#MAGFAB: Formula 1 Racer Bianca Bustamante Covers Vogue Philippines July 2024
Vogue Philippines July 2024 covergirl Bianca Bustamante has been burning rubber since age three, when she did laps in a go-kart under the watchful eye of her motorsport-obsessed father.
Today, Bustamante is on Louis Vuitton’s radar, sponsor of the Vogue Phillipines cover story styled by Caterina Ospina, working with fashion director Pam Quiñones.
In the cover image above, Bianca stands in front of the legendary McLaren MP4/8, the car Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna drove during his 41st and final Formula One career victory.
Photographer Sharif Hamza [IG] was thrilled to take his camera to the Bustamante fashion shoot, writing on IG: “As a long-time F1 fan, this was one of the most exhilarating shoot days I’ve ever experienced.”
CEO Pietro Beccari told CNN in early June that Louis Vuitton has a long and growing association with sport, sponsoring nautical events like the Americas Cup, as well as launching a recent campaign centered on tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“We are very close to sport,” Beccari said, recalling the slogan “Victory travels in Louis Vuitton,” the fashion house used when one of its trunks housed the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
“Willing to Bleed” for Best Woman in Formula 1
Returning to the Vogue Philippines cover girl, Bustamante began racing against boys at age six. Her life story has been challenged in recent weeks with claims that her family is far more prosperous than the narrative published in earlier interviews.
There is no doubt that the aspiring Formula 1 champion was on very difficult times resulting from the Covid pandemic and a downturn in her family’s business interests.
There are no challenges around her competency or determination.
Today Bustamante, age 19, is competing on the racetrack at 220 miles an hour, living her dream as a McLaren driver in the women-only, F1 Academy in the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England. She is laser-focused on becoming the most successful female motorsport driver ever.
“I’m willing to bleed for it,” she told Stylist’s ‘Strong Women’ column in mid-June. “To get to Formula 1, I’m willing to risk everything – I’m going to give 100% so I don’t have any regrets that I could have worked harder further down the line.”
After reading endless monthly features about young, multi-millionaire women’s anxiety, misery and preoccupation with imposter syndrome, reading that Bianca Bustamante is “willing to bleed” to reach her goal gave Anne an old-school women jolt. This girl has backbone.
Today, Bustamante is on Louis Vuitton’s radar, sponsor of the Vogue Phillipines cover story styled by Caterina Ospina, working with fashion director Pam Quiñones.
In the cover image above, Bianca stands in front of the legendary McLaren MP4/8, the car Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna drove during his 41st and final Formula One career victory.
Photographer Sharif Hamza [IG] was thrilled to take his camera to the Bustamante fashion shoot, writing on IG: “As a long-time F1 fan, this was one of the most exhilarating shoot days I’ve ever experienced.”
CEO Pietro Beccari told CNN in early June that Louis Vuitton has a long and growing association with sport, sponsoring nautical events like the Americas Cup, as well as launching a recent campaign centered on tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“We are very close to sport,” Beccari said, recalling the slogan “Victory travels in Louis Vuitton,” the fashion house used when one of its trunks housed the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Returning to the Vogue Philippines cover girl, Bustamante began racing against boys at age six. Her life story has been challenged in recent weeks with claims that her family is far more prosperous than the narrative published in earlier interviews.
There is no doubt that the aspiring Formula 1 champion was on very difficult times resulting from the Covid pandemic and a downturn in her family’s business interests.
There are no challenges around her competency or determination.
Today Bustamante, age 19, is competing on the racetrack at 220 miles an hour, living her dream as a McLaren driver in the women-only, F1 Academy in the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England. She is laser-focused on becoming the most successful female motorsport driver ever.
“I’m willing to bleed for it,” she told Stylist’s ‘Strong Women’ column in mid-June. “To get to Formula 1, I’m willing to risk everything – I’m going to give 100% so I don’t have any regrets that I could have worked harder further down the line.”
After reading endless monthly features about young, multi-millionaire women’s anxiety, misery and preoccupation with imposter syndrome, reading that Bianca Bustamante is “willing to bleed” to reach her goal gave Anne an old-school women jolt. This girl has backbone.
Kismet and Mentorship
What we know for certain is that Bianca is ready to roar and she cannot be consumed with imposter syndrome driving at 220 mph. The Brazilian champion Senna, who car is featured on the Vogue cover, died in a raceway crash in 1994, at age 34.
Reading the Vogue Philippines cover story by Audrey Carpio, it’s clear that Bustamante has plenty of kismet in her life. She was definitely struggling during the pandemic, as was her family. The downturn in the young driver’s fortunes was noticed on social media by an older colleague and fan.
Darryl O’Young, an accomplished racing driver from Hong Kong, noticed on social media that she had stopped competing and decided to reach out. Darryl immediately recognized the determination that was bubbling in her, and through his motorsport marketing agency he helped restart her career.
On the subject of self-doubt and all the psychological traumas facing someone like Bianca Bustamante, do read the entire Vogue Philippines interview. Recognizing her true grit determination to excel as a Formula 1 racecar driver, the team of psychologists, nutritionists, stress management specialists and countless other professionals now dedicated to her success at the F1 Academy is impressive.
Remember — Formula 1 has no gender-related restrictions.
It’s a boys club for sure, with few women making the cut. With the wind at her back now, armed with a deeply-grounded, psychological focus on winning, and a world-class team offering counsel and enthusiastic, proactive ‘You can do it’ support, Bianca Bustamante is ready for takeoff.
#RHOA: Oh Really? Phaedra Parks Negotiating ‘RHOA’ Return After Kenya Moore’s Indefinite Suspension
Phaedra Parks is in talks to return as a main cast member of Real Housewives of Atlanta several years after she last held a peach, In Touch has confirmed.
According to a report, producers behind the Bravo reality show are “working hard” to lock down Phaedra, 50.
The cast has been filming for weeks but producers feel the need to add a cast member after Kenya Moore was suspended and stopped filming for the show.
Insiders told Love B Scott, who broke the story, that Phaedra’s contract with Bravo’s show Married to Medicine has caused hiccups, but they are being ironed out.
Phaedra was a main cast member on RHOA from season 3 to season 9. At the time, TMZ reported Phaedra had been fired for spreading vicious rumors about her costar Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker.
Phaedra has left all the negative drama in the past and has won over fans after a role on Peacock’s competition reality show The Traitors.
On top of Phaedra’s potential return, the outlet reported that former cast member Cynthia Bailey has been filming more scenes with the cast. Producers initially brought back Cynthia, 57, as a “friend” of the cast, but her role could increase to a main cast member by the end of filming, according to Love B Scott.
Cynthia was a main cast member from season 3 to season 13. She starred as a “guest” of the cast in season 15.
As In Touch previously reported, the producers decision to potentially bring Phaedra back comes after Kenya, 53, was indefinitely suspended. Kenya was accused of showing explicit images of her costar, Brittany Eady, at an event for her hair care line. Page Six reported the producers were upset with Kenya’s decision.
Sources close to Kenya told TMZ she was unhappy with the treatment she received and was weighing legal actions against the show. After the alleged suspension, Kenya told her fans, “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. The truth always comes to light.”
Phaedra Parks Negotiating 'RHOA' Return After Kenya Moore's Indefinite Suspension: Sources
She added, “I would never engage in revenge porn, I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone, nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail. I have always been vindicated. I can’t talk about STORY even with people planting fake news #sweet16.”
Brittany wrote on social media, “It’s never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED by someone I thought would embrace me into a new circle, that I never met.”
A couple of days later, Kenya wrote on her Instagram story,“You can try to destroy a legacy, but you will never destroy a queen.”
“Thank you for all the support #teamtwirl. My heart is full and my conscience is clear. So many false claims hiding behind anonymous sources. All this conversation and no facts being reported. If a claim or source was valid, would they need to hide?” Kenya said.
She added, “My life is blessed. My daughter and I will continue to thrive in a non toxic environment where we feel appreciated and most importantly, protected. Thank you God for covering us.”
According to a report, producers behind the Bravo reality show are “working hard” to lock down Phaedra, 50.
The cast has been filming for weeks but producers feel the need to add a cast member after Kenya Moore was suspended and stopped filming for the show.
Insiders told Love B Scott, who broke the story, that Phaedra’s contract with Bravo’s show Married to Medicine has caused hiccups, but they are being ironed out.
Phaedra was a main cast member on RHOA from season 3 to season 9. At the time, TMZ reported Phaedra had been fired for spreading vicious rumors about her costar Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker.
Phaedra has left all the negative drama in the past and has won over fans after a role on Peacock’s competition reality show The Traitors.
On top of Phaedra’s potential return, the outlet reported that former cast member Cynthia Bailey has been filming more scenes with the cast. Producers initially brought back Cynthia, 57, as a “friend” of the cast, but her role could increase to a main cast member by the end of filming, according to Love B Scott.
Cynthia was a main cast member from season 3 to season 13. She starred as a “guest” of the cast in season 15.
As In Touch previously reported, the producers decision to potentially bring Phaedra back comes after Kenya, 53, was indefinitely suspended. Kenya was accused of showing explicit images of her costar, Brittany Eady, at an event for her hair care line. Page Six reported the producers were upset with Kenya’s decision.
Sources close to Kenya told TMZ she was unhappy with the treatment she received and was weighing legal actions against the show. After the alleged suspension, Kenya told her fans, “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. The truth always comes to light.”
Phaedra Parks Negotiating 'RHOA' Return After Kenya Moore's Indefinite Suspension: Sources
She added, “I would never engage in revenge porn, I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone, nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail. I have always been vindicated. I can’t talk about STORY even with people planting fake news #sweet16.”
Brittany wrote on social media, “It’s never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED by someone I thought would embrace me into a new circle, that I never met.”
A couple of days later, Kenya wrote on her Instagram story,“You can try to destroy a legacy, but you will never destroy a queen.”
“Thank you for all the support #teamtwirl. My heart is full and my conscience is clear. So many false claims hiding behind anonymous sources. All this conversation and no facts being reported. If a claim or source was valid, would they need to hide?” Kenya said.
She added, “My life is blessed. My daughter and I will continue to thrive in a non toxic environment where we feel appreciated and most importantly, protected. Thank you God for covering us.”
#MusicNews: Teedra Moses Releases New Song ‘With All My Heart’
Teedra Moses has returned with her new song “With All My Heart” via her independent label, Black Moses Ent.
In the acoustic ballad, which features J. Black, Moses expresses resentment and regret toward a no-good ex who betrayed her heart.
Moses sings on the self-penned track: “F**k you with all my heart / ‘Cause I loved you with all my heart, I did / Should’ve never made me fall in love / When you, you knew you’d never love me back / Should’ve never played with my heart / Should’ve never took me. up / When you knew you’d let me down.”
Speaking on her latest release, Moses shared, “I cook slow but I cook good!! My new song dropped yesterday!! We worked long and hard on this one. Creating a simple but poignant song (for me) takes more than you would expect lol but we did it! and I looooove it!”
“With All My Heart” is Moses’ first new single since 2021’s “Make Me.” In February 2022, she released her Eric Bellinger-assisted “Make Me (Remix).”
Later that April, she joined forces with production duo The Colleagues for “’90s Kinda Love” from their album Love Lust Vulnerability.
Speaking on their collaboration, KP of The Colleagues told Rated R&B, “Teedra is a true perfectionist. When I thought the song was finished, she challenged me to take the production to another level. I’m glad she did because it came out great. I can’t wait to produce more for her.”
It’s unclear if Moses still plans to release her oft-delayed album, The Bull$hit, which was slated to be released in spring 2021. “Cashmere Compliments” was dubbed the lead single.
“‘Cashmere Compliments’ is a record that I wrote years ago,” Moses told Ebro Darden of Apple Music. “I got the track probably about six years ago. I have developed the track. If I was to let y’all hear what it was in the beginning to what it is now, I turned it into something totally different. I took the time to really just cook it slow, and I really love what came out.”
Stream Teedra Moses’ new song “With All My Heart (Acoustic)” BELOW:
Teedra Moses has returned with her new song “With All My Heart” via her independent label, Black Moses Ent.
In the acoustic ballad, which features J. Black, Moses expresses resentment and regret toward a no-good ex who betrayed her heart.
Moses sings on the self-penned track: “F**k you with all my heart / ‘Cause I loved you with all my heart, I did / Should’ve never made me fall in love / When you, you knew you’d never love me back / Should’ve never played with my heart / Should’ve never took me. up / When you knew you’d let me down.”
Speaking on her latest release, Moses shared, “I cook slow but I cook good!! My new song dropped yesterday!! We worked long and hard on this one. Creating a simple but poignant song (for me) takes more than you would expect lol but we did it! and I looooove it!”
“With All My Heart” is Moses’ first new single since 2021’s “Make Me.” In February 2022, she released her Eric Bellinger-assisted “Make Me (Remix).”
Later that April, she joined forces with production duo The Colleagues for “’90s Kinda Love” from their album Love Lust Vulnerability.
Speaking on their collaboration, KP of The Colleagues told Rated R&B, “Teedra is a true perfectionist. When I thought the song was finished, she challenged me to take the production to another level. I’m glad she did because it came out great. I can’t wait to produce more for her.”
It’s unclear if Moses still plans to release her oft-delayed album, The Bull$hit, which was slated to be released in spring 2021. “Cashmere Compliments” was dubbed the lead single.
“‘Cashmere Compliments’ is a record that I wrote years ago,” Moses told Ebro Darden of Apple Music. “I got the track probably about six years ago. I have developed the track. If I was to let y’all hear what it was in the beginning to what it is now, I turned it into something totally different. I took the time to really just cook it slow, and I really love what came out.”
Stream Teedra Moses’ new song “With All My Heart (Acoustic)” BELOW:
#HipHopNews: Jay-Z & Frank Ocean Soundtrack 'Gladiator II' Trailer Starring Denzel Washington
JAY-Z and Frank Ocean both feature in the trailer for the widely-anticipated Gladiator II, which stars Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal.
A sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winner is set to hit cinemas on November 22, with the first trailer for the movie showcasing plenty of Roman-era action.
The three-minute clip was unexpectedly set to JAY-Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean’s 2011 Watch the Throne collaboration “No Church in the Wild,” though only Jay and Frank’s vocals can be heard in the trailer.
Directed again by Ridley Scott, the sequel follows Lucius, the fictional grandson of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris in the original), as he returns to Rome to become a gladiator in the city’s Colosseum.
Lucius is played by Paul Mescal while Washington assumes the role of Macrinus, a Roman powerbroker with a stable of gladiators. Pascal portrays Marcus Acacius, a fearsome general.
Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger also star as the twin emperors of Rome, while Connie Nielsen is the sole returning cast member from the first film.
The original Gladiator grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide and won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.
Denzel Washington has a number of other projects in the works including a remake of High & Low which will see him reunite with director Spike Lee for the first time since 2006’s Inside Man.
The film will also mark the acting debut of Ice Spice, while A$AP Rocky has been cast in a prominent role alongside Washington and Jeffrey Wright.
Denzel will also be returning to the stage next year for a new Broadway production of Othello where he will play the titular iconic character.
He will star opposite Jake Gyllenhaal who plays the villainous Iago, with the play scheduled to open in Spring 2025.
Washington’s Shakespeare experience is extensive, having performed Julius Caesar, The Tragedy of Richard III and Coriolanus on stage and starred in Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, in which he played Don Pedro of Aragon alongside an all-star cast including Michael Keaton and Keanu Reeves, as well as Branagh himself.
A sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winner is set to hit cinemas on November 22, with the first trailer for the movie showcasing plenty of Roman-era action.
The three-minute clip was unexpectedly set to JAY-Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean’s 2011 Watch the Throne collaboration “No Church in the Wild,” though only Jay and Frank’s vocals can be heard in the trailer.
Directed again by Ridley Scott, the sequel follows Lucius, the fictional grandson of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris in the original), as he returns to Rome to become a gladiator in the city’s Colosseum.
Lucius is played by Paul Mescal while Washington assumes the role of Macrinus, a Roman powerbroker with a stable of gladiators. Pascal portrays Marcus Acacius, a fearsome general.
Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger also star as the twin emperors of Rome, while Connie Nielsen is the sole returning cast member from the first film.
The original Gladiator grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide and won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.
Denzel Washington has a number of other projects in the works including a remake of High & Low which will see him reunite with director Spike Lee for the first time since 2006’s Inside Man.
The film will also mark the acting debut of Ice Spice, while A$AP Rocky has been cast in a prominent role alongside Washington and Jeffrey Wright.
Denzel will also be returning to the stage next year for a new Broadway production of Othello where he will play the titular iconic character.
He will star opposite Jake Gyllenhaal who plays the villainous Iago, with the play scheduled to open in Spring 2025.
Washington’s Shakespeare experience is extensive, having performed Julius Caesar, The Tragedy of Richard III and Coriolanus on stage and starred in Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, in which he played Don Pedro of Aragon alongside an all-star cast including Michael Keaton and Keanu Reeves, as well as Branagh himself.
Shelley Duvall, “The Shining” and “Nashville” Actress, Dies at 75
Shelley Duvall has died, just days after her 75th birthday.The Shining actress died on Thursday, July 11, at her home in Blanco, Texas, from complications from diabetes, her partner Dan Gilroy told The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
Gilroy told THR, “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley."
Director Scott Goldberg, who worked with Duvall on her final film, 2023's The Forest Hills, tells PEOPLE, "Shelley leaves behind an amazing legacy and will be missed by so many people, myself included. I am proud of her for overcoming adversity to act again and will always be forever grateful for her friendship and kindness."
Duvall was born July 7, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas. She considered pursuing a career in science before she was "discovered" by three crew members on director Robert Altman's 1970 film Brewster McCloud at a party in Houston where Shelley's then-fiancé Bernard Sampson was displaying artwork, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The crew members invited Duvall to something of a secret casting call for Altman's movie under the guise of an event featuring "art patrons" attended by the director. This led to Duvall's first on-screen appearance in Brewster McCloud.
She continued to work with the director, in films like in 1971’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller, 1974’s Thieves Like Us and 1975’s Nashville.
"After Thieves Like Us, Robert looked at me and said, 'I knew you were good, but I didn't know you were great,' " she told PEOPLE in 2023. "It's the reason I stuck with it and became an actress."
Duvall went on to appear in more than a dozen movies and television shows over the course of the '70s, including an appearance in 1977's Annie Hall, before she made her best-known movie: Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror masterpiece The Shining.
The film, which required a 56-week shoot and holds a Guinness World Record for "most retakes for one scene with dialogue," starred Duvall and Jack Nicholson in an adaptation of Stephen King's 1977 horror novel of the same name.
"[Kubrick] doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard," the actress told The Hollywood Reporter as she recalled her experiences filming The Shining in February 2021. "And full performance from the first rehearsal. That's difficult."
In order to get herself into the right headspace, Duvall said she would "listen to sad songs" before each scene or "just think about something very sad in your life or how much you miss your family and friends."
"But after a while, your body rebels. It says: 'Stop doing this to me. I don't want to cry every day.' And sometimes just that thought alone would make me cry," she added. "To wake up on a Monday morning so early and realize that you had to cry all day because it was scheduled — I would just start crying. I'd be like, 'Oh no, I can't, I can't.' And yet I did it. I don't know how I did it. Jack [Nicholson] said that to me, too. He said, 'I don't know how you do it.'"
The Shining made Duvall a household name. “When somebody recognizes you at a Dairy Queen in Texas you’re a star," she told PEOPLE in 1981.
Duvall tallied some 40 more television and film roles in the two-plus decades after The Shining's release, and she turned toward producing in the '80s with children's anthology series like Tall Tales & Legends and Faerie Tale Theatre, the latter of which she convinced stars like Robin Williams, Teri Garr, Jeff Bridges, Mick Jagger and Liza Minnelli to appear on, according to the Los Angeles Times. The series won her a Peabody Award in 1984.
“Producing allows you to take control of your life,” Duvall told PEOPLE in 1987. “You don’t have that kind of control in acting. You don’t have to wait for someone to offer you a part. You can get things going by yourself.”
“I like producing better,” she continued. “Acting doesn’t promote sanity. I don’t ever want to lose my joy in life. I guess I’ve got a bit of the Peter Pan syndrome. I don’t ever want to lose my innocence or my dreams.” Duvall was a two-time Emmy nominee for her children's TV productions.
The actress stepped out of the spotlight after the turn of the millennium and did not work in movies for 20 years after the release of 2002's Manna from Heaven.
In 2016, Duvall made an appearance on the Dr. Phil show that was widely criticized at the time as being exploitative of her mental health struggles. "I found out the kind of person he is the hard way," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021 of Dr. Phil host Phil McGraw.
Duvall made her return to film in the 2023 independent horror movie The Forest Hills, which she filmed remotely and was directed over Zoom by writer-producer-director Scott Goldberg. "Acting again — it's so much fun. It enriches your life," she told PEOPLE in 2023.
Duvall was married to artist Bernard Sampson from 1970 until 1974, and later dated musician Paul Simon in the '70s before she began dating her longtime partner Gilroy in the late 1980s.
Shelley Duvall has died, just days after her 75th birthday.The Shining actress died on Thursday, July 11, at her home in Blanco, Texas, from complications from diabetes, her partner Dan Gilroy told The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
Gilroy told THR, “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley."
Director Scott Goldberg, who worked with Duvall on her final film, 2023's The Forest Hills, tells PEOPLE, "Shelley leaves behind an amazing legacy and will be missed by so many people, myself included. I am proud of her for overcoming adversity to act again and will always be forever grateful for her friendship and kindness."
Duvall was born July 7, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas. She considered pursuing a career in science before she was "discovered" by three crew members on director Robert Altman's 1970 film Brewster McCloud at a party in Houston where Shelley's then-fiancé Bernard Sampson was displaying artwork, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The crew members invited Duvall to something of a secret casting call for Altman's movie under the guise of an event featuring "art patrons" attended by the director. This led to Duvall's first on-screen appearance in Brewster McCloud.
She continued to work with the director, in films like in 1971’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller, 1974’s Thieves Like Us and 1975’s Nashville.
"After Thieves Like Us, Robert looked at me and said, 'I knew you were good, but I didn't know you were great,' " she told PEOPLE in 2023. "It's the reason I stuck with it and became an actress."
Duvall went on to appear in more than a dozen movies and television shows over the course of the '70s, including an appearance in 1977's Annie Hall, before she made her best-known movie: Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror masterpiece The Shining.
The film, which required a 56-week shoot and holds a Guinness World Record for "most retakes for one scene with dialogue," starred Duvall and Jack Nicholson in an adaptation of Stephen King's 1977 horror novel of the same name.
"[Kubrick] doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard," the actress told The Hollywood Reporter as she recalled her experiences filming The Shining in February 2021. "And full performance from the first rehearsal. That's difficult."
In order to get herself into the right headspace, Duvall said she would "listen to sad songs" before each scene or "just think about something very sad in your life or how much you miss your family and friends."
"But after a while, your body rebels. It says: 'Stop doing this to me. I don't want to cry every day.' And sometimes just that thought alone would make me cry," she added. "To wake up on a Monday morning so early and realize that you had to cry all day because it was scheduled — I would just start crying. I'd be like, 'Oh no, I can't, I can't.' And yet I did it. I don't know how I did it. Jack [Nicholson] said that to me, too. He said, 'I don't know how you do it.'"
The Shining made Duvall a household name. “When somebody recognizes you at a Dairy Queen in Texas you’re a star," she told PEOPLE in 1981.
Duvall tallied some 40 more television and film roles in the two-plus decades after The Shining's release, and she turned toward producing in the '80s with children's anthology series like Tall Tales & Legends and Faerie Tale Theatre, the latter of which she convinced stars like Robin Williams, Teri Garr, Jeff Bridges, Mick Jagger and Liza Minnelli to appear on, according to the Los Angeles Times. The series won her a Peabody Award in 1984.
“Producing allows you to take control of your life,” Duvall told PEOPLE in 1987. “You don’t have that kind of control in acting. You don’t have to wait for someone to offer you a part. You can get things going by yourself.”
“I like producing better,” she continued. “Acting doesn’t promote sanity. I don’t ever want to lose my joy in life. I guess I’ve got a bit of the Peter Pan syndrome. I don’t ever want to lose my innocence or my dreams.” Duvall was a two-time Emmy nominee for her children's TV productions.
The actress stepped out of the spotlight after the turn of the millennium and did not work in movies for 20 years after the release of 2002's Manna from Heaven.
In 2016, Duvall made an appearance on the Dr. Phil show that was widely criticized at the time as being exploitative of her mental health struggles. "I found out the kind of person he is the hard way," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021 of Dr. Phil host Phil McGraw.
Duvall made her return to film in the 2023 independent horror movie The Forest Hills, which she filmed remotely and was directed over Zoom by writer-producer-director Scott Goldberg. "Acting again — it's so much fun. It enriches your life," she told PEOPLE in 2023.
Duvall was married to artist Bernard Sampson from 1970 until 1974, and later dated musician Paul Simon in the '70s before she began dating her longtime partner Gilroy in the late 1980s.
Argentina Soccer Team Trolls Drake With Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us” Lyrics After Defeating Canada
Rapper Drake texts while watching Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on April 28, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston/Getty Images
For years, people have acknowledged the “Drake Curse” where he supports or bets money on something to happen in sports, and the opposite often occurs. The jinx reared its head once again when Argentina defeated Canada in the Copa America semifinals, and the former responded by trolling him with lyrics from Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
The Toronto superstar revealed via Instagram that he was betting $300,000 on his home country to get the victory against the 2022 World Cup Champions. He even shouted out their superstar player Lionel Messi in the caption, writing “This could get Messi” with a Canadian flag emoji. Argentina went on to defeat Canada 2-0, with both Messi and Julián Álvarez scoring goals.
The Argentinian soccer team’s official X account took things a step further, captioning their victory post with “Not like us, not with us.” The actual graphic also included the phrase “Not Like Us.” It has been two months of jokes thrown Drizzy’s way, whether it be from Lamar or his fans, and now, for perhaps the first time, a rapper can say that a national soccer team contributed to one of their feuds.
This is a layered “loss” for Drake, as Kendrick Lamar pointed out his gambling problems in the sinister “Meet The Grahams.” In the second verse, he blamed his father, Dennis Graham, for his gambling addiction. He brought them up again in the fourth verse, when he went on a barrage of insults regarding his alleged drinking, pill-popping, immaturity, financial irresponsibility, and promiscuity.
Rapper Drake texts while watching Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on April 28, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston/Getty Images
For years, people have acknowledged the “Drake Curse” where he supports or bets money on something to happen in sports, and the opposite often occurs. The jinx reared its head once again when Argentina defeated Canada in the Copa America semifinals, and the former responded by trolling him with lyrics from Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
The Toronto superstar revealed via Instagram that he was betting $300,000 on his home country to get the victory against the 2022 World Cup Champions. He even shouted out their superstar player Lionel Messi in the caption, writing “This could get Messi” with a Canadian flag emoji. Argentina went on to defeat Canada 2-0, with both Messi and Julián Álvarez scoring goals.
The Argentinian soccer team’s official X account took things a step further, captioning their victory post with “Not like us, not with us.” The actual graphic also included the phrase “Not Like Us.” It has been two months of jokes thrown Drizzy’s way, whether it be from Lamar or his fans, and now, for perhaps the first time, a rapper can say that a national soccer team contributed to one of their feuds.
This is a layered “loss” for Drake, as Kendrick Lamar pointed out his gambling problems in the sinister “Meet The Grahams.” In the second verse, he blamed his father, Dennis Graham, for his gambling addiction. He brought them up again in the fourth verse, when he went on a barrage of insults regarding his alleged drinking, pill-popping, immaturity, financial irresponsibility, and promiscuity.
‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix’ Reality Series To Premiere July 24 Disney
Wayne Brady is inviting fans into his world like never before with the upcoming reality series “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix.”
Premiering this summer on Freeform, the show promises an intimate look at Wayne’s life behind the scenes, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic entertainer.
The official synopsis reads:
What happens when such an iconic entertainer peels back the curtain on the realities of an unexpected life?
In ‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,’ Brady has turned the term ‘modern family’ on its head.
With Brady at a sudden crossroads in his life, ‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix‘ offers an intimate look into his blended family’s personal life, revealing unexpected points of view and values that most people (including his own family) have a hard time understanding.
The series delves into Brady’s blended family dynamic with ex-wife Mandie Taketa, co-parenting their 21-year-old daughter, Maile Brady.
Despite their separation in 2008, the pair remain “best friends,” navigating life together alongside Taketa’s partner, Jason Fordham, and their 3-year-old son, Sundance-Isamu.
In anticipation of the series launch, Wayne Brady took to Instagram, sharing his excitement alongside his family, whom he affectionately refers to as “The Core Four.”
The video showcases the unique dynamics of their relationship, promising an authentic and entertaining viewing experience.
“You’ve never seen a family like ours,” Wayne declares. “Trust me.”
Beyond the family dynamics, the show promises to shed light on Wayne Brady’s journey of self-discovery, including his recent revelation about his sexuality.
Opening up about his pansexuality to PEOPLE, Wayne shared how Robin Williams‘ death in 2014 impacted his path to self-discovery, ultimately leading him to embrace his authentic self.
“I’m still coming together. But If I’m healthy, then I can go onstage at Let’s Make A Deal and be the best Wayne Brady that everybody wants and expects,” he expressed.
As Wayne continues to captivate audiences with his talent, including his current role in the Broadway revival of The Wiz, the reality series promises to be a groundbreaking series, offering insight into the life of a multifaceted entertainer and his dynamic family.
“This show is a benchmark, and not just for me, but for a lot of Black performers,” Wayne Brady said.
Don’t miss the premiere of “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” on Freeform on July 24 at 10:00 p.m. ET, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
Premiering this summer on Freeform, the show promises an intimate look at Wayne’s life behind the scenes, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic entertainer.
The official synopsis reads:
What happens when such an iconic entertainer peels back the curtain on the realities of an unexpected life?
In ‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,’ Brady has turned the term ‘modern family’ on its head.
With Brady at a sudden crossroads in his life, ‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix‘ offers an intimate look into his blended family’s personal life, revealing unexpected points of view and values that most people (including his own family) have a hard time understanding.
The series delves into Brady’s blended family dynamic with ex-wife Mandie Taketa, co-parenting their 21-year-old daughter, Maile Brady.
Despite their separation in 2008, the pair remain “best friends,” navigating life together alongside Taketa’s partner, Jason Fordham, and their 3-year-old son, Sundance-Isamu.
In anticipation of the series launch, Wayne Brady took to Instagram, sharing his excitement alongside his family, whom he affectionately refers to as “The Core Four.”
The video showcases the unique dynamics of their relationship, promising an authentic and entertaining viewing experience.
“You’ve never seen a family like ours,” Wayne declares. “Trust me.”
Beyond the family dynamics, the show promises to shed light on Wayne Brady’s journey of self-discovery, including his recent revelation about his sexuality.
Opening up about his pansexuality to PEOPLE, Wayne shared how Robin Williams‘ death in 2014 impacted his path to self-discovery, ultimately leading him to embrace his authentic self.
“I’m still coming together. But If I’m healthy, then I can go onstage at Let’s Make A Deal and be the best Wayne Brady that everybody wants and expects,” he expressed.
As Wayne continues to captivate audiences with his talent, including his current role in the Broadway revival of The Wiz, the reality series promises to be a groundbreaking series, offering insight into the life of a multifaceted entertainer and his dynamic family.
“This show is a benchmark, and not just for me, but for a lot of Black performers,” Wayne Brady said.
Don’t miss the premiere of “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” on Freeform on July 24 at 10:00 p.m. ET, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
Safaree Admits Nicki Minaj & Meek Mill's Relationship Was 'Dark Time' For Him
Safaree has admitted that seeing his ex Nicki Minaj date Meek Mill brought about a “dark time” for him.
The We In Miami podcast shared a teaser to Instagram on Tuesday (July 9) in which the former Hoodstars member reflected on his past relationship with Nicki.
He said: “When me and Nicki first broke up and she got with Meek and they were, like, the biggest in the world and we was all beefing and shit. You gotta think about — I had two of the biggest people in the world against me.
“That meant everybody would be against me, so nobody wanted to be next to me. Nobody wanted to work with me or none of that shit. So it just made everything hard and that shit that was a dark time for me.”
Safaree also spoke about how people rooted against him during this time: “I’m not even gonna sugarcoat shit. I was with Nicki, we broke up. Her fans and certain people they just wanted it to be like, ‘Okay, they not together no more. Fuck him, let it be nothing. Let him disintegrate, let him disappear, whatever.’
“But nine, 10 years later — 10, 15 TV shows later, lot of music out later, Doors Up later — I’m still here. Some people don’t like that. They’re like, ‘Damn, why are n-ggas still paying attention to this n-gga?'”
Safaree has been speaking on Meek Mill for a number of years.
Back in 2016, he spoke with Rap-Up and confirmed that the “Dreams & Nightmares” rapper played a part in the end of his years-long relationship with Nicki Minaj.
“He definitely was a big part as to why me and Nicki broke up,” he said in the interview.
The Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star vaguely confirmed Meek as the reason for their split by commenting on The Game’s Instagram post exposing the rumor that Meek FaceTimed Nicki while Safaree was with another woman.
The two beefed shortly after that revelation, with Safaree tweeting: “you ever see a pic of some1 you use to deal with and wanna send that ‘wyd bighead’ text i hate yall #stuntgang.”
Hours later, Meek appeared to mock Safaree via Snapchat, uploading a photo of himself with a “Hey bighead” caption and a crying face emoji.
Although he didn’t name names in a tweet that followed Meek’s Snapchat, Safaree did go on to revel in his ability to have “control” over those he doesn’t know.
“i was jus kidding, but its funny to see how much control i have over ppl i dont kmow.. i do this for yall! thx 4 the love #stuntgang,” he tweeted.
Meek Mill isn’t the only rapper who has upset Safaree following his split from Nicki.
Earlier this year, the Brooklyn native admitted that he was “hurt” when Nas kissed the Young Money rappr in her “Right By My Side” music video.
“You wanna know what’s so crazy? I didn’t know it happened until the video came out,” he revealed during an appearance on the Keep It a Stack Podcast. “N-gga, I was hurt. When that shit happened, I was hurt.
“I was there the whole day so I was like, ‘Damn. Did that happen when I left to go? I must’ve left for like an hour, two hours and I think that’s when that scene happened, yo.”
He said: “When me and Nicki first broke up and she got with Meek and they were, like, the biggest in the world and we was all beefing and shit. You gotta think about — I had two of the biggest people in the world against me.
“That meant everybody would be against me, so nobody wanted to be next to me. Nobody wanted to work with me or none of that shit. So it just made everything hard and that shit that was a dark time for me.”
Safaree also spoke about how people rooted against him during this time: “I’m not even gonna sugarcoat shit. I was with Nicki, we broke up. Her fans and certain people they just wanted it to be like, ‘Okay, they not together no more. Fuck him, let it be nothing. Let him disintegrate, let him disappear, whatever.’
“But nine, 10 years later — 10, 15 TV shows later, lot of music out later, Doors Up later — I’m still here. Some people don’t like that. They’re like, ‘Damn, why are n-ggas still paying attention to this n-gga?'”
Safaree has been speaking on Meek Mill for a number of years.
Back in 2016, he spoke with Rap-Up and confirmed that the “Dreams & Nightmares” rapper played a part in the end of his years-long relationship with Nicki Minaj.
“He definitely was a big part as to why me and Nicki broke up,” he said in the interview.
The Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star vaguely confirmed Meek as the reason for their split by commenting on The Game’s Instagram post exposing the rumor that Meek FaceTimed Nicki while Safaree was with another woman.
The two beefed shortly after that revelation, with Safaree tweeting: “you ever see a pic of some1 you use to deal with and wanna send that ‘wyd bighead’ text i hate yall #stuntgang.”
Hours later, Meek appeared to mock Safaree via Snapchat, uploading a photo of himself with a “Hey bighead” caption and a crying face emoji.
Although he didn’t name names in a tweet that followed Meek’s Snapchat, Safaree did go on to revel in his ability to have “control” over those he doesn’t know.
“i was jus kidding, but its funny to see how much control i have over ppl i dont kmow.. i do this for yall! thx 4 the love #stuntgang,” he tweeted.
Meek Mill isn’t the only rapper who has upset Safaree following his split from Nicki.
Earlier this year, the Brooklyn native admitted that he was “hurt” when Nas kissed the Young Money rappr in her “Right By My Side” music video.
“You wanna know what’s so crazy? I didn’t know it happened until the video came out,” he revealed during an appearance on the Keep It a Stack Podcast. “N-gga, I was hurt. When that shit happened, I was hurt.
“I was there the whole day so I was like, ‘Damn. Did that happen when I left to go? I must’ve left for like an hour, two hours and I think that’s when that scene happened, yo.”
Megan Thee Stallion Reportedly Dating NBA Star Klay Thompson
Megan Thee Stallion reportedly has a new flame and it's uncovered following their appearances at Michael Rubin's 4th of July party. While mingling with other celebrity guests such as Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, the Grammy Award winner and NBA star Klay Thompson reportedly made it obvious that they're an item.
According to multiple sources who also attended the party, the 29-year-old hip-hop artist and the 34-year-old professional basketball player were glued to each other at the event held in the Hamptons, making fellow guests convinced they "were dating." The sources told Media Take Out that the alleged pair arrived together, hung out and danced the night together before eventually leaving together.
Megan and Klay's appearance at Michael's White Party comes several months after the "Hiss" hitmaker declared that she's "turning over a new leaf" following her breakup from Pardison Fontaine. During an Instagram Live in November 2023, she talked about how she has walked away from bedroom antics, "It's like nobody be listening to my music. They be like, '(gasp) Megan Thee Stallion … I cannot believe she likes to have sex! I cannot believe Megan Thee Stallion (sleeps with people.)' "
Claiming that she has since turned "over a new leaf" when it comes to her sex life, she added, "I'm stingy with the cootie cat. I'm not a freak anymore. I'm done. I'm done with the streets. So toxic in the streets. I'm tired with the streets."
This was after Megan hinted she had walked in on Pardi in bed with someone else. He later clapped back on his own "diss track" titled "THEE PERSON", on which he raps, "I would like to apologize for uh, no longer keeping up with your lies, or supporting your habits to tell half-truths."
Following her split from Pardi in early 2023, Megan was actually briefly linked to Belgian soccer player Romelu Lukaku. They were spotted attending his teammate Lautaro Martinez's wedding to model Agustina Gandolfo in Como, Italy back in May 2023, but they have not been seen together since then.
According to multiple sources who also attended the party, the 29-year-old hip-hop artist and the 34-year-old professional basketball player were glued to each other at the event held in the Hamptons, making fellow guests convinced they "were dating." The sources told Media Take Out that the alleged pair arrived together, hung out and danced the night together before eventually leaving together.
Megan and Klay's appearance at Michael's White Party comes several months after the "Hiss" hitmaker declared that she's "turning over a new leaf" following her breakup from Pardison Fontaine. During an Instagram Live in November 2023, she talked about how she has walked away from bedroom antics, "It's like nobody be listening to my music. They be like, '(gasp) Megan Thee Stallion … I cannot believe she likes to have sex! I cannot believe Megan Thee Stallion (sleeps with people.)' "
Claiming that she has since turned "over a new leaf" when it comes to her sex life, she added, "I'm stingy with the cootie cat. I'm not a freak anymore. I'm done. I'm done with the streets. So toxic in the streets. I'm tired with the streets."
This was after Megan hinted she had walked in on Pardi in bed with someone else. He later clapped back on his own "diss track" titled "THEE PERSON", on which he raps, "I would like to apologize for uh, no longer keeping up with your lies, or supporting your habits to tell half-truths."
Following her split from Pardi in early 2023, Megan was actually briefly linked to Belgian soccer player Romelu Lukaku. They were spotted attending his teammate Lautaro Martinez's wedding to model Agustina Gandolfo in Como, Italy back in May 2023, but they have not been seen together since then.
Dwyane Wade Urged To 'Come Out' After Defending His Painted Nails
Dwyane Wade has sparked chatter anew after explaining his decision to paint his nails. The ex-NBA star has reignited speculation about his sexuality after he was grilled about his beautifully manicured nails in an interview.
"So, show us the nails," a female interviewers asked the husband of Gabrielle Union during the sit-down. "Don't get a close up of my nails," he said, reluctantly discussing the topic as he noted, "Listen, I've been on the road, I'm gonna do like this."
The interviewer refused to change the topic, asking, "But we see a pop of color. What was the impetus for it?" Dwyane briefly explained, "Expression. I'm creative, I'm expressive. And there's so many ways to do that."
"Your nails look better than mine," the interviewer further teased him. The 42-year-old said, "Don't do that, don't do that," trying to politely shut down the discussion.
However, he was more excited when the interviewer asked him, "So, when are we getting the new manicure?" Hinting at a possible new business venture, he responded, "You know, I'm working... I actually thinking about jumping into the nail line... I've been thinking about it. Like I've been in it so long and I'm like, you know what, it could be a good time but I got some cool ideas that I'm exploring. I've been having some conversations on my own about exploring."
Dwyane went on sharing that he enjoys the time he spends doing his daughter's nails. "One of my favorite things to do when it comes to this is actually sitting down with my daughter and getting my nails painted and painting hers," he elaborated. "That's the time that we get to connect. Me doing something that she loves and also that I love. I give her manis and pedis, as well."
After a clip of the interview was posted on Instagram, many urged Dwyane to come out. "Come on out boo," one user wrote in the comments section. Another remarked, "I swear everytime he's just getting closer and closer to coming out."
"Boy slowly coming out," a third person claimed. Someone else is ready to support Dwyane as saying, "Do it bro! Because at this point we have already accepted you for who you are."
"He's clearly a lesbian," a fifth user weighed in, while another said, "His sexuality clearer than the water in Turks." Another left a homophobic comment that read, "Painting your nails as a grown man isn't normal . IDC."
Someone else, meanwhile, spoke against those who trolled Dwyane for expressing his support for his transgender daughter Zaya Wade. "Imagine a bunch of broke; broken people telling an accomplished wealthy heterosexual man to come out of the closet because he chooses to love his trans child unconditionally, and he likes wearing nail polish ... diabolical nasty work," the said person penned.
Dwyane has previously defended his painted nails after they raised speculation about his sexuality. "I don't give a lot of weight to it. In my 20s, a lot of weight would probably been put towards it. At 42, I am secure in who I am as a man, and I love taking care of myself from the inside out," he said in an interview with Esquire published in February.
He insisted, "This is what I do. I don't hide it. I don't do it for anybody else. I do it for myself. I like it. I really don't care about the reaction. I will go back to nail salon and I am getting the colors I want."
The former Miami Heat star reiterated his statement in his cover story for Highsnobiety, which was released in March. "I've been getting my nails painted since 2007," he told the outlet. "I always knew that's what I wanted to do: I wanted to be one of them sharp-dressed men who smelled good, who stayed clean-shaved, and all that."
Dwyane Wade has sparked chatter anew after explaining his decision to paint his nails. The ex-NBA star has reignited speculation about his sexuality after he was grilled about his beautifully manicured nails in an interview.
"So, show us the nails," a female interviewers asked the husband of Gabrielle Union during the sit-down. "Don't get a close up of my nails," he said, reluctantly discussing the topic as he noted, "Listen, I've been on the road, I'm gonna do like this."
The interviewer refused to change the topic, asking, "But we see a pop of color. What was the impetus for it?" Dwyane briefly explained, "Expression. I'm creative, I'm expressive. And there's so many ways to do that."
"Your nails look better than mine," the interviewer further teased him. The 42-year-old said, "Don't do that, don't do that," trying to politely shut down the discussion.
However, he was more excited when the interviewer asked him, "So, when are we getting the new manicure?" Hinting at a possible new business venture, he responded, "You know, I'm working... I actually thinking about jumping into the nail line... I've been thinking about it. Like I've been in it so long and I'm like, you know what, it could be a good time but I got some cool ideas that I'm exploring. I've been having some conversations on my own about exploring."
Dwyane went on sharing that he enjoys the time he spends doing his daughter's nails. "One of my favorite things to do when it comes to this is actually sitting down with my daughter and getting my nails painted and painting hers," he elaborated. "That's the time that we get to connect. Me doing something that she loves and also that I love. I give her manis and pedis, as well."
After a clip of the interview was posted on Instagram, many urged Dwyane to come out. "Come on out boo," one user wrote in the comments section. Another remarked, "I swear everytime he's just getting closer and closer to coming out."
"Boy slowly coming out," a third person claimed. Someone else is ready to support Dwyane as saying, "Do it bro! Because at this point we have already accepted you for who you are."
"He's clearly a lesbian," a fifth user weighed in, while another said, "His sexuality clearer than the water in Turks." Another left a homophobic comment that read, "Painting your nails as a grown man isn't normal . IDC."
Someone else, meanwhile, spoke against those who trolled Dwyane for expressing his support for his transgender daughter Zaya Wade. "Imagine a bunch of broke; broken people telling an accomplished wealthy heterosexual man to come out of the closet because he chooses to love his trans child unconditionally, and he likes wearing nail polish ... diabolical nasty work," the said person penned.
Dwyane has previously defended his painted nails after they raised speculation about his sexuality. "I don't give a lot of weight to it. In my 20s, a lot of weight would probably been put towards it. At 42, I am secure in who I am as a man, and I love taking care of myself from the inside out," he said in an interview with Esquire published in February.
He insisted, "This is what I do. I don't hide it. I don't do it for anybody else. I do it for myself. I like it. I really don't care about the reaction. I will go back to nail salon and I am getting the colors I want."
The former Miami Heat star reiterated his statement in his cover story for Highsnobiety, which was released in March. "I've been getting my nails painted since 2007," he told the outlet. "I always knew that's what I wanted to do: I wanted to be one of them sharp-dressed men who smelled good, who stayed clean-shaved, and all that."
Cassie’s lawyer slams Diddy for enjoying life amid assault allegations
Cassie’s lawyer has rebuked Sean “Diddy” Combs for enjoying life amid the abuse allegations against the embattled rapper.
Douglas Wigdor slammed the beleaguered Bad Boy Records founder, 54, who is facing a string of sexual assault and trafficking cases. Diddy was outed after CNN leaked footage of him physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, 37, in 2016 at a hotel.
Douglas Wigdor slammed the beleaguered Bad Boy Records founder, 54, who is facing a string of sexual assault and trafficking cases. Diddy was outed after CNN leaked footage of him physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, 37, in 2016 at a hotel.
“I don’t think white water rafting will prepare him for the choppy waters that lie ahead,” the attorney said to TMZ.
Combs, who recently had his LA mansion raided by Homeland Security, was just hit by a fresh lawsuit filed by former adult actress Adria English. She claims Combs hired her to have sex with partygoers and allegedly threatened to blackball her and her model boyfriend if she didn’t comply.
“After seeing Defendant Combs white water rafting and jetting around on his personal plane, seemingly enjoying life despite all the atrocities he has caused and has been accused of by countless individuals over decades, Mrs. English is even more motivated to ensure justice prevails,” Wigdor told TMZ.
“Mrs. English and all the other Plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits throughout the country against Defendant Combs are individuals with limited resources fighting for justice after being marginalized, abused and exploited by a billionaire,” her attorney Ariel Mitchell-Kidd added.
English, in her court papers obtained by TMZ, first met the rapper around 2004, when her boyfriend was auditioning for a Sean John modeling job. She claimed her boyfriend and another model were asked to perform a sex act on Combs to get the job.
English, who says her adult acting name was Omunique, revealed that her boyfriend refused, but he got a second chance when one of Combs’ associates offered him the job if he persuaded Adria to work as a go-go dancer at one of the rapper’s parties in the Hamptons.
She and her partner agreed, and she worked the party over Labor Day weekend in 2004. She then took jobs at more of Combs’ parties, where she apparently had to drink alcohol laced with drugs, including ecstasy, and was encouraged to flirt with guests.
English claims Combs “groomed” her into sex trafficking over time and demanded she have sex with celebrity bling designer Jacob Arabov, famously known as Jacob the Jeweler.
The suit, filed by Mitchell-Kidd and Steven Metcalf, stated English had “forced sexual intercourse” with the jeweler and was paid another $1,000 on top of what she usually got for working Diddy’s parties.
English alleges she was then “passed off” to other revelers at Combs’ parties, who also allegedly subjected her to sexual assaults. She eventually escaped Combs and returned to California in 2009, but says the rapper blackballed her and her boyfriend from entertainment circles as punishment.
English claims she has suffered emotional trauma, including intimacy issues and painful memories, as a result of the alleged sex trafficking and is seeking unspecified damages.
Idris Elba eyes duet with rapper Doja Cat
Idris Elba, the suave Hijack actor and part-time DJ who defies age, is ready to turn the music world upside down by teaming up with rap sensation Doja Cat.
At 51, he isn’t just content with acting; he’s also a keen musician and DJ who dreams of collaborating with the “Paint The Town Red” hitmaker, 28.
“I’d really like to work with Doja Cat, she’s amazing. I’d also like to work with Black Coffee, he’s amazing. Mark Ronson, too,” Elba said speaking to The Sun newspaper.
“Everyone speaks different languages [and] are different ages, but as soon as you play music, it’s just one frequency,” in a short film for vodka brand Grey Goose, Elba reflected on the unifying power of music.
The British-born star recently shared that he “throws everything” he’s got into his music. This might explain why he reportedly doesn’t sleep much. The “Luther” star is known for spending hours “fine-tuning” his tracks to perfection.
“I throw everything into my music, refining it and fine-tuning it until it hits right. That’s the same vibe I get with Grey Goose Altius. The dedication, the attention to detail — it’s about the craft in every drop, which is exactly what you want, when you’re celebrating something real,” he explained while entertaining guests at the official Grey Goose Altius launch party in a private villa at the hills of Cap Martinet, Ibiza.
Elba famously deejayed at the wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
“No! No, but it was my gift to my friends. I can’t afford anything [so I said] ‘Can I just DJ?’… Weddings are great and I hadn’t deejayed a wedding for a long time and that was fun. I was having a great time,” he humorously revealed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“It wasn’t on the playlist. I played some Dr. Dre,” Elba responded when asked if he played any Queen to get Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, on the dancefloor.
To mark the launch of Grey Goose Altius, the new luxury vodka inspired by the rare natural luxuries of the French Alps, Idris has revealed the summer anthem ‘Pushing On’. Stream the tune on Spotify now and experience the taste of Grey Goose Altius in select clubs and bars around the world.
Idris Elba, the suave Hijack actor and part-time DJ who defies age, is ready to turn the music world upside down by teaming up with rap sensation Doja Cat.
At 51, he isn’t just content with acting; he’s also a keen musician and DJ who dreams of collaborating with the “Paint The Town Red” hitmaker, 28.
“I’d really like to work with Doja Cat, she’s amazing. I’d also like to work with Black Coffee, he’s amazing. Mark Ronson, too,” Elba said speaking to The Sun newspaper.
“Everyone speaks different languages [and] are different ages, but as soon as you play music, it’s just one frequency,” in a short film for vodka brand Grey Goose, Elba reflected on the unifying power of music.
The British-born star recently shared that he “throws everything” he’s got into his music. This might explain why he reportedly doesn’t sleep much. The “Luther” star is known for spending hours “fine-tuning” his tracks to perfection.
“I throw everything into my music, refining it and fine-tuning it until it hits right. That’s the same vibe I get with Grey Goose Altius. The dedication, the attention to detail — it’s about the craft in every drop, which is exactly what you want, when you’re celebrating something real,” he explained while entertaining guests at the official Grey Goose Altius launch party in a private villa at the hills of Cap Martinet, Ibiza.
Elba famously deejayed at the wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
“No! No, but it was my gift to my friends. I can’t afford anything [so I said] ‘Can I just DJ?’… Weddings are great and I hadn’t deejayed a wedding for a long time and that was fun. I was having a great time,” he humorously revealed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“It wasn’t on the playlist. I played some Dr. Dre,” Elba responded when asked if he played any Queen to get Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, on the dancefloor.
To mark the launch of Grey Goose Altius, the new luxury vodka inspired by the rare natural luxuries of the French Alps, Idris has revealed the summer anthem ‘Pushing On’. Stream the tune on Spotify now and experience the taste of Grey Goose Altius in select clubs and bars around the world.
CNN Plans Launch of Digital Subscription Product by End of 2024 Amid Newsroom Layoffs
CNN is finally gearing up to compete more aggressively in the digital future, where rivals have already staked out ground.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-backed news outlet will launch a new subscription product on CNN.com before the end of the year, according to a new memo from CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson, and debut two new free ad-supported digital offerings, one based on CNN’s original series and productions, and another based on its Spanish-language service. The moves come amid an overhaul of CNN’s newsroom that will result in the elimination of 100 positions.
“We plan to take the journalistic firepower, user-experience and commercial potential of CNN Digital to the next level with strategic commitment, significant fresh investment, an injection of specialist expertise and plenty of creativity and experimentation,’” said Thompson, who didn’t offer granular details about the new subscription concept. “We will develop new digital products with a special focus on digital experiences worth paying for.”
The memo, like similar ones the news leader has issued in the recent past, was broad and, in some cases, vague. But it reveals his continued efforts to push CNN, a mainstay of traditional television into a new age even as news junkies increasingly turn to non-traditional video sources for both quick-hit information and in-depth reportage. The maneuver is crucial. Unlike many of its rivals, CNN has yet to develop a sustainable digital-video product. And while it experiments, competitors like NBC News and CBS News have launched content offerings that can be found everywhere from Amazon’s Fire portal to YouTube.
In some ways, the new concepts echo one of CNN’s biggest recent initiatives: The company in 2022 debuted CNN+, a subscription-based streaming hub that executives said represented the best way to capture die-hard viewers with a mix of lifestyle and news programming that relied on personalities including Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan and Kasie Hunt. Within a month of its launch, the service was shut down by CNN’s new parent corporation.
The new product seems to be narrower in scope — it will be offered via CNN’s popular website, not as a separate streaming hub — and could also serve as a trial balloon. Thompson laid out a vision of “creating a growing stable of ‘news you can use’ offerings anchored by lifestyle and features areas where CNN already has brand permission and is competitively positioned to win. Such products offer multiple opportunities for monetization through sponsorship, advertising and direct-to-consumer subscription.” He also noted that “we are currently assessing existing areas of digital strength,:” including “consumer advice” and health “as well as other less established categories to decide which areas to develop further.”
Thompson, who joined CNN as its new leader in 2023 after logging stints at the BBC and New York Times Co., has vowed to push the journalism unit into new digital frontiers, a bet that he can help build new revenue as CNN’s flagship cable network suffers from the defection of traditional TV watchers to streaming. CNN’s subscriber base is projected to fall 5.6% to 66.3 million in 2024 — an election year — according to estimates from Kagan, a market-research unit of S&P Global Intelligence. According to Kagan, CNN ended 2023 with 70.3 million subscribers.
To accomplish his goals, Thompson said in his memo he will reorganize CNN’s newsgathering structure and eliminate about 100 positions — about 2.8% of CNN’s employee base of 3,500. “Our priority throughout this process will be to treat them and every other CNN colleague with the respect, dignity, and the support you all deserve, including severance packages, career counseling and assistance with job placement,” he said.
CNN will break down divisions between U.S.-based and international news teams, as well as those that may exist between digital, text and video production. “Rather than separate tribes of TV and digital, international and domestic, we need to recognize that we are all journalists and storytellers first and foremost,” Thompson said. “We plan to provide more opportunities for everyone to learn new skills and new forms of storytelling, and more chances to move from one part of CNN to another.”
Thompson also laid out some goals for CNN’s TV operations, where he has recently been willing to cut costs. In February, CNN eliminated its regular morning program, “CNN This Morning” in the belief that the production outlays required to compete with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” along with the usual array of broadcast news mainstays, were no longer worth the price. CNN also launched the short-form news program “5 Things,” which has been streaming on Warner’s Max service, and will expand it to CNN.com
But that won’t be enough. Viewership for CNN’s current primetime lineup has sunk to some of the lowest levels in the network’s history. Charlie Moore, a longtime producer for Anderson Cooper, has been assigned to “find ways to further develop and strengthen our domestic primetime offering,” Thompson said. In a bid to devise new programming concepts, CNN will launch a TV Futures Lab that is charged with developing and managing programming for Max, but also with devising ways “to migrate the linear news experience to other new digital environments,” Thompson said.
CNN’s top executive offered a nod to the original architect of the news company, noting he hoped current staffers could help “reclaim the ‘pioneering spirit’ Ted Turner talked about at our founding and regain a leadership position in the news experiences of the future.” Turner, however, had what in hindsight appears to have been a much easier task of building something that had not previously existed. Thompson must try to preserve Turner’s original product while launching many others top help CNN capture the full potential audience for its programming in a very complex environment.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-backed news outlet will launch a new subscription product on CNN.com before the end of the year, according to a new memo from CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson, and debut two new free ad-supported digital offerings, one based on CNN’s original series and productions, and another based on its Spanish-language service. The moves come amid an overhaul of CNN’s newsroom that will result in the elimination of 100 positions.
“We plan to take the journalistic firepower, user-experience and commercial potential of CNN Digital to the next level with strategic commitment, significant fresh investment, an injection of specialist expertise and plenty of creativity and experimentation,’” said Thompson, who didn’t offer granular details about the new subscription concept. “We will develop new digital products with a special focus on digital experiences worth paying for.”
The memo, like similar ones the news leader has issued in the recent past, was broad and, in some cases, vague. But it reveals his continued efforts to push CNN, a mainstay of traditional television into a new age even as news junkies increasingly turn to non-traditional video sources for both quick-hit information and in-depth reportage. The maneuver is crucial. Unlike many of its rivals, CNN has yet to develop a sustainable digital-video product. And while it experiments, competitors like NBC News and CBS News have launched content offerings that can be found everywhere from Amazon’s Fire portal to YouTube.
In some ways, the new concepts echo one of CNN’s biggest recent initiatives: The company in 2022 debuted CNN+, a subscription-based streaming hub that executives said represented the best way to capture die-hard viewers with a mix of lifestyle and news programming that relied on personalities including Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan and Kasie Hunt. Within a month of its launch, the service was shut down by CNN’s new parent corporation.
The new product seems to be narrower in scope — it will be offered via CNN’s popular website, not as a separate streaming hub — and could also serve as a trial balloon. Thompson laid out a vision of “creating a growing stable of ‘news you can use’ offerings anchored by lifestyle and features areas where CNN already has brand permission and is competitively positioned to win. Such products offer multiple opportunities for monetization through sponsorship, advertising and direct-to-consumer subscription.” He also noted that “we are currently assessing existing areas of digital strength,:” including “consumer advice” and health “as well as other less established categories to decide which areas to develop further.”
Thompson, who joined CNN as its new leader in 2023 after logging stints at the BBC and New York Times Co., has vowed to push the journalism unit into new digital frontiers, a bet that he can help build new revenue as CNN’s flagship cable network suffers from the defection of traditional TV watchers to streaming. CNN’s subscriber base is projected to fall 5.6% to 66.3 million in 2024 — an election year — according to estimates from Kagan, a market-research unit of S&P Global Intelligence. According to Kagan, CNN ended 2023 with 70.3 million subscribers.
To accomplish his goals, Thompson said in his memo he will reorganize CNN’s newsgathering structure and eliminate about 100 positions — about 2.8% of CNN’s employee base of 3,500. “Our priority throughout this process will be to treat them and every other CNN colleague with the respect, dignity, and the support you all deserve, including severance packages, career counseling and assistance with job placement,” he said.
CNN will break down divisions between U.S.-based and international news teams, as well as those that may exist between digital, text and video production. “Rather than separate tribes of TV and digital, international and domestic, we need to recognize that we are all journalists and storytellers first and foremost,” Thompson said. “We plan to provide more opportunities for everyone to learn new skills and new forms of storytelling, and more chances to move from one part of CNN to another.”
Thompson also laid out some goals for CNN’s TV operations, where he has recently been willing to cut costs. In February, CNN eliminated its regular morning program, “CNN This Morning” in the belief that the production outlays required to compete with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” along with the usual array of broadcast news mainstays, were no longer worth the price. CNN also launched the short-form news program “5 Things,” which has been streaming on Warner’s Max service, and will expand it to CNN.com
But that won’t be enough. Viewership for CNN’s current primetime lineup has sunk to some of the lowest levels in the network’s history. Charlie Moore, a longtime producer for Anderson Cooper, has been assigned to “find ways to further develop and strengthen our domestic primetime offering,” Thompson said. In a bid to devise new programming concepts, CNN will launch a TV Futures Lab that is charged with developing and managing programming for Max, but also with devising ways “to migrate the linear news experience to other new digital environments,” Thompson said.
CNN’s top executive offered a nod to the original architect of the news company, noting he hoped current staffers could help “reclaim the ‘pioneering spirit’ Ted Turner talked about at our founding and regain a leadership position in the news experiences of the future.” Turner, however, had what in hindsight appears to have been a much easier task of building something that had not previously existed. Thompson must try to preserve Turner’s original product while launching many others top help CNN capture the full potential audience for its programming in a very complex environment.
Biden Campaign Blames ‘Pre-Existing Tensions’ With Clooney Over Gaza for Actor’s Op-Ed Calling for His Exit
The Biden-Harris campaign is partly blaming “pre-existing tensions” with George Clooney over the war in Gaza for the actor’s New York Times op-ed in which he called for President Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
When asked for a comment about the op-ed, an individual close to the campaign told TheWrap, “There were pre-existing tensions with Clooney. See the call on Gaza” and added that “the president had literally just gotten off the plane from G7” ahead of Clooney’s June 15 fundraiser, during which several people “complained about exhaustion and the grueling pace.”
In his op-ed Wednesday, Clooney wrote that at a fundraiser in June, Biden “was the same man” viewers saw during his disastrous debate appearance against Donald Trump on June 27.
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him,” Clooney wrote. “Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced,” the actor wrote.
“But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal‘ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.’”
The Biden-Harris campaign insisted the president stayed at the fundraiser in question 3 hours longer than Clooney. The campaign told the Times, “The President stayed for over three hours, while Clooney took a photo quickly and left.”
On June 6, the actor spoke to Biden advisor Steve Ricchetti about Biden’s response to the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Clooney’s wife, lawyer and human rights activist Amal Clooney, worked on the case, which Biden described as “outrageous.”
Clooney headlined that Biden fundraiser 12 days later.
Clooney’s op-ed is just the latest in a series of calls for Biden to step down. Director Rob Reiner repeated his own call on Wednesday in response to Clooney. He said on X, “My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying. We love and respect Joe Biden. We acknowledge all he has done for our country. But Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside.”
The Biden-Harris campaign is partly blaming “pre-existing tensions” with George Clooney over the war in Gaza for the actor’s New York Times op-ed in which he called for President Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
When asked for a comment about the op-ed, an individual close to the campaign told TheWrap, “There were pre-existing tensions with Clooney. See the call on Gaza” and added that “the president had literally just gotten off the plane from G7” ahead of Clooney’s June 15 fundraiser, during which several people “complained about exhaustion and the grueling pace.”
In his op-ed Wednesday, Clooney wrote that at a fundraiser in June, Biden “was the same man” viewers saw during his disastrous debate appearance against Donald Trump on June 27.
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him,” Clooney wrote. “Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced,” the actor wrote.
“But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal‘ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.’”
The Biden-Harris campaign insisted the president stayed at the fundraiser in question 3 hours longer than Clooney. The campaign told the Times, “The President stayed for over three hours, while Clooney took a photo quickly and left.”
On June 6, the actor spoke to Biden advisor Steve Ricchetti about Biden’s response to the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Clooney’s wife, lawyer and human rights activist Amal Clooney, worked on the case, which Biden described as “outrageous.”
Clooney headlined that Biden fundraiser 12 days later.
Clooney’s op-ed is just the latest in a series of calls for Biden to step down. Director Rob Reiner repeated his own call on Wednesday in response to Clooney. He said on X, “My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying. We love and respect Joe Biden. We acknowledge all he has done for our country. But Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside.”
Patti LaBelle Celebrates 65-year Career in Entertainment, Talks Retirement
*Patti LaBelle kicked off her “8065 Tour” on July 7 at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California.
As Billboard reports, “the numbers refer to LaBelle’s double celebration this year: her 80th birthday in May and 65-year career in entertainment,” the outlet writes.
“I’m very eclectic and very spontaneous,” LaBelle told Billboard in a new interview. “I will do a whole lot of different kinds of music,” she said of what fans can expect when they catch her on tour.
“You never know what I might do, but it’s going to be nice,” she continued.
“They [the shows] will be about who I am: a Bluebelles girl, a member of Labelle and then Patti LaBelle. It will be a reminder of what I’ve done all my life, you know? I just want to give a public thank you for all the years that people have been on my page with me,” the music icon added. “I can’t take that for granted because people can spend their money in other places, on other entertainers. But when they decide to see a Patti LaBelle show or to buy a Patti LaBelle record, I feel blessed.”
Elsewhere in the Billboard interview, the superstar reflected on her career, retirement, and the new wave of R&B female artists. Check out a few excerpts below.
Did you ever envision having a 65-year career? A lot of people can’t say that.
Because of my three sisters dying before they turned 50, I would always pray that I could make 50. When I did, it was like a miracle. God has given me grace and I’m still here. And to say that I’m still here at 80, still doing what I did when I was 20, 30 and 40 … it’s another blessing. Because you can’t always take for granted that you’re going to be here at the age of 80, still performing and still in your right mind. So every day I say, “Thank you God for another day.”
What one life lesson have you embraced during your 80 years? And what one music career lesson do you still carry with you after 65 years?
For the first: to not hold grudges. In 80 years, you can have a lot of things that could set you off or put you in a place where you say, “I hate this. I hate that.” But I don’t have hate in my life. I’ve learned to forgive those who have put me in such awful positions that you can’t think a person will forgive someone for doing that. But I’ve always taken the high road. So the older I get, the more I’ve become a forgiver. Because I always say there must be a real reason why a person is hurting, why they’re so ugly inside. So those people you pray for, and I sometimes bring them closer to me. It’s not going to hurt you to be nice to someone who’s not nice to you.
And for the second: that not everyone is going to accept me. There have been times in my 65 years of being in show business when there’s been a lot of rejection for Patti LaBelle: for my music, for my shows, for my acting, for whatever I’ve done in life. I know that everybody’s not going to accept it; that I’m going to get no’s and sometimes I’ll get some yeses. All of that stuff has happened in my life and will continue to happen because everybody’s not going to love Patti LaBelle.
What do you think about the new wave of female singer-songwriters in R&B right now?
There are a lot of great singers in young women such as Coco Jones and Victoria Monét. I continue to bless them on, honey. Don’t stop; don’t stop. And of course Beyoncé, my girl. I’m just happy for her period for everything she’s doing and will continue to do. I’m seeing a lot of goodness in these young ladies performing and selling the way they’re selling. When Beyoncé did her country album, I said, “You go, girl” because music is music. And she is from Texas and she’s holding them. I just want her to continue to do any type of music that she wants to do. Music doesn’t have a color; it doesn’t have a race. Music is music period.
When I was coming up, it [the industry climate] was nowhere near what it’s like now. It’s a much better place being a Black female performer; much more so than when we – Sarah, Nona, Cindy [Birdsong, a member of the Bluebelles] and I – were doing it at the time. So I’m very happy about the climate where Black women are singing anything they want. I wish it had been like that when we were coming up. But then again, if it was like that I might not appreciate what I have now as much as I do. We paid our dues.
Is the R word – retirement – in your vocabulary?
How do you spell it? [laughs]. That’s not in my book. No way. I’m going to keep on going. There’s no reason to stop unless you just can’t do anything anymore, right? And how can you retire from something you love?
As Billboard reports, “the numbers refer to LaBelle’s double celebration this year: her 80th birthday in May and 65-year career in entertainment,” the outlet writes.
“I’m very eclectic and very spontaneous,” LaBelle told Billboard in a new interview. “I will do a whole lot of different kinds of music,” she said of what fans can expect when they catch her on tour.
“You never know what I might do, but it’s going to be nice,” she continued.
“They [the shows] will be about who I am: a Bluebelles girl, a member of Labelle and then Patti LaBelle. It will be a reminder of what I’ve done all my life, you know? I just want to give a public thank you for all the years that people have been on my page with me,” the music icon added. “I can’t take that for granted because people can spend their money in other places, on other entertainers. But when they decide to see a Patti LaBelle show or to buy a Patti LaBelle record, I feel blessed.”
Elsewhere in the Billboard interview, the superstar reflected on her career, retirement, and the new wave of R&B female artists. Check out a few excerpts below.
Did you ever envision having a 65-year career? A lot of people can’t say that.
Because of my three sisters dying before they turned 50, I would always pray that I could make 50. When I did, it was like a miracle. God has given me grace and I’m still here. And to say that I’m still here at 80, still doing what I did when I was 20, 30 and 40 … it’s another blessing. Because you can’t always take for granted that you’re going to be here at the age of 80, still performing and still in your right mind. So every day I say, “Thank you God for another day.”
What one life lesson have you embraced during your 80 years? And what one music career lesson do you still carry with you after 65 years?
For the first: to not hold grudges. In 80 years, you can have a lot of things that could set you off or put you in a place where you say, “I hate this. I hate that.” But I don’t have hate in my life. I’ve learned to forgive those who have put me in such awful positions that you can’t think a person will forgive someone for doing that. But I’ve always taken the high road. So the older I get, the more I’ve become a forgiver. Because I always say there must be a real reason why a person is hurting, why they’re so ugly inside. So those people you pray for, and I sometimes bring them closer to me. It’s not going to hurt you to be nice to someone who’s not nice to you.
And for the second: that not everyone is going to accept me. There have been times in my 65 years of being in show business when there’s been a lot of rejection for Patti LaBelle: for my music, for my shows, for my acting, for whatever I’ve done in life. I know that everybody’s not going to accept it; that I’m going to get no’s and sometimes I’ll get some yeses. All of that stuff has happened in my life and will continue to happen because everybody’s not going to love Patti LaBelle.
What do you think about the new wave of female singer-songwriters in R&B right now?
There are a lot of great singers in young women such as Coco Jones and Victoria Monét. I continue to bless them on, honey. Don’t stop; don’t stop. And of course Beyoncé, my girl. I’m just happy for her period for everything she’s doing and will continue to do. I’m seeing a lot of goodness in these young ladies performing and selling the way they’re selling. When Beyoncé did her country album, I said, “You go, girl” because music is music. And she is from Texas and she’s holding them. I just want her to continue to do any type of music that she wants to do. Music doesn’t have a color; it doesn’t have a race. Music is music period.
When I was coming up, it [the industry climate] was nowhere near what it’s like now. It’s a much better place being a Black female performer; much more so than when we – Sarah, Nona, Cindy [Birdsong, a member of the Bluebelles] and I – were doing it at the time. So I’m very happy about the climate where Black women are singing anything they want. I wish it had been like that when we were coming up. But then again, if it was like that I might not appreciate what I have now as much as I do. We paid our dues.
Is the R word – retirement – in your vocabulary?
How do you spell it? [laughs]. That’s not in my book. No way. I’m going to keep on going. There’s no reason to stop unless you just can’t do anything anymore, right? And how can you retire from something you love?
Well Alright!
‘The Braxtons’ Return in New We TV Series Premiering in August | Watch Trailer
*We TV released the official trailer for the highly anticipated, all-new reality series, “The Braxtons.”
According to the news release, “The Braxtons promises to delve deeper into the lives of this iconic family, offering viewers unprecedented access and emotional resonance.”
The series will premiere on Friday, August 9, at 9:30 p.m. ET, airing exclusively on We TV and streaming on ALLBLK. Each hour-long episode will feature Toni, Towanda, Trina, Tamar, and Ms. Evelyn Braxton on an emotional rollercoaster of love, loss, triumph, heartbreak, and healing.
Here’s the official synopsis: In this new series, the fierce Braxton women reunite for the first time since the loss of their beloved sister, Traci, offering viewers a raw and unfiltered look at the family’s highs and lows across eight captivating episodes. Toni, Towanda, Trina, Tamar and Ms. E navigate careers, health challenges and busy personal lives while growing their family bond. Toni faces a critical health challenge as she prepares for her Vegas comeback. Trina starts therapy for PTSD. Towanda battles alopecia. Tamar focuses on her wellness journey. And Ms. E’s cooking show dream is becoming a reality. However, the family reuniting continues to bring up questions and unresolved issues. Will Traci’s last wish be enough for the family to be close again, as they once were?
The Braxton family’s triumphant return to television comes three years after the end of the iconic and captivating series, Braxton Family Values, which aired for seven eventful seasons.
Catch up on the original series with specials airing Friday, July 26, and Friday, August 2, at 9:30 p.m., exclusively on We TV. The two one-hour specials recap key moments, storylines, and all the love, laughter, and drama from Braxton Family Values.
Watch the trailer for “The Braxtons” via the YouTube clip HERE
Happy 50th Birthday To The “Queen Bee” Lil Kim!
Born on this date in 1974, Bedford-Stuyvesant native Lil’ Kim has certainly paved the way for female rappers to gain traction in a highly male-dominated world of hip-hop. Making her name, sound, and style notorious (no pun intended) in her appearance on Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s debut album, Conspiracy.
Backed by hardcore lyrics filled with provocative and liberating content, Kim’s attitude and determination broke down gender barriers (which female rappers currently still face) that excelled her respect in the game.
Kim’s resume includes many Hip Hop greats, timeless tracks, fashion moments, and jaw-dropping lyrics. As the musical heiress of the Notorious B.I.G. legacy, Kim has continued to rep the memory of “the greatest rapper of all time”, even naming her sophomore 2000 release Notorious K.I.M.
Morphing from a femcee from Bed Stuy into the iconic figure she is today is a trail that has only been traced by the likes of Cardi B, Megan The Stallion and today’s entire female rap roster. They all have to salute the Queen B.
We all send a heartfelt 50th born day shout to the Queen Bee on her Birthday!!
Backed by hardcore lyrics filled with provocative and liberating content, Kim’s attitude and determination broke down gender barriers (which female rappers currently still face) that excelled her respect in the game.
Kim’s resume includes many Hip Hop greats, timeless tracks, fashion moments, and jaw-dropping lyrics. As the musical heiress of the Notorious B.I.G. legacy, Kim has continued to rep the memory of “the greatest rapper of all time”, even naming her sophomore 2000 release Notorious K.I.M.
Morphing from a femcee from Bed Stuy into the iconic figure she is today is a trail that has only been traced by the likes of Cardi B, Megan The Stallion and today’s entire female rap roster. They all have to salute the Queen B.
We all send a heartfelt 50th born day shout to the Queen Bee on her Birthday!!
Supermodel Jessica White To Film New Modeling Show
Jessica White’s illustrious career began with Vogue and spans major magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Maxim, and Sports Illustrated. She’s also worked with CoverGirl and Maybelline and walked the runway for top designers such as Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, and Marc Jacobs. Currently, she stars on Love and Hip Hop ATL.
Now, as a veteran in the fashion industry, Jessica is filming Are You a Bombshell? to bridge the gap between aspiring models and agencies, helping women navigate the fashion world. This show is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, and Jessica is on a mission to discover and mentor the next iconic face of fashion.
Supermodel Jessica White is searching for the next iconic model, and we’re looking for all ages, genders, and sizes to audition. Join us on July 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, where history will be made.
Now, as a veteran in the fashion industry, Jessica is filming Are You a Bombshell? to bridge the gap between aspiring models and agencies, helping women navigate the fashion world. This show is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, and Jessica is on a mission to discover and mentor the next iconic face of fashion.
Supermodel Jessica White is searching for the next iconic model, and we’re looking for all ages, genders, and sizes to audition. Join us on July 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, where history will be made.
Black Man Sues Hotel for Discrimination After Changing Name on Resume to “John Jebrowski” Lands Him a Job Interview
A black man has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against a Michigan hotel, claiming that the hotel only offered him a job interview after he changed the name on his resume to a more traditionally white-sounding name.
Dwight Jackson, a 27-year-old with experience in the hospitality industry, applied for multiple positions at the Shinola Hotel in Detroit between January and April 2024. Despite his qualifications, which included roles at luxury hotels like Detroit’s Marriott Westin Book Cadillac and David Whitney Hotel, Jackson received no response when he applied under his real name.
Feeling suspicious, Jackson re-applied in April 2024 using the alias “John Jebrowski” with nearly identical resumes. This time, he was offered multiple interviews within the same week. According to the lawsuit, the resumes had different dates of previous employment but were otherwise the same.
“To be denied a job in 2024 in your hometown, for the color of your skin, goes beyond dollars and cents. It goes into the psyche of a person,” Jackson’s attorney, Jon Marko told CNN.
Sage Hospitality Group, Shinola Hotel’s operating partner, responded to the allegations through their spokesperson, Anna Stancioff. “We take this allegation very seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the community,” Stancioff stated.
Marko noted that Jackson’s case stands out due to the clear evidence of name bias. A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research supports this, showing that resumes with Black-sounding names received fewer callbacks compared to those with white-sounding names. Proving such bias, however, is often challenging, and many cases do not progress due to a lack of evidence.
A black man has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against a Michigan hotel, claiming that the hotel only offered him a job interview after he changed the name on his resume to a more traditionally white-sounding name.
Dwight Jackson, a 27-year-old with experience in the hospitality industry, applied for multiple positions at the Shinola Hotel in Detroit between January and April 2024. Despite his qualifications, which included roles at luxury hotels like Detroit’s Marriott Westin Book Cadillac and David Whitney Hotel, Jackson received no response when he applied under his real name.
Feeling suspicious, Jackson re-applied in April 2024 using the alias “John Jebrowski” with nearly identical resumes. This time, he was offered multiple interviews within the same week. According to the lawsuit, the resumes had different dates of previous employment but were otherwise the same.
“To be denied a job in 2024 in your hometown, for the color of your skin, goes beyond dollars and cents. It goes into the psyche of a person,” Jackson’s attorney, Jon Marko told CNN.
Sage Hospitality Group, Shinola Hotel’s operating partner, responded to the allegations through their spokesperson, Anna Stancioff. “We take this allegation very seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the community,” Stancioff stated.
Marko noted that Jackson’s case stands out due to the clear evidence of name bias. A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research supports this, showing that resumes with Black-sounding names received fewer callbacks compared to those with white-sounding names. Proving such bias, however, is often challenging, and many cases do not progress due to a lack of evidence.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Underwear Mask Keeping the Germs Away!
Underwear Mask, this should ASSist with keeping germs away!
Underwear Mask, this should ASSist with keeping germs away!
EVENING GOODIES: Meet Big Steve
Meet Steve! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember to exercise CAUTION AT WORK!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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