celebrity news
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New reports are continuing to develop in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking matter that is the target of a federal investigation. Cassie, who many feel began the deluge against Diddy, is reportedly working with investigators in the case.
TMZ reports that sources close to the case informed them that Cassie has been in contact with the authorities connected to the federal investigation into the alleged sex trafficking and assault charges Diddy currently faces. Cassie’s cooperation adds to others who have stepped forward to offer what they know about the matter.
What was interesting in the report is that Cassie had been reportedly working with the investigators for weeks long before the
orchestrated raid of Combs’ homes.
Other women have also come forward to cooperate but those names aren’t known to the public. The details of the conversations haven’t been revealed but it seems that much of what has come out so far is being repeated.
The outlet adds that they weren’t able to determine if producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones spoke with the authorities beyond filing the lawsuit that named Yung Miami, Daphne Jo, and others.
As of now, Jones has not been charged with a crime and is not on the run as had been widely reported.
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Photo: CHRIS DELMAS / Getty
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It hasn’t even been a year since OG Hot Boy, B.G., was released from prison after serving 11 years. However, the Ca$h Money rapper is facing the possibility of being thrown back in the bing for allegedly violating his probation.
According to the Guardian, B.G. might’ve run afoul of the law as he performed alongside other entertainers on stage without the permission of authorities. Huh?!? They can’t be serious. Apparently that “erroneous” act of defiance is enough to land BG back in the clink as a judge is weighing whether or not to punish the “Bling Bling” rapper for violating his probation.
Part of B.G.’s probation is that he “obtain prior written approval … before entering self-employment” and refrain from associating with anyone who has prior felony convictions. Being that he performed alongside the likes of Lil Boosie and Gucci Mane (y’all know their history) without getting approval first, a federal probation officer wrote him up and Baby Gangsta now finds himself at the mercy of the court.
The Guardian reports:
Dorsey’s probation officer described asking the musician about his employment choices as well as telling him that he needed to find other work. According to the officer, Dorsey’s response was: “I’m a rapper. That [is] my profession.”
The officer applied for a warrant to arrest Dorsey on 21 March, saying he had violated multiple conditions of his supervised release. US district judge Susie Morgan of New Orleans, where Dorsey had been prosecuted when first imprisoned, signed off on it a day later, according to records.
Dorsey was arrested in Las Vegas and appeared in a federal courthouse there on Wednesday. After being ordered released on his own recognizance, he was told to appear in federal court in New Orleans as required while officials deliberate whether or not to revoke his supervised release and reincarcerate him. Subsequent court dates were not immediately available.
B.G.’s PO is out here hating big time. Just sayin’.
Hopefully, B.G. isn’t punished for being a rap artist in a music game where many of his peers have had their run-ins with the law as he’s only performing alongside them and not participating in some street ish.
What do y’all think of B.G.’s situation? Fair or nah? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Photo: @new_bghollyhood / Instagram
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Lizzo seems to be done with having to deal with constant criticism online, saying “I quit” in a recent social media post.
In a surprising post, Grammy Award-winning artist Lizzo publicly declared that she was through with the barrage of criticism she faced online, ending with the words, “I QUIT” with the peace sign emoji. “I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet,” she wrote. “All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.” It wasn’t made clear what she was referring to.
The singer continued: “I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views,” she added. “Being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look … my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name. I didn’t sign up for this s—t.” The post was made a day after the superstar singer performed at a sold-out fundraising event for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last Thursday (March 28), and another post made on March 17 wherein an upbeat mood she wrote that she was “writing some of the best music and I’m so excited for y’all to hear.”
Lizzo, also known as Melissa Viviane-Jefferson, rose to stardom with music celebrating self-love and body-positive acceptance. The 27-year-old has been under a cloud of controversy, dealing with one lawsuit first filed against her last year by three of her former dancers who alleged that the singer harassed them sexually and created a hostile work environment. Another lawsuit from a former designer was also filed against her. A judge denied her motion to dismiss the lawsuit outright from the dancers but did dismiss some of the claims made before allowing it to move to trial.
The post garnered heavy attention, with a bunch of commenters validating some of what Lizzo wrote in the post by throwing insults and jabs at her. Others wrote messages of support, including celebrity friends such as Hip-Hop icon Queen Latifah, comedian Eric Andre, and Paris Hilton, who wrote: “We love you Queen.”
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Photo: Leon Bennett/GA / Getty
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Afrika Bambaataa was accused by several individuals of sexual abuse, leading to his ouster from the Universal Zulu Nation. A John Doe filed a request for a motion for a default judgment late last month in connection to a previous lawsuit claiming that the Hip-Hop pioneer abused him.
All Hip Hop obtained documents filed by the attorneys for John Doe on March 28, citing that it was the third such request for the motion for a default judgment. The request was sent to Judge Alexander Tisch, who is overseeing the civil case.
From All Hip Hop:
“This firm represents Plaintiff in the above-referenced matter,” John Doe’s lawyers wrote. “Plaintiff filed a Motion for Default Judgment (motion sequence #3) against Def. Taylor on August 1, 2022. Plaintiff is once again respectfully inquiring as to when the Court will issue a decision and Order.”
John Doe accused Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking in a 2021 lawsuit. The alleged victim said he was only 12 years old when the abuse began.
“From 1991 to 1995, Plaintiff was invited to Defendant’s apartment, located in the BRH, where he was repeatedly subjected to sexual abuse consisting of mutual masturbation and sodomy,” John Doe’s lawyers wrote. “During the same time period, Plaintiff was transported by Defendant Taylor, to other locations and offered for sex to other adult men in exchange for money. Defendant Taylor, intentional sexual assault of Plaintiff was for his own sexual gratification and without regard for the Plaintiff’s well-being. Defendant Taylor, performed the aforementioned actions for his own sexual gratification and without Plaintiff’s consent.”
Afrika Bambaataa denied any wrongdoing initially in 2016 and has since maintained his innocence. Several individuals aligned with Bambaataa stood in defense of the former Universal Zulu Nation leader despite the criticism they endured for doing so.
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Photo: Getty
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Chance Perdomo, an actor who starred in Prime Video’s The Boys spinoff series Gen V, died over the weekend. Perdomo, who was Afro-Latino, also starred in a popular Netflix series as well.
Chance Perdomo was set to begin production on the second season of Gen V and was traveling via motorcycle towards Canada when the accident occurred on March 30 in upstate New York, according to a report from Deadline. The outlet added in an additional report that Perdomo was heading to Toronto ahead of a scheduled April 8 table read session for the series.
The family and representatives for Perdomo shared the following:
His passion for the arts and insatiable appetite for life was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth will carry on in those who he loved dearest. We ask you to please respect the family’s wish for privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved son and brother.
Perdomo starred as Andre Anderson on Gen V, which takes place in the same universe as The Boys and features several superpowered young adults wrestling with the weight of their powers. Perdomo also starred in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
“We can’t quite wrap our heads around this. For those of us who knew him and worked with him, Chance was always charming and smiling, an enthusiastic force of nature, an incredibly talented performer, and more than anything else, just a very kind, lovely person. Even writing about him in the past tense doesn’t make sense. We are so sorry for Chance’s family, and we are grieving the loss of our friend and colleague. Hug your loved ones tonight,” a producer for the series shared in a statement.
Chance Perdomo was 27.
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Photo: Getty
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R. Kelly would probably be the last person most would expect to have an opinion on the legal issues Diddy is currently enduring, but the imprisoned singer has chimed in. During a recent Clubhouse chat, R. Kelly questioned the sex trafficking allegations Diddy is facing.
As seen on All Hip Hop, R. Kelly, 57, joined Wack 100 on Clubhouse and shared his views on the legal issues that the mogul, real name Sean Combs, is facing. In essence, Kelly stated bluntly that what’s happening to the Bad Boy Records honcho is nothing but falsehoods.
“The sh*t is crazy. Muthaf*ckas out there laughing and making comedian jokes and doing all the other sH*t on the radio and everything else, but they ass could be next,” Kelly is heard saying. “That’s what’s so f*cked up about it. They so stupid they don’t even realize the moves that’s going on.”
He added, “That’s why I don’t believe none of this sh*t. You could tell me about Puffy, you could about anybody in there. You could tell me on the news, the weather, the sky is blue, I’m not gonna believe the sh*t. ‘Cause I’m in it now, and I know what they did.”
It appears that Kelly is insinuating that the charges he’s currently serving time for and what Diddy is being accused of are part of some larger conspiracy to ruin the legacies and careers of the men.
The conversation with Wack 100 and R. Kelly can be heard in the clip below.
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Photo: Cook County Department of Corrections / Cook County Department of Corrections
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Source: Hoover Police Department / Hoover PD
Carlee Russell pleaded guilty to charges of faking her kidnapping last year in Alabama, avoiding jail time as a result.
Last Thursday (March 21), Carlee Russell was at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Bessemer, Alabama, to address the court after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges related to filing a false police report. “I made a grave mistake while trying to fight through various emotional issues and stress,” the nursing student said inside a Bessemer courtroom during her sentencing, acknowledging that she’s undergoing counseling while adding:
“I am extremely remorseful for the panic, fear, and various range of negative emotions that were experienced across the nation,” she said. “I want to specifically acknowledge and take accountability for the pain and embarrassment that I inflicted upon my family, my church family, friends, neighbors, community, and all those who were directly involved in search efforts for me.”
As a result of the plea deal that was reached after she was found guilty in October 2023, Russell will not serve any time in jail but will have to serve 100 hours of community service to go with one year of supervised probation. The 26-year-old will also have to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution to the city of Hoover, Alabama. The city’s police chief was not happy with the decision. “It’s a slap on the wrist. You pay the money and move on,” HPD chief Nick Derzis said afterward. “The other thing, if you’re not going to give her jail time then let’s finish the puzzle, get that one piece: Where were you for 49 hours and who helped you?” he added. “We’ll never find out.”
Russell made national headlines after vanishing mysteriously last July after phoning 911 to report a toddler in a diaper wandering next to a highway. Officers dispatched to the site found her vehicle and some personal items. Russell returned home after 49 hours of being missing. An investigation by the Hoover Police Department would later find that she had Googled terms like “Do you have to pay for an Amber Alert?” before confessing her kidnapping was a hoax. Currently, there is legislation in the Alabama State House to make false reporting of a crime a felony if it poses an imminent danger to the public and depletes municipal resources.
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Jadakiss and Jim Jones joined forces to march with healthcare workers to the New York governor’s office to demand action on Medicaid.
On Saturday (March 23), members of the 1199SEIU healthcare workers union marched in New York City to the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul to protest the new restrictions that she has placed concerning Medicaid. Joining them on the march were two top-notch rappers – Jadakiss and Jim Jones. The Dipset MC shared footage of himself and the Lox artist marching with the healthcare workers in the rain in a post on Instagram.
“What we doin?” Jadakiss asks as Jim Jones holds up the camera to capture the moment. “We gettin’ our steps on like Malcolm and Martin, out here for a good cause,” Jones replies. In the caption of the post, he wrote: “Special shout out to all the #1199Healthcare workers who show up for the cause today and march to fight for [what’s] right,” also adding:
“The government is only covering 70 percent of Medicaid cost at our new York hospitals [and] clinics. This 30 percent gap is causing underfunding [which] cause the hospitals to b[e] understaffed then eventually havin’ to close [their] doors. To prevent this from happening we [need] everyone to let the governor know we need the 30 percent to [be] implemented immediately. Shouts to @hot97 [and] @funkflex for keeping the city united when we need it the most @jadakiss.”
In January, 1199SEIU called on Governor Hochul to stop underpaying the state’s hospitals on Medicaid claims. Currently, only 70% of all bills under Medicaid are paid fully. “Over seven million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid services, the majority of whom come from Black and Latino communities. Despite the fact that Medicaid provides vital coverage to these New Yorkers, the state pays hospitals 30% less than the actual cost of needed care,” their statement reads. The practice has led to the closure of two major hospitals in New York City and 15 maternity centers in the state.
The march is the second time Jadakiss has been spotted outside in service of the people. He was recently seen offering support to those incarcerated in the Rikers Island prison system, bringing them pizza from the viral eatery, Cuts N’ Slices.
“Didn’t break my fast but I did let the brothers enjoy the meal and festivities,” he wrote in the caption.
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Pray for Keith Murray. The Long Island rapper was recently recorded in a bad state, but it’s the women behind the camera who is catching all the smoke.
Recently, a clip of “The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World” rapper was uploaded to social media that frankly showed him to be down bad, essentially begging for money. The woman behind the camera can be heard recording Murray despite his questioning why she is video taping him. Despite his protests she continually say she is recording him because he’s famous and goes as far as offering him $20 to “sing.”
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Keith Murray has been seen in this sort of state. Back in June 2023, Lord Jamar shared a video a Murray in what seemed like a mental health crisis. Worth noting, is that just a couple of weeks earlier Murray looked just fined performing in Baltimore.
With the latest video, the overall reaction is concern for Murray’s health, with many hoping he gets help for whatever he may be going through. As for the videographer, she’s catching all the slander for allegedly clout-chasing at the expense of putting a star rapper on blast at his lowest.
See the reactions for yourself in the gallery.
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The promotional efforts for Beyoncé’s forthcoming country album are well underway. However several museums have denied any involvement with her Cowboy Carter projection.
On Wednesday, March 20 advertisements for her newest project were projected onto the walls of multiple iconic institutions throughout New York City. “This is not a country album. “This is a Beyoncé album. Act ii Cowboy Carter 3.29” read on the facade of the Guggenheim. Additionally photos of the album imagery were also displayed on the exterior of The New Museum and The Whitney. While at first glance it seemed like there was some sort of deal struck between her record label and these institutes that is not the case.
According to The Gothamist the stunt came to the Guggenheim as a surprise. “The Guggenheim was not informed about and did not authorize this activation,” a spokesperson said in a statement via email to the news publication on Thursday, March 21. But they also added that the “Halo” singer and her fans are welcomed to attend their upcoming Jenny Holzer installation. On Thursday, March 21 they referenced a lyric from “Texas Hold ’em” in a social media post about a painting by Franz Marc that featured horses.
In an Instagram post the Houston native detailed how this effort came about. “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t” she wrote. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s first ever country album is slated for a March 29 release.