Month: February 2023

Diddy Says R&B Is Back In Response To Jozzy’s New EP

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Diddy says that Jozzy’s new EP, Songs For Women, Free Game For N****s, marks a revival of R&B months after he declared the genre “dead.” Diddy shared his praise for the project, which he labeled a “masterpiece,” in a pair of tweets posted on Friday. Jozzy is the first signee to Diddy’s new label, Love Records.

“When I told ya’ll RnB was dead, I was talking about the soul,” Diddy wrote. “It is what it is! I can tell you right now, IT’S BACK!!!” He added in a separate tweet: “THIS IS A MASTERPIECE.” Later in the night, Diddy further explained that he’s not trying to duplicate the success of Bad Boy with Love Records. “WE’RE NOT TRYING TO DUPLICATE BAD BOY!,” he tweeted. “THAT WAS BAD BOY! THIS IS THE LOVE ERA. EVERYTHING WE DO FROM THIS POINT ON IS GOING TO SEPARATE THOSE 2 ERAS BUT ALSO UNITE THEM IN THEIR GREATNESS!!

R&B Is Back

As for his comments on R&B being dead, Diddy had been speaking with Timbaland about the state of the genre in 2022. At the time, things got heated and he yelled at the legendary producer that “R&B is motherfuckin’ dead as of right now.” The comments sparked plenty of backlash from artists across the music industry. Among them were Brent Faiyaz, Arin Ray, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, and many more.

Diddy eventually clarified his comments on Twitter. “It’s been 3 days of the debate…This is the clarity of the message…It’s not disrespect to anybody,” he wrote on the site. “This conversation was out of love and me purposely wanting to bring attention to R&B! It was something that I saw the effect of the Hip hop and R&B balance. That balance is honesty and realness when it comes together, melodies, vulnerability and most importantly LOVE!!! This message is that R&B game needs more love, vulnerability, support!!”

Jozzy released the 10-track Songs For Women, Free Game For N****s on February 24 as their first EP. As a songwriter, they’ve been nominated for Record of the Year for Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” and Album of the Year for Beyoncé’s Renaissance as well as Mary J. Blige’s Good Morning Gorgeous.

Diddy’s Other Tweets

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Tom Holland Reacts To Zendaya’s NAACP Image Awards Outfit

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Tom Holland reacted to Zendaya’s eye-catching NAACP Image Awards outfit on Instagram with a series of heart-eyed emojis. The two actors have been dating since at least November 2021. They stared in the Spider-Man franchise together as Peter Parker and MJ. At the ceremony, the Euphoria star was up for two awards: Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actress in a Drama. Both honors went to Angela Bassett.

As for Zendaya’s outfit, she went with a green and black Versace look that she later said was inspired by Shego from Disney’s Kim Possible. The dress was featured in Versace’s spring/summer 2002 collection. Later in the night, she changed outfits while presenting the award for Outstanding Motion Picture. For her time on stage, she rocked a Prada SS1993 look featuring a bralette with star cutouts and a full-length skirt. Her outfits were styled by image architect Law Roach.

Zendaya’s Outfit

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Zendaya arrives to the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

Zendaya and Tom Holland have kept their relationship mostly private over the years since they met. During an interview with GQ in November 2021, Holland explained that the privilege of privacy is something they’ve lost as they become more famous. “One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world … We sort of felt robbed of our privacy,” he said at the time. “It’s not a conversation that I can have without her…. You know, I respect her too much to say … This isn’t my story. It’s our story. And we’ll talk about what it is when we’re ready to talk about it together.”

As for her upcoming work, Zendaya is set to star in Luca Guadagnino’s next film, Challengers, as well as the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. The third season of HBO’s Euphoria is also expected to begin production later this year.

Tom Holland’s Comment

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Angela Bassett References Ariana DeBose With NAACP Image Awards Speech

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Angela Bassett gave a shoutout to Ariana DeBose while accepting the award for Entertainer Of The Year at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night in Pasadena, California. DeBose went viral for her heavily criticized performance at the British Academy Film Awards, last week. “I guess Angela Bassett did the thing,” Bassett joked on stage, imitating DeBose’s performance.

Earlier in the night, Bassett revealed that she reached out to DeBose after the BAFTAs to check in on her. “I DM’d her last night. I did. It was beautiful,” she told Variety on the red carpet. “I just wanted to make sure she was OK because, you know, it’s a lot of attention. And she is A-OK.” DeBose deleted her Twitter account in response to the trolling over her performance.

Angela Bassett At The NAACP Image Awards

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Angela Bassett arrives to the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

DeBose opened up about her feelings about the performance for the first time during an appearance on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show. She explained that she wanted to celebrate women. “Honestly, it’s not like I’m like, ‘Hey BAFTA, let me in!’ They actually called me, believe it or not,” DeBose said. “But that was the assignment. Like, ‘Come celebrate women,’ and I was like, ‘Absolutely!’ We did that and it was fun. Not gonna lie, I had a blast. [It was] so awesome, and then I spent the rest of the night, you know, cutting a rug. Which, is that something you say here? Cutting a rug with Emma Thompson. It was fabulous. I had a great time.”

According to DeBose, Bassett isn’t the only person who has supported her. Further speaking with Zoe Ball, DeBose revealed that Baz Luhrmann told her he enjoyed it. “He was like, ‘No, I think you’re great, that was fun. I had fun.’ And I was like, ‘work,’ ” she said. “That’s a win, you guys. And apparently, gay Twitter seemed to like it? So that’s good, I’ll take it. I told you, my people.”

The Acceptance Speech

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Tommy Fury Defeats Jake Paul By Split Decision

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Tommy Fury has defeated Jake Paul by a split decision (74-75, 76-73, 76-73 ) at Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The victory comes despite being knocked down in the eighth round. The loss marks the first for Paul in his boxing career. Fury remains undefeated. Cristiano Ronaldo, Deontay Wilder, Mike Tyson, and more stars watched on from inside the arena.

Both Paul and Fury landed big shots throughout the fight. However, Fury finished as the more aggressive fighter. He threw 302 punches while landing 88 of them. Paul, on the other hand, threw 157 punches and landed 49. In the end, two judges sided with Fury and one went with Paul.

Tommy Fury Celebrates The Win

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 26: Tommy Fury celebrates as they pose for a photo with their coaching team, brother Boxer Tyson Fury and Father John Fury after defeating Jake Paul during the Cruiserweight Title fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena on February 26, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

After the fight, Paul remarked that he feels he deserves a rematch. “This is definitely a humbling experience,” Paul said after the fight. “I’ll take it on the chin and we can run it back.” He added: “All respect to Tommy he won, don’t judge me by my wins judge me by my losses, I’ll come back. I think we deserve a rematch, it was a good fight, a close fight.”

Fury dedicated the win to his girlfriend, Molly-Mae Hague, and the couple’s newborn baby daughter, Bambi. “Tonight I made my own legacy. I am Tommy Fury,” he told reporters in the ring. “I want to dedicate tonight to my baby girl and my misses, I love you, I can’t wait to see you. This fight was for you. I love you.”

The match brings Jake Paul’s record down to 6-1 and Tommy Fury’s up to 9-0. As for a rematch, Fury didn’t have a rematch clause in his contract, but Paul did. So assuming that Paul opts for it, as he said he would after the fight, stay tuned for news on Fury vs. Paul II.

The Announcement

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Woody Harrelson Makes Anti-Vax Jokes During “SNL” Monologue

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Woody Harrelson is coming under fire for his monologue from Saturday Night Live over the weekend. While hosting the show, the iconic actor spread anti-vaccine conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Harrelson spread the belief during a joke about a script he received before the contagious disease took off in 2020.

“So, the movie goes like this,” said Harrelson. “The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes, and people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over.”

Woody Harrelson In 2014

PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 09: Actor Woody Harrelson speaks onstage during the ‘True Detective’ panel discussion at the HBO portion of the 2014 Winter Television Critics Association tour at the Langham Hotel on January 9, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Users on social media quickly began complaining about the show platforming Harrelson’s stance. “With Woody Harrelson’s monologue on SNL last night, the anti-vax stupidity in America just peaked,” wrote one person. “It’s disappointing that Lorne Michaels would allow this conspiratorial nonsense on his show. It’s probably time for Lorne to retire.” Another wrote: “Whenever anyone spews anti-vax stupidity, I always think of the countless videos of traumatized/crying doctors, nurses and hospital workers who were climbing over bodies in Covid’s early days. So yeah, f— Woody Harrelson.” With his appearance on the show, Harrelson joined the iconic Five-Timers Club. At the end of the show, Scarlett Johansson presented him with a commemorative jacket in celebration of the honor.

Harrelson has been open about his doubt about the severity of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. In May 2022, he downplayed the importance of masks, while noting that he doesn’t believe in germs. “As one who doesn’t believe in the germ theory, I find it rather absurd,” he said at the time. In a since-deleted social media post, Harrelson also shared a conspiracy theory linking 5G networks to the spread of COVID-19. Check out his SNL monologue below.

The “SNL” Monologue

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Drake Places An Obscenely Large Bet On Jake Paul In His Fight Against Tommy Fury In Saudi Arabia

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drake yolo
Getty Image

Drake’s love of gambling has been well-documented over the years. The Toronto hitmaker is known for placing insanely expensive bets at various sporting events. Most recently, the rapper bet nearly half $1 million — $400k to be exact — for Youtuber turned boxing star Jake Paul to knock out Tommy Fury in their upcoming bout.

Paul and Fury will fight today (Sunday, February 26) at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia. “Knock knock @stake,” the rapper wrote in an Instagram post.

However, unlike his success in music, he isn’t always lucky when it comes to making bets. The last fighter he bet on, UFC fighter Israel Adesanya, cost him $ 2 million.

But in Drake’s case, it’s more than a case of bad luck. It’s been floated around that an alleged curse follows the rapper. The hilarious notion (but very accurate in some cases) has become its own phenomenon. It always starts the same. Drake ends up rooting for a specific sports team or individual, and they inevitably lose.

That doesn’t mean the “Rich Flex” rapper hasn’t had some big wins in the past. Following Super Bowl LVII, Drake won $1.4 million after placing a 700k bet that the Kansas City Chiefs would defeat the Philadelphia Eagles.