#MAGFAB: Keke Palmer channeled the iconic Josephine Baker For MEFeater Magazine!
She looks FAB!!!!
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Reveals the Reason She Refuses to Watch Old ‘RHOA’ Episodes
Porsha Williams is revealing the real reason why she refuses to watch old Real Housewives of Atlanta episodes.
The Bravo star, 44, opened up about the topic while chatting exclusively with Parade amid her partnership with Altos Tequila, saying that she “literally runs from them” when they’re on.
“Unless I’m at my grandmother’s house, and if it’s on she’s going to watch it regardless,” she says. “It’s like there’s nowhere to run. She is going to watch it, and she wants me to explain what I was thinking at the time, what was going on. So I have to watch it at my grandmother’s house.”
She continues: “I lived it, you know, and I’m always onto the next phase of what’s happening in my life. But I think that it’s been a blessing to be able to grow and learn and relate to people in the way that I relate to them. At the time when things are happening in my life, I’m not thinking about being relatable, but because I’m transparent, and because most people go through things that I’ve been through on camera, I end up being like their daughter, their niece, their auntie, their someone that they have known — or themselves who have been through the ups and downs, similar in life as me.”
Williams made her debut on RHOA during Season 5 as a main cast member. She appeared as a friend in Season 7 before returning to her duties as a full-time cast member the following season. She later exited the series after Season 13 and returned as a main cast member for its latest Season 16.
The reality star’s most recent venture is her partnership with Altos Tequila to create the Peach, Please! Margarita, which pays homage to the Georgia peach and Atlanta by adding in peach preserves.
“I am the bartender [amongst my friends],” she tells Parade. “We have formulated the perfect peach margarita. It’s called Peach, Please! We actually send out a cocktail courier, [in which] you have all the mix[es] in there to make the perfect peach margarita, so not only me, [but] everyone else can be a star at their party as well.”
The Bravo star, 44, opened up about the topic while chatting exclusively with Parade amid her partnership with Altos Tequila, saying that she “literally runs from them” when they’re on.
“Unless I’m at my grandmother’s house, and if it’s on she’s going to watch it regardless,” she says. “It’s like there’s nowhere to run. She is going to watch it, and she wants me to explain what I was thinking at the time, what was going on. So I have to watch it at my grandmother’s house.”
She continues: “I lived it, you know, and I’m always onto the next phase of what’s happening in my life. But I think that it’s been a blessing to be able to grow and learn and relate to people in the way that I relate to them. At the time when things are happening in my life, I’m not thinking about being relatable, but because I’m transparent, and because most people go through things that I’ve been through on camera, I end up being like their daughter, their niece, their auntie, their someone that they have known — or themselves who have been through the ups and downs, similar in life as me.”
Williams made her debut on RHOA during Season 5 as a main cast member. She appeared as a friend in Season 7 before returning to her duties as a full-time cast member the following season. She later exited the series after Season 13 and returned as a main cast member for its latest Season 16.
The reality star’s most recent venture is her partnership with Altos Tequila to create the Peach, Please! Margarita, which pays homage to the Georgia peach and Atlanta by adding in peach preserves.
“I am the bartender [amongst my friends],” she tells Parade. “We have formulated the perfect peach margarita. It’s called Peach, Please! We actually send out a cocktail courier, [in which] you have all the mix[es] in there to make the perfect peach margarita, so not only me, [but] everyone else can be a star at their party as well.”
#MusicNews: Ledisi Previews Her Upcoming Dinah Washington Tribute Album ‘For Dinah’ With ‘This Bitter Earth’
Ledisi has always been an artist who showed reverence to the legendary singers that came before her. She’s constantly naming her influences and is almost always game for a tribute performance to celebrate our icons. She’s even put the love on wax when she released her Nina Simone tribute album, Ledisi Sings Nina, back in 2021. The vocal powerhouse will do it once again this fall when she honors the esteemed songstress Dinah Washington with her upcoming album For Dinah.
For Dinah will feature Ledisi putting her spin on some of Dinah Washington’s best-known work, including standards like “What A Difference A Day Made,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and “You Go To My Head.” But the set’s first single is a moving version of “This Bitter Earth.”
While Ledisi could’ve done a note-for-note recreation of the often-covered song, she instead tailors the song to her own sensibilities. This means fleshing out the song beyond the string arrangement of Dinah’s original. Ledisi opts to warm things up with the jazz and soul inflections that we’ve come to expect. Hi-hats and rimshots keep the time as warm bass and keys add to the song’s soundscape. The strings are still kept in the mix, though, to add a bit of emotion and drama that complements Ledisi’s tender approach to the vocal.
Ledisi’s version of “This Bitter Earth” once again proves that she’s one of the premier singers of her generation. It also shows just how much love and care she’ll approach the material with when For Dinah arrives in stores on Friday, October 3rd.
Listen to “This Bitter Earth"
Ledisi has always been an artist who showed reverence to the legendary singers that came before her. She’s constantly naming her influences and is almost always game for a tribute performance to celebrate our icons. She’s even put the love on wax when she released her Nina Simone tribute album, Ledisi Sings Nina, back in 2021. The vocal powerhouse will do it once again this fall when she honors the esteemed songstress Dinah Washington with her upcoming album For Dinah.
For Dinah will feature Ledisi putting her spin on some of Dinah Washington’s best-known work, including standards like “What A Difference A Day Made,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and “You Go To My Head.” But the set’s first single is a moving version of “This Bitter Earth.”
While Ledisi could’ve done a note-for-note recreation of the often-covered song, she instead tailors the song to her own sensibilities. This means fleshing out the song beyond the string arrangement of Dinah’s original. Ledisi opts to warm things up with the jazz and soul inflections that we’ve come to expect. Hi-hats and rimshots keep the time as warm bass and keys add to the song’s soundscape. The strings are still kept in the mix, though, to add a bit of emotion and drama that complements Ledisi’s tender approach to the vocal.
Ledisi’s version of “This Bitter Earth” once again proves that she’s one of the premier singers of her generation. It also shows just how much love and care she’ll approach the material with when For Dinah arrives in stores on Friday, October 3rd.
Listen to “This Bitter Earth"
#HipHopNews: Megan Thee Stallion Celebrates Her Inaugural Pete & Thomas Gala Raising Over $1.2 Million
Megan Thee Stallion raised over $1.2 million to support education, housing and wellness through her inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala.
Celebrity guests, live performances and exclusive auction items made the gala a standout cultural event.
The foundation’s programs have already reached thousands, with plans to expand support for underserved communities.
Megan Thee Stallion’s first-ever Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala was nothing short of a “huge success.” On Thursday (July 17), the Houston native announced that the event raised over $1.2 million to support its ongoing efforts in education, housing, wellness and community development.
“The amount of love and generosity in the room was overwhelming,” Megan wrote in an Instagram post. “We raised over $1.2 million to further the foundation’s work and impact!” The “HISS” artist also extended her gratitude to host Taraji P. Henson, performer Muni Long, D-Nice and Harry Santa-Olalla, who served as the evening’s auctioneer.
The star-studded night brought out a lot of special guests — and not just Megan’s new boyfriend, Klay Thompson. Other notable attendees included Lil Uzi Vert, Fat Joe, Angie Martinez, designer LaQuan Smith and activist Tamika Mallory.
Those who took part in the auction definitely got their money’s worth. Items up for grabs included a private mixology class from Megan’s own Chicas Divertidas, a live performance by the “Savage” rapper herself, jewelry from Elliot Eliantte and even two tickets to Super Bowl LX.
Last year, Megan revealed that the nonprofit served over 8,600 people, including students, parents and senior citizens. “Thank you to our 102 community partners for their collaboration and continued work to support underserved communities,” the foundation wrote on Instagram. “Shoutout to the Hotties, volunteers, donors and corporate partners.”
During the inaugural gala on Wednesday (July 16), Megan and Thompson made their red carpet debut as a couple. While inside the venue, she spoke with People about how they met. "I won't tell you how, and I won't tell you when, but it was a movie,” she shared.
Celebrity guests, live performances and exclusive auction items made the gala a standout cultural event.
The foundation’s programs have already reached thousands, with plans to expand support for underserved communities.
Megan Thee Stallion’s first-ever Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala was nothing short of a “huge success.” On Thursday (July 17), the Houston native announced that the event raised over $1.2 million to support its ongoing efforts in education, housing, wellness and community development.
“The amount of love and generosity in the room was overwhelming,” Megan wrote in an Instagram post. “We raised over $1.2 million to further the foundation’s work and impact!” The “HISS” artist also extended her gratitude to host Taraji P. Henson, performer Muni Long, D-Nice and Harry Santa-Olalla, who served as the evening’s auctioneer.
The star-studded night brought out a lot of special guests — and not just Megan’s new boyfriend, Klay Thompson. Other notable attendees included Lil Uzi Vert, Fat Joe, Angie Martinez, designer LaQuan Smith and activist Tamika Mallory.
Those who took part in the auction definitely got their money’s worth. Items up for grabs included a private mixology class from Megan’s own Chicas Divertidas, a live performance by the “Savage” rapper herself, jewelry from Elliot Eliantte and even two tickets to Super Bowl LX.
Last year, Megan revealed that the nonprofit served over 8,600 people, including students, parents and senior citizens. “Thank you to our 102 community partners for their collaboration and continued work to support underserved communities,” the foundation wrote on Instagram. “Shoutout to the Hotties, volunteers, donors and corporate partners.”
During the inaugural gala on Wednesday (July 16), Megan and Thompson made their red carpet debut as a couple. While inside the venue, she spoke with People about how they met. "I won't tell you how, and I won't tell you when, but it was a movie,” she shared.
Tracee Ellis Ross On Why She Only Packs Two Pairs Of Undies In Her Carry-On For Vacation
Tracee Ellis Ross is known for her love of travel, recently sharing that she will often only take two pairs of underwear with her on any given trip.
The PATTERN Beauty founder revealed the fun fact about herself on stage at Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Summit on July 15.
“There’s always one bathing suit, a flip flop and one little dress I can roll up. And there’s always two undies,” Ross told the crowd and Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford, who followed up with, “Two undies, that’s it?”
Ross went on to explain that she prefers to pack light and handwash her undies in the sink with shower gel or bar soap before rinsing and hanging them up on a towel rack to dry.
“If I’m gone for a month on this trip, you can’t pack a month’s worth of underwear,” Ross said. “How do you do that? They take up a lot of space.”
The chat comes ahead of Ross premiering her own travel show, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, on Roku July 25. She will serve as both host and executive producer.
“I’m a solo traveling broad and I want y’all to come with me as I explore! And when I say explore I mean wear my pretty clothes, eat yummy food, dive into art & culture, and get into hotel pools,” the Girlfriends star shared on Instagram of the series. “I hope this show reminds all of us that we can live our lives courageously on our own terms and be our best selves, by ourselves, out in the world.”
Tracee Ellis Ross is known for her love of travel, recently sharing that she will often only take two pairs of underwear with her on any given trip.
The PATTERN Beauty founder revealed the fun fact about herself on stage at Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Summit on July 15.
“There’s always one bathing suit, a flip flop and one little dress I can roll up. And there’s always two undies,” Ross told the crowd and Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford, who followed up with, “Two undies, that’s it?”
Ross went on to explain that she prefers to pack light and handwash her undies in the sink with shower gel or bar soap before rinsing and hanging them up on a towel rack to dry.
“If I’m gone for a month on this trip, you can’t pack a month’s worth of underwear,” Ross said. “How do you do that? They take up a lot of space.”
The chat comes ahead of Ross premiering her own travel show, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, on Roku July 25. She will serve as both host and executive producer.
“I’m a solo traveling broad and I want y’all to come with me as I explore! And when I say explore I mean wear my pretty clothes, eat yummy food, dive into art & culture, and get into hotel pools,” the Girlfriends star shared on Instagram of the series. “I hope this show reminds all of us that we can live our lives courageously on our own terms and be our best selves, by ourselves, out in the world.”
Wendy Williams Shares Life-Changing 61st Birthday Wish
Wendy Williams is very clear about what she wants in life. On Friday (July 18), the media mogul celebrated her 61st birthday, and earlier in the week, dished out her one specific wish. According to TMZ, Williams was spotted at Delmonico’s in New York City on Tuesday, celebrating with two of her attorneys and friend Suzanne Bass.
It was at the steakhouse where the New Jersey native made the revelation that her birthday wish is to be “out of guardianship.”
This is not the first time that the former talk show host has explicitly expressed her disdain for her current living situation.
“I am not cognitively impaired. But I feel like I am in prison,” she detailed as she described her living situation in January. “I’m in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. There’s something wrong with these people here on this floor.”
In March, she was taken to a hospital after she dropped a note reading “HELP WENDY!” from the window of her assisted living facility.
The following month, Williams reportedly detailed that she regretted consenting to the guardianship. Since 2022, she has lived under the legal guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey, who controls her finances and healthcare.
“She kind of felt like, ‘Hey, I have the court. They’re going to assign me a money person. I’m going to be good.’ In no way did she think that her whole life was going to be taken away from her,” explained Williams’ health care advocate, Ginalisa Monterroso. “She wanted to make sure nobody’s in her money and she would be fine.”
In April, Williams hired famed attorney Joe Tacopina to represent her in court in her continued fight for the guardianship to be lifted.
It was at the steakhouse where the New Jersey native made the revelation that her birthday wish is to be “out of guardianship.”
This is not the first time that the former talk show host has explicitly expressed her disdain for her current living situation.
“I am not cognitively impaired. But I feel like I am in prison,” she detailed as she described her living situation in January. “I’m in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. There’s something wrong with these people here on this floor.”
In March, she was taken to a hospital after she dropped a note reading “HELP WENDY!” from the window of her assisted living facility.
The following month, Williams reportedly detailed that she regretted consenting to the guardianship. Since 2022, she has lived under the legal guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey, who controls her finances and healthcare.
“She kind of felt like, ‘Hey, I have the court. They’re going to assign me a money person. I’m going to be good.’ In no way did she think that her whole life was going to be taken away from her,” explained Williams’ health care advocate, Ginalisa Monterroso. “She wanted to make sure nobody’s in her money and she would be fine.”
In April, Williams hired famed attorney Joe Tacopina to represent her in court in her continued fight for the guardianship to be lifted.
Shannon Sharpe’s $50M Rape Lawsuit Dismissed With Prejudice
Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the “Jane Doe” who sued Shannon Sharpe for $50M back in April, has announced that the two parties have reached an agreement, with plans to dismiss the case.
“On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client,” Buzbee announced via social media Friday (July 18). “Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed.”
“The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice,” the statement concluded.
The original 13-page civil complaint found Sharpe being accused of committing assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress over the course of a two-year “rocky consensual relationship.”
Sharpe’s attorneys initially called the lawsuit a, “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” the Club Shay Shay host.
“Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct – especially the gross lie of ‘rape’ – and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail. He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law.”
Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the “Jane Doe” who sued Shannon Sharpe for $50M back in April, has announced that the two parties have reached an agreement, with plans to dismiss the case.
“On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client,” Buzbee announced via social media Friday (July 18). “Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed.”
“The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice,” the statement concluded.
The original 13-page civil complaint found Sharpe being accused of committing assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress over the course of a two-year “rocky consensual relationship.”
Sharpe’s attorneys initially called the lawsuit a, “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” the Club Shay Shay host.
“Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct – especially the gross lie of ‘rape’ – and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail. He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law.”
Lyricist Alan Bergman, Known for ‘The Way We Were’ & ‘Maude’ Theme, Dead at 99
Legendary lyricist Alan Bergman died on Thursday (July 17) at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 99, it was announced Friday by family spokesman Ken Sunshine. His daughter Julie Bergman was present at the time of his death.
Bergman suffered from respiratory issues in recent months, but continued to write songs till the end.
Bergman and his wife, Marilyn Bergman (who died in 2022 at age 93), are probably best known for writing exquisite ballads such as “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life,” “Pieces of Dreams” and “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?,” but they refused to be typecast. They also wrote the witty theme songs for such TV series as Maude, Good Times and Alice.
The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, including best original song for “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair and “The Way We Were” from the movie of the same name, and three Grammy Awards, including song of the year for “The Way We Were.”
The Bergmans had a long and close relationship with Barbra Streisand, who saluted them on her Grammy-nominated 2011 album What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman.
Streisand paid tribute to Alan Bergman today on Instagram with a warm message that accompanied a cozy shot of the two of them together. “Alan Bergman was not only a prolific lyricist, and incredible husband, father and grandfather, he was family to me— a father figure. We met over 60 years ago, and we never stopped loving each other and collaborating together. My last conversation with him was about a wonderful song he was working on. At 99 his creative gifts still flowed. I like to think he’s again in Marilyn’s warm embrace and I’m sure they have started collaborating again on another song! I will miss them both.—Barbra”
Bergman suffered from respiratory issues in recent months, but continued to write songs till the end.
Bergman and his wife, Marilyn Bergman (who died in 2022 at age 93), are probably best known for writing exquisite ballads such as “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life,” “Pieces of Dreams” and “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?,” but they refused to be typecast. They also wrote the witty theme songs for such TV series as Maude, Good Times and Alice.
The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, including best original song for “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair and “The Way We Were” from the movie of the same name, and three Grammy Awards, including song of the year for “The Way We Were.”
The Bergmans had a long and close relationship with Barbra Streisand, who saluted them on her Grammy-nominated 2011 album What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman.
Streisand paid tribute to Alan Bergman today on Instagram with a warm message that accompanied a cozy shot of the two of them together. “Alan Bergman was not only a prolific lyricist, and incredible husband, father and grandfather, he was family to me— a father figure. We met over 60 years ago, and we never stopped loving each other and collaborating together. My last conversation with him was about a wonderful song he was working on. At 99 his creative gifts still flowed. I like to think he’s again in Marilyn’s warm embrace and I’m sure they have started collaborating again on another song! I will miss them both.—Barbra”
The Bergmans received 15 Oscar nominations for best original song, a total equaled or bettered by only four songwriters in history – Sammy Cahn (26), Johnny Mercer (18), Diane Warren (16) and Paul Francis Webster (16). The Bergmans collaborated on their Oscar-nominated songs with seven different composers – Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, Maurice Jarre, Marvin Hamlisch, David Shire, John Williams and Dave Grusin.
In 1983 they became the first (and still only) songwriters to be nominated for three Oscars for best original song in one year for “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” from Best Friends, “It Might Be You” from Tootsie and “If We Were in Love” from Yes, Giorgio.
They received four Grammy nominations for song of the year, for “Nice ‘N’ Easy” (a hit for Frank Sinatra), “The Summer Knows (Theme from ‘Summer of 42’)” (Peter Nero), “The Way We Were” (Streisand) and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (Streisand and Neil Diamond).
They also won four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
The Bergmans were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980 and received that organization’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1997. They received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 2013.
Another world-class husband-and-wife songwriting team, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, wrote the tribute essay on the Bergmans that appeared in the Grammy program book that year. They opened by saying it can be hard to maintain a successful creative partnership and a successful marriage, much less both at the same time. “The fact that they both write the lyrics and have to debate titles, rhymes and concepts boggles the mind,” they added. “…There are no two people more deserving of the Trustees Award and we saluted them with respect, love and admiration.”
The Bergmans also received lifetime achievement awards from the National Academy of Songwriters and the National Music Publishers Association. They received honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts. Alan Bergman’s alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, recognized him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award.
In the years since his wife’s death, Alan Bergman continued to write, record and perform. His final collaboration was with guitarist and composer Pat Metheny, who is set to record an album of nine Bergman/Metheny songs later this year.
Bergman died just eight days after the announcement of a celebration in his honor on what would have been his 100th birthday on Sept. 11. Many of his friends and admirers were set to perform at a concert in his honor that night at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif. The event is expected to go on as planned, but pivot to a tribute rather than a birthday celebration. The event will serve as a benefit for the Jazz Bakery, of which Bergman was a founding member of the board.
Two of the artists who were on the bill for the birthday event shared comments at the time the event was announced.
Five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein said, “The songs Alan and Marilyn have written are part of a pantheon of enduring music that will live long beyond Alan’s Centenary, for they are timeless expressions of the human condition, and will never grow old. The love that they fundamentally lived, expressed and demonstrated in life, imbues their work with a special eloquence and truth. It is an honor to celebrate Alan on his 100th!”
Actor, comedian and writer Paul Reiser commented, “My goal in life is to try to be even a small fraction of the man — and artist — that my dear friend Alan Bergman is. (I may need more than 100 years to get there, but … working on it.)”
In addition, Ruth Price, founder of the Jazz Bakery, said, “100 years on this planet is no small achievement, but to have graced those years with such love, beauty and art speaks to a life extraordinarily well lived. Alan is incomparable, and I love him for all kinds of reasons.”
Survivors include his daughter Julie Bergman, a writer and film producer, and granddaughter Emily Sender, who just completed her masters in global food studies. There will be a private graveside burial.
Tinseltown Terror: Driver Pulled From Car And Shot After Plowing Into Crowd, Injuring 30
What started as a typical Friday night out turned violent just after 2 a.m. Saturday morning (July 19), when a man allegedly kicked out of a Hollywood nightclub returned minutes later and mowed down a crowd outside.
According to ABC7, the man had been escorted out of the venue by security before returning in a Nissan Versa, which he drove up onto the sidewalk and straight into a packed group of pedestrians.
At least 30 people were injured, including the driver himself, who was listed in critical condition. Twenty-three victims were transported to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses say the sidewalk was full of people heading home as the club had just closed for the night.
Surveillance and cellphone footage captured the chilling moment the car tore through the crowd, sending bodies flying and triggering panic. LAPD Capt. Ben Fernandes described the act as “intentional.”
What happened next only escalated the chaos. After the car came to a stop, bystanders pulled the driver from the vehicle and began beating him on the street.
According to multiple witnesses, some kicked and punched him while others shouted in confusion and fear.
Then, things took an even more violent turn: a man from across the street approached with a gun and shot the driver in the buttocks, Capt. Fernandes confirmed. Police say that the shooter was not connected to the driver in any way.
The driver, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was taken to the hospital.
Despite the severity of the events, no charges have been filed yet, and the investigation is ongoing.
The venue where the crash occurred, Vermont Hollywood, released a statement in the aftermath:
We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the person responsible for this horrific act is held fully accountable. We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to the first responders for their swift and compassionate action in assisting those affected.
Whether it was rage, recklessness, or something even darker, the incident is being treated as a mass casualty event.
According to ABC7, the man had been escorted out of the venue by security before returning in a Nissan Versa, which he drove up onto the sidewalk and straight into a packed group of pedestrians.
At least 30 people were injured, including the driver himself, who was listed in critical condition. Twenty-three victims were transported to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses say the sidewalk was full of people heading home as the club had just closed for the night.
Surveillance and cellphone footage captured the chilling moment the car tore through the crowd, sending bodies flying and triggering panic. LAPD Capt. Ben Fernandes described the act as “intentional.”
What happened next only escalated the chaos. After the car came to a stop, bystanders pulled the driver from the vehicle and began beating him on the street.
According to multiple witnesses, some kicked and punched him while others shouted in confusion and fear.
Then, things took an even more violent turn: a man from across the street approached with a gun and shot the driver in the buttocks, Capt. Fernandes confirmed. Police say that the shooter was not connected to the driver in any way.
The driver, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was taken to the hospital.
Despite the severity of the events, no charges have been filed yet, and the investigation is ongoing.
The venue where the crash occurred, Vermont Hollywood, released a statement in the aftermath:
We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the person responsible for this horrific act is held fully accountable. We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to the first responders for their swift and compassionate action in assisting those affected.
Whether it was rage, recklessness, or something even darker, the incident is being treated as a mass casualty event.
Dolly Parton Sets Strict Rule For Her Musical: Don’t You Dare Do This
On Friday night (July 18), Dolly: A True Original Musical began preview performances at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville.
The show tells the story of Parton’s journey from a “small town mountain girl” to international icon, and it’s headed to Broadway in 2026.
But before the bright lights of New York City, the "9 to 5" singer wanted to give her hometown the world premiere — and of course, she made it personal.
“I am Tennessee born and raised,” she said in a statement. “Nashville has been my musical home for over 60 years. So this is the right and perfect place to present the world premiere of my life story as a musical.”
Never one to disappoint, the 79-year-old legend surprised the crowd by walking onstage alongside director Bartlett Sher to thunderous applause.
She thanked the cast and audience, then delivered a mic-drop moment only an icon could pull off.
“Now they told me to tell you, they have to turn off their cell phones… and they said to turn off all the stuff, including you,” she said with a wink, in a fan-captured video now going viral on TikTok.
I’ve lived in nashville for a month and already got to see Dolly in person!!!!! #dollyparton #dollymusical #fyp #foryoupage
“You’re gonna want to sing along,” she added, referencing the show’s many hit songs. “Well, don’t. This ain’t no hootenanny — this is a Broadway musical!”
Naturally, the audience erupted — it’s Dolly’s house, Dolly’s rules.
#RIP: City High’s Robbie Pardlo Passes Away At 46
Sad news this evening! City High member Robbie Pardlo has passed away, according to TMZ. He was 46 years old.
Pardlo was surrounded by his loved ones when he died in Willingboro, N.J. on Thursday, July 17. His cause of death has not been determined, and his family is currently planning his funeral and memorial services.
Pardlo was a member of the popular R&B groun with Ryan Tobyand Claudette Ortiz. They were known for hits like “Caramel” feat. Eve and their breakout single “What Would You Do?” produced by Wyclef Jean. The group garnered a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance Grammy nom by a Duo or Group in 2002 thanks to “Caramel.”
He is survived by his wife, Anika Pardlo, their children Lyric and Andrew Pardlo, his mother Marion Pardlo, his brother Gregory Pardlo, his aunt Cynthia Boyer. He also leaves behind his German Shepherd Lieutenant Commander Geordi LA Forge.
As of now, Toby and Ortiz have not publicly spoken out about the loss.
Sending prayers to his loved ones during this difficult time.
Nicole Scherzinger Reveals Prince Once Hid Behind A Bush ‘Trying To Get My Attention'
Nicole Scherzinger shared a funny story about Prince during her Hot Ones interview, and it’s so on-brand for him.
She said before one of his Vegas shows, she was hanging out at the hotel pool with friends when she suddenly heard “psst, psst!”
Coming from nearby, she looked over and, to her surprise, “Prince was hiding behind the bush trying to get my attention… It was, like, noon. Fully dressed… heels and all.”
Nicole laughed telling the story, saying it was just his playful way of saying hi.
She said before one of his Vegas shows, she was hanging out at the hotel pool with friends when she suddenly heard “psst, psst!”
Coming from nearby, she looked over and, to her surprise, “Prince was hiding behind the bush trying to get my attention… It was, like, noon. Fully dressed… heels and all.”
Nicole laughed telling the story, saying it was just his playful way of saying hi.
She also reflected on how much Prince meant to her, calling him a mentor and “like a brother.” After seeing her in Cats in 2014, he told her, “You are an analog singer… your voice is too big… this is your stage, Nicole.” She credits him for encouraging her to embrace her voice and believe in her talent.
*Did you know about this unlikely friendship? Me neither.
*Did you know about this unlikely friendship? Me neither.
Loose Ends Singer Jane Eugene Has Been Detained By ICE For Allegedly Staying In The U.S. 19 Years After Her Visa Expired
Jane Eugene, a member of the legendary British R&B group Loose Ends, has reportedly been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly overstaying her visa by 19 years, according to The Source.
The singer is best known for her work in the 1980s, when Loose Ends gained international acclaim with their signature blend of soul, R&B, and funk. Her reported arrest has sparked widespread attention and concern, raising questions about immigration enforcement and the challenges faced by international artists living and working in the U.S.
A GoFundMe has been started to help Jane fight the immigrations case. It has raised over $6,000 as of Thursday night.
Jane Eugene, a member of the legendary British R&B group Loose Ends, has reportedly been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly overstaying her visa by 19 years, according to The Source.
The singer is best known for her work in the 1980s, when Loose Ends gained international acclaim with their signature blend of soul, R&B, and funk. Her reported arrest has sparked widespread attention and concern, raising questions about immigration enforcement and the challenges faced by international artists living and working in the U.S.
A GoFundMe has been started to help Jane fight the immigrations case. It has raised over $6,000 as of Thursday night.
The Real Reason why Oprah quit TV Daytime, But she doesn't miss it Either!
During a revealing conversation on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, Winfrey peeled back the curtain on what many considered the golden age of daytime programming. Her admission challenges the popular narrative that celebrities inevitably long for their glory days.
The emotional toll of producing The Oprah Winfrey Show proved more burdensome than audiences ever realized. From 1986 to 2011, Winfrey navigated increasingly complex social issues, personal tragedies, and cultural conversations that demanded both sensitivity and strength.
“The nature of what we were doing every day became just so hard,” Winfrey explained, describing how the show’s evolution toward more serious content affected her personally. While she cherished the authentic connections with viewers, the psychological demands of addressing trauma, controversy, and human suffering on a daily basis eventually took their toll.
The show’s producers, according to Winfrey, felt immense pressure to maintain the program’s award-winning status. This created an environment where recognition became more important than authentic storytelling.
In a move that surprised industry insiders, Winfrey deliberately removed herself from major award consideration. This decision allowed her team to concentrate on meaningful content rather than chasing accolades that had become a source of stress rather than celebration.
“Your legacy is every life you touch,” Winfrey reflected, emphasizing that true impact cannot be measured by industry recognition. She believes authentic influence manifests through individual viewer responses rather than trophy cases or critical acclaim.
This philosophy shift represented a fundamental change in how Winfrey approached her platform, moving away from external validation toward internal purpose.
The Oprah Winfrey Show became synonymous with extravagant audience gifts, creating expectations that grew increasingly difficult to meet. The pressure to exceed previous generosity led to absurd suggestions, including one producer’s proposal to send a contest winner to space.
“It is time to bring it down,” Winfrey recalled thinking, recognizing that the spectacle had overshadowed the show’s core mission of human connection.
The final season’s Australian adventure exemplified these logistical nightmares. Taking more than 300 audience members overseas seemed like a generous farewell gesture until reality intervened. Ninety percent of the selected participants lacked passports, creating a bureaucratic scramble that nearly derailed the entire venture.
Despite her own exit, Winfrey strongly advised Kelly Ripa against leaving Live with Kelly and Mark. She praised the show’s ability to balance entertainment with substance, describing it as “vital and important” in today’s media landscape.
Winfrey emphasized that established platforms carry responsibility, particularly during turbulent times. She encouraged Ripa to recognize the value of the family-like atmosphere created both within the studio and among viewers worldwide.
“Don’t let go of the platform that you have,” Winfrey urged, suggesting that authentic connections with audiences have become increasingly rare and precious in modern television.
Winfrey‘s perspective reflects broader changes in how media personalities view their roles and responsibilities. Her transition from daily television to selective projects demonstrates a more sustainable approach to maintaining influence while preserving personal well-being.
The media mogul’s honesty about her talk show experience provides valuable insight into the hidden costs of fame and the importance of knowing when to step away from even the most successful ventures. Her current approach to media engagement appears more intentional and less driven by external expectations, suggesting that true power comes from choosing your battles rather than fighting them all.
Questlove to Be Honored With ‘SummerStage Icon Award’ at 2025 City Parks Foundation Benefit
Though born and raised in Philadelphia, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has become something of a New York City fixture ever since Jimmy Fallon brought in The Roots to be the house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon more than a decade ago. If there’s a cool event in the city – a concert underplay, a charity fundraiser, a hard-to-get-into party – chances are high that Questo will be there, either as a guest enjoying himself or as a DJ providing the vibes based on his inestimable knowledge of music and music history.
Come September, the Grammy-winning hip-hop drummer and Oscar-winning filmmaker will be honored by New York’s City Parks Foundation with the SummerStage Icon Award at its annual fundraiser. The City Parks Foundation, through its Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Festival, provides free arts and cultural programs to New Yorkers and helps bring public spaces to life (CPF describes its ethos as “thriving parks mean thriving communities”).
The organization’s 2025 dinner and dance party fundraiser will take place Sept. 25 at the SummerStage venue in Manhattan’s Central Park and will wrap with a private dance party DJ’d by Questlove. Additionally, the event will find the City Parks Foundation honoring Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment (Barclays Center/New York Liberty/Brooklyn Nets owners) with the People & Parks Award. Tables and tickets for the event are available here.
The Roots are slated to play SummerStage at Queens’ Flushing Meadows-Corona Park this Sunday (July 20). This year’s SummerStage lineup also includes Soccer Mommy, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Rakim, Celia Cruz Centennial Celebration, Big Freedia, Camilo, Jessica Pratt, Bob Sinclair, IZA, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Awich, Frankie Negrón, La Sonora Poceña and Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues. You can find more about the 2025 SummerStage lineup here. https://cityparksfoundation.org/city-parks-foundation-gala/
Questlove received three Primetime Emmy nominations on Tuesday (July 15) for his work on three different programs: outstanding directing for a documentary/nonfiction program for Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music; outstanding music direction for SNL50: The Homecoming Concert; and outstanding documentary or nonfiction special for Sly Lives! (Aka The Burden of Black Genius). These are his first Emmy nods.
Though born and raised in Philadelphia, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has become something of a New York City fixture ever since Jimmy Fallon brought in The Roots to be the house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon more than a decade ago. If there’s a cool event in the city – a concert underplay, a charity fundraiser, a hard-to-get-into party – chances are high that Questo will be there, either as a guest enjoying himself or as a DJ providing the vibes based on his inestimable knowledge of music and music history.
Come September, the Grammy-winning hip-hop drummer and Oscar-winning filmmaker will be honored by New York’s City Parks Foundation with the SummerStage Icon Award at its annual fundraiser. The City Parks Foundation, through its Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Festival, provides free arts and cultural programs to New Yorkers and helps bring public spaces to life (CPF describes its ethos as “thriving parks mean thriving communities”).
The organization’s 2025 dinner and dance party fundraiser will take place Sept. 25 at the SummerStage venue in Manhattan’s Central Park and will wrap with a private dance party DJ’d by Questlove. Additionally, the event will find the City Parks Foundation honoring Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment (Barclays Center/New York Liberty/Brooklyn Nets owners) with the People & Parks Award. Tables and tickets for the event are available here.
The Roots are slated to play SummerStage at Queens’ Flushing Meadows-Corona Park this Sunday (July 20). This year’s SummerStage lineup also includes Soccer Mommy, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Rakim, Celia Cruz Centennial Celebration, Big Freedia, Camilo, Jessica Pratt, Bob Sinclair, IZA, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Awich, Frankie Negrón, La Sonora Poceña and Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues. You can find more about the 2025 SummerStage lineup here. https://cityparksfoundation.org/city-parks-foundation-gala/
Questlove received three Primetime Emmy nominations on Tuesday (July 15) for his work on three different programs: outstanding directing for a documentary/nonfiction program for Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music; outstanding music direction for SNL50: The Homecoming Concert; and outstanding documentary or nonfiction special for Sly Lives! (Aka The Burden of Black Genius). These are his first Emmy nods.
Broadway Gypsy Revival Is Closing August 17!
Broadway's current revival of Gypsy, starring six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald as Rose, has moved up its closing date, and will now play its final performance August 17 at the Majestic Theatre. The revival will have played 28 previews and 269 performances as of its final curtain. The production had previously been expected to continue through at least October 5.
“George C. Wolfe's exquisite production of Gypsy managed to both capture the full integrity of the original, without changing a word, and at the same time brought a historic new level of depth with his casting the magnificent Audra McDonald," says David Saint, a spokesperson for the Arthur Laurents estate, in a statement. "He shed a complex light of racial awareness on this quintessential American story, one that would make Arthur, the lifelong advocate for social justice, extremely proud."
“This production of Gypsy made a once-in-a-lifetime event out of arguably the most revered American musical," adds Rick Pappas, speaking for the Sondheim estate. "With George C. Wolfe’s sharp and illuminating direction and a performance for the ages from one of our greatest living performers, Audra McDonald, its legacy is etched in Broadway history. Steve and Audra had a conversation about roles in his canon she should tackle, and they agreed Rose should top that list. We know he would have been thrilled with everything this historic production came to be on stage."
The earlier closing notice is a surprising finish for a starry revival of a beloved musical, which has become a trophy for Broadway's most revered leading ladies. This news will make the production the second shortest-running Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Arthur Laurents-Stephen Sondheim musical, with only the 1974 revival starring Angela Lansbury (always planned to be a brief limited run), giving less performances since the 1959 original production. The seminal musical is a frequent face on the Main Stem, getting revivals in 1989 starring Tyne Daly, 2003 starring Bernadette Peters, and 2008 starring Patti LuPone, along with Lansbury's go.
Directed by George C. Wolfe, the staging opened at the Majestic Theatre December 19, 2024. With her 11th Tony nomination, McDonald made history this year as the most Tony-nominated performer of all time (along with her previous record of being the most Tony-awarded performer in Tony history, with six).
Along with 2025 Tony nominees McDonald as Rose, Danny Burstein as Herbie, and Joy Woods as Louise, the cast is led by Jordan Tyson as June, Kevin Csolak as Tulsa, Lesli Margherita as Tessie Tura, Lili Thomas as Miss Mazeppa, Mylinda Hull as Miss Electra, Jacob Ming-Trent as Uncle Jocko, Kyleigh Denae Vickers as Baby Louise, and Marley Lianne Gomes and Jade Smith as Baby June. Tryphena Wade is the standby for Rose. Montego Glover will play Rose at Sunday matinees for the remainder of the run, after filling in for McDonald's pre-planned vacation earlier this month.
Gypsy, based on the mostly fictional memoir of famed burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, features a book by Arthur Laurents and songs with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The work has been filmed three times: a 1962 feature film starring Rosalind Russell, a 1993 TV film starring Bette Midler, and a filmed stage performance of a 2015 London revival starring Imelda Staunton.
Wolfe's creative team includes choreographer 2025 Tony nominee Camille A. Brown; music director and supervisor Andy Einhorn, who's also penned additional arrangements; scenic designer Santo Loquasto; costume designer Toni-Leslie James; lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer; sound designer Scott Lehrer; hair and wig designer Mia Neal; makeup designer Michael Clifton, and animal trainer William Berloni. Orchestrations are by Sid Ramin and Robert Ginzler, with dance music arrangements by John Kander, and additional orchestrations and arrangements by Daryl Waters. Rick Steiger is production stage manager.
Tom Kirdahy, Mara Isaacs, Kevin Ryan, and Diane Scott Carter lead the producing team. The forthcoming album is being produced by David Caddick, David Lai, and Einhorn.
“George C. Wolfe's exquisite production of Gypsy managed to both capture the full integrity of the original, without changing a word, and at the same time brought a historic new level of depth with his casting the magnificent Audra McDonald," says David Saint, a spokesperson for the Arthur Laurents estate, in a statement. "He shed a complex light of racial awareness on this quintessential American story, one that would make Arthur, the lifelong advocate for social justice, extremely proud."
“This production of Gypsy made a once-in-a-lifetime event out of arguably the most revered American musical," adds Rick Pappas, speaking for the Sondheim estate. "With George C. Wolfe’s sharp and illuminating direction and a performance for the ages from one of our greatest living performers, Audra McDonald, its legacy is etched in Broadway history. Steve and Audra had a conversation about roles in his canon she should tackle, and they agreed Rose should top that list. We know he would have been thrilled with everything this historic production came to be on stage."
The earlier closing notice is a surprising finish for a starry revival of a beloved musical, which has become a trophy for Broadway's most revered leading ladies. This news will make the production the second shortest-running Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Arthur Laurents-Stephen Sondheim musical, with only the 1974 revival starring Angela Lansbury (always planned to be a brief limited run), giving less performances since the 1959 original production. The seminal musical is a frequent face on the Main Stem, getting revivals in 1989 starring Tyne Daly, 2003 starring Bernadette Peters, and 2008 starring Patti LuPone, along with Lansbury's go.
Directed by George C. Wolfe, the staging opened at the Majestic Theatre December 19, 2024. With her 11th Tony nomination, McDonald made history this year as the most Tony-nominated performer of all time (along with her previous record of being the most Tony-awarded performer in Tony history, with six).
Along with 2025 Tony nominees McDonald as Rose, Danny Burstein as Herbie, and Joy Woods as Louise, the cast is led by Jordan Tyson as June, Kevin Csolak as Tulsa, Lesli Margherita as Tessie Tura, Lili Thomas as Miss Mazeppa, Mylinda Hull as Miss Electra, Jacob Ming-Trent as Uncle Jocko, Kyleigh Denae Vickers as Baby Louise, and Marley Lianne Gomes and Jade Smith as Baby June. Tryphena Wade is the standby for Rose. Montego Glover will play Rose at Sunday matinees for the remainder of the run, after filling in for McDonald's pre-planned vacation earlier this month.
Gypsy, based on the mostly fictional memoir of famed burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, features a book by Arthur Laurents and songs with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The work has been filmed three times: a 1962 feature film starring Rosalind Russell, a 1993 TV film starring Bette Midler, and a filmed stage performance of a 2015 London revival starring Imelda Staunton.
Wolfe's creative team includes choreographer 2025 Tony nominee Camille A. Brown; music director and supervisor Andy Einhorn, who's also penned additional arrangements; scenic designer Santo Loquasto; costume designer Toni-Leslie James; lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer; sound designer Scott Lehrer; hair and wig designer Mia Neal; makeup designer Michael Clifton, and animal trainer William Berloni. Orchestrations are by Sid Ramin and Robert Ginzler, with dance music arrangements by John Kander, and additional orchestrations and arrangements by Daryl Waters. Rick Steiger is production stage manager.
Tom Kirdahy, Mara Isaacs, Kevin Ryan, and Diane Scott Carter lead the producing team. The forthcoming album is being produced by David Caddick, David Lai, and Einhorn.
Nicki Minaj Is Roping In the FBI, CIA in Her Beef With SZA
If you’ve been spending any time on social media this week, then you may have noticed Nicki Minaj‘s ongoing tirade on X/Twitter against SZA. Now, however, it appears things have taken a more serious turn with federal authorities possibly getting involved. We’ll explain.
As we previously told you, the beef between the two started over misinterpretation of some tweets from the “Snooze” singer and one of her Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label execs earlier this week. After taking the posts to be some sort of shade towards her, Minaj let off an avalanche of negative and derogatory tweets towards them both, but a large part of her ire was directed towards SZA.
Now, it looks like Minaj’s words caught the attention of TDE affiliate MackWop who decided to fireback at the “Itty Bitty Piggy” rapper online, which she took to be a threat.
“Nicki, relax… Relax before you get put in the blender like your boy did. Uh-oh. She gotta relax, she gotta relax,” he said in a recent livestream as captured by Hot New Hip-Hop on Thursday.
Well, as you might expect, Minaj didn’t take those comments lightly and subsequently called him out on his words. But she didn’t stop there! In fact, she decided to get the FBI and eventually the CIA involved in her online spat.
“@MackWop did you just threaten to harm me? @FBI I want this man investigated right away. He has ties to other ppl who’ve been a part of very shady business & is now threatening harm as well as admitting to a crime about someone else. Which boy was put in a blender?” she wrote on X/Twitter.
She continued: “It seems to me that he’s talking about Tory recently being stabbed up in what many believe to be a set up. @fbi I’m ready to talk about everything I know. @CIADirector these thugs have gone way too far. They have now began PUBLIC THREATS due to their leaders feeling above the law.”
Minaj later added: “Yo @MackWop you could’ve easily arranged to shoot the fade with a man. Or whatever else you do. YOU BITCH MADE NIGGA. TALK SHIT THEN HIDE BEHIND POLICE ASS NIGGA. why you ain’t privately drop your lo? Bitch. I want this man locked up b4 I feel safe to leave my home to WORK.”
In another series of posts, Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna was also roped into Nicki’s drama. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because Luna was the same politician who tied herself to Tory Lanez’s case and his latest efforts to go free.
“@RepLuna this man just publicly threatened me. I’ve notified the FBI & CIA. I want this thug locked up & I’m ready to talk about everything these ppl have done to me,” Minaj wrote in a post.
Luna responded: “Please text my cell, I will forward this to law enforcement immediately. Threats of violence and assassination should be taken very seriously. Hope you’re ok, we’ll talk soon.”
We honestly don’t know what’s crazier in this situation. The fact that this all started over tweets that had nothing to do with Minaj, the fact that she is literally tagging the director of the CIA on Twitter like it’s nothing, or the fact that she’s roping in a Republican politician to help fight her battle?
This all is really too much and shouldn’t have even gotten this far. Hopefully all of this unnecessary mess can die down soon.
If you’ve been spending any time on social media this week, then you may have noticed Nicki Minaj‘s ongoing tirade on X/Twitter against SZA. Now, however, it appears things have taken a more serious turn with federal authorities possibly getting involved. We’ll explain.
As we previously told you, the beef between the two started over misinterpretation of some tweets from the “Snooze” singer and one of her Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label execs earlier this week. After taking the posts to be some sort of shade towards her, Minaj let off an avalanche of negative and derogatory tweets towards them both, but a large part of her ire was directed towards SZA.
Now, it looks like Minaj’s words caught the attention of TDE affiliate MackWop who decided to fireback at the “Itty Bitty Piggy” rapper online, which she took to be a threat.
“Nicki, relax… Relax before you get put in the blender like your boy did. Uh-oh. She gotta relax, she gotta relax,” he said in a recent livestream as captured by Hot New Hip-Hop on Thursday.
Well, as you might expect, Minaj didn’t take those comments lightly and subsequently called him out on his words. But she didn’t stop there! In fact, she decided to get the FBI and eventually the CIA involved in her online spat.
“@MackWop did you just threaten to harm me? @FBI I want this man investigated right away. He has ties to other ppl who’ve been a part of very shady business & is now threatening harm as well as admitting to a crime about someone else. Which boy was put in a blender?” she wrote on X/Twitter.
She continued: “It seems to me that he’s talking about Tory recently being stabbed up in what many believe to be a set up. @fbi I’m ready to talk about everything I know. @CIADirector these thugs have gone way too far. They have now began PUBLIC THREATS due to their leaders feeling above the law.”
Minaj later added: “Yo @MackWop you could’ve easily arranged to shoot the fade with a man. Or whatever else you do. YOU BITCH MADE NIGGA. TALK SHIT THEN HIDE BEHIND POLICE ASS NIGGA. why you ain’t privately drop your lo? Bitch. I want this man locked up b4 I feel safe to leave my home to WORK.”
In another series of posts, Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna was also roped into Nicki’s drama. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because Luna was the same politician who tied herself to Tory Lanez’s case and his latest efforts to go free.
“@RepLuna this man just publicly threatened me. I’ve notified the FBI & CIA. I want this thug locked up & I’m ready to talk about everything these ppl have done to me,” Minaj wrote in a post.
Luna responded: “Please text my cell, I will forward this to law enforcement immediately. Threats of violence and assassination should be taken very seriously. Hope you’re ok, we’ll talk soon.”
We honestly don’t know what’s crazier in this situation. The fact that this all started over tweets that had nothing to do with Minaj, the fact that she is literally tagging the director of the CIA on Twitter like it’s nothing, or the fact that she’s roping in a Republican politician to help fight her battle?
This all is really too much and shouldn’t have even gotten this far. Hopefully all of this unnecessary mess can die down soon.
Andy Byron Resigns as Astronomer CEO Following Coldplay Concert 'Affair' Scandal
Andy Byron has left Astronomer amid his viral scandal.
On Thursday (July 17), Andy went viral when footage of himself and a woman who is reported to be another executive at Astronomer were spotted getting cozy at a Coldplay concert. When the two of them ducked out of the view of the camera, frontman Chris Martin joked that the two of them must be “having an affair or they’re just really shy.”
After being placed on leave from the tech company, Astronomer announced on Saturday (July 19) that Andy has resigned as CEO.
“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” Astronomer shared in a statement on X. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met
“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted,” the statement continued. “The Board will begin a earch for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
“Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,” it went on. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.”
Andy‘s resignation comes after Astronomer also launched an investigation into the event.
On Thursday (July 17), Andy went viral when footage of himself and a woman who is reported to be another executive at Astronomer were spotted getting cozy at a Coldplay concert. When the two of them ducked out of the view of the camera, frontman Chris Martin joked that the two of them must be “having an affair or they’re just really shy.”
After being placed on leave from the tech company, Astronomer announced on Saturday (July 19) that Andy has resigned as CEO.
“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” Astronomer shared in a statement on X. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met
“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted,” the statement continued. “The Board will begin a earch for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
“Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,” it went on. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.”
Andy‘s resignation comes after Astronomer also launched an investigation into the event.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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