#MAGFAB: 'Scandalous' Tinashe in Narcisse Magazine 2022 Cover Story by Jason Kim
Fresh off her Oct. 9 appearance with Aimee Mann and Paris Jackson at producer/songwriter Linda Perry’s West Hollywood fundraiser for Equalize Her, Tinashe [IG] takes us inside her Narcisse Magazine F/W 2022 cover story.
Photographer Jason Kim [IG] captures Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe — known by her first name only — who is not new to the music world. Rafael Linares styles the music talent, with creative direction by Azadeh Zoraghi.
Born in America to college professor parents — mom from Scandinavia and dad from Zimbabwe’s Shona People — the family moved to Pasadena, California, after graduating from the University of Iowa.
Tinashe has been performing since she was about 11 years old. The talent did make the Forbes ‘30 Under 30- Music’ [2022] list.
Featured here is Tinashe’s current team up with Gryffin ahead of his sophomore album ‘Alive’. The scorching dance anthem is called ‘Scandalous’. Released via Darkroom/Interscope, "Scandalous" is sprinkled with Gryffin's signature house music sound. Tinashe's powerful lyrics reveal impressive vocal gymnastics, write the reviewers.
Returning to Linda Perry’s West Hollywood fundraiser for Equalize Her, she launched the gender equity initiative at SXSW in Austin, Tx last spring. Philanthropist Alisha Ballard, VP/executive director of Living Legacy Foundation and wife of Dan Ballard, who owns Gold Pacific Studios in Newport Beach, Calif. EqualizeHer seeks to create more opportunities for women throughout all ranks of the music industry. Read extensive details about the organization Equalize Here and the never-ending challenges for women in the music industry at Variety.
#RHOA: Why Does Kenya Moore Has So Many Housewives Buzzing after BravoCon?
If you don’t like Kenya Moore’s shade, step out of her shadow. While backstage at a Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen taping at BravoCon 2022, several Housewives crowned The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member with an unofficial title fit for royalty.
Tasked with naming the “queen of shade” — other than themselves, of course — a whopping 10 Bravolebs across franchises chose Kenya. They included fellow RHOA ’Wife Shereé Whitfield, Married to Medicine’s Dr. Heavenly Kimes, The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Candiace Dillard Bassett, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Lisa Barlow, The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Margaret Josephs, The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Tamra Judge, The Real Housewives of New York City’s Dorinda Medley, The Real Housewives of Dubai’s Chanel Ayan, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Brandi Glanville and Erika Jayne.
“Kenya Moore will get your ass together,” Erika said. “Kenya will absolutely let you have it.”
Meanwhile, Candiace had a bit more to say about Kenya. “The bitch just reads the girls down. She gives you vocabulary, she gives you color,” the RHOP ’Wife opined. “You cannot deny… If you think it’s anybody else, you’re dumb, OK? Kenya for President, that’s it.”
Unable to choose herself, Kenya named the “pretty shady” RHOA alum Phaedra Parks in the video. Hear more of what the other ’Wives had to say, along with some of their other shady lady nominees
While Erika and Shereé doubled down on their selection in the WWHL Instagram post’s comments section, Kenya seemed to be wearing her crown proudly. “Hahahahha ME for the [win]!!!!” she wrote, adding a laughing-crying emoji.
#MusicNews: Xscape Will Receive Lady Of Soul Honor At The Soul Train Awards
Xscape is being honored at the upcoming Soul Train Awards. The R&B vets will be the recipients of the Lady of Soul Award. “Xscape is one of the most notable R&B supergroups of all time,” Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming & music strategy, said according to Billboard. “Their powerful vocal harmonies laid the foundation for ‘90s R&B and some of today’s chart-topping hits. Their sound is undeniably unique and masterful. We look forward to honoring these multi-talented artists collectively on R&B’s biggest stage, Soul Train Awards.”
Xscape is the second group to receive this award. SWV were the Lady of Soul honorees in 2017.
“Given how important Soul Train is to all of us, we’re so thankful to be honored with the ‘Lady of Soul’ Award this year,” the “Who Can I Run To?” singers said in a statement. “It’s going to be an amazing night, and we can’t wait to see you all there.”
The Soul Train Awards will air on Nov. 27 on BET at 8:00 pm EST.
#HipHopNews: Drake Makes Surprise Appearance During Lil Wayne's Lil Weezyana Fest
Lil Wayne returned to his hometown of New Orleans on Saturday for his sixth annual Lil Weezyana Fest, which was delayed from August. But Wayne made it worth the wait, delivering a two-hour set, including a surprise appearance from Drake.
“Ladies and gentlemen, can you please make some noise for this foreigner? Let’s show him a good time in America,” said Weezy before the Canadian superstar emerged on stage at Champions Square.
Drake kicked off his 18-minute set by performing his 2011 Weezy collaboration “She Will.” He continued with “The Motto” before launching into solo hits like “God’s Plan,” “In My Feelings,” “Nonstop,” and “Jimmy Cooks.”
He paid homage to New Orleans and the “GOAT” who put him on. “It’s an honor to be back in one of the few cities that really shaped my career as an artist,” he said. “I don’t think I would ever be where I was without New Orleans and I definitely know I would not be anywhere in this fu**ing life without the greatest rapper of all time that’s standing right there on stage behind me.”
He also reminisced about performing Bobby Valentino’s part on “Mrs. Officer” while touring with Wayne before ending with an acapella rendition of Tha Carter III song. “Lil Wayne used to call me on stage to sing Bobby part and he used to call me Jimmy Valentino,” said Drake, who played Jimmy Brooks on “Degrassi.” “It’s just like old times.”
Before leaving, he made sure to show love to his mentor one more time. “Lil Wayne, thank you, my brother. I don’t know even what else to say to you. I love you so much.”
Prior to Drake, Weezy brought out Rick Ross to perform their DJ Khaled collaboration “God Did” for the first time.
This marked Drake’s first appearance at Weezyana Fest since the inaugural festival in 2015. Back in August, Drake and Wayne shared the stage with Nicki Minaj during the Young Money reunion at OVO Fest in Toronto.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeats Bolsonaro to again become Brazil’s president
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has done it again: Twenty years after first winning the Brazilian presidency, the leftist defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro Sunday in an extremely tight election that marks an about-face for the country after four years of far-right politics.
With more than 99% of the votes tallied in the runoff vote, da Silva had 50.9% and Bolsonaro 49.1%, and the election authority said da Silva’s victory was a mathematical certainty.
It is a stunning reversal for da Silva, 77, whose 2018 imprisonment over a corruption scandal sidelined him from the 2018 election that brought Bolsonaro, a defender of conservative social values, to power.
“Today the only winner is the Brazilian people,” da Silva said in a speech at a hotel in downtown Sao Paulo. “This isn’t a victory of mine or the Workers’ Party, nor the parties that supported me in campaign. It’s the victory of a democratic movement that formed above political parties, personal interests and ideologies so that democracy came out victorious.”
Da Silva is promising to govern beyond his leftist Workers’ Party. He wants to bring in centrists and even some leaning to the right who voted for him for the first time, and to restore the country’s more prosperous past. Yet he faces headwinds in a politically polarized society where economic growth is slowing and inflation is soaring.
His victory marks the first time since Brazil’s 1985 return to democracy that the sitting president has failed to win reelection. The highly polarized election in Latin America’s biggest economy extended a wave of recent leftist victories in the region, including Chile, Colombia and Argentina.
As Lula spoke to his supporters — promising to “govern a country in a very difficult situation” — Bolsonaro had yet to concede the election.
It was the country’s closest election in over three decades. Just over 2 million votes separated the two candidates with 99.5% of the vote counted. The previous closest race, in 2014, was decided by a margin of 3.46 million votes.
Da Silva’s inauguration is scheduled to take place on Jan. 1. He last served as president from 2003-2010.
Brazil’s elections show that the ‘politics of fear’ play very well: Researcher
Thomas Traumann, an independent political analyst, compared the results to Biden’s 2020 victory, saying da Silva is inheriting an extremely divided nation.
“The huge challenge that Lula has will be to pacify the country,” he said. “People are not only polarized on political matters, but also have different values, identity and opinions. What’s more, they don’t care what the other side’s values, identities and opinions are.”
Congratulations for Lula — and Brazil — began to pour in from around the world Sunday evening, including from U.S. President Joe Biden, who highlighted the country’s “free, fair, and credible elections.” The European Union also congratulated da Silva in a statement, commending the electoral authority for its effectiveness and transparency throughout the campaign.
Bolsonaro had been leading throughout the first half of the count and, as soon as da Silva overtook him, cars in the streets of downtown Sao Paulo began honking their horns. People in the streets of Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema neighborhood could be heard shouting, “It turned!”
Da Silva’s headquarters in downtown Sao Paulo hotel only erupted once the final result was announced, underscoring the tension that was a hallmark of this race.
“Four years waiting for this,” said Gabriela Souto, one of the few supporters allowed in due to heavy security.
Outside Bolsonaro’s home in Rio de Janeiro, ground-zero for his support base, a woman atop a truck delivered a prayer over a speaker, then sang excitedly, trying to generate some energy. But supporters decked out in the green and yellow of the flag barely responded. Many perked up when the national anthem played, singing along loudly with hands over their hearts.
Most opinion polls before the election gave a lead to da Silva, universally known as Lula, though political analysts agreed the race grew increasingly tight in recent weeks.
For months, it appeared that da Silva was headed for easy victory as he kindled nostalgia for his presidency, when Brazil’s economy was booming and welfare helped tens of millions join the middle class.
But while da Silva topped the Oct. 2 first-round elections with 48% of the vote, Bolsonaro was a strong second at 43%, showing opinion polls significantly underestimated his popularity. Many Brazilians support Bolsonaro’s defense of conservative social values and he shored up support in an election year with vast government spending.
Bolsonaro’s administration has been marked by incendiary speech, his testing of democratic institutions, his widely criticized handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in 15 years. But he has built a devoted base by defending conservative values and presenting himself as protection from leftist policies that he says infringe on personal liberties and produce economic turmoil.
Da Silva is credited with building an extensive social welfare program during his 2003-2010 tenure that helped lift tens of millions into the middle class as well as presiding over an economic boom. The man universally known as Lula left office with an approval rating above 80%; then U.S. President Barack Obama called him “the most popular politician on Earth.”
But he is also remembered for his administration’s involvement in vast corruption revealed by sprawling investigations. Da Silva’s arrest in 2018 kept him out of that year’s race against Bolsonaro, a fringe lawmaker at the time who was an outspoken fan of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Da Silva was jailed for for 580 days for corruption and money laundering. His convictions were later annulled by Brazil’s top court, which ruled the presiding judge had been biased and colluded with prosecutors. That enabled da Silva to run for the nation’s highest office for the sixth time.
Da Silva has pledged to boost spending on the poor, reestablish relationships with foreign governments and take bold action to eliminate illegal clear-cutting in the Amazon rainforest.
He hasn’t provided specific plans on how he will achieve those goals, and faces many challenges. The president-elect will be confronted by strong opposition from conservative lawmakers likely to take their cues from Bolsonaro.
Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, compared the likely political climate to that experienced by former President Dilma Rousseff, da Silva’s hand-picked successor after his second term.
“Lula’s victory means Brazil is trying to overcome years of turbulence since the reelection of President Dilma Rousseff in 2014. That election never ended; the opposition asked for a recount, she governed under pressure and was impeached two years later,” said Melo. “The divide became huge and then made Bolsonaro.”
Bolsonaro says he’s pro-business, so why is Brazil’s economy in the dumps?
Unemployment this year has fallen to its lowest level since 2015 and, although overall inflation has slowed during the campaign, food prices are increasing at a double-digit rate. Bolsonaro’s welfare payments helped many Brazilians get by, but da Silva has been presenting himself as the candidate more willing to sustain aid going forward and raise the minimum wage.
Da Silva has also pledged to put a halt to illegal deforestation in the Amazon, and once again has prominent environmentalist Marina Silva by his side, years after a public falling out when she was his environment minister. The president-elect has already pledged to install a ministry for Brazil’s original peoples, which will be run by an Indigenous person.
In April, he tapped center-right Geraldo Alckmin, a former rival, to be his running mate. It was another key part of an effort to create a broad, pro-democracy front to not just unseat Bolsonaro, but to make it easier to govern. Da Silva mended also has drawn support from Sen. Simone Tebet, a moderate who finished in third place in the election’s first round.
“If Lula manages to talk to voters who didn’t vote for him, which Bolsonaro never tried, and seeks negotiated solutions to the economic, social and political crisis we have, and links with other nations that were lost, then he could reconnect Brazil to a time in which people could disagree and still get some things done,” Melo said.
Tyler Perry Denies Blaming Jill Scott And Janet Jackson For Prolonging The Third Installment Of The ‘Why Did I Get Married?’
Tyler Perry responds after an online article claimed he blamed Jill Scott and Janet Jackson for holding the release of the third film ‘Why Did I Get Married?.’
According to Entertainment Tonight, Tyler blames Jill and Janet for prolonging a third ‘Why Did I Get Married’ film. The inaccurate claim came after Tyler interviewed with the publication.
“If Janet [Jackson] and Jill Scott say ‘Yes,’ there may be a Why Did I Get Married Again?” Perry said to ET’s Kevin Frazier. “So, waiting for them to say it. Waiting for the word.”
Tyler Perry reveals to ET who has to say 'yes' for the third 'Why Did I Get Married?' movie to get
Jill caught wind of the comment and responded that most of the cast was on board with filming the next installation.
@tylerperry, @MichaelJaiWhite @LammanRucker @tashasmith4real @richjonesactor and Sharon Leal already said yes?? I just got a text message yesterday. Hey @JanetJackson did you get a text message? https://t.co/AKUyqHVcab pic.twitter.com/ICTk7qffud
— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) October 24, 2022
Tyler later addressed the comment and clarified his statement.
“I guess people write these kinds of headlines for click bate.” Perry wrote in an Instagram story post. “It’s sad. I didn’t call out Janet and Jill and they are not holding up another Why Did I Get Married. I haven’t written a word on a script, but I do have an idea and a concept of where our lives, and love would be fifteen years since the first one.”
He continues, “We’re fully grown now and I think some of our marriages would be solid. We wo uld be dealing with what most married couples are dealing with at our ages. Menopause, mid life crisis, our kids going off to start their own lives and marriages and our parents getting older. Also how you mature, in marriage it just starts to get better or fall apart. But again no one is holding up anything and I’m not calling anyone out. Stop the bs.”
Tyler released the ‘Why Did I Get Married’ in 2007 and the sequel in 2010.
Barack Obama could be part of a Phoenix Suns ownership group
On Tuesday’s episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast, Bill had Charles Barkley on to talk about a multitude of topics, including NBA ownership.
Ownership and ownership groups and billion-dollar numbers are on people’s minds between the ongoing sale of the Phoenix Suns following the workplace misconduct of majority owner Robert Sarver as well as potential expansion teams in Seattle, Las Vegas, and elsewhere.
Simmons and Barkley got to talking about ownership groups with front-facing “owners” who run the team while other rich folks actually own most of the team. Simmons made the point that he thinks those types of ownership groups are a thing of the past with one possible exception for the Suns, namely Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States:
“I heard Obama’s involved in one of the groups, and that’s the one guy — that I feel like — they would make him the actual face and the money guys would be so happy to have him at the front...”
Barkley, who led the Suns to their second-ever NBA Finals appearance in 1992-93 and averaged 26.6 points (47.7% FG), 13.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks during those playoffs, responded:
“If Obama calls me and says ‘would you be a part owner of the team?’ Hell yeah. I have so much love and admiration for that guy.”
President Obama has a longstanding history of sports involvement, ranging from March Madness brackets to prioritizing youth sports in policies from he and his wife, Michelle. Having spent a lot of his early life in Chicago, Obama is a Bulls fan, making the Barkley tie-in funnier since it was Michael Jordan’s Bulls that toppled the Suns in that NBA Finals series.
Simmons has a reputation as a source of NBA information. He is not known for being accurate all the time when making these kinds of statements. But he’s not always wrong either.
How Barack Obama helped convince NBA players to end their strike and return to play
Simmons and Barkley both mentioned the daunting $4 billion number that many are expecting to be the Suns’ eventual price tag. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Bezos’s ex-wife and powerhouse philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison have all been rumored to have interest, as well.
There’s only one thing Suns fans can say if this happened: Thanks, Obama!
#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Black Adam’ is #1 again in it’s Second Weekend
While North America carves up their pumpkins for Halloween, Dwayne Johnson is still carving up the box office.
Warner Bros.’ “Black Adam” is expected to repeat in the No. 1 spot over a quiet Halloween weekend, beating out Lionsgate’s seasonal horror release “Prey for the Devil.”
The DC Comics entry earned $7.5 million on Friday, marking a 72% fall from its opening day last week. Some rivals expect the Warner Bros. release to earn $24 million in its sophomore weekend.
That figure would mark a substantial 63% drop from last week’s opening of $67 million. Even for a superhero film — a genre that tends to yield front-loaded box office performances — that’s on the heftier side. It’s a good bit steeper than the second weekend tumbles of recent comic book films like “The Batman” (-50%) and “Eternals” (-62%). Marvel’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Thor: Love and Thunder” held less strongly (both -67%), but those films landed robust openings above $100 million.
These things are relative, of course. “Black Adam” is the most popular film of the fall moviegoing season. The DC entry should have no trouble pushing its domestic gross past $100 million this weekend, becoming only the 15th release this year to reach that milestone.
But with a reported production budget of $195 million along with marketing and distribution costs, it’s not hard to imagine that Warner Bros. was hoping for a bigger hit, especially considering the franchise repercussions of the film’s much-hyped post-credits scene. “Black Adam” will get one more weekend as the dominant force at the box office before Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” hits theaters on Nov. 11.
“Prey for the Devil” looks to open in third place after earning $2.83 million from 2,980 locations on Friday. Rated PG-13, the horror film from Lionsgate and Confluence hopes to reach teenage audiences over the Halloween weekend. It’s been a strong month for horror, with “Smile,” “Halloween Ends” and “Terrifier 2” all becoming box office success stories. Lionsgate is trying to get “Prey” in on the action before spooky season comes to a close.
“Prey for the Devil” follows a nun training to become the first woman exorcist following her mother’s own possession. The film stars Jacqueline Byers, Posy Taylor, Colin Salmon, Christian Navarro, Lisa Palfrey, Nicholas Ralph, Ben Cross and Virginia Madsen.
“Prey for the Devil” didn’t log many reviews from critics, though the handful that came in were largely negative. In Variety‘s review, critic Dennis Harvey was amicable, writing that “even if it falls short of being particularly memorable or scary, this is a decently entertaining possession potboiler.” Audiences don’t seem to be too hot on the film either, landing on a middling “C+” grade through research firm CinemaScore.
Universal’s “Ticket to Paradise” continues to win over audiences, landing a second place finish. The Julia Roberts-George Clooney two-hander is projecting a strong hold, falling only 37% for a $10.3 million gross.
That’s encouraging news for several reasons. It’s significant to see a romantic comedy — a genre that has lost its box office might over the past decades — find a substantial following among theatrical audiences. But the performance is also a strong sign that star power can sell a film in an age of franchise plays. “Ticket to Paradise” also shows that older audiences, a demographic that has been slow to return to theaters after COVID lockdowns, will still roll out for the right type of movie; nearly 50% of opening weekend ticket buyers were 45 or older.
Paramount’s “Smile” looks to take fourth, projecting a $5 million gross. Now in its fifth weekend at the box office, the horror holdover should expand its domestic gross to $95 million through Sunday, now a stone’s throw away from surpassing $100 million in North America. After scoring a $22 million debut, “Smile” has held strong through October and become a word-of-mouth smash.
Universal’s “Halloween Ends” will take fifth place, projecting $3 million for the weekend. The slasher finale should push its domestic gross beyond $60 million through Sunday.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ comes in at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
Midnights was released on Oct. 21 after being announced two months earlier by Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards (Aug. 28). No music from the album was released until the set dropped on Oct. 21, when she also issued the music video for Midnights’ first single, “Anti-Hero.” Midnights is Swift’s 10th full-length studio album and initially bowed as a 13-track standard release. Three hours after Midnights’ arrival, Swift released a deluxe version of the album (its “3am Edition”) with seven bonus tracks.
Swift now ties Barbra Streisand for the most No. 1 albums among women. Swift is also the sixth act with more than 10 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 since the chart began regularly publishing on a weekly basis in 1956. She joins The Beatles (who lead with a record 19 No. 1s), Jay-Z (14), Drake, Bruce Springsteen and Streisand (each with 11).
Midnights is already the year’s top-selling album by overall sales through the year, and tallies the largest sales week for an album since her own reputation debuted in 2017, the third-largest streaming week ever for an album, and the biggest sales week for a vinyl album in the modern era (since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991).
Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200: albums from Arctic Monkeys, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Jeezy and DJ Drama debut.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Nov. 5, 2022-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday (Nov. 1). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Of Midnights’ 1.578 equivalent album units earned, album sales comprise 1.140 million, SEA units comprise 419,000 (equaling 549.26 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 20 total tracks) and TEA units comprise 19,000.
Third-Biggest Streaming Week Ever: Midnights logs the third-largest streaming week ever for an album, by total on-demand official streams. It also captures the biggest streaming week for a non-R&B/hip-hop album and any album by a woman. The Nos. 1 and 2 biggest streaming weeks were logged by the debut frames of Drake’s Scorpion (745.92 million) and Certified Lover Boy (743.67 million), respectively.
Previously, Swift’s biggest streaming week for an album was tallied by the first week of Red (Taylor’s Version), with 303.23 million in 2021.
2022’s Top-Selling Album: With 1.140 million sold, Midnights is easily 2022’s top-selling album already. Previously, 2022’s top-seller — adding up all sales generated through the year — was Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, with 633,000 copies sold through Oct. 27. (In terms of total equivalent album units, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti is 2022’s biggest album, with 2.911 million units earned.)
Breaking down Midnights’ first-week sales of 1.140 million, physical sales comprise 980,000 (575,000 on vinyl, 395,000 on CD and 10,000 on cassette) and digital album downloads comprise 161,000.
Biggest Sales Week Since Swift’s Own reputation: The 1.140 million sales number for Midnights marks the largest sales week for any album since Swift’s own reputation debuted with 1.216 million copies sold (chart dated Dec. 2, 2017).
Swift Has Five Albums With Million-Plus Sales Weeks: Midnights is the 22nd album to sell at least 1 million copies in a single week since Luminate began tracking music sales in 1991. In total, there have been 24 instances — by 22 different albums — in which an album sold at least 1 million copies in a week. One of those albums, Adele’s 25, sold more than 1 million in three separate weeks. Swift is the only artist with five different albums to each sell at least 1 million copies in a single week in the Luminate era — Midnights, reputation, 1989, Red, and Speak Now.
Further, now with five, Swift remains the only act with at least three different albums that hit the million-sales weekly threshold. Three acts have a pair of albums that each managed a million-plus sales week: Backstreet Boys, Eminem and *NSYNC.
Kanye West comments on fallout from his antisemitic remarks
After a week of financial fallout following antisemitic remarks on social media and in interviews, Kanye West is commenting on those thoughts, as well as what he’s said about George Floyd and Black Lives Matter.
In a rambling 16-minute video shared by WmgLab Records on YouTube Saturday and seemingly recorded at some point after Adidas ended its business relationship with West on Tuesday, the artist appears to address a crowd of paparazzi and bystanders gathered outside a building as he exits.
“I think Adidas felt like cause everyone was ganging up on me that they had the right to just take my designs,” West told the small crowd.
“I feel like this is God humbling me right now,” he continued. “Because there’s two things that are happening. A lot of times when I would say ‘I am the richest Black man,’ it would be a defense that I would use for the mental health conversation. …What’s happening right now is I’m being humbled.”
West went on to address backlash over his suggestion in a recent podcast interview that George Floyd’s death was caused by fentanyl use.
“When the idea of Black Lives Matter came out, it made us come together as a people,” he said. “So, I said that, and I questioned the death of George Floyd, it hurt my people. It hurt the Black people. So, I want to apologize to hurting them [sic] because right now God has shown me by what Adidas is doing, and by what the media is doing, I know how it feels to have a knee on my neck now. So I thank you, God for humbling me and letting me know how it really felt. Because how could the richest Black man ever be humbled other than to be made to not be a billionaire in front of everyone off of a comment.”
West also discussed his “exhaustion” caused by the reaction to him wearing a MAGA hat that was “misdiagnosed” as a mental health disorder and his refusal to a take medication that he said would make him “one pill” away from Michael Jackson or Prince.
“At a time like this, if I was on medication right now, then one pill could have been swapped out, and it would have been Michael Jackson or Prince all over again,” West said.
He also compared himself to Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 at age 14, and said at times he has felt like Malcom X and Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I’m just not worried. Period,” West said in response to someone in the crowd who asked if he was worried that he had ruined his legacy. “God is alive.”
Antisemitic demonstrators referenced West in signs raised in Los Angeles last weekend and Jacksonville, Florida this weekend. In the video, West did not apologize for his antisemitic remarks but seemed to try to distance himself from any “hate group.”
“I have no association to any hate group,” West said as he closed his remarks in prayer. “If any hate happens upon any Jewish person, it is not associated (gestures to himself) because I am demanding that everyone walk in love.”
Oprah Winfrey Speaks Out After Her Name Is Falsely Used To Sell Weight Loss Gummies
Oprah Winfrey is clearing things up. Taking to her social media platform, the media mogul has spoken out after her name was falsely used to sell weight loss gummies and diet pills.
On Sunday, October 30, the 68-year-old posted a video on her Instagram page. In it, she explained that someone is misusing her name to sell weight loss gummies. "And so it happened to me again today. A woman came up to me and said, 'Can you help me get your weight loss gummies?' " she shared. "And I said, 'Ma'am, I don't have anything to do with weight loss gummies. And let me just tell you. You're the fifth person this week to mention it.' "
"So I'm going to address it. So this is my attempt to address it. It's coming to my attention. Many times over. Somebody's out there misusing my name. Even sending emails to people advertising weight loss gummies," Oprah explained further. She went on stressing, "I have nothing to do with weight loss gummies or diet pills and I don't want you all taken advantage of by people misusing my name. So please know I have no weight loss gummies."
Michael J. Fox Makes Rare Appearance With His Kids at Parkinson's Research Event
Michael J. Fox and wife Tracy Pollan are showing off their family! The 61-year-old actor and Tracy were joined by three of their four children on the red carpet at the 2022 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson’s event in New York City over the weekend.
Twins Schuyler Fox and Aquinnah Fox, and Sam Michael Fox walked with their parents on the red carpet before their sibling, Esme, joined the family inside later on.
While speaking to ET at the event, Michael and Tracy revealed that they’re adjusting to empty nester life as their kids have all moved out now.
“It’s an empty nest, but it’s not really an empty nest ’cause they’re all back tonight,” Michael shared. “But we all get together enough that we’re not heartbroken. [However], it is a new stage in life to be, to have all the kids gone.”
Tracy added that “it’s not as empty as you would think when you have four. There’s usually somebody home so there’s like a little straggler, usually. But it’s fun! We enjoy the stragglers.
Maya Rudolph felt 'embarrassed and humiliated' during 'Late Show with David Letterman' appearance: 'I did not have a good time'
As an actress, frequent awards show fixture and Saturday Night Live veteran, Maya Rudolph knows how to think — and joke — on her feet. But in a new interview with WSJ. Magazine, the Loot star admits struggling to find her footing as a celebrity who also needed to be funny off stage, citing an awkward appearance on Late Show with David Letterman, in 2009.
Though by that time she already had a slew of screen credits — including seven seasons at SNL, which she left in 2007 — under her belt, this marked Rudolph's first (and, per IMDB, only) appearance on the CBS late-night show. This was also during a time when the Bridesmaids star says dealing with interviews and the other trappings of fame "would always feel like someone was stealing my soul." Letterman's mispronunciation of her name added to her discomfort.
“I did not have a good time,” she told the magazine of being Letterman's guest. “He said my name wrong, and I just sat there, like, I grew up my whole life in love with you. And now my heart is broken. And I’m sitting here embarrassed and humiliated. I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t know how to come up with something funny to say. My public persona muscle wasn’t strong yet.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Letterman apologized to Rudolph for botching her name.
“I’m sorry that I mispronounced your name,” he said later in the show. “I’m just a boob, there’s no excuse for it, and from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely apologize.”
Rudolph says she has since "created a persona to protect myself" during red carpet interviews and talk shows.
"I’ve definitely gotten much better. When I’m uncomfortable, I try to be funny.”
Matthew Perry tells Diane Sawyer he would go to open houses to steal pills: 'I think they thought, oh, there's no way that Chandler stole from us'
Matthew Perry is sharing more details about his past and battle with addiction during an exclusive tell-all with Diane Sawyer.
The Friends star joined the ABC News anchor for a highly teased one-hour special, where he talked about his time on the hit series, his struggles with substance use and his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which is out Nov. 1.
While the star admitted to Sawyer that "it’s not fun to talk about this stuff," he said he was speaking out now because he knows it's "going to help people."
During the interview, Perry discussed his first experience with drinking and how it made him feel.
"I laid in the grass and was in heaven," he told Sawyer. "I thought to myself, this must be the way that normal people feel all the time."
He said that by the time he was 18, he was drinking "every day." As he got older and started booking roles in Hollywood, the 17 Again star had one guideline when it came to his alcohol use.
"I made a rule that I would never drink or take anything at work," he said. "So I would do that, but I would show up blindly hungover. Like shaking and crazy hungover."
The actor detailed how he began abusing opioids after he was prescribed painkillers in 1997. Eventually, he said he was taking as many as 55 pills per day, and going to great lengths to receive the medication from doctors, including having MRIs done for "fake migraines."
He also shared that he would "go to open houses" in hopes of finding the pills in the bathroom to "steal them."
"I think they thought 'Oh, there's no way that Chandler stole from us,'" Perry admitted.
When the conversation turned to his time on the series Friends, Perry shared warm memories of his co-stars, who he appeared with in the 2021 HBO Max reunion special. The actor called Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow "maybe the funniest person I’ve ever worked with," and noted that Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer were "hilarious." He also shared that Schwimmer, who was the break out star during the first season of the NBC sitcom, encouraged the cast to join together to negotiate their contracts as a unit.
Perry also recalled at time when Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston confronted him about his substance use disorder.
"She was the one who reached out the most, you know," Perry said. "I'm really grateful to her for that."
Other revelations from the hour-long interview include The Odd Couple star admitting to having tried dating apps.
"I did go and then I rapidly stopped, it was stupid," he said of trying to date online.
Perry, who has dated stars like Julia Roberts and Lizzy Caplan, explained how he was previously stuck in a bad pattern with relationships.
"It was a combination of feeling like I wasn’t enough, feeling like I was needy, feeling like I didn’t matter so I’d be in relationships that were going great — with wonderful women, funny, smart, wonderful — and my subconscious, I’d get scared and break up with them because I was afraid they’d find out those three things and they would annihilate me," he told Sawyer.
Perry recently made headlines talking about his near-death experience in 2018. He spoke to People magazine about how he was given a "2% chance to live" just four years ago when was on life support.
Perry, then 49, spent months in the hospital recovering from surgery from what his publicist said was a gastrointestinal perforation. However, in his new memoir, the actor details how he was actually in the fight of his life after his colon burst from opioid use. He was in a coma for two weeks and on life support. In total, he spent five months in the hospital recovering and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
"The doctors told my family that I had a 2% chance to live," Perry told the outlet. "I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that's called a Hail Mary. No one survives that."
Among the disclosures from Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry estimates he has spent $9 million to get sober. He currently has 18 months of sobriety, meaning he got sober again just prior to the 2021 Friends reunion.
"I would fake back injuries. I would fake migraine headaches. I had eight doctors going at the same time," Perry told the New York Times of his doctor-shopping at the height of his struggles.
Perry, who also used OxyContin and Xanax, said, "I would wake up and have to get 55 Vicodin that day, and figure out how to do it. When you're a drug addict, it's all math. I go to this place, and I need to take three. And then I go to this place, and I’m going to take five because I'm going to be there longer. It's exhausting but you have to do it or you get very, very sick. I wasn't doing it to feel high or to feel good. I certainly wasn't a partier; I just wanted to sit on my couch, take five Vicodin and watch a movie. That was heaven for me. It no longer is."
Perry told Sawyer that his current dream day involves "playing games… watching movies…I want to work out. I want to play pickle ball. I play it almost every day. That’s why this tan is real."
Grandmother Sues City Over Arrest For Feeding The Homeless
An Arizona woman has filed a lawsuit against the city of Bullhead after she was arrested for feeding the homeless at a public park.
After being detained by police in March while distributing food to the homeless at Bullhead City Community Park, Norma Thornton, 78, was taken into custody. According to NPR, she was accused of breaking municipal law by distributing prepared food in a park without a permit. The Institute for Justice is requesting that the ordinance be completely scrapped on the grounds that it breaches numerous civil rights that Thorton is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.
The arrest of Thornton was opposed by the police officer in the bodycam footage, who then called his superior and described the incident as a “PR disaster.” Thornton has been feeding the homeless for the past four years because she encountered a similar scenario in her life and felt compelled to give back to the neighborhood.
City officials released a statement in response to the lawsuit and said people are free to feed the homeless in any place of residence or business. Still, the ordinance only applies to public parks.
“After years of complaints from families who desired to utilize City parks, the City Council adopted its Food Sharing Event ordinance (Bullhead City Municipal Code, Chapter 5.36). The ordinance does not stop individuals or groups from distributing food or drink to a homeless person, or any other person, in a City park if the food or drink is, “sealed prepackaged foods readily available from retail outlets and intended for consumption directly from the package.”
If the serving of hot-prepared food is desired, it can be accomplished with a City permit but requires the demonstration of a food handler permit. The City takes the safety of its vulnerable populations seriously. It works to ensure that the food provided to the homeless, as with other members of the public, has been prepared, handled, and served safely and responsibly.
These stipulations are also required of any individual, organization, or business desiring to serve that type of food for a non-social (public-at-large) event. The ordinance does not apply to private groups or family gatherings that do not offer or advertise food available for the public at-large. The ordinance does not apply to individuals or organizations who serve the food of their choice from private property, such as a church or civic club location.”
Despite the lawsuit, Thorton is feeding the homeless at a temporary location in a private alleyway near a local business.
Jack Harlow jokes his culture is not a costume as "SNL" host
Jack Harlow can check hosting “Saturday Night Live” off his bucket list. The Kentucky rapper graced the famous “SNL” stage on Saturday (Oct. 29). He previously appeared on the show last year as a musical guest.
This season has already welcomed big names such as Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, and Willow Smith. Like Harlow, Meg also pulled double duty as the show’s musical guest and host. The Houston Hottie made the most of her “SNL” appearance, joining every skit of the night.
In his opening monologue, Harlow took a few moments to jokingly dispel a handful of misconceptions, including his height and murmurs of him being the GOAT. The Come Home the Kids Miss You artist even mocked being a white rapper.
“Some people have even gone as far as to accuse me of being white,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of kids running around dressed as me for Halloween, too, and I just want to say, cut it out because my culture is not a costume.”
Last year, Harlow addressed the elephant in the room as it pertains to his widely embraced presence in hip-hop. “No matter how embraced I am, there will never be a day that I’m Black,” he told Billboard. “There’s a certain responsibility that comes with being a white man in a Black genre, and there are certain things that have me regarded differently.”
Eminem faced a similar disposition when he became a prominent fixture in the rap game. In September, he addressed some of the backlash he faced in an article he penned for XXL. “Coming up, I had to deal with that a lot. I wanted to be respectful because what I do is Black music. I knew I was coming into it as a guest in the house,” he wrote. “I understood, at the same time, everybody’s perception of a white guy coming into hip hop and all of a sudden things start happening for him.”
PUMA And Dapper Dan Unveil New Streetwear Collection
The newest collaboration between Dapper Dan, a fashion legend from Harlem, and the global sportswear company PUMA honor their shared history and creative fusion. The PUMA x DAPPER DAN collection’s initial drop will be available exclusively on Kith.com and in Kith stores in the US, Paris, and Tokyo starting today.
The partnership pays homage to the democratization of hip-hop culture by Dapper Dan in the 1980s, a period in which PUMA also became a mainstay in the streetwear industry. The four-piece capsule will feature a wide selection of modernized classics, including the designer’s interpretation of timeless items like the T7 tracksuit, PUMA Clyde sneaker, and embellished t-shirts. Dap designed a unique monogram for the product to give it a distinctively PUMA feel. The line had its runway debut in September during PUMA’s NYFW FUTROGRADE presentation.
Dap says of the collection, “The spiritual magic embodied by the puma as an animal is coming to life in the collaboration between Dapper Dan and the PUMA brand.”
In addition to commemorating the 40th anniversary of the PUMA Clyde, PUMA x DAPPER DAN will release a statement-making version of the classic sneaker with upscale additions like premium leather and jacquard, a molded metal plaque on the heel tab with an embossed co-branded logo, and a leather formstripe adorned with crystal finishings.
DAPPER and PUMA The debut collection by DAN will only be sold at KITH stores and online at www.kith.com for a suggested retail price of $70-$300. This will contain a velour t-shirt, a new graphic Clyde sneaker, and an all-over monogrammed tracksuit studded with rhinestones.
Sheryl Underwood Showcases ‘Birthday Body’ On ‘The Talk’ After Losing Over 95 Pounds
TV personality Sheryl Underwood looked absolutely stunning on Oct. 28 as she partied alongside Bell Biv DeVoe for her surprise “Ultimate House Party” on her Daytime Emmy-winning talk show, “The Talk.”
Underwood rocked a skin-tight purple dress with high heels and debuted her new body to the audience to showcase the progress of her health and wellness journey on her 59th birthday.
Endless applause came from audience members who were in absolute shock by Underwood’s transformation.
“This is my birthday body! My birthday body,” The actress stated as she stood up once again giving fans another look at her figure before sitting down.
“As you all know, I’ve lost over 95 pounds,” she continued, “I made significant lifestyle changes. I was not healthy, and I want to live a long, long time and I want to be sitting on this stage for a long, long time.”
Holding back tears, Underwood explained why wearing a “stylish but clingy dress” was such an important goal of hers, a goal she successfully accomplished.
She confessed that if she stayed consistent with her fitness journey, being able to wear a dress would, “symbolize all the work that I put in..”
Underwood also candidly talked about always wanting to be able to cross her legs just as her fellow co-host Amanda Kloots and moderator Natalie Morales do.
Cheers broke through the audience for the umpteenth time after Underwood proudly said, “Now I’m about to do something that I have never done on this show since I’ve been here on “The Talk” and I haven’t done it in about 25-30 years, I’m about to cross my legs.”
In a recent interview with Good Morning America, the “Beauty Shop” actress discussed the importance of not just having, but maintaining a healthy diet and how she really homed in on creating a healthier lifestyle for herself.
“I wanted to feel more energetic, and I could see even on camera there was just something was happening and I didn’t have that spark you know that Sheryl Underwood swag you know.”
“Then checking off the boxes and trying to figure out OK what could be the issue, what could be the issue, and it kept coming back to my digestion.”
Underwood has struggled with diabetes and hypertension for much of her life, which prompted her to finally decide to make a change.
She told People magazine, “I really wanted to get ahead of it.”
After meeting with a dietician and daily intakes of Metamucil, Underwood was finally prescribed Wegovy; an injected weight-loss drug that works by suppressing appetite.
Underwood’s weight loss has been an important step in her life and she continues to advocate for healthy living.
Kenan Thompson Not a Suspect in ‘SNL’ Alum Chris Redd’s NYC Attack Despite Online
“Saturday Night Live” alum and comedian Chris Redd is recovering after he was attacked by an unidentified individual while standing outside of the Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village, where he was scheduled to perform Wednesday night.
According to authorities who spoke to ABC 7, Redd was getting out of his vehicle and was on his way to the iconic comedy club just before 9:40 p.m. when a man who reportedly looked like a security guard wearing a blue “security” jacket, black pants, black gray and white sneakers, and a bucket hat, charged at the 37-year-old star and punched him in the face.
According to bystanders, the assailant snatched a Greg Yuna chain from the actor’s neck, but when the suspect grabbed it, the jewelry fell apart on the street.
Redd was left with a bleeding nose, although he was able to recover his chain before being taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment and later released. The culprit ran off before authorities could arrive.
Despite commentary on social media, Redd’s former co-star Kenan Thompson is not a suspect in the incident, and no one has been arrested. Thompson’s name surfaced amid good wishes to his former “SNL” co-star due to his relationship with Thompson’s estranged wife, Christina Evangeline.
Redd began dating the model last September, nearly five months after the “Good Burger” star filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage. The former pair had been separated since 2019 and share two daughters, Georgia and Gianna. Meanwhile, Thompson and Redd have been working together side by side on NBC’s “SNL” for six years. Redd also played his brother on Thompson’s canceled television series, “Kenan.”
Redd rose to prominence thanks to his impressive impressions of notable public figures, including New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams. Last September, the St. Louis native announced that he would not be returning to the longtime-running sketch show.
“Being a part of ‘Saturday Night Live‘ has been the experience of a lifetime,” he said in a statement. “Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth. Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I’m grateful to Lorne Michaels and the entire ‘Saturday Night Live’ organization. From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”
The actor has not spoken out about his attack.
Oklahoma City Man Arrested For Knowingly Infecting Women With HIV
An Oklahoma City man is behind bars after being accused of intentionally infecting at least three women with HIV.
One of 30-year-old Earnest Lacour’s victims spoke to FOX 25, hoping that she could prevent it from happening to others. “I am here to tell my story,” she told the outlet. “I am strong. I can do this. I have support.”
The woman says she started becoming intimate with Lacour in 2021, and afterward, she got sick.
After experiencing fainting spells and throwing up, she sought medical treatment. Her lab results revealed that she had contracted HIV.
“It’s a deadly disease, but you can still live your life,” she said. “I don’t have AIDS, and I still have a life to live.”
The police got involved because there was evidence Lacour knew he was HIV positive during sexual contact. After obtaining his medical records, police learned he was diagnosed with HIV in 2019.
He was arrested and charged with three counts of knowingly engaging in conduct to transfer HIV. Lacour is currently being held at the Oklahoma City Jail on a $500,000 bond.
The woman believes there could be other victims.
“I just want to tell everyone that they need to get tested and to be careful,” the victim said. “You never know who someone really is.”
Authorities are encouraging anyone who had sexual contact with Lacour to contact the police and health departments.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
NO HE WON’T
I see NOPES everywhere.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Jay
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EFREM
