LeBron James Receives Scolding From LAPD Officer In Open Letter

That deleted tweet continues to haunt LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers star kicked up dust over on Twitter last week after the officer responsible for shooting 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant was identified as Nicholas Reardon. James shared a screenshot of Reardon at the scene of Ma’Khia’s foster home with the caption “You’re Next #Accountability.”

James was hit with an onslaught of backlash from people who accused the basketball star of inciting violence against Reardon. Yet, LeBron’s defenders pointed out that his message was following the Derek Chauvin verdict, and James was speaking about legal justice. That explanation was ignored but still, James took down his original message.

LeBron James, Deon Joseph, Police Brutality, LAPD
Al Bello / Staff / Getty Images

An officer with the Los Angeles Police Department has gone viral after sharing an open letter of condemnation directed at LeBron. Deon Joseph began his letter by saying he wasn’t coming “from a place of hatred” and complimented the sports icon for his charitable work. Then he let LeBron have it.

“Instead of apologizing, you deflected,” wrote Joseph. “You said you took your tweet down because you did not want it to be used for hate, when the tweet itself was the embodiment of hatred, rooted in a lack of understanding of the danger of the situation.” Joseph added that he hoped to sit down with James to explain to him “the reality of the profession of policing.”

“You are tired of Black folks dying? So am I. You hate racism and police brutality? So do I. But you cannot paint 800,000 men and women who are of all races, faiths, sexual orientations and are also mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, preachers, coaches, community members and just human with such a broad and destructive brush.” Some critics of Joseph took to social media to point out the overwhelming amount of accusations of police brutality, profiling, and corruption within the LAPD, but he has yet to respond to their questions.

Read through Joseph’s message in full below.

Lauren London Explains Returning To Acting 2 Years After Nipsey Hussle’s Death

The path of grief is not one that is easy to navigate, nor is there a timeframe for healing. In March 2019, the world was shocked to learn that Nipsey Hussle was gunned down in his own neighborhood in front of his Marathon Clothing store. Since that time, Lauren London has often shared tributes to her late partner and updates regarding his brand, and slowly but surely, London has returned to her career.

Without Remorse is set to premiere in just a few days on April 30 and the film stars London alongside Michael B. Jordan, Guy Pearce, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Jamie Bell. The action-thriller will be released via Amazon Prime Video, and London recently shared that Jordan personally contacted her to be in the film.

Lauren London,Nipsey Hussle, Michael  B Jordan, Without Remorse, Entertainment Tonight
Randy Shropshire / Stringer / Getty Images

“We shot it in 2019 I believe…and forgive me, my memory doesn’t serve me so well after grief and everything,” London told Entertainment Tonight. “Michael reached out to me as a friend and he was so unsure if I was even going to ever work again. And he was like, ‘Look, I’m unsure if this is what you want to do, but I have to follow my intuition, I have to ask you if can you just read the script.'”

London admitted, “There was a lot going on in my world and there were other priorities.” However, after reading through the script and seeing that her character passes away, she connected with the storyline. “I saw throughout the film she comes to him,” said the actress. “Her love for him is still guiding him and I felt so connected to that just in my own personal experience that I felt like I could contribute here.”

“Moving forward in my life, I kind of don’t want to do anything that I can’t really truthfully contribute and I felt like I could truthfully contribute to this project.” Elsewhere, London also spoke about being an example for her children. “We can’t stop, you know? We do have a purpose, all of us, and it’s important for my sons to see me moving forward with grief, not just curling up in a ball because I curled up in a ball for a long time.”

“But especially for my eldest son because he’s just a little more aware,” London said of her 11-year-old son Kameron who she shares with Lil Wayne. “But we will continue moving on as we had to, as he would want us to.”

Watch a clip of Lauren London’s interview with Entertainment Tonight below.

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Jermaine Dupri Previews Usher In The Studio Working On New Music

He’s been putting in extra work now that his Las Vegas residency is on the horizon, but Usher hasn’t abandoned his time in the studio. The singer has been carefully preparing for his residency at the Colosseum inside Caesar’s Palace, and it all begins July 16. While he works out all the stops to bring a show to the strip unlike any other, Usher has also been working on new music.

There have been promises of a new album for some time, and it’s clear that Usher is shaping up an R&B collection to add to his legacy. We haven’t received a full-length studio album from usher since 2016’s Hard to Believe, and it’s reported that later on this year Usher and Co. are set to release Confessions II.

Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Confessions II
Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images

Fans are already aware that we received Usher’s first installment of Confessions back in 2004. The megahit project earned Usher several accolades, including being the No. 2 selling album of the 2000s, only bested by Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP. We’ve received a few peeks into what to expect on his forthcoming record, including Usher’s “Bad Habits” single last Fall, but Jermaine Dupri is giving us another taste of what he and Usher have cooked up.

Dupri shared a video clip of Usher in the booth working on a new track. “It’s coming,” the So So Def mogul penned in the caption. Check it out below.

Freddie Gibbs Fans Defend Rapper Against Cancel Culture

At this stage in the social media game, no one is surprised by anything that Freddie Gibbs posts. The Grammy-nominated rapper isn’t unfamiliar with getting into trouble over his social media content, and last year, he was even reportedly banned from Instagram…again. The censorship came as a surprise to Gibbs at the time, but he paid it no mind and moved his antics over to Twitter.

On Monday (April 26), Freddie Gibbs launched into the week by posting two videos of a group of women fighting. In the clips, women are seen rolling around on the ground and throwing punches, some half-naked with one woman actively hitting someone while fully nude. “Is this a fight or an orgy? [crying laughing emoji]” Gibbs wrote as a caption.

Freddie Gibbs, Fight Videos, Twitter, Cancel Culture
Cassidy Sparrow / Stringer / Getty Images

Throughout the day, Gibbs received backlash over his posts, with some people jumping in his mentions to condemn him allegedly exploiting the women. Gibbs didn’t respond directly to any one person, but he offered up a thought. “I love pissing fake woke Twitter off y’all never do sh*t in real life,” he said. “I posted a group of naked b*tches fighting and ain’t none of y’all check on they mental health.”

Now, fans of Gibbs were quick to laugh at his critics, but the rapper faced the select few who turned him into a trending topic after there were talks of him being “canceled.” His fans made it clear that Gibbs isn’t going anywhere, and almost 12 hours later, Gibbs has returned to the trending topic circle. 

We won’t be posting his fight video here for obvious reasons, but Gibbs has defiantly kept it up on his Twitter. You can read through responses to Gibbs’s “cancelation” below.

Freddie Gibbs, Fighting, Twitter, Canceled, Cancel Culture
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Derek Chauvin Case: Lead Prosecutor Admits To Feeling Bad For Ex-Cop

The guilty verdict has been handed down in Derek Chauvin’s murder case and now the public awaits his sentencing. The world will have to wait until June 16 to learn Chauvin’s prison fate, but the lead prosecutor in his case is hoping that the disgraced officer doesn’t receive a sentence that doesn’t fit his charges. Minnesota Attorney-General Keith Ellison recently sat down with 60 Minutes to discuss the murder of Geroge Floyd and the subsequent trial against former officer Chauvin. 

During the conversation, Ellison shared that he is grateful for how things turned out but showed sympathy for Chauvin.

Derek Chauvin, Trial, Keith Ellison, Murder, George Floyd
Handout / Getty Images

He was asked what his first thoughts were when he learned of the verdict. “Gratitude. Humility followed by a certain sense of, I’ll say, satisfaction,” he said. “I spent sixteen years as a criminal defense lawyer, so I will admit I felt a little bad for the defendant. I think he deserved to be convicted, but he’s a human being.”

The host was surprised to hear “a note of compassion” from Ellison for Chauvin. “I’m not in any way wavering from my responsibility, but I hope we never forget that people who are defendants in our criminal justice system, that they’re human beings. They’re people. I mean, George Floyd was a human being.”

In a separate interview with TODAY, Ellison stated, “It is important for us to act justly not vindictively,” when speaking about Chauvin’s sentencing. Ellison expressed that he hoped the judge wouldn’t hand down a heavy sentence that didn’t match the conviction in order to make an example out of Chauvin.

Watch the feature from 60 Minutes as well as the interview with TODAY below.

Chadwick Boseman Wasn’t Snubbed By Oscars, Says Family

Last night’s (April 25) Oscars have garnered mixed reactions, but a standout moment was when the winner for Best Actor was announced. Chadwick Boseman was in the running for his moving portrayal of Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom alongside Viola Davis, but in the end, the Black Panther star lost out to Sir Anthony Hopkins for The Father. The legendary actor graciously accepted his award but made sure to mention Boseman during his speech.

“At 83 years of age, I did not expect to get this award. I really didn’t,” Hopkins said. “I’m very grateful to The Academy. Thank you. I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early. And again, thank you all very much. I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored, thank you.”

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A post shared by Ma Rainey (@maraineyfilm)

Soon, social media lit up with Boseman fans who were disappointed that the actor didn’t receive a posthumous win. There were accusations against The Academy with claims that Boseman was snubbed, but the actor’s family reportedly feels different. TMZ spoke with Derrick Boseman, Chadwick’s brother, who said that everyone in the Best Actor category “was excellent and deserving of the award.”

Boseman’s relatives aren’t bothered that he didn’t win last night and, in fact, they wish Hopkins nothing but the best. “I”m sure [Anthony] would if Chad won.” Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was Chadwick Boseman’s final film before he passed away following a long bout with colon cancer. The actor was 43. You can watch Hopkins’s acceptance speech below.

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Tichina Arnold Shuts Down “Martin” Reboot Rumors

In the early 1990s, television history was made when Martin premiered. The popular series was a fan favorite and starred Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Carl Anthony Payne II. Weekly, the group of friends and lovers would engage in comedic banter and after its final episode aired in 1997, fans cried out for more.

Over the years, there have been rumors about whether or not the cast would rejoin together for a Martin reboot or reimagining, and back in 2018, there was a glimmer of hope. However, that was shot down after Tisha and Tichina recently appeared on the Tamron Hall Show. While there, Tamron asked about the possibility of a reboot and Tichina delivered the bad news.

“As Tisha told you, I kinda shoot from the hip,” said Tichina. “And uh—it’s something that we wanted to happen. It’s something that we tried very hard to happen, but the way it looks to me, realistically, it’s not gonna happen. Not unless it’s an animation. Tisha brought up a great idea to do an animation of it, but I always say, a show can never ever be rebooted without the original cast.”

“Now, we may be able to have a rebirth, maybe,” she continued. “But as far as a reboot, I don’t think that’s gonna happen.” Tichina also mentioned Ford, as the beloved actor passed away in 2016. “Tommy’s no longer with us, the show is never gonna be the same.” It’s sad news for Martin fans, but Tichina added, “Some things are best left alone.”

NBA YoungBoy Surprises Fan With Phone Call While In Jail

A little thing like jail isn’t going to keep NBA YoungBoy from reaching out to his dedicated fans. The 21-year-old rapper has been incarcerated since last month after he was apprehended following a short-lived foot chase. YoungBoy faces several weapons charges related to his September 2020 arrest where he, along with several others, was taken into custody while reportedly filming a music video in Louisiana.

We previously reported that YoungBoy entered a not guilty plea and was denied bond, but it looks as if he’s been receiving support while locked up.

A video surfaced online from a YoungBoy fan named Raquel who was able to get the rapper on the telephone. It seems that the young fan penned a letter to YoungBoy while he’s been inside and it touched him so much that he decided to give her a call. “I was calling to thank you for writing me. I got your letter. It made me smile,” a soft-spoken YoungBoy is heard saying on the line. The fan couldn’t believe it and expressed her love for the rapper as she became emotional.

In the caption, Raquel added, “Y’all don’t know how much this shocked me I’m still in disbelief ‘I fell in love with your room’, & y’all don’t talk about my me crying if y’all ask my family & everybody around me my only dreams was too meet nba youngboy & drive a Tesla & both came true well I didn’t meet him but still y’all know what I mean my life is complete.”

Check out the posts from the fan below.

DreamDoll & “Snowfall” Actor Damson Idris Deny Dating Rumors

A simple moment on the red carpet became the subject of relationship gossip for DreamDoll and Damson Idris. The rapper and Snowfall actor were seen standing next to one another in a group photo at an Academy Awards after-party on Sunday (April 25), smiling and carrying on. There wasn’t anything to suggest that the two were a couple, but soon, social media users began to speculate by the hundreds. 

Damson noticed the trend and stepped forward with a response that suggested he wasn’t used to this type of reaction from fans when he’s simply standing next to someone who just happens to be famous as well.

DreamDoll, Damson Idris, Rumors
Carmen Mandato / Stringer / Getty Images

“Ok. So don’t pose near women because then we are apparently married. [notepad emoji] Forgive me, I’m still learning. [red wine emoji.]” The Shade Room reposted Damson’s tweet and included the caption, “#DamsonIdris speaks out after fans think #DreamDoll is his potential boo after they took a picture last night at an Oscar party.”

DreamDoll saw the caption and although things were clarified, she still slid in the comments to share her thoughts. “Y’all need to relax,” she wrote. “Potential boo? I literally just met him yesterday it was just a damn photo.” Check it all out below.

Alexis Skyy Is Over Dating Men Who “Run The Streets”: “I Could Never!”

It doesn’t look like Alexis Skyy is having much luck with romance. The social media influencer has shared the ups and downs of her relationships on both reality television and the internet. Years ago, she revealed on Love & Hip Hop Hollywood that she was pregnant with Fetty Wap’s baby, but recently, the real father of her daughter came forward. Then, Alexis shared that her baby daddy, Brandon Medford, knew two years ago that he was the father of her child and she accused him of being absent.

She was public about her relationship with rapper Trouble back in 2019, and since then, there were rumors that she had a new beau. Her current dating status is unknown, but Skyy took to her Instagram Story to denounce men who like to stay out all night.

“Dating a n*gga who run the streets is for TEENAGERS,” wrote Alexis. “I’m a whole grown ass WOMAN! If you can’t get yo ass in this bed and lay tf down at a decent hour, then you ain’t the one for me! Y’all be thinking that sh*t cool when a n*gga trap all day, be in another b*tch face all evening and come calling yo phone like ‘open the door bae’ at the crack of f*cking DAWN [woman making an X with her arms emoji].”

“I could NEVER!!!” Skyy continued. “It’s called RESPECT, MORALS , STANDARDS! ‘Grown’ relationships don’t have continuous revolving doors. Get You a MAN MAN [strong arm emoji] SIS PERIOD [exclamation marks emoji][one hundred emoji].” Do you agree with her and should women be held to the same standard? Check out her message below.