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12 May 2023

Jamie Foxx Has Been Out Of The Hospital For Weeks, Playing Pickleball

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26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Show, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, USA - 19 Jan 2020

Source: Variety / Getty

Rumors have been running rampant about the health of beloved actor and comedian Jamie Foxx. Today (May 12), his daughter set the record straight by updating the world on her father’s condition—he is at home recuperating.

Recently, Jamie Foxx suffered a still unspecified health crisis that landed him in the hospital. With the details scarce, the world has been speculating on his condition, with rumors being he allegedly suffered a stroke and was still touch and go as he remained hospitalized. Most recently, the calls for prayer had been deafening with too many assuming the Oscar winner was in danger of perishing.

However, Corinne Foxx took to her Instagram and set the record straight.

“Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild,” she wrote. “My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support!”

Reportedly, Foxx was hospitalized on April 11 while in Atlanta due to a “medical complication,” per his daughter. More concern was raised when Foxx and his daughter were forced to miss hosting Beat Shazam on Fox, with Nick Cannon taking over in their absence.

But apparently, the actor will be back to work sooner than later. Corinne Foxx added, “We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!”

We hope Jamie Foxx continues to heal up and recover from whatever his “medial complication” may have been.

12 May 2023

Jamie Foxx’s Daughter Says Actor Has Been Out of Hospital ‘For Weeks’ & Played Pickleball Recently

It’s been a month since Jamie Foxx‘s daughter revealed that the 55-year-old actor/singer had been hospitalized for an undisclosed “medical complication,” and on Friday (May 12), Corinne Fox gave fans a positive update.

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In response to reports that Jamie’s family is “preparing for the worst,” Corinne took to her Instagram Stories to deny the rumors. “Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild,” the 29-year-old media personality wrote. “My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support!”

She added that they have “an exciting work announcement” coming in the next week. See her Stories before they disappear here.

At press time there was still no additional information available about what the undisclosed “medical complication” was that sent Foxx to the hospital in April, or what treatment he received and a spokesperson had not returned requests for comment. Foxx has been filming Back in Action with Cameron Diaz in Atlanta and a source told CNN that the medical incident didn’t take place on the set and Foxx was not transported to the hospital by EMS. It was unknown at press time if Foxx had wrapped his portion of the shoot before the incident.

12 May 2023

Dyson’s Airstrait Flat Iron Dries & Straightens Your Hair Without Heat: Here’s Where You Can Buy It & How Much It Costs

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

From wet to dry with no heat damage? Dyson is changing the hair game with the Dyson Airstrait, a two-in-one straightener that dries and straightens your hair without using heat.

How does it work? The Airstrait utilizes “precise directional airflow” to simultaneously dry, straighten and protect your hair from heat damage while cutting down on overall styling time. Airflow is accelerated through 1.5mm apertures, creating two high-velocity downward blades of air projected at a 45-degree angle to form “downward facing precision air jets” that dries hair while it straightens.

Dyson Airwrap

The Dyson Airwrap Back in Stock: Where to Buy the Viral Hair Tool Online Before It Sells Out

“Having a strong understanding of how to manipulate and realize the potential of powerful airflow is fundamental to the performance of the Dyson Airstrait straightener,” James Dyson, Dyson’s founder and CEO, said in a news release. “The expertise, which we’ve gained over the last 25 years, is what has enabled us to deliver our first wet to dry straightener, with not hot plates, and not heat damage. Delivering the ease-of-use that people love about straighteners but with high-velocity air blades, saves time, maintains hair strength and achieves an everyday natural straight style.”

Dyson’s Airstrait flat iron retails for a splurge-worthy $499.99, but investing in healthy hair will pay off in the long run. (It also makes a good Mother’s Day gift.) Powered by Dyson’s Hyperdymium motor and equipped with high- and low-airflow speed settings, the Airstrait has an intuitive airflow that senses when your hair is between the two arms of the flat iron, and switches to low-air flow when it’s not.

The Airstrait automatically shifts into auto-pause after three seconds of inactivity and restarts when you pick it back up. Other features include a glass bead thermistor that regulates airflow and temperature to prevent heat damage; a high-definition LCD color display screen that shows temperature and airflow and a lock feature to keep the Airstrait closed when it’s not in use.

Available in Prussian blue/rich copper and nickel/copper colorways, Airstrait is designed for all hair types and features “Wet” and “Dry” modes that are pre-set with a special heat and airflow combination for the best styling results. Choose from 175 degrees, 230 degrees or 285 degrees Fahrenheit when the Airstrait is in “Wet” mode. When its in “Dry” mode, Airstrait lets you chose between 250 degrees and 285 degrees Fahrenheit or “boost” mode to up the ante.

Where can you buy the Dyson Airstrait? Although other hair tools such as the Dyson Airwrap are available at major retailers such as Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Best Buy and Amazon, the Airstrait is currently only available at Dyson.com.

Shop the Dyson Airstrait below.

Dyson

Dyson Airstrait

$499.99

12 May 2023

2023 ACM Awards: The Best Photos From the Show

The 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards hit the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday (May 11).

It was good night for “wait in the truck” collaborators HARDY and Lainey Wilson, who each won four awards at the 2023 ACMs, including album of the year for Wilson thanks to her LP Bell Bottom Country. After those two, Cole Swindell nabbed three awards and Ashley Gorley netted two.

Co-host Dolly Parton delivered a memorable show-wrapping performance of “World on Fire,” the lead single from her first rock album, appropriately titled Rockstar. The star-studded album follows Dolly’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson delivered a memorable duet together on “Save Me,” followed by a solo Wilson on “Grease.” Jelly Roll and ACM co-host Garth Brooks are both part of Billboard’s inaugural Billboard Country Live event on June 6-7. Jelly Roll will perform at Marathon Music Works in Nashville on June 6, while Brooks will sit down for an intimate Q&A at the same venue on June 7.

You can read about other can’t-miss moments from the 2023 ACM Awards here and check out Billboard’s backstage interviews with the winners here. And to learn more about the snubs and surprises at this year’s show, head here.

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.

12 May 2023

Jimmie Allen Suspended by Management & Agency After Sexual Assault Allegations

Jimmie Allen‘s management company The Familie and booking agency UTA both announced they were suspending their work with the country singer-songwriter on Friday (May 12), following a new lawsuit alleging him of rape, sexual assault and battery.

“Given the nature of the allegations in the lawsuit filed on Thursday, The Familie has decided to suspend management activities with Jimmie Allen effective immediately,” a spokesperson for the management firm told Billboard in a statement. The Familie began working with Allen in 2022, after he parted ways with his former management company, Wide Open Music.

“We have suspended our representation of Jimmie Allen due to the recent allegations against him, which we take seriously,” said a UTA spokesperson in a separate statement.

In a civil lawsuit filed Thursday in Tennessee federal court, an anonymous “Jane Doe” accuser says that Allen “manipulated and used his power” over her job as a day-to-day manager in order to “sexually harass and abuse her” over a period of 18 months from 2020 to 2022.

“Plaintiff expressed in words and actions that Jimmie Allen’s conduct was unwelcome, including pushing him away, sitting where he could not reach her, telling him she was uncomfortable and no, and crying uncontrollably,” the woman’s attorneys wrote in the complaint. “However, Allen made clear that plaintiff’s job was dependent on her staying silent about his conduct.”

Allen denied the allegations in a statement to Billboard, saying, “It is deeply troubling and hurtful that someone I counted as one of my closest friends, colleagues and confidants would make allegations that have no truth to them whatsoever. I acknowledge that we had a sexual relationship — one that lasted for nearly two years. During that time she never once accused me of any wrongdoing, and she spoke of our relationship and friendship as being something she wanted to continue indefinitely.”

The artist continued to say he intends to “mount a vigorous defense to her claims and take all other legal action necessary to protect my reputation.”

Since the report came to light, Allen has also been suspended by his record label, BBR Music Group, which includes halting of promotion for his latest radio single, “Be Alright,” which fell 57-60 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart dated May 20. He has also been pulled from the performer lineup at CMA Fest, which is slated from June 8-11 in downtown Nashville.

The suit follows previous news that Allen and his wife Alexis Gale announced their separation on April 21; at that time, they also shared that Gale is pregnant with their third child.

Assistance on this story provided by Melinda Newman.

Stories about sexual assault allegations can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information. (edited) 

12 May 2023

Suspect GOP Senator Tuberville Tries To Moonwalk Defense of White Nationalists

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Tommy Tuberville

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Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville found himself in a bind after trying to walk back some recent comments he made defending white nationalists.

The senator from Alabama was confronted over his comments that seemed to back white nationalists by members of the press on Thursday (May 11th) at the U.S. Capitol. After stating that “you can’t have racists” on any team, Tuberville went on to say that Democrats were the issue due to their painting all Trump supporters as white nationalists.

“The Democrats characterize all MAGA Republicans in the military as white nationalists, wrong. Wrong. OK?” Tuberville said.”We can’t get politics in the military. This has nothing to do with extremists.” He then asked the press to define the term, and one reporter responded with the definition as “someone who propagates Naziism.” Tuberville would go on to say, “Well I don’t look at it like that,” he said, adding, “I look at a white nationalist as a Trump Republican. That’s what we’re called all the time, a MAGA person.”

The politician and former college football coach had blasted President Joe Biden and his administration for excluding white nationalists from the U.S. military in an interview with WBHM, a National Public Radio station based in Birmingham, earlier in the week. Host Richard Banks asked, “Do you believe they should allow white nationalists in the military?”, Tuberville responded, “Well, they call them that. I call them Americans.”

He’d go on to add: “We are losing in the military so fast. Our readiness in terms of recruitment. And why? I’ll tell you why, because the Democrats are attacking our military, saying we need to get out the white extremists, the white nationalists, people that don’t believe in our agenda, as Joe Biden’s agenda.”

His office had out a statement on Wednesday to try to clarify what he meant. “Sen. Tuberville’s quote that is cited shows that he was being skeptical of the notion that there are white nationalists in the military, not that he believes they should be in the military,” the statement read. “He believes the men and women in uniform are patriots. (Defense) Secretary (Lloyd) Austin seems to think otherwise, subjecting them to extremism training as his very first act in office. That cost us four million man-hours.” Tuberville is currently under fire over his blocking of numerous military promotions requiring Senate committee confirmations. Observers note that it’s due to his objection to the Biden administration’s policies requiring that service members be reimbursed for abortion-related expenditures. 

12 May 2023

Barry Weiss Strikes New RECORDS Deal With Sony, Restructuring Founders’ Ownership

A move by Barry Weiss to reconfigure ownership over his RECORDS label has resulted in deal that buys out his former partners with a new going-forward joint venture directly between him and Sony Music, sources say.

Weiss — the former Jive/Zomba impresario — launched RECORDS in 2015 with his then-partners at the SONGS publishing firm, Matt Pincus and Ron Perry, and in 2017 they soon entered into a joint venture with Sony Music for the label. That deal was renewed for another three years in 2020, but with that arrangement coming to term Weiss and his original partners recently hired Artisan’s Brian Richards to selectivity shop for a new equity partner. The original 2017 deal, sources say, had a buy/sell mechanism in place that when it expired, either partner — Sony or the original RECORDS founders — could chose to buy out the other partner. While that mechanism never officially kicked in, sources say that if Sony decided to trigger the buy/sell option, Weiss and his partners apparently wanted to be prepared.

By the end of 2022, sources say, RECORDS was generating about $20 million in annual revenue and the original partners were seeking a valuation above $100 million. The label’s roster and catalog includes music from 24K Goldn and Noah Cyrus, who each have racked up over 1 million album consumption units in the U.S.; rapper Nelly’s 2021 country-crossover album Heartland, which is approaching 600,000 album consumption units in the U.S.; and the Labrinth-Sia-Diplo collaboration LSD and Stella Lennon, who are each approaching 500,000 album consumption units in the U.S.

As part of the deal, Sony now owns outright that part of the RECORDS catalog and all of its other masters from the original joint venture, although Weiss and his team will continue to work those records. Meanwhile, the recent singings that sources say are likely part of the new joint venture owned collectively by Sony and Weiss, include Matt Stell, who has scored two No. 1 records at country radio — the double platinum “Prayed For You” and the platinum “Everywhere But On”; former Band Perry member Kimberly Perry, whose “If I Die Young Pt. 2,” is just hitting country radio; and iCandy, whose “Keep-Dat-N—a” has become a TikTok hit.

As one source puts it, “while RECORDS may have been slow-going at the start, Weiss did a really nice job of building up the label and creating a valuable business.”

The search for a new equity partner received a number of interested offers from suitors that were said to be in the ballpark of the asking price. But it turned out that Sony — which sources say also had matching rights — came up with the most attractive offer and a deal was struck, one that had the added advantage of likely being the easiest deal to make since Sony was already familiar with the label.

In the original joint-venture deal with Sony from 2017, the major became RECORDS’ majority owner with a stake slightly over 50%. Of the remaining stake, sources say Weiss had the largest remaining equity piece, around 25% to 30%. Perry had the second largest stake, while Pincus — who originally had the largest stake at the label’s founding — had been left with the smallest slice of equity.

The new deal, according to sources, sees a 50/50 partnership between Sony and Weiss, with Pincus and Perry bought out completely from RECORDS as they received their second payday from selling a stake in the label to Sony. Moreover, even Weiss received a payday by cashing out his stake in the original joint venture, besides the new joint-venture deal, those same sources say.

While Pincus and Perry are no longer owners in RECORDS, Perry is chairman and CEO of Columbia Records, the distributing label for many of the releases from RECORDS, so he will still be involved in the label he helped found.

In the last six months, this marks the third deal involving music assets in the Sony Music Group orbit that were or are up for sale, either wholly or in partially, where the company has moved aggressively to keep — or try to keep — the music assets under its umbrella.

Two other deals that are likely still up in the air but close to fruition involve Rimas Entertainment and the Michael Jackson Estate. In the former situation, Sony is helping Noah Assad to buy out his partner in another deal that will rejigger the ownership structure of that company; while in the latter deal, Sony is negotiating to purchase outright the Jackson estate but the executors want to keep their hand in running that operation, according to sources. No formal announcements have been made for either deal.

Weiss and Pincus didn’t respond to requests for comment, while Sony Music declined to comment.

12 May 2023

Dolly Parton, Ed Sheeran & More: Which Was Your Favorite 2023 ACM Awards Performance? Vote!

The 2023 ACM Awards featured some of the biggest stars in country descending upon the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday (May 11) to honor achievements in the genre and showcasing talent in a series of performances.

Dolly Parton played a large part in the night’s success, as she co-hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards with Garth Brooks, and took to the stage for a debut performance of “World on Fire.” Serving as the first taste of her forthcoming rock n’ roll album Rockstar — which is set to be released in November — Parton took to the stage in a billowing skirt with a map of the world on it, and was later joined by dancers who performed high-energy choreography in front of controlled flames.

Ed Sheeran, fresh off the release of his fifth studio album Subtract, also gave a stunning performance of of “Life Goes On” consisting of just him with his acoustic guitar — that is, until Luke Combs provided a surprise assist for the second verse of the track. (Combs performed “Love You Anyway” solo earlier in the night).

Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll teamed up to perform “Save Me,” while Cody Johnson, joined by his band, gave a twangy performance of “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys,” and Jason Aldean took to the ACM stage for his song “Tough Crowd,” which, contrary to its title, won over the audience.

Revisit some of performances at the 2023 ACM awards and vote for your favorite in the poll below.

The ACM Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard. 

12 May 2023

Bootleg Plastic Surgeon Arrested After Allegedly Giving A Kim Kardashian Look-Alike Fatal Illegal Butt Injections

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Aesthetic cosmetologist makes lipolytic injections to burn fat on the thighs, hips and body of a woman. Female aesthetic cosmetology in a beauty salon.Cosmetology concept.

Source: dimid_86 / Getty / Kim Kardashian Look-Alike

A woman who spent her coins on plastic surgery to look like Kim Kardashian died from butt injections, and the person allegedly responsible for her death is behind bars.

Spotted on TMZ, OnlyFans model and Kim Kardashian look-a-like Christina Ashten Gourkani’s death was allegedly the result of illegal butt injections from a woman cosplaying as a plastic surgeon in a Burlingame, CA hotel room.

Per TMZ:

Arrest records say cops busted 50-year-old Vivian Alexandra Gomez in Florida last month, and she’s been charged with 2 felonies — involuntary manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license. Her arrest came not long after Christina died in California.

Gomez allegedly gave Christina “several injections” of what is believed to be silicone, and the procedure was done in a Burlingame, CA, hotel room, according to the Daily Post. Cops say Gomez did not have a license to practice medicine.

The celebrity gossip site reports that news of Gourkani’s death due to enhancing her fraudulent cakes came via a GoFundMe page, revealing they got a frantic call from another family member that she was dying. When they arrived, she had already passed after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Details were light at the time, but the page’s description said her death was under investigation as a potential homicide due to a “medical procedure that took a turn for the worse.”

Death Via Illegal Butt Injections Are A Sad Trend

Gourkani joins a list of women who have lost their lives due to dangerous plastic surgery procedures administered by unlicensed individuals who have no business performing them.

In 2019, Whalesca Castillo was arrested and charged with manslaughter after her shady illegal plastic surgery operation in the Bronx killed a woman.

In 2017, a Queens woman was hit with a murder charge after allegedly causing the death of a Harlem woman after administering illegal butt shots.

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Photo: dimid_86 / Getty

12 May 2023

Rob Bisel Hits No. 1 on R&B Producers Chart Thanks to SZA Hits

Rob Bisel rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Producers chart (dated May 13), ruling for the first time thanks to four production credits on the Hot R&B Songs chart (dated May 13), all by SZA.

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Leading the charge is SZA’s smash single “Kill Bill,” which adds a 20th week at No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs. It ties Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like,” The Weeknd’s “Starboy” featuring Daft Punk, and Drake’s “One Dance” featuring WizKid and Kyla for the second-longest reign in the chart’s history, after The Weeknd’s 48-week leader “Blinding Lights.”

“Kill Bill,” which became SZA’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks earlier, drew 81.7 million radio airplay audience impressions and 21.3 million official streams and sold 1,000 in the U.S. April 28-May 4, according to Luminate.

Bisel co-produced “Kill Bill” with Carter Lang, who dips to No. 2 on R&B Producers after spending 20 weeks at No. 1, the fourth-longest command in the chart’s four-year history.

Here’s a look at all four of Bisel’s production credits on the latest Hot R&B songs chart, with co-producers listed in parentheses.

Rank, Artist Billing, Title (co-producers in addition to Bisel):

  • No. 1, SZA, “Kill Bill” (Carter Lang)
  • No. 13, SZA feat. Travis Scott, “Open Arms” (Michael Uzowuru, Teo Halm)
  • No. 21, SZA, “Blind” (Carter Lang, Yuli, Will Miller)
  • No. 24, SZA feat. Phoebe Bridgers, “Ghost in the Machine” (Carter Lang)

All four tracks are on SZA’s latest album, SOS, which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and 21 weeks and counting at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums (encompassing every week since the set’s release).

Bisel also spends a 21st consecutive week at No. 2 on the R&B Songwriters chart, behind SZA herself, who claims a 32nd week on top.

Elsewhere, Bisel ranks at No. 2 on R&B/Hip-Hop Producers, No. 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriters, No. 7 on Hot 100 Producers and No. 16 on Hot 100 Songwriters.

Billboard launched the Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts, as well as genre-specific rankings for country, rock & alternative, R&B/hip-hop, R&B, rap, Latin, Christian, gospel and dance/electronic, in June 2019. (Alternative and hard rock joined in 2020, along with seasonal holiday rankings in 2022.) The charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot 100. The genre-based songwriter and producer charts follow the same methodology based on corresponding “Hot”-named genre charts. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).

The full Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts and full genre rankings can be found on Billboard.com.