#FASHIONFILES: Polo Ralph Lauren 2021 Holiday Campaign Hugs Committed, Progressive Hearts
The Polo Ralph Lauren 2021 Holiday Campaign reminds me that some of the best things in life are free — but not easy to assemble in one place. It’s damn difficult — sort of like telling the true story of America.
Polo Ralph Lauren continues to do an impressive good of trying to tell a story that is no longer the American story but a global one.
While we assemble all the parts and players — because not even Ralph Lauren Media has this campaign fully laid out — know that the Polo Ralph Lauren 2021 Campaign features eight global families. The campaign reminds us that family is who you love.
Here’s the IG link for the campaign, but laying out the people featured is worse than making a jigsaw puzzle.
The top line takeaway — in case you are blind — is the concept of one global family with different but also shared values. Polo Ralph Lauren is for global citizens and the walls that we are trying to break through with all our might. That is one hell of a credential to be holding in your brand deck, so don’t screw it up, Ralph Lauren.
It may be a losing battle, frankly — crashing through these walls with all our might — but Polo Ralph Lauren is on our side — and not for the first time. We’ve been writing about Ralph Lauren’s best efforts for several years now.
Topash Skhar — twin brothers of the Chichimeca tribe — appear with Cuali Linda Aleman and Glenda Hernández Quezada.
The four are all activists aligned with the Indigenous Alliance Movement [IG] advocating for sovereignty through decolonization.
Photographers Dan Martensen [IG] and Daniel Jack Lyons [IG] photograph these beautiful people. Lyons is really helping me out here. Thx, Lyons!/ Hair by Eric Williams; makeup by Natasha Severino
Lina Zhang and Tasha Tilberg are part of the campaign. Vancouver, Canada-based farmer and model, Tilberg, who appears with her children with partner and non-profit manager, Laura Wilson, and their children, shares the deep sentiments around the campaign.
"I feel most grateful in this life for my family and my children. They bring me so much knowledge and love."
#RHOA: Porsha Williams’ Book Signing Was Crashed By A Protestor Who Pleaded With The Reality Star To Stop Wearing Fur
Porsha Williams was approached by an animal-loving protestor at her recent book-signing event for her latest memoir, The Pursuit of Porsha. The protestor crashed the event to plead with the 40-year-old reality star to stop wearing fur, interrupting the event by yelling at Porsha for allegedly having animals “skinned alive” in the name of fashion.
A video surfaced online showing the unidentified woman interrupting the event, addressing the crowd and Porsha. “Ladies and gentlemen I am not here to interrupt anything! I want to bring something to your attention that’s very important – ‘The Real Housewives’ support fur and wear fur!” she yelled.
She then directed her protest to Porsha, adding, “we are here to ask Porsha – Porsha please stop wearing fur!”
The 59-second video showed that the Porsha’s Family Matters star was unfazed by the unidentified woman as she continued with her book signing and interacting with the event’s attendees. Before being escorted out of the event, the unidentified protestor added “Animals are skinned alive! It’s not fashion!” and was then met with boos from many of Porsha’s supporters who replied with, “we love fur!”
The former Atlanta housewife is no stranger to being a trending topic especially after going public with her 57-year-old financé, Simon Guobadia. After a November 30 appearance on The Tamron Hall Show where she explained that she hadn’t set an official wedding date as she and Simon were still in the “courting stage,” Porsha finally confirmed to Extra on Monday at the People’s Choice Awards that the two have finally set a date for their upcoming nuptials.
“I actually do have a date now,” she explained. “I did not [have a date] and everything kind of blew up online. My grandmother, of all people, got word. She was like, ‘That man wants to marry you, what you going to do?’ She, my mom, and my Aunt Darlene sat me down like an intervention and they literally gave me a date. So we now have a date, summoned by my family.”
She continued, “It’ll come … You want to still keep up that nice feeling, getting dressed, him courting you. In the south, we call it the courtship. He’s still just treating me so special, we just bought a home together. We’re about to move in. We’ve got so much going on that it’s coming.”
Porsha also added that they are not sharing their wedding date publicly for now, but they are very much still in the honeymoon phase and enjoying each other.
#NewMusic from Morris Day & Big Daddy Kane ‘Grown Man’
It's hard to remember a time before this digital age, but you don't have to look far to find an old head willing to tell you about the good old days. Morris Day is a proud member of the old school who continues to keep crowds moving to this very day. He's also back on the block with his new single "Grown Man," which lets all the ladies out there know why you need a more mature fella in your life.
Morris gets straight to point on the track, letting you know to not expect any d**k pics from him in your inbox ("Let's leave that there for them millennials," he quips). Instead, he has more traditional — and flashy — ways to get your attention. Those include fancy whips, exotic trips, big houses and stellar credit. And if all those things aren't enough to get you interested, the track pulls out the big guns with a verse from rap legend Big Daddy Kane, who drops a 16 about what exactly he's bringing to the table in the romance department.
With all these sentiments, and a groove the adds a smooth edge to the '80s funk sound Morris is known for without coming off like parody, it's an approach that will surely keep Morris' player ways going for years to come."Grown Man" that sometimes this new age needs a bit of old-school finesse. Listen to Morris Day and Big Daddy Kane HERE
#HipHopNews: Rod Wave Responds To People Calling His New Song A Suicide Note
Rod Wave is setting the record straight after scaring fans with his new song "Nirvana."
On Dec.11, the popular Florida rap-crooner got on Instagram Live and spoke on what he says was an overreaction to a fictional track. "Why the fuck people take that shit and just say that was my suicide letter?" a clearly perturbed Rod said in the IG Live video. "That's not how that works. That's not how suicide letters work. You don't go to a studio and record a suicide letter." He added, "Real fans of me, people that listen to my music and fuck with me, they know what my music be like, feel what I'm saying? So, shit, they should already...But all the blogs and shit posting...just like cooking up shit saying, 'Rod posting a suicide letter,' that's not true, bro."
The former XXL Freshman also shot down speculation that the song was a strange attempt at grabbing attention. "Fuck niggas hating, talking 'bout I'm looking for attention. Bitch, who the fuck needs attention?" Rod snapped. "You forgot who the fuck I was? I don't need new attention. Did you not see my tour? Did you not see my album sales? I don't need no extra attention. I had already deleted my Insta and my Twitter and all that shit because of the extra attention. I don't need no extra attention from nobody, I'm good."
Recently, Rod had the internet going nuts when he released the snippet of the track "Nirvana," in which he raps about suicide. "If you're hearing this it's too late/I've been writin' this since Tuesday, today Friday that mean tomorrow's doomsday," Rod starts off the track. "Tried to fight the pain but it ate me alive/Sad to say I lost a battle, against my mind/You should be happy for me homie no more sufferin'/We all got a day I guess we'll see each other then/I hope that heaven's real and one day we can reunite/And don't be crying for me I lived a wonderful life."
Alarmed fans hopped on social media to share their thoughts. "@rodwave Don’t Go out Like This Baby We NEEEEEEEED Youuuu," one fan posted on Twitter. "I’ll be Iost Fr Mane DONT DO US LIKE THAT!!!!"
"Bro I cannot lose rod wave pls," another person wrote. "Rod talk to somebody get some help your music help me grow as person. When I went to your concert in Dallas I truly Tiered up by your Presence. You’re the only artist I ever felt that connection through your music. U helped me during thehardtimes."
A short time later, Rod responded to fan concern, making a statement about the uproar on his Instagram Story. "Sorry for da scare," he wrote. "I'm super goood...Happy asf working on my new album...love y'all fasho doe dat was definitely a [suicide] prevention song."
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or contemplating self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit speakingofsuicide.com for additional resources.
#BoxOfficeNews: Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Debuts with $10.5M
Despite critical acclaim and two years-worth of anticipation, Steven Spielberg’s lavish “West Side Story” revival made little noise at the box office, debuting with $10.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday — a worrisome result for a movie industry struggling to recapture its finger-snapping rhythm.
A dazzling widescreen adaptation and Spielberg’s first musical, “West Side Story” was one of the year’s most eagerly awaited titles. With a script by Tony Kushner and Rita Moreno returning to her breakthrough film 60 years later, the $100-million “West Side Story” epitomizes a grand-scale prestige film that Hollywood infrequently produces anymore. It hit theaters on a wave of glowing reviews and expectations that it could play a starring role in March’s Academy Awards.
But “West Side Story” faced a challenging marketplace for both adult-driven releases and musicals. Audiences have steadily returned to multiplexes in the second year of the pandemic, but older moviegoers, who made up the bulk of ticket-buyers for Spielberg’s latest, have been among the slowest to return
Musicals, too, have struggled to catch on in theaters. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” launched with $11 million in June but the Warner Bros. release simultaneously streamed on HBO Max. The critically panned “Dear Evan Hansen,” from Universal, debuted with $7.4 million in September.
But this was Spielberg. If anyone could reignite moviegoing, the thinking went, it was him. Surely, one of the movies’ dazzling craftsmen, a director synonymous with box office, could spark a fuller revival in theaters. “West Side Story,” too, is among the most beloved musicals. The 1961 film, directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, made $43.7 million (or about $400 million adjusted for inflation) and won 10 Oscars, including best picture.
“West Side Story” can still be expected to play well through the lucrative holiday corridor, during which younger-skewing films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (expected to next weekend become the first pandemic release to open with $100 million or more domestically) and “Sing 2” will likely be the top draws. Film executives are hoping the spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 doesn’t set the box office back just as Hollywood is nearing its most profitable period.
But the muted reception for “West Side Story” will concern the industry. Hopes had long been pinned on Spielberg, with his song-and-dance spectacular, to bring back some of the movies’ mojo. Instead, little right now outside of Marvel releases is finding big audiences. Many moviegoers simply haven’t returned yet.
“To draw moviegoers to adult dramas in huge numbers right now seems like a pretty heavy lift,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore. “That will wane over time, but it is concerning for filmmakers and studios.”
“But I don’t think this is the final act for ‘West Side Story,‘” added Dergarabedian. “A lot of people counted out ‘The Greatest Showman.’”
That 2017 release launched with a modest $8.8 million opening weekend before enjoying a rare, lengthy run that made it, with $435 million worldwide, one of the highest grossing live-action musicals ever. During the pandemic, though, movies have faded quickly at the multiplex, and often been steered more quickly to streaming or home release.
Starring newcomer Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort as Maria and Tony, “West Side Story” took in $4.4 million in 37 overseas territories. Because the film includes a transgender character, it was banned in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consultancy Franchise Entertainment, called the opening “soft.”
“If ‘West Side Story’ is going to be profitable, it will need to connect internationally as well domestically,” Gross said in an email. “So far, the first European openings have been good, but this is going to be a challenge with moviegoing conditions as difficult as they are.”
Spielberg’s film was a long time coming. Its release was delayed a year by the pandemic. It was developed at 20th Century Fox, which was acquired by the Walt Disney Co. shortly before production began. Days before its Lincoln Center premiere, the musical’s revered lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, died at the age of 91.
Second place for the weekend went to Disney’s animated “Encanto,” which held strongly in its third week, dropping only 27% from the previous weekend. It grossed $9.6 from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative total to $71.3 million domestically and $80.5 million internationally.
The weekend’s only other new wide release — STX Films’ college football drama “National Champions” — went largely unnoticed, pulling in $300,000 in 1,197 theaters.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “West Side Story,” $10.5 million.
2. “Encanto,” $9.4 million.
3. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” $7.1 million.
4. “House of Gucci,” $4.1 million.
5. “Eternals,” $3.1 million.
6. “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” $1.7 million.
7. “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” $1.3 million.
8. “Christmas With the Chosen,” $1.3 million.
9. “Dune,” $857,000.
10. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” $850,000.
Chris Brown Reportedly Expecting Third Child
Chris Brown may be adding to his family.A new report claims that the R&B superstar is expecting his third child. Brown’s ex-girlfriend, model Diamond Brown, is pregnant and due any day now.
While Diamond has not revealed whether Chris is the father, she did confirm the pregnancy by showing off her baby bump on Instagram. “35 weeks today,” she captioned a recent selfie.
In another photo, the glowing mom-to-be cradled her growing belly. “Good morning my sweet baby,” said Diamond, who celebrated her baby shower a month ago.
According to Radar Online, the mother of Chris’ son Aeko, Ammika Harris, isn’t happy and has seemingly been blocking people who comment about Chris’ alleged third child on her IG posts.
Chris himself has not addressed the report. But if the rumors are true, this will be his third child. He and Ammika have a 2-year-old son named Aeko Catori. In 2014, he welcomed his daughter, Royalty, with ex-girlfriend Nia Guzman.
Chris and Diamond have previously sparked romance rumors. Onsite claims that they were photographed on several occasions and Chris was flirting and liking her pictures the day Ammika announced her pregnancy in 2019.
Principal At LeBron James’ I Promise School Resigns After Slapping Incident
Brandi Davis, the first principal of the I Promise School championed by LeBron James in his native Akron, Ohio, has resigned after she was accused of slapping a student in the face.
via: BET The Akron Public Schools confirmed the decision, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. The resignation comes after an investigation that began in September, when she reportedly slapped an 11-year-old boy for swearing.
The boy’s mother told the Beacon Journal that Davis called her to say she had slapped her son. The 11-year-old boy had a busted lip, even though he was wearing a mask when it happened, his mother told the news outlet. The mother reportedly asked why the principal would put her hands on her child.
“We looked at you all as family,” the mother told the newspaper about the school, noting she wanted the principal to lose her job.
In its fourth year, the I Promise School is a joint venture between the LeBron James Foundation and Akron Public Schools and is designed to help at-risk kids.
The Akron Public School Board is scheduled to vote on the resignation on Monday (Dec. 13). Findings of the slapping investigation will be forwarded to the state of Ohio to determine if there are any long-term consequences regarding Davis’ license.
Colin Farrell Reprising Role As ‘Penguin’ For HBO’s ‘The Batman’ Series
Colin Farrell is prepping to reprise his role as the iconic villain, The Penguin.
The actor has signed on to star in a series spinoff of “The Batman” where he would play the villainous character Oswald Cobblepot also known as the Penguin.
Variety is reporting the series will dive into Penguin’s rise to power in Gotham criminal underworld, and will be picked up by HBO Max.
DC fans will see Farrell play the villain first in the film, The Batman which is set for release on March 4th, 2022.
If the series is greenlit it will be the second spinoff of The Batman in development at HBO Max.
According to reports, the streamer has already confirmed a prequel series that will “go back to Year One” and explore how Gotham became so corrupt.
The Penguin character has previously been played by actors Burgess Meredith, Danny DeVito, and Robin Lord Taylor.
Colin Farrell is best known for his many film roles, acclaiming praise for starring in features such as “The Lobster,” “In Bruges,” and “Seven Psychopaths.”
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#HotorNot Tori Kelly at the 'Sing 2' Premiere in LA
Tori Kelly is Pretty in Pink at the Sing 2 Premiere in L.A. Lovely dress. Take another look see.
Now is Hot or Not?
Chris Cuomo’s CNN Producer Charged With Luring Girls For ‘Sexual’ Training
A veteran CNN producer who worked “shoulder to shoulder” with now disgraced ex-anchor Chris Cuomo has been indicted on charges of luring young girls to his Vermont ski house for “sexual subservience” training.
John Griffin, of Stamford, CT, allegedly used messaging apps to befriend and persuade moms of young girls, telling them “a woman is a woman regardless of her age,” and that he should be the one to “train” their daughters sexually, according to the indictment from the US Attorney of Vermont.
Griffin, 44, allegedly got at least one mom of two daughters to bring the girl to his Ludlow ski getaway, in June 2020.
It was the mom’s responsibility to see that her older daughter, just 13, was “trained properly,” Griffin told her, according to the indictment.
Griffin, a father himself, sent the woman $3,000 for plane tickets so they could fly from Nevada to Boston’s Logan Airport, where he picked them up in his Tesla for the ride to Ludlow, according to court papers.
It was there that “the daughter was directed to engage in, and did engage in, unlawful sexual activity,” authorities alleged.
Griffin attempted to entice two other children over the internet into sexual activity, according to the indictment, which said he favored apps like Kik and Google Hangout for the alleged misdeeds. In April 2020, Griffin allegedly suggested a “virtual training session” over a video chat, that would include him instructing a mother and her 14-year-old daughter to remove their clothing and touch each other.
In June 2020, Griffin told another mom of a 16-year-old girl that she take a “little mother-daughter trip” to Griffin’s Ludlow ski house for sexual training involving the child, according to the indictment.
Griffin was arrested Friday by FBI agents after a federal grand jury in Vermont charged him with three counts of attempting to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
On his LinkedIn profile, Griffin boasts of having worked “shoulder-to-shoulder with lead anchor Chris Cuomo, seeing him through each show and producing live breaking news across the country and around the world.”
The worked together during Cuomo’s five years as co-anchor of CNN’a “A New Day.”
Griffin, who calls himself a “father” on his Twitter feed and appears to have three young children, worked at CNN for almost nine years. Prior to that he held producing positions at ABC News, Fox News and CBS.
Griffin described himself as an “entrepreneurial producer who combines uncommon technical skills with exceptional, experience-honed editorial judgment, always with an eye towards “How can we do it better,” How can we move forward,” “How can we add value for the audience?”
The government will seek to take the property used in the alleged crimes, including Griffin’s Ludlow ski house, his Tesla, and a Mercedes, according to the indictment.
Griffin faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in jail on each count.
Kevin Durant Fined $25,000 By NBA For Cussing At A Fan
Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for directing obscene language toward a fan during Friday night’s game in Atlanta.
A fan had a few words for the star late in the second quarter. In the video, that is currently surfacing on social media a fan yelled at Durant saying, “Durant, stop crying!” The pro player then Responsed using multiple cuss words.
The statement released by the NBA reads, “Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has been fined $25,000 for directing obscene language toward a fan, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations. The incident took place with 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter of the Nets’ 113-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 10 at State Farm Arena.”
As we previously reported, that same Friday night game is when Kevin Durant and Trae Young got into a little altercation. The two got into a scuffle on the court. Kevin Durant did a press conference after the game and said he can agree that he was a little “to rough” with the Atlanta Hawks star, but ended off saying, “Ive known Trae Young since he was 10 years old. That’s the spirit of the game. I got nothing but respect for Trae.”
The Sportscenter Twitter account posted that quote and said “its all love between KD and Trae” Atlanta Hawks point guard, reposted the quote and said “idols become your rivals”
MTV Star Nelson Thomas Disputes Claim He Was Flirting When He Got Jacked
*Drama is as drama does. We suppose that could make a great catchphrase to describe the constant ebb and flow of circumstances surrounding the lives of the artificially famous.
TMZ is reporting that Nelson Thomas, star of “The Challenge,” is “challenging” a story given by the man who snuck him in Vegas at ARIA Resort and Casino.
Supposedly, the anger management candidate husband of a woman he is alleged to have been flirting with punched him in the schnoz.
“The criminal who attacked me lied to the cops because we tried to find her for questioning and he never showed up to a court date. The guy is a criminal. He snuck up on me, attacked me, then robbed me,” he told TMZ.
He also claims the video shows him walking out of ARIA and simply asking for directions to where the Uber spot is and WHAMO!
Now, unless he’s got Superman game, there’s no way he could get all the requisite information could have been exchanged in 10 seconds, which is exactly the amount of time Nelson claims passed before he was punched.
He woke to someone telling him he’d jacked for his chain stolen.
Cops say they saw video backing up that account.
Foul business, indeed. This has hate all over it.
Kevin Dixon The assailant, Kevin Dixon, claims Nelson actually tried to talk to his wife on the elevator and, when Dixon exited, his wife STAYED ON THE ELEVATOR and continued to talk to him. (Toxic or not, we get it. So, wtf is a player supposed to do here? Probably not punch a dude and take his chain. That’s damn sure.)
Dixon was arrested for battery and grand larceny.
Jeff Bezos Says He’s “Heartbroken” Over Amazon Deaths After Celebrating Blue Origin Flight
Jeff Bezos might want to check the order of his priorities. The billionaire tried to do some damage control Saturday night, saying he was “heartbroken” over the tragedy at one of his Amazon plants. At least six people died after a tornado destroyed the facility, but only after celebrating his latest flight into space.
In a statement released on Twitter, Bezos said, “The news from Edwardsville is tragic. We’re heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.”
The tweet continued, “All of Edwardsville should know that the Amazon team is committed to supporting them and will be by their side through this crisis. We extend our fullest gratitude to all the incredible first responders who have worked so tirelessly at the site.”
The “heartfelt” statement came 24 hours after the tornado struck and after Bezos had already posted a celebratory photo on social media with the latest crew of his New Shepard rocket.
Anheuser-Busch’s deal with Travis Scott’s CACTI Spiked Seltzer is over
Scott’s representatives say the rapper hopes to continue the CACTI spiked seltzer brand at some point in the future.
In the wake of his deadly Astroworld Festival, Travis Scott’s CACTI Agave Spiked Seltzer will no longer be produced by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Ad Age reports.
The brewing company made the announcement to discontinue CACTI on Friday (Dec. 10), nearly nine months after it first hit store shelves in March.
“After careful evaluation, we have decided to stop all production and brand development of CACTI Agave Spiked Seltzer,” the brewer said in a statement. “We believe brand fans will understand and respect this decision.”
AB InBev did not clarify in its statement whether the decision was related to the Astroworld tragedy that claimed the lives of 10 people, including nine-year-old Ezra Blount, in November. A representative for Scott told Ad Ad Age, however, that the move to scrap CACTI was a “mutual” decision, plus La Flame’s endorsement deal with Anheuser-Busch expired on Nov. 30.
Sales for Scott’s spiked seltzer have also declined in recent months, after initially selling out in stores upon its release. According to Beer Business Daily, the recent poor sales may have been a factor in AB Inbev’s overall decision to discontinue CACTI. “After a rocketship start, becoming a top 5 seltzer brand with 3.2 share of the segment in just one week of sales, it has petered out significantly,” Beer Business Daily reported.
As previously reported, Scott, Live Nation, and others involved with Astroworld Festival are facing numerous lawsuits, including a $10 billion suit, which was filed on behalf of over 1,500 attendees. The “Highest In The Room” rapper has said that concertgoers will be refunded for their tickets, and has offered to cover funeral costs for the victims. Nike announced in November, it was postponing the launch of the Air Max 1 x Cactus Jack “out of respect for everyone impacted by the tragic events at the Astroworld Festival.”
A spokesperson for Scott said: “Travis was clear in his interview [with Charlamagne Tha God] that he is not focused on business right now and his priority is helping his community and fans heal.”
Britain Refuses to Return Sacred Religious Tablets to Ethiopia, Best Offer Is a Loan
Britain refuses to return Ethiopia’s scared tablets.
The British seized the plaques after defeating Emperor Tewodros II at the Battle of Maqdala in 1868, and they are now locked away in a vault in a British museum. Ethiopia has asked for the tabots to be returned, but the most the museum is willing to do is let Ethiopia borrow them for an extended time.
Ethiopian priests carrying some covered tabots on their heads during Timkat epiphany festival on January
The museum trustees said that law prohibits them from returning the items, but supporters argue there is a loophole that would allow them to do so.
“We believe that today the British Museum has a unique opportunity to build a lasting and meaningful bridge of friendship between Britain and Ethiopia by handing the tabots back to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church,” a group of supporters wrote in a letter to the museum trustees.
The 11 tabots, or altar tablets, are of huge spiritual significance. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church believes the tabots are the dwelling place of God on Earth or the Ark of Covenant. Priests use the tabots to sanctify and consecrate church buildings. By tradition, they are supposed to be kept in a private place, away from public view. Only priests are allowed to see them.
Eight of the tabots at the British Museum were acquired during the Battle of Maqdala. British soldiers reportedly took the tabots, jewelry and other precious items after Tewodros committed suicide instead of surrendering to British soldiers. More than 500 soldiers were killed in the battle. Some of the other items were returned to Ethiopia last month, but they are still negotiating the return of the tabots.
Supporters argue that since the tabots cannot and have not been exhibited, they should be returned to Ethiopia. Images of the tabots are not even made available on the museum’s website.
The museum argued that the British Museum Act of 1963 blocks them from permanently returning the items. Supporters, however, said the law allows the disposal of objects “unfit to be retained as long as they can be disposed “without detriment to the interests of students,” and the tabots have “no apparent use or relevance to the museum.”
However, the museum is still reluctant to release the items.
“These documents need to be reviewed and addressed with full consideration, and more time is required before this can be looked at by trustees,” The British Museum said in a recent statement to the Guardian.
Ethiopia announced the retrieval of a ceremonial crown, an imperial shield, a set of silver-embossed horn drinking cups, a handwritten prayer book, crosses and a necklace from the 1868 battle last week. Some other European countries have also returned items to countries they have looted.
Germany has returned a stone cross back to Namibia as restitution for its genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples in the early 1900s. German officials have also issued guidelines to public museums on the return of other colonial-era objects. French President Emmanuel Macron recently approved a plan to return some museum objects to France’s former colonies in Africa
Vicente Fernandez Dies: Grammy Winning Ranchera Music And Film Star Was 81
Vicente Fernandez, whose five-decade career in ranchera music and film made him an essential part of Mexican pop culture, died Sunday at the age of 81, according to a message posted on his official Instagram account.
Fernandez had been suffering medical complications after a fall at his home this summer that injured his cervical spine and required an operation.
Nicknamed “El Charro de Huentitan” for the town where he was born in the western state of Jalisco, he was best known for his songs “Volver, Volver,” “Por Tu Maldito Amor,” and “El Rey.”
Fernandez also appeared in countless Spanish language films from 1969 to 1991, acting in many and credited as a producer or assistant producer on a long slate. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy in 2002.
Fernández recorded more than 50 albums, sold more than 50 million records and appeared in more than 30 films. He was nominated for 13 Grammys and won three.
His trademark was a charro suit, sombrero, thick mustache and long sideburns. Combined with his rich baritone, it made him a concert favorite throughout the world.
In 2016, Fernandez retired from the stage with a final concert of nearly 50 songs at Mexico City’s Azteca stadium.
The Latin Recording Academy and Recording Academy issued a joint statement mourning Fernandez.
“With heavy hearts, we bid adiós to Regional Mexican legend and cultural icon Vicente “Chente” Fernández. For more than 60 years, the singer, producer and actor brought the musical traditions of his beloved country to audiences worldwide through his amazing performances and his gifted voice, which featured impressive operatic power and range.
The statement continued, “A man of hard work, Fernández was true to his word. Even after formally retiring in 2016, he continued performing and making music. In a 2002 interview with The Latin Recording Academy, when asked if he would ever retire, he proudly declared that “as long as my physical voice and faculties are intact, I’ll be there.” And so, in 2019, he took the stage at the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards for an unforgettable first-time-ever performance with his son, Alejandro Fernández, and grandson, Alex Fernández.
Making music to the very end, he released what would be his final album, “A Mis 80’s,” which just won a Latin Grammy under the category Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album and is currently nominated for the 64th Grammy Awards under the category of Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano).
Survivors include his wife, Maria del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor, and three children. Memorial plans have not yet been revealed
Steve Harvey Asked Miss India To Do An Animal Impression While Other Miss Universe Contestants Got To Speak About Their Accomplishments
The 2021 Miss Universe competition started with a bang… and a meow.
Many fans of the international beauty pageant were left bewildered after host Steve Harvey asked one of the top 16 finalists to do her best animal impersonation onstage — while other women were given the chance to talk about their accomplishments.
Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu was visibly taken by surprise as Harvey told her, "I hear you do some pretty good animal impersonations. Let's hear your best one."
"Oh my god, Steve, I was not expecting to do this on the world stage," she told him.
But ever the class act, Miss India took it all in stride.
"I have to do this, I have no other option," she joked.
Sandu said that, since she loved cats, she would do her best to impersonate one.
"Brace yourself everyone," she warned, before letting out a few impressive "meows."
It was a moment that stood out to many viewers, who questioned why Sandhu hadn't been given a meaningful moment to share more about herself.
Meanwhile, Miss Panama Brenda Smith was able to talk about getting a position at the UN, and Miss Great Britain Emma Collingridge discussed how learning about Medusa's origin story inspired her to fight against gender-based violence.
Sandhu, 21, is an advocate for women's empowerment who has helped her mother teach women's health and hygiene at camps.
The pageant queen currently works as an actress and told Insider that she's done two Punjabi feature films that will be released soon.
Sandhu said she always chooses strong characters because she wants to "break stereotypes of what women are and what they can be."
"I hope I get to inspire people by following my passion and my heart," she added.
Jussie Smollett Juror Says Panel Didn’t Buy Actor’s Hate Crime Claim
A juror in the Jussie Smollett trial has explained several reasons why the jury felt there was no way they could acquit the star actor in his bombshell trial for staging a fake hate crime attack on himself.
via: New York Post: The unidentified juror said the panel knew the “Empire” actor was lying when he testified at his disorderly conduct trial — and found two brothers who claimed the actor paid them to stage a hate crime more credible.
She said the jury even felt they were doing the actor a favor by finding him guilty on only five of the six counts of felony disorderly conduct he was facing, she told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” the juror told the outlet. “You’ve got the mother sitting there. You feel bad. We didn’t know what the penalty would be. Are we sending this guy to jail?”
Smollett, 39, was accused of staging the Jan. 29, 2019 attack in Chicago by paying brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo $3,500 to carry out the phony assault.
Smollett, who is black and openly gay, said his attackers shouted homophobic and racist slurs and later filed a police report claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.
At the trial, the Osundairo testified that the attack was indeed a hoax.
The jury deliberated for nine hours before reaching a verdict but not because some believed he was innocent — they just wanted to be diligent in the deliberations.
“It was not evenly split, but there were some doubters,” the juror said.
“I just hope that [Smollett and his legal team] know that we went in there with an open mind,” she said. “I listened to both sides. We wanted to make sure that those who had doubts didn’t feel pressured.”
She said lead defense attorney Nenye Uche seemed to be “just shooting from the hip,” while special prosecutor Dan Webb was more convincing, presenting a “seamless” case with a “methodical, plodding” style.
Smollett’s witnesses were largely “character witnesses” who could not testify as to the circumstances of the case, while police backed up the state’s account, she said.
She said the panel thought the Osundairos were not completely forthcoming in their testimony but found them more credible witnesses than the beleaguered actor.
The juror also said the decision to clear Smollett of the sixth count was due to confusion over the wording of jury instructions, not because they believed him innocent.
Otherwise, she said, “I believe we probably would have found him guilty” on all counts.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
I’M NOT MAD
It’s just sooo cute.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Jon
Meet Jon! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
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HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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