State Champ Radio Current Events
Page: 6
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: WWE / Getty
WrestleMania weekend 2024 is officially in the books and while the WWE isn’t as massively popular as it was in the late ’90s, it still made history as the highest grossing event in company history.
According to Variety, WrestleMania 40 broke all kinds of company records. It’s been dubbed their most successful live event ever as fans tuned in to see Cody Rhodes defeat all odds and “Finish The Story” by taking the WWE Undisputed Championship from Roman Reigns in a classic main event Sunday (April 7). With anticipation for the moment building over the past few years, wrestling fans made sure they were in attendance and were watching from home to witness the dream come true for the American Nightmare and helped the WWE make some historic gains in the process as well.
Variety reports:
WrestleMania 40 took place over two nights at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Per WWE, the gate for the event was up 78% compared to the previous record set during WrestleMania 39, with 145,298 in attendance across both nights this year. The company also says viewership was up 41% versus last year, while merchandise sales — in partnership with Fanatics — was up more than 20% over last year.
But the live events on Saturday and Sunday nights are just one part of the story. WWE set up a massive presence in Philadelphia from Thursday-Monday. The company hosted the WWE World experience at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where fans could pay to get up close with authentic WWE memorabilia from their archives as well as take part in immersive experiences. This was coupled with the WWE Superstore, which featured a wide range of branded merchandise from apparel to toys and beyond.
Couple that with the 660 million views that were generated across WWE’s social channels and the WWE YouTube channel hitting 67 million views in 24 hours on Sunday, and you have a recipe for massive success.
Though the WWE has their work cut out for them if they plan on topping these numbers with WrestleMania 41, it may once again center around Cody Rhodes as it seems like they’re setting it up for Rhodes vs. The Rock. The Peoples Champion alluded to wanting to take the gold from Cody on Monday night’s episode of RAW. There’s also rumors that The Rock would be challenging his cousin, Roman Reigns, but at this point it’s anyone’s guess what route the shot callers at the WWE will go for WrestleMania 41.
What do y’all think? Who should main event WrestleMania 41? Let us know in the comments section below.
[embedded content]
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Michael Buckner / Getty / Jerrod Carmichael
Comedian/actor Jerrod Carmichael isn’t afraid to push the envelope with his style of comedy, but his latest joke went too far with Black Xitter, formerly known as Black Twitter.
Spotted on TMZ, Jerrod Carmichael is catching some serious flack for his joke on his new HBO Max reality series, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.
In the most recent episode, the comedian, who used a previous HBO comedy standup special to come out as gay, joked he partakes in “race-based role-playing” with his white boyfriend.
Per TMZ:
The controversial quip came on HBO’s “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show” … where JC says, “I sometimes joke to him that our relationship is like that of a slave and a master’s son … who, like, teaches me how to read by candlelight.”
Just that opening line drew some jeers, but Jerrod pressed on, “Yeah, he groans too ’cause he’s a good person. He doesn’t like that f***ing joke. I like that joke. That’s my burden, I think that s***’s hilarious!!’
Black X Users Didn’t Find Anything Funny ABout Carmichael’s Joke
The eyebrow-raising moment from the show immediately went viral on X, formerly Twitter, with many Black users giving Carmichael the side eye.
“HBO Max cancelled every Black led show on the network so Jerrod Carmichael could suck on white feet,” one user on X wrote.
Another X user said, “everything i know about Jerrod Carmichael has been against my will…”
“Niggas like Jerrod Carmichael confuse me. If I were into race play, I’d never be the slave. I’d be whipping white bitches and calling it reparations. How you still the slave in YOUR fantasy?” another person added on X.
Carmichael catching slack on X comes after he called out Dave Chappelle for his transphobic remarks.
We are curious to see if Carmichael responds to the backlash.
You can see more reactions to the clip in the gallery below.
1. There is Dr. Umar reaction for everything
2. Howling
3. Y’all ate not serious lol
4. Good point
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: John Nacion / Getty / Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Majors can breathe a sigh of relief after learning he won’t be facing jail time.
Unsurprisingly, former MCU star Jonathan Majors will not go to jail. A New York judge ordered the 34-year-old Creed III star to complete a yearlong counseling program for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, dance Grace Jabbari.
Majors was facing up to a year behind bars after his assault conviction by a Manhattan jury in December.
If he does violate the terms of his probation, he faces a year in prison.
Per AP News:
In court Monday, Judge Michael Gaffey sentenced Majors to conditional discharge after noting that both sides in the case agreed the charges did not warrant jail time, given the actor was a first time offender with no prior criminal record.
He said Majors must complete a 52-week, in-person batterer’s intervention program in Los Angeles, where the actor lives. He also has to continue with the mental health therapy his lawyers say he’s been participating in. Majors faces a year in jail if found in violation of the terms, which also included a no contact order with his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
Jonathan Majors Did Not Say Anything In Court Following His Sentencing
Majors and his new boo, Meagan Good, were on hand for the sentencing, where he declined to address the court and left without speaking to reports AP News reports.
While Majors was quiet, his lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, spoke on his behalf, claiming that her client did not want to say anything that Jabbari could use against him in her civil suit.
Chaudhry says Majors is “committed to growing as a person” and will complete his court-mandated programs “with an open heart.”
He’s lost his whole career,” Chaudhry said in court. “This has been the most challenging year of his life.
Grace Jabbari Accuses Jonathan Majors of Not Being Sorry
Jabbari wasn’t silent; while holding back tears, she accused the Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania star of not being sorry and not acknowledging his guilt in the matter.
“He’s not sorry. He has not accepted responsibility,” Jabbari said. “He will do this again, and he will hurt other women, adding that “He believes he is above the law.”
Jabbari said Majors had made her believe the two were in a loving relationship, but, in reality, he isolated her from the rest of the world and cut her off from family and friends.
“I was so emotionally dependent on him,” she said. “I became a different person around him — small, scared and vulnerable.”
Jonathan Majors’ acting career is currently in limbo, so we shall see if Hollywood will welcome him back with open arms following his conviction and sentencing.
You can see reactions in the gallery below.
2. Exactly
3. Lol, no chill. SMH
4. Interesting
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images / Getty / Azealia Banks
If you’re white and are thinking about criticizing Beyoncé about her Cowboy Carter album, don’t you dare. Only one person can do that, and that person is Azealia Banks.
The hot-tempered rapper from Harlem had time for British pop star Lily Allen, who took to her favorite medium, Instagram Stories, to speak on what’s on her mind and call out Allen for what she is saying is “random racism,” being thrown out King Bey.
Azealia Banks reshared a story of Allen having the caucasity to say something about Beyoncé’s latest album, something Banks has already done.
Per HipHopDX:
“Shall we discuss that phone call to me – a few years ago – obviously off your face – crying and sobbing asking me to forgive you for randomly being racist?” she began, referring to the feud that the pair had eleven years ago that concluded with Banks telling Allen that her then-husband, Sam Cooper, “looks like a thumb.
She continued: “And I quote, well, I just figured since I’m a white girl and you’re just some Black girl that I could shit on you…”
Azealia Banks’ Criticism About Cowboy Carter
Banks’ IG attack on Allen comes after she called out Beyoncé in her signature style, claiming she “dozed off” while listening to it.
“Absolutely not,” she declared after joking that she might have to “eat her words” when it comes to previous criticism of Bey’s turn into the Country curve. “Themes r redundant. The lyrics really are forced. Album is too long… Plus who is this imaginary adversary sis thinks still wants to hump on [JAY-Z] in 2024?
“She’s gotta find new content. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY thinks he’s even remotely attractive …. LOL,” she added before finding positive things to say about the non-vocal aspects the album. “Great work from the band/producers/engineers. Cool and interesting work on the sonics. Might be her first sonically cool attempt at being arty…”
While both Allen and Banks have their issues with the project, Beyoncé is enjoying another hit album.
Just saying.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty / Diddy
The boisterous mogul has been understandably S I L E N T following waves of sexual assault allegations, but with his latest post on IG, he could have possibly made his loudest statement yet.
Diddy’s life has been turned upside down after his ex-longtime girlfriend, singer/model Cassie Ventura, slapped him with a sexual assault lawsuit with eye-brow-raising accusations, opening the floodgates.
He did quickly settle with the “Me & U” singer, but that didn’t stop other alleged victims from coming out and accusing the music mogul of some disgusting behavior that has also swept up a lot of people in his orbit, including his son, Christian Combs who is now the target of a sexual assault.
Two days ago, the 54-year-old Bad Boy CEO shared a full-length clip from his 1998 single “Victory,” showing him ironically running from the law with the caption, “Bad Boy For Life.”
Variety reports that the post received over 200,000 likes since he shared it and features numerous shows of support from some celebrity friends, including his son.
Per Variety:
The comments were left open, and Christian Combs, who is reportedly being sued by a woman for sexual assault in 2022 — wrote “Who you know do it better!!” with three fire emojis. Multiple mid-level artists — including Ginuwine and Lil Scrappy, also weighed in with support. The clip was posted in both his Instagram story and as a stand-alone post; as of Saturday morning it had reached 200,000 likes.
This post marks the first time in a while since the accusations hit that Diddy has left the comment section on one of his posts open.
The Saga Continues For Diddy
He has also been popping up randomly around Miami following the raid on his homes and constant trolling from his longtime nemesis, 50 Cent, who has also been indirectly involved in the mess being that his baby mama, Daphne Joy, was named as an alleged “sex worker” in a lawsuit from producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones.
Joy clapped back at the G-Unit general, accusing him of rape and being an absent father after the “Wanksta” crafter said he was going to file for full custody of the former couple’s 11-year-old son, Sire Jackson.
The rapper, born Curtis Jackson, denies Joy’s claims.
In his latest trolling of Diddy, he used the new “pause” replacement, “No P.Diddy,” during his set at the Dreamville music festival.
Never change Fif.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty
Aoki Lee Simmons was spotted enjoying beach time with a much older beau, and her disgraced father Russell Simmons appeared supportive in social media posts.
Last week, Aoki Lee Simmons was spotted at the beach on the island of St. Barts in the company of restauranteur Vittorio Assaf, indulging in heavy public displays of affection including sharing kisses. The 21-year-old model and Harvard University graduate is the youngest daughter of rap mogul Russell Simmons and former model and entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons. Assad, 65, co-founded the Serafina Restaurant Group in New York City.
In the recently released photos, Simmons and Assaf could be seen frolicking, with the restauranteur taking pictures of Simmons in various poses. Notably, it was reported that the photographs of the excursion showed up on Aoki Lee Simmons’ Instagram page – with Assaf not being shown in any of them. “Girls (possibly mermaids!) on film,” she wrote in the caption of one photo, sporting an olive green bikini.
An unnamed source did confirm that the two were seeing each other in People Magazine, saying that they were “enjoying each others’ company.” Simmons also recently was in Assaf’s hometown of Milan, Italy during their fashion week in February.
Aoki would then talk about the pair in an Instagram Live session and referred to Assaf as her “boyfriend” while seeming to be intoxicated, which garnered some brushback from fans concerned over the wide age disparity between her and Assaf. “Shes actually giving little girl energy and it’s making it extremely creepy,” one person reportedly commented. Assaf made headlines in 2021 after his now ex-wife Charlotte Bonstrom left him for the ex-husband of her twin sister.
The relationship between Russell Simmons and his daughters has been rocky with Aoki even calling her dad out for abusive behavior online but the 66-year-old Def Jam Records founder seemed to be supportive of his youngest daughter’s new relationship in photos that he shared on his Instagram Stories over the weekend. “Happy Sunday,” he wrote with one photo of Aoki and her sister, Ming when they were children that he shared. He also shared a photo of himself and Aoki in another Instagram post, writing: “Throwback from last fathers day nyc …bode bikram yoga express class .. vegan lunch cryotherapy vitamin drip … all around amazing day ❤️ @aokileesimmons love you always”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: FREDERIC J. BROWN / Getty / Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey continues to be booked and busy in Hollywood.
Deadline reports that The Color Purple star and one-half of the music duo Chloe x Halle is joining the cast of the upcoming Universal coming-of-age film directed by director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and producer Pharrell Williams (Hidden Figures).
According to the website, Bailey’s role in the project remains a mystery and will be joining Kelvin Harrison Jr. and The Holdovers Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
The film’s subject, Deadline reports, will be a musical that takes place in 1977 Virginia and draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood at Atlantis Apartments.
Handling the script for the project will be Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4) and Steven Levenson (Tick, Tick…Boom!). Williams and Mimi Valdés are producing under the i am OTHER banner alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions.
Halle Bailey Continues To Rack Up Movie Roles
Bailey’s involvement in this film comes from her performance in director Blitz Bazawule’s The Color Purple, in which she played Young Nettie in the movie based on the Broadway run of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
She also had snowflakes big mad when she starred in the live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which brought in over $569 million at the worldwide box office.
This is more positive news for Williams, who is currently the subject of a lawsuit from fellow Neptunes cofounder Chad Hugo.
Hugo claims Williams violated their agreement after attempting to secure the trademarks for The Neptunes’ name.
Williams “claims the move was not to ice out Hugo but to ensure no other people can get their slimy hands on The Neptunes name.”
Pusha-T, a longtime collaborator with the Neptunes, believes Hugo’s lawyer is trying to make money.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: frankpeters / Getty
A group of criminals pulled off the biggest heist ever in Los Angeles. Thieves stole almost $30 million in cash from a holding facility on Easter Sunday.
As spotted on Raw Story, the burglars brought the plot from the Ocean’s Eleven to real life. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) say that the crew broke into a money holding facility in the neighborhood of Sylmar. According to a source who spoke to the Los Angeles Times, the unidentified individuals broke into the building’s roof and evaded the security system all together. Once inside, they reportedly accessed the vault without issue and made off with close to $30 million dollars in cash.
The perpetrators were so experienced that the staff at the facility didn’t notice the money missing right away. “It’s just mind blowing that you would never suspect it,” an anonymous employee told ABC News. “$30 million in the Valley, gone. How? Why? I’m still trying to process it. Was it an inside job? Was it just one person? Was it a group? You know, there’s a lot of questions.” The LAPD and FBI have confirmed they are working and “have a joint investigation into an alleged burglary that occurred on Sunday evening, March 31, 2024. No additional information related to the incident is being released,” the agencies confirmed in a joint statement.
You can view reporting live from the scene below.
[embedded content]
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Wirestock / Getty / NYC / Earthquake
No, you were not bugging; that was an earthquake you felt this morning.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the East Coast was seriously shaking this morning after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, 40 miles west of New York City.
It was the largest in the area since 1973, local news affiliate ABC7NY reports.
Per CBS News, the earthquake hit around approximately 10:20 a.m.
The website reports there are no signs of damage.
The quake could be felt throughout the entire tri-state area, from Philadelphia and as far as Baltimore. The immediate reactions of buildings shaking began pouring in from New Jersey, New York, and Long Island.
This quake is not the first to rattle the East Coast and New York. However, the last earthquake of that magnitude felt in New York City was in 1887, when a 5.0-magnitude quake rocked the city.
“A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York. My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Our preliminary reports do not indicate major life safety or infrastructure issues from the earthquake. We are performing thorough inspections of critical areas,” NYC Mayor Eric Adams said on X, while also giving guidance in case of aftershocks.
New Yorkers Are Shook
As expected, New Yorkers are still reacting to the 4.8 earthquake on social media, which is extremely rare on the East Coast.
As expected, there is plenty of shock from New Yorkers, who are not about the earthquake life like those on the West Coast, but with folks on X, no one takes anything seriously cause there is humor involved.
Lol, we can’t front, that’s very arrucate.
We hope everyone is good. You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. This is extremely accurate
2. We are foreign to these types of things B!
3. Listen, we do come together during events like this.
4. Wait a minute…
6. There was nothing “small” about that to us.
7. Here comes the folks on the west coast.
8. We gotta during a natural disaster, just saying.
10. Hey, we get it, they ain’t used to this sh*t either
12. Good question?
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Scott Legato / Getty
It seems Rod Wave might have the fight of his life upon him. He was recently arrested on some serious weapons charges.
Variety magazine reports that the St. Petersburg, Florida, native got into some trouble Sunday, March 31. Local badges claim he had involvement in a shooting in Manatee County that left four individuals injured. According to a statement released by the police: “about 11 p.m., officers responded to shots fired in a large group of people gathered outside of 400 49 St. S. At this time it appears a group of men got into a verbal argument and exchanged gunfire outside of the location” the document reads.
Rod Wave was arrested in connection to the incident and charged on weapons charges including possession of the ammunition. His lawyers quickly refuted the claims on an Instagram post. “Rod was arrested and detained with absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing. The police claimed he was a felon in possession of ammunition” the caption read. “Not only was he not in possession of ammunition, a basic check of public records would have easily demonstrated to the police that he was not a convicted felon. The prosecutor and the judge immediately agreed that the evidence did not support the charge and set him free the same day.”
This was not the first time Rod Wave has been in trouble with the law. Back in 2022, he was arrested for allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend. In an exclusive statement to Rolling Stone magazine his lawyer Bradford Cohen claimed it was a misunderstanding. Rod Wave has yet to publicly comment on the weapons charges.
