State Champ Radio celebrity news
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The late Chadwick Boseman will be among the group of honorees to get their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year, including the iconic producer Dr. Dre.
On Monday (June 26th), the Walk of Fame Selection Panel for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced their Class of 2024 whose members will be honored with a star on the Walk of Fame. Boseman, who succumbed to colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 43, will posthumously receive that honor as part of the group nominated from the Motion Pictures category. Late musical icon Otis Redding will also get a star after being nominated for the Live Theatre/Live Performance category with actress Jane Krakowski.
Dr. Dre will also be receiving a star after being nominated from the Recording category along with Glen Ballard, Toni Braxton, Def Leppard, Charles Fox, Sammy Hagar, Brandy Norwood, Darius Rucker, and Gwen Stefani. Veteran radio host and media personality Angie Martinez will also get a star as the lone nominee from the Radio category.
“The Selection Committee which is made up of fellow Walk of Famers, carefully hand-picks a group of honorees each year that represent various genres of the entertainment world,” Walk of Fame Chair Ellen K said in the announcement statement. “The Committee did an amazing job choosing these very talented people.” There are no dates announced yet for any ceremonies.
The rest of the honorees from the film category are veteran actress and recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Chris Meledandri, Chris Pine, and Christina Ricci along with Gal Gadot and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. The television category nominated Ken Jeong, Eugene Levy, Mario Lopez, Jim Nantz, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michael Schur, Kerry Washington, and Gordo y La Flaca co-hosts Raúl De Molina and Lili Estefan. Tennis legend Billie Jean King and Carl Weathers will be honored from the Sports Entertainment category.
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Iconic actress Angela Bassett will be honored with an Oscar at an upcoming ceremony, ending years of missing out.
On Monday (June 26th), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 64-year-old veteran performer would receive an honorary Oscar at the upcoming Governors Awards. Director, writer, and actor Mel Brooks will also be receiving an Oscar at the event along with film editor Carol Littleton. The award is meant “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy.”
“The Academy’s Board of Governors is thrilled to honor four trailblazers who have transformed the film industry and inspired generations of filmmakers and movie fans,” said Academy President Janet Yang in the announcement. “Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting.”
Bassett had been recently nominated at this year’s Academy Awards for her role as Queen Ramonda in Wakanda Forever, the 2022 sequel to Black Panther. That nomination for the best supporting actress was her second in the category, and it made her the first actor from a Marvel Studios film and the first woman from a superhero film to be considered. The seven-time Emmy Award winner had previously been nominated for Best Actress portraying the late Tina Turner in the 1993 film What’s Love Got To Do With It.
The news of the honorary Oscar did garner reactions from some who felt that it was the Academy’s way to try to cover up her not being awarded a competitive Oscar for her work. Journalist Jerome Trammel pointed this out in a post on Twitter, writing: “The Academy Awards wanting Angela Bassett to accept an honorary Oscar is insulting. She BEEN earned it authentically & they’re trying to clean up the fact that racism runs deep in that show’s process. Calling it honorary leaves a stain that she didn’t get it by “their” standards.”
Last year, Michael J. Fox was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, with honorary Oscars going to director Euzhan Palcy, songwriter Diane Warren, and director Peter Weir. The 14th annual Governors Awards will take place on November 18th in Los Angeles, California. The 96th Academy Awards will take place on March 10th, 2024.
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Rihanna is officially stepping down as the CEO of her Savage X Fenty company, in a move to further the vision and earning potential of the brand.
According to reports, the superstar singer announced that she would be leaving the role with the lingerie brand that she co-founded in 2018 with another group including luxury house LVMH effective on Monday (June 26). Hillary Super, the former CEO of Anthropologie Group will take over the reins as Rihanna will remain executive chair. Since that origin point, her valuation is set at $1.4 billion.
“It’s been beautiful to see our vision for Savage X Fenty impact the industry at such an incredible magnitude over the last five years,” Rihanna said in a statement. “This is just the beginning for us, and we’re going to continue to expand in ways that always connect with the consumer. I’m so grateful and excited to welcome Hillary Super as our new CEO — she is a strong leader and is focused on taking the business to an even higher level.”
“I’m thrilled to join the Savage X Fenty family,” Super said in the press release. “The brand is a major powerhouse in the lingerie and apparel industry, and its unwavering commitment to celebrating inclusivity and fearlessness is inspiring.” Prior to her being global CEO at Anthropologie, she served in leadership roles at American Eagle, Gap and Old Navy as well as Guess.
For the “Diamonds” singer, the move is another step towards realizing a stronger connection with the consumer beyond digital sales. The Savage X Fenty brand opened up brick-and-mortar locations in seven cities across the United States which include Los Angeles, Houston, Las Vegas and Atlanta, fueled by earning $125 million in investments at the beginning of last year aided by other groups including Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners. Also adding to the brand’s appeal, the Valentine’s Day specials produced in conjunction with Amazon Prime have brought in more viewers and customers.
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Reality star Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan spoke out about those critics of their relationship, also addressing those pointing to their age difference.
In a recent interview, The Real Housewives of Miami star and her mate discussed how they handle those on the outside who cast doubts on their relationship given that she’s the ex-wife of Scottie Pippen, the Chicago Bulls teammate of NBA legend Michael Jordan, Marcus’ father. “People just want to see you happy and there’s just a few people who are just miserable,” the 48-year-old said. “They just wanna have some negative input on things. But I think overall, I feel like people that know us, love us, want us to be happy.”
For the 32-year-old businessman, he shares the same spirit. “I let people that are misinformed be misinformed,” Jordan said. “I feel like people see our last names and immediately want to have some sort of reaction or opinion. But I feel like as people get to know us and understand our situations more, they’re way more happy for us and just want to see us to live in our truths and be happy.”
The couple have launched a new podcast, Separation Anxiety with Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan where they discuss relationships and their perspectives. Pippen has been mum about her connection with Jordan’s parents. “I recently have been hanging out with them,” she said. “I don’t really wanna talk about them. It’s not about my parents or his parents.” Both also address the questions about their age difference. “I just feel like we meet somewhere in the middle,” Jordan said. “Age is just a number, but I think maturity and life experience really dictate the relationship.” The mother of four agreed, saying: “I feel like for us, it’s very natural to be with each other.”
Eyes have been on the couple since September of last year when they were first spotted hanging out with each other. At the time, Pippen denied any romantic involvement. Things changed a few months later after the couple revealed their official status in an Instagram post. As Jordan explained, “I think early on, we were a little more cautious and just trying to tiptoe because we didn’t know what the reception would be.” He continued, “Honestly, it was happening so fast, and maybe even faster than we thought. We were just friends early on, and it kind of snowballed into this committed relationship.”
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Media personality Wendy Williams has been confirmed to be undergoing treatment in a facility, and her manager defended her while being hopeful about her status.
According to ET Online, the former television host is currently undergoing treatment at a wellness facility. This was confirmed by her manager, Will Selby, Wednesday (June 7). “Wendy is at a facility doing her best to be her best. She’s taking it day by day,” he said of the star before addressing speculations by fans and media. “And that’s another thing, too, does anybody even ask like, ‘How’s she doing? Does anyone even care… I feel like everyone just puts out negative information about her and that’s the focus. Why don’t we just stop for a moment and just say, ‘Hey, how is she? Is she doing OK today?’ Why is that not the focus? Why isn’t that what we’re talking about on a daily basis?”
The news comes as her publicist, Shawn Zanotti, had previously refuted claims made in a report from the Daily Mail last month that Williams was briefly hospitalized in a New York medical facility. “I can confirm that Wendy is not in the hospital, as reported. I can also confirm she is not in New York, as reported,” Zanotti stated at the time.
The 58-year-old’s manager said that she is intently focused on getting better as she deals with lymphedema and Graves’ Disease and has her focus on the future. “She’s only thinking about things that she wants to do in her life,” Selby expressed. “She’s only thinking about Wendy 2.0 and her new chapter of her life, and the things that she wants to accomplish, and that’s our focus.”
He also took time out to address the concerns of Kevin Hunter Jr., Williams’ son that were presented in an interview published by the U.S. Sun Tuesday (June 6). Hunter claimed that he felt his mother’s team was taking financial advantage of her as she struggles with alcoholism. “Taking advantage of her for what? To get what? To do what? I’m not here to brag, but I was doing just OK before Wendy came along and I insisted on helping her because she requested my assistance,” Selby stated.
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Tyler James Williams had more than a few words for those speculating about his sexuality, addressing the matter through social media.
The Abbott Elementary star sent out a message celebrating Pride Month on Sunday (June 4) through his Instagram Stories, taking the time to address the rampant questions about his own sexuality.
“Usually I wouldn’t address stuff like this, but I feel like it as a conversation is bigger than me. I’m not gay, but I think the culture of trying to ‘find’ some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closed person ‘let slip’ is very dangerous,” the Golden Globes winner began.
“Overanalyzing someone’s behavior in an attempt to ‘catch’ them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer-questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth,” he continued. “It makes the most pedestrian of conversations and interactions in spaces feel less safe for our gay brothers and sisters and those who may be questioning.”
The former child star of Everybody Hates Chris also pointed out how such speculation can be harmful in reinforcing stereotypes about what straight men are supposed to be.
“Being straight doesn’t look one way. Being gay doesn’t look one way,” he wrote. “And what may seem like harmless fun and conversation may actually be sending a dangerous message to those struggling with real issues,” he wrote. “I refuse to inadvertently contribute to that message.”
The 30-year-old star has been pivotal as teacher Gregory Eddie in the success of the ABC sitcom helmed by Quinta Brunson with Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph as part of the cast. Abbott Elementary was renewed for a third season by the network in January of this year, and the previous two seasons are now available to watch on Hulu.
Williams concluded his message by saying “Happy Pride to all of my queer and questioning brothers, sisters, and individuals. I pray that you feel seen in ways that make you feel safe in the celebration that is this month. As an ally, I continue to be committed to assisting in that where I can and helping to cultivate a future where we are all accepted and given permission to be ourselves,” he said, signing off his message with a white heart emoji.
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A bitter taste over failed promises over a tequila brand has led Diddy to file a lawsuit against his partner in the brand, Diageo.
According to reports, the entertainment mogul filed a lawsuit on Wednesday (May 31st) against the multinational spirits company, citing their neglect of the DeLeón tequila brand he co-owns with them. The lawsuit was filed by Combs Wines and Spirits in New York State Supreme Court against Diageo’s North American entity, with the expressed aim of compelling Diageo to comply with the joint-venture agreement both signed in 2013 and other written agreements crafted to resolve complaints.
Diddy, also known as Sean Combs, has also alleged that Diageo engaged in a pattern of racial discrimination when it came to the DeLeón brand, describing it as a “Black brand” and “urban”. He also accused Diageo of neglecting his brand while investing heavily into two other tequila brands including Casamigos, the brand backed by actor George Clooney which Diageo purchased for $1 billion in 2017. Don Julio is the other brand.
Other examples Combs presented in the documents of the lawsuit include confusion on the pricing of DeLeón bottles and his dismay at the decision by Diageo to not provide available agave to DeLeón during a shortage of the key tequila ingredient in 2020 and 2021. Another example cited was a bottle redesign that “was prone to bubbling, which made the product look cheap,” according to the filing.
According to retail data from last year, DeLeón’s availability on shelves in retail outlets is outpaced by a vast margin. It was estimated to have been found in 3.3% of retail outlets nationwide, while Casamigos and Don Julio were available at 34.4% and 36% of retail outlets nationwide, respectively.
“This is a business dispute, and we are saddened that Mr. Combs has chosen to recast this matter as anything other than that,” a spokeswoman for Diageo said to initial press inquiries. “Our steadfast commitment to diversity within our company and the communities we serve is something we take very seriously. We are disappointed our efforts to resolve this business dispute amicably have been ignored, and that Mr. Combs has chosen to damage a productive and valued partnership.”
Diddy recently launched his Diddy Direct platform, a portal whose aim is to help consumers and retailers locate his spirit brands.
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Shoot your shot at Ice Spice at your own risk. A video went viral last week of a response that “The People’s Princess” shot back at a fan who slid in her IG inbox.
“Hey mama,” the young fan wrote. “Small ass dreads and no Nike tech [skull emojis],” she allegedly wrote back. The fan shared the exchange with friends who clowned him for the interaction and uploaded the video of them laughing to social media.
While the clap back was brutal, some fans are praising the young fan for taking the chance.
The “Munch” rapper is known for curving fans and their romantic gestures. In February, she laughed off a fan who got on one knee and presented her with a bunch of roses during New York Fashion Week.
The starlet rose to fame with the single, “Munch (Feelin U)” followed by the singles “Bikini Bottom” and “In Ha Mood” before dropping her debut project, the Like..? EP, in January, which cracked the top 40 on the Billboard 200.
She recently collaborated with Nicki Minaj on the song, “Princess Diana.” The song debuted at No. 4 on the Hot 100 and became the first No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs by two co-billed women in its 34-year history.
“The first time I met her, I knew she was special. I got that tingling feeling [I get] every time when you meet that [kind of] artist,” says Michelle Jubelirer, CEO/chair of Capitol Music Group, according to Billboard. “I knew she was a global superstar in the making.”
She signed a label deal with 10K Projects and Capitol Records earlier this year.
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It’s safe to say that we all experienced some hard times during the lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people died, businesses were shuttered some never reopened again, and crime, homelessness, and addiction skyrocketed. But not many of us resorted to selling hard drugs to get by.
Yet, rapper Fetty Wap’s attorney has cited the pandemic as one of the alleged origins of the rapper’s “bicoastal drug distribution organization” that led to his October 2021 arrest on federal drug conspiracy charges.
Fetty’s lawyer, Elizabeth Macedonio filed a memorandum in federal court arguing for the New Jersey native rapper born Willie Junior Maxwell II to receive the mandatory minimum of five years for conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances versus the 87 to 108 months that the prosecutor is pushing for.
According to XXL, Macedonio’s letter to the sentencing judge reads, in part, “In or about 2020, with the coming of the worldwide pandemic, things began to change for Mr. Maxwell. There were no opportunities to perform, thus his income was severely limited,” Fetty Wap’s attorney writes. “He was sued personally, was going through a divorce, and was involved with a tour manager who was stealing from him. While the bills kept coming in, the money to pay them was running out. At or about the same time, Mr. Maxwell lost his grandparents and several other people who were close to him.”
The letter continues: “Depression and panic began to set in. As stated, Mr. Maxwell took enormous pride in his ability to provide for his children and lend support to his other family members. He is described as a people pleaser and a person who gains great satisfaction from taking care of others. Suddenly it felt like life was going in reverse and he became ashamed when he began to struggle to keep up the lifestyle that he created for so many. His judgment became impaired. Desperate to keep up with his financial obligations, Mr. Maxwell became involved in the instant offense for a few months in the spring of 2020.”
Fetty Wap was arrested by the FBI on federal drug charges in October of 2021. The feds nabbed the rapper right before he took the stage at Rolling Loud. He and five other people are accused of helping distribute over 100 kilos of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in New York and New Jersey
He was released on bond but arrested again in the fall of 2022 for allegedly threatening to kill a man on a FaceTime call.
Fetty Wap is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
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Charlamagne Tha God revealed to Kevin Hart that renowned author Judy Blume was his “ultimate dream interview” recently while on a podcast.
The media personality was a recent guest on the newest episode of the Gold Minds with Kevin Hart podcast series, which is a joint collaboration between SiriusXM and Hart’s media company, Hartbeat. As they spoke, The Breakfast Club host spoke highly of the well-regarded young adult author,
“I just did one [interview] that will be coming out real soon and it was with somebody who absolutely, positively has shaped my life from afar, just being a fan of their work and I cannot wait for that conversation comes out,” Charlamagne began. “I might as well tell you who it is…It’s with Judy Blume!” He explained: “I love Judy Blume because my mom was an English teacher and she would always tell me to read things that don’t pertain to me. So when I would go to the library, I’d see these books with these little white boys and white girls on the front and I’m like, well that’s nothing like my life so I would read all of her work and I fell in love with her.”
Both men also spoke about Charlamagne’s own personal evolution, with Hart and the media personality joking about his time with Wendy Williams beforehand. “How do you personally feel about your progression to this point? Is it surreal to you, or is it expected?” Hart asked. “It’s still surreal. My mother gave me a piece of advice nine, ten years ago that I still hold onto – ‘just be happy you’re making a living.”, Charlamagne responded.
The two also discussed the growth of The Breakfast Club to becoming a significant platform for the culture in recent years, with Hart noting how he would make it a point with his team to ensure that any time he went to New York City, he would be booked on the show. “I can say that I really started to look at you guys like “wow” when I saw how you went into the political stuff,” the comedian said.
The Gold Minds with Kevin Hart podcast is available now on all podcast platforms.
