#FASHIONFAB: Kim Jones Christian Dior 75th Anniversary Love Letter Mens Campaign Winter 2022
Kim Jones, Artistic Director Dior Mens, constantly draws us into the minds and manners of artists and writers, with his major shows and capsule collaborations.
Dior released the postponed Cactus Jack Dior capsule with Travis Scott last month. The event was important as a symbol of just how far Dior has evolved to not only collaborate with a damaged music rebel, but to stand beside him as Scott navigates choppy legal waters.
HighSnobiety reports that Ben Affleck was spotted this weekend wearing the limited edition, hand-numbered Cactus Jack shoes that retail for a whopping $1,450. . . . from the rager out west, aka Travis Scott.
At his early-fall 2022 show in London last December 2021, Kim Jones paid homage to Jack Kerouac and the Beat generation.
On the runway was an 80-meter-long facsimile of ‘On the Road’, originally typed in a continuous stream-of-consciousness scroll by Kerouac. “When you’re a late teen, you get interested,” said Jones. “It’s a rite-of-passage book.”
‘On the Road’ was published in 1957, the year Christian Dior died. Yves Saint Laurent arrived with his ‘Beat collection,’ the “first haute couture show to dare to signal the rise of rebellious youth culture” wrote Vogue.
The house of Dior was properly horrified, wrote the New York Times in 2017, about the Chicago crocodile-embossed leather jacket from the Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior fall/winter 1960 haute couture collection.
Citing the infamous jacket as the first of 10 career-defining designs by Saint Laurent, the Times noted that the house of Dior refused to contest Saint Laurent’s call to compulsory army service later that year. And so the ‘Beats’ and subversive youth culture were formally banished from the Christian Dior brand for decades.
Kim Jones, however, saw all these diverse synchronicities melding together [excepting Travis Scott’s November 2021 Astroworld disaster] as he prepared last January’s late fall-winter 2022 Dior Men’s collection.
Honoring a critically-important 75th anniversary, Jones had only one creative on his mind: Christian Dior.
Vogue said it felt as if Kim Jones had collaborated directly with the ghost of Christian Dior himself. There is so much beauty here, I could hardly bear watching the film. The clothes are just glorious — and feel very modern. Women with hips will be jealous, because there’s no doubt that women will be snatching these outfits right and left.
For starters, Jones erected a life-size copy of Pont Alexandre III in a tent on Place de la Concorde, just a stone’s throw from the real one.
Wallpaper Magazine was blown away as well with the aesthetics of the show and shared a history lesson for readers:
The bridge, which was built in celebration of the 1900 Exposition Universelle (or Paris Exposition), and is a Seine-crossing stalwart of the city’s skyline, connects the Grand Palais on the Left Bank and the Petit Palais on the Right Bank. Named after Tsar Alexander III, it was designed by the architects Joseph Cassien-Bernard and Gaston Cousin in the Art Nouveau style, and features four 17m-high pylons. Gilt bronze sculptures of winged horses flank each pylon, representing Arts, Sciences, Commerce and Industry. The centre of the arched bridge also features hammered copper nymphs, which were created to memorialise the historic Franco-Russian Alliance. These elements were recreated in gilded glamour on the Dior runway.
The landscape in menswear is so exciting that there’s no interest on our part in critics commenting on what guys will wear and what they won’t. Observing and learning is a far more valuable use of time.
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“I really love the colors of this campaign, a perfect reflection of the spirit of Paris and the love of fashion. It’s a masculine and luxurious collection, like an echo to Christian Dior.” Jones said about the winter 2022/3 Dior Men’s campaign images.
#RHOA: Sanya Richards-Ross' Husband Criticized By Fans For Way He Spoke To Kenya Moore
The Real Housewives of Atlanta fans are upset at Sanya Richards Ross’ husband for the way he spoke to Kenya Moore.
When the cast of went to Jamaica, they got more than just fun in the sun and beef patties. There were heated arguments and a lot of confrontations among the ladies. During an exchange between Sanya Richards Ross and Kenya Moore, the Olympic champion’s husband Aaron Ross interjected. But fans don’t appreciate the manner in which he spoke to Moore.
Ross curses at Kenya Moore
Moore expressed her disappointment with Richards Ross when she felt the track star didn’t check in with her and Sheree Whitfield when they missed an excursion. The former NFL star didn’t like the drama.
“I don’t rock like that. Don’t fuck with my wife,” he told Moore.
She felt Ross was aggressive in his tone.
Fans are upset with him for yelling
Fans say Aaron overstepped his boundaries. “Aaron Ross sit down and stay out women’s fights.. I hate when men get involved in women’s arguments. Your woman can handle herself,” one wrote.
Another chimed in: “Ross needs to back down. No woman needs a man’s help to have a disagreement with another woman. No one got in Sanya’s face or threw anything.”
#NewMusicVideo from Chris Brown – Call Me Every Day (featuring WizKid)
R&B superstar Chris Brown has just unveiled the visual for his latest single “Call Me Every Day” featuring rapper WizKid.
The video was directed by child. and highlights the aspects of what makes Breezy a triple threat – his epic dance moves and smooth vocals.
WATCH
The song was originally included on the deluxe version of Brown’s latest album “Breezy” which released last month.
#HipHopNews: Offset Sues Quality Control Over Solo Career
Offset is taking Quality Control to court over his solo career. Amid Migos breakup rumors, the rapper is suing his longtime label. In documents, filed Tuesday and obtained by TMZ, he accused Quality Control Records of ignoring a deal they negotiated back in January 2021.
Offset says he “paid handsomely” for his solo artist rights, but QC is not honoring the deal and is trying to incorrectly claim his new music, including his Baby Keem-produced single “54321,” an action he calls “hostile.”
Offset is moving forward with plans to release his sophomore solo album, the follow-up to his 2019 debut Father of 4. On Friday, he is set to drop his new song “Code” featuring Moneybagg Yo via Motown Records, the label he signed with for his solo career.
He remains signed to Quality Control as a member of Migos, but he wants the court to declare that QC does not own anything he’s made since January 15, 2021.
Meanwhile, the future of Migos remains unclear. Back in May, the “Bad and Boujee” trio fueled breakup rumors after they unfollowed each other on Instagram and later pulled out of their performance at the Governors Ball, citing a scheduling conflict.
The group has evaded breakup rumors while pursuing their solo careers. Quavo and Takeoff have been releasing their own music as the duo Unc & Phew, including the songs “Hotel Lobby” and “Us Vs. Them” featuring Gucci Mane.
Kobe Bryant – Jury Awards Plaintiffs $31 Million in Lawsuit Over Crash Photos, Vanessa Awarded $16 Million
A jury ordered Los Angeles County to pay Vanessa Bryant, widow of Lakers star Kobe Bryant, and another man $31 million in damages for the graphic photos sheriff’s deputies and firefighters took of the 2020 helicopter crash scene that killed Bryant, his daughter, and seven others. In reaching the verdict after only a few hours of deliberations, jurors made it clear they had been persuaded by attorneys for Bryant and Chris Chester, who argued that illicit photos of the crash victims’ bodies had violated their clients’ right to privacy and inflicted emotional distress.
Chester lost his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Payton, in the crash. Vanessa was reportedly awarded $16 million in damages and Chris Chester awarded $15 million.
What are your thoughts on Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly sharing the photos of Kobe Bryant and his daughter’s lifeless body for their personal use?
Nick Cannon Is Expecting His 10th Child
Nick Cannon is about to be in the double digits when it comes to kids as he has just revealed that he is expecting his 10th child. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Nick announced that his partner Brittany Bell is pregnant with their third child, a baby boy.
He shared footage from their elaborate maternity shoot. Nick kisses a topless Brittany while holding her baby bump and they pose for a family photo with their two other kids—son Golden, 5, and 20-month-old daughter Powerful. Brittany is reportedly in her third trimester.
“Time Stopped and This Happened… @missbbell,” Nick wrote alongside the hashtags #Sunshine and #SonRISE.
The announcement comes just weeks after Abby De La Rosa revealed that she was pregnant with Nick’s ninth child, who is due in October. Additionally, he and Abby share 14-month-old twins, Zion and Zillion.
In June, Nick welcomed baby No. 8, a boy named Legendary, with model Bre Tiesi.
The “Masked Singer” host also has twins, Moroccan and Monroe, 11, with ex-wife Mariah Carey. In December, he mourned the loss of his 5-month-old son with Alyssa Scott, Zen, who died from brain cancer.
The baby news shouldn’t come as a surprise. Nick recently hinted that he was adding more family members during an interview with Angela Yee’s “Lip Service” podcast.
“The stork is on the way,” he said. “If you thought the numbers I put up in 2021… It was a lot of kids last year.”
Snoop Dogg Launches Animated Children’s Series, ‘Doggyland’
Snoop Dogg looks to impart wisdom to the youth with the launch of his own animated children’s show, Doggyland.
The program features a cast of animated dogs teaching educational, social and emotional skills through song and dance. Officially titled Doggyland – Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes, the show recently released its first four episodes, which are available to watch on YouTube and YouTube Kids. New episodes of the show, will officially premiere on Tuesdays.
Snoop shared his inspiration for creating the show, which he worked on alongside Hip Hop Harry creator Claude Brooks and singer-songwriter October London. “As a father, grandfather and longtime youth football coach, it’s always been important to me to build positive and educational environments for all children,” the rapper said in a statement. “We wanted to bring our show to YouTube and YouTube Kids which provides free access to everyone, so all the kids can enjoy it.”
The 50-year-old multi-hyphenate added, “I’ve always wanted to create a kid-friendly series that lets kids be kids and is truly representative of the culture with everything from the music to the characters,” he added. “When I started to build my team, it was only right to partner with Claude, who created the iconic series, ‘Hip Hop Harry,’ which built the blueprint to diverse kids programming, and October London, a talented singer, and writer.”
Doggyland – Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes is just the latest endeavor in which Snoop is focusing on servicing the youth. The rap legend recently unveiled his own cereal brand, Snoop Loopz, in partnership with Master P, who shared the product’s packaging in various posts on social media. “MORE Corn, MORE Flavor & MORE Marshmallows that’s what separates us from the Rest,” he tweeted. “If you like Fruit Loops then you will LOVE SnoopLoopz!! SNOOPLOOPZ.COM.”
Snoop Loopz is the latest addition to Broadus Foods’ product line, which also includes oatmeal, grits, pancake mix, and syrup.
Big Freedia Wants You To 'Release Your Stress' With New Cannabis Brand
Big Freedia has successfully made the world high from her music, including Queen Bey’s hit ‘Break My Soul’. Now, she’s making it easier to get high in…other ways.
In a news release shared with Essence, the famed bounce artist recently announced the launch of Royal Bud, a premium cannabis line with products strains that include Release Ya Wiggle (Hybrid), You Already Know (Indica) and Mardi Grass (Sativa).
In an exclusive interview, Big Freedia shared why she decided to venture into cannabis for the first time.
“A few things drove me—Cannabis has been a big part of my life, so I’m very passionate about it and I know a thing or two,” said Freedia. “The Queen is an entrepreneur at heart and this is an industry I want to be a part of. A lot of the biggest brands aren’t the ones who have been growing it, selling it, and smoking it for decades. And a lot of them don’t look like me, like what I like, or stand for what I stand for. I heard Black cannabis entrepreneurs account for only 2% of the cannabis biz nationwide. That’s ridiculous. I wanted to build a brand that represents Freedia and everyone like me. Anyone can be royalty.”
The emerging cannabis and culture brand was reportedly curated personally by the Bounce Queen herself, and officially debuted on Monday, August 22 exclusively at Green Qween, a queer-led and social equity licensed dispensary in downtown Los Angeles. The line’s official premiere party will also feature an in-store meet and greet with Big Freedia on Friday, August 26 from 6-8 p.m. PST.
“This is not a typical celebrity or vanity brand. I am curating the products, the vibe, the businesses we work with. We don’t want to detract from existing businesses in cannabis, we want to build with them. I’m trying to highlight the existing diversity in cannabis and work with people and partners who align with my brand.”
Freedia shared that she aims to expand distribution contingent on initial response, and continue to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and positivity with the brand. In the meantime, she wants to her fans and customers to know that her product is top-notch.
“I’m not just slapping my name on something,” she exclusively shared with Essence. “I test out everything. They smoking what I smoke. And it ain’t mids – gas only. You’ll see.
Florida deputy resigns after pulling gun on pregnant Black woman
A Florida deputy was forced to resign after pulling a gun on a pregnant Black woman during a traffic stop as her children fearfully recorded the chilling encounter, NBC News reports.
The incident, which took place on Aug. 12 just shy of midnight, occured when Bradford County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Desue attempted to pull Ebony Washington over. Per reports, the traffic stop occured after the officer clocked the Jacksonville resident going 75 mph in a 55-mph zone. The sheriff’s office also disclosed that although Desue prompted her to pull over, Washington didn’t immediately stop the vehicle out of fear of being “in the middle of nowhere” while pregnant with three children in the car.
Thanks to footage captured by Desue’s body camera, the officer’s actions were caught on tape. “If you make any movement, that’ll be your last mistake you’re going to make,” he yelled toward Washington’s car. From there, he could be seen exiting his patrol car with a gun pointed in the young woman’s direction as he screamed for her to get out of the vehicle.
Per the video, Washington’s arms dangled outside of the car as she explained that the door was locked. “Unlock it. I’m not worried. I’ve got my gun on you” was Desue’s response. After she exited the vehicle with her arms raised, Desue approached her, and ultimately pointed his gun to her back. When she attempted to detail why she didn’t stop immediately, the officer cut her off. “Your excuse means nothing to me right now,” he said. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Washington’s attorney revealed that Desue resigned from the police force on Aug. 16 and had been employed by the sheriff’s office since March 2020. According to a file obtained by her legal team, the officer was given one last chance to work with the department following a separate incident on April 13.
Biden to cancel up to $10K in federal student loan debt for certain borrowers and up to $20K for Pell Grant recipients
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he will cancel $10,000 in federal student loans for millions of borrowers, following through on a campaign promise to address the burden of student debt.
Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year, or $250,000 for couples who file taxes jointly, will be eligible for debt cancellation. Pell Grant recipients, who make up the majority of student loan borrowers, will be eligible for an additional $10,000 in debt relief, for a total of $20,000.
Biden is also extending the pause on federal student loan payments for a final time through Dec. 31. It had previously been scheduled to expire Aug. 31.
Speaking at the White House, Biden described how the cost of higher education has grown significantly over the past few decades.
“An entire generation is now saddled with unsustainable debt in exchange for an attempt, at least, at a college degree,” Biden said. “The burden is so heavy that even if you graduate, you may not have access to a middle-class life that a college degree once provided.”
Borrowers can qualify for debt forgiveness based on their incomes in either the 2020 or the 2021 tax year. To receive relief, most qualified borrowers will need to fill out an application with the Education Department, which said it will make the forms available in the coming weeks.
The debt forgiveness applies to undergraduate, graduate and Parent Plus loans. Current students can also qualify, but students who were claimed as dependents will be eligible based on their parents’ income, rather than their own.
Democrats and student debt relief advocates have pressured Biden for months to use his presidential authority to cancel student debt.
Ahead of the announcement, he had come under criticism for waiting until just days before the Aug. 31 deadline to announce an extension of the loan payment moratorium, leaving millions of borrowers unclear about whether they would have to start making payments for the first time in more than two years.
Biden on Wednesday also announced a new income-driven repayment plan that would cap monthly payments for undergraduate loans at 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income, down from the rate of 10% under most existing plans.
The White House said that 43 million student loan borrowers will benefit and that as many as 20 million borrowers will have their full remaining student loan balances wiped out.
Still, the move falls short of the $50,000 in debt forgiveness that some Democrats have called for, and the narrow scope of the cancellation is likely to frustrate student debt relief advocates who were pushing for broader action. Some advocates also warned that means-testing the relief plan announced Wednesday would make implementation more challenging and argued that extending the payment pause for a few months would not be enough time to adjust borrowers' balances.
“While this announcement is a major win for many, it is important to stress that $10,000 will leave many others still crushed by debt, and important details will determine who has access to much-needed relief,” Natalia Abrams, the president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center, said in a statement.
The White House emphasized that the income cap on debt cancellation would ensure the relief was going to middle- and low-income people, not high-earning graduates. Roughly 90% of those eligible earn less than $75,000, Biden said.
He also downplayed concerns from Republicans and some Democrats that debt cancellation could make inflation worse. Biden said resuming student loan payments in tandem with targeted relief would mean more money would start flowing back to the Treasury Department.
“Independent experts agree that these actions taken together will provide real benefits for families without meaningful effect on inflation,” Biden said.
Federal student loan holders have not been required to make payments since March 2020, when President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act, which paused payments through September 2020 and stopped interest from accruing to alleviate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump later took executive action to extend the deferral period through January 2021. Since he took office, Biden has issued five more extensions.
The moratorium does not apply to borrowers with privately held loans.
About 45 million people in the U.S. have student debt. The Federal Reserve estimated that in the second quarter of 2022, people owed more than $1.7 trillion in student loans.
While most student borrowers owe less than $20,000, people with smaller amounts of debt often have a harder time paying it off because they might not have completed their degrees or they might have degrees with lower earning power compared to people with more debt.
Studies also show that students of color are more likely to take on student debt and struggle disproportionately to pay it back. The highest default rates are among students who attended for-profit institutions
George Foreman Sued For Rape Allegations By Two Women; He Responds
George Foreman is being sued. The 73-year-old former professional boxer and inventor of the infamous George Foreman Grill is being accused of raping two women in the 1970s when they were teens.
In the report from The Hollywood Reporter, George was hit with two lawsuits from two women who claimed that he started grooming them as children, before they were assaulted in California. They each seek upwards of $25 million.
George has denied all the allegations.
“Over the past six months, two women have been trying to extort millions of dollars each from me and my family,” he said in a statement. “They are falsely claiming that I sexually abused them over 45 years ago in the 1970s. I adamantly and categorically deny these allegations. The pride I take in my reputation means as much to me as my sports accomplishments, and I will not be intimidated by baseless threats and lies. I am, and always will be, guided by my faith and trust in God. I will work with my lawyers to fully and truthfully expose my accusers’ scheme and defend myself in court. I don’t pick fights, but I don’t run away from them either.”
The lawsuits are coming to light after an amendment was passed in 2020 to California’s statute of limitations for certain sex crimes, giving victims of childhood sexual assault more time to sue. The amended law allows plaintiffs to sue within five years of discovering an injury caused by the assault.
The two women who are suing George have claimed that they suffer “physical and mental pain and suffering” that they discovered at an unspecified date.
In one of the lawsuits, the woman says that she met the former boxer when she was 8 years old and was groomed by the boxer over several years.
“When Plaintiff was 13 years old, Doe called Plaintiff at her home in Hayward, California and asked Plaintiff if she knew how to masturbate,” states the complaint. “During the call, Doe gave plaintiff instructions on how to masturbate herself.”
George then allegedly raped her several times in 1976.
The complaints also allege sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
George is not the only person of note to have been accused of sexual assault recently.
Jennifer Lopez's Wedding Dresses Revealed!
The first look at Jennifer Lopez in one of her wedding photos from her weekend wedding to Ben Affleck have been revealed!
Jennifer wore three custom looks by Ralph Lauren for the nuptials, that took place at Ben‘s 87-acre compound in Riceboro, Georgia on Saturday (August 20). Ben also wore custom Ralph Lauren.
Here are the details of JLo’s three dresses, directly from Ralph Lauren!
Dress 1: The handkerchief wedding gown reimagines a turtleneck column dress with the addition of a dramatic ruffle hem. Over 1000 hand-cut handkerchiefs and 500 meters of fabric were cut into ruffles and attached by hand, creating a voluminous, romantic skirt. The intricately constructed sleeve is inset with a cascading ruffle, draped from the back of the turtleneck to the shoulder to create a romantic, heritage-inspired sensibility.
Dress 2: The chandelier pearl gown is adorned with thousands of cascading strings of pearls. 30 artisans worked across 700 hours to hand embroider the gown with micro-pleats of silk tulle, tiny pearl embellishments, and Swarovski crystal.
Dress 3: The custom gown features a sleek mermaid silhouette with a keyhole neckline embellished with Swarovski crystals of varying shapes and shades of white and is completed with a full skirt and topped with an organza overlay.
The following information was released about Ben’s look: “The classic tuxedo includes a formal one button peak cream dinner jacket with a black double pleated trouser and narrow piqué bib shirt. The look is completed with a black bow tie and black patent shoes.
Ben and Jen chose photographer John Russo to take their pics (you can see one of his images in the gallery of this post) and Ralph Lauren provided the photos of the sketches!
Holly Madison Says Playboy Models Considered Sex With Hugh Hefner A Chore: ‘Everybody Just Wanted To Make It Go By As Quickly As Possible’
Hugh Hefner’s former girlfriend Holly Madison continues to speak out about the eventful yet very disturbing years she spent living at the Playboy mansion. The 42-year-old launched her latest podcast, “Girls Next Level,” this week alongside former Playboy playmate Bridget Marquardt, with their first episode recounting all the wild moments they experienced during their time being around Hefner and what really went down in the bedroom.
Madison, who repeated her previous accusation that Hefner would offer her a Quaalude and call it a “thigh-opener” when he wanted to have sex with women that were somewhat reluctant to sleep with him, continued to detail the unpleasant times she would engage in sexual activities with the late business mogul.
“He wouldn’t move. He would be like a bump on the log in the middle of the bed,” she remembered. Supposedly, the women who were having sex with Hefner at the Playboy mansion wanted to get it over “as quickly as possible” because they hated being intimate with him. Madison added, “We thought of it as a chore that we had to do or else we’ll get kicked out of the house. Everybody just wanted to make it go by as quickly as possible.”
Further on in the revealing podcast episode, Madison and Marquardt touched on later being invited to get involved in orgies where multiple Playboy models would have sex with Hefner in his room. This was said to have been the most challenging task for Madison, in particular, because there was always conflict between the girls, so being degraded to have sex in front of someone she didn’t necessarily get along with was like “hell” for her.
There was constant tension between the women in Hefner’s life, Madison stressed, so one can only imagine how she must have felt when she was requested to participate in sexual activities with Hefner along with other Playmates. “I can’t explain to you guys how embarrassing that whole routine was, especially as we got later down the road when there would be a lot of conflict with the other girls,” she added.
“You’re literally sitting there naked having sex in front of a group of people who hate you and talk s–t about you while you’re having sex — and you can hear it. It was just like hell.”
In the episode, Madison had also spoken on the first night she had sexual intercourse with Hefner, which was on a day she was “so f***ing wasted” following a party in Los Angeles. While taking a bath with a few of the other Playboy girls, she said “the recruiter” was heard calling out to Hefner and asked him whether he wanted to have some private time with the new girl.
“I s–t you not, next thing I know he’s on top of me. I just remember feeling so gross and so used.”
Florida USPS Carrier Mauled To Death By Dogs
NBC News reports: A U.S. Postal Service carrier who was attacked by five dogs in Putnam County, Florida, has died, a sheriff’s official said.
Pamela Jane Rock, 61, died at a hospital Monday night, the day after the vicious attack, which a neighbor tried to stop by firing into the air, sheriff’s Col. Joseph Wells said Tuesday at a news conference.
“One neighbor brought his firearm along and fired several shots in the air in an attempt to disrupt the attack,” Wells said. “That was unsuccessful.”
First Coast News reports:
The five dogs that killed 61-year-old postal worker Pamela Rock had moved rocks to escape a fenced in yard, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe Wells said at a briefing Tuesday.
Animal control and deputies had been called to the neighborhood in the Interlachen Lake Estates area four times over the past three years for vicious animal complaints, Wells said. Indications are that the dogs responsible for Rock’s death were the reason for at least two of those previous complaints.
The dogs involved in the fatal attack Sunday will be euthanized, Wells said. A criminal investigation is underway. The dogs were mixed breed, Wells continued. Rock died Monday evening at around 7:30 p.m. at a Gainesville hospital, officals said.
Paul Newman’s Daughters Sue Late Actor’s Charitable Foundation
A lawsuit exposing a rift between two of Paul Newman’s daughters and the late actor’s charitable foundation alleges its leaders are betraying Newman’s directives for his family to be intimately involved in the organization.
They allege the Newman’s Own Foundation improperly cut the mandated contributions to entities controlled by the daughters, Susan Kendall Newman and Nell Newman, from $400,000 to $200,000 annually, according to the suit filed on Tuesday in Connecticut state court. They claim it’s the first step toward completely ousting their family from the foundation funded by profits from their father’s publicity rights.
“Newman’s Own Foundation lost its way and strayed from its mission to preserve and honor Paul Newman’s legacy,” states the complaint. “The years since Mr. Newman’s death consist of a long and consistent pattern of disregard, by those in control, of Mr. Newman’s specific intentions and direction, coupled with mismanagement, scandal, and questionable practices.”
The Academy Award-winning actor and director created Newman’s Own Foundation in 2005. The nonprofit controls and is funded by food and beverage company Newman’s Own, which uses the actor’s name and likeness to sell salad dressing, pasta sauce and other products. The foundation reported $24.6 million in revenue in 2020, according to tax filings.
Under the agreement, the daughters claimed their father conditioned the arrangement on their involvement in the foundation. They seek $1.6 million in damages to be donated to charities of their choice and an order forcing the foundation to follow Newman’s wishes.
The foundation said in a statement that the board’s philanthropic decisions vary each year and that it needs to make the best use of its finite resources. “Best practices surrounding philanthropic organizations do not allow for the establishment of perpetual funding allotments for anyone, including Nell and Susan Newman,” the statement continued. “A meritless lawsuit based on this faulty wish would only divert money away from those who benefit from Paul Newman’s generosity. While we expect to continue to solicit Newman family recommendations for worthy organizations, our funding decisions are made each year and will continue to reflect the clear aim of Paul Newman and our responsibility to the best practices governing private foundations.”
The daughters aren’t members of the foundation’s board.
When creating the foundation, Newman laid out specific plans on its structure in a living trust. A 2005 document he shared with his advisors and daughters detailed that Newman’s Own would pay royalties to its parent company for the use of his name and image rights, according to the complaint. The foundation would, in turn, distribute funds to the daughters’ foundations for them to donate to charities of their choosing.
But the lawsuit claimed Robert Forrester, Newman’s former advisor who ultimately became CEO of Newman’s Own and president of the foundation, and Brian Murphy, Newman’s longtime business manager, manipulated the actor when his mental capacity was declining into appointing them onto the board in his will.
“It had been clear for some time that Mr. Newman was unable to act as trustee of the Living Trust,” states the complaint, which is embedded below. “Rather than advise Mr. Newman’s daughters of their right to, and their father’s unequivocal direction that they should, appoint a co-trustee to act with Forrester and Murphy, Forrester and Murphy instead unilaterally seized control of Mr. Newman’s affairs, as to NOF and as to his estate planning decisions.”
Newman’s family was “shocked” when his will was read to them because it strayed so far from what was told to them leading up to the actor’s death, according to the suit. They were threatened with disinheritance if they contested it.
While it points to Newman’s living trust, the complaint doesn’t cite from the foundation’s governing documents, which would detail whether the foundation is mandated to distribute $400,000 to the daughters annually.
Paul Roy, an estate planning attorney at Withers who isn’t involved in the matter, tells THR that Newman’s wishes in the living trust over how the foundation operates aren’t binding. “It sounds to me like the trustees were directed by Paul to consult with the family members in making decisions on distributions, but that’s not necessarily a legal right to decide where the distributions go,” he noted. “That makes sense because they’re not directors.”
The board removed Forrester from his position as CEO in 2019 amid allegations of misconduct, including harassment and creating an unhealthy work environment. The daughters’ suit also claims the foundation was improperly paying for him and his wife to fly first class and stay in pricey hotels.
Harvey Weinstein granted appeal in New York sex crimes conviction
Disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been granted an appeal in his New York sexual assault case.
The New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, agreed Wednesday to hear his appeal of his 2020 sex crimes conviction in Manhattan.
Weinstein, 70, was sentenced to 23 years following a landmark trial during the #MeToo movement that found him guilty of criminal sexual assault and rape in the third degree.
He has argued certain testimony allowed at trial was improper and a juror who wrote a novel about "predatory older men" should have been disqualified.
Weinstein's attorneys have until Oct. 18 to file a brief with the court to begin the appellate process, the docket shows.
The Appellate Division's First Department previously upheld Weinstein's conviction, but outgoing Chief Judge Janet DiFiore granted Weinstein's motion for leave to file an appeal.
In a statement provided to ABC News, Harvey Weinstein said, "I am innocent of these charges, and I am so grateful to my attorneys for working hard and smart of this. Their hard work will help me prove my innocence in the end. I look forward to this opportunity to be heard by the New York Court of Appeals."
A spokesman for Weinstein said in a statement to ABC News that the court's decision "demonstrates that there is, in fact, merit to the appeal. There was plenty wrong with the trial and conviction and Harvey's attorneys will do what is needed to prove his innocence of the charges."
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, which brought the charges against Weinstein, declined to comment Wednesday.
The sentence included 20 years for criminal sexual assault in the first degree, which stems from an accusation from former "Project Runway" production assistant Mimi Haley. It also included three years for rape in the third degree, stemming from an accusation from Jessica Mann.
Weinstein faced a minimum of probation and a maximum of four years in prison on the rape conviction, and between five and 25 years on the criminal sexual assault conviction.
He was found not guilty in that trial of the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault and of rape in the first degree.
Weinstein is currently jailed in Los Angeles awaiting trial there on sex crime charges. He faces four felony sexual assault charges for allegedly attacking two women in separate incidents in February 2013 within a day of each other.
Harvey Weinstein granted appeal in New York sex crimes conviction originally appeared on abcnews.go.co
Tiger Woods Brings “More Golf. More Game.” To Cover Of Pga Tour 2k23
PGA TOUR® 2K23, the upcoming installment in the golf simulation video game series by HB Studios, has a tee time thanks to 2K. The release dates for PGA TOUR 2K23 Deluxe Edition and PGA TOUR 2K23 Tiger Woods Edition are set for Tuesday, October 11, 2022, and Friday, October 14, 2022, respectively. Tiger Woods is the cover athlete for the PGA TOUR 2K23 video game, which honors his career by including him as a playable in-game pro as well as an Executive Director who provides guidance to the game’s production team.
“It’s not only great to be back on the cover of a video game, but the Executive Director role makes this a truly unique opportunity,” said Tiger Woods. “2K is the perfect partner for me and I am excited to continue impacting the game and culture of golf beyond my play on the PGA TOUR.”
More than 14 male and female professionals, including Justin Thomas, Lexi Thompson, Tony Finau, Lydia Ko, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris, Brooke Henderson, and others, are on Woods’ roster at launch*. In Exhibition, multiplayer, and Divot Derby play, players can take the tee as a pro, or in PGA TOUR MyCAREER mode, they can compete against pros to go up the leaderboard and win the FedExCup. Along with the professionals, Rich Beem, Luke Elvy, and English golf broadcaster Henni Koyack return for their broadcast-style presentation and analysis.
20 authorized courses will be available when PGA TOUR 2K23 is released. The South Course at Wilmington Country Club, The Renaissance Club, St. George’s Golf and Country Club, among others, are recent additions. Additionally, the market-dominating Course Designer is back, giving players the chance to create their ideal courses and share them with a large online community.
Players may outfit their MyPLAYERS like Tiger by purchasing Nike Golf, TaylorMade, and Bridgestone Golf attire and equipment. MyPLAYER customisation is back. Licensed clothing alternatives from companies including Callaway Golf, FootJoy, Malbon Golf, Nike Golf, PUMA, Titleist, TravisMathew, and others are also offered. Players may fill their golf bags with clubs and balls from companies like Bridgestone Golf, Callaway Golf, COBRA, Mizuno, Odyssey Golf, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, Titleist, and Wilson to keep them swinging with style. A three-click swing option is also offered for an additional level of customization so that players can play as they want in addition to the reintroduced analog stick swing.
While providing seasoned players with fresh challenges and chances to hone their skills, PGA TOUR 2K23 delivers new casual modes to help newcomers get into the game. With the launch of Topgolf, gamers now have a unique opportunity to simulate the well-known golf entertainment craze and compete for the greatest score. The various methods for skill development available in training mode include swing calibration, classes, chipping practice, a driving range, and a putting green.
Usher’s Las Vegas Residency Extends Into Spring And Summer 2023
Usher’s current residency is at the Dolby Live at Park MGM and opened on July 15. A new 25 dates have been added to the show schedule, set to begin on March 3 and end on July 15, 2023.
The current dates of the residency are all sold out in the 5,200-seat venue. The new show dates will be on sale this Friday at 10 a.m., with a fan pre-sale set to launch this Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT.
Usher’s residency at Park MGM opened in July with two sold-out shows. The eight-time GRAMMY winner hit the stage at Dolby Live and Park MGM and will do shows through October.
The show, specially created for the sizable Dolby Live stage and presented in collaboration with Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, provides audiences with an extraordinary immersive experience through extravagant costumes and cutting-edge lighting, video, and special effects technology. A 20-year collection of smash singles from the multi-talented showman, including “Yeah,” “U Remind Me,” “My Boo,” “Love In This Club,” “OMG,” and “You Make Me Wanna,” fill the exclusive, only-in-Vegas extravaganza. Every visitor receives an up-close-and-personal encounter with the superstar in the new show, which incorporates audience participation and production across the 5,200-seat entertainment arena.
The Outside the Box Amusements-produced Usher concert in Las Vegas also features co-creative direction from Aakomon Jones, lighting and video design from Fragment 9, stage design from Tate Design Group, and choreography from Cornithea “Rio” Henderson and Amy Allen.
You can grab your tickets here.
Gary Owen Reveals He Has No Contact With His Children Since His Divorce
Gary Owen reveals that his relationship with his children is strained since his divorce from his ex-wife, Kenya Duke.
During a recent interview, Owen spoke about the relationship and said, “I’ve done everything. I’ve gone to Greensborough because my daughter is at A&T, knocked on her door, she wouldn’t answer. Tried to see her at the airport. I’m blocked on social media. I’ve gone through every outlet to try and get in touch with my daughter. I reach out, then I’m blocked.”
He went on to say that his children had to learn about his divorce from Duke via social media and various news outlets. “We didn’t tell the kids. We were gonna wait and do it together but TMZ- that’s how they found out.”
Owen has decided to speak on this issue now because he wants his children to hear his point of view on the situation. “Everybody kept telling me to tell my side. And honestly, it’s also another effort for my kids to hear it,” he said.
According to the comedian, he and Kenya Duke need to do some healing before they can come to be civil with each other. “I think the divorce has to become final first and then we can start the healing process. But right now, it’s as ugly as it can get.”
Gary Owen and Kenya Duke got married in 2003 and share three children together, Emilio, Austin, and Kennedy. We reported that Duke filed for divorce last year and accused him of infidelity.
Madam C.J. Walker Honored By Barbie With Her Own Doll
Barbie has decided to pay homage to Madam C.J. Walker, a philanthropist, activist, and self-made millionaire
Walker’s doll is a part of Barbie’s Inspiring Women Series, which was “created to honor courageous women throughout history who continue to impact future generations,” as The Root reports.
Other women who were honored with a likeness of themselves were Dr. Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, and Ella Fitzgerald. Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice Presiden and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, Mattel released a statement about the honor.
“As a pioneer in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and activism, creating the blueprint for the self-made American businesswoman and innovators of the twentieth century, Madam C.J. Walker is an embodiment of our Barbie Inspiring Women series,” McKnight said.
She continued, “We’re honored to welcome her into this group of trailblazing women and introduce more kids to her journey of becoming one of the nation’s first widely successful female founders.”
Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove and came up with her own scalp conditioning treatment after she lost most of her hair after suffering from a scalp condition. She sold products door to door in the South before opening up her business in Indianapolis.
Walker’s great-great-granddaughter, A’Leila Bundles, worked closely with Barbie to make sure that the likeness was the right representation of Walker. “It was a joy to work with Barbie on the design and creation of an Inspiring Women doll made in the likeness of my great-great-grandmother,” Bundles said.
“Their design team graciously welcomed me throughout all steps of the process- from hair development to packaging- to capture and celebrate the legacy of this trailblazing Black businesswoman. I can’t wait for a new generation to be inspired by her story and to tell their own stories through a role model who came before them.”
The doll will be available at local retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon and will sell for $35.
Krispy Kreme Is Honoring Pups Everywhere With Its New Line of Doggie Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme has long been a go-to for doughnut fans. Now, the brand is looking to satisfy both dog lovers and their animals with the all-new Doggie Doughnuts.
The tasty treat will be released on Friday, August 26th, which happens to be National Dog Day. The snack comes in six flavors tailored exclusively for pup consumption. Canines can choose from Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Sprinkles, Chocolate Iced, Strawberry Sprinkles, Chocolate Cheesecake, and Original Glazed, the most popular flavor amongst humans.
Australian bakery, Huds & Take, is the mastermind behind the snacks development. Each doughnut will be made with a hard-baked cookie and food substitutes suitable for animals, such as Carob, a chocolate alternative. Other ingredients include peanut butter, turmeric, and apple cider vinegar, all safe for dogs to eat. The doughnuts can last up to 12 months, so feel free to buy your fur baby as many as you’d like.
Krispy Kreme is excited about the highly anticipated treat. The company says the Doggie Doughnuts are a reward for the animals that have brought joy to so many.
“Our dogs have given us so much love and comfort to help us through these last couple of years. They deserve this special treat,” said Krispy Kreme’s Global Chief Brand Officer, Dave Skena.
Doggie Doughnuts will be available on Friday and run through the weekend or until supplies run out. Pet owners are encouraged to use the hashtag #KrisyKreme to showcase their pooches enjoying the doughnuts. Tagging the company is also welcomed.
While all ingredients in the Doggie Doughnuts are considered “human-grade,” dog parents should continue enjoying their regularly eaten Krispy Kreme doughnuts and save this special goody for their four-legged companions.
Kodak Black to Send Over 35K Bottles of Water to Haiti to Combat Shortage
Kodak Black is sending over 35,000 bottles of water to help Haitians who lack basic necessities like food and water because of severe gang violence.
According to the rapper’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, Kodak decided to take action by spending $50,000 to have tons of bottled water transported there from Florida.
The rapper plans to send alkaline water over on cargo ships with labels that read “LAST” since they wanted this to be the last time Haitians go without water.
Kodak and his crew will collaborate with Haitian government officials to ensure the bottles arrive at their appropriate locations once the shipment arrives.
In an ongoing effort to help the island, Cohen says Kodak is calling for a truce in the gang violence that is transforming Haiti into a war zone.
According to reports, in addition to providing water, Kodak has donated to food banks and orphanages on the island to provide people with healthcare.
Walmart Ordered to Pay Black Man $4.4 Million For Racial Profiling
Walmart must pay a Black man $4.4 million in damages after one of their white employees racially profiled him as he shopped.
On Friday, a jury in Oregon ruled that the grocery store chain was liable for damages after customer Michael Mangum was wrongfully harassed because of his race. The incident occurred on March 26th, 2020, when Mangum went to a Walmart in Wood Village, Oregon, to purchase lightbulbs for his refrigerator.
As he shopped, Mangum observed the store’s loss prevention employee, Joe Williams, closely following his every move. When he confronted the man about being wrongfully monitored throughout the store, Williams demanded that Mangum leave. When he refused, the loss prevention officer said he would call the police and tell them Mangum punched him in the face, something that did not take place. At no point in the confrontation did things turn physical.
When Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies came to the store, they declined to arrest Mangum due to Williams’ history of making false police reports and “shifting explanations as to why the employee called.” The following day, Sheriff’s Sergeant Bryan White and another deputy returned to the store to meet with Walmart’s management. They informed them that Williams would often report “dangerous active situations” inside the store that never happened. Williams was eventually fired in July 2020 for mishandling property.
In December 2021, Mangum officially filed a lawsuit against Walmart for negligent retention and action against a person who summoned police with improper intent.
Walmart is now reviewing its next steps, calling the ruling last week “excessive.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘CURIOUS GEORGE’
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EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Andres Muscle
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