#MAGFAB: TIME100 Next 2026: The World's Most Influential Rising Stars Feat Druski
On a cloudy August Sunday, Drew Desbordes—best known as Druski—rolls his ebike into the hallway of his temporary Manhattan apartment. He pulls the hood of his jacket over his eyebrows and zips the collar all the way up to his nose, obscuring all but his eyes. The content creator and comedian has been living in New York for the summer, shooting his biggest movie role to date, and riding his bike through the city is his favorite way to decompress. But he always hides his face.
“I really just do it for safety,” he says. Somewhere on the ride to Brooklyn, he pulls off the hood, and two men dash across the street to catch him at a traffic light, filming as they flag him down for a selfie.
Really, this kind of attention is what Druski, 32, has always wanted. There’s a narrative we sometimes apply to entertainers, that this person or that person became famous not by being “discovered” or uplifted by Hollywood power brokers or institutions, but instead by the sheer force of their own will. They decide at a certain point, usually early in life, that they need to be known to the world. And then because they are charismatic or skilled or driven or delusionally confident enough (or some combination of the above), they actually make it happen. Druski is one of those people.
Nine years ago, he was posting short clips on social media of himself joking around—he even shared a video of his car being repossessed, openly marking a financial and existential low point in the wake of dropping out of college. His handful of followers encouraged him to keep going, and he grew more ambitious with his videos, developing a style of comedy that has both endeared his audience to his gregarious personality and showcased his ability to act. In short skits, Druski inhabits hyperspecific characters and skewers their behavior: a frat guy with no self-awareness, an over-the-top megachurch pastor, a racist Nascar fan. The rapper Drake took notice early on and cast Druski in a music video alongside Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr., and Marshawn Lynch. Marketers began to realize that Druski could sell to a valuable audience, offering him deals to promote their products.
Now, he’s one of social media’s most bankable stars, with more than 30 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and brand partnerships with multiple major corporations. He’s starred in two Super Bowl commercials (for Dunkin’ in 2025 and T-Mobile this year), and worked with a who’s who of culture: Justin Bieber, Kevin Hart, Ben Affleck, Tom Brady, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, Timothée Chalamet, Snoop Dogg, Zoe Saldaña, and now—in the baseball romcom The Catch, out next year—Chris Pine and Emma Stone. With live comedy tours, a hosting gig at this year’s BET Awards, and TV deals under his belt, Druski is taking major steps toward his goal of comedy superstardom.
He shows zero shyness when it comes to articulating his vision: “You're looking at the modern-day Eddie Murphy or the modern-day Kevin Hart.”
Druski grew up in Gwinnett County, outside of Atlanta, in a family that valued funny. His late grandfather was a prankster. His mom is good for a laugh, too. Sometimes, she would pull out the camcorder and he’d go to town performing, cracking jokes, rapping, hamming it up. (His dad was an airline pilot and often tough on the family—in a recent interview on the Diary of CEO podcast, Druski told stories about physical violence in their home, saying he tended to try to be the comedic relief in the room. He also said he and his father have a good relationship today.) His mother also introduced him to comedians like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, and Murphy—giants whose example Druski has looked to as he’s built his own career. He has a quote from Ferrell’s movie Talladega Nights tattooed on his leg.
As a kid, he’d watch Entertainment Tonight and TMZ, studying how paparazzi would follow stars around in the streets. While his mom urged him to turn it off, he was glued to the screen. He likes to describe how people in Gwinnett referred to him as a “local celebrity.” Parents of his classmates loved him. They would always wave or stop to say hello when they ran into him in town, and he’d joke around with them, asking for cigarettes to see how they’d respond.
He says he got bad grades and was kicked off the football team because he was always messing around in class, and later lost jobs for the same reason. When he dropped out of Georgia Southern University—where he never quite found the fun and lively college experience he’d envisioned—Druski told his mom he was going to become a comedian. There was no backup plan. “Everything works out for the right reasons,” he says. “Everything comes to life.”
But getting there wasn’t easy. “There's nobody out there looking for the next comedian,” Druski says. “The new way of doing things is like: you got to just do it yourself.”
With every skit Druski produces, he and his team, including a childhood friend he often writes with, are thinking about how to maximize. Maybe he’s introducing a new character—could that character be meaty and funny enough to ground a pitch for a TV series? How far can they stretch it? “Even when I began and I was doing early videos where they were just silly things and it had no bigger meaning or purpose to the comedy, I always would find some type of way to maximize it,” he says. “With anything I'm given, I want to make the most out of this situation that I have at hand.”
A prime example: Druski’s viral skit about a megachurch pastor. (It’s somewhat hilarious that Druski continues to refer to his videos as “skits,” given the production value.) In the short piece, he plays a money-hungry pastor dripping in designer clothing, suspended from the rafters during his sermon for no apparent reason and later counting the cash he’s squeezed out of his congregation with a greedy grin on his face. That character made an appearance during Druski’s hosting role at the BET Awards—he brought a gospel choir onstage and scolded them—and is at the center of an upcoming TV series, Collect & Praise, that he shot over the summer. Druski makes a point to reinvest most of the money he’s earning into creating ever-better content. Collect & Praise was originally planned for his YouTube channel—like his reality TV spoofs Coulda Been Records and Coulda Been Love—but has since been snapped up by Netflix.
“I'm such a fan of upgrading everything that I'm trying to achieve,” Druski says. “Why can't I take the money and try to recreate this in a bigger universe?”
Fresh from his ride across the bridge to Brooklyn, Druski dismounts and heads into the apartment of his frequent collaborator, David Janoff, who directed Collect & Praise. They’re taking advantage of Druski’s summer in New York, using all the downtime they can to edit the show. Druski kicks off his sneakers and shuffles into Janoff’s editing room, where they scrub through a scene where the pastor canoes out onto a lake in the middle of the night with a co-conspirator. “Because they're improvising, we're trying to make sure each scene is flowing to the next,” Janoff says.
“I really just do it for safety,” he says. Somewhere on the ride to Brooklyn, he pulls off the hood, and two men dash across the street to catch him at a traffic light, filming as they flag him down for a selfie.
Really, this kind of attention is what Druski, 32, has always wanted. There’s a narrative we sometimes apply to entertainers, that this person or that person became famous not by being “discovered” or uplifted by Hollywood power brokers or institutions, but instead by the sheer force of their own will. They decide at a certain point, usually early in life, that they need to be known to the world. And then because they are charismatic or skilled or driven or delusionally confident enough (or some combination of the above), they actually make it happen. Druski is one of those people.
Nine years ago, he was posting short clips on social media of himself joking around—he even shared a video of his car being repossessed, openly marking a financial and existential low point in the wake of dropping out of college. His handful of followers encouraged him to keep going, and he grew more ambitious with his videos, developing a style of comedy that has both endeared his audience to his gregarious personality and showcased his ability to act. In short skits, Druski inhabits hyperspecific characters and skewers their behavior: a frat guy with no self-awareness, an over-the-top megachurch pastor, a racist Nascar fan. The rapper Drake took notice early on and cast Druski in a music video alongside Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr., and Marshawn Lynch. Marketers began to realize that Druski could sell to a valuable audience, offering him deals to promote their products.
He shows zero shyness when it comes to articulating his vision: “You're looking at the modern-day Eddie Murphy or the modern-day Kevin Hart.”
Druski grew up in Gwinnett County, outside of Atlanta, in a family that valued funny. His late grandfather was a prankster. His mom is good for a laugh, too. Sometimes, she would pull out the camcorder and he’d go to town performing, cracking jokes, rapping, hamming it up. (His dad was an airline pilot and often tough on the family—in a recent interview on the Diary of CEO podcast, Druski told stories about physical violence in their home, saying he tended to try to be the comedic relief in the room. He also said he and his father have a good relationship today.) His mother also introduced him to comedians like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, and Murphy—giants whose example Druski has looked to as he’s built his own career. He has a quote from Ferrell’s movie Talladega Nights tattooed on his leg.
As a kid, he’d watch Entertainment Tonight and TMZ, studying how paparazzi would follow stars around in the streets. While his mom urged him to turn it off, he was glued to the screen. He likes to describe how people in Gwinnett referred to him as a “local celebrity.” Parents of his classmates loved him. They would always wave or stop to say hello when they ran into him in town, and he’d joke around with them, asking for cigarettes to see how they’d respond.
He says he got bad grades and was kicked off the football team because he was always messing around in class, and later lost jobs for the same reason. When he dropped out of Georgia Southern University—where he never quite found the fun and lively college experience he’d envisioned—Druski told his mom he was going to become a comedian. There was no backup plan. “Everything works out for the right reasons,” he says. “Everything comes to life.”
But getting there wasn’t easy. “There's nobody out there looking for the next comedian,” Druski says. “The new way of doing things is like: you got to just do it yourself.”
With every skit Druski produces, he and his team, including a childhood friend he often writes with, are thinking about how to maximize. Maybe he’s introducing a new character—could that character be meaty and funny enough to ground a pitch for a TV series? How far can they stretch it? “Even when I began and I was doing early videos where they were just silly things and it had no bigger meaning or purpose to the comedy, I always would find some type of way to maximize it,” he says. “With anything I'm given, I want to make the most out of this situation that I have at hand.”
A prime example: Druski’s viral skit about a megachurch pastor. (It’s somewhat hilarious that Druski continues to refer to his videos as “skits,” given the production value.) In the short piece, he plays a money-hungry pastor dripping in designer clothing, suspended from the rafters during his sermon for no apparent reason and later counting the cash he’s squeezed out of his congregation with a greedy grin on his face. That character made an appearance during Druski’s hosting role at the BET Awards—he brought a gospel choir onstage and scolded them—and is at the center of an upcoming TV series, Collect & Praise, that he shot over the summer. Druski makes a point to reinvest most of the money he’s earning into creating ever-better content. Collect & Praise was originally planned for his YouTube channel—like his reality TV spoofs Coulda Been Records and Coulda Been Love—but has since been snapped up by Netflix.
“I'm such a fan of upgrading everything that I'm trying to achieve,” Druski says. “Why can't I take the money and try to recreate this in a bigger universe?”
Fresh from his ride across the bridge to Brooklyn, Druski dismounts and heads into the apartment of his frequent collaborator, David Janoff, who directed Collect & Praise. They’re taking advantage of Druski’s summer in New York, using all the downtime they can to edit the show. Druski kicks off his sneakers and shuffles into Janoff’s editing room, where they scrub through a scene where the pastor canoes out onto a lake in the middle of the night with a co-conspirator. “Because they're improvising, we're trying to make sure each scene is flowing to the next,” Janoff says.
Get more HERE: https://time.com/article/2026/09/30/druski-time100-next/
#RHOA: Phaedra Parks Celebrates Son Ayden Nida’s Latest Football Win
Phaedra Parks was front and center Friday night as her son Ayden Nida and his high school football team, the Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears, picked up another win.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star shared photos from the Sept. 25 game, including several shots of herself posing with the 16-year-old inside the locker room. Phaedra even dressed for the occasion in a white Golden Bears jersey bearing Ayden’s No. 85.
“A little weekend recap: Friday night lights with my favorite player and some of my favorite moms,” she captioned the photos.
The Golden Bears defeated Temple High School 41-19 on Friday, extending their undefeated record to 6-0. Holy Innocents’ took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and remained ahead for the rest of the game.
Ayden is a junior at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, where he plays wide receiver for the varsity football team.
Earlier this year, the teen competed in track for the first time and helped Holy Innocents’ capture a state championship.
Ayden qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash and was also part of the school’s 4×400 relay team, which finished third.
Phaedra and Ayden’s dad, Apollo Nida, were both there to celebrate at the end of the season.
“In January, @ayden.nida decided he wanted to run track,” Phaedra wrote at the time.
She admitted she initially wasn’t sure how things would turn out, but made sure he had the right shoes and showed up to nearly every meet.
By the end of the season, she was calling her oldest son a “track star.”
Ayden is the eldest of Phaedra and Apollo’s two sons. They also share 13-year-old Dylan Nida.
Next up for Ayden and the undefeated Golden Bears is a homecoming matchup against Lovett on Oct. 2.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star shared photos from the Sept. 25 game, including several shots of herself posing with the 16-year-old inside the locker room. Phaedra even dressed for the occasion in a white Golden Bears jersey bearing Ayden’s No. 85.
“A little weekend recap: Friday night lights with my favorite player and some of my favorite moms,” she captioned the photos.
The Golden Bears defeated Temple High School 41-19 on Friday, extending their undefeated record to 6-0. Holy Innocents’ took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and remained ahead for the rest of the game.
Ayden is a junior at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, where he plays wide receiver for the varsity football team.
Earlier this year, the teen competed in track for the first time and helped Holy Innocents’ capture a state championship.
Ayden qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash and was also part of the school’s 4×400 relay team, which finished third.
Phaedra and Ayden’s dad, Apollo Nida, were both there to celebrate at the end of the season.
“In January, @ayden.nida decided he wanted to run track,” Phaedra wrote at the time.
She admitted she initially wasn’t sure how things would turn out, but made sure he had the right shoes and showed up to nearly every meet.
By the end of the season, she was calling her oldest son a “track star.”
Ayden is the eldest of Phaedra and Apollo’s two sons. They also share 13-year-old Dylan Nida.
Next up for Ayden and the undefeated Golden Bears is a homecoming matchup against Lovett on Oct. 2.
#NewMusic from Tank and the Bangas “Simon Says”
Grammy Award-winning band Tank and the Bangas have officially released their hypnotic new single, “Simon Says.” The newly unveiled track arrives perfectly timed with the group’s return to the road, kicking off the second leg of their extensive U.S. tour tonight with a massive hometown performance at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans.
On “Simon Says,” the dynamic ensemble settles into a sophisticated, jazz-leaning R&B pocket. The track effortlessly pairs frontwoman Tarriona “Tank” Ball’s highly expressive vocal delivery with the playful, intricate musicality that has long defined the group’s signature sound.
Anchored by a captivating, looping piano motif and punctuated by prominent saxophone arrangements woven throughout the mix, the new single delivers a deeply hypnotic and undeniably smooth listening experience.
The new single sustains the heavy momentum of the band’s latest critically acclaimed studio album, The Last Balloon, which was released this past May via Verve Forecast. The project serves as the definitive final chapter of the group’s expansive “Balloon” trilogy, directly following 2019’s Green Balloon and 2022’s Red Balloon.
On “Simon Says,” the dynamic ensemble settles into a sophisticated, jazz-leaning R&B pocket. The track effortlessly pairs frontwoman Tarriona “Tank” Ball’s highly expressive vocal delivery with the playful, intricate musicality that has long defined the group’s signature sound.
Anchored by a captivating, looping piano motif and punctuated by prominent saxophone arrangements woven throughout the mix, the new single delivers a deeply hypnotic and undeniably smooth listening experience.
The new single sustains the heavy momentum of the band’s latest critically acclaimed studio album, The Last Balloon, which was released this past May via Verve Forecast. The project serves as the definitive final chapter of the group’s expansive “Balloon” trilogy, directly following 2019’s Green Balloon and 2022’s Red Balloon.
LISTEN HERE:
Executive-produced by longtime collaborator Austin Brown and recorded primarily at The Complex Studios in Los Angeles, the album explores profound themes of frustration, resilience, and self-realization. True to form, the project balances moments of striking vulnerability with the vibrant, joyful energy at the core of the band’s identity. The album also boasts a formidable roster of guest collaborators, featuring elite R&B talent including Lucky Daye, Ledisi, Dawn Richard, and Austin Brown.
Tank and the Bangas will continue their trek across the United States through November, hitting major markets including Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Austin. The band will then transition their highly celebrated live show overseas, executing an international run with upcoming dates across Europe and Japan. The global routing notably includes a performance at the recently opened Blue Note London, before the band officially wraps their year with a special engagement at Blue Note Hawaii this December.
“Simon Says” and the full-length album The Last Balloon are available to stream and download now across all major digital platforms
Tank and the Bangas will continue their trek across the United States through November, hitting major markets including Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Austin. The band will then transition their highly celebrated live show overseas, executing an international run with upcoming dates across Europe and Japan. The global routing notably includes a performance at the recently opened Blue Note London, before the band officially wraps their year with a special engagement at Blue Note Hawaii this December.
“Simon Says” and the full-length album The Last Balloon are available to stream and download now across all major digital platforms
#HipHopNews: Wale Drops Surprise “Talk to Me (Freestyle)” Remix of Olivia Dean’s Hit
Wale has surprised fans with “Talk to Me (Freestyle),” a new track inspired by Olivia Dean’s multi-platinum hit “Man I Need.”
The veteran rapper puts his own spin on the chart-topping song, gliding over its recognizable melody with his signature flow and poetic lyricism.
The release follows Wale’s critically acclaimed 2025 album, everything is a lot., as he continues exploring the experiences, lessons and challenges that have shaped his life and career.
While heartbreak played a central role in his previous project, the new freestyle shifts the focus toward personal growth, reflecting on losses, ambition and the determination to keep moving forward.
The veteran rapper puts his own spin on the chart-topping song, gliding over its recognizable melody with his signature flow and poetic lyricism.
The release follows Wale’s critically acclaimed 2025 album, everything is a lot., as he continues exploring the experiences, lessons and challenges that have shaped his life and career.
While heartbreak played a central role in his previous project, the new freestyle shifts the focus toward personal growth, reflecting on losses, ambition and the determination to keep moving forward.
LISTEN HERE:
With “Talk to Me (Freestyle),” Wale offers another glimpse into his perspective, blending introspection with the lyrical style that has defined his career.
With “Talk to Me (Freestyle),” Wale offers another glimpse into his perspective, blending introspection with the lyrical style that has defined his career.
Diddy’s Prison Fight Photos Surface Online
Photos of a physical altercation between Sean “Diddy” Combs and an inmate have surfaced online. The screengrabs from a security video show Combs and another man pushing each other and exchanging blows. A source reportedly said Combs got the best of the altercation.
Prison guards saw the altercation and rushed to break it up before any serious damage was done.
Combs, 56, is currently in solitary confinement after NBC News reported about his luxurious lifestyle behind bars.
Combs allegedly paid inmates to give him massages, cook for him and do his chores at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey. He also acquired a cell phone and used the device to receive nude photos from an ex-girlfriend.
Prison guards saw the altercation and rushed to break it up before any serious damage was done.
Combs, 56, is currently in solitary confinement after NBC News reported about his luxurious lifestyle behind bars.
Combs allegedly paid inmates to give him massages, cook for him and do his chores at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey. He also acquired a cell phone and used the device to receive nude photos from an ex-girlfriend.
Combs allegedly had a “jailbroken” tablet, which he used to watch movies and a documentary about himself.
Multiple sources say the feds saw the NBC News report about his alleged lavish lifestyle and shut down his perks and placed him in solitary confinement.
It is the second time this year Combs has gone into the hole. He was previously moved to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) after a fistfight with a fellow inmate. Now photos of that fistfight are circulating on social media.
TMZ reports that prison officials are conducting an investigation into how Combs acquired the cell phone and Hennessy premium liquor.
Meanwhile, the rap mogul is due to be released from jail on January 21, 2028.
Multiple sources say the feds saw the NBC News report about his alleged lavish lifestyle and shut down his perks and placed him in solitary confinement.
It is the second time this year Combs has gone into the hole. He was previously moved to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) after a fistfight with a fellow inmate. Now photos of that fistfight are circulating on social media.
TMZ reports that prison officials are conducting an investigation into how Combs acquired the cell phone and Hennessy premium liquor.
Meanwhile, the rap mogul is due to be released from jail on January 21, 2028.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Isaiah Washington reveals his wife died more than a year ago
Appearing to address speculation, Washington said that “the rumors are true” and that his wife — who also went by Jenisa Garland — had “collapsed suddenly” in May 2025 and died on June 9, 2025.
“It came as a huge shock to me and our entire family. She succumbed to a massive hemorrhagic stroke and never recovered,” he wrote Saturday. “Listen, y’all…some headaches are not just headaches or migraines, they can be much worse and a warning sign. Get a brain scan if you can and take those headaches seriously.”
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing bleeding in or around the brain, according to the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus. The bleeding increases pressure inside the skull and damages brain tissue. Common causes include an aneurysm, high blood pressure, head trauma or arteriovenous malformation.
According to MedlinePlus, symptoms can include a sudden severe headache, sudden dizziness or trouble walking, sudden confusion, and sudden numbness or weakness in the face.
“She has been gone 16 months now, but she left 3 incredibly amazing children behind to continue her legacy,” the actor said.
Washington didn’t say why he waited over a year to announce her death but suggested that she may not have wanted the information made public.
“I don’t know if this is an appropriate post, because Jenisa Washington was extremely private, but I guess I just have to be reprimanded from her on the other side,” he wrote.
Celebrities including Viola Davis, Loni Love, Michael Beach, Tichina Arnold and Neil Brown Jr. offered their condolences to Washington.
Washington appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Dr. Preston Burke but was fired in 2007 after he used a homophobic slur against a co-star. He later apologized.
Chris Brown’s Housekeeper Accepts $9.5M Settlement, Avoids New Trial
Chris Brown’s housekeeper has agreed to a reduced settlement amount of $9.5 million, ending plans for a new trial in her lawsuit against him. This decision came after a judge lowered the original $12.9 million award due to concerns about the evidence presented.
The settlement was accepted by Maria Avila on October 1, following Judge Huey P. Cotton’s ruling two days earlier. The judge found the initial award excessive, citing a lack of sufficient proof regarding nerve damage and other claimed injuries. The adjusted payout breaks down to $3.85 million for past non-economic damages, $5.4 million for future non-economic damages, and $250,000 for anticipated future medical expenses.
Maria Avila filed her lawsuit in April 2021, accusing Chris Brown of negligence after she was attacked by his 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd dog in 2020 at his California home. The attack caused her permanent scarring and physical injuries. She was originally seeking $90 million in damages.
The legal battle included a mistrial in the first trial due to a juror improperly researching case details online and sharing them with other jurors. A second trial followed shortly after, resulting in the initial $12.9 million verdict that was later reduced.
Additionally, Maria’s sister, Patricia Avila, was awarded $855,000 for past economic damages and emotional distress, as she was present during the attack. The settlement avoids a costly and lengthy retrial for all parties involved.
This case highlights the complexities of personal injury lawsuits involving celebrity defendants and the challenges of determining appropriate compensation based on available evidence.
The settlement was accepted by Maria Avila on October 1, following Judge Huey P. Cotton’s ruling two days earlier. The judge found the initial award excessive, citing a lack of sufficient proof regarding nerve damage and other claimed injuries. The adjusted payout breaks down to $3.85 million for past non-economic damages, $5.4 million for future non-economic damages, and $250,000 for anticipated future medical expenses.
Maria Avila filed her lawsuit in April 2021, accusing Chris Brown of negligence after she was attacked by his 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd dog in 2020 at his California home. The attack caused her permanent scarring and physical injuries. She was originally seeking $90 million in damages.
The legal battle included a mistrial in the first trial due to a juror improperly researching case details online and sharing them with other jurors. A second trial followed shortly after, resulting in the initial $12.9 million verdict that was later reduced.
Additionally, Maria’s sister, Patricia Avila, was awarded $855,000 for past economic damages and emotional distress, as she was present during the attack. The settlement avoids a costly and lengthy retrial for all parties involved.
This case highlights the complexities of personal injury lawsuits involving celebrity defendants and the challenges of determining appropriate compensation based on available evidence.
Ray J Shares New Update on Heart and Liver Problems
Weeks after Ray J walked out of a boxing ring with a championship belt and plans for new music inspired by his children, the singer is confronting a far more serious fight.
During a recent stream, Ray J admitted he still hasn't gotten his ongoing heart and liver concerns checked. "My liver is f*cked up. My heart is still f*cked up," he said. "I wake up, and I know it. I still haven't went and got it checked."
In January, the 45-year-old claimed his heart was functioning at only 25 percent and said he didn't expect to survive beyond 2027. He attributed the damage to years of heavy alcohol and drug use, admitting that he regularly consumed four or five bottles of alcohol a day while taking excessive amounts of Adderall and other substances.
That same month, Ray J was hospitalized with severe pneumonia and heart complications. He also claimed that the right side of his heart had turned black, though his claims about the extent of the damage and his prognosis have not been independently confirmed.
His sister Brandy responded to his latest update with reassurance. "You're fine Bro!!!" she wrote on Instagram. "I am gonna continue to help take care of you."
The disclosure marks a jarring turn from Ray J's public comeback in August. He defeated Orlando Brown in a celebrity boxing match on a Zeus Network undercard headlined by Claressa Shields, rebounding from his May knockout loss to Supa Hot Fire.
The victory also settled a bitter two-year feud that escalated when Brown repeatedly called him "Brandy's brother," slapped him with a stack of cash at a press conference, and dragged his family and legal troubles into their pre-fight exchanges.
After beating Brown, Ray J seemed focused on what came next. He said his daughter Melody and son Epik had inspired him before the bout, with Melody singing Katy Perry's "Roar" ahead of his walkout.
"Her and my son were the most inspirational," he said backstage.
Ray J then announced plans to record "Melody Part 2," revisiting the song from his 2005 album Raydiation that later inspired his daughter's name, along with a new track for his son.
"I would do 'Melody Part 2,' and then I would do a song about my son," he said at the time. "So I'm gonna do that tonight, and then I'm gonna drop it."
During a recent stream, Ray J admitted he still hasn't gotten his ongoing heart and liver concerns checked. "My liver is f*cked up. My heart is still f*cked up," he said. "I wake up, and I know it. I still haven't went and got it checked."
In January, the 45-year-old claimed his heart was functioning at only 25 percent and said he didn't expect to survive beyond 2027. He attributed the damage to years of heavy alcohol and drug use, admitting that he regularly consumed four or five bottles of alcohol a day while taking excessive amounts of Adderall and other substances.
That same month, Ray J was hospitalized with severe pneumonia and heart complications. He also claimed that the right side of his heart had turned black, though his claims about the extent of the damage and his prognosis have not been independently confirmed.
His sister Brandy responded to his latest update with reassurance. "You're fine Bro!!!" she wrote on Instagram. "I am gonna continue to help take care of you."
The disclosure marks a jarring turn from Ray J's public comeback in August. He defeated Orlando Brown in a celebrity boxing match on a Zeus Network undercard headlined by Claressa Shields, rebounding from his May knockout loss to Supa Hot Fire.
The victory also settled a bitter two-year feud that escalated when Brown repeatedly called him "Brandy's brother," slapped him with a stack of cash at a press conference, and dragged his family and legal troubles into their pre-fight exchanges.
After beating Brown, Ray J seemed focused on what came next. He said his daughter Melody and son Epik had inspired him before the bout, with Melody singing Katy Perry's "Roar" ahead of his walkout.
"Her and my son were the most inspirational," he said backstage.
Ray J then announced plans to record "Melody Part 2," revisiting the song from his 2005 album Raydiation that later inspired his daughter's name, along with a new track for his son.
"I would do 'Melody Part 2,' and then I would do a song about my son," he said at the time. "So I'm gonna do that tonight, and then I'm gonna drop it."
Reggie McFadden, ‘Def Comedy Jam’ and ‘In Living Color’ Actor, Found Dead in Tanzania
Reggie McFadden during Tanqueray Celebrates Jamie Foxx at Collateral Premiere - After Party at Magic Johnson Theater in New York City, New York, United States. Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Reggie McFadden, known for his appearances on the iconic sketch comedy show In Living Color, has passed away at 57.
On Sunday (Oct. 4), The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that McFadden’s sister, author Bernice McFadden, learned of her brother’s death after being notified by the U.S. State Department.
McFadden was pronounced dead in Tanzania, where he resided for the past 18 years after leaving the States. The cause of death has yet to be revealed.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., McFadden’s moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment and landed an early role in the 1990 thriller Jacob’s Ladder.
His rise as a comic coincided with comedy’s blossoming connection with hip-hop, as he made multiple appearances on the inaugural season of music mogul Russell Simmons’ television show Def Comedy Jam in 1992.
Earning additional credits via his work on the sitcoms Martin, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Moesha, and Coach, McFadden was cast in In Living Color‘s fifth and final season, appearing in 23 episodes during his stint on the groundbreaking series.
McFadden’s later screen appearances include bit roles in the short-lived series Getting Personal, the 2000 Adam Sandler film Little Nicky, and an episode of Larry David’s hit HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm.
He also appeared as himself on several late-night television shows throughout his career, including Late Show with David Letterman, Last Call with Carson Daly, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and Tough Call with Colin Quinn.
McFadden later launched Olduvai Records, a gold-mining and entertainment production company, after moving to Tanzania.
Reggie McFadden, known for his appearances on the iconic sketch comedy show In Living Color, has passed away at 57.
On Sunday (Oct. 4), The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that McFadden’s sister, author Bernice McFadden, learned of her brother’s death after being notified by the U.S. State Department.
McFadden was pronounced dead in Tanzania, where he resided for the past 18 years after leaving the States. The cause of death has yet to be revealed.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., McFadden’s moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment and landed an early role in the 1990 thriller Jacob’s Ladder.
His rise as a comic coincided with comedy’s blossoming connection with hip-hop, as he made multiple appearances on the inaugural season of music mogul Russell Simmons’ television show Def Comedy Jam in 1992.
Earning additional credits via his work on the sitcoms Martin, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Moesha, and Coach, McFadden was cast in In Living Color‘s fifth and final season, appearing in 23 episodes during his stint on the groundbreaking series.
McFadden’s later screen appearances include bit roles in the short-lived series Getting Personal, the 2000 Adam Sandler film Little Nicky, and an episode of Larry David’s hit HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm.
He also appeared as himself on several late-night television shows throughout his career, including Late Show with David Letterman, Last Call with Carson Daly, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and Tough Call with Colin Quinn.
McFadden later launched Olduvai Records, a gold-mining and entertainment production company, after moving to Tanzania.
Ciara Flaunts Baby Bump While Rocking the Runway at Paris Fashion Week
Ciara is 1,2 Step-ping down the runway. The “Goodies” singer—who is expecting her fifth baby, her fourth with husband Russell Wilson—showed off her growing baby bump while walking the runway at the Junya Watanabe show as part of Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, on Oct. 3.
Ciara—mom to Sienna, 9, Win, 6, and Amora, 2, with Russell, along with Future, 12, with ex Future—had the crowd saying “Oh” as she stepped out wearing a body-hugging plum crop top and matching legging set, which revealed a glimpse of her bare belly.
Over the dark purple ensemble, which also featured bright, pink-colored panel accents, the 40-year-old sported a khaki cape-style trench coat, and rocked a black baseball hat, studded statement belt and shiny red heels for accessories.
But that wasn’t Ciara’s only look in the runway show. After all, she later hit the runway wearing what appeared to be the same matching set—though her stomach was covered—while the trench coat and baseball hat were swapped out for a chandelier-style headdress that went down to her knees
And as the “1, 2 Step” artist is leveling up on the runway, her family is also entering a new chapter.
Indeed, last month, Ciara and Russell announced they were expecting their fourth baby together, sharing that they have “one more person to Love” on the way in a sweet Sept. 6 Instagram announcement.
The exciting news came less than two months after Russell teased that he was hopeful their team would be expanding.
Ciara—mom to Sienna, 9, Win, 6, and Amora, 2, with Russell, along with Future, 12, with ex Future—had the crowd saying “Oh” as she stepped out wearing a body-hugging plum crop top and matching legging set, which revealed a glimpse of her bare belly.
Over the dark purple ensemble, which also featured bright, pink-colored panel accents, the 40-year-old sported a khaki cape-style trench coat, and rocked a black baseball hat, studded statement belt and shiny red heels for accessories.
But that wasn’t Ciara’s only look in the runway show. After all, she later hit the runway wearing what appeared to be the same matching set—though her stomach was covered—while the trench coat and baseball hat were swapped out for a chandelier-style headdress that went down to her knees
And as the “1, 2 Step” artist is leveling up on the runway, her family is also entering a new chapter.
Indeed, last month, Ciara and Russell announced they were expecting their fourth baby together, sharing that they have “one more person to Love” on the way in a sweet Sept. 6 Instagram announcement.
The exciting news came less than two months after Russell teased that he was hopeful their team would be expanding.
“We have four amazing kids and I'm trying to convince Ciara to have a fifth,” the former NFL star told E! News in July. “Cinco, you got to be on the way soon.”
“I want to have five, Ciara does too,” Russell added. “We'll see. Hopefully, I can convince her.”
Chris Rock Says He Refused to Pay Legal Fees for Brother of Friend Who Was Wrongfully Convicted
Chris Rock revealed in a New York Times "The Interview" segment released Saturday that he never paid for a lawyer for Roger Logan, a childhood friend's brother.
Roger Logan spent 19 years in prison for a murder Chris Rock says he did not commit, despite repeated pleas from Logan's brother to fund his defense.
Chris Rock explained he avoided paying for lawyers because the cost is open ended, and said the decision still messes with him since he had the means to help.
Chris Rock tied the story to a broader point about cancel culture, saying black men get accused of things they did not do and that white people treat accusations as convictions.
Chris Rock made a tough decision years ago, and he stands by it, no matter how heartless it sounds.
In a recently released New York Times "The Interview" segment, the comedian revealed that a man he came up with, Roger Logan, spent 19 years behind bars for a killing he had nothing to do with, and that Rock never spent a dollar on his defense.
"A guy named Roger Logan, who I grew up with, he's one of my best friend's brothers, went to jail for 19 years for a murder he didn't [commit]," Rock said.
Logan's brother, one of Rock's closest friends, kept coming to him about it. Rock said the asks were repeated, and the answer never changed.
"His brother used to plead with me to pay for a lawyer for Roger and I never did it," he said. "I always had like a no lawyer thing because a lawyer is like an open-ended thing. Like I'll pay your mortgage. I'll put whatever."
Rock continued, explaining how his standing policy led to him forever thinking about the situation. "I always stay out of lawyers because it's so open-ended and it still messes with me. I had the means to help him and I didn't. I don't know if we could have got him out or not."
The story arrived as Rock made a wider point in the same conversation, which also turned to cancel culture. "So all that to say is I'm black. Black men get accused of things they didn't do all the time," he said, adding that "white people believe every accusation is a conviction."
Elsewhere in the same interview, Rock spoke about being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars four years ago, saying that he was “good” on discussing it. "That was so long ago. I wish everyone well. I’ve moved on with my life."
Roger Logan spent 19 years in prison for a murder Chris Rock says he did not commit, despite repeated pleas from Logan's brother to fund his defense.
Chris Rock explained he avoided paying for lawyers because the cost is open ended, and said the decision still messes with him since he had the means to help.
Chris Rock tied the story to a broader point about cancel culture, saying black men get accused of things they did not do and that white people treat accusations as convictions.
Chris Rock made a tough decision years ago, and he stands by it, no matter how heartless it sounds.
In a recently released New York Times "The Interview" segment, the comedian revealed that a man he came up with, Roger Logan, spent 19 years behind bars for a killing he had nothing to do with, and that Rock never spent a dollar on his defense.
"A guy named Roger Logan, who I grew up with, he's one of my best friend's brothers, went to jail for 19 years for a murder he didn't [commit]," Rock said.
Logan's brother, one of Rock's closest friends, kept coming to him about it. Rock said the asks were repeated, and the answer never changed.
"His brother used to plead with me to pay for a lawyer for Roger and I never did it," he said. "I always had like a no lawyer thing because a lawyer is like an open-ended thing. Like I'll pay your mortgage. I'll put whatever."
Rock continued, explaining how his standing policy led to him forever thinking about the situation. "I always stay out of lawyers because it's so open-ended and it still messes with me. I had the means to help him and I didn't. I don't know if we could have got him out or not."
The story arrived as Rock made a wider point in the same conversation, which also turned to cancel culture. "So all that to say is I'm black. Black men get accused of things they didn't do all the time," he said, adding that "white people believe every accusation is a conviction."
Elsewhere in the same interview, Rock spoke about being slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars four years ago, saying that he was “good” on discussing it. "That was so long ago. I wish everyone well. I’ve moved on with my life."
Michael B. Jordan's 'Battlefield' Movie Might Be Heading to Sony
Michael B. Jordan's Battlefield movie is reportedly on its way to Sony after a multi-studio bidding war.
According to The Wrap, Sony Pictures has emerged as the frontrunner for the film, although, the studio declined the publication's request to talk about the negotiations.
Details about the video game movie are currently sparse, aside from the fact that Jordan is attached to produce and potentially star in it, and Christopher McQuarrie is on board to direct and also write the script.
Additional producers include Emerald Neon’s Carter Swan, Electronic Arts' Jesse Stern, Vertigo's Roy Lee and Miri Yoon, and Outlier Society president Elizabeth Raposo.
According to reports, Netflix, Universal, Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Sony all showed interest in obtaining the film that's at the center of the biggest bidding war of the year.
The Battlefield franchise has been going strong since 2002, when Battlefield 1942 launched. In the time since, the video games have become immensely popular, with Battlefield 6, which came out in 2026, rumored to be one of the most expensive video games ever made. It ended up becoming the bestselling game of 2025 — and of the entire franchise.
Jordan's been busy in Hollywood. Aside from working on the Battlefield movie, he's gearing up for the release of The Thomas Crown Affair next March.
According to The Wrap, Sony Pictures has emerged as the frontrunner for the film, although, the studio declined the publication's request to talk about the negotiations.
Details about the video game movie are currently sparse, aside from the fact that Jordan is attached to produce and potentially star in it, and Christopher McQuarrie is on board to direct and also write the script.
Additional producers include Emerald Neon’s Carter Swan, Electronic Arts' Jesse Stern, Vertigo's Roy Lee and Miri Yoon, and Outlier Society president Elizabeth Raposo.
According to reports, Netflix, Universal, Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Sony all showed interest in obtaining the film that's at the center of the biggest bidding war of the year.
The Battlefield franchise has been going strong since 2002, when Battlefield 1942 launched. In the time since, the video games have become immensely popular, with Battlefield 6, which came out in 2026, rumored to be one of the most expensive video games ever made. It ended up becoming the bestselling game of 2025 — and of the entire franchise.
Jordan's been busy in Hollywood. Aside from working on the Battlefield movie, he's gearing up for the release of The Thomas Crown Affair next March.
Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’ Bombs at Box Office With Just $8 Million Opening Weekend
Tom Cruise‘s new movie Digger is having a very rough start at the box office.
The 64-year-old actor’s new satirical comedy opened to just $8 million from 3,321 theaters across North America, according to early estimates.
Rival studios believe the final number could come in even lower at around $7.5 million when the official totals arrive, per Variety.
The result is especially notable because Digger reportedly cost between $160 million and $180 million to produce.
Warner Bros. had initially hoped the movie would open between $18 million and $20 million, though box office experts reportedly believed a movie with that price tag would have needed an opening closer to $40 million.
Digger could reportedly lose between $150 million and $200 million theatrically.
Variety reports that Warner Bros. also spent another $100 million on the movie’s global marketing campaign.
Sources familiar with similar movies estimated that Digger would need around $350 million worldwide to break even, while a Warner Bros. spokesperson pushed back on that figure and placed the break-even point at around $300 million.
The movie also struggled internationally, earning $12 million from 73 markets for a worldwide opening of $20 million.
Digger was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and stars Tom as a powerful oil tycoon preparing for a major ecological disaster.
The 64-year-old actor’s new satirical comedy opened to just $8 million from 3,321 theaters across North America, according to early estimates.
Rival studios believe the final number could come in even lower at around $7.5 million when the official totals arrive, per Variety.
The result is especially notable because Digger reportedly cost between $160 million and $180 million to produce.
Warner Bros. had initially hoped the movie would open between $18 million and $20 million, though box office experts reportedly believed a movie with that price tag would have needed an opening closer to $40 million.
Digger could reportedly lose between $150 million and $200 million theatrically.
Variety reports that Warner Bros. also spent another $100 million on the movie’s global marketing campaign.
Sources familiar with similar movies estimated that Digger would need around $350 million worldwide to break even, while a Warner Bros. spokesperson pushed back on that figure and placed the break-even point at around $300 million.
The movie also struggled internationally, earning $12 million from 73 markets for a worldwide opening of $20 million.
Digger was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and stars Tom as a powerful oil tycoon preparing for a major ecological disaster.
Hip Hop Phenom Missy Elliott is hosting HBCU Battle of the Bands in The 757 Virginia
Long before the Grammys, the Hall of Fame plaques, and the video budgets that rewrote what hip-hop could look like, a girl from Portsmouth, Virginia, listened to the Tidewater sound of drumlines rolling through Saturday afternoons. On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Missy Elliott brings that sound back to the center of the field.
Missy Elliott Presents HBCU Band Battle kicks off at 4 p.m. at William “Dick” Price Stadium on the campus of Norfolk State University, where four of the most celebrated marching programs in the Commonwealth will square off in front of a crowd that knows exactly what a high-step and a horn blast can do to a stadium.
Four Bands, One Field, No Mercy; The lineup reads like a regional championship card. The host school, Norfolk State’s “Spartan Legion,” will defend its home turf against Virginia State University’s “Trojan Explosion,” a band whose name tells you everything about its approach. Elizabeth City State University’s “Sound of Class” crosses the North Carolina line to bring its signature polish, while Hampton University’s “Marching Force” roun
For anyone who has stood in the stands for a fifth-quarter showdown, the appeal needs no explanation. HBCU band culture is equal parts athletics, theater, and musicianship, where tubas swing like choreography and drum majors command attention with a single backbend. It is a tradition that has quietly shaped American pop music for generations, feeding arrangements, rhythms, and swagger into the mainstream.
Few artists have borrowed from that well as boldly or as joyfully as Elliott, whose catalog is stacked with marching-band energy, from booming percussion to call-and-response hooks built for a packed arena.
The band battle sits inside a larger weekend dedicated to Elliott and her ties to Virginia. Missy Elliott Day was created four years ago, when then-Governor Glenn Youngkin recognized the artist during a street-naming ceremony honoring her role in shaping music worldwide.
“Virginia will always be home, so bringing something like this back means a lot to me,” Elliott said. “HBCU bands have always brought so much energy, creativity, and culture to music. I want this to be a celebration of them and something that inspires the next generation to dream even bigger.”
Her career gives that message credibility. Elliott became the first female hip-hop artist inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame before that, and received MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in 2019. She did it all while keeping the 757 in her story, repping the Hampton Roads area alongside producers and collaborators who helped define a sound the rest of the industry spent years chasing.
Before the bands take the field, the weekend turns toward the classroom. The Missy Elliott Innovation Summit invites college students and high school seniors into conversations about where technology, music, education, and entrepreneurship are heading, and how young creatives can carve out a place in industries that are changing faster than ever.
The summit is designed to give students direct exposure to emerging ideas and career paths, connecting culture with practical opportunity. It mirrors the arc of Elliott’s own career, one shaped as much by curiosity and experimentation as by talent, from her early days writing and producing for other artists to building visual worlds that still influence music videos today.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Abraham Slayer?
I think this one is the vampire slayer version of Abraham
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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