#MAGFAB: Ayo Edebiri in 'Crowning Glory' for WSJ Magazine June-July 2025
Actor Ayo Edebiri is styled by Tonne Goodman in Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Loewe, McQueen, Stella McCartney and more for a fashion story ‘Crowning Glory’.
Edebiri brings her grounded but visually magnetic starpower to WSJ Style’s June-July 2025 Issue [IG]. Photographer Ethan James Green’s [IG] camera seems to have struck its own fountain of attraction with the actor. / Hair by Lacy Redway; makeup by Hannah Murray
Recho Omondi talks to Edebiri, who isn’t only starring in ‘The Bear’ — she’s writing for the show.
Actor Ayo Edebiri is styled by Tonne Goodman in Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Loewe, McQueen, Stella McCartney and more for a fashion story ‘Crowning Glory’.
Edebiri brings her grounded but visually magnetic starpower to WSJ Style’s June-July 2025 Issue [IG]. Photographer Ethan James Green’s [IG] camera seems to have struck its own fountain of attraction with the actor. / Hair by Lacy Redway; makeup by Hannah Murray
Recho Omondi talks to Edebiri, who isn’t only starring in ‘The Bear’ — she’s writing for the show.
Cute!
#RHOA: ‘Porsha Williams’ Ex Husband Simon Guobadia, Has been Deported After Messy Divorce!
The ex-husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams’ won’t be returning to Atlanta anytime soon.
Simon Guobadia, 61, split with Williams, 43, last February after 15 months of marriage. His bad luck didn’t end there. On Tuesday Us Weekly reported that Guobadia was released from ICE custody after weeks at a detention center and deported to his home country of Nigeria.
He will now have to video call into the ex-lovebird’s remaining divorce hearings.
Simon Guobadia and Porsha Williams have been in a sticky legal battle after Guobadia sued Williams for allegedly defaming him for statements about his
Guobadia has been caught in a tense legal battle with Williams since their split. In November, Guobadia sued Williams for $75,000 alleging that she inflicted emotional distress, invaded his privacy, and defamed him.
According to the lawsuit, Williams maliciously posted “false and defamatory statements about Plaintiff on social media platforms, specifically implying that (Guobadia) suffers from erectile dysfunction.”
The claims have subjected Guobadia to “public ridicule.”
They’ve also gone head-to-head over their home, which Williams wants exclusive access to. The judge sided with her, allowing her to live in the house until the divorce proceedings end. The hearings have been repeatedly postponed due to Guobadia’s time in detention.
Guobadia and Williams had a whirlwind romance and announced their engagement in May 2021 after only one month of dating, and only one month after he split from his third wife and another former Real Housweives of Atlanta cast member Falynn Guobadia. He and Williams wed in a traditional Nigerian ceremony in November 2022, followed by an American ceremony. The duo starred together in a Real Housewives spin-off series Porsha’s Family Matters.
Guobadia had never been behind bars until he was snatched by immigration officers and held for months. He was put on a plane back home this week. His friend and business partner, Tai Savet, said that the businessman left in “good spirits” even after the tough experience. Guobadia started an online business selling t-shirts to protest ICE, with the merch saying “FREE SIMON” or “NO ICE THIS SUMMER.” Part of the proceeds of the t-shirt sales will be donated to custodial prison reform, according to the website.
Guobadia, who moved to the U.S. in 1982, reportedly overstayed his visa twice. He was deported in 1992 but that same year granted permanent residency status when he used an undisclosed identity, according to the federal filing. His attempts to gain citizenship over the next several years were unsuccessful, and in February he was detained by ICE in Georgia.
Simon Guobadia, 61, split with Williams, 43, last February after 15 months of marriage. His bad luck didn’t end there. On Tuesday Us Weekly reported that Guobadia was released from ICE custody after weeks at a detention center and deported to his home country of Nigeria.
He will now have to video call into the ex-lovebird’s remaining divorce hearings.
Simon Guobadia and Porsha Williams have been in a sticky legal battle after Guobadia sued Williams for allegedly defaming him for statements about his
Guobadia has been caught in a tense legal battle with Williams since their split. In November, Guobadia sued Williams for $75,000 alleging that she inflicted emotional distress, invaded his privacy, and defamed him.
According to the lawsuit, Williams maliciously posted “false and defamatory statements about Plaintiff on social media platforms, specifically implying that (Guobadia) suffers from erectile dysfunction.”
The claims have subjected Guobadia to “public ridicule.”
They’ve also gone head-to-head over their home, which Williams wants exclusive access to. The judge sided with her, allowing her to live in the house until the divorce proceedings end. The hearings have been repeatedly postponed due to Guobadia’s time in detention.
Guobadia and Williams had a whirlwind romance and announced their engagement in May 2021 after only one month of dating, and only one month after he split from his third wife and another former Real Housweives of Atlanta cast member Falynn Guobadia. He and Williams wed in a traditional Nigerian ceremony in November 2022, followed by an American ceremony. The duo starred together in a Real Housewives spin-off series Porsha’s Family Matters.
Guobadia had never been behind bars until he was snatched by immigration officers and held for months. He was put on a plane back home this week. His friend and business partner, Tai Savet, said that the businessman left in “good spirits” even after the tough experience. Guobadia started an online business selling t-shirts to protest ICE, with the merch saying “FREE SIMON” or “NO ICE THIS SUMMER.” Part of the proceeds of the t-shirt sales will be donated to custodial prison reform, according to the website.
Guobadia, who moved to the U.S. in 1982, reportedly overstayed his visa twice. He was deported in 1992 but that same year granted permanent residency status when he used an undisclosed identity, according to the federal filing. His attempts to gain citizenship over the next several years were unsuccessful, and in February he was detained by ICE in Georgia.
#MusicNews: Eric Benét Releases New Album “The Co-Star”
Legendary R&B singer Eric Benét has just released his ninth studio album “The Co-Star”.
On the new project, he expands on what he started with on his previous “DUETS EP” for an album full of collaborations. Over the course of the 13-track album, Benét positions himself as the “co-star” to a cast of high-caliber duet partners – highlighting some of the genre’s most iconic female voices.
Intentional with every vocal partner, Benét enlists the likes of Ari Lennox, Alex Isley, India.Arie, Judith Hill, Goapele, Melanie Fiona, Jordin Sparks and Autumn Paige. Throughout the album, Benét even calls upon artists like all-female Brazilian music trio SalDoce to connect bossa nova beats, and vocal powerhouse Pia Toscano to balance swelling orchestral moments.
Legendary R&B singer Eric Benét has just released his ninth studio album “The Co-Star”.
On the new project, he expands on what he started with on his previous “DUETS EP” for an album full of collaborations. Over the course of the 13-track album, Benét positions himself as the “co-star” to a cast of high-caliber duet partners – highlighting some of the genre’s most iconic female voices.
Intentional with every vocal partner, Benét enlists the likes of Ari Lennox, Alex Isley, India.Arie, Judith Hill, Goapele, Melanie Fiona, Jordin Sparks and Autumn Paige. Throughout the album, Benét even calls upon artists like all-female Brazilian music trio SalDoce to connect bossa nova beats, and vocal powerhouse Pia Toscano to balance swelling orchestral moments.
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He is also joined by notable names from his recent chart-topping EP like Chanté Moore, Tamar Braxton, Ledisi, LaTocha, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Featured on the album are the previously released hit singles “Something We Can Make Love To” with Tamar Braxton and “So Distracted” with Chanté Moore.
He is also joined by notable names from his recent chart-topping EP like Chanté Moore, Tamar Braxton, Ledisi, LaTocha, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Featured on the album are the previously released hit singles “Something We Can Make Love To” with Tamar Braxton and “So Distracted” with Chanté Moore.
#HipHopNews: Ye Has Changed His Name Again
 |
| Kanye West has once again changed his name. The artist formerly known as Kanye legally changed his name to Ye in 2021 and has now updated his moniker to “Ye Ye,” according to business documents obtained by Page Six. |
The filings, submitted by Hussain Lalani, his chief financial officer, show the new name listed across multiple business entities, including Yeezy Apparel, Yeezy Record Label, LLC, and Getting Out Our Dreams Inc. The paperwork replaces the previously used “Ye West” and identifies “Ye Ye” as the “manager or member name” tied to each company.
Despite the formal change, Ye Ye has yet to publicly acknowledge the new name on his social media accounts. Earlier this month, the rapper announced that he would stop using his @kanyewest X handle, stating, “Ima finally stop using the @kanyewest twitter cause my name is Ye. Gonna start a ye account and it is what it is.”
Back in 2018, the Donda creator revealed that he dropped his birth name and was going by a new moniker.
“The being formally known as Kanye West. I am YE,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) before releasing his synonymously titled album. He made the switch official three years later, citing “personal reasons” in legal documents, with a judge approving the name change in 2021.
In March 2024, Ye’s chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, sent a letter urging media outlets, streaming services, and platforms to permanently refer to the artist by his chosen name, stating, “Ye is one of the most recognizable people in the world, on par with presidents and popes.”
The letter also made clear that the name change was more than branding. It was about his autonomy and rejecting what Ye has described as his “slave name.”
Despite the formal change, Ye Ye has yet to publicly acknowledge the new name on his social media accounts. Earlier this month, the rapper announced that he would stop using his @kanyewest X handle, stating, “Ima finally stop using the @kanyewest twitter cause my name is Ye. Gonna start a ye account and it is what it is.”
“The being formally known as Kanye West. I am YE,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) before releasing his synonymously titled album. He made the switch official three years later, citing “personal reasons” in legal documents, with a judge approving the name change in 2021.
In March 2024, Ye’s chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, sent a letter urging media outlets, streaming services, and platforms to permanently refer to the artist by his chosen name, stating, “Ye is one of the most recognizable people in the world, on par with presidents and popes.”
The letter also made clear that the name change was more than branding. It was about his autonomy and rejecting what Ye has described as his “slave name.”
The Original Boy of Summer #RIPBrianWilson, The Beach Boys Co-Founder and Singer, Dies at 82
Brian Wilson, the pop music genius and singer who co-founded the Beach Boys, has died. He was 82.
The musician's family announced his death on Wednesday, June 11 in an Instagram post featuring a recent photo of the star smiling on a bench.
"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away," the statement read. "We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."
Described in 1975 as the "formative genius of the group," Wilson served as the rock band's songwriter and co-lead vocalist and also played bass guitar and keyboard alongside brothers, Dennis and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, who all were part of the original lineup.
Born on June 20, 1942 in Inglewood, Calif., Wilson was the eldest child among his siblings, including Dennis and Carl, who were born in 1944 and 1946, respectively. From an early age, he was said to have an aptitude for music, with two biographies — Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius and Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds — detailing his abilities with pitch and melody.
At age 19, Wilson — along with his brothers, Love and Jardine — formed the Beach Boys, which was initially known as the Pendletones, and co-wrote the group's first song, "Surfin'." By 1962, they released their first studio album, Surfin' Safari. And with the success of their sophomore effort, Surfin' U.S.A., and two subsequent albums also released in 1963, they helped cultivate — and became synonymous with — the "California sound."
A few years later, Wilson helped the group expand beyond that surf and beach culture with more mature music, culminating in 1966's Pet Sounds, 1967's scrapped effort, Smile, and the single "Good Vibrations." The first is what eventually cemented Wilson and the Beach Boys' place in rock 'n' roll history, with the album going on to become one of the most influential of all time.
When it comes to "Good Vibrations," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, Wilson told PEOPLE in 2018, "That was a very complex record."
He added, "We cut that in four studios. The verses at Gold Star, the bridge at Sunset Sound, the background music for the choruses at Western, and the vocals at Columbia. My brothers said, 'Brian, this is going to be a No. 1 record.' I said, 'I know!' "
Despite the Beach Boys' soaring popularity and continued success on the charts, Wilson started to succumb to various mental instabilities brought on by depression over deafness in his right ear, an unofficial musical rivalry with the Beatles, the relentless nature of being on tour and what PEOPLE described later, in 1975, as "the excesses of the '60s," Wilson became a "victim of his own genius." Years later, after continued mental decline and increased self-destructive behavior, he went into reclusion after his father's death in June 1973.
In 1991, Wilson talked about his father's abuse and a "two-by-four [he hit him with] caused deafness in my right ear,'' adding that his ''childhood and adolescence were very sad times in my life, because I always had to turn my head to hear things, trying to imagine where those voices were coming from.''
With the help of psychologist Eugene Landy, Wilson eventually made a brief comeback in 1976, helping produce the album, The Beach Boys Love You, before falling back into another years-long depression fueled by drugs and alcohol.
In the 1970s Wilson faced health challenges, including depression and substance abuse.
After he "became obese and withdrawn in the 70s," PEOPLE wrote in 1983, Wilson "put his piano inside a huge indoor sandbox and for one two-year period never ventured out of the house." But after a second intervention led by Landy, "the 40-year-old singer-songwriter-producer has kicked booze and a three-pack-a-day cigarette habit, and is sticking to a regimen that has peeled 100 pounds off his 6'2" frame."
"I've been through a great deal of mental anguish," Wilson told PEOPLE. "I felt like a fat slob. It was very embarrassing. I used to go onstage and it was scary. Now I'm getting used to it. I feel a little more confidence in myself." He added that through therapy, "I had to learn to get off a lot of bad stuff."
By the mid-1990s, Wilson embarked on a career resurgence, which saw him going back into the studio and performing onstage again. He released several solo albums during that time, including 2004's Brian Wilson Presents Smile, which was his version of the previously uncompleted Beach Boys' record.
In 2012, he released his 11th solo album, At My Piano, the same year the Beach Boys performed at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, capping off a successful 50th anniversary tour and celebrated release of the album, That's Why God Made the Radio.
"I feel good. I really do feel good these days," Wilson told PEOPLE, adding that "this whole year has been very emotional and — what do you call that word? — sentimental."
Throughout his career, Wilson received a number of accolades. He earned nine Grammy Award nominations, collecting most of those early on with the Beach Boys. His two wins, however, were for his solo work in 2005 and 2013.
As a member of the Beach Boys, he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He was also recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 and earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2016 for writing an original song featured on the soundtrack of the biopic, Love & Mercy, starring Paul Dano as Wilson.
Wilson's life and career was subsequently chronicled in the 2021 documentary, Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road.
During all of this, Wilson was married twice, first to Marilyn Rovell, from 1964 to 1979, and then to Melinda Kae Ledbetter, whom he married in 1995. They were together until her death in January 2024.
A month later his family filed for a conservatorship in a Los Angeles court stating that he had a "major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia)." They also noted that Wilson was “unable to properly provide for his... personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter.”
Wilson had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, born in 1968 and 1969 respectively with his first wife. In the 1980s the siblings formed the chart-topping girl group, Wilson Phillips, with Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas.
With Ledbetter, Wilson adopted five children: Daria, Delanie, Dylan, Dash and Dakota Rose. "They're good kids," the singer told PEOPLE in December 2012.
Wilson is survived by his children.
Brian Wilson, the pop music genius and singer who co-founded the Beach Boys, has died. He was 82.
The musician's family announced his death on Wednesday, June 11 in an Instagram post featuring a recent photo of the star smiling on a bench.
"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away," the statement read. "We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."
Described in 1975 as the "formative genius of the group," Wilson served as the rock band's songwriter and co-lead vocalist and also played bass guitar and keyboard alongside brothers, Dennis and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, who all were part of the original lineup.
Born on June 20, 1942 in Inglewood, Calif., Wilson was the eldest child among his siblings, including Dennis and Carl, who were born in 1944 and 1946, respectively. From an early age, he was said to have an aptitude for music, with two biographies — Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius and Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds — detailing his abilities with pitch and melody.
At age 19, Wilson — along with his brothers, Love and Jardine — formed the Beach Boys, which was initially known as the Pendletones, and co-wrote the group's first song, "Surfin'." By 1962, they released their first studio album, Surfin' Safari. And with the success of their sophomore effort, Surfin' U.S.A., and two subsequent albums also released in 1963, they helped cultivate — and became synonymous with — the "California sound."
A few years later, Wilson helped the group expand beyond that surf and beach culture with more mature music, culminating in 1966's Pet Sounds, 1967's scrapped effort, Smile, and the single "Good Vibrations." The first is what eventually cemented Wilson and the Beach Boys' place in rock 'n' roll history, with the album going on to become one of the most influential of all time.
When it comes to "Good Vibrations," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, Wilson told PEOPLE in 2018, "That was a very complex record."
He added, "We cut that in four studios. The verses at Gold Star, the bridge at Sunset Sound, the background music for the choruses at Western, and the vocals at Columbia. My brothers said, 'Brian, this is going to be a No. 1 record.' I said, 'I know!' "
Despite the Beach Boys' soaring popularity and continued success on the charts, Wilson started to succumb to various mental instabilities brought on by depression over deafness in his right ear, an unofficial musical rivalry with the Beatles, the relentless nature of being on tour and what PEOPLE described later, in 1975, as "the excesses of the '60s," Wilson became a "victim of his own genius." Years later, after continued mental decline and increased self-destructive behavior, he went into reclusion after his father's death in June 1973.
In 1991, Wilson talked about his father's abuse and a "two-by-four [he hit him with] caused deafness in my right ear,'' adding that his ''childhood and adolescence were very sad times in my life, because I always had to turn my head to hear things, trying to imagine where those voices were coming from.''
With the help of psychologist Eugene Landy, Wilson eventually made a brief comeback in 1976, helping produce the album, The Beach Boys Love You, before falling back into another years-long depression fueled by drugs and alcohol.
In the 1970s Wilson faced health challenges, including depression and substance abuse.
After he "became obese and withdrawn in the 70s," PEOPLE wrote in 1983, Wilson "put his piano inside a huge indoor sandbox and for one two-year period never ventured out of the house." But after a second intervention led by Landy, "the 40-year-old singer-songwriter-producer has kicked booze and a three-pack-a-day cigarette habit, and is sticking to a regimen that has peeled 100 pounds off his 6'2" frame."
"I've been through a great deal of mental anguish," Wilson told PEOPLE. "I felt like a fat slob. It was very embarrassing. I used to go onstage and it was scary. Now I'm getting used to it. I feel a little more confidence in myself." He added that through therapy, "I had to learn to get off a lot of bad stuff."
By the mid-1990s, Wilson embarked on a career resurgence, which saw him going back into the studio and performing onstage again. He released several solo albums during that time, including 2004's Brian Wilson Presents Smile, which was his version of the previously uncompleted Beach Boys' record.
In 2012, he released his 11th solo album, At My Piano, the same year the Beach Boys performed at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, capping off a successful 50th anniversary tour and celebrated release of the album, That's Why God Made the Radio.
"I feel good. I really do feel good these days," Wilson told PEOPLE, adding that "this whole year has been very emotional and — what do you call that word? — sentimental."
Throughout his career, Wilson received a number of accolades. He earned nine Grammy Award nominations, collecting most of those early on with the Beach Boys. His two wins, however, were for his solo work in 2005 and 2013.
As a member of the Beach Boys, he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He was also recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 and earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2016 for writing an original song featured on the soundtrack of the biopic, Love & Mercy, starring Paul Dano as Wilson.
Wilson's life and career was subsequently chronicled in the 2021 documentary, Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road.
During all of this, Wilson was married twice, first to Marilyn Rovell, from 1964 to 1979, and then to Melinda Kae Ledbetter, whom he married in 1995. They were together until her death in January 2024.
A month later his family filed for a conservatorship in a Los Angeles court stating that he had a "major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia)." They also noted that Wilson was “unable to properly provide for his... personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter.”
Wilson had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, born in 1968 and 1969 respectively with his first wife. In the 1980s the siblings formed the chart-topping girl group, Wilson Phillips, with Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas.
With Ledbetter, Wilson adopted five children: Daria, Delanie, Dylan, Dash and Dakota Rose. "They're good kids," the singer told PEOPLE in December 2012.
Wilson is survived by his children.
Former Lead Singer of Christian Rock Band Newsboys Confesses to Making ‘Unwanted Sensual’ Advances, Cocaine and Alcohol Abuse
Christian rock band Newsboys’ lead singer Michael Tait is speaking out following allegations of sexual assault.
Tait, 59, previously announced his departure from Newsboys on Jan. 16, writing on Instagram that it was a "monumental and heartfelt decision" that "has been a shock to even myself."
Then on Wednesday, June 4, The Roys Report published an investigation about sexual assault allegations against Tait. The alleged incidents took place between 2004 and 2014. The Christian media outlet facilitated a two-and-a-half-year investigation, and said it spoke with three men who allege Tait befriended them on Christian music tours in 2004, 2010 and 2014 and sexually assaulted them. Tait joined Newsboys in 2009 following the exit of band co-founder Peter Furler.
Tait has now addressed the allegations in an Instagram post titled “My Confession" on Tuesday, June 10, acknowledging that the reports of drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity “are sadly, largely true.”
“For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way,” he wrote.
“I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it — sin. I don't blame anyone or anything but myself,” he continued, adding that he “might dispute certain details in the accusations,” but he “[does] not dispute the substance of them.”
He acknowledged that his January departure from Newsboys was so he could “get help,” explaining, “I was not healthy, physically or spiritually, and was tired of leading a double life.” He added that he received six weeks of treatment in a Utah treatment center, “that may have saved my life from ultimate destruction.”
“I have been clean and sober since, though I still have lots of hard work ahead of me,” he wrote.
He continued by remarking that he was “for the most part, living two distinctly different lives.” Adding, “I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday.”
“I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don't deserve it. I have even accepted the thought that God may be the only One who ultimately and completely forgives me,” Tait wrote. “Still, I want to say I'm sorry to everyone I have hurt. I am truly sorry.”
He said that he “started on a path to health, healing, and wholeness” before the news of his alleged transgressions became public, and thanked clinical health professionals, loving family, caring friends, and wise counselors, who “saw my brokenness and surrounded me with love, grace, and prayer.”
Tait continued: “I accept the consequences of my sin and am committed to continuing the hard work of repentance and healing-work I will do quietly and privately, away from the stage and the spotlight.”
“To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that,” he acknowledged. “But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I have been a horrible representative of Him-for He alone is ultimately the only hope for any of us.”
Ahead of Tait’s confession, the current members of the Newsboys — Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee — released a statement on Thursday, June 5.
The band shared a note on Instagram. “Our hearts were shattered when we read the news alleging drug abuse and inappropriate sexual actions by our former lead singer, Michael Tait," read the statement.
They added, "We are horrified, heartbroken, and angry at this report and in many ways, we feel as if we and our families have been deceived for the last fifteen years."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Christian rock band Newsboys’ lead singer Michael Tait is speaking out following allegations of sexual assault.
Tait, 59, previously announced his departure from Newsboys on Jan. 16, writing on Instagram that it was a "monumental and heartfelt decision" that "has been a shock to even myself."
Then on Wednesday, June 4, The Roys Report published an investigation about sexual assault allegations against Tait. The alleged incidents took place between 2004 and 2014. The Christian media outlet facilitated a two-and-a-half-year investigation, and said it spoke with three men who allege Tait befriended them on Christian music tours in 2004, 2010 and 2014 and sexually assaulted them. Tait joined Newsboys in 2009 following the exit of band co-founder Peter Furler.
Tait has now addressed the allegations in an Instagram post titled “My Confession" on Tuesday, June 10, acknowledging that the reports of drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity “are sadly, largely true.”
“For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way,” he wrote.
“I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it — sin. I don't blame anyone or anything but myself,” he continued, adding that he “might dispute certain details in the accusations,” but he “[does] not dispute the substance of them.”
He acknowledged that his January departure from Newsboys was so he could “get help,” explaining, “I was not healthy, physically or spiritually, and was tired of leading a double life.” He added that he received six weeks of treatment in a Utah treatment center, “that may have saved my life from ultimate destruction.”
“I have been clean and sober since, though I still have lots of hard work ahead of me,” he wrote.
He continued by remarking that he was “for the most part, living two distinctly different lives.” Adding, “I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday.”
“I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don't deserve it. I have even accepted the thought that God may be the only One who ultimately and completely forgives me,” Tait wrote. “Still, I want to say I'm sorry to everyone I have hurt. I am truly sorry.”
He said that he “started on a path to health, healing, and wholeness” before the news of his alleged transgressions became public, and thanked clinical health professionals, loving family, caring friends, and wise counselors, who “saw my brokenness and surrounded me with love, grace, and prayer.”
Tait continued: “I accept the consequences of my sin and am committed to continuing the hard work of repentance and healing-work I will do quietly and privately, away from the stage and the spotlight.”
“To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that,” he acknowledged. “But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I have been a horrible representative of Him-for He alone is ultimately the only hope for any of us.”
Ahead of Tait’s confession, the current members of the Newsboys — Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee — released a statement on Thursday, June 5.
The band shared a note on Instagram. “Our hearts were shattered when we read the news alleging drug abuse and inappropriate sexual actions by our former lead singer, Michael Tait," read the statement.
They added, "We are horrified, heartbroken, and angry at this report and in many ways, we feel as if we and our families have been deceived for the last fifteen years."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Claressa Shields Questions Angel Reese Winning BET Award Over Her: “I Just Thought Accolades Mattered”
Boxer Claressa Shields is wondering how Angel Reese beat her out for Sportswoman Of The Year at the 2025 BET Awards, taking to X Tuesday (June 10) to share her surprise at losing to the WNBA star.
“Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the @BETAwards,” Shields began,
“but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees [shrug emoji] I just thought accolades mattered.”
Followers of the Olympian were quick to question her statement, with one replying in defense of the Chicago Sky player, “You a got [lot] ms shields but reese has accolades too.” Shields went on to respond, “Yes she does but who has more accolades…. More success in their field. Please use google before responding.”
“It goes year by year not an overall award,” the account replied, “please read up on the award before you complain about it.”
After receiving more pushback, Shields followed up with, “Ain’t nobody saying Angel Reese don’t have accolades or she not good…. I’m saying I thought the person with “THE MOST” accolades & accomplishments would win the Award. I’m team Angel Reese!”
Reese has yet to address Shields’ thoughts on who truly deserves the recognition.
Reese and Shields were both up against fellow athletes Dawn Staley, A’ja Wilson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, Flau’jae Johnson, Coco Gauff, and JuJu Watkins, with Reese going home the victor. On the men’s side, Sportsman Of The Year nominees included Aaron Judge, Anthony Edwards, Deion Sanders, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Saquon Barkley, Stephen Curry and Jalen Hurts, with the Philadelphia Eagle taking home the prize.
Going home empty handed aside, Shields seemed to enjoy her night out at the awards ceremony with boyfriend, Papoose. “Fortunate For All My Blessings [trophy emoji] For My First BET Nomination, I came how a Champion Should. We Enjoyed the Full @Betawards @bet Experience!,” she captured a carousel of snaps of herself and the Brooklyn rapper.
“Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the @BETAwards,” Shields began,
“but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees [shrug emoji] I just thought accolades mattered.”
Followers of the Olympian were quick to question her statement, with one replying in defense of the Chicago Sky player, “You a got [lot] ms shields but reese has accolades too.” Shields went on to respond, “Yes she does but who has more accolades…. More success in their field. Please use google before responding.”
“It goes year by year not an overall award,” the account replied, “please read up on the award before you complain about it.”
After receiving more pushback, Shields followed up with, “Ain’t nobody saying Angel Reese don’t have accolades or she not good…. I’m saying I thought the person with “THE MOST” accolades & accomplishments would win the Award. I’m team Angel Reese!”
Reese has yet to address Shields’ thoughts on who truly deserves the recognition.
Reese and Shields were both up against fellow athletes Dawn Staley, A’ja Wilson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, Flau’jae Johnson, Coco Gauff, and JuJu Watkins, with Reese going home the victor. On the men’s side, Sportsman Of The Year nominees included Aaron Judge, Anthony Edwards, Deion Sanders, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Saquon Barkley, Stephen Curry and Jalen Hurts, with the Philadelphia Eagle taking home the prize.
Going home empty handed aside, Shields seemed to enjoy her night out at the awards ceremony with boyfriend, Papoose. “Fortunate For All My Blessings [trophy emoji] For My First BET Nomination, I came how a Champion Should. We Enjoyed the Full @Betawards @bet Experience!,” she captured a carousel of snaps of herself and the Brooklyn rapper.
R. Kelly's attorney seeks his release from prison, says singer's life is in danger
In this June 6, 2019, file photo, singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 additional sex-related felonies during a court hearing before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. An updated federal indictment filed on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Chicago, refers to yet another minor accusing R. Kelly of sexual misconduct, adding to the jailed singer’s mounting legal challenges across three states.
Singer R. Kelly, who is currently serving a 31-year prison sentence for sex crimes, now wants out of a North Carolina federal prison as his attorneys claimed in court Tuesday that his life is in danger.
In stunning new allegations from the attorneys representing Robert Sylvester Kelly, a convicted felon, attorney Beau Brindley filed a motion seeking Kelly's immediate release from the federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, alleging prison officials and prosecutors have taken out a hit on Kelly's life while he remains behind bars.
"These are people who seek to kill Mr. Kelly rather than allow the corrupt criminal conduct of those who manufactured his convictions be exposed," Brindley said during a press conference after the hearing.
In September of 2021, Kelly was convicted on multiple counts of racketeering, sex trafficking and child pornography in connection with allegations that he used his fame to abuse young women and girls. He also faced similar charges in Chicago, but those were dropped due to his earlier convictions.
Kelly, who has vehemently denied the allegations against him, rose from poverty in Chicago to become one of the world’s biggest R&B stars. Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and for sex-infused songs such as “Bump n’ Grind,” he sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s.
Kelly had also sought prison release prior to his convictions, citing the coronavirus pandemic and fears of becoming ill while in jail. He was transferred from the Metropolitan Correctional Center Chicago to the federal correctional institution in Butner, North Carolina, in April 2023, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.
Now, his attorney says the convictions were the result of a weaponized justice system and Kelly’s life is in danger.
"We recognize the stunning quality of these allegations, but in the end, these are not allegations made by R. Kelly. These are not allegations made by my office. These are allegations made by men who were solicited by government prosecutors and Bureau of Prisons officials," Brindley said, citing two inmates who he said claim they were asked to kill Kelly.
Brindley alleges that prosecutors and others hired white supremacists to carry out his client's killing in prison.
The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on pending litigation.
Kelly's attorneys said they plan to ask President Donald Trump for a pardon in his case.
"At this point, he seems to be the only person with the power and the courage to stand up to these people and make it count," Brindley said.
The White House has not commented on if it has received Kelly’s request or what will happen if it does.
In this June 6, 2019, file photo, singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 additional sex-related felonies during a court hearing before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. An updated federal indictment filed on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Chicago, refers to yet another minor accusing R. Kelly of sexual misconduct, adding to the jailed singer’s mounting legal challenges across three states.
Singer R. Kelly, who is currently serving a 31-year prison sentence for sex crimes, now wants out of a North Carolina federal prison as his attorneys claimed in court Tuesday that his life is in danger.
In stunning new allegations from the attorneys representing Robert Sylvester Kelly, a convicted felon, attorney Beau Brindley filed a motion seeking Kelly's immediate release from the federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, alleging prison officials and prosecutors have taken out a hit on Kelly's life while he remains behind bars.
"These are people who seek to kill Mr. Kelly rather than allow the corrupt criminal conduct of those who manufactured his convictions be exposed," Brindley said during a press conference after the hearing.
In September of 2021, Kelly was convicted on multiple counts of racketeering, sex trafficking and child pornography in connection with allegations that he used his fame to abuse young women and girls. He also faced similar charges in Chicago, but those were dropped due to his earlier convictions.
Kelly, who has vehemently denied the allegations against him, rose from poverty in Chicago to become one of the world’s biggest R&B stars. Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and for sex-infused songs such as “Bump n’ Grind,” he sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s.
Kelly had also sought prison release prior to his convictions, citing the coronavirus pandemic and fears of becoming ill while in jail. He was transferred from the Metropolitan Correctional Center Chicago to the federal correctional institution in Butner, North Carolina, in April 2023, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.
Now, his attorney says the convictions were the result of a weaponized justice system and Kelly’s life is in danger.
"We recognize the stunning quality of these allegations, but in the end, these are not allegations made by R. Kelly. These are not allegations made by my office. These are allegations made by men who were solicited by government prosecutors and Bureau of Prisons officials," Brindley said, citing two inmates who he said claim they were asked to kill Kelly.
Brindley alleges that prosecutors and others hired white supremacists to carry out his client's killing in prison.
The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on pending litigation.
Kelly's attorneys said they plan to ask President Donald Trump for a pardon in his case.
"At this point, he seems to be the only person with the power and the courage to stand up to these people and make it count," Brindley said.
The White House has not commented on if it has received Kelly’s request or what will happen if it does.
Simone Biles Speaks Out After Calling Conservative Activist Riley Gaines ‘Truly Sick’ Over Comments About Transgender Athletes
Simone Biles is setting the record straight following her recent online clash with conservative activist and former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines.
In a post shared to X, Simone, 28, acknowledged that her initial response to Riley, 25, over comments about a transgender softball player may not have been in the best taste. Still, the iconic gymnast stood firm in her stance that the trans community deserves more support, not bullying, especially in sports. She wrote:
“I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for. These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect. I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports. My objection is to singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over.”
Simone added that she believes “sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition.”
Her post comes after she initially called Riley “truly sick” in response to snarky comments the swimmer made about a high school softball team’s state championship win with a transgender pitcher.
In a post shared to X, Simone, 28, acknowledged that her initial response to Riley, 25, over comments about a transgender softball player may not have been in the best taste. Still, the iconic gymnast stood firm in her stance that the trans community deserves more support, not bullying, especially in sports. She wrote:
“I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for. These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect. I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports. My objection is to singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over.”
Simone added that she believes “sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition.”
Her post comes after she initially called Riley “truly sick” in response to snarky comments the swimmer made about a high school softball team’s state championship win with a transgender pitcher.
Raphael Saadiq Would’ve Rather Had Lauryn Hill In Lucy Pearl?
Raphael Saadiq reportedly shaded his former Lucy Pearl bandmate Dawn Robinson during his No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits show on Saturday (June 7) in Oakland, Calif.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that during his one-man show, Saadiq somewhat confessed that he would’ve preferred having Lauryn Hill in Lucy Pearl instead of Robinson. The group was originally composed of Saddiq, Robinson, and A Tribe Called Quest‘s Ali Shaheed Muhammad from 1999 until 2001.
“We had our own Lauryn Hill. Actually, I’d rather have Lauryn,” Saddiq stated. He also spoke about Robinson’s abrupt departure in 2001 and noted similarities between that and her exit from En Vogue. “I couldn’t believe it. We did an album in six months, but toured for less than a month,” he explained.
After singing his rendition of Lucy Pearl’s most successful hit, “Dance Tonight,” Saadiq quipped, “See! I didn’t need her. I could’ve sang it myself.” He later revealed his true thoughts on her claim about being homeless. “That s**t about her living in her car is not real,” he suggested.
Back in March, Robinson shared that she’d been living in her car for nearly three years, but promptly clarified that she wasn’t “homeless.”
“I felt free,” she shared about her decision. “I felt like I was on a camping trip. It just felt like it was the right thing to do.” Robinson described this chapter of her life as “awakening, healing, forgiving, and growing,” adding, “It’s not ‘woe is me.’ I’m learning about who I am, I’m learning myself as a person, as a woman.”
Raphael Saadiq reportedly shaded his former Lucy Pearl bandmate Dawn Robinson during his No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits show on Saturday (June 7) in Oakland, Calif.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that during his one-man show, Saadiq somewhat confessed that he would’ve preferred having Lauryn Hill in Lucy Pearl instead of Robinson. The group was originally composed of Saddiq, Robinson, and A Tribe Called Quest‘s Ali Shaheed Muhammad from 1999 until 2001.
“We had our own Lauryn Hill. Actually, I’d rather have Lauryn,” Saddiq stated. He also spoke about Robinson’s abrupt departure in 2001 and noted similarities between that and her exit from En Vogue. “I couldn’t believe it. We did an album in six months, but toured for less than a month,” he explained.
After singing his rendition of Lucy Pearl’s most successful hit, “Dance Tonight,” Saadiq quipped, “See! I didn’t need her. I could’ve sang it myself.” He later revealed his true thoughts on her claim about being homeless. “That s**t about her living in her car is not real,” he suggested.
Back in March, Robinson shared that she’d been living in her car for nearly three years, but promptly clarified that she wasn’t “homeless.”
“I felt free,” she shared about her decision. “I felt like I was on a camping trip. It just felt like it was the right thing to do.” Robinson described this chapter of her life as “awakening, healing, forgiving, and growing,” adding, “It’s not ‘woe is me.’ I’m learning about who I am, I’m learning myself as a person, as a woman.”
Serena and Venus Williams to Premiere Video Podcast on Elon Musk’s X
The Williams sisters’ show will debut this August on X. The podcast, featuring the duo as co-hosts, will center around guest interviews with “visionaries, creators and rulebreakers passionate about shattering the status quo” to give fans “a front-row seat into their playful banter and undeniable bond,” according to their press announcement.
“We’re so excited to be launching our new podcast, a place where we will share our personal stories, have authentic conversations, spotlight important topics, and laugh a lot,” the Williams sisters said in a joint statement provided to Variety. “This platform gives us the chance to engage directly with our fans who have supported us throughout our careers, and we’re excited to connect with audiences, old and new, in a way we’ve never done before.”
Their podcast will premiere on X before becoming available on other audio platforms. Venus and Serena are among the most popular sports personalities on X — cutting across generational and geographic lines, according to the social media company. Serena currently has 10.2 million followers, and Venus counts 1.6 million.
Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam tennis championship titles, which is the most in the Open Era. Venus Williams has taken home seven trophies at pro tennis’ majors (five at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open). Together, they have 14 Grand Slam titles as doubles partners (and three Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles).
The sisters’ video podcast will be produced in collaboration with Serena Williams’ Nine Two Six Productions. Both of the Williams sisters are repped by WME.
Serena, who was named to Time’s 2025 list of the 100 most influential people, is mentioned on X more than 5,000 times per day, according to the social media company. (That’s about 25% higher than NBA great Michael Jordan.) Venus, who has been an avid advocate for equal pay for women athletes, was the first female champion at Wimbledon to receive equal prize money as her male counterpart in 2007.
The podcast joins other original content on X, including Khloé Kardashian’s “Khloé in Wonder Land,” which is billed as a “weekly conversation with the people who inspire her the most.” X also had a partnership with the WNBA to livestream games during the 2024 season, reaching 5 million viewers.
“Venus and Serena are among the most recognizable and revered athletes in the world, and their decision to team up with X places them at the center of our rapidly evolving original content strategy,” said Mitchell Smith, head of original content at X.
Musk bought Twitter (which he renamed X) and took it private in 2022. The richest person in the world, he is a former close ally of President Trump and serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
“We’re so excited to be launching our new podcast, a place where we will share our personal stories, have authentic conversations, spotlight important topics, and laugh a lot,” the Williams sisters said in a joint statement provided to Variety. “This platform gives us the chance to engage directly with our fans who have supported us throughout our careers, and we’re excited to connect with audiences, old and new, in a way we’ve never done before.”
Their podcast will premiere on X before becoming available on other audio platforms. Venus and Serena are among the most popular sports personalities on X — cutting across generational and geographic lines, according to the social media company. Serena currently has 10.2 million followers, and Venus counts 1.6 million.
Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam tennis championship titles, which is the most in the Open Era. Venus Williams has taken home seven trophies at pro tennis’ majors (five at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open). Together, they have 14 Grand Slam titles as doubles partners (and three Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles).
The sisters’ video podcast will be produced in collaboration with Serena Williams’ Nine Two Six Productions. Both of the Williams sisters are repped by WME.
Serena, who was named to Time’s 2025 list of the 100 most influential people, is mentioned on X more than 5,000 times per day, according to the social media company. (That’s about 25% higher than NBA great Michael Jordan.) Venus, who has been an avid advocate for equal pay for women athletes, was the first female champion at Wimbledon to receive equal prize money as her male counterpart in 2007.
The podcast joins other original content on X, including Khloé Kardashian’s “Khloé in Wonder Land,” which is billed as a “weekly conversation with the people who inspire her the most.” X also had a partnership with the WNBA to livestream games during the 2024 season, reaching 5 million viewers.
“Venus and Serena are among the most recognizable and revered athletes in the world, and their decision to team up with X places them at the center of our rapidly evolving original content strategy,” said Mitchell Smith, head of original content at X.
Musk bought Twitter (which he renamed X) and took it private in 2022. The richest person in the world, he is a former close ally of President Trump and serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Usher Serves as Groomsman at Robin Thicke and April Love Geary’s Mexico Wedding
Robin Thicke and April Love Geary had the support of one close celebrity friend at the altar — Usher.
The "My Boo" singer, 46, served as one of Thicke's seven groomsmen when he and Geary tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Friday, May 30.
In photos of the nuptials shared on social media, Usher could be seen standing toward the end of the groomsmen line in a sleek black suit with a black bow tie and dress shoes, matching Thicke, 48, who wore the same classic attire. He also could be seen clapping happily for his friend as he and Geary, 30, exchanged vows and rings.
The "Blurred Lines" singer's 15-year-old son, Julian — whom he shares with ex-wife Paula Patton — was also a groomsman, and could be seen lined up closer to the front of the altar, smiling and clapping as he got a front-row view of his dad's wedding ceremony.
Usher wasn't the only star to attend the glamorous wedding. Other celebrities who reportedly made the guest list include Leonardo DiCaprio and Ken Jeong, according to TMZ.
Many of Thicke and Geary's guests arrived early to kick off the weekend festivities. On Friday, May 30, Stormi Bree shared snaps from a sparkler-filled, all-white welcome party.
Thicke's three children with Geary — 7-year-old daughter Mia, 6-year-old daughter Lola and 4-year-old son Luca Patrick — could also be seen getting in on the wedding festivities.
Thicke and Geary's nuptials have been a long time coming, considering the couple has been in a relationship for more than a decade.
The "Wanna Love You Girl" singer started dating Geary in the months following his separation from Patton in February 2014. Patton filed for divorce in October 2014 and in March 2015, their divorce was finalized. Two months later in May 2015, Thicke and Geary made their first public appearance together at the Cannes Film Festival.
On Christmas Eve in 2018, Geary announced her engagement to Thicke on Instagram. She shared a video of the proposal alongside two couple holiday photos, writing, "YES YES 1000x YES 😭😭💍."
About six and a half years later, Thicke popped the question again. He dropped down on one knee and proposed for a second time on the steps of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes, France — the same place the pair made their public debut as a couple 10 years ago.
The pair shared photos of the surprise second proposal via a joint post on Instagram on May 25, less than a week before their wedding. "This trip was such a dream. 🤍 I love you so much," Geary wrote in the post's caption in part.
The "My Boo" singer, 46, served as one of Thicke's seven groomsmen when he and Geary tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Friday, May 30.
In photos of the nuptials shared on social media, Usher could be seen standing toward the end of the groomsmen line in a sleek black suit with a black bow tie and dress shoes, matching Thicke, 48, who wore the same classic attire. He also could be seen clapping happily for his friend as he and Geary, 30, exchanged vows and rings.
The "Blurred Lines" singer's 15-year-old son, Julian — whom he shares with ex-wife Paula Patton — was also a groomsman, and could be seen lined up closer to the front of the altar, smiling and clapping as he got a front-row view of his dad's wedding ceremony.
Usher wasn't the only star to attend the glamorous wedding. Other celebrities who reportedly made the guest list include Leonardo DiCaprio and Ken Jeong, according to TMZ.
Many of Thicke and Geary's guests arrived early to kick off the weekend festivities. On Friday, May 30, Stormi Bree shared snaps from a sparkler-filled, all-white welcome party.
Thicke's three children with Geary — 7-year-old daughter Mia, 6-year-old daughter Lola and 4-year-old son Luca Patrick — could also be seen getting in on the wedding festivities.
Thicke and Geary's nuptials have been a long time coming, considering the couple has been in a relationship for more than a decade.
The "Wanna Love You Girl" singer started dating Geary in the months following his separation from Patton in February 2014. Patton filed for divorce in October 2014 and in March 2015, their divorce was finalized. Two months later in May 2015, Thicke and Geary made their first public appearance together at the Cannes Film Festival.
On Christmas Eve in 2018, Geary announced her engagement to Thicke on Instagram. She shared a video of the proposal alongside two couple holiday photos, writing, "YES YES 1000x YES 😭😭💍."
About six and a half years later, Thicke popped the question again. He dropped down on one knee and proposed for a second time on the steps of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes, France — the same place the pair made their public debut as a couple 10 years ago.
The pair shared photos of the surprise second proposal via a joint post on Instagram on May 25, less than a week before their wedding. "This trip was such a dream. 🤍 I love you so much," Geary wrote in the post's caption in part.
‘Purpose’ wins Tony for Best Play, makes history
On a night where Broadway celebrated its brightest stars and most resonant stories, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s Purpose emerged as the evening’s crowning achievement, winning the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, which first premiered at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, marks a watershed moment — not just for Jacobs-Jenkins, but for the evolution of American theater and the continued rise of Chicago as a cultural incubator.
Set in the heart of Chicago, Purpose explores the intimate and often uncomfortable dynamics of the Jasper family, a well-to-do Black household led by a prominent pastor. The play invites audiences into a home brimming with expectations, secrets, and generational tension. It’s a story about legacy and loss, faith and friction, and the invisible weight that comes with being seen as a model of success — both publicly and privately.
Directed by the legendary Phylicia Rashad, the play’s Steppenwolf debut in 2024 was met with critical acclaim. It featured a commanding ensemble cast that brought humor, heartbreak, and humanity to Jacobs-Jenkins’s layered script. From its earliest performances, Purpose was recognized for doing something rare: holding up a mirror to Black excellence and peeling back the layers to reveal the messiness, vulnerability, and contradictions that often hide beneath polished facades.
With a narrative that touches on mental health, sexual identity, incarceration, spiritual trauma, and familial responsibility, Purpose is not only timely — it’s timeless. It confronts the complex ways Black families navigate their existence in a world that demands both perfection and authenticity, often at the same time.
The play’s Tony win, announced during the first half of the ceremony hosted by Cynthia Erivo at Radio City Music Hall, marks a historic achievement. Jacobs-Jenkins becomes the first Black playwright to win the Tony for Best Play since August Wilson received the honor in 1987 for Fences. That gap nearly four decades longsp eaks volumes about the state of representation on Broadway and makes Purpose’s win all the more significant.
Broadway has long been criticized for its lack of diversity in storytelling and leadership. But with this victory, there’s hope that the tide is continuing to turn. Jacobs-Jenkins, already a celebrated figure for plays such as An Octoroon and Gloria, has now solidified his place in the canon of American theater. His work challenges form, flips expectations, and refuses to make his characters or his audience comfortable.
What makes Purpose particularly special is its origin story. Unlike many Broadway-bound productions that emerge from New York workshops or international stages, Purpose was born in Chicago at a theater known for taking risks and nurturing new voices. Steppenwolf Theatre has consistently served as a launching pad for bold and innovative storytelling, and this production continues that legacy in full force.
The play’s Chicago roots are essential. Chicago is a city known for its complexity, its resilience, and its unapologetically Black cultural expression. The Jasper family may be fictional, but their struggles feel familiar to anyone raised in, shaped by, or connected to Chicago’s layered social and spiritual landscape.
By the time Purpose made its Broadway debut, the buzz was undeniable. Critics praised its sharp writing and raw performances, while audiences were drawn to its depth and relatability. Now, with a Pulitzer and a Tony in hand, Purpose stands as one of the most impactful American plays of the decade.
More than just a win for its playwright, cast, or creative team, this moment is a win for the theater community in Chicago, for Black storytelling on the main stage, and for anyone who’s ever longed to see their complex truths reflected honestly in the arts.
As Jacobs-Jenkins took the stage to accept the award, the message was clear: the future of American theater isn’t just on Broadway — it’s in the cities, families, and communities where stories like Purpose are lived every day.
Set in the heart of Chicago, Purpose explores the intimate and often uncomfortable dynamics of the Jasper family, a well-to-do Black household led by a prominent pastor. The play invites audiences into a home brimming with expectations, secrets, and generational tension. It’s a story about legacy and loss, faith and friction, and the invisible weight that comes with being seen as a model of success — both publicly and privately.
Directed by the legendary Phylicia Rashad, the play’s Steppenwolf debut in 2024 was met with critical acclaim. It featured a commanding ensemble cast that brought humor, heartbreak, and humanity to Jacobs-Jenkins’s layered script. From its earliest performances, Purpose was recognized for doing something rare: holding up a mirror to Black excellence and peeling back the layers to reveal the messiness, vulnerability, and contradictions that often hide beneath polished facades.
With a narrative that touches on mental health, sexual identity, incarceration, spiritual trauma, and familial responsibility, Purpose is not only timely — it’s timeless. It confronts the complex ways Black families navigate their existence in a world that demands both perfection and authenticity, often at the same time.
The play’s Tony win, announced during the first half of the ceremony hosted by Cynthia Erivo at Radio City Music Hall, marks a historic achievement. Jacobs-Jenkins becomes the first Black playwright to win the Tony for Best Play since August Wilson received the honor in 1987 for Fences. That gap nearly four decades longsp eaks volumes about the state of representation on Broadway and makes Purpose’s win all the more significant.
Broadway has long been criticized for its lack of diversity in storytelling and leadership. But with this victory, there’s hope that the tide is continuing to turn. Jacobs-Jenkins, already a celebrated figure for plays such as An Octoroon and Gloria, has now solidified his place in the canon of American theater. His work challenges form, flips expectations, and refuses to make his characters or his audience comfortable.
What makes Purpose particularly special is its origin story. Unlike many Broadway-bound productions that emerge from New York workshops or international stages, Purpose was born in Chicago at a theater known for taking risks and nurturing new voices. Steppenwolf Theatre has consistently served as a launching pad for bold and innovative storytelling, and this production continues that legacy in full force.
The play’s Chicago roots are essential. Chicago is a city known for its complexity, its resilience, and its unapologetically Black cultural expression. The Jasper family may be fictional, but their struggles feel familiar to anyone raised in, shaped by, or connected to Chicago’s layered social and spiritual landscape.
By the time Purpose made its Broadway debut, the buzz was undeniable. Critics praised its sharp writing and raw performances, while audiences were drawn to its depth and relatability. Now, with a Pulitzer and a Tony in hand, Purpose stands as one of the most impactful American plays of the decade.
More than just a win for its playwright, cast, or creative team, this moment is a win for the theater community in Chicago, for Black storytelling on the main stage, and for anyone who’s ever longed to see their complex truths reflected honestly in the arts.
As Jacobs-Jenkins took the stage to accept the award, the message was clear: the future of American theater isn’t just on Broadway — it’s in the cities, families, and communities where stories like Purpose are lived every day.
Diddy's Motion for Mistrial Has Been Denied
Last week Bad Boy Entertainment CEO, Sean 'Diddy' Combs filed a motion for mistrial after accusing the prosecution of using witnesses they knew or should have know were lying
The motion has been denied...The judge presiding over Sean “Diddy” Combs' trial denied defense attorneys' second motion for a mistrial.
Defense attorneys previously alleged “prosecutorial misconduct” in a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who made his ruling Tuesday, June 10.
The letter, which was obtained by PEOPLE, claimed that “the government has presented testimony that it knew or should have known was materially false related to its allegation that Mr. Combs dangled Bryana Bongolan from the balcony of Casandra "Cassie" Ventura’s apartment in September 2016.”
Bongolan testified on the stand last week about an alleged incident, during which she claimed Combs lifted her over a 17th-floor balcony at Ventura's apartment.
Last week Bad Boy Entertainment CEO, Sean 'Diddy' Combs filed a motion for mistrial after accusing the prosecution of using witnesses they knew or should have know were lying
The motion has been denied...The judge presiding over Sean “Diddy” Combs' trial denied defense attorneys' second motion for a mistrial.
Defense attorneys previously alleged “prosecutorial misconduct” in a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who made his ruling Tuesday, June 10.
The letter, which was obtained by PEOPLE, claimed that “the government has presented testimony that it knew or should have known was materially false related to its allegation that Mr. Combs dangled Bryana Bongolan from the balcony of Casandra "Cassie" Ventura’s apartment in September 2016.”
Bongolan testified on the stand last week about an alleged incident, during which she claimed Combs lifted her over a 17th-floor balcony at Ventura's apartment.
Ventura previously testified about the same alleged incident, claiming that she witnessed Combs dangling Bongolan.
The Bad Boy Records founder's attorneys claimed in the letter to the judge that Ventura's testimony could not have been true, citing text messages they said indicate Ventura did not find out about the balcony incident until after it happened.
“The incident, as alleged, is disturbing and powerful evidence, and the government has used it to depict Mr. Combs in an extremely negative light, as an angry and dangerous man who terrified Ms. Ventura and her friends,” the defense team argued, also claiming Ventura’s account of the incident was“demonstrably false.”
The defense had also claimed that the prosecution presented photos of the injuries sustained by Bongolan as a result of the alleged balcony incident, which were taken in Los Angeles on Sept. 26, 2016.
Combs' attorneys wrote that the prosecution knew “or should have known that this testimony was perjured,” and that the government knew that Combs was in New York City between Sept. 24 to Sept. 29 of that year.
The letter also claimed that the prosecution "repeatedly" tried to interrupt the defense's cross-examination, during which they said they attempted to “expose the perjury upon cross-examination.”
But Subramanian was not convinced by the defense's argument.
“This is not fodder for a mistrial," he ruled. "This is the adversarial process at work," adding that there “was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way shape or form."
He noted Combs’ defense attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, "had a real Perry Mason moment.”
But Subramanian was not convinced by the defense's argument.
“This is not fodder for a mistrial," he ruled. "This is the adversarial process at work," adding that there “was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way shape or form."
He noted Combs’ defense attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, "had a real Perry Mason moment.”
Regina Hall, Ice Spice To Star New 'Spongebob' Theatrical Movie At Paramount
Regina Hall and Ice Spice have joined the theaters-bound film alongside Sherry Cola, George Lopez and Arturo Castro. Ice Spice, who makes her major film debut soon in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, will also make an original song for the film.
The stars join the original cast of voice actors, including Tom Kenny, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke, Mr. Lawrence, Carolyn Lawrence and Mark Hamill in a new adventure directed by Derek Drymon from a script by Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman.
The new film follows SpongeBob (Kenny) and the crew, including Patrick (Fagerbakke), Mr. Krabs (Brown), Squidward (Bumpass), Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) and Sandy (Carolyn Lawrence) as they go untold parts of the ocean to confront the Flying Dutchman’s ghost (Hamill).
The film, which was presented Tuesday by Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation at the Annecy International Animation Festival in France, will make its theatrical debut on Dec. 19.
Rocsi Diaz, AJ Calloway Apologize For Their Absence During ‘106 & Park’ Reunion At 2025 BET Awards
Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway have issued a public apology for their respective absences during the highly anticipated 106 & Park reunion segment at the 2025 BET Awards. The two former hosts, who helped define the show’s legacy, acknowledged the disappointment felt by fans and provided an explanation for missing the star-studded event.
According to AJ, he was stuck on a flight, as Rocsi was busy embarking on one of the “biggest stages” of her career.
“When you’re on a plane and your phone blows up because you missed a huge night for the best and livest audience in the world! I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it tonight I’m literally still in the air,” the original co-host posted on Instagram with a photo of him smiling. “I tried, honestly but it didn’t work out. Much love to my BET family and I know we will do something where we all can make it and hopefully let everyone who wants to join us pull up as well!”
Rocsi — who hosted the show alongside Terrence J after AJ and Free — wrote, “I’m so sorry if I let you down. Just know I tried everything possible to be a part of the 106 & Park reunion it really meant a lot to me to be there with my fellow host. 106 was by far the best thing that’s ever happened to my life.”
She went on to explain how the cult classic show gave her the “tools and foundation” to become the TV host she is today. Rocsi also took a moment to thank the show’s fans who have “kept her relevant” years after her tenure. “Your love and support has been fuel for me to keep going and keep advocating for the culture on major platforms,” she continued.
Excitingly, Rocsi explained that her absence was due to a new opportunity that she considers to be “one of the biggest stages of [her] career.” She hoped for support from fans on her new project and promised “more details” to come, as she can’t speak on it currently. “Just know it was because of an immediate job opportunity I was unable to take part in the reunion,” she added. “Thank you for always being there for all my jobs.”
The 2025 BET Awards pulled out all the nostalgic stops to celebrate its 25th anniversary, delivering a replica of the original 106 & Park set staged inside Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. The tribute brought back fan-favorite hosts Free, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Big Tigger, and Terrence J to honor the iconic music countdown show.
The reunion was a full-circle celebration of the show that helped define a generation. “BET and 106 & Park created this iconic culture,” Terrence J told VIBE last month. “A brand. A legacy. And to sit here 25 years later, trading stories and realizing how many lives were impacted, it’s surreal.”
Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway have issued a public apology for their respective absences during the highly anticipated 106 & Park reunion segment at the 2025 BET Awards. The two former hosts, who helped define the show’s legacy, acknowledged the disappointment felt by fans and provided an explanation for missing the star-studded event.
According to AJ, he was stuck on a flight, as Rocsi was busy embarking on one of the “biggest stages” of her career.
“When you’re on a plane and your phone blows up because you missed a huge night for the best and livest audience in the world! I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it tonight I’m literally still in the air,” the original co-host posted on Instagram with a photo of him smiling. “I tried, honestly but it didn’t work out. Much love to my BET family and I know we will do something where we all can make it and hopefully let everyone who wants to join us pull up as well!”
Rocsi — who hosted the show alongside Terrence J after AJ and Free — wrote, “I’m so sorry if I let you down. Just know I tried everything possible to be a part of the 106 & Park reunion it really meant a lot to me to be there with my fellow host. 106 was by far the best thing that’s ever happened to my life.”
She went on to explain how the cult classic show gave her the “tools and foundation” to become the TV host she is today. Rocsi also took a moment to thank the show’s fans who have “kept her relevant” years after her tenure. “Your love and support has been fuel for me to keep going and keep advocating for the culture on major platforms,” she continued.
Excitingly, Rocsi explained that her absence was due to a new opportunity that she considers to be “one of the biggest stages of [her] career.” She hoped for support from fans on her new project and promised “more details” to come, as she can’t speak on it currently. “Just know it was because of an immediate job opportunity I was unable to take part in the reunion,” she added. “Thank you for always being there for all my jobs.”
The 2025 BET Awards pulled out all the nostalgic stops to celebrate its 25th anniversary, delivering a replica of the original 106 & Park set staged inside Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. The tribute brought back fan-favorite hosts Free, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Big Tigger, and Terrence J to honor the iconic music countdown show.
The reunion was a full-circle celebration of the show that helped define a generation. “BET and 106 & Park created this iconic culture,” Terrence J told VIBE last month. “A brand. A legacy. And to sit here 25 years later, trading stories and realizing how many lives were impacted, it’s surreal.”
Robert Kennedy fired the 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Robert Kennedy Jr. has a dead brain worm in his skull. He also loves to swim in creeks infested with bacteria, raw sewage and E. coli. In recent months, Kennedy has used his position as Secretary of Health and Human Services to spread lies about autism and people with autism. He’s spread misinformation about the MMR vaccine, and he’s overseen a significant spike in measles cases in the US. He’s also changing people’s access to the covid vaccine, and I’d be willing to bet that there won’t be a new flu shot this fall. Well, something new: Kennedy has now fired all seventeen members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday dismissed an expert panel of vaccine advisers that has historically guided the federal government’s vaccine recommendations, saying the group is “plagued with conflicts of interest.”
The entirety of the 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the vaccine schedule and required coverage of immunizations, will be retired and replaced with new members, Kennedy announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. The HHS secretary has authority to appoint and dismiss ACIP members, who typically serve four-year cycles. But removing the entire panel prematurely is unprecedented.
Kennedy said that a number of the panel’s members — traditionally pediatricians, epidemiologists, immunologists and other physicians — were “last-minute appointees” of the Biden administration. “Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,” he wrote.
ACIP members are not political appointees. However Kennedy, a longtime critic of federal vaccine policy and vaccine safety, argued that the current group is rife with conflicts of interest. ACIP had recently published details on conflicts and disclosures for its members from 2000 through 2024. Kennedy also said ACIP not been transparent in its vaccine recommendations. The committee recently considered narrowing the recommendations for Covid-19 vaccinations among children. Kennedy announced last week that the vaccine schedule was updated — without ACIP’s input.
One just-dismissed ACIP member told CNN they did not receive a termination notice until after Kennedy’s op-ed published.
“I’ve never seen anything this damaging to public health happen in my lifetime,” the adviser said. “I’m shocked. It’s pretty brazen. This will fundamentally destabilize vaccination in America.”
The adviser also said that that ACIP “has the most rigorous conflict of interest policy of any organization that I know of. Kennedy knows better.”
In his confirmation hearing, Kennedy pledged (to the Republican committee chairman) that he would consult with the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee whenever he filled key roles on vaccine advisory boards, and that he would maintain the ACIP without changes. So, Kennedy lied to the chairman and the committee. He’s fired a bunch of actual immunization experts and he’s going to replace them all with whackjobs and wingnuts from the online Horse Dewormer Wars. American health policy will never be the same.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday dismissed an expert panel of vaccine advisers that has historically guided the federal government’s vaccine recommendations, saying the group is “plagued with conflicts of interest.”
The entirety of the 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the vaccine schedule and required coverage of immunizations, will be retired and replaced with new members, Kennedy announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. The HHS secretary has authority to appoint and dismiss ACIP members, who typically serve four-year cycles. But removing the entire panel prematurely is unprecedented.
Kennedy said that a number of the panel’s members — traditionally pediatricians, epidemiologists, immunologists and other physicians — were “last-minute appointees” of the Biden administration. “Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,” he wrote.
ACIP members are not political appointees. However Kennedy, a longtime critic of federal vaccine policy and vaccine safety, argued that the current group is rife with conflicts of interest. ACIP had recently published details on conflicts and disclosures for its members from 2000 through 2024. Kennedy also said ACIP not been transparent in its vaccine recommendations. The committee recently considered narrowing the recommendations for Covid-19 vaccinations among children. Kennedy announced last week that the vaccine schedule was updated — without ACIP’s input.
One just-dismissed ACIP member told CNN they did not receive a termination notice until after Kennedy’s op-ed published.
“I’ve never seen anything this damaging to public health happen in my lifetime,” the adviser said. “I’m shocked. It’s pretty brazen. This will fundamentally destabilize vaccination in America.”
The adviser also said that that ACIP “has the most rigorous conflict of interest policy of any organization that I know of. Kennedy knows better.”
In his confirmation hearing, Kennedy pledged (to the Republican committee chairman) that he would consult with the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee whenever he filled key roles on vaccine advisory boards, and that he would maintain the ACIP without changes. So, Kennedy lied to the chairman and the committee. He’s fired a bunch of actual immunization experts and he’s going to replace them all with whackjobs and wingnuts from the online Horse Dewormer Wars. American health policy will never be the same.
Oh? Emily Blunt Just spilled some Tea On 'The Devil Wears Prada' Sequel, Reveals When Filming Begins
Emily Blunt just dropped some tea on the upcoming The Devil Wears Prada sequel!
The 42-year-old actress is set to reprise her role as Emily Charlton in the long-awaited second installment, alongside Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
In a new interview, Emily teased the upcoming movie, what she hopes for her character and revealed just when they are set to start filming!
When asked what her character is up to these days, Emily told ET, remaining mum, “It’s so weird. I haven’t even read a script, I don’t know. I’m just like, where is she? I don’t know.”
When asked where she would like to see her character, the actress spilled, “Let’s hope we remedy [the beef between Emily and Miranda]. I’m not sure. Can you tell I’m skirting the issue? Can you tell I can’t tell you anything?”
Emily was then asked when filming will begin, and after asking a woman off to the side, she revealed, “July.”
Previously, The Wrap reported the movie will see Meryl Streep‘s character Miranda Priestly “dealing with the decline of magazine publishing. With her magazine Runway in dire need of money, Miranda must turn for advertising dollars to Emily Charlton (Blunt), who was consumed by stress as Miranda’s beleaguered assistant in [the first film], but has now risen to become a powerful executive at a luxury brand.”
Emily Blunt just dropped some tea on the upcoming The Devil Wears Prada sequel!
The 42-year-old actress is set to reprise her role as Emily Charlton in the long-awaited second installment, alongside Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
In a new interview, Emily teased the upcoming movie, what she hopes for her character and revealed just when they are set to start filming!
When asked what her character is up to these days, Emily told ET, remaining mum, “It’s so weird. I haven’t even read a script, I don’t know. I’m just like, where is she? I don’t know.”
When asked where she would like to see her character, the actress spilled, “Let’s hope we remedy [the beef between Emily and Miranda]. I’m not sure. Can you tell I’m skirting the issue? Can you tell I can’t tell you anything?”
Emily was then asked when filming will begin, and after asking a woman off to the side, she revealed, “July.”
Previously, The Wrap reported the movie will see Meryl Streep‘s character Miranda Priestly “dealing with the decline of magazine publishing. With her magazine Runway in dire need of money, Miranda must turn for advertising dollars to Emily Charlton (Blunt), who was consumed by stress as Miranda’s beleaguered assistant in [the first film], but has now risen to become a powerful executive at a luxury brand.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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