Daniela Retorre Captures Fedola Shema in Modern Opulence for Harper's Bazaar Vietnam!
Model Fedola Shema is styled by Benedetta Ceppi in modern opulence from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. Photographer Daniela Retorre [IG] captures the bold jewelry and voluminous fashion for Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam July 2021./ Hair by Mirko Berto; makeup by Marta Veterre
#RHOA: The Transformation of Drew Sidora Stuns ‘RHOA’ Fans with Her Dramatic Weight Loss
Drew Sidora‘s latest Instagram post showcasing “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star’s new look caused an uproar on social media on July 2 after fans noticed Sidora’s visibly slimmer appearance.
Sidora appeared to take notes from her “RHOA” co-stars Kenya Moore and Kandi Burruss’ weight loss journeys by uploading her own image, one she captioned, “Once u master self-control & detachment… nobody can phase you 💋.” This upload came a day after the “Step Up” actress shared a similar glam photo in the all-white ensemble.
Although the mother of three didn’t address her weight loss in the initial caption, she has been incredibly vocal and open about her weight loss experience on social media. Earlier this year, she gave fans an inside look into how she lost 10 pounds in weeks by posting a video of herself alongside her husband, Ralph Pittman Jr., working out with a trainer at a private gym. The clip shows Sidora hitting the climbing machine and pumping weights while doing crunches.
As fans viewed Sidora’s initial glam shot, many instantly complimented with how “snatched” she looks.
“Drew you look 💣🔥.”
“She looks great and snatched! Yasssss for the glow up.”
“Now this is what I call a second season snatch!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 @drewsidora #RHOA.”
“Your stomach is flat now!!!!”
Drew Sidora’s visible weight transformation from October 2020 (left) to June 2021 (right). (Photos: @drewsidora/Instagram)
An Instagram user even brought up how Sidora’s new look is a form of revenge to those who poked fun at her fuller figure in the past. That person said, “You better clap back for ALL the trash some of them heffas brought. ❣💃🏾”
Sidora’s weight and figure was an ongoing topic during the last season of “RHOA.” Things came to a head after her co-star Kenya Moore tweeted that the actress needed a tummy tuck — while reposting a photo from the show of Sidora looking bloated — following Sidora’s comments on Moore’s alleged “plastic surgery” during an all-girls trip to New Orleans.
Following that incident, Sidora revealed why she appeared to have a bloated midsection during an interview with Page Six. She disclosed she suffered from adenomyosis, a condition marked by the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus growing into the uterine walls. It can cause several complications, including chronic pelvic pain.
Sidora told the publication that she might need a hysterectomy following her 2020 diagnosis as she shared how “serious” this journey is for her. She said, “What I’m dealing with as a woman, as a mother … this is serious for me.”
#MusicNews: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Unveil Tracklist for Debut Album “Jam & Lewis: Volume One”!
Iconic producers Jimmy Jam & Terris Lewis have been teasing the release of their debut album since 2019; and now we’ve just crept closer to its release.
The legendary production team have just revealed the star studded lineup for their debut album “Jam & Lewis: Volume 1”. This includes the previously released singles “Til I Found You” featuring Sounds of Blackness, “He Don’t Know Nothin Bout It” featuring Babyface, and “Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin’ My Heart” with Mariah Carey.
The lineup of features for the album reads as a whos who of R&B legends from over the past few decades, most of whom Jam & Lewis have helped created hit records for.
“Jam & Lewis Volume 1” is set to release on July 9th, 2021.
Jam & Lewis: Volume 1 Tracklist
1. ‘Til I Found You (Ft. Ann Nesby, James “Big Jim” Wright, Lauren Evans & Sounds Of Blackness)
2. Spinnin (Ft. Mary J. Blige)
3. The Next Best Day (Ft. Boyz II Men)
4. Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin’ My Heart) (Ft. Mariah Carey)
5. He Don’t Know Nothin’ Bout It (Ft. Babyface)
6. Happily Unhappy (Ft. Toni Braxton)
7. Maybe I’ve Changed (Or Did You) (Ft. Heather Headley)
8. Do What I Do (Ft. Charlie Wilson)
9. Do It Yourself (Ft. Usher)
10. Babylove (Ft. Morris Day, Jerome, Morris Day & The Roots)
#HipHopNews: Nas Celebrates 25th Anniversary Of ‘It Was Written’!
It Was Written turns 25. In honor of the anniversary of his second studio album, which was released on July 2, 1996, Nas is taking a trip down memory lane. In an Instagram post on Friday, the rap icon reflected on being a young MC hungry for sophomore success.
“Young and determined. 25 years ago with a lap top. No examples to follow but myself. I knew that It Was Written,” he wrote alongside a throwback black-and-white photo of himself seated behind a desk with a laptop.
Nas went on to thank his collaborators and fans. “Thank you @stevestoute for helping me strategize, for pushing me and for helping me make my second album,” he said. “Thank you Trackmasters & L.E.S, STRETCH (RIP) ,Premier and Dr. Dre for producing it and every artist on this album WE DID IT. .. and to everyone for the love today. Thank you.”
It Was Written, the follow-up to Nas’ debut Illmatic, opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to become his best-selling album, featuring contributions from Dr. Dre, Mobb Deep, Foxy Brown, and Lauryn Hill, who appeared on “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That).”
Earlier this week, Nas released the completed version of his “Life Is Like a Dice Game” freestyle, which was originally recorded as part of his Illmatic recording sessions in the early ’90s. The finished track was produced by Hit-Boy and features Cordae and Freddie Gibbs.
This month is also the 30th anniversary of Main Source’s Live at the Barbeque, released July 23, 1991, which marked Nas’ first recorded guest appearance.
Lovecraft Country Not Renewed for a Second Season at HBO Max!
HBO said in a statement to Deadline that the network isn’t moving forward with the second season of Lovecraft Country.
The strong viewership and dedicated fans didn’t guarantee a renewal, but so many were certain a season two was coming. Even showrunner Misha Green (co-creator of WGN’s Underground) was convinced she had it in the bag because she’s expressed her vision for what a second season would look like. “I envision a second season that carries on the spirit of Matt Ruff’s novel by continuing to reclaim the genre storytelling space that people of color have typically been left out of.”
The first season follows Atticus Freeman (Johnathan Majors) as he, his childhood friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollet), and his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) go on a road trip from Chicago to the sundown towns of the 1950’s Jim Crow South to find his missing father Montrose (Michael K. Williams). Their rescue mission is marred by racist White America and creatures from other dimensions that are right out of an H.P. Lovecraft novel.
Ultimately, the streaming network decided not to move on with a second season.
“We will not be moving forward with a second season of Lovecraft Country,” said the network. “We are grateful for the dedication and artistry of the gifted cast and crew and to Misha Green, who crafted this groundbreaking series. And to the fans, thank you for joining us on this journey.” Lovecraft Country is a genre blend of horror, period, and science fiction, with a Lovecraftian edge. The series is adapted from Matt Ruff’s book by the same name, which is used as a reference.
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It’s not exactly clear why Lovecraft Country is getting canceled or if another channel or service will pick this up, but this is the end of the line for now. Misha Green took to Twitter to thank fans for engaging with the series.
Will Smith Was Almost Denied ‘Independence Day’ Role Because He Was Black!
Will Smith almost missed out on his iconic role in ‘Independence Day’ because studio execs didn’t think he could sell a movie overseas.
via Complex: In recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Roland Emmerich and writer Dean Devlin reflected on the 1996 film and their relentless fight to cast Smith as Captain Steven Hiller. The two claimed studio executives objected to the casting decision because they believed a Black lead actor wouldn’t appeal to foreign audiences.
“The studio said, ‘No, we don’t like Will Smith. He’s unproven. He doesn’t work in international [markets]’,” Emmerich told THR ahead of the film’s 25th anniversary.
“[Fox] said, ‘You cast a Black guy in this part, you’re going to kill foreign [box office],’” Devlin added. “Our argument was, ‘Well, the movie is about space aliens. It’s going to do fine foreign.’ It was a big war, and Roland really stood up for [Smith] – and we ultimately won that war.”
Emmerich said the fight over Smith’s role continued shortly before production was set to begin, but he and Delvin had their minds set on their leads and refused to give in.
We still hadn’t locked in Will and Jeff [Goldblum]. I put my foot down,” Emmerich recalled.
The director admitted he presented Fox with an ultimatum: either Smith gets the role, or he’d take the film to another studio.
“‘Universal people are calling every day, so give me these two actors or I move over there,’” he remembers telling Fox executives. “I don’t think it would have been a possibility [to actually move studios], but it was a great threat.”
Independence Day premiered in U.S. theaters during Fourth of July weekend in 1996. The film—which also starred Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch, and Randy Quaid—received mix reviews but ultimately grossed more than $817 million at the box office. It also secured a slew of awards, including the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Emmerich and Devlin reunited for the 2016 sequel Independence Day: Resurgence, but Smith opted out of the project, reportedly telling the director he was “tired” of sequels.
Milwaukee Bucks Run past Atlanta Hawks, into The NBA Finals will face The Phoenix Suns!
ATLANTA -- The Milwaukee Bucks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974 -- and they secured the final wins of the series without star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee beat the Atlanta Hawks 118-107 in Game 6 on Saturday behind 32 points from Khris Middleton. Jrue Holiday added 27 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
After the final buzzer sounded and the Bucks swarmed the center of the court, putting on caps and T-shirts that announced them as Eastern Conference champions, players hugged each other and laughed. Coaches embraced.
"It feels awesome," Holiday said. "I'm still kind of on this high, but I'm going to the Finals. It's cool to think as a little kid, this is what you watch the playoffs for. This is all the moments that I felt as a little kid watching TV. I lived them and went through them and now I get to go to the Finals and see what this is about."
Antetokounmpo, who has been out since injuring his knee in the third quarter of Game 4 when he landed awkwardly after contesting an alley-oop, was in the middle of it all -- a triumphant fist raised in the air.
Thursday marked the end of a slew of Milwaukee playoff runs that were cut short or went awry. In the 2019 postseason, the Bucks swept the Detroit Pistons, defeated the Boston Celtics in five games and built a 2-0 lead against the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals. Then, after losing back-to-back games only once during the entire regular season, the Bucks lost four straight games to the Raptors and were eliminated.
Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday stepped up in a big way since Giannis Antetokounmpo went down midway through the third quarter of Game 4.
Last season in the NBA's bubble, the Bucks fizzled to a disappointing end in the playoffs. Milwaukee earned the No. 1 seed and defeated the Orlando Magic in five games. But Antetokounmpo sprained his ankle in Game 3 of the team's series against the Miami Heat.
He gave it a go in Game 4, but re-sprained his ankle in that game and was unable to play in Game 5, when Milwaukee was eliminated. Back then, Antetokounmpo said that "nobody was going to be happy" with the outcome of Milwaukee's 2019-20 playoff run. He said he hoped the Bucks could learn from that loss.
It appears they did -- and those losses, Middleton said, made their success this season that much better.
"It's been a long journey," Middleton said. "But it's been a great journey. It's been worth it. After winning 15 games in our first year here and seven years not making the playoffs, to the last two years thinking we had a chance and just didn't do enough and now we're here. This is what we've worked for."
The Bucks avenged last season's loss and rolled the Heat in four games in the first round. Midway through that series, starting guard Donte DiVincenzo injured his ankle. He had season-ending surgery on a ligament in his left ankle in June and P.J. Tucker slid into a starting role.
Still, Milwaukee kept rolling. After falling down 3-2 in a wild series against the betting title favorite Brooklyn Nets, the Bucks outlasted them in a seven-game series. And after losing at home for the first time in the playoffs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Bucks battled back, including winning two games without Antetokounmpo.
"What a roller coaster of emotions, especially this series," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Just impressed with the resilience of the group, the character of the group."
In Game 6, the Bucks jumped out to an early 15-4 lead before the Hawks roared back to make it a one-possession game. The Bucks weathered that storm, too, once again pushing their advantage to 10. The score yo-yoed from Bucks' double-digit leads to one-bucket advantages, but Milwaukee never trailed.
When the Hawks crept closer, Milwaukee had answers. Middleton rattled off 16 straight third-quarter points to extend the Bucks' advantage on his way to scoring 23 third-quarter points. It was his third 20-point third quarter of his playoff career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. No Bucks player has done that once over the past 25 postseasons.
Atlanta kept clawing back, shrinking the Bucks' once 22-point lead back down to six in the fourth quarter. But ultimately, it proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for the Hawks.
"He's the type of player that, again, he puts the weight on his shoulders and doesn't care," Holiday said of Middleton after the game. "Khris is the heart of this team. I feel like Giannis is the soul of this team, and without them, man, we really wouldn't be here."
A dagger corner 3 from Tucker secured the win for Milwaukee.
All the while, Antetokounmpo stood -- almost never sitting down -- on the sidelines in black shorts and a Bucks warm-up shirt. A protective sleeve swaddled his hyperextended left knee. But even injured and unable to play, Antetokounmpo was in the middle of the celebration. His longest hug was reserved for his brother and teammate, Thanasis.
"There's a bittersweetness to him not being able to play these last two games," Budenholzer said. "Khris and Giannis are the key to this team, to this organization. To have the opportunity to coach them and come here three years ago and try to build something special, those two guys are special, and it starts with them."
And while there has been no public decision on whether or not Antetokounmpo will be available to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, one thing is certain: The Bucks are sitting atop a hill that Antetokounmpo has envisioned summiting for years.
Now, they have just one more leg to complete.
"We ain't did nothing yet," Tucker said.
Phylicia Rashad Offers ‘Sincere Apology’ To Howard University Students After Controversial Bill Cosby Tweet!
The backlash was swift following a tweet actor Phylicia Rashad made following Bill Cosby’s overturned conviction earlier this week.
“FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted — a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” said Rashad, who had previously starred with Cosby on “The Cosby Show,” in a now-deleted post.
Rashad is the new dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts, and her statement didn’t sit well with many students, parents or faculty, as Cosby has been accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women.
On Friday, Rashad reportedly wrote a letter directly to those at the school, saying that she vehemently opposes sexual violence.
“This week, I tweeted a statement that caused so much hurt in so many people — both broadly and inside the Howard community. I offer my most sincere apology. I have since removed that upsetting tweet,” Rashad said in the statement.
She said she plans to work on becoming a better ally for those victims of sexual assault and that she thanks those who held her accountable for her words.
Howard University also addressed the controversy on Wednesday, qualifying in a statement that personal positions of staff are their own and that “we will continue to advocate for survivors fully and support their right to be heard.”
Cosby, 83, had been in prison for nearly three years when Pennsylvania’s highest court shocked many this week by throwing out his sexual assault conviction. Cosby is now home, but was originally found guilty of violating and drugging Andrea Constand in 2004.
Dwyane Wade Trolls Faizon Love Over Gabrielle Union Hookup Claims!
Dwyane Wade is scoring major points against his wife Gabrielle Union.
The drama started when Faizon Love made an appearance on former NBA Los Angeles Lakers player Kwame Brown’s livestream “Bust Life.” While discussing his career highlights, the comedian, 53, revealed that he allegedly shared a hot and heavy makeout session with Union, 48, one night in a club.
“Watch this, Gabrielle Union and I had a nice kiss in a club,” Faizon claimed to Brown, adding that NBA All-Star Vince Carter was apparently his witness. “Ask Vince Carter about that night! Ask him ’bout that night! Everybody know about the infamous Faizon-Gabby tongue down…She was dating me that night. She was with Vince, they were going out or something. I don’t know, we was gettin’ drunk and it was an infamous night. Gabby my n—a, too, so… That’s the only girl really in Hollywood. Most actresses are weird, you know what I’m sayin’? They weird as f–k. I like regular ass chicks.”
Kwame didn’t miss a beat, responding “Alright now, D Wade gon’ whoop ya ass.”
Thankfully 39-year-old Wade, who shares four children with Union, knows how to laugh things off.
Although Union was not dating her now-husband at the time of this alleged tryst, the three-time NBA champion decided to poke fun at his wife. Unleashing “petty levels” unmatched on Instagram, Wade posted a video on the social media platform featuring a hilarious montage of Union and Love in a series of romantic poses, while the song “If I Ever Fall In Love” by Shai played in the background.
“What almost was,” Wade captioned the post, which also featured an infamous scene from the film “Boomerang” between Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry. “@faizonlove thank you for this forever material I now have on my wife! #Wetsloppykisses #pettylevels.”
Union seemingly denied the whole debacle in a since-deleted tweet writing, “Now you know damn well,” accompanied by numerous skull emojis. The video, which now has over 665,000 views, received comments from thousands of fans, but the funniest has to be from Wade’s oldest child, Zaire Wade, who wrote, “Somebody tell me what’s going on.”
We wish we knew.
Miami Condo Death Toll Rises To 24 Amid Plans To Demolish Remaining Structure!
The Miami-Dade mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, told reporters two more bodies were found in the ruins of the condo building, which collapsed last month.
The number unaccounted for was 124, after closer inspection of the missing persons list reduced the number from 145 when duplicates were eliminated and some reported missing turned up safe.
Discoveries on Friday included the body of the seven-year-old daughter of a Miami firefighter. The girl and another victim were found overnight. Two more bodies were found on Friday. The discovery of the girl’s remains was especially hard, Levine Cava said.
“It was truly different and more difficult for our first responders,” she said. “These men and women are paying an enormous human toll each and every day, and I ask that all of you please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
On SaturdayLevine Cava said she had signed an emergency order to demolish the remaining part of the building – which the Surfside mayor, Charles Burkett, said had become “an obvious problem” – as early as Sunday morning.
“The fear was that [Tropical Storm Elsa] may take down the building for us and may take it down in the wrong direction on top of the pile where we have victims,” Burkett said at a press conference on Saturday morning, referring to a storm, formerly a category 1 hurricane, headed for Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The demolition “will allow our rescue workers to pore all over the entire site without fear of any danger from falling debris or falling buildings”, Burkett said.
Rescuers will have access to the garage area of the building for the first time once the remnants of the demolition are removed. That will give officials a clearer picture of whether any gaps in the rubble could be holding survivors. No one has been rescued since the first hours after the 24 June collapse.
The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, underscored the necessity of bringing the structure down in a controlled manner, ahead of the arrival of Elsa.
“We have a building here in Surfside that is tottering, it is structurally unsound,” DeSantis said. “If the building is taken down this will protect our search and rescue teams.”
DeSantis, who said he would not attend a rally staged by Donald Trump in Sarasota on Saturday night, declared a state of emergency before the storm’s expected arrival early next week.
In another challenge to the rescue effort, one firefighter taskforce was demobilized after six members tested positive for Covid-19.
On Thursday, Joe Biden saluted the “resilience” of authorities and searchers and “their absolute commitment and willingness to do whatever it took to find the answer”.
“The families are realistic,” the president said. “They know that the chances are, as each day goes by, diminished slightly, but at a minimum they want to recover the bodies.
“They’re going through hell, those who survived the collapse, as well as those who are missing loved ones. The really hard part is not knowing whether they’re surviving or not, to have no idea.”
A few miles away in North Miami Beach, meanwhile, residents of a high-rise were forced to evacuate on Friday, loading clothes and valuables into suitcases and laundry baskets and wheeling them to waiting cars.
The building, Crestview Towers, was found to be unsafe in a review prompted by the deadly Surfside collapse.
The audit found that the 156-unit condo in North Miami Beach had been deemed structurally and electrically unsafe in January, the city said. Authorities went door-to-door, telling residents they had to leave the 49-year-old structure.
One resident, Harold Dauphin, said he had grabbed what he could and left.
Joe and Jill Biden at a memorial wall near the condo site in Surfside. Biden said: ‘The families are realistic. They know that the chances are, as each day goes by, diminished.’
Joe Biden comforts ‘amazing, resilient’ families at site of Miami condo collapse
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“It’s unfortunate,” he said, “but I understand. Knowing what happened in Surfside, you know, it’s understandable.”
Officials did not immediately release details about the structural problems that prompted the evacuation in North Miami Beach but Crestview Towers reported millions of dollars in damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017.
It is the first building to be evacuated since officials in south Florida and statewide began scrutinizing older high-rises to ensure structural problems are not ignored.
A letter posted less than two weeks ago on the community website said repairs were under way or expected to begin soon after delays. Plans included a new roof, replacing a generator and changing lighting.
“Last year has been a different year due to the pandemic and many things have been postponed for countless reasons, but this year we have started to work hard,” the letter said.
The condo association could not be reached for comment.
Darwin Reyes said he lived in the building during Hurricane Irma and a chunk of the balcony above his fell on his during the storm. He listed other complaints, including elevators that often didn’t work and pipes that didn’t drain well. He said he had been planning to move.
On Friday, Reyes woke from a nap. He checked his Instagram feed and saw a notice that said his building was being evacuated. He looked into the hallway and saw people with bags and suitcases. He and his wife packed what they could.
“Right now I’m officially homeless,” he said.
Britney Spears: 911 Call Revealed And Mom Lynne Speaks About Conservatorship!
Lynne Spears, mother of pop star Britney Spears, is torn over her “mixed feelings” regarding her daughter’s conservatorship battle — a fight that led the singer to call 911 the night before her bombshell testimony.
“I got mixed feelings about everything,” Lynne, 66, confessed to journalists Ronan Farrow and Jia Tolentino in a new report from The New Yorker. “I don’t know what to think … It’s a lot of pain, a lot of worry.”
Lynne reportedly “spoke in a whisper” while on the phone with Farrow and Tolentino and “declined to answer detailed questions about the case.”
She also apologized after telling them she might have to “hang up abruptly” if a family member entered the room.
“I’m good. I’m good at deflecting,” she added.
The piece also claims the 39-year-old “Toxic” singer called 911 the night before she pled her case to have the conservatorship terminated.
According to the publication, Spears called the emergency line to report herself as a victim of abuse in her conservatorship, a call they confirmed through Ventura County law enforcement and a close friend.
The following day, she testified that her family, namely her father Jamie Spears, should be sued over the terms over her conservatorship.
“I would honestly like to sue my family, to be totally honest with you,” she said during her 23-minute statement. “I also would like to be able to share my story with the world, and what they did to me, instead of it being a hush-hush secret to benefit all of them. I want to be able to be heard on what they did to me by making me keep this in for so long. It is not good for my heart. I’ve been so angry, and I cry every day.”
Jamie, who has had control over much of Britney’s personal life and finances over the years, has denied mismanaging the pop star’s career as one of her conservators.
Da Brat and Judy Gets a Reality Show on WeTV!
Earlier this year rapper Da Brat came out of the closet after falling in love with New Orleans entrepreneur Jesseca 'BB Judy' Dupart
Now Brat and Judy are headed for reality TV...
WeTV shares a sneak peak from their new show 'Brat Loves Judy.' WATCH HERE
Are you excited for their new show?
Tens Of Thousands Will Receive Money From Boy Scouts $850 Million Settlement!
Tens of thousands of sexual abuse claims were filed against the Boys Scouts of America, some dating back decades. A settlement of $850 million has been reached as part of the organization’s bankruptcy case.
According to PEOPLE, over 92,000 sexual abuse claims were filed against the BSA last year, which came ahead of the deadline for submitting claims. The organization filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February of 2020 due to the wave of decades-old sexual abuse allegations.
The reached settlement is among the largest ever seen in a case surrounding sexual abuse claims in U.S. history. It is also a total dollar amount that is expected to increase, lawyers say.
“It is important that people see this dollar amount and know this is not the end; this is just the beginning. There are billions of dollars in insurance money, and the fight to get that money is continuing,” Jordan Merson, an attorney representing a group of survivors, told USA Today.
The BSA also reached a statement Friday morning, saying it is “pleased to report that we have made substantial progress in our Chapter 11 case as part of our ongoing efforts to reach a global resolution that will equitably compensate survivors and ensure Scouting’s future by resolving past abuse cases for both the national organization and local councils.”
It also considered the settlement agreement a “significant milestone and is the biggest step forward to date.”
Paul Mones, one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs, told USA Today, “There was never going to be an agreement that any survivor would be happy about. What we attempted to do in this negotiation was, under the circumstances, and with all of the various competing interests, the best deal possible.”
Attorney Ken Rothweiler added: “This initial settlement of $850 million is the largest settlement of sexual abuse claims in United States history. I am pleased that both the BSA and their local councils have stepped up to be the first to compensate the survivors.”
The BSA said in its statement that there was still “much to be done” to obtain approval from the Court to “solicit survivors to vote for the BSA’s amended Plan of Reorganization.”
“However, with this encouraging and significant step forward, the BSA is wholeheartedly committed to working toward a global resolution,” the statement said. “Our intention is to seek confirmation of the Plan this summer and emerge from bankruptcy late this year.”
One 65-year-old victim in the case said: “As a former Boy Scout who is a sexual abuse survivor, I am gratified that the Boy Scouts are taking responsibility for the sexual abuse that occurred to me and others that we have had to live with for decades. This acknowledgment by the Boy Scouts will start the process of healing for many of us who have suffered.”
At the beginning of the bankruptcy filing stages, the organization had over $1 billion in assets, the Washington Post.
Ice Cube Fights Warner Bros. Over New ‘Friday’ Movie!
A new report from The Wall Street Journal reveals a heated battle between Ice Cube and Warner Bros. over “Last Friday,” the fourth film in the “Friday” comedy franchise that has been in development for nearly a decade. The two parties agreed to develop “Last Friday” in 2012, with Cube reportedly to be paid $11 million. Disagreements over the script and other issues have delayed the sequel over the years.
As reported by WSJ: “Ice Cube wants Warner Bros., owned by AT&T Inc., to surrender its rights to the ‘Friday’ property and to two other movies he made there — ‘All About the Benjamins’ and ‘The Players Club.’ Warner Bros. replied, calling the demand ‘extortionate’ and saying it won’t release rights to the valuable franchise or any other Ice Cube movies.”
Much of the tension between Ice Cube and Warner Bros. outfit New Line is over the script. Ice Cube originally set the first draft of “Last Friday” in a prison, but he claims “the studio told him prison isn’t funny.” Studio executives said “they felt the fans of the franchise wanted to see the characters in their familiar settings instead of behind bars for much of the movie.” Ice Cube wrote a second script but then got feedback he felt was “off the mark.” The actor said “he viewed the entire editing process as a way to delay getting cameras rolling.”
Ice Cube’s lawyer reportedly wrote in a letter that the studio was excessive in its notes and “a poor steward” of the franchise. The studio said in a statement that Ice Cube’s claims are “revisionist history” and blame “Last Friday” delays on “[Ice Cube’s] camp’s unwillingness to engage with the studio.”
According to WSJ: “The possibility of discrimination has also emerged as a flashpoint in the conversations. In one letter, Ice Cube’s representative wrote that movies he has done for the studio ‘are habitually underfunded in comparison with projects featuring white casts and creative teams.’ The correspondence points to other Ice Cube films he says weren’t well supported.”
A Warner Bros. spokesperson said discrimination complaints are “grounded in a libelous set of knowing falsehoods,” adding, “We strongly disagree with any claims of discriminatory treatment, and stand by our ongoing and proven commitment to support diverse voices and storytellers and will continue to do so as we move forward.”
Why Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Allegedly Cut off Controversial Son Chet Hanks!
Chet Hanks was hit with a civil lawsuit in April by his ex-girlfriend, Kiana Parker. Parker publicly accused the son of actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson of physically abusing her during their relationship. According to a report by PEOPLE, Parker is seeking $1 million in damages. Chet later accused Parker of being the attacker, claiming that she came after him with a knife. The lawsuit is ongoing, and Parker recently spoke to Radar Online and claimed that due to Chet's behavior, his parents had cut him off financially.
"Our relationship was OK, but he wasn't OK," Parker told Radar Online. "He wasn't treating me bad, he was just dealing with his mom and dad cutting him off because he started drinking and smoking weed again, and that wasn't in their rule book to support him. So they cut him off. His apartment was up, his roommate was moving and he didn't have anywhere to go." Parker added that she helped Hanks find an apartment "to be there when nobody was. He would have bad days when he would get texts from his parents and fight so many demons and so many issues."
Parker continued, saying that "where I'm from, how I was raised, my parents love and support, and that's our way of healing and getting through things" and that she soon realized that "you can't fight anyone else's demons." Parker also explained that Hanks and Wilson were not the perfect parents that the public perceived them to be. "That's the main problem with him is his parents," Parker said. "It's not perfect like the world thinks. So he's dealing with that and was dealing with trying to stay sober with no drinking, but he's back doing that."
Parker also claimed that the video of Chet apparently reeling from their physical fight was a fabrication. "He's an actor, so the first thing he turned on was his acting cards," she told Radar Online. "He wanted to paint this picture, but I don't have it in my heart to stab anyone. ... He knows that didn't take place. The truth will come out. I just want justice for this." Despite all these issues, Parker thinks that Chet's posturing is all image. "He's doing things to make quick money. He's doing things for clout," she said. "He's just a different person on the internet. I was always joking with him, 'I'm in a relationship with Chester.' That's his name. That's what I called him," she told us. "That side was loving, and he would be himself. But as soon as there was Instagram or he had me recording something that he was gonna put out, he's 'Chet.' It's kinda like, 'Who are you today?'"
Parker bristled at the idea that she was a "gold digger," claiming that she was actually the one who supported them financially and that their relationship had nothing to do with money. "Late nights, four hours straight, recording him doing his lines, having to be the other person on the camera, over and over," she explained. "He'll send it to his dad. 'Dad, is this good enough?' 'No, redo it.' And I'm recording. You know, I was there. So for him to say that and try to paint this picture instead of just owning up to what he did and apologizing is just sad. You will never grow when you move like that."
Ultimately, Parker just hopes she gets an apology. "Even though it's over and it happened how it happened, those nights when I'm wiping your tears, I'm there, I'm telling you positive things, I'm doing any and everything to try to make you happy. I just hope he has it in his heart for himself – he has a daughter – to do that. An apology is an apology. If you can't do that then you really just need to look in the mirror and do some self-work," Parker said. "But I really do hope that he apologizes because it was embarrassing. We were outside of our home in Sugar Land. I had movers there. I had my assistant there. Neighbors. People that were driving that I didn't even know saw what he did to me outside. My arm – I can't even lift it all the way up over my head still to this day. It just aches."
To Catch A Predator' Host Chris Hansen Turns Himself In, Is Released After Missing Court Date!
Chris Hansen, host of "To Catch a Predator," turned himself in after a warrant was out for his arrest following a missed court date in Michigan.
According to WLNS, the TV personality was subpoenaed to be in court Thursday in Shiawassee County but failed to show up to present video evidence for a sex-trafficking case.
As part of his show "To Catch a Predator," Hansen had assisted local authorities on a sting operation in October in which three suspects were arrested after allegedly showing up to a hotel to have sex with a minor between the ages of 13 and 15.
Hansen turned himself in on Friday and was released, Shiawassee County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Koerner told USA TODAY. Koerner also confirmed that a bench warrant was issued for the case related to an October sting operation.
Koerner said Hansen must turn over film to the defense in the case within the next 14 days.
Hansen said on Instagram Friday that the case has been resolved.
"All matters in the Shiawasse Co predator case resolved! Justice marches on!" his post said.
'I deserve changes': Britney Spears' father Jamie Spears seeks court probe of mistreatment allegations
On Thursday, Hansen responded to the warrant on Instagram by calling it a "miscommunication" and saying the defense lawyers from an accused predator wanted video from the sting.
"There was miscommunication about a hearing today on the issue. The matter is currently being resolved!," the post said.
USA TODAY has made attempts to reach Hansen.
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