Month: June 2021

Ellie Kemper has a long few weeks of apologizing and accountability ahead of her, after it was revealed she was crowned the winner of the historically racist St. Louis Prophet Ball in 1999. She responded to the controversy in a lengthy Instagram post where she detailed how she was unaware of the prejudice surrounding the ball and condemned white supremacy, and now her dear friend Tituss Burgess is stepping up alongside her. Burgess told Page Six that he has been in communication with the Office star, who has largely been silent on social media aside from her apology, and said briefly that the actress was doing well in the midst of all the drama. 

“My Ellie is doing wonderful. Ellie’s great,” the 42-year-old Broadway and TV actor told Page Six, offering that that’s all he would say about her. The duo co-starred in Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for four seasons, which was nominated for twenty Emmy Awards. Many have now claimed similarities between the show’s plot, which finds Kemper’s character readjusting to society after escaping a cult, and Kemper’s own life, after the story broke that she took part in the Prophet Ball. 

Burgess reposted the actress’s apology when it was posted, adding on the side of it: “I love my Ellie, Oh, & P.S. Next time, just ask me, I’ll tell ya what to do.” The actor, who changed his image over quarantine with the hiring of a personal trainer and a plastic surgeon, is now focused on the gradual reopening of Broadway venues and shows. He recently performed at the Roundabout Theater Company’s 2021 gala in Central Park.

Check out the Instagram apology below.

[via]

They came into the Rap game as close friends but now the YBN crew is falling apart. The most popular of the bunch are YBN Almighty, YBN Nahmir, and Cordae, the latter of who announced that he was dropping “YBN” from his stage name in August 2020. There have been rumors about what has led to the disbanding of sorts from the group that consists of several other members, but these three have contended that regardless of any name changes, they’re still like brothers.

However, as Cordae continues to work on his next release, Nahmir and Jay have been trading insults online. Following the Floyd Mayweather-Logan Paul fight, Jay appeared on social media, challenging Nahmir to a fight. In a video that has gone viral, it didn’t look as if this was a playful invitation, and after Nahmir answered the call, it was clear that there is some real animosity between these former friends.

Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images

The two even shared a screen in an Instagram Livestream where they yelled at one another about an altercation they were apparently involved in. “I beat yo ass while I was sittin’ down!” said Nahmir. Jay told him to “put that on yo mama” and Nahmir did just that. “I been put you down,” Nahmir added. “I’m deadass. What I gotta lie for?”

In another video, Jay attempted to explain his “almost two-year” beef with his friend. “An incident end up like, occurring with some n*ggas I used to be cool with. They end up doing something and Nahmir end up gettin’ caught up in it somehow,” said Jay. Whatever went down, Jay claimed that he paid out $30K and Nahmir paid $10K. Months later, said Jay, a mutual friend allegedly told him that Nahmir believed Jay owed him that $10K.

Jay wasn’t quite finished and in another clip shared that he’s been at odds with his label over removing “YBN” from his name, especially on social media. He declared that his name is “Almighty Jay” from this point forward. Look through the videos below to catch Jay and Nahmir’s beef.

Regardless of the criticism they receive from strangers on the internet, Lil Uzi Vert and JT are going strong. The pair have often defended their romance against trolls, but the negativity hasn’t stopped them from boasting about and showing love to one another. They reportedly received matching tattoos of each other’s names, and Boosie Badazz weighed in on the couple’s progression during an interview with VladTV.

“My first girl that I was with for like, nine years, ten years, probably more than that, me and her got matching tattoos,” said Boosie. “We got a music symbol right here, but I ain’t got no girl name on me.” He added that if someone gets their partner’s name tattooed on themselves, they “might as well gon’ ‘head and get married.”

Vlad wanted to know what Boosie’s tattoos symbolized and after giving a brief tour of his body art, the pair moved on to discussing Uzi’s $24 million diamond that he allegedly had “implanted” into his forehead. 

“I don’t know, you put a $24 million diamond on your head, you gotta have $250 million,” Bossie stated. “I feel like if you didn’t do that, that was a waste. It’s too many people in people families that hurtin’ to pull out sh*t like that if you ain’t really living like that. I don’t know what he got, I’m just saying, if it was that way, I feel like—’cause $24 million, you spend that, nobody in your family should, everybody in your family should basically be living like you.”

Vlad added that he looked up Uzi’s net worth and it’s allegedly $20 million. Boosie said if that is true, and if Uzi really did spend all that money on his diamond, then he’s in debt.

Check out the clip below.

Former President Obama sat down with CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday night to discuss everything from the current state of American politics to the volatile social reckonings happening in young communities. Of the many issues dividing Americans today that were brought up in the interview, one of specific interest is cancel culture, which has been a hot button issue from celebrities who blast it as “boring” to politicians who vow to “cancel cancel culture.” On the topic, which socially and professionally ostracizes those who have a history of offensive behavior or making offensive statements, the former President finds that it surely has its uses in some contexts, but often extends too far in expecting every member of society to act perfectly. 

Scott Olson/Getty Images

“I think that a lot of the dangers of cancel culture and we’re just going to be condemning people all the time,” the 44th President said. Though he thinks that it is applicable in some circumstances where discrimination must be condemned, he finds that more exaggerated examples of cancel culture serve to undermine true activism.

Still, he is optimistic sees hope for the future in the experiences of his daughters Sasha and Malik: “at least among my daughters they will acknowledge sometimes among their peer group or in college campuses you’ll see folks going overboard.” The damages of going “overboard” though are small compared to the real change and dialogue happening between young people. This is pulling the country in a more equitable direction, Obama believes. 

In 2019, the former President spoke similarly about “woke culture” which he found as a poor substitute for activism. 

Do you think cancel culture can go too far? Let us know. Watch the interview clip via TMZ below.

[via]

Amid fans imploring for Foxy Brown and Lil Kim to share a space on Verzuz someday, it seems that we’re going to receive an intimate look at the life of the Ill Na Na. There have been many rappers who have sat down to pen their life stories including 50 Cent, Common, DMX, Eminem, Gucci Mane, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Prodigy, RZA, Rakim, DJ Khaled, and more. On her Instagram Story, Foxy shared that fans can expect to receive her book sometime in December of this year.

“Book coming soon,” she wrote in a post where she tagged former Editor-In-Chief of The Source Magazine, Kim Osorio, adding that Osorio was partnering with her in the release.

Frank Micelotta / Staff / Getty Images

“20 YEARS later and still the most controversial book to come out in Hip Hop,” Osorio wrote in the caption of a screenshot of Foxy’s announcement. “Still written by ME. i only write the best stories. #younotready #ireallywrite #foxybrown #foxboogiebrown #foxboogie #hiphop #everybodyaintmeanttohaveabook.”

In the comments, Foxy added, “[white heart emoji]u Kimmy!!!!!” We haven’t received new music from Foxy in decades, but she has quite a few stories to tell with a history that includes hit albums and songs, being a part of The Firm, her conflict with Lil Kim, her legal troubles, and all the twists and turns of her personal and professional life that helped her become an icon in the industry.

Speaking of Lil Kim, it’s reported that the Queen Bee will also be releasing her memoir this year sometime in November. Will you read Foxy and Kim’s autobiographies when they drop?

Migos are well on their way to release their forthcoming project Culture III but the rollout has been rather tame compared to their previous projects. “Straightenin” has been making the rounds but there’s been little music to gauge what Migos might be delivering this Friday. While Migos have promised to debut new music during their Kimmel performance on Wednesday, Quavo seems to also be capitalizing off of Kendrick Perkins’ recent comments.

Brett Deering/Getty Images

Yesterday, the NBA vet fired shots at Quavo, describing the rapper as having “trash a$$ bars.” Perkins admittedly still feels some type of way about Quavo namedropping him on “Fuck 12.” Perkins explained that he didn’t appreciate the mention before Jose Guapo attempted to squash the beef. Quavo, however, had different plans. The rapper shared a selfie of Perkins with a fist emoji placed right under his chin. “Culture 3 Friday!” Quavo captioned the post.

Perkins responded to Quavo’s post earlier today where he continued to diss the Migos’ rappers solo career. “Thank God you’re back with the Migos because this photoshop uppercut is as close as you’ll ever get to a hit as a solo artist! Carry on,” Perkins tweeted in response to Quavo’s post.

In other news, Migos just shared the tracklist to Culture III which includes features from Drake, Polo G, Cardi B, and Future, among others.

Peep Perkins tweet below. 

Plenty of entertainers are active in the communities that helped shape and mold them into the successful artists they are today, and they often give back to marginalized and disenfranchised areas. Many host food drives, give away new clothing, sponsor food delivery services for the elderly, host camps for children, or even pay tuition or bills for students and families in need. Pharrell Williams has been intimately involved in various community service efforts in his home state of Virginia, and it’s reported that his nonprofit organization Yellow has plans to launch several private schools for low-income families.

The Virginia Pilot reports that the first school will open in Norfolk, specifically in the historic neighborhood of Ghent. “If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” Williams said in a press release.

Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images

“We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight,” he continued. The schools will reportedly be named Yellowhab: “Yellow” after Pharrell’s non-profit and “hab” in tribute to The Martian film.

Tuition will reportedly “be covered by philanthropic support” and there aren’t any plans to make them public school in the future. The institutions will accept 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

Applicants will be chosen by lottery and the requirements are as follows:

1. Child must be a resident of Norfolk, VA (with proof of residency)
2. Child is a rising 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader
3. Child qualifies for the Federal Free and Reduced-price Lunch program, or meets family income requirements (proof required)

“Residents (are) being displaced from their homes with potentially limited housing options available which limits options for the children,” Stephanie Walters, Yellow’s director of engagement, told The Virginia Pilot. “We have a great relationship with the City of Norfolk and want to be a part of the solution in supporting the community with resources and support.”

[via][via]