Wednesday, February 1, 2023

The Daily Buzz For Feb 2 ☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: Mona Tougaard's Modern Elegance by Raphael Pavarotti for W Magazine 2023 Vol One
Top model Mona Tougaard delivers a dopamine-inducing, Spring 2023 color punch in ‘Fashion Favors the Bold’. Katie Grand styles the Danish beauty of Somali and Turkish descent in sultry, sensual, evening fashion artistry from Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Loewe, Prada, Richard Quinn, Roksanda, Valentino and Versace.








Photographer Raphael Pavarotti [IG] mixes up his artistic style — not with black and white — but with sepia tints exuding a sophisticated, modern edge. The fashion joy is 21st-century bold beauty for W Magazine’s [IG] 2023 Volume One: ‘The Best Performances’ issue. / Hair by Eugene Souleiman; makeup by Ana Takahashi
 
 
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Reveals She Will Never Go Back To ‘RHOA’ After Legal Battle With Bravo
Ex-Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes has been in a bitter court battle with Bravo over the past year and because of that, she confirmed she will not be going back to RHOA, RadarOnline.com has learned.
 
Leakes recently appeared on The Breakfast Club and was asked if should ever return to the show that put her name on the map.
NeNe said, “I have no plans to come back. I feel like that ship has sailed and I’ve grown in so many ways. It’s just not something I am interested in doing anymore. That’s it.”
 
There seems to be no animosity with the current cast members on RHOA though, as Leakes continued, “You let those girls go ahead on. They holding it down, don’t you think?”
 
In true NeNe fashion, she did throw a little shade into the talk, as she added, “Not really, but okay.”
Leakes was also asked if the show had reached out to her, to which she said “no and they shouldn’t.”
 
However, she said that her and the girls on the show are “cool” and if they ever call her for advice, she will “try to help the best I can.”
 
Of course, the drama with Leakes and the network stem from suing Andy Cohen and Bravo for racism and blacklisting her after she left RHOA.
 
In the lawsuit, Leakes claims she was forced to deal with racist comments made by co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann for years.
She claimed she even went to executives with her complaints, but she was told to stay quiet.
 
According to Leakes’ attorney, “From the day the series began filming, NeNe was the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives."
The chance of NeNe making a return to RHOA anytime soon is highly unlikely, as RadarOnline.com previously reported she was not even invited to BravoCon. “They did not invite me. They have not talked to me at all. I have made many attempts to try … it has been crickets.”
 
For now, she joked that she is open to providing consultation services to the girls on the show.
 
 
#MusicNews: Whitney Houston Earns Five New RIAA Certifications
Music icon Whitney Houston continues to get her flowers from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Her 1985 self-titled debut album has passed the 14x multi-platinum mark for exceeding sales of over 14 million equivalent units. It’s the groundbreaking album’s first new certification since July 1999.
Whitney Houston is Houston’s second best-selling album behind 1992’s The Bodyguard soundtrack, which achieved 18x multi-platinum status in November 2017.
 
“Greatest Love Of All,” lifted from the Whitney Houston album, is now certified 2x multi-platinum. The ballad peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1986, staying atop for three weeks.
 
Houston gained new honors for the singles “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (platinum), “So Emotional” (platinum), and “I Look to You” (platinum).
 
The first two songs topped the Hot 100 for one week in January 1988 and December 1990, respectively.
“I Look to You,” taken from the 2009 comeback album of the same name, reached No. 70 on the Hot 100 chart. Meanwhile, the inspirational tune peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
 
Houston also scored a gold award for “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” a Pentatonix-led seasonal single on which her 2004 vocals appear. It was featured on the group’s 2019 compilation album The Best of Pentatonix.
 
Last year, Houston picked up four new certifications, including “I Will Always Love You” and “When You Believe,” a duet with Mariah Carey.
 
The former cover, lifted from The Bodyguard soundtrack, went 10x multi-platinum, advancing to diamond status, while the Oscar-winning collaboration was upped to 2x multi-platinum.
 
After celebrating the life and legacy in last year’s Kasi Lemmons-directed biopic, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Houston’s 60th birthday and distinguished career will be celebrated in a series of festivities dubbed “Whitney Houston Hotel.”
The week-long event will be held Feb 1-4, during Grammy week, at the W Hotel in Hollywood, California.
 
 
#HipHopNews: Lil Wayne Announces 'Welcome To Tha Carter Tour'
Lil Wayne is going back on road. The hip-hop superstar has announced dates for his “Welcome to Tha Carter Tour.” Presented by Young Money, Rolling Loud, and Live Nation, the 28-city trek kicks off April 4 in Minneapolis before making its way to Chicago, Toronto, New York, Atlanta, and Houston, wrapping on May 13 in Los Angeles.

In October, Weezy headlined his sixth annual Lil Weezyana Fest in his hometown of New Orleans where he brought out Drake.

The tour comes nearly two decades after the release of Wayne’s seminal 2004 album Tha Carter. The rapper-turned-professional skateboarder is now readying Tha Carter VI, the sixth installment in his Grammy-winning series.

Before he hits the road, Wayne will be honored with the Global Impact Award at The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective pre-GRAMMY event on Thursday.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. local time. See dates below.
Welcome to Tha Carter Tour Dates
Apr. 4 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis
Apr. 6 – Fargo, ND – Scheels Arena
Apr. 7 – Omaha, NE – Baxter Arena
Apr. 8 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
Apr. 9 – Chicago, IL – Radius
Apr. 11 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
Apr. 12 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
Apr. 13 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
Apr. 16 – New York, NY – Apollo Theater
Apr. 17 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
Apr. 18 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Apr. 20 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
Apr. 21 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Apr. 22 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Apr. 24 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
Apr. 26 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
Apr. 27 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
Apr. 28 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Apr. 30 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
May 2 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
May 3 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
May 4 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater
May 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
May 7 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
May 9 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
May 10 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
May 12 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
May 13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
 
 
Tom Brady is really retiring  at 45, says ‘this time it’s ‘for good’
This time, Tom Brady says he’s done for good. The seven-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, exactly one year after first saying his playing days were over, by posting a brief video lasting just under one minute on social media.

Unlike last winter, though, the most successful quarterback in league history, as well as one of the greatest athletes in team sports, said his decision was final.
“Good morning guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady says as the message begins. “I’m retiring. For good.”
 
He briefly retired after the 2021 season but wound up coming back for one more year with the Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the owner of virtually every meaningful NFL passing record in an unprecedented 23-year career.
 
A year ago when he retired, it was in the form of a long Instagram post. But about six weeks later, he decided to return for one more run, citing “unfinished business” after an early playoff exit.
 
The Buccaneers — with whom he won a Super Bowl two seasons ago — made the playoffs again this season, losing in their playoff opener. And at the time, it begged the question about whether Brady would play again.
 
Only a couple of weeks later, he has given the answer.
 
“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady says in the video. “I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.
 
“I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”
 
Brady is the NFL’s career leader in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times. He also holds marks for regular-season wins (251), Super Bowl appearances (10), playoff games and wins (48, 35), as well as playoff yards (13,400) and TDs (88).
 
“Tom’s legacy is unmatched in the history of this game. All the Super Bowl titles and statistical records speak for themselves, but the impact he had on so many people through the years is what I appreciate the most,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Lichet said.
 
“His imprint on this organization helped take us to the mountaintop. We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend,” Licht added. “Our entire organization is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won’t ever forget the wins or the accolades, and his influence will be felt for years to come.”
 
Brady announced his retirement one day after attending the premiere of “80 for Brady” — which comes out Friday — in Los Angeles. The movie tells the story of four lifelong friends, played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, who went to a Super Bowl to see Brady play.
 
He was asked Tuesday night whether he felt a connection working with women — the four stars range in age from 76 to 91 — who don’t want to retire.
 
“They’re working hard and they love it. So good for them,” Brady told The Associated Press. “You know, it’s just that’s what life is about. You got to, you know, wake up every day with a purpose. And when you find something you love to do, you know, it’s hard to stop. You really enjoy it. And there’s a lot of aspects that you do enjoy. So they still bring it at this age. It’s really unbelievable to watch them on set and how much energy they have. And I certainly was inspired by them and learned a lot of lessons on this whole experience.”
 
Famously underrated coming into the NFL — he was picked 199th in the 2000 draft by the Patriots, behind six other quarterbacks, three kickers and a punter — Brady certainly wasn’t expected to become synonymous with greatness. He played in one game as a rookie, completing one of three passes for six yards.
 
The next year, it all changed.
Brady took over as the Patriots’ starter, the team beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl that capped the 2001 season and he and New England coach Bill Belichick were well on their way to becoming the most successful coach-QB duo in football history.
 
More Super Bowl wins came after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Patriots returned to football’s mountaintop for a fourth time in Brady’s era a decade later to cap the 2014 season, the start of three more titles in a span of five years.
 
He signed with Tampa Bay in free agency in 2020 and added a seventh Super Bowl ring to his collection in his first season with his new team. The Bucs and won 37 games (including postseason) with Brady at quarterback — third most in the league over the past three seasons behind Kansas City (46) and Buffalo (41).
 
“I think I’ve been on the record dozens of times saying there’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady, and I still feel that way,” Belichick said in 2021 — shortly before Tampa Bay, with Brady, came to New England and beat the Patriots in a game dubbed “The Return.” “I was very lucky to have Tom as the quarterback, to coach him, and he was as good as any coach could ever ask for.”
 
Brady set league single-season records for completions (490) and pass attempts (733) while throwing for 4,643 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his final season. The Bucs, however ranked dead last in rushing offense and, forced to rely almost solely of Brady’s arm, struggled to get the ball into the end zone.
 
After scoring 61 touchdowns in 2021, Tampa Bay slipped to 31 last season and averaged just 18.4 points per game — down from over 30 in Brady’s first two seasons with the Bucs.
 
At 8-9, Brady’s only losing season in over two decades as a NFL starter, the Bucs became just the fourth team in league history to earn a postseason berth with a losing mark in a non-strike year. The offensive struggles continued during a lopsided loss to Dallas in the NFC wild-card round.
 
Brady won three NFL MVP awards, was a first-team All-Pro three times and was selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times.
Brady and model Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this past fall, during the Bucs’ season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion.
 
It was announced last year that when Brady retires from playing, he would join Fox Sports as a television analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.
 
 
Beyoncé Announces Her Renaissance World Tour
She’ll embark on an extensive run through Europe and North America that stretches from May to Septembe 
Beyoncé has announced that she’s touring in support of her latest album, Renaissance. The tour begins with a European leg in May, followed by dates in Canada and the United States that extend from from early July through late September. It’s her first tour since her 2018 co-headlining On the Run II Tour with Jay-Z behind their collaborative album, Everything Is Love, and her first headlining tour since 2016’s Formation World Tour behind Lemonade. The Renaissance World Tour is produced by Parkwood Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation. See all of the dates below.
 
EUROPE
May 10, 2023 – Stockholm, SE – Friends Arena
May 14, 2023 – Brussels, BE – King Baudouin Stadium
May 17, 2023 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Principality Stadium
May 20, 2023 – Edinburgh, UK – BT Murrayfield Stadium
May 23, 2023 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of Light
May 26, 2023 – Paris, FR – Stade de France
May 29, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
May 30, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 08, 2023 – Barcelona, ES – Olympic Stadium
June 11, 2023 – Marseille, FR – Orange Velodrome
June 15, 2023 – Cologne, DE – Rhein Energie Stadion
June 17, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff Arena
June 21, 2023 – Hamburg, DE – Volksparkstadion
June 24, 2023 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park
June 27, 2023 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy
 
NORTH AMERICA
July 8, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
July 12, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
July 15, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium
July 17, 2023 – Louisville, KY – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
July 20, 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – Huntington Bank Stadium
July 22, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Stadium
July 26, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
July 29, 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Aug. 01, 2023 – Boston, MA – Gillette Stadium
Aug. 03, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium
Aug. 05, 2023 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field
Aug. 09, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
Aug. 11, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Aug. 16, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Aug. 18, 2023 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium
Aug. 21, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – Dome at America’s Center
Aug. 24, 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium
Aug. 26, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
Aug. 30, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – Levi’s Stadium
Sept. 02, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium
Sept. 11, 2023 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
Sept. 13, 2023 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
Sept. 18, 2023 – Kansas City, MO – GEHA Field At Arrowhead Stadium
Sept. 21, 2023 – Dallas, TX – AT&T Stadium
Sept. 23, 2023 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium
Sept. 27, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – Caesars Superdome
 
Renaissance arrived July 29, rising swiftly to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and marking Beyoncé’s seventh album to summit the albums chart. It is the first act in what will be a three-part series, she has indicated.
 
Beyoncé is nominated for nine honors at the 2023 Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Dance/Electronic Recording for “Break My Soul”; Album of the Year and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for Renaissance; Best R&B Performance for “Virgo’s Groove”; Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa”; Best R&B Song for “Cuff It”; and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Be Alive.”
 
 
Alec Baldwin formally charged in 'Rust' shooting as prosecutors say he was 'distracted' during gun training, 'reckless' on set
Prosecutors filed formal charges on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the district attorney's office announced Alec faced two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The Emmy-winning actor isn't the only person authorities believe is responsible for the terrible accident. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was in charge of handling weapons on set of the Western, was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
 
"Today we have taken another important step in securing justice for Halyna Hutchins," New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement on Tuesday. "In New Mexico, no one is above the law and justice will be served."
 
Negligent use of a deadly weapon charges were also filed against David Halls, the film's first assistant director, who allegedly handed the gun to Baldwin and declared it "cold," meaning there was no live ammunition. Halls pleaded no contest and has entered into a plea agreement that is pending approval.
 
Tuesday's filing included a statement of probable cause. Police believe the 30 Rock star "displayed very inconsistent accounts of what happened during the incident," citing interviews they conducted as well as statements the actor made in the media.
 
Alec has maintained he did not pull the trigger. But investigators — and the FBI — found the gun could not "accidentally fire." For the weapon to fire, the trigger had to have been pressed. Photo and video evidence from rehearsals "clearly show" Alec "multiple times with his finger inside of the trigger guard and on the trigger, while manipulating the hammer and while drawing, pointing, and holstering the revolver."
 
The document claims Alec was careless when it came to gun safety, noting he "was not present for required firearms training" prior to filming. When he did show up for training, Alec allegedly only completed 30 minutes of the one hour session as he "was distracted and talking on his cell phone to his family" according to Gutierrez-Reed's deposition.
 
Investigators determined that when Alec was rehearsing, the scene "did not require the weapon to be fired." A replica gun should be used as no firing of blanks is required.
 
"[Alec] directly pointed a firearm at Hutchins and Souza. Whether guided by her directions or not, Baldwin knew the first rule of gun safety is never point a gun at someone you don't intend on shooting. In addition, always assume a gun is loaded. Had Baldwin performed the required safety checks with the armorer ... this tragedy would not have occurred," the document claims.
 
The probable cause statement points to the actor's decades-long experience in the film industry and said he showed "reckless deviation" from standard safety protocols on set. The document outlines multiple ways Baldwin failed as the film's lead producer, too, as there were two "negligent discharge" incidents before the fatal incident.
 
Baldwin was photographed in New York City earlier Tuesday. Before charges were filed, his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, spoke out on social media. Hilaria, who gave birth to the couple's seventh child in September, once again thanked fans and offered public support for her husband.
 
"I hope you understand how much your support and kindness to Alec and our children mean. Thank you for being our community and our village. You are helping us to be stronger parents and partners during this unimaginable time, stemming from such heartbreaking tragedy," she wrote, adding: "Alec, we love you and we are here for you."
The actor and Gutierrez-Reed are charged in the alternative, meaning if a jury decides either is guilty, the panel then must determine which definition of involuntary manslaughter applies. A jury could also find them not guilty.
 
To be found guilty of the first charge, involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors must prove there was underlying negligence. The other charge is involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act, which requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death. The latter includes a firearm enhancement, or added mandatory penalty, because of the weapon involved. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed face anywhere from zero to five years behind bars.
 
Lawyers for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed previously said they will fight the charges.
 
"This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins's tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set," the actor's attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, previously told Yahoo Entertainment. "He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win."
 
Gutierrez-Reed's lawyers Jason Bowles and Todd J. Bullion released the following statement to Yahoo after charges were filed on Tuesday:
 
The filed probable cause statement reveals that the district attorney has completely misunderstood the facts and has reached the wrong conclusions. Hannah pleaded to provide more firearms training. She was denied and brushed aside. Hannah asked to be able to perform her armorer duties more for safety reasons. She was told by production to focus on props. Hannah asked Halls if they could us a plastic gun for the rehearsal scene and he said no, wanting a “real gun.” Hannah asked to be called back into the church if Baldwin was going to use the gun at all and Halls failed to do that. Yet the district attorney has given Halls a 6 month probation misdemeanor and charged Hannah and Baldwin with felony offenses carrying at least 5 years in prison. The tragedy of this is had Hannah just been called back into the church by Halls, she would have performed the inspection and prevented this tragedy. We will fight these charges and expect that a jury will find Hannah not guilty.
 
 
Will Smith And Martin Lawrence To Reunite For 'Bad Boys 4'
The Bad Boys are back. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have announced that they will reunite for a fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise.
 
According to Variety, the untitled sequel is in early pre-production at Sony Pictures with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah once again directing a script written by Chris Bremner.
 
The last installment, 2020’s Bad Boys for Life, saw Smith and Lawrence reuniting 25 years after the original Bad Boys in 1995. The movie opened at No. 1 and grossed $426.5 million at the worldwide box office.
On Tuesday, Smith and Lawrence made the official announcement in a video titled “IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME!” which finds Smith driving to Lawrence’s house while playing Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee’s “Shake Ya Tailfeather” from the Bad Boys II soundtrack.
 
“It’s about that time?!” Lawrence asks while answering the door.
 “It’s official. Bad Boys 4 Life,” Smith responds while holding up four fingers before realizing that they already did a Bad Boys for Life. “We shouldn’t have called it that though.”
 
The action franchise has spawned blockbusters including 2003’s Bad Boys II, which amassed $273 million at the global box office. The 1995 original grossed $141 million worldwide.
 
Smith most recently starred in Antoine Fuqua’s slavery drama Emancipation for Apple TV+, while Lawrence appeared in last year’s mystery thriller Mindcage.
 
 
Donald Glover Gives First Look At Forthcoming Show ‘Swarm’

In a Vanity Fair exclusive, Donald Glover and Janine Nabers shared first look images and the synopsis for new Amazon Prime show Swarm.
Donald Glover and Janine Nabers are opening up the weird world of Swarm. In a Vanity Fair exclusive published on Monday (January 31), the duo provided first look images to their forthcoming Amazon Prime Video show Swarm, starring Dominique Fishback, Chloe Bailey and Damson Idris. According to VF, the show tells the story of Dre (Fishback), “a young woman who is obsessed with a fictional pop star (whose oeuvre and aesthetic are very similar to Beyoncé’s). The show is a dive into Dre’s life, her fandom, and how it takes her to dark, unexpected places.”
 
“We just thought it’d be fun to make a post-truth Piano Teacher mixed with The King of Comedy,” Glover said, referencing Michael Haneke’s 2001 drama and Martin Scorsese’s 1982 film.
 
Nabers, formerly a co-writer and producer on Atlanta, was tapped by Glover to co-create the Amazon Prime series, as she’s from Houston, Texas, the birthplace of Beyoncé.
 
“We were really interested in creating an antihero story,” said Nabers, also a showrunner for Swarm. The duo also looked to fictional characters, like Mad Men’s Don Draper and The Sopranos’ Tony Soprano to develop an updated version of the archetype “through the lens of a Black, modern-day woman.”
 
Bailey portray’s Dre’s sister, Marissa, while Idris plays the role of Dre’s boyfriend. In the writers room was Malia Obama, eldest daughter of 44th United States President Barack Obama and a Harvard College Graduate.
 
“Dre and Marissa are in their 20s and Malia is in her 20s, so it was really great having someone like her in the room,” Nabers said. “She’s a very professional person. She’s an incredible writer and artist. We really wanted to give her the opportunity to get her feet wet in TV and see if this is something she wants to continue doing.”
 
The show’s crew reportedly consists of writers and producers who assisted with Atlanta, so Swarm feels like a “a sister” to the former FX show.
 
“A lot of people did it out of the kindness of their hearts and they did a really great job,” Glover wrote to VF. “Dom, Damson, Chloe. I was really blown away at how hard they worked on the tone, ’cause it’s a strange one.”
 
 
Latto's Worn Panties Auction Taken Down By EBay For Violating Policy
Latto (Mulatto) almost made money off her panties drama after she trolled her hater by auctioning her worn cheetah-print underwear on eBay, earning crazy high bids for them. However, the bidding war came to a rather disappointing end as the website removed the listing due to health violations.
 
As soon as Latto shared an eBay link to the panties, more than 100 people placed an offer on the panties. The bid, which started at 99 cents, quickly climbed to more than $95K within hours. Despite that, eBay decided to take down the post as the auction violated its "used clothing policy."
 
Speaking to Insider, the company also shared in a statement that it infringed on the site's "health and hygiene" guidelines. "eBay is committed to maintaining a safe and vibrant community by ensuring goods sold on our platform comply with our policies, including our health and hygiene standards," a company spokesperson told the news outlet. "Listings that include used underwear are prohibited under our used clothing policy."
 
Latto announced the auction on Monday evening, January 30. "In light of my panty discrepancy yesterday, I've decided to give you guys an inside look on my panty drawer," she said in a video posted to her Instagram Stories. "These are all my Target panties that caused such a discrepancy yesterday. $5 at Target, here's the cheetah stash."
The "B***h From Da Souf" raptress went on to joke in another post. "Auction live on eBay since I can't wear them twice Link in bio," so she announced.
 
Latto's hilarious move arrived after a Twitter account mocked the raptress for donning the panties with two different outfits. The troll wrote in the caption, "Can't afford new panties?" Catching wind of the diss, Latto sarcastically responded, "Oh no, it's the panty police."
 
Fans also defended Latto as they thought the hate was too much. "The internet be soooo weird, people need to get a life fr. Didn't realize you had to throw away y'a panties after wearing them just once," one person opined.
 
Some others noted it was normal to wear the same panties more than once. "Normal people wear the same underwear more than once. It's a washer and dryer TF!" one person said. "So y'all don't have washing machines," one other commented.
 
 
Lizzo Debuts Her Madame Tussauds Wax Figure to Fans
Seeing double! Lizzo is showing off her Madame Tussauds wax figure, and delightfully freaking out over how great it looks.
The songstress took to social media on Tuesday to give fans a first look at her wax figure, and she couldn't help but be romanced by its beauty.
Lizzo wrote on Twitter that it was "single-handedly one of the most terrifyingly meta moments of my life."
"Thank you @MadameTussauds - now I know what a twosome with Lizzo is like 😳" she added, alongside a video of herself just about to lock lips with, well, herself.
 
Lizzo also shared some choice glimpses of the wax figure on TikTok in a series of posts featuring her posing alongside the impressive facsimile.
Lizzo's picture-perfect wax figure comes just a few days after Madame Tussauds Berlin unveiled their latest wax figure of Beyoncé -- and this one actually looks like her
 
 
Jussie Smollett given more time to file appeal brief, but court warns 'no further extension will be granted'
CHICAGO - A state appeals court on Monday granted a request by Jussie Smollett’s defense lawyers for a fifth extension to file their initial argument, but warned it would be the last time.
 
"A fifth motion for more time to file an opening brief, particularly by the defendant in a criminal matter, is rare," the three-judge panel of the First District Appellate Court wrote in its order. "Nevertheless, the court grants the motion to serve and file appellant’s brief on or before March 1, 2023. After that date, no further extension will be granted."
 
In their motion last week for yet another extension, Smollett’s attorneys said their brief was completed and, at the time, they were still waiting for a ruling on a request to file an oversized brief in the case.
 
The actor and singer is appealing his conviction for staging a hate crime against himself in Chicago and lying about it. His lawyers have said they needed to file 80 pages instead of the standard maximum of 50. They cited the complexity of the case and previous cases that were brought against the actor after the 2019 hoax first came to light.
 
Smollett was indicted that year but in a much-criticized reversal, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped all charges against Smollett in consideration of community service and his agreement to turn over the $10,000 he had posted for bond to the city of Chicago.
 
That led to Special Prosecutor Dan Webb being appointed to review the decision, and he announced new charges against the actor the following year.
 
Jussie Smollett was ordered released from jail Wednesday by an appeals court that agreed with his lawyers that he should released pending the appeal of his conviction for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack.
 
Attorneys for the special prosecutor’s office opposed the filing of an oversized brief, noting Smollett’s appeal dealt only with the case that led to his 2021 conviction, not earlier cases.
 
In the ruling Tuesday, the judges allowed Smollett to file an oversized brief but not as large as they had requested. "Instead, Defendant-Appellant may file a brief not to exceed 20,000 words, a 33% increase in the number of words," the court ruled.
 
A jury convicted Smollett in December 2021 on five counts of felony disorderly conduct and he was sentenced by Judge James Linn to five months in jail. The sentencing hearing ended with the actor yelling that he was not suicidal before being led from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies.
 
Smollett only served six days in the Cook County Jail before he was released on his own recognizance pending appeal. He will be required to go back and serve the rest of his time if his conviction is not overturned.
 
His attorneys allege the charges bought by Webb amount to double jeopardy. They have also criticized rulings Linn made before and during the actor’s trial.
 
 
Dr. Phil announces end of daytime talk show after 21 seasons: 'I have been blessed'
Dr. Phil McGraw is calling it quits on his eponymous daytime talk show after more than two decades on the air.
McGraw, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, said in a statement that while the show “has been an incredible chapter of my life and career,” he wants to pursue other projects after the show's 21st season.
 
“I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television,” McGraw said. “With this show, we have helped thousands of guests and millions of viewers through everything from addiction and marriage to mental wellness and raising children.”
 
'Dr Phil' turns 20: Host responds to backlash over his show 'exploiting' mental illness
 
As for his next move, McGraw says he will focus on prime-time programming and has plans to announce a strategic prime-time partnership that’s slated for release in 2024.
 
“I am compelled to engage with a broader audience because I have grave concerns for the American family, and I am determined to help restore a clarity of purpose as well as our core values,” McGraw said.
 
McGraw began his TV career on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the late ’90s and later made his talk-show host debut with “Dr. Phil” in September 2002. The show was an instant smash, holding the No. 1 or 2 spot in its genre for its entire run, as well as scoring 31 Emmy nominations.
 
The show also attracted its fair share of controversy. In February 2022, a dozen current and former staffers of the syndicated talk show alleged a toxic and traumatizing work environment in a Buzzfeed report.
 
Those who spoke with BuzzFeed said they were often yelled at by executive producer Carla Pennington and other senior-level employees. Five of the interviewees claimed that during Pennington's blowups she ridiculed people as “idiots” or “stupid” and used other slurs.
 
“This show destroyed me mentally, emotionally, and physically,” an ex-staff member claimed at the time. “They make you feel like not only are you not worth anything, every single day you’re told how (expletive) you are, how horrible your work is, yet you're indispensable so they don't fire you. That type of mental game emotionally and physically carries with us into other positions after we leave the show.”
 
Aside from his hit talk show, McGraw is also a producer. His work includes the CBS series “Bull,” on which he served as executive producer, writer and co-creator. He also hosts the podcasts “Phil in the Blanks” and “Mystery & Murder: Analysis by Dr. Phil.”
 
 
Rihanna partners with Apple Music for "Road to Halftime" experience
It’s almost time for the big game, but for months, the focus has been on the big performer. In late September 2022, the NFL announced Rihanna as the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show headliner. Yesterday (Jan. 30), Apple Music revealed the superstar would be giving fans an exclusive look into her journey.
 
The “Road to Halftime” will allow her devoted supporters to experience features perfectly crafted to highlight the upcoming performance. The service was launched two weeks before the Super Bowl and gives her following the chance to listen to carefully curated beats with Spatial Audio in Dolby Atmos. “Rihanna is one of the most prolific artists of our time, and we, along with her many fans across the globe, cannot wait to see her take the stage at the first Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show,” Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats shared. This year, the popular brand has taken the crown as the official game sponsor in place of Pepsi.
 
“We are excited to celebrate Rihanna, and give her fans a new way to experience her music with Spatial Audio, as well as exclusive content from Apple Music,” Schusser continued. Other rollouts leading up to the show include the new Apple Music Sing feature, which lets fans use a microphone for their favorite RihRih songs for solos, duets, backup, or whatever the occasion calls for on all compatible iPhone and iPad models and the new Apple TV 4K. Apple Music Radio also has special channels offering content such as “Halftime Hype Radio” and “Rihanna Revisited Radio.”
 
Following the September 2022 halftime performance announcement, JAY-Z said, “Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.” On Feb. 9, the “Diamonds” songstress will sit down with Apple Music for an exclusive Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Press Conference. Game day is Sunday, Feb. 12 in the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the San Francisco 49ers.
 
 
Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson Says He Saved Most Of His NFL Money By Wearing Fake Jewelry And Flying Commercial
While it’s pretty common to hear athletes go broke once their stop professionally playing, Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson is making it known he’s not one of them. During a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay Podcast,” the 45-year-old revealed how being smart about his money during his NFL career ultimately allowed him to save 83% of his salary.
 
From his jewelry, which was fake, to opting for Spirit Airlines rather than flying private, making smart decisions while he was still at the peak of his career has allowed him to fall back on a ton of wealth. “Never bought real anything while I was playing,” Johnson told Sharpe. “Never, what was the point? I went to Claire’s. For what? What am I doing it for?”
 
Johnson says he’s no fan of wasting money on things that are unnecessary, such as an $80,000 watch to simply uphold an image of a person he doesn’t identify with and a lot of times leaves people getting into financial difficulties later down the line. “If you can get to a point in your career where your name becomes bigger than anything you can purchase there’s your value.”
 
As he mentioned, Johnson’s name alone carried enough value for him not to feel like he needed to impress or show off his fortune by overspending on fancy things he didn’t need.
 
So, when Johnson did step away from the NFL, he wasn’t finding himself in a tight financial situation like some athletes do when they aren’t making the type of money they made in their career.
 
“And then other women who really doing their homework done Googled how much you making already,” he said. “Why am I buying $50,000 watch? $80,000 watch? Time is free so what am I paying for? I’m Ocho, what’s the point?”
 
Johnson played a whopping 11 seasons in the NFL, with his former teams including Cinccinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he’s currently said to be worth around $15 million, though these sites can sometimes be a little inaccurate as it doesn’t actually disclose how they amassed these figures.
 
Either way, Johnson doesn’t appear to be in a hard financial situation because of how he treated his NFL salaries.
 
 
Britney Spears Calls Out Alyssa Milano for Questioning Her Well-Being
Britney Spears has responded to Alyssa Milano‘s tweet about her.
Back in December 2022, the 50-year-old Charmed actress shared a tweet questioning the 41-year-old “Gimme More” singer’s well-being.

“Someone please go check on Britney Spears,” Alyssa tweeted.
On Tuesday (January 31), Britney took to her Instagram Story to call out Alyssa over the tweet.
“It saddens me to see things about me from people who don’t know me!!!” Britney wrote along with a screenshot of Alyssa’s tweet.
 
“This definitely feels like a form of bullying!!!” Britney continued. “Ladies, we are supposed to be rooting for one another not pulling one another down!!!”
 
As of right now, Alyssa has not responded to Britney.
Britney recently spoke out out after police performed a wellness check on her after she briefly deactivated her Instagram.
 
 
Kingsley Ben-Adir Gets Into Character as Bob Marley While Filming Biopic in London
We have new photos of Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley! The 36-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Peaky Blinders and One Night in Miami, was seen in character as the late reggae entertainer while filming the upcoming untitled biopic on Sunday (January 29) in London, England.
 
Also seen on set was James Norton, whose role in the biopic has not been disclosed yet.
While filming, Kinglsey was seen kissing Umi Myers, who plays one of Bob’s former girlfriends in the movie.
It was announced back in February 2022 that Kinglsey will be playing Bob in an upcoming biopic with Reinaldo Marcus Green directing. No Time to Die actress Lashana Lynch will be playing Bob’s wife, Rita Marley.
 
Bob spent a lot of time in London back in the ’70s while working on his album Exodus, which was released in 1977. He died in 1981 at age 36 after a battle with cancer.
 
Kinglsey will next be appearing in this highly-anticipated movie coming out this summer!
 
 
Broncos appoint Sean Payton as head coach as Texans hire DeMeco Ryans
The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans settled on the identity of their new head coaches on Tuesday.
ESPN reports that the Broncos have agreed compensation with Sean Payton’s former team, the New Orleans Saints, with whom he won the Super Bowl in the 2009 season. The Broncos will reportedly receive Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third-round draft pick in the deal. New Orleans will get Denver’s 2023 first-round pick (No 30) and the Broncos’ 2024 second-round pick.
 
Meanwhile, the Houston Texans confirmed they have agreed a deal with DeMeco Ryans to be their new head coach. Ryans has won widespread praise as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.
 
The 38-year-old played for the Texans for six seasons after they selected him in the second round of the 2006 draft. As a linebacker with the team he won defensive rookie of the year and was selected to two Pro Bowls.As a coach he has distinguished himself as a defensive mind: under his leadership the 49ers were best in the NFL in points and yards allowed this past season.
 
San Francisco were particularly good against the run with Ryans as defensive coordinator, ranking second in the league by holding teams to 77.7 yards. That’s a stark contrast to Houston’s run defense, which ranked last in the NFL by allowing 170.2 yards this season. The Texans have not had a winning season since 2019, but they have the No 2 overall pick in this year’s draft and own Cleveland’s first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 after they traded Deshaun Watson to the Browns last year.
 
“For so many reasons, DeMeco is everything we are looking for in a leader and coach for our organization,” Texans owner Cal McNair said in a statement. “He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco.
 
“We started this process with the goal of finding someone our fans and city can be proud of and we’ve done just that. While we received a lot of incredible feedback and support for DeMeco from different people, it was our discussions with him and his vision for our football team that made him the right coach to lead us as we continue to evolve as an organization.”
Ryans’ appointment means the Texans are the first NFL team in history to hire three Black head coaches in succession.
 
Payton will also inherit a struggling team, although the same could be said for the Saints when he became their head coach in 2006. Alongside future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, Payton led the Saints to the playoffs nine times and the NFC South title on seven occasions.
 
Payton remained under contract with New Orleans after stepping down from the Saints last season and working in broadcasting this season.
 
The Broncos, who went 5-12 this season and extended their playoff drought to seven years, fired rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett in December after he went 4-11. Interim coach Jerry Rosburg went 1-1.
 
Payton’s top task will be to get quarterback Russell Wilson back to his winning ways after the 11-year pro had his worst statistical season following his blockbuster trade from Seattle for four premium draft picks and three players.
 
The Broncos dealt their first- and second-round picks to the Seahawks for Wilson. They got back into the first round by trading pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins, who sent the Broncos a first-rounder originally owned by the San Francisco 49ers. That selection now belongs to the Saints.
 
 
Lil Jon Threatening to Take Legal Action Against Live Nation for Use of “Lovers & Friends” Name for Music Festival
Lil’ Jon has threatened to sue Live Nation after it was announced that there would be a second edition of The Lovers and Friends Festival.
Earlier this week, Live Nation received a letter from Jon’s legal team stating he wanted to be paid for using the name of his hit 2004 single.
The rapper, producer, and DJ reportedly started discussions with Live Nation last year after headlining the festival with Ludacris and Usher.
 
Doug Davis, the lawyer who initiated the conversation, apparently didn’t want to put the 2022 show in jeopardy since it had to be rescheduled.
According to reports, there have been attempts to agree on using the “Lovers & Friends” name. Still, the rapper’s lawyer, Ed McPherson, argued that even though his client’s song was a remake of Michael Sterling’s 1991 song, fans are most familiar with Lil Jon’s version.
 
Lil Jon is reportedly seeking to resolve the situation outside of court, despite the most recent efforts of his lawyers.
 
 
Flavor Flav Elaborates on Sobriety Journey After Admitting to Spending Up to $2,600 a Day on Drugs Before Becoming Sober: ‘If I Can Get Clean, Anyone Can
Flavor Flav recently revealed that in the past he spent up to $2,600 a day on drugs. After receiving a lot of feedback on this revelation, he responded on Twitter Tuesday, saying his hope was to make sure fans don’t make his same past mistakes.
 
“Ya boy is always honest with who he was,,, and my sobriety has been a journey,,, but I’m here takin accountability And tryin to make sure y’all don’t make the same mistakes I did,” he posted on Twitter.
 
He continued, “The point of my story is to share that if I can get clean,,, anyone can get clean,,, I am real proud of me being clean today….”
“Society wants us to change,,, but offers no peace when reparations are made. The tear downs, salacious headlines, and cancel culture doesn’t make anyone better than the other. We all need to do better as humans,,, because the end of the day there aint no race but the human race.”

Flav celebrated two years of sobriety in October. Last week he appeared on the Off the Record with DJ Akademiks podcast and said during the peak of his addiction, he “never really let people know exactly.”
 “There was a time that I was spending $2,400 to $2,600 a day… for six years straight, you do the math,” he said. “That’s how much I spent on drugs.”
 
He also admitted to dealing and dipping into his own supply. “I ain’t gonna lie, I sold a lot. But I was my best customer … I had a lot of money at the time too, I was just doing the wrong things with my money,” Flav recalled.
 
Although he was spending nearly $1 million a year on drugs, the Public Enemy member said he “maintained” himself “very well” while using and “kept it hidden too.”
 
He started his journey to recovery in 2020 and gave glory to God. “I guess God wanted me to live. And he knows that I’m a mouthpiece to the world,” he said. “So, I feel that God let me live through that, so that way, I could teach people about the mistakes that I made. And hopefully, they won’t make them later on in life.”


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Too Much Skin-Base Outfit’s
Earth tones???


EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Derek
Meet Derek! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!

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HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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