When Jay-Z spit the line “Blu lookin’ like Pac in the tub” most OG Hip-Hoppers knew he was referring to that 90’s photo spread which featured Tupac covered in gold jewelry while in a bubble bath. But while we’ve never seen baby Blu rockin’ the atomic number 79 like Makaveli, other rappers seem to have taken that notion and ran with it something hard. Just a few weeks after Future caught all kinds of flack for copping a Rolex for his son’s fifth birthday , Cardi might’ve now stepped in social media’s crosshairs herself as she done went and dropped $80K on her 10-month-old child, Kulture. PageSix is reporting that in a now deleted post, Cardi took to Instagram to demonstrate how she spoils her child by posting a pic a gang of iced out bracelets that she was purchasing for her mini-me with a text message from her jeweler informing her the collection would be ready by 3pm and the damage was a mere $80,000. In the since-deleted post Cardi wrote “Just spent a bag on my daughter, you know a bad bitch gonna spoil haa… If i’m iced out my daughter gotta be too.” Do she though? We get she wants to spoil her baby but this is kinda OD. Just sayin.’ Someone must’ve got in her ear and told her that wasn’t a good look because like we said, the post has since come down. What do y’all think? Should children who can’t even clean their own bottoms yet be wearing thousands of dollars in jewelry? Let us know. View this post on Instagram Happy Easter from mines to yours A post shared by MOSTHATEDCARDI (@iamcardib) on Apr 21, 2019 at 6:05pm PDT — Photo: Prince Williams
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty In recent news, the CEO of the Walt Disney Co. Bob Iger said the company is thinking about pulling all its movie production from Georgia if the highly controversial abortion ban is put into place. Just a few weeks ago Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a 6 week abortion ban law called “fetal-heartbeat bill,” which is set to go in effect Jan. 1, 2020. The bill bans abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy. _____ But, if Disney pulls all its production how does that really affect Atlanta? Over the past decade Georgia has benefited tremendously from its 30 percent tax incentives, which has attracted many movie houses. In 2018, 455 productions made its way to Georgia, including many Disney films like Avengers, Black Panther and so on. The state has said to have seen $2.7 billion in direct spending from productions in just that year. RELATED: Behind The Scenes Of Avengers Infinity War Movie Set [Photo Gallery] Now, every movie production isn’t going to pull out of Georgia. The state dished out 800 million in tax credits last year and that is still a huge incentive, but with a company like Disney taking their chunk of money elsewhere, that 2.7 billion could dwindle very fast. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Maino knows a thing or two about slapping up somebody for disrespect. The New York rapper swung by A G & A Pimp with G-Man and J-Que and opened up abut his latest single with Macy Gray in “All Again,” how he thought DaBaby handled himself well in the mall when confronted by a fellow North Carolina rapper , what it means to him to have his brother home after doing more than two decades behind bars, whether or not he’s ever had problems in Las Vegas, why respect is such a big deal for him and why he was ALL about business during his time on Love & Hip Hop . On Watching DaBaby Fight In The Mall: “Would I’ve done the same thing? Probably. He clinked him right on up. Listen, it’s the respect though, it’s greater than anything. What we doing now? Are we at a place where we can’t go places and we gon’ be disrespected? Not me, not never.” Watch the full interview up top and subscribe to the Box’s YouTube channel for more exclusive content! RELATED: 11 Hunky Pics Of Maino Looking Like A Whole Zaddy
Brad Pitt has a lot on his plate these days. Along with Leonardo DiCaprio, he’s one of the two leads in Quentin Tarantino’s highly-anticipated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , and while the film doesn’t hit US theaters until August, promotional duties have already brought Brad to Europe. Last week, Pitt was at Cannes for the film’s festival debut and this week he’s … still across the pond for unrelated reasons. Insiders say Pitt stayed put to attend a Venice art event celebrating his friend Thomas Houseago. That’s certainly his prerogative, and we imagine one of the many, many perks of being a world-famous multi-millionaire is going someplace exotic and then being like, “Ya know, I’m just gonna chill here for a few weeks” when it’s time to leave. It’s not bad to be Brad. But while no one is begrudging Pitt his right to jet around the world in a PJ, the actor is catching some flak for the timing of his trip. As multiple media outlets have pointed out, Brad was in Venice during the birthday of his daughter Shiloh, who turned 13 on Monday. In most families, a dad missing his daughter’s birthday so he could party with his sculptor buddy would be major cause for concern. But there are a few extenuating circumstances in Brad’s case: One, the terms of Pitt’s custody agreement with Angelina Jolie are pretty ironclad. When the kids are with her, they’re with her. He’ll supposedly have them for most of the summer once school lets out. On top of that, Shiloh has been a member of the Pitt-Jolie clan for 13 years now. We’re sure she’s used to her parents missing school recitals, birthdays, and other milestone events because they’re off doing cool sh-t in an exotic locale. The trade-off is that her parents are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, so it evens out. Of course, Brad’s time overseas has been of interest to the tabloid press for reasons that go beyond his allegedly negligent parenting. According to The Daily Mail , Pitt has been spending a lot of time in the company of a “mystery woman.” It’s important to note that “mystery woman” is the designation that the British tabloid press gives much every female who’s spotted in the company of a male celebrity. So maybe this is nothing. Or maybe it’s true love and we’re in for another round of Angelina jealousy rumors. Either way, it’s pretty clear that Brad is busy living his best life. View Slideshow: 13 Reasons to Be Glad You Never Slept With Brad Pitt
Ashton Kutcher took the witness stand on Wednesday and testified in the trial of an alleged serial killer nicknamed the “Hollywood Ripper.” We know that sounds like the plot of the actor’s next movie, but this was very much a real-life situation. And a horribly scary one at that. The man on trial is named Michael Gargiulo. He faces two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of two women, including Kutcher’s friend Ashley Ellerin. Kutcher explained in court how he had planned to meet up with Ellerin way back on the night of February 21, 2001 after the two had met the previous December. Instead, however, prosecutors say Gargiulo snuck into the woman’s residence and stabbed her 47 times while she was getting ready to go on what would have been her first date with the star. According to Kutcher (under oath), he and Ellerin had spoken on the phone earlier on the aforementioned date to finalize their plans. However, he was unable to get back in touch with her later that day and eventually showed up around 10:30 p.m. to her home — but nobody answered the door when he knocked. Kutcher testified he “just assumed she had gone out with her friend and bailed.” This made sense to Kutcher because he had arrived a little bit late after watching the Grammy Awards at a friend’s house. “I assumed she had left for the night and I was late and she was upset,” he said. The authorities, though, believe Ellerin had been murdered prior to Kutcher showing up on her doorstep. Kutcher said he looked through the window and saw what he thought were wine stains on the floor, but did not find that alarming and left. “I remember the next day after I heard about what happened, I went to the detectives and said, ‘My fingerprints are on the door,'” Kutcher testified, adding: “I was freaking out.” Kutcher testified for about 40 minutes… with Ellerin’s father present the whole time. As for the horrible night in question, Ellerin’s roommate found her dead in the hallway outside her bathroom. Prosecutors allege Gargiulo, whom they called a “serial sexual-thrill killer,” entered the house and stabbed Ellerin 47 times. He has pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder and one of attempted murder in attacks between 2001 and 2008. He is charged separately with killing an 18-year-old Glenview, Illinois, woman, and is awaiting trial there for that incident. The 41-year-old actor, who is now married to actress Mila Kunis, is one of more than 100 witnesses who have or are scheduled to testify in the murder trial of 43-year-old Gargiulo. He lived right down the street from Ellerin and met her in the fall of 2000 when he asked if she needed help fixing a flat tire outside her home. Friends have said Gargiulo would show up at this residence without an invitation and was often seen in the street, surveilling Ellerin. Lawyers say Kutcher’s testimony is part of the “chronology of this case” that shows “there was a narrow, very narrow window of opportunity for someone to get into the house and murder Ashley, and whoever that person was must have been watching.” These same attorneys are seeking the death penalty for Gargiulo.
Source: SplashNews.com / Splash News “The Chi” Showrunner Speaks On Jason Mitchell More details are surfacing about those Jason Mitchell misconduct claims. After people expressed doubt about Tiffany Boone’s claims that he costar sexually harassed her on set, the show’s second-season showrunner is making some damning accusations. Ayanna Floyd told The Hollywood Reporter that she personally filed a complaint about Mitchell and was a “target of his rage and inappropriateness.” She’s also directly contrasting claims that Lena Waithe, “The Chi’s” creator/EP, was unaware of Jason’s actions until the second season of the show. According to Floyd, “EVERYONE was well aware of Jason’s behavior,” Lena included, and Floyd was made aware of it at the beginning of season two. “When I took the helm in season two, it was Lena who informed me of the issues between Jason Mitchell and Tiffany Boone from season one, and that Tiffany was thinking of leaving the show because of it,” says Floyd to THR. “As a result of this information, I discussed Tiffany’s claims with the studio’s HR department and set up HR presentations for the writers, cast and crew. Ultimately, everyone was well aware of Jason’s behavior and his multiple HR cases, including Lena, the creator and an executive producer of the show, who is very involved at the studio and network level.” Adds Floyd, “As showrunner, I did everything I could to deal with his behavior, by speaking with the studio’s HR department multiple times and instructing one actress to call HR herself, before I became a target of his rage and inappropriateness, and had to report him to HR, as well.” Source: SplashNews.com / Splash News The Hollywood Reporter’s story is very detailed, and in it, they note that Lena previously spoke out in alignment with the “Me Too” movement. Lena said if one of her show’s stars acted inappropriately, they’d be promptly “killed off the series.” “So why didn’t Mitchell’s character go down in a volley of onscreen bullets?” wonders The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve been very involved in Time’s Up and that movement, and for season two, we’re making sure that women feel safe,” Waithe told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2018. “[I]f you want to play that game and be disrespectful or misbehave on set with an actress or anyone, I’ll happily call Showtime and say, ‘This person has to go,’ and you will get shot up and it’ll be a wonderful finale.” Lena sent in a statement about the ongoing drama surrounding her show and she praised Tiffany Boone for coming forward. She declined to say much else. “I think Tiffany is a wonderful actress and an extremely brave woman. I wish her nothing but success in the future. I look forward to getting back to work on season three.” Source: SplashNews.com / Splash News There’s lots more to unpack here like Mitchell reportedly being given a “second chance”—until his actions got him booted from Netflix’s “Desperados.” Sources told THR almost immediately after Mitchell came onset for the film actresses complained about his behavior. “There were two incidents in four days,” says an insider to THR. After “Desperados”, “The Chi” pulled the plug on Jason Mitchell too. View this post on Instagram Watch @shothechi only on @showtime at 10pm every Sunday A post shared by Jason Mitchell (@jasonmitchellactor) on May 1, 2019 at 11:08am PDT So far, the actor’s yet to speak on the controversy surrounding him. When do YOU think Jason Mitchell will break his silence???
Source: Christian Vierig / Getty Swae Lee Agrees With Meek Mill About Cosmopolitan Hotel This past weekend Meek Mill blew the whistle on the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when a couple of soup cookie security guards stopped him and the Dreamchasers from entering the building. TMZ ran up on Swae Lee and asked him what he thought of the situation. Ironically enough, he says he JUST had an incident there as well. Press play below to find out what happened. SMH.
Source: The Washington Post / Getty Lonnie Bunch Becomes First African American To Lead Smithsonian Institution Congratulations are in order! This past Tuesday, Lonnie G. Bunch III became the first Black man to lead the Smithsonian Institution, as it was announced that he will replace David Skorton as secretary. “I am excited to work with the Board of Regents and my colleagues throughout the Institution to build upon its legacy and to ensure that the Smithsonian will be even more relevant and more meaningful and reach more people in the future,” Bunch said in a statement, USA Today reports. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Smithsonian Institution chancellor, doubled down on just how much Bunch deserves the title. “Lonnie Bunch guided, from concept to completion, the complex effort to build the premier museum celebrating African American achievements,” Roberts said, according to CNN . “I look forward to working with him as we approach the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary, to increase its relevance and role as a beloved American institution and public trust.” “According to the institution, in addition to working at the African American museum, Bunch also had stints at the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum, and served for a number of years as president of the Chicago Historical Society,” the site continues. Our Founding Director Lonnie G. Bunch III was today named the Secretary of the @Smithsonian Institution. As Secretary, Bunch will oversee 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers. Congrats to Secretary Bunch! pic.twitter.com/2ZET3X1hWo — Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) May 28, 2019 As stated in the announcement above, Bunch will oversee 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, and more. Now, that’s Black Excellence!
Source: The Washington Post / Getty Lonnie Bunch Becomes First African American To Lead Smithsonian Institution Congratulations are in order! This past Tuesday, Lonnie G. Bunch III became the first Black man to lead the Smithsonian Institution, as it was announced that he will replace David Skorton as secretary. “I am excited to work with the Board of Regents and my colleagues throughout the Institution to build upon its legacy and to ensure that the Smithsonian will be even more relevant and more meaningful and reach more people in the future,” Bunch said in a statement, USA Today reports. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Smithsonian Institution chancellor, doubled down on just how much Bunch deserves the title. “Lonnie Bunch guided, from concept to completion, the complex effort to build the premier museum celebrating African American achievements,” Roberts said, according to CNN . “I look forward to working with him as we approach the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary, to increase its relevance and role as a beloved American institution and public trust.” “According to the institution, in addition to working at the African American museum, Bunch also had stints at the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum, and served for a number of years as president of the Chicago Historical Society,” the site continues. Our Founding Director Lonnie G. Bunch III was today named the Secretary of the @Smithsonian Institution. As Secretary, Bunch will oversee 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers. Congrats to Secretary Bunch! pic.twitter.com/2ZET3X1hWo — Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) May 28, 2019 As stated in the announcement above, Bunch will oversee 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, and more. Now, that’s Black Excellence!
Source: Courtesy of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network / Courtesy of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network “Iyanla Fix My Life” Returns For 6th Season On OWN Iyanla is back y’all! “ Iyanla: Fix My Life” returns for Season 6 this Saturday, June 1st and if the super trailer is any indication, this one is a doozy! Here’s more details about the new season of “Iyanla: Fix My Life” In this dramatic new season of the series, the Mitchell family returns for more episodes in search of Iyanla’s help. In part one, Iyanla reunites with the family and finds that they have fallen back into old patterns: Michael, Jr. has gone back to making lewd videos, Markis’s guilt about failing his family has led to a suicide attempt and one sibling went MIA. In part two of this multi-episode story, Iyanla sits down with the oldest sibling, Kizzy, to help her understand that she is no different from the mother who abandoned her; meanwhile, Iyanla sits Michael, Jr. down with mother Leronda to gain a greater understanding of an untreated mental health issue – one causes emotional outbursts and spurs him to post degrading videos of himself on social media; and lastly, Iyanla addresses the violent breakdown during the previous episode between Marvin and Melvin around one brother’s discomfort with his own sexuality. In a final attempt to move beyond the burden of resentment they hold towards their mother and each other, Iyanla jumps in between the chaos of family squabbles, breakdowns and blowups by making each member face their core issues of deeply rooted mistrust. In subsequent episodes, Iyanla meets with a troubled young woman born in prison to a drug-addicted mother. Hours before being born, her 22-year-old father was notified he had a daughter on the way—a daughter that he was neither expecting nor sure he wanted. Lil’Karla marinated in a womb of “unwantedness” and grew up among family that she claims raised her in that same spirit, which she uses as an excuse for a lifetime’s worth of bad behavior. Also, Iyanla proves the old saying “If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother,” as she deals with two separate cases of manipulative women who will do anything in their power to control their adult children, followed by a couple who are desperately trying to save their marriage. Iyanla continues her work as she sits down with a father and his three sons – two of which he suspects are not actually his. YIKES… Sounds like a lot of family drama that many of us can relate to — or hopefully are blessed enough not to relate to. OWN is also launching a podcast version of its award-winning series “Iyanla: Fix My Life” available June 18 on Apple Podcasts. The “Iyanla: Fix My Life” podcast will feature previously aired content from the critically-acclaimed series’ most popular interviews featuring spiritual life coach Iyanla Vanzant, as she helps those who are struggling, guiding them toward a new way of living and encouraging them to do the work necessary for real change. “Iyanla: Fix My Life” podcast will roll out a new episode every Tuesday beginning on June 18 available on Apple Podcasts, including episodes with the following featured guests: former NFL star Chad Ochocinco Johnson and reality TV star Evelyn Lozada; popular radio personality “Sasha the Diva”; former “Real Housewife of Atlanta” Sheree Whitfield; rapper, actor and reality TV star Saigon; and reality television star Arica Adams, better known as “Hazel-E.” Sounds like a great way to refresh some classic content. Will you be tuning in? “Iyanla: Fix My Life” will return to the network’s Saturday night lineup with its new episodes beginning Saturday, June 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
