Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Future Vs. Eliza Reign: Judge Waives Baby Mama’s Court Fees Eliza Seraphin recently asked a Florida judge to find her “indigent”, according to The Blast. This means she can’t afford to pay court fees. The court reviewed her financial records and found Seraphin “Indigent”. They proceeded to waive the majority of fees she would have to pay in her legal battle against flagrantly absent father Future. Previously, we told you that Eliza had claimed publically to have exhausted all of her savings since becoming pregnant with Future’s daughter. She wrote: I lost over 100K having my lil angel. Lost wages and spent a great chunk of my savings. Haven’t been able to work since I was 5 months pregnant. Closed down one of my physical location of one of my businesses because I didn’t have reliable help to fil in my absence. View this post on Instagram MINE @reignwilburn #babyreign A post shared by Haitian Goddess (@elizareign_) on Aug 15, 2019 at 2:18pm PDT Recently, Future publicly denied their daughter despite the paternity suit. He taunted Eliza on IG for giving the child his last name . Eliza eventually took to her own platform, blasting Future for “trying her” on IG live. View this post on Instagram I’m at that age where I can date you or your daddy. Stop playing. #Period #VirgoSzn A post shared by Haitian Goddess (@elizareign_) on Sep 18, 2019 at 7:27am PDT We guess this is one small victory for Eliza and her daughter. The case is still ongoing.
T wo Black entrepreneurs are displaying the power of collaboration. According to Black Enterprise , Black-owned investment firms The Williams Capital Group LP and Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co. LLC recently merged to become the largest minority and women-owned financial firm in the U.S. TWO BLACK INVESTMENT BANKS MERGE TO BECOME LARGEST MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED FINANCIAL FIRM https://t.co/BaTXh6Gt03 — Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) October 3, 2019 The Williams Capital Group LP is led by Connecticut native Christopher J. Williams . The Howard University graduate launched the investment bank in 1994. Since its inception, the full-service investment firm has held high rankings in tax-exempt securities and taxable securities and has received several awards for their work in the financial space. The company has served over 65 businesses that are Fortune 100 companies. Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co. LLC was founded in 1996 and is led by Georgia native Suzanne Shank . She’s the only Black woman to run a Wall Street firm. Her company has served as the lead manager for over 200 financings equating to $30 billion. The new firm—dubbed Siebert Williams Shank & Co.—will be overseen by Shank and Williams will take on the position of chairman. Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros will serve as vice president. Both Williams and Shank believe that the partnership will strengthen their position amongst other Wall Street firms. “By bringing together two first-class firms, we will accelerate our collective success and greatly enhance our ability to serve our clients using a strong capital base that is now significantly larger,” Shank said in a statement . “We are creating the #1 ranked MWBE investment banking firm in the country that will continue to compete with the best firms on Wall Street. Williams was the only firm with the capabilities, talent, and integrity in the corporate underwriting space that we felt expanded our franchise and matched our work-ethic and high-standards of performance, and now, we have created a truly historic firm.” Williams says he’s excited about “playing a key role in leading and driving the growth of this dynamic organization” and is ready to “execute a shared vision of growth with laser focus on risk management, operations, and regulatory compliance.” The official merge is slated to be completed by January 2020 and there will be offices located in New York, Oakland, and other cities. 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=”3888948″ overlay=”true”]
Source: NurPhoto / Getty It seems that the popularity of online shopping has claimed another brick and mortar based business as victim. Forever 21 is in deep financial trouble. High Snobiety is reporting that the fashion retailer has officially filed for bankruptcy . According to The Financial Times the brand plans to restructure their organization in an effort to minimize loss. This includes shutting down up to 300 of their stores across the world. According to the documents filed the Los Angeles, California based company is listing assets and liabilities between $1 billion to $10 billion. In a formal statement listed on their site Forever 21 claims they are not shutting down their operations. “Essentially this allows Forever 21 to continue to operate its stores as usual, while the Company takes positive steps to reorganize the business so we can return to profitability and refocus on delivering incredible styles and fashion you love for many years to come. This does NOT mean that we are going out of business – on the contrary, filing for bankruptcy protection is a deliberate and decisive step to put us on a successful track for the future.” This new filing is just another name in the bucket of retailers who are hemorrhaging money. In August the iconic New York City store Barney’s filed for bankruptcy protection . Photo: Getty
A ctor Will Smith is big on social activism. He’s worked on initiatives centered on youth education, the improvement of inner-city communities, and the empowerment of underprivileged families. According to USA Today , his latest philanthropic project will focus on combatting global homelessness. Philly's own #WillSmith and Dame Helen Mirren will read a bedtime story during the one-night @BigSleepOuts fundraising event to help fight global homelessness. https://t.co/fZOvy3qI5i — NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) September 17, 2019 The West Philadelphia native has partnered with The World’s Big Sleep Out project; a global campaign designed to raise funds for one million individuals around the world who are battling with displacement. As part of the project—which was founded by social entrepreneur Dr. Josh Littlejohn —individuals in 50 cities across the globe will sleep outside for one evening to raise $50 million that will be allocated to organizations that are on a mission to combat homelessness. During the one-night event, Smith will participate in a bedtime story reading in New York City’s Times Square and there will be simultaneous live performances by other entertainers held in Los Angeles, Chicago, Madrid, Amsterdam and other cities. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Social Bite, the Institute of Global Homelessness, UNICEF, the Malala Fund, and the Robin Hood organization and is slated to take place on December 7. “We want to send a message to the world’s political leaders to enact compassionate policy and find solutions for homelessness locally and the global refugee crisis that affects us all,” wrote Littlejohn in a statement on the initiative’s website. “We are a small, interconnected world. By collectively sacrificing our beds for one cold night we can reach out a hand of compassion and solidarity with those who need it most – homeless people on our doorsteps and refugees internationally.” Projects like The World’s Big Sleep Out are needed as homelessness is on the rise internationally. According to The Institute of Global Homelessness , there are 100 million people worldwide who have no housing. Smith and his family have been dedicated to supporting the homeless population. The announcement about his participation in this initiative comes just months after his son Jaden Smith launched a Los Angeles-based vegan food truck that provides free meals for the homeless. SEE ALSO: Will Smith Uses His Philadelphia Mural To Support Education Will Smith And Nas Invest In Financial Literacy App [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3039818″ overlay=”true”]
I n May Black philanthropist Robert F. Smith made a monumental announcement during Morehouse College’s commencement ceremony where he pledged to eliminate the student loan debt of the 2019 graduating class. According to the Philadelphia Tribune , the HBCU is taking his efforts a step further by launching a new fund to help students tackle their loans. Morehouse Launches New Fund to Help Eliminate Student Loan Debt https://t.co/ZrflTPVS78 — Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) August 9, 2019 The initiative—dubbed the Morehouse College Student Success Program—was created to help alumni significantly decrease their student loan debt so they can launch their careers, further their education and ultimately cultivate wealth. Through the program, organizers will also conduct research on the financial barriers derived from the cost of education and how to overcome them. “The Morehouse College Student Success Program will provide students with a liberating gift that will wipe away or greatly reduce their student loans, allowing them to pursue their dreams and lead lives of leadership and service immediately after graduation,” said Morehouse President David A. Thomas in a statement, according to the news outlet. The college’s Board of Trustees hopes that the program will serve as a blueprint for other historically Black colleges and universities. There is a huge need for programs like the one launched by the HBCU at colleges and universities across the nation. The student loan debt crisis has grown to $1.5 trillion. HBCU students are impacted the most by student loan debt. Research conducted by the United Negro College Fund revealed that 80 percent of HBCU students rely on federal loans to pay for their education. On average Morehouse graduates owe up to $40,000 in student loans. SEE ALSO: Billionaire Robert F. Smith Pledges To Eliminate Student Loan Debt For Morehouse’s Class Of 2019 Morehouse Grad Getting Student Loans Paid Off Says His Mother’s Sacrifice ‘Was Not In Vain’ [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3883684″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Raymond Boyd / Getty The drama between Spinderella and her former group mates Salt N Pepa keeps on sizzling. First Spinderella, Deidra Roper, sued Sandra Denton and Cheryl James for unpaid royalties for her appearances on their reality show and live performances. In response Denton and James said that they would happy to never speak to Spinderella again. And it seems that the feeling is mutual. According to The Jasmine Brand , Roper had requested a temporary restraining order against Denton and James. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit A hearing regarding the request is scheduled to take place in Dallas. Spinderella’s attorney, Paul Stafford, released a statement on Roper’s behalf: “Spinderella is seeking injunctive relief due to the immediate and irreparable harm that has been caused to her due to the acts and omissions of the defendants. Before we filed this lawsuit, we intended to resolve the matter with all the defendants, but we were unable to do so, and it’s unfortunate that the defendants have chosen not to try and honor Spinderella’s role in the group or their financial or legal commitments to her. So she was in a position where she had to force her rights and protect her brand, so that’s what we’re doing.” It sucks that things are going down this way. Hopefully, it’s not too late for reconciliation or at least having a conversation that could lead to some increased understanding. Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). This story was originally published on MadameNoire.com . ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : LisaRaye Goes Off On Nicole Murphy [VIDEO] A Look Inside Keyshia Cole & Niko Hale’s Baby Shower [PHOTOS] A Hater Tried To Heckle Mary J. Blige At Her Concert And It Didn’t Go Well For Them [VIDEO] Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Dennis Fischer Photography / Getty A Father Drove His Two Severely Autistic Sons Off Of A Pier In California A man in California has been charged with capital murder for killing his two sons, who both have severe autism. He is being accused of taking out insurance policies to cover his family and then driving his car off a Los Angeles-area pier four years ago, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reported. 44-year-old Ali Elmezayen was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders carried out for his financial gain. Prosecutors involved in the case said that he purchased $6 million in life insurance policies to cover his family in the event of an accidental death. Elmezayen is currently under federal custody and will first be tried on the insurance fraud charges, then the murder charges. He was in the car with his wife and two sons back in April of 2015 when he drove it off the berth and plunged them all into the water, according to prosecutors. Ali’s car window was open, and he swam to the surface within 30 seconds before making his way to a ladder on the pier. His wife, Rabab Diab, couldn’t swim, but authorities said that she was rescued by a fisherman after surfacing and screaming, “My kids, my kids.” “The poor lady was screaming hysterically,” recalled fisherman Ray Prince. “I thought she was going to drown.” Their two boys, 8-year-old Abdelkarim and 13-year-old Elhassan, couldn’t swim and were also strapped into child seats. Their lifeless bodies ended up being pulled from the car later by rescue divers. Following this incident, Elmezayen collected more than $260,000 in insurance payouts for the deaths and then wired over $170,000 back to his native Egypt, prosecutors in the fraud case explained. Initially, the district attorney declined to bring charges in his sons’ deaths because of insufficient evidence. A police mechanic found that the brake pedal in the vehicle didn’t properly work, but couldn’t tell if that was the case before the tragedy or because of the salt water corrosion. These new charges are a result of a further investigation. If convicted of murder, Ali Elmezayen faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Source: STX / STX After a few months of anticipation, the debut trailer for Hustlers , the upcoming Jennifer Lopez / Constance Wu / Cardi B strip & steal movie is here and it definitely feels like a fresh take on the heist movie. Well, if you’re robbing people like Wall Street bankers who, kind of deserve cosmic comeuppance for how they handled the financial crisis in 2008. The film, based on the story “ The Hustlers At Scores ” written by Jessica Pressler , the film follows Destiny (Wu) as she attempts to provide by any means for her family. Not long after starting a new job as an exotic dancer she meets Ramona (Lopez), who drops probably the money quote of the movie, “When I was a kid, I wanted to work with animals … I was close.” Well, here’s the subtle introduction to their whole crew with Keke Palmer , Cardi, Lizzo (throw them stripper heels!), Lili Reinhart and more. Ramona then hatches a plan, scam the rich, unsuspecting high rollers that come into the club. In true come up fashion, money is spent, the word “family” is introduced, the Feds ( Julia Stiles ) come into play and well … s**t gets crazy. Peep the trailer below. Hustlers hits theaters on September 13. RELATED: Cardi B To Star In A Stripper Revenge Film With Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Keke Palmer And More
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty 5 Netflix Picks That’ll Get You Out Of A Serious Slump The world is still reeling from what we all saw when we watched Ava DuVernay’s recently released masterpiece, When They See Us . The all-too-familiar story about the Central Park 5 was presented to us with more information, more emotion, and more grit than ever before–causing outrage, anger, and every other possible emotion for the poor young men who suffered the consequences of a crime they didn’t commit. When They See Us is more than necessary, but even so, it’s still hard to watch the reenactments of just how seriously these unassuming teenagers were taken advantage of and wrongfully punished. With that being said, sometimes the only thing we want after watching something so draining is something more light-hearted to take our mind off of the terrible things still going on in this world. Here are five picks to add to your Netflix queue for the next time you watch something painfully heavy and need some balance in your life. 1. Always Be My Maybe View this post on Instagram If you haven’t watched #AlwaysBeMyMaybe yet, I suggest you get to it tonight before all your co-workers discuss the big spoiler at work tomorrow! A post shared by Ali Wong (@aliwong) on Jun 2, 2019 at 10:20pm PDT “Childhood sweethearts have a falling out and don’t speak for 15 years, only reconnecting as adults when Sasha runs into Marcus in San Francisco. Although the old sparks are still there, the couple live in different worlds.” Always Be My Maybe is the epitome of a light-hearted, funny movie that just puts you in a good mood! If you just watched something heavy, or even if you’re just feeling down because of some other reason, this should be your number one pick. 2. Good Girls View this post on Instagram Some light gardening or a crime scene cover up? #GoodGirls A post shared by Good Girls (@nbcgoodgirls) on May 6, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT “When sisters Beth and Annie and their best friend Ruby become fed up with playing by the rules and not getting the respect they deserve, they band together to take control of their lives — by holding up a local grocery store. In desperate need of money, the women plan the heist expecting to ease their financial burdens. But new to the game of crime, they get pulled in deeper than they ever imagined — and the only way out of this will be together.” You might think a show about moms-turned-criminals is pretty heavy, but I promise you, it’s not. Good Girls is the perfect mix of action and comedy and you’ll probably get through all of season 1 on Netflix in a night or two. 3. Dead To Me View this post on Instagram Did we just fall in love? (fun fact: that's dreamy actor @brandonoscott actually singing!) A post shared by Dead to Me (@deadtome) on May 18, 2019 at 10:30am PDT “Jen’s husband recently died in a hit-and-run, and the sardonic widow is determined to solve the crime. Optimistic free spirit Judy has recently suffered a tragic loss of her own. The ladies meet at a support group and, despite their polar-opposite personalities, become unlikely friends. As the women bond over bottles of wine and a shared affinity for “The Facts of Life,” Judy tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret that could destroy her life as she knows it.” Okay, so this isn’t the lightest show in the world, but the dark comedy will suck you in and be sure to get you out of even the lowest slump. 4. Jailbirds View this post on Instagram Congrats to @44_blue whose new series #jailbirds is officially the No. 1 Reality Show on @netflixuk, and No. 5 in their list of Most Watched Shows this week! #jailbirdsnetflix #numberone A post shared by Red Arrow Studios (@redarrowstudios) on May 23, 2019 at 10:31am PDT “Jailbirds is a documentary television series about inmates at the Sacramento County Jail.” This show is….crazy. If anything, the things you see going on in this jail will take your mind off of whatever you’ve got going on just from how wild these people and their antics are. 5. Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee View this post on Instagram Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only @realtracymorgan. A post shared by Jerry Seinfeld (@jerryseinfeld) on Jul 15, 2018 at 6:59am PDT “Comic Jerry Seinfeld is the creator, executive producer and host of this unique series that features vintage cars, funny conversations and a lot of caffeine. Jerry picks up each guest in a special car and heads to a cafe or restaurant. While the guests are typically comics, one episode features a drive around the White House grounds with President Barack Obama in a 1963 Chevy Corvette Stingray.” Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee is the definition of light-hearted. With guests like President Obama and Tracy Morgan, there’s an episode for just about everybody–and there’s nothing better than seeing two comedians tell jokes back and forth for a good 30 minutes.
B lack women are making power moves in the realm of business. Mary Winston was recently appointed to serve as Bed, Bath & Beyond’s new interim CEO; making her the first Black woman to be at the helm of a Fortune 500 company since Ursula Burns resigned as Xerox’s CEO three years ago, Black Enterprise reported. SHE IS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HEAD A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY SINCE URSULA BURNS https://t.co/ki7gFJ6ln8 — Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) May 24, 2019 Winston’s business acumen has given her the ability to step into executive-level roles at major corporations. Prior to taking on the role at Bed, Bath & Beyond, she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Family Dollar Stores Inc. In the past, she has led the financial planning and management for companies that include Giant Eagle, Inc., Scholastic Corporation, Visteon Corporation, and Pfizer Inc. Winston—a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School—has served on several boards. She is currently the President at WinsCo Enterprises Inc. She served on Bed, Bath & Beyond’s Board of Directors prior to being named interim CEO and hopes to drive change within the company. She is replacing Steven Temares who stepped down earlier this month after serving as CEO for 16 years. “This is an important time for Bed Bath & Beyond and we are committed to being the leading omnichannel retailer of choice for the home and heart-felt life events,” said Winston in a statement . “I look forward to building an even stronger future for Bed Bath & Beyond. As we continue to review our business initiatives, we will be focused on driving continued margin improvement, enhancing the in-store and online experience, and accelerating our transformation to the benefit of our shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.” Winston’s leadership is needed. According to USA Today , the company experienced a huge decline in sales while trying to battle with large online retailers. The decline led to the layoffs of 150 employees in March. SEE ALSO: Kenny Mitchell Becomes Snapchat’s First Black C-Suite Executive Peggy Alford Becomes First Black Woman Nominated To Facebook’s Board Of Directors [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3845233″ overlay=”true”]
