Source: D Dipasupil / Getty ESPN has suspended popular host and analyist Jemele Hill on Monday, the network announced, for two weeks “for a second violation of our social media guidelines.” ESPN's Statement on Jemele Hill: pic.twitter.com/JkVoBVz7lv — ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) October 9, 2017 The particular tweet is unknown but after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the media that any player on his team that “disrespects” the National Anthem would not play, she suggested fans boycott Cowboys advertisers. In her last tweet she stated: Just so we're clear: I'm not advocating a NFL boycott. But an unfair burden has been put on players in Dallas & Miami w/ anthem directives. — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017 If fans really are that upset about what JJ & Stephen Ross have done, don't call the players sellouts, but you're watching every Sunday. — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 9, 2017 Hill had been under fire over tweets calling Donald Trump a White Supremacist weeks ago. ESPN repermanded the Sportscenter 6 anchor but now they have went a different route. No word from Hill at this time.
Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty Rapper Nelly (real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.) has been arrested after a woman called the police claiming he raped her on his tour bus. Nelly is currently on tour with country-pop duo Florida Georgia Line and had just performed at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington when the alleged incident occurred. Authorities say he and the woman were together around 3:45am (Oct 7th), and Nelly was booked on second degree rape charges around 7am. Nelly’s lawyer reached to TMZ to deny the rape allegations, stating, “Nelly is the victim of a completely fabricated allegation. Our initial investigation, clearly establishes the allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness. I am confident, once the scurrilous accusation is thoroughly investigated, there will be no charges. Nelly is prepared to pursue all all legal avenues to redress any damage caused by this clearly false allegation.” Nelly’s girlfriend, model Shantel Jackson , seemingly responded to the arrest with a cryptic tweet that read “Rough Morning…anyone else?” https://twitter.com/MsJackson/status/916664011751591937 More details to come as the story develops. SOURCE: TMZ | IMAGE CREDIT: Getty
Source: Doug Pensinger / Getty Retired NBA All Star Kenyon Martin told Sports Illustrated that his comments about Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin ‘s locks were just playful banter, not racial hatred. K-Mart also revealed that his joke that Lin wants to be black caused some trolls to call him “nigger,” while others messaged his son. Martin said, “I recently erased the post off my page. People were sending messages to my son. Like, no. Say whatever to me and about me. I have thick skin. I know what my intentions were. But then those are the things that are coming across. You n—– this. Your n—– that. Sports Illustrated has the full interview, here are the highlights: Kenyon Martin: This was never meant to be racial. It was thought of as what would’ve been done in our locker room. It would’ve been jokes. We would’ve been making jokes. It’s far from racist. I guess saying “Wanting to be black” made it racial. But I despise people that look down because of race. It was meant to be a “Ha Ha Ha” moment. If you watch, I was laughing in the statements. It got taken too far. I wanted to clear the air. I don’t know Jeremy. He’s had a few crazy hairstyles before and I had the same thought process: ‘WTF.’ But I wasn’t trying to be racist. I didn’t even know he did the Players Tribune thing. RN: So to be clear, what was your intention? KM: If you listen to it, I was saying he wouldn’t have made it in our locker room. We would’ve made jokes every single day. He is a grown man. He can rock whatever hairstyle he wants to rock. People missed all of that. Just like I’m a grown man. I can say whatever I want. RN: Anything else you want to get off your chest? KM: I have no problem with Jeremy, man. People were attacking me, calling me racist or n—–. I didn’t call him any kind of derogatory thing. He has the right to rock any hairstyle he wants. It got out of control. It wasn’t meant to be anything more than banter. Jeremy is an athlete and I would hope he understood that this was in fun and not to offend and as long as he’s not offended that’s all that matters. I wish him well. RN: Have you spoken to Jeremy? KM: I DM’d him after the fact. I’m a grown man. I can admit if something got out of control or if I did something wrong. I’m trying to get his phone number as we speak so we can clear the air.
It appears as if no one will be particularly happy on Keeping Up with the Kardashians this Sunday night. In clips previously posted on The Hollywood Gossip, Kim Kardashian freaked out after seeing that a paparazzo has snapped some unflattering photos of her and shared them online: We also shared a sneak peek of Kim breaking down in a puddle of tears because she feared for her safety while on vacation in Mexico. Here. Look at how that attack in Paris is still having an effect on the star in the following video: So this brings us to Kourtney Kardashian. Below, having just returned from this same trip down south with her sister, Kourtney stops by her mom's office and asks how ex-lover Scott Disick has been in her absence. “I think that he was jealous because you were having fun spending time with other people,” Kris replies, which really sets her daughter off. “Well that's really not fair,” Kourtney says. “It's just like I can't even live my life. I can't even go anywhere. He needs to get a f–king life and leave me alone. “All he does is try to make everybody else feel bad for him and try to make me look like the bad guy in this situation when clearly I'm not from 10 years of this going on.” “Wouldn't you be sad if he truly left you alone?” Kris asks in response. “You always want what you can't have. And when somebody's right there giving you their heart on a platter.” (NOTE: Is that really what Disick has been doing? The guy is dating Sofia Richie and has basically had a young harem for months now .) “He's not! He's not though!” Kourtney says, getting angry and adding: “That's what he makes it seem! To you, to Kim, to Khloe, to the world, to everybody! He sits there and grovels and feels bad for himself. So if that was his truth, why can't he get it together?” That's a valid question. Disick continues to get drunk all the time, party a lot and hook up left and right. “I have to handle it when he's out photographed with a different hooker every day,” Kourtney says emphatically in this sneak peek. It's hard to disagree with that assessment, even if there's no proof Disick has paid any of these women money for their services. WATCH THE EXPLOSIVE CLIP NOW:
Hailey Baldwin is such low hanging fruit, she barely exists, but she’s trying to exist… She’s got millions of followers, she groupied every Kardashian and Hadid she could… She had her dad’s talent agencies and PR people she grew up around supporting her… She fucked Bieber when she was underage… She’s basically replaced Ireland – her weirdo cousin with more famous parents.. She’s put in the work….I mean more work than most lazy entitled rich kids…and it is all for her ego…to be the best, to get the jobs, to fit in, this is what the kids want to me…SOCIAL MEDIA….it’s lazy “watch my life” …reality shows that aren’t as fun as reality shows… But that face…is fucking mangled.. I’m guessing fillers, injections, whatever…but it’s jacked up and 45 lookin…. Weird…..but her bikini top pic is ok.. Better than this anyway….. TO SEE THE REST OF THE PICS CLICK HERE The post Hailey Baldwin’s Face is Trashed of the Day appeared first on DrunkenStepFather.com .
M ost people can agree that 2017 has not been an easy year. For journalists of color, the stories we are called to write and report on have been heart wrenching, tear-jerking, and downright triggering to produce. But we continue to wake up every day, fulfill our callings, and get this money because we were taught to power through anything that threatens our livelihood. Here are some of the things Ione Digital journalists do to calm themselves in the face of crisis: “ I realize that when the news cycle is brutal, it’s more important than ever to allow yourself to unplug. For me that means I sign off Twitter, leave my phone on silent, and zone out with a good book or a face mask. It also means helping others, whether it means reaching out to see how other colleagues are doing or finding a way to help with charity work.” – Jada Gomez, CASSIUS Deputy Editor “I find laughter, whether it’s via a movie or my friends or a funny joke on Twitter. Being able to laugh about something often allows me to decompress and relax. I also listen to music, which might be my biggest refuge in this crazy world. Looking for new material, new artists, or just feeling nostalgic and playing something old allows me to go to another place. Sometimes, I write it out. Writing about my thoughts and feelings helps me identify and acknowledge a lot of things about myself. Even if it’s for me to see and no one else, seeing how I feel on a page or on a screen can sometimes show me a different perspective.” – Cory Townes, CASSIUS Associate Entertainment Editor “ I give myself permission to tap out. I turn on my favorite ‘reality’ TV shows and zone out to decompress my mind. Red wine helps, too. Lots of wine.” – Keyaira Kelly, Hello Beautiful Staff Writer & Producer “ I cry sometimes. No apologies. I remind myself that if reporting/witnessing death and destruction doesn’t occasionally move me to tears, particularly as a parent whose babes have to thrive in this world, something’s wrong with me . I preach to the choir: I only check for my most woke crew when I need to vent about the crazy and feel affirmed that my point of view is actually what’s sane. Whether on social or in real life, when it gets thick, I only seek the bona fide, unwavering wise ones. I puff, puff, pass. I mean, if it was legal. When in serious need of less stress, I might throw on a robe, relax, indulge, eat Munchos and talk shit while not watching the Kardashians or Antique Road Show . Might , you judgmental freaks.” – Kierna Mayo, Senior Vice President of Content and Brands “ I choose what I consume. I haven’t watched [footage of] the LV shooting and I probably won’t. I have the power of what I watch and I don’t have to watch violent acts towards people. I also do this so these things aren’t normalized in my mind. I call someone I love. Sometimes these acts can make you feel helpless. However, there are people that I love and who love me and no time is a better time to let someone know how you feel about them than now. Also: d eep breathing. It really is powerful and calming and a stress reliever. Try it!” – Danielle James, Hello Beautiful Style & Beauty Editor “ I’ve gotten back into therapy, which has been very helpful. I also take time away from social media and prioritize spending time with my loved ones in ways that I haven’t in recent years. In the past, I’ve been more inclined to ‘drink it away,’ but I’ve actually been indulging in alcohol less and turning to the ‘mighty herb’ instead (legally, of course). It does wonders for my anxiety and helps me sleep, which doesn’t come easy these days.” – Jamilah Lemieux, Vice President of News and Men’s Programming “ I pray. It sounds cliche, but it’s gotten me through during some of the most difficult times of my life. There’s a sense of calm and serenity it brings, which definitely helps me get through. I also talk to Nana. My 93-year-old grandmother has seen it all; it’s an added blessing that at her age she’s still sharp as a tack, lives on her own, is pretty self-sufficient and is in great health. Whenever I feel like all is hopeless, she always knows how to put things in perspective as she’s powered through the toughest of times from war, segregation, and political turmoil to extreme poverty and death. I also watch ratchet TV. Sometimes a bit of escapism is all you need to get through. When I’m feeling overwhelmed with day to day stress and the current the state of affairs a little Love and Hip Hop or WAGS messiness always gives me a much needed laugh.” – Marielle Bobo, Executive Director of Style & Special Projects “ I try as hard as possible to zone out. I’ll say a prayer, listen to Solange or Lauryn Hill, and just vibe out. Watching pointless reality TV also helps. I refuse to watch the news after six, I like to wind down as calm as possible.” – James Love, Associate Editor of Style & Culture “Some work weeks are crazier than others, but I try to carve out time for exercise no matter what. Meditation and stretches in the mornings. Yoga after work. Sometimes it’s a jog. Whatever the activity, getting lost in my body allows me to tune out the noise and tune into myself. I journal whenever I find my thoughts making a mess of themselves. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or anxious and can’t place my finger on why. Since I’m visual, seeing my thoughts on paper helps me sort them out and find solutions. A typical morning commute is me scrolling through my timeline for headlines while packed on the 1 train, but if I need extra ‘me’ time before I shift into work mode, I’ll read a book. Books have been my number one escape since I was a child. They’re a place of solace in turbulent times, and sometimes getting lost in someone else’s story is just what I need to take the edge off. I’m very introverted by nature and don’t like bombarding others with my issues, but when all else fails, I’ll confide in someone I love, like a trusted friend or my partner.” – Stephanie Long, News & Culture Editor SEE ALSO: 4 Steps To Healthy Eating With Black Plant Foods Five Tips To Jump-Start Your Workout In 2017 [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3053899″ overlay=”true”]
M ost people can agree that 2017 has not been an easy year. For journalists of color, the stories we are called to write and report on have been heart wrenching, tear-jerking, and downright triggering to produce. But we continue to wake up every day, fulfill our callings, and get this money because we were taught to power through anything that threatens our livelihood. Here are some of the things Ione Digital journalists do to calm themselves in the face of crisis: “ I realize that when the news cycle is brutal, it’s more important than ever to allow yourself to unplug. For me that means I sign off Twitter, leave my phone on silent, and zone out with a good book or a face mask. It also means helping others, whether it means reaching out to see how other colleagues are doing or finding a way to help with charity work.” – Jada Gomez, CASSIUS Deputy Editor “I find laughter, whether it’s via a movie or my friends or a funny joke on Twitter. Being able to laugh about something often allows me to decompress and relax. I also listen to music, which might be my biggest refuge in this crazy world. Looking for new material, new artists, or just feeling nostalgic and playing something old allows me to go to another place. Sometimes, I write it out. Writing about my thoughts and feelings helps me identify and acknowledge a lot of things about myself. Even if it’s for me to see and no one else, seeing how I feel on a page or on a screen can sometimes show me a different perspective.” – Cory Townes, CASSIUS Associate Entertainment Editor “ I give myself permission to tap out. I turn on my favorite ‘reality’ TV shows and zone out to decompress my mind. Red wine helps, too. Lots of wine.” – Keyaira Kelly, Hello Beautiful Staff Writer & Producer “ I cry sometimes. No apologies. I remind myself that if reporting/witnessing death and destruction doesn’t occasionally move me to tears, particularly as a parent whose babes have to thrive in this world, something’s wrong with me . I preach to the choir: I only check for my most woke crew when I need to vent about the crazy and feel affirmed that my point of view is actually what’s sane. Whether on social or in real life, when it gets thick, I only seek the bona fide, unwavering wise ones. I puff, puff, pass. I mean, if it was legal. When in serious need of less stress, I might throw on a robe, relax, indulge, eat Munchos and talk shit while not watching the Kardashians or Antique Road Show . Might , you judgmental freaks.” – Kierna Mayo, Senior Vice President of Content and Brands “ I choose what I consume. I haven’t watched [footage of] the LV shooting and I probably won’t. I have the power of what I watch and I don’t have to watch violent acts towards people. I also do this so these things aren’t normalized in my mind. I call someone I love. Sometimes these acts can make you feel helpless. However, there are people that I love and who love me and no time is a better time to let someone know how you feel about them than now. Also: d eep breathing. It really is powerful and calming and a stress reliever. Try it!” – Danielle James, Hello Beautiful Style & Beauty Editor “ I’ve gotten back into therapy, which has been very helpful. I also take time away from social media and prioritize spending time with my loved ones in ways that I haven’t in recent years. In the past, I’ve been more inclined to ‘drink it away,’ but I’ve actually been indulging in alcohol less and turning to the ‘mighty herb’ instead (legally, of course). It does wonders for my anxiety and helps me sleep, which doesn’t come easy these days.” – Jamilah Lemieux, Vice President of News and Men’s Programming “ I pray. It sounds cliche, but it’s gotten me through during some of the most difficult times of my life. There’s a sense of calm and serenity it brings, which definitely helps me get through. I also talk to Nana. My 93-year-old grandmother has seen it all; it’s an added blessing that at her age she’s still sharp as a tack, lives on her own, is pretty self-sufficient and is in great health. Whenever I feel like all is hopeless, she always knows how to put things in perspective as she’s powered through the toughest of times from war, segregation, and political turmoil to extreme poverty and death. I also watch ratchet TV. Sometimes a bit of escapism is all you need to get through. When I’m feeling overwhelmed with day to day stress and the current the state of affairs a little Love and Hip Hop or WAGS messiness always gives me a much needed laugh.” – Marielle Bobo, Executive Director of Style & Special Projects “ I try as hard as possible to zone out. I’ll say a prayer, listen to Solange or Lauryn Hill, and just vibe out. Watching pointless reality TV also helps. I refuse to watch the news after six, I like to wind down as calm as possible.” – James Love, Associate Editor of Style & Culture “Some work weeks are crazier than others, but I try to carve out time for exercise no matter what. Meditation and stretches in the mornings. Yoga after work. Sometimes it’s a jog. Whatever the activity, getting lost in my body allows me to tune out the noise and tune into myself. I journal whenever I find my thoughts making a mess of themselves. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or anxious and can’t place my finger on why. Since I’m visual, seeing my thoughts on paper helps me sort them out and find solutions. A typical morning commute is me scrolling through my timeline for headlines while packed on the 1 train, but if I need extra ‘me’ time before I shift into work mode, I’ll read a book. Books have been my number one escape since I was a child. They’re a place of solace in turbulent times, and sometimes getting lost in someone else’s story is just what I need to take the edge off. I’m very introverted by nature and don’t like bombarding others with my issues, but when all else fails, I’ll confide in someone I love, like a trusted friend or my partner.” – Stephanie Long, News & Culture Editor SEE ALSO: 4 Steps To Healthy Eating With Black Plant Foods Five Tips To Jump-Start Your Workout In 2017 [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3053899″ overlay=”true”]
The Duggar clan is unlike just about any other family on television. Obviously, with 19 siblings, they’re much larger than any other famous brood, and while that may be what attracted viewers in the first place, it’s not what keeps them tuning in. No, to understand why Jim Bob, Michelle, and their children have become such subjects of fascination (and, in some cases, derision), one must examine their unique family dynamic. On television, we generally only see the sunny side of life on the Duggar compound, and viewers might be left with the impression that the siblings get along with one another and their parents at all times. Of course, that’s simply not the case. Jim Bob clashes with his daughter’s husbands to the point that he’s been unable to keep the conflicts out of tabloid headlines. As for the siblings that keep fans tuning into Counting On … well, they may do a better job of hiding it, but it seems they butt heads just as hard. In fact, fans have gone so far as to dub one Duggar girl the “fundie Regina George,” in reference to the famous Mean Girls villain. Due to a take-charge attitude that some viewers interpret as domineering or manipulative, Jessa Duggar has been dubbed “the mean Duggar.” Most fans don’t point to any one incident in particular as evidence, but instead claim that Jessa is simply ruder and less sympathetic than her sisters. “Sorry not sorry I really have no tolerance for Jessa,” an anonymous commenter wrote on the Duggars Facebook page this week. “She’s a mean girl and on the show she tries to hog up most of the conversation and likes everything centered around her. More Jana and less Jessa please.” But if specifics are what you’re after, there have been plenty of incidents over the years that have led fans to the conclusion that Jessa isn’t the kindest soul on the compound. For starters, we’ve seen Jessa exploit Jana Duggar on multiple occasions, often corralling her older sister into performing childcare and duties and household repairs. Jessa has admitted to Counting On cameras that it’s a pattern of behavior that dates back to her early childhood. “I think as I started to get a little bit older, I also had a very strong personality so I would sometimes protest the ideas that [Jana] had,” she said on one episode. “She’d be like, ‘We’re going to do this,’ and I’d be like, ‘No we’re not.'” Some fans believe that Jessa’s vanity is her greatest sin, and they point to incidents such as the time she attempted to steal the spotlight following Amy Duggar’s wedding as proof. Just one day after the ceremony, a collection of never-before-seen photos from Jessa’s wedding appeared online. “We all had such a wonderful time at Amy’s wedding,” the official Duggar facebook page stated. “All of this excitement has caused Jessa to pull out her pictures from her wedding and post 100 of them on her website.” Many fans thought it was a transparently passive-aggressive move. There are several more incidents, such as the time that Jessa bragged on Instagram that a stranger paid for her order at Starbucks as part of the “pay it forward” movement that was taking place at the time. Asked if she returned the favor by paying for the next customer’s order, Jessa did not reply, and she eventually just deleted the post. But the worst allegations have to do with the fiery rhetoric Mrs. Seewald uses on social media. Jessa has compared abortion to the Holocaust and gleefully informed her followers that they’ll soon be burning in hell. Of course, in cases like that, she’s just vocalizing what all of her siblings believe. Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family. View Slideshow: Jessa Duggar Baby Photos: Welcome #BabySeewald!
How much drama can one person endure in a lifetime? We’re not sure, but it’s becoming pretty clear that Jenelle Evans is doing her best to set the record. From her depressing childhood with the abusive father that later abandoned her entire family to her teenage pregnancy with one of the sketchiest characters in Teen Mom history, things have just never gone well for this girl. Throw in all of her arrests, her problems with addiction, her obvious emotional issues … It’s been overwhelming just to witness. Even now that Jenelle’s managed to get her life together a little bit — enough to stop doing heroin and become a homeowner, at least — things are still very, very far from perfect. She’s got that new custody battle over her youngest son, Kaiser, which began when the boy’s grandmother learned that she’d been doing drugs while pregnant with her third child . In the papers filed for the case, the grandmother claimed that Jenelle is seriously neglectful when it comes to her poor kids, and that her husband, David Eason, has been physically abusive. Oh, and speaking of that brand new husband of hers? Yeah, even though they’ve only been married for about two weeks now, we know that they’re already having major issues. Who could forget that now-classic fight Jenelle and David had the night before the wedding , the one where Jenelle called off the wedding and David brushed her off because he was “f-cking raking”? It wasn’t exactly a great sign for their future together. So yes, there’s a lot going on in Jenelle’s life right now … but it looks like there’s about to be a whole lot more added on to the pile. See those two gentlemen right there? That’s Nathan Griffith, obviously, but the guy next to him? That’s Ryan Dolph. Ryan is a friend of Nathan’s, but he’s been around long enough to be a friend of Jenelle’s, too. Or at least they used to be friends. Let’s back up. Ryan appeared on the recently aired Teen Mom 2 special, Being Nathan, and Jenelle took some sort of issue with him shortly afterwards. We know because she made some tweets directed at him — tweets that she deleted, but thank goodness, the internet never forgets . “Remember YOU don’t come from sh-t and STILL don’t do sh-t with your life JUST LIKE NATHAN, if you want to compare each other’s lives,” she told him. “Can’t even hold a relationship because you abuse your girls just like you did to Rachel, probably Ashley. You and Nathan are peas in a pod.” Nathan, of course, is facing charges for domestic violence , and it looks like she’s accusing Ryan of the same. She also wrote “Let’s not even get started what you do for a living …”, which is interesting, because Ryan is alleged drug dealer. In an even more interesting turn of events, he’s also alleged to be her drug dealer. Jenelle’s tweets got Ryan pretty riled up, because he responded with “Let’s get something straight Jenelle, MTV has been contacting me for months before I agreed to recently film with Nate.” “I’ve been nothing but loyal to you. I was a mutual friend to you & Nate, ya never had an issue with it until you started dating David.” “Next time you got something to say Jenelle Evans or whatever the f-ck your last name is now, @ my ass,” he added. “I know where I come from. Guess you forgot you come from the same place, bitch. The only reason you’re any kind of sh-t is because of MTV.” Jenelle told him that she was the one responsible for getting him his brief MTV gig, and she also told him that he is “a two faced person.” And for having the nerve to say anything remotely negative about David, she wrote “You’ve never met David but maybe one time. You wouldn’t have any idea how much love that man has for me. How DARE you speak about him.” “Jenelle, what ya smoking?” Ryan asked her in response. “Did I never meet David, or did I meet him multiple times? I think I’ll go with multiple times. David’s changed that.” He said that he actually has a job, while David’s job is now “collecting that $$ from you.” “You think you run sh-t Jenelle, get the f-ck over yourself, MTV has blown up my phone wanting me to release our conversations & I didn’t because I didn’t want you to have to deal with David.” It seems like saving Jenelle from dealing with David was a big concern for this guy — he asked her if she remembers him “covering for your ass, and hurt your man’s feelings with the truth?” Then, in a beautifully crafted tweet, he said “Jenelle, you’re right on 1 thing though, Nate & I are 2 peas in a pod in one area, I would’t left your ass too after walking in on you f-cking Keifer.”‘ The triumphant return of Kieffer Delp! It seems like Ryan and Nathan both seen Jenelle wif Kieffer … but Ryan has one more hit for her. “Remember ‘the call’ from the Reunion when David saw Nate’s dick on ur phone, & him saying sorry his dick wasn’t as big,” he wrote. “I covered your ass.” We’re not entirely clear on the picture being painted here, but it sounds like Jenelle is still walking around with dick pics from Nathan on her phone, and that is sensational. Did David apologize sarcastically, or was it sincere? We need a million more details on this exchange. View Slideshow: Teen Mom Couples: RANKED From Worst to First! And while we don’t have those details now, it sounds like we could get them soon — in other tweets, Ryan claims that he’s currently in negotiations with various tabloids, and we should have his full story soon. Looks like Christmas is coming a little early this year!
Well… this is one way to deal with sexual harassment allegations. On Thursday afternoon, The New York Times published a bombshell article in which it quoted multiple women who claimed Harvey Weinstein took advantage of them in various inappropriate ways. According to this report, the veteran film producer has settled eight separate sexual misconduct claims over the years. Ashley Judd is among the women who have issued complaints against Weinstein. She’s now on record as saying Weinstein answered his hotel room door in 1997, while Judd was shooting the movie Kiss the Girls, and asked if he could either massage her or if she would watch him take a shower. We know, right? EWWWWW . In response to this multitude of claims against him, Weinstein basically acknowledged his many decades’ worth of lewd behavior. “I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it,” he said, adding at the time: “Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.” Fair enough, we guess. What else could he really say in the face of these allegations? We now have the answer. In a follow-up statement, clearly written without the help of a publicist, Weinstein opened by blaming the era in which he started his career for how he acted toward the opposite sex. “I came of age in the 60’s and 70’s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then,” the producer said. “I have since learned it’s not an excuse, in the office – or out of it. To anyone.” Okay, fine. If Weinstein had stopped there, we wouldn’t even be writing this right now. But he didn’t stop there. “Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go. That is my commitment,” he added. “My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons. Over the last year I’ve asked Lisa Bloom to tutor me and she’s put together a team of people. “I’ve brought on therapists and I plan to take a leave of absence from my company and to deal with this issue head on. I so respect all women and regret what happened.” For the record, Lisa Bloom is a lawyer who specializes in representing celebrities seeking some kind of payday. She sat alongside Blac Chyna this summer, for example, during her revenge porn case against Rob Kardashian . It’s unclear how she has been acting as a “tutor” to Weinstein. Weinstein then wrote this: Jay Z wrote in 4:44 “I’m not the man I thought I was and I better be that man for my children.” The same is true for me. I want a second chance in the community but I know I’ve got work to do to earn it. For the record: Jay Z did not rap these words. What he did rap was this: “And if my children knew/I don’t even know what I would do/If they ain’t look at me the same/I would prob’ly die with all the shame.” From there, Weinstein – inspired, we suppose, by this week’s Las Vegas shooting – turned his attention to… the National Rifle Assocation? Yup. “I’ve decided that I’m going to give the NRA my full attention. I hope Wayne LaPierre will enjoy his retirement party. “I’m going to do it at the same place I had my Bar Mitzvah. I’m making a movie about our President, perhaps we can make it a joint retirement party.” Finally, after touting his progressive bona fides in this manner, Weinstein wrapped it up. “One year ago, I began organizing a $5 million foundation to give scholarships to women directors at USC,” he wrote, concluding: “While this might seem coincidental, it has been in the works for a year. It will be named after my mom and I won’t disappoint her.” We’ve got a feeling it’s way too late for that. Mrs. Weinstein is likely quite disappointed in her son already.
