Thursday, August 18, 2022

The Daily Buzz For Aug 19 ☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: Wendy Williams for the The Hollywood Reporter

The days leading up to The Wendy Williams finale was chaotic at best, according to a new report released by The Hollywood Reporter.


Several people working at The Wendy Williams Show, including Lonnie Burnstein, Debmar-Mercury’s executive vice president of programming and Williams‘ former manager Bernie Young, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about witnessing Williams’ deteriorating health. According to the article, Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein initially tried to tamp down the staff’s fears of Williams’ health, but when the staff prepared to hear from Williams via Zoom, they soon realized that Williams’ health was much more serious than the expected.


"It lasted two and a half, three minutes, and it was not pretty," said Burnstein to the outlet. "People were sort of freaked out. She was saying things like, 'Oh, I can't wait, I'll be back with you really soon,' but it was obvious to anyone watching that she was not going to be back really soon."

The full article details that staff had seen Williams revert back to bad habits, including addiction. Her sobriety was allegedly questioned numerous times and, allegedly, staffers had found alcohol bottles in various places in her office.


Williams’ spokesperson Shawn Zanotti told the outlet in an email, “It has been no secret that Wendy has battled with addiction over the years but at this time Wendy is on the road to recovery and healing herself from her chronic illnesses and her grievances of the past.”


As tabloid photos showed Williams wearing blue hospital booties and reports of her being admitted for a psychiatric evaluation, the team realized their initial plans for the 13th season would have to be pushed back.

The second time the staff tried to go forward with the season was derailed by the Zoom call, when people realized that Williams was sicker than they initially thought. But the two delays led to stations putting pressure on the show to start putting out episodes. As Burnstein said, “For the first four, five, six, eight weeks, we think we’re putting a Band-Aid on it and Wendy’s coming back.”

This led to a series of co-hosts to come in, with Sherri Shepherd becoming the most popular of the list. “We were battling for the life of the show,” said Burnstein, who talked about how much the show was trying to keep stations happy in spite of Williams’ absence. Burnstein also admitted that for the entirety of the show, the staff had trouble securing guests because of Williams’ interview approach. That same reason is why, as Burnstein said, the staff had trouble finding people to co-host in Williams’ stead.


The decision to end the show in its 13th season came as 2021 rolled around to the winter season, in which stations begin to finalize their fall 2022 lineups. The idea of Williams possibly not returning obviously wasn't a selling point to stations.

Frank Cicha, the executive vice president of programming for the Fox TV stations, said, “At a certain point, you can’t really play what-if. You do have to have an answer.”


Williams herself asked Bernstein and Marcus about the future of her show.


“I said, ‘We haven’t heard from you, and we had to make a decision. We should have made one in November, but we pushed it to January or February, and nd by then, it was like, make a decision or lose the time period,'” said Bernstein. “She said, ‘Well, what’s going to air at 10 o’clock?’ I told her, ‘Sherri’s going to air at 10 o’clock.’ ‘So can I go on at 11?’ I said, ‘We’d love to work with you, and there are lots of ways and lots of buyers, but you need to come back, and we need to know that you’re OK. You can’t just call after nine months and say, ‘I’m ready.'”


Bernstein and Marcus say that a version of this conversation happened multiple times, and each time, Williams seemingly acted like it was the first time.

ght her best moments from the show. Having her do a video message or guest on the show was shot down, since, as a producer who spoke under anonymity said, it wouldn’t serve Williams, and not to mention, executives felt it wasn’t great to put her on television in her condition. However, Williams and her ex/former manager, Kevin Hunter, lambasted the idea in later reports.


The team also didn’t want to make things awkward for Shepherd, but she ended up getting bad press herself by being blamed by Williams supporters as taking Williams’ show.


"It honestly wouldn't have mattered who we chose," said Marcus, "because it isn't actually about Sherri, except now she's taking the brunt and she shouldn't."

It is alleged that Williams didn’t fully register that her show was gone until she watched a promo on Fox, leading Marcus to once again tell her the situation. But the apparent denial continues to paint the picture of Williams’ overall health.

 

 

#RHOA: Season 14 Reunion Spoiler: Kandi Burruss and Sheree Whitfield Reportedly Have Heated Exchange

The women of The Real Housewives of Atlanta have had a fiery season and reportedly the reunion is even fiery with a Kandi Burruss and Sheree Whitfield exchange.

 

While most of the drama has been between Marlo Hampton and Kenya Moore – and Hampton and Kandi Burruss, Burruss has made it clear she’s no fan of Whitfield co-signing Hampton’s nonsense. Burruss reportedly confronts Whitfield at the reunion taping, leaving the future of their friendship unclear.

 

Marlo has been in the hot seat

Fans have blasted Hampton all season long for her low blows and seemingly unwarranted beef with both Moore and Burruss. Burruss has now vowed to not give Hampton the time of day, especially considering she’s helped Hampton out behind the scenes and Hampton appears to use her long-awaited peach as a means to tear Burruss down.

 

Source says that Burrus clashed with Whitfield at the reunion.

Per The Peach Report Daily, “Kandi going into the reunion with guns blazing was a no-brainer, but I hear it’s the outcome of her clash with Sheree that might have some surprised. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re still able to move forward in Season 15.”

 

 

#NewMusicVideo from PJ Morton Featy Jill Scott & Alex Isley ‘Still Believe’ In Love

PJ Morton is committed to keeping his adoring public engaged and entertained with the release of a new music video for “Still Believe.”

 

This is from Morton’s Watch The Sun album, “Still Believe” features the additional talents of Jill Scott, who delivers a smoking spoken word intro, and Alex Isley, whose angelic vocals later join in perfect harmony with PJ’s. Director Dominic Scott captures Morton, Isley and PJ’s band during an in-studio performance. Scott doesn’t physically appear in the video, but her voice is heard at its onset.

 

The visual also continues the narrative that began in the previously released video for “Love’s Disease,” appearing to fit in between the clips for “Biggest Mistake” and “Lil’ Too Heavy.” After PJ’s lady walks out on him at the end of “Biggest Mistake,” “Still Believe” begins with him on his cell phone. On the other end of the call is assumed to be his woman, who speaks her peace via Jill Scott’s velvety voiceover and gives PJ an earful.

 

The scenes cut back and forth between PJ by himself looking pitiful and back in the studio seated at his trusty keyboards with Alex by his side. When he’s not looking out of the window, singing and thinking about his bad decisions, he sits down to pen a letter to his beloved.

 

When it’s time for Alex’s verse, she delivers it with a soft confidence that she’s making the right choice to admit that she, too, still believes in love after heartbreak. While she sings, we see PJ’s lady appear on-screen for the first time in “Still Believe” as she settles in to read the letter that he wrote to her. As she lays down on her bed and reads PJ’s heartfelt words, a wistful look crosses her face, signaling that maybe all is not lost between the estranged couple.


WATCH

With this video for “Still Believe,” PJ Morton has given us visuals for 9 out of 11 of Watch The Sun‘s tracks thus far.

 

 

#HipHopNews: Kid Cudi Says He Wasn't Dissing Drake Amid Kanye West Feud

Kid Cudi is keeping the peace with Drake. Amid his ongoing feud with Kanye West, Cudi has clarified that he has no beef with the Canadian rapper following a quote in his Esquire cover story where he addressed Drake’s reconciliation with Ye.

 

“With all due respect, I’m not Drake, who’s about to take a picture with him next week and be friends again, and their beef is squashed. That’s not me,” he told the magazine. “What I say, I mean. I will be done with you. It’s gonna take a motherfu**ing miracle for me and that man to be friends again. I don’t see it happening. He gon’ have to become a monk.”

 

But after the story was published, Cudi took to Twitter to clarify that his words were not intended as a shot at Drizzy.

 

“Just to be clear, I wasnt tryna throw a shot at Drake,” he tweeted. “I got love 4 him. My point I was tryna make is that im not so forgiving. Meaning he might be a lil nicer than me in that situation w dude. Thats all. Maybe that came off wrong thru my words. So yea, all good w Drake.”

Cudi and Drake have had their own beef in the past. In 2016, Cudi blasted Drake and Ye in a series of tweets.

 

“These ni**as dont give a f**k about me. And they aint fu**in with me,” he tweeted.

Drake fired back by taking subliminal shots at Cudi on his song “Two Birds, One Stone,” but years later, the two resolved their issues and collaborated on “IMY2” off Certified Lover Boy.

 

While Cudi and Drake were able to put their differences aside, Cudi says his friendship with Ye is beyond repair.

 

“I’m at a place in my life where I have zero tolerance for the wrong energies,” he told Esquire. “I’ve watched so many people throughout the years that are close to him be burned by him doing some fu**ed-up shit. And then they turn around and forgive him. And there’s no repercussions. You’re back cool with this man. He does it over and over.”



Deshaun Watson suspension increased to 11 games, receives largest player fine in NFL history in settlement

Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension and pay a $5 million fine for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy in what amounts to one of the most significant penalties in NFL history, sources have confirmed to Yahoo Sports.


The Cleveland Browns quarterback and the NFL have settled his disciplinary case prior to a final ruling by arbitrator Peter C. Harvey, following an agreement between the two sides on Thursday. The fine is the steepest ever levied against an NFL player.


In a statement through the Browns, Watson said "I apologize once again for any pain this situation has caused." Team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam also issued a statement.

Watson also spoke to the media Thursday at Browns camp, maintaining his innocence and explaining his apology.

“I’ve always been able to stand on my innocence, and always said I never assaulted or disrespected anyone,” Watson said, “but at the same point I have to continue to push forward with my life and career.

“(I apologized) for everybody that was affected by this situation. There were a lot of people that were triggered.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also issued a statement as part of the official announcement.

There was no immediate comment from the NFL Players Association.

The settlement also includes mandatory mental health counseling for Watson, and the Browns and the NFL will donate an additional $1 million each to sexual assault prevention programs.


The agreement features a sizable suspension increase over the six-game ban handed down by arbitrator Sue L. Robinson earlier this month after Watson was accused by two dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct, which included no financial penalty. The NFL appealed that ruling and had been seeking an indefinite one-year suspension from Harvey, a former New Jersey attorney general who was selected by the league to rule on the appeal.


While the final outcome for Watson appears costly, it will keep his current contract from tolling for one year. Had he been suspended for a calendar year, his fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million extension with the Browns wouldn’t have begun until 2023. That would have pushed his next free agency window out one year and effectively wiped off an entire season of his career. In theory, such a development could have cost Watson one season of his $46 million average salary. Now he’ll lose the 11-game prorated portion of his $1.035 million salary (which works out to $632,500), alongside the $5 million fine.

Harvey had been weighing appeal briefs filed by the league NFLPA since Aug. 5, but sources told Yahoo Sports that a settlement window remained open between the two parties. The effort at negotiations became more apparent on Aug. 12, when Watson delivered a publicly apology during an interview with the Browns’ in-house media prior to the team’s first preseason game.


“I want to say that I’m truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation,” Watson said in that interview. “The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward.”


Watson's first game back is set to be in Week 13 at his former team, the Houston Texans.

 

 

NBC News’ Richard Engel says his 6-year-old son, Henry, has died

NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel announced Thursday that his son Henry, 6, has died.

"Our beloved son Henry passed away. He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle. We always surrounded him with love and he returned it, and so much more. Mary and Richard," Engel wrote on Twitter.

 

The TODAY regular shared a link to a memorial page on the Texas Children's Hospital website, which offered more details on Henry's life and his battle with Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder without a treatment or cure.

 

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Rett syndrome can cause loss of use of the hands, problems with walking, seizures, slowed brain and head growth and intellectual disability.

Born on Sept. 29, 2015, Henry was slow to reach certain developmental milestones as an infant. After a series of medical exams and a genetic test, doctors discovered that he had a mutation in his MECP2 gene.

 

"MECP2 mutations cause Rett syndrome, a disorder that typically affects girls after their first birthday, robbing them of learned skills and leaving them with cognitive deficits, loss of speech, and a variety of motor difficulties," the Texas Children's Hospital page explains.

 

The Engel family brought Henry to the hospital's Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) in 2018 to seek additional answers. The Duncan NRI's Founding Director Dr. Huda Zoghbi studied Henry's mutation closely.

“Henry was special in so many ways. His loving and endearing smile, and the way he connected with his eyes, stole my heart from the time I met him. His quiet fight against this terrible disease was incredible," the doctor wrote in a tribute to her little patient.

 

According to Zoghbi, Henry left a lasting impression on the entire Duncan NRI team and their ongoing Rett research.

"We will continue to push as hard as possible to develop treatments. This is how we will honor his life,” the doctor continued.

Over the years, Engel has shared regular updates on his son's condition with the TODAY team and has been candid about the struggles and the joys of parenting a child with special needs.

In 2018, Engel wrote an essay for TODAY about the heartbreak and hope that come with caring for a child with Rett syndrome. While describing the challenges Henry was facing, the journalist emphasized how lucky he felt to have Henry in his life.

 

"None of this means we don’t enjoy our time with Henry. I can’t imagine a child who is showered with more love. We gather on our bed several times a day for what we call 'cuddle parties,' where we kiss him, rub him, praise him (he loves to hear his name and be praised) and curl his thick, gorgeous hair in our fingers," he wrote at the time.

 

In a 2019 essay about his family, the proud father gushed about an important milestone Henry had just met. At the time, he was 3 1/2 years old and hadn’t called Engel “Dada” yet. So when he heard that sweet word come out of his son's mouth, it was a moment Engel will never forget.

"To parents with typically developing children, a little Dada may not seem like a big deal. But for me it was a validation, an acknowledgement that he’s in there, knows me, knows that his mother and I are forces for good in his life, and above all, that he loves us," Engel wrote.

 

In March 2022, he shared a somber update on Henry's health and said his son had “taken a turn for the worse.”

“His condition progressed and he’s developed dystonia: uncontrolled shaking/ stiffness. He was in the hospital for 6 weeks, but is now home and getting love from brother Theo," he wrote on Twitter at the time.

 

On his tribute page, Henry is described as someone who "made the best of every single day and worked tirelessly in his many physical and developmental therapies."

"He continues to be an inspiration for Dr. Zoghbi and her team as they work to find effective treatments for Rett syndrome, and they already are making significant progress with Henry’s own cells," the post says.

 

 

Trump Executive Pleads Guilty In Tax Case, Agrees To Testify

NEW YORK (AP) — A top executive at former President Donald Trump’s family business pleaded guilty Thursday to evading taxes on a free apartment and other perks, striking a deal with prosecutors that could make him a star witness against the company at a trial this fall.

 

Allen Weisselberg, a senior Trump Organization adviser and formerly the company’s longtime chief financial officer, pleaded guilty to all 15 of the charges he faced in the case.

In a low, somewhat hoarse voice, Weisselberg admitted taking in over $1.7 million worth of untaxed extras — including school tuition for his grandchildren, free rent for a Manhattan apartment and lease payments for a luxury car — and explicitly keeping some of the plums off the books.

 

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan agreed to sentence the 75-year-old executive to five months in New York City’s Rikers Island jail complex, although he will be eligible for release after little more than three months if he behaves behind bars. The judge said Weisselberg will have to pay nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and complete five years of probation.

 

The plea bargain also requires Weisselberg to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness when the Trump Organization goes on trial in October on related charges. The company is accused of helping Weisselberg and other executives avoid income taxes by failing to report their full compensation accurately to the government. Trump himself is not charged in the case.

 

Weisselberg will remain free on bail until he is formally sentenced following the company’s trial. He said nothing as he left court, offering no reply when a journalist asked whether he had any message for Trump. If Weisselberg fails to comply with the plea terms, prosecutors said they would seek a “significant state prison sentence,” and Merchan warned that he could be subject to the maximum punishment for the top charge — grand larceny — of 15 years.

 

Weisselberg’s lawyer Nicholas Gravante Jr. said his client pleaded guilty “to put an end to this case and the years-long legal and personal nightmares it has caused for him and his family.”

 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Weisselberg’s plea “directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activity and requires Weisselberg to provide invaluable testimony in the upcoming trial against the corporation.”

 

“We look forward to proving our case in court against the Trump Organization,” he added.

 

Testimony by Weisselberg could weaken the company’s defense. If convicted, the company could face fines of double the amount of unpaid taxes or potentially be placed on probation and forced to change its business practices.

 

The company praised Weisselberg on Thursday as a trusted, honorable employee who it said has been “persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan district attorney, in their never-ending, politically motivated quest to get President Trump.”

In a statement, the company accused prosecutors of trying to pressure Weisselberg to cast aspersions on Trump, and of stretching to make a criminal case out of familiar executive perks such as a company car.

 

The company, which was not involved in Weisselberg’s guilty plea Thursday, said it has done nothing wrong, won’t plead guilty and looks forward “to having our day in court.”

 

Weisselberg, seen as one of Trump’s most loyal business associates, is the only person to face criminal charges so far in the Manhattan district attorney’s long-running investigation of the company. Weisselberg started working for the Trump Organization in 1973, when it was run by Trump’s father, Fred. Following his July 2021 arrest, the company changed his title from CFO to senior adviser. The CFO position remains vacant.

 

Weisselberg agreed to plead guilty days after a court hearing where Merchan denied his request to dismiss the charges. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the district attorney’s office was punishing Weisselberg because he wouldn’t offer information that would damage Trump.

 

The district attorney has also been investigating whether Trump or his company lied to banks or the government about the value of its properties to obtain loans or reduce tax bills.

 

Then-District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who started the investigation, directed his deputies last year to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment of Trump, according to former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who previously led the probe. But after Vance left office in January, his successor, Bragg, allowed the grand jury to disband without charges. Both prosecutors are Democrats. Bragg has said the investigation is continuing.

 

Prosecutors alleged that the company gave untaxed fringe benefits to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was accused of defrauding the federal government, state and city out of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and undeserved tax refunds.

 

Trump, a Republican, has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt” and has said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate business and in no way a crime.

 

Last week, Trump sat for a deposition in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ parallel civil investigation into allegations that Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about asset values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times.

 

James, whose probe uncovered the evidence that led to Weisselberg’s charges, said in a statement: “Let this guilty plea send a loud and clear message: we will crack down on anyone who steals from the public for personal gain because no one is above the law.”


 

T.I. Responds to The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart Saying Rapper Punched Him in the Face Over Kiss

The Chainsmokers and T.I. had quite the exchange recently, according to a TikTok video in which Drew Taggart recounted what happened during their recent performance together.

 

“T.I. literally punched in the face,” Drew Taggart said in a clip that shows the duo performing at a nightclub alongside T.I. and others. “We’re in a vibe and I, like, gave him a kiss on the cheek. It was totally my fault.” His bandmate Alex Pall can be heard laughing in the background as Taggart breaks down what happened.

 

“He was like, ‘Don’t do that.’ And I was like, ‘OK.’ He pushed me off and I was like, ‘Alright, my bad,’” he said, with Pall adding that a member of T.I.’s crew approached him and said “you need to get your boy.” Taggart said T.I. “punched” him in the face, and he told the rapper he was “sorry” for the incident. “He was like, ‘Alright cool, we’re good.’ It was the weirdest interaction ever,” he added.

 

“First of all, T.I.’s fully in the right here. I was feeling the vibes way too hard and I kissed T.I. on the cheek. And he punched me in the face for it! It’s like, fully fine,” Taggart concluded.

 

T.I. eventually responded to the clip, saying there’s “not much more to the story.”

The rapper added that after the incident he and The Chainsmokers had a drink and “moved on.” He also said he loves their music and invited them to join him on his platform expediTIously.

 

 

A$AP Rocky pleads not guilty to assault charges

Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm at a Los Angeles court Wednesday.

The charges are related to a shooting involving a former friend of the recording artist. The incident occurred in Hollywood last November.

 

Mayers, 33, was arrested in April and later released on bond. He remains free until the next court date on Nov. 2, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

 

District Attorney George Gascón announced the felony charges on Monday, saying Mayers is facing allegations of personally using a firearm during an altercation.

 

On Nov. 6, 2021, Mayers allegedly pointed a semiautomatic handgun at the victim. Later on during another confrontation with this person, Mayers allegedly drew the gun and fired twice in the direction of the victim, according to prosecutors.

 

The LAPD said the victim suffered a minor injury from the shooting.

An attorney for Mayers didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood," Gascón said in a statement Monday. "My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted."



#FASHIONFAB Hot or NOT? Rihanna In Y/Project’s Oversized Boots

This week, Rihanna reminded fans of her boundary-pushing style. The multi-talented star, who has only been spotted in public a handful of times since giving birth in May, stepped out in New York on Saturday wearing larger-than-life boots.

 

While her RZA tee, sunglasses and snakeskin-print bag already made for a casual but chic outfit, Rihanna took things to the next level with a pair of gigantic, slouchy boots that brushed the hem of her denim miniskirt.

 

The look suggests that the performer is still keeping a close eye on runway trends: Her outsized footwear appeared to be straight from French label Y/Project’s recent Spring-Summer 2023 collection, which saw a similar-looking pair of black denim boots styled in a head-to-toe denim look.

 

Rihanna is not the first celebrity to rock statement thigh-high boots this year (though hers arguably brought the most drama).

At the start of the month, singer Dua Lipa paired a menswear-inspired button-down minidress with a pair of pristine white Bottega Veneta boots.

 

The craftsmanship of the Italian label’s signature “intrecciato” leather-weave gave the boots a blockier look than figure-skimming styles of the past, though they were still understated by comparison.

 

This week, Kim Kardashian posted a moody Instagram video of herself in a dark gym wearing slouched thigh-high boots. The reality star completed her seemingly impractical workout look with a nude-tone bikini and white cap-sleeved top as she posed on various pieces of gym equipment.

 

 

Girl Scouts Introduces Their New Raspberry Rally Cookie

Girl Scout Cookie lovers are in for a treat with the upcoming release of their highly anticipated Raspberry Rally Cookie. The mouthwatering chocolate and berry treat is the “sister cookie” to the famous Thin Mints that have been a Girl Scout best seller for decades.

 

Instead of the minty filling, customers will bite into the chocolate-dipped cookie with a flavorful raspberry center. The latest dessert will be included in Girl Scout’s 2023 Cookie Season. They will be joined by Toffee-tastic, Caramel Chocolate Chip, Lemon-Ups, Girl Scout S’mores, and more.

 

The Raspberry Rally is unique because it is the first Girl Scout Cookie exclusively available online and by direct shipment.

 

Unfortunately, those looking to get their hands on a box of Raspberry Rally’s will have to wait a bit as Girl Scout season does not kick off until January and wraps up in April. All proceeds from cookie sales go directly towards Girl Scouts sponsorship programs. 

 

To ensure you do not miss out on the cookie sales in your area, sign up for the Girl Scout mailing list to be notified when a local troop sets up cookie booths in your area: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/cookie-flavors/raspberry-rally-cookies.html


 

LeBron James And The Lakers Agreed To A $97.1 Million Max Contract Extension

LeBron James isn’t going anywhere. According to reports by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic, James and the Los Angeles Lakers came to terms on a 2-year max contract extension that is slated to keep him in the purple and gold through potentially the 2024-25 campaign.

 

The pair report that James will get a deal worth $97.1 million, while Wojnarowski brings word that the second year of James’ deal includes a player option. James was previously slated to enter this year with one year left on his deal before he had the opportunity to hit unrestricted free agency.

 

Wojnarowski added another fun wrinkle: James has the potential to make more money on this deal. If the NBA’s salary cap substantially increases in the lead-up to the 2023-23 campaign, James’ deal apparently increases to $111 million.

 

Despite the fact that the Lakers missed out on the postseason this past year, James was still ultra productive, even without mentioning that he turned 37 last year. James averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 37.2 minutes per game, but only appeared in 56 games due to a short bout with COVID and injuries. There are still plenty of questions about what Los Angeles will look like next year, but at the very least, they’ll know they are going into battle with one of the greatest players of all time on their roster.

 

 

‘Love Is Blind’ couple Iyanna McNeely and Jarrette Jones are divorcing

 “Love Is Blind” couple Iyanna McNeely and Jarrette Jones are going their separate ways.

On Wednesday, the pair, who tied the knot on the season two finale of the Netflix reality dating series earlier this year, announced they were divorcing in a joint statement on social media.

 

“While we have love for each other, our lives are going in different directions, and that’s okay. Coming to this decision was far from easy and we will always wish each other the absolute best,” the statement read.

 

The couple went on to ask for “space” as the “close this chapter” of their lives, and also thanked ‘Love Is Blind” and its viewers for “this unforgettable opportunity and support.”

“Each of you have brought overwhelming love and joy into our lives. This experience has taught us so much about ourselves, vulnerability and more. We don’t regret a single thing,” they added in the statements, posted to both of their accounts.

 

McNeely and Jones’ love story unfolded over the second season of the series, now renewed through Season five.

 

However, their union was thwarted when Jones briefly developed stronger feelings for another contestant, Mallory Zapata. After Zapata declined the idea his proposal, Jones re-focused on McNeely, who accepted him despite having reservations.

 

During a cast reunion that aired in March, McNeely acknowledged the couple’s rocky start, revealing that she was uncomfortable watching Jones speak to Zapata during the pair’s honeymoon.

 

“That part was actually hurtful. Everything pre-proposal, I completely understand, but everything after...that was extremely difficult for me to watch,” she said.

 

Jones apologized for speaking with Zapata, agreeing, “That conversation should have never happened.”

 

 

Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ Apparently Vibed Too Hard For Some Laptops

While it’s normal for friends to judge our music tastes and take away your aux privileges, our devices usually won’t complain about our listening habits (even if we ask them to repeatedly play a song that most humans would find insufferable). However, according to a story shared by Microsoft principal software engineer Raymond Chen on his blog The Old New Thing, some Windows XP-era laptops did end up taking exception to the music video for Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” because it contained a sound that crashed their hard drives.

 

According to Chen, an unnamed “major computer manufacturer” discovered that some of their computers were crashing when trying to play the song and that playing the song on one laptop could even crash another computer nearby that was just minding its own business. The manufacturer also discovered that the issue cropped up on other companies’ laptops as well.

 

Chen says the company eventually discovered that the song had a sound in it that resonated with a specific model of laptop hard drive. In other words, it was like a less destructive version of when someone plays a specific sound to shatter a wine glass — the sound waves the computer’s speakers made while playing the song would make its hard drive vibrate, crashing the computer. According to the story, the manufacturer figured out a simple, if inelegant, fix for the issue: making it so their computers simply wouldn’t play that specific frequency.

 

The story is, unfortunately, relatively light on specifics. Chen doesn’t say which laptops or hard drives were affected, and there isn’t any video of a laptop actually crashing while playing the song. Still, it’s a fun anecdote about the exceedingly strange things that physics can do to our computers and the process of nailing down what seems to be a completely random bug.

 

While I can imagine that troubleshooting this issue must’ve been some special sort of nightmare, it’s no secret that hard drives are extraordinarily susceptible to vibrations of all types. Chen links to a video from 2008 that shows data center engineers disrupting hard drives by screaming at them, and in 2017, security researcher Alfredo Ortega demonstrated a program that purposefully crashes hard drives by playing a sound at their resonant frequency. The program even warns that it could physically damage the drive — resonance frequencies can actually be extremely destructive in the wrong circumstances. They’ve helped lead to suspension bridges collapsing, and the Stuxnet virus reportedly tried to take advantage of them to destroy centrifuges.

 

Ortega and other security researchers have also demonstrated how hard drives can be used as rudimentary microphones to spy on people’s conversations, thanks to the fact that they react to sounds. One of the examples included in a talk demonstrating the effect involved playing an Iron Maiden song at a hard drive and seeing if Shazam could identify it. The experiment apparently worked, though the presenter doesn’t mention whether it crashed the drive.

 

PS: unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Paweł Zadrożniak, the person who creates music using old computer parts, including hard drives, has covered “Rhythm Nation.” But Zadrożniak definitely should now because the irony would be delightful.

 

 

Virginia post office closes its doors after concerns of "Whites" and "Colored" signage

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has closed a small office in Virginia following concerns of the location being housed inside of a historic train depot museum that once served as a segregated institute, NPR reports.

 

The museum, which is located near Former President James Madison’s Montpelier estate, still includes signage above its outside doors that are labeled “White” and “Colored.” According to a Postal Service spokesman, the agency closed the Montpelier Station office during the first week of June because of its ties to the formerly racially segregated establishment.

 

“Service at Montpelier Station was suspended after it was determined the display at the site was unacceptable to the Postal Service,” said USPS spokesman Philip Bogenberger in an official statement. Per the organization, the “Postal Service management considered that some customers may associate the racially-based, segregated entrances with the current operations of the Post Office and thereby draw negative associations between those operation and the painful legacy of discrimination and segregation.”

 

The office, which was located in the region of the state where the nation’s fourth president and his wife once lived on a plantation, operated four hours daily with one employee and served roughly 100 people before closing in June.

 

While the decision to close the edifice was due to concerns about the signage, some people have voiced opposition to shutting the doors to the postal office, noting that the museum will remain open to the public. “Montpelier owns the Train Depot building and the exhibition will remain open,” said Christy Moriarty, The Montpelier Foundation communications director. “We call upon the USPS to reverse the decision and reopen this historic facility that has served this community for over a century.”

 

In a letter to the agency’s Virginia district manager, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger raised concerns about the closure. She currently serves the Montpellier region of the state.

 

 

We now know when "Abbott Elementary" Season 2 is officially returning

Class is almost back in session. Today (Aug. 17), “Abbott Elementary” officially announced the series will be returning next month on Sept. 21. The news was revealed with a promotional photo featuring a tagline that reads, “Picking up where they dropped off.” In addition to being given an early season two renewal back in March thanks to its undeniable success, the breakout show has officially been crowned as ABC’s new flagship comedy series. The network has given “Abbott Elementary” the Wednesday 9 p.m. tentpole time slot, which was previously held by “Modern Family.”

 

The cast also recently stopped by “Good Morning America” to speak about the brilliance of the show. “Tyler [James Williams] and I had a moment, you know, we’ve done so many shows. It might have been the third or fourth day of shooting the pilot and we both looked at each other like, ‘Whoa,'” said Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays the role of the wise Mrs. Howard. “Something is really happening here. I mean, it was visceral. We could feel like someone was stirring a pot of magic. We all just came right together and I really think that has a lot to do with Quinta. Quinta really hand-picked each one of us and put this cast together.”

 

Back in July, creator Quinta Brunson became the youngest Black woman to be nominated for and Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Other nominations include Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

 

“What an honor to be nominated by the Television Academy,” Brunson said in a statement at the time. “Creating this show has been the greatest gift and to have it recognized in this way is the dream … most importantly, I want to thank teachers. Thanks for being our inspiration.”

 

According to AP, “Abbott Elementary” became ABC’s first comedy to quadruple its ratings since its premiere. The show follows a quirky elementary school staff struggling to make ends meet at an underfunded Philadelphia school.

 

 

Lisa Kudrow Says "Friends" Creators "Had No Business" Writing About People Of Color

As previously reported, Marta Kauffman, one of the co-creators of the hit TV show “Friends,” recently spoke out about the sitcom’s lack of diversity. The popular series chronicled the life of six white cast members living in New York. “I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better 25 years ago,” Kauffman said in June. She added that moving forward, she would be conscious of hiring “young writers of color.”

 

Lisa Kudrow starred as Phoebe Buffay in the cult classic that debuted on NBC in 1994. In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Kudrow reflected on the lack of diversity seen on “Friends” and discussed what a revival would require. “If there would ever be anything like [a revival], if [creators] Marta [Kauffman] and David [Crane] ever signed off on anything like that, it would have to be a different cast at that age. I think it would need to be more current — and more diverse representation is not a bad idea, you know?” she said.

 

Kudrow explained that although the show could have certainly cast people from different backgrounds, at the time, the writers wrote about what they knew. “It was a show created by two people who went to Brandeis and wrote about their lives after college. And for shows especially, when it’s going to be a comedy that’s character-driven, you write what you know,” Kudrow shared. The actress continued, “They have no business writing stories about the experiences of being a person of color.”

 

“I think at that time, the big problem that I was seeing was, ‘Where’s the apprenticeship?'” she added. Kauffman didn’t just talk about feeling regret for her past decisions, she also pledged money to her alma mater. The co-creator donated $4 million to Brandeis University for their African and African American studies department.

 

 

'Real Housewives of Dubai' Star Chanel Ayan Opens Up About Surviving Forced Genital Mutilation at Age 5

Chanel Ayan is opening up about her childhood abuse. During the latest episode of Real Housewives of Dubai on Wednesday (August 17), Chanel shared in a hypnotherapy session that she and her older sister were victims of forced genital mutilation as young children, and their family had no idea it happened.

 

“At 5-years-old, my aunt and my grandma came to pick us up to take us to another town,” Chanel shared during the episode. “And then the next morning at 6 a.m., I didn’t know where I was going whatsoever and then they took us to this man’s house and they just tied us on the bed and we were circumcised.”

 

Throughout the first season, Chanel has opened up about her traumatic upbringing, including that her father used to beat her.

“The crying, the sadness, the beatings,” Chanel said through tears while talking about her childhood. “That’s what I remember. A lot of pain.”

 

While speaking with the therapist, Chanel went into further detail about her physical and emotional abuse.

 

“We were tied in the legs,” Chanel shared. “Couldn’t pee. Couldn’t move. When we needed to pee, they would carry us and put us on the grass. I just didn’t understand what the hell was going on whatsoever and my mom didn’t know that that was happening to us.”

 

After meeting now-husband Christopher, Chanel – who was a virgin at the time – recalled going to a doctor to get her circumcision medically fixed so that she could be intimate with her husband.

“I couldn’t have sex,” Chanel explained. “And then I had to wait until I healed.”

Despite her horrific childhood, Chanel has tried her hardest to find the silver linings in her trauma.

 

“I’ve tried to understand,” Chanel said in her confessional. “The reason that I’m talking about it is to bring awareness to it and I want people to understand this happens every single day, and if that’s my mission, maybe that’s what I should be doing.”

 

New episodes of Real Housewives of Dubai air on Wednesdays at 9pm ET on Bravo.



ESPN College Basketball Analyst Dick Vitale Announces He Is Cancer-Free

Awesome, baby! ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, whose enthusiastic game calls have been a staple of the sport for decades, announced today that he is cancer-free.

Vitale had lengthy battles with lymphoma and melanoma, forcing him off television and causing him to lose his voice at one point.

 

“Dr Rick Brown just notified me with my results of my major Pet Scan & told me news I wish EVERY cancer patient can hear,” Vitale posted Wednesday on his verified Twitter account. “He said ‘Dick u have gone from being in remission to being CANCER FREE’ ! Thank u to ALL of YOU that have sent me (prayers).”

 

The 83-year-old Vitale has been up and down in his cancer battle. After announcing in August 2021 that he had beaten melanoma, he then contracted lymphoma, a condition unrelated to his previous bout.

 

Last December, Vitale decided to step away from ESPN to undergo treatment. He also had vocal cord surgery and temporarily lost his voice.

 

Vitale has been active in fundraising efforts against cancer, raising more than $50 million for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the foundation of his former Rutgers colleague and longtime friend Jim Valvano.

 

ESPN+ released a documentary on VItale, Dickie V, last month. Vitale has maintained an exhaustive schedule of game announcing, fundraising and speaking engagements. There has been no word on whether he plans to cut back even slightly.

 

 

Anne Heche's cause of death revealed: 'Inhalation and thermal injuries'

Anne Heche died of inhalation and thermal injuries, according to Los Angeles County's department of the medical examiner-coroner. Her death was ruled an accident.

 

The official report lists sternal fracture due to blunt trauma as another "significant condition." Her date of death is listed as Aug. 11, one day before a rep explained that she'd been declared "brain dead" and six days after the Six Days Seven Nights actress crashed her car into a house in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles. Blood test showed that she had narcotics in her system. She was 53.

 

The cause of death surfaced just as a neighbor's 911 call was released. In the call, people can be heard shouting in the background, as Heche's blue Mini Cooper Heche erupted in flames.

 

"Somebody is opening the back to see if we can access," the caller said, "because they're kinda trapped ... inside the car."

Then someone spotted the flames and yelled, "fire!" Paramedics were able to remove Heche from the wreckage, but not before she was severely burned.

 

The Emmy-winning actress, whose credits also include the movies Donnie Brasco and Wag the Dog, the TV shows All Rise and Hung, and the play Twentieth Century, for which she received a Tony nomination, lapsed into a coma shortly after she was pulled from the wreck. She remained on life support until her death.

 

Her survivors include two sons, 20-year-old Homer Laffoon, whose father is Heche's ex-husband Coleman "Coley" Laffoon, and Atlas, 13, whose father is Heche's Men in Trees co-star James Tupper.

 

 

Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling Honor 'Prolific' Beverly Hills, 90210 Costar Denise Dowse After Her Death

Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling are paying tribute to their late Beverly Hills, 90210 costar, Denise Dowse.

On their 90210MG podcast Tuesday, the actresses said they were "so shocked" to hear the news that Dowse had died at age 64 following a battle with "a virulent form of meningitis."

 

Prior to her death, Dowse portrayed vice principal Mrs. Yvonne Teasley on 90210, alongside Garth and Spelling, who played main characters Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin, respectively.

 

"This came out of nowhere. It's unbelievable to me and I can't imagine how devastated her family is, her sister, everyone who knew her. It's just shocking news," Garth, 50, said. "These kind of deaths are the hardest, I think."

Spelling, 49, added that Dowse "was so loved [by] everyone, everywhere."

Garth echoed this sentiment, noting how Dowse had "so many fans from so many different shows."

 

"She was in her prime, and it's so hard," Spelling said.

They went on to talk about working with Dowse on 90210, as Garth recalled, "There was just something about Denise that was so easy. She was like your oldest friend … it was so natural being around her and working with her."

"She was so easy to work with and so encouraging. She always gave the best hugs on set," Spelling added.

 

Garth reiterated that Dowse was "such a warm, kind woman [and] a really respected and prolific actress."

During their podcast episode, the actresses also reacted to 90210 costar Ian Ziering's Instagram tribute to Dowse.

 

Ziering, 54, played Steve Sanders on the show — a character Garth said "worked with [Dowse] probably the most because Steve was always getting into trouble at school."

"I thought what Ian wrote was really beautiful ... because he had so many sassy scenes with her because she really had to hand it to him a lot," Spelling noted.

In his post, Ziering called Dowse's death "so heartbreaking."

 

"Throughout all my years working on Beverly Hills 90210, my scenes with Denise will always be remembered with the utmost in respect for her talent, and fondness for the loving soul she was," he wrote. "Some of my heartiest off camera laughs were between she and I hammering out the the discipline her Mrs. Teasley would dish out to my Steve Sanders. My sincere condolences to her family, and all others who she was dear to. God bless you Denise, pay forward that Legacy Key A."

 

Thinking about Dowse's passing with respect to the iconic 90's teen drama, Spelling added: "You are frozen in time with her from 30 years ago."

On Aug. 7, Dowse's sister Tracey shared an update on Instagram that the 90210 alum had been hospitalized and was in a coma due to "a virulent form of meningitis." In the days that followed, fans and friends alike expressed their support for Dowse on social media.

 

By Aug. 13, Tracey had announced that her sister had sadly died. In the Instagram announcement, Tracey called the 90210 alum "the most amazing sister, a consummate, illustrious actress, mentor and director. She was my very best friend and final family member."

 

Tracey continued, "Denise loved all of you. I know that she is watching over us with all the love she has."

Aside from her role on Beverly Hills, 90210, Denise also played Dr. Rhonda Pine on HBO's Insecure and Judge Rebecca Damnsen on the CBS drama The Guardian from 2001-2004.

 

In addition to her extensive TV credits, Denise also has starred in a number of films, including the 2004 musical drama Ray, the 1998 teen dramedy Pleasantville, and 2000's Requiem for a Dream, where she played the mother of Marlon Waynes' character, Tyrone.

 

Denise also directed the upcoming historical biopic Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, which stars Keith David, Corbin Bleu, Vanessa Williams and Columbus Short.

 

 

Pastor Apologizes for Calling Congregation ‘Broke’ and ‘Disgusting’ After Not Getting Him New Watch

The Lord works in mysterious ways, including, apparently, calling people “broke” for not chipping in to help a pastor procure a new watch.

 

To be fair, the pastor in question—Carlton Funderburke—has now issued an apology video after a clip of the “broke” moment went viral.

 

“Though there is context behind the content of the clip, no context would suffice to explain the hurt and anguish caused by my words,” Funderburke, who serves as Senior Pastor of Church at the Well in Kansas City, said in a video shared Tuesday. “I have spoken to those I am accountable to and have received their correction and instruction. I have also privately apologized to our church who has extended their love and support to me.”

 

As seen on social media in recent days, Funderburke was previously filmed speaking to his congregation about “poor, broke, busted, and disgusting” individuals who were worthy of those descriptors due to, in his words, “how you been honoring me.” Mentioned in the same sermon was a Movado watch, which Funderburke said he had asked for one year prior yet still hadn’t received. Funderburke also made mention of “cheap sons and daughters” of the church.

 

Southern Baptist Convention Leaders ‘Ignored’ Reports of Abuse as Part of Alleged Cover-Up, Investigation Finds

Addressing the viral clip in his subsequent apology video, Funderburke said it “does not reflect my heart or my sentiments toward God’s people.” However, he admitted, this was “not discernible” in the clip itself.

 

The Cast of Money Heist Korea Break Down Their Favorite Snacks | Snacked

“Therefore I offer this sincere apology to you today,” he added. “No context could erase the words I used. I apologize to all who have been hurt, angered, or in any way damaged by my words.” All told, Funderburke conceded, there is “no justification or defense” for his words.

 

“I deeply regret this moment,” he said toward the end of the apology video, which can be seen in full here.

 

 

Hit-And-Run That Killed Three Outside Of Chicago Gay Bar Appears To Have Been An ‘Intentional’ Incident, Police Say

New details have emerged in the horrific high-speed hit-and-run that killed three men outside of a gay bar in Chicago on Sunday. As previously reported, four people were struck by an oncoming vehicle that was racing down 7700 South Jeffery at 5 AM in the morning during what police say was an argument that had erupted on the street. Of the four people that were hit, three of the victims died while the fourth was taken to the hospital for serious injuries.

 

Chicago Police Department chief Brenden Deenihan, via ABC News, revealed in an update that law enforcement officers were not investigating the attack as a hate crime, indicating that the person who recklessly plowed through a group of people on Sunday may have been part of the quarrel before they jumped into their car and committed the despicable crime. “We don’t have any evidence to support that someone was trying to harm these individuals because of their race, religion, etcetera,” Deenihan explained.

 

He further touched on what cops think happened in the lead-up to the fatal incident. The quarrel between several guys began inside Jeffery Pub and continued when the establishment had closed. As seen in the videos that have surfaced on social media, the group of men are then said to have taken the argument on the road, which is when a car drove right at them and instantly killed three people in the process. The victims have since been identified as 25-year-old Donald Huey, 23-year-old Jaylen Ausley, and 27-year-old Devonta Vivetter.

 

Ausley’s cousin, Curtis Henderson, has since spoken out about the tragedy, saying “it hurts, it hurts a lot.” Ausley had recently graduated from the University of Michigan with his whole life ahead of him, with his cousin stressing that they doubt he was involved in the argument because he’s always been the person to try and diffuse any quarrels.

 

“If any involvement I know that Jaylen was there, diffusing the situation. That’s his personality. He’s never been in any trouble. He’s never gotten into anything. He’s been on the straight and narrow his entire life,” Henderson shared.

 

Police have reportedly found the vehicle they believe was used in the hit-and-run, though the suspect is still on the loose as CCTV cameras from the scene are being carefully screened to find clues of the person’s identity.

 

“Because we don’t have a suspect in custody and we don’t have any information that somebody stated that. So active ongoing investigation and that can change once we get more witnesses and a suspect in. Everything can change based upon those statements,” Deenihan added.

 

 

Drake Beats The Beatles’ 55-Year Record On Most Top Five Hits

Drake is celebrating breaking The Beatles‘ long-standing Billboard Hot 100 record.

The mega star and hitmaker’s new “Staying Alive” collaboration with DJ Khaled and Lil Baby debuted at #5 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100.  That gave Drake his 30th top five single on the chart, which surpasses The Beatles’ record of 29. 

 

The popular 1960’s boy band held their record for 55-years. Drake now  truly raps what he lives “I got more slaps than the Beatles,” from “Going Bad.”

 

 

The NBA Won’t Hold Games on Election Day, Encouraging Fans to Vote

*The National Basketball Association aims to encourage Americans to get out and vote on Election Day for the 2022 midterms so the league will not hold any games on November 8.

“The scheduling decision came out of the NBA family’s focus on promoting nonpartisan civic engagement and encouraging fans to make a plan to vote during midterm elections,” the league said in a tweet.

 

One Twitter user commented under the post, “Good. They can sit at home and watch as repubs start to take everything back over.”

 

Another said, “I could see Republicans hating this- they assume the NBA is woke & will only be encouraging fans to vote Blue, even though they clearly state this is a bipartisan just go out and vote message. But encouraging more black people to vote is something Republicans hate in principle.”

 

The league’s 30 teams will play in games the Monday before Election Day to promote civic engagement and encourage fans and staff to vote, NBC News reports.

 

“It’s unusual. We don’t usually change the schedule for an external event,” James Cadogan, the executive director of the NBA’s social justice coalition, told NBC, which first reported the league’s Election Day schedule plan. “But voting and Election Day are obviously unique and incredibly important to our democracy.”

 

All 435 U.S. House seats and numerous U.S. Senate and governorships will be up for grabs in the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3.

 

 

Couple Arrested After Being Caught Having Sex on Amusement Park Ride

A 32-year-old woman and man were arrested for indecent exposure Sunday after being caught by multiple witnesses, including minors, having sex on the Ferris Wheel at Ohio’s Cedar Point.

Four witnesses in total caught the couple in the act and tried alerting staff but ended up telling security officers. At first, the woman denied sexual intercourse and said that she had shorts under her dress and dropped a pack of cigarettes, then bent over, which her friend helped her get up.

 

Then once FOX 8’s Ed and Peggy Gallek spoke with the couple and said that multiple witnesses saw them, they fessed up to sexual intercourse on the Giant Wheel ride at the amusement park.

 

One witness said to officers, “We got on, and it was going well until we stopped at the top. My friend saw the couple in front of us having sexual intercourse and pointed it out to the rest of us.”

 

It was two adults and two juvenile females that spotted the hook-up.

 

Once they pointed to the couple engaged in the inappropriate public act, the couple started laughing and proceeded.

“I was able to have a perfect view of their cart. They were going back and forth and laughing at us being visibly upset.”

 

The one juvenile witness says she was very shaken up about what she witnessed. Cedar Point has contacted the two juvenile females’ parents.

Since two witnesses were juveniles, the charge has been moved to a misdemeanor of the first degree. They were released on personal bonds but will be due back in court soon.

 

 

Wendy’s Worker Faces Second-Degree Murder Charges After Fatally Punching Elderly Customer

A Wendy’s employee in Arizona has been arrested for fatally punching an elderly man in the head.

Wendy’s worker Antoine Kendrick is looking at second-degree murder charges after he punched a 67-year-old man in the head on July 26. The incident took place at a Wendy’s location in Prescott Valley around 4:45 p.m. when the man came into the establishment.


Video footage captured the older man going back to the counter to complain about the food he’d received. At some point, Kendrick then walked from behind the register and punched the older customer. The man immediately fell to the floor.


“A customer complained about his food order, at which time, the employee, Antoine Kendrick, came out from behind the service counter and struck the customer in the head,” reads a police statement, according to AZ Central.


After collapsing, the man lost consciousness, Fox News reports. He was then airlifted to a local hospital, where he remained in critical condition for ten days. The news outlet reports that he was pronounced dead on Aug. 5.


Kendrick is still in custody after being arrested on aggravated assault charges.



AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

Courtesy of P.O.Wm

‘New Style’

The giraffe style?



EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Roberto

Meet Roberto! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!


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HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!

EFREM

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