Kanye West is now reportedly worth $6.6 billion dollars, which makes him the wealthiest Black man in American history.
According to new reports, the 43-year-old rapper’s Yeezy sneaker and clothing company, which is valued between $3.2 billion and $4.7 billion, accounts for a large portion of his massive net worth.
Kanye’s Yeezy brand also has deals with Adidas and Gap, with the latter of which reportedly being worth as much as $970 million.
West currently has full ownership and creative control of the Yeezy brand by himself, and he previously signed a 10-year agreement last summer to design and sell clothes under the Yeezy Gap label.
Under the Gap deal, West will design items for men, women and kids. And while his arrangement with Gap excludes footwear, his contract with Adidas lasts until 2026.
A report from Bloomberg noted that Ye’s new Gap line is expected “to break $150 million in sales in its first full year in 2022.”
Kanye is reported to have $122 million in cash and stock, along with a music catalog that’s worth $110 million. The rapper also has $1.7 billion in other assets, including his estranged Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS business.
Back in April 2020, Kanye called out Forbes and accused the publication of listing his net worth incorrectly. At the time, Forbes reported that Ye’s net worth was $1.3 billion, but Kanye was very adamant he was worth more than $3 billion.
“It’s not a billion. It’s $3.3 billion since no one at Forbes knows how to count,” the rapper said in a text message to the magazine’s editor.
Famous Dex seems to be having the worst week ever.
Just days after he was robbed at gunpoint, TMZ is reporting that the rapper was busted by police while carrying a loaded gun.
Police say the rapper was riding in the backseat of a car Tuesday night (Mar. 16) when LAPD pulled it over in North Hollywood for not having a rear license plate.
During the traffic stop, Dex allegedly tried to get out and walk away, but cops stopped him and continued to search the vehicle.
It’s unknown what sparked the investigation, but according to TMZ’s sources, a loaded pistol was discovered during the search, and he was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm—a felony charge.
Dex was booked on the charge and his bail was set at $35,000. He remained behind bars as of the time this article was published.
The news comes just days after reports emerged that the rapper was robbed at gunpoint last Wednesday (Mar. 10).
According to TMZ (via police sources), Dex said he got together with a friend in the San Fernando Valley area of L.A. who allowed him to borrow a $50K watch for a video shoot. Not long after the friend gave him the watch, Dex said he was followed by a group of people.
When Dex stopped his car, he said several men pulled guns on him, demanding that he hand over the expensive watch and the thousands of dollars of cash he had on him. As of now, there have been no arrests in his robbery case.
You gotta feel sorry for the guy, though. First, he gets robbed, so he carries a gun for protection, and then he gets arrested for carrying a gun to protect himself. A hell of a catch-22 if you ask us.
Vanessa Bryant has released the names of the four Los Angeles County Sherriff’s deputies who allegedly took and shared unauthorized graphic photos of the devastating helicopter crash that killed her husband, daughter and seven other people.
In an Instagram post Wednesday (Mar. 17), Vanessa shared images of court documents from the lawsuit she filed against Los Angeles County, the sheriff’s department, the county fire department, and the four deputies in question.
The screenshots revealed the identities of the four deputies, as well as other disturbing allegations about what they did with the pictures of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and the other passengers.
Mrs. Bryant posted several pictures of the case to Instagram, including the front page of the lawsuit, which listed the defendants’ full names.
Vanessa Bryant reveals the names of the police officers who took photos of the helicopter crash site that killed her husband, daughter and seven others. pic.twitter.com/hJjgaDodMt
According to one particularly disturbing section of the complaint she shared, one deputy—officer Joey Cruz—not only bragged about having graphic photos of the crash site, but went as far as to show photos he personally took of the accident to a bartender at Baja California Bar and Grill just two days after the crash.
The bartender then allegedly approached another table of restaurant patrons and explained what had happened, which one customer described as “very, very disturbing,” so much so that it “bothered [him] that entire night, even [on] [his] drive home,” the court docs read.
Once he got home and while sitting in his driveway, that customer decided at that moment to file a formal complaint with the Sheriff’s Department via e-mail.
The customer wrote: “There was a deputy at Baja California Bar and Grill in Norwalk who was at the Kobe Bryant crash site showing pictures of his [i.e. Kobe Bryant’s] … body. He was working the day the helicopter went down and took pictures of the crash site and bodies. He is a young deputy, shaved head…”
In a later interview with Department investigators, the customer said he believed it was “very inappropriate for that deputy to be there at that environment, showing those pictures to other individuals,” and the situation “did not sit well with [him] at all.”
Bryant’s lawsuit also states that within 48 hours of the crash, photos of the incident were distributed to at least ten department employees. The suit also claims that one deputy had taken between 25 and 100 pictures of the crash scene on his personal cell phone.
According to the lawsuit, Sheriff Alex Villanueva allegedly brought the deputies who’d taken the photos into his office and told them that if they deleted the photos, they would not be punished. He also reportedly didn’t disclose the invasion of privacy to internal affairs, and no probe was launched until news of the existence of the photos were made public.
Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, along with seven other people, were tragically killed on January 26th, 2020 when the helicopter they were flying in crashed into a Southern California hillside while en route to a girls basketball game tournament.
An investigation by The National Transportation Safety board blamed the pilot, Ara Zobayan, for the crash, saying that he disregarded his training, violated flight rules by flying into conditions where he couldn’t see, and failed to take alternative precautions that may have prevented the accident, such as slowing down and landing or converting to auto-pilot.
The Grammy-nominated singer took to Twitter Wednesday (Mar. 17) to announce that she’s retiring, sharing the news while responding to tweets from fans.
“You winning right now Keyshia your new single is buzzing up the charts you should be top 20 next week! Stay focused u got this!!” one fan tweeted, to which she replied: “I’m retiring..”
That same fan tweeted in another post: “At this point @KeyshiaCole Twitter has to be hacked!!! Retiring from what???” and Keyshia replied: “Y’all always think I’m being hacked.”
She went on to explain that she’s not retiring right now, but it will come after she completes her contractual obligations.
“Come on now Keysh so we ain’t getting the album no more I’m about to cry,” one fan said, to which Keyshia responded: “No. I’m already contracted to do so, I wouldn’t do that to @BMG, myself, or my fans. But I’m gonna have to move at my pace with this one. #Album8”
No. I’m already contracted to do so, I wouldn’t do that to @BMG ,myself, or my fans. But I’m gonna have to move at my pace with this one. #Album8https://t.co/vipFum06xz
Cole’s announcement comes as a shock to many, especially right now when she’s generating so much buzz with the release of her “I Don’t Want to Be in Love” single and her appearing in a highly anticipated Verzuz battle alongside Ashanti earlier this year, in addition to her working on her eighth studio album, the follow-up to 2017’s 11:11 Reset.
Hopefully, she’ll change her mind once she sees all the love from her fans after she drops her eighth album, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
An Indianapolis woman was shot and her 7-year-old daughter, mother, brother and cousin were killed over the weekend after an explosive argument with her child’s father over her stimulus check.
According to Fox 59, the shooting suspect, 25-year-old Malik Halfacre, had demanded that Jeanettrius Moore—a mother of two young daughters, one of whom she shares with Halfacre—give him half of the $1,400 stimulus check she received for their daughter, a request that she refused.
“He wanted some of Jeanettrius’ tax money, stimulus money,” Moore’s cousin, Wendy Johnson, told the local Fox outlet. “She had just got her money, and he wanted half of her money.”
Johnson continued: “She said, ‘No, you don’t deserve any of this. I work. I take care of our child. You don’t do anything.’
“He said, ‘I really want half.’ She said, ‘I’ll give you $450. Take it or leave it.’ He said, ‘I’m gonna get that money.’ This was the day before.”
Johnson went on to say that she was told Halfacre was waiting outside Moore’s home Saturday evening (Mar. 13).
“[Jeanettrius] said [Malik] gave her an evil look and walked off,” Johnson added. “He came back.”
Repeating the story Moore told her, Johnson said: “Malik came back in the house asking, ‘Where’s the money? Where’s the money?'”
Johnson said that’s when Halfacre started rifling through Moore’s purse, and not long after, he opened fire on Moore and her four family members.
Jeanettrius Moore survived the shooting, but her family members were killed.
The deceased were identified as Jeanettrius’ 7-year-old daughter, Eve Moore, her brother, 23-year-old Daquan Moore, her mother, 44-year-old Tomeeka Brown, and her cousin, 35-year-old Anthony Johnson.
“Daquan was trying to save his sister. He was taking up for his sister,” Johnson said. “He stood up and said, ‘You cannot have the money. You cannot have her money.'”
Johnson said Daquan then pushed Malik, “and Malik pulled out the gun and just started killing everybody.”
Johnson added: “He shot Daquan first. He shot Anthony. He turned around, and he shot my Auntie Tomeeka. My Auntie Tomeeka said, ‘Malik!’ and he shot her again. He came back and shot Daquan for the second time and somewhere between little Baby Eve got hit somewhere and she was screaming, she was screaming.”
The chaos didn’t end there. Recalling Jeanettrius’ story, Johnson said Malik returned to the house to retrieve a milk bottle after taking her and their 6-month-old daughter to the car and strapping the baby in a car seat.
“He went back in the house, and that’s when he shot Anthony again when he was coming down the steps,” Johnson said.
“When he went in the house, that was Jeanettrius’ cue to run for her life, and that’s what she did. Ran for her life in traffic across New York Street and knocking on everyone’s doors.”
Jeaneattrius, who was suffering from a gunshot wound, hid on a neighbor’s porch until police arrived as Halfacre drove away with their child. Malik then fled the scene with their baby, which triggered an Amber Alert early Sunday morning.
“He told her that she made him kill everybody,” Johnson said. “She made him do it.”
Craig Jackson told a WISH-TV reporter that he was waiting on a food delivery when he heard someone banging on his door.
“I was sitting right here in my chair. I hear a loud bang on the door; bam, bam, bam, bam. I get up. I said, ‘Who is it?'” Jackson said. “She said, ‘Can you help me? I have been shot.'”
“She was frantic. She was hysterical. She was in pain,” Jackson said. “She said her baby daddy shot her, and he shot her, her mother and the kids. She said she was the only person who got away.”
Jackson said he tried to keep Moore conscious by talking to her as they waited for the police to arrive.
“I said, ‘Why did he shoot you?’ And her exact words were ‘stimulus money,'” Jackson said. “Her exact words were, ‘I am the only one who got away. He killed the rest of them.’ Those were her exact words.”
This is the man who was able to call 911 and possibly save the life of the only survivor from a weekend homicide that killed four people.
“Stimulus money” is what the woman told him caused the suspect to shoot her and kill 4 members of her family. @WISH_TVpic.twitter.com/l8HapBNTQk
Jackson said while they were waiting for the police, he noticed a pickup truck circling the block at least three times, but he couldn’t see who was inside.
“She kept on saying, ‘Please help me, please help me, please help me. And I told her, I said ‘The police are on the way. The police are on the way,'” Jackson said.
When the police arrived, Jeaneattrius directed them to the home a block away where the victims were found. Lorenzo Moore, another brother of Jeaneattrius, walked in at the same time and discovered the bodies of his family members.
“I seen all my family members in there on the floor dead. I could put the picture together of how everything went down and how everybody went,” Lorenzo said, adding that he was in pure disbelief at the gruesome scene.
“I didn’t even know that that was my people on the ground suffering because they let a monster out of prison.”
Malik Halfacre is an ex-con and was previously arrested for shooting a man in northwest Indianapolis in early 2017, but was released in 2018 after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
“We always knew that he carried a gun,” Lorenzo said of Halfacre. “He didn’t have a job—just laying around being lazy.”
Lorenzo also said his sister was afraid of Halfacre, adding: “It was like you could feel this fear, but you never want to do anything about it because you’re too scared and it might come to what it’s come to. Just him being angry about not having any money and him not doing anything for himself, so he thought he would just take something from her.”
Several hours after the shooting, the couple’s baby was found unharmed in northeast Indianapolis, and within 24 hours of the shooting, Halfacre was arrested after a 4-hour-long standoff with a SWAT team.
While he has yet to be formally charged, online arrest records list Halfacre’s preliminary charges as murder, robbery and attempted murder.
As for Moore, she was taken to a hospital and her condition was described as stable.
Tiffany Haddish became very emotional after she found out she’d won a Grammy … and it all happened while she was live on set filming an episode of Kids Say the Darndest Things.
The comedian shared an emotional video on Twitter late on Sunday, just hours after she was awarded the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for her work on “Black Mitzvah.”
In the video, Haddish is filming “Kids Say the Darndest Things with Tiffany Haddish” and hears in her earpiece from a producer that she’s won the Grammy she was nominated for. She stops talking to the kids briefly, and tearfully asks: “Y’all serious? I really won?”
“You know a Black woman hasn’t won in that category since 1986,” Haddish tells the kids, noting that Whoopi Goldberg was the last Black woman to win the award for “Whoopi Goldberg: Original Broadway Show Recording.”
One child says she did know that, because she learned it during Black History Month.
Haddish goes on to use her win and reaction as a teaching moment: “Can I tell you why I’m crying? It’s a lot of bumpy roads that you cross, right? And it’s a lot of times that you feel like, ‘Am I doing the right thing? Is this good enough? Am I good enough? Am I strong enough to do this job?'”
“And then you just have to believe in yourself as much as you can,” she goes on. “Against all odds, you just say, ‘You know what? I’m going to just put my best foot forward, and I’m going to give the world the best that I got.’ Right? Anything is possible.”
Tiff also talked about the emotional moment on Instagram, writing in a post:
This is How I found out I Won a Grammy! I was Working today for @kidssaythedarndestthings Airing very soon on @cbstv. The Producers decided to tell me I WON a Grammy while I was interviewing these two young ladies Lauren and Ava, that want to someday be president of the United States of America.
I was flooded with a such a [sense] of accomplishment and relief. I kinda didn’t know what to say. I just wanted to cry but I knew it would have confused the babies. So I decided to use that moment to teach and share my feelings. Thank you @recordingacademy for the honor. Thank you to everyone that made #blackmitzvah happen.
Tiger Woods was rushed to the hospital and is currently undergoing surgery for “multiple leg injuries” following a very serious single-car crash in Los Angeles Tuesday morning (Feb. 23).
The professional golfer was reportedly driving alone near Rancho Palos Verdes when his vehicle flipped over. Officials said firefighters had to use a device called the “jaws of life” to pry the car open and rescue him.
“On February 23, 2021, at approximately 7:12 AM, LASD responded to a single vehicle roll-over traffic collision on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Ranchos Palos Verdes,” officials said.
“The vehicle was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard, at Blackhorse Road, when it crashed. The vehicle sustained major damage. The driver and sole occupant was identified as PGA golfer, Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods.
“Mr. Woods was extricated from the wreck with the ‘jaws of life’ by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics, then transported to a local hospital by ambulance for his injuries.”
It isn’t clear what caused the accident and police are investigating.
Though his condition isn’t known at this time, but his agent Mark Steinberg told Golf Digest: “Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support.”
Story updated with statement from Woods' agent Mark Steinberg:
"Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support."https://t.co/z7kdbXOmLZ
Tiger was in the area for his annual Genesis Invitational golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades.
Earlier this year, he announced that he’d undergone surgery on his back and said that it could keep him from participating in the upcoming Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
This isn’t the first time Tiger Woods has been in a high profile car accident, as he infamously crashed his SUV back in 2009 at his home in Florida.
He was arrested in 2017 after cops found him passed out behind the wheel of his car. Tiger said he’d taken prescription medication prior to the accident and didn’t realize how the meds would would affect him.
The marriage between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West has officially reached its endpoint.
Kim Kardashian has filed for divorce from Kanye West after seven years of marriage, Page Six can confirm.
Kardashian’s well-known divorce lawyer Laura Wasser filed the papers on Friday.
Page Six exclusively revealed in January that Kardashian, 40, and West, 41, were headed for a split.
The couple had already been in the process of dealing with property settlements, and while West was photographed this week still wearing his wedding band, separate photos of Kardashian indicated that she had already started going without hers.
Kardashian has filed for joint legal and physical custody of the couple’s four children: daughters North, 7, Chicago, 3; and sons Saint, 5, and Psalm, who turns 2 in May.
Additionally, TMZ is reporting that Kanye has agreed to a joint custody arrangement and he and Kim are “committed to co-parenting together.”
There’s also an uncontested prenup in place and a property settlement agreement is about to be finalized.
The divorce documents currently do not list a date of separation.
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70.
His death, which was announced on his program by his wife Kathryn Limbaugh, comes a little more than a year after he announced he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Mrs. Limbaugh said her husband died at his home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Rush was the host of “The Rush Limbaugh Show” for over 30 years. At its peak, his show—which was first syndicated in 1988—reached an audience of more than 15 million listeners.
President Donald Trump awarded Rush the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — for his achievements in radio. Trump presented the award in an unprecedented move during the 2020 State of the Union address just days after Limbaugh revealed his cancer diagnosis.
Of course, Limbaugh’s success in radio did not come without a lot of controversies, as his views on race, LGBTQ+ issues, feminism, sexual consent and climate change — just to name a few — have been widely criticized … making him one of the most polarizing figures in America.
The same was true for Rush when he ventured to television, as evidenced by his very first appearance in 1990 as guest host for “The Pat Sajak Show.” As Limbaugh was discussing affirmative action, he got jeered by the audience … resulting in everyone being escorted out of the studio so he could finish the show solo.
Rush went on to host his own TV show from 1992-96, and during this time he was one of the most vocal critics of President Bill Clinton and influential figures of the “Republican Revolution,” in which the party regained control of Congress in 1994.
Years later, in 2003, Rush found himself in the middle of a new type of controversy — in the sports world — after joining ESPN as a football commentator. Limbaugh made incendiary comments about Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, claiming he was overrated due to the media being “very desirous that a black quarterback do well.” Rush resigned shortly afterward … but there were plenty more controversies to come.
Rush joined “The Breakfast Club” this past summer to discuss George Floyd’s death and the protests that followed, and he delivered more classic Rush takes … including saying he doesn’t believe white privilege exists.
Just months before that, in February 2020, Rush insisted COVID-19 was nothing to worry about, telling his audience … “I’m dead right on this. The coronavirus is the common cold, folks.” He claimed it was being weaponized to hurt Trump.
Among Limbaugh’s other accomplishments in radio include his induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame … and his show being named the most listened-to in the U.S. in 2019.
Rush also wrote 7 books … his first 2 landing on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Limbaugh was married 4 times, the first 3 ending in divorce. He is survived by his current wife, Kathryn Rogers, who he wed in 2010.
Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, has died at the age of 64 after he was struck in a hit-and-run accident, TMZ reports.
Nassau County Police in New York said Maraj was walking on the road between Roslyn Rd. and Raff Ave. Friday evening around 6 p.m. ET when he was hit by a car.
Cops said the driver then fled the scene and witnesses were unable to get a description of the driver or the vehicle.
Maraj was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died of his injuries.
The Homicide Squad is reportedly investigating the case and asking the public to help identify the person responsible for the hit-and-run.
Though Nicki hasn’t spoken on her dad’s death yet, a rep for the rapper confirmed the sad news but offered no further comment.
via Facebook uma tia de Nicki Minaj publicou que Robert Maraj (Pai de Nicki ) veio a Falecer , as informações ainda não foram confirmadas ! esperamos que Deus posso conforta o coração da Nicki e sua Família nesse momento ?? pic.twitter.com/UMA1iNproj
Atlanta rapper Silento—best known for his hit song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” along with the dance craze associated with it—was arrested in Dekalb County, Georgia on murder charges after being accused of shooting and killing his cousin.
The 23-year-old (whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk) was taken into police custody Monday (Feb. 1) and booked into the Dekalb County jail on one count of murder in the shooting death of 34-year-old Frederick Rooks, police said.
Authorities reportedly responded to a call about shots fired in the Panthersville area about two weeks ago (Jan. 21) around 3:30 a.m. and found Rooks dead in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Police said they found at least eight bullet casings surrounding Rooks.
Ring camera footage from neighbors recorded several cars leaving the scene after the shooting, and investigators later connected the incident to Silento.
Investigators reportedly believe the shooting victim (Rooks) knew the residents of the house where his body was found after the shooting, but they’re still trying to put the pieces together regarding the incident.
“I think it is connected to this house,” DeKalb police Lt. Rod Bryant said at the time. “We’re still doing a little bit more investigation. The people in the house know him, but he really don’t live there, so we’re trying to see what’s going on.”
Initially, investigators had no information about the shooting suspect, “However, after a thorough investigation, DKPD detectives identified Hawk as Rooks’ cousin, and the person responsible for Rooks’ murder,” police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent said in a statement.
Vincent added that detectives are still working to determine a motive for the shooting.
Silento, who rose to fame as a teenage rap sensation back in 2015 thanks to his “Watch Me” video, which has been viewed nearly 2 billion times on YouTube, has been arrested multiple times in recent months, including two arrests within one week back in August 2019 on domestic violence and gun charges in California.
In late October, he was arrested for speeding on I-85 after police caught him driving more than 140 mph on I-85.
The police report stated that Silento told officers he was speeding because he was being followed. He said: “If there is like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person, and you could go look on your computer and it would tell you that.”
And just one month earlier, in September 2019, he was arrested for alleged domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon in two separate incidents in Orange County and Los Angeles.
According to reports, Silento was taken into police custody after someone reported a domestic disturbance and he was booked and released on a charge of inflicting a corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant.
The next day, he went to a random home with a hatchet and entered the strangers’ residence while looking for his girlfriend. Investigators said the homeowners and their children were at home at the time and were shaken by the intrusion, but unharmed.
Silento was arrested by LAPD officers about a block away from the home and later charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Saved By The Bell star Dustin Diamond, who played Screech on the show, died on Monday (Feb. 1) after fighting a tough battle with stage four lung cancer.
Diamond was diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks ago after being hospitalized in Florida in January.
According to his rep, Diamond’s condition greatly declined last week and he was taken off breathing machines and subsequently placed into hospice care.
Diamond went through several rounds of chemotherapy, however, that did not help improve his condition.
His rep stated he died with his girlfriend by his side and did not suffer.
“He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago. In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution,” the statement his rep released stated.
“Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
Cicely Tyson, the legendary actress whose career spanned more than seven decades and became known for her portrayal of strong Black women, has died at the age of 96.
According to the Associated Press, Tyson’s death was announced by her family (via her manager Larry Thompson) and no other details were immediately provided.
“With heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon. At this time, please allow the family their privacy,” the statement issued through Thompson read.
Tyson started her career as a fashion model in NYC, appearing on covers of magazines such as Ebony, Jet, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.
Her acting career began with bit roles and she later gained fame in the early 1970’s when Black women were finally starting to get leading roles.
Aside from her Oscar nomination, Tyson won two Emmys for playing the 110-year-old former slave in the 1974 TV drama The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
Younger audiences know Cicely Tyson from films like The Help, Fried Green Tomatoes, Madea’s Family Reunion, and A Fall From Grace.
Ms. Tyson also did Broadway and won a Tony for Best Actress in a Play for her role in 2013’s “The Trip to Bountiful,” which made her the oldest recipient ever of a Best Actress Tony.
Back in the 1960’s, in the earlier days of her career, she starred in an off-Broadway play called “The Blacks” alongside other legends like Maya Angelou, James Earl Jones and Louis Gossett Jr.
She received a Presidential Medal of Freedom award in 2016 from then-President Barack Obama, who said: “Cicely made a conscious decision not just to say lines, but to speak out. Cicely’s convictions and grace have helped for us to see the dignity of every beautiful member of the American family—and she’s just gorgeous.”
Tyson’s memoir Just As I Am was published this week, and she’d just celebrated her 96th birthday last month.
The pardons came days after reports claimed that the rappers were among those the Kandy Korn Koated-in-Chief planned to pardon before the end of his presidential term.
Lil Wayne was facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in December to illegally possessing a firearm, while Kodak Black was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after he was convicted of falsifying documents to purchase a firearm.
Kodak’s sentence has been commuted and Wayne—who would have faced sentencing on Jan. 28th—will not have to serve any time despite pleading guilty to his felony charge.
While the Hip-Hop community is celebrating the fact Kodak will be coming home soon, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce O. Brown wrote in his motion that the rapper (who legally changed his name in 2018 Bill Kapri) “has not presented ‘extraordinary and compelling reasons’ supporting his request for release.”
Brown continued: “Stated (for) correction: (Kodak) has not presented ANY reason supporting his request for release. He merely states he is not an evil person and promises to participate in community-based programs aimed at helping the ‘younger generation.’ That simply is inadequate pursuant to the statute.”
Lil Wayne (real name: Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) made headlines last year when met with Trump just days before the Nov. 3rd presidential election to talk about “the platinum plan,” an economic proposal to empower black business owners.
Carter, in a tweet featuring an obvious photo opp with Trump, praised the then-president for his work on criminal justice reform and said the proposal would “give the community real ownership.”
“He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done,” Wayne tweeted on October 29th.
White House officials noted in an announcement of Carter’s pardon that was supported by Brett Berish (owner of liquor company Sovereign Brands) and football legend Deion Sanders.
Berish described the rapper as “trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous” and noted his commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and food banks.
Sanders referred to Wayne as “a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.”
Others pardoned or had their sentences commuted by Trump on his last day in office included Steve Bannon (who pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of defrauding donors in a fake “We Build the Wall” online fundraising campaign), Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (convicted of federal charges including racketeering, extortion and filing false tax returns), Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez (who was arrested in 1994 for drug possession and again in ’98 for grand larceny and possession of a firearm), Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris (who has served 30 years of a 25-year to life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and many more.
Trump issued a total of 73 pardons and 70 sentence commutations as prepared to leave office early Wednesday (Jan. 19).
A black female doctor who was bullied by Tiffany Haddish and other “celebrities” on Clubhouse after she corrected their COVID misinformation has reportedly been hospitalized after she tried to commit suicide.
Her circle is asking for her privacy beyond letting people know what happened to her so I'm not trying to say much. You can research the names of the people mentioned and see the story for yourself. It's vile.
According to a number of social media reports, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Budden, celebrity blogger Jason Lee, and Instagram activist Chaka Bars were harassing several Black doctors on Clubhouse Wednesday (Jan. 13), and even shared their personal information online.
Someone claimed that Chaka and other “ignorant celebs” attacked professional medics and started spreading conspiracy theory, saying that the government invented COVID-19 and social distancing so satellites could do facial recognition.
While there’s still no evidence to confirm what they said on the chat room, some people took to Twitter to blast the stars.
People also called for an action from the app, as one tweeted, “Hey @joinClubhouse – there is a room called ‘CH Bullying’ full of celebrities and conspiracy theorists who are plotting to dox several black doctors by sharing their social media accounts to several thousand people. Can you please step in? #CHBullying.”
“Chakabars, Tiffany Haddish, Jason Lee and other ‘celebrities’ are plotting in a clubhouse room to take down a young black woman doctor and they even said ‘ruin her life’. They are sharing her details in a group chat. How is this allowed @joinClubhouse? #chbullying,” another person similarly wrote.
Chakabars, Tiffany Haddish, Jason Lee and other “celebrities” are plotting in a clubhouse room to take down a young black woman doctor and they even said “ruin her life”. They are sharing her details in a group chat. How is this allowed @joinClubhouse ? #chbullying
When someone else tried to refute the claims, the user further insisted, “I have ears! Tiffany said she’s going to take this girl down and they said they’re sharing her details in a group chat. How is this fair? This is not another celebrity.”
Noting how dangerous the move was, one user said, “Chakabars is getting his 1 million followers to attack a Black woman because Black doctors got his account suspended for misinformation. This guy is a monster. It’s petrifying.”
Meanwhile, Tiffany responded to the allegations on her Twitter account. Refusing to call it a bullying, the “Girls Trip” actress wrote, “Now People on clubhouse saying I am bullying because I just told the truth.”
She went on saying, “There is a special place in Gods Kingdom for people that like to lie and make up stories on other people,” adding that, “Funny how some people can’t handle the truth!”
There is a special place in Gods Kingdom for people that like to lie and make up stories on other people.
One of my friends is a Black woman physician being doxxed by Tiffany Haddish on Clubhouse. What we can't handle – and what is not AT ALL funny – is abuse of people already exhausted by the pandemic and racism having the added burden of coordinated attacks by celebrities. https://t.co/llqNYsPr0N
Rolling Ray—the viral internet sensation who became famous after appearing on MTV Catfish: Trolls back in 2018—was reportedly rushed to the hospital Wednesday (Jan. 13) after he was involved in a fire of some sort.
Details are scarce, but social media reports are suggesting that his wig caught on fire.
The extent of his injuries isn’t clear, but Ray took to Instagram Live to share the news, and the entire right side of his face looks severely burnt.
“Burned my whole skin. Legs, arms, feet, and everything,” he said in the video. “I love y’all and I want y’all to keep me in y’all prayers.”
Rolling Ray became an internet sensation a couple years back after an episode of MTV Catfish: Trolls aired, showing a dispute between him and another viral star named “Camyonce.”
Ray has since gone on to rack up hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, and just the other day, previewed some new music he was working on.
After four critically acclaimed seasons on HBO, the upcoming fifth season of Insecure will be its last, as the show is set to end.
Deadline reports:
“Prentice and I are so grateful that HBO believed in our show from the beginning and kept faith in us to see our vision through the end,” co-creator and star Issa Rae told Deadline today of the Emmy nominated comedy she executive produces with Prentice Penny.
“We always planned to tell this story through five seasons, but we couldn’t have made it this far without the tremendous support of our audience. I feel blessed beyond measure to bring our characters’ stories to an end, on-screen at least.”
With all its scripts completed, the fifth and final season of Insecure is expected to go into production later this month.
Starring its lead cast of Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales and Alexander Hodge, the show will return later this year, HBO says.
“Issa has turned insecurity into an iconic form of comedy,” the premium cabler’s Programming EVP Amy Gravitt declared in a statement Wednesday.
“The show is as incisive as it is heartfelt, and it has resonated strongly with its audience because of the deeply personal work that Issa, Prentice, Melina, the cast and the writers have put into it. This talented team has conceived a brilliant final season for Insecure and we look forward to having many more stories to tell with this singular group of collaborators.”
Insecure had a great run … but as the old saying goes: “All good things must come to an end.”
According to a new report from the New York Times, President Donald Trump went all the way off on Vice President Mike Pence after Pence refused to try to overturn the election in Trump’s favor.
Before Pence went to the U.S. Capitol to oversee the electoral vote count last Wednesday (Jan. 6), an “enraged” Trump called Pence’s home and, according to two people briefed on the conversation, told him: “You can either go down in history as a patriot or you can go down in history as a p**sy.”
A recent report from Politico also notes that “after four-and-a-half years of unbending loyalty” that culminated in Trump inciting a riot that literally put Pence’s life in danger, he’s finally ready to move on from 45’s presidency.
“Pence is done with Trump’s bullsh**,” a former Pence adviser said. “He’s not going to give a prime time speech saying, ‘F you Donald Trump,’ but in his own way he is going to just get to the finish line and keep his head down.”
But the VP hasn’t completely turned on Trump because on Tuesday (Jan. 12) he formally rejected calls for him to invoke the 25th amendment to initiate the removal of the president from office.
Pence does, however, plan to attend Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday (Jan. 20) apart from Trump, who said he will be skipping his successor’s swearing-in and is expected to leave for his West Palm Beach estate prior to then.
Rapper YFN Lucci is wanted on a number of charges, including murder, for his role in the shooting death of an Atlanta man last month.
According to reports, police were called on December 10th around 5:10 p.m. after a person was shot on the 900 block of Peeples St. in southwest Atlanta.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found 28-year-old James Adams laying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to Grady Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
A short time later, a second gunshot victim arrived at a nearby fire station via private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The 32-year-old man survived his injuries, and while investigating, Atlanta Police Homicide Investigators later determined that the shootings were related.
As a result of the shootings (one of which was fatal), YFN Lucci—whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett—has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, participation in criminal street gang activity, and possession of a firearm during a commission of a felony.
While police are still looking for the 29-year-old rapper, two others allegedly involved in the crime—23-year-old Ra’von Boyd and 17-year-old Leroy Pitts—have already been arrested on similar charges in Miami.
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Lucci’s arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts has been asked to submit anonymous tips online at www.StopCrimeATL.com, call Crime stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or text 274637.
Another day another child of rapper NBA YoungBoy entering the world … and this time, he’s the father of another set of “hood twins.”
Floyd Mayweather’s daughter Iyanna (aka Yaya) took to social media Saturday (Jan. 8) to announce to the world that she’d given birth to her baby with NBA YoungBoy.
The 20-year-old made the announcement via her Instagram stories with a photo of the baby boy’s foot and Queen Naija’s “Mama Hand” playing in the background. Yaya hasn’t revealed the child’s name or any details about the birth.
Floyd Mayweather confirmed his daughter’s pregnancy during an interview with Hollywood Unlocked back in November.
“If that makes her happy, then we’re happy—me and her mother [Melissia Rene Brim] are happy,” Floyd said.
“What I try not to do is be in her personal business because once she’s no longer under my roof, then you know what? It’s between her and her better half.”
Yaya celebrated her pregnancy that same month with a huge baby shower, but YoungBoy wasn’t in attendance. Floyd said during the aforementioned interview that he and the 21-year-old rapper don’t have a good relationship.
“Well, my thing is this: it has to do with your upbringing,” Floyd said of YoungBoy’s behavior and comments towards him.
“It starts in the home first. What I’ve always taught my daughter is this: always be respectful when you’re going to anyone’s home. And whatever goes on in your home, don’t talk about it to the world. As far as NBA … I look at NBA YoungBoy as a child. I can’t get upset with a kid like that.”
While this is Yaya’s first child, this is NBA YoungBoy’s seventh. He now has five sons (though one isn’t biologically his) and two daughters, including one (Kodi Capri) who was just born two months ago on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26, 2020).
The rapper has yet to comment on the birth of his two children born just two months apart … but then again, this is hardly new territory for him, considering the fact that he welcomed two children with two different women within the same week last summer.
