Current Events
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Kevin Liles will now have to clear his name in a court of law. A former Def Jam Records employee is suing him for sexual assault.
As per Variety, the former music executive and the famed record label are facing some serious claims from a former female employee. Jane Doe has named Universal Music Group, Def Jam Records and Kevin Liles as defendants and claims she was not only harassed at the workplace but also was sexually assaulted. Doe says she was hired as an executive assistant in 1999 and Kevin frequently made “derogatory and degrading comments based on her gender regarding her body and appearance.”
The plaintiff recalls that the treatment got progressively worse over the years. In 2002 she refused sexual advances made by Kevin Liles to which he allegedly forced himself on her and raped her. Her claim also states that executive leadership at Universal Music Group and Def Jam “not only knew or should have known” of Liles’ “propensity to commit the aforementioned crimes of violence.”
Kevin Liles has responded in an exclusive statement to Variety Magazine and refuted the allegations made against him. I absolutely deny the outrageous claims reported in the press this evening,” he said. “I wish I could share a more detailed response to this slander, but this is the first I’ve heard of this claim and the anonymous accuser’s attorney shared the lawsuit with gossip influencers and media outlets before it was even posted by the court, so my attorneys and I have not seen the actual lawsuit” he added. “My attorneys and I will fully clear my name, and when we are successful, this anonymous accuser and her attorney will face a defamation lawsuit and every other available legal consequence.”
Universal Music Group has yet to publicly comment on the matter. Kevin Liles served as the president of Def Jam and executive vice president at Island Def Jam from 1999 to 2004.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams came under fire for his referring to Black leaders asking him to resign as “negroes” and invoking Jesus in a speech.
There is more trouble surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams after his recent comments at a Black History Month event at his mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion. In his speech on Tuesday (Feb. 25), he chastised Black politicians who called for him to step down in the wake of Adams agreeing to work with President Donald Trump while federal corruption charges against him could be dropped. “This is a biblical moment,” Adams began, continuing: “When Jesus was on the cross, he said, ‘God forgive them for they know not what they do. All these negroes who are asking me to step down, God forgive them.”
Adams would end up in a testy exchange when questioned by Curt Menefee, the co-anchor of Fox 5’s Good Day New York program on Wednesday (Feb. 26). “Are you implying that if you’re Black, you have to support you?” Menefee asked. “No, not at all. I’m asking for all New Yorkers to support me,” Adams replied, prompting Menefee to pointedly ask, “Are you saying all New Yorkers are negroes?” Adams seemed flustered, defending himself by saying: “I thought I was very clear in my definition of what I said … you got 8.3 million New Yorkers, 8.3 million people didn’t call for me to step down. I get just the opposite when I’m in the streets.”
“So anybody who’s Black who calls for you to step down, they need help from God. I’m focusing on this because your use of the word negro has come up repeatedly over the last couple of weeks, and I think some people actually have an issue with that term,” replied Menefee, adding, “So explain who you’re talking to when you use that term specifically.” Adams would deflect.
The exchange reflected the growing dissatisfaction with Adams in the Black community in recent weeks. Harlem-based Reverend Johnnie Green expressed his displeasure. “I think all spiritual leaders in this town are appalled by it,” Green said of the remarks. “It just shows you the times in which we live how dangerously wicked people can be… He is no savior, he is no Christ, he is no sacrificial lamb.” Public Advocate Jumanne Williams also blasted Adams. “You can see someone who is in major crisis and has no ability to look within, that is a very dangerous person to have running the city.”
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Source: Marvel Studios / Marvel Animation / X-Men ’97
The wait for season 2 of X-Men ’97 will be a long one!
X-Men ’97 was one of the standouts for Marvel Studios / Marvel Animation last year and left fans wanting more after its explosive season one finale, which ended on a cliffhanger.
Speaking with Collider, Marvel’s head of streaming, television, and animation Brad Winderbaum revealed when we could expect to return to X-Men ’97.
“Season 2 of X-Men ’97 is going to be in ’26. We’re working on it now. It’s exciting. That world of the ’90s is just… I can’t believe they let me make it. I grew up at Marvel, as you know, clocked a lot of time here, and I feel like I used a lot of currency to revive this thing that I loved watching after school. So, the fact that we get to play in that universe with those actors is honestly why I went into this business in the first place.”
Marvel Studios didn’t waste time greenlighting the animated series for a second and third season. When the show returns for season three, it won’t be with writer Beau DeMayo who got canned ahead of season one’s premiere.
“Right now, we are still working on X-Men ’97 season 2. It’s coming together amazingly, and the scripts for season 3 are insane,” Winderbaum told Screen Rant.
“That is certainly scratching the X-Men itch for me on television. And there is an X-Men feature in development right now, so that is the focus of X-Men currently.”
Social Media Is Not Happy About The Wait For X-Men ’97
News of the show not returning until 2026 isn’t sitting well with some fans, and understandably so.
One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, “This is so tiring with most if not all shows having 2 years in between seasons. Stop with this.”
“And yet another blow. Way to kill all momentum. X-Men ’97 was, wire to wire, the best piece of entertainment Marvel produced the last years,” wrote Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld who has been taking shots at Marvel Studios as of late because he claimed he wasn’t allowed to go to the Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty.
Others are willing to be patient.
We will be locked in whenever season 2 premieres, until that day arrives, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty / Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos continues to find ways to capitulate to Donald Trump, out of fear Orange Mussolini won’t bully him.
Freedom of the press was under attack during the first Trump presidency. Now, for the unfortunate second term, Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, is helping silence voices that may offer dissenting views against Felon 47.
Spotted on Variety, Bezos announced he is making more changes to the Washington Post, revamping the opinion section. He claims it will now focus on “support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets.”
Whatever that means.
According to a ridiculously long post the billionaire shared on his personal X account, he offered David Shipley, the now former Washington Post editorial opinion page editor, “the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t ‘hell yes,’ then it had to be ‘no.”
Bezos continued, “After careful consideration, David decided to step away.” As such, “We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.”
The Blue Origin founder who purchased the Washington Post in 2013 added that the opinion section will still “cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”
Shipley acknowledged his time with the Washington Post had ended in an email sent to his now former colleagues obtained by the New York Times.
“It is with both sadness and gratitude that I write to let you know that I have decided to leave The Post. This is a conclusion I reached after reflection on how I can best move forward in the profession I love,” Shipley said.
Social Media Is Not Feeling The Decision
As expected, Bezos’ decision is not sitting well with folks. Jeff Stein, the Post’s chief economics reporter, slammed Bezos’ move in a post on X: “Massive encroachment by Jeff Bezos into The Washington Post’s opinion section today — makes clear dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there. I still have not felt encroachment on my journalism on the news side of coverage, but if Bezos tries interfering with the news side I will be quitting immediately and letting you know.”
Another post on X read, “Who do you think you are, Jeff? The American people–workers, consumers, and everyday citizens–are the reason you became a billionaire. And now, instead of using your platform to support a fair and balanced discourse, you’re turning The Washington Post into a mouthpiece for policies that make the rich even richer while undermining workers’ rights, economic fairness, and government protections that keep corporate greed in check.”
Welp.
Jeff Bezos deserves all the smoke since he wants to kiss Trump’s ring.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Shareholders at Apple rejected a proposal to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion program despite pressure from Republicans and President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday (Feb. 25), shareholders at Apple voted to reject a proposal to end the tech giant’s diversity, equity, and inclusion program. The proposal was presented by the conservative think tank known as The National Center for Public Policy Research. The group was hoping to coerce Apple to eliminate its DEI policies, using the agenda of President Donald Trump as an example to follow. The final tally was 8.84 billion votes to reject the proposal, with 210.45 million votes for it.
“We’ve never had quotas or targets for Apple. Our strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration, one where people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to innovate,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a question and answer session at the meeting. He did acknowledge the pressures from Trump and other GOP supporters, adding that “as the legal landscape around these issues evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply, but our North Star of dignity and respect for everyone and our work to that end will never waver.” Apple disclosed in 2022 that three-fourths of its workforce were white and Asian, and two-thirds of the workforce were men. Its DEI policies are concentrated on initiatives that aid Black entrepreneurs and others of color, created in the wake of the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020.
The National Center for Public Policy Research also presented a similar proposal to Costco Wholesale last month, which the shopping giant also rejected strongly. Despite companies such as Meta and Google rolling back some of their DEI initiatives, it’s estimated that roughly half of the corporate leaders surveyed since Jan. 20 about eliminating those programs are not planning to follow suit.
President Trump wasn’t pleased with Apple’s decision, blasting them in a Truth Social post: “Apple should get rid of DEI rules, not just make adjustments to them. DEI was a hoax that has been very bad for our country. DEI is gone!!!” The National Center for Public Policy Research’s proposal to Apple cautioned that they could be subject to lawsuits by the Trump administration, but Cook signaled that Apple is forming legal protections.
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The man who has been convicted of the senseless murder of Rap pioneer Jam Master Jay was recently stabbed in a jail fight.
Karl “Little D” Jordan Jr. was recently involved in an altercation that led to him being stabbed at Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. According to The Daily News, the rumble stemmed from a dispute between two gangs. After the melee he was hospitalized and treated for his injuries, all which were non life-threatening. NBC News reports that a spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons confirmed that brawl happened around 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, between “multiple incarcerated individuals.” They also confirmed another unidentified individual also needed medical attention.
After many years of rumor and speculation the Jam Master Jay murder trial finally commenced in February 2024. Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were both found guilty on counts of murder and trafficking. The United States Attorney’s Office allege that Jam Master Jay was financing drug buys. In August 2002, he is said to have purchased 10 kilograms of cocaine on consignment from a distributor out of California. The drugs were intended to be split up amongst Jam Master Jay and Karl Jordan, but a dispute led to the Rap pioneer cutting him out of the deal. Jam Master Jay was shot at his studio in Queens, New York, on Oct. 30, 2002.
Karl Jordan Jr. is currently awaiting sentencing.
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
In today’s episode of I’m Starting To Suspect America Has Been An Oligarchy This Entire Time, The Washington Post published a report Wednesday that shows Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s white nationalist bosom buddy who Trump tapped to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been the beneficiary of tens of billions in taxpayer funds over the last two decades.
It’s almost as if the real immigrant who is taking American jobs has been very efficient at taking money from the “big government” he and Trump claim they want to shrink so badly.
From the Post:
Over the years, Musk and his businesses have received at least $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits, often at critical moments, a Washington Post analysis has found, helping seed the growth that has made him the world’s richest person.
The payments stretch back more than 20 years. Shortly after becoming CEO of a cash-strapped Tesla in 2008, Musk fought hard to secure a low-interest loan from the Energy Department, according to two people directly involved with the process, holding daily briefings with company executives about the paperwork and spending hours with a government loan officer.
When Tesla soon after realized it was missing a crucial Environmental Protection Agency certification it needed to qualify for the loan days before Christmas, Musk went straight to the top, urging then-EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to intervene, according to one of the people. Both people spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.
Nearly two-thirds of the $38 billion in funds have been promised to Musk’s businesses in the past five years.
In 2024 alone, federal and local governments committed at least $6.3 billion to Musk’s companies, the highest total to date.
The U.S. has to be one of the only developed nations with “leaders” who will gleefully fork over billions in taxpayer funds to rich, white welfare queens and then turn around and treat poor people like they’re the burden the country can’t bear. That’s right, an immigrant-hating billionaire president appointed a billionaire immigrant who America already made an even richer billionaire to be the authority on government efficiency — and the MAGA world is still trying to credit Trump with restoring the government to one that is by the people and for the people. They’ve bought into the idea that DEI is destroying America while pretending not to see the quid pro quo energy that’s happening as unqualified white supremacy hires are filling their MAGA messiah’s cabinet.
Sad.
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Source: Tom Williams / Getty / Jasmine Crockett
Democratic Congresswoman and political star Jasmine Crockett kept it real when asked what she would say if she had the opportunity to speak with Elon Musk directly.
Crockett spoke for many Americans who are no fans of Donald Trump, especially Elon Musk, following the ridiculously mass firings within the federal government due to federal budget cuts made by Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).
In a video that has since gone viral on X, formerly Twitter, Crockett was asked “”If you could speak directly to Elon Musk, what would you say?”
Without any hesitation, Crockett responded, “F*** off.”
The Texas politician has been making a name for herself for the verbal takedowns of her MAGA rivals like Marjorie Taylor Green, Nancy Mace, Trump, and now Musk.
As expected, many appreciated Crockett for saying what many would love to tell the Tesla chief to his face.
“Patriot. She has more cojones than every single republican in congress,” one user on X said.
Another user added, “i’m sorry but my favorite thing about her is that she doesn’t give a singular f**k.
Writer and director Matthew A. Cherry echoed many folks’ sentiments in his post on X, saying, “I’d vote for her.”
But not everyone is happy with Crockett’s comments. “Jasmine Crockett tells Elon Musk he should “f*** off.” Is this how elected representatives should talk?” the account Road to The Election asked on X.
That’s rich when Donald Trump constantly goes off the rails during his rants; oops, we mean speeches and curses.
Anyway, Jasmine Crockett’s energy towards Donald Trump and the MAGA crew is what’s needed, so we hope she doesn’t change.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
The controversial founder of Fyre Festival announced that the second edition of the concert event will take place on a Mexican island, causing many online to express disbelief.
On Monday (February 24), Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland announced that the second edition of the ill-fated music fest will take place this year. In a press release that was shared on social media, McFarland stated that it would be a “three-day escape to the Mexican Caribbean where you’ll explore by day alongside your favorite talent and come together at night to celebrate with music,” with patrons being hosted in “world-class accommodations” with the ability to take part in “adventures led by international and local talent, taking guests on boundary-pushing excursions by day and uniting for intimate beach-side performances at night.”
Further details revealed that the festival will be held at Isla Mujeres, a luxury tourist destination just off the coast of Mexico from May 30 to June 2. Specifically, the festival will be staged at “Playa Fyre”, which is just west of Isla Mujeres according to coordinates on the event’s website. The local government of Isla Mujeres stated that it has not received any permits from organizers when contacted by The New York Times. 2,000 tickets are now available, with prices ranging from $1,400 to $1.1 million. The latter price is for an all-inclusive “Prometheus” package promising round-trip airfare from Miami to Cancun as one of the perks.
There are no performers scheduled so far for Fyre Festival 2, and in an interview with NBC’s Today, McFarland said “I’m not in charge of booking the talent,” adding that the musical acts would be from different genres including Hip-Hop, rock and electronic pop. “I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again. But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again,” McFarland said in a statement, adding: “After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history. Thank you to my partners for the second chance.”
The news of the festival potentially taking place caught the attention of numerous skeptics online, who had jokes for those considering going to the festival after the first iteration failed spectacularly leading McFarland to spend six years in prison beginning in 2018. He was released in 2022. “We have Trump round 2 so why not Fyre Festival round 2,” wrote Blue Sky user Daniel Braten.
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty / Elon Musk / Donald Trump
This hilarious stunt will definitely make Donald Trump feel some type of way, and in *Trump’s voice* it definitely won’t be good.
Hackers finally put their talents to good use, hacking a television at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Monday morning and playing an AI-manipulated video of puppet Donald Trump kissing and carressing the real president, Elon Musk’s feet.
The stunt was first reported by Vox journalist Rachel Cohen, who said the video with the message “LONG LIVE THE REAL KING” was being played on TV at the agency that Trump considers to be a “Black job” because any Black person who is linked to Trump lands that position.
If you guessed it, the current HUD Secretary, Scott Turner, is a Black man; Trump’s last pick for that position was Ben Carson.
The video plays on the current sentiment amongst people who can’t stand both Musk and Trump. They have taken to calling the Tesla Chief the real president while calling Trump a puppet because Musk seems to have so much influence over the president.
It also comes after Trump shared an AI-generated TIME magazine cover with himself on it with the caption “Long Live The King” after he claimed to have killed New York’s congestion pricing.
The Hackers Are Getting Love On X
Reactions to the stunt from those on the left are what you should expect; they loved it.
“Not all heroes wear capes,” a post on X from the Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee account read.
Another post added, “He must have found out Musk’s net worth.”
HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett commented on the incident, saying it was “another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources” and that “Appropriate action will be taken for all involved.”
This video clearly indicates how much of a joke this administration is.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.