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Investigators at the Georgia high school where a shooting occurred confirmed that the suspect had been interviewed about past threats.
On Wednesday night (September 4), authorities at a press conference held after a deadly shooting at a Georgia high school confirmed that the suspect had been interviewed about past threats by local law enforcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that their National Threat Operations Center had received several anonymous tips in 2023 about Colt Gray, the suspect in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia which claimed the lives of four victims.
Gray, who was 13 at the time of the reports, had been interviewed by investigators from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office along with his father concerning those tips which spoke of the threats of a shooting at “an unidentified location and time,” with those threats containing photographs of guns. The suspect denied making those threats, which were found posted on an online gaming site. His father told the officers that he did have a collection of hunting guns at the home, but his son did not have unsupervised access to those weapons. The sheriff’s office then alerted the local schools “for continued monitoring of the subject.” It wasn’t clear if Apalachee High School received those alerts – the school is in the neighboring Barrow County. The F.B.I. issued a statement saying that local authorities didn’t have probable cause to “take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state or federal levels.” The state Division of Child and Family Services was also contacted, according to an AP News report.
Gray was reportedly apprehended by school resource officials after immediately surrendering after the shooting, which claimed the lives of two students and two instructors at Apalachee. An assault-style rifle was used in the shooting, authorities confirmed. Jackson County Sheriff Janis C. Magnum cautioned against the spreading of misinformation in a statement on Facebook. “My phone is blowing up with messages from people about social media postings about other possible incidents,” she wrote. “To my knowledge, there is not a list indicating any of this.”
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Source: Kaitlyn Morris / Getty / Megan Thee Stallion
The leader of the Hot Girl movement is seemingly no longer on the market.
You read that correctly: Megan Thee Stallion is allegedly in a relationship. The Houston rapper seemingly confirmed she and Chicago Bulls’ hooper, Torrey Craig.
The alleged relationship was revealed in the cutest way possible after Thee Stallion shared a video of herself in bed with Craig, sharing laughs while participating in a couples challenge.
In the video, the couple answers questions like “Who’s most likely to get arrested?” “Who’s the better kisser?” and “Who said I love you first?” with Thee Stallion and Craig both pointing to each other, but if Craig was the one to blink first we totally understand.
Megan Thee Stallion’s New Boo Is Catching Flack On X
As expected, the news of Thee Stallion having a new boo has rocked social media. Reactions range from shock, confusion, happiness, and lame a** Tory Lanez jokes.
“Yes, please leave the rap / singing nggas alone for a lil bit. I hope he treats her well!” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user wrote, Y’all spazz every time this lady gets a boyfriend but no damn well your goofy ass would be in this video if you could.”
Where’s the lie?
Of course, the Tory Lanez fans had to chime in, believing that the “Hiss” rapper is obsessed with the currently incarcerated rapper because Thee Stallion has moved on with a man named Torrey, a professional athlete.
Some folks are even bringing up Craig’s stats in the league but are glaring over the fact he is getting paid professionally to play basketball, and they’re not.
Well, if Megan Thee Stallion is happy, we’re happy, and that should be all that matters. Megan has been playing the field since she kicked Pardison Fontaine to the curb.
She was romantically linked to professional footballer and fellow Roc Nation management member Romeo Lukaku.
The pair were photographed looking real couple-ish at the wedding of Lautaro Martinez, one of Lukaku’s former Inter Milan teammates, in Italy.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Lol, fight for your love
2. Not the NBA 2K rating, lol
10. He still hooping professionally though.
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Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Michelle Obama spoke before the Democratic National Convention on its second night, moving the audience and social media users watching.Former First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage to address the audience in support of the Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and social media was inspired and moved by her words. Mrs. Obama took the stage as part of the trio of headliners closing out the second night of the convention, dressed in an impeccable navy blue dress as she came on after Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. She was greeted with a huge standing ovation by the crowd. “OK! We’ve got a big night ahead!”, Obama said, telling them that it was the first time that she had been back in her native Chicago since her mother passed away. “I was not even sure if I would be steady enough to stand before you, but my heart compelled me to be here because of the sense of duty I feel to honor her memory. And to remind us all not to squander the sacrifices our elders made to give us a better future.”
“Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it?”, Obama asked before continuing: “A familiar feeling that’s been buried for far too long…the contagious power of hope!” The crowd would be rapturous with applause as she touted the attributes of Vice President Harris, imploring the crowd to join her in a call-and-response to support Harris by organizing and voting with the words “Do something!” The former First Lady would also speak about Harris’ commonalities with the American people, especially Black people and other people of color. “She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth.”
Mrs. Obama also took time to knock Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump for his series of attacks on the vice president, referencing his chaotic NABJ appearance last month. “Who is going to tell him the job he is currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs?” she quipped. Social media users were enthralled by her words, with many noting her jabs at Trump and marveling over her poise. “Michelle Obama is literally Beyoncé, and I can’t explain it,” wrote one social media user Jasmyn in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Check out the responses to Michelle Obama’s DNC speech below.
1. Franklin Leonard
2. Nida Khan
3. Melissa Murray
4. Jemele Hill
5. Jazz Lewis
6. Emma Gray
7. Trill Clinton
8. Allen K.
9. Samuel Schwartz
10. sunandcoffee
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Source: @joolieanniemarie / Instagram
Social Media has the power to shift culture in just an instant. The latest example is the way that TikTok creator Jools Lebron catapulted the word “demure” into the online collective consciousness.
Lebron, who identifies as a transgender woman, created several videos where she talked about how she presents herself at work as “very demure, very mindful.” The initial video garnered more than 10 million views in the first week. Lebron went on to make more videos using the buzzword and how to achieve these qualities.
She recently told US Weekly that she was motivated to create the videos because there’s been a “lack of empathy and regard for people’s feelings” as well as how they “represent themselves” on social media.
The viral trend has done more than just make Lebron’s catchphrases a household name. According to Variety, she now has made enough money to complete her gender transition.
“One day, I was playing cashier and making videos on my break, and now I’m flying across countries to host events, and I’m gonna be able to finance the rest of my transition,” she said n a recent online post.
The trend jumped from TikTok to X (formerly Twitter) with millions making posts about being “demure.” Further, copycat videos from celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez made the trend explode even further.
“I grew up an influencer kid, like, I watched all YouTube and all kinds of stuff like that,” Lebron told US Weekly. “Seeing them do the trend, and just welcome in someone that has loved them, and follow me back and show me my flowers has been everything.”
The trend even made it to The White House.
“When I did start making TikToks, I found more girls like me. I found girls who are plus size who are trans, who are having the same experiences that come uniquely with that set of combinations,” she told CBS News.
Lebron said that she does receive some negative comments on her videos, saying, “I think that people get in survival mode and they forget how they’re also being perceived when they leave a nasty comment or when they’re being rude or whatever,” she noted. “Let’s be demure. Let’s be mindful of why we came. Let’s be mindful because we didn’t come to just be mean girls.”
She continued, “We didn’t come to be messy and this applies to everything: your appearance, your mindset. Be mindful of what you think. Be mindful of your actions, and be demure, modest and reserved. That doesn’t mean a race, a color, an ethnicity, a finance. ‘Demurity’ is being the most thoughtful, mindful version of yourself.”
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Source: Chloe Bailey Cover Story Page | iOne Editorial | 2024-08-07 / Ione Digital – cs
GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer-songwriter and NAACP Image Award-winning actress, Chlöe Bailey sat down with HelloBeautiful magazine for their digital cover to talk about her career–and the release of her sophomore album, Trouble In Paradise.
Bailey told Hello Beautiful the project was recorded and mastered in St. Lucia where she found solace, acceptance, and creativity.
“I can walk around with no makeup, I can walk around loving my body, I can go to the ocean, truly just pray to God and thank him for the blessings that I have. And it reminds me that life isn’t all about what my career is. It’s not about outer validation, but the inner peace,” said Bailey about recording on the island.
She added, “I just really wanted people to feel the peace and the love that this place has brought me, where it was able to open up my creative mind and my creative spirit to literally write my troubles away in paradise. And the album feels like what a summer fling feels like, the back and forth of it, the highs, the lows, the love.”
The 26-year-old star is also set to co-star in a new crime-drama coming to Peacock produced by Will Packer and Kevin Hart. Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist stars Samuel L. Jackson, Terrance Howard, Don Cheadle, and Taraji P. Henson.
In the limited series, Bailey plays Lena Mosley, a character she describes as sexy, but who still has a passion for “science, technology and engineering.” She said that she hopes the character reminds people that women are multifaceted.
“And what I’m really loving right now, I’m really loving Megan Thee Stallion, how she shares her love for the Japanese culture … and being a sexy Black girl who loves anime,” Bailey told HelloBeautiful. “I love – with even Doja. She’s sexy with curves, but she equally rocks her kitten heels … It’s like, yes, we can be sexy on stage, but we also have those cute little quirks that make us who we are. Who says we just have to be one thing? None of us are just one thing.”
“So when people try to get those viral tweets by saying, ‘Chlöe’s sex appeal is contrived because she’s this sweet nerdy girl,’ why can’t I be both? And it just kind of makes me giggle to myself because I’m like, you have no idea because you don’t know who I am as a person.”
Source: Dalvin Adams / for HelloBeautiful
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Source: iOne Digital / Hip-Hop Wired
LL COOL J is a first-ballot Hip-Hop Hall of Famer and his career is far from over with the impending release of The FORCE album in September of this year. In a recent interview, the GOAT himself reacted to Hip-Hop Wired‘s Rap Battles That Shifted Hip-Hop Culture cover story and also revealed his favorite battles of all time.
LL COOL J, 54, sat down with the Hip-Hop Wired team and gave his thoughts on our recent cover story detailing the historic beefs and back-and-forths that have transformed the very landscape of the culture. The Queens native, clearly a historian of Hip-Hop and four decades in, shared his reaction to the Rap Battles That Shifted Hip-Hop Culture featuring cover art by the legendary André LeRoy “A.L. Dre” Davis while adding his thoughts on Hip-Hop’s greatest battles.
“I think that they’re all different,” LL began. “Battles pre-Internet and post-Internet, the world is gonna know more about them. I enjoyed the Nas and Jay [JAY-Z] battle on one level, but obviously, you didn’t have so much of that social media amplification.”
Continuing his observation, LL added, “The one thing I would say about the Kendrick [Lamar] and Drake battle was that it got the benefit of all of social media. It was layered beyond the music in the music in a different. Similar way to 50 [Cent] and Ja [Rule] except there is a little more social media [now] than even as it was back then.”
LL was then asked about his favorite battles of all time. Naturally, the battle-tested LL COOL J named himself and all the battles that he emerged victorious in. Can’t argue with that.
Check out the exclusive Hip-Hop Wired and LL COOL J clip below. LL’s The FORCE album drops on September 6, 2024.
Additional reporting by Weso.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Activision / Activision
Bronny James may be in a self-admitted “slump” on the court at NBA Summer League, but his skills on the sticks are still sharp. Lebron James’ firstborn won the Call Of Duty Two Minute Drill, beating out some notable NBA gamers along the way.
Source: Activision / Activision
The Los Angeles Lakers draft pick won the Second Annual Call of Duty Two Minute Drill at the NBA Summer League by finessing a last-second 84-83 victory over Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams. Reportedly, Bronny was playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III he eeked out his win just before the 8pm tournament deadline, defeating Williams and Bobi Klintman of the Detroit Pistons. The latter came in third with 77 points.
With the W, Bronny earned a $10,000 prize and a custom-made Call of Duty Two Minute Drill at the NBA Summer League Championship Belt. Bronny fans shouldn’t be too surprised since he one graced the cover of Sports Illustrated for his e-sports talents as a member of Faze Clan back in 2021.
Held over this past weekend (the first weekend of the NBA Summer League), over 60 NBA players participated in the Call of Duty Two Minute Drill in a winner take all format. Players also got a chance to preview the forthcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Those NBA ballers and gamers included Paul George, now of the Philadelphia 76ers, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Trey Murphy (Wahoowa!, #iykyk) of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Check out some photos from the event below.
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
Source: Activision / Activision
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Source: YouTube / Marvel Studios
You just know Sam Wilson (portrayed by Anthony Mackie) is always to be going through it, being the new Black Captain America and all that rocking the Steve Rogers’ vibranium and adamantium blended shield entails. In the teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World all his talents are on display; dispatching proper fades, protecting the President and keeping the world together despite clandestine Ops infiltrating the White House.
Source: YouTube / Marvel Studios
Sign us up.
The trailer starts off on a solemn note with the Prez (Thaddeus Ross, portrayed by Han Solo aka Indiana Jones aka Harrison Ford) asking Black Cap to officially be part of the military. But of course, Sam spots the jig, with ish going to hell when OG Black supersoldier Isaiah Bradley (portrayed by Carl Lumbly) (you’re familiar if you watched The Falcon and The Winter Soldier) seemingly tries to assassinate the President Ross.
From there we see glimpses of Dora Milaje, Sam letting you know his Falcon talents still formidable. But the chef’s kiss the end of the trailer where what looks like the Red Hulk snatches Cap’s shield out of the air and slams it to the ground.
Oh, and Giancarlo Esposito is in the flick. Did we already say, Sign us up?
We’ll have to wait until February 14, 2025 (Valentine’s Day is booked, people) to watch Captain America: Brave New World, but we can peep the trailer below.
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Source: Jerritt Clark / Getty
Lee Daniels and Lena Waithe were among the attendees at the renowned event held in Los Angeles at the end of Black Music Month.
Last Friday (June 28), the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles, California, was the site of the Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch, held by the esteemed Culture Creators Foundation. The non-profit group’s premier event was a fundraiser brunch for its mission of being a platform to recognize and salute those making significant contributions to the culture, business and entertainment industries. It was marked by the appearance of some notable figures such as director Lee Daniels and producer and director Lena Waithe, who were on hand to present awards. BET was a main sponsor of the event along with Möet Hennessy, Lexus and Rap Snacks.
Source: Jerritt Clark / Getty
Journalist and NAACP Image Award nominee Gia Peppers served as the host of the expansive event, which began with “The Collective Conversation,” a talk between rapper and actor Joey Bada$$ and political strategist Quentin James about the ways that the community can be more politically informed and engaged with emphasis placed on voting and advocating for more diversity and increases in Black employment. After a performance by Roc Nation’s remarkable R&B band, Infinity Song, actress and singer Teyana Taylor was surprised by Waithe who presented her with the Innovator of the Year Award, providing a heartwarming moment for all attending.
Source: Jerritt Clark / Getty
A similar moment occurred as CAA agent and board member Lorrie Bartlett was honored with the ICON Award by her longtime friend Daniels on stage. “I have had an incredible run and I feel so proud and lucky when I think about all I have accomplished thus far. Here’s the truth: more often than not, you have to make your own luck. The pathway to success is not the same for everybody,” Bartlett said to the audience. Other guests at the brunch included former honoree L.A. Reid, Andra Day, Regina King, Omarion, Debra Lee, YK Osiris, Alex Isley, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Pretty Vee, Trevor Jackson, Elijah Blake, Estelle, Cory Hardrict, designer Karl Kani, Flau’Jae, Jasper Hagen and Jessica Betts.
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
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Source: @wutangclan / Nike Sportswear
With sneaker companies dropping so many retros, a criticism is that the novelty of an OG shoe’s rarity and the feelings they evoke are now being lost. One shoe that has managed to duck the re-release treatment for years, and thus had its legend only exponentially grow is the famed Wu-Tang Clan x Nike Dunk.
Well, the black and yellow basketball shoe is finally getting the retro treatment. On Sunday, June 30, the official Wu-Tang Clan Instagram account (and Nike Sportwear’s) teased the return of the ultra grail-level sneaker with the caption “BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ” and a shoe covered in bees. Originally released in 1999, the Wu-Tang x Dunk High LE was gifted strictly to friends and family of the Staten Island Hip-Hop group. The shoe is a high top Nike Dunk in a yellow and black colorway (release sneakers consider it the “Iowa” colorway), with the familiar Wu-Tang Clan logo on the heel.
Word is only about 100 pairs of the sneaker were ever created. Finding a deadstock pair has become increasingly rare, and pricey—for example, an alleged deadstock promo sample is going for a smooth $45,000 on eBay right now.
The retro will cost less coin, but depending on how many Nike decides to actually manufacture, you can bet the aftermarket price will skyrocket since resellers and bots will be itching to get their hands on as many pairs as possible to cash out. Meanwhile, sneaker civilians will pray for the best via raffles and quick fingers, and strong wi-fi, on drop day.
No word on a proper release date, yet (and surely it will be sometime in the Fall), but I need two pairs, at least.