The Daily Buzz For Aug 4☕📰☕

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#FRAGRANCEFAB: SPIDER-MAN Star Zendaya for Prada’s Paradoxe Ad Campaign

Introducing Zendaya as the new Prada Beauty Global Ambassador, fronting Paradoxe. 


“I love how Paradoxe celebrates complexity, capturing both strength and vulnerability without trying to frame or define someone. For me, the fragrances we choose are a reflection of how we move through the world. 

Joining the brand feels like a completely natural extension of that mindset, especially since Paradoxe was already a personal favorite.” — Zendaya


#RHOA: Andy Asks Cynthia Bailey a Shocking Question in RHOA Season 17 Reunion Trailer: "Oh Lord"

The newly released sneak peek, which you can check out above, kicks off with host Andy Cohen and the RHOA cast — including Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, Kelli Potter, Pinky Cole, K. Michelle, and friend Cynthia Bailey — turning the reunion stage into a rave. Though the ladies gamely agree to "drop it" when it comes to dancing, their lingering Season 17 conflicts are another story.

Upon joining the cast on the sofas, Cynthia requests an update on what she's missed so far, and, well, it's a lot. The party vibes continue as Andy playfully fills her in, "K. Michelle's a gay man. Drew's divorced. Phaedra and Porsha both dated Mike [Bless]," amid laughter from the group.

The mood shifts once they all get down to business, however. In one shocking moment, for example, the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host asks Cynthia, "At what point did you decide you didn't like Shamea?" Though you'll have to tune in to hear what she has to say, jaws hit the floor, while Phaedra, for one, cries out, "Oh Lord!" in response to Andy revealing the extent of Cynthia and Shamea's unexpected rift.

Cynthia is hardly the only cast member with whom Shamea has unfinished business, however. Elsewhere in the reunion trailer, Shamea also goes toe to toe with Angela over the latter being "so invested" in her personal life, before also taking on family-related drama with Porsha in another heated confrontation.

Meanwhile, Andy brings up who was behind the "plot and plan" K. Michelle talked about on Season 17, prompting Drew to enters the fray, claiming, "I know who it is." From there, the WWHL host vaguely mentions some "news" about Drew's "friend-friend" Blakk Tatted, to which K. Michelle interjects, "That's why I didn't want a part of it." Their ensuing argument ends with Drew pulling out a clapperboard and calling, "Cut!"

And they're hardly the only peach-holders with some things left to get off their chests. Among the several other RHOA reunion faceoffs viewers can expect to see are Porsha vs. Kelli, K. Michelle vs. Porsha, Kelli vs. Angela, and Phaedra vs. Pinky.

The Georgia peaches are back, as The Real Housewives of AtlantaSeason 17 is officially underway, with new episodes airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.

The returning RHOA Season 17 cast members include Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell, along with newcomers Pinky Cole and K. Michelle. The women are joined by friend Cynthia Bailey.

Things get spicy in the ATL, as Porsha juggles two potential new love interests. Viewers can also expect changes in friendships, major relationship news, tea spilling, and shade throwing.

#NewMusic from Ari Lennox “Hookah Baby”

Grammy-nominated R&B sensation Ari Lennox has officially returned to the airwaves with her brand-new single, “Hookah Baby.” Available now across all major digital streaming platforms, the track serves as a bold and infectious reminder of why Lennox remains one of the most distinct and celebrated voices in contemporary soul.Music & Audio

“Hookah Baby” perfectly encapsulates the smoky, late-night lounge atmosphere its title suggests. Built upon a foundation of warm, laid-back basslines, crisp percussion, and jazzy horn accents, the production creates an intoxicating groove that demands to be played on repeat.

Lennox’s signature buttery vocals glide effortlessly over the instrumental. Lyrically, she brings her trademark blend of witty storytelling, unapologetic sensuality, and relatable humor. The song paints a vivid picture of a casual romantic encounter, capturing the intoxicating, hazy energy of a carefree night out with a captivating love interest.

LISTEN HERE:

Since her breakout with the critically acclaimed debut album Shea Butter Baby and its hit follow-up age/sex/location, Lennox has consistently championed a sound that bridges the gap between classic 90s neo-soul and modern R&B. “Hookah Baby” continues this trajectory, showcasing her undeniable vocal agility and her knack for crafting melodies that feel instantly timeless yet refreshingly modern.

The release of “Hookah Baby” arrives as fans eagerly anticipate the next full-length  musical chapter from the Dreamville standout. While it remains unconfirmed if the single is a standalone release or the lead offering from an upcoming project, it firmly places Lennox back in the spotlight, dominating the R&B conversation as we head into the late summer months.

“Hookah Baby” is available to stream and download now on Spotify, Apple  Music, YouTube, and all other major digital platforms.Celebrities & Entertainment News.

#HipHopNews: Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Begins Next Month, Judge Allows Old Keefe D Police Interview as Evidence – Report

The Tupac Shakur murder trial is scheduled to begin next month, with the judge reportedly ruling yesterday that an old interview that suspect Duane "Keefe D" Davis gave to the police is admissible at trial.

Nearly 30 years after the rap icon's killing, the trial for the only person charged with the crime is slated ot being on Aug. 10, following multiple delays. During a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday (July 28), Las Vegas judge Carli Kierny made a ruling, allowing a 2008 police interview where Keefe D gave details about the murder to be used in court, The Associated Press reports. In the interview, Keefe D told police that suspected shooter Orlando Anderson "popped them," meaning shot Tupac and Suge Knight, in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996.

Keefe D's defense attorney argued that the interview was supposed to be confidential and Keefe D was told it could not be used against him. The prosecution successfully argued that the interview was no longer inadmissible, since Keefe D wrote the tell-all book, Compton Street Legend, and has spoken openly in multiple interviews about what happened on the night of Tupac's murder.

The book will also be allowed in the trial, despite Keefe D's attorney's objections that it is a fictionalized account to make a profit. He also argued that Keefe was simply "exercising his First Amendment right to free speech, even though it is not in good taste."

After being a cold case for over two decades, police arrested Keefe D in 2023, after be admitted in his book and multiple interviews to being present and providing the gun used in Tupac's shooting, which was allegedly retaliation for a fight Tupac and Death Row members were involved in at the MGM Grand shortly before he and Suge were shot in a drive-by near the Las Vegas Strip. The other three men in the suspect car, including alleged shooter Orlando Anderson, have died since the shooting and were never charged.

Keefe D is facing life in prison if found guilty.

BoxOfficeNews: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Weaved a web to n Astonishing $355 Million Debut, Second-Biggest Opening Weekend in Box Office History

Sony and Marvel‘s comic book adventure “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” obliterated box office expectations, collecting a jaw-dropping $355 million from 4,487 North American theaters. It’s the second-biggest debut in domestic box office history following 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” with $357 million, not adjusted for inflation. “Brand New Day” could end up eclipsing the all-time record if Monday’s final tally lands above estimates. No other films have ever come close to surpassing $300 million in a single weekend. The third-largest domestic opening belongs to 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” with $260 million, followed by 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” with $257 million. Yes, Marvel Studios now boasts the four largest openings of all time at the domestic box office.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” collected $573 million at the international box office, bringing the grand total to a staggering $927 million worldwide and underscoring Peter Parker’s broad, global appeal. It’ll rank as the second-biggest worldwide debut after “Endgame,” which captured a mind-blowing $1.2 billion in its first weekend of release. Sony spent around $225 million to produce “Brand New Day,” not including marketing costs. Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the

“This is a truly phenomenal opening, and we are grateful to audiences everywhere for coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who produced the movie. “This debut reflects the enduring power of Marvel’s characters, and the connection they continue to have with fans around the world — and, as audiences saw, it sets up exciting things to come.”

Even with the craze surrounding “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” remained a draw with $51 million in its third frame. Together, they have fueled the biggest collective weekend in box office history with roughly $430 million across all films. The top weekend prior to this was, of course, “Avengers: Endgame” ($402 million collectively), followed by “Avengers: Infinity War” ($314 million collectively).

Few in Hollywood had expected another movie to near the initial box office heights of “Avengers: Endgame,” which was touted as the epic culmination of 22 interconnected films. A $300 million-plus start seemed especially unlikely, not just because the pandemic upended the industry a few months later, but also because after the history-making finale of “Endgame,” Marvel experienced its first-ever bout of superhero fatigue. Post-COVID sequels such as 2023’s “The Marvels” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and 2025’s “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts*” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” all disappointing at the box office. There were hits, like “No Way Home,” 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” but audiences were no longer showing up to theaters just because a new superhero adventure was gracing the big screen.

“Audiences are tired of seeing the same thing. There are too many connected storylines, and it’s turning entertainment into homework,” says analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations. “We need a fresh start.”

That’s part of the appeal of “Brand New Day,” which confirms there’s truly no such thing as Spider-Man fatigue. This Spidey adventure was promoted as a reset in the web-slinging series. That’s after the prior installment, “No Way Home,” ended on a massive cliffhanger: Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker made the difficult decision to erase his identity from the world in order to save the multiverse, leaving his girlfriend (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) to forget about him. Demand — to find out the ramifications of Spider-Man’s fateful choice, and to be among the first to find out who Sadie Sink was playing in the film — was so intense that some locations of major theater chains were scheduling showtimes every 15 minutes from dusk to dawn.

What’s more impressive about the debut is “Brand New Day” didn’t play in Imax, the most ubiquitous of the premium large formats, because “The Odyssey” has the network’s entire domestic footprint for three weekends. “Spider-Man 4” dominated the other PLFs, though, establishing new opening weekend records for Dolby ($10 million domestically), 4DX ($17 million globally) and ScreenX ($14.4 million globally).

“This weekend’s historic worldwide results remind me of what Clarence wrote to George Bailey in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’: ‘Remember, no man is a failure who has friends,'” Sony’s motion picture group chair Tom Rothman said in a statement. “‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is fundamentally a movie about friendship, about the balm of connection in all our lives, and that is resonant to audiences of all ages and all around the world. In troubled times, Sony is very proud to have united the world in celebrating a film about hope.”

Holland’s run as Spider-Man is the rare series to keep improving upon the last at the box office. His first outing, 2017’s “Homecoming,” launched to $117 million domestically and ended its run with $880 million worldwide. Then 2019’s sequel “Far From Home” ignited to $92 million domestically but powered to $1.13 billion worldwide. And, of course, “No Way Home” was colossal with $1.9 billion worldwide. That film was especially huge because all three Spider-Men — Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield — shared the screen in a crossover event for the ages. Holland’s future with the character is uncertain (he said recently that a succession plan is already in the works), but it’s hard to imagine the studio will want to part with the 30-year-old actor after this historic weekend. Meanwhile, Marvel will build on the success of “Brand New Day” with “Avengers: Doomsday,” which reunites a smattering of superheroes (and reintroduces Robert Downey Jr. not as Iron Man but as the villain Doctor Doom) in December.

Elsewhere, “The Odyssey” has surpassed $911 million at the box office, including $395.5 million domestically and $515 million overseas, after just three weekends in theaters. “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will imminently be the fourth and fifth releases of the year to surpass $1 billion, following June’s “Toy Story 5” ($1.02 billion) and April’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” ($1.001 billion) and “Michael” ($1.001 billion).

The staying power of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” will determine whether this summer will become the second since COVID to cross the coveted $4 billion milestone. And with blockbusters like “Dune 3” and “Avengers: Doomsday” on the way, Hollywood is hoping that yearly grosses will hit $10 billion for the first time in the post-pandemic era. Revenues used to regularly eclipse the $10 billion mark before the great movie theater reset.

“This milestone weekend sets up a tremendous month of August,” says Rentrak’s head of marketplace trends, Paul Dergarabedian. “The likelihood of a $4 billion summer and a $10 billion year just went up exponentially.”

 

Howard University Reinstates 200+ Freshmen After Enrollment Crisis

Earlier this week, the Washington, D.C. university interim president, Wayne A. I. Frederick, MD took to social media to share encouraging words. The Trinidadian-American Howard alum, who is also a practicing cancer surgeon at Howard University Hospital, had an important update regarding the hundreds of perspective incoming freshmen who were disenrolled merely days before many were expected to arrive on campus for their first year at the storied HBCU. To the delight of many, approximately 200 students have reportedly had their fall 2026 status reinstated.

In a confident yet compassionate manner, Dr. Frederick explained that he understands the disappointment and uncertainty the disenrollment decision has caused. “Admission to Howard University represents the realization of a lifelong dream,” Frederick said adding that the school’s enrollment decisions impacted many first-time-in-college (FTIC) students and families. 

More of his clear, direct and seemingly heartfelt message is below.

Each year, Howard University, like all colleges and universities, establishes enrollment deadlines that enable us to prepare responsibly for the academic year. These deadlines allow us to finalize financial aid, housing assignments, course schedules, orientation, and the many academic and student support services that position students for success. As part of this process, we must also ensure students have satisfied academic, administrative, and financial requirements for enrollment.

From March through July, the University communicated these expectations through multiple channels, including financial aid notifications, personalized aid information, email reminders, instructional videos, Bison Prep programs and direct outreach. Students were also provided additional time beyond the original deadline to make the required good-faith tuition payment, enroll in an approved payment plan, or submit documentation of pending scholarships, veterans' educational benefits, or other anticipated financial resources.

These decisions were not intended to diminish students' aspirations or place institutional finances above opportunity. Rather, they reflect our responsibility to ensure that students begin their Howard experience with a documented and sustainable financial plan. Across higher education, students who enroll without a realistic plan to meet their educational expenses are significantly more likely to experience financial hardship, interrupt their studies, or leave college before earning a degree. We have a responsibility to help students persist, graduate, and thrive.

At the same time, we recognized that some students' individual circumstances warranted additional review. We have now completed a comprehensive evaluation of every unenrolled student. As a result, a significant number of students have had their enrollment restored after completing payments, verifying scholarships, student loans, veterans' educational benefits, and other financial aid, resolving billing issues, or providing documentation that supported reconsideration. Final notifications to all affected students are now being completed. 

For students whose enrollment cannot be restored this semester, we are actively exploring options to help them continue their educational journey, including opportunities for deferred enrollment at Howard in a future term.

This experience has reinforced the importance of continually strengthening how we serve students and families. While our enrollment expectations remain appropriate, we are committed to making this experience better for future students and families.

This year, Howard University received more than 36,000 applications for the fall 2026 academic year, reflecting the growing demand for a Howard education. Of those applicants, more than 2,200 students successfully completed all enrollment requirements to secure their place in the entering class. Enforcing established enrollment processes and deadlines is essential not only to responsibly managing an incoming class of this size, but also to ensuring that every enrolled student has access to the academic, financial, residential, and student support resources necessary to thrive. 

Amid this ordeal, some other colleges and universities have extended invitations to assist the disenrolled Howard students. The nearby, smaller HBCU, University of the District of Columbia is one such school. Maryland governor Wes Moore announced yesterday that the University System of Maryland will attempt to help those impacted. Even colleges and universities in the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) systems beyond the DMV-area have offered to support said students as well.

#WEDDINGBELLS: Donovan Mitchell and Coco Jones Got Married in Greenwich ceremony

Donovan Mitchell and Coco Jones are now married.

The Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star and the Grammy Award-winning singer tied the knot in a ceremony in Greenwich, Connecticut, on Saturday. The two shared their first dance to Musiq Soulchild's 2000 hit song "Love," as seen in a video posted by sports agent Troy Payne on Instagram.

The wedding was attended by a strong cast of notable athletes and names, including Mitchell's Cavaliers teammates, Bam Adebayo and Josh Hart, as well as Russell Wilson and Ciara. Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown were both in attendance as well, with Brown capturing Brunson on the dance floor in a clip that went viral on social media.

Mitchell and Jones announced their engagement in July 2025. Rumors of their relationship had begun to swirl in September 2024, when they were spotted holding hands at an Usher concert in Las Vegas.

Mitchell is coming off a season in which he made the All-NBA second team and led the Cavaliers to a 52-30 record and an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks. Jones' last album, "Why Not More?" was nominated for best R&B album at the 68th annual Grammy Awards.

Ariana Grande to take 'step back from visibility' due to 'endless' public scrutiny

Ariana Grande has announced she will step back from public-facing engagements after finishing her current tour, citing concerns about "endless, ongoing public scrutiny". There has been renewed public commentary surrounding Grande’s physical appearance following the release of her new album.

American singer-songwriter and Oscar-nominated actress Ariana Grande will “take a step back from visibility” after her ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour, and has withdrawn from her planned West End debut.

Grande, 33, is wrapping up the North American leg of her tour and will begin a 10-date residency at London’s O2 Arena later this month. Her representative has confirmed that she will take a break from public appearances after these shows, which end on 1 September.

“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour,” the rep told People. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”

People also quoted a source close to Grande, who emphasised that she was in good health. “She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved,” they said. “She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night."

The decision to take a break comes after renewed public commentary surrounding Grande’s body and appearance - commentary which intensified online after she recently released the video for ‘Petal’ (see above), the title track from her new album which was released last Friday (31 July).

Grande has previously spoken out about having people comment on her physical appearance and health, and has also been open about her mental health following the Manchester Arena attack at her concert in May 2017 when a suicide bomber killed 22 people.

Ariana Grande concludes the US leg of her tour on 6 August and heads to her London residency at the O2 Arena on 15 August. The sold out shows conclude on 1 September.

Nicki Minaj Launches $10 X Subscription & Fans Have Questions

Nicki Minaj is betting on the Barbz once again! Are they still there for here financially? The internet is already split over this latest exploit by the one known now as MAGA Minaj.

She has officially launched a paid subscription on X, giving fans access to exclusive content for $10 per month. Nicki’s move is drawing extra attention because she has never done this with her massive following.

“I finally did it,” Nicki wrote to her 26.6 million followers while introducing the new feature. She described the subscription as a place where fans could laugh, debate, vent and simply enjoy each other’s company away from the rest of us heathens.

The package she offers includes exclusive posts, subscriber-only X Spaces and a special badge that appears next to subscribers’ names whenever they interact with Nicki. The Barbz are gonna love that! For years, many of these people have competed for Nicki’s attention, and now she can milk this $10 at a time.

The early numbers suggest plenty of fans are willing to put their money where their tweets are. So far there are like 1,100 paying members. At $10 per month, that works out to about $11,000 in monthly recurring revenue, or approximately $132,000 annually. I need to find a way to make this happen for me.

Under X’s Creator Subscriptions program, creators keep up to 97 percent of subscription revenue! That is before reaching $50,000 in lifetime earnings! Not bad…even with Apple Google and payment processing taking a piece. After that, it comes down to 90 percent. Not a bad take. Almost like highway robbery with the prices of nearly everything going way up.

Not everyone is reaching for their wallets.

Some people clapped for Nicki for finding yet another way to get money from her dedicated fanbase. Does anything Nicki do warrant a $10 monthly fee?

I’m putting gas in my car and $10 gets actually gets me here and there.

Madonna & Kylie Minogue Debut Long-Awaited Collaboration at Surprise WorldPride 2026 Performance: ‘Are We in Gay Heaven?’

Madonna and Kylie Minogue are finally uniting on a song after decades of demand from fans.

The “I Feel So Free” and “Love at First Sight” pop icons surprised the crowd with a live debut of a new remix of Madonna‘s “Love Sensation” featuring Kylie at WorldPride 2026 on Saturday night (August 1) in Amsterdam. Madonna and Kylie Minogue together at WorldPride in Amsterdam 202646

Madonna launched her latest official “Club Confessions” party at the LGBTQ+ Pride party following stops in West Hollywood, London, Paris and New York City, taking to the stage alongside longtime collaborator Stuart Price and Honey Dijon, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race fan-favorites Symone and Gigi Goode, who hyped up the crowd.

The Queen of Pop danced along and performed selections from her No. 1 new album Confessions II including “I Feel So Free,” “Bring Your Love,” “Danceteria” and “One Step Away” before launching into “Love Sensation” and announcing Kylie to the stage.

The two got up on the DJ booth and performed their new remix of the track together, as Madonna declared to the roaring crowd: “Are we in gay heaven?”

Madonna and Kylie Minogue together at WorldPride in Amsterdam 202646

They happily hugged and embraced afterward, as Madonna then launched into “Sorry” alongside Kylie, performing the Confessions on a Dance Floor song properly live for the first time since 2006, as well as the global smash “Hung Up.”

Following the surprise appearance, Kylie posted a video showcasing her spinning around backstage in Confessions II-era style purple and silver ensemble, as well as footage from the historic meet-up onstage. Watch above!

Madonna also shared the first snippet of the “Love Sensation” Afterhours Mix featuring Kylie.

‘Hadestown’ Producers Confirm Geno Segers’ Departure From Broadway Production Amid

Geno Segers will no longer be joining the cast of Broadway’s Hadestown after his alleged past social media posts have come to light.

Known for his work on TV shows including Pair of Kings, Knight Squad, and Henry Danger, the 49-year-old actor was supposed to make his Broadway debut in the production as Hades. Other cast members were also confirmed for the September 1 start date for the New York City production.

The producers of Hadestown confirmed that Geno Segers will no longer be playing the role

In a statement to Just Jared, the producers released the following: “The producers of Hadestown and Geno Segers have mutually agreed that Mr. Segers will no longer join the Broadway production. Additional casting will be announced shortly.”

What social media activity was unearthed? OnStageBlog says that there were anti-transgender posts unearthed on his social media.

Some videos allegedly had text that read, “TRANS FAIRNESS?” and “NO MORE TRANS?”

The outlet also reported allegations that Segers had criticized pronoun usage and expressed opposition to trans women participating in women’s sports.

Segers has not publicly commented on the reported social media activity or the decision for him to no longer join the Broadway production of Hadestown.

Mahershala Ali Calls Out Marvel For Canceling ‘Blade’: “If They Wanted to Do It, We Would’ve Done It”

After years of delays, rewrites, director changes, and release-date shuffling, it appears Marvel Studios’ long-troubled “Blade” reboot is officially dead.

Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali, who was supposed to play the titular character, has broken his silence on the project’s collapse, and apparently — the decision wasn’t his (via GQ).

You had me under contract, they have billions of dollars. If they wanted to do the movie, we would’ve done the movie… I feel ready to move on from the Blade questions. Those questions are for them.

This is what I would call Ali throwing shade at Marvel and Kevin Feige. There’s no way around it.

Marvel Studios unveiled Ali as the new Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, and many believed it was perfect casting. However, what followed became one of the MCU’s most infamous development stories.

The film cycled through multiple writers (at least six) and directors (at least three), reportedly underwent numerous rewrites, lost release dates, and was eventually removed from Marvel’s schedule altogether.

Throughout the process, rumors suggested the studio struggled to find the right creative direction for the vampire hunter while also trying to fit him into the MCU’s increasingly interconnected storyline.

Ali’s comments suggest the delays weren’t because of scheduling conflicts or creative indecision on his part. Instead, he places the responsibility squarely on Marvel, which most likely overcomplicated what should have been one of its simplest and most efficient projects. What a massive missed opportunity.

The studio overcomplicated what could have been a simple, standalone vampire action movie starring Ali instead of worrying so much about fitting it into the larger MCU.

Wesley Snipes’ return as Blade in “Deadpool & Wolverine” has also made his “there’s only one Blade” joke even funnier in hindsight. With Ali’s version seemingly dead, that line now feels unintentionally prophetic.

John Legend to play Harry Belafonte in apartheid-era drama

The Road Home centers on Hugh Masekela and explores how African music drew international attention to the fight against apartheid.

The Bill Condon-directed film also stars Cynthia Erivo, Guy Pearce, Johnny Flynn, and Thabo Rametsi, with production underway in South Africa.

John Legend previously described Harry Belafonte as a friend and mentor, reflecting on how he showed artists how they can engage in social justice work.

On Thursday (July 30), Deadline revealed that John Legend will portray Harry Belafonte in The Road Home, an upcoming musical drama centered on South African jazz giant and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela.

The "All of Me" artist joins a cast led by South African actor Thabo Rametsi as Masekela. Cynthia Erivo will portray singer and activist Miriam Makeba, while Guy Pearce and Johnny Flynn were tapped to play Archbishop Trevor Huddleston and Paul Simon, respectively. Production is currently underway in South Africa.

Directed by Bill Condon from a script written by Michael Bronner, the film will explore Masekela’s belief that African music could bring international attention to the fight against apartheid. The story also examines the controversy surrounding Simon’s Graceland, which featured South African musicians despite a United Nations-backed cultural boycott of the country’s apartheid government.

Legend shared that accepting the role carries personal significance because of the relationship he developed with Belafonte before the legendary performer’s death in 2023.

“I was honored to know Mr. Belafonte as my friend, mentor, and collaborator in the struggle for justice,” Legend said. He added that Belafonte established a standard for artists who use their platforms to confront social and political issues.

Belafonte became a prominent supporter of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and ’60s, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr., organizing demonstrations, and providing financial support for movement activities. His activism later extended to international causes, including opposition to apartheid and advocacy concerning humanitarian issues across Africa.

How Harry Belafonte’s activism helped inspire John Legend

Legend previously named Belafonte among the artists who shaped his understanding of how entertainers could participate in movements for social change. During a 2024 appearance at Georgetown University, he cited Belafonte and Nina Simone as role models who used their music, money, and public platforms to support protesters and organizers.

Legend’s acting credits include "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert," while his song “Glory” from Selma, recorded with Common, earned him an Academy Award. He became the first Black man — and the youngest person — to achieve EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) status in 2018.

Studiocanal is financing The Road Home and will distribute the film across several international markets. A release date wasn't given at the time of the announcement.

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

Courtesy of P.O.Wm

Interesting choice for a day out with the kids 🤔

Didn’t understand until I read the shirt. 🤦

HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!

EFREM

The Daily Buzz For Aug 3 ☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Tramell Tillman for INSTYLE Magazine

Tramell Tillman has officially been discovered. Since his breakout role in Severance and upcoming role as breakout star in SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY, the actor opens up to IINSTYLE about his newfound success, queerness, and the importance of representation within his projects. He also shares insights on joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, how his sobriety has impacted his career, and the importance of finding “what lights your fire.”

On the representation of queerness growing up and how it evolved:

“I learned that queerness is not so much about presentation, it’s your orientation. It’s about what you aspire to, what you strive for, what you feel comfortable with, who you love, what you’re drawn to. That was a real awakening moment for me, and I needed to have that before I was able to go talk to my mom about it.”

“I didn’t have the experiences that most queer kids today have. As a kid, I thought being gay meant that I wanted to be a woman, because every time I saw a gay male, specifically a Black gay male, portrayed in the media, they were extremely effeminate, dressed up, and I knew that wasn’t for me.”

On his Marvel Cinematic Universe goals:

He wasn’t a comic-book kid growing up, he says, but he’d always been “amazed by characters with special powers. Marvel has some of the best superheroes, including Spider-Man—a kind hero trying to keep one of the best cities in the world safe. Who wouldn’t fall in love with that?” He’d had the Marvel Cinematic Universe on his acting bucket list for a while, he adds. “I just didn’t know that it was going to materialize so soon.”

 

On the tight-knit cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day with Zendaya, Tom Holland, and more:

“We bonded like family…I was told that’s what it would be like on set. I’m glad it was true.”

On understanding the role of race in Severance and in his own personal life:

“I asked Dan [Erickson, Severance’s creator and showrunner] and Ben [Stiller], ‘Well, y’all asked him to be Black specifically. So does race come into the world of this story?’”

 

“There’s these things on TikTok or Instagram. It’s like, ‘You knew you grew up in a Black family when…’ I had no idea that that’s what it meant to be Black. I just thought, Well, that’s how you did. Of course you’re going to have a whole bunch of plastic bags underneath the sink because you’re going to keep the plastic bag and use it again.”

On getting sober and how it has impacted his career:

“I’ve been choosing myself. And it’s been such a gift because it gave me a sense of power and autonomy that I didn’t know I could tap into. It’s helped me become a better person, a better artist, more intentional about what I want to do.”

On how he relates to his character, Seth Milchick, and being a people pleaser:

“When you’re a people pleaser…you’re having to serve as a mediator. That has just been a skill set that I had to learn how to adopt. I am learning to work through it and allow fear, anxiety, tension to be a motivator rather than a block. What really appeals to me, and what is a connection between me and Milchick, is that we do what needs to be done.”

 

 

#RHOA: Porsha Williams Sheds Light on Why She Bought Her Mom a Gorgeous New Home in “100 Percent Cash”

Porsha Williams is sharing more details on the home she bought for her mom in "100 percent cash." Porsha revealed during The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17, Episode 16 that she purchased her mom, Ms. Diane Williams, a new home, and could not be more excited about it. Now, she's sharing more about why this moment was so important for her and her family.

 

Porsha took to her Instagram account, where she posted a series of photos and videos from the property unveiling, which was captured on camera. In the pictures, Diane can be seen getting emotional standing in the foyer, before posing in front of the gorgeous brick façade. Porsha then took to the caption of the post, where she opened up about how much this purchase meant to her.

 

"It means the world to me that, as a young Black female entrepreneur, I was able to take care of you and buy you this house in 100 percent Cash. This has always been one of my greatest goals because I wanted to honor the woman who has sacrificed so much for me. No gift could ever repay you, but I hope this home reminds you every day how deeply you are loved and appreciated," she wrote.

 

She continued, opening up about the hard times they faced when Porsha was a child. "I often think back to when we were in the car, searching for enough change just to get McDonald's," she revealed. "We didn't have much, but I never felt like I was missing anything because I had you. You made hard times feel lighter and simple moments feel full."

 

Porsha surprised Ms. Diane with the house during RHOC Season 17, Episode 16, purchasing the home without her knowing in cash after selling her house in Duluth earlier in the season. "This time, there's no mortgage," she explained in a confessional. "Baby, I'm moving on up."

 

When Porsha told her mom this during the episode, she jumped up and down, before exclaiming "Rich bitch, rich bitch," (which Porsha re-posted to her Instagram Story) and breaking down in tears. "Knowing how much my mom has sacrificed while I heal from my last divorce, this is truly rewarding to be able to give her this house," Porsha noted in a confessional.

 

What to Know About The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17

The Georgia peaches are back, as The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17 is officially underway, with new episodes airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.

 

The returning RHOA Season 17 cast members include Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell, along with newcomers Pinky Cole and K. Michelle. The women are joined by friend Cynthia Bailey.

 

Why did Porsha Williams sell her mom's house?

Porsha revealed that her decision to sell her mom's house in Duluth was financially based on her divorce from her ex-husband, Simon Guobadia. "It was a symbol of my hard work and independence," she admitted during RHOA Season 17, Episode 12. "But going through the divorce, the house has a million dollars' worth of equity, and this is just a good time to pull it out."

 

Although Porsha was able to receive "many offers" for the home, including one that was "all cash," Porsha admitted during the episode that selling the home made her a "little emotional." "This was the home I raised Pilar in. This is the home I thought my mother was going to be in for the rest of her time," she said during a confessional. "And having to make these decisions at this moment, on the emotional side, is a little difficult."

 

 

#MusicNews: K. Michelle Announces Her First-Ever Country Album “Jesus & Whiskey”

Multi-platinum R&B singer, songwriter, and reality television star K. Michelle has officially announced her first-ever full-length  country album, Jesus &  Whiskey, scheduled for release on October 16.Music & Audio

 

The announcement, initially shared in an exclusive interview with People Magazine, coincides with the release of the album’s title track, “Jesus & Whiskey.” The song is available now across all digital streaming platforms.

 

Produced by Kristian Bush, Jesus & Whiskey marks a deliberate pivot for the Memphis-born artist as she leans into her Southern roots. The nine-track project, released via Real Outlawz Records, Inc. in partnership with BBR  Music Group, explores themes of faith, heartbreak, and redemption.

 

The newly released title track is a guitar-driven ballad that addresses the complexities of faith and human imperfection. Co-written by K. Michelle alongside hitmakers ERNEST, Jordan Dozzi, and Rocky Block, the song rejects the notion that faith must strictly follow traditional rules.

 

Featuring delicate piano melodies and in-demand Nashville musicians like steel guitarist Justin Schipper, the track includes transparent lyrics such as: “I ain’t perfect / I still drink some when I’m hurting / I got my own type of worship.” The single serves as a sonic follow-up to her fiery country debut single, “Jack Daniel’s,” released last summer.

To promote the new single, K. Michelle delivered the television debut performance of “Jesus & Whiskey” earlier today on Live with Kelly and Mark. The singer, who currently appears on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, will continue her promotional run this Sunday, August 2, with an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.Recording Industry

 

While K. Michelle rose to prominence as an R&B icon following her gold-certified 2013 debut Rebellious Soul and her breakout role on Love and Hip-Hop, her transition to country music represents a return to her musical origins. Growing up on classic country, she originally earned a music scholarship to Florida A&M University partially due to her yodeling abilities. With Jesus & Whiskey, she joins a growing wave of Black artists actively reshaping and reclaiming space within the country music genre.

 

‘Jesus & Whiskey’ Official Tracklist:

“Intro”

“Yodel”

“Blame Tennessee”

“Damn Good Friend”

“Jesus & Whiskey”

“Anything” (feat. Blush)

“Handle On It”Soul & R&B

“Jack Daniel’s”

“If It Ain’t Broke”

 

 

#HipHopNews: Tory Lanez Keeps Iconic Rollout Moving From Prison With ‘Many Men Pt. 2’ Visual

Tory Lanez is not slowing down, even from his situation behind bars. The versatile Toronto emcee, singer and songwriter is continuing to push new music and visuals, releasing the video for “Many Men Pt. 2” featuring VV$ Ken on July 31.

Gotta love the proliferation of AI when it brings to life content that otherwise would not happen. Let’s dive into Tory’s visual.

The dark visual centers on a masked figure wearing devil horns and gold chains, giving the clip an ominous edge while Lanez remains absent from the screen. His team independently assembled the polished production, another example of how the Toronto artist has kept his career active while serving a 10-year prison sentence connected to the 2023 Megan Thee Stallion shooting case. His appeals were denied in late 2025.

 

“Many Men Pt. 2” reworks the spirit of 50 Cent’s classic record through a Florida-influenced flow. The track appears on Lanez’s latest album, Made You Think I Was Gone …But, which arrived July 17.

 

WATCH:

ICYMI, the 23-track double album gives listeners both sides of the artist’s catalog. Disc 1, titled Fargo’s Revenge, leans into rap with songs including “Revenge of Fargo,” “Crodie from the 9,” and “Jalen Brunson.” Disc 2, Fargo’s Heartbreak, returns to melodic R&B through records such as “Swangin’” and “Favorite Eater,” along with several interpolations of familiar R&B favorites.

 

The project moved approximately 19,700 to 20,000 album-equivalent units during its opening week and debuted at No. 35 on the Billboard 200. He outside a few other artists who dropped projects with pretty robust rollouts. We do not need to say any names but numbers don’t lie.

 

Fans have responded to the prison-era rollout by praising Lanez’s business instincts and filling comment sections with “Free Tory!” The new video adds another piece to a campaign being executed almost entirely without the artist physically present.

 

 

#RIP‘VincentPastore, Actor known for playing mobsters and tough guys, dead at 80

 

Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor who played mobsters and tough guys, and was best known for playing Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 80.

Bob McGowan, who had managed Pastore since his run on “The Sopranos,” told The Associated Press that he learned of his death Saturday from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola.

 

He said that he had been found in his home on New York’s City Island after not being heard from for a few days.

 

McGowan said he’d been trying to reach Pastore about a possible job.

“He was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity,” McGowan said, “and he was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business.”

Pastore appeared in movies dating back to the 1980s and had roles in big movies including “Goodfellas” and “Awakenings,” both in 1990.

 

He often played gangsters. And it was one of those roles he’s best known for: his 30-episode run as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, the friend of Tony Soprano who becomes an FBI informant in “The Sopranos.”

 

He was born in the Bronx and grew up in suburban New Rochelle, New York. He enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University, according to his biography on IMDb.

 

He has a daughter, Renee Pastore.

 

 

Brittney Griner Files for Divorce from Wife Cherelle After Eight Years

Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, following eight years of marriage.

The professional basketball player submitted the legal documents in Fulton County on Thursday, signaling the end of a high-profile relationship that captured international attention during Griner’s legal battles abroad.

 

According to court records obtained by Complex, the Phoenix Mercury center described the union as “irretrievably broken.” The filing indicates that the couple officially separated on July 24, 2026, just days before the legal proceedings commenced.

 

The news comes as a surprise to many fans who followed the couple’s journey through Griner’s 10-month detention in Russia in 2022. Cherelle Griner, a lawyer, was a vocal advocate for her wife’s release during her imprisonment on drug-related charges. She made numerous media appearances and worked closely with the U.S. government to secure Brittney’s freedom, which was eventually achieved through a high-stakes prisoner exchange in December 2022.

 

“The relationship is irretrievably broken,” the petition stated, using standard legal language for no-fault divorces in the state of Georgia. Neither party has issued a formal public statement regarding the cause of the split or the specific terms being sought in the dissolution of the marriage.

 

The timing of the separation follows a period of professional and personal milestones for the athlete. Griner recently competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and participated in the WNBA All-Star Game. The couple also recently celebrated the birth of a baby boy, an event Griner spoke about with pride, referring to herself as “Pops” to the newborn. This marks the second divorce for Griner, who was previously married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson.

 

That marriage ended in 2016 after one year. Griner and Cherelle first met while attending Baylor University and later wed in 2018. Legal representatives for the Griners have not yet commented on the filing.

 

As the proceedings move forward in Fulton County Superior Court, fans and the sports community continue to monitor the situation for further developments regarding custody or asset division.

 

 

Lil’ Kim Makes Rare Appearance with Daughter Royal Reign, 12, at Back-to-School Fashion Show

The 52-year-old “Can’t Hold Us Down” rapper made a rare public appearance with her 12-year-old daughter Royal Reign at the Amazon Kids Back-To-School Runway Show by Rookie Kids on Thursday (July 30) held at Iron 23 in New York City.

 

Kim and Royal Reign – whose father is rapper Jeremy Neil aka Mr Papers – had some fun holding hands and giving kissy faces as they posed for the cameras.

While walking the red carpet, Kim and Royal posed for photos with singer/dancer DaniLeigh and her 4-year-old daughter Velour. Then inside the show, the mother-daughter-duo hung out with fellow rapper Steph G.

 

Over the past several years, Kim has become very selective about the events she’ll make an appearance at. In 2024, she joined several other stars at close friend Marc Jacobs‘ fashion show.

Last year, Kim found herself in a bit of controversy after praying that Los Angeles would get hit with a monsoon amid the horrific wildfires.

 

 

Richard Pryor Biopic Finally Happening With Daughter’s Personal Story As Source

Latigo Films and Inaugural Entertainment just locked down the rights to “Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word and Me,” Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor’s memoir that digs into the complicated relationship between one of comedy’s greatest minds and the man who struggled to be her father.

 

This isn’t just another Hollywood biopic trying to cash in on a legend’s name.

 

Elizabeth’s book chronicles decades of her trying to understand who Richard Pryor really was beyond the stage lights and sold-out arenas.

She grew up watching her father dominate comedy in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming the highest-paid Black actor in Hollywood and earning $4 million for “Superman III” alone.

 

But behind all that success was a man battling cocaine addiction, multiple marriages, and personal demons that followed him everywhere.

 

The memoir draws on Richard’s actual handwritten notebooks about his relationship with Elizabeth’s mother, revealing the raw material behind his legendary routines and the pain that fueled his genius.

Richard Pryor started his comedy career in the early 1960s, working clubs across the Midwest before hitting Las Vegas and eventually Hollywood.

 

He broke every barrier that existed in comedy, refusing to play it safe or water down his voice for mainstream audiences. His stand-up was fearless, tackling race, politics, addiction, and America’s ugliest truths with a style that felt like confession.

 

He won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums and an Emmy for writing, and in 1998 he became the first recipient of the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

But his personal life was a different story. In 1980, while freebasing cocaine, he set himself on fire and suffered third-degree burns over more than half his body.

He survived that, but years of drug use, multiple sclerosis, and heart problems eventually caught up with him.

 

He died on December 10, 2005, at age 65.

According to Deadline, the producers expect to announce a screenwriter and director soon.

This project has been a long time coming.

 

Kenya Barris had been working on a Richard Pryor biopic for years, but that project got stuck in development limbo.

There’s also been the documentary “I Am Richard Pryor” and various other attempts to capture his legacy on screen, but nothing has truly done justice to the full scope of his life and impact.

 

What makes this adaptation different is that it’s coming from his daughter’s perspective, grounded in actual documents and personal memories rather than just Hollywood speculation.

The producers on the film include David Lipper, Robert A. Daly Jr., Elizabeth Pryor herself, and Julie Merson.

 

The film is currently in development with no official release date announced yet.

 

 

Chris Brown Refuses To Pay Dollar $13 Million Dog Bite Settlement

Chris Brown is pulling out all the legal stops to overturn a $12.9 million judgment that’s threatening to drain his touring income.

The R&B star filed paperwork Friday requesting a new trial after a jury sided with his former housekeeper over a vicious dog attack that left her permanently scarred and unable to work.

Back in December 2020, Maria Avila was emptying trash at his Tarzana home when his 200-pound Caucasian shepherd named Hades attacked her without warning.

 

The massive breed, notorious for guarding Russian prisons, ripped off large chunks of her skin and left her face and arm mangled beyond recognition.

She needed dozens of sutures and skin grafts just to look human again, but the nerve damage stuck around permanently, making it nearly impossible for her to earn a living.

 

The lawsuit dragged on for over five years before a two-week trial finally wrapped up in late June.

The jury decided Chris Brown and his company Black Pyramid LLC were liable for her injuries and ordered him to pay $12.9 million in damages.

 

His legal team is now arguing the verdict was excessive, claiming jury misconduct and irregularities prevented him from getting a fair shake in court.

Avila isn’t waiting around for Chris to write a check. She’s going after his R&B Tour revenue with Usher, which is generating serious money right now.

 

The tour is his most lucrative income stream, and she’s positioned to seize a significant chunk of those earnings to satisfy the judgment.

A hearing on his motion for a new trial is scheduled for September 22, which falls right between tour dates in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

The singer is refusing to let this woman take a bite out of his pockets without exhausting every legal option available to him.

 

 

Tyler Perry covers Harvard tuition for Tuskegee grad

An Alabama woman is headed to Harvard, and she says Tyler Perry helped make it possible.

Janay Duberry shared on Instagram Friday that the filmmaker and actor stepped in to cover the remaining balance of her tuition for Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. The Tuskegee University graduate said she had already secured financial aid from the school but still faced a gap she did not know how to close on her own.

 

Duberry described years of writing, building a career and networking before earning admission into the Ivy League program. She credited her acceptance to persistence built during her time at Tuskegee, and said the financial support she still needed felt like an obstacle standing between her and a dream she had worked toward for years.

 

According to Duberry’s account, she came to see Perry’s intervention as something close to divine timing, crediting a higher power for opening the door before he stepped in personally. She said Perry expressed belief in her talents, and that his support gave her confidence to keep building her voice as a writer and educator.

 

Duberry said the gesture does more than cover a balance sheet. She described it as something that clears space for her to focus on the books and educational projects she has been developing, without the weight of financial uncertainty hanging over her studies.

 

She also expressed deep gratitude toward Perry directly, describing him as a source of light within the Black community and thanking him for investing in her purpose.

In a follow-up post, Duberry said she intends to pursue a master’s degree in education once she completes her studies, continuing the work she has already built as a writer and educator. She pointed back to her time at Tuskegee University as the foundation for everything that followed, saying the historically Black institution prepared her to walk through doors she once only imagined.

 

Duberry was not alone in publicly praising Perry’s gesture. Vanderbilt University professor and author Michael Eric Dyson also acknowledged the donation online, describing Perry as one of the most generous people alive and noting how the support could reshape Duberry’s trajectory.

 

Today, Duberry offered another round of thanks, saying the support allowed her to begin this next chapter with more stability and peace of mind. She reflected on the lessons and prayers that carried her from Tuskegee to Harvard, framing the moment as a continuation of everything her earlier education instilled in her.

 

This is not the first time Perry has used his resources to help people facing financial strain. Earlier this year, he gave $1,000 gift cards to roughly 250 Transportation Security Administration officers at Atlanta’s airport during a partial government shutdown.

He also donated close to $1.4 million to organizations helping people affected by the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits tied to a government shutdown in late 2025. At the time, Perry spoke about how devastating losing that assistance could be for families, seniors and newborns who depend on it most.

 

Duberry’s story adds to a growing list of moments where Perry’s philanthropy has intersected with education, hunger relief and support for federal workers caught in political gridlock, reinforcing his reputation as one of entertainment’s most consistent philanthropic voices.

 

For Duberry, the support does not erase the years of effort that got her into Harvard in the first place. It removes a barrier that could have stood between her acceptance letter and her first day of class, something she has framed less as a handout and more as an investment in work she was already building.

Stories like this one are a reminder that Black excellence grows fastest when people support each other, and moments like Perry’s gift show what real progress for Black people can look like when generosity meets opportunity.

 

 

Kandi Burruss VS Tamar Braxton? What’s the Beef?

Kandi Burruss made clear on her podcast, Speak On It, that she does not like Tamar Braxton and considers her insincere. She said she intentionally avoided shaking Tamar’s hand during an encounter at Essence Fest’s Black Women in Music ceremony last month, explaining she isn’t willing to act cordial with someone who regularly speaks negatively about her.

 

According to Kandi, Tamar’s appearance during the ceremony came as a surprise since Tamar wasn’t among those being honored that night. Kandi has pushed back on suggestions that she deliberately left Tamar out of a related social media post, saying she only included photos of the women who were actually being recognized. Video of the moment, showing Kandi appearing visibly unenthused, circulated widely online afterward.

 

Yes. Kandi says a separate encounter took place at an Atlanta event about a week after the festival, where she alleges Tamar walked past her and made a disparaging remark without being provoked. Kandi says she responded by ignoring Tamar for the rest of the night rather than escalating things further.

 

Burruss suggested that Tamar’s public relevance largely depends on conflicts with other people, implying that Tamar draws attention by talking about her rather than through her own projects. Kandi noted she has tried to move past their history before without success, and says she’s now focused on her own success rather than continuing the back and forth.

 

Tamar addressed the situation on The Morning Hustle Show, saying she holds no ill will toward Kandi and does not regret congratulating her at the event. She said she values peace in her life and does not want ongoing conflict, though she also said she remains willing to confront negativity directed at her. Tamar has characterized much of the online reaction to their encounter as exaggerated by social media commentary.

 

That remains unclear. Tamar maintains she has moved on and isn’t interested in continuing any conflict, while Kandi’s recent comments suggest she still feels there is unresolved tension between them, particularly regarding the alleged remark made at the Atlanta event. The two have a history of public friction dating back to their early years as R&B artists, and neither side’s account fully lines up with the other’s version of events.

 

Both women continue to address the situation separately through their own platforms, with Burruss hinting she may have more to share and Braxton continuing to promote her current projects. Whether the dispute settles or continues playing out publicly remains to be seen.

 

 

'Barbie' Sequel Reportedly in Jeopardy as Warner Bros. Might Lose the IP

Warner Bros. has until December 2026 to lock in deals with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Greta Gerwig for a Barbie sequel before the film rights revert to Mattel, putting the follow-up in serious jeopardy.

After three years and more than half a dozen offers, negotiations have stalled over a profit-participation plan that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reportedly deemed too generous, with talent reps rejecting the latest proposal and not countering.

 

Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have an idea for a sequel but are reportedly withholding it until contracts are finalized, even as the original Barbie film's $1.5 billion box office and eight Oscar nominations raise the stakes for all sides.

The clock is ticking on a Barbie sequel, with Warner Bros. reportedly running out of time to stop it from slipping away entirely.

 

The studio has until December 2026 to close deals with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Greta Gerwig before the rights to make another Barbie movie will revert to Mattel, according to a report from the New York Times.

 

The studio has made more than half a dozen offers as negotiations have stretched on, according to the report. Its most recent proposal was rejected by the talent's representatives, who did not make a counteroffer.

 

A central sticking point has been a proposed profit-participation arrangement tied to box office milestones. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav declined to approve it, reportedly because he found the terms too generous. A studio spokesperson pushed back on that framing, saying talent representatives had turned down an offer made in May and had yet to respond with a counter.

 

Warner Bros. co-chairs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca confirmed the standoff in a joint statement: "We have a rights deal with Mattel in place and have made a series of big offers to try and finalize deals to make the next Barbie film. Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach an agreement thus far."

 

Gerwig and writing partner Noah Baumbach have reportedly developed an idea for the sequel but are holding it back from the studio until their contracts are settled. Gerwig had publicly said as recently as 2024 that she had no story ideas for another film.

The original Barbie grossed $1.5 billion worldwide and collected eight Oscar nominations, winning Best Original Song for Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell's "What Was I Made For?"

 

 

Jared Leto denies sexual assault allegations described in BBC documentary

Four women have accused Jared Leto of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers, to which the actor and musician responded Wednesday that he has “never sexually assaulted anyone.”

“I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false,” Leto, 54, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

 

The BBC documentary “Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret,” released Wednesday, details allegations including those from four women who accused the actor of sexual misconduct and assault between 2002 and 2016, when they were teenagers and Leto was an adult. One said she was 17 when she was sexually assaulted, while another accused Leto of statutory rape as she was also 17. One woman said she was 19 when Leto threatened her with sexual assault and another said she was 16 when Leto made sexually explicit phone calls and propositioned her.

 

The BBC says it corroborated the women’s accounts, which could not be independently verified by the AP. The documentary does not identify the women by their full names. The BBC said Leto did not respond to its attempts to seek comment for its documentary. The AP sent an emailed request for comment to the BBC on Wednesday seeking a response to Leto’s denial.

 

Leto was also accused of misconduct by nine women who spoke to Air Mail for a story published last year. A representative for Leto denied those allegations at the time.

Leto, an Oscar winner for his supporting role in “Dallas Buyers Club,” is also the frontman of the band Thirty Seconds to Mars. He recently starred as Skeletor in “Masters of the Universe.”

 

 

Met Gala 2027 Theme Revealed: Designer John Galliano to Be Honored at Big Fashion Event!

The theme for the 2027 Met Gala has been announced!

On Friday (July 31), Anna Wintour and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute revealed that next year’s big fashion event will be held in honor of designer John Galliano.

 

“John Galliano: Horizons,” the spring 2027 exhibition at the Costume Institute, will examine and exalt the work of the iconic designer.

“There is no one more deserving of an exhibition of this scale than John Galliano,” Anna shared in a statement, per Vogue. “His body of work—at Dior, Givenchy, Margiela, his namesake label and more—combines erudition and creativity, darkness and light, the past, the present, the future all smashing together in a brilliant way.”

 

She continued, “He’s a great designer and his career isn’t defined by a moment—something that he will live with for the rest of his life. The exhibition won’t shy away from any of the darkness in John’s past. It’s part of what has shaped him. The show will take in the full arc of his career and grapple with all of it.”

 

Galliano is now the third living designer the Met Gala has honored with an exhibition, joining Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Comme des Garçons’ Rei Kawakubo in 2017.

As of right now, the 2027 Met Gala‘s celebrity cochairs and official dress code have not been announced.

 

The 2027 Met Gala is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 3, 2027.

 

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