#MAGFAB: Law Roach for Paper Magazine!
In this moment, Law Roach’s greatest power is accepting that he simply does not know.
It’s an underrated thing to surrender to the unknown, let alone admit it to millions of people. In fashion, you’re always supposed to know exactly who you are, know what you bring to the cultural conversation and know what your vision is that makes you stand out from the rest. But Roach is no stranger to uncertainty. Long before he reached the top, all he knew was that he had something special to offer. His queerness: a superpower. “I just didn't know what the vehicle was going to be to make everybody else see that,” he tells legendary artist Mickalene Thomas over Zoom while on a staycation at a hotel in LA.
More than a decade ago, Roach started his career in his Chicago hometown, where he grew up the eldest of five siblings, learning early on to do anything necessary to survive. His love for fashion began by shopping at thrift stores, which turned into selling vintage out of his car’s trunk before the hustle grew into the Deliciously Vintage shop. Once Kanye visited the store in 2009, it became a destination for celebrhttp://ities and insiders to discover vintage designer gems.
Eventually, Roach moved to Los Angeles to pursue styling, wherehe was introduced in 2011 to his first big client: a 14-year-old Zendaya. The image architect kept his head down in the years that followed, giving his blood, sweat and tears to become Hollywood’s most powerful stylist to some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion: Zendaya, Céline Dion, Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy, Naomi Campbell, Bella Hadid and more. He was also one of the first Black stylists to work at such a caliber. In 2022, Roach received the first-ever Stylist Award at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
A year later, Roach posted a now-deleted image on Instagram with one word: RETIRED. “I don't know when I wrote that post if I really meant that I wanted to retire, but at that moment, I wanted the phones to stop ringing,” he admits. “I just wanted to be left alone, because I felt like I had given everything away, every piece of me. And to be quite honest, that blunt post really changed my life.”
The fashion industry loves to tell us to be ourselves and use our voices, but only in a way it sees acceptable. Don’t rock the boat! Be careful what you do and say! Don’t do too much! This is what Roach suspected people in industry were saying about him, intimidated by his talent and unapologetic confidence. “They want you to have a façade of being happy, when it's not really real happiness,” Roach says, “and if they feel like you have that, they want to take it away from you, because they want you to live in the same depth of misery that they're living in. I figured that out when I retired.”
But Law Roach doesn’t have to fake anything or be quiet anymore, and he definitely doesn’t need anyone’s ideas of what success looks like thrust upon him. He’s free. Sure, he doesn’t exactly know what’s next for him, but that’s okay. “I want to try it all,” he says. “When you are a true creative, that creativity bleeds over to a lot of things. It's not one-dimensional.So who knows? We'll see.”
Mickalene Thomas: First of all, I want to start by saying congratulations on your book. I purchased mine. It's not coming until September 24. I'm like, “Why I gotta wait that long?”
Law Roach: Well, thank you! They had given me a book deal and were really banking on a memoir, but I wasn't ready to write a memoir because I felt like I wouldn't know how to end it. But I did want to give people who have followed me and supported me and loved on me something. What I have done in my career is more than put pretty dresses on pretty girls. It is helping people find real confidence.
Mickalene: It’s empowering. That’s what we need.
Law: People think just because you're tall or thin or talented or traditionally beautiful, that all those things automatically guarantee you confidence, and it doesn't. The book is basically everything that I've shared through my career and learned from every woman that I've worked with, starting with my grandmother. I just wanted to give something that was positive and hopefully can help. We all need that.
Mickalene: Whatwould you say is the one thing from the book that you want people to take away? This is what you need to know. This is the ingredient. If you don't have this, nothing else matters.
Law: It's really self-love, right? It's also the ability to say, “I don’t give a fuck.”
Mickalene: I'm that bitch! [laughs]
Get more at Paper Mag!
#RHOA: Kenya Moore’s Real Housewives of Atlanta Exit Explained
Fans of the Real Housewives of Atlanta were dealt a crushing blow only days after Season 16 filming had gotten underway. Love or hate her, the “Gone with the Wind” fabulous queen Kenya Moore was fired from the series. The news came quickly and abruptly, with mixed messages coming from both camps. But now we are breaking down everything you need to know about the firing of a Real Housewives icon and what this could mean for the upcoming season.
In early June, multiple outlets reported on Kenya’s suspension after her Kenya Moore Hair Spa event, which went sideways. The suspensions reportedly came after Kenya used posters as decorations that showed images of newbie Brittany Eady performing oral sex on a mystery man. At the time, a source told Entertainment Tonight that the photos were “allegedly found online.”
At the same time, Kenya raised concerns about a gun threat made by Brittany before her event. Bravo investigated the former Miss USA’s claim but found no evidence. The source clarified to the outlet, “At no time was Kenya ever threatened with a weapon, nor was there ever a weapon present during the course of production.”
Brittany responds
During the same time of the suspension, Brittany took to her Instagram Story to share, “It’s never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED BY SOMEONE I thought would embrace me into a new circle that I never met.” In a second post, the newest peach cited the Georgia State law. The rookie wrote, “In Georgia, the distribution of sexually explicit material with the consent of the person depicted is considered a criminal offense. Violating Georgia’s revenge porn law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both.”
Kenya speaks out
Shortly after the incident Kenya posted a statement on X defending herself. The mother of one wrote, “I would never engage in revenge porn. I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail, I have always been vindicated. I can’t talk about STORY even with people planting fake news #sweet16.”
Kenya was officially let go at the end of June. A source told LoveBScott, “It was clear Kenya went through great lengths to antagonize her. Those photos aren’t easily accessible on the internet…otherwise, they’d be circulating right now. She not only got the photos from somewhere but also got posters made. That’s not something you would do to someone who allegedly threatened you with a gun.”
With a new Bravo code of conduct, the network decided that Kenya breached the new contract. Another source told the outlet, “Bravo never accused Kenya of revenge porn. That was never what the investigation was about. It was about determining if Kenya’s actions involving sexually explicit images violated the code of conduct — and they did. She can point fingers all she wants, but she has nobody to blame but herself.”
Kenya has the last word
After the official word of her firing had circulated, Kenya posted a statement and tagged herself in “Peace of mind” just for good measure. Kenya noted, “Thank you for all the support #teamtwirl. My heart is full, and my conscience is clear. So many false claims hiding behind anonymous sources. All this conversation and no facts are being reported. If a claim or source was valid, would they need to hide?”
Kenya additionally shared, “My life is blessed. My daughter and I will continue to thrive in a non toxic environment where we feel appreciated and most importantly, protected. ***The rumors and narrative about me randomly showing nudes or revenge p is 1000% untrue. I have proof and will share soon.”
Fans of the Real Housewives of Atlanta will be waiting on bated breath for the proof, but until then, it looks like this is the last we will see of Ms. Kenya Moore. For now, the network has decided to continue filming but hasn’t said if they will include the few early episodes of Kenya.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK KENYA SHOULD HAVE BEEN LET GO?
#MusicNews: Tinashe Confirms Album Quantum Baby, and The Release Date
Tinashe is following her April single, “Nasty,” with the new song “Getting No Sleep.” Tinashe co-wrote the new track with producers Billy Lemos and Nosaj Thing. Find the “Getting No Sleep” video, which comes with a trigger warning for people with photosensitive epilepsy, .
Along with the new song, Tinashe has announced the August 16 release date for Quantum Baby. The new album is billed as the second part of a trilogy that began with last year’s BB/Ang3l. “Quantum Baby is about getting to know me on a deeper level,” the pop and R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer said in a press release. “It’s about exploring who I am as a person and who I am as an artist. I’ve never been one to be put into a box, so the name ‘Quantum Baby’ encompasses all the different parts that make up who I am as a creative.”
#HipHopNews: Lil Mama Blames Nicki Minaj for Influencing a Generation of ‘Musical Prostitutes’
Lil Mama blames Nicki Minaj for Influencing a generation of "musical prostitutes" in response to the performances at the 2024 BET Awards.
On Monday (July 1), Louisiana rapper Dee-1 shared a post on Instagram where he criticizes the 2024 BET Awards in song form due to the multiple number of sexually charged performances from female rap artists at the awards show on Sunday (June 30).
"I turned on the award show and things I seen on the screen could make me cause of scene ’cause it was so obscene," he raps as clips of performances from Sexyy Red, Latto, Ice Spice and more play. "We call women queens but we celebrate the prostitution of their bodies/I seen people thanking God but none of their music was godly."
Lil Mama responded to the video in the comment section, agreeing with Dee's sentiment.
"Then gave Nicki an award for leading this pack. Corporate 'BARS' be going over our head. They laughing at us for sure!" she wrote.
She continued, "Key word… THIS Pack. These young women are not influenced by Kim. Nicki is influenced by Kim. These women are 23. What major musical prostitutes do you remember from the last 15years. Who do you think they watched corporate give a platform and flowers for slitting out. Be forreal. Like I said they are laughing at us and the award was a ‘thanks to you, now we have 7,8, 9 of em.'”
She concluded by saying she hopes these women one day understand their worth. "God Is the Greatest and these women are gonna wake up and realize that they are worth more than any price tag," the "Lip Gloss" rhymer added. "Sometimes we can’t see ourselves. We are just living… so I can [understand] how this can happen and feel normal."
Sean 'Diddy' Combs: Former porn actress accuses rap mogul of sex assault and trafficking
P Diddy - aka rap mogul Sean Combs - is reportedly being sued over another allegation of sexual assault and trafficking.
A former porn actress has accused him of forcing her to have sex with a guest at a 2007 party, according to US media.
Adria English alleges Combs also demanded she have sex with guests at other parties he held in New York and Florida.
Her lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and alleges he threatened to wreck her career - and that of her boyfriend - if she didn't agree.
Combs faces multiple other sex lawsuits filed in the last year, and the latest claims also follow a video in May showing him attacking ex-girlfriend Cassie.
The LA Times said Ms English's 114-page complaint makes more than 30 allegations, including against the man she was allegedly forced to have sex with and a woman who facilitated the sex trafficking.
In a statement to TMZ, Combs's lawyer said: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won't change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone.
"Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court."
Tamar Braxton Shuts Down Ozempic Use Speculation
Tamar Braxton isn't following the trend among celebrities when it comes to her fitness and physical appearance. After sparking weight-loss drug use speculation with her apparent slimmed-down figure, the singer has denied that she's on Ozempic.
The 47-year-old raised suspicion after she allegedly looked drastically different within only three weeks apart. Highlighting her slimmer figure, someone posted on X, formerly Twitter, a side-by-side picture of the star taken in those different times.
"These pictures 3 weeks apart it's definitely give #ozempic @TamarBraxtonHer #tamar what's tea boo!!!" the person captioned the photos, tagging the former "Braxton Family Values" star to ask for her explanation.
The tweet successfully caught the attention of the star, who wasted no time in giving her response to the allegation. "I'm not on ozempic babe," she replied to the tweet, shutting down the rumor once and for all.
Many have since come to Tamar's defense, with one stressing, "Y'all know Ozempic doesn't work that fast, right?" Another claimed, "I don't see a difference in them pics just one looks like she put a bra on." Agreeing, a third remarked, "She literally looks the exact same size."
Meanwhile, in another tweet, Tamar addressed her decision to turn off comments on her Instagram account after she posted a video of her showing off her twerking skill. The video was later reshared by Megan Thee Stallion on her own page.
"@TamarBraxtonHer KNEW to turn them comments off for the last reel she just posted on Instagram. I was finna go crazy in them comments. Baby yo ass is a**sing im proud of you," a fan raved on x after noticing that they couldn't comment on Tamar's post.
Responding to the fan's statement, the "Love and War" songstress wrote, "I turned the comments off cause I could care less what someone has to say about me... 1. Meg named a song I sang 11 years ago and 2. I finally learned how to twerk. I will celebrate that."
'Deadpool And Wolverine' Merchandise Confirms More Deadpool Variants
Marvel Studios' upcoming film "Deadpool & Wolverine" is set to introduce a plethora of new Deadpool variants to the MCU, as revealed through official merchandise. Funko Pop! figures unveiled by FunkoInfo disclose the arrival of three new Deadpool variations, Headpool, Kidpool and Babypool.
Headpool, a decapitated Deadpool's zombified head from Earth-2149, first appeared in "Marvel Zombies #3" (2006). Kidpool, from Earth-10330, debuted in "Prelude to Deadpool Corps #2" (2010) as a student at Xavier Orphanage for Troubled Boys. Babypool, while not a direct comic book character, is speculated to be a younger version of Kidpool.
These variants join the previously confirmed Dogpool, based on the Merc with a Bark from Earth-103173, and the rumored Lady Deadpool, speculated to be played by Blake Lively.
In the comics, Wade Wilson recruited "alternaverse Deadpools" from across the multiverse to form the Deadpool Corps. Lady Deadpool, Kidpool, Dogpool and Headpool were all founding members, first appearing in the "Prelude to Deadpool" miniseries (2010) and later assembling in the "Deadpool Corps" series (2010-2011).
The presence of multiple Deadpool variants in "Deadpool & Wolverine" suggests that the MCU is embracing the "Pool-verse" concept from the comics. The film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, is scheduled to hit theaters on July 26.
Waka Flocka Slams Joe Biden Supporters As He Alludes To Political Stance
Waka Flocka is seemingly doubling down on his support of Donald Trump as footage from a recent concert makes its rounds.
The Queens-bred rapper stopped his set to declare, “All Joe Biden voters, get out of my concert. We’re gonna party right now for T24.” The DJ backed him up by yelling, “See ya!”
According to TMZ, Waka continued, “We gonna see y’all at the bingo game. We gonna party right now for our f**king president, T24.”
The mixed reactions to the declaration occurred both at the show and online.
One Twitter user wrote, “How much trump paying him I wonder.” Another chimed in, “As much as I don’t like Joe Biden this was wrong they paid money for a show like everyone else and while performing a show they should keep politics out of it.”
Elsewhere, someone tweeted, “Celebrities who bring politics into their art are losers. Both sides are guilty of this and it’s such a loser mentality. Use your music to bring people together instead of keep them divided.”
This isn’t the first time Waka pledged his allegiance to Trump. He previously endorsed Trump’s 2024 bid for president and has posed for photos with him.
Apparently, the feeling is mutual considering Trump praised the rapper’s philanthropic efforts back in 2021. He awarded the former reality star with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his humanitarianism and philanthropy as a volunteer for Daughter of Destiny, TMZ reported.
Daughter of Destiny is a non-profit, outreach program based in Chicago that helps women through several resources like employment, food, housing, community, and inner healing. The certificate recognized Waka’s “lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph gives update from Jamaica as she braces for Hurricane Beryl’s arrival
Sheryl Lee Ralph is giving fans an update on the weather conditions in Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s arrival on the Caribbean island.
On X, she shared a video of herself on camera as she spoke about the “calm” before the hurricane officially made landfall in Jamaica.
“From the looks of the sky, it looks like Beryl is going to be here much sooner than the news keeps saying so it’s very calm here in Jamaica,” she said. “The sky is so beautifully clear and they said that the sea looked like glass today.”
Meet the engineer, doctors and other clock punchers competing for Team USA in the Olympics
The “Abbott Elementary” star also talked about the preparations she made before the storm arrived on her beloved Caribbean island.
“I’m looking southeast and we had to take in all of the outside furniture because those things take flight. But, I just want to say to everybody, please stay inside,” Ralph advised. “There’s a curfew starting at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. Stay off the road in Kingston. I hope you put oil in your lamp and are taking extra care.”
Ralph posted her video near 1 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3. She captioned the clip, “Good night from Jamaica 🇯🇲 Pray for us as you pray for others.”
Bronny James Inks 4-year, $7.9 Million Deal w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Reports state that the basketball star is set to earn nearly $8 million over his first four years in the league after officially signing a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to reports, the West Coast team finalized a deal with Bronny James earlier today (Wednesday, July 3rd), while simultaneously signing the 19-year-old’s famous dad Lebron James, 39, to a 1-year extension. The move marks history for the pair, as they become the first active father-son duo to play in the NBA together.
Lebron James, 39, first signed on with the Lakers in 2018 and has repeatedly stated his desire to one day play with his eldest. As we’ve previously covered, the 4X NBA champion had to clarify remarks about possibly retiring after playing with his son, claiming he wants to play for the Lakers “as long as possible.”
Now, Lebron’s goal will become realized once Bronny suits up for his first official game this fall. Reports note that his contract begins at $1,157,143 in 2024-25 and progresses to $1,955,377 the following year, $2,296,271 in 2026-27 and $2,486,955 for a team option in 2027-28. While speaking on the pressure he faces coming into the league as the son of one of the greatest basketball stars of all time, Bronny insisted that he’s ready for the challenge and that playing with his dad was not “a main focus” in his decision to enter the draft. He stated during a recent interview:
“I’m trying to get my name out for myself…I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad…That’s always there to take part of, but it wasn’t a main focus of mine.It’s for sure amplified the amount of pressure…I’ve already seen it in (social) media and on the internet and stuff talking about (how) I might not deserve an opportunity…But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this for my whole life. It’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I can get through it,”
The Lakers selected Bronny as the #55th overall pick of the NBA draft held last month. His entry to the league comes after he suffered a heart-related scare while in college that resulted in a nearly 5-month recovery period. Bronny also spoke about how the off-time impacted his game and mindset moving forward, sharing:
“The time that I had off, I feel like I could have been perfecting my game more…I just feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do, because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at SC. So I’m excited for what it’s going to be.”
Columbus Short Slammed After Claiming Black Women Aren’t ‘Trained’ To Have Respect For Men: ‘You Don’t Even Know How To Cook’
In this moment, Law Roach’s greatest power is accepting that he simply does not know.
It’s an underrated thing to surrender to the unknown, let alone admit it to millions of people. In fashion, you’re always supposed to know exactly who you are, know what you bring to the cultural conversation and know what your vision is that makes you stand out from the rest. But Roach is no stranger to uncertainty. Long before he reached the top, all he knew was that he had something special to offer. His queerness: a superpower. “I just didn't know what the vehicle was going to be to make everybody else see that,” he tells legendary artist Mickalene Thomas over Zoom while on a staycation at a hotel in LA.
Eventually, Roach moved to Los Angeles to pursue styling, wherehe was introduced in 2011 to his first big client: a 14-year-old Zendaya. The image architect kept his head down in the years that followed, giving his blood, sweat and tears to become Hollywood’s most powerful stylist to some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion: Zendaya, Céline Dion, Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy, Naomi Campbell, Bella Hadid and more. He was also one of the first Black stylists to work at such a caliber. In 2022, Roach received the first-ever Stylist Award at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
A year later, Roach posted a now-deleted image on Instagram with one word: RETIRED. “I don't know when I wrote that post if I really meant that I wanted to retire, but at that moment, I wanted the phones to stop ringing,” he admits. “I just wanted to be left alone, because I felt like I had given everything away, every piece of me. And to be quite honest, that blunt post really changed my life.”
The fashion industry loves to tell us to be ourselves and use our voices, but only in a way it sees acceptable. Don’t rock the boat! Be careful what you do and say! Don’t do too much! This is what Roach suspected people in industry were saying about him, intimidated by his talent and unapologetic confidence. “They want you to have a façade of being happy, when it's not really real happiness,” Roach says, “and if they feel like you have that, they want to take it away from you, because they want you to live in the same depth of misery that they're living in. I figured that out when I retired.”
But Law Roach doesn’t have to fake anything or be quiet anymore, and he definitely doesn’t need anyone’s ideas of what success looks like thrust upon him. He’s free. Sure, he doesn’t exactly know what’s next for him, but that’s okay. “I want to try it all,” he says. “When you are a true creative, that creativity bleeds over to a lot of things. It's not one-dimensional.So who knows? We'll see.”
Mickalene Thomas: First of all, I want to start by saying congratulations on your book. I purchased mine. It's not coming until September 24. I'm like, “Why I gotta wait that long?”
Law Roach: Well, thank you! They had given me a book deal and were really banking on a memoir, but I wasn't ready to write a memoir because I felt like I wouldn't know how to end it. But I did want to give people who have followed me and supported me and loved on me something. What I have done in my career is more than put pretty dresses on pretty girls. It is helping people find real confidence.
Mickalene: It’s empowering. That’s what we need.
Law: People think just because you're tall or thin or talented or traditionally beautiful, that all those things automatically guarantee you confidence, and it doesn't. The book is basically everything that I've shared through my career and learned from every woman that I've worked with, starting with my grandmother. I just wanted to give something that was positive and hopefully can help. We all need that.
Mickalene: Whatwould you say is the one thing from the book that you want people to take away? This is what you need to know. This is the ingredient. If you don't have this, nothing else matters.
Law: It's really self-love, right? It's also the ability to say, “I don’t give a fuck.”
Mickalene: I'm that bitch! [laughs]
Get more at Paper Mag!
In early June, multiple outlets reported on Kenya’s suspension after her Kenya Moore Hair Spa event, which went sideways. The suspensions reportedly came after Kenya used posters as decorations that showed images of newbie Brittany Eady performing oral sex on a mystery man. At the time, a source told Entertainment Tonight that the photos were “allegedly found online.”
At the same time, Kenya raised concerns about a gun threat made by Brittany before her event. Bravo investigated the former Miss USA’s claim but found no evidence. The source clarified to the outlet, “At no time was Kenya ever threatened with a weapon, nor was there ever a weapon present during the course of production.”
Brittany responds
During the same time of the suspension, Brittany took to her Instagram Story to share, “It’s never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED BY SOMEONE I thought would embrace me into a new circle that I never met.” In a second post, the newest peach cited the Georgia State law. The rookie wrote, “In Georgia, the distribution of sexually explicit material with the consent of the person depicted is considered a criminal offense. Violating Georgia’s revenge porn law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both.”
Kenya speaks out
Shortly after the incident Kenya posted a statement on X defending herself. The mother of one wrote, “I would never engage in revenge porn. I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail, I have always been vindicated. I can’t talk about STORY even with people planting fake news #sweet16.”
Kenya was officially let go at the end of June. A source told LoveBScott, “It was clear Kenya went through great lengths to antagonize her. Those photos aren’t easily accessible on the internet…otherwise, they’d be circulating right now. She not only got the photos from somewhere but also got posters made. That’s not something you would do to someone who allegedly threatened you with a gun.”
With a new Bravo code of conduct, the network decided that Kenya breached the new contract. Another source told the outlet, “Bravo never accused Kenya of revenge porn. That was never what the investigation was about. It was about determining if Kenya’s actions involving sexually explicit images violated the code of conduct — and they did. She can point fingers all she wants, but she has nobody to blame but herself.”
Kenya has the last word
After the official word of her firing had circulated, Kenya posted a statement and tagged herself in “Peace of mind” just for good measure. Kenya noted, “Thank you for all the support #teamtwirl. My heart is full, and my conscience is clear. So many false claims hiding behind anonymous sources. All this conversation and no facts are being reported. If a claim or source was valid, would they need to hide?”
Kenya additionally shared, “My life is blessed. My daughter and I will continue to thrive in a non toxic environment where we feel appreciated and most importantly, protected. ***The rumors and narrative about me randomly showing nudes or revenge p is 1000% untrue. I have proof and will share soon.”
Fans of the Real Housewives of Atlanta will be waiting on bated breath for the proof, but until then, it looks like this is the last we will see of Ms. Kenya Moore. For now, the network has decided to continue filming but hasn’t said if they will include the few early episodes of Kenya.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK KENYA SHOULD HAVE BEEN LET GO?
#MusicNews: Tinashe Confirms Album Quantum Baby, and The Release Date
Tinashe is following her April single, “Nasty,” with the new song “Getting No Sleep.” Tinashe co-wrote the new track with producers Billy Lemos and Nosaj Thing. Find the “Getting No Sleep” video, which comes with a trigger warning for people with photosensitive epilepsy, .
Along with the new song, Tinashe has announced the August 16 release date for Quantum Baby. The new album is billed as the second part of a trilogy that began with last year’s BB/Ang3l. “Quantum Baby is about getting to know me on a deeper level,” the pop and R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer said in a press release. “It’s about exploring who I am as a person and who I am as an artist. I’ve never been one to be put into a box, so the name ‘Quantum Baby’ encompasses all the different parts that make up who I am as a creative.”
#HipHopNews: Lil Mama Blames Nicki Minaj for Influencing a Generation of ‘Musical Prostitutes’
On Monday (July 1), Louisiana rapper Dee-1 shared a post on Instagram where he criticizes the 2024 BET Awards in song form due to the multiple number of sexually charged performances from female rap artists at the awards show on Sunday (June 30).
"I turned on the award show and things I seen on the screen could make me cause of scene ’cause it was so obscene," he raps as clips of performances from Sexyy Red, Latto, Ice Spice and more play. "We call women queens but we celebrate the prostitution of their bodies/I seen people thanking God but none of their music was godly."
Lil Mama responded to the video in the comment section, agreeing with Dee's sentiment.
"Then gave Nicki an award for leading this pack. Corporate 'BARS' be going over our head. They laughing at us for sure!" she wrote.
She continued, "Key word… THIS Pack. These young women are not influenced by Kim. Nicki is influenced by Kim. These women are 23. What major musical prostitutes do you remember from the last 15years. Who do you think they watched corporate give a platform and flowers for slitting out. Be forreal. Like I said they are laughing at us and the award was a ‘thanks to you, now we have 7,8, 9 of em.'”
She concluded by saying she hopes these women one day understand their worth. "God Is the Greatest and these women are gonna wake up and realize that they are worth more than any price tag," the "Lip Gloss" rhymer added. "Sometimes we can’t see ourselves. We are just living… so I can [understand] how this can happen and feel normal."
Sean 'Diddy' Combs: Former porn actress accuses rap mogul of sex assault and trafficking
P Diddy - aka rap mogul Sean Combs - is reportedly being sued over another allegation of sexual assault and trafficking.
A former porn actress has accused him of forcing her to have sex with a guest at a 2007 party, according to US media.
Adria English alleges Combs also demanded she have sex with guests at other parties he held in New York and Florida.
Her lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and alleges he threatened to wreck her career - and that of her boyfriend - if she didn't agree.
Combs faces multiple other sex lawsuits filed in the last year, and the latest claims also follow a video in May showing him attacking ex-girlfriend Cassie.
The LA Times said Ms English's 114-page complaint makes more than 30 allegations, including against the man she was allegedly forced to have sex with and a woman who facilitated the sex trafficking.
In a statement to TMZ, Combs's lawyer said: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won't change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone.
"Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court."
Tamar Braxton Shuts Down Ozempic Use Speculation
Tamar Braxton isn't following the trend among celebrities when it comes to her fitness and physical appearance. After sparking weight-loss drug use speculation with her apparent slimmed-down figure, the singer has denied that she's on Ozempic.
The 47-year-old raised suspicion after she allegedly looked drastically different within only three weeks apart. Highlighting her slimmer figure, someone posted on X, formerly Twitter, a side-by-side picture of the star taken in those different times.
"These pictures 3 weeks apart it's definitely give #ozempic @TamarBraxtonHer #tamar what's tea boo!!!" the person captioned the photos, tagging the former "Braxton Family Values" star to ask for her explanation.
The tweet successfully caught the attention of the star, who wasted no time in giving her response to the allegation. "I'm not on ozempic babe," she replied to the tweet, shutting down the rumor once and for all.
Many have since come to Tamar's defense, with one stressing, "Y'all know Ozempic doesn't work that fast, right?" Another claimed, "I don't see a difference in them pics just one looks like she put a bra on." Agreeing, a third remarked, "She literally looks the exact same size."
Meanwhile, in another tweet, Tamar addressed her decision to turn off comments on her Instagram account after she posted a video of her showing off her twerking skill. The video was later reshared by Megan Thee Stallion on her own page.
"@TamarBraxtonHer KNEW to turn them comments off for the last reel she just posted on Instagram. I was finna go crazy in them comments. Baby yo ass is a**sing im proud of you," a fan raved on x after noticing that they couldn't comment on Tamar's post.
Responding to the fan's statement, the "Love and War" songstress wrote, "I turned the comments off cause I could care less what someone has to say about me... 1. Meg named a song I sang 11 years ago and 2. I finally learned how to twerk. I will celebrate that."
'Deadpool And Wolverine' Merchandise Confirms More Deadpool Variants
Marvel Studios' upcoming film "Deadpool & Wolverine" is set to introduce a plethora of new Deadpool variants to the MCU, as revealed through official merchandise. Funko Pop! figures unveiled by FunkoInfo disclose the arrival of three new Deadpool variations, Headpool, Kidpool and Babypool.
Headpool, a decapitated Deadpool's zombified head from Earth-2149, first appeared in "Marvel Zombies #3" (2006). Kidpool, from Earth-10330, debuted in "Prelude to Deadpool Corps #2" (2010) as a student at Xavier Orphanage for Troubled Boys. Babypool, while not a direct comic book character, is speculated to be a younger version of Kidpool.
These variants join the previously confirmed Dogpool, based on the Merc with a Bark from Earth-103173, and the rumored Lady Deadpool, speculated to be played by Blake Lively.
In the comics, Wade Wilson recruited "alternaverse Deadpools" from across the multiverse to form the Deadpool Corps. Lady Deadpool, Kidpool, Dogpool and Headpool were all founding members, first appearing in the "Prelude to Deadpool" miniseries (2010) and later assembling in the "Deadpool Corps" series (2010-2011).
The presence of multiple Deadpool variants in "Deadpool & Wolverine" suggests that the MCU is embracing the "Pool-verse" concept from the comics. The film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, is scheduled to hit theaters on July 26.
Waka Flocka Slams Joe Biden Supporters As He Alludes To Political Stance
Waka Flocka is seemingly doubling down on his support of Donald Trump as footage from a recent concert makes its rounds.
The Queens-bred rapper stopped his set to declare, “All Joe Biden voters, get out of my concert. We’re gonna party right now for T24.” The DJ backed him up by yelling, “See ya!”
According to TMZ, Waka continued, “We gonna see y’all at the bingo game. We gonna party right now for our f**king president, T24.”
The mixed reactions to the declaration occurred both at the show and online.
One Twitter user wrote, “How much trump paying him I wonder.” Another chimed in, “As much as I don’t like Joe Biden this was wrong they paid money for a show like everyone else and while performing a show they should keep politics out of it.”
Elsewhere, someone tweeted, “Celebrities who bring politics into their art are losers. Both sides are guilty of this and it’s such a loser mentality. Use your music to bring people together instead of keep them divided.”
This isn’t the first time Waka pledged his allegiance to Trump. He previously endorsed Trump’s 2024 bid for president and has posed for photos with him.
Apparently, the feeling is mutual considering Trump praised the rapper’s philanthropic efforts back in 2021. He awarded the former reality star with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his humanitarianism and philanthropy as a volunteer for Daughter of Destiny, TMZ reported.
Daughter of Destiny is a non-profit, outreach program based in Chicago that helps women through several resources like employment, food, housing, community, and inner healing. The certificate recognized Waka’s “lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph gives update from Jamaica as she braces for Hurricane Beryl’s arrival
On X, she shared a video of herself on camera as she spoke about the “calm” before the hurricane officially made landfall in Jamaica.
“From the looks of the sky, it looks like Beryl is going to be here much sooner than the news keeps saying so it’s very calm here in Jamaica,” she said. “The sky is so beautifully clear and they said that the sea looked like glass today.”
Meet the engineer, doctors and other clock punchers competing for Team USA in the Olympics
The “Abbott Elementary” star also talked about the preparations she made before the storm arrived on her beloved Caribbean island.
“I’m looking southeast and we had to take in all of the outside furniture because those things take flight. But, I just want to say to everybody, please stay inside,” Ralph advised. “There’s a curfew starting at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. Stay off the road in Kingston. I hope you put oil in your lamp and are taking extra care.”
Ralph posted her video near 1 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3. She captioned the clip, “Good night from Jamaica 🇯🇲 Pray for us as you pray for others.”
Bronny James Inks 4-year, $7.9 Million Deal w/ Los Angeles Lakers
Reports state that the basketball star is set to earn nearly $8 million over his first four years in the league after officially signing a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to reports, the West Coast team finalized a deal with Bronny James earlier today (Wednesday, July 3rd), while simultaneously signing the 19-year-old’s famous dad Lebron James, 39, to a 1-year extension. The move marks history for the pair, as they become the first active father-son duo to play in the NBA together.
Lebron James, 39, first signed on with the Lakers in 2018 and has repeatedly stated his desire to one day play with his eldest. As we’ve previously covered, the 4X NBA champion had to clarify remarks about possibly retiring after playing with his son, claiming he wants to play for the Lakers “as long as possible.”
Now, Lebron’s goal will become realized once Bronny suits up for his first official game this fall. Reports note that his contract begins at $1,157,143 in 2024-25 and progresses to $1,955,377 the following year, $2,296,271 in 2026-27 and $2,486,955 for a team option in 2027-28. While speaking on the pressure he faces coming into the league as the son of one of the greatest basketball stars of all time, Bronny insisted that he’s ready for the challenge and that playing with his dad was not “a main focus” in his decision to enter the draft. He stated during a recent interview:
“I’m trying to get my name out for myself…I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad…That’s always there to take part of, but it wasn’t a main focus of mine.It’s for sure amplified the amount of pressure…I’ve already seen it in (social) media and on the internet and stuff talking about (how) I might not deserve an opportunity…But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this for my whole life. It’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I can get through it,”
The Lakers selected Bronny as the #55th overall pick of the NBA draft held last month. His entry to the league comes after he suffered a heart-related scare while in college that resulted in a nearly 5-month recovery period. Bronny also spoke about how the off-time impacted his game and mindset moving forward, sharing:
“The time that I had off, I feel like I could have been perfecting my game more…I just feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do, because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at SC. So I’m excited for what it’s going to be.”
Columbus Short Slammed After Claiming Black Women Aren’t ‘Trained’ To Have Respect For Men: ‘You Don’t Even Know How To Cook’
During the interview, host Azar Farideh asked Columbus Short about the differences in his experiences with romantic relationships involving Black women versus non-Black women.
Columbus Short wasted no time in his response, stating,
“There’s no respect of the man, the Black man, by a Black woman.”
Seemingly trying to get ahead of any backlash, Short added,
“Black women, do not be mad at me!”
However, he then went on to describe women of other races and how, according to him, they treat their significant other better, stating,
“That Mexican side, that Asian—Korean, Japanese—that other side… Culturally, those women were taught to hold down. It’s more than subservient. Don’t get it twisted; they’ll cuss a man out thoroughly, but you’re still making dinner, you’re still washing his clothes, you’re still cleaning the house.”
Short continued, appearing to depict hypothetical scenarios where black women are portrayed as non-submissive or combative toward men. During the chat, he also claimed,
“You don’t even know how to cook, I’m not saying that’s all Black women.”
“Why would she even ask that question knowing how Black women are already hated by our own men? And then sitting there with a smile on her face.”
The full-length interview has since been deleted from YouTube, but clips remain circulating on TikTok and other social platforms, fueling further discussions and criticisms.
Columbus Short isn’t new to controversy. In 2014, he left the hit TV series Scandal amid domestic abuse allegations from his then-wife Tuere McCall. The two divorced in 2013, and shortly after, Short married Aida Abramyan in 2016.
What are your thoughts on Columbus Short’s controversial remarks?
The War and Treaty Feel ‘Betrayed’ After Finding Cotton Plant in Their Music Festival Dressing Room
Though Black artists have made major strides on the recent country music scene — with Beyoncé and Shaboozey launching No. 1 hits and acts like Brittney Spencer and Tanner Adell marking breakthroughs — racism in the genre still exists. For Americana-country husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty, it came last week at the Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
Ahead of their performance, Michael Trotter Jr. tells The Hollywood Reporter, “There was a cotton plant” in their dressing room. “And we all know what that means. We all know what that represents in this country to people that look like us.”
“Anger is what I felt. Disrespect is what I felt. Sadness is what I felt. Sadness not just because of what that plant represents to people that look like me but sadness for myself because I am a son of this country. I served this country honorably in the United States Army 16th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. I’m wounded for that service. I’m very vocal about my wounds and my scars, and I felt betrayed,” he explains. “It’s not fair. It’s something that white artists don’t have to worry about at all. … It just happens to come through the bowels of this genre. So, I feel that it’s not enough for us to talk about it, we have to demand that we be about it.”
The Grammy-nominated duo went on to perform on the main stage, though Trotter explains: “When I demanded that we quickly leave this festival and get out of there, Tanya and I had a moment in our hotel room where we wanted to address our son, Legend, who’s 12, and he ended up addressing us. He said that this is not the time to be quiet about it. He was very upset, and he understood exactly what it meant. He’s home schooled, and he knows what that means, and he doesn’t know what it means because Ty and I have sat down and drilled it in his head.”
The War and Treaty released their major-label debut, Lover’s Game, to critical acclaim last year and made history at the 2023 CMA and ACM Awards, becoming the first Black performers to be nominated for duo of the year at both shows. And they launched their first Top 15 hit on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Hey Driver,” their collaboration with streaming juggernaut Zach Bryan.
This year, they earned two Grammy nominations, including best new artist; they performed (alongside Charlie Puth) during the In Memoriam segment at the Primetime Emmy Awards; and they will open for The Rolling Stones at SoFi Stadium on July 10 and 13.
Tanya Trotter says their experience in Austin “hits hard when you are a granddaughter of a sharecropper.”
“My grandfather actually bought the plantation that he picked cotton on in New Bern, North Carolina. My family actually still lives there. So when you see these things, you look at it and you’re like, ‘Wow, even though my grandfather bought the plantation, there’s still a lot of pain rooted for people that didn’t get an opportunity to change it into economic development for their families.’ I didn’t want to sit in there and educate because it’s not my position to educate anybody on what cotton is and what it represents in this country. It just shouldn’t happen. Beyond it just being about racism, it’s broader now. It’s now a safety issue because we have to feel safe coming to these festivals,” she says.
She continues, “If we’re going to infiltrate and we’re going to have Black people, Asian people, Hispanic people, then you have to look at it as a safety issue the same way they did when they integrated the school in Arkansas. They had the police there. It has to be safe for people to come to get an education, to be entertained, whatever the case may be. So that’s the position that I take as we are moving into this genre and the spaces broadening not just for us but for everyone. Anybody with melanin in their skin, you have to provide an environment of safety for them.”
A representative for the Sips & Sounds Music Festival didn’t immediately respond to The Hollywood Reporter’s request for comment.
“My skin color is red, white and blue — the flag. I’m an American soldier. That is what this country called upon when it asked me to serve, so I feel betrayed,” Michael says. “Yes, it’s a safety issue, but it is bigger than that. It is a humane problem. It is humanity, and I was put in a position where I felt I had to protect my wife, and my son, and my daughter, and my band members at all costs, which would mean I got to go into war mode in my own country.”
Halle Bailey and DDG Share Photos of Son Halo’s Face for the First Time and Joke About Whom He Looks Like More
The Little Mermaid star, 24, and rapper, 26, posted a series of vacation pics with their 6-month-old son Halo, sharing their infant’s face publicly for the first time.
“halo’s first time in italy 🤍🌊," Bailey wrote in her Wednesday, July 3 Instagram post. The Color Purple star shared three photos with her boyfriend and their son.
The first photo shows the three of them on a small pier above the ocean. DDG is holding Halo up in the air, and Bailey is holding onto their baby’s leg as they smile wide for the camera.
In the second photo, Bailey cradles Halo, and DDG stands behind the two, smiling. Lastly, Bailey and her baby pose for the camera as she rests Halo on her hip and strikes a pose for the camera.
DDG shared his own photos to Instagram on Wednesday. “la familia ♥️ who halo look like more? 😂," he captioned the post.
Unlike Bailey, DDG included only a snapshot of Halo crying with himself mimicking his son’s expression. The remaining photos included a portrait of the three sitting and smiling together and a solo shot of the father and son.
In alignment with his caption, the artist also shared a close-up image of his son and then a final photo of himself as a baby.
Several followers turned to the comments to vote on who they think Halo looks like, with a majority telling DDG that Halo resembles his mom.
The couple welcomed Halo in December 2023. Bailey announced his birth in an Instagram post on Jan. 6, 2024.
There was speculation she was expecting throughout her pregnancy, but the singer and DDG notably kept her pregnancy under wraps until her Instagram reveal. At the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards in March 2024, Halle explained that she kept the news of Halo hidden from the public out of “a place of protection.”
“There was no way in hell I was going to share the biggest joy of my world with anyone,” she said. “Halo was my gift. He is the greatest blessing, and I had no obligation to expose him, me, or my family to that.”
The month prior, the couple spoke about their life as new parents in February with Entertainment Tonight.
"It's wonderful," Bailey told the outlet, adding, "I love our baby so much. We're so happy.”
Echoing the actress, DDG added, "It's amazing.”
Brian McKnight's 17-Month-Old Son Joins Dad Onstage for the First Time: 'Brian Jr.'s Debut with Daddy'
The singer is a dad to seven children, with Brian Jr. born in 2023. Brian McKnight had the cutest duet partner on stage with him at a recent concert.
The "Back at One" singer, 55, posted an Instagram Reel from his Universal Orlando concert on Friday, June 28, showing off the emotional moment when he brought his youngest son Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., 17 months, onto the stage with him. The little one can be seen nestled in his dad's arm as McKnight sings to the crowd.
When his dad hit a high note, Brian Jr. sang along, clapped with the crowd and hugged his dad tight, causing McKnight to shed a few joyful tears. "🎶🎤🎤🎤🎥🎥❤️❤️BRIAN JR.’S DEBUT with DADDY ❤️❤️❤️ 🎶🎵🎤 at Universal Orlando at Hard Rock Live last Friday 06/28/2024," the proud dad captioned the video.
"Thank you God for always protecting and blessing us keeping us safe in our own little world while taking Brian Jr. all over the world🙏🌎❤️," he added in the caption.
In October, McKnight announced that he legally changed his name to exactly match that of his then 9-month-old son, whom he welcomed that previous January. He shared a photo on his Instagram of his newest album, which features a picture of his baby son's face.
"🤍🤍🤍 So proud to introduce our son 🤍BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA JR. 🤍," he wrote in the caption.
"To the world with the release of my new album lovingly created for him. JR. because I am also proud to officially announce that I have legally changed my name to exactly match my legacy’s," the musician explained.
"My legal name is now BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA MCKNIGHT SR. MCKNIGHTtime LULLABIES the songs of a father to his namesake available now!"
In addition to his son, McKnight shares son Jack and daughter Julia with wife Leilani Mendoza. The singer is also father to sons Brian Jr. and Niko with ex-wife Julie McKnight — whom he was married to from 1990 to 2003 — and daughter Briana McKnight from a previous relationship.
In January 2023, McKnight and his wife announced that they welcomed another baby in a joint Instagram post. "'For this child we have prayed and the Lord has granted us the desires of our hearts' 1 Samuel 1:27 God's greatest gift, our son is here!!!" the pair wrote alongside a photo of McKnight and Leilani making a heart with their hands around the infant's hand.
"🤍 Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight 🤍 We are so in love!!!!
Fox Soul’s ‘Tea-G-I-F’ Canceled Amid Behind-the-scenes Drama and Policy
The first signs of trouble – according to a report from SandraRose.com – emerged when Luenell appeared on an episode and asked Al Reynolds, “Did you ever come out as gay to Star Jones before your marriage?” This question violated a strict policy forbidding references to Star Jones, who previously issued a cease-and-desist order to the show’s producers. Al, visibly mortified, responded, “Oh, my goodness. I have never not been truthful with anybody that I’ve dated. I have always been very honest with all of my partners about my sexuality.”
Luenell’s breach of policy did not end there; she also violated another rule that stated Al’s sexuality was off-limits unless he chose to discuss it. Reportedly, Al was highly upset and directed his frustration at Claudia Jordan, accusing her of putting Luenell up to the question.
To make matters worse, during Al’s birthday roast, co-host Armon Wiggins added fuel to the fire by launching a personal attack. “Al’s got a unique ability to smile in your face, snap a picture, and go behind your back and talk about you to your co-worker that he claims he hates. … It’s like he’s got a Ph.D. in two-faced studies,” Armon said.
Al, already on edge, called his former co-host Funky Dineva, who was broadcasting live at the time, to express his grievances. It wasn’t long before Al began blaming Claudia again—this time for allegedly feeding negative information about him to Armon.
The boiling tension and constant disputes eventually reached D’Artagnan Bebel, the general manager and head of programming at Fox Soul. Bebel decided that the ongoing animosity was too disruptive and made the decision to suspend the show temporarily. However, after further evaluation, it was determined that the situation was irreparable, leading to the show’s permanent cancellation.
Fans of “Tea-G-I-F” quickly took to social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Sandrarose.com, to express their disappointment. The cancellation left many pointing fingers at Claudia Jordan, accusing her of back-stabbing her co-hosts and contributing to the toxic environment on the show. Others, however, believed that all three co-hosts—the trio of Claudia, Al, and Armon—played a role in the series’ downfall.
As the fallout continues, Claudia Jordan, aged 51, is already looking ahead, actively interviewing for roles on other networks. Claudia, who has a long list of TV credits including “Deal or No Deal,” “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and “Married to Medicine,” remains a notable figure in entertainment, despite the controversy.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Beach Day
Another case of people who felt way too comfortable at Walmart, and ended up showing up at the store only with their underwear on.
Another case of people who felt way too comfortable at Walmart, and ended up showing up at the store only with their underwear on.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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