#MAGFAB: Normani for Dazed - The Ready Set Go Issue 2024
Normani looks good for Dazed! Get more HERE!
#RHOA: Former star Kim Zolciak ordered to pay her $2,500 Target bill
A Fulton County judge has ordered former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reality star Kim Zolciak to pay her nearly $2,500 Target bill.
Court documents show that Zolciak has an outstanding balance of $2,482.24, and with interest and other fees, owes Target a total of $2,690.09.
Zolciak also owes money to America Express, court documents show. The move comes as Zolciak and husband Kroy Bierman, a former Atlanta Falcon, are going through a bitter divorce. Just last week, the couple reached an agreement to avoid foreclosure on their Milton mansion.
The couple filed for divorce last May after 11 years of marriage. They initially dropped the petition in July, but Bierman refiled for divorce again in August, saying their marriage was irretrievably broken.
#NewMusic from Marsha Ambrosius “Greedy”
Marsha Ambrosius gives us another taste of her upcoming album with the new song “Greedy”.
Accompanied by string and horn sections, she gives a genre-bending, tour de force vocal performance, gliding between scat, hip- hop, jazz and R&B as she weaves the tale of a tumultuous relationship
Dr. Dre and Ambrosius produced the track with Erik “Blu2th” Griggs and Focus… The song nods to Leon Russell’s “This Masquerade” and OutKast’s “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” and incorporates a sample of “Abm_analogic 145bpm” by Jeff Baranowski and Luke Milano.
LISTEN HERE
The upcoming album “CASABLANCO” is presented and produced by Dr. Dre, and will arrive on June 28th.
#HipHopNews: Ye Draws Side Eyes From Fans After Calling Himself A "Sexist" On Upcoming Rich The Kid Track
Rich The Kid has another song with Ye on the way. Over the weekend, the BOSS MAN artist teased a remix of “Gimme a Second” featuring the Chicago native. However, the lyrics have already sparked controversy among fans.
“I need to see if the sex good, I’m a sexist/ Sendin’ p**sy shots, girl, you know I need the breasts/ Since you pay for dinner, that’s that, ‘Ate me up for breakfast’/ And she paid for dinner, I’ma still need the dessert,” Ye rapped in the snippet.
He continued, “My d**k hard, this b**ch hotter than a desert/ My oldest said, ‘Daddy not going to Heaven’/ Treat me like a deadbeat, said I wasn’t present/ They was tryna treat a king like a peasant.”
Although the pair’s “CARNIVAL” landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March, listeners evidently had mixed feelings about Ye and Rich The Kid’s latest effort. “Kanye, [please] return to God,” someone wrote on Twitter.
“This ain’t the Ye we grew up with,” another person stated. “Yeah, YZY Porn is happening still,” read another reply referring to the musician’s now-axed foray into the adult entertainment industry. It goes without saying that his verse also garnered some positive reactions from hardcore fans: “Ye sounds good, and I like the beat.”
Rich The Kid is gearing up to drop Life’s a Gamble, executive produced by Ye and Ty Dolla Sign, on June 28. It’s possible the record could appear on the project alongside already-confirmed singles like “Band Man” and the Playboi Carti-assisted “CARNIVAL.”
Meanwhile, Ye and Ty are expected to release VULTURES 2 any day now. The first installment came out in February with features from YG, Nipsey Hussle, Freddie Gibbs, Chris Brown, and North West, to name a few. Standout tracks included “TALKING,” “DO IT,” and “BACK TO ME.”
Normani looks good for Dazed! Get more HERE!
#RHOA: Former star Kim Zolciak ordered to pay her $2,500 Target bill
A Fulton County judge has ordered former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reality star Kim Zolciak to pay her nearly $2,500 Target bill.
Court documents show that Zolciak has an outstanding balance of $2,482.24, and with interest and other fees, owes Target a total of $2,690.09.
Zolciak also owes money to America Express, court documents show. The move comes as Zolciak and husband Kroy Bierman, a former Atlanta Falcon, are going through a bitter divorce. Just last week, the couple reached an agreement to avoid foreclosure on their Milton mansion.
The couple filed for divorce last May after 11 years of marriage. They initially dropped the petition in July, but Bierman refiled for divorce again in August, saying their marriage was irretrievably broken.
#NewMusic from Marsha Ambrosius “Greedy”
Marsha Ambrosius gives us another taste of her upcoming album with the new song “Greedy”.
Accompanied by string and horn sections, she gives a genre-bending, tour de force vocal performance, gliding between scat, hip- hop, jazz and R&B as she weaves the tale of a tumultuous relationship
Dr. Dre and Ambrosius produced the track with Erik “Blu2th” Griggs and Focus… The song nods to Leon Russell’s “This Masquerade” and OutKast’s “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” and incorporates a sample of “Abm_analogic 145bpm” by Jeff Baranowski and Luke Milano.
LISTEN HERE
The upcoming album “CASABLANCO” is presented and produced by Dr. Dre, and will arrive on June 28th.
#HipHopNews: Ye Draws Side Eyes From Fans After Calling Himself A "Sexist" On Upcoming Rich The Kid Track
Rich The Kid has another song with Ye on the way. Over the weekend, the BOSS MAN artist teased a remix of “Gimme a Second” featuring the Chicago native. However, the lyrics have already sparked controversy among fans.
“I need to see if the sex good, I’m a sexist/ Sendin’ p**sy shots, girl, you know I need the breasts/ Since you pay for dinner, that’s that, ‘Ate me up for breakfast’/ And she paid for dinner, I’ma still need the dessert,” Ye rapped in the snippet.
He continued, “My d**k hard, this b**ch hotter than a desert/ My oldest said, ‘Daddy not going to Heaven’/ Treat me like a deadbeat, said I wasn’t present/ They was tryna treat a king like a peasant.”
Although the pair’s “CARNIVAL” landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March, listeners evidently had mixed feelings about Ye and Rich The Kid’s latest effort. “Kanye, [please] return to God,” someone wrote on Twitter.
“This ain’t the Ye we grew up with,” another person stated. “Yeah, YZY Porn is happening still,” read another reply referring to the musician’s now-axed foray into the adult entertainment industry. It goes without saying that his verse also garnered some positive reactions from hardcore fans: “Ye sounds good, and I like the beat.”
Rich The Kid is gearing up to drop Life’s a Gamble, executive produced by Ye and Ty Dolla Sign, on June 28. It’s possible the record could appear on the project alongside already-confirmed singles like “Band Man” and the Playboi Carti-assisted “CARNIVAL.”
Meanwhile, Ye and Ty are expected to release VULTURES 2 any day now. The first installment came out in February with features from YG, Nipsey Hussle, Freddie Gibbs, Chris Brown, and North West, to name a few. Standout tracks included “TALKING,” “DO IT,” and “BACK TO ME.”
The 2024 Tony Awards Winners List
The best of Broadway was celebrated at the 2024 Tony Awards! There were no clean sweeps during the awards ceremony on Sunday (June 16) at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
Stereophonic was the most-awarded show with five wins, including Best Play, while The Outsiders and Merrily We Roll Along led the musicals with four wins each.
Here are the full list of winners…
Best Musical
Hell’s Kitchen
Illinoise
The Outsiders – WINNER
Suffs
Water for Elephants
Best Play
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Mary Jane
Mother Play
Prayer for the French Republic
Stereophonic – WINNER
Best Revival of a Play
Appropriate – WINNER
An Enemy of the People
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Rom Through the Cotton Patch
Best Revival of a Musical
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gutenberg! The Musical!
Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER
The Who’s Tommy
Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Play
William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya
Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious
Liev Schreiber, Doubt
Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People – WINNER
Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic
Jessica Lange, Mother Play
Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane
Sarah Paulson, Appropriate – WINNER
Amy Ryan, Doubt
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Brody Grant, The Outsiders
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER
Dorian Harewood, The Notebook
Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Eden Espinosa, Lempicka
Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen – WINNER
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook
Gayle Rankin, Cabaret
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Roger Bart, Back to the Future: the Musical
Joshua Boone, The Outsiders
Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell’s Kitchen
Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER
Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance By a Featured Actress in a Musical
Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen
Amber Iman, Lempicka
Nikki M. James, Suffs
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen – WINNER
Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along
Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Will Brill, Stereophonic – WINNER
Eli Gelb, Stereophonic
Jim Parsons, Mother Play
Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic
Corey Stoll, Appropriate
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable
Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play
Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic
Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: a Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch – WINNER
Best Direction of a Musical
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen
Leigh Silverman, Suffs
Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants
Danya Taymor, The Outsiders – WINNER
Best Direction of a Play
Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic – WINNER
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate
Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Best Book of a Musical
Kristoffer Diaz, Hell’s Kitchen
Bekah Brunstetter, The Notebook
Adam Rapp and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
Shaina Taub, Suffs – WINNER
Rick Elice, Water for Elephants
Best Original Score
Adam Guettel, Days of Wine and Roses
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love
Will Butler, Stereophonic
Shaina Taub, Suffs – WINNER
Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
Best Scenic Design of a Play
dots, Appropriate
dots, An Enemy of the People
Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
David Zinn, Stereophonic – WINNER
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Amp Featuring Tattiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen
Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants
David Korins, Here Lies Love
Riccardo Hernandez and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka
Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back to the Future: The Musical
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club – WINNER
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Appropriate
Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – WINNER
Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic
Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-confederate
Romp Through The Cotton Patch
David Zinn, An Enemy Of The People
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Hell’s Kitchen
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby – WINNER
David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Paul Tazewell, Suffs
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, An Enemy Of The People
Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer For The French Republic
Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic
Jane Cox, Appropriate – WINNER
Natasha Katz, Grey House
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise
Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Natasha Katz, Hell’s Kitchen
Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants
Brian Macdevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders – WINNER
Best Sound Design of a Musical
M.L Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love
Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along
Cody Spencer, The Outsiders
Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gareth Owen, Hell’s Kitchen
Cody Spencer, The Outsiders – WINNER
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella — Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Leah Gelpe — Mary Jane
Tom Gibbons — Grey House
Bray Poor and Will Pickens — Appropriate
Ryan Rumery — Stereophonic – WINNER
Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown, Hell’s Kitchen
Annie-b Parson, Here Lies Love
Rick Kuperman And Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders
Justin Peck, Illinoise – WINNER
Jesse Robb And Shana Carroll, Water For Elephants
Best Orchestrations
Timo Andres, Illinoise
Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic
Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival
(Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders
Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell’s Kitchen
Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along – WINNER
Congrats to All the winners!
#BoxOfficeNews: Inside Out 2 Had a Massive Box Office Open of 155 Million!
Pixar’s back in theaters with Inside Out 2. The sequel’s big hook is a trio of new Emotions that’ve emerged from Riley’s growth into puberty, and it’s got a lot audiences who’ve seen it jumping for joy.
Per the Hollywood Reporter, Inside Out 2 blew its initial projections for a big $295 million take for its opening weekend. Its $155 million domestic open makes it the second-biggest animated launch ever in a three-day weekend, and its international $140 million open is equally historic in those markets (surpassing Frozen 2's $135.4 million). All-in-all, it beats out Super Mario Bros. for the biggest animated opening overall, and the largest theatrical box office since Barbie almost a full year ago.
The original Inside Out made $858.8 million and has been held in fairly high regard since 2015. That reputation and this being Pixar’s first actual sequel in years will likely take Inside Out 2 a long ways, boosted by strong word of mouth and nothing else for kids playing in theaters until Despicable Me 4 in early July. Either way, this and last week’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die (which earned $33 million this weekend and now has $220 million overall) brought up the domestic box office for the first time in all of 2024. More interestingly is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: it’s been in theaters for nearly a whole month and keeps making money. This weekend, it hit third place in the domestic box office for what’s now $157.8 million and $374.5 million worldwide. For whatever reason, that movie’s got itself some pretty good legs, and it’s a coin flip as to how long 20th Century Studios is going to let it stay in theaters before calling it and pulling the plug.
Between now and the aforementioned Despicable Me 4, big theatrical movies for the next two weeks include The Bikeriders, Kinds of Kindness, and The Exorcism on June 21. A week later on the 28th, Paramount and Warner Bros. are bringing in the horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One and Kevin Costner’s western epic Horizon: Chapter I.
Is Lil Kim’s Baby Daddy Dating Foxy Brown????
Mr. Papers, the Brooklyn rapper who shares a daughter with Lil Kim, is now believed to be dating Foxy Brown thanks to an affectionate exchange between the two on social media this weekend.
The rumors began to surface June 14 after Brown tagged Papers in a birthday Instagram post, writing, “Happy birthday. Block spinna 20 years later haaaa.”
In reply, Papers shared the post on his own Instagram Stories, adding, “Daddy love you mama,” followed by drool, heart-eye, fingers crossed, and diamond emojis.
The potential relationship is attention worthy due to Foxy and Kim’s past, as the two Hip-Hop icons have had a long-standing public feud since the late 1990s. As recently as last summer, Foxy seemingly felt the need to take shots at Lil Kim for her “nosebleed seats” at Drake’s It’s All A Blur tour stop at Madison Square Garden.
If speculation is accurate, it would a rekindling of their relationship, as Mr. Papers revealed in a 2019 interview that he dated Foxy Brown when he was just 16 years old. This would’ve made Brown 26 years old at the time of their tryst.
“I was f**king Foxy…we was fornicating,” the rapper admitted on Sway In The Morning. “We was fornicating, me and Foxy, that was my girl, I was f**kin Foxy Brown, that was my girl, though. But I was like, 16, so I was young. I turned 17 a couple weeks after I met her.
“Funny, I never told Kim that,” he also confessed. After being asked if Foxy would deny his claims, he added, “No, salute to Foxy, she’s a strong girl. Kim is the strongest, but you know, Foxy was dope, but I was young.” Hear for yourself below.
Whether or not rumors of reconciliation are true, it likely won’t affect the Queen Bee, as she’s seemingly moved on to budding rap artist Tayy Brown. Within an April clip of the pair showcasing custom Adidas gear, Kim can be heard calling the young artist “bae.” She also dropped a heartfelt birthday message for Brown in February, where she spoke of their bond and “unconditional love.”
“Our bond is so perfectly matched in the most organic way. I know it was God that brought us together,” she wrote. “If people only knew how big of a role you play in my life and my career. You are my motivation and the voice always cheering me on. You’re so intelligent and such a boss.”
She went on, “It’s so weird how we became so close because it happened out of nowhere but I’m really proud of what we’re building and most of all the unconditional love we have for each other. Ur a sweet gangsta and I love it! I always want the best for u and I wanna see u go all the way to the top where u belong. U deserve it. My twinn, my bestfrennn. So proud to call u my artist. I Love u 4 Ever @realtayybrown.”
Lil Kim and Mr. Papers welcomed daughter, Royal Reign, June 9, 2004. Now 10 years old, mom Kim recently shared mother-daughter snaps of her with her “twin” on Instagram.
Angel Reese Disagrees With Flagrant Foul After Hard Hit On Caitlin Clark
The latest installment in the Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark saga finds yet more drama attached to it, this time regarding the game’s officiating.
On Sunday (June 16), Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky faced off where the former came out victorious, winning 88-83. The headline-grabbing action went down as Clark attempted to complete a lay-up. Reese is seen rushing down the sharpshooter and attempts to block the shot but mistakenly smacks Caitlin in the head, sending her crashing to the floor.
Angel was given a foul, one of her five fouls on the night, but after further review, officials issued the young star a flagrant foul. However, Reese isn’t convinced that her actions were unsportsmanlike as she feels she was simply executing a basketball move. The former LSU Tiger, who appeared visibly frustrated by the officials’ calls during the game, called out the refs and implied that they had an agenda with their officiating.
“I can’t control the refs,” she told reporters at the post-game presser. “They affected the game a lot tonight… I’m always going for the ball. But y’all going to play that clip 20 times before Monday.”
“I think we went up really strong a lot of times, and we didn’t get a lot of calls,” Reese said before alluding to her previous game against the Fever. “And going back and looking at the film, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made. I guess some people got a special whistle.”
Clark echoed Angel’s sentiments during her post-game interview, disagreeing with her rival receiving a flagrant for her “basketball play.” “It’s just part of basketball. It is what it is. Trying to make a play on the ball, get the block. I mean, it happens,” she said matter-of-factly.
Later in her presser, Clark used the moment to highlight the Chi-Town Barbie, her fanbase, and the “incredible matchups” that have come out of her and Reese’s rivalry. The ex-Iowa star then made sure to big up the rest of Chicago and Indiana’s players because she felt there were more stars to see than just herself and Angel.
“I think it’s just the emotion and the passion that we play with,” Clark added. “I think people love to see that. And I think that’s maybe not something that was always appreciated in women’s sports, and it should be. I think that’s what makes it fun. We’re competitors. That’s the way the game should be. It’s going to get a little feisty. It’s going to get physical. But at the end of the day, both teams are just trying to win.”
The US Surgeon general demands warning label on social media apps
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said the threat social media poses to children requires urgent action, and he demanded Congress to put a label on the apps as it does with cigarettes and alcohol.
“The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor,” Murthy said in an op-ed in the New York Times Monday.
Murthy cited several studies, including a 2019 American Medical Association study published in JAMA that showed teens who spend three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression. Teens spend nearly five hours a day on social media apps, according to a Gallup poll.
In an interview with CNN’s Meg Tirrell, Murthy said that the prevalence of social media use among kids is over 95%, “nearly universal.”
But Murthy cannot act unilaterally to put a warning label on apps — that requirement would have to come from Congress, with whom Murthy pleaded to pass a bill.
“I put forward this call for a warning because I think it’s essential that parents know what we now know, which is that there are significant harms associated with social media use,” Murthy told CNN.
Similar labels on tobacco, first instituted in 1965, led to a steady decline in cigarette smoking in America over the past several decades.
Congress has long chastised social media companies, claiming they pose harm to children. CEOs of tech companies have been grilled routinely on Capitol Hill, most notably Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — who publicly apologized to families whose children killed themselves because of online bullying and harassment. But Congress has taken little action to curb children’s social media usage.
Murthy argued that it’s time for Congress to get serious about curbing children’s use of social media.
“Until that point in time, when we have reliable evidence that tells us social media is safe and changes are being made and will be made in the future… parents deserve to be warned. That’s where the label comes in,” Murthy told CNN, adding that he hopes Congress will introduce legislation to add a surgeon general’s warning label on social media as soon as possible. “I think this is an urgent issue.”
An escalating battle
Murthy has warned about social media’s harm to children’s welfare for years. But Monday’s declaration of an emergency and his appeal to Congress represent his most urgent call to action on the issue so far.
In May 2023, Murthy issued an advisory that said there’s not enough evidence to determine whether social media is safe enough for children and adolescents’ mental health, saying social media use presents “a profound risk of harm” for kids.
He suggested parents restrict their kids’ social media use, saying 13 is too young to join social apps. But such advisories are designed to call attention to urgent public health – they don’t require action.
“We’re in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and I’m concerned that social media is contributing to the harm that kids are experiencing,” Murthy told CNN in May 2023. “For too long, we have placed the entire burden of managing social media on the shoulders of parents and kids, despite the fact that these platforms are designed by some of the most talented engineers and designers in the world to maximize the amount of time that our kids spend on them.”
On CNN’s “Chasing Life” podcast with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in June 2023, Murthy outlined some steps parents can take to rein in their children’s social media usage, including partnering with other parents to make sure kids lack the “I’m the only one without social media” excuse.
A warning label, if Congress passes legislation requiring one, would be insufficient to fix the problem, Murthy acknowledged.
He suggested schools become phone-free environments for children, as should dinner time and other family events. And Murthy urged parents to restrict children’s use of social media until they graduate from middle school.
Several states have worked to pass legislation to increase the age at which children can begin to use social apps or some of their more time-sucking features, such as algorithms that push people to engage with more content within the app. The bills have been largely bipartisan.
Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in March signed a bill that would prohibit children under 14 from obtaining their own social media accounts, and children under 16 would need parental consent to have accounts. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would sign legislation passed by the state legislature that would ban social media from using algorithms in children’s feeds, and the bill would also prevent tech companies from sharing information of children under 18.
“This is much easier said than done, which is why parents should work together with other families to establish shared rules, so no parents have to struggle alone or feel guilty when their teens say they are the only one who has to endure limits,” Murthy wrote in the New York Times.
On Monday, Murthy confirmed to CNN that alcohol and cigarettes are currently the only two products with surgeon general warning labels but that the overall health risk of social media is “just as profound.”
“We’re talking about the mental health and wellbeing of kids,” he said.
Brooklyn Bishop Lamor Whitehead sentenced to 9 years in prison
A Brooklyn bishop known for his flashy style and a mid-sermon robbery was sentenced to nine years in prison related to fraud and extortion charges in an unrelated case, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced Monday
Bishop Lamor Whitehead stole around $90,000 of his parishioner’s retirement savings after he promised to help her buy a home, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Brooklyn bishop pleads not guilty after allegedly defrauding parishioner
“Lamor Whitehead is a conman,” Williams said. “[He] is a career conman and liar who has been committing frauds for over 20 years to finance his extravagant lifestyle.”
Whitehead used the parishioner’s money on “luxury goods and other personal expenses,” prosecutors said. Meanwhile, she lost “everything [she] had worked for,” including $40,000 in penalties and legal fees for withdrawing money from her retirement early and taxes on the money spent by Whitehead, court records show.
Whitehead’s attorney, Dawn Florio, said in a statement that he still maintains his innocence.
“We will explore all available legal avenues to ensure that justice is served. Our dedication to proving Bishop Whitehead’s innocence is unwavering, and we will immediately begin the appeal process,” Florio said.
Whitehead was found guilty of a slew of other schemes dating back to 2017, including fraudulently applying for a $250,000 business loan using doctored bank statements and extorting a businessman for $5,000 — all while promising favors in return from Mayor Eric Adams, prosecutors said.
He then lied to FBI agents as they raided his mansion in New Jersey, according to prosecutors. Through it all, Whitehead has “shown an utter lack of remorse,” Williams said in a June 10 filing.
The bishop will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence and must pay $85,000 in restitution and forfeit $95,000, Williams said.
Prosecutors noted Whitehead had faced a number of other charges over the last 20 years, including allegedly trying to bribe an officer after stealing a Mercedes, allegedly using stolen identities to purchase car loans, and allegedly driving a fraudulently purchased Range Rover, court records show.
Whitehead’s name dominated headlines for a different reason in 2022 when he was robbed at gunpoint during a livestreamed service at the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry.
The robbers allegedly made away with $1 million in jewelry. One suspect in the case was later killed by law enforcement in New Jersey.
Evelyn Lozada Is Going To Be A Grandma As Daughter Shaniece Hairston Is Pregnant!
The “Basketball Wives” star announced the happy news on Instagram while wishing her daughter on her 31st birthday. In her post, Evelyn expressed her excitement and pride as Shaniece prepares to embrace motherhood.
“Happy birthday to my AMAZING daughter @shanieceh. You have always been my greatest blessing, and now you are bringing even more joy into our lives with your little one on the way. Becoming a mom at 17 was a journey we took together, and seeing you embrace motherhood fills my heart with pride and love. I am so excited to become ‘Nana’ and share this beautiful journey with you. Love you more than words can express!!!!”
Evelyn also mentioned her readiness to take on the new role of grandma alongside Shaniece’s father.
“Me & your dad are ready for this new title!!! Let’s goooooo!”
Shaniece shared her own announcement with a photo showing off her baby bump. “Another trip around the sun and in my prayers birthday suit yet.”
She also wished a happy Father’s Day to the baby’s father, saying, “Oh and Happy Fathers Day daddy,” she teased.
While the identity of the baby’s father remains disclosed, Shaniece was recently spotted on a date with rapper The Game during a Christmas Eve dinner at Nobu in Malibu.
Actress and Rapper Eve Celebrates 10 Years of Marriage With Maximillion Cooper
Eve celebrated her 10th anniversary with her husband, Maximilion Cooper.
“I can’t believe it’s been 10 yrs!!!!! HAPPY 10TH,” she wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of them kissing on their wedding day in Ibiza, Spain in 2014.
Cooper also commemorated the moment on IG, writing, “I [love] you Mrs Cooper… 10 years married!” with a black-and-white image of them walking down the aisle as flower petals were thrown to honor them.
The couple met in 2010 at Cooper’s Gumball 3000 motor rally in London. Eve was set to perform, and Cooper was immediately lovestruck.
"I'd heard her music before, but that night she actually was performing and I remember introducing her and just watching her, being mesmerized, and I've pretty much been mesmerized ever since, really,” he told The Talk in 2020, per People
Eve and the former race car driver got engaged on Christmas Day in 2013 and said their I do’s the following June. The “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” rapper then became a stepmother to Cooper’s four children, and the two welcomed a son, Wild, in 2022. Eve and Cooper currently split their time between Los Angeles and London.
Billy Porter pays tribute to his late mom at Tony Awards
The 54-year-old Broadway star received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, a non-competitive philanthropic award for those who have helped one more more charitable organisation, and he used his time onstage at the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center in New York on Sunday, June 16 to honor his late mom, Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford, who died in February. She was 79.
“I’d like to dedicate this moment to my mother, Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford, who we lost this past February. She believed in unconditional love and she instilled in my sister and I a purpose and a love greater than ourselves,” the teary-eyed actor-and-singer began.
“One of her favorite Bible verses was Second Timothy, 1:7. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’ Turn to your neighbor and tell him fear not! For the change has already happened. God bless y’all,” he continued.
“With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our loving mother, Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford. We were right beside her when she took her last breath, wrapped in our arms. Mommy lived life to the fullest despite physical limitations pressed upon her. She was the personification of true Christianity and her unconditional love is a template that the world could benefit from employing. Her example is what we continue to strive for. We are heartbroken she is no longer here with us, but find solace that her suffering has ended. Her fight was long and hard — she did it with grace and integrity. Mommy will remain forever in our hearts as she continues to guide us from above, as she has done on this Earth. From Labor to Reward,” sharing the news of her passing, a “heartbroken” Porter wrote on Instagram at the time.
In 2017, the “Pose” star told how his mother was “born with a degenerative disability that has only progressed and worsened.”
“That woman has got out of bed every single day of her life and has fought for her life when everybody on the planet said that he shouldn’t even bother. I don’t know how to be anything else when you have an example like that. You can’t be anything else,” he said at the time in an interview for “BUILD Series.”
Alicia Keys hints at new classic collaboration with JAY-Z
Alicia Keys may have a new classic loading after revealing that she has teamed back up with JAY-Z. On Saturday (June 15), the singer dropped what may be the most unexpected promo video of the summer, celebrating the duo’s 2009 collaboration “Empire State of Mind” and hinting that there was still more to come.
Keys captioned the post, “1 Dream. 1 Song. 1 Billion streams. Thank you! We love you. What’s next…” The clip showed JAY-Z dressed in a white tee, denim jeans and Timberland boots with a durag tied on his head, reminiscent of his early-2000s HOV era, as he stood in an empty lobby-like space. Keys then walked up and took her place beside him, placing an elbow on his shoulder as a muffled loop of her vocals from “Empire State of Mind” played. Just as the seconds-long teaser was about to end, the beat switched, showcasing what may be the audio from their possible upcoming release.
The “Concrete Jungle” anthem appeared on JAY-Z’s The Blueprint 3 album. It nabbed him his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and earned the duo two Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song. In June 2023, the record was certified nine-times platinum by the RIAA. Two years ago, Keys questioned if another collaboration with her industry peer could reach the heights of success and impact as their nearly two-decade old ode to their hometown.
“It’s so funny ‘cause we talk about that a lot because there’s so many songs that come up, and it’s like, ‘Oh, JAY would be crazy on this,’ and ‘Oh, AK would be crazy on this,’” she told E! News. “We’re like, ‘But will it ever be like ‘Empire State of Mind’? So, I wonder if it kind of, you know, hinders us in some kind of way; it’s almost like there’s no topping it… Definitely we are not limited, and I’d love to do another collaboration with my brother,” she continued.
The track is forever immortalized in pop and Hip Hop culture, thanks in part to Lil Mama, who crashed the artists’ 2009 MTV Video Music Awards performance in epic fashion. Both the singer and rapper-turned-mogul have since shared that the incident is a distant thought despite it being repopulated every so often.
Maryland Gov. To Pardon More Than 175,000 Low-Level Marijuana Convictions
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) will pardon more than 175,000 low-level marijuana convictions on Monday, one of the nation’s largest acts of mass clemency, The Washington Post reported.
“I’m ecstatic that we have a real opportunity with what I’m signing to right a lot of historical wrongs,” Moore told the Post on Sunday night, adding his action will help undo decades of harm toward people of color. “If you want to be able to create inclusive economic growth, it means you have to start removing these barriers that continue to disproportionately sit on communities of color.”
The pardon is meant to coincide with this week’s Juneteenth holiday. Full data of those who will be pardoned will be announced at an event on Monday, although the Post said upwards of 100,000 people could benefit from the act.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts to legalize marijuana nationwide, and Moore described the pardon as one of the most “far-reaching and aggressive” efforts to do so thus far. Only Massachusetts has issued a pardon on a similar scale after Gov. Maura Healey (D) did so in March. Her action could ultimately help hundreds of thousands of people.
Maryland legalized recreational use of marijuana on July 1, 2023, becoming one of 23 states, as well as Washington D.C., to do so.
Moore’s action will automatically forgive all misdemeanor possession charges the state is able to find in its electronic database, the Post reports, as well as every misdemeanor paraphernalia charge linked to use or possession of the drug. Those with older convictions only available on paper records will be able to apply for a pardon as well.
The governor added that such convictions have been used to deny people housing and employment benefits, even after sentences have been served. And those charges have disproportionally been leveled against communities of color.
The state’s attorney general, Anthony Brown (D), voiced his support for the pardon on Sunday in a statement to the Post.
“While the pardons will extend to anyone and everyone with a misdemeanor conviction for the possession of marijuana or paraphernalia, this unequivocally, without any doubt or reservation, disproportionately impacts — in a good way — Black and Brown Marylanders,” Brown told the publication. “We are arrested and convicted at higher rates for possession and use of marijuana when the rate at which we used it was no different than any other category of people.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
No comments:
Post a Comment