Talk show icon Wendy Williams was recently seen out and about in New Jersey. This marks a rare public appearance but thankfully has sparked positive reactions.
Obviously Williams is known for her long-running talk show, was spotted shopping at the Bolingo Balance shop, owned by Victor Bowman, the son of the late herbalist Dr. Sebi.
According to our friends at PageSix, Williams appeared “sharp, upbeat, and aware” during her visit, a significant update given her recent health struggles.
Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr., accompanied her on the outing and assisted her throughout the visit. While Williams was reportedly “engaging,” it was noted that she was not entirely familiar with the products at the store, prompting her son to explain more about them. Items gifted to Williams included natural remedies like sarsaparilla, contribo, bottano oil, and capsules from Dr. Sebi’s collection.
This sighting comes amid ongoing concerns about Williams’ health.
ICYMI, in February 2022, she was placed under court-ordered guardianship after her bank, Wells Fargo, raised concerns about her well-being. The bank requested an inquiry, leading to a court decision to appoint a guardian to manage her finances, citing fears of “undue influence and financial exploitation.”
Get this, Williams publicly opposed the guardianship, asserting her independence in an interview. “They say that I need somebody to handle my account. And I don’t want that,” she stated. “I want all my money. I want to see all my money that I’ve worked hard for my entire life.”
But earlier this year, Williams revealed that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
That diagnosis is a big deal and almost identical to what famed actor Bruce Willis is suffering from.
Her diagnosis follows her previous battles with Graves’ Disease, Lymphedema, and other health issues. In response to her health challenges, her team released a statement, expressing that the decision to share her diagnosis was difficult but necessary to raise awareness.
Williams’ struggles have also been the subject of a recent Lifetime documentary, “Where Is Wendy Williams?” However, the film has been criticized as exploitative by her publicist, Shawn Zanotti, and her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, who described the project as a “blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition.”
We’re wishing Williams the best and this sighting was certainly hopeful.
In a bustling corner of New York City’s vibrant food scene, a unique culinary gem has emerged, captivating the taste buds and hearts of many. Healthy As a Motha (H.A.A.M.), a plant-based Dominican and Trinidadian restaurant, is not just another spot to grab a meal—it’s a movement. With its mission to offer a sustainable and ethical food experience, H.A.A.M. caters to a diverse range of customers, including vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. The restaurant’s rich fusion of island flavors has made it a must-visit destination for food lovers and health enthusiasts alike.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Yesenia Ramdass, the visionary behind Healthy As a Motha, to delve deeper into her journey, the inspiration behind her restaurant, and her passion for holistic health.
The Source: Yesenia, Health As a Motha is truly a one-of-a-kind restaurant. What inspired you to create a plant-based restaurant that fuses Dominican and Trinidadian flavors?
Yesenia Ramdass: The inspiration came from my own cultural heritage and health journey. Growing up, I was surrounded by the vibrant flavors of Dominican and Trinidadian cuisine, but I also saw firsthand how our traditional diets could be healthier. After losing my mother to stage IV kidney cancer, I became even more passionate about holistic nutrition and the importance of what we put into our bodies. I wanted to create a space where people could enjoy the rich flavors of our culture without compromising their health.
The Source: It’s clear that H.A.A.M. is more than just a restaurant—it’s a lifestyle brand. Can you tell us more about the philosophy behind Healthy As a Motha?
Yesenia Ramdass: Absolutely. Healthy As a Motha is all about overcoming the challenges of transitioning to a healthier lifestyle. It’s about making conscious choices that benefit not just our bodies, but our minds and souls as well. The brand represents a holistic approach to health—understanding that what we eat is just one part of the equation. It’s about nourishing the mind with positive thoughts and the soul with good energy. Our restaurant embodies this philosophy by offering dishes that are not only delicious but also align with the values of sustainability, ethics, and wellness.
The Source: You’ve mentioned that you became a vegetarian at the age of 17 after reading “Skinny Bitch.” How did that book influence your journey toward plant-based living?
Yesenia Ramdass: That book was a game-changer for me. It opened my eyes to the harsh realities of the food industry, especially when it comes to animal products. The information was so powerful that I couldn’t unlearn it. It wasn’t just about becoming a vegetarian; it was about making informed choices that align with my values. From there, my journey into holistic health deepened, and I eventually transitioned to a fully plant-based lifestyle.
The Source: Losing a loved one to cancer is incredibly difficult. How did your mother’s battle with cancer shape your approach to health and wellness?
Yesenia Ramdass: Losing my mother was one of the hardest experiences of my life. It made me realize how crucial our health is and how much it can be influenced by our lifestyle choices. Watching her struggle motivated me to dive deeper into holistic nutrition and explore alternative options that aren’t always readily available. It became my mission to share what I’ve learned with others, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Health is everything—without it, nothing else matters.
The Source: Your menu at H.A.A.M. offers a delightful fusion of island flavors. What are some of your favorite dishes, and how do they reflect your cultural heritage?
Yesenia Ramdass: Some of my favorite dishes include the Jerk Tamarind Oyster Mushroom Burger and the Empanadas Trio. These dishes are a perfect representation of the fusion we aim for—combining traditional island flavors with plant-based ingredients to create something both familiar and new. The Bake and Shark is another favorite, offering a plant-based twist on a Trinidadian classic. Each dish is crafted with love and respect for our cultural roots, while also embracing the health benefits of plant-based eating.
The Source: What message do you hope to convey to your customers and the broader community through your restaurant and lifestyle brand?
Yesenia Ramdass: I want people to understand that transitioning to a healthier lifestyle doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s about making small, conscious choices every day that add up to big changes over time. Through our food, I hope to show that healthy eating can be delicious and satisfying, and that it’s possible to honor our cultural traditions while also making choices that are good for our bodies and the planet. Ultimately, I want to empower people to take control of their health and live their best lives.
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The Source: Lastly, what’s next for H.A.A.M? Any exciting plans on the horizon?
Yesenia Ramdass: We’re always looking to expand our reach and impact. We’re exploring the possibility of opening more locations and even launching a line of plant-based products inspired by our menu. Our goal is to continue bridging cultures through clean, plant-based cuisine and to keep spreading the message of health and wellness far and wide.
Yesenia Ramdass’s journey from a young vegetarian inspired by a book to the creator of a thriving plant-based lifestyle brand is nothing short of inspiring. Health As a Motha is more than just a restaurant—it’s a testament to the power of food in healing, nourishing, and connecting us all.
Kodak Black recently shared a disturbing video of him swallowing pills on camera, even though he recently made a public pledge to kick his addiction.
Black took to IG Live over the weekend and spoke about being healthy before holding up two pills to the camera.
The troubled rapper looked as if he swallowed the pills, then declared he was “finna glitch right quick.”
Black spoke about getting sober earlier this year after being arrested several times related to his drug use and unacceptable behavior.
“I remember a point in my life when I was chewing a lot of Percs,” he said back in April. “Bro, I’m proud of myself. I’ve never been this happy in my life. I don’t know where this came from, what the fuck going on.”
He continued, “Before I just went to jail, bro, I was taking at least 100 Percs. My average was 40 Percocets [per day]. I’m telling y’all this man. [It got] to the point where I look at this shit and be like, ‘What the fuck was wrong with me, bruh?’”
ICYMI, Wiz Khalifa was in Romania this past weekend performing at the Beach, Please! Festival in Constanța County and while that’s not really earth shattering news, Wiz, got himself arrested. Apparently, he lit a joint “cannabis under the shape of a craft cigarette,” and supposedly was in possession of additional cannabis. Now out in Romania, recreational marijuana is illegal.
Get this, according to a press release, that was translated thanks to Hollywood Reporter, he was in possession of over 18 grams of weed. Hmm, okay, that’s something.
So Wiz was released from custody pretty fast after the detainment and seems like he got himself a Popeyes chicken sandwich but more importantly issued an apology to the people of Romania.
“Last nights show was amazing,” Wiz tweeted Sunday. “I didn’t mean any disrespect to the country of Romania by lighting up on stage. They were very respectful and let me go. I’ll be back soon. But without a big ass joint next time.”
Glad Wiz is not being treated like an arch criminal. He obviously learned a lesson. On that note, check out his mea culpa below.
The NCAA, the premier authority in intercollegiate sports, has announced the removal of marijuana and cannabis products from the list of banned substances for college football’s postseason and all Division I championships.
“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” stated Josh Whitman, chair of NCAA’s Division I Council and the athletic director at the University of Illinois. “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”
Here are some key points from the new measure:
As of Tuesday, the NCAA no longer classifies marijuana and cannabis products as banned substances for Division I championships and postseason football.
Removing cannabinoids from the banned drug list separates it from other substances like stimulants, anabolic steroids, narcotics, diuretics, drug masking agents, and growth hormones.
This decision follows the NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports’ recommendation to remove cannabinoids from the banned substance list across all three NCAA divisions.
In a 2023 survey, approximately 26% of student-athletes reported cannabis use.
“We know that the previous cannabinoid policies and sanctions were not an effective deterrent to cannabinoid use,” said Deena Casiero, the vice chair of the committee and head team physician at UConn, in November. “We should be focusing on student-athletes who have or are at risk for cannabis use disorder. Randomly testing at NCAA championships is not the best way to identify or help student-athletes with use issues. The best way is to encourage schools to educate and test within an established harm-reduction strategy in their local spaces.”
Unsurprisingly, this policy change also aligns with recent federal and state actions regarding cannabis.
Last month, President Joe Biden officially moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance, marking a significant shift in the nation’s drug policy. Additionally, earlier this month, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced over 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions, one of the largest acts of cannabis clemency in the country.
Get this, these changes come after the NCAA conducted a study on student-athlete substance use, surveying over 23,000 student-athletes nationwide.
Here’s more data: The study revealed an increase in cannabis use among student-athletes, with 26% reporting use, up from 22% in 2013 and 25% in 2017. Cannabis use was found to be highest in men’s sports, at the Division III level, and among athletes at schools where cannabis is legal for recreational and medicinal use. However, cannabis use among student-athletes remains lower compared to the general undergraduate population, which is around 40% according to other surveys cited by the NCAA.
Score a win for Cannabis proponents but critics will sure to have a say. Let’s see how it unfolds.
Lupita Nyong’o has shared that the death of her close friend and Black Panther co-star, Chadwick Boseman, from colon cancer in August 2020 profoundly impacted her while working on A Quiet Place: Day One.
Boseman’s private battle with cancer and his passing at the age of 43 left Nyong’o deeply shaken. Reflecting on this experience, she told an outlet, “It shook me to my core.” We all miss Chadwick. He was more than just an actor but an inspiration and champion for everyone – not just just within the culture but all those fighting cancer and more.
Get this, the 41-year-old actress found her work on the film to be therapeutic. “I definitely was thinking about that a lot,” she explained. “What I came to realize is that it’s really important to be reminded of our mortality because then we live life just a little more intentionally. When we think we have all the time in the world, we can really take people for granted and experiences for granted.”
When it comes to the performance of A Quiet Place: Day One, the film has been performing well at the box office. After it’s opening weekend, A Quiet Place: Day One finished in second place behind Inside Out 2, one of the biggest films of all time, surpassing the openings of its predecessors, with a $53 million start compared to the $50 million and $47 million openings of the first two films. Boom. Or should we say “Shhhh …” The original film had a budget of $17 million, while the sequel’s budget was $61 million. Day One, with a budget of $67 million, is the most expensive in the franchise. The first two films, largely carried by Emily Blunt, grossed over $638 million. Day One, anchored by Lupita Nyong’o, would need the highest worldwide gross of the series to reach the billion-dollar mark. So this installment costs way more than the first with even more allocated to marketing but it’s performing well, so we’ll see how it all ends.
A Quiet Place: Day One is currently in theaters and is set to stream on Paramount+ in the coming months. Gonna check it out? We think ya’ll should!
Peloton Studios New York turned up the heat on June 27 thanks to a special visit from Grammy AwardⓇ winning rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Lil Jon. As a special guest for one of Lil Jon’s two classes in his first-ever Artist Series with Peloton, I witnessed an electrifying session that left everyone turnt, crunk, and shaking like a salt shaker by the end of the class.
Peloton recently launched its brand’s first-ever Lil Jon Artist Series to celebrate his hits, classics, and new songs. The Artist Series spans six classes, including Cycling, Tread, Row, Meditation, and Strength. Members were thrilled when Lil Jon walked into the already buzzing studio to take the class with them.
In celebration of his second meditation album, Manifest Abundance, Lil Jon co-led Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts’ ten-minute Meditation class. Both artists share a passion for mindfulness and manifestation, and the meditation session focused on empowerment, emphasizing the intertwined nature of movement and music.
Lil Jon then transitioned from the mat to The Club, making a special appearance in Alex Toussaint’s signature Club Bangers Ride. The duo co-curated a playlist that fused Lil Jon hits with their favorite club-inspired tracks, complete with a Lil Jon custom mix. The class was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed, leaving me motivated, charged, and ready to continue my health and wellness regimen.
As Club Bangers’ first-ever special guest, Lil Jon was a massive motivation to Members, shouting his famous enthusiastic adlibs. His infectious energy played a significant role in creating an exhilarating atmosphere in the studio as he sang along to some of his classic hits. The group stayed responsibly hydrated with Peloton Instructors Camila Ramón and Ash Pryor serving out “shots” of water to the hyped-up Members. Thank you, Lil Jon, for sharing your incredible wellness journey with the world and for inspiring all of us in the hip hop community.
In addition to the dynamic class content Peloton and Lil Jon launched this week, the brand and rapper/producer have teamed up to design a special apparel capsule collection – Peloton x Soul Chakra created with Lil Jon. The limited-edition collection, celebrating Lil Jon’s Soul Chakra wellness brand and the Peloton community, is now available on apparel.onepeloton.com.
If you missed the live event, don’t worry. The Lil Jon Artist Series classes are now available on the Peloton Bike, Tread, Row, and App. For more information, visit @onepeloton and @pelotonstudios.
In the heartfelt season two premiere of digital series‘Listen to Black Men’ on CassiusLife.com, Black fathers Scrappy, Tyler Chronicles, andMouse Jones open up about the emotional toll of miscarriages on men. Their stories shed a light on the often-overlooked grief and mental health struggles that men face after pregnancy loss.
The new season will feature several amazing special guests including TV personality Jessie Woo, radio host Lore’l, as well as rappers Scrappy, David Banner and Yung Joc. Guests will engage in tough conversations and share their rarely heard perspectives.
Season two’s kickoff episode ‘Almost a Father’ is centered around the subject of miscarriages and explores the traumatic experience through the male lens. Chronicles engages in an in-depth discussion emphasizing that while support for women is crucial during a miscarriage, emotional support for men is often missing, given the traumatic instances of great loss. Jones and guests shared personal stories about experiencing miscarriages with their partners and discussed challenges in showing up for their loved one while navigating through the loss they also experienced.
“I’ve had four miscarriage experiences. This happened with a couple of different women now and I’m looking at it now like It is my fault. I know I’m a man, but it does challenge your manhood in that way because you don’t have a real answer for something that you probably can’t get an answer to,” shared Tyler Chronicles.
he Disability Pride Month Hip Hop Jam, an annual event hosted by the 4 Wheel City Foundation will be held in NYC’s Central Park. For DisabilityPride Month, the event is scheduled to take place on July 14th, 12pm EST at the CentralPark bandshell as part of the Disability Unite Festival.
4 Wheel City Foundation, spearheaded by Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris and Ricardo “Rickfire”Velasquez, distinguished wheelchair users due to spinal cord injuries, are dedicated to advocating for disability rights and social change through music. This upcoming event serves as a curated platform to amplify the voices and narratives of disabled artists within hip hop culture.
Through their personal journey, 4 Wheel City exemplifies how hip hop can drive conversations and facilitate change. As hosts of the Disability Pride Month Hip Hop Jam, Namel and Ricardo extend their mission to provide a supportive and empowering space for disabled hip hop artists to showcase their talents and stories.The event is jam-packed with great music and much more! The lineup of phenomenal artists include 4 Wheel City, Gifted Hands, Mia money, QuestionATL and maserati$. The LowerManhattan Cultural Council and Disability Unite serve as sponsors for the event.Join us on July 14th at the Central Park bandshell for an unforgettable evening of music, empowerment, and advocacy. Let’s celebrate the remarkable talents of disabled hip hop artists and unite in support of a more inclusive and equitable society
Grammy Award winning artist, producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, global cultural icon T-Pain has released his powerful new single, “On This Hill.”The song about self-love and standing up for yourself, which showcases the innovative artist’s powerful vocals and dynamic voice, comes during Mental Health Awareness Month, and the artist has teamed up with Talkspaceto provide free therapy to his fans for up to a year. The visual below finds T-Pain at a raw, fireside jam session in the middle of nowhere, playing into themes of vulnerability and renewal that come up in the song.
“This song is really about refusing to be gaslit anymore,” said T-Pain.“It’s about coming to a realization that I have to stand up for myself. Over the years, that has just been something I’ve had to open my eyes to and learn how to deal with it. So yeah, I’ll die on this hill, ha!”
At the end of this month, T-Pain will hit the road for his Mansion In Wiscansin Party Tour. Taking its name from the now iconic lyric “Put you in a mansion, somewhere in Wiscansin” from his 2008 hit“Can’t Believe It,”the series of dates kicks off in Houstonon May 29thand highlights include a special Juneteenth CelebrationatThe Hollywood Bowl with Color of Noise Orchestra, his third annual Wiscansin Festat The Rave/Eagles Clubin Milwaukee, a headline show at Central Park SummerStage and more. Later this summer, he’ll join Pitbull on the Party After DarkTour.
MANSION IN WISCANSIN PARTY TOUR DATES:
May 29 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall *
May 30 –Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom *
June 4 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall * SOLD OUT
June 6 – Windsor, ON – Caesars Windsor The Colosseum *
June 8 – Milwaukee, WI – WISCANSIN FEST @ The Rave/Eagles Club ^ SOLD OUT
June 11 – Columbus, OH – Kemba Live! * SOLD OUT
June 12 – Pittsburg, PA – Stage AE * SOLD OUT
June 13 – Doswell, VA – Meadow Event Park *
June 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Juneteenth Celebration @ The Hollywood Bowl
June 21 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony SummerStage * SOLD OUT
June 23 – New York, NY – Central Park SummerStage *
June 25 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion *
June 26 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *
June 27 – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery Lawn *
June 29 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre *
June 30 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company * SOLD OUT
July 2 – Jacksonville, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre * SOLD OUT
