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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.
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Last week, social media was buzzing after NewsNation “reported” that Pop/R&B sensation Bruno Mars had racked up more than $50 million in gambling debt at MGM casinos and that a large portion of that debt is being paid off with money Mars earned during his residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas.
After the news was reported, the interwebs were flooded with memes, gifs and everybody’s opinion on Mars’ apparent gambling addiction. Shannon Sharpe even started dishing about a story he heard about the “Talking to the Moon” singer losing nearly $2 million after a single night of gambling.
Well, it turns out that the Silk Sonic member may not be a victim of his own gambling impulses, but he might be a victim of bad journalism. According to MGM Resorts International, none of the rumors about Mars’ outstanding debt are true.
“We’re proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world’s most thrilling and dynamic performers. From his shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM to the new Pinky Ring lounge at Bellagio, Bruno’s brand of entertainment attracts visitors from around the globe,” MGM said in a statement to People. “MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
Since the company doesn’t have any discernable reason to lie about Mars not owing it money, it seems pretty safe to say this is yet another example of why folks can’t just believe every headline they read in their news feeds.
From People:
A source had claimed to NewsNation that MGM “basically owned” Mars after he allegedly racked up millions in gambling debt with the hospitality and entertainment company.
The outlet also claimed that Mars made $90 million a year from his residencies at MGM, but the singer was using a large amount of that to pay the company back.
“[He will] only make $1.5 million per night after taxes,” NewsNation claimed.
Mars’ began his partnership with MGM in 2016, leading to his Park MGM residency. This year, his Pinky Ring cocktail bar opened at MGM’s Bellagio Resort & Casino.
So, it sounds like Bruno Mars is doing fine, and there are some entertainment media outlets out there that really need to do better at checking their facts before rushing to put a juicy celebrity story out.
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Hot 107.9 has announced their upcoming annual Birthday Bash concert in a big way, with headliner artist Latto roaming Atlanta to spread the news.
One of Atlanta, Georgia’s hottest events, Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash is coming up soon (June 22). And the rap ingenue Latto took to the streets to ensure that everyone knows about the 2024 edition Birthday Bash and its lineup in style. The “Put It On The Floor Again” rapper rolled out with a caravan of 20 Black Suburban SUVs to announce the news of the concert to fans around the city on a bullhorn. She will be the first woman artist to ever headline the event.
The entire drive to the radio station was captured on video – including a pit stop at Walgreens so Latto could get her makeup fixed due to the high winds. The two-time Grammy Award nominated artist arrived with her entourage and spoke about what it means to be the headliner for the concert, which will be held at State Farm Arena on Saturday, June 22. “I love my city, my city had my back,” Latto said before imploring listeners to get their tickets. Baby, I’m telling you now. Get your tickets now. Don’t be calling me,” she said as the crowd gathered in the studio laughed and cheered.
The Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash 2024 is high-powered when it comes to the lineup already announced. As mentioned before, Latto will be the headliner with special guests joining her onstage, fresh off of the buzz of her latest single “Sunday Service”, where she delivered some biting lyrics seemingly aimed at another rising rap star, Ice Spice: “These b—–es corny, soon as monkey see, then you know monkey do/ Do you rap or do you tweet?/ ‘Cause I can’t tell, get in the booth, b—h.” Also getting top billing will be Boosie, Hunxho, Killer Mike and Key Glock. The rest of the lineup is filled out by Tee Grizzley, Famous Sally & YB with more artists to be announced at a later date.
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For a minute there not too long ago it seemed like the unlikely holy union between Micheal Jordan’s son, Marcus, and Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa was inevitable. But now the two aren’t just broken up, but apparently they aren’t even on speaking terms.
According to TMZ, Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen are on the total outs these days as the two have been broken up for weeks and don’t seem to be reconciling anytime soon. The breakup took many of their followers by surprise as the surprise “sports” couple even teased a possible wedding just last year only for them to ultimately go their separate ways as many (including Michael Jordan himself) disapproved of their relationship.
Per TMZ:
The two had a pretty rocky romance … and ultimately, they decided it was time to call it a day. With that being said, it’s impossible to say for sure we’ll never see these two together again … especially considering their track record of being on and off.
We’re told 49-year-old Larsa and Marcus, 33, haven’t been on speaking terms since the split … and they’re both focused on doing their own thing.
The signs were there — Larsa and Marcus unfollowed each other recently … and the oft-paparazzi’d duo haven’t been shot in public together in weeks.Of course, many considered the coupling to be a bit odd — Michael and Scottie have had a longstanding feud after winning six NBA championships together with the Chicago Bulls … and Larsa is a decade and a half older than Marcus.
You have to wonder what was the straw that broke the camel’s back in the relationship. Could it have been Marcus Jordan’s shady business practices when it comes to his exclusive sneakers? (Yeah, we still salty about that, b). Maybe his iconic father threatened to cut him off if he went through with the marriage? Who knows.
Still, we’re sure the two will eventually land on their feet as Larsa’s about to have a gang of wealthy men flood her DM’s to gauge her interest in moving on while Marcus will no doubt entice another woman with his family name. They’ll be aight.
What do y’all think of Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen breaking up? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Lil Nas X tried to get his miles up in New York City but went about it the wrong way. The entertainer ran a half marathon in Coach sneakers and left in a wheelchair.
As reported by Yahoo! Life, the “Industry Baby” performer participated in the New York City Half Marathon on Sunday, March 17. While the man born Montero Lamar Hill admitted to not properly training for the competition, typically anywhere from three to four months prior depending on skill, he did finish the race with a time of 2:32:53. According to Page Six he has never run more than three miles in one shot nor ran outdoors.
Aside from the inadequate training Lil Nas X, avoided the traditional gear worn by runners. His fit included a green long-sleeve t-shirt, black adidas shorts, a shimmery velvet durag, and high-top footwear. The shoes in question were not running sneakers but a pair of Coach Distressed High Tops. Featuring a leather upper and rubber outsole, these shoes are the opposite of what you want to wear for a 13-mile outing.
In 2022, Lil Nas X starred in a campaign for Coach.
After the race he shared an update he shared a video via his Instagram Story while in a wheelchair saying “Well… the race went well,” he joked. “It’s giving race!” The “Old Town Road” performer then shared a photo of with a caption saying “hey at least i made [it] tuh”.
You can see the footage pre and post-race below.
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Photo: Getty
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The lawyer for R. Kelly pleaded for the overturning of his sexual abuse conviction, claiming that prosecutors misused racketeering laws.
On Monday (March 18), the attorney for disgraced singer R. Kelly was in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which convened in Manhattan, NY, to appeal his convictions for running a decades-long scheme to recruit women and underage girls whom he sexually abused under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act or RICO law.
Attorney Jennifer Bonjean argued before the three-judge panel that the application used by federal prosecutors to gain those convictions was “preposterous.”
“The government has extended the RICO statute to a set of circumstances that is so beyond what the framers intended, which was to get at organized crime,” Bonjean said to the judges. “Now, we’re talking about an organization with an alleged criminal, but not organized crime.” Bonjean also argued that it framed Kelly and those he worked with in an improper light related to the charges, which also included the production of child pornography. “This was not a collection of people who had a purpose to recruit girls for sexual abuse or child pornography,” she said. “Whether they turned a blind eye, whether some of them suspected that some of these girls were underage, that’s a whole different matter.”
Assistant United States Attorney Kayla Crews Bensing argued on behalf of the government and refuted Bonjean’s claims.
“The defendant had a system in place that lured young people into his orbit and then took over their lives,” she told the panel of judges, pointing to evidence that those who worked with Kelly knew of his intent and actions. “This is all evidence that the jury was entitled to infer that Kelly’s inner circle knew what was going on: that he was recruiting and maintaining underage women for sexual activity,” Bensing stated.
Bonjean also encountered pushback from the judges. “RICO is looking at organizations, that are then used to commit criminal acts,” Judge Denny Chin said regarding Bonjean’s argument on RICO. “It doesn’t have to be a criminal organization. It could be a completely legitimate organization. But if it engages in racketeering activity, it violates RICO.”
The panel is expected to rule on the appeal this week. While Bonjean has successfully gained an appeal in a similar case with Bill Cosby, the odds of the 57-year-old singer’s convictions being overturned are highly unlikely.
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