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Sure, the sun will come out tomorrow, but for right now, viral comedian Randy Rainbow isn’t looking forward to a new day dawning on Donald Trump‘s presidency. In his latest parody video, Rainbow sits down for another faux interview with the president-elect, this time mocking Trump for his widely criticized cabinet picks, specifically calling out […]
Northampton rapper Slowthai has been cleared of raping two women after one of his shows. The 29-year-old (real name Tyler Frampton) had previously been accused of sexually assaulting them following his performance at The Bullingdon in Oxford in September 2021.
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Frampton and his co-accused, Alex Blake-Walker, were both found not guilty on three joint counts of rape following a trial at Oxford Crown Court. Blake-Walker was also cleared on one count of sexual assault. The not guilty verdict was announced Monday (Dec. 16) following 10 hours of deliberation by the jury.
The BBC reports that Frampton broke down in tears when the verdict was announced, and that there were gasps in the public gallery.
The trial heard that Frampton and his friends were invited to a party in Oxford following the conclusion of his show. The prosecution alleged that Blake-Walker had raped one woman at the encouragement of Frampton, who was then accused of twice raping a second complainant.
During the trial, Frampton said that sexual activity had taken place between him and the second complainant, but insisted that it had been consensual. “I know she was consenting, there wasn’t a question,” the BBC reports that he said during the trial.
Frampton and Blake-Walker had previously denied all the charges, and said the two women consented to all sexual activity.
The updates came after prosecutor Heather Stangoe warned jurors in the closing argument not to be “Wagatha Christies” in their deliberations, referencing the infamous legal battle between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney in their 2022 libel case in the U.K.
The presiding judge, Ian Pringle, asked jurors to “lay aside any feelings of sympathy or dislike” and make their decision in a “calm and cool manner,” adding that they “must be sure of guilt” if they were to convict the two men.
Patrick Gibbs KC, the lawyer defending Frampton, said in court that there were a dozen “problems” with accusations outlined. He added that Slowthai isn’t “everybody’s stereotype of a rapper,” describing him as a “thoughtful and modest” man who “throws himself, sometimes recklessly, into life.”
Also in the court proceedings, Blake-Walker’s lawyer Sheryl Nwosu, said that the evidence outlined “doesn’t fit with Mr Blake-Walker and his behaviour on the night,” while Judge Pringle said the case was a “question of consent.”
Frampton had been accompanied by his wife, pop star Anne-Marie, throughout the trial, which was held at Oxford Crown Court.
Frampton released his most recent album, Ugly, under his Slowthai moniker in 2023. Following the announcement of the charges that year, he was dropped from festival lineups for Glastonbury Festival and Reading & Leeds.
Jay-Z’s attorneys have written a letter to a New York courthouse revealing that the rapper intends to “immediately” file a motion to strike a recent complaint accusing him of raping a teenager 24 years ago.
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In the letter obtained by Billboard, the legal team cited a new NBC report on Friday night (Dec. 13), in which the accuser — identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed against Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) and Diddy — recalled the “catastrophic event,” while also acknowledging a number of inconsistencies in her original account. “I have made some mistakes,” she shared, noting that while she still stands by her accusations, there are a few details that are unclear.
One of the inconsistencies is that the woman originally said her father picked her up after the assault, but he denied that. She also claimed she spoke to singer Benji Madden at the event, though he wasn’t in New York at the time of the party.
The letter from Jay-Z’s attorney took aim at Doe’s attorney Anthony Buzbee. “Given today’s relevations, Mr. Buzbee almost certainly failed to undertake a reasonable inquiry into the facts before filing the complaint,” the message reads. “He should never have brought the claims.”
The letter concludes by noting that Jay “intends to file immediately a motion to strike the first amended complaint.”
In a press statement, Jay-Z echoed the sentiments of his attorney. “Today’s investigative report proves this ‘attorney’ Buzbee filed a false complaint against me in the pursuit of money and fame. This incident didn’t happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press. True justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but, soon.”
His lawyer Alex Spiro added, “It is stunning that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting, but would make things worse by further peddling this false story in the press. We are asking the Court to dismiss this frivolous case today, and will take up the matter of additional discipline for Mr. Buzbee and all the lawyers that filed the complaint.”
Over the weekend, Jay-Z was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty alongside Diddy. The shocking civil case was filed by an anonymous accuser and Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, whom Jay called a “deplorable human.”
The rapper also denyied all of the allegations against him when news broke. “You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same,” Jay-Z said. “I’m not from your world. I’m a young man who made it out of the projects of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists … will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable. I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”
Jay-Z continued: “My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs has dropped his appeal to be released on bail, according to court documents filed on Friday (Dec. 13). The voluntary dismissal means the hip-hop mogul will remain behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until the start of his criminal trial in May. “Mr. Combs does not seek to appeal […]
Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show.
Abdul filed a notice of settlement of the case in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. It still must be approved by a judge.
“I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me,” Abdul said in a statement Friday. “This has been a long and hard-fought personal battle. I hope my experience can serve to inspire other women, facing similar struggles, to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect, so that they too can turn the page and begin a new chapter of their lives.”
In his own statement, Lythgoe said, “We live in a troubling time where a person is now automatically assumed to be guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years. That is why, like Paula, I am glad to be able to put this behind me. I know the truth and that gives me great comfort.”
The court filing said the settlement was unconditional, but did not reveal the terms, and Abdul’s attorney Melissa Eubanks said she could not comment on them.
The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” and became a judge on Lythgoe’s other competition show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Lythgoe said at the time that he was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations, which he called “an appalling smear.”
After other lawsuits were filed alleging sexual misconduct, Lythgoe stepped down in January from his role as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The 75-year-old English-born producer has been a prominent TV producer for decades in both the U.K. and the U.S., working on reality competition shows including “American Idol.”
The Associated Press generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Abdul has done.
Abdul, a Grammy and Emmy-winning singer and dancer, said in the lawsuit that she remained silent for years about the alleged assaults out of fear of retaliation by “one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows.”
She alleged that the first sexual assault occurred while Abdul and Lythgoe were on the road filming auditions for an early season of “American Idol,” which premiered in 2002.
Abdul says Lythgoe groped her in the elevator of their hotel after a day of filming and “began shoving his tongue down her throat.” Abdul pushed him away and ran to her hotel room when the elevator doors opened.
“In tears, Abdul quickly called one of her representatives to inform them of the assault,” the lawsuit says, “but ultimately decided not to take action for fear that Lythgoe would have her fired.”
Abdul starred as a judge for the first eight seasons, leaving in 2009.
In 2015, Abdul became a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance,” appearing alongside Lythgoe.
Around that time, Abdul alleged in the lawsuit, Lythgoe forced himself on top of her during a dinner at his home and tried to kiss her. Abdul said she again pushed Lythgoe away and immediately left.
Abdul left that reality show after two seasons. She has not worked with Lythgoe since.
In a statement at the time of the suit, Lythgoe said “While Paula’s history of erratic behavior is well known, I can’t pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue.”
This story was originally published by The Associated Press.
Billboard Unfiltered returned with a brand new episode on Friday (Dec. 13), and some new faces joined the fellas for the 25th installment of the series.
Vibe‘s Regina Cho and Amber Corrine make their Unfiltered debut alongside co-hosts Carl Lamarre and Kyle Denis for the final episode of 2024, during which they also discuss predictions for 2025.
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Billboard‘s Top 10 Hottest Female Rappers of 2024 list created some waves around the culture, and the foursome debated what they liked and didn’t, as well as who they hope to see make a leap next year.
“Any list that does not include GloRilla at No. 1 I feel like causes an uproar because it is undeniable the year she has had,” Cho said. “It is so remarkable how in June, Doechii was not on the list, and now she’s at No. 6. The ascension she’s had in the last few months is so amazing to see … My year was defined in Latto, Megan Thee Stallion and Glo.”
As a resident of Gag City, Corrine wanted to see Nicki Minaj get the nod over Megan Thee Stallion at No. 2. “I’m very happy to see Nicki Minaj in the top five, but I would maybe make her No. 2,” she said. “I’d like to see Tierra Whack too.”
Denis is very happy with how the list turned out, as JT moved up a slot compared to June’s iteration. “I’m happy to see my girl JT move up a spot. I’m incredibly proud of the year she’s had,” he shared. “Latto was another defining artist regardless of genre or gender for me … If I had to champion one person who didn’t make the list, it would probably Little Simz.”
Lamarre, who spearheaded the list, enjoyed the reception to it, but especially the humility displayed by Cardi B at No. 10, as he sees a dominant 2025 in her future. “To be quite frank, there were discussions about her being off the list altogether,” he admitted. “We’re used to seeing Cardi in superstar form and she has not been that … She took it with grace … I think Cardi is going to put herself in position to have an explosive 2025, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go from 10 to one.”
Also discussed during the episode was Jay-Z, who in a civil lawsuit filed Dec. 8 was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at a 2000 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty with Diddy. A Jane Doe made the assault allegations against the two men in the suit filed by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. Hov has vehemently denied all allegations against him, calling the suit “extortionate.”
“I wasn’t shocked because it felt like they were coming for Jay-Z next,” Corrine said. With Jay-Z being a fixture in his life as his favorite rapper, Denis shared that his “stomach sank” after hearing the shocking lawsuit’s details. “That was pretty heavy to sit with. I’m gonna wait to see how this plays out,” he said. “My heart broke for Blue [Ivy].”
Watch the episode below.
50 Cent is working on a Netflix documentary about Diddy’s history of alleged sexual abuse, and he’s speaking out about the project. The “In Da Club” rapper joined GMA3: What You Need to Know on Friday (Dec. 13), where he referred to his longstanding “beef” with the disgraced rapper as more of a “competitive energy.” Of the […]
Meek Mill is never one to mince words on X. He shared his thoughts on Wednesday (Dec. 11) regarding the rampant gun violence in America while pressing the media for being hung up on the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in New York City earlier this month. Explore Explore […]
Cardi B was the victim of a prank in October when someone anonymously called Child Protective Services claiming that she and Offset were abusing their children.
CPS apparently continued their investigation into Cardi and her family, which the Grammy-winning rapper has deemed to be “harassing” amid what she says is “bogus” claims. Cardi, who previously denied all allegations of mistreating her kids, addressed CPS and the agency’s investigation during an explosive Instagram Live session on Tuesday (Dec. 10).
“You keep harassing me and there are actual kids about there that are being abused,” she said. “None of my kids have ever got touched. None of my kids ever got a little pow-pow, a little whooping, a little nothing. None of that.”
Cardi continued: “A month later, because I didn’t give them my kids’ information, now they want to fake come back to my house again, interview my kids, look at my kids. Why are you harassing me for my daughter’s information? What that has to do with anything? My daughter doesn’t even have a social security because I don’t want nobody knowing her name.”
The Bronx native says she’s willing to go to whatever lengths it takes to legally end the investigation even if that means exposing the CPS agent’s information or writing a five-figure check to her attorneys.
“Even after you check, you still want to harass,” she added. “No b—h, you’re being f–king annoying … You doing the most because I’m a f—–g celebrity. Mind you there’s parents that don’t even buy them a f–king coat because they f–king hate them… This f–king four-eyed b—-h keep pissing me the f–k off.”
Cardi went on to play a recorded phone call conversation between herself, Offset and a CPS agent. The agent revealed that anyone can make a call to CPS in the state of New Jersey and the agency would investigate the claims.
Billboard has reached out to Cardi B and New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families for comment.
About six weeks ago, Cardi revealed from a hospital bed that an anonymous person had called CPS on her in what was a horrible prank, alleging that she abused her 6-year-old daughter Kulture, 3-year-old son Wave and newborn baby.
“I swear to you I’m gonna get to the bottom of it. For you motherf–kers to do a little prank call with Child Protective Services to come to my gated mansion at 11 p.m. while my children are sleeping because there’s an anonymous call that my kids have been getting abused and beaten,” she said on Instagram Live at the time, during which she also denied the abuse allegations. “Are you f–king dumb? This is when the pranks start getting too far — when you a——s think it’s funny.”
Trigger warning: the following story describes allegations of sexual abuse and illicit drug use.
An anonymous accuser who claims he was sexually assaulted by jailed music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs at one of the Bad Boy Records founder’s infamous White Party gatherings in 2007 has broken his silence to speak to CNN. The man — who the network ID’d as a John Doe to protect his anonymity –first filed a civil suit against Combs on October 14, claiming he was drugged and sodomized at the party in 2007.
The man said he kept the alleged assault a secret all these years, even from his then-wife due to the shame he carried from the incident at Diddy’s estate in East Hampton, N.Y., where he was hired to provide security. “The full gravity of it lives with me to this day,” the New Jersey man told the network, which obscured his voice and face in a video of the interview. “It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.”
CNN said that reps for Combs initially declined to comment on Doe’s allegations, noting that at the time of the original complain’s filing in October the rapper’s lawyers issued a blanket statement about that complaint and others filed that same day.
“Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone—adult or minor, man or woman,” read the original statement. The Doe complaint was one of a series of similar ones filed by attorneys Tony Buzbee and Andrew Van Arsdale, who’ve said they represent up to 120 accusers who plan to file suits against Combs; to date the pair have filed 20 such lawsuits.
“At first he was incredibly friendly, very gracious,” the man said of Combs’ demeanor that night, adding that later in the night Combs handed him a drink that made him feel off. He said that feeling was intensified after a second drink, which he believes were spiked with the strong party drugs GHB and ecstasy. “Sadly, Sean Combs was waiting in the wings. He was watching from some sort of vantage point, and once I was in a helpless position and he was sure that he was in a position of power, then he took advantage of the situation,” the man said.
After the second drink, the man claimed in the suit that he felt “extremely ill,” at which point Combs allegedly approached him with what he initially “interpreted as concern,” before allegedly forcing the man into an empty car. Once inside, Doe’s suit claims that Combs held him down, ignoring pleas for help, and sodomized him.
“It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless,” said the man of the two spiked drinks that he said “felt more like 15,” leaving him unable to stand up.
CNN noted a number of inconsistencies between details shared by Doe in his interview with the network and the original complaint’s language, including discrepancies on the year the alleged assault took place and location and whether Doe had ever been married; Doe’s attorneys reportedly filed an amended complaint withe court afterwards, acknowledging mistakes made during the rushed filing.
Doe said that after the alleged assault he struggled to leave the party due to the effects of the drugs and the pain in his body, later allegedly reporting the incident to his supervisor, according to the suit. “I was screaming, I was telling him to stop. It was incredibly painful and he was acting like it was nothing… it was abusive beyond belief,” the man told CNN.
He was allegedly never asked to work for that security firm again. “He just dismissed it and said, ‘I’ll talk to him,’” Doe said about a conversation he recalled with his manager about the alleged sexual assault. “After that, he didn’t talk to me again, he cut me out of everything … I was totally blacklisted after that. I had to find a different field.”
Combs has been denied bail three times to date ahead of his sex trafficking and racketeering trial set for next year. The once high-flying music and fashion tycoon has been behind bars since his arrest in September following an indictment on charges that he ran a sprawling criminal operation predicated on satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.”
Combs, 55, has denied and pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the help of a network of associates and employees, allegedly silencing his victims via blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson and physical assault.
The allegations against Combs first began in November 2023 when former longtime girlfriend singer Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing him of years of sexual misconduct and abuse; that suit was settled in a private manner within 24 hours. That legal action unleashed a flood of more than two dozen similar sexual misconduct-related lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and coercion, allegations that Combs has categorically denied to date.
Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided by Homeland Security in March and since then his once-formidable multi-media and fashion empire has begun to wither amid the avalanche of shocking claims about incidents that accusers have said ruined their lives and left them traumatized.
Doe told CNN that he no longer works security and that his marriage ended as a result of the alleged abuse because of the negative impacts of the trauma on his personal relationships. He also said for the first time that an unnamed “high-profile” celebrity witnessed the alleged abuse, claiming the person “saw what happened and found it amusing.”
“Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening,” the man told CNN.
While Combs’ reps initially declined comment on Doe’s claims, they issued a statement following the airing of the CNN interview. “After Buzbee was exposed this week for pressuring clients to bring bogus cases against Mr. Combs, and after public records showed that — contrary to his allegations — there was no white party in the Hamptons in 2006, Buzbee amended this complaint to walk back the allegations and now claim a different day and wholly different year,” Combs’ attorneys wrote.