6/4/24

The Daily Buzz For Jun 5☕πŸ“°☕

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#MAGFAB: Lupita Nyong’o for GLAMOUR June 2024 Global Issue!

Oscar winning actor and star of the upcoming prequel A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, Lupita Nyong’o speaks to GLAMOUR about undergoing cat therapy, the romance rumors that plagued her friendship with Jared Leto, being teased as a teenager for being dark-skinned, and speaking up for important causes including Oscars So White, Me Too, and Black Lives Matter.
On being afraid of cats and doing ‘cat-therapy’ before shooting A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE: “I had to learn a lot about myself, about the animal, before I was comfortable to do it.”

On reflecting back on her Oscar win right after graduating from Yale Drama School: “We were prepared to be extras and little guest stars on TV shows before we would have our chance at any substantial role in the thing that we love to do. But it did not at all prepare us for instant success. And that is an overwhelming experience.”

On how romance rumors with Jared Leto plagued their friendship: “It was drawing attention away from the work. I didn’t want that sort of attention. I didn’t want all that chatter to deter from the joy I was having becoming his friend.”

On speaking up for causes including Oscars So White, Me Too, and Black Lives Matter: “There’s been a lot of amplification of things that hadn’t really been talked about before, and I definitely have been a beneficiary of many of those movements.”

On not feeling confident as a teenager and being teased for being dark-skinned: “I got teased a lot for being dark-skinned. I went to an all-girls school for elementary school, and then I switched to coed school when I was 12. So just when I was coming into myself and becoming aware of my sexuality, I was being teased a lot by boys for being dark. So I definitely wasn’t confident, but how I dealt with that was, I think I just developed my character to compensate.”

On her breakup from boyfriend Selema Masekela on Instagram last year: “I wanted to be honest. Honestly, the thought of having to update people one at a time was going to be harrowing. I had made the choice to share the relationship with the world, and I wanted to make the choice to share the end of it with the world. I knew that announcing it or sharing it with the world would mean there would be a reverb and I would have to deal with the onset of that.”

On adopting her cat Yoyo after her breakup: “This cat isn’t going anywhere. I guess the best anecdote for when you feel poorly taken care of is to take care of something. And I took care of Yoyo and he pried my heart open.”


#RHOA: Megan Thee Stallion Takes Shot With Kenya Moore, Phaedra Parks, Sheree Whitfield At Atlanta Show!

Megan Thee Stallion has been supported by many famous figures during her recent "Hot Girl Summer Tour" stop. The "Girls in the Hood" raptress took a shot with Kenya Moore, Phaedra Parks and Sheree Whitfield at her show in Atlanta.

On Sunday, June 2 and Monday, June 3, the 28-year-old hip-hop artist entertained her fans, famously known as Hotties, at State Farm Arena in Georgia. At one of her shows, she was joined by the three stars of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" backstage.
On Monday, one video from the fun night made its rounds on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the short clip, it could be seen that Megan, Kenya, Phaedra and Sheree were treating themselves to a shot. Megan appeared to have offered the TV personalities to taste drinks from her own tequila brand.

In the footage, the four of them were documented standing up while sipping the drink. Later on, one of the TV stars seemingly told the "Hiss" spitter, who was rocking a sizzling all-gray outfit, what she liked about the tequila.
Aside from Kenya, Phaedra and Sheree, Megan apparently was supported by another famous figure. A different video that circulated on the same social media platform showed her hanging out with Latto, who is formerly known as Mulatto, backstage.

In the clip, Megan was filmed standing next to Latto as they were joined by GloRilla, who has her own set during "Hot Girl Summer Tour". In the clip, the three of them were seen striking a number of poses in front of photographers. At one point, Megan stuck her tongue out while Latto and Glo were flashing their radiant big smiles.

Megan has been busy amid her "Hot Girl Summer Tour". After taking the stage in Atlanta for two nights straight, the "BOA" spitter is set to perform in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 4. She will have one night off before hitting the stage in Hollywood on June 6.


#MusicNews: Marsha Ambrosius Unveils Album Cover & Release Date For Upcoming Album “CASABLANCO”!

Marsha Ambrosius has been teasing her upcoming album “CASABLANCO” for quite some time now, but she finally gives us an official release date. The new album is presented by Dr. Dre and will arrive on June 28th, via Aftermath Records/Interscope Records.

Included on the album is the lead single “The Greatest” which released in late 2023 and was produced by Dr. Dre. It will also include recently released single “One Night Stand”.
This is the first new album from Marsha Ambrosius since she released “NYLA” nearly six years ago in 2018.


#HipHopNews: Method Man Refuses To Perform At Hot 97 Summer Jam Again: 'Not Our Crowd At All'!
Method Man‘s far reach within the Hip Hop community still has its limitations, and he has now come to terms with it.
On Sunday (June 2), he and Redman took the stage at this year’s Hot 97 Summer Jam at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
Although a number of veterans such as Big Daddy Kane, EPMD and Jadakiss also performed at the event, the bill was mostly dominated by younger artists like Doja Cat, Sexyy Red, Gunna and many more — this is perhaps why the Wu-Tang Clan spitter doesn’t plan on returning to the annual gathering.

“Not our crowd at all,” he wrote in the comments section of an Instagram post of his performance. “Thanks again, New York and the whole tri-state (that showed up to the event) plus Pete[er Rosenberg] and Ebro [Darden] I got love for you guys, but never again.. at this point the generation gap is just too wide for me.. #nevercomingback”


Mike Tyson Vs. Jake Paul Postponed After Tyson’s Medical Emergency!

Mike Tyson‘s anticipated fight against Jake Paul has been postponed due to the veteran athlete’s health status. The two were set to face off on July 20 at The AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, with the fight live-streaming on Netflix.

A secondary date is set to be announced later this week, per ESPN, with the football stadium remaining the desired location.
“During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations,” detailed a statement regarding the delay.

The news comes after Tyson required medical attention as a result of becoming “nauseous and dizzy” on a flight last month. Additionally, boxer Deontay Wilder has publicly shared concern regarding Tyson’s health ahead of the matchup.
“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time. Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flareup, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” explained Iron Mike.

“My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end, you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”

The fight is sanctioned and recognized as a professional fight by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations. Consisting of eight two-minute rounds with each fighter using 14-ounce gloves, the outcome is set to impact both athlete’s professional boxing records.
“I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night,” detailed Paul.

“My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake — when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish. Paul vs. Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup.”


Monica McNutt Stuns Stephen A. Smith By Calling Out His Lack Of WNBA Coverage
Monica McNutt has done something that most people have yet to do: silence Stephen A. Smith.
During the latest episode of First Take, the crew debated the recent incident surrounding Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark. After her dirty foul, Carter was hit with a flagrant-1 violation.

McNutt and Stephen A. Smith got into a spirited exchange about the incident and how Clark’s presence in the league may or may not have incited jealousy across the WNBA. Smith asserted that the women across the league were out to target Clark and that they were wrong for doing so because she was elevating the league to a different stratosphere of popularity.

He then used the WNBA getting charter flights after Clark complained about it as an example of her power and superstar prowess, and opined that the ladies should be more focused on “maximizing great potential” instead of hating on Clark. “Because we bring that up and what might potentially get in their way—which we do to men all the time—now we got to sit up here and watch every syllable. I resent that,” he declared.

McNutt pushed back on his claims, contending that using a blanket statement to criticize all women across the league is “unfair” and challenged him to use the same level of competitive spirit and nuance they use to discuss the NBA to talk about the W. “We’re still talking about competition, where you are allowed to get a little extra elbow in if you are competing and you do it in the parameters of the game,” she argued. “The game is physical; Caitlin is helping to grow the league; these women understand that, but she cannot be babied as a rookie!”

WATCH
McNutt compared Smith’s lament to the hardships of Black women who have to walk through life trying to please everybody with their existence. Shannon Sharpe and Smith then asked if she had tried “living as a Black man?”
Smith later asked the Maryland native who actually discusses the WNBA more than First Take, to which she responded perfectly: “Respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted to.” Stephen A. replied with one word: “Wow.”

The incident that began the heated debate focused on Angel Reese and the Sky dueling with Clark’s Fever on Saturday (June 1). Their battle resulted in multiple fines being dished out against the Sky for Angel Reese‘s refusal to speak with the media after their 70-71 loss. The Chi-Town Barbie was hit with a $1,000 fine, while the Chicago organization received a $5,000 fine for not making sure the Angel was available for the post-game presser.


Pat McAfee Apologizes For Inappropriate Remark About Caitlin Clark
ESPN host Pat McAfee has apologized for referring to WNBA player Caitlin Clark as a "while b***h" during a segment on his show on Monday, June 3. McAfee took to social media to issue the apology after facing backlash for the remark, which was made in the context of a discussion about Clark's meteoric rise to stardom and the resurgence of the WNBA.

"I shouldn't have used 'white b***h' as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark," McAfee wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "No matter the context...even if we're talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening...I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe."

McAfee explained that his intentions were complimentary but acknowledged that the term he used was offensive. "My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment, but a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn't at all. That's 100% on me and for that I apologize," he added.

McAfee also noted that he had sent a personal apology to Clark. "Everything else I said...still alllllll facts," he wrote, referring to his arguments about Clark's impact on the WNBA.
McAfee's comments drew criticism from ESPN colleagues and others on social media, who called the remark unacceptable and inappropriate. ESPN analyst Kim Adams wrote, "This is just completely unacceptable," while former ESPN host Jemele Hill said, "Referring to Caitlin Clark as 'the b*tch for Indiana' is beyond being too comfortable. Just totally unacceptable."

The backlash follows a pattern of controversies involving McAfee and ESPN. Earlier this year, he faced criticism for allowing New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers to spread conspiracy theories on his show. McAfee also accused former ESPN executive Norby Williamson of sabotage, leading to Williamson's departure from the network.

Meanwhile, Clark has continued to shine for the Indiana Fever, earning WNBA Rookie of the Month honors for May. She has averaged 15.6 points, 6.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 11 games.
 

Lenny Kravitz Accidentally Spills Daughter Zoe Kravitz And Channing Tatum's Wedding Date

Lenny Kravitz has let the cat out of the bag. While Zoe Kravitz and Channing Tatum have been keeping their relationship private, the musician has accidentally spilled a detail of his daughter and her fiance's wedding plans.
During the Friday, May 31 episode of BBC's "Zoe Ball and Friends" podcast, the rock star gushed over his soon-to-be son-in-law and the actor's relationship with his daughter. "He's a really great guy," the 60-year-old said of the "Magic Mike" hunk. "He was raised well. So, you know, he's got manners."

"He's charming. He's a soulful human being. And so, he's become part of the family quite quickly," the singer added, before revealing that the couple will hold their wedding in 2025. "He fits and they're in love. We're going to have a wedding next year," he added.
When asked if he's going to sing at the ceremony, the "Are You Gonna Go My Way" crooner replied he "didn't think so." He further shared his plans to "just be hanging out" at the nuptials of his daughter, whom he shares with his ex-wife Lisa Bonet.

Lenny indeed has welcomed Channing to the family. Back in March, the actor joined his fiancee at the singer's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. "We're very close," Lenny previously told E! News about his relationship with Channing, "and we have a great line of communication."

Zoe and Channing, who have been dating since 2021, reportedly became engaged in 2023. While the pair have apparently quietly planned their wedding, the Hollywood star said in an interview with Vanity Fair published in January 2023 that he wasn't sure if he's going to get married again following his "terrifying" divorce from Jenna Dewan.

The 42-year-old admitted, "I don't know if I'm ever going to get married again." The "21 Jump Street" actor further shared, "Relationships are hard for me. Even though I am a bit of a monogamist. In business, I have no real fear of anything being destroyed. But heart things, when it comes to people I love, I have a really hard time. I end up trying too hard, you know?"
 

Ticketmaster Data Breach Affects Over 500 Million Customers
Ticketmaster has recently come under scrutiny following a significant data breach that has impacted over 500 million customers. The breach, first disclosed in a federal filing, has been attributed to the hacker group ShinyHunters, known for targeting large corporations such as Microsoft and AT&T.

Details of the breach
The unauthorized access was detected within a third-party cloud database managed by Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment. ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach, stating that they had obtained a vast amount of customer data, including credit card numbers and ticket sales. The compromised data, which amounts to 1.3 terabytes, was reportedly put up for sale for $500,000 on a forum known as BreachForums.

Response and mitigation
In response to the breach, Ticketmaster has taken steps to mitigate the risk to its users and the company. They have notified law enforcement and are working with regulatory authorities to address the unauthorized access to personal information. Despite the breach, Live Nation believes that the incident will not have a significant impact on their business operations or financial results.

Consumer advice
Cybersecurity experts, including Brett Callow from Emsisoft, recommend that Ticketmaster customers change their passwords as a precautionary measure. Although there is no evidence that passwords were specifically compromised, it is considered a prudent step in protecting personal information.

Broader implications
The data breach comes when Ticketmaster is already facing legal challenges. The Justice Department recently initiated a lawsuit against Live Nation, accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the live entertainment industry. This breach adds another layer of concern for customers and stakeholders alike.

As the situation develops, Ticketmaster customers are advised to stay vigilant and monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity.
 

'Boy Meets World' Actress Trina McGee, 54, Pregnant With Baby No. 4

Boy Meets World actress Trina McGee is pregnant with baby No. 4!
On Monday, June 3, McGee—who portrayed Angela Moore on the ABC series from 1997 to 2000—took to Instagram to reveal the big news.

"At the tender age of 54 I have found myself pregnant," she wrote in white text on a red background. "Please bless us with your prayers for a safe delivery." Fittingly, she included the song "Baby Love" by The Supremes in her announcement.
In the caption, she added, "Gonna sign off social media for a bit. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes in advance.#trinamcgee."

McGee is married to actor-director Marcello Thedford. She has three adult children: Langston and Ramia, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Courtland Davis, and one child from a previous relationship.
In the comments, McGee's followers shared well wishes for the expecting mom. But mostly, they were shocked to learn her age. One person wrote, "54?!?! Years old?!?! I mean yeah congratulations on the baby but how are you 54?!"

"❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Wishing you the best. Take your social media break for your peace as needed. ❤️," another fan shared.

Another Instagram user commented, "So exciting! And like someone else said, how are you 54??," while someone else echoed, "Yeah, but in Trina McGee years you’re still only in your thirties πŸ˜‚."
As someone else pointed out in the comments, McGee's experience isn't a complete anomaly. Janet Jackson gave birth to her son, Eissa Al Mana, at age 50 in 2017. Supermodel Naomi Campbell welcomed her first child at age 50 in 2021 and her second child at age 53 in 2023.

Congrats to Trina on her little one on the way!


2 Live Crew Rapper Brother Marquis Dies at 58
Mark D. Ross, best known as the rapper Brother Marquis in 2 Live Crew, has died, according to a social media post by the group and TMZ confirms. “Mark Ross AKA Brother Marquis of the 2 Live crew has went to the upper room,” 2 Live Crew wrote on Instagram. He was 58.
Born Mark D. Ross in April 1966, Brother Marquis grew up in Rochester, New York with his mother before moving to Los Angeles, California as a teenager. While still in Junior High, he crossed paths with rapper Rodney-O and the two started the Caution Crew, releasing a handful of 12" singles like “Westside Storie” and “Rhythm Rock.”

The late Fresh Kid Ice—who died in 2017—formed 2 Live Crew with DJ Mr. Mixx and Amazing Vee in Riverside, California 1984, but Amazing Vee dipped out shortly afterwards. Miami rapper Luke Skyywalker invited 2 Live Crew to relocate to his Florida city and, when they obliged, he joined their ranks as a hype man and label owner. The group had already recorded a few songs, including “Trow the D,” before DJ Mr. Mixx crossed paths with Brother Marquis at parties. Impressed by his sense of humor, they invited the 19-year-old to join 2 Live Crew in 1986 and help shape the direction of 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, their debut LP. While the Miami bass group courted plenty of controversy with that album and its breakout hit, “We Want Some P**sy,” it was their next string of records—1988’s Move Somethin’, 1989’s As Nasty as They Wanna Be, and 1990’s Banned in the U.S.A.—that propelled their raunchy hip-hop to national fame with songs like “Me So Horny” and “Banned in the U.S.A.”

2 Live Crew were proud to make history with those latter two records: As Nasty as They Wanna Be was the first album to be declared legally obscene (a judgment that was later overturned), and the cheekily titled follow-up Banned in the U.S.A. was the first album to sport the black-and-white “Parental Advisory” sticker from the Recording Industry Association of America. 2 Live Crew got into legal trouble again with a parody cover of Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which appeared on As Nasty as They Wanna Be. It spawned the Supreme Court case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., which ultimately deemed that a commercial parody falls under the doctrine of fair use.

“I thought it was a bunch of bull,” Marquis told Heat Seekers Magazine when reflecting on the group’s Supreme Court cases. “When Broward County presented all the evidence in court, it was a joke because the audio wasn’t clear and the jury didn’t understand what was being said. A white drunk lady had the recording device in her bosom and the jurors laughed when they heard the recording.”

After dropping a live album and Sports Weekend (As Nasty as They Wanna Be Part II), 2 Live Crew began to split up and Brother Marquis moved to Georgia, where he tried his hand at standup comedy and new music in the duo 2 Nasty. In 1995, he linked up with Fresh Kid Ice and DJ Mr. Mixx to record “Hoochie Mama” for the soundtrack to the film Friday, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The following year, they formally reunited under the 2 Live Crew moniker to release their seventh studio album, Shake a Lil’ Somethin’, in 1996 and, after Mixx’s departure, The Real One in 1998.
 

Jonathan Majors Returns to Red Carpet After Sentencing, Joins Girlfriend Meagan Good at NAACP Theatre Awards

Jonathan Majors is stepping out for his first official appearance after being sentenced back in April.
The 34-year-old actor and his girlfriend Meagan Good, 42, walked the red carpet together at the 2024 NAACP Theatre Awards on Monday night (June 3) at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles.

Jonathan was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment back in December 2023 following an alleged domestic dispute with ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. He was sentenced in April 2024 to a 52-week in-person domestic violence intervention program, avoiding prison time.

For the past year, Jonathan has been in a relationship with Meagan and she supported him throughout the trial. They made their red carpet debut as a couple back in March.


Colton Underwood Explains Why He Waited Years After Coming Out to Attend His First Pride Celebration
It’s been three years since Colton Underwood came out as gay, but he only just attended his very-first Pride celebration.
The 32-year-old former The Bachelor star, who is now married and expecting his first child, stepped out to attend Pressed Juicery’s Pride Celebration on Sunday (June 2) in West Hollywood, Calif.
In honor of Pride Month, Pressed Juicery is supporting PFLAG, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their loved ones.

“Not that I didn’t feel qualified, I just wasn’t ready yet,” Colton told Us Weekly. “It’s taken me a few years to really put the work in. To learn and advocate and fight next to our community and understand where I fit in in all of that.”
Colton noted that people at the celebration likely included “people who maybe had judged me in the past or had things to say when my Netflix show was coming out or even still might not totally agree with how I’ve handled everything.”

“We’re all part of the same community. We have each other’s backs and nobody can get in between us,” he noted.
Colton recently talked about using a surrogate and whose sperm is being used to conceive the baby.


Gizelle Bryant and Ex-Husband Jamal Bryant Reunite for Twin Daughters’ Graduation

Gizelle Bryant and her ex-husband Jamal Bryant came together for their girls’ big day!
On Monday, June 3, the Real Housewives of Potomac star, 53, and her ex-husband, also 53, both shared photos on social media highlighting their twins’ high school graduation.

“Congratulations Angel & Adore! πŸ‘©πŸ½‍πŸŽ“πŸ‘©πŸ½‍πŸŽ“ I am such a proud Mother. These girls are destined for greatness every day of their lives ❤️,” Gizelle captioned an Instagram carousel.
The photos showed the girls standing on either side of their mom in lavender graduation gowns, as she stood in the middle of them wearing a sleeveless tweed top and dress pants. The trios was all smiles for the pictures.

Jamal shared a special tribute of his own.
“Today was nothing short of sensational!! @angeljbryant @adorecbryant graduated high school with honors,” he began in an Instagram Reel with multiple photos of the day playing on a loop.

The upload was set to Chris Brown’s “Sensational.”
“They are both headed to #hbcu …. They have so much poise, potential and promise that I can’t help but beam! The world will be better because they were born lol,” Jamal said, noting that his girls would be attending a Historically Black College and University.
Gizelle and Jamal also share an older daughter, Grace, who was present to support her younger siblings.

Both parents also posted content from the day to their Instagram Stories.
The Bravo star and the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church pastor were previously married from 2002 until 2009. Last week, Jamal’s engagement to fellow pastor Karri Turner was announced.

Gizelle and Jamal briefly rekindled their romance in 2019, but afterwards the reality television star was fine with them being "best friends" instead.
"Listen, we were a victim of the pandemic," she told E! News in July 2021. "I don't think any long distance relationship can really withstand not seeing each other. But is he still in my life, is he still one of my best friends? Absolutely."
More recently, Gizelle told Bravo’s The Daily Dish that she’s back on the dating scene.
“I’ve been in the streets a little bit, doing a little dating here and there,” she said while sitting in bed with her three girls for a brief update for the network on March 29.

As her daughters laughed, they each agreed that their mom has a “type.”
“Well, she only dates guys that are Black, tall and bald,” one of her twins said to a producer who was sitting off-camera.
An insert with photos of Gizelle’s past partners — including Jamal and others who fit the bill — seemingly proved their theory to be true. The Bravo star was also previously linked to ex-NBA player Sherman Douglas.

Season 9 of The Real Housewives of Potomac is currently in production, amid the departures of longtime cast members Candiace Dillard Bassett and Robyn Dixon.


Ex Diddy Employee Details Toxic Work Environment
The hits keep on coming for Bad Boy Entertainment CEO Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
Last week Rolling Stone Magazine published their shocking Bad Boy exposΓ©, [click here if you missed that], and now another media outlet has been contacted by former Diddy employees...

From The Daily Beast
Former employees of Combs’ lifestyle brand Sean John and Blue Flame, his now-shuttered advertising agency, recalled “erratic” behavior while in Combs’ employ, including instances where he grabbed, berated, and threatened them. These former staffers spoke to The Daily Beast under condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.

One female Sean John ex-employee shared a harrowing account about a time Combs grabbed her face following a disagreement about a creative decision. “He didn’t like that I wasn’t agreeing with him, and he wasn’t interested in hearing my point of view,” the former employee recalled.
Instead, Combs allegedly began to yell and compared himself to a renowned fashion designer. “When you speak to me, you should imagine that you’re talking to Karl Lagerfeld,” she recalled Combs telling her. “Anything I say, assume that it’s coming from Karl Lagerfeld.”

“At that point, I didn’t have a response to that, and he reaches out and he grabs my face,” she added. “He puts one hand on both sides of my cheeks and says ‘Stick out your tongue,’ and then he squeezes my face harder and yells at me to stick out my tongue, forces his hands on my face.”

She recounted how Combs then told her he “just wanted to see” if her tongue was bleeding, because she was clearly biting it. “I started looking for a job immediately after that moment,” she said. “I just wasn’t interested in being there to deal with that kind of treatment. You have to really idolize him and see him as an icon. I didn’t. I was just there to do my job.”


Washington Commanders Release Kicker Brandon McManus Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
The Washington Commanders have preemptively got in front of a potential PR disaster by releasing their recently signed kicker, Brandon McManus, Monday morning. McManus, who kicked for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, is facing a sexual assault lawsuit filed last month. The lawsuit, filed in Florida, was brought by two women who worked as flight attendants on a charter flight for the Jaguars.

The unnamed women alleged that the flight quickly turned into a party where McManus and others disregarded their personal space and violated federal and air travel safety laws. One woman claimed that McManus offered them $100 to dance with him and twice grinded against her while she served food and drinks. She also alleged that he attempted to kiss her forcefully.

The second woman alleged that McManus also grinded against her and “smirked and walked away” when she confronted him. Both women have also sued the Jacksonville Jaguars, accusing the team of failing to intervene and control the behavior of those involved.
McManus, who kicked for the Denver Broncos for nine seasons, denies these allegations. In a statement released through his attorney, he expressed gratitude to the Commanders for the opportunity and maintained that the accusations are false and contradicted by evidence and prior inconsistent statements from the accusers.

“Brandon would like to thank the Washington Commanders for the opportunity to be a part of the organization,” his statement read. “However, we reiterate that the allegations against Brandon are and remain absolutely false and, importantly, are contradicted by indisputable evidence and the accusers’ own prior inconsistent statements and omissions. While we are disappointed with the team’s decision to release Brandon before he had the opportunity to defend against these fabricated claims, we will aggressively defend and clear Brandon’s name and reputation through the legal process. We intend to defeat these claims, fully exonerate him, and look forward to seeing him back on the field where he belongs.”

This situation will likely take time to resolve, and it seems McManus will not get another NFL opportunity until the matter is settled.
 

Appeals judges halt Atlanta DEI grant fund for Black female-led businesses

Fearless Fund co-founders and CEO Ayana Parsons, left, and Arian Simone, center, Ben Crump, attorney, right, and supporters hold a press conference after appearing in federal court at the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Carl Juste For the AJC

An Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals panel halted an Atlanta venture capital fund’s small business grant program for Black women Monday, a major victory for conservative efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs in corporate America.
In a 2-1 ruling, the judges said the Fearless Fund’s contest likely violates the federal Civil Rights Act of 1866 that prohibits the use of race in making contracts. The three-judge panel, consisting of two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump and another appointed by former President Barack Obama, also found Fearless Fund is unlikely to enjoy First Amendment protection and its program inflicts irreparable harm.

Therefore, the appeals court panel reversed a September decision by a lower court judge and put a preliminary injunction into place.
The case is one of the more prominent legal challenges on DEI programs in corporate America and today’s ruling is a setback for supporters of those initiatives.

In August 2023, the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a conservative nonprofit, sued Fearless and its foundation over its Fearless Strivers grant contest, which awarded $20,000 small business grants to Black women. The Alliance was founded by Edward Blum, the activist behind the group that successfully challenged affirmative action in colleges and universities.

Blum’s organization alleged the grant program violates Section 1981 of the Reconstruction-era Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits discrimination based on race when making and enforcing contracts. The Alliance argued Fearless is entering into a contract with the applicant, and because the grants are only for Black women, it’s racially discriminatory.

“Our nation’s civil rights laws do not permit racial distinctions because some groups are overrepresented in various endeavors, while others are under-represented,” Blum said in a statement. “Programs that exclude certain individuals because of their race such as the ones the Fearless Fund has designed and implemented are unjust and polarizing. Significant majorities of all Americans believe that an individual’s race should not be a factor in our nation’s public policies.”

But Fearless argued it’s not actually a contract, it’s a charitable donation, and that type of giving is protected under the First Amendment.
Historically, Black women entrepreneurs receive a fraction of what other founders get. Between 2009 and 2017, only 0.0006% of VC funding went to businesses started by Black women, according to nonprofit advocacy group Digitalundivided. Black founders — men and women — receive only about 1% of U.S. venture capital funding, according to Crunchbase.

“This is devastating for the Fearless Fund and Foundation, and for the women in which we have invested in,” Arian Simone, CEO of the Fearless Fund, said in a statement. “The message these judges sent today is that diversity in Corporate America, education, or anywhere else should not exist. If this was truly about exercising free speech with your dollars — an American tradition as old as this nation itself — the results would have been different. Instead, these judges bought what a small group of white men were selling.”

But Simone added she would continue fighting.
“We are still open for business,” she said. “The Fearless Fund has worked tirelessly with what resources we have to support underrepresented communities. Our grants are essential for some companies. Women of color continue to lead the entrepreneurial pack and need support. I will not give up on this fight.”

Alphonso David, an attorney for Fearless Fund, said the group is evaluating next legal steps.
“The majority ruled that an 1866 law designed to provide economic freedom to newly-freed slaves actually prohibits the Fearless Foundation from providing grants to Black women. We disagree,” David said in a statement. “As the dissenting judge pointed out, the discrimination in access to funding that Fearless Foundation seeks to address is long-standing and irrefutable. This is the first court decision in the 150+ year history of the post-Civil War civil rights law that has halted private charitable support for any racial or ethnic group.”

Venture funding of Black startups in U.S., Atlanta withers, data show
In September 2023, a district court judge in Georgia ruled against the Alliance and allowed the grant program to continue. The group immediately appealed and the Eleventh Circuit paused the program while the case wound its way through the court.

In January this year, the Fearless Fund and the Alliance made their case to the appeals panel.
“The fact remains, though, that Fearless simply—and flatly— refuses to entertain applications from business owners who aren’t ‘black females.’ If that refusal were deemed sufficiently ‘expressive’ to warrant protection under the Free Speech Clause, then so would be every act of race discrimination, no matter at whom it was directed,” Judge Kevin Newsom, a Trump appointee, wrote in Monday’s decision.

But Judge Robin Rosenbaum, an Obama appointee, in her dissent compared the Alliance to athletes faking injuries to sway referees.
“But as American Alliance has portrayed its members’ alleged injuries, it has shown nothing more than flopping on the field,” she wrote
.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
The Perfect Wedding Venue?

While we wouldn’t choose Walmart as our wedding venue, we see the practicality in it. Especially if the couple has some sort of tie to the store. Who knows, maybe they met there, fell in love there, or even got engaged there


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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