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Botham Shem Jean: Quick Facts About Man Accidentally Shot By Dallas Cop Who Entered Wrong Apartment

By
GOT Staff

Botham Shem Jean has been identified as the man who was shot and killed by a white female Dallas police officer who authorities say accidentally entered Jean’s apartment thinking it was hers. The identity of the officer has not yet been released.

Police acknowledged in a statement that the cop was not in her apartment; she was in Jean’s, and she had absolutely no reason to be there. Authorities say she then shot him, possibly thinking he was an intruder.

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall said at a press conference that investigators were working to obtain an arrest warrant charging the officer with manslaughter. Her name will be released once she is charged, Hall told reporters Friday afternoon.

The officer, who is not in custody, worked in patrol. Hall said when they first responded to the call they handled it as an “officer-involved shooting,” however, once more details were revealed, the circumstances changed, creating a “very unique situation.”

Here’s what you need to know:

1The cop was in full uniform and had just finished her shift when she mistakenly walked into Botham Shem Jean’s apartment, police said.

The shooting occurred at an upscale apartment complex called South Side Flats not far from downtown Dallas, NBC reported.

Though police haven’t identified the officer yet, they did reveal some details relating to what happened. “On September 6, 2018 at about 9:59 p.m., an off-duty Dallas Police officer called police dispatch and said she was involved in a shooting at the apartments located at 1210 S. Lamar,” police wrote in an official report.

“Preliminary information suggests that the officer arrived home in full uniform after working a full shift,” the report continued. “The officer reported to the responding officers that she entered the victim’s apartment believing that it was her own. At some point, the officer fired her weapon striking the victim. Responding officers administered aid to the victim, a 26-year-old male, at the scene. The victim was then transported to the hospital and pronounced deceased.”

A blood draw was taken from the officer to test for drugs and alcohol, Police Chief Renee Hall said at a press conference. “We are in the process of obtaining a warrant based on the circumstances that we have right now,” Hall told reporters.

Though police did not identify Botham Shem Jean as the victim, the Dallas Morning News and relatives on social media confirmed it was him. A Morning News reporter asked police whether the officer in question mistakenly believed Jean was an intruder in his own apartment, but police didn’t give any details regarding that.

“I won’t go into that information right now,” Dallas police spokesman Sgt. Warren Mitchell told the newspaper. “I mean, we have not interviewed her, and like I said this is just a preliminary statement. We still have a lot to do in this investigation … This is all we can give you at this time.”

Hall said at a later press conference that the officer still had not been interviewed. She told reporters: “It’s not clear what interaction was between them, but at some point, she fired her weapon, striking the victim. She called 911, officers responded in about four minutes. Dallas Fire Rescue also responded and took Mr. Jean to the hospital, where he later died.

“At the very early stages of this investigation early indications were that we were dealing with an officer-involved shooting. However, as we continued the investigation it became clear we were dealing with much of what appears to be a very unique situation. Therefore, we have ceased handling it under our normal officer-involved shooting protocol.”

Hall said that because the officer was off duty when the shooting occurred, that changed it from being an officer-involved shooting investigation.

“At my request we are in the process of obtaining a warrant based on the circumstances that we have right now,” Hall said. “We have also invited the Texas Rangers to begin an independent investigation. They have just arrived a moment ago and they are currently being briefed. I’ve spoken with the Jean family, his sister, Alissa, specifically. My condolences have been given to them and we have reassured them that we are working diligently and we have invited an outside agency to investigate this.”

“Right now there are more questions than we have answers,” she added. “We understand the concerns of this community and that is why we are working as vigorously and meticulous as we can to ensure the integrity of this case and the integrity of the department is upheld. In doing so, we hope to bring understanding and clarity to the family.”

https://www.facebook.com/CentralTexasNewsNow/videos/517179915360488/

Hall said at a press conference, which you can watch above: “My condolences to the Botham Shem Jean family. We want to be and we will be as transparent in this investigation as we can be … We ask that you, this community and the media work alongside of us in this process.” She spoke briefly at the news conference and took limited questions before walking out as angry reporters shouted questions at her.

One of Jean’s family members told the St. Lucia Times that he lived in a gated community in Dallas and alleged that “the police officer’s key was found in the lock of the door of the apartment … after she tried unsuccessfully to open it.” Hall said at the press conference she doesn’t know whether the officer knew Jean.

2Botham Shem Jean’s family is devastated over his death, with his uncle calling it “the worst day of my life thus far.”

Botham Shem Jean, whose nickname was “Bo,” originally hails from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia and comes from a prominent family.

According to the St. Lucia Times, Jean was the son of Allison Jean, described as a “former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development” and Bertram Jean, who worked as a store supervisor for water and Sewerage Company Inc., known as WASCO.

His uncle, Ignatius Jean, is “Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association Inc. (CAWASA) and former government Minister and Parliamentarian,” St. Lucia Times reported.

Jean’s mother, Allie Jean, told NBC News “he did no one any wrong.” She added, “Somebody has to be crazy not to realize that they walked into the wrong apartment. He’s a bachelor. Things are different inside.”

His sister, Alissa Charles-Findley, wrote on Facebook: “Just last week I was thinking of what to get you for your birthday, now I have to go pick out your casket. You will always be my baby brother. I love you with all of my heart Botham Shem Jean. Until we meet again my love.”

Jean’s uncle Earl Jean, who is a coach from St. Lucia, posted a photo tribute to his deceased nephew on Facebook. He said finding out his nephew was dead was “the worst day of [his] life thus far.” Read his full message below:

“My heart goes with you my boy…never thought this day would come ,wanted to be there for you always my boy …how can this nasty world take you away from me ….this is the worst day of my life thus far….uncle loves you so much …there goes Mr.botham shem Jean….iam lost for words…part of me has left! Gone with the Angel’s ….lord keep me sane”

He wrote in another post: “I love you to the moon and back…rest in eternal peace my baby”

Jean’s family members repeatedly expressed how proud they was of him on Facebook. In the caption of a photo of Jean wearing a suit and tie, one relative wrote: “This is my work of art – dedicated, committed, hard-working, intelligent – Vote Botham for President!”

Edmund Regis, General Manager of WASCO, told the St. Lucia Times that the company was extending sympathies to Jean’s family, saying, “this is undoubtedly what can only be described as a difficult time of bereavement for the Jean family.”

3Botham Shem Jean attended a Christian college in Arkansas where he studied accounting and was a leader on campus who “really stood out.”

Botham Shem Jean, a recent college graduate known for his leadership and singing voice in church, was the pride of his family. To them, he was a young man who came to America to study accounting and they expected great things from him.

Botham Jean described himself on LinkedIn as an “aspiring young professional” who was “engaged in developing a career built upon integrity, dedication and relationships, leveraging useful technologies to gain an understanding of and add value in a range [of] industries, striving towards leadership in my career, my community and society.” According to his LinkedIn page, Botham was working in Dallas as a risk assurance associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers. In college, he was president of a Young Leaders group.

Landis Tindell, a former classmate who attended college with Jean in Arkansas, told Heavy.com in an e-mail that Jean was a “great leader on our campus.” Tindell explained, “He was a campus leader. Very active in leading worship and campus student government. I don’t think there was a student on campus who didn’t know Botham. He was always friendly, always smiling, and just all around a great person.”

The university released a statement to the Dallas Morning News that read, “We’re all deeply grieved. He was just one of those people who really stood out, with his voice and his leadership.”

Arielle Butler wrote on Twitter, “I was lucky enough to attend the same university as Botham and he was an awesome guy and leader. No one in the world deserves to meet their end in this way.”

According to news reports, Botham graduated college in 2015. “I always saw Botham around campus. He always wanted to lead in chapel in whatever way he could. He was always so nice and so kind. He was definitely a light at Harding – one who I could never forget. Prayers for his family and friends,” wrote Amy Johnson on Twitter.

4Jean was a member of the College Church of Christ and sang on the choir. Church officials said he had a “beautiful voice” and a “spirit of joy that flowed from him.”

While attending Harding University in Arkansas, Jean was involved in the College Church of Christ.

“He led singing often in HU Chapel and at the College Church of Christ in Searcy,” Glenn Dillard, Harding’s assistant vice president for enrollment management, told The Christian Chronicle. “He had a beautiful voice.”

Tracy Moore, a preacher who knew Jean through church, told the Christian Chronicle: “I used to go to the Caribbean Lectures and met him there. An impressive young man. A powerful singer and always a spirit of joy that flowed from him.”

The Christian news site reported that Jean and his family were involved in Church of Christ in St. Lucia as well.

5The police officer, who has worked for the department for 5 years, is on paid administrative leave.

The Dallas Police Department said in a statement that the officer who shot and killed Botham Shem Jean was not injured and would be placed on paid administrative leave “pending the outcome of the investigation.”

The officer, whose name has not been released, has worked for the department for five years, police said in a statement. She had just finished a 12-hour shift at some point prior to the shooting after working overtime because she made a late arrest, police said.

A written statement from the department said the officer was “tired” and thought she was in her own apartment, but at a press conference, Chief Rene Hall wouldn’t confirm that the officer being tired was the reason she went to the wrong apartment. Hall didn’t provide any other information about the officer other than saying she’s a “Caucasian female” who worked in the patrol division.

“The Dallas Police Department is conducting a joint investigation with the District Attorney’s Office. This investigation is ongoing and we will release additional details as they become available and it is appropriate to do so,” police wrote.

Many people on social media have expressed outrage over the bizarre circumstances of Botham Shem Jean’s senseless death.

“The tears won’t stop flowing for #BothamShemJean, he was chilling in his own house, minding his business! This officer should be in JAIL!!!!” one woman wrote. “Now in America if a cop mistakenly walks into YOUR home… You will get shot… Because hey… This is ‘merica. #BothamShemJean,” wrote another.

Some people on social media expressed how they were confused about how the officer could have thought Jean’s apartment was her own.

“So getting this straight, you ‘accidentally’ walk into someone else’s apt (how do you get in?) shoot them dead, realize then it wasn’t your apt, be like ‘oh my bad’ … Y’all had identical furniture & family photos? #BothamShemJean,” one man wrote.

Dallas-based activist Omar Suleiman wrote on Facebook that a vigil would be held Friday night (Sep. 7) at the Dallas Police Headquarters at 7 p.m. “You don’t just get to walk in someone’s house, shoot them dead, and say whoops I thought it was my own house. Join us tonight and demand justice for #BothamShemJean,” he wrote. He said any other person who did that “would be in jail.”

How Did Mac Miller Die? What Was His Cause of Death?

By
GOT Staff

Mac Miller has died. He was found Friday afternoon at his San Fernando Valley home and was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspected cause of death at this time is a drug overdose. He was 26 years old.

Authorities were reportedly alerted by a male friend who called 911 from Mac’s house, and the emergency dispatch reveals that first responders were called in for a patient in cardiac arrest.

Miller, born Malcolm James McCormick had been very open about his substance abuse issues in the past. He recently spoke to Rolling Stone about the how hard he took his breakup from Ariana Grande and the temptations of giving in to addiction.

Miller said that he started using substances like promethazine and cocaine starting in 2012 after the release of his debut album Blue Slide Park. In recent years, however, he said he was clean.

“If a bunch of people think I am a huge drug addict, OK. Cool. What can I really do?,” he explained. “Go talk to all those people and be like ‘Naw man, it’s really not that simple?’” he says. “Have I done drugs? Yeah. But am I a drug addict? No.”

Miller also talked about the DUI he received back in May after he wrapped his G-Wagon around a pole in a car crash and was arrested for a hit-and-run. He fled the scenes but cops later tracked him down at his home where he confessed. He blew two times the legal limit.

“I loaded the gun for them,” he admitted. “I got into that sh*t. That’s my mistake. What does that specific event mean for my whole character? That’s a different conversation. But people are going to draw their own conclusions.”

Mac Miller was also open about his struggles with depression, saying that it was something he had learned to deal with over the years. I have a past history with that s**t, so they’re going to naturally assume that that means I’m back going through it,” he said. “I can’t change it. I’m not going to lose sleep over it, though. I’d rather just continue living my life and see where that goes.”

He was very forthright when it came to discussing his personal demons in his music, like his 2014 mixtape Faces, which delved into substance abuse throughout its runtime, and he also indirectly mentioned his issues with drugs in his studio releases like Watching Movies With the Sound Off and his most recent album, Swimming.

Mac also talked about his addiction to lean with Noisey, and how it changed him physically. “You go through some f***ed up s**t. A lotta people can tell you, you go through some f***ed up s**t. But it’s about being a strong enough person to get through it. I was definitely sippin hella lean. I love it, I wouldn’t say I didn’t. But I feel better not doing it every single day.”

“I had a homie that had strokes and s**t, and we didn’t know if it was because of lean. I wouldn’t be surprised,” he added. “Drugs are dangerous, dude. But they’re awesome. Just dangerous. Drugs are not like a new thing. Especially with me, I’ve been doing drugs since I was fifteen.”

Mac Miller is survived by his parents Mark McCormick and Karen Meyers, as well as his brother Miller McCormick who designed the artwork for several of his albums.

Mac Miller Dead at Age 26 From Apparent Drug Overdose

By
GOT Hip-Hop

Mac Miller has died at the age of 26 of an apparent drug overdose, TMZ reports.

The rapper reportedly was Friday (Sep. 7) around noon at his home in San Fernando Valley and was pronounced dead at the scene, law enforcement sources said. Authorities were reportedly alerted by a male friend who called 911 from Mac’s house.

Mac, whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick, has struggled with substance abuse issues, and was recently charged with a DUI from his car crash back in May, which occurred shortly after his breakup from Ariana Grande.

The rapper wrecked his 2016 Mercedes G-Wagon by wrapping it around a utility pole. He fled the scene but cops say he later confessed at his home. He blew 2 times the legal limit and was arrested for DUI and hit-and-run.

After his arrest, Ariana tweeted “Pls take care of yourself.” After their breakup, she made it clear that his substance abuse was a deal breaker in their 2-year relationship.

Mac’s 2014 mixtape Faces referenced his premature death and talked a lot about drug use.

Vulture had just published a profile of the rapper yesterday, and in it, Mac talked about the enormous pressure of growing up in the spotlight.

“A lot of times in my life I’ve put this pressure to hold myself to the standard of whatever I thought I was supposed to be, or how I was supposed to be perceived. And that creates pressure,” he said. “It’s annoying to be out and have someone come up to me and think they know. They’re like ‘Yo, man, are you okay?’ I’m like ‘Yeah, I’m fucking at the grocery store.’ You know?”

Mac just released his fifth studio album Swimming on August 3rd. It debuted at No. 3 (behind Drake’s Scorpion and Travis Scott’s Astroworld) on the Billboard 200 album chart. Rolling Stone described the album’s tone as “murky” and “slightly depressive.”

He told Vulture that he wasn’t all happy, but he wasn’t all sad either. “I really wouldn’t want just happiness,” Miller said. “And I don’t want just sadness either. I don’t want to be depressed. I want to be able to have good days and bad days … I can’t imagine not waking up sometimes and being like, ‘I don’t feel like doing sh*t.’ And then having days where you wake up and you feel on top of the world.”

Less than 24 hours ago, Miller tweeted out a post about his upcoming tour, which was set to start on October 27. He also tweeted, “I just wanna go on tour.”

Meet Burt Reynolds’ Son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, His “Greatest Achievement”

By
Dustin Gary

Burt Reynolds, a legendary movie star from the 1970s and 1980s, has died. He is survived by his only child, his 30-year-old son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds.

Despite Reynolds being one of the most successful movie stars in the world, he has said that his son was the most important thing in his life, and was the one thing he was the most proud of.

“He is my greatest achievement,” Reynolds told Closer Weekly this past July. “He’s a wonderful young man and is now working as a camera assistant in Hollywood. He never asked for any help with his career, he did it all himself, and I’m so proud of him. I love him very much.”

Quinton has been shielded from the mainstream media, so much isn’t known about him. He doesn’t appear to have any social media accounts. He spent his early years growing up in Florida, but moved to California with his mom after her split from Reynolds, where he still lives to this day.

Quinton was adopted by Reynolds and his second wife, Loni Anderson, whom he was married to from 1988 to 1993. Reynolds announced the adoption in The Palm Beach Post.

Anderson’s publicist, Mickey Freeman, told the outlet at the time: “It is true. They are waiting for the baby to be born. My understanding is that it could be any day.” Quinton was born at a California-area hospital in 1988.

Reynolds and Anderson always wanted to have a biological child of their own, but never did.

“I love kids,” Anderson told the New York Daily News back in the 1980s. “If I had been with the right man when I was younger, I’d have had four.”

Reynolds was 52 years old when he and Anderson adopted their son Quinton.

“Burt… asked me if at 52 he’ll be able to get used to the noise of a child. I told him it’s gradual,” Anderson told the New York Daily News.

After his parents divorced, Quinton lived with his mom in California, but he would often travel to Florida to spend time with his dad. During those visits, Loni Anderson insisted that a nanny always be present.

“I’m concerned about Burt’s erratic behavior … Quinton is small and I want him to be protected,” Anderson told SF Gate back in 1995.

Burt and Quinton went through a rough patch when Burt and Loni divorced. But they were able to get through that difficult time and became very close in subsequent years.

“There’s nothing I can do about things that weren’t happy or good. I just try not to dwell on those. Regrets are not healthy — it’s best to try and let go of those things that can’t be changed,” Reynolds told Closer Weekly. “All of my experiences made me who I am today, and I’m grateful for the positive ones. I don’t think of my past as anything negative, and if it is negative, I’ve forgotten it.”

Reynolds and Anderson’s divorce was hella messy and was considered one of the ugliest celebrity divorces of all time.

It took a while for Reynolds and Anderson to move on, but, after some time, they were eventually able to go their separate ways.

Anderson told Entertainment Tonight in 2014: “You just need a break after. If it’s a messy divorce, then you need a break and you go back and you go, ‘Well there wasn’t 12 terrible years. There was just that end.’ So you go back and start thinking, ‘Oh, I remember that! Oh, we laughed so hard! Oh, that was so fun!’”

Actor Burt Reynolds Dead at 82

By
Dustin Gary

Burt Reynolds has died at the age of 82 years old.

According to TMZ, the legendary actor passed away Thursday morning (Sep. 6) at a hospital in Florida after suffering a heart attack.

He was taken to the hospital after going into cardiac arrest. His family was by his side when he passed, TMZ reported.

Burt is best known for his roles in movies and TV shows such as “Deliverance,” “Boogie Nights,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Cannonball Run.” He was nominated for an Oscar for best-supporting actor for his role as porn director Jack Horner in Boogie Knights in 1997. He won a Golden Globe that year as well.

Before making it big in Hollywood, Reynolds played college football for Florida State. His roommate was sports broadcaster and ESPN personality Lee Corso.

Burt Reynolds is survived by his son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, his only child.

Aretha Franklin’s Children: Quick Facts About Aretha’s 4 Sons Edward, Clarence, Ted White Jr. & Kecalf Cunningham

By
Dustin Gary

Aretha Franklin died on August 16th at the age of 76 at her Detroit home after several days in hospice care following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

After her death, Franklin’s family issued a statement saying: “In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family.”

Aretha Franklin was one of the most successful American singers of all time and the first ever woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But what about her her family life? Who are her children? How old was she when they were born and where are they now?

Franklin married twice and gave birth to four sons, and some of them have followed in her footsteps by launching music careers. She didn’t have any daughters, all of her children are boys.

Here’s what you need to know about Aretha Franklin’s children:

1Clarence Franklin, Aretha’s first child, is named after her father, who was rumored to be her child’s father at one point.

Clarence pictured with his younger brother Kecalf and Aretha.

Aretha was just 12 years old when she became pregnant for the first time. She gave birth to her first child, a son she named Clarence, after her own father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, on January 28, 1955, just three months before her 13th birthday.

Not much is known about her first pregnancy because the musical icon didn’t talk about it much with the press, although we do know she did go back to school after giving birth.

According to the Daily Mail, at one point, rumors began to spread that Franklin’s father C.L. was her child’s father, but the boy’s real father was a man named Donald Burk, who Franklin met while they were attending school.

In his book “Respect,” author David Ritz wrote about the lifestyle that Franklin’s father maintained. C.L. Franklin was described as a “serially promiscuous philanderer whose church was notorious for its orgies, some all-male, some all-female and some mixed,” the Daily Mail reported.

Ray Charles, who encountered C.L. Franklin’s gospel group in the 1950’s said: “When it came to pure heart singing, they were motherf*****s. When it came to pure sex, they were wilder than me—and that’s saying something. In those days I had a thing for orgies, but I had to be the only cat in the room with two or three chicks.”

Charles continued: “The gospel people didn’t think that way. The cats liked it with the cats and the chicks liked it with the chicks and no one minded mixing it up this way or that. I got a kick outta seeing how God’s people were going for it hard and heavy every which way. I was just surprised to see how loose they were.”

2Edward Franklin was born when his mother was 14 years old, and she described his father as a “player.”

Just one year after giving birth to her first child, Aretha Franklin became pregnant again with another boy. She named her second son Edward, after his father Edward Jordan, and he was born on January 22, 1957—which, ironically, was his grandfather C.L. Franklin’s birthday. Aretha was just 14 years old when she gave birth to Edward, whose nickname is “Eddie.”

There were rumors that Franklin had an affair with legendary singer Sam Cooke around the time of Edward’s birth, and that he was the child’s actual father, however, there has never been any evidence to support that theory.

Aretha described Eddie’s father, Edward Jordan, as “just some player.” Eddie and Clarence were often looked after by Aretha’s grandmother Rachel and her sister Emma as her recording career took off in the coming years.

Edward inherited his mother’s vocal talents and was able to hit the high notes the same way his mom did. He performed with his mother publicly on several occasions, singing a Christmas duet at one point.

Edward also sang at a memorial service in June 2015 for his grandfather, Rev. C.L. Franklin, and his uncle, Rev. Cecil Franklin, in Detroit. His rendition of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” reportedly brought the house down and received a standing ovation, leaving many attendees in tears.

Edward was named a suspect in a 2002 arson fire at his mother’s 10,000 square foot mansion in Bloomfield Township, about 25 miles away from Detroit. According to Billboard, traces of accelerants were found in some of the remains of Aretha’s home and on Edward’s clothing, which led investigators to believe he had something to do with the fire.

Further investigation showed that Franklin wasn’t responsible for the place, and his lawyer said the chemical traces on his clothing were simply the result of his contact with materials kept in the house, which was used for storage. After it was discovered that he had nothing to do with the fire, police never charged him with anything.

Eight years later, in 2010, Edward was badly injured in an attack by two men and a woman outside a gas station in Detroit. He underwent surgery while at the hospital, though the details of his injuries weren’t disclosed to the public. When investigators went to the hospital to get a statement from him, he had already checked himself out. Police were told he “walked out on his own.”

Neither Franklin nor his mother made any public comment about the incident, however, Edward’s lawyer, William Mitchell III, said that Eddie was the type of person who needs a lot of “support care—people to get him around from this place to that place,” but didn’t explain exactly what he meant by that. “Mrs. Franklin is very, very, very, very, very protective of him,” Mitchell said, according to the Telegraph.

3Ted White Jr. aka Teddy Richards was born after Aretha’s first marriage.

Aretha Franklin married her first husband Ted White in 1961 when she was 19 years old, and three years later, in February 1964, she gave birth to her third son, Ted “Teddy” White Jr. He, like his older brother Eddie, was also named after his father.

Ted Sr. and Aretha split in 1969 after reports of domestic abuse. Also like his older brother Edward, Ted Jr. is also a singer and performer who has also worked with his mother, playing backup guitar for several of her concerts. He also has a musical career of his own, having released three full albums thus far under the stage name “Teddy Richards.”

Richards has said of his love for music, via MusicPage, “I’ve evolved from a self-taught guitarist into a producer, engineer, and accomplished tunesmith; I truly love music and enjoy the journey that it’s taken me on.”

4Aretha’s youngest son Kecalf Cunningham is a Christian rapper. His father was Franklin’s road manager Ken Cunningham, who she dated for eight years.

Aretha’s youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born on March 28, 1970 as a result of an 8-year relationship with her road manager Ken Cunningham, between 1968 and 1976. His name is an acronym of both Aretha and Ken’s full names—Ken E. Cunningham and Aretha Louise Franklin (K-E-C-A-L-F).

Kecalf is a Christian rapper who, like his older brothers, has also performed with his superstar mother several times on stage, most notably during her 2008 concert at Radio City Music Hall.

Reviewing the performance, The New York Times suggested that Kecalf, who raps under his birth name and stage name “KPoint,” may still have some growing to do as an artist. “[There was] an interlude featuring her son Kecalf Cunningham, a Christian rapper, who came with a backpack, a hoodie and some cheap-sounding recorded tracks,” NYT’s Nate Chinen wrote. “After what felt like ages, it was a relief to have Ms. Franklin return, energies renewed, to belt out ‘Chain of Fools.’”

In 2017, Kecalf accompanied his mother at the unveiling of Aretha Franklin Way, a street renamed in her honor, which, according to the Detroit News, is located near Madison Street and Comerica Park, where the Detroit Tigers baseball team plays.

Franklin was also reportedly her son’s business manager when he started his music career. Vulture described him as the “Shaquille O’Neal” of Christian rap, saying that he has been “allotted rap resources for reasons other than rap aptitude.”

Kecalf’s daughter, Victorie Franklin, is also a singer and songwriter. She performed a tribute to her grandmother at the BET Honors ceremony in 2004, singing Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King.” Victorie, a rising Howard University rising sophomore, has also performed at family functions, including her grandmother’s Christmas party in 2016.

It was reported that Aretha was giving Victorie “one-on-one vocal coaching and she thinks Victorie has a rather bright future and a big career ahead of her.” Speaking about her granddaughter, Aretha said: “She’s coming along very well. I came down to see her rehearse, and she brought tears to my eyes.”

Kecalf’s son, Jordan Franklin, is a music producer, whose clients include Ariana Grande.

5Aretha Franklin encouraged all of her children to pursue their musical interests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pogv5IDVH_8

In a 1995 interview with Katz Tapes, Franklin spoke about her sons and their love of music. “My youngest son, Kecalf is a hip-hopper and a rapper,” she explained. “And my other son, Teddy, plays guitar. He plays in my band and he’s been doing some things lately with some musicians over in London. He sings, too, and he’s looking for his own record deal.”

Franklin said that while Edward and Clarence weren’t as interested in music as Kecalf and Ted, she would want them all to appear on a family album if they were open to it. Franklin said in a 2012 interview with the Today Show that she made sure to prepare her boys for show business. “I think parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home,” she said, “[so they] leave home prepared, really.”

In 2015, Franklin talked with CNN about how difficult it was raising sons in the modern day. “My sons grew up pretty much the same way I did,” she said. “Today, it’s different. Most mothers in the African American community are very concerned about their children and talking to them about how to conduct themselves.”

Edward “Eddie” Franklin: Quick Facts to Know About Aretha Franklin’s Son

By
Dustin Gary

Who Is Edward “Eddie” Franklin?

Edward Franklin is the second oldest son of Aretha Franklin, born on January 22, 1957 to Franklin and Edward Jordan. He was a part Franklin’s star-studded funeral service Friday (Aug. 31) at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, MI, singing Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me” as a tribute to his mother.

In the wake of Aretha Franklin’s death on Thursday, August 16, 2018, Franklin’s four sons released a joint statement:

“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds. We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Here are some quick facts to know about Aretha Franklin’s son Edward “Eddie” Franklin:

1Aretha gave birth to Edward at 14 years old after hooking up with a man she described as a “player.”

Aretha Franklin became pregnant at the young age of just 12, and gave birth to her first son Clarence on January 28, 1955, a few months before her 13th birthday.

Not too long after giving birth to Clarence, Aretha got pregnant again and gave birth to her second son Edward on January 22, 1957, when she was just 14 years old.

There were rumors that Franklin had an affair with legendary singer Sam Cooke around the time of Edward’s birth, and that he was the child’s actual father, however, there has never been any evidence to support that theory.

Edward was named after his father Edward Jordan, whom Franklin described as a “player.”  Eddie and Clarence were often looked after by Aretha’s grandmother Rachel and her sister Emma as her recording career took off in the coming years.

2Edward Franklin inherited his mother’s vocal talents and has performed several duets with her.

Edward, who inherited his mother’s vocal talents, is a remarkable singer in his own right, and was able to hit the high notes the same way his mom did. He performed with his mother publicly on several occasions, singing a Christmas duet (as seen above) at one point.

Edward also sang at a memorial service in June 2015 for his grandfather, Rev. C.L. Franklin, and his uncle, Rev. Cecil Franklin, in Detroit. His rendition of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” reportedly left many in tears and received a standing ovation.

3Edward Franklin was once a suspect in a 2002 arson fire at his mother’s Detroit mansion.

Back in 2002, Aretha Franklin’s 10,000 square foot mansion in Bloomfield Township (about 25 miles away from Detroit) burned to the ground, and her son Edward was reportedly named as a suspect in the fire.

According to Billboard, traces of accelerants were found in some of the remains of Aretha’s home and on Edward’s clothing, which led investigators to believe that he had something to do with the fire.

However, Edward’s lawyer, William Mitchell III, said the chemical traces on his clothing were simply the result of his contact with materials kept in the house, which was used for storage. Mitchell said further investigation showed Franklin wasn’t responsible for the blaze, and police never charged him with anything.

4Edward was severely beaten at a gas station in Detroit in 2010.

In 2010, Edward was badly injured in an attack by two men and a woman outside a gas station in Detroit.

A woman who was with Eddie at the time told police that she went into the gas station, and when she came out, he had been attacked. Eddie’s companion then drove him to a hospital, dropped him off, and then went straight to the police station to file a report.

Franklin underwent surgery while at the hospital, though the details of his injuries weren’t disclosed to the public. When investigators went to the hospital to get a statement from him, he had already checked himself out. Police were told that he “walked out on his own.”

Neither Franklin nor his mother made any public comment about the incident, however, Edward’s lawyer, William Mitchell III, said that Eddie was the type of person who needs a lot of “support care—people to get him around from this place to that place,” but didn’t explain exactly what he meant by that. “Mrs. Franklin is very, very, very, very, very protective of him,” Mitchell said, according to the Telegraph.

5Edward is the second of Aretha’s four sons, and his younger brother Teddy is also involved in music.

In addition to his older brother, Clarence, Edward also had two younger brothers.

Aretha married her first husband Ted White in 1961 when she was 19, and three years later, she gave birth to Ted “Teddy” White Jr. Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born in 1970. His father was Aretha’s road manager Ken Cunningham.

Edward isn’t the only one of Aretha’s boys who are involved in music. Ted, known by his stage name “Teddy Richards,” is also a singer and performer who, like his older brother Eddie, has also worked with his mother, playing backup guitar for several of her concerts. He also has a musical career of his own, having released three full albums to his name thus far.

Richards has said of his love for music, via MusicPage, “I’ve evolved from a self-taught guitarist into a producer, engineer, and accomplished tunesmith; I truly love music and enjoy the journey that it’s taken me on.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pogv5IDVH_8

Aretha’s youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, born in 1970 as a result of an 8-year relationship with her road manager Ken Cunningham is a Christian rapper who, like his older brothers, has also performed with his superstar mother several times on stage. Their most notable performance was a 2008 concert at Radio City Music Hall. Franklin was also reportedly her son’s business manager when he started his career.

Eminem Just Dropped a Surprise Album Called “Kamikaze”: Stream It Now

By
GOT Hip-Hop

With absolutely zero warning, Eminem decided to shake things up on Friday (Aug. 31) at midnight by releasing a surprise album called Kamikaze, his second project in less than a year.

The album features cover art inspired by the Beastie Boys’ 1986 album Licensed to Ill and includes a song from the Venom soundtrack, which he teased on Twitter just hours before Kamikaze‘s release.

Executive produced by Dr. Dre and Em, Kamikaze features guest appearances from Royce Da 5’9″, Joyner Lucas, Jessie Reyez.

The 13-song LP is a follow-up to Revival and is apparently a response those who were critical of his relevance following Revival’s release in December 2017.

“Everybody’s been telling me what they think about me for the last few months,” he raps on the title track. “Maybe it’s time I tell them what I think about them.”

On the album’s opening track “The Ringer,” Em says he feels like he wants to “punch the world in the f***ing face right now,” and he also takes jabs at Lil Yachty, Lil Pump, Lil Xan, Machine Gun Kelly, Tyler the Creator, Joe Budden and more.

“Tried not 2 overthink this…enjoy,” Em tweeted just after midnight.

Kamikaze is available on all major streaming platforms, including TIDAL, Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.

Physical copies of Kamikaze—available as a CD, red cassette, or on red camo vinyl—can be purchased via Eminem’s official website and will ship in the coming weeks.

Check out the tracklist below and keep scrolling to take a listen:

Kamikaze Track List
1. “The Ringer”
2. “Greatist”
3. “Lucky You” featuring Joyce Lucas
4. “Paul – Skit”
5. “Normal”
6. “Em Calls Paul – Skit”
7. “Stepping Stone”
8. “Not Alike” featuring Royce 5’9?
9. “Fall”
10. “Kamikaze”
11. “Nice Guy” featuring Jessie Reyez
12. “Good Guy” featuring Jessie Reyez
13. “Venom” from the Motion Picture

Aretha Franklin Undergoes Third Outfit Change for Final Church Viewing

By
GOT Staff

A third viewing for Aretha Franklin was held at her home church New Bethel Baptist in Detroit, Michigan Thursday (Aug. 30), and, as expected, the Queen of Soul underwent yet another outfit change. This time, she was wearing a “rose gold custom knit suit with pink beaded lace.”

The Detroit Free Press reported “she also wore specially made pink South Sea pearl necklace and earrings. Her shoes were rose gold sequin Christian Louboutin heels.”

On the first day of a two-day public viewing at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Ms. Franklin was wearing all red (including red heels) in honor of her honorary membership in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She reportedly wore a light blue dress and matching blue pumps for Day 2 of visitation at the Wright Museum.

Linda Swanson, executive vice president of Swanson Funeral Home handling services for Ms. Franklin, said the Queen of Soul would be wearing a different outfit for each day leading up to her funeral on Friday. “It’s a surprise,” she said. “Just natural changes in wardrobe that a queen would make.”

Franklin’s funeral on Friday (Aug. 31) is invite-only, but will be live-streamed online broadcast live on TV. It will feature appearances from a long list of celebrities and music legends, and is reported to last around six or seven hours.

Former president Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Cicely Tyson, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Clive Davis, and many more are among the speakers, while Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Yolanda Adams, and many more will perform at the service.

Aretha Franklin died at the age of 76 on Thursday, August 16th after battling pancreatic cancer.

“Mooo!” Star Doja Cat Under Fire for Offensive Apology for Homophobic Tweets

By
GOT Staff

If you’ve spent any time on the internet this month, you have probably heard about Doja Cat and her infectiously viral song/video “Mooo!”

The song sees Doja rapping hilarious lines like “Bitch, I’m a cow” and the visual sees Doja rocking a variety of cow-inspired looks. It’s weird, it’s catchy, it’s probably the best thing on the internet right now. She even got a cosign from Chance the Rapper!

However, Doja has now come under fire for some tweets using homophobic language that someone pulled from the depths of Twitter and brought to the surface.

Back in 2015, Doja used the word “f****t” in some now-deleted tweets, and fans tweeted their disappointment about it. One person said “wtf 🙁 is this” with a screenshot of Doja calling Odd Future rappers Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt “f****ts” in an old tweet, to which Doja responded by writing “lmfaoooooo.”

After folks got pissed off at that response, she replied with a backhanded apology, using the f word again.

“I called a couple of people f****ts when I was in high school in 2015 does this mean I don’t deserve support?” she tweeted. “I’ve said f****t roughly 15 thousand times in my life. Does saying f****t mean you hate gay people? Do I hate gay people? I don’t think I hate gay people. Gay is ok.”

That initial response resulted in a major online backlash over the way she approached the situation. Apologizing for the use of a slur while repeatedly using said slur is pretty counterproductive, tbh.

https://twitter.com/HisNamesTawanda/status/1034619741044961282

https://twitter.com/wuthatigirl/status/1034615107005739010

Even actress Debra Messing shared her thoughts on the drama:

After finding herself on the receiving end of even more backlash from her “apology,” Doja issued another apology, apologizing for the first apology.

“I have used horrible derogatory and hateful words toward people out of ignorance. I just want you guys to know that you’re incredibly special and I hold you dearly to my heart. I’m sorry for anyone I’ve offended or hurt deeply. You are all worth love and support. No one deserves to be discriminated against for their race, religion, or sexual orientation in any angle or sense. I don’t want you to look at me as a role model. I just want you to hear my music and the joy that you take from that is the most important part. I love making music with you. Thank you for everything to this day.”

Then, for some reason, she deleted the apology for her first apology, and posted a third, more concise one:

“I apologize for the derogatory terms I’ve used in the past and no one should be discriminated against for their race, religion, or sexual orientation. I love you and I hope to make more great music with and for you in the future. Thank you.”

Hopefully Doja Cat has learned her lesson and will make better choices from now on. We’d hate to see her loooose her newfound fame.

“Shameless” Actress Emmy Rossum Says She’s Leaving the Show After Season 9

By
Dustin Gary

Fans of the hit Showtime series Shameless will see one less Gallagher next year when Season 10 arrives.

In a lengthy, emotional Facebook post on Thursday (Aug. 30), Emmy Rossum, the actress who plays Fiona Gallagher, a star character of the show, has announced that she is leaving the series after nine seasons. Her statement read, in part:

“It’s a hard thing to put into words, feelings. But I’m going to try… The opportunity to play Fiona has been a gift. There are few characters — female or otherwise — as layered and dynamic. She is a mother lion, fierce, flawed and sexually liberated. She is injured, vulnerable, but will never give up. She is living in an economic depression, but refuses to be depressed. She is resourceful. She is loyal. She is brave. I knew it the second I read the pilot script, this was different, this was special…

“I know you will continue on without me, for now. There is much more Gallagher story to be told. I will always be rooting for my family. Try not to think of me as gone, just think of me as moving down the block.”

While Rossum’s statement didn’t address her reason for leaving the family dramedy, set in Chicago, that stars William H. Macy as the troubled patriarch Frank Gallagher, she did hint at being involved with another opportunity when she said that her TV family has given her the stability and support “to stretch and grow creatively.”

“The way (executive producer/showrunner) John Wells has shepherded me as an actress, and more recently how he’s encouraged me wholeheartedly as a director and a writer, has been an honor and a privilege,” she wrote.

John Wells said in his own statement that Rossum will “forever be part of the ‘Shameless’ family. We are hard at work now creating a season nine finale for ‘Shameless’ which we hope will provide a Gallagher-worthy sendoff for Fiona that honors the great work Emmy has done.”

Warner Bros. Television also released a statement saying that Rossum was given an appreciative farewell and confirmed that she will appear in the Season 9.

“We wish her all the best as she explores the next chapter in her career,” the statement read. “But before that, we are excited for fans of ‘Shameless’ to see Emmy and the entire ensemble cast continue the adventures of the Gallagher family in the show’s upcoming ninth season.”

Shameless Season 9 premieres on Sunday, September 9th on Showtime. Check out the official S9 trailer below:

Aretha Franklin Had an Outfit Change for Final Public Viewing

By
Dustin Gary

Aretha Franklin wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the same outfit two days in a row. Literally.

The Queen of Soul had two public viewings over a two-day period at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History of her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and on each of those days, she was wearing a new outfit.

As we all know and saw from the official photo of Ms. Franklin lying in repose in her golden open casket, on the first day, Tuesday (Aug. 28) she was dressed in all red. But on the second day, Wednesday (Aug. 29), she had an outfit change, and was wearing a light blue dress and matching blue pumps.

Thousands of more fans lined up outside the museum for Franklin’s second and final public viewing there. Swanson Funeral Home Director O’Neil Swanson II said Ms. Franklin would be wearing a new outfit for another viewing Thursday at New Bethel Church, and she would undergo one final outfit change for her private funeral Friday at Greater Grace Temple.

Friday’s funeral is invite-only, but will be live-streamed online and broadcast on television. It will feature appearances from a number of celebrities and music legends, and is reported to last at least 6 hours.

Former president Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Cicely Tyson, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Clive Davis, and many others will speak at the funeral, while Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, and many more will perform at the service.

Aretha Franklin died on Thursday, August 16th at her home in Detroit after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 76 years old.

Beyoncé Fan Who Rushed Stage at Concert in Atlanta Says JAY-Z “Can’t Fight” & “Been Sneak Dissin”

By
Dustin Gary

26-year-old Anthony Charles Thomas Maxwell was identified as the crazed “fan” who made the bold decision to literally go “Apesh*t” and rush the stage at Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s concert in Atlanta last weekend.

As The Carters were leaving the stage following the first of two sold-out shows at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday night (Aug. 25), Maxwell was able to somehow hop on the stage and run after the couple. Fortunately, they were unharmed after their dancers quickly sprung into action and apprehended him before things got too crazy.

Moments after the attempted attack, Maxwell hopped on Facebook to let the world know how he felt, saying that he wanted to fight JAY-Z one-on-one because he’s been “sneak dissing” him, but he couldn’t get to him because the dancers and crew members stopped him.

“P***y a** n****s [jumped] me,” he said. “Was gonna let him up so we can fight one on one but n****s want to jump in and it’s between me and him. That n**** can’t fight and he’s been sneak dissin. Y’all n****s hit like b**ches.”

WHEW CHILE, THE CRAZY!

A few hours later, Maxwell posted a series of selfies with the caption: “Still look good, I look [fly] wish u could touch my swag wish you could.” And moments after that he posted some pics with his shirt off. He captioned that post “Flexin.”

Beyoncé and JAY-Z didn’t press any charges against Maxwell, but Atlanta police did. He was originally issued a simple citation for disorderly conduct, but after it was determined that he “made contact” with JAY-Z, he was charged with disorderly conduct and aggravated battery. He never made any contact with Beyoncé, TMZ reported.

Maxwell was taken into custody Sunday evening (Aug. 26) and transported to the Fulton County Jail, where he was booked and held on $5,000 bail. He was released Monday after posting bond.

Sunday night, at the end of their second ATL show, Beyoncé hilariously acknowledged the attempted “attack” from the night before by turning around and doing a high ninja kick as she and JAY-Z left the stage:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm-sUrhlOg7/

And last night (Wed, Aug. 29) in Orlando, Beyoncé joked around again as she and JAY-Z were leaving the stage:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnF1X8bFxmu/

We love a Queen with a sense of humor!

Jamel Myles: Quick Facts About 9-Year-Old Boy Who Killed Himself After Being Bullied for Coming Out as Gay to Classmates

By
Dustin Gary

A 9-year-old boy died by suicide after he was bullied just days after he came out as gay to his classmates.

Jamel Myles had just started fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker School in Colorado when he took his own life the night of Thursday, August 23rd, just three days after school came back in session following the summer break. He was rushed to the hospital after he was found hanging in his bedroom, according to the county coroner.

Jamel’s mother, Leia Pierce, told the Denver Post that her older daughter told her that Myles’ classmates had told him to kill himself over he came out to them.

Here’s what you need to know about Jamel Myles:

1Jamel Myles’ mother says she told her son “I still love you” after he came out to her this past summer. She believes his death was the result of bullying after coming out to his classmates on the first day of school.

Jamel’s mother, Leia Pierce, told Denver’s KDVR that her son had come out to her over the summer. Pierce told the station “he looked so scared when he told me. He was like, ‘Mom I’m gay,’ and I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said, ‘I still love you.'”

Pierce said Jamel wanted to wear fake fingernails on the first day of school, and she believes that his classmates bullied him after he came out to them. “The same kids who picked on him last year were even meaner to him once he came out and said he was gay,” she told HLN. “They hurt my baby.”

Jamel wanted to become a YouTube star one day, Pierce told the Denver Post: “He said, ‘Mom, I want to be famous YouTube star so I could buy you a new house.”

Pierce added: “My child died because of bullying. My baby killed himself. He didn’t deserve this. He wanted to make everybody happy even when he wasn’t. I want him back so bad.”

Jamel’s interests included Pokemon and wearing a dress with a tiara and high-heeled shoes, his mother said.

2Jamel’s mother says she found him hanging in his bedroom. She said she “lost a reason to breathe” after losing her son to suicide.

Leia Pierce said her son was excited about coming out and wanted to tell his classmates. “He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” she said.

Pierce said when he came out to her, he opened up about wanting to dress more femininely. “And he goes, ‘Can I be honest with you?'” she said. “And I was like sure, and he’s like, ‘I know you buy me boy stuff because I’m a boy, but I’d rather dress like a girl.'”

On Thursday, August 23rd, four days into the school year, Pierce found her son hanging in his bedroom. She desperately tried to revive him but it was too late.

Myles was pronounced dead at the Swedish Medical Center, according to a report from the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. The manner of death, according to the report, was suicide and did not involve a firearm.

“Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him,” Pierce said. “My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me. I’m so upset that he thought that was his option.”

Pierce wrote on her Facebook page:

“I lost a reason to breathe… my heart, my sunshine, my son… he was being bullied and i didnt know. Not till it was to late.. i wish i knew everything so i could’ve stopped this… how do i live with out all my kids? My son man he is the best and i miss and just want to be with him… he is in heave now and im not ready for this.. i shouldn’t be having to bury my son he is only 9… i love u son i love u so much son…. stop bullying stop the shit i lost my baby cause of it and its not fair not fair not fair… i just want my son back..”

She wrote in another post:

“They say be strong for my daughters but, i cant i just cant.. i couldn’t imagine losing any of my kids and i lost 1 and now my kid is alone and i want to be with him.. i cant let him be alone.. i love u son..”

She said in another post on her page:

“What hurts the most about losing my son. Is knowing other kids feel the same way he did.. I wish i could’ve carried my sons pain for him cause i would… i want bullying to stop.. no child and i mean no child should be bullied by anyone.. matter of fact no one should be a bully at any age.. love more and hate less.. I’ve been very irrational these past couple days.. i dont know how to handle this pain.. i shouldnt of said some of them mean things i did but, my heart is in so much pain… i never wanted to feel this pain and i am.. i want justice for my son and every kid who is bullied.. i want bullying to end i never want to hear someone else go thru this pain…”

3The principal at Myles’ school said the school is working to make sure “LGBTQ+ students can pursue their education with dignity.”

Joe Shoemaker Principal Christine Fleming told parents in a letter after Jamel’s suicide: “It is with extreme sadness we share with you that one of our fourth-grade students passed away yesterday. This is an unexpected loss for our community… Our thoughts are with the student’s family at this time. We will continue to process this sad news as a school community, and again, please feel free to reach out as needed for ongoing support…

“It is critical that our students receive all the support they need to learn and thrive in a safe and welcoming environment. Our formal policies and practices reflect this commitment to ensuring that our LGBTQ+ students can pursue their education with dignity – from policies and training to prevent and stop bullying to formal policies and guidance materials that fully respect gender identity (including use of preferred pronouns and restrooms).”

Will Jones, a spokesman for Denver Public School told the Denver Post that Joe Shoemaker Elementary School had a team of crisis counselors on hand to speak with students, teachers, school staff and anyone else who is hurting.

“It’s always tough when a little one takes his life, “Jones said. “We have our crisis team there. Fourth and fifth grade teachers at Shoemaker are creating a space for students to share how they are feeling and to process their emotions after hearing this news. Teachers are also letting students know about the DPS crisis team members on hand to meet their social-emotional needs.”

4Jamel’s suicide has sparked outrage on social media and quickly became a topic of discussion, shedding light on LGBTQ+ kids, bullying, and mental health.

After the news of Jamel Myles’ suicide spread all over the world, outraged people took to social media to express their anger.

“Never let anyone tell us the fight for equality is over,” said Michael Cashman, an actor, writer, and politician from London. “A nine-year-old boy has killed himself after enduring four days of homophobic bullying at school in Denver, Colorado.
Leia Pierce said her son Jamel Myles, revealed to her over the summer that he was gay, and was ‘proud.'”

Twitter user @SeyvonSilva wrote: “This is f***ing heart breaking. My dude was excited to share who he was. He was 9 years old and confident in himself, but others felt the need to bring him down. This is not okay. You’re a star. Rest easy Jamel Myles, remember his name.”

Actor, producer and tv/film/theatre director Emerson Collins tweeted: “Jamel Myles was nine. This is why we fight for The Equality Act, against conversion therapy, against bigoted “deeply held religious beliefs,” for representation, [visibility] and have [PRIDE] – to change the entire culture LGBTQ youth grow up and come out in.”

See other poignant social media responses below:

https://twitter.com/Antonio4Brett/status/1034434219882242048

The tragedy of Myles’ story also inspired an unsurprisingly hateful response from the always awful Westboro Baptist Church:

https://twitter.com/WBCVideo/status/1034428617206493184

5Celebrities including singer Kehlani, transgender actress Laverne Cox, and more have taken to social media to mourn the loss of Jamel Myles.

A number of celebrities, including actors, musicians, and other media figures, have taken to social media to mourn the death of Jamel Myles. Singer Kehlani, transgender actress Laverne Cox, Canadian actress Ellen Page, and Pose executive producer Steven Canals expressed their grief, while also calling for more acceptance and tolerance.

“Jamel Myles’ confidence, pride, and eagerness to share his new found freedom with his parents and then classmates at 9 years old is beautiful and hope that is the memory celebrated continuously,” Kehlani shared on Twitter. “Rest in peace little warrior. The lessons here are clear.”

Laverne Cox tweeted: “This has to stop happening. It must stop. Our bullying culture is killing children. #JamelMyles”

Ellen Page said the news about Jamel Myles was heartbreaking. “I have traveled around the country and the world and have been witness to hope and joy but also deep pain and horror,” she said. “This needs to change. I’m sad and angry but trying to keep my heart warm and open to continue to strive to help eradicate this suffering.”

New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow tweeted that he was “so sick of this,” in regards to kids taking their own lives as a result of bullying.

“This BREAKS MY HEART,” tweeted singer Hayley Kiyoko. “People need to understand the power of their words. Wow. I’m so sorry for him and his family.”

Steven Canals, executive producer of the hit FX series Pose, shared a story about the first time he was called gay. “1989. 4th grade. 9 yrs old. First time a fellow male classmate shamed me by saying ‘stop being so gay,'” he tweeted. “I didn’t know who I was then. Jamel did. He was gay. And he was proud, until he wasn’t. My heart aches. #JamelMyles”

Ryan Jamaal Swain, an actor who stars on FX’s Pose, tweeted: “THIS HAS TO STOP FOLKS!!!!!!”

6Jamel’s mom is asking people to “show love to everyone” in the wake of her son’s death by suicide.

In the wake of her 9-year-old son’s suicide, Leia Pierce is asking that we all love one another. She wrote to the Daily Beast: “Will you do my son and I a favor? Stand together as equals and show love to everyone, with acceptance of everyone.”

Asked if she had anything else to share, the grieving mother said, “Tell this world my son said they’re beautiful, smart, and they can do it.”

Pierce said her son, Jamel Myles, was “the kindest, most gentlest soul I’ve ever met.”

“We have to stop bullying and teach people it’s OK to love each other,” Pierce said. “We have to stop hating each other for differences, differences that make us equal and unique.”

Amit Paley, CEO of The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, said that if people see someone being bullied or suspect that it is happening, they should step in and make sure the person being bullied feels supported.

“We know that just one person in an LGBTQ+ young person’s life can make a huge difference,” Paley said. “They can reduce their risk of suicide by 30 percent, and so we would encourage everyone to be that person.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are more likely than their straight peers to report being bullied at school and online. The center estimates that LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to report having attempted suicide.

Pierce said she wants justice for her son and tougher consequences for students caught bullying others. “I want justice for every child who’s ever been hurt like this,” she told NBC News. “Every child deserves justice.”

“Everyone wants to talk about suicide right now, because my son passed away, but no one wants to talk about the actions that caused him to do that, which was bullying,” she added.

Pierce said she loved and supported her son after he told her he was gay, and wished that everyone felt the same way. “I didn’t care. He could be whatever he wants to be. I’m still going to love him,” she said. “I wish everyone else could have loved him.”

7A GoFundMe Page has been set up to help with funeral costs and a celebration of life to be held at a later date.

A woman named Jacque Miller has set up a GoFundMe on behalf of Jamel’s family to help offset funeral costs. So far, the page has raised close to $4,000 from 102 people in just two days—nearly twice its original goal of $2,000. You can donate here.

“We are wanting to make sure, that Jamel is heard,” the page reads. “He chose to love others, He chose to treat everyone equal. He chose to live life.”

The page continues: “I want you to speak on treating each other with kindness and compassion, We want justice for Jamel, the only way to get that is to touch [people’s] hearts, and tell them if we love more it will be harder to hate. When you speak of Jamel speak with the same compassion he had. He wanted everyone to feel loved cause His mommy taught all her kids we are all the same and Jamel treated people as equals because he was taught love.

“Jamel is going to make this change happen, even though he is no longer with us. The funds will be used to help the family in the coming months, with funeral cost, any money left over will go to a celebration of life for Jamel, that will be determined at a later date. We have future plans, but are unable to discuss at this time. Thank you.

“Jamel’s grandmother [has] been handling all of the detail to this point. If you need to reach her please feel free, she said she would be willing to help out n any way she can.”

Aretha Franklin Open Casket Photo Goes Viral, Family Wanted “Respectful Photo” to Share With Fans Who Couldn’t Attend Viewing

By
Dustin Gary

Hundreds and hundreds of fans lined up to pay their respects to the late Aretha Franklin Tuesday (Aug. 28) as she lay in repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan.

Franklin’s body made a regal entrance at the museum in a glossy, gold casket that emerged from a white 1940 Cadillac LaSalle hearse amid a sea of adoring fans.

Franklin was dressed in a red lace dress with matching red Christian Louboutin heels, which, according to her niece Sabrina Owens, was to symbolize her honorary membership in the Delta Theta Sigma Theta Sorority, whose colors are crimson.

Owens told the Associated Press that Franklin’s dress looked like “something she would have selected for herself” to wear on stage. She said the pastel roses surrounding Franklin’s gold casket reflected the Queen of Soul’s love for flowers and her propensity to send arrangements “in grand fashion.” Owens said she wanted to give her aunt a send-off that “would match her legacy.”

“She is presented in a way that reflects her life and her legacy,” Linda Swanson, executive vice president of Swanson Funeral Home, told the Detroit Free Press. “She is, indeed, resplendent in repose, as a queen should be.”

Swanson, whose funeral home is handling services for Franklin, said the singer had covered the funeral expenses of many needy families over the years.

“It was nothing for Miss Franklin to call us,” she said. “She would take care of the expenses — and usually in full without being asked or prompted to do so. Many of the people you see are here because they were blessed by her big heart and her desire to reach beyond the boundaries of her own success and touch others.”

Franklin’s longtime publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn, told Inside Edition that the official photo of Franklin in her casket—shot from behind, revealing her red outfit and legs crossed at the ankles—was taken and released by the legendary singer’s family because they wanted a “respectful photo to share with her millions of fans around the world who could not attend the viewing.”

Museum officials made mourners put away their cell phones before viewing Franklin’s body and quickly ushered them long so that the line could move more efficiently.

As many as 200 fans camped out overnight so that they could be the first to enter the museum. 50-year-old Melissa Howard, of Austin Texas, said she flew into Detroit the day before Franklin’s public viewing so that she could ensure she would be able to get inside the museum to pay her respects.

Howard, who has been a fan of Franklin since she was a child, told the Detroit Free Press that she arrived to wait in line around 6:30 p.m. Monday and that Franklin was “royalty” and “worth it.” She said around 1 a.m. early Tuesday morning, Franklin’s niece, Chrystal came to visit fans at the line and handed out bottled water and White Castle hamburgers as a way to say thank you on behalf of the family.

Thousands of mourners are expected to visit the museum over the next few days. A public viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, then on Thursday, from noon to 4 p.m., her body will be moved to New Bethel Baptist Church, which was founded by her late father, Rev. C.L. Franklin.

Franklin’s private, invite-only funeral for family and friends will be held on Friday (Aug. 31) at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple. The service is scheduled to feature an all-star lineup of performers including Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia and Shirley Caesar. Ron Isley, Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday and Franklin’s own son, Edward Franklin, are also set to perform.

Scheduled to speak at the service are former President Bill Clinton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Cicely Tyson, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Clive Davis, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, and Franklin’s close friend Smokey Robinson.

The Rev. Jasper Williams Jr., pastor of Atlanta’s Salem Baptist Church, will deliver the eulogy for the marathon service, which is expected to last between five and seven hours, and will be live streamed online and broadcast on television.

Greater Grace Temple has called on people with pink Cadillacs to line up prior to the funeral to create a “Freeway of Love” in tribute of Franklin, a nod to her 80’s song of the same name. And those who show up the funeral in a pink Cadillac, along with one extra person, will be admitted to the funeral.

After the funeral, Franklin will be entombed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, along with her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, brother Cecil Franklin, sisters Carolyn and Erma Franklin, and her nephew, Thomas Garrett.

Aretha Franklin passed away the morning of Thursday, August 16th surrounded by family and friends at her home in Detroit following a battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Mugshot Madness: Anthony Charles Thomas Maxwell, Man Who Rushed Stage at Beyoncé & JAY-Z Concert, Arrested & Charged With Battery

By
Dustin Gary

Beyoncé and JAY-Z had a bit of a scare over the weekend when a man rushed the stage during their “On The Run II” concert in Atlanta.

As The Carters were leaving the stage following the first of two sold-out shows at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday night (Aug. 25), a man was able to somehow hop on the stage and run after them.

Fortunately, the couple was unharmed, thanks to the help of their backup dancers and security detail, who quickly sprang into action and stopped the man, who was later identified as 26-year-old Anthony Charles Thomas Maxwell.

WATCH HERE:

While Beyoncé and JAY-Z chose not to press charges against Maxwell—who lives in Marietta, Georgia and is originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado—that didn’t stop Atlanta police from charging him with disorderly conduct and aggravated battery after it was determined that he “made contact” with JAY-Z. He never made any contact with Beyoncé, TMZ reported.

A statement from the Atlanta Police Department read:

“As the Jay-Z and Beyonce concert was ending late Saturday night, a man later identified as Anthony Charles Thomas Maxwell (age 26) ran onto the stage and approached Jay-Z. He was quickly stopped by people who were with the performer. Atlanta Police arrived and issued the man a citation for disorderly conduct and released him.

“At the time, there was no evidence Maxwell had made contact with Jay-Z. Upon later investigation, officers were able to gather evidence showing Maxwell had, in fact, made contact with Jay-Z…Maxwell was treated for minor injuries on scene sustained when people around Jay-Z stopped him from further contact with the performer. No one else was injured as a result of this incident.”

Maxwell was taken into custody Sunday evening (Aug. 26) and transported to the Fulton County Jail, where he was booked and held on $5,000 bail. He was released Monday after posting bond.

David Katz: Fast Facts About Angry Gamer Who Killed 2, Wounded 9 at Madden Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida

By
Dustin Gary

While dozens of gamers were attending a Madden NFL 19 video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday (Aug. 26) a gunman opened fire, killing two people and wounding nine others.

That lone gunman has been identified as 24-year-old David Katz, a Maryland resident who was described as a “disgruntled” gamer who had participated in the Madden tournament.

Katz, who has used the names Bread, mrslicedbread, ravenschamp and ravenschamp2012 in Madden competitions, fatally shot himself at the scene.

Here’s what you need to know about David Katz and the shooting:

1The gunman lost in the Madden tournament and “targeted a few people” before fatally shooting himself, according to witnesses, who also said he was acting “weird.”

The mass shooting happened around 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Jacksonville Landing, where the Madden tournament was being hosted, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The GLHF Gaming Bar inside Chicago Pizza was hosting a satellite tournament for a nationwide EA Sports-sanctioned Madden NFL 19 competition that will culminate in a Las Vegas event with $125,000 on the line. The Jacksonville tournament, which started Saturday, was the first qualifier to be held in the Madden 19 Classic.

A witness told the Los Angeles Times that the shooter, later identified as 24-year-old David Katz, had played in the tournament earlier and lost. Steven “Steveyj” Javaruski, another competitor in the tournament, told the Times that the gunman came back to the event with a gun and “targeted a few people” before fatally shooting himself.

Another witness, Javaris Long, told the Tampa Bay Times that the gunman was “nerdy” and became angry after he lost, so he went to his car, got his gun, came back into the building and “started blasting everybody.” One source told Fox News that Katz “reacted to losing with violence.”

Drini Gjoka, another one of the gamers, who was struck with a bullet, tweeted: “The tourney just got shot up. I’m [leaving] and never coming back. I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb. Worst day of my life. I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.” Just moments before that, he tweeted: “won my first single elim game 16-9. Off to Round of 32.”

Police said Katz acted alone in the shooting, contrary to initial reports that there may have been another suspect.

The winner of Sunday’s tournament in Jacksonville was set to win $5,000 along with a chance to advance to Las Vegas where the prize pool was over $100,000. Katz was defeated by two players during the two-day Jacksonville tournament, which started with pool play on Saturday and continued with a single elimination bracket on Sunday, a gamer told WJAX-TV.

Dennis “Evil Ken” Alston, one of the gamers who beat Katz, said he tried to shake his hand yesterday after their game, but Katz stared blankly at him without saying anything. Alston, who has more than a decade of experience in the Madden world, said Katz was acting “weird” all weekend, and was wearing the same clothes on Sunday that he had worn the day before.

Alston said he and the other player who beat Katz were not injured in the shooting, but he said he believed Katz seemed to be targeting certain individuals.

2A Madden Twitch live stream recorded the horrific attack; gunshots and screams were heard as two competitors played a game.

Chilling live stream video footage showing the moment the deadly shooting occurred surfaced on social media immediately following the incident.

The tournament was streamed live via Twitch, an online network that attracts tens of millions of visitors who watch footage of other people playing video games. On one twitch live stream video, more than a dozen gunshots can clearly be heard as well as terrified gamers screaming and crying out. The video does not show the shooter.

The video shows two players competing during the Madden tournament. As they talk about a touchdown run by one of the players, a popping sound can be heard. Then several more gunshots and someone screaming can be heard in the footage. “Oh f***, what’d he shoot me with?” one victim yells out in the video. That person’s identity wasn’t clear.

The sound of controllers dropping to the floor can be heard as several more shots continue to right out. Then, people can be heard scrambling to find safety as many others scream. After a few seconds, the shooting starts back up along with the sound of more people screaming.

You can watch the video here [WARNING – DISTURBING CONTENT]:

Fans watching the video reported seeing a red dot on one of the players’ chest right before the shots rang out. It was later confirmed that player’s name was Eli Clayton, known by his gamer handle “Trueboy,” and he was one of the two shooting victims who died.

3Eli “Trueboy” Clayton and Taylor “Spotmeplzzz” Robertson were killed in the shooting. Nine others were injured by gunfire, and two were injured while trying to flee the area.

The shooting sent at least 11 people to area hospitals, some with gunshot wounds, according to WJAX-TV. Nine people were injured by gunfire, and two were injured trying to flee the Jacksonville Landing. Taylor Poindexter, of Chicago, reportedly injured her ankle while escaping.

Three people were treated at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, hospital spokesman Pete Mobeg told CNN, and all three were in stable condition. Meanwhile, University of Florida Health said it was treating six patients, with five of them in stable condition and one in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the chest, UF Health said in a statement. Police later said all of the victims were stable.

One victim, 25-year-old Timothy Anselimo of Brooklyn, a popular gamer known as “OLarry,” was shot three times, his mother shared on Twitter shortly after the incident. She asked for prayers for her son.

She also tweeted pictures of her son and his gamer friends who she said survived by the grace of God. She posted a photo of Florida Gov. Rick Scott visiting her son in the hospital as well.

“Devastated,” Anselimo tweeted Monday. “No words. Surgery in the morning. Thanks to all who reached out.”

https://twitter.com/oLARRY2K/status/1033956774825615360

Anselimo is also a member of the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA 2K video game team.

Another gamer, “DubDotDUBBY,” said on Twitter that a bullet had grazed his head, adding that he was “traumatized and devastated.”

Eli Clayton, known by his gamer handle “Trueboy,” was identified by friends and the Los Angeles Times as one of the victims who died in the horrific shooting.

Clayton was a 22-year-old from Woodland Hills, California. He identified himself as a Madden Pro player in his Instagram bio and was a Jacksonville Jaguars fan.

Clayton also posted about how excited he was to appear on ESPN and how it was a dream since he was 5 years old.

Back in February, he wrote: “Madden has really changed my life and a game that I used to play for fun is now a big part of my life. Just so blessed to have an opportunity like this. Just such a crazy feeling knowing that tons of people log on and see my face on a Madden NFL game. Unreal.”

Clayton tweeted on August 20th that he had originally planned not to attend the Jacksonville event, but changed his mind.

The second victim who died in the horrific shooting was identified as 27-year-old Taylor Robertson of Ballard, West Virginia. He gamed under the name “Spotmeplzzz” and was a fan of the Tennessee Titans.

https://twitter.com/spotmeplzzz/status/962157342480633857

https://twitter.com/spotmeplzzz/status/962010784577437696

On his Twitter account, @spotmeplzzz, Robertson identified himself as a father, husband and a pro Madden player. He wrote in an August 20th tweet: “Excited for some live madden this weekend in Jacksonville. Time to chase that second belt.”

https://twitter.com/spotmeplzzz/status/1031547906107625476

Robertson died exactly three months shy of what would have been his 28th birthday on November 26th. He and Eric “Trueboy” Clayton were Facebook friends.

4David Katz won a Madden tournament in Buffalo, NY in 2017.

David Katz, playing under the username Bread, won the Buffalo Bills Madden Club tournament in February 2017, according to the EA Sports website. He took home $10,000 for winning that event. You can watch video footage from one of the games from that 2017 tournament below:

The EA Sports website says:

“In what some are calling the most exciting moment in all the 2017 NFL Club Series Championships, David ‘Bread’ Katz won with a walk-off victory by completing an unbelievable pass as time expired to be crowned Buffalo Bills Champion. The crowd at 716 Food and Sport in Buffalo, NY was amazed with the clutch execution in the 4th quarter!”

Katz played another game in the Madden Club Series Championship in Burbank, California in April 2017. He lost that quarterfinals game against another player named Misery.

Katz said in the 2017 video that he typically played Madden NFL on PS4. He was at times ranked among the top players in Madden Ultimate Team, however, social media posts from fellow gamers posted before and after the shooting show he had a reputation for cheating and shady play, including intentionally making games “glitchy” to his advantage.

Katz would also post game strategies and tips on YouTube, Twitch, and elsewhere, including a now-defunct website called “The Gamers Lab.”

Disturbing old tweets about suicide on “The Gamers Lab” twitter account from 2017 led many social media users to connect Katz to the site, saying he was the one tweeter, but The Gamers Lab tweeted Sunday that he didn’t operate the account: “Fyi this was not HIS account. I think he may have posted some youtube videos on the madden tips channel years ago. Thoughts and prayers to the victims and the [families]/friends.”

5Police and federal agents swarmed Katz’ family home in Baltimore, Maryland after the shooting.

Police said Katz was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and may have stayed in a North Florida hotel Saturday night.

Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith told the Baltimore Sun, “we are assisting our partner law enforcement agencies with some information that has led authorities to Baltimore.”

After the shooting, the FBI and Baltimore Police raided his home and interviewed family members, the agencies said on social media.

Neighbors of Katz’ home, where he stayed with his parents in the 1200 block of Harbor Island Walk near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, said they rarely saw or talked to him.

EA Sports, the game developer of Madden 19, released the following statement immediately after the shooting: “We are aware of an incident at a sanctioned Madden Championship Series competition in Jacksonville,” the company said. “We are working with authorities to gather facts at this stage. This is a horrible incident and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved.”

In a later statement, Electronic Arts, EA Sports’ parent company, called the shooting a “senseless act of violence that we strongly condemn” and said their “most heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the victims whose lives were taken… and those were injured.” The statement continued: “All of us at Electronic Arts are devastated by this horrific event, and we also join the community in thanking the first responders who were quickly on the scene.”

6It isn’t clear how Katz was able to sneak a gun into the gaming bar hosting the Madden tournament. A motive was also not known.

Police haven’t commented about how Katz acquired the gun used in the shooting, nor have they revealed how he got into the gaming bar with the gun and whether or not there was any security, including metal detectors and/or guards, at the event.

Police did say, however, that Katz carried out the shooting with a handgun, and a semi-automatic weapon was also found at the scene. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said at a press conference that they were investigating whether Katz legally owned the weapon he used in the shooting.

Police located Katz’ vehicle near the scene and approached it with caution in case there were any explosives inside, WESH-TV reported. There were no reports of explosives being found in the car, but it wasn’t known whether any other evidence was found inside the vehicle.

Police would not comment about his motive, but Twitter users said Katz was upset about losing two games of Madden earlier in the tournament, and as mentioned earlier in this article, he refused to shake hands with the winner after at least one game.

Earlier Sunday, while Katz was competing in the tournament, a video showed an announcer introducing Katz while his face remained stoic.

“You are not going to see much emotion from our guy Bread,” the announcer said. “David Katz keeps to himself. He’s a man of business. He’s not here for the experience … he’s not here to make friends. He’s all business, he’s focused, and even to get him to open up to talk to you about anything, it’s like pulling teeth…”

Senator John McCain Dies From Brain Cancer at 81

By
Dustin Gary

Senator John McCain, the 2008 GOP presidential nominee who was driven by a code of honor that defined and haunted him, has died, the Washington Post reports. He was 81 years old.

Just yesterday, the Arizona Senator’s family announced that he had decided to stop treatment for the brain cancer he had been battling since being diagnosed in July 2017

“Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment,” the McCain family said in a statement.

The statement went on to say: “Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John’s many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. God bless and thank you all.”

Cindy McCain, the senator’s wife, wrote in a tweet: “I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey.”

The senator’s daughter, Meghan McCain, said in a tweet, “My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year. Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you – you’ve given us strength to carry on.”

John McCain was a decorated Vietnam veteran who first rose to prominence after surviving torture over a 5-year period as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. He was captured in 1967 at a lake in Hanoi after his Navy warplane was been downed by Northern Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War.

He was elected in 1982 to the House of Representatives, where he served for two terms before his election to the Senate in 1987, where he spent the rest of his political career. During his time in office, McCain capitalized on his reputation as a “maverick” Republican, and first ran for President in 2000. He lost that presidential run, as well as a second one in 2008 to Barack Obama. In his 2008 presidential campaign, he infamously introduced Sarah Palin to the world, which many believe hastened the forces that brought Donald Trump to power eight years later.

After announcing his brain cancer diagnosis in July 2017, McCain made a dramatic return to the Senate floor to oppose the GOP effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act—President Obama’s signature healthcare bill, a decision that sparked a well-known beef between President Trump and McCain, which culminated with McCain stating that he did not want Trump to attend his funeral. He asked the White House to send Vice President Mike Pence instead.

Trump had previously said McCain was considered a war hero only “because he was captured” in the Vietnam War, and he only respected military figures who avoided being taken prisoner by the enemy. He also called McCain’s “no” vote against Trump’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare “totally unexpected” and “honestly terrible.”

John McCain was twice married. His first marriage was to a woman named Carol Shepp from 1965 to 1980. He adopted her two sons from a previous marriage: Doug, an American Airlines pilot, and Any, who is an executive at the family beer distribution company, Hensley & Co. John and Carol had one child together, a daughter named Sidney who was in the music business.

John’s second marriage was to Cindy (Hensley) McCain, his current wife and now widower. They married in 1980 and wen ton to have three children: Meghan, Jack and Jimmy. They also adopted a daughter, Bridget.

John McCain ran for his sixth and last term in the Senate in 2015. After winning, he predicted in his victory speech to his supporters that campaign “might be the last.” He added, “Thank you one last time for making me the luckiest guy I know.”

McCain wrote in his final book, reflecting on his life as it came to an end: “It’s been quite a ride. I’ve known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times.”

Nick Young Arrested in Los Angeles (VIDEO)

By
GOT Sports

NBA star Nick Young (aka Swaggy P) was arrested in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles late Friday night (Aug. 24) following an incident with police during a traffic stop.

According to TMZ, the former Golden State Warriors player was pulled over for a minor traffic violation just before midnight when “something went wrong.” It isn’t clear what happened during the traffic stop that led to him being arrested.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ the 33-year-old NBA player was arrested for “obstruction of justice” after refusing to cooperate with police officers on the scene.

So far, there is one witness claiming he saw police take Young out of his vehicle, order him up against a wall with his bands behind his back, and then cuff him.

He was taken to a nearby police station where he was booked, and his vehicle was subsequently impounded. It isn’t clear whether or not anyone else was in the car.

This isn’t Swaggy P’s first run-in with police. Back in 2016, he was cited for playing loud music while driving a rental without plates through Hollywood.

Young claimed at the time that one of the officers heckled him about the Lakers’ poor record at the time. He said done cop shouted “Y’all suck!” to which he replied, “It ain’t lookin’ too good for y’all either.”

Watch Beyoncé Almost Fall Down the Stairs During Nashville Concert (Keyword: ALMOST)

By
Dustin Gary

We already know Beyoncé is pretty “Flawless” when it comes to her stage presence, but she really proved that the other night during a concert in Nashville, Tennessee.

While performing her “On The Run II” tour concert with husband JAY-Z in Nashville Thursday night (Aug. 23), Beyoncé was walking down the stairs when somehow her ankle krilled, but because she’s Beyoncé, she caught herself in the most graceful way before she fell.

The fan-recorded video shows the moment her ankle buckles, but instead of falling flat on her face like the rest of us would probably do, she springs up, kicks her leg out, and keeps on walking as if nothing had happened.

The footage shows that, yes, Beyoncé is, indeed, a real human who makes mistakes, but unlike other real humans, she somehow makes her mistakes seem graceful as hell.

As some fans on social media put it, Beyoncé didn’t almost fall… THE FALL ALMOST BEYONCÉ’D. And, believe it or not, this isn’t the first time this has happened.

On perhaps one of the biggest stages in her career, during her Super Bowl halftime show performance in 2016, she lost her balance but made it look like it was part of the choreography in a way that only Beyoncé could. Just like her “almost fall” in Nashville, it was one of those blink and you might miss it moments.

Also, while performing at Coachella this past April, when she tried to pick up her little sister Solange, the two of them collapsed on stage in a ball of laughter. And way back in 2007, while performing in Orlando her “The Beyoncé Experience” tour, she took a pretty big tumble down a flight of stairs and hopped back up and continued singing and dancing as if nothing had ever happened.

In other news, Billboard reports the “On the Run II” tour has earned more than $150 million after only 29 of the scheduled 48 tour dates. For the sake of comparison, Bey and Jay’s 2014 “On the Run” tour only raked in $110 million, but they only performed 21 dates, including two overseas shows in Paris.

The “On the Run II” tour will be in Atlanta Saturday and Sunday night, followed by stops in Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, San Diego, and Vancouver. The tour ends October 4th in Seattle.

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