Lizzo Is Giving Back To Her Houston Alma Mater With A Special New Scholarship For Black Music Students

As part of her Juneteenth giveback series, Lizzo announced a special new Sasha Be Flooting scholarship, complete with a $50,000 donation, in order to give back to Black music students attending the University of Houston — which is her alma mater.

“Today is very close to my heart, near and dear to home and a milestone for me,” Lizzo shared in an Instagram video. “It is for any young Black student from Houston, Texas who has applied to go to University of Houston to study at the Moores School of Music. That was me just a couple years ago, a young Black flute player who just needed a scholarship and someone to believe in them. Now I get to pay it forward.”

“We’ll be announcing who is the winner of that prize very, very soon,” she added.

Ahead of her scholarship announcement, Lizzo also teased it with a separate throwback Instagram post of herself playing flute during her Houston college days.

Fans in the replies of Lizzo’s post were admiring her dedication to giving back to where she came from. “As a former flute player you have no idea how much I admire you and look up to you,” one fan wrote. “I got accepted to the University of Houston (not studying music) and I love that you went there as well!”

“I wish more artists would do this,” another added. “Because it would make college so much more accessible.”

In addition to donating to the school, Lizzo has also given $50,000 to “Black-led grass roots businesses and organizations,” including the Sphinx Organization, Black Girls Smile, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute so far in the series.

Check out Lizzo’s Juneteenth donations and the new scholarship posts above.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Bebe Rexha To Body-Shamers: “I Know I Got Fat”

Bebe Rexha has issued a plea to the public. She is urging them to refrain from discussing her recent weight gain of 30 pounds. She has attributed the gain to her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis. This follows an incident where she was struck in the face by a cellphone during a performance in New York. The 33-year-old pop star, sporting a noticeable black eye, took to Twitter to express her frustration. She is wary of the constant criticism about her appearance. In a tweet, she declared her exhaustion with the topic. She also acknowledged her weight gain but emphasized her desire to move on from the discussion. “‘I know I got fat. I’m just so sick of people talking about it. NEXT!!!!!!’ she tweeted.

In another tweet, Bebe Rexha acknowledged that weight fluctuations are a natural part of life. She said that people should consider the various factors that can contribute to changes in one’s body, such as medication or health conditions. Her posts garnered a multitude of supportive responses from fans, who reassured Rexha of her beauty and talent. They expressed disappointment in the persistent habit of finding fault in others. Additionally, they encouraged her to ignore the negativity.

Bebe Rexha’s Health Issues

Earlier, Bebe Rexha had shared a bathroom mirror selfie, lifting her sweatshirt to reveal her stomach. She said she was proudly embracing her current “fat era.” In a previous interview, she openly discussed her struggles with weight and a hormonal imbalance she experienced. The hitmaker emphasized that in the year 2023, society should have moved beyond fixating on people’s weight and appearance. She said people should be considering the personal struggles individuals might be facing. Rexha also acknowledged her love for food and her ongoing journey of self-improvement. However, she also expressed a temporary sense of discouragement.

During various media appearances, Rexha has also shed light on her health issues, revealing her diagnosis of PCOS. It is a hormonal disorder affecting approximately one in ten women of childbearing age. She disclosed that the condition has played a significant role in her weight gain. It has caused rapid fluctuations in her body size. Additionally, Rexha highlighted the challenges she has faced with weight and body image. This includes the pressure she received from her record label to lose 20 pounds when signing her first record deal. What do you think of Bebe Rexha’s comments on her body? Let us know in the comments below!

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Joe Exotic Looks Healthy In New Photos From Jail

Joe Exotic is looking surprisingly healthy in new photos that have emerged from his time in jail. Joseph Maldonado-Passage, more famously known as Joe Exotic from the Netflix series Tiger King, was found guilty in a murder-for-hire case. It involved Carole Baskin, an animal welfare activist, who was also on the show. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison for attempting to hire two gunmen to kill Baskin.

Joe Exotic did not do a great job of picking his hitmen. One of them turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. In addition to the murder-for-hire charges, Maldonado-Passage was convicted of illegally selling tiger cubs. He was also charged with killing five tigers. During the undercover operation, Maldonado-Passage offered the FBI agent $10,000. He was then recorded instructing the agent to follow Baskin into a mall parking lot. There, the hitman was to shoot her and quickly leave the scene.

Joe Exotic’s Jail Update

Recently, a federal judge reduced Joe Exotic’s sentence by one year. This followed an appeals court ruling. The ruling found improper sentencing guidelines were used in his original 2020 conviction. In recent proceedings, Maldonado-Passage has been seeking leniency. This is due to his prostate cancer diagnosis. Joe had postponed treatment for the condition until after the resentencing. Carole Baskin, also featured in Tiger King, expressed her ongoing fear of potential threats from Maldonado-Passage. She says that he still harbors intense ill will towards her. In the courtroom, many of Maldonado-Passage’s supporters showed up. Some of them donned animal-print masks and shirts advocating for his release with the slogan “Free Joe Exotic.”

Joe Exotic is still in jail, but a recent photo update seems to show that he is doing well. In the photo, he stands between two friends, leaning against a yellow brick wall. Despite his cancer diagnosis, he looks healthy. Whether or not that is the case is unclear. What do you think of the latest Joe Exotic update? Do you think he deserves to stay in jail? Let us know in the comments below. Stay tuned to HNHH for all the latest updates.

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Cardi B’s Peacock Tattoo: The History Behind The Massive Design

As of last November, Cardi B had 13 known tattoos, according to Popsugar. While some of the rapper’s designs are dedicated to her two children, including a face tattoo of Wave’s name, the cryptic nature of her other tattoos might have casual fans wondering why she got them.

She has two massive designs on her body. The first is her most recent: a giant stream of flowers and butterflies that goes from her thigh to her upper back. Cardi got this one done, at least when it was revealed, around May 2020, courtesy of Jamie Schene.

Schene also reportedly touched up the second of Cardi’s giant tattoos, as she has a large peacock on her other leg and hip. The original piece was tattoed in 2010 before Cardi decided to add more colorful feathers and a butterfly addition — just to match her other leg.

“So after ten years I gave my peacock tattoo a makeover. This whole week I been takin hours of pain getting tatted,” Cardi previously captioned a photo of her touch-up. After a decade, the update made the tattoo a lot more vibrant than it originally had been.

As for the meaning of Cardi’s peacock tattoo, the Bronx rapper has never confirmed exactly why she got it — compared to other names tattooed on her that are more straightforward in meaning. However, considering the colorful nature, it simply might just be a representation of her fun and energetic personality.

Check out the photo of the tattoo above.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Halle Bailey Stuns At Paris Fashion Week

Halle Bailey is looking incredibly elegant at Paris Fashion Week. There may be many celebrities in attendance, but Halle is definitely a standout. The actress and singer was photographed attending the Ami Alexandre Mattiussi menswear show. The 23-year-old Little Mermaid star showcased a classy all-grey ensemble. The outfit consisted of an oversized blazer, a matching top, and high-waisted flared trousers. Additionally, Halle added a touch of height with black stiletto heels. Drop earrings featuring beautiful pearls acted as the finishing touches to Halle’s look.

Halle’s makeup was just as stunning as her outfit. It featured a glamorous palette of different products. Her face was adorned with sparkling eyeshadow, thick eyeliner, and a bold plum lip gloss. Furthermore, the actress’s hair was on point as always. Her flawless dreadlocks, cascading down her shoulders and chest, completed the stunning look. You can see a pictures of the full look at the source link.

Halle’s “Little Mermaid” Success

Halle Bailey greets fans during the Family and friends screening of The Little Mermaid at Regal Atlantic Station on May 25, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joi Stokes/Getty Images For Disney)

Halle Bailey has been receiving significant attention since her impressive debut as Ariel in the Little Mermaid reboot. The film has achieved the highest fan rating among live-action Disney movies on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a current approval rating of 95% based on over 5,000 ratings. This surpasses the previous record set by Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin, which had a 94% audience rating. Despite initial backlash over Halle’s casting, the movie performed exceptionally well at the box office. Furthermore, it debuted at number one with an estimated $118 million over the Memorial Day weekend in the United States. The casting of Halle likely has quite a bit to do with the film’s success.

The film received mixed reviews from critics. It has a current approval rating of 67%. However, it has garnered global praise for Halle’s performance as Ariel. The actress herself was moved by videos of children reacting joyfully to seeing a black woman portray a Disney princess. Halle expressed her gratitude for the emotional impact she has had on young viewers. She compared it to the effect that Anika Noni Rose’s portrayal of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog had on her own perspective. Additionally, Halle emphasized the importance of representation and the deservingness of black individuals to occupy such roles.

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