Current Events
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Australian Olympic “breaker” Rachael Gunn, aka Raygun, has, apparently, been having a rough go of it ever since she embarrassed herself in front of the world by flopping around on the Olympic stage, doing what looked like an impersonation of either a kangaroo, bunny or velociraptor while hopping around like a toddler trying to get her mother’s attention — and calling it breakdancing.
We all saw the way Gunn’s performance prompted an onslaught of memes, gifs and relentless mocking on social media. There was even a petition against her that some 58,000 people signed. The internet dragging was well-deserved, but it appears it put the 37-year-old in a state of distress that she’s still working her way out of. Apparently, the worldwide reaction to Gunn’s culture-vulturing nonsense on social media and on late-night television has harmed her mental health, which is why she has made an effort to stay away from all of it — but she still felt the need to tell us all about it, of course.
From Deadline:
And she hasn’t even seen the Jimmy Fallon-Rachel Dratch parody. “I don’t think I’m in the place yet to watch it,” she says in a new interview with the Australian network television show The Project.
“I knew that I was going to get beaten, and I knew that people were not going to understand my style and what I was going to do,” the 37-year-old breaker said. “The odds were against me, that’s for sure.”
“Fortunately I got some mental health support pretty quickly and I also went off social media,” she added.
Elsewhere during the The Project interview, Gunn apologized for the negative attention she’s brought to the new Olympic sport. “I am very sorry for the backlash that the community has experienced,” she said, “but I can’t control how people react.”
I mean, one could argue that she absolutely could have controlled how people reacted — by not taking her talentless, rhythmless self up on that stage in the first place.
It’s arguable that all Gunn did when she (literally) hopped up on that stage was single-handedly ensure that the breaking completion never had a fair shot at being taken seriously at the Olympics.
Gunn—who holds a PhD in Cultural Studies and examines the cultural politics of breaking, bringing both academic and artistic perspectives—had also previously defended herself in a way that indicates she cares nothing about the culture she supposedly studied and was more concerned with the spotlight and what it did for her personally.
“What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative — that’s my strength, my creativity,” she said. “I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage.”
If Gunn really cared about the culture she supposedly studied, she wouldn’t want to be the only thing people would remember about the time breaking came to the Olympics, which will likely not happen again in 2028.
But, sure, I guess it’s good she’s taking care of her mental health or whatever. Good luck with all that.
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Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty / Beau DeMayo
This might be one of the most ridiculous ways ever to respond to sexual misconduct allegations.
X-Men 97 showrunner Beau DeMayo vowed to address the serious allegations Disney/Marvel Studios dropped after DeMayo accused the studios of taking away his writing credit on the popular Disney+ animated series.
That day has finally come, but for whatever ridiculous reason, DeMayo locked his response behind his OnlyFans account.
Deadline exclusively reports that DeMayo claims “These allegations of egregious misconduct are false,” calling out Disney and Marvel for its “toxic environment” and “near criminal working conditions” that “turns individuals against one another, stokes paranoia to ensure compliance.”
DeMayo’s claims come after Disney/Marvel Studios revealed they fired him after a misconduct probe’s “egregious nature of the findings” after claiming his firing was due to him sharing risque fan art of himself.
According to reports, word on the Disney streets is that DeMayo allegedly sent nude photos of himself to X-Men ’97 colleagues and got handsy with some of them.
Per Deadline:
Today, as attorney Bryan Freedman filed an expedited jury trial seeking complaint in LA Superior Court to have an allegedly “illegal non-disparagement provision” removed from the writer’s exit package documents, DeMayo took to OnlyFans to call BS on the Kevin Feige-run Marvel and Bob Iger-led Disney.
“The rumors being spread around me online are lies, and they are offensive, but more concerning is that they’re a smear campaign designed to discredit my credibility in order to cover up the egregious prejudicial misconduct stretching from select crew members on X-Men ’97, all the way all the way to the top at Marvel Studios,” DeMayo declared in his nearly 30-minute remarks to camera on the often explicit subscription social platform.
Admitting that “personality conflicts happen, especially in creative environments like Hollywood, DeMayo also acknowledged that he has long known he is “not everyone’s cup of tea.”
Yet, in a nutshell, DeMayo asserted today that him “being gay, Black and open about it at Marvel Studios” and was the real issue the company had with him and why he was tossed out and later saw his credits for the upcoming second season of the mutant saga removed. In fact, spotlighting the timeline of his departure, DeMayo says that it was only after his intial conversation with company HR that he “no longer felt safe at the studio as a gay Black man” that he was shown the door.
Very interesting.
Social Media Reacts To Beau DeMayo Directing People To His OnlyFans Account
Users on X, formerly Twitter, are still skeptical and don’t understand why DeMayo directed people to his OnlyFans account to see his reply.
Again, this is a bizarre way to “bring the receipts and try to clear your name.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
3. Howling
4. Questions that needs answers
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It’s been more than a year since the world was scared to death that we’d lose the legendary Jamie Foxx to a sudden health scare that seemed to last forever and though the man was able to pull through and resume his illustrious career we’ve never gotten any answers as to what happened that almost led to his passing.
Now TMZ is reporting that the Oscar winning actor is ready to open up about his brush with death but only on his terms as he’s planning a one-man show to explain what exactly happened as countless conspiracy theories about his health have been circling the internet since the incident. Taking to Instagram to promote his upcoming show, One More Chance: An Evening with Jamie Foxx, Foxx promises to breakdown what led to him getting hospitalized in Atlanta of April last year and truth be told we can’t wait to hear his side of the story.
Per TMZ:
His caption promises the show will be packed with humor, heart and inspiration — so it’s set to be as entertaining as it is revealing.
As we reported, Jamie was rushed to the hospital for a medical complication in April 2023.
JF’s since hinted at his rough health ride in bits and pieces, including an appearance at December’s Critics Choice Association Awards, where he said he nearly lost his life during the medical emergency.
But he’s kept the full details and diagnosis under wraps — until his three-night set in October.
You have to wonder if he’ll have the audience sign non-disclosure agreements about what he says as y’all already know people in attendance will flock to social media to tell everyone about what Jamie Foxx said during his show.
What do y’all think about Jamie Foxx finally opening up about his health scare? Do y’all believe he actually died and this is a clone like many say he is? Let us know in the comments section below.
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For a while now Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj have been engaged in a rap beef that no one asked for but some saw coming and while fans wonder how the drama got started, Megan herself doesn’t seem to have the answer either.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Megan Thee Stallion touches on the subject of her back-and-forth with Nicki Minaj and admits that even she isn’t sure what their problems stems from. While she’s been dealing with everything from the fallout from the shooting incident that sent Tory Lanez to prison to her very public breakup with Pardison Fontaine, her beef with Nicki Minaj seems like small potatoes and though she’s not backing down from the challenge, Megan is just as confused as we are as to how everything got started.
Billboard reports:
You took shots at Nicki Minaj. Is there a chance for a reconciliation or even another collaboration one day?
I still to this day don’t know what the problem is. I don’t even know what could be reconciled because I, to this day, don’t know what the problem is.
While Megan doesn’t know what spurred this sudden rap battle, Nicki Minaj may have some answers as she seemingly set things off when she dropped “Big Foot” which many saw as a direct shot at Megan Thee Stallion after Megan seemed to have taken a subliminal shot at Nicki Minaj and her hubby, Kenneth Petty on “Hiss” saying ““These h*es don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law / I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start.”
Though may never know if Megan intentionally took a subliminal shot at Nicki and her husband, social media seemed to think so and so Nicki responded with “Big Foot” and now here we are.
On the flip side Megan does actually get along with some of her other rap peers including GloRilla and Nicki Minaj’s nemesis, Cardi B.
I genuinely love Cardi. I genuinely love Glo. In the industry, you really don’t meet a lot of girls who want to see you be successful. You meet people, and I’m not just going to say girls, but you don’t meet a lot of artists that want you to have success because they’re scared sometimes it’s going to take away from their success. Music is competition, rap is a competition, but those two ladies, I feel like we all like to see each other do good things. We like to see each other win. Sharing the stage with people that want to see you do good and you want to see them do good, it felt very uplifting. I felt like we were feeding off each other. I felt like we helped each other. Being onstage with them made me feel good because I knew we were proud of each other.
Yeah, that probably won’t sit right with Nicki Minaj either. Just sayin.’
What do y’all think of Megan’s beef with Nicki Minaj? Is it a misunderstanding or nah? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Ice Spice is once again having to defend her name. Cleotrapa claims she was poorly treated on the Y2K tour.
The Bronx, New York native was dragged online this week by her former friend Cleotrapa. In a series of videos, the “Rockstar” performer detailed how she was invited to open up for Ice Spice and was promised certain accommodations that allegedly never were honored. Her grievances included having to carry her own bags and not being looked after by Ice Spice’s security.
Cleotrapa says she spoke to the “Give Me A Light” rapper about the inconveniences and was soon barred from entering Ice’s dressing room. “This girl was really mad at me for saying something about that luggage,” she said. “She don’t want nobody to say nothing to her. She tried to lowkey torture me.”
As expected the rant quickly went viral to which Ice Spice responded on X, formerly Twitter, spaces. “Crashing out is sad, you guys,” she said. “The scary part of fame, honestly, is the moment that somebody feels like they can no longer use your platform or they’re not getting exactly what they want out of a situation the way that they want it. That’s when they decide to crash out every single time. I’m noticing a pattern.”
Ice went on to reveal that she was actually looking out for Cleo. “What had actually happened is that we added another tour bus so I was like, ‘Now we have extra room, we have extra bunks.’ So I was like, ‘Oh, let me see if Cleo wants to come so she can do her songs.’ But that’s what the f*ck I get for trying to be a good person.”
Ironically she has also taken a huge loss with her social media following. According statistics platform Social Blade Ice Spice has lost over half a million followers on Instagram within the last week. As expected Xitter was here for all the tea and took the opportunity to roast her. You can find some of their best responses below.
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The estate of Isaac Hayes won a personal victory after requesting through legal means that Donald Trump no longer use a popular track from the late singer and songwriter. A federal judge ruled that the Isaac Hayes hit “Hold On, I’m Coming” can no longer be placed by Donald Trump as he continues ahead on the campaign trail.
CNN reports that the estate of Isaac Hayes filed to enact an emergency injunction against Donald Trump’s campaign to halt the playing of “Hold On, I’m Coming,” performed and released in 1966 by Sam & Dave with Hayes and David Porter listed as songwriters. The estate states that Trump and his team do not have authorization to play the song.
Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued the ruling on Tuesday (September 3).
“I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license,” Judge Thrash said. The estate wanted to enforce a motion to have Trump’s campaign take down previous uses of the song but it was denied.
An attorney for Trump shared a statement with the media and was in support of the judge keeping the previous uses of the song intact.
“The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone. And if the Hayes family feels it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue,” attorney Roland Coleman said.
After the hearing, Isaac Hayes III said, “We are very grateful and happy for the decision by Judge Thrash. I want this to serve as an opportunity for other artists to come forward that don’t want their music used by Donald Trump or other political entities.”
The Hayes estate has been battling Trump on the use of the song since 2022 when the business mogul announced his reelection bid.
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Photo: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty
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Source: Brad Barket / Getty / Steven Smith / Kanye West
If Kanye West hopes to continue dropping hot footwear, he will be doing so without his longtime collaborator and YZY designer Steven Smith.
Steven Smith is letting the chopper spray on his former boss, Kanye West after the embattled multihyphenate fired him. Speaking with Fast Company, Smith says, “He’s lost his mind. The whole of Yeezy is circling the drain, and this is just part of it. He has surrounded himself with toxic, C-grade losers.”
Ouch.
Smith’s comments are damming because he was described by the website as a “sensitive defender of Ye and, in particular, the treatment of his mental health.”
Now, not so much.
West gave Smith the boot in August and showed how petty he was by blocking Smith on Instagram. Smith has worked with the problematic rapper since 2016 and was one of the instrumental figures in the company’s success following the deal with adidas, which has since been terminated.
Despite losing his gig with YZY, Smith remains optimistic about his future, saying on the website, “I’m in a very happy place with it all. I will certainly be a priceless asset to whoever I work with next. It’s all his loss and the result of his foolishness.”
Smith did reveal the reasoning for his termination, but, according to Fast Company, “reached a breaking point” afterword on the street said the “saved” rapper wanted to launch his own porn company but scrapped the idea.
Bruh.
Other Wild Allegations
Smith is just the latest former high-profile employee to drop some serious but wild allegations against the “Monster” crafter.
West’s former chief of staff and far-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos claimed in an affidavit that the Chicago rapper is addicted to nitrous oxide thanks to celebrity dentist Thomas Connelly, who got Ye hooked on the poisonous gas.
According to Yiannopoulos, West spends up to $50,000 per month on nitrous oxide and underwent scans proving that he has suffered permanent brain damage from his abuse of the poisonous gas.
Connelly has denied the allegations, but in a video he sent to troubled boxer Robert Garcia, he can be seen using an oxygen mask, so he’s making it hard to beat the allegations.
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Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty
Fivio Foreign becomes the latest rapper to endorse Donald Trump’s presidential run, earning him online scorn.
The Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is getting another (alleged) boost from the rap world, in the form of Fivio Foreign making an appearance at his latest rally. The “Off The Grid” artist was spotted hanging out with Trump at a meet-and-greet that took place after his campaign rally that took place in Johnstown, Pennsylvania last Friday (August 30).
Fivio Foreign took it upon himself to add further proof with a photo of himself looking at his phone while Trump spoke in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Haters gon say it’s AI.”
The Brooklyn artist was present at the rally with reggaeton artists Justin Quiles and Anuel AA, who took the podium and endorsed Trump onstage. Fivio Foreign’s presence at the rally comes days after the release of “ONBOA47RD”, a song with fellow Trump supporter Kodak Black. The former president has been actively courting rappers to endorse him, with the assistance of former Fyre Fest founder Billy Macfarland in the hopes of gaining Black voting support in the November presidential election. Trump notably held a Bronx, New York rally with Brooklyn drill rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow in May, shortly before his conviction on fraud charges in the “hush money” case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow were among 32 people named in a 140-count indictment late last year on charges that they were bankrolling the activities of two gangs. Waka Flocka Flame has also been vocal in his support of Trump over the past few months.
While some lauded Fivio Foreign for his public support of Trump, many others blasted him online. “These big ole veneers must be affecting their brain…,” wrote one commenter on Instagram who used the tears of joy emoji and brain emojis.Another user on X, formerly Twitter by the name of StevenFrom NJ chimed in by writing: “Fivio is a scammer and Anuel will do anything for money so they are both perfect fits for Trump.”
Check out more of the online reactions to Fivio Foreign’s Trump rally appearance below.
2. Afropunjabi
3. Suguru Ghetto
4. Udoglobo, M.S.
5. Seven Major
6. AquaGirl215
7. CurlyShic
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R&B singer Tyrese tried to have a moment as a political pundit, and it did not go well for him. After admonishing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for allegedly not doing enough for Black people, social media users proceeded to drag him to the ends of the “loud and wrong” universe.
It started when footage of Tyrese speaking to Dr. Benjamin Crump started going viral. In the clip, the crooner was being critical of Harris and Biden for passing an Anti-Asian Hate Crime Bill that allegedly leapfrogged the problems of Black people throughout the nation.
“President Biden and Kamala Harris signed an Asian Hate Crime Bill, which makes it beyond illegal to ever purposely or maliciously do anything to anybody in the Asian community,” said Tyrese. “And there was a spike in crimes and criminal behavior in and around COVID allegedly and specifically motivated by Donald Trump. So everybody started treating Asians… beating them, killing them, shooting them, stabbing them, hurting them. And then [Biden] gets into the White House and skips over every Black and Brown Mexican and Latino that has been getting killed like flies and he makes it a low: Asian Hate Crime Bill.”
Black Ty wasn’t finished. He continued, “There is a crime bill that was signed into law that protects Asians at all costs. Where is that same f*cking law to be signed into law when it comes to Black and Brown people? Because what you’re doing is—President Biden and Kamala Harris—what you’re doing is, you’re saying that Black and Brown people will continue to be disposable. That sh*t doesn’t make sense.”
This Biden and Harris helped Asians and not Black people narrative has been running on social media for a while, but the problem is that it’s highly inaccurate. And for this, Tyrese proceeded to get schooled by anyone with actual political awareness beyond memes and barbershop talking points.
Off top, there is no Anti-Asia Hate Crime Bill, it’s actually called the Covid-19 Hate Crime Bill. In actuality, there have been a number of bills passed specifically tailored for the defense of Black people that include the Civil Rights Act of 1969 and more recently the Emmett Till Antilynching Act a hate crime bill of 2021, which Biden signed. Many people are quick to note all this energy about Democrats not really looking out for Black people, yet most progressive bills (like the George Floyd Act) were blocked by Republicans.
What makes all this particularly frustrating to people who know better, is that all the intel needed to counter such misinformation is just a Google search away. Add to this mix that a loud minority of Black men are doing it, and it’s just the nastiest of work.
Worth noting, Tyrese also recently revealed that he was taking a break (“go dark”) from social media. Do some reading sir, respectfully.
Check out the lessons Tyrese is getting in the gallery. Consider it the hard way of getting knowledge on these Internets.
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Source: Matt Jelonek / Getty
Fatman Scoop, born Isaac Freeman III, has reportedly passed away. He was 52.
The CT Insider reports that Scoop’s tour manager confirmed his passing. On Friday evening (August 30), Scoop reportedly suffered some type of medical emergency while on stage at the Hamden Town Center Park in Connecticut. CPR was performed before he was transported to a local hospital.
Scoop’s tour manager, Birch Michael aka Pure Cold, took to social media to announce the beloved rapper and hyepman’s death. “I am honestly lost for words… You took me all over the world and had me performing alongside you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on this planet, the things you taught me have truely made me the man I am today,” said Pure Cold in his post. “Thank you so much, I love you x.”
Scoop and his booming voice came to fame in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, thanks to his earworm hooks on party break tracks like “Where U @?” with Crooklyn Clan. But it was own club-rocking anthem, the Faith Evans (and many more) sampling “Be Faithful” that made him a star. It reportedly took years to get the track’s multiple samples cleared. He also featured on Missy Elliott’s his singled “Lose Control” with Ciara.
But real heads remember Fatman Scoop as the former radio promotions man at Tommy Boy Records who would be seen in the label’s famed ads in back of The Source magazine.
Recently, Fatman Scoop linked up with the Bronx rapper Dyce Peso, appearing on a song called
Since news of his collapse and unfortunate passing broke, social media has been mourning and honoring the Hip-Hop legend for his contributions to the culture.
Rest in powerful peace Fatman Scoop.
This story is developing.
3. Trigger Warning
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