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Source: Carmen Mandato / Getty
It is getting lonelier and lonelier at the top for Drake. The 6 God recently cautioned his fans about fake friends and folks switching up.
As reported by Rap-Up Magazine Champagne Papi is letting the world know that he too knows the pain of betrayal. On Saturday, Oct. 5 he appeared at a Toronto performance hall for Canadian personality, Tyrone Edwards’ Nostalgia Party event. “My real friends, are definitely in the building,” Drake told attendees in the crowd before warning them about snakes in the grass. “But I’m going to tell you, you’re going to come to a point in life where people you thought were your friends or people you thought were close to you, they might switch up.”
From there Drake gave specific examples of the treachery. “They might try to move funny with you. They might stab you in the back. They might do a lot of things to you,” he added. “You’ll come to that realization, wherever you’re at in life. You’ve probably been there and you’ll be there again. That’s how life is. Sometimes it’s you and you alone by yourself.” He went on to double down on his statement by playing 50 Cent’s “Many Men (Wish Death)”.
While he did not call out specific names during the rant, many think this was related to the “God’s Plan” rapper recently unfollowing LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan on social media. It is assumed this was a direct response to both of them attending Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth concert.
You can see Drake discuss the traitors below.
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Source: Louis Vuitton / Louis Vuitton
It seems TikTok is planning to address bootlegging. The company has reportedly asked LVMH for help on how to avoid fakes being sold on the app.
Hypebeast is reporting that TikTok is strategizing on how to combat bootlegging. According to Bloomberg News the social media giant is in discussion with the luxury goods conglomerate. Senior Vice President of Global Omni-Marketing Toto Haba confirmed with the news site that the two parties are working together to provide users an “elevated shopping experience”. If true the initiative could help advance the app’s brand identity and earn more trust consumers. “It’s important for us to guard our IP” Haba said. “TikTok and ByteDance seem much more willing to talk with us on that and set the right guardrails.”
TikTok Shop has become a go to for buyers looking to purchase counterfeit luxury products. So much so the Better Business Bureau have urged buyers to beware. “Consumers should vigilantly follow online shopping safety tips when using TikTok Shop,” BBB President and CEO Steve Bernas said in a press release. “With any new service comes the potential for scams, especially with online shopping, where it could be difficult to verify a seller’s identity or vet their background” he added.
LVMH is home to brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, Tiffany & Co., Christian Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Loewe, Loro Piana, Kenzo, Celine, Sephora, Princess Yachts, TAG Heuer, and Bulgari.
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Source: handout / Department of Justice
Federal authorities have made a significant dent within the counterfeit industry. Over $1 billion dollars worth of fake goods were seized in New York City.
Raw Story is reporting that a national task force has made into the record books when it comes to the black market. On Wednesday, November 15 prosecutors announced their biggest bust in history stating that their work has resulted in the “largest ever seizure of counterfeit goods in US history”. Over 200,000 items were hauled during the bust which roughly translates to over a billion dollars in retail value. The items ranged from knockoff purses, shoes, hats, belts, smell goods and other accessories.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants used a Manhattan storage facility as a distribution center for massive amounts of knock-off designer goods. The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history. This is a testament to the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to combat counterfeit trafficking in New York City.”
New York Police Department Commissioner made it clear that the counterfeit industry is a plague to the safety of citizens and those work in this underworld alike. “The trafficking of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime because it harms legitimate businesses, governments, and consumers” he said in a statement according to the Department Of Justice. “Today’s indictments show how seriously the NYPD and our federal partners take this offense. And we will continue to work hard to hold accountable anyone who seeks to benefit by selling such items on the black market.”
Adama Sow and Abdulai Jalloh a/k/a “Troy Banks” are alleged to be running this operation. Both have been arrested and charged for trafficking the fake items which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
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