Adele for The Face Magazine - Winter 2021
Adele meets Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams to talk music, motherhood, dogs, divorce (babe, divorce) – and her record-breaking comeback.
I’ve never had to be as confidential about anything as I have in the lead up to interviewing Adele. The singer-songwriter was referred to as “AA” in all correspondence before our talk. I can’t tell anyone it’s happening and I’m not allowed to be sent any of her new music. Instead, I’m driven to the Sony Music offices in West London to listen to five songs from her new album, 30. My phone is confiscated before I walk into the listening room.
When we speak the next day, though, the veil of secrecy and concealment is removed immediately. It lifts before, in fact, when her PR texts, five minutes before our Zoom interview, to tell me that “she’s on Instagram Live at the moment!” I head over and see a make-up-free Adele sitting in her house in Los Angeles, playing a snippet of Easy On Me, the first single from 30. That informal, 42-minute Q&A became meme fodder and the single, when it dropped a week later on 15th October, set a new Spotify record for most streams in a day, its 24 million comfortably beating the 20.9 million achieved by BTS’ Butter when it was released in May.
When Adele eventually appears on my computer screen, dressed as I’d seen her online a few minutes earlier (black T‑shirt, gold hoops in her ears), I can hear her puppies, brothers Bob and Freddie, barking loudly right next to her. She rolls her eyes and explains that they’re fighting over a bone, then excuses herself and gets up.
“Absolutely not… absolutely not!” She’s telling the dogs off as she returns into view.“Now they’ve shut up! They were arguing over a bone. Here they are, naughty little boys,” she says, holding them up to the camera.
Talking to Adele is surprisingly easy. She’s very quick to join the page you’re on. There’s a grounding to her that puts you at ease, even though you’re very aware that you’re talking to one of the most famous women in the world. There’s an intelligence to her that surpasses her 33 years – and there’s a melancholy, too.
The Face magazine's Adele cover. Wearing a brown Burberry dress and holding pink roses. Shot by Charlotte Wales. Published in November 2021.
I wonder if she’s an artist who puts her feelings into her music, so is instead emotionally pragmatic when it comes to her real life. When I tell her that I’m sorry to hear about the passing of her dad, in May, she smiles sadly and says,“Ahhh, that’s OK. We got our peace and stuff like that, but thank you. It wasn’t that much of a shock when he passed. He had been ill for a while, it was alright.” It’s as though she’s reassuring both of us that she’s OK. There’s something about Adele that feels like she’s quite quickly searching for some affinity, some common ground. She wants to know about you as much as you want to know about her.
She asks about me, about my novel-writing processes, about parts of my life, which I touch on briefly. Before I can ask her a question, she asks where I am. I tell her I’m in Streatham, South London, and she sits back in her chair and enthusiastically recalls that she “used to live on Chestnut Grove in Balham, so I walked to Streatham Hill station, one stop up from Balham [station], and even when I went to [the] Brit [School] I didn’t get the bus, I’d go to the Balham stop over to Selhurst.” She tells me all of that in one excited burst.
Nostalgia seems to be a good friend to Adele. I ask her if she misses South London.
“I do.” She nods. “I used to love it. I used to live by the bus station opposite on Tierney Road. And I used to love that walk in the morning past the fresh bakery, all that fresh bread, I loved it. My best friend Laura lived in Streatham for a while by Nando’s, we always went to Nando’s. We ate there every day.”
She lights up when she talks about the past: the places, the people, the food. All of her stories are rich with texture. She says very little about the future, or about her desires for her upcoming album. Instead, she’s a bank of well-formed memories of the fondly-remembered times before fame.
Candice: What does 30 mean to you? What do you want to say?
Adele: I just wanted to acknowledge all of the many layers of myself, which I think is definitely something that comes with age. Obviously, after a really big life moment, like my divorce, it’s good to experiment a little bit more with sort of eclectic inspirations. I wanted to, more than anything, just comfort myself. It wasn’t really about what I wanted to say for people. It was more like: “What do I need to hear for myself, lyrically?”
It was just my friend, [the process of] making this album. I had to spend a lot of time on my own in order to figure a lot of things out.
I think because my hobby became my job, it took a lot of the joy out of it for me. I was definitely reminded this time about how much of a real gift it is that I have this ability to write songs and sing, because it did bring me joy. It helped me get out of my sadness.
In terms of producers, how did you choose who to work with?
Well, I chose a relatively small pool of people this time around compared to last time [25 had 11 different producers]. Last time I didn’t really know what I wanted or what I wanted to do. This time around I went back to Greg Kurstin. Even outside of music we’re really close. Our sons are the same age and I’m really close with his wife, so they’ve been friends along this journey I’ve been on for two years. I knew that I could say anything, sing anything, and they wouldn’t judge me.
And then obviously Inflo [Sault, Michael Kiwanuka]. I feel like, as a Brit in America, when you find another British person you’re like [she crashes her fingers together to mimic talking]. So obviously we became really tight, and in the end he included me into the fold with Cleo [Sol, the singer-songwriter from West London, who also works with Sault]. We’re both from North London, too. He’s like the calmest person I’ve ever met, a really amazing, spiritual guy.
Max Martin and Shellback I worked with on Send My Love [from 25] and I had the best time with them. Considering he’s Max Martin and what he’s done, he is the most level-headed, sincere person you could ever hope to meet. He’s like a living legend; he never does interviews and stuff like that, so he might be uncomfortable with me saying it, but he’s like a real safe space for me. And then I worked with Ludwig [Göransson], who I met at Jay Z’s Gold Party when he’d won the Oscar for Black Panther. We just really got on and the chords and cadences that he has in his bank, I mean, I’ve never heard anything like it! He’s the coolest guy. There’s something about the Scandinavians that’s different. I don’t know where they get their fucking ideas from, but they are incredible.
Get more at The Face!
#RHOA: Hot or Not? Kandi Burruss in a Form-Fitting Rainbow Louis Vuitton Minidress
The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member looked so chic in a $2,500 monogram frock while enjoying a night out.
When she’s not throwing a birthday party for one of her children or welcoming a new pet into the family, Kandi Burruss can be found stylishly enjoying nights out with friends. The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member recently took to social media to share a snap of herself out on the town while flaunting a chic rainbow outfit.
In a December 3 Instagram, Kandi dazzled in a Louis Vuitton Neon Mahina Monogram Fitted Dress ($2,490). The RHOA mom posed next to her friend, Monyetta Shaw-Carter, while flaunting the colorful ensemble. Kandi's dress featured rainbow ombré monogram lettering and a chic form-fitting silhouette.
Kandi wore a black long-sleeve turtleneck and black tights underneath the head-turning dress. To complete the look, she rocked a sleek straight hairstyle with a side part.
Kandi’s chic outfit received plenty of love, with her fellow RHOA cast member Marlo Hampton leaving a series of fire emojis in the comments.
So we ask YOU is it HOT or NOT?
#NewMusicVideo from After 7 – No Place Like You
After 7 have just released the visual for their latest single “No Place Like You”.
They continue to carry the torch for grown folks in the video which was directed by Derek Blanks. The video showcases emotional song and Kevon Edmonds, Keith Mitchell, and Danny McClain’s unique delivery and artistry.
WATCH
The song was included on the group’s recently released album “Unfinished Business” which released over the Summer.
#HipHopNews: Rick Ross Reveals ‘Richer Than I Ever Been’ Tracklist
Rick Ross is set to return with his 11th studio album Richer Than I Ever Been.
One week before it drops, he has released the tracklist featuring the single “Outlawz” with Jazmine Sullivan and 21 Savage, plus appearances from Benny the Butcher, DreamDoll, BLXST, Yungeen Ace, and Major Nine.
The 10 tracks also include “Warm Words in a Cold World” with Wale and Future and the Boi-1da-produced “Little Havana” featuring The-Dream and former drug kingpin Willie Falcon, which was released Friday.
Richer Than I Ever Been, which follows 2019’s Port of Miami 2, arrives Dec. 10.
“I feel this is the best album I’ve ever done,” Ross told “The Bakari Sellers Podcast.” “I make progress every day. I feel like some of the stuff I’m saying on this album is going to separate this album from others. A lot of people gonna say, ‘Rozay shouldn’t have did that.’ I think I should. Why not? That’s what the game needs.”
RICHER THAN I EVER BEEN TRACKLIST
1. “Little Havana” feat. Willie Falcon and The-Dream
2. “The Pulizter”
3. “Rapper Estates” feat. Benny the Butcher
4. “Marathon”
5. “Warm Words in a Cold World” feat. Wale and Future
6. “Wiggle” feat. DreamDoll
7. “Can’t Be Broke” feat. Yungeen Ace and Major Nine
8. “Made It Out Alive” feat. BLXST
9. “Outlawz” feat. Jazmine Sullivan and 21 Savage
10. “Imperial High”
Bob Dole, Former Republican Senator And Presidential Nominee, Dies At 98
Bob Dole, a former Republican presidential nominee and U.S. senator from Kansas, has died at the age of 98, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced Sunday.
“It is with heavy hearts we announce that Senator Robert Joseph Dole died early this morning in his sleep. At his death, at age 98, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 79 years,” said the organization that’s named after his wife, who served as secretary of labor under President George H.W. Bush.
Dole had announced in February that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and would be undergoing immediate treatment. A cause of death was not immediately released.
Dole was a prominent statesman, decorated war veteran and, until Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) surpassed him in June 2018, the Senate’s longest-serving Republican leader. Dole challenged incumbent Bill Clinton for the presidency in 1996, when he was the senior senator from Kansas.
Before that, Dole served, at various times, as Senate majority leader, Senate minority leader, chairman of the Republican National Committee, and a member of the House of Representatives. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980 and 1988, and was President Gerald Ford’s running mate in 1976.
Dole was born on July 22, 1923, in Russell, Kansas, and grew up in a working-class household that struggled financially. One year, to make ends meet during the Great Depression, his family rented out his home’s first floor and lived in the basement.
In school, he succeeded in both sports and academics, and attended the University of Kansas. Following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he left his studies to serve as a combat infantry officer in the Army. In northern Italy, he sustained serious injuries from German machine-gun fire near Castel d’Aiano, which left him with permanent limited mobility in his right arm. He received two Purple Hearts for his injuries and the Bronze Star for valor.
In 1950, after recovering from his injuries and obtaining undergraduate and law degrees from Washburn University, Dole ran for the Kansas state House of Representatives. He served a two-year term, then became a county attorney. Dole successfully ran for the U.S. House in 1960 and then the Senate in 1969.
He spent more than 11 years as Senate majority leader, the longest-serving Republican in the post until McConnell’s tenure passed his.
In Congress, Dole managed to appeal to both political moderates and conservatives. He pleased the former by partnering with then-Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.) to lower eligibility requirements for food stamps. He also supported civil rights legislation and federal aid for the disabled. Conservatives, meanwhile, appreciated his hawkish positions on foreign policy and crime, as well as his votes against public housing subsidies and Medicare.
In 1989, President Ronald Reagan presented him with the Presidential Citizens Medal for his work as a public servant. In the ceremony, Reagan celebrated him as “a friend to veterans, farmers and Americans from every walk of life.”
When he secured the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 at the age of 73, Dole became the oldest first-time presidential nominee in U.S. history. Political observers have hypothesized that Dole was hurt by the Democratic strategy of tying him to the unpopular speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), whom many blamed for the back-to-back government shutdowns in late 1995.
In 1997, Clinton honored Dole, his former rival, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Son of the soil, citizen, soldier and legislator, Bob Dole understands the American people, their struggles, their triumphs and their dreams,” Clinton said. “Our country is better for his courage, his determination and his willingness to go the long course to lead America.”
After leaving Congress, Dole worked at a law firm and appeared in commercials for Viagra, Visa, Dunkin’ Donuts and Pepsi. He founded the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas for the study of civic participation and bipartisan solutions to national problems.
He also worked to raise awareness and funds for world hunger, veterans and disability issues during his post-congressional career, though he watched one of those causes suffer a defeat at the hands of his fellow Republicans when the Senate failed to ratify the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012.
In 2014, Dole completed a tour of all of Kansas’ 105 counties and campaigned on behalf of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).
In January of 2018, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his service to the nation as a soldier, legislator and statesman. McConnell praised him during the ceremony as “the true measure of servant leadership.”
“Bob has built an extraordinary life on the basis of ordinary American values,” McConnell said. “As a legislator, he showed that principles and pragmatism are not opposites but complements. As a leader, he prized results over rhetoric. And above all ― from Castel d’Aiano to Percy Jones Army Hospital to his favorite Senate balcony, facing the Mall ― this soldier, statesman and American hero has never stopped fighting for vulnerable people who have less power and less strength than he does.”
In a Washington Post opinion piece in 2012, Dole reflected on his life and described how he had been able to continue working on behalf of others long after leaving electoral politics.
“Sure, losing an election hurts, but I’ve experienced worse,” he wrote. “And at an age when every day is precious, brooding over what might have been is self-defeating.”
In recent years, Dole had expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the Republican Party, saying in 2013 that the GOP should be “closed for repairs” and that it needed to learn how to cooperate with Democrats. His record as a moderate earned criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who in March 2014 cited Dole as an example of a Republican presidential candidate who lost because he didn’t stand for GOP principles.
In the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Dole was a supporter of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose late father, George H.W. Bush, was his onetime political rival. Dole eventually got behind Donald Trump after his second GOP candidate of choice, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, also dropped out of the race.
“We’ve got to hope he’ll be a good president,” he told ABC News in 2016 of then-candidate Trump. “Trump has to start acting like a presidential candidate and tone down the rhetoric and don’t insult anybody.”
Dole is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Dole, a former North Carolina senator and secretary of labor and transportation, and his daughter, Robin Dole.
CNN fires Chris Cuomo for helping his brother, ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in scandal
CNN said Saturday that anchor Chris Cuomo has been "terminated" by the network, "effective immediately."
The announcement came after an outside law firm was retained to review information about exactly how Cuomo aided his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when the then-governor was accused of sexual harassment.
CNN said in a statement: "Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother's defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately."
"While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light," CNN's statement added. "Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate."
While the contours of Chris Cuomo's involvement with the governor's office were reported several months ago, the specifics were detailed in a massive document dump on Monday. The documents — released by New York Attorney General Letitia James after an investigation into the governor — showed that Chris Cuomo, while working as one of CNN's top anchors, was also effectively working as an unpaid aide to the governor.
The cozy and improper nature of the relationship was conveyed through text messages obtained by James' office. The texts between the anchor and several aides and allies of the governor revealed that Chris Cuomo sought to use his connections in the press to help prepare Andrew Cuomo's team as accusers started to make their stories public.
On the day his brother resigned, back in August, Chris Cuomo told viewers that "this situation is unlike anything I could have imagined."
He pointed out that he never reported on the sexual harassment scandal or tried to interfere in CNN's coverage. And he acknowledged that he "tried to be there for my brother" when the scandal erupted.
"I'm not an adviser. I'm a brother. I wasn't in control of anything. I was there to listen and offer my take," he said.
CNN management showed support for Cuomo, and "Cuomo Prime Time," often the network's highest-rated show, stayed on the air throughout the controversy.
But as "Reliable Sources" reported at the time, some CNN staffers were angry at Cuomo and his violations of journalistic norms.
The dissent only intensified after James' office released the text messages, sworn testimony and other raw materials from her investigation into the ex-governor.
When the documents were released on Monday, CNN management said the "thousands of pages of additional transcripts and exhibits" would be reviewed "over the next several days."
Then on Tuesday evening, CNN indicated that the contents were serious enough to merit a suspension.
Andrew CuomoAG releases interview transcripts in former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo harassment probe
"When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother's staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly," the network said in a statement. "But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second."
"However," the network said, "these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother's efforts than we previously knew. As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation."
Cuomo initially declined to comment. He said on his radio show on Wednesday that the suspension was "embarrassing" but understandable. He also said he never wanted to "compromise any of my colleagues" and said he would respect the process.
According to Saturday's announcement, the process included an outside law firm, a fact that was not previously known.
With information in the texts and documents pointing to a serious breach of CNN standards, Cuomo was notified of his termination on Saturday.
The CNN statement on Saturday also referred to "additional information [that] has come to light" during the review of the document dump. A CNN spokesperson declined to share any further detail about the information.
Common wishes Tiffany Haddish a happy birthday days after breakup
Common and Tiffany Haddish clearly broke up on good terms, as the Chicago rapper wished his ex a happy 42nd birthday just days after the couple called it quits.
“Happy Birthday to the Queen @tiffanyhaddish!,” Common, 49, began the dedication on Instagram. “One of the most beautiful and dynamic and wonderful people I’ve ever known. May the most HIGH continue to bless and shine through you. Wishing you joy, love, peace, light, and fun on your born day. Love!”
The pair dated for just over a year before breaking up in late November.
The stand-up comic confirmed her romance with the Oscar-winner in August 2020 while appearing on Steve-O’s podcast “Wild Ride,” calling it “the best relationship I’ve ever been in.”
“Knock on wood! I’ve lost 20 pounds since I’ve been in this relationship,” she added. “I feel more confident in me and it’s not him that’s doing it. I’m just way happier and it’s like knowing I got somebody that cares about me, that really has my back. It seems like he does anyways. And I love it. I love him.”
Common and Tiffany Haddish gushed over each other regularly while dating.
Getty Images for Remy Martin
Two months later, the “Ava”actor gushed over “Girls Trip” star in an interview with SiriusXM’s “The Karen Hunter Show.”
“We’re doing wonderful,” he said at the time. “She’s a really incredible human being, and the more I get to know her, I just see how dynamic she is as a person. How intelligent, how selfless she is, how she stands up in Hollywood for black women. I’m learning. You know what I mean?”
Janet Hubert hospitalized, says 'Anger will eat you alive'
Janet Hubert aka Aunt Viv from the 90’s popular sitcom ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ was recently hospitalized as revealed by the actress herself on her Instagram account. The 65-year-old actress shared a lengthy post on the photo-sharing app while posting a picture of hers from the last year’s reunion of the hit television series.
The picture also included Will Smith in the background- someone with whom she had a feud for close to 30 years until they sorted it out during the epic reunion of the show in 2020. Janet refrained from spilling the beans on why she was hospitalized but she did speak about staying angry with people. The actress said that “holding onto anger will eat you alive.” The reunion of ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ was aired on HBO Max to mark the 30th anniversary of the show.
Taking to her Instagram with more than 30K followers, Janet Hubert also mentioned Will Smith on the lines of her past feud with the actor saying that she loved the actor for being strong enough to tell truth, and share his hurts and trauma. She started, “Don't waste precious time people in anger. Yes people will do you wrong and you must fight for truth no matter how long, and IF you can get the TRUTH you seek...find love again as we have.”
She added, “Life is too short as I am in hospital as I write this to all of you. Holding onto anger will eat you alive. But truth at any cost.” Janet continued, “Reputation is PRICELESS. I LOVE YOU WILL, for being strong enough to tell truth, and share your hurts and trauma” concluding, “Now we close the doors and live our lives. PEACE OUT!”
Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino Debuts a New Look Says 'Blondes Have More Fun'
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is sporting a new look! The Jersey Shore star, 39, proudly showed off his blonde hair on Instagram Friday. "Blondes have more fun 💫," he captioned a photo in which he posed alongside his wife Lauren Sorrentino and their son Romeo Reign, whom they welcomed in May.
Lauren co-signed in the comments, writing, "🔥 Honey! Blondes do it best 👱🏼♀️🤩 you look like a grown up Romeo now 🥺."
His Jersey Shore costar DJ Pauly D also appeared to be a fan of his new hairdo, writing, "Haha let's gooo!!!!"
Earlier this week, Mike announced that he was celebrating six years of sobriety Wednesday.
The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star, who overcame an addiction to painkillers, marked the milestone with an Instagram photo that read, "6 years clean and sober," along with the caption, "Today we celebrate being a champion 😤."
Days before, he shared a lengthier statement on his journey alongside a snap of him and Lauren holding baby Romeo while celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.
"Giving thanks and celebrating the love between family and friends is my favorite part of this holiday. Without my sobriety, I wouldn't be the man before you with so many things to be thankful for on this day. My biggest flex in life is being a sober dad and husband. It is a badge of honor I am proud to wear. I am a provider for my family, a trusted friend, and supporting son," he wrote.
He added that the holidays used to be "very difficult." He said, "I was there physically, but not spiritually and emotionally. Getting help for my addiction and working through my struggles allows me to be present every day for the rest of my days and I am so grateful for it."
"You can have this too! Don't be afraid to ask for help and remember the hardest part is taking the first step. There are professionals out there waiting to help you," he concluded, adding the information for the recovery center he works with.
Mike and Lauren also celebrated another special day, their three-year anniversary, last month. "Happy anniversary my Love ‼️ 3 years in heaven with a beautiful baby boy @itsbabysituation," he wrote on Instagram. "We are truly living a fairytale."
Bizzy Bone Issues Formal Apology Following His Verzuz Kerfuffle
Bizzy Bone took to the streets of social media after the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Verzuz battle against Three 6 Mafia to offer a formal apology.
During the shindig, Bizzy lost his cool and kicked off a kerfuffle between the groups because he felt like he was being mocked and disrespected.
Once order was restored, Bizzy Bone issue an apology on stage.
After the event, Bizzy issued a formal apology via Instagram and took responsibility for his actions despite not feeling like he was in the wrong.
He wrote:
I feel as a man there is a time to apologize and be the bigger person.
Even if you do not feel wrong. @melyssa_lp @triller @verzuztv thank you for everything. But when u a man you understand there is a time to be the bigger person. Mistakes will be made.
This is Hip Hop, if we was posed to be perfect then we wouldn’t even be here – @therealswizzz (yes Swizz needed to be called and spoken to as well, even though he told me it was ok. Ol beautiful nigga.)
When i got back on stage i meant what i said. I really hope you guys understand my passion for music and my seriousness about GOD. I really believe in what i say. Im a artist.
I came back because i know a lot of people depended on me. It was not scripted but it ended perfect. A toast to Hip Hop. Sht gets a lil crazy sometimes.
@juicyj @djpaulkom @missyeahoe @realcrunchyblack #ripkoopstanicca #riplordinfamous hopefully i gave you enough hell to know what HEAVEN can be like.
You guys did a HECK of a job and embracing me after that took class as well. This is real. I am real. God bless you all.
Mariah Carey is sending Rep. Ayanna Pressley a special Christmas gift
All Massachusetts congresswoman Ayanna Pressley wants for Christmas is her Mariah Carey vinyl back. Pressley took to Twitter on Friday (Dec. 3) in hopes that someone would return her prized holiday possession.
“This is a PSA or a warning depending on how you choose to take it,” she tweeted. “Whomever ‘borrowed’ my #MariahCare Christmas vinyl, return it. You can leave it at my office door, no questions asked.”
“Ya’ll got me so heated I’m posting typos #MariahCarey,” she added, after leaving out the “Y” in the beloved Queen of Christmas’ name. In true Christmas spirit, Carey responded to Pressley’s tweet. “I’ll send you a new one!!” the multi-platinum diva wrote.
Shocked by Carey’s quick response, Pressley tweeted: “Is this really THE one and only, the incomparable, iconic and legendary @MariahCarey aka Mimi?”
The heartwarming exchange just so happened to occur on the same day Carey’s latest special Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues premiered on Apple TV +.
Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues was directed by Joseph Kahn and was executive produced by Carey, Tim Case, Matthew Turke and Charleen Manca. It features the first and only performance of Carey’s new single with Kirk Franklin and Khalid, “Fall in Love at Christmas,” and an interview with Apple Music host Zane Lowe.
On Friday (Dec. 3), Mimi received the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) Diamond Award for her iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You” hit. According to People, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the first holiday single to ever reach diamond status.
“The continued love for my song never ceases to amaze me and fill my heart with a multitude of emotions,” Carey said in a press release. “It blows my mind that ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ has endured different eras of the music industry. The RIAA DIAMOND award?! Wowww! I’m so fortunate to have the greatest fans on Earth, my Lambily, who continue to support my legacy. I love you.”
Stevie J Files For Spousal Support In Divorce With Faith Evans
Stevie J is asking a court to order his estranged wife — Faith Evans — to pay spousal support in the former couple’s ongoing divorce case.
According to legal documents, obtained by The Blast, the famous record producer wants a monthly payment made to him by his singer wife and is asking the court to not allow her to collect anything from him.
In the filing, Stevie confirms the couple got married on July 17, 2018, and were married for over 3 years. But, he claims the two of them “separated” on October 19, 2021. Stevie cited “irreconcilable differences” as to why they split. The couple never had children, so child support is off the table. But, Stevie filled out the box on the divorce filing that says “spousal or domestic partner support payable” to him. Plus, he also marked the spot asking to “terminate the court’s ability to award support to (Faith).”
Interestingly, the divorce filing doesn’t specify if the couple has a prenuptial agreement — which would be odd, considering both of them are highly successful musicians with vast wealth. “The true nature and extent of the community/quasi-community assets and debts are unknown at this time,” Stevie says. In other words, some of the couple’s finances he is considering to be BOTH of there’s and might need to be divided up by the court.
Plus, Stevie J is asking the court to force Faith Evans to pay the attorney fees for both of them!
The former couple made headlines in the weeks following the divorce filing, by appearing to be back together after being spotted frolicking on the beach in Malibu, CA. Evans shared an Instagram post of herself and her estranged husband doing cartwheels on the sand on November 14. “Get us free, bruh,” she captioned the videos.
Of course, the post painted a different image than a couple on the verge of nasty divorce which might include fighting over money. It has been a bumpy road for the two Hip Hip legends, including back in April, when Stevie’s ex-girlfriend Joseline Hernandez accused Faith of being unfaithful and calling her autistic son from a prior relationship an “animal” for an incident involving the ex-couple’s daughter — Bonnie Bella.
“This old b—h need to keep the bricks out her way, I ain’t been with that man in four years. Every time my TV shows are about to drop this ol wore down melted b—h got something to say to stay relevant,” Joseline said at the time.
Unfortunately, Faith Evans was also arrested for domestic violence after allegedly attaching Stevie J in their Los Angeles home back in May. According to reports, the couple got into a heated argument, which turned violent. Cops were called to the home at 1 AM and noticed visible marks and scratches on Stevie’s face. LAPD arrested Faith on felony domestic violence, and she was released on bail later that day.
It should be noted, the divorce petition was filed with the court back in November, and it’s unclear if the couple is back together. At this point, they have not filed to end the divorce case and it is ongoing.
Martha Stewart Confirms She Has A Boyfriend
Martha Stewart is off the market.nThe business mogul is currently in a relationship, though she wouldn’t reveal any additional details during her Thursday night interview on “Watch What Happens Live,” as reported by People.
“No,” she told host Andy Cohen, before clarifying, “I shouldn’t say no. I mean yes, but I’m not going to tell you.”
The 80-year-old kept her lips zipped about the romance, but did open up about her previous short-lived romantic connection to the late Larry King.
Stewart said that she thought the two of them were just friends when they went out to dinner at Elio’s in New York City.
“I thought we were just talking about journalism etc. etc., and then he sort of got a little amorous,” she told Cohen during the televised interview.
She didn’t share any other details about her evening out with King, who passed away in January, but gushed over how he was one of the “nicest” people to ever interview her.
“By the way, he was probably — other than you — the nicest, kindest interviewer on TV,” she shared. “And accurate and caring and interested. So, that’s Larry King.”
Stewart was previously married to entrepreneur Andrew Stewart for 26 years from 1961 until they split in 1987 and later divorced in 1990.
She kept his last name instead of returning back to her maiden name, Kostrya.
During their marriage they had one child together, television host and radio personality Alexis Stewart, 56. Alexis married trial lawyer John R. Cuti in 1997, but divorced in 2004. The pair of exes have two young children together — Jude and Truman — making Stewart a grandmother.
Michigan Parents Found In Building; Bond Set At $500K A Piece
A judge imposed a combined $1 million bond Saturday for the parents of the Michigan teen charged with killing four students at Oxford High School, hours after police said they were caught hiding in a Detroit commercial building.
James and Jennifer Crumbley entered not guilty pleas to each of the four involuntary manslaughter counts against them during a hearing held on Zoom. Jennifer Crumbley sobbed and struggled to respond to the judge’s questions at times and James Crumbley shook his head when a prosecutor said their son had full access to the gun used in the killings.
Judge Julie Nicholson assigned bond of $500,000 apiece to each of the parents and required GPS monitoring if they pay to be released, agreeing with prosecutors that they posed a flight risk.
Defense attorneys for the Crumbleys still argued Saturday that they never intended to flee and had made plans to meet their lawyers early that morning. Attorney Shannon Smith accused prosecutors of “cherry picking” facts to release publicly, including that accusation that their teenage son had unrestricted access to the handgun prosecutors say his father purchased for him days before the shooting.
“Our clients are just as devastated as everyone else,” Smith said, adding that the gun “was locked.” She didn’t provide more detail during Saturday’s hearing.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald’s office filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the Crumbleys on Friday, accusing them of failing to intervene on the day of the tragedy despite being confronted with a drawing and chilling message — “blood everywhere” — that was found at the boy’s desk. They could each face up to 15 years in prison, according to a spokeswoman for McDonald’s office.
Authorities had been looking for the couple since Friday afternoon. Late Friday, U.S. Marshals announced a reward of up to $10,000 each for information leading to their arrests.
Smith, the Crumbleys’ attorney, had said Friday that the pair left town earlier in the week “for their own safety” and would be returning to Oxford to face charges.
During Saturday’s hearing, Smith said they were in touch by phone and text on Friday evening and blamed prosecutors for failing to communicate with her and fellow defense attorney Mariell Lehman.
“Our clients were absolutely going to turn themselves in; it was just a matter of logistics,” she said.
But McDonald said on Saturday that the couple took $4,000 out of an ATM on Friday morning in Rochester Hills, not far from the courthouse where they should have appeared that afternoon.
“These are not people that we can be assured will return to court on their own,” she said.
A Detroit business owner spotted a car tied to the Crumbleys in his parking lot late Friday, Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said in a statement. A woman seen near the vehicle ran away when the business owner called 911, McCabe said. The couple was later located and arrested by Detroit police.
Detroit Police Chief James E. White said the couple “were aided in getting into the building,” and that a person who helped them may also face charges.
On Friday, McDonald offered the most precise account so far of the events that led to the shooting at Oxford High School, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit.
Ethan Crumbley, 15, emerged from a bathroom with a gun, shooting students in the hallway, investigators said. He’s charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes.
Under Michigan law, the involuntary manslaughter charge filed against the parents can be pursued if authorities believe someone contributed to a situation where there was a high chance of harm or death.
Parents in the U.S. are rarely charged in school shootings involving their children, even as most minors get guns from a parent or relative’s house, according to experts.
School officials became concerned about the younger Crumbley on Monday, a day before the shooting, when a teacher saw him searching for ammunition on his phone, McDonald said.
Jennifer Crumbley was contacted and subsequently told her son in a text message: “Lol. I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught,” according to the prosecutor.
On Tuesday, a teacher found a note on Ethan’s desk and took a photo. It was a drawing of a gun pointing at the words, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me,” McDonald said.
There also was a drawing of a bullet, she said, with words above it: “Blood everywhere.”
Between the gun and the bullet was a person who appeared to have been shot twice and is bleeding. He also wrote, “My life is useless” and “The world is dead,” according to the prosecutor.
The school quickly had a meeting with Ethan and his parents, who were told to get him into counseling within 48 hours, McDonald said.
The Crumbleys failed to ask their son about the gun or check his backpack and “resisted the idea of their son leaving the school at that time,” McDonald said.
Instead, the teen returned to class and the shooting subsequently occurred.
In a written statement released Saturday, Oxford Community Schools Superintendent Tim Throne for the first time detailed the school’s response to Crumbley’s behavior. At the first meeting with a counselor and a staff member, Crumbley said shooting sports were a hobby for his family, Throne said.
During the second meeting with guidance counselors, Crumbley claimed the drawings were part of a video game design and said he wanted to pursue a career in that field, the letter said. According to guidance counselors, Crumbley was calm and worked on homework while staff tried to reach his parents and they traveled to the school.
The parents did not notify counselors that they had purchased a gun for their son recently during that meeting, Thorne said.
“Given the fact that the child had no prior disciplinary infractions, the decision was made he would be returned to the classroom rather than sent home to an empty house,” he said.
The prosecutor, McDonald, also previously argued that Crumbleys’ parents should have told counselors their son had access to a gun when they were called in for a meeting about his behavior.
Jennifer Crumbley texted her son after the shooting, saying, “Ethan, don’t do it,” she said on Friday.
James Crumbley called 911 to say that a gun was missing from their home and that Ethan might be the shooter. The gun had been kept in an unlocked drawer in the parents’ bedroom, McDonald said.
Ethan accompanied his father for the gun purchase on Nov. 26 and posted photos of the firearm on social media, saying, “Just got my new beauty today,” McDonald said.
Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, Jennifer Crumbley wrote on social media that it is a “mom and son day testing out his new Christmas present,” the prosecutor said.
Asked at a news conference if the father could be charged for purchasing the gun for the son, McDonald said that would be the decision of federal authorities.
McDonald was asked about the decision to keep Crumbley in school.
“Of course, he shouldn’t have gone back to that classroom. ... I believe that is a universal position. I’m not going to chastise or attack, but yeah,” she said.
Asked if school officials may potentially be charged, McDonald said: “The investigation’s ongoing.”
Drake Crowned Biggest Rapper Of 2021 By Spotify
Drake is continuing to break streaming records. Spotify announced Wednesday that the Toronto native is the biggest rapper on the streaming platform this year all thanks to his latest album, “Certified Lover Boy.”
Adele stated that her friendships with Drake is one of her biggest gifts.
On Spotify’s “Top Artists of 2021 Global” list, Drake comes in at number four behind Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and BTS.
The only other rapper on the list is the late Juice WRLD, who closes it out at Number 10.
This news follows the announcement of bringing together Drake and Ye at the Los Angeles Coliseum on December 9 for a Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert
Master P Asks Judge To End His Marriage And Declare Him Single Once And For All
Master P is asking a judge to make his divorce from his estranged wife permanent and declare him single.
TMZ obtained legal documents that show Master P thinks his divorce from Sonya Miller has dragged on long enough, and he is ready to move on. He is requesting a bifurcation of his divorce, which grants both parties single status and allows them to work out the details later.
Sonya filed for divorce back in 2013, after the couple had been separated for three years already. They reached an agreement in 2016, but Master claims that the paperwork was never submitted to the court to make it official.
Now, Master P is finally taking the steps to officially end the marriage
Tom Holland And Zendaya Joke About Their Height Difference
Zendaya gushes over Tom Holland in new interview Height is not an issue for this young couple.
Tom Holland and Zendaya seemed more than happy to joke about their two-inch height difference during a joint interview on “The Graham Norton Show” Friday night.
“There’s a particular stunt where Spider-Man swings us on top of a bridge and he places me there,” Zendaya, 25, said, adding that Holland, who she is dating, is supposed to “gently” rest her on the bridge before walking away.
“Because of our height difference… we were attached, so I would land before him,” the actress, who is two inches taller than Holland, explained. “My feet obviously hit the ground before he does.”
Holland, also 25, jumped in to finish the story.
“I’m the superhero. I’m supposed to look cool,” he said as his girlfriend laughed along with the audience.
“She would land, and then I would sort of land like this, and then my feet would swing from underneath me, and she would catch me,” he explained.
The couple attempted to demonstrate their stunt landing, with Zendaya holding up one of Holland’s legs as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders for support.
Zendaya added that even though Holland wasn’t able to nail his superhero landing, he was still a proper gentleman about it.
“You were like, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you’,” she said.
“It’s so nice to be caught for a change,” he responded with a laugh.
Tom Holland and Zendaya posing in front of the "Spider-Man: No Way Home" poster
The off-screen couple’s height difference has always been obvious in photos of the two together.
The couple’s interview comes just a few days after they were spotted getting cozy at the Ballon d’Or 2021 awards in Paris on Tuesday.
Photos show the “Spider-Man” stars with their arms wrapped around each other after they opted not to walk the red carpet together.
50 Cent Apologizes To Madonna For Mocking Her Topless Photo
Rapper and producer 50 Cent is apologizing to Madonna after he mocked her recent Instagram photo.
Earlier this week, the “Material Girl” singer shared a risque Instagram photo in which she is wearing barely-there black lingerie in bed, with one of her breasts exposed. Instagram later deleted the photo, and Madonna reposted a censored version.
Shortly after the original pic hit social media, however, the Power actor posted a photo of Madonna’s legs under the house from The Wizard of Oz, likening the star to the Wicked Witch of the East. He captioned the since-deleted meme, “Starz asked me to do a remake. I said only if Madonna could play the role because I need star power and sex appeal in this one.”
In a second deleted post, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, added, “That's Madonna under the bed trying to do 'Like A Virgin' at 63. She shot out, if she don't get her old ass up.”
Madonna hit back against the rapper on her Instagram Story. She shared a photo of the two looking friendly in 2003, writing, “Here is 50 Cent pretending to be my friend. Now you have decided to talk smack about me. I guess your new career is getting attention by trying to humiliate others on social media. The least elevated choice you could make as an artist and an adult.”
Following the backlash, 50 Cent apologized to Madonna, writing in a December 3 post on Twitter, “I must have hurt Madonna feelings,she went and dug up a old MTV photo from 03. ok Im sorry i did not intend to hurt your feelings.I don’t benefit from this in anyway i said what i thought when i saw the picture because of where i had seen it before i hope you accept my apology.”
Thus far, Madonna has not responded to 50 Cent’s tweet, which has since been removed.
The Get Rich or Die Trying star has been called out in recent years for mocking his peers in the industry. In 2020, he used Instagram memes to mock Megan Thee Stallion, after the “Hot Girl Summer” rapper alleged Tory Lanez shot her. In 2018, he also made fun of Ashanti on social media after she received low ticket sales for a later cancelled performance, leading the artist to call him a “bully.” He also found himself in hot water with Will Smith after 50 Cent criticized his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, for publicly sharing that she had a relationship outside of the couple’s marriage.
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EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Ty
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HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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