TV

RHOA Star Peter Thomas Faces Charges After Choking A Woman At His Restaurant

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Entrepreneur Peter Thomas apparently doesn’t live by the customer’s always right motto. Today (February 28), the 62-year-old found himself in an unfavorable situation, which accordingly brought upon criminal charges to his name. While at his Baltimore restaurant Bar One, Thomas allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and proceeded to choke her. According to The Neighborhood Talk, the victim, although unnamed, has been identified as the niece of reality star Tammy Rivera.

The victim, who was dining at the establishment, claimed to have noticed Thomas inebriated and in a bad mood. Correspondingly, she shared her observations with her friends. Thomas, who was sitting in the same section as her group, supposedly overheard the remarks and proceeded to act out of anger. According to the woman, the former Real Housewives of Atlanta alum had aggressively grabbed her throat and maintained pressure as staff members tried to intervene.

Thomas Allegedly Grabbed Tammy Rivera’s Niece By The Throat

Thomas, whose resume also includes P.R. work at an artist management company and a hip-hop firm, has yet to comment on the ordeal. But, his attack on Rivera’s niece has landed him criminal charges. During the course of his time on the show, Thomas appeared alongside his ex-wife Cynthia Bailey. The show followed the trials and tribulations he would run into while managing his businesses, including Bar One. Fans of the Real Housewives took to Twitter to share their opinions, with one user tweeting, “Peter Thomas choking a woman at bar one in Baltimore was not on my bingo card.” Others noted similarities between his current actions with other stars from the show, with one user writing, “him and Mia have also violence in common I guess.”

Unsurprisingly, this has not been the first time that Thomas has faced trouble with the law. In 2019, the television personality was arrested for allegedly writing fraudulent checks. After spending six days in the Miami-Dade County jail, Thomas was ultimately released, addressing the ordeal as a mistake in an Instagram post. The restauranteur was also under fire in 2021 when a Bar One employee alleged that he was bouncing paychecks. For more news on hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to check out HNHH.

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“Harlem” Actress Jerrie Johnson Accuses Film Director Marc Cayce Of Sexual Assualt

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After attending a movie premiere after party, actress Jerrie Johnson took to her Instagram earlier today (February 28) to share a disturbing encounter. She recounts being introduced to movie director Marc Cayce by a mutual friend. Following an unfriendly first meeting, Cayce allegedly disgraces Johnson’s gender identity and sexually assaults her. The actress, known for her work in Harlem, explained the situation while calling out the filmmaker for the interaction. “He whispered in my ear, ‘I don’t want to hurt your feelings brother,’” Johnson recalled, “and I said ‘My feelings don’t get hurt and why are you calling me brother, I’m not a brother,’ and this man proceeded to pinch my nipple.”

Johnson noted that Cayce had also nonconsensually “smacked” her friend’s butt earlier in the evening. In her post, the star included a screenshot of the 56-year-old’s profile alongside a google search of him. Cayce, who gained recognition for his first film, Nikita Blues, also is noted as a movie writer and producer. He has yet to address the claims Johnson has publically made against him.

Jerrie Johnson Calls Out Marc Cayce For “Disgusting” Experience

The 29-year-old actress concluded the post with a message: “Listen, I’m the wrong one. I don’t care about LA culture or industry culture or any of that- you should not be touching people inappropriately for ANY REASON.” Further, Johnson reflects that the interaction was “disgusting” and “inappropriate.”

Johnson, who identifies as a queer woman, recently reflected on her nonbinary identity, which she described to AutoStraddle. “This binary is so new and so American and so beneficial to the patriarchy and white supremacy, that I feel like it would be a disservice for me and my legacy for me to feed into any type of binary,” she described regarding her portrayal of Tye in Harlem, as well as her personal life. The actress goes on to explain the comedy show’s representation of diversity, noting the importance of “how we’re presenting people, how we’re writing things, how we’re casting things so that people can see people like me in more of a nuance across different mediums in the industry.” Season two of Harlem aired on Prime Video earlier this month. For more news on hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to check out HNHH.

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Ex-Drug Dealer Claims 50 Cent Pulled Up To His Front Yard Over “Power” Lawsuit: Report

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50 Cent found much success in recent years, thanks to his endeavors in television. Power proved Fif can find as much success outside of rap as he did within the music industry. The Starz-backed series became a cultural phenomenon after its debut. Fans tuned in week after week as they followed the story of James “Ghost” St. Patrick and Tommy Egan. Though the series ended, Fif landed three spin-off series to expand the Power universe.

Power provides a look into St. Patrick’s life as he tries to leave the streets alone to become legitimate. However, one man filed a $1B lawsuit against Fif in 2021, claiming that the series was based on his life. “[Holland] fails to identify any defamatory statements made about him in connection with the fictional television series ‘Power,’” Fif’s attorneys wrote in a court filing. “He fails to allege that his name, portrait or picture was used in connection with ‘Power,’ or that any such use was a prohibited advertising use.”

Ex-Drug Dealer Claims 50 Cent Pulled Up To His Home

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 02: (L-R) Lela Loren, 50 Cent, Joseph Sikora, Courtney Kemp Agboh, Omari Hardwick, and Naturi Naughton attend the “Power” Season Two Series Premiere at Best Buy Theater on June 2, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Corey “Ghost” Holland Sr. accused 50 Cent of actually coming to his home to resolve the issue. In a filing obtained by AllHipHop, Holland said Fif pulled up to his home twice between July and August 2021. He added that Fif continuously attacked him online subliminally before showing up in his front yard. “… Now 50 Cent is bringing the drama right to plaintiff front yard,” the document reads. “So plaintiff responded to 50 Cent the way any normal person would respond to a possible threat, plaintiff prepared himself for whatever was go happen.”

Holland said that he tried to find out why 50 Cent was at his home yet couldn’t get an answer from the security detail. “The men in the truck returned, repeated the same intimidation tactic and left, but this time they appeared to be armed,” read the motion. “So plaintiff family ARM themselves, cause defendant Jackson, came back to plaintiff neighborhood for a second time, but once again security protected him. Plaintiff again tried to get to him and ask why is he coming to his home and neighborhood, but security prevented that, it’s clear your Honor, he was seeking a confrontation, and came very close to getting what he came for.” We’ll keep you posted on any further updates surrounding the case. 

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Omarion Responds To Woman Claiming They’re Engaged On “Dr. Phil”: Watch

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For over two decades now, Dr. Phil McGraw has been providing audiences with entertainment via hilarious (and sometimes shocking) stories from everyday people. On occasion, a celebrity will appear on the hit talk show to give advice or address an ongoing situation. Earlier this week, Omarion was on to do the latter. He spoke directly to a woman who’s been claiming there was a proposal to her from the R&B superstar.

“My friend Simone has been catfished for years by someone claiming to be Omarion,” a woman named Rachel sets the scene while chatting with the host. “He’s not Omarion. I know for a fact because there’s no celebrity that’s going to ask a civilian for money,” she went on to say. According to Dr. Phil’s guest, Simone has sent her online beau at least $4,500 since they first began talking. “If he’s a superstar, why would he need her money? Only a scammer would do that, not a celebrity.”

Omarion Appears on Dr. Phil

In order to help Simone move on, producers asked the California-born singer to come on and explain to her what was really happening. “It’s crazy how far these people will go to convince and manipulate my fans to think that they’re actually speaking with me,” Omarion said in a video message after an awkward piano introduction. “From sending fake driver’s licenses and passports, even FaceTiming them, claiming that there was a bad connection, and they never even seen me.”

The 38-year-old then apologized to Simone, making it clear that he hasn’t been speaking with her online and they’re certainly not in a relationship. “You haven’t sent me any money. I want everyone to be aware that if someone online is claiming to be me, and asking for money, you are not speaking with me. I will never do that, all of my official pages clearly have a blue check.” Omarion ended his message with a reminder to “be mindful,” and practice internet security while online.

Is Nia Long His New Girl?

Nia Long and Omarion attend the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “You People” at Regency Village Theatre on January 17, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/WireImage)

He’s obviously not engaged to Simone, but recently, the “Post to Be” hitmaker sparked romance rumours with a fellow celebrity – Nia Long. The two shared a sweet exchange at Netflix’s You People premiere, though she quickly shut down the gossip with a reminder of her single status. Read more about that here, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.

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NBA YoungBoy & Birdman Move Forward With “Baller Blockin 2”

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NBA YoungBoy and Birdman are moving ahead on the sequel to the cult classic film, Baller Blockin. On Sunday, it was announced that Clifton Bell would be joining the movie as the director. He’s previously worked on videos with J. Cole, T.I., Rick Ross, The Roots, Bobby Shmurda, Gucci Mane, and many more. Most recently, he teamed up with Latto for “Sex Lies” with Lil Baby.

YoungBoy and Birdman first announced they were working on the film on social media in October by teasing a poster for the sequel. Featuring the title in bold red, it also contains the city of New Orleans in the background. While YoungBoy hails from Baton Rouge, Birdman was born and raised in New Orleans.

YoungBoy On Stage

ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rapper NBA YoungBoy performs onstage during Lil Baby & Friends concert to promote the new release of Lil Baby’s new album “Street Gossip” at Coca-Cola Roxy on November 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Baller Blockin was released in December 2000, detailing life in the city’s notorious Magnolia Projects. The original movie starred Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., Turk, Mannie Fresh, Birdman, and more. The Cash Money Millionaires handled the soundtrack. Nas, E-40, UGK, 8Ball & MJG, and Mack 10 also contributed to the songs released for Baller Blockin.

While Lil Wayne starred in the first film, Birdman recently noted that there are a lot of similarities between YoungBoy and the legendary rapper. Speaking with Billboard, he explained: “Watching how fast he do music and the value of the music, I saw a lot of similarities between him and Wayne. I seen stardom in him, but I knew it was a process.”

On the music front, YoungBoy released his first album of 2023, I Rest My Case, last month. The 19-track project is the rapper’s first release through Motown since joining the label in October. It features production from Jason “Cheese” Goldberg, alongside D-Roc, DJ Trebble, Dmac, Kid Krazy, Powers Pleasant, TnTXD, Wayv, and Yo Benji. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 after moving 29,000 copies in its first week.

“Baller Blockin 2” Poster

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Aubrey Plaza’s Stylist Says She “Wanted Underboob” While Defending SAG Awards Look

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This year’s SAG Awards ceremony was a celebration of some of the best in movies and TV. Unfortunately, one awkward onstage moment has been overshadowing many of the others. While the cast of The White Lotus was accepting their prize for Best Ensemble, Aubrey Plaza was reportedly informed by a costar that her “boob [was] hanging out.” Of course, the crowd couldn’t see the starlet’s full chest. Still, her Michael Kors gown did show off a bit of underboob all throughout the evening.

At this time it remains unclear exactly what was said to Plaza during the speech. Whatever it was, the angry expression on her face made it evident she wasn’t pleased. Cameras also caught her muttering obscenities like “Shit’s f*cked” and “Jesus Christ,” causing a definite stir online as viewers at home tried to piece together the drama unfolding. On Monday (February 27), a source close to the 38-year-old actress was able to provide some context.

Aubrey’s SAG Awards Slip-Up

“[Her anger] was a direct result of her almost being elbowed in her face,” they previously told DailyMail. The near-injury took place as the many performers were shuffling around the stage. Many female stars were notably being pushed to the back of the group as older male actors like Michael Imperioli and F. Murray Abraham addressed the crowd. She was obviously upset on Sunday evening. Thankfully, Plaza has since shared a photo dump on Instagram celebrating the HBO series’ big win.

In the caption, she wrote, “Best cast ever! I love these people and am so proud of this show. Thank you @sagawards.” Throughout various photos we see her celebrating, trophy in hand, on the red carpet with The White Lotus‘ other stars. She also found time to pose for pictures with Wednesday starlet Jenna Ortega, as well as Parks & Recreation costar, Amy Poehler.

Stylist Jessica Paster Speaks Out

Aubrey Plaza at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Elsewhere online, Plaza’s stylist, Jessica Paster, is coming to the Delaware native’s defense over the look. As hateful comments have come pouring in, specifically about the garment’s fit, she’s clapped back with her side of the story. “The straps could be better adjusted. I love the colour, and hair and makeup look amazing,” one Instagram user wrote following the SAG Awards.

“Did seven fittings… For real… I wanted underboob,” Paster dished in the replies, making it known she and her client were attempting to turn heads with the gown’s centre cutout. Let us know what you thought of Aubrey’s outfit in the comments, and see our full red carpet roundup from the annual event here.

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John Krasinski Dubbed The Highest-Paid Actor On TV

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A new report from Feb. 27 lists some of the highest-paid television actors. Written by Matthew Belloni of Puck, the article titled “11 Burning Questions About the First Two Months of Hollywood ’23” yields fascinating conclusions. Included in the story is a note about how Euphoria’s Zendaya landed a pay raise from HBO. As the lead actress in the show portraying Rue, Zendaya’s salary per episode now reportedly eclipses $1 million. However, Belloni also reports that she is still not the highest-earning TV actor, as that honor now goes to John Krasinski.

Krasinski, who stars as Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan reportedly earns around $2 million per episode. The Amazon Prime series just ended its third season on Dec. 21. Beginning in 2018, the show was renewed for a fourth and final season in October 2021. John Krasinski, who most notably has starred as Jim Halpert in The Office, is surely one of the main reasons the series has been able to grow such a passionate fanbase. While Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: SVU and Ellen Pompeo of Grey’s Anatomy make more per season on their shows, Krasinski makes more per episode, according to Belloni. But, there are still a few actors who come a tad bit close to Krasinski’s salary.

John Krasinski’s Competition

In this screengrab, John Krasinski, recipient of IMDbPro | Media Access Award for Excellence in Directing, speaks at the 2021 Media Access Awards Presented By Easterseals on November 17, 2021. (Photo by Media Access Awards Presented By Easterseals/Getty Images for Easterseals)

John Krasinksi currently sits atop the mountain when it comes to earnings as a TV actor. But runner-ups like Kevin Costner, Jason Sudeikis, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren are no slouches. Costner, who stars in Paramount’s Yellowstone, reportedly makes $1.2 million per episode. In Jason Sudekis’ case, the face of Apple’s Ted Lasso, he too cracked the $1 million figure. This also goes for the aforementioned Ford and Mirren of 1923.

These figures are considered particularly staggering too, considering that TV contracts are typically not as lucrative as they used to be. When speaking with a source regarding the matter, Belloni reported that he was told, “$850,000 is the new $1 million.” So, there’s no telling what Zendaya’s $1 million or Krasinski’s $2 million would translate to in the heyday of cable television. Either way, though, surely none of the actors listed above are losing sleep at night about how much they rake in per episode.

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Pokémon Announces New Stop-Motion Netflix Show

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Happy Pokémon Day! 27 years ago on Feb. 27, Pokémon debuted their first games in Japan. Now, they use this anniversary each year to celebrate new developments in their franchise and how far they’ve come. So, for 2023 Pokémon Day, fans of the Japanese cartoon and gaming company received another thrilling announcement. On Feb. 27, Netflix unveiled its plans for a new stop-motion series. However, instead of featuring the main characters Ash Ketchum or Pikachu, the show focuses on Haru and Psyduck.

Titled Pokémon Concierge, the upcoming series currently lacks a release date or announced cast. However, the producers of the stop-motion are Dwarf Studio, based in Japan. Pokémon Concierge is another huge milestone in the ever-fruitful relationship between Netflix and the brand. First acquiring their rights in 2014, Netflix boasts series and movies from the franchise on their platform. For the new series, the episodes are said to follow the characters in Pokémon Resort where they meet a variety of creatures and trainers. Creation of Pokémon Concierge begins “soon,” according to Netflix.

Pokémon’s Latest Endeavors

Before announcing their new Netflix series, the franchise was involved in other exciting collaborations recently. In Nov. 2022, they announced their partnership with Puma for a group of new sneakers. The models used for the collab include the RSX, the Rider RV, the Slipstream Lo, the TRC Blaze Court, and the Suede. Characters that inspired some of the models were Pikachu, Gengar, Charmander and Squirtle. This deal came just about four years after Pokémon first released a shoe collaboration with Adidas in 2018.

In 2021, for the 25th anniversary of the game, the franchise dropped an album. The project featured songs from a multitude of artists that loved Pokémon. Lasting 14 songs, rappers like Lil Yachty, Tierra Whack, Vince Staples, and Post Malone joined in on the fun. Additionally, other stars like Katy Perry and J Balvin contributed to the release. It’s safe to say that the franchise is one of the most influential and beloved brands in entertainment. So, when Pokémon Concierge finally releases, there are sure to be many loyal fans tuned in. Let us know what you think, in the comments below.

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Zendaya Earns Big Payday With “Euphoria” Contract Re-Negotiation

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Last February, the HBO teen drama Euphoria starring Zendaya ended its second season. Being one of the most beloved and popular television shows around right now, fans could not wait until season 3’s arrival. However, shortly after season 2 closed, it was confirmed that season 3 would not release until 2024. To many fans’ dismay, the wait would likely be at least two years until we saw the troubled teens again. Since then, a few of the Euphoria star actors have attracted some controversial headlines. In July 2022, Euphoria‘s Sydney Sweeney revealed that her income did not allow her to take a prolonged break from acting. Then in August, Barbie Ferreira, who plays Kat in the series, announced she would not return to the cast for season 3.

After a few drama-less months, February saw a few more Euphoria actors get in trouble with the law. At the start of the month, Chloe Cherry was accused of shoplifting a blouse. Then, one of the show’s primary actors got into a sticky situation. On Feb. 20, Angus Cloud, who plays Fez in Euphoria, was accused of doing a hit-and-run with his car in LA. Although he was not an official suspect, police were hoping to track him down to speak with him. With all this turmoil going on with her cast mates, though, lead actress Zendaya received some good news this week.

Zendaya Re-Negotiates Her Deal

Zendaya attends the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/FilmMagic)

On Monday (Feb. 27), Puck‘s Matthew Belloni reported that Zendaya restructured her contract with the show. For her role as Rue in Euphoria, Zendaya would reportedly receive a huge pay-raise from HBO. Belloni reportedly said that she would be earning practically $1 million per episode from here on out. “I’m told Zendaya just closed a big re-negotiation on HBO’s Euphoria that likely puts her close to that club,” Belloni said.

There are only a few actors who earn this much per episode. These include Kevin Costner for the show Yellowstone and John Krasinski for Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan, supposedly. This pay raise surely puts Zendaya in an upper echelon of television series actors, and deservedly so. Euphoria‘s season 3 is reportedly set to begin filming in 2023. So, Zendaya will soon bring more of her patented star power to HBO in the near future.

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