3/28/24

The Daily Buzz For Mar 29☕📰☕

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#MAGFAB: Iman for Harper's Bazaar Arabia March 2024!

Here at the The Chronicles, we do love whenever our fave fashion glossies hear our pleas for supermodel covers. Hearing those pleas loud and clear this month is Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. Back in January, the Arabian fashion title shockingly published Adriana Lima looking unrecognizable as their cover star but redeems themselves immensely with the unveiling of their March 2024 installment. Olivia Phillips welcomes none other than the icon, the living legend and modeling royalty that is Iman as Bazaar Arabia’s latest cover star. Photographic duo AB+DM and stylist Ayumi Perry team up to profile the trailblazing Somali-American beauty, who wears an embroidered look from Sabato De Sarno’s debut Spring 2024 Gucci collection in the striking portrait cover photograph.
“Aaaaahh yes!! Long live the queen!” heralded oaklee91.
“This is so beautiful. This magazine is so much better than Vogue Arabia,” caioherrero chimed in.
Blueorchid commented: “Iman looks better here than she did on her British Vogue cover last year. Recognizable, at least!”

“My sentiments exactly,” vogue28 replied in total agreement. ” A million times more flattering than Iman’s British Vogue cover appearance, and better executed too. Here, the makeup is far more complimentary, especially the eye makeup which I thought was horrendous for British Vogue. All of this just feels so tasteful.”

TerraVera raved: “Oh my goodness, this is beautiful! Gorgeous! Stunning! Iman is regal here. Great job Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. You knocked it out of the park!”
“Gorgeous,” was the word tFS forum member miyawaki used to describe the outcome, and we couldn’t possibly agree more.
See more of Iman as Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2024 cover star, here.


#RHOA: Porsha Williams Reveals Reasons for Simon Guobadia Divorce: ‘Criminal History, Questionable Immigration’
The divorce between Porsha Williams and her estranged husband, Simon Guobadia, is getting messier by the day. Porsha reclaimed her peach for the upcoming Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. But she filed for divorce after just 15 months of marriage. Initially, a source claimed that Porsha’s decision wasn’t related to shocking allegations about Simon’s past.

Simon was reportedly involved in several financial crimes. He is also weathering a complex immigration case that could result in his deportation. And the relationship between Porsha and Simon has continued to worsen.

Porsha’s estranged husband requested a restraining order against her. Simon claimed that Porsha brought a gunman into their home. In turn, Porsha accused Simon of having the locks changed on their house while he was in Dubai.

Porsha reveals the reason that she and Simon split
Radar Online obtained legal papers in which Porsha requested that the judge deny Simon’s appeal for access to their mansion. According to Porsha, their prenup stipulated that Simon would leave the residence within 30 days of a divorce filing. He wasn’t cooperative.

In her newest filing, Porsha protested Simon’s request to have exclusive use of the residence. And despite what sources previously said, Simon’s past did play a role in the end of their marriage.
Porsha’s filing read in part, “The media frenzy that ensued was solely a result of Husband’s actions, which included revelations about Husband’s criminal history, questionable immigration, and allegations of fraud. Wife shows that the news reports of Husband’s alleged immigration fraud, and what appeared to be an imminent threat of deportation, were shocking and affected Wife’s mental and emotional wellbeing,” the documents read. Porsha also alleged that she previously asked Simon about his criminal history and immigration status, but he never shared any of these details.

In the legal documents, Porsha’s lawyer wrote, “Since learning of Husband’s checkered immigration history and status, Wife began to question everything that she initially believed to be true as it relates to her Husband’s character, immigration, business dealings, etc, and began to uncover additional information that Husband failed to disclose to Wife.”


#MusicNews: SZA Is Reportedly Starting 'LANA' "From Scratch" Due To Leaks!

It appears that SZA’s forthcoming project, LANA, will be out on a much later date than expected.
In a now-deleted tweet on Monday (March 25) night, the artist wrote, “So, we’ll make this really simple. Y’all leaked three songs from the deluxe. At this point, y’all can keep the throwaways and leaks. I’ll be starting LANA from scratch. Do not ask me about it again. Thank you.”
Luckily, SZA revealed that she won’t be leaving fans without music altogether. “I’ll round up the leaks y’all already got, and [you all] can have those. Seems like a fair deal. ENJOY,” the artist added.

In January, the TDE songstress expressed frustration over her music being shared online illegally. She also threatened to take legal action against the person responsible for distributing her unauthorized songs.

“LEAKING MY MUSIC IS STEALING. THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY,” she shared on Twitter. “YOU ARE A F**KING THIEF, AND I PROMISE TO PUT MAXIMUM ENERGY INTO HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. I AM TIRED.”
The singer’s manager, Punch, subsequently weighed in. His post read, “When music leaks, it often [leads] to delays and/or canceling whole projects.”

LANA was initially intended to include seven to 10 new records. However, with parts of the project being illegally uploaded and SZA redoing the LP, the number of songs may change.

In 2022, SZA released her chart-topping album, SOS. It contained standout cuts like “Snooze,” “Nobody Gets Me,” and “Open Arms.” Meanwhile, Travis Scott, the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Don Toliver also made guest appearances. “Ghost In The Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, while “Snooze” took home Best R&B Song.

To celebrate the LP’s one-year anniversary, SZA shared six possible covers for LANA on her Instagram.


#HipHopNews: Metro Boomin Addresses Speculation About Drake And Future's Alleged Beef: "Stop Making Stuff Up"
Metro Boomin responded to rumors of a rift between Drake and Future, specifically a theory that their supposed conflict involved a woman, whom many also credited for inspiring the Atlanta rapper’s “Magic Don Juan (Princess Diana).”

Taking to Twitter, Metro urged, “Y’all n**gas [need to] stop making stuff up for engagement and enjoy the music,” without clarifying whether he was refuting the presumed beef itself or its alleged cause.

Speculation about Future and Drake’s relationship escalated following the release of WE DON’T TRUST YOU last Friday (March 22). The album featured pointed lyrics from Kendrick Lamar targeting the Toronto native and J. Cole.
Additionally, the “Mask On” hitmaker seemingly took shots at Drake on the LP’s title track. In “We Don’t Trust You,” Future rapped, “You a n**ga No. 1 fan, dog/ Sneak dissin’, I don’t understand, dog/ Pillow talkin’, actin’ like a fed, dog/ I don’t need another fake friend, dog/ Can’t be ’bout a h**, ’cause we sharin’, dog/ In your feelings, n**ga, why you playin’, dog?”

Despite the interpretations, Drake and Future have worked together a lot since their first collaboration, 2011’s “Tony Montana.” They released their joint mixtape, What a Time To Be Alive, in 2015. The project spawned hits like “Diamonds Dancing,” “Jumpman,” and “Digital Dash.” Additionally, the pair teamed up on hits like “Used to This,” “Life Is Good,” and “WAIT FOR U.”

On the other hand, Metro and Drake appeared to trade shots with one another in December 2023. The beatmaker accused Her Loss of winning over HEROES & VILLAINS at award shows due to industry politics in a now-deleted Twitter post. The self-proclaimed 6 God subsequently took a jab at “tweet and deleters” during a Kick livestream that same month.
“To the rest of you — the non-believers, the underachievers, the tweet and deleters — you guys make me sick to my stomach, fam,” Drake stated. “Look at my eyes. You guys wanna do something? That’s what I thought.”


Beyonce May Feature Cover Of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' In 'Cowboy Carter'

On Wednesday, March 27, the 42-year-old superstar made use of her Instagram account to upload a photo, which seemingly featured the tracklist of "Cowboy Carter". The snap apparently showed titles of songs, which she may include in the forthcoming set, and messages that read, "Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit" and "Brought to you by KNTRY Radio Texas."

In the poster, Queen Bey included "Jolene", sparking speculations that she is set to feature a cover of the track. The colorful graphic also featured "The Linda Martell Show", which is believed by many to be a collaborative song with Linda Martell.
Aside from "Jolene" and "The Linda Martell Show", the poster featured her previously released singles "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em". It also mentioned other potential song titles, including "American Requiem", "Blackbird", "Protector", "My Rose", "Smoke Hour", "Bodyguard", "Dolly P", "Daughter", "Spaghetti" and "Alligator Tears".

Beyonce is slated to release "Cowboy Carter" on March 29. Before dropping the country album, Queen Bey unleashed "Texas Hold 'Em", which made her the first black woman to ever reach No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart. The track later arrived atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart with 19.2 million official streams and 39,000 in sales in the U.S. through February 15.

The "Halo" songstress also has launched "16 Carriages", which entered Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart and landed at No. 9 on the tally dated February 24. The track had 10.3 million streams, 90,000 in radio reach and 14,000 in sales. She dropped "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages" simultaneously during the Super Bowl on February 11.


Former Diddy Dancer Claims She Avoids Rapper 'At All Costs' After 'Horrific' Experience
More people have come out with damning stories about their experiences with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Following raids on the rapper's two homes, his former dancer Tanika Ray has claimed that she avoids him "at all costs" for years following a "horrific" incident with him.

Tanika, who was a backup dancer for Diddy in the '90s, said in a video on Wednesday, March 27, "Oh yeah, you know we all have stories... Seriously we all have stories. Mine is horrific and only five people know it, and I probably will never tell it. But since then, I've been like, 'Yup.' "
"Oh yeah women hold a lot in order to function everyday in a man's world," the former "Extra" host added. "Unfortch we can compartmentalization out pain and carry on. We utilize the experience as a lesson and move differently. If I told my story in 1996 then What??"

She added, "I just knew to avoid him at all costs. Yes I danced for him and kept my space. I was on the Vote or die airplane and kept my space. I interviewed him for his projects and kept my space. Nothing that is happening is surprising."
"Shame on me maybe for prioritizing my mental health some would say," she admitted. "But after working in a place that snatches souls... mine is in tact and of the light. I saved myself. Now if someone needs me to pile on my story, give me a call. But I think Cassie got it!!"

Tanika spoke up after The Grio's creative director and former MSNBC host Toure recalled asking for help from Diddy for his relative. "I know this man well enough to call him and say, 'Hey, I need a favor,' " he said in an interview with Joy Reid on Tuesday night.
He added, "This might have been 10 or 12 years ago that I called him and said, 'Hey, I have a family member, who I want you to hire them as an intern.' And he said, 'Yes.' " However, his relative's internship with Diddy "stopped abruptly like three or four months into it."

"I spoke to my family member, like, 'What happened?' " Toure said. "And they wouldn't say... and years later, they finally came out - and this is a male - and said that Puff had said, 'Come home. Stay the night with me or the internship is over.' " Toure added of his relative's response to Diddy's offer, " 'Absolutely not.' And the internship ended."


Kenan Thompson Breaks Silence About 'Quiet On Set', Urges To 'Investigate More'

Kenan Thompson has spoken out about "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV". The "All That" alum shared about his time working with Dan Schneider on Nickelodeon during his appearance on "Tamron Hall Show".
"It's tough. It's a tough subject, you know?" Kenan told host Tamron Hall. "It's tough for me because I can't really speak on things that I never witnessed, you know what I'm saying? Because all these things happened after I left, basically."

Distancing himself from Dan, the "Saturday Night Live" alum explained, "Dan wasn't really on 'Kenan & Kel' like that. I mean, he got a 'created by' credit, but it was a different showrunner, so our worlds wasn't really overly overlapping like that outside of 'All That', necessarily."

He added, "And then all of that negativity kinda started happening outside of our tenure there, you know what I mean? So I wasn't really aware of a lot of it."
The comedian applauded the docuseries, noting that it's important for the victims of the alleged abuse. "I think it's a good thing that the doc is out and is putting things on display that need to be - stories that need to be told for accountability sake but it's definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place," he shared.

"And I have fond memories of my co-stars and stuff like that, so, to hear that they've gone through terrible things like that, it's just, it's really tough," he said.

When Tamron said that the production company investigated all of the allegations, Kenan responded, "Well, investigate more! I mean because it's like, it's supposed to be a safe place you know? It's supposed to be a safe place for kids and to hear all about that it's just like, 'How dare you?' "

Yesterday, it was revealed that "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" will air a surprise fifth episode featuring a new interview with Drake Bell. Titled "Breaking the Silence", the bonus episode will delve "deeper into the toxic and dangerous culture" of some of the most iconic children's television shows in the 1990s and 2000s.

In addition to Drake, the episode will feature other former child actors from some of Nickelodeon's hit shows from the early 2000s. It will also build off "the revelations explored in the first four episodes" and include discussions with journalist Soledad O'Brien.
"Breaking the Silence" will air on April 7 on Investigation Discovery (ID) and then stream on Max.


Will Smith And Jada Pinkett’s Charity Is Reportedly Closing After The Infamous Oscars Slap
Will Smith’s infamous slap at the 2022 Academy Awards is still affecting his life. Variety broke the news Wednesday that the charity he opened with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, is allegedly closing.

The Will And Jada Smith Family Foundation was founded in 1996 to make the world “better because we touched it,” according to the website. The nonprofit focused on arts and education, empowerment, health and wellness, and sustainability.
While the charity experienced decades of success, according to Variety’s reviewed tax filings, after Will slapped Chris Rock, high-profile contributors to the foundation stopped.

The outlet reviewed tax records (via ProPublica) showing the foundation’s revenue dropped from $1,760,000 in 2020 and $2,138,660 in 2021 to $365,870 in 2022 - an 83% drop, including the withdrawal of donors like American Airlines, which donated $76,160 in 2021, and CAA, which contributed $100,000 in 2021.

As noted by the outlet, the Instagram for the foundation hasn’t shared anything since December 19, 2022.
A source close to the foundation told the outlet the couple was already winding down the foundation before the incident and has been focusing on privately giving the same amount to charitable causes. They note that in 2022, the foundation gave $100,000 to the American Film Institute and $2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The foundation also donated money to Rebecoming and World Rebirth Foundation.

Their research also found expenditures such as office equipment and computers and $3,304 in “bank overdrawn” fees in 2022. An insider for the organization “cited a decline in staffing as evidence of the family moving away from the organization.” Variety notes that in 2021, they lowered the payment of their two staffers, and as of 2022, no paid staff worked at the organization.

But just because the foundation isn’t doing well, doesn’t mean the Smiths are worrying about money. Per a 2023 Variety report, Will is making his $25 million quote on both “Bad Boys 4” and Netflix’s “Fast and Loose.” The actor is however, still banned for from the prestigious awards ceremony.


Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling had 'a non-verbal agreement' she would stop acting to raise their kids: 'No-brainer'

Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling had 'a non-verbal agreement' she would stop acting to raise their kids: 'No-brainer'
Eva Mendes is giving some insight into her recent break from Hollywood.

During a recent appearance on "The Today Show," the actress, model and businesswoman let fans in on her relationship with her partner, Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan Gosling. Mendes admitted she "pretty much stopped acting after" starring in "The Place Beyond the Pines" in 2012, choosing to become a full-time mom instead.

"It was like a no-brainer. I'm so lucky, and I was like, if I can have this time with my children... and I still worked, I just didn't act because acting takes you on locations, it takes you away," she said on the show. "It was almost just like a non-verbal agreement that it was like, 'Okay he's going to work and I'm going to work, I'm just going to work here.'"

Gosling and Mendes met while filming "Place Beyond the Pines," in which they played a couple with an infant son. Their on-screen chemistry soon translated into a real relationship off-camera, and they welcomed their first daughter, Esmeralda, in 2014, and their second daughter, Amada, in 2016.
Eva Mendes revealed she and Ryan Gosling had a "non-verbal agreement" that she would stay home with the kids.

The couple is notoriously private about their life as a family, but they have made it clear their two daughters are what is most important to them. A source recently told People magazine that the "Barbie" star and Mendes moved "a bit further north" away from Hollywood, in order to do what's best for their children.
"For them, the most important job is their girls. Everything else comes second," the source told the outlet. "And their girls are thriving. They left L.A. to live a bit further north, away from Hollywood. They didn't want the girls to grow up around other celebrity kids."

The source also shared, "Eva and Ryan love their life," adding that they have managed to find a way to "create balance and boundaries" in order to make their relationship work. They explained the two actors "care so much about their marriage and just want their girls to live a happy life." It's unclear, however, if the two are actually legally married.
Mendes praised Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" at the Academy Awards earlier this month, posting a photo of herself on Instagram wearing the actor's bedazzled pink jacket, writing, "You took Ken all the way to the Oscar’s, RG. Now come home, we need to put the kids to bed."

Ryan Gosling performing at the Academy Awards in a pink suit.
Mendes praised Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" at this year's Oscars.

"He went and he did his job. He just happens to be really good at his job, and he did it and he came home," she said on "The Today Show," before referencing her Instagram post, adding, "Because that's what it's about. You go, you do your job the best you can and then you come home."
When it comes to Gosling being good at his job, Mendes also discussed what it was like working with him on "Place Beyond the Pines," telling "The Today Show" that she's "never experienced anything like" Gosling's work ethic and adding, "Unfortunately — or fortunately — there is only one Ryan!"

Upon accepting the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January, Gosling looked back on his career, paying tribute to both Mendes and their children while reflecting on his life as a movie star.
"I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes," Ryan told the crowd at the event, E! News reported. "I have two dream children. I dreamed of one day making movies and now movies have made my life a dream."
Ryan Gosling at the Santa Barbara Film Festival wearing a black suit.

Gosling paid tribute to Mendes and their kids while accepting an award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January.
He continued, "So the way I see it, there's no way I've contributed half as much to cinema as cinema has contributed to me. But the idea that I might've given something back to the thing that has given so much to me is too great an honor for me to express."


Ice Cube explains why he offered Caitlin Clark $5 million to join BIG3
Earlier TMZ revealed that Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league submitted a $5 million offer to Caitlin Clark to join as a player. According to the publication, the NCAA point guard would only need to play eight regular season games and, if applicable, two playoff games to be guaranteed the money. Not only would there be "substantial additional compensation" through merchandising and sponsorships, the deal wouldn't come with an exclusivity clause -- meaning that Clark could play in the WNBA.

Not long after the news hit the internet, Cube hopped on Twitter to both confirm and explain his company's decision.
"We intended [for] the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship. But I won’t deny what’s now already out there. BIG3 made a historic offer," he wrote. "Why wouldn’t we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

The rap legend and mogul cited previous acquisitions and gave his take on the current state of women in professional sports. "The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men’s pro team and she won the championship in her first year. Then, Lisa Leslie won it all in year two," Cube stated. "With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes... [who] should not be forced to spend their offseason playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet."

He continued, "They should have more than just one professional option in the U.S. at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar. Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that BIG3 now offers another choice for athletes."

Currently, Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes are preparing for a Sweet 16 matchup against the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday (March 30). As of this report, she hadn't responded to Cube's opportunity.


Marvel Hits Pause on ‘Blade’ Due to Writers Strike

The writers strike has taken a bite out of Blade. Marvel Studios is shutting down preproduction on its vampire thriller starring Mahershala Ali, which was set to begin filming next month in Atlanta. The feature project, which has been paused once before, becomes the first tentpole movie impacted by the strike.

Blade had recently hired True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto to work on the script, but, according to an insider, “time simply ran out.” The studio will restart the production once the strike is over.
Since the strike action began Tuesday, the biggest impact has been on late night talk shows and Saturday Night Live. One drama series, Showtime’s Billions, halted production Thursday due to picketing.

While some studios have one or two movies going into production, Marvel is seemingly propping up the industry by planning on having three movies shooting at the same time, not to mention two series. Even with the Blade shutdown, it is gearing up for one of the busiest times in the company’s history.

Captain America: New World Order is currently filming in Atlanta. TV show Agatha: Coven of Chaos is also shooting in Atlanta, while fellow series Wonder Man is filming in Los Angeles. Deadpool 3 is expected to go in front of cameras later this month in London, while Thunderbolts is to hit Atlanta in June. As of now, Thunderbolts is still on track.

Fantastic Four, which is in the midst of the most closely watched casting search since Marvel hired Tom Holland to play Spider-Man eight years ago, is eying a January 2024 start date in London. That could change, if the strike were to drag on and on for six months or more, though according to sources that is seen as unlikely.

Still, even if the strike lasts just one month or six weeks, there would likely be an impact, with more movies’ start dates being push among the repercussions.
“There’s a billion dollars net in production costs that are exposed because of the strike. That’s certainly a concern,” says one source involved with the Marvel’s current slate of projects regarding those in or about to go into production.

Most big-budget blockbusters are known for their scripts evolving during production. Marvel, however, has a more acute reputation for script pages flying off the typewriters during filming. And the strike will mark uncharted territory for the studio, which is used to having a writer on set to rework things on the fly.

On the $1.92 billion-grossing Spider-Man: No Way Home, stars Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s deals weren’t completed until around December 2020, more than a month into filming. Writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers spent Christmas reworking the third act to include the Spider-Man actors, who gave input on the script. On Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), uncredited screenwriter Patrick Burleigh (Eternals) hammered out 25 pages a day on set, with director Peyton Reed and Marvel execs, including Kevin Feige, sitting in a room to review his work every evening.

Studio execs may take comfort in the 2020 WGA agreement’s “(a) through (h)” clause, which gives some leeway for a producer or director to cut a script for time, “change technical or stage direction,” and most notably, make “casual minor adjustments in dialogue or narration made prior to or during the period of principal photography.”

As observers note: No, you can’t create a new third act that suddenly has two new Spider-Men in it. Yes, you could potentially make enough changes to keep a story on track — if you read that clause generously.
One pressing concern is Captain America, since it is currently shooting. One rival production executive theorized, “[Marvel] will shoot what they can, then wait for the reshoots,” which are, in the Marvel manner, already baked into the production process.

As for the films going into production soon, Deadpool 3 is up first.
Star Ryan Reynolds is known for working as a writer on the films he produces and stars in (either uncredited, or as in the case of Deadpool 2, credited). Under the current strike rules, while a non-writer director or producer can make small adjustments to the script under the (a) through (h) clause, a writer such as Reynolds would not be allowed to.

That’s certainly a change from the norm during his other times as Deadpool. Before he was a powerhouse writer and producer, Reynolds played Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which was filmed during the last writers strike. “So we were in the middle of production, there were no writers, no anything,” Reynolds said of the Wolverine movie in 2016. “Every line I have in the movie I just wrote myself because in the script we had, it said, ‘Wade Wilson shows up, talks really fast.’ I was like, ‘What?! What am I supposed to do with that?’”
Thunderbolts hails from regular Marvel favorite Eric Pearson, known for penning Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow. Like other Marvel writers, he finds some of his key moments during production. In 2020, Pearson recounted that a signature Black Widow dinner scene featuring the core characters — played by Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Rachel Weisz — was made possible by rehearsals he had with his actors and rewrites he made on the fly. (Beef creator Lee Sung Jin is the current writer on Thunderbolts.)

And Sony’s Marvel feature Venom 3 is expected for a London shoot in the coming months, from first-time director Kelly Marcel, who penned the script from a story she developed with frequent collaborator and star Tom Hardy, who has a story by credit. Hardy is also known for coming up with ideas on the day (such as a notable scene in the first movie in which his character, Eddie Brock, gets into a lobster tank). “The lobster day was utter, utter chaos,” Marcel said during press for Venom 2. “You’ll find four or five of those in this movie. The movie clings to that feeling of joy and fun and madness.”

The last writers strike impacted multiple tentpoles, some for the worse. Star Trek (2009) writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were on set thanks to their roles as executive producers, but under the rules at that time, they could not change the script. “All we could do was sort of, make funny eyes and faces at the actors whenever they had a problem with the line and sort of nod when they had something better,” Orci said in 2009.

Star Trek was a hit with critics and audiences. Other tentpoles of the era were not as lucky. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra are among those whose that creatives have spoken ill of. (“Look, I’ll be honest. I fucking hate that movie. I hate that movie,” star Channing Tatum once said.)
James Bond feature Quantum of Solace is perhaps the most famous casualty of the WGA strike. Considered the low point of Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007, it went into production without a completed script. “On Quantum, we were fucked,” Craig said in 2011. “We had the bare bones of a script and then there was a writers strike and there was nothing we could do. We couldn’t employ a writer to finish it. I say to myself, ‘Never again,’ but who knows? There was me trying to rewrite scenes — and a writer I am not.’”

As for Marvel, it enters a new phase in its relationships with writers during this time. The first Iron Man concluded filming in June 2007, five months before the strike. Now, Marvel must contend with not only script challenges, but potential picketers as well. On Thursday, one WGA member tweeted a call to action, asking people to join them in picketing a Marvel production filming in the heart of Hollywood. The tweet, which has been deleted, was aimed at Wonder Man, which stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. In a meta moment underscoring this historic and fraught time, the series gives a superhero’s perspective on the entertainment industry, centering on a Hollywood stuntman and actor trying to make it big in the movies.


Kim Kardashian Sued by Estate of Artist Donald Judd for Showcasing Alleged Knockoff Furniture

 The Judd Foundation filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian for claims made in a 2022 YouTube video of her SKKN by Kim office.
In the since-removed video, Kardashian highlighted what she called "Donald Judd tables," adding that the pieces "totally blend in with the seats."

But the foundation that oversees the estate of the late minimalist visual artist claims that the dining set is inauthentic. In the lawsuit, West Hollywood interior design firm Clements Design is named. According to the New York Times, Clements is being sued by the Judd Foundation for trademark and copyright infringement.
“Consumers are likely to believe Judd Foundation and the Donald Judd brand are connected or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed Ms. Kardashian,” reads the suit. “Judd Foundation categorically prohibits customers from using purchased Donald Judd furniture for marketing and promotional purposes.”

Hi Guys! Join me for an exclusive tour inside my @skkn headquarters. You’ve been asking for this video for a long time and I am so excited to finally be able to share with you where my team and I work from. Watch the full video on my YouTube channel now.
Pointing out "obvious key differences" between their table and a Judd original, Clements wrote in a statement that they were "blindsided" by the filing and sought a resolution with the foundation. However, the company says that the foundation "was unwilling to settle on reasonable terms."

The Judd Foundation reportedly contacted Kardashian three days after the YouTube video was posted and a spokesperson for the businesswoman responded with an apology for "any inconvenience" and offered to "update the video caption with a retraction."
The response was unsatisfactory for the foundation, which asked that the video be removed altogether and the furniture be "recycled." Kim's team came back with another offer, this time to promote the foundation in a social media post. Despite the attempts of Kardashian's team, the Judd Foundation seems to want no association with her brand.

"It is lower quality than Donald Judd’s furniture,” Megan Bannigan, a lawyer for the foundation, told the NYT. "We don’t want to be mixed up with Kim Kardashian. We respect what she does, but we don’t want to be involved with this."
 

Louis Vuitton’s 2024 High Watchmaking Lineup
Louis Vuitton’s High Watchmaking roster for 2024 is here..First on the lineup is a trio of Escale Cabinet of Wonders models, each said to carry a design inspired by the late Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s own collection. Meanwhile, a Frank Gehry collaboration is at the heart of the new Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Sapphire.

‌Also among this year’s novelties are ‌a pair of Tambour Slim Vivienne Jumping Hours timepieces and the Voyager Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Plique-à-Jour model.
In 2023, Complex named Louis Vuitton as one of the best brands of the year. In February of that year, Pharrell was appointed by the French luxury house to the position of men’s creative director.

More recently, LV launched a new capsule collection designed by Tyler, the Creator. Shortly after the first full look at the collection was unveiled in February, Complex shared first impressions while touching on the pre-LV history that led up to Tyler's big moment.


Michelle Buteau Becomes First Woman to Tape Comedy Special at Radio City Music Hall
*Comedian Michelle Buteau is set to become the first woman to tape a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall.
“I have another special coming out. We’re going to be filling it at Radio City Music Hall [on] June 6,” she said at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards about her untitled project that will begin filming this summer, Vibe reports.

“I will be the first woman and woman of color to be taping a special there, so that’s why I’m saying these things [representation] matters,” Buteau added. “You got to lay the groundwork for other people to come and think they can do it and know that they can do it.”
In related news, Buteau recently teased what fans can expect from her character, Mavis Beaumont—in season two of Netflix’s “Survival Of The Thickest.”

“It’s bigger, Blacker, bustier, bi**hier than before. All the B-words. It’s adulting next level,” she said at a pre-NAACP Image Awards event, per Vibe. “So, I feel like whatever you connected to, I just can’t wait for you to see what has happened.”
As we reported… “Survival of the Thickest” centers on Mavis Beaumont (Michelle Buteau). Black, plus-size, and newly single (not by her choice!), Mavis unexpectedly finds herself having to rebuild her life as a struggling stylist. She’s determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a body-positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss

The scripted comedy is based on Buteau’s acclaimed book of essays.
The series also stars Tone Bell, Christine Horn, and Tasha Smith. The first season featured guest stars: Annisa Felix, Allan K. Washington, Ambre Anderson, Anna George, Anthony Michael Lopez, Becca Blackwell, Christine Jones, Garcelle Beauvais, Hugh Moore, J. Riley Jr., Mark McKinnon, and Marouane Zotti.

The premiere date for Season 2 has not been announced, but you can catch up on the first season on Netflix.


Trump’s Latest Grift: Selling $60 Bibles – ‘We Must Make America Pray Again’

*In case you haven’t heard, Donald Trump launched his latest grift, a venture to promote a line of premium Bibles in collaboration with country music luminary Lee Greenwood, whose anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.” resonates deeply within Trump’s political sphere.
In a video posted on Truth Social, Trump enthusiastically endorsed the endeavor, asserting …

“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book. It’s a lot of people’s favorite book. We must make America pray again,” Trump added and emphasized the significance of religion and Christianity, lamenting their absence in the nation and attributing it to societal discord.
While the Bible remains a widely accessible text, freely distributed by churches and available on numerous platforms, the “God Bless the U.S.A. Bible” carries a hefty price tag of $59.99, excluding additional charges.

This special edition, bearing the Trump-Greenwood seal, boasts unique features, including a King James translation with a handwritten chorus from Greenwood’s iconic song. Notably, it incorporates the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Marketed as the sole Bible endorsed by Trump and Greenwood, it claims inspiration from the patriotic anthem. The text is adorned with a large font, with Jesus’s words highlighted in red.

Details regarding the financial gains for Trump and Greenwood remain undisclosed, arriving amidst a tumultuous period for Trump’s finances.
Despite a significant increase in net worth attributed to a media company merger, Trump faces immediate financial pressures, including a substantial civil fraud judgment in New York and defamation lawsuits. Moreover, his political fundraising efforts lag behind those of his Democratic counterpart, President Joe Biden.

The website selling the Trump-endorsed Bibles clarifies its non-political stance, asserting independence from Trump’s enterprises while licensed to utilize his name and likeness. Trump’s financial records reveal substantial earnings from speaking engagements through CIC Ventures, a significant contributor to his income.


“Selling Sunset” Star Chelsea Lazkani Files For Divorce From Husband Jeff After Seven Years
“Selling Sunset” star Chelsea Lazkani is back on the market after filing for divorce from her husband of seven years.
After seven years of marriage, the luxury real estate agent recently moved to split from her husband, Jeff Lazkani. The pair met on Tinder in 2015, shortly after she relocated to Los Angeles and tied the knot in 2017. They have since welcomed two children, three-year-old Melia and five-year-old Maddox. Sadly, Chelsea is ready to be free of her husband. It’s unknown what broke down their relationship, though she cited irreconcilable differences in her filing.

Chelsea is hoping to retain joint physical and legal custody of their children. She is also seeking spousal support but is leaving the door open for Jeff to request alimony. Chelsea, a real estate agent at the prestigious Oppenheim Group, has been a part of the Netflix series “Selling Sunset” since season five. She has a reported net worth of roughly $500,000, according to Express. Jeff, who is Managing Partner for Icon Media Direct, also has a reported net worth of around $500,000. There does not appear to be a prenuptial agreement in place, and Chelsea asked a court to help the pair divide their assets.
Jeff has been featured on the hit real estate show alongside his wife. However, he is not an official cast member. Chelsea frequently shared glimpses of her husband and family online. However, a quick glance at her Instagram shows that nearly all remnants of Jeff have been erased.


Baltimore is Selling Vacant Homes for $1

The city of Baltimore is launching a new initiative to revitalize struggling neighborhoods by selling boarded-up homes for just one dollar each.
According to reports, Mayor Brandon Scott is leading the effort to combat crime and urban decay through this groundbreaking plan.
Residents have a unique chance to acquire over 200 city-owned vacant properties and restore them to their former condition, presenting a rare opportunity for those ready to put in the effort.

Despite the opportunity, Baltimore still faces a significant challenge with approximately 15,000 abandoned properties as of 2022, indicating a lengthy and challenging path toward urban renewal.
Baltimore has one of the highest crime rates in the United States, with a 1 in 21 chance of experiencing either violent or property-related crimes.

The recent approval of the $1 initiative by a city board mirrors Baltimore’s historic “dollar house” program from the 1970s, embodying a spirit of community revitalization through individual efforts.
Individual buyers are the main focus of the $1 initiative this time around, while developers looking to purchase a home must pay $3,000.

Those who participate in the program must commit to renovating their purchased property, have a minimum of $90,000 for rehabilitation, move in within one year, and reside in the home for five years.
According to Governing.com, recipients of the initiative can receive generous grants of $50,000 to aid in renovations, contingent upon obtaining pre-approval for construction loans.


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

He’s Not Peter Cotton Tail


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM 

3/27/24

The Daily Buzz For Mar 28☕📰☕

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

#MAGFAB: Chaka Khan for FLAUNT MAGAZINE!!!!
Chaka Khan | We Plant These Seeds, And They Always Exceed Expectation
In Conversation With Sia, Via Issue 191, Fresh Cuts
Unfurling from the tendrils of time, there are rare voices that move and shake through the space-rhythm continuum and into the sonic psyche. Undoubtedly, one of those voices is Chaka Khan. Born in Chicago, Chaka rose to prominence in the early 70s as the lead singer of the immortal funk outfit, Rufus. Defining a genre and a celestial energy with hits like, “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” and “Ain’t Nobody,” Chaka still gets even the coolest too-cool-for-school scenesters moving on the dance floor.

After a successful career with the band and in her own right—one that has birthed 22 albums, 10 Grammys, 10 Number One songs, and an equal number of gold and platinum albums— Chaka Khan is emerging back into the spotlight, having paired up with Australian singer and songwriter Sia, whose past collaborations include everyone from Eminem to Beck to Miley Cyrus. A testament to new beginnings, friendships, and synergies, the two have collaborated on a forthcoming single, “Immortal Queen,” with an album soon to follow.

Ahead of these fresh cuts from hitting the proverbial sound garden, FLAUNT had the opportunity to listen in on a conversation between the two respective icons, speaking their truth on the virtues of napping, godchildren, who to trust, and the joys of new friends.
Sia: I think the most amazing thing that I’ve taken away from this is that I’m 48, you’re 70, and we’re still making friends. And that is so beautiful...If we have our hearts open, we can still make these very deep and profound connections at any time in our lives...There’s so much opportunity for love and friendship still at any time in our lives. And I’m just so grateful to know you and to be your goddaughter.
Chaka: I love you so much, and I love your heart, and it really threw me for a loop to finally find you...I don’t even have a word for what we are, together.
Sia: We’re like two naughty, bad girls sitting in the back of the bus together, smoking cigarettes...I love how mischievous you are. It’s the best.***

Sia: Do you love yourself?
Chaka: On a good day, I love myself.

Sia: How did you get to the point of being able to love yourself?
Chaka: You know, I’m still working on it; I’m a real selfless kind of person. I love people. I love everybody.

Sia: And you forget to focus on yourself sometimes?
Chaka: Exactly.

Sia: And then on a day when you don’t feel like you’re in love with yourself, what do you do to get out of your head and out of that negative space?
Chaka: I try to reset and usually go to sleep and get up again.
Sia: Napping’s not for idiots. No, it’s not. Napping is for geniuses. Napping is when I feel emotional...


#RHOP: Candiace Dillard Bassett to Exit ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ After 6 Seasons
*Candiace Dillard Bassett is leaving “The Real Housewives of Potomac” after six seasons.
“As I embark on a new chapter after six remarkable years with The Real Housewives of Potomac, I am filled with gratitude for the enriching friendships, personal growth and moments of introspection that have defined this journey,” she said to People.

“With a whirlwind of new opportunities and responsibilities on my plate, I have decided to take a break from RHOP,” Bassett continued, Too Fab reports. “This is not a farewell, but a ‘see you later.'”
She added, “Your unwavering support has been my guiding light, and I look forward to the exciting adventures that lie ahead and more importantly, sharing them all with you!”

The season 8 finale recently aired, with the multi-part reunion set to kick off this weekend.  The season 8 cast includes Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Wendy Osefo, Gizelle Bryant, Robyn Dixon, and Mia Thornton. Joining the ladies for the current season was newcomer Nneka “Neco” Ihim, a Nigerian-American lawyer who is newly married to a plastic surgeon.

“We are all Black women, and we are all going through our different things in our lives, and we’re going to embrace that,” Ashley said in the S8 trailer. We’re going to keep Potomac weird, OK?”

“The Real Housewives of Potomac” first premiered in 2016. The S8 reunion kicks off the first of three weekly episodes this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Meanwhile, Candiace made headlines recently when she shared her fear of having fair-skinned children with her white husband.

“I do have a fear of having light-skinned children,” she said during an episode of the Breakbeat Media podcast Don’t Call Me White Girl, ESSENCE reports.
“I want my kids to be brown. But they’re probably not gonna be brown. And I’m like, becoming okay with it. I want my kids to be brown. But if they’re not, it’s fine,” she said.
Bassett is married to chef Chris Bassett. When they first started dating, she didn’t consider the possibility that their children might have lighter skin.

She stated on the podcast, “I didn’t think about [that] when I was falling in love and like ‘Oh this is my husband. Oh wait I’m gonna have these swirly babies.’”


#MusicNews: SWV & Xscape Announce “The Queens of R&B Tour” With Mya, Total & 702

Legendary 90’s R&B groups SWV and Xscape are coming together for “The Queens of R&B Tour”. They will be joined by special guests Mya, Total and 702.

The tour is a celebration of passion, power, resilience and unstoppable ability to exceed expectations. The highly anticipated tour will bring timeless R&B music and stellar performances across 30 cities nationwide.
Produced by Monami Entertainment and Live Nation, the tour will kick off on June 27th in Concord, CA, at the Toyota Pavilion at Concord and continue its journey across the country, making stops at prestigious venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Mona Scott-Young of Monami Entertainment adds:
“To announce this HERstorical tour during Women’s History Month means everything. It speaks to the power of our ability as women to overcome adversity and emerge triumphant. 702, Total, Mýa, SWV, and Xscape have all weathered storms and are still here and better than ever! We are so excited to bring the fans an incredible and undeniable performance experience that truly celebrates R&B music.”

Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale on Tuesday, March 26. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale starting Friday, March 29, at 10:00 AM local time on Ticketmaster.com.

THE QUEENS OF R&B TOUR DATES:
Thu Jun 27 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Sat Jun 29 – Las Vegas, NV – Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Tue Jul 02 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Wed Jul 03 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Fri Jul 05 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sat Jul 06 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Tue Jul 09 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Wed Jul 10 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Fri Jul 12 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Sat Jul 13 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Jul 14 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Tue Jul 16 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Wed Jul 17 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Fri Jul 19 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*
Sat Jul 20 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sun Jul 21 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Wed Jul 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thu Jul 25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri Jul 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sat Jul 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
Fri Aug 02 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Sat Aug 03 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sun Aug 04 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Tue Aug 06 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Fri Aug 09 – Detroit, MI – LIttle Caesar’s Arena
Sat Aug 10 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sun Aug 11 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 13 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
Wed Aug 14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
Sun Aug 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum


Get your tickets!


#HipHopNews: Cardi B Threatens To Sue LAPD After They Allegedly Made Her Get “Butt-Naked” During Investigation
Cardi B plans on taking legal action against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) following an incident at her residence, where she alleged that authorities made her undress.
During an Instagram Live on Monday (March 25), she detailed the encounter. The artist stated, “I was freaking out. They had me outside for like three hours. They had me getting butt-naked outside. S**t was crazy. It was dead-a** a movie and whatever, but you already know I’m about to sue the LAPD.”

The “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker later voiced her disbelief over the situation, highlighting her confusion about being suspected of drug trafficking. “I told them like, ‘Yo, I’m Cardi B. Do I look like I gotta sell some s**t? Why would I do that? I would never pull no s**t like that,'” she recounted.
Cardi also speculated that the tip-off to the police might have been the work of an adversary. “They didn’t believe me. It was some white cops and they ain’t know who I was. They was really tough on me and everything. They said somebody gave them a clue,” she explained. “I really feel like it was one of my opps and s**t. They really trying to ruin my life type s**t.”

Toward the end of the clip, Cardi thanked her fans for supporting “Enough (Miami).” The record, which came out on March 15, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its accompanying visuals have roughly 8.4 million YouTube views to date.
The track followed Cardi’s “Like What (Freestyle).” The latter-mentioned song sampled Missy Elliott’s smash hit “She’s A B**ch,” and Offset directed the music video. It also served as the New York native’s first solo release of 2024. Meanwhile, her most recent featured appearances include Flo Milli’s “Never Lose Me (Remix)” and Shakira’s “Puntería.”


Diddy Sells Remaining Revolt TV Stake To Anonymous Buyer

Diddy has sold his remaining stake in Revolt TV to an anonymous buyer.
According to TMZ, his shares were sold for an undisclosed sum, though it will remain Black-owned. The outlet also details that the new Revolt boss wants to remain anonymous during this time. However, they plan to announce their arrival “in the coming weeks.” No other details surrounding the sale have been shared.

Sexual assault allegations lodged against Diddy sent a shockwave throughout Revolt in 2023. In fact, journalist Dawn Montgomery decided to leave the company. Montgomery explained that she couldn’t work at Revolt if Diddy was involved in any way. Montgomery, a host on Revolt’s Monuments to Me podcast, announced her departure shortly after Cassie released her bombshell lawsuit.

“FYI: I won’t be signing on to do the 3rd season of @revolttv’s Monuments To Me podcast. I am a [sexual assault] survivor & I cannot be a part of a show that’s supposed to uplift black women while @Diddy leads the company. Believe Black women,” she typed at the time.
“I am grateful for how I was able to contribute to this show & work with w/my cohost Akilah! This was a wonderful opportunity brought to me by our producer, Darius, who saw that I needed to share more of my story & connect with w/the show’s audience. This isn’t a hard decision, and I’m okay,” she added. “One thing I’ve done throughout my professional career(s) is be mindful of my work ethic and where I place my energy & time. I also feel like Revolt’s leadership not speaking on this says a lot and even though this podcast experience blessed me… I’m done.”

As previously reported, Diddy stepped down from his role as Revolt chairman. In November 2023, Sean Combs relinquished his role amid a flurry of sexual assault allegations. Combs released a statement via Revolt’s Instagram page at the time explaining his decision.

“Sean Combs has stepped down from his position as chairman of Revolt,” the message read. “While Mr. Combs has previously had no operational or day-to-day role in the business, this decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and the African diaspora.” At the time, Diddy’s move was detailed as “temporary.”


‘The Wire’ Creator David Simon Has Zero Patience For Conspiracy Theorists Who Are Pouncing On The Baltimore Bridge Tragedy
Early in the morning on Tuesday, March 26th, Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. A number of construction workers were on the bridge during the crash, and many of the workers remain missing.
On social media, fans of crime drama The Wire were quick to share a scene from season 2, which focused on a handful of characters working in the Baltimore Port area.

David Simon not only created The Wire but also worked as a police reporter at The Baltimore Times for over a decade, and he is not happy with the amount of conspiracy theories surrounding the catastrophe.
Simon took to Twitter/X to debunk some theories that the crash was intentional. Most notably, he called Marjorie Taylor Green a “complete submoronic pratfall of a human being.”

Even though there are reports that the crash was caused by a power failure, according to CNN, the cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said, “We have been made aware of those same reports about there being a power outage. I’ve also seen statements, media releases from Singapore as well. It’s something that we take in, but something that we have to verify through our investigation that that was what was part of the contributing cause here. So too early to tell,” she said. For now, their efforts are focused on looking for the missing construction workers.


Drake Bell To Share More In Surprise Fifth Episode Of 'Quiet On Set'
"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" will air a surprise fifth episode featuring a new interview with Drake Bell. Titled "Breaking the Silence", the bonus episode will launch on April 7 on Investigation Discovery (ID) and then stream on Max.

According to a network press release, the upcoming episode will delve "deeper into the toxic and dangerous culture" of some of the most iconic children's television shows in the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to Drake, the episode will feature other former child actors from some of Nickelodeon's hit shows from the early 2000s.

The new episode is set to build off "the revelations explored in the first four episodes." It will also include discussions with journalist Soledad O'Brien.

Jason Sarlanis, President, TNT, TBS, TruTV, ID & HLN, Linear and Streaming, said in a statement, "With 'Breaking the Silence', we're digging deeper into the crucial conversations the docuseries ignited and exploring the lingering questions left in their wake to provide further insight from the brave voices who've spoken out previously and those who are coming forward again."

On the docuseries, Drake opened about being sexually assaulted by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck when he was 15. His father Joe Bell also appeared on the show, claiming that he was "ostracized" on set and "backed off" when he raised concerns.

"I'm not the same today," Joe said while getting emotional. "The pain's still there from the moment that I knew. I don't wish this on any parent or child whatsoever. It's just devastating."
"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV", which premiered on March 17, has garnered more than 16 million views. Among the viewers was Drake's former "Drake and Josh" co-star Josh Peck, who showed support for Drake in a statement.

"I finished the Quiet on Set documentary and took a few days to process it," he wrote in an Instagram post. "I reached out to Drake privately, but I want to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world."
He continued, "Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry."


Will Smith And Martin Lawrence Embark On New Adventure In 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die' Trailer

Sony Pictures has released the trailer for "Bad Boys 4" officially titled "Bad Boys: Ride or Die". The film marks the fourth installment in the popular action-comedy franchise that debuted in 1995.

Will Smith, 55, and Martin Lawrence, 58, reprise their iconic roles as Miami PD detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. However, this time around, the duo finds themselves on the run from the police after being falsely accused of a crime.
The trailer opens with the partners foiling a convenience store robbery while on their way to a black-tie event. They soon discover that their former supervisor, Captain Conrad Howard (oe Pantoliano), was suspected of corruption and ask them to clear his name.

In a wild turn of events, Lowrey and Burnett are framed for a crime they didn't commit, forcing them to flee. They seek help from Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio), a jailed drug dealer who was revealed to be Lowrey's son in "Bad Boys for Life."
As the trailer progresses, the detectives find their lives in danger when they're confronted by gunmen who demand they sing a Reba McEntire song to stay alive. The duo hilariously attempts to fulfill their request.

Joining Smith and Lawrence in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" are Alexander Ludwig, Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, Paola Nunez, Rhea Seehorn, Tasha Smith, and Ioan Gruffudd. The film is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who also helmed "Bad Boys for Life".

WATCH
The first "Bad Boys" film grossed $140 million worldwide while "Bad Boys II" earned over $270 million. The third film in the franchise, "Bad Boys for Life," was even more successful, taking in over $420 million.

"Bad Boys: Ride or Die" is set to hit theaters on June 7. According to Smith, the original choices for the "Bad Boys" roles were Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz, but the casting changed when Lawrence received the script.


Dollar Tree Inc. Plans to raise prices again in 2024 to 7 Dollars
Shoppers will soon have to spend a few more quarters at their local discount store, as Dollar Tree Inc. recently announced their most recent price hike across their Dollar Tree stores.
A recent earnings call held by Dollar Tree Inc. consisted of an announcement of another price hike where over 300 newly introduced items will be now have a cost range from $1.50 to $7. To summarize, all products in Dollar Tree stores will now range from $1.25 to a higher $7, and just the newly introduced items will have a base price increase to $1.50.

According to Yahoo Finance, a $5 price cap was announced in June of 2023. This means that the the capped cost of $7 will be more than it was in the past. Dollar Tree Inc. had already raised their base price to $1.25 in 2021.
According to Dollar Tree Inc. CEO Rick Dreiling, the move was made in order to add new products to their shelves.

This expanded assortment will offer Dollar Tree shoppers a wider range of choices across a variety of categories…Over time, you will also see us fully integrate multi-price merchandise more into our stores, so our shoppers will find $5 bags of dog food next to our traditional $1.25 pet treats and toys, and our $3 bags of candy will be found in the candy aisle.

The most recent price increase comes not long after Dollar Tree Inc., who also owns Family Dollar, announced the closure of more than 1,000 Family Dollar stores nationwide.


Russell Simmons Shocked To Be Served Lawsuit While In Bali

People have joked about Russell Simmons fleeing to Bali to escape possible legal action for years, but the accusations against him are no laughing matter. Reportedly, he wasn’t laughing either when he was served a lawsuit, even whilst being in the Indonesian province.

We reports that process server Daniel John Ayoub traveled to the Gbas Bali Health And Wellness Resort on March 5, went through two security checkpoints and searched for the Def Jam co-founder for an hour before finding him. Upon discovering Simmons’ whereabouts, he handed him a lawsuit from former music executive Drew Dixon for defamation after his negligence of her sexual assault claims.

“I recognized him as the person named in the service papers as Russell Simmons,” Ayoub said. “[He’s] a well-known celebrity and widely known in Bali, Indonesia as well as in the United States and other places.” Ayoub claims that Simmons was in the middle of a meeting with some of his associates and was shocked to have been found and served this lawsuit while overseas.

Simmons was first accused of being a sexual assault empathizer by Terry Crews in 2017. Crews claimed he had been inappropriately touched by WME agent Adam Venit and shared screenshots of the 66-year-old entrepreneur asking him to give Venit a “pass.”
This opened a can of worms, as The Los Angeles Times reported that Simmons and director Brett Ratner were accused of joining forces to sexually assault women. One of their alleged victims claims she was coerced into going back to an apartment with them, where they made sexual advances while she was 17 years old.

As for Drew Dixon, she claims Simmons raped her in 1995 and went on a “concert and malicious campaign” to discredit her story. He described her as seeking “notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame” by making these accusations against him, and has repeatedly declared he is innocent in the matter. Dixon has also accused record executive L.A. Reid of sexual assault and harassment, and AllHipHop reports that their lawyers are in settlement talks.


Renee Rapp Hits Back at Fans Speculating About Her Sexuality

Renee Rapp is done with all of the talk about her sexuality. After previously identifying as bisexual, the 24-year-old Mean Girls actress has recently been referring to herself as a lesbian in interviews.
Fans then started to question her sexuality, and on Monday (March 25) told everyone to cut it out.
“if I say I’m a lesbian I am a lesbian and if someone says they’re bi they are bi I’ve had enough of you witches,” Renee wrote on X, previously known as Twitter.

Back in February, Renee looked back at publicly coming out


Oscar Winners Ke Huy Quan & Ariana DeBose to Star in New Movie 'With Love'
Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose are teaming up for a new movie!On Tuesday (March 26), it was announced that the two Oscar-winning actors will be starring in 87North’s new movie With Love for Universal Pictures, Deadline reports.
With Love will be directed by acclaimed veteran stunt coordinator and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio. The movie will mark his directorial debut.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the movie is being written by Josh Stoddard, Luke Passmore, and Matthew Murray
The movie marks Ke‘s first starring role since winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2023.
As of right now, With Love is scheduled to open in theaters on February 7, 2025.

If you missed it, Ariana addressed speculation that she may be feuding with a fellow actor.


NBC News Ousts Ronna McDaniel After Staff Uproar, CAA Drops Ex-RNC Chair

NBC News has officially decided to part ways with its newest on-air contributor, Ronna McDaniel, the former Republican National Committee chair, just days after she was hired.

“After listening to the legitimate concerns of many of you, I have decided that Ronna McDaniel will not be an NBC News contributor,” NBC News Group chairman Cesar Conde wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon. “No organization, particularly a newsroom, can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned. Over the last few days, it has become clear that this appointment undermines that goal.”

Separately, McDaniel has been dropped by CAA, the agency that repped her in the deal with the network, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter.

The former Republican National Committee chair was hired by NBC News on March 22 as an on-air contributor, and she made her NBC debut on Sunday’s edition of Meet the Press, where she was grilled by Kristen Welker.
“It couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team,” NBC News senior vp of political Carrie Budoff Brown said of her hire at the time.

But the move was extremely controversial within the NBC News Group, with former Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd voicing concerns on Sunday’s show just minutes after the interview ran.
“Look, there’s a reason why there’s a lot of journalists at NBC News are uncomfortable with this, because many of our professional dealings with the RNC over the last six years have been met with gaslighting, had been met with character assassination,” Todd said on the program.

Those public concerns continued Monday, with one MSNBC host after another calling for executives to reconsider the move, including Joy Reid, Nicolle Wallace and Lawrence O’Donnell.
“To be clear, we believe NBC News should seek out conservative Republican voices to provide balance in their election coverage,” Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski said. “But it should be conservative Republicans, not a person who used her position of power to be an anti-democracy election denier, and we hope NBC will reconsider its decision. It goes without saying that she will not be a guest on Morning Joe in her capacity as a paid contributor.”

And MSNBC’s biggest primetime star, Rachel Maddow, delivered an extended monologue about the history of American fascism, connecting the echoes of the past to the current efforts to undermine elections, and noting McDaniel’s role in the 2020 effort.
“I mean, you wouldn’t hire a wiseguy, you wouldn’t hire a made man like a mobster to work at a DA’s office, right?” Maddow said. “You wouldn’t hire a pickpocket to work as a TSA screener. And so I find the decision to put her on the payroll, it’s inexplicable, and I hope they will reverse their decision.”

Read Conde’s memo:

Hey all,
There is no doubt that the last several days have been difficult for the News Group. After listening to the legitimate concerns of many of you, I have decided that Ronna McDaniel will not be an NBC News contributor.
No organization, particularly a newsroom, can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned. Over the last few days, it has become clear that this appointment undermines that goal.

I want to personally apologize to our team members who felt we let them down. While this was a collective recommendation by some members of our leadership team, I approved it and take full responsibility for it.
Our initial decision was made because of our deep commitment to presenting our audiences with a widely diverse set of viewpoints and experiences, particularly during these consequential times. We continue to be committed to the principle that we must have diverse viewpoints on our programs, and to that end, we will redouble our efforts to seek voices that represent different parts of the political spectrum.

GOOD!


Kim Zolciak Taken To Court Over Target Card Balance
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak is being taken to court over her Target credit card balance. This comes as Kim’s overall debt total reaches more than $1 million and she struggles to sell her Atlanta home. Keep reading for the details about the lawsuit and how the RHOA star ended up in this legal battle.

She was initially sued by Target National Bank in June 2023 for $2,482.24. However, Kim refused to settle the bill and the issue was further escalated to a court in Georgia.
“[Target] has made demand upon the Defendant for payment, but [Zolciak] has failed, neglected, and refused to make payment upon the account to the Plaintiff,” the lawsuit read. According to the suit, the RHOA star opened the Target card account in 2007 and was always on time with payments until she stopped paying altogether in 2022.

The last payment received was in the amount of $500 on September 17, 2022. Even though she was served with legal paperwork, she blew the lawsuit off. This forced the court to enter a default judgment.
Court documents have revealed that a Georgia judge ordered Kim Zolciak to pay $2,613.38 for the debt owed to Target. The court order comes as financial hardships continue to pile up for the former Real Housewives star.

The $2,600 debt is nothing compared to the $1.1 million tax lien that Kim Zolciak and her estranged husband Kroy Biermann are currently facing. The lien states that the couple owes $103,564.48 for 2013, $330,126.29 for 2017, and $714,143.90 for 2018.
To settle the federal tax lien, Kim and Kroy have been attempting to offload their mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia. This is the only asset they have to sell in order to settle the lien. However, the 7-bedroom, 9-bathroom, 9,500-square-foot home has proven to be hard to sell. They decreased the asking price by $1 million, bringing it down to $5 million.

The pair sued Truist Bank to stop foreclosure proceedings on the home, citing that doing so would cause their family significant harm. Kim Zolciak told the court, “I am writing this affidavit today with a sense of urgency and a sincere request for your understanding and assistance in a matter of great importance to my family.”

She said that she believed “that the proceeds from its sale can help alleviate our financial difficulties and secure a stable future for our children. However, the impending threat of foreclosure is looming over us, and time is of the essence.” Additionally, she said the foreclosure of the home would leave her children homeless.

Truist Bank said that it planned to proceed with the foreclosure if they did not come up with the money promptly.


Josephine Wright’s Family Settles with Developer Over Ancestral Land

*Josephine Wright, the South Carolina woman who made national headlines for fighting developers over property that has belonged to her family since the end of the Civil War, died earlier this year at age 94. Two months after her passing, her fight concluded with Bailey Point Investment, the construction company seeking her land.

The Guardian reports that the company settled with Wright’s family members, ending the dispute that began with a lawsuit for ownership last year.
According to South Carolina Public Radio, the settlement confirms that the family retains ownership of the property within Bailey Point’s proposed 29-acre neighborhood. The company is prohibited from contacting the family regarding the purchase of the land, and a privacy fence will be installed between the property and the construction of a new residential development.

Wright’s story caught Tyler Perry’s attention, and before her death, he promised to build her a new house on the property. The movie mogul hit up social media to express condolences after Wright’s passing in January.

“I am so heartbroken to hear about the passing of this warrior. Ms. Josephine Wright, even though we spoke by phone, I was so looking forward to meeting you in person next month to hand you the keys to your new house, but God had other plans,” Perry explained in a post on Instagram. “My prayer is that you rest in peace knowing that I will honor the commitment that I made to you. I know you will be watching over us all as I hand those same keys to your family.”

Perry added, “So your 4 children, 40 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren will still be able to gather at YOUR house on YOUR land and tell the world what kind of fighter that you were. You have run your race and fought an incredible fight! Journey well my dear lady. You have inspired me.”

We reported earlier via CNN that Wright and her late husband, Samuel Wright Sr., moved from New York to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, nearly 30 years ago to seek peace and relaxation on a family-owned property. Wright acquired the deed to the land in 2012 after her husband died in 1998. The property was at the center of a legal battle with the developer looking to build a residential development next door.
According to The Post and Courier, Georgia-based Bailey Point Investment, LLC plans to construct 147 homes next to Wright’s house.

As of 2014, Bailey Point Investment reportedly owns the land surrounding Wright’s 1.8-acre property. The company tried to buy Wright’s residence a few years back, offering just $39,000, but she rejected it, according to USA TODAY.
Wright countersued the company, and that’s when she caught Perry’s attention, who vowed to build her a new five-bedroom home on the land, TMZ reported.

AFROTECH reports that after a tree fell on Wright’s home and left two holes, Perry built a new home for the great-great-grandmother.
A GoFundMe for Wright raised over $350,000. Snoop Dogg and Kyrie Irving donated $10,000 and $40,000, respectively.


McDonald’s to Sell Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Nationwide by 2026
On Tuesday, McDonald’s plans to sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts at its restaurants nationwide by the end of 2026.
The rollout is expected to start in the second half of the year and is expected to take nearly two and a half years as the donut chain more than doubles its distribution to satisfy the partnership. For the duration of the agreement, McDonald’s will be the exclusive fast-food partner for Krispy Kreme in the U.S., CNBC News reported. The partnership was first tested at 160 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky and Indiana last year.

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth told CNBC that demand exceeded both companies’ expectations.
Shares of Krispy Kreme spiked 24% in morning trading Tuesday following the announcement. The stock is on track for its best day ever.

The partnership with McDonald’s is a major opportunity for Krispy Kreme to expand. The company delivers its doughnuts to 6,800 third-party stores as of Dec. 31. McDonald’s has roughly 13,500 restaurants in the U.S. and plans to open 900 more by 2027, CBS News reported.

The partnership could also help McDonald’s bolster its breakfast and coffee sales.
“We think we can service about 6,000 restaurants with our existing infrastructure, mostly doughnut shops, which have excess capacity,” Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth told CNBC.

Under the collab, Krispy Kreme will deliver three versions of its donuts — glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles, and chocolate iced with a cream filling — to McDonald’s locations each morning. Customers have the option of buying donuts individually or in a box of six.


NFL Owners Approve New Kickoff Rule

New rule changes are often proposed and approved at the annual NFL owners’ meetings. On Tuesday, a new Kickoff Rule was approved with a vote of 27-3. This rule is considered to be safer and more entertaining than the previous one. The new rule will be enforced for a one-year trial period and must be reapproved next year.

Under the new rule, ten players from the kicking team and at least nine from the receiving team will line up just five yards apart. Nobody except for the kicker and the returners can move until the receiving team catches the ball. The kicking team will now kick from their 35-yard line, which will help prevent the slew of injuries that have occurred in the past, when players ran at full speed during kickoffs.

If a kick lands in the endzone for a touchback, the opposing team will receive the ball at the 30-yard line. If the ball is kicked out of bounds or short of the 20, the opposing team will be awarded the ball at the 40-yard line. Similar to the small sample size from the XFL, the injuries went down, and the returns on kickoffs increased.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
And the Furious Series Continues

Ready, Set, Go!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM 

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