Wednesday, August 30, 2023

The Daily Buzz For Aug 31☕📰☕

#MAGFAB: Zendaya Covers ELLE’s September Issue

Zendaya covers ELLE’s September 2023 issue. ELLE spoke with Zendaya about her increased awareness of being in the public eye, keeping her relationship with Tom Holland private, and her growth as an actress choosing roles outside of her comfort zone.

Zendaya also opened up about her style evolution over the years in collaboration with Law Roach (who styled her ELLE September shoot), what his new role is, and how their relationship has never wavered: “I ride super hard for my team, especially for people I love. He’s involved in every fashion contract, everything I do. If I have an opportunity where he can come with me, he’s always going to be there. He’s always been my creative director in a sense, and he continues to fill that role, because it’s more than just clothes on a red carpet. It’s a bigger thing.”

On how she is entering an era of risk in her acting career: “From a character perspective, I want to find things that will push me,” she says. “As I get older, you know, I can’t play a teenager for the rest of my life.”

On how the role as a leading woman in Challengers is a significant departure for her, and a chance for audiences to see her in a whole new light, playing a quietly cutthroat femme fatale in a film with very adult stakes: It’s the type of performance she knows fans are ready to see from her (“More ready than I am,” she jokes). At the same time, it’s not an unbelievable volte-face. Her subtle performance of seduction onscreen makes the evolution feel more authentic than forced. “I felt like it was a good step into a more, I guess you could say, ‘grown-up’ role and into that next phase,” Zendaya says. “It was a little bit scary to take on, which I think is a good feeling. To be like, ‘Ooh, can I do this?’ You could run from that feeling and stay safe and comfortable, or you can go, ‘You know what, f**k it.’”

On how this is the first time Zendaya has talked about Challengers in depth to a stranger, and she’s stuck figuring out Tashi’s motivations: “I still don’t understand the decisions she makes, and we had so many conversations about the psychology of her and why she is that way,” she says. “What was important to me was that she was unapologetic about it. Sometimes characters who are messy and conflicted and wield power over other people are reserved for [actors] who don’t look like me, so when I get an opportunity to play a character like that, I’ma take it!”

On some of the negative aspects of being in the public eye and photographed at all times: She remembers a store run for a pillow that ended with customers taking pictures of her at the register while dealing with a card issue. “I was just like, Why? You see I’m flustered,” she says with a snicker, taking it in stride. Again, while in Italy a few weeks ago, she was photographed walking her dog, Noon. “I had this idea of, like, I can walk around Venice. No, I can’t,” she says, laughing sweetly. “I had to pick up his poo, and I was like, Lord, please, don’t take a picture of me picking up my dog’s s**t. There’s a picture of me holding the bag, but thankfully they spared the grabbing and the putting it in the bag part.”

On keeping her relationship with Tom Holland private: “Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public,” she says. “I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love. But also, I do have control over what I choose to share. It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You can’t hide. That’s not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”

Zendaya on her relationship with Law Roach: He’s since continued to style her for red carpets like Bulgari’s mid-May jewelry event in Venice, as well as the shoot for this magazine and her Louis Vuitton campaign debut this spring. “I ride super hard for my team, especially for people I love,” Zendaya insists. “He’s involved in every fashion contract, everything I do. If I have an opportunity where he can come with me, he’s always going to be there. He’s always been my creative director in a sense, and he continues to fill that role, because it’s more than just clothes on a red carpet. It’s a bigger thing.”

Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach on figuring out his new role with Zendaya after announcing his retirement: Over the phone, he confirms he’s stepped into an official role as Zendaya’s creative director and tells me, “Our relationship is like family, so I don’t think I’m going anywhere—and even if I wanted to, she wouldn’t let me.” … Roach maintains that Zendaya has firmly supported his growth. “I’m grateful that people like the work and understand the story. And I’m grateful for her giving me the opportunity to shine,” he says. “It’s not often that such a big superstar like that is very generous and understanding when someone wants to basically step out. She’s been one of my biggest supporters.”

ELLE’s September 2023 issue hits newsstands NOW!


#RHOA: Atlanta' Heading for Major Cast Shakeup or Possible Reboot, Source Says
The cast of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' will look different next season.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast for season 16 is going to look very different, ET has learned.

"A major shakeup is coming to The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Before the women filmed their recent reunion, they were told that they should expect a big change with the franchise moving forward," a source tells ET. "They hinted at a reboot like New York got, but it also could be moving forward with only a couple of the current stars. The cast is on edge about their future and has no idea where the network plans to go. Although their ratings are still strong, the network is listening to fans and their desire for a change."

A second source, however, tells ET no decisions have been made and likely won’t be made until after the reunion airs.
Lovebscott was the first to report on the cast changes.

Bravo recently dropped the sneak peek at the RHOA cast's season 15 reunion, set to kick off on Sunday, Sept. 3. Housewives boss Andy Cohen sat down with the ensemble -- Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, Drew Sidora, Shereé Whitfield, Marlo Hampton and Sanya Richards Ross -- on a set designed to bring peace, inspired by the group's health retreat in Portugal. Instead, they all seem to go to war, pulling out receipts, a subpoena and even an estranged husband as they recap and rehash the ups and downs of the past year.

The trailer opens with a montage of Andy and the women thumbing through a SHE News newspaper, seemingly created by Shereé, and apparently filled with stories about Kandi. It might just be the "shady receipt" Andy teased on social media during the taping.

"There were two extremely shady receipts," Kandi revealed to ET earlier this month. "I don't wanna give away too much, but ... [the one directed at me] was more so, like, a diss."
Bravo had no comment on the potential of a shakeup or possible reboot.


#MusicNews: Keke Wyatt Returns With New Single “Water Into Wine” + Announces New Album

Veteran R&B star Keke Wyatt returns with her brand new single called “Water Into Wine”.
She has also announced that she has signed with Shanachie Entertainment to record and release her first album in six years. She adds:

“I really feel good about signing with Shanachie! I’m excited and finally ready. I feel like this time we will create magic together and make HISTORY!”

Shanachie General Manager Randall Grass notes:
“At a time when great singers are in short supply, Keke Wyatt continually displays what real singing is all about. Her range, power and intensely felt vocals connect with her audiences on the deepest level. We loved working with her before and are very excited to work with her now to make an epic new album.”

Keke was on Shanachie early in her career where she released the albums “Who Knew?” and “Unbelievable”.

LISTEN HERE

This October WE tv and ALLBLK will unveil Keke Wyatt’s World, Keke’s new reality TV show. Amid a busy career and schedule, Keke still manages to be a devoted and loving mother to eleven children.
Keke promises the wait for her new album will be worth it:
“Fans can expect some good ole Sanging honey!! I want to give my fans the gift of love, hope and trust with my new music. However, don’t get it twisted because I’m singing about it all. I think everyone will be able to relate to this album.”


#HipHopNews: Travis Scott Announces “UTOPIA: CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR” Dates
On Tuesday (Aug. 29), Live Nation unveiled the highly anticipated details of Travis Scott‘s upcoming North American show run. Named “UTOPIA: CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR,” the musical journey commences on Oct. 11 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and culminates on Dec. 29 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

Among the slated performances is a show at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Nov. 5, marking the largest solo concert of Scott’s career. Conspicuously absent from the itinerary, however, is the rapper’s hometown of Houston, Texas.

Earlier this month, Mayor Sylvester Turner hinted at a potential local show, but none appeared on the current schedule. Douglas Griffith, president of the Houston Police Department Union, revealed Oct. 19 and Nov. 20 as initially proposed dates.

The tour announcement came amid ongoing legal fallout from the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, where 10 attendees lost their lives in a catastrophic crowd surge. In late July, police released a voluminous report detailing their investigation into the calamity.

Following its unveiling, a Harris County grand jury chose not to level criminal charges against Scott or other event organizers. However, civil lawsuits against the “SICKO MODE” artist and Live Nation continue to stack up with settlements reached in some cases.

Tickets for “UTOPIA: CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR” are set to go on sale at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday (Aug. 31). Furthermore, Live Nation reported that $2 from each sale will be allocated to Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation, a nonprofit committed to enriching the lives of Houston’s youth.

Scott’s latest album, UTOPIA, saw remarkable commercial success after securing the top spot on the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks. Earlier this month, the rapper took his new LP to the international stage by performing before 60,000 fans at Rome’s Circus Maximus alongside special guest Kanye West.

Unfortunately, the European performance drew attention when CNN reported that 60 attendees sustained injuries.


Hurricane Idalia barrels into Georgia after hitting Florida coast, leaving at least two dead

Hurricane Idalia barreled into southern Georgia after hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast with life-threatening storm surges, leaving at least two people dead and hundreds of thousands without power.

More than 275,000 people in Florida were without power as of late afternoon, according to PowerOutage.US. At least two people died in weather-related car crashes in Alachua and Pasco counties, police said. About 190,000 people were without power in Georgia.

At least 30 of Florida’s 67 counties issued some type of evacuation order prior to the storm. People who did not evacuate should shelter in place, according to the state’s emergency management agency.

Idalia made landfall in the morning as a catastrophic Category 3 storm at Keaton Beach on the Big Bend coast, less than 90 miles away from the state capital of Tallahassee. The hurricane has since weakened to a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Idalia is expected to weaken further as it moves inland but will remain a hurricane as the storm moves across southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina this afternoon or evening, according to the latest forecast. Parts of Georgia were bracing for 40- to 50-mile-per-hour winds and floods, according to the National Weather Service in Atlanta.

Idalia is expected to become a tropical storm by the time it heads toward the coast of North Carolina on Wednesday night and Thursday, according to the forecast.  

President Joe Biden on Wednesday spoke with the governors of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to offer the federal government’s full support for the emergency response.
Biden approved an emergency declaration Monday for Florida in anticipation of the hurricane making landfall. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has deployed 1,500 federal responders and 540 search and rescue personnel to the affected area in Florida.

Hurricane Idalia comes weeks after devastating wildfires tore through Maui, Hawaii, destroying the historic town of Lahaina and killing at least 115 people and causing billions of dollars in damages.

Biden attributed the frequency of recent natural disasters to climate change. “I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of the climate crisis anymore,” the president said during remarks at the White House.

“Just look around — historic floods, more intense droughts, extreme heat, significant wildfires have caused significant damage like we’ve never seen before,” Biden said.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said she will travel to Florida Wednesday, where she will meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday to see firsthand how much damage Idalia has left in its wake.

Criswell told reporters during a separate briefing at the White House that it would take several days to get an initial assessment of how much damage Idalia has done.
Idalia swamped coastal towns in western Florida. The river gauge at the small town of Steinhatchee on the Big Bend coast surged from 1 foot to 8 feet in an hour, according to the NWS in Tallahassee. Life-threatening storm surges will remain through the afternoon, according to the NWS.

“Don’t mess with this storm, don’t do anything that’s going to put yourself in jeopardy,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a morning press conference.

The Florida National Guard is currently conducting search and rescue operations in Florida’s western coastal counties, said Maj. Gen. John Haas, who leads the force. The Guard is fully mobilized with more than 5,000 service members supporting the emergency response, Haas said at a press conference. South Carolina and Tennessee are sending additional National Guard forces to help with the response, he said.

American Airlines has suspended operations in Tampa; Sarasota; Tallahassee; Gainesville; and Savannah, Georgia, with 167 flights canceled so far. The airline is planning to continue normal operations in Ft. Myers, Key West, Orlando and Daytona Beach.

DeSantis said the Tampa airport will reopen at 4 p.m. Wednesday to incoming flights and fully reopen at 3 a.m. Thursday. Gainesville airport will reopen Wednesday night and Tallahassee airport first thing in the morning, the governor said.


Michael Jackson's Son Blanket Makes Rare Appearance On Late Dad's 65th Birthday
Michael Jackson's son Blanket a.k.a. Bigi Jackson has stepped out of his comfort zone in honor of his father. The 21-year-old son of the late singer has made a rare appearance in public on what would have been Michael's 65th birthday.
Bigi traveled with his brother Prince Jackson to Las Vegas. In photos taken at the event, the two siblings attended "Michael Jackson ONE" by Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Tuesday, August 29

According to PEOPLE, the famous brothers spent some time greeting fans inside of the casino. One fan of MJ gave Bigi and Prince a picture of the late King of Pop with an angel on it as they shared their favorite memories of the global superstar.

Cirque du Soleil's website announced the presence of members of Michael's estate for a public Q&A session to commemorate the "Human Nature" artist's "Blue Sapphire Birthday Celebration". After Michael's loved ones spoke to some of his biggest fans, they were scheduled to enjoy a special performance from the cast of the Vegas show. The event is expected to run throughout the evening and will also feature a book signing by Michael Bush, the author of "The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson".

For the outing, Bigi wore a loose-fitting black button-up shirt and tight black pants. He rocked his signature long hair, which he has grown since he was a kid, with trimmed facial hair. As for his brother Prince, the 26-year-old opted for a gray T-shirt that showed off his tattoos, teamed with a green baseball cap.

In addition to Bigi and Prince, MJ had a daughter, Paris Jackson. The "Thriller" singer shared her two eldest children, Prince and Paris, with his second wife Debbie Rowe, while his third child Bigi was born from an unnamed donor.


Elton John 'In Good Health' After Hospitalized Following A Fall At His Villa

Sir Elton John returns home and is "in good health" after being rushed to hospital. The 76-year-old pop icon took a tumble at his French villa on Sunday, August 27 evening and went to the local hospital as a "precaution" but representatives for the "Candle in the Wind" singer confirmed that he left the hospital on Monday morning and is now in "good health" at home.

"We can confirm that following a slip yesterday at his home in the south of France, Elton visited the local hospital as a precautionary measure. Following check ups, he was immediately discharged this morning and is now back at home and in good health," a rep said in a statement.
The "Crocodile Rock" hitmaker - who lives in Berkshire but also has properties in London and in the US - had been spending the summer in France with his husband David Furnish and their two sons following the conclusion of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour" earlier this year.

Earlier in the day, a source had claimed that the "Rocket Man" singer had had to undergo a "brain scan," which revealed that he had not suffered any injury. A source told The Daily Mail, "He had a small domestic accident at his villa in Mont-Boron. He was hospitalised in the orthopaedic department of the Princess Grace Hospital, but was only slightly injured. He had a brain scan and a lumbar scan, which revealed no fractures."

In 2021, Elton was left in "considerable pain and discomfort" after suffering a fall and was forced to postpone the remainder of his tour until 2023.

At the time, he explained, "I wouldn't be 100% fit, I wouldn't be 100% confident, because I'm in pain most of the time with my hip. I can't move sideways, can't get in and out of a car, and the decision had to be made, because I wouldn't want to go onstage and give less than 100 percent."


Jay-Z Reopens Instagram Account, Follows Only 1 Person
-Z is making his return to Instagram. The 53-year-old hip-hop mogul rejoins the photo-sharing platform after deactivating his account two years ago following one-day tenure on the app.
The husband of Beyonce Knowles reactivated his account on Tuesday, August 29. He used a photo of his younger self as his profile picture.

As for his following, the "Empire State of Mind" emcee appeared to only want to keep up with one particular person as he's only following his singer wife. The Grammy-winning songstress, meanwhile, is even more selective as she doesn't follow him or anyone else back on the app.

Jay-Z additionally made his purpose rejoining the platform clear. His first and only post so far was about upcoming movie "The Book of Clarence". He treated his 160K followers to the trailer of the flick, which will star LaKeith Stanfield.
Jigga is serving as the executive producer for the Biblical epic that will see LaKeith portraying Clarence, a streetwise hustler struggling to support his family while fighting to free himself of debt, who learns of the power and glory of the messiah and his apostles, and decides he wants to join their ranks.

Additionally, the movie features music from the hip-hop star as well as Jeymes Samuel, who also directs and writes the movie. "The Book of Clarence" will be released in theaters on January 12, 2024.


Coco Gauff Slammed A US Open Umpire After This On-Court Controversy

The US Open had just begun and there was drama already on the court already. Coco Gauff’s umpire video is making the rounds on social media and people are talking.

The US Open Tennis Championship is an annual tennis tournament that consists of five main competitions: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The tournament—which is held in Queens, New York and runs for two weeks between late August and early September—is one of the four major annual professional tennis tournaments that make up the Grand Slam.

The other three Grand Slam tournaments are the Australian Open in January; the French Open from late May to Early June; and Wimbledon from late June to early July. The Australian Open and US Open are played on hard courts, the French Open is played on clay, and Wimbledon is played on the grass.

The top professional tennis players to look out for during the US Open include Serbia’sNovak Djokovic, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, but all eyes were on US player Coco Gauff in round one on August 28, 2023, when she butted heads with an umpire.

In Coco Gauff’s umpire video, she grew increasingly frustrated that time rules weren’t being enforced against her opponent, Laura Siegemund during the third set of what would result in a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 match.

After Gauff held a 3-0 lead in the final set Gauff protested when Siegemund put her arms up to signal that she wasn’t quite ready for Gauff’s serve and the umpire honored her request. “She’s never ready when I’m serving, she went over to talk like four times, you only gave her a time violation once, how is this fair?” Gauff said. “No, you’re calling the score after the point is over, it’s not like we’re playing long points. You’re calling the score like six seconds after the point is over!”

She continued: “You have missed her like four times. She’s never ready! It’s not like we’re having, like 30-ball rallies. It’s two balls…I’m going at a normal speed! Ask any ref here, I go at a medium-pace speed,” Gauff said. “She can’t [go back] every single point. And everybody in this crowd knows I’ve been quiet this whole match…That first set, it was like every point. I didn’t say nothing, but now it’s ridiculous. I don’t care what she’s putting on her serves, on my serves she has to be ready.”

ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe agreed with Gauff’s frustrations. “She’s 100 percent right,” he said. As the No. 123-ranked player from Germany, Siegemund had consistently been using up all of her time when she served and even earned a time violation warning during the third set.

Gauff reflected on the confrontation later on Twitter: “If I could do it all over again, I would’ve said something earlier, maybe on a changeover.. other than that I don’t regret talking to the ref the way I did. I actually watched the video when I was taking an ice bath bc I wanted to make sure before I came in here. Sometimes you have these emotions & you forget what you said. I’d still say everything I said in that moment again,” she wrote.

Siegemund, meanwhile, expressed disappointment in how she was treated by the crowd, who after the confrontation with the umpire, booed and cheered when she faulted. “I am very, very disappointed with the way the people treated me today,” said Siegemund afterward in the press conference. “I am a fighter, I never did anything against the audience. I stayed calm. I never made not even a gesture against the audience. And they had no respect for me.

“They had no respect for the way I played. They have no respect for the player that I am. They have no respect for tennis, for good tennis. This is something that I have to say hurts really bad.

“There is no doubt that I am slow. There is no doubt about that. I’m getting time violations. There is no doubt about that I should be quicker…but at the same time, it’s how I play. I’m very slow. I do it for me, I don’t do it against the other one. Clapping when you miss the first serve, those kinds of things, I have no understanding for it.

“I was very disappointed. I thought I went out there, I have a great time on Ashe, I have to say I did not have a good time. That was just [because] of the audience. This kind of behavior, respectless behaviour to a non-American player I have only experienced on this court. To treat the opponent like this, it’s no good for tennis,” Siegemund concluded.


Jasmine Cephas Jones Writes Touching Tribute To Dad Ron Cephas Jones Following His Passing at 66
Jasmine Cephas Jones has shared a moving tribute to her father, Ron Cephas Jones.
The 34-year-old Blindspotting actress took to social media, sharing touching words about her dad, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 66.

“Grief,” she started in her caption of the post which featured a carousel of throwback photos and videos with Ron. “This one is a battle.”
Jasmine went on, “I keep looking at my phone wanting to call you and wanting to hear your voice. You listened… you REALLY listened to me. You valued my opinion and you never judged me. We all know you were a great actor but my god you were a damn good father.”

“Your best gift to me as a father was giving me a safe space to just be me. Not afraid of my womanhood and all the pain and awkwardness and social anxiety and tough burdens that society can put on us. You understood that. You led me. Mentored me. Gut laughed with me. Cried with me. Sang with me. Celebrated me. Studied with me. Cared for me… and loved me.”

Jasmine started to conclude her tribute, writing, “There’s so much so say, but I don’t have many words. I just love you so much. I miss you beyond words. I still feel you here with me and I will carry you in my heart forever.”

LOOK BELOW
Following his passing, Ron‘s former co-stars, including from This Is Us, shared their own tributes.


Simone Biles rewrites history with 8th US national all-around gymnastics title

Simon Biles breaks a 90-year record by winning her 8th U.S. national all-around gymnastics title.
Simone Biles has been praised by fans for years with many calling her the greatest of all time, and she once again proved why she is deserving of that title at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The event was held in San Jose, California on Sunday (Aug. 27).

Biles won three titles, making her the oldest woman to ever take the all-around. Additionally, she is also the first gymnast to win eight U.S. all-around titles.

The athlete won the gold for her impressive balance beam and floor exercises. She walked away with a two-day score of 118.45 for all-around. Her score included 29.300 on the balance beam, 30.200 on the floor, 28.400 on uneven bars, and 30.550 on vault. She also won a bronze medal for her uneven bars exercises, GMA reports.

The 26-year-old once shared an all-around national championship record with Alfred Jochim. He won seven of the men’s titles from 1925 to 1930 and in 1933. She has broken the 90-year record thanks to her recent win.

Since her 2013 debut, Biles has won 27 U.S. titles and 35 national championship medals. She is also a seven-time Olympic medalist and 2016 Olympic individual all-around champion. In 2021, Biles stepped away from her Tokyo Olympics team and the individual all-around gymnastics competition to focus on her mental health. The decision was made after she lost herself while airborne during the vaulting competition.

The 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, however, left fans in awe of her ability. When she finished the floor exercise in the final rotation, the gymnast was given a standing ovation by the crowd of nearly 12,000 onlookers, reminding her that many still think of the athlete as the GOAT.

After the competition, Biles was invited to join the USA Gymnastics 2023-’24 Senior Women’s National Team.


Fundraiser for Rachelle Ferrell Launched Amid Singer’s ‘Health Hardships’
*Renowned singer and songwriter Rachelle Ferrell is reportedly struggling with health issues and various hardships, and her friends are rallying to support her.
A fundraiser was launched for the 62-year-old jazz vocalist due to unnamed “health, wellness, and life-related hardships.” The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is hosting the Rachelle Ferrell Fund where fans and supporters can make donations.

“If you’ve been touched by her 30-plus years of blessings or been a part of the musical family she shared a meaningful and purposeful life with, please consider donating here today,” a message on the website reads. “Your prayers are also welcomed, felt, and appreciated.”

“(Farrell’s) care has been placed in the hands of people other than herself at this time, and those people are asking for help. As her fanbase, I have no doubt that we can,” Scruggs wrote.

“We’ve enjoyed her abilities, her music, her story and her contribution to art and humanity as a whole. I think we can show how much we love and support her by contributing financially. I’ve attached the link below and it’s in my bio. Please help in any way you can,” Scruggs added.

The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund “provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems,” according to the website.

As BET.com reports, Farrell is known for her six-octave range and released her self-titled U.S. debut album in 1992. The album was certified gold and featured the hit single, “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This” (featuring Will Downing). Early in her career, the Philadelphia native sang backup for Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, and George Duke.


'GMA' co-anchor Robin Roberts prepares to say 'I do': All the details of her upcoming wedding
"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts is almost ready to get married.
Roberts and her fiancée Amber Laign are less than two weeks away from saying "I do" after an 18-year romance.

With the countdown on for their wedding day, Roberts and Laign are giving "GMA" viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their road to the ring.
The fun of wedding planning

After being a couple for 18 years and deciding to wed late last year, both Roberts and Laign said the journey of planning their wedding has been something they never thought they'd experience.
"It's been fun watching sweet Amber, just watching her get emotional and having fun and giggling," Roberts said. "That's been the best part of it."

"I never really thought I would be doing this, ever," Laign added. "Just having it all unfold and discovering parts of myself I didn't really know were there. It's been fun."
After a marriage proposal in late 2022 that included "calamari rings," Roberts and Laign tapped an expert, wedding planner JoAnn Gregoli, to help them execute their big day.

The wedding planning has been full-steam ahead since January, when Roberts announced on "GMA" that she and Laign planned to wed in 2023.

The wedding gowns
Roberts and Laign are both wearing dresses on their wedding day that will be a surprise to everyone, each other included.
The couple did some of their wedding dress shopping together with designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka, but are keeping their final choices a secret.

"The final fitting, we're doing separately," Roberts said. "I want us to each see each other in the final dress for the first time on the wedding [day]."

The wedding theme
Like the dresses, many of the wedding details will only be revealed on the big day, but Laign gave a hint of how she wants the wedding to feel.

"The wedding is the feeling of an enchanted garden," Laign said. "Our colors are white, blush, pink, a little bit of green, ethereal."

The wedding cake
One of the best parts of wedding planning is the cake tasting, a tradition in which both Roberts and Laign partook.

The couple said at Vincenzo Salvatore Cakes, they tasted everything from a brown butter banana cake to one with an orange ginger flavor before deciding on the perfect choice for their guests to enjoy.

The wedding flowers
At Jen Gould Events, Gregoli gave Roberts and Laign a preview of the beautiful floral arrangements for their wedding, including a "cascade of flowers" near the doorway.

“When they came to me back in January, we were just talking about where it was going to take place and what their vision was and they kept using keywords, ethereal, romantic, Midsummer's Night dream," Gregoli said. "And that is the catapult [that] kind of takes you from the actual concept to the creation."

The wedding venue
Alongside the flowers, the venue's layout is also being finalized -- with a round table anchoring the dance floor and a custom bar that was built specifically for the wedding.
Laign and Roberts said seeing their vision come to fruition has been astonishing.

“When you express what you want or what you feel and what you have in your mind, to walk in and actually see it executed beyond what you even imagined, it just takes your breath away,” Laign said.
Roberts added, “Wow is the word and you just hope that when you express what it is that you're hoping that that special day, not just for ourselves but for our family and friends who are going to be there, we want it not just [to] be a joyous occasion for us but for them as well. It makes your dream come true.”

The wedding well wishes
With the wedding preparations in their home stretch, Roberts said she is feeling "excited" for the main event coming up.

"I'm excited for the wedding day, our friends seeing us for the first time as a married couple. I'm looking forward to the joy, the pure joy of that day," Roberts said
"Really looking forward to bringing everybody together. Her family is amazing. Bringing everyone together and celebrating life," Laign added.
Roberts and Laign's "tribe" of family and friends, many of whom have been a part of the couple's journey from the very beginning, are also sharing their good wishes for them.

"It's just wonderful to be able to celebrate their love, their romance, their storybook fairytale love," ABC News' Juju Chang said.

Roberts' sister Sally-Ann Roberts said she was "so glad" the couple's wedding day would soon arrive.
"Robin has always been an exceptional human being and Amber is just so perfect for her. They can complete each other's sentences," Sally-Ann Roberts said.
"My prayer for you is that you will have many, many, many happy and healthy years together, that you will enjoy peace, prosperity, purpose, and freedom. I love you both," she continued.

Longtime "GMA" co-anchor Diane Sawyer added, "It's as if it's two stars merged and the light is so bright. You can't describe it to people. They are the most wonderful combination of ease and joy."
"When I first found out that Robin and Amber were going to get married, I was shocked because I said, 'I thought they were already married.' They are each other's better half for sure," Niecy Nash-Betts, who helped bring the couple's bachelorette party to life, said.

Chef Carla Hall shared an important piece of marriage advice as well.
"Laughter is the key to a marriage success. So when you're mad, find some humor in there and just share it," Hall said.
"Just really do your best to sort of cherish the good moments," ABC News' Deb Roberts added. "You'll be hitting your 28th [anniversary] before you know it."

Fellow journalist Gayle King said, "You guys are the ultimate ride or die. You're an inspiration to all of us and I couldn't be happier for the two of you. It gives me hope because I know true love really exists and you guys embody that. I'm cheering you on. Always. Always."

"It has just been a gift to be able to be in your lives and to be at this moment with you," Scarlett Spring added.


Former Death Row Singer Michel’le Appears Intoxicated During Performance

Before she was known as the baby mother of Death Row CEO Suge Knight and production extraordinaire Dr. Dre, songstress Michel’le was known for her smash single “Something In My Heart” and tracks for Dr. Dre and the Dogg Pound.

WATCH 

Recently, the 52-year-old singer performed the World Class Wreckin’ Cru classic “Turn Out the Lights” and appeared to be inebriated, which was noticed by onlookers.


Krispy Kreme Brings Back Strawberry Glazed Doughnuts For Labor Day Weekend
Krispy Kreme has a special treat in store for strawberry lovers.The doughnut chain has announced that it will be reintroducing its wildly popular Strawberry Glaze Doughnuts. Customers have been waiting to experience this rare treat since 2021 when it was last offered in Krispy Kreme locations. Thankfully, the chain has decided to deliver this treat starting Friday, September 1st, though fans will only have until the 4th to get their hands on a dozen.

First brought to the chain in 2020, Krispy Kreme has offered the Strawberry Glazed Doughnuts as a limited-edition item. The company’s September run will make the third time that the exclusive doughnuts have been available, according to the press release. The timing of the Strawberry Glazed Doughnuts return coincides with Labor Day, which is considered the end of Summer. It also commemorates Hailey Bieber’s new flavor of lip treatment, which is inspired by the rare treat.

Krispy Kreme has recently introduced its Fall line-up, which includes the Pumpkin Spice Maple Pecan Doughnut, Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Swirl Doughnut, Pumpkin Spice Original Glazed Doughnut, and Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut. They’ve also incorporated pumpkin-spiced flavor coffee drinks. Therefore, bringing back the Strawberry Glaze Doughnuts doesn’t exactly fit the current menu, but customers are undoubtedly unconcerned.

The strawberry-flavored doughnut can be ordered in person or by using the Krispy Kreme app to place an order.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Stabbing You With Freedom
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EVENING GOODIES: Meet Nico
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HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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