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#RHOA: Kandi Burruss, and More Celebrate Sherri Shepherd in Broadway's Aladdin

The View host is the first woman to play the Genie in the Disney hit.
A host of celebrities were on hand October 22 to celebrate Emmy-winning talk show host, comic, and actor Sherri Shepherd's return to Broadway as the Genie in the hit Disney musical  Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Shepherd—best known for co-hosting The View and subsequently hosting her own syndicated talk show Sherri—joined the cast October 16 and is scheduled to continue through January 3, 2027. In the gallery below, check out the stars who were on hand for Shepherd's official opening, including Robin Roberts, Gayle King, Sara Haines, Ricki Lake, Bevy Smith, Kandi Burruss, and more.
Shepherd succeeded Caleb A. Barnett, who is staying with the production as the Genie standby during Shepherd’s run. Shepherd is the first woman to play the Genie in the Disney hit, which has historically cast men in the role of Aladdin's wise-cracking mentor. James Monroe Iglehart created the role on Broadway, winning a Tony for his performance.\

“Joining Aladdin on Broadway is an absolute dream come true—and an incredible honor,” said Shepherd in an earlier statement. “The Genie is such an iconic character, and I’m beyond excited to bring my own energy, humor, heart, and a little bit of magic to this role. I hope audiences see themselves in this Genie and leave the theatre feeling so much joy and inspired to believe in the impossible. To step on that stage as the first woman to ever play the Genie is something I don’t take lightly. I'm ready to rub the lamp, unleash some magic, and have the time of my life on Broadway.”

“Throughout her career, Sherri has represented delight, wit, and loving good humor, making her the perfect entertainer to play the life force that is the Genie,” added Disney Theatrical Group Managing Director Andrew Flatt and Executive Producer Anne Quart. “We can’t wait to see what happens when Sherri’s authentic, brilliant comic energy meets the joyous escape of Aladdin. Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.”

On Broadway, Shepherd also made history as the first African American actress to portray the Evil Stepmother in Cinderella. Her other theatre credits include the Off-Broadway shows Love, Loss, and What I Wore; and Joy Behar's My First Ex-Husband. Her extensive television credits include 30 Rock, Friends, Sex Lives of College Girls, HARLEM, Mr. Iglesias, Trial & Error, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Less Than Perfect. Her film credits include Tyler Perry’s STRAW, Brian Banks, Precious, Ride Along 2, and Beauty Shop.

The current Broadway cast is led by Rodney Ingram in the title role, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine, and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The show also features Jacob Ben-Shmuel as Omar, Colt Prattes as Kassim, JC Montgomery as Sultan, Don Darryl Rivera as Iago, and Ryan Gregory Thurman as Babkak. Caleb A. Barnett, Wes Hart, and Marcus M. Martin stand by for several principals.
Aladdin recently became the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history. There have been 11 productions on four continents welcoming over 22 million guests.
The stage production, which expands the 90-minute film into a two-act format, has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
Aladdin opened at the New Amsterdam March 20, 2014, following previews that began February 26. The musical was nominated for five 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. James Monroe Iglehart won the Tony for his performance as the Genie.

Aladdin is designed by Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes, and sound designer Ken Travis.
The production was originally produced by Thomas Schumacher. The creative team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette, and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. John MacInnis is the associate choreographer, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor, and Myriah Bash is the general manager.

The musical is produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart.

#NewMusic from John Legend Releases New Album ‘Muse,’ Fully Produced by Pharrell Williams

EGOT-winning singer-songwriter John Legend has officially released his latest studio album, Muse, via Republic Records. The project marks a major collaborative milestone, as it was co-written and produced entirely by 14-time Grammy-winning musician and Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director Pharrell Williams.

Despite a friendship spanning more than twenty years, Muse represents Legend and Williams’ first full-length album collaboration. The concept took root after Legend provided vocals for Clipse’s comeback album, Let God Sort ‘Em Out. Inspired by Legend’s performance on the Grammy-nominated track “The Birds Don’t Sing,” Williams sought to build an entire record specifically around the singer’s voice.

Recorded largely at Williams’ studio within the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris, the album seamlessly bridges classic and contemporary genres. The production weaves together gospel, traditional standards, doo-wop, classic soul, Afrobeats, and hip-hop, anchoring lush strings and horns with heavy 808s.

“Pharrell’s idea from the beginning was that we would create something with all of these classic, cinematic elements, almost like a Black James Bond feel to it, but with a modern backbeat at its foundation,” Legend shared. “It sounds like something new for us, but this album came to life so naturally.”

Coinciding with the album’s release, Legend debuted the official  music video for “Bodies On The Floor,” featuring Clipse, available to watch first on Spotify for 48 hours. Directed by Grammy-nominated filmmaker Paul Hunter and produced by PRETTYBIRD, the black-and-white visual captures the cyclical, magnetic toxicity of two lovers. Legend co-wrote the lyrics with Samm Henshaw, drawing thematic inspiration from the language of gang warfare in the crime drama MobLand to illustrate a relationship built on harm and retaliation.

The 10-track project navigates the full spectrum of romance and conflict. The titular opening track traces a tumultuous relationship against the romantic backdrop of Paris, while “Her” takes a gentler, nostalgic approach inspired by the music of Legend’s father. Tracks like the cinematic “Get Back” and the empathetic “Are You OK?” are joined by the previously released singles “Daylight” and “Fireflies,” which also received visual treatments from Hunter.

STREAM HERE: 

To complement the release, Legend launched “The Muse Gallery,” an interactive, museum-style digital experience on his website where fans can explore themed rooms containing music, merchandise, and video content.

Beyond his recording career, Legend is currently preparing for the premiere of Imitation of Life, marking his first original score for the stage. Co-produced by The Shed and National Black Theatre, the  musical begins previews in New York on November 21 ahead of a December 3 opening.

Starring Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren with direction by Whitney White and a book by Lynn Nottage, the production is based on Fannie Hurst’s 1933 novel. Legend and Mike Jackson are producing the project through Get Lifted Film Co., bringing the story of two mothers—one Black and one white—raising daughters in 1920s and ’30s Atlantic City and New York to the theater.
Muse is available to stream and download now across all major digital platforms

#HipHopNews: NFL Announces Jay-Z Will Perform at Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show

Jay-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027.
“Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage,” Jay-Z said, calling the milestone “a dream come true.”
The performance follows Roc Nation’s years of curating the halftime show and Jay-Z’s anniversary tour celebrating his albums ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘The Blueprint.’

Jay-Z has officially been announced as the performer for the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show next year.
The announcement comes less than a week after a report indicated Jay-Z was seemingly appointing himself as the headlining act when Super Bowl LXI will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027. Roc Nation, which was co-founded by Jay, has been working with the NFL since 2019 on curating the halftime show.

“From Reasonable Doubt to standing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement shared by the NFL. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.”
“For several years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with JAŸ-Z and Roc Nation, and I’ve seen the extraordinary impact he has had on the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the same statement. “When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that JAŸ-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him. I couldn’t be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage.”
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Music and International Content., said: “JAŸ-Z's impact on global music culture is as profound as it is undeniable.. “We've had the privilege of working closely with him these last few years to bring some of the world's most exciting and prolific artists to the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage and we are so thrilled that he will be taking that stage himself this year. We know it's going to be an incredible show."

The big game will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney+, and on mobile devices with NFL+. Per the league, ESPN's Spanish-language telecast will also be available on ESPN Deportes and Disney+, with a different Spanish-language presentation on Univision.
The halftime show will be executive produced by Jay’s Roc Nation, and the company also serves as strategic entertainment advisor. The show will directed by Hamish Hamilton. Hamilton, coincidentally, also directed Hov’s 2003 special Jay-Z in Concert, as well as Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show back in 2013.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, Jay-Z embarked on the JAŸ-Z30 Tour — which fittingly ended in SoFi Stadium, the same stadium where Super Bowl LXI will be held.

On the final night of JAŸ-Z30 Tour in Los Angeles, the rapper turned the evening into something similar to a halftime show performance, bringing out a number of West Coast music legends, including Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.
In the midst of his JAŸ-Z30 celebration, Jay released the eight-part docuseries JAŸ-Z in 8, chronicling his career and catalog.

Judge Dismisses Cassie From $35 Million ‘Freak-Off’ Lawsuit Filed by Former Escort

U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang dismissed Cassandra Ventura with prejudice from Clayton Howard's $35 million lawsuit on Oct. 21.
Clayton Howard, a self-represented former male escort who worked under the name "Dave," sued Ventura, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC last June over being “forced” to participate in ;freak-offs.’
Ventura's attorneys argued Howard never connected her conduct to sex obtained through force, fraud or deception, citing Howard’s own account of multiple cash payments and return visits.

Cassie Ventura has been dropped from a $35 million lawsuit filed by a former escort who claims that he was involved in “freak-off” sessions with her and Diddy.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang granted the singer's motion to dismiss at an Oct. 21 hearing in Los Angeles, according to documents obtained by Complex, which allows the case to proceed against Diddy, real name Sean Combs. The suit was filed last June by Clayton Howard, who alleged that he was hired by Diddy and Cassie on multiple occasions and claimed that the singer aborted his child.

"Defendant Ventura's motion to dismiss is hereby granted; this will be the order as stated on the record," the minutes read. The allegations against Ventura were dismissed with prejudice.
Clayton Howard, who worked as a male escort under the name "Dave," named Ventura, Combs, Bad Boy Entertainment LLC and CeOpco LLC in the suit. He alleged Ventura arranged sessions under Diddy’s order, and that the two used drugs and coercion to abuse him during paid encounters in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

Attorneys for Cassie argued he never connected her conduct to sex performed through force, fraud or deception, and pointed multiple cash payments and return visits as proof that he was not a victim of trafficking. They also referenced Howard’s complaint about Diddy’s violence and control over his former girlfriend, including his ability to decide when encounters ended.

"These defects are not curable by better drafting or any reframing of the facts," her lawyers wrote.
A July 2025 ruling had given Howard another shot, and he filed a fifth amended complaint on August 3, 2025. Meanwhile, Cassie’s filings in the case have stated she is a U.S. citizen now living outside the United States, with no intention of moving back.

Days before the hearing, Howard tried to substitute a fresh rewrite that altered his claim of roughly 12 hours of confinement during a December 2016 encounter in Miami, which was denied.
The same order granted Bad Boy Entertainment and CeOpco's motion only in part, with Howard being allowed 14 days to amend, and said the court would consider Howard's request to file an additional response. Diddy, who is serving the 50-month sentence imposed last October, has denied wrongdoing and was ordered to answer by a Nov. 4 deadline.

Cassie, who shares three children with her husband, Alex Fine, quietly relocated from the U.S. ahead of her testimony in Diddy’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

Police Called on 3-Year-Old Soccer Player After Parents Complained He Was Hogging the Ball

Nevada, a 3-year-old soccer player in Winter Park, Florida, became the center of a police response on Sunday after he reportedly began defeating the opposing team.
Winter Park police say the matter was civil, not criminal, and that body camera footage shows no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park.
Nevada's family claims the league asked them to leave and refunded their fall registration after other parents complained that he was hogging the ball.

A 3-year-old soccer player in Winter Park, Florida, had his game interrupted over the weekend after a youth league official called officers on the child.

As seen in a series of TikToks, the soccer player, named Nevada, was ejected from the Saturday (Oct. 24) match after allegedly defeating the other team and being in possession of the ball. In one TikTok, the child’s parents were heard arguing with authorities about the matter.
Shortly after officers arrived, the i9 Sports soccer league official asked them to speak with Nevada’s parents directly because he did not want to escalate the situation. The family was cooperative and requested an event number, which officers provided.

The family says they were told they could not come back to the field and were given a refund for their fall registration after other parents complained that Nevada was hogging the ball.
"They really called the police on a 3-year-old because he had the ball too much," Nevada's father said in the video.
In a statement, the Winter Park Police Department claimed the matter was civil rather than criminal, confirming that officers' body-worn cameras were worn, and that no one was arrested, trespassed, or forced to leave the park, per News 6.

In a follow-up statement with The Breakfast Club, Nevada’s mother, Martasia Griffin, said her son was “targeted throughout the season because of his talent.” The woman added that the league’s director didn’t defend Nevada or his family after protests from the other players’ families and offered a refund for the boy to leave the program.

“Parents like, ‘Oh, we paid for this just like you did,’” Griffin said. “But if my kid is sitting out the whole thirty minutes so, he's not playing either. You're trying to fault my kid for actually playing soccer. He's 3 years old. His teammates are four and five. He's the youngest on the team.”

Carl Thomas’ Ex Calls Him a ‘Deadbeat’ After VERZUZ: ‘Please Miss Me with the Church Songs’
Carl Thomas took VERZUZ to church, but his daughter’s mother wasn’t moved. Just days after the R&B veteran delivered a gospel-flavored performance during his matchup with Case, Latoya Shantel Young hit Instagram with a much different review, accusing Thomas of being a “deadbeat” father who has failed to support their seven-year-old daughter.

“I’m so tired of seeing this deadbeat Carl Thomas come down my motherf*cking timeline,” Young said in a Reel. “Let’s just hop right out the window with that.”
Young’s frustration centered on Thomas’ rendition of “I Need Thee Every Hour,” which he performed before sliding into his 2000 track “Come to Me.” Backed by a piano, Thomas explained that his church upbringing and the music of gospel composer Thomas A. Dorsey helped inspire the song.

The moment became one of the night’s biggest talking points—but Young said the spiritual display did not match the man she knows. “Please miss me with the ‘I love Jesus’ sh*t,” she said. “Please miss me with the church songs when your ass don’t even pay your f*cking child support.”

Young claimed Thomas took her to court to establish whether he was the father, then requested that child support be handled through the state. According to her, that process confirmed his paternity and created a formal support obligation, but she alleges he still has not consistently provided for their daughter. “You promised me you was gonna do right by your daughter,” Young said. “She is now seven years old. You have yet to do anything for your f*cking daughter.”

She added that she never initiated the child-support case herself, alleging Thomas started the process and later failed to make good on it. The Reel did not include court records or specify how much money she says is owed.

The blast arrived as Thomas enjoyed renewed attention from his Oct. 22 VERZUZ showdown with Case at Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles. The two singers ran through the heartbreak records that helped soundtrack turn-of-the-century R&B, including Thomas’ “Summer Rain,” “Emotional,” and “I Wish,” alongside Case staples such as “Happily Ever After,” “Touch Me, Tease Me,” and “Missing You.”

Thomas’ platinum-selling debut, Emotional, arrived in 2000 on Bad Boy and made him one of the era’s most recognizable voices.
Young’s complaints are not new. During a 2023 appearance with Kendra G, she said she first met Thomas while interviewing him for her show, Free Nation: Word on the Street.

She maintained that they were friends for six or seven years before one encounter resulted in their daughter’s conception.
Young also pushed back on Tasha K’s characterization of her as Thomas’ “homeless baby moms,” explaining that she owned a salon for 16 years and had television work when she met him.
She acknowledged experiencing housing insecurity years later after relocating to Atlanta but said that chapter had been presented without the proper timeline.

Miss Jones exposes how Ebro took over her morning show

Tarsha Jones, aka Miss Jones, is a well-known radio personalty who worked for Hot 97 in New York City, and other radio stations in her career.
She currently hosts the morning show for classic hip-hop “94.7 The Block” in New York City. Miss Jones was the first black woman to host Morning Radio with a hip hop radio format.
During an appearance on the “Quiet Part Out Loud” podcast, Miss Jones exposes how Ebro Darden strategically took over her morning show at Hot 97.

She said Ebro was hired as assistant program director and was promoted to program director at Hot 97. But Ebro wanted to be an on-air personality and he had his eye on her morning show. “He knew that his desire and his game plan was to be on-air,” Miss Jones said.
She said that while Ebro was “plotting to get on-air,” rival station Power 105, which she described as “the little engine that could,” was able to climb up the mountain because Ebro was too “unfocused” as a programmer.

“And here they are winning because everyone’s asleep at the wheel,” she said of Hot 105.
She became emotional as she explained how Ebro gained control of her morning show. She was suspended in 2005 due to an on-air incident and her contract was not renewed. Ebro then took over as co-host of the Hot 97 morning show, which he renamed “Ebro in the Morning.”

But that’s not the end of the story.
Ebro in the Morning was abruptly cancelled on December 12, 2025. He took his grievances to social media where he complained about his termination. He blamed his departure on his outspoken political views and the need for Hot 97 to appease their advertisers.
Ebro now cohosts a podcast with Peter Rosenberg and Laura Stylez.

In addition to radio personality, Miss Jones is an R&B singer who performed on rapper AZ’s “Sugar Hill” (1995), Big L’s “M.V.P.” (1995) and Big Pun’s hit song “Punish Me” (1998).

Beyoncé Wants Cécred To Win Skeptics
Beyoncé wanted Cécred to reach “the people who can’t stand my music.”
In i-D’s public interview preview, she described a goal of winning customers through results. She discussed the brand with interviewer Eni Subair. She said she was Cécred’s sole investor.

“I’m the founder, visionary, and sole investor, not the face or model for this brand. I had a vision to build something that solved real problems and performed so incredibly that the people who can’t stand my music still use Cécred, because it work,” she said.
That approach was part of her plan from the start. In her 2024 GQ interview, Beyoncé said she kept herself out of Cécred’s launch ads. She wanted customers to judge the products without her fame doing the work.

“My mother and I poured decades of experience, tradition, and love into Cécred, so seeing our community grow across every ethnicity, texture, generation, and gender is so fulfilling. In the beginning, it took some conditioning from the world’s perception of how to launch a brand founded by someone like me,” Beyoncé said.

She also described a double standard in business. Men could be seen as the decision-makers. Famous women were often treated as marketing faces. She said she wanted her work on the products to matter.

She wanted to build something that could earn respect on its own, rather than depend on her name.
Her tie to haircare went back much further than the launch.
Before Cécred had a public name, Beyoncé spoke about growing up around her mother’s salon. She said her first job involved sweeping up hair, and Destiny’s Child sang for clients as they sat for appointments.

She also recalled the entrepreneurial women she met at the salon. She cited that experience while explaining the line’s roots.
As AllHipHop reported when she announced Cécred in February 2024, the launch trailer paired scenes of Beyoncé washing her hair with childhood footage of her and her mother, Tina Knowles.
The announcement set February 20 as the start date. It followed a May 2023 teaser in which she had connected the business to her mother’s work.

That family role extended into product development. Space NK’s Cécred page identified Tina as vice chairwoman and described her involvement in salon testing.
The retailer said she brought four decades of work to the brand. That included her roles as a hairstylist, salon owner and entrepreneur.
Cécred was also on sale through Space NK’s UK site, with shampoo, conditioner, hair oil and styling products listed.

The options included a scalp scrub, detangling spray and heat styling mist. The range covered wash routines, protective styles and extensions, according to the retailer. The retailer also offered the line in stores.

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Costume Hits 10-Year Search High Ahead of Halloween

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” look ranks No. 18 among Google’s most-searched Halloween costumes for 2026, while searches for Jackson costumes have reached a 10-year high.
The renewed interest follows the billion-dollar success of the Jaafar Jackson-led biopic Michael and a streaming resurgence that put “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” and “Beat It” atop Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart.
Jackson’s original red-and-black “Thriller” jacket and other iconic performance pieces will headline a December auction in Abu Dhabi as U.S. Halloween spending is projected to hit $13.5 billion.

More than four decades after Michael Jackson turned a red leather jacket into one of pop culture's most recognizable fashion statements, his “Thriller” look is back among America's most-wanted Halloween costumes.
According to Google's annual Frightgeist report, “Thriller”-era Michael Jackson ranks No. 18 among the top-trending Halloween costumes for 2026. Even more significantly, Google reports that searches for Michael Jackson costumes have reached their highest level in a decade, adding another milestone to an already remarkable year for the late King of Pop.

Jackson's signature look landed alongside an unusual assortment of pop culture figures, including country legend Kenny Rogers at No. 14 and Masters of the Universe villain Skeletor at No. 19. Buddy the Unicorn, from the 2026 horror comedy Buddy, claimed the top spot, followed by the viral squishy toy NeeDoh.
But Jackson's presence on the list carries additional significance, considering the renewed attention surrounding his career throughout 2026.

The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic Michael, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, became the first biographical film to cross $1 billion worldwide earlier this year. The movie's success prompted Lionsgate to begin developing a sequel, while Jackson's catalog experienced a substantial resurgence across streaming platforms and Billboard.

At one point, “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” and “Beat It” occupied the top three positions on Billboard's R&B Streaming Songs chart. Meanwhile, Thriller and Bad ranked among Sony Music's best-selling recorded music projects during a quarter in which the company's music sales increased 22 percent.
The renewed interest has extended to Jackson's memorabilia, too.

Earlier this month, Julien's Auctions announced it would offer Jackson’s original red-and-black leather jacket and shoes from the 1983 “Thriller” music video, along with his rhinestone-covered glove and loafers from his historic Motown 25 performance
The four pieces, which have not been offered at auction in nearly two decades, will headline Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Auction in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 7, as part of a three-day auction event.

“The Thriller jacket is the one the world has never stopped talking about,” Julien's Auctions executive director Martin Nolan said when announcing the sale.
“Each one carries a moment that changed pop culture forever,” he added.
The original “Thriller” short film, directed by John Landis, premiered in December 1983 and helped establish the music video as a major entertainment format. Jackson's red jacket, black loafers, and choreographed zombie sequence became inseparable from the record's cultural identity.

Now, those same visual elements are reaching a new audience during a Halloween season expected to drive record consumer spending.
The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, including $4.4 billion on costumes.
“Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind,” NRF executive Allison Zeller said

Ava DuVernay Defends Using AI in New ’14th’ Netflix Documentary
Ava DuVernay is defending her decision to use AI in her new Netflix documentary 14th.
The upcoming project is a deep dive on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment and the fight over birthright citizenship. Archival photographs are brought to life with the help of AI in the doc.

As she screened 14th at the 2026 AFI Fest on Sunday (October 25), Ava, 54, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter where she responded to criticism over the use of AI in the doc.
“The tools that the artists used to do the parallax and the animation in the films have that technology in them, as does Pro Tools with sound, as does Avid with editorial, as does Resolve with color,” she said of industry postproduction tools. “I think we’ve come to a place in filmmaking where we have to be really sober about the ways in which that technology is [used] across so much of the workflow.

Ava added of AI, “We didn’t use it to fabricate a person or make an avatar of a person or approximate someone’s voice that said something they didn’t say. We actually animated some photos that are in the public domain, and from what we’ve been hearing from people, it does bring people closer to that time in history, which was our goal. So people have to see it and check it out for themselves and make their decisions about how they feel.”

14th will get a limited theatrical run starting November 27 and start streaming on Netflix on December 4.

‘All My Children Actor #RIPAlanDysert Passes Away at 75

Alan Dysert, the actor best known for playing Sean Cudahy on All My Children, has sadly passed away.

The soap opera star died on Friday (October 23) at the age of 75, his wife Michele Dysert confirmed in a Facebook tribute shared over the weekend.
“My heart is broken,” Michele wrote while remembering her husband and their life together.

She described Alan as her best friend and reflected on their relationship, explaining how grateful she was to have experienced such a special love.
Alan was best known for portraying Sean Cudahy, a charming con artist, on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
He first appeared on the series in 1980 and was credited in 79 episodes through 1990.
His other acting credits included Soap, Two Weeks and The Grift.

Beyond acting, Alan worked as a musician, writer, filmmaker, producer and acting teacher. He was particularly passionate about helping aspiring performers develop their confidence and pursue their careers.
In her tribute, Michele shared that her husband had experienced several serious health challenges over the years.
Alan previously revealed in his 2023 autobiography, Lights, Camera, Cancer!, that he had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive and incurable form of cancer.

He detailed undergoing four major cancer-related surgeries, a recurrence of the disease, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and numerous CT scans, per People.
However, Michele did not disclose an official cause of death.
She also reflected on her husband’s sense of humor, adventurous personality and determination to make the most of his life.

“Alan had an incredible gift for storytelling, a wonderful sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, and a personality that could fill any room,” she wrote.
Originally from Illinois, Alan studied at the University of Illinois before pursuing a career in entertainment.
Alongside his work on television, he became a respected acting coach and mentor, including for performers in Nashville.
Michele also shared that Alan wanted people to celebrate his life and remember the happiness he brought them.
The actor is survived by his wife and his two sons, Cody and Cooper.

Our thoughts are with Alan‘s family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

Halle Berry's daughter and fiancé testify in custody battle
Halle Berry's daughter, Nahla Aubry, took the stand on Monday in the actor's custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.
The 18-year-old testified behind closed doors as the former couple returned to Los Angeles Superior Court for the second week of proceedings over Martinez's request for a domestic violence restraining order.

The appearance came after Nahla first filed a declaration of support for her mother earlier this month.
Berry's fiancé, Van Hunt, also returned to the stand for cross-examination. Both witnesses were believed to have testified for less than an hour each, Page Six reports.

Following a lunch break, closing arguments began, with the proceedings again taking place in private.
Closing arguments will continue on Tuesday, and a ruling is expected this week.
Martinez is seeking a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody of the former couple's 13-year-old son, Maceo.

The Unfaithful actor claims Berry choked the teen during an altercation at her home on 26 September.
In his court filings, Martinez claimed Maceo contacted him after the alleged incident and begged to be picked up.
A judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order on 1 October and awarded him temporary primary custody of Maceo.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations.

El Paso Teens Who Appear to Be Hispanic Caught on Video in KKK Robes Yelling Racial Slurs

A group of teenagers who appear to be Hispanic were caught on video wearing white Klan robes and chanting racial slurs at a Halloween gathering, and the El Paso KKK footage now has the city’s police chief, its congresswoman and the local NAACP demanding accountability.
The clips started spreading over the weekend after FitFam El Paso, a local social media page, shared them. They show about six people in pointed white hoods and robes, first in what looks like a backyard and then walking as a group down a dark street on the city’s East Side. In one video, the group chants “we hate” followed by the N word. Other teens off camera can be heard laughing and egging them on.

No one in the robes has been publicly identified. Atlanta Black Star reported that most of them appear to be Hispanic, in a city where Hispanic residents make up about 81 percent of the population. That detail is a big reason the video has traveled far beyond Texas. People online are asking how kids from a community that white supremacists have targeted ended up dressed as the most recognizable white supremacist group in American history, aiming the N word at Black people.

A caption on one widely shared repost claims the person filming calls the group “the team,” which has fueled speculation that they play high school sports together. Police and school officials have not confirmed that.
El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said Monday that his department is reviewing whether anyone broke the law, including disorderly conduct. In Texas, that charge can cover using abusive or offensive language in public that is likely to start a fight.
“Symbols and language associated with the Ku Klux Klan represent a history of terror, violence and racial hatred,” Pacillas said. “They have no place in our community. Treating that history as a costume or a joke is unacceptable.”

He added that free expression has limits once it crosses into conduct that threatens public order or other people’s safety, and he asked anyone with information to contact the department. He also put some of it on the parents, saying families play an essential role in teaching young people that hatred and intimidation have no place in El Paso.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso in Congress, posted a statement Sunday calling the reports “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.” She said the KKK represents a shameful history of white supremacy, racial terror and violence against Black Americans and other communities of color, and that “no El Pasoan is too young to understand that racism has no place in our community.”
On Monday, members of the El Paso NAACP gathered outside the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse to address the El Paso KKK incident directly, calling out the “hatred, terrorism and racism” the Klan stands for. The branch also connected it to the darkest day in the city’s modern history. On August 3, 2019, a gunman drove more than 600 miles to an El Paso Walmart and killed 23 people after posting a racist screed about a “Hispanic invasion” of Texas. The NAACP reminded the city that the same white supremacist ideology at the root of the Klan drove that attack on Mexicans and immigrants.

El Paso also had its own Klan chapter in the 1920s. Known as Frontier Klan No. 100, it signed up about 3,500 local members before it collapsed later that decade.
Some posts online have compared the El Paso KKK video to a 2010 case in Woodsboro, Texas, where high school students in Klan costumes attacked a Black teen with a stun gun on Halloween. The two cases are not connected.
Police have not announced any arrests or charges, and it is still unclear whether the gathering was a private party or which school, if any, the teens attend.

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

Courtesy of P.O.Wm
OH BOY!

Stuff like this honestly makes my day!

AND NOW Meet: Thomas

It's Thomas! You can see more HERE

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The Daily Buzz For Oct 26☕📰☕

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#RHOA: Pinky Cole Faces Another Financial Blow Amid Bankruptcy Drama

Pinky Cole faces another financial dispute as a lender seeks permission to take action against one of her Georgia properties. The move comes as the reality star continues to navigate bankruptcy proceedings. The lender claims Cole owes more than $164,000 on a rental property, while her attorney says the home is already covered by her bankruptcy plan.

A lender claims Pinky Cole owes more than $164,000 on a Georgia rental property
According to TMZ, Selene Finance LP filed legal papers in Cole's ongoing bankruptcy case on Thursday. The company claims she owes more than $164,000 on a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in the Atlanta area. It also alleges that Cole has not made mortgage payments since December 2025.

The lender is asking the bankruptcy judge to allow several possible actions, including one that could potentially lead to foreclosure.Cole's attorney, Jamie Christy, pushed back against the lender's claims. "This property is not Pinky's home, but rather a rental property," Christy told TMZ. The attorney also said the property is already part of Cole's bankruptcy plan. Christy called the lender's move "an impulsive move by the servicer" and said the motion is being reset.

Christy said the focus should remain on helping Cole regain financial stability. "The focus should be on Pinky righting her finances and growing her business to fund her plan of reorganization," the attorney explained.
The latest dispute follows another property battle during Cole's bankruptcy case. In that matter, a creditor attempted to seize another rental property she owns, prompting her to challenge the move in bankruptcy court.

Cole has also remained in the public eye through her reality television and business ventures. She appeared on the 17th and most recent season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
As the bankruptcy case continues, the latest dispute over Cole's rental property adds another legal challenge to her efforts to reorganize her finances.

#MusicNews: Tinashe Announces ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON’ North American Tour 

Multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and producer Tinashe has officially announced her upcoming North American trek, THE SHOW MUST GO ON tour. The expansive run is set to kick off in Dallas on April 14, bringing her dynamic live show to major markets across the continent, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

The massive tour announcement arrives just as Tinashe kicks off her highly exclusive “3 Nights with a Popstar” headline shows across Chicago, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles. Tickets for the three-city run sold out almost immediately, marking the fastest-selling presale of her career.

The live momentum operates in direct support of her latest 16-track studio album, Popstar. The project has rapidly morphed into a cultural phenomenon, debuting at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with 35,500 copies sold in its first week and earning a stellar 9.0 rating from Pitchfork.

Anchored by standout tracks like “Melatonin” and “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore,” the album has drawn heavy public praise from industry peers including SZA, Charli XCX, PinkPantheress, and Clairo. The release also triggered a massive wave of fan support, with her dedicated audience generating a global viral moment using the hashtag #UpliftTinashe.

Beyond her own headline dates, Tinashe is maintaining a heavy presence on the live circuit. She recently made a viral surprise appearance alongside Charli XCX at the Austin City Limits  music festival, and is slated to perform at Chappell Roan’s Super Graphic Spectacular benefit show in Los Angeles later this week.

Additionally, Tinashe is confirmed to join Harry Styles as a special guest on his Together, Together Tour, supporting his Phoenix, Arizona dates on April 2 and 3 at State Farm Stadium.

Tickets for THE SHOW MUST GO ON tour are available for purchase now via TinasheNow.com.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON 2027 Tour Dates:

April 14 — Dallas, TX — The Bomb Factory
April 15 — Austin, TX — Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
April 16 — Houston, TX — Bayou  Music Hall
April 18 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
April 20 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
April 22 — Atlanta, GA — The Eastern
April 24 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
April 26 — Washington, DC — The Anthem
April 27 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
April 28 — Boston, MA — Roadrunner
May 1 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
May 5 — Denver, CO — Mission Ballroom
May 6 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Union
May 8 — Portland, OR — TBA*
May 10 — Vancouver, BC — Malkin Bowl
May 11 — Seattle, WA — Paramount Theatre
May 13 — Oakland, CA — Fox Theater
May 15 — Los Angeles, CA — Shrine Expo Hall 

#HipHopNews: Drake Celebrates 40th Birthday With Backstreet Boys Performance, $1 Million Prize & Luxury Gifts!

Drake is celebrating his 40th birthday in a big way!
The “Hotline Bling” rapper officially turns 40 on Saturday (October 24), and he kicked off the celebrations with a huge party at Casa Cipriani in New York City on Friday night (October 23).
Drake arrived wearing a sparkling black tuxedo jacket, bow tie and wide-leg trousers.
His birthday party also included some very special guests: the Backstreet Boys!

Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough were among the members photographed arriving at the party.
However, their appearance wasn’t the only surprise of the evening.
Drake performs with the Backstreet Boys at his birthday party
The Backstreet Boys surprised Drake with a performance of their hit “I Want It That Way,” and the rapper even joined them onstage to sing along!

According to Complex, the event brought together more than 400 guests.
The performance also marked another reunion between Drake and the boy band.
Back in 2022, the rapper made a surprise appearance during the group’s concert in Toronto, where he joined them for the same song.

Drake also received a very expensive birthday gift of his own!
The rapper was presented with a red Ferrari outside Casa Cipriani during the celebrations.
He also stopped to pose for photos with fans before leaving.
During his birthday celebration, Drake also gave an emotional speech about reaching the milestone.
“Tonight is just about being alive, staying alive,” he told the crowd, according to Complex.
Drake gives away luxury gifts and offers a $1 million prize

The party wasn’t just about the music!
According to TMZ, guests were treated to designer handbags from Chanel and Hermès.
Drake also reportedly organized a game show-style giveaway, with cash prizes ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to as much as $1 million.
It’s not clear whether anyone actually won the $1 million top prize.
The celebration came after Drake marked his birthday week with friends in his hometown of Toronto, including a gathering at the CN Tower.
He later traveled to New York with his mother, Sandi Graham, ahead of Friday’s party.

The milestone birthday also came with some major career news. The RIAA announced 30 additional certifications for Drake on Friday, making him the first artist to surpass 350 million certified units in the United States, according to Complex.
Drake has a history of throwing extravagant birthday parties. See the incredible gifts he offered guests at his 36th birthday celebration!

Janet Jackson is ILLUMINATINGLY Gorgeous in Christian Siriano

Janet Jackson made the dark glamour red carpet trend her own in a design by Christian Siriano for the Gala of the Stars on Thursday night at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
The “Feedback” singer wore a long-sleeve black lace gown courtesy of the American designer for Thursday night’s red carpet event. Designed with a formfitting silhouette and allover scalloped motif, the gown incorporated design elements that harkened back to Victorian-inspired style cues of the ongoing dark glamour trend.

Ornately designed, the semi-sheer, lacy construction included florals and botanical symmetrical patterning.
The sharp shoulders of the gown featured an extra layer of black lace, with a slightly plunging neckline that continued the scalloped motif incorporated throughout.

The waistline of the dress received special attention. A peplum detail added extra definition, ever-so-slightly modernizing the look and creating some material contrast. From there, the skirt of the dress flowed to the red carpet, falling in a puddle at Jackson’s feet.
When it came to accessories, Jackson incorporated statement pieces that only served to amplify the dress, rather than diminish the craft of Siriano’s design. The “That’s the Way Love Goes” singer wore statement rings and a pair of dangle earrings crafted with sinuous lines and gold hardware with diamonds.

Glam for the singer featured her blond-highlighted hair in soft waves, while her makeup included lined, smokey eyes and a glossy lip.

Dark glamour took over the red carpet in 2024 and continues to do so, with a bevy of celebrities from Lady Gaga to Zoe Saldaña embracing black lace and Victorian-style cue construction. Though black dresses have always been a red carpet mainstay, the dark glamour trend incorporates more Gothic elements for a dramatic edge, elevating the style that much further, with Jackson the latest to embrace the style.

Nicki Minaj’s Lawyers Want To Dump Her In $275K Jingle Ball Fight After Relationship Became “Unreasonably Difficult”

Nicki Minaj’s attorneys want out of a production lawsuit involving luxury stays, a nearly $2,000 dinner and disputed payments.
Nicki Minaj‘s lawyers asked to quit her $275,149.62 production dispute after telling a New York court their relationship had broken down beyond repair.

Attorney Bruce W. Bieber described strategy clashes and failed communication in an October 23 filing seeking permission for his firm to withdraw.
Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever represented both the rapper and Pink Friday Productions LLC in the lawsuit brought by 24/7 Productions.
“Irreconcilable differences have arisen between KECL and [Nicki Minaj] concerning the conduct of the representation. Counsel and [Nicki Minaj] have been unable to align on litigation strategy, and the attorney-client relationship has irretrievably broken down such that continued representation is no longer feasible or appropriate. There has also been a breakdown in communication.”

“The foregoing circumstances have rendered effective representation unreasonably difficult and constitute good cause for withdrawal. To protect attorney-client confidences and privileges, KECL has not set forth the substance of confidential communications and respectfully requests leave to provide further detail for in camera review should the Court require it.”

24/7 sued in March over December 2023 Jingle Ball shows in Chicago and Atlanta and New York events promoting Pink Friday 2.
That dispute included hotel spending that reached well beyond a room for the rapper, according to the production company’s account.
The Langham New York bill filed as evidence totaled $103,730, including a suite priced at $9,500 nightly for a seven-night stay.

Minaj used Tori Spaulding as her hotel alias, and the account also covered four other rooms occupied by her team.
A private kitchen dinner on December 12 cost $1,939.66, while the bill also listed room deliveries and purchases from the minibar.
Those minibar items included Evian water, Coca-Cola, Pringles and M&M’s Peanuts, according to AllHipHop’s reporting on the receipts submitted in court.
A separate Four Seasons stay in Fort Lauderdale totaled $25,197.85, including a $3,800 nightly suite and rooms for security and a stylist.

The production company said it fronted those costs, but Minaj disputed the debt and the attempt to make her personally responsible.
In a July 31 filing, Pink Friday Productions said it had paid the debt, while her lawyers described the hospitality costs as approved.
Her lawyers also argued that membership in Pink Friday Productions LLC alone did not make her liable for the company’s obligations.

In February, TMZ reported that Matthew Abbott sought to leave Minaj’s defense in a separate $10 million case brought by Tameer Peak.
Peak later withdrew that lawsuit in June, ending the separate case before this latest representation dispute.
Bieber also asked for time to allow replacement lawyers to step in if the court permitted his firm to leave.
“Granting this application will not unduly prejudice Plaintiff. Any limited delay occasioned by withdrawal can be addressed by a reasonable stay permitting [Nicki Minaj] to retain substitute counsel.”

The firm further requested permission to serve the withdrawal papers through the clients’ last known email address and overnight mail.

Stevie Wonder Sues to Evict Ex-Fiancée Who Has Been Living At His Property Rent-Free for 38 Years

Carmen Efferson allegedly refused to allow Wonder's representatives to enter the property and sent his attorney a contentious email
Stevie Wonder is suing his one-time fiancée in an attempt to evict her from one of his properties, where she has been living rent-free for nearly 40 years, according to Rolling Stone.

Carmen Efferson has lived in the three-bedroom Hollywood Hills property free of charge since 1988 under an oral agreement with Wonder. However, tensions recently escalated when representatives for Wonder attempted to enter the property for an inspection as part of an insurance renewal. Efferson allegedly refused them entry and sent Wonder’s attorney, David Huff, an email telling him to “fuck the fuck off.”

“Your rascist [sic] coldblooded ‘white male privilege’ tone (again with you). I am feeling harassed,” Efferson wrote to Huff. “Regarding your ORDERS of entering into the place where I am living, I do not consent. Do not make any attempt to make any kind of contact with me.”
Efferson was subsequently informed that her oral agreement with Wonder had been revoked due to her noncompliance and was served with an eviction notice. After she failed to vacate the property, Wonder filed a lawsuit seeking her eviction on Thursday, October 22nd.

Wonder is amid a tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of his seminal album Songs in the Key of Life.

Chad Hugo Accuses Pharrell Williams Of Trying To ‘Erase’ Him From The Neptunes, As He Fights Bid To Throw Out Lawsuit 

Chad Hugo has asked a federal judge to reject Pharrell Williams‘ bid to throw out his lawsuit over the songs, credits, and royalties of The Neptunes.
In a filing dated October 16, Hugo’s lawyers accuse Williams of an “effort to rewrite history and turn The Neptunes’ success into the work of only one person.”

The filing, submitted to the US District Court for the Central District of California, can be read in full here.
“Defendants ask the Court to write Chad Hugo out of The Neptunes on the pleadings, before a single document has been produced,” the filing states. “But The Neptunes were two people.

“For three decades, Hugo and Pharrell Williams wrote and produced records together under that name. Hugo has always been at the center of the Neptunes[’] success and is equally responsible for the duo’s special place in [the] industry.

“Over the past few years, Williams has sought to erase Hugo from one of the greatest hip-hip [sic] duos of all time.”
“For Three Decades, Hugo And Pharrell Williams Wrote And Produced Records Together Under That Name. Hugo Has Always Been At The Center Of The Neptunes[’] Success And Is Equally Responsible For The Duo’s Special Place In [The] Industry.”
Chad Hugo‘s Filing

Hugo, who formed The Neptunes with Williams in the early 1990s, claims he is a co-author and co-owner of songs the pair made together.
He alleges that Williams kept the credit and the income from those songs for himself.
Hugo wants the court to declare him a joint owner of the copyrights and to order an accounting of his share of the money the works have earned.

Williams and Talamasca, Inc., a company Hugo alleges Williams controls, have asked the court to dismiss the case.
Hugo‘s filing says the motion’s lead argument is that his complaint does not identify the works at issue. The motion also argues that the complaint fails to distinguish the musical compositions from the sound recordings.
The motion further asks the judge to decline to hear Hugo‘s other claims, including breach of fiduciary duty, if the copyright claims are dismissed.

If the judge dismisses the copyright claims and declines to keep the rest, Hugo would be left to pursue his royalty and fiduciary duty claims in state court.
Hugo filed his original complaint on January 23, in a dispute over The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., the group the pair later founded.
In February, he amended the complaint to add the copyright claims, naming eight tracks he says he helped create, as MBW reported.

The third and latest version of the complaint names just one track: U Gotta by EarthGang.
Hugo‘s lawyers say U Gotta is one example and that the case covers the songs and recordings from nearly 50 studio sessions he says the pair held as The Neptunes between 2019 and 2021.
“On U Gotta, Hugo was removed as an artist from a track that the recording artists themselves say he helped create,” the filing claims.

According to the filing, EarthGang confirmed Hugo’s contribution during an appearance on the radio show The Breakfast Club.
“Defendants’ demand for more particularity is especially unfair given that it is within their control,” the filing states. “Hugo repeatedly sought the relevant royalty statements, books, and records from 2021 through 2024, but received almost nothing, despite counsel’s acknowledgment that additional documents exist.”
At the center of the case is an arrangement Hugo says the pair struck in February 2019.

He claims Williams told him he “never wanted to work without [him] again” and asked him to come to Miami to make music as The Neptunes.
According to Hugo, they agreed to split production 50/50 and to share the publishing on each song equally. He says those were the same terms they had always used.
“Williams then kept the credit, the publishing, and the royalties, and he denied that Hugo co-authored anything,” the filing alleges.
Under the US Copyright Act, people who create a work together, intending their contributions to merge into a single whole, share ownership of its copyright.

Hugo‘s filing calls the motion “the next step” in Williams’ effort to erase him. It says the motion “asks the Court to treat a co-founder as a hired hand” by applying the joint-authorship test the Ninth Circuit set out in Aalmuhammed v. Lee in 2000, a test that, according to the filing, “was built for a consultant on someone else’s film.”
Hugo argues that an agreement to split the publishing on every song equally shows the pair intended to be co-authors.
Hugo‘s filing concedes that his latest complaint left out the definition of which works are covered, calling it “the one genuine drafting gap.”

“Dismissal of a claim arising from a thirty-year partnership is not a proportionate response,” Hugo‘s lawyers write.
If the judge finds any gaps, Hugo has asked for 21 days to file a revised complaint.
Hugo says it would describe his contributions track by track, including melodies, chord progressions, drum programming, instrumentation, and arrangement.
“Hugo can limit his claimed interest to the share Williams holds or claims and disclaim any challenge to third-party co-writers’ shares,” the filing states. “A declaration allocating Williams’ claimed share between Williams and Hugo impairs no absent writer’s interest.”

If Hugo limits his claim that way, any share awarded to him would come out of Williams’ portion, rather than those of the other writers on the tracks.
The filing accepts that US copyright law gives Hugo no standalone right to be credited, but argues that credit is still available to him under state law and the pair’s 2019 agreement.
Hugo’s filing says Williams‘ motion also hints, without formally seeking dismissal on that basis, that the claims may have been brought too late.
It says Williams’ lawyers noted that Hugo has had “six separate lawyers,” a point it argues is offered “to build a narrative of delay.”

“Defendants’ own exhibits settle the point,” the filing argues, adding that agreements Williams submitted to the court paused the legal clock from January 3, 2023, to January 24, 2026.
Judge André Birotte Jr. has not yet ruled on the motion.

Mississippi police officer who shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley resigns

Sgt. Hunter Foster, the Mississippi police officer who fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley in a moving vehicle, has resigned, the Associated Press reports. Foster fired into the vehicle while responding to an alleged shoplifting incident on June 14, 2026.
Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves confirmed Foster resigned on Friday, October 23.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s office cleared Foster of using excessive force after a monthslong investigation. The AG’s office said Foster’s use of force was justified.

The AG’s decision sparked outrage among supporters and attorneys who believe Foster used excessive force during the encounter in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.
Body cam video shows a group of officers inside Walmart. A Walmart employee alerted the officers of two women running from the store. The officers ran out into the parking lot as the driver of a sedan pulled out of a parking spot and crashed into a parked vehicle.

Kohen Wiley, 1, was killed when police shot into a moving vehicle. Photo: Facebook
Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, was holding Kohen on her lap in the front passenger seat. The five officers with weapons drawn ordered the car to stop, but the driver accelerated. Foster opened fire as the car drove past him.
Vellesiya Wiley denied that she and her friend stole diapers from the Walmart store and they have not been charged with shoplifting.

A bullet-riddled car is seen in a Senatobia Walmart parking lot. (Screengrab: WREG
Foster’s attorney Martin Zummach claimed his client had “no choice” but to fire his weapon at the vehicle because it was moving at him.
But attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Kohen’s family, said the body cam footage shows the car driving past Foster and the fatal shot came from the side of the car. Crump disputed that Foster was in danger of being run over. Crump called for the federal government to investigate the shooting.

Former President Obama, campaigns in the Midwest for Abdul El-Sayed and Amy Acton

Former President Barack Obama on Saturday seized on what he described as cruelty and indecency coming from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, stepping into one of the nation's ugliest midterm fights as he worked to rally Democratic voters in two Midwestern battlegrounds.

First in Ohio, Obama took aim at Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has doubled down on an advertising campaign featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also defended the ad, even as Republican leaders across Ohio, including Gov. Mike DeWine, have called for its removal.

"In recent days, we've seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to," Obama said of Ramaswamy, noting that Acton has "spoken movingly about her painful childhood and all she's experienced: abuse, neglect and homelessness."
Later in Michigan, Obama condemned critics of Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, suggesting that they're using his name or his faith to tear him down.

"We have seen this movie before. I starred in it," Obama told a packed high school gym in Detroit. "I've got a long-form birth certificate to prove it."
"Abdul is as Michigan as it gets," he added.
Obama, 65, remains the Democratic Party's best motivator nearly a decade after leaving the White House. And he's taking his star power on the road in the final days of the midterm elections, which will help determine the balance of power in American politics on Nov. 3.

Trump cast his own ballot on Saturday in Florida, where he defended the Ramaswamy ad, which has emerged as a national flashpoint a little more than a week before Election Day.
"The mother said that Amy Acton is a liar, and she's no good," Trump said. "And you know what? I don't think you can get a better reference on that."

The Ramaswamy campaign video features Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her "a liar" and insinuating she has mental health issues.
Acton, Ohio's COVID-19-era health director, has made no secret of facing homelessness and abuse as a child. Arthur lost custody of her children after their stepfather, Arthur's husband, was indicted on a charge of rape involving Acton.
The abuse allegedly happened from December 1976 to April 1978. Cledith Arthur failed to show for a court appearance and became a fugitive. Donna Arthur remained married to him until his death in 2004.

Appearing before Obama, Acton spoke as if addressing Ramaswamy directly.
"My opponent has chosen to exploit, intentionally, my childhood to save his stumbling campaign, but it's not going to work," she said. "Decency still matters." She added: "Mr. Ramaswamy, you are not just out of touch, you are out for yourself and you are a danger to my state. Apparently there is no low to which you won't stoop."

Although Ohio has become more reliably Republican, it's been a hotly contested battleground this year. Trump and Vance have both visited the state in recent weeks to drum up support for Sen. Jon Husted and Ramaswamy. And the controversy over Ramaswamy's ad has ratcheted up the already high temperature.

Michigan, too, is a critical state this midterm season, with high-stakes contests for the Senate and governor.
While Obama addressed both races, he offered a passionate defense of El-Sayed, a former public health official running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican.
The former president pushed back against those who call El-Sayed a radical, declaring that "Abdul shares my values." He also acknowledged that El-Sayed was critical of him after his 2012 reelection for not following through on all of his progressive campaign promises.

El-Sayed wrote that Obama "was not the right choice — he just wasn't the wrong one."
"Some of these folks say, well, you know, Abdul didn't like some of the things you did as president," Obama said in Detroit, wearing a blue shirt with no tie, his sleeves rolled up. "You know who else doesn't agree with everything I do? Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama, about five times a day."

Democrats hoped that Obama's appearance in the city, which is three-quarters Black, could bolster support for El-Sayed among Black voters. In the primary, his opponent Haley Stevens won Wayne County, which includes Detroit, by about 6 percentage points. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian vice president, campaigned for El-Sayed in September.

Cheryl McWilliams, 67, said Obama's speech "pumps you up to vote," and she's hoping to see high turnout in the midterms.
"If Detroit doesn't vote, whoever's running is going to lose, period," McWilliams said. "I'm just hoping we can reach voters that don't vote. They think it doesn't matter, and it does."

Chunnika Hodges, who lives in Detroit and canvassed for El-Sayed on Saturday, said some Black voters are supporting Rogers because they don't think anything has changed after years of voting for Democrats. Some are also wary of El-Sayed because of his progressive policies, Hodges said.

"We don't lean to the conservative, but we have seen that within our community," Hodges said. "There are conservative Blacks, conservative Democrats."
While Obama talked up Democratic candidates in Ohio and Michigan, he also spoke at length about Trump.
He accused the Republican president and his family of rampant corruption and called out his inability to lower costs, noting that Trump has instead focused on building a new White House ballroom and helipad on the South Lawn.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovation," Obama quipped. "He should be on HGTV." He went on: "There's gold everywhere. He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."

The former Democratic president acknowledged that the nation has Trump for another two years, until his term ends. But voters are not stuck with Trump's allies, he said.
"We're not stuck with a spineless Congress and Republican governors who are handling lawlessness and carelessness and cruelty and indifference for working people," Obama said. "After two years of chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence … you get a chance to say enough is enough."

Obama will headline a rally in Georgia next week with Sen. Jon Ossoff and candidate for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Trump, campaigning in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday evening with their Republican rivals, made several references to Obama's Michigan event, insisting "the place was empty."

Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Crew With Knife on Set of Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Miami Vice 85’

A man was arrested after allegedly showing up on the set of Miami Vice ’85 with a knife.
The crime drama film starring Michael B. Jordan is currently filming in Brooklyn and TMZ learned from police that a man named Alex Perez, 23, ran across the set with a butcher knife at about 11:00 p.m. on Friday night (October 23).
Police were called after Perez started brandishing the knife and allegedly threatened one of the production staffers.

In a video obtained by TMZ, Perez could be seen getting escorted off set before taking a knife out of the pocket of his sweatshirt. A cop on scene placed him in cuffs.
Perez reportedly has five prior arrests for alleged gang-related charges, like burglary and assault with a firearm. He was charged with menacing with a weapon and criminal possession of a weapon.

Miami Vice is an upcoming film inspired by the original television’s pilot and first episode. It will follow undercover detectives operating in Miami during a time of drug trafficking and corruption.
Michael stars in the film alongside Austin Butler, Danny Ramirez, and Dominic Sessa. Walton Goggins is also in the film. The cast was previously spotted filming together earlier this month.

Jay-Z Kicks Off Two-Night Los Angeles Run With Sold-Out SoFi Stadium Show

Jay-Z brought his Jay-Z30 celebration to Los Angeles on Friday, October 23, kicking off the first of two nights at a sold-out SoFi Stadium. Following packed shows in New York, London, and Paris, the icon launched the final weekend of his landmark run honoring his groundbreaking catalog, influence, and lasting cultural legacy.

Opening the night with “Hovi Baby,” Jay-Z launched into timeless hits like “Izzo,” “Run This Town,” “Hard Knock Life,” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder.” A standout highlight came when he welcomed Blue Ivy Carter to the stage, who played piano melodies for “The Story of O.J.” and “Dead Presidents.”

The evening also paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle, weaving a nod to “Hussle & Motivate” into “Hard Knock Life” alongside the “Last Time I Checc’d” instrumental during “On to the Next One.” Jay-Z later surprised the crowd by bringing out Scarface for “This Can’t Be Life” and “Mind Playing Tricks on Me,” before closing out the show alongside John Legend and DJ Khaled for a performance of “God Did.”

Star-studded attendees included Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, G-Eazy, Tia Mowry, and Omari Hardwick. Throughout the celebration, Jay-Z wore custom ensembles designed by June Ambrose.

JAŸ-Z, SoFi Stadium, Friday, October 23 — Set List

Hovi Baby
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Beach Is Better
FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt
N*gga What, N*gga Who (Originator 99)
Run This Town 
The Story of O.J. (Blue Ivy Carter)
Dead Presidents (Blue Ivy Carter)
Where I’m From 
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Lucifer
No Church In the Wild 
Can I Live 
Family Feud 
U Don’t Know
On to the Next One 
Clique 
Dirt Off Your Shoulder
I Know
Never Change 
This Can’t Be Life (Scarface)
Mind Playing Tricks on Me (Scarface)
Song Cry 
99 Problems 
Girls, Girls, Girls, 
Excuse Me Miss / La-La-La (Excuse Me Miss Again)
Change the Game 
Give It to Me / Money, Cash, Hoes
Jigga My N*gga
Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)
Empire State of Mind 
Paris / Big Pimpin’
GOD DID (DJ Khaled, John Legend)

“Real World” and “The Challenge ”Star #RIPAnikaRashaun Dies at 34 After ‘Shock’ Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Former reality star Anika Rashaun died in early October, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025
Rashaun, 34, is best known for appearing on The Real World: Bad Blood in 2016 and The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions in 2017
Rashaun's friend, Tiara Ramos claims the reality star was not identified as high-risk despite her mother's history of breast cancer

Anika Rashaun, star of The Real World and The Challenge, has died. She was 34. 
Rashaun died on Oct. 1, her friend Cyndi Rich announced in a Facebook post. The reality star had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer last summer, her friend Tiara Ramos said in a Substack post on an Oct. 5.
In the Substack post, titled Breast Friends Forever: RIP to my Sister, Ramos described Rashaun's diagnosis as "a shock."

"Despite her mother having breast cancer years earlier, she was never identified as high-risk or told by her doctors to prioritize mammograms," she wrote. "That was one of the many failures she experienced within the medical system during her time battling cancer. But that is a story for another day..."
"I spent more than 20 years of my life with Anika," Ramos continued. "She was always so unapologetically herself, so real in her stances, her convictions, her beliefs. Her ability to get what she wanted, to talk you into things, to convince you, was one of a kind. The way she showed up for her friends, fiercely loyal and loving to the end, was on a whole different level."

Rashaun appeared on The Real World: Bad Blood in 2016 and The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions the following year. She worked as a dating coach and was training to become a licensed marriage and family therapist, according to her Instagram.
The former reality star discussed her cancer diagnosis in a podcast interview with Ramos a year before she died.
"I just thought that because I didn't have a history of it, it would never happen to me, but look at us both sitting here right now," Rashaun said. "...I'm just trying to figure out, where's the cure?"

The pair revealed on the podcast that both their moms had breast cancer and urged young women to get checked.
"The amount of young women that have been getting breast cancer is just alarming," Rashaun continued. "So we want to create that urgency to be aware and do self-examinations and check yourself. And not have the scarcity mindset it can't happen to me, because I had that and it's happening to me right now."

During the podcast discussion, Reshaun revealed that she was undergoing chemotherapy.
Rashaun married her partner Kyle Rehn earlier this year on Valentine's Day, according to her Instagram.
In a Nov. 2025 post, the Real World star wrote, "99 days till I get to marry my person. This year has been everything but normal, so many ups and downs and changes we had to endure and work around, but I'm happy that the one thing that remained the same was our love for each other. I can't wait to be your wifey…"

Meghan Markle Responds to Child Sex Abuse Allegations Against Her Father

*Meghan Markle says she kept her father away from her children for one reason: their safety.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,” the Duchess of Sussex, 45, said, PEOPLE reports.

Her statement follows explosive claims her brother, Thomas Markle Jr., made about their father, Thomas Markle Sr. In an Oct. 22 interview with The Sun, Thomas Jr., 60, accused their 82-year-old father of keeping child sex abuse images.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” Meghan said.

According to Thomas Jr., the material turned up in boxes inside their father’s house in the Philippines. He said he alerted law enforcement, including the FBI.
“When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad,” he told the outlet.
He also said he is cutting ties after years as his father’s caregiver. “I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him,” he said.

Meghan revealed that warnings about her father surfaced years earlier. In 2018, a letter went to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection, and she was eventually shown it.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said.
At the time, she said, she “trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”

Meghan’s estrangement from her father has long been public. Thomas Sr. once confessed to arranging staged photos with the paparazzi, and Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that British tabloids hunted him down. Her new statement offers a very different explanation for the distance.

Thomas Sr. has stayed silent so far.
“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” Meghan said.

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

Courtesy of P.O.Wm

Because we can't get real associates to smile.

Good Ol Ai

AND NOW Meet: Erick

It's Erick! You can see more HERE

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Enjoy!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!

EFREM