#MAGFAB: Bad Bunny for GQ’s June/July Issue
Bad Bunny covers the June/July 2022 issue of GQ magazine photographed by Roe Ethridge and styled by Mobolaji Dawodu.
On his approach to style always shifting: “It depends on my state of mind,” he says. “Everybody has to feel comfortable with what they are, and how they feel. Like, what defines a man, what defines being masculine, what defines being feminine? I really can’t give clothes gender. To me, a dress is a dress. If I wear a dress, would it stop being a woman’s dress? Or vice versa? Like, no. It’s a dress, and that’s it. It’s not a man’s, it’s not a woman’s. It’s a dress.”
On presenting himself on his own terms—defiantly Puerto Rican, playfully gender–neutral, and politically outspoken: “I was never on a mission to be like, Oh, this is what I’m going to do,” he says about conquering the global pop market. “It happened organically. Like, I’ve never made a song saying, ‘This is going to go worldwide.’ I never made a song thinking, Man, this is for the world. This is to capture the gringo audience. Never. On the contrary, I make songs as if only Puerto Ricans were going to listen to them. I still think I’m there making music, and it’s for Puerto Ricans. I forget the entire world listens to me.”
Photographs by Roe Ethridge
Styled by Mobolaji Dawodu
Grooming by Gianluca
#RHOA: The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 1 Cast Reunites on The Nightcap with Carlos King Without NeNe Leakes
Grab your peaches and fasten your wigs, 'cause Carlos King is staging the ultimate Real Housewives of Atlanta throwback!
The acclaimed television producer — known for hit shows like Belle Collective, BET Presents: The Encore, Styling Hollywood and the two top-rated installments into his Love & Marriage franchise — has brought back together season 1 Atlanta Housewives Kim Zolciak-Biermann, DeShawn Snow, Shereé Whitfield and Lisa Wu for a surprise reunion.
The ladies come together for the June 11 episode of his OWN new talk show, The Nightcap with Carlos King.
PEOPLE has an exclusive first Look at the episode, which will be teased this weekend on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The half-hour program will find all four stars sharing life updates and, of course, rehashing that juicy season 1 drama.
Guests Shereé Whitfield, DeShawn Snow, Lisa Wu and Kim Zolciak Reunite on The Nightcap with
It's the first time all four of the women have been in the same room in more than 14 years when they taped RHOA's season 1 reunion back in 2008.
Snow, 49, was the first to step away from Bravo, departing RHOA after its first season. Wu, 51, was a full-time Housewife for the show's first two seasons and has returned in guest appearances on occasion.
Whitfield, 52, is currently an RHOA again after returning to the series for season 14. She was previously a full Housewife on the first four seasons and seasons 9-10, and she appeared as a Friend in season 8. Zolciak-Biermann, 44, left the show during season 5 to launch her spin-off Don't Be Tardy, which aired on Bravo for eight seasons. She was back on RHOA as a Friend in season 10.
Bravo viewers know King's formidable history with the Atlanta Housewives. Before founding his full-service production company Kingdom Reign Entertainment, King got his start as a producer on the first season of RHOA.
"My first reality show was RHOA," King explains in the clip. "I was this little producer who didn't know what the f--- he was doing. And my career is where it's at because of the four of you."
King went on to work on the show for a total of eight seasons, evening acting as showrunner for a few years, including his last — the highly rated season 9. He also helped produce the first two seasons of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and had a significant role in Teresa Giudice's infamous table flip.
He tells Zolciak-Biermann, Snow, Whitfield and Wu on The Nightcap: "This is really a celebration for you ladies."
The Nightcap with Carlos King launched on OWN on May 14. It's the network's first ever late-night talk show and comes on the heels of King's successful introduction into the world of podcasts, where his Sirius XM newly launched Stitcher podcast — Reality with the King — debuted at No. 1 on the television and film on the Apple podcast charts back in April.
Fans have bestowed the nickname "King of Reality TV" to the producer over the years.
The numbers appear to back it up. His television shows, and often his own name, trend on Twitter each week. Why, Love & Marriage: Huntsville's recent season 3 reunion on OWN ranked as Saturday night's No. 1 telecast across broadcast and cable in key markets.
As for King's upcoming season 1 RHOA reunion, all of the original cast participated in person save for NeNe Leakes, who is currently accusing Bravo, Andy Cohen and The Real Housewives of Atlanta production companies of racism and a hostile work environment in an ongoing lawsuit.
Leakes, 54, was a mainstay on RHOA for its first seven seasons, returning in a full-time capacity in season 10 and departing the show again after season 12.
Though Zolciak-Biermann, 44, is not officially named in the lawsuit, Leakes' former BFF was cited multiple times in the suit, with Leakes claiming bad behavior by the the mother of six went unchecked by Bravo, Cohen and RHOA producers (an example, according to the suit, of the parties' supposed double standard with its talent).
Zolciak-Biermann's appearance on The Nightcap will be the first time she addresses the lawsuit. Both she, and her former costars, are said to share their opinions on the ongoing litigation.
The Nightcap with Carlos King airs Saturdays (at 10 p.m. ET/PT) on OWN.
#NewMusIcVideo: GoGo Morrow ‘In The Way’
GoGo Morrow may be a fresh face to some, but she is no stranger to the industry. Having toured with artists like Wiz Khalifa and lending vocals to the Kanye West orchestrated Sunday Service Choir, she knows her way around these musical streets. This may explain how the songstress was able to give a modern twist to Brownstone‘s ’90s R&B classic “If You Love Me” by interpolating its lyrics into her official debut single “In The Way.”
The Philadelphia native brings an assertiveness to the track co-written and co-produced by Harmony Samuels. She questions her situationship’s commitment and contemplates if he’s “In The Way” of any opportunity for her to meet a real one and experience true love. Between the power of her voice and her audacious lyrics, the message is delivered loud and clear: She is not afraid to walk away from lazy love.
WATCH
An unabashed Morrow addresses her reluctant partner by pointing out the ways he’s not been valuing her love. “You love me when it’s convenient / Can never tell when you mean it / If you’re not all the way in it / Maybe you should just let someone else get it,” she sings while calling his bluff.
The accompanying video opens with the blue-haired beauty laying across her lover’s lap. We ultimately catch glimpses of the couple in seasons of contentment and contention. Happier times are filled with scenes of the pair slow dancing and exchanging warm touches, cozying up to each other while seated on the kitchen floor.
But soon conflict is on the horizon when the lovers are seen positioned on opposite sides of the bed, seemingly worlds apart. We witness a fed-up GoGo slam a car door and storm off after addressing her lover’s lackluster efforts. The brashness of the lyrics is heightened by the images, giving us a clear picture of the singer-songwriter completely ready to move after realizing her energy isn’t reciprocated.
The release comes following news of GoGo Morrow inking a deal with Harmony Samuels’ B.O.E Records, a Universal Music imprint, in conjunction with Kenya Barris’ label Khalabo Music, an imprint of Interscope Records. Big things are popping and coming for GoGo Morrow, and there’s no getting in her way.
#HipHopNews: Logic Reveals ‘Vinyl Days’ Tracklist
Logic can’t leave rap alone. Two years after announcing his retirement, Logic is set to return with his new album Vinyl Days.
Ahead of the June 17 release, he has revealed the tracklist. The 30 tracks including collaborations with Action Bronson, Russ, Wiz Khalifa, Royce Da 5’9″, Curren$y, and more. The Maryland MC also teams up with The Game on “I guess I love it” and RZA on “Porta One.” Other songs include “Nardwuar” and “Bleed It,” which he dropped Friday.
Vinyl Days follows 2020’s No Pressure, which was billed as Logic’s final album.
Following the album’s release, Logic will hit the road on his “Vinyl Verse” tour with Wiz Khalifa, starting July 27 in Irvine, Calif. with special guests 24kGoldn, DJ Drama, C Dot Castro, and Fedd the God.
VINYL DAYS TRACKLIST
1. “Danger”
2. “Tetris”
3. “In My Lifetime” feat. Action Bronson
4. ” Decades”
5. “JJ Abrahams” (Skit)
6. “BLACKWHITEBOY”
7. “Quasi”
8. “Bleed It”
9. “LaDonda”
10. “Aaron Judge”
11. “Clouds” feat. Langston Bristol & Curren$y
12. “Michael Rap” (Skit)
13. “Therapy Music” feat. Russ
14. “Tony Revolori” (Skit)
15. “Rogue One”
16. “Breath Control” feat. Wiz Khalifa
17. “NEMS” (Skit)
18. “Nardwuar” feat. Doc D
19. “KickStyle” feat. iamJMARS, Big Lenbo & C Dot Castro
20. “EarlyBird” (Skit)
21. “Ten Years” feat. Royce 5’9”
22. “Porta One” feat. RZA
23. “NeedleDrop” (Skit)
24. “Introducing Nezi” feat. Nezi Momodu
25. “Orville” feat. Like, Blu & Exile
26. “Carnival” feat. AZ
27. “Lena”s Insight” (Skit)
28. “Vinyl Days” feat. DJ Premier
29. “I Guess I Love It” feat. The Game
30. “Sayonara”
Kobe Bryant’s Game-Worn Rookie Jersey Sells For Nearly $3 Million
A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant in his rookie season was the second-highest bid for a game-worn basketball jersey at SCP Auctions.
Kobe Bryant’s jersey from his first playoff series sold for $2,735,546 after 26 bids. Kobe Bryant wore the jersey at least five times during his basketball career including two home games during the 1996-1997 NBA playoff series.
SCP Auctions released a statement on the historic sale that said:
“Twenty-five years after the Mamba’s playoff debut, the only jersey ever photo matched to his 1996-97 rookie season playoff run is presented here. The incredible jersey has been conclusively photomatched to five games from the Mamba’s rookie campaign, including two playoff games. Kobe donned the signature purple and gold threads of this jersey on April 11, April 13, April 17, May 8, and May 10, 1997.”
The basketball legend was in the playoffs on May 8, and May 10, 1997. Bryant scored 19 points in under 19 minutes during the May 8th game. On May 10th he scored 9 points in 28 minutes after being taken off the bench. During his rookie season, he averaged at least 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 40 percent shooting from the field.
As previously reported, While heading to his 13-year-old daughter’s, Gianna Bryant’s, basketball game on January 26, 2020, Bryant was killed at 41, in a California helicopter crash that took the lives of his daughter, and seven others.
The fan who put in the winning bid for Bryant’s jersey remains unknown.
Would you pay this much for your favs’ jersey?
Shooter who killed Sweetie Pie’s reality TV star pleads guilty, implicates others
ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man pleaded guilty Friday to murdering a former local reality TV show star for pay, while implicating others in the high-profile crime.
Travell Anthony Hill, 30, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and a separate count of murder-for-hire Friday in the March 2016 killing of 21-year-old Andre Montgomery Jr.
Montgomery was a former star on “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” an OWN reality show about a soul food business founded by his grandmother, Robbie Montgomery, in the St. Louis area.
Hill’s sentencing is scheduled for September, but both counts carry a mandatory life sentence in prison, U.S. District Judge John A. Ross said at the plea hearing Friday.
In Hill’s plea agreement Friday, he admitted to shooting and killing Montgomery in exchange for $5,000 two days after the death. According to an indictment, he was recorded discussing it with his brother on calls from jail.
Hill’s plea agreement also implicated two of the three other people also charged in the murder-for-hire plot that, according to prosecutors, involved life insurance policies, burner phones and payouts.
Gordo: Booming minor-league bats are creating looming big-league decisions
Hill said in his plea agreement that the victim’s uncle, James “Tim” Norman, another star of the TV show, hired Hill because “he wanted Montgomery dead.”
Hill also stated in his plea that a woman, Terica Ellis, was also part of the plot and was hired by Norman to lure Montgomery outside and tell Hill where he was before the shooting in the 3900 block of Natural Bridge Drive. Police in earlier hearings testified that Ellis, an exotic dancer who was working in Memphis at the time, had a previous romantic relationship with Norman.
Norman and Ellis are facing conspiracy to commit murder charges with a trial set for September. Federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in the case.
Norman is also accused in an indictment of attempting to cash in on $450,000 in life insurance policies he took out on his nephew with the help of an insurance agent, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, before the killing.
Norman and Yaghnam are also charged with wire and mail fraud. Yaghnam also faces counts for aggravated identity theft.
A break-in case
A burglary at the home of family matriarch Robbie Montgomery caused family turmoil in the months before the killing, police records obtained in 2020 by the Post-Dispatch showed.
Sweetie Pie’s owner Robbie Montgomery, the grandmother of shooting victim Andre and Norman’s mother, reported a burglary at her north St. Louis County home while she was on vacation in June 2015. At least $220,000 worth of cash, jewelry and other items were stolen, according to police records.
The police documents stated that officers initially investigated Andre Montgomery in the burglary, but after more than nine months out of town, he met with officers and took a polygraph test in March 2016. At that time, he denied being involved in the theft and told police he thought his uncle, Norman, was behind it.
Andre Montgomery explained that he left town to be with a girl and told officers his grandmother was trying to remove Norman from some Sweetie Pie’s business ventures, according to police accounts.
Four days later, Andre Montgomery was killed.
Investigators never closed the burglary case.
Andre Montgomery joined “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” which ran for five seasons on OWN, around 2011 after he came to live with his grandmother, Robbie. His father was killed in a 1995 stabbing, so Andre Montgomery grew up in Lubbock, Texas, with his mother and would spend summers in St. Louis with his grandmother. He moved into Robbie Montgomery’s basement full time around 2010.
Andre Montgomery was a paid cast member of “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” until 2013, appearing in a chicken costume in scenes promoting the family restaurant, pursuing a rap career and depicted graduating from McCluer North High School.
Federal prosecutors wrote in an indictment that Norman took out $450,000 in life insurance policies on his nephew a year before the burglary, making himself the sole beneficiary.
Ellis, the co-defendant accused of luring Andre Montgomery to the scene of the killing, used to work at the Bottoms Up club in the Metro East where she met Norman, St. Louis police Detective Donald Thurmond testified at a Tennessee 2020 court hearing.
Police believed then that Norman promised to pay her $10,000, Thurmond testified.
Federal charging documents say in the days after the shooting Ellis deposited more than $9,000 in cash into several bank accounts.
Thurmond testified Ellis told police the burglary at Robbie Montgomery’s home had made Norman’s “boys” want to “get up on” his nephew.
Norman is also accused of trying to collect on his nephew’s life insurance policies but was never able to get the money, according to an indictment.
Yaghnam is accused of providing false information on the life insurance policies, including information about Andre Montgomery’s income. Yaghnam worked in life insurance after a career in the music industry that included producing rapper Nelly’s hit 2002 album “Nellyville.”
After the charges, TV clips from “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” circulated showing Norman mourning the death he is now accused of setting up.
Norman visited the scene of the killing with his mother and TV cameras in a 2016 episode.
“Since Andre’s passing I haven’t gone through this part of the city,” Norman said on the show. “Really, I’ve been avoiding it.”
Dave Chappelle will reportedly donate Buffalo ticket sales to victims' families
On Sunday (June 5), famed comedian Dave Chappelle performed a set at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, New York.
According to ABC 7, Chappelle will donate his proceeds to the families impacted by the tragic May 14 mass shooting at a Tops grocery store. As previously reported by REVOLT, in last month’s deadly attack, a gunman entered the establishment and claimed the lives of 10 Black people during a racially motivated massacre.
While sources have reached out to reps for the comedian regarding a statement on the donation, there has been no official comment. Local NBC affiliate WGRZ 2 shared that Chappelle made the announcement to his audience at the end of his Buffalo show.
The suspected Buffalo gunman Payton Gendron was recently indicted by a grand jury on 25 counts for the hate crime. If convicted, he faces an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole. Gendron has pled not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held without bond.
Mass shootings have been on the rise in the past month. A little over a week later, on May 24, an 18-year-old walked into a Uvalde, Texas elementary school and shot and killed 21 people. Nineteen of the victims were children and two were teachers. The suspect was killed during the incident.
Similar incidents continued to happen in the following weeks.
According to Deadline, Chappelle booked the show in Buffalo at the last minute to honor the victims. The outlet spoke with Kevin Sweeney, the venue’s director of marketing and communications, who told them, “He said, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘I came here to Buffalo to recognize the victims and for these families.’”
Reports add that the sold-out event was booked just four days before it took place. Family members of the Buffalo victims were also said to be in attendance.
The Trailer for "Martin" reunion drops with tribute to Tommy
As previously reported by, late last month a “Martin” reunion show was announced. Today (June 6), the trailer has officially dropped.
In a minute-long video released by BET Networks, members of the original cast are seated on the infamous living room sofa as they look towards the camera and with smiles, say, “This one’s for you Tommy” in unison.
Thomas Mikal Ford was the actor who played the role of “Tommy.” Ford died in 2016, reportedly due to a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. On the show, Tommy’s character was known as the smooth yet unemployed friend.
Original cast members include Martin Lawrence (who the show is named after), Tisha Campbell who plays Martin’s wife Gina, Tichina Arnold as her best friend Pam and Carl Anthony Payne II who plays Martin’s oddball friend Cole. All will appear in the reunion hosted by comedian Affion Crockett.
Next Thursday (June 16), the special will air exclusively on BET+, 30 years after the hit sitcom made its debut. Lawrence was hands-on with this production, serving as an executive producer through his company Run Tel Dat Entertainment.
The promo on the video’s YouTube uses Martin’s signature catchphrase, “Wazzup?! Wazzzup?! Wazzzzzup?!” before noting that “the gang is back for the reunion special we’ve all been waiting for.”
Snoop Dogg is seen in the newly released trailer discussing the show’s impact on pop culture. “We would watch the show more than we would make music,” the West Coast rapper says as he joins the cast on the sofa. Snoop was previously a guest on the series during its five-season run.
Actor Tommy Davidson and R&B great Brian McKnight will also make appearances for the June 16 event.
WATCH HERE
“Can there be a ‘Martin’ reboot?” Crockett asks the stars during the sit-down before the camera cuts to another scene. It seems we will just have to tune in to find out. In the meantime, all five seasons of the popular comedy are streaming on BET+.
Michael B. Jordan Makes First Public Appearance Since Break Up from Girlfriend Lori Harvey
Michael B. Jordan is enjoying a night out with friends. The 35-year-old Black Panther actor sat courtside with friends at Game Two of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics on Sunday night (June 5) at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif.
Michael‘s appearance at the game marks the first time he has been spotted out since it was revealed that he and girlfriend Lori Harvey had broken up after more than a year of dating.
Scream 6 will be out March 32023 without Sidney (Neve Campbell)
Neve Campbell says she won't return as Sidney in Scream 6, but David Arquette is staying optimistic about the situation.
The Scream series is moving forward without its longtime final girl. Neve Campbell has been essentially the face of the franchise since the first movie was released by Wes Craven in the 1990s, and it had been expected that she would return for the upcoming sequel, currently referred to as Scream 6. Recently, rumors surfaced that Campbell wasn't coming back for the sixth film after all, and she has since confirmed this news.
“Sadly I won’t be making the next Scream film," Campbell explained, per Deadline. “As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise. It’s been a very difficult decision to move on. To all my Scream fans, I love you. You’ve always been so incredibly supportive to me. I’m forever grateful to you and to what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years."
This is undoubtedly going to disappoint many horror fans who feel that it just isn't Scream without Sidney Prescott. Per Comicbook.com, Campbell's longtime co-star David Arquette has now weighed in on the situation as well. Like the fans, Arquette sees it as a bummer that Campbell is sitting out Scream 6. However, he is looking ahead to a potential seventh film and beyond, thinking that Campbell could always come back in the Scream 7 if that's something that the fans want.
"I'd love for her to be a part of it," Arquette said. "A Scream movie without Sidney is kind of unfortunate, but I understand her decision. It's all a business in a way, they have to balance all these elements to fit a budget and produce a film. I get it, she's still alive! She [can] absolutely be in future ones, but I think it's up to fans to call for that in the future. [...] That is sudden, it's a business, though. I respect her decision, for sure."
This news means that we are down to just one legacy character who's been with the series all along that will be coming back for Scream 6. Courteney Cox has already confirmed that she will be back as Gale, apparently not running into the same pay issues that Campbell had experienced. Cox also had some kind things to say about the script and where the story is going for Scream 6, though if Sidney was planned to be in the film, she'll have to be written out.
"I don't know about contracts and where things are, but I'll tell you in the script -- it's a really good one. You actually have to be killed if you talk about it, so I'm not gonna say anything," Cox said.
Scream 6 will be released on March 31, 2023.
#TECHNEWS: iOS 16 will let you edit and even unsend texts in Messages
During its WWDC 2022 event, Apple announced a bunch of new features on the way for its software platforms, including the ability to edit messages you’ve already sent in its Messages app. Apple software engineering senior VP Craig Federighi announced the changes while discussing iOS 16 updates, adding that users will be able to unsend messages, and mark threads unread to easily revisit them later, covering three of the most requested features from iMessage users.
In the fine print of its event press release, Apple explains that the ability to edit or unsend a message will be available for 15 minutes, and once a message is deleted, users can recover them for up to 30 days.
Users can edit or recall a message for up to 15 minutes after sending it, or recover recently deleted messages for up to 30 days after deletion
Of course, you may not have as many typos to fix once the new features launch, since there’s a new Dictation experience that “lets you fluidly move between voice and touch.” The keyboard will stay open while you use voice dictation, and it supports emoji detection while you’re talking.
Another tweak will put a list of SharePlay-ready apps directly into FaceTime, so you can easily see which ones are available, while a button for the feature in Messages makes it easier to text back and forth while you watch together. If you’d like to try the features out as soon as possible, Apple will release a developer preview of iOS 16 today, and plans to offer a public beta of the new software to users next month — you can sign up for access right here.
Musk threatens to ‘terminate’ Twitter deal over bot account data
Billionaire Elon Musk has threatened to pull out of a $44bn deal to buy Twitter if the social media platform does not provide data he is requesting on bot and spam accounts.
In a letter to Twitter on Monday, the lawyers for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO accused the company of “resisting and thwarting his information rights” under the agreement to purchase the platform.
“This is a clear material breach of Twitter’s obligations under the merger agreement and Mr. Musk reserves all rights resulting therefrom, including his right not to consummate the transaction and his right to terminate the merger agreement,” they wrote.
Twitter said it intends to close the deal at the agreed price and terms.
“Twitter has and will continue to cooperatively share information with Musk to consummate the transaction in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement,” the company said in a statement on Monday.
In April, the Twitter board unanimously agreed to sell the platform to Musk for $44bn, but the deal still requires the approval of shareholders.
In a statement announcing the deal at that time, Musk said “defeating the spam bots” would be one of his top priorities for the platform.
But last month, Musk said the acquisition was on hold because of the issue.
“Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5 percent of users,” Musk wrote on Twitter on 13 May. But he later added that he remains “committed” to the deal.
On Monday, experts said Musk may be looking to back out of the purchase agreement or push to reassess the value of the platform.
“It’s fairly obvious that he has buyer’s remorse and he is trying whatever to get a reduction in price, and I think he may succeed,” Dennis Dick, a proprietary trader at Bright Trading LLC, told the Reuters news agency.
“You can see the selloff in social media stocks and he has realised that he overpaid … all these are tactics just to get a reduction in price.”
Brian Quinn, a law professor at Boston College, also told the Associated Press news agency that Musk is “looking for a way out of the deal or something that will get leverage for a renegotiation of the price”.
If Musk walks away from the deal, he could be on the hook for a $1bn breakup fee, AP and Reuters reported.
Last month, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said the social media network estimates that fewer than 5 percent of all users are fake. But in a series of tweets, he highlighted the challenge of weeding out real people from bots and accounts being used for spam campaigns.
“The hard challenge is that many accounts which look fake superficially – are actually real people,” he wrote.
“And some of the spam accounts which are actually the most dangerous – and cause the most harm to our users – can look totally legitimate on the surface.”
In their letter on Monday, Musk’s lawyers said that if the platform is confident in its public estimates, they don’t understand the reluctance to allow him to “independently evaluate” the figures.
Aside from the finances, the push to acquire Twitter by Musk – who describes himself as a free speech absolutist – has stirred a debate around freedom of speech and the role of social media platforms in regulating the flow of information.
Last month, Musk said he would allow former President Donald Trump back on the platform.
The Tony Awards Will Require Tests, Not Masks for Nominees at Radio City
The star attendees at the Tony Awards on June 12 will not be required to wear masks during the ceremony, but will need to be tested for COVID-19 before attending, the awards show confirmed Monday.
Attendees sitting in the orchestra section of Radio City Music Hall (which is not a Broadway theater) include Tony nominees, as well as producers, theater owners and other celebrity guests. Many of the actors will take to the stage during the show, which led to the PCR testing requirement for everyone in the orchestra. Masks are optional for this section, which is likely to be heavily featured on the telecast.
“As a significant portion of the orchestra are Tony Award nominees and either going to be on stage and/or performing, it felt necessary to do the same for all of those in the orchestra. Requirements to be on stage include the PCR testing and verification,” Tony Award Productions said in a statement.
While testing is an added precaution for audience members, the lack of a mask requirement is at odds with the current regulations on Broadway. All attendees at Broadway shows are currently required to wear masks through June 30, as part of an industry-set mandate that has been regularly renewed since July 2021.
Broadway cast members have been performing unmasked since the industry’s reopening, but are frequently tested for COVID-19, with cadences set by case numbers in the area.
Attendees sitting in the mezzanine and balcony sections of Radio City Music Hall, are required to wear a mask throughout the ceremony, but do not need to be tested.
All ticket holders at the Tony Awards will need to provide proof of full vaccination, even as most Broadway theaters did away with that requirement in May.
The testing requirement, but optional masking for some attendees follows a similar rule set by the Academy Awards. At the March 27 ceremony, Oscar nominees and their guests were not required to wear masks and were also required to undergo testing, as well as provide proof of vaccination.
But the lack of a mask requirement for some audience members also comes as the Broadway industry seeks to remerge from an embattled season, which has included lower attendance and productions grappling with COVID-19 cases among cast and company members, as well as show cancellations and changing safety protocols. The Tony Awards broadcast is one of the best commercials for the industry and one way of signaling a hopeful return to normalcy for Broadway.
Broadway’s COVID Safety Officers, who have been enforcing the industry’s safety requirements and coordinating the COVID-19 testing of casts and crews, are among the invited attendees at the ceremony.
Cases in New York City have been rising for the past several weeks, but now appear to have reached somewhat of a plateau. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently downgraded New York County to a medium risk level, which relaxes the recommendation for indoor mask wearing, after weeks at a high risk level.
Oscar winner and Tony nominee Ariana DeBose has been selected to host the 75th annual Tony Awards. The broadcast is split across Paramount+ and CBS. The first part, an hour long special which takes place at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, will stream on Paramount+ with hosts Darren Criss and Julianne Hough, both of whom are currently in Broadway shows. The awards show will then continue at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT live on CBS and streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+.
'Tiger King' star Doc Antle accused of laundering money for human smuggling operation
New details have emerged regarding the FBI's arrest of Tiger King's Bhagavan "Doc" Antle.
Antle, who starred in Netflix's hit docuseries, was charged with federal money laundering crimes involving more than $500,000. Omar Sawyer, Antle's employee at Myrtle Beach Safari, was also charged. Antle, 62, and Sawyer, 52, were arrested on Friday and are still in custody.
According to the unsealed federal complaint, "over the last four months, Antle and Sawyer laundered $505,000 in cash believed to be the proceeds of an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Mexican border into the United States." A confidential informant worked with the FBI to uncover the scheme. Multiple recorded conversations are laid out in the document with Antle and Sawyer seemingly discussing money laundering. Antle called Sawyer very loyal.
"Antle and Sawyer would launder the cash by providing checks from a business controlled by Antle and a business controlled by Sawyer. Those checks falsely claimed they were remitted for construction work being performed at the Myrtle Beach Safari, when in reality the checks were simply a means to allow the recipients to appear to have legitimate income. In exchange, Antle and Sawyer received a 15% fee of any amount laundered," the United States Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina says in a news release.
Antle purportedly discussed his plan to conceal the cash he received by inflating tourist numbers at his 50-acre wildlife tropical preserve, according to the complaint. "He had used bulk cash receipts to purchase animals for which he could not use checks," the release claims.
Antle and Sawyer each face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the charges. They appeared in person at the federal courthouse in Florence, S.C. on Monday. A bond hearing has been set for Thursday.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the FBI said they have no official comment, but that the criminal complaint speaks for itself.
This is hardly Antle's first run-in with the law. In 2020, Antle was indicted in Virginia on felony wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty charges. A trial is scheduled for October. He's also been accused of sexual abuse, sleeping with minors and running a cult-like operation, but has denied such claims.
Gayle King ‘Asked To Leave’ Work Immediately After Testing Positive For Covid-19
Gayle King appears to be having a rough start to her week after finding out she’s been diagnosed with Covid-19. The 67-year-old shared the news with fans on Monday, having shown up to work at CBS Mornings, only to be told she’d have to “leave immediately” after her test result came back positive. Gayle had initially appeared at the start of the show but was noticeably absent toward the end, as she took to Instagram to explain why she to disappear. “OK, the thing I’ve been dreading has finally happened,” she said in her video.
“I just tested positive for…I got the Rona. They run a test, another test, we’re going to take one more just to be sure. But in the meantime, I’ve been asked to leave the building and go home.” She was then interrupted by her co-host Nate Burleson, who checked on her to see whether she was good, before being told to keep his distance from Gayle, seeing that he also wasn’t wearing a face mask.
The Maryland native signed off by letting it be known that she is “double vaxxed and boosted.” Her co-anchors Nate and Tony Dokoupil were left to finish the show on their own, with the latter having ended the taping, saying that Gayle was going to be okay after being sent home to isolate.
Just last month, Gayle made headlines when she attended the Hollywood Reporter’s annual Most Powerful People in Media event in New York City wearing one heel and a floral-printed clog after injuring herself at her home. And while she should have probably seen a doctor to know the severity of her foot, Gayle said she had delayed her trip to a specialist because she’s not keen on doctor visits.
“I went to bed on Saturday, and I woke up Sunday to go pee, and I don’t know what it is, but the minute I touched the floor, I crumbled. I think it’s my Achilles,” she said. “Well, it’s feeling better, so I’m going to wait a couple of days, and if it’s still like this, I’m going to go to the doctor. I hate going to the doctor!”
The publication asserted that Gayle was clearly in pain at the event as she hobbled her way inside the venue after posing for photos. Even her children had instructed her to get medical help for her foot, but she firmly stood her ground, saying that if she was still in pain for a few more days, she would have no choice but to see a doctor.
Gayle is a mother to two children, Kirby and William.
Adam Sandler And Queen Latifah Star In Netflix All New Film ‘Hustle’
LeBron James production company Spring Hill have partnered with Netflix for an all-new movie ‘Hustle’ starring Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah and many more.
‘Hustle’ is not the typical basketball movie where you follow the stories of players trying to make it bigger than they already are, rather this story follows a scout trying to take a no name player to the top on his own dime.
About ‘Hustle’
Adam, a real-life New York Knicks and all-around basketball fan takes on the role of Stanley Sugerman, a scout turned assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers whose passion for finding the perfect players takes him to Spain. On his search, he finds Bo Cruz, played by real-life Utah Jazz player Juancho Hernangómez and turned his life upside down for the good, but not without a few trials and tribulations to start off.
Stanley (Sandler) bets everything on bringing Bo (Hernangómez) across the border to be a potential member of the 76ers team against the will of new team owner Vince Merrick (Ben Foster) who made a bad call with a previous draft pick just months earlier.
With the support of his wife Teresa Sugerman (Latifa), Stanley (Sandler) financially supports Bo (Hernangómez) while leaving his dream job as an assistant coach to personally train and prepare Bo who’s never been on a professional team to make it not to the little leagues, but to the big leagues. but with a team twist you will have to watch to see.
Eventually, his hard work and literally hustle pay off as Bo makes it to the league and Stanley gets his courtside seat as an assistant coach.
This film features some major NBA cameos from names like Boban Marjanović, Trae Young, Jordan Clarkson, Khris Middleton, Aaron Gordon, Kyle Lowry, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris,and others like Kennny Smith, Doc Rivers, James Goldstein, Dr. J and so many more.
This movie is in select theaters on June 3, 2022, and on Netflix on June 8.
'imi' Platform Helping LGBTQ+ Youth Feel Seen, Supported And Affirmed
With the abrupt changes that all of us have gone through during the pandemic, the need to prioritize mental health has never been more important. It’s especially important for our kids, specifically LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 60 percent of teens surveyed weren’t able to access mental health care in the past year. And with efforts from politicians to bar access to support and needed care (Don’t Say Gay bills and bans on medication for trans youth for example), spaces that both provide education and validate their experiences are essential. That’s where a new platform, imi, comes in.
imi is a free mental health tool that is designed to assist LGBTQ+ teens in exploring and affirming their identity. Created by nonprofit social innovation organization Hopelab, known for its work at the intersection of tech and youth mental health, imi made its debut on June 1, right on time for Pride Month.
“imi helps address elements contributing to the growing youth mental health crisis and affirms LGBTQ+ teens that their identities are valid, despite messaging coming from political and other homophobic and transphobic systems stating the opposite,” says Grace Greene (she/her), a research associate from Hopelab who helped co-create the platform.
Per research, racial and ethnic sexual and gender minority youth are twice as likely as their non-queer counterparts to report feeling sad or hopeless, and they are three times as likely to have considered suicide than white, non-Hispanic sexual and gender minority youth. Even more alarming, 45 percent of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered attempting suicide.
“These statistics are egregious. And we must act now to change them.
she says. “As a social innovation lab and impact investor working to support and empower young people, Hopelab needed to find a way for more queer youth to move from simply surviving to get to a place of thriving.”
imi is seeking to help with that. Researchers who worked on the platform spoke with hundreds of LGBTQ+ teens and young adults, including focusing in on Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC), non-binary, and gender non-conforming youth. They based features of the platform on what those young people said they needed.
“What we’ve known for a long time and what we heard directly from the youth we spoke to is that they desire a world that is more accepting, inclusive, and just,” she says. “imi is a space for LGBTQ+ teens, especially QTBIPOC, and those with intersectional identities, to feel seen, supported, and affirmed.”
Users of imi are given four different topics to dive into upon accessing the platform: stress (stressors based on their identity), queerness (facets of their identity), stigma (dealing with negative messaging they receive about their identity that they may internalize) and gender (the role of gender beyond binary and advice for how to explore and express their gender identity).
There are resources (including coping skills), stories, and activities. The stories, for example, can be read or actually heard from short video clips. LGBTQ+ teens and young adults added their voices to the platform, sharing their experiences to be of encouragement to others.
That encouragement, Greene says, goes a long way to helping LGBTQ+ youth and saving lives.
“imi provides teens with the opportunity to look into a mirror, go exploring, or do both,” she says. “It gives them the chance to choose their journey to joy, to self-love, and validation–such a critical thing for historically marginalized groups and adolescents.”
Greene adds that imi overall, “shows QTBIPOC youth that they’re loved, valued, and understood — no matter what is happening outside of the platform.”
Keke Wyatt Gives Birth To Healthy Baby Boy Despite Positive Trisomy 33 Test
Keke Wyatt had one of her most challenging pregnancies to date, but the silver lining is that the singer gave birth to a healthy baby boy on May 27. Wyatt announced the birth of her “miracle” son Ke’Zyah Jean Darring via her Instagram account.
“Most of you are familiar with the challenges I faced during this pregnancy,” the singer said.
For those in the dark, back in March, Keke shared that her unborn baby was diagnosed with trisomy 33, a genetic disorder that happens when a child has an extra 13th chromosome. The disorder can result in an intellectual disability and physical abnormalities such as extra fingers and toes or a cleft lip.
During that announcement, the award-winning singer made it clear that she’d be choosing “the report of the Lord” over that of doctors, and she stood by her word.
In the Instagram post announcing her son’s birth, Wyatt said, “My husband & I made the decision not to accept the Medical Specialist’s suggestion to terminate our baby early despite the positive trisomy 13 test results.”
She continued, “We appreciate and thank God for all of the Dr’s [sic] in the medical field. However, I can’t stress enough to all mothers & couples, when the Dr gives you life changing information about your unborn child …. pray about it, use faith & follow your spirit before making ANY final decision. We believed the report of the Lord and after holding our beautiful healthy baby boy Ke’Zyah & looking into his eyes, I’m glad we did. 😍”
Ke’Zyah is Wyatt’s 11th child (nine biological, and both a daughter from ex-husband Michael Ford and one from current husband Zackariah David Darring that she calls her own). The married couple also share a son named Ke’Riah David, who was born in 2020.
“We are both believers and know that God has & will continue to have the final say,” she wrote to conclude her announcement. “Thank You to my nurse Ebonie. Thank you ALL for the prayers & support ShugaS.”
Judge Greg Mathis Shares His Thoughts on Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars Slap
In a new interview with Page Six, Judge Greg Mathis reveals his thoughts on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
Mathis said from a legal standpoint, “anytime you commit an assault; you commit a crime. And committing an assault, no matter how embarrassing or humiliating it does not legitimize an assault.”
As a husband, he said he understood Smith’s rage over Rock making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
“However, I would have yelled from my seat,” Mathis said. “I gotta tell ya; I would’ve been a little disruptive. I would say, ‘Watch out, bro! Don’t talk about my wife again, Chris.’ I might have done that or been more diplomatic. I would speak with Chris backstage and let him know that he insulted my wife and that he owes my wife an apology. That’s the professional Greg Mathis.”
He added, “If someone smacks me, I can’t walk around Detroit. I would have to do something.”
Mathis said of the Hollywood folks, “Before they slap, those guys they crack a joke … but with me, if they smack me, it is another level. I would check him in some form or fashion.”
LeBron James Calls for Brittney Griner’s Safe Return Home from Russia
LeBron James is putting pressure on Biden’s administration to do some rescuing for Brittney Griner and deliver her home “swiftly and safely.”
On Sunday, the billionaire took to Instagram to post about the specifics of BG’s detainment, urging the administration to do something. He also posted on Twitter.
“For over 100 days, BG has faced inhumane conditions in a Russian prison and has been denied communications with her family and loved ones,” the picture following James’ tweet read. “As a decorated Olympian and member of an elite global sport community, BG’s detention must be resolved out of respect for the sanctity of all sport and for all Americans traveling internationally. It is imperative that the U.S. Government immediately address this human rights issue and do whatever is necessary to return Brittney home.”
He then urged fans to get together and do something. “We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!! Our voice as athletes is stronger together.”
Griner has been detained for over 100 days after authorities found vape cartridges in her luggage at the Moscow airport. She was supposed to be released in early May, but Russia extended her detainment for a month. She’s been able to communicate via letters with her loved ones and teammates.
NYPD Investigating Threats Of School Shooting, Suspect Posted Names of Would-Be Victims Online
A person claiming to be a student of an elite Brooklyn high school has threatened to shoot it up and police are now investigating the threat that was posted on social media.
“I’m going to shoot up my school Millennium Brooklyn High School New York with an MP15 assault rifle and a Glock 17 pistol with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in a few weeks and Livestream it on my Instagram,” the person wrote on the site Omegle on Thursday
An employee at the Park Slope school reported the post to police at 9 a.m. Friday, an NYPD spokeswoman confirmed.
“We’re investigating it,” Detective Denise Maroni said.
The post also said the shooter would blast “dancin military-style and abba gimme gimme eurobeat” music during the shooting.
“I hope to take at least 15-30 people with me mostly in the classrooms or hallways, plus some people fleeing the building,” the post said.
The alleged wannabe shooter also vowed to not surrender to police and said they would “shoot through the windows to get them and before I do it I’ll send a link to my stream to everyone.”
The person then wrote the names of more than a dozen students that would be killed, the New York Post reported.
An employee from Park Slope Collegiate sent parents an e-mail informing them about the threat.
“Last night, an unknown person posted a threat to one of the schools on our campus, Millennium Brooklyn High School, on a site called Omegle,” the message reads.
“The post appears copy and pasted from social media threats that have been made in previous months to schools throughout our area, but it does include the school name and the names of some students. We are taking the threat seriously…”
Since the Robb Elementary School shooting that occurred in Uvalde, Texas there has been a series of mass shooting threats for both Long Island and New York City schools.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
A BAD BOB
Ummm....i don't know what to say about this one.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Avery
Meet Avery! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
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HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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