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Nicki Minaj is dealing with a new legal battle, this time with a fan who claimed that she relentlessly slandered him online.
According to reports, Nicki Minaj is being sued by a former fan who alleges that the rap star humiliated him by slandering him repeatedly despite his avid support of her. The lawsuit was filed in a Los Angeles, California, court by Tameer Peak. Peak is suing for $5 million in damages for reputational harm, financial loss, and emotional distress. In the documents of the lawsuit, Peak states that he has been one of Nicki Minaj’s biggest fans for over 15 years and was instrumental in the social media promotion of Pink Friday 2, which was a boost to her career.
Peak says that the relationship changed amid the “Nicki Hate Train,” which took place in 2017 where the rapper accused several fans of hers of being moles who were tasked with sabotaging her. He also claims that Minaj berated him on an Instagram livestream that had over 100,000 viewers after inviting him to her hotel room to film, and that her husband, Kenneth Petty, assaulted him during a fan event at the 2020 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida. The suit also claims that Peak received messages from other fans earlier this year to “stop saying dumb s–t,” and would fire insults at him in online sessions with fans, which included, “It’s clear they’re not necessarily, you know, a full basket umm at the picnic.” She also allegedly claimed the Newark, New Jersey, resident was on welfare and that he was a “stalker” who impersonated members of her team.
Peak has gained some notoriety in the past for being a superfan, having gained some fame for showing up to Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour in Philadelphia last year in an alien costume. “Mr. Peak has been harassing Nicki on social media for years on end to no avail,” said Nicki Minaj’s attorney Judd Bernstein in a statement. “He has now graduated to seeking to shake her down financially with manifestly false allegations and legally frivolous claims. He will regret having gone down this disreputable road when he is forced to pay her legal fees as required by California law.”
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Comedian Kenan Thomspon tore into Project 2025 with a skit at the Democratic National Convention highlighting its horrors.
On Wednesday (Aug. 21), the third night of the Democratic National Convention got a comedic boost with context as Saturday Night Live alum Kenan Thompson took the stage, carrying an oversized book under his arm, which he stated was a real document – Project 2025. “Y’all remember this big old book, from before?” he asked the crowd at the United Center, who burst into laughter. “You ever seen a document that can kill a small animal and democracy at the same time? Well, here it is,” he quipped.
“You know how when you download an app and there are hundreds of pages there that you don’t read, it’s just the terms and conditions, and you just click, agree, right?” Thompson said while slamming the book down on the lectern. “Well, these are the terms and conditions of a second Trump presidency. You vote for him. You vote for all of this. Let’s take a look.” He then engaged members of the public who appeared on screen behind him. After encountering technical difficulties with the first guest, he moved on to a woman named Becky who shared that she’s been married to her wife for eight years. “Oh, that’s amazing. Very, very cute,” Thompson replied. “But I have got some bad news for you on page 584, Project 2025 calls for the elimination of protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. Right back to the Stone Age, I’m afraid so.”
He moved on to the next guest, who shared that she was diabetic and thanked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their work in cutting the price of insulin down to $35. “That is great,” said Thompson. “But! On page 465, Project 2025 calls for millions of people like yourself to pay more for prescription drugs like insulin. Why? Well I guess to help big pharma make more money to donate to Republican politicians, I assume.” Thompson then directed the crowd to look up the document on Harris’ campaign website.
Project 2025 has been under intense scrutiny since its online publication by the Heritage Foundation, thanks to Democrats along with other celebrities like Taraji P. Henson informing the public. Trump has denied any knowledge of Project 2025 via social media, but reports have tied numerous figures in his previous presidential administration to its creation.
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Source: Courtesy of Damon Dash / Damon Dash
It’s no secret that Dame Dash has been strapped for cash for a while now, and though he’s not bankrupt broke, the man certainly isn’t balling out of control like he was during Roc-A-Fella’s heyday.
With a court forcing him to sell his 33.3% share of Roc-A-Fella Records to satisfy his outstanding debt, Dame Dash decided to take the time to explain to everyone why he’s been hard on cash. Yesterday, Dame took to Instagram to inform everyone on how it’s gotten to this point, and truth be told, it’s pretty understandable. No, he didn’t blow all his dough on fancy cars, cribs or more jewelry, but he did blow a decent amount on his dreams.
In his IG Live, Dame explained that his pockets began thinning out when he started “investing” in ventures that he wanted to see grow into fruition. Though he didn’t specify what kind of investments he made, it’s obvious at this point that they just didn’t work out or give him a return on his investment.
“Somebody asked me how I got so broke. Um, investing in my dreams. You know, when you’re investing in your dreams and you dream big, you’re always gon’ be broke. You’ll have a lot of sh*t, but I don’t have no money for nobody else if that’s what you call broke. That’s what it is. Either way, I’ma get with y’all. Stay tuned. I’m curious to see how it all rolls out.”
Call us crazy, but we really hope things work out for Dame.
The post comes a day after Dame Dash took to Instagram to offer an OG iced out Roc-A-Fella chain to the first person to put down $10 million on his share of the iconic record label. With a judge ordering Dame to pay film director Josh Webber a cool $800,000, Dame has to part ways with the label he, Jay-Z and Kareem Burke founded in 1994.
While many would jump at the chance to purchase his stake in the label, Jay-Z put everyone on notice that the crown jewel of Roc-A-Fella Records’ catalogue, Reasonable Doubt, would ultimately be reverted to him in just seven years, 2031. With the starting bid of Dame’s share of the label beginning at $1.2 million, will anybody be willing to put much more than that on the label knowing its biggest asset will be gone in a matter of years? Guess we’re going to find out.
Check out Dame’s post below, and let us know your thoughts on his situation in the comments section.
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In a video on social media, Russell Simmons blasted those “attacking” his celebrity friends who’ve made visits to his home in Bali.
The entertainment mogul Russell Simmons voiced his frustration with those questioning the celebrities that have come to visit him at his home in Bali, Indonesia where he moved to amid multiple accusations of rape and sexual abuse. “Black people, did you forget that I got 10,000 black men out of jail? … And that I registered more of you to vote than probably anybody you know?”, he said in an Instagram Live video which was shared by another account named Live Bitez on Tuesday (August 20). Simmons was seated in a basic yoga pose as he looked into the camera.
“And I worked for Black Lives Matter and every movement that’s helped our people — all the women’s rights and even gay rights movements that I did so much work for,” Simmons continued, “To let them demonize me in such a way that my friends cannot visit me without you attacking them — but yet you stand next to Donald Trump, knock it off.”
He paused before stating that he’ll be in New York City next week. “I call the paparazzi on myself every time I’m there. I have an office. … I’m there all the time. I work out of New York sometimes, but I live here. This is my last chapter. I live here to heal people … and to give them spiritual and mental rejuvenation.”
The 66-year-old then addressed the accusations directly, saying: “From what I can tell, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, President Trump, all have more credible claims against them than I do if you ask Oprah [Winfrey]. I’ve never been charged with — who took nine lie detector tests? … Did Bill Clinton do that? Did Joe Biden do that? Did President Trump do that? Knock it off. I love you. I just don’t want my friends attacked … just leave my friends alone. Don’t attack them for visiting me. Attack friends for visiting Trump; he’s been convicted.”
Simmons has been living in Bali since 2017, and has recently been dealing with a few lawsuits accusing him of rape with the most recent being in February when a former music video producer sued him for allegedly attacking her in the 1990s. Several celebrities, including Taraji P. Henson, Usher, and MC Lyte have been pictured hanging out with the mogul in the past few months.
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And just like that, Jennifer Lopez is a single woman… again.
Just two years after wedding her 2000s beau, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from the Oscar-winning actor as their marriage has seemingly been struggling for quite some time. According to the Huffpost, Jenny from the block has officially taken steps to once again dissolve “Bennifer” after months of speculation that the two might very well be on their way to divorce court.
While Jennifer decided to file for divorce on Tuesday (Aug. 20), according to her legal filings, the two have been separated since April 26, 2024. To make matters even more complicated, there is no prenuptial agreement, and Lopez actually filed the divorce papers “pro per,” which means she didn’t use an attorney to file on her behalf. We guess after filing for divorce three times already, Jennifer Lopez seems to have learned a thing or two about how to get the job done without any legal assistance.
Still, it’s no surprise to many onlookers who have speculated for months that “Bennifer” was on the rocks as the two spent some meaningful days of the year apart from each other without any explanation.
The interesting aspect is that without a pre-nup in the picture, the money the two made since they tied the knot will now become “community property” including Ben’s films such as Air and The Accountant 2, along with Jennifer’s Atlas and Shotgun Wedding.
Huffpost reports:
Amid reports that the two were living separately, the “Hustlers” actor tried to put a damper on the breakup speculation.
When she was asked about the reported relationship strife during an event promoting her film “Atlas” in Mexico City on May 22, costar Simu Liu stepped in.
Chastising the journalist for the question, Liu said: “OK, we’re not doing that.” Lopez added: “You know better than that.”
Though the two appeared happy together at Affleck’s daughter’s high school graduation on May 30, questions about the marriage intensified when “Entertainment Tonight” reported that Affleck and Lopez had quietly put their $60.8 million Beverly Hills estate on the market in early June. The property hit public real estate listings in July.
We’re not gonna lie, we were low-key rooting for these two, but at the end of the day it’s better to be single than to feel alone in a relationship or marriage.
Regardless of the fact that Jennifer Lopez is 54 years old, you can bet your bottom dollar that many men will be sliding into her DMs to see if she needs a “friend” or “consoling” now that she’s going through some hard times.
It’s a cold game out there.
What do y’all think of Jennifer Lopez filing for divorce from Ben Affleck? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Roll call votes at political conventions are often seen as routine, even dull, but on Tuesday (Aug. 20), the Democratic Party turned tradition on its head, delivering an electrifying dance party during their convention.
DJ Cassidy, dressed sharply in a royal blue satin double-breasted suit, set the stage by spinning a carefully curated playlist that captured the essence of each state and territory as they pledged their delegates to Vice President Kamala Harris. What unfolded was a musical journey across America, featuring everything from Detroit native Eminem’s iconic “Lose Yourself” for Michigan, to Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” for Massachusetts, and Tupac Shakur’s “California Love” for California.
Georgia’s delegation took the celebration to the next level, with Atlanta’s own Lil Jon making a live appearance at Chicago’s United Center, energizing the crowd to the beats of his hit “Turn Down for What,” a collaboration with DJ Snake.
The Democrats’ approach was clear: they aimed to infuse their convention with joy and optimism, a vibrant counterbalance to the serious messages about the importance of defeating Republican nominee Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
This year’s roll call echoed the innovative video roll call of the 2020 convention, held during the pandemic, which famously featured Rhode Island’s calamari presentation. That moment set a high bar, compelling the Democrats to up the ante in 2024. (Ironically, the chef behind that tray of calamari was later revealed to be a Trump supporter.)
Emerging political leaders like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear were front and center during this year’s roll call. The star-studded event also featured movie director Spike Lee representing New York and actor Sean Astin, known for his role in the football film “Rudy,” joining the Indiana delegation.
While the musical choices brought a festive atmosphere, they also carried a degree of risk. The 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago is still remembered for the awkward spectacle of delegates attempting the Macarena to Los del Río’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix).” That moment continues to circulate as a lighthearted political memory decades later.
Florida made a pointed statement by choosing Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” as their roll call anthem, subtly jabbing at Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Petty, a Gainesville native, had his song co-opted by DeSantis for his unsuccessful presidential primary campaign, making Florida’s choice all the more symbolic. “Florida is worth fighting for,” declared state Democratic chairwoman Nikki Fried, emphasizing the importance of national Democrats investing in a state that has shifted sharply to the right.
Other musical highlights included Alabama’s inevitable choice of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Alaska’s nod to Wasilla’s own Portugal. The Man with “Feel It Still,” and Minnesota’s tribute to Prince with “1999.” Indiana, with Astin at the helm, played Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” Nevada went with Las Vegas-born The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Kansas opted for the rock classic “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas, and New Jersey paid homage to Bruce Springsteen with “Born in the USA.”
Despite the celebratory tone, the roll call wasn’t without its poignant moments. Texas delegate Kate Cox shared a personal and emotional story, recounting how she was forced to seek an abortion out of state after being denied the procedure by the Texas Supreme Court. Amid this backdrop, Cox joyfully announced that she is expecting again, with her baby due in January.
Under the Democratic Party’s rules, Vice President Kamala Harris was the only candidate to receive enough nominations to be formally entered into contention. Votes cast for other candidates or as uncommitted were recorded as “present” during the earlier virtual roll call. Tuesday’s lively and symbolic roll call was a reflection of the results of that earlier vote.
The Democrats’ roll call vote, transformed into a joyous celebration, showcased their commitment to energizing their base while delivering a powerful message of unity and purpose.
The full list:
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The Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday (August 19) in Chicago, and the early returns suggest that things are off to a roaring start. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered one of the more fiery speeches of the evening, aiming at Donald Trump and his record of busting unions while also praising Vice President Kamala Harris.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among several Democratic Party stars to deliver standout speeches, including former First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Raphael Warnock, and a spirited showing from President Joe Biden.
Ocasio-Cortez’s speech opened with how just six years prior, she was working as a waitress in New York City after graduating from Boston College. During that time, Ocasio-Cortez worked alongside her mother to fight foreclosure on their home.
As the speech rolled on, Ocasio-Cortez aimed her attention at Donald Trump, attacking the former president on rumored financial cronyism among other digs.
“Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” Ocasio-Cortez said during the speech to loud applause.
She added, “And I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed, trampling on our way of life.”
Ocasio-Cortez also used her speech to graciously praise President Biden for his leadership and framed Vice President Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz as champions for the middle class. This too also garnered heavy applause from the attendees at the United Center.
On X, formerly Twitter, the reactions to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s speech at the Democratic National Convention have been plentiful. We’ve got them listed down below.
A video of the speech is posted below, courtesy of PBS NewsHour.
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Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / Getty
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Roc Nation, an entertainment company that encompasses music, sports management, film, and more, recently announced a merger of two existing divisions that will provide a new opportunity for artists. With the merger of the label and the company’s Equity Distribution arm, the new distribution division will empower all artists who sign while allowing them to remain independent.
The new venture will give signees access to a bevy of resources that includes advice from label staff, data analytics, technology, and more, all while maintaining their independence, which includes keeping control of their master recordings.
More from a recent press release:
ROC Nation distribution is a hybrid, offering a unique blend of services. Artists who partner with ROC Nation distribution are independent, retain ownership of their master’s and creative control of their art. Artists also receive data analytics from a proprietary dashboard and have the ability to opt into various services across the company. We will sign all artists in all genres around the world.
Roc Nation was founded with an independent spirit and an artist-first mentality. The formation of ROC Nation distribution is a natural transition in the music space. The mission is to support and empower independent artists while providing them the tools and services to distribute their music. All artists signed to Roc Nation Label will join and benefit from the new ROC Nation distribution structure.
For artists who wish to learn more, please follow this link.
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Photo: Getty
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YG has never shied away from mentioning his ties to the Piru street gang, and he recently used his connection and influence to broker a peace walk between rival Piru gangs. Over the weekend, YG held the walk in his hometown of Compton, Calif. while also stopping for lunch at an iconic burger spot in Hub City.
As reported by TMZ, YG held the walk on Sunday, (August 18) with the Treetop Pirus, who he is a member of, and the Fruit Town Pirus, both said to be factions of the larger Bloods street gang organization. According to a note from the rapper’s publicist team, around 50,000 people marched.
The march began at local Gonzales Parks around 2 PM local time with plenty of photos being taken and with young families also taking part in the festivities. According to the outlet, The Game, who also hails from Compton, was in attendance and took pictures with attendees. Wallie The Sensei also joined in.
During the walk, the “My Hitta” rapper made a stop at Tam’s Burgers for a bite to eat with some of the marchers joining in. Some might recall seeing Tam’s Burgers in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video.
According to the outlet, the event was part of YG’s larger efforts to broker peace between the gang factions. This isn’t new for the Just Re’d Up 3 artist as he’s enacted a mobile mental health program previously, along with other philanthropic events.
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Photo: Brandon Espeleta
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Source: COACH / Coach
Jayson Tatum is extending his winning streak in a major way. He is now the face of the Coach For Men fragrance.
Source: COACH / Coach
As reported by High Snobiety, the Boston Celtics power forward has taken his talents to the men’s grooming category. This week, the apparel and leather goods brand launched their Coach For Men Eau De Toilette. Jayson Tatum stars in the advertisement proving he can use his star power off the court. Shot by Keizo Kitajuma, the still image campaign features the St. Louis Missouri native walking throughout downtown Manhattan. In a promotional trailer we see Tatum getting ready for his day with a couple of sprays of the fragrance.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, he speaks on why Coach For Men made so much sense for him. “To me, the scent is all about confidence. I can wear it for any occasion, and it gives me that finishing touch, almost like a confidence boost. I know when I put it on, I’m ready to go out and feel my best,” he said. When asked about being chosen for the opportunity he made it clear he was excited. “It means a lot, I definitely don’t take it for granted,” Tatum explained. “I’m grateful to tell my story through the lens of the campaign.”
Coach For Men symbolizes “the spirit of the brand” and is inspired by “mavericks, rebels and all-American dreamers.” Coach For Men features notes of citrus and pear on the opening and settles with a base of suede and ambergris. You can shop it here.