THIS IS THE CHRONICLES OF EFREM: May 2024

Thursday, May 30, 2024

The Daily Buzz For May 31☕📰☕

#FASHIONFAB: Queen Viola Davis is AMI at The Cannes Film Festival

Queen Viola Davis showed up just in time to serve a killer looks during the closing weekend of the Cannes Film Festival.
Love the cuff, the hair and the mani.
FAB!

BREAKING: Donald Trump Has Been Found GUILTY On ALL Felony Counts

Donald J. Trump was convicted on Thursday of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign, capping an extraordinary trial that tested the resilience of the American justice system and will reverberate into November’s election.

Mr. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records by a jury of 12 New Yorkers, who deliberated over two days to reach a decision in a case rife with descriptions of secret deals, tabloid scandal and an Oval Office pact with echoes of Watergate. The former president sat largely expressionless, a glum look on his face, after the jury issued its verdict.

Sentencing was scheduled for July 11. The felony conviction calls for a sentence of up to four years behind bars, but Mr. Trump may never see the inside of a prison cell. He could receive probation when he is sentenced, and he is certain to appeal the verdict — meaning it may be years before the case is resolved. Still, the jury’s decision is an indelible moment in America’s history, concluding the only one of four criminal cases against Mr. Trump that was likely to go to trial before Election Day.

#RHOA: CHANGE OF HEART? Andy Cohen Open to Shereé Whitfield RHOA Return ‘In Some Capacity’

When Bravo released the official cast roster for Season 16 of Real Housewives of Atlanta, one name was missing. Shereé Whitfield, aka the Bone Collector, was not on the list.

Though she’s come and gone before, Shereé’s unexpected exit caused dismay among fans who felt the OG has more story to share.
Fans have been quick to blame Executive Producer Andy Cohen for under-appreciating Shereé’s role in the cast. But Andy admits there may still be room for the occasional visit by the fashion designer.

Andy really hopes to see Shereé return. Though Andy claimed to be just as “upset” as many fans are to see Shereé pink-slipped, there’s not much he can do about it. Her exit was part of a “cast shakeup” meant to revitalize the show. In addition to Shereé, Marlo Hampton, Sanya Richards-Ross, and Courtney Rhodes were also let go. Kandi Burruss also chose to leave after 14 seasons, although she claims she was asked back.

“I always have hope that we will get a little Shereé coming back,” Andy told Distractify.
“I think that Shereé is one of the cornerstones of that show,” he added. “She’s one of my personal favorites.”
As fans continued to attack the Watch What Happens Live host on social media, Andy suggested that there’s always a chance Shereé could drop by to make a few shady remarks in future episodes. She has his respect and admiration, and he would be open to a visit now and then.

Only two cast members retained their peaches for Season 16: Drew Sidora and Kenya Moore. Porsha Williams is returning, alongside her BFF Shamea Morton, who’s finally earned her peach. Cynthia Bailey is also coming back as a “Friend of” the Housewives.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta is now streaming on Peacock.

#MusicNews: Tweet is back and going On Her Summer 2024 Tour
She’s back! Tweet is planning to be outside and she wants her fans to meet her there. The ageless beauty is all set to grace stages across the country with her timeless classics and pristine vocals on her Summer 2024 Tour.
Tweet’s tour features a mix of festival dates and concert performances. She’ll begin her musical travels in New Jersey at East Orange MACFest on June 8th. She’s then off to Rogers (Arkansas), Dallas, Orlando and Detroit through the end of Black Music Month.

She’ll start July in New Orleans where she’s scheduled to perform at this year’s ESSENCE Festival Of Culture. After that, she’s off to New York, Philadelphia and Atlanta for a set of shows at City Winery locations in those respective cities. The Southern Hummingbird will then swing back through Dallas before ending the month and the tour in Jacksonville.

Make plans to catch Tweet outside at one of her many shows this summer, and take our word that you won’t be disappointed. View all of Tweet’s Summer 2024 Tour dates below. This is just the first wave of concert announcements, so stay tuned for more dates to be added.

Tweet Summer 2024 Tour dates:
June 8 – East Orange MACFest – East Orange, NJ
June 15 – Dallas, TX
June 22 – The Victory Theater – Rogers, AR
June 23 – Orlando, FL
June 28 - The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre – Detroit, MI
July 6 – ESSENCE Festival Of Culture – New Orleans, LA
July 11 – City Winery – New York, NY
July 13 - City Winery – Philadelphia, PA
July 16 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA (2 shows)
July 17 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA (2 shows)
July 18 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA (2 shows)
July 19 – Naomi Bruton Theatre – Dallas, TX
July 20 – Jacksonville Center For The Performing Arts – Jacksonville, FL

#HipHopNews: Here Are The Official Dates For Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday 2 World Tour" Second US Leg
Nicki Minaj unveiled the official dates for the forthcoming second U.S. leg of her “Pink Friday 2 World Tour.” It’s expected to begin on Sept. 4 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, followed by stops in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Birmingham, Dallas, and Los Angeles, to name a few cities.

Notably, the artist is scheduled to return to Madison Square Garden in NYC on Sept. 7. In March, she reportedly became the first female rapper to headline a sold-out show at the venue. Moreover, the upcoming arena run is slated to conclude with another concert in New York. Minaj will perform at the UBS Arena in her hometown of Queens on Oct. 11.

The presale starts tomorrow (May 30), while general ticket sales will go live this Friday (May 31). Peep the entire route below.
Can you believe it? 💕🎀 🎫
PRE-SALE starts TOMORROW & all tickets available THIS PINK FRIDAY!!!

The “Moment 4 Life” creator initially announced that she would be bringing her “Pink Friday 2 World Tour” last week. Taking to Twitter, she wrote, “I was offered a second leg beginning in SEPTEMBER. Sign up now, and [tickets] will go on sale in a few more days… Wow. God is good. Don’t you ever give up. You got this.”

Thus far, the trek has been full of surprises. Minaj brought out several guests these past few months: 2 Chainz for the first Atlanta stop, Big Sean for Detroit, Drake for Toronto, BIA and JT for Boston, and 50 Cent for New York.
It hasn’t been without its setbacks, either. Over the weekend, the Grammy nominee was arrested in Amsterdam on allegations of drug possession. The unfortunate event caused her to postpone her Manchester show, with the new date scheduled for June 3.

“I don’t know when was the last time I felt that low,” Minaj shared on Stationhead yesterday (May 28). “There was one lady there — all the rest were men — and I could tell she had a heart. The treatment was just disgusting, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Legal Team Addresses ‘Rolling Stone’ Investigative Report

Legal representation for Sean “Diddy” Combs issued a statement to Rolling Stone as the magazine published a lengthy investigative report tracking decades of allegations against the Hip-Hop mogul. In the piece, reported by Nancy Dillon and Cheyenne Roundtree, Combs is accused of violent behavior against women as early as the 1980s when he attended the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU Howard University.

“Mr. Combs cannot comment on settled litigation, will not comment on pending litigation, and cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable,” explained his lawyer Jonathan Davis to the outlet after RS sent a list of detailed questions for Combs regarding new and pending allegations.

“We are aware that the proper authorities are conducting a thorough investigation and therefore have confidence any important issues will be addressed in the proper forum, where the rules distinguish facts from fiction.
Speaking to over 50 people over six months, the full report features commentary from Combs’ accusers, former friends, Bad Boy Records employees, and more with some named and contributing under the condition of anonymity.

“Puff is out here acting crazy. He’s beating her,” detailed a former Howard student, remembering the aforementioned alleged attack on a former girlfriend on the college campus. Other former students confirmed the story with the alleged victim denying to comment.
Additional claims exposed in the story include physical attacks against Kim Porter, soliciting women for sex, abusive treatment of employees, and more details from alleged victims who have pending litigation against Combs.

Joi Dickerson Neal, one of several women suing Combs for sexual assault, explained to RS the lawsuit “isn’t about money. It’s about making sure the world sees that this man who rose to the level of an ‘icon’ is actually sick and has left so many victims in [the wake of his] unpunished disgusting behavior for years.”

Cassie Ventura, ex-girlfriend of Combs, filed the first public lawsuit in November 2023. Combs denied all allegations. Earlier this month, a deeply disturbing video, released by CNN, displayed Combs physically attacking Ventura, resulting in the mogul releasing an apology that Ventura’s lawyer called “disingenuous.”

Accusers may soon testify against Combs, taking the matter to criminal courts. As of Wednesday (May 29), reports indicate victims may appear in front of a grand jury in the Southern District of New York as the next step in the Justice Department’s investigation against Combs.
In addition to video evidence corroborating reports, at least one male sex worker has been questioned and interviewed by federal authorities in connection with the uncovered tapes.

Read Rolling Stone’s full investigation here. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/

André 3000’s Flute Causes Commotion Among Fans At Atlanta Jazz Festival
André 3000 closed out the 47th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival on his 49th birthday.
According to Atlanta News First, fans were excited about seeing Three Stacks live. “Anytime you get a free André 3000 concert, you really just have to take advantage of that,” said one attendee, as another anticipated that the “city would turn up” once the Four Brothers actor hit the stage.

Instead of returning to his OutKast past, the rapper performed instrumental tunes from his latest solo album, New Blue Sun. Per Twitter, one fan was awestruck by the performance and referenced Ye’s “Ultralight Beam” when tweeting, “I saw André 3000; I’m never going to fail.”

However, in a separate viral video, there was slight murmuring from onlookers, as André basked in his newfound, woodwind passion in an apparent improvised set
He reportedly prefaced his performance by saying, “Everything we’re doing — the same way that New Blue Sun was made with me and my brothers. We’re completely making everything up as we go along. We never know what the night is gonna sound like.”

As the video made its rounds across Twitter, many vocalized their dislike for the rapper’s acoustic set.
One felt the problem was with the environment, noting, “I feel like this should be done somewhere with better acoustics and not outside.” Another person faulted Atlanta. “The crowd so confused they don’t know how to take them vibes. They used to toxic music in Atlanta,” they tweeted.

There have been varying reports on whether the father-of-one was playing the flute or clarinet, but either way, the crowd was torn on how to react. The vibe was similar to LL Cool J’s stance on Three Stacks, where he admitted that he prefers André to rap.
“Flutes? Man, come on, bro […] He’s so gifted. So it’s like, come on, B, not the flute. We not gonna lie. … Don’t gas … that man needs to know the truth. He needs to know the truth,” said the Queens native on The Shop.
Regardless of how anyone feels, André is set to co-headline Robert Glasper’s Blue Note Jazz Fest: Black Radio Experience this August.

Lisa Ann Walter On 'Abbott Elementary' Finale And Career Milestone

Lisa Ann Walter revealed that her "Abbott Elementary" co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph had an exuberant response to the season 3 finale, which featured a passionate kiss between Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Janine (Quinta Brunson). According to Walter, Ralph exclaimed a chorus of "ooh" and "aww" during the table read, much to the amusement of the cast.

Ralph had previously expressed her anticipation for the kiss, saying she wanted it to last forever. Fans also reacted with excitement on social media, sharing their reactions and creating edits on TikTok.
However, Williams, who plays Gregory, has expressed a preference for the platonic dynamic between Gregory and Janine. He believes it's important to showcase a healthy friendship based on mutual respect rather than a romantic relationship.
Despite Williams' view, it appears that the majority of fans support the Gregory-Janine union. Walter also had a positive reaction to the season 4 renewal, sharing that it's the first time she's felt genuinely secure in her acting career.

Walter explained that her role as Melissa Schemmenti in "Abbott Elementary" has allowed her to provide a memorable experience for her children by taking them on their first major family vacation to Italy. She had previously struggled to afford vacations outside of local trips.

The actress noted that she had never felt on solid footing in her career, despite appearing in films such as "The Parent Trap" and "Bruce Almighty." However, "Abbott Elementary" has given her a sense of stability and peace of mind.
Walter acknowledges that her sense of security may be due to her age and the realization that she can't give up on her dreams. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance and taking advantage of opportunities when they arise.

Tamar Braxton Apologizes To Fiancé Over Interview Where He’s Called ‘Colonel Sanders’: ‘You Felt Wronged, I Gotta Respect That’
Tamar Braxton took to her Instagram Story and shared an apology to her fiancé, Jeremy “JR” Robinson, for an interview where she briefly discussed their relationship with TV producer/host Carlos King.

The 47-year-old singer wrote,“Hurting the person that you love is far worse than being hurt BY the one you love. I’m new to true love and loving myself. I wish for the opportunity to give an apology and be forgiven for it ALL … No matter how much I feel like I was right.. you felt wronged. And i gotta respect that. I’m not embarrassed for being open about how I feel, I’m embarrassed of how I made you feel. I’m sorry.”

This follows a live interview Tamar Braxton did with Carlos King. When the subject of her fiancé, JR, was brought up, Tamar Braxton stated to the crowd,“Y’all do not like that man…”
Tamar and Carlos King erupted in laughter, while the audience chuckled along.

Carlos then appeared to reference JR’s slick gray hair, beard, and mustache, and jokingly said,
“We gotta talk about Colonel Sanders, honey.”

However, after Tamar said “He do not look like that,” she quickly ended the segment on her love life, revealing
“JR and I decided that we would keep out relationship completely private. No matter what the status is.”
Soon after the clip of the interview made its rounds on social media, JR took to Instagram to express his disappointment with some of the perceived shady comments and threatened to tell his “side of the story.

'Michael Jackson Was a Womanizer,' Claims Ex-Bodyguard as He Reveals Bombshell Accusations
Michael Jackson was a secret womanizer, according to his former bodyguard and longtime confidant Matt Fiddes.
Michael Jackson was allegedly a secret womanizer, at least that's what his former bodyguard and longtime confidant Matt Fiddes recently claimed, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Fiddes, a martial arts expert who also alleged he is the biological father of MJ's youngest child Blanket, opened up about the King of Pop's personal life during a recent appearance on the Stripping Off With Matt Haycox podcast.
"Michael Jackson was a real womanizer, but he was suppressed from expressing or showing any kind of interest in women because of his music label," Fiddes said. "They believed it wasn't good for his career and would ultimately impact his female fans."

"We went to great lengths to hide his girlfriends and wives from the public," he added. "He was brainwashed by Motown to not be seen with a girl because if you sing with a girl, your fan base would be gone."
"Michael Jackson was a real womanizer, but he was suppressed from expressing or showing any kind of interest in women because of his music label," Fiddes said.

"Towards the end of his life, Michael started to get more open, which led to the fatal decision to work with Martin Bashir," Fiddes continued. "They hoped it would help him, but it only highlighted his issues with women. In the Living With Michael Jackson documentary, Bashir promised him things that never happened, and the footage was manipulated to fit a negative narrative."
"If you watch the documentary, there’s a part where female fans ask Michael for a hug, and he responds warmly, saying, 'I'll give you more than a hug.' However, Bashir’s commentary overshadowed these moments to maintain the program’s narrative," Fiddes added, going on to assert that the allegations of child abuse may have been financially motivated.

"The guy was into women," he insisted, pushing back against the persistent rumors about MJ's sexuality and behavior. "If you're gonna go after someone and bring them down, child molestation, murder, rape, those are the things. And once you've been accused of that, you're over, aren't you? Michael never recovered from that."
Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, but the high-profile couple split a little over a year later. He then married Debbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant who was pregnant with his child, in 1996. They had one more kid together before divorcing in 2000.

Fiddes claimed in 2021 that Jackson also had a short-lived affair with Whitney Houston in 1991. "Whitney practically moved in to Michael’s ranch and they had a fling like any other young couple. But Michael said later he had always hoped the relationship had gone further, and I know he dreamed of marrying her," he revealed at the time.
"They were both a mess, to be honest. They shared what would be their final hugs and Michael begged Whitney to get off the drugs that were destroying her life," Fiddes recalled. "The two of them whispered that they loved each other as they hugged. The emotion was written all over their faces."

Negro Leagues statistics added to MLB’s historical record

Major League Baseball (MLB) officially decided to include statistics from the Negro Leagues -- a move that will acknowledge approximately 2,300 Black players. This included Josh Gibson, revered as one of the greatest catchers of all time, who was previously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. As of today (May 29), he now leads MLB in multiple batting categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging, surpassing the likes of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth.

Back in 2020, Commissioner Robert Manfred announced that MLB would rectify this historical oversight. "All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game’s best players, innovations, and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice," he stated. "We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong: as Major Leaguers within the official historical record."

The integration of Negro Leagues statistics into MLB records involved a meticulous review process of examining decades' worth of newspaper clippings, microfilm, and other historical documents to ensure the accuracy of the data. Speaking to NBC News, John Thorn, the chairman of the Negro Leagues Statistical Review Committee, described the MLB's decision as “not only righting a social, cultural, and historical wrong, it’s defining baseball as a game for Americans without exclusion.”

“Baseball is a game of consistency, and it’s also a game of change. We may be slow to change, but when we do, it can be profound,” Thorn added.
Come June 20, MLB will further honor the Negro Leagues with a tribute game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the oldest professional baseball ballpark in the United States. Participants will wear period uniforms that pay homage to Alabama native and center field legend Willie Mays.

Jerry Seinfeld Says He’s Nostalgic for “Agreed-Upon Hierarchy” and Misses “Dominant Masculinity”
Jerry Seinfeld said he is nostalgic for the “agreed-upon hierarchy” of American culture in the 1960s, adding that he misses “dominant masculinity.”
Seinfeld shared the comments on Tuesday’s episode of the Honestly With Bari Weiss podcast, where he said he feels cultural hierarchy has “absolutely vaporized in today’s moment.”

“That is why people lean on the horn and drive in the crazy way that they drive,” he continued. “Because we have no sense of hierarchy. And as humans, we don’t really feel comfortable like that.”
Seinfeld was speaking in connection to his recent Netflix film (and feature-length directorial debut) Unfrosted, which tells the fictionalized origin story of the Pop-Tart and takes place in Michigan in the ’60s. During their conversation, Weiss told the comedian she felt the film represented a nostalgia for “a sense of one conversation, a common culture.”

Seinfeld agreed with Weiss’ assessment. “That’s part of what makes that moment attractive looking back,” he said, adding, “I always wanted to be a real man. I never made it, [but] in that era, it was JFK. It was Mohammed Ali. It was Sean Connery, Howard Cosell … that’s a real man.”
The comedian elaborated on his point saying, “I miss a dominant masculinity. Yeah, I get the toxic thing, but I still like a real man.”

Part of what defines that era of masculinity, Seinfeld continued, was “those movements of style. I like people that have a little style in everything they do.”
He cited Hugh Grant as an example. “He knows how to dress. He knows how to talk. He’s charming. He has stories, he’s comfortable at dinner parties, he knows how to get a drink.”

Grant plays Thurl Ravenscroft, a Shakespearean actor playing cereal mascots, in Unfrosted. The movie is available on Netflix now.

Kim Petras Partners With MAC Cosmetics for New Viva Glam Collection

Kim Petras has partnered with MAC Cosmetics for a good cause! The 31-year-old “Unholy” pop star and Elite actress Danna Paola teamed up with the iconic beauty brand for their annual Viva Glam collection, a line of lipsticks that raises money for charity.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of MAC’s Viva Glam line, which has already raised more than $520 million for charities. To celebrate the big anniversary, the company has elevated the collection in a very special way.

This year’s Viva Glam collection features four different shades of lipstick. One hundred percent of proceeds from each will be donated to charities that are dedicated to feeding women and girls, caring for the environment, protecting the LGBTQIA+ community and funding racial justice.

They are already available on MAC‘s website.
“It took me one second to say yes to a Viva Glam campaign. It was just something that was very present when I was learning about gay culture,” Kim told People, referring to the collaboration as a “princess moment.”

She described the brand a “a lucky charm,” noting that she was wearing the iconic Ruby Woo shade at the Grammys when she notched a historic win.
About the cause, she said: “A lot of my career and my life is very based on I wish we could just treat everybody the same. Not on gender, not on where they’re from, not on how much money they have, not on how they look. MAC agrees. And Viva Glam, which has raised over half a billion dollars, stands for equality: sexual equality, gender equality, racial equality and environmental equality.”

Alexander 'AE' Edwards Breaks His Silence on Travis Scott Fight at Cannes Film Festival Party

Alexander “AE” Edwards is addressing his recent fight with Travis Scott in Cannes.
Last week, the 38-year-old music executive (who is currently dating Cher) and the 33-year-old “Sicko Mode” rapper got into a physical altercation while they both attended the same party after the 2024 amfAR Cannes Gala.

While landing back at LAX Airport in California on Wednesday (May 29), AE broke his silence on the fight.
AE told TMZ that everything’s “all good” now between him and Travis.
“I don’t got no hard feelings. It is how it is, it went how it went, that’s it,” AE continued, before jokingly adding that his bodyguard “didn’t have to work that night.”

As of right now, Travis has not yet publicly addressed the fight with AE.

Snoop Dogg's Wife, Shante Broadus, Set to Open LA Strip Club

Shante Broadus is gearing up to take over the club scene. Although she is known as Snoop Dogg's wife, Shante is more than that; she's a boss lady on a mission to disrupt the club scene. As she prepares to debut The Players Club, a strip club in Downtown Los Angeles, we think there's some respect that needs to be put on her name.

The grand opening for the gentleman's club is slated for May 29 (Wednesday) at its brick-and-mortar location at 800 S Main St, Los Angeles.
According to TMZ, the blue carpet will be rolled out on night one and is slated to be attended by Tiffany Haddish, Too $hort, Big Boy and Cedric the Entertainer. DJ Drama and DJ Sky High Baby will be on deck on the ones and twos.

The "Gin and Juice" rapper has also shown his support for her new endeavors. Earlier this week, he posted a video montage that featured the interior of the club, its dancers, and Shante taking in the moment.

The outlet also reports that auditions for dancers were held over the Memorial Day weekend.

Mayor Apologizes to Kylie and Jason Kelce After Jersey Shore Woman Screams at Them for Rejecting Photo Request

Margate City Mayor Michael Collins has apologized to Jason and Kylie Kelce after a woman harassed the couple during a recent date night in New Jersey.
According to blogger Hugh E. Dillon, Kylie, 32, and Jason, 36, were heading into Steve & Cookie’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Margate City, New Jersey on Saturday, May 25 when the woman demanded a photo from the NFL star and his wife.

After Kylie and Jason politely declined to take a photo, the woman "wouldn't take no for an answer" and "started screaming at Kylie," according to Dillon's post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
On May 29, Mayor Collins issued an apology and offered to help the couple redo their date night in South Jersey. "On behalf of the City of Margate, I'd like to formally apologize to Jason and Kylie Kelce for the experience they had in Margate City over the holiday weekend," the Mayor wrote in his statement.

"As a father with young children, I know as well as anyone the importance of a date night with your wife and would like to offer a redo date night with dinner on me," Collins added.
A short video of the incident made its way onto social media, showing Kylie standing her ground as the woman yelled at her.
Kylie can be heard saying “I can smell the alcohol on your breath, you’re embarrassing yourself,” after the woman threatened that Kylie would "never be allowed in this town again," during the heated exchange.

Kylie and Jason have yet to comment on the incident with the woman, but other fans in the New Jersey area have reported pleasant interactions with the Kelce's during recent run-ins.

Dillon said that the couple was "very accommodating" to fans asking for pictures on the beach over the weekend.
And when a woman posted a TikTok about spotting Kylie on a beach walk and deciding to give her her personal space, Kylie commented on the video and said she'd keep her "eyes peeled" for the girl so she could say hello in the future.

Luckily, the unfortunate encounter with the woman didn't keep Jason and Kylie from enjoying their dinner. According to Dillon, the couple "walked right into the restaurant and enjoyed their night," after the incident.
On the May 29 episode of New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Jason said he and Kylie had a great time in nearby Sea Isle with their three daughters over the holiday weekend.

"We went to Sea Isle [New Jersey]. We definitely went to Sea Isle. Went to the beach, had a lot of fun with the girls, ate a bunch of beach food," Jason said.
"Shore is fun. It was good to be out there. It's the first really big weekend of the year. So all the businesses are back up and running. So, yep, it's like you never left," the former Eagles center added

Kerry Washington Joins Cast of ‘Knives Out 3’ Alongside Daniel Craig
Kerry Washington has joined the cast of Knives Out 3, officially titled “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” at Netflix. She joins a star-studded cast that includes Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, and Andrew Scott, alongside returning lead Daniel Craig.

Deadline first reported the news, and details about the plot and characters are being kept under wraps.
Rian Johnson returns as writer and director for the film and is producing alongside Ram Bergman. Production is expected to begin soon.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Johnson announced the film’s title and expressed his enthusiasm for the whodunit genre: “I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is. There’s a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and exploring that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies.”
This project adds to Washington’s busy schedule, which includes Netflix’s “Six Triple Eight” and Lionsgate’s “Shadow Force,” both in post-production. She also stars in and executive produces Hulu’s Onyx Collective comedy “UnPrisoned.”

Gabby Douglas Pulls Out of U.S. Championships Due to Ankle Injury, Ending Bid for 2024 Olympic Team

An ankle injury has halted Gabby Douglas‘ 18-month-long quest to return to the Olympics, but the gymnast is not ruling out competing in the 2028 Games.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist announced on Wednesday, May 29, that she has withdrawn from the U.S. Gymnastics Championships due to the injury, which she sustained during training earlier in the week.
“I love this sport and I love pushing my limits,” Douglas, 28, told ESPN. “I hope I can inspire both my peers and the next generation of gymnasts that age is just a number, and you can accomplish anything you work hard for.”

This event was Douglas’ last chance to earn an invitation to the U.S. Olympic Trials next month in Minneapolis, following her eight-year hiatus from competition since the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“I proved to myself and to the sport that my skills remain at an elite level,” Douglas said. “My plan is to continue to train for the L.A. 2028 Olympics. It would be such an honor to represent the U.S. at a home Olympics.”

Douglas was set to be the oldest female athlete in the field in Fort Worth this weekend, where her appearance with Simone Biles and Suni Lee would have marked only the second time that three Olympic all-around gold medalists competed at the same meet.
Her return has not been without challenges. Earlier this month, she withdrew from the 2024 Core Hydration Gymnastics Classic after competing in only one event — the uneven bars — following two falls from the apparatus.

Douglas’ performance at the American Classic last month, where she earned high marks on the vault and balance beam, had qualified her to compete in the championships. However, even then, she shared on Instagram that it “wasn’t my best showing.”
“Well guys… it wasn’t my best showing this weekend but was so happy and grateful to be back out there on the floor doing what I love again,” she wrote. “With anything, there are always kinks to work out, get better, and improve. I’ve never been more excited to get back into the gym and work even harder.”

She added, “Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made.”
Despite the setback, Douglas remains focused on her future and the possibility of competing in the 2028 Olympics.

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EFREM

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

The Daily Buzz For May 30☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: Abrar Mohamed Models for Spring 2024 High Jewelry Story for Vogue Arabia April 2024

Model Abrar Mohamed poses in a high jewelry fashion story featuring the world’s most illustrious houses. Pablo Patane styles Mohamed in Bulgari, Cartier, Chaumet, Chopard, Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef & Arpels and more.
Photographer Desiree Mattsson is in the studio for Vogue Arabia’s April 2024 issue./ Beauty by Daniel Kolaric

#RHOA Needed A Cast Shake-Up, Says Cynthia Bailey

After a few polarizing seasons of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, longtime fans are interested in seeing how the Season 16 cast shakeup will work out. Three new cast members are joining while Cynthia Bailey is returning as a friend of the show after being a full-time cast member from Seasons 3-13. She recently discussed her return and thoughts on the new cast.

Why Cynthia Bailey Says a New 'RHOA' Cast Was a Good Idea
In a chat with Page Six, the former supermodel says a shakeup was necessary. “I feel like the show has been just OK for the past couple of years. No shade, but it just has. And it has not thrived the way Atlanta has always thrived,” she said. “We were No. 1 for so long. And to watch it not be No. 1 was really hard, even sitting on the sidelines. It really, really was. So, I think some new blood was needed, and from what I can tell, these ladies seem like they really have it going on, and I’m so excited to meet them.”

Her exit was always viewed as a hiatus. She later revealed it was to protect her marriage to Mike Hill. They’ve since divorced. “I’ve always been open to the idea of popping in and out as a friend. I did it last season. My fans loved it, I loved it,” she said. “Bravo was able to work around my schedule just letting me get in where I fit in. And they made it known to me that they were interested in me being a full-time friend, being a friend in a more official capacity this time.”

Production on Season 16 recently kicked off. The show is slated to begin airing again in early 2025.

#MusicNews: Marques Houston Returns With New Single “Last Drop”

R&B veteran Marques Houston is back with his brand new single “Last Drop”.
The song combines the emotion and melody of Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk”, while also being a uniquely Marques Houston expression.

The new single is a return to the signature blend of smooth vocals, compelling lyrics, and infectious beats that we’ve come to know Marques Houston for. Also out now is a visual to accompany the song which was directed by Chris Stokes. This is his first offering since he released the single “Admit It” earlier this year.

WATCH HERE

Now “Last Drop” represents a new chapter in Houston’s musical journey, offering listeners a fresh perspective on love, passion, and desire. He adds:
“I’m thrilled to share ‘Last Drop’ with my fans. This song is deeply personal to me, and I hope it connects with listeners on a profound level. It’s about savoring every moment and giving your all in love, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it.”

Stay tuned for more later this year from Marques Houston.

#HipHopNews: Tyla, Vince Staples, D4vd, FLO, And More To Perform At Lollapalooza's 2024 Aftershows

Set for Aug. 1 to 4 in Chicago’s Grant Park, Lollapalooza boasts a star-studded lineup this year, including Tyler, The Creator; SZA, Future x Metro Boomin, and Sexyy Red. However, the excitement is expected to extend beyond the festival grounds with a series of official late-night aftershows announced today (May 28) by the event organizers.

2024’s bill will see artists like Tyla, Vince Staples, d4vd, FLO, Raye, Teezo Touchdown, Killer Mike, and several others taking the stage at various small venues across the Windy City. The additional performances are slated to run from July 30 to Aug. 4.
Tickets for the aftershows go on sale this Friday (May 31) at 10 a.m. CT. More details and purchasing options can be found on the Lollapalooza website. See the full docket below.

On the other hand, Lollapalooza tickets have been available for purchase for some time, with a range of options still open. The festival’s website currently lists one-day general admission starting at $149.
For fans who missed his headlining sets at Coachella in April, Tyler will be performing on Aug. 1. Although the IGOR artist confirmed there won’t be any new music dropping until 2025, attendees can likely catch him do renditions of “See You Again” and “EARFQUAKE,” among other favorites.

Meanwhile, Lollapalooza will be among one of Tyla’s first festivals for the second half of 2024. In March, she canceled her eponymous trek — and any fêtes in the interim — due to worsening injuries.
“Tour is definitely going to come, probably late in the year. For now, I want to do more visuals and more interacting with people,” she told ELLE earlier this month. “And I’m excited to see how the music travels and what people create out of it because I already know people are going to come up with whatever they come up with, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they do that.”

Alfonso Ribeiro doesn't 'need or ever want' Tyler Perry 'to do anything for me'
I guess Alfonso Ribeiro is doing fine. When someone on Twitter suggested to the actor/host/director that Tyler Perry, himself a writer/director/actor, "revamp" Ribeiro's career, he responded: "I don't need or ever want that man to do anything for me."

The two do have a professional history, however; Ribeiro directed 12 episodes of the Perry-created sitcom Meet the Browns in 2009 and 2010.
Ribeiro's signature role, of course, is The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's Carlton Banks, the preppy cousin of Will Smith's main character, who famously did a certain move that, for decades, has been known as "the Carlton dance."

He told Today in September 2022 that fans were still into it.
"You come to grips with the idea that that person existed and that reality for you existed and, for me, I've come to the realization that when people come up to me on the street and they're like, 'Do the dance,' it's like, 'Really? You're asking me to dance for you?'"

All these years later — Fresh Prince was on the air from 1990 to 1996 — he's come to terms with it.
"It's really their experience and you learn to get that empathy where you can kind of say, 'This is about you and what you had in your house and I can appreciate it.' I'm still not dancing. But I get to appreciate other people’s experience with me as that character."

Stephanie Mills to Play Hermes in Hadestown on Broadway
Grammy Award winner Stephanie Mills will return to Broadway to play Hermes in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown. Her first performance will be July 2, coinciding with the start dates of Maia Reficco and Yola. Mills takes over from Jon Jon Briones, who plays his final performance June 30.

Mills originated the role of Dorothy in the first Broadway production of The Wiz in 1975. Her last appearance on Broadway was for a special concert in 1989.
With a Tony-winning score by Anaïs Mitchell and Tony-winning direction by Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown resets the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in a soot-blackened underworld ruled over by a cruel industrialist named Hades.

Hadestown currently stars Ani DiFranco as Persephone, Jordan Fisher as Orpheus, Jon Jon Briones as Hermes, Phillip Boykin as Hades, and Isa Briones as Eurydice. They are joined by Jessie Shelton, Kay Trinidad, and Brit West as the Fates. The chorus of Workers is played by Emily Afton, Malcolm Armwood, Sayo Oni, Alex Puette and Grace Yoo. The cast includes swings Sojourner Brown, Brandon Cameron, Tara Jackson, Max Kumangai, Yael “YaYa Reich, and Tanner Ray Wilson.

Jon Jon Briones, Isa Briones, and Ani DiFranco will all play their final performance on Sunday, June 30.

Gladys Knight reflects on life and career with 80th birthday post: “I am honored”
Happy milestone birthday to the woman nicknamed the Empress of Soul. Gladys Knight turned 80 on Tuesday, and the legendary singer took to Instagram to reflect on her life and career.
“80 years of beautiful life, love, service, celebration, achievement, falling down, faith, fun, lessons, blessings, friendship, collaboration, soul sharing and more,” she wrote. “I am so grateful to celebrate another amazing birthday. I am honored to live this wonderful life.”

She added, “Thank you for all your love, support, celebration, prayers, well wishes, warm thoughts every day in each year. I truly love you!”
On her Instagram Story, the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer reposted birthday wishes from celebrity friends like Kelly Rowland, Holly Robinson Peete, Jennifer Hudson and Shanice.
On May 24, Knight attended a surprise 80th birthday party for fellow legend Patti LaBelle, who is nicknamed the Godmother of Soul.

Busta Rhymes Unfazed By Gay Allegations As He Continues Birthday Celebration

Busta Rhymes is seemingly unfazed by gay allegations. Instead of paying attention to and wasting time addressing the rumors, the rapper continued his birthday celebration with another party at an Atlanta bar.

On Tuesday, May 28, the hip-hop artist, who turned 52 years old on May 20, took to his Instagram page to share footage of him partying at RoseBar Atlanta with his friends. He looked excited while posing with male friends and a female fan in the video.
"Y'ALL KNOW THE MANTRA!! THE BLESSINGS DON'T STOP SO WE AIN'T NEVER GONNA STOP!! BIG BDAY CELEBRATION IN ATL!!" he captioned the video. "SALUTE @redbottomsal FOR PUTTING TOGETHER @rosebaratl @jazzepha FOR PULLING UP AND ALL THE LOVE FROM THE CITY THAT PULLED UP!! THE BDAY CELEBRATION CONTINUES!!"

One day before, Busta also celebrated his 52nd birthday on a yacht. "THE BLESSINGS DON'T STOP EVER SO WE AIN'T STOPPING NEVER!!! THE BIG #BLOCKBUSTA BDAY FOR THE DRAGON CONTINUES WITH SOME PRE BDAY CELEBRATION ACTION FOR MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER @heyimcie GETTING ULTRA LITTY WITH THE FAMILY," he wrote along with a video of the bash. He went on thanking those "MAKING IT A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!!"

Busta, whose real name is Trevor George Smith Jr., continued his birthday celebration amid allegations by a former bodyguard that the star would always request the company of "fun boys." The former bodyguard, Big Homie CC, called the rapper a "super zest monster."

"All my promoter homies would say, we need to bring some 'fun boys' in the [VIP] section for Busta," the bodyguard explained. He continued, "I was out with Don Benjamin [a model/rapper] and the club we ended up going to, Busta Rhymes [was in there.]"
Big Homie CC said among his entourage was their lawyer, who happens to be gay. "Busta Rhymes wanted [the lawyer] in his section so bad. Busta pulled [the lawyer] into his section, and stuck him in a corner. He stayed with Busta and them," he recounted, claiming that Busta's alleged gay activities are "common knowledge."

Another man made a similar allegation about Busta's sexuality. The male YouTuber, who is gay, claimed that the 1990s rapper tried to "pick him up." The YouTuber, who was dating another guy at the time, said Busta saw him outside of a club and invited him into the club with him to hang out in the rapper's VIP section.

Busta allegedly "grabbed his hand softly" and asked to join in the VIP. The YouTuber said he thought Busta was just being generous, so he agreed to go into the club with Busta. But his boyfriend got jealous and the two men got into a fight on a New York City street. The YouTuber never managed to get inside the club with Busta.

Busta has not responded to the gay allegations.

Diddy's Lawyer Insists To Separate 'Facts From Fiction' After Classmates Detail Alleged Abuse On GF
More people have spoken up about Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' dark side. Amid federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking and multiple lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse and drugging, his close friends and former associates have spoken out against him.

On Tuesday, May 28, Rolling Stone published its six-month investigation into the horrified allegations leveled against the Bad Boy Records founder. According to the publication, "out of 300-plus people contacted for this investigation, more than 50 were willing to speak about their experiences. Those who did speak about Combs describe a complicated man with opposing personas."
While outwardly Diddy would be seen as "unapologetically driven, generous, and jovial, even silly at times," those "who got close enough to him discovered something darker behind the facade: a menacing figure who desperately wants to be accepted and admired, who uses public declarations of devotion, splashy donations, and boasts that he is 'Brother Love' to hide an undercurrent of alleged abuse and violence."

Some instances cited by the outlet include his alleged beating of a label executive bloody after he became romantically involved with Diddy's ex-partner Kim Porter, and allegedly trying to solicit sex from a woman on his payroll.
The magazine also spoke with Diddy's classmates at Howard University, who detailed his alleged abuse on his then-girlfriend with a belt. "Puff is out here acting crazy. He's beating her," one classmate recalled what fellow students said at the time.

"He screamed and hollered and acted a stone fool until she came downstairs," another Howard student who witnessed the alleged attack told the outlet. She said Diddy used what appeared to be a belt to strike the young woman "all over the place."
The witness said Diddy appeared "super angry" and was "screaming at the top of his lungs." The second witness added that the rapper "whupped her butt - like really whupped her butt," adding that they thought the woman was clearly terrorized. "She was trying to defend herself a little bit. She was crying. And we were telling him, 'Get off of her.' We were screaming for her," the witness claimed, which was confirmed by a third witness.

Photographer Monqiue Bunn, meanwhile, suggested Notorious B.I.G.'s death could have been more sinister than initially thought. "[Biggie] was absolutely about to leave Puff," Monqiue said of the late rapper, who was signed to Bad Boy Records. "I know for a fact [because] he told me that." Another source added, "Everybody wanted to leave Puffy. Everybody leaves him."

In response to the article, Diddy's lawyer Jonathan Davis said in a statement to the outlet, "Mr. Combs cannot comment on settled litigation, will not comment on pending litigation, and cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable."

The lawyer added, "We are aware that the proper authorities are conducting a thorough investigation and therefore have confidence any important issues will be addressed in the proper forum, where the rules distinguish facts from fiction."

Darius Rucker Addresses His Drug Arrest

in Williamson County, Tennessee. Rucker, 58, shared his side of the story during an interview on the "Today" show, where he recounted the unexpected sequence of events that led authorities to take him into custody nearly a year after his initial traffic stop.
The saga began in February 2023 when police in Franklin, Tennessee, pulled Rucker over due to an expired vehicle tag. During the stop, officers reportedly caught the scent of marijuana emanating from his car.

Despite Rucker's claim that he had not smoked that night, further investigation revealed a THC pen and 14 unmarked purple pills, later identified as psilocin or magic mushrooms. Rucker attributed these items to his girlfriend.
"I went down and we handled it. My lawyers are taking care of it. It is what it is," Rucker remarked with simplicity during his "Today" show appearance.

Initially released by the police pending identification of the substances, Rucker believed the case was over. However, in December 2023, a warrant was unexpectedly issued for his arrest. Rucker turned himself in on February 1, 2024, facing two counts of simple possession/casual exchange of a controlled substance and one count of a violation of the state's vehicle registration law.

"The crazy thing was, they let me go. And it was a year later that I get a phone call that said there was a warrant for my arrest," Rucker explained, reflecting on the unusual timeline.
In parallel, Rucker touches upon his past drug struggles in his newly released memoir, "Life's Too Short." He vividly recounts his years of substance abuse, candidly discussing his consumption of mushrooms, ecstasy, and cocaine. The memoir is as much an ode to recovery as it is a window into his rock-and-roll lifestyle. Rucker credits Beth Leonard, his ex-wife and mother to his children Jack and Daniella, for helping him quit and change his life.

"When I quit, I quit. It was the best thing that's ever happened to me. I say all the time that Beth saved my life when she did that," said Rucker.
In the face of ongoing legal issues, Rucker remains optimistic and focused on his career and family. He continues to make music and is preparing for an upcoming 50-date tour with Hootie & the Blowfish, celebrating their 30th-anniversary tour of the album "Cracked Rear View".

Cardi B Defends Pornography After Candace Owens Calls for Ban: 'Is It That Bad for Y'all?'
Owens previously claimed pornography is a "psychological weapon intended to weaken our men"
After the conservative political commentator took to social media with a call to "ban pornography" earlier this month, Cardi shared her thoughts on the matter — and the rapper doesn't think X-rated content is all "that bad."

"Ban pornography. It is a psychological weapon intended to weaken our men," wrote Owens, 35, in a post shared to X (formerly Twitter) on May 21.
The former Daily Wire personality elaborated further in follow-up posts, writing that pornography was "created by the most depraved among our human race to psychologically introduce homosexuality, pedophilia and incest—religious sacraments to satanists."

According to TMZ, Owens' statements were later posted by a blog to Instagram, which prompted the "WAP" rapper to chime in on the platform: "Ommmggg why yall so against porn ? Is it that bad for yall ?"
"I enjoy it but I don’t know," continued Cardi, 31, per the outlet. "I guess is like a 6 time a year thing .I personally don’t feel no connection or addiction to it just a little quick one two ….NOTHING LIKE REAL INTIMACY!"

In a follow-up comment, TMZ reported, the Grammy winner urged that people could use pornography as a learning tool, claiming the explicit material "actually should teach men how to please a woman."
Owens and Cardi have publicly disagreed on various political and social issues in the past, with the former TV host criticizing the rapper's explicitly sexual songs like "WAP" as well as President Joe Biden's choice to do an interview with her around the 2020 election.

In a recent interview with Vogue, Cardi spoke about the backlash "WAP" received from some groups upon its release in 2020. "Maybe because we’re more mainstream now, the song reached more conservative people over the internet," she told the outlet.
"I guess it made some soccer moms cry. But I cannot believe the song became so political," added Cardi. "I am very used to hearing explicit lyrics from women. Growing up I listened to Trina, Khia, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown. Their lyrics were more explicit than mine!"

Isabella Strahan Celebrates 19th Birthday Belatedly After Being Unconscious Due to Brain Cancer Surgery

Isabella Strahan is commemorating a belated milestone. Michael Strahan's daughter recently spent the day baking cupcakes with friends and family as an overdue celebration of her 19th birthday last year, for which she was unconscious after undergoing emergency surgery for brain cancer.

"We're doing a little birthday celebration because I was not conscious for it," Isabella said with a laugh in a May 28 vlog posted on YouTube. "Happy birthday!"
In throwback footage included in her video, Isabella appeared to be resting in her hospital bed as her twin sister Sophia Strahan was decorated the room with balloons. Meanwhile, Isabella's other friends were seen gathering around the bed.

Isabella underwent a procedure to have a malignant tumor removed from the base of her brain on Oct. 27, a day before her 19th birthday. The operation came just two days after Isabella threw up blood, prompting her to seek medical treatment for severe headaches she was experiencing at the time.

"It sent a signal about how serious it was," her dad Michael shared of the ordeal in a January interview with ABC News, recalling how doctors recommended that she should have the cancerous mass removed "as soon as possible."
He continued, "There were times when she was in a lot of pain. She was sleeping a lot."

After the surgery, Isabella went through a month of rehab to learn how to walk again. She entered radiation therapy in January, before starting chemotherapy the following month.
Since then, the model has undergone two more brain surgeries, as well as three rounds of chemotherapy treatments.

"Tomorrow's really my last day of chemo," she said in a May 21 vlog. "It's crazy and then it's my last cycle and then I'm done. It's insane."

Colton Underwood & Husband Jordan C. Brown Don't Know Whose Sperm Was Used to Conceive Baby
Last month, the 32-year-old reality star and husband Jordan C. Brown announced that they are expecting their first child together, a baby boy, via surrogate.

In a new interview, Colton revealed that he and the 38-year-old political strategist don’t know whose sperm was used to conceive their unborn baby.
“We told our doctor to put the healthiest embryo in,” Colton shared on The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever with Chris Harrison. “And then for the next one, switch the genetics.”

Colton went on to say that the doctor knows his and Jordan‘s “game plan” for their future family.
“I have a good chance we’re gonna be able to tell, but we sort of did that to protect ourselves,” Colton explained. “I didn’t want people coming up on the streets being like, ‘Whose is it?’ And we, like, look at each other. Like, it’s our kid and our baby.”

Host Chris Harrison jokingly responded, “First of all, no matter what, whoever your child is with, they’re going to say, ‘Oh my God. He looks just like you!’”
Chris, 52, then asked, “So, you’re going to have two kids. Is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s the game plan,” Colton answered, before specifying that the doctor will “use the other sperm for the other child.”

Also during the podcast, Colton talked about the fertility process, explaining that he and Jordan did an egg retrieval and split the eggs “half and half.”
He also said that they are keeping their egg donor’s identity private, but said that he and Jordan “wanted somebody who was adventurous and spontaneous.”

“It was definitely a process,” Colton noted.
Colton has been very open about the other fertility struggles he and Jordan have faced as they tried to start a family.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Friends Are Divided on Whether Marriage Can Be Saved

Jennifer Lopez looked as stunning as ever when she stepped onto the red carpet at the premiere of her new Netflix film, Atlas, at the Egyptian Theatre in L.A. on May 20. Dressed in a cropped white top and a black, floor-length mermaid-cut Greta Constantine skirt, the glamorous star posed for photos and waved to fans.

Despite appearances, an eyewitness shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly that Lopez, 54, wasn’t her usual “bubbly” self at the event.
“There weren’t a lot of big smiles, even for photographers,” says the eyewitness, noting that Lopez wore her wedding band but not her 8.5-carat diamond engagement ring. “It seemed like she was just going through the motions.”
The press tour for Atlas hasn’t come at the most opportune time for Lopez. Earlier this month, news broke that she and husband Ben Affleck have hit a rough patch, with Affleck, 51, leaving their $60 million Beverly Hills mansion to stay at a nearby rental while they figure out their next steps.

One source close to the couple — who wed in the summer of 2022, nearly 20 years after calling off their first engagement — says the decision to spend time apart was mutual: “They are taking some space to work out whether or not the relationship is right for both of them.”

According to a source close to Lopez, things between the Shotgun Wedding actress and Affleck began coming to a head a few months ago.
“Jennifer had started ramping up her work commitments and prepping for her tour,” says the source. “She’s very focused on work and overextends herself.”
Lopez is set to kick off her 30-date This Is Me…Now Tour on June 26 in Florida. The source says Affleck “doesn’t agree with Jennifer’s lifestyle” and has felt “worn down” by the marriage.

“He’s been checked out,” the source says, noting that the pair are on “two completely different pages most of the time. The honeymoon phase has worn off.”
A second Lopez source says the couple’s work commitments have also caused friction at home. “Both have demanding careers that often require them to be in different cities,” the source explains.

Lopez was recently in NYC filming the upcoming musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, while Affleck, who’s started shooting The Accountant 2, stayed in L.A. The scheduling, says the source, “highlighted the emotional and physical distance between them.”
Communication is an additional source of contention. “Over time, Jennifer and Ben found it increasingly difficult to communicate effectively,” explains the source, “and small misunderstandings grew into significant arguments.”

The source says Lopez prefers to talk things out when conflicts arise, while Affleck tends to withdraw. “They have fundamentally different approaches to conflict.”
There are basic personality clashes as well. Lopez is known for being an open book, sharing intimate details of her life with her fans in interviews and via social media. She reflected on her past relationships — and her reunion with Affleck — in February’s $20 million self-financed musical film, This Is Me... Now: A Love Story, and its accompanying documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told.

In the doc, Affleck himself muses on their differences, saying, “Getting back together, I said, ‘Listen, one of the things I don’t want is a relationship on social media. Then I sort of realized it’s not a fair thing to ask. It’s sort of like, you’re gonna marry a boat captain, and you go, ‘Well, I don’t like the water,’” he said. “[We are] two people with different kinds of approaches trying to learn to compromise.”

The source close to the couple says that rumors of Lopez being high-maintenance are inaccurate, adding that the pair’s issues are “complex.”
The second Lopez source says disagreements over things like finances and parenting “have exacerbated” their issues. (Lopez shares twins Emme and Max, 16, with ex Marc Anthony; Affleck shares Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and 12-year-old Samuel with ex Jennifer Garner.)

There’s a lot at stake. For Lopez, a fourth divorce could be a source of embarrassment. “She’s upset,” says the first Lopez source, “and really did think she and Ben would be endgame this time around.”
The second Lopez source adds that after the pair were so open about their love and reunion, the idea of a split could be uncomfortable.

Lopez was put in an uneasy position during a Wednesday, May 22, press event for Atlas in Mexico City when a reporter asked about divorce rumors. “You know better than that,” Lopez told the reporter before costar Simu Liu quickly came to her defense. “Don’t come in with that energy, please,” Liu said, adding, “Jen is a producer on this movie and the reason why I am here and why [castmate] Sterling [K. Brown] was in this beautiful movie is because [she] cares. Jen cares about things like representation and diversity. She’s a boss.”

The second source says Lopez has been “committed to working on the marriage” and is pushing for them to get help. Affleck, meanwhile, was initially hesitant but is starting to “invest more.”
The source adds that “[Ben has] struggled with loneliness” since moving out of their home “and realized how much he misses Jen.”

For now, they’re at an impasse. While they were apart, “Ben and Jen kept in touch primarily to discuss essential matters and updates,” says the second Lopez source.
Friends are torn about where Lopez and Affleck should go from here. “Some believe they can work it out with time and effort, pointing to their deep bond. Others think the relationship has run its course.”

For now, Lopez and Affleck are “both reassessing their priorities,” adds the source, “and [figuring out] what they truly want from the marriage.”

Rome Flynn to Joins Season 4 of MGM+ Series ‘Godfather of Harlem’
Daytime Emmy-winner Rome Flynn (ex-Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful) can add another plum role to his already extensive list of TV and movie credits.

Now, Flynn is set to recur in season 4 of Godfather of Harlem on MGM+. According to Deadline, “Flynn will portray real-life gangster Frank Lucas.”
The series describes Flynn’s back-story as “a country boy from North Carolina who ventured to Harlem and, after initial friction with gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), eventually rose to become Bumpy’s fierce defender and right-hand man.”

Movie buff’s know that Oscar-winner Denzel Washington depicted Frank Lucas in the movie American Gangster. However, Flynn will portray Lucas in this origin story which begins 10 years earlier than the film.
Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from 11 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. In the upcoming fourth season, its Flynn’s character of Frank Lucas who will give Bumpy a run for his money in the emergence of himself as a nee gang leader for the territory.

Flynn shared this statement on his casting: “I’m filled with gratitude! Thrilled to be a part of the Godfather of Harlem universe and breathe new life into the legend of Frank Lucas. I have so much admiration for Forest Whitaker. Working opposite him, being led by the brilliant creator Chris Brancato, is truly a gift. An actor’s dream.”

“When I saw Rome’s audition, I immediately knew we’d found our man – equal parts charming and ruthless, savvy and suave. Rome is a wonderful actor who can go toe-to-toe with Forest Whitaker and our other great performers,” added series co-creator Chris Brancato.

Since departing B&B, Flynn has landed choice roles on How to Get Away with Murder, Chicago Fire, Raising Dion and Dear White People, NCIS: New Orleans, MacGyver, and more.

Jennifer Lopez’s $90 Million Las Vegas Residency Deal in Jeopardy Amid Tour Struggles

*Jennifer Lopez‘s much-anticipated $90 million Las Vegas residency deal is facing uncertainty. Back in February, the “Jenny From the Block” singer, 54, was reported to be in talks for a lucrative 90-show residency at The Park MGM Theater in Las Vegas, with a reported offer of $1 million per concert. However, recent developments suggest that the deal is now shaky.

Casino executives have become hesitant due to the poor performance of Lopez’s new album and tour, according to The NY Post.
“MGM is watching her not doing well on the road. They are very nervous. It’s pretty rare you have a poor tour and then go to Vegas,” a source told the publication.
Insiders believe that the lack of ticket sales will likely lead to a significant pay cut for Lopez, with her potential earnings dropping to between $500,000 and $600,000 per show, and a reduction in the number of concerts from the originally planned 90 shows.

Despite the setbacks, discussions between Lopez and MGM are reportedly ongoing, although no deal has been signed yet. Representatives for Jennifer Lopez and MGM have not responded to requests for comment.

Earlier this year, The Mirror reported that J.Lo was gearing up for a dazzling Las Vegas residency, following the success of her “All I Have” run from 2016 to 2018 at Caesars Palace. The new show was expected to be a major coup for The Park Theater.
However, trouble began for Lopez when she canceled shows across seven cities for her highly-anticipated tour, set to kick off in late June. The cancellations included stops in Nashville, New Orleans, Raleigh, Atlanta, Houston, Cleveland, and Tampa, with no explanation provided by her team.

In April, it was revealed that her tour, originally named “This Is Me… Now: The Tour,” had been rebranded to “This Is Me… Live,” with a focus on her greatest hits rather than her latest album. The rebrand was aimed at drawing in fans from her previous work, inspired by the successful tours of Taylor Swift and Madonna.

Despite the changes, ticket sales have remained slow, with blocks of seating still available at multiple venues and resale sites offering tickets for as little as $10.
This has led to speculation that the tour might be canceled to avoid further embarrassment, but Lopez and her manager, Benny Medina, are determined to proceed, Daily Mail reports.

“J.Lo is overexposed and has put herself out there way too much,” one insider suggested, noting the string of public appearances and projects that have kept her in the spotlight. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Jennifer Lopez can turn things around and secure her place in Las Vegas once again.

Pastor Keion Henderson Asks for Apologies From Critics Upset He Told Woman to ‘Hush’ During Worship

Pastor Keion Henderson says that he has made amends with the woman critics say he publicly shamed for causing an un-Godly disturbance in the sanctuary.
The Christian leader recently told “97.9 The Box” radio hosts that while he is accustomed to the critical views within the church, becoming a staple on the gossip site the Shade Room, has been a completely different experience.
The Lighthouse Church founder has become somewhat of a celebrity in his own right thanks to his marriage to Shaunie Henderson, formerly O’Neal, the ex-wife of retired NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

The former basketball wife married her second husband in May 2022. The couple shared their love story and journey down the aisle on their show “Shaunie & Keion’s Destination I Do.” The reality TV producer and pastor have a blended family of six, with five children belonging to the “Undefeated” author and Keion’s daughter from a previous relationship.

In early May, a clip of him telling a worshiper to “hush” and “silence in the name of Jesus” during a livestreamed service went viral. Both he and the woman faced a barrage of commentary about the incident, some of which included condemnation of his actions and the woman’s alleged wailing for attention instead of bringing glory to the Holy Father.

One perspective on the exchange read, “She’s always loud like this and he’s never stopped her. Finally, he got fed up and did.. he saw through it. He’s let her have her moments.” A second stated, “I get both sides…We can cry out for Jesus to get His attention but sometimes we have to silence the noise to hear to heed His attention.
Some others felt she should have been shown some grace. “I am concerned about the lady,” fellow Pastor Deitrick Haddon shared during an interview. “As a shepherd, your responsibility is to cover the sheep.”

Another individual shared, “I would like to hear from her!!! Her side of the story. Because, no matter what she is a soul to save. This approach was dead wrong. It is embarrassing and could have been done differently.”
Pastor Keion previously said that he and several members of the church have addressed the woman’s disruptive behavior over the span of four years, but she has continued to be a disorderly fixture during times of worship.

“All noise in church ain’t the Holy Spirit, and all I know for sure is that what I did in that moment was appropriate, whether somebody outside of The Lighthouse Church or not understands that,” he explained in the recent discussion regarding the matter.
“Now what I feel bad about is what happened to her in her life because I live this space she doesn’t,” he continued, speaking to the nature of his status as a public figure. “This is the difficulty of this internet sensationalism. The only reason it went viral is because people made money. Because I have asked people to be quiet before y’all knew who I was, but nobody played it.”

He added additional context by sharing that Shaunie shared that he had gone viral while service was ongoing.
Pastor Keion also admitted that his own “dogmatic” church upbringing greatly influenced how he handled the situation with the churchgoer.

“I understood in that moment OK well some of what took place was my roots, which I’m gonna have to address ‘cause it was a reflex reaction to something I grew up seeing and I recognize that the world has changed, people are a lot more sensitive than they used to be,” said the author of “The Lazy Love.”
“So I didn’t go through the moment without learning, and I don’t want anybody to think that my head was in the sand and that my feet was dug in like I shall not be moved.”

Furthermore, the former aspiring professional basketball player stated, “I learned in the process that I pastor in a generation that is not the one I grew up in and that I pastor in the world that does not look like the one I grew up in. So now I have to adjust as a leader. I do ask that the people who think she deserves an apology, which she got, give — I ask for yours too. So don’t ask me to be forgiving and you’re not either.”

Thus far, the wailing worshipper Pastor Keion has not come forward with any social media posts explaining her side of the story.