Jay-Z’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit Battle Gets Messier, Grandmother Accused Of Killing 11-Month-Old Child Receives Shocking Sentence, Councilwoman Allegedly Drops N-Word At Work, White Man Allegedly Set Fires In Tenn But Tries To Blame Black Man And More

A roundup of the Root’s most powerful news stories.

Jay-Z’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit Battle Just Got Messier, Here’s How Jaguar Wright is Involved…

Photo: Getty Images Robert Kamau/GC Images // Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle

As every day passes, we learn something new about the sexual assault lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Dish on What It Takes to be True Bad Boys

Over the weekend, internet vlogger Jaguar Wright claimed in a video posted to social media that she is working with Tony Buzbee’s law firm, the attorney representing the woman in the suit against Hov and Diddy. – Noah A. McGee Read More

Man Enters High School in NC and Beats The Hell out of A Boy, But the Plot Twist Will Shock You

Screenshot: X

A horrifying video has gone viral on social media showing a grown man attacking a student in the hallways of a school. What’s even more shocking is what the police revealed about the alleged attacker. – Kalyn Womack Read More

Seattle Police Messed Around and Found Out After Holding Up an Innocent Black Pizza Delivery Driver

Photo: Seattle Police Department

Since 2020, a Black pizza delivery driver has been awaiting justice after his route was rudely interrupted one evening by a group of Seattle police officers. Now, the city has settled to pay up big time. – Kalyn Womack Read More

Grandmother Accused Of Shaking 11-Month-Old Baby To Death Receives Shocking Sentence

Shanica Callaghan. Photo: The Daily Mail

A 36-year-old step-grandmother who was accused of killing an 11-month-old baby received a shocking jail sentence after pleading guilty. The plea deal was made in the New York Supreme Court in Queens, just days before Shanica Callaghan’s trial. – Candace McDuffie Read More

This Pennsylvania ‘Councilwoman Karen’ Allegedly Dropped N-Word at Work, Here’s What Happened Next

Candida Affa Screenshot: WFMZ

A Black deputy city clerk in Allentown, Penn. is speaking up about the hostile workplace environment that she’s been dealing with for the last 15 years — primarily at the hands of one woman – Noah A. McGee Read More

A Black Maryland Student Allegedly Found the N-Word Scrawled on Their Desk. Here’s Why The Principal Was Placed on Leave

Photo: Wikidata

A high school principal in Rockville, Md. has been placed on administrative leave following a racist incident earlier this month in which a Black student was allegedly forced to endure a slur – Candace McDuffie Read More

Ozempic, Wegovy Users Behold: Nestle is Creating Frozen Pasta, Pizza and More Just For You

Image: Getty Images FABRICE COFFRINI

Nestle is getting into the weight loss business.

The world’s largest food and beverage company said it plans to launch a frozen food brand that will cater to consumers who use GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. – Francisco Velasquez Read More

A White Man Allegedly Set Multiple Fires In Tenn, But Tried To Blame Imaginary Black Dude

Image: Latin Times

A white man has been charged with arson after allegedly setting three fires in one night at an apartment complex in Nashville, Tennessee. The most disturbing part of his alleged crimes is that he tried to get an imaginary Black person to take the fall for one of them. – Candace McDuffie Read More

New News About Diddy’s Alleged ‘Drug Mule’ Might Give the Mogul a Rare Win

Photo: Getty Images Joe Maher/Miami-Dade Police Department

Among the alleged middle men implicated in Sean “Diddy” Combs legal issues over the last year is Brendan Paul, a young Syracuse University basketball player accused of being the mogul’s “drug mule.” Paul just got some good news that might take some heat off the rapper’s pending sex crime case. – Kalyn Womack Read More

A 10-Year-Old Chicago Girl Was Struck and Killed By a Police Car, You May Be Surprised By What Happened Next

Screenshot: ABC7 Chicago

Four years after suffering a devastating loss, the family of a 10-year-old Chicago girl killed during a police chase on the city’s streets is finally getting some semblance of justice. – Angela Johnson Read More

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

All the Fly Fashions Fans Are Popping Out With to See New Michael Jackson Movie

All the Fly Fashions Fans Are Popping Out With to See New Michael Jackson Movie

Fans are showing up and showing all the way out to go see the new Michael Jackson movie. But if you don’t know what to wear, don’t worry—we got you! …
From the 'Red Record' to the iPhone: 15 Times Journalism Saved Black Lives

From the ‘Red Record’ to the iPhone: 15 Times Journalism Saved Black Lives

Take a look at the investigative work that has and continues to shape the Black experience in this country …
Exclusive: ACLU Animator Dishes on New Series That Educates Kids on Their Constitutional Rights

Exclusive: ACLU Animator Dishes on New Series That Educates Kids on Their Constitutional Rights

After launching “Know Your Rights University” with the ACLU, Black animator Brandon Lake spoke with us about what it took to get to this point …
The Gut-Wrenching Crisis of Deed Theft in New York, Snatching Black Families from the Homes They’ve Owned for Generations

The Gut-Wrenching Crisis of Deed Theft in New York, Snatching Black Families from the Homes They’ve Owned for Generations

Long-standing Black homeowners in Brooklyn are being targeted by deed theft scams that have led to the loss of their most valuable asset …
This 82-Year-Old Black Fitness Influencer's Workout Routine Will Shock You

This 82-Year-Old Black Fitness Influencer’s Workout Routine Will Shock You

82-year-old fitness influencer Annie Judis is motivating folks to stay healthy with her impressive workout routine …
Who Is D4vd? The Texas Singer Being Investigated for Murder

Who Is D4vd? The Texas Singer Being Investigated for Murder

D4vd has been arrested in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas. Now, we’re catching you up on everything that led to his arrest …
With Virginia Redistricting Win, Democrats Are Playing Hardball, and They May Have One Black State Senator to Thank

With Virginia Redistricting Win, Democrats Are Playing Hardball, and They May Have One Black State Senator to Thank

Twenty-five years after Republicans redrew Virginia voting maps to shut out a Black female senator, it seems the Democrats are back with a vengeance in 2026 …
Black Woman Changes Her Race on Hinge and the Results Reveal a Startling Truth

Black Woman Changes Her Race on Hinge and the Results Reveal a Startling Truth

If you’re a Black woman failing to get matches on dating apps, it might be because the apps algorithm is hiding your profile …
Solange Debuts New Shaved Hairstyle, But You'll Never Guess How Mom Tina Knowles Responds

Solange Debuts New Shaved Hairstyle, But You’ll Never Guess How Mom Tina Knowles Responds

Solange has never shied away from trying new styles and new looks. And this time around, her mother Tina is sharing some interesting insight about her latest choice! …
Expert: Abuse Rarely Starts With Bruises—Here’s How to Recognize It and Leave Safely

Expert: Abuse Rarely Starts With Bruises—Here’s How to Recognize It and Leave Safely

We spoke with a gender-based violence prevention expert about how abuse starts long before violence becomes visible. She outlines early warning signs and steps for safely leaving …
New Development in Rihanna Home Shooting Suspect—And Things Aren't Looking Good

New Development in Rihanna Home Shooting Suspect—And Things Aren’t Looking Good

Things are steadily going on a downward spiral for Ivana Ortiz, the woman accused of shooting Rihanna’s LA home in March. Here’s the latest …
Exclusive: Scott Evans Breaks Down How He Created a Safe Space For Black Stars on His Viral YouTube Series

Exclusive: Scott Evans Breaks Down How He Created a Safe Space For Black Stars on His Viral YouTube Series

In an exclusive interview, Scott Evans details his journey as an influential Black media figure and his ultimate duty to the Black community …
Why You Should Not Listen To The Critics Of Michael

Why You Should Not Listen To The Critics Of Michael

Critics are arguing with a movie that was never trying to be what they wanted …
Black Woman Chased by Zara Employees Speaks Out After Viral Mall Incident

Black Woman Chased by Zara Employees Speaks Out After Viral Mall Incident

“Shopping while Black” strikes again after a Black woman went viral being chased out of a Zara store for alleged theft, which police later determined was baseless …
Janet Jackson Responds to Teyana Taylor's Recreation of One of Her Iconic '90s Looks

Janet Jackson Responds to Teyana Taylor’s Recreation of One of Her Iconic ’90s Looks

Teyana Taylor has paid homage to Janet Jackson before, but this time around she’s recreating yet another iconic look! And now Janet herself and fans all over are speaking out about it …
How Trump’s Budget Cuts Are Directly Linked to Hundreds of Thousands of Preventable Deaths

How Trump’s Budget Cuts Are Directly Linked to Hundreds of Thousands of Preventable Deaths

16.5 million uninsured. Toxic air. Global famine. The high price of Trump’s 2026 budget is paid in American lives— and its only getting worse …
Popular Civil Rights Nonprofit’s Shocking Connections to the Ku Klux Klan Alleged in DOJ Indictment

Popular Civil Rights Nonprofit’s Shocking Connections to the Ku Klux Klan Alleged in DOJ Indictment

After the FBI severed ties with Southern Poverty Law Center in October, an 11-count indictment against the civil rights nonprofit is now raising serious alarms …
No, Janet Jackson Isn't In the New Michael Movie and Here's Why

No, Janet Jackson Isn’t In the New Michael Movie and Here’s Why

Michael and Janet Jackson shared a close relationship, but she won’t be featured in his highly-anticipated biopic. We’re breaking down why! …
Exclusive: Scott Evans Spills the Tea on His Viral Interview with Mary J. Blige and That Infamous Burger King Ad

Exclusive: Scott Evans Spills the Tea on His Viral Interview with Mary J. Blige and That Infamous Burger King Ad

Scott Evans spoke with The Root about his viral interview with Mary J. Blige and why that infamous Burger King commercial is not a laughing matter …
Amid Recent Deaths of Black Women, Expert Details How to Support a Friend in a Harmful Relationship

Amid Recent Deaths of Black Women, Expert Details How to Support a Friend in a Harmful Relationship

In the wake of a number of devastating tragedies, Dr. LaNail Plummer, a mental health expert, breaks down how to safely help loved ones facing domestic violence—and how to support them when they need it most …