Denzel Washington provided some further context to his highly-publicized cut kiss from Gladiator II at the premiere of the film in Hollywood on Monday night. “It really is much ado about nothing,” Washington told Deadline at the event. “They’re making more of it than it was. I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck and I killed him.”
Washington originally broke the news of the kiss during a recent interview with Gaytey. “I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken. I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet, I killed him about five minutes later. It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death,” he told the outlet.
Denzel Washington Attends “Gladiator 2” Premiere In Hollywood
US actor Denzel Washington (R) and wife US actress Pauletta Washington attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Gladiator II” at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, November 18, 2024. (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR / AFP) (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images)
Director Ridley Scott denied Washington’s claim about the kiss being cut elsewhere on the red carpet. “No, that’s bullsh*t,” Scott told Deadline at the premiere. “They never did. They acted the moment — it didn’t happen.” In addition to the first Gladiator, Scott is best known for his other iconic films Alien, Blade Runner, American Gangster, Thelma & Louise, and more.
Denzel Washington Discusses The Kiss From “Gladiator 2”
Gladiator II will be hitting theaters this Friday, November 22. In addition to Washington, it stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, and Connie Nielsen. The story follows Mescal as the son of characters Maximus and Lucilla from the first film. Check out Denzel Washington’s full comments on the kiss from Gladiator II below.
It’s been an undoubtedly hectic few months for Yung Miami. The “CFWM” rapper has been under intense scrutiny for her former fling with Diddy, who was arrested last month. He’s facing various charges, and as a result, she’s been at the center of relentless speculation and trolling. Luckily, she appears to have a solid support system behind her, including her friend Ari Fletcher.
Yung Miami and Ari Fletcher have been close for some time now, but during a recent night out, they took their closeness to a different level. They even shared a clip of themselves sharing a kiss after taking some shots. While this might come as a shock to some, it’s not the first time the duo got up close and personal.
Fletcher joined Yung Miami for a live episode of her podcast Caresha Please in September of last year, where she discussed her relationship with Moneybagg Yo. They kissed then too, and as expected, the audience went wild. While Fletcher and Moneybagg Yo have seen some ups and downs in recent months, it appears as though they’re still very much an item, despite her flirtatious encounter with Yung Miami.
As for the former City Girl, she revealed that she and Diddy are no longer together during the season two premiere of her podcast. Some texts she allegedly exchanged with her other bestie Saucy Santana, however, suggest that there could be someone else in the picture. “I’m on the phone with my man,” she allegedly told Santana after dodging his phone call. “It’s always a man witchu!!!” he appeared to respond. “This new n***a got yo head gone! Imma pray for u.” What do you think of Yung Miami and Ari Fletcher kissing during their recent night out? Are you surprised or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Gene Simmons, the iconic bassist of the legendary rock band KISS, is not just a rockstar; he’s a savvy businessman whose net worth has soared to staggering heights. According to Celebrity Net Worth, as of 2024, Simmons boasts a net worth of $400 million. But how did he amass such wealth?
American musician Gene Simmons of the group Kiss performs at the International Ampitheater, Chicago, Illinois, September 22, 1979. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Born Chaim Witz on August 25, 1949, in Haifa, Israel, Simmons migrated to the United States with his mother at the age of eight. Growing up in New York City, he developed a passion for music and eventually adopted the stage name Gene Simmons. His journey to stardom began in the early 1970s when he co-founded the band KISS, alongside Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss.
KISS quickly rose to prominence with their elaborate stage performances, flamboyant costumes, and signature face paint. Simmons, known for his demon persona, became one of the most recognizable figures in the music industry. The band’s success skyrocketed with hit albums like “Destroyer,” “Love Gun,” and “Rock and Roll Over,” solidifying their status as rock icons.
KISS Catalogue & Merchandising Empire
Gene Simmons of KISS during Gene Simmons of KISS with official “KISS KASKETS” at Jacob Javitz Center in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
Beyond music, Simmons capitalized on the band’s popularity by building a vast empire of merchandise and licensing deals. The KISS brand expanded into various products, including action figures, comic books, and even a pinball machine. The band’s extensive catalog of merchandise continues to generate substantial revenue, contributing significantly to Simmons’ net worth.
Kiss star Gene Simmons (second right) with (from left) his son Nick, partner Shannon Tweed and daughter Sophie arrive for a party to launch their TV show ‘Gene Simmons Family Jewels’, at Kabaret Prophercy in central London. (Photo by Yui Mok – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
While KISS remains his primary claim to fame, Simmons has ventured into various other endeavors. He has appeared in films and television shows, including his own reality series on A&E, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which aired for seven seasons. Additionally, Simmons has authored books, including autobiographies and self-help guides, further diversifying his income streams.
Entrepreneurial Success
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 12: Gene Simmons attends the World Premiere of Sony Pictures’ “Madame Web” at Regency Village Theatre on February 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/WireImage)
Simmons’ entrepreneurial acumen extends beyond entertainment. He has invested in numerous business ventures, ranging from restaurants to clothing lines. One notable venture is his partnership with Canadian cannabis company Invictus MD Strategies Corp., where he serves as Chief Evangelist Officer. An ironic turn of events, considering his previous anti-drug stance, he has since departed from the position but pledged his continuous support for the company. His business ventures have undoubtedly played a significant role in augmenting his already substantial net worth.
Philanthropy & Legacy
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 02: Gene Simmons of KISS performs during the final show of KISS: End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Despite his reputation as a shrewd businessman, Simmons is also actively involved in philanthropy. He supports various charitable causes, including organizations dedicated to children’s health and welfare. Additionally, his influence as a rock icon continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike, cementing his legacy in the annals of music history.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gene Simmons’ net worth of $400 million in 2024 is a testament to his multifaceted career spanning music, entertainment, and entrepreneurship. From his humble beginnings as an immigrant to his rise to superstardom with KISS, Simmons has exemplified the epitome of success. Through his innovative ventures and relentless pursuit of excellence, he has solidified his status as not just a rockstar, but a formidable force in the business world as well.
Safaree says that it “hurt” watching his ex, Nicki Minaj, kiss Nas for the music video to, “Right By My Side.” She dropped the Chris Brown collaboration for her 2012 project, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Safaree recalled the point in time during a recent appearance on the Keep It A Stack Podcast.
“You wanna know what’s so crazy? I didn’t know it happened until the video came out,” he revealed. “N***a, I was hurt. When that sh*t happened, I was hurt. I was there the whole day so I was like, ‘Damn. Did that happen when I left to go? I must’ve left for like an hour, two hours and I think that’s when that scene happened, yo.”
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 07: Safaree Samuels (L) and Nicki Minaj attend the Herve Leger By Max Azria fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2014 at The Theatre at Lincoln Center on September 7, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2014)
It’s not the first time Safaree has admitted to being upset over the music video. Back in 2018, he made similar comments while reflecting on the experience. “I was there,” he said on the Easily Offended podcast. “You wanna know what’s so crazy? I didn’t know it happened until the video came out. I ain’t gonna lie, I was hurt when that shit happened. Before that, I used to be able to [say], ‘Great. Give Drake a lap dance, great. Wayne. It was all love.’ That was whatever, but I was there the whole day, I was like, ‘Damn, did that happen when I left?’ I must have left for like an hour. I think that’s when that scene happened.”
Minaj and Safaree ended up splitting up in 2014 after dating for over a decade. Minaj has since married Kenneth Petty. Be on the lookout for further updates on Safaree and Nicki Minaj on HotNewHipHop.
Summer Walker and Lil Meech have been through their fair share of speed bumps in their romantic journey. In fact, things got pretty nasty at one point amid cheating rumors and a high-profile split that seemingly brought an end to that saga. But like a lot of spicy and controversial pairings online, it seems like they can’t get enough and are once again committed to one another. Recently, they fueled the flames of this again by posting a picture of the BMF star kissing the R&B singer. Even though fans seem quite divided on whether this is a good thing or not, the duo is clearly leaning into that with a lot of activity.
Furthermore, all we can hope for is that Lil Meech and Summer Walker are in a much better place relationship-wise than they were previously. Of course, it’s hard to tell any of this from just social media and our parasocial connection to them as media outlets or as fans. After all, they seemed to get together and be all lovey-dovey quickly, only for the house of cards to fall in impactful fashion. Nevertheless, things might’ve returned to the status quo, and supporters wish that it’s for legitimate and not clout-related reasons.
Another aspect of this rekindled fling is that it opened up previous beefs and arguments that took place with it as their root. For example, Jayda Cheaves trolled Summer Walker after rumors that she was back with Lil Meech picked up steam. If you didn’t know, Walker had expressed that she didn’t want to be stuck in a toxic relationship with a former partner the same way that she thought Cheaves was stuck with Lil Baby. That caused fans to call a low blow play, and Cheaves agreed with the sentiment that this was out of line.
Regardless, what do you think about Lil Meech and Summer Walker getting back together, apparently? Do you think they smoothed things out or is round two of a public breakup on the way? In any case, let us know in the comments section down below. For more news and the latest updates on this relationship, stay logged into HNHH.
The film Cassandro finally came out today, and fans couldn’t wait to hit theaters. Gael García Bernal stars in the film as homosexual amateur wrestler Saúl Armendáriz, who works his way to stardom with his character Cassandro. Though countless people are sure to tune in for the moving true story alone, the film also features a very special guest.
Bad Bunny appears onscreen as a drug dealer named Felipe, who seems to be crushing on Armendáriz. When he fails to make a move on the wrestler himself, Armendáriz takes things into his own hands. The duo share an onscreen kiss, though Bad Bunny’s character cuts things short. Fans are living for the steamy moment, and making their thoughts known on social media.
He opened up about the romantic scene in an interview with Time earlier this year, sharing how he was able to take on the role. Bad Bunny says he felt comfortable with his character, and was eager to follow the script. “If you’re acting, you’re being someone you’re not,” he explained. “So when they asked me for that, I said, ‘Yes, I’m here for whatever you want.’ I think it was very cool; I didn’t feel uncomfortable.”
“My first kiss for a movie and it was with a man,” the Puerto Rican performer also joked. “That’s the penalty I get for being with so many women during my life.” Speaking of the women in Bad Bunny’s life, he was also recently asked about his rumored romance with Kendall Jenner. Instead of providing details of their relationship status, however, he chose to keep his lips sealed. He took the opportunity to call out fans who expect to know each detail of a celebrity’s personal life, noting that everyone has a right to privacy. “I’m not really interested in clarifying anything because I have no commitment to clarify anything to anyone.” Will you be seeing Cassandro? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Bad Bunny.
Tiffany Haddish recently spoke to Andy Cohen about the rumors flying around that she kissed former football player and reality TV star Dale Moss. Moreover, the actress and comedian straight-up denied knowing who he even was before remembering a brief conversation that they had at Cannes Lions, where she also twerked with Lizzo onstage. Not only that, but she denied all claims that they got together, explaining that Moss approached her when she was talking to someone else. “OK, so, he gave me a hug he had said something, and I told him his breath was stinky,” Haddish stated. In fact, she even suggested that he fabricated the story and was actually kissing someone else.
Outside of the rumor mill, Tiffany Haddish actually has a lot to look forward to in the foreseeable future. For example, the 43-year-old is apparently looking to revive her rap career, and previewed two new tracks at the Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards. One of them features Lil Jon, while the other features none other than E-40, and both are incredibly energetic. Maybe she’ll drop in time for the summer, but if not, the cuts will surely heat up those colder months if they hit.
Still, it hasn’t been all peaches and cream for the star. Last year, she addressed backlash and a lawsuit over a skit that she made alongside Aries Spears through which they allegedly harassed a young pair of siblings. “This is me happy to see how my God works,” Tiffany Haddish wrote on Instagram concerning the online hate. “Some people said things to me, and God went ahead and showed me who they really are. Thank you for that God. I know you got big things for me to do and I can’t have user and fleas on me while I am completing my assignment you gave to me. I Love you Father God. Oh could you make sure that anyone who post something negative on my page gets cr*zy Diarrhea to where their booty hole hurts. I Love you Amen.”
Meanwhile, she faced pushback for something else just a few months ago, this time for an insensitive tweet about the Jonathan Majors situation. The public has been on her for a minute, but she continues to find success and push that to the side. Hopefully her next moves focus on herself and not on others. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Tiffany Haddish.
The Internet is becoming increasingly and unfortunately divided over YK Osiris’ unwanted advances towards Sukihana, who he grabbed and repeatedly tried to kiss despite her reluctance while she commentated a basketball game. Instead of scolding the artist for his behavior, defending the Delaware native’s rights, and acknowledging the violation of them, many instead focused on the reaction to these actions, labeling it another witch hunt and asking people to downplay what happened. No such reaction came from Wack 100, though, who had strong words for Osiris. Via Instagram, he defended the “Love & Hip Hop: Miami” star and called out those defending the rapper.
“@ykosiris I’ve been knowing you for a while,” Wack 100’s message began. “But for this you need ya a** whooped! Those men that sat there & watched that were in arms reach y’all COWARDS as well! So what if a women works at a strip club. So what if she has a only fans doing whatever, so what if she raps songs about how good something is. That gives no man the right to force themselves on any women. @meekmill if you ain’t gone check @ykosiris publicly don’t ask this woman to look the other way publicly. They make a few places for people like this… prison, ER, mortuary.”
Many criticized Wack 100’s response not because they disagreed, but because his artist Blueface is known to mistreat women as well. In the hours since the incident made headlines, YK Osiris apologized for his actions. “I want to publicly offer my sincerest apology to Sukihana,” he posted on Instagram. “In an attempt to be playful, I misread the moment and violated Sukihana’s boundaries. I understand the importance of consent and I am embarrassed by my behavior, I take full responsibility and have made multiple attempts to apologize. I have the utmost admiration for Sukihana and it was never my intention to disrespect her.”
Said apology came soon after Sukihana deleted her Twitter account, an action that followed a series of tweets seemingly addressing the situation. In them, she expressed feeling “hurt and scared to stand up for” herself, “crying all day,” once using alcohol to cope and then leaving it behind, and feeling the need to disappear for some time. Her mother slammed the rapper’s apology as “fake” in a since-deleted post. No matter your take on the situation, two wrongs don’t make a right, and certainly don’t warrant attacks on Sukihana or her family for what happened. For the latest updates and news on YK Osiris, Wack 100, and Sukihana, stay up to date on HNHH.
Janet Jackson recently shared a steamy onstage kiss with one of her backup dancers, Darius “Dario” Boatner. The make-out took place at one of the 57-year-old’s recent stops on her Together Again tour. The incident wasn’t the first time Jackson got “Nasty” on her tour. Last month, Janet turned some heads when she gave her audience a sensual, hands-on performance with another dancer, Mariusz Maniek Kotarski. Though viewers had mixed reactions to the passionate moment, most felt as though it was a necessary part of Jackson’s act.
“So I guess she not getting back with Jermaine,” one social media user comments on a clip of the kiss. Another claims Janet is “too old” for the onstage antics. “Y’all so cute lol,” one fan responds to haters, “Ma’am has BEEN doing this for ages. Who cares how old she is, she’s selling out shows and having fun. I’m here for it motha.”
Janet Jackson is joined by Ludacris on her current tour. Last month, Lil Kim filled in for the “Rollout” performer at the Allentown, Pennsylvania stop of the tour. After the show, Janet shared a heartfelt moment with Jackson backstage. “She represented me, a hood girl! I’m from the hood. I knew I could rap, but I was like, I wanted to do something different,” she said about the performer. Lil Kim continued, “I didn’t want to be the normal rapper. I love MC Lyte, I love Salt-N-Pepa, I love Queen Latifah – but I was like, ‘I want to do something different! I want to be a rap Janet Jackson.’”
Jackson was also joined by Busta Rhymes on the tour last month. They performed “What’s It Gonna Be?!” and Ludacris shared with the audience how the collaboration came out. He explained that he was driving when he heard Jackson on the radio claiming she’d like to collaborate with him, and how it almost led to him crashing his car. He later took to social media to thank her and call her a “queen.”
Lil Nas X is truly an icon. In the past year, he’s explored his sexuality and in January 2023 came out as “a little bisexual.” He was also briefly the President of Riot Games to promote his track “Star Walkin’”, which was written for the League of Legends World Championships. Oh and he also threw a house party that led to a $1 million lawsuit from his landlord.
Lil Nas X doesn’t have much of a dating history, not when compared to a number of people we typically cover here at HotNewHipHop. However, rumors have recently circulated about a romantic connection between him and fellow musician Pinkpantheress. Pinkpantheress recently bagged her first major chart appearance featuring on Ice Spice’s “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2”. This largely stems from a picture of the pair of them kissing. However, you can always count on Lil Nas X to a top-tier response to such an image.
The picture, posted by multiple accounts on Friday night, shows Pinkpantheress and Lil Nas X sharing a quick kiss. Users also posted other pictures from the night. This of course led to wild speculation across social media and gossip outlets. In fairness, it is very good evidence to link the two of them. They have been seen linking up a few times during 2023 already, going back as far as February. Nas posted a picture of the pair of them on February 28 to Instagram. However, the pair are yet to link up musically.
However, Lil Nas X had the full story, which he explained via his Twitter account. “she had food on her lip ! I was getting it off !” The response has been like 45,000 times since he posted it on Saturday morning. The comments are, of course, a mess. There’s memes, jokes, support, and just a fun little splash of outright homophobia. Neither Lil Nas nor Pinkpantheress has outright confirmed that the pair are dating and Lil Nas’ explanation is pretty convincing. Do you think they make a good couple? If they do confirm their relationship, be sure to check back at HotNewHipHop for all the details.
