#MAGFAB: Chaka Khan for FLAUNT MAGAZINE!!!!
Chaka Khan | We Plant These Seeds, And They Always Exceed Expectation
In Conversation With Sia, Via Issue 191, Fresh Cuts
Unfurling from the tendrils of time, there are rare voices that move and shake through the space-rhythm continuum and into the sonic psyche. Undoubtedly, one of those voices is Chaka Khan. Born in Chicago, Chaka rose to prominence in the early 70s as the lead singer of the immortal funk outfit, Rufus. Defining a genre and a celestial energy with hits like, “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” and “Ain’t Nobody,” Chaka still gets even the coolest too-cool-for-school scenesters moving on the dance floor.
After a successful career with the band and in her own right—one that has birthed 22 albums, 10 Grammys, 10 Number One songs, and an equal number of gold and platinum albums— Chaka Khan is emerging back into the spotlight, having paired up with Australian singer and songwriter Sia, whose past collaborations include everyone from Eminem to Beck to Miley Cyrus. A testament to new beginnings, friendships, and synergies, the two have collaborated on a forthcoming single, “Immortal Queen,” with an album soon to follow.
Ahead of these fresh cuts from hitting the proverbial sound garden, FLAUNT had the opportunity to listen in on a conversation between the two respective icons, speaking their truth on the virtues of napping, godchildren, who to trust, and the joys of new friends.
In Conversation With Sia, Via Issue 191, Fresh Cuts
Unfurling from the tendrils of time, there are rare voices that move and shake through the space-rhythm continuum and into the sonic psyche. Undoubtedly, one of those voices is Chaka Khan. Born in Chicago, Chaka rose to prominence in the early 70s as the lead singer of the immortal funk outfit, Rufus. Defining a genre and a celestial energy with hits like, “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” and “Ain’t Nobody,” Chaka still gets even the coolest too-cool-for-school scenesters moving on the dance floor.
After a successful career with the band and in her own right—one that has birthed 22 albums, 10 Grammys, 10 Number One songs, and an equal number of gold and platinum albums— Chaka Khan is emerging back into the spotlight, having paired up with Australian singer and songwriter Sia, whose past collaborations include everyone from Eminem to Beck to Miley Cyrus. A testament to new beginnings, friendships, and synergies, the two have collaborated on a forthcoming single, “Immortal Queen,” with an album soon to follow.
Ahead of these fresh cuts from hitting the proverbial sound garden, FLAUNT had the opportunity to listen in on a conversation between the two respective icons, speaking their truth on the virtues of napping, godchildren, who to trust, and the joys of new friends.
Chaka: I love you so much, and I love your heart, and it really threw me for a loop to finally find you...I don’t even have a word for what we are, together.
Sia: Do you love yourself?
Chaka: On a good day, I love myself.
Sia: How did you get to the point of being able to love yourself?
Chaka: You know, I’m still working on it; I’m a real selfless kind of person. I love people. I love everybody.
Sia: And you forget to focus on yourself sometimes?
Chaka: Exactly.
Sia: And then on a day when you don’t feel like you’re in love with yourself, what do you do to get out of your head and out of that negative space?
Chaka: I try to reset and usually go to sleep and get up again.
#RHOP: Candiace Dillard Bassett to Exit ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ After 6 Seasons
“As I embark on a new chapter after six remarkable years with The Real Housewives of Potomac, I am filled with gratitude for the enriching friendships, personal growth and moments of introspection that have defined this journey,” she said to People.
“With a whirlwind of new opportunities and responsibilities on my plate, I have decided to take a break from RHOP,” Bassett continued, Too Fab reports. “This is not a farewell, but a ‘see you later.'”
She added, “Your unwavering support has been my guiding light, and I look forward to the exciting adventures that lie ahead and more importantly, sharing them all with you!”
The season 8 finale recently aired, with the multi-part reunion set to kick off this weekend. The season 8 cast includes Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Wendy Osefo, Gizelle Bryant, Robyn Dixon, and Mia Thornton. Joining the ladies for the current season was newcomer Nneka “Neco” Ihim, a Nigerian-American lawyer who is newly married to a plastic surgeon.
“We are all Black women, and we are all going through our different things in our lives, and we’re going to embrace that,” Ashley said in the S8 trailer. We’re going to keep Potomac weird, OK?”
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” first premiered in 2016. The S8 reunion kicks off the first of three weekly episodes this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Meanwhile, Candiace made headlines recently when she shared her fear of having fair-skinned children with her white husband.
“I do have a fear of having light-skinned children,” she said during an episode of the Breakbeat Media podcast Don’t Call Me White Girl, ESSENCE reports.
“I want my kids to be brown. But they’re probably not gonna be brown. And I’m like, becoming okay with it. I want my kids to be brown. But if they’re not, it’s fine,” she said.
Bassett is married to chef Chris Bassett. When they first started dating, she didn’t consider the possibility that their children might have lighter skin.
She stated on the podcast, “I didn’t think about [that] when I was falling in love and like ‘Oh this is my husband. Oh wait I’m gonna have these swirly babies.’”
#MusicNews: SWV & Xscape Announce “The Queens of R&B Tour” With Mya, Total & 702
Legendary 90’s R&B groups SWV and Xscape are coming together for “The Queens of R&B Tour”. They will be joined by special guests Mya, Total and 702.
The tour is a celebration of passion, power, resilience and unstoppable ability to exceed expectations. The highly anticipated tour will bring timeless R&B music and stellar performances across 30 cities nationwide.
Produced by Monami Entertainment and Live Nation, the tour will kick off on June 27th in Concord, CA, at the Toyota Pavilion at Concord and continue its journey across the country, making stops at prestigious venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Mona Scott-Young of Monami Entertainment adds:
“To announce this HERstorical tour during Women’s History Month means everything. It speaks to the power of our ability as women to overcome adversity and emerge triumphant. 702, Total, Mýa, SWV, and Xscape have all weathered storms and are still here and better than ever! We are so excited to bring the fans an incredible and undeniable performance experience that truly celebrates R&B music.”
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale on Tuesday, March 26. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale starting Friday, March 29, at 10:00 AM local time on Ticketmaster.com.
THE QUEENS OF R&B TOUR DATES:
Thu Jun 27 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Sat Jun 29 – Las Vegas, NV – Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Tue Jul 02 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Wed Jul 03 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Fri Jul 05 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sat Jul 06 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Tue Jul 09 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Wed Jul 10 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Fri Jul 12 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Sat Jul 13 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Jul 14 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Tue Jul 16 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Wed Jul 17 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Fri Jul 19 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*
Sat Jul 20 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sun Jul 21 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Wed Jul 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thu Jul 25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri Jul 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sat Jul 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
Fri Aug 02 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Sat Aug 03 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sun Aug 04 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Tue Aug 06 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Fri Aug 09 – Detroit, MI – LIttle Caesar’s Arena
Sat Aug 10 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sun Aug 11 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 13 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
Wed Aug 14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
Sun Aug 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Get your tickets!
#HipHopNews: Cardi B Threatens To Sue LAPD After They Allegedly Made Her Get “Butt-Naked” During Investigation
During an Instagram Live on Monday (March 25), she detailed the encounter. The artist stated, “I was freaking out. They had me outside for like three hours. They had me getting butt-naked outside. S**t was crazy. It was dead-a** a movie and whatever, but you already know I’m about to sue the LAPD.”
The “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker later voiced her disbelief over the situation, highlighting her confusion about being suspected of drug trafficking. “I told them like, ‘Yo, I’m Cardi B. Do I look like I gotta sell some s**t? Why would I do that? I would never pull no s**t like that,'” she recounted.
Cardi also speculated that the tip-off to the police might have been the work of an adversary. “They didn’t believe me. It was some white cops and they ain’t know who I was. They was really tough on me and everything. They said somebody gave them a clue,” she explained. “I really feel like it was one of my opps and s**t. They really trying to ruin my life type s**t.”
Toward the end of the clip, Cardi thanked her fans for supporting “Enough (Miami).” The record, which came out on March 15, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its accompanying visuals have roughly 8.4 million YouTube views to date.
The track followed Cardi’s “Like What (Freestyle).” The latter-mentioned song sampled Missy Elliott’s smash hit “She’s A B**ch,” and Offset directed the music video. It also served as the New York native’s first solo release of 2024. Meanwhile, her most recent featured appearances include Flo Milli’s “Never Lose Me (Remix)” and Shakira’s “Puntería.”
Diddy Sells Remaining Revolt TV Stake To Anonymous Buyer
Diddy has sold his remaining stake in Revolt TV to an anonymous buyer.
According to TMZ, his shares were sold for an undisclosed sum, though it will remain Black-owned. The outlet also details that the new Revolt boss wants to remain anonymous during this time. However, they plan to announce their arrival “in the coming weeks.” No other details surrounding the sale have been shared.
Sexual assault allegations lodged against Diddy sent a shockwave throughout Revolt in 2023. In fact, journalist Dawn Montgomery decided to leave the company. Montgomery explained that she couldn’t work at Revolt if Diddy was involved in any way. Montgomery, a host on Revolt’s Monuments to Me podcast, announced her departure shortly after Cassie released her bombshell lawsuit.
“FYI: I won’t be signing on to do the 3rd season of @revolttv’s Monuments To Me podcast. I am a [sexual assault] survivor & I cannot be a part of a show that’s supposed to uplift black women while @Diddy leads the company. Believe Black women,” she typed at the time.
“I am grateful for how I was able to contribute to this show & work with w/my cohost Akilah! This was a wonderful opportunity brought to me by our producer, Darius, who saw that I needed to share more of my story & connect with w/the show’s audience. This isn’t a hard decision, and I’m okay,” she added. “One thing I’ve done throughout my professional career(s) is be mindful of my work ethic and where I place my energy & time. I also feel like Revolt’s leadership not speaking on this says a lot and even though this podcast experience blessed me… I’m done.”
As previously reported, Diddy stepped down from his role as Revolt chairman. In November 2023, Sean Combs relinquished his role amid a flurry of sexual assault allegations. Combs released a statement via Revolt’s Instagram page at the time explaining his decision.
“Sean Combs has stepped down from his position as chairman of Revolt,” the message read. “While Mr. Combs has previously had no operational or day-to-day role in the business, this decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and the African diaspora.” At the time, Diddy’s move was detailed as “temporary.”
‘The Wire’ Creator David Simon Has Zero Patience For Conspiracy Theorists Who Are Pouncing On The Baltimore Bridge Tragedy
On social media, fans of crime drama The Wire were quick to share a scene from season 2, which focused on a handful of characters working in the Baltimore Port area.
David Simon not only created The Wire but also worked as a police reporter at The Baltimore Times for over a decade, and he is not happy with the amount of conspiracy theories surrounding the catastrophe.
Simon took to Twitter/X to debunk some theories that the crash was intentional. Most notably, he called Marjorie Taylor Green a “complete submoronic pratfall of a human being.”
Even though there are reports that the crash was caused by a power failure, according to CNN, the cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said, “We have been made aware of those same reports about there being a power outage. I’ve also seen statements, media releases from Singapore as well. It’s something that we take in, but something that we have to verify through our investigation that that was what was part of the contributing cause here. So too early to tell,” she said. For now, their efforts are focused on looking for the missing construction workers.
Drake Bell To Share More In Surprise Fifth Episode Of 'Quiet On Set'
According to a network press release, the upcoming episode will delve "deeper into the toxic and dangerous culture" of some of the most iconic children's television shows in the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to Drake, the episode will feature other former child actors from some of Nickelodeon's hit shows from the early 2000s.
The new episode is set to build off "the revelations explored in the first four episodes." It will also include discussions with journalist Soledad O'Brien.
Jason Sarlanis, President, TNT, TBS, TruTV, ID & HLN, Linear and Streaming, said in a statement, "With 'Breaking the Silence', we're digging deeper into the crucial conversations the docuseries ignited and exploring the lingering questions left in their wake to provide further insight from the brave voices who've spoken out previously and those who are coming forward again."
On the docuseries, Drake opened about being sexually assaulted by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck when he was 15. His father Joe Bell also appeared on the show, claiming that he was "ostracized" on set and "backed off" when he raised concerns.
"I'm not the same today," Joe said while getting emotional. "The pain's still there from the moment that I knew. I don't wish this on any parent or child whatsoever. It's just devastating."
"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV", which premiered on March 17, has garnered more than 16 million views. Among the viewers was Drake's former "Drake and Josh" co-star Josh Peck, who showed support for Drake in a statement.
"I finished the Quiet on Set documentary and took a few days to process it," he wrote in an Instagram post. "I reached out to Drake privately, but I want to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world."
He continued, "Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry."
Will Smith And Martin Lawrence Embark On New Adventure In 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die' Trailer
Sony Pictures has released the trailer for "Bad Boys 4" officially titled "Bad Boys: Ride or Die". The film marks the fourth installment in the popular action-comedy franchise that debuted in 1995.
Will Smith, 55, and Martin Lawrence, 58, reprise their iconic roles as Miami PD detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. However, this time around, the duo finds themselves on the run from the police after being falsely accused of a crime.
The trailer opens with the partners foiling a convenience store robbery while on their way to a black-tie event. They soon discover that their former supervisor, Captain Conrad Howard (oe Pantoliano), was suspected of corruption and ask them to clear his name.
In a wild turn of events, Lowrey and Burnett are framed for a crime they didn't commit, forcing them to flee. They seek help from Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio), a jailed drug dealer who was revealed to be Lowrey's son in "Bad Boys for Life."
As the trailer progresses, the detectives find their lives in danger when they're confronted by gunmen who demand they sing a Reba McEntire song to stay alive. The duo hilariously attempts to fulfill their request.
Joining Smith and Lawrence in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" are Alexander Ludwig, Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, Paola Nunez, Rhea Seehorn, Tasha Smith, and Ioan Gruffudd. The film is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who also helmed "Bad Boys for Life".
WATCHThe first "Bad Boys" film grossed $140 million worldwide while "Bad Boys II" earned over $270 million. The third film in the franchise, "Bad Boys for Life," was even more successful, taking in over $420 million.
"Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is set to hit theaters on June 7. According to Smith, the original choices for the "Bad Boys" roles were Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz, but the casting changed when Lawrence received the script.
Dollar Tree Inc. Plans to raise prices again in 2024 to 7 Dollars
A recent earnings call held by Dollar Tree Inc. consisted of an announcement of another price hike where over 300 newly introduced items will be now have a cost range from $1.50 to $7. To summarize, all products in Dollar Tree stores will now range from $1.25 to a higher $7, and just the newly introduced items will have a base price increase to $1.50.
According to Yahoo Finance, a $5 price cap was announced in June of 2023. This means that the the capped cost of $7 will be more than it was in the past. Dollar Tree Inc. had already raised their base price to $1.25 in 2021.
According to Dollar Tree Inc. CEO Rick Dreiling, the move was made in order to add new products to their shelves.
This expanded assortment will offer Dollar Tree shoppers a wider range of choices across a variety of categories…Over time, you will also see us fully integrate multi-price merchandise more into our stores, so our shoppers will find $5 bags of dog food next to our traditional $1.25 pet treats and toys, and our $3 bags of candy will be found in the candy aisle.
The most recent price increase comes not long after Dollar Tree Inc., who also owns Family Dollar, announced the closure of more than 1,000 Family Dollar stores nationwide.
Russell Simmons Shocked To Be Served Lawsuit While In Bali
People have joked about Russell Simmons fleeing to Bali to escape possible legal action for years, but the accusations against him are no laughing matter. Reportedly, he wasn’t laughing either when he was served a lawsuit, even whilst being in the Indonesian province.
We reports that process server Daniel John Ayoub traveled to the Gbas Bali Health And Wellness Resort on March 5, went through two security checkpoints and searched for the Def Jam co-founder for an hour before finding him. Upon discovering Simmons’ whereabouts, he handed him a lawsuit from former music executive Drew Dixon for defamation after his negligence of her sexual assault claims.
“I recognized him as the person named in the service papers as Russell Simmons,” Ayoub said. “[He’s] a well-known celebrity and widely known in Bali, Indonesia as well as in the United States and other places.” Ayoub claims that Simmons was in the middle of a meeting with some of his associates and was shocked to have been found and served this lawsuit while overseas.
Simmons was first accused of being a sexual assault empathizer by Terry Crews in 2017. Crews claimed he had been inappropriately touched by WME agent Adam Venit and shared screenshots of the 66-year-old entrepreneur asking him to give Venit a “pass.”
This opened a can of worms, as The Los Angeles Times reported that Simmons and director Brett Ratner were accused of joining forces to sexually assault women. One of their alleged victims claims she was coerced into going back to an apartment with them, where they made sexual advances while she was 17 years old.
As for Drew Dixon, she claims Simmons raped her in 1995 and went on a “concert and malicious campaign” to discredit her story. He described her as seeking “notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame” by making these accusations against him, and has repeatedly declared he is innocent in the matter. Dixon has also accused record executive L.A. Reid of sexual assault and harassment, and AllHipHop reports that their lawyers are in settlement talks.
Renee Rapp Hits Back at Fans Speculating About Her Sexuality
Renee Rapp is done with all of the talk about her sexuality. After previously identifying as bisexual, the 24-year-old Mean Girls actress has recently been referring to herself as a lesbian in interviews.
Fans then started to question her sexuality, and on Monday (March 25) told everyone to cut it out.
“if I say I’m a lesbian I am a lesbian and if someone says they’re bi they are bi I’ve had enough of you witches,” Renee wrote on X, previously known as Twitter.
Back in February, Renee looked back at publicly coming out
Oscar Winners Ke Huy Quan & Ariana DeBose to Star in New Movie 'With Love'
With Love will be directed by acclaimed veteran stunt coordinator and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio. The movie will mark his directorial debut.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the movie is being written by Josh Stoddard, Luke Passmore, and Matthew Murray
The movie marks Ke‘s first starring role since winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2023.
As of right now, With Love is scheduled to open in theaters on February 7, 2025.
If you missed it, Ariana addressed speculation that she may be feuding with a fellow actor.
NBC News Ousts Ronna McDaniel After Staff Uproar, CAA Drops Ex-RNC Chair
NBC News has officially decided to part ways with its newest on-air contributor, Ronna McDaniel, the former Republican National Committee chair, just days after she was hired.
“After listening to the legitimate concerns of many of you, I have decided that Ronna McDaniel will not be an NBC News contributor,” NBC News Group chairman Cesar Conde wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon. “No organization, particularly a newsroom, can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned. Over the last few days, it has become clear that this appointment undermines that goal.”
Separately, McDaniel has been dropped by CAA, the agency that repped her in the deal with the network, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter.
The former Republican National Committee chair was hired by NBC News on March 22 as an on-air contributor, and she made her NBC debut on Sunday’s edition of Meet the Press, where she was grilled by Kristen Welker.
“It couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team,” NBC News senior vp of political Carrie Budoff Brown said of her hire at the time.
But the move was extremely controversial within the NBC News Group, with former Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd voicing concerns on Sunday’s show just minutes after the interview ran.
“Look, there’s a reason why there’s a lot of journalists at NBC News are uncomfortable with this, because many of our professional dealings with the RNC over the last six years have been met with gaslighting, had been met with character assassination,” Todd said on the program.
Those public concerns continued Monday, with one MSNBC host after another calling for executives to reconsider the move, including Joy Reid, Nicolle Wallace and Lawrence O’Donnell.
“To be clear, we believe NBC News should seek out conservative Republican voices to provide balance in their election coverage,” Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski said. “But it should be conservative Republicans, not a person who used her position of power to be an anti-democracy election denier, and we hope NBC will reconsider its decision. It goes without saying that she will not be a guest on Morning Joe in her capacity as a paid contributor.”
And MSNBC’s biggest primetime star, Rachel Maddow, delivered an extended monologue about the history of American fascism, connecting the echoes of the past to the current efforts to undermine elections, and noting McDaniel’s role in the 2020 effort.
“I mean, you wouldn’t hire a wiseguy, you wouldn’t hire a made man like a mobster to work at a DA’s office, right?” Maddow said. “You wouldn’t hire a pickpocket to work as a TSA screener. And so I find the decision to put her on the payroll, it’s inexplicable, and I hope they will reverse their decision.”
Read Conde’s memo:
Hey all,
There is no doubt that the last several days have been difficult for the News Group. After listening to the legitimate concerns of many of you, I have decided that Ronna McDaniel will not be an NBC News contributor.
No organization, particularly a newsroom, can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned. Over the last few days, it has become clear that this appointment undermines that goal.
I want to personally apologize to our team members who felt we let them down. While this was a collective recommendation by some members of our leadership team, I approved it and take full responsibility for it.
Our initial decision was made because of our deep commitment to presenting our audiences with a widely diverse set of viewpoints and experiences, particularly during these consequential times. We continue to be committed to the principle that we must have diverse viewpoints on our programs, and to that end, we will redouble our efforts to seek voices that represent different parts of the political spectrum.
GOOD!
Kim Zolciak Taken To Court Over Target Card Balance
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak is being taken to court over her Target credit card balance. This comes as Kim’s overall debt total reaches more than $1 million and she struggles to sell her Atlanta home. Keep reading for the details about the lawsuit and how the RHOA star ended up in this legal battle.
Kim Zolciak Taken To Court Over Target Card Balance
She was initially sued by Target National Bank in June 2023 for $2,482.24. However, Kim refused to settle the bill and the issue was further escalated to a court in Georgia.
“[Target] has made demand upon the Defendant for payment, but [Zolciak] has failed, neglected, and refused to make payment upon the account to the Plaintiff,” the lawsuit read. According to the suit, the RHOA star opened the Target card account in 2007 and was always on time with payments until she stopped paying altogether in 2022.
The last payment received was in the amount of $500 on September 17, 2022. Even though she was served with legal paperwork, she blew the lawsuit off. This forced the court to enter a default judgment.
Court documents have revealed that a Georgia judge ordered Kim Zolciak to pay $2,613.38 for the debt owed to Target. The court order comes as financial hardships continue to pile up for the former Real Housewives star.
The $2,600 debt is nothing compared to the $1.1 million tax lien that Kim Zolciak and her estranged husband Kroy Biermann are currently facing. The lien states that the couple owes $103,564.48 for 2013, $330,126.29 for 2017, and $714,143.90 for 2018.
To settle the federal tax lien, Kim and Kroy have been attempting to offload their mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia. This is the only asset they have to sell in order to settle the lien. However, the 7-bedroom, 9-bathroom, 9,500-square-foot home has proven to be hard to sell. They decreased the asking price by $1 million, bringing it down to $5 million.
The pair sued Truist Bank to stop foreclosure proceedings on the home, citing that doing so would cause their family significant harm. Kim Zolciak told the court, “I am writing this affidavit today with a sense of urgency and a sincere request for your understanding and assistance in a matter of great importance to my family.”
She said that she believed “that the proceeds from its sale can help alleviate our financial difficulties and secure a stable future for our children. However, the impending threat of foreclosure is looming over us, and time is of the essence.” Additionally, she said the foreclosure of the home would leave her children homeless.
Truist Bank said that it planned to proceed with the foreclosure if they did not come up with the money promptly.
Josephine Wright’s Family Settles with Developer Over Ancestral Land
*Josephine Wright, the South Carolina woman who made national headlines for fighting developers over property that has belonged to her family since the end of the Civil War, died earlier this year at age 94. Two months after her passing, her fight concluded with Bailey Point Investment, the construction company seeking her land.
The Guardian reports that the company settled with Wright’s family members, ending the dispute that began with a lawsuit for ownership last year.
According to South Carolina Public Radio, the settlement confirms that the family retains ownership of the property within Bailey Point’s proposed 29-acre neighborhood. The company is prohibited from contacting the family regarding the purchase of the land, and a privacy fence will be installed between the property and the construction of a new residential development.
Wright’s story caught Tyler Perry’s attention, and before her death, he promised to build her a new house on the property. The movie mogul hit up social media to express condolences after Wright’s passing in January.
“I am so heartbroken to hear about the passing of this warrior. Ms. Josephine Wright, even though we spoke by phone, I was so looking forward to meeting you in person next month to hand you the keys to your new house, but God had other plans,” Perry explained in a post on Instagram. “My prayer is that you rest in peace knowing that I will honor the commitment that I made to you. I know you will be watching over us all as I hand those same keys to your family.”
Perry added, “So your 4 children, 40 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren will still be able to gather at YOUR house on YOUR land and tell the world what kind of fighter that you were. You have run your race and fought an incredible fight! Journey well my dear lady. You have inspired me.”
We reported earlier via CNN that Wright and her late husband, Samuel Wright Sr., moved from New York to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, nearly 30 years ago to seek peace and relaxation on a family-owned property. Wright acquired the deed to the land in 2012 after her husband died in 1998. The property was at the center of a legal battle with the developer looking to build a residential development next door.
According to The Post and Courier, Georgia-based Bailey Point Investment, LLC plans to construct 147 homes next to Wright’s house.
As of 2014, Bailey Point Investment reportedly owns the land surrounding Wright’s 1.8-acre property. The company tried to buy Wright’s residence a few years back, offering just $39,000, but she rejected it, according to USA TODAY.
Wright countersued the company, and that’s when she caught Perry’s attention, who vowed to build her a new five-bedroom home on the land, TMZ reported.
AFROTECH reports that after a tree fell on Wright’s home and left two holes, Perry built a new home for the great-great-grandmother.
A GoFundMe for Wright raised over $350,000. Snoop Dogg and Kyrie Irving donated $10,000 and $40,000, respectively.
McDonald’s to Sell Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Nationwide by 2026
The rollout is expected to start in the second half of the year and is expected to take nearly two and a half years as the donut chain more than doubles its distribution to satisfy the partnership. For the duration of the agreement, McDonald’s will be the exclusive fast-food partner for Krispy Kreme in the U.S., CNBC News reported. The partnership was first tested at 160 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky and Indiana last year.
Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth told CNBC that demand exceeded both companies’ expectations.
Shares of Krispy Kreme spiked 24% in morning trading Tuesday following the announcement. The stock is on track for its best day ever.
The partnership with McDonald’s is a major opportunity for Krispy Kreme to expand. The company delivers its doughnuts to 6,800 third-party stores as of Dec. 31. McDonald’s has roughly 13,500 restaurants in the U.S. and plans to open 900 more by 2027, CBS News reported.
The partnership could also help McDonald’s bolster its breakfast and coffee sales.
“We think we can service about 6,000 restaurants with our existing infrastructure, mostly doughnut shops, which have excess capacity,” Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth told CNBC.
Under the collab, Krispy Kreme will deliver three versions of its donuts — glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles, and chocolate iced with a cream filling — to McDonald’s locations each morning. Customers have the option of buying donuts individually or in a box of six.
NFL Owners Approve New Kickoff Rule
New rule changes are often proposed and approved at the annual NFL owners’ meetings. On Tuesday, a new Kickoff Rule was approved with a vote of 27-3. This rule is considered to be safer and more entertaining than the previous one. The new rule will be enforced for a one-year trial period and must be reapproved next year.
Under the new rule, ten players from the kicking team and at least nine from the receiving team will line up just five yards apart. Nobody except for the kicker and the returners can move until the receiving team catches the ball. The kicking team will now kick from their 35-yard line, which will help prevent the slew of injuries that have occurred in the past, when players ran at full speed during kickoffs.
If a kick lands in the endzone for a touchback, the opposing team will receive the ball at the 30-yard line. If the ball is kicked out of bounds or short of the 20, the opposing team will be awarded the ball at the 40-yard line. Similar to the small sample size from the XFL, the injuries went down, and the returns on kickoffs increased.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
And the Furious Series Continues
Ready, Set, Go!
Ready, Set, Go!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
