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Shedeur Sanders was one of the many professional football hopefuls awaiting to hear his name called during the first round of the NFL Draft. However, Shedeur Sanders was not among those selected, and fans on social media are debating why NFL teams passed on the quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders, 23, is the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders and played under his father at both Jackson State University and the University of Colorado. In a league that covets the position of quarterback, it remains baffling to some observers why Sanders was passed over despite solid numbers in a winning season last year at Colorado.
From what we gleaned from chatter on X, it appears that some felt that Sanders’ confident attitude, no doubt inspired by his father, might have been considered too brash for some NFL general managers, and there could be other factors at play. Others are suggesting that Sanders is not a complete quarterback, in particular, the fact that he took a lot of hits while remaining too long in the pocket.
Sanders is taking the first-round snub in stride, sharing a video statement on his YouTube page, which has been clipped up for social media. In the chat, Sanders displayed more of that winning bravado that he’s become known for and said that the supposed snub, as some are saying it was, shouldn’t have happened.
The second round of the NFL Draft kicks off today at 7 PM ET.
On X, the reactions to Shedeur Sanders being skipped over in the first round of the draft.
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Photo: Brooke Sutton / Getty
15. There Is Always One (Hater).
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Shedeur Sanders was one of the many professional football hopefuls awaiting to hear his name called during the first round of the NFL Draft. However, Shedeur Sanders was not among those selected, and fans on social media are debating why NFL teams passed on the quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders, 23, is the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders and played under his father at both Jackson State University and the University of Colorado. In a league that covets the position of quarterback, it remains baffling to some observers why Sanders was passed over despite solid numbers in a winning season last year at Colorado.
From what we gleaned from chatter on X, it appears that some felt that Sanders’ confident attitude, no doubt inspired by his father, might have been considered too brash for some NFL general managers, and there could be other factors at play. Others are suggesting that Sanders is not a complete quarterback, in particular, the fact that he took a lot of hits while remaining too long in the pocket.
Sanders is taking the first-round snub in stride, sharing a video statement on his YouTube page, which has been clipped up for social media. In the chat, Sanders displayed more of that winning bravado that he’s become known for and said that the supposed snub, as some are saying it was, shouldn’t have happened.
The second round of the NFL Draft kicks off today at 7 PM ET.
On X, the reactions to Shedeur Sanders being skipped over in the first round of the draft.
—
Photo: Brooke Sutton / Getty
15. There Is Always One (Hater).
TWS has released their third mini-album, TRY WITH US. The members of TWS — Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin — embody the brave and adventurous spirit of youth stepping boldly into their twenties. The album title, TRY WITH US, symbolizes courageously embracing new and unexplored experiences. It showcases lively and refreshing sounds blended […]
Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug is speaking out about his journey to understand autism in a new PSA for the Autism Society of America’s Autism Is campaign during Autism Acceptance Month. “To me, autism is a journey,” he says in a new video in which he talks about his 6-year-old autistic son.
“The reason I say that it is a journey is because I have a six-year-old son who has autism,” he continues about his son, Amar. “There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s a perfectly good child. My journey as far as me having to be gone, be able to make funds for my child and him having autism, so the journey is not an easy journey. You can’t make it a hard journey, because if you make the process hard, it’ll all be hard.”
April is Autism Acceptance Month and BigX’s advocacy for his son comes just a week after Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., drew widespread criticism for his latest comments about autism, in which he said it “destroys families,” as well as making broad, unscientific claims about autistic people.
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At an April 16 press conference, Kennedy said that many autistic children were “fully functional” and then “regressed… into autism when they were 2 years old. And these are kids who will never pay taxes, they’ll never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
According to a PBS report, medical experts and people on the autism spectrum told PolitiFact that Kennedy’s comments were off-base, citing a 2023 study written by CDC officials and university researchers that found that one-quarter of people on the autism spectrum have severe limitations, a figure that is at the high end of studies. It noted that the vast majority of people on the spectrum do not have the kinds of severe challenges Kennedy suggested, nor do many of the people in the one-quarter of the autism population cited in the studies.
A HHS spokesperson later clarified that Kennedy was referring to “those that are severely affected by this chronic condition” and that “this was in no way a general characterization.” Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic who for many years has made false claims that vaccines cause autism, recently announced that his department is launching a “a massive testing and research” effort to determine the long-sought cause of autism by September of this year.
According to the BBC, experts called the effort “misguided and unrealistic,” given that autism spectrum disorder is a complex syndrome that has been studied for decades and that promising a definitive answer in six month is unlikely. At press time Kennedy had not revealed any details on the scope and range of the research project or how much funding will be devoted to it at a time when Pres. Trump’s administration is making drastic, wide-ranging cuts to research grants at HHS.
“As a dad to an autistic son, I’ve seen the importance of being understood for who you truly are,” the “Texas” rapper added in a statement. “This is personal for me — it’s about sharing our journey, showing up for my son, and breaking down the walls around autism. It’s about being real, spreading awareness, and making sure no one feels alone in this.”
The Autism Society — the largest and oldest grassroots autism organization in the U.S. — praised BigX (born Xavier Landum) for speaking out to “authentically” combat the “stigma and stereotypes by sharing his own family’s journey. Through his platform, BigXthaPlug is using his voice to reach fans and families who may be navigating similar paths — especially in communities where awareness and access to support can be limited. His participation in the Autism Is campaign encourages conversation, connection, and compassion.”
Speaking to People, BigX also offered some advice for other parents trying to navigate the sometimes confusing journey of helping their children. “You ain’t alone. I know in our communities, sometimes it feels like you gotta keep stuff to yourself, or like nobody’s gonna understand,” he said. “But there is support out there — you just gotta start askin’ questions, lean into the love you got around you, and don’t be afraid to speak up for your kid… Every kid on the spectrum is different, so take time to learn your child. Be patient, be open, and don’t wait for a ‘perfect’ answer — just show up, every day. That’s what matters most.”
BigX just scored his first top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when his Bailey Zimmerman collab “All the Way” ran up to No. 4 on the chart dated April 19.
Watch BigXthaPlug’s video below.
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50 Cent has filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the release of an upcoming horror movie in which he plays the starring role, claiming he never signed a final agreement and has not been paid.
In a complaint filed Friday against producer Ryan Kavanaugh and others, the rapper (Curtis Jackson) says he filmed the entirety of SkillHouse because he trusted that he would eventually reach a deal covering his compensation for the movie.
“That trust was misplaced. No final agreement was ever signed,” 50’s lawyers write. “Nevertheless, defendants have billed Jackson as the star and producer of the film [and] have shamelessly and deceptively marketed the film as a ‘50 Cent Movie’ and ‘produced by 50 Cent,’ when it is nothing of the sort.”
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Despite being listed as a producer, 50 says he was given “no creative input into the film” – an arrangement he says he “never would have agreed to” because it might harm his “carefully curated and award-winning reputation as a film and television producer.” Adding “insult to injury,” the rapper’s attorneys say the producers “have not paid Jackson a dime” to date.
“Despite plaintiffs’ repeated objections and demands to cease and desist, defendants continue to infringe and misappropriate plaintiffs’ intellectual property rights and intend to release the film in the coming weeks (if not days),” 50’s attorneys write. “Should the film be released publicly, Jackson faces irreparable harm to his valuable brand and reputation.”
The lawsuit isn’t unexpected. Last week, the rapper warned on Instagram: “They can’t release this MOVIE SKILL HOUSE without my signature which they do not have. What kinda business are they doing? I’d hate to have to demonstrate.” In another post, he later added: “This guy Ryan Kavanaugh is doing everything in his power to make me kill this movie. This one is going in the trash can.”
In Thursday’s complaint, 50 says he only draft term sheets were exchanged, and that he believed a full contract would eventually be negotiated and signed. In order to “avoid unnecessary delay and based on a mistaken good-faith belief in Kavanaugh’s promises and reputation,” he says he filmed his scenes without that final paperwork signed.
Without such a deal, his lawyers say that releasing the movie would violate his intellectual property rights, including his trademarks and his likeness rights. And they say the producers are already infringing those rights by using his name and image to promote the movie and Kavanaugh’s GenTV streaming service.
“Defendants have made Jackson the centerpiece of their promotional and marketing efforts for the Film,” the star’s lawyers write. “Despite having raised concerns months ago, Jackson’s name, image, and trademarks still feature prominently across the GenTV platform.”
Kavanaugh did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday.
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It’s extremely rare that fans get to hear Ariana Grande tap into her jazzier side when she isn’t singing pop music or Wicked show tunes, but thanks to Jeff Goldblum, the star’s latest performance is a rich cover of Dean Martin’s staple “I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do).” The wonderful wizard indeed. For his […]
Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have split with their booking agent IAG (Independent Artist Group) following the controversy caused by their recent Coachella performances.
The news was confirmed by an IAG representative to The Hollywood Reporter. The report states that the Belfast group and IAG, which includes Metallica, Billy Joel and 50 Cent on its roster, split between Coachella’s first and second weekends. A spokesperson for Kneecap told Billboard U.K. that they would not be commenting on the split.
During the first weekend, the group claimed that the YouTube stream of their live performance had been cut following anti-Margaret Thatcher and pro-Palestine chants by the group and crowd. Thatcher was the U.K. prime minister between 1979 and 1990, and played a pivotal role during the violent Troubles in Northern Ireland during that span; she died in 2013, aged 87. The group have long expressed support for a united Ireland, and frequently spoken out on the war on Gaza at their shows and in interviews.
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During the band’s second set at Coachella, a projected message stated: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.” The set was not livestreamed on YouTube, but images from the onstage projections were widely shared on social media.
Since the band’s set, they have faced a wave of criticism from industry figures. Sharon Osbourne, wife and manager of husband Ozzy, called for their U.S. work visas to be revoked, saying that “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.” She also criticised Goldenvoice, Coachella’s organiser alongside AEG, for allowing the band to be booked. A previous report in The Hollywood Reporter said that Goldenvoice was “blindsided” by the messaging.
On Wednesday, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed they were assessing a video taken of a band member appearing to say “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a headline performance in the capital in November. The two militant groups have been ascribed “terrorist group” status by the U.K. Government and expressing support for either is forbidden under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Following the fallout, the group have shared a number of messages on social media from Palestinians thanking them for speaking out. Kneecap member Mo Chara responded to the criticism on Wednesday, telling Rolling Stone that their message is “about [the Israeli government’s] government’s sickening actions, not ordinary people.”
Kneecap released their second studio album Fine Art in June 2024 on Heavenly Recordings. Their 2024 music biopic Kneecap, starring Michael Fassbender, was nominated for two Academy Awards, and in February director Rich Peppiat won a prize for his work on the film at the BAFTAs (British Academy Film Awards). The group will play a number of shows in Europe this summer including at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain and Glastonbury Festival in England. They will return to North American for a headline tour in October.
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Justin Bieber is calling out the “darkness” in Los Angeles, particularly what he experiences from paparazzi.
On Instagram Friday (April 25), the pop star shared a video showing his point of view while stepping outside to blinding camera flashes, with several photographers following him every step of the way to his car and frequently blocking his path. “Look at these guys, man,” Bieber’s voice says disapprovingly from behind his camera, while his security guard repeatedly tells the paps to back up.
“This has to stop,” the musician captioned the clip.
In other posts, Bieber shared his thoughts on the culture as a whole in his home city. “Everyone telling me to move from La,” he wrote in a block of text on his feed. “U think I’m gonna get bullied to leave where my influence is most needed? How can we make a change if we run away from the darkness?”
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Admitting that he too has “been caught up in the transactional nature of Hollywood” in the past, Bieber went on to say that he now wants “nothing to do with that as a grown adult with a wife and son.” The “Peaches” artist, who married model Hailey Bieber in 2018, welcomed first child Jack Blues in August.
“I just want to be submerged in the culture learning from any and everyone,” he added. “And be a proponent and advocate for LOVE AND EQUALITY.”
Also sharing a photo of a stately lion, Bieber wrote, “IM CURRENTLY ASKING [GOD] TO HELP ME WITH PATIENCE BECAUSE It CAN BE REALLY HARD TO NOT RIP THESE F–KIN GUYS HEADS OFF.”
“Today I’m forgiving myself for my own selfishness, AND forgiving THOSE WHO SEEK TO USE AND ABUSE ME SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CAPITaLIze off of me, Or Their jealousy makes them want to make me feel small like how they feel,” he continued. “People have had to die cuz of this s–t princess Diana is the first that comes to mind smh. We gotta do better please can we make a change?”
Bieber has long clashed with the paparazzi. Enduring consistent hounding since he first debuted in 2009 at just 15 years old, the “Baby” artist has spoken out against the invasive practice on multiple occasions, with Friday’s post echoing something he said after his Ferrari was rear-ended by a persistent photographer in 2014. “There should be laws against what I just experienced,” he posted on X at the time. “We should have learned from the death of Princess Diana…”
His latest posts follow a string of candid musings Bieber has been sharing on Instagram lately, with the star writing the day prior that he’s working to forgive people who “gossip and spread lies” on the internet. “Honestly if I was u it would be hard not to be jealous if I saw me and Hailey going so brazzzzyy,” he also added Thursday (April 24).
See Bieber’s new posts below.