Naomi Osaka for Vogue Hong Kong!
On a special ‘Women in Sports’ Olympics cover, Naomi Osaka was styled and photographed by an all-Black team for Vogue Hong Kong.
Vogue Hong Kong shared stylish shots of tennis superstar Osaka ahead of the Olympics. Along with Stephanie Au and Eileen Gu, the digital exclusive covers highlight some of the most talented women set to take the world stage at the Olympics.
Osaka’s cover was styled by an all-Black team: stylist Law Roach, hairstylist Martin-Christopher Harper, and makeup artist Autumn Moultrie, with AB+DM taking the photographs.
#VogueHongKong digital exclusive stars for the Olympic ‘Women in Sports’ special.
Osaka is currently ranked 2nd worldwide for singles in Tennis, and will be competing in the #TokyoOlympics where she will be making her debut representing Japan!
At just 23 years old, Osaka is the world’s highest-paid female athlete, and also takes the time and effort to give back to the community, empowering women in sport with her initiative, the Naomi Osaka Play Academy.”
The caption then proceeds to detail the entire team behind the exclusive shoot, including: “Photographer: @ABDMStudio @TheOnly.Agency, Stylist: @LuxuryLaw @TheOnly.Agency, CGI Artist: @Fergus.Yip, Hair Stylist: @TheMartyHarper, Makeup Artist: @AutumnMoultrieBeauty, Casting Director: @JillDemling.”
Another shot shared to the account shows a profile of Osaka rocking silver tennis racket earrings. Detailing her various business endeavors outside of tennis, the caption reads, “…Osaka is not only renowned for her sporting prowess, but has also made waves in the world of fashion and beauty.
Her swimwear collection with #FrankiesBikinis is inclusively designed for all women, while her upcoming skincare brand #KINLO will create sun protection products for darker skin tones. And Osaka does it all in style – the star was named a #LouisVuitton brand ambassador this past January!”
For the article accompanying the photoshoot, Osaka opened up about tennis and the mental pressures surrounding her position on the world stage.
She explains, “Tennis is a solo sport, you cannot rely on a teammate when you’re having an off day. It’s about trusting yourself and the work you put in prior to the match.”
She acknowledges that it can be hard for female athletes out on the playing field. “You may lose more than you win, be told ‘no’ more than ‘yes’ but if you stay the path, and put in the work, you can be the best version of [yourself].”
As previously reported, Osaka recently wrote an op-ed for Time magazine detailing her relationship with the press and her hopes for the future of tennis
She writes, “… in my opinion (and I want to say that this is just my opinion and not that of every tennis player on tour), the press-conference format itself is out of date and in great need of a refresh. I believe that we can make it better, more interesting and more enjoyable for each side. Less subject vs. object; more peer to peer.”
You can see the full photoshoot and read Osaka’s interview for Vogue Hong Kong, here.
#RHOA: OOH LA LA! Kandi Burruss Pairs a Plunging, Lemon-Printed Bikini with Neon Yellow Heels!
Kandi Burruss is showing off her strong swimsuit game this summer. Just days after rocking a cheeky Louis Vuitton bikini, The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member is once again putting her stunning swim style on display, donning a sexy lemon-printed bikini and neon yellow heels.
On July 16, Kandi took to Instagram to flaunt her sizzling swimwear. The mom of three looked fabulous, striking a sultry pose in a retro-style citrus-themed two-piece while soaking up some sun on a tree-lined patio. As captured in the snapshot, the stylish bikini featured a bandeau top with a low-cut neckline and ruffled straps and high-waisted bottoms with a green-and-white striped waist tie.
“Still turning shade trees into money trees!” she wrote in the caption of the photo.
Kandi topped off the flirty look with a pair of sky-high, bright yellow stilettos and loose, beachy waves in her hair.
Several Bravolebs couldn’t help but remark on the sexy pic. “Juicyyy,” Shahs of Sunset’s Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi wrote in the comments alongside several lemon emojis while RHOA alum Shereé Whitfield responded with a series of fire emojis.
#NewMusic from Normani with Cardi B 'Wild Side'!
Normani's anticipated return to the scene saw her recruit Cardi B for a sultry collaboration called "Wild Side."
On Friday the pop star, 25, dropped the new team-up. The brooding track, which samples Aaliyah's 1996 classic, "One in a Million," hears the two heat up the bedroom with an enticing ode to their, well, wild sides. "We can't just keep talkin' about it/ We think too often about it/ We can't just be cautious about it/ I wanna get wild/ Take me for a ride, boy/ Show me your wild side, boy/ Know it's been a while, boy I wanna get wild," Normani croons during the hook. As for Bardi, the rapper pops in with a verse towards the end of the track, delivering bars that appropriately match her bold personality. "Look, dímelo, turn me 'round/ Treat me like a watch, bust me down/ On the kitchen floor, right on that towel/ It's my d*ck and I want it now, aw,” she spits on the opening bars.
LISTEN HERE
"Wild Side" follows the release of Normani's solo efforts, including "Motivation," the Sam Smith duet "Dancing With a Stranger
#HipHopNews: Here are Pop Smoke ‘FAITH’ First Week Sales Projections!
There’s been some controversy around the release of Pop Smoke’s posthumous sophomore album, FAITH. While some fans were excited about the project coming out, others called the release exploitation and were upset with the way it panned out. Pop’s childhood friend Mike Dee even commented on the situation, saying he knew nothing about it and Pop wouldn’t have wanted it to go down the way it did.
Nonetheless, the album is getting good reviews. The general consensus seems to be that it’s a good collection of music, but a step down from the first album. Now, some first week sales projections have come out.
The album is set to debut at #1 ahead of John Mayer and Olivia Rodrigo. It is projected to sell 110k-120k copies first week with 4k-6k coming from pure sales.
Colin Kaepernick Lands Multi-Book Deal With Scholastic, Will Publish Children’s Books!
It’s been years since Colin Kaepernick last played in the NFL, but it’s safe to say he’s racked up his own endeavors.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was said to be blackballed from the league after he protested police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.
Since then, he’s inked multiple deals with major platforms, and he now has another one to share.
His publishing company, Kaepernick Publishing, has signed a multi-publishing partnership with Scholastic to release books for kids. The debut project, I Color Myself Different (illustrated by Eric Wilkerson), is slated to hit shelves in April 2022.
The book will tell the story of Colin Kaepernick’s childhood after being adopted by a white family. It will center on an incident when he put “down the yellow crayon he had been using to draw his family and picking up the brown crayon for himself.”
Scholastic says the book is
“a joyful ode to Black and Brown lives based on real events in young Colin’s life.”
The book is 40 pages and for children four to eight.
He said of the book: This story is deeply personal to me and inspired by real events in my life. I hope that it honors the courage and bravery of young people everywhere by encouraging them to live with authenticity and purpose. I’m excited for Kaepernick Publishing to be collaborating with Scholastic on books with Black and Brown voices at the forefront. I hope that our books will inspire readers to walk through the world with confidence, strength, and truth in all they do.”
Debra Dorfman, VP and Publisher, Scholastic Global Licensing, Brands & Media, added,
“Colin’s reputation as a thought leader precedes him, but it was also clear when we met that his mission and purpose were very much aligned with Scholastic’s. We knew instantly that we wanted to share his stories, which will be impactful messages of identity and belonging for Black and Brown children.”
Ellie Berger, President and Publisher, Scholastic Trade Publishing, added,
“Colin Kaepernick’s inspiring story, with themes of identity, race, and self-esteem, will resonate deeply with all kids. We are privileged to bring this work to young readers around the world for the very first time.”
What are your thoughts on Colin Kaepernick’s latest venture?
#NBAFINALS: Fox News Bucks edge Suns 123-119 to take 3-2 lead in NBA Finals!
Jrue Holiday seized his chance to give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead in the NBA Finals.
Took it right out of Devin Booker's hands, actually.
Holiday's steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetounmpo for a dunk sealed a wild Game 5 and gave the Bucks a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.
Antetokounmpo had 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Khris Middleton added 29 points and Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists.
The Bucks shot their way out of an early 16-point hole but then won it by making a huge defensive play for the second straight game.
They can win their first title since 1971 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
Booker had 40 points for the Suns.
Popular podcaster Mat George dies at 26!
Mat George, a popular podcaster and internet personality, has died, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. He was 26 years old.
Known on Instagram and Twitter as @matchu_chutrain, George had nearly 80,000 followers between the two social media platforms and had a loyal following. An alum of Arizona State University, he was also a co-host on the beloved podcast "She Rates Dogs" with Michaela Okland.
"I would rather you guys here this from me than a news article," Okland wrote on Twitter to her 244,000 followers. "Mat was killed in a hit and run last night. I don’t really have any other words right now. I wish I could contact everybody who knows him personally but the news is already out and I just can’t do it right now."
Fans of the pair quickly responded with shock and their heartfelt condolences.
"Mat was such a beautiful kind person, this is so heartbreaking my God," one person wrote. "Rest in Peace king."
Another person added, "Never met him in person, but he was always a bright spot on my timeline. His vulnerability and humor made me feel a little more at home in my own skin. This is tragic news and I'm sorry for such a sudden loss of what seemed like an incredible guy."
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, George was struck in a hit and run early Saturday morning in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles. As of Saturday evening, the investigation was still ongoing.
Detectives urge anyone with information regarding the incident to phone them at 213-473-0234 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
One fan commented on George's death, "I didn’t know Mat personally but he was without a doubt one of the funniest, kindest people on this app. His humor, smile, and general positivity and happiness were absolutely infectious and every time he posted I could count on a good laugh. Praying for his family and friends."
His last Instagram post shared on July 5 said, "In a town full of phonies, I’m not afraid to be me."
Kanye West & Irina Shayk Still Going Strong Despite Break-Up Rumors!
Despite rumors of their impending breakup, Kanye West and Irina Shayk are still going strong.
As previously reported, a source apparently told Page Six that Irina Shayk didn’t want to be associated with West romantically and only likes him as a friend. However, we can exclusively report that reps for Irina contacted the outlet in regards to claims that her relationship with Kanye was cooling off. Her reps requested that false information should be taken down and for the source to be identified in their investigation.
Their statement says,” The subject article while purporting to cite a reliable source, misrepresents Ms. Shayk’s relationship status, facts surrounding social events, and the statement attributed to her. Ms. Shayk enjoys common law and Fourth Amendment rights to privacy.”
The rumors emerged after Shayk was spotted in Paris celebrating West’s 44th birthday and the source claimed she was in attendance “as a friend” plus claimed she didn’t want to be linked with anyone romantically since she was a mother who is primarily focused on raising her daughter.
Nationals-Padres Game Suspended After Shooting Outside Nationals Park Gate!
A terrifying scene unfolded at Nationals Park on Saturday, enough to suspend a game against the San Diego Padres.
Four people were shot directly outside the stadium's third base gate, the DC Police Department confirmed on Twitter. Police told The Washington Post that a man had been shot in the leg and a woman shot in the back, while two others walked into local hospitals for treatment.
The Nationals reacted to the confusion by cautioning fans to stay inside the stadium, but later confirmed there had been a shooting and encouraged fans to exit through gates in the outfield. The building was later evacuated, including the press box, while the police blocked off the scene of the crime.
Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports that stadium employees called the incident a drive-by shooting.
The shots appeared partially audible on the MASN broadcast as the Nationals returned to the dugout after the top of the sixth inning:
Sounds of gunshots were clearly audible in the park, to the point that several fans could be seen fleeing out of the center field and right field gates in the immediate aftermath.
Even Nationals and Padres players weren't immune to the panic. Padres stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado reportedly opened the gate to the field so spectators could run into the dugout with them, while Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin, who started the game, was seen in the concourse.
The Padres were up 8-4 in the middle of the sixth at the time of the shooting. The Nationals later announced the game had been called out of safety precautions and would resume at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Federal Judge Blocks Future DACA Applications, Activists Demand President Biden Take Action!
A federal judge has blocked new DACA applications, sparking widespread outcry from immigrants and activists.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled in favor of nine conservative states that filed lawsuits to stop the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. In the ruling, the judge wrote that the states proved “the hardship that the continued operation of DACA has inflicted on them.” Hanen declaring the program illegal means that existing program recipients will continue to receive the protections, but the government will not approve new applications.
The Obama-era program preventing the deportation of young immigrants brought to the country as children have faced a slew of setbacks since being established in June 2012. In September 2017, the Trump administration decided to end the program before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that they didn’t conclude it correctly in 2020. Currently, about 650,000 people are protected under DACA.
Following the ruling, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that Democrats would continue to support DACA and asked Republicans to do the same “ to ensure that Dreamers have a permanent path to citizenship.”
Biden previously outlined legislation that would provide nearly 11 million unauthorized U.S. citizens with permanent citizenship.
Plaintiffs are planning to appeal Hanen’s decision.
Nicole Ari Parker Joins The Cast Of Sex And The City’s Reboot, “And Just Like That”!
Sex and the City fans, time to grab your cosmos and Manolo Blahniks because the iconic New York City series is in the midst of filming their latest reboot, And Just Like That. This time around the gals are taking on the big city with their families and designer handbags in tow.
The movie has undergone a facelift, with the Samantha Jones’ (played by Kim Cattrall) character missing from the film. Creative differences between the actress and Sarah Jessica Parker led to the departure of Kim’s character. In efforts to shake things up, they’ve added Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, and Sarita Choudhury to the cast.
There’s no secret the show lacked in diversity. Based in the melting pot of the United States, SATC often received criticisms for their lack of Black and Brown representation. How can you possibly highlight New York City without including people of color who directly contribute to it’s culture? In the first film, they introduced Louise (played by Jennifer Hudson), a personal assistant to Carrie Bradshaw. Some felt like this was a start to adding new flavor to the franchise, but ultimately they missed the mark.
Judging by the first looks of the cast filming, Nicole Ari Parker’s character is anything but the help. The actress flashed a huge smile clad in an abstract printed Issey Miyake dress, a chunky Monies chain-linked necklace, Giuseppe Zanoti sandals, and an oversized Veronica Silicani purse. Nicole is bring the beauty, labels, and fashion for this movie! Her character plays Lisa Todd Wexley, an extremely wealthy mother of 3 that lives on Park Ave.
This new cast lineup has me intrigued. It’ll be interesting to see how the ladies interpret New York City at their more mature age. What do you think?
Ramona Singer worried Eboni K. Williams will paint her as racist during ‘RHONY’ reunion!
Ramona Singer is concerned she’ll be called out as a bigot by “Real Housewives of New York” newbie Eboni K. Williams during the show’s upcoming reunion, making her hesitant to attend.
TMZ claims Singer, 64, approached producers about the possibility of her not attending due to Williams, 37, potentially attempting to paint her as a racist during the Bravo special, even asking if they can avoid the topic of race altogether.
Production reportedly refused, saying that’s something they would never consider. It would also be difficult to avoid the topic, as this is Williams’ — the first Black cast member of this franchise — first season.
Singer has reportedly accepted their decision and will still be in attendance, though she felt it important that producers were aware of her concerns ahead of the event.
Singer and Williams have clashed several times throughout the season, beginning when Singer referred to her house staff as “the help” in front of their fellow cast mates.
“Honey, nobody is the help,” Williams said in a confessional that episode. “It’s derogatory and it’s demeaning.”
The pair also butt heads when Williams attempted to talk politics with Singer, which she repeatedly stated makes her uncomfortable, calling Williams “preachy.”
There was also a moment where Singer told Williams that she doesn’t understand how the attorney and successful media personality, can talk about “suffering.”
“You said you’ve suffered. I said, ‘Looking at you, I don’t think you suffer,'” she told Williams.
The reunion was scheduled to film in early August, but has been bumped to September due to “scheduling conflicts.”
Spike Lee Says He ‘Messed Up’ After Accidentally Announcing Cannes Top Prize Winner Early!
Spike Lee addressed Sunday’s accidental slip-up at the Cannes Film Festival, where he announced the night’s biggest award winner at the beginning of the ceremony.
via Complex: I have no excuses. I messed up,” Spike said at a press conference, per Deadline. “I’m a big sports fan. It’s like the guy at the end of the game in the foul line, he misses the free throw, or a guy misses a kick, so no apologies.” He added that he “was very specific to speak to the people of Cannes and tell them that I apologize. They said forget about it.”
Lee, who was the head of this year’s jury, was asked by the evening’s host to reveal the first winner of the night. Instead, he accidentally revealed the top prize winner, which was meant to be the last award of the night.
Lee’s fellow juror, Maggie Gyllenhaal, said his gaffe was like “an injection of humanity into the middle of the ceremony.”
The prize ultimately went to Titane, a violent psychodrama from French director Julia Ducournau.
Lee offered a heartfelt apology before announcing the winner at the appropriate time. “In my 63 years of life, I’ve learned people get a second chance. So this is my second chance. I apologize for messing up,” he said. “It took a lot of suspense out of the night.”
R. Kelly Trial A Judge Allows Two of His Lawyers to Withdraw with Trial Pending!
R. Kelly now officially has a new defense team–less than a month before his trial’s scheduled to begin– and one of his lawyers is already getting attention. As previously reported, two of R. Kelly‘s longtime attorneys–Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard–filed to withdraw from the singer’s case last month. It appears as though the filing was done in response to tensions within the larger legal team, as Steve Greenberg tweeted:
“We refused to try a case with lawyers who don’t have the appropriate level of experience and skill because that is not in the client’s best interest. It is a shame that lawyers can’t suppress their own egos or self interest and do or act in the client’s best interest.” Now, a judge has officially granted the lawyers’ request to get off the case. Yesterday (Thursday, July 15th), U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly approved Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard‘s request to withdraw. As such, they are officially no longer part of R. Kelly‘s defense team.
Despite Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard‘s request barely being approved, R. Kelly‘s case had already been essentially taken over by his new attorneys–Thomas Farinella, Nicole Blank Becker, and Deveraux Cannick. This new defense team recently accused R. Kelly‘s now-former attorneys of withholding paperwork and denying the singer access to mental health services. However, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard vehemently denied these allegations–causing the internal feud to rage on.
Meanwhile, during a recent pre-trial hearing Nicole Blank Becker referred to two of the women connected to R. Kelly’s case as “girls”, which Judge Donnelly made clear is inappropriate. She told the lawyer to call them “women.”
“BeatBox” Rapper Rapper SpotemGottem Arrested On Multiple Charges After Being Found Resting In Hotel Room Next To An AK-47!
According to the New York Daily News, rapper SpotemGottem was arrested on weapons and assault charges in Florida on Thursday after cops found him in a hotel room lying next to a semi-automatic rifle.
The news site reports that the rapper whose real name is Nehemiah Harden, was wanted for allegedly breaking a parking garage gate back in June and pointing a gun at someone who tried to stop him. According to an arrest warrant obtained by NBC affiliate WTVJ, U.S. Marshals were able to track him down to a hotel in the city of Aventura and took him into custody without incident.
The 19-year-old entertainer known for the hit single “Beat Box,” has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and accessory after the fact to a felony, Miami-Dade County jail records show. It was said that his bond was set at $18,500, which he posted on Friday.
The rapper or his team has yet to speak out on this latest incident.
Power Actor Isaiah Stokes Charged With Murder In New York Shooting!
Actor Isaiah Stokes has been indicted for murder in the fatal shooting of a Queens, New York man in February, the Queens District Attorney announced Friday. Stokes has appeared on episodes of Power, The Americans, and Law & Order: SVU, among other series, and is also a hip hop artist under the moniker I$AIAH.
Stokes is accused of killing 37-year-old Tyrone Jones on Feb. 7 in Jamaica, Queens, according to the D.A.'s office. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Stokes approaching Jones' parked car before firing 11 gunshots into the car. Jones later died of his injuries.
"The defendant is accused of unloading nearly eleven shots during this brazen afternoon shooting," D.A. Melinda Katz said in a statement. "Gun violence is all too prevalent in our neighborhoods. We will not allow it to become the norm."
Stokes could not be reached for comment. It was not immediately clear whether he had a defense attorney who could comment on the charges.
Stokes faces 25 years-to-life in prison if convicted. A grand jury charged him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘WHEN FASHION MEETS CONFUSION’
confused fashionI liked the way the guys stares at her. Confused fashion set-up at Walmart.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet JP Behr!
Meet JP! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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