#MAGFAB: Zoe Saldana for Emmy Magazine - August 2022
In a new interview with emmy magazine, provided exclusively to E! News, Zoe Saldaña reflected on how "hard" things were after the death of her father, Aridio Saldaña, when she was a child.
Zoe Saldaña is looking back at a difficult time in her life.
The Guardians of the Galaxy star opened up about how the 1987 passing of her dad, Aridio Saldaña, affected her as a child. In an exclusive sneak peek of her cover story for emmy magazine, out on newsstands Aug. 16, the 44-year-old recalled how her grandmother broke the devastating news that the patriarch had been killed in a car accident.
"I remember her drinking coffee and saying, 'We're going to get through this,'" she said. "'Papa wants us to get through this. But please understand this part of life: death came knocking and took one of us.'"
After Aridio's passing, Zoe and her family moved from New York to the Dominican Republic, where everything was "always new and changing, changing, changing."
"There's no winter, no Santa Claus, no grapes or apples—it's mango and guavas," she explained. "These sound like small things, but they add up in a day. It was hard."
She added, "I've always felt like an alien in my own skin. It's like I'm on the outside looking in, and I really started to feel it after we lost our dad."
For Zoe, she tapped into that grief and sadness when it came time to prepare for her role in From Scratch, the upcoming Netflix series adapted from Tembi Locke's memoir of the same name. "It was all of those things that Tembi wrote about, but [viewed] through a childlike lens," she said. "Losing our hero, the strongest person in the room, who walked on water, and then seeing how our gorgeous, strong mom just fell apart and couldn't get out of bed to take us to school."
The book, centered around Tembe's personal experience in dealing with her husband's untimely death, also captured the attention of Reese Witherspoon, who serves as an executive producer alongside Zoe for its onscreen adaptation. Describing the project as "a journey of a woman who dared to dream bigger than what her destiny predicted," Zoe said in a behind-the-scenes video of her emmy cover shoot that the Oscar winner was the first to tip her off to this "important" piece of work.
"I read it and I couldn't put it down," Zoe said, calling herself an "avid reader" who loves "devouring books."
And as mom to three boys—twins Bowie and Cy, 7, and Zen, 5—who "can wipe their butts, go to bed and sleep a full night and eat their veggies," the actress added that she now has time to actually dive into a good book. She quipped with a laugh, "I like it!"
Zoe's issue of emmy magazine is out on Aug. 16.
#RHOA: What’s The Tea? Has Marlo Hampton’s ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Promotion Been a Flop?
Fans of “RHOA” have been waiting a decade for scene-stealer Hampton to become a full-time Housewife. So it’s a surprise that this season for her has been anything but peachy.
Two questions have plagued Real Housewives of Atlanta viewers since what feels like the dawn of time: When will SHE by Sheree officially launch? And what’s been holding producers back from giving iconic friend-of Marlo Hampton her own peach?
Countless September-spring-summers have passed, and Season 14 of the Bravo series has finally resolved at least one of these pressing issues. After nearly a decade of tagging along on cast trips and sparring with nearly everyone, Hampton has finally been promoted to a full-time housewife. Sheree Whitefield’s line, on the other hand, seems to be a major plot point of the remainder of the season, despite the brand’s website lacking any purchasable fashions currently. Whether those joggers will ever come to fruition, who really knows?
But back to Hampton. RHOA viewers have been clamoring for years for Hampton, who’s a frequent highlight on the series, to be promoted. Now her debut run as a peach-carrying cast member is 14 episodes in. Is she living up to the nearly 10 years of build up?
While the announcement of the Le’ Archive owner becoming a housewife was initially met with excitement from RHOA fans (myself included), Hampton’s tenure, so far, has proven to be a bit of a flop and, quite frankly, an annoyance. Especially during a season that’s so close to being great.
I’ve long considered myself a fan of Hampton, whose mysterious yet lucrative sources of income (according to the other housewives, old, rich white men) and obsession with labels made her a deeply fascinating character. Above all, she’s relentlessly petty and very good at getting the Atlanta women riled up, including in a recent episode where she told fellow Housewife and Grammy Award winner Kandi Burruss that she was “only known in Atlanta”—something that’s simply not true of a chart-topping singer or literally anyone on a nationally syndicated show. Still, Burruss, an easily upset woman, fell for the bait and proceeded to scream, “Bitch, I’m worldwide!” to an entire restaurant in Jamaica.
That episode was the rare occasion this season when Hampton’s poking and prodding resulted in a funny, meme-able moment. But aside from that, the fashion diva’s eagerness to attack Burruss for seemingly no reason and constant antagonizing of longtime frenemy Kenya Moore has made large portions of episodes either insufferable or downright boring. This was most evident in episode 11 when Hampton invited the women on a getaway in Blue Ridge that was entirely overshadowed by her sparring with Moore. She then ordered them to leave because she had made herself so upset.
In all fairness, Moore has proven to be equally capable of Hampton’s pettiness—although, the former Miss USA is a lot more creative than Hampton, who usually just goes below the belt or brings up things from nearly decade ago. Still, Moore has spent the entire season creating clear boundaries with Hamtpon and using pop-psychology terms she’s learned throughout her divorce to express her issues with her—facts Hampton has chosen to ignore so she can play victim.
There’s also the other elephant in the fashion showroom: the situation with Hampton’s nephews, William and Michael, who may or may not be living with her currently. Since taking in the boys a few years ago following her sister’s recent incarceration, Hampton has been able to show viewers a softer, more maternal side in her new role as a “maunty”—up until she abruptly kicked the boys out of her home for causing her stress.
The very casual admission by Hampton a few episodes ago that she sent them to live with her sister (who already has two children and lives in a two-bedroom home) was both extremely jarring and frustrating. Buruss and Moore seem to be the only cast members truly upset by Hampton’s actions, pointing out that she may have triggered the boys' abandonment issues from their mother while also selfishly inconveniencing her sister, who presumably does not have as many resources as Hampton.
We find out throughout conversations that Hampton’s nephews have mostly just been behaving like children—not cleaning their rooms, neglecting their homework, and slacking on personal hygiene. She keeps reiterating that one of the boys punched a hole in the wall while she was out of town, like he was possessed by a demon and not probably suffering from some sort of emotional trauma.
I don’t say all of this to minimize the difficulty of being a parent. But it’s clear that Hampton had not been giving these boys any real structure aside from a literal place to live or implemented any consequences, something she could at least admit to during a filmed therapy session. It’s too bad she didn’t seek out this counsel before she sent them packing in the middle of night.
So now I’m forced to think about the emotional state of Marlo’s adorable nephews while she goes on fancy vacations with the women and, ironically, brings up her own neglect as a foster child—on top of watching her get into the most annoying, repetitive spats.
Maybe we should’ve trusted the producers’ judgment when they only presented Hampton in small doses or alongside O.G. cast member Nene Leakes, who was able to keep her behavior somewhat in check. Now we have to watch the 46-year-old fashionista oscillate between villainy and victimhood, making none of the stakes in her relationships with the other women seem real or important.
At the end of day, every Real Housewives franchise needs a chaos agent to stir up some shit. But on the shadiest franchise of all time, Hampton has yet to add anything entertaining or fresh to the mix.
#MusicNews: Usher Says He Deserves The 'King Of R&B' Title
The “King of R&B” title has long been debated, but Usher is ready to own it. During an interview with Bevy Smith on SiriusXM’s Bevelations, the veteran singer was asked if he is willing to embrace the crown.
“If you call me that, I’ll definitely carry it. I’ma tilt my crown knowing that I’m standing on the shoulders of all of the icons of our time,” he said before acknowledging those who paved the way, including Michael Jackson, James Brown, Ronald Isley, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergass, Prince, and Marvin Gaye.
The weight of the crown isn’t lost on Usher. “You wanna give me that crown, you tell me who gon’ do it better,” he said. “I am because I was given a gift, a gift that came from God that says don’t you ever forget, ’cause I don’t. When you hear my voice, you hear their voice.”
Usher, whose debut album was released 28 years ago, said he’s put in the work to earn the title. “If anything, you wanna give me my crown, I’m the last of my time,” he continued. “I’ve been working to the point where I do own that and I do deserve that. And I ain’t gon’ ask for it no more. You gon’ give it because I done worked for it.”
In the interview, the 43-year-old singer also weighed in on Diddy’s controversial statement that R&B is dead. “R&B is timeless. It ain’t gonna go away,” he said. “So when I do hear people, even like Puff saying R&B is dead, he sounds nuts to me. It sounds crazy. You know, especially knowing he was a pioneer in understanding and beneficiary of it.”
Usher explained that all music is rooted in R&B. “The source that is R&B created the breath of life that was breathed into hip-hop. It wouldn’t be. There would be no hip-hop if there were not R&B, so it’s blasphemous to hear people say anything, especially hip-hop cats, to say anything about R&B.”
The R&B icon is currently headlining his “My Way” Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, which runs through next July.
#HipHopNews: Azealia Banks Is Getting Her Own Reality Show
Azealia Banks always knows how to ignite a conversation on social media, but now she’s about to bring her antics to the television screen. The controversial rapper has announced that she is getting her very own reality show.
“Ok so the Azealia Banks reality tv show is happening,” she wrote in an Instagram Story.
She did not say where or when it will air, but she did offer a hint at what fans can expect. “I’m excited. FINALLY people get to see the real me: an asshole,” she said.
Azealia was set to start filming the series last month, but claims it was derailed by Nicki Minaj. “I was supposed to start filming a reality show last month. But apparently Nicki gave the network an ultimatum because she knows I’ll have much better ratings…,” Banks said, possibly referencing Minaj’s upcoming documentary series Nicki.
She went on to hurl more shots at the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper, who just earned her first solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “And now they all hate her and think she’s ghetto, terrible to work with, overweight, and boring,” Azealia alleged.
But she appears to have found a new home for her show, adding that she had “three more offers in the inbox.”
Aside from television, Azealia continues to work on new music. She was set to drop her single “New Bottega” on Friday, but it has been delayed.
#OMG: Wendy Williams' Former Attorney Says Ex-Financial Adviser Left Her To ‘Die’
Wendy Williams has been in a legal battle with Wells Fargo over access to her money, and her former lawyer is now speaking out.
Earlier this year, Williams claimed her accounts were frozen when the bank filed court documents claiming she needed to be placed under a guardianship. She called out her former manager Bernie Young, accusing him of using “my American Express card to hire an attorney to file a petition against me.” The former talk show host also said her former financial adviser Lori Schiller and “Wells Fargo has this guardianship petition about keeping me away from my money.”
LaShawn Thomas, Williams’ former lawyer, exclusively told Page Six in a statement, “The real issue is that Wells Fargo, through their adviser, refused to grant Wendy access to her own accounts, this includes the right to check her balance.”
The statement continued, “No bank should have the authority to do that. No one attempted to gain access to any of Wendy’s accounts. The Wells Fargo adviser and [former manager Bernie Young] were the only people with access. … They left Wendy to die.”
Thomas said about Schiller, “Schiller] locked Wendy out of all of her accounts.[Schiller] restricted all access to every single account. Wendy was even restricted from going to the bank and personally withdrawing funds… Wendy, a woman who has worked hard for her wealth, was left penniless.”
Thomas claims the 58-year-old has been forced to use an American Express card for “all of her living expenses.” Her 22-year-old son, Kevin Hunter Jr., has been helping her “both mentally and physically with the assistance of a team of doctors,” according to Thomas.
Schiller has not commented to Page Six on the accusations but a spokesperson for Wells Fargo denied “any allegations of improper actions with respect to Ms. Williams’ accounts.”
Wendy Williams is still fighting for access to her finances.
Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas said she "did not feel safe" around creator Dan Schneider
TV creator Dan Schneider has been an uncomfortable topic for Nickelodeon for years at this point—his multi-decade tenure at the network a blend of massive success, and allegations of unprofessional behavior, including toward the many young actors who worked on his various shows. Now, that discomfort has been brought back into the spotlight once again, as Alexa Nikolas, one of the stars of Schneider-created series Zoey 101, has spoken out about him during a protest against Nickelodeon’s treatment of its child stars, calling Schneider a “creator of childhood trauma,” and stating bluntly that she did not feel safe around him during her time at the network.
A writer, producer, and creator on some of the network’s most successful shows (Drake And Josh, iCarly, Victorious, and several others), Schneider’s star-making run at the network stretched from the late 1990s to 2018—when Nickelodeon abruptly announced that it was cutting ties with him, citing an internal investigation that, per The New York Times, found “evidence of verbal abuse by Schneider to his colleagues.”
Oh thank goodness, the new Urkel and Batman cartoons are apparently both safe
Nikolas’ presence at the protest on Thursday comes not long after iCarly star Jennette McCurdy reignited conversation about Nickelodeon’s treatment of young performers with the publication of her new memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. McCurdy’s book doesn’t talk about Schneider by name—but it does feature numerous stories of a man only referred to as “The Creator,” who verbally abuses and manipulates young actors, encouraging them to drink alcohol, screams at them, and gives them unwanted back massages. (The New York Times report on the internal investigation into Schneider said it found no evidence of sexual misconduct.)
Since her stint at Nickelodeon, Nikolas has founded the activist/whistleblowing group Eat Predators, which is mostly focused on the music industry—but which has recently branched into TV. Besides talking about her own physical discomfort around Schneider—and calling out a time when he and other executives on Zoey 101 brought her into a room alone and yelled at her, then a young teenager, until she cried—Nikolas also called for an investigation into Schneider’s production company, Schneider’s Bakery. Among other questions raised, Nikolas says she’s curious about how many non-disclosure agreements former actors on the show’s productions have signed (McCurdy alleges in her book that she was offered $300,000 to never talk about her experiences at Nickelodeon), and raised concerns—as a number of people have, over the years—about the potentially sexual nature of some of the footage shot for the various series.
Nikolas’ protest didn’t focus solely on Schneider; she also put much of her focus on Nickelodeon itself, accusing executives of enabling abusive behavior toward its child stars.
Jennifer Hudson shows off her coveted EGOT trophy collection
Jennifer Hudson finally has the trophy to prove she is a member of one of the most exclusive winner’s circles: Her Tony award. The “American Idol” alum made history when she became the second Black woman to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony (EGOT).
Overall, Hudson is the fifth Black person to reach EGOT status. The singer secured her win as a producer on the critically acclaimed musical “A Strange Loop.” She joins revered talents Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte and Quincy Jones. In total, 17 people are recognized as EGOT winners in the entertainment industry.
In a photo shared to social media on Friday (Aug. 26), the powerhouse vocalist was all smiles as she held her Tony. In a not-so-subtle flex, she also had her other pinnacle awards on display on top of her black piano. “Look what arrived y’all!!! @thetonyawards @stranggeloopbway,” she captioned the photo.
The post was flooded with comments from ecstatic fans and industry peers. “EGOT winner!!! What an accomplishment,” read a comment. Other messages congratulated Hudson for reaching the career milestone. At least one person made mention of an award that was not displayed in the photo by writing, “You’re a Golden Globe winner as well.” In 2007, she won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls.
“The Color Purple” Broadway star is currently gearing up for the launch of her debut talk show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” The first episode of the daily, hour-long show is slated to air on Sept. 12. Thus far, she has been tight-lipped about the program’s details. However, in the promo video that dropped in June, she said, “Nothing makes me happier than to see everybody shine and know that they have a light within them. On ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show,’ you’re going to get quality, you’re going to get honesty, you’re going to get all of my heart.”
Lil Nas X is YSL Beauty's new U.S. brand ambassador
Lil Nas X continues to add new categories to his résumé and break barriers. Today (Aug. 26), YSL Beauty announced the Grammy-winning rapper is officially their new U.S. brand ambassador.
In a press statement released from YSL, the company said the goal of the partnership is to celebrate the “transformative power of beauty, inspiring independent self-expression for individuals and communities driven to change the world alongside YSL” and also highlight the “passion, creativity and fearless attitude” that lies in both YSL and Lil Nas X.
“It’s been a lot of fun working on this campaign with YSL Beauté — they’re such an iconic brand, and I’m happy to be a part of something so unique and groundbreaking in the beauty world,” the “Panini” rapper said in the statement. “Shout out to YSL for embracing me and my campness and for inspiring change for the next generation of beauty.”
However, it wouldn’t be a Lil Nas X announcement if he didn’t drop the news with a funny and overly honest caption. “I am the new ambassador of @yslbeauty and though I don’t know what the word means yet I feel very accomplished,” he candidly wrote about his new gig.
The campaign will tease a snippet of Lil Nas X’s unreleased song, “My Little Baby.” In regards to music, Lil Nas X dropped his headline-making album Montero last year. That project boasted megahits like “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” “Industry Baby” featuring Jack Harlow, and also included assists from Megan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, and Doja Cat. This past June, the pop sensation returned to present his “Late To Da Party” single featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
In additional news, Lil Nas X will kick off his first official tour in September, taking his talents across the globe with the “Long Live Montero Tour.”
Restaurant manager denies Black couple service, falsely claims they smell like marijuana
A Black couple was recently denied service and asked to leave while attempting to dine at a Houston’s restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. The pair feels that they were racially profiled after the manager claimed they smelled like marijuana.
Marcus Mosby has been a police officer for almost 28 years and his wife is a high school principal. Earlier this week, he spoke with local news station FOX 13 and said the incident happened on Poplar Avenue on Saturday evening (Aug. 20). Mosby says the manager approached his family, stating, “There’s a strong odor of marijuana coming from your party in this area.” He says that he informed the woman of his and his wife’s occupations and assured her they had nothing to do with any drug use. The police officer added that the restaurant manager did not want to hear his side.
“I said, ‘Ma’am, we don’t smoke marijuana. You’re mistaken,’” Mosby told a reporter during an on-camera interview with the outlet. He says the woman responded, “I’ve gotten complaints. People have called and said they smell [marijuana].” He insisted that no other patrons or employees had recently been near them except for her. Mosby told the news station that he and his family refused to leave the restaurant and asked another employee to intervene.
The family was eventually seated and Mosby says the manager became apologetic after no other staff members seemed to detect the presence of marijuana. He asked her, “Why did you just racially profile us?” Mosby claims the woman claimed it “was just a bad mistake.” The outlet reached out to corporate for a statement regarding the incident.
Ralph Price, the general manager at Houston’s, offered a response: “Mr. Mosby dined with us Saturday with his family. When we detect the strong presence of marijuana with arriving guests, we do refuse service as the odor can affect others dining.” Price added, “We made a mistake in attributing the odor to Mr. Mosby’s party and apologized. We were happy to welcome him in and take care of his experience on us on Saturday.” Mosby told the news station, “She singled us out. I feel like we were racially profiled.” He noted that he doesn’t “plan on patronizing [the] establishment anymore.”
Robin Thicke's Fiancee April Love Geary Wears Sheer Dress on Date Night
Robin Thicke and April Love Geary are stepping out for the night!
The 45-year-old The Masked Singer judge and the 27-year-old model posed for photos as they arrived at the Catch LA restaurant for a dinner date on Friday night (August 26) in West Hollywood, Calif.
For their night out, Robin looked sharp in a black suit paired with white sneakers while April wowed in a sheer, flesh-toned outfit.
Earlier this week, Robin was spotted going shirtless during a day at the beach in Malibu.
The eighth season of Robin‘s hit Fox reality series The Masked Singer will be premiering on September 21
Crystal Renay Says 'There Are No Chances' of Reconciling with Ex Ne-Yo Following Cheating Allegations
Crystal Renay is speaking out after filing for divorce from Ne-Yo.
Late last month, Crystal, 36, took to social media where she very publicly slammed the 42-year-old singer, accusing him of cheating on her for the past eight years.
She then filed for divorce, claiming Ne-Yo fathered a child with another woman.
During a recent outing, Crystal was asked if she would consider trying to work things out with Ne-Yo.
“There are no chances, God is good. We are moving on to better lives,” Crystal can be heard saying in a video shared by TMZ on Friday (August 26).
She added, “Certain things can’t be forgiven, but God will forgive, and one day so will I. The Christian me has to one day, but I am okay.”
As for whether or not she’s ready to date again, Crystal said, “I mean, only God knows.”
Ne-Yo and Crystal married in 2016 and share three kids – sons Shaffer, 6, and Roman, 4, along with daughter Isabella, 13 months. Ne-Yo is also dad to daughter Madilyn, 21, and son Mason, 10, from previous relationships.
Lizzo Gets Love from Fans After Aries Spears Mocked Her Weight
Lizzo is receiving so much support on social media right now after shocking comments from comedian Aries Spears.
The comments were made on the podcast The Art of Dialogue.
Aries made distasteful comments about Lizzo‘s weight and looks and people on social media are pointing out that he should look at himself first.
“I can’t get over the fact she looks like the sh-t emoji. She’s a very beautiful girl. She’s got a very pretty face, but she keeps showing her body off. C’mon man,” Aries said. “I ain’t the most in shape n—a in the world, but when you funny and you got swagger and confidence and you decent looking. I think I’m at least handsome… you get p—y. But a woman that’s built like a plate of mashed potatoes is in trouble. She’s dope. Her music’s hard… her body ain’t.”
Aries added, “You know what kills me about women? The hypocrisy and contradiction. ‘Yaas, Queen.’ ‘Slay, Queen.’ F–k diabetes. F–k heart problems. F–k heart disease, cholesterol. Y’all claim womanhood and are about sisterhood, but if you really loved your sister you’d go ‘Black girl, we love you and your confidence, but this ain’t it.’”
Reporter Alicia Quarles Reportedly Hospitalized After Concerned Friends & Social Media Users Called For Her To Be Helped Over Cryptic IG Videos
Overnight supporters of Alicia Quarles came across very concerning Instagram posts from the former E! News reporter, prompting them to call for help.
Quarles posted a series of cryptic videos online where she’s walking around her house in fear. In one clip, she walks towards the door and opens it slightly with the locks still on. A friend is seen through the crack of the door letting Quarles know that her name is “Valerie.” Police are also seen at the door with “Val” and another neighbor but Quarles insists that officers remove the latch from her door. In another clip shortly after, Quarles returns to her couch and says she fears that officers are going to kill her like “Sandra Bland,” (the 28-year-old Black woman who was found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas, on July 13, 2015, three days after being arrested during a traffic stop. Her death was ruled a suicide.
Quarles even contacted Jason Lee and sent more videos letting him know she is expecting a child but then sent an even more alarming video saying, “if you don’t see me doing this in the video, send it, that means I’m dead,” Quarles said while making a gun gesture with her hand. However, in a text message, she tells him that “I am of sound mind and I am not suicidal.” Fans flooded her comment section asking what is going on, with many others calling on her friends to help her immediately. A close source has since told Lee that she was picked up at 4 am this morning and is now hospitalized. The source also claimed that she has “resigned from Good Morning America with no clear reason why.” We are sending prayers to Alicia Quarles during this difficult time.
Alicia Quarles has been a trailblazer in the media world. Starting off her career with the Associated Press, she came the Global Entertainment Director for the outlet. Alicia then went on to be a correspondent for E! News and hosted two national television shows: Daily Mail and Good Morning America.
Jay-Z Denies Feud With Meek Mill On DJ Khaled Song After He Left Roc Nation Management
Jay-Z has dispelled rumors he is feuding with Meek Mill, who announced his departure from Roc Nation Management last month. The “24/7” rapper shared in a statement in July that he had come to an agreement with execs that had allowed him to personally handle his businesses on his own terms, after first signing with the company back in 2012.
And while fans were quick to speculate whether Meek and Jay could have had some issues behind the scenes that may have led to his exit, Hova has since set the record straight on DJ Khaled’s song “God Did,” which is lifted from the newly-released album of the same name. “Me and Meek could never beef, I freed that n**** from a whole bid, Hov did,” Jay raps, referring to the powerful “Free Meek” campaign he helped organize in 2018.
Sooooo we not gon talk about what Jay said about @MeekMill on Khalid new album…? I’m the only one who caught that…?
Sources say that the 52-year-old had spent millions of dollars in a bid to assist Meek, who was sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating the terms of his 11-year-long probation after riding his dirt bike in Manhattan and “popping wheelies” while not wearing a helmet. Jay was also behind the docu-series “Free Meek,’ which was centered around the Philadelphia-born’s issues with the criminal justice system and how being arrested at 19 for illegally possessing a firearm put him on probation for over a decade.
“This guy got locked up at 19 and been on probation for 11 years. I really believe a lot of people don’t really understand what’s going on, or don’t believe it until they really see it,” the father of three, who is credited as an executive producer on the series, expressed. “Meek is not the only one. You tell people these stories—you can’t believe it, until you hear it from a source and [then] it’s like, this is not fantasy. This is fact. These are just things that are so far that I have to say something.”
When Meek announced he was stepping away from Roc Nation Management in June, he hadn’t given any indication that there had been some sort of rivalry with Jay, but social media users were quick to assume there must have been a fallout between the two if he was willing to leave one of the top entertainment management firms in the country.
“All I seen today was meek and roc part ways,” he tweeted. “I’m personally handling my own business so I can take risks and grow ..we came to that agreement together.”
American Idol Winner Just Sam Posts From a Hospital: "I Seriously Need Help"
Just Sam is on the road to healing after a harrowing week. The former American Idol winner, whose real name is Samantha Diaz, recently documented what appeared to be at least one hospital stay this week on her Instagram Story. The 23-year-old singer did not disclose her ailment.
On Aug. 26, Sam shared a photo of what appears to be a medical exam room or hospital room. She captioned the pic, "I'm grateful for the prayers everyone. I'm doing much better now." The singer also posted a photo of a scale resting next to a red fridge, writing, "100lbs is crazyyy [two crying emojis]...I seriously need help."
The New York-based performer started documenting her medical scare earlier in the week. On Aug. 24, Sam wrote on her Instagram Story, "Thank you to everyone that checked on me. I am ALIVE and out of the hospital," according to Heavy.
The outlet also reported that Sam later shared a video of a gift she received, saying, "Guys, look at what my baby got me. Awwww! After such a horrible day, oh my gosh!"
But the following day, Sam posted a video of herself wearing a mask, while the sounds of other patients and a beeping sound were heard in the background, according to Heavy. The outlet reported that she captioned the clip, "I need a better hospital bruh. I hate it here tbh."
Sam rose to fame competing on season three of ABC's American Idol in 2020 and winning what would become the first remote finale in the franchise's 20-year history.
Two years prior, the star, who started her career performing on the subway, was the focus of a documentary titled Sam, Underground.
Ezra Miller Meets With Warners Leadership in a ‘The Flash’ Course
This was one of the most consequential weeks in DC’s history. Warner Bros. Discovery seems to have found the executive to lead that division’s film and TV efforts. There were funeral screenings for canceled movie Batgirl. And the moving of major tentpoles Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Shazam! Fury of the Gods revealed the shifting sands under the newly acquired studio.
Amid all the bustle this week on the Burbank lot, one could have easily missed a pair of figures walking around the offices and heading to a meeting of the highest order. But that’s what Ezra Miller, the star of Warners’ high-profile DC movie The Flash, and their agent, CAA’s Scott Metzger, did Wednesday — the same day a Batgirl screening took place.
Miller, who uses they/them pronouns, and Metzger met with new Warner Bros. film chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy to discuss not only how to stay on course for The Flash’s June 23, 2023, release date but to reaffirm their commitment to the movie as well as apologize for bringing negative attention to the production and the company.
Over the past two years, Miller has been at the center of arrests and controversy, culminating with the actor posting a mea culpa Aug. 15 and saying they were seeking help for mental health issues. Said the actor at the time, “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior.”
According to sources, Miller vowed to seek help after learning that De Luca and Abdy were considering all options for Flash, including scrapping the $200 million movie if things devolved further with Miller. While the actor is said to not have minded the stream of bad headlines, they were spooked by the notion of the film getting canceled and jolted to take action. Says one source: “They care about The Flash. It’s one of their favorite characters to play.”
Details of the meeting were not revealed, but it was the first time that Miller had spoken with De Luca and Abdy, who took over running the film division at the beginning of July and inherited a DC slate in various stages of postproduction. The actor was apologetic and affirmed their commitment to both getting care and to the production.
Warners had no comment, and Miller’s representatives could not be reached for comment.
The move comes as work on The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti, moves full steam ahead, with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav not wavering on its release date, even as Warners this week pushed Shazam! Fury of the Gods out of 2022 and Aquaman 2 back from March 2023 to Christmas of that year. (Aquaman’s push was due to the long runway need to complete the intensive and complex visual effects, while Shazam! departed a date that was a week away from juggernaut Avatar: The Way of Water.)
Next week, composer Benjamin Wallfisch will lead a scoring session at Abbey Road Studios in London, sources say. Visual effects work continues and could be done by the end of the year.
After months of upsetting headlines about Miller, the mood regarding Flash is more hopeful on the lot than it’s been in some time, even if the movie still has a ways to go before its release. Still, it has been receiving some of the highest scores at test screenings since Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight movies, and execs and creatives believe they have a critical and box office hit on their hands that lives up to those scores.
Notorious B.I.G. Mural Vandalized in Brooklyn
The NYPD is looking to track down the vandal responsible for defacing a Notorious B.I.G. mural in Brooklyn.
As reported by CBS News, a Biggie mural located at the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street in Clinton Hill was vandalized on Friday, as someone spray painted the rapper’s face and wrote the words “East Coast” across the painting.
The mural, which is hung on the wall of a Beauty World salon, where Biggie grew up, was unveiled back in March to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his death.
Artist Vincent Ballentine, who spent two days crafting the mural in 2019, told CBS News he plans to fix the artwork.
“I think the neighborhood really saw it as he was one of ours, and he made it out and he made something of himself. That’s the story people hold on to,” Ballentine shared.
Per NY1 News, Mayor Eric Adams, when asked about the incident during an event today, condemned the vandalism as “unacceptable.”
“Biggie is a hero to our community, and that’s darn sure not how you spread love the Brooklyn way, as Biggie would say,” Adams said. “We’re going to look into that and make sure that mural is cleaned up and repaired because this has a place there and it remains there, and we want to find the person responsible.”
Moderna Files Lawsuit Against Pfizer and BioNTech Over Alleged COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Violations
COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna has filed lawsuits against both Pfizer and BioNTech over alleged patent violations pertaining to its mRNA technology.
Per a statement shared on Friday, Moderna alleged that Pfizer and BioNTech infringed upon mRNA patents filed between 2010 and 2016. The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, where Moderna is based, and the Regional Court of Düsseldorf in Germany, where BioNTech is based.
"Moderna believes that Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty infringes patents Moderna filed between 2010 and 2016 covering Moderna's foundational mRNA technology," said the company in a news release shared on Friday. "This groundbreaking technology was critical to the development of Moderna's own mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax. Pfizer and BioNTech copied this technology, without Moderna's permission, to make Comirnaty."
Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive, told The New York Times that these lawsuits were filed in order to "protect the innovative mRNA technology platform" that the company created and patented ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. They previously received $10 million in government funding to develop its COVID-19 vaccine, and said in 2020 that it would not enforce any of its COVID-related patents amid the continuing pandemic. As vaccine supply has improved, they walked back on that approach earlier this year. Moderna said, however, that it would not enforce its patents on lower income countries.
The company said Pfizer specifically copied two features of its patented mRNA technology. Moderna does not want Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccines removed from the market or to prevent future sales, but it is seeking profits.
"Pfizer/BioNTech has not yet fully reviewed the complaint but we are surprised by the litigation given the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine was based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology and developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer," said pfizer in a statement, via CNN. "We remain confident in our intellectual property supporting the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and will vigorously defend against the allegations of the lawsuit."
Angela Bassett And Courtney B. Vance To Produce New Film With MTV Entertainment Studios
Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett have renewed their overall deal with MTV Entertainment Studios and have their first project on the way. According to Deadline, the duo is set to produce Heist 88 under the agreement through their company, Bassett Vance Production. Heist 88 will star Vance with direction by Menhaj Huda and screenwriting by Dwayne Johnson-Cochran. The movie’s production team is currently schooting in Chicago.
The two-time Emmy Award-winning actor plays Jeremy Horne, a criminal who’s about to be sent to jail in 1988 but attempts to complete one more heist before his sentence. Horne recruits four bank employees to do his bidding for him and tasks them with stealing $80 million.
Vance offered insight into his character and the story’s overall premise, detailing the film’s potential subtext.
Marvel Studios Issues Emotional 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Teaser
“This character is inspired by a man who was able to convince a small group of young people who were at the lowest rungs of their bank to join him in committing one of the biggest crimes against the US banking system in this country’s history,” Vance expressed.
“At its core, it’s an unapologetically compelling story that throws back to where we are today. What is the American dream, and who does it work for?”
The film’s cast includes Keesha Sharp, Bentley Green, Keith David, Xavier Clyde, Nican Robinson, and Precious Way. Heist 88 is inspired by the actual story of one of the most extensive bank heists ever to transpire in the United States.
Heist 88 has been in the works for years. It was initially revealed as an upcoming FX series in 2017. Later, a fictionalized version was reportedly in development as an HBO series. Finally, after the couple signed with MTV Entertainment Studios in 2020, the project’s narrative was changed to a movie format.
The film’s release is yet to be revealed.
Brandy To Star In Psychological Horror Film, ‘The Front Room’
Brandy Norwood has been chosen to start in an upcoming A24 production. According to Deadline, the legendary singer will appear in the psychological horror film, The Front Room.
The movie is set to be directed by Max and Sam Eggers, who previously worked on A24’s The Witch and The Lighthouse, making their filmmaking debut. A24 is set to produce the film with Two & Two Pictures’ Lucan Toh, Babak Anvari, Bryan Sonderman, Julia Oh, and David Hinojosa of 2 AM.
Brandy hit social media to voice her excitement for her upcoming role.
“God you’re Awesome!!!! I trust you with my entire life,” the singer typed. “Thank you for this amazing opportunity to work with this unbelievable cast, crew, and the studio everyone wants to work with and, of course, my Eggers fam.”
The independent entertainment company will also finance the project and handle its worldwide theatrical rollout. The film will also be an adaptation of Susan Hill’s short story of the same name.
The Front Room tells the story of a young couple who recently got pregnant. Through a series of events, they are forced to take in a family member who has been alienated from their family for unknown reasons.
Furthermore, the new A24 feature will star Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Andrew Burnap (WeCrashed, Broadway’s The Inheritance), and Neal Huff (Spotlight).
Elsewhere, Brandy recently conducted a passionate live performance of “Starting Now” to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 1997’s Cinderella.
Brandy’s performance was filmed live at Disneyland with the acclaimed artist paying homage to Disney Princess such as Mulan and Princess Tiana from The Princess & the Frog.
Oscar Mayer is Now Selling Frozen Wiener Pops
Two summer staples — hot dogs and popsicles — are coming together. For whatever reason.
Oscar Mayer is selling its first-ever “Cold Dog,” a frozen pop that tastes like the brand’s hot weiner that allegedly boasts “both refreshing and smokey, umami notes” of a hot dog and topped with a mustard swirl.
The idea stems from an Instagram post on Oscar Mayer’s account a few months ago, in which its followers originally deemed the idea “genius” in a poll.
“After the overwhelming fan excitement for our beloved Cold Dog, it was a no-brainer to make this hot dog-inspired frozen pop a reality,” said Anne Field, an Oscar Mayer spokesperson, said in a press release.
Oscar Mayer is selling its first-ever “Cold Dog,” a frozen pop that tastes like the brand’s hot weiner that allegedly boasts “both refreshing and smokey, umami notes” of a hot dog and topped with a mustard swirl. – (Oscar Meyer-Instagram)
It’s not a nationwide release, however. The “Cold Dog” is now on sale for $2 at select Popbar locations in Long Beach, New York City, New Orleans and Alpharetta, Georgia, while supplies last.
Popbar is a chain of gelato shops that helped Oscar Mayer make this freakish flavor.
Oscar Mayer, owned by Kraft Heinz, is used to making people squirm to attract attention to its packaged products. Earlier this year it sold a bologna face mask that quickly sold out on Amazon.
In 2019, Kraft wrote down the value of its Kraft and Oscar Mayer brands by $15 billion because consumers have shifted their preferences away from processed foods.
Texas Student to Adopt Boy He Found in the Trash in Haiti
*A Texas State student has launched a GoFundMe to raise money to adopt the baby he found in the trash during a trip to Haiti.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of something great and to me, that was the moment,” Jimmy Amisial said of finding a 3-month-old baby boy in discarded in the trach in 2017, PEOPLE reports.
Amisial, 22, is a Texas State student and he was visiting his home country when the moment occurred, CNN reports. He said a commotion in the street caught his attention and that’s when he found the baby in the trash.
“When I got to the place where the people were making noise I saw a baby,” Amisial recalled. “It was in a pile of trash crying, and there wasn’t a single soul who wanted to do anything about it.”
“He had no clothes on,” he continued. “He had fire ants crawling all over him because he’s been there for a couple of hours. When I picked him up he immediately stopped crying.”
Amisial took the baby back home to his mother and they cleaned him. A judge asked him the following day if he wanted temporary custody of the child since no one had claimed him. Amisial agreed but ultimately had to return to Texas to continue his studies. The boy was left in the care of Amisial’s mother while he continued the process of legally adopting the baby.
The child is now age 4 and Amisial has launched a GoFundMe to raise funds to help cover costs related to becoming little Emilio Enjole Jeremiah’s legal guardian. Amisial reportedly took a break from school in 2020 to work and save up money for Emilio’s adoption and bring him to the United States.
Amisial’s GoFundMe has raised over $150,000 as of Friday.
“The process did not really give me the means of ascertaining what it could take to be his legal guardian,” he wrote on the campaign page. “Ever since, I have been the caregiver, the caregiver and I do so with. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s a blessing.”
“One thing I know is that, you can never go wrong when you choose love,” he continued. “It was those divine moments and interventions to show love, clarity and show the world that we can do better.”
Serena Williams Still Doesn't Know If U.S. Open Will Be Her Last Tournament: 'Never Say Never'
Serena Williams might be retiring — and she might not be. The 23-time Grand Slam champion made headlines earlier this month when she announced plans to step away from her nearly 27-years-long professional tennis career after the upcoming U.S. Open, her next and possibly final chance to capture her 24th Grand Slam victory and tie Margaret Court’s record.
But speaking on Thursday alongside Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka and her own sister Venus Williams on “A Conversation with Champions” panel ahead of the U.S. Open at the Lotte New York Palace hotel in New York City, Serena hedged her bets.
Asked by co-moderator and TODAY show anchor Sheinelle Jones whether the U.S. Open would be her final tournament, Serena, 40, said, “I mean, I don’t know. I think so, but who knows?”
“Maybe in Australia?” wondered Jones, of the 2023 Australian Open. “Yeah, no. I mean, I don’t think so,” said Serena.
“You never know,” the tennis star added. “I’ve learned in my career, never say never. So that’s important.”
Serena revealed she was beginning an “evolution” away from tennis in a first-person essay for the September cover of Vogue.
“I have never liked the word retirement,” she wrote. “It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution.”
At the “Conversation with Champions” panel, Serena revisited her definition of what her “evolution” means. “It’s more like an evolution of Serena,” she explained. “So for me, I feel like a lot of people could relate to that. Sometimes you just have a platform to just talk about what a lot of people can’t really put into words or really talk about. Yeah, it’s just an evolution.
“I’m excited about the new things that I’ve been doing and I’m continuing to do,” she added.
The U.S. Open is set for Aug. 29 through Sept. 11 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. And while Serena is set to meet Danka Kovini?, from Montenegro, in the first round Monday, she’s also looking ahead to future successes off the court.
In her Vogue essay, Serena said that she has been “reluctant to admit” to herself or the people around her that she has “to move on from playing tennis.” But the founder of investment firm Serena Ventures said that she wants to refocus her attention elsewhere, and she and her husband Alexis Ohanian hope to have another child to join 4 ½-year-old daughter Olympia.
Until then, Serena said on Thursday that she’s spending plenty of time with Olympia.
“She’s my little buddy,” Serena told co-moderator and TODAY show star Dylan Dreyer. “We do everything together. We go on dates and it’s so cool because she likes everything I do — except for tennis.”
The tennis great added, “She’s really fun. I see a lot of my personality in her and it’s just a great time to have her around now to see what I do on a daily.”
Naomi Judd autopsy confirms country singer's cause of death
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An autopsy report in the death of country singer Naomi Judd that was obtained Friday by The Associated Press confirmed what family members have already said about how she died. Judd, 76, killed herself with a gun on April 30 at her home in Tennessee.
“We have always shared openly both the joys of being family as well its sorrows, too. One part of our story is that our matriarch was dogged by an unfair foe," a statement from the family released on Friday read. “She was treated for PTSD and bipolar disorder, to which millions of Americans can relate.”
The autopsy, which is considered a public record in Tennessee, showed several prescription drugs in Judd's system that are used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.
Naomi and her daughter Wynonna Judd scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. Naomi Judd died the day before she and Wynonna were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The family has asked for privacy as they mourn and encouraged anyone in a similar crisis to seek help. The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Charlie Sheen Settles HIV Lawsuit With Ex-Girlfriend
Actor Charlie Sheen has reached a settlement with an ex-girlfriend who sued him for allegedly exposing her to HIV.
TMZ obtained legal documents that show Sheen agreed to pay the woman, identified as Jane Doe, $120,000. The payments will be broken down into $10,000 monthly payments over the course of a year.
The agreement, which was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, will put to an end the lawsuit that was filed back in 2017.
Jane Doe claims she met the man, that they quickly began having sex, and eventually did so without any protection. The woman did not name Sheen by name in the suit but gave clues as to who the “confidential male defendant” was.
She mentioned that the person announced his HIV status on national television on November 17, 2015. That is the same date Sheen appeared on Today, where he revealed his HIV status.
After she learned of his HIV status, Sheen told her to take pills to prevent transmission. He also told her not to believe the “convenient rumors of the medical community” and that she wouldn’t “need to be on all that f*cking sh*t.”
Derek Chauvin Moved To Medium-Security Federal Prison In Arizona
The former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd was moved from the Minnesota state prison where he had been housed to a medium-security federal prison in Arizona.
Derek Chauvin spent most of his time in solitary confinement while housed in the state prison. He often spent most of his day confined to a 10-foot by 10-foot cell.
On Wednesday, he was moved to the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson. The medium-security facility is part of a complex with a minimum-security satellite camp and a maximum-security prison. It houses about 266 male and female prisoners.
CNN reports that experts believe that Chauvin will be safer serving his time in the federal system and less likely to run into inmates he may have arrested or investigated as a former member of the police force.
“It’s dangerous to be an officer in any prison,” said former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger. “It’s even more dangerous in state prison because of the nature of the inmate population.”
It’s expected that Chauvin will have more of an opportunity to mix in with other inmates at the Arizona location.
The ex-police officer was given a sentence of 22 ½ years in Minnesota state court for Floyd’s murder. Last month, he was sentenced to 21 years on federal civil rights charges. The former officer pleaded guilty to the charges, and part of the plea called for his sentences to be served concurrently and in a federal prison.
Three other former police officers are also serving time for their roles in Floyd’s death. J. Alexander Keung was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison last month. Tou Thao was also sentenced to three-and-a-half years. Former officer Thomas Lane was given a two-and-a-half year sentence and is expected to begin serving his time later this month at a federal prison in Colorado
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