Source: Sutad Watthanakul / EyeEm / Getty Victim’s Sons Beat Up Convicted Killer A video’s gone viral of two sons beating up the man who killed their mother. On Thursday the sentencing hearing for a man convicted of killing an Ohio woman erupted in chaos when the victim’s two sons attacked the handcuffed defendant, Dale Williams, inside the courtroom. Williams, 62, was on hand for sentencing for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth Pledger Stewart, 46. While Pledger Stewart’s daughter was giving her victim impact statement, however, the woman’s two sons attacked the convicted killer. Both men managed to get to Williams and punched him before being detained. “He killed my mother, man,” said one of the sons. “That was my mama! She took care of me, bro, when nobody else did.” WKBN reports that Williams admitted to killing Pledger Stewart after waiting for her for more than 45 minutes for her to drive by him on her way to work so he could cut her off and shoot her. Both sons will spend 30 days in jail for contempt of court. Seems like it was worth it to us.
Beth Chapman, reality star and wife of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman, passed away last month after battling cancer. And if you know anything about Dog’s relationship with Beth, you know that it was an absolutely devastating loss. Beth passed away on June 26th after originally being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017. A few days later, friends and family had a memorial service in Hawaii , and Dog explained that they’d have another in Colorado at a later date — they called both states home. Yesterday, everyone gathered again in Colorado, and again, the service was open to anyone and everyone who wanted to pay tribute to Beth. That’s how we know all the unbelievably heartbreaking things he said in his speech there. For example, at one point in his remarks, he said “I cannot believe believe that she’s gone. This is not possible, I want to wake up from a dream.” “In the ’70s, I did 18 months in the Texas penitentiary and I told God yesterday I’d do five years, ten years day to day just to kiss her again. I never felt like this.” At another point, he told the people in attendance “She will never be dead to me. She is in another place.” “I’m gonna get to heaven and make her so proud,” he added. “she’s gonna say it like she said here, ‘That’s my man right there, that’s big daddy right there.'” Dog’s speech, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, also touched on what happened after Beth’s diagnosis . “She’d gotten sick,” he recalled, “they told her she got cancer. they said she could do chemo though, they said she would have to sit at home while Dog films the show.” The show he’s referring to is Dog’s Most Wanted, which hasn’t begun airing yet but which did feature Beth’s failing health . “The show did not kill her but she died for it,” Dog explained. “She said, ‘Do you think I’m going to let you go out by yourself and film this TV show? You’re out of your mind.'” He said that he told her that she “might have to do chemo and stuff, but she replied with “All it’ll do is keep me alive six months longer and I’m not going to do that because I want to be by your side.” And while they were filming, “She would tell these guys on the show, “You’re trying to die doing these drugs and I’m trying to live.’ Those guys started bawling and crying.” Speaking of bawling and crying, Dog took some time to speak on one of the last conversations he had with his wife. “She said, ‘Please big daddy, please let me go,'” he remembered. “I said, ‘No, I can’t. I’m not gonna let you go.'” “I still haven’t let her go,” he admitted. Later, he said something similar with “If there’s a God, he won’t let me live that long without her.” Dog also felt the need to give some advice. “If you’re beefin’ with your old lady,” he told everyone, “stop and kiss her right now. Because you’re gonna feel so bad when he or her are not with you anymore.” “It is one of the worst feelings a man or woman could ever have, I’m telling you,” he insisted. “I’ve never felt this bad. I’m sad. I didn’t want to do a celebration of life because I’m sad. I miss her so much.” We hope he manages to find some comfort soon. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2019: In Memoriam Rest in peace, Beth.
Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Lashana Lynch To Play 007 This. Is. Awesome. Lashana Lynch who played Maria Rambeau in “Captain Marvel” will take on the famous 007 moniker in the forthcoming James Bond film. To be clear, the history-making moment means she’s the first BLACK PERSON and the first FEMALE to take on the role. The British actress, 31, will play 007 in what The Daily Mail is describing as a “popcorn dropping moment” between her and the current Bond Daniel Craig. Bond is apparently retired and BEFUDDLED that this “brilliant young black woman” won’t fall for his charm. “Bond, of course, is sexually attracted to the new female 007 and tries his usual seduction tricks, but is baffled when they don’t work on a brilliant, young black woman who basically rolls her eyes at him and has no interest in jumping into his bed,” a source told the Mail. “It’s a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he’s been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman,” the source told the Mail. The film is currently in production in Italy and the UK. Lynch has already been spotted filming on set and she shared a behind the scenes clip. View this post on Instagram A lickle taste… #B25 A post shared by Lashana Lynch (@lashanalynch) on Jun 25, 2019 at 8:04am PDT Fans have been practically BEGGING for Idris Elba to become the first black James Bond, not just 007. View this post on Instagram from #Bond25 A post shared by Lashana Lynch (@lashanalynch) on Jul 5, 2019 at 8:16am PDT What do YOU think about an amazing black woman like Lashana taking on the iconic 007 role???
R apper and actor Jaden Smith is no stranger to activism. Just months after he announced that he would be bringing a water filtration system to Flint, the “Icon” rapper is now using his platform and resources to help the homeless. According to People , Smith brought a vegan food truck to Los Angeles and fed the homeless for free. Jaden Smith Opens 'Healthy, Vegan' Food Truck for the Homeless in Los Angeles https://t.co/YzA3DmckKQ — People (@people) July 9, 2019 The food truck was a part of Smith’s new venture I Love You Restaurant. Through the company, Smith wants to help individuals who are dealing with food insecurity by making healthy options free and accessible. I Love You Restaurant will have several pop-up food trucks that will serve the homeless population. The first pop-up took place on his 21st birthday on Skid Row. For Smith, celebrating his milestone birthday was less about partying and more about furthering his philanthropic efforts. “The @ILoveYouRestaurant Is A Movement That Is All About Giving People What They Deserve, Healthy, Vegan Food For Free,” he posted on Instagram . “Today We Launched Our First One Day Food Truck Pop-Up in Downtown LA. Keep A Look Out Because This Is The First Of Many #JADENinc.” As Smith grows his influence in the realm of activism, he’s also continuing to make waves in music. He released a new album titled ERYS on July 4 and will soon be hitting the road with Tyler the Creator for a tour. Initiatives like Smith’s are needed and will be instrumental in evoking change. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness , there are over 500,000 people in the United States experiencing homelessness on a given night. Feeding America reported that in 2017 nearly 40 million Americans—including over 12 million youngsters—lacked access to food. Smith isn’t the only celebrity who is focused on fighting hunger. In May, NBA star LeBron James teamed up with Walmart for the Fight Hunger Spark Change campaign to address the hunger gap experienced by communities of color, children, senior citizens, and those living in poverty. SEE ALSO: Jaden Smith’s Company Is Bringing A Water Filtration System To Flint LeBron James Aims To Combat Hunger In Underserved Communities [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881857″ overlay=”true”]
B lack youth are displaying excellence in academia. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , a group of Atlanta scholars took home the title at an annual debate competition hosted by the Harvard Debate Council. The Great Debaters II: Atlanta debate team dominates Harvard tournament – again https://t.co/fkZh5vUrp7 pic.twitter.com/lyKTwfRTzw — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) July 13, 2019 This was the second consecutive year that the Atlanta Great Debaters won the international tournament organized by the Ivy League school. In preparation for the debate the team—who is predominately made up of students of color—participated in a two-week summer program focused on public speaking, competitive debating and political science. After the workshops the students ended their experience with a program tournament; competing against over 400 scholars from around the globe. The students were placed on teams of two. High schoolers Keith Harris and Don Roman Jr. went undefeated in the tournament. “It sends a message to the world to what African American youth are capable of, if they are given access and opportunities,” Brandon P. Fleming , founder of the Harvard Diversity Project. “Most of our students have never been exposed to the power of academic debate. Knowing that they will compete against hundreds of scholars who have years of debate experience, combined with the benefit of private and prep schools to their advantage, we seek to level the playing field by introducing our students to higher level academic disciplines that are typically unavailable in traditional school settings.” Both Harris and Roman were excited to take home the title. They both hope that their win will inspire other Black students to join debate teams. “Our accomplishment is far bigger than us. We are showing the world what black youths are capable of achieving when given equal access, exposure, and opportunities. This win is for our ancestors, our city, and most of all our culture,” Roman told the news outlet. Program organizers are now gearing up for the 2020 residency. SEE ALSO: HBCU Puts Focus On Mental Health So Students Can Thrive Academically Over 100 Homeless Students In New York City Graduate High School [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881857″ overlay=”true”]
Source: FayesVision/WENN.com / WENN Kumail Nanjiani Chops It Up With Desus & Mero About His New Movie, Stuber Kumail Nanjiani stopped by Desus & Mero this week to talk about his new movie, Stuber . While he’s in the building, the comedian discusses still getting confused for Kal Penn from Harold and Kumar , diversity in Hollywood, being nominated for an Oscar, working with Dave Bautista, and how it feels to be asked about his craziest uber stories all the time now because of his movie, Stuber . Peep the hilarious conversation down below:
T here is so much power that lies in controlling your own narrative. However due to the lack of diversity within the media industry authentic stories about the Black experience are often excluded, misconstrued or disregarded leaving several individuals feeling unseen and unheard. The Multicultural Media Correspondents Association is on a mission to tackle the lack of racial representation when it comes to ownership and leadership in the media industry. The organization recently hosted a forum in Orlando that gathered influential Black leaders in the media space to share their experiences and develop strategies to evoke change. The summit—dubbed Taking Control of the Media Diversity Crisis—explored how the racial gap in media ownership directly impacts how the Black community is perceived by others and how African Americans see themselves. It also examined how the decline in platforms owned by people of color has changed the landscape of civic engagement and efforts to create political change. Amongst the individuals who participated in the summit were iOne Digital President Detavio Samuels and Lori Hall who serves as the Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing at TV One. Samuels and Hall were featured on a panel that explored diversity and inclusion practices in the media industry and how policymakers can play a role in holding major media companies accountable when it comes to taking corrective action. Other panels that took place during the summit examined the obstacles faced by media owners of color, controlling the narratives in the realm of advertising, and the importance of cultural competency in the media. Influential industry leaders who were apart of these discussions included Erika Alexander , Co-Founder of Color Farm Media, Tanya Grieg Perara , EVP, Comcast NBC Universal, L. Londell McMillan , Attorney and Owner of The Source Magazine, Tirrell D. Whittley , CEO, Liquid Soul and others. It was hosted by Congresswoman Val Demings . “The need for greater media diversity is a national priority. MMCA is committed to moving the needle on media diversity and to be a trusted bridge that brings together policy makers and the media advocacy community to make an impact,” said David Morgan , Founder and President of the MMCA, in a statement. “As an advocate for and a resource to journalists, creatives and other media stakeholders of color, we are excited by the growing support for the MMCA.” Forums like the one led by MMCA are needed. There still are wide racial gaps in film, television, print, and digital ownership. Research shows that less than 1 percent of commercial TV stations are Black-owned. SEE ALSO: Black Entrepreneurs Raise $8 Million For Barbershop-Focused App Black Entrepreneur Receives $1 Million Investment From Jay-Z’s Venture Capital Fund [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3882124″ overlay=”true”]
Trouble a well known Atlanta native has emerged from struggles in life before, his last project Edgewood released under Mike Will Made It’s Ear Drummer Imprint in conjuction with Interscope Records, was his first and only project within that joint venture. According to Trouble , it seemed that he was not being treated as a priority, so he had to make a change. In this exclusive Interview, Trouble opens up about the transition that only recently took place. He also makes mention of the origins of his new single “She A Winner” feat City Girls Yung Miami. Watch The Full Interview Below In an effort to promote the song, ladies experimenting with vegetables gave birth to the #SheAWinnerChallenge . The challenge started from one specific young lady @miinamariie_ on Instagram View this post on Instagram JESUS CHRIST #SHEAWINNER B4 u start hating just drop some s if this normal for u! Where da socks at! A post shared by TrouBle TrouBle (@troubledte6) on Jun 26, 2019 at 9:10am PDT Trouble mentions that there is a mystery artist who was originally supposed to be on the song, but Manager Tekniks of Street Execs suggested to get a girl on the song and that’s just what he did. Stream “She A Winner” Below READ MORE Watch Rapper Trouble Describe What He Looks For In The Perfect Booty How Prison Didn’t Keep Trouble From Rapping [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO] Trouble Speaks Out About Getting Into The Music Business [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]
Nick Pendergrast has opened up about something both very personal and, quite literally, very painful. The former reality TV star, who helped anchor Season 4 of Married at First Sight, shared details late this week regarding a near-fatal workplace accident that took place six months ago. In a lengthy and emotional Instagram post on Friday, Pendergrast explained – for the first time to the public – that he is now partially paralyzed and that he was also forced to relocate from partner Heather Yerrid and their twins in order to receive proper care. Heavy, sad stuff. “It’s been a life changing and devastating 2019. “I knew for myself I needed to be in a better mental state to share what happened to me in January,” Pendergrast said at the outset of his message, which accompanied the photos above and below. “I don’t really know if I am truly ready to open up about all of it in fear of how it will be received. What I am sure of, I need all the support I can get right now to make it through this,” he continued. “These pictures were taken so that if I survived, I could see how far I have come to give me hope for the future.” From here, Nick went on to detail exactly what transpired back in January. Along with how it affected his relationship. “I was in an unfortunate severe accident while on the job. When Heather arrived to the ER, she was told they didn’t know if I was going to make it through the night. “January 22nd, I was found submerged in water for hours, with severe hypothermia, multiple pelvic fractures, severely comminuted sacral fractures, Morel-Lavallee, and more.” Pendergrast didn’t go into any further detail about the incident, focusing instead on the aftermath. “It’s been 6 and a half months and I finally feel like I’ve gotten a straight answer about what the future may hold,” he wrote. “The nerve damage caused by the blunt trauma has left me partially paralyzed.” The entire experience has obviously been brand new for Nick. Brand new and scary, he says. “Up until 2019, I had never met anyone in a wheelchair or knew of anyone in my circle that had experienced this type of thing. “I had to relocate to a place that had the best doctors to save my life, and the best environment to regain any functionality in my lower body.” Pendergrast says the “past 6 months have been lonely, depressing, scary, stressful, and difficult,” but he’s now trying to keep a positive frame of mind. This is how he wrapped up his post: Just recently, my goal has been to learn how to become independent again as a disabled individual. I have the support of my family. Heather brings one child at a time to see me since she can’t yet travel with two. I am fighting every day to stay sane, motivated, and in high spirits. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I have gained empathy, compassion, and gratitude through this and hope to gain more. If nothing else, I just want to be able to walk again. If anyone has experienced this and has a similar story, where they were told they will never walk again and did, I would love to hear from you. Even if you were told you’d never walk again and didn’t, I would love to hear how you have coped and moved forward. I am asking for your prayers, love, and hope through this difficult journey. In February of 2018, Pendergrast and Yerrid (pictured directly above) welcomed twins, a baby boy named Logan Joseph and a girl named Layla Rae. Throughout his recovery, Pendergrast said he’s only been able to see one child a time because Yerrid can’t yet travel with both. The Married at First Sight star was previously married to castmate Sonia Granados, but they filed for divorce after almost a year of marriage in 2017. We send Nick all of our thoughts and prayers.
