music All Genres Chart.
Later this year, Muni Long will release her full length album.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Released after Arrest at Amsterdam Airport While Live on Instagram
Nicki Minaj was arrested in the Netherlands on Saturday, May 25, for allegedly exporting soft drugs The superstar was fined and released, but the incident delayed her flight to Manchester, England Minaj's concert in Manchester was postponed because of the arrest and subsequent travel delays
Renowned US rapper Nicki Minaj was discharged from detention on Saturday, May 25, following a brief arrest by Dutch police because of allegations of soft drug trafficking, as reported by officials. Nicki Minaj was arrested in the Netherlands while going to a concert.
According to NBC News, police said in a translated post on X that the rapper was fined and allowed to continue her journey. How was Nicki Minaj arrested? Minaj, 41, was apparently arrested while travelling to Manchester, England, from Amsterdam for a concert on her Pink Friday 2 World
Live Nation UK said in an update that Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, was scheduled to perform at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on Saturday night, but it was postponed. “Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible. We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused," the company said.
Police have not identified the name of the person arrested, but when asked if it was Minaj, a spokesperson said officers had arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs. Nicki Minaj apologises to fans In a social media post, Minaj said she arrived at her hotel in Manchester a little more than an hour later.
"After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn’t take off for another 20 mins once I boarded the 50-minute flight from Amsterdam," she wrote. She added: "Please, please, please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies. They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today, but this, too, shall pass."
Meet Bishop Dwight Reed, 63 and his 18 YEAR OLD BRIDE and its Stirring Debate!
Footage of a 63-year-old Bishop attempting to defend his marriage to a 19-year-old congregant has gone viral two years after the couple first made headlines in their home state of Iowa.
In the footage shared by several platforms, Bishop Dwight Reed, 63, is seen standing in the pulpit while addressing anyone who attended church that morning with the intention of starting some mess over his wife, Jordan Goodlett, who was 19 when she wed the church leader, as per The Des Moines Register.
“And I wish some of ya’ll would mess with my wife, Jordan. Talking about, ‘what you gonna do if you see her?’ Well, you will see me on the news!” Reed proclaimed. “You better walk by and say ‘praise the lord!’ that’s what you better do, because that’s my wife! And she grown! She didn’t need nobody to sign no paper work for her. If this was out in the streets, ya’ll would be saying she made a come-up, but you a hypocrite.”
He went on to quote scripture praising the value of marriage while insisting he and his wife have no problem with their actions
“And we sleeping good at night! Ain’t nobody up all night worried about these crooks.”
The Des Moines Register reports that Jordan is Reed’s third wife, and that they tied the knot in November 2021. He was reportedly “offering special guidance” to the teen before their relationship as Dean of the Church School.
It was also noted that the legal age of consent in the state of Iowa is 16, so there is no legal reason the couple shouldn’t be together. Still, the over 40-year age gap between them has led many to deem the relationship inappropriate.
“PREDATOR! He probably was looking at her when she was a kid just waiting on her to turn 18,” wrote one critic within TNT‘s comment section, with another adding, “It’s the fact that he still got members for me! Like none of yall got sense?”
“I’m sorry but this is sick and disgusting,” added another naysayer. “This is why we need our parents and grandparents in our lives. My grandmother always told me never get with a man that’s way older than me.”
In 2022, Christ Apostolic Temple, Reed’s church, filed a lawsuit against Texas’ Kingdom Church and one of its leaders, Demetrius Sinegal, after he launched a Change.org petition calling for a criminal investigation of Reed by police.
Dwyane Wade And Daughter Zaya Launch Translatable In Support Of Trans Youth
Dwyane Wade and daughter Zaya have come together to found Translatable, an organization that will serve as a safe space for trans youth, particularly for young trans people of color. The Daddy-daughter duo introduced Translatable to the masses Thursday (May 23) afternoon via social media.
“Translatable is also a resource hub for parents, families, and support systems of the LBGTQIA+ youth” Wade explained within the introductory Instagram clip. “For our family, we were blessed to have a community of supporters, and knowledgeable experts who could swiftly arm us with the tools we needed to support Zaya and her journey….I’m so very proud of the daughter I’ve had the opportunity to raise. She has been my biggest educator and inspiration and what it means to be true to you.”
When she says she misses the people and that she’ll crawl if she has to get to them? Baby, that is a motherfucking superstar. Oh, Tante Celine. We miss you too. This looks like a painfully raw look at what she’s been going through and we hope she gets something out of it that helps aid her recovery. We’ll be seated in solidarity.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I AM: CELINE DION gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.
Directed by Irene Taylor
Produced by Stacy Lorts, Tom Mackay, Julie Begey Seureau and Irene Taylor
Executive produced by Dave Platel, Denis Savage, Shane Carter, Krista Wegener
Streaming Globally on Prime Video June 25.
#RHOA: Tamar Braxton Was offered to be on ‘RHOA’ but she Rejected the Offer
Why Tamar Braxton Rejected RHOA Offer
It has recently come out that several celebrities have been turning down the chance to be part of the Real Housewives franchise. Jenny McCarthy was asked to be on RHONY years ago but declined. Christina Applegate shared she was offered a spot on RHOBH but felt she would be too boring. More so, she did not think she would add anything to the mix. Finally, Tisha Campbell was also asked to be on BH but it just was not right for her. Everyone has their limits and that is understandable.
Now, Tamar Braxton is speaking out about her offer to be on RHOA. She has been on her own reality series in the past, Braxton Family Values. Additionally, she was a co-host on The Real and won Celebrity Big Brother. Finally, she and her now ex-husband, Vincent Herbert had their own show, Tamar & Vince. So, when she was in talks to be on RHOA, it did not sit well with Tamar. According to People, she spoke to Carlos King about why that was not the right show for her:
“I’ve had conversations but the truth is, it’s just no way I’m going to sit and get a wig put on and get my face beat to argue with a bunch of b**ches about nothing. I can’t do it. What does that do for me in my life? What’s the argument?”
Tamar Braxton went on to talk more about money and that she was not going to sign on just for a good paycheck:
“Let me tell you something, all money ain’t good money. It’s just not. This is what I say: What’s for me won’t miss me. It’s not worth my mental to sit up here and get into an argument with another Black beautiful woman about nothing so ‘other people’ can think this is what we’re about.”
Seems like Tamar has a very clear stance about what she is willing to put out on television and the way she wants women to be perceived. More so, she feels she has an obligation which is great to see that she won’t risk her morals for a dollar sign.
It is clear that RHOA is not for Tamar Braxton which is fine. She likely has other avenues she can travel with all of the other work she has done in reality television. However, she has made it clear that she wants to create “feel good, funny, good, relatable epic television.” With that mindset, Tamar knows where she is going and what she wants, with a clear vision. That being said, if Bravo really likes and wants her, maybe they will tailor a show to her.
Would you have liked to see Tamar on RHOA or is the cast good as it is?
#MusicNews: Muni Long Taps Mariah Carey For Remix To Her Hit Single “Made For Me”
R&B sensation Muni Long links up with global Icon Mariah Carey to join her on the remix to her current smash single “Made For Me”.
On the remix, Carey’s instantly recognizable presence and generational voice amplify the power of “Made For Me.” The track unites two eras of R&B excellence on one anthemic duet. She adds:
“When I got the call from JD to work on the ‘Made For Me’ remix, I said yes immediately. Muni is an amazing writer and performer, and this collaboration is a match made in heaven!”
LISTEN HERE
“Made For Me” was produced by the legendary Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox, and JordanXL. It follows in the footsteps of mega hit “Hrs & Hrs” and vaulted to #1 at R&B Radio.
The current single has recently cracked the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, it has spent 7 weeks at #1 on the R&B Radio Airplay Chart, and catapulted to #1 on Apple’s R&B Chart and #2 on the Apple Music All Genres Chart.
Later this year, Muni Long will release her full length album.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Released after Arrest at Amsterdam Airport While Live on Instagram
Renowned US rapper Nicki Minaj was discharged from detention on Saturday, May 25, following a brief arrest by Dutch police because of allegations of soft drug trafficking, as reported by officials. Nicki Minaj was arrested in the Netherlands while going to a concert.
According to NBC News, police said in a translated post on X that the rapper was fined and allowed to continue her journey. How was Nicki Minaj arrested? Minaj, 41, was apparently arrested while travelling to Manchester, England, from Amsterdam for a concert on her Pink Friday 2 World
Live Nation UK said in an update that Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, was scheduled to perform at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on Saturday night, but it was postponed. “Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible. We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused," the company said.
Police have not identified the name of the person arrested, but when asked if it was Minaj, a spokesperson said officers had arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs. Nicki Minaj apologises to fans In a social media post, Minaj said she arrived at her hotel in Manchester a little more than an hour later.
"After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn’t take off for another 20 mins once I boarded the 50-minute flight from Amsterdam," she wrote. She added: "Please, please, please accept my deepest and most sincere apologies. They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today, but this, too, shall pass."
Meet Bishop Dwight Reed, 63 and his 18 YEAR OLD BRIDE and its Stirring Debate!
Footage of a 63-year-old Bishop attempting to defend his marriage to a 19-year-old congregant has gone viral two years after the couple first made headlines in their home state of Iowa.
In the footage shared by several platforms, Bishop Dwight Reed, 63, is seen standing in the pulpit while addressing anyone who attended church that morning with the intention of starting some mess over his wife, Jordan Goodlett, who was 19 when she wed the church leader, as per The Des Moines Register.
“And I wish some of ya’ll would mess with my wife, Jordan. Talking about, ‘what you gonna do if you see her?’ Well, you will see me on the news!” Reed proclaimed. “You better walk by and say ‘praise the lord!’ that’s what you better do, because that’s my wife! And she grown! She didn’t need nobody to sign no paper work for her. If this was out in the streets, ya’ll would be saying she made a come-up, but you a hypocrite.”
He went on to quote scripture praising the value of marriage while insisting he and his wife have no problem with their actions
“And we sleeping good at night! Ain’t nobody up all night worried about these crooks.”
The Des Moines Register reports that Jordan is Reed’s third wife, and that they tied the knot in November 2021. He was reportedly “offering special guidance” to the teen before their relationship as Dean of the Church School.
It was also noted that the legal age of consent in the state of Iowa is 16, so there is no legal reason the couple shouldn’t be together. Still, the over 40-year age gap between them has led many to deem the relationship inappropriate.
“PREDATOR! He probably was looking at her when she was a kid just waiting on her to turn 18,” wrote one critic within TNT‘s comment section, with another adding, “It’s the fact that he still got members for me! Like none of yall got sense?”
“I’m sorry but this is sick and disgusting,” added another naysayer. “This is why we need our parents and grandparents in our lives. My grandmother always told me never get with a man that’s way older than me.”
In 2022, Christ Apostolic Temple, Reed’s church, filed a lawsuit against Texas’ Kingdom Church and one of its leaders, Demetrius Sinegal, after he launched a Change.org petition calling for a criminal investigation of Reed by police.
Dwyane Wade And Daughter Zaya Launch Translatable In Support Of Trans Youth
Dwyane Wade and daughter Zaya have come together to found Translatable, an organization that will serve as a safe space for trans youth, particularly for young trans people of color. The Daddy-daughter duo introduced Translatable to the masses Thursday (May 23) afternoon via social media.
“Translatable is also a resource hub for parents, families, and support systems of the LBGTQIA+ youth” Wade explained within the introductory Instagram clip. “For our family, we were blessed to have a community of supporters, and knowledgeable experts who could swiftly arm us with the tools we needed to support Zaya and her journey….I’m so very proud of the daughter I’ve had the opportunity to raise. She has been my biggest educator and inspiration and what it means to be true to you.”
Thursday evening, Wade was honored with the Catalyst Award at the Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit, where he further spoke of the organization’s origin, and it truly being Zaya’s own passion project.
“The question was presented to her as, ‘If you have one thing that you want to see change in this community, what would it be?’,” Wade recalled, as per ESPN. “And, for her, it goes right to parents. It goes right to the adults. It goes right to us. It’s not the kids. It’s us. And so she wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is, and it’s her baby.”
Wade plans to put the $250K in funding received for the Catalyst Award towards the organization, adding that its goal is to “support growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversations leading to greater understanding and acceptance.”
The NBA champ was also praised by Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcìa Jayaram for launching the organization on Florida, despite moving out of the state for the safety of his family.
“We understand that in this state that not everyone thinks the way some others think,” Wade said. “Like most things in life, once you get to know them, you have more ability to be understanding. And so if you don’t want to know them, then you stay ignorant in a sense.”
Zaya, who turns 17 on May 29th, came out as transgender in 2020.
Keke Palmer Not Moving Forward With Domestic Violence Case Against Darius Jackson
Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson may have called a truce following their legal battle over his alleged domestic violence. The case will no longer go to court, several months after the actress filed for a restraining order against her ex.
According to legal documents filed by Keke's attorney and obtained by The Blast on Friday, May 24, the hearing was initially scheduled for July 16 at 8:30 A.M. However, this date has been taken off the Court's calendar.
Keke's attorney did not share why the hearing will no longer hold, but it indicates that the exes may have settled the cast behind the scenes. The hearing's dismissal also comes five months after the former couple agreed to a court-mandated mediation session.
Keke filed the restraining order against Darius, who is the father of her 1-year-old son, in November 2023, accusing him of frequently abusing her physically and verbally, sometimes in the presence of their minor child. She also accused him of several personal properties, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses.
Darius then hit back by filing his own restraining order against Keke, claiming that she "repeatedly engaged in abusive conduct" and "acted as the primary aggressor" toward him during their two-year relationship.
In December, the two agreed to postpone their domestic abuse lawsuit to attend mediation. They agreed to resume the lawsuit on a "mutually agreeable date," with "all orders contained in the Temporary Restraining Order issued on November 9th, 2023," remaining in force.
"Keke is concerned about her privacy, Leo's privacy and the privacy of her family so her preference is to resolve the situation privately rather than in open court if possible," a so-called insider said at the time. "But if not possible the hearing remains on the calendar and Keke will stop at nothing to ensure a safe and healthy outcome for herself and Leo."
It seems that they have since found common ground through the mediation as Keke has dropped the domestic violence restraining order.
Report: Madonna And BF Josh Popper Call It Quits After One Year Of Dating
Madonna and Josh Popper are no longer together. If a new report is to be believed, the "Material Girl" hitmaker and her boyfriend have called it quits after one year of dating.
Revealing the 65-year-old's relationship status was The U.S. Sun. According to the outlet, the former couple struggled to find time for each other during her "Celebration" tour, which wrapped up earlier this month.
"Madonna has barely seen Josh for months because her schedule was so hectic. Things just fizzled out," a source told the publication. "There is genuinely no bad blood - they're still fond of each other."
"At the moment their relationship doesn't feel feasible and they've cooled things off," the insider continued. "But they are staying friends."
The famous singer and the boxing coach, who appeared on the reality show "Summer House", met for the first time when he trained her son David Banda at a boxing gym in New York City. The two went public with their romance in February 2023 as she showed him off on her Instagram page.
The breakup news arrived just a few days after Madonna was spotted hanging out with Eric Labat when she made an appearance at an Off-White party in New York City. On Thursday, May 23, Just Jared revealed that the Queen of Pop was spotted out and about in the Big Apple one day prior. At that time, she was attending the launch of the new Off-White collection.
According to the media outlet, Madonna had fun with Eric at the Wednesday night bash. She also was said to have brushed shoulders with a number of international disc jockeys during the sneaker launch after-party, which was sponsored by CIROC.
The "Like a Virgin" songstress appeared to have kept the memories from the fun night under tight wraps. As of Thursday, she has not let out any photos or videos from her alleged appearance at the launch party.
Cannes Film Festival Usher Clashes With Dominican Star Massiel Taveras Days After Kelly
The Cannes Film Festival security guard who clashed with Kelly Rowland has once again gone viral on social media, this time for confronting Dominican star Massiel Taveras.
Taveras walked the red carpet sporting a white dress with a dress that had an image of Jesus Christ. As the actress and model made her way up the stairs, she tried to fix her train to display the image. However, the usher blocked Taveras and hurried her up the stairs.
In the video, Taveras is visibly upset at the usher for blocking her and not allowing her to pose properly. Once Taveras reached the top of the stairs, she turned around to wave. The usher made physical contact with Taveras to turn her around. Taveras then pushed the security guard away from her and proceeded to walk ahead.
Nicki Hilton was behind Taveras and witnessed the incident first hand.
Although Taveras could not display her dress correctly at the Cannes steps, once inside the theater, she could show off her dress, which Giannina Azar designed with the image hand-painted by Yan Páez.
The incident between the usher and Taveras happened days after Rowland experienced something similar walking up the stairs.
“The woman knows what happened, I know what happened,” Rowland told the AP at the amfAR Cannes Gala on Thursday. “I have a boundary and I stand by those boundaries, and that is it. And there were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me, and they didn’t get that scolding, or pushed off, or told to get off. I stood my ground, and she felt like she had to stand hers. But I stood my ground.”
Netflix Drops New ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Trailer
Eddie Murphy is back as Axel Foley in Netflix’s first look at the highly anticipated film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which is slated to arrive in 2024.
Detective Axel Foley (Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter Jane’s (Taylour Paige) life is threatened, she and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.
WATCH
Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, Taylour Paige as Jane Saunders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbott, and Bronson Pinchot as Serge in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
The Cast
Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, Taylour Paige as Axel’s daughter Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Abbott, Judge Reinhold as Billy Rosewood, Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman, Kevin Bacon as Captain Cade Grant, Bronson Pinchot as Serge, and John Ashton.
Release Date
July 3, 2024, only on Netflix
Marilyn Mosby Will Not Serve Prison Time For Perjury, Mortgage Fraud Convictions
Former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby will not serve time in prison for perjury and mortgage fraud, a judge ruled Thursday.
Instead, she was sentenced to three years of supervised release and 12 months of home confinement.
A judge ruled she would have to forfeit her Florida condo and 90% of the proceeds. She decided on 90% because Mosby put 10% down to secure the mortgage.
Her supporters cheered Judge Lydia K. Griggsby's decision to spare Mosby time behind bars as did Mosby herself.
"I just want to say from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you for the fight," an emotional Mosby told supporters. "Thank you for the federal public defender team who so eloquently advocated on my behalf… I swear God sent angels into my life."
Mosby and her public defenders said she will appeal both verdicts. She has pushed nationally in recent weeks for a presidential pardon and maintained her innocence despite her convictions.
"This is not over, but God was here today," Mosby said. "He touched the heart of this judge and has allowed me to go home to my babies."
Her daughters also addressed the crowd, thanking them, and Mosby's oldest daughter said she was inspired to be a prosecutor herself.
Before her sentencing, the judge addressed Mosby directly.
"There is no indication you abused your office," the judge said. "The conduct is not violent. Most significantly is you are a mother to two daughters."
The judge added that this was a "sad and difficult day."
"It's sad for Mosby and her family. "It's also a sad day for the city of Baltimore. The court knows you live in the city of Baltimore," the judge said.
Mosby walked past a busload of supporters and applause as she approached the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland. Those supporters proceeded to pray in a circle outside.
Mosby faced a possible sentence of up to 40 years behind bars. Prosecutors were recommending 20 months, saying that Mosby committed perjury when she testified at her last trial.
She maintained that she did nothing wrong, and was targeted by prosecutors for her progressive stances. She's doubled down on that stance in her national campaign for a presidential pardon.
Marilyn Mosby was first indicted in January 2022 and pushed for two separate trials.
The first jury found her guilty of perjury for lying to make withdrawals from a retirement account.
The second jury found she committed mortgage fraud for lying on documents about a $5,000 gift her then-husband, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, gave her to close on a mortgage for a Florida vacation home.
Mosby had high-profile support from former St. Louis prosecutor Kim Gardner and civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
"The people united will never be defeated," Crump said as he held Mosby's hand outside the courthouse. He has alleged she was targeted for her progressive political stances, which the government vehemently denies.
"What is different here today is underneath that white collar is the neck of a Black woman who dared to challenge the status quo," Crump told the judge.
U.S. Attorney Erek Barron's office said, "Ms. Mosby's unremorseful and unrepentant actions belie any contrition, recognition, or deterrence."
The government had asked for a 20-month sentence.
Federal prosecutors repeatedly told the judge Mosby has lied and tried to undermine the justice system.
"Marilyn Mosby is unremorseful and has no regard for the truth," Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney said in court. "She does not have the freedom to escape the consequences of her words—saying one thing to the court and another thing to the American public."
Among those watching the proceedings were Keith Davis Junior and his wife Kelly. Mosby repeatedly brought Keith to trial for murder before the charges were dropped by her successor Ivan Bates.
"The tables have definitely turned. I actually do not get any satisfaction sitting back and watching her go through this," Keith Davis said.
"Her arrogance is extraordinary, and it's amazing to me… She's not a victim of the system because she was the system," Kelly Davis said.
Both, however, said Mosby should not have had to serve time behind bars.
Mosby's lawyers have asked for a stay on the sale of her Florida property. The Biden administration has not issued a formal response to her request for a presidential pardon.
Mosby will also have to perform 100 hours of community service.
She was twice elected as Baltimore's top prosecutor and made national headlines for her ultimately unsuccessful prosecution of officers after the death of Freddie Gray.
Michael Schatzow, who led those prosecutions in Mosby's office, asked Judge Griggsby for mercy and a lenient sentence for Mosby Thursday, citing her efforts to reform the justice system in Baltimore.
Angel Reese becomes part-owner of DC women’s soccer team
Newly minted Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has joined the ownership group of a new professional women's soccer team in Washington, DC. As reported by ESPN on Tuesday (May 21), the DC Power Football Club will be one of eight teams competing in the inaugural season of the USL Super League (USLS), which begins this August. The USLS received Division 1 sanctioning from U.S. Soccer earlier this year, placing it on the same competitive level as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
In response to the big news, Reese stated, "I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community to continue elevating female athletes and the women’s game across the board."
"Angel's decision to be a founding investor alongside us in Power FC is groundbreaking," said Jason Levien, CEO and co-chair of men's soccer team D.C. United, in a press release. "As a Maryland native, Angel is so passionate about being a catalyst for positive change in women's sports in the DMV as well as globally while inspiring the next generation of female athletes. We’re looking forward to her partnership in the boardroom as an equity partner."
DC Power FC will play its home games at Audi Field, which also hosts D.C. United, the NWSL's Washington Spirit, and the DC Defenders of the United Football League. The team's head coach will be Frédéric Brillant, a former D.C. United player and assistant coach who recently worked with the Utah Royals' NWSL expansion team.
As previously reported, Fort Lauderdale United FC, who will also be competing in the USLS, announced Deon Graham as its co-founder and CEO. "I'm thrilled about creating a clear path for a Division 1 professional women's soccer team to flourish in South Florida," he expressed. "Our community deserves a standout brand and a team that both the 954 and Broward County can take pride in. We're dedicated to forging a pathway from youth to professional soccer and serving as a catalyst for women's professional soccer in the region."
Lady Gaga Teases Seventh Album at End of 'Chromatica Ball' Concert Movie
Lady Gaga has confirmed that her upcoming seventh album is on the way! The 38-year-old singer just dropped her new Chromatica Ball concert movie on HBO and Max to close out the chapter from her previous album.
At the end of the movie, a title card teased that her next album will be out soon.
“LG7. Gaga returns,” flashed on the screen to get fans excited for new music.
Gaga also talked about new music at her movie premiere this week. She told ET, “I have been working on my new music all the time and I truly live and breathe it. I just can’t wait to give it to the fans.”
She also teased that the project is “completely different” and promised it’s coming “soon.”
Gaga opened up about possibly teaming up with Beyonce again.
Kathy Griffin's Estranged Husband Drags Her To Court, Demands Over $40K And More
Comedienne Kathy Griffin's divorce from her estranged husband, Randy Bick, is quickly turning into a nasty battle as he takes her to court over various demands.
In court documents obtained by The Blast, Bick requests several reliefs, including access to their marital home to retrieve his belongings, money for expenses caused after Griffin asked him to leave their home, and attorney fees.
According to the court documents, Griffin's husband, Bick, claims the actress asked him to leave their marital home on December 22, 2023, so they could "spend time apart over the Christmas holiday weekend." He notes they both "participated in a couple's therapy" the next day.
Bick then states that he only took a duffle bag with few items with him and that when he told Griffin he would be returning home, she threatened to "call the cops" on him. Bick says that after this alleged threat, Griffin filed for a divorce on December 28.
Now, he is requesting that the court order the actress to allow him back in the home to retrieve his belongings over the course of three dates of his choice and that Griffin be ordered to "reimburse [him] at least $21,000 toward his emergency expenses caused as a result of [her] removing him from the home."
Bick also wants Griffin to be "ordered to pay at least $22,337 toward [his] Attorney's Fees" and "immediately add [him] as her dependent to her SAGAFTRA healthcare insurance COBRA policy at her own expense."
Griffin filed for divorce from Bick just days before they celebrated four years together. She filed at the Superior Court of California in December 2023, and the court documents obtained by The Blast listed the date of their separation as December 22.
In the legal documents, Griffin cited the reason for the divorce as "irreconcilable differences." She requested the termination of the court's power to award spousal support to either her or Bick. Griffin also asked for the enforcement of their "premarital agreement dated 12/23/2019."
After the couple's separation was made public, Griffin reacted to the news on her social media account with a post that read, "Well...s--t. This sucks." Shortly after, the pop-culture personality shared that she had turned to her close friend, actress Jane Fonda, for support as she struggled with the separation.
An insider in Griffin's circle spoke to the DailyMail about the divorce and said she made the decision to feel like herself again.
They further explained that Griffin is still very much in love with Bick and "heartbroken" about the split but knows it was the right decision.
The source said, "Kathy loves living life. She always wants to have fun. She wants to travel and do things with a man she loves who has the same aspirations. Kathy is just over 60 but still feels in her thirties and wants to enjoy life and has a fun and focused outlook on life and Randy did share that with her."
However, with time, Bick reportedly became comfortable "with being a homebody," which caused the couple to grow apart. The source added, "Kathy hates that it has ended this way, but she needed to be Kathy again, and this was the only way she was going to get there."
Griffin and Bick started their relationship in 2011 and didn't tie the knot until January 2020.
Lily Tomlin officiated Their beautiful wedding ceremony, which their family and close friends attended. Griffin even wore the same dress from her first date with Bick.
At the time, she spoke to People magazine about the ceremony and their decision not to get official rings.
Griffin said, "Randy and I are doing sort of toy rings for the ceremony because neither one of us like wearing rings ever. So we will never wear rings. Deal with it."
During another interview with People in 2016, Griffin opened up about her first impression of Bick and thoughts about their relationship. The former reality star revealed that she didn't think they would have anything more than a one-night stand because he seemed like a "man-wh-re" at first impression.
However, Griffin was pleased to discover that there was way more to Bick than she initially thought. She said, "He's like a regular guy, you know, he's like a real guy. He's not like a Hollywood guy."
Griffin's divorce filing came about two years after a major health scare in her life: her diagnosis of stage 1 lung cancer in August 2021. However, she quickly received surgical intervention and happily announced by November 2021 that she'd been declared cancer-free.
The US Government sues Ticketmaster owner and asks court to break up company’s monopoly on live events
The Justice Department sued Ticketmaster and its parent company Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America and asking a court to break up the system that squelches competition and drives up prices for fans.
Filed in federal court in Manhattan, the sweeping antitrust lawsuit was brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to dismantle the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters, hurting artists and drowning ticket buyers in fees. Ticketmaster and its owner, Live Nation Entertainment, have a long history of clashes with major artists and their fans, including Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.
“It’s time for fans and artists to stop paying the price for Live Nation’s monopoly,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “It is time to restore competition and innovation in the entertainment industry. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”
The government accused Live Nation of tactics — including threats and retaliation — that Garland said have allowed the entertainment giant to “suffocate the competition” by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing. The impact is seen in an “endless list of fees on fans,” the attorney general said.
“Live music should not be available only to those who can afford to pay the Ticketmaster tax,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.
Ricky Palitti and Jacob DeLong of Detroit said they recently spent about $1,200 for three tickets to a Shania Twain concert using Ticketmaster and about $370 to see RuPaul’s Drag Race Live.
“I think tickets have definitely gone up in price, but I also think that all the different fees that Ticketmaster places on an order definitely hikes the price up, for sure,” Palitti said.
DeLong said that while he respects an artist’s work, the added fees make the costs to see a show “ridiculous.”
“Where can we get a break?” he said.
Live Nation, which has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws, said the lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees and access to in-demand shows.”
“Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment,” Live Nation added. It said most service fees go to venues and that outside competition has ”steadily eroded” Ticketmaster’s market share. The company said it would defend itself against the “baseless allegations.”
The Justice Department said Live Nation’s anti-competitive practices include using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rivals, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money if they don’t choose Ticketmaster.
In 2021, the concert giant threatened to financially retaliate against a firm if one of its portfolio companies didn’t stop competing with Live Nation for artist promotion contracts, the Justice Department alleged. Live Nation has also scooped up smaller promoters it viewed as a threats, officials said.
Michael Carrier, a professor at Rutgers Law School who specializes in antitrust litigation, said the Justice Department has a strong case. He expects Live Nation to “try to cast blame elsewhere,” such as arguing that prices are set by artists or venues, but he said those explanations are weak.
“The DOJ showed how Live Nation really has its tentacles in each element of the supply chain, which means that it has a lot more control than it is letting on,” he said. “And, in terms of justifications, there is really very little that (Live Nation) can offer in terms of how they’re helping the consumer.”
The complaint said a breakup between Live Nation and Ticketmaster is on the table. That, combined with other remedies such as preventing some exclusive deals that shackle competition, could potentially help fans see lower ticket prices, give artists more agency in choosing venues and boost smaller promoters’ success in the long run, Carrier said.
Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater and more. During its annual report last month, the company said Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.
Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America’s concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.
Live Nation’s footprint has grown substantially over the past 10 years, according to the company’s annual financial reports. Between the end of 2014 and the end of 2023, Live Nation reported a worldwide increase of more than 136% in terms of venues the company “owned, leased, operated, had exclusive booking rights for or had an equity interest over which we had a significant influence.”
The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour. The company said the site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.
The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had repeatedly violated that agreement. The government then extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.
“It’s a failure of past antitrust. And it’s something that rips customers off every day,” said John Kwoka, a professor of economics at Northeastern University who was also a consultant for the states that ran a 2009 investigation in parallel with the Justice Department into Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s original merger.
Kwoka, who is among those who have long advocated for a breakup, notes that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have remained “largely unchecked” over the last 15 years.
Ticketmaster’s clashes with artists and fans date back three decades. Pearl Jam took aim at the company in 1994, years before the Live Nation merger, although the Justice Department ultimately declined to bring a case. More recently, Bruce Springsteen fans were enraged over high ticket costs because of the platform’s dynamic pricing system.
Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold. The company’s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, Dan Wall, said in a statement Thursday that factors such as increasing production costs, artist popularity and online ticket scalping are “actually responsible for higher ticket prices.”
The Justice Department lawsuit filed Thursday is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement. The effort has targeted companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in the smartphone market. The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.
Lizzo Reacts to Being Mentioned in South Park Episode
Lizzo Says Cancel Culture Has Become 'Trendy, Misused, and Misdirected'
Lizzo took to Instagram to address her recent mention on a South Park episode, revealing her initial reaction and final thoughts. At first, the singer admitted she was scared, not knowing what to expect. However, after blindly watching the episode, she confidently declared, “I’m that b*tch.”
The latest South Park special, titled “The End of Obesity,” streaming on Paramount+, takes aim at the Ozempic craze and humorously targets Lizzo. The episode begins with Eric Cartman in his doctor’s office, trying to get Ozempic to lose weight. When he can’t afford the drug and his insurance won’t cover it, his doctor responds with a creative solution.
“I’m going to write you a prescription for Lizzo. She’s a really good singer who talks about body positivity and just being happy with the way you look. I want you to listen to Lizzo five times a day and watch her videos just before bedtime. I’m afraid you’ll have to be on Lizzo for the rest of your life,” the doctor advises.
Lizzo’s fans loved her response, flooding her Instagram with supportive comments.
Elle Duncan Slams Critics That Claim WNBA Players are Targeting Caitlin Clark
As women’s basketball continues to elevate and gain mainstream visibility, a conversation about “Two Americas” has emerged. This discussion revolves around Caitlin Clark, the number one pick, who is struggling to adjust to the WNBA. Many in the national media have noted that Clark is receiving harsher criticism as she enters the league.
Clark’s games are almost always televised nationally, making her performance subject to constant scrutiny.
Some former players, including LeBron James and Charles Barkley, have labeled the criticism as jealousy, arguing that the league should be grateful for the attention Clark brings. However, no female player has publicly expressed dislike for Clark. Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird pointed out to Scott Van Pelt that Clark must adjust to playing against professional women who are determined to show her what it takes to succeed in the league.
These women are competitive and driven, and Elle Duncan emphasizes that they are all trying to win. This is a competitive sport, not recreational basketball. Clark will face tough games and may have matches with high turnovers. Yet, she will also demonstrate her growth, as seen in a recent game where she scored 21 points and had seven assists in a narrow loss to the Seattle Storm.
Elle Duncan voiced the sentiments of many basketball fans during her show, expressing frustration over the media narrative surrounding Clark’s treatment
“What are you looking for? I’m so tired of it, it just doesn’t make sense to me,” Duncan said. “I’m tired of us giving it so much energy, and I’m tired of people outside this circle suddenly having opinions on how these women should treat Caitlin Clark. What do you want from them? They want to beat her because she’s not on their team. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Y’all stop it. We already know she’s transformational; they’ve all said it. How many times do they have to say it?”
Elle, like a bunch of WNBA fans, is tired of the victimizing of players at Clark’s expense. She is a good player they’ve acknowledged that, however, everyone has one goal and everyone takes their matchup personally as they should.
“The question was presented to her as, ‘If you have one thing that you want to see change in this community, what would it be?’,” Wade recalled, as per ESPN. “And, for her, it goes right to parents. It goes right to the adults. It goes right to us. It’s not the kids. It’s us. And so she wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is, and it’s her baby.”
Wade plans to put the $250K in funding received for the Catalyst Award towards the organization, adding that its goal is to “support growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversations leading to greater understanding and acceptance.”
The NBA champ was also praised by Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcìa Jayaram for launching the organization on Florida, despite moving out of the state for the safety of his family.
“We understand that in this state that not everyone thinks the way some others think,” Wade said. “Like most things in life, once you get to know them, you have more ability to be understanding. And so if you don’t want to know them, then you stay ignorant in a sense.”
Zaya, who turns 17 on May 29th, came out as transgender in 2020.
Keke Palmer Not Moving Forward With Domestic Violence Case Against Darius Jackson
According to legal documents filed by Keke's attorney and obtained by The Blast on Friday, May 24, the hearing was initially scheduled for July 16 at 8:30 A.M. However, this date has been taken off the Court's calendar.
Keke's attorney did not share why the hearing will no longer hold, but it indicates that the exes may have settled the cast behind the scenes. The hearing's dismissal also comes five months after the former couple agreed to a court-mandated mediation session.
Keke filed the restraining order against Darius, who is the father of her 1-year-old son, in November 2023, accusing him of frequently abusing her physically and verbally, sometimes in the presence of their minor child. She also accused him of several personal properties, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses.
Darius then hit back by filing his own restraining order against Keke, claiming that she "repeatedly engaged in abusive conduct" and "acted as the primary aggressor" toward him during their two-year relationship.
In December, the two agreed to postpone their domestic abuse lawsuit to attend mediation. They agreed to resume the lawsuit on a "mutually agreeable date," with "all orders contained in the Temporary Restraining Order issued on November 9th, 2023," remaining in force.
"Keke is concerned about her privacy, Leo's privacy and the privacy of her family so her preference is to resolve the situation privately rather than in open court if possible," a so-called insider said at the time. "But if not possible the hearing remains on the calendar and Keke will stop at nothing to ensure a safe and healthy outcome for herself and Leo."
It seems that they have since found common ground through the mediation as Keke has dropped the domestic violence restraining order.
Report: Madonna And BF Josh Popper Call It Quits After One Year Of Dating
Madonna and Josh Popper are no longer together. If a new report is to be believed, the "Material Girl" hitmaker and her boyfriend have called it quits after one year of dating.
Revealing the 65-year-old's relationship status was The U.S. Sun. According to the outlet, the former couple struggled to find time for each other during her "Celebration" tour, which wrapped up earlier this month.
"Madonna has barely seen Josh for months because her schedule was so hectic. Things just fizzled out," a source told the publication. "There is genuinely no bad blood - they're still fond of each other."
"At the moment their relationship doesn't feel feasible and they've cooled things off," the insider continued. "But they are staying friends."
The famous singer and the boxing coach, who appeared on the reality show "Summer House", met for the first time when he trained her son David Banda at a boxing gym in New York City. The two went public with their romance in February 2023 as she showed him off on her Instagram page.
The breakup news arrived just a few days after Madonna was spotted hanging out with Eric Labat when she made an appearance at an Off-White party in New York City. On Thursday, May 23, Just Jared revealed that the Queen of Pop was spotted out and about in the Big Apple one day prior. At that time, she was attending the launch of the new Off-White collection.
According to the media outlet, Madonna had fun with Eric at the Wednesday night bash. She also was said to have brushed shoulders with a number of international disc jockeys during the sneaker launch after-party, which was sponsored by CIROC.
The "Like a Virgin" songstress appeared to have kept the memories from the fun night under tight wraps. As of Thursday, she has not let out any photos or videos from her alleged appearance at the launch party.
Cannes Film Festival Usher Clashes With Dominican Star Massiel Taveras Days After Kelly
Taveras walked the red carpet sporting a white dress with a dress that had an image of Jesus Christ. As the actress and model made her way up the stairs, she tried to fix her train to display the image. However, the usher blocked Taveras and hurried her up the stairs.
In the video, Taveras is visibly upset at the usher for blocking her and not allowing her to pose properly. Once Taveras reached the top of the stairs, she turned around to wave. The usher made physical contact with Taveras to turn her around. Taveras then pushed the security guard away from her and proceeded to walk ahead.
Nicki Hilton was behind Taveras and witnessed the incident first hand.
Although Taveras could not display her dress correctly at the Cannes steps, once inside the theater, she could show off her dress, which Giannina Azar designed with the image hand-painted by Yan Páez.
The incident between the usher and Taveras happened days after Rowland experienced something similar walking up the stairs.
“The woman knows what happened, I know what happened,” Rowland told the AP at the amfAR Cannes Gala on Thursday. “I have a boundary and I stand by those boundaries, and that is it. And there were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me, and they didn’t get that scolding, or pushed off, or told to get off. I stood my ground, and she felt like she had to stand hers. But I stood my ground.”
Netflix Drops New ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Trailer
Eddie Murphy is back as Axel Foley in Netflix’s first look at the highly anticipated film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which is slated to arrive in 2024.
Detective Axel Foley (Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter Jane’s (Taylour Paige) life is threatened, she and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.
WATCH
Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, Taylour Paige as Jane Saunders, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbott, and Bronson Pinchot as Serge in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
The Cast
Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, Taylour Paige as Axel’s daughter Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Abbott, Judge Reinhold as Billy Rosewood, Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman, Kevin Bacon as Captain Cade Grant, Bronson Pinchot as Serge, and John Ashton.
Release Date
July 3, 2024, only on Netflix
Marilyn Mosby Will Not Serve Prison Time For Perjury, Mortgage Fraud Convictions
Instead, she was sentenced to three years of supervised release and 12 months of home confinement.
A judge ruled she would have to forfeit her Florida condo and 90% of the proceeds. She decided on 90% because Mosby put 10% down to secure the mortgage.
Her supporters cheered Judge Lydia K. Griggsby's decision to spare Mosby time behind bars as did Mosby herself.
"I just want to say from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you for the fight," an emotional Mosby told supporters. "Thank you for the federal public defender team who so eloquently advocated on my behalf… I swear God sent angels into my life."
Mosby and her public defenders said she will appeal both verdicts. She has pushed nationally in recent weeks for a presidential pardon and maintained her innocence despite her convictions.
"This is not over, but God was here today," Mosby said. "He touched the heart of this judge and has allowed me to go home to my babies."
Her daughters also addressed the crowd, thanking them, and Mosby's oldest daughter said she was inspired to be a prosecutor herself.
Before her sentencing, the judge addressed Mosby directly.
"There is no indication you abused your office," the judge said. "The conduct is not violent. Most significantly is you are a mother to two daughters."
The judge added that this was a "sad and difficult day."
"It's sad for Mosby and her family. "It's also a sad day for the city of Baltimore. The court knows you live in the city of Baltimore," the judge said.
Mosby walked past a busload of supporters and applause as she approached the courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland. Those supporters proceeded to pray in a circle outside.
Mosby faced a possible sentence of up to 40 years behind bars. Prosecutors were recommending 20 months, saying that Mosby committed perjury when she testified at her last trial.
She maintained that she did nothing wrong, and was targeted by prosecutors for her progressive stances. She's doubled down on that stance in her national campaign for a presidential pardon.
Marilyn Mosby was first indicted in January 2022 and pushed for two separate trials.
The first jury found her guilty of perjury for lying to make withdrawals from a retirement account.
The second jury found she committed mortgage fraud for lying on documents about a $5,000 gift her then-husband, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby, gave her to close on a mortgage for a Florida vacation home.
Mosby had high-profile support from former St. Louis prosecutor Kim Gardner and civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
"The people united will never be defeated," Crump said as he held Mosby's hand outside the courthouse. He has alleged she was targeted for her progressive political stances, which the government vehemently denies.
"What is different here today is underneath that white collar is the neck of a Black woman who dared to challenge the status quo," Crump told the judge.
U.S. Attorney Erek Barron's office said, "Ms. Mosby's unremorseful and unrepentant actions belie any contrition, recognition, or deterrence."
The government had asked for a 20-month sentence.
Federal prosecutors repeatedly told the judge Mosby has lied and tried to undermine the justice system.
"Marilyn Mosby is unremorseful and has no regard for the truth," Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney said in court. "She does not have the freedom to escape the consequences of her words—saying one thing to the court and another thing to the American public."
Among those watching the proceedings were Keith Davis Junior and his wife Kelly. Mosby repeatedly brought Keith to trial for murder before the charges were dropped by her successor Ivan Bates.
"The tables have definitely turned. I actually do not get any satisfaction sitting back and watching her go through this," Keith Davis said.
"Her arrogance is extraordinary, and it's amazing to me… She's not a victim of the system because she was the system," Kelly Davis said.
Both, however, said Mosby should not have had to serve time behind bars.
Mosby's lawyers have asked for a stay on the sale of her Florida property. The Biden administration has not issued a formal response to her request for a presidential pardon.
Mosby will also have to perform 100 hours of community service.
She was twice elected as Baltimore's top prosecutor and made national headlines for her ultimately unsuccessful prosecution of officers after the death of Freddie Gray.
Michael Schatzow, who led those prosecutions in Mosby's office, asked Judge Griggsby for mercy and a lenient sentence for Mosby Thursday, citing her efforts to reform the justice system in Baltimore.
Angel Reese becomes part-owner of DC women’s soccer team
Newly minted Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has joined the ownership group of a new professional women's soccer team in Washington, DC. As reported by ESPN on Tuesday (May 21), the DC Power Football Club will be one of eight teams competing in the inaugural season of the USL Super League (USLS), which begins this August. The USLS received Division 1 sanctioning from U.S. Soccer earlier this year, placing it on the same competitive level as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
In response to the big news, Reese stated, "I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community to continue elevating female athletes and the women’s game across the board."
"Angel's decision to be a founding investor alongside us in Power FC is groundbreaking," said Jason Levien, CEO and co-chair of men's soccer team D.C. United, in a press release. "As a Maryland native, Angel is so passionate about being a catalyst for positive change in women's sports in the DMV as well as globally while inspiring the next generation of female athletes. We’re looking forward to her partnership in the boardroom as an equity partner."
DC Power FC will play its home games at Audi Field, which also hosts D.C. United, the NWSL's Washington Spirit, and the DC Defenders of the United Football League. The team's head coach will be Frédéric Brillant, a former D.C. United player and assistant coach who recently worked with the Utah Royals' NWSL expansion team.
As previously reported, Fort Lauderdale United FC, who will also be competing in the USLS, announced Deon Graham as its co-founder and CEO. "I'm thrilled about creating a clear path for a Division 1 professional women's soccer team to flourish in South Florida," he expressed. "Our community deserves a standout brand and a team that both the 954 and Broward County can take pride in. We're dedicated to forging a pathway from youth to professional soccer and serving as a catalyst for women's professional soccer in the region."
Lady Gaga Teases Seventh Album at End of 'Chromatica Ball' Concert Movie
At the end of the movie, a title card teased that her next album will be out soon.
“LG7. Gaga returns,” flashed on the screen to get fans excited for new music.
Gaga also talked about new music at her movie premiere this week. She told ET, “I have been working on my new music all the time and I truly live and breathe it. I just can’t wait to give it to the fans.”
She also teased that the project is “completely different” and promised it’s coming “soon.”
Gaga opened up about possibly teaming up with Beyonce again.
Kathy Griffin's Estranged Husband Drags Her To Court, Demands Over $40K And More
Comedienne Kathy Griffin's divorce from her estranged husband, Randy Bick, is quickly turning into a nasty battle as he takes her to court over various demands.
In court documents obtained by The Blast, Bick requests several reliefs, including access to their marital home to retrieve his belongings, money for expenses caused after Griffin asked him to leave their home, and attorney fees.
According to the court documents, Griffin's husband, Bick, claims the actress asked him to leave their marital home on December 22, 2023, so they could "spend time apart over the Christmas holiday weekend." He notes they both "participated in a couple's therapy" the next day.
Bick then states that he only took a duffle bag with few items with him and that when he told Griffin he would be returning home, she threatened to "call the cops" on him. Bick says that after this alleged threat, Griffin filed for a divorce on December 28.
Now, he is requesting that the court order the actress to allow him back in the home to retrieve his belongings over the course of three dates of his choice and that Griffin be ordered to "reimburse [him] at least $21,000 toward his emergency expenses caused as a result of [her] removing him from the home."
Bick also wants Griffin to be "ordered to pay at least $22,337 toward [his] Attorney's Fees" and "immediately add [him] as her dependent to her SAGAFTRA healthcare insurance COBRA policy at her own expense."
Griffin filed for divorce from Bick just days before they celebrated four years together. She filed at the Superior Court of California in December 2023, and the court documents obtained by The Blast listed the date of their separation as December 22.
In the legal documents, Griffin cited the reason for the divorce as "irreconcilable differences." She requested the termination of the court's power to award spousal support to either her or Bick. Griffin also asked for the enforcement of their "premarital agreement dated 12/23/2019."
After the couple's separation was made public, Griffin reacted to the news on her social media account with a post that read, "Well...s--t. This sucks." Shortly after, the pop-culture personality shared that she had turned to her close friend, actress Jane Fonda, for support as she struggled with the separation.
An insider in Griffin's circle spoke to the DailyMail about the divorce and said she made the decision to feel like herself again.
They further explained that Griffin is still very much in love with Bick and "heartbroken" about the split but knows it was the right decision.
The source said, "Kathy loves living life. She always wants to have fun. She wants to travel and do things with a man she loves who has the same aspirations. Kathy is just over 60 but still feels in her thirties and wants to enjoy life and has a fun and focused outlook on life and Randy did share that with her."
However, with time, Bick reportedly became comfortable "with being a homebody," which caused the couple to grow apart. The source added, "Kathy hates that it has ended this way, but she needed to be Kathy again, and this was the only way she was going to get there."
Griffin and Bick started their relationship in 2011 and didn't tie the knot until January 2020.
Lily Tomlin officiated Their beautiful wedding ceremony, which their family and close friends attended. Griffin even wore the same dress from her first date with Bick.
At the time, she spoke to People magazine about the ceremony and their decision not to get official rings.
Griffin said, "Randy and I are doing sort of toy rings for the ceremony because neither one of us like wearing rings ever. So we will never wear rings. Deal with it."
During another interview with People in 2016, Griffin opened up about her first impression of Bick and thoughts about their relationship. The former reality star revealed that she didn't think they would have anything more than a one-night stand because he seemed like a "man-wh-re" at first impression.
However, Griffin was pleased to discover that there was way more to Bick than she initially thought. She said, "He's like a regular guy, you know, he's like a real guy. He's not like a Hollywood guy."
Griffin's divorce filing came about two years after a major health scare in her life: her diagnosis of stage 1 lung cancer in August 2021. However, she quickly received surgical intervention and happily announced by November 2021 that she'd been declared cancer-free.
The US Government sues Ticketmaster owner and asks court to break up company’s monopoly on live events
Filed in federal court in Manhattan, the sweeping antitrust lawsuit was brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to dismantle the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters, hurting artists and drowning ticket buyers in fees. Ticketmaster and its owner, Live Nation Entertainment, have a long history of clashes with major artists and their fans, including Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.
“It’s time for fans and artists to stop paying the price for Live Nation’s monopoly,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “It is time to restore competition and innovation in the entertainment industry. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”
The government accused Live Nation of tactics — including threats and retaliation — that Garland said have allowed the entertainment giant to “suffocate the competition” by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing. The impact is seen in an “endless list of fees on fans,” the attorney general said.
“Live music should not be available only to those who can afford to pay the Ticketmaster tax,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.
Ricky Palitti and Jacob DeLong of Detroit said they recently spent about $1,200 for three tickets to a Shania Twain concert using Ticketmaster and about $370 to see RuPaul’s Drag Race Live.
“I think tickets have definitely gone up in price, but I also think that all the different fees that Ticketmaster places on an order definitely hikes the price up, for sure,” Palitti said.
DeLong said that while he respects an artist’s work, the added fees make the costs to see a show “ridiculous.”
“Where can we get a break?” he said.
Live Nation, which has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws, said the lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees and access to in-demand shows.”
“Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment,” Live Nation added. It said most service fees go to venues and that outside competition has ”steadily eroded” Ticketmaster’s market share. The company said it would defend itself against the “baseless allegations.”
The Justice Department said Live Nation’s anti-competitive practices include using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rivals, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money if they don’t choose Ticketmaster.
In 2021, the concert giant threatened to financially retaliate against a firm if one of its portfolio companies didn’t stop competing with Live Nation for artist promotion contracts, the Justice Department alleged. Live Nation has also scooped up smaller promoters it viewed as a threats, officials said.
Michael Carrier, a professor at Rutgers Law School who specializes in antitrust litigation, said the Justice Department has a strong case. He expects Live Nation to “try to cast blame elsewhere,” such as arguing that prices are set by artists or venues, but he said those explanations are weak.
“The DOJ showed how Live Nation really has its tentacles in each element of the supply chain, which means that it has a lot more control than it is letting on,” he said. “And, in terms of justifications, there is really very little that (Live Nation) can offer in terms of how they’re helping the consumer.”
The complaint said a breakup between Live Nation and Ticketmaster is on the table. That, combined with other remedies such as preventing some exclusive deals that shackle competition, could potentially help fans see lower ticket prices, give artists more agency in choosing venues and boost smaller promoters’ success in the long run, Carrier said.
Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater and more. During its annual report last month, the company said Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.
Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America’s concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.
Live Nation’s footprint has grown substantially over the past 10 years, according to the company’s annual financial reports. Between the end of 2014 and the end of 2023, Live Nation reported a worldwide increase of more than 136% in terms of venues the company “owned, leased, operated, had exclusive booking rights for or had an equity interest over which we had a significant influence.”
The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour. The company said the site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.
The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had repeatedly violated that agreement. The government then extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.
“It’s a failure of past antitrust. And it’s something that rips customers off every day,” said John Kwoka, a professor of economics at Northeastern University who was also a consultant for the states that ran a 2009 investigation in parallel with the Justice Department into Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s original merger.
Kwoka, who is among those who have long advocated for a breakup, notes that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have remained “largely unchecked” over the last 15 years.
Ticketmaster’s clashes with artists and fans date back three decades. Pearl Jam took aim at the company in 1994, years before the Live Nation merger, although the Justice Department ultimately declined to bring a case. More recently, Bruce Springsteen fans were enraged over high ticket costs because of the platform’s dynamic pricing system.
Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold. The company’s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, Dan Wall, said in a statement Thursday that factors such as increasing production costs, artist popularity and online ticket scalping are “actually responsible for higher ticket prices.”
The Justice Department lawsuit filed Thursday is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement. The effort has targeted companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in the smartphone market. The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.
Lizzo Reacts to Being Mentioned in South Park Episode
Lizzo Says Cancel Culture Has Become 'Trendy, Misused, and Misdirected'
Lizzo took to Instagram to address her recent mention on a South Park episode, revealing her initial reaction and final thoughts. At first, the singer admitted she was scared, not knowing what to expect. However, after blindly watching the episode, she confidently declared, “I’m that b*tch.”
The latest South Park special, titled “The End of Obesity,” streaming on Paramount+, takes aim at the Ozempic craze and humorously targets Lizzo. The episode begins with Eric Cartman in his doctor’s office, trying to get Ozempic to lose weight. When he can’t afford the drug and his insurance won’t cover it, his doctor responds with a creative solution.
“I’m going to write you a prescription for Lizzo. She’s a really good singer who talks about body positivity and just being happy with the way you look. I want you to listen to Lizzo five times a day and watch her videos just before bedtime. I’m afraid you’ll have to be on Lizzo for the rest of your life,” the doctor advises.
Lizzo’s fans loved her response, flooding her Instagram with supportive comments.
Elle Duncan Slams Critics That Claim WNBA Players are Targeting Caitlin Clark
Clark’s games are almost always televised nationally, making her performance subject to constant scrutiny.
Some former players, including LeBron James and Charles Barkley, have labeled the criticism as jealousy, arguing that the league should be grateful for the attention Clark brings. However, no female player has publicly expressed dislike for Clark. Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird pointed out to Scott Van Pelt that Clark must adjust to playing against professional women who are determined to show her what it takes to succeed in the league.
These women are competitive and driven, and Elle Duncan emphasizes that they are all trying to win. This is a competitive sport, not recreational basketball. Clark will face tough games and may have matches with high turnovers. Yet, she will also demonstrate her growth, as seen in a recent game where she scored 21 points and had seven assists in a narrow loss to the Seattle Storm.
Elle Duncan voiced the sentiments of many basketball fans during her show, expressing frustration over the media narrative surrounding Clark’s treatment
“What are you looking for? I’m so tired of it, it just doesn’t make sense to me,” Duncan said. “I’m tired of us giving it so much energy, and I’m tired of people outside this circle suddenly having opinions on how these women should treat Caitlin Clark. What do you want from them? They want to beat her because she’s not on their team. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Y’all stop it. We already know she’s transformational; they’ve all said it. How many times do they have to say it?”
Elle, like a bunch of WNBA fans, is tired of the victimizing of players at Clark’s expense. She is a good player they’ve acknowledged that, however, everyone has one goal and everyone takes their matchup personally as they should.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Too Comfty
ZZZzzzzz…..
ZZZzzzzz…..
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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