nsfs
Page: 37
Police in Buenos Aires raided the hotel where Liam Payne was staying before his death on Oct. 16 in a fall from a balcony. According to the Associated Press, a police special investigations unit descended on the Casa Sur Hotel on Wednesday night (Oct. 23) on orders from the prosecutor’s office, reportedly seizing a number of items including computer hard drives and footage from hotel CCTV cameras.
Payne, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony, with an autopsy report revealing that he died from a number of injuries, including internal and external bleeding caused by the fall. The AP reported that an initial investigation suggests that the late One Direction and solo star was alone before his death and had a “breakdown” following the consumption of drugs; police reportedly found a number of substances in his body at the time, including a recreational drug called “pink cocaine,” a mixture of substances that often contains ketamine combined with MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids and/or psychoactive substances. A handmade aluminum pipe was also found in his Argentina hotel room, according to ABC News. Full autopsy details are not expected for several more weeks.
On Oct. 16, streams and sales of both 1D and Payne’s music have surged in the U.S. and globally in the wake of the singer’s shock passing. Official on-demand U.S. streams of 1D’s five-album catalog totaled 5.9 million, a vault of 174% over 2.1 million the previous day, according to Luminate. On Oct. 17, they rose further to 22.2 million, up 278% over the day before.
In addition, globally, 1D pulled 21.3 million streams on Oct. 16, a 76% gain from 12.1 million on Oct. 15. The group’s catalog soared 298% to 84.9 million streams on Oct. 17.
In the week since Payne’s death, fans have turned the site of his passing into a makeshift shrine, laying candles, teddy bears, photos and other totems around the hotel entrance. Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, is reportedly currently in Buenos Aires helping to make arrangements for the transfer of his son’s body back to England, with officials expected to release it around Oct. 28.
Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, was the latest member of the singer’s inner circle to pay tribute to the beloved star in an Instagram post on Wednesday in which she called him her “best friend [and] the love of my life.” His romantic partner of two years, Cassidy wrote, “None of this feels real, and I can’t wrap my head around this new reality of not having you here. I’m struggling to figure out how to live in a world without you by my side. Together, we got to be kids again, always finding joy in the smallest things.”
The influencer also noted that a few weeks prior to his death Payne wrote her a note confessing his hopes to marry her within the next year. “Liam, I know we’ll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You’ll always be with me,” Cassidy said. “I’ve gained a guardian angel. I will love you for the rest of my life and beyond, carrying our dreams and memories with me everywhere I go.”
Bruce Springsteen supported Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris at a rally on Thursday night (Oct. 24) in Clarkston, Georgia, performing three songs and standing in stark opposition to Harris’ opponent, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump. “I’m Bruce Springsteen and I am here today to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for president and vice president […]
A Georgia judge is weighing whether to declare a mistrial in Young Thug’s long-running Atlanta gang trial, a move that would require prosecutors to either start from scratch or drop a case that has already lasted more than two years.
The motion for a mistrial was sparked by an incident Wednesday (Oct. 23) in which a state’s witness accidentally revealed sensitive information to the jury. Defense attorneys said the mistake was caused by prosecutor missteps, and the judge quickly chided government lawyers for “sloppiness.”
A mistrial would mean an abrupt end to a criminal trial that has stretched across 10 months of jury selection and 11 months of testimony to become the longest-ever in state history. Prosecutors have meandered through a vast list of witnesses, and the case has been beset by unusual delays — including a jailhouse stabbing of one defendant and a bizarre episode over a secret meeting that saw the presiding judge removed from the case.
Since taking over the case this summer, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has expressed frustration with how the Fulton County District Attorney’s office has been handling the case. Last month, she blasted the prosecutors for “poor lawyering, “baffling” decisions and steps to repeatedly “hide the ball” amid a “haphazard” trial.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Whitaker refused outright to declare a mistrial with prejudice, which would have permanently ended the case. But she said she would consider doing so without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could attempt to retry their case from scratch in front of a new jury.
The specter of such an outcome has prompted prosecutors to discuss plea deals. According to X posts by Cath Russon, managing editor at Law&Crime, each defense team was set to meet individually on Thursday with District Attorney Fani Willis to discuss potential deals.
As a result of the negotiations and the pending mistrial motions, all trial proceedings before Whitaker on Thursday (Oct. 24) and Friday (Oct. 25) have been postponed and the trial is currently scheduled to resume on Monday morning (Oct. 28), according to Russon.
Thug (Jeffery Williams), a chart-topping rapper and producer who helped shape the sound of hip-hop over the past decade, was indicted in May 2022 along with dozens of others over allegations that his “YSL” was not really a record label called “Young Stoner Life” but rather a violent Atlanta gang called “Young Slime Life.” The case, built around Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, claims the group committed murders, carjackings, armed robberies, drug dealing and other crimes over the course of a decade.
While the slow-moving trial has dragged on, Thug has been sitting in jail for more than two years, repeatedly denied bond over fears that he might intimidate witnesses. If the judge grants a mistrial and prosecutors decide to retry their case, he could have years more in jail until a verdict is reached. Such an outcome could potentially motivate defendants, too, to consider a negotiated resolution.
The Wednesday incident that sparked the calls for a mistrial took place as prosecutors were questioning a witness named Wunnie Lee (aka Slimelife Shawty), a former defendant in the YSL case who signed a plea agreement in exchange for testifying.
While on the stand, prosecutors asked Lee to identify certain defendants by showing him social media posts. While reading one of the posts, Lee read aloud the hashtag #freequa — a reference to a previous prison sentence for Marquavius Huey (aka Qua), one of Thug’s current co-defendants.
That was a crucial error by prosecutors. The jury was not supposed to know which defendants had previously been incarcerated, and defense attorneys argued that the government was supposed to redact the post and prep Lee not to mention it. After the admission before jurors, defense attorneys quickly moved for a mistrial.
“We’re not going to be able to unring this bell,” defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland said in court. “It is painfully obvious that the state is not prepping their witnesses.”
The misstep quickly drew another sharp critique from Judge Whitaker, who attempted to reach a solution that would allow the case to move forward: “What I’m trying to do is fix your sloppiness so that everybody won’t have wasted 10 to 12 months of their lives in this trial.”
James Taylor is supporting the Democratic ticket, as the presidential election quickly approaches. The “You’ve Got a Friend” singer will join Kamala Harris’ vice presidential choice, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, during his rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Thursday (Oct. 24). At the event, Walz will speak to state residents about their power to vote, […]
Beyoncé is set to appear at Kamala Harris‘ rally in Houston, Tex. — the pop superstar’s hometown — this Friday (Oct. 25), according to multiple reports.
Per The Washington Post, CNN, ABC News, The Hollywood Reporter and NBC News, which cited sources familiar with the planning, Bey will appear at the event — the venue of which has yet to be announced — as the Democratic candidate makes one of her final addresses to voters ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5. The reports include no further details on whether the “Texas Hold ‘Em” musician will perform or share remarks.
The DNC’s event posting for the rally, however, confirms that Bey’s mom, Tina Knowles, and Cowboy Carter collaborator, country legend Willie Nelson, will definitely be in attendance.
Billboard has reached out to Beyoncé’s rep, Harris’ campaign and the DNC for comment.
Though the 32-time Grammy winner has not vocalized support for Harris amid the 2024 election cycle, her presence has loomed large over the VP’s campaign. In August, the superstar was heavily rumored to appear at the Democratic National Convention — leaving even some of the Chicago event’s staffers to believe she was on the premises — but never showed up. Her 2016 track “Freedom” has also been prominent in Harris’ campaign, becoming the former prosecutor’s walkout song back in July. CNN confirmed that month that Bey had indeed given direct approval for the song’s use.
The “Break My Soul” artist has also long used her voice to support political causes, performing with Jay-Z at a Hillary Clinton musical rally in Cleveland in 2016. In 2020, Bey supported Joe Biden’s campaign and later celebrated his victory on Instagram.
If she appears, Bey will become just the latest musician to support Harris in person at a campaign event. Megan Thee Stallion, Bon Iver, Pink, Stevie Wonder and several more have performed at various rallies for the VP this year, while others such as Quavo and Eminem have given remarks. Dozens more artists have also publicly endorsed the Democratic ticket in recent months, including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Katy Perry and more.
Bey’s mom has also previously come out in support of Harris. “New, Youthful, Sharp,” Knowles wrote on Instagram July 21, sharing a photo of herself posing with the politician. “Go Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Let’s Go ❤️❤️❤️❤️ #kamala2024”
Jennifer Lopez delivered an important PSA Wednesday (Oct. 23), less than two weeks ahead of the presidential election — and she did it through song. Sitting behind a piano next to actress Jenifer Lewis and vocal coach Stevie Mackey in a video posted to social media, the “On the Floor” singer and her friends belted […]
Things are business as usual for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ 33-year-old adopted son Quincy Brown, who recently shared a teaser for his upcoming family vlog featuring the disgraced music mogul appearing in home footage from a group vacation.
In a snippet shared via The Shade Room’s Instagram on Tuesday, Diddy stands shirtless in a kitchen among his children gathered around an island with buffet pans of food. As the Bad Boy Records founder gestures to the camera and smiles, Brown shouts, “Combs family vacation!”
At the beginning of the teaser, Brown tells followers: “My life is just like yours — well, kind of.”
It then cuts to various shots of him and his siblings — 30-year-old Justin, 26-year-old Christian, 18-year-old Chance and 17-year-old twins D’Lila and Jessie — hanging out, swimming and hiking. According to Brown’s YouTube channel, the project titled “It’s Just a Vlog: Or Is It a Reality Show?” will premiere Wednesday evening (Oct. 23).
The vlog was clearly filmed some time ago, as Diddy has been in custody since his Sept. 16 arrest on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. As his attorneys prepare their defense ahead of his May trial date, new lawsuits continue to pile up; most recently, six additional civil cases were filed Oct. 20 against the rapper alleging he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl in 2000, did the same to a musical artist in 2022, forced a personal trainer to perform sexual acts in 2022 and more.
The hip-hop titan’s legal team, however, has continuously denied all accusations of sexual misconduct. “In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman,” they said in a recent statement.
In the midst of Combs’ legal troubles, his children have stood by him. On Oct. 22, the mogul’s adult kids — including Brown — cosigned a joint statement defending their father’s name, writing, “We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family. WE MISS YOU & LOVE YOU DAD.”
Brown’s biological parents are model-actress Kim Porter and musician Al B. Sure!. After Diddy started seeing Porter in the ’90s, he legally adopted Brown. The couple went on to welcome Christian, Jessie and D’Lila before going their separate ways in 2007 after years of on-again, off-again dating.
In 2018, Porter died at age 47 from lobar pneumonia. Her death recently became a topic of discussion again in light of the Diddy allegations, leading Brown and his siblings to shut down rumors about their mother’s cause of death — in addition to debunking a “fake” and “offensive” memoir allegedly written by Porter — in September.
“We have seen so many hurtful and false rumors circulating about our parents, Kim Porter and Sean Combs’ relationship, as well as about our mom’s tragic passing, that we feel the need to speak out,” they said in a statement at the time. “Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue. She did not, and anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves.”
See Diddy in Brown’s vlog teaser below.
Liam Payne‘s girlfriend, influencer Kate Cassidy, has spoken out for the second time following the 31-year-old musician’s death.
Sharing a carousel of romantic photos she took with Payne during their two-year relationship, Cassidy penned a heartfelt message to her late partner on Instagram Wednesday (Oct. 23) — exactly one week after the One Direction star died by falling from the third-story balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “My heart is shattered in ways I can’t put into words,” she wrote. “I wish you could see the huge impact you’ve had on the world, even as it feels so dark right now.”
“You are — because I can’t say were — my best friend, the love of my life, and everyone you touched felt just as special as I did,” Cassidy continued. “None of this feels real, and I can’t wrap my head around this new reality of not having you here. I’m struggling to figure out how to live in a world without you by my side. Together, we got to be kids again, always finding joy in the smallest things.”
The internet personality — who often featured Payne in her TikTok videos — also shared a note her boyfriend had written a few weeks prior to his death, confessing his hopes to marry Cassidy within the next year. “It feels like I’ve lost the best part of myself,” she added in her tribute. “Liam, I know we’ll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You’ll always be with me. I’ve gained a guardian angel. I will love you for the rest of my life and beyond, carrying our dreams and memories with me everywhere I go.”
According to a preliminary autopsy report, Payne appeared to be alone when he died, and suffered multiple traumas and hemorrhages upon impact. The initial toxicology test also indicated that he had drugs in his system at the time of the fall.
Cassidy had previously been with Payne in Argentina, where the couple attended Niall Horan’s concert together. A few days prior to the “Strip That Down” singer’s death, she’d posted on TikTok that she was leaving the country solo.
In the days since Payne died, countless fans and people close to the X Factor alum have also shared messages of grief online — including his former bandmates Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Cassidy herself first posted about the tragedy on Oct. 18, asking fans to give her “the grace and space to navigate this in private.”
“Liam, my angel. You are everything,” she’d added at the time. “I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely.”
Former President Barack Obama lost himself in the music, the moment on Tuesday night (Oct. 22) at Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s Detroit rally ahead of the 2024 presidential election next month. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Detroit native rapper took the stage to introduce […]
Ashton Irwin is remembering his times with Liam Payne following the 31-year-old singer’s shocking death last week.
On Tuesday (Oct. 22) — six days after Payne suffered a fatal fall in Buenos Aires, Argentina — the 5 Seconds of Summer drummer opened up about the “sunken heart feeling” of losing his friend in a string of tweets. “Been thinking on my times with Liam and how kind he was to me, [whether] backstage, passing by at an airport, he always made the time,” Irwin wrote.
“I feel super confused by his passing and I’m finding it so hard to sum up the way it feels, such a massive loss for many,” the 30-year-old musician continued. “my thoughts are with his family, partner, and the other 1D guys, and all of you. I feel at times I had a front row seat back in the day to watching Liam light up lives with his performances with the band. Gone to soon. This is just horrible.”
Payne died Oct. 16 after falling from the third-story balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A recent preliminary autopsy report showed that he appeared to be alone at the time and suffered multiple traumas and hemorrhages upon impact. A follow-up toxicology test confirmed that the “Strip That Down” singer was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he died, including a recreational drug called “pink cocaine” that mixes substances such as ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids and more.
Irwin and his 5SOS bandmates — Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford and Calum Hood — opened for One Direction in 2014 on the Where We Are Tour. “We need to respect that we’re here to warm up the crowd for the headliner, which has sold out the stadium,” the drummer reflected on the experience in an interview with Billboard that year. “We do punk jumps and all that. We just don’t ever say ‘f—‘ onstage.”
Countless other musicians and Payne’s loved ones have also spoken out about the X Factor alum’s death over the past few days, including all four surviving members of 1D: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. In addition to making their own individual statements, the foursome posted a joint message reading, “We will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
See Irwin’s tweets below.
Been thinking on my times with Liam and how kind he was to me, wether backstage, passing by at an airport, he always made the time, I feel super confused by his passing and I’m finding it so hard to sum up the way it feels, such a massive loss for many.— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) October 22, 2024
such a sunken heart feeling, my thoughts are with his family, partner, and the other 1D guys, and all of you. I feel at times I had a front row seat back in the day to watching Liam light up lives with his performances with the band. Gone to soon. This is just horrible— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) October 22, 2024
I’ve been afraid to share my feelings publicly cause it terrifies me, but all I’m trying to say is at the end of the day, I am really really thankful for those early days touring with him and seeing the world the way we did was a dream come true— Ashton Irwin (@Ashton5SOS) October 22, 2024