tmz

Coachella Reportedly Scrap Frank Ocean Ice Rink

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Frank Ocean has loomed large over Coachella 2023, despite only spending about an hour playing at it. After injuring his leg in the week leading up to Weekend 1, Ocean’s bizarre behavior overshadowed the festival’s first weekend. He was late to his own set, only performed for an hour, and didn’t even livestream what little he did perform.

Then came the shocking announcement that just days before the second weekend was due to kick off, Ocean had pulled out. In response, Coachella has been forced to shell out millions to replace his Sunday night performance. Furthermore, they have been left with the dilemma of what to do with the giant ice rink they had built for his set. Due to liability issues, they were unable to open it as a public rink. Instead, Coachella’s organizers hoped that they would be able to incorporate it into another performer’s set. However, as Coachella 2023 reaches its final day, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Leaked Photos Show Scrapped Rink

According to TMZ, Coachella has chosen to scrap the rink rather than repurpose it. Sources informed the outlet that the 100 skaters hired for the set had been informed Thursday that they would not be performing during Weekend 2. Instead, they would receive payment for rehearsals and their Weekend 1 performance. There is no word of where the ice rink is currently. However, it has likely been moved off-site for a more private dismantling. Coachella has not officially commented on the rink.

TMZ also obtained footage of the ice rink during rehearsals. According to sources, security was incredibly tight as Ocean wanted the ice as pristine as possible for his performance. This may be due to the unverified rumor that the ice would reveal an image of Ocean hidden beneath the surface. This may also explain why Coachella ultimately chose to scrap the prop entirely. It wouldn’t make sense for, say, GloRilla to showcase Ocean’s face. Ocean was replaced by blink-182 as well as a new closing act from Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred again… Coachella’s final day begins at 12pm PDT, with sets from Eric Sanchez and Minus the Light. Other major performers on the final day include GloRilla, WILLOW, Latto, and Noname.

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NBA YoungBoy Misses Album Release Party

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Last week, NBA YoungBoy released Don’t Try This At Home, his sixth studio album and second of 2023. The album has a decent sales forecast and will likely debut in the top five on the Billboard 200. It is seen by many as a return to form for the rapper after the somewhat underwhelming I Rest My Case.

However, there have been some obstacles in promoting the album. YoungBoy has been under house arrest in Utah since 2021. While the conditions of his sentence were recently lightened, the rapper has not been able to properly promote an album in some time. Despite this, YoungBoy dropped a reported $200k to rent LA’s Elevate Lounge DTLA for the Don’t Try This At Home. Additionally, YoungBoy would attend the event virtually via live stream.

YoungBoy No-Shows

Everything was ready to celebrate Don’t Try This At Home. Famous faces were mingling at Elevate. DJ Carisma was providing the on-site music. But there was no sign of YoungBoy himself. The event continued but still no sign of the man of the hour. Eventually, the party closed out and everyone went home without ever having seen or spoken to YoungBoy. It was a disappointing turn of events, especially given the hype surrounding Don’t Try This At Home and the party’s price tag. The party was also reportedly sponsored by 50 Cent’s cognac brand.

So what happened? TMZ claims a source with knowledge of the situation informed them that YoungBoy had simply gone to bed. Utah is an hour ahead of LA and the late Saturday night start would have been even later for YoungBoy. However, the rapper’s team disputes this. “There was a technical difficulty and they couldn’t get NBA YoungBoy on the live stream. They tried Zoom and FaceTime without any success and unfortunately, NBA YoungBoy was unable to connect with his friends and fans,” they said in a statement. Technical difficulties feel like the more likely reason but if that were the case, why did the rapper simply call in and speak to a few people? No further statement has been released at this time, with YoungBoy’s team only speaking to refute TMZ‘s claims.

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Nate Diaz Chokes Out Man In New Orleans

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Nate Diaz hasn’t been in the Octagon since September 2022. Despite scoring a win over Tony Ferguson in that UFC 279 bout, Diaz had refused to re-sign with Dana White’s organization. Diaz, who is 38, is yet to sign another promotion or return to the UFC. His next fight is scheduled to a boxing match.

That brings us to April 21, when Diaz was in New Orleans for Misfits Boxing 6. At the event, Diaz got into a confrontation with Chase DeMoor. DeMoor, a reality star who was fighting on the event’s undercard, was disqualified from his fight after striking his opponent after the final bell. DeMoor was seen heckling Diaz, going as far as to call him a “pussy”, before Diaz responded. Diaz threw a water bottle at DeMoor, who was seated behind him. Diaz was then removed from the venue. However, things escalated for Diaz later in the night.

Diaz Chokes Man On Street

In a video published by TMZ, Diaz was seen arguing with a man outside the venue of the boxing event. To clarify before we continue, this was not a continuation of the argument with DeMoor. The two briefly engage in a physical altercation before Diaz caught the man in a choke hold. Diaz does not release the man until he is unconscious before letting him fall to the ground. It is unknown at this time what the extent of the man’s injuries are, or if the police have become involved. The man in question bears a striking resemblance to YouTuber and WWE star, Logan Paul.

What is known, however, is that the video quickly went viral. There was brief speculation that the man was Logan Paul but his actual identity is still unknown. The video garnered reactions from White (“He knocked him out? Whoever that, is he knocked him out! He choked him out!) and Conor McGregor (“Lovely little knee to the body hahahaa. Hahaha Nate on a rampage tonight! Let’s go Nate! Hahaha.”). Diaz is currently scheduled to fight Jake Paul in August. However, if there are any updates on his NOLA confrontation, be sure to check back here at HotNewHipHop.

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Drake Bell Reportedly Safe

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Earlier today, it was announced that former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell had been reported missing. Daytona Beach Police Department released a Facebook post asking for information. The post, made on the official Daytona Beach Police Facebook post and first reported by TMZ, asked the public for any information that could help find the Drake & Josh star.

According to the report, Bell had last been seen in the Daytona Highlands neighborhood near US Route 92 at 9pm Wednesday evening. Providing a description of his 2022 gray BMW, police said Bell was “missing and endangered.” Few details were given aside from a description of the car and Bell’s last known location.

Bell Spotted At SeaWorld With Son

According to information provided to TMZ, Bell was spotted by a fan at SeaWorld Orlando. The fan approached Bell, who was reportedly “nice and soft-spoken, but seemed fine.” SeaWorld Orlando is 68 miles and a 70-minute drive from Bell’s last reported location. The missing persons report did not mention Bell’s son. Bell is now in communication with law enforcement but is reportedly safe. The sighting at SeaWorld occurred a little over two hours after the police released their announcement around 7am. Given that SeaWorld Orlando opens at 9am, this indicates that Bell left Daytona Beach with his son his morning and arrived at the park as, or just after, it opened.

The incident raises a number of questions, which we hope will be answered in the coming days. Who filed the missing persons report? Was it a concerned relative or a malicious prank? The fact that Bell was with his son, who was not mentioned in the report, points to this potentially being a hoax. Furthermore, what was filed in the report that made police worried for Bell’s safety? Bell was only reported as “endangered” but not said to be a danger to the public. Once again, this speaks to a hoax. Additionally, if Drake Bell traveled to Orlando with his son after the Daytona Beach police release their statement, where we the police looking for him? Unfortunately, we won’t know for sure until the police conduct a full investigation. However, regardless of the motives, we are glad to hear that Drake Bell is safe.

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Columbia Records’ Bu Thiam Dishes On Potential Record Deal With LSU Star Flau’jae + Weighs In On AI Artists

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Bu Thiam

Hot off of her win against the Iowa Hawkeyes, star LSU basketballer Flau’jae Johnson is now in talks to sign with Bu Thiam of Columbia Records. TMZ caught up with the EVP while at a local airport. On April 9th, TMZ caught up with former Def Jam Records Vice President Bu Thiam, who is now […]

The post Columbia Records’ Bu Thiam Dishes On Potential Record Deal With LSU Star Flau’jae + Weighs In On AI Artists appeared first on SOHH.com.

Dalai Lama Apologizes After Asking Child To “Suck” His Tongue

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The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism’s Gelug school. The title is passed down from leader to leader. Each subsequent individual chosen as the Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of the last. Reincarnation is a core tenant of Buddhism and the search for the Dalai Lama is done incredibly rigorously.

The currently serving Dalai Lama is the 14th individual to hold the name. He was born in 1935, took the title in the same year, and was officially enthroned in 1950. He currently lives in India as a religious refugee, after fleeing Tibet due to the increasing threat to Tibetan sovereignty from the Chinese government. The 14th Dalai Lama is widely considered one of the more popular world leaders. However, he has been forced to issue an apology after a viral incident raised more than a few eyebrows.

Dalai Lama Apologizes For Tongue-Sucking Comment

In a now-viral Indian media clip, the Dalai Lama is seen greeting a young Indian boy. They stick their tongues out at each other and touch foreheads before the religious leader appears to try and suck on the tongue of the child. As the child recoils, the Dalai Lama can be heard asking if he can suck on the boy’s tongue. The presentation of the tongue is a common greeting in Tibet. It stems from a folkloric tradition to check that someone is not the reincarnation of a cruel, black-tongue Tibetan king. However, the attempt to suck on the boy’s tongue went too far for some people.

A brief statement released on social media channels said that the Dalai Lama “apologizes to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt that his words may have caused.” The statement goes on to say that the leader “regrets the incident”. However, it also notes that “His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful manner”. The incident is likely a traditional greeting taken too far in the wrong context. Despite this, it does not take away from the shock that millions felt as the footage made its way across social media.

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Lance Reddick’s Cause Of Death Revealed

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The entertainment industry was heartbroken upon learning about the death of Lance Reddick on March 17. The beloved actor had been a fixture of film and TV since the late 90s. He was found unresponsive in the garden of their home and declared dead later that day. Just 60 years old at the time of death, his sudden passing was followed by an outpouring of love from many big names. Additionally, a more unconventional tribute came within the video games Destiny and Destiny 2, in which Reddick had voiced a much-beloved character. Players visited the location of his character, Commander Zavala, and either simply stood nearby, or used in-game emotes to embrace the stoic leader.

Reddick’s first roles came in 1996, but he is best remembered for shows such as The Wire, Fringe, and Oz. On the silver screen, he appeared in numerous films, including a recurring role in the John Wick franchise. However, he is also likely to be remembered for his iconic appearance on The Eric Andre Show. Days before his death, he appeared in a photo with LeVar Burton, referencing the sketch. Due to the nature of his sudden death, Reddick will make four posthumous appearances in 2023 and 2024.

TMZ Reveals Reddick’s Cause Of Death

According to a report from TMZ, who acquired Reddick’s death certificate, Reddick passed away from natural causes. Specifically, Reddick succame to Ischemic Heart Disease and Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease. Both conditions relate to the coronary arteries. Coronary Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 18.2 million adults suffer from it. Following his death, his wife released a heartfelt statement, saying he had been “taken too soon”. She also asked fans to send donations to a Baltimore-based neo-natal charity.

Lance was widely praised for his commitment, dedication, and demeanor on set. The sentiment came from across the industry, from roles post past and present. Furthermore, many praised his belief that there was no role too small. Whether it was The Wire or the video game 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand, Reddick brought gravitas and sincerity. He will be deeply missed by colleagues and fans alike. Rest in peace, Lance.

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Chilli Says She Plans To Marry Matthew Lawrence

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Chilli says that she hopes to one day marry her boyfriend, Matthew Lawrence. The TLC singer admitted her plans for the future of their relationship during an interview with TMZ at Los Angeles International Airport, earlier this week.

When asked directly if there are wedding bells in their future, Chilli answered, “I hope so.” One question Chilli wasn’t willing to give an affirmative answer to was their plans for children. The interviewer brought up Lawrence’s previous comments on wanting kids with the 52-year-old, but Chilli said they were taken out of context.

Chilli & Matthew Lawrence

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: Matthew Lawrence (L) and Chilli Thomas attend as Lifetime Celebrates Black Excellence with their Female Creatives and Talent at the +Play Partner House on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Lifetime)

As for those comments, Lawrence discussed his plans for children during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, last month. “That’s the game plan. That’s what we’re trying to do,” he said at the time. “My life is in complete bloom right now. I get to spend time with an amazing woman like Chilli. I’ve never gotten to be able to experience that kind of relationship before. She’s really, really special.”

Once the remarks started gaining traction online, Lawrence released a statement to the outlet clarifying what he said. “[My brother] Joe and I were commiserating about this plan that we had to have children together…when we were growing up,” Matthew explained. “And I missed the first go around and now he’s starting a new family and I was thinking, ‘Man, it’d be great if we could do it again, when I didn’t have the chance to raise a family together.’ So that’s what I meant by that. I didn’t mean to put any pressure on somebody I was dating or anything.”

Chill and Lawrence have been officially dating since January, after confirming their relationship in a post on Instagram. Prior to dating Chilli, Lawrence was married to Cheryl Burke. The two finalized their divorce in 2022. Check out TMZ’s interview with Chilli below.

Chilli On Her Hopes For Marriage

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