#FASHIONFAB: Rihanna Fronts New Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag Campaign in Canal Street Colors
The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is an iconic fashion statement that has withstood the test of time. Introduced in the 1930s, this elegant and practical handbag has become a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and timeless style.
From the moment it graced the arms of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, the Speedy bag has cemented its status as a must-have accessory in the fashion world.
In June 2023, fashion world adds Rihanna to the list of famous women who love a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Rihanna is an insider at LVMH, besides being a good friend of Pharrell Williams, the new creative director of Louis Vuitton Men who had a blowout opening night in Paris last week.
Shot by Japanese photographer Keizō Kitajima and American artist Martine Syms shot the campaign images in which, Rihanna hustles around the city with her Speedys, a modern woman with a to-go coffee in hand and her pregnant belly bared. Per the press release: “Personified by a pregnant Rihanna—a symbol of human empowerment and the quintessential everyday icon—the men’s campaign reflects the re-contextualization at the core of Pharrell Williams’ approach to the Maison.” A new era for Pharrell and Louis Vuitton, certainly, but also for the meaning of luxury at large.
Lower Manhattan’s Canal Street Was Pharrell’s First Education in Luxury Bags
A Speedy bag was one of the first luxury bags Pharrell ever owned, according to GQ. It’s also one of the most bootlegged bags on lower Manhattan’s Canal Street. The hustling and hawking of Speedy dupes on sidewalks inspired Pharrell’s “early education in luxury,” per a Louis Vuitton press release, and served as “a cultural axis invigorated by a diverse energy and hustle mentality.”
To mimic the candy-colored designer dupes he used to find on Canal Street sidewalks, Pharrell employed a novel silkscreen monogramming process to induce “a blurry, artisanal and almost hand-painted effect” on the new Louis Vuitton Speedy bag colors — which also coincide with the Olympic rings colors.
Vogue brings us an exclusive glimpse at Pharrell Williams’s Louis Vuitton Men’s collection before its runway debut in Paris.
Pharrell is so humble talking his new Speedy while also being very confident in his own skills and talent. He says that at times Virgil’s spirit is present — which can very well be the truth.
Pharrell’s Speedy is outfitted in supple-grained calf leather with an ultra-softened construction, allowing it to drape and bend in the true way it would with everyday use. Bags that appear “broken-in” and used in many life experiences are very popular in the luxury market.
The leather used in Speedy bags comes from a tannery audited and certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), which is the highest environmental standard in terms of leather tanning. This standard requires tanneries to reduce their water and energy consumption, as well as their use of potentially hazardous substances. Louis Vuitton works with Europe-based tanneries, who also commit to work with Vuitton in company-wide efforts for responsible sourcing and continuous improvement [implementation of material traceability systems, fighting against deforestation practices].
All Louis Vuitton leather bags and accessories are manufactured in one of three countries: France, Spain or the United States.
#RHOA: Marlo Gets Flirty on a Blind Date After Admitting She Hasn't Had Sex in 4 Years
Marlo Hampton was looking for love in a strip mall restaurant — and though she was skeptical, it may have been the best date of her life.
On Sunday’s episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the 47-year-old Le' Archive owner learned a bit more about her blind date — some of which could be considered red flags. That didn’t stop her from getting her flirt on — especially after she admitted privately she hasn’t had sex in four years.
To begin, Marlo told cameras she was pleased with her first impression of Scotley. “Handsome. Dark and chocolate. Nice beard. Black Santa Claus,” she said. She also appeared impressed by more than a dozen roses bought for her, not to mention the romantic set up at Scotley’s own restaurant.
Scotley, 39, shared that he has three kids — with two under the age of 5. In a confessional. Marlo said that’s a dealbreaker... usually. She was willing to give him a pass because, “guess what, Scotley is handsome.” Marlo shared her own recent journey as guardian to her two nephews.
When their seafood appetizers arrived at the table, Marlo tooks the opportunity to introduce ample innuendo. She announced she wouldn’t “touch the head” and would only “eat the body” of the seafood in front of her. Scotley said his fellow Jamaicans “they eat and suck the head,” before encouraging her to go to town on a piece of shrimp. The pair laughed about the sexual implications before Scotley said they’re moving “in the right direction.”
Eventually, it was time for Marlo to dig deeper into Scotley's his life before meeting her. When she asked what skeletons he has in his closet, he shared that he’s been “locked up a couple of times.” This was actually a positive for Marlo, who squealed, “Oh my God we are so meant to be together. I have too!”
“We made a love connection,” she said as she snuggled into Scotley’s neck. “Bonnie and Clyde!” he added. Marlo told cameras she's welcomed a “new member to the iconic ex-con club.”
Marlo said later in confessional interview: “I’m ready to leave my past behind me, but at least I won’t go into a relationship with a guy judging me. Marlo told cameras she’s looking forward to seeing what happens next — as there may be potential for a real relationship with the blind date.
#MusicNews: Raphael Saadiq Announces Tour Dates with Tony! Toni! Toné
*Raphael Saadiq is hitting the road this fall for the “Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné!, the Just Me & You Tour, which launches on September 21 in Birmingham, AL, at the BJCC Concert Hall.
The tour will roll through New York, NY, Chicago, IL, Nashville, TN, and Los Angeles, CA, before wrapping at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA, on November 14 and The Masonic in San Francisco on November 17.
“Produced by Live Nation Urban, the tour marks a momentous homecoming as Raphael Saadiq, his brother D’Wayne Wiggins, and Timothy Christian Riley will perform as Tony! Toni! Toné! for the first time in nearly 25 years,” per the press release.
“I’ve always wanted to put my family back together,” said Saadiq in a statement. “Playing with the Tonys again is a thank you to the fans, the Super Tonians, for supporting all my musical efforts. Without those who were with us from Day One, where would I be? But the main reason is that my father, Charlie Wiggins, would’ve wanted it this way–to see me, D’Wayne, and Tim playing together again.”
A presale begins on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 am PST/10 am EST. Live Nation and Spotify presales start Thursday, June 22, at 10 am local time. General on-sale goes live Friday, June 23 at 10 am local time.
Below are the tour dates:
Thu September 21 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Concert Hall
Fri September 22 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
Sun September 24 – Washington, DC – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Tue September 26 – Baltimore, MD – Lyric Opera House
Thu September 28 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
Sat September 30 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
Sun October 1 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
Thu October 5 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
Sun October 8 – Cleveland, OH – State Theatre
Tue October 10 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace
Wed October 11 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Thu October 12 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
Fri October 13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
Thu October 19 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts
Fri October 20 – Columbia, SC – The Township Auditorium
Sat October 21 – Jacksonville, FL – Moran Theater
Sun October 22 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
Thu October 26 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
Fri October 27 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theatre
Sat October 28 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park
Sun October 29 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
Fri November 10 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
Sat November 11 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
Mon November 14 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
Fri November 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj And Mike WiLL Made-It Sued Over "I Lied" Beat
Hip hop heavyweights Nicki Minaj and Mike WiLL Made-It are in hot water. Atlanta-based producer Julius Johnson has accused the duo of stealing his beat for their 2014 chartbuster “I Lied.” The track initially served as a standout cut from the top Barb’s critically acclaimed The Pinkprint album.
A TMZ report revealed on Monday (June 26) that Johnson alleges the song’s production bears an uncanny resemblance to his piece “onmysleeve” shared on YouTube in 2011. In the lawsuit, he maps out a potential pathway for the supposed theft.
Interestingly, Johnson recounts a hard drive carrying the beat was stolen during a studio session at the Art Institute of Atlanta in 2013. He claims that around the same time, Minaj and Mike WiLL’s associates were at the school. Johnson believes this could have led to his music falling into their hands.
While the lawsuit seeks a share of the profits reaped from the record, it also calls for a halt in the song’s usage unless credit is given to him.
Sources close to Minaj quickly dismissed the allegations. “Clearly, Nicki is a lyricist, so the claim in terms of production will obviously have to be addressed by the applicable parties,” one insider told TMZ. She also refuted the pretense on Twitter by stating, “Do I make beats? [You’re] first on the list, dummy.”
This isn’t the only legal entanglement for the Queens rapper. Earlier, a jewelry store reportedly accused her of damaging loaned items. Located in West Hollywood, Roseark stated Minaj and her team returned 66 items late and in a defective state. The rapper was billed $26,239.50 plus interest, a sum she allegedly hasn’t settled.
Minaj’s lawyer, Jordan Siev, responded, “We have not been presented with any evidence that any of the jewelry at issue was damaged by Nicki.” He also stated that the lawsuit seemed to be “an ordinary insurance claim by the jeweler designed to generate publicity for itself and extract a payment to which it is not entitled.”
Most recently, the rap superstar and her husband Keith Petty have been requested to move out of their $20 million mansion in the Hidden Hills. Her neighbors started a petition to get the couple removed over the latter’s ongoing legal trouble and status as a sex offender.
While Minaj has yet to comment on either the petition or Roseark incident, she’s standing her ground against Johnson’s accusations
Cardi B Responds To Offset Accusing Her Of Cheating
Cardi B has publicly rebuked her husband Offset’s allegations of infidelity by describing the claims as an act of stupidity. The New York rapper did not hold back in her Monday (June 26) Twitter Spaces session, where she used her voice — sometimes melodically — to dispute the rumors.
Drawing from Keyshia Cole’s “I Should Have Cheated,” Cardi hit back with lyrics, “Let me say, you know that you can’t accuse me of all the things that you know you’re guilty of. Sing it with me, y’all! And I see that it’s easy for you to blame everything on me! Yes, honey!” She echoed her sentiments with an assertive, “Stop acting stupid!” The “Be Careful” artist’s frankness was palpable.
In what appeared to be a response to Offset’s now-deleted accusation, Cardi’s candid reflections were no holds barred. The artist expressed her belief that any clandestine affairs would have been public knowledge, declaring, “I’m Cardi B, I think sometimes people forget that I’m Cardi B. If I was giving this to anybody, it would be out.”
Cardi also reminded listeners of her desirability during her rebuttal by claiming that men’s voices “start trembling” when they see her. She further insinuated that if their marriage ends, her inevitable future suitors would be wealthy.
The dispute comes days after The Bronx artist hosted another Twitter Spaces session emphasizing her refusal to tolerate nonsense from anyone, including her husband, regardless of her love for them. The rapper implied that any attempts to cause discord in her marriage would ultimately backfire.
Offset seemingly responded to his wife’s previous Twitter session with a cryptic tweet on Saturday (June 24): “Fly like a bird.” The indirect interaction has led to speculation that the pair were addressing recent accusations made by Tasha K regarding Offset’s alleged infidelity.
In December, Offset was rumored to have cheated on the Invasion of Privacy musician with Quavo’s former girlfriend, Saweetie. The speculation was later addressed in January during Cardi’s interview with “The Jason Lee Show,” where she said she would not publicly speak about the situation.
Prior to that, Cardi B filed for divorce against Offset in 2020. During a live session in September of the same year on her OnlyFans, she stated, “I didn’t wait until he cheated on me again. I didn’t wait [for] another controversy with him being involved. I decided to leave. If I wanted to stay, I could have stayed. I decided to leave.”
Diddy's Attorney Releases Statement On Diageo Cutting Ties With Mogul Amid Racism Lawsuit
Diageo decided to cut ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs during their ongoing legal battle — But, the mogul isn’t backing down.
The termination of their long-standing partnership comes amid Combs’ claims of racial discrimination against the company, where he alleges his Cîroc and DeLeón Tequila brands were marginalized.
Lodged with the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan last month, the lawsuit claims Diageo demonstrated racial bias and severely curbed the growth potential of Combs’ brands. The rapper asserts the company’s leaders informed him that his race factored into the decision.
Furthermore, Combs accused Diageo of failing to provide adequate resources to his brands while prioritizing other white-owned labels. A resounding line from the complaint dated May 31 alleges, “Cloaking itself in the language of diversity and equality is good for Diageo’s business, but it is a lie.”
However, the abrupt conclusion of their joint venture has seemingly only heightened Diddy’s determination to pursue justice. Despite Diageo’s withdrawal, Combs remains steadfast in his resolve.
A statement from Diddy’s attorney John C. Hueston released today reads: “Diageo attempting to end its deals with Mr. Combs is like firing a whistleblower who calls out racism. It’s a cynical and transparent attempt to distract from multiple allegations of discrimination. Over the years, he has repeatedly raised concerns as senior executives uttered racially insensitive comments and made biased decisions based on that point of view.”
He added, “Diageo even acknowledged the problem by agreeing in his contract to treat DeLeon the same way it treated their other tequila brands. He brought the lawsuit to force them to live up to that contract, and instead, they respond by trying to get rid of him. This lawsuit and Mr. Combs are not going away.”
The partnership between Combs and the Diageo dates all the way back to 2007. Plus, the music icon’s Combs Spirits reportedly accrued nearly $1 billion over its 15-year affiliation.
Nicole Scherzinger Announces Engagament To Thom Evans
Nicole Scherzinger has got engaged to Thom Evans. The Pussycat Dolls singer revealed they are planning to wed after he popped the question while they were on a break in her native Hawaii.
Nicole shared a photo of the couple on Instagram, with Thom down on one knee as he presented her with an engagement ring. The 44-year-old beauty, who has been dating the 38-year-old rugby player for three years after meeting when he appeared on "X Factor: Celebrity", simply captioned her post, "I said yes. [ring emoji] (sic)"
Thom shared the same photo on Instagram, along with another picture of them embracing with the ring on Nicole's finger, and wrote, "My Ever After". The "Poison" hitmaker previously admitted the COVID-19 pandemic had helped strengthen the couple's romance.
She told The Times newspaper in January 2021, "I've definitely been through my fair share of insecurities that I've fought through and battled, and I've gone through challenges and relationships-and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Now I have a new perspective and things balance out. And I'm really grateful to [in lockdown] build a healthy, strong, solid foundation to my relationship."
And Thom admitted he had felt an instant connection to "The Masked Singer" judge. He previously told The Sun newspaper, "People always say, 'When you know, you know' and I can honestly say I'd never really had that moment. But within the first couple of days with Nicole it was just awesome and it has been awesome ever since."
Nicole, who dated Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton before romancing Thom, previously revealed that her ideal honeymoon destination would be on the idyllic French Polynesian island. Speaking to Us Weekly magazine last December, she spilled, "I'm dying to go to Tahiti. I'd honeymoon there."
Kanye West Accused Of Making New Anti-Semitic Remarks In BBC Documentary
Kanye West's anti-Semitic scandal apparently has yet to be over. In new BBC documentary "The Trouble With KanYe", the rapper's former business partner Alex Klein detailed his shocking never-before-revealed controversial comments.
"Kanye was very angry you know, he was saying, 'I feel like I wanna smack you' and 'you're exactly like the other Jews,' " Alex said in the documentary, per Deadline. He added that the star "[is] almost relishing and reveling in how offensive he could be, using these phrases hoping to hurt me."
He went on elaborating, "I asked him and I said, 'Do you really think Jews are working together to hold you back?' and he said, 'Yes, yes I do but it's not even a statement that I need to take back because look at all the energy around me right now. Without that statement, I wouldn't become president.' "
According to Alex, Ye's anti-Semitic rant came over his decision to cut ties with the ex-husband of Kim Kardashian over his anti-Jewish statements and social media rants.
Ye faced huge backlash late last year for his controversial comments that cost him deals with Adidas, Foot Locker, Balenciaga, GAP and CAA. A slew of celebrities also publicly condemned the Yeezy designer for his anti-Semitic remarks.
"Well, I see good things about Hitler also. I love everyone, and Jewish people are not going to tell me, 'You can love us, and you can love what we're doing to you with the contracts, and you can love what we're pushing with the pornography,' " Ye said on Alex Jones' "InfoWars", praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
"But this guy [Hitler] that invented highways and invented the very microphone I use as a musician, you can't say out loud that this person ever did anything good, and I'm done with that," he continued. "I'm done with the classifications."
Later in March 2023, Ye returned to Instagram with bizarre comments about Jonah Hill. "Watching Jonah Hill in 21 Jump street made me like Jewish people again," he said in a now-deleted post. "No one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people."
Jonathan Majors files domestic violence complaint against his accuser in assault case
Marvel star Jonathan Majors filed a domestic violence complaint against his former girlfriend who accused him of assault, alleging she is the one who attacked him during a March 25 dispute in New York, according to an incident report obtained by Insider.
The Creed III actor, who was arraigned on several assault and harassment charges following the dispute, claimed that his "drunk and hysterical" accuser had scratched, slapped, and grabbed at his face and caused him to bleed per Insider. Majors also alleged his accuser has attacked him on prior occasions, though none were reported, including a "verbal dispute in London that became physical."
In the March domestic dispute, Majors was accused of twisting his accuser's arm, striking her head and ear, and shoving her into a vehicle. The woman was treated for injuries at a hospital and granted a full temporary restraining order. The Marvel actor denied causing the injuries in the report and maintained that he was not violent toward his accuser, alleging that she was the one to become violent while accusing him of texting with other women.
"From the beginning, we have said Jonathan Majors is innocent and provably the victim here," Majors' attorney Priya Chaudhry said in a statement shared with EW. "Last week, for the first time, Mr. Majors met with the NYPD to present them with evidence of what really happened on that night."
The Manhattan District Attorney's office declined to comment on the complaint when reached by EW, while the NYPD confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and did not provide further comment. Majors is set to head to trial on Aug. 3 for the misdemeanor assault case stemming from his accuser's allegations.
‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ Alum Dan Benson Feels Like a ‘Badass’ After Trading Disney for Porn Career
Former “Wizards of Waverly Place” actor Dan Benson is better than ever after trading his Disney career for porn nearly a year ago.
“Mental health wise I feel good. I don’t feel bad about myself,” Benson, who played Zeke Beakerman in the G-rated show, said via TikTok Monday.
“I feel kind of like a badass a little bit.”
Benson was a part of the Disney Channel series between 2007 to 2012, acting alongside names such as Selena Gomez and Cole Sprouse.
Continuing, he said, “I’m feeling good. I’m excited about the future. I don’t really feel bad about my decisions at all.”
The Only Fans model, 35, also shared that he felt a bit of “confusion” after announcing his decision because he received more words of “empowerment” than “hate.”
He added that “so many” of his fans have even approached him on the street to express their support and even hug him.
However, Benson has learned to set his own boundaries while working in this particular industry as well.
“Now, there are plenty of people on a daily basis asking me and demanding I do things that I don’t feel comfortable doing, but I’ve kind of just been in a position to just be like, ‘No, you’re gonna get what you’re gonna get. You’re gonna get what I’m comfortable with sharing with the world.’”
In February, Benson joked in another video posted to TikTok that as an “Only Dans” model he “basically” only takes photos of himself nude.
“Have you ever tried to brush your teeth and make it look sexy? Yeah, it’s not easy,” Benson joked as he twerked and brushed his teeth, wearing only briefs, for the camera.
Giving some insight into his career change, the actor-turned-OnlyFans-model shared in January that he “tripped and fell” into the adult entertainment industry after being catfished online.
On Jan. 6, Benson — who quit acting not long after the Disney show ended in 2012 —shared in a TikTok video how he would receive messages, notably from women who he “found incredibly attractive.”
“Turns out, messaging those women — who turned out not to be who they said they were — was not the best idea, because I would send nude photos to them, and they would take those nude photos and then post them onto online websites,” Benson revealed.
Following the “traumatic experience” of finding his nude photos “all over the web” and failing to get the snaps taken down, Benson decided to “lean into” the situation.
“Instead of letting these people sell my privacy, my — you know what I mean — I decided to say, ‘All right, screw you, I’m gonna sell it myself.’”
“I’ve been having a tremendous amount of fun. I met a lot of great people in the adult entertainment industry, and it’s changed my life for the better.”
Chadwick Boseman is one of the distinguished list of honorees to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Each year, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announces entertainers who represent the best and brightest in the industry. Those select few are then honored with a coveted gold star displaying their name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One of the latest actors revealed for the accolade is Chadwick Boseman.
“The Selection Committee, which is made up of fellow Walk of Famers, carefully hand-picks a group of honorees each year that represent various genres of the entertainment world. The Committee did an amazing job choosing these very talented people. We can’t wait to see each honoree’s reaction as they realize that they are becoming a part of Hollywood’s history with the unveiling of their star on the world’s most famous walkway!” Chair and Walk of Famer Ellen K said in a statement posted to the organization’s official website yesterday (June 26).
Boseman will receive the 2024 posthumous honor in the Motion Pictures category. The remaining ranks include Television, Live Theatre/Live Performance, Radio, Recording, and Sports Entertainment. Other stars to be featured are Toni Braxton, Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kerry Washington, Brandy Norwood and more. As previously reported by REVOLT, the Black Panther actor died in August 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer. He was 43 years old.
“What a gentle gifted SOUL. Showing us all that greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength, the power it takes to do that. This is what dignity looks like,” Oprah Winfrey shared following Boseman’s untimely passing.
“Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain — what a use of his years,” Former President Barack Obama declared of the 42 talent.
Will Smith Reportedly Shot Down RuPaul Guest Starring on 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'
RuPaul almost had a guest role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. However, according to one producer on the 1990s-era series, it didn’t happen because Will Smith shot the idea down.
Executive producer David Steven Simon opened up in a new book excerpt for “Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson’s Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television” by Thea Glassman (via Entertainment Weekly), and shared that since Will got to approve every story for the show, the suggestion of RuPaul was rejected.
David added that Will actually “didn’t often reject ideas”, but “I remember him saying that would be a really bad idea, and I said, ‘No, listen, hear my story —.’”
He added that while he tried to convince Will that it would be a great appearance, Will still “refused” and “kept repeating that it was a bad idea.”
“The reason he would say no is because of his image. Period. The End,” David added.
Longtime Soap Opera Star Nicolas Coster Dies at Age 89
Nicolas Coster has sadly passed away. The longtime soap opera star, who has appeared on almost every daytime soap series, has died at the age of 89, his daughter confirmed on Facebook.
Nicolas passed away on Monday, June 26, according to Dinneen Coster‘s post, from complications of MDS (myelodysplastic syndromes) after a lengthy battle with cancer.
“There is great sadness in my heart this evening, my father actor Nicolas Coster has passed on in Florida at 9:01 pm in the hospital,” she shared with her followers. “Please be inspired by his artistic achievements and know he was a real actor’s actor! I will remember him as always doing his best and being a great father. Rest In Peace.”
Nicolas came to fame for his roles on Another World, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, and All My Children.
He also appeared in Charlie’s Angels, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as NBC’s Santa Barbara.
On the big screen, Nicolas starred in All the President’s Men, The Young Pope, and The Last Exorcist
Wade Robson and James Safechuck are AGAIN suing Michael Jackson’s Corporations Over Sexual Assault Allegations
The two men who previously accused Michael Jackson of sexually abusing them as children are taking legal action once again.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck are suing Jackson’s corporations alleging that the late pop star groomed and sexually abused them for several years. The duo are the subjects of the 2019 “Leaving Neverland” documentary. Both claim staffers at MJJ Productions Inc. covered up the abuse, the Los Angeles Times reports.
On Monday, a three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeal ruled that Robson and Safechuck can take their case to trial. The tentative ruling also suggested that the cases will be combined, New York Daily News reports.
Lawyers for MJJ Productions argue that the company had no control over the King of Pop and therefore had no legal duty to protect anyone from the music icon.
In a joint statement, Robson and Safechuck told TMZ, “A sexual abuser’s passing does not deprive his victims of their day in court and, in turn, justice and healing. Michael Jackson is not sued personally in this case-his company is, and his company will have every opportunity to defend itself in the trial.”
They continue, “We are pleased that the Court of Appeal has taken its time and considered all of the facts and applicable law in these cases. We look forward to oral arguments next month and the eventual decision of the Court of Appeal.”
As TMZ reports, Robson previously said he had testified falsely on behalf of Jackson at his 2005 molestation trial due to “complete manipulation and brainwashing.”
Victor Wembanyama Opts Out Fiba World Cup To Focus On Rookie Season
Victor Wembanyama will not play for France in the forthcoming FIBA World Cup. ESPN‘s Brian Windhorst states Wembanyama is opting to focus on preparing for his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs and the Paris Olympics next year. Wembanyama is also expected to play in the summer league for the Spurs this July.
“It would not be realistic in terms of development and not prudent in terms of health,” Wembanyama said of opting out the World Cup. “I hope people will understand. It’s frustrating for me, too. The France team is still central for me. I want to win as many titles as possible with the team. But I think it’s a necessary sacrifice.”
The Spurs were reportedly open to any decision that Wembanyama made.
No comments:
Post a Comment