Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency By Governor Bill Haslam After a very difficult weekend where sexual predators ruled the new cycle, we are ecstatic to report that a women who fought back against a sexual abuser is finally getting the justice she deserves. According to the Tennessean , Governor Bill Haslam has grant full and complete clemency to Cyntoia Brown and she will be released on August 7, 2019! Cyntoia’s sentence will be commuted to parole where she will stay under state supervision for the next 10 years. Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty “Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16,” Haslam said in a statement. “Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life. “Transformation should be accompanied by hope. So, I am commuting Ms. Brown’s sentence, subject to certain conditions.” Letter from Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam granting clemency to #CyntoiaBrown . #RolandMartinUnfiltered pic.twitter.com/6SURLvxepY — rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 7, 2019 We couldn’t be happier for Cyntoia! Won’t he do it?!?
Khloe Kardashian took a moment during her own motherhood journey with baby True to give a shoutout to her own incredible mom, Kris Jenner. But when Khloe didn’t go out of her way to mention her brother in the post, some Rob fans (they exist) were outraged. Did Khloe forget that her brother exists? Khloe made a sweet post on Instagram about how great her momager is, only for fans to point out that she neglected to mention her brother. “It’s a shame,” one fan lamented. “Rob Kardashian is a member of the family and he is never mentioned!” “My brother is my entire world!” Khloe asserts. That might be a bit much. She’s a mother . Surely True, if anyone, is her entire world. “He is definitely a king,” Khloe claims. “It is a shame that you can’t respect us for respecting his privacy.” “You should not comment if you truly aren’t informed on our family,” Khloe then declares. Apparently you need to pass a Kardashian trivia quiz if you want to interact with them on social media. That’s wild . “Don’t forget about Rob… she’s raising a king too,” another follower commented. “Of course!” Khloe agrees. “He has always been a king since the minute he was born!” Surely , if anything, he’d be a prince at birth. “My mom and my dad did an amazing job with him!!” Khloe raves. Khloe concludes: “He is my [red heart emoji].” All of this fuss from fans came after Khloe posted a sweet tribute to her extraordinary mother, Kris Jenner, over the weekend. “You are a Queen who has raised multiple mini Queens still trying to be as strong and fabulous as you are!” Khloe announced. Trying to be as strong and fabulous as Kris is a lofty goal. Khloe then vowed: “I will love you more and more every day until the end of time.” That’s a sweet and innocuous post. We’re not sure why so many people felt a need to cry out in fright that Khloe had somehow forgotten her brother’s existence. Can we, as a society, maybe dial back the king-and-queen labels? We know that the Kardashians are American royalty and all that, but hearing Rob called a “king” unironically is a lot to swallow. (And I say that as someone who once dreamt that Kris Jenner was a literal monarch in a fantasy setting, folks) Fun words enter the zeitgeist only to get overused. Sometimes it happens suddenly — like when Katy Perry said “wig, I hear that,” on American Idol , to the horror of the world. Other times, the public just uses a word to death until it loses any meaning or fun. If we’re calling Rob Kardashian a “king,” then the word has become totally disconnected from its original denotation. Rob has had some serious struggles with his mental health and, as a direct consequence, he has struggled with his weight . Those two factors combined to give him financial struggles. It takes a lot out of a person to appear on reality television and to launch business ventures on the level that Rob’s sisters have. A lot of people gave him their sympathies and support until he posted Blac Chyna’s nudes in the wee hours of that fateful July morning in 2017. That is known as revenge porn, and it is a deeply vile behavior. It is also super illegal. Rob’s weight and financial struggles do not mean that he deserves ridicule. But after his behavior towards Chyna, calling him “king” strikes many as a major stretch. View Slideshow: Rob Kardashian: Roasted on Twitter for Blac Chyna Slut-Shaming
Lester Cohen/WireImage Aisha Tyler Says She’s Found “True Love” With Emily Bett Richards Aisha Tyler is back in love. The former “The Talk” co-host seemingly confirmed to fans that she’s not only coupled up, she’s in a happy, swirly, same-sex relationship. As previously reported Aisha and her husband Jeff Tietjens announced their divorce in 2016 and Aisha was ordered to pay $2 million plus $31,000 a month in spousal support. She tearfully announced the news on “The Talk” and was adamant that their marriage didn’t fail. “Even though we’re separating, all I want for him is joy and fulfillment in whatever he chooses to do in his life next. And whatever I can do to help him do that, I want to do it,’ Aisha said on Monday’s show. ‘I don’t, not in any way, see this relationship as a failure. I was with this extraordinary person,’ she explained. ‘I had this extraordinary love affair for 25 years of my life. And that is how I see it.’ ‘He’s a wonderful person,’ she continued. ‘He’s been my best friend for almost my entire life. I’ll always, always love him.” She’s since moved on and it looks like it’s with none other than “Arrow” actress Emily Bett Rickards. “True love,” she captioned a strip of photos of them kissing and canoodling. Prior to the “true love” picture, Aisha posted a birthday message to Emily and gushed over her love for her. “Happy happy birthday @emilybett! I could go on here about how much you mean to me, but I am going to tell you directly into your lovely face instead like an actual living human being.” It CLEARLY looks like they’re together and happier than ever. Aisha’s also been blasting Trump’s treatment for the LGBTQ community, so she’s seemingly out. Good for them!
Source: Michael Zagaris / Getty A new national anthem policy was approved by the NFL on Wednesday that’s definitely putting “freedom of speech” up for question. According to the policy , individual teams will have the power to set their own rules when it comes to standing for the national anthem. However, if players decide not to stand, the team as a whole is subject to fines from the NFL. Players will be allowed to remain in the locker room if they don’t want to stand or if they don’t want to come out for the anthem in general. “This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a statement. “Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room until after the Anthem has been performed.” Despite players’ option to stay in the locker room, isn’t this another form of censorship? The whole point of protesting is to be visual. Athletes kneeling came about to protest unjust issues such as police brutality. If we can’t see which players are physically kneeling, the power of freedom of speech is overshadowed by patriotic gestures. You mad Black people are getting killed by the police? That’s fine, still stand for this flag. You want racial profiling to go away? That’s fine, still stand for this flag. Mere lyrics and gestures — that weren’t really meant for Black people in the first place — become more important than issues that impact American lives. The NFL Commissioner continued, “We believe today’s decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it—and on our fans who enjoy it.” In other words, shut up and play football Black people! Individual teams shouldn’t be trusted to make national anthem rules either. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones already said last season that he would bench any Cowboys player who didn’t stand for the anthem. Houston Texans owner Robert McNair also said that the NFL fields aren’t meant for “political statements.” How will people like this carry out their “rules” if a player decides to stay in the locker room during the national anthem? The new policies are set to go into effect this upcoming season. So it seems once again, patriotism will shine in the light, while human issues — especially Black issues — will remain in the locker room.
Barak Obama Visits Prince Harry, Offers Kind Words To Manchester Victims Former President, Barak Obama visited Prince Harry over the weekend at Kensington Palace. CNN reports Obama had been visiting Scotland, where he golfed, then Berlin before dropping in on The British Royal. In Berlin, he delivered a message to Manchester, where tragedy recently struck at an Ariana Grande concert, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. “As the father of two daughters, I am heartbroken by the extraordinary tragedy that has occurred in Manchester, o all the families who have been affected, to all those who are still recovering, to those who have lost loved ones, it’s unimaginable to think about the cruelty and the violence that the city of Manchester has suffered.’ At Kensington, Barack reiterated his condolences to the people of Manchester and Prince Harry. The also talked about their shared support for veterans and mental health.
Gregg Allman, the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known as the longtime frontman of The Allman Brothers Band, has passed away at the age of 69. Sources close to his family say Allman died peacefully at his home in Savannah. No cause of death was given, but a statement on his official website notes that Allman had been battling a number of serious ailments in recent years. “Gregg struggled with many health issues over the past several years,” the statement reads. “During that time, Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times.” Gregg formed the Allman brothers band with his brother, Duane Allman, who tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident in 1971 at the age of 24. Together, the brothers penned such Southern rock classics as “Midnight Rider,” “Whipping Post,” and “Melissa.” For many, the band’s distinct blend of bluesy roots rock and jam band psychedelia became one of the defining sounds of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Musically active until his final days, Allman’s influence as a singer, songwriter, and paragon of counterculture cool cannot be overstated. At the height of his fame, Allman was almost as well-known for his hedonistic lifestyle and high-profile romances as for his trailblazing music. Stories of Allman’s hard-partying ways contributed to his status as a living legend, but never eclipsed his music. (Asked by Stephen Colbert if the story of a private flight crew spelling out “Welcome, Allman Brothers Band” in cocaine was true, Gregg replied, “They abbreviated ‘Brothers.'”) Allman was married and divorced six times and became a tabloid staple during his highly-publicized split from music icon Cher in 1975. Within minutes of the news of his death, Allman’s name became the number one trending topic on Twitter, with tributes pouring in from family, friends, and a legion of devoted friend. “Words are impossible,” tweeted a clearly grief-stricken Cher. “I have lost a dear friend and the world has lost a brilliant pioneer in music,” wrote Allman’s friend and longtime manager, Michael Lehman. “He was a kind and gentle soul with the best laugh I ever heard. His love for his family and bandmates was passionate as was the love he had for his extraordinary fans. Gregg was an incredible partner and an even better friend. We will all miss him.” Allman is survived by five children, including musicians Devon and Elijah Blue. We send our heartfelt condolences to those close to this iconic musician. May he rest in peace. And may the following celebrities also rest in peace, all of whom also passed away in 2017. Click around below to familiarize yourself with those who have left us: View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam
Kesha broke down in tears after the courts denied her request to be released from her contract with Sony and Dr. Luke, the music producer who she alleges raped her and emotionally abused her for 10 years. Kesha filed a suit against Dr. Luke , whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, in October 2014, claiming he drugged and raped her when she was 18 and continued to physically and emotionally abuse her. Dr. Luke denied the charges, claiming Kesha was trying to extort him and filed a countersuit . “You’re asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry,” said Justice Shirley Kornreich, who presided over the case. “I don’t understand why I have to take the extraordinary measure of granting an injunction.” Unfortunately, no mention was made of the extraordinary circumstance of the artist being abused by the producer. The ruling means Kesha is obligated by law to record six more albums with the label, although Dr. Luke did agree to allow the singer to record without his involvement. Nevertheless, it is understandable that Kesha would want to extricate herself completely from her alleged abuser and block him from any profits she generated with her music. The court decision prompted outrage from Kesha supporters and the hashtag #FreeKesha began trending. A number of fellow recording artists tweeted their support for the Tik Tok singer as well.
Kesha broke down in tears after the courts denied her request to be released from her contract with Sony and Dr. Luke, the music producer who she alleges raped her and emotionally abused her for 10 years. Kesha filed a suit against Dr. Luke , whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, in October 2014, claiming he drugged and raped her when she was 18 and continued to physically and emotionally abuse her. Dr. Luke denied the charges, claiming Kesha was trying to extort him and filed a countersuit . “You’re asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry,” said Justice Shirley Kornreich, who presided over the case. “I don’t understand why I have to take the extraordinary measure of granting an injunction.” Unfortunately, no mention was made of the extraordinary circumstance of the artist being abused by the producer. The ruling means Kesha is obligated by law to record six more albums with the label, although Dr. Luke did agree to allow the singer to record without his involvement. Nevertheless, it is understandable that Kesha would want to extricate herself completely from her alleged abuser and block him from any profits she generated with her music. The court decision prompted outrage from Kesha supporters and the hashtag #FreeKesha began trending. A number of fellow recording artists tweeted their support for the Tik Tok singer as well.
