Andra Day Covers Shape’s September Issue!
With passion and purpose to drive social change and bring injustice to light, Andra Day is a force to be reckoned with. Gracing SHAPE’s September issue as a Woman Who Runs the World in collaboration with the SeeHer movement – which aims to accurately portray women in media to raise powerful, truthful visibility – the singer, songwriter and actor opens up on how she mentally and physically took on the role of Billie Holiday and where her strength and dedication comes from.
On what she learned and hoped others learn from Billie Holiday: “What convinced me [to take the role] was the idea that the movie would tell the truth of her story, which is that she was a great godmother of civil rights,” Andra says. “The world never knew that, which was part of the design of systemic oppression. To expose it was really incentivizing.” “I had to transform not just my body but the way I spoke and even the way I thought,” she says. “I had to adopt the way she approached everything: conflict, joy, life. I lost 40 pounds. I started smoking, drinking alcohol, and even cussing more. You feel emboldened yet ravaged after a role like that. But she made me feel that I’m braver than I thought I was. I can speak my mind and not be worried about the consequences because she did that.”
On losing 40 pounds before playing Billie: “For the role, I couldn’t look like I had been eating healthfully and exercising. Even though Billie was stunning, hers was a 1940s woman’s body that had been ravaged by drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, staying out late, and not taking care. So I had to look more dehydrated and gaunt. I got to a point where I was starting to starve myself. I’d starve myself, binge eat a little, then starve myself, then binge. I’ve had people hit me up and say, ‘How did you lose the weight?’ I’m like, ‘Don’t do it this way.’ It doesn’t give you the brain clarity. It’s very disorienting. It makes you sleepy and confused. Afterward, once I started to get back to a healthier state, it felt good on my system. Now, I’m enjoying the way my body feels, my mobility, all that stuff. I want to keep running, keep working with weights, and keep eating well—and also having random Cheetos moments.”
On giving back and making a difference: “One of my goals for the coming year is to do more community work. I support the school that I went to in San Diego and other schools around the area. I also want to do something to help Black, brown, marginalized, and homeless people in the area I grew up in. Helping others is tied to my existence, the reason why I’m here. That’s tied directly to my faith, directly to my God. My identity, in the end, is wrapped up in service. I believe I was put here to be in service of my God and people. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to do dumb shit or random selfish stuff. I’m still human. When you’re in service of people, then you can stop with the judgment. You can stop needing people to live their lives according to your expectations. I don’t think there’s anything more dangerous than that agenda. Service is integral to who I am.”
On her spiritual, mental, and physical health: “My healthiest habit is my relationship with God. I try to spend time praying, reading, and meditating on what I read every day. I do it as soon as I wake up, or at night before I go to sleep. I sometimes do both just to keep my head focused.” “When I exercise, I have more clarity in my thoughts and in the way I function throughout the day. I feel more oriented. Working out helps me feel more capable. It helps me make better decisions. I often feel like brain fog is an issue for me, but when I’m working out regularly and drinking more water, my head feels clearer, truly. It’s an exciting feeling.”
The September issue of Shape magazine is available for purchase on August 13.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker's Son Ace Just Won an Award: “My MVP”!
Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s son Ace is already earning praise for his skills on the soccer field. The Real Housewives of Atlanta son recently won an award for his sportsmanship, as his proud parents captured on Instagram.
On July 31, Todd took to Instagram to celebrate Ace’s latest athletic achievement. In the precious photo, the 5-year-old can be seen donning his soccer uniform while standing on the field and holding up a sign that reads “Sportsmanship Award Winner.”
“@acetucker keep up the good work! I’m so proud of you!” Todd wrote in the caption alongside the sweet snapshot, also adding a hashtag that spelled out “put in some work.”
Todd isn’t the only family member cheering for Ace from the sidelines. Kandi is also an enthusiastic spectator, as she captured in a video posted on July 24. In the clip, the proud mom can be heard excitedly rooting for her son during one of his recent games.
“My baby boy @acetucker is my MVP!” she wrote in the caption of the post.
#MusicNews: Chucky Thompson, '90s Hip-Hop and R&B Producer With Bad Boy's Hitmen, Dies at 53!
Chucky Thompson, one of the in-house producers (known as The Hitmen) whose ability to blend hip-hop and R&B at a pop scale helped Bad Boy Records become one of the preeminent labels of the '90s, has died.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson," his publicist Tamar Juda tells Billboard. "To anyone in his orbit, you know how generous he was with his energy, creativity and love. Both the music industry and the world has lost a titan."
Producer and protege Young Guru also confirmed Thompson's death on Instagram, writing "RIP to my mentor, my big brother, the man who changed my life forever... there will never be another you!!!!"
Hailing from Washington, D.C., Thompson was brought into the fold of the New York-based Bad Boy when a friend of his in Baltimore introduced him to a cousin who worked with Puff Daddy, who at the time had been dismissed from Uptown Records and was about to start his own label. "They didn’t have anyone up there that played a lot of different instruments," Thompson recalled to You Know I Got Soul in 2011 of the Bad Boy team at the time. "It was either you played keyboards, or you just were a straight hip-hop producer/sampler, but I was all of those things. "
Thompson's versatility made him an ideal collaborator, and he helped build the label's in-house team up with fellow producers such as Easy Mo Bee and Rashad Smith. In 1994, he worked extensively on two multi-platinum-certified classic albums that would send Bad Boy into the stratosphere: Mary J. Blige's sophomore set My Life and The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut LP Ready to Die. He wrote and produced on the majority of tracks on My Life, including the funky hits "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" and "You Bring Me Joy," and co-manned the decks on three cuts, including the G-funk-influenced smash "Big Poppa" on Ready to Die. Thompson's full-bodied production updated classic samples of artists including Rick James and the Isley Brothers for an R&B/hip-hop hybrid sound that helped to define the mid '90s.
Hits with Bad Boy artists such as Total ("No One Else") and Faith Evans ("You Used to Love Me") continued for Thompson through the turn of the millennium -- though his biggest single in the 21st century came outside the label's family, with the cinematic "One Mic" for Nas in 2002. His credits grew more sporadic as the 21st century progressed, but he still appeared on albums from Busta Rhymes and Ne-Yo in the past decade, and remained a regular collaborator of Evans' through the 2010s.
"A music legend for the DMV and the world," wrote DJ Heat, house DJ for the Washington Mystics and Wizards basketball teams, in tribute to Thompson on Twitter. "Not only laced so many classic hits, but also continued to show so much love for the DC area. RIP Chucky Thompson."
#HipHopNews: Kanye West Is Reportedly Moving To Another Stadium To Finish ‘Donda’!
Kanye West is packing his bags and moving to another stadium.
According to a new report, Ye plans to relocate venues as he finishes work on his oft-delayed album DONDA.
One of Kanye’s collaborators, rapper Kaycyy, took to Twitter on Monday to announce that Yezy and his team are on the move. However, it’s unclear where they plan to go next or whether they will move out of the Atlanta area.
Kanye has been living and working out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the past two weeks as he completes DONDA, which was slated to arrive July 23 before being pushed to Aug. 6. It is now unclear when the album will drop. He hosted two listening events at the stadium and set up a live feed from his bedroom inside the 70,000-seat building were fans were able to watch him 24/7.
Meanwhile, Kanye’s collaboration with The Weeknd and Lil Baby, “Hurricane,” appeared on some international streaming services over the weekend, but has yet to be released in the U.S.
BREAKING: A New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Announces Resignation After Harassment Alllegations!
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced on Tuesday that he would resign, following calls for his departure after an investigation by the New York state attorney general found he’d sexually harassed multiple female employees, violating federal and state law.
“New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York,” Cuomo said at an emotional news conference, where he said he will resign from his position in 14 days. “And I love you. And everything I have ever done has been motivated by that love. And I would never want to be unhelpful in any way. And I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing.”
Nine women accused the governor of sexual harassment and inappropriate comments earlier this year, sparking an independent investigation in March. The resulting report, filed in August, painted a “deeply disturbing yet clear picture” of Cuomo’s behavior, New York state Attorney General Letitia James (D) said.
In at least one instance, investigators found that the governor and his senior team actively retaliated against a woman who accused Cuomo of sexual harassment.
“Gov. Cuomo’s administration fostered a toxic workplace that enabled harassment and created a hostile work environment where staffers did not feel comfortable coming forward with complaints about sexual harassment due to a climate of fear and given the power dynamics,” James said.
Cuomo originally responded by forcefully denying the accusations, prompting New York lawmakers, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), to call for him to step down. President Joe Biden also voiced support for Cuomo’s resignation.
On Tuesday, Cuomo apologized for comments he made toward women, but denied that he sexually harassed anyone.
“There is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual harassment,” Cuomo said. “Now don’t get me wrong, this is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended. There are. And for that I deeply, deeply apologize. I thought a hug and putting my arm around a staffer for a picture was friendly, but she found it to be too forward.”
“I have slipped and called people honey, sweetheart and darling,” he added. “I meant it to be endearing, but women found it dated and offensive.”
Cuomo’s resignation cuts short a three-term governorship and upends the career of a onetime Democratic Party star, marking one of the most dramatic turns of political fortune in recent U.S. history.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo won praise, and even adoration, for his reassuring daily televised press conferences. Politics watchers who hailed his poise credited him for offering a taste of crisis leadership that then-President Donald Trump did not provide.
But instead of catapulting a regional power broker to lasting national influence, Cuomo’s brief, TV-fueled rise as a folk hero ― complete with an Emmy Award and a seven-figure book deal ― ended up foreshadowing the pride before a fall.
Beneath the surface-level adulation, Cuomo’s critics on the left and right had, for months, blasted the governor for a decision to effectively force ill-equipped nursing homes to admit COVID-19-positive patients discharged from hospitals during the first, most severe months of the pandemic.
Cuomo’s refusal to share data about the scale of COVID-19-related deaths in those nursing homes with state lawmakers, and his decision to inoculate the homes from lawsuits related to their handling of patients during this period, only added to his skeptics’ suspicion.
Cuomo’s success at keeping local criticism out of national headlines came to an abrupt end in late January when James, the state attorney general, released a report about his management of the nursing home crisis. James, a former Cuomo ally, concluded that due in part to a refusal to count the deaths of nursing home residents who died of COVID-19 in hospitals among the official tallies of the coronavirus’s impact, the Cuomo administration had been reporting 50% fewer nursing home COVID-19 deaths in the state than there had actually been.
Two weeks later, someone leaked details of a conversation between senior Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa and state lawmakers in which she admitted that Cuomo had postponed the release of comprehensive nursing home death data for fear that the Trump administration would take advantage of it politically.
Of course, other Democratic governors targeted by Trump did not respond by trying to concealing their states’ data.
And with Trump gone from office, Cuomo no longer had the Republican president as a foil. It was suddenly open season on the man whom news outlets had called “America’s governor.”
The FBI and a Brooklyn office of President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice announced an investigation into Cuomo’s handling of the nursing home data. And a threatening call from Cuomo to New York Assemblymember Ron Kim (D), who had been outspoken against the nursing home policy long before it made national headlines, elicited multiple days of negative media coverage, bringing to light a penchant for bullying that had long been common knowledge in Albany.
Cuomo’s alleged cover-up of nursing home COVID-19 deaths was already the most significant scandal of his decade-long governorship.
Then, another storm hit. In late February, Lindsey Boylan, a former aide to Cuomo, penned a detailed account of unwanted sexual advances from the governor, including a suggestion that they “play strip poker” and an unsolicited kiss on the lips. Four more women, three of them also former aides, came forward in quick succession to accuse the governor of similar conduct.
Charlotte Bennett, a former assistant to Cuomo, recounted how the governor asked her whether she had sex with older men.
Cuomo denied the details of Boylan’s story, but not those provided by Bennett.
Instead, he asked the public to withhold judgment pending an independent investigation of the incident. He initially sought to have a former judge of his choosing conduct the probe, but ultimately agreed to let James oversee the investigation (she tapped attorneys from third-party law firms for the task).
Cuomo also claimed he had not intended to indicate sexual interest in his accusers, even as he apologized for giving Bennett and other women such an impression.
“I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation,” he said. “To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.”
The apology would not be enough to retain the support of key political allies. After two more former aides accused Cuomo of making them uncomfortable with comments and physical gestures on March 6, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) joined calls for his resignation.
Cuomo’s troubles grew on March 9, when a female aide went public with an accusation that Cuomo had groped her breast during an evening visit to his mansion. She was the sixth woman to accuse him of sexual misconduct. Her claim was the most serious yet; the charge was referred to the Albany police.
Cuomo denied the allegation from the unnamed aide, but faced increasingly uncomfortable questions about his refusal to resign. As governor, he has called on at least six elected officials to resign over allegations of sexual misconduct or other impropriety, including Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D). Northam, who admitted in February 2019 to wearing blackface in the mid-1980s, successfully resisted calls for his departure.
The dams began to break on March 11, when 59 Democratic state lawmakers in both chambers of the New York legislature called for Cuomo’s resignation and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) announced the initiation of an impeachment inquiry against Cuomo.
The consolidation of state legislature Democrats against Cuomo helped push Democrats who represent New York in Congress over the edge.
Almost all of New York’s congressional Democrats, including progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the chair of House Democrats’ campaign arm, joined the calls for Cuomo’s resignation on March 12. Gillibrand and Schumer followed shortly thereafter.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and dean of New York’s congressional delegation, was also among those who concluded it was time for Cuomo to go.
“The repeated accusations against the governor, and the manner in which he has responded to them, have made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this point,” Nadler said.
Cuomo initially resisted these calls, but the tide of allegations kept growing. On March 19, one of Cuomo’s aides, Alyssa McGrath, told The New York Times that Cuomo had, on more than one occasion, made sexually suggestive remarks to her and stared down her shirt. McGrath said she considered the treatment “sexual harassment.”
She said she felt that Cuomo subjected her and the unnamed aide, who has accused Cuomo of unwanted groping, to consistently flirtatious innuendo. The unnamed aide confided in McGrath about the alleged groping shortly after it occurred, McGrath told the Times.
McGrath came forward because she was angry at Cuomo’s public declarations that he had never “touched anyone inappropriately,” she told the Times.
“I have no doubt in my mind that all of these accusers are telling the truth,” she said.
This is a developing story.
Ludacris And His Wife Welcome Baby Girl!
Ludacris and his wife announce the latest addition to their family.
On Monday (Aug. 9), the rapper, who appeared on Justin Bieber’s “Peaches (Remix)” a couple of months ago, used his Instagram account to announce the birth of a baby girl. For the post, he uploaded an image of his wife, Eudoxie, and their new daughter, as well as a photo of himself with the infant.
“The Movie “Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls” starring Chris Bridges coming soon,” Luda wrote in the caption, joking about the fact that he already had three girls. “Chance Oyali Bridges Born 7:57am 7/28/21.”
The College Park, Georgia. rapper is now the father of four girls, including 20-year-old Karma, 7-year-old Cai and 6-year-old Cadence. He had Cadence with Eudoxie, but the rest of his children are from past relationships.
This news arrives at an exciting point in Luda’s career. Back in June, he appeared in F9, the ninth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. During the press run for the film, he debunked the internet rumors that surfaced about him having a pilot’s license. Back in May, he was seen flying a plane in a video he posted to social media. Despite this, he hadn’t yet gotten his license, and he explained as much during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“The internet just ran with the fact that I have an official pilot’s license when they saw this video,” Ludacris said after joking that he was “as surprised as everyone else” about the report.
Ludacris hasn’t gotten pilot’s license yet despite impressive flight video
“I never said that, but who am I to correct the internet? The internet believes what they want to believe,” Ludacris continued before saying that the video marked his first time flying a plane. “I actually own a plane, but for all of these years, I’ve never wanted to become a pilot, because you can’t drink alcohol within eight hours of flying. Who would want to go on a vacation and not drink before they leave? Long story short, that’s the first of many, but I do plan to get my pilot’s license soon. It’s a work in progress, it takes some time.”
R. Kelly Racketeering Trial Opens as Judge Questions Prospective Jurors!
The federal racketeering case again singer R. Kelly commenced in a Brooklyn courthouse on Monday, as Judge Ann Donnelly quizzed more than three dozen potential jurors about their ability to remain impartial and committed during a trial which is scheduled to start August 18th and is estimated to last at least four weeks.
The judge pressed prospective jurors on their ability to absorb testimony on “sexual activity between people of the same sex,” their previous knowledge of the allegations against Kelly, and in some cases, their views on law enforcement. Several jurors were dismissed, including one man who said his religious upbringing would make it difficult for him to be impartial during testimony about homosexual activity and one woman who said she believed that women “don’t lie about sexual harassment.”
In addition, Kelly’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss a number of the indictments against the singer on Monday morning. The judge said she would give the prosecution time to respond to the motion before making a ruling.
It’s been more than two years since Kelly was arrested in Chicago in June 2019. At the time, the singer was indicted in Illinois for child pornography, enticement of a minor, and obstruction of justice. Brooklyn prosecutors charged Kelly with racketeering the same day, alleging that he was the head of an “enterprise” that helped him “prey upon young women and teenagers whose dreams of meeting a superstar soon turned into a nightmare of rape, child pornography and forced labor.” Kelly is facing sex-related charges in Minnesota as well.
The singer pleaded not guilty to all charges. He previously faced trial in 2008 on child pornography charges and was eventually acquitted. In addition, a number of other previous suits against Kelly by women alleging sexual misconduct were settled out of court.
One potential juror confessed to being “uncomfortable” about the gist of the charges. “I have daughters too,” he told the judge.
The racketeering law being leveraged in the Brooklyn case was originally crafted to help law enforcement prosecute leaders of organized crime operations like the mafia. In this case, Kelly’s “enterprise” allegedly includes members of his entourage, bodyguards, drivers, and managers.
While the initial indictment accused Kelly of coercing, exploiting, or kidnapping a handful of women, the prosecution now hopes to bring evidence to bear from nearly 20 individuals, several of whom were underaged at the time of the singer’s alleged misconduct. The prosecution’s July filing accuses Kelly of committing sexual abuse, unlawfully imprisoning women, knowingly passing a woman a sexually transmitted infection, and using a member of his enterprise to bribe a state employee.
In addition, prosecutors plan to introduce testimony from a 17-year-old boy who claims he met Kelly at a McDonalds in 2006, according to the July filing. Afterwards, the singer allegedly invited the boy to his studio and later propositioned him and had a sexual encounter. Kelly is also accused of telling the boy to vouch for his character to a juror serving on his 2008 child pornography case. With all this testimony, prosecutors hope to show that the alleged incidents “were not isolated events and were part of a larger pattern,” according to court documents.
Kelly’s trial was delayed due to the pandemic, but Judge Donnelly started the jury selection process on Monday, winnowing a pool of possible candidates down to 18 — 12 to serve during the trial plus six alternates. Due to precautions around Covid-19, only the judge, attorneys, and jurors were permitted in the courtroom. Judge Donnelly ordered all potential jurors to be anonymous because of the media attention that would follow the trial; she addressed each of the jurors by a number — pausing only when an annoying drilling sound permeated the courtroom in the morning — and instructed them not to reveal too much personal information even when she quizzed them on their jobs and hobbies.
Two women told the judge they had suffered abuse as children. One said the experience would not impact her impartiality, while the other was excused.
Prospective jurors ranged from a woman who worked in customer service at a retail store and enjoyed listening to music to a man who said he liked to crochet and initially confused Kelly with the cartoonist R. Crumb; from a marathon runner who loved the soccer star Lionel Messi to a law student whose third year started in two weeks. Candidates had already filled out forms vetting their interests and possible biases, and it appeared that several had special difficulty coming up with the “publicly known figure” they “admire the most,” prompting the judge to ask them why they hadn’t answered that question in particular.
Much of the interviewing passed without incident, other than jurors pointing out that the temperature in the courthouse seemed more fitting for a meat locker than a place of business. Several potential jurors were granted exemptions from service for pedestrian reasons: The law student would be unlikely to balance school with the time commitment needed for the trial; one cashier said she suffered from back pain; a day-trader told the court he feared the demands of jury duty would send him into bankruptcy.
The more notable exchanges revolved around prospective jurors who indicated that their life experiences overlapped with the allegations against Kelly in some way. Two women told the judge they had suffered abuse as children. One said the experience would not impact her impartiality, while the other was excused.
Another prospective juror who was currently unemployed but hoped to become a freelance illustrator indicated that he might not be able to look past his Christian upbringing when it came to hearing testimony about “sexual activity between people of the same sex.” The judge chose to excuse him.
Similarly, a media company employee who said she found it hard not to believe women who spoke up about alleged sexual misconduct was excused. “You might be better suited to a different kind of case,” the judge told her. In a separate instance, after a prospective juror said she felt that police officers were more trustworthy than other witnesses, the judge reminded her that she had to treat the testimony of law enforcement employees the same way she would treat commentary from anyone else.
A handful of jurors were blunt about the distressing nature of the charges in this trial — the marathon runner, for example, confessed to being “uncomfortable” about the gist of the charges. “I have daughters too,” he told the judge. But when she asked him if he was able to put aside those feelings to focus on the material that might be presented in the case, he said he could. And a man who indicated that he had suffered injustice at the hands of the law enforcement in the past declared that those experiences would not “cloud [his] judgement” on the current case.
The proceedings wrapped up a little before 5 p.m., and it is unclear how long jury selection will take. Early in the day, the judge reminded the pool of prospective jurors that they were in it for the long haul. “Many of you like to watch law shows on TV,” she said. “You have to put those things out of your mind. The law shows are entertainment. They wrap everything up in an hour. This is a little different.”
BravoCon 2021 Has Been Canceled!
BravoCon 2021 is officially canceled, the network announced on Monday.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are postponing BravoCon 2021 until next year,” Bravo said in a statement.
“We are just as disappointed as our loyal fans to have to cancel this year’s event, but health and safety are our top priorities. We look forward to celebrating BravoCon 2022 together.”
At least one of the network’s stars was as blindsided as the fans: “RHONY” star Luann de Lesseps was still hyping the event as of last week.
The Bravolebrity extravaganza was announced in May with a proposed NYC run of October 15-17 following the overwhelming success of the event in 2019.
“Close to 10,000 fans experienced our first-ever BravoCon, and I’m so excited to bring the Bravosphere to life again,” NBCUniversal Cable executive vice president of consumer engagement and brand strategy Ellen Stone said in a statement at the time.
“The passion of our attendees combined with the enthusiasm from our talent set the standards super high for our second Con, which we plan to be even more memorable.”
No other details regarding the weekend had been released at the time.
The first Bravo-filled weekend included appearances from stars across all of the network’s shows and more than 50 live events ranging from a “Countess and Friends” cabaret show with de Lesseps to a meal with “Top Chef” restaurateurs.
Nicki Minaj’s Husband Kenneth Petty Agrees To Plea Deal For Neglecting To Register As A Sex Offender In California!
Kenneth Petty has agreed to a plea deal.
This past Friday (August 6th), TMZ revealed that Kenneth Petty, who’s married to Nicki Minaj, has struck a plea deal. The plea deal is in relation to Kenneth Petty‘s 2020 arrest for failing to register as a sex offender after relocating to California. He has to register as a sex offender because of a first-degree attempted rape conviction from 1995, and he served almost four years behind bars for the crime.
Kenneth Petty reportedly agreed to plead guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender. It is unclear what his penalty will be, though federal court documents reportedly reveal that the minimum sentence is 5 years of supervised release. However, the decision will ultimately come from a judge, and it may include some jail time. Had he not stricken a plea deal, Kenneth Petty could have faced 10 years in prison and supervised release for the rest of his life.
This plea deal comes less than a year after the couple welcomed their first child together. Last September, Nicki Minaj gave birth to son, whom she calls “Papa Bear. Notably, Kenneth Petty reportedly had to receive permission to be present for his son’s birth due to the federal case against him.
Member Has Permission For A One Stand In Service. The Stand In Will Be Mr Teddy at the Funeral Home he will have the key. Please call him at 609-470-9938
De La Soul Finally Owns All the Rights to Their Masters!
Talib Kweli happily revealed that De La Soul finally “owns all the rights to their masters” for the first time in years.
Taking to Instagram to make the announcement, he shared that he received confirmation from Maseo himself. “After years of being taken advantage by the recording industry in the worst possible ways, De La Soul now owns all the rights to their masters and is in full control of the amazing music they have created,” Kweli wrote. “Let’s salute Plugs 1, 2 and 3 for sticking to their guns and showing us that we can all beat the system if we come together as a community. Let’s hear it for black ownership of black art! Congratulations fellas…”
Earlier this June, it was reported that Reservoir Media “already reached out to De La Soul and will work together to the bring the catalog and the music back to the fans.” The company previously acquired the catalog of Tommy Boy Records — the original label De La Soul was signed to — for a whopping $100 million USD.
Beyonce Confirms New Music Is On the Way!
Beyonce gave a rare interview for Harper’s Bazaar’s new cover story, where she was asked if she will be releasing new music anytime soon.
The 39-year-old superstar gave an answers fans are going to be excited about!
Beyonce told Harper’s Bazaar, “With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half.”
She then elaborated about her music-making process, “Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies. Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”
Jeopardy' EP Mike Richards Confirms Hosting Rumors As He Denies Past Discrimination!
Mike Richards, the executive producer of Jeopardy!, addressed several issues that've been raised since it was reported he's the frontrunner to replace Alex Trebek. In a memo sent to staff and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Richards confirmed he was asked to "consider hosting the show," but denied he's appointing himself. He also denied mistreatment claims from his time working as co-EP of The Price Is Right.
"Recently, Jeopardy!, our host search and the possibility of me hosting has been all over the news," Richards began, calling the past year "the most challenging in the history of the show." Trebek died in November 2020.
"It is true that I was asked if I would consider hosting the show. I was humbled and deeply honored," Richards continued. "No final decisions have been made and discussions with me and other potential hosts are still ongoing. I know I have mentioned this to you all before, but the choice on this is not my decision and never has been. Throughout this search, Sony's top priority has always been to continue the incredible legacy you and Alex built."
Richards went on to defend himself against the alleged mistreatment of women employed during his tenure at The Price Is Right a decade ago. Model Brandi Cochran was awarded more than $7.7 million in compensatory and punitive damages in 2012 over claims producers retaliated against her after she announced her pregnancy. She alleged Richards didn't talk to her as frequently and implied she would have been fired had the pregnancy not been secret.
"These were allegations made in employment disputes against the show. I want you all to know that the way in which my comments and actions have been characterized in these complaints does not reflect the reality of who I am or how we worked together on The Price is Right," Richards told Jeopardy! staff. "I know firsthand how special it is to be a parent ... I would not say anything to disrespect anyone's pregnancy and have always supported my colleagues on their parenting journeys."
Richards concluded by encouraging anyone to reach out with "questions or concerns" and said he's focusing on ramping up for the new season.
The longtime producer was one of the first people to guest-host Jeopardy! after Trebek's passing. He stepped in last minute due to COVID-19 restrictions and was an overnight hit with viewers. But with a slew of fan-favorite hosts that followed — like Aaron Rodgers, Mayim Bialik and LeVar Burton — some were upset over last week's news Richards was the frontrunner to succeed Trebek. A final decision has not been made and Sony is not commenting.
Read Richards's email in full below:
Team Jeopardy!
Recently, Jeopardy!, our host search and the possibility of me hosting has been all over the news. I want to take a moment so that you can hear directly from me. The last year has been the most challenging in the history of the show. I know we are all still dealing with the loss of our hero, Alex, while at the same time continuing to produce amazing shows for our millions of fans through the pandemic. Our success over that time with our guest-host rotation, including the more than $3 million we raised for charities, is a singular achievement and a testament to your talent and dedication. I’ve produced a lot of television over the years, and I could not be more impressed with team Jeopardy!
It is true that I was asked if I would consider hosting the show. I was humbled and deeply honored. No final decisions have been made and discussions with me and other potential hosts are still ongoing. I know I have mentioned this to you all before, but the choice on this is not my decision and never has been. Throughout this search, Sony’s top priority has always been to continue the incredible legacy you and Alex built. As you know, Alex always believed the game itself and the contestants are the most important aspects of the show, and that will continue to be the guiding principle as the decision is finalized.
I want to address the complicated employment issues raised in the press during my time at The Price is Right ten years ago. These were allegations made in employment disputes against the show. I want you all to know that the way in which my comments and actions have been characterized in these complaints does not reflect the reality of who I am or how we worked together on The Price is Right. I know firsthand how special it is to be a parent. It is the most important thing in the world to me. I would not say anything to disrespect anyone’s pregnancy and have always supported my colleagues on their parenting journeys.
I am very proud of my time on The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal. During my tenure, our female cast members welcomed seven beautiful children. We embraced and celebrated each pregnancy and birth both in front of and behind the camera. It was a joy to watch their families grow and highlight their happiness as part of the show.
For us, I realize there is a lot going on right now as we ramp up for the new season. Please do not hesitate to reach out of you have any questions or concerns.
It is truly an honor to get to work with all of you to produce this amazing show, and I look forward to the days ahead as we get back into production.
Mike
West Side Story Revival Will Not Reopen on Broadway!
Ivo van Hove's Broadway revival of West Side Story has announced that it will not reopen at the Broadway Theatre.
Producer Kate Horton said in a statement, "It is with great regret that we are announcing today that the 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story will not reopen. This difficult and painful decision comes after we have explored every possible path to a successful run, and unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, reopening is not a practical proposition. We thank all the brilliant, creative artists who brought West Side Story to life at the Broadway Theatre, even for so brief a time, especially the extraordinary acting company, 33 of whom made their Broadway debuts in this production."
Directed by Tony winner Ivo van Hove, this divisive production edited the show's running time to under two hours, featured all-new choreography by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and was subject to protests for the casting of performer Amar Ramasar, who had been fired by New York City Ballet for allegedly sending explicit photos of female dancers to colleagues, as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. (An arbitrator later ordered the Ballet to reinstate Ramasar when his union challenged the dismissal.) The musical, originally produced by Scott Rudin, was also the subject of much backstage intrigue, as actors were injured and choreographic duties allegedly changed hands, though ticket sales were very strong pre-pandemic.
Created by Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story is based on a conception by Jerome Robbins, who directed and choreographed the original production. The production has scenery and lighting design by van Hove's longtime collaborator, five-time Tony Award nominee Jan Versweyveld, with costume design by An d'Huys, sound design by Tom Gibbons, video design by Luke Halls, and orchestrations by Tony and Academy Award winner Jonathan Tunick. Alexander Gemignani served as music supervisor and musical director.
West Side Story starred Shereen Pimentel as Maria, Isaac Powell as Tony, Yesenia Ayala as Anita, Amar Ramasar as Bernardo, Dharon E. Jones as Riff, Ahmad Simmons as Diesel, Danny Wolohan as Officer Krupke, Jacob Guzman as Chino, Kevin Csolak as A-Rab, Matthew Johnson as Baby John, Dharon E. Jones as Action, Zuri Noelle Ford as Anybodys, Daniel Oreskes as Doc, Pippa Pearthree as Glad Hand, Thomas Jay Ryan as Lt. Schrank, and an ensemble including Alexa De Barr, Daniel Ching, Gabi Campo, Gino Cosculluela, Marc Crousillat, Stephanie Crousillat, Roman Cruz, Tyler Eisenreich, Armando Eleazar, Marlon Feliz, Satori Folkes-Stone, Constance François, Carlos Gonzalez, Jennifer Gruener, Jarred Manista, Michaela Marfori, Michelle Mercedes, Michael Seltzer, Corey John Snide, Sheldon True, Ricky Ubeda, Madison Vomastek, Tony Ward, Bridget Whitman, and Kevin Zambrano.
Michael B. Jordan Launches “Hoop Dreams Classic” Showcase to Feature HBCU Athletes!
Michael B. Jordan is one of the high-profile public figures working to promote HBCUs and their student-athletes in 2021. The “Hoop Dreams Classic,” a basketball showcase featuring the nation’s top Division 1 HBCU men’s and women’s basketball teams, will be launched by the star.
Jordan’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey, will host the one-day event on December 18 at the Prudential Center. A portion of the earnings from the event will be donated to groups in the Newark region that support HBCUs.
According to HBCU Gameday, the event will include two games involving two of the most historic HBCU basketball rivalries: North Carolina A&T vs. Howard and North Carolina Central vs. Hampton.
When Jordan first announced the event in December 2020, he claimed that he was inspired to organize it due to increasing global attention to the Black Lives Matter movement following the police killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and others.
“This past year has been the tipping point for so many, including myself, in revving up to support for Black people,” Jordan said in a statement. “As a Newark native, I am committed to bringing change to the community and am honored to be able to present The Hoop Dreams Classic as a way to celebrate the value of community, education, and Black college experiences. Through our shared love of basketball, I look forward to bringing the communal spirit of HBCUs to the city that helped shape me into the man I am today.”
Additionally, the event will feature live musical performances, a Battle of the Bands competition, film festivals, and educational resources that will help students learn more about college and career options.
Through his #ChangeHollywood initiative, Jordan, 34, is also amplifying Black voices and stories. He holds Hollywood accountable for representing Black stories and hiring Black creators.
One of the Sponsors of the event, WME Sports co-head Jordan Bazant, told Forbes that he hoped that the basketball event would have an impact similar to #ChangeHollywood.
“Michael challenged us and encouraged us to make the same impact we are with #ChallengeHollywood, and it fits perfectly with what and who we are,” Bazant said. “What about sports? What about music? … Talking to other partners, they were doing their own things and challenging themselves, so we said, why don’t we come together as we have in the past to make a bigger impact? It’s the next step and next generation for #ChangeHollywood.”
Cardi B Will Feature On Lizzo’s New Track ‘Rumors’!
Cardi B Will Feature On Lizzo’s New Track ‘Rumors’
Lizzo is teaming up with Cardi B for her brand new single, “Rumors”.
Lizzo announced the news online that none other than Cardi B will feature on the song. FaceTiming Cardi, she shared their convo captioning it;
“Guess who’s hopping on ‘Rumors’ with me?”
Both uploaded the cover art on social media.
The single will be released on August 13.
Colorado Rockies launch investigation after fan shouts N-word at Black Miami Marlins player!
The Colorado Rockies have launched an investigation after a fan was heard yelling a racial slur at a Black Miami Marlins player on Sunday (Aug. 8). The incident occurred while the Rockies were playing the Marlins at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.
According to ESPN, microphones on the Bally Sports Florida telecast recorded a fan shouting the N-word multiple times while Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson was at-bat. The slur was heard after the second pitch was thrown toward Brinson during the ninth inning of the game.
“The Colorado Rockies are disgusted at the racial slur by a fan directed at the Marlins’ Lewis Brinson during the ninth inning of today’s game,” the team said in a statement. “Although the subject was not identified prior to the end of the game, the Rockies are still investigating this incident.
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“The Rockies have zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination and any fan using derogatory language of any kind will be ejected and banned from Coors Field,” it added.
According to ESPN, team officials weren’t able to send ushers into the area to eject the fan because of a postgame concert that was scheduled as part of a Faith Day celebration. Fans moved down to the lower deck of the Coors Field stadium to watch the concert and ushers weren’t able to move into the area until the concert ended, which was about an hour after the game.
Marlins spokesman Jason Latimer told the Associated Press that “neither Lewis nor any other Marlins on the field or in the dugout heard what was shouted.”
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“We brought the matter to the attention of the Rockies. How the matter is being handled, I would have to defer to them,” he added via text.
On Sunday evening, the executive director of the MLB Players Association Tony Clark said in a statement: “We have to continue to work together to ensure that racism is never tolerated on or off the field. While many are truly committed to respect and equality for all, the abhorrent racial animus displayed today highlights that there is still much work to be done.”
Brinson hasn’t directly responded to the controversy but he did post a photo on Instagram captioned, “Keep going.” In the post’s comments, fans showed their support and apologized for the offending fan’s behavior.
Father Of 7 Nick Cannon Discusses Condoms: “Contrary To Popular Belief, I Do Wear Them!”
Nick Cannon recently appeared on The Breakfast Club where the dad of 7 talked about fatherhood.
While speaking with Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy, Nick explained that having multiple babies with multiple girlfriends is the way of rebelling against the “Eurocentric” institution of marriage. He said, “That’s a Eurocentric concept … the idea that you’re supposed to have this one person for the rest of your life.” The 40-year-old added, “The idea that a man should have one woman… we shouldn’t have anything. I don’t have ownership over any of the mothers. We create families in the sense that we created a beautiful entity.”
Speaking about the mothers of his kids, Nick explained that “Those women, and all women, are the ones that open themselves up and say, ‘I would like to allow this man into my world and I will birth this child,’” he insisted. “It ain’t my decision. I’m just following suit.” Now despite fathering 4 kids this year alone, he made it clear that he actually does wear condoms and broke down the “process” for listeners.
Nick welcomed his first twins in 2011 with ex-wife Mariah Carey: Monroe and Moroccan. He then had his son Golden, 4, and 8-month-old daughter Powerful Queen Cannon with Miss Guam pageant winner Brittany Bell. On June 14 of this year, Cannon welcomed twin boys Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir with DJ Abby De La Rosa, 29. Just nine days later, on June 23, he became the father of his son, Zen, with model Alyssa Scott.
Battle Between Aaliyah’s Estate and Former Manager Is at Full War!
A long-running battle between the estate of the late R&B singer Aaliyah and her uncle/ former manager and label chief Barry Hankerson broke into the open on Wednesday after teasers about forthcoming music were posted online.
Aaliyah — a former R. Kelly protégé who was briefly married to him at the age of 15 in a quickly annulled ceremony — died in a 2001 plane crash when she was just 22. She is arguably the most popular and prominent artist whose most-successful recordings are not available on streaming services, apparently due to a conflict between Hankerson and the estate that has gone on for the better part of two decades.
On Thursday, Hankerson’s label Blackground announced a distribution deal with Empire accompanied by a release schedule that includes four Aaliyah releases: Her previously released, double-platinum albums “One in a Million” (1996) and “Aaliyah” (2001) — which have never been legally available on streaming services — along with a greatest-hits compilation and one called “I Care 4 U” that may be a posthumous collection, executive produced by Drake and featuring cameos from him, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and others, that Hankerson has been trying to release for nearly a decade.
The albums are scheduled to be released beginning on August 20 and continuing through October. It remains unclear why, if Hankerson controls the rights to the recordings, previous efforts to release them were not successful.
Reps for Blackground and the estate did not immediately respond to Variety‘s requests for comment, but the estate posted a blistering message on social media late Wednesday that was clearly aimed at Hankerson.
“For 20 years we have battled behind the scenes, enduring shadowy tactics of deception,” the estate’s statement reads, “now, this unscrupulous endeavor to release Aaliyah’s music without transparency or full accounting to the estate compels our hearts to express a word – forgiveness,” but pledges to “continue to defend ourselves and her legacy lawfully.”
After the releases were announced on Thursday, Paul LiCalsi, an attorney for the estate, placed the blame for the music’s long unavailability on Blackground: “Since the early 2000’s, only Aaliyah’s first album ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number’ has been available on streaming platforms because the right to distribute that record has been held by major record companies under contract with Aaliyah’s record label, Blackground Records. Other than that first album, virtually the entire remainder of her catalog, including many never released tracks, has been inexplicably withheld from the public by Blackground Records.
“Aaliyah’s Estate has always been ready to share Aaliyah’s musical legacy but has been met with contention and a gross lack of transparency. For almost 20 years, Blackground has failed to account to the Estate with any regularity in accordance with her recording contracts. In addition, the Estate was not made aware of the impending release of the catalog until after the deal was complete and plans were in place. The Estate has demanded that Blackground provide a full account of its past earnings, and full disclosure of the terms of its new deal to distribute Aaliyah’s long embargoed music.” He did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Variety about whether the estate will try to block the releases.
The statement was a response to a social media post from Blackground promising “Aaliyah is coming.” (The social media accounts were launched last month.)
In a long interview published by Billboard on Thursday, Hankerson addressed the specifics of the dispute between himself and his sister, Aaliyah’s mother Diane, only briefly: “There was a conversation we had that she didn’t want the music out, and whatever my sister told me, I tried to do what she wanted me to do,” he said. “As a parent, I would understand if she did not want the music out. Because who wants to hear the voice of your daughter who’s gone? So when she said that to me, I said, ‘OK, we’re not putting it out. I don’t know when, but one day we will.’ We literally packed everything up and went on to something else.”
The estate has been largely silent since the singer’s death in 2001, and few details have emerged about the exact nature of the points of contention that have prevented her final and most successful albums from appearing on streaming services (read more about that here). However, in recent months social media posts from both the estate and Blackground had an optimistic tone and said they were working to resolve the situation.
The estate’s post reads in part, “To our loyal fans: We are excited to announce that communication has commenced between the estate and various record labels about the status of Aaliyah’s music catalogue, as well as its availability on streaming platforms in the near future,” it reads. “Thank you for your continued love and support. More updates to come!” However, in a January 2021 post it asked for patience “until we can resolve all of the issues in freeing her music.”
Hankerson said that he took the first statement to be a green light to move ahead with the re-releases. However, based on this week’s events, his perception seems to have been premature.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Are 'Spending as Much Time Together as Possible' Before Busy Fall!
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have returned home after their romantic Mediterranean getaway, but the couple is more than happy to be settling back into their routines.
"They are back in L.A. now after the most special trip to Europe," a source tells PEOPLE. "They are hanging out with their kids and friends. They are having an amazing summer."
Affleck, 48, and Lopez, 52, are currently focused on bonding before getting back to work, the source says.
"They are spending as much time together as possible before they have separate work projects in the fall," adds the source. "Ben will be filming in Texas and Jennifer in Canada."
Over the weekend, the couple was spotted together taking a beachside stroll with Affleck's best friend Matt Damon.
Walking in Malibu, near Paradise Cove, Affleck and Lopez held hands as Damon, 50, walked alongside the pair.
Late last month, while chatting with Extra at the premiere of his latest film Stillwater in New York City, Damon talked about Affleck and his rekindled romance with Lopez, telling the outlet, "I'm just so happy for him."
"He's the best. He deserves every happiness in the world," the actor added of his longtime friend. "I'm glad for both of them."
The couple made their rekindled romance Instagram official during their European vacation, when Lopez posted a photo of the couple sharing a passionate kiss on a yacht.
Affleck and Lopez began seeing each other again in April after their respective splits from Ana de Armas and Alex Rodriguez earlier this year.
The couple originally began dating in July 2002 after filming Gigli together. They got engaged that November before postponing their September 2003 wedding, just days before the date, and ultimately calling off their engagement in January 2004.
A source recently told PEOPLE that the pair "are madly in love" and "the loves of each other's lives."
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘RUSTY GRISWOLD IS AT WALMART!
Rusty Just Rusty Griswold at Walmart! Awesome!
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Derek
Meet Derek! 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 DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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