If your parents are former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, it would be easy to work your last name and turn it into a successful career in the entertainment industry – especially when most of Black America is still daydreaming about the time they spent occupying the White House. But former First Daughters Malia and Sasha Obama have been doing their best to distance themselves from the Obama name, and now their mother is speaking out about it.
Recently, the former First Lady sat down with siblings and actors Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson on their “Sibling Revelry” podcast to talk about how she feels about her girls coming into their own, including Malia’s decision to drop Obama and use her middle name, Ann, in the credits of her short film, “The Heart,” which was featured at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
Our forever First Lady told the Hudsons that her now-grown daughters, Malia (25) and Sasha (23), are very sensitive to the idea of others writing them off as nothing more than nepo babies and are trying to what they can to carve their own unique lanes, despite their extremely famous last name.
“I mean it’s very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world. And they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally just handed things,” she said.
The ladies of “The View” discussed Mrs. Obama’s comments on the show, and agreed that they respect Malia and Sasha’s choice not to try to open doors with their last name.
“I respect and deeply admire that they’re saying, ‘Hey, I recognize I have this amazing name I’m so proud of, but I really want to make my own way and carve my own path.’ I think that is so cool,” said co-host Sara Haines.
Although Maila and Sasha are full-fledged independent California girls now, their mom believes they have a strong foundation and will be just fine.
“Now that they are older, they are embracing our parenting principles in the same way I think that I discovered that about my parents,” she said.
You’d like to think the politicians leading the country are actually fit for the job, but President Donald Trump’s slew of questionable appointees to the highest positions in the country– and the world–has Americans thinking differently.
Most recently, FEMA Chief David Richardson was blasted after admitting he had no clue the country experienced hurricane season, according to Reuters. He has since came out saying it was all a joke, but… was it really?
From Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s shaky personal life to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s former role at WWE, clearly, there’s some discrepancies about what makes someone fit to lead. Now, we’re taking a closer look at Trump’s advisors and cabinet members to really unpack the scary trends among the country’s top leadership.
Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. Oz
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 12: U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Mehmet Oz, speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. During the event, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals by 30% to 80%. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Taking a page from Trump’s book, Dr. Oz has transitioned from television to American politics. In his new role as administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, Oz oversees how millions of Americans receive Medicaid and Medicare. He recently said in order to receive benefits, Americans will have to “prove that you matter.”
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 25: Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe appears during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. The hearing to examine worldwide threats comes a day after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic magazine was inadvertently included on a high level Trump administration Signal group chat on bombing plans in Yemen on Houthi targets. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Unlike others on this list, John Ratcliffe served under Trump’s first administration. He was previously the director of national intelligence. In January, Trump brought him back as his nominee for director of the CIA, despite his slew of political scandals over the years. Rattcliffe is a Trump loyalist, with a well-documented allegiance to the president as far back as 2019.
FEMA Chief, David Richardson
Image by White House
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appointed David Richardson, a Marine veteran and martial-arts instructor, to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Despite having no previous professional record of handling natural disasters or relief, he joined the FEMA team in early May. On his first day in office, he promised to do Trump’s bidding. Richardson even told agency staff he will “run right over” anyone trying to deter him from carrying out the president’s mission, CNN reported. Sen. Chuck Schumer tweeted about Richardson’s hurricane season blunder saying, he was “unaware of why he hasn’t been fired yet.”
Nominee for Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 01: National Security Advisor Michael Waltz participates in a TV interview at the White House on May 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. This week marks the first 100 days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
You can’t mention Signal Gate and not bring up former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. In his previous role, he was the creator of the infamous channel on Signal where he added a journalist to a group chat spilling classified information– although he and Secretary Pete Hegseth refuse to acknowledge this. Waltz has a hefty resume, filled with military and Congressional service, but like the rest of folks on the list, at the top of his qualifications is hisloyalty to Trump. After the Signal scandal, Waltz became Trump’s new pick to be the ambassador to the United Nations.
Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on as he attends the signing of an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo
When Hegseth was first appointed to serve as the head of the most vital government department, bipartisan rage exploded from politicians nation-wide. And after the bombshell report that he compromised national security in the Signal Gate controversy… twice… critics of Hegseth haven’t let up on him yet.
During his confirmation process, he faced several allegations he was drinking on the job and had problems with alcohol. And his own family members have come out alleging he was physically and sexually abusive, according to AP News.
Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testifies before a Senate Appropriations hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump’s budget request for the Department of Education, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
President Trump vowed to dismantle the Department of Education, and he started his agenda by appointing Linda McMahon to run the show. McMahon has a brief background in education. In fact, she was nominated to serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009, according to ABC News. But unfortunately, that’s where her expertise stops.
Before she was picked by Trump, McMahon founded WWE with her husband Vincent. The couple is worth more than $3 billion, according to Forbes, which as you’ll see is a trend among Trump nominees.
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. discusses the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network survey, during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
Out of everyone on this list, the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was perhaps the most horrifying and embarrassing for the Trump administration. The nephew of former President John F. Kennedy is an environmental attorney, previously taking on DuPont and Monsanto, according to AP News. But outside of this and his obvious devotion to Trump, RFK Jr.’s views on health and vaccines drew massive concerns from Democrats and Republicans alike.
He’s an anti-vaxxer who claimed autism was a direct side effect of receiving vaccines. He also perpetuated the racist and baseless theory that Black people should be on a separate vaccine schedule based on genetic makeup. All of his dangerous theories have been proven wrong by experts around the globe.
Director of FBI, Kash Patel
FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s proposed budget request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
A lawyer and former federal prosecutor, Patel has more experience serving in the White House than almost all of Trump’s Cabinet picks. However, it’s his undying devotion to the president that continues to make folks question his real intentions. It’s important to note that Trump is largely responsible for propelling Patel’s career in politics. While serving under Trump’s first term, Patel was even set to be named the deputy director of the CIA until former Vice President Mike Pence and other members of Trump’s Cabinet intervened, according to the Atlantic.
Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard departs after a closed door meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines, June 2, 2025. Ezra Acayan/Pool via REUTERS
She was once a Democratic, even running for president in 2020 against Trump. But in true MAGA fashion, once Trump began making promises, Tulsi Gabbard changed her tune and shifted to the MAGA right, according to PBS. The veteran and first Hindu woman elected to Congress doesn’t have a strong background in intelligence. Even Sen. Dick Durbin said “Tulsi Gabbard would not be qualified for an entry-level position within our intelligence community” let alone the top of it.
Attorney General, Pam Bondi
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel (not pictured) where they make an announcement in connection with a child sex abuse enforcement action, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
In November 2024, Trump tapped Pam Bondi for attorney general. She was formally the Florida Attorney General and has her degree in criminal justice, according to NPR. But according to insiders, her chief qualification is her loyalty to Trump. Bondi was previously Trump’s personal attorney. She was also involved in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought
Image by the Center for Reproductive Rights
Arguably Trump’s most controversial nominee to date, Russell Vought’s confirmation set off an avalanche of backlash from Democrats. Most notably, Vought co-wrote “Project 2025,” the 999-page MAGA rulebook designed to reshape the country with cuts to the DOE and attacks to the LGBT+ community and DEI.
Vought previously served in Trump’s first administration. He left office after Trump was voted out to start the Center for Renewing America, the far-right Christian entity.
Director of DOGE, Elon Musk
FILE PHOTO: Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk, who supports Republican presidential nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump, gestures as he speaks about voting during an America PAC Town Hall in Folsom, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 17, 2024. REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File Photo
Although the Tesla CEO is officially done with the White House, for the strong part of the year, he served as Trump’s right hand man. In his position as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk oversaw the mass firing of thousands of government workers in alleged efforts to rid the country of senseless spending and corruption.
Musk had no political background before being tapped by Trump. He also skipped over the Congressional appointment and questioning process. The most qualifying thing about CEO of SpaceX is his title as Trump’s highest campaign donor.
Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 6, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
Howard Lutnick was one of Trump’s first nominees for his Cabinet. With a net worth of around $3 billion, according to thestreet.com, Lutnick follows Trump’s very clear list of qualifications: wealthy and loyal. He got close to Trump after appearing on his reality show “The Apprentice.” Since then, the Trump advisor has only strengthened his relationship with the president.
Most recently, Lutnick was grilled in a Senate hearing he has no clue what important laws pertaining to his job were, according to the Daily Beast.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard attend the annual National Memorial Day Observance in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., May 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Although he has experience in Congress, Doug Collins first rose to prominence– you guessed it– coming to Trump’s defense. In 2016, after the president was accused of conspiring with Russia to undermine the presidential election, Collins defended the president on the House Judiciary Committee, according to NBC Washington. He even wrote a book, defending Trump from his 2019 impeachment.
Nominee for Director of U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Paul Ingrassia
Image by White House
Most recently, Trump tapped Paul Ingrassia to head the office responsible for protecting whistleblowers and other federal workers from unlawful employment practices. Ingrassia has no real political background, but he is a former far-right podcast and a Jan. 6 apologist. According to MSNBC, Ingrassia has only been a lawyer for three years, and with little investigative experience– which the job requires– many see his appointment as a slap in the face to those who rely on the government agency.
Taraji P. Henson is finally clearing the air when it comes to “The Color Purple” drama and those rumors of a rift between her and Oprah Winfrey.
In case you forgot, Henson stepped into the iconic role of Shug Avery in Warner Bros’ flashy musical film reboot of “The Color Purple” in 2023. While promoting the film, Henson went viral while sitting down with Gayle King, breaking down in tears over the pay disparity in Hollywood, especially as a Black actress. Many saw this as her taking a shot at Oprah, especially due to the fact that Winfrey was one of the main producers on the film. On the latest episode of “The Breakfast Club,” however, she finally set the record straight.
Host Charlamagne Tha God brought up the topic directly, saying that a lot of people thought Henson was “kicking Tyler Perry and Oprah’s back in” when she made those comments. Henson immediately denied this to the radio host, saying, “Oh my god, why would they think that?” When Charlamagne clarified that it may be because they are producers, she then responded, “You know they have bosses, right?”
Henson, of course, is referring to the fact that producers don’t necessarily set the rate that actors get paid, and they have studios above them that they answer to.
She then asked, “When have you ever seen me drag another woman, particularly a Black woman, ever? I’m ten toes down for us.” She then proceeded to say that “blogs” ran with the rumors of a feud between her and Tyler and Oprah was a part of a “campaign” so that this Black movie” wouldn’t do well.”
Henson added that she was hurt when some places reported that the movie didn’t perform as well because of her comments on pay while promoting it, calling it “total B.S.”
She went on to say that she has such a “love and fondness” for Oprah. “She just texted me the other day, commending me on a job well done in ‘Straw.’ So that was all fictitious.” She added that she thinks people were trying to “draw a wedge” between them, but that she won’t let people do that.
She had amazing things to saw about Tyler Perry as well, saying that she will always work with him. “We have fun on that set, I love that he challenges me,” she added. “I’m never gonna turn my back on us…people who go to the Tyler Perry films, that’s a huge population of us.”
Summer is just around the corner, and Hollywood has cooked up plenty of content for you to binge and watch on those long, hot days. Whether you want an intense, adult drama or a new series perfect for the whole family, we’ve got you covered with a list of shows perfect for your Summer 2025 watchlist.
MCU fans, rejoice! A live-action Black Panther spinoff series, “Ironheart,” finally comes to Disney+ this month. Starring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams / Ironheart, the series follows the brilliant MIT student we met in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” just a few years ago. Joined by “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” superstar Anthony Ramos, Thorne is getting her star-making moment in this series, one that will make for a perfect binge for the entire family.
Ironheart premieres June 24, 2025 on Disney+.
The Bear
The Bear is back and better than ever. The hit Hulu series returns this June, reuniting viewers with the staff of a Chicago sandwich shop. Ayo Edebiri reprises her breakout role as Sydney “Syd” Adamu in the upcoming fourth season, which will certainly be one of the most-watched shows of the summer.
“The Bear” season 4 hits Hulu on June 25.
BMF
BMF is back! The Starz series that follows the Black Mafia Family has thrilled audiences since 2021. Now back for season 4, the series seems to be upping the ante, once again bringing audiences back to the 1990s, at the height of BMF’s activity.
“BMF” season 4 premiered June 6 on Starz.
And Just Like That
The “Sex and the City” story continues on Max’s “And Just Like That.” While the show still churns on without fan-favorite character Samantha, the other leads Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda are back once again for adventures in the Big Apple. Nicole Ari Parker is also back for season 3, reprising the role of Lisa Todd Wexley.
New episodes of “And Just Like That” drop on Thursdays on Max.
Looking for the next bets historical fiction series? Look no further than “Washington Black,” Hulu’s series starring the one and only Sterling K. Brown. The series follows, “the 19th-century odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny,” per Deadline. “When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love.”
Divorced Sistas
A new Tyler Perry series is here. “Divorced Sistas” is described as an “extension” of the “Sistas” universe created by the media mogul. The show is described as following “five close friends — Rasheda, Geneva, Naomi, Tiffany, and Bridgette — as they navigate life, love, and the challenges that come with divorce, marriage, and dating. As they lean on each other through heartbreak and healing, their biggest test comes from within their own circle, challenging their loyalty, character, and true bond of sisterhood.”
“Divorced Sistas” premieres Monday, June 9 on BET.
Not only is “Divorced Sistas” premiering this summer, but the original “Sistas” is still going strong! The beloved BET series is officially coming back for its ninth season this July.
“Sistas” returns July 16 on BET.
Forever
If you haven’t gotten into “Forever” on Netflix already, what are you doing? One of the biggest shows to come out of the streamer this year made major waves when it dropped last month, and for good reason. Mara Brock Akil’s brilliant reimagining of Judy Blume’s iconic coming of age novel stars Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. in an intimate and moving portrait of young Black love. The series was such a smash hit for Netflix, its already been renewed for season 2, making for a perfect summer binge if you havent watched already.
All episodes of “Forever” are streaming now on Netflix.
Twisted Metal
“Twisted Metal” is coming back to Peacock. The Anthony Mackie-led series first premiered in 2023, and is based on the post-apocalyptic video game series of the same name. Almost two years later, fans are finally getting a second season, which, if the teaser is any indication, will continue to be just as exciting and hilarious as the first entry.
Season 2 of “Twisted Metal” premieres July 31 on Peacock.
Squid Game
Get ready for one final game. “Squid Game,” Netflix’s massive series, is returning for one more season this summer. Sure to be one of the biggest television events of the year, the jaw-dropping and intense show returns this June, just six months after season 2’s release this past December.
“Squid Game” returns June 27 to Netflix.
Eyes of Wakanda
More “Black Panther” content is on the way. Another series perfect for the whole family this summer is “Eyes of Wakanda.” An animated spinoff of the hit MCU franchise, the show follows Wakandan warriors thorughout history.
“Eyes of Wakanda” premieres August 6 on Disney+.
The Gilded Age
Another historical fiction series returning this summer is Max’s hit, “The Gilded Age.” Set in the turn of the century New York, the show follows “new money” class at this prosperous time in history, including the African American upper class at the time. Broadway star Denee Benton stars as Peggy, and six-time Tony winner and Broadway veteran Audra McDonald even appears as her mother on the series.
On Friday (June 6), Lil Wayne dropped his long awaited album, “Tha Carter VI.” But what should’ve been a momentous occasion for him and his fans turned out to be the exact opposite as evidenced by reactions to the project online. And believe us when we tell you…it’s not a pretty sight!
For context, talks of Wayne’s latest project had been ongoing for awhile now, with interest turning up a few extra notches after he got “snubbed” as the performer for the 2025 Super Bowl LIX back in February. As a result, many people were eagerly anticipating just how much fire and fervor that moment would give him and were waiting to hear the results of that in his newest project.
Well, said project has now arrived and unfortunately for a large portion of his fans — it’s the last thing they expected. The 19-song album features guests like 2 Chainz and Kodak Black and clocks in at a little over an hour. But for a lot of fans, any amount of time listening it is a complete waste of time.
Best part about finishing this Lil Wayne album is that I won’t ever hear shit played anywhere again.
“Best part about finishing this Lil Wayne album is that I won’t ever hear shit played anywhere again,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
“Man, Lil Wayne needs better friends cuz this album should have never seen the light of day Also the production is actually atrocious WHAT WAS THAT,” said another.
“Lil Wayne and his team have been on a mission to ruin his legacy. They finally succeeded with this Carter VI trash. This is not a ‘Carter’ level album. The worst Carter album. I’m so disappointed, Wayne fans let down again,” one other user wrote.
Lil Wayne and his team have been on a mission to ruin his legacy. They finally succeeded with this Carter VI trash.
This is not a “Carter” level album. The worst Carter album.
I’m so disappointed, Wayne fans let down again. ✌🏾
Added another user: “Normally I like to run an album back after a first listen before saying anything, but in this case I don’t want to…I love Lil Wayne, but this album is booty crumbs.”
“No deadass… Say SIKE RIGHT NOW @lilwayne,” wrote media personality Scottie Beam.
Lil Wayne has yet to publicly respond to the negative chatter, but if he does, we’ll be sure to circle back. After all, he’s an artist who’s probably “sensitive about his shit,” there’s no telling how he’ll take all the unimpressed reactions to his latest offering.
President Trump and Elon Musk fallout was more dramatic than a Real Housewives’ reunion. The former friends exchange of words has become an online spectacle and social media has been enjoying the show. The heated dispute started when Musk publicly criticized Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” that aims to make Trump-era tax cuts more permanent and will unfairly benefit the rich.
Here are all of Elon’s shadiest comments.
Musk Calls Out Trump’s “Ingratitude”
Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.
The Root reported on the Tesla CEO firing shots at Trump posting “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” According to reports, Musk spent $270M on Trump’s 2024 Election campaign.
And thats when things got spicy between the former bosom buddies.
Accusing Trump Of Being In The Epstein Files
Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.
In a hard-hitting post, the SpaceX CEO spilled some serious tea that Trump is named in the Epstein files and suggest that is the reason why it hasn’t went public. He even went as far as reposting an archived video of the President hanging out a party with Epstein.
Future Revelations
Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.
Deepening the online beef, Musk went into the Twitter archives and resurfaced old posts of Trump criticizing the Republicans. ‘No member of Congress should be eligible for re-election if our country’s budget is not balance,” Trump posted, “deficits not allowed!”
“Where is the man who wrote these words?” Musk asked in a quoted post. “Was he replaced by a body double?”
Musk wasted no time calling out the President for lying about Musk forcing everyone to purchase electric vehicles. Trump’s major tax and spending legislation, which Musk argued the bill would massively increase the national debt and target provisions that would reduce or potentially eliminate electric vehicle credits which will directly impact Tesla’s profits. This was another statement that was a reflection of their public rift.
Slams Trump’s Tariffs
The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year https://t.co/rbBC11iynE
Musk’s comments is a response to an X user who describes Trump’s tariff policy to be “super stupid”. The Tesla CEO replied that the tariffs will cause a “recession in the second half of this year.”
Calls For A New Political Party
Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?
In response to Trump’s comments about Musk being removed from his presidential circle, Musk wasted no time firing right back on X. He dismissed the claims of being pushed out and even mentioned funding the Democratic party.
Trump’s Responses
According to Donald Trump’s X account, all of his posts have been deleted.
There’s a reason why they call Oprah Winfrey the “Queen of All Media.” The Emmy award-winning talk show host successfully launched her own television network, magazine and production company. And we can’t forget Oprah’s Book Club which has helped propel Black authors like Colson Whitehead and Tayari Jones into the spotlight.
All of those boss moves have helped her amass a net worth of over $3 billion and a pretty impressive real estate portfolio worth over $100 million. Although Winfrey keeps her guest lists pretty exclusive, we were able to check out some of the places she’s called home over the years.
Take a peek inside some of Oprah Winfrey’s amazing homes.
Chicago Condos
YouTube/ABC 7 Chicago
While taping “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in Chicago, Winfrey purchased four units inside the iconic Water Tower Place on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
A Duplex to Die For
ABC13.com
Winfrey combined the four apartments to make a luxurious 9,000 square-foot duplex, complete with four bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two half baths.
Spa-Like Space
ABC13.com
The condo is full of high-end features, including this spa-like bathroom with a deep soaking tub.
The Promised Land
YouTube.com
In 2001, Oprah Winfrey began setting up the ultimate retreat on over 40 acres of land in Montecito, California. The heart of the property, which she calls “The Promised Land is the main house – a stunning 23,000 square-foot Georgian home that is fit for a media queen.
A Reading Room
YouTube.com
It’s only natural that a book-lover like Winfrey would have a cozy reading room with floor-to-ceiling shelves to hold all of her favorite reads.
Lots of Living Rooms
YouTube.com
The home features several living spaces that allow her guests to relax and enjoy conversation – and the eye-catching artwork.
Dining Room
YouTube.com
The spacious dining room is made for dinner parties for Oprah and her special guests. Oh, to be a fly on the wall to hear the conversations that go down here!
Spilling the Tea
YouTube.com
The home features a tea house, a bright, airy room perfect for enjoying a quiet cup while taking in the garden view.
The Guest House
YouTube.com
Although the main house is spacious, the property also includes a 5,000 square-foot guest house with a pool and plenty of lush greenery.
Even the Horses Have a Nice Home
YouTube.com
With all of those acres, there is plenty of room for horses, which is why Winfrey’s property includes private stables.
Telluride Mansion
YouTube.com
In 2014, Winfrey bought an 8,000 square foot mansion in historic Telluride, Colorado. The secluded woodsy home has five bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms.
A Cozy Cabin
YouTube.com
Once inside the home, you’ll be wowed by all of the stone and wooden accents, which give a cozy cabin vibe.
Mountain Views
When you have a picture-perfect view of the Rocky Mountains like this one, floor-to-ceiling windows are a must.
Made for Relaxing
YouTube.com
Every detail of this home is made for relaxing, including this jacuzzi tub that allows Oprah and her guests to take in the beautiful nature view.
It’s no secret that comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish has been unlucky in love. She hasn’t been spotted with anyone new since her not-so-mutual 2021 split from rapper-actor Common after a year of dating; she told Jay Shetty on his podcast that she made the decision to be celibate in 2024.
Now, in a recent sit down with Godfrey on his “In Godfrey We Trust” podcast, Haddish told the comedian that she’s done with men from the USA and is looking across the pond for her next partner.
“Any Black man born in America, I can’t f—k with you. I’m only f—king with Black man born outside of America and everything else,” she said in the interview.
Haddish went on to say that getting involved with more than one man can have devastating effects on a woman’s mental health.
“Women that have more than two baby daddies usually have some sort of mental illness,” she said.
Listeners who thought her comments were part of a comedy bit were likely confused when a straight-faced Haddish went on to explain what she believes to be the science behind the problem.
“Every time you get pregnant there’s stem cells that come from that baby and them stem cells end up behind your eyes and your brain and your heart,” Haddish added. “And those stem cells will always stay with you, right.”
Tiffany Haddish tries to make a connection between having babies (which she has none) and her being single (because of Americans). Is this typical mess from Tiffany Haddish or is she correct??? #tiffanyhaddish#godfreythecomedian
Godfrey posted a clip from the interview on Instagram, and you already know the comment section was lit with comments from people who were left completely confused after listening to Haddish’s head-scratching theory.
“That’s a funny way of saying my poor choices now dictate I hv to date somewhere nobody knows who I am…….those eggs are super scrambled and the expiration date was 10 years ago 😒,” wrote one commenter.
Another commenter reacted to Haddish saying that she was willing to make an exception on her new dating rule for white guys.
“Dear white ppl … She belongs to y’all,” they wrote.
One commenter suggested that the problem may not be with the men, but with Haddish.
“That’s a creative way to say don’t nobody in your country want you,” they wrote.
It seems like every week, there’s a new viral trend or dance challenge taking over our timelines on TikTok. And as each new thing sparks, many folks are starting to join in on the fun – -even celebrities like Terry Crews.
If you’ve been spending any time on the clock app recently, then you may have noticed the latest trend stemming from a popular film he starred in back in 2004, “White Chicks.” Though the movie starred Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Crews starred as an (aggressive) love interest for Marlon’s character and was responsible for a handful of memorable scenes.
One in particular, in which Crews’ character takes Marlon’s character Tiffany out on a date, has become the latest scene that TikTokers are recreating and now, it’s made it’s way to Crews himself, who decided to hop online and engage in it.
Posted by one of his daughters on Thursday, the now-viral video – -which also features his other daughter and wife Rebecca — has garnered over 500,000 likes and been shared nearly 30,000 times.
After seeing this video, it got us thinking about other celebs who’ve either joined on memes of themselves or participated in trends that derive from something they did. And boy did we find some fun examples.
Beyonce, Drea Kelly’s “II Hands II Heaven” Dance Challenge
Shortly after Beyonce dropped her “Cowboy Carter” album back in 2024, Drea Kelly — dancer and ex-wife to the now infamous R. Kelly — decided to hop online and show off choreography to the song “II Hands II Heaven.” In a surprising twist, her video went viral and caused thousands of other people to join in and recreate it.
Fast forward to Bey’s “Cowboy Carter” tour in 2025 and the singer surprised all her fans by hitting the choreo while performing the song. Of course, we should’ve known she would’ve thanks to a previous Instagram post Bey made last May.
Towards the end of May, Chris Brown decided to join in on his own dance challenge which stemmed from his early 200s hit, “Wall to Wall.” Appearing in the video with a gang of his background dancers, Breezy hit the new dance moves smoothly and with a huge smile. As of this writing, the video has amassed nearly 4 million likes and been shared nearly 200,000 times.
Back in June 2024, Megan Thee Stallion decided to join in on her own dance challenge that stemmed from her hit song, “Mamushi.” The song was just one of many hits from her album “Megan” but it was the only one that sparked a viral dance craze. Peep Megan getting jiggy with it below.
In a moment that most 90s kids could relate to, earlier this year back in March, Will Smith recreated an iconic dance moment from one of the earlier episodes of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” with his costar Tatyana Ali and rapper Doechi, using the latter’s popular song “Anxiety.” The result was something just as funny and cool.
Looks like there’s a new bombshell at the villa, and no, it’s not what you think… Americans are calling dibs on their favorite couple in the new season of “Love Island USA,” the American take on the British reality television show. But before any of the love could even begin, the cast was hit with an unexpected twist that led to one contestant exiting the show.
In the most recent episode, the show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, revealed a cast mate, Yulissa Escobar, had left the villa. He mentioned it so casually, and the show continued like nothing happened. But it didn’t take long for fans to figure out the messy truth…
Leading up to the show’s premiere, multiple resurfaced videos of Escobar went viral. In the two clips, she is heard casually saying the N-word on two different podcasts, and fans of the show ripped her to shreds over it. “Oh yulissa just keeps giving me more reasons to dislike her,” @serenazseptum said after seeing a video of the Cuban influencer saying, “He’s my n***a.”
When the videos first broke, Yulissa was already in Fiji, filming for “Love Island” without her phone or social media. However, her friend came to her defense, awkwardly saying on Instagram “lol… y’all act like you never said the N word before, stop being so f***ing sensitive,” TMZ reported.
After she was officially given the boot from the villa, fans put two and two together, realizing the likely reason behind the move was connected to Escobar using the slur. Even a TMZ poll showed 77 percent of folks wanted Escobar gone after using the N-word. She was also outed as a MAGA supporter, which clearly, didn’t give her any extra points with fans.
I’m not surprised at all by Yulissa being a racist trump supporter. She is a Latina who lives in Miami and her mom is Cuban.
Now, folks got their wish, and you can believe they had a field day on social media after Escobar was given the boot. “I’m not surprised at all by Yulissa being a racist trump supporter. She is a Latina who lives in Miami and her mom is Cuban,” @_syddygirl said on X.
Another user, @Dee_Vinci, wrote “Love to see it bc nothing irks me more than a Latina/o using the N word. Girl bye.” @ChardoubleU added “Lmaooooo bye pumpkin!”
Escobar hasn’t come out to address the controversy yet, but fans of “Love Island” will be watching and waiting to see if she’ll ever own up to it.
Timbaland, the legendary producer you could not escape in the 90s and the 2000s, has started a new music venture, and the concept behind it is… interesting.
Along with film producer Rocky Mudaliar and entrepreneur Zayd Portillo, Timbaland has launched an AI entertainment company called Stage Zero, according to Rolling Stone. The company has just signed their first artist, TaTa, an AI artist that is powered by the music technology company, Suno, according to MusicTech.
This move by Timbaland isn’t too shocking, considering that in March of this year, the producer sat down with 2x NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo on his podcast “The Inner Court” and stated that AI music is the “only thing that has a pure soul right now”
On Instagram, Timbaland posted screenshots of Billboard and Rolling Stone articles announcing his AI artist with the caption, “Thinking BIGGER but still inclusive.”
While Timbaland says he is excited about this move, the majority, in fact, all of the fans in his Instagram comments were not.
“Congratulations! You are the first to openly admit to ruining music more than it already is. I’m sad it had to be you,” wrote one user.
“Not that it’ll matter, but I’ll prolly come back pretty frequently to double down on how wack this is. So wild. The very essence of why your music was so different then everyone else’s… Smh forget it,” wrote another.
“Trying to find one positive comment… Glad we’re on the same page,” wrote another with laughing emojis.
Of course, whenever there is a time to criticize celebrities, users on X are always at the scene of the crime. Frustrated fans went on the app to express the negative thoughts they had to add to the producer’s announcement.
“Timbaland is ageing like milk. Every time he makes headlines, it’s about something more stupid than the last time,” wrote one user.
“Timabaland has joined the pantheon of goated legends that lost touch and apparently surrounded themselves with people that don’t know how to say ‘this ain’t it’”, posted another.
User @isaiahjaay1 expressed disappointment on TikTok by saying that, “Timbaland is really a legend at what he do. So, for you to be encouraging AI, knowing that it’s taking away from real creativity, is crazy… I’m getting tired of all these robots.”
While the Republican party continues to deal with the fallout from Elon Musk’s attacks on President Donald Trump, it seems the Democrats are also doing some soul searching. After one of the most notable spokespersons of their party has decided to turn their back, she’s drawing shocking criticism with her new book.
Karine Jean-Pierre served as former President Joe Biden’s press secretary from 2022 to 2025, when he left office. Known for her fiery exchanges with reporters and politicians across the aisle, Jean-Pierre is prepping to release her new book titled “Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.” But although it hasn’t dropped yet, it’s already faces criticism for one shocking reason.
According to a press release for her book, Jean-Pierre is taking a step back from the Democratic party and planning to register as an Independent. “In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre… shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents,” the release read.
The motivation behind Jean-Pierre’s departure from the Democrats seems to stem from the treatment of Biden around campaign season. The former president faced bipartisan backlash after his mental and physical health was questioned while he was still in the race against Trump. As his press secretary, Jean-Pierre handled daily inquires about Biden’s mental state. But she said watching her party turn against Biden was the most shocking of all.
In a statement for Legacy Lit Jean-Pierre said, “I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes.” Now, she’s urging folks to look at the dangers of a bipartisan system, which America’s first president, George Washington, famously warned about centuries ago.
After former Vice President Kamala Harris’ devastating loss to Trump, the Democrats were sent back to the drawing board in hopeful preparation for the 2028 election. But in the mean time, criticism from the former face of the Biden administration can’t be good for party morale.
Democrats came out with acute criticisms for her. Former aide to Joe Manchin III, Sen. Jonathan Kott, said he’s “sick and tired of Democrats not being proud to be Democrats and fighting for what we believe in.” He continued, according to the New York Times, “If you lost the will to fight, then get out of the party.”
Karine Jean-Pierre is speaking for a lot of black women. You can call her newly declared political status a stunt but it’s not. The 92% said they were centering themselves & declaring oneself free from a party that wants to chase white men is a start. pic.twitter.com/uhMxDz9zi9
— Sons of Killmonger & Disciple of Dark Brandon (@2Strong2Silence) June 4, 2025
On the flip side, Black folks online responded praising Jean-Pierre for finally waking up. “Karine Jean-Pierre is speaking for a lot of black women. You can call her newly declared political status a stunt but it’s not,” @2Strong2Silence said on X. “The 92 [percent] said they were centering themselves & declaring oneself free from a party that wants to chase white men is a start.”
“See the way people are piling on Karine Jean-Pierre DESPITE the ACTUAL premise of her book & declaring herself Independent,” @darryn_briggs began. “This is PRECISELY the reason many of us KNEW it was dangerous for Kamala Harris to be the nominee.”
Another user, @Needle_of_Arya, said “between (how they’ve treated) Karine Jean-Pierre, Meghan Markle & Kamala Harris, we have only a taste of how deeply pervasive casual & knee-jerk misogynoir is in our society.”
Her book is expected to release on October 21, 2025.
As predicted by Black Americans, Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s friendship is quickly unraveling. Musk tweeted bombshell claims Trump would’ve lost the election without him and more. If it was anyone else criticizing him, Trump surely would’ve clapped back harder than simply being “very disappointed” in Musk, but there’s something about the almost trillionaire that has the president a little passive.
In what’s shaping up to be the divorce of the century, Musk and Trump are at war, and everyone is watching. Experts say Trump is even scared of Musk, and here’s why.
Musk Played Pivotal Role in Trump’s Election
Despite Trump’s claims he would’ve won big regardless of Musk’s help, the facts don’t lie. Musk donated over $270 million dollars to Trump’s campaign, according to the Washington Post. With this coupled with his visible appearances alongside Trump, Musk has become synonymous with the president’s second term, no matter if he’s in the White House or not.
Former Scottish leader Humza Yousaf said in January Musk is “one of the most dangerous men on the planet” because of his ability to weasel his way into the most critical conversations about foreign policy and domestic affairs. Most notably, he has established himself as a key player in foreign politics with the use of his Starlink satellites in the war in Ukraine.
Musk’s Hold on the Government
Investigative journalist Ronan Farrow said Musk’s stint as the director of DOGE was unprecedented. Farrow broke it down on TikTok saying, “Government outsourcing isn’t new, but historians told me that individuals business titans having this much power goes way beyond anything we’ve seen historically.”
The X CEO oversaw the mass firing of thousands of government officials and had access to Americans personal data, drawing bipartisan pushback with concerns of national security. Even after Musk left DOGE, his influence remains strong.
The Richest Man Alive
From tapping some of the wealthiest people for his cabinet, hosting CEOs like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg during his inauguration and the friendship between him and billionaire Musk, Trump clearly likes to have wealthy people in his corner. And Musk is the epitome.
He’s literally the richest person in the world, worth $408.6 billion, according to Forbes. With money comes power, which is how Musk snuck into the Oval Office in the first place.
Journalist for MSNBC Ali Velshi warned about the dangers of Musk. “There don’t appear to be any safeguards at all against potential conflicts of interest this time around,” he said. “Musk will retain control over Tesla and SpaceX, all while overseeing policies that could benefit his companies.”
Ultimately, cash rules, and clearly, Musk has more of it than anyone else, including Trump, who’s worth $5.1 billion.
Power, Power and More Power
In 2023, journalist Farrow spoke with a Pentagon official who said Musk practically has the world in his hands. “We are living off his good graces,” the official said. Two years later, not much has changed.
Musk owns Tesla, X, the private aerospace company SpaceX, xAI, The Boring Company and more. He also has multi billion-dollar contracts with the government, his hands in the company which launches most of America’s spy satellites and one of the world’s top social media platforms. If that’s not power, we don’t know what is!
When Trump and Musk were on good terms, his assets helped the president win his second term. Now, things are different. With all this in mind, it shouldn’t be a surprise Trump is taking it easy on Musk. The president let him run a muck in the White House, and now, his hands are tied.
What Secrets Does Musk Know?
If nothing else could convince you Musk knows the juiciest secrets, his Thursday (June 6) claim the real reason Trump won’t release the Epstein files is because he’s in them surely proves it. In his position in DOGE, Musk had access to the secrets of some of the most powerful people in the world… including Trump.
News commentators have even suggested Musk might have influenced Trump’s election. No proof exists for this claim, which echoes similar accusations Trump leveled against former President Joe Biden in 2020.
Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.
The nasty end of the president’s friendship with Musk could result in bad blood. And if that’s the case, who’s to say which secrets the Tesla CEO is prepared to unleash?
It’s not like our president to let things slide, so as the war between Trump and his former friend continues, Americans will be watching with popcorn.
“- There was a subsequent moment we had at a sidebar and I looked and I saw your client looking at the jury and nodding aggressively. This is absolutely unacceptable,” the judge said in court Tuesday, per The Washington Post.
The allegations against Combs of sexual abuse, physical abuse, bribery and various drug offenses were first brought forth by ex-girlfriend and Bad Boy Records signee Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a lawsuit. The most notable claims were about his so-called “freak off” sex parties, where prosecutors allege the singer was drugged and forced to perform sexual acts with male sex workers at Combs’ pleasure. Ventura’s suit says she was ordered to hire the workers herself. He was also accused of using video footage to blackmail the victims into compliance. The two settled the day after the suit was filed.
Combs is facing multiple counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. His indictment cites three anonymous victims in addition to Ventura. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail.
If you’ve been seeing a flurry of pink and green all over your social media timelines, that’s because the newest trailer for “Wicked for Good” has finally dropped on Wednesday. But before you head to the theaters on November, there are a few things you might want to know first!
As a little background, “Wicked for Good” is the second and final part of the story that rounds out the storylines we were all first introduced to in “Wicked” back in 2024. This new film will see estranged friends Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) living out there lines in the aftermath of the former friend being ran out of Emerald City and declared a wicked witch. Seeing as how it’ll be a year since the first film, we thought it best to give you some quick facts of things you need to remember before you see part two.
Elphaba Wasn’t Really Evil
If you’ll remember from the first film, Elphaba’s title of being a “wicked witch” was completely unjustified. Not only was she not evil, she was actually standing up for a marginalized group of her community—(the animals who lived in harmony with them)—and was willing to buck up against the powers that be in order to do so. When Elphaba wouldn’t go along with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and her school professor Madam Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) plans to further oppress them, she was branded as wicked being who was too powerful and needed to be controlled and extinguished. This is why she ended up fleeing to the West in attempt to seek refuge and figure out her next steps.
The Wiz Is a Fraud and But Also May Be Tied To Elphaba in An Unexpected Way
As you very well know by now (thanks to “The Wizard of Oz”), the Wizard is nothing more than a man with fake powers and an even faker persona. But what you probably didn;t pick up on all the way is that there’s some tacit connection between him and Elphaba. I mean, why else would have such an affinity towards her and sing a song about how much he wants to be close to her and that her way of moving throughout the world feels like she could be a daughter to him. We don’t want to say too much but keep this little nugget in the back of your mind.
Dorothy and the Crew Will Be Making Their Grand Appearance
If you’ll remember, in the very opening scene in “Wicked” as the camera panned across the land of Oz, there was a quick glance at Dorothy from Kansas and her new pals: Tinman, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. It was moment that if you blink you might miss it, but it was foreshadowing to one of the other storylines that’ll be present in the sequel film. If you’ve seen the original Wizard of Oz, then you know how things play out. But it’ll be interesting to see how and when this gang makes enters into the timeline and how deeply they’ll be connected to Elphaba and Glinda.
Glinda Was Complicit and Not Elphaba’s Ride or Die Friend
At the end of “Wicked,” we saw Elphaba fly off into the sky, leaving her “good” friend Glinda back in the Emerald City. But as we broke it down to you shortly after the movie came out, we should’ve expected Glinda not to be down with Elphie like that because she was only really loyal to herself and her image. Sure, you could make the argument that she supported what Elphaba was trying to do in theory, but in practicality, she didn’t want to rock the boat or do anything to jeopardize her desires. We’ll see how this continues to unfold now that her former bestie is exiled from the town and what she’ll do as a result of it in the second film.
Elphaba’s Sister Nessarose’s Story Will Expand In a Major Way
You remember how Elphaba’s disabled sister Nessarose was lowkey jealous anytime her big sister got recognition for using her powers? Yeah, that’s going to play a role in how their storyline develops in this second iteration–especially when you realize that somewhere along the way, Nessarose gets a house dropped on her. (That’s not a spoiler, that’s literally in “The Wizard of Oz.” If Elphaba is the Wicked Witch of the West, what would that make her sister? Exactly.)
Now if we say anything else, we’ll get into spoiler territory so be sure to check out the trailer above and mark your calendars for “Wicked For Good” when it arrives in theaters on November 21.
Marvel star Samuel L. Jackson is opening up about a truly horrific incident he experienced years ago that almost cost him his life. And trust us when we say it was an experience he’ll likely never forget.
Speaking in a new interview on the “Mad Sad Bad” podcast, Jackson told the host that the incident occurred in New York City when he trying to get on a subway train. In some freakish turn of events, Jackson’s foot ended up being wedged in between the door of the last car in the subway and he was consequently trapped. Explaining how the train began taking off while he was still stuck and how he felt he was about to lose his life, the “Django: Unchained” star recalled:
“I got dragged by a subway train in New York… I got dragged by the A train. I was in the middle door of the last car, and it was a long-ass train station. And when the door closed on my foot, [the] train took off. So I’m sitting there thinking, I’m like, ‘Oh, f*ck, I’m going to die.’”
Jackson went on to say that he could see the tunnel coming but he was running out of time and luck as there wasn’t anything he could grab onto to get closer to the train. He revealed that the incident occurred a few days before Christmas back in 1988 and all he remembered thinking in the moment was how badly he was about to ruin the holiday that year and his birthday.
“When I was being dragged, all I could think of was, it was going to be a really sad Christmas, because it was like a few days before Christmas,” he said. “So I was going to miss my birthday and all that. I was like, ‘Damn, it’s gonna be f*cked up. It’s gonna be a f*cked up Christmas this year.’”
Thankfully, in a moment that could only be described as a true Godsend, the “Pulp Fiction” star said that a man ended up being able to pull on the emergency cord and get the train to stop. In an ironic twist, the man who did that was on crtuches, which may have been subtle foreshadowing to the help Jackson himself was going to need in the aftermath of the accident.
As a result, the legendary actor suffered a torn ACL and meniscus which led to him being on crutches for 10 months on and in physical rehab for a year. He also sued New York Transit Authority, ultimately walking away with a whopping $540,000.
When asked by the host if the incident made him have any existential realizations about his life and what it means to be on this planet, Jackson responded in the most comical way possible.
“F*ck no, I’m Black. I got my own problems, you know,” he said. “Just being. I grew up in segregation, so I’ve been, you know, dealing with, you know, existential bullsh*t my whole life.”
Glad to hear things worked out OK ultimately, but don’t scare us like this again Mr. Jackson!
I wrote just weeks ago that the prosecution is failing to make a case in the ongoing trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. But as each day goes by in the trial, one thing is becoming increasingly likely: Diddy is going to prison. Let’s talk about why.
Many were critical of the prosecution at the beginning of the trial. Putting Cassie on the stand was scandalous and provided those of us looking on from the outside much to talk about.
But this testimony did not really help the case against the man on trial. It just proved that they had a complicated relationship, but he is not on trial for being a bad partner. Then there was the way that the prosecution was behaving in the courtroom…taking their sweet time presenting their case. Cassie spent two days in the stand, and that just was not necessary. The way the government was moving in this case was slower than molasses on a cold winter day. (If you’re southern, you’ve heard that before…probably from your grandmother.)
The prosecution noticed what we all saw. And now they changed their tactics.
The trial was originally supposed to be 8 to 10 weeks long, and now some are saying it could just be 5 to 6 weeks. This means the government has started to speed up the way they are presenting their case. And this is important.
You don’t want jurors falling asleep in the courtroom listening to testimony. The prosecution needs to present a clear and short case in a way that anyone listening would understand. They did not do that at the beginning, but now they are.
Now to the charges: It’s important to remember that Diddy is not on trial for domestic abuse, nor is he on trial for merely hiring a sex worker. He is charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution. They have not really proven the last two charges yet, but on the first one, they’ve started to present compelling evidence.
They must prove that he is the head of a criminal enterprise. And people are now taking the stand who can attest to that.
“Mia,”a former assistant to Combs who used a pseudonym, described the abuse — verbal, physical and sexual — she said she experienced while working for him. She painted the picture of a man who gets whatever he wants…or else. Couple that with the testimony of former assistant Capricorn Clark, who said similar things, and now we have a pattern of behavior.
Tense moments today in Diddy’s federal sex trafficking trial as prosecutors accused defense attorneys of sarcasm and humiliation during cross examination of a former employee testifying under the pseudonym, “Mia” pic.twitter.com/g6cDu7gHdK
Next, there were the sordid details of Kid Cudi’s car being set on fire. It is implied that Combs did not do this directly…instead he had others do it for him. This is evidence that he was the head of an organization that used violence to do his bidding.
Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Kid Cudi Says His Car Was Blown Up By Molotov Cocktail https://t.co/deA6Sxumbd
That is precisely what you need to show to get a conviction in a racketeering case. After a rocky start, the prosecution now has it’s sh*t together. We have to wait to see how the defense will try to explain everything away, but unless they have a Perry Mason like trick up their sleeve…Diddy is going away for a long time.
The beef between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump is heating up in the MAGA kitchen. But just as the saying suggests too many chefs in the kitchen could just burn the whole place down… and you already know Black America is here for all of it.
The former besties are still going at it over Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act, but in a few bombshell admissions, Musk is done playing nice. After Trump said he’s “very disappointed” in Musk’s recent criticisms, the SpaceX CEO took to X, taking all the credit for Trump’s November win and spilling more tea about one of the most notorious cases in recent history.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk wrote on Thursday (June 6). And if that wasn’t shocking enough, Musk followed it up adding “Time to drop the really big bomb: [Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”
Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.
With all the trouble in MAGA paradise, Black Twitter is having a field day. “Trump got in bed with a mentally ill rich troll. Y’all should’ve seen this coming,” @BackupHangman wrote. “Enjoy the s**tshow.”
On X, @him_cool_ wrote the feud between Musk and Trump “is colder than Kendrick vs Drake.” And he’s not wrong! Since leaving his position as the head of DOGE, Musk has had all the smoke for Trump and his legislative plans. Specifically, the Big Beautiful Bill Act aims to add trillions to the national debt and end the tax credit for electric vehicle production, and the Tesla CEO is pissed!
Many Black folks said Musk was simply using Trump to step up on the political ladder. “He’s going to leverage his time in Government to build up enough political power to actually install the next president and cabinet. That’s likely his goal,” @TitanNamedAtlas said. “Trump was a stepping stone.”
@sandyfleeks saw the bright side of the beef between the two. They celebrated the feud saying this means “no more tr*mp ads.” Another user, @RevClownn, pointed out Musk’s “tweet cant get taken down either cause he own the f****n app.”
“Sounds like he’s confessing to cheating,” @theshiningson wrote. But honestly, Musk didn’t admit to anything the American people didn’t hear before. After the November election, the president thanked Musk for knowing “those vote counting computers.” Another user, @kayIachan, clocked this saying “So he admitted to something we already knew.”
“ELECTION STOLEN: CONFIRMED,” @miss_lady_diva added. Musk’s tweets aren’t a direct admission to stealing the election. As Trump’s biggest campaign donor, Musk definitely had a strong hand in MAGA advertising and even handing out checks for folks pledging their allegiance to Trump.
“Elon buying X gave conservatives their megaphone back,” @ReiiValentinaa explained. “Less censorship, more algorithmic boost for right-wing voices..that kind of environment helped Trump’s narrative dominate again.”
I’m amazed at how few people realize that Trump’s victory wouldn’t have happened without Elon.
Elon buying X gave conservatives their megaphone back.
Less censorship, more algorithmic boost for right-wing voices..that kind of environment helped Trump’s narrative dominate…
The president drew recent criticism for his mild response to Musk’s damning accusations he’s driving America into “debt slavery.” But after Musk’s tweets, Black folks just know the president will unleash a bigger attack. “I cannot WAIT for Donald Trump to get ahold of his phone and hit back,” @MvelaseP tweeted. “The only way he has not said anything yet is because they took it away from him.”
I cannot WAIT for Donald Trump to get ahold of his phone and hit back. The only way he has not said anything yet is because they took it away from him. https://t.co/eQmZK8Gm38pic.twitter.com/jFUx9gVLz5
— Mvelase 🇵🇸🏳️🌈✊🏾🏳️⚧️🇿🇦 (@MvelaseP) June 5, 2025
While most folks were here for the breakup, there were a few folks who weren’t totally convinced. “Why do I feel like it’s just a staged feud,” @LaFaarah asked.
Now, all eyes are on Trump to see how exactly he will respond. Musk is practically begging for his former best friend to say something else, and Trump is known for his sometime inappropriate clap backs. All Americans can do now is eat their popcorn and enjoy the show!
Yesterday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrated their daughter Lilibet’s fourth birthday. To celebrate, Markle posted a hilarious video of her and hubby trying to boogie baby Lilibet out of the womb.
In the adorable clip, the couple is dancing to the track, “The Baby Momma Dance” by Starrkeisha, a popular song that pregnant women on TikTok dance to in the delivery room while waiting for their baby to be born.
Markle posted the video on her Instagram with the caption, “Four years ago this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture don’t work – there was only one last thing to do!”
Though the comments on Instagram are closed, that didn’t stop fans from posting the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, to add their comments there.
“They could never make me hate her lmaooo,” one user wrote in the replies.
“I’ve been in this situation three times and never once looked this good. Meanwhile, she looks like she just stepped out of a royal portrait. Just stating facts,” wrote another user.
In the video, Prince Harry slides his way in and out of frame, showing off his sense of rhythm, but leaves his wife to be the star. And who knew that the Duchess of Sussex knows how to get down? Maybe she should be a guest performer for Beyoncé during her Cowboy Carter Tour (just sayin’).
Of course, as with anything that Meghan Markle does, she received criticism for the video.
“They are not dignifying the royal family. Royalty is cool, calm, noble, and private, but Harry and Meghan are making a mockery of the royals,” commented one user.
“This just can’t be a real baby bump. Ugh. Cringe,” wrote another.
This year’s theme for an Oakland school‘s yearbook was “Celebrating 100 years.” Parent volunteers at Montclair Elementary School took it seriously, pulling archived pictures and articles to include in their kids’ books. But despite multiple parents having multiple eyes on the final product, they seemingly missed a racial slur printed in an old article, and it didn’t take long for students to point it out.
Sloane Young’s eight-year-old daughter attends Montclair, where the error occurred. When she saw the racial slur printed in her yearbook, she went straight to her mother, a Black woman and president of the PTA. “I have a very bold, outspoken eight-year-old, and when she saw it, she said, ‘Mom, why did you allow this to go in the yearbook when you’re Black,’” Young told KTVU.
In the racist entry from 1940, an annual carnival is portrayed saying, “Boy and Girl Scouts will have charge of booths and many attractions such as n****r babies.” The photo also depicted little white kids throwing balls at Black kids with the sign “Hit the N****r Baby” painted on top.
“The description of the game, once you start Googling it, is horrific,” PTA President Young said. Hundreds of books were handed out to students, with many students getting their books signed by their peers before the mistake was recognized.
As for how such a careless mistake even happened, Young said volunteers simply didn’t read before adding to the collage. “Unfortunately, they skimmed the first paragraph of that article, and scanned it into the software we use for the yearbook,” she continued.
She continued taking full responsibly for the racist mistake under her leadership. But the Montclair community was still left with concerns and overall mistrust for the school. Brenda Mitchell, a student’s grandmother, told ABC 7, “I was like, what the hell is this?”
Mitchell continued, “This is 2025… 1900s, what do the kids need to know about?” She added, “Why would you bring that out? Why would you even put that in there? It was very inappropriate. Very inappropriate.”
Image by ABC 7 News
The school’s principal, David Kloker, invited parents last week “for a circle about racial equity” hoping to bridge the “larger narrative of racial hostility felt by some families and students” at the school. Kloker also emailed parents formally apologizing for the hurtful entry. He added how stickers would be provided for students to cover up the racial slurs… but not all of the parents were down with that idea.
“Put a sticker over it. What do you mean, put a sticker over it?” Mitchell asked. Another parent agreed, adding, “That’s unacceptable. What they should have done is collected all the yearbooks and redone them, and then passed them back out.”
In a separate email, Young announced new yearbooks have been ordered. “And I will be here all summer ensuring that every family, either the yearbook is mailed out or I swap it out for them personally,” she said. Young also announced she’s stepping down from the yearbook committee.
Halle Berry is speaking out following the backlash to a post she made on social media. But in a twist we all probably could see coming, her response isn’t what you probably expected.
As we previously told you, Berry — who’s supremely active on social media –posted a now-viral video of her and boyfriend Van Hunt laying in bed back on Mother’s Day. While there was nothing inherently wrong with that, where things went slightly left was when fans realized the “John Wick” star was commemorating the end of the holiday by telling them that she and Hunt were about to engage in some sexual relations.
However, as the video kept playing, it became clear that it was a promo for the launch of the travel size version of her Let’s Spin Intimacy Gel, designed to support menopausal women.
In the immediate aftermath, viewers responded to the “cringey” video with disdain, with many feeling like that moment was a bit too NSFW and should’ve been kept off the internet, promo be damned.
Photo: Instagram/Halle Berry
Berry finally responded to the negativity in the latest episode of “Jenna & Friends” on Wednesday. When host Jenna Bush brought up the slight stir she caused, Berry admitted that she was a bit surprised by the public reaction, specifically when it came to women who felt like she shouldn’t be talking about what’s happening in her bed, especially on Mother’s Day.
“First of all, it’s not ‘kids’ day.’ It’s Mother’s Day. Every day of the year is kids’ day, so if I wanna be in bed and spin with my man then that’s what I’m gonna do,” the “Monster’s Ball” star said. “It’s the most natural thing that we do, as women, as men.”
She further defended her video saying that for the people who felt like the video wasn’t for a “family channel” like Instagram, they should know that conversations about sex should be talked about.
“We should be allowed to talk about this in our families. We have sex. It’s the most natural thing we do,” she said. “Men do it. Women do it. And, scientifically, it’s really important that men and women still keep having orgasms and having sex into their later years because that’s how we stay healthy. That’s really a key component to longevity.”
Hmmm..does Berry have a point or should she really have kept that post in the drafts?
It seems ex-NBA veteran Lamar Odom can’t catch a break — and this latest lawsuit is no exception. According to recently filed court docs, Odom was reportedly instructed to vacate his luxe L.A. rental after the landlord sought to sue the socks off him for failing to pay back rent.
Odom — who was formerly married to Khloé Kardashian — originally moved into the property back in December 2024, agreeing to an explosive price tag of $15K per month. The fun and games have officially been cut short, as he’s yet to pay a whopping $45K in rent. Let’s just say, the landlord isn’t playing ball.
The reported sublessor of the Studio City, California mansion, Executive Recovery Group Inc. slapped a lawsuit against Odom alleging that the former Los Angeles Lakers star failed to pay the $15,000 in monthly rent for a consecutive three months between January 1 and March 31, per Sporting News.
Google
The sublessor sued Odom on March 20, citing their oral agreement to a month-to-month stay. According to docs, several notices were given during the process, including a notice to cough up the cash or leave the home on March 11. By that day, time and patience was wearing thin, as the notice warned the two-time NBA Champ that he was “required to pay said rent in full within three (3) days,” per the New York Post.
“If you fail to perform or otherwise comply, Landlord declares the forfeiture of the lease or rental agreement under which you occupy said premises,” the notice asserted, per the outlet. “At the time the 3-day notice to pay rent or quit was served, the amount of rent due was $45,000,” the lawsuit continued, citing the fair value of the premises “is $500 per day.”
Google
When the 45-year-old failed to respond to the lawsuit, the courts ruled in favor of Executive Recovery Group, rendering the former “The Kardashians” star evicted per reports.
We’re just gonna say what everyone’s thinking: Is the fan-created Kardashian Curse still lurking around? Many sure seem to think so, and the two-time NBA Champ isn’t the only ex fueling the theory. Other Kardashian-Jenner exes who’ve endured wild mishaps include the infamous Kanye West — aka Ye — Kris Humphries, Ray J, Travis Scott, Damon Thomas, and Tyga.
Whether it’s extreme injuries or bombshell controversies like the AstroWorld Festival tragedy, it seems this alleged Kardashian curse — fueled entirely by fan speculation — may still have some in a chokehold.
Apparently, the artificial intelligence that Black folks predicted would only add racial discrimination and bias to technology has… now learned to fight back. Facial recognition and job application sifting might be the least of our worries it seems.
Palisade Research, an AI safety group, released the results of its AI testing when they asked a series of models to solve basic math problems. The research company said that after the third problem, a warning would pop up saying the computer would shut down after the model was asked to solve another equation.
“It’s great that we’re seeing warning signs before the systems become so powerful we can’t control them. That is exactly the time to raise the alarm: before the fire has gotten out of control,” said Palisade Research Director Jeffrey Ladish via NBC News. “The problem is that as the models get smarter, it’s harder and harder to tell when the strategies that they’re using or the way that they’re thinking is something that we don’t want. It’s like sometimes the model can achieve some goal by lying to the user or lying to someone else. And the smarter [it] is, the harder it is to tell if they’re lying.”
AI’s seemingly self-awareness doesn’t stop there either. Anthropic reported that a new AI system, Claude Opus 4, displayed a tendency to (and I’m not even joking) blackmail the engineer by threatening to expose an alleged affair when said engineer was trying to replace it. They also found instances of Opus “attempting to write self-propagating worms, fabricating legal documentation, and leaving hidden notes to future instances of itself all in an effort to undermine its developers’ intentions.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump wants to rollback state oversight on AI and invest $500 million into seeping AI further into government systems.
For decades, the Job Corps program served as the anchor for young adults seeking to transition into the workforce. But now, the Department of Labor delivered devastating news that all Job Corps centers will pause operations nationwide by June 30, 2025. The shocking news has left thousands of young people and families unsure about their future, and communities nationwide enraged.
The federally funded program served as a cornerstone for providing free education and vocational training to young Americans aged 16 to 24. The news came as a shock to many students in targeted cities such as Detroit, St. Louis, and several others when they were notified to clear their rooms and exit the premises. Families in various cities scrambled to help their children move out of the centers, while others had nowhere to go.
According to The Hill, the Labor Secretary said the program no longer achieves “the intended outcomes that students deserve,” citing “a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis.”
The Root spoke with Illinois attorney Henderson Banks ,who explained the unlawful measures taken by the Trump administration to dismantle the Job Corps program.
“What the Trump administration and the Department of Labor is doing is not what legislation stated or enacted for the program or certain job sites to be dismantled.” Banks shared. “There’s an administrative process that was not followed, which gives those contractors who received and depended on funding a claim against the Trump administration and the Department of Labor to sue the government. The way that the program was discontinued was illegal.”
Banks further discussed these actions are enough to file a lawsuit against the administration. “I would say they don’t it’s not readily apparent that they have a a claim based on discrimination,” he explained. “They could potentially have a claim for a class action or a claim against the Department of Labor for not following the administrative process that they should have followed in order to dismantle the program.”
Families and communities were stunned by the Job Corps’ sudden pause. One TikTok user shared that the government wants young people to be homeless. “They want minors ages 16 to 24 to be homeless,” the TikTok user said, “because that’s what going to happen.
Reports show that 47% of the students are African American, and some are saying that this was a targeted move. “The nationwide shutdown of Job Corps feels like an attack,” another TikTok user said. “People went to Job Corps when they had nowhere else to go; this was a resource for them.”
Conspiracy theorists believe that the removal of Job Corp is timely given the shortage of military enlistments. “They’re shutting down JobCorps to boost military enlistments,” an X user shared. “Military recruitment has been at an all time low for the past couple years.”
In 2020, military recruitment dropped down 58% due to COVID. Between 2023 and 2024, there has been a uptick in enrollment, increasing by 12.8% across all military branches, but they did not successfully meet their fiscal year goals. According to reports, the Army is expected to surpass its goal with new enlistments.
Online users share stories on how Job Corps saved their lives while expressing their disbelief at the closing of the centers. “Job Corps actually saved my life,” an X commenter posted. “I was at the end of the road and had nowhere else to turn to. I couldn’t afford to finish college, I was homeless at 17, working meaningless part-time jobs. That is the reality for so many people at job corps.”
Job corps actually saved my life. I was at the end of the road and had nowhere else to turn to. I couldn’t afford to finish college, I was homeless at 17, working meaningless part time jobs. That is the reality for so many people at job corps. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/PrINugWmkU
Others shared their frustration on how the Trump administration is stripping away resources for young adults. “Job Corps can sometimes be the only means for low-income kids to find opportunity in a world that doesn’t want them to thrive,” a Thread user shared. “Trust me, I’ve been there – Job Corp saved my ass from homelessness and got me into a trade school at 17 yrs old. This move by this administration is f**king diabolical and further proof that they don’t give a sh*t about helping those kids that need it the most.”
It has been 23 years since the horrific incident that was 9/11, and since then, there have been multiple investigations and conspiracy theories about the terrifying event. Now a new question is being asked: Was there a fifth plane? Well, what TMZ’s Harvey Levin, has to tell you might just shock you!
According to Levin, United Flight 23 was grounded when the World Trade Center was hit, but it could have been the fifth plane the hijackers planned to use in the terror attacks. In a TikTok clip, Levin revealed one of the shocking things that came out of TMZ’s investigation. In the short video, he says the pilot of the “would-be doomed plane” believes that the box cutters found under his seat pocket were meant to slit his throat.
TMZ’s documentary “TMZ Investigates: 9/11: Plane Five,” also claims a few people in first class were acting fishy that morning.
The pilot of United Flight 23 — the would-be FIFTH doomed plane in the 9/11 attack — made a TERRIFYING discovery. We lay out ALL THE INFORMATION THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO BURY in our special, ‘TMZ Investigates: 9/11: The Fifth Plane’ — watch NOW on YouTube at the 🔗 in bio.
Suspicions surrounding United Flight 23 were not included in the official 9/11 Commission Report. Furthermore, the FBI has not publicly released their findings. However, the organization has acknowledged it as an “active investigation”
Theory sounds far fetched? Maybe but comments under the TMZ’s TikTok post were filled with people who believed it one hundred per cent.
“I worked at United during this time, and that info had been kept quiet for years… But we FA’s [flight attendants] and pilots knew it,” wrote one user.
“I watched this [documentary] tonight. I was a flight attendant for 25 years (another carrier), it becomes instant to read emotions and body language of passengers. You just know when something is off,’ wrote another user.
This was a reference to the fact that in the TMZ documentary, three flight attendants, the pilot, the United dispatcher, and a member of the 9/11 Commission each pointed towards suspicious passengers who were “too eager to get into the air.”
The pilot also suspected that two passengers running through the plane’s cabin after the flight was evacuated may have been trying to get weapons and incriminating evidence off the plane.
Other commenters believed that this was nothing interesting and not newsworthy.
“Watched it. Don’t waste your time. Most likely accurate, but basically just says there were more people involved than the people on the crashed planes. Duh,’ wrote one user.
There is never a dull moment in the federal sex crime trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Though we’re awaiting testimony from another bombshell witness, Wednesday was packed with new information we’ve been desperately waiting for – including the details behind an alleged balcony dangling.
He confirmed on the stand that the footage was not manually altered or showed signs of tampering and also said the timestamps in videos don’t always accurately reflect the time of day. He also compiled the video clips to “track the movement of individuals inside the events.” He also confirmed that in any way the video seemed “cut” was because the motion sensors trigger a change in time stamps.
Piazza also said he enhanced 10 sex videos recovered from Ventura’s laptop dated from between 2012 and 2014. The videos were entered as sealed evidence.
A Horrifying Balcony Incident
Bryana Bongolan took the stand Wednesday to testify to an incident she cited in her lawsuit from 2016 when she claimed Combs dangled her over a 17-story balcony. Bongolan testified that she was standing on Ventura’s balcony when Combs came up behind her, lifted her up and held her on top of the balcony railing – 17 stories high. Combs yelled, “Do you know what the f*ck you did?” he repeatedly yelled at her.
Bongolan said she sustained injuries including a severe bruise on her leg, neck pain as well as night terrors. Bongolan testified that she was unclear why Combs had directed his rage toward her. However, afterwards, she told Combs she didn’t want any problems with him and also refused to call the police in fear of him. Before she filed her lawsuit, she testified that a friend called her to tell her Combs wanted to work out a settlement.
Outside of this horrifying incident, Bongolan also said she witnessed abuse against Ventura, citing an incident where Combs allegedly threw a knife at the singer. Court ended Wednesday with the defense trying to poke holes in Bongolan’s recollection of the balcony incident. They are expected to pick up cross-examination Thursday.
Who’s Next?
Another Combs accuser who will be referred to under the alias “Jane” is expected to take the stand tomorrow. Prosecutors said before she’s called, they will bring another expert witness to explain the formatting of text messages that will be shown during her testimony.
About Diddy’s Federal Sex Crime Case
The allegations against Combs of sexual abuse, physical abuse, bribery and various drug offenses were first brought forth by ex-girlfriend and Bad Boy Records signee Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a lawsuit. The most notable claims were about his so-called “freak off” sex parties, where prosecutors allege the singer was drugged and forced to perform sexual acts with male sex workers at Combs’ pleasure. Ventura’s suit says she was ordered to hire the workers herself. He was also accused of using video footage to blackmail the victims into compliance. The two settled the day after the suit was filed.
Combs is facing multiple counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. His indictment cites three anonymous victims in addition to Ventura. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail.
If you’ll remember, the last update we told you about came back in mid-May after Bailey was granted court-ordered restraining order from DDG, citing allegations of physical and verbal abuse. As a result, DDG has to stay 100 yards away from “The Little Mermaid” star and is barred from posting about her and their son on social media. The judge who granted the order of protection also ruled that Bailey can take Halo with her to Italy while she works on her latest film project.
Now, it looks like DDG doesn’t want that to happen as evidenced by the latest legal move he enacted on Wednesday. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the streamer is seeking an emergency hearing to prevent Bailey from taking Halo overseas citing the “Angel” singer’s mental state and previous incidents that allegedly point to her mental instability. He’s also asking the court for sole legal and physical custody of their son. If he doesn’t get that, then he’s requesting that “custodial exchanges be facilitated by a third party.”
In one incident, he claimed that when she was still pregnant, Bailey took his gun outside for no reason without telling him where she was going with it. In another, he alleged that the “Do It” singer tried to get an abortion without his knowledge, but she ultimately decided not to.
The third thing he cited is the fact that, two months after Halo was born, Bailey allegedly sent him “a series of alarming text messages threatening to kill herself and suggesting that their infant son, Halo, might also be harmed.”
DDG has filed for an emergency court order to block Halle Bailey from taking their child to Italy.
In the filing, he accuses her of:
▫️ Repeated threats of self-harm and alarming texts suggesting harm to both herself and the child.
Screenshots of those aforementioned texts were released on social media shortly after news of DDG’s filing went public. In them, Bailey did threaten to take her life–but it was in response to him allegedly sleeping with another woman while they were supposed to be in a relationship. The texts also show Bailey expressing her anger over DDG’s alleged lack of help with her and the baby; how he allegedly talked bad about her to his fans, other women and his family; how much she’d rather not he alive than to deal with him “ruining” her.
What should be noted her is, if the timeline of these texts are correct, than this conversation also happened when Bailey was going through severe postpartum depression.
She opened up about it back in April 2024–just three months after giving birth, saying at the time in part:
“Before I had a child and I would hear people talk about postpartum, it would kind of just go in one ear and out the other. I didn’t realize how serious of a thing it actually was. Now going through it, it almost feels like you’re swimming in this ocean that’s like the biggest waves you’ve ever felt and you’re trying not to drown. And you’re trying to come up for air.”
Additionally, once the texts and DDG’s filing made its way to social media, many were outraged at the narrative they believe the streamer is trying to paint of Bailey. Some users called him out for trying to weaponize her postpartum while others felt like this was justification as to why he should get the child.
DDG sick as fuck. those ss dont prove his innocence nor does it prove anything ab halle either. its textbook postpartum/reactive abuse & as someone who survived YEARS of domestic abuse, THIS is how men get away with it. pushing people to the point of insanity then playing victim.
“DDG sick as fuck. those ss dont prove his innocence nor does it prove anything ab halle either. its textbook postpartum/reactive abuse & as someone who survived YEARS of domestic abuse, THIS is how men get away with it. pushing people to the point of insanity then playing victim,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
“DDG is using the typical abuser handbook right now and I’m not falling for it, and I will stick beside Halle Bailey till the end. She was going through postpartum depression while he was being an absent father she can crash out if she wants too idc,” said another.
Added another: “Halle bailey be doing that little soft sweet innocent voice the entire time she needs to be put in a straight jacket.”
“Halle Bailey doing all this and claiming ddg to be the agressor is hilarious bro,” another user said.
Why, of course legendary award-winning actor Will Smith would have his own movie trailer – which is arguably one of the largest mobile homes in the freakin’ world. Let’s get into the specs.
The trailer, named “The Heat,” costs $2.5 million, for starters. It has two stories, an expanding roof, automatic shades, a 100-inch drop-down screen and a 30-person screening room that also purposes as an office, per Auto Evolution. When he’s not using it, the report says Smith rents it out for $9,000 a week.
With a full kitchen, dining lounge, wardrobe and a $25,000 bathroom stacked with a sauna shower and dry toilet? I wouldn’t even want to leave this place to get onto a movie set. At this point, you must be dying to see what the inside looks like. Keep scrolling for a sneak peak.
Outside of Motorhome
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
Expanding panels on the bottom floor allow for much more space inside.
Pivot View
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
From this angle, it’s evident this trailer is massive.
Lounge Space
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
More than enough seats inside here to get comfortable and relax.
Dining Area
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
Perfect dining set up for guests.
Details
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You see that column? This ain’t your typical trailer.
Interior
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
Have you ever seen a trailer this bougie?
Kitchen
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
No restrictions here. You have access to every kitchen appliance you may need.
Vanity Station
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
Every trailer needs a space for hair and makeup.
Wardrobe
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
More than enough space for the actor’s clothing.
Bathroom
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
The sauna shower elevates this typical bathroom to luxury.
Stairs
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
A wooden, detailed railing just as you would see in your average home.
Upstairs Interior
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
Plenty of space for screening and perfect area to catch some outside views.
Upstairs View
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
The space can fit up to 30 people.
Bedroom
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
Natural light truly upgrades any room.
Bedroom
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
The room may seem narrow but its length makes up for it.
Tiny Desk Area
Enes Yilmazer (YouTube)
At the end of your bed, you have a small space to get work done
HBO’s hit series, “Sex and The City,” along with the revival series, “And Just Like That…” has never failed to give us the weekly drama, comedic antics, and touching moments among the four leading ladies. While we love Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha, the Black characters who’ve appeared throughout the series added a new layer of relatability that we needed. From the cameos to the ongoing roles, these characters put a little “extra sauce” to the storylines. Here’s a look of all of the Black characters that made an impact on the show.
Adeena Williams
Image: Vanity Fair
Introduced in Season 3, the beautiful, charming restaurateur, Adeena Williams, made a memorable impact with her presence and strong opinions. Williams vocalized her objection to her brother, Chivon, dating Samatha Jones — citing cultural differences. The disapproval led to a major confrontation with Hobbes and the ending of relationship with her brother.
Chivon Williams
The fine record executive, Chivon Williams, briefly dated Samantha Jones which created an undeniable on-screen chemistry. Their blossoming romance came to a complete halt when Chivon’s sister, Adeena, disapproved of Jones. Ultimately, Williams ended the relationship with Jones.
Dr. Robert Leeds
Dr. Robert Leeds, portrayed by Blair Underwood, was introduced as a sports medicine doctor for the New York Knicks, who quickly developed a romantic connection with Miranda Hobbes. Despite their love connection, the relationship came to an end when Hobbes realizes she still has feelings for ex boyfriend, Steve Brady, and decided to reunite with him.
Louise
Louise, played by Jennifer Hudson, was introduced as Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant in the blockbuster film, “Sex and The City: The Movie.” A bright and ambitious young women from St. Louis, Louise brought fresh energy to the big screen. She also becomes both an assistant and a confidante to Bradshaw, helping the protagonist navigate a challenging breakup with Mr. Big. Eventually moving back to St. Louis to marry her boyfriend, Louise still left an impactful mark on Carrie. Hudson’s role was notable as she was the first major Black female character in the Sex and The City franchise.
In the revival series, “And Just Like That…” Karen Pittman portrayed Dr. Nya Wallace, a tenured Columbia Law School professor who evolved from as Miranda’s professor to close friend. Her storyline was captivating as it focused on her personal struggle with infertility, evolving feelings about motherhood, and the challenges in her marriage with musician husband, Andre Rashad.
The actress had reoccurring roles in season 2 but ultimately made the decision not to return in season 3.
Lisa Wexley, the successful documentarian and mother of three, grows a budding relations with Charlotte York in “And Just Like That.”Portrayed by Nicole Ari Parker, Lisa is married to Herbert Wexley, a prominent finance executive with his eye on his political career.
Herbert Wexley
Wexley is a successful banker and devoted husband of Lisa Todd Wexley. Together, they are portrayed as an influential Black couple in New York’s high society. While he actively supports his wife’s thriving career, Wexley is also running for public office and navigating the challenges of balancing professional ambitions with his family life.
When you think about Black women and plastic surgery, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) a backside enhancement procedure that takes fat from other parts of the body to enhance the booty. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, BBL surgeries increased by over 90 percent between 2015 and 2019, making it one of the fastest growing procedures. But now, Black TikTok is buzzing with conversation about a different type of plastic surgery – ethnic rhinoplasty.
If you’re asking yourself, “Why ethnic rhinoplasty?” the Asli Tarcan Clinic in Istanbul describes ethnic rhinoplasty as more culturally inclusive than traditional nose jobs, saying on their website that the procedure is designed to help patients get the look they want while keeping their unique ethnic features. If you’re asking yourself, “Why Turkey?” it’s likely all about the deal. Asli Tarcan estimates the cost of having the procedure done in Turkey as between $2,500 and $10,000, compared to $8,000 to $18,000 in the United States and $10,000 to $20,000 in Europe.
But Black TikTok is divided over whether or not the result is worth the pain and the expense.
TikToker @dollfacebritt showed before and after images of herself after having the procedure done in Turkey, writing “So happy i went there instead of paying an arm & a leg,” on her post.
User @kristoniathedoll says the procedure isn’t a big deal, adding that having work done on your nose has nothing to do with wanting to look white and is more about aesthetic enhancement – no different than wearing a wig or lashes.
TikToker @wrmxhsszs was not shy about adding her opinion to the conversation. In a recent post, she called the look the “Whoville special,” adding that the nose the patients come home with doesn’t even look human.
“What is your inspiration? What picture are they taking to these doctors in Turkey and showing them that they want? Are y’all asking for that? Is that what you want it to look like?” she asked in her post.
TikTok user @briannadiane is afraid of the trend catching on. She says people are born with noses that fit their faces and suggests that people who have ethnic rhinoplasty will never run out of things they think they need to fix.
“The thing is, you can keep fixing things, but it’s never gonna stop. That’s why people who have a lot of money end up looking botched,” she said in a post. “They just keep on going and modifying themselves until they no longer look like themselves anymore.”
Bryana Bongolan, a friend to Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and designer, took the stand Wednesday to testify about her experience with the singer and Combs. Bongolan testified that she became friends with Ventura while the singer was dating Combs. They spent a lot of time doing drugs together, though occasionally making attempts at getting sober.
Bongolan said once, when she went on a shopping spree with Ventura, Combs randomly sent Ventura a list of all the places the women had been despite them not telling him. The two went back to Ventura’s apartment after the cryptic message, Bongolan said.
One night, she recalled Ventura answering the door to Combs throwing a knife at her from the entry way. Ventura threw it back but it didn’t strike him, Bongolan said. On another occasion, at a photoshoot, Bongolan testified that Combs got in her face and said, “I’m the devil and I could kill you.”
After these moments, Bongolan said she was scared of Combs which is why she never reported him to the police.
The Balcony Incident
In September of 2016, Bongolan testified that she and her ex-girlfriend were asleep on Ventura’s couch when Combs came banging at the door again. Bongolan said she hid her ex in a guest bathroom and then stepped out onto the balcony to seem “casual.” Bongolan said as she was about to light a joint, Combs came up behind her, lifted her up and held her on top of the balcony railing — 17 stories high.
Combs then allegedly grabbed her chest before holding her up by her armpits, she testified. “Do you know what the f*ck you did?” he repeatedly yelled at her. Bongolan says she doesn’t know “what she did.” Bongolan said she was then thrown onto the balcony furniture. As a result, she testified that she sustained various injuries including a severe bruise on her leg, neck pain as well as night terrors.
Bongolan testified that she was unclear why Combs had directed his rage toward her. However, afterwards, she told Combs she didn’t want any problems with him and also refused to call the police in fear of him. The last time she saw him was in 2018 at a party in Miami.
The next time she heard from Combs was in 2024. Bongolan testified that one of her longtime music producer friends called her, saying he was authorized by the rapper to talk with her about a settlement. A month or so later, she filed her lawsuit. She’s demanding $10 million in damages.
Diddy’s Sex Crime Case
The allegations against Combs of sexual abuse, physical abuse, bribery and various drug offenses were first brought forth by ex-girlfriend and Bad Boy Records signee Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a lawsuit. The most notable claims were about his so-called “freak off” sex parties, where prosecutors allege the singer was drugged and forced to perform sexual acts with male sex workers at Combs’ pleasure. Ventura’s suit says she was ordered to hire the workers herself. He was also accused of using video footage to blackmail the victims into compliance. The two settled the day after the suit was filed.
Combs is facing multiple counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. His indictment cites three anonymous victims in addition to Ventura. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail.
Retired NBA star Gilbert Arenas is back in the headlines – -but it’s not regarding the scary car accident his son was in recently. Instead, it’s for the comments he recently made about New York Knicks player Karl-Anthony Towns…and let’s just say social media isn’t pleased!
Arenas’ words were publicized in the latest episode of his popular podcast, “Gil’s Arena,” where he regularly talks all things basketball with cohosts Josiah Johnson, Kenyon Martin, and Brandon Jennings.
Conversing about the latest run of the Knicks, who lost to the Indiana Pacers and didn’t advance to the NBA finals, Arenas attributed the team’s loss mostly to Towns. He then went even further, blaming Town’s physical stature as the reason why the Knicks aren’t as successful as they could be. In the moment, his cohosts tried to laugh it off and get him to see that he was exaggerating things, but Arenas didn’t back down.
“It’s him, it’s his physical makeup. Long legs, short torso, big ass feet. There’s nothing he can do, he’s built like a whole f*cking b*tch. He’s built like a female,” Arenas said. “Am I saying something wrong? He’s built like a girl. He has girl hips. He’s like a full WNBA player.”
Gilbert Arenas says Karl-Anthony Towns is built like a “b*tch,” has the body of a WNBA player, and has “girl hips.” 😳
When the clip hit the social media streets, a lot of people took issue with the former Orlando Magic player with many saying he took it way too far and wasn’t that talented when he was playing to be talking about Towns that way.
“KAT spent 9 seasons on what is historically one of the worst teams in North American sports and still has a higher career wining percentage than Gilbert Arenas. He is also a better person, which is a bonus,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
Not that it matters, but I hope that Gilbert Arenas knows that Karl-Anthony Towns is a better basketball player than he was.
In news that can only be described as “wait, are you serious?” there’s new drama brewing between Brian McKnight and his brother Claude. And believe us when we tell you, it’s setting social media ablaze.
As we previously told you, on May 30, the news broke that Brian’s estranged son Niko passed away after a battle with cancer. His uncle Claude was the one who actually shared the news on TikTok and it subsequently went viral and garnered sympathetic reactions online. However, while the occasion should’ve been understandably somber, things took a messy turn thanks to a post Brian made on Instagram on Tuesday.
In it, Brian blasted his brother for the “tasteless and self aggrandizing” announcement he made about his son’s death and claimed that he asserted himself in something that he shouldn’t have. He also claimed that his brother turned his son’s death into a circus and further called out Niko’s mother for allegedly not allowing him to get to communicate with him or accept help from him in his final days.
“He [Claude] inserted himself and used Niko’s death as an opportunity, instead of letting him pass with respect and dignity. It has instead turned into a circus, a mockery of a life now lost, making this tragedy into a reality show type drama,” Brian wrote.
He continued:
“While that was unfolding my family and I flew home to Maui and had a private memorial remembering him, and all the good times. The last time he and I spoke, we offered him all the help we could provide, we had the number one oncologist on deck for him and a team of specialists on standby with private care in our home . He and his mother declined. The door of communication was open and remained open until his death.”
Photo: Instagram/Brian McKnight
He went on to say that he was grateful that his son’s suffering was finally over and thanked those offering kind words and condolences.
However, there weren’t too many people offering up words of support. Specifically when it came to Black men, countless ones took to social media to express their utter disdain about how the “Back At One” singer allegedly treated his son and the aftermath of his death.
“May Brian McKnight never sing another note ever again in his Black ass life. I hope he has laryngitis until the day he goes to hell. F*ck ass bastard. And wife, you ain’t shit either ho. Rest In Peace to Niko McKnight. Sending love to everyone with ain’t sh*t daddies,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
May Brian McKnight never sing another note ever again in his Black ass life.
I hope he has laryngitis until the day he goes to hell.
“‘My son could’ve had better medical care if he simply bent the knee.’ Wrote his son’s name in the sand with a bottle of Henny like he was simply some dude in his touring band. Brian McKnight is a scum bag. LOL” one other user wrote.
Added another, “The fact that Brian McKnight really just lost his son and didn’t try to reconcile or even go see him before he passed says how trash of a person he is. On top of that, he’s going on w/ his life like he didn’t help make that child.”
Over on TikTok, similar sentiments were expressed.
“Brian McKnight, I don’t see how anyone supports him. He is just ugh…his whole thing with his son and his other children is just…Brian McKnight just needs to shut up,” said user Terrance Allen.
“Dudes like Brian mcknight is pure b*tches,” said user RealBallerDev21.
He later added, “What kind of father watches their son on their deathbed and just leaves them out to dry. How can you even call yourself a father, doing some goofy sh*t?”
When scrolling through your TikTok feed, you probably aren’t stopping to watch content generated by a 70-something-year-old white woman. But if that woman is wearing glasses, a smart bob and a cozy sweater, it’s probably writer and influencer Anne Abel, and you might want to take a minute or two to hear what she has to say. The best way to describe her content is cozy, eccentric and totally random. You can easily find yourself losing several hours watching her show you what’s inside her Longchamp bag (which, in case you were wondering, includes everything from an orthopedic boot to a turkey sandwich and dog treats). But it gets darker.
You’ll get all caught up in her morning routine, which starts at 6 am and includes making coffee and oatmeal, reading the newspaper, exercising and making an omelette for her dog.
And you’ll either smile or side-eye her dog’s lavish wedding. That’s right, she had people dress up for a dog wedding in her apartment.
“Anne and her husband appear to live in a bubble of wealth. She seems to be a bit out of touch with what is normal out here in the rest of the world,” wrote someone on TikTok.
But while most people can agree that all of that is just content from a well-meaning white woman who has way too much money and time on her hands, the video that has made her one of the most polarizing figures on social media is a story time in which she seems to call one of her daughters-in-law ungrateful for refusing to accept a gift of a $750 sweater.
“It was so obnoxious, if she didn’t want it, if she wasn’t comfortable wearing it, she could have given it to someone else, she could have given it to a clothing drive,” Abel said in her now-deleted post.
Abel may have lost a few fans with this post, as people who have watched the video are outraged that she would air her family’s dirty laundry in public.
“Wait, no one else finds it off putting that you’d tell this story and call her out in public like this? At least she had the decency to say how she feels to your face and in private,” wrote someone on Instagram.
TikToker @meredithmlynch blames Abel’s rant on unresolved childhood trauma, and suggests that accepting the expensive gift could come at a price to her daughter-in-law.
“I think that Anne uses gifts and money as a form of control, because she clearly has a lot of it,” she said in her post.
If you’ve come this far and are scratching your head wondering why this woman has close to 200,000 followers on TikTok, you’re really going to be confused when you learn that Black people are riding hard for Anne Abel – most who feel like she’s just an everyday, straight-shooter who just happens to have a lot more money than the rest of us.
Te-Erika told her TikTok followers that she’s “obsessed” with Abel, adding that even when she’s showing off her fabulous New York City lifestyle, she comes off as accessible.
“From the minute I found her, I can’t stop thinking about her. But I’m still trying to figure out why I’m so obsessed,” she said. “It’s just something about her that feels relatable. She’s not trying to impress us, she’s just showing us that this is her life.
Gen X TikToker @angelbabee agrees and says she’s here for Abel and all of her “rich Boomer drama,” adding that she feels she can learn a lot from the Manhattan grandma.
“I just enjoy her content. I find it refreshing. I feel like I learn from it,” she said in a post. “I love how eloquently she speaks.”
Another Black Anne fan summed their obsession with her up in one word, calling her “QUEEN 💕💕💕” on TikTok.
Love her or hate her, people are definitely watching Anne Abel, and we’re pretty sure they’re going to want to see if she spill any more family tea in her memoir set to hit bookstore shelves in the fall.
Fans of the NFL’s New York Jets are used to post-season disappointment from their team whose only Super Bowl win came in 1969 and whose last playoff appearance was in 2010. Those who choose to remain faithful to Gang Green despite their less-than-winning ways are probably thinking the team could use a miracle to get another shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Well, the team ownership has heard their cry and has answered their prayers in the form of a new head coach who is taking a controversial approach to leading his team.
The Jets hired Aaron Glenn, former Defensive Coordinator for the Detroit Lions as their Head Coach for the 2025 season to replace interim Head Coach Jeff Ulbrich. Even though there are still a few months before the start of the season, Glenn already has fans divided after word got out that he has incorporated Bible study into the team’s training.
“The Jets have a Bible study? AG I love you,” read a May 29 post on X which included what appears to be a copy of one of the lessons taken from Jets safety Jarius Monroe’s Instagram stories. The Root has not confirmed if the picture is actually Monroe’s.
The picture has started a heated debate over whether or not there should be a separation of church and sports.
One commenter thinks Glenn’s approach is exactly what the Jets need to turn things around, writing “Super Bowl it is” on X.
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was convicted of a felony connection to his violent actions against a Black woman in 2023 outside a supermarket. Despite having faced a decade in prison, his sentence just got turned into a slap on the wrist.
Prosecutors accused him of using his LASD radio to mislead his colleagues that he was “in a fight” when he was obviously dominating the woman per the videos, the report says. As a result, the lady suffered head trauma and injuries to her arms and wrists.
Following a three-day trial, he was found guilty of a felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law, putting him at risk of 10 years in prison. However, upon the swearing in of a new U.S. attorney, the government doubled back and hired a third party to review the case, per The Los Angeles Times. They then asked the court to allow them to offer the deputy a misdemeanor plea deal despite the jury verdict. Kirk was then facing only a year in prison.
U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson granted the request Monday, sentencing Kirk to only four measly months in prison. This decision comes around the same time President Donald Trump released an executive order vowing to “unleash high-impact local police forces and protect and defend law enforcement officers wrongly accused and abused by State or local officials.”
We’re not saying politics influenced the government’s change of heart in the case. Though, even the judge was taken aback by the sudden shift.
“In my view, the jury verdict was fully supported and the case was not unfairly argued, as the government at some early point argued,” said Judge Wilson, via the Los Angeles Times. “The job of a police officer is a very difficult one … but with those factors in mind, there is a responsibility to act appropriately.”
After the devastating news that one of singer Brian McKnight Sr.’s sons died of cancer, many were shocked to find out the “Still in Love” singer never made any efforts to contact him while he was alive. With years of ongoing drama coming to a breaking point now, we’re unpacking the strange and almost unbelievable timeline surrounding McKnight and the children he refuses to claim.
McKnight married his first wife, singer Julie McKnight, in 1990. The couple lasted for over a decade, and together they had two sons. Like any loving father, McKnight named his eldest boy Brian McKnight Jr. Following in his father’s footsteps, Brian Jr. has since released his own music.
The ex-couple’s second son, Nikolas, worked as a photographer in California. His mother confirmed he sadly passed away after a two year battle with cancer. Over the years, Niko and his father have gone back and forth on social media, but it wasn’t always bad blood between the family. Here’s where everything went wrong…
After Julie and McKnight got a divorce in 2003, he was still an active part of his sons’ lives. Niko even performed with his dad on FOX’s “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” in 2008. McKnight eventually married his second wife, Leilani Malia Mendoza in 2017. Just a couple years later, the family dynamics began shifting drastically.
In 2019, McKnight hinted at tensions between him and his kids. “I’ve never missed a day of child support,” he said in a video. “I’ve never done anything adverse to my children whatsoever. I’ve always been there. I’ve always been there with advice, whether they took it or not.”
Brian Jr clapped back on Facebook saying, “I don’t think there is any situation that merits the way my father has chosen to treat my brother, my sisters, and his grandchildren, one of which being his first born’s, first born son, who also bares our name.”
McKnight eldest daughter, Briana, also spoke out during this time saying although her father’s estrangement hurts her, she’s thankful that her brothers filled in the gaps. Her mother, Patricia Driver, gave birth while McKnight was still married to his first wife.
In 2023, McKnight and his wife, Leilani, gave birth to their first child together, a son named… wait for it… Brian McKnight Jr., not to be confused with his oldest son with the same name. In response to the double junior debacle, Brian Jr. (the first one) said “I’m not ashamed of the name my ancestors had. I’ll never change the name my own son now has. We are witnessing an obscene level of self hate, that has reached mental illness status at this point.”
McKnight then came out in 2024 calling his eldest children a “product of sin,” which as you can expect reignited flames between the estranged family. Julie called out her ex-husband saying, “The point at the end of every negative situation… it’s to only keep you down to where they thought they had you because they were the author of an extremely abusive situation emotionally, mentally,” on Instagram.
Niko did address his father’s “product of sin” comment on X, amid his personal battle with cancer. He died one year later at age 32. McKnight now refers to his stepchildren and his infant son as his only kids.
It’s the fourth week already of the federal sex crime trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs. To keep you from having to read through everyone’s testimonies from today, we’ve prepared a recap of what went down in the courtroom. Today’s court hearing was eventful to say the least…
Courtroom Housekeeping
Y’all, not one but a few people were kicked out of the courtroom today. A woman who was yelling disruptively outside the courtroom was escorted off property by officers.
“Diddy, these m*therf**kers laughing at you,” she shouted, per PEOPLE. “You’re laughing at a Black man’s legacy… pull your gun out ninja, I dare you!”
Reports say Combs turned back in his seat to see where the commotion was coming from. It didn’t stop there. Another man who went to YouTube identifying previous witness “Mia” by her real name and not her alias for trial was also removed from the courtroom and barred from returning by Judge Arun Subramanian. The judge also ordered any other person who revealed the woman’s true identity to be barred from the courtroom.
The Tea Behind The Cassie/Diddy Hotel Video
Eddy Garcia, former hotel security guard for the InterContinental Hotel, testified that he was a security officer at the time of the domestic incident between Combs and ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in March of 2016.
Garcia said Combs then took the phone, nervously trying to explain himself and saying the video could ruin him if it got out. Garcia told Khorram she would have to file a subpoena to get the video. However, she showed up in the lobby requesting again to see the video. After declining her request again, Garcia told her, “Off the record, it’s bad.”
Later, Garcia says he got a call on his personal phone from Khorram despite not having given her his personal number, and spoke to Combs again who then tried to offer money for a copy of the footage. Garcia said after informing his boss the rapper was willing to pay for the video, the man said he would “do it for 50.” He then called back Combs through Khorram’s phone number to confirm the transaction.
“Eddy, my angel, I knew you could help. I knew you could do it,” Garcia said Combs told him.
The next day, Garcia said his boss downloaded the video onto a thumb drive and proceeded to order Garcia to meet up with Combs at an address. There, Garcia said he was asked to confirm that was the only copy of the video, engaged in a video call with Ventura who was ordered by Combs to say she wanted the video gone and also ordered to show his identification before signing an NDA. Garcia said he was handed $100,000 in cash by Combs, which he split with his colleagues who accompanied him to the meeting.
Former CFO of Combs Enterprises Talks Logistics
Derek Ferguson, former chief financial officer from 1998 to 2017, took the stand to testify on the rapper’s spending. Ferguson talked logistics, explaining how both he and the rapper were signatories on the business bank accounts, senior executives of the company had corporate cards and that business and personal expenses from Combs were charged to the cards as well. He also said at times, third parties helped manage Combs’ personal finances. Ferguson also confirmed the company taxes were done correctly and denied seeing anyone “enhance” Combs’ reputation through acts of prostitution.
The bombshell details of his direct examination came from receipts of Combs’ bank transfers presented by the prosecutors. They presented a $20,000 wire transfer to Cassie Ventura, an incoming wire transfer of the same amount from her father and a return of the same funds back to Ventura’s father. Ventura’s mother previously testified that out of retaliation for Ventura’s alleged affair with Kid Cudi, combs demanded $20k in restitution from her family, forcing the singer’s parents to take out a home equity loan. Ventura’s mother confirmed she received the money back days later.
Who’s up next?
Prosecutors said they plan on calling forensic expert Frank Piazza, Bryana Bongolan who sued Combs for allegedly dangling her over a 17th-story balcony and another one of Combs’ accusers labeled “Jane” whose testimony is expected to take nearly as long as Ventura’s week-long testimony, per CNN.
Judge Arun Subramanian granted a request from prosecutors to keep evidence from being shown on video for the public to protect the woman’s identity. In addition to video, tons of text messages are also expected to be presented in Jane’s testimony.
Some folks took to the grill to barbecue while others took to the lake to fish on Memorial Day. However, for a Massachusetts father-daughter duo, their fishing festivities were rudely interrupted by a racially motivated incident that left them both shook.
Sheron Brown and his 10-year-old daughter, Azaylia, tell MassLive they went to grab a large pepperoni pizza and head to Lake Shirley in Lunenburg to see what fish they can catch. Brown says he’s become well-known in the community surrounding the lake, given he has a season pass to fish there and also gives fishing supplies to local children. The one thing to note, though – the community is majority white, per MassLive’s report.
Brown and his daughter hadn’t had any issues with residents until Memorial Day. Brown told the outlet as the two floated to their favorite spot, they saw three other white men docked in the area. After waiting for them to leave, Brown said he moved the boat further into the lake.
“I’m here with my daughter. It’s Memorial Day. Why are you targeting me?” Brown said he responded, adding that he reassured the man he would be away from his property.
“We didn’t do anything wrong. This guy is being mean,” he told his daughter.
Brown said when police arrived, he met them on the dock to explain the situation. Lunenburg Police identified the unruly neighbor as 66-year-old David McPartlan who ended up being summoned on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault to intimidate including anti-Black bias, police said.
As Sean “Diddy” Combs’federal trial on sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering charges rages on, others are sharing their unfiltered truth about the disgraced mogul. The latest to weigh in is Judge Greg Mathis, known for his no-nonsense approach, who minced no words discussing Diddy’s true nature and the rise of his larger-than-life “gangster” persona.
During a recent episode of the TV judge’s podcast, “The Mathis Verdict,” the Detroit native and his son Amir discussed the Bad Boy Records mogul’s case.
“The prosecution needs to show more evidence that deliberately shows that he was intentionally sex trafficking for them to be successful,” Amir said in one clip, to which his dad answered, “That’s correct.” After they continued to discuss how the prosecution had yet to prove Diddy was running a criminal enterprise, Mathis went in on Diddy.
“He’s much worse than a toxic person, he’s a monster from what they’ve been showing and what we’ve been hearing,” he said. “He’s a state crime monster.”
Mathis added how Diddy, 55, “has a temper, and he’s known for that. And people are in fear because of his temper. But, street guys don’t fear him, because they know he’s never been in the street. He was a kid, went to Catholic school, then he was bullied, then tried to join up with some lil’ gang in New York, I think Harlem, that wasn’t even engaging in crime.”
He mentioned how Diddy’s “father who was killed, was a big gangster in New York. And from my understanding, his mother wasn’t nothing to play with and she was associated with his friends from the past. Like I’m associated with my friend gangsters from the past! So there was a sense of fear in New York— one in particular that was close to his dad and [that] everybody feared— everybody feared in the nation.”
Mathis added that because of his parent’s associations, that’s “why he felt such liberty on being the tough guy.”
The father and son duo also spoke about Diddy portraying himself as a gangster, especially in music videos, to earn the respect of the late Notorious B.I.G. and how he began to genuinely believe that about himself.
Judge Mathis says that Diddy was never a real gangster, and the streets didn't fear him, stating he only had connections because of his parents.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) June 2, 2025
Amir added: “When you fully start embodying that, with more time, you become that person. Just like a person who tells a lie so many times, they start believing that lie. And so I no doubt believe that he believes that he is a gangster.”
Folks in the comments couldn’t help but agree with Mathis’ comments.
“This is true. Anyone who’s listening to Puff’s own interviews over the years knows this, as he has alluded to it many times. Also, the many bodyguards who were around him back in the 90s have confirmed this as well,” one X user wrote. “Guess money bought the image, but not the respect,” a second person said, while a third agreed, “He ain’t say nothing wrong.”
Another X user remarked, “Correct. His dad was a REAL gangsta. Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas talked about puff dad,” while someone else added, “This sounds accurate to me. Even Keefee Dee said this.” (Duane “Keefe D” Keith Davis, a former gang leader, is the last living suspect in the 1996 drive-by shooting of Tupac Shakur.)
Others didn’t quite agree, saying Diddy never tried to portray himself as a gangster. “Imagine thinking diddy was a tough guy,” one person said. “At no point has anyone viewed Diddy as a gangster. He’s always been the dude with connections. No one is actually physically afraid of him or what he can do. It’s who he knows and what they can do,” another suggested, while one X user asked, “when was puffy a tough guy?”
That Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef might’ve happened last year, but it keeps haunting the Hip-Hop community in the craziest ways. This time around, tensions between the two rappers are forcing record labels to pick sides, and boy…the consequences are a mess.
Clipse — the rap duo made up of Pusha T and his brother, No Malice — announced they’ve officially parted ways with Def Jam Recordings. The news comes after months of delays to the duo’s highly anticipated reunion album, “Let God Sort Em Out.” Pusha first signed to the label in 2011, but according to him, it took one song to end their 14-year relationship.
When Clipse presented their new album to Def Jam, the execs reportedly loved everything about the project except for one thing. “They wanted me to ask Kendrick to censor his verse, which of course I was never doing,” Pusha told GC Magazine. Lamar has a verse on “Chains & Whips” off the album. But given the tensions over last year’s song of the summer, “Not Like Us,” the label wasn’t feeling it.
As we previously reported, Drake is entangled in a legal battle with music giant UMG (Universal Music Group) over the company’s alleged involvement in the rapper’s beef with Lamar. UMG also owns Def Jam, making the already complicated dynamics even more tricky.
We also can’t forget Pusha’s past beef with Drake, in which he spilled the tea on the “Hotline Bling” rapper having a son. So with all this in mind, Push said Def Jam was concerned about the optics of two of Drake’s rivals rapping together as he the ongoing UMG v. Drake lawsuit continues to unfold.
“Then they wanted me to take the record off. And so, after a month of not doing it, Steve Gawley, the lawyer over there was like, ‘We’ll just drop the Clipse,’” Pusha continued. “But that can’t work because I’m still there [solo]. But [if] you let us all go… ”
So with that, Def Jam agreed to release Clipse and Pusha T as a solo artist. Clipse has since signed to Roc Nation, and their new album will drop on July 11. Pusha said he’s happy about where the group ended up.
“It felt good to even see how other labels were buying for the project,” he said. “I think that that synergy, just in a rap sense, is going to speak volumes.”
For context, the film takes place in modern-day New York City with Washington’s character calling a supremely lavish, Brooklyn penthouse his home. Now, that same penthouse is up for grabs in real life for a whopping $19.5 million. Inside of it, you can expect some seriously cool amenities as the five bedroom, four and half bathroom home spans across the entire 32nd floor, according to Robb Report. Boasting 360 views, floor to ceiling windows and a whole lot more, this 5,000 square foot home is exactly what luxury home dreams are made of! Why film a movie here when you can call this place yours for real?
But since we know we can show you better than we can tell you, keep reading for a look at this sleek and stylish home!
Living Room
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Talk about a spacious room! This living area is perfect for lounging and taking in the stellar sights of the city below.
Dining Room
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Though it may be informal, this dining area is still the perfect seating area for folks to gather around and share a meal!
Kitchen
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
In this Workstead-designed kitchen, you’ll find a gorgeous island with Fior di Bosco stone slab, maple cabinetry and Gaggenau appliances!
Kitchen, View 2
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Another view of this kitchen gives you an even better idea of how expertly laid out this home is. The defining spaces don’t make the home feel closed off and that’s a real feat!
Primary Bedroom
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Can you see yourself laying down to sleep in this primary bedroom? We know we can!
Primary Bathroom
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Once you’re done getting your beauty sleep, head on over to your divine primary bathroom to further indulge in the splendor of the home.
Primary Bathroom, View 2
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Picture it: you’ve had a long day, you come home to unwind and there’s this big, beauty of tub filled to the brim with bubbles and rose petals. You’re sold on it, aren’t you? Yeah, us too.
Office
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
When it comes to getting down to business, you could get your focus on in this roomy, impressive office space. You could also convert this into another space if need be!
Bedroom 2
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
While not as opulent as the primary, this additional bedroom still gives luxury and an amazing view of the city.
Bedroom 3
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Much like the office space, this bedroom can be a multi-use, multi-purpose room for whatever tickles your fancy.
Wine Fridge and Wet Bar
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Can it really be a lavish home if there’s no wet bar or wine fridge? Luckily for you or whoever buys this place, they’ll get both.
Terrace
Photo: Pavel Bendov for Olympia Dumbo
Imagine relaxing here after a long day. Heaven, truly heaven.
A picture is worth 1,000 words, and in the case of two enslaved African Americans, their portraits set off a historic chain of events and ended a 15-year battle over ownership. Renty and Delia were photographed in 1850, making their pictures the oldest believed of any enslaved American in history. Now, their stories are being told the right way.
Harvard University finally settled a 15-year legal battle with Tamara Lanier, an educator who claimed the university was illegally in possession of delicate photos of her enslaved ancestors, according to BBC. Lanier is said to be the great-great-great granddaughter of “Papa” Renty, so when she found out Harvard held the only photo of her ancestor, she had to take action.
The two daguerreotypes– unique, early photos produced on a silver-coated copper plate– were taken in South Carolina, where Renty and his daughter Delia worked as slaves. But although the photos traveled a long way from South Carolina to Harvard University, it’s Renty and Delia’s faces that tell a more horrific account.
Renty– an older man with a short, grey afro and facial hair– stands tall in his portrait. He’s shirtless, emphasizing his bony yet chiseled torso, likely from malnutrition and harsh labor conditions he endured. His face? Stoic, without emotions. But his eyes almost look glossy, like he’s in pain and seen way too much in his short lifetime.
Delia has her father’s eyes. She’s also shirtless, showing off her pronounced collarbone and broad shoulders. Despite her young age, Delia looks mature as she poses in a chair for the photo.
In 2019, Tamara Lanier officially sued Harvard University over the school’s ownership of portraits of her ancestors, Renty (left) and Delia (right).
The images were captured by a Harvard professor for a racist study, according to The Hill. In her complaint against Harvard, Lanier claimed her ancestors did not give their consent to the photoshoot, meaning Harvard’s ownership of the photos was illegal. The portraits were rediscovered at the university in 1975, according to BBC. Lanier wanted Harvard to relinquish ownership of the photos. Now, she finally got her wish.
“I think it’s one of one in American history, because of the combination of unlikely features: to have a case that dates back 175 years, to win control over images dating back that long of enslaved people — that’s never happened before,” attorney Joshua Koskoff told AP News.
The public can finally view Renty and Delia’s portraits. They will be transferred to the International African American Museum in South Carolina, the state where Renty and Delia called home.
“This is a moment in history where the sons and daughters of stolen ancestors can stand with pride and rightfully proclaim a victory for reparations,” Lanier told AP News. “This pilfered property, images taken without dignity or consent and used to promote a racist pseudoscience will now be repatriated to a home where their stories can be told and their humanity can be restored.”
Cardi B. is making a strong case that her soon-to-be ex-husband Offset’s request for spousal support needs to be denied. In fact, she’s blasting the notion completely by revealing to her fans just how much she’s been footing the bill for everything when it comes to their kids–and the truth is jaw-dropping!
As we previously told you, Offset submitted the request last week which sent the internet into a tizzy once the news was made public, even though he didn’t ask for a specific amount. Cardi herself even responded at the time in a Twitter live session the following day after hearing Offset called into “The Breakfast Club” and alleged that the “Bodak Yellow” rapper was trying “to take everything from him” so that’s why he’s seeking the money.
She also said that she wanted him to “die slow” in bed while thinking of her, called him a “b*tch,” “mentally disturbed,” and said that the only thing she’s ever asked him to do was spend time with their children as she’s been footing all of their bills alone for the last year.
Cardi B address Offset asking for spousal support from her in their divorce.😳 pic.twitter.com/vFVgDoNyKo
However, what you might’ve missed in that same Twitter Live session is the complete breakdown Cardi gave when it comes to the monetary responsibilities she’s been covering (with no help from Offset allegedly) when it comes to her kids. And because we know you don’t have time to listen to her whole rant, we’ve picked up the main, high-ticket items she’s been paying for over the last year. Check the break down:
Their home in Atlanta: cost unknown
A Driver for the kids: $10,000/a month
Her daughter, Kulture’s school tuition for the year: $45,000
Her son, Wave’s school tuition: $35,000
Her cousin/babysitter: $3,000/a week
Her nanny: $500/a day
Her kid’s tutoring: $2,000/a week
Kulture’s piano lessons: $900/a week
Kulture’s gymnastics and Wave’s boxing classed: cost unknown
Personal chef: cost unknown
24-hour security for her, her kids: cost unknown
As it stands, given all of these costs, Cardi said that she’s been forking out at least $50,000 a month to keep things going with no help from Offset or anyone else.
Look, I understand she has a level of wealth that us regular folks don’t have but 50 grand month is such an INSANE thing to fathom. The fact that she’s been taking care of all of this without help from her “husband” is astounding in more ways than one. The next time I feel like complaining over $8 eggs, I’mma just be quiet.
Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Phyllis Hyman was a beautiful singer with a powerful voice that touched the souls of everyone who was lucky enough to hear it. Whether it was one of her ballads like “Somewhere in My Lifetime” or an uptempo track like “You Know How to Love Me,” her voice was undeniably unique and kept audiences wanting more.
But despite her talent and beauty, Hyman dealt with demons that would cut her career short. Hyman died tragically of a drug overdose on June 30, 1995, just six days before her 46th birthday. We’re looking back at the life and career of the soulful diva who left us way too soon.
A Talented Teenager
Screenshot: YouTube
Phyllis Linda Hyman was born on July 7, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The oldest of seven siblings, Hyman’s father, a barber and her mother, a homemaker relocated to Pittsburgh to raise their family when she was young.
Hyman discovered her talent for singing as a teen, joining the chorus in high school and eventually receiving a music scholarship to college. In 1972, she moved to Miami and began earning money by singing popular music and jazz covers in local clubs.
Making the Band
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By the mid 1970s, Hyman was ready to take control of her career and formed her own group, PH Factor. Her former bandmate Hiram Bullock remembers her powerful voice, which helped them find success in New York City club scene.
“I don’t ever recall an audition where we didn’t get the gig,” he said in an interview for ‘Unsung.’ “I never heard anyone sing with such freedom.”
Finding Solo Success
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In 1975, Hyman and her band moved to New York City, and it wasn’t long before she found success in the club scene. There, she met Norman Connors, a jazz and R&B producer who also worked with Jean Carne and Angela Bofill.
“Betcha By Golly Wow”
Hyman worked with Norman Connors to record a version of The Stylistics’ classic “Betcha By Golly Wow,” which would help launch her solo career and land her a deal with Buddah Records.
Phyllis Hyman’s voice wasn’t just heard in night clubs and on the radio. She also sang jingles for popular brands like Sasson Jeans, Clairol and Burger King.
“You Know How to Love Me”
In 1978, Arista Records acquired Buddah Records, which began Hyman’s relationship with legendary executive Clive Davis. Davis immediately recognized Hyman’s talent and wanted her to have mainstream success. He paired her with Barry Manilow, who produced and arranged her single “Somewhere in My Lifetime.” She also worked with James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, who wrote her first Top 15 R&B hit, the uptempo track “You Know How to Love Me.”
Finding Love
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While working as an entertainer on a cruise ship back in 1973, Hyman met Larry Alexander, another performer on the ship. The two got close and developed a personal and professional relationship. Alexander became Hyman’s manager and eventually her husband. The two were married from 1977 to 1982. Many who knew Hyman say it was Alexander who introduced her to cocaine to help her deal with the stress of the music business.
A Clash With Clive
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 03: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Clive Davis speaks onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jon Platt at The Beverly Hilton on February 03, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Things got tense between Phyllis Hyman and Clive Davis while she was at Arista. Davis had a vision for the soulful singer’s career which involved her becoming a well-known popular music star, but Hyman didn’t like feeling like she wasn’t in control. She also didn’t believe she always had the full support of the label executives, who were also working on developing other Black female artists like Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin.
“As an artist who had a sense of herself and what she wanted to be, she felt that he was not seeing her vision for who she was, and he, in turn, was seeing her as someone who had potential, but needed the kind of material that would propel her to another level. And she was resistant to that,” music journalist David Nathan said in an interview for ‘Unsung.’
Starting Over
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Davis and Hyman’s strained relationship hit a new low when in 1984, Arista signed Whitney Houston, and Hyman was dropped from the label. But while things weren’t great for Hyman at the label, she didn’t like the fact that she wasn’t leaving on her own terms, her then-manager, Glenda Gracia told Unsung.
Although her breakup with Arista Records was a low point, it didn’t take long for Hyman to find her way to another label. She signed with Philadelphia International Records in 1986, who picked her up believing she had a classic voice that could record standards.
A Sophisticated Lady
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In 1981, Hyman took her talents to Broadway, where she performed in the show, “Sophisticated Ladies,” which was a tribute to the music of composer Duke Ellington. She stayed with the show for two and a half years and earned a Tony nomination for Best Supportive Actress for her role.
“Living All Alone”
One of Hyman’s first hits with her new record label was the sultry 1986 single, “Living All Alone.” The lyrics of the song, written by Kenneth Gamble, Dexter Wansel and Cynthina Biggs, had parallels to Hyman’s personal life, which is one of the reasons audiences could feel the raw emotion in her voice when she sang.
“Now I live a single life and I find it’s another world I’m not even the same, I’m a different girl Yesterday I was somebody’s baby Now today I’m a woman on my own.” – ‘Living All Alone’ (1986)
Dealing With Depression
Screenshot: YouTube
When she wasn’t on stage, Phyllis Hyman battled mental health issues and used alcohol and drugs to deal with her pain. Hyman’s therapist, Dr. Portia Hunt told ‘Unsung’ that after observing her shift between periods of extreme highs and lows over a period of time, she diagnosed her with bipolar disorder.
In 1986, Dr. Hunt convinced Hyman to enter treatment to help her deal with her reliance on alcohol and cocaine. She came out with a new outlook on life, seeing her sobriety as an opportunity to breathe new life into her music career. But her inability to find
“I think if she had been able to maintain some semblance of a normal home life, I think she could have dealt with the pressures of the business a little better,” her sister Jean told Unsung.
A Lonely Life
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Although she had plenty of success and fame, Phyllis Hyman didn’t have much of a personal life. After her divorce from Larry Alexander, she struggled to find luck in love and never married again. Hyman said the demands of her career left her with little time for romance, something, she said made her life very lonely. She continued to struggle with addiction to food, alcohol and cocaine, which lead to a painful cycle of weight gain, depression and financial struggles.
“Being a woman in this industry is very lonely,” she said in an interview. “It’s rare that you have men hanging around backstage and at parties where you might be, the same way you might have women around the men. There is no such thing as a male groupie, at least not one that I would date. That makes it pretty tough.”
On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Hyman’s assistant found her unconscious in her New York City apartment, just hours before she was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theater. According to The New York Times, Hyman overdosed on sleeping pills and was pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital at 3:50 p.m., less than a week away from her 45th birthday. Investigators found a note Hyman wrote on the scene, which read, ”I’m tired. I’m tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you.”
Loved ones gathered to pay tribute to the woman and the artist they loved at a memorial service held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan.
It’s been 30 years since the cast of “Waiting To Exhale” stole the hearts of Black women everywhere. Based on Terry McMillan’s bestselling novel, the 1995 classic portrayed the heartbreaks and resilience of four Black women as they navigated love, loss, and sisterhood in . As we celebrate the milestone anniversary, fans can’t help but wonder: where is the cast today?
Let’s journey back to the beginning of this classic movie and see what the actors have been up to since its release.
Angela Bassett – “Bernadine Harris”
Screenshot | YouTube
Angela Bassett’s portrayal of “Bernadine Harris” in “Waiting To Exhale” will remain an iconic and unforgettable role, even after three decades. Bernadine, a devoted wife and mother, selflessly set her career dreams aside to support her husband’s business and raise their children. And what did she get in return? Her husband left her for a white woman. The iconic moment of her setting her ex-husband’s car and clothes on fire was a beautiful symbol of anger, emotional release, and empowerment.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 19: Angela Bassett attends the Harlem Stage 2025 Gala at 10Cubed on May 19, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Today, Angela Bassett remains active in Hollywood, starring as “Athena Grant-Nash” on the hit show “9-1-1” and appearing in upcoming projects, including Netflix’s “Zero Day” and “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”
Loretta Devine – “Gloria Matthews”
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“Gloria Matthews,” portrayed by Loretta Devine, was a beauty salon owner and single mother to a teenage son. As her character evolved, she had to come to terms with her ex-husband revealing he is gay, and later finding love with her neighbor, “Marvin King.”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 21: Loretta Devine attends the 2019 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards Luncheon at Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on February 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence)
Devine continues to maintain an active profile across film, television, and theater. She recently earned an NAACP Image Award for her role as “Granmuva Ernestine” on the STARZ show “P-Valley.”
Lela Rochon – “Robin Stokes”
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The beautiful Lela Rochon plays the young, free-spirited “Robin Stokes.” Though the ambitious insurance executive thrived in her professional career, she struggled with toxic relationships, including being the mistress of a married man. She eventually decides to raise her unborn child alone, while she learned to prioritize her happiness.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Lela Rochon attends The Chi Season 7 LA Premiere Event at St. Helen’s House on May 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Paramount)
Lela Rochon returned to her acting and producing after prioritizing motherhood for several years. Currently, she is starring in and producing the new series “The Family Business: New Orleans.”
Whitney Houston – “Savannah Jackson”
Screenshot | YouTube
As the final piece to the sister circle, the film introduced “Savannah Jackson,” portrayed by Whitney Houston. A successful and intelligent television producer in her thirties, Savannah relocated to Phoenix in search of a fresh start and true love. Despite her career confidence, she displayed a relatable vulnerability in relationships. Ultimately, her journey was centered on learning to prioritize her happiness without relying on a man.
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 15: Singer Whitney Houston is seen performing on stage during the 2004 World Music Awards at the Thomas and Mack Center on September 15, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
The world experienced a massive loss in 2012 with the devastating announcement of Whitney Houston’s passing. Although Houston is no longer with us, her influence endures through her timeless music.
Gregory Hines – “Marvin King”
Screenshot | YouTube
Portrayed by Gregory Hines, “Marvin King” was the charming and supportive neighbor who became Gloria’s love interest. After moving across the street, Marvin compassionately guided Gloria as she navigated personal challenges, supporting her growth and self-acceptance.
A headshot of American dancer and actor Gregory Hines (1946 – 2003), circa 1985. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Sadly, Gregory Hines passed away in 2003 due to liver cancer. The legendary tap dancer, actor, and singer’s legacy continues to be celebrated today, particularly in the world of tap dance.
Michael Beach – ” John Harris, Sr.”
Screenshot | YouTube
Portrayed by Michael Beach, “John Harris Sr.” became one of the most disliked husbands on the big screen, serving as the marital opposite of “Bernadine Harris.” His role is the core of Bernadine’s entire storyline, as he chooses to leave his marriage for a white woman, triggering her iconic scene of setting his clothes and car on fire.
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Michael Beach remains a very busy actor. He recently appeared in Saw X(2023) and the new Netflix series “Dead Boy Detectives.”He also continues his role in the acclaimed Paramount series, “Mayors of Kingstown.”
Wendell Pierce – “Michael Davenport”
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Wendell Pierce played “Michael Davenport,” a co-worker of Robin Stokes and her one-night stand. His character is notable for hilarious awkwardness during their sexual encounter.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 08: Wendell Pierce speaks onstage at Power Book III: Raising Kanan FYC event at Crosby Street Hotel on May 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ)
Currently, Wendell Pierce stars in the CBS drama “Elsbeth” and is slated to play editor-in-chief Perry White in the upcoming “Superman” movie.
Giancarlo Esposito – “David Matthews”
Giancarlo Esposito played “David Matthews,” who is Gloria’s ex-husband and the father of her son, Tarik. His character was most notable for revealing that he is bisexual and later comes out as gay.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Giancarlo Esposito attends the 7th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors at SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Legendary actor Leon Robinson plays “Russell,” the long-time married lover of Robin. Their challenging relationship is the central part of Robin’s storyline, as she eventually decides to leave him and raise their child alone.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 10: Leon Robinson attends Neon’s “The Actor” New York premiere at Village East Cinema on March 10, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
The former “Temptations” actor, Leon Robinson, is still busy. He recently appeared on the hit television show “The Chi” and is the lead singer and songwriter for his band, Leon and the Peoples, which has released albums and toured extensively.
Forrest Whitaker
UNDATED FILE PHOTO: Actor Forrest Whitaker. (Photo by Diane Freed)
Forrest Whitaker truly was the mastermind behind the timeless “Waiting To Exhale” movie. Marking his feature film directorial debut, he was responsible for bringing the compelling story of four women to the screen in a brilliant way.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 14: Forest Whitaker attends the Andor Season 2 Special Celebration Launch Event at El Capitan Theatre on April 14, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Whitaker continues to showcase his acting skills as he stars as Bumpy Johnson in the acclaimed MGM series, “Godfather of Harlem.”
President Donald Trump followers are clear examples of people voting against their own interests. He has most recently persuaded the Senate and House of Representatives to push through his Big Beautiful Bill that will strip millions of Americans, white and Black, of their health care. This is after he gutted the federal workforce, sending thousands of governmental employees (again, both white and Black) packing. What’s shocking is that many of the people he is hurting helped the man get into the White House.
By now it is common knowledge that white Americans are the reason why Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris in 2024. But there is a deeper question we need to be asking that is bigger than why the man who currently sits behind the Resolute Desk is there.
The question is as simple as it is complex. Why are we so deeply polarized in this country along racial lines?
The division runs deep. So deep, in fact, that many fail to realize that we, white and Black folks, have so much in common politically. Especially when it comes to working class white people. If they were to only open their eyes, they would see they have far more in common with Black folks than they do with Trump and people like him.
So how did we get here? Well, unsurprisingly, much of what we are seeing traces back to America’s original sin: slavery and the war between the states that erupted in its wake.
If you ask most white folks in the South about their ethnicity (their cultural identity), they will just tell you they are American. If you ask most in the North, they will identify as American, yes, but also as Irish, Italian or some other ethnicity that traces back to Europe. Why is this important? Because it shows how the political establishment at that time (almost all white men) convinced white people to identify as white above all else. They did that to solidify support against the growing movement to free slaves. But they did not stop there.
After losing the Civil War, political leaders continued to pit white Americans against Black ones. They convinced all whites, but especially working-class ones, to see Black Americans as their enemy. They told them Black men were animalistic and after their daughters and they persuaded some to see Black women as welfare queens who did not want to work. But Black folks are not without blame in this.
We have always looked suspiciously at white politicians who wanted our vote. But there are an untold number of Black politicians who courted the Black vote and then did not do what’s best for the Black community.
Any time a person threatened to bring together white and Black people politically, they just happened to be killed. That is not to say that this is the reason why Bobby Kennedy, who was building a biracial political coalition, or Fred Hampton, who was politically uniting working-class white and Black people in Chicago, was killed.
So again White and Black people have more in common that we like to admit. We may not all like the same music nor do we season our food the same way. But we would be wise to look past the way political leaders try to divide us. Because none of us are helped by seeing each other as the enemy.
Disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will be spending his Fourth of July a little differently this year. As we’ve previously reported, on Tuesday (July 2), Diddy was acquitted of three out of the five charges that were brought against him in his eight-week sex trafficking court trial. However, this doesn’t mean that Combs can walk free and pop bottles just yet. Judge Arun Subramanian has denied bail for the “I Need A Girl Rapper” until his sentencing in October, according to The Independent.
The rejection of his bail request surprised the rapper as his “mouth dropped and his eyes widened in disbelief” when Judge Subramanian rejected his bail request, according to CNN entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister.
Now Diddy will have to make do with a less-than-luxurious Fourth of July and will be substituting bottles of champagne for cartons of juice. For his first meal of the day in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, the rapper will receive cereal, fruit, milk, butter, and a breakfast cake, according to Page Six.
Lunchtime might be a bit more exciting with more choices, such as hamburgers, bean burgers, hot dogs, soy dogs, mac and cheese, green beans, and some fruit.
Throughout the day will be holiday activities that the rapper can take part in with the rest of his federal inmates to keep himself entertained, according to PEOPLE. The 55-year-old might be used to glamorous parties, but this year he’ll instead have to choose between a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a soccer match in the recreation yard, a dominos game and of course Spades. If you are Black and don’t know how to play Spades, we might kindly ask you to hand over your Black card.
At the end of the day, the mogul will be able to replenish himself by deciding between baked fish or black beans, buttered noodles, mixed vegetables, wheat bread, and juice, per Page Six.
Relaxers have been a long-controversial staple when it comes to Black hair care. Just last year, we reported on four women who sued L’Oreal and Strength of Nature for health issues they believed were caused by their relaxers. We’ve also all seen the gorgeous models on the packaging show off their thick, shiny, straight hair, and we all know how rarely the at-home relaxer procedures turn out exactly like the pictures on the box. However, there is at least one customer who got the look they wanted, and it is the last customer you would expect.
A White TikTok creator (@wadematt) decided to try a relaxer for himself to achieve the hairstyle he wanted. After going to his barber with a picture of a spiky yet stylish haircut that he wanted, he was told that his hair would not turn out like the picture because his hair is more wavy and not completely straight.
To avoid having to straighten his hair every day, Wade decided he would test out a Black relaxer, and the results were, surprisingly, decent. The creator did admit that this wasn’t his first rodeo:
“I used to do this years ago, because whenever I try and grow my hair it doesn’t grow down, it kind of just grows out, and it kind of gives Margaret Thatcher [British Prime Minister from 1979-1990] vibes, which kind of isn’t what I’m going for.”
Wade also added that when he went into Boots [a British cosmetics store], a woman from across the room shouted, “That’s not for you” towards him, and he laughed and stated it was for a friend:
“Anyone can use it.” Wade stated in a voiceover, “You just don’t use it as long if your hair isn’t as coarse.”
Of course, Black folks in the comments under the video were both shocked and amused by Wade using a relaxer to achieve his desired look:
“I’m the first in my bloodline to see a white person use relaxer,” one user added.
“If you didn’t document this, no one would believe me,” wrote another.
And when asked by one commenter who introduced him to relaxer Wade responded, “I remember watching Good Hair with Chris Rock back in the day. Maybe it was from that.” Another user pointed out the funny observation that “Good Hair” was meant to discourage relaxers.
In a follow-up video, Wade showed how his hair looked the next day and other than some slight redness on his hairline, his hair turned out looking good, especially after some styling. Did Wade’s hair turn out like the models on the box? No, of course not. But, it’s safe to say that he is a customer satisfied with his end result.
In the 1990s, R&B trio TLC was one of the biggest acts in the music industry. The group created music that not only made people dance but also made them think, with messages of social responsibility, body positivity, and safe sex. The group’s members, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas were the perfect combination of crazy, sexy and cool, blending their unique voices and personalities to form a hit-making, GRAMMY-winning trio.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who was best known for the memorable verses she rapped on practically every TLC track, was both talented and troubled. She made just as much news with her turbulent on-again-off-again relationship with NFL wide receiver Andre Rison as she did with her music. But the singer-rapper’s life was tragically cut short while on a retreat in Honduras just before her 31st birthday.
Lisa Lopes was born on May 27, 1971, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The oldest of three children, her father, Ronald Lopes Sr., was a US Army staff sergeant and her mother, Wanda, was a seamstress. She grew up with a love for music, playing the keyboard and singing with her siblings in church and around their community. When she was 19 years old, Lopes left home for Atlanta, and her life would never be the same again.
Making the Band
American girl group TLC (American singer Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins, American singer Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes (1971-2002), and American singer Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas) in the press room of the during the ceremony at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, held at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, New York, 9th September 1999. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
After making the move to Atlanta, Lopes was discovered by singer Perri “Pebbles” Reid, who worked for LaFace Records and managed R&B groups. Looking to put together an all-female group, Reid joined Lopes with Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and in 1991, TLC was signed to LaFace. The band’s name was taken from the first letters of the group member’s names.
In many ways, Lopes was a driving creative force behind TLC. She received songwriting credits for several of their biggest hits, including “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “No Scrubs.” She also helped define the group’s style, designing many of the outfits the ladies wore for public appearances and video shoots.
Oooooooh…On The TLC Tip
In 1992, TLC released their first album on LaFace Records, “Oooooooh…On The TLC Tip.” The group quickly captured the industry’s attention with their colorful baggy clothing and their willingness to talk openly about sexuality in their music.
The album had three tracks that cracked the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10, “Baby-Baby-Baby,” “What About Your Friends” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” TLC won over fans who loved the way they kept it real.
“I don’t think we were necessarily trying so hard — we were truly being ourselves, and we fought hard to be that. Especially being young ladies, and not wanting to wear the typical outfits that girls would wear, like tight dresses. There’s nothing wrong with that look, but it wasn’t what we felt comfortable in,” Chilli told Billboard in a 2017 interview.
CrazySexyCool
In 1994, TLC released their second album, “CrazySexyCool.” The album had several hits, including “Creep,” and “Waterfalls,” which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Selling 11 million copies in the United States, “CrazySexyCool” made TLC the best-selling all-girl group in American history and earned the group two GRAMMY awards.
While TLC’s popularity was growing, Lopes had a new love in her life, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Rison. The two met in 1993 at Atlanta’s famed Club 112 and their connection was instant.
“She came by the house and literally never left,” Rison told Lifetime in an interview.
Although Lisa Lopes and Andre Rison would tell anyone who would listen how much they loved each other, their relationship was rocky. The pair was known to have public disputes that often got physical, including a 1993 incident in a Kroger parking lot after the pair left an Atlanta nightclub. According to the Greensboro News & Record, Rison was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for hitting Lopes and then shooting at men who tried to step in and diffuse the situation. Rison’s family was growing tired of Lopes and all of the negativity surrounding their high-profile relationship.
“I was not happy. I really did not think the relationship should continue,” Rison’s mother told Lifetime. “There was a lot of aggression, a lot of anger. I was afraid of things happening.”
Rison and Lopes made headlines again in June 1994, when the singer set fire to Rison’s Georgia mansion after the two had a disagreement. The fire started when Lopes burned pairs of Rison’s sneakers in the bathtub and the flames spread to the rest of the home.
Lopes was charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property. She was sentenced to five years probation, court-mandated therapy at a halfway house and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
An Unspeakable Connection
Screenshot: YouTube
Andre Rison may have been Lisa Lopes’ boyfriend, but there was another person who had her heart – rapper Tupac. Although those close to Lopes say the two kept their relationship platonic, it was well-known that the two were very close.
Despite selling millions of records, TLC hit financial hard times. Less than a year after the release of “CrazySexyCool.” the group filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 1995. Most of their debt was the result of having to reimburse the record label for upfront costs of video shoots and recording sessions.
In an interview, Lopes broke down how most of their money went out the door as soon as they earned it.
“In the record business, we pay all costs back to the record company,” she said. “You’re left with $300,000. I can buy a nice house with that, and what am I going to pay my bills with?”
Breaking Up
American R&B group TLC pose at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles, circa 1995. From left to right: Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas, Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins and Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes (1971 – 2002). (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
TLC released their third album, “FanMail” in 1999, which included their hits “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty.” But while the group won a Best R&B Album GRAMMY for the project, they found themselves having creative differences, which led them to take a break to pursue other projects.
A Solo Mission
UNITED STATES – AUGUST 18: Lisa Lopes arriving at the 1999 Source Hip Hop Music Awards in LA 08/18/99 (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
In January 2002, Lopes signed a solo deal with Death Row Records and was prepared to record an album under the name, “N.I.N.A.” (New Identity Not Applicable) working with legendary artists, including David Bowie and Missy Elliot. Her time away from TLC didn’t last long. Lopes was also working on a fourth album with TLC.
The Last Days of Left Eye
A distraught fan is comforted by a church deacon waiting in line to attend the public funeral of singer Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church May 2, 2002 in Lithonia, GA. (Photo by Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images)
For Lopes, Honduras was where she often sought refuge from the pressures of the entertainment industry. She was also filming a documentary about the Garifuna, people with African roots who live along the Caribbean coast of Central America.
But her last trip to the country had a tragic ending. On April 25, 2002, Lopes died when the car she was driving plunged into a ravine as she was forced to swerve to avoid oncoming traffic, according to The New York Times. Although there were seven other passengers in the car with her at the time, including her brother and sister, Lopes was the only person to suffer fatal injuries. She was 30 years old.
A Lasting Legacy
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 22: (L-R) Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC perform onstage during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Since Lopes’s passing, her loved ones have done everything they can to keep her memory alive. The 2007 documentary “The Last Days of Left Eye” lets fans see and hear Lopes during the last days of her life. Her surviving family members also started the Lisa Lopes Foundation, and organization dedicated to helping families in need.
As for TLC, surviving members Chilli and T-Boz have never replaced Left-Eye and continue to perform as a duo. They never released the album the trio was working on before Lopes’ passing, instead Chilli and T-Boz recorded and released their fifth and final album, “TLC,” in 2017.
Just because Bad Boy Entertainment founder and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found not guilty on his most serious criminal charges doesn’t mean he’s off the hook yet… In fact, Diddy not only has to face sentencing later this year, but after that, a mountain of civil suits against him just seems to be ever-growing.
The civil suit filed by singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura just paved the way for 100+ plaintiffs to air out their grievances against the rapper. Cassie’s claims about sexual assault, weird sex parties and violent behavior were echoed across a number of complaints that came after hers.
And lawsuits are still rolling in as individuals are empowered to speak out now that Combs is detained in federal jail awaiting his next court proceeding. Having trouble keeping up with all the lawsuits? We compiled a master list of the most egregious claims for you.
Edmond Laurent
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 2: People react outside federal court after verdicts were announced during Sean Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial at Manhattan Federal Court on July 2, 2025 in New York City. Combs has been acquitted of the most serious charges in his case, but was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
One day before Diddy’s trial verdict was announced, another lawsuit was filed against him by a man named Edmond Laurent. The former model and actor once appeared in Britney Spears and Lil’ Kim music videos, according to Variety. Not only is he suing Diddy but Laurent listed several Jane and John Does as defendants in the civil lawsuit.
He claims he was raped on several occasions by Diddy and another woman who purposefully punctured a condom, which exposed him to different sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Laurent alleged he suffered stomach cancer and other health problems as a result of the incidents.
In one instance, Laurent claims Combs told him “how much pleasure he derived from watching another man ‘f*ck’ his girl.” Laurent eventually agreed to the act and proceeded to have sex with the woman. He was paid an additional $1,000 in return.
In total, he is seeking $10 million in damages.
Lawsuit Against Diddy, Justin Combs
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 03: Justin Combs, son of Sean “Diddy” Combs, (L) and Charlie Lucci arrive for Combs’ sex trafficking trial at Manhattan Federal Court on June 03, 2025 in New York City. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty on all counts, which include a racketeering charge alleging the hip-hop pioneer was the leader of a sex crime ring that included drug-fueled sex parties through the use of force, threats and violence. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Yet another one of Diddy’s sons has been implicated in a sexual assault lawsuit with him. This time, a 31-year-old woman claims she met Justin through Snapchat before he invited her to Los Angeles to advance her career, according to the filing obtained by E! News. From there, the woman says Justin flew her from New Orleans under the guise that “he would get her a position with Remote TV in Atlanta through his and his father’s connections.”
Instead, she claims she consumed alcohol and marijuana, which she believes was laced. This led to her allegedly being gang raped by “three masked men,” one of which she believes was Diddy. The filing said the woman suffered “severe emotional distress, emotional anguish, fear, anxiety, humiliation, embarrassment, physical injury, emotional injury and trauma” after the alleged attack.
She’s suing Justin, Diddy as well as Diddy’s businesses for sexual battery, gender violence and negligent supervision.
Kirk Burrowes
Screenshot: The Art of Dialogue/YouTube
Kirk Burrowes, c-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, filed an 18-page lawsuit accusing Combs of a series of inappropriate sexual acts since 1992. The suit says following the founding of Bad Boy, Combs created a “toxic and psychologically manipulative” work environment, per Rolling Stone. Burrowes claims he was repeatedly groped in the crotch and buttocks areas by Combs as well as forced to watch Combs perform sexual acts with other people including employees and wannabe music stars.
In one 1995 incident, Burrowes claimed Combs forced him to meet him in his hotel suite naked and watch him masturbate. In another instance, Burrowes claims Combs pinned him down onto a bed, preventing him from leaving, and “simulated intercourse until he ejaculated.”
There was a time in 1996 when Burrowes claims Combs burst into his office with a baseball bat and threatened him to give up his 25 percent stake in Bad Boy. The following year, Burrowes was fired. He recently filed a lawsuit alleging Combs’ mother partook in this incident by seizing his shares in the company and got him blacklisted from the music industry.
Burrowes claims even after departing with Bad Boy, he was still taunted having been confronted by Combs in 2014. The suit claims Combs grabbed him into a bear hug and grabbed his behind as an “intimidation tactic to reinforce his continued dominance and control.” The lawsuit claims Combs’ motive was to break Burrowes down and force him into a place of submission.
Sara Rivers
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 2: A person wears a “FREE PUFF” pin outside federal court as verdicts are announced during Sean Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial at Manhattan Federal Court on July 2, 2025 in New York City. Combs has been acquitted of the most serious charges in his case, but was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
Former “Making The Band” contestant Sara Rivers filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of sexual harassment.
Rivers claimed she was once assaulted while walking down a hallway where Combs allegedly backed her into a corner and ran his hands across her breasts. She claimed he leaned in close enough to kiss her and spoke in a low sensual voice, telling her to let him know if she needed anything.
The suit also claims he made physical threats to group members and exerted an intense level of control over things like her eating or sleeping schedule. She also claims Combs mocked her for her bulimia and told her once that her backside needed to “get firmed up.”
In September of 2007, another Jane Doe says she was only 13 years old when she had her encounter with Combs. She was dropped off at Radio City Music Hall for the VMAs but waited outside looking to finesse her way into the award show because she didn’t have a ticket. She eventually approached a limousine where she encountered one of Combs’ employees who promised to take her to an after party, the suit says.
The plaintiff was then driven to a large white mansion. The suit says she was ordered to sign a nondisclosure agreement before entering. Inside, the suit says she was offered a mixed drink that ultimately made her feel lightheaded. She eventually found an empty bedroom to lie down in.
However, the lawsuit claims Combs along with a male and female celebrity all entered the room. While disoriented, the lawsuit claims the male celebrity took her clothes off and raped her as Combs and the female celebrity watched. Combs then allegedly raped the plaintiff while the two other celebrities watched. Combs then tried to force the plaintiff into oral sex but she resisted by punching Combs in the neck, the lawsuit says. At that point, she grabbed her clothes and managed to escape the home.
The mystery male celebrity was later identified as rapper Jay-Z by attorney Tony Buzbee.
Ashley Parham
Photo: Getty Images Frazer Harrison
Ashley Parham filed a suit Oct. 15, recalling an alleged incident from February 2018. The court document says she met one of Combs’ friends, Shane Pearce, at a bar when he called Combs on FaceTime. After expressing she wasn’t impressed with Pearce having a famous friend, the suit says she told Combs she believed he had something to do with the murder of Shakur.
Combs allegedly told her she would “pay” for her statement and also for dismissing him.
The following month, Parham said she rode with Pearce to his home in Orinda, Calif where Combs and his entourage pulled up and ambushed her. The lawsuit then claims she was threatened with a knife to get onto Pearce’s bed. Combs then allegedly forced Parham to undress, sprayed her body with oil that was spiked with drugs and “violently” raped her with a television remote.
A Minor John Doe
Photo: Getty Images Roy Rochlin
The lawsuit says back in 2005, when the plaintiff was just 10 years old, he met Combs during an audition. He was flown from Los Angeles to New York City by his parents for meetings and networking with other celebrities. However, on one occasion, Combs allegedly asked to meet with the child privately in his hotel room. There, the suit says, Combs asked the plaintiff “how badly he wanted” to be a star.
The filing said the associates then brandished their firearms and fired shots. Gilmore claimed he and his friends drove away from the scene but told NewsNation’s “Banfield” the other cars chased them. Luckily, Gilmore said he was able to escape and claims he has a witness to corroborate his claims.
Bryana Bongolan
Photo: X
Fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan filed a lawsuit against the Bad Boy CEO alleging she witnessed the abuse against his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura – who filed a bombshell lawsuit accusing him of sex trafficking and sex abuse last November. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE and Rolling Stone, Bongolan claimed in one instance, she even saw Combs allegedly throw a large kitchen knife at Ventura, who then allegedly threw one back in self-defense.
However, Bongolan claims she experienced Combs’ violence herself in September 2016. At the time, the suit says she befriended Ventura and was sleeping over her apartment. Combs allegedly entered the room and confronted Bongolan on the balcony of the apartment. The suit says he then began groping her breasts before picking her up and placing her on the banister of the balcony – which was 17 stories high.
Bongolan’s 4’11 height and 100-pound weight stood no chance in resisting Combs who “easily overpowered” her while she struggled to keep herself from being thrown to the ground, per the suit. Ventura then came out onto the balcony streaming for Combs to stop, informing him another woman was in the apartment witnessing the horrifying scene. The lawsuit says Combs pulled Bongolan back over the balcony but only to slam her onto the patio furniture. The suit says Bongolan still has no idea what she “did.”
Phillip Pines
Phillip Pines, who allegedly worked for Combs between 2019 and 2021, is suing him for “sexual battery, sex trafficking and intentional infliction of emotional distress among other claims,” according to the lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE.
Though he didn’t bear witness to the “freak offs” (or what prosecutors describe as days-long, drug-induced sex parties), he claims he was on call to provide supplies for an event Combs called “Wild King Nights.” Pines claimed he was instructed to bring a variety of drugs, alcohol, sex toys and (as anticipated) baby oil. Following the sex parties, Pines alleges he was instructed to cleanup the scene, remove all evidence and make sure no one spoke about it after.
According to a lawsuit filed a John Doe under Buzbee’s firm, Combs was alleged to have sexually assaulted the self-described street performer. The incident is said to have occurred in November 2022. Doe claims he was invited from outside a popular nightclub in Los Angeles to go to an A-lister’s birthday party at a their home.
There, Doe met Combs who allegedly showed him around his home and promised to help him land a record deal. However, the suit claims the rapper offered him a drugged drink, leading him to feel disoriented. Doe then claims he was asked, “Have you ever sucked a dick before?” as Combs allegedly dropped his pants.
The suit says Doe was forced into performing oral sex before being allegedly raped anally by the rapper. Doe didn’t report what happened out of embarrassment and fear of Combs’ “power and notoriety,” the suit says.
The 35-page lawsuit claims early in their relationship, Combs lured her in with ecstasy then continued to provide her a “copious amount” of drugs. Ventura claimed she was savagely beaten, enduring a variety of kicks and punches leaving her bruised and bloodied. To cover up her wounds, Combs would hide her in a hotel for days to allow her bruises to heal on their own, the suit says. Combs also was accused of forcing Ventura to perform in his “Freak Offs” by hiring a male sex worker to perform acts with her. The suit claims he would make Ventura ingest drugs and perform sexual acts while Combs watched and, oftentimes, recorded.
Combs and Cassie both agreed to settle the case four days after the filing.
In November 2023, Gardner accused Combs and Guy singer Aaron Hall of sexually assaulting her in the 90s when she was 16-years-old. The suit says she was attending an MCA event in New York City when she was taken to New Jersey after being invited to an after party at Hall’s apartment. The lawsuit says Combs coerced her into having sex with him when Hall forced himself into the room and onto her. After the alleged rape, the suit says Combs came to her house, beat her and choked her until she passed out.
Litigation is still pending. The suit was filed one day before the deadline for civil cases, regarding past sexual offenses under the New York Adult Survivor’s Act.
Her suit claims that in 1991, Combs drugged her, sexually assaulted her and recorded the encounter when she was just a college student. The suit also alleges that the video was shared among her peers. Litigation is still pending.
Jane Doe #1
Photo: Getty Images AJ_Watt
The first Jane Doe to file a lawsuit made her claim in December of 2023. The anonymous woman claimed she was gang-raped and sex trafficked by Combs as just a mere 17-year-old.
The lawsuit states in 2003, she was convinced by Combs and former Bad Boys Records president Harve Pierre to fly from Detroit to New Jersey on a private jet. Once they landed, the suit says she was taken to a music studio where she was “plied with drugs and alcohol” before being “viciously gang raped” by Combs, Pierre and a third unidentified assailant.
Combs’ legal team has since filed a motion to dismiss the suit. A Southern District of New York judge has also denied the woman’s request to remain anonymous.
Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones
Screenshot: Facebook
Back in February, the producer and videographer filed a lawsuit against Combs being another to accuse him of sex trafficking but also listing allegations of grooming and sexual harassment.
The suit said he lived and traveled with Combs from September 2022 to November 2023 where he experienced sexual harassment from the rap mogul. Jones also said he was drugged, threatened and a witness to Combs and his associates engaging in “illegal activity.” Jones claimed he was forced by Combs to hire sex workers and perform sexual acts with them while being recorded on video. Jones also alleged he witnessed Combs invited teenage girls to his parties and handed out laced drinks to party guests.
O’Marcaigh accused Christian of sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The suit says while working as a yacht deckhand for the family in 2022 while they vacationed for Christmas, she was forced by Christian to perform oral sex. The suit also alleges a series of sex workers and A-List celebrities continuously showed up on the boat, citing drugs and alcohol being in regular rotation.
O’Marcaigh’s suit blames Combs for fostering an “environment of debauchery” and requested Combs to be held liable for his son’s actions. The litigation is still pending.
Crystal McKinney
Photo: Getty Images Gregory Pace/FilmMagic
In May, the model filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of sexual assault.
The suit says she met Combs during Fashion Week in New York City when he allegedly promised to help her climb the ladder in her career. However, the suit claims the night ended in McKinney being laced from a joint, plied with alcohol and forced to perform oral sex. The suit claims Combs blackballed her from the modeling industry.
Litigation is still pending.
April Lampros
Photo: New York State Supreme Court
In May, Lampros filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of battery and sexual assault.
The suit says she met Combs when she was still a college student in 1994. Lampros claims Combs promised to mentor her and baited her in with gifts. However, the suit says Combs would draw her in with sweet nothings and raped her on multiple occassions. In one incident, the suit claims he forced her and his late ex-wife Kim Porter to take ecstasy and perform sexual acts with each other.
The suit claimed he met Combs in 1997 while working as an employee at a local restaurant. One night, when invited to a party, Cardello-Smith accused Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him. Combs’ attorney immediately challenged the validity of the suit, slamming Cardello-Smith for his record of being a convicted felon on sexual assault charges.
Initially, a judge ordered Combs to pay up $100 million. However, the ruling was reversed after Combs’ representation argues Cardello-Smith failed to prove he served his lawsuit effectively to the rap mogul.
The suit accuses Combs of beginning his alleged tirade when she began filming “Making the Band.” The suit accuses Combs of using demeaning insults toward female participants. While working on music, the suit claims Combs forced Richard to rehearse for hours with no sleep and sexually assault her. Richard also claimed she witnessed Combs physically abuse singer Cassie while high on drugs.
Litigation is still pending. Richard demands a jury trial.
Thalia Graves alleged in a newly filed civil suit that she was sexually assaulted by Combs and his bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, according to court documents obtained by The Root. The complaint alleges that during the summer of 2001, when she was 25 years old, she was lured by the two men into meeting them alone. The filing then claims she was given a laced drink that led her to lose consciousness. When she woke up, she states in the suit, she was bound and restrained. The complaint then alleges the two men “brutally sexually abused” her. The suit says in November of 2023, she learned the alleged sexual assault was captured on video and allegedly shared to multiple men.
Litigation is still pending. Part of her lawsuit demands video footage of her encounters with Combs be handed over.
The suit says the woman met Combs in 2020 when he flew her out for a trip. Combs then organized for her to travel to his residences across the country. However, Combs is alleged to have forced her to ingest drugs to then force her to perform sexual acts with him and record them without her permission. The Jane Doe also alleges after one sexual assault, she was impregnated and allegedly harassed by rapper Yung Miami, Combs ex-girlfriend, to get an abortion.
Litigation is still pending.
120 Plaintiff Class Action Suit
Screenshot: FOX 26 Houston
Tony Buzbee from Buzbee Law Firm joined AVA Law Group in a press conference Oct. 1 to announce the details of the thirteenth lawsuit coming against the Bad Boy Entertainment CEO. Buzbee told reporters of the 3,285 people who came forward with claims of rape, sexual exploitation and sexual assault, 120 of them provided evidence that police were able to corroborate.
One attorney noted a few disturbing claims from the filing. Many women who came forward claimed they were invited to one of Combs’ parties, given a laced drink and woke up the next morning after having blacked out to bruises and tearing on their vaginal and anal areas.. In one case, a woman’s hospital test came back positive for cocaine and horse tranquilizer. The women, some being minors, accused Combs and his colleagues of raping them while they were unconscious.
In one instance, a male plaintiff who was nine years old at the time of the alleged offense claimed he was promised a record deal with Combs at an audition but ended up being sexually abused.
Litigation is still pending but Buzbee anticipates more celebrity defendants to be named.
If you’ve ever had dreams of living like NBA superstar Michael Jordan, then boy, do we have news for you. Your dreams just got a little closer to actualizing and we’ve got all the details!
According to a brand new listing on Airbnb, fans of Jordan can rent out his former Chicago mansion, a home that’s had quite an interesting real estate journey for awhile now: As we previously told you, Jordan’s Highland Park mansion—arguably one of the most prized pieces of real estate in Chicago—had been on the market for over a decade and finally sold in Dec. 2024 for $9.5 million.
After the mansion got under new management, its owner decided to let fans have their moment and gave them an exclusive experience of the lavish home through a timeshare offer, as we made you aware of earlier this year.
Now, it looks like the home seven bedroom, 17.5 bathroom home has officially entered the Airbnb space for rent and trust us when we say, it’s got A LOT to offer. There is one tiny catch though: you have to stay for at least seven days and the price is pretty steep: About $15,000 a night.
But if you fancy yourself a baller, shot-caller, then keep reading to take a look!
Aerial View of the Property
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The 32,000 square feet property boasts an indoor basketball court, putting green, pool, cigar lounge, wine cellar, a 14-car garage and more!
Back View
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The sprawling backyard has an greenery peninsula of sorts that’s surrounded by a five-foot-deep pool, multiple patio seating areas and an outdoor kitchen!
Formal Living Room
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
Nothing says welcome to my not humble abode like this beautifully laid out living room!
Formal Dining Room
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
It wouldn’t be a luxurious house if it didn’t have a decent sized formal dining room. And don’t even get us started on that amazing table!
Kitchen
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The recently renovated kitchen comes complete with a bar, separate coffee station, top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, a hidden fridge and an informal eating area attached.
Informal Living Room
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The informal living room comes with 20-foot ceilings, gas fireplace, sliding glass doors leading into the backyard, a massive television and plenty of seating!
Guest Suite
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
While we weren’t able to get a shot of the primary suite, the guest suite is the next best thing and comes with plenty of space to turn it into your visitor’s home away from home for a little while!
Wine Cellar
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The custom built wine cellar includes stone floors and custom woodwork. The space holds up to 500 bottles in the temperature-controlled area.
Gym
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The state-of-the-art home gym features every machine needed to put in a good, championship athlete-level work out.
Movie Room
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
As part of the entertainment area, the movie room also shares space with billiards table, wet bars, bathroom, wine cellar cigar lounge and poker tables.
Basketball Court
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
It wouldn’t be Michael Jordan’s home without a dedicated area for basketball. And that’s exactly what you get in this basketball pavilion that has a seating are, ample parking out front, a full locker room, bathroom and a full-size court.
The Pool Pavilion
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
The gorgeously decorated pool pavilion has two full baths and two, three-car garages next to it.
Backyard Golf Course
Screenshot: YouTube/Enes Yilmazar
Additional outdoor features include a pond, tennis court and putting green areas where you can enjoy the views or practice your swings—all from the comfort of your own backyard!
Not all stars are created equal. And in the Black community, we have our own celebrities that we adore and give all the flowers to. Let’s face it, some artists are instantly recognizable to Black folks, while other communities may not have the same connection to their work.
This isn’t a slight to their talent, it just means they’ve made an indelible impact on the culture. These special group of artists are deemed #BlackFamous. We’re saving you the embarrassment of asking for examples and have gathered a list of some of our favorite #BlackFamous artists.
Keith David
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: Keith David attends The NAVA Foundation Benefit Gala at Skirball Cultural Center on December 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for The National Association of Voice Actors)
Starting off strong, actor Keith David is finally getting the mainstream Hollywood recognition he deserves! He was just announced as a 2025 Hollywood Walk of Fame recipient, and we know exactly why. From his roles in “Greenleaf,” “Barbershop,” “Dead Presidents” and more, David has cemented his legacy– no pun intended— and soon, you can view his legacy with the rest of the Hollywood Stars.
Kyla Pratt
At the top of the Black child star list has to be the one and only Kyla Pratt. From “Dr. Dolittle” and “Love & Basketball” all the way to her stellar roles in “One on One” and “The Proud Family,” Pratt was every little Black girl’s hero. And for that, she deserves to be on this list and much more!
Tom Joyner
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Tom Joyner speaks onstage at the 50th NAACP Image Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 30, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
An entire generation of Black kids grew up riding to school while listening to the “Tom Joyner Morning Show…” and honestly, that’s all that needs to be said. But outside of radio, Joyner’s foundation continues to help young Black students chase their wildest dreams at our historically Black universities and colleges (HBCUs).
Loretta Devine
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 21: Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Loretta Devine attends Women’s Image Network Awards at Saban Theatre on February 21, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)
After rising to stardom in the 1983 Broadway musical “Dreamgirls,” Loretta Devine continued to make a name for herself as every Black person’s favorite Hollywood momma. “Waiting to Exhale” and “Lottery Ticket” are just a few of her other most famous roles, but the list goes on and on…
Tasha Smith
Photo: Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer Photo: Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer
Actress/director Tasha Smith has made a career out of playing the exasperated wife/mother/best friend. However, she brings something different to every role, and we always know we’re going to get something fun.
Leon Robinson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 24: Leon Robinson attends Disney’s “Daredevil: Born Again” New York Premiere at The Hudson Theatre on February 24, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
If you’re Gen X, you definitely had a crush on Leon Robinson. From “Cool Runnings,” to “Waiting to Exhale,” he had the ‘90s on lock. And he’s still fine today.
Evelyn “Champagne” King
One of the divas of disco and dance music, Evelyn “Champagne” King has some of biggest party hits of all time. If you put “Love Come Down” on at your barbecue this weekend, clear the dance floor.
Blue Magic
If you’re taking a drive that lasts an hour or more with your father or uncle, Blue Magic “Sideshow” is definitely going to be somewhere on the playlist.
Boris Kodjoe
Photo: Getty Images Paras Griffin Photo: Getty Images Paras Griffin
The popular actor has gained a loyal fanbase with roles in “Station 19,” “Madea’s Family Reunion” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” He’s also a lot of fun when he plays against his sex symbol status.
LisaRaye McCoy
Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyre Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyre
After her breakout role in “The Player’s Club,” LisaRaye McCoy carved out a long career by branching out into comedies, thrillers and dramas.
Phyllis Hyman
The late Phyllis Hyman had a voice that captured every emotion that comes with falling in and out of love. She may not have reached mainstream crossover success, but her music still resonates.
Tevin Campbell
It may actually be a law that when “Can We Talk” comes on, Black folks must participate in a sing-a-long. Don’t act like you’ve never belted it out in a supermarket.
Richard T. Jones
Name a TV show and Richard T. Jones has been on it. He’s obviously recognizable to more than just Black audiences, but we’re the ones who know his name and don’t just know him as the guy from that show. We also know that when he appears we’re going to get a rock solid performance that makes us wish he were more than a guest star.
Frankie Beverly
If you’re at a cookout, things have slowed down a little and you want to instantly hype them back up, play Maze featuring Frankie Beverly “Before I Let Go.” It’s the secret to a successful party.
She’s the disapproving mother, the distant wife, the girlfriend who’s tired of your shit, and the elegant, rich relative who shows up just to look down on you. She’s extraordinary in all these roles and she’s timeless. It’s true, Lynn Whitfield doesn’t age.
Stephanie Mills
If Diana Ross is the Dorothy you’re most familiar with, you’re missing out. Stephanie Mills originated the role in “The Wiz” on Broadway and she still brings the house down with “Home.”
Robin Givens
Photo: Getty Images Mike Coppola Photo: Getty Images Mike Coppola
Robin Givens was thee It Girl of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Her elegance, beauty, brains and swag made her standout from the crowd. If you saw her on The CW’s “Batwoman,” you know she’s still got that same captivating persona. She’s also the epitome of “Black don’t crack.”
Bumper Robinson
If you watched a sitcom in the ‘80s and ‘90s, you definitely saw Bumper Robinson and chances are, you had a crush on him.
Larenz Tate
From “Love Jones” to “Power Book II: Ghost,” it feels like we’ve been watching Larenz Tate put on for the culture our whole lives. This man has told our stories for two generations and is still going strong. Tate never disappoints.
Of the many supporters of Sean “Diddy” Combs, one of his closest friends has been seen inside and outside of the New York City courtroom over the past few months. And now that Combs has been found not guilty on three of five federal counts, Charlie Liucci has some interesting thoughts about the case and what Combs might do when he’s released.
Liucci stood outside after news of the verdict broke folding T-shirts that read “A FREAKO ISN’T A R.I.C.O.” Of all the folks championing for Combs’ released, he’s certainly been one of the loudest, even showing up to several trial days rocking “FREE PUFF” merch. On Tuesday (July 1), Liucci declared that despite the jury finding his friend guilty on two counts of prostitution, “He is innocence.”
The close friend of the Combs family said now that he’s been (relatively) cleared by the justice system, Combs will likely come back home and get back into his normal routine. “He gonna focus on his family. He gonna focus on getting back to who he is and a better person– a better version of him,” Liucci added.
Liucci’s remarks were before Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs bail. The disgraced mogul was hoping for an early release while he awaits his sentencing. Now, he’s set to spent more months behind bars his scheduled sentencing.
Despite this, Combs and his family had a victorious Tuesday. And according to Liucci, Combs won’t have any issues getting back to business as usual. He continued, “Why would I change anything in my daily business when this [case] isn’t about my daily business?” Liucci argued the trial shouldn’t impact Combs’ ventures as a music mogul because “It’s about my sexual preference in my bedroom.”
The 55-year-old disgraced rapper’s fortunes took a drastic dip since his incarceration. In 2018, Combs was reportedly worth $825 million, on the way to billionaire status, according to Forbes. But after Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura’s bombshell civil lawsuit against him and after the infamous 2016 hotel footage of him kicking, beating and dragged her, Combs’ net worth dropped to a staggering $400 million. And now? Forbes estimates his net worth to be only $90 million.
Despite Liucci’s claims that Combs will be alright business-wise, it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room. He’s already had to resign as chairman of Revolt. But although it’s impossible to know exactly who will be willing to do business with Combs after he’s free, never say never.
Beyond his federal case, Combs is still facing over 50 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, rape and much more. After coughing up $20 million to Cassie in 2023, any legal win from another plaintiff would surely be a devastating financial blow to the Combs empire.
But first… He has to get out of prison. Combs is facing up to 20 years behind bars. His sentencing is scheduled for October.
